Remember what I said? "If you wait until the last minute, it only takes a minute." I somehow, by the grace of God, and Power of Grayskull, managed to accomplish all my required tasks yesterday. I have, diagnosed, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD). I am very methodical and meticulous about certain things, life-or-death work being one of them. Over the years I have learned it's not necessarily important to give one hundred percent to everything. My very first First Sergeant was a great man. He was a former Delta Operator, raging prick, but a great man nonetheless. He would say, "OP. I want eighty-fucking-percent from you each day. Eighty-fucking-percent. However, when I ask for a hundred, you'd better fucking give it to me." I gave "work" eighty-fucking-percent yesterday, and managed to baseball bat the square peg through the round hole at the very last minute. It was a solid B- and a job well done.
During my course of hyper-procrastination, I had a thought provoking comment about parenting. A fellow Fuckery inquired about the "How to Adult" chapter in the Parenting Handbook. The comment took be back in time approximately sixteen years. My wife had just pissed on a magical stick and told me the most unexpected news ever, Janet Jackson had a nipple-slip during the Super Bowl halftime performance, but I had missed it because of a deployment. She also told me she was pregnant. Well fuck my tits sideways, because I was not ready to hear that. Sloppy was going to be a father.
Want to be a surgeon? Go to fucking school. Want to be a lawyer? Go to fucking school. Want to be teacher and cultivate future leaders? Go to fucking school. Want to be a parent? Pull out one fucking second too late and presto, you just hit the nine month "cook" button on vaginal-microwave. Sadly, there is no educational requirement. You don't have to have rich or poor. You can own a home or be homeless. There is absolutely zero prerequisites needed to preform, arguably, the most important and demanding job on earth; fucking parenthood.
Again, I wait to the last minute, but my wife, for some reason, really felt the need to prepare for this thing called "parenthood". She immediately went to Barnes and Noble, got some overpriced fucking latte drink, and scoured the aisles for the best "Mixed Cocktails from Under the Sink: The Parents Guide on how to Not Kill Your Child." The wife was about halfway through the book when I finally picked it up. "Maybe I should at least read chapter one!" I do what I normal do when I purchase a new book, and immediately flip through for pictures. Then I research to the author to see what qualifies him or her their specific field.
My apologies, I forget who the author was, but that's not important. What is important is this particular author had zero fucking crib-midgets or baby-cave convicts. What the fuck? Who the fuck are you to educate in a field you have zero experience with? Imagine the look on the pilots face when we finds me in the cockpit of my next international flight. "No worries friend. I got this shit. I slept at a Holiday Inn last night, and I honestly feel I am more than qualified to turn on the Christmas-light-cockpit and see if this stallion is airworthy."
I was initially pretty pissed off. The audacity of this author! Then "it" came to me. There is no real playbook for this shit. Maybe the real message was to simply "wing-it". I may have the brain of an adolescent retard, but I am, by all means, an actual adult. I can now look back at multiple moments in my life with the realization that my parents had no fucking clue. They were just winging-it. However, I severely overestimated my ability to parent when we baked Cake. I thought parenting was a wash, rinse, and repeat process. I thought I was now qualified because Kelly was still alive. Cake said, "Fuck you rules" though.
What you have read thus far is nothing more than a rant. Just a genuine bitch-session. I figure I should detail some life lessons I have learned because of Cake, the kid that occasionally makes me want to watching his feet kicking back-and-forth in a fit, but only because I have his head six inches deep in toilet water. My youngest boy (Head Shaking!), fucking Cake.
Shit Missiles
Cake had superpowers that Kelly never attained. We were initially unaware he was genetically-flawed and had "mild" soy and dairy allergies. The doctor said "mild". Well, that guy was a fucking liar. I don't call using four wet wipes to clean projectile shit from his neck "mild." I would argue for a "severe" diagnoses at the very least. That kid shit could out-shit dysentery.
Cake Brain: Poop before or after dad changes my diaper?
Cake's Asshole: During!
Cute Moments
For the most part, all the bad moments can be erased with one moment of cuteness. I could literally be five minutes out from utilizing the Safe Haven Law, and then Cake would do or say something that made me love him again. You read correct!
Cake (4YO): Can I cuss?
OP: What?
Cake: I want to cuss.
Wife: Cake. Do you know what cussing is?
Cake: Yes, but I want to say one word.
OP Brain: Fuck it. I will give you one opportunity, but please don't let me down or fuck this up.
OP: What's the F-word Cake?
The cute part; Cake literally started looking left and right, as if he was ensuring he wouldn't get in trouble. Then he softly whispered...
Cake: BIIITTTTCCCCCHHHHHH.
You done did messed up A-A-Ron. He was four though. I suppose I should celebrate that as a victory!?! For the un-parents out there, please always be cognizant that your crotch goblins are very observant creatures. They quickly pick up, and emulate your piss poor habits.
I had just been cut-off in traffic. I had the right-of-way, but Susie-fucking-snowbird and her Q-Tip colored hair decided it was okay for her to disregard the octagon-shaped sign that states, "Bitch. Wait your turn." I muffled a shallow "Fuck You," but then noticed her look of absolute disgust as she passed by my car. Then I see, Cake, flipping her "the bird" from my side-view mirror. Sweet! Cake can count to one.
Then you have the moments that start cute, and go south. I have my nightly introvert-routine. I want to watch the national news, and then test my knowledge while watching Jeopardy afterwards. It is my much needed hour to decompress each night. My leave me the fuck alone time. A very chunky Cake rolled up to the couch, baby blanket in one hand and an unopened bag of Puff Cheetos in the other. He needed help murdering the bag open. I opened it, but he decided to plop down next to me as opposed to finger-painting the white curtains Cheetos orange with his little dick-beaters. He wanted to share.
I don't particularly like puffed Cheetos, but fuck it. It was an olive-branch from a terrorist. I obliged. I was five minutes into Jeopardy and I reached my hand into the bag, but something was off. It was plain-fucking-gross. I pull out a gooey, disgusting, wet fucking Cheeto. I initially thought there was something wrong with the packaging, but then I turn to see Cake, giving each puffed morsel a toddler blowjob. He sucked off every bit of flavoring, and then shoved the wet mess back in the back. I had just found his discards.
OP: Cake. They are not pistachios. You can eat the entire thing.
Cake: (Shoulder Shrug): I only like the cheese dad!
You Got Fucking Jokes
Cake was a huge fan of jokes, particularly knock-knock jokes. I don't know if he picked this up at daycare, or kindergarten. I know he didn't get it from grandpa, because he would be using the official F-word a bunch. I, as you man know, am a huge fan of humor. I love it. Humor gets me through the day, but I despise a poorly told joke, and I hold everyone to high standards. It was extremely frustrating to endure twenty jokes in a car ride home that all sucked.
Cake: Dad. Knock-Knock.
OP: Who is there?
Cake: Carrot.
OP: Carrot who?
Cake: (Hysterically laughing) I got you!
Imagine twenty jokes exactly like that, while your toddler-terrorist maniacally laughs. This particular day was long. I just wanted to rest when I got home. I merely wanted five minutes to myself before the chaos started. I had just endured 20 minutes of piss-poor comedy, but Cake was not done. He had, "one more joke dad."
Cake: Knock-Knock.
OP: Who is there?
Cake: Smell Mop
OP: Smell Mop Who?
Cake is now rolling on the floor. Kelly is rolling on the floor. Lola may have been worried about being attacked with a scissors, but even she was wondering what the hell was going on. What the fuck was I missing? Why was this specific knock-knock joke funny to Kelly? What the actual fuck?
OP: Smell Mop Who? Smell Mop Who?
The kids are still rolling, the dog is barking, and I just start saying it faster.
OP: Smell Mop Who?
Then Cake, in Cake fashion, lets out a thunderous fart with superb ass-acoustics. Just a sweet smell bum-rumble!
Cake: Dad. Smell My Poo!
OP: Smell Mop Who....SMELL MY POO!!!
I had just been out-potaoed, by the potato. Outwitted by a fucking four year old. Read whatever the hell you want Reader. Please be sure to let me know when you read a book that prepares you for that shit there. Smell my poo!
Cake is 11 now, and is currently in that transition phase of life. The phase where you go from optional deodorant to "Deodorant. NOW. EVERYDAY". He arrived home from soccer practice drenched in sweat last night. Sweating like a whore in Church with a disheveled look on his face.
Cake: Dad. Do I have to take a shower?
OP: Yes. It's not optional nor negotiable. Feet. Balls. Ass. NOW!
Cake: Can I take a bath?
OP: I don't care so long as water and soap hits your...
Cake: Feet, balls and...
OP: BUTT
Cake: Do you take baths?
OP: Not really.
Cake: Why?
OP: Because when I am really dirty, the bath water gets really dirty, and it don't feel as clean as I do when I take a shower.
Cake: Are showers better?
OP: For you they are.
Cake: Cause I get cleaner?
OP: No. Because I don't have to worry about your drowning in five inches of water.
Cake: (Huge Grin, and I was laughing) Bet you I could drown in a shower!
OP: I bet you could buddy!
Lastly, I remember something else during my rant response to the thought provoking Redditor. Punishment. Feel free to call me a bad parent, but I have adopted a technique that I use to extract confessions. It is pretty low-level shit, and there is no need to waterboard, yet. This specific technique is not mine, and I learned it during my torturous time at Confraternity of Christian Doctrine (CCD). My God! Those nuns hated me and I hated them, but I learned this:
OP: Cake. Have a seat.
Cake: What?
OP: (Calm. Be Calm) What did you do wrong?
Cake: Ummm.
OP: You're sitting this chair for a reason, and I am disappointed in you.
Cake: I spent $20 dollars on V-Bucks (FAKE FUCKING MONEY) and didn't ask.
OP: No XBox for a week.
This is not the preferred technique and you MUST space it out. Parents don't have time to parent 24/7. Impossible. However, the rabbit jackals that live upstairs MUST believe you are capable of this. It's a lie, but they are necessary lies. But OP, you lie to your kids? But Reader, do you still think Santa Claus is real, or are you fucking Santa Claus? I am getting sick and tired of trying to create elaborate scenes for Elf on a Shelf too. Did I ruin it, or did you think he constructed that beautiful parachute and got stuck on the ceiling fan when he jump from a plane you didn't hear, in the middle of the night, that flew through our fucking house? Yeah. I lie.
Fellow Fuckery Readers. Thanks for rant-riding. I know it wasn't funny, but I just had to procrastinate about work. I needed a ten minute rant and no editing. Good news though. I have 26 full-blown stories on deck; I wrote unforgettable titles to I remember to detail the events for you. There are two Hawks, numerous Gunfighter Dads, and the introduction of many new characters to include OP. I will save off on mine, because I want you to "think less of me" sometime next year.
Be Rona free, Safe, and Cheers!

I worked in football (soccer) stadiums on matchdays. I worked for a betting company which had stalls all over the stadium where customers could place bets.
Bets were placed using a sheet of paper with all the possible bets on it. My job was to scan that paper, enter it into the computer and take the form of payment. I would then give the betting slip back to the customer.
How I stole the money goes like this. Whenever the customer paid by cash, depending on the bet, I pretended to scan the bet and enter it into the computer.
Me being an avid football fan I only did this on the bets which were unlikely to happen and/or on small bets. Big bets I always scanned, regardless of the likelihood, as if the bet won the customer would more likely make a big fuss rather than a smaller bet. If it was a really ridiculous bet, literally not going to happen, I would not scan the bet regardless of the amount.
All the papers/bets I didn't scan I kept separate. At the end of my shift I would total the amount on all the papers and take that amount from the till. There was an average 2 shifts a week, did this for 3-4 months and only fucked up once. My till was up £20 once, my manager raised an eyebrow to it but dismissed it quickly because I was so consistent.
As the weeks went on I got greedier and greedier. I started to sometimes take in big bets which was against my rule. At the start I was taking home around £50 per shift, at the end I was taking around £200. Once I took home nearly £500 as it was a final. All together I took between £2000-£3000 over the course of 3-4 months.
One day I got a phone call and email saying a customer complained that his bet wasn't on the system. The customer remembered the stall number he placed it at so they called me and my colleague about, most of the time we worked in pairs. I lied and said that there was a brief 5 min period where the scanner was acting up. That didn't work.
Couple days later I'm getting ready for my next shift, I get an email on the day to say I'm fired and not to come to my shift. Apparently they traced the error to me and there have been a couple of complaints over the past month. Don't know how they traced it to me, I think they were lying. They fired me because I was doing a shit job not because I stole money. They never suspected or accused me of stealing any money.
A lot of guys did this as well, not justifying it, and a colleague actually got me into it. The thing is they didn't get greedy and I did. During my time there a guy got caught and was fired.
The thrill of it was amazing counting the money, taking the money, walking out of there with no one suspecting anything, shredding the papers at home, watching the games to see the bets failing etc.
I consider myself quite lucky but I made good money which paid for food, uni supplies etc. I did it so I could be able to afford living expenses at university (college).

Going through old issues of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter and posting highlights in my own words, continuing in the footsteps of daprice82. For anyone interested, I highly recommend signing up for the actual site at f4wonline and checking out the full archives.
• PREVIOUS •
1987
FUTURE YEARS ARCHIVE:
The Complete Observer Rewind Archive by daprice82

1-4-1988	1-11-1988	1-18-1988	1-25-1988
2-1-1988	2-8-1988	2-15-1988	2-22-1988
2-29-1988	3-7-1988	3-14-1988	3-21-1988
3-28-1988	*	*	*

• ”This is horrible, Gorilla.” These words open the issue this week, because Wrestlemania IV is in the books and, well, it was not pretty. Dave is flabbergasted by how bad a show it was, wondering if this was a dream or a nightmare that he hasn’t woken up from. Wrestlemania III was the best wrestling production of all time. It may not have had the best card, but it was entertaining all around and the fans loved it. It set Vince up as the king of wrestling, all-powerful over the business. He’s still the king, but he’s definitely not all-powerful, and Crockett absolutely kicked Vince’s ass on March 27. Financials will take time to come in, and of course McMahon will win that measure, but we can flash back to January 24 for an analogue: The Royal Rumble won even though the Bunkhouse Finals made more money.
  
• Preliminary info Dave has gotten from phoning cable companies and hearing from fans at closed-circuit site is that Wrestlemania interest was down by nearly half of last year’s. The buyrate for ppv could be as low as 6 percent, half of WWF’s expected 12% and still way down from last year’s 10.3%. Even so, the PPV gross would be $10.8 million, of which WWF can expect no more than $3.5 million, plus an estimated $2.3 million from a minimum 175,000 (last year had 375,000) at closed-circuit and a live gate of about $ million and an undisclosed site fee from Donald Trump for putting on the show. The early (and I mean early, don’t get attached to these numbers) overall estimate is a total gross of $14 million, with WWF netting maybe $6.5 million, a far cry from the $18 million they were predicting their take would be. How much was because Crockett ran the Clash? How much was because WWF just has been less interesting? It’s hard to say, but Crockett hurt McMahon way more than anyone could have anticipated.
  
• As for the shows themselves, just absolute night and day between them. Crockett’s Clash was a really solid show. It wasn’t as polished a production and only had 30 minutes of wrestling in the first 90 minutes of the show, though this was to allow Sting/Flair to work without commercial breaks so it was an overall benefit. The matches, minus the barbed wire one, were all good. The crowd was into it. Two excellent matches. Probably best to never let Steve Williams talk again, though. The Jim Cornette and Eddie Haskel bit was great and made Bob Uecker and Gene Okerlund look worse than they were. Meanwhile, Wrestlemania made Starrcade 1987 look like Starrcade 1985, and that’s too nice to say even. WWF’s guys, rather than working harder because it was Wrestlemania, opted to phone it in instead because Wrestlemania itself would carry the day. Even Jesse Ventura had no good lines and coasted while Gorilla was like soundbites of his Wrestling Challenge commentary.
  
