Yep, I love the Gauntlet 3. And last night I got a FULL hour of it. But I got the feeling that last night was simply two shows that were combined into one full hour, but that's OK.
First 30 minutes......The Vets were cocky and talking smack and it was a girls' day so the Vet girls were worried that some of the guys might throw a mission to "cut the fat". Well if they were losing on purpose, it didn't show. The Vets just smoked the rookies, even though the rookies tried to stack the situation with loading up with their guys. And Tyrie got dizzy. COME ON Rookies. Put up more of a fight! As for the female gauntlet, did Jillian REALLY say that she "should not have shown her muscles?" Huh? Your arms are toothpicks. And as for the deliberations, it seems as though EVERYONE wanted Angel to stay. Why would they put her in there? They could have done an override against Jillian if they wanted to. But they didn't. They let her knock out Angel. So please don't pretend like you wish she had stayed. YOU COULD HAVE PUT Rachel in there!
Then in the second half hour, we get to hear one of them say "there has never been so much sexing going on in a house before." MTV then shows quick shots of folks making out. No, show us the leading up to. You don't HAVE to cram a challenge and gauntlet into every half hour. Give us some of the other drama. But oh well. Tyler gets shot down by Ryan and then, after the Rookies lose again (even though Zack predicted they'd win two in a row. HA. have you SEEN the Vets' team?) and Johnny Bananas gladly put Tyler into the Gauntlet, he gets all pissy. He starts telling JB, then the rest of the vets, "Thanks a lot. I really needed the money, but whatever."
Umm Tyler, if you really needed the money for grad school, why did you come on this show? Why didn't you get a job instead of showing up in Mexico in an attempt to walk away with $6000 after the team splits, and really, did you think you'd make it to the end? Come on.
Well if Tyler REALLY needed the money, why did he say he wanted Zack or Frank in the gauntlet? Why not go against Ryan? Oh, because if somehow you DID make it through, who would you make out with? (and i won't go with the obvie joke here of, would they just b!tchslap for a gauntlet) Tyler really didn't care, otherwise he would have asked to go against Ryan, if he TRULY wanted to stay. And as for the team, why did they risk Frank going in there, possibly slipping and losing to Tyler? Why not send Ryan in there, and therefore you KNOW you will lose either one of your weakest members. The Rookies took a chance and that is crazy. It worked out for them, but it was risky.
As for future episodes, all the Vets keep saying, "I can feel a storm coming on." Well if you can feel it, just avoid it. OR just suffer through it because YOU ARE STILL WAY better than the other team. Evan, JB, CT, Kenny, Eric, Brad, Danny (and Adam) you guys are a freaking MURDERERS ROW. just sub Alton and Abram in for Adam and Danny and you have a freaking Dream Team. So who cares about a "storm" coming. Just avoid it or endure it. But if you can "feel it coming" then just avoid it. But that wouldn't be fun tv, so SUFFER THROUGH IT. I wonder who Diem will turn to during this storm? It is her third challenge, she needs to hook up with SOMEBODY at this point. Maybe she comes between Blinky and Melinda. I just want to see someone pull her wig off.
Thursday, January 31, 2008
LinKin Park-Minutes To Midnight..the evolution
I have been a huge Linkin Park fan ever since Hybrid Theory came out. I loved Reanimation. I own the Live from Texas, shoot, I even bought Collision Course, the album with Jay-Z. And when Meteora came out, I thought, "WOW. This is a band that is constantly pushing the envelope and trying new things. Great. Not the same crap over and over." I was excited about the Fort Minor spinoff and Remember the Name, but that album was a tad disappointing. Oh well though, that was just ONE member trying a new project. The band is releasing Minutes to Midnight and What I've Done is a pretty good song, as is Shadow of the Day. I'll give the CD a whirl, especially since the Bride-to-be bought it on iTunes.
Well first reaction is....I don't like this. But that is what I said about Hybrid Theory. That album had the 4 recognizable songs and the rest were enhhhh. But then I just kept listening and it grew on me. Really grew on me. Same with Meteora. I liked that they were taking chances.
But M2M, not really taking chances. When did they turn into System of a Down? Too much yelling on this Album. I know that is one of their things, like in Closer, but that was only a small part of the song.
Given Up: ALL there is is yelling the f-bomb. The beat is pretty cool, but the yelling kills it for me.
Leave Out All the Rest:they slow it down a bit. I like it, but I don't want to like JUST the band's softer, slower songs. But this is a great song. But I don't want to EVER hear it on American Idol, and I fear a Chris Daughtry wannabe may try it.
Bleed it Out: a more upbeat song that I like. I might use this for Extra Innings or High School High 5 on 790, if I can edit out the f-bomb in the opening line. But I like this, maybe under a scoreboard. I also like the unique sound of clapping hands for the beat.
Shadow of the Day: Again, a slower/softer song. i like it. It is hitting the radio stations (or has hit) and I am a fan. Maybe one of the reasons I went ahead and decided to acquire the CD. Actually though if you didn't know it was LP, you may wonder who it was. Again, LP is experimenting with its sound, and I like that.
What I've Done: Classic LP and a great way to kick the CD sales off. This will soon be up there with Crawling and Closer.
Hands Held High: starting to go downhill. If I REALLY wanted to hear your views on politics, I'd tune in to CSPAN and listen to your rants in Congress....wait, you aren't in Congress, but your just pouring on because you hate the country that is making you rich? Hmmmmm, maybe you should join Bobby Fischer in Iceland then.
No More Sorrow: interesting intro and beat to this song. I like the constant drums. This could be a drive REALLY fast song, but again with the yelling. Sometimes, a little goes a LONG WAY. This sounds like a tribute to Metallica
Valentine's Day: Is he whinning about not having a date on Valentine's Day? That is all I am thinking about during this song. Maybe this one will grow on me. It has the potential
In Between: a little repeitive. and it never goes anywhere. I would skip over this song, not because it is bad, but it just doesn't ever DO anything.
In Pieces: This sounds like another song they've done, but I like the semi-ska feel you get in the middle of it
The Little thing Give you Away: a good closing song (except for the (live) What I've Done) it winds you down, kicks you up a tad with a bit of a Celtic feel, then winds you back down again.
Overall, the third time around, it is a LOT less disappointing than it was the first time. Which probably means by the 109th listen, which I am sure I will do, it should be great. This album as of RIGHT NOW has 5 great songs with 4 more Could grow on me songs with only 2 I would CLEARLY fastforward through. I like the softer tones when they slow it down. I like the semi-Metallica tribute, the celtic feel and the ska interlude. These guys keep pushing the envelope which is great. I like that they try and reinvent themselves, the great ones ALWAYS do that: U2 and Dave for example. Kudos to these guys for evolving. They just suck you back in and I will certainly keep listening and will buy the next album.
Current grade: B+............ with A potential
Well first reaction is....I don't like this. But that is what I said about Hybrid Theory. That album had the 4 recognizable songs and the rest were enhhhh. But then I just kept listening and it grew on me. Really grew on me. Same with Meteora. I liked that they were taking chances.
But M2M, not really taking chances. When did they turn into System of a Down? Too much yelling on this Album. I know that is one of their things, like in Closer, but that was only a small part of the song.
Given Up: ALL there is is yelling the f-bomb. The beat is pretty cool, but the yelling kills it for me.
Leave Out All the Rest:they slow it down a bit. I like it, but I don't want to like JUST the band's softer, slower songs. But this is a great song. But I don't want to EVER hear it on American Idol, and I fear a Chris Daughtry wannabe may try it.
Bleed it Out: a more upbeat song that I like. I might use this for Extra Innings or High School High 5 on 790, if I can edit out the f-bomb in the opening line. But I like this, maybe under a scoreboard. I also like the unique sound of clapping hands for the beat.
Shadow of the Day: Again, a slower/softer song. i like it. It is hitting the radio stations (or has hit) and I am a fan. Maybe one of the reasons I went ahead and decided to acquire the CD. Actually though if you didn't know it was LP, you may wonder who it was. Again, LP is experimenting with its sound, and I like that.
What I've Done: Classic LP and a great way to kick the CD sales off. This will soon be up there with Crawling and Closer.
Hands Held High: starting to go downhill. If I REALLY wanted to hear your views on politics, I'd tune in to CSPAN and listen to your rants in Congress....wait, you aren't in Congress, but your just pouring on because you hate the country that is making you rich? Hmmmmm, maybe you should join Bobby Fischer in Iceland then.
No More Sorrow: interesting intro and beat to this song. I like the constant drums. This could be a drive REALLY fast song, but again with the yelling. Sometimes, a little goes a LONG WAY. This sounds like a tribute to Metallica
Valentine's Day: Is he whinning about not having a date on Valentine's Day? That is all I am thinking about during this song. Maybe this one will grow on me. It has the potential
In Between: a little repeitive. and it never goes anywhere. I would skip over this song, not because it is bad, but it just doesn't ever DO anything.
In Pieces: This sounds like another song they've done, but I like the semi-ska feel you get in the middle of it
The Little thing Give you Away: a good closing song (except for the (live) What I've Done) it winds you down, kicks you up a tad with a bit of a Celtic feel, then winds you back down again.
Overall, the third time around, it is a LOT less disappointing than it was the first time. Which probably means by the 109th listen, which I am sure I will do, it should be great. This album as of RIGHT NOW has 5 great songs with 4 more Could grow on me songs with only 2 I would CLEARLY fastforward through. I like the softer tones when they slow it down. I like the semi-Metallica tribute, the celtic feel and the ska interlude. These guys keep pushing the envelope which is great. I like that they try and reinvent themselves, the great ones ALWAYS do that: U2 and Dave for example. Kudos to these guys for evolving. They just suck you back in and I will certainly keep listening and will buy the next album.
Current grade: B+............ with A potential
Wednesday, January 30, 2008
IT'S A FREAKING HORSE PEOPLE!
It pains me to have to talk about this, but the money-grubbing owners of a dead horse simply WON'T let their dead horse DIE! Barbaro's former owners have announced that his ashes will be buried outside of an entrance gate at Churchill Downs, the site of the Kentucky Derby.
Barbaro we all remember (and how can we forget, since the owners WON'T LET US) won the 2006 Kentucky Derby by 6.5 lengths, the largest margin of victory in 60 years. Then he broke his hind right leg in the Preakness and never raced again. Eventually after going through 9 million surgeries, the horse was FINALLY euthanized January 29, 2007. The owners throughout the whole ordeal have cashed in with made-for-tv movies and books and whatnot throughout this whole process, and I had actually forgotten about the stupid horse until yesterday they announced (on the one year anniversary of their cash-cow, er horse's death) that his ashes will be place at a gate of the Kentucky Derby.
I ask why" besides just another chance to make money off this along with a bronze statue which will also be at the gate! The two owners were announcing this while signing(no doubt for money) autographs. People have been flocking to the New Bolton Center in Pennsylvannia to look at Barbaro videos and pictures, no doubt at a price. This is just crazy how these people have made so much money off the suffering of a horse. If they TRULY cared about the horse, they would have put him down right after the injury, so he wouldn't suffer, but you can't draw sperm artificially and inject it the same way into other mares. It has to be Barbaro doing it. So the owners kept trying to "save" Barbaro, when all they REALLY cared about was his seed. I wish they had just come out and said that, but then they wouldn't have gotten all of these people sending them money and coming to see pictures of the dead horse. They tried to fool everyone, BUT YOU DIDN'T FOOL ME! I could see through your rouse, that you two were just money-hungry. I don't have a problem with that, JUST BE HONEST ABOUT IT!
Now Barbaro will be the first Kentucky Derby winner buried inside Churchill Downs, 4 other horses, were buried across the street. I want it noted that this horse DIDN'T win the triple crown! Shoot, it didn't even win the first two have a shot at the triple crown like Real Quiet, Silver Charm and several other did in the past few years. Heck, he didn't even win two of the three races like a few others did over the last few years. Nope. He only won one of the big 3 and he lost in the Preakness. that is 1 win and 1 loss with 1 DNR if you ask me. I would put his record at 1-2-0 in Triple Crown races. And I am supposed to be OK with his ashes and statue being at an entrance? I just don't see it. Whenever I will see that statue in the future, I will think of his greedy owners, not the "great" horse that won one race.
And maybe I will wonder if Chimer ate him as part of his dogfood. Or maybe I used him in a bottle of Elmer's Glue. I guess I'll wonder that stuff too.
Barbaro we all remember (and how can we forget, since the owners WON'T LET US) won the 2006 Kentucky Derby by 6.5 lengths, the largest margin of victory in 60 years. Then he broke his hind right leg in the Preakness and never raced again. Eventually after going through 9 million surgeries, the horse was FINALLY euthanized January 29, 2007. The owners throughout the whole ordeal have cashed in with made-for-tv movies and books and whatnot throughout this whole process, and I had actually forgotten about the stupid horse until yesterday they announced (on the one year anniversary of their cash-cow, er horse's death) that his ashes will be place at a gate of the Kentucky Derby.
I ask why" besides just another chance to make money off this along with a bronze statue which will also be at the gate! The two owners were announcing this while signing(no doubt for money) autographs. People have been flocking to the New Bolton Center in Pennsylvannia to look at Barbaro videos and pictures, no doubt at a price. This is just crazy how these people have made so much money off the suffering of a horse. If they TRULY cared about the horse, they would have put him down right after the injury, so he wouldn't suffer, but you can't draw sperm artificially and inject it the same way into other mares. It has to be Barbaro doing it. So the owners kept trying to "save" Barbaro, when all they REALLY cared about was his seed. I wish they had just come out and said that, but then they wouldn't have gotten all of these people sending them money and coming to see pictures of the dead horse. They tried to fool everyone, BUT YOU DIDN'T FOOL ME! I could see through your rouse, that you two were just money-hungry. I don't have a problem with that, JUST BE HONEST ABOUT IT!
Now Barbaro will be the first Kentucky Derby winner buried inside Churchill Downs, 4 other horses, were buried across the street. I want it noted that this horse DIDN'T win the triple crown! Shoot, it didn't even win the first two have a shot at the triple crown like Real Quiet, Silver Charm and several other did in the past few years. Heck, he didn't even win two of the three races like a few others did over the last few years. Nope. He only won one of the big 3 and he lost in the Preakness. that is 1 win and 1 loss with 1 DNR if you ask me. I would put his record at 1-2-0 in Triple Crown races. And I am supposed to be OK with his ashes and statue being at an entrance? I just don't see it. Whenever I will see that statue in the future, I will think of his greedy owners, not the "great" horse that won one race.
And maybe I will wonder if Chimer ate him as part of his dogfood. Or maybe I used him in a bottle of Elmer's Glue. I guess I'll wonder that stuff too.
Midweek Entertainment report
Zoey is back in class, Crash is coming to Starz and Deion really is in Prime Time now: The Entertainment report for 1/30/08
Nickelodeon has decided to go ahead with season 4, the final season, of Zoey 101 featuring a pre-preggers Jamie Lynn Spears. The season premire aired earlier this week and apparently all of this season was shot before Jamie Lynn Spears stopped have safe sex. (Seriously, she was wondering how in the world she could have gotten knocked up? Maybe it was when you boyfriend Casey Aldridge STOPPED using a condom and/or pulling out in the back of your white trash trailer home) So Nick has decided to go ahead and go WITH all of the ratings that will come with having a pregger Spears on its network. The finale of season 3 aired Jan 4 and had 7.3 M viewers, beating every other cable show for that night. OF COURSE Nick was going to air this season....what does Nick still show, besides SpongeBob Square Pants. They had this series in the can and with the writers' strike, this was like found money. I wouldn't be surprised if Nick didn't set up Spears getting preggers, just to help boost the sagging ratings. Well maybe not, but these days, it wouldn't SHOCK me.
Deion Sanders and his wife are getting a new show to air on the Oxygen networks called "Deion & Pilar: Prime Time Love" Really? Did you ever SEE Deion on CBS's pregame show? Have you seen him on NFL Network (NO! No one has! No one GETS NFLN! bada CHIIIIING! that's a joke, people) They guy is a loon, so naturally give him a TV show? Well, they gave Flava Flav one, so I guess Deion can get one too. That is just going to be BORING TV. Maybe that's why Oxygen picked it up.
I saw where they are making the movie Crash into a TV show. Don Cheadle (spelling?) is going to be a co ex-prod and he will star in the first few episodes to get the show started. He said he is also trying to recruit some of the original cast to reprise their roles for an episode or two. I am sorry, but I just can't see this working. Just can't. Unless you bring EVERYONE back to transition the show to new characters, but that would take more than 1 or 2 episodes. And PS, Brenden Frasier, Terrence Howard, Matt Dillon and Sandra Bullock aren't coming back. Ryan Phillippe may need the work and Michael Pena might sign on, but not the rest. Come on. I guess the fact it is on Starz, they can curse and use the racist themes more so than CBS, but I just don't think this will have the legs. They will need some of the big names to stay on as regular characters, not just an appearance here or there.
Nickelodeon has decided to go ahead with season 4, the final season, of Zoey 101 featuring a pre-preggers Jamie Lynn Spears. The season premire aired earlier this week and apparently all of this season was shot before Jamie Lynn Spears stopped have safe sex. (Seriously, she was wondering how in the world she could have gotten knocked up? Maybe it was when you boyfriend Casey Aldridge STOPPED using a condom and/or pulling out in the back of your white trash trailer home) So Nick has decided to go ahead and go WITH all of the ratings that will come with having a pregger Spears on its network. The finale of season 3 aired Jan 4 and had 7.3 M viewers, beating every other cable show for that night. OF COURSE Nick was going to air this season....what does Nick still show, besides SpongeBob Square Pants. They had this series in the can and with the writers' strike, this was like found money. I wouldn't be surprised if Nick didn't set up Spears getting preggers, just to help boost the sagging ratings. Well maybe not, but these days, it wouldn't SHOCK me.
Deion Sanders and his wife are getting a new show to air on the Oxygen networks called "Deion & Pilar: Prime Time Love" Really? Did you ever SEE Deion on CBS's pregame show? Have you seen him on NFL Network (NO! No one has! No one GETS NFLN! bada CHIIIIING! that's a joke, people) They guy is a loon, so naturally give him a TV show? Well, they gave Flava Flav one, so I guess Deion can get one too. That is just going to be BORING TV. Maybe that's why Oxygen picked it up.
I saw where they are making the movie Crash into a TV show. Don Cheadle (spelling?) is going to be a co ex-prod and he will star in the first few episodes to get the show started. He said he is also trying to recruit some of the original cast to reprise their roles for an episode or two. I am sorry, but I just can't see this working. Just can't. Unless you bring EVERYONE back to transition the show to new characters, but that would take more than 1 or 2 episodes. And PS, Brenden Frasier, Terrence Howard, Matt Dillon and Sandra Bullock aren't coming back. Ryan Phillippe may need the work and Michael Pena might sign on, but not the rest. Come on. I guess the fact it is on Starz, they can curse and use the racist themes more so than CBS, but I just don't think this will have the legs. They will need some of the big names to stay on as regular characters, not just an appearance here or there.
Tuesday, January 29, 2008
we interrupt this program for a special news bulletin
I know the writers' strike has made TV a little less exciting to watch recently. Last night was no different in terms of exciting to watch, but it wasn't because of the writers' strike, it was because of the State of the Union Address.
I know I am 26 now and I can't use the classic line of, "oh, I'll be more interested in that stuff when I am 'grown up.'" I am sort of grown up now. But to be honest, that speech still bores me. And with the clapping.......It turns a 40 minute speech in a 70 minutes one.
Give me a break.
I just don't like that all of the networks, DURING PRIMETIME TV preempt the regularly scheduled shows to have pregame "political talk", the actual speech, then "postgame" talk recapping WHAT WE JUST SAW. Now maybe I am being hypocritical, but this isn't football. We don't need all of this pregame and postgame stuff. It isn't like the experts are being neutral like most of the college football talking heads (expect for Kirk who loves him some Ohio State and Mark May, who hates him some UGA). If the "expert" is a Democrat, he/she is going to say W blew it or he/she hated it. If the expert is a republican, he/she obviously loved the speech. COME ON!
And it isn't just with State of the Union stuff. ANYTIME Bush gives a speech from the Oval office, the major networks always interrupt, and Bush can NEVER give a speech at 6:30, it has to be 8pm or 9pm, right when Prisonbreak or Grey's Anatomy is coming on.
And some of my anger goes to the networks. NBC, you have, what CNBC and MSNBC that you could air this on and keep Deal or No Deal on? Fox, you have Fox News et al. Give me Prisonbreak! CBS, ABC, come on, why haven't you guys come out with networks on cable that you could run that stuff on? KEEP REGULARLY SCHEDULED STUFF ON TV. If the only reason you are running it on the major networks is because you are worried that some people won't get to see it because they don't have cable, let me tell you a little secret....if the person doesn't have cable, they DON'T CARE about the speech!
