Robert rey

This is my story: I occasionally watched the later seasons of the X-Files as a kid, because I was a fan of scientific fiction, under my constant pestering, my father would occasionally change the channel to the X-Files show when there was nothing else more interesting to him showing on TV. As a kid, I was focusing more on the stories than the relationship or the characters themselves. I did remember episode 1 of Season 8 and I never hated Doggett like many others did, because all what he presented to Scully about Mulder was back up by evidence (rental car receipts, medical reports, pre-made headstone). His talk about Mulder confiding other females in the building seemed to be from the rumors that he heard (I am sure someone saw Mulder kissed Pheobe Green and gazed at Diana). Since Mulder is not a particular popular agent in the building, I won't be surprised things got twisted when they reach Doggett. I just didn't understand why they found such an old actor to be the new male lead (I didn't know Robert Patrick, nor did I watch the Terminator, let alone #2). I just remembered he was very standard.
I did my complete watch in 2015, at 360p or 480p. I treated Doggett and Reyes as temporary placeholders in Mulder's absence and forgot about them. I was actually very fond of the relationship between Mulder and Scully. I was very moved by Scully's monologue in TrustNo1 in Season 9. I found that their relationship has sublimed to something higher without going through those earthly stuff like sex and marriage. Then I was disappointed that they had broken up in the beginning of Season 10 (didn't watch the second movie).
Due to the 30th anniversary of the X Files last year, I started my first rewatch in November 2023, at the Blu-ray quality. That makes all the difference (yes, I have poor eyesight). Knowing that M&S would going to break up at some point, when I rewatched Seasons 1-7, I was SAD and didn't understand (although I know that they ended up together again in Season 11). Then I understood when Doggett came along!!! He was very kind as shown in Without. He was just doing his job and got thrown into an unwilling partnership. He stole me at the end of Patient: he's such a perfect partner and a hero, and yet so humble: "I never see it as an option". He killed me in the scene of Roadrunners where he carried Scully on the bus, attempted to hotwire the bus in 60 seconds, cut up Scully's neck, squeezed out the slug, shot it, pointed the gun to the cult leader, carried Scully off the bus, then walked in the middle of the patrol cars. I think by about Medusa, I finally understood and let go of the sadness that M&S were going to break up. It was Doggett who made me understand what a perfect man is and how the relationship (including partnership) between M&S was dysfunctional.
It is not the physical appearance of John Doggett (or Robert Patrick) that attracts me, but it is Doggett's personality. He's just a perfect man! Indeed, Mulder fits more of my bill of physical attractiveness. The essence of humanity of Doggett was what got me. In Medusa, he wouldn't even abandon Bianco who knocked him out and infected him the contagion! He's sympathetic to the victims or people who suffer: he was the only one concerning the welfare of Anthony in the "Sunshine Day" when everyone was obsessed by his magic. He is pragmatic: To him, the "Truth" doesn't matter more than putting away the bad people so that there won't be any more future victims. Of course, his respect and suppressed, unconditional, and selfless love to Scully is extremely very moving.
Share your story: when and how you become a fan of John Doggett?

Yesterday's Standout Hitters

^{stats for games since 04/07/2024}
 

AAA Standouts

🔥​ Jackson Holliday​ 2/5 2B HR K -- [SS, 20, INT - BAL] - [F] [T] .254 BA .418 OBP .169 ISO 71 AB 2 HR 2 SB 21 BB% 19 K%
Junior Caminero 2/4 -- [2B, 20, INT - TB] - [F] [T] .312 BA .373 OBP .247 ISO 93 AB 6 HR 8 BB% 20 K%
James Wood 1/2 2BB -- [CF, 21, INT - WSH] - [F] [T] .356 BA .452 OBP .235 ISO 132 AB 7 HR 9 SB 15 BB% 17 K%
🔥​ Javier Sanoja​ 3/4 3B BB -- [SS, 21, INT - MIA] - [F] [T] .269 BA .341 OBP .115 ISO 78 AB 1 SB 10 BB% 3 K%
Owen Caissie 2/4 2B BB K -- [CF, 21, INT - CHC] - [F] [T] .272 BA .407 OBP .149 ISO 114 AB 3 HR 4 SB 17 BB% 27 K%
Thomas Saggese 2/4 2B -- [2B, 22, INT - STL] - [F] [T] .267 BA .346 OBP .181 ISO 116 AB 5 HR 4 SB 6 BB% 19 K%
Colson Montgomery 2/3 2B SB -- [SS, 22, INT - CWS] - [F] [T] .225 BA .351 OBP .234 ISO 111 AB 6 HR 4 SB 14 BB% 27 K%
Coby Mayo 2/2 2B -- [3B, 22, INT - BAL] - [F] [T] .259 BA .327 OBP .326 ISO 135 AB 11 HR 2 SB 8 BB% 26 K%
🔥​ Juan Brito​ 2/4 HR 2 SB -- [2B, 22, INT - CLE] - [F] [T] .211 BA .342 OBP .195 ISO 123 AB 6 HR 3 SB 15 BB% 16 K%
Victor Mesa Jr. 2/5 HR K -- [CF, 22, INT - MIA] - [F] [T] .279 BA .340 OBP .206 ISO 136 AB 7 HR 2 SB 8 BB% 18 K%
Jhonkensy Noel 1/3 HR -- [LF, 22, INT - CLE] - [F] [T] .194 BA .256 OBP .296 ISO 108 AB 9 HR 3 BB% 28 K%
Malcom Nuñez 2/3 HR -- [3B, 23, INT - PIT] - [F] [T] .272 BA .324 OBP .120 ISO 92 AB 2 HR 7 BB% 16 K%
Andy Blake 2/5 HR 2K -- [1B, 23, PCL - LAA] - [F] [T] .200 BA .280 OBP .133 ISO 45 AB 2 HR 2 SB 8 BB% 24 K%
Jordan Diaz 1/3 HR -- [2B, 23, PCL - OAK] - [F] [T] .188 BA .278 OBP .159 ISO 69 AB 2 HR 10 BB% 21 K%
🔥​ BJ Murray Jr.​ 2/3 2 HR 2BB -- [1B, 24, INT - CHC] - [F] [T] .204 BA .330 OBP .204 ISO 93 AB 5 HR 4 SB 16 BB% 25 K%
Johnathan Rodriguez 2/3 HR BB -- [DH, 24, INT - CLE] - [F] [T] .302 BA .405 OBP .198 ISO 126 AB 7 HR 4 SB 14 BB% 25 K%
Jordyn Adams 2/5 2 HR 2K -- [RF, 24, PCL - LAA] - [F] [T] .236 BA .329 OBP .122 ISO 123 AB 3 HR 12 SB 12 BB% 27 K%
Henry Davis 3/4 2B HR -- [C, 24, INT - PIT] - [F] [T] .231 BA .429 OBP .154 ISO 26 AB 1 HR 8 BB% 20 K%
Drew Waters 4/6 2B 3B K -- [RF, 25, INT - KC] - [F] [T] .314 BA .393 OBP .265 ISO 102 AB 4 HR 5 SB 10 BB% 23 K%
Nick Sogard 4/6 2 HR -- [2B, 26, INT - BOS] - [F] [T] .260 BA .381 OBP .154 ISO 104 AB 4 HR 3 SB 16 BB% 19 K%
René Pinto 2/3 2 HR -- [C, 27, INT - TB] - [F] [T] .259 BA .344 OBP .556 ISO 27 AB 5 HR 9 BB% 28 K%
Drew Ellis 2/4 2B HR BB 2 SB -- [2B, 28, PCL - LAA] - [F] [T] .263 BA .333 OBP .211 ISO 19 AB 1 HR 2 SB 9 BB% 9 K%
 

AA Standouts

Nelson Rada 1/4 K -- [DH, 18, SOU - LAA] - [F] [T] .259 BA .325 OBP .027 ISO 112 AB 14 SB 7 BB% 22 K%
Denzer Guzman 1/3 BB -- [SS, 20, SOU - LAA] - [F] [T] .194 BA .286 OBP .097 ISO 31 AB 1 HR 11 BB% 27 K%
Moises Ballesteros 1/4 HR -- [C, 20, SOU - CHC] - [F] [T] .295 BA .376 OBP .221 ISO 95 AB 5 HR 11 BB% 12 K%
Cole Young 1/3 2BB -- [SS, 20, TEX - SEA] - [F] [T] .235 BA .328 OBP .084 ISO 119 AB 1 HR 6 SB 10 BB% 16 K%
Carson Williams 1/3 2B BB K -- [SS, 20, SOU - TB] - [F] [T] .342 BA .419 OBP .237 ISO 114 AB 5 HR 9 SB 10 BB% 24 K%
Deyvison De Los Santos 2/3 -- [1B, 20, TEX - ARI] - [F] [T] .367 BA .421 OBP .297 ISO 128 AB 11 HR 7 BB% 20 K%
Brady House 0/1 BB SB -- [3B, 20, EAS - WSH] - [F] [T] .241 BA .336 OBP .224 ISO 116 AB 7 HR 1 SB 11 BB% 23 K%
🔥​ Jeremy Rivas​ 3/4 HR SB -- [SS, 21, TEX - STL] - [F] [T] .280 BA .382 OBP .065 ISO 93 AB 1 HR 9 SB 12 BB% 17 K%
Emmanuel Rodriguez 1/3 HR 2BB K -- [CF, 21, TEX - MIN] - [F] [T] .258 BA .455 OBP .292 ISO 89 AB 5 HR 6 SB 25 BB% 29 K%
Hao-Yu Lee 2/2 3B 2BB -- [2B, 21, EAS - DET] - [F] [T] .259 BA .351 OBP .147 ISO 116 AB 2 HR 3 SB 11 BB% 21 K%
Joe Mack 1/4 HR BB 2K -- [C, 21, SOU - MIA] - [F] [T] .233 BA .295 OBP .151 ISO 86 AB 2 HR 6 BB% 22 K%
Max Acosta 2/4 SB -- [2B, 21, TEX - TEX] - [F] [T] .262 BA .330 OBP .097 ISO 103 AB 9 SB 7 BB% 14 K%
Kevin Alcántara 2/3 2B BB -- [CF, 21, SOU - CHC] - [F] [T] .248 BA .303 OBP .142 ISO 113 AB 4 HR 2 SB 7 BB% 24 K%
Petey Halpin 2/3 2B 3B -- [CF, 21, EAS - CLE] - [F] [T] .235 BA .300 OBP .168 ISO 119 AB 3 HR 3 SB 7 BB% 21 K%
Alex De Jesus 2/3 HR BB K -- [3B, 22, EAS - TOR] - [F] [T] .243 BA .314 OBP .093 ISO 107 AB 2 HR 1 SB 8 BB% 27 K%
Kyle Teel 1/2 2B 2BB -- [C, 22, EAS - BOS] - [F] [T] .267 BA .379 OBP .152 ISO 105 AB 3 HR 1 SB 14 BB% 26 K%
Pascanel Ferreras 2/2 2BB -- [SS, 22, TEX - HOU] - [F] [T] .333 BA .471 OBP .185 ISO 27 AB 1 HR 17 BB% 20 K%
Sam Brown 2/4 2 2B -- [1B, 22, SOU - LAA] - [F] [T] .261 BA .331 OBP .092 ISO 119 AB 1 SB 8 BB% 23 K%
Bladimir Restituyo 2/4 2 2B -- [CF, 22, EAS - COL] - [F] [T] .269 BA .325 OBP .087 ISO 104 AB 2 HR 7 SB 7 BB% 17 K%
Jakob Marsee 3/4 2B BB K SB -- [CF, 22, SOU - MIA] - [F] [T] .194 BA .373 OBP .126 ISO 103 AB 2 HR 13 SB 20 BB% 19 K%
Matthew Lugo 1/3 HR BB K SB -- [LF, 23, EAS - BOS] - [F] [T] .304 BA .396 OBP .370 ISO 92 AB 8 HR 7 SB 13 BB% 27 K%
Brennan Milone 2/3 2B HR BB K -- [1B, 23, TEX - OAK] - [F] [T] .302 BA .388 OBP .198 ISO 116 AB 5 HR 3 SB 11 BB% 20 K%
Cody Freeman 2/4 2B HR K -- [3B, 23, TEX - TEX] - [F] [T] .291 BA .339 OBP .205 ISO 117 AB 5 HR 4 SB 6 BB% 13 K%
Rolando Espinosa 3/4 2B BB -- [RF, 23, TEX - HOU] - [F] [T] .232 BA .321 OBP .116 ISO 69 AB 1 HR 2 SB 11 BB% 38 K%
Colin Barber 1/3 HR BB -- [LF, 23, TEX - HOU] - [F] [T] .218 BA .279 OBP .200 ISO 55 AB 3 HR 1 SB 6 BB% 37 K%
Keyber Rodriguez 2/4 2B 3B -- [SS, 23, TEX - TEX] - [F] [T] .268 BA .295 OBP .268 ISO 41 AB 2 HR 2 SB 4 BB% 13 K%
Jake Rucker 3/4 2 2B BB -- [2B, 24, TEX - MIN] - [F] [T] .276 BA .356 OBP .143 ISO 105 AB 2 HR 2 SB 5 BB% 13 K%
Taylor Young 0/1 4BB K 3 SB -- [3B, 25, TEX - LAD] - [F] [T] .276 BA .379 OBP .133 ISO 105 AB 2 HR 12 SB 12 BB% 23 K%
 

A+ Standouts

Ethan Salas 1/4 2B K -- [C, 17, MID - SD] - [F] [T] .160 BA .272 OBP .075 ISO 106 AB 3 SB 13 BB% 27 K%
Victor Acosta 2/5 K SB -- [SS, 19, MID - CIN] - [F] [T] .160 BA .266 OBP .064 ISO 94 AB 5 SB 8 BB% 26 K%
Leonardo Bernal 2/4 3B K -- [C, 20, MID - STL] - [F] [T] .255 BA .333 OBP .138 ISO 94 AB 2 HR 2 SB 8 BB% 22 K%
Bryan Rincon 1/3 HR BB 2K -- [DH, 20, SAL - PHI] - [F] [T] .227 BA .368 OBP .173 ISO 75 AB 2 HR 6 SB 17 BB% 30 K%
Ahbram Liendo 1/2 3B 2BB K -- [DH, 20, SAL - BOS] - [F] [T] .176 BA .287 OBP .099 ISO 91 AB 2 HR 13 SB 12 BB% 37 K%
Luis Baez 2/4 2B -- [RF, 20, SAL - HOU] - [F] [T] .305 BA .349 OBP .169 ISO 118 AB 4 HR 4 SB 6 BB% 22 K%
Xavier Isaac 2/3 HR BB -- [DH, 20, SAL - TB] - [F] [T] .275 BA .360 OBP .266 ISO 109 AB 7 HR 5 SB 12 BB% 27 K%
Sal Stewart 1/1 3BB SB -- [2B, 20, MID - CIN] - [F] [T] .299 BA .424 OBP .150 ISO 107 AB 2 HR 2 SB 17 BB% 15 K%
Yeison Morrobel 1/3 HR -- [RF, 20, SAL - TEX] - [F] [T] .231 BA .308 OBP .103 ISO 117 AB 2 HR 3 SB 6 BB% 20 K%
Ambioris Tavarez 1/2 BB K SB -- [SS, 20, SAL - ATL] - [F] [T] .198 BA .309 OBP .113 ISO 106 AB 1 HR 5 SB 12 BB% 43 K%
Ambioris Tavarez 3/3 -- [SS, 20, SAL - ATL] - [F] [T] .198 BA .309 OBP .113 ISO 106 AB 1 HR 5 SB 12 BB% 43 K%
Bryant Betancourt 2/4 2B HR K -- [C, 20, NWL - COL] - [F] [T] .271 BA .357 OBP .129 ISO 85 AB 2 HR 3 SB 11 BB% 22 K%
Diego Velasquez 1/4 2B SB -- [SS, 20, NWL - SF] - [F] [T] .280 BA .376 OBP .108 ISO 93 AB 1 HR 6 SB 10 BB% 19 K%
Carlos Jorge 2/4 HR K -- [CF, 20, MID - CIN] - [F] [T] .200 BA .244 OBP .209 ISO 115 AB 4 HR 8 SB 4 BB% 40 K%
Yamal Encarnacion 1/3 2B BB -- [LF, 20, SAL - HOU] - [F] [T] .333 BA .500 OBP .333 ISO 3 AB 25 BB% 0 K%
🔥​ Henry Bolte​ 3/4 2B HR K SB -- [RF, 20, MID - OAK] - [F] [T] .260 BA .393 OBP .203 ISO 123 AB 5 HR 16 SB 14 BB% 34 K%
🔥​ Thayron Liranzo​ 2/4 2B HR 2BB -- [1B, 20, MID - LAD] - [F] [T] .223 BA .355 OBP .146 ISO 103 AB 3 HR 16 BB% 29 K%
Carter Jensen 1/3 2B BB -- [C, 20, MID - KC] - [F] [T] .293 BA .458 OBP .172 ISO 116 AB 2 HR 10 SB 22 BB% 18 K%
Jace Avina 2/5 2B HR -- [CF, 20, SAL - NYY] - [F] [T] .299 BA .404 OBP .218 ISO 87 AB 3 HR 2 SB 11 BB% 29 K%
Creed Willems 1/2 HR BB -- [C, 20, SAL - BAL] - [F] [T] .260 BA .322 OBP .288 ISO 104 AB 7 HR 7 BB% 20 K%
Lonnie White Jr. 2/3 2B SB -- [CF, 21, SAL - PIT] - [F] [T] .195 BA .305 OBP .244 ISO 82 AB 5 HR 4 SB 8 BB% 33 K%
Jay Allen II 2/5 2B HR 2K -- [LF, 21, MID - CIN] - [F] [T] .325 BA .449 OBP .325 ISO 80 AB 7 HR 6 SB 12 BB% 22 K%
Luis Encarnacion 2/2 2BB SB -- [1B, 21, SAL - HOU] - [F] [T] .244 BA .271 OBP .156 ISO 45 AB 1 HR 1 SB 4 BB% 14 K%
Onil Perez 1/4 2 SB -- [C, 21, NWL - SF] - [F] [T] .276 BA .369 OBP .057 ISO 87 AB 10 SB 11 BB% 12 K%
Junior Tilien 1/3 3B BB SB -- [2B, 21, SAL - NYM] - [F] [T] .230 BA .292 OBP .092 ISO 87 AB 1 HR 2 SB 8 BB% 17 K%
Jean Arnaez 1/5 HR -- [1B, 21, NWL - TOR] - [F] [T] .238 BA .327 OBP .167 ISO 42 AB 1 HR 8 BB% 10 K%
Roc Riggio 2/4 2B BB -- [2B, 21, SAL - NYY] - [F] [T] .236 BA .367 OBP .180 ISO 89 AB 2 HR 6 SB 17 BB% 14 K%
Brayan Buelvas 2/3 2B BB SB -- [CF, 21, MID - OAK] - [F] [T] .250 BA .355 OBP .195 ISO 128 AB 5 HR 11 SB 14 BB% 18 K%
Jared Serna 2/5 HR K -- [SS, 21, SAL - NYY] - [F] [T] .254 BA .371 OBP .202 ISO 114 AB 5 HR 2 SB 15 BB% 14 K%
Cole Carrigg 1/4 3B BB K SB -- [DH, 22, NWL - COL] - [F] [T] .263 BA .339 OBP .202 ISO 99 AB 3 HR 15 SB 9 BB% 13 K%
Jack Hurley 3/5 HR SB -- [LF, 22, NWL - ARI] - [F] [T] .238 BA .316 OBP .198 ISO 101 AB 4 HR 6 SB 10 BB% 25 K%
Caleb Ketchup 2/3 2B HR -- [SS, 22, NWL - LAA] - [F] [T] .204 BA .305 OBP .133 ISO 113 AB 3 HR 12 SB 12 BB% 27 K%
Homer Bush Jr. 2/4 2 SB -- [CF, 22, MID - SD] - [F] [T] .272 BA .364 OBP .019 ISO 103 AB 16 SB 9 BB% 17 K%
Rodolfo Nolasco 3/5 HR 2K SB -- [RF, 22, NWL - SF] - [F] [T] .212 BA .289 OBP .188 ISO 85 AB 4 HR 2 SB 10 BB% 43 K%
Bryan Gonzalez 2/3 HR -- [1B, 22, SAL - BOS] - [F] [T] .260 BA .318 OBP .351 ISO 77 AB 7 HR 3 SB 8 BB% 34 K%
Juan Guerrero 3/4 2 2B K SB -- [LF, 22, NWL - COL] - [F] [T] .308 BA .321 OBP .112 ISO 107 AB 2 HR 7 SB 1 BB% 16 K%
E.J. Exposito 3/4 2B HR SB -- [DH, 23, SAL - ATL] - [F] [T] .316 BA .370 OBP .367 ISO 98 AB 9 HR 10 SB 8 BB% 25 K%
Guy Lipscomb 2/4 HR K SB -- [RF, 23, MID - CLE] - [F] [T] .375 BA .468 OBP .125 ISO 80 AB 1 HR 8 SB 13 BB% 11 K%
Seth Stephenson 3/5 3B K SB -- [LF, 23, MID - DET] - [F] [T] .277 BA .364 OBP .085 ISO 94 AB 1 HR 11 SB 6 BB% 11 K%
Chandler Simpson 3/3 2 SB -- [LF, 23, SAL - TB] - [F] [T] .342 BA .411 OBP .009 ISO 111 AB 27 SB 10 BB% 11 K%
Logan Tanner 1/2 HR 2BB -- [C, 23, MID - CIN] - [F] [T] .152 BA .317 OBP .167 ISO 66 AB 2 HR 19 BB% 31 K%
Jeron Williams 2/4 2B HR -- [SS, 23, SAL - HOU] - [F] [T] .326 BA .386 OBP .225 ISO 89 AB 4 HR 9 SB 8 BB% 15 K%
P.J. Hilson 2/4 2 HR -- [CF, 23, SAL - PIT] - [F] [T] .364 BA .417 OBP .500 ISO 22 AB 3 HR 8 BB% 20 K%
Brock Rodden 2/4 2B BB 2 SB -- [2B, 23, NWL - SEA] - [F] [T] .240 BA .357 OBP .155 ISO 129 AB 4 HR 7 SB 13 BB% 15 K%
Jeffrey Wehler 3/4 2B HR BB -- [2B, 25, NWL - TOR] - [F] [T] .256 BA .316 OBP .093 ISO 86 AB 2 HR 4 SB 6 BB% 21 K%
 

A Standouts

Juan Flores 1/3 2B BB -- [C, 18, CAL - LAA] - [F] [T] .261 BA .340 OBP .163 ISO 92 AB 2 HR 6 BB% 21 K%
Alfredo Duno 2/2 2BB -- [C, 18, FSL - CIN] - [F] [T] .279 BA .375 OBP .198 ISO 86 AB 3 HR 2 SB 13 BB% 25 K%
Tai Peete 1/1 SB -- [SS, 18, CAL - SEA] - [F] [T] .275 BA .380 OBP .119 ISO 109 AB 7 SB 14 BB% 28 K%
Colt Emerson 0/1 2BB 2 SB -- [SS, 18, CAL - SEA] - [F] [T] .279 BA .464 OBP .115 ISO 61 AB 1 HR 3 SB 22 BB% 11 K%
Kevyn Castillo 1/4 BB K SB -- [LF, 18, CAL - LAA] - [F] [T] .265 BA .364 OBP .062 ISO 113 AB 1 HR 7 SB 12 BB% 31 K%
🔥​ Josue De Paula​ 1/2 HR 2BB -- [DH, 18, CAL - LAD] - [F] [T] .242 BA .333 OBP .189 ISO 95 AB 2 HR 3 SB 10 BB% 27 K%
Jaison Chourio 2/3 SB -- [CF, 19, CAR - CLE] - [F] [T] .305 BA .455 OBP .116 ISO 95 AB 2 HR 11 SB 20 BB% 13 K%
Jesus Baez 1/3 HR 2BB K -- [DH, 19, FSL - NYM] - [F] [T] .298 BA .357 OBP .183 ISO 131 AB 5 HR 5 SB 7 BB% 11 K%
Randy De Jesus 2/3 HR BB K -- [DH, 19, CAL - LAA] - [F] [T] .266 BA .363 OBP .203 ISO 79 AB 3 HR 2 SB 8 BB% 29 K%
Natanael Yuten 2/4 2B HR -- [RF, 19, CAR - BOS] - [F] [T] .264 BA .331 OBP .198 ISO 106 AB 4 HR 2 SB 8 BB% 30 K%
Cooper Pratt 1/3 HR 2K -- [SS, 19, CAR - MIL] - [F] [T] .194 BA .344 OBP .083 ISO 72 AB 1 HR 7 SB 17 BB% 26 K%
Gleider Figuereo 1/3 HR 2K -- [3B, 19, CAR - TEX] - [F] [T] .233 BA .341 OBP .284 ISO 116 AB 9 HR 14 BB% 28 K%
Aneudis Mordán 2/2 HR BB -- [C, 19, CAR - BAL] - [F] [T] .189 BA .298 OBP .122 ISO 90 AB 3 HR 2 SB 13 BB% 27 K%
Angel Tejada 3/3 HR -- [3B, 20, CAR - BAL] - [F] [T] .299 BA .324 OBP .144 ISO 97 AB 2 HR 17 SB 2 BB% 18 K%
Derlin Figueroa 1/2 2BB SB -- [3B, 20, CAR - KC] - [F] [T] .243 BA .312 OBP .144 ISO 111 AB 4 HR 4 SB 8 BB% 22 K%
🔥​ Yerlin Confidan​ 3/4 2 HR SB -- [LF, 21, FSL - CIN] - [F] [T] .245 BA .333 OBP .202 ISO 94 AB 4 HR 3 SB 11 BB% 21 K%
🔥​ Nicolas Deschamps​ 2/3 3B HR BB SB -- [C, 21, FSL - TOR] - [F] [T] .353 BA .368 OBP .412 ISO 17 AB 1 HR 1 SB 5 BB% 31 K%
Nelson Beltran 2/3 HR BB -- [RF, 22, CAL - OAK] - [F] [T] .186 BA .280 OBP .186 ISO 43 AB 2 HR 1 SB 10 BB% 40 K%
🔥​ Luke Mann​ 5/5 2 2B 2 HR -- [3B, 24, CAL - OAK] - [F] [T] .319 BA .412 OBP .224 ISO 116 AB 6 HR 11 BB% 22 K%
Angelo DiSpigna 3/3 2B HR BB -- [LF, 24, FSL - MIA] - [F] [T] .278 BA .480 OBP .278 ISO 18 AB 1 HR 24 BB% 16 K%
 

