All right, I'm just going to get it out there: I'm disappointed. When you're trying to remember all the people who did not make it instead of the people who did, you've got a problem. There is no excuse or reason to justify having 21 people pass Stage 2. How is it that Stage 1 was more difficult and had more upsets? Honestly, Stage 2 was dumbed down majorly. Look, half the people I'm not actually that upset with because I'm bias and I like them, but I know they're not Stage 3 material. Since only 2 people have ever stared down Stage 4 in regular competition, Stage 3 is actually the behemoth to defeat. I just don't think 21 people should have a chance. Otherwise, what even was the purpose of Stage 2 if everyone passed it? So, clearly, we've got to start with talking about the actual course.
I hate Giant Walk the Plank. Catch and Release or the jungle gym or ring swing type obstacles were better. I know a couple people messed up on it, but I don't think the Giant Walk the Plank accomplished what previous obstacles did. The first obstacle isn't necessarily supposed to drop people, it's just to eat time and strength. Giant Walk the Plank was not an obstacle one could get caught up on. Yes, some people took an extra swing or two, but there's a target platform right in the middle. I also know it tripped up people in L.A. or wherever it was in the city courses, but this is Vegas. These people are supposed to be better than just anyone. I think they simplified the first obstacle too much.
Same for the Salmon Ladder type obstacle, the Extension Ladder. They used to have people move up and down the ladder. The varied distances between the actual rungs was interesting, but probably not enough for Stage 2. They should have kept that aspect but also made them move down it like previous years. They just went so easy on Stage 2, it was upsetting. Now, Snap Back may have been the most difficult obstacle, and still not many people had trouble on it. I really hate when they reuse obstacles from City Courses in Vegas. They've done it plenty of times, like the Wing Nuts (albeit that was altered) or The Wedge (which was also altered). Snap Back didn't look much different from what we saw in OKC, and I just don't like when we see repeats. People like Daniel, Josh, and The Kid had not only seen Snap Back, but they had previous experience on it. That's just unfair. I understand why they removed Deja Vu because it's something people can only mess up on once, really. People will easily figure it out and rebuild it and practice on it. People who fell on it like Gil last year would not be likely to make the same mistake twice. I was wrong about the Wing Nuts. I thought maybe they'd survive one more year, but I should have guessed that their time had expired, what with The Maker, Kevin Carbone, going cross-country to install them all over. I think of all the changes they made to Stage 2, the Snap Back made the most sense and fit in with Stage 2 the best. I think the slight alteration (the subtraction of the rope) on the Swing Surfer was also well done.
Now, I really disliked the Grim Sweeper. I don't think anyone but The Kid fell on it, which makes you wonder why the hell The Kid fell on it, but I'll reach that in a minute. Compared to everything they've had in the past which is usually a ninja killer, Grim Sweeper just wasn't. All of these guys have seen and done (for most of them) obstacles which required more precise timing and jumps and harsher, greater landings. Grim Sweeper seemed too preliminary, too run-of-the-mill, too expected. I was not a fan. Finally, the swimming portion, I know it is taken from the original Ninja Warrior -- Sasuke -- but it's only there for time purposes; it's not difficult necessarily. Even if these guys are completely winded, they can still do this obstacle, it's just a matter of what time they left themselves, which, of course, is still a major aspect of the game and a big rule: you have to do it all within 3 minutes, so I'm not trying to say the time rule or the Water Walls is stupid, necessarily; I just don't think it's the best obstacle, is all.
I have absolutely no issue with having 4 or 5 people finish or even 10, but 21 is just way, way too many. 75% success rate? I don't think so. That says way more about Stage 2 than the competitors. You could have thrown on a dozen people who fell on Stage 1 and they could have made Stage 2. Who was anyone trying to kid? Stage 2 bombed hard; final opinion. Like I said, I still have my favorites, and I am interested in seeing how they fare on Stage 3, assuming it's not a dud like Stage 2, but realistically, they probably don't deserve to be there based on previous track records.
Now, as I get into the competitors, I am probably going to say some mean things, let's just get that out there. I am definitely bias towards certain people, but I'm going to be completely honest here. Here's how I know Stage 2 was easy: Ryan Stratis, Chris DiGangi, Karsten Williams, Kevin Carbone, Casey Suchocki, Seth Rogers, and Hunter Guerard all hit the buzzer. There are others like Tyler Gillett, Adam Rayl, R.J. Roman, and Lucas Reale who are the type of guys who are on the bubble. Realistically, no, I would not believe that the latter group are truly Stage 3 material, but they are more so than some others. I know it sounds really harsh not to believe in the first list of people. They all did really well thus far, most of them even hitting a City Finals buzzer (which was more difficult than Stage 2, let's be honest), but you just know they're not going to go all the way. Stratis has been competing for 11 years, and he hits his first Stage 2 buzzer? I know people get stronger after a few years, but it's like after 5-6 years, not 11. After an entire decade, you're going downhill. DiGangi is kind of another. He does not have a good track record. This was his 2nd time on Stage 2 or something after a Stage 1 dry spell, and now he beats it? I like DiGangi and Stratis, I do. I just know they are not our next champions. A lot of these guys are consistent in failing when you look at the past; it's just fact. Obviously, none of these guys, even Gil and Moravsky, have ever completed everything meaning they have all failed, but some much more miserably and earlier than others. To see them all come this far isn't the happy thing I think everyone believes it to be. It may be history, but in this case, it's sad history. It shouldn't be history. It'll be interesting to see how early they all drop next week. I fully expect it to be Stage 3 to be a slaughter. The sheer number of finishers is truly a testament to the difficulty (or lack of) of this year's Stage 2, and it was disappointing.
