Bleacher Report - Articles by Jared Barnes

The Death of Shelton Benjamin's Career and Its Journey to the Grave

Jared Barnes — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 03:07:15 -0400

My title probably led you into this article thinking I hated Shelton Benjamin. Or maybe you came in here wondering what is this idiot talking about.

Shelton Benjamin is one of my favorite WWE superstars. He's athletic and always does something new and fresh. But this is not about that. This is about the death of one of our favorite WWE gladiators.

Once the gold standard lost is United States championship he basically became the put-over machine. He had a short and nice little feud with John Morrison and JoMo got the better of Shelton.

Shelton than spent some time with his old tag partner and proceeded to job to other tag teams. The gold standard quickly became the bronze tarnish as he jobbed to R-Truth.

That's not all. He has now been traded to the new WWE graveyard ECW. ECW was pillaged like our ear drums when having to listen to a Diplomats album.

And because they were so badly abused in the draft they lost every single star they had except for the man who has more peeps than the rest of us.

Safe to assume Shelton's career in the WWE is over? I hope not, but how is one to think otherwise?

Shelton has been a jobber for months now and goes to the brand Vince could care less about. The brand that once (until yesterday) had so much promise and was putting on solid weekly shows is now a who's who of lame gimmicks and wrestlers.

Is the Gold Standard going to enjoy a championship feud and become the ECW Champion? Which from what I can tell and have heard is nothing more than the European championship and is of less value than the US title.

ECW is supposed to be the stepping stone for new WWE talent (Bourne, Swagger) who then move on to bigger and better things (Bourne, Swagger) and also a place to bury your talent you have no use for anymore.

I think Shelton's career may be over in the WWE. I guess mic skills are all that matter in this day and age. Guys who can't perform one single move like the Great Khali get put on PPV's while Shelton is wasted.

I may be jumping the gun. But I don't see the light. I think Shelton's career has been buried. I am forever sad about seeing one of my favorites treated like this.

RIP Shelton Benjamin.

The Four Superstars That Keep the WWE a Great Experience

Jared Barnes — Thu, 16 Apr 2009 22:42:58 -0400

I have written just one article for the wrestling section because I have not had much to say with what has been going on in the WWE.

I don't want to write a gloomy forecast for our beloved World Wrestling Entertainment or dismiss all of its current inner workings. Nor shall I say I am tired of the insipid weekly broadcasts.

What good would this do me or you?

You see instead, I will highlight four WWE superstars who make the WWE something to watch week in and week out. Because of these four workers I sit and watch all three shows every week.

There is more than these four, but these are the few who excite me and probably some of you the most.

I take all things into account. On-screen persona and in-ring ability being the front runners for a successful performer. I like innovation and creative counters and seeing new things.

Let's begin.

Jack Swagger

I have yet to see the "All-American American" look bad in the ring. He can make boring performers look interesting. He mixes it up with every match. On Raw, this past week he took on John Cena who for all his charisma, flat lines in the ring.

Sure the little kids who rock their various Cena shirts mark out hard to him. And let's be honest the reason why the WWE gives so much air time to the likes of Cena and HHH is because the tikes in the audience will get their parents to buy them a plethora of wrestling-related products. That's at least the only conclusion I have come to.

Swagger and Cena put on a great match on Raw. It was the best match I had seen on Monday night for some time. I nearly flat lined, myself because of this great match that involved the most used and overrated WWE performer.

The match was great because of how well Swagger and Cena worked together. Swagger works every match the same with his counterpart. He just knows how to put on a great match no matter who the WWE puts in front of him.

Swagger also has a nice heel whiny appeal to him. He's so cocky which works great in any heel but becomes a baby when someone like Hornswoggle bother him. Not many heels win matches without the use of dirty tactics.

Jack plays fair ball for the most part. It is a breathe of fresh air to have the heel perform at a high enough level to not have to force his wins.

I have a high hope for "Swagga" and optimism that he continues down this well crafted path the WWE has built for him.

