I haven't posted all weekend...Jenny and I were in Franklin celebrating homecoming. Other than the flat tire I got when I got off the Shelbyville exit--en route to Franklin...we had a fun weekend. (thankfully Wal-Mart was still open and the tire only needed a new valve stem--which was only ten bucks--so that was a relief).
We had a great time visiting friends, while dominating some Williard Pizza...and later some hash browns (Waffle and Steak)...and later some Eggs Benedict (at Don and Donna's). The only negative was that Petty didn't show up to the Saturday morning golf scramble...thus he's going to get a punch in the face at some point.
Changing gears a bit...everyone knows at this point that the Cubs are out. Not really much to say and analyze...they played crappy...especially the offense. When you hit into a double play--like in almost every inning--just not going to win a playoff game. There's always next year. As for who to root for...I'm going with the Cleveland. (Normally it would be an NL team...but it's frustrating that both teams left are from the NL West...one of those teams should have been the Padres...dammit) Anyhow we had a good time at Jacobs Filed last year...and the Indians haven't won a World Series since 1948 and the city of Cleveland hasn't won a title since 1964 (NFL title). They are staving for a title.
In my sports world...in years past...this would be the time where I would change gears from baseball to college basketball. When my baseball team(s) would be eliminated I would shift all my focus to IU basketball. In the spring...the reverse would be true. It works out well with the calender as college basketball ends right when the MLB season opens. It was very cyclical. But now that I'm big NFL--Colts fan--that change isn't as drastic as the Colts now occupy a lot of my sports world...and I'm cool with that.
I hope the Colts win today...and salvage some of my sports week.
Sunday, October 7, 2007
Thursday, October 4, 2007
I thought the Padres were eliminated...
Meaning...that the Cubs offense last night looked about as anemic as what would pass for a normal Padres game. One run...four hits. Not going to win many games...especially playoff games.
I can't believe how critical media pundits are being of Lou Pinella for taking Carlos Zambrano out after six innings (when the scored was tied at 1-1). Some level of criticism is fair...after all Carlos Marmol did give up the eventual two winning runs and Zambrano was pitching well...but come on...Big Z could have pitched six more innings and it wouldn't have mattered when the best one's offense could do is manage 4 hits.
Granted Pinella's reasoning for taking Zambrano out of the game (saving his strength for a potential game 4) is questionable. A game 4 is a "if necessary" game so banking on that might be wishful thinking. But I do not see the entire logic of Zambrano staying in the game allows the Cubs to win. Like I said before...the Cubs were not doing anything offensively...and that was the problem...that's the reason they lost the game.
Hopefully the offense will get in gear tonight.
I can't believe how critical media pundits are being of Lou Pinella for taking Carlos Zambrano out after six innings (when the scored was tied at 1-1). Some level of criticism is fair...after all Carlos Marmol did give up the eventual two winning runs and Zambrano was pitching well...but come on...Big Z could have pitched six more innings and it wouldn't have mattered when the best one's offense could do is manage 4 hits.
Granted Pinella's reasoning for taking Zambrano out of the game (saving his strength for a potential game 4) is questionable. A game 4 is a "if necessary" game so banking on that might be wishful thinking. But I do not see the entire logic of Zambrano staying in the game allows the Cubs to win. Like I said before...the Cubs were not doing anything offensively...and that was the problem...that's the reason they lost the game.
Hopefully the offense will get in gear tonight.
Wednesday, October 3, 2007
Airline Delays
Apparently August was a horrendous month for airline delays.
I can attest to that.
Not surprisingly US Airways, who botched our flight to Wilmington, is the worse when it comes to on-time flights.
War driving to weddings or not flying US Airways.
I can attest to that.
Not surprisingly US Airways, who botched our flight to Wilmington, is the worse when it comes to on-time flights.
War driving to weddings or not flying US Airways.
There's only one October!
Thanks to Dane Cook I know that there's only one "actober."...I hope to god they stop running those promos. They are entering "Our Country" territory...and that's not good.
I was going to make my baseball predictions but really I only care that the Cubs win. To be honest...even in both leagues...one could make a case for every team to win the pennant. I think it's very wide open...and should be fun to watch. But with that said I would like to see a Cubs/Yankees World Series in that it would be like the biggest World Series ever.
It should be noted that the Division Series games are going to be on TBS. Kind of weird...and doesn't make a lot of sense...but it is a Superstation :).
Go Cubs.