If Stage 3 is like Stage 2, it will not be as exciting when someone wins everything. We don't want to run into what we had several years ago with Geoff and Isaac. You may think having some competition on Stage 4 is good, but it's not. Only one person will win the trophy, money, and champion title, but they run the risk (if Stage 3 is easy) of having multiple winners. There may be one "official winner", but nobody will be able to deny the fact that, even now, there is more than one winner. There are so many people running Stage 3, that there is a high probability, depending on what the course looks like, that more than 1 person will hit a buzzer next week. Then, for whoever finishes Stage 3, it is likely that they can also climb for Stage 4 and find the final buzzer. So, someone is winning the money, but who knows how many winners we'll have altogether? I think having so many winners is bad. You want a couple of champions, you don't want to be giving the Stage 4 buzzer to anyone, right? So, the producers and course designers, and whoever else, had the challenge of creating a course that is difficult to eliminate 20 people, but not so hard that the final person can't beat it. Having 2 people finish Stage 3 and climb against each other isn't the end of the world, I just don't want a dozen people all clamoring for the money. I just don't think that's very exciting. Then you'll also have too many people who have technically conquered Mt. Midoriyama, and that takes away the allure and desire and excitement. I understand if they wanted another champion since Geoff fell and Isaac is too chicken to return, but there is a fine line between another champion and a gaggle of winners. There will be no denying this: anyone who climbs Stage 4 is an American Ninja Warrior champion, just maybe not the official one. Anyone who can accomplish this will have it on their record. It will be on American Ninja Warrior's record. I know there are over 500 competitors each season, but the being an actual champion should be elusive and coveted. I've probably hit this pretty hard so far, but I'm just hoping not many people win this year.
Which brings me to who might just win it all. My bets are on Drew Drechsel, The Real Life Ninja; however, unpopular opinion, I don't want him to win, at least not this year. I explained myself last post. Drew is not my favorite ninja, but in terms of skill and ability in ANW, he is one of the best; this is undeniable. However, this is the one year, the ONE year, he doesn't deserve to win. I know he trains really hard and switched his sleeping schedule or whatever, but that is no excuse for his failure on Stage 1. Drew is one of the best, but I don't want to see him win this year. Even if he takes it all, his season won't be perfect despite hitting 6 buzzers because of his failure on Stage 1. It's something that I just can't ignore. Last year or next year, yes, but not this year. I'm still holding out for my favorites-- Joe or Daniel-- but I really think it's going to be Drew. If/when it is, I can't say I'll be happy, but I guess we'll have a lot to talk about next week.
Daniel and Joe looked really good on Stage 2, so that makes me happy. Like I said in previous weeks, they've kind of been dissing Joe, and since they haven't been giving him much attention all season, it makes me think he won't be the ultimate winner. I suppose it is still possible that he'll finish Stage 3. The advertisement said that there will be another winner, but they didn't say just one. Joe has been a touch slower than he usually is this season, so if it came down to a race like in Season 7, he might be another Geoff. Daniel is still in good favor with ANW, so I can still hope.
Next, let's discuss The Kid. I knew he was going to fall when they showed him running second. I probably could have guessed that it would be on the Grim Sweeper because he had completed Snap Back in OKC, yet it still surprised me that he went down, especially because I'm not sure anyone else did the rest of the night. This is another reason for why Stage 2 was so lacking this year. To begin with, it only bested 7 people, but only 1 person fell on what is supposed to be the big-ticket obstacle, and that person got a redo and completed the course. The 5th obstacle (or whatever number obstacle goes in that position) is meant to be a challenge, but Grim Reaper wasn't. Period. Clearly, it was too easy. Now, fast-forward a few minutes and I see everyone finish, I was wondering what the hell happened to The Kid that caused him to be the only one to fall. I think it mainly had to do with the fact that he bumped it with his leg, it started to move, and he panicked/hesitated on what to do, so he didn't move with full conviction or effort. This probably sounds like I'm trying to make an excuse for him, doesn't it. Look, I won't lie. I am subjective and bias towards certain people. I genuinely really like The Kid. I think it's fantastic that he's young and excited about the show, and he has had such an amazing career already, and this is only his second year. Right now, he's leading the next generation, and it's people like him who are going to help keep the show alive. So yes, I like him, and as I mentioned last week, I want to see him on Stage 3. I want to see what he can do. However, unfortunately, I cannot root for his victory. I want to see him go far, but not far enough because, like Drew, he doesn't really deserve to be there. I don't know exactly what was going through his head or the exact reason he fell, but the fact is: he failed on Stage 2. Again, like with Drew, this is something we just shouldn't ignore. I did find it interesting on his second time around, the way he carried himself. I think a lot of people his age and generation would say they have anxiety, and I don't know to what extent The Kid has anxiety, or even if he legitimately has anxiety. I know this is a real condition and it makes life very difficult for some people, but to mention it only now, on Stage 2 his second year competing seems ever so slightly odd and misplaced. Similar to Najee's asthma. I don't doubt that Najee has asthma, but that fact that they only highlight it when it "caused" him to time out is suspicious. Same with The Kid's asthma. He ran a lot differently the second time because he was probably more focused and more worried, but this doesn't necessarily mean anxiety. I don't want to make light of a potentially serious issue, nor bash anyone who really struggles with it, but the was ANW brought it to attention, making it his bio and everything for his first run, makes it look like they're trying to make an excuse for him. If anything, his anxiety should be worse the second time, right? because more is riding on this run since there is no Safety Pass, but he did everything perfectly. I don't know what to make of it, and I never will unless I could actually talk to him or experience exactly what he did on that night. It's just something I noticed and something to think about. He did seem perturbed the second time, but this could simply be because he needed to be more focused, not because he was anxious. Regardless of any of that, I am looking forward to what he can show us on Stage 3, but unfortunately, I am unable to cheer for his success.
