Earlier this year, ESPN ran a poll asking its viewers to select “Titletown, USA.” Many cities were nominated, and viewers set out to find the ultimate town that embodied winning and sports greatness. Valdosta, Georgia, ended up the victor, claiming the name “Titletown” with its rich history of high school and college athletic greatness. Towns like Green Bay, Boston and New York were all other high finalists. Well, now, a town in Northeast Indiana would like to throw its name into the discussion. Not just any town, but MY town.

Obviously, its mainly for town pride and such, but Fort Wayne, Indiana, has erected signs and banners around town to claim itself as a Title Town. How can Fort Wayne, Indiana, claim to be a title town, you may ask? Well, Fort Wayne is home to the Komets of the International Hockey League. The IHL is a “minor league” hockey organization that only has one team affiliated with an NHL club (Quad City). The Komets are the most successful team in the IHL, with the highest annual attendance. That’s not the only mark of success, as the Komets have won the last two Turner Cups, which marks the league’s champion. In all, in more than one hockey league, the Komets have won 7 championships since their inception in 1952. Certainly worthy of praise.

What really clinched the choice of nickname, was what happened this past summer. The Fort Wayne TinCaps, formerly the Wizards, are Fort Wayne’s Class A baseball affiliate of MLB’s San Diego Padres. This year, the team opened a brand new ballpark with a new name. It was a special season, but became more special when the TinCaps posted the best record in all of minor league regular season baseball and won the Midwest League championship. So Fort Wayne had won the IHL and Midwest League titles in the same year. Hooray~!

Then, this year, Fort Wayne was named an “All American City” by the National Civic League. From the NCL website… “The All-America City Awards program, which since 1949 has recognized the efforts of extraordinary communities, is perhaps the best known NCL program. Each year the National Civic League honors ten communities for effectively addressing their most critical challenges.” Fort Wayne has been named an All Americat City three times (1982, 1998, 2009).

Three distinct honors in one year. So… Fort Wayne is now Title Town, USA.

LINKS
WANE: Fort Wayne now a title town
Fort Wayne, Indiana – Wikipedia

NERD ALERT~!

First edition of a regular segment to be hosted on this site – Triple R Classics Theater~! Russ, Ringlord and I watch classic wrestling episodes and review the awesomeness, and often wackiness, of past wrestling TV.

Before our first episode, there was much debate as to what classic wrestling show to start with. The episode chosen was a last minute decision, and Week 2 will feature our original first choice. So tease~! This week, RnRw/R watch WWF Raw from July 16, 2001. So quick, go get your DVD of this show, watch it on dailymotion or youtube if you can find it, or go to WWE.com for 24/7 and follow along with this classic show.

It’s the first show, and we know there are things to improve on for future shows. Please leave comments and suggestions for future episodes, ways to improve, etc in the comment box or email RoJo@russnrojo.com. Today, we jump right into the Alliance invasion, Steve Austin’s career decisions, and the McMahon family in turmoil for this episode of Raw and the first episode of Triple R Classics Theater!


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Friday, April 17, 2009
Fort Wayne, IN

It’s real now. The last year of hype, the new ballpark, and a new name for a minor league baseball team that has called Fort Wayne home since 1993, is all now in the past, and the future is Tin Caps baseball in the Summit City!

Russ and I went to the tonight’s Tin Caps game, along with our buddy Sean, only the second regular season game at Parkview Field in Tin Caps history. What made this game more special is that the Tin Caps entered undefeated, with a record of 7-0. Well, we’re still undefeated, as the Tin Cappers won 8-3 tonight to move up to eight wins. We hold sole possession of first place in the Midwest League Eastern division of Class A baseball. Hooray~!

It was rocky at first, as we played from behind for most of the game. It wasn’t until a breakout seventh inning, and a game changing home run by Left Fielder and HERO Angel Mercado, that the former Wiz Kids and new TinCappers gained control on the game for the first time.

It was a sloppy game at times, but exciting. And, having seen my first Tin Caps game now, I can safely say that I am ALL UP INTO THE HYPE! Angel Mercado, SAWYER Carroll, and our 8-0 TC’ers will own this season, I am confident to say.

Before I go.. Dayton Dragons outfielder Byron Wiley…YOU’RE ON NOTICE!

Home Run Porch will be an amazing place to watch our Tin Caps grow this season.

