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An Updated Definitive List of the Bodega Boy's Aliases — Part 4!
Shout out to u/Misanthropia for the original post — the hive needed more updated art! This list is current as of episode 234 (2/10/21) Desus goes by numerous aliases on the Bodega Boys Podcast. These aliases are based on references to pop culture, sports, and hip-hop. The long and ever-changing list of aliases or "AKAs" are one of the many running gags on the show. During an interview with Method Man on Desus and Mero, Desus explained that the idea for aliases was based on the alter-egos of the rappers in the song "Wu-Gambinos" on the album Only Built 4 Cuban Linx... by Wu-Tang Clan member Raekwon. (info via Wikipedia) Desus & Mero no longer record from Milk Studios (moved indefinitely) and have been recording the podcast remotely from home due to the pandemic. Most of the AKA’s now mention social distancing, hot takes on covid and store closures.
Desus
Desus is extremely consistent with his aliases, almost always presenting them in the exact same order and without any exclusions: Desus Nice — In a Hot 97 interview on April 13th 2017, Desus explains that people started calling him Desus as a play on his government name, "Daniel", and "Jesus", because he worked miracles with people's computers Young Chipotle — Desus’ original alias, he explains in one podcast that it originates from when he was broke and buying Chipotle was a genuine treat Pockets stay fat like Terio (Pockets stay fat like 'here we go') — A reference to viral star Terio, a young, obese African American boy whose videos of him dancing launched him to very brief viral fame. Recently, Desus added the more politically correct and kid friendly “here we go” Eli Litby — A play on Eli Whitney, inventor of the cotton gin Boutros Boutros Gully — A play on Boutros Boutros-Ghali, former Secretary-General of the UN, “Gully” being Jamaican Patois for an impoverished area Slobodan Might-know-ya-bitch — A play on Slobodan Milosevic, former President of Serbia and important player in the Bosnian War Young Day Party — I believe this was adopted in the summer of 2016 after Desus recounted the story of a day party in D.C., which seemed to invigorate his love for partying during the day Young Hot Take — He has hot takes, pretty obvious here Desus H. Fuego — Another moniker to describe his hot (“fuego”) takes on topics Mr. Nandos with a rando — Nandos is a portuguese chicken restaurant chain which originated in South Africa and is big in the UK and Australia. Rando is slang for random person. Having Nandos with a rando is eating chicken with a random person (credit to u/deweez) Mr. Mil Novecientos Noventa Y Cuatro en Nueva York — In later episodes Desus rarely adds the “en Nueva York” bit, but it translates to “Mr. 1994 in New York”. "The Knicks team in 1994 made the finals and is a legendary team amongst all Knicks fans who were around at the time. That team got to game 7 of the finals against the Rockets. NYC rallied around that team hard body because that team absolutely embodied NYC to a T with guys like Ewing, Charles Oakley, Mason, Starks, and Derek Harper." (credit to u/Okieant33) Mikhail Goin-off — derived from former Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev (credit to u/GhettoFob) converged with an allusion to losing ones temper in an act of random violence. The Jouvert Boss — “Jouvert” is a carnival held in Caribbean/West Indian culture, involving a lot of partying MC Likkle Gungo Pea — Gungo pea is a type of peas (also known as pigeon peas) often used in Jamaican dishes. Reference to his Jamaican heritage (credit to u/hopelessromcom) "Pullin' up from 40 with your shorty" — Desus will “pull up”, or make a pass at, your girl even when the odds are slim or unlikely, much like a 40 foot shot in basketball "Don’t talk to me in the Uber Pool, I don’t know you" — Uber introduced a service where you can share rides with other Uber users for a discounted rate. Desus has expressed his reluctance to engage with strangers when he is using it The original “my plus one got a plus one so don’t make a fuss son” — When Desus shows up to an event with a girl, he brings two, and he's intimating that the host shouldn’t have a problem with that Desus Rothstein, the Jamaican Jew — Originated around when Mero began his house search in Bergen County, NJ where a number of wealthy people of Jewish descent live. Desus envisions a version of himself who would fit in there Jermaine Avocado Toast — Desus has gotten more cultured as a result of their success, and as such he has been able to indulge in things usually enjoyed by privileged white people, a stereotypical example of that being avocado toast. This is Desus’ gentrified, hipster persona Young PA — Possible reference to the sound of small amount of air being expelled from a loose butthole, which is an impression Mero occasionally does (credit to u/jimsternub). This is also a reference to Brooklyn rapper Young MA. The Ghost of Mufasa — A reference to Lion King, but beyond that I have no idea why he adopted it. Still hilarious though, and the nickname that most often makes Mero laugh Young Charcuterie without the coonery — Charcuterie is considered very hip and trendy right now, and Desus is again saying he has a taste for the finer things, but is no longer interested in “coonery”, a derogatory term used to describe stereotypical African American behavior Chile Limon, the left handed reliever for the Yankee’s (Que lo que?) — A fictional persona that seems to be a Latino version of Dock Ellis, who famously threw a no hitter while high on Acid. Chile Limon is also a popular seasoning/flavor with the Latino community 3 Phone Jones — Desus originally adopted "2 Phone Jones" after he reluctantly bought an iPhone to go with his Samsung Galaxy. He then received a Google Pixel, making it 3 Phone Jones (credit to u/ArtSorr0w) Desus Ex Machina — A play on the common plot device “deus ex machina”, or “god from the machine” in which an unsolvable problem is suddenly resolved by some unexpected intervention. Desus also used to have a tumblr entitled "Desus Ex Machina" (credit to u/hardcore9) Jay Chuckles — Revealed in episode 55 to be a reference to a now-defunct shoe store in NYC. Did Desus read this thread? Stanley Cups — Desus' former rap alias, as revealed in episode 53. The Human Dr. Bronner’s Label (Dilute! Dilute! Dilute!) — A reference to the concentrated soap Dr. Bronner’s Castile soap, which needs to be diluted. I didn’t quite understand how Desus applied this to himself, but it came from a joke in Episode 51 or 52 about Sean Spicer trying to defray controversy surrounding President Trump's decisions Dionardo DiTrappio — A play on “Leonardo DiCaprio”, the actor, but referencing “trapping”, a slang for selling drugs. Mr. 240p because I like my Pino blurry — Desus longs for the days of very low resolution pornography. 240p refers to the resolution, which is extremely low by modern standards DJ Woolite AKA You're listening to Washed FM up next we got 24 hours of — The host of the fictional station “Washed FM”, a fictional radio station that is sometimes referenced along with “WSMK, Smack City Radio”. Woolite is a brand of fabric softener. Desus said multiple times on the podcast that now that he's single and living alone, he washes his clothes with extra fabric softener. As a kid, his clothes would get washed and be hard as nails. Again, he's got a taste for the finer things in life. (credit to u/Okieant33) The Curried G.O.A.T. — A double reference to Desus’s Jamaican heritage, where Curried Goat is a popular culinary item, as well as referencing the phrase “G.O.A.T”, short for “greatest of all time” Desus Spicer — A play on the former White House Press Secretary, Sean Spicer, who is often referenced on Desus & Mero as “spicing up” or “adding spice” to his takes Jamal Hashburn — A play on Jamal Mashburn, a former NBA player, about Hash The Bronx Celine Dion — Refers to the fact that Celine Dion is very popular in the Jamaican community, and so Desus is like Celine, but from the Bronx. (credit to u/chefboyardu) This is especially present with foreign and immigrant culture which means he is of mogul or iconic status for the Bronx (credit to u/courtofdacrimsonking) Wray and Nephew's Nephew — A play on J. Wray and Nephew rum, which has its origins in Jamaica like Desus. Also, Desus drinks a lot, which you probably should have figured out by now. Introduced in episode 58 The Moreno you can't contain-o — A play on "moreno", a Spanish term for someone with dark skin The Human Meme, Word to Ja — A play on Ja Rule's infamous mistake of believing that the word "meme" is pronounced "may-may" Young Erewhon — A reference to a bourgeois health food store in LA, which makes this nickname in the vein of "Jermaine Avocado Toast", demonstrating Desus' taste for finer things now. (credit to u/a-1-since-day-1) The Racist Provocateur — Desus flipped an angry tweet from April 28th 2017, in which someone called him a "racist provocateur" into a new alias Henrik Bud-qvist — A play on NHL goalie Henrik Lundqvist, who currently plays for the New York Rangers Nelson Bang-dela — An old alias resurrected in episode 65, a play on South African civil right's icon Nelson Mandela Sergio Can't-see-me — A play on Sergio Tacchini, an Italian fashion designer and former Tennis player Vladimir Boofin' — A play on Russian president Vladimir Putin, "boofin" being a reference to smuggling something by sticking it inside one's rectum The Human Werther's, melting in your mouth — A reference to Werther's Originals, a brand of caramel hard candies favored by old people. Not really sure what this one means otherwise. Mr. Becks on Deckington — The first time Desus introduced this one, he accidentally said "Mr. Becky's on Deckington" which was an incredible Freudian slip since Desus has been accused of not being into black women, and "Becky" is the stereotypical white woman name in pop culture. This is a reference to Desus always drinking Beck's, a cheap beer he favors along with Heineken. Adding "-ington" to words is New York slang, as Mero explains at some point. Rikki-Tikki-Squad-bi — A play on Rikki-Tikki-Tavi, a character from the Jungle Book Greg "Paaa"-povitch — A very meta play on San Antonio Spur's head coach Greg Popovich and the onomatopoeia of spreading butt cheeks apart (according to Mero) Morris "Say it with your chest"-nut — A play on actor Morris Chestnut Mahatma Gone-B — A play on famed pacifist Mahatma Gandi Not Macka B but I got the cucumber — A reference to a viral video in which Reggae artist Macka B raps about healthy food in his "medical monday" series, Desus is unsurprisingly referencing his penis The juices are pressed but your boy never is — Being "pressed" means someone is applying pressure to you, and no one would do that to Desus. The juices he is talking about are probably the morning drink he has with lemongrass and cayenne pepper that he makes reference to many times in recent episodes of the podcast. I am the Art, dammit! — Not sure if this is a reference to anything specific or just a Kanye-esque line a crazed creative might yell out at some point The Don Dada Ganoush — I believe this is a reference to the Meditteranean dish Baba Ganoush, "Don Dada" is Jamaican Patois slang (I believe) for “top pimp” or “big player” and a sort-of homophone for "baba" No more Cup of Noodles — I don't know if this is a reference beyond the fact that Cup of Noodles is a struggle meal and Desus is no longer struggling The Prince of Peckham — A reference to Peckham, a diverse neighborhood in London The Fashion Nova Casanova — Fashion Nova is an online clothing retailer that specifically targets curvy women that Desus and Mero reference pejoratively (saying it's for bottle waitresses), Desus is saying here that he excels at seducing these kind of women ("Casanova" is a term of a man who excels at seducing women derived from the name of Italian Giacomo Casanova) "William H. 5 Cent, 10 Cent, Dolla... Forget the small change, give me the the big money wine" — A reference to Soca Boys song "Dollar Wine (one cent, five cent, ten cent, dollar)" which apparently was super popular in the West Indies. "William H Holla is something Jay-Z used to call himself back in his hey day. It comes from the fact that Bill Gates' full name is William Henry Gates. Jay-Z used to give himself nicknames back in the day. J-Hova caught on but he used the term William H Holla because Jay-Z also coined the phrase "Holla At Me" and "Holla Back" and just shortened it to "Holla". So put the two together and you have William H Holla. He first said it on the song "Stick to the Script" off the Dynasty album. So Desus took it and made it his own." (credit to u/Okieant33) The only anthem I salute is Dipset — A reference to the ongoing national anthem protests in the NFL, Desus is saying the only anthem he salutes is "Dipset Anthem" by Harlem rap legends The Diplomats Mister Sauga, Catch me at Square One Top Left. Mans is marved. (Dont cheese me bro) — Finally a Canadian-centric reference, which makes sense given that the Bodega Boys have performed there multiple times. This is a reference to the Square One Shopping Center in Mississauga, Canada (where Desus alleges his mysterious wife and kids live), and "top left" is Greater Toronto Area slang for "truthful" or "seriously". "Mans is marved", means "I'm hungry" in Toronto slang (credit to u/Fortehlulz33) Trill Rizzuto, holy cow! — A reference to former Yankees player Phil Rizzuto who would later go on to be a commentator, where his trademark expression was "holy cow!" Mister Soft Palms because all I do is count checks and jerk off — I don't know if this is a reference to anything except Desus bragging about his lifestyle "We got OJ, uh purple stuff, soda, and it's me! Sunny D!" — A reference to an old Sunny D commercial (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MQE3jWYuGiw), and a play on the fact that people likely used to called Desus by the nickname "D", so "it's me! Sunny D" would be like saying "it's me, Desus!". Also kind of ironic since Desus is not a particularly sunny person (cue Dark Desus). David Yerp-man — A play on David Yurman, an expensive jewelry company, and NYC slang exclamation "yerp" Desus-expensive, Desus-Red Bottoms, Desus-bloody shoes — A play on a lyric from fellow Bronx native Cardi B taken from her song "Bodak Yellow" Smo-a-kim Noah — A play on NBA player Joaquim Noah who played for the Knicks Andrew Coooooool-nanan — A reference to serial killer (most notable for killing Gianni Versace) Andrew Cunanan The Junior Energy God, come sit down 'pon me charger — Originally just the "Energy God" until Desus realized that that was fellow Jamaican Elephant Man's aliases. I thiiiink this is referring to the phrase "bring the same energy", the idea that if one is saying something behind someone's back, when confronted by the individual they should stick to their original statements. This alias started after the infamous Desus & Mero visit to the Breakfast Club, in which DJ Envy accosted the boys about a joke they made about his wife. Desus & Mero didn't punk out and therefore "brought the same energy". Someone tell me if I'm reaching here. Call me PetCo cause I got your bitch-on-freeze — A play on words for the dog breed Bichon Frise The Topic of Gossip in Syosset (Shout out to 11791 ah ah ah) — Syosset (zip code 11791) is a town in Long Island, NY. it's real bougie and suburban so Desus is saying basically he's got reach and is known not just in the hood but in the wealthy burbs too (credit to u/terminal-chillness) Grandpa Joe, When you see Charlie you see me don't touch that golden ticket — A direct reference to Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (Grandpa Joe) and Desus's cats name (Charlie) Dead Eye Desus (Mornin’ Sherrif) — Dead Eye Desus refers to the 2018 video game Red Dead Redemption 2. The game features a gameplay mechanic called "Dead Eye" that allows the player to slow time to achieve easy head shots and kills. The game is also set in the late 1800's, early 1900's in the old West, which is why Desus typically references a Sheriff after saying Dead Eye Desus. (credit to u/biggak) Mr. Shopping at StreetEasy with a bad breezy like I'm Yeezy, please believe me — Another one of Desus' tongue twisters, this one is in reference to shopping at StreetEasy, a NYC real estate website with an attractive woman like Kanye West might do The Black Asiatic who will crack your back like an automatic craftmatic — Added in episode 54 after Desus' continuing gag about "big Black Asiatic men" (often referencing their penises). Here Desus is implying that sex with him (a Black Asiatic man) is very vigorous by saying he will change your posture like a Craftmatic mattress, which is a brand of mattress whose shape and orientation can be controlled electronically Mr. La Marina in a mesh Merina with a fresh misdemeanor and a cold demeanor — This one is a doozy, but was adopted after Desus mentioned his frequent trips to La Marina (a bar on the water in Manhattan) in episodes released in the summer of 2016. A mesh Merina is a a mesh tank top (I think). The other two parts are self explanatory. Not sure how he always gets this one right without mixing up the words. The Sheet-Mask Killer (No one could be iller) — A reference to Sheet Masks, a skin care routine some might find to be bougie. "No one could be iller" is a reference to how ODB introduces Ghostface Killah on "Da Mystery of Chessboxin" by Wu Tang Clan (credit to u/atorMMM) The Black Zack Morris of Port Morris — A take on Zack Morris for his problematic schemes on Saved by the Bell. (credit to u/justic3bon3r) Port Morris is a neighborhood in the Bronx (credit to u/m9rockstar) home of The Bronx Brewery and Bodega Boys Beer Young KPI — More than likely a reference to the various random office jobs Desus had (KPI = key performance indicator) (credit to u/atorMMM) Your Personal Desus — Desus sometimes will recite lyrics by Depeche Mode “Personal Jesus” (1989) More than likely this is a play off his main alias (credit to u/justic3bon3r) The Pelé of Peleton — Pelé (Edson Arantes do Nascimento) was a former Brazilian soccer player and considered one of the greats. Desus is an avid Peleton user so much he deems himself the greatest of all time Your problematic bae — Desus occasionally says problematic things, but you still love him, hence him being your “bae”. He always ends with this one, followed by an exaggerated kissing sound. *After Desus's last aka he gives some sort of problematic advice sometimes followed by explosions*
