Sunday, April 5, 2009

Opening Night Live Blog: Braves vs. Phillies

What: Opening Night
Who: Atlanta Braves and Philadelphia Phillies
Where: Citizens Bank Park, Philadelphia, PA
When: 8:00 PM
What Channel: ESPN2
Announcers: Jon Miller, Joe Morgan, and Steve Phillips

Baseball Tonight begins at 7. I'll chime in here and there with thought on the show and the live blog will get under way at 8. Just hit refresh on the computer screen to keep up with the updates. All comments (unless they are deliberately trolling/spam *cough*cough*NathanBrice*cough*cough*) are welcome!

Just turned over to ESPN during the commercial and if you thought last year's women's Final Four court was utterly hideous, wait until you see this one. Words can't describe how bad it is. And, oh yeah, for your audio enjoyment, Mike Patrick is on the call!

I just got goosebumps watching that World Series montage for the Phillies.

"We have a beautiful night here at Citizens Bank Ballpark." - Steve Phillips

It's Citizens Bank Park, Steve, not Citizens Bank Ballpark. And some advice to Dave Winfield: lay off the valium.

Impressive homerun by NBA analyst, Jon Barry. But seriously, waving your hat to an empty crowd?? And do realize, Jon, that a very talented monkey could hit a homerun out of Citizens Bank Park.

Peter Gammons just picked the Mets in the NL East. The analysts always go for the New York teams every year they make a big move or two and it never pans out for them.

"We'd like to thank Dave Winfield for all that he has brought to us." - Karl Ravech

And I'd thank you very much if you gave Dave Winfield some 5-hour energy!

Um.....a children's story vignette to kick things off?? Okaaayyy...

"You look exactly the same as you did 19-years ago." - Jon Miller
"Thank you." - Joe Morgan

Notice that Morgan did not say the same about Miller. And maybe it's just me, but it looks and sounds like that Miller aged big-time just over this off-season (I did not watch the WBC).

And the banner has been raised at Citizens Bank Park! Damn, I was hoping ESPN would show more of it. I'd rather see that than 3 Winfield, Kruk, and Gammons give meaningless predictions. I'll have to find a YouTube video that someone took in the stands and I'll post it.

Top of the First Inning

The first pitch is a ball by Myers to Kelly Johnson. High pop-up is caught by Victorino. Next up is Escobar and on one pitch he grounds out. Now it's Chipper Jones. Myers works it to a full count. 3-2 pitch is a base hit by Chipper Jones and there is the first base hit of the single. Brian McCann is up next. McCann HAMMERS THE CHANGE-UP TO THE SECOND DECK! 2-RUN SHOT FOR THE BRAVES. And subsequently, they now lead 2-0. Garret Anderson grounds out and that's the end of the top of the first inning. 2-0 Braves.

Bottom of the First Inning

Rollins leads off and he starts off with a 1-1 count. Rollins grounds out to first. Up next for the Fightin' Phils is Jayson Werth. 2 quick strikes to Werth. He hammers the next one foul. And another foul. Ball down low by Lowe and it's a 1-2 count. Werth pops it up and Johnson brings it in. And here's Chase "World Fucking Champions" Utley. First pitch is a ball.

"I don't think that too many people were taking the Phillies to beat the upstart Rays in that World Series." - Jon Miller

Actually if I recall correctly, if anything, more people were taking the Phils. Stop watching Around the Horn, Jon. Utley decides to pop one up deep.....but it's caught at the warning track by Francoeur. End of 1 and the Braves lead 2-0.

Top of the Second Inning

Francoeur leads off the inning for hte Braves. AND FRANCOEUR LAUNCHES ONE! GONE! 3-0 BRAVES! Typical Phillies opening night, so I'm really not surprised.

Myers strikes out Kotchman. Up next for Atlanta is Jordan Schafer, a 22-year old who played in the minor leagues last year. 2-1 count to the rookie and Myers should be going after him more. 3-1 now. And Brett Myers may have to "boom outta here" soon. And wouldn't you know it? On his first at-bat, THE 22-YEAR OLD ROOKIE HITS A HOME RUN! 4-0 ATLANTA! Like I said, the Phillies are infamous for stinking up the joint on the first day of the season.

Myers easily strikes out Lowe. And Joe Morgan is rambling on making no sense. Kelly Johnson is back up at the plate. 2-1 to Johnson.

