Dan On The Street - Sports and More from Dan Sheldon » Fighting

Herschel Walker’s College Diet Consisted of Nothing But Snickers Bars

Dan Sheldon — Wed, 26 Jan 2011 10:05:40 +0000

"I don't know whether you're naive or stupid, that God just takes care of you..."

Herschel Walker, among many unique rituals, contends that he only eats one meal a day. While that seems somewhat plausible, he ups the ante when talking about a stretch of time while at the University of Georgia where he says he ate nothing but Snickers candy bars for about 6 weeks.

As told to the Dan LeBatard radio show on 790 AM in Miami:

"I remember when I was at the University of Georgia, I started eating Snickers bars. I actually loved candy bars and I ate Snickers bars.

For almost a month and a half, that was my one meal of the day was Snickers bars. And I was fine. Nothing ever changed. I worked out. I had the energy.

I went out and did what I was supposed to do and I don't know whether you're naive or stupid, that God just takes care of you because I wasn't thinking about all the cholesterol, all the calories, all this. All I was thinking about was getting my job done.

It was probably about 10 Snickers bars. My one meal was probably about 10 of them. So it wasn't just one, I had a bunch of 'em."

Jared from Subway just killed himself.

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Evander Holyfield wants another fight with Mike Tyson

Dan Sheldon — Sat, 03 Jul 2010 22:16:36 +0000

13 years after Tyson took away part of his ear... Holyfield is sadly continuing to look for more ways to harm himself.

At age 47, Holyfield is the WBF heavyweight boxing champion and dreams of also holding belts that have been in existence for more than two years. Telling the 2 Live Stews radio show that he believes he'll once again be the undisputed champ:

"That's the whole goal. It would be no reason for me to be fighting, if I wasn't going to take all them belts back. And I'm going to take them belts back. They give me a hard time but, you know what, I'm a patient person and age ain't nothing but a number and they can say what they want to say. They'll see me in the winner's circle."

Holyfield is 7-7-1 since Lennox Lewis knocked him off the boxing relevance radar in 1999. Since then his victories have come against fighters like Francois Botha whose nickname is "White Buffalo."

That would be like a sprinter nicknamed "White Manatee."

Holyfield wouldn't mind moving off the grazing animals and finding his way back to Mike Tyson but only if it's not a gimmick. Fortunately, a 47 year old taking on a 44 year old inside the ring is never gimmicky. That's just good, strong matchmaking in any retirement community.

"They were asking me. They said Mike done lost his weight. And they said would you really fight him? I said if Mike want to fight, I will fight. But I'm not going to pursue something that somebody doesn't want to do. I've got to hear Mike say that before I even put it out there. I don't want to be a part of any kind of gimmick. So, if he wanna fight, we'll fight. If he don't want to fight, I understand."

Remember when Tyson was considered the crazy one?

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Muhsin Muhammad “wasn’t a big fan” of Ron Turner

Dan Sheldon — Thu, 17 Jun 2010 10:21:17 +0000

Former Bears receiver doesn't hold back on the former Bears offensive coordinator...

Muhsin Muhammad joined the Waddle and Silvy on WMVP-AM in Chicago:

"I wasn't really a big fan of Ron Turner's. We worked together there and obviously had an opportunity to win a championship there and I think some of the things he did, with the young crew that we had, made it complicated. The protection schemes and, like I said, I think Mike Martz is a guy that you come in there, you simplify things, and still make it challenging for defenses to defend."

"I thought it was a great move. I thought that Lovie (Smith) needed someone to come in and rejuvenate the offense. Obviously, Mike Martz's challenge is to incorporate a tight end into his offense as well as be determined, focused, and committed to the running game..."

It's not hard to statistically illustrate where Muhammad's frustrations come from. He had 1,405 receiving yards and 16 touchdowns in 2004 with Carolina. That was followed by a move to Chicago and a precipitous drop off in his personal production beginning the following year (750 yds, 4 TD's).

Meanwhile, Jay Cutler joined their show on Wednesday and dispelled the notion that learning Mike Martz's system has been any less challenging.