But the worst part is that because it was on at 9, that meant MTV was airing reruns of True Life and Real World/Road Rules. Their new episodes don't come on until 10, so again I fault Congress for the timing. Do this thing at 6:30 with NO clapping until 7, aka during the World Nightly news. And then let us have our TV shows at 8.
That's all I ask for. Well that and for the Writers' Union to realize they are COSTING their members WAY more money than they will ever get from holding out.
That's it. (PS, I thought it was funny during the SAG awards when the one lady said she was honored to be given this award by her union, in a time where it is so important to stand by your union. Yeah, so important. Writers are out of work because of their union, again LOSING more money than they were originally seeking. Good work UNION!)
I know I am 26 now and I can't use the classic line of, "oh, I'll be more interested in that stuff when I am 'grown up.'" I am sort of grown up now. But to be honest, that speech still bores me. And with the clapping.......It turns a 40 minute speech in a 70 minutes one.
Give me a break.
I just don't like that all of the networks, DURING PRIMETIME TV preempt the regularly scheduled shows to have pregame "political talk", the actual speech, then "postgame" talk recapping WHAT WE JUST SAW. Now maybe I am being hypocritical, but this isn't football. We don't need all of this pregame and postgame stuff. It isn't like the experts are being neutral like most of the college football talking heads (expect for Kirk who loves him some Ohio State and Mark May, who hates him some UGA). If the "expert" is a Democrat, he/she is going to say W blew it or he/she hated it. If the expert is a republican, he/she obviously loved the speech. COME ON!
And it isn't just with State of the Union stuff. ANYTIME Bush gives a speech from the Oval office, the major networks always interrupt, and Bush can NEVER give a speech at 6:30, it has to be 8pm or 9pm, right when Prisonbreak or Grey's Anatomy is coming on.
And some of my anger goes to the networks. NBC, you have, what CNBC and MSNBC that you could air this on and keep Deal or No Deal on? Fox, you have Fox News et al. Give me Prisonbreak! CBS, ABC, come on, why haven't you guys come out with networks on cable that you could run that stuff on? KEEP REGULARLY SCHEDULED STUFF ON TV. If the only reason you are running it on the major networks is because you are worried that some people won't get to see it because they don't have cable, let me tell you a little secret....if the person doesn't have cable, they DON'T CARE about the speech!
But the worst part is that because it was on at 9, that meant MTV was airing reruns of True Life and Real World/Road Rules. Their new episodes don't come on until 10, so again I fault Congress for the timing. Do this thing at 6:30 with NO clapping until 7, aka during the World Nightly news. And then let us have our TV shows at 8.
That's all I ask for. Well that and for the Writers' Union to realize they are COSTING their members WAY more money than they will ever get from holding out.
That's it. (PS, I thought it was funny during the SAG awards when the one lady said she was honored to be given this award by her union, in a time where it is so important to stand by your union. Yeah, so important. Writers are out of work because of their union, again LOSING more money than they were originally seeking. Good work UNION!)
Monday, January 28, 2008
Thoughts from the Senior Bowl
As promised, we have our first Sportsbyfletch Contributor piece. Paul "The Body" Mack attended this past weekend's Senior Bowl. He offers his thoughts. . . . .
I went to the senior bowl [this past weekend]. It was miserably cold, and the neighborhood could be in Beriut circa 1984....but we stayed throughout the first
half. The Tech kids looked great. Especially Choice who needs a lead blocker to be really effective and Gary Guyton who should be a fantastic value pick late he's incredible laterally...It just goes to show how wasted they were at Tech in the "exotic" Tenuda schemes and Gaileys over conservative offense. My boy Jacob Tamme was solid. Lavelle Hawkins made a nice grab on an underthrown ball(potentially purposefully) by Chad Henne over Chevis Jackson.
The south got stuck with Colt Brennan...who looks like he's kicker-sized
(See Alexis Serna) and he's all kinds of not ready for prime time out of
the pro set....not only that. The next QB up is the horrific Andre Woodson. First pass... 10 ft over the receiver (because Sedrick Ellis was dominating) I actually said pretty loudly in our section when he walked on the field... "It's wet, I Guarantee a Woodson fumble on this drive." Second Play... Stripped by Ellis. Hilarious. Eric Ainge was the south's 3rd qb but we left at half time so I didn't see him.
Coutu looked good when we got to see him. I don't think I saw Washington.
Quinten Demps and the younger Cromartie played above what I thought they would.
Anyone drafting Brennan or Woodson before the 4th or 5th round is nuts.
JD Booty did well even though he had a bad pick to Demps because he showed his ability to extend the play and move around in the pocket.
I think Henne though right now after the top 2 of Ryan and Brohm is the clear #3.
Joe Flacco is RIDICULOUSLY OVERRATED!
I screamed "Come to Atlanta" to Lane Kiffin and was immediately chastised by my buddies because they think he had a bad year... but honestly... I think he's a pretty good OC. I would rather have him than Mike Mularky... but then again Al Saunders is available now!
I went to the senior bowl [this past weekend]. It was miserably cold, and the neighborhood could be in Beriut circa 1984....but we stayed throughout the first
half. The Tech kids looked great. Especially Choice who needs a lead blocker to be really effective and Gary Guyton who should be a fantastic value pick late he's incredible laterally...It just goes to show how wasted they were at Tech in the "exotic" Tenuda schemes and Gaileys over conservative offense. My boy Jacob Tamme was solid. Lavelle Hawkins made a nice grab on an underthrown ball(potentially purposefully) by Chad Henne over Chevis Jackson.
The south got stuck with Colt Brennan...who looks like he's kicker-sized
(See Alexis Serna) and he's all kinds of not ready for prime time out of
the pro set....not only that. The next QB up is the horrific Andre Woodson. First pass... 10 ft over the receiver (because Sedrick Ellis was dominating) I actually said pretty loudly in our section when he walked on the field... "It's wet, I Guarantee a Woodson fumble on this drive." Second Play... Stripped by Ellis. Hilarious. Eric Ainge was the south's 3rd qb but we left at half time so I didn't see him.
Coutu looked good when we got to see him. I don't think I saw Washington.
Quinten Demps and the younger Cromartie played above what I thought they would.
Anyone drafting Brennan or Woodson before the 4th or 5th round is nuts.
JD Booty did well even though he had a bad pick to Demps because he showed his ability to extend the play and move around in the pocket.
I think Henne though right now after the top 2 of Ryan and Brohm is the clear #3.
Joe Flacco is RIDICULOUSLY OVERRATED!
I screamed "Come to Atlanta" to Lane Kiffin and was immediately chastised by my buddies because they think he had a bad year... but honestly... I think he's a pretty good OC. I would rather have him than Mike Mularky... but then again Al Saunders is available now!
The Duke Mystique
There are many mysteries in life, such as the pyramids, the Bermuda Triangle, the tree-falls-in-the-woods question and the chicken/egg conundrum, but none of those boggles my mind more so than Duke Basketball. How are they so good EVERY SINGLE YEAR? Really, how are they SO good year in and year out? And this year, they are at it again.
I think the answer to this question starts with the coach, Mike Krzyzewski. Coach K looks like he should be cast in the role of Rat King from The Nutcracker, but by gosh, the man can coach. Or rather he once could and now he just needles the officials with under-his-breath curse words while living on his reputation. Does an official REALLY want to make a questionable call AGAINST Duke inside Cameron where a bunch of future CEOs, Doctors and perhaps Presidents are dressed up in blue and white paint, pompoming and cheering, ready to chant the official right off the court? No. Therefore the Rat-King gets almost every call. I am not saying he hasn’t earned his reputation. His resume includes three national titles, with a fourth title game appearance, countless ACC titles and an eye on the ultimate wins list. But what is even more impressive he how he is getting the wins.
Most of his players look like guys that should have gotten cut from their high school JV teams. Jon Scheyer looks like he should be in the Duke Pep band playing a trumpet instead of popping threes. Lee Melchionni, Shavlik Randolph, Josh McRoberts, Danny Ferry and Mike Dunleavy look like five guys that shoot by themselves at the local YMCA, waiting for a pick up game, so they will be picked next to last and simply told to stand down low. JJ Redick didn’t look like much entering a building as he was writing poetry. Then he stuck a dagger in you with his shot. Shelden Williams, all 6’9 of him was oh so imposing. How does Coach K (who my brother-in-law swears was separated from Denver Broncos coach Mike Shanahan at birth) get so much out of these guys? They just don’t look like the guys from UNC, UCLA, Kansas or Memphis. They look like they should just be walked right over when they play. But they walk over you.
After Bobby Hurley and Christian Laettner led Duke to those back-to-back titles, America broke into two parties: either you loved Duke (a small number) or hated Duke (a MUCH larger number). So with all that hatred working against him, how Coach K is still getting people to come play for him is unreal. Does he say to a potential recruit, “Listen, you are going to come here and everyone else is going to hate you, but that’s OK, because Wojo will teach you how to slap the floor!” and that works? He was able to walk into Greg Paulus’s house during recruiting season and say, “I know Notre Dame wants you to come in and play quarterback. If you go become a golden domer, 50% of America will love you and 50% of America will loathe you. But if you come be my point guard, 99.98% of America will hate you, but you will have the support of the Cameron Crazies.” And Paulus went to Duke!? Wow.
I guess I am just jealous that Duke has this much success with guys out there that look just like the players at UGA, but Duke’s players can actually play. Oh well. I tip my cap to Coach K and that program. Duke has been great since the early 90s and I guess they’ll be good until the Rat King goes back to hanging with the Sugar Plum Fairy.
(Note, this article also appears on www.790thezone.com Hey, I wrote it, I can post it vairever the F*&^ I vant, as Teddy KGB would say)
I think the answer to this question starts with the coach, Mike Krzyzewski. Coach K looks like he should be cast in the role of Rat King from The Nutcracker, but by gosh, the man can coach. Or rather he once could and now he just needles the officials with under-his-breath curse words while living on his reputation. Does an official REALLY want to make a questionable call AGAINST Duke inside Cameron where a bunch of future CEOs, Doctors and perhaps Presidents are dressed up in blue and white paint, pompoming and cheering, ready to chant the official right off the court? No. Therefore the Rat-King gets almost every call. I am not saying he hasn’t earned his reputation. His resume includes three national titles, with a fourth title game appearance, countless ACC titles and an eye on the ultimate wins list. But what is even more impressive he how he is getting the wins.
Most of his players look like guys that should have gotten cut from their high school JV teams. Jon Scheyer looks like he should be in the Duke Pep band playing a trumpet instead of popping threes. Lee Melchionni, Shavlik Randolph, Josh McRoberts, Danny Ferry and Mike Dunleavy look like five guys that shoot by themselves at the local YMCA, waiting for a pick up game, so they will be picked next to last and simply told to stand down low. JJ Redick didn’t look like much entering a building as he was writing poetry. Then he stuck a dagger in you with his shot. Shelden Williams, all 6’9 of him was oh so imposing. How does Coach K (who my brother-in-law swears was separated from Denver Broncos coach Mike Shanahan at birth) get so much out of these guys? They just don’t look like the guys from UNC, UCLA, Kansas or Memphis. They look like they should just be walked right over when they play. But they walk over you.
After Bobby Hurley and Christian Laettner led Duke to those back-to-back titles, America broke into two parties: either you loved Duke (a small number) or hated Duke (a MUCH larger number). So with all that hatred working against him, how Coach K is still getting people to come play for him is unreal. Does he say to a potential recruit, “Listen, you are going to come here and everyone else is going to hate you, but that’s OK, because Wojo will teach you how to slap the floor!” and that works? He was able to walk into Greg Paulus’s house during recruiting season and say, “I know Notre Dame wants you to come in and play quarterback. If you go become a golden domer, 50% of America will love you and 50% of America will loathe you. But if you come be my point guard, 99.98% of America will hate you, but you will have the support of the Cameron Crazies.” And Paulus went to Duke!? Wow.
I guess I am just jealous that Duke has this much success with guys out there that look just like the players at UGA, but Duke’s players can actually play. Oh well. I tip my cap to Coach K and that program. Duke has been great since the early 90s and I guess they’ll be good until the Rat King goes back to hanging with the Sugar Plum Fairy.
(Note, this article also appears on www.790thezone.com Hey, I wrote it, I can post it vairever the F*&^ I vant, as Teddy KGB would say)
Friday, January 25, 2008
The sorry state of basketball that is Georgia
For as great as this state is in football(well Falcons and Yellow Jackets aside), Georgia is oh so pathetic when it comes to basketball. Can't get it right. Nope just can't.
The Hawks haven't made the playoffs since.... well.... forever ago.
The Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets just had two first players taken in the first round of the past NBA draft. Those guys were SO good that Tech lost to UNLV in the first round of the NCAA tourney.
UGA had one heck of a coach in Jim Harrick, but Tony Freaking Cole had to ruin that. (and don't start on the test, I have heard of classes at other schools where players didn't even SHOW UP, so please.) Now UGA is struggl-ING through the Dennis Felton era where even 5 years later he is STILL blaming Harrick for Felton having to kick out HIS OWN PLAYERS.
Basketball is just sorry in this state right now. And a piece in Sports Illustrated was supposed to say that MAYBE the Hawks were turning it around, thanks in large part to Josh Smith, who is in a contract year. But Hawks head coach Mike Woodson quickly turned the article from what was a minor positive into a MAJOR NEGATIVE... Mike Woodson has two quotes in it that makes me want to jump out of my skin.
#1 In reference to the statement that the team has begun to jell into a cohesive unit, Woody reveals this gem: "Last year we would have spurts of 12 or 13 minutes when we were worthless. But we are starting to finish games on both ends of the floor."
Ummmm Woody, weren't YOU the coach last year? You are calling a product YOU COACHED worthless? Huh? And how many years have you been the coach? You are only NOW STARTING to finish games. That sounds like it is STILL a work in progress. HOW MANY MORE YEARS WILL IT TAKE TO FINISH "Finishing games?" 3? 4? MEMO TO YOU: You'll be GONE!
#2 about Josh Smith's progress as a player..."When he came into the league, he couldn't dribble, he couldn't pass, he couldn't shoot."
Dribbling, passing and shooting are pretty big if you want to be a FREAKING NBA PLAYER! ARE YOU KIDDING ME? Why was he drafted at #17 overall if he had NONE OF THOSE SKILLS? He could jump, that's why we drafted him. SO COULD CARL F-ING LEWIS, WHY DIDN'T YOU DRAFT HIM?
Between Woody, Paul Hewitt who bemoaned his situation on 790the Zone recently (go to www.790thezone.com for that interview and for Woolvey's reaction!), and Dennis Felton (who has kicked off more players from his teams than have actually come in under him and graduated. Look it up. It's true!) Georgia Hoops is just in a sad state. At least we have great high school basketball to work with. Several local schools such as Norcross and McEachern are receiving national attention. Thank goodness. Anything to divert attention AWAY from the three major teams.
(Also, it should be noted that the Atlanta Vision are No. 9 in the recent ABA power rankings, and they lead the South Division of the Blue Conference. They play this weekend against Bahama[sic] Pro Jam and two wins would certainly help the team's playoff push. For more information, check out my beat article on www.scoreatl.com)
Oh and they officially named the WNBA team here in Atlanta, slated to kick off this May. They are the Dream. At least it's not the Dreamz (like many other WNBA teams have Z's at the end of their names Utah Starzz, for example) I was a tad disappointed though with the announcement of the name. I had heard a rumor that the team might be called The Frogs and they would nickname Philips Arena "The Pad." I just liked the fact that we'd call it the Pad as in maxi-pad. They are women basketball players? But I guess that would get a little messy. BA--ZING! Thank you. I'll be here all weekend!
The Hawks haven't made the playoffs since.... well.... forever ago.
The Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets just had two first players taken in the first round of the past NBA draft. Those guys were SO good that Tech lost to UNLV in the first round of the NCAA tourney.
UGA had one heck of a coach in Jim Harrick, but Tony Freaking Cole had to ruin that. (and don't start on the test, I have heard of classes at other schools where players didn't even SHOW UP, so please.) Now UGA is struggl-ING through the Dennis Felton era where even 5 years later he is STILL blaming Harrick for Felton having to kick out HIS OWN PLAYERS.
Basketball is just sorry in this state right now. And a piece in Sports Illustrated was supposed to say that MAYBE the Hawks were turning it around, thanks in large part to Josh Smith, who is in a contract year. But Hawks head coach Mike Woodson quickly turned the article from what was a minor positive into a MAJOR NEGATIVE... Mike Woodson has two quotes in it that makes me want to jump out of my skin.
#1 In reference to the statement that the team has begun to jell into a cohesive unit, Woody reveals this gem: "Last year we would have spurts of 12 or 13 minutes when we were worthless. But we are starting to finish games on both ends of the floor."
Ummmm Woody, weren't YOU the coach last year? You are calling a product YOU COACHED worthless? Huh? And how many years have you been the coach? You are only NOW STARTING to finish games. That sounds like it is STILL a work in progress. HOW MANY MORE YEARS WILL IT TAKE TO FINISH "Finishing games?" 3? 4? MEMO TO YOU: You'll be GONE!
#2 about Josh Smith's progress as a player..."When he came into the league, he couldn't dribble, he couldn't pass, he couldn't shoot."
Dribbling, passing and shooting are pretty big if you want to be a FREAKING NBA PLAYER! ARE YOU KIDDING ME? Why was he drafted at #17 overall if he had NONE OF THOSE SKILLS? He could jump, that's why we drafted him. SO COULD CARL F-ING LEWIS, WHY DIDN'T YOU DRAFT HIM?
Between Woody, Paul Hewitt who bemoaned his situation on 790the Zone recently (go to www.790thezone.com for that interview and for Woolvey's reaction!), and Dennis Felton (who has kicked off more players from his teams than have actually come in under him and graduated. Look it up. It's true!) Georgia Hoops is just in a sad state. At least we have great high school basketball to work with. Several local schools such as Norcross and McEachern are receiving national attention. Thank goodness. Anything to divert attention AWAY from the three major teams.
(Also, it should be noted that the Atlanta Vision are No. 9 in the recent ABA power rankings, and they lead the South Division of the Blue Conference. They play this weekend against Bahama[sic] Pro Jam and two wins would certainly help the team's playoff push. For more information, check out my beat article on www.scoreatl.com)
Oh and they officially named the WNBA team here in Atlanta, slated to kick off this May. They are the Dream. At least it's not the Dreamz (like many other WNBA teams have Z's at the end of their names Utah Starzz, for example) I was a tad disappointed though with the announcement of the name. I had heard a rumor that the team might be called The Frogs and they would nickname Philips Arena "The Pad." I just liked the fact that we'd call it the Pad as in maxi-pad. They are women basketball players? But I guess that would get a little messy. BA--ZING! Thank you. I'll be here all weekend!
Thursday, January 24, 2008
Gauntlet 3/the 1996 Olympic basketball gold medal game
Nothing gives me greater joy on a Wednesday night at 10pm is turning on MTV and being surprised by a BRAND NEW SEASON of Real World/Road Rules: Gauntlet 3. How fantastic was last night's show, only for the actual comedy that it offered, I mean.
We start the show with the brand new intro where the rookies are walking around the dinosaur skeleton? looking at each other when suddenly Johnny Bananas and Kenny started coming through the sand like a bunch of handsome zombies. The vets are introduced as sand zombies which I think I prefer to the last one where the Bad Asses were animals chasing the Good Guys.
But after the intros were finished, I really didn't recognize half of the rookies and a few of the vets, but I chalk that up to the fact that I didn't have MTV when I lived in Clayton, and I missed a few of the Real World seasons....also the fact that people REALLY stopped watching Road Rules after season 3 maybe?
So we first have a tug of war where the Vets(2 or more previous challenges) line up across from the Rookies (by rookies they mean 1 or no previous challenges). The Vets CRUSH the rooks, which is no real surprise since the Vets have that big fat country guy from Fresh Meat on their team and the Rooks had Tyrie anchoring their line. Not fair really.
Then I looked at the teams....The sides aren't fair. Johnny Bananas, CT, Kenny, Evan Coral, Fat dude from Freshmeat(Eric), Ev, Danny aka Blinky from Austin, Beth, Casey, Robin, Brad and Paula Walnuts. Freaking Stacked! The weak players: Adam (the smallest guy there) and Katie (she smokes 8 packs of cigarettes a day) Diem (is she still AROUND? I wonder which dude she will hook up with to stay on THIS time?) This team could ONLY be better if you switched out Adam for Abram and Danny for Alton, but that's IT! Holy crap, this is like the dream team in basketball from 1996 (not 1992 because Alton isn't there, but the 96 team was pretty darn good too)
Apparently Diem and CT are still together. I guess these relationships formed on MTV really ARE about love and not fleeting "fame" PS, Blinky and Melinda have pushed back the wedding so they could appear on this show. "Honey, we could get married, but let's appear on MTV first." Good idea. And Johanna and Wes are still together. Wow. good for them. Apparently Johanna suffers from the same bullet to the brain so she doesn't feel pain like that villain from James Bond.
