5/31/2013- #SubwaySeries results, @WWE #Raw recap

Hey everyone, I hope all of you had a great week! Let's cut to the chase, shall we? Here we go!

+MLB 
As you already know, the geographic interleague rivalries are over for now. And that means that the unthinkable has occurred. If you're a Mets fan, this was probably the greatest week for you since they swept the Yankees for the first time in Subway Series history. As a Yankees fan, I was disappointed they didn't win at least 1 game from the Subway Series, but I have to give props to the Mets on their victory. They wanted to win, and they backed it up on the field. This was the most notable moment from the Subway Series that occurred on Tuesday May 28th, 2013:

I'm not sure if this is the turning point of the season since there is still a long way to go before October arrives. However, if the Mets make an Oakland Athletics-esque run towards the season, that would be mind blowing.

+WWE 
This past Monday on Raw was mostly a normal episode with the exception that there was a post Raw show on the WWE App. In the beginning of Raw, it was announced that the match between John Cena and Ryback would be changed from an Ambulance match to a 3 stages of hell match. Here is them explaining this:

Also, it was teased that CM Punk will return at the next WWE pay per view called Payback:

That's all I have to say for now. Have a good weekend!

- NYCKNP

5/27/2013- UFC 160 results, preview of Raw, Subway Series preview, more

Hello everyone and Happy Memorial Day! I hope all of you had a great Memorial Day weekend! This week is an interesting week for baseball fans since interleague match ups are scheduled for this week, which will bring excitement. More will be shared as you read along. Here we go!

UFC
This past Saturday was UFC 160 pay per view, which took place at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. Overall, there were 12 fights on the card: 3 on Facebook, 4 on FX, while the rest on PPV. Here are the results:

Facebook

• Jeremy Stephens def Estevan Payan via unanimous decision
• George Roop def Brian Bowles via TKO at Round 2
• Stephen Thompson def Nah-Shon Burrell via unanimous decision

FX

• Khabib Nurmagomedov def Abel Trujillo via unanimous decision
• Robert Whittaker def Colton Smith via TKO at Round 3
• Dennis Bermudez def Max Holloway via split decision
• Mike Pyle def Rick Story via split decision

PPV

• Donald Cerrone def KJ Noons via unanimous decision
• TJ Grant def Gray Maynard via TKO in Round 1
• Glover Teixeira def James Te-Huna via Submission at Round 1
• Junior Dos Santos def Mark Hunt via KO at Round 3
• Cain Velasquez def Antonio "Bigfoot" Silva via TKO at Round 1 to retain the UFC Heavyweight Championship

WWE
Tonight on Monday Night Raw will emanate from Calgary, Alberta, Canada. Once Raw concludes, use the WWE App to watch the Bret Hart Appreciation Night segment.

MLB
This week is an interesting week for baseball fans since interleague match ups are underway from today until Thursday. Here are the match ups happening this week:

• Beltway Series: Baltimore Orioles vs Washington Nationals
• Pittsburgh Pirates vs Detroit Tigers: Steel City vs Motor City
• Ohio Cup: Cleveland Indians vs Cincinnati Reds
• Minnesota Twins vs Milwaukee Brewers (Plays out the NFL Rivalry between Vikings/Packers)
• I-70 Series: KC Royals vs STL Cardinals
• Citrus Series: Miami Marlins vs Tampa Bay Rays
• Battle of the Bay: SF Giants vs Oakland Athletics
• Atlanta Braves vs Toronto Blue Jays: 1992 World Series rematch
• Crosstown Classic: Chicago White Sox vs Chicago Cubs
• Subway Series: New York Yankees vs New York Mets
• Freeway Series: Los Angeles Dodgers vs Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim
• D-Bag Series: Boston Red Sox vs Philadelphia Phillies

I'm interested in all the matchups, but the one I'm looking forward to the most is the Subway Series. Also, the geographical rivalries have changed since the Astros moved to the American League. Instead of meeting twice a year, the opponents will meet once a year in a 4 game set where 2 games in one ballpark and 2 in the other. For example: the Mets will host the Yankees tonight and tomorrow night, while the Yankees will host the Mets Wednesday and Thursday night.

