The Unknown Poster

I dont want to have a sense of outrage over it. I see it as a very smart business move for UFC. If he was Justin Beiber or something maybe I could be outraged but UFC is delivering someone to their fans they havent had since Brock: someone to absolutely hate and be willing to pay to see get beat. He will draw wrestling fans in too and the traditionalists who want to see a fake fighter get beat up. For that reason alone, I hope he wins. My hardcore UFC friends were nuts over Brock winning the World Championship. Pure hatred. Being at the bar and at a table of wrestling people being the only ones in the building cheering for Brock and wondering if we'd make it out alive.

Do you mean Impact Testing? Two weeks ago Punk claims to have had 13 concussions, the most recently in January off, I believe, a clothesline. A stiff clothesline sucks but its not a guy throwing fists at your head at full force *trying* to hurt. One has to wonder about Punk getting cleared to fight. Punk has a lot of price, too much sometimes. But Brock was the same way. The difference is, Brock never really carried himself as a prick. Punk does. Punk is arrogant. Even in his recent podcast where he lambasted WWE, he's burying their booking (and rightfully so) but the booking he suggested was awful, but to him it was great. I think this is bucket list stuff, much like Brock and the NFL and even if Punk wins, I wonder how long he'd really do it. I mean sure, if he's winning. But that first tough loss, I question whether he'd want to bounce back or if he'd check it off the bucket list and move on. Pretty sure he meant Impact Wrestling as in it's not promising for them that he'd rather try something new altogether than switch companies within his field. Ohhh well, my point is valid. I didnt even equate Impact with TNA, they are so irrelevant now. Not a chance in hell he goes to TNA. I mean, I should 99% because Dixie Carter is stupid enough to offer Punk many millions of dollars, creative control, freedom to do outside ventures and probably an ownership stake in the company (for whatever that is worth). But Punk considers his career a failure because he didnt main event WrestleMania. I dont see him ever wrestling again regularly unless its for that spot.

I think people see collusion because different companies raise prices at the exact same amount at the exact same time. I always found (and this could be my imagination) that when oil prices are reported to be lowering, we dont see an immediate lowering of gas prices and the explanation is that the supply was bought at the higher price so it will take down to reflect lower at the pumps. But when the oil price goes up, we seem to see a pretty immediate raising of gas prices rather than waiting for supply to work its way through. I also cringe everytime I see media report "so-and-so expert says expect higher gas prices" because I see it as conditioning the public so when they price jumps everyone shrugs and says 'well they did tell is this would happen'

Is there a sense a smart GM might get a lot more value for players now before the players really figure out the cap increase and the "new world" of CFL finances becomes clearer? Or am I way off base here?

Thats a lot of money to pay a 5/6 D. And then do you risk making him unhappy. There was already talk that Buff at 3RW wouldnt give him enough minutes (it probably would have with special teams play and ultimately he moved up to 2RW anyway). Chairot might be playing Postma into the press box though.

Do you mean Impact Testing? Two weeks ago Punk claims to have had 13 concussions, the most recently in January off, I believe, a clothesline. A stiff clothesline sucks but its not a guy throwing fists at your head at full force *trying* to hurt. One has to wonder about Punk getting cleared to fight. Punk has a lot of price, too much sometimes. But Brock was the same way. The difference is, Brock never really carried himself as a prick. Punk does. Punk is arrogant. Even in his recent podcast where he lambasted WWE, he's burying their booking (and rightfully so) but the booking he suggested was awful, but to him it was great. I think this is bucket list stuff, much like Brock and the NFL and even if Punk wins, I wonder how long he'd really do it. I mean sure, if he's winning. But that first tough loss, I question whether he'd want to bounce back or if he'd check it off the bucket list and move on.

If I was the UFC, I'd serve up a tomato can with a big name following. The first guy that came to mind was a guy who mouthed off about his signing. Phil Baroni. Every middleweight UFC fighter should be running his mouth right now because whomever gets the fight will be a superstar at least for that period of time around the fight. And if they can tap out or knock out Punk, they will have a lot of bragging rights. UFC should choose someone who will lose but who also has good promo skills and understands what the point is and what his job is (not saying to throw the fight, but to play a role to build the fight). Punk will more than hold his end up. I recall awhile back that there was talk of UFC hiring Paul Heyman to work with guys on promos but that they ultimately decided they couldnt risk bringing in a wrestling guy to do what could be perceived as gimmicking up UFC. Probably one of the reasons you never saw Paul with Brock in UFC but everything Brock did, Paul had a hand in.

Terminator is scheduled to be released in July where Star Wars isn't until December so I would expect a more in-depth trailer (teaser or not) for that one. I don't feel like 6-7 months is early though. I'm looking forward to Exodus: Gods & Kings this week & I remember seeing previews for that months ago. Ive never really noticed but it seems like the blockbusters get a teaser a year out and the full trailer a month or two before?

