In the NL East?

The world will be shocked. Surprise lives here. I am going to go out on a limb and say something that can look really stupid. But it won't. I hope. Take a gulp and join me.

1. Florida (Yes. How many teams have four starters that seem healthy right now and shown a broad base of skills? A stiff like Mark Hendrickson is going to be nowhere near the rotation. And they will have a closer that won't get hurt. Yay injury luck! Also? Cameron Maybin.)
2. New York Mets (But here's the twist. They won't be leading on September 1st. The race will be close, they just won't have the horses in the rotation. And the farm system can't get them a stud in July. That being said? They actually will make the playoffs.)
3. Philadelphia (Like the Cubs? There's some real injury risks in the rotation. The team is very similar to last year, but bad luck will poke holes in their season. 85-77 lives here.)
4. Atlanta (This is a team, that if it stays perfectly healthy? It can contend. The issue is that they have Chipper Jones, and the end of a bullpen in an open relationship with the disabled list. Thus they won't.)
5. Washington (Meh. I want to see Dimitri Young, Lastings Milledge, and Elijah Dukes go on a series of wacky adventures more than play baseball. They could help Camp Minnehaha beat the rich kids camp because their science too tight. It would be worth more than 72 wins.)

Why you should love Chikara...

Now, wrestling is a sticky wicket for many people. It is something akin to performance art. And while the Mickey Rourke movie is something that will give what wrestlers do something redemptive among the masses. A.K.A they are killing themselves to live.

But Chikara is something different. And this is why I must share this with you. And it is a list post. So bear with it you guys.

1) It honors the past.

This is both the successes and the not so much. In the past 12 months, both the 80's classic tag team (Demolition) as well as a failed 90's gimmick (Glacier). They both get treated with love and repsect. They paid the cost after all. (Smash especially).

2) It is made of high-flying fun.

If there is a dominant style within the promotion, it is the Lucha Libre style. And while you can see "serious" luchadors such as Helios and Lince Dorado, you also see such gimmicks as the Super Smash Brothers (Nintendo Controllers on their legs), the Colony (Ants), los Ice Creams (Ice Cream), the Osirian Portal (A dancing pharoah and his snake), and The Order of the Neo-Solar Temple (Devious Masked Evil). These guys can bring wrestling as well as comedy.

And even such respected indie Superstars as Claudio Castagnoli and Mike Quackenbush can be comedians as well as awesome and versatile wrestlers.

3) They love the Trios.

Trios a.k.a. the six-man tag, is a match that made the first hour of WCW Monday Nitro watchable. And within the greatness of the technical and the lucha-libre and the comedy. The Six-man is something that brings al that and more to the forefront.m

4) Rotating broadcasters.

I like it when senior referee Bryce Remsberg announces because when he gets hyped and amped? He sounds just like Charlie Kelly. Yeah, that's more for me. But still.

5) Free Podcast! A Go-Go!

Watch the youtubes, download it on your podcatching software. It's 6 to 7 minutes of fun, 90 seconds of advertisings. But's it's free! And the theme is awesome!



This is not advertising. I truly believe in the Chikara!

It is awesome.

Harrumph.

Now, while Barack Obama's Presidency...

Is something that we as a nation are going to find themselves excited and inspired by. But you know who this matter is going to touch more than anyone? The New Jersey Institute of Technology Men's Basketball Team.

Yeah. The team that just can't get a win. But that is subject to change. Come January 21st? The winds of change will shift. The Highlanders will control the tempo. And there will be a window of opportunity for them to string a win or two together.

They've done well at controlling the pace. Get a home game or two in their bellies?

Streaks are going to end.