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Tag: WBC

  • Foo Fighters Call Rickrolling The WBC Standing Up For What Is Right

    Foo Fighters are the greatest rock and roll band in the world today. Now that we’ve gotten that out of the way, allow me to back that point up. Not only did broken and dislocated bones not stop the Foo Fighters this year, they came back with Dave Grohl in a throne of his own design. Heck, Grohl didn’t even miss the show he broke his ankle in.

    Now Foo Fighters have taken on the Westboro Baptist Church hate squad. Again. Last time the WBC ran afoul of Grohl and Comnpany, they were treated to a song written just for them called “Keep It Clean,” complete with accompanying video.

    This time, Foo Fighters just rolled out in front of the WBC contingent gathered for their Kansas City show and Rick Rolled them, blasting the Rick Astley “Never Gonna Give You Up” track to mock the haters.

    Later that night, at the Kansas city chow, Dave Grohl explained why the Foo Fighters got in the WBC’s face again.

    “You can’t just sit there and do nothing, you got to go out there, and say what you wanna say, so we did,” Grohl told the crowd.

    He unfolded the story of the WBC encounter.

    “Well, tonight we were sitting backstage, and someone said: ‘Guess who is coming tonight?’ And I said: ‘Who?’ They said: ‘Them.’ I said: ‘Why?’ They said: ‘Cause.’ And I said, ‘Cool, let’s go out and f–kin’ hang out with them for a bit.’ So we didn’t have enough time to put together the big old show that we put on last time, so we figured, you know what, why don’t we just fucking RickRoll their ass? Cause nothing says love like a little Rick Astley in your life, you know what I’m saying? Never gonna give his ass up! So I’m going to dedicate this song to all the people who go out and speak their mind, to stand up for what they think is right, because every time we got to stand up in this city in front of them, we do it because we feel like we’re standing up for what we think is right.”

  • Westboro Protest Draws Unexpected Sympathy Message

    In their first public protest since the passing of leader Fred Phelps, members of the Westboro Baptist Church took to the streets to picket a concert by pop star Lorde, famous for her song “Royals”. But KSHB in Kansas City reports that the protest did not go as expected, and the WBC members got an unusual response.

    Some Lorde fans got together and made a banner to display in full view of the WBC members. It read: Sorry For Your Loss.

    One of the fans involved in making the banner assured reporters that there was nothing hurtful or sarcastic meant by the banner. It simply meant what it said, and was intended to counter the hate of the WBC signs and rhetoric with a message of sympathy and understanding.

    “We realized that it wasn’t so much about antagonizing them,” said Megan Coleman, “but sending out the counter-message that we are here for people who need that message and need that positivity.”

    Steve Drain, a longtime Westboro member who some see as the heir apparent to the leadership position, responded by telling reporters, “I don’t even know what they’re saying.”

    The typical WBC protests have long drawn folks to counter-protest. Some hold up funny signs, deriding the usual “God Hates Fags” and “God Laughs When Soldiers Die” message. A common sight is a “God Hates Signs” placard.

    Others have spoken out directly, especially celebrities. Foo Fighters took a WBC protest in stride, even turning it into an opportunity to have some fun at Westboro’s expense. [NSFW]

    Where Drain or anyone else ends up taking Westboro from here remains to be seen. But the church has shown itself to be such a distasteful thing in America that it has ironically succeeded in actually promoting and strengthening the very causes it protests.

    Image va YouTube

  • Westboro Baptist Church (Still) Hates Everybody!

    After the death of their charismatic leader Fred Phelps a few days ago, one would think that Westboro Baptist Church might be ready to call it a day, take down the “God Hates ________” signs, and head home.

    But perhaps not.

    We reported here yesterday that the group is as defiant as ever about their being right about your sorry soul, and the rest of the world being wrong about everything. In a statement following Fred Phelps death, the group said:

    “Listen carefully; there are no power struggles in the Westboro Baptist Church, and there is no human intercessor – we serve no man, and no hierarchy, only the Lord Jesus Christ. No red shoes, no goofy hat, and no white smoke for us; thank you very much.

    And for those who are truly the enemies of God – ordained of old to such a condemnation – we pray his righteous wrath and vengeance, wherein we rejoice.”

    The “red shoes, goofy hat, white smoke” references seem to be aimed squarely at Catholics and the Pope, a group they have not been shy about taking on in the past. They have a website called Priests Rape Boys, and have called Pope Francis a “false prophet”.

    But Catholics aren’t the only target of the Westboro gang. Everybody knows about their hatred for gay and lesbian people (“God Hates Fags” is their mantra). But they are equal opportunity haters of (the links below are all set to open in new tabs, click away and try not to laugh):

    Jews

    Kathy Griffin

    Muslims

    Barack Obama

    Dead U.S. Soldiers

    Lady Antebellum

    The Golden Globes

    Kirstie Alley

    President Kennedy

    Keith Urban (?!)

