Rest in Peace, Rest in Peace Man

Sure, there was Hugo Chavez, but the big buzz was that the WWE's Paul Bearer died.

As the last bit of the cartoony WWF of the 1980s and wrestling to go before the 'realism of the "Attitude era', Bearer was the manager (and storyline father) of the Undertaker.

Most people will know him from that character- manager to one of the most popular and well-known pro wrestlers ever.

However, that character was not what I knew Paul Moody for.

I knew him as the loud, arrogant, and generally annoying Percival "Percy" Pringle III- manager of Rick Rude and others. it is fitting that I am doing a series on music that I grew up with. I should also mention a Saturday morning ritual growing up was World Class Championship Wrestling- "live' wrestling from Dallas, texas- with characters like the Von Erichs, the Fabulous Freebirds, the One Man Gang, Erik Embry, the Missing Link, Chris Adams & Gino Hernandez and others.

You know you should never believe a pro wrestler about anything (ask them, and they will tell you they invented everything first), but I do believe Michael Hayes when he says the WCCW was the first great modern wrestling tv show and the template that the WWF would end up using during their "Attitude" era. Hayes says the WCCW gave people great matches, great feuds, and great storylines, while the two biggest promotions of the day (NWA,WWF) would rarely show their top stars in action, and rarely gave a match that was anything but a star versus a jobber.

In any case, I grew up hating Pringle, which means that he was really good at what he did.

Pringle went on to bigger fame, and per his story was actually an undertaker in real life.

Moody, an Alabama native, told the pro wrestling website PWTorch. com last year that had a degree in mortuary science. He said he was a licensed funeral director and embalmer. He was called to WWE chairman Vince McMahon's office about taking the job as Undertaker's manager without the company knowing his true background.

"It was one those had-to-be-there moments when Vince realized I was the real thing, the real deal," Moody told the website. "I was the real Undertaker."

The quality isn't so good, but this is what I grew up with.

Saluki Basketball 2013

Although I have since moved, I like keeping tabs on the Southern Illinois University basketball team.  This means this year, like last year, I went to see them play at Drake.

A decade ago, they were a dominant team in the mid majors- going to the Sweet Sixteen in 2002 and 2007 (losing to Kansas by three points).  I still watch them on tv every chance I get.

It’s odd.  I used to watch Jordan-era Bulls almost religiously but I don’t make much time for the NBA anymore.  Credit to the NBA that they once again have an exciting product, but as in Nascar, I feel  only the last few minutes of an NBA game are worth watching.  Plus, I never really supported a team like I did those Bulls.  I tried a couple of times with Kevin Garnett-era Timberwolves and Mark Cuban’s Dallas Mavericks (Now, I just watch Shark Tank every week).

So, I get my basketball fix with the mid-majors and the Missouri Valley Conference.  There are two stories about this year’s Salukis who were picked to finish last and indeed finished last under new coach Barry Hinson.  January showed the Salukis as bad as everyone said they would be, losing seven games out of eight.  Yet, somewhere in there, Hinson took control and turned things around.  The Salukis won six of their last eight games including beating a really good Wichita State team and beating Drake on the road.

The Salukis lacked a big man, but won by being scrappy and fighting for the ball.  Nothing personified the Salukis than their Senior Guard Six-foot-one Jeff Early who led the nation in rebounds for players his size.  Sophmore Dantiel Daniels had requested to be transferred (The Salukis biggest problem was losing players and recruits who wanted out once Coach Lowrey had been fired), but stayed and has turned out to be pretty good.  Junior Desmar Jackson transferred from Wyoming and when he’s not in foul trouble, is a great all-around player and has an eye on the NBA.

Tonight, the Salukis play in the MVC tournament ranked tenth out of ten teams, but arguably the hottest team going into the tournament.  I will be watching.