Trip to Skeeter-land

Last Wednesday I made trip down in southwest Houston to visit my relatives. While there I caught Sugar Land Skeeters game. I made that trek down to Constellation Field on Highway 6 for Atlantic League baseball. Skeeters took on Camden Riversharks that night.

A state of art retro style stadium greeted me. Seats stretching from left side of the outfield all the way to first base foul lines along with berm grass seating. In centerfield a large scoreboard by centerfield held on Texas-shape board. It also have two scoreboards hanging on skyboxes as well manual one located on left side of outfield wall. There's a pool located behind left field wall. The bullpens located at right field wall. The pitchers have shade from the humid Houston heat.

 The team mascot is a mosquito name Swatson. Both teams featured players that has MLB experience such as recently signed Delwyn Young, Joel Guzman, Denny Almonte, Sean Gallagher, James Parr, Fu-Ti Ne to name a few.

Swatson

Skeeters have banners of MLB players that played for them including Tracy McGrady short stint.

Rocket two game stint got him immortalized in Skeeters banner. Kazmir return to the majors started in Sugar Land

J-Lane road transition to pitcher landed him there as well

From NBA to independent baseball. After striking out his only batter he called it quits

68 game stint from last year got him immortalize in banner as well

Your starting lineup

Starting pitchers for the game were Matt Maloney (Skeeters) and Sam Gleason (Rversharks). Denny Almonte got Skeeters on the board first with two-run shot in the first.

I can hit the ball with my eyes closed

Riversharks knocked deficit 2-1 when Joel Guzman scored. Travis Scott singled Dustin Martin in make in the 3rd making it 3-1. Riversharks bite back when Paddy Matera score on wild pitch in the 5th. Skeeters stung back when Scott singles Beamer Weems in making in 4-2. Skeeters would put in a run in the 7th then again in the 8th. Despite Jeremy Barfield homerun it wasn't enough as Skeeters won 6-3.

Former Midland Rockhound Jeremy Barfield

Joel Guzman tosses a ball to a fan

Travis Scott

Fu-Ti Ne

Derek Blacksher warms up

Derrick Loop pumped up

I had fun time there. Give this stadium a visit when Skeeters are playing. Free parking and cheap seats. Players trying work their way to MLB contract. What can you ask for?

Has Astros lost Austin and San Antonio market?

Last week I was down at Academy in south Austin for Houston Astros caravan. The guests listed for event are Alan Ashby, Chad Qualls, and Marwin Gonzalez. I got there hour before they were schedule and surprisingly I was first in line. Just as they scheduled appeared there was approximately 20 people in line. Alan Ashby no-showed the event leaving appearance of Qualls and Gonzalez. I chatted with both of them, but all I notice was lack of crowd despite appearance of both players and Orbit. Few of those that was in line happen to be at San Antonio location from previous day admit there wasn't much of a crowd there as well. It's far cry when Rangers caravan was in town two weeks ago up in Cedar Park which is north of Austin. There was a huge line before schedule and giving vouchers on autographs. Last week was came as you go on meeting Astros. It makes me wonder has Astros lost the Hill Country market? The rainy weather on that day didn't help the attendance. Was it list of guests that's scheduled to be there? Have fans got tired of their losing and "lack of star power" just made them not care anyone? Possible changes from the past that end up haunting them to current. Round Rock used to be Astros AAA affiliate til they switched to Rangers which still continue on. Astros took Oklahoma City which was formerly Rangers affiliate. Then came affiliation change which Astros got screwed out of. Colorado Rockies took their AAA affiliation to Albuquerque. The former affiliate Los Angeles Dodgers took Oklahoma City as their AAA club leaving Fresno, California as the only option for Astros to pick. Since Fresno in west division of PCL and they already played up in Round Rock in 2014 leaving their next appearance in 2016. The closest Astros fans in the area to see prospects and minor leaguers play in San Antonio, a hour and half drive, when Corpus Christi Hooks come in the area. If they want see Astros live get on 290 and go east for 3 hours. This makes it harder for Astros fans in Hill Country area to see the present and the future. Let's not forget original TV deal debacle with defunct CSN Houston which left them off TV. What once area split between Astros and Rangers fans becoming majority Rangers market. Hopefully good things to come for Astros now they have TV deal with ROOT and to improve over last year win total.

2014 Top 10 ACW Matches

Anarchy Championship Wrestling started 2014 with temporary end of a war along with something new, old, different, and shocking. There were good shows and matches across the year. There were plenty of matches that stood out even beyond the 10 and honorable mentions at The Mohawk. There be no matches from Fun, Fun, Fun Fest as I never attended the shows.

