Thursday, April 9, 2009
News Bench Press: Weekend sports roundup
Posted by Jonathan Williams on Thu, Apr 9, 2009 at 9:53 PM
With all the buzz over Darren Aronofsky's The Wrestler and Mickey Rourke's bleak portrayal of an aging fighter grappling with a lot more than in-ring opponents, professional wrestling's enjoying some newfound popularity. The World Wrestling Entertainment universe is still reeling from WrestleMania's 25th anniversary last Sunday, where Rourke decked Chris Jericho after Jericho's tasteless victory over some real-life aging wrestlers. The spotlight comes to Atlanta Mon., April 13 when Raw broadcasts live from Philips Arena.
This special three-hour edition of Raw will feature superstars from all three WWE shows (Raw, ECW and SmackDown) — everyone from champions to announcers is eligible for that night's WWE Draft. The draft always creates new feuds and rivalries, keeping things fresh in the testosterone-fueled drama. But regardless of who ends up where, the real treat for fans is the potential to see pay-per-view quality matches between combatants who might not normally cross paths.
Mon., April 13, 7 p.m. $20-$70. Philips Arena, 1 Philips Drive. 404-878-3000. www.wwe.com.
Atlanta Braves vs. Washington Nationals After a successful spring training, the Braves won their season opener against the Philadelphia Phillies last Sunday. Atlanta takes on National League East rival Washington for its home opener this Friday to start a three-game series. Opening day festivities include post-game fireworks and free magnetic schedules for the first 45,000 fans.
Fri., April 10, 7:30 p.m. $6-$80. Turner Field, 755 Hank Aaron Drive. 404-577-9100. www.braves.com.
Atlanta Xplosion vs. Clarksville Fox Football season is still months away for men, but that doesn't mean the women of the Xplosion aren't ready for the gridiron. Having established itself as one of the most dominant teams in the Independent Women's Football League, the Xplosion proves that contact sports aren't just for guys. Atlanta takes on the Clarksville Fox from Tennessee in this season opener at its new Clarkston home.
Sat., April 11, TBA. Free-$10. James R. Hallford Stadium (Georgia Perimeter College), 3789 Memorial College Drive, Clarkston. 678-395-4465. www.atlantaxplosion.com.
Southern Extreme Championship Wrestling Just days before WWE brings its wrestling spectacle to town, this card features some of the top names in local indie talent. Among the advertised matches are J-Rod vs. Sal Rinauro vs. Micha Taylor in the extreme division tournament, and Tracy Taylor vs. Genni Wright in women's action. The main event pits SECW champion Rob Adonis and former World Championship Wrestling star Glacier against Cru Jones and Colt Derringer in tag-team competition.
Sat., April 11, 7:30 p.m. (doors open at 6:30 p.m.). Free-$8. Veterans of Foreign Wars Fairgrounds, 1625 Bankhead Highway, Carrollton. 678-651-0144. www.freewebs.com/southernextremechampionshipwrestling.
Atlanta Hawks vs. Miami Heat After a surprise berth in last season's playoffs, the Hawks return to the playoffs at the end of this much more successful season. In their final home game of the year, they take on another playoff-bound team — Eastern Conference rival Miami Heat. It's also Aaron's 2-for-1 Tuesday where fans can get two tickets for $30-$70.
Tues. April 14, 7 p.m. $10-$1,250. Philips Arena, 1 Philips Drive. 404-878-3000. www.hawks.com.
(Photo by Paul Abell/Atlanta Braves)
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