NEWS » be surprised had someone told him 20 years

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. -- Western Michigan came to Illinois Saturday as three-point favorites to pick up its second win in three weeks over a Big Ten team.Maybe that line should have been a little bigger.The Broncos (3-0) knocked off Illinois 34-10, two weeks after beating Northwestern on the road, 22-21.Western Michigan looked the part of a Big Ten team for much of the game Saturday, pushing the Illini (1-2) around the field. The Broncos held Illinois to 3 yards rushing while they piled up 287 yards on 54 carries.Sophomore running back Jamauri Bogan led Western Michigan with 189 yards on 24 carries, including a pair of long touchdowns.Bogan now has 425 yards -- 6.8 a carry -- and four touchdowns. He praised an offensive line that dominated the Illini defensive line, considered the strength of the Illinois team.Line came to play, he said. Its always the guys around me that allow things to happen when we play good football games.Broncos coach P.J. Fleck celebrated the win with fans who made the trip and said his team was never overwhelmed by the idea of facing another Big Ten team.They never flinched; they werent going to be intimidated, he said, while trying to play down the significance of beating Illinois on the road. Its no bigger or less than any other win.Western Michigan opened up a 21-0 lead early in the second quarter and finished the afternoon with 437 yards of offense.While Western Michigan shoved Illinois down the field, the Illini could barely sustain a drive. Unable to run, their only touchdown came on a trick play, a reverse flea flicker that ended with quarterback Wes Lunt hitting tight end Ainslee Johnson deep down the right sideline to cut the Western Michigan lead to 21-7 midway through the second quarter.Talking about a fourth-and-1 stop by the Broncos in the first half, Illinois coach Lovie Smith summed up the Illinis afternoon.They beat us up front, he said. We knew it was going to be about our line. They know were running, and of course we are running. Now, whos a better man?The two wins over Big Ten teams in a season is a first for Western Michigan, and just the fourth time a Mid-American Conference team has two wins over Big Ten opposition in one season.THE TAKEAWAYWESTERN MICHIGAN: The Broncos win at Northwestern was a squeaker, requiring a late touchdown and some defensive heroics. The win at Illinois was domination. Western Michigan ran the ball right at Illinois and the Illini couldnt do much about it.ILLINOIS: That feel-good period that followed Lovie Smiths hiring is over and the reality that he has taken over a mistake-prone team short on talent has set it in. Smith said from the beginning he wants to run the ball, but lead back KeShawn Vaughn had just 22 yards on eight carries Saturday. And while Lunt had 312 yards passing, he lacks a true go-to receiver. Smith also questioned his quarterbacks decision-making, particularly opting for short receivers in late-game, long-yardage situations.Theres probably four or five big plays we probably left out there that could have changed the game, Lunt agreed. I think I just need to do a better job when were down by that many points of forcing it down the field.KEEP THE BALLPlaying against an Illinois team that stresses the need to create turnovers, Western Michigan did not turn the ball over Saturday. That gives the Broncos a turnover-free start through their first three games. Opening up that three-touchdown lead helped. The Broncos stuck to the run much of the rest of the way. Quarterback Zach Terrell was just 9 of 13 for 150 yards.FUTILITYIf any one play could sum up the day for the Illini, their third-and-2 at the Bronco 3 early in the third quarter might be it. Lunt rolled left, had Justin Hardee open in the end zone with Reggie Corbin open in front of him at the 1. But with the ball headed toward Hardee, Corbin got his hands on it, and dropped it at the goal line. Illinois settled for a field goal, and remained two touchdowns behind at 24-10.UP NEXTWESTERN MICHIGAN: The Broncos are at home Saturday, against Georgia Southern, before they start MAC play at Central Michigan, which has its own win at a Power 5 school (Sept. 10 over Oklahoma State).ILLINOIS: Illinois gets a week off before heading to Nebraska to open the Big Ten season on Oct. 1. The Cornhuskers provided the 2015 highlight for the Illini, who came from behind to win their meeting in Champaign, 14-13.---Follow David Mercer on Twitter: (at)davidmercerAPAssociated Press college football coverage: collegefootball.ap.orgPatriots Jerseys China . It was the second consecutive win for the Pacers (2-5), who lost their first five preseason games. Jeff Teague led the Hawks (1-5) with 17 points and eight assists and Al Horford had 12 points and seven rebounds. Mike Scott scored 15 of his 17 points in the second half. Patriots Jerseys 2019 . 