That's all I have to say for now. Have a good Memorial Day and enjoy your week!

-NYCKNP

5/25/2013- Orioles def Yankees 2 out of 3, Reds sweep Mets, Raw Recap, more

Hello everyone! I hope all of you are having a good weekend thus far. Let's cut to the chase, shall we? Here we go!

MLB
Earlier this week, the Yankees traveled to Camden Yards to face the Baltimore Orioles. The Yankees won the 1st game, lost the 2nd game in Extra Innings, and lost the series in the 3rd game via blowout. For the Mets, they got swept in three games by the Reds. Which leads to the question: When are they going to send Ike Davis to the minors? Also, do you think Terry Collins will be fired anytime this season? Out of all the Mets seasons from the Terry Collins era, this was his worst start. Collins' 1st 2 seasons started strong, but ended poorly due to mid season collapses. This is his 3rd season and it's not starting on a good note.

Moving along, the Yankees went to Tampa Bay and faced the Rays in a 3 game set. The Yankees won the 1st game in a convincing fashion, but the victory was bittersweet as Curtis Granderson is back on the DL, and David Phelps got hurt late in the game. On the Mets side, the Mets hosted the Braves for a 3 game set. Last night's game ended in a tie after the bottom of the 8th, and was declared "suspended game" due to rain. The Yankees will continue their series in Tampa this weekend, while the Mets will resume Friday's game tonight at 6 PM starting at the top of the 9th inning, then will go on to the regularly scheduled game.

WWE
This past Monday on Raw was the night after the Extreme Rules PPV. Here are the highlights:

UFC
Tonight is UFC 160 on PPV, and the main event is Cain Velasquez vs. Antonio "Big Foot" Silva for the UFC Heavyweight Championship.

Also, here's a preview from JR Jackson of JR's Sport Brief:

That's all I have to say for now. Enjoy your Memorial Day weekend everyone!

-NYCKNP

WrestleMania Axxess, A Fan Convention Where You Are Part of the Experience

Hello everyone! This was an article originally written for Journalism class that I decided to publish online. Hope you all enjoy it.

(Photo above: Matt Bloom, currently known as Tensai, poses with a fan at WrestleMania Axxess)

WrestleMania Axxess: A Fan Convention Where You Are Part of the Experience

By: Kalind Patel

Every year during the early spring, World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) holds an event called WrestleMania. WrestleMania originated in 1985, and emanated from Madison Square Garden in New York City. The inaugural WrestleMania had the main event of Hulk Hogan and Mr. T vs. Roddy Piper and Paul Orndoff. The event became such a success that it led to more WrestleMania events throughout the years. The events took place throughout the United States, and twice in Canada. This past April, WrestleMania 29 took place at MetLife Stadium, the home of the New York Jets and New York Giants of the NFL. The days before WrestleMania, WWE hosted a fan axxess event called WrestleMania Axxess (which has been a staple of WrestleMania weekend since the early 21^st century). During Axxess, WWE superstars and Divas would meet and greet the fans. This year’s Axxess event took place at the Izod Center, which was right across the street of MetLife Stadium, and lasted from Thursday night up to Sunday afternoon. People who attended this year’s Axxess were not only from the New York and New Jersey area, but some came from areas such as Boston and Virginia.

The WWE superstars that appeared were retired pro-wrestlers, performers who weren’t on top billing, or NXT Superstars from NXT Wrestling (WWE’s developmental program). The “main eventers” such as John Cena, Triple H, Sheamus, along with many more were only accessible to attendees who paid a VIP ticket. Majority of the people who attended Axxess paid general admission, but for those who were VIP ticket holders not only got to meet the top stars, they also had access to visit the backstage area and stand on the entrance stage. Other than a "meet and greet" with fans, there were also a Q&A session inside the arena floors where the WWE superstar would answer questions submitted by the fans to the moderator. One of the superstars that did a Q&A session was Ryback, and when he was asked the question, “Where did the phrase ‘Feed Me More’ come from?”, Ryback responded that “Feed Me More has nothing to do with food, but rather a mantra of him wanting to get better and as a way of saying, “show me what you got”.