Mero
Mero (u/THE_KID_MERO) is far less consistent with his aliases. Depending upon how smacked he is, he will often exclude or repeat some of his aliases. He also adds them far less frequently than Desus. The Kid Mero — In a Hot 97 interview on April 13th 2017, Mero explained that this alias comes from the fact that his father and uncle wanted to name him "Ramiro", but his mother vetoed it and named him "Joel". His father and uncle continued to call him "Ramiro", which was shortened to "Miro" as a nickname. When Mero started tagging, he changed Miro to Mero because he found E to be a nicer letter to write (credit to u/atorMMM) as well as he just didn't like how the "i" looked. Also tagging the name "Ramiro" that long would get you arrested The Human Durag Flap — Mero’s original nickname, and a reference to how hood he is and his uncircumcised status, something that gets referenced very often (credit u/ZeddyG2 and u/chandlersokay) Curve Gotti — A play on “Irv Gotti”, former boss of Murder, Inc. records Donovan Mcdabb — A play on former NFL player Donovan Mcnabb, in reference to dabbing, which could have two meanings (smoking THC oil or the dance move created by the Migos) Trizz Khalifa — A play on “Wiz Khalifa”, but substituting the first part of the name with the slang “Trizz”. Usually said in a fake patois, imitating Popcaan's cry of "Fuck Wiz Khalifa!" at a Mixpak event SKKRRRT Loder — A play on “Kurt Loder” former host on MTV News and editor at Rolling Stone James St. Fatdick, I'll Ghost on you shorty — Originated right around the premiere of season 4 of Starz hit show "Power", here referencing the main character James St. Patrick, whose street alias is "Ghost" Tiger Backwoods — A reference to pro golfer Tiger Woods and Mero’s love for smoking backwoods “I no fucking baby, I fucking man!” — A reference to the viral video that sent friend of the brand Pioladitingancia to fame “Check the guest list again because my name is definitely on it, and no I’m not stepping to the side while you check! ” — Not so much a nickname but something Mero might have said back in the day when he was broke and had to lie about being on guest lists to get into clubs CC Dab-bathia — A play on Yankees Starting Pitchers name, CC Sabathia (and close friend of the brand) Goldman Shm-achs — A variation of the phrase made popular by Bobby Shmurda and a reference to Goldman Sachs. Mensch Montana — An alias borrowed from French Montana (who is from South Bronx) and popular artist with the Bodega Boys. They have mentioned his classic Mac and Cheese mixtapes numerous times on the podcast. Also this is a nod to his Jewish family connection; Mensch is Yiddish for "good guy." (credit to u/chefboyardu) TheDa-da-da Dad of the year — A play on a lyric from ScHoolboy Qs song "Man of The Year" (credit u/ZeddyG2). Mero already has three Mero Jr’s and the bodega princess, and as far as we can tell is an awesome dad, thus earning such a title. Confirmed to be a ScHoolboy Q reference in episode 56 Been-Smacked Biyombo — A play on “Bismack Biyombo”, a professional basketball player on the Charlotte Hornets Di-Yayo Maradona — Reference to Argentinean soccer legend Diego Maradona and slang for coke (credit to u/terminal-chillness) Dick-in-ya-bae Mutombo — A play on Dikembe Mutombo, former NBA player. Mero now respects the woman’s agency and asks for permission first before entering Barlos Santana — A play on famed guitarist Carlos Santana and Xanax bars The Dominican Don Dada — Jamaican Patois slang (I believe) for “top pimp” or “big player”, and as we know Mero is of Dominican descent, hence “Dominican Don Dada”. The phrase "Jamaican Don Dada" is used by the character Lennox in the movie "Belly", which is a classic in hip hop culture (credit to u/a-1-since-day-1) He follows this up with "catch me at Locksmith throwing up on myself". Locksmith is a bar on 192nd & Broadway in Inwood, which is a REALLY Dominican NYC neighborhood (credit to u/terminal-chillness) Some variation of "swipe my card again, put the bag over it, there's definitely money on it!" — A reference to a familiar experience for anyone who has been broke, in which you lie and act like it's the store's fault when your card gets declined Romeo Xantos — A reference to famed Bachata artist and Xanax, Bachata being a dance and music style originating in the Dominican Republic. Also the added "Sooo xanny, lemme black out" is a play on Romeo's adlib "sooo nasty, lemme find out" (credit to u/terminal-chillness) Light-an-L Dutchie "Hello? Is it weed you're looking for?" — Another weed double entendre referencing Lionel Richie and his famous song "Hello" Papa Sushi, The Dyckman Don — A reference to often-referenced MamaSushi, a fusion sushi restaurant on Dyckman Street in Manhattan Tom Brazy, your girl got my balls deflated — A boastful play on the Deflategate controversy surrounding Tom Brady and the New England Patriots after the 2014-2015 AFL Championship game Feel-da-ass Tyson (CONSENSUALLY WITH YOUR PERMISSION) — A play on “Neil DeGrasse Tyson”, a well known physicist Lil’ Snoozie Vert— A play on the name Lil Uzi Vert. This is also in reference for when Mero actually ‘tapped out’ on Instagram Live Fry-an-L Messi — A play on Lionel Messi, a famous Argentinian soccer player of Italian descent, and smoking an "L", slang for blunt Joe Hookah "I dare you! To smoke with me! At MamaSushi!" — A reference to rapper Black Rob's song "I Dare You" that features Joe Hooker on the hook. MamaSushi is a high-end restaurant chain located in New York Ben Barson my hands are gifted — During the 2016 election cycle, famed neurosurgeon Ben Carson engaged in a brief campaign for the Republican nomination. Mero took to doing impressions of him, exaggerating Carson’s urban upbringing by saying he was “Ben Barson”, in which the “C” was replaced with a “B”, as a Blood gang member would. Unlike Desus, who almost never fumbles his nicknames, Mero has maybe said this one correctly one time Xaniel Bedingfield — A play on Daniel Bedingfield followed by Mero playing "I Gotta Get Through This" a popular song by the artist Daniel Bedingfield with lyrics that are about Xanax (credit to u/KTTeal) Some variation of “I’ll open your medicine cabinet and take all of your Benzos” — This is self-referential in two ways: 1. The earlier reference here is to when Mero admitted to Desus that he will unashamedly go through people’s medicine cabinets in order to snoop on their lives and 2. After the boat party story in which Mero got drunk and took some Xanax’s, he added “I’ll take all of your benzos” bit to express how much he enjoys the feeling Benzodiazepines create The Xandman — This is a play on the musical artist “Scatman John” who was most known for his song “Scatman’s World”, the chorus of which Mero imitates with this name and the accompanying vocalization Rico Sabroso — Spanish for “Rich Tasty”, but I’m not sure what the reference here is beyond that Baby Newport — I assume a reference to Newport brand cigarettes, stereotypically popular in urban areas Niño Brown — A reference to the main character of the film “New Jack City”, in which Wesley Snipes plays a crack dealer named Nino Brown, but pronounced like the Spanish word for "kid", giving it some Latino flavor (credit to u/Okieant33) The East Tremont Stevie B — East Tremont is a predominately Hispanic area of the Bronx, while Stevie B was a recording artist from the 80’s with some incredible Jheri Curls. Sometimes sings "I want to be the one your Titi is fucking" after I met Mike Francesca im never gon’ fail — A direct reference from when the Bodega Boys actually met Mike on the last episode on Desus & Mero on Viceland. In translation, this means after finally meeting with the iconic Sports Pope this makes him unstoppable. This is also a reference to Kanye West's song 'Ultralight Beam' where Chance the Rapper says "I met Kanye West, I'm never gonna fail" (credit to u/RemyDWD) The Plantain Supernova in the Sky — A reference to the Oasis hit “Champagne Supernova”, but changed to reflect Mero’s Dominican heritage, which often uses plantains in its cuisine. Occasionally he will sing an extended version, which goes “One day you will find me, smoking weed on Tremont/in the Plantain Supernova in the sky”. How does he hit these melodies so perfectly every time? Tom Petty and the Ball Breakers — A play on the rock band name ‘Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers’. Mero sings the chorus from Tom Petty’s solo project “Free Fallin’” as “Free Ballin’” suggesting that he feels free doing his Zoom calls without pants Barmelo Xanthony — An incredible play on the Bodega Boy’s favorite NBA player, Carmelo Xanthony, and Mero’s beloved Xanax’s. (credit to u/terminal-chillness) Most recently, Mero has changed his references to him making sound financial decisions and balancing his portfolio since the interview with Carmelo himself on Desus & Mero on Showtime Some variation of “If you see me in Target approach me like a bear” — Originates from Mero’s love of getting really high and hanging out in Target. Being high sometimes makes him paranoid, so he doesn’t like people just running up on him. Desus suggested people “approach him diagonally, like you would a bear”. Mero interchanges “bear”, “Ursine Mammal”, and “Oso” (Spanish for “bear”) at random Benzo the Clown — A problematic clown for kids that ruins birthday parties and not refunding your $50 deposit. Originated on Episode 96, Desus starts talking about rolling up to Mero Jr’s bar mitzvah smacked. (credit to u/outtaspite) Benzo’s antics are normally cut short by Mr. Fun Fun (voiced by Desus) normally ending with the problematic light I sold fake Lean to your favorite SoundCloud rapper — Not sure this is a specific reference other than the fact that Lean is pretty much a guaranteed accessory for any SoundCloud rapper and Actavis discontinued their codeine/promethazine cough syrup in 2014 due to abuse, so a lot of people are drinking fake Lean. "Llego el hijo de Tito y Fifa papi"/"The son of Tito and Fifa has arrived, papi — In later episodes, Mero began to include some Spanish phrases at the end of his list of aliases, usually beginning with this phrase and building off of it. When Mero does this he also says "Hassan tira me lo pita" which is slang for "Hassan drop me a beat". Mero is making pretend that he's a DJ on NY's Spanish Radio Station 97.9 La Mega. Mero from here goes on to talk all kinds of shit about how hard and gangster he is. (credit to u/bobbuddha and u/Okieant33) Please correct me if you have ideas or see mistakes! Discontinued aliases: Desus
Playboy going public: Porn, Gambling, and Cannabis
NEW INFO 5 Results from share redemption are posted. Less than .2% redeemed. Very bullish as investors are showing extreme confidence in the future of PLBY. https://finance.yahoo.com/news/playboy-mountain-crest-acquisition-corp-120000721.html NEW INFO 4 Definitive Agreement to purchase 100% of Lovers brand stores announced 2/1. https://www.streetinsider.com/Corporate+News/Playboy+%28MCAC%29+Confirms+Deal+to+Acquire+Lovers/17892359.html NEW INFO 3 I bought more on the dip today. 5081 total. Price rose AH to $12.38 (2.15%) NEW INFO 2 Here is the full webinar. https://icrinc.zoom.us/rec/play/9GWKdmOYumjWfZuufW3QXpe_FW_g--qeNbg6PnTjTMbnNTgLmCbWjeRFpQga1iPc-elpGap8dnDv8Zww.yD7DjUwuPmapeEdP?continueMode=true&tk=lEYc4F_FkKlgsmCIs6w0gtGHT2kbgVGbUju3cIRBSjk.DQIAAAAV8NK49xZWdldRM2xNSFNQcTBmcE00UzM3bXh3AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA&uuid=WN_GKWqbHkeSyuWetJmLFkj4g&_x_zm_rtaid=kR45-uuqRE-L65AxLjpbQw.1611967079119.2c054e3d3f8d8e63339273d9175939ed&_x_zm_rhtaid=866 NEW INFO 1 Live merger webinar with PLBY and MCAC on Friday January 29, 2021 at 12:00 NOON EST link below https://mcacquisition.com/investor-relations/press-release-details/2021/Playboy-Enterprises-Inc.-and-Mountain-Crest-Acquisition-Corp-Participate-in-SPACInsider-ICR-Webinar-on-January-29th-at-12pm-ET/default.aspx Playboy going public: Porn, Gambling, and Cannabis !!!WARNING READING AHEAD!!! TL;DR at the end. It will take some time to sort through all the links and read/watch everything, but you should. In the next couple weeks, Mountain Crest Acquisition Corp is taking Playboy public. The existing ticker MCAC will become PLBY. Special purpose acquisition companies have taken private companies public in recent months with great success. I believe this will be no exception. Notably, Playboy is profitable and has skyrocketing revenue going into a transformational growth phase. Porn - First and foremost, let's talk about porn. I know what you guys are thinking. “Porno mags are dead. Why would I want to invest in something like that? I can get porn for free online.” Guess what? You are absolutely right. And that’s exactly why Playboy doesn’t do that anymore. That’s right, they eliminated their print division. And yet they somehow STILL make money from porn that people (see: boomers) pay for on their website through PlayboyTV, Playboy Plus, and iPlayboy. Here’s the thing: Playboy has international, multi-generational name recognition from porn. They have content available in 180 countries. It will be the only publicly traded adult entertainment (porn) company. But that is not where this company is going. It will help support them along the way. You can see every Playboy magazine through iPlayboy if you’re interested. NSFW links below: https://www.playboy.com/ https://www.playboytv.com/ https://www.playboyplus.com/ https://www.iplayboy.com/ Gambling - Some of you might recognize the Playboy brand from gambling trips to places like Las Vegas, Atlantic City, Cancun, London or Macau. They’ve been in the gambling biz for decades through their casinos, clubs, and licensed gaming products. They see the writing on the wall. COVID is accelerating the transition to digital, application based GAMBLING. That’s right. What we are doing on Robinhood with risky options is gambling, and the only reason regulators might give a shit anymore is because we are making too much money. There may be some restrictions put in place, but gambling from your phone on your couch is not going anywhere. More and more states are allowing things like Draftkings, poker, state ‘lottery” apps, hell - even political betting. Michigan and Virginia just ok’d gambling apps. They won’t be the last. This is all from your couch and any 18 year old with a cracked iphone can access it. Wouldn’t it be cool if Playboy was going to do something like that? They’re already working on it. As per CEO Ben Kohn who we will get to later, “...the company’s casino-style digital gaming products with Scientific Games and Microgaming continue to see significant global growth.” Honestly, I stopped researching Scientific Games' sports betting segment when I saw the word ‘omni-channel’. That told me all I needed to know about it’s success. “Our SG Sports™ platform is an enhanced, omni-channel solution for online, self-service and retail fixed odds sports betting – from soccer to tennis, basketball, football, baseball, hockey, motor sports, racing and more.” https://www.scientificgames.com/ https://www.microgaming.co.uk/ “This latter segment has become increasingly enticing for Playboy, and it said