Nightfall @ Parkview Field – Tin Caps at bat.


The pitch about to be made to Angel Mercado of the TinCaps in the 7th Inning.


The outfielders, stunned. The Home Run Porch, happy. HOME RUN MERCADO~!


More photos from TIN CAPS Class A baseball as the year progresses!

11/04/2008 – Barack Obama Elected 44th President

Welcome to the Russ n’ RoJo ongoing Tuesday entry, as I’ll be updating this same post throughout the day for all Election Day thoughts, with some various thoughts on other things mixed in. I have voted, as many of you probably have, and now we wait for the results from around the country. Here in Indiana, we have a Governor’s race going on, but no Senate races this year. Evan Bayh will be up for Senate re-election in 2010, with Dick Lugar up in 2012. Our Governor Mitch Daniels is looking to be re-elected, as he faces Democratic challenger Jill Long Thompson. Daniels has taken Indiana by storm in his first term, making many radical changes very quickly, taking a “Do It Now” approach. He’s ahead in most polls, and will likely win a second term.

I made predictions the other day, thinking Barack Obama will win with an electoral count of over 300. I also predicted a Mark Souder win, which is for the race of 3rd District US Representative from Indiana. Souder is facing a young Democrat from Indianapolis who moved up here in the Democratic emphasis to try and win some more house races this year. I think he’ll fail. Well, I hope he’ll fail, and Souder will prevail. As for my prediction of Keith Olbermann going crazy, bobbing his head around, and mocking Fox News… I think that’s a pretty safe prediction.

First polls close at 6:00 PM, but no complete state is closed until 7:00 PM when Indiana, Kentucky, South Carolina, Georgia, Virginia, and Vermont all close. Some big states will start showing true results at this time, including the swing states of Florida (most of state will have closed at 7 PM EST), Indiana, and Georgia. Watching over the last twelve hours, McCain does have some slight momentum building. He’s cut Obama’s lead in some key states to within the margin of error, or even a dead heat in states like Ohio and even Florida. Could this momentum lead to a McCain win? Sure, Senator McCain is a large underdog if we went by popular vote, but in some key states, the Obama lead isn’t that large. McCain could pull off some states and somehow win this thing, and since Obama was nominated, I’ve never thought for a second McCain was out just because I don’t fully know where this country would stand when the time comes to electing an African American leader. We’ll see today, but until it happens, I’ve even thought McCain was the favorite even up to this day. Although, I predict an Obama win pretty much because of the numbers and the ability of their campaign to successfully promote early voting and youth voting. IT’S GAME TIME~!

RnR.com would love to hear your comments on all the events of today, as well as anything else on your mind. Leave your comment below, or e-mail rojo@russnrojo.com. Also, we’ll be creating a messageboard for various discussion on any topic on earth, etc, in the coming weeks.

Breaking from election talk for a moment, I’d like to update the current most popular posts on the RussnRoJo.com site. According to number of views, the Top 7 most popular entries on RnR are…

1) VP Debate Review (Featured)
2) Holy Russ, Blogman! (Russ)
3) Russ n’ RoJo Rate Porn (Russ, RoJo)
4) All I Want Is… (Russ)
5) Ringlord’s View #2 (Kimmel)
6) Weekend Extravaganza w/ Audio! (RoJo, Audio)
7) Boz 2: Let’s Hear It For Rock Bottom (Boz)

So it is obvious, Russ is clearly way too popular. I’d like to point out the first two chapters of Russ’ story “Shake It Up” can be found by visiting the menu on the top of this site. I urge you to check it out if you have free time, and keep up with the story as Russ will be adding more chapters coming up.

3:29 PM EST

In two and a half hours, most polls in Indiana and Kentucky close. In three and a half hours, all polls in those states, as well as polls in Georgia, South Carolina, Virginia, and Vermont, will close. We’ll have our first numbers, and here in Indiana, we’ll find out who our Governor will be next year. Exciting time. The first big states to close will be Florida and Pennsylvania at 8 PM, and Ohio at 7:30 PM.

Brady Quinn, by the way, was named starter of the Cleveland Browns on Thursday. I’ll be watching that game during commercials of The Office and 30 Rock, and will look to see how the Notre Dame alumnus does. I don’t expect much, and always find it fascinating when fans call for the backup, thinking that player will somehow save the team. Backups are usually backups for a reason. I don’t see Quinn turning into the next Tom Brady.