• Anyway, Dave breaks down the major problems for WWF, as he sees them. 1) Hogan - he’s too over, to the point he overshadows everything else and by booking him as just one of the guys in the field, they completely devalued their star attraction. And instead of putting Randy over at the end, which they need to do if they’re going to try and have him be even close to as over as Hulk has been, they put Liz and Hulk over. “It’s like Randy can’t even order a taxi cab unless Liz tells Hulk to flag down the cab.” 2) Hindsight is always 20/20, but Trump Plaza was a terrible venue for a Wrestlemania, and the crowd just wasn’t a wrestling crowd, so they were not invested at all. 3) Steroids. Dave supposes he’s probably the most hated person in the world among the heavy steroid users in the business because of all the nicknames he gives them, but in all seriousness it was embarrassing to watch so many guys get blown up in a minute or two to where they couldn’t even pace out a five minute match. Like, take out the health issues, take out any sense of blame on the guys, Dave says. The tournament was embarrassing. It wasn’t funny to see the guys fail like this. It was just sad. 4) The tournament as a concept flopped. It gave fans no specific issue to focus on because belts in modern wrestling just don’t mean anything to fans - the real draw is the big personalities, and WWF proved it with this show: the only matches anyone cared about were the ones with Hogan and, to a lesser extent, DiBiase and Savage. 5) Spoilers. Too many people knew the outcome, and giving Savage the title is almost a mistake after you’ve given so many spoilers of your own show. ABC News did a report the morning after, saying “Randy Savage was the winner at Wrestlemania, but of course everyone knew it since the WWF magazine had printed the result three weeks ago. The WWF claims the magazine report was simply a typographical error.” Anyway, Dave is sick of people blaming him for their wrestling promotions not being able to draw fans at live shows when they aren’t interesting enough. Newsletter subscribers are maybe 0.002% of the viewing audience - if all Dave’s subscribers quit watching nobody would notice in the viewing numbers. Meanwhile, the fans who read newsletters are probably the most dedicated and put more money into the business than the “marks” do and will be the ones stubbornly holding on to the end if the business somehow were to die. So don’t blame Dave if your show sucks and your creative is bad and you give away your finish weeks ahead of time and don’t even bother changing it.
  
• Anyway, Wrestlemania preliminary numbers time. About 540,000 homes on PPV, plus 195,000 through closed-circuit, as far as the U.S. goes. They did just 95 closed-circuit sites in the U.S., 39 of which had less than 2,000 capacity. No word on Crockett’s ratings, but if they hit a 5 on TBS that’s about 2 million homes.
  
• So all that said, time to look at the Wrestlemania card. Good production, particularly the opening graphics, but not as far ahead of Crockett as last year now that they’ve upped their game. Battle royal started hot and quickly became your standard boring battle royal. The Hart/Badnews angle at the end saves the match from a dud and gets it half a star. DiBiase vs. Duggan was real slow for a five minute match, and Duggan no longer resembles the worker he was in UWF/Mid-South just a couple years ago. Very little heat. 1.5 stars. Muraco vs. Bravo gets half a star, and both were blown up by the double clothesline like they’d wrestled a hard 20 minutes, but the whole match was under 5. Valentine vs. Steamboat saw Valentine look tired and old, and just not have his famed longevity anymore. Good finish, solid work even with the timing issues. Steamboat coming out with his son and being able to be lost in the moment of just being a proud father was “a tremendous sight” for Dave. 2.25 stars. Savage vs. Reed got a pop for the finish but nothing else, really. 1 star. One Man Gang vs. Bam Bam Bigelow wasn’t good. It was obvious how bad Bigelow’s knee was, and that takes away his agility, which is the thing that sets him apart. Dave says this is a -1.5 star match in a vacuum, but considering Bam Bam’s condition he’s not going to rate it that low and calls it a dud instead. Rick Rude vs. Jake Roberts was a 15 minute draw and Dave hated it. He hated Rude’s tights, the many long rest holds, the fact that there just weren’t any moves in there to pop the crowd, and the fact that the crowd chanted boring. Worst match of the year candidate. -2 stars. Ultimate Warrior blew up before he entered the ring for his match with Hercules and the match was bad. -1.5 stars, and Dave says it was worse than Rude vs. Roberts, but gets a better rating for knowing when to be done quick and not overstaying its welcome like the other match did.
  

Watch: Cleanse your palate with Hogan’s weird promo from Wrestlemania about faultlines and Donald Trump caring about his family

• Wrestlemania continued, because holy shit that was a really long paragraph and we needed an intermission. Round two saw Hogan and Andre go to a double disqualification to start off. Andre could barely stand by two and a half minutes in. Lots of shenanigans, Virgil took a nasty suplex on the floor where Hulk didn’t protect him at all, but there’s a glimmer of a future face push for him at least. Maybe his father’s a plumber, Dave quips. Half a star if you ignore the posing at the end (dud if you count the posing). But really, the crowd came to see Hogan pose. DiBiase vs. Muraco had no heat but decent action for its short stay. 1.5 stars. Savage vs. Valentine was good, well-paced with good action. 2.5 stars. Beefer vs. Honkytonk Man amazed Dave since neither was over at all when both usually are decently over. Sherri Martel made more noise than the entire audience. Loads of shenanigans, Beefer’s new haircut makes him look like a Davey Boy Smith with less wrestling ability, dud. Islanders and Heenan vs. Koko and the Bulldogs had some decent comedy and started okay, but got boring quick. 1.25 stars. Savage vs. One Man Gang was watchable but the finish sucked. Half a star. Demolition vs. Santana and Martel was solid throughout, although the crowd seemed on Demolition’s side. If the crowd had been responsive this would have been a really good match rather than just pretty good at 2.5 stars. DiBiase vs. Savage saw the crowd missing “two top-flight guys trying to work a good match” because they were watching the entrance waiting for Hogan. Savage sends Liz to get Hogan, Hogan evens the odds, Savage wins, Hogan must pose. 2.25 stars. Once round two started, the show was pretty decent, Dave thinks, just the first half of the show wasn’t RestholdMania, but Rigor Mortis Mania.
  
• Over in Crockett Country, it’s a whole different story. They drew 6,000 fans to the Greensboro Coliseum, and all six thousand were champing at the bit for the show, which created a great energy that the wrestlers fed on for their matches. Rotunda retained the TV Title against Jimmy Garvin in the amateur rules match with a one-count pin, pinning Garvin a minute into the second round. 2.5 stars. The Midnight Express beat the Fantastics by DQ to retain the U.S. Tag Titles in a classic Memphis style brawl that was so action packed the cameras missed a lot of it. Dave gives them 4.25 stars, saying the action earned it 4.5, but the overused finish with the over the top rope throw and the referee reversing the decision lost it half a star, but then the post-match action with Corette lashing Bobby Fulton’s back with a belt got it back a quarter star. Dusty and the Road Warriors (the Rhode Warriors, I almost typed) beat Warlord and Barbarian and Ivan Koloff in a real short barbed wire match, and Dave notes the resemblance between Dudty wearing facepaint and a black t-shirt and Dump Matsumoto (with the notable difference that Dump is prettier). Ivan was bleeding after 20 seconds and Dusty after 90. Dave hates these matches - everyone gets all cautious and careful and stays in the center of the ring, so nothing really happens. 1 star. Luger and Barry Windham beat Arn and Tully for the NWA Tag Titles. Good match all around, 3.5 stars. Flair and Sting had a 45 minute draw for the NWA Title in a match of the year candidate. Slow pace to start, but the heat kept up and they weren’t dull and Flair sold the hell out of every rest hold. Jim Ross and Tony Schiavone did fantastic work on this, particularly Ross who sold the intensity and importance of the match, which was critical for the first half (if only he were still able to do that today). There were supposed to be three judges, but there were five people at the table, only two of them didn’t vote, so no idea what the point there was. Anyway, Patty Mullen (Penthouse Pet of the year and who had been on Ric’s arm the night before on tv) picked Flair. Gary Juster, former NWA promoter, voted for Sting. Sandy Scott then ruled it a draw, and nothing came of the judging gimmick which made it utterly pointless. 4.75 stars
  

Watch: Clash of the Champions. I’ve set it to start with the Steve Williams promo because it needs to be heard to be believed

• During Clash of the Champions, after the first match, there was an ad on TBS for the WWF 900 number advertising play-by-play for Wrestlemania. WWF managed to get an ad on TBS during Crockett’s big special, and that’s hilarious. They also ran the first ad for the new Four Horsemen vitamins, which was hilarious but unintentionally so, and Dave thinks they aren’t going to sell a lot of those vitamins.
  
• Last week Dave teased a big story, and it’s that Crockett has been negotiating with Ken Mantell of World Class Dave didn’t give any details beyond the tease last week because he was hoping to get more before press time. He promises to never note a major story the way he did again without giving more details up front, because he expected more details to break before he had to print copy but it didn’t. Anyway, negotiations have been ongoing for ten days and there are conflicting reports. Crockett’s goal is taking over World Class the way they did Florida, getting the valuable channel 11 time slot on Saturday nights in Dallas. They’re going to need Fritz on board to complete the deal, though. If it does go through, Kerry and Kevin will have guaranteed work and a push in the NWA, but neither really seems to want the travel, so they’d likely get a deal for local stuff and maybe occasional work in St. Louis. The bottom line everyone needs to consider, though, is that Mantell and Michael Hayes may be the most creative bookers anywhere right now, but they aren’t turning WCCW’s business around and it just may not work out that they can. Dave doesn’t expect a deal done now, but he thinks Mantell and Hayes may give themselves until May to see if their hard work will pay off before considering any offers.
  
• An example of that creative booking is the WCCW title change on March 25 in Dallas. Hayes was at ringside with Kerry while Black Bart and Buddy Roberts were for Parsons. Iceman King Parsons is one of the least likely champions in wrestling history, and the match wasn’t particularly good, but the finish saw the lights go out after Terry Gordy came down, at which point Bart and Roberts used flashlights to blind the fans in the front row so nobody could see what happened. When the lights came back on, Kerry was knocked out in the ring, Hayes was bleeding on the floor, nobody knew who hit whom, and Parsons pinned Kerry to win the belt. They even had Kerry carted out on a stretcher. Dave doesn’t think (and actively prays against) Parsons will hold it for long. Hayes looks like the best prospect (nope. It’s going back to Kerry in May at the Von Erich Memorial Parade of Champions). Also, I just learned that King Parsons is his real legal name. I always thought combining Iceman and King was a weird combo of gimmicks, so that solves a mystery for me.
  

Watch: Iceman King Parsons wins the WCWA World Title

• Eddie Gilbert is leaving Memphis to book for Continental beginning April 10. Continental’s business is bottoming out and it’ll be interesting to see if Gilbert and Missy can get things going there again like they did in Memphis. This also puts Memphis in some dire straits, since the Gilberts were basically all their storylines and they were drawing triple what they had been by giving the Gilberts such big spotlight, so they’re in trouble.
  
• Lanny Poffo, brother of WWF Champion Randy Savage, has a book coming out called Wrestling with Rhyme. It’s a book of poetry coming out in late April and will be available at Walden Books. Man, I remember when Walden went out of business. It was a sad day for me.
  
• The only news Dave has from Japan right now is that Bruiser Brody beat Jumbo Tsuruta for the International Title at Budokan Hall on March 27. Tenryu also retained his PWF Title against Hansen.
  
• Roddy Piper’s latest project is a new film going into production called They Live.
  

Watch: They Live trailer

• A correction on the Bruno Sammartino stuff. WWF isn’t trying to ban Bruno from using his name. They’re trying to ban him from using the trademarked nickname “The Living Legend” in contexts outside WWF. There’s a lot of talk about his radio interview , and some excerpts in the mail section of this issue.
  
• There’s a film in the works about former Olympic and pro wrestler Chris Taylor. Taylor was a 450 lb wrestler from Iowa who won bronze in the 1972 Olympics and died in 1979. A book about him called “The Gentle Giant” is being adapted into a film, currently called “Lean On Me.” That does not wind up being the title, and I can’t find a movie based on him so this might have gotten scrapped. In other biopic news, no word from Hollywood on any upcoming Hulk Hogan movie.
  
• WWF went up to the number 4 slot in the syndicated ratings for the week ending Feb. 28. They had a 10.6 rating, an increase on the previous week. Crockett’s network fell to number 9 with a 7.6.
  
• Paul E. Dangerously firing Joe Pedicino, Gordon Solie, and Boni Blackstone on Pro Wrestling this Week aired this past weekend. It was fantastic stuff, and Paul has cemented himself as one of the top managers in the business. This is all part of a reformatting of the show to a 30 minute format with Pedicino and Patrick Schaeffer (who was the mastermind behind Global doing an IPO to build up a million dollars of operating capital) at the helm, with Schaeffer as the heel commentator.
  
• Crockett had a big angle taped on March 21 that they aired this past Saturday, involving Magnum T.A. Magnum was doing an interview when Tully and J.J. came out, then Barry Windham came out and Tully popped Windham with a hit, then hit Magnum. J.J. was behind Magnum and helped Magnum gently go to ground, then Dusty barged in with a baseball bat and swung for the fences on Tully, then knocks out Jim Crockett without realizing who he’s swinging at when Jim and David Crockett and Rob Garner try to restore order. Jim Cornette did a tearful interview about his “good friend Jim Crockett” and Magnum even bladed, though that last didn’t make it to tv. Later on, Magnum came out and hit Tully with a bat in a match to cause a disqualification. Dave loved the concept here at first because you have to imagine Magnum hates being on the sidelines and wants to be involved to some extent and this gives him something to sink his teeth into. At the same time, “the idea of beating up a cripple, which unfortunately is the reality of the situation” is just kind of pathetic. That said, it’ll draw, and it’ll let Dusty (with Magnum in his corner) push himself as top star once again, and it may even be enough to put heat back on Dusty vs. Tully. Dusty will be suspended for 120 days come Saturday’s tv (taking us into July - will we see the Midnight Rider face Flair at the Bash, Dave wonders), Dusty will return as the Midnight Rider with Magnum at his side, and he’ll likely get the U.S. title in the tournament they’re going to hold in May.
  

Watch: Tully suckerpunches Magnum

• The Oregon State Athletic Commission held a public hearing on March 18. Topics mostly stuck to safety concerns such as cleaning the mats, barriers at ringside, security, mats on the floor by ringside, etc. A lot of wrestlers were there, along with Billy Jack Haynes and Don and Barry Owen. Most of the wrestlers were negative about the Owens’ promotion, with only Tony Borne and Art Crews saying anything positive. Borne testified against the idea of using mats outside the ring, saying it’s not going to help as much as it hurts the visual effect of a spill to the floor. He also said the commission’s drug testing proposal went too far by including painkillers and marijuana on top of cocaine. The commission indicated they’ll be looking at action like the use of chairs in the future and potentially issuing fines. They also clarified their stance on blood: hardway is good, blading is bad. It’s pretty absurd to say that the more dangerous way of getting color is good but blading is bad, but this whole blood thing has become a thing for commissions around the country because blading sounds absolutely insane to people outside the industry, and even Dave has mixed feelings about it. On the one hand, blading is a minor safety issue at best, especially compared to rampant steroid and drug use and nasty bumps. On the other, Dave’s not sure fans are really drawn by excessive bleeding either, and probably actually turns off a large number of potential casual viewers. It doesn’t hurt if kept rare, but it doesn’t help if half the matches have it. And more dangerous to the wrestlers in a blood match than AIDS (they’re more likely to get that from outside activities) is scabies, which Owen’s wrestlers had an outbreak of not too far back. Rip Oliver said he’s gotten scabies four times since July and wound up giving it to his wife and kids on top of it. The outbreak led the Commission to pass a ruling against wrestlers working while they have communicable diseases and that they must notify promoters.
  