"The Gold Standard" Shelton Benjamin

The only other article I have written for this section was about Shelton. I love this guy. I could care less about most naysayers talking about his mic skills. How can one develop mic skills without a mic?

He is a rare talent.

Mic skills can be taught about as easily as a teen can create drama in their lives. It just takes a little effort. You ever notice how celebrities go onto talk shows and 95% of the time are interesting and have plenty to say? How well they speak?

This is because they have been taught. If 95 percent of them can learn how to approach a mic, then so can Shelton. Back him up with a good writer and the little gold stamped embryo becomes a full fledged super star.

Shelton's true color is fully bright when in the ring. He unlike Swagger can't carry anyone and needs to have a partner who can walk first. But so do almost anyone on the roster. Any MITB match proves how crazy this guy can be.

On Smackdown a few months ago, he and Undertaker put on some great matches. Taker is a much older and slower guy, but the two brought out the best in one another.

I fear Shelton may never reach gold, but here is to a pipe dream.

John Morrison

John is currently the most innovative wrestler on the WWE roster. He never puts on a dull show and is just fun to watch. He is every bit as athletic as he is charismatic.

This past week on ECW his spot as my favorite wrestler was cemented as he took on Evan Bourne. The match was so great it had an air of PPV on it. If only they could feud and continue what they started.

Miz in a lot of people's eyes is a lame duck. But Miz is just made to look worse because he was partnered with someone who was so much better.

The dirt sheet proved that Morrison is funny. The Rock was great on the mic because he could make us laugh. John Cena is good on the mic because he can make us laugh. John Morrison is in between the two of them.

Cocky is good to have in any heel, and John Morrison plays it well with his slow-motion hair blowing in the wind to him talking so often about his abs which look like a turtles carapace.

John has the athletic ability of a young HBK and the looks the WWE covet. I could ask any of you if you dislike the guy but how could you? He goes on an puts on a show every time and gives the fans what they want to see.

I think we can all agree this guy is going places and will be in the title hunt sooner than later. I doubt J Mo will be waiting around like Shelton has for so long. Breaking up MnM2 is a step in the right direction.

Maryse

Who saw this one coming?

You see I love Maryse. I think with the exception of maybe Randy Orton no one plays their character as well as Maryse. I often wonder if this girl really is as stuck up as she plays. I know she isn't, but she is so good at it. With every hair flip or hand swing I fall more in love with her.

Is the point of the divas not to love them as well as be entertained by them?

Maryse does that. She is beautiful and talented.

Most divas matches are a bit hard to watch because of how poorly moves are executed or performed. And although Maryse isn't the most gifted in ring diva she keeps things interesting. I have seen her do a new move in almost every match.

So much so I hope to see them again. Her hair flip ddt on Malina a month back on Raw was great and has been used since to great results.

Her French TKO is the best diva finisher in my opinion. Like HBK's sweet chin music it is believable enough to me to actually be capable of knocking someone out.

Her mic skills are at their worst funny. She makes me laugh every time because of her boastfulness. And who doesn't love a woman with an accent?

Vince and WWE brass are very high on Maryse I have read and I could not be more happy. She is about to get into a feud with Beth. I for once am looking forward to a diva story line.

Phew, seemed to get away from me a little there. Hope you are still reading. Comments very welcomed. Thanks for reading.

Acme Is More Explosive Than The Bears Offense Without a Wide Receiver

Jared Barnes — Thu, 05 Mar 2009 18:43:19 -0500

How can one of us expect to see a mediocre quarterback succeed when he has no one to throw to?

Most quarterbacks need a reliable target(s) to be successful. The Chicago Bears have been just as bad at the wide receiver position for as long as it has at quarterback.

You take an average quarterback and give him a small window to throw into and guess what happens? The ball bounces off outside and makes it into that window very few times. Make that window run with one or two walls trying to knock that ball away and things become much more difficult.

Kyle Orton is mediocre.

Devin Hester as a number one wideout? Mediocre.

