Stanley Cup runneth over

By Chad Smart

@chadsmart & @my123cents on Twitter
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Long-term readers (who read all the blogs) know that I got into hockey two seasons ago when my friend Mike suggested seeing games in all 30 NHL arenas. Over the past three seasons, we’ve managed to see 22 teams play in their home arenas. There’s nothing extraordinary about that number. Somehow though, there’s one interesting fact to go along with the Quest for All 30. The Stanley Cup Finals have come down to two teams I saw at home during the active season. In 2014, the Los Angeles Kings defeated the New York Rangers. 2015 saw the dreaded Chicago Blackhawks defeat the Tampa Bay Lightning for  the Cup.

During this current season, we made the now traditional Thanksgiving trip a double header of seeing the Penguins face the St. Louis Blues in Pittsburgh the night before Thanksgiving and then the Pens were the visiting team in Columbus the night after Thanksgiving. In February, as part of the side quest to see all five California AHL teams, sandwiched between San Jose Barracuda and Stockton Heat games, we made a return trip to the SAP Center to watch the Sharks defeat the Arizona Coyotes. As I type this, the Sharks and Penguins are getting ready for Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Finals on Monday, May 30.

I have yet to determine if this year’s match up is my dream final or nightmare final. Before I became a more die-hard hockey fan, if someone asked what team I supported, I would have said the Penguins. This was more due the success they were having when I got more invested in sports than actually knowing anything about the team. Due to being a “fan” and because the Penguins social media manager was the only one to comment on my blog about searching for an official team, I was ready to pledge my allegiance to the Pens. Then something happened to make me question everything.

The second stop on the All 30 quest was San Jose. That night, my hockey life was changed forever. As I recounted in the previous blog about the trip, that night in San Jose was like a religious experience. I had seen the hockey gods and they wore black, teal and orange. From the moment the team took the ice through the giant shark head, I was in awe. With this newfound fandom, what was I to do about my original Penguin fandom? After some serious debate and consulting with Mike, I came to the conclusion that it only made sense to have an East team and a West team.

During the regular season, I would cheer for both teams then during the playoffs, I would have better odds of having a favorite team reach the finals. With the playoffs consisting of 16 teams, what were the odds that both of MY teams would make it the finals in the same year? Being a Miami Dolphins fan for 30 years, I was more prepared to be disappointed during the playoffs. Never would I have expected my two teams to battle each other for The Cup.

Now we’re on the cusp of the 2016 Stanley Cup Finals and I find myself torn on actively rooting for one team or simply enjoying the games and hoping for a competitive series. Part of me says to cheer on the Sharks as this is their first trip to the Finals and it’s easier to potentially travel to San Jose for a game than to fly across the country to a game in Pittsburgh. On the other hand, having been a Penguin “fan” for 25 years, is it right to toss them to the side just because they happen to be playing the Sharks?

Then comes the factor of the Penguins’ newly celebrated HBK line. The trio of Carl Hagelin, Nick Bonino and Phil Kessel, became a trio to be reckoned with during the series against Tampa Bay. They became such a sensation fans got the original HBK, “Heartbreak Kid,” Shawn Michaels to become a fan and the Penguins invited Michaels to attend game 5. Naturally, the wrestling fan in me sees this as a logical reason to throw support to the Penguins. Naturally then, I think if the Sharks wanted to secure their own section of wrestling fans, it would only make sense to bring Sharkboy to the Shark Tank as a wrestler liaison.

I will wrestle with my decision until the puck drops at the start of game 1. Maybe I should simply be pleased two teams I have chosen to support are playing for the richest prize in hockey. No matter the outcome, I finally have a championship series that won’t let me down. Although, if either team seriously wants my undying support, providing tickets to a game would help. Just being honest.

Lets go Sharks! I mean, lets go Pens!…uh, Sharks, Pens…um, Shens? Parks? This is going to be a soul wrenching series.

