Wednesday, October 15, 2008
Monday, October 13, 2008
We're Back...with Football
Apologies to our many readers for the 4-month lay off, I know you've been itching for a return, and me and Mr. Epstein are back to scratch that itch. Let's jump right into football; I'll end with some thoughts on the Fall season's historic lineup of TV shows, headlined, of course, by Always Sunny in Philadelphia.
NFL first, and some quick thoughts on Week 6, and the state of the league in general:
I don't remember a time in any sport where the obviously inferior teams routinely pull out "miracle" victories over superior teams, and yet it happens every week in the NFL and people are still shocked when they happen.
This week saw the Rams, widely considered the worst team in the NFL, upend everyone's new favorite team, the Redskins. On a weekend featurning a number of matchups pitting a good team against a bad time, this was the most uneven game.
And then there was the Super Bowl champs, my New York Giants, getting James Thrashed by the Browns last night in a truly ugly display. Experts will ask questions, but they will inherently be the wrong ones. We must ask not, How did the Giants pass rush fail so miserably, How did the Cardinals front 7 get to Tony Romo every other play, How did the Skins lose despite a big day from Clinton Portis? We must ask, Why is it that great teams - and that they are - consistently lose these games?
The answer might be obvious, but it often goes overlooked. With a 16 game schedule, each series, each down, is magnified to the point that any minor mishap could make all the difference. And it is simply unfair to judge teams from week to week because it is impossible to avoid those mistakes for an entire season. That is why the NFL is so mesmerizing, why gambling on its games is so addictively impossible, and why weekly power rankings are about as insightful as Warren Sapp.
In baseball, when, in the 88th game of the year, a starter allows 6 runs and the 3-4-5 hitters go 1-12, the very next day allows for immediate redemption. In the NFL, we must wait a week, and in those 6 days every facet of a losing team's perfomance must be stripped down and thoroughly dissected. This is not in any way an appropriate reaction to one bad day - the only exception in which to cast immediate judgment is in the case of significant injuries to significant players. NFL teams must be analyzed with a wide lens, encompassing multiple games against multiple opponents.
Are the Rams as good as the Redskins? Of course not. Were they on Sunday? Absolutely. But what does that actually say about the state of each team, and their "power ranking." It says as much as a Royals victory over the Red Sox in June would say.
The way the league stands right now, any one of fifteen teams could reach the Super Bowl; and the team that does will most likely being playing its best ball in January, not in October.
And so, with that said, I will offer my weekly power rankings, but in a slightly different fashion. These are not the teams playing their best right now, these are the teams that I believe, barring injury, have the best shot come Winter:
#1. Colts - The truth is, quarterbacks win Super Bowls. With a very few exceptions, this has always been the case, and with Brady out, Peyton resides as QB Marquee in the NFL. The team has struggled thus far, but I don't see this team mulling around .500 for much longer.
#2. Jaguars - They are talented and hungry and haven't played their best football yet. But when they do they are as good as anyone.
#3. Steelers - The toughest QB in the NFL will win games on his own.
#4. Giants - Don't let last night fool you. Eli felt pressure to force the ball to Plax and their vaunted lines laid proverbial eggs. This won't continue.
#5. Saints - I just like this team, and, again, quarterbacks have the capability of carrying teams for stretches at a time.
NFL first, and some quick thoughts on Week 6, and the state of the league in general:
I don't remember a time in any sport where the obviously inferior teams routinely pull out "miracle" victories over superior teams, and yet it happens every week in the NFL and people are still shocked when they happen.
This week saw the Rams, widely considered the worst team in the NFL, upend everyone's new favorite team, the Redskins. On a weekend featurning a number of matchups pitting a good team against a bad time, this was the most uneven game.
And then there was the Super Bowl champs, my New York Giants, getting James Thrashed by the Browns last night in a truly ugly display. Experts will ask questions, but they will inherently be the wrong ones. We must ask not, How did the Giants pass rush fail so miserably, How did the Cardinals front 7 get to Tony Romo every other play, How did the Skins lose despite a big day from Clinton Portis? We must ask, Why is it that great teams - and that they are - consistently lose these games?
The answer might be obvious, but it often goes overlooked. With a 16 game schedule, each series, each down, is magnified to the point that any minor mishap could make all the difference. And it is simply unfair to judge teams from week to week because it is impossible to avoid those mistakes for an entire season. That is why the NFL is so mesmerizing, why gambling on its games is so addictively impossible, and why weekly power rankings are about as insightful as Warren Sapp.
In baseball, when, in the 88th game of the year, a starter allows 6 runs and the 3-4-5 hitters go 1-12, the very next day allows for immediate redemption. In the NFL, we must wait a week, and in those 6 days every facet of a losing team's perfomance must be stripped down and thoroughly dissected. This is not in any way an appropriate reaction to one bad day - the only exception in which to cast immediate judgment is in the case of significant injuries to significant players. NFL teams must be analyzed with a wide lens, encompassing multiple games against multiple opponents.