Rookie Standouts

Eduardo Tait 3/6 2B -- [DH, 17, GCL - PHI] - [F] [T] .227 BA .379 OBP .045 ISO 22 AB 10 BB% 13 K%
Mario Baez 1/2 3B -- [2B, 17, GCL - ATL] - [F] [T] .280 BA .357 OBP .080 ISO 25 AB 2 SB 10 BB% 10 K%
John Gil 2/3 BB 2 SB -- [SS, 18, GCL - ATL] - [F] [T] .147 BA .194 OBP .000 ISO 34 AB 2 SB 5 BB% 22 K%
Luis Almeyda 2/4 2 SB -- [DH, 18, GCL - BAL] - [F] [T] .174 BA .240 OBP .000 ISO 23 AB 4 SB 8 BB% 24 K%
Yaikel Mijares 1/3 HR BB 2K -- [2B, 18, AZL - CLE] - [F] [T] .231 BA .300 OBP .231 ISO 26 AB 2 HR 1 SB 10 BB% 40 K%
🔥​ Robert Calaz​ 3/5 3B HR K SB -- [CF, 18, AZL - COL] - [F] [T] .406 BA .500 OBP .469 ISO 32 AB 2 HR 2 SB 10 BB% 28 K%
Eric Bitonti 1/4 HR 2BB K -- [3B, 18, AZL - MIL] - [F] [T] .289 BA .386 OBP .316 ISO 38 AB 3 HR 1 SB 13 BB% 31 K%
Filippo Di Turi 3/5 BB -- [SS, 18, AZL - MIL] - [F] [T] .424 BA .568 OBP .182 ISO 33 AB 2 SB 25 BB% 13 K%
🔥​ Javier Mogollon​ 2/4 HR BB K 2 SB -- [SS, 18, AZL - CWS] - [F] [T] .214 BA .436 OBP .250 ISO 28 AB 2 HR 8 SB 28 BB% 41 K%
Enrique Jimenez 1/3 2B 2BB -- [C, 18, GCL - DET] - [F] [T] .207 BA .368 OBP .138 ISO 29 AB 1 HR 3 SB 21 BB% 13 K%
Yeiker Reyes 3/5 2 2B K -- [DH, 18, AZL - COL] - [F] [T] .500 BA .583 OBP .200 ISO 30 AB 4 SB 16 BB% 13 K%
Luiyin Alastre 2/7 2B SB -- [LF, 18, AZL - MIL] - [F] [T] .310 BA .356 OBP .167 ISO 42 AB 5 SB 6 BB% 17 K%
Fabian Lopez 1/4 BB 2K 2 SB -- [SS, 18, GCL - MIA] - [F] [T] .194 BA .212 OBP .097 ISO 31 AB 2 SB 3 BB% 30 K%
Eduardo Quintero 1/3 HR BB K -- [RF, 18, AZL - LAD] - [F] [T] .214 BA .389 OBP .143 ISO 28 AB 1 HR 16 BB% 25 K%
Camilo Diaz 3/5 3B 2K -- [SS, 18, GCL - HOU] - [F] [T] .258 BA .324 OBP .194 ISO 31 AB 2 SB 8 BB% 41 K%
🔥​ Jose Gerardo​ 2/3 2 2B BB K 2 SB -- [CF, 18, GCL - MIA] - [F] [T] .250 BA .333 OBP .156 ISO 32 AB 4 SB 11 BB% 41 K%
🔥🔥​ Guillermo Rosario​​ 3/4 2 HR 2BB -- [C, 19, GCL - PHI] - [F] [T] .370 BA .469 OBP .296 ISO 27 AB 2 HR 1 SB 12 BB% 31 K%
Danny Gonzalez 2/4 2B HR K -- [RF, 19, GCL - MIA] - [F] [T] .294 BA .385 OBP .265 ISO 34 AB 2 HR 2 SB 10 BB% 35 K%
🔥​ Julio Henriquez​ 3/4 2B 3 SB -- [1B, 19, GCL - MIA] - [F] [T] .500 BA .600 OBP .050 ISO 20 AB 3 SB 16 BB% 4 K%
Jose Caguana 2/2 2 HR -- [DH, 22, AZL - SEA] - [F] [T] .471 BA .500 OBP .471 ISO 17 AB 2 HR 1 SB 13 BB% 18 K%
 

The origins of this list came about when the Denver Nuggets won the NBA chip last year. I asked my bball group chat if winning the NBA chip made Jamal the best NBA player named Jamal/Jamaal. I then made this list:
Jamal Murray Jamal Crawford Jamal Mashburn Jamaal Magloire Jamaal Tinsley
After some research we learned about Jamaal Wilkes and then we made Tinsley an honorable mention.
With the NBA playoffs coming, I thought I tried to do something similar but on a much larger scale and share it with the NBA subreddit community.
I'm not sure if such a list has been done before. If it has, please send me the link to it so I can read it.
Also this is how I came up with the list. The list is not in any specific order per letter. Its more like the first name for each letter is the first name I thought of. Whenever I have trouble finishing up the list, I go to Google and basketball reference. I indicate when I do so.
The list is done by first name and not last. So for example, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar will fall under K and not A. The other thing is players will be listed by their actual given name and not nicknames. For example, magic Johnson will be under I for Earvin "magic" Johnson.
Please let me know what you think about the list and let me know what players you feel I missed. Also let me know which letter has the best NBA players. EDIT: I added Joel Embiid, Anthony Edwards and William "Bill" Russell on this list because they shamefully slipped my mind last time.
A:

1. Alex English
2. Allen Iverson
3. Anthony Davis
4. Adrian Dantley
5. Andre Iguodala
6. Amar'e Stoudemire
7. Alonzo Mourning
8. Anfernee "Penny" Hardaway
9. Artis Gilmore
10. Allan Houston

Honorable mentions: Aaron Gordon Arron Afflalo Al Jefferson Antoine Walker Andre Miller Antawn Jamison Al Horford, Anthony Edwards
B:

1. Baron Davis
2. Bernard King
3. Bradley Beal
4. Ben Wallace
5. Ben Gordon
6. Blake Griffin
7. Brook Lopez
8. Brad Daugherty
9. Brad Miller
10. Bam Adebayo

Honorable mentions Buddy Hield Byron Scott Bonzi Wells Ben Simmons
C:

1. Chris Paul
2. Charles Barkley
3. Clyde Drexler
4. Chris Webber
5. Carmelo Anthony
6. Chauncey Billups
7. Chris Bosh
8. Chris Mullin
9. Christian Laettner
10. Carlos Boozer

Honorable mentions
C.J. McCollum Cedric Maxwell Chris Kaman Corey Maggette Cuttino Mobley
D:

1. Dirk Nowitzki
2. David Robinson
3. Dwyane Wade
4. Dwight Howard
5. Damian Lillard
6. Draymond Green
7. Dikembe Mutombo
8. Dominique Wilkins
9. Dennis Rodman
10. Derrick Rose

Honorable mentions
DeAndre Jordan Domantas Sabonis Demar DeRozan DeMarcus Cousins
E:

1. Elgin Baylor
2. Elton Brand
3. Elvin Hayes
4. Eddie Jones
5. Emanuel David "Manu" Ginóbili
6. Eric Gordon
7. Evan Turner
8. Eric Bledsoe
9. Earvin "Magic" Johnson
10. Eddie Johnson

Honorable mention Enes Kanter Emeka Okafor Evan Mobley
F: (I had to use basketball reference for the majority of these)

1. Furkan Korkmaz
2. Fred Brown
3. Frederick "Freddie" L. Lewis
4. Franz Wagner
5. Francis "Frank" Stanley Kaminsky III
6. Francisco García
7. Fredderick Edmund "Fred" VanVleet
8. Frank Vernon Ramsey Jr
9. Franklin Delano Selvy
10. Fred Hoiberg

G:

1. Giannis Antetokounmpo
2. Gary Payton
3. George Gervin
4. Grant Hill
5. Gail Charles Goodrich Jr
6. George Mikan
7. Glen Rice
8. Gilbert Arenas
9. Glenn Robinson
10. Goran Dragic

Honorable mention Gerald Wallace Gordon Hayward Gordan Giriček
H: (had to use basketball reference for #9&10)

1. Hakeem Olajuwon
2. Harold Everett "Hal" Greer
3. Hersey Hawkins
4. Hubert Davis
5. Horace Grant
6. Harrison Barnes
7. Hassan Whiteside
8. Hedo Türkoğlu
9. Harthorne Wingo
10. Hamidou Diallo

I: (had to use basketball reference for #6-7)

1. Isiah Thomas
2. Isaiah Thomas
3. Ish Smith
4. Iman Shumpert
5. Immanuel Quickley
6. Isaiah Rider
7. Isaac Okoro
8. Ime Udoka
9. Isaiah Stewart
10. Isaiah Hartenstein

J:

1. Jason Kidd
2. Julius Erving
3. John havlicek
4. Jerry West
5. Jimmy Harden
6. James Worthy
7. Jayson Tatum
8. John Stockton
9. Jimmy Butler
10. Joel Embiid

Honorable mention Jamal Crawford Jamal Mashburn Jack Sigma Jason Terry Joe Johnson Jerry stackhouse Jamal Murray Joe Dumar John "hot rod" Williams Joakim Noah, Jermaine O'Neal
K:

1. Kareem Abdul Jabbar
2. Kobe Bryant
3. Kevin Durant
4. Kyrie Irving
5. Klay Thompson
6. Kevin Garnett
7. Kevin Love
8. Kahwi Leonard
9. Kevin McHale
10. Karl Malone

Honorable mention Kevin Love Karl Anthony Towns Kevin Johnson Kemba Walker Chris Middleton
L:

1. LeBron James
2. Larry Bird
3. LaMarcus Aldridge
4. Lou Williams
5. Lafayette "Fat" Lever
6. Luol Deng
7. Luka Dončić
8. Latrell Sprewell
9. Larry Johnson
10. Lamar Odom

Honorable mentions Lonzo Ball Lamelo Ball Luis Scola Landry Shamet Lance Stephenson
M:

1. Michael Jordan
2. Mark Jackson
3. Moses Malone
4. Manu Ginóbili
5. Marc Gasol
6. Mark Price
7. Mike Conley
8. Mitch Richmond
9. Monta Ellis
10. Maurice Edward Cheeks

Honorable mentions Metta world Peace (formerly Ron artest) Micheal Finley Mike Bibby Michael Redd Michael Beasley Michael Cooper Maurice "Mo" Williams Mahmoud Abdur-Raouf
N: (used basketball reference for norm Nixon)

1. Nate Robinson
2. Nikola Jokić
3. Nikola Vučević
4. Nick Anderson
5. Norman Powell
6. Nicolas Batum
7. Nene Hilario
8. Norm Nixon
9. Nick Van Exel
10. Nate "the great" Thurmond

Honorable mentions Nikola Mirotić Nikola Peković
O: (used basketball reference for #7)

1. Oscar Robertson
2. Otis Thorpe
3. Otto Porter
4. O.J. Mayo
5. Omer Asik
6. Omri Casspi
7. Onyeka Okongwu
8. OG Anunoby
9. Obi Toppin
10. Otis Birdsong

P:

1. Paul George
2. Paul Pierce
3. Patrick Ewing
4. Pau Gasol
5. Paul Millsap
6. Pascal Siakam
7. Pooh Richardson
8. Paul Westphal
9. "Pistol" Pete Maravich
10. Purvis Short

Honorable mentions Patrick Beverly Patty Mills Pat Connaughton
Q: (used bball reference from #4-10)

1. Quentin Richardson
2. Quincy Acy
3. Quincy Pondexter
4. Quincy Douby
5. Quinn Cook
6. Quinndary Weatherspoon
7. Quinn Snyder
8. Quentin Grimes
9. Quintin Dailey
10. Quinton Ross

R:

1. Ray Allen
2. Russell Westbrook
3. Rajon Rondo
4. Robert Parish
5. Reggie Miller
6. Robert "Bob" Lanier
7. Robert "Bob" Cousey
8. Ralph Sampson
9. Robert E. Lee "Bob" Pettit
10. Robert "Bob" McAdoo

Honorable mention Rasheed Wallace Rudy Gay Rik Smits Rick Barry Richard "RIP" Hamilton Rod Strickland Ron Harper Rudy Gobert Ronaldo Blackman
S:

1. Shaquille O'Neal
2. Scottie Pippen
3. Steve Nash
4. Stephen Curry
5. Shawn Kemp
6. Serge Ibaka
7. Sidney Moncrief
8. Shawn Marion
9. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
10. Sam Cassell

Honorable mentions
Samuel Dalembert Shareef Abdur-Rahim Sam Perkins Stephen Marbury Stephen Jackson Steve Francis Steve Smith
T:

1. Tim Duncan
2. Tony Parker
3. Tracy McGrady
4. Terry Porter
5. Tom Chambers
6. Thaddeus Young
7. Tyrese Haliburton
8. Toni Kucoc
9. Trae Young
10. Tayshaun Prince

Honorable mentions Terry Rozier Tobias Harris Tyreke Evans Tyler Herro Ty Lawson
U: (literally used bball reference for everyone after udonis)

1. Udonis Haslem
2. Uwe Blab
3. Usman Garuba
4. Udoka Azubuike
5. Ulice Payne
6. Uluss Thompson
7. Uroš Slokar
8. Ulysses Cleon Reed
9. N/A
10. N/A

V:

1. Vince Carter
2. Victor Oladipo
3. Vlade Divac
4. Vin Baker
5. Vernon Maxwell
6. Vinnie Johnson
7. Vince Edwards
8. Vern Fleming
9. Vince Taylor
10. Vinny Del Negro

Honorable mentions
Voshon Lenard
W: (used basketball reference for #8-10)

1. Wilt Chamberlain
2. Walt Bellamy
3. Walt Frazier
4. Willis Reed
5. Westley Sissel "Wes" Unseld
6. Willie Anderson
7. William "Bill" Russell
8. Wesley Person
9. Walter Davis
10. Wayne Embry

Honorable mention Willie Cauley-Stein Wayne Ellington Wesley Matthews
X (used basketball reference for all except #1&2)

1. Xavier Tillman
2. Xavier Henry
3. Xavier McDaniel
4. Xavier Munford
5. Xavier Cooks
6. Xavier Rathan-Mayes
7. Xavier Sneed
8. Xavier Silas
9. Xavier Rey
10. Xue Yuyang

Y. (Used bball reference for #5-10)

1. Yao Ming
2. Yi Jianlin
3. Yuta Watanabe
4. Yogi Ferrell
5. Yakhouba Diawara
6. Yaroslav Korolev
7. Yinka Dare
8. York Larese
9. Yuta Tabuse
10. Yante Maten

Z (used bball reference for #7-9)

1. Zion Williamson
2. Zach Randolph
3. Zach Lavine
4. Zaza Pachulia
5. Zach Collins
6. Ziaire Williams
7. Zoran Planinić
8. Zydrunas Ilgauskas
9. N/A
10. N/A

Thank you for the read to all those who read. Let me know your thoughts on the players I chose for each letter and if I missed any players or if I put someone on the list who doesn't deserve to be on it. Also let me know which letter has the best NBA players.
Looking forward to reading your comments!

Cigarettes and rebellion have always gone hand-in-hand, and in an age of cigarette packet-sized health warnings, now more than ever, smoking a fag says: 'I do not give a fuck.' But if Brandon Flowers is hoping to strike a seditious pose by sparking up at the start of the interview, it's not going according to plan. The Killers' frontman is on all fours rooting through the junk that carpets the anteroom at the band's rehearsal space. "Has anyone seen my lighter?" he asks, rocking back on his heels. The question hangs in the air while Brandon cocks his head, waiting for an answer like a meerkat listening for a predator. Twenty-five years old and with a delicate bone structure, there's something almost dainty about him. Receiving no response, he returns to his search. "Oh, Jeez," he sighs. "I had it just a minute ago."
It's a scene that emphatically does not suggest a rebel without a cause. The mess isn't helping. The Killers' HQ - an industrial unit sandwiched between a construction supplier and the offices of a housing development just off Dean Martin Drive in West Las Vegas - is ankle-deep in designer clothing. A Dior Homme suit lies crumpled by the door; there's a pile of shoes topped like a sundae by a pair of Marc Jacobs trainers; and anyone wishing to enter the shoebox room the band use as an office must negotiate a mountain of discarded jeans. Many items are identifiable as coming from the wardrobe of Hot Fuss, The Killers' hugely successful 2004 debut album - triple platinum in the UK with two weeks at Number One and five million sold worldwide. Look! There are the shirts, ties and suit jackets they wore when they thrilled Glastonbury 2005 with indie rock anthems Mr Brightside and Somebody Told Me. That was the crowning moment of a two-and-a-half year tour that finally concluded in October of last year. It seems that after playing that final date in Miami, they returned to Vegas and shrugged off their image onto the floor of this bland white box.
Now a fine layer of dust covers the dead clothes. The Killers have no further use for white tuxedos on their second album, Sam's Town. Today, Brandon wears a black polo shirt, black pin-stripe waistcoat, black jeans and black boots. Where there used to be a layer of foundation, there is now a beard - an untrimmed beard at that. Dave Keuning (30, guitar), Mark Stoermer (29, bass) and Ronnie Vannucci (29, drums) all echo Brandon's black ensemble. Ronnie has added Aviator shades and a handlebar moustache for a dash of motorcycle cop, Dave's frizzy bubble of hair gives him a Marc Bolan-ish air, and there's something very teenage about Mark's scuffed Vans.
Short of walking around wearing sandwich boards saying, "Our new record is a bit heavier than the last one," The Killers couldn't hope to communicate that message more effectively. And they have gained some musical girth on Sam's Town. The pop hooks that made Hot Fuss so irresistible survive intact - see the ringing guitar riffs on first single When You Were Young - but there's a newfound punchiness, coupled with an epic sweep. The minor-to-major uplifts on Bones are fabulously dramatic, the coda to Why Do I Keep Counting? thrillingly intense. Comparisons to Bruce Springsteen have been made. If they overstate the case a little, they are at leaset qualitatively accurate. The Killers are back and this time it's serious - they've got the bootlace ties to prove it.
"Hey, it says here that Springsteen's headlining Glastonbury next year," shouts Ronnie, who's flicking through the NME. He nods sagely at the page without looking up.
"Really?" asks Dave, nicknamed Crazy Dave on account of his alledgedly volatile nature.
"The Boss is headlining one night, we're playing second on the bill the next night and Kylie's headlining the Sunday," says Brandon, charging like a bull through Michael Eavis' as-yet-unannounced line-up with what subsequently proves to be a characteristic gaucheness.
But that lighter is proving elusive. This being America, none of the people hurrying to-and-fro prepping the world for the release of Sam's Town smokes. Manager Robert Reynolds - Bobby Rey to the band - barks into his mobile, booking his band onto eye-wateringly demanding tours. "We're going to make a lot of money," he cackles to himself before switching calls to make a series of stern pronouncements on legal matters. Dave, Mark and Ronnie disappear for a jam session. Artwork is approved, B-sides are decided on and schedules are hammered out.
"I can't find it," Brandon says, finally. But he's not going to be denied the opportunity to underline The Killers reinvention with a puff of smoke. "Let's go to the gas station. I'll have to buy one. It's too busy to talk here anyway."
+
Brandon's black (of course) Volkswagen Touraeg four-wheel drive is barrelling down West Flamingo Road into town. "I was a bell boy there," he says, pointing out of the driver's window at the stucco facade of the Gold Coast casino. "I was working there when we were signed."
Coming from Las Vegas, it is perhaps inevitable that casinos play a big part in The Killers' story; not only is Sam's Town named after one, it was recorded in one, too.
The band began writing songs while on the road with Hot Fuss, turning up early for soundchecks to run through new ideas. On a trip home to Vegas, George Maloof, a hotelier known for cultivating famous friends, invited them to record the album in the new studio he'd built at The Palms, his flagship hotel-cum-gambling den. When the tour finished in October 2005, they returned to Vegas and spent five month finessing the songs they'd sketched out on the road. Then, in February, they decampled to the third floor studio at The Palms and recorded Sam's Town over 11 weeks.
Producer Flood (U2, Depeche Mode) encouraged them to experiment. They overdubbed, fiddled with synthesizers and played with new equipment. It took them five weeks to get the backing vocals right. The band sang the harmonies, then double-tracked them four times. The end result recalls Queen wondering, "Is this is the real life? Is this just fantasy?" When Ronnie, a trained classical percussionist, brought some kettledrums down, eyebrows were raised; but the fabulously bombastic coda on Why Do I Keep Counting? vindicates his indulgence.
"That's kind of the Ben Hur of the album," he says. He's not wrong. Sam's Town is a record on an epic scale. "Yeah, it has drama," he continues. "But, at the same time, I think it's a little more exposed than Hot Fuss. It's a little more naked. Last time it was about a lot of fictional things." By "fictional", Ronnie means that Hot Fuss wore its predominantly British influences for all to see. Brandon's taste in music is rabidly Anglophile - he constantly references The Smiths, The Cure and Joy Division - and it showed. By contrast, Sam's Town is an unequivocally American record. The lyrical imagery is pure American dream - cars, girls, wide-open spaces and escaping to a better life. "We're burning down the highway skyline/On the back of a hurricane that started turning/When you were young," sings Brandon on When You Were Young. That's the basis of the Springsteen comparisons then, though the lack of pathos more closely recalls another blue-collar rocker from New Jersey - Jon Bon Jovi.
The phrase "this town" recurs throughout the album, and it's always receding into the distance as The Killers escape to a new life. "This town was made for passing through/I never did get along with everybody else," sings Brandon on This River Is Wild. On Read My Mind he "never really gave up on breaking out of this two-star town", while on the title track he offers something of an explanation: "Nobody ever had a dream round here."
"With the first record, there was this feeling that there was this world out there that we didn't know," says Mark later in the day. Before The Killers, he studied philosophy: now he's their quiet one. "We wanted to get out and away from this and be somewhere else. We hadn't had a lot of experience - hadn't travelled much - then we were gone for three years. We didn't sit down and say that we wanted to make a record about how we're glad to be home, but that's what happened naturally."
It's not an angsty record. The Killers have already escaped with Hot Fuss, and, having done so, they view the experience fondly now they're back. There's a mistiness to Brandon's eyes as he explains how the album got it's name.
"Sam's Town is a casino on the edge of Vegas," he says. "I grew up in Henderson, which is out on the way to the Hoover Dam. My mom and dad lived in a trailer park, and my dad used to hitchhike up and down Boulder Highway, which is the only way you could get to Vegas. Sam's Town was the first thing you saw on your way in to town. So, when you're driving down Boulder Highway from Henderson, I always thought you finally knew you were getting somewhere when you saw Sam's Town. It was kind of like a beacon."
"It's not a completely American album," contines Brandon. "We still have our English influence, but we're also from the Wild West. Somehow we've managed to unify all that on this album. it's just such a perfect resemblence of what we are."
At the petrol station, Brandon rummages through the glove box looking for change to buy a lighter. "This is a great album," he says, pointing at Highway Companion, the latest from iconic American rocker Tom Petty. "I've always been a big fan of his. He's such a great American artist."
Yes, Brandon: we get the point.
+
When Brandon finally lights his cigarette, he smokes it awkwardly, like a child mimicking something he's seen the grown-ups doing. However, when he cheerfully admits that, "I feel the same mentally as I did when I was 12," it's not a knowing nod to the fact that he sometimes behaves like a loveably precocious child, but a reference to an unusually comprehensive grounding in pop music at an early age.
When Brandon sings about "this town", he doesn't mean Las Vegas. He means Nephi, Utah or Henderson, Nevada, where he spent his childhood. His parents are Mormon and he is the youngest of six children. "I was a surprise," he says. "I've got a 42-year-old sister." If he was issues about his "surprise" status, he chooses to gloss over them. "It turned out perfect because my brother was a teenager when I was a kid," he says. "He would bring home things like Rattle And Hum by U2 and I would watch it. I remember he bought Live In Dallas by Morrissey. It was always him watching these things, or his door was shut and you'd hear The Head On The Door by The Cure blasting through the house and rattling the walls."
The Killers were formed when Brandon answered an advert Dave had placed in a local paper in late 2002. Dave cited Oasis as a big influence; Brandon had seen them play recently and responded; and, as Dave has said in previous interviews: "He was the only person to reply to my ad who wasn't a complete freak." However, the band was born in Brandon's brothers bedroom.
"His room was like a shrine," enthuses Brandon. "It was a holy place. I wish I could show you a picture of it. It was covered in posters. There'd be a big picture of Elvis wearing a bow tie that just said 'The Smiths' [the artwork for The Smiths 1987 single Shoplifters Of The World Unite]. You had The Cure wearing face paint [the artwork to The Cure's 1985 single In Between Days] - all that kind of stuff. I remember Morrissey being on the cover of the NME, with the halo [from 1985] - stuff like that. You just wanted to know about these people 'cause they were so cool. My brother seemed like such a cool person. But he was a teenager, so he wasn't going to be that nice to me, a kid."
Brandon was fascinated by his brother's collection of music, magazines and posters, but he was denied access to them - officially, at least. "I would sneak in," he says. "I knew he'd be angry if he found out, but I would go in as soon as he left the house." For a long time Brandon was too scared to actually play anything. "That didn't come 'til later. I just used to go in there because I liked it. Then I got to the point where I'd actually take a tape out and put it in. It took more guts to do that."
It was a life-changing moment. "I was ten and the first song I played was Sing Your Life by Morrissey. I remember dancing about to it."
The lyrics to Sing Your Life include the lines, "Sing your life/Just walk right up to the microphone/And name all the things that you love/All the things that you loathe." It's intriguing to wonder what Morrissey makes of the neophyte he inspired with these lines.
Eventually, Brandon inherited his brother's tape collection. "It was around the same time CDs started coming out in a big way. He started buying CDs and gave me his tapes. And that was it: it took off from there. I got a hundred of the best albums - all the New Order, all the Morrissey, all The Smiths, The Beatles. I started buying posters. I went to see The Cure in concert. It was just kind of a continuation of my brother. And it was nice because, though my parents were strict, they were already used to it from him. There was no, 'My dad doesn't understand me,' or any of that kind of stuff. My mum likes The Smiths."
Brandon was 13 and his favourite band was late-'70s/early-'80s American new wavers The Cars, and particularly their jaw-droppingly catchy 1979 single Just What I Needed.
"I wouldn't exist without that song," he says. "That was the one. I remember driving around with my mum when I was 13, and we're living in Nephi - a really small town - and I felt so cool when I put that song on. Like: 'I have something that none of these kids I'm going to middle school with tomorrow have.' That excitement is what music's about, isn't it? That's why I understand the mentality of people that don't like us because we've sold so many records. I used to like it when no one else knew about a band. So I get that - I do."
+
Brandon's first band was called Blush Response. It was never going to work out. Not because he refused to move to Los Angeles with them, but because he is utterly - comically - shameless. He's given to making outrageously boastful statements like: "It's not like the '60s, '70s and '80s now. There are only a few bands around that are really good, that just do it. I mean, there's what, five or six of us?"
For the record, in Brandon's estimation, those bands are Franz Ferdinand, Razorlight, The Strokes, The White Stripes, Yeah Yeah Yeahs and, of course, The Killers.
"I don't want people to think I'm lumping myself with other people just to make us sound cool," he says. Really? It sort of sounds like you are. But he just steamrolls through it. "Yeah, but you know what I mean," he says, grinning at his own cheekiness. He's so disgracefully forward you can't help but laugh along with him - Oh you are awful, Brandon! But joking aside, The Killers are the most commercially successful of all the bands he mentions.
Later, back at the rehearsal space, the band run through Sam's Town at deafening volume in preparation for the forthcoming tour - first the US, then the world. The infectious, almost contagious, chorus of When You Were Young sounds fabulous, as do the U2-like guitars and Twin Peaks synths of Read My Mind. Meanwhile, Smile Like You Mean It and Somebody Told Me benefit from the newfound harder edge.
They somewhat heavy-handedly underline the new direction by playing Paranoid by Black Sabbath and Get It On by T Rex. That's the thing: The Killers are not a subtle band. Their songs are like a wet kiss from a girl who's a bit too drunk. They are big and brash, and not everyone loves them for it. Mr Brightside and Somebody Told Me might go down as well at hip nightclubs as they do on the festival circuit, but the DJs play them with the same guilty look they wear when playing a pop record.
"I hate that," says Brandon. "Like writing a song you can hum somehow cheapens it? It makes me think of this quote by Morrissey. Everybody knows how he read Oscar Wilde, Keats and Yates when he was growing up and that he wanted to be a writer. He was talking to this journalist who asked why he hadn't become a writer, and Morrissey said: 'What I do is more powerful than what you do because I can write down these words and you get it to a melody. How can you beat that?' I'm of the same opinion. I don't understand why a good melody that's memorable is a bad thing."
Being dismissed as pop particular aggrieves Ronnie. "When we first came out we got compared to Duran Duran all the time. Jesus Christ! We got a keyboard player now all of a sudden he's Nick Rhodes! Come on!"
"The people who criticise us for being too poppy don't get it," agrees Mark. "I think that's the problem with a lot of rock music. People are afraid to write a song any more. Either that or they can't. And that attitude hurts music in general. The best bands ever have all written great songs. You can still do it and do it intelligently and it can be original. This isn't a studio creation with a producer writing these songs for us. We're not Avril Lavigne, or something like that. We're a real band writing real songs, just like a punk band would do, except that we write pop songs."
You get the impression that The Killers knack for showboating pop hooks that border on vulgar is inextricably tied up with the brazen side of Brandon's personality. But while his ebullient charisma, not to mention the songs themselves, mitigates his outrageousness, there is a less attractive side to his ego. He has a combative streak. He can't resist taking pot shots at emo bands, notably Fall Out Boy, whith whom The Killers share an A&R man.
Has he heard how many emo kids it takes to change a light bulb? "No." None. They just sit in the dark and cry. It's a full 30 seconds before he stops laughing. When he does he admits: "Yeah, we've had problems with other bands. You know, when you walk in the room it's like..." He whistles the theme to The Good, The Bad And The Ugly. "We're like gangs."
And while the other members of the band are diplomatic on the subject of Brandon, you don't have to read too deeply between the lines to conclude that there have been internal issues, too.
"Some people will think Brandon's the big genius," says Dave, visibly bridling. "There are songs, such as Why Do I Keep Counting?, where he's written every note. But there are others, like When You Were Young, that were more of a collaboration - like Mr Brightside, where I had some of the music and Brandon came up with the lyrics. We always have arguments about who wrote what. The truth is that we all help in that process."
When asked how success affected them, Ronnie says: "There were certain things that needed adjusting. When you're on tour for two years, people can get a little needy. It doesn't help that you're surrounded by yes men and everybody's working for you. At times we've had to say, 'Who do you think you are?' to people. No one wears the trousers, but some people would like to. I think if it wasn't for the people in the band kicking each other in the ass... Let's just say there was some ass-kickin'."
It doesn't take a genius to work out whose ass needed kicking most often.
+
It's the following day and The Killers are back at their rehearsal space. The topic of discussion is what to wear in the video for Bones, the second single. It's a big deal: the director is Tim Burton. "I feel like Frank Sinatra when I sing it," announces Brandon. "With maybe a little bit of Morrissey and a little bit of Elvis, too."
Of course he does. But if securing the services of Tim Burton tells you one thing, it's that The Killers are about to get even bigger, perhaps even make the leap to the same level as Coldplay et al. Already stars, they are about to become superstars. Brandon can hardly wait.
"Do you know that Rolling Stone didn't want to put us on the cover last time," he says indignantly. "They didn't think we were stars. We sold five million albums! What more do they want from a band?"
Whatever was required, Brandon would be happy to do most things. "I'll do stuff that some people don't want to do, 'cause I want people to hear the music," he says. However, even he has limits. "The Rolling Stone thing made the record label think: 'What can we do to make them stars?' If I go on vacation with my wife, do they have to send somebody to be there to take pictures of me? Is that how you become a star? I don't want that. I walked down the red carpet one time and I realised I don't like it. But you don't have to walk down the red carpet for people to hear your music. We do still have some of that indie blood running through our veins."
He heads off at a tangent: "When you walk around Liverpool, you think of The Beatles, or you go to Manchester and you think of The Smiths or Oasis. I want you to come to Las Vegas and think of Sam's Town. And I think we've started to capture that, which is a truer version of The Killers, 'cause that's where we're from."
He pauses.
"I used to live across the street from Sam's Town. Maybe it'll be like our Abbey Road where people go to take pictures."
Is that what he'd like?
"I wouldn't mind it," he says, desperately hoping it will come true.
He puts a cigarette between his lips, looks down at his trouser pockets and pats them in search of the lighter he bought yesterday.
"Hey, I don't suppose you've got one?"