• Eddie Gilbert vs. Jerry Lawler on March 21 drew 6,000 fans for Memphis. Gilbert won in what’s being hailed as a great match (and Dave’s heard their match the week before was even better). On tv on March 26 Gilbert acted like he was going to throw fire at Lance Russell, which got Lawler out from backstage in his first tv appearance in a month. They wound up brawling into the parking lot and Gilbert slammed Lawler on the hood of a car, shattering the windshield.
  
• Scott Rechsteiner, using the ring name Scott Steiner, debuted as a babyface in Memphis recently. No mention of peaks or freaks yet.
  
• Some random trivia about AWA Tag champ Paul Diamond. His real name is Tom Boric, and he was born in Winnipeg, you idiots, on May 11, 1961. He played soccer for the Tampa Bay Rowdies in the old North American Soccer League and was drafted sixth in the 1980 collegiate draft by the Calgary Boomers, before getting traded to Tampa in 1982. He stayed until the NASL folded, which is when he got into wrestling.
  
• Anyway, Diamond and Tanaka won the belts because the Midnight Rockers wanted $500 a week guaranteed to stay and Verne doesn’t believe in guaranteed money. They don’t appear to have left yet.
  
• [Continental] Looks like Eddie Gilbert is replacing Robert Fuller and going to be sole booker.
  
• [USA] The other spinoff from the old Continental promotion ran its first big show in Knoxville, drawing a $10,000 gate. Previous sellouts there hit $27,000, to give an indication of relative value there. Not a lot to report about this. Moondog Spot is there as “The Dog.” He’s not a big dog. He’s not a little dog. He’s The Dog.
  
• WCCW drew 1,700 on March 25 for their Dallas show, where Kerry dropped the title to Parsons. The other main event had Michael Hayes vs. Buddy Roberts, and Roberts kept trying to apologize for hitting Hayes, but Hayes wasn’t going to let it slide. Terry Gordy did a run in and broke things up, and told Hayes they sold Angel of Death’s contract so they can all be friends again. Hayes walked out on Gordy, though.
  
• [WCCW] Fabulous Lance keeps getting booked for shows but hasn’t returned. His agent still doesn’t want him to be a heel because it’ll cut down his opportunities for tv and modeling work.
  
• To illustrate how bad business is for World Class, here’s the biggest gate they drew out of three shows last week in Mississippi: $783.
  
• A man named David Peschel of Washington, New Jersey is suing Randy Savage for a million dollars. He alleges that Savage punched and bodyslammed him when he got out of his car at a light to ask Savage for his autograph. He describes Savage as 6’4” and 280 lbs, prompting Dave to ask if this was maybe a different Randy Savage.
  
• Rumor has it that Angelo Poffo put a $1 bet on the Wrestlemania tournament. Apparently, his bet was on Ted DiBiase.
  
• According to a sumo journal in Japan, Futuhaguro is 99% certain he won’t go into pro wrestling. Koji Kitao will debut near the end of 1989 in the AWA, so I’ll put my dollar bet on the 1% chance.
  
• Reader Mike Rodgers attended the Oregon commission hearing on March 18 and writes about his take. The commission is making big improvements to safety that he thinks are great, but thinks they’re overstepping by wanting to legitimately fine wrestlers who use foreign objects or chairs, and says they don’t understand “that promoters do what they can to fill up arenas.” Banning the blade but not blood is just going to increase the chance of legitimate injury, and it’s part of the proof that the commission really isn’t smart to what wrestling really is about.
  
• We get a really long letter on Bruno’s radio interview. The writer taped the second hour and is hoping to get tape of the first hour. But before getting to the good stuff, he first wants to note that lying and silly gimmicks didn’t start in 1984 (was Gorilla Monsoon really from Manchuria? Didn’t Bruno employ gimmick wrestlers when he booked Pittsburgh? How about when he’d blade and claim to have spent the night hospitalized receiving transfusions) and that Bruno’s not really got a leg to stand on for “wrestling must be credible and it is an insult to the fans’ intelligence to lie to them.” Fans knew then just as they know now that it’s a work, but that doesn’t matter - you watch the show because it’s entertaining and you want to see the magician do their tricks. Also, the writer weighs in that the real story with the Main Event will be told by the demographic breakdown rather than the overall rating. In other words, is Hulk Hogan the Demo God? Anyway, after all this preamble, we finally get some quotes from the interview:
  
• Bruno denies blading happened in his day but says “today, nothing would surprise me.”
  
• Says he’ll never work for the NWA. “I wouldn’t touch it with a 50-foot pole.”
  
• He breaks kayfabe on George Steele and says he’s been a teacher for years.
  
• He thinks Bobby Heenan is a “dud and a disgrace” to wrestling.
  
• He compliments Ric Flair as a guy who can give you an exciting 30 or 40 minute match, but the NWA “have an awful lot of bizarre nonsense in there that, to me, is no good.”
  
• He says David wanted to be like him and he tried to warn David that these days they aren’t interested in “guys who just want to wrestle” but he’ll be going to Japan where they appreciate that better.
  
• He didn’t like doing commentary. He just clocked in, did his job, and left as soon as he was done. He was very uncomfortable and unhappy doing it.
  
• Bruno says WWF didn’t really have anything great to generate interest in the tournament for Wrestlemania.
  
• A caller asks if his wrestling was all real, and Bruno says “Well, it was in my day, at least I thought it was.
  
• We get a letter that feels so much like it could have been a post here on /SquaredCircle when Dave rated Omega/Okada 6 stars that I’m posting it in its entirety. Be warned, it is long, kind of racist, and absolutely bonkers, but that’s not unfamiliar around these parts. It gets the headline “Sick of praise for Japan.”
  

I get so sick of the way that people talk about Japanese wrestling. There’s no question it should be covered extensively in the Observer because it is a significant part of the wrestling world. However, when you start printing letters that criticize the American society and the jazz scene, then you are going way too far.
Anyone who thinks the Japanese never forsake quality for showmanship is full of it. The rock group KISS has enjoyed phenomenal success there because of their wild appearence [sic] and stage show. In fact, when they stopped wearing their makeup in the United States, they waited almost two years to do the same in Japan because they knew they wouldn’t be accepted there without it. And what about the movie industry? Do you think Godzilla movies are popular because of great acting?
As a student, I find teachers constantly comparing the American intelligence with that of the Japanese. I’m sure that the wrestlers love being compared to Japanese wrestlers as much as I love being compared to Japanese students. The Japanese do well at everything because they become obsessed with it. For them, it’s a matter of pride. If they screw up, it’s not only a mark on themselves but also on their entire family. You may think that’s great, but it puts a lot of pressure on everyone. They spend hours studying and I’m certain spend hours learning wrestling skills and have no time for themselves. Cut the North American wrestlers some slack. They’re just trying to make a living and preserve their bodies in the process. Look at what trying to wrestle like the Japanese did to Tommy Billington. Everyone would love matches filled with nothing but high spots, but working them is a great way to destroy yourself in a hurry. Now there is no excuse for total duds like Hulk Hogan and Andre the Giant either, but there are many non-Japanese who can hold their own without going crazy about it. I wonder how many Observer readers can honestly say that they work as hard at their own jobs as the Japanese in the same profession do. If they do, then I think they would quality [sic] as workaholics.
If there is anything wrong with our society, it’s the lack of national pride, which is so evident in the pages of the Observer. You seem to hate everything that wasn’t imported from the other side of the world. I have absolutely nothing against the country of Japan or Japanese wrestling, but I don’t think it’s up to a bunch of wrestling fans to dictate what’s wrong with our country just because they prefer the Oriental style of wrestling. I think the Observer is great, but I’d like to see you stick to writing about wrestling instead of how rotten our way of life is. I’m sure that’s what a Japanese journalist would do.

• Anyway, Dave responds to that letter, giving the writer only 4 stars because it’s not in the literally-only-opened-a-couple-weeks-ago Tokyo Dome:

DM: Have I ever written about how rotten our quality of life is or done any cultural comparisons between the U.S. and Japan except to where it pertains to the wrestling business? If I lived in Japan and made a comparison of the quality of the football product and wrote the U.S. product was superior, I hope people wouldn’t take it as an indictment against an entire society.

• Lastly, it’s about that time of year, I guess, because we have letters arguing about whether Dave should include GLOW coverage or not. Two letters this week on that theme, the first noting what the writer calls a progression in the letters calling for more coverage of women’s wrestling. First were the calls for more coverage of “conventional” women’s wrestling. Then the calls for GLOW coverage. Then POWW. Guess the next will be coverage of the apartment house wrestling scene, the writer supposes. The other writer claims to speak for 90% of subscribers and says Dave would offend that much of his readership if he covers GLOW and POWW and says that if you even consider GLOW to be pro wrestling, you’re incapable of understanding what makes a match good or not. This one asks if Dave’s going to be asked to cover mud wrestling next. There’s no misogyny problem in wrestling fandom. Move along. Nothing to see here.
  
• Back to news, the Kentucky Athletic Commission has put up some new rules. There are to be guard rails around the ring now. Throwing an opponent over the top rope will result in a fine or suspension. Ditto for any referee who doesn’t immediately stop the match for it. The top rope rule is now state law, as insane as that sounds.
  
• Dave should have national numbers next week, but in Atlanta Clash of the Champions drew an 11.7 rating, with the FlaiSting match hitting 14.5 National numbers will not be nearly that high, but hitting that 5 Dave mentioned earlier that would mean 2 million viewers doesn’t seem so far fetched anymore. Clash beat the NCAA tournament on the networks in Atlanta. TBS is reportedly looking to do another in prime time on a Wednesday early in the summer.
  
• Stampede set up an angle where Johnny Smith (kayfabe Davey Boy’s cousin or brother or something) argued with Diana Hart Smith, which got Owen out to defend his sister. Davey Boy was supposed to come in after Wrestlemania to work with Johnny, but Vince put the kibosh on that. There were also considerations for some Stampede guys to participate in the Crockett Cup, but politics (Vince) made that a no-go. So it’s probably no coincidence that when Owen did the job for Hercules it was just outside Greensboro. Anyway, the real takeaway is that Owen is probably coming over to WWF by the end of the year.
  

NEXT WEEK: Clash vs. Wrestlemania poll results, Clash ratings and Wrestlemania buyrate, an assload of mini headlines because news is apparently thin next week, and more

Hello. I am a teenager native from Brazil, a country that unlike most foreigners think, is extremely crowded with homophobic, hateful, discriminatory, romantized, ignorant, intolerant people that can't take a different opinion or choice by any means.
Now, now. Why am I writing this you ask? I just want to dethrone that shiny image the fucking brazilian government has estabilished to the whole world. No, Brazil is not only Samba, Brazil is not only soccer, Brazil is not only Rio de Janeiro or Carnaval. But you know why my country got marked because of these feats? Wanna truly know? BECAUSE THIS SHITTY ABORT OF A COUNTRY DOESN'T TAKE DIFFERENCES AT ALL!!! This pisses me off insanely, pardon me. When I was a little boy, I always felt like an outcast and was bullied at school simply due to my unique ideals, because I was non-convenient, because I was a "nerd", because I was... Different.
Well, even to this day, on middle school, I am still segregated from my local society because, again, they can't take differences.
Oh well, you say you wanna visit Brazil? Then you better brace yourself, seeing that this Brazil is, by all reasonable terms, intolerant, ignorant, blatantly rude and despotic on their beliefs.
You know why Brazil was one of the last countries to close the borders during the Coronavirus explosion? The answear is archaic, morally unnaceptable, and capitalistic: money. Brazil's government revolves totally on what can or cannot produce the most money. This is why grades and faculty notes here reign supreme. Aspirations? They don't count. Interests? They don't count. All that counts is getting that sweet sweet A+ on the math test (here on Brazil the grades are by numbers, 1 to 10, but I'll translate it to universal terms).
Worse than the government is Brazil's people. Oh man, how do I get started on this? Oh, I know! So, the biggest rule on Brazil's society is: What is true or false is not important. Only what the majority deems true is important. This is explicit, you just have to take a casual stroll outside your home-cage. Ignorance perfumes the air ─ or should I say, intoxicate? ─ in every single corner. Here's a resume note for you, fellow reader from another nation: if you have an unpopular opinion, if you are devote to any religion that isn't christianism, if you like thinking with your own head rather than other's, Brazil is definitely not for you.
When I write that brazilian people are absolutely intolerant, I don't mean they simply avoid "atrocities". If only it was that way, I wouldn't be writing this now would I? Anyway. Forget everything you saw on tourism sites or optimistic international journals. By intolerant I mean Medieval Europe-level intolerant. Yes, that time, when women were burned down for walking at night and society's morals were based and restricted on a two millenium old book.
Given we're on this topic of medievalism, let's talk about Brazil's strict christianity. It all initiated back then on 22th of april, 1500 after Christ. The portuguese colonialists took over the land that was formely the aboriginal's, and the fuckers even had the balls to say they discovered it! You can look this fact up on any history book. They had african slaves, kiloyards of Brazil's rich flora and overall, a new territory to usurp. As most of european countrys at that time were catholic, Portugal was no different, and thus, boom! The religiopocalypse was born on Brazil. This is the reason people that follow african spiritualities and asceticisms are hugely and publicy pursued as evil bearers, servants of Satan and a perfect example of what NOT to be. Hah, go express that you are atheist or either agnostic freely somewhere on Brazil's streets, you're good as mowed down, by words or even violence. If you don't follow the norm, you are Satan's supporter, and therefore, shall be socially persecuted.
Fun extra fact: any musical taste that isn't christian-approved is satanic, just so you know. Stay away rockers and metalers!
I am a proud brazilian anarcholiberal, skeptical, queer, philosopher and writer. Do you know how it feels to have your own mother think you're going to Hell because you're not christian? I bet you don't.
I wanted to say more, but I have no more vocables to do so. If you wish to converse perhaps as you agree with my mind or because you identify with any of these realities, I'd be more than glad in receiving your DM invite.
Cheers.

Previous episodes: Flamengo, Vasco, Fluminense, Grêmio, Botafogo, Atlético Mineiro, Internacional, Corinthians
In this series I will present each of the 12 Brazilian teams that together compose the "Big 12". My point is to make them more knowledgeable to you, since each one of these teams have their share of the Brazil national team success and of Brazilian club football accomplishments as a whole. I'll try to be as smooth, efficient and non-boring as I can. If the feedback is positive, I'll keep bringing more to this series. So ok, let's do this!
Method: I'll present the teams in a chronological order, from the oldest foundation (Flamengo-1895) to the latest one (São Paulo-1930). The order will be: Flamengo, Vasco, Fluminense, Grêmio, Botafogo, Atlético Mineiro, Internacional, Corinthians, Santos, Palmeiras, Cruzeiro, São Paulo. How many of these have you heard of?
Extra clubs: Due to a high number of requests, I'll also present 3 teams who don't belong to the Big12, but are also considered big clubs in Brazil: Bahia, Athletico Paranaense and Coritiba. Welcome to the club!
Geographical reference: Before we start, I'd like to ask something very simple from you. I want you to keep in mind that these 12 teams are spread in 4 different States in Brazil. The club's State name is written below, next to the club's name. It has a direct link to Google Maps, so that you can check it out to make this experience more accurate.

