Page 174 - Phoenix1998-99

Thursday, April 15, 1999-Page 14 SPORTS "Pro Wrestling Commentary: Carpenter resigns Top Rope Report Continuedfrom page 16 second-team and captained all-America honors in baseball He was team. the football next stop for Euly in either promotion. In my Sid Euly is defiantly alive and well. IIY CHRIS ANASTASIA named all-West Virginia lntercollegiateAth- StaffWrirer opinion, it is doubtful that Euly will return to Best wishes and prayers go out to Dave letic Conference four times in baseball and WCW since he has real life problems with Smith (British Bulldog) as he is in the hos- twice in football. What a time to be a wrestling fan, huh? wrestler Am Anderson (he stabbed Anderson pital with a rare spinal infection. This infec- Carpenter arrived at Western Maryland The big two are constantly pulling out all with scissors in a hotel while both were in tion stems from an injury Smith suffered in in 1969 as a physical-education instructor the stops to win the ratings war while smaller WCW years ago.) 'the ring for WCW when Smith was and coach of track, swimming and football. outfits get exposure unheard of in Sports This leaves WWF as an option and a very powerslammed (ironically, Smith's He took a leave of absence in 1978-79 to Entertainment history. Let's take a look at own"Finishing Move") onto a trap door se- complete work on a doctorate in sports psy- what the big two (WCW, WWF) have in Powered by the Madison cretly placed in the ring. chology from West Virginia. After his return, store for the fans in the coming weeks. The injury and infection are very seri- he served as head track coach for another 12 WCW: With a new set and design for Ave. appeal of stars like ous and could result in the removal of up to years and as head cross-country coach for their flagship program "wcw Monday Ni- four inches of Smiths spine and the replace- six. tro," as well as appearances by all of their "Stone Cold" Steve ment of the section with Titanium. "When I became athletic director in major stars, WCW inched closer in the rat- Austin, Sable, and "The This would definitely end the career of 1984," Carpehter told his staff, "1 wanted to ings to their competition. Dave Smith, a career that saw him gain ac- see Western Maryland be competitive at the The much anticipated re-appearance of Rock" Rocky Miavia, the claim in wrestling organizations in America conference level across the board, and 1think "IIo'itingto WCWTV was well received by fans WWF has gained an and his native England. Again best wishes we're about there. 1 also wanted to see us and helped WCW to hype their latest pay- for a speedy and full recovery for Dave meet the broad-based needs of our students per-view "Spring Stampede". audience unheard of on Smith. Our prayers are with you. and to become a well-funded program, and This all being said, WCW still has prob- we've made good progress in those areas as lems. Their major storylines are dominated cable TV. This concludes this issue's Top Rope Re- well." by the oldest wrestlers in the business. WCW port. Next issue, we will see if WCW can Carpenter helped found the Centennial champion Rick "Nature Boy" Flair is 50 viable one at that. WWF is always looking at close the gap in the ratings with WWF. We Conference in 1992, putting Western Mary- years old, and the number one contender for gaining new headliners, and a former cham- will also take a look at second generation land in league with Johns Hopkins, Swarth- that belt is 45+ old "Hollywood"Hulk pion would look very nice in their stable. Ei- wrestlers and their success. Until then, I will more, Haverford, Bryn Mawr, Franklin & Hogan. ther way, it looks like a once-dead career for see you between the ring ropes. Marshall, and other top-notch academic in- These wrestlers are still loved and en- stitutions. joyed by fans but, in my opinion, hold down the growing young talent in the company. It seems that a push of younger stars in WCW like Chris Jericho, Chris Beniot, Raven, and Bill Goldberg could only help WCW attract the coveted 18-25 year old demographic Joved by advertisers. Grade: B-(but improving) l\. WWF: The number one wrestling orga- nization in the business still is rolling along at breakneck pace, exhorting new viewer at all limes. Of the strength of their pay-per- view extravaganza "Wrestlemania XV," Vince Macmahon and co. are setting the bar high for their competitors in the field of Sports Entertainment. Powered by the Madison Ave. appeal of stars like "Stone Cold" Steve Austin, Sable, and "The Rock" Rocky Miavia, the W,WF· has ga-ined an audience unheard of on cable' TV this summer, The new. raunchy attitude adopted by Macmahon has gained.an inquisitive look pack your underwear, your toothbrush from main~tream media outlets, while these Of' . stories are intended to have a negative Ibok il''''and your [guisl~ on the WWF, they seem to only increase the interest in the show. The show's ability to go into uncharted ground with its storylines has given the WWF'"'the advantage over their corrip(hit6rs.~ A recent angle has The Undertaker "Jiving his gimmick" and leading a Satanic takeover of the company. , "!loI~~ ""t~w."AttrrtQ!l-'Vw~a"'~i>~pand""_ Couple this with the standard boss vs. employee angles (Macmahon vs. Austin) and ye:: ~ I Iorl'- ~oI'Y"# 'e -ptl1l"4tomlt y, de, ._ ... establishment vs. youth (The Corporation vs. 1tM'IG> lain ',," ",,'" ~ ,,,, CimI> ""'" ~ ill .. Nr:1v ROle ~ D-generation X). and you have a hybrid show mixing elements of soap opera, action- l' p;;;. pt. adventur~, and talk show into a slick, flas~y raungs wmner. Grade: A- (This is not your parents' wres- tling: show, but two hours of solid entertain- merit that keeps them coming back for mcrc.j News And Notes It Sl:cm<; that Sid Euly'', career with the ECW wrestling promotion is over. Euly. bet- ter known as "Sid Justice, Sid Vicious and Psycho Sid" in his wrestling career in both WWF and WCW, felt that he was misused j by promoters in ECW and asked out of his coruract Rumors have swirled about the possible