Listen up!

Class is in session.

This week, we're talking about a great man -- a man with a dream, a man with a vision -- a Boss Playa, if you will -- Mr. Theodore R. Long.

The Professor always hears about how "RAW" is superior to "Smackdown!" because the roster is stronger -- HHH, Chris Benoit, Shawn Michaels, Chris Jericho, Edge, etc.

As Steve Austin would say, "EHH-EHHHH!"

Colorful characters and strong interviews have always grabbed my interest more than actual wrestling -- hence, my preference for "Smackdown!"

Sure, there's top technicians like Eddie Guerrero and Kurt Angle, but more importantly, there's plenty of guys who are great on the mic: JBL, John Cena, Booker T and Paul Heyman. Heading the list, though, is my man, Teddy. Do ya feel me on that?

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This guy is the Barack Obama of wrestling -- a rising superstar, if there ever was one. In just a couple of years in WWE (he arrived in 1997, after a long managing stint in NWA/WCW), he's gone from lowly referee to mouthpiece for Mark Henry and Rodney Mack (a promotion, if you can believe that) to the top man on SD! Quite a meteoric ascent.

Vince McMahon saw the potential early. Remember when Teddy took over as Raw's GM for one night, and called the live crowd in Memphis a bunch of crackas who couldn't handle a black man being in charge? Classic stuff.

I must admit, I was more fond of Teddy's character when he was slightly militant -- back when "The Man" was trying to keep him down, during his days as a manager on RAW.

(The Professor can relate. "The Man" tries to bring me down, too. He always keeps the air conditioning turned up way too high in our office.)

So where does Teddy go from here? Hopefully, toward the heel side. The character works so much better when he's scheming about getting over on "The Man," instead of actually BEING "The Man."

If I were writing "Smackdown!," I'd craft some type of controversial ending to the current John Cena-Booker T "best-of-5" series, ending with Teddy costing Cena the win. The "doctor of thuganomics" is reportedly scheduled to make a movie, so that would free him up to disappear for a few months.

Meanwhile, Teddy could be fired as GM and hook up with Booker. Has there ever been a more natural combination? It's practically begging to happen. It's also high time that Booker, even if he wins the U.S. title, gets back into the WWE title picture. With Teddy at his side, it could be a fun ride. As much as I respect JBL's handling of the top spot (more on the mic than in the ring), it would be nice to see Booker become the one time, one time, one time, one time, one time WWE Champion.

Plus, this gives you a rematch scenario ready to go whenever Cena, who should also be in the title hunt, returns. In the end, everybody's happy -- especially me, and that's all that really matters anyway, Playa.

Playa. Thanks to Teddy, I love saying that. I could say it 10 more times, just to irritate you youngsta's.

Playa. Playa. Playa. Playa. Playa. Playa. Playa. Playa. Playa. Playa.

Don't like it? Well, get your own column then!

Holla!

(Professor Wrestling is a masked employee of Internet Broadcasting Systems. He so badly wants to be a Playa. Mrs. Professor -- the real Playa -- only rolls her eyes, hoping someday he'll take her to the ballet, opera or a lousy play(a).)