All right, like they did last night, let's breeze through some people now, shall we? Adam Rayl and Tyler Gillett are two people who are right on the bubble for me. I really like them; I think they're phenomenal athletes, and they have had great success on the show. When they made it, I can't say I was mad. I believed in them a lot in terms of people who were somewhat question marks. They were the type of people who I could easily believe the outcome either way: buzzer or water. Which, by the way, I think it kind of sucks that even if you hit the buzzer, you still end up wet, just a side note. Anyway, like The Kid, I think it'll be interesting to finally see what these guys can bring to the table. Again, I have no idea what Stage 3 will look like this year, and it could be the same or it could be easier, or possibly even harder (although I doubt that if there is a winner). They've always done a good job on their seasons, but I'm not fully convinced either of them are ultimate ANW champions, you know what I mean? I don't doubt that they work hard and are capable of great (physical) achievements, but I feel like they're missing the IT factor. Gillett doesn't seem like he quite has the stamina or endurance, and sometimes Adam Rayl seems unfocused? There is something about this level of athlete that I have doubts about, but I can never place them. Lucas Reale and R.J. Roman are young, this is only their second year competing, and I think they're great for the next generation following The Kid's example. I also think they're very, very promising in keeping the show alive. Maybe, if the course was more like it was last year (i.e. more difficult), and they still completed I would believe it (if you told me ahead of time, kind of situation). But at the same time, I definitely would believe it if you told me they failed, because last year, they all did. If they had kept just the Wing Nuts, even, there probably would have been half the finishers, which would still be too much. I think some people like Casey Suchocki, R.J. Roman, Chris DiGangi, Hunter Guerard, Ryan Stratis, Karsten Williams, Karson Voiles, and Seth Rogers will drop so early on Stage 3. Honestly, I want them to fall. I want to see the brutal Stage 3 I have come to know and appreciate. They cannot dumb it down just because they want a winner. I hate the fact that they change Mt. Midoriyama as much, as often, and as bad as they do. Even when there is a winner next year, the Stages will be different next year. There is no consistency, and that is something that bothers me. I understand completely that they need to change things periodically in order to keep the challenge alive since these guys are training as intensely as they are, but they do it every year, and they make a completely new course. There is will be no comparison between Isaac and whoever wins next week because both of their entire season's were different. I bet Stage 3 this year will look absolutely nothing like Isaac's Stage 3 four years ago. The problem I have is that I understand it. I know that eventually things need to change, and even in Sasuke the obstacles differ between years. It still bothers me that it is so much sometimes. Maybe we're not really crowning someone who is worthy. The people moving on to Stage 3: are they really the best of the best? Again, I know there were, like, 500-600 total athletes across the country competing this year, so really it's probably less that 5% who are facing Stage 3, but shouldn't it be even less? Last year, there were 2 people! The year before there were 3! Before last night, the record was 8. That's the way Stage 3 has always been, and I think that's the way it should stay. Eliminating only 7 people during Stage 2 is just not enough. If I'm being brutally honest, I don't think that some of the people we'll be seeing on Stage 3 are the best. As a side note, it stings even more because we could have seen people like Lance Pekus, Jake Murray, or Jamie Rahn on Stage 3 since no doubt they would have been fine on Stage 1 and 2. How is it that the City Finals can take out more people than a Stage in Vegas? What was even the point of Stage 2? 7 people? That's the best they can do? I know hindsight is 20/20, so maybe the course designers or whoever didn't expect this many people to pass, but at the same time, they must have. They've seen what these people can do. How many testers fell that they thought this Stage 2 was adequate? The more I think about it, the madder I get. I know I should be happy for all these people because for most of them, it's the first time they've completed Stage 2 and it's redemption or a great achievement. I hate to damper their happiness, and completing this obstacle course isn't easy, it's just not what I expect of ANW or these athletes. Look, I couldn't do the Shrinking Steps, so I guess Who am I to say or judge any of this. I speak as an observer and lover of the show. I believe that the ultimate champion of ANW should have a perfect season (lookin' at you, Isaac), but also be able to do what nobody else can, and until I see Stage 3, that's not what this year is, so it lessens the whole "We have another winner" thing they've got going. It'll be different too, if it's Drew, Joe, or Daniel because those three are very strong, and from what I've seen the past few years, they all deserved it, at some point, more than others. We'll have to see what I think next week (when Drew wins).