I was going to make my baseball predictions but really I only care that the Cubs win. To be honest...even in both leagues...one could make a case for every team to win the pennant. I think it's very wide open...and should be fun to watch. But with that said I would like to see a Cubs/Yankees World Series in that it would be like the biggest World Series ever.
It should be noted that the Division Series games are going to be on TBS. Kind of weird...and doesn't make a lot of sense...but it is a Superstation :).
Go Cubs.
Tuesday, October 2, 2007
The Kingdom Review
Still mad about last night's game...although listening to the Boss's new album has definitely helped me out. I haven't listened to whole album yet but will say that...initially...I really like that Girls in Their Summer Clothes song.
Here's the review on The Kingdom
This week we look at the new release The Kindom (R). Jamie Foxx stars as a FBI agent who bribes and blackmails his investigative team into Saudi Arabia to look for terrorists who exercised a massive attack on an oil company's civilian compound. Members of his team include Jason Bateman, Chris Cooper, and Jennifer Garner. Ashraf Barhom costars as the Saudi law enforcement official who escorts them.
Ryan: From the MTV-esque opening history lesson to the action driven plot, The Kingdom is bascially a “Syriana-for-Dummies” I don't mean that despairingly. The reality is that The Kingdom is a traditional Hollywood style-over-substance film. The film looks great. The action is loud and intense. The performances are slick. Unfortunately the movie only exists on the superficial level. Sometimes that works(Michael Mann movies come to mind) and sometimes it doesn't--I'm thinking of most of Michael Bay's films. The Kingdom falls in between of being a forgettable action flick and an entertaining thrill piece.
Andy: The Kingdom definitely poses a couple of questions just by existing. How ready are audiences to be receptive to movies about our military involvement in the Middle East? And how read is Hollywood to tackle these issues? For reasons Ryan details above, The Kingdom doesn't really answer either one of these questions. It uses current events for a jumping off point to make a military thriller. It's like those TV-dramas that have episodes “Ripped from the Headlines,” except that the Kingdom spends even less time dealing with those pesky issues in favor of action.
Ryan: Even though The Kingdom exists only on the surface, it is always refreshing to see Middle Easterns portrayed as legitimate characters and not just static, generic stereotypes. Much of the film's high points exists with the relationship between the Jamie Foxx character and the Ashraf Barhom character. These two characters provide the film's narrative a strong enough relationship that it propels the movie along in a positive direction. Their interaction of becoming friends (or brothers) allows the moviegoers to buy into the film. The Kingdom is not necessarily a “buddy-cop” picture but it does have that vibe going for it that works to its advantage.
Andy: As an action movie, The Kingdom is pretty sound. We know Foxx can carry a movie like this, and he does it again here quite well. He's all empathy when we wants to be, but can turn into a fierce fighting machine in the snap of a finger. Not many actors can successfully do that, and he's done it repeatedly. The scenes with Ashraf Barhom really are the movie's strong points. Barhom hasn't made very many movies yet, but his performance here is a bit of a revelation. It will be interesting to see what types of roles he can get out of Hollywood in the future.
Ryan: The film does boast a respectable cast--even though the actors do not have a lot to work with. Jamie Foxx can carry a movie and he showcases that here. This role for Chris Cooper seems tailor made for him and he does the best he can with it. Jennifer Gardner, who's had a hit-and-miss film career demonstrates that in the right part she can do legitimate Silver Screen work. Jason Bateman is nothing more than comedic relief but that's really not a bad thing. Overall the performances by the leads do enable the film in being more than a run-of-the-mill action movie.
Andy: The cast is particularly solid for a movie coming out this time of year. Even if they are all one-dimensional characters, these are guys (and girl) that it is fun to watch work. They do an okay job even without the opportunity to truly shine.
The Kingdom is an all right movie that could have aspired to be much more. Ultimately it is just a B- action movie.
Here's the review on The Kingdom
This week we look at the new release The Kindom (R). Jamie Foxx stars as a FBI agent who bribes and blackmails his investigative team into Saudi Arabia to look for terrorists who exercised a massive attack on an oil company's civilian compound. Members of his team include Jason Bateman, Chris Cooper, and Jennifer Garner. Ashraf Barhom costars as the Saudi law enforcement official who escorts them.
Ryan: From the MTV-esque opening history lesson to the action driven plot, The Kingdom is bascially a “Syriana-for-Dummies” I don't mean that despairingly. The reality is that The Kingdom is a traditional Hollywood style-over-substance film. The film looks great. The action is loud and intense. The performances are slick. Unfortunately the movie only exists on the superficial level. Sometimes that works(Michael Mann movies come to mind) and sometimes it doesn't--I'm thinking of most of Michael Bay's films. The Kingdom falls in between of being a forgettable action flick and an entertaining thrill piece.
