SHINE ON! (Part I) by Patric "Captain" Arnold

I have to say watching SHINE (www.shinewrestling.com) from the beginning has really impressed me. I started around SHINE  8 at the urging of the Radiant Rain and Nikki Roxx. I had no idea what to expect. This was not only my first Indy event, but also my first all female show. 

The first thing I saw was event hostess Daffney Unger. This alievated any fears I had. If Daffney was hosting and Rain and Roxx were on the card this was going to be good. And just listen to the line-up I was treated too.... Su Yung vs Brittany Savage, Brandi Wine vs Jayme Jameson, Satana vs Sojo Bolt, NIKKI ROXX vs MERCEDES MARTINEZ, PIck Your Posion (hardcore) LEVA BATES vs KIMBERLY, Career vs Respect REBY SKY vs JESSICA HAVOK, and then there was still the big main event.... Valkyrie ( Radiant Rain, Ivelisse, & Made In Sin) vs Amazing Kong, Angelina Love, Mia Yim, and Christina Von Eerie!!!

Normally, I'd say I picked the perfect IPPV to come in on but they're all really just as good if not better! But my ride with the SHINE bug was just being.... They had VIP events were you could meet n greet with the wrestlers and party afterwards. I had to do this! Everyone that I loved in TNA and WWE and wondered where they'd gone.... were all now found in SHINE.......AND I could meet them!

So I planned a special trip out to SHINE 10! But the news got better and better.... there was now a tournament to crown the first ever SHINE Champion! The 2nd set of qualifiers would be taking place that night! Satana vs Kimberly! Nikki Roxx vs Allison Kay w/ April Hunter! Leva Bates vs Taylor Made w/ April Hunter! Mercedes Martinez vs Mia Yim! Jessica Havok vs Portia Perez ( Havok's Qualifying Spit On The Line) and then the main event..... Radiant Rain vs Angelina Love ( Say What? In the first round one of these two would be knocked out? Oh my...). Oh and there's an after party for VIPs! 

So I went and the action was amazing. With a live crowd and a great seat to hear the wrestlers it's an even better experience (which I didn't think was possible). The after party was great I got to meet the woman who would become the first ever SHINE Champion, Radiant Rain! My first time and I already met a superstar! It's easy to see why they picked her to be Champion.... She's smart, elegant and deadly all in one. True class act. 

The next up was the other half of the main event.... Angelina Love! Two former KOs and it's only been like 5-10 mins after the main event. And she was trying to be cool like me so she wore a pink shirt too! 

And what SHINE would be complete without meeting then event hostess (now All-Star Squad Manager) Daffney! You could not pick a better face for the company she was polite, nice, charming and acted like we were old friends. What a way to represent SHINE! If I was on the line about SHINE at all she certainly reeled me in and made fall in love with SHINE. 

And there was the opportunity to meet everyone. Unfortunately I had a prior commitment so I couldn't stay, but I already knew I'd be back....

TNA for Sale by Owner by Patric J. Arnold

So someone recently asked me if I would consider buying TNA or being a partner in TNA if the rumor is true and indeed it is up for sale before the end of the year. 

If you're looking for just the answer: it's simply most likely No. If you're looking for the reason (and believe me this will be a good read) continue to read. 

TNA should be sold for a great price (in the low thousands) and for far less than what the Carters paid for it. This is what happens when you start losing money at crazy rates and make unforgivable mistakes driving your business into the ground. 

Leaving a good solid base like Universal Studios in Orlando, Florida (cheap pop) too quickly and without knowing the proper costs is an inexcusable mistake. How can you leave a place without knowing the proper costs and crunching and recrunching numbers? So TNA is now to expensive to be on the road and has no home base. Finding a new location could be a huge pain and there's no guarantee of fan base. 

Speaking of huge pains.... The first thing and best part would be firing Dixie Carter! She was heel a long time before it became a tv angle. The way she treated talent when they were no longer useful to her (injured) is embarrassing! Daffney Unger and Jesse Soresean are the two most famous cases for this. It may be a business with a bottom line of $ but you treat others how you'd like to be treated. 

If I did buy it I'd pretty much undo everything Bischoff and Hogan did (like going on the road and ditching the six sided ring). The six sided ring made TNA unique and set them apart from WWE. And did I mention it made for great faster pace action? It sure did. Some of the brightest and best moments in TNA took place in the six sided ring. Unfortunately, this would be another huge expense. 

Speaking of glory days one of the things that made TNA legit to me in the day was the amount of international talent they brought in. They even had a tournament to crown a winner to the best team (broken down by countries). This would be a must to bring back and yup you guessed it another huge expense. 

And would Double J The Chosen 1 King of the Mountain Jeff Jarrett return? The glory days were under him and his return would be required. 

