Archive for the ‘Anarchy Journal Constitutional’ Category

Sports Roll: Mission Statement

Posted: October 1, 2013 in Anarchy Journal Constitutional
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by @anarchyroll
August 31, 2013

 

There is not a shortage of sports writers in this country or in the world. There are countless talking heads on five or six 24 hour a day sports television channels on basic cable alone, let alone on premium packages, not to mention written print and digital media. And let us not forget the infinity of negative opinions that is sports talk radio. I have always been a big sports fan and have always been opinionated about what I see when I watch sports. After all, it takes as much effort and skill to be a Monday morning quarterback as it does to be a backseat driver.

 

As I read books and listened to audio books in the subject of philosophy/spirituality/personal development I became less opinionated about sports. I became less knowledgeable on the day to day, hour to hour events of the sporting world. I stopped listening to sport talk radio almost completely. I disconnected from cable television so ESPN, Comcast, etc were also eliminated from my daily media intake. I found that the vast majority of sports opinion was negative, and in most cases not even veiled in creativity, credibility, or objectivity.

 

However, when I would encounter quality sports journalism, it peaked my interest as much as any kind of news or entertainment media I consume. Whether in a newspaper, magazine, web page on radio or television I found that the people who were good at their jobs in sports media were bona fide heroes of mine. The blending of creative writing and news has always gotten my blood pumping and thoughts dancing. Quality sports writers and broadcasters in my opinion are masters at combining creative and media writing.

 

So what is Sports Roll? It is the sports blog for @anarchyroll under the Anarchy Journal Constitution digital media writing umbrella. My other blogs feature my writings on hard news/journalism, pro wrestling/mma, economics/business, and philosophy/spirituality/self actualization.     I would like to combine all five blogs into one website and present the material like a digital newspaper/magazine akin to The Daily Beast, Kinja Network, and UPROXX. These are all subjects I am passionate about and would like to become a professional reporter/writer of. I received my bachelor’s degree in media communications from Northeastern Illinois University this past May. I want to make sure that I am applying what I have learned, that I am keeping my writing skills sharp, that I am staying productive as a person, and that I am working towards my overall goal achievement desires.

 

Sports is entertainment for me, no different than any other television show or movie. That paradigm is why I am such  a pro wrestling fan.  My sports blog could just as easily be my TV show or movie blog, but I watch little of either because my visual entertainment time more often tends to be used watching sports and sports entertainment. Football, basketball, hockey, and baseball will be the sports I write about most, in that order, since those are the sports that I watch in that order of frequency and enthusiasm.  Mixed martial arts may over time bleed into the sports blog because pro wrestling is my biggest passion in life and that blog which is currently split between rasslin’ and mma may over time just become completely dedicated to WWE, TNA, ROH, indies, lucha, and pureoso.

 

Many of my inspirations for pursuing a degree in journalism, which became a degree in media communications are sports journalists and/or sports broadcasters. Michael Wilbon, Tony Kornheiser, Jim Rome, Jonathan Hood, Bob Costas, Dan Patrick, Scott Van Pelt, Jim Lampley, Neil Everett, Bob Ryan, Max Kellerman, Skip Bayless, Woody Paige and Stephen A Smith have all provided me with equal parts entertainment and inspiration via radio and television for many years. Sports writers like Rick Reiley, David Haugh, Bert Sugar, Mitch Albom, Peter King, Bill Simmons, and Mike Lupica have all had me confusing reading nonfiction with being entertained, heaven forbid. These are my inspirations for sports writing/journalism, these will be the benchmarks I strive for as I try to grow and evolve as a writer.

 

Lastly, and what proves to be the main reason that I will be regularly writing a sports blog, is that I have personally been told by more strangers than any to be a sports reporter. From school child age through adulthood people I have met at parties, bars, coffee houses, and through friends have told me that I should be working for ESPN, FSN, Comcast, Dead Spin, etc. This is not simply a situation of me thinking I’m cool because my mom says so. I have been complimented on my intelligence, lexicon, charisma, style, etc by many people. However, it is almost solely been while talking about sports that I have been told that I should get involved with it in a journalistic or broadcasting related endeavor. So rather than resist, I will do as one of my favorite philosophers advises and follow the sign posts that come into my life. But I’ll save the philosophy for my philosophy blog. Now you and I both know the purpose of Sports Roll. Let the games begin.

