Biggest leg drop ever (DVLH Luke Hadley)

24 May 2008 at 4:01am  Biggest leg drop ever (DVLH Luke Hadley)

8 sec - May 24, 2008

Luke Hadley Classic DVLH wrestling http://www.lukehadley.com Backyard wrestling is a title applied to home filmed and produced professional wrestling shows, videos, or events carried out by untrained athletes, mostly comprised of American males between the ages of 16 and 30. In the years since its formation, Backyard wrestling has developed into an underground scene, where federations often produce, trade and distribute their videos via Internet, and other wrestling publications. Though backyard wrestling was not unheard of prior to the 1990s, the modern backyard wrestling "craze" lasted from roughly 1996 to 2001, during a time when televised professional wrestling was enjoying a period of unparalleled popularity. Many of those who practice it embrace a style that emphasizes risky high spots (which can involve diving or taking bumps from rooftops or ladders) and the liberal use of weapons in matches. These may include thumbtacks, barbed wire, tables, plywood, fire, glass, and fluorescent lamps. Even among participants who shy away from this, there still is a considerable level of inherent risk involved. Many professional wrestling holds require extensive training to perform correctly and safely, which few backyard wrestlers have received. These and other concerns are at the heart of the controversy surrounding the practice. Backyard wrestling is so-called because it is often literally performed in yards, though most any location can host a backyard wrestling match, including parks, garages, playgrounds, vacant lots, warehouses, barns, and school gyms. It is common for backyard professional wrestling promotions, or "feds," to construct their own homemade wrestling rings. Wrestling on trampolines is also common, which allows for visually impressive moves to be performed with a minimal risk of injury. Others opt to simply perform matches on the bare ground which, in most cases, is more dangerous than performing in home-made rings. Backyard wrestling promotions can be highly organized, and many tape their shows and maintain websites where media is available for download. The internet proved instrumental in popularizing backyard wrestling during its initial boom period. In its history, backyard wrestling has changed significantly in terms of its professionalism, safety provisions, popularity, and hardcore style. Backyard wrestling tends to follow the trends of professional wrestling and changes in accordance with what are the fads and trends in the major promotions such as World Wrestling Entertainment or Total Nonstop Action Wrestling. Although backyard wrestling has been often associated with a Mick Foley home video in which Foley jumps off the roof of a house onto his opponent who is lying on a pile of mattresses, backyard wrestling most likely began in the 1950s emulating such stars as Gorgeous George, and later Bruno Sammartino, and Superstar Billy Graham [citation needed]. The earliest listed "official" backyarder is Shawn "Crusher" Crossen who wrestled from March 1984 until early 1990 in his own promotion known as NWF Kids Pro Wrestling.[1]Twin Cities based promoter and trainer Eddie Sharkey actually co-promoted a sold-out wrestling event that featured matches from both Pro Wrestling America (PWA) and NWF Kids Pro Wrestling at the American Legion Hall in Champlin, MN back on November 1986. [2] . In August of 1997 the now defunct CWF a backyard promotion originating from Vallejo, California began filming the television show CWF Devastation. "Devastation" aired between 1997-2000 on California public access stations, and has often been cited as the inspiration for the legendary West Coast backyard movement of the late 1990's Backyard wrestling became infamous for its out-of-control and unregulated dangerous stunts. Many people, most commonly male teenagers, frequently risked their lives in attempted dives, jumps, falls, and bumps. Many others would use sharp and harmful weapons, performing matches with flaming tables, barbed wire, lighttubes, thumbtacks and sharp metal tools such as cheese graters. While these violent practices carry a more extensive legacy in Japanese wrestling promotions such as Frontier Martial Arts Wrestling, many attribute their stateside popularity to the rise of Extreme Championship Wrestling and wrestlers like New Jack, Tommy Dreamer, and the Sandman. These activities, which were also closely linked to the reckless nature of other teen-centered shows such as Jackass, were part of the "hardcore" phase of American professional wrestling, ushered in by the extreme style of promotions such as ECW, Xtreme Pro Wrestling, and Combat Zone Wrestling. However, when these promotions closed and/or toned down their extreme nature, backyard wrestling followed suit, leading to less dangerous activity. Because of this, the heavy bleeding and use of dangerous weaponry in backyard wrestling has now faded from popularity. The "backyard wrestling craze," as it was, began to slow down between 1999 and 2000 . Increased media attention[4] and reforms within the professional wrestling promotions themselves led to a generally unpopular view of wrestling and unprofessional stunts, leading to a decline in the popularity of backyard wrestling. This did not, however, lead to a total abolishment, as several popular internet wrestling communities still feature active message boards dedicated to the practice of backyard wrestling. Independent circuit After 2000, many individuals changed and realized that the dangerous stunts they were doing had grave consequences. The internet and television[5] was more supportive in that it led to the distribution of information on professional wrestling which helped many individuals discover the proper way to perform certain moves, for example. More professional wrestling schools and small independent wrestling promotions formed at this time as well, accepting particularly skilled backyard wrestlers. As a result, more of the younger independent wrestlers admit to having backyard wrestling experience, some claiming it is a hobby that they pursue while performing professionally. This does not reflect the majority of professional wrestlers, however, as backyard wrestling is often drastically different from that shown on television. Nonetheless, some independent wrestlers claim they continue backyarding because, whereas wrestling professionally means being told how, who, and where to wrestle by a booker or promoter, backyarders are their own bookers and promoters and can enjoy the freedom of wrestling their friends however they like for their own recreation. However, training in a "backyard wrestling environment" is often frowned upon by professionals, and the sport has a strongly negative connotation. Controversy Many backyard wrestlers cite Mick Foley as their inspiration, as a video of Foley's backyard wrestling exploits with his friends in college gained widespread attention after portions of it were shown on WWF television which glorified it as his entrance into the company. However, Foley himself discourages the practice of backyard wrestling. While he made a career by distributing a video of himself doing dangerous stunts such as jumping off a rooftop onto a mattress, he downplays what he did and says it is too dangerous. In his book Foley Is Good, Mick Foley recalls an instance where he was interviewed for a television piece about the growing trend for backyard wrestling. He claims that comments he made having viewed footage of a legitimate professional hardcore match were deliberately misrepresented and applied by the production company to a backyard vignette. Some professional wrestlers and most, if not all, professional wrestling promotions discourage backyard wrestling in public comments, because it involves legal risk to the promotions in the form of lawsuits by individuals. Several lawsuits have been brought against wrestling promotions, most prominently WWE, alleging that people have caused serious injury to others by imitating professional wrestling moves they saw on TV. As a result of this pressure, WWE now features prominent disclaimers during its programming which urges fans, "Don't try this at home." Some professional wrestlers have admitted to practicing it themselves during their younger years. Those who have done so include the Hardy Boyz and Shannon Moore, among others. While many backyard wrestlers believe that backyard wrestling is good preparation for future exploits in professional wrestling given Mick Foley's career, prominent wrestling school operators have often stated their disdain for the practice. Harley Race, in particular, has said "I absolutely hate it" and "It's just absolute stupidity." One book that supports these matches is Backyard Empire, a backyard wrestling novel inspired by a true story. It argues that many of its backyard wrestlers used their local show as a springboard to become professionals.[7] Another book about backyard wrestling is Wrestling in the Backyard by "Maniac" Mike Elias. Other backyard organizations attempted more impromptu or "real" formats. The A.W.F., The American Wrestling Federation, founded in 1987 by Anthony Tech and Tim Balderramos, reportedly did not have predetermined high spots or booked endings in their early years, even though they employed a standard professional wrestling format. The A.W.F. later attempted a style called "Freestyle-Professional" in the early 2000's, which used a scoring system and a five-minute period like what is seen in Olympic wrestling while allowing limited pro wrestling maneuvers like body slams (for takedown points) as well as submission holds. While decidedly safer and more challenging for the participant, it proved too boring for the spectator. The change in format is cited by some as the cause for the A.W.F. ceasing active operations in 2005. Media attention In the earliest recorded media coverage from 1984 and 1985 that covered Backyard wrestling, the message and stories being told were nothing short of "positive" from well respected news outlets such as the Minneapolis StarTibune and KSTP Eyewitness News.[8][9] Between the 1980s and 1990s, the style of Backyard wrestling evolved to a much more violent form, focussing more on the "high risk" maneuvers and "dangerous" stunts which triggered a much different view from the media. Backyard wrestling, and its forefather, professional wrestling, both reached greater popularity during the late 1990s and were the subject of disdain from the media.[10][11] It was a frequent topic for documentaries and televised news programs, often serving as an indication that the MTV Generation, as it had been dubbed, was among the most reckless, least guided, and most immoral of all teen generations. Although the implications of backyard wrestling on teen culture and on society as a whole compose a far more complicated debate, most media attention (and adults) in the United States feared that backyard wrestling was a degradation of society and of youth. However, since the loss in mainstream popularity of professional wrestling, media interest surrounding backyard wrestling has calmed down. Videos Backyard wrestling videos are produced by the wrestlers of the federation. They are readily available on the internet at any website, and some federations have ordering information about VHS and DVD copies of their matches and exploits. These videos are commonly filmed on camcorders with the cameraman occasionally providing the commentary on the matches. On the internet, most times the matches are shown in montage clips with heavy metal music in the background. There is also a Documentary called The Backyard about backyard wrestling featuring Rob Van Dam. No-Rope Barbed Wire match with Terry Funk One of Sabu's most infamous matches was the No-Rope Barbed-Wire match with Terry Funk at Born To Be Wired, a match which was promoted as being "too extreme even for ECW" - and with good reason: both men bled profusely. In one of the most memorable moments in ECW history, Sabu attempted the "Air Sabu" corner splash on Terry Funk. Funk moved and Sabu ended up colliding violently into the wire which tore open his biceps. He then asked his manager Bill Alfonso for some tape and after Alfonso went to get some Sabu began to tape the gash up, which was about twelve inches long. To this day, Terry Funk has stated that he has never seen anything like what Sabu did that night. The match ended with both men so badly tangled up together in the barbed wire that it took several ring technicians armed with wire cutters to free them from the predicament (on the DVD Bloodsport ECW: The Most Extreme Matches released by World Wrestling Entertainment, Paul Heyman said that the match was "so gruesome, I never ever dared to schedule another one like it", and that they never had another Barbed-Wire match in ECW because "no one could top that one -- and in good conscience, I never wanted anyone to try."). Injuries Sabu racked up an astounding catalogue of injuries during his ECW tenure, including broken ribs, broken jaw, and most infamously, breaking his neck twice (the first time was during a match with Chris Benoit on November 5, 1994 in which communication problems appeared to be to blame as Benoit lifted Sabu over for a flapjack, but Sabu assumed Benoit was going for a back body drop. This caused Sabu to land directly on his head; the other was during a match against Taz in December 1998, when Sabu took a Tazplex through a table and landed wrong). Sabu was able to recover from the neck injuries and return to wrestling, and he even wore a neck brace in his return match in the United States a month following the injury at Taz's hands; by Sabu's account, however, he started actively wrestling in Japan on a short tour a little over two weeks after that injury. Mainstream exposure In October 1993, Sabu contested in two WWF matches. He defeated Scott Taylor in a dark match before the October 18 Monday Night Raw tapings in Poughkeepsie, NY. The following night he was defeated by Owen Hart in Glens Falls, NY. Sabu did get some more mainstream exposure in the year 1995. He debuted in World Championship Wrestling on September the 11th of that year for the WCW Monday Nitro program by picking up a victory over Alex Wright, only for it to be reversed by Referee Nick Patrick, following Sabu's behavior after the match (he put Alex Wright through a table outside the ring). He would then pick up two consecutive victories over Mr. JL (Jerry Lynn) on October 9 (on Nitro) and at WCW Halloween Havoc 1995. WCW did not like his violent style and unwillingness to lose a match, and thus did not offer Sabu a long-term contract. As a result, his last appearance in WCW was on the October 30 episode of Monday Nitro, defeating Disco Inferno in under two minutes. Following the match, Sabu threw a table at Inferno and was preparing to put Disco through it with a somersault over the top rope, but Disco moved off the table and Sabu landed on his back. Sabu was the first wrestler to dive off the entrance sign during an episode of WWF RAW on February 24, 1997, while WWE and ECW were cross-promoting. He had actually lost his balance before diving off, but managed to reposition himself in mid-air to land on Team Taz. In addition, Sabu was featured in the Playstation Video game WCW vs. the World later on in the same year, under the pseudonym David Harley. WCW signed Sabu to a contract in 2000, but legal action threatened by ECW precluded Sabu from ever making an appearance before WCW's demise. From 2000 to 2001, he had a successful run in California's XPW, which catapulted him back into the national spotlight after Paul Heyman had tried to prevent him from working outside of ECW by actually suing him in court for breach of contract, when---as it turned out---Heyman was actually the one who had breached Sabu's contract. He won the XPW World Heavyweight Championship during his stay, and was managed by former Danzig bassist Josh Lazie. Sabu went on to wrestle on the independent circuit, appearing with promotions such as Juggalo Championship Wrestling (JCW), which is owned by the Insane Clown Posse. Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (2002-2006) Sabu debuted in Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (TNA) on July 17 2002, defeating Malice in a ladder match. The next week he faced Ken Shamrock in a ladder match which was declared a No Contest when Malice interfered. Sabu returned briefly in 2003, along other ECW alumni. In 2004, Sabu teamed with Raven to defeat Raven's former "Gathering" protégés, CM Punk and Julio Dinero. In March he began feuding with Monty Brown and Abyss, who outnumbered him on several occasions after Raven failed to "watch his back". Eventually Raven challenged Sabu to an empty arena match to be held on June 9, but Sabu refused to wrestle him, claiming that he had promised his uncle, The Sheik, that he would never fight Raven. Raven then waged a campaign against Sabu, disrespecting the memory of his uncle and assaulting Sabu's friend Sonjay Dutt, until Sabu finally broke and attacked him on July 23. Raven defeated Sabu on August 4, and a scheduled return match on August 18 was cancelled after Sabu (legit) suffered a serious back injury. While injured, Sabu contracted a virus and was hospitalized, sidelining him for ten months. On December 12 a benefit show, A Night of Appreciation for Sabu was held to raise funds for him. The show was considered a success, raising enough money for Sabu to cover the costs of his medical care and he was able to make a full recovery. In his first match back from the injury, he defeated N8 Mattson. Sabu then appeared at Hardcore Homecoming, where he defeated Terry Funk and Shane Douglas in a three-way no-ropes barbed wire match, and (two days later) at ECW One Night Stand, where he defeated Rhyno. Sabu returned to TNA on July 29 2005. At TNA Sacrifice Sabu teamed with his old enemy, and then NWA World Heavyweight Champion, Raven to face Jeff Jarrett and Rhino. Rhino and Jarrett won the match after Rhino gored Raven through a table and pinned him. The match saw Abyss interfering and attacking Sabu, starting a feud between the two of them. They went on to have a match at Unbreakable in September which Abyss won after performing his Black Hole Slam finisher on to a pile of tacks in the ring. Sabu once again found himself squaring off against Rhino and Abyss, as well as Jeff Hardy, during Bound for Glory in the Monster's Ball 2 match. Rhino won the match. On the same night, Sabu competed in a 10-Man Gauntlet Match to decide a number one contender, which he also lost, once again to Rhino. In late October of 2005, Sabu signed a contract with World Wrestling Entertainment to be a part of its Legends program. Sabu continued his feud with Abyss, once again losing to him at Genesis after taking a Black Hole Slam onto a barbed wire steel chair. They met up again, in the promotions first ever Barbed Wire Massacre at Turning Point. Sabu finally got the better of Abyss, but following the match wasn't seen on TNA TV for several months. He made his return at Lockdown on April 28th, 2006 in a match against Samoa Joe for Joe's X Division Title despite Sabu having a broken forearm. Sabu was defeated in what would turn out to be his final TNA match. Following the match Samoa Joe reported on his MySpace page that Sabu's injuries from Lockdown were more serious than reported. Joe stated that part of Sabu's fingertip was severed, he had a broken arm, and he had been partially scalped at an undisclosed Mexican independent event. [edit] World Wrestling Entertainment (2006-2007) On April 24, 2006, Sabu's official website reported that he signed a one-year contract with World Wrestling Entertainment. This was soon confirmed by WWE.com, which stated that Sabu would become a part of WWE's ECW brand. At the One Night Stand pay-per-view, Sabu faced Rey Mysterio for the World Heavyweight Championship. At the end of the pay-per-view matchup, Mysterio found himself standing on a ringside table with Sabu flying at him. Sabu caught the champ in a front facelock and nailed him with a DDT which caused both men to crash through the table. At this point, the WWE medical staff rushed to the injured men and declared neither man could continue and ordered the match stopped, resulting in a No Contest in which Mysterio kept his title. On the June 13 premiere of ECW on Sci-Fi, Sabu won a 10 man Extreme Battle Royal (legalized weapons) with the stipulation that the winner face John Cena at Vengeance. Sabu further fueled the feud during the next week's RAW when he interfered in a Cena match and performed a Triple Jump Leg Drop on him, diving onto Cena and putting him through the announcers' table. Cena defeated Sabu in their "Extreme Lumberjack match" at Vengeance. On July 2 2006, Sabu, traveling with fellow ECW wrestler Rob Van Dam, was arrested and charged with possession of drug paraphernalia, and nine Vicodin tablets following a traffic stop in Hanging Rock, Ohio.[1] On July 5 2006, WWE.com announced that Brunk was to be fined $1,000 based on the guidelines of WWE's Wellness Policy.[2] Meanwhile, he defeated Stevie Richards in an Extreme Rules match at Saturday Night's Main Event. Towards the end of July, Sabu began to talk on camera for himself - instead of using a go between - and demanded a shot at The Big Show's ECW World Championship which Paul Heyman refused to grant him in order to "protect" his champion. Instead he forced him into a match against the returning Kurt Angle to determine a #1 contender. When that match was interrupted by the returning Rob Van Dam another match was signed, Angle vs RVD vs. Sabu, for the number one contendership (Angle then became too injured to compete and was pulled from the match). Sabu beat Rob Van Dam in their ladder match to win a shot at Big Show at SummerSlam, a match which he ended up losing. On August 31, 2006 Sabu and Rob Van Dam appeared in court. Sabu was found guilty of possession of prescription medication nine tablets of testolactone (a steroid) not prescribed to him and was fined $500.[3] At Survivor Series 2006, Sabu teamed up with John Cena, Bobby Lashley, Rob Van Dam and Kane to face the team of The Big Show, Test, Montel Vontavious Porter, Finlay and Umaga. Sabu eliminated Test following a Tornado DDT, but he was later eliminated by Big Show via pinfall after receiving a chokeslam. In the end, Team Cena gained victory. At December to Dismember Sabu was originally to appear in the main event, an extreme elimination chamber match against The Big Show, Test, Rob Van Dam, CM Punk and Bobby Lashley, but was "taken out" and replaced by Hardcore Holly. Sabu made his Royal Rumble debut in the 2007 Royal Rumble where he was eliminated by Kane after receiving a chokeslam over the top rope and through a table. Sabu joined the ECW Originals along with Rob Van Dam, Tommy Dreamer and The Sandman. The ECW Originals began a feud with the New Breed (Elijah Burke, Kevin Thorn, Marcus Cor Von and Matt Striker). The two teams faced off in a match at WrestleMania 23 in which the ECW Originals won. On March 31, 2007 Sabu and Rob Van Dam inducted The Sheik into the WWE Hall of Fame. On May 16, 2007 WWE.com reported that Sabu had been released. [4] He was released with a 90-day no compete clause in his contract. Sabu is now confirmed playable character in WWE SmackDown vs. Raw 2008 after his release. Independent Circuit (2007) (AAA) On July 13, 2007, it was announced that Sabu would be working in Mexico's AAA promotion in Mexico for their Triplemania 15 Event. Sabu came out during the main event and put La Parka (AAA version) through a table joining forces with the heels X-Pac, Ron "the Truth" Killings, and Konnan. Sabu wrestling CW Anderson at the ECW Arena in June 2006.Sabu's wrestling style is unorthodox, consisting mainly of aerial moves performed with the aid of tables (which he is famous for smashing opponents through) and chairs, which he uses as weapons and as launching pads for some of his more death-defying moves. He is also famous for the invention of his triple-jump techniques, which involve jumping from a set-up chair onto the ring ropes and then springing off onto an opponent with a flying attack of some sort. Sabu is also notorious for continuing to wrestle matches even though he has suffered serious injuries that require medical attention. An example of this was during the Stairway to Hell match with The Sandman where Sabu's jawbone was broken when he landed face-first on the steel guardrail outside the ring. Rather than ending the match early, Sabu actually duct-taped his jaw shut and continued to wrestle the match to its scheduled conclusion. During the aforementioned "Born To Be Wired" match with Terry Funk, Sabu legitimately tore open his biceps on the barbed wire. He taped it up on the spot and continued the match. Afterwards, he super-glued himself together to drive to the hospital where it took more than 100 stitches to close the wound. He refused to miss any matches because of that injury. Sabu's famous signature gesture, Magician of Arabia, is pointing to the sky while looking upwards, especially when entering or exiting the ring, or before performing an especially dangerous move (the gesture is often referred to as Sabu pointing to the heavens in tribute to his uncle The Sheik, even though he had been using the gesture while the Sheik was still alive)Wrestler: Times: Date: Location: Notes: Ken Shamrock 1 June 19, 2002 Huntsville, AL Defeated Malice in the finals of a Gauntlet for the Gold. Ron Killings 1 August 7, 2002 Nashville, TN Jeff Jarrett 1 November 20, 2002 Nashville, TN Unified the title with the WWA World Heavyweight Championship by defeating Sting on May 25, 2003 in Auckland, New Zealand. A.J. Styles 1 June 11, 2003 Nashville, TN This was a three-way match, also involving Raven. Jeff Jarrett 2 October 22, 2003 Nashville, TN [12] A.J. Styles 2 April 21, 2004 Nashville, TN This was a Steel Cage match.[12] Ron Killings 2 May 19, 2004 Nashville, TN This was a four-way match, also involving Raven and Chris Harris. Jeff Jarrett 3 June 2, 2004 Nashville, TN This was a King of the Mountain match, also involving A.J. Styles, Raven, and Chris Harris. A.J. Styles 3 May 15, 2005 Orlando, FL Won the title at Hard Justice. Raven 1 June 19, 2005 Orlando, FL This was a King of the Mountain match at Slammiversary, also involving Abyss, Monty Brown, and Sean Waltman.[12] Jeff Jarrett 4 September 15, 2005 Oldcastle, Ontario Won the title at a Border City Wrestling event. Rhino 1 October 23, 2005 Orlando, FL Won the title at Bound for Glory. Jeff Jarrett 5 October 25, 2005 Orlando, FL Aired November 3 on iMPACT!. Christian Cage 1 February 12, 2006 Orlando, FL Won the title at Against All Odds. Jeff Jarrett 6 June 18, 2006 Orlando, FL This was a King of the Mountain match at Slammiversary. Jarrett won due to interference by referee Earl Hebner. Jim Cornette stripped Jarrett of the belt later that week, then returned it to him the following week on the condition that he face the winner of a #1 contender match being held at Victory Road on July 16, 2006. Sting 1 October 22, 2006 Plymouth, MI Won the title at Bound for Glory. Sting is the only wresle to win the title both in NWA and TNA. Abyss 1 November 19, 2006 Orlando, FL Won the title at Genesis. Christian Cage 2 January 14, 2007 Orlando, FL This was a Three-Way Elimination match at Final Resolution, also involving Sting.