WWE Interview: Randy Orton's life as "the bad guy"

How careful do you have to be when punting your boss in the head?
Well, if you're Randy Orton, the most hated heel in the wrestling industry and your boss is billionaire bad boy Vince McMahon, the answer (backed up by the sick thud of replay) is not so safe.

And that's just how WWE wanted to lead into their second biggest pay-per-view of the year, with Orton kicking McMahon in the head to the shock/cheers/boos/disbelief of the millions of Raw fans who scrambled for their DVR remote to watch the kick again.
"If you watch the replay, I wasn't too careful. I definitely let him have it," Orton admits when talking about what transpired Monday night. "My wife DVR'd it for me because I had to watch it for myself. My foot still hurts. And if that's the case, I'm sure he has a nice migraine right now."
ESPN caught up with Orton as he prepared for the 30-man Royal Rumble match to talk about what it's like playing the role of a heel, the story behind his new tats, and the future of The Legacy.

Brazil's wingback conundrum

Cafu and Roberto Carlos are two of football's greatest-ever wingbacks, and Brazil's search for their long-time successors is proving difficult

Over the course of a decade, the make-up of a national team can change radically as new players emerge and established ones fall from grace. Nowhere is this truer than in Brazil, where the production line of talent appears almost endless. Yet from 1995 until the 2006 FIFA World Cup Germany™, two members of A Seleção showed that dynasties can endure even the fiercest of competition by making their positions their own.

The men in question are, of course, Cafu and Roberto Carlos who, at right- and left-wingback respectively, played a vital role in what was a golden era for Brazil. Indeed, such was the contribution of these two icons that by the time they ended their international careers, they had become their country's two most-capped players.

However, two and half years after Germany 2006, no clear successors have emerged, despite a plethora of options on both flanks. FIFA.com runs the rule over the main contenders for two positions that remain crucial to the continued success of Brazil.

Cafu's heir apparent
One full-back with a strong claim to that title is Maicon of Inter Milan. The player's speed and attacking verve have been a highlight of recent Brazil games, and his coach Dunga has expressed admiration on numerous occasions. For all of that, the player is facing stiff competition for his place and continues to divide opinion among the fans.

One of his main rivals is Daniel Alves of Spanish giants Barcelona. By playing a pivotal role in the rise of Sevilla a few years back, he became one of the most sought-after talents in European football, before finally signing for the Catalan side in 2008. And while he has yet to replicate his dazzling club form for Brazil, his goal against Argentina in the final of the Copa America 2007 (which Brazil won 3-0) remains a potent reminder of his all-round ability.

A bit more unusual is case of Roma's Cicinho, a starter for Brazil during their successful FIFA Confederations Cup campaign of 2005 and cover for Cafu at Germany 2006. At the time he seemed a certainty for the right-wingback position, but he has not had an international call-up since Dunga's first game in charge, back in August 2006.

Rafinha, meanwhile, put himself in the frame by getting a starting berth ahead of Ilsinho at the Men's Olympic Football Tournament Beijing 2008, his three years' experience with German side Schalke giving him the edge despite being only 23. However, Ilsinho is fast garnering goals and experience at Ukrainian side Shakhtar Donetsk and remains a viable option for Dunga.

The only candidate on this list who plays his football in Brazil is Flamengo's Leo Moura. The 30-year-old, who has already played for five other top clubs in his homeland, is currently enjoying the form of his life. Indeed the Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) have named him the best right-back in the national championship for the last two seasons. His first call-up came in January 2008, and he remains a genuine contender for the role.

Filling Roberto Carlos' shoes
On the left side of defence, the competition is fiercer still. Gilberto, currently with English side Tottenham Hotspur, was back-up for Roberto Carlos at Germany 2006 and began the Dunga era in the starting XI. However, in recent months the 31-year-old looks to have slipped down the pecking order behind Kleber and Marcelo.

For his part, Kleber is currently showing with Santos that he has few equals in his position, which explains why the 28-year-old started for Brazil in their last few games of 2008. His steady performances have managed to quieten the clamour that was hitherto building for the inclusion of the younger Marcelo, who looks to have cemented his first-team place at Real Madrid. Only 18 when he was called up for Dunga's first game in charge in 2006, he has still to convince the coach that he is the best man for the job.