As for the rookies: Johanna, Tyrie, Rachel(aka fatty from Austin), Zack, Brooke, Alex (of Denver), Jillian (who?) Derek (not the "good" but some new guy named Derek-that must have confused TJ Lavin), Angel (who?) Tyler (awesome), Janelle (taking a break from "personal relations") Frank, Tori (who? oh Miss Virginia. yeah she's losing that crown this trip), Melinda, Nehemiah (apparently his probation from the Austin incident is up?) and Ryan (gay dude from Fresh Meat). Wow, what a collection of crap there. This is going to be more one-sided that a political debate between John McCain and Paris Hilton.
But the big news is that Brooke has sworn off guys and is now a lezbinen. Huh? What? And then she goes and full-on makes out with Ev (who apparently is ALSO a lezbinen) Wow. That was intense for the first 14 minutes of the Gauntlet. Actually there was hooking up all over the place. Ryan and Tyler, Paula with two people and then Brad and Tori(Miss Virginia crown is going bye-bye) In fact I wonder if that was part of her speech If you win Miss Virginia, what will you do to promote the state in say, Mexico? Well, hook up with as many celebrealities as I can!
So on to the first challenge, it is basically musical chairs but with balls and mud. It gets down and the Vet guys beat the rookie guys...by a LOT. and as for the girls, after some drama where Coral claims Ev has a pen-is, Robin loses to somebody, not important. So a tie-breaker takes place between CT and Derek. When the rookies announced Derek would represent them, did you see the Look on TJ Lavin's face? He was thinking, "Derek, you got bigger and changed your face!" Then the producers told him it was a different Derek and they were forced to reshoot the scene. But CT destroys new Derek and Derek drops the first "chopping block" comment of the series. Seriously, can we STOP using the expression CHOPPING BLOCK? I hate that expression.
And memo to TJ Lavin: Stop calling yourself a professional BMX dirt biker, whatever. You are a professional MTV challenge host now. It is OK. CT and Johnny Bananas would rather do this stuff to opposed to get a real job. It is just easier. It's OK, TJ.
Well in the first Gauntlet Alex and Nehemiah are supposed to go head to head after the Vets choose Nehemiah and he then chooses to oppose Alex. Alex says "I hope its nothing that makes me use my weight or strength" right, because this year checkers is now one of the gauntlet games. After Alex gives up in 11 minutes, Nehemiah wins and Alex punks out.
That night, the producers realize how stacked this is going to be, so they tell Katie(while she is smoking) to talk to Beth and Corel about how the guy vets are going to try and kick them out, since it is an all-or-nothing thing in terms of prize money. So the girls decide they will tank missions on purpose so their OWN guys will go home. Good decision, send CT and Kenny and Evan home so you can struggle to carry heavy stuff in the final gauntlet. Yeah, you guys will TOTALLY WIN! Yeah, Katie, let's see you try and COMPLETE the race course or whatever, since you will need a smoke break every 30 feet. Give me a break. You can "trim the fat" a little, but tanking so much you send your best players home? Dumb call there!
The rookies think that they have an advantage because, "even though," according to Rachel/fatty, "they have all of the experience and big tough talent, they also have a bunch of drama going on over there. The Rookies don't have that." Really, Rachel, meet Brooke. Meet Tyler. Janelle and Tyrie are there too. I don't think you are out of the woods JUST YET.
Finally Corel and CT get into a shouting match and Johanna and Rachel think they have won something, but Corel knows the team needs CT and CT knows he is a bad ass. She then yells at Diem to control him, then says you aren't responsible for his actions. Diem also gets blown off by CT. Ohhhhhhh NOOOO! Could this be the end of the relationship? Who will Diem be sleeping with in three days?
Questions for the future episodes.....
If Danny aka Blinky goes into the Gauntlet, will he again draw a tear on his face, and his mom's name on his arm, then dedicate the gauntlet to her, before quitting again?
Will CT actually kill someone in a head to head gauntlet? In the sudden death mud ball match, it looked like was going to wait for Derek to start running, then run up behind him and snap his neck. It just did. The guy needs to tone it down a touch.
Will the Miss Virginia association come to Mexico and take Tori's crown away, or will they wait for her to come back to the Old Dominion state?
Who will Diem sleep with to make it 3 rounds farther than she would have normally?
How long before Adam tries to bond with Tyrie and Nehemiah because they are all black and Tyrie and Nehemiah both throw him off the cliff that sits by the house?
How will get the most ass, Kenny, JB or Evan? I am thinking JB, because, well, come on. He is Johnny Bananas!
My final question, how will the producers rig this thing to make it seem fair? The Vets SHOULD KILL the Rookies, but the show sometimes MAKES the weaker team win one or two in a row to make it seem fair.
We start the show with the brand new intro where the rookies are walking around the dinosaur skeleton? looking at each other when suddenly Johnny Bananas and Kenny started coming through the sand like a bunch of handsome zombies. The vets are introduced as sand zombies which I think I prefer to the last one where the Bad Asses were animals chasing the Good Guys.
But after the intros were finished, I really didn't recognize half of the rookies and a few of the vets, but I chalk that up to the fact that I didn't have MTV when I lived in Clayton, and I missed a few of the Real World seasons....also the fact that people REALLY stopped watching Road Rules after season 3 maybe?
So we first have a tug of war where the Vets(2 or more previous challenges) line up across from the Rookies (by rookies they mean 1 or no previous challenges). The Vets CRUSH the rooks, which is no real surprise since the Vets have that big fat country guy from Fresh Meat on their team and the Rooks had Tyrie anchoring their line. Not fair really.
Then I looked at the teams....The sides aren't fair. Johnny Bananas, CT, Kenny, Evan Coral, Fat dude from Freshmeat(Eric), Ev, Danny aka Blinky from Austin, Beth, Casey, Robin, Brad and Paula Walnuts. Freaking Stacked! The weak players: Adam (the smallest guy there) and Katie (she smokes 8 packs of cigarettes a day) Diem (is she still AROUND? I wonder which dude she will hook up with to stay on THIS time?) This team could ONLY be better if you switched out Adam for Abram and Danny for Alton, but that's IT! Holy crap, this is like the dream team in basketball from 1996 (not 1992 because Alton isn't there, but the 96 team was pretty darn good too)
Apparently Diem and CT are still together. I guess these relationships formed on MTV really ARE about love and not fleeting "fame" PS, Blinky and Melinda have pushed back the wedding so they could appear on this show. "Honey, we could get married, but let's appear on MTV first." Good idea. And Johanna and Wes are still together. Wow. good for them. Apparently Johanna suffers from the same bullet to the brain so she doesn't feel pain like that villain from James Bond.
As for the rookies: Johanna, Tyrie, Rachel(aka fatty from Austin), Zack, Brooke, Alex (of Denver), Jillian (who?) Derek (not the "good" but some new guy named Derek-that must have confused TJ Lavin), Angel (who?) Tyler (awesome), Janelle (taking a break from "personal relations") Frank, Tori (who? oh Miss Virginia. yeah she's losing that crown this trip), Melinda, Nehemiah (apparently his probation from the Austin incident is up?) and Ryan (gay dude from Fresh Meat). Wow, what a collection of crap there. This is going to be more one-sided that a political debate between John McCain and Paris Hilton.
But the big news is that Brooke has sworn off guys and is now a lezbinen. Huh? What? And then she goes and full-on makes out with Ev (who apparently is ALSO a lezbinen) Wow. That was intense for the first 14 minutes of the Gauntlet. Actually there was hooking up all over the place. Ryan and Tyler, Paula with two people and then Brad and Tori(Miss Virginia crown is going bye-bye) In fact I wonder if that was part of her speech If you win Miss Virginia, what will you do to promote the state in say, Mexico? Well, hook up with as many celebrealities as I can!
So on to the first challenge, it is basically musical chairs but with balls and mud. It gets down and the Vet guys beat the rookie guys...by a LOT. and as for the girls, after some drama where Coral claims Ev has a pen-is, Robin loses to somebody, not important. So a tie-breaker takes place between CT and Derek. When the rookies announced Derek would represent them, did you see the Look on TJ Lavin's face? He was thinking, "Derek, you got bigger and changed your face!" Then the producers told him it was a different Derek and they were forced to reshoot the scene. But CT destroys new Derek and Derek drops the first "chopping block" comment of the series. Seriously, can we STOP using the expression CHOPPING BLOCK? I hate that expression.
And memo to TJ Lavin: Stop calling yourself a professional BMX dirt biker, whatever. You are a professional MTV challenge host now. It is OK. CT and Johnny Bananas would rather do this stuff to opposed to get a real job. It is just easier. It's OK, TJ.
Well in the first Gauntlet Alex and Nehemiah are supposed to go head to head after the Vets choose Nehemiah and he then chooses to oppose Alex. Alex says "I hope its nothing that makes me use my weight or strength" right, because this year checkers is now one of the gauntlet games. After Alex gives up in 11 minutes, Nehemiah wins and Alex punks out.
That night, the producers realize how stacked this is going to be, so they tell Katie(while she is smoking) to talk to Beth and Corel about how the guy vets are going to try and kick them out, since it is an all-or-nothing thing in terms of prize money. So the girls decide they will tank missions on purpose so their OWN guys will go home. Good decision, send CT and Kenny and Evan home so you can struggle to carry heavy stuff in the final gauntlet. Yeah, you guys will TOTALLY WIN! Yeah, Katie, let's see you try and COMPLETE the race course or whatever, since you will need a smoke break every 30 feet. Give me a break. You can "trim the fat" a little, but tanking so much you send your best players home? Dumb call there!
The rookies think that they have an advantage because, "even though," according to Rachel/fatty, "they have all of the experience and big tough talent, they also have a bunch of drama going on over there. The Rookies don't have that." Really, Rachel, meet Brooke. Meet Tyler. Janelle and Tyrie are there too. I don't think you are out of the woods JUST YET.
Finally Corel and CT get into a shouting match and Johanna and Rachel think they have won something, but Corel knows the team needs CT and CT knows he is a bad ass. She then yells at Diem to control him, then says you aren't responsible for his actions. Diem also gets blown off by CT. Ohhhhhhh NOOOO! Could this be the end of the relationship? Who will Diem be sleeping with in three days?
Questions for the future episodes.....
If Danny aka Blinky goes into the Gauntlet, will he again draw a tear on his face, and his mom's name on his arm, then dedicate the gauntlet to her, before quitting again?
Will CT actually kill someone in a head to head gauntlet? In the sudden death mud ball match, it looked like was going to wait for Derek to start running, then run up behind him and snap his neck. It just did. The guy needs to tone it down a touch.
Will the Miss Virginia association come to Mexico and take Tori's crown away, or will they wait for her to come back to the Old Dominion state?
Who will Diem sleep with to make it 3 rounds farther than she would have normally?
How long before Adam tries to bond with Tyrie and Nehemiah because they are all black and Tyrie and Nehemiah both throw him off the cliff that sits by the house?
How will get the most ass, Kenny, JB or Evan? I am thinking JB, because, well, come on. He is Johnny Bananas!
My final question, how will the producers rig this thing to make it seem fair? The Vets SHOULD KILL the Rookies, but the show sometimes MAKES the weaker team win one or two in a row to make it seem fair.
in case you were wondering.....
Sad news to report today, Ace of Base is no one. Yep. I am pretty torn up about it too. Apparently lead singer Linn Berggren has left the group and the rest of the group confirms that she has not been with the group in the last few years on tours of Sweden and India and a few other countries. While one of the band's managers claims that he has an American producer ready to make an album with the three remaining members: Ulf Ekberg, Jenny Berggren and Jonas "Joker" Berggren, but without Malin, it won't be the same.
Don't you remember 1993 when All that she wants came out? The song was originally called Another mother, but it was changed for American radio. Good call. The Song trailed only Meatloaf's Anything for Love and UB40's Can't Help Fallin' In Love in terms of records sold/played. Wow.
Then came The Sign which was 1994's song of the year according to Casey Casum. Wow, what a song that was at the time. Do you remember the music video? That chick sitting there in black while the other members of the band walked around behind her. Simple, but so complex.
Then Don't Turn Around ROCKED OUR WORLDS. ah ah ah ahah AH! That was the song that really made them known world-wide. For some reason, once you release that third song, all of the albums sell a little more and you have officially made it. For Kelly Clarkson's recent album, it was Behind these Hazel Eyes, for Ace of Base, it was Don't Turn around.
But then by 1995, the band was looking to release its second album, but comparisons to ABBA made the band step away from what they did. STICK WITH WHAT GOT YOU THERE! UGA, after riding the running game all the way to the Sugar Bowl, didn't turn away from it to throw it 60 times did they? NO! But Ace of Base turned away from its reggae/club-techno roots and went with a ballad heavy CD called The Bridge. Big mistake. Beautiful Life was the big hit off this one, but by big hit I mean #15 on the charts, not #1, #2, or #3 like The Sign, All That She Wants, Don't Turn Around, respectively.
Then disaster struck. The band was slated to have a song on the James Bond: Goldeneye soundtrack, but it was cut at the last minute for a Tina Turner Song. That was NOT GOOD for the band.
A cover of Cruel Summer in 1997 gave the band one last top 10 hit in the US, but come on...it was a cover. The band has been an afterthought in the US ever since.
And now Linn has left the band to focus on her studies and her family. A trio remains of what was once the hottest thing to leave Sweden since ABBA. That is a shame really. Their poppy/technoy/white reggae sound was catchy. If you tell me whenever Don't Turn Around comes on and you don't sing along, I will call you a LIAR!
I can only hope that in 10 years this group starts touring the US again on cruise ships or theme parks, because I'd love to take my kid to Six Flags and say "Listen Bruce Rick Proctor, they used to be famous! Now they are playing next to a funnel cake cart!"
Don't you remember 1993 when All that she wants came out? The song was originally called Another mother, but it was changed for American radio. Good call. The Song trailed only Meatloaf's Anything for Love and UB40's Can't Help Fallin' In Love in terms of records sold/played. Wow.
Then came The Sign which was 1994's song of the year according to Casey Casum. Wow, what a song that was at the time. Do you remember the music video? That chick sitting there in black while the other members of the band walked around behind her. Simple, but so complex.
Then Don't Turn Around ROCKED OUR WORLDS. ah ah ah ahah AH! That was the song that really made them known world-wide. For some reason, once you release that third song, all of the albums sell a little more and you have officially made it. For Kelly Clarkson's recent album, it was Behind these Hazel Eyes, for Ace of Base, it was Don't Turn around.
But then by 1995, the band was looking to release its second album, but comparisons to ABBA made the band step away from what they did. STICK WITH WHAT GOT YOU THERE! UGA, after riding the running game all the way to the Sugar Bowl, didn't turn away from it to throw it 60 times did they? NO! But Ace of Base turned away from its reggae/club-techno roots and went with a ballad heavy CD called The Bridge. Big mistake. Beautiful Life was the big hit off this one, but by big hit I mean #15 on the charts, not #1, #2, or #3 like The Sign, All That She Wants, Don't Turn Around, respectively.
Then disaster struck. The band was slated to have a song on the James Bond: Goldeneye soundtrack, but it was cut at the last minute for a Tina Turner Song. That was NOT GOOD for the band.
A cover of Cruel Summer in 1997 gave the band one last top 10 hit in the US, but come on...it was a cover. The band has been an afterthought in the US ever since.
And now Linn has left the band to focus on her studies and her family. A trio remains of what was once the hottest thing to leave Sweden since ABBA. That is a shame really. Their poppy/technoy/white reggae sound was catchy. If you tell me whenever Don't Turn Around comes on and you don't sing along, I will call you a LIAR!
I can only hope that in 10 years this group starts touring the US again on cruise ships or theme parks, because I'd love to take my kid to Six Flags and say "Listen Bruce Rick Proctor, they used to be famous! Now they are playing next to a funnel cake cart!"
Wednesday, January 23, 2008
Mid-week entertainment report
Let me start the report by saying that Heath Ledger's passing is very sad and I certainly hope it was NOT the result of an overdose. The guy had so much going for him, but this is another case of the general public not knowing what is going on in a guy's head. Apparently those inside the industry say that he REALLY jumped into his roles, immersing himself so much that during the recent filming of the new Batman movie, he was so entrenched in his character, he had trouble letting go at night and would barely sleep. He was also still trying to get over the stress of portraying Bob Dylan in I'm Not There as well. Hollywood can be stressful, but this Aussie seemed to be above it, taking many smaller roles, maybe which challenged him TOO much. The guy was a standout in The Patriot, broke barriers in Brokeback Mountain, pushed the envelope with Monster's Ball and was AWESOME in Knight's Tale(but maybe I just like him in that movie. It was so funny, very underrated movie.) I am looking forward to seeing his Joker in Dark Knight, but he will be missed by Hollywood and by his fans. He leaves behind a 2 year old daughter who will live with his former "whatever" Michelle Williams.
Budweiser is set to run 7 ads during the Super Bowl broadcast. OK, I am going to say this RIGHT NOW...Bud Light, in fact ALL beer companies are going after 18-21 year olds. How else can you explain the humor in the ads. It isn't that intelligent, they pretty much go lowbrow. They are trying to get folks that have never had a drink before, most likely sitting in their dorm rooms, trying to decide what their first beer will be while they give an upperclassman $10 for a six pack, they have to go through the small Rolodex of beer they "know" which isn't really any. So Bud Light figures the 18 year old will remember the dog that bites the crotch of the guy holding the Bud Light so he can have it. THAT is how Bud Light is selling beer. They aren't going after me, I already know what I want to drink, so do 30, 40, 50 and 60 year olds. Plus, those commercials AREN'T making my uncle want to go out and buy Coors Light because Denny Green is holding a "beer press conference." No, they are targeting 18-21 year olds, but they get around it with the whole "21 means 21" thing. I just wish the beer companies admitted this. But they won't.
Fred Thompson dropped out of the race for the Republican nomination for president. This guy would have been cool as President because, come on, HOW MANY PRESIDENTS can say they matched wits with Matlock? He also appeared on Roseanne, Curly Sue, Cape Fear, Necessary Roughness, Days of Thunder, The Hunt for Red October, Sex and the City, Baby's Day Out, In the Line of Fire and yippie chiyaieh-Die Hard 2. He would have been Reagan part 2. Also dropping out of the race was Glynn County Commissioner Neal "Cap" Fendig, Jr. Really? Hmmmmm. Not good when your own state won't recognize you as a candidate. Apparently he sold his St. Simons house to finance his run. This might go down as one of the dumbest moves since Mischa Barton left The OC to pursue a movie career.
Chris Noth and his long-time girlfriend Tara Wilson recently had a boy. Apparently Noth, 53 has been with Wilson for a long time, but no wedding bells are in the future, even CON BAMBINO. I guess his character Big was based on his real life. Hmmm. PS, in case you are trying to place where you have seen the quite attractive Wilson......CenterStage 2. Yep, I knew that. Sad, I know.
Finally, Nate Dogg, Snoop's Cousin is apparently recovering from a stroke, but the 911 tape is being passed around the Internet like it is a joke. Come on guys, this is serious. Don't make fun of the guy or his wife that called 911. He had a stroke. If you want to make fun of him, make fun of the fact that he changed his last name to mirror his cousin's name of D-O-double-G. That is funny. But the guy was in REGULATOR! mount up. Get better Nate.
Budweiser is set to run 7 ads during the Super Bowl broadcast. OK, I am going to say this RIGHT NOW...Bud Light, in fact ALL beer companies are going after 18-21 year olds. How else can you explain the humor in the ads. It isn't that intelligent, they pretty much go lowbrow. They are trying to get folks that have never had a drink before, most likely sitting in their dorm rooms, trying to decide what their first beer will be while they give an upperclassman $10 for a six pack, they have to go through the small Rolodex of beer they "know" which isn't really any. So Bud Light figures the 18 year old will remember the dog that bites the crotch of the guy holding the Bud Light so he can have it. THAT is how Bud Light is selling beer. They aren't going after me, I already know what I want to drink, so do 30, 40, 50 and 60 year olds. Plus, those commercials AREN'T making my uncle want to go out and buy Coors Light because Denny Green is holding a "beer press conference." No, they are targeting 18-21 year olds, but they get around it with the whole "21 means 21" thing. I just wish the beer companies admitted this. But they won't.