Just curious - what's the rationale behind breaking up Trouba and Stuart? I like them together but some would say Stuart is punching above his weight class as a top 4 D. I think he's a steady guy that has been really good for Trouba's development. But if everyone is healthy AND you keep Buff on D, im not sure what else you can do. Traditionally Buff played RD with Enstrom. Last season they had Bogo playing LD with Trouba and its felt playing his off-side contributed to a poor season for Bogo. So if we assume Buff has to play with Enstrom because Enstrom is the best at playing with Buff, then Bogo moves down but if he has to play RD then that means Trouba either switches (which they didnt do last year so lets presume they dont want to do that) or moves down to the bottom pairing which isnt going to happen. Buff seems comfortable playing either side. So you could have him with Bogo and Enstrom with Trouba. In short, out of Bogo, Enstrom, Trouba, Buff or Stuart, who's moving down? Stuart.

Weird. 2 points out of a playoff spot. I dont follow the Sens enough to know if this is a shocker. But it seems Bobby Ryan isnt living up this his huge contract.

I would suspect he wins simply because UFC is insane if they dont serve up an easy opponent for him. Punk said it was a multi fight deal. It actually works to the advantage of UFC to have him fight an easy opponent since Punk is going to be a huge heel. If people hated Brock, they will absolutely loath Punk as soon as he opens his mouth. He's inherently unlikeable at the best of times (his best friend describes him as an *******) and is instantly the best at drawing money with his mouth in UFC. Even better, UFC should have his first fight be in Chicago where he will get crazy amount of press and have a significant amount of fans in the audience which will piss off the UFC traditionalists even more. I dont think he will have any staying power at a championship level. But he is smart enough to draw a couple of big paydays. And despite his vow to never wrestle again and despite his burial of WWE and especially Vince and Hunter, a win in UFC sets Punk up for a massive payday in WWE should he ever change his mind. And his wife is hot too.

Ive seen it called "Teaser Trailer" but perhaps its called that simply because its the first one. Usually its the big movies that have teasers. Its a bit early for a full trailer though. Either way, it gave us a lot more information to tease us then the Star Wars one. Supposedly JJ had no input into the trailer. Rumours are that he's very stressed at working with Disney. JJ is used to being given a lot of control (like with Star Trek) and it sounds like Disney and Kathleen Kennedy are keeping him on a short leash.

Anyway....now that we agree lets get back on topic.

Sure it is. I said outside of wrestling and training. What are his athletic credentials outside of the two exceptions I stated in my original post?

Which makes my statement 100% true. You're awfully argumentative Mike. I said outside of wrestling and casual training. why not just reply and say you believe his training makes his signing less of a surprise (or whatever your point was)? He simply has no fight credentials.

Definitely a non import. Probably more suited to kicker.

This place is getting a bit needlessly ****-ish lately. How many current players have three year deals? It can't be a common occurrence...? Allow me to speculate using my limited knowledge and love of conspiracies. Walters signs all these guys early paying their signing bonus in 2014. That leaves extra cap space in 2015 to front load a contract and big signing bonus for Heenan.

Saying in wrong with no proof is weak. But I'll answer my own question. Punk "but has a background in kempo and also trained in Brazilian jiu-jitsu" Zero fights. Zero competitions. I'll defend wrestling as athletic ofcourse but it's very different. Aside from wrestling he has no athletic credentials. We don't know the extent of his training. We don't know his skill level. That's what I mean by credentials. If I've missed where he fought or played a sport please let me know.

Well that's just simply not true. Please list his legitimate sports work. He has trained but not for a fight. My brother is a brown belt but he's not fighting MMA.

It may. But who knows if we had THAT much cash laying around. The real idea is that you spend a bit now (whether it's 2014 + 2015) in return for the three years of control. With a minimum contract being one year now in the CFL, you're going to pay for extra years. Good point. You don't really hear about this much anymore but it struck me as Walters has been signing guys early. Tamen used to do that a lot didn't he?

Am I right in thinking that the benefit to these signings now is that signing bonuses count on the 2014 payroll leaving extra cap space in 2015?

Not a shocker that Punk is interested in MMA or that he'd want to work with UFC but plenty of shock that UFC would sign him to fight. Punk has zero athletic credentials outside of being a professional wrestler and casual training. Has never fought at any level. Is 36 years old. The backlash seems to be that UFC looks bad for signing a "celebrity" to fight.

Well I did it as a joke in a couple of posts. The most interesting pressing concern regarding Buff is what to do with him when Enstron and Bogo are healthy. Am I correct that he's playing left D currently? The Sheriff's point on the Big Show was you keep him on D because it's easier to acquire a top nine forward than a top four D. Enstron-Bogo Buff-Trouba Stuart/postma/Chairot (who is making a case for NHL work) That's pretty solid.

I didn't feel Pavs played excellent though the consensus seems to be he did so I'll concede that point. One interesting stat is that his save percentage is virtually identical to last year.

Showing a major commitment to the Bombers. Nice to see Walters working hard.