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The Pepsi Center: Where Scheduling Conflicts Happen By C.Y. Ellis
05.19.2009 - Updated on 05.20.2009
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As NBA-WWE crossovers go, this has to rank pretty low. Lower, even, than Dennis Rodman’s brief but flamboyant appearances in the ring, although slightly higher than Karl Malone’s awkward foray into the world of wrestling. It’s no wonder that these events are so lacklustre when you consider how little the NBA and WWE have in common. The WWE, after all, focuses largely on rendering their sport more entertaining (and therefore more lucrative), with the commissioner deciding the outcome of each contest beforehand depending on which competitor is more popular with the fans. In the NBA, meanwhile....oh, wait.
For those who haven’t yet caught the story, the short version is this: The WWE booked the Pepsi Center way back on April the fifteenth of last year as the stage for a taping of their "WWE Monday Night Raw" show. Kroenke Sports Enterprises, who own the building and, presumably, an NBA schedule, bet the farm on the fact that the Nugs would have flamed out (as is their annual custom) of the postseason by the time the conference finals rolled around, and saw no problem in promising the WWE use of the arena.
The spanner in the works came when the Nuggets found their form in the western semis, treating the Dallas Mavericks as if they’d just dropped the soap in a prison shower and sending them home in five games. Now that they’re primed to face off against the Lakers at home the same night the WWE were planning to set up shop in the Pepsi Center, there’s an insurmountable conflict.
Those are the facts, and here’s what the interested parties had to say about the situation:
"Even though the Denver Nuggets had a strong team this year and were projected to make the playoffs. Obviously Nuggets and Pepsi Center owner Stan Kroenke did not have enough faith in his own team to hold the May 25 date for a potential playoff game." - Vince McMahon
While that statement may not go far past passive-aggressive, this one does:
"We’re going to show up. Our trucks are rolling." - McMahon again
That sounds like the prelude to an ass-kicking right there. In fact, that could be the way to settle the dispute. Those wrestlers may be juiced up to their eyeballs, but throw any of those lycra-clad actors in a cage with Kenyon Martin, and I’d put my cash on the latter. Just flash a photo of Mark Cuban in front of him and the rumble would be over before it started.
Update: Our cousins over at WrestleZone say that Monday Night Raw could now take place in Colorado Springs. If not, the WWE have also received offers to stage the event in Madison Square Garden and, coincidentally, the Staples Center. |
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Posted by
NBAwweFAN
on 05.27.2009 | i wish that nuggets wins against lakers.. but still, the owner of Denver nuggets is wrong for booking wwe and cancelling it.WWe will win against nBa with regards to the booking matter. . | Posted by
wwf is 4 losers
on 05.24.2009 | well i don’t care anyways because these are two differen’t things.......basketball is a sport and is a lot popular than your fake steroid abusing wwf wrestlers....lets see those losers fight for real in the ring if there so strong in stead of putting there hand over the guys head and hitting there hand when there punching how pathetic is that......they can’t even build themself up straight they use pills??? and then they do fake stunts with sweaty men i guess if thats your defintion of entertainment.......basketball takes hours in the gym and a lot of hard pratice and true athetlicsm something none of those guys have with out there roids......wrestling takes no hours of pratcing once you make the wwf except staying in shape by using there roids and lifting weights......and if WRESTLING IS SO DANGEROUS AND REAL PLEASE ANSWER ME WHY THE AVG LENGTH OF PLAYER IN THE NBA IS SHORTER DUE TO INJURIES THAN THE AVG LENGTH OF THE WWF WRESTLERS....I BET IF I TURN THAT DUM AZZ SHOW ON ID STILL SEE THE SAME LOSERS I SEEN BACK IN 98 . | Posted by
"wwf hmmmmmm YUP STILL A JOKE" YEAH THIS ASSHOLE IS STILL A JOKE
on 05.23.2009 | C.Y. Ellis and the "Joke" guy must both be uneducated to the backgrounds of a lot of pro wrestlers. This forum proves that.In a real world senario Kenyon would end up on his back and the "fake" wrestler would end up either choking him out or smashing his face.Basketball would not make you tough, atleast the pro wrestler would be used to lifting throwing and slamming people. When was the last time Kenyon Martin was sparring for an opponent in his down time? . | Posted by
Brock Lesnar better than Kenyon Martin