"I would definitely not classify (Mike Martz's offense) as simpler."

Whatever your opinion of the now Colts wide receivers coach, Turner's offense ranked in the bottom half of the league in 4 of his 5 seasons in Chicago.

Martz's scheme also never got out of the bottom half of the league during his most recent stops in San Francisco and Detroit. But, unlike Turner, Martz's offense improved those teams' production over the previous year and from year to year.

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Pro Wrestling: DDP a Decade Later

Dan Sheldon — Tue, 15 Jun 2010 16:04:14 +0000

Diamond Dallas Page provides rare proof that there can be life after pro wrestling...

The 54 year old former World Championship Wrestling heavyweight champion spends his time spreading the word about his workout regimen called "YRG" or "Yoga for Regular Guys."

Page, along with ex-wife and business partner Kimberly Page, demonstrated one of the workouts to a group of attendees recently at the Promolast wrestling convention in Atlanta, Georgia.

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Kurt Angle vs. Kimbo Slice in the Octagon? It almost happened…

Dan Sheldon — Thu, 03 Jun 2010 11:32:15 +0000

At least, according to Kurt Angle...

There have been several professional wrestlers who have decided over the years to make the jump to mixed martial arts, most notably Brock Lesnar. And while Kurt Angle has had reported flirtations with UFC in the past, he tells Mark Madden at WXDX-FM in Pittsburgh that the latest twist involved Kimbo Slice:

"Last year I almost quit wrestling and I took the UFC physical. Dana White flew me out to take the physical and I passed it with flying colors and Dana White was very happy.

He wanted me to be on "Real Fighter" with Kimbo Slice. And I'm not going to tell you the amount but he was going to pay me a significant amount to be on the show. Which he doesn't pay his fighters to be on the show because you have to fight for a contract. But he wanted to give me a 2 year deal, 6 fight deal and he told me that I had to quit wrestling. I had to retire and I couldn't go back.

And when I thought about it back and forth, I thought I don't know if I can quit wrestling right now. Plus, if I did I'd want to give TNA at least a 6 month window to let them know I was going to leave. So I couldn't do that to TNA. I apologized to Dana White and I apologized a million times and him and I are on great terms. If I decide to go UFC, MMA, he would definitely be interested but right now I just have my sights on making TNA bigger and better."

I'm guessing Angle meant the TV show "Ultimate Fighter" instead of "Real Fighter" but no matter. Slice's most recent defeat coupled with Angle's loyalty (not to mention Father Time) likely mean that this matchup goes down as one for the ages had MMA found its foothold in society about a decade earlier.

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PCW Episode 5: Konkrete Gorillaz

Dan Sheldon — Sun, 30 May 2010 20:47:11 +0000

Promoted as the scariest tag team in professional wrestling, the Konkrete Gorillaz evoke a divisive image to deliver their message.

Full transcript below:

Stephen Platinum, PCW promoter (watching show on monitor):

Kid, you don't know. Sit down! Kid, you don't know. Sit the f--- down! Sit down. Holy s---!

Platinum (interview):

When Nemesis gets wound up and he starts getting mad, it's frightening to behold.

Anthony "Nemesis" Mills, Professional Wrestler (interview):

I was born with these wrinkles in my head.

Platinum (interview):

They're the scariest heels in wrestling, period.

Platinum (film review session):

How often do you get to shock a wrestling crowd?

Platinum (interview):

They're the very epitome of what white people are terrified of and they fit the bill.

Nemesis (interview):

Whatever you choose for yourself to do, it's gotta be part of you. I'm gangster. I'm 'hood. Jay, he 'hood.

James "Jay Fury" Card, Professional Wrestler (interview):

There are so many different stereotypes in wrestling, period, to where just because I'm a black man, I've gotta get offended at a gangster gimmick? To me, that's a hypocrite move and I'll be damned if I'm going to be a hypocrite.

Nemesis (interview):

Konkrete Gorillaz is what we represent.

Platinum (interview):

Do the Konkrete Gorillaz play on a stereotype? Yes. And is that okay? Yes. Should it be overt? Yes.

