One of my favorite things to do as a kid was spend time watching the WWF, and then reenacting those matches later with all the wrestling figurines that I owned. I had a fair amount of them anyway: Hulk Hogan, Superfly Jimmy, The Bushwhackers, and Macho Man Randy Savage among others. I have no idea what happened to those wonderful toys, as it would be fun to introduce them to my children as I imagine they may enjoy professional wrestling some day soon. Of course we all like to say that things were “much better back in my day”, but I will scream at the top of my lungs that wrestling during the late 80’s all the way up until the early 2000’s was head above shoulders over the rest. I thought about doing a best 9, but I think most lists would probably look the same. So once again, I will go with the favorites instead.
Note: My apologies. I checked out great wrestlers from other eras, I really did. Nobody could crack the most impressionable years of my life.
Note2: Also an apology to the 22 guys who weren’t able to crack the top 9. Those guys were special. Would love to do a Nate’s 31, but that isn’t fair to the top of the list. I would like to give a shout out to Ultimate Warrior, Savage and Slaughter though for really taken my interest of wrestling to the next level, and being great competitors for the nine that did make the list.
#9 – Jake “The Snake” Roberts. The first heel I ever loved. He was kind of a bad ass and he always had that snake (Damien) around his neck. I couldn’t even tell you what he did with the snake when he actually had to do battle with someone. Gave it to Virgil, maybe... all jokes aside the inventor of the DDT definitely deserves a place inside my top 9. As a child, I used to think his opponents’ necks were snapped after succumbing to his finishing move. Even in my wisdom of older age do I believe that it’s still as worthy as the innocence of my youth would have believed.
#8 – Kurt Angle. Anyone that’s willing to knock the snuff out of “Double J” Jeff Jarrett is always going to get consideration for a Nate’s 9 list. But its Kurt Angle’s supreme wrestling skills that convinced me he belongs in the 9. The dude was a gold medalist wrestler at the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta. I was first introduced to his dexterity then, but never did I consider him an actor with an interest in male soap opera entertainment. However, Angle won multiple WWF(E) championship belts, played both the hero and the heel with vigor and even got the great Paul Heyman to manage him for a little while.
#7 – Road Warriors/Legion of Doom. I know, it’s probably not fair to put a tag team partnership in a list of favorite wrestlers, but I would feel bad for separating them, and even though I liked Animal just a little bit more (due to the north metro connection), I still think they need to be placed in her together. As a kid, I always looked forward to the Doomsday Device, when one of them would lift their opponent onto their shoulders, tag the other partner, and they would come flying in off the top rope toppling the opponent to the ground. More so than their finishing moves, I just really enjoyed this particular tag team over a generation that was full of them. The Nasty Boys, The Demolition, The Bushwackers, The Natural Disasters, The Beverly Brothers, Money Inc, etc. It was a great time for tag team wrestling, but for me, Hawk and Animal take the cake more than any other group.
#6 – Hogan. I preferred Hollywood to Hulk, and I know that I’m in the minority, but I think that Terry was born to play a villain. One of my favorite moments in wrestling history is when “Hulk” switched over to become “Hollywood”, and with that, the creating of the nWo (New World Order). Prior to Hogan joining, it was strictly a duo with Scott Hall and Kevin Nash as the face of the organization. They were called The Outsiders when they started out, but it wasn’t until Hogan joined them against Randy Savage, Sting and Lex Luger (future nWo members all) that Hollywood and the nWo came to be. It’s still one of my favorite moments in wrestling, and I think some of Hogan’s best work.
#5 – Triple H. Hunter Hearst Helmsley. They are many reasons why Triple H makes it so high on my list. First, I didn’t like him when he got his start in the WWF. I thought that he was just tight with a number of high profile wrestlers and that’s how he got his start in the ring, when there were other wrestlers that had put more work in. I also didn’t like how the WWF came out with Degeneration-X during the same time that the WCW decided to come out with the new World order. I thought it was a cop out, because Vince McMahon wasn’t willing to pay his stars top dollar, but he was willing to steal Ted Turner’s inspirations. Perhaps I was wrong, perhaps not. Beyond that doubt though, it’s clear to see that he wasn’t just a one match wonder or a seasonal fad on the wrestling circuit. The guy is beast and therefore deserves a high spot for changing my perceptions of wrestling. Second, his finishing move is the Pedigree. Youtube it. Third, he married Stephanie McMahon. There’s good value there. And finally, he is probably the cog that makes the WWE run so efficiently. I don’t watch it much anymore, but when I do, I can still see that Triple H has the pulse of the WWE in his hand. Quite the influence.
#4 – Bret Hart. The hitman. Those sunglasses. It’s amazing how one little prop can take someone a long way. When he used to flick off those glasses after he made some motivated observation about an opponent was one of the best things about watching wrestling. And more often than not, after he made someone his target, they were beaten. Booker T., Papa Shango. Razor Ramon. Stone Cold. I remember most of them. The survivor series against Austin when I was in high school is probably one of the greatest matches ever. Hart had been out for like a year, and was continuously getting abused by Stone Cold. He crushed him at the series. The sharpshooter is one of the better finishing moves of this generation, and I can’t recall a time when someone was able to get out of the hold and turn the tables on Hart. But I think he will be best remembered for, “The best there is, the best there ever was, and the best there ever will be. He’s damn close.
#3 – Curt Hennig (Mr. Perfect). While living in Red Fox Cove may not be considered a place that a “perfect” person would live, it was fun to have Mr. Hennig as my neighbor for the few years that his family was nearby. He had that LONG white Cadillac that you could see from a mile away. Beyond that, he was one of the better technical wrestlers I’ve ever watched and had an assortment of moves. He flew around the ring and had great athleticism for someone of his size. The guy was like the Intercontinental King while I grew up watching wrestling and I also benefited from having him in the nWo for a short period of time at the end of the 1990’s. A shame we lost him too soon, but gave me some of my early favorite wrestling memories.