    … and pretty much every other church out there.

    There were a couple that came as no surprise, particularly Lou Reed and Margaret Cho.

    It looks like the Westboro folks should have plenty to keep them busy for some time to come, what with gay marriage gaining traction in many states and all. Now, if they can just find another massively offensive leader.

    Image via Westboro Baptist Church blog

  • Deontay Wilder Remains Undefeated with KO of Scott

    Deonay Walker remained undefeated with his 31st straight knockout, beating Malik Scott in their first round in their heavyweight fight in Bayomon, Puerto Rico Saturday night.

    Wilder, 28, landed with a solid left and followed with a quick right that sent Scott, 33, falling to the mat 1:36 after the opening bell. Scott made a move to get up from his knees, but referee Roberto Ramirez Jr. counted him out.

    Much of the crowd of 10,100 at Ruben Rodriguez Coliseum was behind Wilder, but many seemed unconvinced after the match was replayed on the big screen.

    “I spoke to Malik Scott and he said it was my left hook that did it,” Wilder said after the fight.

    “He’ll do great things, though,” added Wilder.

    The quick win put the Wilder, who stands at 6’7″, in position for a WBC heavyweight title shot against the winner of the Bermane Stiverne and Chris Arreola fight this year.

    Wilder, a native of Tuscaloosa, Ala., did not start fighting until he was 21 years old, and is the last American boxer to win a medal in the Olympics. He took the bronze in 2008 in Beijing.

    View a replay of the fight below.

    Image via Wikimedia Commons

  • Manny Pacquiao Ups Training for Bradley Rematch

    In the summer of 2012, Manny Pacquiao faced perhaps the most controversial decision of his two decade, 63 fight professional boxing career. At the end of the highly-anticipated bout between Pacquiao and Timothy Bradley, CompuBox scored punches landed as 253-159 in Pacquiao’s favor. Despite this overwhelming display of dominance with his striking game, the judges decided, in a split-decision, to award the victory to Bradley.

    Life after this controversial loss to Bradley did not improve for Pacquiao. In his next match-up against Juan Manuel Marquez in December of 2012, Pacquiao was knocked out in the sixth round.

    Despite the back-to-back losses, Pacquiao was able to rebound with a victory over Brandon Rios this past November. Since then, Pacquiao has been training like a man possessed to revenge the loss he suffered against Bradley in a contest slated for April 12.

    After conducting the first half of his training in the Philippines, Pacquiao has returned to Los Angeles to resume training with his coach, Freddie Roach.

    For his rematch against Bradley, Pacquiao and Roach have been working on a new strategy that relies upon being more aggresive: “I don’t think he’s going to try to go toe-to-toe with me, but I have to be more aggressive than I had been. I have been working on being aggressive,” stated Pacquiao.

    Part of that aggressive strategy involves Pacquiao throwing more jabs. While Pacquiao has questioned the strategy, stating “He’ll [Bradley] just block it and back away,” coach Freddie Roach believes that the jab is key to Pacquiao changing the end result this time around:

    “I told Manny the other day, ‘Manny, you have the best jab in the world and it drives me crazy that you don’t use it. He can knock guys out with his jab. It’s fast, hard and quick and I’ve been telling him he needs to use it more. In sparring, I’ve been getting him to double, triple and even throw four at a time. It sets up his left hand well.”

    In order to help Pacquiao throw as many jabs as he possibly can, the camp has brought in a new, yet familiar, trainer. Justin Fortune has rejoined with Pacquiao after the boxer parted ways with former trainer Alex Ariza.

    “Against Bradley, Manny will be strong and quick. (There will be) no problem with cramp issues, those will be addressed. He’ll be in the best shape of his life,” assured Fortune.

    While the Pacquiao camp may be exuding confidence, Timothy Bradley is not intimidated. The American boxer has been preparing for his rematch with Pacquiao as well and believes that he will emerge victorious once again: “I know he is gonna try to bring the pressure on me. It’s not gonna work. Right now, it’s not gonna work. He is gonna have to definitely out-think me in there. He has to be a lot faster,” stated Bradley.

    Bradley believes that “The only way he’s going to beat me is if he puts me to sleep and he’s not going to do it.” – a sentiment the Pacquiao camp shares:

    “A lot of times I tell Manny he needs to go for the knockout and he says, ‘Yeah, you’re right,’ and then in the fight, his compassionate side kicks in and he doesn’t do it. But the difference this time is that Bradley said it to him. Bradley said at that first press conference that Manny lost his killer instinct… That must have bothered him, because more than once, Manny has said to me, ‘Can you believe he said that to me?’ And you can see by the way he’s working, he wants to give people what they want, which is a knockout.”

    Pacquiao is training as if all of the chips are in, and perhaps they are. Before Pacquiao entered the ring against Brandon Rios, coach Freddie Roach advised the boxer to retire if he lost the fight. While Roach has yet to advise Pacquiao on what to do if he loses again, Bradley understands the importance of the fight:

    “Manny knows this is do or die for him. If Manny doesn’t win this fight then his career will be over. So this is a must-win situation for Manny Pacquiao.”