** BOTH FRI 5/17 AND SAT 5/18 *\*
Motorcycle Safety Foundation Ride Day New Mexico Motorcycle Safety Program, 3401 Pan American Fwy Take Your First Ride: Ride a motorcycle in 30 min or less for free. MOTO Intro provides the motorcycle, helmet, gloves, and coaching. Free Riding Skills Test: Take the challenge of an advanced MSF course! SKILL Check participants, bring your motorcycle and gear! Please wear over-the-ankle footwear, long pants and long sleeves

• Fri: 2 - 4 PM Skills Check, 4 - 6 PM Moto Intro
• Sat: 2 - 4:30 PM Moto Intro, 4:30 - 6:30 PM Skills Check

Niños and Teeños: Flamenco para todos Carlisle Gymnasium (Elizabeth Waters Center for Dance), UNM, 301 Yale Blvd. NE National Institute of Flamenco presents Niños y Teeños Flamencos in FUTUROS FLAMENCOS. Come see the high-energy flamenco of the National Institute of Flamenco's Student Companies. Don't miss this special showcase by talented youth in our community! (tickets)

• Fri: 7 PM
• Sat: 4 PM

** Fri 5/17 *\*
Fri 4:30 PM Bike to Wherever Day Canteen Brewhouse, 2381 Aztec Rd. NE Learn about exciting bike routes in Albuquerque and grab some cool giveaways to kickstart your cycling adventures. Whether you’re a seasoned cyclist or just starting out, there’s something for EVERYONE at our pop-up table! We'll have Canteen will be volunteering at a table from 6:30-9am and then again at 4:30-6:30am. Receive $1 off your beer if you arrive on your bike
Fri 5 PM Pistachio Cream Ale Release Tractor Brewing, ALL locations We're bringing back this seasonal favorite for American Craft Beer Week! Inspired by pistachios produced right here in New Mexico this brew is as smooth as silk and as tasty and a fresh roasted pistachio. This is a very limited one off for us, so come and get you a pint or growler while supplies last
Fri 5 – 7 PM May Babies Birthday Celebration Rio Bravo Brewing, 1912 2nd St. NW Starting at 5pm, the first 25 people with May birthdays to show Ryan proof of their birthday month will score a $5 Rio Bravo Brewing Gift Card...oh, and Beers are on special for birthday kids for just $5! But you spend your gift card however you want! Thanks to Cake Fetish...we'll have cupcakes for the May Birthday Kids (while supplies last) We'll have prizes JUST for the May Babies! We'll also have drawings for all you non-birthday folks too If you want to get their before us...All drinks are $1 Off for May Birthdays the whole day!
Fri 5:45 – 7:15 PM 22 Veterans Suicide Awareness WOD BFit505, 11500 Menaul Blvd. NE Each month, Team Bravo & Bfit505 team up to bring awareness to veteran suicide. Before our events, we will take a moment and talk about the issue. Then we will begin with our 22 reps WOD followed by a 2.2 mile ruck/walk/run. Afterwards, we will be going out to eat for social time with friends and family. This event is for all levels
Fri 6 PM Sandia Social - May Hangout Dawn Patrol Coffee Shop, 3619 Copper Ave NE We will be hanging out around the patio and inside starting at 6pm! Bring your friends and come hang out!
Fri 6 PM Pink Therapy, A Latin Dance Fundraiser for Breast Cancer Sobremesa, 3421 Coors Blvd. NW On The One and Pachanga Productions' "Salsa Therapy" night has made its mark in the Latin Dance community, now we are using the symbolism of "Therapy" under "Pink Therapy" but this time it is to fundraise in partnership with the Pink Warrior House Foundation in order to provide outreach and increase resources for those warriors battling against breast cancer. On The One and Pachanga productions will be involved in community outreach and utilizing our resources to help those in need. Cover charge is a SUGGESTED $20 donation (ALL PROCEEDS GO TO Pink Warrior House Foundation). Cocktail hour from 6-7 PM (purchases go to PWH on selected drinks). Dance lesson from 7-8 PM. Open dance floor 8-12 AM. Be aware of Media/News coverage. We need everyone's assistance with this, PLEASE SHARE FAR AND WIDE, those warriors battling breast cancer need our help. Let's do our part. We are asking for the entire Latin dance community to come out and support. This will be one of many fundraisers that we do for organizations like PWH. Lets use our dance skills to help those in need!
Fri 6 – 8 PM May Flowers Stampin' Bingo (in person) Hip Stitch, 2320 Wisconsin St. NE Cost is $35 for 6 rounds of bingo, prizes, and make n' takes! Message for more info or to register
Fri 6 – 8:30 PM Los Domingueros Live El Vado, 2500 Central Ave SW Prepare for an unforgettable fusion of Latin dance beats and rock energy as Friday Night Live at El Vado proudly presents New Mexico's premier menudo-based band, Los Domingueros! Few bands can match the infectious joy and vibrant rhythms that they bring to the stage. A multi-talented group of musicians, they take listeners on a musical journey like no other. From the pulsating rhythms of salsa, bachata, and cumbia to the high-energy vibes of ska and reggae, sprinkled with a dash of punk and thrash, their eclectic repertoire promises an exhilarating experience for all. As always, treat your taste buds to a delightful selection of culinary delights from our diverse food pods. From savory stir-fries to tantalizing Latin flavors and heavenly desserts, there's something to satisfy every craving. And don't overlook the opportunity to quench your thirst with a crisp craft beer from Ponderosa Brewing Company, conveniently available at the El Vado Tap Room
Fri 6 – 10 PM Fork Cancer Gala FUSION ABQ, 700-708 1st St. NW The American Cancer Society is hosting Albuquerque's second #ForkCancerAbq fundraising event. VIP 6pm - 7pm. Gala 7pm - 10pm. Dress Code: Gala Attire. #ForkCancerNM is a foodie's dream, with local restaurants and bars bringing out their best to truly showcase the Taste of Albuquerque while raising money for the American Cancer Society's life-saving mission in New Mexico supporting Access to Care like patient transportation, patient lodging and 24/7 support. Along with life saving research and grants. With great opportunities to raise money, we will also have live entertainment! (tickets)
Fri 6:30 – 10 PM Community Movie Night South Valley Multipurpose Center, 2008 Larrazolo Rd. SW Feature of the night: In The Heights. Bring your dinner, blankets and chairs. Please no glass containers
Fri 7 PM Movie In The Park ABQ Food Park, 6901-B San Antonio Dr. NE ABQ Food Park is bringing back Movies In The Park, starting off the summer with a screening of The Sandlot. Arrive early to get your face painted by Local Locas Facepainting before settling in with your blankets, chairs, and appetite for a delightful evening at the park with loved ones. Indulge in delicious fare from our food trucks while enjoying this timeless film under the stars. Please do not bring outside food as we have a variety of food options at the park. Please support our local food vendors. Entry is free! Reserve your tickets
Fri 7 – 10 PM Emerald Ball Holiday Dance Studio, 5200 Eubank Blvd. NE, Ste D Celebrate the enchanting month of May by donning your finest emerald attire. Bring in the vibrant spring season by joining us in elegant semi-formal wear of rich verdant colors and dance the night away! A Foxtrot lesson will begin the evening at 7pm followed by open dancing. Call 505-508-4020 for more information. $30 non-members
Fri 8 PM – 2 AM Sucia EDC Gogo Takeover Sidewinders Bar and Grill, 4200 Central Ave SE Sucia Productions is bringing the Electric Sky to Sidewinders! No need to have EDC FOMO because Papa Sucia is ready to bring the party to you! Come join your Sucia Family for a Night of PLUR! Featuring the Sucia Gogos on multiple boxes and individual dances available in the Cabaret Room! Hosted by Papa Sucia and Sucia Gogo Madam Sativa Rico-Stratton. DJ Unzipped will be bringing the you the best EDM set for you to dance the night away!
Fri 9 PM – 1:30 AM Callaita Fridays Salt Yard West, 3700 Ellison Rd. NW DJ Soiree will be spinning under the stars in the Salt Yard, promising a night of electrifying Latin music. This 21+ event guarantees an atmosphere where you can fully embrace the rhythm without inhibition. Whether you're a die-hard fan of Reggaeton or simply seeking a night of unparalleled fun, "Callaita Fridays" is the place to be
Fri 10:30 PM – 12:15 AM FACELESS AFTER DARK - new meta horror starring Jenna Kanell of "Terrifier"! The Guild Cinema, 3405 Central Ave NE All Seats $8. Check out the trailer. Dir. Raymond Wood - 2023 - 82m. Following her breakout success as the star of a killer clown horror flick, Bowie (Jenna Kanell, TERRIFIER) now finds herself struggling to capitalize on its success. But when she is suddenly held hostage by an unhinged fan posing as that same killer clown, horror becomes her reality as she fights to survive the night and escape before he completes his sinister plan to recreate the film's fatal plot (tickets)
** Sat 5/18 *\*
Sat 8 – 10 AM Planting Corn Seeds Lynn Garden, 176 Manierre Rd., Corrales We will be planting corn seeds; a new crop for Seed2Need this year!
Sat 8 – 10 AM Run for Mercy 5K Sagebrush Community Church, 6440 Coors Blvd. NW Join our team to run with us to support Mercy Multiplied, which exists to provide opportunities for all to experience God's unconditional love, forgiveness, and life-transforming power. Mercy offers free-of-charge Residential and Outpatient Counseling Programs, as well as Outreach Services that include workshops and trainings, our Keys to Freedom discipleship study, and Keys to Freedom Retreat (register)
Sat 8 AM – 12 PM Downtown Growers' Market Robinson Park, 810 Copper Ave NW Every Saturday from 8 am - NOON! This vibrant community event connects local farmers, growers, artisans, wellness makers, and hot food vendors with the local community from mid-April to early-November. Bring friends / family or come solo to enjoy fresh food made on sight, a variety of seasonal produce, unique arts and crafts, live music, and special programming all in the heart of downtown
Sat 8 AM – 2 PM Rio Rancho's Biggest Yard Sale Cabezon Park and Community Center, 2307 Cabezon Blvd. SE, Rio Rancho FREE Admission! Clean out your garage, spare bedroom, attic and shed. Come join us to sell all of those items that were collecting dust, find a treasure that you didn’t know you needed, and enjoy a day in the park! Vendor space $35 for a 15’ x 15’ space (Tables and chairs are not provided) Must register online, NO Drop-Ins Accepted. Please call the Cabezon Community Center at 505-892-4499 for more info
Sat 9 AM Send Haley to Spain Sand Volleyball Tournament Charlie’s Sandbox, 4335 Paseo del Norte NE All proceeds go to Haley and her trip to Spain in July! $20/per player. All Skill levels! Prizes for 1st & 2nd place. 4-6 players Coed with 1 female on team. Check in @ 8:30am. More info: Jillian (505) 322-7228, Haley (505) 331-4788, Charlie (505) 239-2461
Sat 9 AM Invisible Heroes Run Believers Center of Albuquerque, 320 Waterfall Dr. SE Join Runfit and the American Society of Radiologic Technologists for the inaugural Invisible Heroes 5K Run/Walk. It is a community event being held to recognize the vital role that medical imaging professionals and radiation therapists play on the health care team and to introduce the public to these vital health care professionals. You are invited to run and walk to celebrate the important work done by invisible heroes. At packet pick-up, you will have an opportunity to tour the ASRT Museum and Archives. Age group, overall, and team awards, including a great t-shirt and finisher medals for all participants (register)
Sat 9 AM - 4 PM 16th Annual CTC Vintage Tractor & Car Show Corrales Recreation Center, 500 Jones Rd., Corrales Join us for a fun day in the Corrales Park. There will be music, food, hot rods, tractor, stationary engines and more. Proceeds Raised will benefit Corrales 4H and Historical Society. Free admission. $10 for show participants
Sat 10 AM – 12 PM Foraging for Fun(ds) Los Poblanos Open Space, 1800 Tierra Viva Pl. NW Join Rev. Ryan Tate on a foraging excursion! Rev. Tate, of the African American spiritual tradition and an IPL board member, wants to bring their loving knowledge of NM edibles and herbs to you. Discover the food right under your nose and how easy it is to enjoy! We’ll meet to explore and harvest native and edible plants. Enter the Open Space area from west bound Montano Boulevard. After foraging, we’ll gather to taste our harvest and other locally sourced treats. Sign up today to participate - space is limited. This is a fundraiser for our work for climate justice: Please give generously (Suggested minimum donation $10)
Sat 10 AM – 3 PM Homebrewer's Happy Hour Southwest Grape & Grain, 3401 Candelaria Blvd. NE Homebrewer's Happy Hour is the perfect chance for all homebrewers, wine makers, distillers, or anyone interested in learning, to connect with others, share a drink, and learn about a new subject each month! $1 off beers from 10am to 3pm. Presentation on monthly subject at 1pm with open forum to discuss after. Food truck on site for lunch! May 18th - Barley
Sat 10:30 – 11:30 AM Animal Tales with the ABQ BioPark Ernie Pyle Library, 900 Girard Blvd. SE Dive into the captivating world of animals with "Animal Tales" presented by the ABQ BioPark! Join us for a delightful reading session featuring an animal-themed book. Experience the magic as the BioPark brings along real animals and biofacts that connect to the story, giving kids an exciting opportunity to meet these creatures up close! Don't miss this engaging and educational adventure for young animal enthusiasts!
Sat 10:30 AM – 12:30 PM FolkMADS Third Saturday Family Dance Albuquerque Square Dance Center, 4915 Hawkins St. NE Dancing, song, and live music for kids of all ages. No experience needed to have fun! Children must be accompanied by an adult. Children dance free, Adults $10
Sat 11 AM – 1 PM Annual Summer Kick-Off Event! Matheson Park Elementary, 10809 Lexington Ave NE Join us as we kick off the summer with fun, a food truck, face painting, dunk tank, and more! Bring your family and your pets for a Blessing of the Pets. There is no cost to attend and all are welcome!
Sat 11 AM – 3 PM Wine + Art Afternoons Gruet Winery, 8400 Pan American East Fwy NE Prism Arts presents a new public art and social series with a special one-day multi-artist event. Join us inside the Gruet Winery with a selection of fine art, prints, paintings, jewelry, and ceramics from local artists Vanessa Alvarado, Eric Romero, Margarita Paz-Pedro, & Aaron Richardson. Enjoy unique art, amazing fine, food, and a social environment with the artists and the public. *All art purchases receive a complimentary bottle of Gruet Wine*
Sat 11 AM – 3 PM Bernalillo Family Fun Festival! Calvary Church, 4001 Osuna Rd. NE Get connected to community and enjoy a Fun Family Day!
Sat 11:30 AM – 4 PM Imaginary Friends Fest Flix Brewhouse, 3200 La Orilla Rd. NW Let your imagination run wild! Join us in the lobby to celebrate the opening of IF! Enjoy photo ops, freebies, an in-theater giveaway, and activities for the whole family. All ages are welcome!
Sat 12 PM BBQ n' Crawl Supper Rock Park, 598 Monte Alto Pl. NE Mini Crawlers 505 and Duke City RC are throwing a BBQ and crawl sesh! All rigs welcome! Please mark going if you are, so we can get enough food!
Sat 12 PM May Brew Tour - Farewell Tour Rio Bravo Brewing, 1912 2nd St. NW This is the last NM Brew Ha-Ha Beer tour for the season. The 24-25 season will start in June 2025 so stay tuned for the season lineup release. Rio Bravo Brewing, Ponderosa Brewing, Bow & Arrow Brewing, Juno Brewery. At Rio Bravo, a DD will be selected, then we’ll head to the other breweries in the order listed. T-shirts, if ordered will be delivered. For safety, a breathalyzer is available, a DD will be established and a liability waiver will be signed by all participants. Safety is of utmost importance. We want everyone to enjoy their tour and arrive home safely
Sat 12 PM Drag Bingo & Brunch! All Ages Welcome! Sidewinders Bar and Grill, 4200 Central Ave SE Join us for a Drag Queen Bingo and Brunch benefitting The Albuquerque Roadrunner Tournament 2024 (coming up in September). Hosted by Priscilla Bouvier. Doors 12pm. Show 1pm. Bingo, Prizes, Giveaways, Raffles, Cocktails, Mocktails and Fun!
Sat 12 PM Empire's 9th Anniversary - FREE PLAY ALL DAY Empire Board Game Library, 3503 Central Ave NE It's Empire's 9th Anniversary celebration and you're invited! We've been here 9 years and it's all thanks to the support we get from you, so to show our appreciation, this Saturday's celebration is our gift to you: Come in and play for free all day! Every game is on sale all weekend! We're holding raffles over the course of the day to give away some great games! So come on down and let us thank you!
Sat 12 – 3 PM STOODIS!: An AIDS/LifeCycle Fundraising Event Soo Bak Seoul Bowl, 111 Hermosa Dr. SE Help Vanessa Bowen cross the finish line – the fundraising finish line, that is! Vanessa is on a mission to raise $3,500 to participate in the 2024 AIDS/LifeCycle, a 545-mile charity bike ride from San Francisco to Los Angeles from June 2nd to 8th, 2024. Join this special fundraising event and send-off party for an afternoon of entertainment, vendors, bike tune-ups, raffle, and food and drink specials. Come prepared to support our local vendors and find out how you can win our selected giveaways. AIDS/LifeCycle benefits, and is jointly produced by, San Francisco AIDS Foundation (Tax ID # 94-2927405) and Los Angeles LGBT Center (Tax ID # 95-3567895), each of which is a nonprofit, public benefit corporation recognized as tax exempt under IRS Code Section 501(c)(3). Donations to AIDS/LifeCycle are deductible for income tax purposes, to the extent permitted by law. Vanessa Bowen (They/Them) is a Diné (Navajo) product designer and cyclist. Their work gravitates toward the intersection of design and social equity. Bowen is a former Outride Ambassador, current Chamois Butt’r and Kuat Racks Ambassador, founder of Get Native Kids on Bikes, and a supporter of AIDS/LifeCycle. If not creating in their studio in Albuquerque, they are training for a cycling event or community building for a just, equitable future (more info)
Sat 12 – 5 PM Day Camp - A Festival for Families Tin Can Alley, 6013 Signal Ave NE Day Camp is where adventure meets education, creativity, and community in a fair-like environment where a variety of youth development organizations are excited to share their programs. In partnership with Warehouse 505, and featuring organizations such as Explora, there will be workshops ands expos for kids to discover new passions across music, art, science, and more. Supporting Youth Security & Education, all dedicated funds raised will be going to New Mexico non-profit organizations
Sat 12 – 5 PM Monthly Pinball Tournament Sister, 407 Central Ave NW All skill levels and players welcome! 21+ Sign up starts at 12 pm; tournament play starts at 1 p.m. Entry fee is $5 + coin drop
Sat 1 – 5 PM United in Beer Collaboration Festival Ex Novo Brewing, 4895 Corrales Rd., Corrales United in Beer is a New Mexico statewide collaborative beer festival that benefits the Somos Unidos Foundation with 26 participating breweries, which were randomly partnered through a live draft and then together selected the beer style they would collaborate on. All beers will be showcased at the festival. Tickets are limited. Portions of ticket sales will donated to Somos Unidos Foundation, a 501(c)(3) dedicated to creating positive outcomes for New Mexicans through art, sport, community, and unity. This will be a 21+ Event. Food trucks will be on site. Included with ticket purchase is: Festival access, 8 drink tokens, and a United In Beer glass! We recommend bringing: Sunscreen, your friends, and good vibes
Sat 1 – 10 PM Boots In The Park Presents Thomas Rhett, Chris Young & Friends! Balloon Fiesta Park, 5000 Balloon Fiesta Pkwy Dust off your boots and get ready to holler, because Boots In The Park is making it's way to Albuquerque, y'all! Join us for a rootin', tootin', two-steppin' good time with none other than Thomas Rhett, Chris Young, Chris Janson, Kameron Marlowe, Dylan Schneider, Leaving Austin and beats by Luwiss Lux. We're talking about an evening filled to the brim with live tunes, finger-lickin' craft food, and the smoothest cocktails. We'll be kicking up dust with some good ol' line dancing and a whole heap more, as Balloon Fiesta Park is transformed into Albuquerque's best country music party! Past folks to grace the Boots In The Park stage are Carrie Underwood, Blake Shelton, Tim McGraw, Cody Johnson, Jon Pardi and a bunch of other country legends. But this day is gonna be one for the record books, a show that will leave y'all talking for years to come (tickets)
Sat 2 PM Annual Castro Concerto Competition Albuquerque Youth Symphony, 4407 Menaul Blvd. NE Join us to hear talented high school juniors compete for the privilege of performing with the Youth Symphony during the Albuquerque Youth Symphony Program's 2024-2025 concert season! This event is free and open to the public. We also plan to stream this event live on Facebook for anyone not able to attend in person
Sat 2 PM "Greatest Moments" - a fundraising concert for Opera On Tap New Mexico Central United Methodist Church, 201 University Blvd. NE Join us for an afternoon of music to help raise money for Opera on Tap - New Mexico! Featuring some faculty and students of University of New Mexico, along with other local professionals, we have put a program together highlighting some of the show-stopping, beautiful moments of opera and musical theater! Suggested donation $10
Sat 2 – 7 PM Rawking: An Afternoon Metal + Art + Comedy Extravaganza Juno, 1501 1st St. NW Featured performers include Light Thief, Destroy to Recreate, Guvtika, Abandoned Saviors. outdoors on the patio with Four Bands, Comedians, Artists, Vendors. Produced by Metal World Radio. 21+. $10 at the door or presales online
Sat 3 – 8 PM Albuquerque Roller Derby presents: Sandia Slammers vs. Bosque Bruisers! Expo New Mexico - Manuel Lujan Jr Exhibit Complex, 300 San Pedro Dr. NE Albuquerque Roller Derby has gotten SO big we’ve split into two teams! Sandia Slammers & Bosque Bruisers! Get your tickets for our first Home Game of the 2024 season
Sat 3:45 – 5:45 PM AND 7 - 9 PM The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn - Part 1 Flix Brewhouse, 3236 La Orilla Rd. NW Experience the Twilight saga's epic romance and thrilling fantasy BREAKING DAWN - PART 1 on the big screen! Bella and Edward, plus those they love, must deal with the chain of consequences brought on by a marriage, honeymoon, and the tumultuous birth of a child, which brings about unforeseen and shocking developments for Jacob Black (tickets)
Sat 4 – 8 PM Drink Local Downtown ABQ - May Step into the heart of Albuquerque with our thrilling, free monthly bar crawl event! Immerse yourself in the local charm as we celebrate community, culture, and creativity right in the heart of ABQ. In partnership with ABQCore Neighborhood Association, a locally organized and hosted event, we're bringing you a bar crawl experience like no other. This isn't just a crawl; it's a vibrant celebration of local businesses, a showcase of community talent, and a monthly escape into the unique flavors that make ABQ special
Sat 4 – 9 PM Summer Market ABQ Food Park, 6951 San Antonio Dr. NE Dive into the magic of summer evenings at ABQ Food Park with our captivating Summer Market! Join us for a delightful evening, where you can browse an enchanting array of offerings from local artisans and support our vibrant community businesses. Discover unique treasures crafted with love and passion by talented artisans, from handcrafted jewelry to exquisite home decor. Every purchase you make supports local creators and contributes to the thriving arts scene in our city
Sat 5 – 8 PM National Astronomy Day! Rainbow Park Observatory, 301 Southern Blvd SE, Rio Rancho The Rio Rancho Astronomical Society will host National Astronomy Day at Rainbow Park Observatory. There will be food for a donation, family activities and safe solar viewing. Dr. Tony Hull will appeal at 7 pm about his work on the James Webb Space Telescope. He will also have some info on light pollution
Sat 5 – 11 PM Beer & Jazz on the Hill Tractor Brewing, 122 Tulane Dr. SE We're bringing you a full night of brews and Jazz with the very talented Rona & Meli opening things up at 5pm and our house Jazz band Basilaris Trio closing things down at 8!
Sat 6 PM Bear Affair 4: Spanish Tapas Beer Pairing Dinner Boxing Bear Brewing, 8420 Firestone Ln. NE Join us on our patio for an ALMOST summer night paired with a variety of our seasonal beers, chef-crafted Spanish tapas, and flamenco. Featuring chef Christopher Midyette And the artist dance group Spanish Broom. Tickets are $65 per person and include a welcome beer, three course tapas style meal with beer pairings and entertainment for the evening
Sat 6 PM One Year Anniversary Celebration Urbanmama505 Kombucha, 1014 Central Ave SW, Ste A Celebrating one year of love, abundance, and sharing wellness. Right after Open Mic 4-6pm, we will be graced with a jazz concert by Davis Nelson-Hooker, an amazing local musician. Elixirs and small plates for purchase
Sat 6 – 9 PM Gone Country Saturdays with DJ Soiree Ponderosa Brewing, 1761 Bellamah Ave NW It's Gone Country Saturdays featuring the amazing DJ Soiree! Start your evening with free dance lessons at 5 pm, followed by family-friendly entertainment
Sat 7:30 – 9 PM Saturday Night Stand-Up Bosque Brewing Co - Nob Hill, 106 Girard Blvd. SE Live from ABQ, it’s… Saturday Night Stand-Up Hosted by Nax Davis! Every third Saturday of the month! Seating at 7:30 - Comedy at 8. Featured line-up of local comics includes: MEG FINN, BRYAN LAMBE, SARINA OCHOA, MARY BYRD, ROBERT EYSTER
Sat 8 PM – 1:15 AM Apparition Goth Night Historic El Rey Theater, 622 Central Ave SW A hauntingly dark, classic goth night featuring the Apparition team: DJ Ren, DJ Batboy, DJ Moonside. Doors at 8. $10 all night. 21+ Tickets at the door. Expect goth, darkwave, death rock, synthpop, dark post punk, ebm, dark dance, industrial, witch house, horror punk and more
Sat 8:30 PM – 1 AM SABOR Latin Night - SATURDAYS Bama's 1865, 6007 Osuna Rd. NE May 11th - SPECIAL GUEST DJ ITALIA! DJ Gabriel Goza & DJ Pedro will be serving you the saucy Salsa, Bachata, Cumbia, Merengue y Mas! Ample Parking, Safe Environment, Beautiful Venue, Good Food, Good Music, Good Vibes. 21+ / $10 cover
Sat 9 PM – 1 AM Cumbia + Rock en Espanol Juno, 1501 1st St. NW Grupo Super Verza with Ave. 69 and Lot Beat and DJ Tony. Baila! 21+, $15 at the door or online
** Sun 5/19 *\*
Sun 9 – 11 AM Elevated Roller Derby May Training Scrimmage Heights Community Center, 823 Buena Vista Dr. SE Officials' huddle 9:00AM. Captains' meeting at 9:20AM. First whistle 9:30AM. This is simply a black/white scrimmage. It will be used as an educational opportunity. NSO paperwork will be used as appropriate. You are encouraged to stretch your skills. Hospitality: This is a low/no production scrimmage, bring beverages and snacks for your own use. Bathrooms: The community center may not be open during the scrimmage. (That's the trade-off for a free space). You can stop at the nearby Starbucks before the event. Expectations: Skaters and Skating and Non-skating Officials are expected to follow all WFTDA Risk Management Guidelines. The venue is a designated alcohol, drug, and smoke-free space by the city of Albuquerque (sign up)
Sun 10 AM – 2 PM The Great Burque Bake On Rail Yards Market, 777 1st St. SW Get ready to whisk it all at the "Great Burque Bake-on," a special fundraiser for the non-profit Rail Yards Market: One dozen of Albuquerque's most talented bakers will dough head-to-head in a crusty competition for the ultimate bakery glory! Bakers brawl... You vote for the winners! This sugar-dusted showdown promises a blend of flour-fueled drama and buttery bravado, making it the yeast you can do to support your local confectionery champions. As these culinary wizards knead their way to the top, we guarantee you'll find their efforts both batter and sweeter than anything you've tasted before. Join us for a day of laughter, pastry, and a chance to see who rises as the crème de la crème of Burque's baking scene! 1) ORDER > Claim your Bake-on Box & exclusive market swag by ordering online May 10-16th, 2024. 2) LEARN > Follow our social media to learn about each contestant & their offering. 3) PICKUP > Grab your box of baked goodies & swag at the info booth Sunday May 19th. 4) ENJOY > Eat all the delectable goodies, savor the flavor, and read about all the contestants 5) VOTE >> Submit your votes online to choose the winners! (tickets) The Farmers' Market event is going down simultaneously with 175+ local vendors to explore, and is still FREE to enter and welcome to all. This funky fundraiser is going down during the FREE Rail Yards Farmers' Market. So you can peruse 150+ small businesses and enjoy the historic architecture while you enjoy your Great Burque Bake-on Box of goodies! All proceeds will benefit the Rail Yards Market. The Rail Yards market of Albuquerque is a certified 501(c)3 non-profit focused on building a resilient, sustainable, local economy where the surrounding historic communities thrive, all can participate, and everyone is enriched and inspired. Through food, art, education, and music, we invite the community together in an inclusive and festive atmosphere
Sun 11:30 AM The Addams Family Historic Lobo Theater, 3013 Central Ave NE THE HISTORIC LOBO THEATER is excited to bring The Addams Family to the big screen! Showing Starts at 11:30 am Tickets are ONLY $10 for General Admission $25 Brunch and a Movie Ticket $21 Brunch Only ticket
Sun 12:30 PM Annual Spring Tea Asbury UMC, 10000 Candelaria Rd. NE All are welcome to attend our Annual Spring Tea! This year's theme is "The Tapestries of Our Lives." Life can be like a tapestry; our quilt, with events, feelings, accomplishments, and even disappointments "stitched" in. Join us, for tea, while Cindy Kurey, AQS-certified quilted textiles appraiser, shares how quilting and her faith have helped her navigate life. She will also show her collection of antique, vintage, and modern quilts! There is no cost to attend, though RSVPs are required. Please call the church office 505-299-0643 or message us on Facebook to RSVP
Sun 1 PM Ruck Club May Callout - Rain Ruck North Domingo Baca Park, 8301 Wyoming Blvd. NE Since we are in Albuquerque, we will get creative to find water. No weight requirement; use your regular training weight. We will be rucking at least 5 miles. Hosted by F3 Albuquerque, which plants free, peer-led workout groups for men, but this event isn't just for men! Everybody is welcomed and encouraged to participate in this GORUCK monthly callout. Bring water, electrolytes, sunscreen. Expect to get wet, and dress accordingly
Sun 2 - 4 PM Film Screening: "Between the Stone and the Flower" JCC of Greater Albuquerque, 5520 Wyoming Blvd. NE The film follows the journey of Genie of Milgrom and her decades long quest for her Jewish lineage inspired the film. She was born in Havana, Cuba and raised in Miami as a full Catholic. She was always burdened with a deep-rooted feeling of not belonging in her Spanish Catholic environment. Genie becomes more and more convinced that her family was Jewish in the Iberian Peninsula centuries before. Intro and Q&A with Filmmaker, Genie Milgrom (register for free)
Sun 2 – 3:30 PM Cuidando los Niños Fundraiser Cookie Class Sweet Pea Bakery, 2500 Central Ave SW Join us for a fun night out while making an impact in our community! Light House Studio and Sweet Pea Bakery are teaming up to host a cookie decorating class to benefit Cuidando los Ninos. This will be a full 1.5 hour class where local cookie artist Katie Sacoman walks you through decorating three floral themed sugar cookies. Each participant also receives a personalized cookie with their name on it. 50% of each ticket sold goes to benefit Cuidando los Ninos, a local organization working to break the cycle of homelessness for children and families by providing high-quality early childhood education, case management, supportive housing, and parent education. *This class will be good for participants age 10 and up. Please keep in mind it is an hour and a half long guided class. You know your child best!*