#2 – Ric Flair (Whoo!) How can you not love the Nature Boy? As a hero, he was about as fun and arrogant as they come. As a heel... the guy reached legendary status. In any case, the stats pretty much say it all. He was hard to beat. 18 time world heavyweight champion. Winner of what may have been the greatest Royal Rumble in history (1992 – the only wrestling DVD I ever bought) when he got drawn in 3rd out of 30, and went the distance. He has been a part of numerous “Four Horsemen” groups and other legendary factions including my favorite one which I will get to in a minute. He created one of the bigger beefs in WWE history when he decided to take on Vince McMahon, and split the WWE up into shows where I think Flair had Raw and Vince had SmackDown. Or the other way around, maybe. Regardless, the Knife-edge chop was classic, and his four-legged lock took down many of the greats including, Hogan, Savage, Warrior and DiBiase among others.
#1 – Randy Orton. And Evolution. This was the time when I was finishing up my hobby as a big wrestling fan, but before I left, I was able to watch probably the greatest accumulation of talent in WWE history. Of course you have Triple H and Ric Flair, two legends in their own right. Flair was my favorite heel when I was young, damned if Triple H wasn’t the greatest heel during my teenage years, and Orton and Batista finished off at the top before I decided to move on from this world of entertainment. Orton really stood out as a wrestler to me though, and that’s why he gets top billing on my list. He is pretty much the total package in my book. He has the bloodlines, he played a fantastic heel with plenty of wins when part of “The Evolution”, he was great as a hero when he joined up with “The Legacy” (the children of legends), he’s been heavyweight champion twelve times now (5-6 when I quit watching) and the RKO and Double RKO (with Edge) are some of the best finishing moves in the sport. Dated Stacy Keibler (on-screen), and essentially was the face of the greatest faction that I’ve known in the sport. An easy choice for me.
I was going to make this the final blog of Nate’s 9. I don’t feel like my blog is getting stale by any means, but I did believe that it was time to do something different. Just like Aiden’s blog, and the battles that Aiden and I got into, I always thought that my writing needed just a little bit of freshening up. Well, over the past couple of months, this sucker as really gotten a fair amount of viewership, and I guess I’m getting a little bit of love, so why not continue with it? Here is a concept that has taken me almost six months to complete, and I hope you enjoy it very much. Thank you for always reading my work! (I put in the extra effort, because it means a lot that so many of you like my stuff)!
Note: There are 13 lessons in this blog instead of the normal 9. I couldn’t cut any of these lessons out of here, as I consider them all important.
#13 – Don’t let your pride beat you. For many years I was the opposite. I didn’t have much pride to speak of. How could I with a lack of a varsity sport, no honor roll, no car; essentially no early monumental success. I wasn’t a youth group leader, I didn’t take parts in any school plays, I quit the only thing I was good at back then (bowling), and I was insecure about my writing, so I never published anything. Then it started to turn around. Made numerous friends overseas. I entered a great relationship. Got a secure job. First car. Practiced at sports (and got pretty damn good). Wrote at North Hennepin. Won many, many fantasy football leagues. And I thought, hey, this guy’s not so bad. In fact, he’s quite great! Then, everything stabilized, and my pride knocked me back a little bit. A 3.3 GPA for my Bachelor degree. Not bad, but not special. A 197 average in bowling for about 5 seasons. Better, but not extraordinary. I’ve learned that of course life is going to give everybody some ups and downs, and everything has a way of balancing out. While I lost my father early, and with that a little bit of paternal guidance, I get to be around my children for 3 days a week by myself, and so I’ve gained a little bit of insight on how things should be done. I won’t say that I’m the best father in the world, because once I start thinking that way, pride is going to knock me on my ass.
#12 – Life is not meant to be lived in just one place. I’m so thankful that I’ve been pretty well traveled at the old, dusty age of 34 (okay, relatively young). I haven’t done the complete tour of the world, but it’s been nice to have seen a fair amount of two continents. I think with television and internet now that things are a little different; with a click of a button or the pressing of a remote, I can transfer my perspective to just about anywhere in the world. But I don’t believe it’s the same as staying in a place for an extended period of time. I’ve been blessed over here in the U.S. as most of my life has been spent in the urban metropolis that is Minneapolis. During my teenager years, I spent most of my summers in a one stop light town in Pennsylvania. I got to see things from both side of the coin. Then, Europe. I’m still amazed by how many people left the continent because they believed life could be better over on this side of the world. And if you were willing to put in hard work, and get a lucky bounce or two, that could happen. But I’ve learned so much about myself by spending a year over in Europe, and I think that everyone that comes into contact with me and with whom I've developed a friendship has benefited by the person that I’ve become. I have certainly benefited from my friendships because I feel that since I’ve gained multiple perspectives, I can create more friendships. I owe at least some of that to my world travels.
#11 – Be with someone that is proud to have you. I will not try and take anything away from any of my relationships that I was a part of over the years, but life really gets on your side when you have someone beside you that enjoys and loves you no matter what decisions you make. There are times when I didn’t always have that, but I have learned from those experiences and it was a great lesson for me. I know that Sara is sometimes confounded by some of the things that I may do, or say. Maturity has a lot to do with this topic as well, because during my teenage years, I wasn’t quite sure how to be proud of my significant other. My thought processes weren’t quite so deep. (The physical aspect of the relationship typically took precedent over everything else). To find someone and grow with them that is able to teach this lesson and implement it on a daily basis though is special, and I hope that you, the reader, either already have learned this, or get to so you can truly enjoy love and all it has to offer.
#10 – I respect the person that is respectful of me when I’m not around. This lesson probably goes all the way back to elementary school. I remember so many times when kids would talk behind other kids’ backs, whether it is about something relevant or otherwise. Then, as a teenager I use to question why people would do that? Insecurity? Lack of empathy? I wasn’t sure. Now, as an adult, I see still see the same conversations about the same lack of respect. So, it was something that was probably ingrained into our conscious at a young age. I’m glad that I’ve learned from it though, because now I consider myself to be bigger than talking about someone behind their back, and when it does happen, I do feel guilty about what I’ve said. I think we should handle our problems with one another, not at the expense of each other.
#9 – Don’t sweat the little things. When I had issues with self-confidence, one of the reasons why was because I always sweated the little things. Will so and so say hi to me in school today? What if I get picked last in recess football? Will people judge me if I wear the same pair of jeans twice? I use to worry about that stuff ALL THE TIME. And now that we are here... it really doesn’t matter. I probably played with a chip on my shoulder when I was picked last. Maybe my friend wanted me to say hi to them first in the hallway, because they were dealing with the same issues. We all wear the same jeans two days in a row. And if not, awesome. And that’s a lot of laundry. It’s the things like - will my furnace make it through another winter – which we really should be sweating, if we really even want to sweat at all.