[12] Jackass: The Movie, is an American film directed by Jeff Tremaine and was released on October 25, 2002 with the tagline "Do not attempt this at home." It is a riskier continuation of the stunts and pranks by the various characters of the MTV television series Jackass, which had completed its series run by this time. The film was produced by MTV Films and released by Paramount Pictures. The show features all of the original Jackass cast, including Johnny Knoxville, Steve-O, Chris Pontius, Dave England, Bam Margera, Preston Lacy, Ryan Dunn, Ehren McGhehey, and Jason "Wee Man" Acuña. Brandon DiCamillo appears but is not a main cast member like in the show. Other regular Jackass personalities who made appearances include Rake Yohn, Manny Puig, Phil Margera, April Margera . In addition, Rip Taylor, Henry Rollins, Spike Jonze, boxing star Butterbean, Mat Hoffman, and Tony Hawk make cameo appearances.Uncensored version of the TV show Because of the nature of the film, everyone involved knew they could get away with doing stunts that would never get past television network censors. To that end, they included skits that involved profanity (such as April Says Fuck, which she screams after seeing an alligator in her kitchen), extreme stunts (such as Rocket Skates, which was filmed for the television show but wasn't allowed to air due to the network censors), and extremely crude humor (such as Butt X-Ray, which involves inserting a toy car wrapped in a condom into Ryan Dunn's rectum and getting X-rays of his rear end or Dave defecating in a display toilet in a plumbing store showroom) "We just killed Johnny Knoxville" Because of the extreme nature of some of the stunts, as well as unforeseen accidents, the possibility of serious injury or death was always present. The first stunt of the movie outside of the opening credits, Rent-A-Car Crash-Up Derby, clearly shows how dangerous these stunts could be. In the skit, Johnny dresses in a long coat and dark glasses and rents a car, which he then has outfitted to be used in a demolition derby. Towards the end, one of the other participating cars backs into the hood of Johnny's Ford Contour and cracks the windshield with the tire. As director Jeff Tremaine explained on the commentary track of the movie, this was the first time (though not the last) that he thought, "Wow, we just killed Johnny Knoxville." Other skits, such as Golf Cart Antics, ended with an accident that could have resulted in the death of a performer (in this case again, Johnny was affected ? suffering from a concussion and nearly breaking his neck as the result of a flipped golf cart). The "Failed Ending" In the ending of the film, Johnny Knoxville is launched from a catapult into a pond, where Rip Taylor sits in a boat, announcing that "this is the end." This is followed with the credits being shown over outtakes from the movie. The original ending for the movie was supposed to be a Rube Goldberg-type contraption, with each of the cast members performing a stunt that either has something to do with what they did on the show (for example, the first stunt would have Preston as 'The Human Wrecking Ball', knocking him into a Port-A-Potty), or simply for a sight gag (such as Ehren being knocked over in the Port-A-Potty and landing on a bed of toilet paper rolls), ending with Johnny being launched off the catapult next to Rip Taylor. However, as the entire contraption didn't work together the way they wanted it to, the producers of the movie decided to try filming an alternate ending, which is how they came to film the "Son Of Jackass" skit. The Son Of Jackass skit involves dressing all the performers in 'old man' clothing and having them run around exploding buildings and sheds, with only Steve-O surviving to proclaim "Yeah, dude." Some bits of the failed ending were incorporated into the end credits montage, like the penis skateboarder and the giant Plinko machine. Also, stunt double John Henry was supposed to place his head into an alligator's mouth as the movie ended. The entire skit was included on the dvd release in the deleted scenes section. Cut out Because of the sensitive nature of some of the stunts, as well as the possibility of legal action, some parts of the movie had to be edited out. One example of this is in the Riot Control Test skit. In this skit, Johnny Knoxville puts on a chest protector and is shot at with a beanbag projectile from a pump-action shotgun. The first time Knoxville is shot at, the shot goes wide, which makes him extremely nervous. The scene was later edited out as, while the "Jackass" crew could waive civil liability, they could not waive criminal liability. Hence should Johnny or any cast member have been killed or grievously injured as a result of a stunt, the producers of the movie could possibly be held liable on the grounds of negligent or reckless homicide or battery. While Knoxville and other Jackass participants are clearly aware of the risks involved in their stunts, the threat of criminal liability was significant enough that the Los Angeles law firm Irell & Manella advised cutting out segments which could potentially be used as evidence in such a case. In addition, the final skit in the movie called "Butt X-Ray" was edited to remove the insertion of the toy car into Ryan Dunn's anus, the reason being that displaying the insertion might have been considered pornographic or otherwise highly objectionable by the MPAA, and could have earned the film an NC-17 rating, severely limiting its distribution. The Japanese version Since some scenes of the movie were shot in Tokyo, Japan, a special edited version was made and screened for Japanese audiences. Some bits were edited out for legal reasons (especially scenes showing people's faces without their consent); however, they were placed back in for the special DVD version. A reason for filming extensively in Japan is that laws requiring non-consenting participants to have their faces censored do not apply in Japan. Box office performance The film had a budget of US$5 million[1] and was the #1 movie at the U.S. box office when it opened, grossing $22.7 million in 2,509 theaters.[1] The film went on to gross $64.2 million in the United States and $15.2 million in other countries, for a worldwide gross of $79.4 million. Reception The film received mixed reviews from critics. As of September 2007 on the review aggregate site Rotten Tomatoes, 49% of critics gave the film positive reviews based on 83 reviews, and among the "cream of the crop" reviews, 31% were favorable.[4] On Metacritic, the film had an average score of 42 out of 100, based on 14 reviews. New York Post film critic Lou Lumenick said "[this] plotless collection of moronic stunts is by far the worst movie of the year."[6] Ethan Alter of Film Journal International admitted to having never seen an episode the TV show, said he couldn't say he enjoyed watching it, and said "it would be easy for me to hold Jackass: The Movie up as a leading example of the decline of Western civilization." Alter said he was disturbed by "the film's, and by extension the audience's, cavalier attitude towards pain." Alter went on to say the film "deliberately defies any and all cinematic conventions", "there's no story or characters to analyze", and said "simply put, there's no movie to review here, just a series of blackout scenes you're either going to find supremely funny or incredibly idiotic." Ethan Alter also said the film "may be the most experimental feature ever released by a major Hollywood studio" and also that it "appears to be hailing the birth of a new reality genre: Call it America's Most Sadistic Home-Videos."[7] Chicago Tribune movie reporter Mark Caro gave the film 1 star out of 4 and called it "willful idiocy for idiocy's sake." Caro also said "there's one stunt that I bet none of these moronic daredevils would tackle: trying to say something intelligent about Jackass: The Movie." Mark Caro also remarked, "Maybe the best way to look at Jackass: The Movie is as a piece of conceptual art. How far and low will these guys go? What's the pinnacle of pointlessness?" then concluded "I don't like conceptual art."[8] Jeff Vice of the Deseret Morning News gave the film 1 1/2 stars and said the 80 minute runtime was too much. Vice said the movie should have been rated NC-17 and said that many people will find the film to be "possibly the most irresponsible picture ever released by a major film studio."[9] A.O. Scott of The New York Times said the film "is essentially an extended episode of the popular Jackass MTV series" and that "some of the undertakings, amateurishly recorded on video, are like demented science experiments." Scott said "Jackass the Movie is like a documentary version of Fight Club, shorn of social insight, intellectual pretension and cinematic interest" and also remarked, "Occasionally, there is a flicker of Candid Camera-style conceptual inventiveness, especially in the bits filmed in Japan."[10] Rene Rodriguez of The Miami Herald gave the film 2 1/2 stars out of 4 and said "Johnny Knoxville and his merry band of anarchists ran around performing the sort of suicidal stunts parental warnings were invented for" and "the gang also likes to train their sights on the unsuspecting public, Candid Camera style." Rodriguez also said "It is not at all sexist to suggest most women will find Jackass: The Movie as further evidence they are the more intelligent sex" and "As much as I laughed throughout the movie, I cannot mount a cogent defense of the film as entertainment, or even performance art, although the movie does leave you marveling at these guys' superhuman capacity to withstand pain (and their even stranger eagerness to suffer it)." LA Weekly film critic Paul Malcolm listed Jackass: The Movie as one of the 10 best films of 2002 and also called it the most underrated film of 2002.[12] On the television show Ebert & Roeper, Richard Roeper called it the "feel-sick movie of the year" and said the film is "a disgusting, repulsive, grotesque spectacle, but it's also hilarious and provocative."[13] Pete Vonder Haar of Film Threat said the results of "essentially transplanting the show to the big screen" are "incredibly funny and often too disgusting for words." Vonder Haar said "the masochists of Jackass aren't hurting anyone but themselves", "no one is exploiting these guys", and "Knoxville and Co. joyfully sacrifice their bodies for our amusement, and it works." Vonder Haar also remarked "the end result is a collection of some of the best physical comedy since Moe first smacked Curly on the head" and called it "one of the funniest films I've seen all year."[14] Owen Gleiberman of Entertainment Weekly gave the film a "B" and said the film "provokes a suspense halfway between comedy and horror. I'm not sure if I enjoyed myself, exactly, but I could hardly wait to see what I'd be appalled by next." Gleiberman also said "In the movie version of the show that might just as well have been called America's Funniest Frat-House Hazing Rituals, the boys engage in infantile Candid Camera grossouts...but mostly, the happy masochistic stunts just keep coming", and also remarked, "it's difficult to reprimand Johnny Knoxville and his crew of merry sick pranksters when their principal pastime consists of dreaming up elaborate new ways to punish themselves."[15] Ed Halter of The Village Voice said "their feature debut plays like a longer episode of the show" and said "it's funny, as the old saying goes, because it's true." Halter wrote "the structure is ruthlessly efficient: no plot, no characters, no sets, and no downtime?just one sight-gag right after another."[16] Kimberly Jones of The Austin Chronicle gave the film 3 stars and said the film is the "feature-length rendering of jackass the MTV show, meaning no plot, no script, just wall-to-wall idiocy." Jones said "It's silly, often stomach-churning, but also awfully addictive, inspiring the same kind of vicarious adrenaline rush as Fight Club, with its 'I bleed, therefore I am'; he-man mentality." Jones also remarked, "Consisting of a steady clip of barely minutes-long gags...this piece of outré performance art defies typical movie conventions...but that shouldn't surprise, or even disappoint, anyone lining up for a ticket." Jones wrote "the query 'can I have one for jackass the movie please?' sort of implies you know what you're getting yourself into" and "all told, either you get it or you don't." Critics disagreed on how to categorize the film. Scott Foundas of Variety referred to Jackass: The Movie as the first reality film when reviewing The Real Cancun in April 2003.[18] In a film critic roundup of 2002 films in The Village Voice, film critic Armond White said "Best Documentary: Jackass, far and away."[19] Ed Halter of The Village Voice wrote, "MTV would surely love to claim Jackass as a mutant by-product of its Real World franchise, but its roots lie elsewhere", saying "their self-destructive brand of docu-comedy emerged as a bizarrely elaborate version of a skateboard-video mainstay: slam sections..."[16] Jennie Punter of The Globe and Mail said the film "belongs in the too-hot-for-TV direct-to-video/DVD category". The sequels Main article: Jackass: Number Two Jackass: The Movie was filmed with a modest budget of approximately $5 million, but earned more than $22 million during its opening weekend, effectively managing to secure the top spot at the box office for its debut. It eventually grossed more than $64 million in North America alone.As a result, although the cast and crew said many times that a sequel to Jackass: the Movie would never be made, Paramount Pictures filmed a sequel to the movie. The sequel titled Jackass Number Two was released on September 22, 2006.According to Rip Taylor, the sequel was to be called "Son of Jackass." This was a joke, of course, but Knoxville replied, "To answer all the questions from the first film?"Another Jackass movie will be released sometime around 2008, with the tentative title Jackass 3Death Vs. Luke Hadley volume 1 Classic Luke Hadley DVLH Wrestling DVD http://www.lukehadley.com for full DVD ... Backyard wrestling is a loose term used to describe Classic Luke Hadley DVLH Wrestling DVD (see the 1st 8 minutes here for free). Backyard wrestling is a loose term used to describe the controversial practice of professional wrestling as performed by untrained fans in an unsanctioned, non-professional environment. Backyard wrestling is a title applied to home filmed and produced professional wrestling shows, videos, or events carried out by untrained athletes, mostly comprised of American males between the ages of 16 and 30. In the years since its formation, Backyard wrestling has developed into an underground scene, where federations often produce, trade and distribute their videos via Internet, and other wrestling publications. Though backyard wrestling was not unheard of prior to the 1990s, the modern backyard wrestling "craze" lasted from roughly 1996 to 2001, during a time when televised professional wrestling was enjoying a period of unparalleled popularity Hardcore phase

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Jackass (The Burn Licker) DVLH

15 May 2008 at 10:03pm  Jackass (The Burn Licker) DVLH

3 min - May 16, 2008

