GhostMachine

Okay, so its now looking like what Alosi did was intentional, and the Jets have changed his suspension from until the end of the season instead of indefinite. And to me that smells fishy. I thought a suspension without pay was a decent punishment since it was possible it was a spur of the moment thing. But if he fully intended to do it, you have to wonder if the Jets knew about it beforehand and are just covering their asses since he hasn't actually been fired. Now I believe its time the commissioner and rules committee should do something to make sure things like this don't happen again. Make a rule that if someone interferes with a player, they get tossed off the field immediately AND suspended for the first offense, kicked out of the league for a second. And to make sure they have extra incentive not to do it, make it so that if the player in question gets hurt, they get a free replacement from the other team. (By free, I mean the team they came from will be still be paying their salary until the end of the season or whenever the injured player is recovered enough to play again.)

If you haven't already tried it, I highly recommend Mass Effect 2.

All I've got to say is, if you get the PC version, don't wait for the GOTY edition (if there is one), because they'll probably fuck over everyone who buys that like they with Oblivion. (When they released the Knights of the Nine expansion for Oblivion by itself, it included all the paid DLC that had been put out. But when the GOTY edition came out for PC, that DLC wasn't included in the boxed edition. You had to buy it off Steam to get it, or go buy it online separately....which was a crock of shit. Plus the website was down `for maintenance' for at least 3 or 4 months, so I couldn't even go buy it back then.)

I finally beat a Road to Wrestlemania. Using a CAW I made ("Nightmare" Jason Xavier), I beat the Undertaker's streak one. During the ladder match I got out of the ring fast and ran the ladder at the bottom of the screen all the way up to the entrance stage and set it up. While Jericho went after it, I went to town on Kozlov. I never climbed the ladder unless I was sure it was safe. I'd jump off if one of them started climbing then go around the other side and knock them off. (The ladder only got pushed over with me on it once) During the final match at Wrestlemania, I noticed Undertaker was reversing a hell of a lot if I tried grapples (and even reversed an attempt at a special while he was groggy), so I basically used running strikes and grapples with a few (not many) strong strikes and only grappled if he was groggy. The only time I got reversed doing all that, he did a back drop counter to a running attack. I actually beat him without a special or finisher connecting! The fact I had Ring Escape also helped; I rolled out of the ring to avoid attacks about 5 times during the match. I swear Taker is harder to submit than just about anyone in the game; during Universe mode he got put into a #1 Contender Match vs. CM Punk, and I decided to play as Punk because Undertaker had been in the last 4 or 5 title matches (two or three as champ). I managed to beat him (and he countered the first GTS attempt), only for it to be restarted as a Submission match. Kept nailing specials and the GTS, yet he kept breaking out of submissions. Pretty sure I had to wear him down a lot more than I did Jericho in the submission challenge match in Mysterio's RTWM before he tapped.

Color me surprised at the streak ending. Either its a shadow suspension or his injury is really bad. I figured he'd get some cortisone shots and play at least the first possession. (No way the whole game, though) A fitting punishment for his kind. (High five and fist bump to the first person to get where that response is from. Knee to groin to anyone who guesses and gets it wrong, though)

Couldn't have said it better myself. Temple not going to a bowl game I'd attribute to the conference and/or region they're in more than their record. Tennessee finished 6-6 and are going to a bowl. Albeit, its the Music City Bowl.....

I agree, provided its without pay. Removing him from the field might be a good idea, as well. (They suggested making him watch the game from the boxes) According to the discussion on First Take, all a strength and conditioning coach does on the field during a game, unless players are hurt, is warn the players to keep off the white part of the field and try and keep the players pumped up. In other words, a job anyone else could do. Now, if Nolan Carroll had actually been hurt by what he did, I'd be all for firing him. And maybe making the Jets send one of their cornerbacks to the Dolphins as a replacement.

Like the new logo. Its simple, yet effective. Don't exactly like the choice of color, but its not bad. Division names are shit, though.

I watched part of First Take this morning and they had the 2 Live Stus on against Skip in 1st and 10. They talked about what the Jets' strength and conditioning coach did. Both of the Stewart brothers agreed that he should be fired, but Skip believed that was too harsh. Skip suggested at minimum suspending him for two weeks, at most suspending him without pay for the rest of the season and banning him from the field during games. (According to their discussion the strength and conditioning coach isn't really needed on the field during games) Oh, and how about that Jay Feely? They had him on (not in the studio but on camera rather than phone) and talked about that 23 yard fake field goal he ran in for a TD against Denver. Apparently at some point during the game on tv they actually showed the score with him on camera and rather than saying "Denver 3, Arizona 22" it said "Denver 3, Jay Feely 22"! My prediction for tonight: Giants win by 10 or more. Favre starts but doesn't play the whole game (I'm guessing probably a quarter, maybe the whole first half).