#8 – Don’t wait. The time will never be right. When I saw someone post this statement to their own blog, I thought, hells yes. When I was 25 I told myself that I needed to get my coaching badges for soccer, because since I wasn’t a very good player, I had to have the best training and learning experience in order to be successful. Then it was 26. Then it was 27. Then I had Aiden, and I was worried that it was going to take a back seat. And it has. But what I’ve learned from this is that I think I will still make a pretty damn good coach, whenever I get the opportunity to showcase my talents. But the journey that I’m taken instead has taught me patience (with young children), humility (because our games matter to about 20 people), joy (because I’m happy when they’re happy). I think that the same goes with having children, taking vacations, buying a house, etc. The actual experiences will most likely be better than the ones we play out in our minds.
#7 – Energy is tangible. Ten years ago, I don’t think I would’ve understood what this phrase meant. I can’t remember the course that I heard it in, only that I remember it from North Hennepin Community College. It may have been an ethics course, or some eastern Religion class. Essentially the implication was this: energy is physical, there is good energy and bad energy, and people are aware of what kind of energy you bring to any situation. Ever since that day, I have tried to become aware of what type of energy I give out, and to approach every interaction in a positive way. Sometimes it’s dang near impossible (especially when the children get me riled up), but because of the positivity, I believe I have made some great friendships along the way.
#6 – You get out what you put in. This was a lesson that I had to learn over and over in school again. Good grades came relatively naturally to me; I got mostly O’s and S’s during the elementary grading system. I only did homework when it was vital, and there were times when I would do it while riding the bus on the way to school. This style of learning backfired spectacularly once I got to junior high. I can’t tell you how many C’s or D’s I got, not because I didn’t understand the work, but because I didn’t care enough to do the homework or study for the tests. It wasn’t until junior year of high school that I was able to turn it around and average out some B’s and A’s before heading to Europe. But I still only got a 2.7 GPA, and it wasn’t until I understood this lesson in college that the results really started to come (3.3 GPA for my BA).
#5 – Working hard is different than working smart. And I think that there is a time for both styles. I think that there are times when you just put you head down and get stuff done. Things like cleaning the house, doing yard work, writing a paper, etc. Ignore outside distractions and just go. But there are also times where I think working smart will allow you to get more done than through hard work and commitment. Case in point, helping a friend move. We decided to empty the moving van by taking out all the small boxes first, and getting them all into the house and into the rooms where they belong. Yes, it went quick and it was effective. But by the time we had to handle the heavy furniture, the televisions and small appliances, we were dang near exhausted. We thought that our plan would be perfectly executed, but it wasn’t. We had to make multiple stops, take a lunch break (with beer), and it basically took a very long time. In theory, I think that working hard is a great idea, but there are times when thinking things through before beginning can be just as effective if not more so.
#4 – Practice at the same level at which you hope to excel. I am still going through the steps of learning this lesson. I always take practice for granted; whether it is in bowling or soccer or whatever. I don’t really focus on the task at hand, and I almost prefer the social aspect of it compared to the competitive side. When I hold practice with my youth soccer team, I treat practice as more of a fun time for everyone. They aren't very structured, and I tell myself that I'm letting them develop the social relationships of the game. What I still need to realize is that every moment that we have, can be an opportunity to improve our skills and development. I wish to continue improving through this lesson, and I want to have that desire to be the best at anything that I choose to do.
#3 – As we grow up we don’t lose friends, we just learn who the true ones are. Another lesson that was hard for me to learn, as I thought that every good friend would be a good friend for life. Or at the very least, we could always pick up where we left off. But life gives us different experiences and new friendships that teach us about the ones that may not have been strong, or two personalities that became different. I now realize that I have three absolutely fantastic, wonderful friends. All the other friends I have are good bonds as well, but I would do anything for these three people, and I feel good knowing that they would likely do the same for me. I’m glad that I have them, glad that I know how lucky I am, and I’m thankful for any and every friend that I have shared time with over the years.
#2 – Everyone deals with death differently. I still have a difficult time helping others through their time of grief. Just because I’ve been on this planet for 33 (34 as I edit this) years, and I still don’t exactly know the right steps to take when dealing with such a difficult topic. Personally, I hate talking about it. Whether with close friends, paid professionals, whomever, I really don’t enjoy sharing my personal thoughts on the subject, especially when I talk about someone that I’ve lost. My relationship with my father was between him and I, and I don’t really feel the need to share any of those experiences and feelings with anyone else. But I know that may be completely different from anyone reading this. Perhaps you need to go to a coffee shop and share your favorite memories of that person for hours in order to get through the process. You won’t get any judgment from me, particularly considering how cold I might be when discussing the subject matter. I think that every process is probably the correct one, because there is no right way to get through the pain and sadness and every other emotion that one gets when they lose a loved one. It sucks bad. It really does. But I’m glad that there isn’t a right way to deal with loss. It’s one of my favorite lessons.
#1 – Being kind is more important than being right. Now don’t get me wrong, I sure do love being right. It feels pretty damn special to know you got someone when they don’t give you the time of day, and believe that their facts are the correct ones. Then when the answer is Googled or Yahooed or whatever – Boom! Winner! In all seriousness though, I think kindness may be the greatest personality trait one can develop. I really do think it is easier to be mean to people than to be nice. Being nice requires listening to how they feel, learning what interests a person, and what they despise, and putting forth the energy to continue developing a healthy relationship. Lot of work, no doubt. Being mean only requires a couple of words that cut to the core. Now that I know what kind of work is required to be kind to someone... I will strive to have the greatest work ethic possible, in order to make any small, but relevant difference in someone’s day. Or week. Or month. Or lifetime.
Let’s fix this together. There once was a time when a majority of the players that were on the club played first and foremost for the crest and everything that came with it. Going back to the days of Denis Law and Bobby Charlton; guys loved winning and they loved it with Manchester United. And I know that there are a few still there that carry those same feelings, but over the past twelve months, I believe that a majority of the players are there because their wallets are fat. I won’t sugar coat anything; I understand that with the absurd amounts of money and a scouting network that reaches across the globe that the game was always going to evolve toward something that we are familiar with today. Yet, there are a number of players on both Barcelona and Juventus that I believe love lifting their respective league trophies just a little bit more, because they did it with the team that they consider their own.