Then there is Flamengo defender Juan, who, after three years with limited opportunities in England and a similarly quiet period in Brazil, looks to be finally fulfilling the potential he showed as a graduate of the Sao Paulo youth academy. He was first called into the squad in August 2008, the same year he was voted the best in his position in the Brasileirao, and if the 26-year-old can maintain his current level, calls for his inclusion can only grow.

A little further down the order come Sevilla's Adriano and Maxwell of Inter Milan. The former was a FIFA U-20 World Cup winner in 2003 and figured in Dunga's early squads, only to be overlooked thereafter. Complicating his quest for the No6 jersey is the fact that he currently operates in midfield for his club.

Maxwell, meanwhile, has a lower profile at home having left for Dutch giants Ajax while still a youth player at Cruzeiro in 2001. His main international experience was a run in the U-23 side during Brazil's unsuccessful qualifying campaign for the Men's Olympic Football Tournament Athens 2004, but he is hoping his form in Italy will earn him a long-awaited senior Brazil debut.

Hexagonal hots things up

Matchday one of the final 'hexagonal' round of CONCACAF qualifying pits old adversaries in heated clashes. Join FIFA.com for a closer look.
The six surviving nations in North, Central America and the Caribbean will begin their ten game round-robin (known in the region as the 'hexagonal') on 11 February as the bid for a place in the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa™. USA host arch-rivals Mexico in frosty Ohio, Trinidad and Tobago head for hot atmosphere in El Salvador and Central American titans clash as Costa Rica welcome Honduras to San Jose.

African leader wants it all

The spotlight shines south this week as South African mikkaeel maintains a cool head in the CAF driver seat, while the top 20 rankings are shaken up.
When it comes to football, Africa's current FIFA Interactive World Cup (FIWC) online leader is convinced of a few things: going to and winning May's FIWC Grand Final in Barcelona, and watching South Africa win this year's FIFA Confederations Cup.

With online competitors numbering over the 350,000 mark, there's no doubt that the FIWC is tougher than ever before. However, the 23-year-old South African remains confident and consistently features in the top 15, never losing Africa's top spot on the leaderboard. "With some hard work, I'm sure I'll qualify and win the tournament this year," says mikkaeel, (real name Abubakr Akhalwaya Ebrahim).


Despite currently residing in Leeds, the Johannesburg native has already booked front-row tickets for the FIFA Confederations Cup South Africa 2009 and is eager to see Brazil's Kaka and Pato in the flesh. Could mikkaeel witness Bafana Bafana (The Boys) raise the FIFA Confederations Cup after winning his very own FIFA title one month prior? In football, virtual or real, anything is possible.

Week 10
European dominance in the top five succumbed to increasing pressure from Central America and the Caribbean in Week 10. jpcuracao, from the Netherlands Antilles, claimed second while Mexican's zzerecero and floera64 went fourth and fifth respectively.

dutchrevenge held on to first place despite the surge on Europe and countryman the-return1 claimed third. Belgian MASSOUD_4030 (sixth), Germany's Ihleburg (seventh) and Frenchman LIL-GAME77 (eighth) temporarily hold onto the remaining three UEFA spots.

Saudi Arabia's Hussain_H (ninth) and Australian ThE_HaUnTeD_07 (14th) have their hands firmly on the two available AFC tickets. The pair of potential grand finalists should keep an eye on jamodamo (20th) though. The Australian has been sneaking up the table and is just 299 points behind Asia's number two. In the Oceania zone, nzjoker maintained his footing at the top of the hill despite slipping in the world rankings.

A pair of Brazilians guard South America's two online tickets to the Grand Final. dignitasmath (13th) and playArtShev (26th) will have to clutch onto those Playstation®3 controls extra-tight with the likes of SSS-Pires_BR and buffo2k8 lurking in the shadows.


For the seventh consecutive week, Africa's champion is mikkaeel. Egyptian Legend_never_die (36th) is the closest threat, some 812 points in the background.

Will Week 10's champions fend off challengers long enough to cement online victory, and with it a coveted birth at the Grand Final? Only time will tell.

