Unlike most cases where a sports team leaves upstate NY, there's already one in the pipeline to take the place of the Rats, who are being relocated to Charlotte next season, rechristened the Checkers, which is also the name of Carolina's ECHL team. Hmmmmm.
The River Rats' existence in Albany ended Thursday with a 5-4 overtime loss to defending AHL champ Hershey, which swept the Rats out of the Calder Cup playoffs, 15 years after the Rats won their lone AHL title. In October, the Albany Devils (formerly from Lowell) will move into the Times-Union Center, as noted earlier this week. Considering the political upheavals in the state Capitol, the name seems rather appropriate, don't you think?
Friday, April 30, 2010
Thursday, April 29, 2010
Is this remake necessary?
This weekend sees the release of a remake of "A Nightmare on Elm Street", which was originally made in 1984. 26 years ago. Which means that most of us have already seen the original and all of its sequels.
The first "Nightmare" introduced the last of the modern-day horror icons in Freddy Kreuger (Robert Englund), a child molester who'd been burned alive by a lynch mob of angry parents. You know the rest of the story, including the fact that Kreuger became a pop culture sensation, moreso than fellow slashers Michael Myers ("Halloween") & Jason Voorhees ("Friday the 13th"), largely because Freddy was a talkative sort. There was money to be made with this dude, and so, Freddy was given his own TV series, and was immortalized musically in not one, but two rap hits, the most famous of which would have to be "Nightmare on My Street", by DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince, though Kreuger actually did appear, I think, in "Are You Ready For Freddy", by the Fat Boys.
But it's been a few years since Freddy & Jason had at it. Jason's already had his story retold, but the latest word is that plans to re-do "Friday the 13th, Part 2" have been scuttled, due to the remake's less-than-stellar box office performance. Michael was brought back, too, but Rob Zombie had already decided to stop after 2 films.
That brings us to the 2010 model of Freddy. Jackie Earle Haley ("Watchmen", "Shutter Island") takes over for Robert Englund. The rationale is this. Haley, enjoying a career resurrection of his own, is a hot commodity right now. New Line Cinema, which now holds the rights to not just Freddy, but Jason and Leatherface ("Texas Chainsaw Massacre") as well, figured that it was only fair that if Jason & Michael were having their stories redone, so should Freddy. The truth is, unlike the classic trinity of Frankenstein's Monster, the Wolf Man, & Dracula, Freddy, Jason, & Michael are part of our generation. A generation that has produced a new group of Hollywood screenwriters & filmmakers who want to put their own stamp on their favorite characters.
However, the reimagined "Friday the 13th" wasn't that big a hit. "The Wolfman", reincarnated in February, underperformed as well. Hollywood needs to understand that audiences want something that isn't the same old, same old. No matter how you spin it, a key element missing from these "reimaginings" is freshness. There is almost no originality in Hollywood now. Shoot, I've read that they're remaking another 80's film, "The Monster Squad", which will never be confused with the 1976 Saturday morning TV series of the same name.
If there's going to be a horror movie that needs to be remade, it isn't "Nightmare on Elm Street". It's something from the 50's, like "Creature From the Black Lagoon". Oh, sure, the Gill Man was used in "Monster Squad", but aside from that, he's been treated like a red-headed stepchild while the other "Universal Monsters" were brought out of limbo over the last 20 years. Where's the love?
I think it goes without saying I won't be seeing the new "Nightmare on Elm Street". I'm just not interested, thank you very much. I wasn't that big on the original. I get that they want to take advantage of the bigger budget after 26 years and almost a dozen films, and if it succeeds, it's gravy. By Sunday, we'll know if it was a gamble worth taking.
The first "Nightmare" introduced the last of the modern-day horror icons in Freddy Kreuger (Robert Englund), a child molester who'd been burned alive by a lynch mob of angry parents. You know the rest of the story, including the fact that Kreuger became a pop culture sensation, moreso than fellow slashers Michael Myers ("Halloween") & Jason Voorhees ("Friday the 13th"), largely because Freddy was a talkative sort. There was money to be made with this dude, and so, Freddy was given his own TV series, and was immortalized musically in not one, but two rap hits, the most famous of which would have to be "Nightmare on My Street", by DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince, though Kreuger actually did appear, I think, in "Are You Ready For Freddy", by the Fat Boys.