Fred Thompson dropped out of the race for the Republican nomination for president. This guy would have been cool as President because, come on, HOW MANY PRESIDENTS can say they matched wits with Matlock? He also appeared on Roseanne, Curly Sue, Cape Fear, Necessary Roughness, Days of Thunder, The Hunt for Red October, Sex and the City, Baby's Day Out, In the Line of Fire and yippie chiyaieh-Die Hard 2. He would have been Reagan part 2. Also dropping out of the race was Glynn County Commissioner Neal "Cap" Fendig, Jr. Really? Hmmmmm. Not good when your own state won't recognize you as a candidate. Apparently he sold his St. Simons house to finance his run. This might go down as one of the dumbest moves since Mischa Barton left The OC to pursue a movie career.
Chris Noth and his long-time girlfriend Tara Wilson recently had a boy. Apparently Noth, 53 has been with Wilson for a long time, but no wedding bells are in the future, even CON BAMBINO. I guess his character Big was based on his real life. Hmmm. PS, in case you are trying to place where you have seen the quite attractive Wilson......CenterStage 2. Yep, I knew that. Sad, I know.
Finally, Nate Dogg, Snoop's Cousin is apparently recovering from a stroke, but the 911 tape is being passed around the Internet like it is a joke. Come on guys, this is serious. Don't make fun of the guy or his wife that called 911. He had a stroke. If you want to make fun of him, make fun of the fact that he changed his last name to mirror his cousin's name of D-O-double-G. That is funny. But the guy was in REGULATOR! mount up. Get better Nate.
A not so backhanded compliment
I get so sick of when I hear people drop the line, “Dan Marino never won a Super Bowl, but Trent Dilfer did!” Ummmm, you are selling Trent Dilfer a little short, in my opinion. In this year’s draft people are calling Matt Ryan possibly the No. 1 overall pick, but I don’t think he deserves that high a pick. For his sake, I hope he doesn’t go #1 overall because that would be too much pressure for him to live up to, when I KNOW he wouldn’t. He just isn’t a franchise QB, he is more of a Trent Dilfer-like QB. And that ISN’T meant as an insult. Let’s take a look back at Dilfer’s career…..
After rocking out at Fresno State, the Washington Redskins were looking at taking a QB at the #3 overall spot in the 1994 draft, and it came down to either Heath Shuler or Dilfer. Ultimately the team went with Shuler and Tampa Bay scooped up TD with the #6 pick. After going to the playoffs several times with the Bucs, they cut him and he only went to Baltimore and WON A FREAKING SUPER BOWL with the team. Next he went over to the Seattle Seahawks for several years, in the process winning 15 straight starts. After going to Cleveland for a season, he was traded to San Francisco to mentor #1 overall pick Alex Smith. All he did was take his job and lead the team to several wins down the stretch this year. So now, after a Super Bowl win, the guy is just a game manager that doesn’t make mistakes (in college he once went 271 straight passes with no INTs). Now 14 years after being drafted, he is STILL starting and winning games. He went to a great team like Baltimore and simply DIDN’T mess up the team, something that Elvis Grbac did one year later.
And Dilfer is still winning games, shoot, still playing games, unlike Ryan Leaf (a #2 overall) Akili Smith (a #3 overall) Tim Couch (a #1 overall), David Greene (winningest QB in NCAA history), even Heath Shuler (the guy taken instead of him by the Skins, now in Congress). Those guys were all taken SINCE him, and are all gone. He’s still here.
If I was a college QB, getting ready for the draft and someone told me, “your career will mirror that of Dilfer’s,” I would be celebrating. Give me that #6 overall money, that start on a Super Bowl Championship team, my Super Bowl winning Disney Commercial, and the fact that I would STILL be starting 14 years after I was drafted, not to mention the career as a broadcaster after my career is over! I get a ring, all that money, AND a TV gig when I am finished playing? Bring it on.
More people should aspire to be Trent Dilfer. Will you spend your entire career with one team? No, but you get to be a legend in Baltimore, where some folks are saying, “I wish he still had Trent Dilfer instead of Kyle Boller!” Matt Ryan, just know you will probably have to sit a year or two on the bench learning before you will have success, and really you SHOULD sit. Carson Palmer did it for a year. Brad Johnson (another Super Bowl Winner) did it for 4 years. Daunte Culpepper did it for 2 years. Be patient. You might even have to switch teams, but you will have success. You seem to have moxie, much like Trent Dilfer did coming out of Fresno State. Matt Ryan, I wish you Trent Dilfer’s success!
After rocking out at Fresno State, the Washington Redskins were looking at taking a QB at the #3 overall spot in the 1994 draft, and it came down to either Heath Shuler or Dilfer. Ultimately the team went with Shuler and Tampa Bay scooped up TD with the #6 pick. After going to the playoffs several times with the Bucs, they cut him and he only went to Baltimore and WON A FREAKING SUPER BOWL with the team. Next he went over to the Seattle Seahawks for several years, in the process winning 15 straight starts. After going to Cleveland for a season, he was traded to San Francisco to mentor #1 overall pick Alex Smith. All he did was take his job and lead the team to several wins down the stretch this year. So now, after a Super Bowl win, the guy is just a game manager that doesn’t make mistakes (in college he once went 271 straight passes with no INTs). Now 14 years after being drafted, he is STILL starting and winning games. He went to a great team like Baltimore and simply DIDN’T mess up the team, something that Elvis Grbac did one year later.
And Dilfer is still winning games, shoot, still playing games, unlike Ryan Leaf (a #2 overall) Akili Smith (a #3 overall) Tim Couch (a #1 overall), David Greene (winningest QB in NCAA history), even Heath Shuler (the guy taken instead of him by the Skins, now in Congress). Those guys were all taken SINCE him, and are all gone. He’s still here.
If I was a college QB, getting ready for the draft and someone told me, “your career will mirror that of Dilfer’s,” I would be celebrating. Give me that #6 overall money, that start on a Super Bowl Championship team, my Super Bowl winning Disney Commercial, and the fact that I would STILL be starting 14 years after I was drafted, not to mention the career as a broadcaster after my career is over! I get a ring, all that money, AND a TV gig when I am finished playing? Bring it on.
More people should aspire to be Trent Dilfer. Will you spend your entire career with one team? No, but you get to be a legend in Baltimore, where some folks are saying, “I wish he still had Trent Dilfer instead of Kyle Boller!” Matt Ryan, just know you will probably have to sit a year or two on the bench learning before you will have success, and really you SHOULD sit. Carson Palmer did it for a year. Brad Johnson (another Super Bowl Winner) did it for 4 years. Daunte Culpepper did it for 2 years. Be patient. You might even have to switch teams, but you will have success. You seem to have moxie, much like Trent Dilfer did coming out of Fresno State. Matt Ryan, I wish you Trent Dilfer’s success!
Tuesday, January 22, 2008
The "critics'" pick? Huh?
I saw where "Rotten Tomatoes" has named "Ratatouille" as the Golden Tomato Award winner for best movie of 2007. Apparently this on-line movie site scours the net and finds which movies get the critics' best reviews. To which I say, NO KIDDING. This is a kids movie. Do you REALLY think people are going to rail on this movie with no VIOLENCE or SEX or NASTY LANGUAGE? No. You know why? It's a kids movie. The fact that this website "Rotten Tomatoes" is give a KIDS movie the movie of the year award, is just stupid. Oh, Forrest Gump, Pulp Fiction, sorry...we went back and decided to give the award to Beauty and the Beast. Sorry about that.
This just irks me to no end. I don't think we should reward and honor kids movies like they do in Hollywood. Shrek2 or 3 broke the box office record for opening weekend numbers, WHY? Because EVERY parent in the world can take their kid to a kids movie to shut them up for 2 hours. Of course the movie is going to make money. Usually there is only one option for kids movies at the theater, so of course it is going to make a ton of money. I think these movies should be put into their own category and not counted against regular films. The fact that Hannah Montana has sold more records than real artists such as Finger 11 or Sara Bareilles is crap. AGAIN, there is only one option out there. They own a monopoly on the market.
Put the kids' stuff in its own category. Or better yet, make it so kid singers can't win anything until they turn 16, minimum.
That falls under my other rule: Children under the age of 16 shouldn't be allowed to speak in movies or TV shows until they are 16. They also should NOT be allowed to be featured as anything more than scenery until 16. Once you turn 16, then you conceivably COULD add something to the show or movie by talking, but not before then. Honestly, we have found ALL of the humor we possibly can with little kids, everything now is simply recycling old ideas. And I hate that. Be original. New comedy is always good. The Cosby Show's Rudy got too old, so they randomly brought in Olivia, just so Cosby could have a little kid again. Instead of trying to come up with original material for the comedic-genius that is Bill Cosby, they just brought back the old scripts and hoped no one noticed. WE DID!
Listen, I have nothing against children (Except when they run wild on airplanes, in restaurants, movie theaters, grocery stores, etc) but let's get real. The world is run by adults and the kids stuff should stick to Nickledeon (if that is even still on the air) and stay out of the Oscars, Grammys, Emmys, etc. Rotten Tomatoes, if you start a trend where the new Sponge Bob Square Pants movie wins the Academy Award for Movie of the year over a really good Ron Howard or Ridley Scott movie, I will be PISSED.
PS, Rotten Tomatoes' credibility, if it still has any following Ratatouille, also gave Michael Moore an award for best Documentary for his "Sicko" So you can see that Rotten Tomatoes is REALLY a source for naming great movies. Oh, and No Country for Old Men also won for best thriller. I am not sure if that movie ALSO won for "Movie that falls apart fastest at the end," of if I am Legend took that crown.
This just irks me to no end. I don't think we should reward and honor kids movies like they do in Hollywood. Shrek2 or 3 broke the box office record for opening weekend numbers, WHY? Because EVERY parent in the world can take their kid to a kids movie to shut them up for 2 hours. Of course the movie is going to make money. Usually there is only one option for kids movies at the theater, so of course it is going to make a ton of money. I think these movies should be put into their own category and not counted against regular films. The fact that Hannah Montana has sold more records than real artists such as Finger 11 or Sara Bareilles is crap. AGAIN, there is only one option out there. They own a monopoly on the market.
Put the kids' stuff in its own category. Or better yet, make it so kid singers can't win anything until they turn 16, minimum.
That falls under my other rule: Children under the age of 16 shouldn't be allowed to speak in movies or TV shows until they are 16. They also should NOT be allowed to be featured as anything more than scenery until 16. Once you turn 16, then you conceivably COULD add something to the show or movie by talking, but not before then. Honestly, we have found ALL of the humor we possibly can with little kids, everything now is simply recycling old ideas. And I hate that. Be original. New comedy is always good. The Cosby Show's Rudy got too old, so they randomly brought in Olivia, just so Cosby could have a little kid again. Instead of trying to come up with original material for the comedic-genius that is Bill Cosby, they just brought back the old scripts and hoped no one noticed. WE DID!
Listen, I have nothing against children (Except when they run wild on airplanes, in restaurants, movie theaters, grocery stores, etc) but let's get real. The world is run by adults and the kids stuff should stick to Nickledeon (if that is even still on the air) and stay out of the Oscars, Grammys, Emmys, etc. Rotten Tomatoes, if you start a trend where the new Sponge Bob Square Pants movie wins the Academy Award for Movie of the year over a really good Ron Howard or Ridley Scott movie, I will be PISSED.
PS, Rotten Tomatoes' credibility, if it still has any following Ratatouille, also gave Michael Moore an award for best Documentary for his "Sicko" So you can see that Rotten Tomatoes is REALLY a source for naming great movies. Oh, and No Country for Old Men also won for best thriller. I am not sure if that movie ALSO won for "Movie that falls apart fastest at the end," of if I am Legend took that crown.
Monday, January 21, 2008
You mean other stuff happened?
In case you were at the Tabernacle this past Sunday for 790 The Zone’s 8th annual AFC/NFC Championship Party and watched the Patriots and Giants advance to Arizona, I thought I would tell you that other sports took place Sunday. No really. They did. Trust me.
Right down the street from the Tabernacle in Atlanta, the Thrashers lost its third straight game. This only wasn’t a 10-1 blowout, but 4-2 to a very young Edmonton Oiler team isn’t a good thing. How many goalie switches will the team have? This team made the playoffs and now the team is benching one of the guys it brought in during last year’s playoff push. Maybe the team should quit worrying about who is starting the All-Star game and try to break this skid to make the playoffs again. Maybe?
Roger Federer won again in the fourth round of the Australian Open and will face American James Blake in the quarterfinals. Ace-Rod was bounced last week, so James Blake is America’s only real hope left on the men’s side of the draw. Federer ran into a little trouble in the third round, but he crushed Sunday in straight sets. Federer is aiming for yet another major title, his thirteenth, leaving him one behind Pete Sampras’ career record.
Norm Chow was hired as UCLA’s new offensive coordinator and will be introduced at a press conference Monday. Chow, recently of the Tennessee Titans, now returns to Los Angeles where he helped Pete Carroll build the USC Trojans into what they are now. He turned Carson Palmer into a top pick and helped Matt Leinart win the Heisman Trophy. He also helped develop Philip Rivers into a top 5 draft pick and way back when, he molded Jim McMahon and Steve Young. Now Norm is back in LA and he will be going up against the Trojans with the new kid on the block Rick Neuheisel. If Norm can work his magic at UCLA like he did at SC, then Pac 10 football just got even more exciting to watch. (But it still can’t hold a candle to the SEC)
Former Atlanta Hawks PG/F/G/C, Boris Diaw went for 14 points and 10 rebounds with 6 assists as the Phoenix Suns beat the New Jersey Nets 116-92. Yep, Billy Knight decided to draft this guy to be a point guard, and then shipped his 6’9 frame to the Suns where he magically transformed into a forward and became good. Interesting. But that’s OK. The NBA announced that Hawks point guard Anthony Johnson will be suspended for Monday’s tilt with Portland for Friday’s flagrant foul against Toronto, leaving the Hawks with Law and Lue to play the one.
OK, so maybe not a lot happened Sunday while Tom Brady and company survived the Chargers and the Giants proved third time is the charm when it comes to field goals in -4 degree weather. So football is king. We get it. That’s why at 790 the Zone, we ARE football. Sorry Tennis. (Note: this also appears on www.790thezone.com)
Right down the street from the Tabernacle in Atlanta, the Thrashers lost its third straight game. This only wasn’t a 10-1 blowout, but 4-2 to a very young Edmonton Oiler team isn’t a good thing. How many goalie switches will the team have? This team made the playoffs and now the team is benching one of the guys it brought in during last year’s playoff push. Maybe the team should quit worrying about who is starting the All-Star game and try to break this skid to make the playoffs again. Maybe?
Roger Federer won again in the fourth round of the Australian Open and will face American James Blake in the quarterfinals. Ace-Rod was bounced last week, so James Blake is America’s only real hope left on the men’s side of the draw. Federer ran into a little trouble in the third round, but he crushed Sunday in straight sets. Federer is aiming for yet another major title, his thirteenth, leaving him one behind Pete Sampras’ career record.
Norm Chow was hired as UCLA’s new offensive coordinator and will be introduced at a press conference Monday. Chow, recently of the Tennessee Titans, now returns to Los Angeles where he helped Pete Carroll build the USC Trojans into what they are now. He turned Carson Palmer into a top pick and helped Matt Leinart win the Heisman Trophy. He also helped develop Philip Rivers into a top 5 draft pick and way back when, he molded Jim McMahon and Steve Young. Now Norm is back in LA and he will be going up against the Trojans with the new kid on the block Rick Neuheisel. If Norm can work his magic at UCLA like he did at SC, then Pac 10 football just got even more exciting to watch. (But it still can’t hold a candle to the SEC)
Former Atlanta Hawks PG/F/G/C, Boris Diaw went for 14 points and 10 rebounds with 6 assists as the Phoenix Suns beat the New Jersey Nets 116-92. Yep, Billy Knight decided to draft this guy to be a point guard, and then shipped his 6’9 frame to the Suns where he magically transformed into a forward and became good. Interesting. But that’s OK. The NBA announced that Hawks point guard Anthony Johnson will be suspended for Monday’s tilt with Portland for Friday’s flagrant foul against Toronto, leaving the Hawks with Law and Lue to play the one.
OK, so maybe not a lot happened Sunday while Tom Brady and company survived the Chargers and the Giants proved third time is the charm when it comes to field goals in -4 degree weather. So football is king. We get it. That’s why at 790 the Zone, we ARE football. Sorry Tennis. (Note: this also appears on www.790thezone.com)
Friday, January 18, 2008
Bobby Fischer died
I know that I said that Friday's would be sports blog days and Chess is clearly NOT a sport, but instead a game like checkers and char, but I wanted to weigh in on this one.
Bobby Fischer the youngest chess champion in US history and the man many believe to be the best chess player ever died in Iceland yesterday. He won the title of grand chess master at age 15 and he beat some Russian guy (does the name really matter?) in 1972 for the title of world's best. he held onto the title until he forfeited it in 1975.
But what I really wanted to talk about was back in 1992 when the US turned on him for playing a match against a Yugoslavian right in the middle of some ongoing problems the US had with the Yugoslavians. According to reports, "the U.S. government said Fischer's playing the match violated U.N. sanctions against Yugoslavia, imposed for Serb leader Slobodan Milosevic's role in fomenting war in the Balkans." Interesting. A chess game violated sanctions. Apparently tic-tac-toe was the only game the UN was allowing.
But this guy was made at the US for admonishing him. And what did he do? Did he talk about how much he hated the gov't and blame the president? NOPE. He just withdrew his citizenship and moved to Iceland. Became an official Icelander. Yep. Unlike all of those poseur jerks in Hollywood that want to say how much the US stinks, but they stick around to make their millions, this guy ACTUALLY DID SOMETHING. He said talk is cheap, actions are meaningful. While I don't agree with some of his stances, he at least followed through and did something. It is so hard to take Tim Robbins and Alec Baldwin seriously when they stick around in the country they seemingly hate just to make money. Rage against the Machine, if you hate "the machine so much" then take your Rage to Reykjavik.
And now Fischer is dead at 64. Too young, who knows? But I wanted to at least tip my cap to the dead guy that did something that these wussy Hollywood "activists" are too afraid to do.
On a related note:
Sports include tennis, golf, track and field, baseball, football, basketball,gymnastics, handball, racketball, squash, among others
NOT sports include: chess, cheerleading, dogfighting, bowling and armwrestling.
I should really do a blog on this all by itself. But that topic has been done so many times
Bobby Fischer the youngest chess champion in US history and the man many believe to be the best chess player ever died in Iceland yesterday. He won the title of grand chess master at age 15 and he beat some Russian guy (does the name really matter?) in 1972 for the title of world's best. he held onto the title until he forfeited it in 1975.
But what I really wanted to talk about was back in 1992 when the US turned on him for playing a match against a Yugoslavian right in the middle of some ongoing problems the US had with the Yugoslavians. According to reports, "the U.S. government said Fischer's playing the match violated U.N. sanctions against Yugoslavia, imposed for Serb leader Slobodan Milosevic's role in fomenting war in the Balkans." Interesting. A chess game violated sanctions. Apparently tic-tac-toe was the only game the UN was allowing.
But this guy was made at the US for admonishing him. And what did he do? Did he talk about how much he hated the gov't and blame the president? NOPE. He just withdrew his citizenship and moved to Iceland. Became an official Icelander. Yep. Unlike all of those poseur jerks in Hollywood that want to say how much the US stinks, but they stick around to make their millions, this guy ACTUALLY DID SOMETHING. He said talk is cheap, actions are meaningful. While I don't agree with some of his stances, he at least followed through and did something. It is so hard to take Tim Robbins and Alec Baldwin seriously when they stick around in the country they seemingly hate just to make money. Rage against the Machine, if you hate "the machine so much" then take your Rage to Reykjavik.
And now Fischer is dead at 64. Too young, who knows? But I wanted to at least tip my cap to the dead guy that did something that these wussy Hollywood "activists" are too afraid to do.
On a related note:
Sports include tennis, golf, track and field, baseball, football, basketball,gymnastics, handball, racketball, squash, among others
NOT sports include: chess, cheerleading, dogfighting, bowling and armwrestling.
I should really do a blog on this all by itself. But that topic has been done so many times
Thursday, January 17, 2008
How do you follow a legend?
McEachern High School was scheduled to begin interviewing for its vacant head coaching position this week, according to athletic director Jimmy Dorsey. The new coach though will have some tough shoes to fill. Those shoes belong to the man that will be conducting the interviews, Jimmy Dorsey. Dorsey recently stepped down following a 4-6 campaign, his only losing season in 24 years at McEachern High School. Overall he compiled a 219-66-1 record in his time with the Indians, 236-79-1 over all. (He spent 3 years at Paulding County before moving to McEachern). Dorsey retired as the winningest coach in Cobb County history and his 12 region titles helped to make McEachern one of the most successful programs in Cobb history. He also appeared in several state semi-finals and one state final in 1998, losing to Valdosta 21-7.
