From the Sublime, to the Ridonkulous!

Well, it's that time again folks!

It's just hit 1:20am UK time when I started to write this, so I'll try and keep it brief because, whilst I still want it to count towards my 17 in 25 challenge (which it tot's does!), I don't wanna be up for too much longer tonight!

First off on my hit list is my so called 'Sublime'...

This simply has to be the F.C. Barcelona vs. AC Milan Champions' League knockout match that took place last night (for 'tis now Weds chappies!)!

Many words have been used to describe F.C. Barcelona... 'outstanding', 'amazing', 'awesome', even 'awe-inspiring' or 'jaw-dropping', but whatever words you choose, very rarely can you come across negatives when talking about them.

Now, in recent weeks, the sheen may have come off for some having been bested by Real Madrid C.F. not once, but twice, yet here they were trying to become the first team in Champions' League history to overturn a 0-2 deficit from the first leg.

Five minutes in and that man, the great Lionel Messi had them on the scoresheet leaving Milan rocking and from then on, though they created chances of note from Stephen El Shaarawy mainly, Milan looked a decidedly average side... now how in the hell is that possible? For this is the same Milan that finished runner up to Juventus last season!

I'll tell you how that was possible, Lionel Messi making a nuisance of himself, Andres Iniesta and Xavi doing as much as they could to cause problems both down flanks and through the centre, with Pedro throwing as many spanners into the works as possible to stop them from converting possession into chances (if you haven't GOT the ball, how can you USE it?! I cry...). Milan did seem perked up by the arrival of Robinho, but of course by that time, you could argue that it was too late. Not necessarily, as a goal then would have undoubtedly changed the tie and sent Milan through on away goals.

So, with a double from Messi (the first of which was a scorcher, if I do say so myself!), one from Arsenal target David Villa, who was unusually quiet tonight until then with Messi stealing the show & an 87-yard run and collection (yep, that's right, he ran THAT far to get the ball) from Jordi Alba, it means that Barca, like Madrid, are into the Quarter Finals of the Champions' League!

Now, onto the ridiculous (or, as the hamster from the movie 'Bolt' puts it "ridonkulous!")...

Ridiculous

The winner of this statement tonight goes to TNA for unveiling, of all people D'Lo Brown as the VP of the faction Aces & Eights.

Now, I'll cover this in more detail at a later date, but having watched the broadcast on Challenge TV where D'Lo showed his true allegiance before Kurt Angle could reveal who said VP was, I was left reeling and equally disappointed by an announcement that I was hoping would have been handled better than this (how about one of the truly good guys in the locker room be unveiled? Or maybe Bruce Pritchard, lol?)... it had kept me guessing for months since A&8's got unrequited access at Bound for Glory just who that mystery man would be. I went from the obvious ones like Ric Flair & Eric Bischoff, to others like the perennial good guy AJ Styles (at least until recent weeks anyways, if the footage we've been shown is to be believed!), Samoa Joe & even this past week or two Joseph Park/Abyss!

Personally, I think this was a mistake (I doubt even their swerve tactics, for storyline-swerves are normally what they're good at, like when 4tune turned their back on Immortal at a crucial time for TNA, can rescue THIS one!) in announcing a choice like this... don't get me wrong, I admire the guy from his days in the WWF, but to expect me to believe he's the VP... I was this close to turning it off in protest, for I was hoping for a bigger and much more shocking name than that personally!

I get what they're trying to do, in implying that the corruption goes into TNA management as well... because that means, like the bull***t soaps, the storylines can drag oooon and ooon, waaay longer than necessary, but come off it! You want me to to buy D'Lo Brown as VP? I've got some soul-searching to do in the next day, because I'm not sure if I'm going to bother recording Lockdown, I'm THAT disappointed with them!

But, it's their decision and I know for a FACT I won't be the only one highly disappointed with this 'reveal'...

Whatever I decide to do, whether it's record Lockdown just for the main event as Bully Ray goes up against Jeff Hardy, or just sack the whole thing off in favour of Outback Truckers as my Freeview+ box is already recording brand new Sons of Anarchy at the time the PPV kicks off on Challenge.

Anyways, that's enough of that for now!

I'll be back, Jack!

S.R. Cook