But it's been a few years since Freddy & Jason had at it. Jason's already had his story retold, but the latest word is that plans to re-do "Friday the 13th, Part 2" have been scuttled, due to the remake's less-than-stellar box office performance. Michael was brought back, too, but Rob Zombie had already decided to stop after 2 films.
That brings us to the 2010 model of Freddy. Jackie Earle Haley ("Watchmen", "Shutter Island") takes over for Robert Englund. The rationale is this. Haley, enjoying a career resurrection of his own, is a hot commodity right now. New Line Cinema, which now holds the rights to not just Freddy, but Jason and Leatherface ("Texas Chainsaw Massacre") as well, figured that it was only fair that if Jason & Michael were having their stories redone, so should Freddy. The truth is, unlike the classic trinity of Frankenstein's Monster, the Wolf Man, & Dracula, Freddy, Jason, & Michael are part of our generation. A generation that has produced a new group of Hollywood screenwriters & filmmakers who want to put their own stamp on their favorite characters.
However, the reimagined "Friday the 13th" wasn't that big a hit. "The Wolfman", reincarnated in February, underperformed as well. Hollywood needs to understand that audiences want something that isn't the same old, same old. No matter how you spin it, a key element missing from these "reimaginings" is freshness. There is almost no originality in Hollywood now. Shoot, I've read that they're remaking another 80's film, "The Monster Squad", which will never be confused with the 1976 Saturday morning TV series of the same name.
If there's going to be a horror movie that needs to be remade, it isn't "Nightmare on Elm Street". It's something from the 50's, like "Creature From the Black Lagoon". Oh, sure, the Gill Man was used in "Monster Squad", but aside from that, he's been treated like a red-headed stepchild while the other "Universal Monsters" were brought out of limbo over the last 20 years. Where's the love?
I think it goes without saying I won't be seeing the new "Nightmare on Elm Street". I'm just not interested, thank you very much. I wasn't that big on the original. I get that they want to take advantage of the bigger budget after 26 years and almost a dozen films, and if it succeeds, it's gravy. By Sunday, we'll know if it was a gamble worth taking.
Wednesday, April 28, 2010
Albany hockey trades Rat tails for Devil horns
It's official. The New Jersey Devils will move their AHL affiliation back to Albany this fall, but this time, the team will be owned and operated by the NHL club, which was just eliminated in the 1st round of the Stanley Cup playoffs.
The Albany River Rats, affiliated with the Carolina Hurricanes these days, will relocate to Charlotte after they are eliminated from the Calder Cup playoffs, which could happen as early as Thursday. The Rats' lone AHL championship came under Devil stewardship in 1995, but they've made the playoffs in 3 of the last 4 seasons. The Devils will move their team from Lowell, Mass. and into the Times-Union Center, pending renovations to the arena, including a new scoreboard, from what I've read, in time for the 2010-11 season. New Jersey ended their association with the Rats after the 2005-6 season, but after Walt Robb sold the Rats, and after the Hurricanes announced that the team would move to North Carolina, where they'll be known as the Checkers, T-U Center officials moved quickly to fill the void.
All Albany needs now is a new mascot, since Rowdy & Rudy, the Rats' mascots, will be retired.
The only downside is that with the renovations comes the likely increase in ticket prices, which might be a small price to pay to keep pro hockey in Albany---and continue the Northway Series with the Adirondack Phantoms---but the Devils will need to work on improving the fanbase, which averages anywhere from two to four thousand per game. Maybe if they did some cross-promoting with the local colleges.......
The Albany River Rats, affiliated with the Carolina Hurricanes these days, will relocate to Charlotte after they are eliminated from the Calder Cup playoffs, which could happen as early as Thursday. The Rats' lone AHL championship came under Devil stewardship in 1995, but they've made the playoffs in 3 of the last 4 seasons. The Devils will move their team from Lowell, Mass. and into the Times-Union Center, pending renovations to the arena, including a new scoreboard, from what I've read, in time for the 2010-11 season. New Jersey ended their association with the Rats after the 2005-6 season, but after Walt Robb sold the Rats, and after the Hurricanes announced that the team would move to North Carolina, where they'll be known as the Checkers, T-U Center officials moved quickly to fill the void.