It doesn’t have to be players that came through the academy. Look at Dani Alves. He spent six seasons at Sevilla before joining the boys in Barcelona. That has nothing to do with the work rate, passion and determination in games that he does for Barcelona. He absolutely loves it there. He re-signed with them for what could be considered less money then he would have received by hitting the open market and signing with a Manchester United or Manchester City. Look at Neymar Jr. The kid definitely enjoys playing for the red and blue stripes. He has raised his game to a level that I didn’t think him capable of, and along with Luis Suarez and Messi was one of the reasons why they were able to win all three trophies that Barcelona were a part of this season. He wouldn’t trade that shirt for any in the world (I’m guessing) and I don’t think he’s playing for Barcelona strictly based on finances (also guessing). Claudio Marchisio, Giorgio Chiellini (Livorno), and Leonardo Bonucci (Inter) are all players that I believe love winning and money with Juventus just a little bit more than anywhere else, including their youth club as well.
United used to have a number of these players. Roy Keane. Edwin Van der Sar. Gary Neville. Peter Schmeichel. Andy Cole. All these players have left and gone during the past two decades, but yet all of them still keep United in their sight and mouths whenever they get a chance for some public speaking. There is no doubt they were all paid handsomely, but they also cared about the well-being of the club. Now, I do think that Louis Van Gaal did a good job with the resources that he was given. 4th in a difficult league is nothing to get upset about. But the way they celebrated 4th really got under my skin as a United supporter. Players that loved United and understood the history should have gotten upset about it. Our beloved United, 4th!? Yet, they handed out the microphone, Van Gaal gave a speech, and everyone applauded and appeared pleased. There's no guarantee in Champions League. (United could be eliminated at the first hurdle). This isn’t the well-being that I was hoping for. Chelsea deserves a microphone, because they won the league. That is it. No one else. The Anaheim Mighty Ducks didn’t hold a parade because they made it to the conference finals. They went home. I understand the financial situation of 4th (Large amounts of cash flow), but to use it as propaganda sickened me. As a United fan, it didn’t feel right.
I guess what I’m looking for are players that came through the club, understand what it means to play for a club of such status, and give a little bit extra because they are a part of that special status. I don’t need the world’s best players; while it was nice to have Cristiano Ronaldo for those six years, and I do believe he realizes what it meant to play for a club like United, he never really felt like a United legend (to me he appears as a Madrid legend). I’ll have more Teddy Sheringham’s and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s. Without naming names, I’m just tired of these players being signed over the past couple of seasons that don’t have anything more than a playing relationship with the club. Yes, it is great to play for a club that has this type of stature, I would agree. I imagine it’s quite the weight being put on someone’s shoulders. But with this small opportunity given, I just wish that they would embrace the United way simply more than is currently being done. Give us your everything for just a few seasons, and then you can glow in all the adulation given to you.
Finally, I would like to address the Ed Woodward situation (Current CEO). While his business sense is remarkable and his marketing strategies have been very lucrative for the club, the way he goes about his transfer dealings have been worse than poor. As a fan, at the end of the day I don’t really care about the financial stature or “big name” signings that can be brought in to sell jerseys. What I do care about is the mindset to continue achieving positive results (3 points!), holding the highest ideals and standards to convince young stars that this is the club to be a part of, and to not embarrass the club when dealing in the transfer market (see Felliani w Everton, Baines w Everton, Herrera w Bilbao, Kroos w Bayern, Cesc with Barcelona, etc). It’s put a big black eye on the club and for a little while I felt like we were the laughing stock of world football. No player could be signed and United kept jumping from target to target with unusual price tags and unintelligent vernacular when discussing them with the media. Just create a strategy plan, fill the positions that need strengthening, and handle your business. Or, if all else fails, study the David Gill plan.
In conclusion, I support this club first among every and any sporting franchise in the world (including the Green Bay Packers). I want nothing but success for the people employed by the club, the players and staff, the fans and myself. While it’s fun to be linked with top talent across world football, all that doesn’t matter if 1. You can’t agree a deal with their club and 2. Those players come for the massive paychecks. Give me Phil Jones over Nicolas Otamendi, Antonio Valencia over Thiago Alcantara or Daley Blind over Toni Kroos. I want the players that love their football, their trophies, and most importantly their club.
Always a
favorite of mine. This goes back to when I used to keep track with friends and
give celebrities ratings like 96, 73, 88 and all that fun stuff. Then, once
Myspace came out, I was able to create a section dedicated to writing about the
females and I even had a top 20 at that point. Then, my first year of Facebook
when I decided to be ambitious and rank my Hot 100, similar to what Maxim likes
to do. That was damn near impossible, time-consuming, and way too much copying
and pasting for my liking. I came back down from 100, went back to the Top 20
format, until last year when I decided to merge these great masterpieces along
with a Nate’s 9. So here we are in year two, and I believe that most of you are
familiar with the formula, the ladies, and the rest of the measures. If not,
it’s simple. Attractive to my preference, relevant to the times, talented to
say the least. Cindy Crawford, yes, no, yes – so doesn’t make it. Lindsay
Lohan, no, yes, yes – doesn’t make it. Kim Kardashian yes, yes, no – off the 9.
Easy, right? No, no, it really wasn’t. Thanks for reading, and per usual, a
little something for everyone!
First, as we approach ten years of superficially ranking
women, I just want to give a shout out to those that used to dominate the upper
echelon of my lists. When I call your name, please step forward...
Salma Hayek. I’ll never be able to put my
finger on it, but she ran my lists for a while. Puts Sofia Vergara to shame, in
my humble opinion.
Maria Sharapova.
Started watching tennis because of her.
Serena Williams.
Continued watching tennis because of her.
Tara Reid. I
enjoyed Van Wilder and American Pie for many reasons, but my goodness.
America’s
9:
9. Taylor Swift.
Working the charts, the fashion, the award shows.
8. Mila Kunis.
Just can’t seem to knock her off, as she always does enough. Trending
constantly.
7. Kaley Couco.
Not for me, but she’s getting in the face of America.
6. Sarah Hyland. Still
in the limelight, but looks about to plateau.
5. Kristin Cavallari.
Proud of you Cutler.
4. Olivia Wilde.
Falls a bit, but I’m starting to get it now. Upticking on the Nate list.
3. Margot Robbie.
Whoa!
2. Jennifer Lawrence.
All that built up anger probably just turns guys on.
