Before I get too far started, I did my best to give a great online interview to Charlene about the pro wrestling business last night. For those of you who check out this blog on a regular basis, please feel free to divert your attention to www.charlenetellsall.blogspot.com. A warning ahead of time, one or two morons post about a dozen anonymous comments regularly on this blog, and they will probably get started on this interview anytime. But to the people who read this blog and appreciate it for what it is, I know you see all too well right through those two lifeless losers.
Now, there is a popular rumour floating around local wrestling circles that yours truly is suffering from a severe depression, and might be at such a low point that I may just off myself. In fact, one of the guys who posts many comments anonymously and regularly, suggested that a bunch of guys get together and spring for a shrink for me as a Christmas gift. I thought, well isn't that a thoughtful gesture. Please do.
Truthfully, I have been depressed, and it felt major at times, and minor at others. But for the most part that isn't anything out of the ordinary for me. People who have worked closely with me for years, and people who have gotten to know me both inside and outside of the wrestling business will attest to the fact that they've often wondered if I was Manic, bi-polar or some other form of a chemical imbalance. I'm either the happiest, funniest and most pumped up guy in the office, or I'm the saddest, most irritable, and hard to please guy, and it can switch in the span of 10 minutes.
So what did I do when I felt like I was sinking at times. I went to a therapist, and talked openly about life. Sometimes we talked about why I don't like winter. Or how I hate being abandoned, or how much pressure work has been. Or why the news anchor dumped in 2000. We talked a lot about my family life, and professional life, and I just let it out. The great thing about therapy, is it allows you to figure out your own shit, and if you honestly want to get better, you find the strength to do so.
I've also leaned on some of the best friends anybody has ever had in this world, and boy have they been there for me. Everyone will always say they have the best set of friends in the world, but mine listened to me at all hours of the night, just to hear me say I'd be alright. I can understand how whispers started that I was at risk of being yet another young casualty in the wrestling business. But those were just friends who were worried about me.
Fact is, I've never been better. I'm working on a brand new entertainment project that is something I couldn't be more happy about. One of the tough questions that Charlene asked me about was when I would return to my promoting wrestling roots and run a show or two. Who knows, I don't know if that will add to my happiness or make my stress level unbearable. So I will leave that door wide open.
So don't worry about me today. I'm doing fine. I will check back in a month and confirm I'm just fine then. And again in 6 months. I still will be doing just fine.
Monday, December 8, 2008
Tuesday, December 2, 2008
A Perfect World in Bomberland
A few short weeks ago, following the dismissal of Doug Berry as Head Coach of the Winnipeg Blue Bombers, I was openly skeptical of the front-runner Mike Kelly. Today, Mike Kelly has been named Head Coach and Offensive Coordinator of the Bombers, and it is plain and simply the wrong choice.
Mike Kelly just finished a season as Receivers Coach of the Edmonton Eskimos. Lets give kudos where they are deserved, whatever he did to make Kamau Peterson an all-star, and Most Outstanding Canadian is impressive to anyone who is forced to remember Peterson's season and a half in Winnipeg, and 2+ forgettable seasons in Hamilton. Edmonton's receivers were decent under the guidance of Kelly. It should be noted that Ricky Ray is arguably the best Quarterback in the CFL, and Rick Worman is a damn good Offensive Coordinator.
Kelly's claim to fame in the CFL was as Offensive Coordinator in Winnipeg from 1992-1996 under Cal Murphy. In his first two seasons, Kelly was the archetect of a damn good offense. Lets not fail to mention a hall of famer by the name of Matt Dunnigan was his QB. Dunnigan's backup in the first season was a young man named Danny MacManus as well. In his last two less than stellar seasons, with a combination of Sammy Garza, Reggie Slack and Kent Austin (a great quarterback in his own right) the Bombers offense was hidious. Nothing that would warrant automatic consideration as the new Blue Boss 12 years later (and rest assured, prior to Berry's firing, Bauer knew Kelly was the heir-apparent).
In a perfect world, the Bombers would have and should have promoted Defensive Coordinator Greg Marshall to Head Coach. Marshall has the respect of his defensive unit, and over his 3 seasons as the teams DC, has not had a season where the team didn't perform to expectation. In fact, all three seasons of the Doug Berry era where the team made the playoffs, including a Grey Cup loss, the defense was the selling feature for the team. Even with injuries to key personel, Barrin Simpson and Tom Canada this season, and the departure of one of the best defensive players in recent history Kyries Hybert, the team remained stingy when without the ball. Marshall has done this franchise proud, and without question should have received first consideration as new Head Coach. But he's not Bauer's cronie. Marshall should start a facebook club with Dave Ritchie, another coaching legend who did the franchise proud, but wasn't a buddy to Lyle.
Perfect worlds are very hypothetical, so lets play the what if game. Had Marshall been promoted to Head Coach, who would have made ideal candidates as Coordinators?