Nemesis (interview):

I have a criminal record. I'm keeping it 100 with you.

Jay Fury (interview):

Everything Nemesis does, I've been around it and seen it. But I don't do it myself.

Nemesis (interview):

I had to leave the business because I got locked up for dope. Selling cocaine.

Jay Fury (interview):

Nemesis, when I first met him was an a--hole. I couldn't stand him.

Nemesis (interview):

Oh, I was a motherf---er.

Platinum (interview):

The last time Nemesis and I saw each other before PCW got going again, he and I were an inch away from each other's face screaming at each other.

Nemesis (interview):

(Laughter)

Platinum (interview):

And it almost came to us punching each other.

Nemesis (interview):

He could've still been going off of the past with me, but he gave me an opportunity and a chance.

Platinum (post show speech):

Do you want the happy thing or the not so happy thing?

Wrestlers (to Platinum):

Not so happy.

Platinum (post show speech):

Show up for f----ing practice. That's the not so happy thing. You've got Jay (Fury) teaching you the physical aspects of this game which he is as good at as anybody in the business.

Jay Fury (at practice):

Tara, you're the face. Get on it. Go!

Jay Fury (interview):

It's hard for me because the type of stuff I do in the ring, they cheer me. But at the same time, I can't let them. I've gotta do everything in my power to make them hate me.

Jay Fury (interview):

One thing I've always learned in wrestling, if a fan touches you or even remotely thinks he's going to do something to you, you do it to him first.

Nemesis (interview):

He wanted to be a part of it.

Corey Nachamkin, Wrestling Fan (interview):

Every fan, hardcore fan, dreams of the back and forth.

Nemesis (interview):

And if you notice I put my hands really on him. He didn't ask no more. (laughter)

Nachamkin (interview):

He put me on my a--. He showed me my place.

Platinum (post show speech):

If you are not getting a reaction, get one! If you've gotta stab the fat guy in the f---ing blue shirt? You stab him. By the way, Nemesis. The official position of Platinum Championship Wrestling is 'shame, shame, shame on you.'

Nemesis (interview):

Steve is the coolest promoter that I done ran across.

Platinum (post show speech):

...naughty.

Nemesis (interview):

He's like, 'Yeah, you know, I'll give Nemesis a chance.' And I thank him for it, you feel me?

Platinum (interview):

I'm glad Nemesis feels that way but really I think I get the better end of the deal. I get a guy who I think has gotta sense of legitimacy about him and a guy who is going to take what he is doing seriously. And a guy that has an air of desperation on him. And a little bit of fear. And I think that's how you should operate in a wrestling ring. I think you should be afraid and I think you should be a little bit desperate because it's dangerous.

Nemesis (interview):

I'm at the age right now that I'm trying to do something with my life. I really am. If I never ever get a contract, that's cool. At least I have fun in this business, you feel me?

Nemesis (at house):

This is the shop! This is Mills, Inc.!

Nemesis (interview):

I do t-shirts. I'm a screen printer. So right now I'm banking everything on my screen printing. Getting my own business off the ground. I ain't trying to do nothing illegal anymore. I don't even jaywalk. I'm tired. I'm tired of going to jail. I'm too old to be going to jail, man.

Nemesis (at house):

I'm 40 years old, man. I'll be 41 July the 8th. Yep, I'll be 41. So, you know, my time is limited. One day. One day everything that I'm working for is going to come into place. Maybe not everything but some of it's going to fall in place because I'm telling you I've been through the ringer.

Nemesis (in-ring promo):

Now, I carry the weight of the jungle on my back!

Nemesis (interview):

It's just me and Jay now but this whole Konkrete Gorilla thing is going to grow. There's going to be more of us. But I don't go out there and say, 'Hey, you look good. Let me let you be a Gorilla. You want to be a Gorilla?' No, it's not cut like that. You gotta put time out there on those motherf---ing streets, man. For real.

Platinum (interview):

Nowadays what are wrestling stereotypes? 'Oh, we don't have them because we're too scared.' F--- 'em. PCW, were' going to play it to the hilt. In a league with Dwight Power, I'm not going to sweat whether the Konkrete Gorillaz enforce a bad stereotype.