"Now the question is once you hit a homerun on your first at bat, where do you go from here?" - Steve Phillips
"You retire" - Joe Morgan

Johnson flies out and that ends the inning. 4-0 Braves.

Bottom of the Second Inning

Howard starts out 2-2. Howard foul tips it into McCann's glove and that's a strikeout. Here comes Pat Burrell's replacement, Raul Ibanez. And his first AB as a Phil is a ground out. 2 up and 2 down thus far in the second and here is Shane Victorino. The Flyin' Hawaiian grounds out on the first pitch and it's an easy 1-2-3 for Lowe. Braves lead 4-0 after 2.

Top of the Third Inning

Up next is Drew Escobar. ESCOBAR HAMMERS IT! DEEP.......OFF THE WALL! He gets a double out of it! Here's Chipper Jones now.

"The Braves are teeing off, playing homerun derby at the Phillies expense." - Jon Miller

That's not as much of an exageration as it may seem. Full count to Jones. I'm pretty sure that I just heard Joe Morgan call Jeff Francoeur, Jeff "Francurl". Myers strikes out Jones and he needed that. Here's McCann who got this derby started. Starts out 1-1. McCann pops one up in foul territory. 2 down in the top of the third with Escobar on . Ground ball to first. Howard dishes to Myers who covers and after the lead off double no more hits for the Braves. 4-0 Atlanta.

Bottom of the Third Inning

Feliz leads off the inning and he pops it up. One down. Ruiz sends one to foul territory which is missed and the Phils fans cheer. Too funny.

"He put the glove on it but he could not put the squeeze on it." - Jon Miller

0-2 to Ruiz. Ruiz launches one along the left field AND THAT'S A FAIR BALL! A fan interfered with it but Ruiz will take 2 anyway. Myers swings at the first pitch and he grounds out. Here comes J-Roll back up for the Phils. Rollins skies one and that's caught and it ends the inning. Third of the way through the game, and the Braves still lead 4-0.

Top of the Fourth Inning

"You have to go back to almost 1980." - Jon Miller on when the Phils last won a World Series before this year.

Err, Jon, it was 1980. 3-2 to Francoeur. He lines out to J-Roll. And Myers looks like he is finally settling in. Now if only the Phils offense can wake up. Casey Kotchman is up to bat. 1-2 to Kotchman. 2-2. Kotchman grounds out. Meanwhile I miss how the inning ended because I was watching the womens' game but it's still 4-0 Atlanta.

Bottom of the Fourth Inning

2-1 the count to Jayson Werth as Jon Miller dropped in a WrestleMania reference. Werth grounds out. Up next is Chase Utley. Kotchman makes a diving stop and he dishes to Lowe who gets Utley out at first. Meanwhile, I'm trying to find a good WM stream. Taker's streak is one of my favorite WWE stories. Howard grounds out. 4-0 Braves after 4.

Top of the Fifth Inning

2 straight strikes to Kelly Johnson. The 0-2 pitch is fouled off. Ground to Rollins at short and apparently I missed what happened to Johnson I was too fixed on WrestleMania. Chipper Jones launches one....Victorino trying to make a play misses it! It bounces off the ground and into the seats for a ground-rule double. Brian McCann is up and he gets down 0-2 real fast. McCann strikes out. Still 4-0 Atlanta.

Meanwhile at WrestleMania, Taker and Shawn Michaels are battling it out. Oh! Missed moonsault by Michaels and that was ugly!

Bottom of the Fifth Inning

Raul Ibanez gets real quick . And the off-season acquistion is yet to produce. Here's Shane Victorino. HOLY SHIT!!!! UNDERTAKER JUST FLIPPED OVER THE TOP ROPE AND TOOK OUT MICHAELS, THE REFEREE, AND A CAMERAMAN!! 2-2 to Victorino and he sends it foul. Victorino strikes out. Meanwhile, Undertaker is still down and he is commanding the ref to count Taker out! Feliz is up for the Phillies. REF'S AT 8!.......9!!!!! AND TAKER MAKES IT BACK IN! AND THE STREAK IS ALIVE FOR NOW! Full count to Feliz. And Pedro Feliz strikes out. And it is still 4-0.

MICHAELS TRIES FOR SWEETCHIN MUSIC BUT TAKER CATCHES HIM AND GIVES HIM A HUGE CHOKESLAM!!! BUT MICHAELS KICKS OUT! AND MICHAELS TRIES FOR THE SWEET CHIN MUSIC AGAIN AND HE NAILS IT! TAKER KICKS OUT, THOUGH!

