tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-51025322011-08-28T17:58:14.977-07:00Well, Since You Asked...My commentary on sports, entertainment, the news and whatever else pops into my shiny bald head.TThttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09875815195014208685noreply@blogger.comBlogger3201100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5102532.post-2652554412913549632011-01-14T21:52:00.000-08:002011-01-14T21:52:19.226-08:00Reflections on a Title Run
I recently finished watching the official San Francisco Giants World Series DVD that I bought myself for Christmas. I'd never bought one of these videos before, primarily since my Bay Area teams haven't exactly hauled in the championship hardware in recent years. I assumed that the film would be cheesy, with sweeping music and excessive slo-mo scenes. However I was TThttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09875815195014208685noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5102532.post-20815534189111630012010-10-03T18:14:00.000-07:002010-10-03T18:14:02.235-07:00TV Production 101
For a sports fan, today was a perfect day to spend in front of the TV, as there were great finishes to be witnessed on both the football field and the baseball diamond. But the two best post-game celebrations of the day were marred by an entity that rarely gets criticized: TV production teams.
Both the Giants-Padres game and the Jaguars-Colts games featured enthusiastic TThttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09875815195014208685noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5102532.post-82090481087625235532010-09-25T11:33:00.000-07:002010-09-25T11:33:20.357-07:00The Two Sides of Trading (Pt. 2)
As a follow-up to last night's post, I thought I'd examine the reasons why the NBA is a trade league while the NFL is not. As I see it, there are two main factors: First, the NBA has guaranteed contracts while the NFL doesn't. Because of this, NBA teams are often saddled with undesirable players with undesirable contracts and they're much more eager to get rid ofTThttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09875815195014208685noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5102532.post-52368917696527103392010-09-24T21:57:00.000-07:002010-09-24T21:57:33.902-07:00The Two Sides of the Trade
Twitter has been blowing up today with speculation about when and whether Carmelo Anthony will be traded from the Denver Nuggets. If, as expected, Anthony heads to the Nets, it will be the culmination of the most buzzed-about offseason that any sport has ever had. The lesson the NBA has learned is that player movement is great for building interest in a league, and TThttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09875815195014208685noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5102532.post-63503180002970759572010-09-18T13:17:00.000-07:002010-09-18T15:52:59.977-07:00The U.S. and China: World Cup teammates?
Following this summer’s World Cup in South Africa, there have been a few sobering reports about the the fact that the country, like most hosts, will ultimately see little financial boon from tournament. This has not deterred the dozens of countries (and passionate soccer fans like myself) from the desire to win bids for the 2018 and 2022 tournaments, to TThttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09875815195014208685noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5102532.post-23944949669115573282010-09-16T20:58:00.000-07:002010-09-16T21:00:51.274-07:00Club or Country?
Yesterday I watched the first matches of Europe's Champions League, widely regarded to be the best club soccer competition in the world. My adopted European team, Arsenal, breezed to a 6-0 win, but it was a quote from Real Madrid's coach that was my most intriguing takeaway from the day's action.
Jose Mourinho, who's led two separate clubs to the title, stated that it was TThttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09875815195014208685noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5102532.post-21370922641056966092010-09-14T21:41:00.000-07:002010-09-14T23:15:31.669-07:00The Science of Setting NBA Expectations
When I heard today that the Minnesota Timberwolves had released a letter to fans via full-page newspaper ad, I could of course think of only one thing. Say it with me folks... KAHHHHHHHN!!! Wolves GM David Kahn has been the deserved target of much ridicule, criticism and general befuddlement this summer due to his awful personnel moves and Star TThttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09875815195014208685noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5102532.post-40640031902111352742010-09-08T19:50:00.000-07:002010-09-08T19:53:35.711-07:00Report Card: 2010 Summer Box Office
Another summer has flown by, meaning that it's time to review my box office predictions from this past May.
After largely whiffing on the top-grossing movies last year, I'm happy to see that I bounced back pretty well in my guesses this time around. It's surprising that despite the relentless hype and endless promotional tie-ins surrounding Iron Man 2, it TThttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09875815195014208685noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5102532.post-71654500253787408882010-05-09T20:20:00.000-07:002010-05-09T20:20:54.378-07:00Mr. Predicto: Summer Box Office 2010
It's time for my annual attempt at guessing the top domestic grosses for summer movies. I'm betting that The Last Airbender, The Other Guys, Knight and Day and Get Him to the Greek will underperform, or flop alltogether. As far as hits go, I predict that the "twenty-something female" will become the new "teenage fanboy" as Twilight, Sex and the City and Eat, TThttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09875815195014208685noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5102532.post-42047672490894589742009-09-08T21:59:00.000-07:002009-09-08T23:15:22.343-07:00Report Card: '09 Summer Box Office ResultsWell, the summer quickly came and went, which means that it's time to revisit my annual predictions for this summer's box office results.I'm a little disappointed in my prognostications, as I wasn't very accurate on my top 5 and I outright whiffed at the bottom of the list. I overestimated the appeal of franchises Harry Potter, Wolverine and Terminator (TThttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09875815195014208685noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5102532.post-91110354105293013322009-08-31T22:12:00.000-07:002009-08-31T23:11:22.554-07:00The Playoff Under our NosesWith another glorious college football season about to start once again, writers, pundits and prognosticators are already throwing out picks for how the BCS games will shape up. And with every discussion of the BCS, there are the inevitable discussions of potential controversies ("What if Penn State is undefeated and there are one-loss Big 12 and SEC teams?!?"). And TThttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09875815195014208685noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5102532.post-66465617259936506802009-08-26T21:59:00.000-07:002009-08-26T22:51:14.739-07:00Darkness is SpreadingI was happy to see ESPN's Tim Keown shed light on the most dastardly, yet low-profile rule in sports: The NFL blackout policy. This has been on my mind for several weeks and I have a strong feeling that the issue will blow up into a major story this fall.The league's policy is that if a game is not sold out within 72 hours of kickoff, the game is blacked out on all TV sets TThttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09875815195014208685noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5102532.post-64659357745056344192009-04-30T19:11:00.000-07:002009-05-03T19:32:57.923-07:00Mr. Predicto: Summer 2009 Box OfficeI'm dusting off the blog for my favorite annual entry: predicting the top-grossing movies of the summer. This year there are so many strong contenders for box-office glory, I'm expanding it to a top 15.First, I think that Harry Potter is in the driver's seat to take the top spot, for one reason: pent-up demand. You have a rabid J.K. Rowling fanbase that no TThttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09875815195014208685noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5102532.post-82020784551194537042008-11-05T18:38:00.001-08:002008-11-05T19:47:07.655-08:00Yes We DidAs 8:00pm neared last night, I knew that the poll closings in California, Oregon and Washington would put Barack Obama over the 270 electoral vote threshold. But when Keith Olbermann called the race and I saw the huge graphic on the MSNBC screen, I was struck by dumb shock: "That's it? Is it really over?"But in the wake of President-Elect Obama's cathartic, joyous and resounding victoryTThttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09875815195014208685noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5102532.post-42058463628444918412008-09-07T15:52:00.000-07:002008-09-07T16:35:11.305-07:00Summer Box Office Report CardBack in May, I once again took a stab at predicting the top ten movies of the summer with their box office totals. I fared much better than last year it pains me how see how close I was to really nailing it. While I was able to predict the top five movies, I botched the order- particularly that number one slot. If only I had listened to myself back in January and TThttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09875815195014208685noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5102532.post-46167189182465846542008-08-04T13:09:00.000-07:002008-08-10T23:08:37.986-07:00A Better Sports CalendarSports fans across the nation are currently suffering through the annual dregs of the sports calendar. Every year, we face an unbearable patch of athletic dormancy following the NBA finals, and every year it feels more painful. Let's face it-- midseason baseball is monotonous, and boredom is the only reason people get hyped up about the All Star break and the trade TThttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09875815195014208685noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5102532.post-34837485345217468402008-07-19T18:02:00.000-07:002008-07-21T23:00:48.873-07:00The Dark Knight Scene-StealerI saw the thrilling, haunting, epic The Dark Knight this weekend and I was impressed by how well it lived up to expectations. The interesting thing is that, we have a Batman movie where the titular superhero, an American icon, is upstaged by a supporting character, played by a foreign actor who's depth and power made him stand out from his peers.I'm of course talking TThttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09875815195014208685noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5102532.post-73079039329157756112008-05-03T12:59:00.000-07:002008-05-11T13:15:16.054-07:00Mr. Predicto: Summer 2008 Box OfficeWith Iron Man opening this weekend, it's time to put myself on the record. As I did last year, I will do my best prognosticator impression for the highest grossing movies of the summer. Entertainment Weekly already beat me to the punch with their predictions, but I think many of those guesses are way off.I think Iron Man will strike a chord and continue the TThttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09875815195014208685noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5102532.post-48499156465332554632008-03-10T21:17:00.000-07:002008-03-11T22:18:05.164-07:00Reinventing the VenueA surprising, and compelling trend has swept the sports world: playing games in unconventional venues. This of course started with the NHL, which staged a 2003 outdoor exhibition game in an Edmonton CFL stadium. They of course upped the ante on New Year's Day this year with a riveting regular season game in Buffalo's Ralph Wilson stadium. Universally praised by the mainstreamTThttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09875815195014208685noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5102532.post-86746754819968196222008-01-20T20:28:00.000-08:002008-01-20T21:26:56.132-08:00The Boys in Bristol are Drooling with AnticipationAssorted thoughts following today's NFL conference championship games:* Why was there such little on-air criticism of R.W. McQuarters after his two fourth-quarter fumbles? He coughed it up on interception return and the punt return, yet Joe Buck and Troy Aikman basically let it slide each time. These were two crucial mistakes that could have TThttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09875815195014208685noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5102532.post-85464882340808774842008-01-02T11:21:00.000-08:002008-01-20T21:38:34.759-08:00The Songs of 2007It's once again time to list my choices for the best songs of the year. And I'm not procrastinating- I deliberately waited till 2007 was over before compiling the list-- I can't stand the way that most "year-end" lists come out in early December, and in some cases, November. What's the big rush? I prefer to take the Oscar approach and wait until I have full perspective on the TThttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09875815195014208685noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5102532.post-68685185640911991232008-01-01T14:11:00.000-08:002008-01-01T15:21:05.097-08:00Mr. Predicto: Bold Guesses for 2008With the start of the new year, it's the perfect time to throw some predictions onto the record. Rather than restrict myself to sports prognositcation as usual, I'm gonna make some guesses about everything under the sun. Here are some things to watch for in 2008:* At Macworld in January, Steve Jobs will announce that all of The Beatles' music will finally be TThttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09875815195014208685noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5102532.post-68153137206874411362007-10-23T19:56:00.000-07:002007-10-23T21:37:38.327-07:00Downside Up on the GridironFor years, parity was the universal beacon of hope in the NFL. Teams could swing from a 5-11 season to the playoffs in a twelve month span. Any Super Bowl participant could routinely find itself in a midseason tailspin a few weeks after raising a banner to the rafters. Chaos reigned week-to-week, as doormats frequently beat heavily favored foes.Meanwhile, college TThttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09875815195014208685noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5102532.post-73897700491825152302007-09-08T15:31:00.000-07:002007-09-08T15:41:00.986-07:00You Heard It Here FirstHmm, maybe this blog has more influence than I thought. Because clearly Troy Glaus is an avid reader and he took the advice that I gave him back in 2003. Today, SI.com reports that Glaus did indeed buy (and presumably use) steriods. Way ride on my coattails, Sports Illustrated.TThttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09875815195014208685noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5102532.post-56224331347649072032007-09-03T14:18:00.001-07:002007-09-03T22:48:03.129-07:00The Summer Box Office Derby: The VerdictBack in late April I posted my predictions for the summer's top ten box office totals. Now that it's Labor Day, it's time to look back on how I did:As you can see, I nailed the top seven films, and nine out of the top ten (having overestimated Ocean's Thirteen while underestimating