last week that it is considering new tie-ups that could include gaming operators like PointsBet and 888Holdings.” https://calvinayre.com/2020/10/05/business/playboys-gaming-ops-could-get-a-boost-from-spac-purchase/ As per their SEC filing: “Significant consumer engagement and spend with Playboy-branded gaming properties around the world, including with leading partners such as Microgaming, Scientific Games, and Caesar’s Entertainment, steers our investment in digital gaming, sports betting and other digital offerings to further support our commercial strategy to expand consumer spend with minimal marginal cost, and gain consumer data to inform go-to-market plans across categories.” https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgadata/1803914/000110465921005986/tm2034213-12_defm14a.htm#tMDAA1 They are expanding into more areas of gaming/gambling, working with international players in the digital gaming/gambling arena, and a Playboy sportsbook is on the horizon. https://www.playboy.com/read/the-pleasure-of-playing-with-yourself-mobile-gaming-in-the-covid-era Cannabis - If you’ve ever read through a Playboy magazine, you know they’ve had a positive relationship with cannabis for many years. As of September 2020, Playboy has made a major shift into the cannabis space. Too good to be true you say? Check their website. Playboy currently sells a range of CBD products. This is a good sign. Federal hemp products, which these most likely are, can be mailed across state lines and most importantly for a company like Playboy, can operate through a traditional banking institution. CBD products are usually the first step towards the cannabis space for large companies. Playboy didn’t make these products themselves meaning they are working with a processor in the cannabis industry. Another good sign for future expansion. What else do they have for sale? Pipes, grinders, ashtrays, rolling trays, joint holders. Hmm. Ok. So it looks like they want to sell some shit. They probably don’t have an active interest in cannabis right? Think again: https://www.forbes.com/sites/javierhasse/2020/09/24/playboy-gets-serious-about-cannabis-law-reform-advocacy-with-new-partnership-grants/?sh=62f044a65cea “Taking yet another step into the cannabis space, Playboy will be announcing later on Thursday (September, 2020) that it is launching a cannabis law reform and advocacy campaign in partnership with National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws (NORML), Last Prisoner Project, Marijuana Policy Project, the Veterans Cannabis Project, and the Eaze Momentum Program.” “According to information procured exclusively, the three-pronged campaign will focus on calling for federal legalization. The program also includes the creation of a mentorship plan, through which the Playboy Foundation will support entrepreneurs from groups that are underrepresented in the industry.” Remember that CEO Kohn from earlier? He wrote this recently: https://medium.com/naked-open-letters-from-playboy/congress-must-pass-the-more-act-c867c35239ae Seems like he really wants weed to be legal? Hmm wonder why? The writing's on the wall my friends. Playboy wants into the cannabis industry, they are making steps towards this end, and we have favorable conditions for legislative progress. Don’t think branding your own cannabis line is profitable or worthwhile? Tell me why these 41 celebrity millionaires and billionaires are dummies. I’ll wait. https://www.celebstoner.com/news/celebstoner-news/2019/07/12/top-celebrity-cannabis-brands/ Confirmation: I hear you. “This all seems pretty speculative. It would be wildly profitable if they pull this shift off. But how do we really know?” Watch this whole video: https://finance.yahoo.com/video/playboy-ceo-telling-story-female-154907068.html Man - this interview just gets my juices flowing. And highlights one of my favorite reasons for this play. They have so many different business avenues from which a catalyst could appear. I think paying attention, holding shares, and options on these staggered announcements over the next year is the way I am going to go about it. "There's definitely been a shift to direct-to-consumer," he (Kohn) said. "About 50 percent of our revenue today is direct-to-consumer, and that will continue to grow going forward.” “Kohn touted Playboy's portfolio of both digital and consumer products, with casino-style gaming, in particular, serving a crucial role under the company's new business model. Playboy also has its sights on the emerging cannabis market, from CBD products to marijuana products geared toward sexual health and pleasure.” "If THC does become legal in the United States, we have developed certain strains to enhance your sex life that we will launch," Kohn said. https://cheddar.com/media/playboy-goes-public-health-gaming-lifestyle-focus Oh? The CEO actually said it? Ok then. “We have developed certain strains…” They’re already working with growers on strains and genetics? Ok. There are several legal cannabis markets for those products right now, international and stateside. I expect Playboy licensed hemp and THC pre-rolls by EOY. Something like this: https://www.etsy.com/listing/842996758/10-playboy-pre-roll-tubes-limited?ga_order=most_relevant&ga_search_type=all&ga_view_type=gallery&ga_search_query=pre+roll+playboy&ref=sr_gallery-1-2&organic_search_click=1 Maintaining cannabis operations can be costly and a regulatory headache. Playboy’s licensing strategy allows them to pick successful, established partners and sidestep traditional barriers to entry. You know what I like about these new markets? They’re expanding. Worldwide. And they are going to be a bigger deal than they already are with or without Playboy. Who thinks weed and gambling are going away? Too many people like that stuff. These are easy markets. And Playboy is early enough to carve out their spot in each. Fuck it, read this too: https://www.forbes.com/sites/jimosman/2020/10/20/playboy-could-be-the-king-of-spacs-here-are-three-picks/?sh=2e13dcaa3e05 Numbers: You want numbers? I got numbers. As per the company’s most recent SEC filing: “For the year ended December 31, 2019, and the nine months ended September 30, 2020, Playboy’s historical consolidated revenue was $78.1 million and $101.3 million, respectively, historical consolidated net income (loss) was $(23.6) million and $(4.8) million, respectively, and Adjusted EBITDA was $13.1 million and $21.8 million, respectively.” “In the nine months ended September 30, 2020, Playboy’s Licensing segment contributed $44.2 million in revenue and $31.1 million in net income.” “In the ninth months ended September 30, 2020, Playboy’s Direct-to-Consumer segment contributed $40.2 million in revenue and net income of $0.1 million.” “In the nine months ended September 30, 2020, Playboy’s Digital Subscriptions and Content segment contributed $15.4 million in revenue and net income of $7.4 million.” They are profitable across all three of their current business segments. “Playboy’s return to the public markets presents a transformed, streamlined and high-growth business. The Company has over $400 million in cash flows contracted through 2029, sexual wellness products available for sale online and in over 10,000 major retail stores in the US, and a growing variety of clothing and branded lifestyle and digital gaming products.” https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgadata/1803914/000110465921005986/tm2034213-12_defm14a.htm#tSHCF Growth: Playboy has massive growth in China and massive growth potential in India. “In China, where Playboy has spent more than 25 years building its business, our licensees have an enormous footprint of nearly 2,500 brick and mortar stores and 1,000 ecommerce stores selling high quality, Playboy-branded men’s casual wear, shoes/footwear, sleepwear, swimwear, formal suits, leather & non-leather goods, sweaters, active wear, and accessories. We have achieved significant growth in China licensing revenues over the past several years in partnership with strong licensees and high-quality manufacturers, and we are planning for increased growth through updates to our men’s fashion lines and expansion into adjacent categories in men’s skincare and grooming, sexual wellness, and women’s fashion, a category where recent launches have been well received.” The men’s market in China is about the same size as the entire population of the United States and European Union combined. Playboy is a leading brand in this market. They are expanding into the women’s market too. Did you know CBD toothpaste is huge in China? China loves CBD products and has hemp fields that dwarf those in the US. If Playboy expands their CBD line China it will be huge. Did you know the gambling money in Macau absolutely puts Las Vegas to shame? Technically, it's illegal on the mainland, but in reality, there is a lot of gambling going on in China. https://www.forbes.com/sites/javierhasse/2020/10/19/magic-johnson-and-uncle-buds-cbd-brand-enter-china-via-tmall-partnership/?sh=271776ca411e “In India, Playboy today has a presence through select apparel licensees and hospitality establishments. Consumer research suggests significant growth opportunities in the territory with Playboy’s brand and categories of focus.” “Playboy Enterprises has announced the expansion of its global consumer products business into India as part of a partnership with Jay Jay Iconic Brands, a leading fashion and lifestyle Company in India.” “The Indian market today is dominated by consumers under the age of 35, who represent more than 65 percent of the country’s total population and are driving India’s significant online shopping growth. The Playboy brand’s core values of playfulness and exploration resonate strongly with the expressed desires of today’s younger millennial consumers. For us, Playboy was the perfect fit.” “The Playboy international portfolio has been flourishing for more than 25 years in several South Asian markets such as China and Japan. In particular, it has strategically targeted the millennial and gen-Z audiences across categories such as apparel, footwear, home textiles, eyewear and watches.” https://www.licenseglobal.com/industry-news/playboy-expands-global-footprint-india It looks like they gave COVID the heisman in terms of net damage sustained: “Although Playboy has not suffered any material adverse consequences to date from the COVID-19 pandemic, the business has been impacted both negatively and positively. The remote working and stay-at-home orders resulted in the closure of the London Playboy Club and retail stores of Playboy’s licensees, decreasing licensing revenues in the second quarter, as well as causing supply chain disruption and less efficient product development thereby slowing the launch of new products. However, these negative impacts were offset by an increase in Yandy’s direct-to-consumer sales, which have benefited in part from overall increases in online retail sales so far during the pandemic.” Looks like the positives are long term (Yandy acquisition) and the negatives are temporary (stay-at-home orders). https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgadata/1803914/000110465921006093/tm213766-1_defa14a.htm This speaks to their ability to maintain a financially solvent company throughout the transition phase to the aforementioned areas. They’d say some fancy shit like “expanded business model to encompass four key revenue streams: Sexual Wellness, Style & Apparel, Gaming & Lifestyle, and Beauty & Grooming.” I hear “we’re just biding our time with these trinkets until those dollar dollar bill y’all markets are fully up and running.” But the truth is these existing revenue streams are profitable, scalable, and rapidly expanding Playboy’s e-commerce segment around the world. "Even in the face of COVID this year, we've been able to grow EBITDA over 100 percent and revenue over 68 percent, and I expect that to accelerate going into 2021," he said. “Playboy is accelerating its growth in company-owned and branded consumer products in attractive and expanding markets in which it has a proven history of brand affinity and consumer spend.” Also in the SEC filing, the Time Frame: “As we detailed in the definitive proxy statement, the SPAC stockholder meeting to vote on the transaction has been set for February 9th, and, subject to stockholder approval and satisfaction of the other closing conditions, we expect to complete the merger and begin trading on NASDAQ under ticker PLBY shortly thereafter,” concluded Kohn. The Players: Suhail “The Whale” Rizvi (HMFIC), Ben “The Bridge” Kohn (CEO), “lil” Suying Liu & “Big” Dong Liu (Young-gun China gang). I encourage you to look these folks up. The real OG here is Suhail Rizvi. He’s from India originally and Chairman of the Board for the new PLBY company. He was an early investor in Twitter, Square, Facebook and others. His firm, Rizvi Traverse, currently invests in Instacart, Pinterest, Snapchat, Playboy, and SpaceX. Maybe you’ve heard of them. “Rizvi, who owns a sprawling three-home compound in Greenwich, Connecticut, and a 1.65-acre estate in Palm Beach, Florida, near Bill Gates and Michael Bloomberg, moved to Iowa Falls when he was five. His father was a professor of psychology at Iowa. Along with his older brother Ashraf, a hedge fund manager, Rizvi graduated from Wharton business school.” “Suhail Rizvi: the 47-year-old 'unsocial' social media baron: When Twitter goes public in the coming weeks (2013), one of the biggest winners will be a 47-year-old financier who guards his secrecy so zealously that he employs a person to take down his Wikipedia entry and scrub his photos from the internet. In IPO, Twitter seeks to be 'anti-FB'” “Prince Alwaleed bin Talal of Saudi Arabia looks like a big Twitter winner. So do the moneyed clients of Jamie Dimon. But as you’ve-got-to-be-joking wealth washed over Twitter on Thursday — a company that didn’t exist eight years ago was worth $31.7 billion after its first day on the stock market — the non-boldface name of the moment is Suhail R. Rizvi. Mr. Rizvi, 47, runs a private investment company that is the largest outside investor in Twitter with a 15.6 percent stake worth $3.8 billion at the end of trading on Thursday (November, 2013). Using a web of connections in the tech industry and in finance, as well as a hearty dose of good timing, he brought many prominent names in at the ground floor, including the Saudi prince and some of JPMorgan’s wealthiest clients.” https://www.nytimes.com/2013/11/08/technology/at-twitter-working-behind-the-scenes-toward-a-billion-dollar-payday.html Y’all like that Arab money? How about a dude that can call up Saudi Princes and convince them to spend? Funniest shit about I read about him: “Rizvi was able to buy only $100 million in Facebook shortly before its IPO, thus limiting his returns, according to people with knowledge of the matter.” Poor guy :( He should be fine with the 16 million PLBY shares he's going to have though :) Shuhail also has experience in the entertainment industry. He’s invested in companies like SESAC, ICM, and Summit Entertainment. He’s got Hollywood connections to blast this stuff post-merger. And he’s at least partially responsible for that whole Twilight thing. I’m team Edward btw. I really like what Suhail has done so far. He’s lurked in the shadows while Kohn is consolidating the company, trimming the fat, making Playboy profitable, and aiming the ship at modern growing markets. https://www.reuters.com/article/us-twitter-ipo-rizvi-insight/insight-little-known-hollywood-investor-poised-to-score-with-twitter-ipo-idUSBRE9920VW20131003 Ben “The Bridge” Kohn is an interesting guy. He’s the connection between Rizvi Traverse and Playboy. He’s both CEO of Playboy and was previously Managing Partner at Rizvi Traverse. Ben seems to be the voice of the Playboy-Rizvi partnership, which makes sense with Suhail’s privacy concerns. Kohn said this: “Today is a very big day for all of us at Playboy and for all our partners globally. I stepped into the CEO role at Playboy in 2017 because I saw the biggest opportunity of my career. Playboy is a brand and platform that could not be replicated today. It has massive global reach, with more than $3B of global consumer spend and products sold in over 180 countries. Our mission – to create a culture where all people can pursue pleasure – is rooted in our 67-year history and creates a clear focus for our business and role we play in people’s lives, providing them with the products, services and experiences that create a lifestyle of pleasure. We are taking this step into the public markets because the committed capital will enable us to accelerate our product development and go-to-market strategies and to more rapidly build our direct to consumer capabilities,” said Ben Kohn, CEO of Playboy. “Playboy today is a highly profitable commerce business with a total addressable market