This scam from face value looks decent but a little complex for the amount of money allegedly this team took down. First, they were going out physically towing cars to a shop that one of the dude's owned (opsec killed right there) and then they were doing it from the same place. A real scammer would have......you know what......check out the article yourself.

More than a dozen Southern California residents are reported to have conspired to create fraudulent insurance claims to illegally collect more than $350,000.
They were arrested last week after an investigation reportedly discovered a large-scale organized auto insurance fraud ring engaged in multiple schemes, including holding vehicles hostage and collusive collisions.
Three additional people were charged for their alleged involvement in the organized ring. The charges involve 19 fraudulent claims resulting in a loss of $353,035.
The Inland Empire Automobile Insurance Task Force began an investigation in 2022 after reportedly discovering a California Highway Patrol non-sworn employee, Rosa Isela Santistevan, 55, of Irvine, was unlawfully selling traffic collision report face pages with personal information of people who had been involved in collisions throughout the region.
Searches reportedly led to the seizure of more than 3,500 CHP traffic collision report face pages from the residence of Esmeralda Parga, 26, of Pomona, who the task force determined was connected to Santistevan through the organized ring’s ringleader, Andre Angelo Reyes, 36, of Corona.
The alleged conspiracy began after Reyes befriended Santistevan and other CHP employees by donating to various CHP events and parties. Santistevan printed and unlawfully sold thousands of traffic collision face pages to Reyes, who reportedly would then provide the reports to Parga. Parga would then pretend to be from the insurance company of involved parties and coordinate having the vehicle towed to a repair center, according to investigators.
Tow trucks were then sent to pick up the vehicles and take them to CA Collision, owned by Anthony Gomez, 35, of Jurupa Valley. Once at there, the repair shop held the vehicle hostage and demand cash payment from the insurers to have the vehicles released.
This investigation resulted in 15 suspects being charged with insurance fraud, grand theft by trick, and false impersonation.
The investigating task force included the California Department of Insurance, California Highway Patrol, San Bernardino County District Attorney’s Office, and the Riverside County District Attorney’s Office. The San Bernardino County District Attorney’s Office is prosecuting the case.
Defendants include:

• Andre Angelo Reyes, 36, of Corona
• Rosa Isela Santistevan, 55, of Irvine
• Esmeralda Parga, 26, of Pomona
• Anthony Gomez, 35, of Jurupa Valley
• Ezequiel Baltazar Orozco, 30, of Los Angeles
• Antonio Terrazas Perez Jr., 19, of Los Angeles
• Erika Garcia, 31, of Los Angeles
• Israel Avila Sandoval, 45, of Pomona
• Luis Alberto Ramirez Jr., 32, of San Bernardino
• Robert Arzac, 49, of West Covina
• Antonio Ramirez Perez, 44, of Los Angeles
• Brian Anthony Lopez, 25, of Anaheim
• Emily Marie Boatman, 26, of Ontario
• Ricardo Parga Jr., 23, of Pomona
• Steven Anthony Alfaro, 38, of Buena Park.

​

Man sorry to say but these motherfuckers were stupid. Too many people on one operation for the small amount of money. Someone was going to snitch (which probably how the LE caught wind of the play in the first place) and just too close to home. All of them are positioning themselves for the best plea deal RIGHT NOW as I type this shit. Lets see how this pans out though,

​

Se queda a dormir a mi casa...
Pobrecillo ahí lo deje jugara con mis cosas...
Me dice al otro día temprano...
"Tío... yo considero y veo en usted como una figura paternal..."
Que me encabrono...
Quien le inculcara esas palabras... "no son de un niño..."
Sin embargo... "Yo no me meto con los niños..."
Lo ignore... ya no volví a ser buena onda...
Puro anál...
A mi que se me hace... que fuera de esto... por allá hasta allá... con la banda esa del tal Troy... ahi está un pedo bueno...
Padres que se cogen a las hijas...
Ordenes que ni Erin ni yo damos... ni nada... todo eran enemigos directos...
Sale la tal vieja de la marina mandando una foto... con el hijo y unos pendejos de ahí uniformados lleno de electrodos en la cabeza...
Nadie acepto mis órdenes para simular mis cosas por HFSS en Fiverr... no pues... cuantos electrodos tendré que dibujar... hacer... es algo que tengo que hacer en la computadora...
"Que ya era suficiente que solo era el Visor..."
Y luego salen que "hubo pedo"
A mi se me hace otra cosa ahi tienen un pedononon...
Conozco a una nieta de Robert... en los Cabos... llego con su papá...
Se me have que solo los usaban analogicamente...
Me decían en Torino... "Enrique comp viajas por el mundo..." no pues pensaba de entrada... a mi no me gusta viajar por ningún mundo... pero tengo que emigrar de donde vivo...
Nonono... no seas tonto... que recuerdes frases...
No te das cuenta... los papás de McNamara la más grande... son gente muy tranquila... los otros esos son "Feminicidas". Pero no es que sean ellos...
Es un negocio que mantienen...
Viven de chingarse a unos niños... a ti y a Erin...
Yo no sabia me vino a visitar la hija de Kim... me dijeron los de la tienda...
Pues vamonos...
Que difícil es vivir con enemigos no puedes defenderte.... no te dejan... te tienen pisoteado... no poder levantarte del knock out ni hacer nada...
Si no les brindas obediencia... esta cabron...
Enrique tu papa era un empleado que era dependiente de una tienda... muchas gracias...
Porque Rumsfeld tiene una escritura de una Bodega... y no te van a entregar nada porque "no hay necesidad". Pero sin embargo no se pueden ir... de aquí...
Por lo mismo... que hay que obedecer "al rey"

From what I know, many active LDS members in Utah played a big part in the troubled teen industry’s beginning, back in 1960 when Larry Dean Olsen started leading wilderness outings with his classmates. Larry was a student at Brigham Young University (BYU), this university is owned by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church), who runs the school.
The leaders at this university said that students who went in these outings would behave better and be better at school, which imo is not 100% accurate since they would then profite from this.
These programs might well be an outgrowth from the BYU programs, which students with problems would pay for a 2/3 weeks survival program that involved a lot of deprivation and prayer, and a week alone in the desert.
This disgusting and lucrative wilderness therapy industry was born there. These people promised parents that their children would be better if living in Utah which is a lie.
In 1964, West Ridge Academy (known as the utah boys ranch until 2005) founded by David Mckay was also one of the first in Utah.
This kind of treatment is seen by some religious as the way to get kids to walk in line. I remember some TTI survivors saying that sometimes staff would play LDS songs in the background while they were studying.
There was a case in which an excommunicated man from the lds church who fooled with 16 year olds got a job in one of these TTI facilities in Utah, just because he had a graduation from BYU. The fact that these type of people are allowed near teenagers is unreal.
Now, I know that not all of the TTI facilities are 100% based in lds, some were also inspired by synanon and Lifespring (wwasp for example). But the first ones were indeed lds inspired.
The founders and presidents of wwasp featured on “the program” (Netflix) are most mormon (Robert and Marvin Litchfield, Ken Kay, Norm Thibault).
You can see the litchfield family pics showed on episode 3, Litchfield wearing a BYU gear, them engaging in church like activities, etc. A former wwasp staff member also spoke about this connection.
The wwasp was mostly run by mormons, some wwasp workers even opened their own programs. Thayer Learning Center (for example), a military style boot camp run by John and Willa Bundy, who was advertising her school for people with “turret syndrome”. In 2004, a student named Roberto Reyes died on the Bundy’s watch when he got bitten by a spider and was still forced to exercise excessively.
I do not think that the schools were affliated with the mormon church directly, but with members of the mormon church. I think that some of these programs were mormon behaviour modification camps disguised as rehab schools, or at least inspired in the mormon cult.
I noticed that some of these programs were religious in nature. Mountain Park Baptist Boarding School, in Patterson, Missouri had kids regularly paddled, forced to wear culottes and call the owners Mama and Papa.
Still, the lds church is sus as hell, doing shady stuff like their missionary service being related to human trafficking. The worst is that they pay you to do so, which might have inspired the old TTI transportation methods? The transporters would also be getting paid to take teenagers in the middle of the night. You can learn more about the lds possible trafficking here:
https://www.reddit.com/exmormon/s/colout4OuC
More similarities: The churches make money by not paying for staff, at the TTI big part of the staff was paid a really low value.
They both lie and deceive so you’ll join (church volunteers and parents in the TTI)
“The kidnapping” even if it is “legal” it’s not moral…
They do not pay for janitors, or a cleaning team, just like it was mentioned in “the program” and survivors stories, staff would have the students cleaning.
Again, I do not entirely blame the churches because there is not solid proof to make a connection between the church and these facilities. HOWEVER, the mormons who founded these facilities use their churches values and habits to run these fake therapy centers.
Mormons break a lot of rules from the church and some of them value their personal beliefs over the church’s beliefs, so, they do not care if they are hurting teens, even though the church says they are against violence.
Even of the church is not entirely related, their theology is. If anyone can help me gather more information I would be grateful. Thank you.

I saw some lewd art of her (by Prywinko) and I wanted to give her comics a try, but I reckon I must have chosen the worst one possible. It was a collection called 'Immortal Red Sonja' and it is one of only two books I've ever bought, the first being the Da Vinci Code, that I've thrown straight into the wheelie bin in disgust. The art just looked ugly to me and it had awful writing (the cover art was nice though).
I've never been interested in Western comics so I'm pretty ignorant about the history and heritage of characters like her, but I do like manga like Claymore, Hellsing and Berserk. I've also been reading Robert E. Howard recently (the Del Rey paperbacks) so I'm pretty familiar with the Hyborean Age. I'd like to read high-quality books that show Sonja in her best light whilst avoiding chaff like the aforementioned 'Immortal...' series.

Yesterday's Standout Hitters

^{stats for games since 04/02/2024}
 

AAA Standouts

Jackson Holliday 1/4 -- [2B, 20, INT - BAL] - [F] [T] .289 BA .481 OBP .171 ISO 76 AB 2 HR 3 SB 25 BB% 16 K%
Junior Caminero 1/4 BB 2K -- [3B, 20, INT - TB] - [F] [T] .312 BA .369 OBP .260 ISO 77 AB 5 HR 8 BB% 19 K%
🔥🔥​ James Wood​​ 2/4 2 HR BB -- [LF, 21, INT - WSH] - [F] [T] .347 BA .437 OBP .256 ISO 121 AB 7 HR 9 SB 14 BB% 19 K%
James Wood 1/2 BB -- [LF, 21, INT - WSH] - [F] [T] .347 BA .437 OBP .256 ISO 121 AB 7 HR 9 SB 14 BB% 19 K%
🔥​ Jonatan Clase​ 2/5 HR SB -- [CF, 21, PCL - SEA] - [F] [T] .247 BA .359 OBP .260 ISO 77 AB 4 HR 9 SB 15 BB% 27 K%
Jordan Walker 2/4 -- [RF, 21, INT - STL] - [F] [T] .300 BA .378 OBP .075 ISO 40 AB 1 SB 11 BB% 8 K%
Thomas Saggese 2/4 HR K -- [SS, 22, INT - STL] - [F] [T] .265 BA .354 OBP .186 ISO 113 AB 5 HR 4 SB 6 BB% 23 K%
Jacob Wilson 3/5 -- [SS, 22, PCL - OAK] - [F] [T] .368 BA .400 OBP .105 ISO 19 AB 5 BB% 5 K%
Drew Cavanaugh 3/4 -- [C, 22, PCL - SF] - [F] [T] .571 BA .667 OBP .000 ISO 7 AB 11 BB% 0 K%
Juan Brito 2/5 2B HR -- [2B, 22, INT - CLE] - [F] [T] .189 BA .342 OBP .148 ISO 122 AB 4 HR 1 SB 17 BB% 18 K%
Curtis Mead 3/4 2 2B K -- [2B, 23, INT - TB] - [F] [T] .286 BA .412 OBP .143 ISO 14 AB 17 BB% 35 K%
Ryan Bliss 2/4 HR BB -- [SS, 24, PCL - SEA] - [F] [T] .250 BA .381 OBP .195 ISO 128 AB 4 HR 19 SB 17 BB% 21 K%
Canaan Smith-Njigba 2/3 HR 2BB -- [DH, 25, INT - PIT] - [F] [T] .270 BA .393 OBP .122 ISO 74 AB 1 HR 3 SB 16 BB% 21 K%
Niko Kavadas 3/4 HR -- [DH, 25, INT - BOS] - [F] [T] .315 BA .456 OBP .404 ISO 89 AB 9 HR 16 BB% 28 K%
Matt Mervis 3/4 2 HR -- [1B, 26, INT - CHC] - [F] [T] .314 BA .432 OBP .357 ISO 70 AB 7 HR 15 BB% 26 K%
Drew Millas 2/4 2 HR -- [C, 26, INT - WSH] - [F] [T] .333 BA .373 OBP .396 ISO 48 AB 5 HR 2 SB 5 BB% 11 K%
Kameron Misner 3/5 2B 2 SB -- [CF, 26, INT - TB] - [F] [T] .252 BA .379 OBP .130 ISO 115 AB 3 HR 10 SB 15 BB% 31 K%
 

AA Standouts

Nelson Rada 1/1 -- [CF, 18, SOU - LAA] - [F] [T] .248 BA .310 OBP .027 ISO 113 AB 11 SB 7 BB% 23 K%
Samuel Basallo 1/3 BB -- [DH, 19, EAS - BAL] - [F] [T] .257 BA .303 OBP .168 ISO 113 AB 5 HR 2 SB 5 BB% 22 K%
Roman Anthony 2/5 2 2B K -- [CF, 20, EAS - BOS] - [F] [T] .227 BA .333 OBP .145 ISO 110 AB 2 HR 4 SB 13 BB% 31 K%
Harry Ford 2/4 2B BB -- [DH, 21, TEX - SEA] - [F] [T] .243 BA .404 OBP .196 ISO 107 AB 4 HR 8 SB 19 BB% 18 K%
Hao-Yu Lee 1/2 2BB -- [2B, 21, EAS - DET] - [F] [T] .255 BA .344 OBP .113 ISO 106 AB 1 HR 4 SB 11 BB% 21 K%
Alex Ramírez 3/5 BB SB -- [LF, 21, EAS - NYM] - [F] [T] .282 BA .370 OBP .107 ISO 103 AB 1 HR 14 SB 12 BB% 21 K%
Max Acosta 2/5 3B K -- [2B, 21, TEX - TEX] - [F] [T] .252 BA .325 OBP .093 ISO 107 AB 8 SB 8 BB% 16 K%
Kevin Alcántara 3/3 BB -- [CF, 21, SOU - CHC] - [F] [T] .245 BA .294 OBP .147 ISO 102 AB 4 HR 2 SB 6 BB% 27 K%
Petey Halpin 2/5 HR K -- [CF, 21, EAS - CLE] - [F] [T] .263 BA .323 OBP .149 ISO 114 AB 3 HR 3 SB 8 BB% 21 K%
Geraldo Quintero 1/3 HR -- [LF, 22, SOU - ATL] - [F] [T] .228 BA .314 OBP .054 ISO 92 AB 1 HR 11 SB 7 BB% 21 K%
🔥​ Alexfri Planez​ 2/3 2 HR BB -- [DH, 22, EAS - CLE] - [F] [T] .218 BA .274 OBP .172 ISO 87 AB 4 HR 6 BB% 31 K%
José Rodríguez 2/3 HR -- [2B, 23, EAS - PHI] - [F] [T] .214 BA .307 OBP .153 ISO 98 AB 3 HR 7 SB 10 BB% 17 K%
Brennan Milone 4/5 2B -- [2B, 23, TEX - OAK] - [F] [T] .265 BA .361 OBP .176 ISO 102 AB 4 HR 2 SB 11 BB% 21 K%
Alberto Rodriguez 3/5 2 2B -- [RF, 23, TEX - SEA] - [F] [T] .235 BA .298 OBP .071 ISO 85 AB 7 BB% 24 K%
Cooper Bowman 2/4 2B 2BB K SB -- [3B, 24, TEX - OAK] - [F] [T] .202 BA .304 OBP .143 ISO 119 AB 4 HR 11 SB 12 BB% 25 K%
Trei Cruz 3/4 2B HR -- [SS, 25, EAS - DET] - [F] [T] .191 BA .312 OBP .128 ISO 94 AB 3 HR 1 SB 15 BB% 29 K%
 

