The Weekend Wrap

Things We Learned:

-Maurice Clarett is slow and may not get drafted, he ran a 4.72 40 at the NFL combine this weekend. Is this a surprise to anyone? Hey I am all for kids going pro in any sport if they feel they are ready, but again Clarett missed 2 seasons of football. How could anyone think he would be ready for the NFL? He wasn’t that fast when he played at Ohio State. I think he has a multitude of skills that a running back needs, but his lack of experience is what is going to hurt him the most when it comes draft day.

-Whether you like him or not, Barry Lamar Bonds is primed and ready for another huge season. Less than a month after knee surgery he stepped in on Sunday and took some light batting practice work. His rehab is way ahead of schedule and he wants to be out there to shatter records this year and shove it up the butts of all the people that hate him. I hope he injects himself as he crosses home plate when he breaks Hank Aaron’s record.

-The Atlanta Braves and GM John Schuerholz are still serious about their pitching staff. Over the weekend they finalized a long term deal with recently acquired right hander Tim Hudson. This is a franchise that always knows its priorities and gets them taken care of and that is why they are always a contender. (I could’ve been somebody, I Could’ve been a contender)

Things I Liked:

-The Sacramento Kings are already 2-0 without the great Chris Webber. And they are doing this still without Peja Stojakovic. Getting rid of Webber is the old addition by subtraction rule

-I am a New York Giants fan, so I was pleasantly surprised when I heard they are in the running to try and land free agent Wide Receiver Derrick Mason. Normally, since the inception of free agency in the mid 90’s, the Giant philosophy is to pretend as if the Free Agent era has not begun and to not actually sign anyone. However, this was mostly done under the late George Young. General Manager Ernie Acorsi (a Young disciple) seems to have a little better grasp and the rules that you are in fact allowed to sign a player who is a free agent.

Things I Disliked:

-The NFL Combine. Outside of the whole Clarett slow run this thing has no real buzz about it. This year they are televising live coverage on the NFL network but I have not heard about guys stock rising and falling yet. I think GM’s are beginning to finally put les emphasis on these workouts and relying on the production the player had when he was on the field.

-This whole John Chaney situation has gotten completely out of hand. This happens more than anyone cares to know in sports and by people who have half the character of John Chaney. The shame of it all is that there are people out there who are just learning about this man and all they know him for is this incident. This man’s record of educating underprivileged young men through basketball is without equal in the world of sports. He is caring, thoughtful, kind, gentle, bright and most importantly compassionate human being.

DID YOU KNOW OF THE WEEK?

This weekend, as member institutions released their Academic Progress Rate (APR) Reports, the NCAA governing body ruled that it may begin to pull scholarships from schools under its new academic guidelines. A system has been put in place to asses a point total from 0-1,000. Most of the athletic programs in the country received grades higher than the cut line of 925. However, averages for baseball programs were 922 and 923 for basketball and football. The most notable low programs were Fresno State and Baylor (after the shooting of death of Patrick Denehy which greatly effected there graduation rates), both received scores in the low 600’s. And there are 3 teams in the top 10 of college basketball who are right now below the line, Kentucky, Louisville, and Washington. None of the Top 10 football programs in the country were below this line.

My Oscars

Here it is, my long awaited Oscar Preview issue. I will give you who I think should win first, who I think will win second and the breakdown of the category overall. I will not cover all the categories, just the ones I care about. Because, all I care about is me.

Best Score
The Passion of the Christ/The Passion of the Christ

The Music throughout Mel Gibson’s epic was fantastic. It was a remarkable part of the movie without interrupting it, which is what score does. The other nominees do not really stack up except maybe The Harry Potter movie. That is the only other competition.

Best Song
Accidentally in Love (Shrek 2)/I Believe (Polar Express)

When watching Shrek 2 I was totally blown away by the opening song and sequence. It marked the movie perfectly. I Believe from The Polar Express seems to be a favorite because of the success of the movie and the magic of it.

Adapted Screenplay
The Motorcycle Diaries/Sideways

The Motorcycle Diaries is this years totally forgotten film. It is one of the top 3 movies of the year and deserves to be recognized in someway. Unfortunately everyone (except me) is enthralled with the stupid buddy picture Sideways and its buzz will create winner in this category where it has a chance to stack up against other nominees. Million Dollar Baby has a chance in any category it is nominated.

Original Screenplay
Eternal Sunshine of a Spotless Mind/ Hotel Rwanda

Both very moving and very original movies. Eternal Sunshine has great premise and should be the winner. I have a feeling this is the category for Don Cheadle’s Hotel Rwanda. To me this is a very interesting category and I really think anyone can win. Biggest disappointment was not seeing Garden State nominated in this category.