http://www.lukehadley.com Jackass is an American television series, originally shown on MTV from 2000 to 2002, featuring people performing various dangerous, ridiculous, and self-injuring stunts and pranks. The show served as a launchpad for the television and acting careers of Johnny Knoxville and Bam Margera. Since 2002, two Jackass theatrical films have been produced and released by MTV corporate sibling Paramount Pictures, continuing the franchise after its run on television. It is one of MTV's most popular shows ever and sparked several spin-offs including Viva La Bam, Wildboyz, Homewrecker, Dr. Steve-O, and Blastazoid. The show developed from Big Brother Magazine, a skateboarding-related humor magazine that Jeff Tremaine, Dave Carnie, Rick Kosick and Chris Pontius all worked for, and featured regular contributions from Johnny Knoxville and Dave England, among others. The concept of Jackass dates back to 1999 when struggling-actor-turned-writer Johnny Knoxville birthed the idea to test different self defense devices on himself as the basis for an article. He pitched the idea to a couple of magazines and was turned down until meeting with Jeff Tremaine of Big Brother. Jeff hired him as a journalist and convinced Johnny to videotape this idea and other stunts for stories. The footage, which involved Knoxville being tasered, maced, and ultimately shot while wearing a bulletproof vest, appeared in the second Big Brother skateboarding movie Number Two (which is also the title of the second Jackass theatrical film) Johnny and the videos quickly became a hit. Future Jackass castmember Wee-Man made an appearance in the videos, and Florida clown Steve-O would send in submissions to be part of the videos. [1] Big Brother would go on road trips, which is believed to be where Johnny met Bam Margera and they became good friends. In addition to skateboarding, Bam Margera had recently released a movie entitled Landspeed:CKY which consisted of himself and his friends, which he dubbed the "CKY Crew", in West Chester, Pennsylvania performing various skits and stunts. Among the Crew included the colorful cast of Ryan Dunn, Brandon Dicamillo, as well as Margera's family April, Phil, Don Vito, and Jess Margera. Jeff Tremaine saw the tapes and drafted Bam and his crew into what would become the cast of Jackass. Later, the Jackass crew would personally recruit Steve-O in a Florida Flea Market where he worked as a clown for part of the show. To round out the cast, Dave England brought in his friend Ehren McGhehey, a fellow Oregon resident and extreme stunt participator. [2] Tremaine drafted his friend, director Spike Jonze to get involved with the show, and together, he, Jonze, and Johnny Knoxville served as executive producers. The idea show was pitched, and the cast was initially given an offer by Saturday Night Live to perform the stunts weekly for the show, though the offer was turned down. A bidding war eventually occurred between Comedy Central and MTV, which MTV eventually won. It was then that Jackass was born. [3] Controversy Since the first episode, Jackass frequently featured warnings and disclaimers noting that the stunts performed were dangerous and should not be imitated, and that recordings of any stunts would not be aired on MTV. Such warnings not only appeared before and after each program and after each commercial break, but also in a "crawl" that ran along the bottom of the screen during some especially risky stunts. Nevertheless, the program has been blamed for a number of deaths and injuries involving teens and children recreating the stunts. On January 29, 2001, U.S. Senator Joseph Lieberman (D-Connecticut) publicly condemned MTV and Jackass in connection with a dangerous stunt that led to a copycat incident in which a 13-year-old Connecticut teenager was left in critical condition with severe burns.[4] Lieberman followed up with a February 7, 2001 letter to MTV's parent company Viacom urging the company to take greater responsibility for its programming and do more to help parents protect their children.[5] MTV responded to the criticism by canceling all airings of Jackass before 10:00 PM, but Lieberman's continual campaign against the show led to MTV refusing to air repeats of the later episodes, a move which angered the cast and production crew of the series who were furious with MTV's "caving into Lieberman's demands." A man named Jack Ass sued MTV for $10 million, claiming the series was plagiarizing his name. Jack Ass, formerly known as Bob Craft, changed his name in 1997 to raise awareness for drunk driving, after his brother and friend were killed in a vehicle accident.[6] Ending and farewell In a 2001 interview with Rolling Stone Magazine, Johnny Knoxville announced that the show would end after its third season aired so as to allow the show to end on a high note. He also stated discontent at MTV and the censors, who, from the start of season two, began to hound the show's producers with notes regarding what the show could and could not depict. When the third season ended in 2002, MTV (who owns the rights to the name "Jackass") contemplated keeping the show going with a new cast of characters (even running a teaser for the show's return during the 2002 VMA Awards Show) before opting to let the show die. Because of problems with MTV's standards and practices department as well as the sudden departure of Bam Margera and the CKY Crew halfway through season three, the Jackass crew did not attempt to create a finale to bring the show to a close. MTV released a DVD box set in December of 2005. The box set included the three Jackass DVD volumes (which were not composed of all 3 entire seasons, but just 1:30-2:00 highlights of each season), a bonus disc that included the crew's trip to Gumball 3000, a "Where Are They Now" documentary, MTV Cribs Jackass Edition, and TV spots, and 48-page book of photos and inside stories. Jackass: The Movie Main article: Jackass: The Movie After the show went off the air, the cast reunited in 2002 to film what they believed would be the conclusion of Jackass: a full-length motion picture version of the show entitled Jackass: The Movie. The cast made it clear that the film was their "farewell" to the fans of the show, and with the franchise taking the movie format, the cast and crew were now allowed to circumvent the censors, showing more vulgar stunts than the ones featured on the TV show. [7] Interestingly, MTV Films assisted in the movie's distribution. The movie, filmed on a budget of just $5 million, went on to gross over $60 million in the United States alone, and finished in the number 1 spot at the box office during its debut weekend. Life after Jackass With the hit show ended, each member of the cast found new work in movies and television, each gaining their own degree of success. Johnny Knoxville pursued a career as an actor, appearing in such films as the 2004 remake of Walking Tall, The Dukes of Hazzard, Men in Black II, The Ringer, A Dirty Shame and Big Trouble. Bam Margera and the CKY crew were given their own spin-off show Viva La Bam, which follows Margera and his family, who are often made the victim of the clique's practical jokes. Bam and the crew also have Radio Bam on Sirius radio. Margera has also been featured in Bam's Unholy Union, following him and his fiance Missy in the run-up to their wedding, while Brandon DiCamillo and Rake Yohn featured in Blastazoid, a short-lived show about video games. When Viva La Bam finished its run, Ryan Dunn, who was part of Bam's crew on Viva La Bam, was given his own show Homewrecker, in which he finds revenge for helpless victims of practical jokes by renovating the prankster's room according to the original incident. The show only lasted one season. Chris Pontius and Steve-O were also given their own spin-off show Wildboyz. Unlike Jackass and Viva La Bam, Wildboyz rejected the formula of practical jokes and instead features the two traveling the world in search of wild and exotic animals. Directed by Jackass director Jeff Tremaine, Wildboyz featured frequent guest appearances by fellow Jackasses Johnny Knoxville, Manny Puig, and Jason "Wee Man" Acuña. Jackass Number Two Main article: Jackass Number Two With the release of Jackass: The Movie, director Jeff Tremaine and the rest of the Jackass cast believed that Jackass was finished and there would be no further projects under the franchise. However, during the final season of Wildboys, Johnny Knoxville joined his former castmates Chris Pontius and Steve-O on various expeditions around the world. It was said that Knoxville went so far out during the filming of the show that Tremaine pulled him aside and said "If you're willing to go this all out, why not get all the guys together and shoot another movie?" Knoxville agreed, and with both Viva La Bam and Wildboyz finishing their runs, the entire cast was available to reunite and film the sequel. [8] Jackass Number Two was released on September 22, 2006, produced by MTV Films and distributed by Paramount Pictures. As was the case with its predecessor, Jackass Number Two topped the box office in its debut weekend, earning $29.01 million. Footage for several stunts featured Bam Margera's uncle Vincent "Don Vito" Margera, but the footage was removed from the theatrical release due to his arrest in August 2006 and the nature of the charges. Possible return On September 7, 2006, MTV featured a half hour documentary on the making of Jackass: Number Two. When asked if the film meant the end of Jackass, cast member Steve-O commented that the people who made money from the Jackass franchise still wanted money, hinting that the cast would still continue the franchise in one form or another. At the conclusion of the documentary, Johnny Knoxville reveals that he "had a hard time letting go" because he is "so hooked on doing stunts." Cameraman Dimitry Elyashkevich reveals that weeks after the film, Knoxville was so desperate to shoot that he would film himself running into street signs just for the sake of additional footage. Additionally, the other cast members talk of how Johnny was putting so much on the line for this movie. [9] After the last day of filming, the documentary goes two weeks ahead where Johnny tells the camera that he made an agreement with director Jeff Tremaine that if he would stop shooting footage of himself for the time being, then Tremaine would let the Jackass crew film some newer material in November (presumably of 2006), as Knoxville "still had things he wanted to do". Also, as Knoxville is driving away in his car, he is heard exclaiming, "The show ain't over yet buddy!" which fans speculate could be hinting at the long-awaited return of Jackass to MTV. Bam Margera jokingly muttered during the credits of the film "Please, please, please God; Don't let there be a Jackass 3! I don't even like doing 2!" On September 5, 2007, Bam Margera announced on The Howard Stern Show that Jackass 2.5 will be released. He said that Jackass 2.5 would be a compilation DVD of stunts that did not make it to Jackass Number 2. One example of a stunt that Bam gave was where he pulled Don Vito's teeth out with his Lamborghini. On September 25, 2007, while on The Howard Stern Show Steve-O said "I was told to rest up for Jackass 3 which will start shooting in January." Not Jackass 2.5 which is set to be released around Christmas this year. Jackass: The Game Main article: Jackass: The Game Jackass: The Game is being developed under license by Sidhe Interactive in Wellington, New Zealand for the PlayStation 2 and Playstation Portable. The game was first shown at the 2006 E3 behind closed doors[10]. The Nintendo DS version of the game is being developed by Sensory Sweep Studios, out of Salt Lake City, Utah. It is mentioned in the Jackass: Number Two commentary that the stunt where several members get punched in the face by a spring loaded boxing glove hidden behind a fake valentine on a wall had just come upstairs from shooting a promo for the video game. Johnny Knoxville and other members of the Jackass team also provided stunt ideas to the developer based on unused stunts from the show. [11] A trailer was released in June 2007 on the game's official website, along with the cover art. Cast and Crew Main Cast Members Johnny Knoxville Chris Pontius Steve-O Preston Lacy Jason "Wee Man" Acuña Bam Margera Ryan Dunn Brandon DiCamillo Dave England Ehren McGhehey Recurring Cast Members Stephanie Hodge Rake Yohn Raab Himself Phil Margera April Margera Jess Margera Vincent "Don Vito" Margera Manny Puig Loomis Fall Crew Jeff Tremaine - creator, director Spike Jonze - creator Dimitry Elyashkevich - main producer and cameraman Lance Bangs - cameraman Rick Kosick - main cameraman Knate Gwaltney - cameraman Greg "Guch" Iguchi - cameraman Sean Cliver - one of the show's producers Celebrity appearances Tony Hawk - pro skateboarder; performed 'the loop' with Bam Margera Mat Hoffman - professional bmx rider, participated in "The Loop" and also appeared in "Jackass The Movie" during the "Clipper Cam" scenes. Brad Pitt - participated in the "Abduction" and "Night Monkey 2" skits Shaquille O'Neal - participated in one skit, in which he dry-humped Wee Man and Steve-O during the filming of a music video CKY - Drummer Jess Margera appears in several episodes. Jess and Deron Miller wake Phil up in the "heavy metal alarm clock" segment. Fatlip - slid down an escalator Ruby Wax and Maximillion Cooper - Gumball Rally special Diddy - slapped Bam and performed the "I'm Johnny Knoxville, welcome to Jackass" intro Hilary Swank - appeared in the Jellyfish stunt with Steve-O, filming the stunt. Left though not credited, but is noticed. Quinton Jackson - gave fighting tips to Ryan Dunn in a skit where Dunn eventually lost the fight after almost getting knocked out Daewon Song - In the "carpet skating" segment. Similar groups Various groups have created shows based on or similar to Jackass. These include: Extreme Duudsonit AKA The Dudesons Dirty Sanchez AKA Team Sanchez Tokyo Shock Boys Crazy Monkey Rad Girls MTV: Jackass Backyard wrestling is a loose term used to describe the controversial practice of professional wrestling as performed by untrained fans in an unsanctioned, non-professional environment. Backyard wrestling is a title applied to home filmed and produced professional wrestling shows, videos, or events carried out by untrained athletes, mostly comprised of American males between the ages of 16 and 30. In the years since its formation, Backyard wrestling has developed into an underground scene, where federations often produce, trade and distribute their videos via Internet, and other wrestling publications. Though backyard wrestling was not unheard of prior to the 1990s, the modern backyard wrestling "craze" lasted from roughly 1996 to 2001, during a time when