SlamJamz Central: 01/22/2006 - 01/29/2006

Wednesday, January 25, 2006

A really good reason NOT to order the Royal Rumble...Let me offer an exciting (and BETTER) alternative....

So this year's Royal Rumble is almost upon us....

And for the second year in a row, I'm making a concsious decision to NOT order it. Not even the long awaited and highly anticipated return of Rob Van Dam in the Rumble (which, let's face it, you already know in your heart he's NOT going to to be booked to win) can get me to order it.

Why? Quite simply, there's something more exciting, more adrenaline-pumping, something REAL I care about also going on just a few channels over from the local PPV channel.

As I did last year, i'm skipping the Rumble, and also RAW on Monday night, to watch ESPN's coverage of the Winter X Games. Specificially, coverage of the Mens Snowboard Superpipe prelims (Sunday) and finals (Monday).

This years' X Games will be a real test of the Snowboard team representing the US in Torino in February. The 2002 mens team swept the Olympic medals in Salt Lake City, but this year, they're really going to have their work cut out for them, and the all of main non-US snowboarders who could be a threat to a second straight sweep of Olympic Medals will be at this weekend's X Games, save one.

Last years' finals were a nailbiter, as wunderkind Shaun White, returning from a serious knee injury, found himself knocked off the podium at the last minute by Finland's amazing Antti Autti and US Snowboard team member Andy Finch. Why? White had not put a 1080 into his routine, and Finch, Autti, and others like Danny Kass (last year's X Bronze medal winner) were doing them all over the place.

This year, White spent several weeks in New Zealand practicing in late summer, and it paid off, as he won Gold in EVERY SINGLE EVENT in the US Olympic team qualifiers - five events in all (and a new truck is his now as well due to his sweep), a feat never done before.

Last weekend, the US Snowboard team was announced after the final qualifying event was held at Mammoth in New Jersey. The US will be represented in Torino by 19-year-old Shaun White, 23-year-old Danny Kass (2002 Olympic Silver medalist), 24-year-old Andy Finch, and the rookie of the bunch, as well as a surprise to many veteran snowboard fans like myself, 18-year-old Mason Aguierre. Mason has really stepped up his game this season, after barely missing the podium on four occasions last season. Like White, he spent time in New Zealand practicing this summer, and it has shown in his superior work since the start of the qualifying season.

If the White Knight can pull off another Golden win at this weekend's X Games, Torino Gold will be his to lose. Some of his toughest competition for the Olympic Gold outside of his own team - the aforementioned Autti, his fellow Finn Risto Mattila, and Japan's Kazuhiro Kokubo - incredible snowboarders all - are coming to the X Games, and will give us our first taste of what's to come later in February in Torino. And throw in Norway's incredible Terje Haakonson, who isn't competing this weekend, as potential Olympic spolier as well (that is, IF he decides to get off his high horse and actually agree to represent his country in the Olympics; he doesn't like the Olympics, feeling that Snowboarding is better than that), and you've got a field of Europeans which could signal the end the US men's domination of the major contests in the sport.

No doubt the action and excitement on ABC and ESPN this weekend will be three times what the Royal Rumble could ever hope to achieve, and I for one don't want to miss it. Last year, I was absolutely electrified, and I hope this year will be the same.

Just for the record, here are my predictions:

Gold: Shaun White
Silver: Danny Kass
Bronze: Antti Autti

Oh, you wanted my predictions for the RUMBLE? In the immortal words of one of my heroes, Jamie "Quack, Damn You!" Hyneman of "Mythbusters"..."Ah, Whoops!"

Sorry about that....but here goes...and keep in mind, unlike the superpipe, I correctly predicted the outcome of EVERY MATCH last year, a perfect 100% score!

Those matches announced so far:

Smackdown World Title - Kurt Angle retains over Mark Henry

Raw World Title - Edge retains with help from Lita...

Diva Match - Referee Trish turns on Ashley and helps Mickie James beat her, and they have HOT LESBIAN ACTION in the ring together...leaving Ashley as the SOLE WWE Diva face

Goofball match - JBL defeats The Boogyman when Jillian interferes

Royal Rumble - I think this one is pretty obvious...but i'm going to go with a backup here because there's always an air of mystery..the same kind of mystery that occurs when Vince has a Great Idea...look for either a) Randy Orton to pick up the win on his own, and head to Wrestlemania against Kurt Angle...or B) (AKA VKM's 'Great Idea') there is NO Winner because Shawn Michaels wins the Runble, then Vince strips him of the win and awards it to the runner up, who is, once again, Randy Orton...

Now, after reading that...wouldn't you RATHER watch REAL action?

Remember, the Winter X Games Men's Snowboard Superpipe Prelims and Finals, Sunday and Monday evening, ESPN, check your local listings...

And I have to say it....GO, FLYING TOMATO, GO! Bring home the X Gold!

And on that note...

Reprise the theme song and roll the credits....