But recently at the Cobb Senior Bowl, I asked Dorsey if that was his favorite team, and he said that it was memorable, but he wouldn't call it his favorite. He remembers the good with every team and sometimes, he liked having a team that was an underdog and trying to get them to play up and beyond their potential was the most fun he had.
Dorsey will go down as a legend in Cobb County, and some poor sap has to come in there and try to win while Dorsey's shadow still looms large from the AD office. Two hundred applicants have dropped off their resumes and now the process gets started.
But how do you replace a legend? Ron Zook certainly couldn't do it at Florida. The only reason he got the job is because Bob Stoops knew better as did Mike Shannahan. You just don't follow Steve Spurrier at Florida. You just don't. How can you? Zook was a dead man walking from his first press conference on. Once he was shown the door, the new coach was able to come in and in his second year, with no real pressure of living up to Spurrier, won a National Title. Yep Urban Meyer didn't have to live in Spurrier's shadow, he had to live in Zook's, which wasn't much of a shadow. More like a line on the ground you just step over.
Bill Guthridge really took one for the team when he took over for Dean Smith at UNC. Guthridge was Dean's long time assistant coach and he and Deano knew whomever came next wouldn't live up to Dean. So Guthey took over for 3 years to make the transition easier for Roy Williams, only Williams didn't come immediately. Matt Doherty then had to live up to Dean's two title teams and Guthey's 2 final 4s in 3 years. Not fair. Roy Williams is there now, but without a bunch of stress of having to follow Dean and to a lesser extent Bill. If Roy had had to follow those two, maybe UNC wouldn't have won that title in 2005 because Roy has never really been great in dealing with added pressure.
I could go on and on... Bob Davie after Lou Holtz at Notre Dame, Tubby Smith with Rick Pitino, Larry Coker with Butch Davis, Ray Goff after Vince Dooley at UGA, Dennis Felton after Jim Harrick, whoever follows Bobby Cox with the Braves. Following legends just doesn't work out that well. Kind of a career killer if you will. Mike Davis is at UAB after coaching at Indiana following Bobby Knight. Ray Goff is running a chicken restaurant. You get the drift.
I feel bad for the guy that follows Munson at UGA. He might last 4 seasons before he is pushed out for the next voice of the Dawgs, sure to last another 40 years.
But back to Dorsey. His son is the coach at Hiram right now. My suggestion, hire the son to come in and take over, ala Okie State and Wazzou situations. The son might be given a little more leash by the fans and boosters. But the son might want to stay away from that job: not only are you replacing a legend, but you are also replacing Dad. I can just see a Godfather situation of Vito saying to Michael, "I never wanted this for you." But if you remember, Michael made the Corleone family stronger than ever. Maybe McEachern is hoping for that. Maybe the son could bring the school its first state football title and Cobb County its first title since 1967. We will see in the next few weeks who gets hired and if that person can stand up in the shadow of a legend. One thing is for sure, a strong person is needed as McEachern has a tradition of excellence. The new coach just hopes he will continue it, not his successor.
But recently at the Cobb Senior Bowl, I asked Dorsey if that was his favorite team, and he said that it was memorable, but he wouldn't call it his favorite. He remembers the good with every team and sometimes, he liked having a team that was an underdog and trying to get them to play up and beyond their potential was the most fun he had.
Dorsey will go down as a legend in Cobb County, and some poor sap has to come in there and try to win while Dorsey's shadow still looms large from the AD office. Two hundred applicants have dropped off their resumes and now the process gets started.
But how do you replace a legend? Ron Zook certainly couldn't do it at Florida. The only reason he got the job is because Bob Stoops knew better as did Mike Shannahan. You just don't follow Steve Spurrier at Florida. You just don't. How can you? Zook was a dead man walking from his first press conference on. Once he was shown the door, the new coach was able to come in and in his second year, with no real pressure of living up to Spurrier, won a National Title. Yep Urban Meyer didn't have to live in Spurrier's shadow, he had to live in Zook's, which wasn't much of a shadow. More like a line on the ground you just step over.
Bill Guthridge really took one for the team when he took over for Dean Smith at UNC. Guthridge was Dean's long time assistant coach and he and Deano knew whomever came next wouldn't live up to Dean. So Guthey took over for 3 years to make the transition easier for Roy Williams, only Williams didn't come immediately. Matt Doherty then had to live up to Dean's two title teams and Guthey's 2 final 4s in 3 years. Not fair. Roy Williams is there now, but without a bunch of stress of having to follow Dean and to a lesser extent Bill. If Roy had had to follow those two, maybe UNC wouldn't have won that title in 2005 because Roy has never really been great in dealing with added pressure.
I could go on and on... Bob Davie after Lou Holtz at Notre Dame, Tubby Smith with Rick Pitino, Larry Coker with Butch Davis, Ray Goff after Vince Dooley at UGA, Dennis Felton after Jim Harrick, whoever follows Bobby Cox with the Braves. Following legends just doesn't work out that well. Kind of a career killer if you will. Mike Davis is at UAB after coaching at Indiana following Bobby Knight. Ray Goff is running a chicken restaurant. You get the drift.
I feel bad for the guy that follows Munson at UGA. He might last 4 seasons before he is pushed out for the next voice of the Dawgs, sure to last another 40 years.
But back to Dorsey. His son is the coach at Hiram right now. My suggestion, hire the son to come in and take over, ala Okie State and Wazzou situations. The son might be given a little more leash by the fans and boosters. But the son might want to stay away from that job: not only are you replacing a legend, but you are also replacing Dad. I can just see a Godfather situation of Vito saying to Michael, "I never wanted this for you." But if you remember, Michael made the Corleone family stronger than ever. Maybe McEachern is hoping for that. Maybe the son could bring the school its first state football title and Cobb County its first title since 1967. We will see in the next few weeks who gets hired and if that person can stand up in the shadow of a legend. One thing is for sure, a strong person is needed as McEachern has a tradition of excellence. The new coach just hopes he will continue it, not his successor.
So Eminem is fat now?
I was reading a piece on ESPN.com and stumbled across a link to an article on Eminem and how he has gotten fat recently. Yep he has done a whole lot since he got remarried, then re-divorced then remarried, then re-divorced, then remarried? to Kim. You know Kim, the woman he "kills" in several of his songs? Yeah apparently they were back on, then off again. Who knows at this point.
But the article was done with Marshall Mathers' mother and she says that he is a recluse now, just paying hangers-on to go get him takeout food and whatnot. He doesn't make appearances anymore.
Listen, if he "retired" good for him to get out before his record album sales decreased. He signed 50 Cent and appeared on Akon's Smack That. If he wants to hang it up, no problem. Get fat. I don't care. But he wrote some music that was so smart. So catchy. So witty. I might go so far as to say he was a musical genius. Not a genius like Mozart, but in terms of rap music, maybe he was only rivaled by Biggie Smalls.
These days groups come up with one hit and suddenly they are great. But the thing is, they have no staying power. Where is that group that did Whistle while you twerp? Exactly. This guy 60 years from now will be looked at as one of the greatest rappers of all time, right behind TuPac, Biggie and Dre. Same Level as Snoop, Jay-Z and Doug E Fresh. I'd put Em ahead of LL Cool J, Nelly (the whitest rapper since Will Smith), Ice Cube, DMX, Master P, Kayne and P-Diddy. Easy. What Eminem could do was truly special, coming up with NO MANY rhymes for one word, then twisting the partial rhyme into a new line. The beats that his music had were pretty sweet. It is telling that my freshman year, I lived on a hall with several black dudes (Shoutout to Eddie) and they were listening to his music.
Real Slim Shady. Stan, That's why they call me Slim Shady, Criminal, Collapse, Hailey's Song, Guilty Conscience, Lose Yourself. The movie 8 Mile. This guy was a star.
And now if he wants to sit off like a hermit and get fat, that is up to him. I just hope he would at least keep his hand in music somehow. Produce, find talent, something. He has a musical gift, sometimes strange, but always entertaining. Who can forget his performance with Elton John at that Awards ceremony? The guy has amazing skill and I guess wanting more is better than wishing he would just go away. If he has "retired" though good for him. I wish him the best and hope the music industry finds someone else just as talented to fill the void he left.
But the article was done with Marshall Mathers' mother and she says that he is a recluse now, just paying hangers-on to go get him takeout food and whatnot. He doesn't make appearances anymore.
Listen, if he "retired" good for him to get out before his record album sales decreased. He signed 50 Cent and appeared on Akon's Smack That. If he wants to hang it up, no problem. Get fat. I don't care. But he wrote some music that was so smart. So catchy. So witty. I might go so far as to say he was a musical genius. Not a genius like Mozart, but in terms of rap music, maybe he was only rivaled by Biggie Smalls.
These days groups come up with one hit and suddenly they are great. But the thing is, they have no staying power. Where is that group that did Whistle while you twerp? Exactly. This guy 60 years from now will be looked at as one of the greatest rappers of all time, right behind TuPac, Biggie and Dre. Same Level as Snoop, Jay-Z and Doug E Fresh. I'd put Em ahead of LL Cool J, Nelly (the whitest rapper since Will Smith), Ice Cube, DMX, Master P, Kayne and P-Diddy. Easy. What Eminem could do was truly special, coming up with NO MANY rhymes for one word, then twisting the partial rhyme into a new line. The beats that his music had were pretty sweet. It is telling that my freshman year, I lived on a hall with several black dudes (Shoutout to Eddie) and they were listening to his music.
Real Slim Shady. Stan, That's why they call me Slim Shady, Criminal, Collapse, Hailey's Song, Guilty Conscience, Lose Yourself. The movie 8 Mile. This guy was a star.
And now if he wants to sit off like a hermit and get fat, that is up to him. I just hope he would at least keep his hand in music somehow. Produce, find talent, something. He has a musical gift, sometimes strange, but always entertaining. Who can forget his performance with Elton John at that Awards ceremony? The guy has amazing skill and I guess wanting more is better than wishing he would just go away. If he has "retired" though good for him. I wish him the best and hope the music industry finds someone else just as talented to fill the void he left.
Wednesday, January 16, 2008
Mid-week Entertainment report
Time to jump into my thoughts on the week's thus far entertainment news.....
American Idol is BACK for season 7. So far, we have gone into several background stories of folks that have advanced and we will see again. We saw a 26 year old chick from Philly? that has a daughter with a severe disease. Yeah, it made me feel bad, but she was a professional singer. If it doesn't work, she can always go back to....SINGING.
We also saw a 24 year old nanny that had never seen a rated R movie. What? How is that possible? Does she not watch television and turn it on TNT? Or TBS? or F/X? And she married a guy that also had never seen one? Was he Amish? They were near Amish Country...
But what I have a problem with is the in-depth stories I have to watch on people that stink. Why? Why should we have to watch that stuff? They are terrible. Show me everyone that got through, that way I can appreciate them once they make the top 12. I will remember them, instead of the Vet-wannabe that is going into "actressing?" The judges were actually very nice when they kicked her out, and she went bonkers. Same with the Princess Leia wannabe. And PS, all of those "girls with makeup that look and sound the same...." it is called talent. Sorry. I can't remember the last time I saw an ugly girl who couldn't sing and I thought, "let me go buy HER CD!" I love what Chris Daughtry said to Rolling Stone about the show needs to show more of the talent and less of the crap. Totally agree.
Oprah Winfrey is getting her own television network. Discovery Health(does anyone watch that except when at the Doctor's office?) will soon be OWN (Oprah Winfrey Network) She now has a show, a magazine and a Television network. Great, something else for me to ignore.
Matthew McConaughey and his Brazilian girlfriend are expecting. She is three months preggers. No word yet on if he will attend the birth without his shirt on....When asked by a reporter his feelings, he said he and his girlfriend were "stoked and wowed by his awesome gift from God." Apparently he was shirtless doing this interview.
Brad Renfro of The Client and Sleepers fame is dead at 25. apparently he had drug and drinking problems. I remember when The Client and Sleepers came out...this kid and Devon Sawa were supposed to be hot stuff. The next big things. Now Renfro is dead and Sawa is still trying to find his talent. He thinks Jonathan Taylor Thomas may have stolen it before falling off the face of the earth. Seriously, is there a single young 10-14 y-o star from the early to mid-nineties that actually made it as an adult? JTT, no. Ben Savage, no. Stephane or DJ from Full House, no. Urkle, no. Macally Caulkin, no.
That's a shame.
Zach Efron (or however you spell it) was rushed to the hospital for an emergency appendectomy. He is doing ok. Thank goodness, I was worried High School Musical 19 (10 year class reunion) was going to have to be delayed. Seriously, we now have HSM3:Senior Year or something? Is HSM4:summerbeforecollege coming out soon? What about HSM5:backwiththefreshman15 coming soon too? Might be time to move on guys. All of you. Move on.
American Idol is BACK for season 7. So far, we have gone into several background stories of folks that have advanced and we will see again. We saw a 26 year old chick from Philly? that has a daughter with a severe disease. Yeah, it made me feel bad, but she was a professional singer. If it doesn't work, she can always go back to....SINGING.
We also saw a 24 year old nanny that had never seen a rated R movie. What? How is that possible? Does she not watch television and turn it on TNT? Or TBS? or F/X? And she married a guy that also had never seen one? Was he Amish? They were near Amish Country...
But what I have a problem with is the in-depth stories I have to watch on people that stink. Why? Why should we have to watch that stuff? They are terrible. Show me everyone that got through, that way I can appreciate them once they make the top 12. I will remember them, instead of the Vet-wannabe that is going into "actressing?" The judges were actually very nice when they kicked her out, and she went bonkers. Same with the Princess Leia wannabe. And PS, all of those "girls with makeup that look and sound the same...." it is called talent. Sorry. I can't remember the last time I saw an ugly girl who couldn't sing and I thought, "let me go buy HER CD!" I love what Chris Daughtry said to Rolling Stone about the show needs to show more of the talent and less of the crap. Totally agree.
Oprah Winfrey is getting her own television network. Discovery Health(does anyone watch that except when at the Doctor's office?) will soon be OWN (Oprah Winfrey Network) She now has a show, a magazine and a Television network. Great, something else for me to ignore.
Matthew McConaughey and his Brazilian girlfriend are expecting. She is three months preggers. No word yet on if he will attend the birth without his shirt on....When asked by a reporter his feelings, he said he and his girlfriend were "stoked and wowed by his awesome gift from God." Apparently he was shirtless doing this interview.
Brad Renfro of The Client and Sleepers fame is dead at 25. apparently he had drug and drinking problems. I remember when The Client and Sleepers came out...this kid and Devon Sawa were supposed to be hot stuff. The next big things. Now Renfro is dead and Sawa is still trying to find his talent. He thinks Jonathan Taylor Thomas may have stolen it before falling off the face of the earth. Seriously, is there a single young 10-14 y-o star from the early to mid-nineties that actually made it as an adult? JTT, no. Ben Savage, no. Stephane or DJ from Full House, no. Urkle, no. Macally Caulkin, no.
That's a shame.
Zach Efron (or however you spell it) was rushed to the hospital for an emergency appendectomy. He is doing ok. Thank goodness, I was worried High School Musical 19 (10 year class reunion) was going to have to be delayed. Seriously, we now have HSM3:Senior Year or something? Is HSM4:summerbeforecollege coming out soon? What about HSM5:backwiththefreshman15 coming soon too? Might be time to move on guys. All of you. Move on.
Tuesday, January 15, 2008
The Second Annual Fletcher Globes
The envelope please..............and the winner is...............
(Remember, I do movies first because you HAVE to save TV for last. It is the best.)
Supporting movie Actor: Sir Anthony Hopkins (Fracture) over Vince Vaughn (Into the Wild) Christian Bale (3:10 to Yuma) Russell Crowe (American Gangster) John Krasinki (License to Wed) Christopher Mintz-Plasse (Superbad). Hopkins has the genius villain down to a science by now
Supporting movie actress Amanda Bynes (Hairspray) over Michelle Monaghan (Gone Baby Gone) Ashley Tisdale (High School Musical 2), Jessica Biel (I now pronounce you Chuck and Larry) Ellen Barkin (Ocean's 13) Cheryl Hines ( Waitress). Those other people didn’t stand a chance. WHAT A GIRL WANTS BABY! Though Michelle Monaghan prolly would have won any other year.
Reality TV "Actor" Grant (Newport Harbor) over Brody (The Hills) Isaac (RW:S), Domenico (A Shot at Love) Though Domenico will soon get his own show and Isaac will be a feature on RR/RW challenges, Grant gets this Globe for his awesomeness. Seriously. Domenico gets his own show after “Little Italy” was eliminated in the final 5? Grant needs HIS own show. But not a dating show. The guy doesn’t need one. He is straight out pimp. PS, Isaac, if you hadn’t left for three episodes, this race would have been closer.
Supporting TV Actress: Olivia Wilde (House & Black Donnelly's) over Michaela Conlin (Bones) Sara Ramirez (Grey's Anatomy) Amy Brennamen (Private Practice) Lisa Edelstein (House). Olivia gets it for appearing in two shows. Good for her. I certainly hope though she is IN on House now, and they don’t go back to the old “team”
Supporting TV Actor: Rainn Wilson (The Office) over Riggins/Taylor Kitsch (Friday Night Lights), Keith Nobbs (The Black Donnelly's) Dominic Purcell (Prisonbreak) Paul Adelstein (Private Practice). Dwight is an amazing character, so much better than his British counterpart. But Rainn Wilson won’t ever be anything BUT Dwight because he is so good. Therefore, we honor him. Riggins is slowly turning into the second best story-line on FNL over Smash and Saracen. Just is.
Breakout TV Actor: Isaac RW: Sydney over Jonathan Tucker (The Black Donnelly's), and Grant (Newport Harbor). Though Grant is straight out pimp, Isaac will be entertaining us in Duels and Challenges and Gauntlets for years to come.
Breakout TV Actress: KaDee Strickland (Private Practice) over "Hey Girl Hey" girl from Shot at Love, Elizabeth Reaser (Grey's Anatomy). I think she is under-the-radar hot and that accent is nice. Plus she is the foil that show needs. A light touch of evil for the feelgood staff at the Private Practice.
Drama Male movie Actor: Matt Damon (Bourne Ultimatum) over Ryan Gosling (Fracture) Don Cheadle (Reign Over Me), Russell Crowe (3:10 to Yuma), Denzel Washington (American Gangster). Gosling was a little over his head going up against Sir Anthony Hopkins. Matt Damon was bourne to play this role. Get it? The play with words there? HA. THIS is why I have my own awards ceremony. Wait, with all of these jokes, maybe I should be on strike too?
Drama movie Actress: Hilary Swank (PS I love you) over Kirsten Dunst (Spiderman 3) Keira Knightley (Pirates....3) Mila Jovovich (Resident Evil 3) Lindsay Lohan (I Know Who Killed Me). You thought I’d give it to Lohan? Or a star from a movie that has been milked for 3 films? Come on. But this time she remembers to thank Chad Lowe, before realizing they broke up.
Comedy movie Actress Ellen Page (Juno) over Katherine Heigl (Knocked Up) Nikki Blonsky (Hairspray) John Travolta (Hairspray) Amy Adams (Enchanted) Keri Russell (Waitress). John Travolta originally won, but then during the acceptance speech, it was determined that he was a man, not a woman, thus DQ’ing him from the award. Ellen Page, a Canadian was then awarded the Globe because Canadians and homosexuals are the two funniest classifications of people in the world.
Comedy movie Male Actor: Michael Cera (Superbad) over Robin Williams (License to Wed) Hugh Grant (Music and Lyrics) Adam Brody (In the Land of Women). I liked the Evan character over the Seth Character. I thought he was a “smarter” funny. Plus he should get this award just for how he runs. I mean, he IS the fastest kid in the world.
Reality TV "Actress" Tila Tequila (Shot at Love) over LC( The Hills) Heidi (The Hills) Chrissy (Newport Harbor). Chrissy can’t speak in sentences over 8 words. LC lost it when she took Jason back. Heidi lost it when she became a douche (she used to be just a dumb character, but now she is smart and mean. The producers are confusing me as they play Michael Moore to her GW Bush. Is she as dumb from season 1 or is she an evil genius from season 3? Make up your minds!) Therefore Tila wins by default.