On the offensive side of the ball, Mike Kelly would make a great choice as OC. It would make Bauer happy for one, he's supposedly an Offensive genius, afterall. He said in his press conference today, his skill is to get the best out of a Quarterback. While Kevin Glenn definitely deserves a chance to play under a real Offensive Coordator. Kelly would have been easily available, after not even warranting consideration in Edmonton for their Head Coaching vacancy. OC in Winnipeg would still be a very fitting promotion for perhaps one of the most over-rated Head Coaches the Bombers have hired since Jim Daly and (shutter) Jeff Reinbolt.
Defensively, I'd call on Rich Stubler to bring the same tough defense from Toronto to Winnipeg. With Marshall overseeing the Defensive gameplan, and Stubler implementing some of his expertise, I do believe the team would be in good hands. Keep key personel, such as Doug Brown, Zeke Moreno, Gavin Walls, and the entire secondary, and this team would be an instant contender.
Unfortunately for Mike Kelly, he's truly a genuine nice gentleman, who badly wanted to be head coach of Winnipeg, and has the very tough task of delivering a Grey Cup to Winnipeg. Anything less, would make the fans wish for the days that Doug Berry was strong-arming the sidelines, and bringing our beloved blue, within one broken arm of a grey cup.
Good luck to Kelly. He got the job because he was a good guy, the type of guy the CEO would be proud to call a buddy, not because he had a great football resume, or was the right choice.
Mike Kelly just finished a season as Receivers Coach of the Edmonton Eskimos. Lets give kudos where they are deserved, whatever he did to make Kamau Peterson an all-star, and Most Outstanding Canadian is impressive to anyone who is forced to remember Peterson's season and a half in Winnipeg, and 2+ forgettable seasons in Hamilton. Edmonton's receivers were decent under the guidance of Kelly. It should be noted that Ricky Ray is arguably the best Quarterback in the CFL, and Rick Worman is a damn good Offensive Coordinator.
Kelly's claim to fame in the CFL was as Offensive Coordinator in Winnipeg from 1992-1996 under Cal Murphy. In his first two seasons, Kelly was the archetect of a damn good offense. Lets not fail to mention a hall of famer by the name of Matt Dunnigan was his QB. Dunnigan's backup in the first season was a young man named Danny MacManus as well. In his last two less than stellar seasons, with a combination of Sammy Garza, Reggie Slack and Kent Austin (a great quarterback in his own right) the Bombers offense was hidious. Nothing that would warrant automatic consideration as the new Blue Boss 12 years later (and rest assured, prior to Berry's firing, Bauer knew Kelly was the heir-apparent).
In a perfect world, the Bombers would have and should have promoted Defensive Coordinator Greg Marshall to Head Coach. Marshall has the respect of his defensive unit, and over his 3 seasons as the teams DC, has not had a season where the team didn't perform to expectation. In fact, all three seasons of the Doug Berry era where the team made the playoffs, including a Grey Cup loss, the defense was the selling feature for the team. Even with injuries to key personel, Barrin Simpson and Tom Canada this season, and the departure of one of the best defensive players in recent history Kyries Hybert, the team remained stingy when without the ball. Marshall has done this franchise proud, and without question should have received first consideration as new Head Coach. But he's not Bauer's cronie. Marshall should start a facebook club with Dave Ritchie, another coaching legend who did the franchise proud, but wasn't a buddy to Lyle.
Perfect worlds are very hypothetical, so lets play the what if game. Had Marshall been promoted to Head Coach, who would have made ideal candidates as Coordinators?
On the offensive side of the ball, Mike Kelly would make a great choice as OC. It would make Bauer happy for one, he's supposedly an Offensive genius, afterall. He said in his press conference today, his skill is to get the best out of a Quarterback. While Kevin Glenn definitely deserves a chance to play under a real Offensive Coordator. Kelly would have been easily available, after not even warranting consideration in Edmonton for their Head Coaching vacancy. OC in Winnipeg would still be a very fitting promotion for perhaps one of the most over-rated Head Coaches the Bombers have hired since Jim Daly and (shutter) Jeff Reinbolt.
Defensively, I'd call on Rich Stubler to bring the same tough defense from Toronto to Winnipeg. With Marshall overseeing the Defensive gameplan, and Stubler implementing some of his expertise, I do believe the team would be in good hands. Keep key personel, such as Doug Brown, Zeke Moreno, Gavin Walls, and the entire secondary, and this team would be an instant contender.
Unfortunately for Mike Kelly, he's truly a genuine nice gentleman, who badly wanted to be head coach of Winnipeg, and has the very tough task of delivering a Grey Cup to Winnipeg. Anything less, would make the fans wish for the days that Doug Berry was strong-arming the sidelines, and bringing our beloved blue, within one broken arm of a grey cup.
Good luck to Kelly. He got the job because he was a good guy, the type of guy the CEO would be proud to call a buddy, not because he had a great football resume, or was the right choice.
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