Game of the Year = Mass Effect 2. You can close the thread now.

Well, the Ladder/TLC/MITB matches are worse in this game. The opponents seem to get up even faster than in the previous game. Its about as realistic as someone eating a Stunner from Austin then getting back up ten seconds later no-selling it. And at least two of the RTWMs have matches involving ladders (MITB in Christian's, 4-way ladder in Mysterio's) that you have to win to continue. Honestly, I think I'm probably going to trade this one in once I get bored with playing around with Create-A-Finisher. The game has too many problems. (The commentary bugs, game being overall too easy when there's NOT a ladder involved....)

Do the 360 and PS3 versions have the commentary bugs that the PS2 version has? (ie, Cole asking Lawler what someone needs to do and him not answering, saying someone still has the gold but won't if things go like that this Sunday when its just been a championship match and the belt did change hands, referring to Divas during a men's match, etc) And I've pretty much decided that I fucking hate matches involving ladders, except for Extreme Rules, now. The opponents clearly don't stay down long enough. I did a Ladder match last night as Rey Misterio vs. Edge to practice, and Edge was getting up waaaaaay too fast. I kept doing the attack that smashes the ladder into their face and sends them flying across the ring, and he was getting up like he'd been suplexed. I'm beginning to think the easy way to win a singles ladder match involves putting them through an announce table.... I also tried doing the Ladder match in Mysterio's RTWM - and I still need to beat the MITB in Christian's - and no one would stay down long....except Mysterio. Push over a ladder with two other wrestlers on it, they pop right back up after about five to ten seconds. I get pushed off, I stay down at least 20 despite tapping like a maniac to get back up.

The Saints and Colts both offered to let them use their stadiums, apparently. Funny thing is, this will be the first night game in the Lions' stadium. Hasn't been one in Detroit since 2000.

I've simmed a few more years, playing some matches here and there. Now I only have two tag teams left, and they both have a CAW on them. Due to John Morrison turning on R-Truth during a #1 Contender match (decked him when R-Truth tried to tag out and walked away), the team of Bloodrush and Finlay will be facing the team of "Maverick" Mark Scott and Batista for the titles. During the simming, John Morrison won MITB at Wrestlemania, and I had him cash it in at Backlash against the winner of CM Punk vs. Undertaker ©. `Taker retained vs. Punk, but didn't vs. Morrison. Funny thing is I managed to pin Undertaker without actually hitting any specials or finishers AT ALL! (The one time I tried he countered, and I didn't bother trying again) Morrison held onto the title for two or three months, but I don't remember who he dropped it to. (The longest I've had someone hold onto the MITB case so far, they cashed it in at either Bragging Rights or TLC; I forget which)

So, any new news on the Cliff Lee situation since Thursday? I want to find out if I'll still like him next season or if I'll be hoping he'll need Tommy John surgery before spring training is over he'll be pitching for the Yankees. I hope the Rangers can work out a deal to keep him, but due to their financial situation, I'll be stunned if they do.

Right now, my tag situation in Universe sucks. The only teams are Batista and a CAW I made who was supposed to be a face but turned in his debut, Jericho and the Miz, and R-Truth and Morrison. The Hart Dynasty broke up after about a year. DX broke up after about a year and a half or so and I reformed them eventually but they didn't stay together long. Kane and Christian formed a team (and a stable with Kofi added), but only had about 3 matches before breaking up. I also had another CAW form a team with MVP for a while. I think they had 2 tag title reigns before they disbanded. I haven't played enough in Universe to unlock Regal or Goldust, but when I do I may try and see if I can get them to form a team. I have a vampire character I've created for the last 4 or 5 games now, and I change his appearance some and his name every game since I have to alter his moveset and can't always make him look the same. His name is always Blood_____. This game its Bloodrush. It was Bloodstorm in 2010. He's the one who had a team with MVP, and so far he's feuded with Chavo Guerrero, Shad Gaspard and Luke Gallows. (If the tag team had been listed as Christian and Kane rather than the other way around, I'd have had a good laugh, because Christian Kane is the name of the actor who plays Eliot Spencer, aka the muscle, on Leverage)

You can get the trade paperbacks off Amazon fairly reasonably, I believe.

