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Tom Lawlor has seen a lot and done a lot during his long pro-wrestling and MMA career.
One thing he hasn’t done, though, is a two-ring cage match. Some know it as WarGames. In Major League Wrestling, it’s called the War Chamber. And the 8-man tag-team match happens Friday night (March 29) at the Coliseum in St. Petersburg. Lawlor joins Davey Boy Smith Jr., Richard Holliday and Josh Bishop to face Satoshi Kojima, Shigeo Okumura, Matthew Justice and 1 Called Manders.
Lawlor said he’s thrilled to add another match style to his resume.
“I love variety. So anytime I get to do something different. I’m excited about it,” Lawlor told the Sentinel last week. “I’ve wrestled so many different guys and so many different styles, that I love to be with guys who can work a cage match like this, guys who know how to fight.”
Lawlor is a prime example of the modern independent wrestler. In the past 12 months, he has wrestled more than 60 matches, covering four U.S. time zones and two foreign countries. It can be a nomadic life, but again, he gets the variety he craves.
“You’re being pulled in a lot of directions. Sometimes it’s tough to remember what show you’re going to,” Lawlor said. “Sometimes on a smaller independent show, I may be wrestling an upcoming talent who I’m not familiar with, and sometimes those guys are good, sometimes they’re not as good, you know? So there’s like a huge variance in my wrestling world. I’ve wrestled in front of crowds as small as under 20 people, but also for 10,000 people. I don’t think there’s too many other guys who can say that, but I guess I’m happy to be the one that’s doing it.”
Lawlor had kind words for all who will join him inside the giant covered cage on Friday, but saved special mention for Kojima, a 53-year-old legend who has wrestled for more than 30 years.
“Kojima is one of the guys that I looked up to the most when I was a wrestling fan in the early 2000s,” said Lawlor. “So anytime I get to be in there with him, I look at it as an opportunity for me to raise my level, but also to show this old turd who’s boss nowadays.”
Lawlor is an MLW veteran, having wrestled on the first modern MLW show in 2017 at Gilt Nightclub in Orlando. That first show included such talents as Jeff Cobb, Ricochet, Swerve Strickland, MVP, Darby Allin and Wheeler Yuta – a mixture of styles that Lawlor sees reflected in today’s roster.
“One of the driving forces back then, as far as branding goes, was the hybrid wrestling,” Lawlor said. “This is really like a return to that. You have guys who have a more MMA fighting style like Matt Riddle, myself, Davey Boy Smith or Alex Kane; you have hard-hitting guys that are in the vein of Japanese strong style or the Kings Road style movement; you’ve got guys who are in the vein of ECW legends of the past, all guys who could throw down in that hardcore environment, then the guys coming in from CMLL. They’ve done a good job of collecting all this talent once again.”
In St. Petersburg, Lawlor will cross War Chamber off his list of accomplishments. So, he was asked, what else is on his bucket list? He mentioned fighting MMA in Japan, then his dreams got bigger … and maybe not quite as serious.
“There’s so much wacky (stuff) that pops up. GCW is doing a Punjabi Prison match (redoing a WWE gimmick from the early 2000s) – things you just wouldn’t think would happen again. You know what I would like to do? You remember a few years ago Big E and Apollo Crews had an African drum fight (at WrestleMania 35)? That’s what I want to do – the African drum fight match. I saw there was an MMA fight in Spain that was 3-on-1 last month. And the one guy won! It was unbelievable. I’m waiting for the call on that one.”
Wrestling and travel is obviously still fun for Lawlor. At age 40, he doesn’t see himself slowing down anytime soon, as long as his body will let him.
“Every time I think about stopping, I start thinking, what else? I mean, what else am I going to do?” he said. “I have no other passions. I like MMA and wrestling, pretty much. Working out, maybe, but that’s not that much fun. So when I think about what else I could do … I get paid to play fight. It’s pretty tough to step away.”
MLW War Chamber is set for 8 p.m. Friday, March 29, at The Coliseum in St. Petersburg, and will be available on streaming pay-per-view. Visit MLW.com or TrillerTV.com for more information.
jreddick@orlandosentinel.com
https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2024/03/28/tom-lawlors-next-bucket-list-match-mlw-war-chamber/
Renck: Time for sports leagues to address gambling crisis developing, or you can bet they will regre
The easiest bet to win is that gambling will assault the senses at sporting events and in broadcasts.