And, you never know. I suppose someone like DiGangi could blow us away and get to the last obstacle or something. The issue I have is that just because someone is a big name or a fan favorite does not mean they are the best. We've kind of got that going on with some names like Ethan Swanson, Nate Burkhalter, and even Hunter Guerard. It is true that I am interested in seeing what these guys will do next week. It ultimately boils down to what Stage 3 is like, but I will have to admit if I am impressed by what some of these guys (who I am doubting if I'm honest) might show they can do.
Huge shoutout to Michael Torres. He did what even the great Drew Drechsel could not: he saved his Safety Pass. That, even putting aside the failure of a course that Stage 2 was, is extremely impressive. This is what The Kid and Drew and Flip should have been like. Those guys should not have needed it, and it does really show the ability and potential that Torres has. I can actually root for him, too, since though he won it, he did not use the Safety Pass.
I know I haven't mentioned Josh Salinas, yet, but he kind of falls into the crowd of Stage 2 finishers. 2nd fastest time is nothing to squawk at though. However, I could see Salinas dropping pretty early on Stage 3.
As for the finishers, I want to mention Tyler Smith, somewhat alongside Joe Moravsky. Personally, I think it says a lot about someone who has a regular, full-time job and a family and can still come out and compete and do as well as these two guys have. I think having kids has taken a toll on Moravsky, but it's really cool to see people find such success on the show without it defining them. We hear about people like Drew who have completely changed their regular life schedule and train around the clock for ANW. Joe and Tyler don't have that luxury, and they, as of right now, are able to keep up with people like Drew. They have real families and life outside of this. They haven't made careers off of it. I like that ANW is still more of a hobby for them. I don't really have a problem with people who have started gyms or tour or make money in any way off of their ninja fame, but having a life outside of ANW seems like you've got your priorities straight, to me. This is unfair to say, I realize, and I'm sure people are perfectly happy with what they've found outside of the show through the show. And there's nothing wrong with finding that extra success; I just really admire what Tyler Smith and Joe Moravsky have outside of ANW and who they are besides a ninja.
Now, let's move onto the failures since those were more interesting than the finishers. We've got to start with Grant. You cannot write this kind of stuff. He falls on the Extension Ladder which is basically the Salmon Ladder? Unbelievable. Honestly, it was unreal to see him fail. Akbar said that he'd probably be thinking about this for the next year, but something tells me that this will stay with him for awhile. It must have hurt him, and if he watched it last night, it probably hurt again, but you can't say this wasn't funny. All the years he's been to Vegas, and he falls in the same spot! Since I've been so rude and harsh this entire post, I'll tell you, I laughed when he fell. It was unreal, truly unreal. It's an extra slap in the face when you realize that 21 out of 28 people completed the course, and he was 1 of only 7 people to fail. This won't change the fact that the show loves him, though. Matt and Akbar will continue to be his number one fan despite such an unfortunate ending to his Vegas Return.
Dave Cavanagh surprised me. He actually was doing quite well this season, but maybe I'm caught up in his City performance. He did well in Qualifying, but even in Finals, he fell where everyone else fell. At the very least, he got revenge on the Giant Walk the Plank, but he couldn't make the Safety Pass work. What I noticed is that half of the losing competitors for the Safety Pass didn't need it, but almost all of the Safety Pass winners did, and some still lost. Flip used it for Stage 1 which saved him for that round, but ultimately, he couldn't do much with since he failed Stage 2. Brian Kretsch wasn't even on Stage 2, so L.A.'s Safety Pass was wasted. Atlanta found Carbone in the hot seat, and it's quite interesting that Carbone didn't need it, but his competitor, the last person we thought would need it, did need it. The great Drew Drechsel needed the Safety Pass. Then we move to OKC. Daniel didn't need it, I didn't expect that he would, but The Kid did. I did expect The Kid to use it once he had won it, and I was right about that. Now, Tacoma. Dan Yager fell in Stage 1, so I guess he needed it more then than Voiles, but Voiles didn't necessarily waste it since he used it for Stage 2. Baltimore's was wasted, but again, we find that the winner couldn't progress, but the losing competitor, Lucas Reale, never needed it. Likewise, Swanson did not need a Safety Pass, but neither did Torres. The Safety Pass will most likely make a huge difference in the show because it's likely that Drew will win and he used one. However, when you look back at who was competing for it, most of those guys never needed it. Gil, Swanson, Torres, and Carbone were perfectly fine running on their single life. I do have to give these guys props, as I do everyone else who completed Stage 2 without a Safety Pass.
Aside from Grant and Dave, the next biggest splash surprise was Flip. There had to be someone who timed out. This is the kind of case where I'm not sure a Safety Pass would have helped anyway. He timed out, he would have been exhausted afterwards since he ran the whole course, and even after having a rest, he wouldn't be at 100%. He would not be able to move faster than he did the first time. This is all happening in the same night. Even if he was given 5 hours, would he be the same as he was in the beginning of the night? Would he have been able to go faster? My belief is that No, he would have probably gassed out or fallen from fatigue. This would have been the one case where the Safety Pass probably wouldn't have made that big of a difference because though he technically failed, it wasn't a specific obstacle which bested him, so there would be nothing to get revenge on, so to speak. He would have just been tired. He'd be fighting himself the second time around.