Taker tries for the last ride....NO! MICHAELS TURNS IT INTO THE SUNSET FLIP BUT TAKER CATCHES HIM AND GETS THE LAST RIDE AFTER ALL! AND HBK KICKS OUT AFTER THAT!!! WOW! I thought that was it!

Top of the Sixth Inning

WTF?!? Since when does Taker use a flying elbow? Meanwhile, Anderson gets a basehit to first. Francoeur grounds out but Anderson advances to 2nd.

MICHAELS TRIED TO SKIN THE CAT BUT TAKER CAUGHT HIM AND GAVE HIM A TOMBSTONE! AND MICHAELS KICKED OUT AFTER THAT!!!!!! UNBELIEVEABLE!

And somehow Anderson got to 3rd. I'll be honest, I am focusing way more on WM than this Phillies game. Make that 1st and 3rd. Must have walked.

Undertaker goes for the Tombstone again but Michaels counters into a DDT!!!

Runners on 1st and 3rd with 2 out for the Braves.

OH!!! FLYING ELBOW BY HBK!! Full count and I felt that that last one should have been strike 3. And he does strike him out!

SWEET CHIN MUSIC!!!! TAKER KICKS OUT AGAIN!!!!!!!!!!

MICHAELS GOES FOR THE MOONSAULT AND HE'S CAUGHT!!!! TOMBSTONE!!!! 3!!!! TAKER'S 17-0 AT WRESTLEMANIA!!!!!!!

Back to baseball full time. They are sure to follow this up with some stupid gimmick.

Bottom of the Sixth Inning

Greg Dobbs is up with one out.

"Charlie manages people." - Joe Morgan on Charlie Manuel

BRILLANT!!! Dobbs kills it but it's caught by Francoeur at right-center! Not enough. Rollins with a basehit up the middle! And that's their 2nd hit and 2nd base runner. No walks by Lowe thus far. 1-1 count to Werth. Now it's 2-2. Werth smacks one that's caught by Lowe and that's the end of the inning. Does the same score need repeating?

Top of the Seventh Inning

Ex-Giant Jack Taschner comes on in relief of Myers. 2-2 count to Kelly Johnson. Taschner gets Johnson to ground out. Escobar grounds to Utley who dishes to Howard for the ground out. Here's Chipper Jones at the plate with 2 out and nobody on. 2-1 count. Taschner gets it up to a full count. Struck him out. And Taschner looks impressive in his Phillies debut. Utley, Howard, and Ibanez are due up in the bottom of the seventh.

Bottom of the Seventh Inning

Utley launches one into centerfield and Schafer makes the catch. Here's Ryan Howard now. Nice stop by Escobar and that's 2 quick outs of Utley and Howard. Here's Ibanez now. He gets out and that's another quick inning.

Top of the Eighth Inning

Scott Eyre comes in for the Phils. He strikes his first batter out. Garret Anderson is at the plate for Atlanta. Ibanez brings in that pop up from Anderson. Commercial. Pitching change? I missed the reason but I'm almost positive the inning was not over. Once again, I was more so focused on WrestleMania (it's been a helluva lot more entertaining than this game, that's for sure). Durbin comes in and he strikes out Francoeur.

Bottom of the Eighth Inning

Let's see if the Phillies can get some sort of rally here. And John Cena is the new World Heavyweight Champion after FUing the Big Show, FUing Edge on the Big Show, and then pinning the Big Show. Seemed a bit anti-climatic for WrestleMania to me. Victorino gets out, I missed how (again, WM). 3-2 count and Feliz gets out. Another lackluster inning for the Phils offense. Still 4-0 Atlanta.

Top of the Ninth Inning

Brad Lidge comes in for the Phillies. I'm not sure why the Phils have him in in this game, but be that as it may.

"His success will buy him some time if he does blow a save." - Steve Phillips on Brad Lidge

Um, Steve, if it happens in Philadelphia, Brad Lidge will probably be one of the first people ever to be given a standing ovation for doing so. Schafer strikes out. Greg Norton is pinch hitting for Lowe. And he strikes out. Bottom of the ninth coming up, 4-0 Atlanta Braves.