Activities that took place besides meet and greets, and Q&As were watching live matches from NXT talents, visiting table events from names such as National Guard, 92.3 NOW, The Star-Ledger, Susan G. Komen for the Cure, and purchasing merchandise from the concession stands. Overall, the staff at the Izod Center was generally friendly, and the WWE superstars were very polite with their fans. Although lines were long for pictures and autographs, if you are a dedicated professional wrestling fan, it’s definitely worth the wait. The experience can be referred to as a “once in a decade” experience, since WrestleMania will generally come to the New York area every 10 years.

 

Interview with Mike Del: "Pursuing the Life Long Dream"

Hello everyone. This article I am posting was originally written for my Journalism class this past semester. Now that my semester is officially over, I am posting this article on my sports blog in case anyone wants to read it. Here it is:

Pursuing a Life Long Dream: The Story of an Aspiring Professional Wrestler

(photo above: Mike Del. Taken from Google Images)

By: Kalind Patel

During our childhood, people would ask us “What do you want to be when you grow up”. Most children would say a doctor, firefighter, teacher, engineer, etc. However, if someone said professional wrestler, a lot of people would get surprised with that response. It’s rare, but definitely not unheard of for someone to want to become a professional wrestler since they were kids. Wrestling with Green Pinstripes sits down with an aspiring professional wrestler by the name of Mike Del for an exclusive Q & A session.

• Q: How did you get into professional wrestling?
• Mike: When I was 6 years old, I sat down with my father in the living room, as he had WCW wrestling on television. Guys like Glacier, Rey Mysterio Jr., and a few other really built individuals caught my attention; my eyes were glued to the TV the entire time, and from that moment on I was hooked. I would continue to watch WCW every single week, and about a year and a half later I would find myself watching the WWF.
• Q: Nice to hear that. Who were your favorite wrestlers growing up?
• Mike: Rey Mysterio and “Stone Cold” Steve Austin were the first two that really inspired me. As I grew older though, watching every week and learning about the past, guys like Shawn Michaels, Bret Hart, Undertaker, Randy Savage, Ric Flair, and Triple H would be added to the list.
• Q: Around which year did you decide to pursue a career in professional wrestling? Who supported your decision?
• Mike: I decided to pursue a career in the industry when I was 20 years old (2010). I met an individual by the name of Corvis Fear, who helped train me. We would actually train outside in the summer time, in 90 degree weather, and the canvas was vinyl, so it was hot as hell whenever I took a bump. He helped open doors for me, helped me network, and I was in there. Everyone supported me, my father, my mother, and my friends. They all knew this is all I ever wanted since I was 6, so they were happy I was getting to do what I've always wanted. Something a lot of people can't say.
• Q: Now I know that every wrestler has to start somewhere small, and then aim big. When did you make your official debut?
• Mike: My official debut was on November 5, 2010 -- in Elyria, Ohio, for a place called Beyond Wrestling. It's not like other wrestling promotions, as it was closed to the public. I wrestled in front of the boys, a.k.a the other wrestlers, and it was streamed on their website for the actual fans.
• Q: How do you manage to stay in shape for every match?
• Mike: When I first started out, I wasn't exactly in the best of shape, but that changed rather quickly. Your diet and training in the gym have to be immaculate, and also being in the ring consistently helps a lot.
• Q: This is a what-if scenario. What if one day Triple H (currently the Executive Vice President of Talent and Live Events) makes a visit to PWS and offers you to come to WWE's training facility for a tryout? What would be your response?
• Mike: In that scenario, you bet your a** I would take that offer. Wouldn't even think twice about it. The ultimate destination in my career is the WWE.
• Q: What advice would you give to people who want to pursue a career in professional wrestling?
• Mike: As far as advice to people who want to get into this business -- Work, Hustle, Kill. It's a motto I live by. Work smart, hustle hard, and kill everything in your path to what you want. Join a gym and get your a** in shape, tons and tons of cardio. Get your diet in check. Do your best to actually look like a damn pro wrestler. Do not “half a**” anything, if this is what you really want, put in the time and effort and mold it into something. The best place to train to become a wrestler right now is PWS (Pro Wrestling Syndicate). Guys like Pat Buck, Kevin Matthews, Mo Sexton, and Dan Maff will help get you to wherever it is you want to be. Listen and learn and just have fun.
• Q: Do you have any social media accounts where people can reach you? Such as an official Facebook page, Twitter account, etc?
• Mike: I hate social media, but I understand the importance of it. I have a Facebook and YouTube page for right now.