10 VCU 85-67 on Thursday night at the Puerto Rico Tip-Off. The Seminoles (4-0) have scored at least 80 points in each of their games. https://www.patriotsjerseysale.com/ . -- Jonathan Drouin gave Halifax the boost it needed to edge host Sherbrooke Phoenix 3-2 in a shootout in Quebec Major Junior Hockey League action. New England Patriots Shirts . PETERSBURG, Fla. New England Patriots Pro Shop .com) - Rafael Nadal, Andy Murray and Roger Federer were easy first-round winners Tuesday at the Australian Open.Over the past five years, a number of great WWE promos that didnt come directly from the mouth of Paul Heyman have garnered significant attention, despite how much his recent run makes it easy to forget that anyone can possibly approach his level.But no one has been as consistently entertaining and impassioned on the microphone as this veteran salesman, whose mad scientist brain owes its genius to his constant evolution. From his days as a teenage photographer to high-profile roles as manager, commentator, writer and promoter for just about every organization that has mattered, Heyman has seen it all over the course of 35-plus years (and counting) in pro wrestling.His legacy has largely been built upon the iconography of his rebelliousness, which has proved as much a blessing as a curse in each stop along the journey. Heyman has managed to tone down a few key aspects of that act, and has thrived in focusing his attention exclusively on?Brock Lesnar.For the many chapters in the book of Heymans unique career, hes writing his masterpiece in this current incarnation of advocate. In an era where managers are all but extinct, and creative liberties on the microphone are stingily rationed by WWE, Heyman stands out as something significantly different, not to mention brilliant.At 51, hes the best in the world at what he does. Quite unabashedly, he knows it.Test him with the formalities of asking whos the best talker in pro wrestling and Heyman fails to break stride in saying himself. Ask him who is No. 2 and he just as quickly says Lesnar, before stamping on a vainglorious qualifier.You know why? Because he lets Paul Heyman talk for him, Heyman told ESPN.com.To talk about the art of the promo with Paul Heyman is to summon from deep within him the passion that fuels everything he does -- a passion that acts as the medium to connect with his on-screen alter ego.Id say that Im probably possessed by that character at times, and need an exorcist to pull me -- the dad at home -- back out of him, Heyman said. And Id say at times that I possess him. Theres a balance. Theres no tug of war for my soul -- my soul is condemned as it is. But we have a relationship and we kind of learn how to co-exist.Explaining his artistry creates a measured tone in the speech of the often bombastic Heyman as he intently describes what goes into making a great promo.Credibility. Authenticity. Believing in everything that you are saying, Heyman said. Its something that some people are born with and dont know how to tap into. And its something some people are not born with, but once they feel the affirmation of the crowd ... [they] get that rush.The pop and electricity of a reaction from a live crowd has long been an unquenchable drug that has called many pro wrestlers back into the ring long after their bodies told them to stop. Heyman is just as much of a junkie to that phenomenon, describing that synergistic moment with an audience with an almost lustful tone.Its sex. Its music, Heyman said. And theres a rhythm to it, and theres an interaction to it. Theres something very deeply personal about it as well. So once you tap into that youre hooked, and you seek that every time you dare open your mouth in a public forum.Only Heyman could make talking about the process of talking this interesting. As effortless as it looks when he delivers a promo, theres an obsessive journey unseen by the audience before the finished product, with Heyman stressing over every word, inflection and moment of the time afforded to him to sell a particular message.The competitor within Heyman, the same guy who improbably built ECW into a revolutionary promotion in the late 1990s, is still present within him, but hes largely competing with himself these days as he challenges himself to stay on such a high level.There are many different kinds of promos, and Heyman has delivered them all well. He can incite a crowd with his wit and delivery, or ad-lib off of their emotions like a great jazz player. At the end of the day, he says, nothing matters if his message doesnt lead to the company making money.Unlike most performers, Heyman is allowed to write his own scripts and put together the salesmanship of it after being told the mission of each promo. The reason hes afforded such freedom, he says, goes back to WWE chairman Vince McMahons willingness to honor those who boldly reach for the brass ring.While its clear that Heyman is trusted by WWE despite an, at-times, rocky 15-year relationship (which includes a sizable gap of employment from 2006 to 2012 following creative disagreements), his freedom comes with tremendous responsibility and pressure.If you truly want to reach for the brass ring, you need to put your balls on the table, Heyman said. I can go off-point, I can go off-word, I can go