projected in the trillions of dollars,” Mr. Kohn continued, “We are actively selling into the Sexual Wellness consumer category, projected to be approximately $400 billion in size by 2024, where our recently launched intimacy products have rolled out to more than 10,000 stores at major US retailers in the United States. Combined with our owned & operated ecommerce Sexual Wellness initiatives, the category will contribute more than 40% of our revenue this year. In our Apparel and Beauty categories, our collaborations with high-end fashion brands including Missguided and PacSun are projected to achieve over $50M in retail sales across the US and UK this year, our leading men’s apparel lines in China expanded to nearly 2500 brick and mortar stores and almost 1000 digital stores, and our new men’s and women’s fragrance line recently launched in Europe. In Gaming, our casino-style digital gaming products with Scientific Games and Microgaming continue to see significant global growth. Our product strategy is informed by years of consumer data as we actively expand from a purely licensing model into owning and operating key high-growth product lines focused on driving profitability and consumer lifetime value. We are thrilled about the future of Playboy. Our foundation has been set to drive further growth and margin, and with the committed capital from this transaction and our more than $180M in NOLs, we will take advantage of the opportunity in front of us, building to our goal of $100M of adjusted EBITDA in 2025.” https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20201001005404/en/Playboy-to-Become-a-Public-Company Also, according to their Form 4s, “Big” Dong Liu and “lil” Suying Liu just loaded up with shares last week. These guys are brothers and seem like the Chinese market connection. They are only 32 & 35 years old. I don’t even know what that means, but it's provocative. https://www.secform4.com/insider-trading/1832415.htm https://finance.yahoo.com/news/mountain-crest-acquisition-corp-ii-002600994.html Y’all like that China money? “Mr. Liu has been the Chief Financial Officer of Dongguan Zhishang Photoelectric Technology Co., Ltd., a regional designer, manufacturer and distributor of LED lights serving commercial customers throughout Southern China since November 2016, at which time he led a syndicate of investments into the firm. Mr. Liu has since overseen the financials of Dongguan Zhishang as well as provided strategic guidance to its board of directors, advising on operational efficiency and cash flow performance. From March 2010 to October 2016, Mr. Liu was the Head of Finance at Feidiao Electrical Group Co., Ltd., a leading Chinese manufacturer of electrical outlets headquartered in Shanghai and with businesses in the greater China region as well as Europe.” Dr. Suying Liu, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Mountain Crest Acquisition Corp., commented, “Playboy is a unique and compelling investment opportunity, with one of the world’s largest and most recognized brands, its proven consumer affinity and spend, and its enormous future growth potential in its four product segments and new and existing geographic regions. I am thrilled to be partnering with Ben and his exceptional team to bring his vision to fruition.” https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20201001005404/en/Playboy-to-Become-a-Public-Company These guys are good. They have a proven track record of success across multiple industries. Connections and money run deep with all of these guys. I don’t think they’re in the game to lose. I was going to write a couple more paragraphs about why you should have a look at this but really the best thing you can do is read this SEC filing from a couple days ago. It explains the situation in far better detail. Specifically, look to page 137 and read through their strategy. Also, look at their ownership percentages and compensation plans including the stock options and their prices. The financials look great, revenue is up 90% Q3, and it looks like a bright future. https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgadata/1803914/000110465921005986/tm2034213-12_defm14a.htm#tSHCF I’m hesitant to attach this because his position seems short term, but I’m going to with a warning because he does hit on some good points (two are below his link) and he’s got a sizable position in this thing (500k+ on margin, I think). I don’t know this guy but he did look at the same publicly available info and make roughly the same prediction, albeit without the in depth gambling or cannabis mention. You can also search reddit for ‘MCAC’ and very few relevant results come up and none of them even come close to really looking at this thing. https://docs.google.com/document/d/1gOvAd6lebs452hFlWWbxVjQ3VMsjGBkbJeXRwDwIJfM/edit?usp=sharing “Also, before you people start making claims that Playboy is a “boomer” company, STOP RIGHT THERE. This is not a good argument. Simply put. The only thing that matters is Playboy’s name recognition, not their archaic business model which doesn’t even exist anymore as they have completely repurposed their business.” “Imagine not buying $MCAC at a 400M valuation lol. Streetwear department is worth 1B alone imo.” Considering the ridiculous Chinese growth as a lifestyle brand, he’s not wrong. Current Cultural Significance and Meme Value: A year ago I wouldn’t have included this section but the events from the last several weeks (even going back to tsla) have proven that a company’s ability to meme and/or gain social network popularity can have an effect. Tik-tok, Snapchat, Twitch, Reddit, Youtube, Facebook, Twitter. They all have Playboy stuff on them. Kids in middle and highschool know what Playboy is but will likely never see or touch one of the magazines in person. They’ll have a Playboy hoodie though. Crazy huh? A lot like GME, PLBY would hugely benefit from meme-value stock interest to drive engagement towards their new business model while also building strategic coffers. This interest may not directly and/or significantly move the stock price but can generate significant interest from larger players who will. Bull Case: The year is 2025. Playboy is now the world leader pleasure brand. They began by offering Playboy licensed gaming products, including gambling products, direct to consumers through existing names. By 2022, demand has skyrocketed and Playboy has designed and released their own gambling platforms. In 2025, they are also a leading cannabis brand in the United States and Canada with proprietary strains and products geared towards sexual wellness. Cannabis was legalized in the US in 2023 when President Biden got glaucoma but had success with cannabis treatment. He personally pushes for cannabis legalization as he steps out of office after his first term. Playboy has also grown their brand in China and India to multi-billion per year markets. The stock goes up from 11ish to 100ish and everyone makes big gains buying somewhere along the way. Bear Case: The United States does a complete 180 on marijuana and gambling. President Biden overdoses on marijuana in the Lincoln bedroom when his FDs go tits up and he loses a ton of money in his sports book app after the Fighting Blue Hens narrowly lose the National Championship to Bama. Playboy is unable to expand their cannabis and gambling brands but still does well with their worldwide lifestyle brand. They gain and lose some interest in China and India but the markets are too large to ignore them completely. The stock goes up from 11ish to 13ish and everyone makes 15-20% gains. TL;DR: Successful technology/e-commerce investment firm took over Playboy to turn it into a porn, online gambling/gaming, sports book, cannabis company, worldwide lifestyle brand that promotes sexual wellness, vetern access, women-ownership, minority-ownership, and “pleasure for all”. Does a successful online team reinventing an antiquated physical copy giant sound familiar? No options yet, shares only for now. $11.38 per share at time of writing. My guess? $20 by the end of February. $50 by EOY. This is not financial advice. I am not qualified to give financial advice. I’m just sayin’ I would personally use a Playboy sports book app while smoking a Playboy strain specific joint and it would be cool if they did that. Do your own research. You’d probably want to start here: WARNING - POTENTIALLY NSFW - SEXY MODELS AHEAD - no actual nudity though https://s26.q4cdn.com/895475556/files/doc_presentations/Playboy-Craig-Hallum-Conference-Investor-Presentation-11_17_20-compressed.pdf Or here: https://www.mcacquisition.com/investor-relations/default.aspx Jimmy Chill: “Get into any SPAC at $10 or $11 and you are going to make money.” STL;DR: Buy MCAC. MCAC > PLBY couple weeks. Rocketship. Moon. Position: 5000 shares. I will buy short, medium, and long-dated calls once available.
r/popheads Album Of The Year 2020 #3: Charli XCX - how i'm feeling now
Artist:Charli XCX Album:How I'm feeling now Release Date: May 15, 2020 Listen:Apple Music |Spotify | Youtube popheads[FRESH] Thread | Release [MEGATHREAD] In 2019, Charli XCX finally released her long-awaited third studio album after spending the second half of the 2010s radically changing her sound and by proxy her audience, dropping an EP,twomixtapes and loosesingles that pivoted the mainstream-skirting pop star into a bold new experimental lane that ended up instrumental in paving the way for what would eventually become hyperpop. With the release of her album Charli, she very successfully negotiated her new, abrasive sound with an abundance of massive guest stars and more radio and festival-ready crowd-pleasers, and while outside of some minor success for 1999 it didn't produce any world-conquering smashes as in her Iggy Azalea co-starring heyday, it solidified her position as a cult artist with a following that was only growing with every release, as well as roping in some long-awaited critical acclaim, especially for much-beloved single Gone, which seems to have built its way into the pantheon of universally adored 2010s pop. Between this release, her numerous headlining festival slots, and the continuing growth of the hyperpop sound thanks to similarly acclaimed releases from artists such as Caroline Polachek, Dorian Electra and 100 Gecs, it was looking like the 2020s were going to kick off with a bumper year for Charli XCX.
AND THEN THE WORLD WENT TO FUCK.
Look, this is not the place nor time for a recap of everything that happened in 2020 that led to the bottomless pit the earth fell into. God knows neither you nor I have the energy for that right now. But point being, basically every plan that basically everyone made in 2019 was dead in the water by March 2020, and that was not an exception for Charli. But if having a collection of leaked tracks almost as big as her actual discography proves anything, it's that Charli is nothing if not a workaholic (as she herself admits), and as such, when April rolled around and the room was coated with all the shit that had just hit the fan, she announced in the most 2020 fashion possible, via a Zoom conference, that her new album was titled How I'm Feeling Now, that it would be worked on in collaboration with fans as well as executive producers BJ Burton and AG Cook, and it was scheduled for release on May 15, just over a month out from the announcement. The Form of Isolation Moreso than perhaps any other pop release the past year, How I’m Feeling Now really is the album of 2020 in the sense that almost every element of the album was informed by the circumstances of the international lockdown that dominated seemingly every facet of life in the past year. With in-person contact relegated to one’s personal home bubble and next to nothing else, everything and everyone went online in a big way for any morsel of communication, and in Charli’s case, that meant having her album rollout consist of extensive behind-the-scenes coverage, where fans got to experience pieces of the work as it was still being refined and put together, in the form of notepad screenshots with lyrical motifs, instrumental stems, concepts and options for single artwork and even direct video of working through lyrics and melodies in real time. Charli also continued with the use of Zoom throughout the creation process, providing weekly streams where she would update Angels on the progress of the album and also take questions and talk directly with fans and fellow artists about the creative process in lockdown. Further to all of this, the fan input in this album can be seen in the numerous polls that Charli put online to decide on album artwork and elements of tracks that would end up on the final album, up to and including the track names, as well as the contributions made to videos, either officially or solely in memeform. But it wasn’t just in the openness to the audience of the album’s creation where it reflected the paradoxical interconnectedness of 2020. How I’m Feeling Now reflects the necessity of resourcefulness in these UnPrECeDeNtEd TiMeS through its construction, whether that be finally using a completed track that has been stuck in limbo since 2017, remixing a track from the album that Charli released not even a year earlier, building off of stems that producers had been sitting on for years, or just by virtue of making and releasing an album of hyperpop, perhaps the easiest sound to develop from the bedroom and via email if the genre’s explosion in popularity and mainstream-adjacent awareness in the past 12 months is anything to go by. While the vast majority of this album was indeed written and developed in the space of the month-ish between announcement and release, the craftiness of the album’s design in pulling together old elements to recontextualise them for the lockdown era is a brilliant move that deserves an equal level of commendation as the material made fresh. Through both its form and its content, How I’m Feeling Now really does touch on many of the most personal aspects of the adjustment to the new normal, and it starts off by representing how it felt living through late-March - like driving full speed into a brick wall. The Physical Toll of Isolation
I just wanna go real hard Lip gloss on and I'm lookin' like a star Got a tiny bag, but I got a big heart On the video chat, cute skirt and a bra
The nervy, manic energy of the entire Earth being thrown off its axis is conveyed perfectly in opener Pink Diamond. Musically one of the most aggressive songs Charli has ever made, with its punishing wallops of bass and shrill high-pitched synths, it's a roided-up version of some of the most chaotic bangers from Vroom Vroom or Pop 2 in its tone and lyrical content, but by placing it at the start of the album, it conveys the sense of having boundless energy and no outlet to channel it into. As much as you can dress up and slut drop in your bedroom, there's no clubs to take that to, so you're stuck doing it in front of a webcam in a vain attempt to recreate the thrill. It's a jarring opener, but nothing captures the sharp handbrake of life in 2020 better.
I'm so bored (Woo) Wake up late, eat some cereal Try my best to be physical Lose myself in a TV show Staring out to oblivion All my friends are invisible Twenty-four seven, miss 'em all I might cry like a waterfall I feel afraid when I feel alone
Compare that to the other aggressive, chaotic hyperpop banger on the album, Anthems, which comes near the tail end of the album. Tonally, the two are very similar, but Anthems is driven by a faster, more manic synth bounce courtesy of Dylan Brady of 100 Gecs, reflecting a greater sense of desperation as the situation of isolation starts to take its toll after spending too long cooped up in the same four walls. Lyrically, the energy of the track is built up out of anger at the forced routine and the lack of in-person connection as weeks alone turn to months. The emotions of solitude transcend just melancholy and flow back into a form of rage at having everything you love ripped away through no fault of your own. In spite of the anger and frustration, there does exist a glimmer of hope that while the lockdown is an isolating experience, it’s also a shared one, and that small piece of optimism carries the song away from bitterness and into a sort of romantic longing that makes the abrasion much easier to swallow. The Emotional Overdrive of Love in Isolation Of course, for as isolating as an experience 2020 has been, some of us were able to at least share our physical spaces with another for the time. I don’t think I need to tell you, however, that being forced into the same space for most hours of the day as opposed to at least having the freedom to leave will change how you feel about these people. You get time to talk, time to ponder, and time to get way, way too deep into your feelings. This is an aspect that Charli does not spare whatsoever.