Episode 9/12: Santos (State: São Paulo), founded in 1912

State rivals: São Paulo, Palmeiras, Corinthians

Stadium: Vila Belmiro

Mascot: Whale

Major achievements: 2 Intercontinental Cup (1962, 1963), 3 Copa Libertadores (1962, 1963, 2011), 8 Brazilian Leagues (1961, 1962, 1963, 1964, 1965, 1968, 2002, 2004), 1 Copa do Brasil (2010)

State League titles: 22 (Against Corinthians' 30, Palmeiras' 23, São Paulo's 21)

PLAY AND LISTEN TO SANTOS ANTHEM WHILE READING - Click here
The Football Kingdom
There's an urban legend that says that a lightning never strikes the same place twice. But apparently this legend doesn't apply to the physics of Santos, a humble and small port city on the coast of São Paulo. There, a young kid named Pelé, would come up to become football's greatest legend, a man that could stop a war with his foot, a man that transcended all sports combined. In that same city of Santos - with a probable electromagnetic sequel caused by the lightning of Pelé - were raised the raw talents of the princes Robinho and Neymar. Curiously enough, Marta, the Queen of Football, and Falcão, the King of Futsal, also stepped foot and left a legacy at Santos, the football kingdom of the world. Let the story begin!
The early years and the 100-goal team at 1929 São Paulo State League
Santos was founded in 1912, but only on the late 1920s the team would become a threat to the State League teams from the state capital, São Paulo. Indeed, in 1927, the team led by Araken Patusca and Feitiço scored 100 goals in 16 matches, an average of 6,25 goals/match, a world record in official competitions until today. However, they lost the title in the last round to Palmeiras. These two players would make history in Santos: Feitiço scored 214 goals and is the Santos 5th top goalscorer of all time, while Araken Patusca scored 184, and is the 7th.
In 1935, Santos would win their first State League title, after beating Corinthians 2-0.
The Pelé Era: the greatest team in the world, the team that stopped a war in Africa, Os Santásticos
Before Pelé arrived, Santos had recently won the 1955 and 1956 State Leagues, with a great team led by Brazil NT forwards Del Vecchio, Pepe, Pagão, Jair, and the midfielder Zito.
After Pelé left, Santos had added 25 more trophies to their cabinet: 2 Intercontinental Cups, 2 Copa Libertadores, 6 Brazilian Leagues, 10 State Leagues, 3 Rio-São Paulo Tournament, 1 Supercopa Sudamericana and 1 Recopa Intercontinental.
During Pelé's time in the 1960s, Santos scored around 3000 goals, with more than 1000 scored by the king, in both official competitions (643 goals) and friendlies (448 goals) for Santos. Actually, counting only teams from Europe big6, Pelé scored 103 goals in those high-level friendlies, as you can see here. If we count all European clubs and National Teams, Pelé scored 163 goals. He also scored 87 goals against 1st division Brazilian teams, 116 goals against South American teams and National Teams, 44 goals against African/Asian/Central American National Teams, totalizing 410 goals in high-level friendlies - all data details here. At that time, friendlies were highly hyped, and there were more Europeans attending friendlies vs. Santos than attending their own national leagues matches - attendance data here.

League	1960s League att. average	Friendlies vs Santos att. average
England	29.180	34.800 (10 matches)
Spain	???	48.100 (9 matches)
Italy	21.056	39.620 (33 matches)
Germany	24.160	31.700 (15 matches)
Portugal	???	34.000 (3 matches)
France	8.400	32.300 (8 matches)
Overall	20.700	36.750 (78 matches)

• Sources: England, Italy, Germany, France, Santos

Pelé arrived at Santos in 1956, at the age of 15. In that same year arrived the right-wing Dorval, aged 21. In 1958 arrived the centre-forward Coutinho, aged 14, and in 1960 the attacking midfielder, Mengálvio, aged 20. They all joined the left-wing Pepe, at Santos since 1954, to form the famous quintet that dominated the world: Dorval, Mengálvio, Coutinho, Pelé and Pepe.

Player	Apps	Goals	Brazil NT Caps	Goals	World Cup titles
Dorval (1956-67)	612	198	7	-	-
Mengálvio (1960-68)	371	28	14	1	1 (1962)
Coutinho (1958-68)	457	368	15	6	1 (1962)
Pelé (1956-74)	1116	1091	92	77	3 (1958, 1962, 1970)
Pepe (1954-69)	750	405	40	22	2 (1958, 1962)

But everything started in the 1957 São Paulo State League, when Pelé was topscorer with 36 goals, at the age of 16. There wasn't a National League until 1959, due to Brazil's huge size and weak infrastructure, so the players would shine in the State Leagues, which lasted the entire year. Pelé, at 17, broke the São Paulo State League record (until today), scoring 58 goals in 38 matches, in 1958 - which brought him to the Brazil NT and to the 1958 World Cup. After winning it, him and Santos started travelling in exhibition tours to make cash and challenge the best teams around the world in "friendly" matches.
In 1959, Santos took part in the 1st Brazilian League edition, qualifying as São Paulo State League champions. However, they lost the final to Bahia (2-3, 2-0, 1-3).
As Santos lost the 1959 São Paulo State League finals to Palmeiras, they didn't qualify to the 1960 Brazilian League.
However, they won the 1960 São Paulo State League and qualified to the 1961 Brazilian League. From 1961 to 1965, Santos won 5 consecutive Brazilian Leagues, a record until today. However, Santos would always enter in the semi-finals and only play 4-5 matches to be crowned champions - this rule would only be modified from the 1967 Brazilian League.

Year	Champion	Runner-up	Results
1961 Brazilian League	Santos	Bahia	1-1, 5-1
1962 Brazilian League	Santos	Botafogo	4-3, 1-3, 5-0
1963 Brazilian League	Santos	Bahia	6-0, 2-0
1964 Brazilian League	Santos	Flamengo	4-1, 0-0
1965 Brazilian League	Santos	Vasco	5-1, 1-0

Highlights to the 1962 final between Santos and Botafogo, which had 11 players from the 1962 World Cup won by Brazil: Gylmar, Mauro, Zito, Mengálvio, Coutinho, Pelé, Pepe (Santos), Nilton Santos, Garrincha, Amarildo, Zagallo (Botafogo). Santos won the decisive match 5-0 at the Maracanã, with this goal from Pelé.
In 1962, Santos also participated in their first Copa Libertadores, qualified as the 1961 Brazilian League champions. Santos topped their group stage against Cerro Porteño (Paraguay) (9-1, 1-1) and Municipal (Bolivia) (6-1, 4-3). In the semis against Universidad Católica (Chile), Santos tied 1-1 away, and won 1-0 at home. The final would be against Peñarol (Uruguay). Santos won the first leg 2-1 in Uruguay, with two goals from Coutinho, in a great comeback. In the 2nd leg in Brazil, a crazy story: after a big and violent confusion, the match was restarted and Peñarol scored the third goal at '51 (2-3). Santos only needed a tie and scored it at '67, the match ended 3-3 and Santos celebrated the title. However, the referee wrote down in the match report that the match was over at '51 - he was scared to really end it, so he kept the match going until the end, but it wasn't counting for him, so he (and CONMEBOL) declared Peñarol the winners. This forced a third match, in neutral Argentina, which Santos dominated and won 3-0, with two goals from Pelé and one own goal from Peñarol. Santos were for the first time, and the first Brazilian team, crowned South American champions.
This title qualified Santos to the 1962 Intercontinental Cup, against the European champions, Benfica. The 1st leg at the Maracanã ended 3-2 for Santos, with 2 goals from Pelé and one from Coutinho. Before the 2nd match in Lisbon, Benfica announced that they were selling tickets for the third match, certain that they would win at home. However, Pelé destroyed the match with a splendid hat-trick, an assist, nutmegs and dribbling past the entire Benfica defense to score one of his goals. The match ended 5-2 before a crowd of 73.000 portuguese fans, and Pelé proved once again he was still football's king, as he and Santos were crowned club world champions for the first time. Highlights of the match here (4mn56 video).
The next year, in 1963, Santos would once again win the Copa Libertadores. Being the current champions, they entered in the semi-final stage against the legendary Botafogo of Garrincha, Didi and Nilton Santos. The 1st leg ended 1-1, with Pelé scoring a tie at '90. The 2nd match at the Maracanã ended 4-0 to Santos, with Pelé scoring the first goal, also the second goal from a header, and the third from a penalty kick. Lima scored the fourth, with an assist from Pepe. Santos were once again qualified to the Copa Libertadores final.
They would meet Boca Juniors, from Argentina. In the 1st leg at the Maracanã, Santos opened 3-0 with two goals from Coutinho - notably this one - and one from Lima. Boca, however, scored twice with Sanfilippo and the match ended 3-2.
The atmosphere at La Bombonera for the 2nd leg was intense. 50.000 Argentine kept singing "Pelé hijo de puta, macaquitos del Brasil" (Pelé son of a b., little monkeys from Brazil). Then Boca opened the score at '46 with Sanfilippo. However, 4 minutes later, Pelé assisted Coutinho to score the tie. Later, Pelé mocked the Boca team by playing with the ball at Boca's GK hand. And at '82, Pelé scored the winning goal and celebrated with euphory and anger: Santos were back-to-back Copa Libertadores champions.
Santos were once again qualified to the Intercontinental Cup, and would face Milan. Santos lost the 1st leg 2-4, at San Siro, in Milan. In the 2nd leg at the Maracanã, Milan went to half-time winning 2-0. A heavy rain began and the pitch became a mud. Santos, without Pelé, counted on Pepe's free-kick to score their first goal. Almir and Lima scored Santos second and third goals, at '54 and '65. Pepe, again from a free-kick, scored the fourth at '68, forcing a third match.
In the third and final match, at the Maracanã again, Maldini committed a penalty and was sent off. Still without Pelé, Dalmo scored the 1-0 winning goal, crowning Santos once again club world champions.
Santos wouldn't win the Copa Libertadores again in the 1960s. They reached the semis in 1964 and 1965, and refused to play it in 1966, 1967 and 1969 - not only it was financially unattractive, but also too violent and with tendencious refereeing. So Santos prefered to travel around the globe and make cash to pay their expensive team.
The "Santos Globetrotters", would tour the world and smash whoever and wherever. 7-1 Internazionale, 5-0 Roma, 6-2 Napoli, 3-0 Lazio, 5-1 Lecce, 5-1 Barcelona, 6-0 Hamburg, 9-1 TSV München 1860, 6-3 Wolfsburg, 5-2 Eintracht Frankfurt, 4-2 Hertha Berlin, 6-4 Fortuna Düsseldorf, 5-0 Arminia Bielefield, 6-3 Benfica, 4-2 Sheffield Wednesday, 4-2 Newcastle, 5-3 Reims, 6-1 Racing, 6-2 Lyon, 3-0 Toulouse, 3-0 Feyenoord, 5-0 Enschede, 3-0 Peñarol, 8-3 Racing (Argentina), 4-0 Independiente, 4-1 Boca Juniors, 4-0 River Plate...
In official competitions, Pelé's Santos played 6 matches against Europeans, with 5W-1L:

Competition	Result	Goals
1962 Intercontinental Cup	Santos 3-2 Benfica	Pelé (2x), Santana (2x), Coutinho
1962 Intercontinental Cup	Santos 5-2 Benfica	Pelé (3x), Eusébio, Coutinho, Pepe, Santana
1963 Intercontinental Cup	Santos 2-4 Milan	Pelé (2x), Amarildo (2x), Trapattoni, Mora
1963 Intercontinental Cup	Santos 4-2 Milan	Pepe (2x), Mazzola, Almir, Lima, Mora
1963 Intercontinental Cup	Santos 1-0 Milan	Dalmo
1968 Recopa Intercontinental	Santos 1-0 Internazionale	Toninho Guerreiro

However, Santos wasn't invincible, and Palmeiras stopped them from winning 12 consecutive State Leagues (1958-69), by beating Santos in 1959, 1963 and 1966.
1969: the year that Santos stopped a war in Africa and that Pelé scored his 1000th goal
On the 4th February 1969, Pelé's Santos stopped an ongoing war in Nigeria. The civil war had been going on in the Biafra region since March 1967, and it lasted until January 1970, with the separatists' defeat. 2 million people died in the conflict.
There was a global effort trying to stop the violent repression of the Nigerian government against the Biafras. Artists like Joan Baez, Jimi Hendrix and John Lennon, authorities like the Pope Paul VI and the United Nations tried do contain the conflict, without success.
But Santos did. As the team was touring in Africa, they were invited by the Nigerian government to play in Benin. A first and only cease-fire was declared so Santos could move from the hotel to the stadium and then back to the hotel. Santos won the match 2-1, and left the country the next day, as the war restarted as soon as they were gone, lasting 11 more months.
On the 19th November 1969, Pelé scored his 1000th goal, against Vasco, the team he supported as a child, at the Maracanã. Journalists from all over the world had been following Santos matches, waiting for the 1000th goal to happen, which he did on his 912th career match.
By the end of the decade, Santos team had changed, but was still strong, notably counting with the right-back Carlos Alberto Torres, the midfielder Clodoaldo and the forwards Edu and Toninho Guerreiro, all of them champions in the 1970 World Cup, except for the latter. They notably won the 1968 Brazilian League, the 1968 Supercopa Sudamericana and the 1968 Recopa Intercontinental.
My personal favorite goal of this era is this one by Toninho Guerreiro, after a rainbow flick assist by Kaneko, in 1968.
The Pelé Era last title was the São Paulo State League title of 1973. Pelé left in October 1974, having scored 1091 goals in 1116 matches for Santos.
1978-1984: the Meninos da Vila (Vila Boys) and the last title before the drought
In 1978, a new term was coined to the players produced by Santos youth system, or just young players that were bought: the Meninos da Vila (Vila Boys), that won the 1978 State League. The 1st generation counted with Juary, João Paulo, Pita, Nilton Batata and Ailton Lira.

Meninos da Vila	Apps	Goals
Juary	229	101
João Paulo	412	103
Pita	408	55
Nilton Batata	249	36
Ailton Lira	182	37

In the 1980s, Santos built a good team that reached the final of the 1983 Brazilian League, and won the 1984 State League - Santos last title before the drought.
1984-2002: 18-year title drought
In this period, Santos reached the 1995 Brazilian League final - led by the idol Giovanni -, as well as the 2000 State League final. Santos won the 1997 Rio-São Paulo Tournament and the 1998 Copa Conmebol, but they were minor trophies and didn't count as the end of the drought, that would last until 2002.
Nevertheless, Santos became the first team in the world to score 10.000 goals - the record took place in January 1998, with a goal scored by Jorginho.
In December 2000, Santos was elected by FIFA the Club of the Century in South America, and placed 5th in the world, behind Real Madrid, Manchester United, Bayern and Barcelona.
2002: Diego & Robinho and the 2nd Meninos da Vila generation
In the last season of the Brazilian League with knock-out stages (round-robin were introduced in 2003), Santos were broken and bet once again on their own DNA: youth system and offensive football. Led by 17-year-old Diego and 18-year-old Robinho, and with great young players Maurinho (24), Alex (20), Renato (23) and Elano (21), as well as great experienced players like Fábio Costa (25), Léo (27) and Alberto (27), Santos qualified on the 8th and last spot to the quarter-finals - after an exciting 1st stage, even leading the league at some point, but dropping a lot in quality towards the end.
In the knock-out stage, Santos won 5 of the 6 matches before becoming champions. In the quarter-finals, against the scary São Paulo of Kaká and Luís Fabiano, Santos won both legs: 3-1 at home and then a 2-1 comeback away, with Diego scoring twice, one of them the winning goal on the 2nd leg.
In the semi-finals, Santos defeated Grêmio 3-0 at home, with a great show from Robinho, who got Grêmio's CB sent off and then scored this great goal. Alberto scored twice, notably this backheel one. In the 2nd leg, a 0-1 defeat was enough to put Santos in the league final.
The final would be against Parreira's Corinthians. In the first leg, Diego brilliantly assisted Alberto to open the score, and then Robinho at '88 also brilliantly assissted Renato to close the 2-0 score.
The final 2nd leg was monumental. Corinthians needed to win by a 2-goal difference to be the champions. It started badly for Santos, with Diego leaving injured with less than five minutes. But at '35, Robinho produced one of the most iconic moves of the football world in 2002, the 8 Pedaladas (8 Stepovers), after which he suffered a penalty, which he himself converted into a goal dedicated to Diego. Corinthians now needed 3 goals, and at '75 they scored the first, then at '84 they scored the second. Total fear in Santos supporters. But 4 minutes later at '88, the heir of the king, the prince Robinho carried the ball from the midfield until the right side of the box to assist Elano in Santos second goal. But it wasn't over yet, and at '92, him again, the prince Robinho left two Corinthians' CB completely lost in a quick body turnaround to assist Léo to score the 3rd and winning goal. The perfect match was over, Santos won 3-2, and were crowned Brazilian League champions. Highlights to Santos goalkeeper Fabio Costa who had this absurd performance (2mn33s video) and to Santos coach Emerson Leão, the man who chose to bet in these young players.
2003-2004: the show must go on
In 2003, Santos, Diego and Robinho were the Brazilian trend. They kept their high-level football with the addition of Ricardo Oliveira in the attack, and finished 2nd in the Copa Libertadores - losing to Boca Juniors - and 2nd in the Brazilian League - dominated by Cruzeiro.
In 2004, Santos won the Brazilian League again, their 8th and most recent Brazilian League title. With the departures of Renato, Diego and Ricardo Oliveira to Europe, Santos brought Ricardinho and Deivid from Middlesbrough and Bordeaux, and the international coach Luxemburgo from Cruzeiro.
It worked greatly, and led by Robinho and Elano, they won the league on the 46th and last round, after beating Vasco 2-1. It was a very dramatic league in all possible ways, and against everything and everyone, Santos were once again Brazilian Champions.