And what ever happened to the women's division (Knockout Division)? Oh yes they all got tired of the crap and came to SHINE Wrestling (www.shinewrestling.com). The KO division was once the best in the world and the most talented. They did the things the men did and WWE never does! Seeing most of this talent is tied up and happy in SHINE rebuilding this division would cost some $$$. 

Speaking of lost divisions whatever happened to the division that once rivaled the World Title scene (X-Division)? It's apparent much like the KO division that Dixie has no idea what to do with or how to run this division. The talent is out there bring them back and let them bring back the quick paced awesome jaw dropping action they used to deliver. Highlight and invest (MORE $$$$$) in this division because they will draw money. 

Expand the World Title Scene! Why are the same guys always fighting for the title? When was the last time one of your most talented wrestlers was Champ (Mr. Annnnnnnnnnderson)?

Too much time and waaaay to much money to fix TNA. The only thing that is tempting is their network time slot on SPIKE TV. But, truthfully there are better companies out there with less headaches that will keep the wallet from breaking! But then again there's an old wrestling saying, "Never say never in wrestling."

Forever

You're here now,
And my life's never been better,
You should have seen how without you goes,
It was a sunset without color,
A music box with no music,
Shows the light to how great now is,

Your blue eyes staring into mine,
Sends goosebumps up my spine,
Melts me down like ice on a hot summer day,

Your love is all I could want and more,
Knocking me to the floor,
A special delivery,
Paradise is getting lost in those eyes,
Your touch sends me to heaven,
Each and every time driving in lover's lane all the way,

By the depths of fate,
Or by the hand of chance,
Either way were together,
And you make my heart beat,
My days complete,

Everything I do,
Everything I believe,
Is because of you,

I may stare,
But, that's because I've never seen anything like you,
There's nothing I love more,
I'll give all I have,
For just one more moment with you,

I've seen some good women come and go,
But, none like you,
And a love like this,
Is meant to be forever,

So when forever comes,
Don't be surprised,
It's meant to be,

The people who doubt,
And ask about making it to the end of time,
Have never seen us together,

There's nothing I want more,
Nothing you'd rather have,
I love you,
You love me,
Forever is how it's going to be,

'Cause forever simply put,
Means you and me,





The material here within is copyrighted by the author and is not meant for reproduction in whole or part without the author's consent.

Fairy Tales Don't Come True

All I ever wanted was a love out of a fairy tale,
Thought I'd found that with you,
Didn't think that was to much to ask,
My dreams were coming true with you,
But, this cowboy didn't ride off into the sunset with the girl,
No, she rode off with the wolf,
And I lost another love,

Guess, fairy tales really don't come true,
Prince Charming never had a heartache like this,
How does the prince live without his princess,
Why didn't my fairy tale end up happily ever after,

Now, all I have is your memory,
Pictures and letters scattered on my desk,
All just reminders of you,
Reminders that you left,

It brought me to my knees,
And tears filled my eyes like rain from the sky,
When you said you didn't love me anymore,
But, your life fell apart,
Just like mine,
So, I'm forced to believe otherwise,

You still have to love me,
A love like ours couldn't die,
Maybe I'm thinking like a fool,
Possibly you've driven me insane,
When you walked outta here,

A lonely drunk fool,
That's how this story is gonna end,
I can't find someone new,
'Cause I can't get over you,
Can't set you free,
You're a part of me,

I don't go anywhere,
Spend my days thinking of you,
Tomorrow I'll go see the outside world,
Or maybe the next day,
You can't really blame me,
Half of me died when you walked away,

I know I did things wrong,
And you got lonely,
I guess this is what I deserve,
But, God knows,
I'd take it all back and do it differently,
If only I could,

And this fairy tale would end,
You and me riding off into the prettiest sunset,
And then the title would say,
Happily ever after.... the end,

But, I guess it's too late for that now,
What am I suppose to do,
How can I move on,
You loved me so,
Then you had to go,

And this fairy tale has no happy ending,
I wish the "The End" would play,
It would be better than the pain I have now,
And when it's all through,
Who knows maybe we'll be reunited,

But for now,
This fairy tale is going to have a sad end,
And the hero's not going to get the lady,

Guess fairy tales don't come true,
Prince Charming sure never had a heartache like this,
How does the prince live without his fairy princess,
Why can't just this once my fairy tale end happily ever after,

Oh it could,
If only you'd come back to me,
But, I guess fairy tales don't come true,

No, it's true,
Fairy tales don't come true,





These writings are hereby copyrighted by the author of this blog and may not be reproduced in part or whole without permission.