All Albany needs now is a new mascot, since Rowdy & Rudy, the Rats' mascots, will be retired.
The only downside is that with the renovations comes the likely increase in ticket prices, which might be a small price to pay to keep pro hockey in Albany---and continue the Northway Series with the Adirondack Phantoms---but the Devils will need to work on improving the fanbase, which averages anywhere from two to four thousand per game. Maybe if they did some cross-promoting with the local colleges.......
Mr. Sensible changes his mind
On Sunday, he didn't want to play in the NFL. On Tuesday, New Hampshire tight end Scott Sicko signed a free agent contract with the Dallas Cowboys, who had been the team most interested in Sicko prior to last week's draft, but for some reason never drafted him.
Newly engaged, Sicko probably figured he was perhaps better served giving the pro game a shot after all. When he made his initial decision to pass on the NFL Sunday, Sicko was ripped by more than a few people, but for all the wrong reasons. Those same people are probably the ones ripping him yet again for changing his mind 48 hours later. There's no guarantee he'll be on Dallas' opening day roster come September, but for people in upstate New York, especially those who are in fact Cowboy fans (and I know a few personally), it would be a bonus. They can point to the Cowboys' star logo, puff their chests, and say that one of our own had made the team. We'll know for sure in about 4 months.
Newly engaged, Sicko probably figured he was perhaps better served giving the pro game a shot after all. When he made his initial decision to pass on the NFL Sunday, Sicko was ripped by more than a few people, but for all the wrong reasons. Those same people are probably the ones ripping him yet again for changing his mind 48 hours later. There's no guarantee he'll be on Dallas' opening day roster come September, but for people in upstate New York, especially those who are in fact Cowboy fans (and I know a few personally), it would be a bonus. They can point to the Cowboys' star logo, puff their chests, and say that one of our own had made the team. We'll know for sure in about 4 months.
Monday, April 26, 2010
Meet Mr. Sensible and the Playa That Wasn't
Two football stories coming out of my home district over the last few weeks couldn't be more different than night & day.
In the days leading up to the NFL Draft, Scott Sicko, soon to graduate from the University of New Hampshire, was being touted by the local papers here as a possible draftee. Sicko, born & raised in Stillwater, NY, didn't hear his name called at all during the 3-day Draft, so he decided Sunday that he would forego a pro career and continue his education. More power to him. Sicko is proof positive that it isn't always about the money when it comes to the pros, but rather the best possible path to travel in life.
Sicko had drawn interest from a few teams, including the Dallas Cowboys, but the courtship ended when the Draft did. Had he been drafted, Sicko would've joined a very exclusive group of players with roots in the upstate half of New York, including Brian Holloway, a star lineman for the New England Patriots during the 70's, and Andre Davis, a wide receiver from Niskayuna who has played for Cleveland and Houston, among others, since being drafted in 2002.
Meanwhile, Albany High School, which hasn't had much luck on the gridiron the last few years, thought they had a new coach in Robbin Williams, who claimed to have been with a few NFL teams, including the NY Giants and Washington Redskins, and had in fact worked out for the Albany Firebirds of the Arena Football League in the 90's. However, a reporter for the Albany Times-Union, James Allen, recalled in his Monday column that, as a beat reporter covering the Firebirds back then, he remembered Williams being brought in for a try-out, but Williams never played a game. Williams claimed to have been a replacement player during the strike-shortened 1987 season (though Williams thought it was 1988), but there's no record of him ever appearing in an NFL game, either.
Bottom line is, Williams padded his resume in a bid to earn a job. Unfortunately, he apparently never read the story of George O'Leary, who could've had the head coach's job at Notre Dame, if I remember right, had it not been for the discovery that he, too, had fudged his resume in order to better sell himself to the administrators there. The parallels are there. Albany's still looking for a new coach, after ex-Firebird Pete Porcelli, who'd been successful across the river at Lansingburgh, left after 1 season.
