Paul DePodesta explains the Padres' Plan

by jbox on Oct 30, 2008 2:51 PM PDT

Procure Players
Develop Players
Produce Major League Players
Produce Championship Players

The aspect that has made this plan all the more difficult is that while building this pipeline we were absolutely committed to competing for a Championship at the Major League level. Rebuild and contend simultaneously - that was the goal.

This is akin to undergoing a major remodel at your house, but deciding to live there at the same time... and having a dinner party for all of your friends every week.

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5. Be playas

6. From the Himalayas

Isn't it enough to know that I ruined a pony making a gift for you?

by Axion on Oct 30, 2008 3:50 PM PDT reply actions

lol

There is an Indian pro-wrestler who uses “the playa from the Himalayas” as his gimmick. He and I went to the same high school. F’reals.

No wonder nobody likes you, Tuttle... everything's a (Pujols) damn debate.

by royhobbs on Oct 31, 2008 6:54 AM PDT up reply actions

Oh Sonjay Dutt

And that’s pretty interesting you went to school with him. I used to be very active in that communitiy once upon a time…

by Phantom on Oct 31, 2008 8:00 AM PDT up reply actions

The Indian pro wrestler community?

Interesting.

by Winfield's Ghost on Oct 31, 2008 9:01 AM PDT up reply actions

You're wrong

The Indian BACKYARD pro wrestler community. Of the Atlantic Coast.

No wonder nobody likes you, Tuttle... everything's a (Pujols) damn debate.

by royhobbs on Oct 31, 2008 9:03 AM PDT up reply actions

I was heavily involved as a ref for the indys in Southern California. I met lots of people and got to do some interesting stuff, but I eventually made the choice to enjoy my weekends once I had a 9-5 job.

But yeah, I still keep my eye on that world from time to time. If anyone ever wants to know anything about the industry, I’d be glad to share what I know.

by Phantom on Oct 31, 2008 10:11 AM PDT up reply actions

I'd like to know

If you ever had to do the spot where a wrestler gently collides with you, and if you had to sell like you were hit by a ton of bricks shot out of a bazooka. And then attempt to make the extremely slow three count.

No wonder nobody likes you, Tuttle... everything's a (Pujols) damn debate.

by royhobbs on Oct 31, 2008 10:34 AM PDT up reply actions

Probably my favorite spot of all time

was in a match between former NWA champ Adam Pearce and former ROH champ Austin Ares. We did a spot where I got absolutely drilled by a running dropkick from Ares. And he got me pretty good, so I didn’t have to try too hard to sell it.

While I was down, there were a whole bunch of shenanigans and I had to make a slow 2.99999 count that allowed Austin (who was the face) to kick out. I was still disoriented so more shenanigans ensued and I made the dramatic slow 3 count for the victory.

I always told guys that if I was gonna get bumped, they might as well hit me for real. I never wanted to screw up someone else’s match by not selling for ’em, so when I took bumps, I usually got tagged pretty good.

And by the way, nothing is worse than refereeing death matches with broken glass, thumbtacks, and the blood of people you don’t know.

by Phantom on Oct 31, 2008 10:51 AM PDT up reply actions 4 recs

This is all so fantastically awesome

by Winfield's Ghost on Oct 31, 2008 11:56 AM PDT up reply actions

Why do you have to try and be so tough

It’s so funny when WWE refs get sneezed on, and then they rag dog like a video game death. Or when there’s a 2×4 shot that’s really made of foam, and bends on national television. That’s what makes wrestling so awesome.

No wonder nobody likes you, Tuttle... everything's a (Pujols) damn debate.

by royhobbs on Oct 31, 2008 12:45 PM PDT up reply actions

Meh

I just never wanted to screw up these guys’ matches. When they’re making like $20 or $40 for busting their ass in a 15-minute match, the last thing I want to do is blow a spot for them.

Of course, if they blow their own spots, then it does get fairly amusing. There’s nothing as awkward as two guys blowing spots left and right with the ref trying to keep things together.

Also: screwing up the finish to a match is never a fun experience.

by Phantom on Oct 31, 2008 12:59 PM PDT up reply actions

you should write posts at uncommon sportsman

actually… I probably should too.

by Dex on Oct 31, 2008 3:06 PM PDT up reply actions 1 recs

Give me some topics and I'll go off

I don’t follow things as closely as I used to, but I have met a fair amount of current WWE stars.

I used to train with Meilina, who used to be part of M&M. Also, when ECW re-debuted about a year and a half ago, there was a female wrestled named Ariel that I also used to train with.

I worked with a bunch of guys who have done dark matches, but there are other lesser known, one-hit-wonder type of guys that I have worked with at one time or another.

My biggest regrets about wrestling are that I never took a chair shot and I never got put through a table. My biggest thrills are probably being on IMDB because of wrestling and experiencing live TV tapings and other similar things.

Also, if anyone is familiar with TNA, I’ve worked with and interviewed a bunch of those guys. Good people, for the most part.

by Phantom on Oct 31, 2008 9:18 PM PDT up reply actions

Do you know

Threat the American NIghtmare?

by jbox on Nov 1, 2008 10:55 AM PDT up reply actions

Oh dear God

When I very first started working shows, there was a ton of drama between the rest of the SoCal scene and him. There’s a board at www.socaluncensored.com/board that pretty much serves as the primary communication portal for promoters and fans of indy wrestling in SoCal. Threat used to go on there all the time and just start all sorts of laughable shit.

So yeah, I know Threat. If I remember correctly, he was involved in the first match I ever reffed, too. But it was a tag match and I don’t remember much other than the fact that I thought I blew the finish (but found out I didn’t, since the promoter had given me an audible before the match that only one team knew about).

by Phantom on Nov 1, 2008 1:34 PM PDT up reply actions