R.I.P. Sean Taylor

Tragically, after being shot in the leg late Monday night, Sean Taylor died in hospital yesterday. Taylor, 24, known for having been linked to questionable conduct off the field and hard-hitting play on it, had been at shot in his Florida house after an apparent home-invasion. The bullet that hit Taylor in the leg severed an artery and caused him to loss a significant amount of blood. He had flat-lined twice before finally giving out.

I'll remember him most for pestering me in Madden twice a season with the Redskins, virtually taking away half the field and causing a few too many fumbles when my running-back makes it through the first two levels to him.

Taylor, who has an 18-month old daughter, will be missed by all both on and off the field.

In comparably brighter news...

Apparently Simeon Rice wasn't the answer to Indy's question of "who will replace Dwight Freeney?" Rice, who was brought in after being released by Tampa and Freeney was lost for the season, has been released again. If it's not horribly apparent that you've lost a step or two after being released the first time in a season, you should damn well know it after the second cutting. Might be time to hit the gym and get a little bigger, tougher, faster and stronger for Rice or starting thinking about hanging up his cleats and looking for a coaching or broadcasting gig.

While not everyone in America will be able to watch the Game of Year-calibre match up of the Cowboys and Packers tomorrow night, every one in Canada with TSN will be able to watch it. While the game is on the NFL network in the States, Canadians get to watch it without having to fork over the ridiculous price that the Network is demanding for it's programing. TSN, the Canadian affiliate of ESPN, gets to broadcast a game that ESPN doesn't? How is this making sense? All games, especially ones of this calibre and in prime time. should be broadcast on network television that's accessible to the masses. But then again, this is the NFL we're talking about; the best run sports league in North America if not the world. Who am I to question their business?

As for who will win the big match up? Come back tomorrow.

It just keeps getting worse

I'll keep this short and simple. If Chris Benoit is even as much as mourned now, I may be sick. These is the last words on this site about the coward who was once regarded as one of the best techincal wrestlers and an inspiration to many.

It has been reported that his seven-year-old son, whom he suffocated to death, was in fact, mentally challenged and suffered from a rare disease know as Fragile X syndrome, which is often coupled with autism.

I'm ashamed to have ever rooted for, actually, lay eyes on Chris Benoit. What a piece of shit.

The one-eighty

With the news breaking that Chris Benoit's death turned out to be a double murder-suicide, everyone's stance on the tragic deaths of he and his family has completely reversed. While mourning and sympathy should still be given for his wife and son, none should go towards a man who killed his wife and his own flesh and blood.

The memorial and tribute that was broadcast instead of Monday Night Raw seems preposterous and nearly appalling. A tribute to a murderer? sickening...

I'm just glad to see that WWE has made the decision to strip both its website and its programming of Benoit tributes. It is a very appropriate move considering the monstrosities that were viewed on Monday night. It's a less than shocking move really.

Now, the wait is on for the toxicology reports to come back and see if this horrific event was, as speculated, related to steroids. This can be a very damaging blow to the WWE, who has claimed it tests for the substance and also has a wellness program in place. Criticisms will be laid on heavily if word was to get out that these regulations were shames and that pro wrestlers were still on the juice. They next week will be a tense one for the higher-ups of WWE.

A sad day in the WWE

Yesterday the bodies the of former WWE Heavyweight Champion Chris Benoit, his wife and his son were found in the family's home just outside of Atlanta. Benoit, 40, had missed Sunday night's Vengeance pay-per-view event stating "personal reasons." It was also reported that he said his wife and son were coughing up blood at the time. He was slated to compete for the ECW Championship but was replaced by Johnny Nitro, who ended up winning the title from C.M. Punk.

The death of the "The Canadian Crippler" or "Rabid Wolverine" caused the cancellation of last night's Monday Night Raw program and even caused Vince McMahon, who was selling an angle in which he had been incinerated during a limo fire -and shamelessly played off like his real death- to show his face and announce that his "death" was a sham while offering his and the entire company's condolences to start the three-hour memorial show.

Currently, the police are investigating the deaths as a homicide; suggestions have even been made that Benoit had even killed his family and then taken his own life. Results of the autopsies should be announced later today.
It's greatly saddening, especially as someone who grew up on wrestling and still catches the occasional show when I can, to see this passing; especially with the allegations as they currently are. While he wasn't always a favourite of mine, he was immensely talented in the ring. He will surely be missed.

Another sad note

It should have been stated when the news broke on Sunday, or even in yesterday's post, but further sad news will grace this fine blog twice in one day. Former major league closer Rod Beck was found dead in his apartment on Saturday. Beck pitched for the Giants (1991-97), the Chicago Cubs (1998-99) and the Boston Red Sox (1999-2001) before finishing his career with the Padres (2003-04). He saved 286 games over his career.

Beck was well known for his wild style and appearance. He donned a handle-bar moustache and long hair to go with a menacing stare that rivalled the likes of Ricky "Wild Thing" Vaughn. He once left his team to go to rehab mid-season and, while attempting to make a comeback and working his way through the minors, became a folk legend by living in a Winnebago outside the stadium and sharing beers with fans after games.

There aren't many characters like Beck in today's game, which makes his passing have a greater impact on, at least my memory, a little more significant.