-          YouTube -- http://www.youtube.com/iPushfatkids98

-          Facebook -- http://www.facebook.com/TheMDel

• Q: I like to thank you for your time off your busy schedule for this interview.
• Mike: You're extremely welcome for this interview. Thank YOU.

PWS is known as Pro Wrestling Syndicate, an independent professional wrestling promotion based in Woodside, NY, while the school is based in Metuchen, NJ. PWS runs live events throughout the Northeast area of the United States. Del is currently one of the students of Pro Wrestling Syndicate. Notable wrestlers who have made appearances for PWS include, but not limiting to: Matt Hardy, Shane Helms, John Morrison, Scott Steiner, Tommy Dreamer, and many more. For more information on PWS, visit their website at http://bedofnailz.com/pwshome.html to learn more about PWS, merchandise, and for purchasing tickets to their events.

5/20/2013- WWE Extreme Rules results, Yankees def Toronto in 2 games, Mets def Cubs 2 out of 3

Hello everyone! I hope all of you had a great weekend! Lets cut to the chase, shall we? Here we go!

WWE
Last night at St. Louis, Missouri was the WWE Extreme Rules PPV. Here are the results for the PPV:

Pre-Show

• The Miz def Cody Rhodes

PPV

• Chris Jericho def Fandango
• Dean Ambrose def Kofi Kingston to become the NEW United States Champion
• Sheamus def Mark Henry in a strap match
• Alberto Del Rio def Jack Swagger in an "I Quit" match. Del Rio became the Number 1 Contender to the World Heavyweight Championship
• The Shield (Seth Rollins and Roman Reigns) def Team Hell No (Kane & Daniel Bryan) in a Tornado Tag Match to become the NEW Tag Team Champions
• Randy Orton def Big Show in an Extreme Rules match
• John Cena vs Ryback in a Last Man Standing match for the WWE Championship went to a no-contest
• Brock Lesnar def Triple H in a steel cage match

After the PPV was the Post-Show where the on-site host Renee Young was joined by analysts Wade Barrett, Titus O'Neill, and Mick Foley to give their thoughts on the PPV show.

Tonight is Monday Night Raw, where it will emanate from the Sprint Center in Kansas City, Missouri.

MLB
Over the weekend, the Yankees hosted the Toronto Blue Jays in a 3 game set. The Yankees won the 1st 2 games, but the 3rd game last night was postponed due to weather conditions. It will be made up at a later date.

The Mets were in Wrigley Field during the weekend where they faced the Chicago Cubs. The Mets won the game on Friday, lost on Saturday, and won on Sunday to win the series.

Tonight, the Yankees will be in Baltimore as they face the Orioles in a 3 game set this week, while the Mets return home to host the Cincinnati Reds in a 3 game set.

That's all I have to say for now. Have a good week!

-NYCKNP

5/17/2013- Mariners def Yankees 2 out of 3, Cardinals def Mets 3 out of 4, more

Hello everyone! I hope all of you had a great week this week. I am getting back into the grind of sports blogging after a month off so bear with me if I make some errors since I am a bit rusty. Here we go!