1. Beyonce. I
love Minaj, but Beyonce kills in that video.
Nate’s 9:
#9. Charlotte
McKinney. Who? That’s what I thought
too. I’d like to give a shout out to a friend who recommended ‘Toyota
Jan’ for this list. While I think she is quite adorable, and she kicks butt as
the office secretary in the Toyota
commercials, I’m not sure if she’s top 9 material. Step in the burger girl from
Carl Jr’s. To be honest, I thought the Super Bowl commercials this year were
kind of lame. All of them except for the
pretty girl eating the Carl Jr’s burger. She’s like a blend of my current top
2, which essentially means there’s potential to move up higher on this list. DWTS was a good start, but I
want to see more visibility over the next 12 months. Yet as far as I’m
concerned, the rookie of the year award is a slam dunk.
Future Champion
#8. Nina Dobrev. She
would have made last year’s list, if there had been room for 10. While I’m not
much for the CW shows like The Vampire
Diaries, I can always take some time out to watch whenever she’s on screen.
She’s had a little less success than say Anna Kendrick, but I think that the
arrow on her career is also pointing upward. She also loves her cat very much
(check on the list for me), and seems super chill. I felt bad for leaving her
off last year, this spot is the least I can do for her this time.
Where's the Garlic?
#7. Margot Robbie.
Didn’t even make last year’s 108 first round list. I hadn’t seen Wolf of Wall Street, so I was completely
missing out. This year, I’ve been a little luckier. Besides the fact that I was willing her into
every scene in that movie with the great Leo, I’ve also watched every single
trailer of Focus that the
TV/DVD/Movie Theater previews would allow for. I understand America
and Australia’s
obsession, and I agree with it 100%.
No Soup!
#6. Ari Grande. I
knew Frankie Grande first, but just barely. I think it may have been his
mentioning of his sister on Big Brother, that I was like, “who?” and decided to
take a look for myself. Cue, “Oh My”, and although I can’t quite consider her
to be a rookie, she definitely exploded onto the scene over the last 12 months.
Bang Bang, Problem, Break Free and Love
Me Harder would be a sensational career for someone, Ari has done all of
this on one album. Everyone wants to feature her on their music, and she’s a
hit with the MTV fans as well as mainstream music listeners. The voice is
killer, the talent is unmistakable, and she’s an adorable little prize as well.
Excited to see what the future holds for this new world superstar.
Rising star
#5. Hayden Panettiere.
Completes a decade on this list, which I believe is no small feat even if the
first 8 years dealt with a top 20. She’s just about the total package from my
perspective. She can sing, she can model, she can act, she’s great with the
press, and she stays out of the limelight, and doesn’t sleep through Hollywood.
She took some time off this past year to deal with the more important things in
life (having a baby), but has already returned to the spotlight in finishing
out the season of Nashville, and can
always be found supporting her Boxer man Klitschko. All men love a supportive
woman.
Nice work Wlad
#4. Emma Watson.
After a two year hiatus, she’s back. I still haven’t seen a single film of the
beloved Harry Potter series, but by being friends with many of its fans, I was
brought onto Ms. Watson some time ago.
For all things that I consider important, obviously a woman of great
strength is high up on the list. Watson does nothing to disappoint. She’s been
very supportive of Woman’s Rights issues including better education for those
that can’t afford it, and of course equal pay. It’s her appearances in Bling Ring and This is the End that got me excited to get her back on the list
once again.
I'd pay her!
#3. Keira Knightley. There
will always be a special place in my heart for the woman who graced the top of
this list for just over a decade. From the beginning with the likes of Bend it Like Beckham, and Love Actually, she struck a chord with
me that hasn’t gone away, even as we approach middle age. It’s a different
Knightley from the one I crushed on in the past, but still a successful and
beautiful one at that. Gone are the fun films like the Pirates of the Caribbean and
King Arthur, and now she’s more into the historical action and grand epic
films like Anna Karenina and The Imitation Game. Much to my dismay,
she is now a mother and a married woman (I think it’s worked out well for both
of us). While she continues to slip a little from the top of the list, and I
wonder if she even seeks the relevance of being world famous once again (She
said last year she wishes to have more personal time than she had during her
early career), but as long as we have the soccer passion, singers talent, and
British accent, I see no reason why she will fall out of here completely.
Sharing Life Choices
#2. Scarlett
Johansson. And... she’s back. A one year slip from two to three must have
pushed her over the edge, because she came back with a vengeance. Chef, The Avengers, and Captain America were all great films in
the last year, she had a delightful little appearance hosting SNL, and she
continues to look as good as she always does. Shame on me for moving her down
to #3 for a year. I have learned my lesson.
Back in her Place
#1. Kate Upton. Barcelona.
LeBron. Old Tiger Woods. DeNiro. John F Kennedy. Kate Upton. She has joined the
hall of greats. And I don’t even play Game of War. But I do watch the
commercials. I explained the history of Kate’s ascension to the top of my list
last year, so I feel it’d be a little redundant to describe those feelings
again this time around. Instead I will only say that I have a feeling that she will
continue to champion this list for a very, very, very long time.
The Ladies List
#9 - Chris Hemsworth - Those arms though.
#8 - Patrick Schwarzenegger - Better acting chops than dad, too.
#7 - Enrique Iglesias - I think Anna's the lucky one.
#6 - Henrik Lundqvist - Best dressed athlete for sure.
#5 - Johnny Depp - Still has it.
#4 - Shemar Moore - Hard to believe he's 45.
#3 - Leo Dicaprio - Have to celebrate him turning 40, and give him a shout.
#2 - Cristiano Ronaldo - Falls to #2, cause he's taken this shirtless thing too far.
#1 - JT - Married and a dad, and he's still hot. Inspirational to dads everywhere.
Teams vs Individuals. It’s hard. For as much as I love my favorite sports franchises, to be able to find that player that raises my interest levels a tiny bit more, it’s invigorating. I’ve had many moments throughout life where I thought, if only he could be on the Packers, or I would love to see that guy in a United jersey, knowing full well that it’s not going to happen. For some, it wouldn’t bother them in the least, but I always feel like those moments are missed opportunities. Our lives can change just because a certain player plays for a certain team. Kirby Puckett with the Twins. Mike Modano with the Minnesota North Stars. Eric Cantona with Manchester United. They are almost bigger than the teams themselves. Here are the nine that still get my juices flowing whenever I get the chance to see them play/have played.