You take your time, I'll take mine, we'll be fine Knew I'd be here, be here, be here with you When the roof caved in and the water fell through Hope when we're old, we'll be friends, reminisce Hope we'll be there, be there, be there, us two All the memories, all the photos we took
A large core of this album is centred either directly or peripherally on Charli's long-term boyfriend Huck Kwong, who was also the only person in Charli's house with her during the album's creation, and the arc that is created shows in quite significant detail the tribulations of their relationship, starting with Forever, the first song after the energy release of Pink Diamond and also the first single released for the album. The song is ostensibly a love ballad, but right from the start it's clear that something is off. The initial dramatic swell of off-key blaring synth and blasts of fuzz on the beat threaten to swallow Charli and the rest of the track whole, and the lyrics show Charli almost resigned to the inevitable failure of the relationship in spite of her clear devotion. The on-edge presentation of the song is reflective of the nerves that come with now being put into a scenario where you're going to be forced to spend all of your time with someone who you are utterly convinced doesn't feel about you the way you feel about them, and it sets up the remainder of the album as Charli attempts to reconcile her mental and emotional uncertainty with the current reality that she is going to be stuck with this person for the foreseeable future.
I like, I like, I like, I like, I like everything about you I like, I like, I like, I like, I like everything about you So, don't you hold me back 'Cause I know when I know, I don't wanna be alone
So why not try and hone in on what it is you do love about this person? Claws immediately follows, and it's perhaps the most upbeat song on the album in its infectious hyperpop bounciness and positive, lively descriptions of the emotions abound in sharing the best moments of your life with someone. It is a song focusing on the happiest side of the relationship, but there is still an undercurrent of insecurity in that this person is also all you kind of have in the moment. It's a forced smile that turns itself into a genuine smile purely out of the amount of effort being exerted, and it is infectious, but the glint of sadness beneath the joy does linger nevertheless.
So hard, things that we've been through, yeah Could've fallen, but we only grew, yeah (Uh) So I made my house a home with you (Oh) I'm right here and it feels brand new I used to live inside a lie with you (With you) And now we're honest and it feels so good (Ah, ah)
And once the chaotic pent-up energy finally subsides, we get a genuine moment of reflection on 7 Years. Musically, the distortion, the chaotic basslines and the harsh synth tones all fall away as the song starts with a multi-tracked acapella; Charli’s internal monologue finding clarity and perspective for the first time since the chaos began. As the song kicks into gear properly, the production is finally putting Charli front and centre as she makes sense of all of the sacrifices they’ve made for each other and how now that they finally have the opportunity to slow down and take stock of everything they’ve done together, she can start to assuage some of those concerns that still linger, hoping that by laying down an objective view of their history, it can tame the irrational part of her brain that says something must be wrong here. Realising the positives of this look back, the production is bouncy next to Charli’s vocal timbre, yet still nervy in its sudden stabs of synth to provide the rhythmic backdrop to the verses. It’s not in the clear yet, but it’s taking as much time as it needs to work through it all.
Maybe you're my enemy Now I've finally let you come a little close to me, oh Maybe you're my enemy You're the only one who knows the way I really feel, oh Now it's really clear to me You could do a little damage, you could cut me deeper
And as soon as a degree of intimacy and awareness of the seriousness of this relationship is established, Charli immediately leads herself down the path of over-analysis on Enemy. The song builds on the old phrase “Keep your friends close, but your enemies closer.” Well, at this moment, there’s nobody closer to her than the partner she shares a room with, so does that make him the enemy? Should she be concerned? Of course, by this point, she’s established that this guy is not going anywhere anytime soon, so does that mean the potential for damage might be prolonged by more time spent together? It’s a song built on doubts that comes after a degree of emotional stabilising. As soon as one angle is covered, the rest of it gets internalised through another lens, and the objective eye through which Charli has been attempting to see her love comes back to bite her. As such, we get a real glimpse at the tricks that Charli’s mind is playing on her as she makes sense of her surroundings. The Mental Anguish of Isolation As the same four walls bear down and every single piece of your surroundings gets over-analysed to death, it’s not long before every raw feeling gets dragged out into the daylight, either to consider further or to bury deeper. When the one person that you can depend on seeing in that space also takes up so much of your emotional energy, the conflicts of the emotional and the mental collide in dramatic fashion. Charli has never been one to hold back, and as she runs through her emotional difficulties, we get explicit visualisation of the pain she is dealing with.
I don't trust myself at all Why should you trust me? I don't trust myself alone Why should you love me?
As soon as the relationship finally seems to be solidified following on from 7 Years, Charli’s mental strain and insecurity comes swinging back on Detonate. Every fear that she has about her partner gets pushed aside, and in its place comes a tidal wave of fear over what she could inflict given the opportunity to get too close to someone. As much as her rational recognition attempts to slide in and reassure her that nothing this partner can do to hurt her will happen, it only feeds back into her concern for her own stability and her difficulty with saying for certain that she won’t do the same to him. As all of this is going on in the text, the production is telling its own narrative as it goes along with the theme of detonation, firstly centring Charli, then twisting and warping her words going into the outro as the sentiments bounce around in her head, speeding up and distorting even further as the detonation looms, and then the explosion is finally built up to... Only it never comes. As soon as it seems everything would collapse in on itself, there’s a soft hiss and the song ends, like someone pouring a bucket of water on the fuse before the gunpowder ignites. A last-minute rescue and reassurance that there exists stabilising forces which will ensure Charli doesn’t come to her wits’ end. It initially reads as an anti-climax, but when considering how the narrator’s mental state never reaches this low of a valley again, it’s a necessary one. (And it’s not like there’s a shortage of climaxes on this album anyway lol)
That baby, I love you bad 'Cause lately, I finally understand That maybe this feeling that I've found Might kill me, put me in the ground I finally understand, finally understand My therapist said I hate myself really bad You tell me it's fine, let me cry and hug it out
It seems weird to say that the arc of the album resolves itself just over halfway in, but I Finally Understand does feel like a personal reckoning and moment of clarity for Charli in regards to the main romantic narrative underpinning the album thus far. It’s a plainly spoken recognition of just how dangerous her devotion may be in the long-term, but that with the support of her partner and her therapist, this can all be managed and controlled so that it does not continue to lead her down dark paths and potentially sabotage the things that she does have, which, in a lockdown situation, may be all she has. This revelatory feeling is punctuated by the production, which is perhaps the furthest this album gets from hyperpop, instead leaning into a UK Garage influenced beat courtesy of the sole credit from Palmistry. It retains the album’s frenetic energy, but does so in a way that feels more controlled and less abrasive, as if Charli is now working to actively reign herself in for her own sake.
White sheets, you and me used to lay close Blue summer, sittin' high in the window Phone calls every night, had a new glow My clique running through my mind like a rainbow We were so in love, so we let go Took it in our lungs, then we all choked Long drive, so divine when the sun showed My clique running through my mind like a rainbow
Even though I Finally Understand does have a finality to it, the lessons taken in from it do resonate over the remainder of the album, as shown in the following track, c2.0. This is one of the most brilliantly heartwarming moments on the whole album, repurposing Click from Charli’s 2019 album and turning it on its head. The original track was a hedonistic glossy banger that utilised its guest features to sell an image of glamour and collective unflappability. So what happens when that collective is stripped away and your audience is restricted to what can be broadcast from the bedroom? It comes with a recognition that nothing can replace the in-person memories, so one line from Kim Petras’ verse on Click is flipped in a dozen different ways as the basis for a song about nostalgia and loneliness. But as established, the Charli at the start of the album is not the same as current Charli, just as we all evolved over the course of the lockdown(s). The song is a recognition of the importance of friendship and the necessity of nostalgia in dark times as something to hold on to and aspire to again at some point. There’s nothing that can be done right now, but this time, it’s entirely outside of Charli’s control, so instead of getting hung up on it, it’s best to revel in the happy memories and celebrate the fact that they did happen, as well as hold on to the hope of making some new ones in the near future. Holding Tight to the Silver Linings In spite of the anguish and the exhaustion and the pain of attempting to work through it all, there exist glimmers of hope throughout this album - the last-minute fizzle of Detonate, the unifying power of Anthems, the dreamy nostalgia of c2.0. But the most upbeat moments come in the two remaining songs on this album, which aim to create the best possible present all factors considered, as well as spur hope that the ideal present can be represented to some degree in a brighter future.
I only threw this party for you Only threw this party for you, for you, for you I was hopin' you would come through I was hopin' you would come through, it's true, it's true
Party 4 U is the oldest track to make it on to How I’m Feeling Now, with evidence of it existing as far back as 2017, and it shows in the fact that thematically, this track has next to no connection to any of the other songs on the album. It is exactly as the title describes, wherein Charli is throwing a party with only one person in mind, simply describing the elements of the party that she wants this one person to get involved with. If this song was released as a standalone single along with her other 2018 tracks, it would likely just be seen as a cute little hyperpop concept ballad, but by placing it at the tail end of this album and in this context, it gains so much power and resonance. The party she’d like to hold could obviously only have one intended guest irrespective of how many people she invites, and that person is her partner she’s sharing the house they made a home with. Instead of just being a cute crush anthem, it’s a symbol of Charli finally finding peace with herself and her living situation, and making the most of the scenario by throwing a party inside the house they share where they can finally have some much-deserved intimacy without interruption from intruding thoughts or insecurities. It shows the quiet confidence that most of Charli’s older bangers declare loudly, but that makes it a return to her old form and self-assuredness, and at last she’s settled into her new normal and is making the best of it.
Voices tell me hold on Somethin' keeps on pullin' me close, so close Grippin' to you so hard Somethin' keeps on pullin' me close, so close, but I got pictures in my mind I can see it so clearly, see it all so bright I see you and I
At last, the final track of the album. Charli has gone through her mental battle, declared loudly and proudly all of her pains and desires, and now that all of that is on record, all she has left is Visions of the future. The picture is clear for her, and she can foresee the future that she wants and it looks tangible for the first time in a long while. Even if the mental and emotional damage that she’s had to work through doesn’t stay away forever, at least for this one blissful moment of actualisation, it all looks so real and so close, and there’s nothing left to do but celebrate that. After vocalising her dreams and hopefully manifesting them through that, the production breaks out into a full-on rave that ends up taking over the remainder of the song barely halfway in. The driving thump of the beat and blissful high-energy synth tones are not only a joyous moment acting as an upbeat coda to all of the struggles of the arc, but it also evokes an ideal future for us all where we can hopefully soon be back in packed clubs, sweating along to our anthems. By reaching deep into one of hyperpop’s key influences, 90s trance and hardstyle, specifically invoking (to me at least) the extended outro of club classic Born Slippy. Nuxx by Underworld, Charli extends the hand to a wider audience past and present than those who may typically listen to her music, and asks us to revel in the same sun-soaked nostalgia that she revelled in during c2.0. There’s obviously danger in falling too heavily into that as well, but for now, fuck it, we’ve all been through a lot. Enjoy this. And If I May Speak Personally I’ve been a Charli diehard since the second I heard Vroom Vroom. I knew she would always push boundaries, make brilliant, iconic pop melodies, and always sound like she was having shitloads of fun doing it. But I never expected an album of hers to wallop me emotionally from end to end in the way that How I’m Feeling Now did. Again, not to dabble too much in a full-year retrospective that no one wants, but obviously Covid and the subsequent lockdown impacted a lot of people, and for many, they struggled desperately, but for some, they were able to find a way to grow from an experience that was a foreign concept regardless of who you were, and that is what Charli did here. She has never been this nakedly vulnerable both on and off record, and that endeared me and so many others to her this year even more so than what we thought she could. The album release also timed itself pretty much ideally to allow me to feel it to its core. It came out four days after an obviously difficult birthday for me, but also one where a lot of people showed me a lot of love, more than I would normally expect, so I was already feeling pretty tender about human connection. More pertinently, however, this album also came out two days after my country lowered alert levels significantly for the first time and we could see people again in small groups. I returned to work at this stage (a job I really enjoy for the record), and my first listen to this album was in the car on that second day driving in again. Having an album that so succinctly ran through the emotional gauntlet that the prior two months had felt like was incredibly cathartic, and to know that it came from an artist I was already expecting great things from was just the cherry on top. It may not be as glossy and packed with earwormy bops as Charli, or as genre-shatteringly transformational as Pop 2, but this is Charli XCX’s most artistically accomplished project to date, and even if it is just a one-off, I am so glad she challenged herself in this manner. Once again, it is THE album of 2020 for me, for better or worse. So, how wasyour2020?
Did you follow along with the album rollout and creation? If so, how did you feel about having such extensive access to an artist's works in progress?
How do you feel this album fits in with the rest of Charli's catalogue, especially compared to last year's album? Do you feel like it's a one-off made out of necessity, or do you see a future for her with this aesthetic?
Given how directly linked this album is to the experience of living through 2020, how do you foresee this album aging? Will you want to return to it in five or ten years' time?
Charli worked with both old friends (AG Cook, Dylan Brady) and first-time collaborators (BJ Burton, Palmistry) for the production of this album. Did you like the deviations from the hyperpop formula, or would you rather see her burrow deeper into her established sound palette?
Strap in, folks. I’ve been on the hunt for high-quality black leather women’s boots for myself and put together these notes in case they are helpful. Sadly, the linked guidesforwomen no longer exist and I figure something is better than nothing. Hopefully this is a starting point and others can contribute, because I don’t know anything. What I lack in useful technical knowledge, I’ve attempted to make up for with a shit ton of links.
Brands that make women’s Goodyear welted (GYW) boots and shoes
Roughly in order of least to most expensive.
Miles & Louie is a Mexican company offering GYW shoes starting at a mind-bogglingly low Mex$1,800, or around US$90. Styles include derby shoes, short and tall boots, and others. Only some of their loafers are GYW. Their website is in Spanish, but they may take inquiries in English and they have an Etsy shop, too.
John Doe Shoes doesn’t sound like a company that makes women’s boots, does it? But they do. All their women’s boots, including the ankle, jodphur, and lace-up boots, say they’re GYW.
Meermin has sleek loafers, boots, “buckles” (double monks) and Oxfords. In the before times, I tried on their loafers in the New York location and they seemed pretty narrow, but that could be just because of the toe pointiness because I think all of their women’s shoes and boots are listed as medium width. It looks like their sizes start at a UK 3 (US 5.5) and go up to UK 8 (US 10.5). I’ve heard that returns are a pain because Meermin is based in Spain, so proceed with caution. But oh my god, look at the 201420.