televised professional wrestling was enjoying a period of unparalleled popularity. Many of those who practice it embrace a style that emphasizes risky high spots (which can involve diving or taking bumps from rooftops or ladders) and the liberal use of weapons in matches. These may include thumbtacks, barbed wire, tables, plywood, fire, glass, and fluorescent lamps. Even among participants who shy away from this, there still is a considerable level of inherent risk involved. Many professional wrestling holds require extensive training to perform correctly and safely, which few backyard wrestlers have received. These and other concerns are at the heart of the controversy surrounding the practice. Backyard wrestling is so-called because it is often literally performed in yards, though most any location can host a backyard wrestling match, including parks, garages, playgrounds, vacant lots, warehouses, barns, and school gyms. It is common for backyard professional wrestling promotions, or "feds," to construct their own homemade wrestling rings. Wrestling on trampolines is also common, which allows for visually impressive moves to be performed with a minimal risk of injury. Others opt to simply perform matches on the bare ground which, in most cases, is more dangerous than performing in home-made rings. Backyard wrestling promotions can be highly organized, and many tape their shows and maintain websites where media is available for download. The internet proved instrumental in popularizing backyard wrestling during its initial boom period. In its history, backyard wrestling has changed significantly in terms of its professionalism, safety provisions, popularity, and hardcore style. Backyard wrestling tends to follow the trends of professional wrestling and changes in accordance with what are the fads and trends in the major promotions such as World Wrestling Entertainment or Total Nonstop Action Wrestling. Although backyard wrestling has been often associated with a Mick Foley home video in which Foley jumps off the roof of a house onto his opponent who is lying on a pile of mattresses, backyard wrestling most likely began in the 1950s emulating such stars as Gorgeous George, and later Bruno Sammartino, and Superstar Billy Graham [citation needed]. The earliest listed "official" backyarder is Shawn "Crusher" Crossen who wrestled from March 1984 until early 1990 in his own promotion known as NWF Kids Pro Wrestling.[1]Twin Cities based promoter and trainer Eddie Sharkey actually co-promoted a sold-out wrestling event that featured matches from both Pro Wrestling America (PWA) and NWF Kids Pro Wrestling at the American Legion Hall in Champlin, MN back on November 1986. [2] . In August of 1997 the now defunct CWF a backyard promotion originating from Vallejo, California began filming the television show CWF Devastation. "Devastation" aired between 1997-2000 on California public access stations, and has often been cited as the inspiration for the legendary West Coast backyard movement of the late 1990's Backyard wrestling became infamous for its out-of-control and unregulated dangerous stunts. Many people, most commonly male teenagers, frequently risked their lives in attempted dives, jumps, falls, and bumps. Many others would use sharp and harmful weapons, performing matches with flaming tables, barbed wire, lighttubes, thumbtacks and sharp metal tools such as cheese graters. While these violent practices carry a more extensive legacy in Japanese wrestling promotions such as Frontier Martial Arts Wrestling, many attribute their stateside popularity to the rise of Extreme Championship Wrestling and wrestlers like New Jack, Tommy Dreamer, and the Sandman. These activities, which were also closely linked to the reckless nature of other teen-centered shows such as Jackass, were part of the "hardcore" phase of American professional wrestling, ushered in by the extreme style of promotions such as ECW, Xtreme Pro Wrestling, and Combat Zone Wrestling. However, when these promotions closed and/or toned down their extreme nature, backyard wrestling followed suit, leading to less dangerous activity. Because of this, the heavy bleeding and use of dangerous weaponry in backyard wrestling has now faded from popularity. The "backyard wrestling craze," as it was, began to slow down between 1999 and 2000 . Increased media attention[4] and reforms within the professional wrestling promotions themselves led to a generally unpopular view of wrestling and unprofessional stunts, leading to a decline in the popularity of backyard wrestling. This did not, however, lead to a total abolishment, as several popular internet wrestling communities still feature active message boards dedicated to the practice of backyard wrestling. [edit] Independent circuit After 2000, many individuals changed and realized that the dangerous stunts they were doing had grave consequences. The internet and television[5] was more supportive in that it led to the distribution of information on professional wrestling which helped many individuals discover the proper way to perform certain moves, for example. More professional wrestling schools and small independent wrestling promotions formed at this time as well, accepting particularly skilled backyard wrestlers. As a result, more of the younger independent wrestlers admit to having backyard wrestling experience, some claiming it is a hobby that they pursue while performing professionally. This does not reflect the majority of professional wrestlers, however, as backyard wrestling is often drastically different from that shown on television. Nonetheless, some independent wrestlers claim they continue backyarding because, whereas wrestling professionally means being told how, who, and where to wrestle by a booker or promoter, backyarders are their own bookers and promoters and can enjoy the freedom of wrestling their friends however they like for their own recreation. However, training in a "backyard wrestling environment" is often frowned upon by professionals, and the sport has a strongly negative connotation. [edit] Controversy Many backyard wrestlers cite Mick Foley as their inspiration, as a video of Foley's backyard wrestling exploits with his friends in college gained widespread attention after portions of it were shown on WWF television which glorified it as his entrance into the company. However, Foley himself discourages the practice of backyard wrestling. While he made a career by distributing a video of himself doing dangerous stunts such as jumping off a rooftop onto a mattress, he downplays what he did and says it is too dangerous. In his book Foley Is Good, Mick Foley recalls an instance where he was interviewed for a television piece about the growing trend for backyard wrestling. He claims that comments he made having viewed footage of a legitimate professional hardcore match were deliberately misrepresented and applied by the production company to a backyard vignette. Some professional wrestlers and most, if not all, professional wrestling promotions discourage backyard wrestling in public comments, because it involves legal risk to the promotions in the form of lawsuits by individuals. Several lawsuits have been brought against wrestling promotions, most prominently WWE, alleging that people have caused serious injury to others by imitating professional wrestling moves they saw on TV. As a result of this pressure, WWE now features prominent disclaimers during its programming which urges fans, "Don't try this at home." Some professional wrestlers have admitted to practicing it themselves during their younger years. Those who have done so include the Hardy Boyz and Shannon Moore, among others. While many backyard wrestlers believe that backyard wrestling is good preparation for future exploits in professional wrestling given Mick Foley's career, prominent wrestling school operators have often stated their disdain for the practice. Harley Race, in particular, has said "I absolutely hate it" and "It's just absolute stupidity."[6] One book that supports these matches is Backyard Empire, a backyard wrestling novel inspired by a true story. It argues that many of its backyard wrestlers used their local show as a springboard to become professionals.[7] Another book about backyard wrestling is Wrestling in the Backyard by "Maniac" Mike Elias. Other backyard organizations attempted more impromptu or "real" formats. The A.W.F., The American Wrestling Federation, founded in 1987 by Anthony Tech and Tim Balderramos, reportedly did not have predetermined high spots or booked endings in their early years, even though they employed a standard professional wrestling format. The A.W.F. later attempted a style called "Freestyle-Professional" in the early 2000's, which used a scoring system and a five-minute period like what is seen in Olympic wrestling while allowing limited pro wrestling maneuvers like body slams (for takedown points) as well as submission holds. While decidedly safer and more challenging for the participant, it proved too boring for the spectator. The change in format is cited by some as the cause for the A.W.F. ceasing active operations in 2005. [edit] Media attention In the earliest recorded media coverage from 1984 and 1985 that covered Backyard wrestling, the message and stories being told were nothing short of "positive" from well respected news outlets such as the Minneapolis StarTibune and KSTP Eyewitness News.[8][9] Between the 1980s and 1990s, the style of Backyard wrestling evolved to a much more violent form, focussing more on the "high risk" maneuvers and "dangerous" stunts which triggered a much different view from the media. Backyard wrestling, and its forefather, professional wrestling, both reached greater popularity during the late 1990s and were the subject of disdain from the media.[10][11] It was a frequent topic for documentaries and televised news programs, often serving as an indication that the MTV Generation, as it had been dubbed, was among the most reckless, least guided, and most immoral of all teen generations. Although the implications of backyard wrestling on teen culture and on society as a whole compose a far more complicated debate, most media attention (and adults) in the United States feared that backyard wrestling was a degradation of society and of youth. However, since the loss in mainstream popularity of professional wrestling, media interest surrounding backyard wrestling has calmed down. [edit] Videos Backyard wrestling videos are produced by the wrestlers of the federation. They are readily available on the internet at any website, and some federations have ordering information about VHS and DVD copies of their matches and exploits. These videos are commonly filmed on camcorders with the cameraman occasionally providing the commentary on the matches. On the internet, most times the matches are shown in montage clips with heavy metal music in the background. There is also a Documentary called The Backyard about backyard wrestling featuring Rob Van Dam. No-Rope Barbed Wire match with Terry Funk One of Sabu's most infamous matches was the No-Rope Barbed-Wire match with Terry Funk at Born To Be Wired, a match which was promoted as being "too extreme even for ECW" - and with good reason: both men bled profusely. In one of the most memorable moments in ECW history, Sabu attempted the "Air Sabu" corner splash on Terry Funk. Funk moved and Sabu ended up colliding violently into the wire which tore open his biceps. He then asked his manager Bill Alfonso for some tape and after Alfonso went to get some Sabu began to tape the gash up, which was about twelve inches long. To this day, Terry Funk has stated that he has never seen anything like what Sabu did that night. The match ended with both men so badly tangled up together in the barbed wire that it took several ring technicians armed with wire cutters to free them from the predicament (on the DVD Bloodsport ECW: The Most Extreme Matches released by World Wrestling Entertainment, Paul Heyman said that the match was "so gruesome, I never ever dared to schedule another one like it", and that they never had another Barbed-Wire match in ECW because "no one could top that one -- and in good conscience, I never wanted anyone to try."). [edit] Injuries Sabu racked up an astounding catalogue of injuries during his ECW tenure, including broken ribs, broken jaw, and most infamously, breaking his neck twice (the first time was during a match with Chris Benoit on November 5, 1994 in which communication problems appeared to be to blame as Benoit lifted Sabu over for a flapjack, but Sabu assumed Benoit was going for a back body drop. This caused Sabu to land directly on his head; the other was during a match against Taz in December 1998, when Sabu took a Tazplex through a table and landed wrong). Sabu was able to recover from the neck injuries and return to wrestling, and he even wore a neck brace in his return match in the United States a month following the injury at Taz's hands; by Sabu's account, however, he started actively wrestling in Japan on a short tour a little over two weeks after that injury. [edit] Mainstream exposure In October 1993, Sabu contested in two WWF matches. He defeated Scott Taylor in a dark match before the October 18 Monday Night Raw tapings in Poughkeepsie, NY. The following night he was defeated by Owen Hart in Glens Falls, NY. Sabu did get some more mainstream exposure in the year 1995. He debuted in World Championship Wrestling on September the 11th of that year for the WCW Monday Nitro program by picking up a victory over Alex Wright, only for it to be reversed by Referee Nick Patrick, following Sabu's behavior after the match (he put Alex Wright through a table outside the ring). He would then pick up two consecutive victories over Mr. JL (Jerry Lynn) on October 9 (on Nitro) and at WCW Halloween Havoc 1995. WCW did not like his violent style and unwillingness to lose a match, and thus did not offer Sabu a long-term contract. As a result, his last appearance in WCW was on the October 30 episode of Monday Nitro, defeating Disco Inferno in under two minutes. Following the match, Sabu threw a table at Inferno and was preparing to put Disco through it with a somersault over the top rope, but Disco moved off the table and Sabu landed on his back. Sabu was the first wrestler to dive off the entrance sign during