6:40 PM EST

Several polls are closing in less than twenty minutes. In Indiana, McCain and Obama are tied with 50% of the vote each with 2% of precincts reporting, although many western counties do not close until 7 PM EST. Obama is keeping it close, and his expected big area is Northwestern Indiana which will see polls close at 7. Obama could squeak this state out, and if he does, I really believe it will show that he has this election wrapped up.

MSNBC’s infighting has already begun, with Olbermann and Matthews fighting over Obama’s rejecting of public financing. It’ll be a fun few hours over on MSNBC tonight.

7:50 PM EST

Indiana right now is a dead heat in the Presidential race, while Mitch Daniels has been projected to win the Governor’s race and Mark Souder is now projected to win the 3rd District congressional race. For those in Muncie and lower Allen County, your representative to US Congress will still be Mike Pence, as he wins his race by a wide margin.

John McCain has won two of the first three called states, in Kentucky and South Carolina. Obama has won Vermont. Georgia, while not called, is looking good for McCain, as Obama could not make up the large margin. No news site is projecting Ohio, Georgia, or Indiana yet. Where those states go, so goes the Presidency.

7:55 PM EST

At this time, Russnrojo.com, having to report to no higher authority or ethical standards, can now project Senator John McCain winning Ohio, Florida, Indiana, and Ontario.

We kid, of course, but I love election night. It reminds me of the South Park episode, which is highly true, that true events such as an election are the highest and most entertaining form of reality television ever. American Idol and Road Rules cannot touch an American election, or any true event such as an election. I love watching this not because I need information on the candidates, as television at times is the worst form of medium for that, but to watch the media chaos and ridiculous nature of this type of event. It’s just amazing television.

8:00 PM

We knew it was happening, despite Republicans trying their best, but Pennsylvania is now projected for Barack Obama. New Jersey and Massachusetts the same. Still no call for Indiana or Georgia.

9:30 PM

Congratulations to Senator Barack Obama (D-IL) on being elected the 44th President of the United States of America. No news site can call it, although they would if their own policies forbid it, but it is true that based on all projections, Barack Obama has been elected our next President. After losing Ohio and Pennsylvania, the battle was too tough for even a war hero to overcome, and tomorrow morning the newspapers will be headlined by an amazing Obama win. Even more to the story will be the Congressional control Democrats gained tonight, winning many house seats and overtaking what will end up being between 5-9 Senate seats from the Republicans. Elizabeth Dole is out as Senator from North Carolina. Mitch McConnell, the Republican Senate leader, is facing a possible ousting in Kentucky with the race still too close to call. Al Franken may be in a losing battle in Minnesota in a highly interesting race. New Mexico went Democratic for Obama, and Arizona after an hour is TOO CLOSE TO CALL. I promise we won’t be seeing that in Hawaii, Obama’s home state. What a night, what an election. It was close early, but Obama may end up getting that 300+ electoral win afterall. We’re still waiting on Florida, which will likely go for Obama, and Indiana, which is very very close. Indiana could go Democratic for the first time since 1964.

Mitch McConnell is now projected to retain his Senate seat in Kentucky. Lindsey Graham and Lamar Alexander are also Republican winners.

10:30 PM

Al Franken is now leading in Minnesota Senate results with 50% reporting. I hope he wins. It’ll be interesting, at least.

Barack Obama is going to give a historic victory speech after polls close on the west coast. His speech will be delivered in front of possibly one million onlookers in Chicago’s Grant Park. The first African American, and first Hawaiian, elected President of the United States of America will surely deliver what will be seen in the future as a historic moment due not only to the previous statements, but just the nature of the scene. One million in Chicago issuing in a change in the political landscape of America. The Republican party being shrunken into a regional party of southern states, while the Democrats move from the days of Clinton and Gore leading the party to Barack Obama taking the lead. How will this new Congress led by Nanci Pelosi and a vast majority of Democrats work in the next four years, especially with a President on their side? The next four years will definitely issue in change, but we don’t know fully how, yet. American wanted change, they got it. Now, the Democrats issue in a change for American and their own party with a majority not seen in a while, with a leader for all ages and a mandate in this election.

