Dwight Howard: With Trade To Lakers Becomes Hollywood Howard
In the early 1990s there was a big war going on between wrestling promotions World Wrestling Federation and World Championship Wrestling. The war was for TV rating as much as it was for money and control of certain wrestling territories. The battle for viewers was fierce and for an elongated period of time WCW was winning the ratings.
The reason why is because at its 1996 Bash at the Beach pay-per view, the “goody guy” Hulk Hogan turned on every wrestling fan there ever was and joined “The Outsiders” Kevin Nash and Scott Hall in their takeover of the company. They called themselves the New World Order (N.W.O.). That day kept WCW afloat until 2001 when World Wrestling Entertainment bought the company out. However, the day Hogan turned remained a big point in history. He became Hollywood Hogan.
Fast forward a few years and change the sport. Orlando Magic center Dwight Howard is the fan favorite of the NBA. He calls himself “Superman,” he wins dunk contests and lights up the world with his smile. Howard was the No. 1 pick of the Magic in 2004 over Emeka Okafur. He was the man in Orlando until the team failed to make an effort to better themselves. Thus began the civil unrest in the Magic’s kingdom.
Howard requested a trade and basically got his former head coach Steve Van Gundy and former GM Otis Smith fired. Howard has complete control of the team and then even after all that, Howard turned and was traded to the Los Angeles Lakers joining a team of all-stars and MVPs in Kobe Bryant, Steve Nash, Pau Gasol and Metta World Peace. Dwight Howard turns to Hollywood Howard.
The turning of Howard seems like a storyline that only the best at a wrestling promotion can churn out. Howard joins the bad guys and thus becomes the “bad guy.” Could you blame him though? He will get everything he’s ever wanted in Los Angeles.
Dwight went Hollywood and will have to face the consequences (Maybe not as dangerous as Hulk Hogan).
The Lakers are taking over and are poised to become NBA champions. However, the Miami Heat are still really good as well as the Oklahoma City Thunder.
It will be an interesting 2012-13 season to say the least.
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