Are the Rams as good as the Redskins? Of course not. Were they on Sunday? Absolutely. But what does that actually say about the state of each team, and their "power ranking." It says as much as a Royals victory over the Red Sox in June would say.
The way the league stands right now, any one of fifteen teams could reach the Super Bowl; and the team that does will most likely being playing its best ball in January, not in October.
And so, with that said, I will offer my weekly power rankings, but in a slightly different fashion. These are not the teams playing their best right now, these are the teams that I believe, barring injury, have the best shot come Winter:
#1. Colts - The truth is, quarterbacks win Super Bowls. With a very few exceptions, this has always been the case, and with Brady out, Peyton resides as QB Marquee in the NFL. The team has struggled thus far, but I don't see this team mulling around .500 for much longer.
#2. Jaguars - They are talented and hungry and haven't played their best football yet. But when they do they are as good as anyone.
#3. Steelers - The toughest QB in the NFL will win games on his own.
#4. Giants - Don't let last night fool you. Eli felt pressure to force the ball to Plax and their vaunted lines laid proverbial eggs. This won't continue.
#5. Saints - I just like this team, and, again, quarterbacks have the capability of carrying teams for stretches at a time.
Thursday, May 8, 2008
Wednesday, May 7, 2008
Tuesday, May 6, 2008
Iron Man and 1st Movie List
After seeing Iron Man with Epstizz last night, we were prompted to complete our list of the Top 10 Super Hero movies of all-time. Let's start with a quick Iron Man review, and then get on with our first list.
Iron Man - Robert Downey Jr steals this movie from the opening scene. He is superb as the genius billionaire who has a sudden change of perspective when he is kidnapped by Afghani rebels. The opening sequence, up until he is captured in the desert, is non-stop entertainment, complete with laughs, girls, and amazing technology and scenery. Basically, it combined Entourage with an action movie...but with slightly better acting. Anyway, I don't want to spoil anything, so I'll just say that I highly recommend the movie. It was as good as summer movies get.
Onto the List
#1 - Batman Begins
No real question here, the pinnacle of super hero movies features Christian Bale as the Caped Crusader. My sources tell me that Dark Knight may soon replace its predecessor, but, for now, Batman Begins rules all.
#2 - Batman
Jack Nicholson alone notches this spot.
#3 - Iron Man
See Above - Tony Stark is possibly the most likeable of all the superheros
#4 - Superman
A Marlon Brando sighting and the dawn of the superhero era make this film a true classic.
#5 - Spider Man
The anticipation for this movie, when it premiered five years ago, was as high as any movie that has ever come out. And it lived up to the hype.
#5 - X:Men 2: X Men United
The second of the X:Men trilogy is the best of the three. X2 had great new characters and an unforgettable opening scene (with Nightcrawler in the White House...well, I guess it is forgettable if I had to remind you).
#6 - The Incredibles
The best comedy of the superhero genre, the Incredibles was non-stop laughs, and deserves a spot on the list.
# 7 - Batman Returns
One of the darker and eerier superhero movies, Tim Burton returned with a bang for his 2nd, and final, Batman film. Michelle Pfeiffer and Danny DeVito were superb and believable as Catwoman and Penguin.
# 8 - X:Men
The first will always get its due, too. Has there ever been a more perfect fit for comic book character and movie star as Wolverine and Hugh Jackman?
# 9 - Spider Man 2
Not as good as the 2nd, but very entertaining, nonetheless. The major problem with Spider Man is his lack of enemies as recognizable as the Jokers and Lex Luthors.
# 10 - Batman Forever
This was a close call, but the cast was too good to ignore. It featured: over-the-top yet enjoyable performances by Tommy Lee Jones and Jim Carrey as Two Face and the Riddler, the arrival, finally, of Robin (Chris O'Donnell), and the sexy love interest played by Nicole Kidman; Forever had it all, except a believable Batman.
Iron Man - Robert Downey Jr steals this movie from the opening scene. He is superb as the genius billionaire who has a sudden change of perspective when he is kidnapped by Afghani rebels. The opening sequence, up until he is captured in the desert, is non-stop entertainment, complete with laughs, girls, and amazing technology and scenery. Basically, it combined Entourage with an action movie...but with slightly better acting. Anyway, I don't want to spoil anything, so I'll just say that I highly recommend the movie. It was as good as summer movies get.
Onto the List
#1 - Batman Begins
No real question here, the pinnacle of super hero movies features Christian Bale as the Caped Crusader. My sources tell me that Dark Knight may soon replace its predecessor, but, for now, Batman Begins rules all.
#2 - Batman
Jack Nicholson alone notches this spot.
#3 - Iron Man
See Above - Tony Stark is possibly the most likeable of all the superheros
#4 - Superman
A Marlon Brando sighting and the dawn of the superhero era make this film a true classic.
#5 - Spider Man
The anticipation for this movie, when it premiered five years ago, was as high as any movie that has ever come out. And it lived up to the hype.
#5 - X:Men 2: X Men United
The second of the X:Men trilogy is the best of the three. X2 had great new characters and an unforgettable opening scene (with Nightcrawler in the White House...well, I guess it is forgettable if I had to remind you).