Potato Shooter: Once in a Generation Opportunity

Posted: October 1, 2013 in Anarchy Journal Constitutional
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by @anarchyroll
August 26th 2013

An event has unfolded not seen in mainstream wrestling for twenty years. The two faces of the WWE, the number one and number two, are both injured at the same time for a prolonged period of time. John Cena and Sheamus are both out of action for 4 to 6 months with a triceps and shoulder injury respectively. Both injuries are legit, both timelines however can be works, as has been the case in the PG Era, Cena’s injury in 2007 being the most flagrant example. However, both men are likely to stay on the sidelines until after the new year to be both healthy and rested for the Road to WrestleMania that begins at the Royal Rumble.
 

Every member of the WWE roster both main and developmental should be as happy and excited as they can possibly be. Not at the misfortunes of others, but at the literally once in a generation opportunity to take an assisted leap towards grabbing a brass ring of World Wrestling Entertainment. Cena and Sheamus collectively are the face of WWE, one need only download their overly promoted app to see that both men literally are the symbol of the RAW and Smackdown brands.  Both of the franchises are out until January, part timers like The Undertaker, Brock Lesnar, and Chris Jericho have all fulfilled their contractual obligations for 2012, and there is zero news or even credible rumor of an available needle moving name like Batista, The Rock, or Goldberg being brought into the fold. What is WWE left to do to fill the void for the remainder of the year that involves presenting seven hours of original television content a week for the next 19 weeks?
 

With Triple H’s brief track record of calling the shots the answer is as obvious as it is positive to fans of my ilk; push young talent.  Fans should not be discouraged by the current pseudo New Corporation that has formed between the McMahon family and Randy Orton.  This angle/storyline is merely a vehicle to push Daniel Bryan in a way that Vince McMahon is comfortable and familiar with; that being the white hot babyface chasing the heel champion for the title making the face that much hotter. The angle merely takes up a handful of segments between RAW and Smackdown each week, even if it were to take up a full hour, that leaves six hours per week not counting NXT that needs to be filled.

 

One can always play fantasy booker, in future articles I will do just that starting with TNA/Impact Wrestling. However, one need not take a turn to unrealistic town to know that this is the time for the young lions to show what they got. Any promo, special move, or merchandise idea they have saved for a special time, now is the time to do/pitch it. Any favor to call in with a veteran or office personnel, now is the time to call it in. Any meeting they get called into between now and Jan 1st 2014, sell yourself as if St. Peter was on the fence about letting you in at the pearly gates. If you’re Kassius Ohno (Chris Hero) start lifting weights with a smile on your face three times a day every day with an IV of whey protein pumping into your veins. The times is now gentlemen!

 
Not since both Hulk Hogan and Randy Savage exiting stage left in 1993 has there been this kind of opportunity for young wrestlers in “the show” to succeed and exceed with a perfectly legit shortcut dropped into their laps. There are no more than one contender for each title in WWE. Recent signees like Sami Callihan and Samurai Del Sol NEED be pushing to get on NXT television. NXT standouts like Adrian Neville (PAC),  Bo Dallas, Corey Graves, Leo Kruger, Sami Zayn (El Generico), and Xavier Woods (Consequences Creed) NEED to be pushing to get called up to Smackdown. Opening match players like Justin Gabriel, Zack Ryder, and Drew Mcintyre NEED to be pushing to get into the US and IC divisions. Mid Carders that don’t have a MITB briefcase like Cody Rhodes, Fandango (Johnny Curtis), Antonio Cesaro (Claudio Castagnoli), R-Truth, and Kofi Kingston NEED to be pushing to get in the main events. And main event jobbers like Dolph Ziggler, Wade Barrett, Kane, and Christian NEED to be pushing to get that World Heavyweight Title on their waste to (re)establish credibility with fans and cement their made men status.