FIFA 09 fans remember, there are two ways to qualify: claim one of the thirteen online places, or win one of the remaining live qualifiers. To view a listing of live qualifier venues and dates click on the link to the right

Fifa ranking

Ranking Name Points Country
1 dutchrevenge 7904 Netherlands
2 jpcuracao 7332 Netherlands Antilles
3 the-return1 7240 Netherlands
4 zzerecero 7048 Mexico
5 floera64 6946 Mexico
6 MASSOUD_4030 6939 Belgium
7 Ihleburg 6882 Germany
8 LIL-GAME77 6800 France
9 Hussain_H 6628 Saudi Arabia
10 TULIOmaravilha9 6426 USA
11 mikkaeel 6391 South Africa
12 AdamW 6327 England
13 dignitasmath 6289 Brazil
14 ThE_HaUnTeD_07 6248 Australia
15 beanz007 6186 England
16 locoIvor 6164 Netherlands
17 Ayhan1991 6147 Germany
18 semedo 6079 France
19 VamosMexico 6011 USA
20 jamodamo 5949 Australia
21 DHARIUS11CARTEL 5887 USA
22 Jad_3 5872 Northern Ireland
23 Clones_ 5863 England
24 wedding657 5861 Turkey
24 RaFaBoX_001 5861 Mexico
26 playArtShev 5843 Brazil
27 TheSicilian 5840 USA
28 teamraveloson 5836 France
29 norefo 5817 France
30 SeNSaTIoN9 5767 England
31 camionidelmondo4 5764 Netherlands
32 undercover_king 5752 Netherlands
33 MAYOKO10 5732 Greece
34 RATOdaBOLA10 5719 USA
35 i-90- 5681 Spain
36 Legend_never_die 5579 Egypt
37 Arsenal_Skills14 5575 Albania
38 THE_BOSS_4030 5559 Belgium
39 dannytaylor 5485 England
40 SSS-Pires_BR 5455 Brazil
41 DrFIFA 5447 Canada
42 Erpakow1 5386 Mexico
43 VanBasten_9184 5334 Austria
44 Ibbo 5305 England
45 playergenius 5243 Mexico
46 Raulinho7 5226 Norway
47 michs09 5215 USA
48 ARNON_CAIXEIRO 5173 Brazil
49 solid_4 5151 Chile
50 Jonyteknoska 5134 Spain
51 I--iNViNciBLe--I 5066 Turkey
52 iNaRa111 5058 France
53 EL_GRAN_DANY 5054 Argentina
54 stipp- 5049 Brazil
54 tayfun1980 5049 Turkey
56 nico_ultras 5012 Germany
57 FEaumomaea 5007 Brazil
58 dextens 4967 France
59 DERGHAM1995 4955 Egypt
60 Ganza1987 4938 Spain
61 higuain_86 4906 Spain
62 Jerem234 4905 France
63 marabout54 4810 France
64 biggballa_22 4802 England
65 HarryDorner_9183 4783 Austria
66 USAF-jamaican80 4742 France
67 Fifaminator 4670 USA
68 MexicoNieva 4655 Mexico
69 Algerie_19 4636 Algeria
70 UTM-RaSta-BoB-fr 4590 France
71 jet13500 4563 Belarus
72 restebien973 4549 France
73 kaly728 4547 Hong Kong
74 f45fm 4519 Peru
75 sebandriri 4503 France
76 hamster80 4485 Singapore
77 Ozzyuno 4484 England
78 cesar28 4446 Spain
79 bisonstar 4444 Germany
80 Stix94122 4438 USA
81 TheWhiteAngel9 4395 Norway
82 polezi 4376 Brazil
83 lpblwk 4373 Australia
84 travailleur 4327 France
85 DarthChe 4269 USA
86 samsam75011 4267 France
87 cabilloUSA 4247 Saudi Arabia
88 herzex 4231 Spain
89 gio1016 4223 USA
90 zykon-neo 4222 Germany
91 sami-n 4204 Algeria
92 hun_csoki 4145 Hungary
93 Chopsiie 4142 Australia
94 rbt503 4129 South Africa
95 juanma89m 4086 Italy
96 neosportsea 4082 Brazil
97 cocosboys 4081 France
98 neSoFiFA 4072 Bosnia-Herzegovina
99 PAC104LIFE 4060 USA
100 XX_chuyin86_XX 4046 Mexico

Another Big Night For Bynum

Although Andrew Bynum didn't fire in a career-high 42 points like he did the night before against the Clippers, he still led the Lakers in scoring, posting 23 points and grabbing 14 rebounds in another win for L.A