ringsidephotos.net Blog

I’ve added some more dates to our “Upcoming Shows” calendar…

http://ringsidephotos.net/main.htm

Our friend Mike Mooneyham has his new column up for the Post & Courier:

http://www.charleston.net/news/2008/sep/28/a_new_kind_female_company_flair56149/

We’ll be at CWA Pro Wrestling at the Jamil Temple in Columbia,SC on Friday night for Ric Flair photo op no. 2!  Also Timber, Jake Manning, some new tag team called Team Mack-tition(?), and the rest of the CWA stars.

Then it’s off to Robersonville, NC (part of the great Tar Heel state that I’ve never been to) for Saturday night’s 3K Wrestling show – featuring Steve Corino v. Terry Funk in a cage!  Also Raven, Lodi, CW Anderson, Ricky Landell, Ares, and new stars: Kirby & TJ Mac!

I’m hoping my head will be more “into the game” this coming weekend.  I am still disappointed with myself from the last show.

Congrats to my bud Ken Magnum for becoming the first NCW champion last night in their “Golden Four Corners” match with Magnum, Boomer Payne, Mikael Judas and Vinnie Valentine.  I say keep your eyes on Valentine – good kid with talent, he’ll do well I think.  Also looking forward to getting back down to Greenville for NCW.

Missed a good show in York, SC at the PWS event that included “Super Eric” taking on the “Manscout” Jake Manning.  Plus I missed the new PWS “Intergender” Champion – Jay Clinton winning by DQ against the lovely, Miss Daffney (one of the classiest ladies around).

I have heard that SWA drew 300 at the National Guard Armory in Forest City, NC last night – congrats to Wicked and the SWA guys, glad to hear it, also looking forward to getting back there.

Have read that Tom Williams will be running the final Revolution Pro Wrestling show on November 7th in Marion, NC at the Armory. If you are in the Marion area, go to the show.  I’ve always had great dealings with Tom and have enjoyed attending Marion wrestling.  Good luck bud, and I hope the last show goes out with a bang!

Blackjack Mulligan adds another title to his list, read the full report here.

Also, Derek Ryze,  the next time I’m invited for burgers at 1am – I may take you up on it.

Premiere Wrestling Showcase from Jacksonville, NC…with a couple of Flair pics too…

http://ringsidephotos.net/pws_92008.htm

I have also posted photos from Pedroland in the “Outside the Ropes” gallery!

I won’t lie, I am not happy with the work I did at ringside on Saturday night – possibly the heat…

Several times this past Saturday I was asked: “10 years ago would you have thought you would be spending a few hours with Ric Flair?”  Regardless of ten years, one year, whatever time frame – the answer is still no. 

It is hard to maintain a professional countenance when you are within inches of a man who you religiously watched growing up, and who kept you watching wrestling many a time that you considered quitting.  I was however able to compose myself…at least until after I left the building.

Saturday I was in Jacksonville, NC for Premiere Wrestling Showcase/Highspots to shoot the first of six planned autograph sessions with Flair.  I was accompanied on the trip with my “wife” ER (or would I be the wife?) and cousin, Adam Jaxon (still recuperating from his broken leg). 

We left Spartanburg at 10.30 and it did take us a solid six hours to get there.  Drove by the USS North Carolina Battleship Memorial in Wilmington. 

Flair arrived at 6.15 in great spirits and ready to go.  He was there with his reps from The Gillespie Agency (check out their great video of Ric here), Elaine Gillespie and Nola Armstrong.  Two super nice ladies.

I want to say thanks to Highspots and PWS for letting me be a part of this venture.  It is a true honor and a bonafide “moment” for me to do this.

Here are the results from the PWS show:  1. Mike Lee b. Jay Clinton…2. Ares b. Caleb Konley…3. Jake Manning b. Charlie Dreamer…4. Daffney b.Lexie Fyfe…5.Joey Silvia b. Shannon Moore.

Apologies to Mike and Jay, as I was still tied up in the autograph room and didn’t get to shoot any of their match.  Great main event, as Jacksonville’s own Silvia bested Moore.

Now to the trip back.  We left right after the show, as everyone knows I value my Sundays at home.  Stopped at Ruby Tuesday’s for a quick meal. 