Live Free or Die Hard). I'm particularly proud of the fact that I got the TThttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09875815195014208685noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5102532.post-18420909271267450282007-08-10T22:30:00.000-07:002007-09-03T22:48:26.845-07:00A Movie Career Is a Terrible Thing to WasteToday's release of the widely unanticipated Rush Hour 3 serves as yet another reminder of how talent can go to waste. Here's a comprehensive list of all of Chris Tucker's films in the past ten years:Rush HourRush Hour 2Rush Hour 3That's it. That's the list. This is the most underreported movie mystery of our time: Why would a comedian as talented and TThttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09875815195014208685noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5102532.post-48461868468581087562007-06-30T13:58:00.000-07:002007-06-30T14:53:52.593-07:00Draft Night RehashThe greatest offseason event in all of sports just took place, so here are my thoughts on the happenings of NBA Draft Night:* Like most Warrior fans, I was hit with a jolt of sadness when I heard about Jason Richardson being traded. But the more I thought about it, the more I realized how dispensable Richardson was, given the Warriors current roster. Richardson was mainly good TThttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09875815195014208685noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5102532.post-53573406239097743562007-06-10T12:16:00.000-07:002007-06-10T12:35:23.096-07:00The End is NighIt's a few hours before The Sopranos' series finale and my head is bursting at the seams. I think it will be a solid episode tonight but I just know that on Monday morning I'll be slightly dissatisfied because there's no way that David Chase will tie up all the loose ends that have been nagging me, namely:* Carmela's suspicions about Adriana. Will Carm finally find out what really TThttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09875815195014208685noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5102532.post-37521867510285854112007-05-06T15:35:00.000-07:002007-05-06T17:39:55.853-07:00Tony Soprano's Death DerbyI write this four hours before tonight's episode of The Sopranos. There are only five shows left in the series and let's just say that there are more than a few loose ends to tie up. Will Tony's sudden, severe gambling problem lead to rash decisions? Will Bobby Bacala's sloppy whack job in the premiere come back to bite him? Has Christopher permanently gotten on Tony's TThttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09875815195014208685noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5102532.post-37735689403494595972007-04-29T13:27:00.000-07:002007-04-29T13:48:54.666-07:00The Summer Box Office DerbyAs summer movie season begins next week, it's worth commenting on the fact that this is the most blockbuster-heavy slate in memory. With Spiderman 3, Shrek 3, Pirates 3 and Harry Potter 5, you have four films that will easily combine for a billion dollars in domestic box office. The interesting question is, how will they all rank when it's all said and done?The key withTThttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09875815195014208685noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5102532.post-36448537348766669542007-04-07T12:39:00.000-07:002007-04-07T13:36:38.661-07:00Best Week Ever? Not ExactlyAbout a week ago, several journalists and talking heads made the annual argument that this is the best week of the sports year. The theory goes that the combination of the Final Four, Opening Day and The Masters is a perfect storm of three sports in springtime bliss. But as we've seen again this year, the week actually more about pageantry than quality sports. The FinalTThttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09875815195014208685noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5102532.post-8513101497000392272007-02-23T20:28:00.000-08:002007-02-23T21:30:20.607-08:00The Best Film Oscar race?With the Academy Awards ceremony two days away, it's time to offer my picks. But before I get to that, I wanted to address the curious Best Picture horserace. At this point the three biggest contenders for the night's top prize are Babel, The Departed and Little Miss Sunshine. This is one of the most wide open races of the past decade, but the downside is that this seems TThttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09875815195014208685noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5102532.post-1168318069452319052007-01-08T20:36:00.000-08:002007-01-13T13:10:18.860-08:00The Playoff of PostseasonsWhile watching Florida's thrashing of Ohio State in the national title game, I'm reminded of the endless criticism of the BCS system. The consensus is that college football's system for determining its champion is flawed because it unfairly excludes all but two teams from the possibility of a title. But missing from this debate is the larger question: what's the best TThttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09875815195014208685noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5102532.post-1167606872506525362006-12-31T14:57:00.000-08:002008-01-02T12:03:38.621-08:00The Best Songs of 2006As is tradition on WSYA, I will post my list of best songs of the year. I have to say, this year it was more difficult than ever, as most of the songs that I've discovered and downloaded have been old stuff, from the 60s, 70s, and the glorious era of the mid-90s (grunge is going to make a comeback soon, I'm telling you). Here's the list:15. "Sam's Town" - The Killers14. "TheTThttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09875815195014208685noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5102532.post-1162162327698137252006-10-29T14:21:00.000-08:002006-10-29T15:13:02.146-08:00Coming up: an all-new episode of ProgramIs it just me, or have TV show titles become increasingly simplistic over the past several years? TV titles used to be more than uncreative explanations of the show premise. I suppose the trend started with ER, a title which was concise, yet punchy and memorable. However, in an apparent effort to market their programs to viewers with extremely short TThttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09875815195014208685noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5102532.post-1157350884988493572006-09-03T23:17:00.000-07:002006-09-16T15:09:04.996-07:00Punched by ESPN's Iron FistAs a serious sports fan, I have no choice but to consume ESPN. The TV network is the only place to turn for game coverage and extended highlights, while the website is the most comprehensive and up-to-date of its kind. Nobody holds a candle to Bill Simmons, the PTI guys, the ESPNNews network and the extremely helpful ESPN Motion online highlight player. So what's not toTThttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09875815195014208685noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5102532.post-1155505149657888542006-08-13T14:17:00.000-07:002006-08-13T15:48:34.556-07:00Good Riddance to 2006's Summer Movie SeasonI haven't written in a while, but yesterday I got some inspiration in the mail. My favorite Entertainment Weekly issue of the year arrived, the Fall Movie Preview. Unlike last year's underwhelming crop of Oscar contenders, this year there are a surpising number of upcoming films that have my interest piqued. The caveat is that at this time of year, it's TThttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09875815195014208685noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5102532.post-1143436299271400022006-03-26T20:43:00.000-08:002006-03-26T22:01:50.430-08:00They Call it Madness for a ReasonSome random thoughts after four rounds of the NCAA tournament:* I've long believed that nothing beats the first two rounds of the NCAA tourney, but in terms of drama, this was the rare year where the second weekend was actually better than the first.