Boo: Something Fishy

Shark Boy wins the Brian Pillman Memorial 1999
Photo from sharkboy.net

By Kevin Hunsperger
@kevinhunsperger & @my123cents

I did a very brief blog years ago on Shark Boy when I wrote something about Shark Week and of course tied in the wrestling connection.  I just listened to Shark Boy on Colt Cabana's Art of Wrestling Podcast, and felt compelled to update my thoughts on him.

I love listening to Colt's show and learning more about guys I don't know a whole lot about.  I vaguely remember Shark Boy during his stint in WCW.  I remember him well in TNA in the early days of the Wednesday night pay per views.  And it's no secret here, my tag team partner here at My 1-2-3 Cents, Chad is a "mark for the shark", sporting a Shark Boy mask at one of those Nashville shows.  He even got to meet Shark Boy.

Chad meets Shark Boy
Photo from My 1-2-3 Cents

Interesting facts I learned on Shark Boy's podcast:  He trademarked the name years ago when he signed with WCW.  It was a smart move as all his hard work "swimming" through the indies wasn't gobbled up by Vince McMahon in 2001.  He started off as El Piranha, a luchador fish gimmick, but it was Ian Rotten who helped change his name.  I never noticed Mick Foley was wearing a Shark Boy shirt in match with The Rock at the 1999 Royal Rumble.  I also gained more respect for Shark Boy after learning he fought for his name after the release of the movie "The Adventures of Shark Boy and Lava Girl."

Another tidbit, on a personal note, we both have sons who are the same age and both run cross country.  I'm the only one who probably cares about that, but I thought it was interesting.

Oh Shell Yeah!
Photo from TNA

I always liked Shark Boy in TNA.  I thought the "Stone Cold" Steve Austin tribute was creative, but as a WWE mark, I thought it was TNA's attempt to cash in on yet another WWE guy.  I wish Shark Boy could have gotten more over without the help of imitating someone else, but it worked for him at the time, and like I said, it was entertaining.

One of his shining moments (in my view) was winning the Brian Pillman Memorial Show in 1999.   While it took him to WCW and TNA as well as other independent companies, Shark Boy never rode the wave of success to the WWE.  He says in the podcast Stephanie McMahon once complimented him, but joked that while he had the talent he didn't have the size to compete in the WWE.  I think had he gotten in the business 10 years later than he did, he'd have a place on the roster right now.

He still wrestles occasionally, but if you'd like to learn more about Shark Boy, search for him on YouTube or click here for his website.

Boo: Halloween with My 1-2-3 Cents

By Kevin Hunsperger
@kevinhunsperger & @my123cents on Twitter

Last year when I did the original Boo series of blogs, I ended with pics of fans dressed up like wrestlers.  I scoured the internet to come up with the images, and had a few from my own collection to share.  This year, I'm proud to say that all the images are of readers and viewers of My 1-2-3 Cents.  Your support has meant a lot since starting this two years ago.  Thanks to those who emailed me pictures too.

The Model Rick Martel, Jimmy Hart, Akeem, Macho Man,
80's Vince McMahon, & Jesse Ventura

Nathan Norman as Daniel Bryan
Yes! Yes! Yes!

Sean Mina as the Ultimate Warrior

Heath Hatton as Hulk Hogan

Check out those pythons!

Chris Hagstrom as the Hurricane

Martin Endersby as "The Model" Rick Martel

Chris Hagstrom as Zack Ryder

Chad as Shark Boy

Me as Papa Shango

Martin Endersby as Ric Flair
Woooo!

Chad as Strong Bad

If you haven't closed the page out after seeing these treats, check out the Papa Shango makeover video too.  Happy Halloween.

Da-Dum-Da-Dum-Da-Dum

By Kevin Hunsperger
@kevinhunsperger on Twitter

It's Shark Week on Discovery Channel, and I figured I'd cash in on the hype as well.  Wrestling has had its share of shark and sea life gimmicks, so I figured I'd stroll down memory lane and share a few with you.