#9 – Ken Griffey Jr. Probably my first true love. I had about thirty posters in my room growing up, but Junior and his father standing by their lockers is the only poster that I transferred from my upstairs bedroom to my downstairs one in about the 7th grade. Everything about him screamed greatness. His quick ascent to the major leagues. That flawless swing. His calm, cool demeanor. The fact that he wanted to go home and play in the town that he grew up in. He was probably my first favorite player growing up (along with #3), in my favorite sport (how that wouldn’t last). I still don’t think we’ve seen another like him (Sorry Trout). He was unfortunate to only win one AL MVP, and I am curious to know how many he may have possibly won if he didn’t grow up in the steroid era (Looking at Canseco, Mo and Juan Gone). He and Frank Thomas were the heroes of young children across America who saw two athletes that were affable and courteous, two players that really enjoyed playing the game of baseball, and extended their careers for a number of seasons as a result of that love for the game. This may or may not surprise you, but Griffey was done in 2010, and Frank finished in 2008 after 19 seasons. I just happened to like Junior a tiny bit more.
My first Poster
#8 – Sterling Sharpe. One of the saintly three that led me to life as a Green Bay Packer fan (Reggie White, Magic Man Majkowski). As a young youth, I thought he was just as talented as Jerry Rice, I just felt like Majkowski and Favre weren’t on the levels of either Joe Montana and Steve Young. Older now, I still feel this way, but I do think that Jerry separated himself from every other WR in NFL history. Shannon Sharpe, who many consider to be one of the greatest TE the NFL has ever seen, used to say that he wasn’t even the best player in his household. Shannon was a first ballot Hall of Famer. As a youngster I used to think that no matter who the opponent and no matter how much time was left in the game, that Sterling was so good, the Packers still had a chance to win... even when they didn’t. Not too many athletes in my lifetime have been transcending for me as a fan; a few in this list to come, Michael Jordan, Mike Tyson, Wayne Gretzky, Leo Messi and Sterling Sharpe. Pretty elite company.
The Better Sharpe
#7 – Roger Federer. A long time ago, in a place far away from here (actually only about 20 minutes away), I didn’t care for tennis at all. Hate is a strong word, but whatever the next one is (detest, dislike), that’s the feeling I had for tennis. I used to skip over the articles in Sports Illustrated that mentioned the great feats of Andre Agassi, Pete Sampras, Bjorn Borg, and the like. If ESPN was showing a tennis match, chances are I was changing the channel. Then a year in Germany followed by the introduction of Andy Roddick, Lleyton Hewitt, Rafael Nadal and this man, Roger Federer came to surface. Such personalities! Such dominance! (From this one). I can draw a lot of parallels from Roger. He probably feels like he has boatloads of children (4), some days I feel like I have boatloads of children (3, but really 16). He is/was the best at his craft and for a time it wasn’t even close. I feel that my understanding of sports and how it correlates to my own life and the world is pretty high up there. I know what they know that makes them great. I just don’t have anywhere near the physical gifts or the mental aspirations to achieve this type of athletic magnitude. I have to live vicariously through the athletes. This has always been my guy, in a sport that may or may not belong to me.
#6 – Zinedine Zidane. It breaks my heart that Marco Materazzi said something to Zizou that got him sent off in a World Cup final, in the last game he ever played (competitively). This guy is probably the only player in the world (in any sport), with which I run out of flattering words and beautiful adjectives (See Ray Hudson). There’s 3 special moments in particular that I remember about Zidane that I want to get to, and I will. But first I just want to share with you what Zidane means to me.
He was the first player that made me realize that not only is soccer on a par with our football, but their skill level was probably higher than ours. Up until this point, I just thought it was an okay sport with guys that had great stamina and could hit a ball with their foot. Zidane made it art for me, and I’d be hard pressed to say anyone else has done that before, or since. Steve Nash kind of did it in basketball, Steph Curry has the potential to do so, Odell Beckham and Richard Sherman show glimpses of it, and when all cylinders are firing, Sidney Crosby can pull the strings of all 9 other skaters on the rink. Zidane did it with 20 guys (I won’t count the goal keepers as they aren’t really in positions to make decisions based on what happens in the middle of the field), and did it with style and grace. It was simply talent, and he had more than anyone else.
1. His goal against Bayer Leverkusen in the Champions League final and understandably so. It’s the greatest goal I’ve ever seen, and probably will continue to be for a very, very long time.
2. His backheel off of a corner in a World Cup game. It didn’t go in. Someone (Lilian Thuram?) missed it. But essentially he ran to the near post and the ball ended up behind where he was running. He flicked it backwards, up in the air, toward the goal, where another teammate got his head to it on an open goal. He missed. I was still going nuts. I’ve never seen that move since. (9 years and counting)
3. His conversation with Florentino Perez at some football (yes, soccer) banquet prior to him playing at Real Madrid. Perez wrote "Madrid" on a napkin and it got passed over to Zidane. The napkin came back to Perez and all it said was “yes”. A few months later, Zidane left the global power that was Juventus, no questions asked, and joined another global power in Real Madrid. While they didn’t make history, a kindergarten like way of getting one of the best players of all-time to join one world class team from another has stuck in my mind forever, and I smile at the simplicity in which Zidane was able to live.
Magic Johnson may have said it best though. When asked his opinion of Zidane upon seeing the Galatico’s during a visit to Madrid, he said, “One of the most inspiring nights of my life," said Magic. "Zidane is a phenomenon, as good as me and Michael Jordan put together." (ESPN magazine, June 10, 2002 issue).
#5 – Mariano Rivera. I just don’t know how to describe it. Love at first sight, maybe. Not in my wildest dreams did I think that one of my all-time favorite players would put on the pinstripes that the Yankees wear. It pretty much goes like this; I thought John Wetteland was a really good closer and that he was getting a raw deal by getting kicked out of the closer role by Torre for some young Latino that had an ERA of over 5.00 when I checked out his baseball card. Cue fastball... and... boom! I was sold. I still can’t get enough of his pitch and periodically I will youtube some of his highlights just so I can see it again. Of all the dominant performances on this list, Rivera probably has one of the best runs of them all. 5 years in a row of a WHIP (Walks & Hits allowed per Inning) under 1.0. He allowed 71 HR’s in a 19 year career. It’s because no one could hit his cutter. And I love him for it. But I think the reason why he catapulted toward the top of this list is for who he was off the field. When I heard that he paid for the educations of all of his home’s servants' children, I thought that was pretty cool. Then, when I heard that he met and spent time with the family who suffered much personal injury and the loss of their son when their car got hit by a falling billboard, I thought that was really cool. But for me, volume speaks when not even Rachel Robinson, Jackie Robinson’s wife, asked Rivera to stop wearing the #42 when everyone else in baseball retired the hallowed number. On the contrary, Rachel drew parallels between the careers of her late husband, Jackie, and this incredible player. That’s meaningful stuff.