* Lost in the craziness of the past four days is the fact that Kenton Paulino's trey was the first true TThttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09875815195014208685noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5102532.post-1142485986929295772006-03-15T20:36:00.000-08:002006-03-15T21:13:06.943-08:00Return to MarchAfter a long break, this blog is back with my annual NCAA tournament preview. Before I get to my picks, I'd first like to examine two flaws that I've been noticing with the tourney's conventional wisdom. The first has to do with the way that most of the experts are picking their Final Four darlings. There's a tendency to use a process of elimination, leaving your least-flawed team TThttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09875815195014208685noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5102532.post-1138770160828189432006-01-31T20:40:00.000-08:002006-01-31T21:05:16.016-08:00Saturation PointToday was Media Day in Detroit, which is supposed to be the pinnacle of Super Bowl week coverage. But the problem is that with every passing year, there are fewer and fewer reasons to warrant the existence of a Media Day. Athletes are more media-coached than ever, which means that they know better than to say anything that could be used as "bulletin-board material." That leaves TThttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09875815195014208685noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5102532.post-1136169665730447652006-01-01T17:39:00.000-08:002006-01-01T18:42:15.753-08:00BEST OF 2005: The TelevisionWhile much of my 2005 TV habits consisted on channel surfing, I did make a point of putting the remote down for these shows:10. Extras (HBO)Ricky Gervais's newest show isn't is good as BBC's The Office and the humour is verrry British, there are plenty of good laughs here.9. Six Feet Under (HBO)The show made a nice recovery to have a touching final season. I was TThttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09875815195014208685noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5102532.post-1135908662313748612005-12-29T18:08:00.000-08:002005-12-29T18:45:46.900-08:00BEST OF 2005: The SongsEven though I've bought more singles this year than I ever have before, I'm realizing that few of them were actually from 2005. But even though this wasn't the best year for music, I did take advantage of iTunes and AllOfMp3.com for these standouts:20. "Back Then" - Mike Jones19. "The Predatory Wasp..." - Sufjan Stevens18. "Shake it Off" - Mariah Carey17. "Testify" - TThttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09875815195014208685noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5102532.post-1135829644922396882005-12-28T19:44:00.000-08:002005-12-28T21:36:08.816-08:00BEST OF 2005: The GamesIt's time to re-hash 2005 now that the end of the year approaching (and I mean the true end of the year. Why do so many media outlets put out early "year-end" lists without waiting to see what happens during December?). To begin, I'll use an idea that would be perfect for Sports Illustrated (each year they think up a new way to screw up the year-end issue): the year's best TThttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09875815195014208685noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5102532.post-1133242425923972022005-11-28T20:54:00.000-08:002005-11-28T21:33:45.936-08:00Milking the TV Clock After years of formulaic crime dramas (intentionally formulaic, as witnessed by the Law & Order and CSI franchises) it appears that TV dramas have found the next breakout genre: The Stretched-Out Suspense Movie. You could say that 24 started the trend by taking a run-of-the-mill movie plot (CIA agent has 24 hours to prevent an assasination attempt) and prolonging it into a TThttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09875815195014208685noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5102532.post-1129004221837126302005-10-10T20:58:00.000-07:002005-10-10T21:17:32.910-07:00Baseball Playoff Chronicles, Vol. 2That was as satisfying a division series as I've ever experienced. This is the first time I can remember that all four teams that I rooted for were victorious. Actually, this is better described as a case where the four teams that I was rooting against lost. First, there were the perenially-gagging Braves, who mercifully excused themselves in a mere four games. TThttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09875815195014208685noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5102532.post-1128577318913503182005-10-05T22:34:00.000-07:002005-10-05T22:58:29.003-07:00Baseball Playoff Chronicles, Vol. 1Once again it's time to marvel at the magic that is postseason baseball. Here are my observations two days into the playoffs:- Speaking of a team not in the playoffs, how disheartening was it to see the Indians choke away a playoff spot last week? By losing 6 of their last 7, the Indians gave Cleveland fans an identical end-of-season collapse to match the TThttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09875815195014208685noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5102532.post-1127879669593305722005-09-27T20:36:00.000-07:002005-09-27T20:54:29.600-07:00Playbooks Don't Have ScreenplaysLast night's Tennessee-LSU game reminded me of one of the things I love about sports: it's so maddeningly unscripted. Like most of the country, I've got a soft spot for LSU and their hurricane-ravaged fans. Last night's game was the first significant sporting event played in Louisiana since Katrina hit, so the nation wanted those fans to get a win. That provide TThttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09875815195014208685noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5102532.post-1126072804117933112005-09-06T21:40:00.000-07:002005-09-06T23:00:04.130-07:00A Few of My Favorite Football ThingsNow that we're past Labor Day it's time to start my favorite part of the sports year. With that, a few of my favorite things about this NFL season:My favorite guilty pleasure: The NFL Network. I'm four months into a six-month digital cable discount deal, and the NFL Network is easily the best part of the package. All summer I've been wasting hours on fodder TThttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09875815195014208685noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5102532.post-1125557870291461632005-08-31T22:42:00.000-07:002005-09-27T21:13:06.410-07:00Reintroducing... College Football!It's been far too long since I've posted about small-town America's national pastime. With the season kicking off this Saturday, it's time for some random thoughts and some prognostication:* What happened to the Kickoff Classic this year? Instead of a marquee match-up of two ranked teams, we have to start the year with Oregon at Houston on ESPN2 tomorrow night?* TThttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09875815195014208685noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5102532.post-1124173813716126872005-08-15T22:24:00.000-07:002005-08-15T23:30:13.723-07:00Inspiration Behind the BoardsWe all complain about how today's popular music is bland, unoriginal and uninspired. But while perusing MTV News today I came across two surprising stories with a common theme: unique artists making adventurous choices in the studio.First comes the startling news that Fiona Apple is finally releasing her long-delayed martyr of an album, Extraordinary Machine. As the TThttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09875815195014208685noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5102532.post-1123439241416124922005-08-07T10:41:00.000-07:002005-08-07T11:30:37.273-07:00Enshrinement EverywhereHas the phrase "Hall of Fame" ever been written more in a one-week span than in the past seven days? With the Baseball HOF inductions last Sunday, rampant speculation on Rafael Palmeiro's future and the Pro Football HOF ceremonies today, the sports media is in the midst of Hall fever. People love to write about the Hall of Fame three different ways: A) Arguing about which TThttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09875815195014208685noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5102532.post-1121406693441090082005-07-14T22:04:00.000-07:002005-07-14T22:51:33.446-07:00The True Sports PollIn the wake of the NHL's return after a 301-day lockout, many are wondering how where hockey will fit into the sports landscape. Before the lockout, the NHL was quickly slipping off its mantle as the fourth major sport, and conventional wisdom says that the fans have left hockey to wither and die. However, I think that given the league's fan-friendly rule changes and the TThttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09875815195014208685noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5102532.post-1121315106140030442005-07-13T21:02:00.000-07:002005-07-13T21:25:06.146-07:00Coda for MitchThis week's Entertainment Weekly contains a long-overdue feature about the death of one of my favorite stand-ups, Mitch Hedberg. This was a guy with a totally unique style: quick one-liners, shy stage presence, and a cadence like a '60s beat poet. When I first caught his Comedy Central special a few years ago, I started out mildly intrigued and ended up with tears in my eyes. But TThttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09875815195014208685noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5102532.post-1120111732848498152005-06-29T22:20:00.000-07:002005-07-13T21:31:38.503-07:00Rough DraftI feel cheated. Usually the NBA Draft is one of my guiltiest sports pleasures, with it's breathlessly hyped prospects, ridiculous fashions and air of universal optimism. Every fan has the gift of hope after the draft: This kid was a stud in college/the AAU circuit/the French league- he could really be a sleeper for us! But this year, I just didn't have enough time to get excited about TThttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09875815195014208685noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5102532.post-1119931207082303832005-06-27T20:36:00.000-07:002005-06-27T21:06:50.536-07:00Seduce and Destroy, RevisitedIt's safe to say that we're all somewhat bewildered by Tom Cruise's recent antics during his marathon War of the Worlds junket. Nobody has ever had a more eventful, controversial and downright bizzare promotional campaign for a film. Let's ignore for a moment the Katie Holmes seduction, the red carpet water-squirting incident and the out-of-left-field Brooke Shields TThttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09875815195014208685noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5102532.post-1119127903656742482005-06-18T12:44:00.000-07:002005-06-18T13:51:43.663-07:00Unpacking the BrainI'm back from a two-week vacation in Europe and musings have been piling up in my head. Here are a few random thoughts on pop culture, sports and other stuff:* As Vincent Vega said in Pulp Fiction, the best thing about Europe is the little differences. For instance: waiters don't hassle you while you're eating; tabloid newspapers include profanity and nudity; men wear capri TThttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09875815195014208685noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5102532.post-1116393230181750562005-05-17T20:43:00.000-07:002005-05-18T22:47:54.610-07:00LIST-O-RAMA: The Most Anticipated Movies of the Past DecadeWith Revenge of the Sith coming out on Thursday, there's been an extra hop in my step this week. Not that I'm a Star Wars geek or anything, but I can't help but get caught up in some good 'ol fashioned summer movie buzz. There's always a good deal of hype surrounding a Star Wars release, and even though the first two prequels were TThttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09875815195014208685noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5102532.post-1116202143776574522005-05-15T16:18:00.000-07:002005-05-15T17:09:03.813-07:00There's No Mistaking the Pied Piper of R&BLately I've been somewhat disinterested in R&B, as I've found the genre to be completely stagnant. You've got divas-in-training like Ashanti and Fantasia, while on the men's side we have to deal with amateur fluff from people like Frankie J, Omarion and Mario. I was convinced that R&B wasn't worth paying attention to anymore.R. Kelly's "Trapped in the TThttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09875815195014208685noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5102532.post-1115877398862407512005-05-11T22:21:00.000-07:002005-05-11T22:56:38.950-07:00The World's PastimeI was very excited to hear the news today that the long-discussed World Cup of Baseball will actually be taking place next year. The games will take place over three weeks in March, meaning that the season won't be interrupted and players will be in shape enough to participate. Instead of being governed by a third party (as is the case with the Olympics and USA Basketball) the TThttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09875815195014208685noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5102532.post-1115699736509186192005-05-09T21:14:00.000-07:002005-05-09T21:35:36.633-07:00Stumble for the RosesI have had a long-standing ambivalence to horse racing, but Saturday's Run for the Roses confirmed it: the Kentucky Derby is the nation's most overrated sporting event.First, this is a sport where the atheletes are not human. I could see how the horse population might be riveted by the Derby, but I would much rather pay attention to the athletic exploits of my own species. TThttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09875815195014208685noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5102532.post-1114976295129365822005-05-01T12:03:00.000-07:002005-05-01T12:38:15.133-07:00The Misguided Path of the Righteous ManFor the last several years, Samuel L. Jackson's career has been somewhat a running joke. A man who started out as an ice-cool badass has devolved into hired gun who can't turn down a paycheck. Films like Jungle Fever and Pulp Fiction introduced us to an arresting talent who had the potential for a long, brilliant career. But in the late '90s, things startedTThttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09875815195014208685noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5102532.post-1114409621278281252005-04-24T22:41:00.000-07:002005-04-24T23:13:41.280-07:00Caught in the DraftHere are some random thoughts about this weekend's NFL Draft:* Given that the draft was devoid of a surefire stud quarterback, I thought that the 49ers should have taken the best available player, Braylon Edwards. But in the minutes leading up to the pick on Saturday morning, I talked myself into being optimistic about the Alex Smith pick. It's like Torry Holt was saying: if TThttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09875815195014208685noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5102532.post-1113679694363678102005-04-16T11:36:00.000-07:002005-04-16T14:48:55.340-07:00On the DiamondSure it's two weeks into the games already, but now is as good a time as any