an episode of WWF RAW on February 24, 1997, while WWE and ECW were cross-promoting. He had actually lost his balance before diving off, but managed to reposition himself in mid-air to land on Team Taz. In addition, Sabu was featured in the Playstation Video game WCW vs. the World later on in the same year, under the pseudonym David Harley. WCW signed Sabu to a contract in 2000, but legal action threatened by ECW precluded Sabu from ever making an appearance before WCW's demise. From 2000 to 2001, he had a successful run in California's XPW, which catapulted him back into the national spotlight after Paul Heyman had tried to prevent him from working outside of ECW by actually suing him in court for breach of contract, when---as it turned out---Heyman was actually the one who had breached Sabu's contract. He won the XPW World Heavyweight Championship during his stay, and was managed by former Danzig bassist Josh Lazie. Sabu went on to wrestle on the independent circuit, appearing with promotions such as Juggalo Championship Wrestling (JCW), which is owned by the Insane Clown Posse. [edit] Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (2002-2006) Sabu debuted in Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (TNA) on July 17 2002, defeating Malice in a ladder match. The next week he faced Ken Shamrock in a ladder match which was declared a No Contest when Malice interfered. Sabu returned briefly in 2003, along other ECW alumni. In 2004, Sabu teamed with Raven to defeat Raven's former "Gathering" protégés, CM Punk and Julio Dinero. In March he began feuding with Monty Brown and Abyss, who outnumbered him on several occasions after Raven failed to "watch his back". Eventually Raven challenged Sabu to an empty arena match to be held on June 9, but Sabu refused to wrestle him, claiming that he had promised his uncle, The Sheik, that he would never fight Raven. Raven then waged a campaign against Sabu, disrespecting the memory of his uncle and assaulting Sabu's friend Sonjay Dutt, until Sabu finally broke and attacked him on July 23. Raven defeated Sabu on August 4, and a scheduled return match on August 18 was cancelled after Sabu (legit) suffered a serious back injury. While injured, Sabu contracted a virus and was hospitalized, sidelining him for ten months. On December 12 a benefit show, A Night of Appreciation for Sabu was held to raise funds for him. The show was considered a success, raising enough money for Sabu to cover the costs of his medical care and he was able to make a full recovery. In his first match back from the injury, he defeated N8 Mattson. Sabu then appeared at Hardcore Homecoming, where he defeated Terry Funk and Shane Douglas in a three-way no-ropes barbed wire match, and (two days later) at ECW One Night Stand, where he defeated Rhyno. Sabu returned to TNA on July 29 2005. At TNA Sacrifice Sabu teamed with his old enemy, and then NWA World Heavyweight Champion, Raven to face Jeff Jarrett and Rhino. Rhino and Jarrett won the match after Rhino gored Raven through a table and pinned him. The match saw Abyss interfering and attacking Sabu, starting a feud between the two of them. They went on to have a match at Unbreakable in September which Abyss won after performing his Black Hole Slam finisher on to a pile of tacks in the ring. Sabu once again found himself squaring off against Rhino and Abyss, as well as Jeff Hardy, during Bound for Glory in the Monster's Ball 2 match. Rhino won the match. On the same night, Sabu competed in a 10-Man Gauntlet Match to decide a number one contender, which he also lost, once again to Rhino. In late October of 2005, Sabu signed a contract with World Wrestling Entertainment to be a part of its Legends program. Sabu continued his feud with Abyss, once again losing to him at Genesis after taking a Black Hole Slam onto a barbed wire steel chair. They met up again, in the promotions first ever Barbed Wire Massacre at Turning Point. Sabu finally got the better of Abyss, but following the match wasn't seen on TNA TV for several months. He made his return at Lockdown on April 28th, 2006 in a match against Samoa Joe for Joe's X Division Title despite Sabu having a broken forearm. Sabu was defeated in what would turn out to be his final TNA match. Following the match Samoa Joe reported on his MySpace page that Sabu's injuries from Lockdown were more serious than reported. Joe stated that part of Sabu's fingertip was severed, he had a broken arm, and he had been partially scalped at an undisclosed Mexican independent event. [edit] World Wrestling Entertainment (2006-2007) On April 24, 2006, Sabu's official website reported that he signed a one-year contract with World Wrestling Entertainment. This was soon confirmed by WWE.com, which stated that Sabu would become a part of WWE's ECW brand. At the One Night Stand pay-per-view, Sabu faced Rey Mysterio for the World Heavyweight Championship. At the end of the pay-per-view matchup, Mysterio found himself standing on a ringside table with Sabu flying at him. Sabu caught the champ in a front facelock and nailed him with a DDT which caused both men to crash through the table. At this point, the WWE medical staff rushed to the injured men and declared neither man could continue and ordered the match stopped, resulting in a No Contest in which Mysterio kept his title. On the June 13 premiere of ECW on Sci-Fi, Sabu won a 10 man Extreme Battle Royal (legalized weapons) with the stipulation that the winner face John Cena at Vengeance. Sabu further fueled the feud during the next week's RAW when he interfered in a Cena match and performed a Triple Jump Leg Drop on him, diving onto Cena and putting him through the announcers' table. Cena defeated Sabu in their "Extreme Lumberjack match" at Vengeance. On July 2 2006, Sabu, traveling with fellow ECW wrestler Rob Van Dam, was arrested and charged with possession of drug paraphernalia, and nine Vicodin tablets following a traffic stop in Hanging Rock, Ohio.[1] On July 5 2006, WWE.com announced that Brunk was to be fined $1,000 based on the guidelines of WWE's Wellness Policy.[2] Meanwhile, he defeated Stevie Richards in an Extreme Rules match at Saturday Night's Main Event. Towards the end of July, Sabu began to talk on camera for himself - instead of using a go between - and demanded a shot at The Big Show's ECW World Championship which Paul Heyman refused to grant him in order to "protect" his champion. Instead he forced him into a match against the returning Kurt Angle to determine a #1 contender. When that match was interrupted by the returning Rob Van Dam another match was signed, Angle vs RVD vs. Sabu, for the number one contendership (Angle then became too injured to compete and was pulled from the match). Sabu beat Rob Van Dam in their ladder match to win a shot at Big Show at SummerSlam, a match which he ended up losing. On August 31, 2006 Sabu and Rob Van Dam appeared in court. Sabu was found guilty of possession of prescription medication nine tablets of testolactone (a steroid) not prescribed to him and was fined $500.[3] At Survivor Series 2006, Sabu teamed up with John Cena, Bobby Lashley, Rob Van Dam and Kane to face the team of The Big Show, Test, Montel Vontavious Porter, Finlay and Umaga. Sabu eliminated Test following a Tornado DDT, but he was later eliminated by Big Show via pinfall after receiving a chokeslam. In the end, Team Cena gained victory. At December to Dismember Sabu was originally to appear in the main event, an extreme elimination chamber match against The Big Show, Test, Rob Van Dam, CM Punk and Bobby Lashley, but was "taken out" and replaced by Hardcore Holly. Sabu made his Royal Rumble debut in the 2007 Royal Rumble where he was eliminated by Kane after receiving a chokeslam over the top rope and through a table. Sabu joined the ECW Originals along with Rob Van Dam, Tommy Dreamer and The Sandman. The ECW Originals began a feud with the New Breed (Elijah Burke, Kevin Thorn, Marcus Cor Von and Matt Striker). The two teams faced off in a match at WrestleMania 23 in which the ECW Originals won. On March 31, 2007 Sabu and Rob Van Dam inducted The Sheik into the WWE Hall of Fame. On May 16, 2007 WWE.com reported that Sabu had been released. [4] He was released with a 90-day no compete clause in his contract. Sabu is now confirmed playable character in WWE SmackDown vs. Raw 2008 after his release. Independent Circuit (2007) (AAA) On July 13, 2007, it was announced that Sabu would be working in Mexico's AAA promotion in Mexico for their Triplemania 15 Event. Sabu came out during the main event and put La Parka (AAA version) through a table joining forces with the heels X-Pac, Ron "the Truth" Killings, and Konnan. Sabu wrestling CW Anderson at the ECW Arena in June 2006.Sabu's wrestling style is unorthodox, consisting mainly of aerial moves performed with the aid of tables (which he is famous for smashing opponents through) and chairs, which he uses as weapons and as launching pads for some of his more death-defying moves. He is also famous for the invention of his triple-jump techniques, which involve jumping from a set-up chair onto the ring ropes and then springing off onto an opponent with a flying attack of some sort. Sabu is also notorious for continuing to wrestle matches even though he has suffered serious injuries that require medical attention. An example of this was during the Stairway to Hell match with The Sandman where Sabu's jawbone was broken when he landed face-first on the steel guardrail outside the ring. Rather than ending the match early, Sabu actually duct-taped his jaw shut and continued to wrestle the match to its scheduled conclusion. During the aforementioned "Born To Be Wired" match with Terry Funk, Sabu legitimately tore open his biceps on the barbed wire. He taped it up on the spot and continued the match. Afterwards, he super-glued himself together to drive to the hospital where it took more than 100 stitches to close the wound. He refused to miss any matches because of that injury. Sabu's famous signature gesture, Magician of Arabia, is pointing to the sky while looking upwards, especially when entering or exiting the ring, or before performing an especially dangerous move (the gesture is often referred to as Sabu pointing to the heavens in tribute to his uncle The Sheik, even though he had been using the gesture while the Sheik was still alive)

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[?? ??] teps 2008? 3? 8? s15 p-take 0304 R .avi

9 May 2008 at 2:24pm  [?? ??] teps 2008? 3? 8? s15 p-take 0304 R .avi

Unknown length - May 9, 2008

reading comprehension1. The giving of credit _______________. The creditor?that is, the one who grants the credit?allows the debtor?the purchaser who uses the credit?to own and use a commodity immediately on the basis of deferred payment of cost plus interest. How the loan is granted varies. If one buys a car, one normally gets a direct loan from a financial institution. The buyer takes possession of the car and repays the loan, with interest, over a specified number of months, Meanwhile, the financial institution retains legal ownership of the car until the loan is repaid. Buying a house, though a more complicated process, is quite similar. (a) to businesses allows them to expand their operations (b) is an important part of the policy (c) is basically the granting of a loan (d) is not available to those with poor credit records. 2. Just like today's money, gold has advantages over other kinds of goods. In particular, _______________. From the time of the ancient world, lacking today's means of transportation, its universal acceptability make it the medium of exchange in long-distance trade and among people from different cultures and countries. Even after 4,000years, since money was first invented, gold is still acceptable in any civilized society as money. Since everyone agrees it is valuable, it has universal purchasing power. (a) it can be used to purchase transportation (b) it has never lost its exchange value (c) it can be made various sizes for different values (d) it is prized for its ability to be used in jewelry 3. For every age group, ever interest, every specialty, and every taste there is a magazine. A magazine _______________. An issue of Foreign Policy is usually large enough to look like a paperback, but it is a journal. Other magazines are quite small and use much less paper than the average big-city daily newspaper. Although there are news magazines?such as Time, Newsweek, and The Economist?they are not daily but weekly publications that summarize the events of the previous week and offer commentary. (a) can be considered to share more with a newspaper than with a book (b) is neither a newspaper nor a book, but it my have characteristics of either one (c) should be regarded as a book rather than a newspaper in tit contents (4) sometimes contains more serous contents than a newspaper or a book 4. Dear Bill, Please review the enclosed resume of my nephew, John Wagner. John is an intelligent and ambitious young man whose college performance and initial work experience have been outstanding. His work with Grand Insurance should prove beneficial to you. Could you check around a bit to see _______________? Anytime I can return the favor, or assist you in further contacts, you know you can just call. I look forward to some good news. With regards, Tom, your friend (a) if there is a place for John in your company (b) if there is a good apartment available for his family (c) if he is eligible for a health insurance benefit (d) if he really wants to work in your company 5. While nonverbal symbols normally add to sound patterns, or language, _______________. When members of a football or basketball team hold their hands high in the air with the index fingers extended, the audience knows that the athletes are proud of their victory and consider themselves to be number one?the best team in the league. Many other gestures have meaning when used alone. People who have serious hearing problems, and cannot communicate through sound patterns, become unusually skillful in signing?using hand signals to indicate their meaning. They also become skillful in using eye contact and facial expression to add to signing. (a) by themselves they are insufficient for communication (b) they may also be used by themselves (c) they can also be used as offensive gestures (d) they have more flexibility