... Has Left the Building

By LeKeith * Other LeKeith Posts

Wrestlemania is an annual Pay Per View by World Wrestling Entertainment (the WWE). Considered the Super Bowl of professional wrestling, it contains matches that are often the culmination of a feud (storyline) between wrestlers looking to have a Wrestlemania or breakout moment so as to elevate their status in the wrestling community. Lately, another trend has emerged. Wrestlemania has become a place for the last stand, an established superstar proving that they are capable of one last great match before retiring. This year, the latter theme is what I have been unable to move past, even if the WWE and its “no off-season” schedule already have. Wrestlemania 26 is where the Heartbreak Kid Shawn Michaels had the last match of his career.

I started watching wrestling in 1992 with Wrestlemania 8. Hulk Hogan and the 'Macho Man' Randy Savage - names I knew of before I started following wrestling - were featured in the main event matches; however, the 3 people on that card that caught my attention were The Undertaker, Bret ‘Hitman’ Hart and Shawn Michaels. They are the reason I kept watching after. By the end of that year - at the Survivor Series 1992 PPV - the Undertaker was featured in a signature match - the debut of casket match - against the Ugandan Giant Kamala. Guess who won?

The Main Event saw Bret, the World Champion, face Shawn, the Intercontinental Champion. 1992 was no doubt their breakout year as they not only carried the WWF/WWE from that point on but also established my understanding of wrestling. Bret's technical ability regularly turned matches into lessons; Shawn's athleticism carried with it a willing yet defiant sacrifice of body for the sake of entertainment; The Undertaker has never failed to leave the audience in awe whether they be attending a show live or watching a recorded show from home. These three, dubbed the leaders of the WWE’s “New Generation,” provided a guarantee: there will always be at least one thing I would be excited to watch.

In light of what I've said above, I have - admittedly - not been a Shawn Michaels fan; that was my brother. I am a dyed in the wool – pink & black wool, preferably – Bret Hart fan. This led to many sibling arguments where our intensity was matched only by Bret and Shawn’s when they faced off. Their 60 Minute Iron Man Match at Wrestlemania 12 was the culmination of a month long debate over who was better. Even after, I refused to acknowledge Shawn's victory in the match. And, after the controversial ending to their Survivor Series 1997 match, the phrase ‘Montreal Screwjob’ could not be uttered in my presence for years.

But I can't deny Shawn Michaels' ability as a wrestler, athlete and performer. And yes, I have looked forward to his matches, even going so far as to cheer him on rare occasions. I specifically went to my friend’s house to watch him face Chris Jericho at Wrestlemania 19. And I watched only that match. I rooted for Jericho though; he lost.

Bret retired in 2001; he has only recently resurfaced in the temporary role of assisting the next generation of the Hart family – the Hart Dynasty – in becoming Tag Team Champions. Now, with Shawn retired at the hands of the Undertaker no less, two-thirds of my inaugural class of wrestlers are done. The Undertaker's stellar in-ring career is in its twilight years, much like Randy Savage's was in 1992. And while he has a few Main Event Matches left in him, there is an expiration date and it is drawing nearer.

Will I stop watching once my wrestling foundation is fully retired? Highly Unlikely. There are some wrestlers in the tradition of these elite 3, Jericho chief among them. But it won't be the same: I've lost my guarantee.

I know, I know. “Wrestling’s fake.” And, yeah, it is (if you want to be a dick about it). If Shawn Michaels does come out of retirement, then he won’t be the first; that’s a wrestling tradition in itself. But if this is the end, and based on the ovation he received after his match at Wrestlemania 26 and / or the ovation he received the next night on Monday Night RAW during his retirement speech, I think it is.

So, sincerely, from a non-HBK fan: Thank You Shawn Michaels. Don’t make me regret it.

Love, New Zealand Style

By LeKeith * Other LeKeith Posts

While I bemoan the end of the Flight of the Conchords television series, I think of what they have left me. Reviewing their lessons via their albums, the teachings of Bret, Jermaine and even Murray have prepared me for times like Valentine's. So, "For all the Ladies in the World," here is how romance is done, the FOTC way.

First, find a lady. This can happen one of two ways: She can notice you, check out your "Sugalumps," and introduce herself. Or, you can notice her, and go over to her. Pay her a compliment; she is "the Most Beautiful Girl (in the Room)" after all. There is the third way but it should be avoided if at all possible: You and your buddy should not "both be in Love with a Sexy Lady." It's not what "Friends" do.