Dwight Power, Professional Wrestler (walking to ring):

Dwight Power! Dwight Power! Dwight Power!

Platinum (interview):

Those stereotypes need to exist in pro wrestling because without them, we can't comment on them. We can't make the gimmick more nuanced, if they aren't easily understandible first.

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PCW Episode 4: The Goth Saga

Dan Sheldon — Sat, 15 May 2010 04:54:14 +0000

Controversy follows the wrestler... known as "Goth."

Second generation wrestler Logan Price joins the Platinum Championship Wrestling stable but not without a measure of resistance.

Full video transcript below:

Stephen Platinum (in locker room):

"Introducing Goth. Everybody this is Goth. Say, 'Hi, Goth.'"

Wrestlers (in locker room):

"Hi, Goth!"

Platinum (in locker room):

"I want shock and awe of, 'Holy crap. What just hit the ring.'"

Platinum:

"We have the ongoing Goth saga. We used Goth last week and he's been a royal pain in the ass."

Logan Price "Goth":

I'm a 16 year veteran in this business.

Platinum:

"He's a veteran. He's been around the indie scene for years."

Goth:

"I don't go 9 to 5 and hit a time clock during the week and then come the weekend put on a pair of tights and think that I'm playing superhero for the weekend."

Platinum:

"He's used to having to protect himself in the business. That's very clear."

Goth:

"Obviously, I'm not working at the Wal-Mart with a haircut like this and looking the way I look but I don't conform."

Platinum:

"He's used to having to sort of throw his weight around. He's a scary guy. He's a big, scary guy."

Goth:

"Same guy you see sitting in this chair is the same guy you're going to see riding his Harley down the highway heading to the gym for two hours pumping iron. Same guy that will beat your ass if you cross him. I am what I am. This isn't some gimmick. It isn't some show. It isn't some put on."

Platinum:

"He came highly recommended with this idea that I could deal with his foibles."

Goth:

"I do what I want to do. I live my life the way I want to live it and if you don't like it, well, that's just too damn bad."

Platinum:

"It was this close to me saying, 'No.' In fact, I literally said on the phone to him yesterday, 'I don't think this is going to work out. Nevermind.'"

Goth (in ring):

"Sports entertainment sucks! Real men still wrestle."

Goth:

"Let's make no mistake. I'm not a sports entertainer. I didn't win some damn contest on MTV. My father was a professional wrestler. Rugged Rod Price the California Studd used to be tag team partners with a guy by the name of Steve Austin you may have heard of. I was born to this business. I eat, live, sleep, breathe it."

Goth (at gym):

"Promoters know that, yeah, I'm stiff. Yeah, I'll lay it in. Yeah, if you try to do something stupid, you might not wake up. You try to roll up on me, I'll freakin' cripple you. That's happened a couple of times, you know. There are a couple of guys out there right now that ain't wrestling no more because they ain't walking too good right now.

If you're going to be anything that's real and be a real wrestler in this business then you might as well sign over your body 'cause it's gone. That's as much as my arm will straighten out. That's from wrestling. Boot lace prints on the side of my face like some kind of Star Trek character for about two weeks. Knocked a tooth out of my head. Knocked me unconscious, concussion, broke my jaw. And people get this misconception it's all glamor and lights and money and women and you know what? Yeah it's out there man, but that's that much of it, you know.

I have a 13 year old son who is my life. I wasn't there to see his first steps. I wasn't there to hear his first words and I wasn't there for some birthdays. And that tears me up inside, you know. When you get in this business, you better be ready to accept that.

I don't give a damn if I never get a major contract ever again. Until my body will not let me walk anymore I will be in a ring just like my dad."

Goth (in ring):

"See, I came from a time when this (does John Cena hand motion) meant nothing. But this (does 4 horsemen hand motion), this meant everything. Batista called. He wants his gimmick back, jack ass."

Platinum (in locker room):

"Don't invoke current stars of the game. Don't bring up Batista. This (Cena motion) is okay because we all hate that a--h---. But don't say anybody... I used to say don't invoke superior talent. Bringing up old school guys is wonderful and very PCW."

