Dave C

No big surprise here, but it appears we will have to live with the current BCS model to select college football’s national champion until at least 2012.

BCS officials have rejected the “plus-one” model, which was designed to form a four-team “playoff” type system in 2010. The plan was proposed by SEC and ACC officials, but the granddaddies of the Big 10 and Pac 10 said thanks, but no thanks.

I’m not sure if I like this decision that the beasts of the BCS handed down. Although I’m a Pac 10 fan, I’m sure Big 10 fans can agree that our favorite conferences’ tie-in with the Rose Bowl is outdated and needs to be eliminated. The Rose Bowl is no longer a more important or significant game than the Orange Bowl, the Sugar Bowl or the Fiesta Bowl and shouldn’t be used as an excuse to not let college football’s post season evolve. Let’s be honest - a USC/Georgia Rose Bowl would have been a heck of a game, but the “Granddaddy of them all” insisted on a traditional Big 10/Pac 10 matchup and the Trojans won a lopsided, stinker of a game against Illinois. Georgia, meanwhile, was pitted against Hawaii and brought the overrated Warriors back to earth.

To be fair, however, I don’t think the plus-one solution that the ACC and SEC proposed is a good idea. To me, it’s nothing more than another quick fix, as the 5th ranked team could have a legitimate claim to enter the dance and we’ll continue to argue over this for years to come. College football needs a real playoff, not a “plus-one” playoff and had the BCS organizers rejected this idea because it was a bad idea, then I would be fine with their decision.

Unfortunately, today’s ruling was only rendered because the “Granddaddy” conferences continue to live in the past. They would rather have their stupid tie-in to Pasadena then let college football fans enjoy what could be the most exciting post-season in North America.

I guess the dinosaurs will have to die off until progress is actually made on this front.

DC

E-mail: ninersbuzz@yahoo.com

Justin Barracosa

“Below is the World Wrestling Entertainment talent roster payroll that was taken from October of 2004 until February of 2006. The shown dollar amount beside each wrestler is the grand total that they earned from World Wrestling Entertainment in a one year period (downside guarantees, bonuses, and merchandise shares). Some wrestler’s were given special privileges and bonuses in their contracts which can also be seen beside their total pay. All wrestler’s contracts begin and end at different months of the year, there for each shown amount is what that particular wrestler earned in a 365 day time period between October 2004 and February 2006 (or however long they have been with the company). All dollar amounts were rounded up/down (Example: $244,766 would be $245,000)

- Ashley Massaro: $131,000
- Batista: $813,000 (First class flight tickets paid for every week)
- Big Show: $1,000,000 (Base salary)
- Bob Holly: $217,000
- Booker T: $375,000
- Candice Michelle: $64,000
- Carlito: $319,000
- Chavo Guerrero: $206,000
- Chris Benoit: $488,000 (First class flight tickets paid for every week)
- Chris Masters: $253,000
- Christian - $396,000
- Danny Basham: $130,000
- Doug Basham: $126,000
- Eddie Guerrero: $372,000
- Edge: $704,000
- Eugene: $189,000
- Funaki: $124,000
- Gene Snitsky: $292,000
- Gregory Helms: $277,000
- John Cena: $1,743,000 (First class flight tickets, hotel accommodations, and ground transportation paid for every week)
- John Layfield: $786,000 (Five star hotel accommodations paid for every week)
- Jerry Lawler: $204,000 (First class flight tickets, hotel accommodations, and ground transportation paid for every week)
- Jillian Hall: $52,000
- Joey Mercury: $134,000
- Johnny Nitro: $143,000
- Jonathan Coachman: $175,000
- Kane: $ 851,000 (First class flight tickets paid for every week)
- Ken Kennedy: $133,000
- Kid Kash: $62,000
- Kurt Angle: $1,023,000 (First class flight tickets paid for every week)
- Lance Cade: $118,000
- Lilian Garcia: $90,000
- Lita: $286,000 (Mostly downside paid due to lack of wrestling)
- Maria: $41,000
- Mark Henry: $300,000 (Base pay)
- Matt Hardy: $322,000 (Missed over $70,000 of pay due to firing)
- Matt Striker: $43,000
- Melina: $155,000
- Mickie James: $72,000
- Nunzio: $186,000
- Orlando Jordan: $145,000
- Paul London: $177,000
- Psicosis: $122,000
- Randy Orton: $711,000 (First class flight tickets paid for every week)
- Rene Dupree: $289,000
- Rey Mysterio: $414,000
- Ric Flair: $508,000 (First class flight tickets paid for every week)
- Rob Conway: $186,000
- Rob Van Damn: $220,000 (Only received downside and royalties due to injury)
- Rosie: $105,000
- Shawn Michaels: $1,045,000 (First class flight tickets, hotel accommodations, and ground transportation paid for every week)
- Shelton Benjamin: $366,000
- Simon Dean: $132,000
- Stacy Keibler: $178,000 (Only downside paid during absence)
- Steven Richards: $94,000
- Torrie Wilson: $260,000
- Trevor Murdoch: $48,000
- Triple H: $2,013,000 (Allowed the personal use of company jet (10) times per year. First class flight tickets, hotel accommodations, and ground transportation paid for every week)
- Trish Stratus: $618,000 (Receives 20% of all Trish Stratus merchandise sold)
- Tyson Tomko: $127,000
- Undertaker: $1,811,000 (First class flight tickets, hotel accommodations, and ground transportation paid for every week)
- Val Venis: $210,000
- Victoria: $275,000
- Viscera: $130,000
- William Regal: $225,000″

links: wrestling forum

Nich Hall

With starters Kelvim Escobar and John Lackey on the DL to start the season the Angels’ starting rotation had to pick up the slack. Lefty Joe Saunders clearly took that to heart. Last night Saunders went eight innings for the fourth time in six outings. After exploding for 14 runs the night before Saunders completely shutdown the A’s offense allowing only four hits. Halos’ closer Fransico Rodriguez came into the ninth and picked up his league leading 11th save as the Angels took the second game of the series 2-0.

With the win Saunders became the first Angels pitcher to go 5-0 in April since Frank Tanana in 1978. The five wins also put Saunders in a tie for second in the major leagues just behind Arizona’s Brandon Webb. Perhaps even more remarkable Saunders’ fellow starter Ervin Santana attempts to go 5-0 himself against Oakland tonight. With last nights win the Angels moved back into a tie with the Athletics for first place in the AL West at 17-11.

Notes:

• Dustin Moseley (1-2, 7.30 ERA) has been dropped from the starting rotation. He will not start Thursday after pitching two innings Monday night in the Angels 14-2 loss. It is expected the Angels will call up a pitcher from the minors to make the start Thursday.

• John Lackey made his 2nd rehab start with Class A Rancho Cucamonga last night. He went three innings giving up one run and one hit. Lackey is expected to make two more rehab starts before joining the Angels on May 14.