Meninos da Vila	Apps (Santos)	Goals (Santos)	Clubs in Europe
Diego	133	38	Porto, Werder Bremen, Atlético Madrid
Robinho	253	111	Real Madrid, Milan, Man. City
Elano	322	68	Shakhtar, Man. City
Renato	424	33	Sevilla
Alex	103	20	Chelsea, Milan, PSG

2009-2013: Neymar & Ganso, the 3rd Meninos da Vila generation
After the 2004 team was dismantled, Santos won two State League titles in 2006 and 2007, besides finishing 2nd in the 2007 Brazilian League and reaching the semi-finals in the 2007 Copa Libertadores, led by international star Zé Roberto.
In March 2009, Neymar made his debut at the age of 17. With midfielder Ganso (aged 19), they finished 2nd in the State League, losing to Ronaldo Nazário's Corinthians.
In 2010, the Cirque du Soleil Santos show began. With the addition of Robinho (on a 6-month loan from Man. City) to the front line, the team reached a historical mark of 111 goals in 34 matches on the title campaigns of the 2010 State League and 2010 Copa do Brasil. Overall in the year, Santos scored 176 goals, and Neymar 42 goals. The team played for fun and brilliant goals were a constant, notably: Robinho's backheel goal against Rogério Ceni's São Paulo, Ganso finesse assist to Robinho against Grêmio, Neymar's little-stop penalty goal against Ceni's São Paulo, Ganso's lob against Monte Azul, Robinho's lob against Bragantino, Ganso's backheel assist to Neymar's goal against Santo André, Alex Sandro's goal against Cruzeiro, Wesley's goal against Grêmio, Ganso long distance goal against Grêmio, Neymar dribbling past the whole Santo André defense goal, Neymar's assist to André against São Paulo, and obviously, Robinho air backheel assist to Neymar against Santo André.
However, the epic 2010 team only lasted 6 months: Wesley, André and Robinho left to Europe, and Ganso got severely injured. With the team dismantled, they ended on the 8th position in the league.
2011 Copa Libertadores: the third continental dream title
Santos started the season with the 2011 State League title, beating Corinthians in the final (0-0, 2-1).
Santos also counted with the return of Elano for the 2011 Copa Libertadores, but the team started badly: 2 draws and 1 loss, so Santos needed to win all the next 3 matches to advance. And they did, without much problems: 3-2 Colo-Colo (Chile), 2-1 Cerro Porteño (Paraguay) and 3-1 Táchira (Venezuela). Highlights to Neymar's dribbling-goal against Colo-Colo and Danilo's long-distance goal against Cerro Porteño.
In the round of 16, Santos met América (Mexico) and beat them 1-0 at home in the 1st leg. The 2nd leg, in Mexico, was a 0-0 tie, with goalkeeper Rafael Cabral having an exceptional match.
In the quarter-finals, against Once Caldas (Colombia), Santos had no problem beating them 1-0 in Colombia, and then tying 1-1 at home, with this great goal from Neymar.
In the semi-finals, Santos beat Cerro Porteño 1-0 at home, with this great assist from Neymar to Edu Dracena, and had a restful 2nd leg after opening 2-0 and leaving Paraguay with a 3-3 tie and qualified to the finals.
In the big final against Peñarol, Santos left the 1st leg with a 0-0 tie in Uruguay, with Peñarol having this goal bravely disallowed at '85. In the final 2nd leg, Santos pressured Peñarol at home, until Neymar opened the score at '46 with a brilliant shot, after a fine backheel-play by Ganso and ball-conducting by Arouca. At '68, Danilo scored one more, but Santos centre-back Durval scored an own goal at '79. On the last minute, Neymar almost scored the third, but the ball hit the post. At '93, the match ended, and after 48 years, Santos were the Copa Libertadores Champions, for the third time in their history.
Neymar was the MVP and second topscorer with 6 goals, at the age of 19. He was also elected the 2011 Brazilian League MVP, but Santos finished on the 10th place.
With this title, Santos qualified to the 2011 Club World Cup in Japan. They beat Kashiwa Reysol 3-1 in the semi-final, with this splendid goal from Neymar. However, they were completely dominated by Messi's Barcelona in the final, losing it 0-4.
In 2012, Santos had another great year, led by Neymar, Ganso and Elano. They started the season with the 2012 State League title, beating Guarani in the final (3-0, 4-2). They also reached the 2012 Copa Libertadores semi-finals, but got eliminated by Corinthians.
They also won the 2012 Recopa Sudamericana and finished 8th on the league.

Meninos da Vila	Apps (Santos)	Goals (Santos)	Clubs in Europe
Neymar	230	138	Barcelona, PSG
Ganso	162	36	Sevilla, Amiens
André	94	41	Sporting
Rafael Cabral	190	-	Napoli, Reading
Danilo	80	10	Porto, Real Madrid, Man. City, Juventus
Wesley	63	10	Werder Bremen

2013-today
Since the Neymar & Ganso Era ended in 2013, Santos has won 2 State League titles (2015, 2016), finished 2nd in the Brazilian League twice (2016, 2019) and in the Copa do Brasil once (2015), as well as revealing Rodrygo in 2018.
Santos represents the essence of Brazilian football DNA, which is offensive and beautiful football, a philosophy which made their youth system one of the most respected in the world. You can watch here some rare Pelé highlights, here some 2002-2005 Robinho's and here some 2009-2013 Neymar's.
Santos is one of the 3 Brazilian teams that has never been relegated.
To this day, Santos has a fanbase of 6 million supporters, and a stadium attendance average of 10.300, as of 2019.
If you have any questions about Brazilian football, feel free to join us at futebol, where you'll be very welcomed!

Kickoff is tonight, make sure you have submitted your first predictions as well as the bonus questions until then. You won’t be able to answer the bonus questions after kickoff tonight, so get that ready until then. The prediction game will span the whole season, so make sure to get your predictions in before each matchday. You can submit your prediction for a game until its kickoff, afterwards it’s too late and you will have missed the opportunity to get points on that game.
If anyone wants to join, here’s the link again:
https://www.kicktipp.de/reddit-socce
Participation is great so far, we must be close to 100 participants by now. However, there’s still room for another 200, so come and join if you’re interested. It’ll be a great season and the prediction game will make it even more interesting. To those still thinking about joining: yes, you can switch the language settings: click on the “DE” in the lower left hand corner. There you should be able to switch into every available language.
Now, about the rules: I have decided do abandon the classic 9-point rule. That rule would’ve been as follows: predict the right tendency, and you get 2 points, get the goal difference right and you get three points. The correct result would earn you for points. I have decided to drop this rule, as it’s fairly easy to earn points through generally likely results, and that’s boring.
Instead, I have decided to adopt the quotient rule. The quotient rule also respects tendency, goal difference and correct results, but that’s not all. Instead, it’ll also take into account the team quality and team form, so that predicting a good result of an underdog and winning pays more than going with the favourites. So...higher risk, higher payout. You’ll be able to win a minimum of four points, and a maximum of 10 points, depending on the game. In order to give you a feel for each games’ circumstances, kicktipp will show you the betting odds from the betting portal bwin, just to give you an idea of what to expect from the teams. I feel like this rule appreciates daring predictions more than the classic rule.
I’m really looking forward to this and I’m very happy about the attention this has been getting so far. Best of luck to all participants :)
Edit: I just counted, we are at exactly 100 participants right now. That’s incredible, I’ve never had such a huge session. However, there’s still room for 200 more ;)

Going through old issues of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter and posting highlights in my own words. For anyone interested, I highly recommend signing up for the actual site at f4wonline and checking out the full archives.
PREVIOUSLY:

• Observer Rewind - 1987 by SaintRidley
  
• The Complete Wrestling Observer Rewind 1991-2001
  

1-7-2002	1-14-2002	1-21-2002	1-28-2002
2-4-2002	2-11-2002	2-18-2002	2-25-2002
3-4-2002	3-11-2002	3-18-2002	3-25-2002
4-1-2002	4-8-2002	4-15-2002	4-22-2002
4-29-2002	5-6-2002	5-13-2002	5-20-2002
5-27-2002	6-3-2002	6-10-2002	6-17-2002
6-24-2002	7-1-2002	7-8-2002

• In a shocking turn of events, NWA-TNA announced last week that Vince Russo was joining the promotion, less than 3 weeks after he returned to WWE. Russo's return to WWE was announced as joining the company as part of the creative team on 6/20, but after his first creative meeting, he was demoted to consultant and was paid $1,000 a week to sit at home and send in written critiques of the weekly TV shows. Russo didn't have a contract and it's no secret that his return was deeply unpopular in the locker room and even more unpopular in the office among those who still resent him for how he left in 1999. Russo has told friends that he feels like WWE is a mess and it won't change because Vince McMahon won't remove Stephanie McMahon from her position as head writer. Russo recently sold his record store in Atlanta and was planning to move back up north (he never liked living in the south, but moved there when he went to WCW) but he hasn't moved yet. According to TNA sources, Russo will essentially help with production and writing of the shows. TNA is way understaffed when it comes to people with experience producing live shows like this. Russo was introduced to the staff on 7/9 and, much like in WWE, there were a lot of unhappy people who weren't the least bit happy to see him. He's not exactly the most well-liked guy in the business. But he's still good friends with Jeff Jarrett and Russo had already been contributing ideas and storylines for this company before the brief WWE return anyway. At the time, Russo's involvement was being kept secret because of his lawsuit with Hulk Hogan. AOL/Time Warner was representing him (since the incident happened in WCW). They only agreed to represent him as long as he didn't go work for another wrestling promotion. When the WWE offer came along, Russo managed to get AOL/Time Warner to drop that stipulation, which allowed him to go work for WWE. And now, subsequently, TNA. The lawsuit with Hogan is still ongoing and AOL/Time Warner's lawyers are still repping Russo.
  
• Kevin Nash will be out of action for god knows how long after tearing his left quad in a match on Raw. It was Nash's first match back since suffering a bicep tear back in March. After tagging in, he tore his quad on the first move. It's the same injury Triple H suffered that kept him out for over 7 months and there's no way that Nash—who's 10 years older than Triple H—is about to put himself through the same grueling rehab that Triple H did. Triple H moved to Birmingham and lived there 24/7 doing Dr. James Andrews full-time rehab program. Nash has kids and a family and shit, he's probably not moving to Birmingham so he can do rehab 3 times a day. Dave suspects this is gonna take a bit longer for Nash (ended up being around 9 months). The injury occurred in a 10-man tag match that Nash wasn't even scheduled for until he found out the day of the show. Nash's original return to the ring was supposed to be on house shows later that week. The match was planned and designed to get Nash over as a huge monster and build him into one of the top 5 or so major main event stars in the company, because the plan was to do Nash vs. Triple H at Summerslam in one of the top matches (with Rock/Brock and Hogan/Vince penciled in as the other top matches). But as soon as Nash tagged in, he kicked Booker T, but then tripped over him when trying to step over Booker and collapsed, grabbing his thigh and screaming in pain. The match fell apart and nobody knew what to do until Shawn Michaels (not even in the match, just outside the ring) took charge and started telling guys what to do and calling spots. He improvised a superkick on Booker T and told Big Show to chokeslam him to finish it. The next day, Nash underwent surgery from Dr. James Andrews, who has done several previous surgeries on Nash (knee, bicep, elbow, and more). All in all, not a bump gone wrong or anything, just a freak accident.
  

WATCH: Kevin Nash tears his quad

• Bret Hart has written a new column in the Calgary Sun, his first since suffering his recent stroke. Dave copies and pastes the whole column here, but I'll just cliff notes it: Bret is doing as well as can be expected. Made a stupid mistake by bike riding without a helmet because he'd been too lazy to fix the broken chin-strap. Hit a pothole, crashed his bicycle, hit his head, believes he suffered a stroke on impact. Was unable to move the left side of his body. Used his cell phone to call for help. Thanks fans, doctors, nurses, wife, kids, family, friends, etc. for being there for him. Promises he'll recover. Dave says Bret's progress has been slow but steady over the past week. He can take small steps with help but is mostly still confined to a bed and wheelchair and is only just now getting feeling back in his left leg. He's spending his time doing therapy and working on his autobiography which is apparently already 960 pages deep and he's only up to the late-80s so far. Doctors were surprised Bret was able to work on his book since they expected him to have memory issues or problems writing due to the stroke, but he has neither. Dave says Bret has talked about dividing the book up into 3 parts and releasing them that way due to the length (it only ended up being around 600 pages so he must have had a merciless editor).
  
• WWE reached an out-of-court settlement this week with the Parents Television Council which will award WWE $3.5 million and a public apology from the PTC, as well as a promise that they will leave WWE alone. As part of the settlement, PTC agreed to never have any involvement with WWE business in the future, to never urge boycotts of WWE or of WWE sponsors. PTC head L. Brent Bozell had to issue a public apology to the WWE and Vince McMahon and the apology must be posted on the PTC's website home page for 6 months. They also must remove all other content from its website relating to WWE, its advertisers, or the accusations that WWE held any responsibility in the deaths of several children. Also, if WWE decides to make him do so, they can request Bozell meet with WWE advertisers personally to further explain his apology, and he'll be required to do it. Long story short: the PTC got absolutely fucking SPANKED here. The PTC will not be paying the settlement out of pocket, it will be paid by insurance, which is the only thing that is allowing them to even stay in business because without them, that $3.5 million would have killed the organization. The case was expected to go to trial in September and WWE was seeking $55 million in damages. And they likely would have won easily, so the PTC didn't have much of a choice here. They had to settle.
  