than language 6. The seasons _______________. In spring, plants and trees sprout new leaves, flowers appear, birds migrate to warmer regions, and many animals emerge from hibernation. With summer, the lengthy hours of sunshine provide energy for photosynthesis and stimulate growth in plants and animals alike. In autumn, the final harvesting is done, many plants shed their leaves, birds migrate to warmer regions, and nearly all furry creatures grow new, thick coats. With winter, animals hibernate or construct warm, protected burrows; seeds have hard coats to keep out the cold; and buds are wrapped in wax as protection against ice. (a) influence our moods in various ways (b) are defined in many different ways (c) heavily affect what we eat and what we do (d) have a profound effect on plant and animal life 7. Although no single event could be blamed for greenhouse gases and resulting in global warming, _______________ in some parts of the world. In Brazil, for example, farmers were routinely encouraged by the government to burn their land in exchange for loans. In 1997, a record-breaking drought let to a dramatic increase in the need for loans, which resulted in a higher than usual incidence of these fires. The fires released greenhouse gases directly into the atmosphere and created smoke levels that threatened the environment and the surrounding human population; 30percent of nearby residents sought treatment for respiratory problems. (a) widespread deforestation through burning worsened the problem (b) increasing human activities are considered to have contributed to the problem (c) fossil fuel emissions were among the most serious cause (d) industrialization in developing countries was the single most important reason 8. In ancient times salt was so valuable that it was used for money. Even today in some parts of the world salt is one of the most prized commodities. One of the reasons is that _______________. Short-term deprivation can cause nausea and weakness. Long-term deprivation causes dehydration, a progressive drop in blood pressure, coma, and finally death, whereas excessive salt consumption can also be harmful and is known to contribute to high blood pressure. Salt is also used to cure animal hides and to remove ice and snow from pavements. (a) it has a property as a preservative (b) it is essential to the health of humans and animals (c) it is useful in almost every aspect of human lives (d) it can be exchanged for many other valuable goods 9. People change the nature of the human population by aborting defective or unwanted fetuses, by controlling when pregnancy occurs, and by planning limits on population size. But should they? Physicians can keep seriously ill patients alive indefinitely, using artificial respirators. machines that take over the control of the beating of the heart, and drugs to control blood pressure and consciousness. But should they? People are beginning to ask whether there comes a time when patients should be allowed to die. Citizens are claiming "patients' rights," insisting on being informed about medical procedures, and deciding how allocate health resources fairly. When they ask these questions and make these decisions, they are _______________. (a) very likely to violate some important medical laws (b) dealing with some of the most serious bioethical issues (c) becoming pioneers in some new scientific areas (d) facing the danger of self-contradiction 10. The Ministry of Justice announced yesterday that _______________ in Korea as early as in 2005. It is hoped that by doing so they could reduce the operational costs and introduce more flexible correctional programs for inmates. It will be exclusively established and run by the private organization Agape, which was set up by a Christian group. Agape will be responsible for the construction of the prison compound and the employment of jail officers, while the government will assist by providing about 5 billion won in aid annually to help the operations of the jail. (a) a private prison will be set up (b) a college for inmates will be founded (c) inmates will be allowed to have a job (d) a construction company will be established 11. An example of biofeedback training is that used for an intermittent condition called Raynaud's phenomenon, which is characterized by cold, "bloodless" fingers or toes. By monitoring finger or toe temperature, those with the ailment can learn to increase or decrease the blood flow, and thus the temperature of their digits. The same technique is used to prevent migraine headaches. Such headaches are largely the result of excess blood flow, which causes vessels in the brain to expand. when biofeedback training has been successful, the migraine suffer can_______________. (a) reduce the flow of blood to the brain (b) increase the blood pressure in other body parts (c) decrease the flow of blood to the hands (d) control the flow of blood in internal organs 12. Welcome to my FIXIT site, home improvement on the web. We are now in the middle of creating sections. Please keep in mind that as this site is just growing, we'll organize tips and articles _______________. For example, a window is on a wall so it'll be in the structural. Wall section; or a gas valve will be on a pipe, so it'll be in the Plumbing section; or installing an additional cable line has to do with wiring so it'll be in the Electrical section, etc. Thanks for your patience. (a) in order of importance (b) based on logical placement (c) according to your urgent needs (d) as our visitors requested 13. Play _________. They investigate and experiment with many of the things they see in order to find out what they are and how they work. Play helps them develop some understanding of abstract concepts. They learn how high "up" is by climbing a tree and how far "down" can be by peering from their perch. Often, because of enthusiasm and curiosity, children plunge headlong into new experiences, but they soon learn caution. They discover that the door on which they can swing can also pinch. All experiences--good and bad--add to each child's basic knowledged and wisdom. (a) requires children to concentrate intensely on a given occupation (b) provides children with a means for discovery and exploration (c) is not limited to some special forms of activities for children (d) may assume an important tole throughout a child's lifetime 14. A poem is _________. Novels, essays, and reports can be translated, though sometimes with difficulty. It is more difficult, perhaps impossible, to translate a poem adequately. A poem is not just a compilation of words; it is words put together to create sound patterns and certain rhythms that together produce a specific effect. The sound s rhythms are peculiar to the language, and each language has its special qualities. Poem are meant to be read aloud?that was their first use. To carry over the same, or even similar, sounds and rhythms into another language is very difficult. (a) translated and understood in several different ways (b) much harder to define than most other forms of literature (c) almost captive to the language in which it is written (d) perhaps more recognizable than other literary forms 15. Astronomy is based on the collection and analysis of light from objects that are not on Earth. If an object to be studied were on Earth you could walk up to it, pick it up, and play with it in any way you please. Astronomers have no such luxury. Astronomers cannot reach out and tilt a galaxy to get a different angle of view. Astronomers cannot watch the birth and death of a star because stars live a million up to a trillion times longer than humans. _______________, astronomers cannot control any object or phenomenon they observe. (a) In particular (b) In contrast (c) In short (d) In comparison 16. It has been estimated that people spend more time communicating than they spend in any other complex activity in life. Even so, communication is a word that most people have difficulty defining and talking about. The word communication nay be used to identify activities that do not involve people?for example, the word communication may be used to describe the ways that animals relate to each other. Similarly, it is often said that electronic devices communicate with each other. _________, communication usually refers to activities involving people. Thus, communication may be defined as the means through which people exchange feelings and ideas with one another. (a) Accordingly (b) In short (c) However (d) Therefore 17. Whether you're exploring the historic cultures of Europe, taking an exotic vacation in Asia or journeying across America, you can take advantage of special rates from Tulip Hotels and Inns around the world now through June 30,2003. In addition to great rates, select locations are offering complimentary benefits including room upgrades, fruit baskets, gifts and welcome drinks. For a listing of participating hotels or to make reservations, call1-800-333-1515 or contact your travel professional. Q. What is mainly advertised in the passage? (a) Restrictions to a promotional event (b) The special rates of Tulip Hotels and Inns (c) An easy way to reserve a room at Tulip Hotels (d) A way to save money for a trip to Europe 18. Most of us are taught to watch money, but not to value time. As a result, We may not even think about how much irreplaceable time we waste to save a few pennies. Is it worth to wander through a giant discount mart, searching for hangers, when the neighborhood hardware-store owner would point to them immediately? To wait for a takeout at the restaurant when delivery is available for a small tip? Rather than dismiss the idea with the words "I can't afford that," it may pay to think twice. Q. What is the main idea of the passage? (a) Saving money always takes time. (b) Money is the most important thing in our life (c) People often waste time to save a little money (d) Shopping at a discount market takes a lot of energy 19. Do not miss out on an excellent offer on this credit card! We offer a card bundled with amazing benefits, such as auto rental collision protection, $1,000,000worldwide travel accident insurance, and extended warranty for certain purchases of electronics. To take this offer, just respond by the date shown on your letter. Even if you have other credit card, the benefits of this Visa Platinum are hard to beat all with no annual fee. You've earned it, so don't let this offer pass you by! Q. What is the main purpose of this advertisement? (a) To explain various uses of a credit card (b) To send out the bill due on the date given in the letter (c) To promote the advantages of travel accident insurance (d) To urge a customer to take an offer of a new credit card 20. People might wonder whether exercise is safe for a pregnant woman. In fact, almost any form of exercise is safe when done the caution and not overdone. But many doctor advise against activities such as downhill skiing, rock climbing and other sports that could cause injury to mother or baby. It is unwise to start a new strenuous exercise routine during pregnancy depend on her own health and, to some extent, on how active she was before she became pregnant. Q. What is the main idea of the passage? (a) Exercise is good for most women. (b) Starting a new exercise needs caution. (c) Pregnancy is a factor in deciding what exercise to do. (d) A pregnant woman can exercise safely if she does so cautiously. 21. People often say:"Creativity runs in the family," or "I inherited this bad back," or "All the women in my family live past 80." It's been an issue for many people how they acquire their traits, from talents to ailments. Genes we inherit from our parents do indeed guide how the body develops and functions. But where we live and what we do, starting in the womb, also plays a large role in determining the outcome. Identical twins, for example, share the same genes, but develop unique personalities and skills based on environmental factors. Researchers are now finding connections between genes and human characteristics ranging from athletic ability to aging. But for the most part, the finding says that our genes are not our ultimate fate. Q. What is the main idea of the passage? (a) Genetic factors are crucial in forming individual characteristics. (b) Scientists have examined a vital relationship between genes and environment. (c) Human beings are a product of interactions between nature and nurture. (d) Environment necessarily changes the personalities of identical twins. 22. Sigmund Freud was one of the most important thinkers of the twentieth century. It is unlikely that there is anyone who has never heard of or used a Freudian idea. As a medical doctor, Freud was interested in charting how the human mind affected the body, particularly in the forms of mental illness, such as neurosis and hysteria, and in finding ways to cure those mental illnesses, However, Freud's interest was not only in these mental phenomena of humans. He was interested in exploring the relationship between mental functioning and certain basic structures of civilization. Freud believed that his theories about how the mind worked uncovered some basic truths about not only how an individual self is formed but also how culture and civilization operate. Q. What is the main idea of the passage? (a) Freud was a cultural critic as well as a medical doctor. (b) Freud had a big influence on our concept of civilization. (c) Freud was the founder of modern psychoanalysis (d) Freud's work was not rebutted by any critics. 23.Thank you for shopping at sale.com! Our return policy is easy: you may return any item from sale.com in original condition within 30 days of receipt for a full refund of the product price! To return any item, please obtain an RMA number from our website www.sale.com/support.asp. To save time, you may use the supplied return label on the outside of your return. Thanks for shopping with us. Q. Which of the following is correct according to the passage? (a) Items sold on the Internet cannot be return without a receipt. (b) A full refund requires the return of the merchandise within 30 days of receipt. (c) The return label must be used for returning a product. (d) The website store sale.com opens 24 hours a day, seven days a week. 24.Ever since they came on the scene, trains have had a strong hold on the popular imagination, inspiring countless tories, songs, films and legends. A rugged charm sets them apart from more mundane means of transport and their ecological soundness is again in vogue. Trains pollute less, rarely suffer from weather delays and won't give you jet lag. Less expensive than flying, more comfortable than the bus, trains keep you relaxed and in touch with an ever-changing landscape. Not many people would mourn buses if they became obsolete, and even fewer entertain fond thoughts about airports, but children still count freight cars and wave as the train goes by. Q. Which of the following is correct according to the passage? (a) Train has been cited in many genres of art. (b) Traveling by train is safer than by plane. (c) A trip by plane is an energizing experience to many. (d) Traveling by bus is the best way to enjoy sightseeing. 