That Ol Song

There's that ol' song,
Seems they only play it now and again,
Wonder why,

That ol' song is like a time machine,
Bringing me back,
Throwing the hands of time in reverse,
Back to when you were here,
Guess, everyone must have their own time machine song,

My gal and I got married this June,
And I couldn't be happier with her,
I wouldn't change how things turned out for all the money in the world,
But I wouldn't trade any of our memories either,

Don't know what it is about this ol' song that brings me back,
Maybe it's the words,
Maybe it's the music,
Maybe it's the way he sings it,
Guess, I'll never really know,

Now the song is just about done,
Here comes the last verse,
So I'll just say, "Thanks for the memories",
It's nice to remember once and awhile,

You're starting to fade away,
So I'll see you next time,
The DJ decides to play,
That ol' song,






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The Game of Love

Well, there was a boy lonely and hungry to fall in love,
And there was a girl innocent and seeking love,
They met in class that summer day,
Their eyes locked,

And they anted up to play the game they called love,
They spent the next two weeks together,
And I must have been crazy to expect you to live next door,
But, I guess that's what I expected,
'Cause it came as quite a shock when I found out you lived downstate,
So here I sit upstate just thinking of you,
And for awhile everything was great,

And I think the man who said, "Distance makes the heart grow fonder.",
Outta be drug out in the street and shot,
'Cause I've laid down all my cards on the table,
I've bet everything I got,
I've lost it all,
And that's the game of love,
And that's how it's played,
Now you folded your hand,
And our love is gone,

But, I'm still playing the game,
Tellin' the Dealer to deal me a new hand,
And He tells me to look at the one I already have,
I guess I'm going to have to realize our loves gone cold,
I'll have to suck in my pride and fold,
Before I lose what little I have left,
And that's the game of love,
And that's how it's played,

Sometimes it ain't pretty,
And sometimes you're gonna lose,
But, every game has it bad hands,
So, when you get a good hand play it for all it's worth,

And when the bad hand rolls around,
Suck in your pride and fold before you lose it all,
I just wish the game of love was that easy,
And that's the game of love,
And that's how it's played,

So I'm folding one last time,
I lost it all again,
Your love was the greatest,

And I think the man the who said, "Distance makes the heart grow fonder.",
Outta be drug out in the street and shot,
'Cause I laid down all my cards on the table,
I've bet everything I got,
I've lost it all,
And that's the game of love,
And that's how it's played,

Now you've folded your hand,
And our love is gone,
And that's the game of love,
And that's how it's played,

Yes, I'm going for broke,
'Cause if I fold now I lose it all,
And that's the game of love,




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I'm No Saint Indeed

The title for this blog, "I'm No Saint" was inspired by my dear friend @LadyBlackwood. She is a former model and did a shoot with a shirt that had "I'm No Saint" on it. It instantly became my favorite. It became tradition for me to ask about it at St. Patrick's Day since she looked very Irish in the picture.

The words on the shirt stuck with me. I have been fortunate enough to be in the position to help some people. They often said things like your such a Saint you saved my life. But nothing could be further from the truth. I try to be a good person and do the right things, but... well things don't always work that way. I've done plenty I'm no proud of. I just hope when my time comes I end up at the pearly gates and when St. Peter looks at my name, I'm one ahead in the balance of good and bad I've done.

Not sure how to explain this so that everyone will understand it fully. I know a few people like Manda will. I hope you all take something from it.

And after today's events happened I wondered what kind of person I had become....

Missed Opportunity

Down from the warehouses where I work is our main offices. Next to our main offices is the state department. One of their duties is to help people  in need of state aid. So it's not uncommon to see down on their luck people standing outside gathering things, loading groceries or countless other things.

Today on my walk down I met a woman standing outside of her car looking distraught. I approached her. Looking at her she was about my height with shorter but not short blond hair. Her clothes looked like she had worn them a few days. Her car was loaded with her stuff and her tiny mini dog. "I'm looking for my divorce papers she said. I'm homeless."

I had been thinking she was loading or unloading something heavy from the trunk and so all I muttered was, "oh." My co-worker was outside and said, "At least you tried." I nodded and reached for my scan card to get in the door. I opened it and paused. I actually stopped for a moment. But then I shrugged and justified that my boss would be mad if I wasn't hurrying to get my work done.

But that was bogus. Yes he would be mad. But what kind of excuse is that? I was at the crossroads where I could have helped someone and made a difference. I'm not saying for sure I could have done anything to help or that she would have allowed me to. But I should have offered her a meal at McDonald's. I could have spared 20 dollars and maybe made sure she had a hotel room for a few nights. I could have made a difference and I didn't. That haunts me. That's not me. I'm the guy who always helps people out. Who is this man I become that I brush by someone in need because they were a stranger and I couldn't be bothered?

I came back out and thought about dropping a 20 in her window, but her dog was in there and people were watching. I didn't want them to think I was robbing this woman of what little she had while she was inside, but again it's all excuses. Who cares she could have used that 20 more than I need it. 

Each day I try to be a better person than I was the day before, today I failed. But, at least I lived up to the blog's title. Today I was far from a Saint and I'm ashamed of myself.