    Image via Twitter

  • Westboro Baptist Church Protests Outside of Four Churches in California

    The religious-crazed circus is at again with all their obnoxious antics and political beliefs.

    Westboro Baptist Church was scheduled to protest at four churches in Glendale, Calif. on Sunday morning.

    According to their website, the protests were to take place at Holy Family Catholic Community, Salem Lutheran Church and School,  St. Matthews Church, Glendale Presbyterian Church, and First United Methodist Church of Glendale.

    More than anything, the church is very well known for their rude protests at military funerals. However, they also object to gay marriages, “fake Christians” and basically anything they consider to be a form of sin (fornication, divorce, adultery, etc.).

    Since 1991, the group has conducted 51,934 protests, spewing its radical beliefs all across the country.

    So, their most recent presence in Glendale was no different than any other attention-seeking demonstration they have conducted.

    Hundreds of counter-protestors came out as well to defend their own beliefs.

    In a report by Glendale News-Press, Pastor Kurt Christenson of Salem Lutheran responded to the protest with the theory that WBC is just built on pure anger instead of love.

    “We know that the folks in Westboro are angry, and that comes out in hate…I think they’re angry at the way America seems to be going,” he said. “It’s not like it used to be…They’ve decided they don’t want to engage in conversation. They just want to yell and scream and protest. There is an opportunity to say at the end of the day that love is stronger than hate.”

    However, at St. Matthews Church, Pastor Keith Banwart Jr associates the organization to a cult that enjoys harassing the LGBT community. His stance in the whole event was to support those who convey love, no matter what their sexual orientation may be.

    “These people want to show that God’s love is bigger than the hate that may be displayed here this morning,” Pastor Banwart said.

    Even throughout the demonstrations, church members were seen standing up for their church before removing themselves from the scene to attend service.

    WBC was also scheduled to protest outside of the Golden Globe Awards Sunday afternoon.

    It appears that their next upcoming stop includes picketing outside the home of Theresa Caputo, TV personality on TLC’s “Long Island Medium,” January 19.

    Others also involve A&E’s Duck Dynasty in New York, George Strait at Sprint Center in Missouri, and Super Bowl XLVIII in New Jersey.

    It’s like a never-ending story that won’t go away!

    What are your thoughts?

    Raw footage of the protest on Sunday:

    A documentary about WBC:

    Image via Wikimedia Commons

  • Ken Norton Sr., former WBC Heavyweight Champ, Dies

    On March 31, 1973, Ken Norton Sr. would go from being a nobody to a somebody. On that night in San Diego, Norton would break Muhammad Ali’s jaw and go on to defeat “The Greatest” in a 12 round contest; this would be one of only 5 times Ali would lose in his esteemed career.

    Everyone had doubts that Norton could defeat Ali, except for Norton himself: “I felt I was as smart has he was and I was more physical. My manager thought a hypnotist would be a good thing. It gave me more of a positive feeling.” Norton hired a hypnotist so that he could deal with Ali’s trash-talking in the ring.

    When remembering that fateful day, Ali’s former business manager, Gene Kilroy, would state that “Ali thought it would be an easy fight. But Norton was unorthodox. Instead of jabbing from above like most fighters he would put his hands down and jab up at Ali.” Obviously the strategy worked, as Norton would break Ali’s jaw in the 2nd round and hold on to win a split decision.

    Norton would lost the rematch to Ali 6 months later at the Forum in Inglewood in a split decision, and would lose once again in their final match at Yankee Stadium in 1976. Former boxing publicist, Bill Caplan, stated that “You could’ve raised Kenny’s hand as the winner in both the second and third Ali fights. He’s in the club of the top four heavyweights of that era. They all did great round robins with each other.”

    In 1978, Norton would become the World Boxing Council heavyweight champion after Leon Spinks opted for a rematch with Ali and lost. However, Norton’s reign would be short lived as he would lose his only fight as champion to Larry Holmes at Caesar’s Palace in 1978 – the contest was a split decision.

    Norton would retire in 1981 following a first-round loss at Madison Square Garden. His overall record was 42-7-1, with 33 knockouts. Following his boxing career, Norton would pursue an acting career – even turning down the role of Apollo Creed in Rocky.

    Norton died at age 70 due to congestive heart failure. He was living in Arizona to undergo rehabilitation following a stroke last year. USA Today reports that “Norton had overcome two earlier strokes, prostate cancer, a heart attack and quadruple bypass surgery, and survived a terrible car accident in 1986 in which he broke his jaw, ribs and legs, fractured his skull and suffered a brain injury that slurred his speech.”

    If Ali had a hard time defeating Norton (Ali never even managed to knock Norton down in 39 rounds), you can be damned sure that Death would have a hard time taking him to the grave.

    Image via YouTube