Art Direction
The Aviator/ The Aviator

This is a no brainer in this category. The set design for the warehouse of the Spruce Goose itself deserves to win. Everything about the design of the movie was great as are most Scorsese movies, other winners & nominated Scorsese movies in this category include; The Age of Innocence, Gangs of New York, and The Color of Money.

Film Editing
Collateral/ Million Dollar Baby

This is a very tricky category, but Michael Mann’s thriller was beautifully edited. It really had some great cuts back and forth moved the mood of the piece along. I have a feeling this is one of many for Million Dollar Baby, the training and fight scenes were allowed to happened without too much editing which was good to see.

Cinematography
The Passion of the Christ/ The Passion of the Christ

This is the one thing that was masterful in Mel Gibson’s epic. Everything about the cinematography was outstanding. Visually it is the best movie I have seen since Mel Gibson directed Braveheart, it was that moving.

Director
Martin Scorsese/ Clint Eastwood

This is easily the hardest category to pick of the year. I saw many very good movies this year and while I believe Million Dollar Baby is one of the best movies ever made I fell Martin Scorsese’s The Aviator is the most well directed movie. It is much like his other big grand movies, great sets, magnificent cinematography, wonderful acting, outstanding score all blended together to make a wonderful and entertaining film. Scorsese has the ability to bring all that together to make a great film.

Actor
Leonardo DiCaprio/ Jamie Foxx

I had seen Ray 3 times before I ever saw The Aviator twice. I firmly believe DiCaprio did the best job of portraying a character. Foxx is the big time favorite and his portrayal of Ray Charles was incredible, but there was just something about DiCaprio’s performance that truly made his character jump off the screen at me and knock my socks off. I will be real interested to see if Leo sneaks away with this award.

Supporting Actor
Clive Owen/ Clive Owen

Overall the movie Closer was kind of dreadful. Mostly, Julia Roberts was useless and Portman was dry in the film, but Clive Owen’s complex character was the only thing that made the movie tolerable. He was excellent in this and King Arthur and I look forward to more good work by him. However, this category is stacked with the always reliable Morgan Freeman, Thomas Haden Church who everyone (except me) loved in Sideways, and I have a sneaking suspicion about Alan Alda in The Aviator. But I will stick with Owen.

Actress
Hilary Swank/ Hilary Swank

I am terribly unqualified to talk about this category seeing as how I only saw one of the performances. However, it is hard to imagine anyone better than Swank in Million Dollar Baby. She was at her best in this role (even better than Boys Don’t Cry). I can only hope she remembers to thank her husband this time.

Supporting Actress
Laura Linney/ Cate Blanchett

This category sucks major donkey dick. I thought Blanchett was dreadfully over acting throughout the movie, Virginia Madsen in Sideways (we all know how I feel about that film) was mediocre, and Natalie Portman gave maybe her worst performance of her career in Closer (much rather she her nominated for Garden State). Laura Linney was very good in the weird swinging sex movie Kinsey. Unfortunately people loved Blanchett and she will run away with this award

PICTURE
The Aviator/ The Aviator
I know I know, I have bragged for almost a month about how good Million Dollar Baby was, but there is just something about The Aviator that tickles my fancy. Most importantly I think it will win, I just think that some people are down on Clint Eastwood’s Baby because of the moral conflict at the end and some are down on it because they see it as a “boxing” movie, which it is far from. Scorsese again has made a great film and I think he will be grandly rewarded at the 77th Academy Awards

Trading Spaces (and Malcontents)

Wednesday night I apparently missed a great deal of chatter on two of the bigger trades to be made this past year. I unfortunately was watching my beloved South Carolina Gamecocks spot the Tennessee Volunteers a 26 point halftime lead, before storming back and having a chance to win within the last minute of play. Imagine my surprise when I got in my car just in time for a Sports Center update on ESPN Radio and heard that Randy Moss had been traded to the Raiders for and Chris Webber was going to the 76ers for a bag of potato chips. These two trades involve two of the most talented yet troubling teammates in recent sports history.

Let’s make sure we have this straight, neither one of these guys are terrible people who don’t deserve to be playing sports. They both have had a few minor run-ins with the law, but then again who hasn’t? Oh yeah, me. But they are first and foremost terrible teammates. Chris Webber has had a share of trouble with teammates in all 3 of his professional stops. Even when he was in Washington and he was playing with college teammate and “best friend”, Juwan Howard, the two of them failed to get along. Now trouble with Peja Stojakovic has led to his demise in Sacramento. Randy Moss’s troubles have been outlined and rehashed time and time again. This guy got thrown out of Florida State and Notre Dame (two of the harder football programs to get thrown out of). And this season had his share of stupidity played out during the Minnesota Vikings playoff run.