Barack Obama elected President. For those in Indiana, he also won our state. This is truly history in many, many ways; some of which can’t even be known or described, yet.

More thoughts in the coming days, hope you all enjoyed election day~!

What to do on election night?

- Election night is coming soon, with first polls closing in fewer than 70 hours. There are many options out there for results, commentary, and coverage of the ongoings of election night. If you’re like me, you’ll be wanting hours upon hours of coverage on Tuesday night. Well, that will be in no short supply. NBC will man up with Brian Williams and Tom Brokaw leading coverage, and will be my main source of election night coverage. I love me some NBC News in HD. ABC and CBS will be led by their main anchors Charles Gibson and Katie Couric, respectively. It’s the first election for the new trio of network anchors, but Brian Williams prevails, for me at least, as the leading newsperson of the group. I’ll be sure to check in with CNN and MSNBC, as well. MSNBC will be led by David Gregory, with Chris Matthews and Keith Olbermann backing. Matthews and Olbermann are liberal leaning, and gained negative feedback for their coverage of the Republican convention earlier this year which led MSNBC to switch the two from lead anchors to correspondents.

What to do with the BCS?

- Only moments ago, #1 Texas lost to #7 Texas Tech in one of the most anticipated college football matchups of the season. Texas Tech remains undefeated, while Texas suffers its first loss of the season. The BCS is now very close to chaos mode, as one-loss Florida and one-loss Oklahoma blew out their opponents tonight. Problem is, they are ahead of Texas Tech in the BCS at the moment. Will Tech somehow manage to jump over the one-loss teams with their impressive win over the consensus top team in the nation, a team that beat Oklahoma earlier this year? Or will a one-loss Florida or Oklahama remain in front of the unbeaten Tech. Also, #2 Alabama won, while #3 Penn State was idle. We could see those two jump in front to #1 and #2 in the BCS. It gets more interesting to see where #6 Georgia will win up after a huge loss to Florida, while idle #16 Ball State will surely jump up a spot due to the loss of #15 Florida State. Can Ball State jump into the top 10 by winning out the rest of the year? I sure hope so, as I see Utah, Ohio State, Oklahoma State, and even Georgia potentially losing again later on this year. If Ball State can win out, a top 10 in the BCS is definitely possible. However, BSU is facing its toughest stretch of the season to close out.

I’m currently watching tonight’s Saturday Night Live with host Ben Affleck, and so far it hasn’t been the greatest episode. The show opened with a self deprecating skit featuring John McCain, Tina Fey as Sarah Palin, and Cindy McCain. This skit opened the show on a high note. Ben Affleck has been alright, but so far the show may be highly political, which is fine, I suppose. I shouldn’t comment on it halfway through, yet; we’ll see where they go from here. The seemingly 20 minute long Kieth Olbermann skit, while hilarious at parts, could have been shorter.

What a crazy day in college football. Crazy endings in Texas vs Texas Tech, Purdue vs Michigan, and Notre Dame vs Pitt. Great day featuring some very meaningful matchups. We’re getting into another great time of the sports year.

Election night is my favorite night of the year, can’t wait. I have been ridiculously bad with predictions so far on this site…but…

2008 Election Predictions

1) Barack Obama wins Presidential election with over 300 electoral votes.

2) Mark Souder retains Indiana 3rd District Congressional seat by fewer than 2200 votes.

3) John Murtha wins, Elizabeth Dole loses, Ted Stevens loses, and Kieth Olbermann shakes his head a lot.

Watch it all go down on Tuesday~!!!

- According to a report coming from a top MMA writer, as well as a fighter RussNRoJo.com has spoken with tonight, it appears that ProElite was unable to sell EliteXC to CBS/Showtime, and the promotion will be folding immediately. The November 8 show, scheduled as a Night of Champions event, has been canceled according to a fighter that has fought with the promotion. While not officially announced publicly, fighters have been told the event is not happening. It appears fighters will be let out of contracts soon. Top star Kimbo Slice may have a shelf life on smaller groups shows, but won’t be heading to UFC anytime soon, if ever. Nor will female stars Cris Cyborg or Gina Carano, as UFC has no interest in a female division.

The Seth Petruzelli win over Kimbo, as well as fallout of an interview he gave following the fight alleging possible possible payments to keep the fight a certain style, were the nail in the coffin of EliteXC.