First the honorable mentions:
Masada vs Jason Silver vs Gregory James (Beyond Good and Evil)
Ricky Starks vs Davey Vega (Guilty by Association)

Jason Silver vs Gregory James (Evolution of Revolution)

Masada, Paul London, Jack Jameson vs Scot Summers, Franco D'Angelo, Carson (Absence of Law)

Ricky Starks vs Barrett Brown vs Gregory James vs Kyle Hawk (Delusions of Our Childish Days)

JoJo Bravo vs Barbi Hayden (Evolution of Revolution)

JoJo Bravo vs Ricky Starks vs Davey Vega (Distrust, Dismay, and Antisocial Behavior)

Barrett Brown vs Evan Gelistico (Distrust, Dismay, and Antisocial Behavior)

Thomas Shire vs Takaaki Watanabe (Peace, Love, and Anarchy)

Athena vs Solo Darling (Evolution of Revolution)

To the list:

I spin you right round baby right round like a record baby right round round round

10. Gary Jay vs Thomas Shire (Guilty by Association) - For a wrestler that trained by a Funk and a dojo Thomas Shire spent 2013 more of henchman/bodyguard to The Business than individual wrestler. He works hard but was just there. That changed that night when he took on Submission Squad's Gary Jay, accomplished wrestler who been around the nation with his group of bandits. A bounced check to The Business and missing Bolt Brady put Shire in this match. Match started out with basics before kicking it in high gear. Both fought hard with Shire over powering Jay at times that crowd got behind him. Each would attempt to finish each other off with their finisher only to kick out and fight back some more. A second Fly by Night scored Gary Jay the victory. Jay, being dastardly guy, gave Shire a handshake and a hug before kicking him in the groin in the post match. This match made Thomas Shire stood out on his own. The way he manhandle and overpower Gary Jay at times got the fans backing him. He went from looking goofy to mad serious in the ring. It took underrated and accomplished Gary Jay bring that side to the fans.

Who cares the show haven't started let do this right now!

9. Matthew Palmer vs Darin Childs (Guilty by Association) - thinking outside the box made this match. Remember Simpson episode where Homer and Bart's Big Brother fought each other throughout Springfield? This what happened as this started before the show brawling outside the Mohawk and into the streets. Then later appeared during Miss Dislexia and Johnny Axle match factoring in the finish of the match to battling all the way to the back. Then pop back up during intermission and fought to destruction and plunder all over the ring with Palmer taking the match. Now the question after the match did Childs succeed in his mission to bring Son of Anarchy out of Palmer? Not likely at this moment, but time will tell.

Look who won the rubber match and made you my bitch

8. Shawn Vexx vs Davey Vega (Absence of Law) - on and off feud between Vexx and Vega now stretch heavyweight title match. Vexx walks in the match as champion while Vega wanting put the belt back on Submission Squad side. A rubber match between the two as both has one win on each other. Vega showed his vicious streak from the start pounding on Vexx all over the ring. Vexx fought back valiantly as both battle back and forth. At the end Vexx got Vega pin to retain heavyweight title. Despite the loss Vega gets his revenge kicking him below after the match and stealing the belt which was never seen til seven months later.

Going out to a big bang

7. Masada vs Shawn Vexx (From Innocence to Insanity) - Shawn Vexx enter the event as heavyweight champion. His challenger is Masada, a hybrid-style wrestler that has traveled around the world piling his trade. The only time he held ACW title when he was hardcore champion for two years. These two went at it hard as they mat and power wrestle each other using surrounding chairs at their personal playground. Masada would stick his trademark skewers on Vexx and dropping him down the mat. Despite it all Vexx continue fight back like a champion he is using remaining strength and power left. Masada was too much for Vexx making submit to a crossface to win heavyweight title. New reign emerges with Masada leading the company. It was end for Vexx as he called it quits after the match. It was short-lived retirement as he returned back to the ring and recharged five months later to help Darin Childs out in his feud with Paul London and the Swarm.

Pfft! I need no motivation!

6. Masada vs Cherry Ramons vs A.C.H. (Lone Star Classic) - ACW heavyweight Masada competing in his first Lone Star Classic with long odds to retain the belt. No wrestler enter and left Lone Star Classic as champion. One of his opponents is 2011 LSC winner A.C.H. who happen to won heavyweight title at this same event. Third wrestler is Cherry Ramons in, not only first LCS, but second ACW appearance. Ramons went in the match as x-factor with a question can he hang with both wrestlers. Match started with both wrestlers not taking Ramons seriously even with A.C.H. giving him encouragement. Despite the mocking it took minutes for Ramons showed he can hang with both of them. The trio had impressive match with Ramons shockingly stole a pin on A.C.H. after Masada gave him Masada-mizer. Masada and Ramons battled all over the ring with Masada taking the win retaining heavyweight title and putting himself in semifinals. For Ramons this was coming out party and getting pin on A.C.H. got one-on-one match at Delusions of Our Childish Days.