All right, this is getting pretty lengthy, and I wonder if people can even make it down this far! Cheers to you if you are reading this now. Overall, my first opinion is that there shouldn't be more finishers than failures. I was greatly disappointed with Stage 2 which dampers my hopes for what next week's episode will look like and who the winner will be. I'm still thinking Drew.
Comment who you think will win and who you want to win! Until next time...
I hate Giant Walk the Plank. Catch and Release or the jungle gym or ring swing type obstacles were better. I know a couple people messed up on it, but I don't think the Giant Walk the Plank accomplished what previous obstacles did. The first obstacle isn't necessarily supposed to drop people, it's just to eat time and strength. Giant Walk the Plank was not an obstacle one could get caught up on. Yes, some people took an extra swing or two, but there's a target platform right in the middle. I also know it tripped up people in L.A. or wherever it was in the city courses, but this is Vegas. These people are supposed to be better than just anyone. I think they simplified the first obstacle too much.
Same for the Salmon Ladder type obstacle, the Extension Ladder. They used to have people move up and down the ladder. The varied distances between the actual rungs was interesting, but probably not enough for Stage 2. They should have kept that aspect but also made them move down it like previous years. They just went so easy on Stage 2, it was upsetting. Now, Snap Back may have been the most difficult obstacle, and still not many people had trouble on it. I really hate when they reuse obstacles from City Courses in Vegas. They've done it plenty of times, like the Wing Nuts (albeit that was altered) or The Wedge (which was also altered). Snap Back didn't look much different from what we saw in OKC, and I just don't like when we see repeats. People like Daniel, Josh, and The Kid had not only seen Snap Back, but they had previous experience on it. That's just unfair. I understand why they removed Deja Vu because it's something people can only mess up on once, really. People will easily figure it out and rebuild it and practice on it. People who fell on it like Gil last year would not be likely to make the same mistake twice. I was wrong about the Wing Nuts. I thought maybe they'd survive one more year, but I should have guessed that their time had expired, what with The Maker, Kevin Carbone, going cross-country to install them all over. I think of all the changes they made to Stage 2, the Snap Back made the most sense and fit in with Stage 2 the best. I think the slight alteration (the subtraction of the rope) on the Swing Surfer was also well done.
Now, I really disliked the Grim Sweeper. I don't think anyone but The Kid fell on it, which makes you wonder why the hell The Kid fell on it, but I'll reach that in a minute. Compared to everything they've had in the past which is usually a ninja killer, Grim Sweeper just wasn't. All of these guys have seen and done (for most of them) obstacles which required more precise timing and jumps and harsher, greater landings. Grim Sweeper seemed too preliminary, too run-of-the-mill, too expected. I was not a fan. Finally, the swimming portion, I know it is taken from the original Ninja Warrior -- Sasuke -- but it's only there for time purposes; it's not difficult necessarily. Even if these guys are completely winded, they can still do this obstacle, it's just a matter of what time they left themselves, which, of course, is still a major aspect of the game and a big rule: you have to do it all within 3 minutes, so I'm not trying to say the time rule or the Water Walls is stupid, necessarily; I just don't think it's the best obstacle, is all.
I have absolutely no issue with having 4 or 5 people finish or even 10, but 21 is just way, way too many. 75% success rate? I don't think so. That says way more about Stage 2 than the competitors. You could have thrown on a dozen people who fell on Stage 1 and they could have made Stage 2. Who was anyone trying to kid? Stage 2 bombed hard; final opinion. Like I said, I still have my favorites, and I am interested in seeing how they fare on Stage 3, assuming it's not a dud like Stage 2, but realistically, they probably don't deserve to be there based on previous track records.
Now, as I get into the competitors, I am probably going to say some mean things, let's just get that out there. I am definitely bias towards certain people, but I'm going to be completely honest here. Here's how I know Stage 2 was easy: Ryan Stratis, Chris DiGangi, Karsten Williams, Kevin Carbone, Casey Suchocki, Seth Rogers, and Hunter Guerard all hit the buzzer. There are others like Tyler Gillett, Adam Rayl, R.J. Roman, and Lucas Reale who are the type of guys who are on the bubble. Realistically, no, I would not believe that the latter group are truly Stage 3 material, but they are more so than some others. I know it sounds really harsh not to believe in the first list of people. They all did really well thus far, most of them even hitting a City Finals buzzer (which was more difficult than Stage 2, let's be honest), but you just know they're not going to go all the way. Stratis has been competing for 11 years, and he hits his first Stage 2 buzzer? I know people get stronger after a few years, but it's like after 5-6 years, not 11. After an entire decade, you're going downhill. DiGangi is kind of another. He does not have a good track record. This was his 2nd time on Stage 2 or something after a Stage 1 dry spell, and now he beats it? I like DiGangi and Stratis, I do. I just know they are not our next champions. A lot of these guys are consistent in failing when you look at the past; it's just fact. Obviously, none of these guys, even Gil and Moravsky, have ever completed everything meaning they have all failed, but some much more miserably and earlier than others. To see them all come this far isn't the happy thing I think everyone believes it to be. It may be history, but in this case, it's sad history. It shouldn't be history. It'll be interesting to see how early they all drop next week. I fully expect it to be Stage 3 to be a slaughter. The sheer number of finishers is truly a testament to the difficulty (or lack of) of this year's Stage 2, and it was disappointing.