Respect
#4 – Kevin Garnett (KG). I’m sure many of you know what I’m talking about, when I say, “My guy”. The athlete that you feel was sent to you personally. This is how I feel about KG. I still remember the Sports Illustrated issue that talked about this kid from South Carolina who was so skinny and lanky, that they didn’t think he’d have the grit or determination to have a long career in the NBA. It was instantly then, that I was drawn to Kevin. Here, we have this franchise, the Minnesota Timberwolves that have literally sucked from their first day of existence until the day I read that article. No playoff appearances. No sniffs for that matter. Here was this player, already being critiqued, bad-mouthed (for skipping college, not for his size) without given a chance to see if he could succeed. I willed the Timberwolves the opportunity to take him if he was ever going to drop down that far in the draft (5th). And it happened. And our fortunes changed (although not without more heartbreak; Lakers, Malik). KG is still in the league today, and I read that article... 20 some years ago. Some probably claim Kevin for themselves as well, but I really, truly believe that KG was my guy.
Ah, the issue
#3- Walter Payton. My first. Walter popped my cherry. The first athlete that I actually liked as a player as opposed to enjoying a team. It was about the time I was 5 years old. I can’t remember the why’s or the how comes, but the first time I remember seeing the Bears on TV and that #34, I was sold. He ran around people, he ran through people and he ran past people. At the time (and I don’t think I’m too far off for being 5), I thought that Walter was the entire Bears offense. I was disappointed when they threw the ball, and my feelings were hurt whenever they took him out and substituted in Matt Suhey. I think the reason that I picked football ahead of basketball and baseball is because I had a favorite athlete in football first. It wasn’t until I was about 8 years old that I considered Dominique Wilkins to be my favorite basketball player and Griffey was around the same time as well. So Football took the lead, and Walter was at the forefront.
My Mythical Figure
#2 (1B) Aaron Rodgers. This was difficult, but it really wasn’t because there is nothing wrong with being second. I think the only thing that differentiates between Aaron and the winner (it’s easy, right?) is that I didn’t get to follow Aaron immediately. He had a college career, that I didn't really follow, probably because I thought all Pac-10 QB's were overrated. He literally is like the perfect bromance though. He’s one of the best ever, he doesn’t have the good looks that makes the girls swoon, but he’s not hideous, he has great jokes, he’s self-effacing, he’s subtle (don’t tell me that he loves drinking grape crush, immediately after we play the Vikings all the time, and drinks it just long enough to get caught on camera), and he’s dating a hot chick (according to some). I liked him from the moment I set eyes on him, similar to KG, albeit in a different way. Aaron was expected to go top 5 in the draft, so basically it was a pipe dream for me. He had good size, a rocket arm, decent pocket presence, and a calm demeanor (Andrew Luck, anyone). Perhaps he wasn’t considered the brightest QB, but I’m not sure why he fell so far in the draft. My good fate though, as it linked my favorite team with my favorite player until the end of time. And seems to be a bit more classy then to ask for a trade to one of our biggest rivals once Brett Hundley is groomed to take over the starter’s position. Just saying.
Cause I'm an asshole, but with a sprinkle of dry humor.
#1 (1A) Wayne Rooney. Was there a doubt? For as much as I like Steph Curry, Robert Lewandowski, Mike Trout, Andrew McCutcheon, and Andrew Luck, they all still have time on their side to dethrone this champion. Here’s why I believe they won’t.
I remember the times and places of where I was during particular Wayne Rooney accomplishments. I was in my mother’s living room for the Everton goal. I was standing in her office with my eyes closed, when she announced to me that Rooney had been signed by the great Manchester United. I was watching my wife snap photos of a United friendly pre-game when he hammered a shot that broke the camera of someone snapping shots close to the vicinity of my wife. I was at the pub sitting in my usual place when he scored the lob to knock Portsmouth out of the FA cup with his beauty. I was in my living room at the townhouse when he scored the bicycle kick goal to beat Manchester City and spur United on to the title in 2011. I remember being upset that I had to work when he scored the hat trick on his Manchester United debut (this was before we could turn on soccer at a SPORTS bar – how times have changed). From October of 2002 up until this moment sitting here at the computer, I’ve really ever only had 1. He’s played for the only two Premier league teams that I like, and he’s done it with determination, heart, intelligence and tenacity. While England has turned him into a marketing machine, which would allow him to rest on his laurels, I still think he gives 100% every time he’s out on the pitch. And until he puts in his 3rd (or 4th) transfer request, I see no reason to move him out of the top spot now.
I’ve been a
pretty blessed guy. Not only am I married to the most wonderful wife, mother
and business woman I know, but I get to be married to my best friend too.
Thanks for a great 9 years, woman!
2006- I was lucky to have her, because I didn’t know nor did
I really care about planning a wedding.
I just went along for the ride, and made comments where I felt that I
needed to. She pulled it off; it was a
blast and I only wish that my dad could have been there to see how impressive
the lovely woman is that I am married to. Our honeymoon to Mexico
was damn near perfect; remember when we sat right against the ocean and had
dinner?
2007- A letdown after 2006. Just kidding. We had some big
moments in 2007 as well. You got me started at ConcordiaUniversity in St.
Paul, which is where you got your degree. We started
talking about when we were going to begin a family. Our townhouse finally started to feel like a
home, and you got the most wonderful car in the world the previous October, our
Acura TL.
2008- George came to visit us this year. We had a blast with
him, and it’s too bad he didn’t decide to up and move to Minnesota
to be our best friends forever. Parts of
this year were difficult; this is when we miscarried after a few weeks. You still believe, and maybe Aiden surely
knows, but this could have been the baby girl that I had always hoped and
dreamed of.