The fall of a champion

5. Shawn Vexx vs Evan Gelistico (Guilty by Association) - Evan Gelistico spent a year as heavyweight champion disrespecting the belt the entire time only using it as his power play. Shawn Vexx, once a former heavyweight champion, has battled back from hell with a burning desire. When Gelistico wanted give him the belt Vexx found it disrespectful and would rather fight for it. Their first battle ended with Submission Squad interfering and Gelistico keeping the belt. Cue six months down the line at Lone Star Classic finals when Vexx had Davey Vega beat only to have the Squad interfere with Vega winning it. Tired of Submission Squad interfering Vexx put his career on the line to face Gelistico for heavyweight title in a cage match, a first in ACW history. Big time feel as both came out to epic entrances. Both of them brawled and used elements of the cage slamming and throwing each other on it. Gelistico trying to escape only get slammed of top of the cage. Gelistico realize to end Vexx career he must put him out with two tombstones. Only problem Vexx refuse to die and fought back with vengeance hitting Gelistico with his own tombstone. Just as Squad try interfere The Business stopped them before any of them got inside the cage. Once Vexx hooked Gelistco in MMA style armbar submission Gelistico couldn't do anything but to tap out. Shawn Vexx leaves the cage as heavyweight champion ending Gelistico year reign.

The loss of innocence after the insanity

4. Scot Summers vs Jack Jameson (From Innocence to Insanity) - billed as "most violent night" in wrestling this match pushed the envelope as these two fought in no rope barbwire match. While this match is no stranger to Summer this is Jameson first foray into it. He spent early part of the match get in mad mind of Summers using his ring mannerism. Then these two tease then lay and beat each other in this dangerous match as they gouge, cut, slam, and threw each other in barbwire. Summers wrapped himself in it splashing on Jameson with no regards. A chairs came into play as it gets wrapped in barbwire and used on each other. The match ended at insane level when Summers set the chairs on fire and death valley drivers Jameson onto for the win. After the match painful reminder for Jack Jameson as his innocence was lost on that night leaving scars on his back. Yet it made him stronger and insane seeking revenge on Scot Summers costing him his matches.

Good job! You done well, but I'm still the champ

3. Masada vs A.C.H. (Distrust, Dismay, and Antisocial Behavior) - two of Texas indy greats collide for second time ever in ACW. First time was in 2010 when Masada defeated young A.C.H. Cue four years now with heavily traveled and more experienced A.C.H. ready to wrestle heavyweight title from Masada. In contrast of style these two mesh well. A.C.H. goes to the air and Masada keeping him grounded. These two would trade chops, holds, submissions, and slams throughout the match. A.C.H. reliance on the air cost when he went for 450 only for Masada gets his knee up and pinned him to retain the title. The grizzled veteran still reign supreme over budding young star.

With this handshake we will steal the show

2. Gregory James vs Jason Silver (Distrust, Dismay, and Antisocial Behavior) - Silver coming out on his own as singles wrestler. After year and half away Gregory James returns to the fed transformed from "Too Much Metal" to "Unholy" While they fought in tag matches, I believe this is first time they tangled one-on-one. Once the match started everything clicked all together. They laid on each other matching move-for-move and beating-for-beating punishing each other. A well time kick to Silver made Unholy the winner in a show stealing performance. This match elevated these two as they were rewarded a title shot against Masada at Beyond Good and Evil.

The Prodigical reign begins

1. Barrett Brown vs Matthew Palmer (Peace, Love, and Anarchy) - for 826 days Matthew Palmer held Hardcore title fighting wrestlers such as Rachel Summerlyn, Arik Cannon, A.C.H., Jerry Lynn, Davey Vega, and Darin Childs. During his reign Barrett Brown enter the fed and slowly worked his way up where he became Texas Prodigy. Now its Brown turn as he face The Centerfold for hardcore title. These two put on straight-up wrestling match under "hardcore" rules. They took each other in the air and on the mat technical and power wise. These two punishing each other especially Palmer with a tiger driver only for Brown to barrage him with kicks then using his AND one of Palmer's finisher on him. After numerous false finishes Brown got Palmer down with a crossface submission making him tap ending one of longest title reigns and making of brand new one. It also add more to Brown's prodigy character. A small knock for lack of "hardcore" he interjected himself in a match against Masada and Scot Summers to show he is hardcore and won. When he lost the belt he immediately interject himself in a tournament to prove he is the prodigy. He knows being gifted in the ring he will have a target on his back for critics over small flaws. Best way to silence those critics is to tear down the house and prove why is the prodigy.

