First of all. I see some columnists trying to take over my weekend turf. The weekend is mine! Why do you think I moved my column posts over here? Because most of you post Monday or Tuesday. Anyways...
I have something to admit to you. All of us that read this site or read my columns are in fact geeks. Yeah hardcore wrestling fans as of late has been downgraded to that the level of "NNEERRDDSS!!!!" (Busting out my best "Revenge Of The Nerds" impersonation there). When we tell people that we are in fact fans of pro wrestling, based on my personal experience 9 times out of 10 go "Wrestling? You know it's fake right?" or something to that extent. Some people don't understand the reasons why we would like it. And that's puts up on a geek level. Personally I think we rank a LITTLE bit higher than "Star Trek" geeks. My favorite geek moment came from the pilot episode "Welcome To Eltingville" which aired on Adult Swim. The show was about 4 hardcore geeks that are fans in anything you can imagine. Then one day two of the geeks have a "lightning round" of questions that only geeks know of to decide who can win a rare Boba Fett Action Figure. When they get tired they both get into a fist fight with chants of "ECW" in the background (the episode is right here. The "ECW" Reference is 3:30 into the video. Open it in a new tab/window if you want).
Okay. I know what your asking. What the HELL has this to do with pro wrestling or anything else this week? Simple. Last weekend was one of the biggest geek showings ever. I'm talking about the "San Diego Comic-Con". What started off as a simple bunch of geeks loving comics has now turned into a media event extravaganza that all of Hollywood show up to in order to promote all their latest movies, video games, or anything else. Not just Hollywood was there. But some pro wrestlers as well. Mick Foley, Rob Van Dam, Gail Kim, & "My Pal & Yours!" Christy Hemme were there all four days (well not Gail & Christy according to some people I know) to sign autographs. While Mr. Kennedy was there to promote his Straight-To-DVD movie "Behind Enemy Lines: Columbia".
But that's not the real reason why I'm writing today. Yours truly was down there as well. I would have loved to tell you that I was there at Comic-Con, but thanks to Comic-Con making all ticket sales this year online (thus selling out all tickets) I was basically hoarked. But I was there for ANOTHER event. USA Today's Pop Candy was holding a special event for all their fans. Not only the every man showed up but even a few celebrities. Sometimes I take a NoDq.com column and transfer it to the MySpace Blog. This time around I'll transfer that blog over here. But this time it will be all about how lowly ole me, a measly wrestling columnist, will try to spread the love of WWE & TNA to normal average people while at the same time being me. Yup. I'm DOOMED!
So let's start off with me being denied at Comic-Com. By not getting into Comic-Con (one day I'll be back). I watched the ole iPod. Then explored the San Diego Gaslamp quarter. Most of the restaurants their sold "California Cuisine" food A.K.A. some of the food you might see on "Hell's Kitchen", and it wasn't all that good looking to me. The only restaurant that looked really good was a "Subway" in the area but it was flooded by the participants of Comic-Con! BLEH!
Found myself some Luchadors during the event. These guys were dressed up as famous Luchadors from the past. One of them said "Blue Demon" and that rang a bell a wee bit. Unfortunately I forgot my camera so I had to use the cell phone camera (you loose one Pants Size in weight and yet you STILL have that reminder of what your Daddy gave you when you were born! I mean GOD DAMN!). Time was ready for the event and here I go!
The bar, which was located at the top of the Marriott hotel was nice. I got to see the Coronado Bridge, PETCO Park (where the San Diego Padres play), and the Convention Center all the way from there.
There were a lot of people there. Most of it were people that are readers of the "Pop Candy Blog". But I did meet some pseudo celebrities that attended the Event as well.
While I head to the bar. I stumbled upon Maurissa Tancharoen & Jed Whedon. Those names might not sound familiar to some of you. But if you take a REAL close look. These two were a part of the "Dr. Horrible Sing-A-Long Blog" Internet Video Sensation! Maurissa & Jed partially wrote it, Jed wrote the lyrics, and even starred in it (Jed's a part of the cowboy chorus, while Maurissa was a part of the chorus that was singing the praises of Captain Hammer). Maurissa will be a part of the upcoming "Dollhouse" series that will be on Fox. Usually I'm not starstruck because I'm really an open guy and I see all people equally. But in this instance. COMPLETELY STAR STRUCK! I couldn't say anything and I saw they were at the range of pretty annoyed a WEE bit (at least I think I did, and trying to promote that I'm an actual writer myself at the time seemed like a bad idea). So I excused myself and went to the bar.
Whitney had a special item to give out for people that came to the meet-up. A mini-comic done by various artists. Most of those artists were there at the event. Although one of them was sporting one heck of a "Goku" haircut.
What exactly is a "Goku" haircut? Simple it's taking Goku's hair from "Dragonball Z" And using his haircut for modern applications.
Whitney got a surprise visit from Tim Heidecker & Eric Wareheim. If those names don't sound familiar these two guys created "Tom Goes To The Mayor" (which I liked) and the more recent "Tim & Eric Awesome Show! Great Job!" (which I hate!) on Adult Swim. Whitney likes the show which she mentions on the blog while I don't understand why anybody would like that crap. I stayed away from them like HELL!
I caught a quick glimpse and saw Doug Benson from VH-1's "Best Week Ever". Nothing came about it.
Then finally met the blogger herself Whitney. She seemed quite nice. Then again she was playing the role of party host so she was floating all over the place. She looked quite cute in her white dress with mini-red polka dots all over it. I got to admit Whitney did try to shill for me when I was awarded "Reader Of The Day". But when all you had was "wrestling, wrestling, and 'My Name Is Earl'" it is kinda hard to promote me now huh? I would have loved to say thanks to her, but I didn't because most of you know by now that I am in fact a giant tool!