Canada West makes their GYW boots in Canada. They have a Chelsea boot, the Romeo, and lace-up ankle boot, the Moorby. I don't think you can order directly through their site but the linked retailer ships worldwide.
Sutro has seven GYW boots for women, including a few Chelsea boot options, the lace-up Mendelle, and the low cut Ocean. Truly pointy toes and zippers are hard to find in women's GYW boots, and the Polk has both. Reviews mixed; should probably be considered a fashion shoe. Sizes 5-11.
$235-255
Chippewa has one GYW women’s boot for women in stock, the Tinsley, which is waterproof and has a steel toe. Kick ass. There are other styles, like the Sunjo and Gale, both 15-inch tall boots, which are GYW but out of stock on Chippewa’s website.
Shoepassion has a good selection of loafers, boots, Oxfords, and monk straps in US sizes 5-12. Not all are GYW, but they make it easy to tell on each product listing with a little needle icon. Options include No. 182, a penny loafer, No. 275, a lace-up boot, and the glossy No. 1103 Oxford.
$245-465
Adelante Shoe Co. has boots and loafers that are GYW. Their slides, sandals, and moccasins are not, which, I mean, fair enough. I don’t even know if that’s possible. They will let you personalize most of their styles, choosing your leather and sole colors, at no extra charge. They’ll also let you choose your size and width individually for your left and right shoes. Lots of warm fuzzy social impact stuff.
$250-350
Skolyx sells GYW boots for women under the Yanko brand as well as their own Skolyx brand. Very pretty jodhpur and Chelsea boots. Made in Mallorca, Spain.
$251
Frye has several GYW styles, including I think most of their made in USA line. Options include the Campus, perfect for the Han Solo on campus look, Harness, and Engineer. They come in different heights which is nice. The Sabrina lace-up and Chelsea are a bit more updated. They have others like the Sacha Chelsea that are GYW but not made in USA.
Redwing says most of their Red Wing Heritage footwear is built using GYW construction. The Clara seems popular and has a great 2.25-inch heel. They have a heeled Chelsea style, the Harriet, and a flat Chelsea that I’m too lazy to link. More rugged lace-up boots include the 6-inch Iron Ranger, 7-inch Silversmith, 8-inch Gracie, and finally the 15.5-inch Gloria. The Classic Moc, with a polyurethane outsole, is available in about a million colors if you’re into the look.
Fluevog makes several GYW styles for women in fun colors and shapes, including the turquoise Winch wholecut shoe and purple square toe Fonda boot. The Luana is a great ankle boot with a pointy toe and plenty of detail. I listed the full prices, but they seem to run good sales.
$299-355
Grenson's shoes are all GYW except for their moccasin collection. They have some trendy, weird styles like the Blossom loafer, as well as more classic styles like the Ella brogue boot, Nora Chelsea boot, and Martha Oxford brogue shoe. Lots of boots including the Nanette hiker boot.
$300-610
Truman Boots has a small selection of women’s boots. They are gorgeous boots, with a short heel and overall attractive silhouette. Made in USA. Be aware of mixed reviews about customer service. See review about a bad made-to-order (MTO) experience.
Wolverine has a couple options, including the 1000 Mile, which is a solid, classic boot, and the Marcelle, which is interesting with a leather and canvas or wool tweed (yes) upper. Made in USA and Mexico respectively. Often available below retail.
White’s has one GYW boot in women’s sizing on their website, the Line Scout Lace-to-Toe. It’s a firefighter boot. How cool is that?!
$330
Barker is an English shoemaker with women's brogues, boots, and Oxfords. The multicolored Fearne brogue shoe is just a dream. Some styles just say "welted" in the description so you may want to confirm details with the brand. Definitely GYW styles include the tweed lace-up Grace boot and Violet Chelsea boot. This last one is available in basic brown and black and also in a suede version with fun electric blue elastic.
$335-530
Blundstone’s two Women’s Heritage boots are GYW. The Chelsea and lace-up options are basic and only available in black, but they are pleasant and modern looking.
$340-345
Cheaney has smart women's shoes and boots for professional or casual wear. I'm particularly taken with the Charlotte brogue Chelsea boot with blue panels. The Amelia brogue boot is sheepskin-lined which I didn't see elsewhere. Also have derby shoes and boots, double monks, balmoral boots. Even the Beth Mary Jane is GYW. Made in England.
£271-317 ($367-429)
Dayton Boots lists several boots as women’s boots. I’d say the most wearable in my soft, urban life are the Ranchero Ladysmith boots. The interesting thing about the other styles is that I’m pretty sure they’re identical to what’s listed under men’s boots. I guess the lesson here is that boots are unisex.
Carmina has a wide variety of women’s boots and various shoes. Brightly-colored derby shoes, high heel full brogue Oxfords, pony leopard Chelsea boots, snakeskin jodphur boots, lots of fun and interesting but still elegant stuff. They also have all the basic colors. The Chelsea ankle boot in brown alligator was by far the most expensive boot I came across. To me Carmina feels like “the Man Repeller blog in 2010 back when it was fun.” Made in Mallorca, Spain.
Trickers says all of their shoes and boots are GYW. Most descriptions say “storm welt” which I understand to be similar but wider and more weatherproof. I gotta be honest, I’m not that into their chunkier look so I didn’t do a lot of digging. You know what, I take that back, I really like their jodhpur boots. They also have brogue shoes and boots, derby shoes and boots, super boots (whatever that means), Chelsea boots, and dealer boots. Made in England.
R.M. Williams makes women’s boots and shoes. Some of their boots, like the Urban Adelaide, Lady Yearling, and Stock Agent Top Boot say “Goodyear welt” in the description while others don’t mention it there but do in the care instructions. So maybe all their boots are GYW? I don’t know.
Crockett & Jones shoes and boots are made in England. I’m not positive the pairs I’m linking are GYW; the website says, “All Goodyear-welted shoes & boots are 100% made in Northampton, England. Slippers & Driving shoes are outsourced to specialist manufacturers” on every page, including on the house slippers. They have some beautiful footwear, like the Lottie, a low leg Chelsea boot, and Jenny, a full brogue Oxford shoe. I am absolutely distracted by the styling with ribbons in place of laces. In a good way. They also have other nice stuff.
Guidi's website is more of an art experience rather than an navigable source of info, but some or all are GYW. Sculptural, fashionable shoes and boots can be purchased from multipleretailers.
$900-2,262
J.M. Weston’s website has a women’s collection including GYW Chelsea boots. I don’t see how to order on their website so this price is from an online retailer.
$1,255
Other things I investigated that didn’t work out
Nisolo makes nice-looking fashion shoes and boots that are not GYW. They say they only use GYW welt construction on their men’s Luciano boot, which they’re currently retiring, so seems unlikely that they will move in that direction. Ethically made.
Some of Wolverine’s sleeker options, like the Blvd Cap Toe and Blvd Chelsea, use cement construction.
Some, not all, of Bed Stu’s boots are GYW, including the Nandi Chelsea boot and the tall, wide calf Jacqueline boot. I don’t know anything else about them but the Beginners Boot Buying Guide says, “Bed Stuy are terrible boots; do not buy them.”
Trask came up in my searches but as far as I can tell, none of their women’s styles are GYW.
I’ve seen Rider Boot Company mentioned but they don't have any women-specific models currently.
Some Dr. Martensboots say they are GYW, like the 1460, a lace-up boot, and 2976, a Chelsea boot. However, because of their heat-fused construction, they may be difficult or impossible to resole.
Poppy Barley is a B Corp making high-quality footwear for women. It looks like they are no longer using GYW construction, at least for their women's styles.
Patagonia made a GYW boot, the Wild Idea work boots, with a limited run. They may release another small batch next season. For now, lovely simple brown Chelsea boot if you happen to be a size 6. Review: Wild Idea work boots by u/ShitbagsR4Reddit
Notes
Hope it’s okay that I tagged various reviewers. Check out the excellent comments by u/Stoic_sasquatch about options for "women's" shoes in "men's" sizing. I didn’t link to examples of women wearing men’s boots but by all means, women, wear men’s boots if you want! Men, wear women’s boots if you want! People, wear stuff you love! I realize that there are high-quality boots that are not GYW, and low-quality boots that are GYW, but since that’s even further outside my area of expertise, I tried to stick with "just GYW" here. The comments include some Blake stitch and Stitchdown suggestions. Entirely possible that I made mistakes, left out useful information, or missed brands. Please let me know and I’ll gladly edit the post. Edit: I reached Reddit's post max! I'll try to keep editing down to add brands, but browse the comments for anything I missed.
I have a day off from work today, so I've decided to make a big list of everything on a mountain bike. Some may have more, some may have less. If I've made any mistakes, please correct me in the comments. We'll start with materials:
Materials:
A bike will contain a few different materials which can affect the ride quality or weight. A bike will likely have:
Carbon Fibre - super strong, can be made into odd shapes, and can be used on almost any part of the bike, from frames to wheels to cranks. It is considerably more expensive than alloy. Never present on cheap bikes, but the more you pay, the more you see of it.
Aluminium - Alloy can be used everywhere, but is heavier than carbon. Aluminium is making a comeback on expensive bikes, and can be found on almost any entry level bike. It is becoming harder and harder to find alloy framed bikes in the mid-high end range, aside from 1 or 2 brands.
Steel - Steel is usually found on super low end bikes which don't belong on a trail, or higher end bikes most won't buy. This is because steel is heavy, and to get the weight to an acceptable level, high end steel needs to be used. This is really expensive, and often costs more than an alloy equivalent. However, there are cheaper alternatives starting to emerge, and the generic 4130 Chromoly that companies are using is getting lighter. Steel is known for having a bit of flex to it, but this completely depends on the bike. A Carbon fibre or alloy bike could be more compliant than a steel one, if designed right.
Titanium - A super high end material. One of it's draws is the lack of fatigue, so a titanium frame can be your last frame. However, it is generally 3x the price of an alloy frame, and 2x the price of a steel frame, so it doesn't make much sense to buy one, unless you are drawn to the looks. It's also lighter than steel, so it is used in things like pedals. However, it does add a weight limit, and it generally isn't as strong as steel.
Rubber - Used in grips or in ball bearings. Another thing - Don't buy unsealed bearings for your bike. It will only end in a gritty mess and a destroyed bearing.
Plastic - Used in stuff like bushings and mudguards.
Nylon Composite - A type of plastic, like carbon fibre, but with glass instead of carbon shards. It's a lot cheaper, comes in every colour under the rainbow, and is strong. It's usually in things like pedals, where they need to take a hit, but also be light and cheap.
Wheels:
A front wheel is called a front wheel, a rear wheel is called a rear wheel. Two wheels together are called a wheelset. A wheel is made up of:
Axle
A Rim
A Hub
Spokes
Nipples
Wheels are held to the bike using two methods: A quick release or Thru axle. A Thru axles is stiffer, more secure, self centering (so you don't have to re-adjust the brakes) and are a lot stronger. They are only present on higher end bikes. If you are spending decent money on a bike and are looking for something better than the low end bikes, make sure it has a thru axle front and rear. Rims are almost always made out of alloy, or carbon fibre. They vary in size, thickness, construction and hole count based on the type of riding that you do.Nowadays, the general consensus is that a wider rim is better for most trail riding, with 30-35mm width being commonly used with a 2.5" tyre. Carbon rims are lighter and stiffer than most alloy rims, but it does come at an expense of comfort, and a potential weight limit. Alloy rims generally dent, which carbon rims shatter with no warning. Only buy carbon rims if they have a lifetime no questions asked warranty. For 99% of riders, an alloy rim would be more than enough. Front hubs all do the exact same thing: spin the wheel with little to no drag. Because of this, you don't have to spend a lot on one. However, I would still buy a mid range hub, because it would be easier to service. Front hubs generally come in 2 sizes: 100mm spacing and 110mm spacing, which is commonly referred as boost spacing. They also come in different axles sizes: 9mm QR, 15mm TA, 20mm TA. Make sure you know which one you have before buying. Rear hubs have more to do. As well as spinning freely, they need to pedal the bike forwards. When you pedal most bikes forwards, there will be a dead space where you are turning the cranks, yet the bike isn't moving. The more you spend on your hub, the more points of engagement you will have, therefore the less the dead space is. Higher PoE hubs sounds louder than quiet ones. Still, I would prioritise a reliable and easy to service hub over a high engagement one, as you learn to get used to the low engagement. Generally, they come in 4 sizes: 135 QR, 141QR (which is referred to as boost QR), 148TA(boost), and 157TA(super boost). https://hub.chainreactioncycles.com/buying-guides/wheels-and-tyres/spokes-buying-guide/ This article explains spokes in more detail than I can be bothered to include. For nipples, you have the choice between alloy or brass nipples. At this point, I'll presume you are getting your wheels handbuilt, so you would be using proper linseed oil as lubricant. Alloy nipples look cooler, brass nipples last longer.
Suspension:
I'm going to massively oversimplify everything. If you want anything in any detail, check out other things online. A fork and a shock is a small tube sliding inside a big tube, and the movement is controlled by the damper and the spring. The size of the inner tube varies depending on the fork's price point and intended use, from 28mm to 40mm, the bigger the stiffer. Unless you are talking about low end bikes, all suspension will have a spring and a damper. Generally, more adjustments means that the suspension is more tune able, but it is easier to get wrong. A coil fork/shock will have a long coil spring inside of it, while an air spring uses chambers to make the fork work. Air forks have more adjustments, but coil forks are more supple, and behave the same the whole way through the travel. Also, make sure you know how to service your fork. Sag is the percentage of the travel the suspension is compressed when you are on top of the bike with full gear. The purpose of the spring is to try and force the suspension to fully straighten out. As air does not compress in a linear way as the pressure is increased towards the end of the travel, it is less likely to bottom out. However, this will make the suspension seem harsh towards the end of the travel. With an air spring, set your sag with no volume tokens, and go for a ride. If you notice yourself bottoming out often, add a volume spacer. This is not needed with coil forks, so set your sag and ride. Less sag will make the bike more responsive, but would reduce comfort. More sag would do vice versa. For the damper, compression controls the fork throughout the whole travel equally, as oil doesn't compress. Low speed compression involves small movements, like from braking or from small bumps. High speed compression comes from drops and other big hits. There is no wrong or right, start with the dials fully open, then close them in. Rebound is completely personal preference. Low speed rebound affects small movements, high speed rebound affects big movements. One quick and dirty way which works is to start with the rebound at the fastest, then turn it in click by click until when you compress it, it doesn't try to pop off the ground. Then, get fettling with it while riding to get it feeling right. Forks come in different offset lengths, travel, Axle to Crown and tapered/non tapered standards. Also, they come in different materials. Low end SR Suntour and Rockshox models come with steel uppers, which drastically increases the weight, and rust potential. Higher end forks use alloy uppers, and super high end light forks use carbon fibre. If your bike does not come with a dual crown fork, do not put one on. There are a few exceptions, but it would likely snap the head tube off. In addition, the dual crowns would stop the bars from spinning, and would come crashing into the frame in a crash. Instead, if your bike is rated for super long travel forks, put a single crown fork on there. It would be lighter, more flexy and more comfortable. Dual crown forks exist due to a need of stiffness from downhill racers. Your average person would rather the flex, as it makes for a more comfortable ride. Shocks come in different strokes, lengths and mounts. And a final mention for Kashima. From what I can see, it is complete snake oil. The Kashima coating isn't harder than steel, there are thousands of images of it flaking off. It scratches the exact same, but makes the scratches hard to see. The fork is lubricated by oil filled foam rings, so it doesn't matter how slippy the coating even is. From what I can tell, it's bullshit. Buy it only if it looks cool, otherwise, buy a Performance Elite with the GRIP2 damper. Don't be that person who buys an orange and gold fork, yet chooses it to have a damper which is worse than what Marzocchi can sell you for half the price. Make sure:
Your tyre has clearance in the work you want
The Axle to Crown length is similar (+-20mm is the maximum I can recommend)
The offset length is similar, and you change it, how it would affect the bike
If you have a non tapered head tube, buy a non tapered fork; Vice Versa applies
The shock is the same stroke length
The eye-eye measurement is the same
It uses the same mount type
Your frame was designed for the type of shock you are putting in (eg, coil or air)
That it won't void your warranty.