25 Each day about 10 women go to the agency, but only two to three of them are put in the files. There are criteria for selection. First, you must be successful in your professional milieu. Second, you must know a foreign language. And third, you must meet a standard of European looks: blond with blue eyes, slender with long legs. Of the 2,000 women a year who get into the files, only 10 percent get married. Of the 200 who have married recently, one was lucky enough to become the wife of a millionaire. Q. Which of the following is correct according to the passage? (a) Two to three of those who go to the agency succeed in marrying. (b) About 10 percent of those who go to the agency succeed in marrying. (c) Only a limited number of applicants meet agency's standards. (d) At the rate of one per two hundred, those who go to the agency succeed in marrying. 26. Our entire line of products are the highest quality, brand new and direct from our factory, no "seconds," "irregulars" or "reconditioned" products! And because there is no "middle man," we can offer these products at up to 50% less than you would find in retail stores. So here at Down Home Outlet, you buy the same quality bedding items that you would find in the finer retail stores, all while saving time and money! Another benefit of shopping at Do? Home Outlet is that we ship your order to you for free. Yes! you get FREE SHIPPING on you order, sent to you via Standard UPS shipping. We recognize that a satisfied customer is our best advertisement, so please share your Down Home Outlet experience with your friends and family. Q. Which of the following is correct according to the advertisement? (a) The items sold on the site are slightly irregular. (b) If you buy more than $200, you'll get free shipping. (c) The store sells items related so bedding. (d) The store achieves its discounts through buying large quantities. 27. In the United Sates in the mid-1980s the 500 largest industrial firms accounted for more than three fourths of the net income of all manufacturing companies. General Motors alone had nearly 7000,000 employees. The total assets of such large companies are so great that no one person could own more than a fraction. General Motors has nearly a million stockholders. International Business Machines (IBM) has about 750,000. Although these stockholders own the company, there is no practical way that such a great number of people could actually operate it on a day-to-day basis. Control of major corporations is sin the hands of salaried managers. Control over the managers is exercised by a board of directors elected by the stockholders at annual meetings. Q. Which of the following is NOT mentioned as a party which controls or operates a corporation in the US? (a) Stockholders (b) Salaried manages (c) Board of directors (d) Federal or local governments 28. Because of Pasteur's patient methods, he was able to make many observations about germs. For example, germs cause meat and milk to spoil. They also cause many serious diseases. Pasteur was studying about the germs that cause rabies when Joseph meister became ill. In fact, Pasteur believed he had a cure for rabies, but he had never given it to a person before. At first, Pasteur was afraid to treat Joseph, but his doctor said the child was dying. Pasteur gave Joseph a shot every day for ten days. Slowly, the child became better. Pasteur's vaccination cured him. During his life time, Pasteur studied germs and learned how they cause disease in animals and people. He developed vaccinations that prevent many of these illnesses. He also devised the process of pasteurization which stops food such as milk from spoiling. Q. According to the passage, which of the following statements is true? (a) Ten days after the vaccination, Joseph Meister became very sick. (b) Pasteurization is a kind of vaccine for rabies. (c) Germs can cause food to go bad. (d) Eating spoiled meat can develop a rabies in a person. 29. Dear Mr. wallace: This letter serves as confirmation of your reservation for a room in the Delaware University Residence Hall this June. The details of your reservation are as follows: Double Room for $80/night from June 14, 2003 till June 18, 2003. This rate includes linens and breakfast. Please review the details and contact our office at (515) 305-2500 if any changes are necessary. If you must cancel your reservation, we must receive notification at least 24 hours prior to your anticipated arrival. If timely notice is not received, your credit card will be charged for one night of accommodations. We look forward to welcoming you as our guest Q. Which of the following is correct according to the letter? (a) The reservation is made for 3 nights' stay (b) The letter is to notify the cancellation of a reservation. (c) Changes in the reservation are possible with additional charges. (d) 24 hours' prior notice is needed for the cancellation without penalty. 30. Facing the third consecutive year of drought, countries in central Asia are facing severe food shortages and devastated crops and livestock. The worst affected countries include Afghanistan, where years of civil strife and fresh waves of population displacements have added to the pain. Food supplies are also extremely scarce in Uzbekistan, where crop production has declined to nearly half the average output. Other affected countries in the area include Armenia, while Iraq, Iran and Jordan are also experiencing water shortages. Q. What has caused severe food shortages in central Asia? (a) Civil strife (b) Population displacement (c) A decrease in crop import (d) Three consecutive years of drought 31. The term "perfume" originated from "per fumum," a Latin term meaning "through the smoke." In ancient times, fragrant resins were burned as incense offerings to gods. That was the origin of perfume. Today, we understand perfume to be a solution containing 15% to 30% perfume oils and 70% to 85% alcohol. What happened to perfumes between the time of their origin and today? What is the secret? It is oil. The answer is oil-based perfumes. Since oil penetrates any porous material, oil-based perfumes penetrate the skin, causing the fragrance to stay. Alcohol is a drying agent, which evaporates from the most porous material within a short period of time. So the pleasant, sensuous scent of oil-based perfumes will linger longer. Q. Which of the following is correct according to the passage? (a) Perfume originated as an offering to gods in ancient times. (b) A perfume with a higher percentage of alcohol lasts longer. (c) Alcohol in perfume functions to enhance the odor of a perfume. (d) Perfume oils have been used on a global scale from the Roman period. 32. There are singular similarities between Edith Wharton and Henry James, who was a crucial influence on her artistic world. Like James, Wharton was descended from a wealthy, established family in New York society and saw firsthand the decline of this cultivated group and the rise of boorish, nouveau riche business families. This social transformation is the background of many of her novels. Also, like James, Wharton was concerned with the gulf separating social reality and the inner self. Often a sensitive character feels trapped by unfeeling characters or social forces. Wharton had personally experienced such entrapment as a young writer suffering a long nervous breakdown partly due to the conflict in her roles as writer and wife. Q. Which of the following is correct according to the passage? (a) Wharton and James were born in the same year. (b) Wharton despised the nouveau riche class as uncultivated. (c) Wharton was concerned with the gap between social reality and the inner self. (d) wharton's nervous breakdown left her unable to write 33.One of the central myths that many Americans entertain about the Revolutionary War is that victory over the British redcoats was quick and easy. In this nationalist version of history, a united, freedom-loving people rose up in righteous anger at the King's tyrannical actions, defeated the dull British soldiers, and established the United States of America. However, this version of history raises many problems. For one, if victory was so easy, why did it take eight and a half years for the Americans to win it? In fact, modern understanding of the Revolutionary War has been revised. Of the ten wars that Americans have fought, only the Civil War saw more American military deaths per 10,000 citizens, and, except for the Vietnam War, the Revolution was the longest war Americans ever fought. Q. Which of the following is correct according to the passage? (a) The Revolutionary War was won decisively. (b) The historical understanding of the American Revolution has been fixed. (c) The Vietnam War was the longest war that Americans went through. (d) The Revolutionary War invoked a nationwide consensus among Americans. 34. A study of several 17th-century smoking popes, including a number found in the garden of Shakespeare's home in England, has revealed traces of 'cannabis,' or marijuana, according to South African scientists. They analyzed the stems and bowls of 24 clay pipes and found traces of tobacco, suggestive evidence of cannabis, and mysteriously, two of the pipes showed signs of what looks like cocaine. The analysis was made after a South African scientist had a hunch that the reference to the "noted weed" in one of Shakespeare's sonnets may have been the bard's way of extolling the effects of cannabis. Q. Which of the following best describes the author's attitude in the passage above? (a) The author is convinced that Shakespeare used cannabis. (b) The author is sceptical of the suggestion that Shakespeare smoked cannabis. (c) The author is amused at the interesting suggestion about Shakespeare. (d) The author is upset about scientists' lack of respect for the great poet. 35. The early modern period witnessed the rise of a new and powerful merchant class across Europe. This book takes a comparative approach to the effect merchants and traders had on the urban history of market places?streets, squares and specific buildings?in some of the great commercial European cities between the 15th and 17th centuries. It looks at how in this period the transformations of designated commercial area were important enough to modify relationships throughout the entire urban context. Q. Which of the following is the best title of the book? (a) The History of the Market in Early Modern Britain (b) The world Market; Public Houses in Western Europe (c) The Crisis of Urban Surroundings in Early Modern Europe (d) The Market and the City; Urban Architecture in Early Modern Europe 36. Company recruitment interviews at my university are stressful for many seniors. When none of the firms offered a job to my friend, Lisa, I asked if she'd had any problems during her interviews. "They just seemed to ask hard questions," she said. "For example, most asked where I expected to be in five years." "And what did you say?" I pressed. "I sort of shrugged my shoulders and said, 'I don't know. Maybe Colorado."' Q. What can be inferred from the passage? (a) Lisa may be qualified for many jobs, but had no luck. (b) Lisa may not have answered the questions properly in job interviews. (c) Lisa and the writer were close to each other through the university years. (d) Lisa seems to have a good sense of humor. 37. The name of Florence Nightingale lives in the memory of the world by virtue of the lurid and heroic adventure of the Crimean War. Had she died as she nearly did upon her return to England, her reputation would hardly have been different; her legend would have come down to us almost as we know it today that gentle vision of female virtue which first took shape before the adoring eyes of the sick soldiers. However, the Crimean War year which made her a legend were scarcely more than a useful stepping-stone in her career. Indeed, her real life behan at the very moment when, in the popular imagination, it had ended. For most of her ninety years, she pushed for reform of hospital sanitation method and with that the profession of nursing stared to gain the respect it deserved. Q. What can be inferred about Florence Nightingale from the passage? (a) Her real achievement in nursing has overshadowed the legend about her. (b) She was very sick when she returned to England from the Crimean War. (c) She received an extensive education unlike other contemporary women of her age. (d) She advanced the study of nursing practices more than anybody else. 38. Many people have an illusion that doctors are godlike beings who are able to miraculously heal all diseases. (a) Moreover, doctors, like the rest of us, are merely human, far from being perfect. (b) Doctors, however, are just technicians, who have limited knowledge about our biology. (c) No one, with only six years of medical training, can completely understand the human body. (d) Nonetheless, when we are sick, we have to follow their advice if you want to get better. 39. Diamonds, which were probably formed millions of years ago in molten lava, have been found on all continents. (a) In about AD 600 diamonds were found in Borneo and are still mined there. (b) The rich fields of Brazil were discovered in the 1700s. (c) In the 19th century even richer diamond fields were found in South Africa. (d) About 20 percent of the world's diamond output is used for industrial purposes. 40. Animals have a wonderful sense of direction, which scientists are still unable to explain. (a) Cats and dogs do not have to be taught how to find their way home. (b) Birds travel thousands of miles f