Had one pretty good fatal four way match earlier. It was a CAW (I've only made 2 so far, and I only do original creations) vs. Santino, Zack Ryder and Primo. Every time someone goes for a pin it gets broken up. Finally I decide to try and see if I can win, hitting a finisher that's got the pin combo on it (Tiger Bomb 3) on Ryder while Santino and Primo are fighting. Santino decides to pin Primo, but as I'm hitting my finisher before he starts, I get the win. So basically I won because Santino was too busy going for a pin to break up a pin I'd already started. And is it just me, or is the AI improved when it comes to double teaming in multi-man every man for himself matches? I did one triple threat earlier today where I actually had four or five double teams pulled off during the match (and unfortunately was the victim of one or two as well).

Tried something like that. Strangely, Big Show is the only one who went after a ladder. I'm practicing doing ladder matches a bit more before I try it again. I did a 3-way TLC match earlier today as Edge vs. Orton and Cena and managed to win. One thing that frustrated me about the MITB match as Christian: I get hit with a big move or knocked off the ladder, I stay down like I've been hit with a truck and take forever to get up despite tapping buttons like a maniac. But if I hit someone with a finisher or knock them off the ladder, they get up faster despite having taken more damage. Doesn't seem realistic OR fair.

My theory is that what Jenner told Rick is: If that's it, the shit will indeed hit the fan next season. Especially if he also told him .

Well, I am doing Christian's RTWM, but I'm stuck on one part. I can't win the MITB match. I've tried it four times now, and Evan Bourne won it 3 times, CM Punk the other. The Punk win was the last one I tried, and it pissed me off because of how it ended; the briefcase had been pulled on enough that it was going to come down quick the next time someone got hold of it. Punk climbed the ladder and I was on the ground trying to knock him off....and Darvid Hart Smith decided that was the perfect time to hit me with a sledgehammer. Since I'm guessing its not possible to use the time machine to skip the match, I'll keep trying. And DH Smith is now scheduled for a 12 match losing streak in Universe mode. I haven't decided whether I'll beat him as Zack Ryder or Santino first.... Hate the change to Ladder and MITB matches; the old way of getting the hanging object down was fine.

Gotta say I agree with the assessment that the title hurt the show. I was wary of even checking the show out at all due to the title, until I got bored one night and happened to catch it while flipping through the channels. Good series, and I'm a fan of Donal Logue. Sucks its been axed.

Finally got the game yesterday. I haven't played any matches with tables yet to check out the changes to that yet, though. So far, I made a CAW of a wrestler I've made in the last 3-4 games before this one. He's a vampire gimmick character, and I change his name every game since I can't always build him exactly the same. His name in 2011 is Bloodrush. Was Bloodstorm in 2010. I used him in a Parking Lot brawl vs. Vance Archer, but so far that's it. I've unlocked Kozlov, Gail Kim, the ECW brand and the ECW championship. Had Sheamus win a #1 contender match then go on to win the title from Cena at Backlash, and had Maryse win the Divas title at the same PPV. The tag titles have also changed hands a time or two, but those matches were simulated. Current champs I believe are R-Truth and John Morrison. And I started the Undertaker's streak RTWM as Morrison, and have done the first two weeks. But I may start that one over as Bloodrush. Now, I have two question, and I'd prefer it if someone with the PS2 or PS3 version answers the first: 1. How do you drag someone who you've grappled, standing or grounded? They've apparently changed how you do that, and the manual doesn't say how. 2. How do you unlock Challenge matches in the RTWM storyline? I read what the challenge matches are in the vs. Taker RTWM and did what was listed as one (went and found Orton then started a fight and defeated him in a backstage brawl during week 2), but it wasn't listed as done or unlocked when I checked the phone afterward afterward.

If you want a history of the game I would recommend checking out the Ken Burns documentary: Baseball I second that recommendation. In fact, I have a fairly big and expensive (we're talking coffee table) book based on the documentary.

From the way it reads it seems like Darabont is the main force behind the writing anyway. Also if he's released the people who wrote some of the really bad dialogue scenes over the course of this season then more power to him. I read an article earlier where they deny the writers were fired. The only change is that Charles Eglee decided to leave on his own. However, the bad news is, the second season won't start for almost a year. They're shooting for October 2011.