Bottom of the Ninth Inning

Bruntlett comes in to pinch hit for Brad Lidge. Bruntlett drives one down the left field line for a lead off double! Here's Jimmy Rollins. 1-1 and the fans don't like that latest call; thought it was too much on the inside. Called strike 2. 1-2 to J-Roll. Rollins pops one deep to Francoeur. 1 down but that allowed Bruntlett to advance to 3rd. Strike 1 to Werth. 1-1 now. Base hit for Jayson Werth and Bruntless scores from 3rd! 4-1 Atlanta but Utley is up! Werth only got to 1st on the hit. 1st pitch is high to Chase Utley. He is 0 for 3 on the day. Count's now at 2-0. 3-0!!! That one was way outside. Strike called on the outside corner. 3-1 now. WALKED!! And Ryan Howard, the tying run, is at the plate! Ball 1. Howard chases one and boy, he was swinging for the fences on that one. 1-1. 2-1 with Ibanez on deck. Howard waves at a slider and it's 2-2. Just a tad bit low and if this were in Atlanta, the ump would be read the riot act. Full count now. AND HE GETS HIM WITH A FASTBALL DOWN THE MIDDLE! 2 down and on comes Ibanez. 1-1 to Ibanez. 2-1 now. Make that 3-1. And Ibanez chases one to make it a full count with the game on the line. Tying run at the plate. 2 on and 2 out. STRUCK HIM OUT AND THE BRAVES WIN! 4-1 Atlanta.

Well, no need to panic. The Phils lost their opener last year and look what happened. Once Lowe left in the ninth, the Phils really looked like they got some mojo back. Thanks for joining me. I'll be watching the end of WrestleMania 25.

I'll have the hanging of the banner once it gets posted on YouTube. Hopefully later tonight or tomorrow.

64 comments:

  1. Anyone can hit a home run in Philly. Aaron Rowand hit 30.

    (Sorry I am still mad at the Giants front office for signing another player not worth the money)

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  2. My roomate bought the Wrestlemania PPV. Do you want me to keep you updated?

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  3. I don't know how he's fared with the Giants, but he also made some really good defensive plays with the Phillies.

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  4. Yes, please! It's been a year since I watched wrestling, but I was on WWE.com earlier and I'm interested in what's going on right now.

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  5. So far at Wrestlemania 25:

    CM Punk won the Money in the Bank Ladder match

    Santina(Santino in drag) won the divas battle royal

    Also Kid Rock gave a crappy musical performance.

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  6. Which, of course, is nothing new for Kid Rock.

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  7. I saw Jon Miller this off-season in San Francisco. He is fine. He was on local radio and he said that he is fighting a cold right now.

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  8. That may explain a lot because he does not look and sound that good.

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  9. UPDATE: Chric Jericho defeated the wrestling legends (Steamboat, Piper, and Snuka).

    Then he called Mickey Rourke.

    Rourke joins Jericho in the ring and they start Boxing?

    Then Rourke knocks out Jericho. Then he hugs the Nature Boy Ric Flair.

    Pretty bizarre.

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  10. The Rourke, Jericho square up was just flat horrible.

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  11. And Myers is ready to explode in 3...2...1 BOOM OUTTA HERE!

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  12. I rarely enjoy it when WWE uses celebrities. It always seems so pointless and they do the most absurd and ridiculous things with them.

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  13. JFein, I will be honest. I hate Pedro Feliz. He's the only Phillies player I didn't want to see win a ring.

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  14. Let me guess.....he was not good as a Giant? ;-)

    Meanwhile, on ESPN, after trailing 11-0, Louisville now leads OU 37-36 in women's F4 action.

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  15. Matt Hardy vs. Jeff Hardy is a great match so far.

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  16. "Like a banging on a bass drun, Jeff is playing a tune."- Jerry Lawler

    Jeff Hardy hit Matt Hardy with a cane while a trash can was over Matt's head.

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  17. "Broken bodies, broken chairs, and broken tables."- Jerry Lawler

    "And a broken brotherhood."- Good Ole' JR

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  18. UPDATE: Matt Hardy beat Jeff Hardy in an Extreme Rules Match

    Matt gave Jeff a Twist of Fate while Jeff's head was in a chair. How he didn't break his neck, I will never know.

    Worth the watch after the Rourke disaster.

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  19. Both Hardy Boys tend to put on good shows. I may have to check out that match on YouTube (or DailyMotion).

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  20. UPDATE: Rey Mysterio beat JBL for the Intercontiental Championship.

    The match only lasted for 21 seconds.

    But it was a great 21 seconds. Pretty funny, actually.

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  21. I just found a stream for WM 25. And if the situation does not improve soon for the Phils, this may turn into a WM live blog...