After the initial contact and a Keh-bahb, you might want to take things to the boudoir. Hold up, "You Don't Have to Be a Prostitute." Always remember: "A Kiss is Not a Contract". Go through a checklist: Learn her last name. Make sure she isn't a high class prostitute, despite your compliment. Make sure she's not your friend's ex-girlfriend. Confirm that she is not a "Demon Woman." Once these objectives are cleared, and "If You're Into It," it should be Wednesday; that's "Business Time." Enjoy but proceed with caution the first time. Even though "You Told Her You Were Freaky," she thought you were joking. Wait until next Wednesday to show her you were serious.

Sadly, the FOTC method does not contain a way to end things happily. It could turn "Carol Brown" at any given moment. To delay the inevitable, hide all bus timetables so she can't take one out of town. Of course, the "Au Revior" will still take place. When that happens, start chopping onions; it will give you a reason to say "I'm Not Crying." But remember the old adage: It is better to have loved than to be left holding a yellow notepad, muttering "Leggy Blonde" to yourself. Or, you could enter a state of complex denial, "Ramble Through the Avenues of Time," and make up a completely new girlfriend.

Happy Valentine's Day!!

Finding my NYC State of Mind

By LeKeith * Other LeKeith Posts

Working and living in New York City isn’t always what it seems. With so much energy devoted to the day-to-day affairs, keeping noses to the grindstone as it were, the allure of the city goes to the wayside. But the arts - film, television, song and comics – can be refresher courses in the city’s wonder. Such is my case. I've been introduced to works that have re-introduced me to New York City: they reflect not the traditional conception of New York but rather show the New York that I've experienced, am experiencing or long to experience.

Woody Allen has become one of the most famous New York auteur. Prior to his acquiring a passport, Annie Hall and Manhattan served as practically boilerplate on depicting New York City. While I own both of those movies, I have yet to remove their shrink-wrap. I’ve seen them before but I have not been compelled to re-watch them. Not to discredit Mr. Allen's fine films but my NYC movie happens to be Nick & Norah's Infinite Playlist. To be fair, neither Nick (Michael Cera) nor Norah (Kat Dennings) speak to me as characters (both characters are from New Jersey, which is an automatic disqualification); The film's setting, the concert venues of New York, are a backdrop to the characters' pursuit of a mystery performance. This romanticizing of concert euphoria recalls some of my fondest high school experiences.

I was something of a concert hall junkie during the latter years of high school. I dragged many a friend to Irving Plaza, the Roseland Ballroom, Webster Hall, the Hammerstein or elsewhere to see bands they had barely heard of, if at all. Because of my bona fide momma's boy status, the biggest thrill, after the music, was being in the thick of these places, surrounded by the smells of beer and various smokes, without partaking of either recreation. I have a fondness for cigarette smoke that can’t be mirrored. I stayed in the mosh pits because it was a workout for me, surfing people and pogo-ing. I’d emerge from this mass, drenched in sweat (mostly mine) while remaining mostly unscathed. I say ‘mostly’ because on one night at Irving Plaza, I was lightly bitten on the neck by Dicky Barrett of the Mighty Mighty Bosstones . I'd call it a Hickey by Dicky but I didn't have to wear a turtleneck to school the next day. He was gentle.

Nick & Norah is an avenue for these concert moments but also for the post-show atmosphere. Bodegas and Diners are the locations of preference. When lucky, the ideal is a hotdog from Gray's Papaya. Ideally, it’d be from the 72nd & Broadway location, which is my favorite one. I really appreciate that the film has the characters go to that specific location even though it is geographically illogical (The concert venues in the film are either on the Lower East Side or Brooklyn; that Gray’s is on the Upper West Side.). Also, kudos for going to a Gray's Papaya and not a Papaya King, King Papaya, Papaya Dog or Famous Original's Gray's Papaya. Accept no substitutes, kids.

Gray’s has earned its loyalty. Fools Rush In, starring Matthew Perry and Salma Hayek, holds a very special place in my heart because, without giving too much of this cinematic masterpiece away, the 72nd and Broadway location plays a pivotal role. My college roommate, who’s from Texas, developed a craving for those specific hot dogs because of the movie. I took him there and he called his Dad afterwards. It filled me with a sense of pride that I’d never felt before. It was like … a Gray’s hotdog.

Television holds my single favorite depiction of New York: The Simpsons' episode “Homer v. The City of New York.” That episode shows how the same city on the same day can be wondrous for some (Marge, Lisa & Bart) while disastrous for others (Homer). While the message is not something unique to New York City, it is nice to see The Simpsons use the city for that vehicle. Also, Bart licking a subway pole in a grift gone wrong really makes you admire the art of the panhandle.