Reading of the misfortune of Albany's football team reminded me of my own alma mater, Troy High, which was in the same boat 30 years ago, unable to win a game. At least they didn't have as much trouble finding a coach, though.
In the days leading up to the NFL Draft, Scott Sicko, soon to graduate from the University of New Hampshire, was being touted by the local papers here as a possible draftee. Sicko, born & raised in Stillwater, NY, didn't hear his name called at all during the 3-day Draft, so he decided Sunday that he would forego a pro career and continue his education. More power to him. Sicko is proof positive that it isn't always about the money when it comes to the pros, but rather the best possible path to travel in life.
Sicko had drawn interest from a few teams, including the Dallas Cowboys, but the courtship ended when the Draft did. Had he been drafted, Sicko would've joined a very exclusive group of players with roots in the upstate half of New York, including Brian Holloway, a star lineman for the New England Patriots during the 70's, and Andre Davis, a wide receiver from Niskayuna who has played for Cleveland and Houston, among others, since being drafted in 2002.
Meanwhile, Albany High School, which hasn't had much luck on the gridiron the last few years, thought they had a new coach in Robbin Williams, who claimed to have been with a few NFL teams, including the NY Giants and Washington Redskins, and had in fact worked out for the Albany Firebirds of the Arena Football League in the 90's. However, a reporter for the Albany Times-Union, James Allen, recalled in his Monday column that, as a beat reporter covering the Firebirds back then, he remembered Williams being brought in for a try-out, but Williams never played a game. Williams claimed to have been a replacement player during the strike-shortened 1987 season (though Williams thought it was 1988), but there's no record of him ever appearing in an NFL game, either.
Bottom line is, Williams padded his resume in a bid to earn a job. Unfortunately, he apparently never read the story of George O'Leary, who could've had the head coach's job at Notre Dame, if I remember right, had it not been for the discovery that he, too, had fudged his resume in order to better sell himself to the administrators there. The parallels are there. Albany's still looking for a new coach, after ex-Firebird Pete Porcelli, who'd been successful across the river at Lansingburgh, left after 1 season.
Reading of the misfortune of Albany's football team reminded me of my own alma mater, Troy High, which was in the same boat 30 years ago, unable to win a game. At least they didn't have as much trouble finding a coach, though.
Thursday, April 22, 2010
Spring cleaning, WWE-style
4 days before their annual roster shuffle, aka the draft lottery, World Wrestling Entertainment released a half-dozen wrestlers earlier today, ostensibly to clear roster space for "rookies" graduating from NXT or for other reasons. The severed six are:
Shoichi Funaki, aka "Kung Fu Naki". Of the 6 cut, Funaki was with the company the longest, debuting in March 1998 as a member of Kaientai. Funaki was given a gig as a backstage reporter on Smackdown for a few years, then was given an even bigger reward as a "good soldier" with a brief run as cruiserweight champion in 2005.
Shelton Benjamin. Benjamin may be best remembered not for his 3 Intercontinental titles, 2 tag titles (w/Charlie Haas), or his US title run last year, but rather for his highlight reel performances in the Money in the Bank ladder matches at Wrestlemania 5 of the last 6 years, including this year. After nearly 8 years with the company, the former 2-sport star at Minnesota, four months removed from a show-stealing ladder match vs. Christian at TLC, is out. There are already rumors that he may be headed for TNA and reform his team with Haas.
Mickie James. The last few months have not been kind to this Virginia vixen. Reports say that management had been upset with Ms. James in recent months, which might explain the derogatory "Piggy James" angle done with current women's champ Michelle McCool over the winter. Mickie was screwed out of the title on the February 26 Smackdown, but her likely next destination won't be TNA, where she toiled for a couple of years as Alexis Laree, but rather a concert stage. Mickie released her debut country CD, "Strangers & Angels", last month, but WWE refused to support the album, likely because of whatever issues existed behind the scenes.