Approximately 2am we stopped at South of the Border in Dillon, SC off I95.  Here they have “sometheeng for every juan” - and before you get upset, that line comes directly from their website:  http://www.pedroland.com/

I will soon have some photos up from our stop there.  It was sort of a “Carnival of Souls” experience, as there was no one around while everything was lit up in this tourist trap. 

Here is where the trip takes a turn down a windy path.  I have been having some chronic issues with my driver’s side window.  It has been going off track, and would not go up.  Saturday morning we discovered that it wasn’t working…again.  I declared the window off limits for the duration of the trip.

At “South of the Border”, the window got lowered and stayed lowered.   Yes, we (I should say Adam and ER) drove for three and a half hours on interstate highway with the driver’s side window down.  I, pouting the entire time, threw ER’s jacket over my head (which smells really good by the way), curled up in the back seat (not easy for a man of my girth) and went to sleep.

Back in Spartanburg at 6.30am Sunday morning, and back at my home at 7am, leaving Adam asleep in the back.  Mission accomplished.

Coming up next is Flair’s appearance in Columbia, SC at the Jamil Temple with Champions With Attitudes wrestling on October 3rd.   Keep up with the tour at Highspots. 

Check out exclusive photos of the Flair Shoot Interview at the Highspots.   Ric Flair Shoot Interview 4 Disc Exclusive Set!

Check them out: http://blueridgerollergirls.com/

Here’s the flyer for their next show: http://ashvegas.squarespace.com/journal/2008/9/12/blue-ridge-roller-girls-blood-on-the-bluegrass.html

And yes, as soon as I get a free day to see them, the magic camera is going with…

From http://jpc2008.com/

In November, 2002 independent wrestling phenomenon Jeff Peterson lost his long battle with cancer. May 16-17, 2003 saw the beginning of the Jeff Peterson Memorial Cup, a sixteen competitor tournament in honor of the fallen star. Each year the event has grown to international levels. Previous winners of this prestigious tournament are “Reckless Youth” Tom Carter, Justice, Chris Sabin, Milano Collection AT and Chris Hero. If you have never seen it in person or purchased a DVD of the event we highly recommend this year is the year you become a part of the Jeff Peterson Memorial Cup.

World Wrestling Network presents:
The 2008 Jeff Peterson Memorial Cup

Friday, September 26, 2008
The New Lakes in Regency Park Civic Center
8330 Civic Drive – Port Richey, FL 34668
Doors Open 7:00 PM – Bell Time 8:00 PM
Opening round matches are as follows:
Erick Stevens of Full Impact Pro vs. Chris Jones of Pro Wrestling Fusion
Ring Of Honor’s Jigsaw vs. Kenny King of the YRR
The YRR’s Sal Rinauro vs. Chris Gray of the British Lions
Sweet N’ Sour Inc’s Larry Sweeney vs. Tommy Taylor of the British Lions
Jaison Moore of Pro Wrestling Riot vs. “Addicted to Love” Rhett Titus of Ring of Honor
Nooie Lee vs. Brad Attitude
Chikara’s Gran Akuma vs. Big Japan’s Craig Classic
Jon Davis of the Dark City Fight Club/911 Inc. vs. CJ O’Doyle of Pro Wrestling Riot
NON TOURNAMENT MATCHES ANNOUNCED SO FAR:
911 Inc.’s Francisco Ciatso & Shawn Osborne (w/”Hardcore Giant” Ron Niemi) vs. Dogmatika (Sideshow & Dany Only)
Full bracket layout is available on http://jpc2008.com or www.floridawrestlingfans.com

Saturday, September 27, 2008
Brooksville National Guard Armory
16386 Springhill Drive – Brooksville, FL 34604
Doors Open 7:00 PM – Bell Time 8:00 PM
Second Round, Semi-Finals and the Finals of the tournament plus matches featuring those who were eliminated Friday night.
NON TOURNAMENT MATCH: 10 MAN WARGAMES STEEL CAGE MATCH!!!!
Sideshow, “the Marquee” Bruce Santee, Sedrick Strong & The Black Market (Joey Machete & Shawn Murphy) vs. 911 Inc’s Kory Chavis, Shawn Osborne, Francisco Ciasto, Mike Shane & “Hardcore Giant” Ron Niemi
Both nights will feature several silent auction items where 100% of the proceeds will go this year’s charity!

