THE CUBS FAN MAKES EVERYTHING PERFECTLY CLEAR

The Cubs Fan is no stranger to controversy. He may possibly be a megalomaniac that has no equal within a 47-mile radius. He believes in the integrity of all things lucha libre. Lourdes Grobet, eat your heart out. An avid critic of many things, he may either be skiing in Aspen, reciting Crosby, Stills and Nash songs between cups of tea or reminding everyone that he is an unpredictable madman. And that suits him well. The link's on the left corner so click on it repeatedly.

Testicles Chowdhury: Cubs, the world wants you to give a clear description of the lucha libre scene. Please make everything perfectly clear to the masses.
The Cubs Fan: AAA generally has worse wrestlers, but it's not for the lack of effort or creativity. CMLL has more capable guys, but often is fine just skating by at less than their potential. Indies vary from place to place and moment to moment.
TC: Where does El Apache rank on the list of capable luchadors? Does Emilio Charles pale in comparison?
TCF: El Apache is high up the list; AAA's filled with people who have one particular skill - they can do a bunch of flying or they've got a look or whatever - and Apache's the kinda guy that can fill in the missing pieces. Emilo's not on that level now and he wasn't really ever well rounded.
TC: Is Volador Jr. the true luchador for ignorant Americans to watch out for instead of Mistico?
TCF: It depends on how ignorant you are!
TCF: If you haven't seen Mistico, you need to see Mistico. But at some point, he stopped getting better and was content being what he was, and Volador - since he's not at the top yet - is still improving, past him a bit.
TC: But he's not Ultimo Guerrero?
TCF: No, he's not at that level. That's a tough level for anyone to be at - sometimes Ultimo Guerrero isn't even at Ultimo Guerrero level.
TC: I think he'll eventually be an American regular someday. It's always a possibility. But Santo Jr. didn't. I think it's just my eagerness. As long as he's not wrestling in ROH. Instead, put him in IWA-Mid South against Nate Webb for an hour.
TCF: I've always heard that ROH isn't high on lucha. But I'm kinda surprised more lucha guys don't show up fringe indy promotions - I'd think it's travel costs, but maybe it's just that Mexican wrestling is such a disconnected world from the US that no one has connections.
TC: Super Porky is getting US bookings, but Hector Garza can't. It's amazing.
TCF: I don't think Super Porky will be arrested with steroids. But there, that's the connections - the NWA Pro guys are the ones who used to be at the NJPW-Inoki Dojo, who've had guys work for in Mexico for CMLL. Just like there's not many Mexicans working in the US, there's not many US guys working in Mexico regualrly.
TC: It's really sad that Mark Jindrak is the best that CMLL can find to play an angry Italian. Like Disco Inferno, Tracy Smothers or a sleazy XPW dude couldn't play the role better.
TCF: If Disco or Tracy worked on Velocity, they would've had the gig. It was hilarious for a while how Ultimo Dragon was bringing in fellow ex-WWE guys who he'd worked with on B-Shows. I think Corelone was just the easiest ex-WWE tall guy they could find and even then, they must've not thought it was going to be long term, because it him months to stop wearing tights that said "Mark Jindrak". If you're Chuck Palumbo, and you're still in dark matches when you're not in developmental and the guy who filled in for you is now a lead heel, you probably are questioning your decision to go back to WWE.
TC: Your devoted followers want to know your thoughts on the death of Anna Nicole Smith.
TCF: I think the media cares far more about it than everyone else does. Certianly more than I do. She's got more attention in death than she probably would've the rest of her life, and that's what she was going for, so good for her.
TC: She never did play for the Cubs.
TCF: Or sing the seventh inning stretch. There was a point where they were letting the Billy Blanks of the world do it, so it's too bad she missed out.
TCF: They'd be able replay it again, with somber music underneath. It'd be great.
TC: I'd be more upset if Violencia died.
TCF: I'd be more upset if Rayo de Jalisco Jr. died.
TC: We all would.
TC: What do you think about the Cubs' chances to become relevant this season?
TCF: Pretty good, but only because it's not hard to become relevant in the NL. Maybe the Mets are really good team, but no one else looks that way. It seems like another year where 85 wins will be enough to keep you in a race at least to the last week of the year, and the Cubs have spent to get at least that much.
TCF: If the Cubs were in the AL, I'd give them less of a chance than Toronto.
TC: In their respective eras, was Wally Whitehurst a better pitcher than Bill Pulsipher?
TCF: I'm not an expert on Mets prospects who never lived up to their hype, but at least Whitehurst had a couple of seasons where he was slightly above average, even if his record didn't show it.
TC: Does Frank Viola's legacy stand the test of time?
TCF: Yea, he's still awesome in RBI Baseball.
TC: How will history look back on the career of Jeff Kent?
TCF: The car wash/motorcycle story, fighting with Barry Bonds, all the personality things first. I think they'll also see a Hall of Fame career, but he might be one of those guys who gets stuck on the ballot forever.
TC: Also with everything going on in this steroid era, you may have to question everything before you start praising a guy. Kent may be the next Jim Rice.
TCF: By the time Kent gets on the ballot, almost everyone he'll be competting against will have the steroid questions, so either they'll have gotten over it, or they'll be voting in no one. But yea, I can see the Jim Rice comparisions - there are people who are going to vote for him because he was very often the best offensive player at his position, and there will be plenty who don't because he was very rarely the best player in his league.
TC: Thanks for setting the record straight, Cubs.
TCF: No problem!

Oh yeah, like you didn't know: The Cubs Fan has a CMLL blog at www.thecubsfan.com/cmll.