Movie Writing: Aaron Sorkin (Charlie Wilson's War) over Aaron Stockard & Ben Affleck (Gone Baby Gone) Seth Rogan (Superbad). This is another by default. Aaron Stockard, you maybe should have won because you did all of the writing while Affleck just smoked pot on the couch and farted. And Seth Rogan, that movie was extremely funny, but come on. Aaron Sorkin. He wins. Always.
Television Writing: NONE! I was going to nominate the writers from The Office Studio 60 (Aaron Sorkin) Friday Night Lights and Private Practice, but since you are striking, you don't get awards! Take THAT!
Actress TV Comedy: Jenna Fischer (The Office) over Samaire Armstrong (Dirty Sexy Money) Pam is in a class all by herself. And NO, I DON’T count Desperate Housewives as a comedy, so THAT is why they aren’t in here
Movie Director: Greg Mottola (Superbad) over Judd Apatow (Knocked Up) Ben Affleck (Gone Baby Gone) Adrienne Shelly (Waitress) Robert Ben Garant (Balls of Fury). I can’t give an award to Affleck for positive acting. Plus I like the dance number at the beginning of Superbad. Props to him.
Actress TV Drama: Kate Walsh (Grey’s Anatomy/Private Practice) over Glenn Close (Damages) Courtney Cox (Dirt), Katherine Heigl (Grey's Anatomy), Emily Deschanel (Bones). I know, I thought Bones would have this one wrapped up, but Dr. Addison Sheppard swooped in and laid claim to this award. Bones is going to have to step her game up.
Actor TV Comedy: Steve Carrell (The Office) over John Krasinki (The Office) Ricky Gervais (Extras). Back to back baby! Steve Carrell makes whatever script in front of him funny. He gives it 110% even when BJ Novak is mailing it in.
Actor TV Drama: Hugh Laurie (House) over Kyle Chandler (FNL) Wentworth Miller (Prisonbreak) Dylan Walsh (Nip/Tuck) Julian McMahon (Nip/Tuck) Patrick Dempsey (Grey's Anatomy). Laurie wins a tight one here. Kyle Chandler is great, but in some episodes his role is reduced-the downside of an ensemble show. Wentworth Miller was hurt by the show’s lighting. He is so handsome, he needs better lighting. As for the Nip/Tuck boys, they cancel each other out-much like I am afraid Knowshon and Stafford will do next season in the heisman race. Finally Pat Dempsey has the edge for next year for maybe FINALLY getting over Meredith. But we shall see
Reality TV Show: Newport Harbor over A Shot at Love with Tila Tequila, Real World: Sydney, American Gladiator, Deal or No Deal, The Hills. This is the first real upset of the evening. Grant carried the show from a supporting role. He really needs his own show.
Breakout TV Show: Private Practice over The Black Donnelly's, Dirty/Sexy/Money, American Gladiators, Newport Harbor. True Newport Harbor gave us Grant, but Private Practice has replace Grey’s as Shondaland’s best show. The pilot episode that occurred during Grey’s was rough, but the regular series has been really good. Plus no Meredith Grey whining about personal issues that she REALLY needs to get over. You are semi-attractive, smart, a freaking DOCTOR, plus you have Patrick Dempsey. Life is good, quit being a little brat. Private Practice has Tim Daly! Plus there.
Comedy TV Show: The Office over Family Guy, Frank TV. Though I thought Jim should have stayed with Karen, but oh well. This season was a little slow though. It needs to be funnier. Maybe BJ Novak should not worry so much about starring in bit roles in Reign over me and start working more on this show
Best Movie Comedy: Superbad wins it over Juno, License to Wed , In the Land of Women, and Ocean's 13. Robin Williams in L2W made me want to stop watching. Seth Cohen in ITLOW was interesting, but I fear he is being typecasted. Michael Cera MAKES Superbad as does McLovin’ McLovin bailed!
Best Movie Drama: Gone Baby Gone over Bourne Ultimatum, Fracture, Into the Wild, 300, and Smokin' Aces. The REAL talent in the Affleck family is Casey. PS, Ed Harris and Marvin Freeman also star. I like the fact that they were trying for a twist ending, but too many twists maybe? Still really good though. Kudos!
Drama TV Show: Friday Night Lights over Grey's Anatomy, House, Nip/Tuck, Prisonbreak, Private Practice. FNL was the best written show on the air last year. This season has been rocky at times, but the characters are so relatable, the relations you cheer, sometimes weep over(not me, mind you, but some folks) The football scenes are a little dramatic, but that makes for interesting television. Kyle Chandler is the man. The show is funny. It is emotional. It is fantastic.
There we go. Congrats to all of the winners. For the losers out there, get the strike over with so you can go out there and try and win one next year. PS, no picket lines were crossed for this awards ceremony. Just so we all know.....
(Remember, I do movies first because you HAVE to save TV for last. It is the best.)
Supporting movie Actor: Sir Anthony Hopkins (Fracture) over Vince Vaughn (Into the Wild) Christian Bale (3:10 to Yuma) Russell Crowe (American Gangster) John Krasinki (License to Wed) Christopher Mintz-Plasse (Superbad). Hopkins has the genius villain down to a science by now
Supporting movie actress Amanda Bynes (Hairspray) over Michelle Monaghan (Gone Baby Gone) Ashley Tisdale (High School Musical 2), Jessica Biel (I now pronounce you Chuck and Larry) Ellen Barkin (Ocean's 13) Cheryl Hines ( Waitress). Those other people didn’t stand a chance. WHAT A GIRL WANTS BABY! Though Michelle Monaghan prolly would have won any other year.
Reality TV "Actor" Grant (Newport Harbor) over Brody (The Hills) Isaac (RW:S), Domenico (A Shot at Love) Though Domenico will soon get his own show and Isaac will be a feature on RR/RW challenges, Grant gets this Globe for his awesomeness. Seriously. Domenico gets his own show after “Little Italy” was eliminated in the final 5? Grant needs HIS own show. But not a dating show. The guy doesn’t need one. He is straight out pimp. PS, Isaac, if you hadn’t left for three episodes, this race would have been closer.
Supporting TV Actress: Olivia Wilde (House & Black Donnelly's) over Michaela Conlin (Bones) Sara Ramirez (Grey's Anatomy) Amy Brennamen (Private Practice) Lisa Edelstein (House). Olivia gets it for appearing in two shows. Good for her. I certainly hope though she is IN on House now, and they don’t go back to the old “team”
Supporting TV Actor: Rainn Wilson (The Office) over Riggins/Taylor Kitsch (Friday Night Lights), Keith Nobbs (The Black Donnelly's) Dominic Purcell (Prisonbreak) Paul Adelstein (Private Practice). Dwight is an amazing character, so much better than his British counterpart. But Rainn Wilson won’t ever be anything BUT Dwight because he is so good. Therefore, we honor him. Riggins is slowly turning into the second best story-line on FNL over Smash and Saracen. Just is.
Breakout TV Actor: Isaac RW: Sydney over Jonathan Tucker (The Black Donnelly's), and Grant (Newport Harbor). Though Grant is straight out pimp, Isaac will be entertaining us in Duels and Challenges and Gauntlets for years to come.
Breakout TV Actress: KaDee Strickland (Private Practice) over "Hey Girl Hey" girl from Shot at Love, Elizabeth Reaser (Grey's Anatomy). I think she is under-the-radar hot and that accent is nice. Plus she is the foil that show needs. A light touch of evil for the feelgood staff at the Private Practice.
Drama Male movie Actor: Matt Damon (Bourne Ultimatum) over Ryan Gosling (Fracture) Don Cheadle (Reign Over Me), Russell Crowe (3:10 to Yuma), Denzel Washington (American Gangster). Gosling was a little over his head going up against Sir Anthony Hopkins. Matt Damon was bourne to play this role. Get it? The play with words there? HA. THIS is why I have my own awards ceremony. Wait, with all of these jokes, maybe I should be on strike too?
Drama movie Actress: Hilary Swank (PS I love you) over Kirsten Dunst (Spiderman 3) Keira Knightley (Pirates....3) Mila Jovovich (Resident Evil 3) Lindsay Lohan (I Know Who Killed Me). You thought I’d give it to Lohan? Or a star from a movie that has been milked for 3 films? Come on. But this time she remembers to thank Chad Lowe, before realizing they broke up.
Comedy movie Actress Ellen Page (Juno) over Katherine Heigl (Knocked Up) Nikki Blonsky (Hairspray) John Travolta (Hairspray) Amy Adams (Enchanted) Keri Russell (Waitress). John Travolta originally won, but then during the acceptance speech, it was determined that he was a man, not a woman, thus DQ’ing him from the award. Ellen Page, a Canadian was then awarded the Globe because Canadians and homosexuals are the two funniest classifications of people in the world.
Comedy movie Male Actor: Michael Cera (Superbad) over Robin Williams (License to Wed) Hugh Grant (Music and Lyrics) Adam Brody (In the Land of Women). I liked the Evan character over the Seth Character. I thought he was a “smarter” funny. Plus he should get this award just for how he runs. I mean, he IS the fastest kid in the world.
Reality TV "Actress" Tila Tequila (Shot at Love) over LC( The Hills) Heidi (The Hills) Chrissy (Newport Harbor). Chrissy can’t speak in sentences over 8 words. LC lost it when she took Jason back. Heidi lost it when she became a douche (she used to be just a dumb character, but now she is smart and mean. The producers are confusing me as they play Michael Moore to her GW Bush. Is she as dumb from season 1 or is she an evil genius from season 3? Make up your minds!) Therefore Tila wins by default.
Movie Writing: Aaron Sorkin (Charlie Wilson's War) over Aaron Stockard & Ben Affleck (Gone Baby Gone) Seth Rogan (Superbad). This is another by default. Aaron Stockard, you maybe should have won because you did all of the writing while Affleck just smoked pot on the couch and farted. And Seth Rogan, that movie was extremely funny, but come on. Aaron Sorkin. He wins. Always.
Television Writing: NONE! I was going to nominate the writers from The Office Studio 60 (Aaron Sorkin) Friday Night Lights and Private Practice, but since you are striking, you don't get awards! Take THAT!
Actress TV Comedy: Jenna Fischer (The Office) over Samaire Armstrong (Dirty Sexy Money) Pam is in a class all by herself. And NO, I DON’T count Desperate Housewives as a comedy, so THAT is why they aren’t in here
Movie Director: Greg Mottola (Superbad) over Judd Apatow (Knocked Up) Ben Affleck (Gone Baby Gone) Adrienne Shelly (Waitress) Robert Ben Garant (Balls of Fury). I can’t give an award to Affleck for positive acting. Plus I like the dance number at the beginning of Superbad. Props to him.
Actress TV Drama: Kate Walsh (Grey’s Anatomy/Private Practice) over Glenn Close (Damages) Courtney Cox (Dirt), Katherine Heigl (Grey's Anatomy), Emily Deschanel (Bones). I know, I thought Bones would have this one wrapped up, but Dr. Addison Sheppard swooped in and laid claim to this award. Bones is going to have to step her game up.
Actor TV Comedy: Steve Carrell (The Office) over John Krasinki (The Office) Ricky Gervais (Extras). Back to back baby! Steve Carrell makes whatever script in front of him funny. He gives it 110% even when BJ Novak is mailing it in.
Actor TV Drama: Hugh Laurie (House) over Kyle Chandler (FNL) Wentworth Miller (Prisonbreak) Dylan Walsh (Nip/Tuck) Julian McMahon (Nip/Tuck) Patrick Dempsey (Grey's Anatomy). Laurie wins a tight one here. Kyle Chandler is great, but in some episodes his role is reduced-the downside of an ensemble show. Wentworth Miller was hurt by the show’s lighting. He is so handsome, he needs better lighting. As for the Nip/Tuck boys, they cancel each other out-much like I am afraid Knowshon and Stafford will do next season in the heisman race. Finally Pat Dempsey has the edge for next year for maybe FINALLY getting over Meredith. But we shall see
Reality TV Show: Newport Harbor over A Shot at Love with Tila Tequila, Real World: Sydney, American Gladiator, Deal or No Deal, The Hills. This is the first real upset of the evening. Grant carried the show from a supporting role. He really needs his own show.
Breakout TV Show: Private Practice over The Black Donnelly's, Dirty/Sexy/Money, American Gladiators, Newport Harbor. True Newport Harbor gave us Grant, but Private Practice has replace Grey’s as Shondaland’s best show. The pilot episode that occurred during Grey’s was rough, but the regular series has been really good. Plus no Meredith Grey whining about personal issues that she REALLY needs to get over. You are semi-attractive, smart, a freaking DOCTOR, plus you have Patrick Dempsey. Life is good, quit being a little brat. Private Practice has Tim Daly! Plus there.
Comedy TV Show: The Office over Family Guy, Frank TV. Though I thought Jim should have stayed with Karen, but oh well. This season was a little slow though. It needs to be funnier. Maybe BJ Novak should not worry so much about starring in bit roles in Reign over me and start working more on this show
Best Movie Comedy: Superbad wins it over Juno, License to Wed , In the Land of Women, and Ocean's 13. Robin Williams in L2W made me want to stop watching. Seth Cohen in ITLOW was interesting, but I fear he is being typecasted. Michael Cera MAKES Superbad as does McLovin’ McLovin bailed!
Best Movie Drama: Gone Baby Gone over Bourne Ultimatum, Fracture, Into the Wild, 300, and Smokin' Aces. The REAL talent in the Affleck family is Casey. PS, Ed Harris and Marvin Freeman also star. I like the fact that they were trying for a twist ending, but too many twists maybe? Still really good though. Kudos!
Drama TV Show: Friday Night Lights over Grey's Anatomy, House, Nip/Tuck, Prisonbreak, Private Practice. FNL was the best written show on the air last year. This season has been rocky at times, but the characters are so relatable, the relations you cheer, sometimes weep over(not me, mind you, but some folks) The football scenes are a little dramatic, but that makes for interesting television. Kyle Chandler is the man. The show is funny. It is emotional. It is fantastic.
There we go. Congrats to all of the winners. For the losers out there, get the strike over with so you can go out there and try and win one next year. PS, no picket lines were crossed for this awards ceremony. Just so we all know.....
Monday, January 14, 2008
Roger Federer will win AGAIN
The Aussie Open started last night/this morning depending on which time zone you are speaking of. Tennis. The ONLY story in men's tennis is, "Will Roger beat Nadal in 3 sets or 4?" Ace-rod (Andy Roddick) is not a story anymore, neither is fellow American James Blake. Otherwise you have Rafael Nadal wearing capris and winning on Clay Courts or a bunch of Eastern European dudes that no one can pronounce their names.
So Federer is THE ONLY story in tennis. Now, I'll reach back into the 790 the Zone archives for a story I wrote after this past year's US Open about Roger and Tiger's dominance over the USTA and PGA, respectively. Enjoy.
PS Federer wins the Men's Aussie open and Ave Maria wins the women's draw, unless one of the Williams sisters do, or Hennen-Hardine does.
Can’t wait ‘til it’s over
Maybe I’m ungrateful. Maybe I don’t appreciate the magnitude of what is going on right now in the world of tennis and golf. Maybe I will miss these eras of dominance when they are gone. But right now, I AM BORED! Seriously. I am bored!
These days Roger Federer is well on his way to smashing Pete Sampras’s record of 14 Grand Slams. By this time next year, he could be gearing up to notch number 15 which would give him the record at the young age of 27. The Swiss tennis star laps the field, with only Rafael Nadal’s clay court skills standing in his way of complete and utter domination. He wins on grass. He wins on hard surfaces. He wins on carpet. He even wins on clay until he meets Nadal. He doesn’t show any weaknesses, and no one has found a way to bring him back down to earth.
Tiger Woods recently took home the PGA Championship for his 13th major as a professional. It was his only major win of the year, but he did finish second in two others this season. Last year he won two. He is ranked first in the world and he plays in maybe only a quarter of the tournaments. He instills fear in the other players. Whenever he has held a lead after 54 holes in a major, he hasn’t lost. Players such as Phil Mickleson, Retief Goosen, Ernie Els, and Vijay Singh have tried to step up, but usually they only WIN when Tiger has an off-week at a major. No one has found a way to bring him back to the field on a Sunday when he’s leading.
So as Roger and Tiger are dominating, I am snoring. Don’t get me wrong. I believe what they are doing is amazing. Just like how I think the Yankees and their 26 World Series titles are astounding. Just like how I think Duke is a well-run program with three titles under Coach K. Just like how I think the Cowboys and their five Super Bowl titles are a model franchise. But I don’t root for them. No. The other way COMPLETELY. I root against them. I rooted for the Red Sox in 2004, not because I am a bandwagon fan, but because I was sick of the Yankees having been to World Series after World Series. I was pulling for UConn in 1999 and Arizona in 2001 because I was tired of watching Coach K and his rat face win NCAA titles. I threw my support behind the Packers in the mid-90s because I couldn’t stand seeing Jerry Jones raise ANOTHER Lombardi trophy.
For a sports fan, the mindset of a dynasty slowly evolves from excitement to boredom to disdain. How many folks are getting tired of Bill Belichick? Dynasties are fun for a while, and then we just want to see their downfall. Nothing personal. There’s nothing WRONG with Tiger or Roger. I am just bored. As Arby’s used to say, “Different is Good.” I am ready for new blood to come along and switch things up. Will I miss this dominance when it is gone? Well, I still hate the Yankees.
So Federer is THE ONLY story in tennis. Now, I'll reach back into the 790 the Zone archives for a story I wrote after this past year's US Open about Roger and Tiger's dominance over the USTA and PGA, respectively. Enjoy.
PS Federer wins the Men's Aussie open and Ave Maria wins the women's draw, unless one of the Williams sisters do, or Hennen-Hardine does.
Can’t wait ‘til it’s over
Maybe I’m ungrateful. Maybe I don’t appreciate the magnitude of what is going on right now in the world of tennis and golf. Maybe I will miss these eras of dominance when they are gone. But right now, I AM BORED! Seriously. I am bored!
These days Roger Federer is well on his way to smashing Pete Sampras’s record of 14 Grand Slams. By this time next year, he could be gearing up to notch number 15 which would give him the record at the young age of 27. The Swiss tennis star laps the field, with only Rafael Nadal’s clay court skills standing in his way of complete and utter domination. He wins on grass. He wins on hard surfaces. He wins on carpet. He even wins on clay until he meets Nadal. He doesn’t show any weaknesses, and no one has found a way to bring him back down to earth.
Tiger Woods recently took home the PGA Championship for his 13th major as a professional. It was his only major win of the year, but he did finish second in two others this season. Last year he won two. He is ranked first in the world and he plays in maybe only a quarter of the tournaments. He instills fear in the other players. Whenever he has held a lead after 54 holes in a major, he hasn’t lost. Players such as Phil Mickleson, Retief Goosen, Ernie Els, and Vijay Singh have tried to step up, but usually they only WIN when Tiger has an off-week at a major. No one has found a way to bring him back to the field on a Sunday when he’s leading.
So as Roger and Tiger are dominating, I am snoring. Don’t get me wrong. I believe what they are doing is amazing. Just like how I think the Yankees and their 26 World Series titles are astounding. Just like how I think Duke is a well-run program with three titles under Coach K. Just like how I think the Cowboys and their five Super Bowl titles are a model franchise. But I don’t root for them. No. The other way COMPLETELY. I root against them. I rooted for the Red Sox in 2004, not because I am a bandwagon fan, but because I was sick of the Yankees having been to World Series after World Series. I was pulling for UConn in 1999 and Arizona in 2001 because I was tired of watching Coach K and his rat face win NCAA titles. I threw my support behind the Packers in the mid-90s because I couldn’t stand seeing Jerry Jones raise ANOTHER Lombardi trophy.
For a sports fan, the mindset of a dynasty slowly evolves from excitement to boredom to disdain. How many folks are getting tired of Bill Belichick? Dynasties are fun for a while, and then we just want to see their downfall. Nothing personal. There’s nothing WRONG with Tiger or Roger. I am just bored. As Arby’s used to say, “Different is Good.” I am ready for new blood to come along and switch things up. Will I miss this dominance when it is gone? Well, I still hate the Yankees.
National Lampoon's Mexican Vacation
The Dallas Cowboys had a bye week for the first round of the playoffs, so “to get away from football,” Tony Romo goes to Mexico. Really? A vacation south of the border with Jessica Simpson during the first round of the playoffs. Oh yeah, this could have ONLY ended well.
The Dallas Cowboys lost this past weekend as the Giants entered Texas Stadium and knocked off the No. 1 seed of the NFC. This was the first time the No. 1 seed has lost in the divisional round under the current playoff format. They had been 17-0. Never before. But I wonder how many times during that 17-0 stretch, the starting quarterback decided to hope aboard Air Mexico and jet off for a little RNR with his pop-diva girlfriend? Especially one that thinks Chicken of the Sea Tuna is actually chicken.
