MLB
– The Rockies have released OF Brad Hawpe. Hawpe was already going to be a free agent after the season, but the Rox cut him loose 6 weeks early. The 31-year-old was batting just .255/.343/.432 with seven homers and 37 RBI this season. He’s likely to be more valuable in the AL where he can be stashed at DH. The Rangers, Red Sox and White Sox are known to have some interest.
– Red Sox’ OF Mike Cameron (torn abdominal muscle) is out for the remainder of the season. The date of the surgery is unknown, but he’s expected to be ready for Spring Training 2011.
– The Royals have placed RHP Brian Bannister (rotator cuff tendinitis) on the 15-day DL retroactive to August 8.
– The Braves have placed 1B Troy Glaus (sore left knee) on the 15-day DL.
– The Tigers have placed 2B Carlos Guillen (left knee contusion) on the 15-day DL retroactive to August 17.
– The Rockies have placed RHP Taylor Buchholz (lower back stiffness) on the 15-day DL retroactive to August 14.
– The Orioles have placed RHP Jason Berken (right shoulder inflammation) on the 15-day DL retroactive to August 13.
– The Rays have placed OF Gabe Kapler (sprained right ankle) on the 15-day DL retroactive to August 15.
– The Nationals have placed OF Josh Willingham (torn meniscus in left knee) on the 15-day DL retroactive to August 16.
NFL
– After a review from commissioner Roger Goodell, the NFL has decided to uphold Texans’ DB Brian Cushing’s 4-game suspension for violating the league’s performance-enhancing drug policy. Texans’ owner Bob McNair presented additional medical information, but Goodell wasn’t buying “overtrained athlete syndrome.” Cushing has been linked to steroids since high school, so that didn’t help either.
TNA
– According to the Wrestling Observer, regarding Paul Heyman, there was no movement this past week in the former ECW creative director joining TNA. The feeling among many in the organization is that as long as television ratings hold up, Spike officials won’t feel the need to pressure the organization in bringing him in. Heyman insists he won’t join the organization without the ability to rebuild the company, and without complete control over marketing, talent and the office, he won’t be able to. TNA president Dixie Carter doesn’t want to give up control of her company not to mention that she bears strong loyalty to certain employees, thus explaining why things remain at a standstill.
WWE
– There has been talk of beefing up the SmackDown roster before its television show debuts on Syfy on October 1. Though it may be unrelated, it’s worth noting that The Miz is advertised to appear at a SmackDown live event in October.
– Former WWE Diva/RAW ring announcer, Lilian Garcia, was the special guest on this week’s live edition (08/16/10) of the award-winning Monday Night Mayhem. The highlights:
Why, in the end, she decided to leave WWE last September & what/whom she misses the most: “There’s nothing like having that one-on-one interaction with them: every time we’re out there, being able to hi-five & hug people. It’s just an amazing feeling. I miss some of the travel, I’m not crazy about all of the travel. Some of the places we went to were a lot of fun, especially when went overseas. I love Europe, and I love to experience different cultures, so I would definitely take advantage of the sightseeing. What I don’t miss is the airports & the hauling of the luggage. That kind of stuff wears on you, and when you do it ten years straight, it does wear on you. That’s why I have a lot of respect for all of the Superstars, because I didn’t have the grueling schedule that they would had of 300+ days a year, so I have respect for those who can do it and be away from their families. I really missed being away from my family, and that was one of the decision I made. When my contract was up, I was like do I sign on for a new contract, or do I really want to take the time to be with my family & my new husband, and I just made that decision that it was time.”
Her transition into the next phase of her life/career & the reason as to why she wanted to take time off: “It’s been a year since I left. It almost feels like right around the corner, and I can’t believe how time flies. So much has happened since I left. Actually, after I left on the 21st of September, I got married on the 28th of September, which was on a Monday, so it was ironic that I got married on a Monday. I went on a long amazing honeymoon and spent time with the family. I just took time off because I had been on the road for ten years straight. I did some work in Los Angeles, and a lot of doors starting opening up for me in L.A., so we made the decision to move to Los Angeles from New York, and we left in May. It’s just a fresh start & a new chapter in my life.”
Her expectation level when she started working for the WWE in 1999, how she almost chose to not show up to her WWE audition, why Tony Chimel & Howard Finkel were instrumental in her success, and if she initially thought she would have lasted as long as she did/been as successful as she was in World Wrestling Entertainment: “No, not at all. I’ll be honest with you, I had no idea what I was walking into, and I almost didn’t do the audition. I was called to New York to audition, and I looked at him and said ‘Are you kidding me…wrestling?’ He didn’t tell me what it was for, because the WWE didn’t tell him. I auditioned for a backstage interviewer for Super Astros, which was going to be on Univision, but I didn’t get it. It wasn’t until six months later that I got another call back, and they remembered me, and they needed people for SmackDown before it premiered. I auditioned again, and they called me, and they wanted to try me on for 1-3 months, and that I could leave at any time, and I was thinking I had nothing to lose…I’ll try it out. I went to my first show to find out that I was ring announcing that night, and Tony Chimel was there, and he sat with me and told me what I supposed to say. Between Chimel & Howard Finkel, I can’t thank them enough, because they could have easily sabotaged me, but they were so helpful, and I will never forget that.”
If she ever felt that the WWE Divas were not utilized properly during her time in the company & why she would like to see the Divas get more time on WWE television: “I always wished the Divas had more time on the show, because a lot of times, they get one match on the show. I see them working so hard, and they live & breathe this business just has much as the guys do. It depends on the writing, and the storylines, and ratings, and all of that. I could say that I wish they had more time, but I’m also partial to them too. I think it’s a great job they do week in & week out, and it’s not easy to write all these storylines & all these different ideas. I think the WWE does a good job on that, but of course personally, I would love to see more of the Divas going against each other.”
The bonds she formed during her time in the WWE, which WWE Diva she classified as her “best friend” (that she was sad to see go after her departure), & her reaction to the passings of Eddie Guerrero & Chris Benoit: “I guess every situation in different for everybody. I never felt outside the loop, or because I didn’t take bumps, I didn’t have anyone to comfort. I had a great camaraderie with all the superstars and especially all the divas. We had an amazing locker room throughout the years, and I saw a lot of people go in & out, which is sad, because I would form these really big bonds with a lot of them. Trish Stratus would be an example of one; we would travel together, and we were best friends, and when she left, I think I cried more than she did. I always felt like I had someone there, and I remember when we got the news about Eddie Guerrero & Chris Benoit, it was sad, and it was like a family atmosphere, and I remember hugging everybody. I had a great relationship with everyone.”
VoV
Marc Valeri – captaincharisma@hotmail.com
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