A+ Standouts

Ethan Salas 0/3 BB -- [C, 17, MID - SD] - [F] [T] .186 BA .302 OBP .072 ISO 97 AB 4 SB 14 BB% 27 K%
Sebastian Walcott 0/2 2BB -- [SS, 18, SAL - TEX] - [F] [T] .173 BA .289 OBP .112 ISO 98 AB 2 HR 1 SB 14 BB% 28 K%
Termarr Johnson 0/4 2BB -- [2B, 19, SAL - PIT] - [F] [T] .161 BA .368 OBP .065 ISO 93 AB 1 HR 4 SB 21 BB% 24 K%
Pedro Ramirez 3/4 2B 3B K -- [3B, 20, MID - CHC] - [F] [T] .343 BA .393 OBP .127 ISO 102 AB 2 HR 5 SB 7 BB% 18 K%
Leonardo Bernal 2/3 2B -- [C, 20, MID - STL] - [F] [T] .239 BA .314 OBP .120 ISO 92 AB 2 HR 2 SB 7 BB% 21 K%
Luis Baez 4/5 2 2B K -- [RF, 20, SAL - HOU] - [F] [T] .295 BA .342 OBP .188 ISO 112 AB 5 HR 3 SB 6 BB% 24 K%
🔥​ Henry Bolte​ 3/6 HR 2K SB -- [CF, 20, MID - OAK] - [F] [T] .246 BA .364 OBP .169 ISO 118 AB 4 HR 13 SB 12 BB% 36 K%
Jheremy Vargas 2/4 2B K SB -- [LF, 21, MID - MIL] - [F] [T] .194 BA .296 OBP .113 ISO 62 AB 2 HR 5 SB 11 BB% 21 K%
Nick Morabito 0/2 3BB K SB -- [LF, 21, SAL - NYM] - [F] [T] .214 BA .389 OBP .071 ISO 14 AB 2 SB 22 BB% 22 K%
Alex Mooney 2/5 K 2 SB -- [SS, 21, MID - CLE] - [F] [T] .346 BA .387 OBP .269 ISO 104 AB 6 HR 9 SB 4 BB% 21 K%
🔥​ Brayan Buelvas​ 1/2 HR 4BB -- [RF, 21, MID - OAK] - [F] [T] .235 BA .350 OBP .202 ISO 119 AB 5 HR 10 SB 15 BB% 20 K%
Jacob Gonzalez 2/4 2B K SB -- [SS, 21, SAL - CWS] - [F] [T] .302 BA .400 OBP .155 ISO 116 AB 3 HR 6 SB 12 BB% 9 K%
Yohendrick Pinango 2/3 2 2B SB -- [LF, 22, MID - CHC] - [F] [T] .354 BA .466 OBP .281 ISO 96 AB 5 HR 3 SB 16 BB% 12 K%
Jack Hurley 2/4 2B HR -- [CF, 22, NWL - ARI] - [F] [T] .221 BA .299 OBP .189 ISO 95 AB 3 HR 5 SB 9 BB% 28 K%
Max Anderson 2/4 HR -- [2B, 22, MID - DET] - [F] [T] .276 BA .323 OBP .130 ISO 123 AB 3 HR 6 BB% 16 K%
Glenn Santiago 1/2 2BB 2 SB -- [1B, 23, NWL - TOR] - [F] [T] .360 BA .433 OBP .120 ISO 25 AB 1 HR 2 SB 13 BB% 16 K%
Douglas Hodo III 1/2 BB K 4 SB -- [RF, 23, SAL - BAL] - [F] [T] .167 BA .265 OBP .033 ISO 30 AB 7 SB 11 BB% 47 K%
 

A Standouts

Yophery Rodriguez 1/4 2B BB 2K -- [CF, 18, CAR - MIL] - [F] [T] .230 BA .336 OBP .168 ISO 113 AB 3 HR 3 SB 12 BB% 32 K%
J.D. Gonzalez 0/1 3BB K -- [DH, 18, CAL - SD] - [F] [T] .179 BA .382 OBP .026 ISO 39 AB 21 BB% 40 K%
Rafael Ramirez Jr. 1/4 HR 3K -- [SS, 18, CAR - CLE] - [F] [T] .160 BA .266 OBP .117 ISO 94 AB 2 HR 2 SB 12 BB% 36 K%
Juan Baez 2/5 -- [3B, 18, CAR - MIL] - [F] [T] .291 BA .349 OBP .085 ISO 117 AB 5 SB 6 BB% 6 K%
🔥​ Kevyn Castillo​ 2/3 BB K 2 SB -- [LF, 18, CAL - LAA] - [F] [T] .279 BA .377 OBP .087 ISO 104 AB 2 HR 6 SB 11 BB% 29 K%
Ralphy Velazquez 1/3 2B BB K SB -- [1B, 18, CAR - CLE] - [F] [T] .278 BA .350 OBP .213 ISO 108 AB 6 HR 2 SB 9 BB% 21 K%
Jesus Lopez 1/2 2B 2BB K -- [DH, 18, CAR - TEX] - [F] [T] .318 BA .385 OBP .118 ISO 85 AB 2 HR 10 BB% 20 K%
Josue De Paula 1/4 2B 2K SB -- [RF, 18, CAL - LAD] - [F] [T] .247 BA .340 OBP .135 ISO 89 AB 4 SB 10 BB% 27 K%
Jaison Chourio 2/4 2 SB -- [CF, 18, CAR - CLE] - [F] [T] .298 BA .442 OBP .128 ISO 94 AB 2 HR 11 SB 19 BB% 15 K%
Byron Chourio 1/4 SB -- [CF, 18, FSL - MIN] - [F] [T] .212 BA .280 OBP .137 ISO 80 AB 5 SB 9 BB% 30 K%
Jansel Luis 2/5 K SB -- [SS, 19, CAL - ARI] - [F] [T] .238 BA .290 OBP .066 ISO 122 AB 1 HR 4 SB 4 BB% 28 K%
Angel Mateo 2/4 2B BB 2K -- [RF, 19, CAR - TB] - [F] [T] .301 BA .387 OBP .204 ISO 93 AB 4 HR 4 SB 9 BB% 26 K%
Brandon Winokur 1/3 BB K SB -- [SS, 19, FSL - MIN] - [F] [T] .255 BA .317 OBP .145 ISO 110 AB 2 HR 7 SB 7 BB% 31 K%
Marcos Torres 1/3 BB K SB -- [1B, 19, CAR - TEX] - [F] [T] .157 BA .253 OBP .084 ISO 83 AB 1 HR 3 SB 10 BB% 35 K%
Jeffry Rosa 2/4 HR K -- [RF, 19, FSL - NYM] - [F] [T] .385 BA .529 OBP .462 ISO 13 AB 2 HR 11 BB% 11 K%
Kevin McGonigle 2/5 3B -- [2B, 19, FSL - DET] - [F] [T] .318 BA .400 OBP .114 ISO 44 AB 5 SB 11 BB% 9 K%
Blake Mitchell 2/3 BB K SB -- [C, 19, CAR - KC] - [F] [T] .229 BA .395 OBP .167 ISO 96 AB 3 HR 9 SB 20 BB% 35 K%
Aidan Smith 1/2 2B 2BB SB -- [LF, 19, CAL - SEA] - [F] [T] .255 BA .370 OBP .170 ISO 106 AB 3 HR 9 SB 14 BB% 23 K%
🔥​ Alfonsin Rosario​ 3/5 HR BB K -- [RF, 19, CAR - CHC] - [F] [T] .250 BA .278 OBP .231 ISO 52 AB 3 HR 5 SB 3 BB% 42 K%
Aidan Miller 1/3 HR BB -- [SS, 19, FSL - PHI] - [F] [T] .337 BA .411 OBP .241 ISO 83 AB 4 HR 9 SB 8 BB% 18 K%
Brenner Cox 3/3 2B BB -- [RF, 20, CAR - WSH] - [F] [T] .238 BA .336 OBP .168 ISO 101 AB 3 HR 8 SB 12 BB% 35 K%
Andy Lugo 2/3 2 2B BB -- [RF, 20, CAR - BOS] - [F] [T] .273 BA .411 OBP .117 ISO 77 AB 6 SB 14 BB% 27 K%
Guillermo Williamson 1/4 HR -- [1B, 20, CAL - SF] - [F] [T] .250 BA .346 OBP .221 ISO 68 AB 4 HR 12 BB% 34 K%
Will Bush 1/1 2B 2BB -- [C, 20, CAR - HOU] - [F] [T] .169 BA .306 OBP .042 ISO 71 AB 1 SB 12 BB% 38 K%
Raylin Heredia 2/4 HR K -- [RF, 20, FSL - PHI] - [F] [T] .293 BA .348 OBP .220 ISO 41 AB 2 HR 1 SB 8 BB% 34 K%
Derlin Figueroa 0/3 BB 2 SB -- [3B, 20, CAR - KC] - [F] [T] .235 BA .304 OBP .127 ISO 102 AB 3 HR 3 SB 8 BB% 20 K%
Yamal Encarnacion 0/4 BB 2 SB -- [RF, 20, CAR - HOU] - [F] [T] .215 BA .316 OBP .092 ISO 65 AB 2 HR 8 SB 13 BB% 7 K%
Jordan Viars 2/4 HR BB K -- [LF, 20, FSL - PHI] - [F] [T] .233 BA .333 OBP .205 ISO 73 AB 3 HR 13 BB% 29 K%
Miguel Briceno 2/4 HR SB -- [2B, 20, CAR - MIL] - [F] [T] .232 BA .257 OBP .159 ISO 69 AB 3 HR 8 SB 4 BB% 16 K%
Will Verdung 1/4 2BB K 3 SB -- [2B, 20, CAR - ATL] - [F] [T] .221 BA .379 OBP .059 ISO 68 AB 1 HR 7 SB 18 BB% 26 K%
 

Rookie Standouts

Yassel Soler 2/5 2B 3B K -- [3B, 18, AZL - ARI] - [F] [T] .348 BA .400 OBP .261 ISO 23 AB 8 BB% 16 K%
George Wolkow 4/5 2 2B K -- [RF, 18, AZL - CWS] - [F] [T] .438 BA .500 OBP .312 ISO 16 AB 1 HR 5 BB% 44 K%
Stiven Flores 2/5 BB K SB -- [C, 18, AZL - CWS] - [F] [T] .417 BA .462 OBP .000 ISO 12 AB 1 SB 7 BB% 23 K%
Robert Calaz 2/3 3B BB K -- [RF, 18, AZL - COL] - [F] [T] .389 BA .522 OBP .333 ISO 18 AB 1 SB 17 BB% 26 K%
Jose Monzon 2/3 2BB 2 SB -- [3B, 18, GCL - TB] - [F] [T] .467 BA .579 OBP .000 ISO 15 AB 3 SB 21 BB% 5 K%
🔥​ Andres Valor​ 2/3 HR 2BB K SB -- [CF, 18, GCL - MIA] - [F] [T] .278 BA .381 OBP .222 ISO 18 AB 1 HR 3 SB 14 BB% 33 K%
Filippo Di Turi 3/5 2B -- [DH, 18, AZL - MIL] - [F] [T] .421 BA .560 OBP .263 ISO 19 AB 2 SB 24 BB% 16 K%
Javier Mogollon 1/3 2B 3BB K SB -- [2B, 18, AZL - CWS] - [F] [T] .154 BA .421 OBP .308 ISO 13 AB 1 HR 3 SB 31 BB% 42 K%
Alfredo Alcantara 1/2 4BB K -- [2B, 18, AZL - CIN] - [F] [T] .200 BA .556 OBP .000 ISO 5 AB 44 BB% 33 K%
Yeiker Reyes 1/2 2B 2BB SB -- [CF, 18, AZL - COL] - [F] [T] .368 BA .478 OBP .105 ISO 19 AB 3 SB 16 BB% 12 K%
Yirer Garcia 2/4 2 2B BB K -- [C, 18, GCL - TB] - [F] [T] .133 BA .278 OBP .133 ISO 15 AB 16 BB% 22 K%
Sheng-En Lin 2/5 3B BB K -- [3B, 18, AZL - CIN] - [F] [T] .429 BA .500 OBP .214 ISO 14 AB 1 SB 12 BB% 25 K%
Derek Bernard 2/5 2B 3B K -- [DH, 18, AZL - COL] - [F] [T] .118 BA .167 OBP .176 ISO 17 AB 5 BB% 50 K%
Larry Martinez 4/4 BB -- [1B, 18, GCL - TB] - [F] [T] .556 BA .667 OBP .000 ISO 9 AB 8 BB% 0 K%
Anthony Gutierrez 1/3 2B 2 SB -- [CF, 19, AZL - TEX] - [F] [T] .333 BA .333 OBP .333 ISO 3 AB 2 SB 0 BB% 0 K%
Yanki Baptiste 1/2 HR BB -- [3B, 19, AZL - CLE] - [F] [T] .333 BA .444 OBP .467 ISO 15 AB 2 HR 16 BB% 38 K%
Alberto Barriga 3/3 2 2B 2BB -- [DH, 19, AZL - ARI] - [F] [T] .500 BA .550 OBP .125 ISO 16 AB 2 SB 15 BB% 15 K%
Sammy Stafura 4/6 2B BB K -- [SS, 19, AZL - CIN] - [F] [T] .412 BA .500 OBP .118 ISO 17 AB 15 BB% 20 K%
Yasser Mercedes 2/3 2BB K SB -- [DH, 19, GCL - MIN] - [F] [T] .389 BA .476 OBP .056 ISO 18 AB 2 SB 14 BB% 14 K%
Elis Cuevas 2/2 2B 3 SB -- [RF, 19, GCL - BAL] - [F] [T] .273 BA .467 OBP .364 ISO 11 AB 1 HR 3 SB 13 BB% 13 K%
Demetrio Crisantes 1/3 2BB 2K 3 SB -- [2B, 19, AZL - ARI] - [F] [T] .381 BA .480 OBP .190 ISO 21 AB 3 SB 16 BB% 12 K%
Juan Matheus 1/2 HR 2BB -- [SS, 20, GCL - NYY] - [F] [T] .286 BA .375 OBP .357 ISO 14 AB 1 HR 12 BB% 18 K%
Luis Ogando 2/3 HR SB -- [3B, 20, GCL - NYY] - [F] [T] .333 BA .417 OBP .333 ISO 9 AB 1 HR 1 SB 0 BB% 16 K%
Diego Guzman 3/3 2 2B 3B -- [2B, 20, AZL - KC] - [F] [T] .444 BA .500 OBP .556 ISO 9 AB 0 BB% 30 K%
 