If Stage 3 is like Stage 2, it will not be as exciting when someone wins everything. We don't want to run into what we had several years ago with Geoff and Isaac. You may think having some competition on Stage 4 is good, but it's not. Only one person will win the trophy, money, and champion title, but they run the risk (if Stage 3 is easy) of having multiple winners. There may be one "official winner", but nobody will be able to deny the fact that, even now, there is more than one winner. There are so many people running Stage 3, that there is a high probability, depending on what the course looks like, that more than 1 person will hit a buzzer next week. Then, for whoever finishes Stage 3, it is likely that they can also climb for Stage 4 and find the final buzzer. So, someone is winning the money, but who knows how many winners we'll have altogether? I think having so many winners is bad. You want a couple of champions, you don't want to be giving the Stage 4 buzzer to anyone, right? So, the producers and course designers, and whoever else, had the challenge of creating a course that is difficult to eliminate 20 people, but not so hard that the final person can't beat it. Having 2 people finish Stage 3 and climb against each other isn't the end of the world, I just don't want a dozen people all clamoring for the money. I just don't think that's very exciting. Then you'll also have too many people who have technically conquered Mt. Midoriyama, and that takes away the allure and desire and excitement. I understand if they wanted another champion since Geoff fell and Isaac is too chicken to return, but there is a fine line between another champion and a gaggle of winners. There will be no denying this: anyone who climbs Stage 4 is an American Ninja Warrior champion, just maybe not the official one. Anyone who can accomplish this will have it on their record. It will be on American Ninja Warrior's record. I know there are over 500 competitors each season, but the being an actual champion should be elusive and coveted. I've probably hit this pretty hard so far, but I'm just hoping not many people win this year.
Which brings me to who might just win it all. My bets are on Drew Drechsel, The Real Life Ninja; however, unpopular opinion, I don't want him to win, at least not this year. I explained myself last post. Drew is not my favorite ninja, but in terms of skill and ability in ANW, he is one of the best; this is undeniable. However, this is the one year, the ONE year, he doesn't deserve to win. I know he trains really hard and switched his sleeping schedule or whatever, but that is no excuse for his failure on Stage 1. Drew is one of the best, but I don't want to see him win this year. Even if he takes it all, his season won't be perfect despite hitting 6 buzzers because of his failure on Stage 1. It's something that I just can't ignore. Last year or next year, yes, but not this year. I'm still holding out for my favorites-- Joe or Daniel-- but I really think it's going to be Drew. If/when it is, I can't say I'll be happy, but I guess we'll have a lot to talk about next week.
Daniel and Joe looked really good on Stage 2, so that makes me happy. Like I said in previous weeks, they've kind of been dissing Joe, and since they haven't been giving him much attention all season, it makes me think he won't be the ultimate winner. I suppose it is still possible that he'll finish Stage 3. The advertisement said that there will be another winner, but they didn't say just one. Joe has been a touch slower than he usually is this season, so if it came down to a race like in Season 7, he might be another Geoff. Daniel is still in good favor with ANW, so I can still hope.
Next, let's discuss The Kid. I knew he was going to fall when they showed him running second. I probably could have guessed that it would be on the Grim Sweeper because he had completed Snap Back in OKC, yet it still surprised me that he went down, especially because I'm not sure anyone else did the rest of the night. This is another reason for why Stage 2 was so lacking this year. To begin with, it only bested 7 people, but only 1 person fell on what is supposed to be the big-ticket obstacle, and that person got a redo and completed the course. The 5th obstacle (or whatever number obstacle goes in that position) is meant to be a challenge, but Grim Reaper wasn't. Period. Clearly, it was too easy. Now, fast-forward a few minutes and I see everyone finish, I was wondering what the hell happened to The Kid that caused him to be the only one to fall. I think it mainly had to do with the fact that he bumped it with his leg, it started to move, and he panicked/hesitated on what to do, so he didn't move with full conviction or effort. This probably sounds like I'm trying to make an excuse for him, doesn't it. Look, I won't lie. I am subjective and bias towards certain people. I genuinely really like The Kid. I think it's fantastic that he's young and excited about the show, and he has had such an amazing career already, and this is only his second year. Right now, he's leading the next generation, and it's people like him who are going to help keep the show alive. So yes, I like him, and as I mentioned last week, I want to see him on Stage 3. I want to see what he can do. However, unfortunately, I cannot root for his victory. I want to see him go far, but not far enough because, like Drew, he doesn't really deserve to be there. I don't know exactly what was going through his head or the exact reason he fell, but the fact is: he failed on Stage 2. Again, like with Drew, this is something we just shouldn't ignore. I did find it interesting on his second time around, the way he carried himself. I think a lot of people his age and generation would say they have anxiety, and I don't know to what extent The Kid has anxiety, or even if he legitimately has anxiety. I know this is a real condition and it makes life very difficult for some people, but to mention it only now, on Stage 2 his second year competing seems ever so slightly odd and misplaced. Similar to Najee's asthma. I don't doubt that Najee has asthma, but that fact that they only highlight it when it "caused" him to time out is suspicious. Same with The Kid's asthma. He ran a lot differently the second time because he was probably more focused and more worried, but this doesn't necessarily mean anxiety. I don't want to make light of a potentially serious issue, nor bash anyone who really struggles with it, but the was ANW brought it to attention, making it his bio and everything for his first run, makes it look like they're trying to make an excuse for him. If anything, his anxiety should be worse the second time, right? because more is riding on this run since there is no Safety Pass, but he did everything perfectly. I don't know what to make of it, and I never will unless I could actually talk to him or experience exactly what he did on that night. It's just something I noticed and something to think about. He did seem perturbed the second time, but this could simply be because he needed to be more focused, not because he was anxious. Regardless of any of that, I am looking forward to what he can show us on Stage 3, but unfortunately, I am unable to cheer for his success.