While at the event I mingled with the following NORMAL people.
First I met a few group of people. One was an newspaper editor out of Cincinati, OH (man I wished I had my business cards), another was a Stenographer out of LA who can type over 2000 WPM (yikes! way faster than me!) but then she said it's mostly based on typing 23 keys. I made the editor laugh when I told them how much I get paid for writing on NoDQ.com (which is NOTHING!). I tried to spread the love but it seems like the interest in me writing about giant Indian Men that sound like Mushmouth from "Fat Albert" wasn't all that thrilling.
Next I met some college students. We had some decent conversation over some things Pop Culture-ey. They were scared in meeting Whitney which I tried to say that "she's people" Then some professional came over to talk to us for a bit to jump into the conversation. Then he brought in some female pro blogger that specialized in blogging about "Lost". She was talking about if any of us watches the show and said about watching "Lost" "It's a commitment. Either your in it or your not!" (best of what I can remember). That kinda freaked me out a bit...okay it freaked me out A LOT!!! Especially when we have "YouTube Shooters" out there with about the same zealous behavior as her. I can never understand that. I guess WWE counts on those brain dead to push Cena to hell to make the big bucks I guess?
Wandered around for a bit and met a couple of guys that worked for Fox Studios in the Audio/Visual Departments. They got to go to Comic-Con for free because Fox Studios gave them free tickets! Lucky bastards! We had some decent conversation. Brought up the fact trivia wise that Cena is the most hated person alive in pro wrestling and they laughed at that because they didn't know it. And they actually agreed with the way Cena was treated thanks to them watching "The Marine". I thought seeing "The Condemned" would do that! Brought up some more info that they didn't know like Undertaker & Michelle McCool playing "Hide The Salami" and other insider stuff that made them give a second look at how pro wrestling can be cool. I hung out with them a little bit more and continued wandering.
Enjoyed the view quite a bit from the bar. View would be better if the Coronado bridge was out of the way though. Sometimes industrialization BLOWS!
Met Mindy (one of the few people's names that I can ACTUALLY remember!) I guess I can remember Mindy because she's in the Navy. She will be shipped out soon so she decided to come to the Meetup. She hasn't gone to Iraq...YET! *knocks on wood* We talked about how 70's TV had ruined our lives (Her with "Mork & Mindy" me with "Buck Rogers"). And our fascination with local Mexican Restaurants and how they serve such gigantic portions for such LOW prices! Took off to see what else I can encounter. Mindy, where ever you are. Good luck!
Then I found Vinnie & Jessica. I remember them because Vinnie is a programmer for PS3 games (*swoon*) and Jessica was just simply SMASHED out of her mind! She was high-fiving people left and right, wanting hugs from me, even commiting party fouls left and right. A couple of girls joined in (one from LA, one from Chicago, I think one of them is named Becky? "Becky" understood what I actually did! And just went "oh"). We had fun talking, while Jessica was pronoucing her love for those girls and was declaring that she would do some sweet Lesbian love to them (these girls were okay looking, there personalities were awesome though!). Did I mention that Jessica was so drunk that it was funny? And that Vinnie was joining her in the drunkenness area? Then someone else entered our little group. Comic Book Writer James Denning entered into the conversation. Denning has written some "Dexter's Laboratory" & "Looney Toones" comics for DC and currently he's trying to get into a new business that's (according to me) sounds like a cross between Kongregate.com & YouTube, or some new way to get comics distributed via the Internet. So there we were. All five of us having a good time. We all stayed until the end of the "Meet Up". It was getting around 8:30P. I noticed that it was getting dark. Didn't want to get mugged or anything like that, and adding that it would be a two hour trip back home, I said goodbye to my new friends.
Got back in the car. Things were getting a little bad for me. Sleepy + Driving Car = A Bad Idea! So I got food at the only place available. A "AM/PM Gas station". Never go there. One time I had the "runs" from their food and it gets me sick to this day. I'm still nauseous and sick today because of the damn food as I am typing this blog! But when you need to get home, and things don't look safe for sleeping, you got to do what to go do. Riding high on a sugar and bad food mix. I got home.
And here I am. *sigh*
Well at least I'm still loved here at NoDq.com right? RIGHT?!? *crickets*
Update. The Carrie Deusing RSD Foundation is kinda on hold for the moment because Carrie is in fact in Mexico right now for her treatment. Looks like she's getting better at the moment. SO for those that donated to the foundation I can't say personally for Dawn Marie but I'm guessing from her and myself I would like to say thanks to those that donated. But that's not stopping Dawn Marie from helping. Dawn Marie is helping to promote another charity. It's called "Wrestler's Rescue". A charity that helps ex-wrestlers whose bodies are so damaged that they need surgery but they cannot afford the surgery. Not only is Dawn Marie attending. But take a look at who else will be there: Tammy "Sunny" Sytch, "Superstar" Billy Graham, Terri Runnels, Missy Hyatt, The Sandman, Nikolai Volkoff, The Iron Sheik, Captain Lou Albano, Brutus "The Barber" Beefcake, "Superfly" Jimmy Snuka, Danny Doring, Greg Valentine, Johnny Rodz, Balls Mahoney, "The Genius" Lanny Poffo, The ECW Zombie, and Mick Foley. There are also other celebrities and people will be there. So if you want to help ex-wrestlers that are so beat up they can't even afford the surgeries that can make then normal, go check out the website.
Until next time. I can ride my bike with no handlebars, no handlebars, no handlebars.