to start writing about the baseball season. We've had a few interesting storylines, some exciting debuts and my fantasy team is already shot to hell. Here are some random thoughts:* Going into the season I was pefectly fine with all of the noise about the Yankees and Red Sox. After all, Boston's win meant TThttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09875815195014208685noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5102532.post-1113173451111601062005-04-10T14:55:00.000-07:002005-04-10T15:52:33.656-07:00Unforgettable FireI had the pleasure of attending the U2 concert last night at the Shark Tank in San Jose. I'm not a fanatic about live concerts (I prefer my songs with a studio polish) but U2 has been on my List of Bands I Must See for several years. I love all of their classics, I know their two most recent albums well and then there's the fact that they're the biggest rock band in the TThttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09875815195014208685noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5102532.post-1112940388319567442005-04-07T22:50:00.001-07:002005-04-07T23:06:28.320-07:00Bear Looks Like a LadyAfter Baylor won the women's NCAA championship on Tuesday, I was left with one question: why is the team called the Lady Bears? Calling themselves "The Bears" would be more than appropriate. Isn't 50% of the bear population female? I've never liked the added "Lady" moniker or any other gender-specified name. Are the women at USC so inferior to the male Trojans that they mustTThttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09875815195014208685noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5102532.post-1112673847476918322005-04-04T20:44:00.000-07:002005-04-04T21:04:07.480-07:00My Shining MomentWell, it took ten years of filling out brackets but it finally happened: I won an NCAA pool. Hand me the scissors- I'm about to cut down the nets.Going into tonight's game, there were three people with a chance to win the 22-person pool. I was tied for first place with another guy who picked UNC and the guy in third place picked Illinois. As I watched the final five minutes of TThttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09875815195014208685noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5102532.post-1112249835275410102005-03-30T21:45:00.000-08:002005-03-30T22:17:15.276-08:00The Pioneer on the Silver ScreenBeing a movie buff and a sports buff, it's not surpising that I am always intrigued by the melding of my two passions: the sports movie. Yesterday it was announced that Robert Redford would be bringing Jackie Robinson's story to the big screen. I think this will make for a very interesting project, since Hollywood has actually been doing a good job with TThttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09875815195014208685noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5102532.post-1112079698385461422005-03-28T22:20:00.001-08:002005-03-28T23:01:38.390-08:00An Elite WeekendSimply put, this past weekend of the NCAA tournament was a joy. There weren't simply unbelivable finishes, but the regional finals were all great, competitive games from start to finish. But from all of the great drama and superb moments, three things stick in my mind:1. The one trait separating the cream of the crop: athleticism. Coaches and media members love to trumpet TThttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09875815195014208685noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5102532.post-1111561296117999602005-03-22T21:34:00.000-08:002005-03-24T22:35:03.876-08:00Hall PassesDespite the fact that March Madness has recently taken over my life, I did catch the news that U2 was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame last week. It got me to thinking: which modern artists will make it to the Hall? To be enshrined in Cleveland, you have to have more than just a few pop hits (which is why Lynard Skynard isn't in) and you have to have more than a niche fanbaseTThttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09875815195014208685noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5102532.post-1111382767648788192005-03-20T20:17:00.000-08:002005-03-20T21:26:07.653-08:00Musings from BracketvilleIn between promos for Spring Break Shark Attack, CBS actually aired the games of NCAA tournament. Here are my observations:* Even though Stanford's 23-point first-round loss on Friday was arguably its worst tournament performance in ten years, this loss bothered me the least of all of them. The repeated setbacks this team faced (Moore and Bradford leaving the team, TThttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09875815195014208685noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5102532.post-1111039193654730852005-03-16T21:29:00.000-08:002005-03-16T21:59:53.656-08:00Breaking down the Final FourWell, even though I was extremely tempted to pick Oklahoma State and Louisville, I went with a fairly conservative Final Four. With Louisville, even though I love their momentum (they've won 18 of 19) and their plethora of scoring options, the road for the Cardinals is just too tough. To make it to St. Louis, they might have to beat Georgia Tech, Washington (or Pitt) TThttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09875815195014208685noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5102532.post-1110954839292598942005-03-15T22:06:00.000-08:002005-03-15T22:33:59.293-08:00Breaking down the SouthFor starters, I can't say I'm disappointed with Stanford's draw. With only 18 wins and such a shaky end to the regular season, you can't argue with a #8 seed. That being said, you can't argue with the fact that we would have been better off being a #10 seed. The bottom of the South bracket, with Kentucky, Oklahoma and Utah, is extremely beatable. But as it stands, in TThttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09875815195014208685noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5102532.post-1110953168905743762005-03-15T21:30:00.000-08:002005-03-15T22:06:09.133-08:00Breaking Down the EastWith so many heavyweights at the top of this bracket, there's little consensus among the pundits. I keep hearing that Florida will make the Sweet 16 because they were hot down the stretch. But just as many others say that Florida will choke, and the Jayhawk-slaying Villanova Wildcats will advance. At the bottom of the bracket, UConn is getting a lot of love for being TThttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09875815195014208685noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5102532.post-1110862505788061342005-03-14T20:35:00.000-08:002005-03-14T20:55:05.790-08:00Breaking down the MidwestI've been in love with Oklahoma State for weeks. I thought to myself, "here's an athletic, balanced, senior-laden team, that made the Final Four last year. I'm gonna pick these guys to meet Illinois in the title game." Then the brackets came out and darned if they weren't in the same bracket as the Illini. That demonstrates the lesson: don't get all hot and bothered untilTThttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09875815195014208685noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5102532.post-1110861301020457332005-03-14T20:16:00.000-08:002005-03-14T20:35:01.023-08:00Breaking down the West(As you can see, I'm hereby banishing the city names from the regionals)I wholeheartedly agree with everyone carping over Washington getting the top seed. I've seen the Huskies in person and there's no way this team could hang with a team that has any kind of frontcourt. They live and die by the three which leaves them vulnerable to cold shooting nights. While they have TThttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09875815195014208685noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5102532.post-1110777496858611032005-03-13T20:41:00.000-08:002005-03-13T21:18:16.863-08:00Tourney Tip-offThe reason that Selection Sunday is one of the best sports days of the year is that when's over, your excitement doen't end. It's the rare "event" day that only signals the beginning of better days to come. I'll breakdown each of the brackets later this week, but first there are a few things on my mind regarding the tournament:* If there's one team that deserves to be angry, it's TThttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09875815195014208685noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5102532.post-1110616269489902712005-03-11T23:10:00.000-08:002005-03-12T00:31:09.653-08:00Lost in the Trailer ParkIn a nice bit of corporate synergy, last night Fox debuted the Revenge of the Sith trailer after an episode of The O.C. As with most Star Wars trailers, I was excited to see it; as with most trailers of recent vintage, I was underwhelmed. While the clip did a decent job of explaining the plot, there was little suspense, too much dialogue and way too many scenes of TThttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09875815195014208685noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5102532.post-1110523346129403142005-03-10T22:31:00.000-08:002005-03-10T22:42:26.130-08:00East Coast Bias? Naw...I heard Tony Kornheiser express his great surprise that Maryland was knocked out in the first round of the ACC tournament today. Over the last month, many pundits have argued that the Terps are a dangerous (if volatile) team capable of making some noise in the NCAA tournament. "After all," the refrain went, "Maryland beat Duke twice this year!!" When you hear that, your TThttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09875815195014208685noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5102532.post-1110164855501114042005-03-06T18:40:00.000-08:002005-03-06T19:07:35.503-08:00Off the RopesAfter Thurday night's pathetic outing against Washington State, Stanford basketball seemed destined for the NIT. Such an unthinkable notion would become reality barring an upset over Washington, who have inexplicably become a Pac 10 juggernaut. But as Chris Berman would say, that's why they play the games.I attended the game at Maples yesterday, which was a true privelege. TThttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09875815195014208685noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5102532.post-1109914294721035982005-03-03T20:46:00.000-08:002005-03-03T21:31:34.726-08:00Baron the BeaconIt's been a week since the Warriors traded for Baron Davis and I'm still having trouble believing it actually happened. A young, talented, proven player has come to the Warriors?This franchise is famous for it's ugly history of no-talent draft picks and its acquisition of overpaid, past-their prime veterans. But even more devasting has been the fact that the team hasn't been able TThttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09875815195014208685noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5102532.post-1109659442303131722005-02-28T21:25:00.000-08:002005-02-28T23:08:40.290-08:00The Oscar Week Breakdown: Part VIII of VIIITHE WRAP-UPWhy yes, I did happen to catch the Academy Awards last night- how'd you guess? Here are my random thoughts on the ceremony:* Chris Rock was a good as we could have hoped for. He added excitement, he never got flustered and most importantly, he told edgy jokes that were also very funny. I'm really glad that he stuck to stand-up (what he does TThttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09875815195014208685noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5102532.post-1109466852957223342005-02-26T16:29:00.000-08:002005-02-26T17:14:12.960-08:00The Oscar Week Breakdown: Part VII of VIIIBEST PICTUREBefore I delve into this category I have to ask why the best film of 2004 wasn't even nominated. Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind is everything you could ask for in a movie: humor, drama, romance and best of all, intelligence. How many times have you heard audiences and critics complain about the lack of originality in today's movies? So TThttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09875815195014208685noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5102532.post-1109394763992147872005-02-25T20:28:00.000-08:002005-02-25T21:12:43.996-08:00The Oscar Week Breakdown: Part VI of VIIIBEST DIRECTORBased on everything I've read this week, this category comes down to a basic question for most academy voters: Is it ethical to consider Martin Scorsese's complete body of work when voting on this year's award? Most people believe that he should have won his first Best Director Oscar in 1976, when his Taxi Driver lost to the upstart Rocky. ButTThttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09875815195014208685noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5102532.post-1109304550459555022005-02-24T19:26:00.000-08:002005-02-24T20:13:15.616-08:00The Oscar Week Breakdown: Part V of VIIIBEST ACTORWhat can you say about a race that's such a foregone conclusion? Johnny Depp, Clint Eastwood, Don Cheadle and Leonardo DiCaprio are all fine actors who gave solid performances, but they just picked the wrong year to be nominated. Jamie Foxx was so good in Ray that this award has been a lock for him ever since the movie came out in theaters last TThttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09875815195014208685noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5102532.post-1109224834901252902005-02-23T21:07:00.000-08:002005-02-23T22:00:34.906-08:00The Oscar Week Breakdown: Part IV of VIIIBEST ACTRESSEvery year I can't help but feel a little depressed whenever I see the nominees in this category. It's always so glaring how few notable performances there are of women in a leading role. That's mainly because there are so few of any performances of women in a leading role these days. It's sad that the academy has to search so far and wide justTThttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09875815195014208685noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5102532.post-1109138952760477562005-02-22T21:30:00.000-08:002005-02-22T22:09:12.766-08:00The Oscar Week Breakdown: Part III of VIIIBEST SUPPORTING ACTORThis is one category in which I've seen all of the nominees' performances. To begin with Alan Alda, I honestly don't understand why he was nominated. His role in The Aviator couldn't have been more than 20 minutes of screentime, and even though he was the movie's only antagonist, this was by no means a showcase role. It's as if the TThttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09875815195014208685noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5102532.post-1109053226682240792005-02-21T21:23:00.000-08:002005-02-21T22:20:26.686-08:00The Oscar Week Breakdown: Part II of VIIIBEST SUPPORTING ACTRESSCate Blanchett looks like the favorite in this category, as she's gotten raves for her portrayal of the revered Katherine Hepburn. By all accounts, Blanchett nailed all of Hepburn's inflections and mannerisms. However, when I saw The Aviator, I found Blanchett to be downright irritating. I give her props for accurately playing her TThttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09875815195014208685noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5102532.post-1108943042722560952005-02-20T14:49:00.000-08:002005-02-20T15:44:55.736-08:00The Oscar Week Breakdown: Part I of VIIIWith the sports world in its February hibernation period (and no, the Pro Bowl and the NBA's Radioshack