Doh

So, I got a new computer. Not bad. Apparenlty everyone knew I had the worst computer and I got a newer one.
Way to go.
But as i came to type today I couldn’t figure out why I was getting some symbols mixed up. Apparently someone swapped the keys around on my keyboard before i got here.
I think they said they did it to the sports editor. I guess this is his old machine.
Anyways – it was funny for a bit.
Now back to the salt mines. I went from having nothing this morning to 3 or 4 suddenly, including 2 interesting investigative stories.
Hope I don’t get type-cast for it.
BTW – thanks to Big Tim Storm for meeting me for lunch and picking up the tab.

Christians promo

Full Transcript Of Christian’s Promo At TNA PPV Bashing WWE

The following is a transcript of Christian Cage’s comments at Genesis this past Sunday:

So I guess you can imagine the question I got asked the most this week. “Are the rumors we’re hearing true? Is it true you’re going to TNA? And if so, why?” Well I’ll tell you this much, I’ll tell you this much, I didn’t come out here to see the same damn guy say the same damn thing week after week after week. And I didn’t come here to see a grown man, dressed like a doctor, pulling things out of another man’s ass. And you can be damn sure I didn’t come here because I got fired.

Which brings me to another rumor I wanna address and put to bed right now, the rumor that I got lowballed in a contract offer. Well that’s not true at all. See I was offered a very hefty sum to stay exactly where I was. But the reason I came to TNA is the same reason why each and every one of you is in this arena right now, the same reason why everyone’s watching Genesis live on Pay-Per-View. And that reason is that I love wrestling!

Now you know, I’ve been known to crack a joke or two, say something sarcastic, pull a rib. But I don’t want anybody to ever forget the fact that I am, without a doubt, the best all around performer in this sport today. It’s like this. I’m tired of egos and politics. I wanna see guys in this ring busting their asses. I wanna see wrestling reinvented.

Like last night, I turn on SpikeTV, I’m watching Impact-a little plug for you-and it reminded me of when I broke onto the national wrestling scene 8 years ago. There were two companies. One was old, stale, and lacking direction. The other one I was apart of. It was young, hungry, and cutting edge. Fast forward 8 years to this very moment, and there’s still two companies. One is old, boring, and lacking direction. And the other one is TNA!

And I said this is something that I wanna be a part of. In fact, I wanna be the biggest piece of this puzzle. Which brings me to Jeff Jarrett. I’ve got two things to say to you. One-you should never wear white pants after Labor Day. And two-I’ve come to TNA to take the one thing that’s eluded me my entire career. The one thing we can both agree on is the most important and prized possession in this sport, the NWA World Heavyweight Championship.

So I want everyone right now to stand up and take notice that Christian Cage is here. And Christian Cage will fulfill his destiny. Because that’s…how I roll!

Interesting week

Well, it’s Wednesday night and rather than just wrapping up one paper today, I’ve been a part of three papers getting wrapped up this week.
Moving to a daily is definitly different.
And moving from editor to reporter is definitly different as well.
I have moments where I’m just sitting and waiting for phone calls and want to surf the net, but then I remember how dadgum slow my computer is and how upset I would get when my reporters would just sit around and surf the web.
I don’t blame them (now for sure). Sometimes there’s just down time.
It’s weird. I’ve never been just a reporter except for a brief stint at Eastfield Community College.
That lasted for one semester and I think I may have written four stories.
So this is a whole new world for me.
I need to get out and meet more people so I can have more things to write about on my own.
I need to find more of my own assignments. So far I have one, which I started on on Monday – but my interview isn’t until tomorrow.
I want to get out and start working different beats, but I’m cautious that I don’t step on anyones toes.
And just an FYI, the paper is still looking for one staff reporter.
If you’re interested, give me a shout and I’ll see if I can help ya out.

This week’s column: Returning home

It’s been five-years, but I’ve finally made my return to the Mega-Plex.

I was born in Dallas, raised in Dallas and graduated in Mesquite.

During college I moved to central Texas and Belton where I swore it would be a long time before I would ever consider returning to the Big-D.

But paths, passions and feelings can change quickly – sometimes overnight.

And now that I’ve moved back, I’ve moved in with my parents for a few weeks until final contracts are signed on my house.

A lot has changed in five years.

As I moved back into my old bedroom, which was painted lavender several years ago, I reflected on yester-year.

My first memory of our house in Mesquite was slightly traumatic.

We moved from 8751 Milverton in Dallas to Mesquite at the end of my freshman year.

Shortly after we moved I decided it was time to put my waterbed back together and began the process of filling the large mattress.

But watching a waterbed fill with water is about as exciting as watching an Austin College or McMurry University football game.

So I left my room and went outside to play football with my sisters.

Naturally football took precedence and it was several hours before I returned inside.

In the span of several hours, the hose filling my waterbed had popped lose from its connection and filled the entire end of the house with 1/2-an-inch of water.

Needless to say, my mom wasn’t too happy – until she found out she would be able to re-carpet the entire house for a small insurance deductible.

Now, more than 10 years later, my mom is ready to re-carpet the house, but unfortunately the waterbed is long gone.

As I look back and reflect, I remember the last time I lived at home with my family.

August 2000.

At the time I was 21 and ready to move to University of Mary Hardin-Baylor.

My sisters Amy and Kara were in the room next door.

I remember randomly running into their room while they tried to sleep and jumping on top of both of them. I also had a “bad habit” of pulling off their covers while they tried to sleep.

But that last night I lived at home I remember I couldn’t sleep.

I was so anxious to head to college.

Then in 2003 when I finally finished school, I was so independent I wasn’t going to move back home. I wasn’t about to “bum off my parents”, I was going to make it on my own.

But last night I started thinking about all the “what-ifs.”

What if I had moved back home when I graduated?

I would have been able to spend more time with my family, including my sister Amy who left us at the age of 24 in March.

I might have found a job working in radio in Dallas.

I might have found a job at a daily paper – much sooner than I did.

I’d probably have less debt.

I wouldn’t have my dogs, Payton and Precious.

I wouldn’t have gotten to know David Tuma at all.

I wouldn’t have gotten to know Berneta Peeples at all.

I probably wouldn’t be best of friends with Allman — my former landlord and fellow West Wing nut and wrestling fanatic.

I probably wouldn’t be involved with Christian Wrestling Federation.

I probably would have never joined the Lions Club – at least not until I had many more gray hairs.

I probably would have never learned all I did about running a weekly newspaper.

I would have been able to see more of Amy while she was sick and in the hospital.

And the list goes on and on…

Some regrets, some blessings, but “what-ifs” never really get you anywhere.

So I’m going to stop and look to what’s ahead instead.

I may have an imperfect past – but I have a spotless future.

So let’s see where I go from here.

“But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.” – Phil. 3:13b-15