Coincidentally, another ex-WWE diva, Maria Kanellis, currently appearing on NBC's Celebrity Apprentice and HDNet's Inside MMA, is also moonlighting as a singer, and just released an EP, "Seven Sins". Yep, WWE wouldn't support that effort, either. Maybe now Mickie & Maria can go on tour together.......
Jimmy Wang Yang. On his 2nd go-round with WWE (he was Akio from 2003-05), Yang managed to hang on for 3 years in the role of an Asian cowboy from Georgia, but has mostly been used as a TV jobber in recent months. He's likely heading for a 2nd tour of duty with TNA, for whom he worked in 2002.
Slam Master J. Ray Gordy, son of the late Terry "Bam Bam" Gordy of the legendary Fabulous Freebirds, had gone to a white rapper gimmick he previously used at Deep South Wrestling, but opportunities to wrestle came fewer and fewer over the last few months. Despite Freebird captain Michael Hayes being the head writer of Smackdown, Gordy was at the bottom of the ladder, never given a real chance to shine. I see him heading for TNA under his own name before the end of the year.
Katie Lea. 2-3 years ago, some genius decided that Katie would be cast as the sister of countryman Paul Burchill, who was cut a few weeks ago, and that gimmick became an anchor that bound Katie to the floor, if you will. After the dissolution of ECW in late February, Katie had appeared sporadically, and for some strange reason wasn't showcased on the recent European tour. She had potential to be a champion, and yet WWE's creative team dropped the ball with her, as they have with so many others, such as Benjamin & Gordy.
WWE's losses will obviously benefit not only TNA, but also Ring of Honor and other promotions, but it also speaks volumes of the irresponsibility of the creative team, who can't devote enough time to the people at the bottom of the ladder to make viewers care about them. In some cases, the wrong people are being favored, such as Vickie Guerrero, widow of former champion Eddie Guerrero. Vickie learned absolutely nothing of note from Eddie on in-ring conditioning, and is drawing go-away heat from this desk, if not also from other fans.
Vince McMahon may have taken himself off television after losing at Wrestlemania, but his character's influence is still felt in some of the writing. To paraphrase John Mayer, we're waiting for WWE to change, but it's a long wait.
Shoichi Funaki, aka "Kung Fu Naki". Of the 6 cut, Funaki was with the company the longest, debuting in March 1998 as a member of Kaientai. Funaki was given a gig as a backstage reporter on Smackdown for a few years, then was given an even bigger reward as a "good soldier" with a brief run as cruiserweight champion in 2005.
Shelton Benjamin. Benjamin may be best remembered not for his 3 Intercontinental titles, 2 tag titles (w/Charlie Haas), or his US title run last year, but rather for his highlight reel performances in the Money in the Bank ladder matches at Wrestlemania 5 of the last 6 years, including this year. After nearly 8 years with the company, the former 2-sport star at Minnesota, four months removed from a show-stealing ladder match vs. Christian at TLC, is out. There are already rumors that he may be headed for TNA and reform his team with Haas.
Mickie James. The last few months have not been kind to this Virginia vixen. Reports say that management had been upset with Ms. James in recent months, which might explain the derogatory "Piggy James" angle done with current women's champ Michelle McCool over the winter. Mickie was screwed out of the title on the February 26 Smackdown, but her likely next destination won't be TNA, where she toiled for a couple of years as Alexis Laree, but rather a concert stage. Mickie released her debut country CD, "Strangers & Angels", last month, but WWE refused to support the album, likely because of whatever issues existed behind the scenes.
Coincidentally, another ex-WWE diva, Maria Kanellis, currently appearing on NBC's Celebrity Apprentice and HDNet's Inside MMA, is also moonlighting as a singer, and just released an EP, "Seven Sins". Yep, WWE wouldn't support that effort, either. Maybe now Mickie & Maria can go on tour together.......
Jimmy Wang Yang. On his 2nd go-round with WWE (he was Akio from 2003-05), Yang managed to hang on for 3 years in the role of an Asian cowboy from Georgia, but has mostly been used as a TV jobber in recent months. He's likely heading for a 2nd tour of duty with TNA, for whom he worked in 2002.