Am I opposed to vacations? No, I think everyone needs a little rest and relaxation every now and then. But not before one of the biggest games of your career. Last year in the playoffs Romo bobbled a snap on the potential game-winning field goal. Romo was coming off a lackluster showing against Washington were he was 7/16 for 86 yards and one interception. All I am saying is maybe he should have gone down south sometime in February. Vacations during the season just don’t work. Ask Wally Pipp. Cal Ripken Jr., never took a vacation. Now he’s in the Hall of Fame. Tony, you keep messing up these playoff games, you won’t make it to 2011.
But did the vacation REALLY mess with him? Well he certainly heard about it ALL week from reporters. So he went out there and pressed. He tried way too hard to not mess up and have reporters blame his leaving for the team potentially losing. What happened during the game? He was screaming at his own linemen in the second half. He was scrambling around trying to make a play and was sacked when he should have thrown the ball away. He was intentionally grounding the ball with no pressure. He was overthrowing some receivers, underthrowing others. He was arguing with the refs, even going as far to grab one, which, if you aren’t Tony Romo, gets you thrown out of a game. Then the game ended when he threw an interception into the endzone.
I just don’t think that Peyton Manning was in Puerto Rico last week “getting away from football.” I don’t recall hearing that Brett Favre was trolling around Madrid on his “weekend off.” Tony is a rock-star. He holds THE most high profile job in the NFL: Quarterback of the Dallas Cowboys. But he is dating Jessica Simpson, who has killed more careers (Dane Cook, Nick Lachey) than Enron. Get it together Romo. You can still come back from this, but be a little smarter next time. Leave the wacky vacations to Clark W. Griswold Jr.
The Dallas Cowboys lost this past weekend as the Giants entered Texas Stadium and knocked off the No. 1 seed of the NFC. This was the first time the No. 1 seed has lost in the divisional round under the current playoff format. They had been 17-0. Never before. But I wonder how many times during that 17-0 stretch, the starting quarterback decided to hope aboard Air Mexico and jet off for a little RNR with his pop-diva girlfriend? Especially one that thinks Chicken of the Sea Tuna is actually chicken.
Am I opposed to vacations? No, I think everyone needs a little rest and relaxation every now and then. But not before one of the biggest games of your career. Last year in the playoffs Romo bobbled a snap on the potential game-winning field goal. Romo was coming off a lackluster showing against Washington were he was 7/16 for 86 yards and one interception. All I am saying is maybe he should have gone down south sometime in February. Vacations during the season just don’t work. Ask Wally Pipp. Cal Ripken Jr., never took a vacation. Now he’s in the Hall of Fame. Tony, you keep messing up these playoff games, you won’t make it to 2011.
But did the vacation REALLY mess with him? Well he certainly heard about it ALL week from reporters. So he went out there and pressed. He tried way too hard to not mess up and have reporters blame his leaving for the team potentially losing. What happened during the game? He was screaming at his own linemen in the second half. He was scrambling around trying to make a play and was sacked when he should have thrown the ball away. He was intentionally grounding the ball with no pressure. He was overthrowing some receivers, underthrowing others. He was arguing with the refs, even going as far to grab one, which, if you aren’t Tony Romo, gets you thrown out of a game. Then the game ended when he threw an interception into the endzone.
I just don’t think that Peyton Manning was in Puerto Rico last week “getting away from football.” I don’t recall hearing that Brett Favre was trolling around Madrid on his “weekend off.” Tony is a rock-star. He holds THE most high profile job in the NFL: Quarterback of the Dallas Cowboys. But he is dating Jessica Simpson, who has killed more careers (Dane Cook, Nick Lachey) than Enron. Get it together Romo. You can still come back from this, but be a little smarter next time. Leave the wacky vacations to Clark W. Griswold Jr.
And the nominees are.....
and the nominees are......
The Second annual Fletcher Globes nominees......remember the winners will be announced tomorrow only on http://sportsbyfletch.blogspot.com sel-promotion. I learned something from Fox. HA!
Movies:
Best Comedy: Superbad, Juno, License to Wed , In the Land of Women, Ocean's 13
Best Drama: Bourne Ultimatum, Gone Baby Gone, Fracture, Into the Wild, 300, Smokin' Aces
Drama Male Actor: Matt Damon (Bourne Ultimatum) Ryan Gosling (Fracture) Don Cheadle (Reign Over Me), Russell Crowe (3:10 to Yuma), Denzel Washington (American Gangster)
Comedy Male Actor: Robin Williams (License to Wed) Hugh Grant (Music and Lyrics) Adam Brody (In the Land of Women) Michael Cera (Superbad)
Supporting Actor: Anthony Hopkins (Fracture) Vince Vaughn (Into the Wild) Christian Bale (3:10 to Yuma) Russell Crowe (American Gangster) John Krasinki (License to Wed) Christopher Mintz-Plasse (Superbad)
Drama Actress Kirsten Dunst (Spiderman 3) Keira Knightley (Pirates....3) Mila Jovovich (Resident Evil 3) Hiliary Skank (PS, I Love You) Lindsay Lohan (I Know Who Killed Me)
Comedy Actress Katherine Heigl (Knocked Up) Ellen Page (Juno) Nikki Blonsky (Hairspray) John Travolta (Hairspray) Amy Adams (Enchanted) Keri Russell (Waitress)
Supporting actress Amanda Bynes (Hairspray) Michelle Monaghan (Gone Baby Gone) Ashley Tisdale (High School Musical 2), Jessica Biel (I now pronounce you Chuck and Larry) Ellen Barkin (Ocean's 13) Cheryl Hines ( Waitress)
Director: Judd Apatow (Knocked Up) Greg Mottola (Superbad) Ben Affleck (Gone Baby Gone) Adrienne Shelly (Waitress) Robert Ben Garant (Balls of Fury)
Writing: Aaron Sorkin (Charlie Wilson's War) Aaron Stockard & Ben Affleck (Gone Baby Gone) Seth Rogan (Superbad)
TELEVISION
Drama Show: Grey's Anatomy, House, Nip/Tuck, Prisonbreak, Private Practice, Friday Night Lights
Comedy Show: The Office, Family Guy, Frank TV
Actor Comedy: Steve Carrell (The Office) John Krasinki (The Office) Ricky Gervais (Extras)
Actor Drama: Hugh Laurie (House), Kyle Chandler (FNL) Wentworth Miller (Prisonbreak) Dylan Walsh (Nip/Tuck) Julian McMahon (Nip/Tuck) Patrick Dempsey (Grey's Anatomy)
Supporting Actor: Taylor Kitsch (Friday Night Lights) Rainn Wilson (The Office) Keith Nobbs (The Black Donnelly's) Dominic Purcell (Prisonbreak) Paul Adelstein (Private Practice)
Actress Comedy: Jenna Fischer (The Office) Samaire Armstrong (Dirty Sexy Money)
Actress Drama: Glenn Close (Damages) Courtney Cox (Dirt), Katherine Heigl (Grey's Anatomy), Emily Deschanel (Bones) Kate Walsh (Private Practice)
Supporting Actress: Olivia Wilde (House & Black Donnelly's) Michaela Conlin (Bones) Sara Ramirez (Grey's Anatomy) Amy Brennamen (Private Practice) Lisa Edelstein (House)
Reality TV Show: A Shot at Love with Tila Tequila, Newport Harbor, Real World: Sydney, American Gladiator, Deal or No Deal, The Hills
Reality TV "Actor" Brody (The Hills) Isaac (RW:S) Grant (Newport Harbor), Domenico (A Shot at Love)
Reality TV "Actress" Tila Tequila (Shot at Love), LC( The Hills) Heidi (The Hills) Chrissy (Newport Harbor)
Writing: NONE! I was going to nominate the writers from The Office Studio 60 (Aaron Sorkin) Friday Night Lights and Private Practice, but since you are striking, you don't get awards! Take THAT!
Breakout TV Actor: Jonathan Tucker (The Black Donnelly's), Grant (Newport Harbor) Isaac (RW: Sydney)
Breakout TV Actress: "Hey Girl Hey" girl from Shot at Love, Elizabeth Reaser (Grey's Anatomy) KaDee Strickland (Private Practice)
Breakout Show: The Black Donnelly's, Private Practice, Dirty/Sexy/Money, American Gladiators, Newport Harbor
There we go, remember, results tomorrow!
The Second annual Fletcher Globes nominees......remember the winners will be announced tomorrow only on http://sportsbyfletch.blogspot.com sel-promotion. I learned something from Fox. HA!
Movies:
Best Comedy: Superbad, Juno, License to Wed , In the Land of Women, Ocean's 13
Best Drama: Bourne Ultimatum, Gone Baby Gone, Fracture, Into the Wild, 300, Smokin' Aces
Drama Male Actor: Matt Damon (Bourne Ultimatum) Ryan Gosling (Fracture) Don Cheadle (Reign Over Me), Russell Crowe (3:10 to Yuma), Denzel Washington (American Gangster)
Comedy Male Actor: Robin Williams (License to Wed) Hugh Grant (Music and Lyrics) Adam Brody (In the Land of Women) Michael Cera (Superbad)
Supporting Actor: Anthony Hopkins (Fracture) Vince Vaughn (Into the Wild) Christian Bale (3:10 to Yuma) Russell Crowe (American Gangster) John Krasinki (License to Wed) Christopher Mintz-Plasse (Superbad)
Drama Actress Kirsten Dunst (Spiderman 3) Keira Knightley (Pirates....3) Mila Jovovich (Resident Evil 3) Hiliary Skank (PS, I Love You) Lindsay Lohan (I Know Who Killed Me)
Comedy Actress Katherine Heigl (Knocked Up) Ellen Page (Juno) Nikki Blonsky (Hairspray) John Travolta (Hairspray) Amy Adams (Enchanted) Keri Russell (Waitress)
Supporting actress Amanda Bynes (Hairspray) Michelle Monaghan (Gone Baby Gone) Ashley Tisdale (High School Musical 2), Jessica Biel (I now pronounce you Chuck and Larry) Ellen Barkin (Ocean's 13) Cheryl Hines ( Waitress)
Director: Judd Apatow (Knocked Up) Greg Mottola (Superbad) Ben Affleck (Gone Baby Gone) Adrienne Shelly (Waitress) Robert Ben Garant (Balls of Fury)
Writing: Aaron Sorkin (Charlie Wilson's War) Aaron Stockard & Ben Affleck (Gone Baby Gone) Seth Rogan (Superbad)
TELEVISION
Drama Show: Grey's Anatomy, House, Nip/Tuck, Prisonbreak, Private Practice, Friday Night Lights
Comedy Show: The Office, Family Guy, Frank TV
Actor Comedy: Steve Carrell (The Office) John Krasinki (The Office) Ricky Gervais (Extras)
Actor Drama: Hugh Laurie (House), Kyle Chandler (FNL) Wentworth Miller (Prisonbreak) Dylan Walsh (Nip/Tuck) Julian McMahon (Nip/Tuck) Patrick Dempsey (Grey's Anatomy)
Supporting Actor: Taylor Kitsch (Friday Night Lights) Rainn Wilson (The Office) Keith Nobbs (The Black Donnelly's) Dominic Purcell (Prisonbreak) Paul Adelstein (Private Practice)
Actress Comedy: Jenna Fischer (The Office) Samaire Armstrong (Dirty Sexy Money)
Actress Drama: Glenn Close (Damages) Courtney Cox (Dirt), Katherine Heigl (Grey's Anatomy), Emily Deschanel (Bones) Kate Walsh (Private Practice)
Supporting Actress: Olivia Wilde (House & Black Donnelly's) Michaela Conlin (Bones) Sara Ramirez (Grey's Anatomy) Amy Brennamen (Private Practice) Lisa Edelstein (House)
Reality TV Show: A Shot at Love with Tila Tequila, Newport Harbor, Real World: Sydney, American Gladiator, Deal or No Deal, The Hills
Reality TV "Actor" Brody (The Hills) Isaac (RW:S) Grant (Newport Harbor), Domenico (A Shot at Love)
Reality TV "Actress" Tila Tequila (Shot at Love), LC( The Hills) Heidi (The Hills) Chrissy (Newport Harbor)
Writing: NONE! I was going to nominate the writers from The Office Studio 60 (Aaron Sorkin) Friday Night Lights and Private Practice, but since you are striking, you don't get awards! Take THAT!
Breakout TV Actor: Jonathan Tucker (The Black Donnelly's), Grant (Newport Harbor) Isaac (RW: Sydney)
Breakout TV Actress: "Hey Girl Hey" girl from Shot at Love, Elizabeth Reaser (Grey's Anatomy) KaDee Strickland (Private Practice)
Breakout Show: The Black Donnelly's, Private Practice, Dirty/Sexy/Money, American Gladiators, Newport Harbor
There we go, remember, results tomorrow!
Friday, January 11, 2008
Pete Carroll to the Falcons? Why?
This flirting that is going on between Pete Carroll and the Atlanta Falcons is not cute. It is really annoying actually. And if ANYONE ACTUALLY believes that Carroll is coming to the Falcons, then they also believe that Mike Vick was innocent this whole time.
Over the last few seasons, Pete Carroll has had the chance to take over numerous NFL teams, so of which were offerring full controll which apparently is what he is seeking. The San Francisco 49ers had the #1 pick in the draft, Carroll could have gone to that history-rich team and taken Matt Leinart with that pick (I know Leinart stayed in school that year, but if Carroll had gone to the 49ers, Leinart would have gone too, and been taken #1)
-Then Carroll turned down the Cardinals, who picked Leinart one year later. HELLO!
-Carroll also turned down the Dolphins before last season, but good thing since they went 1-15. But they WERE on the verge of the playoffs the season before. Plus with Carroll on board, the team NEVER takes Ted Ginn Jr with that pick.
-Carroll also reportedly turned down the San Diego Chargers. True that offer didn't include full controll, but it did include reigning MVP LdT, Antonio Gates, that swarming D and a pretty good kicker. THE TEAM WENT 14-2! They have reached the second round of the playoffs with NORV TURNER. They are a good squad.
Now we are to believe that after turning down each of those offers, all of which are better than the Falcons' offer, he would come to Atlanta which is a good three years away even with a quick fix?
The Defensive front is John Abraham (when healthy), Rod Coleman (when healthy and not running over animals in the offseason) Jonathon "dog Killah" Babineaux(I can't spell his last name, sorry) and a rookie that is STILL looking for his talent as we speak in Jamal Anderson. (well not really a rookie anymore, but still a "project")
The linebackers include Michael Boley(a real talent) Keith Brooking(the greatest pilejumper in NFL history) and .....
The defensive secondary is Lawyer "remember when I was good with the Patriots, last decade,maybe I need to retire" Malloy, Chris "Toast" Houston, Jimmy "that wasn't my crack, Officer" Williams and MeAngelo Hall.
The offensive line may as well be those blocking dummies, because those MIGHT hold up better.
The running back is old Warrick Dunn (the guy NEEDS to just walk away) and the new Warrick Dunn in J. Norwood (by new Warrick Dunn, I mean the guy in Tampa that was too small to be an everydown back) They traded TJ Duckett for what reason I don't know but they have Jason Snelling on the bench, even though he is VERY good.
The receivers are interesting: Joe Horn-please retire, Michael Jenkins-who just STEALS MONEY, Roddy White-had his best year this year but lost EVERYONE'S respect when he showed his "Free Vick" Shirt. Really Free a CON-VICK-TED Felon?, LRobinson-who is turning out to be alright I guess
Tight Ends-I read where the team is considering cutting Alge Crumpler and keeping Martrez Milner. REALLY? DID MILNER GET A HAND TRANSPLANT?
As for QB...I worry that the team will draft Brian Brohm or Matt Ryan this year and feel that they have their "QB of the future" and miss out on next year's draft class of Tebow, Parker-Wilson, Stafford, McCoy and Rudy Carpenter. Oh well.
Draft class- please take Run DMC and leave the QB for next year.
But here is the thing, if Carroll gets hired, he MIGHT take Run DMC and draft John David Booty in the 6th round. I wouldn't mind that as a potential Falcons fan.
But I am a Redskins fan, and MY fear is that Pete Carroll is simply using the Falcons to get more money out of Daniel Snyder. Crap.
But oh well, maybe the Falcons will wise-up, walk away from Carroll, hire a GM first, let HIM hire a coach and THAT coach can decide if he wants a potential B+ career QB or wait for an A in next year's draft class.
And as for Pete Carroll, why would you leave the USC Trojans in sunny LA for The ATL? Didn't you see the movie, THE ATL featuring TI (who is now in jail, right?). I think that pretty much described Atlanta...wait, it CLEARLY did not, but that is for another blog. Don't leave USC. It is great having USC be a good program. Eventually people will start to hate you like they do the Yankees and Duke. That will be fun. Pete, you have the BEST job in college football. Don't leave.
Over the last few seasons, Pete Carroll has had the chance to take over numerous NFL teams, so of which were offerring full controll which apparently is what he is seeking. The San Francisco 49ers had the #1 pick in the draft, Carroll could have gone to that history-rich team and taken Matt Leinart with that pick (I know Leinart stayed in school that year, but if Carroll had gone to the 49ers, Leinart would have gone too, and been taken #1)
-Then Carroll turned down the Cardinals, who picked Leinart one year later. HELLO!
-Carroll also turned down the Dolphins before last season, but good thing since they went 1-15. But they WERE on the verge of the playoffs the season before. Plus with Carroll on board, the team NEVER takes Ted Ginn Jr with that pick.
-Carroll also reportedly turned down the San Diego Chargers. True that offer didn't include full controll, but it did include reigning MVP LdT, Antonio Gates, that swarming D and a pretty good kicker. THE TEAM WENT 14-2! They have reached the second round of the playoffs with NORV TURNER. They are a good squad.
Now we are to believe that after turning down each of those offers, all of which are better than the Falcons' offer, he would come to Atlanta which is a good three years away even with a quick fix?
The Defensive front is John Abraham (when healthy), Rod Coleman (when healthy and not running over animals in the offseason) Jonathon "dog Killah" Babineaux(I can't spell his last name, sorry) and a rookie that is STILL looking for his talent as we speak in Jamal Anderson. (well not really a rookie anymore, but still a "project")
The linebackers include Michael Boley(a real talent) Keith Brooking(the greatest pilejumper in NFL history) and .....
The defensive secondary is Lawyer "remember when I was good with the Patriots, last decade,maybe I need to retire" Malloy, Chris "Toast" Houston, Jimmy "that wasn't my crack, Officer" Williams and MeAngelo Hall.
The offensive line may as well be those blocking dummies, because those MIGHT hold up better.
The running back is old Warrick Dunn (the guy NEEDS to just walk away) and the new Warrick Dunn in J. Norwood (by new Warrick Dunn, I mean the guy in Tampa that was too small to be an everydown back) They traded TJ Duckett for what reason I don't know but they have Jason Snelling on the bench, even though he is VERY good.
The receivers are interesting: Joe Horn-please retire, Michael Jenkins-who just STEALS MONEY, Roddy White-had his best year this year but lost EVERYONE'S respect when he showed his "Free Vick" Shirt. Really Free a CON-VICK-TED Felon?, LRobinson-who is turning out to be alright I guess
Tight Ends-I read where the team is considering cutting Alge Crumpler and keeping Martrez Milner. REALLY? DID MILNER GET A HAND TRANSPLANT?
As for QB...I worry that the team will draft Brian Brohm or Matt Ryan this year and feel that they have their "QB of the future" and miss out on next year's draft class of Tebow, Parker-Wilson, Stafford, McCoy and Rudy Carpenter. Oh well.
Draft class- please take Run DMC and leave the QB for next year.
But here is the thing, if Carroll gets hired, he MIGHT take Run DMC and draft John David Booty in the 6th round. I wouldn't mind that as a potential Falcons fan.
But I am a Redskins fan, and MY fear is that Pete Carroll is simply using the Falcons to get more money out of Daniel Snyder. Crap.
But oh well, maybe the Falcons will wise-up, walk away from Carroll, hire a GM first, let HIM hire a coach and THAT coach can decide if he wants a potential B+ career QB or wait for an A in next year's draft class.
And as for Pete Carroll, why would you leave the USC Trojans in sunny LA for The ATL? Didn't you see the movie, THE ATL featuring TI (who is now in jail, right?). I think that pretty much described Atlanta...wait, it CLEARLY did not, but that is for another blog. Don't leave USC. It is great having USC be a good program. Eventually people will start to hate you like they do the Yankees and Duke. That will be fun. Pete, you have the BEST job in college football. Don't leave.