on 05.23.2009 | You said the nba player would be more successful in a street fight. What do you base that on? The NBA guy can play basketball better, big deal.I would rather know how to take someone down than dunk on them.You analogies suck.If Kenyon Martin fought Brock Lesnar and Brock submits him with an armbar or beats the crap out of him. Kenyon is down.If Kenyon dunks on Brock Lesnar all that shows is that Kenyon dunked on him. Then Brock would still be able to pound him.Why would we cheer for wrestlers? Because it is fun and it is entertaining. Same reason a lot of people watch UFC it is exciting. Think about it. I can see to grown men fight or at least put on a show similar to a stunt show w/ athletes or I can watch some one dribble a basketball and throw it into a hoop.Bobby Lashley, Brock Lesnar, Kurt Angle, Dan Severn, Ken Shamrock, Jack Swagger, Charlie Haas, Shelton Benjamin,Shawn O’Haire,Elijah Burke, and Sylvester Terkay. I’d put any of these guys against Kenyon Martin in a fight.Brock Lesnar is a former WWE star and is now the WHC of the UFC. As far as saying none of the WWE stars can play basketball who cares. Basketball would settle nothing, where as a fight could.You mentioned him being from the streets and street fighting. You didn’t say he was tough because he was playing a game of street hoops. Basketball could not save anyones life, it is not a needed tool to survive, but wrestling, boxing, mma could save your life.Oh and by the way what is a nigs? Are you employing racist comments on the forum? . | Posted by
wwf hmmmmmm YUP STILL A JOKE
on 05.21.2009 | yea ok Murdock Loser if your a laker fan which means you prolli ride KB DlCK you know damn well you faker fans would rather see your la fakers play in the playoffs than some play which doesn’t even sell out reguardless if they had a contract.....and i honestly don’t care if Denver gets swept i hate every team that remains in these playoffs bc KB,LBJand Dwight and the most DlCK rided players there is........and to you wwf fans i got a question why would you cheer for a wrestler when its not even them that wins when its a script and they pick the winners?????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????? . | Posted by
Murdock
on 05.21.2009 | This is the exact reason why I hope that the Denver Nuggets get swept by the Lakers & I’m not just saying that because I’m a Lakers fan....The Nuggets owner is classless....a contract was sign,sealed & delivered....how about following a contract for once in your life.Yea it was just for game 4 of the Western Confernece Finals.....I mean could you not switch games to either Sunday or Tuesday night?Does the NBA really need two days off between games?The NHL did it when they had double book the arena...so why can’t all mighty NBA do the same thing....I hope the Lakers are up 3-0 when Monday Night comes around just so that WWE Monday Night RAW can not just beat the Western Conference Finals in the ratings,but so that all WWE fans both in & out of Colorado can say to the Nuggets..."Was it really worth trying to kick the WWE out?" . | Posted by
Rah
on 05.21.2009 | NBA against WWE that’s a joke! Just keep on dribbling your ball and doing the occasional dunk and leave the real action and full contact stuff to the SPORTS entertainers. You guys jam your finger and your out for months, weak! . | Posted by
wwf is a joke
on 05.21.2009 | and obvisouly you knows nothing about fighting, just bc your big and can wrestle WRESTLE LOL yea WRESTLE absoultley has nothing to do with how you can street fight let alone none of those losers yall mention can play bball, the nba players would be more successful at street fighting the wwf wrestlers then the wwf playing ball and the person who doesn’t know keynon martin in a street fight with one of those divas bc real nigs don’t f in fake a-------real fight 4 real he lierally kill them let alone steroid abusing triphle h . | Posted by
The Evil Risk At Hand
on 05.21.2009 | it’s clear to see that WWE/WWF had a contract and the Denver nuggets owner doesn’t have any faith in his team and scheduled wwe’s event not having any Faith in in his team.... he voided the contract.....bar none WWE will win this war in court....Now i like both but I am a true die hard wrestling fan.....asking B-ball players to wrestle is a joke ...and if you think wrestling is as fake as you think......step up to plate......I bet your match will be a short lived as the nuggets playoff run.....what a joke...... I know you B-ball fans are trying to support your team but come on the nuggets owner screwed up and you guys are defending a lost cause......If I would vince I would sue and not do business with him again as it is 2 other arenas stepped up to the plate to help in Denvers neglect....Staples center and Madison Square Garden......not like wrestling just came about.....did you not see wrestlemania....stop defending and deal that went wrong.....Denver made a huge mistake and we shall watch what happens next....... WWE for life . | Posted by
Michael