+MLB

After the +New York Yankees  ended their road trip with a doubleheader in Cleveland, they hosted the +Seattle Mariners  for a 3 game set. The Yankees won the 1st game, but it was all downhill from there as they lost in a blowout on Wednesday and lost yesterday's game as well. Wednesday's loss was due to Phil Hughes pitching really awful, which lead to him being benched after the 1st inning, and Thursday's loss was possibly due to Andy Pettitte leaving the game early in an injury scare. According to YES Network's Meredith Marakovits, Pettitte will be placed on the DL. This weekend, the Yankees host the +Toronto Blue Jays in a 3 game set before they go on the road again.

On the other side, the New York Mets were in Busch Stadium facing the +St. Louis Cardinals in a 4 game set. The 1st 3 games St. Louis won, but the Mets managed to avoid a sweep yesterday. Earlier today, the Mets were in Wrigley Field facing off against the +Chicago Cubs in a 3 game set, and won today's game 3-2. The Mets will continue their series against the Cubs this weekend before heading back home.

+NFL
Usually I don't talk football during the offseason, but this is one of these exceptions. Earlier this week, +New York Jets quarterback David Garrard announced his retirement. Here is a clip of him explaining why he's announcing his retirement:

Although majority of the media says that the quarterback competition is down to four, theoretically it's down to Mark Sanchez and Geno Smith since Greg McElroy and Matt Simms aren't looked as starters in the long run. Even though Garrard is retiring as an active player, he doesn't rule out an offer to become a part of the Jets coaching staff heading into training camp. Let's see what goes on from here.

Also, it was reported earlier today that recently signed running back Mike Goodson was arrested for possession of drugs and firearms. According to CBSSports.com, "Goodson was charged with possession of marijuana, possession of paraphernalia, possession of an unlawful handgun, possession of a loaded gun and possession of hollow-point rounds". The full story can be found here: http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/blog/eye-on-football/22259895/mike-goodson-arrested-for-drug-firearm-possesion-in-new-jersey

Keep in mind, this is not the Jets fault. This is 100% Mike Goodson's fault, and he should be held accountable for his own actions. This is definitely not a good way to start his tenure with the Jets, and in my opinion, his time may be coming to an end. Once the Jets properly review the case, they could release him from his contract since they don't want to deal with his mess.

+WWE
I haven't seen a lot of WWE these past few weeks since I was busy with the end of the semester school work, but now that I have free time again I did watch Monday Night Raw. Raw was okay, but it lost me around the third hour. I'm not sure what's going on, but WWE needs to get it together and make their product more entertaining again.

The reason why I haven't talked much WWE is because I haven't really kept up with much of the shows since I was busy for a while, but once I get back into the loop there will be a proper discussion.

Also, it was announced today that WWE roster cuts have occurred. These include Briley Pierce (Dolph Ziggler's brother), Derrick Bateman, Sakamoto, Percy Watson, Anya, and Brandon Traven. Most of these guys were from WWE Developmental, thus very few are familiar with these names. However, if you watched NXT Season 2, Percy Watson was one of the "rookies" that was featured.

That's all I have to say for now. Enjoy your weekend!

- NYCKNP

After a Month Hiatus, Wrestling With Green Pinstripes transition is complete

Hey everyone! I hope all of you are doing alright. You already knew that I have been away for a month, mostly due to school work and revamping the blog. You all know that the NYCKNP Blog name has now been phased out, and Wrestling With Green Pinstripes is now in full circle. The old website page name http://nycknpblog.blogspot.com is now officially http://wgpinstripes.blogspot.com. Also, Wrestling With Green Pinstripes is now officially on Twitter as @WGPinstripes.

UPDATE: Reverted back to the old name since I was applying for Google AdSense. Unfortunately, I was rejected thus I changed it back to wgpinstripes.blogspot.com.

More will be said going forward. Stay tuned.

- NYCKNP