Shooting Stars competition don't count), W.S.Y.A. will turn its focus on the Academy Awards for the week leading up to next Sunday's ceremony. Each day I'll break down one of the major categories and provide my picks on who should and who will take home TThttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09875815195014208685noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5102532.post-1108708750305174132005-02-17T22:05:00.000-08:002005-02-17T22:39:10.310-08:00Put the Playmakers Back in the GameAs I came across the 37th weekly airing of Tilt earlier this evening, I couldn't help but shake my head. I thought back to the fall of 2003, when we were introduced to ESPN's first scripted series, Playmakers. The show had everything- ridiculous plots, frenetic football scenes, salacious women, completely exaggerated characters and over-the-top dialogue. It was TThttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09875815195014208685noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5102532.post-1108531236817266072005-02-15T20:58:00.000-08:002005-02-15T21:20:36.820-08:00Squeezed OutJose Canseco's new book Juiced has, predictably, created a firestorm in the baseball world about how we should view the game's achievements of last 15 years. I'm not a fan of putting asterisks all over the record books or rescinding MVP awards. We don't know exactly who was on steriods so there would be no way to selectively pick and choose which sluggers need their repuations TThttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09875815195014208685noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5102532.post-1108351569241353122005-02-13T19:12:00.000-08:002005-02-13T19:26:09.243-08:00A Format Not To Be ContinuedI recently rented a couple of the discs from the recent Seinfeld DVD release. I've seen most of these episodes several times in syndication, but I was surpised at how much I enjoyed watching the early episodes. One show that I had never seen start-to-finish was "The Boyfriend," the two-part episode featuring guest star Keith Hernandez. It was one of the few times the TThttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09875815195014208685noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5102532.post-1108184514153800372005-02-11T20:49:00.000-08:002005-02-11T21:01:54.156-08:00Mr. Predicto EvaluatedAs we begin our way through the post-Super Bowl wasteland that is February, I thought I would take one last look at the past NFL season. Namely, how did I do in my preseason predictions? In the awards section, the only thing I nailed was Peyton Manning winning the MVP (which doesn't make me Nostradamus) and that Aaron Brooks was overrated (but does anyone actually rate him TThttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09875815195014208685noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5102532.post-1108105812377484062005-02-10T22:51:00.000-08:002005-02-10T23:15:31.500-08:00Believe in "Jesus"This past December I finally relented to the three-month onslaught of positive reviews and bought Green Day's American Idiot. I was intrigued by the retro idea of a concept album but going into it, I expected that "American Idiot" and "Boulevard of Broken Dreams," the two lead singles, would be the best the record had to offer. But now that I've been listening for six weeks, I TThttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09875815195014208685noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5102532.post-1107930080102621222005-02-08T22:06:00.000-08:002005-02-08T22:21:20.103-08:00I Won't Quit My Day Job
So now you know why I'm not a betting man. Of the eight wagers that I prognosticated in my post from Saturday, I only got two of them right. Thanks to David Givens, I made good on the uniform jersey wager, as that was one of the easier lines. I was also correct in surmising that T.O would have a productive game, but not even I thought that he'd be that good. It was a TThttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09875815195014208685noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5102532.post-1107635590511948512005-02-05T11:44:00.000-08:002005-02-05T12:36:35.866-08:00Wager Wire
Even though I'm not a betting man, I can't help but love the inlfux of Super Bowl bets that are being offered this week. And because "Over/Under" is my favorite game on Pardon the Interruption, I think it's time I run my own version. Here's my best shot at some of the more intriguing Super Bowl betting lines that are actually available on sites like BetOnSports.com. We'll check back TThttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09875815195014208685noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5102532.post-1107583916543466522005-02-04T21:50:00.000-08:002005-02-04T22:11:56.543-08:00Half Man, Nowhere Near Amazin'
Well, the NBA All-Star game starting lineups have been announced and once again, Vince Carter has inexplicably made the starting lineup. Antawn Jamison is the latest in a long line of Eastern Conference players who have been snubbed because of the mystifying popularity of the league's softest player. The fact that Carter won the vote again this year is particularlyTThttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09875815195014208685noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5102532.post-1107496782945986672005-02-03T21:21:00.000-08:002005-02-03T21:59:42.946-08:00Bringing Brady Down to Earth
I have a huge problem with all of the talk this week that Tom Brady is on the verge of the Hall of Fame. The conventional wisdom says that all Brady has to do is win on Sunday and he gets a lifetime pass to hang out in Joe Montana's poolhouse. Over the last few years we've seen the spread of the ridiculous idea that QB greatness should be judged on Super Bowl TThttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09875815195014208685noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5102532.post-1107144864407972882005-01-30T19:21:00.000-08:002005-01-30T20:14:24.406-08:00SI's Extreme Makeover
For the last week I've been really enjoying the site redesign over at SI.com. I have always been a fan of the site, despite the fact that it's widely seen as the uglier stepsister of ESPN.com. When comparing the two sites, I think that the main advantages of ESPN are that it's faster at breaking stories and that there is generally more content-- any given sport section has TThttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09875815195014208685noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5102532.post-1106805509588618412005-01-26T21:14:00.000-08:002005-01-26T21:58:29.586-08:00The Million Dollar Sentimental Favorite
When it comes to the Oscars, I have never been a fan of giving the award to the sentimental favorite. It has long been popular to hand out Oscars to veteran actors who have never won, even for a subpar acting performance. This is why Oscars were handed out to winless faves Henry Fonda in 1981, Sean Connery (for The Untouchables?!?) in 1987, and Al TThttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09875815195014208685noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5102532.post-1106468139247128452005-01-22T23:38:00.000-08:002005-01-23T00:15:39.246-08:00The Deceptive Superstar
Tonight I had the pleasure of attending the Warriors-Cavaliers game, allowing me to see LeBron James in person for the first time. As the game's box score can attest, I picked the right night to see the King, as he notched his second career triple-double. The funny thing was, even though LeBron's performance was probably the best NBA performance I've ever witnessed live, TThttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09875815195014208685noreply@blogger.com0