Drivetrain:
A drivetrain consists of:
Cassette/Freewheel
DerailleuChain Tensioner
Shifter
Chain
Crank/Chainring
A Cassette is a piece of metal, usually steel, alloy or titanium, which the chain meshes with. Spending more money on one reduces the weight. However, it sacrifices durability by replacing the low gears with alloy cogs, which wear out a lot faster. I don't believe there is any point in going with a cassette with alloy cogs, as they wear out faster and cost more, unless you need the weight savings. However, buying one with enough range is important, as you don't want to be pushing your way up. A derailleur is the thing shifting the chain up and down, and keep the chain in place to a certain extent. However, upgrading your derailleur will not noticeably improve your shifting performance, so I would buy the cheapest one which is compatible, and is strong. A chain tension-er is only for single speed, as full suspension bikes have their chain stretched out when the suspension is compressed, and it makes turning a regular bike into a SS a lot easier. Avoid cheaping out here though, as multiple low end derailleurs (cough cough SRAM SX) still use plastic parts. You'll see all sorts of broken ones online, so make sure it's all made of metal. A shifter is on the handlebars, and is what you will be using a lot. I would spend big on the shifter, as it directly controls the derailleur, and you are going to be touching it once every few seconds anyway. A chain is what drives the bike forwards, but is often neglected. I would personally not spend big money on a chain, and replace it often. Shifiting with a new chain is a lot smoother, and replacing chains before they wear out is important because they take the rest of the drive train with them. Cranks can be made of alloy, carbon or titanium, and come in different lengths. Short ones give your pedals more clearance and reduce the amount your leg moves while pedalling. Chainrings can vary in size, and need the correct fitting for your cranks, and need clearance for the chainring you plan to use. The bigger the ring, the harder you have to pedal.
Brakes:
With brakes, unless you need to save weight, the more powemodulation, the better. Mineral oil is better than DOT fluid due to mineral oil being harmless for skin. I'd still prioritise an easy to bleed and work on brake over absolute power, as a sharp middle of the ground brake would work much better than a howling high end brake with air in the lines. 4 piston brakes give more modulation and a bit more power, at the expense of weight. Bigger rotors make the brake more powerful, meaning you have to pull less with the finger, reducing fatigue and giving more stopping power. Again, the compromise is weight. Also, metallic and ceramic pads are much better than what comes stock, so buy them.
The rule of thumb is to buy stuff that is comfortable. Slamming your stem looks cool, but are you really that flexible to pull it off? Also, I'd recommend spending whatever you want on the controls, because you'll be looking at them most of the time. Having a cool top-cap is just a way of life.
https://mountaintreads.com/mountain-bike-tires-guide/ Again, does it much better than I could. If you need more speed, go with a faster tyre, and vice versa applies. Going with fast tyre back, slow tyre front is a good compromise.
Going through old issues of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter and posting highlights in my own words. For anyone interested, I highly recommend signing up for the actual site at f4wonline and checking out the full archives. PREVIOUSLY:
PROGRAMMING NOTE: I tried to post this earlier this morning but I guess it didn't work. I just noticed. Said it had to be approved by the mods first. So I deleted that one and re-posting now. We'll see how this goes.
EDIT: Looks like it was the Road Dogg story that got this post flagged and kept it from posting earlier. Dammit Road Dogg, do you ever stop sucking?
I usually try to avoid too much MMA, but the top story this week is a looooooong recap of the Ken Shamrock vs. Tito Ortiz UFC PPV so we gotta run with it, if for no other reason than the fact it's one of the most significant fights in UFC history. Besides, half of this is just Dave talking about how UFC did such a better job with this show than WWE has done with anything in ages. The build-up, promotion, and video packages for this fight blew away anything WWE has done in years and exposed all their problems when it comes to an inability to make people care about matches. WWE has a crew of writers whose job is to book enticing storylines and they can't come close to how UFC promoted this real-life story. Fear Factor host Joe Rogan, as UFC's resident color commentator, did a better job of building excitement than Tazz or Jerry Lawler have ever done. Big name celebrities were in attendance. The gate was the largest MMA gate in the U.S. and bigger than all but a handful of Wrestlemania gates. All without TV and without much mainstream media coverage. In WWE, Shamrock was considered a "bad promo" because he didn't cut promos like they wanted. But his interviews going into this fight were the best in UFC history and went a long way towards this show's huge success.
That being said, Shamrock was totally blown out in what Dave feels was a one-sided fight. Shamrock looked good but he's 38 and simply was outclassed by the younger, faster Ortiz. It went 3 rounds of mostly ground and pound, with Ortiz making hamburger out of Shamrock's face. Even when Shamrock was able to escape, he was too gassed to do much else. After 3 rounds, Shamrock's corner stopped the fight. Ortiz put on a shirt that said "I killed Kenny...you bastard!" but the crowd immediately turned on him when he did and his own trainer demanded he take it off. Afterward, Shamrock was respectful and hugged Ortiz and did an interview making no excuses. When they asked Ortiz about a fight with Chuck Liddell, he responded that UFC better pay them more money for it, or they'll take that fight to Japan (presumably PRIDE, though he didn't explicitly say so). Needless to say, UFC officials weren't thrilled about that. Otherwise, it was a great show. They announced the return of Tank Abbott, which was a surprise since rumors had him going to PRIDE. Bradshaw was there in the front row going nuts the whole show but was never identified on camera. And that's as much as we're dwelling on this show.
Linda McMahon had to face the investors this week and try to put a positive spin on the fact that WWE just suffered its first true money-losing quarter since 1997. WWE lost over $1.6 million this past quarter, due mostly to the money they were forced to pay the William Morris Agency for a lawsuit they lost as well as losses from The World complex in Time Square. Linda said that WWE still considers TV ratings to be the key driver of business and blamed falling ratings on males 17-34 allegedly watching less television these days. Sure, why not? She said they expected business to go down with the brand split and predicted it would take 12-18 months for things to get back to where they should be. Well, we're 8 months in and numbers continue to fall and other than Brock Lesnar, not any other new star has been made by it. In regards to The World complex, Linda admitted there've been mistakes and said they plan to rebrand it again soon as "The World of WWE" after previously deciding to remove the WWE name. They're going to rename the restaurant part JR's Bar & Grill. One investor in particular called Linda out on the declining ratings, blaming it on Triple H being the primary focus (who he noted was Linda's daughter's boyfriend) and mentioning the necrophilia storyline and argued that WWE's problems stem from terrible creative. It was the most critical question Linda has ever faced in one of these calls. Linda defended Triple H, first claiming that Triple H and Stephanie's relationship is new and thus can't be credited for his main event push (no one knows the exact timeline, but given that he was cheating on Chyna with her, this relationship goes back at least 2 years, so you can't exactly call it new). Linda listed Triple H, along with Lesnar, Shawn Michaels, and Scott Steiner as their big four stars. The investor responded saying Michaels "is done" (lol) and that Steiner is just another washed up WCW guy (ok, fair) and that WWE still isn't creating new stars. He said that while WWE was better off financially than WCW was at the end, creatively, they're just as bad. Linda responded, "We are not WCW" and talked about efforts to create new stars out of Edge and Test. This was clearly not the conversation Linda wanted to have with all these other big money investors listening.
Linda was also asked about Steve Austin and said they've talked several times and they're "good friends" but that she didn't know if he was ever coming back. Austin made a public appearance later the same day and was asked the same thing by everyone. He said WWE has been trying to get him to come back in January to build for a Wrestlemania match, but he hasn't decided whether to do it or not yet. He talked about wanting to get his home life in order first before he focuses on a wrestling comeback. Jim Ross also did an interview saying he talks to Austin all the time and expects him back eventually. So it sounds like things are maybe warming up between the two sides finally.
And finally, Linda spent a good chunk of the conference call talking about their issues with the World Wildlife Fund. She said that when she and Vince purchased the company from Vince Sr. in 1982, they trademarked the WWF name and logo. At the time, Wake Forest University had an issue with it because the logo was similar, and in exchange for getting the college to drop their claim, Vince made an agreement to never sell WWF merch on the Wake Forest campus. Easy enough. In 1994, the Wildlife people said, "Hey, that's our letters" and a bunch of legal shit happened and they reached an agreement where WWF wouldn't market itself as "WWF" outside of North America. They would have to use the full name "World Wrestling Federation." Of course, they immediately and constantly began violating that agreement, but the Wildlife people ignored it until Vince snatched up the wwf.com domain name, which is in use worldwide, and obviously could create confusion among any web users trying to find one or the other. Thus the lawsuit, which Vince lost handily and they were forced to rename themselves WWE. Then they had until Nov. 10th of this year to stop selling "WWF" branded merchandise, which resulted in them having to stop and reprint a bunch of stuff as well as take all old WWF footage off some WWF Classics TV show that I guess airs in Europe (they're currently airing WCW footage instead).
Well now, the Wildlife Fund is seeking damages, to the tune of $360 million. Linda claimed the Wildlife people offered to drop all further legal action in exchange for a $90 million settlement and they would extend the deadline until next year. WWE refused. As a result, the Fund is now going to court to try to stop sales of a WWF-branded video game that is due out this month, which is expected to be a big Christmas seller. WWE put out a statement calling it a "Grinch-like move to deny wrestling fans around the world the opportunity to receive these products as Christmas gifts." And in typical WWE fashion, they put out another statement attacking the Fund personally, specifically their lawyer who they claim lives in Switzerland but has no Swiss law license. They conveniently leave out the part that he does have a license to practice law in the UK, and that's where this case was decided, which renders WWE's entire "point" meaningless. They also accused him of having involvement with some financial scandals in the UK and even tried to tie his Islamic charity to the 9/11 tragedies, accusing his charity of funneling money to Al-Qaeda. Just the usual Jerry McDevitt bullshit. Anyway, video game maker THQ said all games with the WWF logo were shipped prior to the original Nov. 10 deadline and therefore, they won't recall them. But a British court has said THQ will be ruled in contempt if any WWF-branded games are sold and recommended THQ should—for their sake—recall the games and bill WWE for the damages because, as the judge said, "THQ must look at WWE for the losses which have been caused because it was the WWE that got them into this mess." One final note to all this: Linda McMahon admitted that they did consider doing an angle at the recent UK Rebellion PPV where Vince McMahon would have faced a wrestler in a panda suit on the show and beat him up and pinned him. Dave says, considering the damages part of the lawsuit is still ongoing, that would have been monumentally stupid and luckily, it seems WWE agreed because they didn't do it. Not even sure why they'd admit thinking about it.
PRIDE had a sold out show at the Tokyo Dome that aired on PPV in Japan and the U.S. but were edited to be completely different shows. The Japan version was based around the retirement of Nobuhiko Takada, facing his former understudy Kiyoshi Tamura and was heavily built around their old 90s UWFI rivalry. It was the rivalry that everything was building to back in the 90s, but it never happened because the company closed. Symbolically, this was seen as the true death of UWFI, 6 years after it actually shut down and closed that incomplete chapter. It was an emotional angle that packed the 3rd largest MMA crowd in history into the Tokyo Dome. But in the U.S., that meant nothing to American fans and the Takada match and retirement ceremony didn't even air as part of the show. Instead the American version of the PPV was edited to showcase Fedor Emeliankenko beating the brakes off Heath Herring and setting himself up to challenge for the heavyweight title in the match that made him a star. Takada got knocked out in his retirement match and they had a big emotional ceremony after. And some other MMA stuff.
Long obituary for Japanese wrestler Thunder Sugiyama, who died at age 62 this week. Big star in the 60s and early-70s, was one of the first recruits by Giant Baba when he started AJPW and later had a brief run in NJPW. After retirement, he became a millionaire in other businesses. But in 1999, due to diabetes complications, he ended up having both of his arms and both of his legs amputated, which led to a lot of media coverage since he was quasi-famous and lost all 4 limbs. Well then.
Another obituary for Billy Joe Travis, who died of a heart attack at 41. He went tanning, drove back to his mother's house, walked through the front door, and dropped dead of a heart attack. He was best known for his years in Memphis, and was regarded as one of the most promising stars in the business in the late-80s. But he had a nasty drug problem and, well, it never really happened. Most people remember him best for being the guy who legitimately got arrested on live TV during one of the Saturday morning Memphis shows, due to failure to pay child support. Cops showed up to the show to get him, they asked if they could film the arrest, cops said sure, and they did, but pretended it was for something else and made an angle out of it.
Fuji Network in Japan had Bob Sapp Day on their channel. From 5:30am until 7pm that night, Sapp repeatedly cut into shows, appeared in live interview segments, did talk shows, game shows, etc. All damn day. It's been said that American fans can't comprehend just how big a star Sapp is in Japan right now. Even people who don't follow wrestling or MMA know who he is because he's become something of a sensation throughout the country.