Putting the Taxis and the Night Courts aside, the television series that holds the most influence on my NYC view is How I Met Your Mother. The show revolves around 5 friends (Ted, Marshall, Lily, Robin and Barney) living in New York City at pivotal stages in their lives. Their exploits are told through a series of flashbacks that Ted narrates to his children in the near future. I want to make their New York City my New York City. I’ve awoken after a night out to discover things I have no recollection of but never something as strange as what Ted found in “The Pineapple Incident.” I’d like to have a reoccurring driver like they have Ranjit. “The Limo” persuaded me the idea to rent a limo for New Years for me and my friends to use; it also dissuaded me by pointing out that traffic is everywhere in New York, especially on that day. All of these things are nary impossible but How I Met Your Mother makes them seem plausible at least.

The episode “Ten Sessions” has a sequence that epitomizes that sense of the improbable. Ted wants to ask his dermatologist Stella on a date but can’t due to AMA rules. Ted decides to wait until he is no longer her patient to ask her out. During that time, he learns a lot about her, particularly that Stella only takes 2 minutes for lunch. Ted devises a date that includes a cab ride (Ranjit!), a short screening of Manos: the Hand of Fate, lunch al fresco, flowers and a stroll back to her office. It's illogical that all parties involved - the cabbie, the electronics store, and the restaurant - would be willing to bend the rules just so that Ted could charm Stella for 2 minutes. In their New York, however, this happened and totally worked

“The Burger” is a more relatable episode that carries a sense of the city with it. Marshall leads the group to various New York burger joints in search of the perfect burger he once tasted 8 years before. In doing so, the episode observes the city’s corporate expansion: independently run shops that were New York staples - diners, clubs, restaurants - have become Pharmacies, Fast Food Chains and Banks, frustration Marshall in his Quixote-like search for burger shaped windmills. But the use of framed autographed 8 x 10’s adorning the walls of burger joints that triggers memories of Big Nick's Burger Joint, the location of one of my favorite burgers. Like Marshall, I've been in pursuit of the best burger (while taking an occasional side journey for cupcakes) in New York City. I too have exhausted Zagat guides and humored the recommendations of friends, co-workers and know-it-alls. They’ve all ended in disappointed. Given the quality and variety, it is an almost endless endeavor. Marshall achieving his goal is motivation for me to continue mine.

Incidentally, Ted, who is originally from Ohio, has an irrational hatred towards New Jersey, brought on by residing in New York for a few years. It is a trait that many New Yorkers share, including me. Thanks, HIMYM writers.

Several Comics take place in New York City. New York City, in the Marvel Universe, is home to Spiderman, the Fantastic Four, several Avengers teams and the Hood, which is only a small sample of the heroes and villains that protect and terrorize New York City. For a genuine homage to New York, I turn to Johnny Hiro by Fred Chao. He combines true-to-life depictions of daily life in NYC like the big city weariness that inspired this post but combines it with element reserved for the superheroes. Johnny and his girlfriend Mayumi, get their sleep interrupted by a giant lizard attacking for example. In another instance, a night at the opera turns into a battle against 47 ronin businessmen. At any given time, an ordinary night can become and unlikely adventure. They’re rarely on par with fighting a Godzilla-like creature while wearing bunny slippers but not everyone is Johnny Hiro.

There are countless bands from New York and countless songs about New York. Right now, “Empire State of Mind” by Jay-Z featuring Alicia Keys fits both categories. Hearing Keys sing the beloved city name alone encapsulates the song’s anthem-like and admittedly cheesy nature. It’s a sense that the residents of New York have embraced, expressed by constantly playing the song. Hell, it’s the first Jay-Z song on my iPod that hasn’t been mashed with something more to my palate (Jay-Zeezer's Black and Blue Album and Danger Mouse's Grey Album hold the other spots). My everlasting sentiments, however, are with another song and I plan on converting people to it one day soon.

The Artist: Andrew WK

The Song: “I Love NYC”

The Venue: Drunk Karaoke Bar

Have you ever noticed that an Actor, when interviewed, will say something like. “[City] has the best audiences in the world.” or a Musicians say, “Nobody rocks harder than [City]!” Better yet, have you ever been at a concert and realized that the musician changed the words to a song to include the city name or one its landmarks? The response is always a loud cheer from the audience, right? In professional wrestling, that’s called a “Cheap Pop.” “I Love NYC” is one of the best Cheap Pop ever recorded because it only really works with New York City. I’m sure Andrew WK may have tried at to put another city name in there (I Love … Walla Walla?) while on tour possibly, but the song wouldn’t remain the same. A more blatant examples of a Cheap Pop song is LMFAO’s “I’m In Your City.” They actually released multiple versions for multiple cities, a marketing move that I respect.