Book report guy back, with the Bryan Danielson book from 2014 and it has some fun backstage stories from his time in WWE!
Solid wrestling book, though not super memorable in my opinion. Some solid detail and dirt like you expect, but honestly it felt like he was holding back.
As always, it's in chronological order as best as I could do that. Hope y'all enjoy!
Bryan is a weird dude, while describing his adolescence, he casually says that he has a lot of weird hypothesis on various subjects, and we should ask Nigel McGuinness about Bryan's theory on how a penis grows. He doesn't expand on this more. He just says that and moves back to talking about his childhood.
Bryan rants a bit about how modern medicine has stunted human evolution because kids who would have died off got to live and reproduce and pass their "defects" onto the next generation. He says that he is one of those defects, sick all his childhood and sick a lot as an adult. He says that his wife Brie is also a "defect" but says she can share the details in her own book if she ever writes one.
When Bryan was 16 years old, he contacted Dean Melanko's wrestling school and was told it would cost him $2,500, but he needed a $500 deposit to secure his spot. Bryan was scared that there were hundreds of people on the waiting list and worked extra shifts at McDonald's in order to get the cash together asap. He put $500 deposit down for a wrestling school he couldn't go to for 2 more years.
Three months before Bryan graduated high school, the Melanko Wrestling School contacted to inform Bryan that the school was shutting down permanently. When Bryan asked for his $500 back, he was told that they no longer had it and that he was SOL.
While watching Monday Night RAW, an ad flashed advertising a 900 number (an old pay-per-minute phone concept that was always a money drain on the caller), and it advertised Shawn Michaels opening up a wrestling school. After an expensive phone call, Bryan was told to pay $20 more for a package to be mailed to him with more info. He did, and when he got the package, it detailed how Michaels wrestling school would cost $3,900 dollars, and it had another 900 number to call if you're interested. Bryan was demoralized and almost didn't call. When he did, though, he was speaking to Shawm Michaels mom, who was helping Shawn run it. Bryan's mom ended up doing all the talking, and the two mothers helped Bryan get set up with a place in San Antonio where the school was. They agreed to let Bryan pay monthly to help him with the finances.
Bryan's first day of wrestling school went exactly like everyone else's first day of wrestling school, with 90% of the students gassed and vomiting. Bryan said out of the 10 guys there, only he and Lance Cade didn't end up vomiting.
Bryan remembers how much Shawn Michaels prioritized his training to Lance Cade. One of the first days, Lance did a basic jump and got so much air that Michaels loudly proclaimed, "I smell money!"
Even though it was Shawn's school, the primary instructor was Rudy Boy Gonzales, a pretty insignificant wrestler from the 80s and 90s. Bryan puts over Rudy as a passionate trainer who motivated him to try harder. Bryan said Rudy would show Bryan anything Bryan saw on a tape and wanted to try.
Bryan says that he and "The" Brian Kendrick became friends immediately as they were both around the same size in the training and had the same level of passion for wrestling.
I always heard that Shawn Michaels wasn't very present for this school, but Bryan tells a different tale, putting Shawn over as someone who was always around and always showing them how to be better.
Bryan does remember some days that Shawn would come in with his sunglasses on, sit at the back of the class, and then dip out early. Bryan didn't realize then that Shawn was in deep with a bad painkiller addiction, and so some days he wasn't as present. Since Bryan grew up with his dad's addiction issues, Bryan says seeing Shawn actually kick the addiction fully put Shawn on a pedestal in Bryan's eyes.
After a couple of months, Shawn was telling the students to start thinking of ring names, and when Bryan couldn't come up with one, he asked Shawn about using his real name. Shawn thought about it for a second before adding "The American Dragon" to it. When Bryan asked why that name, Shawn said it's because Bryan wrestled like a Japanese guy. Bryan took that as a massive compliment.
Bryan didn't tell Shawn, but Bryan initially hated "The American Dragon" name.
Bryan had trouble being expressive and emoting in the ring, so Shawn had him wrestle under a mask.
On October 4th, 1999, Bryan wrestled his first ever match for Shawn Michaels' small promotion, Texas Wrestling Alliance. His opponent was Brian Kendrick (then known as Spanky), and Bryan says as rotton as it was, everyone in the back was super excited for their performance, including Shawn.
Bryan confirms that Kendrick called himself "Spanky" as a masturbation reference.
Shawn arranged for Bryan and Lance Cade to head over to Japan and wrestle for Frontier Martial Arts Wrestling, a bit of a "mudshow" wrestling promotion. Shawn got Bryan and Lance a spot on their card by agreeing to referee a match for the company.
Bryan remembers seeing one guy shove a bottle rocket up his opponents butt and light it off at that FMW show. So yeah, some pretty outlaw stuff.
Bryan describes attempting a moonsalt to the outside of the ring during this Japan tour, but he slipped and cracked his head on the cement. Bryan says, "When I came to, I didn't even know where I was" before describing how he stumbled his way through the match. He notes how concussions have always been a problem for him.
Lance Cade was invited back to FMW later for a 2nd tour, but they didn't ask for Bryan back. That's when Bryan realized that at his size, he needs to get much, much better.
In February 2000, HBK got Bryan, Lance Cade, Brian Kendrick, and another student named Shooter Shultz, a dark match on an episode of Smackdown. He says they planned for a 15-minute tag match before being told last minute that it's been cut down to 6 minutes. Bryan says HBK went and yelled at some people about "his guys" until he got it bumped up to 10 minutes.
Bryan says he got his first documented concussion that match, because they weren't used to a literal ramp, and Bryan cracked his skull on it, doing a pointless dive. He says the WWE doctor backstage told him to just make sure he doesn't fall asleep.
Bryan says when they got backstage after their match, HBK was excited and pumping them up, telling everyone backstage that they should sign all 4 guys immediately. This was on Tuesday, and by Thursday, when WWE still hadn't contacted them, Shawn called them up and threatened to take the 4 to WCW where Kevin Nash would make sure they were signed. Bryan says WWE quickly offered all 4 guys developmental contracts for $500 per week. Bryan says HBK was a great guy to have in your corner.
Shortly after getting the developmental contract, Bryan and Kendrick wrestled a main event ladder match for Shawn's TWA promotion. At the time, Bryan believed that in order to stand out, he would need to wrestle a more daredevil style, so he did some dumb stuff in this match. He did some ridiculous spot that ended with Bryan separating his shoulder. After the match, he took a table bump that legitimately knocked him unconscious for a full minute.
A week or 2 later, the teams had a rematch in a steel cage where all 4 agreed to blade for the first time. Why is he doing this dumb shit right after being offered a WWE contract?
Bryan says those ladder and cage matches made him realize he needed to change his style up and become more mat based. He wouldn't have had a long career if he kept getting hurt. At this point, Bryan has only been wrestling for 6 or 8 months and already suffered maybe 3 concussions. At least 2 for sure.
Bryan Danielson, Lance Cade, Brian Kendrick, and Shooter Shultz all moved to Memphis, where WWE's development primarily opperated out of at the time. William Regal was also a developmental system at the time, trying to show he had kicked his addiction issues.
Memphis Championship Wrestling was the territory they wrestled for, and Bryan remembers wrestling in all sorts of crazy locations like a WalMart parking lot once.
Although Shawn eventually took the mask off Bryan in TWA, the guys at MCW immediately put the mask back on Bryan.
The only time Bryan thought he might get called up to the main roster was in January 2001, when he heard rumors that WWE wanted to start up a cruiserweight division and use Danielson and Kendrick That didn't happen, though, and Bryan never heard another rumor or wiff of him being called up.
In June 2001, someone from WWE talent relations came down to evaluate talent. Brian was let go and told that despite his talent, they just had no plans for him.
In October 2001, Bryan was offered a spot in California based All Pro Wrestling's annual King Of The Indies tournament. Danielson would beat Kendrick in the first round, and after the show, Nick Bockwinkle, who was there watching, loudly told promoter Roland Alexander, "If you don't put that guy over." Bockwinkle said while pointing directly at Bryan, "You're crazy!"
APW head trainer Donovan Morgan was scheduled to beat Bryan in the second round and go on to win the tournament, but promoter Roland made the call to have Bryan win instead.
Bryan says this that while this really pissed Donovan off, what really upset the guy was when Roland offered Danielson and Kendrick trainer positions alongside Donovan.
Kendrick turned the offer down, but Bryan took it and moved to California in January 2002, where he became the head trainer. Though Bryan says he was a lousy trainer and no good at motivating anyone.
On February 2002, Bryan sat down with Gabe Sapolsky, who, after being inspired by the Super 8 tournament Bryan won, wanted Bryan part of his new promotion, Ring of Honor.
Bryan remembers both William Regal and John Laurinaitis said they would try to get Bryan an in to Japan, but both came up short, and both eventually stopped returning Bryan's calls.
In March 2002, Bryan Danielson, Christopher Daniels, and Brian Kendrick got a tryout with New Japan in Santa Monica. Antonio Inoki was actually there to oversee, but he literally had his back turned to the ring while Danielson and Kendrick wrestled. Inoki never bothered to turn around and watch them, instead watching someone stretch, Bryan says. Bryan later heard that New Japan never intended to hire anyone. They just wanted their dojo to look full for press.
After the "tryout," Bryan says that Inoki fell and had to be helped up by a bunch of people. Only the three of them didn't get up to help, with Kendrick saying loudly, "serves the motherfucker right."
Bryan kept making trips to the Santa Monica dojo every couple of weeks until Shinya "Togi" Makabe told him that if Bryan really wanted to be taken seriously, he had to be at the dojo every single day. Bryan took the advice seriously, quit his training job and moved to Santa Monica.
Bryan says he was offered to come tour with New Japan after only training at the dojo full time a few weeks. It was on this tour where Bryan first wrestled in the Tokyo Dome.
In May 2003, Bryan wrestled another Tokyo Dome show, where Bryan, Rocky Romero and TJ Perkins were all pulled aside in the hotel after the show, by Justin Cully. Cully literally slapped each man across the face, saying the slaps are from Inoki, who was disappointed in their proformances that night. Apparently Inoki expected them to wrestle more of a shoot style fight and was very upset.
In March 2004, Bryan won his first title with New Japan, the IWGP Junior Tag titles with Christopher Daniels, and Bryan would spend the majority of the year with New Japan where he wrestled 8 different tours.
Bryan pitched a 3 hour long match to Gabe Sapolsky for a ROH show and is disappointed they didn't go the full 3 hours.
Going into 2005, Bryan expected to wrestle his whole career in New Japan, but was startled when New Japan didn't get his visa renewed for the January tour like they always do. He was told it was a mistake and he would be back for March tour, but again he was told last minute they didn't have a visa for him. In May they contacted him last minute inviting him for a tour, but at a ridiculous pay cut down to $500 per week. Bryan turned the offer down and never went back to that Santa Monica dojo or work for New Japan again. He later heard that he was used as a pawn in a power struggle with the Dojo and New Japan.
In mid-2005 Bryan got an email from CM-Punk about a rumor suggesting that both WWE and TNA were interested in Bryan, Punk and Samoa Joe. Joe would quickly sign with TNA after this and Punk took a developmental deal with WWE. Bryan never heard from either company, and a few months later Gabe Sapolsky told Bryan he wanted to build ROH around Bryan but wanted a promise that Bryan wouldn't just leave to WWE or TNA. Great timing Gabe, because Bryan immediately said yes.
After winning the ROH World title in September 2005, Bryan says his title reign was falling flat until he started being cocky and cutting those "best in the world" promos. Bryan even shades Jericho and Punk a little by saying at the time no one else was saying it and that's why it worked so well for him.
Bryan puts over his matches with Nigel McGuinness in summer of 2006, but points out one in particular he regrets. Nigel had the idea for Bryan to pull Nigel's face into the steel ring post 3 times to get real blood. After 3 attempts and no blood, Nigel yelled, "One more time!" They got blood on the 4th time, and gave Nigel a severe concussion.
Five minutes into an hour long match with Colt Cabana in August 2006, Bryan landed bad on the outside of the ring, where he separated that same right shoulder as before and tore two tendons.
Three weeks later, Bryan defended his ROH title against KENTA of all people, who legitimately targeted his hurt shoulder all match. Then Bryan went to tour Japan with Pro Wrestling Noah where he and KENTA had a rematch.
Bryan would finally drop the ROH title in December 2006 and then take nearly 4 months off. This is the first time he took off since he started wrestling in 1999.
After doing a tour of Japan with Pro Wrestling Noah in April 2007, Bryan was excited to come back to ROH and signed a 2 year contract.
In June 2007, Bryan and Nigel wrestled an extremely physical match that featured a spot where the two traded headbutts. The match didn't air until September that year and in the mean time, the Chris Benoit double murdesuicide happened and the talk of concussions and safety concerns changed completely. The match was not recieved well and Gabe later told Bryan that they shouldn't have aired it at all.
ROH struggled after the Benoit incident and most everyone had to adapt and tone down their styles. Bryan wasn't one of those people, and actually refused to tone down his style. Later in 2007 he would rupture his ear drum exchanging open palm strikes with KENTA and he would suffer a detached retina in a match with Takeshi Morishima. To this day, he has trouble hearing from his left ear and has trouble with vision.
Bryan remembers being super late for a show and not even being able to meet his opponent beforehand. To Bryan's suprise, his opponent, who despite being green, was great to work with and the two had good chemistry. That was a young Jon Moxley.
In Summer of 2008, Shawn Michaels was fueding with Chris Jericho and they incorporated Lamce Cade on Jericho's side, since Shawn trained Lance. Shawn actually reached out to Bryan about also joining the WWE and being involved in the story.
Bryan met with Vince McMahon and remembers how taken back Vince seemed when they first met, and thinks it was because of Bryan's size and how plain he looked. Bryan also didn't sell himself well in the meeting, saying he is "just okay." Head of talent relations John Laurinaitis told Bryan that they would call him, but he never did.
When Bryan returned from a Japan tour in October 2008, he was shocked to find Gabe Sapolsky had been fired by ROH and replaced by Adam Pearce. Bryan details that while Gabe liked to book long shows with everyone on the card trying their hardest to steal the show, Pearce booked shorter shows and had the lower card guys preform well, but not to try everything under the sun to outshine the main event. You can see why Jim Cornette and Adam Pearce get along so well.
Bryan notes how he was fueding with Claudio Castignoli when Gabe was fired, but Pearce immediately ended that program to which Bryan says he and Claudio were disappointed.
After another failed attempt to get into WWE I'm early 2009, Bryan refocused his energies by moving to Las Vegas where he started training in kick boxing and other forms of mixed martial arts.
Bryan trained religiously for months under a former MMA fighter Neil Melanson. Neil is the one who taught Bryan the LaBell Lock.
When Bryan's ROH contract expired in May 2009, he called John Laurinaitis and left a message, but never heard back.
Bryan says in mid-2009, he was talking to Gabe Sapolsky about starting up a new promotion that would become Evolve. Bryan says that Paul Heyman was even involved with these talks.
Brian Kendrick called Danielson up to pitch Danielson coming to WWE as Kendrick's tag partner. Danielson even went and filmed a bunch of promos with Kendrick and fel optimistic. Unfortunately, Kendrick was fired just a few weeks later before any of those vignets aired and that opportunity was gone as well.
Bryan had given up ever going to WWE when John Laurinaitis called him in September 2009 offering him a main roster contract. Bryan was so excited he didn't have to go to developmental, that he would be right on the main roster immediately. Or so he thought, I guess they didn't bother telling Brilyan about NXT at that time, even though it sounds like he was signed with that in mind.
Nigel was also signed at the same time (probably also meant for NXT) but before either man could start, they had to pass WWE medical tests. They asked them both about past injuries, and Bryan just lied, saying he never had anything wrong and was fine. Didn't mention his shoulder being separated twice, or the detached retina, or any concussion. Nigel on the other hand, was very honest about his injuries, including a torn bicep that he didn't get worked on, he just rehabbed it. Nigel figured he was a lock and didn't see the need to lie.
WWE was concerned about Bryan's elevated liver enzymes, and wanted Nigel to get surgery on his bicep before they would sign him. Both guys were wrestling a farewell tour with ROH and both genuinely concerned they wouldn't actually be leaving. In their last match for ROH, Bryan accidentally gave Nigel a concussion, because apparently these guys only know how to wrestle at one speed!
Nigel couldn't afford the bicep surgery and his own doctor was telling him he is fine, so Nigel went to TNA instead. Nigel would only wrestle for another year before his body would break down too far on him and he would retire.
Bryan signed his WWE contract on October 2nd, 2009, nearly 10 years to the day of his debut match. William Regal actually told Bryan, "Your wrestling career came before this and is over now. Anything else that happens now is a bonus."
William Regal came up with the name "Daniel Bryan" for Bryan to use in WWE. Brian tried arguing to Laurinaitis to use his real name and citing John Cena as an example, Laurinaitis simply told Bryan, "We don't do that anymore."
In early 2010, Bryan and seven other guys were told one day about the NXT concept and how they would be used. Bryan found out who his NXT "pro" would be just like everyone else, when WWE posted it on their website. Bryan initially legit wanted Regal as his "pro" but soon realized being paired with Miz gives him a story immediately.
Bryan describes his time in NXT as the most unusual of his career. The "rookies" all legitimately didn't know what was going to happen on any show and everything they did was 100% unscripted and improvised.
The first night in NXT, all the "rookies" were told 15 minutes before the show, that their "pro" would cut a promo on them and they needed to react accordingly. Bryan had no idea that his pro, the Miz was going to tell him to head to the ring and cut a promo on himself, literally telling him on live TV to make the fans care about him. Bryan had no idea what to say, no real direction he was given to go in, and no tome to plan or rehearse. Miz also told him to come up with a catchphrase, and Bryan said he always hated catch phrases.
In the ring, Bryan cut a generic promo where he said he lost his train of thought and was super greatful when The Miz came out to finish the promo off. Bryan didn't know that would happen and Bryan definitely didn't know Miz was going to slap him at the end. Bryan says that later, The Miz confided to Bryan that he was worried Bryan would try to fight him over the slap.
Bryan credits Chris Jericho for getting him over in his first WWE match, and says that neither he, nor Miz knew that Miz was to beat up Brian after the match. Apparently, Miz was informed during the Jericho/Bryan match that he was to attack Bryan after the finish. Wild how much "flying by the seat of their pants" that WWE did with early NXT.
After the show, Jericho told Bryan that Vince was impressed, though he noted how Vince said, "Ugh, but he doesn't even eat meat!"
Bryan describes promo class with Vince as kinda insane to be honest. One time Bryan accidentally spilled a water bottle, and Vince asked everyone how that made them feel about Bryan. Stuff like that.
Bryan says the NXT rookies weren't allowed to use the regular dressing room and had to use some tarped off part of the backstage area.
Bryan notes how most of the NXT season, the NXT rookies never really knew what was going to happen. The 2nd week Bryan lost to Wade Barret and wasn't told that Chris Jericho would be attacking him after the match.
Bryan says his initial storyline with The Miz wasn't a losing streak idea, but something where each loss had meaning and was being built with purpose. Miz was very hands on with each show and helped to put over Bryan and the storyline, but when Miz missed 2 weeks in a row, the producers left in charge basically just turned it into a losing streak storyline, which Bryan says, "never works."
One time on a plane, Ezekiel Jackson asked "which rookie has an isle seat?" Bryan raised his had and Ezekiel said, "Not anymore." Bryan stood his ground and refused, offering his seat to anyone but Ezekiel. Ezekiel got pissed but William Regal came over and chastised Jackson, saying Bryan is like a son to him and how Bryan has more talent in his pinky ginger than Jackson has in his whole body.
Bryan says the NXT "Pros Polls" were legitimate voting done by the pros. That's why Bryan ended up in first place, despite losing every match.
A week after Wrestlemania in 2010, NXT's direction and purpose shifted away from being serious to silly, and Bryan says they were suddenly doing dumb game show competitions and putting over how demoralizing it was.
Bryan says Skip Shepfield (Ryback) was the only rookie taking the competitions seriously and trying to win each game. Sounds on brand for the big guy.
Bryan says he was trying to be humble when asked who should be eliminated and he said himself. He figured since he lost to everyone he didn't have a right to say any of them. Backstage Miz told him he made a mistake and shouldn't have put that perception out there.
A week later they liked the rookies up on TV (an hour before it goes live) and informed Bryan and fellow rookie Michael Tarver that they are both eliminated, without telling them beforehand. Bryan felt this validated all the warnings guys like Colt Cabana and other gave him about WWE.
Right after Matt Striker interviewed him backstage and when asked an insulting question, Bryan snapped and started talking down about "Daniel Bryan" and started to put over "Bryan Danielson!" Bryan says he could hear Vince screaming into Striker's ear piece and apparently Vince threw his headset when Bryan said his real name.
They made Bryan retape the interview without saying that, but still aired his original interview.
Bryan was surprisingly called back to NXT the following week to start a rivalry with Micheal Cole, who had been verbally obliterating Bryan on commentary since Bryan debuted. Bryan seems to be greatful for that program since it kept him on tv and made him confident that he would keep his job.
The RAW after NXT season 1 ended, all the rookies were pulled into Vince's office and told about Nexus and the attack in the main event. They were told not to tell anyone or else they will be fired. Bryan says he even lied to William Regal, when asked why he was dressed to wrestle.
They were supposed to attack John Cena and Rey Mysterio in the main event, because WWE let the fans vote on Cena's opponent and they assumed Rey would get it. Surprisingly it was CM Punk, and Bryan isn't sure how much Punk was told about the angle.
Bryan legit choked Justin Roberts during the melee, leaving red marks on his skin with his tie. Bryan said he doesn't trust non-wrestlers to sell good so he did it for real, with Justin going purple on Tv. Later during the brawl, Bryan was grabbing a cable to choke someone else when a cameraman told him "no choking!" Bryan does note that he thinks Justin Roberts found it pretty cool to be involved. And later Heath Slater grabbed the dismantled ring ropes to choke Cena, but Cena told him as well, "No choking."
Cena told Bryan before the angle, "It's not the hit you do that's important, it's what you do before the hit that matters." This is why Bryan spit in Cena's face before kicking him in the head.
Backstage, Bryan was reprimanded twice, for choking and spitting. Two days later Vince McMahon personally called Bryan to tell him he was let go and apologized to Bryan for it. Bryan, arrogant as all hell, responded with, "Don't apologize, I'll make more money this year on the independents than I would have working for you."
Bryan called John Laurinaitis to clear up details and Laurinaitis was shocked to hear Bryan was fired. Apparently Vince didn't tell anyone, just called Laurinaitis up and asked for Bryan's number. The comment Bryan made about money seemed to get to Vince since Laurinaitis called Bryan back and asked about it. Laurinaitis actually told Bryan that he can start working independent dates immediately if he wasn't on TV.
After working several shows and making good money off merchandise for several weeks, Bryan was shocked when John Laurinaitis called him in August and asked him to come back for a big angle leading into SummerSlam. Bryan sheepishly asked for a raise and made sure he could make all his already planned independent bookings.
Bryan says Nexas should have won at SummerSlam, noting how they went from dangerous to jobbers in one night.
Bryan remembers a taped RAW after SummerSlam where he did an angle with The Miz. When he got backstage Vince was so mad at how it came off that he made Bryan and others go back out there and do it again. It was the first time Bryan ever had to redo something like that and he said he felt humiliated.
Bryan didnt seem to see much value in being US Champion outside of how it would keep him on tv and maybe monthly ppv matches.
At Hell in a Cell 2010 ppv, Bryan had a good match with Miz and John Morrison, but was scolded after that match for a spot where Bryan threw Miz's stoog Alex Riley off the stage where he landed on cameraman. They showed the two guys the footage and accused them of doing it on purpose to get themselves over. Bryan started regretting coming back and really hating his time in WWE.
Bryan was paired with the Bella Twins in a storyline he hated, that was based on the Twins confusing the word "vegan" for "virgin" and competing to sleep with Bryan. Despite how bad that storyline was, Bryan and Brie would develop a relationship and would start dating in February 2011.
Sheamus was given a choice of Wrestlemania opponents that year between Rey Mysterio and Daniel Bryan, and Sheamus chose Bryan. Bryan was greatful but concerned Sheamus chose wrong and their match would be cut but Sheamus wasn't worried at all. A week before Mania they were informed their match was on the pre-show at a meeting with literally every other wrestler. Bryan says Sheamus buried his face in his hands and remembers how Rey Mysterio got on the card in a match with Cody Rhodes. Bryan says Sheamus picked the wrong guy.
Bryan got some details in his book messed up where he talks about Miz winning the WWE title off Cena at Wrestlemania 27 and he talks about how Miz was WWE Champion going into Over The Limit ppv 2011, but Miz lost the title by then. It's notable because he says he pitched hard for a "Rocky style" storyline where he would challenge Miz for the WWE title at the Over The Limit ppv.
Bryan says the 2011 Smackdown Money in the Bank winner wasn't decided until the day of the show but it was always between Wade Barret, Cody Rhodes and Bryan. He says despite winning the briefcase, his tv time tricked down and eventually he was spending weeks off tv, until he was randomly inserted into the World title program between Mark Henry and Big Show in late 2011.
Bryan was being left at home and off shows, even watching Survivor Series 2011 from home and was suprised when WWE had him come to the December TLC ppv show, last minute. The day of the show he was told he was cashing in and winning the title and the only direction Vince McMahon gave him was to act like he won the superbowl, so that's where Bryan's over the top celebration came from. He didn't even tell his girlfriend Brie Bella about the plan and says she was shocked when he came backstage afterwards.
The only direction Vince gave Bryan as champion is to celebrate every appearance like he won the lottery, saying, "there is no too over the top here."
Bryan said he adapted his "Yes" chants from MMA fighter Diego Sanchez who was celebrating in a similar way at the time.
Bryan's favorite moment from that first world title run was the closing sequence in the 2012 Elimination Chamber match with him and Santino Marella.
Bryan originally expected he and Sheamus to get 15 minutes or so at Wrestlemania for their match, but was shocked when Chris Jericho told him he heard it would be 8 minutes, including the pre & post match stuff. A week later Arn Anderson confirmed to Bryan that he would lose a 1-move match, dropping the world title to Sheamus at Wrestlemania that year. Bryan and Sheamus were both pissed, to say the least.
Sheamus expressed concern that the short match would turn fans against him as a new champion. Smart man.
Bryan says a bunch of guys came up to him after his Mania loss and were pissed at what they did to Bryan out there. Great Khali even came up and told Bryan that it was bullshit in his broken English.
Originally Sheamus was planned to move into a fued with Alberto Del-rio right after Mania, but the crazy crowd support for Bryan forced them to extend they story another month. Bryan says his Extreme Rules ppv match with Sheamus in 2012 is one of his favorites. Mine too!
Bryan acknowledged the weird booking of Punk as champion in 2012, noting how heels would face John Cena, lose, then be sent to face Punk with no momentum. Interesting take on the situation.
Bryan mentions how when he and Punk fueded in 2012, they never got main event spots outside of non-televised events. One time at a house show, Bryan and Punk veered too far into comedy and after the match John Cena chastised Bryan by pointing out that they didn't wrestle a "main event style" match. Apparently the next house show, Cena was moved into the main event spot with Punk/Bryan being before the intermission. An enraged Punk went and yelled at people until he got his main event spot back. This time, no comedy spots were done and they stayed the main event for the circuit.
Bryan had brand new, edgier gear made up prior to Money in the Bank 2012 and didn't tell anyone backstage. He wore shorts over his trunk and hid the jacket until he had to go out. When he got to the ring, the ref told him to lose the jacket, because I guess Vince was in gorilla position freaking out over how Bryan looked. Dean Melanko was the producer for the match, and Bryan felt bad when Vince blamed him for allowing Bryan to wear it.
Bryan was originally planned to wrestle Charlie Sheen at SummerSlam 2012 in a celebrity match, but Charlie "bailed" as Bryan put it.
Bryan was trying to be "Mr Small Package" by winning matches with Small Package and then boasting about how he has an "inescapable small package!" It didn't get over.
Bryan thought his anger management vignets with Kane and Dr Shelby were going to be terrible.
The only reason they stopped using Dr Shelby is because he had limited days off from his regular teaching job.
Bryan and Kane really wanted their team name to be "Team Friendship" and they even had shirt ideas but Vince let the fans vote and he always kept those votes legit, so their team name was "Team Hell No" which Bryan brings up a good point about. He said as a team primarily appealing to kids, a name with "Hell" in it would be hard to sell merchandise to those kids.
The plan was to break up their team so they could have a good heated fued together, but they were so popular that they kept teaming for 9 months.
Bryan says his first good Wrestlemania experience was in 2013 when he teamed with Kane.
One night after Mania in 2013, when Bryan tagged with Kane and Undertaker to face The Shield, Vince McMahon told Bryan that he would pay him several thousand dollars if he could get Undertaker to hug Bryan in the ring. After the show Bryan got on the mic and tried his hardest to get the hug but couldn't quite do it.
Bryan says that both he and Kane agree that teaming together was some of the most fun in either man's career.
Bryan was scheduled to win the biggest match of his career up to that point, he would be beating Randy Orton clean on RAW. Bryan would botch a dive that left both arms nunb and him unable to stand. He got feeling back in one arm but eventually the doctor called the match off. Backstage Bryan started screaming at Triple H for calling the match and called him a hypocrite for doing so, citing his own injuries in matches. At one point Orton tried to calm Bryan down, but Bryan snapped at him and Orton started yelling too. Brie got Bryan away to calm down, but when Vince came to talk to Bryan, the shouting started again. Much later, William Regal advised Bryan to apologize to both Vince and Triple H, to which Bryan took his advice. The next week, Bryan would get his win over Orton and he says that that drama over everything made that win matter more.
An MRI showed that one of Bryan's disks was pushing into his nerves and eventually he would need surgery. With his momentum starting to rise, Bryan opted to put surgery off.
John Cena pitched facing Daniel Bryan at Money in the Bank 2013 ppv. When Vince asked why, Cena said because it's the biggest match they could do at that time. Vince ended up agreeing, but deciding that it belongs at SummerSlam that year instead!
As proud as Bryan is of the build to and match with Cena at SummerSlam, he acknowledges that the ppv didn't do good numbers, nor did the house show business the following 2 months when Bryan was the main protagonist. He thinks a lot the the Authority promos on him stemmed from some truth.
Bryan isn't satisfied with the quality of matches he was putting out in the latter half of 2013 amd he specifically calls out the series of bad finishes he had with Randy Orton in ppv main events. From the fast counting crooked ref, to that terrible one with Big Show knocking everyone out, and then to Shawn Michaels betraying Bryan at Hell in a Cell ppv.
Bryan initially thought he was getting a Wrestlemania match with Shawn Michaels after that Hell in a Cell finish, but after talking with HBK, it was clear that was never in the cards.
Bryan feels he failed as a main eventer in the 2nd half of 2013, regardless of match quality. He didn't move business and that's all that matters.
The Slammy's were fan votes and Vince didn't think Bryan would win and almost laughed when Bryan asked him what he should say if he does win. Vince said, "whatever you want." I wish I could have seen Vince's face when Bryan won later that night.
When Bryan started fueding with Wyatt Family in late-2013, Bryan was pitching for him to be "brainwashed" and join the group. He suspects that his rising popularity in early 2014 is what convinced WWE to have Bryan turn on Bray and leave the group. At the time, Bryan was hoping to stay with the group and be involved in the planned Cena/Wyatt Wrestlemania program since Bryan had no plans for Mania at that time.
Bryan says he was disappointed when Vince told him he would be facing Sheamus again at Wrestlemania 2014. No disrespect to Sheamus, but Bryan felt he belonged in a higher spot.
Bryan felt bad for the way Rey Mysterio was boo'd at the 2014 Royal Rumble.
When Punk quit WWE after Rumble that year, Bryan remembers how plans didn't change too much for a few weeks, and he assumes Vince expected Punk to come back and for Batista to win the crowds over, and neither happened.
Triple H was being vocal about wanting to face Bryan at Mania that year, but Bryan was trying to not get his hopes up since he had seen Triple H try and fail to get his ideas on screen.
Bryan and Brie only agreed to let Total Divas shoot their wedding, because Total Divas agreed to pay for the whole wedding! Hard to say no to that!
Bryan is very satisfied with his matches at Wrestlemania 30 and says he was so focused between matches that he missed Undertaker losing to Lesnar. He heard the ring bell and looked up at the monitor in shock. He says they cameras should have filmed the guys and girls in the back because their reactions were wild, apparently.
Five days after Wrestlemania 30, Bryan and Brie got married, but 2 days after their honeymoon ended, Bryan's dad unexpectedly passed away at the age of 57. Bryan was devastated and described how he was crying still as he was writing about it.
The book ends on a complete downer, very unlike most other wrestling books. Bryan says that as long as he wrestled when asked if everything he was missing or sacrificing was worth it, Bryan always said yes. He assumed he would have more time when he was done and could catch up on what he missed, but his dad is gone and Bryan openly admits that it wasn't worth it. If he could, Bryan would change a lot of his decisions if it meant more time with his dad.
He says he is still wrestling though because he literally doesn't know what else to do or what comes after. This is especially depressing 10 years later, when Bryan is still wrestling despite having started a family of his own. I hope he doesn't regret any time missed with his daughter.
He ends the book by describing the last time he saw his dad, on Christmas in 2013, where his dad dressed up as Santa. Fuck. I'm sad now.