Take -170 on it.
Odds are you know that Toronto Raptors forward Jontay Porter is being investigated by the NBA after questions surfaced following his early exits from games on Jan. 26 and March 20 because of an illness and eye injury, respectively. There were betting irregularities in each game, and Draft Kings reported massive losses on Porter prop bets for 3-pointers.
He has remained listed as “out for personal reasons” since the ESPN story broke. It intersects locally because his older brother Michael Porter Jr. stars for the Denver Nuggets. For the first time Wednesday night, Michael commented on the situation.
“I know what you guys know. I know Jontay loves the game of basketball. He’s been really excited to play with the Raptors,” Michael said. “I have known my brother my whole life. I know what type of dude he is. I know he’s excited to play basketball and highly doubt that he would do anything to put that in jeopardy.”
How could this happen? Let’s go live to Ball Arena for the pregame sports lines brought you to by a national sportsbook. On the first night Jontay sat out, Altitude TV ran a prop bet on Michael’s unders. This is our new normal. But should their be more safeguards in place?
I am not outraged by gambling. I don’t participate, but my podcast was sponsored by a sportsbook. Ads remind people to call 1-800-GAMBLER if they believe they have a problem or need confidential help. The NBA cannot be surprised by Jontay’s story, only that it did not happen sooner.
Gambling odds are sewn into the sports fabric, so part of the daily coverage and experience that Nuggets forward Aaron Gordon told The Denver Post on Wednesday he plans to invest in the gambling website Rebet. The NBA’s collective bargaining agreement permits players to hold a passive stake in a gambling company, only forbidding them to promote NBA-specific gambling
“As long as I don’t bet on the NBA, I’m good,” Gordon said.
Is this good for our games?
Baseball is dealing with its own squirm-inducing controversy. The sport’s best player, Shohei Ohtani, declared he was the victim of fraud last week, betrayed by his former interpreter Ippei Mizuhara, who allegedly heisted $4.5 million from him to cover gambling debts with a bookie. Originally a spokesman for Ohtani said he knew about the wire transfer payments, then the statement was retracted and all blame pointed squarely at Mizuhara as a rogue employee. Consider me skeptical.
The Jontay Porter story makes me feel uneasy, because of something Michael said when I asked him about the omnipresence of gambling at games.
“You hear it more from the people in the crowd about what they need you to score tonight or what they don’t want you to score. Every night you are disappointing someone,” Michael Porter said. “You are disappointing the people if you score too much because they may have bet on the under, and you are disappointing people if you didn’t score enough. It’s part of the game now. I think that it’s obviously a dangerous habit, a dangerous vice for people. You know the love of money is the root of all evil so I think that even though it is a thing we as players just have to accept that.
“We get paid a lot of money to play this game and I know these fans they want to make some money as well. If they want to put their hard earnings on us, we appreciate that you put your trust in us I guess. It’s definitely something that has kind of taken over the sports world. I don’t know if it is a good thing or bad thing.”
It is something that requires more attention and education. Broncos defensive end Eyioma Uwazurike was suspended indefinitely last July after the league determined he bet on NFL games in 2022, including those involving Denver. Coach Sean Payton called the NFL’s memo on gambling convoluted, and he and his staff tried to simplify it. Where did they land? Don’t bet on the NFL. And don’t bet on anything where you are not allowed to carry a gun, such as the team facility, hotel and airplane.
The professional leagues are not going to change their stance on gambling, not with the massive revenue involved.
But it’s past time these leagues recognize the reach of their gambling partnerships and the effect on players. This has the potential to not only compromise games and end careers, but ruin lives.
Sports gambling’ gravitational pull requires a greater understanding and education by the leagues. They are trying to thread a needle, promoting gambling at every turn, while not recognizing the temptation pulling at players.
Many gamble for fun. Love it. Have no issues. This isn’t about that or you if that description fits. This is about pro sports, their players and what’s next.