Interesting tidbits from Survivor Series

Survivor Series coming and always been a favorite event of mines. It's known Undertaker made his WWE/F debut in event. Also came out of the event is the awful Gobbedly Gooker, start of Bret and Owen Hart feud, Montreal screwjob, bait-and-switch which Big Show won WWE/F World Heavyweight title, and showering of "CM Punk" chants from Philadelphia crowd. There's some tidbits few or no one knew happened at the event. Here's a few:

Brutus Beefcake and Honky Tonk Man faced each in the opener for three straight years - in first three years of event Beefcake and HTM tangled in opening match with their respective teams. Beefcake come out on top being one of surviving wrestlers in 1989. HTM went 0-3 in surviving.

Last Hurrah for he Magnificent and the Wonderful - main event has Hulk Hogan team against Andre the Giant team. Two members of Hogan's team were Don Muraco and Paul Orndorff in the only PPV main event appearance. It's also their only Survivor Series appearance.

Hart Foundation does Demolition Decapitation and gets a two count while Demolition STILL in the match - this happened during tag team elimination match of Survivor Series 89. Jim Neidhart held a Conquistador in backbreaker position and Bret Hart came off the turnbuckle hitting him with elbow drop only garnering a two count. This was Demolition finisher and they were STILL in the match.

1988 Survivor Series only time they did co-captains

Hercules main evented Survivor Series twice - the late mighty Hercules was mid-card wrestler entire WWF tenure, but he made it to final match of Survivor Series not once, but twice. In 1988 where he was part of Hogan/Savage team and 1990 when he was part of Rick Martel team that won and got themselves in the final match.

Angelo Poffo ICW collides - for total of 23 seconds two old rivals from Poffo ICW collided as in Randy Savage and Ronnie Garvin. It was lopsided as Savage beat Garvin down entire time when they were in the ring together.

NWA sign - at Survivor Series 89, a fan few rows from the front held "NWA is Where It's At" sign during Hulk Hogan's team entrance.

Zeus is afraid of snakes - for Zeus nothing can harm him feeling no pain from punches, kicks, and bodyslams. When Jake Roberts threw the snake in the ring every member from Ted DiBiase team bailed including "Human Wrecking Machine" himself revealing his first (and only his only) weakness.

Powers of Pain gets eliminated for ignoring the 5 count - Powers of Pain hit spike piledriver on Hulk Hogan, but the referee counted to five and disqualified the team for not getting out of the ring within 5 count rule. It's possibly only tag team to get eliminated for ignoring that rule on a PPV.

While 1990 is the only time Survivor Series introduced Grand Finale these wrestlers can claim they main evented WWE/F PPV once: Tito Santana, Rick Martel, Paul Roma, and Warlord.

Speaking of Tito Santana he got revenge on Warlord eliminating him seconds into the match. Warlord beat Santana at Summerslam that year.

Anyone got more to add?

Why ECW matterd to a fan

Been watching ECW stuff on WWE Network this week. The matches may have aged badly, but excitement of it still there. It was 20 years ago I was introduced Extreme Championship Wrestling through magazines of Bill Apter on the newstands. Being at supermarket and browsing through the magazine I came across article of Texas Deathmatch between Cactus Jack and Sandman on super exaggerated account of being in hospital after the match. While so used to watch WWF and WCW while growing up this fed stuck to me due to article written about the match. I didn't have internet at the time or heard anything about dirt sheets til 1997. These Apter magazines were gateway to indies and ECW stuck out. I followed ECW through these issues mentioning about Public Enemy breaking tables to Mikey Whipwreck a champion and pictures Axl and Ian Rotten bloody feud and Tommy Dreamer about to piledrive Beulah McGillicutty. The pictures of bloodied ECW wrestlers and mayhem told the story. It was when RAW episode ECW invaded and it was my first chance seeing them. In their three matches I came away hooked. At time it was fresh and out of ordinary. It was different. The first ECW PPV I saw was Living Dangerously 98 and loved the show from RVD and Scorpio match to three-way tag team brawl which New Jack and Spike Dudley dove off the balcony onto Bubba Ray and D-Von Dudley. How can I forget Taz and Bam Bam Bigelow match which Bigelow put Taz through the ring. Then next PPV Heatwave 98 as they put on building burning show with Masato Tanaka and Mike Awesome crisscrossing their feud from FMW to ECW along with RVD/Sabu battling Hayabusa/Jinsei Shinzaki. Main event of Tommy Dreamer/Sandman/Spike Dudley plundering the Dudley Boyz with appearance of New Jack after the match. Something that clicked while watching ECW. Whether its wild frenzy brawls or the fans or the matches it stood out and it during time WWE/F Attitude went full speed. Soon I got tapes of ECW shows and was amazed of the action. I stuck with ECW even when they were going down the drain til it died.