Back to “I Love NYC,” I have no idea what the verses say. I only care when Mr. WK gets to the Chorus: "I Love New York City! Oh yeah! New York City!" Repeat 20 Times. I mean, I've looked up the lyrics but, frankly, I could care less. Here is the mental image I get when I listen to this song: Me conducting dozens and dozens of Karaoke Kings & Queens in a chorus of "I Love NYC," having them alternate between bellowing "I Love New York City" and "Oh yeah! New York City," arranged by gender, or by side of the bar, or by whatever arbitrary factor I decide. It’ll be the World’s Worst Chorus having the World’s Best Time! And by ‘World,’ I mean “New York City,” because they will be one and the same at that point. How do I am to accomplish this feat? Well, the song speaks for itself; but a round of free drinks should carry “I Love NYC” the rest of the way.

The Pop Cultural items listed below are representatives of New York as much as the works considered more traditionally or more popularly 'New York.' From my vantage point, these works are greater representations of New York because of their ability to invoke my personal memories or wants. I'm not shunning quintessential New York works. Arguing that Nick & Norah is a better film than Annie Hall would be silly. My preference on what to watch on an idle Saturday afternoon, however, leans more towards seeing Michael Cera and Cat Dennings over Woody Allen and Diane Keaton. My flow can't handle "Empire State of Mind" nor the vocal prowess to tackle the chorus, for that matter. But hoarsely yelling "I Love NYC" over and over again? Mission Accepted, providing copious amounts of alcohol. If anyone doesn't like it, deal with it. That's about as New York as it gets.

Mixtape Mondays - A Month of Plenty

When the editors of ATC put the team up to the challenge of creating a mix tape in honor of this month of feasting and harvest, one contributor by far and away had the best set of suggestions.

Therefore, this month's mix tape is brought to you by the letters "L" and "K" as LeKeith solo dj's this month mix which creates a symphonic meal. May your ears devour it.

Your Mix Tape Menu

Food Prep aka Places where there is Food / Drink:
The Clash - Lost in the Supermarket
A - Starbucks

Cock-Tail Hour:
The Cardigans - I Need Some Fine Wine and You, You Need to be Nicer
The White Stripes - Little Cream Soda
Thin Lizzy or Metallica - Whiskey in the Jar
Great Big Sea - Old Black Rum
The Who - Old Red Wine

Main Course:
The Beets - Killer Tofu (Totally my favorite!)
The Flaming Lips - She Don't Use Jelly
Weezer - Pork and Beans
The Presidents of the United States of America - Peaches
B52s - Rock Lobster
Kate Nash - Pumpkin soup
The Ting Tings - Fruit Machine

Dessert or I Thought this was a Food but may have been Mistaken:
Mika - Lollipop
Lazlo Bane - Buttercup
The Foundations - Build me up Buttercup

Post Dining Fun - aka Food as a Euphemism
Warrant - Cherry Pie
Flight of the Conchords - Sugalumps

Scott Pilgrim Must Buy

By LeKeith * Other LeKeith Posts

Before the release of The Watchmen Film, I noticed an increased number of copies of The Watchmen Book visible on the railways. I am including myself; not only did I borrow a copy but I then loaned out my borrowed copy to someone else. In an effort to make it up to the original loaner, I bought a copy to replace the borrowed copy. At one point, I had claim to 2 copies of the book but neither was technically mine. I know mental, right?

DC Comics has gone into overdrive trying to capitalize on the movie's one week of success. They've launched a site to point people towards some of their other works by established artists. I’ve read some of these titles and will willingly recommended All Star Superman or The Killing Joke, without hesitation. I wouldn’t recommend every title however.

DC isn’t alone in this; Marvel, to coincide with X-Men Origins: Wolverine, has released additional comics centering on all aspects Wolverine. Wolverine is already a heavily favored and read character but the additional series focus on or relate to his origin stories. However, much like The Watchmen, there is a lot of story to condense for cinema, which can result in confusion for both the comic readers and the movie goers. I have a different suggestion that is more needed: Read the Scott Pilgrim series.

This is Scott. His surname is Pilgrim, hence the title of the series. Scott is an aimless twenty-three year old living in Toronto, Canada. He fills his days with his band, made up of his friends; they're, admittedly, not very good. He shares a tiny one bed, one-bedroom with his gay friend / roommate Wallace. By ‘shares,’ I mean mooches off of. He meets a girl - Ramona Flowers – and fancies her, setting off a chain of events revolved around a single principle:

In order to date Ramona, he must defeat her 7 evil exes.

Bryan Lee O'Malley is the creator of this series. From the first few pages in Volume 1, you can tell that O’Malley showcases his influences. The art of the series shows influences of Manga, which is a Japanese comic art style. The books are even Manga sized, which is about the size of a Reader’s Digest, around 5’’ x 7.5’.’ American comic books are generally .6.625’’ x 10.25’’. The art within the pages are in black and white; however, many of the panels not only reference color but self-referentially acknowledge that the book is printed in black and white. In terms of content, O’Malley is not one to limit himself, making anything and everything a possible reference within the series. In a quick gloss, you will potentially discover tabs for a song, a recipe for Vegan Shepard’s Pie, or – my personal favorite – classic videogame references.