• In addition to the above, attorney Jim Lewis (who represented Lionell Tate, one of the kids who was convicted of murdering a young girl) must also publicly apologize for claiming that Tate's actions were inspired by what he saw watching wrestling. Dave recaps the history of the PTC going after WWF at the height of its Attitude Era success, crusading against WWF by targeting their sponsors. At first, the PTC made some valid points about some of the extremely questionable content WWF was producing. Problem is, then they started outright lying and their claims got more and more outlandish, and Bozell turned it into a personal mission to take down Vince McMahon and the WWE, to the point that they crossed over into libel and defamation. They also used fake and misleading statistics when pressuring sponsors. All of this led to WWE taking them to court and mollywhopping dat ass. (I've actually done a lot of research on this WWE/PTC case for some other thing I'm writing and it's a really fun case to read about. WWE's past is pretty indefensible sometimes, but Bozell was out of his mind obsessed with destroying them. He's a hardcore right-wing conservative and his battle with WWE was literally a moral and religious crusade to him. To this day, I bet it eats Bozell alive that he got owned so thoroughly and had to release such a humbling apology. And oh, bet your ass, we're about to read that apology):
  
• Bozell's and PTC's public apology on their website reads the following:
  

`Media Research Center (MRC), Parents Television Council (PTC), Dr. Delores Tucker, Mark Honig and I have in the past made statements regarding so-called wrestling deaths — children killed by other children alleged to be mimicking “professional wrestling” moves they saw on television.
We made such statements to members of MRC and PTC, the media, advertisers on World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) SmackDown! program, retailers that sell WWE-related toys and merchandise, public officials and the public.
MRC and PTC also produced a videotape as part of a fundraising campaign in connection with its “National Campaign to Clean Up TV Now!”, which advanced the notion that the murder of Tiffany Eunick was caused by the influence of professional wrestling on Lionel Tate.
The videotape included interviews with Lionel Tate’s lawyer advancing the notion that the murder of Tiffany Eunick, the victim, was directly caused by the impact that professional wrestling had on Lionel Tate.
We based our statements on media reports and source information. We now believe, based on extensive investigation and facts which have come to light since making those statements that it was wrong for MRC, PTC, their spokespersons and myself to have said anything that could be construed as blaming WWE or any of its programs for the deaths of the children.
Simply put, it was premature to reach that conclusion when we did, and there is now ample evidence to show that conclusion was incorrect. I now believe that professional wrestling played no role in the murder of Tiffany Eunick, which was a part of our “Clean Up TV Now!” campaign and am equally convinced that it was incorrect and wrong to have blamed WWE or any of its programs for the deaths of the other children.
Because of our statements, PTC, MRC and the WWE have been in litigation since November 2000. WWE vigorously advanced its position that neither it, nor “professional wrestling” led to these deaths.
WWE also contended that MRC, PTC, their spokespersons and I had misrepresented the number of advertisers who withdrew support from WWE’s SmackDown! television program after receiving communications from the PTC, some of which regrettably connected the WWE and SmackDown! to the deaths of children.
As such, WWE exercised its right to initiate this litigation, during which facts came to light that prompted me to make this statement.
By this retraction, I want to be clear that WWE was correct in pointing out that various statements made by MRC, PTC and me were inaccurate concerning the identity and number of WWE SmackDown! advertisers who withdrew support from the program. Many of the companies we stated had “withdrawn” or pulled their support had never, in fact, advertised on SmackDown! nor had any plan to advertise on SmackDown!
Again, we regret this error and retract any such misleading statements.
Finally, concerning the statements about child wrestling deaths, it was wrong to have stated or implied that WWE or any of its programs caused these tragic deaths. Specifically concerning the Lionel Tate case, recent developments lead us to believe that others and we were given, and relied upon, false information provided by parties close to the case.
The information that we were given and relied upon may have been designed to make a national example of the Florida murder trial, pinning the blame on WWE.
For example, we were told by a source that Lionel Tate was watching a WWE program when he assaulted Tiffany Eunick. In fact, Lionel Tate was watching the “Flintstones” and a cartoon entitled “Cow and Chicken.” We were also told, by a source, that Lionel Tate killed Tiffany Eunick while executing a wrestling move unique to a WWE character called the “Stone Cold Stunner”.
We have since learned that this was not true, nor was there any evidence that it was true. It is now well documented that after the Tate trial concluded, the presiding Judge said it was “inconceivable” that Tiffany Eunick’s injuries were caused by Lionel Tate mimicking wrestling moves.
Indeed, since the trial ended, Lionel Tate’s new lawyers have filed court papers in which they admit that the “wrestling defense” was, in their words, “bogus.”
Given these facts, WWE was within its rights to be angry at the MRC, PTC, their spokespersons and I for contacting WWE’s advertisers to go beyond complaining about WWE content but passing along accusations which we now know were false. Because I feel a simple retraction is not sufficient, I have personally extended my apology to Vince McMahon and the WWE on behalf of MRC, PTC, Dr. Tucker, Mr. Honig and me.
Through this letter, I now make this apology public and specifically directed to the advertising community that has in the past, is currently or may in the future consider advertising or sponsoring WWE programming.
The PTC can have its concern with the content of WWE’s television programming – though these concerns have been reduced significantly over the past years as a reflection of WWE’s changed standards. But nowhere in that debate, including in the correspondence and statements to the advertising community, should there have been any discussion of “wrestling” deaths.
I regret this happening. It wasn’t fair to WWE.
And I say this emphatically: Please disregard what others and we have said in the past about the Florida “wrestling” death. Neither “wrestling” in general, nor WWE specifically, had anything to do with it. Of that I am certain.’

• PRIDE and K-1 announced their plans to put on the biggest event in MMA history, with a joint show in August, with hopes to draw 100,000 people to the Tokyo National Soccer Stadium. The original plan was for the show to take place on Aug. 29th, but they changed it to the 28th to avoid going head-to-head with a major NJPW show at Buddokan Hall which would have drawn many of the same fans they're trying to get. However, this is during monsoon season in Japan and it's an outdoor stadium, so just in case, they've got the stadium on reserve for several days in the event the scheduled date gets rained out. Here's the problem: this stadium only holds 60,000 for soccer games, so even if you add ground seating, realistically, you can only pack probably 80,000 at most. So the claim that they're going to draw 100,000 fans is "just as legitimate as the 93,173 number that WWE uses for its record." Dave notes that the real record for biggest paid attendance for a wrestling show is Summerslam 92 with the Hart/Bulldog match drawing 78,927 confirmed paid. But whatever. The plan for this show is for it to be an 8-9 match card, with every fight being dream matches featuring big name fighters. Rules for each fight will be unique and it will air on prime time TV in Japan. The main event will be Kazushi Sakuraba vs. Mirko Cro Cop, plus Dave breaks down a bunch of other planned or rumored match-ups.
  
• Dave looks at some business numbers and it ain't good news. Just to give one example, WWE's average attendance-per-show was 4,711 during the month of June, which is the lowest month for attendance since Feb. 1997. And most of the tickets for those shows were sold before Austin walked out. So once fans realize that Austin really is gone (at least for now) and not coming back anytime soon, the coming months could look even more dire for ticket sales.
  
• AAA's Triplemania X event took place last week (again) and ended with Octagon unmasking Pentagon in a mask vs. mask match. I only mention this because there have been lots of "Pentagon" characters over the years in AAA and later the indies in Mexico, portrayed by different people. But this match ended up being the last time the Pentagon gimmick would be used in AAA for the next decade.....until AEW star Pentagon Jr. began using the gimmick in 2012.
  
• Keiji Muto is apparently trying to shorten what's left of his career by being a complete madman. Muto is already beyond banged up, with knees that should have retired him years ago. He has no business working a full schedule at this stage in his career, but he's AJPW's biggest star and best draw, so he is continuing to work every show. But now he's taking it a step further. Muto will be working 3 separate matches in one night for AJPW's upcoming Budokan Hall show. He's doing the Mick Foley gimmick, where he will wrestle under a different gimmick for each match. He'll be wrestling as Muto, Great Muta, and Kokushi Muso (the gimmick he uses only when he teams with Hakushi and paints his body in similar fashion). So yeah.
  
• Vader was arrested in his hometown of Boulder, CO earlier this month for allegedly spitting at a police officer, threatening the officers with rocks, resisting arrest, drinking and driving, careless driving, and leaving the scene of an accident. It ended up taking 8 officers and 2 police dogs on the scene before Vader agreed to be arrested peacefully, and they used multiple sets of handcuffs. It started when Vader crashed his van into some bushes, but then backed out, left the scene, and drove home (about a block away). Police came to his home and found Vader severely intoxicated and barely able to stand. At some point, Vader told the police, "I will and can kick all of your asses! Let's fight!" The police brought in the police dogs, but Vader still wouldn't back down and threatened to kill the dogs if they came at him. Then he picked up rocks and threatened to throw them and spit at one of the cops, but missed. The other cops showed up and they eventually calmed him down and arrested him. According to records, Vader has 2 prior DUI arrests in Boulder. This all occurred just days before he was scheduled to leave for Japan for the latest NOAH tour but he still went and is over there working shows now.
  
• Kenta Kobashi finally made his real in-ring return after more than a year out of action (aside from the one comeback match where he re-injured himself for 4 more months). Kobashi has been told in no uncertain terms that one more knee injury and he's done for good. Dave figures that knee injury is inevitable. Kobashi is working opening matches all week, teaming with the rookies and doing hot tag spots for now.
  
• Former IWGP champion Kazuyuki Fujita is scheduled to make his return to NJPW next week after being out of action the past 7 months with a torn Achilles that caused him to vacate the IWGP title. He's going to continue doing shoot fights as well.
  
• Manami Toyota, arguably (is it even arguable) the greatest female wrestler of all time, announced she is leaving All Japan Women and jumping ship to Gaea. Toyota has spent her entire 15 year career working for AJW so this is a surprise and a pretty big blow to AJW.
  
• Jesse Ventura was rushed to the hospital this week with a blood clot in his lung after complaining of chest pains. He's now in stable condition, on blood thinners, and should be okay. Ventura has a history of blood clots and a pulmonary embolism in 1984 took him out of action right before he was about to start a lengthy (and surely lucrative) feud with Hulk Hogan. He eventually returned and wrestled for another year, mostly in tag teams and such, before retiring due to the health issues.
  
• Dave has some anecdotal evidence of how TNA's viewership numbers are going and it ain't pretty. Between week 1 and week 2, there was a full 50% drop in responses to the reader poll Dave put out on the show. That was to be expected. But the drop from Week 2 to Week 3 was another 41% drop from that. So we're only a few weeks in and it appears this company is already hemorrhaging viewers. Internally, TNA is basically flaunting the preliminary numbers they got from the PPV providers that show they're doing big buyrates. Dave feels sorry for them because he's been following the PPV industry since it began and the preliminary numbers from the providers are ALWAYS wrong and ALWAYS substantially higher than what the real number ends up being. Dave basically says TNA is getting excited over fake numbers and if they're basing their future on what they expect to pull in financially, they're going to be VERY disappointed a few months from now when the real numbers are revealed and those PPV checks end up being way less than they're expecting. TNA's weekly production costs are around $200,000, which means they need at least 50,000 buys per week just to break even on the production costs (and that's not counting all the other costs like paying the wrestlers, advertising, etc. that I'm sure they'd like to have some extra money for). So we're only a few weeks in and, yet again, this whole project still does not seem sustainable.
  
• Notes from TNA Weekly PPV: this was by far the weakest of the 3 shows so far. Dave thinks they're trying too hard to copy much of WWE's formula, rather than focusing on what makes them different or what they can do better. They were in Nashville this week, with about 2,000 fans (1,100 paid, the rest freebies). There's a lot of young talent here and they have potential, but so many of them aren't ready for the national stage and it showed. They did almost nothing to promote or build for next week's show, which is a killer when you're depending on people to pay for it every week. Dave thinks it felt like an episode of WCW Thunder. More production mistakes (wrong names on the screen during introductions, etc.). They announced Japanese wrestler Takao Omori and Christopher Daniels will be there next week, but made no effort to educate fans on who those people are or why anyone should care. Monty Brown made his debut and Dave is impressed, since he looks good, was athletic, and has some good mic skills and he thinks TNA did a better job of debuting and protecting him than WWE usually does with new guys. Another angle with NASCAR driver Hermie Sadler and it sucked, leading Dave to joke that Sterling Martin carried their tag team last time. 6 matches into the show and Dave says not a single one of them has even reached the 1-star mark. Thankfully, AJ Styles and David Young saved the show with a 2.25 star classic. Brian Christopher turned heel on Scott Hall, leading Hall to do a stretcher job in what was a pretty good angle but, ya know....it's Jarrett and Brian Christopher.
  
• Various other TNA news and notes: they've been taking out radio ads to promote the shows, with the tagline, "If you're tired of that other wrestling..." Dave is flabbergasted that TNA brought Jackie Fargo in for the debut shows (in Huntsville, where he wasn't really a big name) but didn't use him at all in Nashville this week, since he's the biggest drawing star in the city's history. Vince Russo and Disco Inferno were backstage at the show. TNA's new backstage interviewer Goldylocks was in the Los Angeles airport during the shooting there last week that left 2 people dead and several others injured. She was even interviewed by the local news about it.
  
• More fun political games in WWE. Paul Heyman and Pat Patterson came up with an angle to continue John Cena's momentum following his debut match with Kurt Angle, in which Cena would slap Vince McMahon in the face and then have a match with Jericho in which he would almost win and Jericho would have to cheat to get the pin. You know, make him look strong in defeat kinda thing, same as the Angle match. Well, Triple H apparently went to Vince and convinced him to nix the angle, saying nobody should be laying hands on Vince right now since they're building to Hogan vs. Vince at Summerslam. This turned into a major issue backstage because most of the locker room doesn't like the "NWO group" (basically, Nash, X-Pac, Shawn Michaels, and Triple H, even though he's not part of the group on TV). The usual Kliq stuff. Some of the wrestlers said that everyone can see that Cena has major star potential and they feel like Triple H cutting him off at the knees like this is more about protecting his own spot. They compromised and had Cena slap Jericho instead (Dave says it was a hell of a slap, and on his podcast, Bruce Prichard has told this story. Apparently Jericho insisted that Cena really lay in the slap to make it look good. And so Cena damn near killed him). Patterson in particular was furious that his idea got scrapped and told everyone who would listen about it, feeling the original angle would have gotten people talking about Cena (something they haven't been able to do with any of the other news guys) and felt the compromise angle didn't really have the same effect. Dave notes there's been a lot of resentment towards Nash and Michaels because they're getting some of the biggest pushes in the company right now despite not working full-time like everyone else. And Triple H is going to always be a target of it because of his real-life relationship with Stephanie McMahon. And, of course, X-Pac is basically protected by all his friends and has gotten out of doing multiple jobs in recent weeks when Nash or Michaels complained on his behalf. For what it's worth though, Hulk Hogan is said to be the total opposite, doing exactly what is asked of him and working as hard as he's capable of doing, has had no problem doing jobs or putting anyone over, and is pretty much avoiding all this Kliq drama. So at least one of these guys is redeeming their reputation here a little (just don't turn any hidden cameras on when he's having a conversation).
  
• Chris Jericho has agreed to a new WWE deal, but hasn't yet signed the contract and is actually working without one at the moment. His previous deal expired a week or two ago and he's been hammering out details with WWE ever since. With declining business and no real competition to use as leverage, Jericho's negotiating power was obviously not great. But he is one of the company's key guys and word is Jericho considers the offer "fair, under the circumstances." So probably not as good as he was hoping, but that's what happens when you work for a monopoly.
  
