American Ninja Warrior

As a reminder mainly to myself, I wanted to post all the Stage 1 finishers because there was a record, and I want to remember everyone so I know who to cheer for.  Eric Middleton Dave Cavanagh Grant Clinton Tyler Yamauchi Karson Voiles Hunter Guerard Travis Rosen Jody Avila Adam Rayl Sean Bryan Nick Hanson Josh Levin David Campbell Drew Knapp Kevin Bull Flip Rodriguez Allyssa Beird  Mike Bernardo Jamie Rahn Jon Alexis Jr. Matthew Ilgenfritz Michael Silenzi Lance Pekus Nick Kostreski Najee Richardson Joe Moravsky Ian Dory Brian Arnold Abel Gonzalez Nicholas Coolridge Brent Steffensen Cass Clawson Andrew Lowes Josh Salinas Daniel Gil Tyler Gillet JJ Woods Sean Darling-Hammond Thomas Stillings Ryan Stratis Drew  Drechsel I also wanted to talk a little about my Dream Team. I've mentioned it before. I think of my Dream Team as 5 members like in Team USA. I've already said Joe, Drew, and Ian would  be on it, but the final 2 slots are interesting. There are ...

I'm not even sure I know how to start. I am kind of devastated that Drew fell on the Wing Nut Alley. I really thought he would be back on Stage 3; however, even if he made it, he would not have been able to get his revenge on the Upside down Rock Wall (or whatever it's called). So, since I already started, let's talk about the courses first. I knew they would change both Stage 2 and 3, but it really surprised me they got rid of The Wedge considering it was such a ninja killer, but maybe they were trying to eliminate Drew. They also set a time limit on Stage 2, which I believe is something new. No one really seemed to have issues, but that could be because no one could pass Wing Nut Alley. The Wing Nut first debuted in Daytona with its creator, Kevin Carbone (who must be feeling bitter-sweet), and proved to be a challenge for some. However, what makes Wing Nut Alley so much harder in Vegas is not as much the obstacle itself, but how it has been used. In Daytona, the jump on...

Night 2 did not disappoint. I knew Drew would be last, and I am so relieved he hit the buzzer. Stage 1 for guys like Drew are more of a nuisance than a challenge. They really want to take on Stage 2 and 3-- 1 is kind of trivial. Yet, I still get really nervous because anyone can screw up and end their season, even the best like Drew, and as we saw, Jessie. Anyway, I really would have loved to see Jessie and Jesse on Stage 2, but other than that, pretty much all my favorites hit the buzzer: Joe, Drew, Daniel, Josh, Travis, Kevin, Jamie, Nicholas, Lance, Najee, Tyler, Adam, Brian, Sean, Ian, Drew Knapp, and Tyler Gillet. They had an all new record for Stage 1 finishers, so a lot of the greats made it (those who made it to Vegas that is). I really don't want the season to end, but I am really psyched for the Stage 2 and 3. I really want so many of them to do well, everyone actually. If I really had to pick, I would say Drew (obviously), Joe, Daniel, Nicholas, Josh, and Ian. I also wo...

So... where do I begin? There was so many "oh my gosh" moments. From Lance to the women to the skipped people to the dropped people. I think first, I want to talk about Lance. First, I was so  surprised that he walked away with the fastest time of the night, beating out Joe Moravsky, and even speed demons like Stillings and Bull (both were skipped and I will mention that later). Lance never strikes me as the speedy type even after I've seen him earn the fastest time. I never ever would have imagined he would beat Joe, though. It was a big final shocker for me personally. He's a cowboy/rancher. He is bulkier and much more muscular than speed demons usually are, so I never would have thought. I also thought his new story about his wife was really sad. I think stories like those make the run much more meaningful and inspirational to the ninja and their family, and they connect the rest of the nation to them via emotion and sympathy. However, those kinds of stories, al...