Watching through episodes of ECW Hardcore TV I understood its importance. At the time they were cutting edge and breaking down the barriers with their feuds, storylines and in-ring action. The fans were very rabid becoming very loyal to ECW. What also stuck out more was "us vs them" mentality whether its WCW, WWE/F, censors, and various third parties. They were not going be this puppet to anyone unlike current landscape of wrestling. They will step on toes and be progressive in wrestling with their product. ECW is so influential as their roster gets raided and storylines get lifted into mainstream. Many indy feds have tried copy ECW success to no avail. Some indy feds have been influenced by ECW.

How many closed down feds will have "reunion" show years later and fans still be rabid about it? Just one and its ECW. Whatever Kool-Aid the genius mind of Paul Heyman offered it must be good as he and the wrestlers took us one hell of a ride. E-C-DUB! E-C-DUB!

Why 2002 Anaheim Angels Run to World Series is Memorable

World Series starts tonight and throughout the years there were so many memorable teams that won it. One of my all-time favorites will always be 2002 Anaheim Angels team. At the time the team payroll was in the middle of the league. The team consist players they built through minor league system such as Tim Salmon, Garrett Anderson, Troy Glaus, Darin Erstad, Benji Molina, Jarrod Washburn, Troy Percival, and Scott Shoeneweis to name a few. Along the way they picked up Martin Donnelly who was cast away bouncing around minors. When teams expanded the roster in September they called up two players who turned out to be key for the team: John Lackey and Francisco Rodriguez. With Mike Scioscia managing they employed back-to-basics offense with timed hitting spraying the ball through gaps of the field and hard-nose running on the bases. They got their chemistry working in the season and made their run to the playoffs with a hot September.

In the divisional series they took on dangerous high-priced New York Yankees team. When they lost game one you thought Yankees easily moving on. Wrong. The next three games Angels obliterated Yankees with offensive show as they took three straight to eliminate them in shocking fashion. They took on Twins which they lost game one then proceed win next four putting them in World Series. In the World Series they are pitted against Giants with a feared batter in name of Barry Bonds. Both teams battle back and fourth in barrage of offensive firepower. Down in the series 3-2 Angels was in must win situation. Things were not looking up being down 5-0 on bottom of the 7th and their season possibly ended the bats came alive for the Angels. Glaus and Brad Fullmer hit back-to-back singles only for Scott Spiezio hit 3-run homerun making it 5-3. On bottom of the 8th Darin Erstad open up with a homerun. Later in the inning Glaus double drove in Garrett Anderson and Chone Figgins coming back from 0-5 to lead 6-5 as they hang on to win. Now on season ending game 7 Angels handed the ball to then-rookie John Lackey. Giants struck first with a run in the 2nd. Angels bounce back tying it up in bottom of the 2nd. In bottom of the 3rd with bases loaded Anderson cleared it with a double sending David Eckstein, Erstad, and Tim Salmon home making it 4-1. It was enough runs for the Angels. Lackey would hold on the lead giving way to Martin Donnelly then Francisco Rodriguez then to Troy Percival saving the game. Final score: 4-1 and Anaheim Angels are 2002 World Series champs. What the team did on the field with offense and pitching strategy was art. It was old school and going clutch when needed.

Angels World Series victory changed the way how teams build a team into a contender. It wasn't through big money free agency. It was through old school homegrown style of scouting for "hidden" talents and going through minor league system. They made teams realize if they build a team into a World Series winner they can do it. It showed with Florida Marlins winning it the following year. St. Louis Cardinals have always been constant winner with trips to playoffs and World Series. There's Tampa Bay Rays who made few runs to the playoff including World Series appearance. That method still going on today with two teams in the World Series: Royals and Giants. If they can build it they can win.

Random Autograph Card: MIke Moustakas

Royals going to World Series and one of key players is this guy with his hitting and catching. I got this signed when he was with Royals Double-A club Northwest Arkansas in 2010.  Every year I kept wondering when will Royals get it together for playoff run. They won almost everything in the minors with these same group of players. Now they got it together this season and surge themselves to World Series.