on 05.21.2009 | Kenyon Martin? Since when does playing basketball mean that he could take a wrestler?WWE may be entertainment but it has hosted such atheletes as Bobby Lashley, Brock Lesnar, Kurt Angle, Dan Severn, Ken Shamrock, Jack Swagger, Charlie Haas, Shelton Benjamin,Shawn O’Haire,Elijah Burke, and Sylvester Terkay. I guess a jump shot is more impressive then medals and championships won by these "fake" wrestlers even though these accomplishments were gained through wrestling, boxing, and mma.If you wish to play the yeah but Kenyon is taller. Well the Great Khali, in his own country of India was a cop and he is a very accomplished Martial Artist in Akido, Judo, and Kalari so there you go.And as far as the post made by "really wwf?? who gives a f"I would much rather be beat in a game of basketball than suplexed on my neck. Translate that to the real world you could make a case that a "pro" wrestler could probably disable a robber or an attacker what would the ball player do? Challenge him to a game of H-O-R-S-E? Besides that the WWE had the arena booked in advance if this happened to you, you’d probably be upset too or looking to sue for a breach. . | Posted by
Sal
on 05.21.2009 | OK last time, I’m glad WWE screwed them and theres no telling how much money the city of Denver just lost but when it comes right down to it... the person posting under really WWF? is an honest to goodness idiot that honestly doesnt deserve to breathe my air. You Fn moron please just go away... for good! . | Posted by
Luscious Lars Anderson
on 05.21.2009 | Yo, Dawgs! This s---got me straight trippin! . | Posted by
Skotch tape
on 05.21.2009 | Haha i like the title. the NBA motto is so easy to tweak and make fun of. . | Posted by
on 05.21.2009 | I don’t have a clue who Kenyon Martin is because I don’t watch the NBA. But I’m just guessing if you put him in a wrestling ring for 5 minutes with most Diva’s he would run crying like a baby much less a Triple H or a Great Kali. WWE booked it and should get it but they won’t. Most likely they will just have a show 2 nights in a row in Colorado Springs. Raw on Monday and Smackdown on Tuesday. I mainly feel bad for the fans with tickets who can’t get to Colorado Springs. There the ones getting screwed. . | Posted by
really wwf?? who gives a f
on 05.20.2009 | HA HA ALL YOU F IN LOSER WWE FANS YALL GOT KICKED OUT BC YALL LOSERS AND YALL TALK BOUT O STEP INTO THE RING WITH ONE OF THOSE FAKE LOSERS HOW BOUT YOU BUMS STEP UP ON THE COURT AGAINST ONE THE NUGGETS PLAYERS AND BE ON A POSTER WHEN THEY DUNK ON U N PUT THEY NUTS IN YO FACE.......BYE BYE LOSERS YALLLLLL GOT KICKED OUT HA HA HA HA WWF ARE LOSERS AND VINCE MCHAMON HAS A BUISNESS CLEARY WHERE NO ONE CARES THATS WHY YALL WILL BE IN LA AND YALL SUPPOSE TO BE IN DENVER WHERE THE NBA WILL HANDLE THE REAL DEAL BUISSNESS NOT SOME FAKE FARIY TALE....YOUS HONESTLY HAVE TO FEEL LIKE LOSERS LIKE BIG SWEATY GUYS HUGGING EACH OTHER FOR NO REASON BC ITS FAKER THAN FAKE . | Posted by
on 05.20.2009 | Doesnt matter if the WWE is fake or not. Doesnt matter who has more viewers or what will draw a bigger crowd. Fact is, Vince and the WWE were promised the use of the Pepsi Center, and they should get it. . | Posted by
Keith Learmonth
on 05.20.2009 | "FACT IS FACT ITS THE NUGGETS ARENA...AND THATS ALL THERE IS TO IT AND YEA OK THE TRUTH DO RESEARCH I SEEN SHOWS WHERE THEY SAY ITS FAKE LET ALONE I BEEN TO AN EVENT AND I COULD TELL IT WAS CLEARY FAKE SO JUST GET THE F OUT OF HERE " - "Really wwf?"Now, "I seen shows" where they say basketball is totally rigged too. So what you "seen" on a show is worthless and meaningless.Wrestling may be scripted, however, not as much as you’d think, But it’s not fake. Also, it’s WWE, not WWF, It’s a public arena, which the owners booked out to the WWE, and are legally responsible for holding that booking, You have no idea what you are talking about, I recommend finishing school before trying to argue with people. And if you have finished school... Maybe you need to go back. . | Posted by
Jay
on 05.20.2009 | WOW..Vince should sue. He been had the contract signed. Vince is right, just because the owner has no faith in his team to think they could win doesnt mean WWE cant preform. Howard " The Idiot" Stern is a dumbass. He’s investigating the argument and he has no say what so ever. Whether if its the Nuggets stadium or not, they dont have any rights. Its not fair to the MANY WWE fans, who have their tickets. WWE brings in more ratings then them anyway. . | Posted by
M
on 05.20.2009 | Man I thought wrestling fans wrote some stupid stuff, but the NBA fans are right up there. Funny how that works!Here’s how this could be resolved:Raw has been taped on different occasions before and due to the fact that Monday is Memorial Day, most people have off of work/school anyways. Tape the show earlier in the day and any ticket buyers who can’t make it due to the last minute change can be refunded by the arena out of the Nuggets pocket. That way Raw will still air and the Nuggets can have their game. . | Posted by
on 05.20.2009 | WWE HAS THE RIGHT TO THE HAVE RAW THERE, VINCE DIDNT FORCE NO ONE TO SIGN A CONTRACT,AND ITS NOT VINCE FAULT THEY DONT KNOW HOW TO SCHEDULE.AND BTW MARTIN WOULD GET HIS *** BEAT AGAINST WWE STARS, LETS PUT HIM INSIDE A CAGE WITH BIG SHOW AND LETS SEE WHO WALKS OUT. . |
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