 

Now is the time, not later. The Road to WrestleMania is where youth movements and veterans looking to finally get the big shot go to die this side of Rey Mysterio. WWE backstage politics is more than 50% congruence testing, now is the time for those who want to be the top guy to pass the test and grab the ring. Jim Ross, John Cena, and Triple H constantly reference the lack of desire to “own the place” this recent generation of superstars posses or lack in this case. What they mean is that the guys not named CM Punk and Daniel Bryan (Brian Danielson) have been too afraid of getting fired to stand up like men with complete confidence and say “I AM THE NEXT HULK HOGAN! I AM THE NEXT STEVE AUSTIN! I AM THE NEXT JOHN CENA!” Now is the time gentlemen to tell that to yourselves, to the fans, and to the office. This is when Vince, Stephanie, and Triple H will take a chance, not in January. The Undertaker, Bret Hart, Yokozuna, Shawn Michaels, and Kevin Nash can all a test that when the faces of a generation go away, WWE has to replace their spots and title reigns with somebody, might as well be you.

Anarchy JC 1: #Murdoch Finds a new #VICE

Posted: September 29, 2013 in Anarchy Journal Constitutional
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by @anarchyroll
August 25th, 2013

According to a variety of reports last week, 21st Century Fox bought 5% of VICE for $70 million.  21st Century FOX formerly known as News Corp, values the company at $1.4 billion. In the era of decaying and dissolving journalism, that is quite an accomplishment for an entertainment entity built on a foundation of gonzo journalism. Shane Smith, the co founder and CEO of VICE is very enthusiastic about the deal. His quote, which appeared in each source used for this article is, “We get to make all the content we want? With the best platforms in the world? Grow our brand exponentially? Become the next global media brand? And all the while own the vast majority of the company and vote 95% of the board? Where-do-we-fucking-sign?!”

 
VICE has certainly earned the benefit of the doubt that they will not change their style. They have held a virtual media stranglehold on the early adopter and hipster segments of the 18-34 year old demographic for the better part of a decade. I am a huge fan of VICE, and full discretion, hope to one day write and report for them in the spirit of what Tim Pool  has been doing over the past three years. However, as much as VICE has earned the benefit of the doubt that they won’t be manipulated by FOX, Rupert Murdoch has that much more earned the benefit of the doubt that he will try and succeed in manipulating them. One need only consult the documentary film Outfoxed to see the slow burn narrative Murdoch may use to influence the way VICE presents its content.

 
When a person signs a deal with the devil, it is always front loaded with benefits. $70 million upfront, barely a sliver of minority ownership given away, and a metaphoric key ring into the media markets of India, Italy, and Germany. VICE seems to have gotten one by “the man” and “the system” by being able to fund their anti establishment style of journalism and media content production. But there is no such thing as something for nothing, and if something seems too good to be true, it is. VICE now has a portfolio of minority owners, all of whom are or have corporate interests. A global talent agency (WME), a global marketing group (WPP), a bank (Raine), and now 21st Century FOX. VICE also habitually uses sponsorship money from Vitamin Water (Coca Cola), Toshiba, Intel, and General Electric. The terms rebel and anti have a permanent restraining order from corporate money and influence companies like that provide, yet VICE keeps getting deeper in with the biggest and most money thirsty.

 
I believe VICE has positive intentions and that they know what they are doing. I also know that they are the type of entity that welcomes devil’s advocate questions and scrutiny. They are yet to report this story on their own website. I have checked their website repeatedly each day since this story broke and one would only know about this deal because they check other news websites; why is that? 25% of VICE is now owned by international corporations that couldn’t give two fucks about journalism or fact based reporting; what is their specific influence on VICE’s content? Rupert Murdoch has bled his conservative (modern day US Republican party) agenda into all of his media enterprises; when does he try to do this with VICE? Has VICE considered Murdoch could use his influence on their other sponsors and minority owners to do this? Where does VICE selling itself a la carte to the highest bidder end? How is VICE the one media entity that doesn’t allow its content to be watered down and have its balls cut off by high level corporate cash synergy?

 
I am a fan and a friend of VICE. A bucket list goal of mine is to be a reporter for them. I’m not writing this article with my nose turned up, with a sarcastic tone, or a sense of moral superiority. I am passionate about truth and knowledge/information dissemination. The story of FOX buying into VICE is clouded in translucency rather than transparency. VICE has yet to report it. The only non entertainment, online news entity to report this story, was the original reporters at the Financial Times. Something stinks about this deal and the people and reporters my generation would turn to investigate it further, are the very people excepting $70 million from Rupert Murdoch.

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