Scott Pilgrim is an enjoyable and accessible read. The Watchmen and similar titles being recommended by DC are weighted, focusing on darker themes like death, corruption, moral deviations and other apocalyptic goodness. I have no problem with this type of reading material but sometimes I need a break. And I don't know you but you need a break too. With the summer approaching, this seems about as good as a time as any to revel in something more comedic. I’m not implying that Scott Pilgrim is without heft, that’s certainly not the case. Without going into too much detail, there is both major and minor character development that affects the series’ driving premise. The Watchmen and Watchmen-esque works are fairly dense; they require a more detailed understanding of comic books either in terms of character history or comic book themes. Scott Pilgrim operates on less of these principles than others do. It's a good comic for non-comic readers also.

I, too, am late to the Pilgrim party. I didn’t read the first book until I picked it up at the San Diego Comic Con 2008. I did so in bass-ackwards fashion: I bought one the day after O’Malley was there, signing books and selling original artwork, which my friend purchased. With months to stew over my errs, I picked up a copy of Volume 5 – mostly for the limited addition sleeve – first thing on Day 1 of the New York Comic Con 2009. I also picked up Volume 2 that day. That night, I read Volume 2, returned to the NYCC for Day 2 and bought Volumes 3 and 4. I read those the same night and completed 5 by the time the NYCC weekend was over. That weekend, the Scott Pilgrim books were my crack but the good kind of crack. They were like Madeleines. I came, I saw, I bought the limited edition t-shirt.

I want to be the one to take you through the looking glass. Trust me, on the other side, you will not be alone. It’s warm and comforting, like fresh madeleines straight from the oven. There is a large fanbase for this series that has yet to get mainstream attention.While the books have been reviewed by the likes of the New York Times, its fans have gone under reported. To be fair, articles about fans only happen when they reach BoSox or Potter like levels of 'dedication.' So it’s fine that Gawker doesn’t have any articles about us. But there is an official Myspace page, unofficial Facebook pages, and a Ning page. I know; I hadn’t heard of Ning either, not until SP.

We can get to all of that. Let me be your Sherpa, and we’ll take in a little bit of Pilgrim at a time. We’ll eventually reach levels of release parties like the one Rocketship had for Volume 5: Scott Pilgrim Vs. The Universe. For Volume 6, We’ll throw BBQ’s, Theme Parties, whatever you like. First we have to start with Volume 1: Scott Pilgrim’s Precious Little Life, which you can pick up at Bergen Street Comics. You should pick up Volume 2: Scott Pilgrim Vs. The World while you're there. Take a look around the shop. It'd be a nice place for a release party, in my opinion.

They've already making a movie based on the series. O'Malley is working closely with Edgar Wright., the Writer / Director of both Shaun of the Dead and Hot Fuzz. You love those movies! It's starring Michael Cera. You love Michael Cera! Admit it: He's second only to Paul Rudd, if that. You hate that your parents stole Cera from you because they liked Juno. Your tween sister (and her friends) co-opted him through Nick & Norah's Infinite Playlist (That soundtrack was clearly intended for you, not them). They still haven’t watched Arrested Development, probably not until that movie comes out. C’mon! We’re taking him back. If we read the books now, we can reverse the trend. Mark your pop-cultural territory, figuratively, not literally.

Anatomy of a Wrestling Match

By LeKeith * Other LeKeith Posts

Many people associate March and early April with the annual basketball tradition of March Madness, the NCAA basketball tournament that contains the chance for history making moments from upsets and legacies alike. This time of year, I am focused on another annual tradition. Wrestlemania. My fascination started in 1992 and could have possible stopped sooner if not for the moment that captured my attention at Wrestlemania 8: On April 4,1992, Bret 'Hitman' Hart faced Rowdy' Roddy Piper for the Intercontinental Championship.

Our house had just acquired cable and we were taking advantage of the ability to watch the Pay Per View. I remember the layout of the room vividly. I sat crossed-legged on the floor in front of the TV. My great-grandmother sat on our loveseat, to my right. She, like many grandmothers, was a wrestling fan back when she was younger and wrestling was ‘real.’ Next to her was my grandmother, coming to terms with the déjà vu of seeing her mother scream passionately at the man wearing colorful underwear on television. My mother was just to the right of the television, half leaning out the window and yelling to my father, who was on the roof, adjusting the satellite dish to get a clearer picture. Like I said, we had just 'acquired' cable.