Andy: The Kingdom definitely poses a couple of questions just by existing. How ready are audiences to be receptive to movies about our military involvement in the Middle East? And how read is Hollywood to tackle these issues? For reasons Ryan details above, The Kingdom doesn't really answer either one of these questions. It uses current events for a jumping off point to make a military thriller. It's like those TV-dramas that have episodes “Ripped from the Headlines,” except that the Kingdom spends even less time dealing with those pesky issues in favor of action.
Ryan: Even though The Kingdom exists only on the surface, it is always refreshing to see Middle Easterns portrayed as legitimate characters and not just static, generic stereotypes. Much of the film's high points exists with the relationship between the Jamie Foxx character and the Ashraf Barhom character. These two characters provide the film's narrative a strong enough relationship that it propels the movie along in a positive direction. Their interaction of becoming friends (or brothers) allows the moviegoers to buy into the film. The Kingdom is not necessarily a “buddy-cop” picture but it does have that vibe going for it that works to its advantage.
Andy: As an action movie, The Kingdom is pretty sound. We know Foxx can carry a movie like this, and he does it again here quite well. He's all empathy when we wants to be, but can turn into a fierce fighting machine in the snap of a finger. Not many actors can successfully do that, and he's done it repeatedly. The scenes with Ashraf Barhom really are the movie's strong points. Barhom hasn't made very many movies yet, but his performance here is a bit of a revelation. It will be interesting to see what types of roles he can get out of Hollywood in the future.
Ryan: The film does boast a respectable cast--even though the actors do not have a lot to work with. Jamie Foxx can carry a movie and he showcases that here. This role for Chris Cooper seems tailor made for him and he does the best he can with it. Jennifer Gardner, who's had a hit-and-miss film career demonstrates that in the right part she can do legitimate Silver Screen work. Jason Bateman is nothing more than comedic relief but that's really not a bad thing. Overall the performances by the leads do enable the film in being more than a run-of-the-mill action movie.
Andy: The cast is particularly solid for a movie coming out this time of year. Even if they are all one-dimensional characters, these are guys (and girl) that it is fun to watch work. They do an okay job even without the opportunity to truly shine.
The Kingdom is an all right movie that could have aspired to be much more. Ultimately it is just a B- action movie.
Tim McClelland Should Get Fired!
I'm not saying that the Padres should have won or that they got screwed...they had their chances...Hoffman did poop all over himself with his John Rocker impression...but come on...that final call on the sacrifice fly was freakin' terrible.
Matt Holliday never touched the plate...even worse that jackass McClelland gives a delayed call. WTF. This is a play at the plate...to decide a one game playoff...show some fucking assertiveness. That pissed me off...a lot. He's just standing there with his head up his ass...and then finally decides to call him safe. Holliday should have been out and there should have been two outs in the inning. Although, I'll concede Hoffman probably would have blown it anyway...he stinks...but come on...that was a bad call.
And I know the Rockies probably got screwed on the Atkins call...not being a homerun...and maybe karma intervened...but still...nevertheless a home plate umpire has to get the call right with a play at the plate. Fucking ridiculous.
Matt Holliday never touched the plate...even worse that jackass McClelland gives a delayed call. WTF. This is a play at the plate...to decide a one game playoff...show some fucking assertiveness. That pissed me off...a lot. He's just standing there with his head up his ass...and then finally decides to call him safe. Holliday should have been out and there should have been two outs in the inning. Although, I'll concede Hoffman probably would have blown it anyway...he stinks...but come on...that was a bad call.
And I know the Rockies probably got screwed on the Atkins call...not being a homerun...and maybe karma intervened...but still...nevertheless a home plate umpire has to get the call right with a play at the plate. Fucking ridiculous.
Monday, October 1, 2007
MLB season not over yet.
The good...The Cubs are in.
The bad...The Padres pooped all over themselves (by losing both on Saturday and on Sunday) and now must play a one game playoff against the Rockies tonight. Peavy is going for the Padres but the game is at Coors Field...so one never knows what could happen there.
The bad...The Padres pooped all over themselves (by losing both on Saturday and on Sunday) and now must play a one game playoff against the Rockies tonight. Peavy is going for the Padres but the game is at Coors Field...so one never knows what could happen there.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)