As further proof that anything can happen, this week's issue of Tokyo Sports featured a front page photo of Antonio Inoki shaking hands with Hisashi Shinma. For the unfamiliar, this is the equivalent of Bret Hart and Vince McMahon shaking hands on the front page of the USA Today. Inoki and Shinma were the minds behind NJPW's success in the 70s and 80s, with Shinma being the primary booker when Inoki was the top star. But an embezzlement scandal in NJPW in the mid-80s led to Shinma being fired. He and Inoki remained friends and they even worked together in 1989 when Shinma acted as Inoki's campaign manager for his successful Senate campaign. However, the 2 later had a major falling out, resulting in Shinma publicly revealing Inoki's participation in the embezzlement scandal as well as even reporting Inoki for cheating on his taxes, which led to a lot of legal headaches for Inoki. So it was a pretty serious beef. However, they have squashed it and, with NJPW struggling right now, word is Shinma will be returning to the company to help dig them out of their hole. It's also worth noting that during the 80s, Shinma was close friends with Vince McMahon and acted as the NJPW liaison to WWF during that time. In fact, he was the on-screen figurehead "President" of WWE prior to Jack Tunney, though he rarely did much of note. The relationship is still good and Shinma noted that one of the first things he wants to do when he starts working for NJPW again is send rookie Shinsuke Nakamura to WWE for him to gain more experience (took, like, 15 years but it happened).
Former UFC heavyweight champ Josh Barnett, currently serving a worldwide 6-month MMA suspension for failing steroid tests, is making his pro wrestling debut for NJPW at the Jan. 4th Tokyo Dome show. Barnett has been a wrestling fan for years, particularly NJPW and the old UWFI in the 90s, and has been trying to get involved in wrestling for awhile. He's friends with Bob Sapp and that opened the door for him, though in Japan, most people know him as Sapp's coach/cornerman rather than being a former UFC champ in his own right, because "UFC" doesn't mean much in Japan (not only does Barnett work this show, he ends up main eventing it, losing to IWGP champ Yuji Nagata).
Chyna is scheduled to return to NJPW next week, this time teaming with Masahiro Chono to face Tadao Yasuda and Kazunari Murakami. I only mention this because it ends up being Chyna's last match for almost a decade. She quietly retired afterward, only returning for one final match in 2011 in TNA. But for all intents and purposes, this is the end of the road for Chyna's pro wrestling career.
Hulk Hogan is doing his book tour and it kinda shows the differences between Vince and Hogan. Privately, Vince has been telling anyone who will listen that he's done with Hogan, doesn't want him back in WWE, and is running him down to anyone who will listen. Hogan, knowing it's inevitable that he'll be back some day, has been much more diplomatic in interviews, praising Vince and calling WWE his home. Hogan admitted in one interview that he was supposed to return at Survivor Series, but the deal fell apart due to creative differences, but that's all he would say (creative differences = he didn't want to put over Brock Lesnar again). Hogan talked about how wrestling is predetermined, but argued against it being choreographed. He says guys like himself and Rock can go out there and call a match on the fly. Dave thinks that's a pretty poor example to use, since Hogan, Rock, and Pat Patterson all flew to Florida prior to Wrestlemania last year and spent 2 days rehearsing every step of that match beforehand. Anyway, Dave promises to have reviews of Hogan's and Piper's books in the next week or two. He's read Piper's already and enjoyed it but hints that there's some inaccuracies. He's heard Hogan's is pretty full of bullshit too, but also says we all expected that going in.
Bret Hart's condition post-stroke has improved significantly, and this week, he even got his driver's license back and is allowed to drive again, which is seen as a major step in his improvement.
Vince Russo returned to TNA this week as an on-screen character, appearing under a mask as Mr. Wrestling III and hitting Ron Killings with a guitar and allowing Jeff Jarrett to win the NWA title. The backstage fallout from this resulted in Sean Waltman quitting the company. Waltman doesn't like Russo and even though he was promised Russo doesn't have any hand in creative, Waltman didn't believe it and quit in protest of Russo's return. Waltman had no-showed TNA's previous PPV at the last moment due to injury and TNA was upset, but decided to bring him back anyway because he was extremely apologetic and because, well, they need stars. Also, Waltman being there is pretty much the only reason Scott Hall decided to come back as well. So with Waltman quitting, this leads to questions about whether Hall will be back either. TNA was also hoping having Waltman on the roster would lead to Chyna coming in, but that's probably not happening now either. Waltman has a deep hatred for Russo's booking and also felt having a company work its wrestlers the way WCW used to do isn't healthy for the company, and he felt he was being misled by TNA about Russo's involvement.
In fact, despite management denials, almost nobody in the company believes that Russo is only a talent. Pretty much everyone figures that if he's not involved in creative yet, he will be soon. During the negotiations with Panda Energy, Waltman himself went to bat for Jerry Jarrett, saying he wanted Jarrett in charge and that he wouldn't stay with the company if Russo was in charge. True to his word, Russo showed up and Waltman quit. TNA tried to pacify him, even discussing doing a match that night where Waltman and Curt Hennig would win the TNA tag team titles. Waltman refused, saying he was only staying and working that night's show because he felt he owed it to the company after no-showing the previous week, but he didn't want to win any titles because he insisted he was quitting after the show. And, sure enough, he did (he stuck to his word too. Waltman didn't return to TNA until after Russo left in 2005. At some point though, they squashed their beef and they appear to be on good terms now. But this is the end of the road for Waltman in TNA for awhile. It was also the end of Scott Hall. He also didn't return again until after Russo left. Also worth noting: Waltman was right. Despite TNA's denials, Russo was indeed involved in creative again during this time).
Other notes from Russo's return: aside from the backstage drama, the Jarrett/Killings NWA title match was actually a strong bout, with the crowd more into it, and Jarrett, than anything in the company's short history so far. Most in the locker room were against the Russo angle to end the match, but otherwise, it went over great. Almost nobody in the locker room knew Russo was returning, which led to the familiar WCW-style "working the boys" complaints but Russo and Jarrett were celebrating it backstage like they pulled off the angle of the year. There was thought that Mike Tenay might quit over it as well, because those 2 have heat going back to WCW (Russo once tried to book Tenay to wrestle a match in WCW with Scott Steiner's valet Midajah, but Tenay refused, saying his contract was to be an announcer, not a wrestler, and Russo was furious about it and the 2 haven't gotten along since).
In case you're wondering whether or not Russo has any involvement in creative, Brian Christopher's valet April dumped him for Goldylocks, with the two of them leaving together in what was played up as an "OMG, they're lesbians!" type of angle. This ain't Jerry Jarrett booking, let's just say that. Dave can't confirm it was Russo, but in all the various WWF lawsuits over the years (Sable, Nicole Bass, etc.) it appears Russo asked just about every woman in WWF to participate in a lesbian angle. So having a lesbian angle in TNA the week he returns obviously leads one to assume.
There's also controversy over BG James (Road Dogg) calling Lenny Lane a "faggot" during a promo and also some other homophobic comments towards the Bruce character (who's entire gimmick is predicated on getting heel heat for being gay). TNA is claiming the line wasn't scripted and is saying James used it on his own. Jerry Jarrett apologized online for it the next day on the wrestlingclassics.com message board he posts on. (In case Road Dogg's 2020 social media posts haven't shown exactly what kind of person he still is, here's the full quote he said about Lenny Lane: "This goes for all of you who are politically correct. This won't be a gay bashing, I'm just about to beat the hell out a faggot." Even though I'm quoting someone else, I still feel gross just typing that) There was similar heat a few weeks ago when Brian Christopher called April a "cunt" during the show.
Steve Austin pled no contest to domestic assault charges in San Antonio court this week. Under the plea bargain, he was given 1 year of probation, a $1000 fine, 80 hours of community service, and must undergo counseling and complete a 24-week domestic violence class. Austin also agreed that any further physical or verbal abuse towards Debra would be considered a probation violation. Under the terms of the probation, he's also not allowed to drink alcohol for 1 year. Dave says that one might be tricky, especially if he returns to wrestling. This was brought up in court and the attorney noted that Austin's usual post-match celebrations would technically be considered a violation. But they also said that it likely wouldn't be enforced since it would be considered acting (yeah, when he returned to WWE in 2003, I think he spent most of that year using non-alcoholic beers for his gimmick. Better safe than sorry). Once Austin completes his probation, the charges will be expunged from his record.
After weeks of Hot Lesbian Action, gay weddings, and corpse fucking, Vince McMahon stood up at a booking meeting this week and loudly declared "shock TV is dead!" and insisted it doesn't work anymore and they will no longer be doing it. So maybe that's the end of Russo-style desperate ratings grabs for now. Keep in mind, literally 4 weeks ago, he sent out a memo to the creative team mocking their critics and insisting that more shock TV was the answer. This man is insane.
WWE had a recent tour in India and nobody had fun. It was considered the trip from hell, and had nothing to do with the plane ride this time. The trip was long and uncomfortable and when they got there, the wrestlers were shocked at the living conditions in the country. WWE's stars were staying at a nice hotel, but just outside the front door, they saw multiple people literally drop their pants to shit in the streets and people living in gutters and filth. Several wrestlers also got sick from drinking the water and eating the food, with Lance Storm and William Regal so sick they couldn't work some of the shows. Booker T got so sick as they were leaving that he had to be hooked up to an IV and rushed to the hospital for dehydration as soon as they got back to the U.S., which caused them to have to rewrite some of that week's TV. The shows were a big success, drawing large crowds, but most of the wrestlers said afterwards that they never want to go back.
Notes from Raw: the newly reunited Dudleys challenged for the tag titles. This wasn't planned, since most people feel it's too soon for them to be going for the titles already, but it was a last-minute re-write due to Booker T not being available. The first hour of the show was written around that match and a bunch of backstage skits featuring Booker T & Goldust which had to be scrapped. Match was an overbooked mess, with multiple re-starts due to Eric Bischoff's new rule enforcer, Val Venis (now using his real name Sean Morley). Dudleys stole Christian and Chris Jericho's clothes backstage and threw them out to the crowd and also revealed a jar of "ass cream" in one of their bags. Dave says he flipped over to Monday Night Football during this to see how that game was going because otherwise, he would have split his gut laughing at this masterful attempt at humor (sarcastic, Raw-reviewing Dave is the best. This used to be how he reviewed Nitro near the end and I've missed it). There were also a bunch of jokes about Jericho and Christian experiencing "shrinkage." Christ, Vince McMahon has the sense of humor of a 12-year-old. Elsewhere in the show, Hurricane hit a shining wizard on somebody and Jim Ross actually called the move by name. This has been a running joke throughout the 2002 Observers about how WWE wrestlers have started using that move (stolen from Great Muta) and none of the announcers ever called it by name or even seemed to know what it was. So with JR finally calling it by name, Dave says, "so that storyline has concluded." Batista (no longer Dave) is being managed by Ric Flair now. Rico is no longer an effeminate hair dresser and is now being booked as a tough guy, which the crowd is not buying. And first thing they did after giving him this gimmick change was have him lose clean as a sheet to Goldust in 3 minutes. And main event was Shawn Michaels vs. RVD in what was regarded as something of a dream match by a lot of fans. When ECW was around, "Shawn Michaels vs. RVD" was always the WWF/ECW interpromotional match fans wanted. Well, we got it and....it was a disappointment. It was Michaels' first match on Raw in almost 5 years. It was good, but nowhere near what people were hoping for.
Notes from Smackdown tapings for next week: Bull Buchanan is now known as B-Squared and is teaming with John Cena. Tazz had a family emergency and had to pull out of the show at the last minute, leading WWE to put Ernest "The Cat" Miller in his place doing commentary. This show hasn't aired yet as of press time, but those who heard the live feed say Miller was horrendous, didn't know any of the characters or storylines, and Michael Cole had to prep him on everything during each commercial break. Stephanie McMahon suspended Brock Lesnar for his actions last week, even using the "I didn't screw Lesnar. Lesnar screwed Lesnar" line. Keep that in mind next time WWE claims Bret Hart is the one who won't move on from the Screwjob. Stephanie also made a bunch of period references at some point in the show, claiming it was that time of the month and she was being visited by her Aunt Flo, who visits her monthly. Kurt Angle, playing his goofy dork role, acted like he didn't know what she was talking about. Dave is already dreading watching this show. This, yet again, reeks of Vince McMahon 12-year-old "humor." Scott Steiner pinched Nidia's ass, because sexual assault is hilarious, and this led to Jamie Noble getting obliterated by Steiner. Guerreros vs. Angle/Benoit was good but otherwise, this sounds like a dreadful show.
Notes from this week's Smackdown: this one was a good show. Mysterio/Noble was short but awesome finish. Guerreros complained about an unsafe working environment, leading Dave to talk about the Shawn Michaels/Bret Hart backstage fight in 1997 that led to Shawn briefly claiming he was quitting because WWF was an unsafe work environment. Paul Heyman cut a great promo about Lesnar. They had a backstage segment where you could see Raw announcer JR in the background and Dave says this never would have happened a year ago, but quality control and attention to detail went out the window when WCW died. Edge vs. Big Show in the main event for the title felt like Edge being a sacrificial lamb in the Lesnar feud and exposed Edge as not quite being ready for main events.
Various WWE notes: American Dragon, Paul London, and Michael Shane are all working dark matches at TV tapings next week. In regards to DDP's recent release, he was planning on returning to the ring against doctor's orders, but Vince McMahon made the call to listen to the doctors, who said DDP could be risking paralysis if he wrestles again. So Vince won't let him wrestle anymore and they mutually agreed on his contract release afterward. Undertaker's wife gave birth to a baby girl this week.
Dave reviews the recent episode of Tough Enough and there's something pretty interesting here in retrospect. One of the contestants, Nick, had a bicep injury and went to the doctor for it. The doctor told him he had a partially torn bicep and to take a couple of weeks off to rest the injury and Nick followed the doctor's advice and did just that. As a result, the WWE trainers felt he could never make it in pro wrestling because he refused to work through the injury. They all pretty much treated him like a pussy and he ended up getting cut from the show because of it. Gee, maybe he should just take a handful of pain pills like everyone else and end up dead at 40. This fucking company, I swear.... anyway, Bill DeMott, who is on record saying he's had so many concussions that doctors have told him he's risking permanent brain damage, was one of the most appalled at Nick refusing to wrestle with the injury because Bill DeMott is an asshole.
Jim Ross in his Ross Report on WWE.com talked openly about wanting Steve Austin to return but said he needs to get his marriage issues straightened out first. In regards to Chyna returning, JR said it would be challenging because of Triple H's relationship with Stephanie, which makes him the first person in WWE management to openly admit that Chyna is basically blackballed from the company so long as those 2 are together. He also said he wants Goldberg to come in, but said he's making too much money in Japan and they won't match those offers. He also point blank said Hogan was supposed to return at Survivor Series but it fell apart because he refused to job to Lesnar. He also said WWE doesn't need a 49-year-old guy who's about to qualify for AARP membership to be their top guy and Hogan basically needs to get over his ego and know his place in the business at this point in his career. He also said they would love to have Ken Shamrock back, but only if he's committed to WWE full time, which has always been the hold-up.
NEXT WEDNESDAY:Mr. Wrestling" Tim Woods passes away, Roddy Piper autobiography review, Hiroshi Tanahashi gets stabbed, and more. Only 4 Rewinds left...
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