Slam Master J. Ray Gordy, son of the late Terry "Bam Bam" Gordy of the legendary Fabulous Freebirds, had gone to a white rapper gimmick he previously used at Deep South Wrestling, but opportunities to wrestle came fewer and fewer over the last few months. Despite Freebird captain Michael Hayes being the head writer of Smackdown, Gordy was at the bottom of the ladder, never given a real chance to shine. I see him heading for TNA under his own name before the end of the year.
Katie Lea. 2-3 years ago, some genius decided that Katie would be cast as the sister of countryman Paul Burchill, who was cut a few weeks ago, and that gimmick became an anchor that bound Katie to the floor, if you will. After the dissolution of ECW in late February, Katie had appeared sporadically, and for some strange reason wasn't showcased on the recent European tour. She had potential to be a champion, and yet WWE's creative team dropped the ball with her, as they have with so many others, such as Benjamin & Gordy.
WWE's losses will obviously benefit not only TNA, but also Ring of Honor and other promotions, but it also speaks volumes of the irresponsibility of the creative team, who can't devote enough time to the people at the bottom of the ladder to make viewers care about them. In some cases, the wrong people are being favored, such as Vickie Guerrero, widow of former champion Eddie Guerrero. Vickie learned absolutely nothing of note from Eddie on in-ring conditioning, and is drawing go-away heat from this desk, if not also from other fans.
Vince McMahon may have taken himself off television after losing at Wrestlemania, but his character's influence is still felt in some of the writing. To paraphrase John Mayer, we're waiting for WWE to change, but it's a long wait.
Monday, April 19, 2010
Weasel of the Week: Matthew Clemmons
I'm a little late handing out weasel ears, but this loser certainly deserves them.
Matthew Clemmons, 21, of Cherry Hill, NJ, was at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia on April 14 to see a Phillies game with a friend. The two drew the ire of an off-duty Philadelphia police officer and his 2 daughters by repeatedly cursing during the game. Apparently, things weren't going well for the 3-time NL East champs. Anyway, the friend was ejected by security. Clemmons, in retaliation, decided to intentionally vomit on the cop and his kids. Real intelligent, Matthew. NOT!
Clemmons would end the night in jail on disorderly conduct charges after getting into a scuffle with the cop, which resulted in Clemmons suffering a black eye.
In general, Philadelphia sports fans have been stereotyped as boorish and disrespectful. There is one legendary incident where they actually booed Santa Claus, of all people. And let's not forget the incident last year where some over-inebriated jerk decided to use a laser pointer on players from the St. Louis Cardinals during a nationally televised game. That clown was never caught, because the Phillies fans let him escape, especially since his antics turned the tide that day. Laser pens are prohibited for safety reasons, and that July game was exhibit "A" for all the world to see.
Matthew Clemmons clearly had too much to drink to the point of opting for a self-induced regurgitation in answer to his friend being tossed from the park. One more reason that children should never, ever talk to strangers.
Matthew Clemmons, 21, of Cherry Hill, NJ, was at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia on April 14 to see a Phillies game with a friend. The two drew the ire of an off-duty Philadelphia police officer and his 2 daughters by repeatedly cursing during the game. Apparently, things weren't going well for the 3-time NL East champs. Anyway, the friend was ejected by security. Clemmons, in retaliation, decided to intentionally vomit on the cop and his kids. Real intelligent, Matthew. NOT!
Clemmons would end the night in jail on disorderly conduct charges after getting into a scuffle with the cop, which resulted in Clemmons suffering a black eye.
In general, Philadelphia sports fans have been stereotyped as boorish and disrespectful. There is one legendary incident where they actually booed Santa Claus, of all people. And let's not forget the incident last year where some over-inebriated jerk decided to use a laser pointer on players from the St. Louis Cardinals during a nationally televised game. That clown was never caught, because the Phillies fans let him escape, especially since his antics turned the tide that day. Laser pens are prohibited for safety reasons, and that July game was exhibit "A" for all the world to see.
Matthew Clemmons clearly had too much to drink to the point of opting for a self-induced regurgitation in answer to his friend being tossed from the park. One more reason that children should never, ever talk to strangers.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)