The ending to this match has stuck with me to this day. The referee was accidentally knocked down when Roddy Piper, in an attempt to break free from Bret’s headlock, pushed Bret off of him and indirectly into the path of the referee. Roddy Piper went to the outside and grabbed the Time Keepers Bell. He climbed back in the ring, stood over Bret, and raised the belt overhead, contemplating whether to hit Bret with it. With the referee unable to call the match, he wouldn't get disqualified. The crowd pleaded with Piper to not to use the foreign object. Ultimately he acquiesced, throwing the bell out of the ring. He picked Bret up and put him in the Sleeper Hold, Piper’s finishing move. Bret, struggling to break the hold, moved towards a turnbuckle corner and kicked off of it, shifting the burden of the additional weight from him to Piper, causing both wrestlers to fall to the ring mat. Bret, who landed on top of Piper, rolled himself toward Piper’s head, pinning him using Piper's own arms. At the same time, the referee made enough of a recovery to crawl over toe the wrestlers and count the pinfall. As the ref counted, Piper kicked his legs, trying to get some leverage, but the weight was too much. By the time the ref counted to three, there was a standing ovation for both men.

With Wrestlemania 25 happening on the 5th of April, I can revisit this match in order to get into the spirit of what is to come in the latest installment of this event. Wrestlemania is typically the most watched Pay Per View event for the WWE. As such, the WWE works harder to elevate its storylines and wrestlers so that the program satisfies lifelong fans like me but also invites casual fans and novices, like I was 17 years ago, to start watching the regular programming. This match– Bret versus Piper – is the match that made me a regular viewer. With hindsight and acquired wrestling knowledge, I can identify three elements of story that were interwoven to bring the match to its successful conclusion: the champion v. challenger story, the babyface v. babyface story and the technician v. streetfighter story

Champion v. Challenger
The Champion versus Challenger story adds a unique element to wrestling matches because there are fewer titles than wrestlers. At the time of Wrestlemania 8, there were 3 Titles: World Champion, Intercontinental Champion and Tag Team Champions. Because of this limited number, title matches have an additional story element that can not be in every match. With Bret / Piper, Bret was the number one contender, earning the right to face Champion Piper. This taking place at Wrestlemania, exposes both Champion and Challenger to higher scrutiny; the Challenger has to prove that he is worthy of becoming champion; the Champion has to prove that he is worthy of being champion. Bret and Piper display this tension during the pre-match interview. Piper tells an anecdote about he and the Hitman when they were younger. Storyline wise, Bret and Piper are childhood friends. One of Piper's strengths in wrestling has always been his ability to cut a good promo. As a babyface, he disarms the audience by making light of the situation, telling jokes at the Hitman's expense. When Bret remains stoic about the situation, Piper‘s attitude flips and becomes serious when talking about the championship title. The promo ends with both Bret and Piper raising fists at each other. Piper's hand is wrapped with some kind of illegal foreign object he pulled from his tights, most likely brass knuckles wrapped in black tape. This act is a clear indicator that the Champion is willing to do whatever is necessary to retain the title.

Streetfighter v. Technician
In the promo segment, Piper has already shown that he is better versed in the talking portions of wrestling. Roddy's most famous Wrestlemania moments aren't remembered for his matches but for his actions: Boxing Mr. T (WM2), Spraying Morton Downey Junior with a Fire Extinguisher (WM 5), Shaving Adrian Adonis' head (WM3). As a result, Piper’s wrestling strengths are more of a streetfigher’s style.

Bret Hart is known for being one of the most technically sound wrestlers in the industry. As a second generation wrestler, Bret displays an understanding of wrestling that comes from both performing and running a wrestling promotion, which he did with his father in Calgary, Alberta, Canada up in the industry. In addition to his ‘Hitman’ moniker, he is also known as the ‘Excellence of Execution,’ because of his use maneuvers that are rarely, if ever, implemented, like the pinning combination described above.

The difference in styles make for a compelling match-up. Bret and Piper booked the match - design a guideline for how to match will play out - so that the ebb and flow between their styles is visually different when each wrestler is leading. Piper has a boxing with a win of the Golden Gloves; he controls the match through punches, kicks and clotheslines, the kinds of moves you would be more likely to see in playgrounds or alleys. Bret's technical skills - holds and reversals - help him either gain control the match or reverse Piper's momentum.

If each wrestler remained steadfast in their fighting style. the match would be less compelling. Instead, either wrestler adopts some elements of the other’s fighting style. Where Piper’s punches are a show of dominance, Bret's punches are seen more as desperation attacks. In turn, the start of the match has Bret and Piper exchanging holds, going through a series of collar-and-elbow tie-ups, headlocks and waistlocks. Whenever Piper applies a hold, Bret consistently reverses it. In one series, Piper goes for a waist lock that when Bret reverses, Piper falls out of the ring; frustrated, Piper starts applying more street tactics in his arsenal.