This is now the third time Chris Webber has been traded since he began playing in the NBA (not counting his draft day deal for Anfernee Hardaway). First, after one tumultuous season with the Golden State Warriors he was traded to the Washington Bullets. In four seasons with the Bullets/Wizards he helped lead them to a robust 146-182 record and one playoff series 1st round loss. After an Al Gorish success in Washington Webber was then traded to Sacramento, where he has helped them become one of the most underachieving teams in the history of sports. Never has this team made it to the NBA Finals despite being the one of the most talented teams in the league. Now Webber joins the under-talented Philadelphia 76ers and one of the hardest guys to play with, Allen Iverson. Hey, Iverson is a great player and I am a fan, but watching C-Web and AI scream at each other during a critical juncture of the playoffs is going to be comical. People will love to say that these two will put there ego’s aside in order to help Philly get to the finals because they have a legitimate chance to do so. However, there is nothing in either one of their history’s to show that they will be able to do this.

Randy Moss is now and Oakland Raider. Was there ever a better fit in the history of sports? I think not. Randy Moss epitomizes everything the Raiders are about. The swagger, the bravado, the not paying attention to rules and regulations & lastly the not winning, all things Moss and the Raiders thrive on. Good thing I read all the comments by soon to be Vikings owner Reggie Fowler about how Moss was going to be a Viking for life. In the end the Vikings actually got some value back from the Raiders. Linebacker Napolean Harris will help the shaky Viking defense. The number 7 overall pick can never hurt either. There are some very good receivers in this years draft to help try and replace Moss. Also the Vikings could use help on the defensive line and players like Dan Cody or Erasmus James could be a good pick for them. In the end the Vikings will be better off and Moss will get to do and say whatever he wants under Al Davis and his puppet Head Coach Norv Turner.

The Daily Nooner

- First let me say how sad I was to see that the great Hunter S. Thompson took his own life on Sunday evening. I have read a number of articles about him in the last 2 days and all of them combined do not do him justice. The man was a literary genius. All of us who write anything wish that some day we could carve out a style of prose as brilliant as his. He was unconventional not for the sake of being so, but just because that’s who he was. I enjoyed reading his books and even more so reading his wild take on the modern sports world in his weekly ESPN column “Hey Rube.” As in life, Hunter S. Thompson died on his own terms; I mean really did you think he would have it any other way?

- Today marks the 25th anniversary of The Miracle on Ice. This is a story nobody can ever got tired of. It is a just the greatest moment in sports history. It is exactly why we watch sports in the first place and why we care so much about it. On any given day any one team can defeat another. I enjoy so much hearing people talk of this experience and watching the game itself or any type of documentation about this team including the theatrical release Miracle.

- On Sports Center last night that had a poll of what were the most intriguing baseball stories of spring training. This stemming from the fact that Jason Giambi just reported to Yankee camp and that Barry Bonds will be addressing the media today as he reports to Giants camp. The one that bothered me on the list was the “Red Sox & Yankees war of words.” Hummmm, that is real interesting, because the last time I remembered it was the Yankees basically offering no comment as the classless bum from Boston flapped their gums about why Alex Rodriguez was not a Yankee, and how he bragged about his off-season workout regiment. Well let’s get a few things straight here. Some may say I am just a bitter Yankee fan spouting off at the mouth because the Sawx won the series and they came from 3-0 down to beat the Yankees. Well, not really. Am I a little bitter because the Sawx beat my Yanks? Certainly. Am I over it by now? Certainly. Do I really care what Trot Nixon thinks of A-Rod? Certainly not. Because in the end 30 years from now are people going to be talking about Bronson Arroyo and Trot Nixon or Alex Rodriguez and Derek Jeter? It seems to me that even after winning the World Series the Red Sox still suffer from that same inferiority complex. They seem to think that everyone will forget that they are World Champs. No, nobody will forget, you guys won and you deserved it, nobody is taking anything away from you. Why do they feel the need to just berate the Yankees at every turn? Throughout this week with the Red Sox shooting from the lip and the Yankees going about their business you see clearly which organization has more class.

- God, I hate the stupid NFL. Again this league has done it too me. We all know how much I hate parity, and people ask me why all the time. This is why, Derrick Mason the leading receiver in football last season had to be cut by the Tennessee Titans in order to salvage their salary cap situation for this season. I think this is the dumbest thing in the world and nobody can convince me otherwise. Teams every year have to cut starters in order to be able to play next season. Does this not smack of stupidity to anyone else? Am I the only one who sees this? I don’t mind if you have system where some over priced vet who is making little contribution to your team has to be let go, or even some young bench player who could be a starter but you are stashing him on your bench has to be cut. But to cut someone like Mason or Samari Rolle an 8 year starter for your team that is silly. I hate this stupid system, a few years ago after the Giants went to the Super Bowl that had to cut 9 starters, nine!!! That is dumb, and again nobody will ever be able to convince me otherwise.

