Big Ten Network update

Clicking here will take you to the Big Ten Network homepage where you can type in your zip code to see if your cable or satellite operator is currently ready to launch the network. Unfortunately my cable provider, Insight, is not but through the website you can send your provider a request to get the network.

As of right now, I'm pretty down about this...I was optimistic that something would get done during the football season but I just don't know anymore.

Last night Jenny and I watched the Howard Hawks screwball comedy Monkey Business (1952). The movie nowadays--especially considering the picture--is packaged as a Marilyn Monroe vehicle but she only has a supporting role (Which is fine...as she does a superb job of being the eye candy of the movie).

The two stars of the picture are Cary Grant and Ginger Rodgers. They are hysterical in the movie. The movie overall is not as solid as a lot of other Grant comedies but it is definitely one of his funnier films. We were actually laughing out loud at some of the bits...and that doesn't happen a lot with older comedies. Don't get me wrong...classic comedies are still funny...but it is somewhat rare when they are laugh-out-loud funny. Furthermore the movie is littered with a lot of sexual double talk and innuendos, which somewhat surprised me.

In the realm of Cary Grant performances this performance is more in line with Bringing up Baby. I have this theory that every Cary Grant performance is a variation of his iconic performance as CK Dexter Haven in The Philadelphia Story. Basically that performance is in the middle of his acting spectrum. On one end of the spectrum is the aforementioned performance from Bringing up Baby and on the other end is his performance from Notorious. It starts with CK Dexter Haven--and every performance is a variation to either extreme. (Here is where Sam shouts at his computer that I have another man crush). So be it...Cary Grant is my second favorite actor.

Anyway...I (along with Jenny) recommend Monkey Business for a lazy summer evening. The movie--while being somewhat goofy--is filled with enjoyable performances that won't disappoint.

"Who's Now" Who Cares!

In an attempt to fill Sportscenter with more mindless bantering ESPN has decided to have an athlete tournament to determine which current athlete is the most "now." Overall athletic ability or performance on the field are not the determining factors for who is most "now" but those factors can come into play during the debate. Also taken into consideration is how big an athlete's celebrity status is. Thirty-two athlete have been ranked and put into regions named after other past "now" athletes (as retro-determined by ESPN)--the Babe Ruth, Muhammed Ali, Michael Jordan & Billy Jean King regions. (I'm not even going to spend time arguing the merits of why Billy Jean King is included with the other three).

Anyway...the worst part of this idea (as there are many) is listening to people argue about this. Even respected journalists, like Michael Wilbon, have been sucked into this meaningless debate. It is nauseating to hear them argue over basically which athlete is cooler. It gripes me how Sportscenter (and ESPN) is becoming so fascinated with this idea of "celebrity". When I watch Sportscenter I want to see highlights, breakdowns, and some commentary (from people that know what they are talking about). How about instead of wasting my time with listening to which athlete is currently (allegedly) dating Jessica Biel...you spend that segment breaking down the NL West (or AL west for that matter).

It seems that here recently ESPN tries so hard to make the present historic...to make it groundbreaking. They spend too much time declaring how great something is...that just recently happened. There is something to be said about stepping back...waiting...and putting stuff into a proper historical context. Not everything that has happened in sports over the past five years are the best things to ever happen in the history of sports.

This idea of "Who's Now" is their latest attempt to put their mark on sports. Instead of being an objective medium...with the idea of reporting and commenting on sports...ESPN wants to be part of the action. That is a fine line to start crossing.

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Rita Hayworth = Screen goddess

Yesterday afternoon as my wife worked in the Bat Cave, I watched the 1946 movie Gilda starring Rita Hayworth and Glenn Ford. The movie itself is not a bad film...it's pretty engaging. It is not what I would deem a "classic" film...moreover...just a good film from the Golden Age of Hollywood. It has the standard storyline of many old films--exotic location (Argentina), plays backdrop to a war (WWII), and most important the reemergence of a lost love (Hayworth).

I've seen Hayworth in two movies before--Only Angels Have Wings and The Lady From Shanghai. In "Angles" she plays a supporting part that doesn't cater much to her screen presence. "Shanghai" is an Orson Welles movie so he pretty much dominates the film--both as a director and actor. Interestingly enough Welles and Hayworth were married when Lady From Shanghai premeired (1948) and Welles infamously made Hayworth not only cut her lovely red hair but also dyed it blonde for the role in the movie.

For those wondering why the name Rita Hayworth still resonates even to this day...than check out her role in Gilda. This movie is a vehicle for how sexy Rita Hayworth can be. And she can be damned sexy. It is not just that she looks fantastic. It seems like everything she does in the movie is just sexy somehow. It is easy to see how this movie cemented Hayworth's legacy as a screen sex goddess.

PS--I do feel relieved that I finally posted an entry that is polar opposite of my various man crush entries.

Maddux's Maddux-up Fair Food

In the last two nights my wife and I have dominated some fair food. We had the Lett's fish last night...it was excellent. Then we topped that off with some ice cream.

After the parade tonight is when we kicked it up a notch. Jenny had a pork burger from the Smyrna tent...while I had the Smyrna Burger, which was pretty good. The highlight for Jenny was the corn on the cob from the Mason tent. She's definitely going to get another one before the week is over. I did try a bite of it and I'll be joining her in that effort. I also had ribeye sandwich that was also very good. Unfortunately...according to my sister...the tent (Dec. County Beef Association (?) that served it was only going to be their tonight. Let's hope not. I also shared an elephant ear with my sister. Elephant Ears are now five dollars but it's probably still worth it.

The true highlight of the whole night was winning my lady a prize. I stepped up to the basketball booth and drilled both shots. In doing so...I won Jenny a stuffed Batman doll. Needless to say she was thrilled...and just absolutely loved walking around the Midway with the stuffed Batman doll.

The Dark Knight teaser info

Rumors are running rampant (on the internet...not at the Auction Barn) that a teaser for The Dark Knight will be attached to some prints of the The Simpsons Movie. Allegedly it might be shown at the San Diego Comic Con that same weekend...even thought Warner Bros. is not having a Dark Knight presentation...they are having one at the Wizard Con in Chicago on August 11th (which I won't be going too because one of my best friend's is getting married that weekend).

Anyway...I was already going to see The Simpsons Movie anyway so this only adds to the excitement.