Babyface v. Babyface
In addition to fluctuation between the technical versus street styles, Bret and Piper play with their respective roles as babyfaces. A babyface (also known as a face or a fan favorite) is the wrestler that the audience generally wants to see win. In situations where two faces wrestling each other, there is confusion within the audience in the sense of who to cheer. A babyface's counter part is known as a heel. Both the Hitman and the Hot Rod have spent some time in their careers as heels, Piper more than Bret. Not only is either wrestler capable of playing the role of heel, but their heel histories serve to remind the audience that both wrestlers are capable of being the bad guy. Hart and Piper use this knowledge to keep the audience interested in the match.

Throughout the match, both combatants use tactics that are underhanded to a degree, which affects them being viewed as a face or a heel by the crowd. Bret uses the deception method of 'playing possum' twice during the match. The first time, Bret pretends to have injured his shoulder\. The ref allows for a 'time out' (there are timeouts in wrestling like there is crying in baseball), halting Piper from initiating an attack. Bret in turn pops up and hooks Piper into a Small Package, a pin attempt. Piper kicks out but is so angered that he slaps Bret because of the underhandedness. The second instance, later in the match, Bret is laying motionless, facedown. Piper climbs to the top turnbuckle. Just as Roddy reaches the top, Bret springs to his feet with a quick motion analogous to getting up from a squat thrust and takes advantage of Piper's vulnerability as he is exposed on the top rope.

Each time Bret performs these maneuvers, the crowd reacts favorably. This is partially because these moves are considered less underhanded than most others but also because the audience is more comfortable accepting Bret as a face. Piper uses a decidedly more heelish tactic to take advantage in the match. Both wrestlers fell to the outside. Piper got in the ring first and held the ropes open for Bret, which is a very face tactic, a gesture of fair and clean competition. After they both entered the ring, Piper pointed to Bret's boot to indicate that there was a problem with it. As Bret bent down to examine, Piper kicked him in the head repeatedly. This very heel tactic, which followed a very face tactic, indicated to the audience that Piper was willing to be more of a heel if it resulted in him retain the championship. By the end of the match, where Piper grabs the ring bell, the audience is more shocked that Piper would be willing to go that far to retain than surprised that Piper is capable of doing such a thing. Piper's display of heel tactics during other parts of the match, have left the audience comfortable viewing him as a heel.

The heel tactic implored by Piper was instrumental in setting up another aspect of the match. Bret started bleeding during this sequence. This was accomplished through a method known as blading. A wrestler takes a razor and cuts themselves on or around the forehead so that blood will flow. That entire sequence of Piper pointing to Bret's boot was done to shield the blading. Bret pulled the razor out from where he had it hidden, and cut himself above his eye while Piper distracted the audience from seeing this using the series of kicks. The blood, or juice, affects the babyface / heel dynamic of the match. The attack becomes considerably more heelish because it resulted in blood being drawn. Piper draws heat - boos - from the crowd, making the audience lean in favor of Bret overcoming the additional obstacle to win the Championship.

The elements of story are interwoven so that they are all resolved through the same ending. stories being told come to a conclusion through the same finish. The champion was upset by the challenger in a toughly contested battle, resulting in Bret winning his second Intercontinental Championship. The technician bested the brawler by reversing of a finishing maneuver into a pinning combination. The more face of the two wrestlers in the match was able to take advantage of the lesser face's moment of indecision. Piper's hesitation reads that he does not want to be a heel again. After the match, Piper grabs the title from the referee before the referee was able to hand it to Bret, pulls Bret to his feet and exchange a handshake. Piper then places the title belt around Bret's waist and they walk out of the ring the together. Both wrestlers have returned to a babyface status.

I'd be remissed if I didn't mention my favorite part of this match. After the pin is counted, there is a slight moment of hesitation by the crowd. That is because the bell does not ring. Piper threw it away from the time keeper's area and they were not able to get it before the end of the match. It is a very small attention to detail and continuity that is sometimes missed in wrestling today. I look forward to Wrestlemania 25 in anticipation of another match that will be as compelling as Wrestlemania 8's Intercontinental Championship contest.

For a limited time only, you too can watch this Wrestlemania Classic!
The promo before the match:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lf2scrXgTZE
Part 1 of the match:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pb8M7_29rrI
Part 2 of the match:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IcVokNzfwhg
Part 3 of the match:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oe2Bz0i1Deo

2009 New York Comic Con

By LeKeith * Other LeKeith Posts

For the weekend of February 6th – February 8th 2009, the Jacob K. Javitts Center hosted the 5th annual New York Comic Con. A ‘Comic Con’ is – loosely - an event that celebrates geek / nerd life and its impact in popular culture.