AND

- Speaking of great sporting events to never get tired of, I watched the Thrilla in Manila last night on ESPN Classic. This fight was an absolute war. Anyone who thinks they are tough just needs to watch this thing and see what toughness is. My father always old me about this fight and many other of Ali’s great fights and I had seen bits and pieces and heard people talk about, but last night was the first time I watched it form start to finish. Holy crap, these two guys were nuts. In the middle portion of the fight Ali looking dead tired (not rope-a-doping) just got pummeled for 4 rounds by Joe Frazier. Smoking Joe just got in on his body and went to work on his ribs and stomach, the pain for Ali must have been unbearable. Then in about Round 11 Ali got a second wind and started hitting Frazier with those crisp stinging Ali jabs, but all Frazier kept doing was coming at Ali. You could see Ali’s frustration as he would hit Frazier and his head would snap back then forward and Frazier would never miss a beat as he came toward Ali. Most times people pause or even stumble backward after those jabs, not Smoking Joe. Over the last 3 rounds of the fight I am convinced Joe Frazier could not see out of either of his eyes, they were that swollen, he literally fought Ali by feeling where he was and making body contact and throw hooks and uppercuts to the body. After round 14 Eddie Futch (Frazier’s trainer) called the fight immediately. I believe he was truly concerned for the man’s life. In Ali’s corner Angelo Dundee and Bundini Brown lifted Ali off the stool to raise his arms in victory, but Ali just collapsed to the ground. And he had just won the fight. I was so excited to see great boxing, I wish we still had that nowadays, because growing up I was always a fan of The Sport of Kings.

The Daily Nooner

- Sorry it has been a few days folks. I did have a lot on my mind that I wanted to talk about, but the euphoria over the Gamecocks upset of #3 Kentucky has kept me busy. My voice is still hoarse from screaming in ecstasy and having fun with everyone after the game, as well as the 50 phone calls that I have had to endure. Hopefully it will continue this weekend when we travel to Tuscaloosa, Alabama.

- There was a big Jimmy Buffet concert in town last night. This is just something I don’t get. This whole fascination people have with Buffet doesn’t make sense to me. I hate the stupid term “Parrot Head” too. Believe me I have tried listening to about 20 different Buffet albums and I don’t get him. I won’t say all of his songs are bad, there are few I dig, but not nearly enough to wet myself every time the guy has a concert. These people go nuts with the partying and tailgating and tell you “it’s about the lifestyle, man, not just the music.” What lifestyle? He lives a great lifestyle I understand that, the last thing I want is for this guy to remind me that all he does is hang out on the beach and drink margarita’s all day. That would just piss me off knowing that I have to go to work tomorrow. Lastly, his fans yell at you if you don’t love his music. “Oh my god, how could you not love buffet? What’s wrong with you?” Hey listen a-holes, he sucks, get over it.

- I will be totally honest, my secret pleasure of all time is watching anything having to do with Michael Jackson. This guy is a fucking nut bag. There was a 2 hour special last night and I was glued to the TV the whole time. I can’t even explain what a loon this guys is. I cannot wait for this trial and the reenactments on E! each night.

- I almost hung myself last night while watching my Wacko Jacko special. There was a commercial for the upcoming episode of Primetime Live with Diane Sawyer. On the episode there is going to be some “moving” interview with some super model name Prezva Pornovekia or some shit like that and her harrowing experience during the Tsunami. How she hung on to a tree and tried to save the man she loved. Oh my god, will this be the most awful thing of all time. I hate myself for even mentioning it here, but I was so filled with anger while watching the commercial. God, I thought I was done with the fucking Tsunami

- Speaking of natural disasters I survived my first today. Yes that’s right folks, you can look it up. Columbia South Carolina was rocked by a 3.1 earthquake today. In fact it was so raucus I never even felt it. And in fact I do not know anyone else who did. But it was an official earthquake and I lived to tell about it. But hey you don’t see me crying to Diane Sawyer and her bowtoxed face and coligen lips.

AND

- I can’t even describe to you the humor that is provided to me on a daily basis by one website. So instead of trying to describe it, I just recommend htt://badjocks.com. It rules, I just fucking rules, nothing else to say about it.


OLD SCHOOL RAP LYRIC OF THE WEEK:

So jet to the store, and buy the LP
On Jive/RCA, cassettes and CD's
Produced and arranged by the four-man crew
And oh shit, Skeff Anslem, he gets props too

Make sure you have a system with some phat house speakers
So the new shit can rock, from Mars to Massapequo
Cuz where I come from quality is job one
And everybody up on Linden know we get the job done

The Daily Nooner

- What a sad sad day. The death of one of sports most legendary figures occurred yesterday. I feel games all across this great land should be cancelled in memoriam to the Great Dick Weber. Dick Weber was first and foremost and gentlemen and a champion. He inspired a generation of youngsters like me and Lou Wong that it was okay to be a bowler. There was no shame in spending time at Fiebles Bowling Alley that you were not just some degenerate drunk bowling loser, but that you were a man and could be one day like the Great Dick Weber. You will be missed.