Two Night VIP Package (Limited Availability) – $50
Includes: Ringside Admission, Two Night VIP Meet & Greet & A Limited Addition 2008 JPC Poster

Two Night General Admission
Adults $25 and Kids 13 and under $15

Single Night Ringside $20

Single Night General Admission:
Adults $15 and Kids 13 and under $10

To purchase tickets or to make donations go to: http://www.jpc2008.com

This year’s Jeff Peterson Memorial Cup will be a fundraiser with ALL proceeds going to little boy named Devin Deschaine. Devin is a 2 yr old Port Richey boy with stage 4 Neuroblastoma. His form of Cancer is one of the most rare, & aggressive pediatric cancers. Only about 600 kids in the USA will be diagnosed with Neuroblastoma each year. About 70% of them will NOT survive. Devin is very close to our hearts & there is no other option for him but to SURVIVE. He’s a born fighter. He was a little fighter long before he was diagnosed. Neuroblastoma shouldn’t be any different. He just needs a little help with this fight.

The Jeff Peterson Memorial Cup in conjunction with the Tammie Hamaoui Foundation, Pro Wrestling Riot, World Wrestling Network & Floridawrestlingfans.com will be running this year’s tournament as fundraiser for Devin & his mom. She is single & needs help getting the bills paid during his treatment. Not to mention that he has a few procedures coming up that his insurance won’t cover. This family needs our help!

Due to his cancer being so rare the media is following him closely. Devin has been on Bay News 9. He is also expected to be on the Today show in the near future. For more information on Devin please go to any of the following links:

http://www.tampabay.com/news/humaninterest/article501869.ece

http://www.tampabay.com/news/humaninterest/article638651.ece

http://hope4devin.org

From Josef Adalian’s TVWeek.com column: 

Not to sound like a broken record, but here goes anyway: CBS needs to save “Swingtown.”

Back in July, I made the case for why patience would be a virtue in the case of the network’s retro drama. Since then, CBS went through with plans to move the show to Friday. Predictably, ratings plummeted as viewers realized the show was doomed.

SUMMER LOVIN’ The 1970s-styled drama ‘Swingtown’ sails off into the sunset.

The season finale of “Swingtown” aired Friday. I watch CBS’ sudsy “Big Brother” religiously, and if the network made any attempt to hype “Swingtown’s” swansong, I certainly missed it.

How sad. CBS insiders will tell you that many people there love the show, and that everyone wishes it could live. They’ll then point to middling reviews from critics, and massive defections by advertisers, as reasons for why “Swingtown” just can’t work on CBS. Legitimate excuses all.

If CBS had a recent history of supporting shows outside of its comfort zone—crime procedurals and broad comedies—I’d be inclined to let “Swingtown’s” likely death pass quietly.

But despite being led by Leslie Moonves—a modern legend in the broadcasting business whose golden reputation is well-deserved—CBS seems stubbornly unable to commit to dramas that dare to be different.

Series such as “Love Monkey,” “Clubhouse,” “Cane,” “Jericho” and, yes, “Moonlight” all had the potential to help CBS break free from its blood-and-bullets addiction. But when viewers didn’t immediately greet such efforts with open arms, CBS simply gave up. (Sorry, a brief reprise for “Jericho” doesn’t count as commitment.)

Even on the comedy side, “How I Met Your Mother” has to wait until the last minute for its renewals, despite being a young-adult magnet and a buzz machine. That’s not a good sign for “Worst Week,” which looks and feels different from any other comedy on CBS.

CBS probably will do fine in the ratings this season. It knows its audience well, and it knows how to schedule shows smartly in order to maximize their ratings potential.

But “CSI” and its offspring are showing signs of age. The network hasn’t had a reality hit in at least five years. And ABC and Fox are poised to pull away in the race for younger demographics.

It’s time for CBS to be bold. NBC believed in “The Office” when the rest of the town scoffed, and now it’s one of the top comedies on TV. Fox overlooked a rocky first season for “24” and was rewarded with a signature franchise.

Even if “Swingtown” never turns into a big hit, the simple act of demonstrating a determination to be different will reap rewards. Studios will feel more comfortable bringing edgier fare to CBS. Viewers may begin to trust that it’s OK to form a bond with non-procedurals airing on the network.

CBS needs to save “Swingtown.”

http://www.midatlanticgateway.com/hoh/2008/2008_mitchell.htm