Goth (at gym):

"He's got a passion for it, man. And the guy has a phenomenal mind for the wrestling business. I mean phenomenal mind which I totally respect."

Platinum:

"We're always going to have conflict but I think through that conflict can come something spectacular."

Goth (ring side, post show):

"Here, you guys gotta be the greatest group of guys ever. You know what I mean? I came in and I know there were some weird f---ing reactions when you heard I was coming because I've got a helluva reputation. And half of it's true and half of it's...

Nemesis (wrestler, off camera):

"You got some f---ed up reputation."

Goth:

"Yeah, you're right, okay so I have a f---ed up reputation but you guys said you know what, f--- it, we'll give him a chance and ever since then it's been like a family man. I just want to tell you how much I appreciate you guys all welcoming me and the respect you show me and the respect I show you and how cool it is and how happy I and proud I am to be here, man."

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Manny Pacquiao won’t make concessions… because he’s Filipino?

Dan Sheldon — Wed, 05 May 2010 02:39:03 +0000

So says his promoter/political strategist Bob Arum...

The "2 Live Stews" radio show asked Arum why Pacquiao won't make the drug testing concessions necessary for a matchup with Floyd Mayweather. What followed was a wonderful history lesson that included a little known fact: the Americans actually surrendered to the Japanese during World War II. Who knew.

"Pacquiao is a Filipino and nobody is going to bully a Filipino. When the Americans in the second World War surrendered to the Japanese, the Filipinos never surrendered. And for the whole time that MacArthur was fighting other battles in the Pacific, and there was Japanese occupation of the Phillipines, the Phillipine Army stayed intact and gave the Japanese hell throughout the second World War. That's the makeup of the Filipinos. They are a very gentle race of people but they're not going to be bullied. And when you try to bully them, they get their back up against the wall and they're just not going to take it."

I'm guessing Arum misspoke because if he actually believes the US surrendered to Japan in WW2, he's probably also confused as to why he's not making up racial stereotypes in Japanese.

Arum also says he's heading to the Phillipines but not to convince Pacquiao to broker a deal with Mayweather.

"I think each side is going to have to give somewhat to get this fight done. But that is not the purpose of my visit and people shouldn't mistake it. I'm not going to the Phillipines to talk to Manny Pacquiao about boxing. I'm going to the Phillipines to see if I can somehow help my guy with an election."

Pacquiao is currently campaigning for a congressional seat in the Phillipines.

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Tommy Hearns has seen Better Days

Dan Sheldon — Fri, 30 Apr 2010 23:23:33 +0000

And a national radio show has no problem telling you about it...
"What he gonna do? Drool on me? What he gonna do?"...

Many radio shows have heeded the siren call of Las Vegas and taken the opportunity to broadcast their shows on location for free or at reduced rates in order to drive interest and pay-per-view buys for this weekend's Floyd Mayweather - Shane Mosley fight.

In addition, Thomas Hearns is one of the boxers making the radio rounds to help promote the sport and the fight. He dropped in with "The 2 Live Stews" and proceeded to engage the hosts in an amiable, and at times incoherent, five minute conversation.

It quickly became clear that years of taking shots to the head have taken a toll on Hearns's speech pattern. The two hosts cordially made their way through the quick interview... and then the second segment of the show happened:

To be fair, I know they're the Stewart brothers and they have distinctly different voices but I don't listen to the show often enough to know if it's Doug or Ryan acting as the antagonist during this exchange:

"Before you move on, Dogs and Poodles, stop sending me the e-mails about the Hitman. Just stop it. I'm not going to read them. I'm not going to talk about it. I'm trying to move forward with my life and this show. Stop sending me those e-mails."

"Y'all better than that, man."

"Y'all should be better than that. That man is boxing royalty. I don't care if he has no idea where his... what?"

"He's right there, man."

"Oh, okay. My bad."

"He's right there!"

"My bad. Okay."

"What if the Hitman come back over here and have a problem with you talking about him?"