- Game of the night. No, you silly people it was not Texas Tech over Kansas. Nope not the second night in a row that the Charlotte Bobcats lost on a buzzer beating three pointers. No the Utah/Phoenix track meet or the thrilling end to the Knicks/Sixer game, nope it was way down in Savannah, GA where the Savannah State Tigers fell to the Florida A&M Rattlers. What a thrilling 49-44 victory. The Tigers were able to achieve their season long goal of running the table that is right folks 0-28. That is a special season, one for the history books. Heck they barely came close to winning any games losing by an average margin of 23 points a game.

- How about the credibility of this lady that claims to be Barry Bonds mistress? I know some of you will attack me saying that I am just a Bonds apologist, but let me speak first. I know Bonds has slept with approximately 400 women that are not his wife that is what athletes do because slutty women throw themselves on jocks. Secondly, I am also well aware of the fact that Bonds took steroids. I am just saying this lady, comes shooting out of the dark, nobody has any idea who she is and of all the things to go on to claim her story she goes on Fox news. Not just Fox news, fucking Geraldo Rivera. I would sooner trust Gerardo the singer, than a news report by Geraldo Rivera. At least Canseco went on a fairly reputable program like 60 minutes (as long as Dan Rather did no produce that episode).

- If anyone caught Sports Center, which I am sure most of you did, you alls aw the interviews with a few Yankee players on how Giambi will be received by his teammates. They interviewed 4 players; Carl Pavano & John Flaherty both of whom have to report by this morning. Tino Martinez who lives about 10 minutes from the Yankee complex and Derek Jeter. He does not have to report for another 10 days, but he is there already getting ready for the season. This guy never disappoints, how can you not root for this guy. He just puts his head down and goes to work.

AND

- In international news, Kara DeBlasio is representing our great country as an ambassador to Spain. As if that is not bad enough she spent a day traveling to the continent of Africa to visit Morocco. While in Morocco she rode a camel. Now anyone who knows my sister knows she has what some may consider a “foul” mouth. Just picture the humor of her yelling at a camel. That is priceless.

The Weekend Wrap (2/11-2/13)

Things we learned:

- The Flyin’ Illini are very good. I am not ready yet to give them the National Title, but I heard one analyst relate them to the 1997 Arizona Wildcats and they have many similarities. They have 3 great guards which is what you need in tournament play, great guard play and effective forwards and a terrific bench.

- Gary Williams can coach. His team has nowhere near the talent of Duke and he swept them this year. In fact, Williams somehow convinced the Ref’s not to give Duke every call, 5 Dukies fouled out.

- Allen Iverson let you know he is still on the map with a ridiculous 60 point performance. Though his scoring had fallen off in the last few seasons, he is finally healthy again and leading the league in scoring, while being 6th in assists. Only LeBron James is also in the Top 10 in both categories and in case you haven’t noticed all the hype surrounding LeBron coming out of high school may not have been enough, that boy can play.

- That Phil Mickelson looks like he is poised for another great season. This golf season could be among the best ever; Phil is in order, Vijay & Ernie will always bring their games, and Tiger finally has the wedding behind him and his swing almost fixed.

- Finally the NHL season looks to be cancelled. In the end that sucks, but it is best for the game. Heck 20 teams say they are doing better financially by not having a season than if they had had one and had to pay the player salaries. When there is a problem of that magnitude things need to be shut down and the entire league needs to be restructured. Hockey is a great game and so much fun to watch, and I know the loyal readers of this site enjoy Stanley Cup playoff hockey still to this day (Andrew, Keith, Josh, Dan). We all grew up watching that fun game in the early 90’s and I wish it could get back to that.

- Karl Malone officially hung it up, and says no chance of a comeback; I love and respect that so much.


Things I disliked:

- Yes it is true that I am a connoiseur of the female chest region. I was recently turned on to a website called www.flashyourrack.com and I of course check it out daily. What disturbs me is how many women pay to have their breasts augmented in a positive or enhanced fashion and how horrible they look. These women spend thousands of dollars on these Boob jobs and they look like Dr. Nick performed them. The nipples pointing the wrong way, the two breasts different sizes, the total unnatural look to most of them.