2009- Target got you back! Back to the B&B in Hastings
where our relationship really went to the next level back in 2002! We met with
Dr. Corfman. The first step leading toward our 3 wonderful miracles.
2010- The year of our first, well, wonderful whatever you
want to call Aiden. Our wonderful little
family, cramped in our townhouse, but I wouldn’t have it any other way. Walks
by the Mississippi, cuddling in
the bedroom watching the ’10 Winter Olympics, and a wonderful trip to Kansas
City were among the highlights.
2011- One more kid, what the hell... oh wait, looks like
there are two eggs in there, so how about that we’re having twins!! Ahhhh!!! Chicago
and searching for a new home were some of my favorite times with you.
2012-14- I don’t remember.
We had young twins for goodness sakes.
2015- Some of our sanity has finally returned. A
kindergartener will be roaming the house soon. We may be raising a future
President. We may also have the sweetest human being on the planet. Preliminary
talks of a trip to New York City
(or Hawaii) have been mentioned (New
York City). We’ve become damn good parents, but even
better, is that we’re on the fast track to 10 years and with that some
wonderful presents for me! I love you!
I would like to think that I’m a pretty chill person. I have my ups and downs like anyone else, but for the most part, I don’t get to excited, or down on life, or scared, or delighted, or upset, etc. I’m not saying I would willingly drink sour milk (ugh, maybe that is a top 9er), but only a few certain things really scare the crap out of me. Here are the 9 that I couldn’t or wouldn’t be able to handle if thrown my way.
#9 – Getting Shot from Behind. I still think this is the way I’m going to go out (only half-kidding) and it’s why I always like to sit facing the door. I had a dream when I was about twelve years old and it’s stayed with me up to this day, and it was getting caught in the crossfire of gun shots, and I took one in the back. I feel pretty safe up here in Ramsey, Minnesota, but I know I can’t determine the fate that may fall on me the one time I have my back to a door.
#8 – Getting Pushed over an Edge. Even worse in my opinion. At least the gun shot would be quick. It’s a long way down from whatever edge I decided to peek over when someone had deceit in their mind. I would imagine that it would happen at either the Grand Canyon or the top floor of a hotel building in which the swimming pool is like 15 floors down. The thing that sucks about this is unless I have some masterful twist of the body during the early seconds of falling, I’m never going to find out the culprit of this terrible disaster. And unlike the other one, a push is more personal. Whoa boy!
#7 – Dreams in which I’ve lost my Wallet. I’m not sure why they are the most vivid of all my dreams, but I lose my wallet about once a month, and I can always remember the dreams thereafter. I hate being frantic like I am in my dreams, but I imagine a similar real life scenario would be just as bad if not worse. And it always happens right after I decide to check whether it’s still there (which I have no idea why I do that). Then, of course I don’t have the resources or ability to call the bank and cancel my credit cards, so when I finally get the chance to look, all my money is gone. Of course.
#6 - Losing my Teeth. This also happens frequently in my dreams, but thank goodness that it hasn’t happened in real life. What usually happens is I’ll crunch too hard, (I’m sure I’m actually doing it too, as Sara will occasionally tell me that I’m grinding my teeth while I sleep), and out go the teeth. Then, naturally, I don’t have dental insurance, and so I have to walk around the rest of my dream embarrassed as I don’t have any teeth to chew or communicate with. I should just have dreams 1-9 to be honest. They freaking suck.
#5 – Roller Coaster coming off the Tracks. Once in awhile, this idea/thought will pop into my head, usually while I’m heading up the biggest hill. Then poof, it pops off the track, and we all plunge toward our deaths. I’m not sure why I have these thoughts, as roller coasters tend to be safe, and I think I’ve only heard of one death in the last couple of years (that lady in Texas?). I don’t even think the roller coaster derailed in that instance; it had something to do with her seat buckle as they went around a curve... Regardless of the circumstances though, it wouldn’t be very fun, on the contrary, I think my fear would be far greater than any other incident on this list.
#4 – My Horrific Bad Dreams. I’m not sure if it’s just me or if this happens to everybody, but I’d say a majority of my dreams are more of the bad quality, than of the good. And the worst ones... they are dreadful. I’ve had tornadoes; I’ve had earthquakes. I’ve been on the Titanic at the worst possible time, and I’ve been chased by people with baseball bats. I’ve been aware that I’m on a hit list with assassins coming to get me. I’ve conversed with the dead. I’ve been forgotten by my parents when I was a child; I’ve left my kids in certain places not knowing where they are... I’ve begun to look up reasons for bad dreams and some researchers believe that eating before bed time, alcohol and stress can lead to more vivid dreams than those who have a sense of calm before they go to sleep. So clearly I can do something about these, but who wants to give up left over pizza at bedtime? I might have to start thinking about it though. (I also found a site that says normal bed routine plays a factor. Psshhh, I wish!)
#3 – Dying Before my Children have Permanent Memories. In all seriousness, this one does bug me quite a bit. I think about that with my dad all the time, how lucky I was to generate some memories, and remember the conversations that we were able to have. I can have as many conversations with my children as my heart desires, but it might not be enough if I were to unfortunately perish before their permanent memories started to form. I vaguely remember my dad driving to work in his Porsche when I was probably four years old (It was white). I remember when he bought his two door Oldsmobile Firenza which was fire engine red, and he thought he was the coolest guy ever. (I was 5, he wasn’t, it was an Oldsmobile!!!). I remember switching bedrooms when I was about 6... So I have a little ways to go. I can’t predict the future, nor do I want to, but I solemnly hope that every decision I make leads to another day after another day with my children. The memories and pictures all are I have left.
Dad's car at 5
Mom's car at 5
#2 – Heights. F them. Seriously. I can’t even. The Sears Tower has the little walk out from the viewing deck, and I wasn’t even able to attempt it even though it was enclosed. I’ll never sky dive, I won’t bungee jump, I don’t believe I can even do the little RipCord guy at Valleyfair. It’s all too much.
#1 – The Big 3. I’ll go any other way, God willing. Gunshot to the back. Falling off a cliff. Head on with a train (Oof, that would hurt though). Just please, pretty please, don’t let me drown, don’t let me burn, or don’t let me freeze to death. Those elements scare the crap out of me (water, fire, ice I mean), and the thought of helplessness that can occur with all three. Instead, enjoy every day, and let’s hope for the best!
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