Solid wrestling book, though not super memorable in my opinion. Some solid detail and dirt like you expect, but honestly it felt like he was holding back.
As always, it's in chronological order as best as I could do that. Hope y'all enjoy!
Bryan is a weird dude, while describing his adolescence, he casually says that he has a lot of weird hypothesis on various subjects, and we should ask Nigel McGuinness about Bryan's theory on how a penis grows. He doesn't expand on this more. He just says that and moves back to talking about his childhood.
Bryan rants a bit about how modern medicine has stunted human evolution because kids who would have died off got to live and reproduce and pass their "defects" onto the next generation. He says that he is one of those defects, sick all his childhood and sick a lot as an adult. He says that his wife Brie is also a "defect" but says she can share the details in her own book if she ever writes one.
When Bryan was 16 years old, he contacted Dean Melanko's wrestling school and was told it would cost him $2,500, but he needed a $500 deposit to secure his spot. Bryan was scared that there were hundreds of people on the waiting list and worked extra shifts at McDonald's in order to get the cash together asap. He put $500 deposit down for a wrestling school he couldn't go to for 2 more years.
Three months before Bryan graduated high school, the Melanko Wrestling School contacted to inform Bryan that the school was shutting down permanently. When Bryan asked for his $500 back, he was told that they no longer had it and that he was SOL.
While watching Monday Night RAW, an ad flashed advertising a 900 number (an old pay-per-minute phone concept that was always a money drain on the caller), and it advertised Shawn Michaels opening up a wrestling school. After an expensive phone call, Bryan was told to pay $20 more for a package to be mailed to him with more info. He did, and when he got the package, it detailed how Michaels wrestling school would cost $3,900 dollars, and it had another 900 number to call if you're interested. Bryan was demoralized and almost didn't call. When he did, though, he was speaking to Shawm Michaels mom, who was helping Shawn run it. Bryan's mom ended up doing all the talking, and the two mothers helped Bryan get set up with a place in San Antonio where the school was. They agreed to let Bryan pay monthly to help him with the finances.
Bryan's first day of wrestling school went exactly like everyone else's first day of wrestling school, with 90% of the students gassed and vomiting. Bryan said out of the 10 guys there, only he and Lance Cade didn't end up vomiting.
Bryan remembers how much Shawn Michaels prioritized his training to Lance Cade. One of the first days, Lance did a basic jump and got so much air that Michaels loudly proclaimed, "I smell money!"
Even though it was Shawn's school, the primary instructor was Rudy Boy Gonzales, a pretty insignificant wrestler from the 80s and 90s. Bryan puts over Rudy as a passionate trainer who motivated him to try harder. Bryan said Rudy would show Bryan anything Bryan saw on a tape and wanted to try.
Bryan says that he and "The" Brian Kendrick became friends immediately as they were both around the same size in the training and had the same level of passion for wrestling.
I always heard that Shawn Michaels wasn't very present for this school, but Bryan tells a different tale, putting Shawn over as someone who was always around and always showing them how to be better.
Bryan does remember some days that Shawn would come in with his sunglasses on, sit at the back of the class, and then dip out early. Bryan didn't realize then that Shawn was in deep with a bad painkiller addiction, and so some days he wasn't as present. Since Bryan grew up with his dad's addiction issues, Bryan says seeing Shawn actually kick the addiction fully put Shawn on a pedestal in Bryan's eyes.
After a couple of months, Shawn was telling the students to start thinking of ring names, and when Bryan couldn't come up with one, he asked Shawn about using his real name. Shawn thought about it for a second before adding "The American Dragon" to it. When Bryan asked why that name, Shawn said it's because Bryan wrestled like a Japanese guy. Bryan took that as a massive compliment.
Bryan didn't tell Shawn, but Bryan initially hated "The American Dragon" name.
Bryan had trouble being expressive and emoting in the ring, so Shawn had him wrestle under a mask.
On October 4th, 1999, Bryan wrestled his first ever match for Shawn Michaels' small promotion, Texas Wrestling Alliance. His opponent was Brian Kendrick (then known as Spanky), and Bryan says as rotton as it was, everyone in the back was super excited for their performance, including Shawn.
Bryan confirms that Kendrick called himself "Spanky" as a masturbation reference.
Shawn arranged for Bryan and Lance Cade to head over to Japan and wrestle for Frontier Martial Arts Wrestling, a bit of a "mudshow" wrestling promotion. Shawn got Bryan and Lance a spot on their card by agreeing to referee a match for the company.
Bryan remembers seeing one guy shove a bottle rocket up his opponents butt and light it off at that FMW show. So yeah, some pretty outlaw stuff.
Bryan describes attempting a moonsalt to the outside of the ring during this Japan tour, but he slipped and cracked his head on the cement. Bryan says, "When I came to, I didn't even know where I was" before describing how he stumbled his way through the match. He notes how concussions have always been a problem for him.
Lance Cade was invited back to FMW later for a 2nd tour, but they didn't ask for Bryan back. That's when Bryan realized that at his size, he needs to get much, much better.
In February 2000, HBK got Bryan, Lance Cade, Brian Kendrick, and another student named Shooter Shultz, a dark match on an episode of Smackdown. He says they planned for a 15-minute tag match before being told last minute that it's been cut down to 6 minutes. Bryan says HBK went and yelled at some people about "his guys" until he got it bumped up to 10 minutes.
Bryan says he got his first documented concussion that match, because they weren't used to a literal ramp, and Bryan cracked his skull on it, doing a pointless dive. He says the WWE doctor backstage told him to just make sure he doesn't fall asleep.
Bryan says when they got backstage after their match, HBK was excited and pumping them up, telling everyone backstage that they should sign all 4 guys immediately. This was on Tuesday, and by Thursday, when WWE still hadn't contacted them, Shawn called them up and threatened to take the 4 to WCW where Kevin Nash would make sure they were signed. Bryan says WWE quickly offered all 4 guys developmental contracts for $500 per week. Bryan says HBK was a great guy to have in your corner.
Shortly after getting the developmental contract, Bryan and Kendrick wrestled a main event ladder match for Shawn's TWA promotion. At the time, Bryan believed that in order to stand out, he would need to wrestle a more daredevil style, so he did some dumb stuff in this match. He did some ridiculous spot that ended with Bryan separating his shoulder. After the match, he took a table bump that legitimately knocked him unconscious for a full minute.
A week or 2 later, the teams had a rematch in a steel cage where all 4 agreed to blade for the first time. Why is he doing this dumb shit right after being offered a WWE contract?
Bryan says those ladder and cage matches made him realize he needed to change his style up and become more mat based. He wouldn't have had a long career if he kept getting hurt. At this point, Bryan has only been wrestling for 6 or 8 months and already suffered maybe 3 concussions. At least 2 for sure.
Bryan Danielson, Lance Cade, Brian Kendrick, and Shooter Shultz all moved to Memphis, where WWE's development primarily opperated out of at the time. William Regal was also a developmental system at the time, trying to show he had kicked his addiction issues.
Memphis Championship Wrestling was the territory they wrestled for, and Bryan remembers wrestling in all sorts of crazy locations like a WalMart parking lot once.
Although Shawn eventually took the mask off Bryan in TWA, the guys at MCW immediately put the mask back on Bryan.
The only time Bryan thought he might get called up to the main roster was in January 2001, when he heard rumors that WWE wanted to start up a cruiserweight division and use Danielson and Kendrick That didn't happen, though, and Bryan never heard another rumor or wiff of him being called up.
In June 2001, someone from WWE talent relations came down to evaluate talent. Brian was let go and told that despite his talent, they just had no plans for him.
In October 2001, Bryan was offered a spot in California based All Pro Wrestling's annual King Of The Indies tournament. Danielson would beat Kendrick in the first round, and after the show, Nick Bockwinkle, who was there watching, loudly told promoter Roland Alexander, "If you don't put that guy over." Bockwinkle said while pointing directly at Bryan, "You're crazy!"
APW head trainer Donovan Morgan was scheduled to beat Bryan in the second round and go on to win the tournament, but promoter Roland made the call to have Bryan win instead.
Bryan says this that while this really pissed Donovan off, what really upset the guy was when Roland offered Danielson and Kendrick trainer positions alongside Donovan.
Kendrick turned the offer down, but Bryan took it and moved to California in January 2002, where he became the head trainer. Though Bryan says he was a lousy trainer and no good at motivating anyone.
On February 2002, Bryan sat down with Gabe Sapolsky, who, after being inspired by the Super 8 tournament Bryan won, wanted Bryan part of his new promotion, Ring of Honor.
Bryan remembers both William Regal and John Laurinaitis said they would try to get Bryan an in to Japan, but both came up short, and both eventually stopped returning Bryan's calls.
In March 2002, Bryan Danielson, Christopher Daniels, and Brian Kendrick got a tryout with New Japan in Santa Monica. Antonio Inoki was actually there to oversee, but he literally had his back turned to the ring while Danielson and Kendrick wrestled. Inoki never bothered to turn around and watch them, instead watching someone stretch, Bryan says. Bryan later heard that New Japan never intended to hire anyone. They just wanted their dojo to look full for press.
After the "tryout," Bryan says that Inoki fell and had to be helped up by a bunch of people. Only the three of them didn't get up to help, with Kendrick saying loudly, "serves the motherfucker right."
Bryan kept making trips to the Santa Monica dojo every couple of weeks until Shinya "Togi" Makabe told him that if Bryan really wanted to be taken seriously, he had to be at the dojo every single day. Bryan took the advice seriously, quit his training job and moved to Santa Monica.
Bryan says he was offered to come tour with New Japan after only training at the dojo full time a few weeks. It was on this tour where Bryan first wrestled in the Tokyo Dome.
In May 2003, Bryan wrestled another Tokyo Dome show, where Bryan, Rocky Romero and TJ Perkins were all pulled aside in the hotel after the show, by Justin Cully. Cully literally slapped each man across the face, saying the slaps are from Inoki, who was disappointed in their proformances that night. Apparently Inoki expected them to wrestle more of a shoot style fight and was very upset.
In March 2004, Bryan won his first title with New Japan, the IWGP Junior Tag titles with Christopher Daniels, and Bryan would spend the majority of the year with New Japan where he wrestled 8 different tours.
Bryan pitched a 3 hour long match to Gabe Sapolsky for a ROH show and is disappointed they didn't go the full 3 hours.
Going into 2005, Bryan expected to wrestle his whole career in New Japan, but was startled when New Japan didn't get his visa renewed for the January tour like they always do. He was told it was a mistake and he would be back for March tour, but again he was told last minute they didn't have a visa for him. In May they contacted him last minute inviting him for a tour, but at a ridiculous pay cut down to $500 per week. Bryan turned the offer down and never went back to that Santa Monica dojo or work for New Japan again. He later heard that he was used as a pawn in a power struggle with the Dojo and New Japan.
In mid-2005 Bryan got an email from CM-Punk about a rumor suggesting that both WWE and TNA were interested in Bryan, Punk and Samoa Joe. Joe would quickly sign with TNA after this and Punk took a developmental deal with WWE. Bryan never heard from either company, and a few months later Gabe Sapolsky told Bryan he wanted to build ROH around Bryan but wanted a promise that Bryan wouldn't just leave to WWE or TNA. Great timing Gabe, because Bryan immediately said yes.
After winning the ROH World title in September 2005, Bryan says his title reign was falling flat until he started being cocky and cutting those "best in the world" promos. Bryan even shades Jericho and Punk a little by saying at the time no one else was saying it and that's why it worked so well for him.
Bryan puts over his matches with Nigel McGuinness in summer of 2006, but points out one in particular he regrets. Nigel had the idea for Bryan to pull Nigel's face into the steel ring post 3 times to get real blood. After 3 attempts and no blood, Nigel yelled, "One more time!" They got blood on the 4th time, and gave Nigel a severe concussion.
Five minutes into an hour long match with Colt Cabana in August 2006, Bryan landed bad on the outside of the ring, where he separated that same right shoulder as before and tore two tendons.
Three weeks later, Bryan defended his ROH title against KENTA of all people, who legitimately targeted his hurt shoulder all match. Then Bryan went to tour Japan with Pro Wrestling Noah where he and KENTA had a rematch.
Bryan would finally drop the ROH title in December 2006 and then take nearly 4 months off. This is the first time he took off since he started wrestling in 1999.
After doing a tour of Japan with Pro Wrestling Noah in April 2007, Bryan was excited to come back to ROH and signed a 2 year contract.
In June 2007, Bryan and Nigel wrestled an extremely physical match that featured a spot where the two traded headbutts. The match didn't air until September that year and in the mean time, the Chris Benoit double murdesuicide happened and the talk of concussions and safety concerns changed completely. The match was not recieved well and Gabe later told Bryan that they shouldn't have aired it at all.
ROH struggled after the Benoit incident and most everyone had to adapt and tone down their styles. Bryan wasn't one of those people, and actually refused to tone down his style. Later in 2007 he would rupture his ear drum exchanging open palm strikes with KENTA and he would suffer a detached retina in a match with Takeshi Morishima. To this day, he has trouble hearing from his left ear and has trouble with vision.
Bryan remembers being super late for a show and not even being able to meet his opponent beforehand. To Bryan's suprise, his opponent, who despite being green, was great to work with and the two had good chemistry. That was a young Jon Moxley.
In Summer of 2008, Shawn Michaels was fueding with Chris Jericho and they incorporated Lamce Cade on Jericho's side, since Shawn trained Lance. Shawn actually reached out to Bryan about also joining the WWE and being involved in the story.
Bryan met with Vince McMahon and remembers how taken back Vince seemed when they first met, and thinks it was because of Bryan's size and how plain he looked. Bryan also didn't sell himself well in the meeting, saying he is "just okay." Head of talent relations John Laurinaitis told Bryan that they would call him, but he never did.
When Bryan returned from a Japan tour in October 2008, he was shocked to find Gabe Sapolsky had been fired by ROH and replaced by Adam Pearce. Bryan details that while Gabe liked to book long shows with everyone on the card trying their hardest to steal the show, Pearce booked shorter shows and had the lower card guys preform well, but not to try everything under the sun to outshine the main event. You can see why Jim Cornette and Adam Pearce get along so well.
Bryan notes how he was fueding with Claudio Castignoli when Gabe was fired, but Pearce immediately ended that program to which Bryan says he and Claudio were disappointed.
After another failed attempt to get into WWE I'm early 2009, Bryan refocused his energies by moving to Las Vegas where he started training in kick boxing and other forms of mixed martial arts.
Bryan trained religiously for months under a former MMA fighter Neil Melanson. Neil is the one who taught Bryan the LaBell Lock.
When Bryan's ROH contract expired in May 2009, he called John Laurinaitis and left a message, but never heard back.
Bryan says in mid-2009, he was talking to Gabe Sapolsky about starting up a new promotion that would become Evolve. Bryan says that Paul Heyman was even involved with these talks.
Brian Kendrick called Danielson up to pitch Danielson coming to WWE as Kendrick's tag partner. Danielson even went and filmed a bunch of promos with Kendrick and fel optimistic. Unfortunately, Kendrick was fired just a few weeks later before any of those vignets aired and that opportunity was gone as well.
Bryan had given up ever going to WWE when John Laurinaitis called him in September 2009 offering him a main roster contract. Bryan was so excited he didn't have to go to developmental, that he would be right on the main roster immediately. Or so he thought, I guess they didn't bother telling Brilyan about NXT at that time, even though it sounds like he was signed with that in mind.
Nigel was also signed at the same time (probably also meant for NXT) but before either man could start, they had to pass WWE medical tests. They asked them both about past injuries, and Bryan just lied, saying he never had anything wrong and was fine. Didn't mention his shoulder being separated twice, or the detached retina, or any concussion. Nigel on the other hand, was very honest about his injuries, including a torn bicep that he didn't get worked on, he just rehabbed it. Nigel figured he was a lock and didn't see the need to lie.
WWE was concerned about Bryan's elevated liver enzymes, and wanted Nigel to get surgery on his bicep before they would sign him. Both guys were wrestling a farewell tour with ROH and both genuinely concerned they wouldn't actually be leaving. In their last match for ROH, Bryan accidentally gave Nigel a concussion, because apparently these guys only know how to wrestle at one speed!
Nigel couldn't afford the bicep surgery and his own doctor was telling him he is fine, so Nigel went to TNA instead. Nigel would only wrestle for another year before his body would break down too far on him and he would retire.
Bryan signed his WWE contract on October 2nd, 2009, nearly 10 years to the day of his debut match. William Regal actually told Bryan, "Your wrestling career came before this and is over now. Anything else that happens now is a bonus."
William Regal came up with the name "Daniel Bryan" for Bryan to use in WWE. Brian tried arguing to Laurinaitis to use his real name and citing John Cena as an example, Laurinaitis simply told Bryan, "We don't do that anymore."
In early 2010, Bryan and seven other guys were told one day about the NXT concept and how they would be used. Bryan found out who his NXT "pro" would be just like everyone else, when WWE posted it on their website. Bryan initially legit wanted Regal as his "pro" but soon realized being paired with Miz gives him a story immediately.
Bryan describes his time in NXT as the most unusual of his career. The "rookies" all legitimately didn't know what was going to happen on any show and everything they did was 100% unscripted and improvised.
The first night in NXT, all the "rookies" were told 15 minutes before the show, that their "pro" would cut a promo on them and they needed to react accordingly. Bryan had no idea that his pro, the Miz was going to tell him to head to the ring and cut a promo on himself, literally telling him on live TV to make the fans care about him. Bryan had no idea what to say, no real direction he was given to go in, and no tome to plan or rehearse. Miz also told him to come up with a catchphrase, and Bryan said he always hated catch phrases.
In the ring, Bryan cut a generic promo where he said he lost his train of thought and was super greatful when The Miz came out to finish the promo off. Bryan didn't know that would happen and Bryan definitely didn't know Miz was going to slap him at the end. Bryan says that later, The Miz confided to Bryan that he was worried Bryan would try to fight him over the slap.
Bryan credits Chris Jericho for getting him over in his first WWE match, and says that neither he, nor Miz knew that Miz was to beat up Brian after the match. Apparently, Miz was informed during the Jericho/Bryan match that he was to attack Bryan after the finish. Wild how much "flying by the seat of their pants" that WWE did with early NXT.
After the show, Jericho told Bryan that Vince was impressed, though he noted how Vince said, "Ugh, but he doesn't even eat meat!"
Bryan describes promo class with Vince as kinda insane to be honest. One time Bryan accidentally spilled a water bottle, and Vince asked everyone how that made them feel about Bryan. Stuff like that.
Bryan says the NXT rookies weren't allowed to use the regular dressing room and had to use some tarped off part of the backstage area.
Bryan notes how most of the NXT season, the NXT rookies never really knew what was going to happen. The 2nd week Bryan lost to Wade Barret and wasn't told that Chris Jericho would be attacking him after the match.
Bryan says his initial storyline with The Miz wasn't a losing streak idea, but something where each loss had meaning and was being built with purpose. Miz was very hands on with each show and helped to put over Bryan and the storyline, but when Miz missed 2 weeks in a row, the producers left in charge basically just turned it into a losing streak storyline, which Bryan says, "never works."
One time on a plane, Ezekiel Jackson asked "which rookie has an isle seat?" Bryan raised his had and Ezekiel said, "Not anymore." Bryan stood his ground and refused, offering his seat to anyone but Ezekiel. Ezekiel got pissed but William Regal came over and chastised Jackson, saying Bryan is like a son to him and how Bryan has more talent in his pinky ginger than Jackson has in his whole body.
Bryan says the NXT "Pros Polls" were legitimate voting done by the pros. That's why Bryan ended up in first place, despite losing every match.
A week after Wrestlemania in 2010, NXT's direction and purpose shifted away from being serious to silly, and Bryan says they were suddenly doing dumb game show competitions and putting over how demoralizing it was.
Bryan says Skip Shepfield (Ryback) was the only rookie taking the competitions seriously and trying to win each game. Sounds on brand for the big guy.
Bryan says he was trying to be humble when asked who should be eliminated and he said himself. He figured since he lost to everyone he didn't have a right to say any of them. Backstage Miz told him he made a mistake and shouldn't have put that perception out there.
A week later they liked the rookies up on TV (an hour before it goes live) and informed Bryan and fellow rookie Michael Tarver that they are both eliminated, without telling them beforehand. Bryan felt this validated all the warnings guys like Colt Cabana and other gave him about WWE.
Right after Matt Striker interviewed him backstage and when asked an insulting question, Bryan snapped and started talking down about "Daniel Bryan" and started to put over "Bryan Danielson!" Bryan says he could hear Vince screaming into Striker's ear piece and apparently Vince threw his headset when Bryan said his real name.
They made Bryan retape the interview without saying that, but still aired his original interview.
Bryan was surprisingly called back to NXT the following week to start a rivalry with Micheal Cole, who had been verbally obliterating Bryan on commentary since Bryan debuted. Bryan seems to be greatful for that program since it kept him on tv and made him confident that he would keep his job.
The RAW after NXT season 1 ended, all the rookies were pulled into Vince's office and told about Nexus and the attack in the main event. They were told not to tell anyone or else they will be fired. Bryan says he even lied to William Regal, when asked why he was dressed to wrestle.
They were supposed to attack John Cena and Rey Mysterio in the main event, because WWE let the fans vote on Cena's opponent and they assumed Rey would get it. Surprisingly it was CM Punk, and Bryan isn't sure how much Punk was told about the angle.
Bryan legit choked Justin Roberts during the melee, leaving red marks on his skin with his tie. Bryan said he doesn't trust non-wrestlers to sell good so he did it for real, with Justin going purple on Tv. Later during the brawl, Bryan was grabbing a cable to choke someone else when a cameraman told him "no choking!" Bryan does note that he thinks Justin Roberts found it pretty cool to be involved. And later Heath Slater grabbed the dismantled ring ropes to choke Cena, but Cena told him as well, "No choking."
Cena told Bryan before the angle, "It's not the hit you do that's important, it's what you do before the hit that matters." This is why Bryan spit in Cena's face before kicking him in the head.
Backstage, Bryan was reprimanded twice, for choking and spitting. Two days later Vince McMahon personally called Bryan to tell him he was let go and apologized to Bryan for it. Bryan, arrogant as all hell, responded with, "Don't apologize, I'll make more money this year on the independents than I would have working for you."
Bryan called John Laurinaitis to clear up details and Laurinaitis was shocked to hear Bryan was fired. Apparently Vince didn't tell anyone, just called Laurinaitis up and asked for Bryan's number. The comment Bryan made about money seemed to get to Vince since Laurinaitis called Bryan back and asked about it. Laurinaitis actually told Bryan that he can start working independent dates immediately if he wasn't on TV.
After working several shows and making good money off merchandise for several weeks, Bryan was shocked when John Laurinaitis called him in August and asked him to come back for a big angle leading into SummerSlam. Bryan sheepishly asked for a raise and made sure he could make all his already planned independent bookings.
Bryan says Nexas should have won at SummerSlam, noting how they went from dangerous to jobbers in one night.
Bryan remembers a taped RAW after SummerSlam where he did an angle with The Miz. When he got backstage Vince was so mad at how it came off that he made Bryan and others go back out there and do it again. It was the first time Bryan ever had to redo something like that and he said he felt humiliated.
Bryan didnt seem to see much value in being US Champion outside of how it would keep him on tv and maybe monthly ppv matches.
At Hell in a Cell 2010 ppv, Bryan had a good match with Miz and John Morrison, but was scolded after that match for a spot where Bryan threw Miz's stoog Alex Riley off the stage where he landed on cameraman. They showed the two guys the footage and accused them of doing it on purpose to get themselves over. Bryan started regretting coming back and really hating his time in WWE.
Bryan was paired with the Bella Twins in a storyline he hated, that was based on the Twins confusing the word "vegan" for "virgin" and competing to sleep with Bryan. Despite how bad that storyline was, Bryan and Brie would develop a relationship and would start dating in February 2011.
Sheamus was given a choice of Wrestlemania opponents that year between Rey Mysterio and Daniel Bryan, and Sheamus chose Bryan. Bryan was greatful but concerned Sheamus chose wrong and their match would be cut but Sheamus wasn't worried at all. A week before Mania they were informed their match was on the pre-show at a meeting with literally every other wrestler. Bryan says Sheamus buried his face in his hands and remembers how Rey Mysterio got on the card in a match with Cody Rhodes. Bryan says Sheamus picked the wrong guy.
Bryan got some details in his book messed up where he talks about Miz winning the WWE title off Cena at Wrestlemania 27 and he talks about how Miz was WWE Champion going into Over The Limit ppv 2011, but Miz lost the title by then. It's notable because he says he pitched hard for a "Rocky style" storyline where he would challenge Miz for the WWE title at the Over The Limit ppv.
Bryan says the 2011 Smackdown Money in the Bank winner wasn't decided until the day of the show but it was always between Wade Barret, Cody Rhodes and Bryan. He says despite winning the briefcase, his tv time tricked down and eventually he was spending weeks off tv, until he was randomly inserted into the World title program between Mark Henry and Big Show in late 2011.
Bryan was being left at home and off shows, even watching Survivor Series 2011 from home and was suprised when WWE had him come to the December TLC ppv show, last minute. The day of the show he was told he was cashing in and winning the title and the only direction Vince McMahon gave him was to act like he won the superbowl, so that's where Bryan's over the top celebration came from. He didn't even tell his girlfriend Brie Bella about the plan and says she was shocked when he came backstage afterwards.
The only direction Vince gave Bryan as champion is to celebrate every appearance like he won the lottery, saying, "there is no too over the top here."
Bryan said he adapted his "Yes" chants from MMA fighter Diego Sanchez who was celebrating in a similar way at the time.
Bryan's favorite moment from that first world title run was the closing sequence in the 2012 Elimination Chamber match with him and Santino Marella.
Bryan originally expected he and Sheamus to get 15 minutes or so at Wrestlemania for their match, but was shocked when Chris Jericho told him he heard it would be 8 minutes, including the pre & post match stuff. A week later Arn Anderson confirmed to Bryan that he would lose a 1-move match, dropping the world title to Sheamus at Wrestlemania that year. Bryan and Sheamus were both pissed, to say the least.
Sheamus expressed concern that the short match would turn fans against him as a new champion. Smart man.
Bryan says a bunch of guys came up to him after his Mania loss and were pissed at what they did to Bryan out there. Great Khali even came up and told Bryan that it was bullshit in his broken English.
Originally Sheamus was planned to move into a fued with Alberto Del-rio right after Mania, but the crazy crowd support for Bryan forced them to extend they story another month. Bryan says his Extreme Rules ppv match with Sheamus in 2012 is one of his favorites. Mine too!
Bryan acknowledged the weird booking of Punk as champion in 2012, noting how heels would face John Cena, lose, then be sent to face Punk with no momentum. Interesting take on the situation.
Bryan mentions how when he and Punk fueded in 2012, they never got main event spots outside of non-televised events. One time at a house show, Bryan and Punk veered too far into comedy and after the match John Cena chastised Bryan by pointing out that they didn't wrestle a "main event style" match. Apparently the next house show, Cena was moved into the main event spot with Punk/Bryan being before the intermission. An enraged Punk went and yelled at people until he got his main event spot back. This time, no comedy spots were done and they stayed the main event for the circuit.
Bryan had brand new, edgier gear made up prior to Money in the Bank 2012 and didn't tell anyone backstage. He wore shorts over his trunk and hid the jacket until he had to go out. When he got to the ring, the ref told him to lose the jacket, because I guess Vince was in gorilla position freaking out over how Bryan looked. Dean Melanko was the producer for the match, and Bryan felt bad when Vince blamed him for allowing Bryan to wear it.
Bryan was originally planned to wrestle Charlie Sheen at SummerSlam 2012 in a celebrity match, but Charlie "bailed" as Bryan put it.
Bryan was trying to be "Mr Small Package" by winning matches with Small Package and then boasting about how he has an "inescapable small package!" It didn't get over.
Bryan thought his anger management vignets with Kane and Dr Shelby were going to be terrible.
The only reason they stopped using Dr Shelby is because he had limited days off from his regular teaching job.
Bryan and Kane really wanted their team name to be "Team Friendship" and they even had shirt ideas but Vince let the fans vote and he always kept those votes legit, so their team name was "Team Hell No" which Bryan brings up a good point about. He said as a team primarily appealing to kids, a name with "Hell" in it would be hard to sell merchandise to those kids.
The plan was to break up their team so they could have a good heated fued together, but they were so popular that they kept teaming for 9 months.
Bryan says his first good Wrestlemania experience was in 2013 when he teamed with Kane.
One night after Mania in 2013, when Bryan tagged with Kane and Undertaker to face The Shield, Vince McMahon told Bryan that he would pay him several thousand dollars if he could get Undertaker to hug Bryan in the ring. After the show Bryan got on the mic and tried his hardest to get the hug but couldn't quite do it.
Bryan says that both he and Kane agree that teaming together was some of the most fun in either man's career.
Bryan was scheduled to win the biggest match of his career up to that point, he would be beating Randy Orton clean on RAW. Bryan would botch a dive that left both arms nunb and him unable to stand. He got feeling back in one arm but eventually the doctor called the match off. Backstage Bryan started screaming at Triple H for calling the match and called him a hypocrite for doing so, citing his own injuries in matches. At one point Orton tried to calm Bryan down, but Bryan snapped at him and Orton started yelling too. Brie got Bryan away to calm down, but when Vince came to talk to Bryan, the shouting started again. Much later, William Regal advised Bryan to apologize to both Vince and Triple H, to which Bryan took his advice. The next week, Bryan would get his win over Orton and he says that that drama over everything made that win matter more.
An MRI showed that one of Bryan's disks was pushing into his nerves and eventually he would need surgery. With his momentum starting to rise, Bryan opted to put surgery off.
John Cena pitched facing Daniel Bryan at Money in the Bank 2013 ppv. When Vince asked why, Cena said because it's the biggest match they could do at that time. Vince ended up agreeing, but deciding that it belongs at SummerSlam that year instead!
As proud as Bryan is of the build to and match with Cena at SummerSlam, he acknowledges that the ppv didn't do good numbers, nor did the house show business the following 2 months when Bryan was the main protagonist. He thinks a lot the the Authority promos on him stemmed from some truth.
Bryan isn't satisfied with the quality of matches he was putting out in the latter half of 2013 amd he specifically calls out the series of bad finishes he had with Randy Orton in ppv main events. From the fast counting crooked ref, to that terrible one with Big Show knocking everyone out, and then to Shawn Michaels betraying Bryan at Hell in a Cell ppv.
Bryan initially thought he was getting a Wrestlemania match with Shawn Michaels after that Hell in a Cell finish, but after talking with HBK, it was clear that was never in the cards.
Bryan feels he failed as a main eventer in the 2nd half of 2013, regardless of match quality. He didn't move business and that's all that matters.
The Slammy's were fan votes and Vince didn't think Bryan would win and almost laughed when Bryan asked him what he should say if he does win. Vince said, "whatever you want." I wish I could have seen Vince's face when Bryan won later that night.
When Bryan started fueding with Wyatt Family in late-2013, Bryan was pitching for him to be "brainwashed" and join the group. He suspects that his rising popularity in early 2014 is what convinced WWE to have Bryan turn on Bray and leave the group. At the time, Bryan was hoping to stay with the group and be involved in the planned Cena/Wyatt Wrestlemania program since Bryan had no plans for Mania at that time.
Bryan says he was disappointed when Vince told him he would be facing Sheamus again at Wrestlemania 2014. No disrespect to Sheamus, but Bryan felt he belonged in a higher spot.
Bryan felt bad for the way Rey Mysterio was boo'd at the 2014 Royal Rumble.
When Punk quit WWE after Rumble that year, Bryan remembers how plans didn't change too much for a few weeks, and he assumes Vince expected Punk to come back and for Batista to win the crowds over, and neither happened.
Triple H was being vocal about wanting to face Bryan at Mania that year, but Bryan was trying to not get his hopes up since he had seen Triple H try and fail to get his ideas on screen.
Bryan and Brie only agreed to let Total Divas shoot their wedding, because Total Divas agreed to pay for the whole wedding! Hard to say no to that!
Bryan is very satisfied with his matches at Wrestlemania 30 and says he was so focused between matches that he missed Undertaker losing to Lesnar. He heard the ring bell and looked up at the monitor in shock. He says they cameras should have filmed the guys and girls in the back because their reactions were wild, apparently.
Five days after Wrestlemania 30, Bryan and Brie got married, but 2 days after their honeymoon ended, Bryan's dad unexpectedly passed away at the age of 57. Bryan was devastated and described how he was crying still as he was writing about it.
The book ends on a complete downer, very unlike most other wrestling books. Bryan says that as long as he wrestled when asked if everything he was missing or sacrificing was worth it, Bryan always said yes. He assumed he would have more time when he was done and could catch up on what he missed, but his dad is gone and Bryan openly admits that it wasn't worth it. If he could, Bryan would change a lot of his decisions if it meant more time with his dad.
He says he is still wrestling though because he literally doesn't know what else to do or what comes after. This is especially depressing 10 years later, when Bryan is still wrestling despite having started a family of his own. I hope he doesn't regret any time missed with his daughter.
He ends the book by describing the last time he saw his dad, on Christmas in 2013, where his dad dressed up as Santa. Fuck. I'm sad now.