Devin Hester can run, and he can burn defenders on deep streaks quite easily it seems. The problem is Orton can't throw it that far. The passes always end up behind Hester like a duck shot from the sky (as I said in some reply the other day).

Hester needs to improve in all the other areas of his game to become a reliable source in which Orton can throw to with confidence.

The Bears have two good tight ends but Greg Olsen still hasn't even come close to hitting his stride.

The rest of the Bears wide receivers are a hodge podge of failures. Lovie Smith and gang would like for us to think that Earl Bennett is the next great thing. Maybe, but was it not Bennett who was buried on the weakest wide receiver depth chart in the NFL?

Rashied Davis has proven nothing. The few other names floating around the Bears roster most of us have never seen play a down of football in the pros.

My point is, the Bears need to roll up their sleeves and get to work on either signing a free agent receiver who can start opposite Hester or use the 18th pick to draft one.

I am a true believer in drafting from the inside out. But the Bears defense is in far greater shape than the offense. The Bears O-Line is a bit weak but still holding up and not nearly as much a concern as the receiver position. And Kyle Orton is not great but not as bad as who he has to throw to.

I would be happy with the drafting of a lineman, the next great corner, or whatever else may be on your mind.

But would it not be nice to see a true No. 1 wide receiver? The Bears could strike out again and draft another cocky lame duck like David Terrell. But you can't move forward without taking chances in this league.

Kyle Orton needs some sort of help. He needs a big body to throw to. Hester will be great as a playmaker on offense like he was as a returner. But he is not a No. 1. He is a No. 2 or slot sort of guy. And Devin Hester is my favorite player. But let's be real about him. But by all means, Devin, prove me wrong, I would love to see nothing more.

I can't tell you which draftee would be the best fit for the Bears because I hardly watch college football. You, the reader, can probably tell me. I know Percy Harvin would be the worst choice, seeing as his skill set is similar to that of Hester's. I like Darrius Heyward-Bey but that is a bias since I am a Maryland fan. Plus he's a burner, and Orton can't get the ball that deep. This is why losing Bernard Berrian to the Vikings was no big deal last off-season.

What name would you like to hear the Bears call on draft day? Would you rather draft a receiver in the second round? Sign a free agent? Give me your sage advice, dear reader.

I just know that the Bears can never hope to achieve more than a pipe bomb that doesn't work type of explosive offense if they don't do something to the receiver spot. Even Wile E Coyote wouldn't use the Bears.

Ain't No Stopping Me, NOOO! (The Gold Standard Edition)

Jared Barnes — Wed, 28 Jan 2009 16:52:47 -0500

This will be my introduction article to the wrestling section. So shall we start?

I have been wondering what or who I could write about in terms of the WWE. I have plenty of things I like and dislike since I found myself watching it every week again (I go in spurts of watching and not watching).

One problem I have is the lack of change. I went years without paying much attention to the WWE except checking out the divas who are always nice to look at (Maryse :D). Since my return to being apart of its viewer ship the same top guys are still the top guys. Why?

I can't be the only one sick of seeing nice guy and suck up to the crowd John Cena as the main man on Raw. The guy is always the champ except for a few months while being injured. He plays up to the crowd unlike anyone I have ever seen. Jesus John they like you, quit trying so hard.

HHH is a bore. I love when he's with HBK because he is funny but his matches are mash up of tired and boring. His matches are like watching my goldfish bang his head up against the bowl, he has drinking issues.

I am glad to see Randy Orton back in the main spotlight and being the main draw for Raw. But what about Smackdown?

I like Edge as much as the next guy. I like Jeff Hardy's ability to take bumps no one else will take. I like these guys, I really do. But Jeff has some serious trouble with acting and like I told Shane he is about as talented at acting as your average porn star. He really is that bad. He makes things seem about as "real" as the tombstone actually hurting someone.

But we have all seen those feuds done to death, and without the ladders and tables it doesn't have the same luster to me. So why not add a new guy into the mix. A guy who has been in the WWE since 2002 and has been doing great things the whole time. A guy who has proven he can hang with the best and put on terrific matches.