- Oh crap, the stupid Grammy’s were on last night. Honestly, I have something wrong with me; I hate all these stupid award shows for musical acts especially because everybody wins. There is a category for everybody; it is really not that hard to win a Grammy. I briefly heard a list of winners from last nights show on TV this morning and they included: U2, Usher, Ray Charles, Loretta Lynn, John Mayer, Maroon 5, Brian Wilson, Britney Spears, Alicia Keys, Green Day, Norah Jones, Kanye West, Bruce Springsteen, Prince, and Jay-Z (who retired?). That is just a sampling of winners, from the over 100 categories. That is just insane!!!! (This rant in no way represents my views on the Academy Awards which I actually like, and you need to have talent to win)

- You know what set me off, was stupid Alicia Keys ruining Georgia on My Mind, which was being done spectacularly by Jamie Foxx. But again people insist on proving to me that Alicia Keys can play the piano (http://krisdeblasioswisdom.blogspot.com/2004/06/daily-nooner_22.html#comments) she sucks and her whining crying voice ruined the great tribute that Mr. Foxx was performing.

Things I liked:

- Rick Majerus is coming to Columbia Sunday in preparation for the Gamecocks and the Kentucky Wildcats on ESPN Tuesday at 9 (be sure to tune in). He is the coolest coach of all time, plus he is fat and loves to eat. I am going to get a chance to hang out with him which will easily be the coolest thing in the world. Hopefully he asks me where a good strip club is at, and we can go get lap dances together, that would rule.

- Jose Canseco. That guy rules, I absolutely love the fact that he is blowing up all these baseball losers. Hey assholes, we all know you did steroids, and Jose is man enough to call all you bitches out. I heard Roger Cossack (Josh spelling?) on ESPN radio this morning (he is their legal analyst) say that Mark McGwire and Jason Giambi have every right and reasonable chance to win a case against Jose Canseco in court for liable and slander against their character. But what are the chances of either of those ‘roided up freaks suing? None!!!


DID YOU KNOW OF THE WEEK?

LeBron James, 20 years old and in his second NBA season, has improved in all of the following statistical categories: Points, Rebounds, Assists, Blocks, Steals, Turnovers, FG%, 3-pt % and already has 17 double-doubles as compared to 12 all of last season. The most dramatic improvement has come in shooting percentages. Last year he shot 41% from the field, this year 49% and last season 29% from 3 this season 33%.

The Daily Nooner

A quick hitting segment covering a myriad of topics, back by unpopular demand.


- Why is it that singers like J-Lo and Destiny’s Child insist on doing these songs where they try and act ghetto? Is it to get some kind of “street cred?” Does anyone really think Beyonce wants a “soldier” or does she want a rich white movie producer to marry? J-Lo, we already know the city has been taken completely out of here when she dumped Sean Diddy Puffy Combs P-Daddy for Ben Affleck. Stop trying to act ghetto people, it is just dumb.

- You know what I really hate, people. Yes I am talking about you. I am not impresses with your antics. And no I am not talking about you, I am talking about the other person. That is vague enough, I just needed to get that out there and off my hairy chest

- The Duke-UNC game was pretty exciting but nowhere near an “instant classic.” Just because a game is close does not make it a classic. In fact the BCS National Championship game this year was a classic; a classic ass whooping!!!

- I am having trouble agreeing with Dickie V and saying UNC will win it all this year. I believe they have the best team, but I just don’t think you win with guys like Rashaad McCants on your team.

- Again Duke would have to be an odds on favorite to go to the Final Four. They do everything well, and have a little more depth than over the last few years.

- Enough with Donovan McNabb and his fake stomach flu. It was a nice try by Hank Fraley to try and come up with an excuse, but it didn’t work. And will someone please remove Freddie Mitchell’s vocal cords

- I am unclear on why Jose Canseco is instantly un-credible? I am not saying I believe him, but just because he has ostracized himself from baseball does not mean he has no credibility. In fact I would think the opposite is true. He has been trying for years to get back into baseball and this book and all its “allegations” will make sure that Pete Rose will be welcomed back in a baseball stadium way sooner than Jose Canseco. Personally, it seems to me that baseball is so quick to try and damage his credibility because he is finally shedding light on their 15 year dirty little secret. I heard one baseball writer say it correctly, everybody was at the party but nobody wants to help clean up after it was over. Everyone knew and was in on it, players, coach’s, trainers, everyone, but now everyone wants to deny they had any involvement.

AND

- I heard the dumbest thing ever uttered by another human being last night on television. And yes Martin that includes "If it weren't for my horse, I would never have spent that year in college." I was watching some behind the music on the Rap Artist Nas on VH1. They were talking about a tragic incident in his life, when his brother William (aka Ill Will), was shot and killed in a dispute outside of their housing project (white people, that means Apartment Building). This one ignoramous that they were interviewing in the show said the following, "Man that was rough for NAS when Ill Will got shot. I mean Will was like a brother to him." I will say no more.

Our Racist Times

Often in sports we deal with issues that are mirrored in society. Nowadays we Americans like to feel that we are “multicultural” (A James Delany Teaneck High School mid ‘90’s buzz word). We try to avoid the subject of racism in our country, yet it still exists. The sports world is no different, we think we have come a long way but there is still progress to be made. As in society, the racism in the sports world can be very subtle, that is the best way to expand ones racist agenda, subtly.