All right, like they did last night, let's breeze through some people now, shall we? Adam Rayl and Tyler Gillett are two people who are right on the bubble for me. I really like them; I think they're phenomenal athletes, and they have had great success on the show. When they made it, I can't say I was mad. I believed in them a lot in terms of people who were somewhat question marks. They were the type of people who I could easily believe the outcome either way: buzzer or water. Which, by the way, I think it kind of sucks that even if you hit the buzzer, you still end up wet, just a side note. Anyway, like The Kid, I think it'll be interesting to finally see what these guys can bring to the table. Again, I have no idea what Stage 3 will look like this year, and it could be the same or it could be easier, or possibly even harder (although I doubt that if there is a winner). They've always done a good job on their seasons, but I'm not fully convinced either of them are ultimate ANW champions, you know what I mean? I don't doubt that they work hard and are capable of great (physical) achievements, but I feel like they're missing the IT factor. Gillett doesn't seem like he quite has the stamina or endurance, and sometimes Adam Rayl seems unfocused? There is something about this level of athlete that I have doubts about, but I can never place them. Lucas Reale and R.J. Roman are young, this is only their second year competing, and I think they're great for the next generation following The Kid's example. I also think they're very, very promising in keeping the show alive. Maybe, if the course was more like it was last year (i.e. more difficult), and they still completed I would believe it (if you told me ahead of time, kind of situation). But at the same time, I definitely would believe it if you told me they failed, because last year, they all did. If they had kept just the Wing Nuts, even, there probably would have been half the finishers, which would still be too much. I think some people like Casey Suchocki, R.J. Roman, Chris DiGangi, Hunter Guerard, Ryan Stratis, Karsten Williams, Karson Voiles, and Seth Rogers will drop so early on Stage 3. Honestly, I want them to fall. I want to see the brutal Stage 3 I have come to know and appreciate. They cannot dumb it down just because they want a winner. I hate the fact that they change Mt. Midoriyama as much, as often, and as bad as they do. Even when there is a winner next year, the Stages will be different next year. There is no consistency, and that is something that bothers me. I understand completely that they need to change things periodically in order to keep the challenge alive since these guys are training as intensely as they are, but they do it every year, and they make a completely new course. There is will be no comparison between Isaac and whoever wins next week because both of their entire season's were different. I bet Stage 3 this year will look absolutely nothing like Isaac's Stage 3 four years ago. The problem I have is that I understand it. I know that eventually things need to change, and even in Sasuke the obstacles differ between years. It still bothers me that it is so much sometimes. Maybe we're not really crowning someone who is worthy. The people moving on to Stage 3: are they really the best of the best? Again, I know there were, like, 500-600 total athletes across the country competing this year, so really it's probably less that 5% who are facing Stage 3, but shouldn't it be even less? Last year, there were 2 people! The year before there were 3! Before last night, the record was 8. That's the way Stage 3 has always been, and I think that's the way it should stay. Eliminating only 7 people during Stage 2 is just not enough. If I'm being brutally honest, I don't think that some of the people we'll be seeing on Stage 3 are the best. As a side note, it stings even more because we could have seen people like Lance Pekus, Jake Murray, or Jamie Rahn on Stage 3 since no doubt they would have been fine on Stage 1 and 2. How is it that the City Finals can take out more people than a Stage in Vegas? What was even the point of Stage 2? 7 people? That's the best they can do? I know hindsight is 20/20, so maybe the course designers or whoever didn't expect this many people to pass, but at the same time, they must have. They've seen what these people can do. How many testers fell that they thought this Stage 2 was adequate? The more I think about it, the madder I get. I know I should be happy for all these people because for most of them, it's the first time they've completed Stage 2 and it's redemption or a great achievement. I hate to damper their happiness, and completing this obstacle course isn't easy, it's just not what I expect of ANW or these athletes. Look, I couldn't do the Shrinking Steps, so I guess Who am I to say or judge any of this. I speak as an observer and lover of the show. I believe that the ultimate champion of ANW should have a perfect season (lookin' at you, Isaac), but also be able to do what nobody else can, and until I see Stage 3, that's not what this year is, so it lessens the whole "We have another winner" thing they've got going. It'll be different too, if it's Drew, Joe, or Daniel because those three are very strong, and from what I've seen the past few years, they all deserved it, at some point, more than others. We'll have to see what I think next week (when Drew wins).
And, you never know. I suppose someone like DiGangi could blow us away and get to the last obstacle or something. The issue I have is that just because someone is a big name or a fan favorite does not mean they are the best. We've kind of got that going on with some names like Ethan Swanson, Nate Burkhalter, and even Hunter Guerard. It is true that I am interested in seeing what these guys will do next week. It ultimately boils down to what Stage 3 is like, but I will have to admit if I am impressed by what some of these guys (who I am doubting if I'm honest) might show they can do.