Shelton Benjamin

Shelton Benjamin is great. I am no fan of the Undertaker and feel like he puts on some really boring matches unless he has someone opposite him to quicken the pace.

Shelton has easily made the two recent Undertaker matches great. Taker looks like a different guy out there with Benjamin. The gold standard has the the best of both worlds. He's strong and fast. When JR talks about him being the best athlete in the WWE he isn't just filling out heads with nonsense like he normally does, he is speaking truth.

Benjamin also has a good gimmick as the cocky gold standard. He always puts on great matches. I wish he had more time to put on better ones though, like on a PPV.

I know most of you can agree, right?

His mic skills may not be on par with Edge but either are the Hardy's and they have been champions. United States championship is OK, sure. But don't we want to see more from this guy?

Shane said he would have liked to see Shelton win the royal rumble, I couldn't agree more. It would have shocked everyone and been a great new feud between two of the WWE's best. Two quick athletes in the ring putting on a great match, rather than slow guys with four moves.

I guess we can still hope he finally wins money in the bank.

The four guys matches I never fast forward through on my DVR are ones involving Benjamin, Morrison, HBK, and Kofi. What do all four have in common?

All put on great matches, give us something new every time, and are fast. Out with the slow and in with the speed.

Hope you enjoyed this little whatever article.

Shelton in 2009...

Chicago Bears Won't Draft a QB (My Introduction to the Site)

Jared Barnes — Tue, 20 Jan 2009 17:43:19 -0500

Let me first say hello to everyone. This is my first article on the site, and I am glad I found this place. So here we go....

Some may argue the Bears need to go QB with the first pick in this upcoming draft. But do any us really feel there is a QB worth taking with the first pick (no)?

Do any of us find Jerry Angelo to be good at drafting playmakers on offence (no!, Forte was someone else's choice, I suppose)? Do any of us think after a decent year they will replace Kyle Orton after they didn't replace a much worse Rex Grossman after years of failure (no)?

In 2008, we got Matt Forte who was who I hoped we would draft and he did great despite being a workhorse and slipping near mid season. He's good for years to come. We also picked up Chris Williams who should be fine with time.

I believe in building a team in the trenches rather than building it around big name "playmakers" like the Lions did (thus their ultimate collapse).

A great team built on both lines makes everyone behind them look great(the Texans have drafted great IMO). A poorly constructed line (on either side) made out of Popsicle sticks will make even the greatest look bad. Despite this fact, I feel the Bears have enough pieces on both lines to for go drafting a linemen in the first round.

I think the Bears greatest weakness is at WR. The Bears have one guy who scares opposing teams defences, Devin Hester. Hester is not an every down WR though, he's a slot WR and a deep threat.

Sadly, Kyle Orton has the worse deep ball in the NFL, and it makes Hester's speed useless. Hester will be great at the position one day, but not yet. He needs help. Receivers are historically poor in their rookie seasons so this may not be a quick fix like Bears fans hope for.

I would even say we could skip drafting a WR if the Bears address is via free agency. I would like to see this but I won't rely on the Bears doing anything in free agency which they normally don't. I am far from an expert on college players and who will translate well into the league (although I am good at predicting QB's) so the WR of choice you the reader can choose.

Drafting a receiver is a dangerous game though, I mean look how Mark Bradley and DT turned out. Berrian was the only decent one and he was over paid by the Vikings.

Kyle Orton needs some help and right now he's got a deep threat who he can't get the ball to, a TE who is turning into something, a RB who can't carry the whole team on his back, and a who's who of receivers no team wants.

The Line is not great but good enough at this point, although I wouldn't mind an upgrade.

Angelo loves to draft defense so I am sure he will yet again. He thinks building on defense year in and year out will some how make up for an almost weaponless offence but, he's the GM not me.

The point of this article, which may seem to be scatterbrained (which is Ma Bad), is the Bears need to draft a WR, or sign one in free agency, and not some underachiever like Lloyd, I mean a stud like Boldin.

Discuss.