On Sunday I received a phone call from one of my colleagues (by colleague I mean fat black friend, you know him as the anonymous long winded guy who writes comments on my blog) addressing the published reports about what Jose Canseco is going to reveal in his new tell all book; Juiced: Wild Times, Rampant 'Roids, Smash Hits, and How Baseball Got Big. His contention was that if Canseco had reported that he shoved a needle in Barry Bonds ass, the media outrage would have knocked the Super Bowl off the front page. I sat and I thought about this for a few minutes, and then passed out because I was thinking. When I came to I realized he may be right.

We don’t want Mark McGwire to be a steroid freak. When he was launching his assault on the record books he was referred to as Paul Bunyan, who is a mythical hero. He strategically places a bottle of androstendione in his locker to try and squash the rumors that he had needles hanging out of his ass. What happened, reporters bought it hook line and sinker, oh he just takes Andro, that is how he got so huge, how could we second guess Paul Bunyan, he is our hero. When Bonds was doing it he was referred to as a surly, malcontent who only cared about himself. The second rumors began to circulate about steroid use, his was the first name always mentioned and discussion began on what should happen to his records. Should we put the dreaded astericks next to his name, should he be forced to retire? How could this guy stain the game? Why couldn’t he just take Andro like Big Mac, everybody’s favorite hero? And lets be honest with ourselves, most of the media is controlled by white people. McGwire is up for the Hall of Fame this year, a list that was released 2 weeks ago, and I have not heard one reporter come out and openly say he would refuse to vote for Big Mac. Yet there are plenty of people who feel Bonds should not be a first ballot Hall of Fame player because of the allegations. What is the major difference in these 2 players? Plain and simple one is a white guy in a white country, the other is a black guy in a white country.

Yesterday, during the Super Bowl, Terrell Owens played one of the best games of his career, only a few weeks after surgery that installed screws and a plate to help repair a broken foot. I, along with a host of others, felt that T.O. would be ineffective. But he delivered a very heroic performance for his team. Afterward in front of a sea of reporters Owens openly said that if Brett Favre had done such a thing he would be praised up and down. While I agree with him I can’t help but think this is somewhat along the lines of some subtle racism. Yes Owens can be a jerk and he puts himself out there for ridicule, but whom do we remember for his heroic injury plagued playoff performance in the NFL? Jack Youngblood of the 1980 Rams. Will we be willing to put this performance up there with that? IF not, why not? Again could there be somewhat of a hidden race agenda? Now I am not trying to start something that isn’t there, I just think sometimes these subjects need to be addressed.

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The Aviator

Ahh, what a glorious Super Bowl Sunday. The Patriots won and everyone in Boston is in heaven. Their Sawx and their P’s are on top of the sports world. Whatever happened to the C’s and the B’s? Oh well I guess you cannot have it all. As predicted I scarcely watched the first quarter and then I threw up. I will have more on this later in the week, but from the time they tell you to turn the game on at 6 pm until the end of the first quarter lasted a mere one hour and twenty four minutes. I decided then it was time for a break so I went to the movies to watch the latest effort from Martin Scorsese, The Aviator.

There are lots of things I have to say about this very well done film. I know it is cool and cliché and very Hollywood to not like things done with big budgets and by overly celebrated actors & directors, but I am into bucking trends all the time. Martin Scorsese knows how to make great films; just look at his track record, there is no denying it. Secondly, as much of a prick as he seems like in real life I believe Leonardo DiCaprio is a very good actor, and he does not over work himself with a ton of shitty roles in bad films. The Aviator chronicles the life and times of America’s most eccentric billionaire Howard Hughes. DiCaprio gives a soundly convincing performance. He shows the deterioration of the man as well as Russell Crowe did with John Nash in A Beautiful Mind. This picture is long, but much like Million Dollar Baby the story had me so engrossed I was actually upset that it was not longer. Scorsese had a great soundtrack to go along with the movie; the music did a great job of setting the mood of the piece. Also the production design to recreate all those old plane’s and production factories was unbelievable. I was one person who did not totally despise Gangs of New York and I again like this collaboration between DiCaprio and Scorsese. The supporting actors in this movie were also very good. John C. Reilly as Hughes financial advisor, Alec Baldwin as his rival at Pan Am, Alan Alda as Senator Brewster (Oscar Nominated) and the most underrated performance by little known Matt Ross as “Ody” Hughes chief engineer and design partner.