Thursday, January 10, 2008
THE Song of the 90s
I have been watching VH1's top 100 videos(or songs) of the 90s, and though I haven't seen #20-1, I have my opinions. I was a fan of 1990s music. Unlike some of my best friends, I just don't get 80s music. I was 6 when this stuff was REALLY around. Shoot, I was born in 1981, so I consider Mary Had a Little Lamb 80s music. I was 3 in 1984, give me a break.
But the 1990s is when I was in middle and high school. That is when I was really listening to music. And I think you can certainly break the 90s down into three categories.....Grunge in the early 90s, rap in the mid 90s and Dave Matthews rip-offs in the late 90s.
But without question the #1 song of the 90s is Nirvana's Smells like Teen Spirit. If that song is not #1 on that list, then the list is up there with ESPN's top 25 players in college football history where Red Granger and Barry "one year" Sanders finished ahead of Hershel Walker-only THE most dominant college football player EVER. He should have won 4 straight heismans. Oh well, back to the 90s music.
If I had to make a top 6
6 Semi-Charmed Life 3rd Eye Blind
5 Big Poppa-Biggie
4 Hold My Hand-Hootie
3 What Would you say-Dave
2 California Love-Tupac and Dre
1 Smells like Teen Spirit
You have the grunge in there, the Dave and dave ripoff in Hootie, and the rap war which maybe defined the 90s.
Tupac gets out of jail and appears on Dre's California Love. The War breaks out East Coast v West Coast. One rapper "dies," another really dies, the first "dead" rapper puts out 13 more CDs.
And if you tell me Hootie and the Blowfish don't deserve to be mentioned as one of the defining bands of the 90s (if not ever) you are an idiot. Cracked Rear View made so much money it was unreal. They had 4 songs in the top 20 AT THE SAME TIME (Hold my hand, Let her Cry, only wanna be with you, time). They appeared on Friends. They got Berman and ESPN to appear on their music video. Tiger Woods had them play at his wedding. They were THE band, but please don't call Darius Rucker "Hootie!" He hates that, even though he was the lead singer of a band called Hootie and the Blowfish.
Dave Matthews also allowed that genre of college frat music to go big. Now you REALLY could just take a guitar and make poppy-catchy music that didn't always make sense and sell it big time. But the weirdest thing. His Crash into me MAY have been his biggest hit. I loved Dave Matthews Band for Jimi Thing, Warehouse, Ants before he blew up all OVER the country (I am from Virginia for pete's sake. we were listening to bootleg performances from bars in VA before the Recently LP came out and Under the Table and Dreaming hit circuit cities and Sam Goody's everywhere). He inspired Pat McGee Band, Fighting Gravity, John Mayer, Gin Blossems, 3 Doors Down among others. He was a great musical power, but his recent album stuff hasn't been as good as his live shows. Watching him do Wild Horses or Grace is Gone brings tears to my eyes, and if you don't get goosebumps, then I don't believe you have a soul.
Finally, I love the band 3rd Eye Blind. CT stole my 3eb CD with Semi-charmed life and London and God of Wine and Jumper and ....well you get the idea. What a great CD, which you KNOW the guys wrote while they were on drugs. But, like I said with Amy Whinehouse, if that works for you, do it. The Beatles were on drugs for the later stages of their career. But 3eb really went downhill when the lead singer broke up with his girlfriend, wrote the "blue album" (which actually had two REALLY good songs on it Never Let you go, being one of them) and promised the "black album", but never delivered. The drummer got sick of the lead singer whining about his ex and left the band.
Speaking of whining, can some one get Art Alexis of Everclear a tissue. His father left his mother when he was little and he STILL hasn't gotten over it 30 years later. He writes all of his songs about it, and while So Much For the Afterglow had some good "music" on it, all the themes were the same: Dad left us. He is STILL writing about his. He Art: 43% of America is in your situation. Stop complaining. I am a child of divorce, but you don't see me SINGING OUT IT. You obviously have talent when it comes to playing music, play something more like Everything to Everyone. Sunflowers. Quit with the I will buy you a new life. Father of Mine. GET OVER IT.
That's it for now. I could talk 90s music for hours, but YOU will just have to wait until next Thursday for another music blog.
But the 1990s is when I was in middle and high school. That is when I was really listening to music. And I think you can certainly break the 90s down into three categories.....Grunge in the early 90s, rap in the mid 90s and Dave Matthews rip-offs in the late 90s.
But without question the #1 song of the 90s is Nirvana's Smells like Teen Spirit. If that song is not #1 on that list, then the list is up there with ESPN's top 25 players in college football history where Red Granger and Barry "one year" Sanders finished ahead of Hershel Walker-only THE most dominant college football player EVER. He should have won 4 straight heismans. Oh well, back to the 90s music.
If I had to make a top 6
6 Semi-Charmed Life 3rd Eye Blind
5 Big Poppa-Biggie
4 Hold My Hand-Hootie
3 What Would you say-Dave
2 California Love-Tupac and Dre
1 Smells like Teen Spirit
You have the grunge in there, the Dave and dave ripoff in Hootie, and the rap war which maybe defined the 90s.
Tupac gets out of jail and appears on Dre's California Love. The War breaks out East Coast v West Coast. One rapper "dies," another really dies, the first "dead" rapper puts out 13 more CDs.
And if you tell me Hootie and the Blowfish don't deserve to be mentioned as one of the defining bands of the 90s (if not ever) you are an idiot. Cracked Rear View made so much money it was unreal. They had 4 songs in the top 20 AT THE SAME TIME (Hold my hand, Let her Cry, only wanna be with you, time). They appeared on Friends. They got Berman and ESPN to appear on their music video. Tiger Woods had them play at his wedding. They were THE band, but please don't call Darius Rucker "Hootie!" He hates that, even though he was the lead singer of a band called Hootie and the Blowfish.
Dave Matthews also allowed that genre of college frat music to go big. Now you REALLY could just take a guitar and make poppy-catchy music that didn't always make sense and sell it big time. But the weirdest thing. His Crash into me MAY have been his biggest hit. I loved Dave Matthews Band for Jimi Thing, Warehouse, Ants before he blew up all OVER the country (I am from Virginia for pete's sake. we were listening to bootleg performances from bars in VA before the Recently LP came out and Under the Table and Dreaming hit circuit cities and Sam Goody's everywhere). He inspired Pat McGee Band, Fighting Gravity, John Mayer, Gin Blossems, 3 Doors Down among others. He was a great musical power, but his recent album stuff hasn't been as good as his live shows. Watching him do Wild Horses or Grace is Gone brings tears to my eyes, and if you don't get goosebumps, then I don't believe you have a soul.
Finally, I love the band 3rd Eye Blind. CT stole my 3eb CD with Semi-charmed life and London and God of Wine and Jumper and ....well you get the idea. What a great CD, which you KNOW the guys wrote while they were on drugs. But, like I said with Amy Whinehouse, if that works for you, do it. The Beatles were on drugs for the later stages of their career. But 3eb really went downhill when the lead singer broke up with his girlfriend, wrote the "blue album" (which actually had two REALLY good songs on it Never Let you go, being one of them) and promised the "black album", but never delivered. The drummer got sick of the lead singer whining about his ex and left the band.
Speaking of whining, can some one get Art Alexis of Everclear a tissue. His father left his mother when he was little and he STILL hasn't gotten over it 30 years later. He writes all of his songs about it, and while So Much For the Afterglow had some good "music" on it, all the themes were the same: Dad left us. He is STILL writing about his. He Art: 43% of America is in your situation. Stop complaining. I am a child of divorce, but you don't see me SINGING OUT IT. You obviously have talent when it comes to playing music, play something more like Everything to Everyone. Sunflowers. Quit with the I will buy you a new life. Father of Mine. GET OVER IT.
That's it for now. I could talk 90s music for hours, but YOU will just have to wait until next Thursday for another music blog.
Wednesday, January 9, 2008
Mid-week entertainment report
It's Wednesday so the biggest three stories from THUS far this week, in MY humble opinion.....
No Golden Globes this year because of the writers' strike and the Oscars are in danger as well. So let me get this straight. Because a bunch of Television writers are striking, we don't get the Golden Globes? Is it because the host wouldn't have been able to spew out the monologue (which btw, usually isn't that funny anyways?) Is it because picketers might have shown up and ruined the red carpet? That's an easy fix. Just don't have a red carpet ceremony, or leave it to TV Guide channel, which no one with Digital cable watches anyways. I have an idea. Have the Golden Globes and when it is time to honor the best written comedy on TV...say NO ONE WINS SINCE THEY ARE ON STRIKE! That would stick it to them. HA!
But seriously, the strike might cause the Oscars to do what the Golden Globes are doing:announce the winners at a press conference? Ummm last time I checked, the Oscars honored MOVIES! And the reason the television writers are TV writers and not MOVIE writers is because they aren't good enough to be movie writers. Why should you make US suffer by missing the Oscars (which again, HONORS MOVIES and not TV) and the only good host in quite a while (Jon Stewart)? You couldn't have done this last year when Ellen was hosting? Shouldn't the TV writers' strike affect the Emmy's? You know TV's awards? I'm just saying........
Posh Spice was named the "worst dressed" celeb for 2007 by some tool named Mr. Blackwell. Really? And Amy Whinehouse was #2 on your list? Some of his best celebs were Madonna, Elizabeth Taylor and the Queen of England. Madonna? She once wore construction cones for a bra. But what do you have against Posh Spice? Is it because she is hot, and you Mr. Blackwell are probably an ugly person. You have been doing this list for 48 years. So you are clearly an old foggy. It might time to quit with the list. Can we get someone a little more hip and with the times to do this list? If you need me to volunteer, I can do that. (also, I didn't realize Lizzie Taylor was still alive, but apparently she is, and she is very well dressed.)
Finally Jerry Seinfeld and his wife are being sued by Missy Chase Lapise for "plagiarizing her cookbook." Really? Mrs. Seinfeld wrote the book, so clearly the only reason Jerry's name is in the lawsuit is for attention. As for Mrs. Seinfeld being sued because the ideas are similar....give me a break. I wonder if the french chef that created chicken cordon bleu sued Rachel Ray for having that dish on 30 minute meals. I wonder if Julius sued Giada DeLaurentis for stealing his Caesar Salad? You can't say some one plagiarized you just because they TOO make a dish of chicken with rice and cream of mushroom soup. If Seinfeld came out with a book that gives advice on how to feed your children healthy food without them knowing it, good for her. You know what would make YOUR book sell more Missy Chase Lapise? If it works better. If the kids like your recipes better than Mrs. Seinfeld's. get over it. I am sure Paula Dean doesn't mind that Ina Garden ALSO makes a roasted chicken. It isn't like she invented the concept. Get a grip.
No Golden Globes this year because of the writers' strike and the Oscars are in danger as well. So let me get this straight. Because a bunch of Television writers are striking, we don't get the Golden Globes? Is it because the host wouldn't have been able to spew out the monologue (which btw, usually isn't that funny anyways?) Is it because picketers might have shown up and ruined the red carpet? That's an easy fix. Just don't have a red carpet ceremony, or leave it to TV Guide channel, which no one with Digital cable watches anyways. I have an idea. Have the Golden Globes and when it is time to honor the best written comedy on TV...say NO ONE WINS SINCE THEY ARE ON STRIKE! That would stick it to them. HA!
But seriously, the strike might cause the Oscars to do what the Golden Globes are doing:announce the winners at a press conference? Ummm last time I checked, the Oscars honored MOVIES! And the reason the television writers are TV writers and not MOVIE writers is because they aren't good enough to be movie writers. Why should you make US suffer by missing the Oscars (which again, HONORS MOVIES and not TV) and the only good host in quite a while (Jon Stewart)? You couldn't have done this last year when Ellen was hosting? Shouldn't the TV writers' strike affect the Emmy's? You know TV's awards? I'm just saying........
Posh Spice was named the "worst dressed" celeb for 2007 by some tool named Mr. Blackwell. Really? And Amy Whinehouse was #2 on your list? Some of his best celebs were Madonna, Elizabeth Taylor and the Queen of England. Madonna? She once wore construction cones for a bra. But what do you have against Posh Spice? Is it because she is hot, and you Mr. Blackwell are probably an ugly person. You have been doing this list for 48 years. So you are clearly an old foggy. It might time to quit with the list. Can we get someone a little more hip and with the times to do this list? If you need me to volunteer, I can do that. (also, I didn't realize Lizzie Taylor was still alive, but apparently she is, and she is very well dressed.)
Finally Jerry Seinfeld and his wife are being sued by Missy Chase Lapise for "plagiarizing her cookbook." Really? Mrs. Seinfeld wrote the book, so clearly the only reason Jerry's name is in the lawsuit is for attention. As for Mrs. Seinfeld being sued because the ideas are similar....give me a break. I wonder if the french chef that created chicken cordon bleu sued Rachel Ray for having that dish on 30 minute meals. I wonder if Julius sued Giada DeLaurentis for stealing his Caesar Salad? You can't say some one plagiarized you just because they TOO make a dish of chicken with rice and cream of mushroom soup. If Seinfeld came out with a book that gives advice on how to feed your children healthy food without them knowing it, good for her. You know what would make YOUR book sell more Missy Chase Lapise? If it works better. If the kids like your recipes better than Mrs. Seinfeld's. get over it. I am sure Paula Dean doesn't mind that Ina Garden ALSO makes a roasted chicken. It isn't like she invented the concept. Get a grip.
Tuesday, January 8, 2008
So long Coach Gibbs
So Coach Joe Gibbs is retiring again from the Washington Redskins. He is stepping down with one year left on his contract and a 171-101 career record including 17-7 in the playoffs, though only 31-36 over the last 4 years. He is also walking away from 5.5M this season. Gibbs is a guy that has the third highest winning percentage among coaches with more than 125 wins. The guy won 3 Super Bowls with 3 different QBs at the helm. He already made the Hall of Fame in 1996 after his first stint as HC, but maybe he should be re-inducted for this season. This was his best job of coaching throughout his career.
His team was 5-6, having just lost to Tampa Bay and the playoffs seemed about one billion miles away. Then the next day, November 27, starting safety Sean Taylor was shot and killed by a couple of punk kids in his own house. The following Sunday the team lost on a last second field goal to Buffalo in large part thanks to a 15-yard penalty on Gibbs for calling two straight time outs, thus turning a 52 yarder into a 37 yarder. The team was 5-7. Then in the next game, though the Redskins won, it was a Pyrrhic victory as starting QB Jason Campbell was lost with an injury.
Gibbs just rallied the team behind 36 year old back-up Todd Collins and the record went from 5-7 to 9-7 and a playoff spot was clinched with a win over rival Dallas on the season's final day.
Then in the playoffs, his team rallied from a 13 point deficit to take the lead with a chance for more, but a missed field goal and a costly pick ended the Redskins' season.
Gibbs made this come together though following the loss of the team's best player. He took them from the edge of the world to the edge of the second round of the playoffs. This team was clearly not his best, but he coached them up.
Then he walked away after the emotional drain left him with nothing in the tank. He could have stuck around next year, collected money (5.5M) and maybe taken the team to the playoffs again, maybe not, but he pulled the ANTI-Spurrier and did what was best for the Redskins. Sure the whispers were there that maybe the game has passed him by, but I don't buy it. Football is about players. The players looked to him after they lost their best player and leader on the field. He took them farther than any thought they could go.
And now Gibbs will step aside and let Gregg Williams take over. Will the Redskins be better for it? Who knows, but the team was better this year with Joe Gibbs at the helm. It needed Gibbs. And he in fact DID help save the Redskins, which is what he promised Dan Snyder. Sometimes there is more to saving a team then just titles.
His team was 5-6, having just lost to Tampa Bay and the playoffs seemed about one billion miles away. Then the next day, November 27, starting safety Sean Taylor was shot and killed by a couple of punk kids in his own house. The following Sunday the team lost on a last second field goal to Buffalo in large part thanks to a 15-yard penalty on Gibbs for calling two straight time outs, thus turning a 52 yarder into a 37 yarder. The team was 5-7. Then in the next game, though the Redskins won, it was a Pyrrhic victory as starting QB Jason Campbell was lost with an injury.
Gibbs just rallied the team behind 36 year old back-up Todd Collins and the record went from 5-7 to 9-7 and a playoff spot was clinched with a win over rival Dallas on the season's final day.
Then in the playoffs, his team rallied from a 13 point deficit to take the lead with a chance for more, but a missed field goal and a costly pick ended the Redskins' season.
Gibbs made this come together though following the loss of the team's best player. He took them from the edge of the world to the edge of the second round of the playoffs. This team was clearly not his best, but he coached them up.
Then he walked away after the emotional drain left him with nothing in the tank. He could have stuck around next year, collected money (5.5M) and maybe taken the team to the playoffs again, maybe not, but he pulled the ANTI-Spurrier and did what was best for the Redskins. Sure the whispers were there that maybe the game has passed him by, but I don't buy it. Football is about players. The players looked to him after they lost their best player and leader on the field. He took them farther than any thought they could go.
And now Gibbs will step aside and let Gregg Williams take over. Will the Redskins be better for it? Who knows, but the team was better this year with Joe Gibbs at the helm. It needed Gibbs. And he in fact DID help save the Redskins, which is what he promised Dan Snyder. Sometimes there is more to saving a team then just titles.
Marissa was REALLY putting herself out there...
For some reason I started thinking about this topic this morning, and I haven't been able to stop thinking about it. And not for the reason you might think....(get your mind out of the gutter!) The OC:Season 2 when Marissa slid her hand into Alex's at that crappy concert. What a leap she was taking there, and not just a personal leap into lezbinenism, but a leap at thinking Alex would be into her. Let's consider...
The first night we see Marissa, she drinks so much she passes out and her friends just DROP her on her front porch. Then a random guy whom she "bummed" a ciggy from picks her up and carries her to his house.
She gives it up to a guy just because she was angry at her quasi-boyfriend and because the guy got shot.
She went on to OD on painkillers in TJ
She then escaped the hospital
She shoplifted then had to go to therapy.
She left her boyfriend for a psycho.
She ran away from her cushy house in Newport to "start over" in Chino
She started drinking after her boyfriend left to go take care of possibly his baby and she didn't stop until......
She started sexing with the Mexican (illegal?) gardener.
She is the offspring of..... a white-collar criminal who went broke, then caused his restaurant to get sold for WAY under value who was described by his daughter as a "thief" and a gold-digging, Mrs. Robinson wannabe who was described by her daughter as a "slut."
Between the heavy drinking, just having been dumped by DJ and the crazy parents situation (thief dad, gold-digging mom, step-dad old enough to be her granddad), she wasn't exactly a catch.
But I guess her thinking was, "oh Alex went for Seth, of course she'll go for me."
Well I have news for you Marissa, just because you were hot, that doesn't mean you were as hot as Emmanuelle Chriqui. She (Jodie) was pretty hot. And she was a true lezbinen, not just a "oh I want to piss my mom off lezbinen" like you were. Just so we know.
I just think you really went out onto a limb in assuming Alex would want you as a new girlfriend, but I guess in Newport, Lezbinens don't have much to choose from, so Alex was thrilled to find this new free agent. Oh well.
But I think we ALL knew if wouldn't work out. But it was fun watching you guys kiss on the Valentine's Episode. Great stuff.
The first night we see Marissa, she drinks so much she passes out and her friends just DROP her on her front porch. Then a random guy whom she "bummed" a ciggy from picks her up and carries her to his house.
She gives it up to a guy just because she was angry at her quasi-boyfriend and because the guy got shot.
She went on to OD on painkillers in TJ
She then escaped the hospital
She shoplifted then had to go to therapy.
She left her boyfriend for a psycho.
She ran away from her cushy house in Newport to "start over" in Chino
She started drinking after her boyfriend left to go take care of possibly his baby and she didn't stop until......
She started sexing with the Mexican (illegal?) gardener.
She is the offspring of..... a white-collar criminal who went broke, then caused his restaurant to get sold for WAY under value who was described by his daughter as a "thief" and a gold-digging, Mrs. Robinson wannabe who was described by her daughter as a "slut."
Between the heavy drinking, just having been dumped by DJ and the crazy parents situation (thief dad, gold-digging mom, step-dad old enough to be her granddad), she wasn't exactly a catch.
But I guess her thinking was, "oh Alex went for Seth, of course she'll go for me."
Well I have news for you Marissa, just because you were hot, that doesn't mean you were as hot as Emmanuelle Chriqui. She (Jodie) was pretty hot. And she was a true lezbinen, not just a "oh I want to piss my mom off lezbinen" like you were. Just so we know.
I just think you really went out onto a limb in assuming Alex would want you as a new girlfriend, but I guess in Newport, Lezbinens don't have much to choose from, so Alex was thrilled to find this new free agent. Oh well.
But I think we ALL knew if wouldn't work out. But it was fun watching you guys kiss on the Valentine's Episode. Great stuff.
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