• Notes from Raw: "one of those nights best left forgotten," Dave says, as WWE's 2002 continues to suck. Booker T cut a promo challenging the NWO, but Eddie Guerrero answered the challenge instead, "I guess since they could get him to do a job on TV without complaining," Dave quips. And indeed, Booker won. Chris Benoit was embroiled in the beginnings of an angle with Austin and Flair, but when Austin left, everything got changed, and now Benoit is feuding with Bubba Ray Dudley, which is quite the demotion. Shawn Michaels cut a promo talking about the Kliq days, full of insider references that were lost on most of the crowd and it was so quiet that you could even hear one heckler yell, "Get to the point!" Dave doesn't understand why they're fondly reminiscing about a time that was by far the darkest, lowest period in the last 30 years of the business, but whatever. William Regal lost to Jeff Hardy, leading Dave to wonder whatever happened to the Regal/Molly Holly storyline that has seemingly been dropped with no explanation. And, of course, the Kevin Nash injury to end the show.
  
• Oh yeah....and then there's this. Raw also featured a match with Trish Stratus & Bradshaw vs. Chris Nowinski & Jackie Gayda, which Dave calls "the longest 3:14 in pro wrestling history." Basically every spot that Gayda and Stratus did was completely blown, some so badly that Dave can't even figure out what they were trying to do. Nowinski and Bradshaw brawled into the crowd. "I think they were running out as fast as they could to preserve whatever reputation they have left." Jim Ross on commentary used the dreaded "bowling shoe ugly" phrase which is JR Code for "holy shit this is a bad match." The ending was completely botched but this time, Gayda at least had the sense to realize that they botched the finish so bad that she probably shouldn't eat a pin from it, so she tried to kick out instead. But Trish and the referee didn't get the memo and so the ref counted the 3 anyway, which made the whole thing look even worse. Crowd booed this like crazy and Dave says it was clear to everybody that Gayda has no business on Raw yet, she's still waaaaaaay too green (If you haven't seen it, this match is legendarily bad and is widely known simply as "That Jackie Gayda Match."
  

WATCH: That Jackie Gayda match

• Notes from Smackdown: on the complete opposite end of the spectrum, this was a great show. Lillian Garcia singing "America the Beautiful" was interrupted by Team Canada, who got the most heel heat Dave has seen anywhere in wrestling in a long time. They're trying to redo the 1997 Hart Foundation/Canada angle, except this time, it's Christian, Test, and Lance Storm. Whether it will be successful or not depends on who the babyface is. In 1997, it was Steve Austin. If they pick Rikishi or somebody here in 2002, it's not gonna get over near as big. Batista working tag matches is the best thing for him, because he's looking a lot better lately while being able to hide his weaknesses. The Cena/Jericho angle was good (though probably not as good as the original idea would have been). During the Billy and Chuck segment, Chuck had a line about being tired from walking all day on Sunday. The joke wasn't explained, so if you didn't get it: that recent Sunday was the day of a lot of major national gay pride parades in major cities around the country. And Hogan and Edge won the tag titles in a fun match that the crowd was nuclear hot for.

WATCH: Edge & Hogan win the WWE tag team titles

• Chris Benoit didn't do any actual matches in developmental before his return, he was just there training and taking bumps, so the matches he's been doing on TV the last week or two really were his first actual matches since the neck surgery. Benoit is said to be in less pain than he expected to be and is hopeful to get back to his old self.
  
• Dave saw a recent picture of Rey Mysterio and he's worried. Mysterio has bulked up waaaaay too much for his frame. Dave compares him to The Patriot, another masked wrestler who's career was pretty much ended due to repeated muscle tears from being too steroided up. With Mysterio's size, there's zero reason or advantage to him being so muscular and it's only going to increase his risk of getting injured, especially when he starts working that 200-dates-per-year WWE schedule (yeah, this proved to be pretty accurate. Despite the success he had during that time, the next decade or so of Mysterio's career is pretty much injury after injury after injury).
  
• Latest on Goldberg is that he has no plans to do anything in wrestling until later this year, if at all. Dave thinks that's smart, since WWE business looks like it's going to keep plummeting, at which time they'll be even more desperate for him to come in. Dave thinks Goldberg could probably command a pretty large offer to come in around the beginning of 2003 and build to a big Wrestlemania match (close, but not quite what happens).
  
• Various WWE notes: Triple H has been out of action since King of the Ring after getting elbow surgery. He's been back in Birmingham again, doing 24/7 rehab. Stephanie McMahon hasn't been working in the WWE offices for the last few weeks because she's been with him. Stacy Keibler asked for time off because she's burned out and was replaced with Dawn Marie for all her scheduled bra and panties matches on house shows this week.
  
• During the Sunday Night Heat/Raw tapings, someone held up a sign that said "Big Show is not over" when Big Show was out during Heat. Show saw the sign, flipped the guy off, and pointed it out to security. They tried to get the sign but I guess the guy holding it ran away and actually escaped them. Later during the night, when Big Show was out again (this time on Raw), the sign got held up again. Show once again saw it, once again pointed it out to security, and this time, they jumped the rail and caught the guy and took his sign. Imagine being that sensitive.
  

NEXT WEDNESDAY: Eric Bischoff debuts in WWE, X-Pac suspended, more on Russo in TNA, and more...

Notes and Highlights of Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear’s Live Update September 22, 2020
Notes by mr_tyler_durden and Daily Update Team
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Watch here:

• Youtube: Update (YT Channel)
• Facebook: Update (FB Page)

Headlines

• 62,731 Cases (+824), 1,119 Deaths (+7)
• New cases by county: 129x Jefferson, 110x Fayette, 78x Christian, 37x Madison, 35x Warren, 28x Laurel, 24x Hardin, 18x Boone, 18x Whitley, 13x Daviess, 13x Montgomery, 12x Campbell, 12x Clay, 12x Henderson, 12x Muhlenberg, 11x Calloway, 11x Kenton, 11x Oldham, 10x Union, 9x Nelson, 8x Franklin, 7x Boyd, 7x Boyle, 7x Bullitt, 7x Hopkins, 7x Knott, 7x McCracken, 7x Shelby, 6x Pulaski, 6x Rockcastle, 6x Scott, 5x Allen, 5x Barren, 5x Caldwell, 5x Jackson, 4x Adair, 4x Anderson, 4x Bath, 4x Bell, 4x Graves, 4x Greenup, 4x Hancock, 4x Jessamine, 4x Lincoln, 4x Logan, 4x Marshall, 4x Mercer, 4x Ohio, 4x Todd, 4x Trigg, 3x Bourbon, 3x Carter, 3x Clark, 3x Cumberland, 3x Floyd, 3x Meade, 3x Rowan, 2x Crittenden, 2x Grant, 2x Green, 2x Harrison, 2x Mason, 2x Menifee, 2x Metcalfe, 2x Monroe, 2x Nicholas, 2x Simpson, 1x Breathitt, 1x Butler, 1x Casey, 1x Clinton, 1x Elliott, 1x Estill, 1x Garrard, 1x Harlan, 1x Hart, 1x Larue, 1x Leslie, 1x Letcher, 1x Lewis, 1x Livingston, 1x McLean, 1x Morgan, 1x Owen, 1x Perry, 1x Russell, 1x Taylor, 1x Trimble, 1x Washington, 1x Wayne, 1x Webster, 1x Woodford
• New deaths by county: 79 M Jefferson, 79 M McCracken, 69 F McCracken, 90 M McCracken, 56 F Marion, 87 M Harden, 92 M Taylor
• Fast 4 at 4:
  • 1: Today is National Voter Registration Day, which ought to remind everyone to register to vote and then to make sure to vote. Again, you have more opportunities to vote now than ever, certainly in my lifetime, I think in the history of Kentucky. So we ought to be able to set a turnout record this year. The deadline to register is coming up, it's October the fifth. If you've moved to Kentucky, you've never registered before, you've turned 18, or you have had your voting rights restored (in that you have done your time for a non-violent, non-sexual felony) you can register to vote by October 5, and you should.
  • 2: Number two, I continue to say this, get your flu shot. It is absolutely critical going into this fall, that we have our flu shots.
  • 3: Student Aid: So in July I announced an additional $15.3M in need-based financial aid to students, made possible through the Kentucky Lottery proceeds. Kentucky lottery, having a brand new CEO. These dollars will fund up to 7,500 new awards to college-age students whose families are struggling as a result of this pandemic- 7,500 kids whose families can get help.
  • 4: And finally, in our Fast 4, this is National Recovery Month. National Recovery Month is held every September to promote and to support new evidence-based treatment, and recovery practices, the emergence of strong and proud recovery communities, and the dedicated service of providers and community members across the nation who make recovery possible in its various forms.
• Let me just start out with one question I know that's out there that's about Halloween. We don't have our guidance ready yet. So Ohio had put out some guidance that we were at least looking at that talked about ways to do it. The CDC put something out saying don't let kids Trick-or-Treat. Now, I believe our guidance is going to try to provide a way for kids to have that experience but in the safest way possible. Let me be clear: the idea of big parties for young adults or older adults, no. We cannot do that during Halloween this year. So let's focus on trying to find a way to make sure kids can have a safe experience but that also means you know that traditional walking around with seven other adults while the kids are running around together, we're probably not going to be able to do that either so to do it safe is going to require a lot of supervision and require protecting your kids and everybody else's based on your actions.
• Has the NG been activated yet in Louisville? -- I have not signed an authorization, or an activation for the National Guard to engage in any mission as I'm standing here today.
  • -- I cannot comment on when a decision related to the Breonna Taylor investigation is going to be released. I know that the city of Louisville has declared their state of emergency and so folks, from that, believe it's coming soon. I think that's fairly reasonable from seeing the state of emergency, but I can't provide specific comments on timing.
• Do you plan on activating the National Guard or State Police today or tomorrow? --- We have certainly had requests for assistance from the State Police or the National Guard, either once a decision is made or if certain events occur. We're going to make sure that we make the right decision to secure the personal safety of everybody, protect critical infrastructure, and and so I think that there can be an expectation that the Guard and the Kentucky State Police will serve limited, specific missions where they will be under their own command, meaning the Guard, or the State Police, and that LMPD will be the primary Law Enforcement Unit that will interact with any demonstrators. But there are specific missions whereby the Kentucky state police or the National Guard could help.
• Have you been given any assurances by the AG’s office that the final decision on the Breonna Taylor’s case will be given by the end of this week or next week? -- Again, I can't comment on the timing of an announcement but I haven't been told when an announcement will occur.
• Oh, actually, I got another piece of news for you on that topic. At this time, Kentucky has been approved by FEMA for an additional three weeks of the additional unemployment payments. Eligible Kentuckians will now be able to receive $400 for the weeks of August 22, 29th, and September 5th for each week a claimant meets the criteria. That means individuals who qualify for a weekly benefit of at least $100 per week in UI compensation for each week covered by FEMA’s, what they call LWA, lost wages assistance, and individuals who self certify that their employment has been impacted by COVID-19. Payments are going to be automatically processed and we'll have a timetable soon but understand that because of the federal government we don't get to control exactly how they go out.
• Slides from Update