off-paragraph, but I can never go off message. Because when I come back through that curtain, if I havent sold [McMahon] tickets or pay-per-views or merchandise or network subscriptions, its not about reaching for the brasss ring -- my balls are getting chopped off.ddddddddddddnd you have to be willing to put your balls on the line with that. Now if you are, hell let you do it. Its your funeral. Or its you reaching for the brass ring. Either way, its a risk that you have to take.Heyman defends the WWEs reliance on scripted dialogue with a reminder that the company is putting out a live show on worldwide television with a multimillion-dollar-a-week contract to deliver. As he puts it, You cant just let people go out there and do whatever the hell they want to do, saying its a violation of WWEs responsibility to shareholders not to control everything that goes out under its brand.Its at least worth questioning, however, whether Heymans gifts as a persuasive communicator wouldve been better served in a different field, with his same ability to challenge your core beliefs and turn them upside down often found in preachers, lawyers and politicians.I would probably confess that I was the greatest disappointment of my mothers life, but my father only admired his sons moxie, drive, hustle and wherewithal to pursue his dreams no matter how I achieve them, he said, describing his late parents in the 2014 WWE documentary titled Ladies and Gentleman, My Name is Paul Heyman.He credits his ability to deliver a message to his father, Richard, calling him the most ethical, honest personal injury attorney in the history of the Bronx. His mother, Sulamita, was a Holocaust survivor and the single most intense, driven individual he said he has ever met.One of the biggest keys to Heymans pro wrestling education was the opportunity to learn from some of the brightest minds and best talkers in history; core concepts like how to get heat as a heel, and the difference between just being entertaining and drawing money. He credits his time spent riding in the car or in the announcing booth alongside the likes of Freddie Blassie, Austin Idol, Dusty Rhodes and Jim Ross for helping him create the character he is today.Heyman believes he has lived multiple careers within the same industry; the loudmouth Paul E. Dangerously, the cult leader of ECW, and the celebrated head writer of WWE SmackDown, to name a few. But hes steadfast in his unwillingness to compare his accomplishments or attempt to identify his contribution to the genre.Sharks only move forward -- they cant go back, cant move sideways, Heyman said. I dont want to be that old boxer sitting downstairs in the basement watching that grainy footage saying, So you see, thats when I was relevant. I want to be more relevant tomorrow than I am today.Heyman maintains that relevance, in part, by constantly staying ahead of the social curve and using his accomplishments as a means to add credibility to the next thing hes trying to sell. Its a mindset that has helped make his day job running his viral marketing agency Looking4Larry and his Heyman Hustle website so profitable.Theres also the fact that Heyman says he rarely sleeps more than three to four hours per night and often churns out 18- to 20-hour workdays between pro wrestling and his business.Im involved with projects that strike up a passion with me, that stir up completion inside of me, Heyman said. People come at me and go, My job makes me feel alive. OK, well good for you. My job doesnt make me feel alive, my job makes me feel alive! I love what I do. Im passionate about what I do. I live for what I do. And every morning I cant wait to stop sleeping and to jump up and get out of bed and start doing what I do.An insatiable work ethic and a disdain for sleep -- that sounds a lot like another sports entertainment visionary, Vince McMahon, doesnt it?Yeah, but hes insane, Heyman said. At least Im rather sane about it. Then again, Im sane and Im a thousandaire, and hes insane and hes a billionaire.Could it be a case of kindred spirits?I dont think Vince would be flattered by the comparison, but in my little synagogue of life, I could see where maybe we could kibitz a little about that, he said.Heyman has no plans to walk away from wrestling, not with how much fun his cushy and lucrative 14-year run alongside his friend Lesnar continues to be. But he readily admits he would be surprised had someone told him 20 years ago that he would be a featured and valued performer with WWE at this stage, not to mention someone who McMahon trusts and respects.I dont know what explains my longevity, Heyman said. I think Im kind of like the cockroach of the sports entertainment industry. You could drop a nuclear bomb somewhere but who is going to survive? The cockroaches are always going to survive. They are going to be the last things on earth.Ive survived it all. And you know what? Why would they want to get rid of me by now? This guy is still alive? No one has killed him yet? Put him on television, he must have something to offer!Ladies and gentleman, his name is Paul Heyman. ' ' '