The Porter and Ohtani stories feel more like warnings than outliers. Gambling is everywhere. The NCAA has lobbied for the elimination of prop bets on college athletics. Pro sports leagues need to consider some guardrails as well until they get a better handle on the proliferation of betting among their athletes.
Those who participate are asked to do so responsibly. The leagues need to heed this same advice.
They cannot take the “nothing to see here” stance. Not now. Not ever again. What has happened the last few weeks feels like falling pebbles before a rock slide.
It’s time the leagues see this as a potential crisis. If not, you can bet they will regret it.
Want more sports news? Sign up for the Sports Omelette to get all our analysis on Denver’s teams.
https://www.denverpost.com/2024/03/28/pro-sports-gambling-crisis-jontay-porter-shohei-ohtani/
ST. PETERSBURG — Wander Franco was taken off the Rays’ 40-man roster on Thursday and placed on administrative leave through June 1, the Tampa Bay Times has learned.
The decision was made in joint agreement by Major League Baseball and the MLB Players Association.
The move is really just a matter of paperwork, as the 23-year-old All-Star shortstop has been away from the team since mid-August, when allegations first surfaced of an inappropriate relationship with a minor. Though Franco has not been formally charged, he remains under investigation in his native Dominican Republic, accused of sexual and psychological abuse and abduction. He is required to make monthly check-ins with court officials through June 30 unless his case is resolved prior.
In setting an end date for this stay on administrative leave, the league and union basically established a two-month window for any developments in his case and status. If there are none, the parties will convene again and could decide to extend Franco’s stay on administrative leave, move him to the restricted list or consider other options. The administrative leave stay could end earlier if there is a significant change in Franco’s circumstances, such as resolution of the case in the Dominican.
The question leading up to Thursday was whether Franco would be placed on the restricted list and not paid his $2 million salary, based on the premise that by not reporting to spring camp he is failing to provide his services. It has been unclear if Franco, with charges pending, would have been allowed in the United States had he tried to enter under his work visa. This decision seems to remove any financial motivation for Franco to try to report.
Instead, in consultation with the Rays and likely with Franco’s representatives, Major League Baseball opted to put him back on administrative leave, a non-disciplinary action used when accusations against a player are made public before MLB completes an investigation under the Joint Domestic Violence, Sexual Assault and Child Abuse Policy.
Franco, initially placed on the restricted list with a special provision to be paid after the allegations first surfaced in mid-August, was placed on administrative leave Aug. 22 and remained there the rest of the season. He was reinstated to the 40-man roster on Nov. 2 in a procedural move, as MLB said administrative leave is not in effect during the offseason, which technically started after the conclusion of the World Series.
Having to carry Franco on the 40-man roster potentially limited the Rays’ flexibility to make moves during the winter and spring, though they operated with the presumption he would be removed before their 26-man opening-day roster was due Thursday at noon in advance of the 4:10 p.m. game against the Blue Jays. Once his move is processed, they are expected to announce the trade acquisition of Niko Goodrum, who then will take the open spot.
Franco’s playing status is likely to remain uncertain for a while. Pending the timeline and conclusion of the Dominican investigation, he is then expected to be investigated by MLB officials and could be suspended under the domestic violence policy.
The Rays still owe Franco $174 million from the 11-year, $182 million guaranteed deal he signed in November 2021.
https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2024/03/28/tampa-bay-rays-wander-franco-off-roster-mlb-players-union-opening-day/
Sean Payton says Broncos trading up in NFL Draft is realistic. So what are the potential deals Denve
At the NFL owners meeting earlier this week, Broncos head coach Sean Payton didn’t shy away from the possibility of moving up from the 12th overall pick in April’s draft.
“I think it’s realistic,” he said Monday in Orlando, Fla. “What’s hard to predict is what’s on the receiving end. We will pay close attention to it.”
The Broncos need a quarterback, and with four potentially getting drafted in the top five, Denver might have to get aggressive and move up to acquire one. Minnesota currently has picks No. 11 and No. 23, meaning it has the assets to make a big move before or during the draft. The New York Giants, who currently have the sixth pick, might move on from Daniel Jones, while the Las Vegas Raiders are another team that could trade up.