Huge shoutout to Michael Torres. He did what even the great Drew Drechsel could not: he saved his Safety Pass. That, even putting aside the failure of a course that Stage 2 was, is extremely impressive. This is what The Kid and Drew and Flip should have been like. Those guys should not have needed it, and it does really show the ability and potential that Torres has. I can actually root for him, too, since though he won it, he did not use the Safety Pass.
I know I haven't mentioned Josh Salinas, yet, but he kind of falls into the crowd of Stage 2 finishers. 2nd fastest time is nothing to squawk at though. However, I could see Salinas dropping pretty early on Stage 3.
As for the finishers, I want to mention Tyler Smith, somewhat alongside Joe Moravsky. Personally, I think it says a lot about someone who has a regular, full-time job and a family and can still come out and compete and do as well as these two guys have. I think having kids has taken a toll on Moravsky, but it's really cool to see people find such success on the show without it defining them. We hear about people like Drew who have completely changed their regular life schedule and train around the clock for ANW. Joe and Tyler don't have that luxury, and they, as of right now, are able to keep up with people like Drew. They have real families and life outside of this. They haven't made careers off of it. I like that ANW is still more of a hobby for them. I don't really have a problem with people who have started gyms or tour or make money in any way off of their ninja fame, but having a life outside of ANW seems like you've got your priorities straight, to me. This is unfair to say, I realize, and I'm sure people are perfectly happy with what they've found outside of the show through the show. And there's nothing wrong with finding that extra success; I just really admire what Tyler Smith and Joe Moravsky have outside of ANW and who they are besides a ninja.
Now, let's move onto the failures since those were more interesting than the finishers. We've got to start with Grant. You cannot write this kind of stuff. He falls on the Extension Ladder which is basically the Salmon Ladder? Unbelievable. Honestly, it was unreal to see him fail. Akbar said that he'd probably be thinking about this for the next year, but something tells me that this will stay with him for awhile. It must have hurt him, and if he watched it last night, it probably hurt again, but you can't say this wasn't funny. All the years he's been to Vegas, and he falls in the same spot! Since I've been so rude and harsh this entire post, I'll tell you, I laughed when he fell. It was unreal, truly unreal. It's an extra slap in the face when you realize that 21 out of 28 people completed the course, and he was 1 of only 7 people to fail. This won't change the fact that the show loves him, though. Matt and Akbar will continue to be his number one fan despite such an unfortunate ending to his Vegas Return.
Dave Cavanagh surprised me. He actually was doing quite well this season, but maybe I'm caught up in his City performance. He did well in Qualifying, but even in Finals, he fell where everyone else fell. At the very least, he got revenge on the Giant Walk the Plank, but he couldn't make the Safety Pass work. What I noticed is that half of the losing competitors for the Safety Pass didn't need it, but almost all of the Safety Pass winners did, and some still lost. Flip used it for Stage 1 which saved him for that round, but ultimately, he couldn't do much with since he failed Stage 2. Brian Kretsch wasn't even on Stage 2, so L.A.'s Safety Pass was wasted. Atlanta found Carbone in the hot seat, and it's quite interesting that Carbone didn't need it, but his competitor, the last person we thought would need it, did need it. The great Drew Drechsel needed the Safety Pass. Then we move to OKC. Daniel didn't need it, I didn't expect that he would, but The Kid did. I did expect The Kid to use it once he had won it, and I was right about that. Now, Tacoma. Dan Yager fell in Stage 1, so I guess he needed it more then than Voiles, but Voiles didn't necessarily waste it since he used it for Stage 2. Baltimore's was wasted, but again, we find that the winner couldn't progress, but the losing competitor, Lucas Reale, never needed it. Likewise, Swanson did not need a Safety Pass, but neither did Torres. The Safety Pass will most likely make a huge difference in the show because it's likely that Drew will win and he used one. However, when you look back at who was competing for it, most of those guys never needed it. Gil, Swanson, Torres, and Carbone were perfectly fine running on their single life. I do have to give these guys props, as I do everyone else who completed Stage 2 without a Safety Pass.
Aside from Grant and Dave, the next biggest splash surprise was Flip. There had to be someone who timed out. This is the kind of case where I'm not sure a Safety Pass would have helped anyway. He timed out, he would have been exhausted afterwards since he ran the whole course, and even after having a rest, he wouldn't be at 100%. He would not be able to move faster than he did the first time. This is all happening in the same night. Even if he was given 5 hours, would he be the same as he was in the beginning of the night? Would he have been able to go faster? My belief is that No, he would have probably gassed out or fallen from fatigue. This would have been the one case where the Safety Pass probably wouldn't have made that big of a difference because though he technically failed, it wasn't a specific obstacle which bested him, so there would be nothing to get revenge on, so to speak. He would have just been tired. He'd be fighting himself the second time around.
All right, this is getting pretty lengthy, and I wonder if people can even make it down this far! Cheers to you if you are reading this now. Overall, my first opinion is that there shouldn't be more finishers than failures. I was greatly disappointed with Stage 2 which dampers my hopes for what next week's episode will look like and who the winner will be. I'm still thinking Drew.
Comment who you think will win and who you want to win! Until next time...
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