#6 - The Incredibles
The best comedy of the superhero genre, the Incredibles was non-stop laughs, and deserves a spot on the list.
# 7 - Batman Returns
One of the darker and eerier superhero movies, Tim Burton returned with a bang for his 2nd, and final, Batman film. Michelle Pfeiffer and Danny DeVito were superb and believable as Catwoman and Penguin.
# 8 - X:Men
The first will always get its due, too. Has there ever been a more perfect fit for comic book character and movie star as Wolverine and Hugh Jackman?
# 9 - Spider Man 2
Not as good as the 2nd, but very entertaining, nonetheless. The major problem with Spider Man is his lack of enemies as recognizable as the Jokers and Lex Luthors.
# 10 - Batman Forever
This was a close call, but the cast was too good to ignore. It featured: over-the-top yet enjoyable performances by Tommy Lee Jones and Jim Carrey as Two Face and the Riddler, the arrival, finally, of Robin (Chris O'Donnell), and the sexy love interest played by Nicole Kidman; Forever had it all, except a believable Batman.
Sunday, May 4, 2008
2nd Round Predictions
These predictions were made prior to the start of yesterday's game:
West
Hornets v Spurs
The Hornets are great, but running into the Spurs in the playoffs is like gambling in a casino: you might win but the odds are definitely against you. The Hornets need a few more pieces to become a true title contender. They lack a big, dependable 2-guard, someone who can spot up and hit a 3 or midranger and play defense against the West's best, like Manu, Kobe, and T-Mac. Until they get that guy - someone in the mold of Raja Bell or Corey Magette - I think they will struggle as they advance in the playoffs. Any noticeable weakness will be highlighted by a Greg Popovich-led team.
Spurs in 7
Lakers v Jazz
The Jazz are a well-constructed team, with great shooters, physical defenders, great coaching and depth. But there are just not talented enough for the Lakers. LA is peaking right now and they are the only team thus far that hasn't played a grueling or taxing game. Add that to the fact that Utah's homecourt advantage has ebbed slightly this year, and I think the Lakers dominate this series.
Lakers in 5
Pistons v Magic
It's tough to tell whether the Pistons will get up for this series. But one game stood out during the 1st Round that offers a very bright outlook for the rest of the postseason. When the Celtics claimed they took off games early on against the Hawks, they returned to Atlanta for Game 6 and got beat. But when the Pistons used those same excuses for their losses, they went to Philly for Game 6 and crushed the Sixers. That tells me that their heads are in the right spot right now.
Pistons in 6
Celtics v Cavs
This, to me, is the toughest series to gage. If the Celtics played how they did in Game 65 of the regular season, I'd say Celtics in 6. But they're recent struggles have me thinking any game the Cavs keep close is one the Cavs will win. And the Cavs, with their great defense, are deisgned to keep games close. I think the Celts will win 2, even 3 blowouts, but the Cavs will win 3 close ones. It's that 7th game that's so difficult to imagine. It comes down to Homecourt vs Lebron. Which factor will help their team steal more games? Let's take a stab and say Lebron.
Cavs in 7
West
Hornets v Spurs
The Hornets are great, but running into the Spurs in the playoffs is like gambling in a casino: you might win but the odds are definitely against you. The Hornets need a few more pieces to become a true title contender. They lack a big, dependable 2-guard, someone who can spot up and hit a 3 or midranger and play defense against the West's best, like Manu, Kobe, and T-Mac. Until they get that guy - someone in the mold of Raja Bell or Corey Magette - I think they will struggle as they advance in the playoffs. Any noticeable weakness will be highlighted by a Greg Popovich-led team.
Spurs in 7
Lakers v Jazz
The Jazz are a well-constructed team, with great shooters, physical defenders, great coaching and depth. But there are just not talented enough for the Lakers. LA is peaking right now and they are the only team thus far that hasn't played a grueling or taxing game. Add that to the fact that Utah's homecourt advantage has ebbed slightly this year, and I think the Lakers dominate this series.
Lakers in 5
Pistons v Magic
It's tough to tell whether the Pistons will get up for this series. But one game stood out during the 1st Round that offers a very bright outlook for the rest of the postseason. When the Celtics claimed they took off games early on against the Hawks, they returned to Atlanta for Game 6 and got beat. But when the Pistons used those same excuses for their losses, they went to Philly for Game 6 and crushed the Sixers. That tells me that their heads are in the right spot right now.
Pistons in 6
Celtics v Cavs
This, to me, is the toughest series to gage. If the Celtics played how they did in Game 65 of the regular season, I'd say Celtics in 6. But they're recent struggles have me thinking any game the Cavs keep close is one the Cavs will win. And the Cavs, with their great defense, are deisgned to keep games close. I think the Celts will win 2, even 3 blowouts, but the Cavs will win 3 close ones. It's that 7th game that's so difficult to imagine. It comes down to Homecourt vs Lebron. Which factor will help their team steal more games? Let's take a stab and say Lebron.
Cavs in 7
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