"What he gonna do? Drool on me? What he gonna do?"

"No, he whup yo ass!"

"Please!"

"Them hands don't leave."

"You out of your damn mind."

"What do you mean I'm out of my damn mind? That man's hands are registered as lethal weapons. Are you crazy?"

"I'm going to say this as respectful as I can."

"Okay, well keep on talking then."

"You listening?"

"Go ahead."

"If he was to step to me, I would tear his tail up. That cat held his eyes closed so long trying to get one of them sentences out. How he gonna hit me? You gotta be out of your mind."

"Man, what kind of professional are you?"

"What do you mean?"

"That's not professional."

"You never should have brought this up."

"You brought it up!"

"I was about to talk about Favre!"

"You brought it up. You said, 'Dogs and Poodles, stop e-mailing me about Tommy Hearns.'"

"Well that's true. I did say that."

"Why are you doing this though?"

"I just want to move on."

"You're talking about him behind his back."

"If y'all think he can take me you're out of your mind."

"The man did us first out of all these shows on radio row and this is how you repay him?"

"I guarantee you, it took him an hour and a half to put that jacket on this morning. I guarantee you. He wanna fight me? Please, you're out of your damn mind."

Mocking a 51 year old ex-boxing legend while he stands mere feet away? Maybe it's part of the secret to their show's success? I don't listen often enough to know but it probably doesn't fall under most people's definition of "best business practices."

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PCW Episode 3: Referee Authority

Dan Sheldon — Mon, 19 Apr 2010 09:55:38 +0000

The importance of a good referee can not be overstated in Platinum Championship Wrestling. Stephen Platinum explains why he thinks his top ref, Duke Korey, is the best in the business and why his organization uses officials in ways that are different than WWE, TNA, and others.

Full story transcript below:

Stephen Platinum, PCW Promoter (post show in ring):

Guess what? The whole f---ing show was good. It was fantastic top to bottom.

Austin "Consequences Creed" Watson (in-show promo):

I don't need you to cheer for me, I know I'm good.

Platinum (post show speech in ring):

But all I found myself doing in every single match is looking at Duke and going, "Holy f---!" This is the best pro wrestling referee I've ever been around. And you can tell by looking at him, he doesn't work out a single minute of the day.

Duke Korey (interview):

I can add to the drama of the match.

Platinum (interview):

He brings a sort of authority.

Korey (interview):

Getting down there and slapping the mat and counting... and then "No, two!"

Platinum (interview):

He was born to be a pro wrestling referee.

Korey (interview):

Steve can be a hard ass...

Platinum (post show speech in locker room):

You guys memorized your match and then you got lost and you looked like dog s---.

Korey (interview):

And he expects you to perform at a very high level.

Platinum (interview):

He sells what's going on in the ring as ably as the performers themselves do. If the match isn't going well or if I feel like it's a good time to wrap it up, through Duke I will signal them to "take the match home" which means to finish it quickly.

Platinum (watching show on monitor):

Oh, God! F---! Do something!

Korey (interview):

I worry that Steve thinks I didn't tell them, you know? So sometimes I'll tell them like 3 times and finally one of them's like, 'Yeah, I know, we're getting there.' So it's just like. I feel like there's some responsibility on my shoulders.

Platinum (interview):

We don't do what are called "ref bumps" where our referees don't get knocked down and our referees don't get put in ridiculous situations where they accidentally get hit. 'Oh, we don't know who we want to win' or 'we don't really want either one of these guys to look bad so the referee will get knocked down.' I think it's so silly and I think it's one of those things that makes pro wrestling look really stupid and embarrasses pro wrestling fans. I think, too, if we establish the fact that we don't do it, that it will force the business at large to change. It's one of the things I really want to change and I just kind of want to stick it to the other wrestling companies and be like, "You know what? You don't have to knock your referees down in order to have a finish that works.

Platinum (post show speech in ring):

This is a f---ing war, I've told you again. We are fighting a war against a pro wrestling business that hates itself and we're going to teach it to love itself again. I don't want to promise anything but this story's gotta end. It's gotta end big.

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