Shangri-La founder and Memphis booster Sherman Wilmott talking basketball smack with fancy California boy and Commercial Appeal music writer Bob Mehr. YouTube links galore.

“So now we’ll see what the next knock is.” That’s what CDR said yesterday after the game. From where I’m sitting that may be the mantra for this Tigers team. Keep it up national media because we want you to “knock” the Tigers to two more wins. Andre Allen said something a while back that still sticks out in my mind, “we’ll just have to kill everybody” when asked about the Tigers being respected. I think those two statements by those kids (and they are kids) tells me that no matter what the media may say this week the Tigers won’t feel fully vindicated until next Monday night.
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It's that time!  I've read a few of them already and it seems that EVERYONE is doing one this year.  It's WrestleMania recap time!  But this year, I'm going to do mine a little different.  I'm going to focus on all the great things about WrestleMania.  It's a little different because most guys want to talk about what's WRONG with it instead of what makes it as great as it is year in and year out.

So, without further ado... Here's the Five Starr Review!

-    The set and the arena looked awesome.  The only complaint was the rain.  How much more beautiful would it have been if it was sunny outside?  The entire feel of the show was awesome, as the show came on.

-     Opening match of the night was much better than I expected.  Finlay took a hideously great bump, as he dove from the ring to the floor.  JBL was ready for the dive and smacked Finlay right in the face with a trash can lid.  Awesome bump.  Best of the night, possibly.

-    Money in the Bank Ladder Match is a staple at WrestleMania now-a-days.  This year, the talent to me was a little on the lower card level.  But I'll tell ya this... Shelton Benjamin took a great bump through the ladder.  Unbeleivable.  Shelton will be a major star one day.  

-    Good to see Jericho taking the lead in this match.  It was almost obvious that he was the one who should've won.  But since he just had his run with Orton, it would be hard to do it all over again and draw money.  Memories of Benoit/Jericho came into my mind, as Jericho put the Walls of Jericho on Carlito atop the ladder.  (I think it was Carlito)

-    It's about damn time Kane is pushed as the dominating monster that he is!  But makes you wonder... why push Chavo for all those months only to have it end in a total squash?  Very odd booking.

-    Match of the night - Ric Flair and HBK.  I loved the way all their spots worked in a different way than they always have.  Flair getting caught on the top rope only to cut HBK off and land the crossbody.  Then, Flair caught Shawn on the top.  Low blows, figure fours, kicking out of Sweet Chin Music... very nice touches.  Ever notice how well Flair takes care of his opponents with his chops?  I never see Flair harm his opponent's chest with the chops.  Finish was great.  "I'm sorry... I love you" was a very nice touch.  HBK is the ultimate babyface.

-    Who would've thought that Snoop Dogg had a clothesline from hell?  

-    The King getting involved is always great, to me.  I love Santino, too.

-    Orton defends the title successfully.  Who can argue that?  Very nice touch to totally swerve the fans who thought Triple H would be back on top.  By the way, how many years in a row is it now that Triple H has had to lose at WrestleMania?  Five or six?  And the one time that he actually wins, you will all say, "Yeah, he went over because he's married to Stephanie."

-    Big Show and Mayweather... well, remember I'm going to be positive.  It was an interesting match.  Much better than I thought.  Didn't like the finish.  Mayweather earned respect from me because he sold like he should and didn't try to act like he was bigger than what he was.  Big Show wouldn't let him anyway.

-    Who can complain about the Undertaker's arrival to WrestleMania?  Who can complain about his exit?  His lighting, music and entrance is better than anyone's in the history of the sport.  Great to see Edge in the final Main Event of WrestleMania.  He's earned it.  Nice match from the two superstars.

I have read articles that say WrestleMania 24 has to rank among the top ten WrestleManias of all time.  I wouldn't go that far.  Now, if I was there, it probably would.  The atmosphere seemed electric.  The fireworks, the 73,000 people, Ric Flair's final match... I could see how this show would be amazing live.  But on television, it was as good as can be expected.  

No complaints on my part.  I can't wait to see the Four Horsemen reunion on RAW tonight! 

Here's your chance to hear the low-down on any wrestling story that you have wondered about!  Whether it's a Memphis Wrestling story or just a storyline story of how things came about.  Send that request through posting a comment on this blog!

If you'd like to hear a story that involved myself, request that.  If I was a part of a company that did something you always wondered about, ask me!  

What I want to do is tell you what you want to hear.  From my start at Power Pro Wrestling to my WWE and TNA matches a few years back.  I've always been asked about Memphis Wrestling... well, here's your chance to get your answers!

Want to know what I think about particular wrestlers?  I might even get into that a little bit.  Storylines and how they came about are always interesting.  People ask me on the streets all the time about them.  Here's the place I'll answer them.  

You, the readers, pick the topics!  Ready, set, GO! 

…more Jack White news:

The Raconteurs — regular customers at Ardent Studios — are headed out on the road (with the Black Lips!) for a spring tour supporting their new album. No Memphis date, however — to see the Raconteurs live, you’ll have to head down to New Orleans for Jazz Fest, or to East Tennessee for Bonnaroo.

OK, I’ll admit to watching the audition tapes — but I haven’t tuned in since they determined the final contestants. Just got a memo, though, that this week, the kids are taking on the songs of Dolly Parton. The folks at Idolator are convinced that David Cook is gonna attempt the White Stripes’ version of “Jolene.” May have to tune into Fox for the trainwreck… and footage of one of my favorite living country stars. Now who can help me get my hands on this super-sweet Dolly Parton pinball machine?

We’ve already celebrated what would’ve been Sam Cooke’s 77th birthday this year. But that’s not going to stop the Sam Cooke fan club from staging their fifth annual Sam Cooke Tribute in Memphis this weekend.

Reports CA music editor Bob Mehr:

On Friday, the Cooke fan club will be chartering a bus to travel to his Clarksdale, Miss., birthplace, where the inaugural place on the town’s new Walk of Fame will be dedicated to Cooke’s memory as part of statewide “Sam Cooke Day.” The event will be followed by a lunch at the Ground Zero Blues Club, an educational panel on Cooke’s life, as well as a tour of the city. Tickets are available for the entire package and cost $50 each.

The day will be capped with a “Tennessee Waltz” party that will take place back in Memphis at the Doubletree; tickets for that event cost $20.

On Friday evening, the fan club has scheduled its annual tribute dinner and show in the main ballroom of the Doubletree. Erik Greene, Cooke’s great-nephew and author of the book “Our Uncle Sam: The Sam Cooke Story from His Family’s Perspective” — who will be part of the Clarksdale panel — will also be speaking at the gala. Tickets for the dinner are $80 per person.

For more information, or to buy tickets, log on to the fan club Web site at samcookefanclub.com or call (818) 335-6809.