All that brings me to a disturbing part of the movie. The women that Mr. Hughes famously courted. Most famously were Ava Gardner and Katherine Hepburn. In the movie they are played by Cate Blanchett and Kate Beckinsale, and if you gave me 1 million dollars I could not tell you the difference. This is a sad part about Hollywood, there are just tons of no talent ass clowns whom I do not know the difference between. It seems to be mostly these lat 20’s early 30 something actresses; Kate Beckinsale, Kate Bosworth, Cate Blanchett, Cate Winslett, Naomi Watts, Helen Bonham Carter, Jennifer Connelly, Bridget Moynahan, Samantha Morton, and Maggie Gyllenhaal just to name a few. All these women have been in a variety of popular films over the last 5 years and of you put them in a police lineup I couldn’t tell them apart. To me that means none of their performances have been worth a damn, much like the two in The Aviator.

In short, The Aviator is a very good film well deserved of all the praise it has received. I judged a biopic like this; was the person so believable as the character that you forgot you were watching a movie (Jamie Foxx in Ray) and/or was the movie so interesting as to make me want to seek out more information & literature about the person. The Aviator has definitely done the latter for me. As I once though Jaime Foxx was a shoe in for the Oscar I do believe DiCaprio has a legitimate chance at winning it. My Oscar preview will be coming shortly.

The Fucking Super Bowl

Really, is there anything more dreadful than the overly hyped Super Bowl? I swear I would rather watch a thousand episodes of Walker: Texas Ranger than to be subjected to more live coverage from Jacksonville. If I here one more comparison between Bill Belichick and Bill Parcells, Tom Brady & Joe Montana, or the Eagles and the 90’s Buffalo Bills I am going to snap. Finally, we can actually get rid of all the hype (almost, we still have 14 pre-game shows to go) and just talk about the nuts and bolts of the game. I just got done reading a book by Phil Simms about analyzing the game of football, and it was very good. So at this juncture I feel I am eminently qualified to tell all you drones what is going to happen Sunday evening; and be totally wrong.

We have basically the “Salary Cap” Dynasty in the New England Patriots, 2 Super Bowl Championships and one missed playoff appearance in the last 3 season (oh, that wacky parity). On the other sideline we have he always dislikable Philadelphia Eagles, except for one reason; how could anyone truly dislike Donavan McNabb? Does anyone else realize that the Patriots, who for most of their NFL existence have been a joke of a franchise, are playing in their fifth Super Bowl? Only the Steelers, Cowboys, Dolphins, and 49ers have done that, and all of them are considered top echelon franchises throughout the years. The Eagles are in search of their first Super Bowl victory, and something tells me Monday morning they will still be looking.

HOW THE PATS CAN WIN: Play Patriot football. They need to control the game, like they always do. That involves scoring on the first drive, not being afraid of the Eagle Blitz and containing Brian Westbrook. These are all things they do with regularity. Their secondary will have little problems with the Eagles receiving core and I believe they will find success with Corey Dillon. I just feel their offensive line can out man the Eagles defensive front. The key will be finding Jerimiah Trotter on running plays.

HOE THE EAGLES CAN WIN: They must get a great game from Donovan McNabb and Brian Westbrook. The Patriots are good at taking one thing away from an offense but the Eagles have multiple weapons to attack with. Donovan will be huge if the Eagles are to win. On defense they need to dictate the tempo of the game. The Pats as an offense like to dictate tempo by going deep on early downs and using trick plays, but if the Eagles blitz’s and pass rush can get on Brady up the middle, Charlie Weis will have to scale back the big play ability. If Brady gets hit in the mouth early than the Eagles will be in the game, and have a chance to win.

People always like to talk about the intangibles, and in this game they are heavily in the Patriots favor. Although they do not have the best special teams, New England has the best clutch kicker and he has done it on this stage more than once. Secondly, they have the coach. He is the best in the game right now and he will definitely have his team in position to win the game, and he ahs the players that will execute down the stretch. The Patriots play mistake free football and they will need to do so on this day, because both offensively and defensively the Eagles can go for big plays if you make a mistake. I just don’t see the Eagle offense mounting much on the Pats defense. Remember this, the Patriots played the best offense in football and held them to 3 points, then the next week they went on the road and play the stingiest defense in football and put up 34 points on offense (one touchdown was scored by the Patriot defense). How do you beat a team like that?

Lastly, I will most likely be watching the Super Bowl at my lonely dank, dark, smelly apartment. By the third series of the game I will be so disgusted with amount of commercials and the lack of football that I will most likely shut the game off and go read a book. So if Paul McCartney has a wardrobe malfunction someone will need to call me and let me know about it, much like last year when I missed Janet’s tit. All in all it will be a terribly over-hyped football game, the commercials will suck as they always do, and 3 days after the game you will all already forget who won and who played well. So people do yourselves a favor on Sunday, spend time with your children, studying the bible & learning more about god, reading a good book & exercising your mind, or just generally doing something productive rather than watch this garbage.