Full Notes

• Alright, it is four o'clock, time that we give our updates, Monday through Thursday, and go through a few items we're working on in state government and provide our COVID update. So today, I'm supporting education, just in a slightly different way. This is the Paul Sawyier Public Library here in Frankfort. This is them doing their part to make sure that their employees are safe and then also those who visit the library are, too. Our library still serves such an integral purpose, all over the Commonwealth, whether it is providing books for some kids that might not otherwise have a chance to open them, providing a space for people to come together, when we can, or providing internet access when sometimes it's difficult. We appreciate our libraries. And while we know their mission may be a little bit different than they were when I was growing up, we know how critical they are to their communities. So thank you to the Paul Sawyier Library, and full disclosure, my wife also read on a digital platform there just the other day so I'm supporting her too. Alright. We have a very fast 4 at 4 today.
• A couple of major things going on. Today is National Voter Registration Day, which ought to remind everyone to register to vote and then to make sure to vote. Again, you have more opportunities to vote now than ever, certainly in my lifetime, I think in the history of Kentucky. So we ought to be able to set a turnout record this year. The deadline to register is coming up, it's October the fifth. If you've moved to Kentucky, you've never registered before, you've turned 18, or you have had your voting rights restored (in that you have done your time for a non-violent, non-sexual felony) you can register to vote by October 5, and you should. Voting is a bedrock part of our democracy and I think it's something that gives us dignity, and so let's make sure we are doing it. Request your absentee ballot. If you are in any of the danger areas for COVID, age, or have a pre existing health condition, if you are just really worried about it; if you live with someone with a pre-existing health condition; if you have a lot of contacts in your day, request that absentee ballot. I've done it, I think about 400,000 Kentuckians have done it, please make sure you do that. If you are not going to vote absentee, vote early. There are three weeks of in-person, early voting beginning October 13. If you choose a time and you make a plan for one of those days, it spreads out when people are in that polling place that we need to make sure that the vast majority of people vote early, and not just on election day, though, there will be multiple locations in most counties, it'll be a couple counties that just have a handful normally, that might just have one. So National Voter Registration Day, take advantage of it. Make sure that you have the ability to vote by registering, and then actually vote. I've learned since I've been governor and probably before, that, everybody's got an opinion. So if you do, and I know you do, make sure that you exercise that right to vote.
• Number two, I continue to say this, get your flu shot. It is absolutely critical going into this fall, that we have our flu shots, I got mine just the other day. It really doesn't hurt, it protects you. If you've ever had the flu you really don't want it again. And with these vaccines being pretty effective it certainly cuts down on your risk. This is Dr. Stack, he's getting a little time off. So I won't tell you whether he cried or not after this one. This is the Lieutenant Governor, again, get your flu shot, perfectly safe to do it protects you and is really important in a time of COVID and here is Virginia who's not with us today. But is still with us- isn’t she?
• Alright, next is student aid. When we look at post COVID, what we were working on before COVID, what limits us and what truly helps us get ahead, the education and the health of our people, are primary. And with student aid and the opportunity to have state scholarships out there, to make higher education especially more available to everybody, knowing that every first generation college graduate changes every generation after them, changes the history of their family going backwards and forwards, we want to see more kids take advantage of this. So in July I announced an additional $15.3M in need-based financial aid to students, made possible through the Kentucky Lottery proceeds. Kentucky lottery, having a brand new CEO. These dollars will fund up to 7,500 new awards to college-age students whose families are struggling as a result of this pandemic- 7,500 kids whose families can get help. We want Kentucky students to be preparing for their futures right now, whether that's college or advanced training, so when we emerge from the pandemic they'll be ready to take advantage of opportunities, awaiting them. And we want every Kentucky student to access federal and state assistance available, to the greatest extent possible. If you are in school and experiencing financial difficulty, contact your school's Financial Aid Office. They can help reassess your financial need, which could result in your aid being increased, or maybe getting aid for the first time. You can also contact KHEAA- the Kentucky Higher education assistant authority at http://kheaa.com/ or 1-800-928-8926 for questions, or learning how to apply. This organization administers the state scholarship and grant programs in 2020, this fiscal year, thanks to proceeds from the Kentucky lottery more than $272M in state scholarships and grants were awarded to Kentucky college students. $272M, trying to create better lives, better opportunities better, education for our next generation, and through the use of technology KHEAA outreach counselors continue to work with students, families, and adults across the Commonwealth to assist with college readiness and provide assistance filing changes to the FAFSA. Through social media they're connecting with school counselors, students, teachers, and other interested parties and their sister agency the Kentucky Higher Education Student Loan Corporation is Kentucky's only source for state-based, fixed interest rate, competitive, private education loans. Loans administered to help Kentucky students afford college when an unmet need still exists after all scholarships and grants have been exhausted is done by KHESLC, we have to have an acronym for everything. They've assisted thousands of borrowers with financial hardships and are doing great work. So, for more information, go there, but here's what it is: if you are pushing for that higher education, if you're struggling to make ends meet, if COVID changed your financial information, there's more money out there to help make sure you don't have to pause your educational attainment. So please, please, take advantage of it.
• And finally, in our Fast 4, this is National Recovery Month. National Recovery Month is held every September to promote and to support new evidence-based treatment, and recovery practices, the emergence of strong and proud recovery communities, and the dedicated service of providers and community members across the nation who make recovery possible in its various forms. You meet some of the hard working folks in recovery, many of them having gone through it themselves, dedicating their lives to help other people and you see a little bit of God's grace right there. The Kentucky Office of Drug Control Policy stated that roughly 22 million people in the US are in recovery as of today. That's 22 million of our brothers and sisters across this country in recovery. The Kentucky Chamber started the Opioid Response Program for Businesses, launched in June of 2019, in response to Kentucky's employers struggling to navigate the issue of workforce participation and overdose deaths. One special story, though I will tell you, I personally know a lot of special stories of people who have overcome something so powerful and difficult it's hard for me to comprehend, but have put their lives back together, brought their families back together, kids back in their home that haven't lived with them for so long, it just shows you that so much as possible, even if it's hard, and we can do so much good work when we're willing to provide people, the help that they need, when they're willing, and in the form that they need it, and to not give up on people. One special story is that of Rob Perez, owner of DV8 kitchen in Lexington where all of his employees are in recovery. Rob shared his business has seen huge success including a turnover rate that is one third better than the national average. He has longer tenure of employees and DV8 was named the 40th best restaurant in America. Another story is from Jamie Johnson, Director of Operations at Dorman products. Dorman has seen an 80% drop in Workers Compensation Claims, favorable reactions from customers and the communities they serve, and huge growth in the company, thanks to the company's fair chance employment efforts. It's important we celebrate recovery and increase awareness and understanding of mental and substance abuse disorders, through opportunities such as these in Kentucky. And while we haven't talked about it as much, battling this epidemic and protecting and helping those that need help, it's one of the most critical missions we can have as a Commonwealth. And you bet we are going to be just as focused as ever during this crisis, but also coming out of it knowing that it's made it harder for many in recovery to get what they need, and to successfully get in recovery and then stay in recovery. Alright, let's move to our COVID update.
• The tough news is tough news for us as a country. We've now lost 200,000 Americans to the coronavirus - 200,000. It's difficult to comprehend that this virus that pretty much didn't exist, or to our knowledge until the beginning of this year, and really a period of about six months when most of these deaths occurred would take 200,000 Americans. And I certainly don't have another event period challenge in my lifetime, where we have lost so many Americans. And I can't think of one in the past that occurred that some people denied. This virus is deadly, it's real, and it is harming, killing us. And on a day where we've lost 200,000, and some numbers are going up, we had a large number of cases nationwide yesterday. It looks like cases are back on the rise, it'll take a little bit of time to see. We got to understand our fight is still going on. It's gonna take as long as it takes. It's going to be difficult. But the fact that we've already lost 200,000 people ought to tell you how powerful this virus is and make us commit to doing the right things to defeat it. 200,000. We've only got a couple Kentucky cities that are larger than 200,000. It's larger in my knowledge than any football stadium that's out there, almost double what you'd see and we've lost those Americans. In Kentucky, and we're now 1,119 and growing and growing because of the number of cases that we have. This is a major challenge of our lifetimes and we're going to be judged in many ways. We're going to be judged in part by how many Kentuckians and how many Americans we let die.
• And I say that because while we can't save everybody, COVID is that difficult, we can save a lot of people: wear a mask, social distance, follow the rules that are out there. Don't try to find a way around them. If you see a crowd that gathered, don't go to it. And if you don't think it'll harm somebody, there's 200,000 families out there in this country that prove you wrong. And we see it every day. We see families going through the toughest of the tough and saying if I could only let people know one thing, it's that COVID is real, and you need to wear a mask. How many people have to tell that story over a loved one's death bed? Until we all realize that even though we're tired and even though there's something called “COVID fatigue”, I think that's a new phrase, the virus doesn't care. And we ought to be better, we ought to be stronger, and we ought to be more committed than that. While I think at the beginning of the year we're going to be seeing a deployment of a vaccine, and we're still waiting to see how that'll come out, folks, it's gonna take as long as it's going to take. And that's the truth, because if we quit, those deaths go up.
• So let's know what we're facing. And let's just make sure we do what it takes to defeat it. Yesterday we showed our incident map, and how it has been updated. Today, again this is us trying to be in full transparency, showing you all the data that is out there, we want to show you the new White House report. The White House report now, and maybe they're watching what we do, has red, orange, and yellow counties in the reports they put out and so it'll be posted online. [Can you go to the White House counties, James?]
• So here is an example of counties that, for this week, the White House has in the red zone. Notice they're a little bit different than our incidents that are calculated differently, but it ought to tell you that we're trying to put together a really fair system that's out there in that, the White House would have more counties in the red zone. We see a lot of counties there that we haven't seen in the red zone before. And it just shows you how quickly this can spread and how flexible and fluid we have to be. Right, if this was a battle, the battle moves to a different area, we've got to be willing to move to a different area and counter and react and that's exactly what we have to do with the virus. So Warren County is maybe the only county that has been in the red every single report, since I first started putting them out and it's still there. Christian, which we got a lot of cases in today. Barren, Logan, Jackson, Grayson, Green, Taylor, Trigg, Monroe, Estill, Russell, Clay, Caldwell, Meade, Allen, Letcher, all over the Commonwealth. This is the red zone which White House views as critical and widespread community spread.
• And there is now the orange zone. And these are again some counties that we had previously seen in red, or in yellow. You now see them moving more into the orange area. You see Jefferson there, Daviess, Hardin, Oldham, and the list is in the document posted on the website.
• And then finally you have the yellow, which is another group of counties and then finally there's the green which is anybody that's not on those. This is up at http://kyCOVID19.ky.gov/ again, this is us showing you what the White House believes based on their data. I do think it's pretty interesting that we've got our incident map and have the four different colors, and now they do too. And so people can look on there and they can compare but I think what it says is, when our incident map has you in red, it means you're in a difficult place and you need to take the appropriate steps.
• I want to mention sports real quickly. We ought to be very carefully watching what's going on in our high school sports. I think we have at least five football teams right now that are quarantined that aren't playing, including two teams that just recently played each other. We need to see what happens there and the number of positives at least on one team continues to go up. we need to know that when we are in the red, now athletics are supposed to stop during the period that it takes to get back down to the yellow but we need to be, again, very careful, especially when we are seeing the spread. And everybody who pushed for them, and I got it- I made the commitment from the start that we are going to try to do best practices, we're going to try to do this but when it proves dangerous, or there is spread, we're going to stop at least for a period of time. I need people to keep their word on that, to not try to get around it, and when there is an outbreak, do the right thing. I will tell you, everybody we know that has had one has done the right thing. So we just need to keep that up. I thought that there was a quick and positive reaction here by Franklin County Public Schools and we appreciate that form of leadership. But let's again, these are kids. Let's be careful; let's watch this. And let's make sure that we are being attentive to what's happening and that we are willing to reevaluate when needed. Let me also be clear because this can start people up, there's no overall reevaluation that's occurring. Again, my job is to flag when we see things that we ought to be watching. And that's what I'm doing here today.
• Positive cases today: 824 - And that's 824 out of about 10,000 new tests and so what does that do? It increases our positivity rate. So not only do we have more cases than I'd like today
• Probable cases: 7,154
• Total confirmed cases: 62,731
• Children Under 18: 134
• New cases by county: 129x Jefferson, 110x Fayette, 78x Christian, 37x Madison, 35x Warren, 28x Laurel, 24x Hardin, 18x Boone, 18x Whitley, 13x Daviess, 13x Montgomery, 12x Campbell, 12x Clay, 12x Henderson, 12x Muhlenberg, 11x Calloway, 11x Kenton, 11x Oldham, 10x Union, 9x Nelson, 8x Franklin, 7x Boyd, 7x Boyle, 7x Bullitt, 7x Hopkins, 7x Knott, 7x McCracken, 7x Shelby, 6x Pulaski, 6x Rockcastle, 6x Scott, 5x Allen, 5x Barren, 5x Caldwell, 5x Jackson, 4x Adair, 4x Anderson, 4x Bath, 4x Bell, 4x Graves, 4x Greenup, 4x Hancock, 4x Jessamine, 4x Lincoln, 4x Logan, 4x Marshall, 4x Mercer, 4x Ohio, 4x Todd, 4x Trigg, 3x Bourbon, 3x Carter, 3x Clark, 3x Cumberland, 3x Floyd, 3x Meade, 3x Rowan, 2x Crittenden, 2x Grant, 2x Green, 2x Harrison, 2x Mason, 2x Menifee, 2x Metcalfe, 2x Monroe, 2x Nicholas, 2x Simpson, 1x Breathitt, 1x Butler, 1x Casey, 1x Clinton, 1x Elliott, 1x Estill, 1x Garrard, 1x Harlan, 1x Hart, 1x Larue, 1x Leslie, 1x Letcher, 1x Lewis, 1x Livingston, 1x McLean, 1x Morgan, 1x Owen, 1x Perry, 1x Russell, 1x Taylor, 1x Trimble, 1x Washington, 1x Wayne, 1x Webster, 1x Woodford
• I think the most we've seen in one day, at least in Christian County. You notice Clay was in the red and then we have 12 today. That's not a mistake, because when there is widespread community spread, when there is significant community spread, you're going to see in the next couple days, that those red counties also report double-digit cases even if they are a small county.
• Total tests conducted: 1,142,031 (PCR: 1,068,466, Serology: 52,158)
• Positivity Rate: 4.52% - our positivity rate is now back over 4%
• Total hospitalized: 5,075
• Currently hospitalized: 511
• Total in ICU: 1,494
• Currently in ICU: 133
• On a ventilator: 73
• Total recovered: 11,361
• New deaths today: 7
• Total Deaths: 1,119
• New deaths by county: 79 M Jefferson, 79 M McCracken, 69 F McCracken, 90 M McCracken, 56 F Marion, 87 M Harden, 92 M Taylor
• Let’s light our homes up green for these seven families. Let's ring our bells every morning at 10am. To the families, it doesn't matter when during this virus their family members passed away it hurts just the same. So let's make sure we show them the respect we have for everybody else.
• Racial breakdown of all cases: 80.38% Caucasian, 11.66% Black or African-American, 1.61% Asian, 5.85% Multiracial
• Ethnicity breakdown of all cases: 88.84% non-Hispanic and 11.16% Hispanic
• Racial breakdown of all deaths: 83.45% Caucasian, 12.93% Black or African-American, 1.18% Asian, 2.45% Multiracial
• Ethnicity breakdown of all deaths: 96.44% non-Hispanic and 3.56% Hispanic
• Long Term Care Facilities (PDF): 31 new residents and 50 new staff positive from yesterday, 4 more deaths, and 1 fewer facilities- that has had one positive case, that sometimes happens with reporting.
• K-12 Update (PDF):
• University Update (PDF):
• So, a tough day, we'll see what the rest of the week holds. But I think we can all admit as we look around, that maybe we're not doing things as well as we were three weeks ago, or four weeks ago. And given that we're going to be taking steps about getting kids back in school in areas where there is not that level of community spread, given that we want sports to continue and we're seeing teams with positive tests, we got to redouble those efforts, because the future of our economy, whether we can keep things open, doesn't depend on me, depends on how we respond to the virus. Whether it's safe for our kids to be in school, doesn't depend on me depends on the virus. The number of lives lost depends on the virus. And what we can do to stop the virus, it's fundamental, it's easy, it's wearing a mask, it's social distancing. It's limiting your contacts, that helps us do everything else out there. It's also your patriotic duty as an American, and as a Kentuckian. This is our challenge. In many ways, this is our war. We've lost 200,000 people. I think it's fair to talk about it that way. And we need your help. Because your actions are what can save someone or cause us to lose them, and you might not ever even know.
• So with that, we will open it up to questions. I don't think I've missed anything.

QUESTIONS

• Let me just start out with one question I know that's out there- that's about Halloween. We don't have our guidance ready yet. So Ohio had put out some guidance that we were at least looking at that talked about ways to do it. The CDC put something out saying don't let kids Trick-or-Treat. Now, I believe our guidance is going to try to provide a way for kids to have that experience but in the safest way possible. Let me be clear: the idea of big parties for young adults or older adults, no. We cannot do that during Halloween this year. So let's focus on trying to find a way to make sure kids can have a safe experience but that also means you know that traditional walking around with seven other adults while the kids are running around together, we're probably not going to be able to do that either so to do it safe is going to require a lot of supervision and require protecting your kids and everybody else's based on your actions. Alright, we'll open it up to questions we'll go to Joe.
• Has the NG been activated yet in Louisville? -- I have not signed an authorization, or an activation for the National Guard to engage in any mission as I'm standing here today.
  • -- I cannot comment on when a decision related to the Breonna Taylor investigation is going to be released. I know that the city of Louisville has declared their state of emergency and so folks, from that, believe it's coming soon. I think that's fairly reasonable from seeing the state of emergency, but I can't provide specific comments on timing.
• Have you been in touch with Attorney General Cameron at all on this? -- We have had communications with the Attorney General's office, we have appreciated those communications, but I cannot comment on them. That's part of the trust in something like this that we have to have.
• What measures do you think protesters should take seeing all those preparations and barricades, boarded up buildings in Louisville? -- The question is how do I think that, I guess, community activists and those that want change and have and have been out in peaceful demonstrations how they should view what's going on? First I think that LMPD and others are trying to ensure that any reaction is one where people can give voice but at the same time that we don't see violence or property damage now. Just about every protest other than other than a couple of nights that we have seen in Louisville hasn't had those but the national attention here is so great, the potential for outsiders is so significant, the possibility of someone taking something peaceful and trying to turn it into something that's not as all there. I mean, when we saw a couple weeks ago a couple groups coming together and downtown- one being the three percenters, a white militia group, that I think is white supremacist militia group, I know them fairly well, they came over to my house, and they hung me an effigy. You know, I think that people can see the potential presence of groups like that and understand wanting some level of security. I want people to be able to give voice to frustrations, I hope they can find a way to do it where they feel heard, but at the same time, can potentially turn something that can be positive into something that can be negative. And I've talked to a number of organizers and they've said the same: that the eyes and ears of the world are going to be here. People are going to be heard, let's just make sure it's done in a way to where that message doesn't get lost.
• You mentioned HS Sports, their Positive tests results that we’re now seeing them in quarantine. I think it’s easier for college teams to do the bubble approach and do routine testing. Any guidance on how HS can do that?-- The question is on high school sports which we talked about when college sports or professional sports have a ton more resources. College sports in the SEC, they're going to test athletes three times a week. And right now I don't think there's a requirement that our high school athletes are tested even once a week. Certainly, if I was running a high school program, which I'm not, (I'm a little busy, but I'm also not qualified to run a high school sports program, that's because of lack of overall talent) I would want my team to be getting tested on some basis. I would really want to talk about a partnership with my parents about ensuring that I always know how my athletes are feeling. I want to make sure that I communicated to them that their health is most important to me because their futures are big and bright whether they include athletics or not and I, if I was a coach, would be in an almost sacred position to make sure that we protect that. And so talking to them too about how if you feel bad you really need to talk about it. Don't try to come to a practice just because either it's your senior year or we really need you. I think that dialogue needs to be there. And then I think we also need to be clear that when there are schools that are in the red zone area, we ought to not want to play that game, even if we are somewhere else that weekend. That's tough. You know, there’s a lot of anticipation, and people look forward to it. But I think that communication, and just being really clear on the expectations, putting the student athlete first, first, which means their health in their future is where I would be. I would look at some form of testing and monitoring and that can be different in different places, but especially a high contact sport is important. We’ve seen things at different times, football, soccer, I think there were just a couple teams, and volleyball, in particular, we've seen some outbreaks.

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