I would organize my Con experiences into 6 Areas, or the Comic Con Categories, if you will: Comics, Collectibles, Costumes, Film, Television and Videogames. I will focus on the Costumes category as a grave injustice befell it at the NYCC.

There were two major fiscal hurdles the 2009 NYCC had to overcome: the US economic decline and the post Christmas Holidays spending drought. When compared to the 2008 San Diego Comic Con, which was my first Comic Con, the 2009 NYCC did not reach the same level in illustrious costuming. To be honest, this is not a fair comparison. For the record, the SDCC and the NYCC are run by separate organizations. They are similar in that they appeal to the same crowds and they lean more towards Television, Film and Videogames coverage than other Cons do. But for comparison’s sake, last year, San Diego had approximately 125,000 attendees to New York’s 84,000. The numbers alone indicate that there would be more costumes in San Diego. Also, 2009 is San Diego’s 40th Comic Con while this was New York’s 5th; Advantage: San Diego.

Personally, I was more acclimated to the culture. Years of traveling on MTA subway system have conditioned me to be unstirred by the unusual. My ‘freak flag’ reflexes were dulled to the point that commuting on Comic Con weekend is no different that commuting on Halloween, New Years Eve, or Arbor Day. Oftentimes, it didn’t occur to me that taking photos is not only Comic Con tradition but also part of my assignment.

Meteorologically speaking, it was damn cold. I don't blame anyone who looked at their laid out Green Lantern costume, read the weather report, and opted against donning the tights once they calculated the wind chill factor. In 2010, the NYCC will be held on October 8 – October 10, which should more costume friendly: It will occur between the SDCC and Halloween, taking place in the midst of costume season. Also, the shift to Fall will give men and women time to develop their Captain America or Wonder Woman physiques, so they won’t have to rely on the padded body suits. Nothing says “hit the gym” like tight spandex hanging in the closet. It’s the two-piece polka dot bikini of the comic world.

Much Kudos to anyone who was in costume and Double Kudos to every Ghostbuster I encountered. I have wanted a Proton Pack for years.

Still, my heart stopped at a few sightings (Don't worry; it was started again by any Princess Leia in a gold bikini.). I met the Unemployed Skeletor, apparently the former sworn enemy of He-Man, carrying a ripped cardboard sign with his contact info. What made this even sadder was the prominence of Faker, who was chosen as Mattel’s NYCC Exclusive Collectible (Action Figure). So while Skeletor was combing the floor for employment and presumably combing the carpet for change, his big blue lackey was showcased. There was even a giant Faker Statue at the entrance of the exhibit floor, just to rub it in.

I need to send Unemployed Skeletor this job opportunity my EiC found on Craigslist. Can there be anyone else more qualified for the position? To the other applicants, however: Step up Your Game!

Villains are not the only ones affected by the Economy. On the 3rd Day of Comic Con, I stumbled across Iron Man on 5th Avenue – far from the site of the NYCC – asking for change. His sign – Secret War Veteran – doesn’t tell the whole story. A series of battles – the Secret War, Civil War, World War Hulk and, most recently, the Secret Invasion – have rattled the entire Marvel Universe but few have been as affected as Iron Man. Particularly, the fallout from the Secret Invasion left our Tony Stark fallen out of favor with the Government, bereft of his supercrew the Avengers, fiscally impoverished, and targeted as an Enemy of the State. Poor Guy; he probably had to hock his repulsor ray just to get some cardboard and marker for the sign.

In these economic times, don’t be too surprised to find your heroes and villains tightening their belts a little more, possibly even ordering off the Dollar Menu. Let’s hope that the economy has taken an upswing by the time our Heroes enter the SDCC in July.

Contributor Bio: LeKeith

Between the ages of 0 and 4, my two favorite shows were, inexplicably, I Love Lucy and the Honeymooners. No one in my family knows why I was drawn to these pioneering sitcoms over programming more suited to my demographic. Or why I preferred these particular black-and-white shows over honorable others like Dick Van Dyke. Or if I even understood what I was watching.

What they did know is that I was comfortable watching Lucy get in and out of every scenario imaginable but needed to hold someone's hand for the first 30 seconds of each
Honeymooners episode. Here's why: In the opening credits, there is a depiction of Ralph Kramden's face - bearing an ear-to-ear grin - projected onto the moon. For whatever reason, that image was "hide under the covers" scary to me.

In New York, WPIX Channel 11- currently the CW, formerly the WB - shows a Honeymooners marathon on New Year's Day and has been doing so for as long as I remember. Every 30 minutes is a chance to face my fear, which is both thrilling and terrifying. I can't remember the
exact moment I got over Gleason's face - if I ever truly did - but I remember to respect it. And to respect the moon. And Alice.