The Jinn-Bot of Shantiport, Samit Basu (Tordotcom) A Fire Born of Exile, Aliette de Bodard (Gollancz; JAB Books) Red Team Blues, Cory Doctorow (Tor; Ad Astra) Furious Heaven, Kate Elliott (Ad Astra; Tor) Translation State, Ann Leckie (Orbit US; Orbit UK) The Terraformers, Annalee Newitz (Tor; Orbit UK) Starter Villain, John Scalzi (Tor; Tor UK) Lords of Uncreation, Adrian Tchaikovsky (Orbit US; Tor UK) System Collapse, Martha Wells (Tordotcom) The Road to Roswell, Connie Willis (Del Rey) 

To Shape a Dragon’s Breath, Moniquill Blackgoose (Del Rey) The Keeper’s Six, Kate Elliott (Tordotcom) Emily Wilde’s Encyclopaedia of Faeries, Heather Fawcett (Del Rey; Orbit UK) Dead Country, Max Gladstone (Tordotcom) The Water Outlaws, S.L. Huang (Tordotcom; Solaris UK) Paladin’s Faith, T. Kingfisher (Argyll) He Who Drowned the World, Shelley Parker-Chan (Tor; Mantle) My Brother’s Keeper, Tim Powers (Baen; Ad Astra) City of Last Chances, Adrian Tchaikovsky (Ad Astra) Witch King, Martha Wells (Tordotcom) 

Vampires of El Norte, Isabel Cañas (Berkley) The Reformatory, Tananarive Due (Saga; Titan UK) A Haunting on the Hill, Elizabeth Hand (Mulholland; Sphere) Starling House, Alix E. Harrow (Tor; Tor UK) How to Sell a Haunted House, Grady Hendrix (Berkley; Titan UK) Don’t Fear the Reaper, Stephen Graham Jones (Saga; Titan UK) A House with Good Bones, T. Kingfisher (Nightfire; Titan UK) Lone Women, Victor LaValle (One World) Silver Nitrate, Silvia Moreno-Garcia (Del Rey; Jo Fletcher) Black River Orchard, Chuck Wendig (Del Rey; Del Rey UK) 

Promises Stronger Than Darkness, Charlie Jane Anders (Tor Teen; Titan UK) The Making of Yolanda la Bruja, Lorraine Avila (Levine Querido) Damned If You Do, Alex Brown (Page Street) A Song of Salvation, Alechia Dow (Inkyard) The Library of Broken Worlds, Alaya Dawn Johnson (Scholastic; Magpie UK) The Sinister Booksellers of Bath, Garth Nix (Tegen; Gollancz) Into the Light, Mark Oshiro (Tor Teen) Divine Rivals, Rebecca Ross (Wednesday; Magpie UK) The Siren, the Song, and the Spy, Maggie Tokuda-Hall (Candlewick) The Spirit Bares Its Teeth, Andrew Joseph White (Peachtree Teen) 

Chain-Gang All-Stars, Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah (Pantheon) The Strange, Nathan Ballingrud (Saga; Titan UK) The Saint of Bright Doors, Vajra Chandrasekera (Tordotcom) Threads That Bind, Kika Hatzopoulou (Razorbill; Penguin UK) These Burning Stars, Bethany Jacobs (Orbit US; Orbit UK) Godkiller, Hannah Kaner (Harper Voyager UK; Harper Voyager US) The Marigold, Andrew F. Sullivan (ECW) Shigidi and the Brass Head of Obalufon, Wole Talabi (DAW; Gollancz) Some Desperate Glory, Emily Tesh (Tordotcom; Orbit UK) Ink Blood Sister Scribe, Emma Törzs (Morrow; Century) 

The Crane Husband, Kelly Barnhill (Tordotcom) The Last Dragoners of Bowbazar, Indra Das (Subterranean) “Linghun”, Ai Jiang (Linghun) The Salt Grows Heavy, Cassandra Khaw (Nightfire; Titan UK) Thornhedge, T. Kingfisher (Tor; Titan UK) Rose/House, Arkady Martine (Subterranean) Lost in the Moment and Found, Seanan McGuire (Tor) The Mimicking of Known Successes, Malka Older (Tordotcom) The Lies of the Ajungo, Moses Ose Utomi (Tordotcom) Mammoths at the Gates, Nghi Vo (Tordotcom) 

“What I Remember of Oresha Moon Dragon Devshrata”, P. Djèlí Clark (The Book of Witches) “John Hollowback and the Witch”, Amal El-Mohtar (The Book of Witches) I AM AI, Ai Jiang (Shortwave) “The Year Without Sunshine“, Naomi Kritzer (Uncanny 11-12/23) “Prince Hat Underground”, Kelly Link (White Cat, Black Dog) “At Every Door a Ghost”, Premee Mohamed (Communications Breakdown) “The Rainbow Bank“, Uchechukwu Nwaka (GigaNotoSaurus 8/23) “One Man’s Treasure“, Sarah Pinsker (Uncanny 1-2/23) “Six Versions of My Brother Found Under a Bridge“, Eugenia Triantafyllou (Uncanny 9-10/23) “On the Fox Roads“, Nghi Vo (Tor.com 10/31/23) 

“A Soul in the World“, Charlie Jane Anders (Uncanny 3-4/23) “How to Raise a Kraken in Your Bathtub“, P. Djèlí Clark (Uncanny 1-2/23) “The Mausoleum’s Children“, Aliette de Bodard (Uncanny 5-6/23) “Suppertime”, Tananarive Due (New Suns 2) “Window Boy“, Thomas Ha (Clarkesworld 8/23) “Reckless Eyeballing”, N.K. Jemisin (Out There Screaming) “The Sound of Children Screaming“, Rachael K. Jones (Nightmare 10/23) “Those Hitchhiking Kids“, Darcie Little Badger (The Sunday Morning Transport 4/2/23) “Stones“, Nnedi Okorafor (Clarkesworld 9/23) “There’s a Door to the Land of the Dead in the Land of the Dead“, Sarah Pinsker (The Deadlands 6/23) 

The Best Science Fiction of the Year: Volume 7, Neil Clarke, ed. (Night Shade) Christmas and Other Horrors, Ellen Datlow, ed. (Titan UK) The Year’s Best African Speculative Fiction (2022), Oghenechovwe Donald Ekpeki & Eugen Bacon & Milton Davis, eds. (Caezic) Never Whistle at Night, Shane Hawk & Theodore C. Van Alst Jr., eds. (Vintage) The Best American Science Fiction and Fantasy 2023, R.F. Kuang & John Joseph Adams, eds. (Mariner) Out There Screaming, Jordan Peele & John Joseph Adams, eds. (Random House; Picador) New Suns 2, Nisi Shawl, ed. (Solaris UK) The Book of Witches, Jonathan Strahan, ed. (Harper Voyager US; Harper Voyager UK) Mothersound: The Sauútiverse Anthology, Wole Talabi, ed. (Android) The Best of World SF: Volume 3, Lavie Tidhar, ed. (Ad Astra) 

The Essential Peter S. Beagle, Volumes 1 & 2, Peter S. Beagle (Tachyon) Zen and the Art of Starship Maintenance and Other Stories, Tobias S. Buckell (Apex) The Wishing Pool and Other Stories, Tananarive Due (Akashic) White Cat, Black Dog, Kelly Link (Random House; Ad Astra) No One Will Come Back For Us, Premee Mohamed (Undertow) Jackal, Jackal, Tobi Ogundiran (Undertow) Skin Thief, Suzan Palumbo (Neon Hemlock) Lost Places, Sarah Pinsker (Small Beer) The Best of Michael Swanwick, Volume Two, Michael Swanwick (Subterranean) The Best of Catherynne M. Valente, Volume One, Catherynne M. Valente (Subterranean) 

Analog Asimov’s Beneath Ceaseless Skies Clarkesworld F&SF FIYAH khōréō Strange Horizons Tor.com Uncanny 

Angry Robot DAW Gollancz Neon Hemlock Orbit Small Beer Subterranean Tachyon Tor Tordotcom 

Neil Clarke Ellen Datlow Oghenechovwe Donald Ekpeki Arley Sorg & Christie Yant Jonathan Strahan Lynne M. Thomas & Michael Damian Thomas Sheree Renée Thomas E. Catherine Tobler Ann VanderMeer Sheila Williams 

Brom Rovina Cai Kinuko Y. Craft Julie Dillon Bob Eggleton Abigail Larson John Picacio Charles Vess Michael Whelan Alyssa Winans 

The Fiction Writer’s Guide to Alternate History, Jack Dann (Bloomsbury Academic) 42: The Wildly Improbable Ideas of Douglas Adams, Kevin Jon Davies, ed. (Unbound UK) Wish I Was Here: An Anti-Memoir, M. John Harrison (Serpent’s Tail; Saga 2024) All These Worlds, Niall Harrison (Briardene) 101 Horror Books to Read Before You’re Murdered, Sadie Hartmann (Page Street Publishing) Space Crone, Ursula K. Le Guin (Silver) Ex Marginalia: Essays on Writing Speculative Fiction by Persons of Color, Chinelo Onwualu, ed. (Hydra House) A Traveller in Time: The Critical Practice of Maureen Kincaid Speller, Maureen Kincaid Speller (Luna Press Publishing) Owning the Unknown: A Science Fiction Writer Explores Atheism, Agnosticism, and the Idea of God, Robert Charles Wilson (Pitchstone) Being Michael Swanwick, Alvaro Zinos-Amaro (Fairwood) 

The Culture: The Drawings, Iain M. Banks (Orbit US; Orbit UK) Home to Stay! The Complete Ray Bradbury EC Stories, Ray Bradbury, adapted by Al Feldstein, art by Jack Davis, Frank Frazetta, Al Williamson, Wallace Wood, et al. (Fantagraphics) The Pen & Ink Drawings of Tony DiTerlizzi, Tony DiTerlizzi (self-published) Spectrum Fantastic Art Quarterly, Volume Three, Cathy Fenner & Arnie Fenner, eds. (Spectrum Fantastic Art) The Fantastic Worlds of Frank Frazetta, Dian Hanson, ed., art by Frank Frazetta (Taschen) The Last Count of Monte Cristo, Ayize Jama-Everett, art by Tristan Roach (Megascope) Voyaging, Volume One: The Plague Star, George R.R. Martin, art and adaptation by Raya Golden (Ten Speed Graphic) Thalamus, Volumes 1 & 2: The Art of Dave McKean, Dave McKean (Dark Horse) Worlds Beyond Time: Sci-Fi Art of the 1970s, Adam Rowe (Abrams) Afrofuturism: A History of Black Futures, Kevin M. Strait & Kinshasha Holman Conwill, eds. (Smithsonian) 

For the last 5 days I went through hundreds of player profiles of transfermarkt.de, calculated and wrote down with which manager attacking players had the most goals and assists per 90 minutes played. The threshold to be included as a a manager is 2000 minutes that the player must have played for him, it does not include National Team games because this page of a player does not include NT games.
These are the players I have come across who got a value of 1.30 or higher for their manager under which they had the most output:

G+A per 90 minutes	Player	Manager
1.77	Lionel Messi	Tito Vilanova
1.64	Cristiano Ronaldo	Carlo Ancelotti
1.63	Baghdad Bounedjah	Jesualdo Ferreira
1.55	Jonathan Soriano	Adi Hütter
1.54	Neymar	Unai Emery
1.54	Kylian Mbappé	Thomas Tuchel
1.54	Marc Janko	Co Adriaanse
1.53	Youssef El Arabi	Djamel Belmadi
1.53	Robert Lewandowski	Hansi Flick
1.52	Alan	Roger Schmidt
1.50	Grafite	Quique Sánchez Flores
1.46	Erling Haaland	Lucien Favre
1.46	Asamoah Gyan	Cosmin Olaroiu
1.45	Abderrazak Hamdallah	Rui Vitória
1.44	Seydou Doumbia	Vladimir Petkovic
1.42	Zlatan Ibrahimovic	Guillermo Barros Schelotto
1.40	Dejan Damjanovic	Chi-Kwong Alex Chu
1.39	Luis Suárez	Martin Jol
1.37	Simon Terodde	Markus Anfang
1.37	Patson Daka	Jesse Marsch
1.36	Jamie Vardy	Micky Mellon
1.34	Ronaldo	Sir Bobby Robson
1.33	Viktor Gyökeres	Rúben Amorim
1.33	Jardel	László Bölöni
1.32	Ezequiel Lavezzi	Manuel Pellegrini
1.31	Marco van Basten	Johan Cruyff

Some of the managers for which I found more than one player who had their highest G+A/90 among them:
Adi Hütter: Pléa, André Silva, Kostic, Jovic, S. Haller, Hoarau, J. Soriano
Andrea Pirlo: Borini, Cuadrado, Morata, Mbaye Diagne
Andre Villas-Boas: Bale, Hulk, Falcao
Antonio Conte: Pirlo, Willian
Arsène Wenger: José Antonio Reyes, Bendtner, Pirès, Walcott, Henry
Aykut Kocaman: Mathieu Valbuena, Alex
Carlo Ancelotti: Ménez, Vinicius Jr., Nenê, Cristiano Ronaldo, Bellingham, Drogba, Isco
Claude Puel: Pjanic, Lisandro López, Ben Arfa
Claudio Ranieri: Claudio López, Quagliarella, Hasselbaink
Diego Simeone: Griezmann, Diego Costa, Gameiro
Erik ten Hag: Dusan Tadic, Ziyech
Ernesto Valverde: Aduriz, Soldado
Fatih Terim: Hakan Sükür, Burak Yilmaz
Felix Magath: Misimovic, Paolo Guerrero
Frank de Boer: Milik, Eriksen
Frank Rijkaard: Arda Turan, Ronaldinho
Gerardo Martino: Alexis Sánchez, Pedro, Josef Martínez
Gian Piero Gasperini: Muriel, Zapata, Ilicic, P. Gómez, Diego Milito
Guus Hiddink: Romário, Kezman
Hansi Flick: Lewandowski, Kimmich, Coman
Huub Stevens: Huntelaar, Podolski, van der Vaart
Jesualdo Ferreira: Baghdad Bounedjah, Akram Afif, R. Quaresma
John Toshack: Morientes, Raúl
John van den Brom: Weghorst, Onuachu
Jorge Jesus: Óscar Cardozo, Aleksandar Mitrovic, Darwin Núñez, Enner Valencia
José Mourinho: Benzema, Kaká, Deco, Heung-min Son, Özil, José Callejón
Julian Nagelsmann: Gnabry, Leroy Sané, Timo Werner
Jupp Heynckes: Mario Gómez, Toni Kroos
Jürgen Klinsmann: Schweinsteiger, Klose
Jürgen Klopp: Götze, Salah, Origi
Klaus Toppmöller: Ballack, Zé Roberto
Laurent Blanc: Lacazette, Rayan Cherki, Di María
Lorenzo Serra Ferrer: Rivaldo, Patrick Kluivert
Louis van Gaal: Ribéry, Robben, Bergkamp
Luciano Spalletti: L. Insigne, Dzeko, Zielinski, Fabián Ruiz, Osimhen
Lucian Favre: Haaland, Sancho, Alcácer
Manuel Pellegrini: Lavezzi, G. Higuaín, Milner, Marcelo, Agüero, Yaya Touré
Marcel Keizer: Ali Mabkhout, Bas Dost, Bruno Fernandes
Marco Rose: Stindl, Openda, Dabbur
Massimiliano Allegri: Cassano, Pazzini, Alexandre Pato
Mauricio Pochettino: Cole Palmer, Fernando Llorente
Maurizio Sarri: Dybala, Giroud, Eden Hazard
Okan Buruk: Visca, Icardi, Zaha
Pep Guardiola: Xavi, Sterling, Thomas Müller, Mahrez, Bernardo Silva, Mandzukic, De Bruyne, Gabriel Jesus, Fàbregas, Arturo Vidal
Peter Bosz: Havertz, Volland, Luuk de Jong
Rafa Benítez: Eto'o, Juan Mata, Crouch, Fernando Torres
Roberto Mancini: Tevez, Sneijder
Roger Schmidt: Alan, Kampl, Sadio Mané, Jonathan Viera
Rudi Garcia: Memphis, Thauvin
Rui Vitória: Jonas, Gaitán, Abderrazak Hamdallah
Ruud Gullit: S. Kalou, Kuyt
Simone Inzaghi: Felipe Anderson, Lautaro Martínez
Sir Alex Ferguson: Beckham, Giggs, van Persie, Scholes, Rooney, Chicharito, A. Young
Sir Bobby Robson: Ronaldo, van Nistelrooy
Sérgio Conceição: Aboubakar, Taremi
Thomas Schaaf: Claudio Pizarro, Diego
Thomas Tuchel: Reus, Aubameyang, Mkhitaryan, O. Dembélé, Kane, Mbappé
Thorsten Fink: Alex Frei, Streller
Tito Vilanova: Messi, Iniesta
Unai Emery: Neymar, Ollie Watkins, Joaquín, Draxler, Rakitic, Cavani, David Silva, Gerard Moreno
Vicente del Bosque: Guti, Luís Figo
Vítor Pereira: João Moutinho, Oscar, James Rodríguez
In case you missed these players:
Lampard -> Avram Grant
Mertens -> Fred Rutten
Payet -> Marcelo Bielsa
Firmino -> Markus Gisdol
David Villa -> Patrick Vieira
Ben Yedder -> Philippe Clement
Sergio Ramos -> Santiago Solari
R. Lukaku -> Steve Clarke
Defoe -> Steven Gerrard
Vincenzo Montella -> Sven-Göran Eriksson
Max Kruse -> Urs Fischer
Mario Balotelli -> Vincenzo Montella
Immobile -> Zdenek Zeman (with Pescara)

To practice my video editing, I'm going to simulate via WWE2K24 a 2024 all-time great Jim Crocket Sr. Memorial Cup.
I admit I'm biased. When I see an all-time great list, if someone like Ric Flair isn't on it, I immediate disqualify and disregard the list.
I know this skews old school, but under the theme of the teams chosen, who is missing?
Is there a glaring omission here that would make you say, "screw this list"?
Your opinions wanted. Bonus if you can provide reason and who to bump.
I'll justify my picks. Tried to pick real teams, people who were friends in real-life or their character made sense to pick that partner.
Thanks for reading and any constructive feedback.

Group 1	Group 2	Group 3	Group 4
The Road Warriors	The Rock & Roll Express	The Midnight Express	The Brainbusters
Dusty Rhodes & Magnum TA	Ricky Steamboat & Jay Youngblood	Demolition	The Usos
Kane & The Undertaker	Stan Hansen & Bruiser Brody	The Fantastics	The Hart Foundation
Edge & Christian	The Hardy Boyz	The Steiner Brothers	The Outsiders
The MegaPowers	The Dudley Boyz	The Minnesota Wrecking Crew	The New Age Outlaws
The Fabulous Freebirds	The Von Erichs	Ric Flair & Blackjack Mulligan	Nick Bockwinkel & Ray Stevens
The Rock & Roman Reigns	Kurt Angle & Brock Lesnar	D-Generation X	Curt Hennig & Rick Rude
Mike Rotunda & Barry Windham	Roddy Piper & Rick Martel	Randy Orton & John Cena	Andre the Giant & Jimmy Snuka
The British Bulldogs	Steve Austin & Brian Pillman	The Bushwhackers	Kenny Omega & Kota Ibushi
Ivan & Nikita Koloff	Bob Backlund & The Iron Sheik	Chris Jericho & The Big Show	Dr. Death & Ted DiBiase
Sting & Lex Luger	Cody & Dustin Rhodes	Jon Moxley & Seth Rollins	Bryan Danielson & CM Punk
MJF & Adam Cole	Lucha Brothers	The Young Bucks	The Wild Samoans
Greg Valentine & Brutus Beefcake	Gunther & Ludwig Kaiser	Eddie Guerrero & Rey Mysterio	The Acolytes
Yokozuna & Umaga	Earthquake & Typhoon	Sgt. Slaughter & Hacksaw Jim Duggan	Antonio Inoki & Giant Baba
The Great Muta & Jushin "Thunder" Liger	Jake Roberts & Diamond Dallas Page	Samoa Joe & AJ Styles	Mark Henry & Bobby Lashley
Twin Towers	The Skyscrapers	Rob Van Dam & Sabu	Mick Foley & Terry Funk

Swing types (Pull, Extreme Pull, Push etc) are very important but information on which kind of swing a player has is difficult to find. While swing animations are just visual and don't effect outcomes, swing types do. Even Showzone.gg and Showdd.io don't have this information. I've compiled a list of just about every player who doesn't have a "Whole-Field" swing. You'll notice nearly all community favorite swings are Pull or Extreme Pull. Most of this information comes from Roster Control.
If a player has a particular swing type, 99% of the time all of their cards have that same type. But that's the thing about 99%, there is still 1%. A few players I've found have different swing types on their different cards. Brandon Crawford, Steve Finley, Ken Griffey JR, Mike Napoli so far.
There is also an issue/bug with switch hitters. All switch hitters batting righty are Whole-Field, every one of them. Where I knew a player was a switch hitter I've tried to mark that. For example, Yasmani Grandal is Pull hitter batting from the left, but still Whole-Field batting from the right.
Red Sox
Rafael Devers E Pull
Tyler O'neill Pull
Trevor Story Pull
Bobby Dalbec Oppo
Pablo Reyes Pull
Reese McGuire Pull
Baltimore
Adley Rutschman S Oppo
Anthony Santander S E Pull
Cedric Mullins Pull
Ryan O'Hearn Pull
Tony Kemp E Pull
Yankees
Juan Soto E Pull
Gleyber Torres Pull
Anthony Rizzo E Pull
DJ Lemahieu Oppo
Alex Terdugo Pull
Trent Grisham Pull
Jahmai Jones Oppo
Chad Bell Oppo
Greg Allen Pull
Rays
Yandy Diaz Oppo
Jose Siri Oppo
Niko Goodrum S Pull
Brandon Lowe E Pull
Dominic Smith Pull
Jays
Vlad Guerrero jr Pull
George Springer Pull
Dany Jansen E Pull
Kevin Kiermaier Pull
Joey Votto Pull
Cavan Biggie E Pull
Isiah Kiner-Falefa Oppo
Danny Vogelbach Pull
Ernie Clement Oppo
White Sox
Luis Robert jr Oppo
Eloy Jimenez Pull
Andrew Benintendi Pull
Andrew Vaughn Oppo
Paul DeJong E Pull
Max Stassi E Pull
Kevin Pillar Pull
Gavin Sheets Oppo
Brett Phillips Pull
Rafael Ortega E Pull
Martin Maldonado Pull
Zach Remillard Oppo
Guardians
Jose Ramirez S Pull
Josh Naylor Pull
Ramon Laurenado Pull
David Fry Oppo
Myles Straw E Oppo
Austin Hedges Pull
Tigers
Jake Rogers Pull
Mark Canha E Pull
Carson Kelly Pull
Anthony Bemboom Oppo
Royals
Hunter Renfroe E Pull
Salvador Perez Pull
Darion Blanco Oppo
Twins
Byron Buxton E Pull
Max Kepler E Pull
Carlos Santana S Pull
Kyle Farmer E Pull
Christian Vazquez Oppo
Jose Miranda Oppo
Astros
Yordan Alvarez E Pull
Jose Altuve Pull
Kyle Tucker Pull
Alex Bregman E Pull
Jose Abreu Pull
Victor Caratini Pull
Jon Singleton E Pull
Angels
Mike Trout Pull
Brandon Drury Pull
Aaron Hicks Pull
Anthony Rendon Pull
Matt Thaiss Pull
Hunter Dozier Pull
Caleb Hamilton Oppo
Willie Calhoun E Pull
Evan White Oppo
Miguel Sano E Pull
As
JD Davis Pull
Aledmys Diaz E Pull
Carlos Perez Pull
Tyler Nevin Oppo
Ms
Mitch Garver Pull
JP Crawford Pull
Josh Rojas Pull
Ty France Pull
Mitch Haniger Pull
Michael Chavis Pull
Rangers
Corey Seager E Pull
Marcus Semien Pull
Jared Walsh Pull
Wyatt Langford Oppo
Andrew Knizner Oppo
Braves
Ronald Acuna jr Pull
Matt Olson E Pull
Ozzie Albies S E Pull
Adam Duvall Pull
Marcell Ozuna Pull
David Fletcher Pull
Luis Guillorme Oppo
Marlins
Luis Arraez Oppo
Christian Bethancourt Pull
Avisail Garcia Pull
Mets
Pete Alonso E Pull
Brandon Nimmo Pull
Jeff McNeil Pull
Harrison Bader Pull
Trayce Thompson Pull
DJ Stewart E Pull
Ji-Man Choi Pull
Omar Narvaez Pull
Joey Wendle Pull
Rylan Bannon Oppo
Phillies
Trea Turner Pull
Bryce Harper E Pull
JT Realmuto Pull
Nick Castellanos Pull
Kyle Schwarber E Pull
Jordan Luplow Pull
David Dahl Pull
Nationals
Joey Gallo E Pull
Eddie Rosario E Pull
Ildemaro Vargas Oppo
Victor Robles Pull
Jesse Winker Pull
Cubs
Cody Bellinger E Pull
Dansby Swanson Pull
Yan Gomes Pull
Mike Tauchman Oppo
David Peralta Pull
Garrett Cooper Oppo
Curt Casali Pull
Miguel Amaya Oppo
Reds
Jeimer Candelario S Pull
Jonathan India Oppo
Tyler Stephenson Oppo
Nick Martini Pull
Mike Ford Pull
Austin Wynns Pull
Brewers
Christian Yelich Pull
Gary Sanchez E Pull
Rhys Hoskins E Pull
Jake Bauers E Pull
Vinny Capra Oppo
Pirates
Michael A Taylor Pull
Andrew Mccutchen Pull
Rowdy Tellez E Pull
Yasmani Grandal S Pull
Gilberto Celestino Oppo
Jake Lamb E Pull
Josh Palacios Oppo
Billy McKinney E Pull
Cardinals
Paul Goldschmidt Pull
Nolan Arenado Pull
Willson Contreas Pull
Tommy Edman S Pull
Brandon Crawford Live Pull / 89 E Pull
Matt Carpenter E Pull
Dbacks
Christian Walker Pull
Eugenio Suarez Pull
Randal Grichuk E Pull
Joc Peterson E Pull
Jace Peterson Pull
Emmanuel Rivera Oppo
Tucker Barnhart Pull
Rockies
Ryan McMahon Pull
Ezequiel Tovar Pull
Charlie Blackmon Pull
Brendan Rogers Oppo
Kris Bryant Pull
Elias Diaz Oppo
Alan Trejo Oppo
Sam Hillard Pull
Jacob Stallings Pull
Jake Cave Pull
Dodgers
Shohei E Pull
Mookie Betts E Pull
Freddie Freeman Pull
Will Smith E Pull
Teoscar Hernandez Pull
Max Muncy E Pull
Jason Heyward Pull
Miguel Rojas Oppo
Enrique Hernandez Pull
Padres
Fernando Tatis jr Pull
Xander Bogaerts Pull
Kyle Higashioka Pull
Jurickson Profar Pull
Tyker Wade Pull
Tim Locastro E Pull
Oscar Mercado Pull
Giants
Jorge Soler E Pull
Matt Chapman Pull
Thairo Estrada Oppo
Mike Yastrzemski Pull
Austin Slater Oppo
Michael Conforto Pull
Tom Murphy E Pull
Nick Ahmed Pull
Joey Bart Oppo
Legends
Shawn Green E Pull
Jason Giambi E Pull
Evan Longoria Pull
Paul Konerko Pull
Jorge Posada S E Pull
Steve Finley E Pull / 87 Pull
Johnny Damon E Pull
Ken Griffey JR Pull / E Pull
Michael Young Oppo
Adam Dunn E Pull
Jason Heyward Pull
Tim Salmon Oppo
Larry Doby Oppo
Mike Napoli Whole / 93 Oppo
Hank Aaron Oppo
Eddie Murray S Pull / Whole
Ivan Rodgiguez Oppo
Vladimir Guerrero Pull
Richie Sexson Oppo
Giancarlo Stanton 89 Pull
Free Agents
Brandon Belt E Pull
CJ Cron Pull
Elvis Andrews Pull
Francisco Mejia Pull
Kolten Wong Pull
Charlie Culberson Pull
Raimel Tapia Pull
Mike Moustakas Pull
Johathan Schoop Pull
Darin Ruf E Pull
AJ Pollock E Pull
Yuli Gurriel Pull
Billy Hamilton Oppo
Josh Harrison Pull
Luke Voit Pull
Kyle Lewis Oppo
Adalberto Mondesi S Pull
Wil Myers Pull
Tommy La Stella E Pull
Jackie Bradley Jr E Pull
Hanser Alberto Pull