Admittedly, I had to do a Google search to find a third shark related wrestling gimmick.  Of course I remembered "The Shark" and "Shark Boy", but I had no idea there was a "Shark Girl."  Thank you Internet for helping me.  Let's start with the ones I know more about.

The Shark was a gimmick made famous or infamous by John Tenta.  He had a pretty successful run in the WWF as Earthquake.  Then when he arrived in WCW, he changed his name to Avalanche, keeping that natural disaster gimmick.  Then for some reason the powers-that-be (Eric Bischoff gets a lot of blame online, but I don't know if it's solely his fault) came up with the Shark idea.  Shark joined the Dungeon of Doom, which I think the only thing scary about the group was the silly gimmicks each man was saddled with.

The Shark wore similar tights that Earthquake wore, but instead of the seismograph, an almost grinning shark appeared on Tenta's belly.  He also had teeth painted into his beard on both sides of his mouth.  Tenta went so far with the gimmick that he changed his trademark tiger tattoo into a shark.  Online reports say it was a 24 hour process.  That's dedication.

However, the gimmick did nothing to help move Tenta any hirer than the midcard.  They eventually dropped the gimmick, and I think he went to just being John Tenta.  He would return to the WWF in the late 90's and wear a mask as Golga in the oddities.  Pardon the pun, but the shark gimmick turned Tenta into a fish out of water, though he did his best with what he was given.  Rest in peace, big man.

Photo from Sharkboy.net

Shark Boy was NOT the son of Shark, as you might think.  He's also not the same Shark Boy from the popular kids film "The Adventures of Shark Boy and Lava Girl."  He was a part of TNA in the early days and mostly served as a jobber.  I think it's safe to say the gimmick caught on with some fans, including my partner in crime, Chad.  I remember watching those early pay per views at his place with Shark Boy and D-Ray 3000 teaming up.

I enjoyed the gimmick, because in this day and age, I don't think there are enough "gimmicky" wrestlers.  Everyone has a real name and lack personality as far as I'm concerned.  But for some reason TNA turned him into a Stone Cold Steve Austin impersonator.  While the schitck was funny at times, it got old fast as far as I'm concerned.  And I don't think it was ever meant to be something to insult Austin, as I've read that Shark Boy is a big fan of the WWE legend.  They say imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, but in the wrestling business, it can become annoying and stale.

From Impact Wrestling

He swam away from TNA eventually and is making waves on the indy scene still.  Shark Boy did appear on the Destination X pay per view recently, but I don't think it's lead to a full fledged return to the company.  I'd be interested to see what Vince McMahon and company would do with someone like Shark Boy.  I would image the gimmick would be completely scrapped.  He seems to have a pretty good thing going though on the indy scene.  Check out his website, it's full of Shark Boy merchandise, including masks, key chains, and t-shirts.  I think Chad may even have a Shark Boy mask.

You might assume that Shark Girl was Shark Boy's wife or sister.  But you'd be wrong.  This was another indy gimmick.  Honestly, I'd never heard of her until today.  Shark Girl dressed similar to her male counterpart, only in pink.  She's played by "Daphne" who you may remember from runs in WCW and Impact Wrestling.

I'm not exactly sure where the idea for Shark Girl came from, I would assume it has something to do with Shark Boy though.  Her outfit is obviously a bit more revealing with those shark bite marks in the tights.

Shark Girl wrestled in different organizations, including Shimmer and CWA.  From what I could find, she was most active in 2008.  Shark Girl also has a My Space page, so click here to check out more photos and get more information about her.

So while Shark Week on Discovery Channel is a widely popular thing, I think it's pretty safe to say shark gimmicks aren't quite as popular in the world of wrestling.  Shark Boy and Shark Girl each made the list of the 20 worst masked wrestlers on one website.  Take that for what's it worth though.

What are your thoughts?  Post here, on Facebook, Twitter, or YouTube.