While Payton was in New Orleans, he was no stranger to trading up. In 2018, the Saints traded the 27th pick, a fifth-round pick and a 2019 first-rounder to the Packers for No. 14 to select defensive end Marcus Davenport. In 2014, the Saints moved up seven spots to take wide receiver Brandin Cooks at No. 20. When the Saints drafted cornerback Marshon Lattimore at No. 11 in 2017, they also traded Cooks and a fourth-rounder to New England for the 32nd overall pick and a third.
Since general manager George Paton has been in Denver, he has been more inclined to trade back. Most of the trades he’s conducted have come during Day 2 of the draft. However, he and Payton were willing to trade up twice in last year’s draft to take wide receiver Marvin Mims Jr. with the final selection of the second round and cornerback Riley Moss with the 83rd pick.
Paton said it’s still early but he has an idea of which teams are willing to move. If the Broncos fall in love with a particular quarterback, it might require Paton to step out of his comfort zone. Still, moving up might be difficult for the Broncos, especially without a second-round pick.
But it doesn’t hurt to conjure up four scenarios where Denver trades up in the draft. In creating these possibilities, we consulted the NFL Draft Trade Value Chart as well as the Trade Calculator from Over the Cap. The trade calculator factors the value of the picks as well as what the projected value of the trade would be in terms of expected contract value.
Broncos go all in for QB
Denver trades: No. 12, No. 76, WR Courtland Sutton, 2025 and 2026 1st round picks to Patriots
Denver receives: No. 3
Over the years, NFL teams have aggressively traded up to grab a quarterback. But some of those moves haven’t been successful. In 2021, the 49ers traded away three first-round picks and a third to Miami to move up from No. 12 to No. 3 and draft Trey Lance, now a backup quarterback in Dallas. In 2018, the Jets sent their sixth overall pick and three second-round picks to Indianapolis for the third overall pick and took quarterback Sam Darnold — a 49ers backup in 2023 before signing with Minnesota this offseason.
That may not stop Denver from swinging for the fences. New England could take a quarterback, but the overall talent on the Patriots’ offense would make it hard for a rookie to thrive in his first season. The Broncos trade four draft picks, including three first-rounders, a future second and Sutton. New England would have additional draft capital and Sutton would be an upgrade at wide receiver. Even if the Patriots still wanted to take a quarterback in the first, Oregon’s Bo Nix or Washington’s Michael Penix Jr. would likely be available.
Meanwhile, the Broncos would put themselves in a position to take either North Carolina’s Drake Maye or LSU’s Jayden Daniels. Both players have met with Payton and the Broncos staff, with Daniels having another meeting with Denver after LSU’s pro day on Wednesday. Michigan’s J.J. McCarthy could also be in play here. But no matter which direction the Broncos take at No. 3, a move this big is an indication Payton strongly believes he has found his guy.
Broncos buy into McCarthy hype
Denver trades: No. 12, No. 76, and 2025 1st and 2nd round picks to Cardinals
Denver receives: No. 4
Maye or Daniels could be available at No. 4. But the Broncos make a deal with Arizona to presumably take McCarthy, who had a private workout with the team following Michigan’s pro day. At one point, McCarthy seemed like a possible option at No. 12. Since the NFL scouting combine, his stock has risen, leading many draft experts to believe he will be taken higher. McCarthy is capable of fitting into Denver’s offense. Assuming the Broncos are the only ones looking to make a move at No. 4, this could be enough to get a done deal. But if a team like Minnesota with its two first-round picks is on the other phone line, Denver might have to up the ante.
Broncos strike deal with AFC West foe
Denver trades: No. 12, No. 76, No. 121 and 2025 1st round pick to Chargers
Denver receives: No. 5
Unless the Chargers desperately want Notre Dame left tackle Joe Alt or one of the top wide receivers in the class at No. 5, they could move back in the draft and still address positions of need. Similar to the Cardinals’ deal, the Broncos send a pair of first-rounders and a future second to the Chargers. It might be tough to convince Chargers head coach Jim Harbaugh to potentially let his former quarterback join a division rival. But the idea of giving the new regime additional assets to work with could be appealing.