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  22. JBL just quit. And the Houston fans are waving him goodbye.

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  23. Is Michaels-Undertaker next or is it just a premature promo?

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  24. Hopefully he'll go back into announcing. He was so funny in that role.

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  25. Ooh. A thriller on ESPN. 58-57 Louisville with 1:08 to go and Courtney "I Will Forefit My Scholarship" Paris and Big Ben's sister are on the verge of being eliminated.

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  26. You leave Courtney Paris alone. I loved her father when he played with the 49ers.

    BTW, is it just me or is Big Ben's sister kind of hot.

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  27. Courtney Paris can now say bye-bye to her scholarship.

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  28. She's kinda hot. Bummer that they lost, I was hoping to see her again. And of course, I just lost my stream before Michaels-Undertaker.

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  29. Yay, I found another good stream.

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  30. They have all the announcers turned on? Why? It gets too crowded and too annoying.

    /Just turned the volume up on the stream.

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  31. They have a weird set-up. They have both Cole and JR announcing at the same time along with Lawler.

    I wish they just got rid of Cole and just have JR and King.

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  32. Oh Crap, Michaels attempted a Moonsault and missed. I think he might have broke his wrist.

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  33. Wow, now Undertaker attempted an Suicide Dive and he hit the camera man instead of Michaels. Now Taker, Michaels, and the Ref are down.

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  34. Going for the count-out. And Taker beats the count

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  35. My roomate and I are just going crazy right now.

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  36. HOLY CRAP, THIS MATCH IS F'ING GREAT!!!!!!!!!!

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  37. 17-0 BABY!!!!!!!!!

    THIS HAS TO BE ONE OF THE GREATEST MATCHES I HAVE EVER SEEN.

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  38. No more gimmick matches.

    We get the Triple threat match between John Cena vs. Edge vs. Big Show right now.

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  39. Then again, maybe the next match is not a stupid gimmick. Edge vs. Big Show vs. Cena.

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  40. Lillian Garcia is looking good tonight.

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  41. Let me guess, you're not a Jack Taschner fan either? ;-)

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  42. Nope he sucks too. And typical Feliz he strikes out when there are baserunners.

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  43. Random thought, I love how WWE is building this as the "25th anniversary of WrestleMania" when in actuality that is not the case. It's WrestleMania 25, yes, but seeing as WrestleMania 2 would have been the first anniversary, this is technically the 24th. But somehow billing WM 26 as the "25th anniversary" would seem awkward for marketing, so I guess it makes sense, in a way.

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  44. This triple threat match is while not as good as the Taker, Michaels match, is pretty good.

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  45. Whoa, did something happen to Vickie Guerrero? I thought I saw her being carried out. I have not been paying attention to this match thus far.

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  46. Jack Tashner will dissapoint you more than make you happy. I don't know how many games he blew while in relief.

    You will hate him more than love him.

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  47. UPDATE: AND YOUR NEW WORLD HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPION JOHN CENA

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  48. WM 26 is in Glendale. University of Phoenix Stadium.

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  49. I was at WrestleMania 15 when it was in Philadelphia. Stone Cold and The Rock came in the stands and they literally came within inches from me at one point.

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  50. J.R. after having a drink tonight and the King commented about him being able to finish the broacast. "I'm not driving tonight!."

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  51. I was at the Royal Rumble in 98 in San Jose. Austin won the rumble and would go on to win the WWE Championship in Boston that year beating Shawn Michaels.

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  52. Damn you Stone Cold. Now I have get a Coors Light to drink.

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  53. Ran out of Crown and Coors Light is all what I have left. :-)

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  54. Main Event: Randy Orton vs. Triple H for the WWE Championship.

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  55. So does Ibanez suck for the WFC?

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  56. He went 0 for 4 and was the final out. His swinging at a 3-1 pitch on the outside of the plate was really what ended the game for them and he represented the tying run at the plate at the time as well.

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  57. UPDATE: Triple H beat Randy Orton. That is your last match of the night.

    All around good Wrestlemania. Not too many gimmicks and some really good matches.

    Now if your excuse me, I am going to watch the replay of Wrestlemania.

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  58. Damn, how did he win??? My stream died just as Orton was going for the sledge hammer!!!!!! What happened?? Fill me in! Fill me in!

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  59. Triple H hit Orton with the Sledge Hammer while the ref wasn't looking. Then he hit him a couple more times. Then finished him off with the Pedigree.

    Perty anticlimatic finish. But all around good match.

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