McCarthy falls, Broncos pounce
Denver trades: No. 12 and No. 76 to Atlanta
Denver receives: No. 8
McCarthy is truly a wild card because there’s still a chance he doesn’t get drafted inside the top six. If so, the Broncos call Atlanta to acquire the eighth overall pick, which will be a more reasonable deal since it doesn’t require them to part ways with next year’s first. With the Falcons signing Kirk Cousins, Atlanta doesn’t have the same urgency to draft a quarterback in the first as before. By trading with Denver, they will not only get a first-rounder, but another third round pick, giving them five top 100 picks.
Even if the Broncos don’t take a quarterback, they would be in a position to possibly draft Alabama edge rusher Dallas Turner, Georgia tight end Brock Bowers or one of the top left tackles like Alt or Penn State’s Olu Fashanu.
Want more Broncos news? Sign up for the Broncos Insider to get all our NFL analysis.
https://www.denverpost.com/2024/03/28/broncos-trade-scenarios-nfl-draft/
Apopka senior Jada Jones came oh so close to winning a state championship at the Florida High School Athletic Association girls wrestling tournament at Silver Spurs Arena in Kissimmee. She was one of three local runner-ups.
A heartbreaking state final loss culminated a stellar season for Jones that made her the 2023-24 Orlando Sentinel girls wrestler of the year.
She won district, region and Metro Conference titles. Jones, who wrestled in the Class 3A 190-pound weight class, tops a first team that includes one of her teammates, multiple selections from perennial state contender Freedom and other standouts from DeLand, Liberty, Harmony, Timber Creek, Osceola, Poinciana and Hagerty.
All-area teams consist of FHSAA series participant schools in Orange, Osceola, Seminole, Lake and southwest Volusia counties. Selections were made by the Sentinel staff in consultation with area coaches.
Wrestler of the Year
Jada Jones, Apopka, Sr.
Buzz: Finished high school career with a 24-2 record after losing to Middleburg’s Cheyenne Cruce, 3-1, in overtime in the Class 3A 190-pound state final. Her only other loss was to all-area wrestler Emari Brown of Harmony. Jones avenged that defeat by beating Brown in the Region 2 final. She was All-Area last season.
All-Area Team
Grace Lashinsky, DeLand, Jr.
Buzz: Class 3A state runner-up at 115 pounds, runner-up in Region 2 and first in District 4 with 20-4 record.
Delialah Betances, Liberty, So.
Buzz: State runner-up at 120 was district and region champ. 22-2 with both losses to out-of-area girls.
Rotchiva Clermont, Freedom, Jr.
Buzz: Third in state at 235 pounds after winning district and region titles. 33-4 with just one loss to a local.
Emari Brown, Harmony, Sr.
Buzz: Posted 32-4 record and placed third at 190 after finishing runner-up in Region 2, winning District 6.
Maite Coutinho, Freedom, Sr.
Buzz: Went 32-6 and took third in state at 105 after finishing runner-up in Region 2, winning District 6.
Chloe Shull, Timber Creek, Sr.
Buzz: Finished fourth in state at 155 pounds. Had 35-5 record after winning Region 2 and District 6 titles.
Paola Ramirez, Osceola, So.
Buzz: Placed fifth in state at 115 after finishing Region 2 runner-up and District 6 champ. 36-6 record.
Nehemie Gregoire, Apopka, Sr.
Buzz: District 5 champ was third in region and sixth in state at 130 pounds. Finished with a 25-5 record.
Kaylie Collado, Poinciana, Sr.
Buzz: District and region winner placed sixth in state at 145 pounds. Final record was 26-5.
Shyann Tate, Hagerty, So.
Buzz: Placed sixth in state at 170 to post a a 21-5 record. District champ, regional runner-up.
Honorable mention
Isabella Tolentino, East River
Jade Noble, Horizon
Ericka Hernandez, Osceola
Hayden Proulx, Timber Creek
MaryEllen Wingate, Orange City University
Osceola, Winter Springs lead Orlando area wrestlers at FHSAA state tournament in Kissimmee
https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2024/03/28/apopka-girls-wrestler-all-area-fhsaa-jada-jones/