JJ Abrams Project

Since I did not post yesterday due to my busy schedule, I told my loyal readers that I would post twice today. So sit back and relax and enjoy the read...

Recently I was looking at the trailers for new movies coming out in the near future, when I came across a movie that has no name that has caught my interest. Right now it is being called 1-18-08 (which is the date that it is going to be released). The fascinating thing about the movie is that NO ONE, has any idea what the story is about. Watch the trailer for yourself (on the right there) and tell me what you think. The only clues thus far are the one guy says "I can see it, its huge." Well whats huge? Who knows and the movie is causing discussions all over movie message boards. I have heard various number of theories on what 'it' is, a chimera (one third lion, goat, and snake), Voltron (sorta like Transformers), and then the classic monster Godzilla. The only hit is that the director, JJ Abrams, says that it is not a monster that has been used before, so go figure.
Now you are probably thinking how could all of this be kept under wraps so that NO ONE has found out anything about the movie. Well when JJ was rounding up actors and actresses for the movie he did not send out scripts. Meaning no one got a script that was going to be part of the movie, additionally no one has leaked any information about the movie. The filming is done in New York City, so someone must have seen something. Well the movie did a good job here too, they worked under fake names and Aliases while they were there, and besides the movie is filmed using mostly hand held digital cameras, meaning that the camera crew would have been small and easily hidden.
Now an interesting thing has happened, the offical site (link:http://www.1-18-08.com/) is nothing but a collection of pictures, which without explanation mean nothing. You do see a military man in one photo, perhaps indicating a military action. Now another website has appeared to be linked to the movie (link: http://tagruato.jp/index2.php). The website is a company that specializes in deep-sea drilling, so perhaps the beast comes from the sea.
Needless to say, this movie's ad campaign is unorthodox but is keeping me on the edge of my seat. Two things are for certain: no explaination will be given about the movie before it comes out and I am really excited to see this movie.

BP Football

Outlined against a blue-grey October sky... no but seriously the BP football game vs Pangborn was one for the ages and I will for surely always remember what happened last night. The game was tied early at 6-6 and we had the ball late in the first half and decided to punt to make sure we did not give them good field position. Eli's punt landed in the arms of their best player and after making a few Reggie Bush like moves (and yes I am serious, three cut backs, a spin move and a stutter step up the sideline) and she was gone... They missed the the one-point conversion and Pangborn was up 12-6.
After the half we moved the ball near mid-field and went for it on fourth down and were stopped. They had one big play and the next thing you know we are down 18-6. Next possession after gaining a first down, Melissa throws a pick and again they score again and go ahead 24-6.
However our team never gave up and they marched down... err I mean we completed a 60-yard pass to Jasmine on fourth down for a TD. Gaby made a nice catch in the end-zone and all of a sudden we were down 24-15. The defense, coached by Digan and Meagher, got us a quick three and out and good field position. Incomplete, incomplete, incomplete, and all of a sudden its fourth down, but a completion to Gaby along the sideline gets us a first down at the two. Next play Melissa looks and rolls to her left and runs in for a TD. But just like the white man holding the players on the basketball bench back, we still had to complete a three-point conversion.
Four-wides, no backs. Melissa takes the snap buys some time by stepping into the pocket and fires a high pass to Gaby (if you couldnt tell she was the superstar of the game [9 catches 99 yeards plus on TD, and two three point conversions]) who catches it at the one and falls back to tie the game!
There last second attempt at a Hail Mary falls incomplete and we have accomplished a fantastic come from behind tie. Not impressive you say... on the contrary our sideline acted like they just won a championship, including a Gatorade shower for the coaches, and everyone was excited (keep in mind 'the greatest game ever played' ended in a tie). It was a feeling unlike I had experienced this year with our ND team being poor and the Tigers missing out on the playoffs.
Fantastic Preformance and you might as well give us the ESPY for Greatest Game of the Year.

Baseball Playoffs

Has anyone ever noticed the scheduling that goes on in the baseball playoffs and wondered what the fuck they are thinking? The most intriguing games are scheduled during the day and then the teams that will sell are scheduled at night. Lets be honest the most intriguing series is Colorado and the Phils, with the Boston LA on at 6:30 and the Cubs on at 10. If it wasn't for the large fan bases of both the Cubs and Boston they would be playing during the day... just like Colorado and the Phils. The stories of how these teams made the playoffs makes the matchup that more interesting. Lets be honest here, I do not see the Cubs having any trouble dealing with Arizona and there anemic offense (arizona has a .205 average against the Cubs this year) and while the Boston series maybe interesting however Boston and LA have not played a meaningful game the last week or so I expect to see sloppy baseball for the first couple of games. And lets be honest with the series that starts tomorrow, will NY have trouble with Cleveland who has, for the last 50 years, shown its ineptitude in the playoffs.

So why the rant?... maybe this is why people are bored with baseball. Instead of showing the series that will be interesting by placing them on prime time, they show the games that will get the ratings from the fans of the teams. But the fair weather fans are sick of seeing NY, Boston, Chicago in the playoffs, we want to see the underdog, the unknown, things that people claim baseball has lacked with the high salary teams making the playoffs every year. But perhaps people don't realize them because baseball is giving people something else to watch, the usual suspects who are there every year and not the teams that create the interesting story lines.

Tiger Trouble

The season that passed for the Tigers was a very disappointing one. The preseason concensus seemed to be that the Tigers would be making it back to the World Series based on the returning core of players (particularly pitchers). However their pitching was suspect all season (injuries did not help) and at times the offense seemed to sputter (again injuries). Injuries in sports are not a valid excuse, as every team must go through with them. However I will tell you all what the Tigers should do to fix the team and be legit contenders next season.

First, do not bring Pudge back unless it is a two year deal worth $12 million. He is too expensive at $13 million for one season and honestly his .280 average, nine walks, medicore fielding and lack of power can be duplicated by another less expensive player. That being said, there is something to be said about a player who came to a dead franchise to help revive it to promenance, which is why you bring him back to finish out his career at a decent pay rate. Prediction: Pudge signs with the Mets at $8 million a year for the next two seasons (Tigers sign Barrett, one year deal).

Secondly if Arod declines his option (which is a distinct possibility if he struggles in the post season and the Yankees do not win a title) then go after him and hard. Overpay if you have to, the man is worth $30 million dollars over the next 6 years, so pay him. The added bonus is that he can move back to short for a few season (while he still has range and ability) before moving him back to third at the end of his career (where range is less important). The guy would be a force in an already very good lineup (imagine the three bats of Shef, Arod, and Maggs). Prediction: If Arod opts out (25% chance) he is going to the Angels who will offer him 7 years $252 million (sound familiar?).

Realistically however since Arod is a stretch they need to get Wilson from Pittsburgh to play short. Vizquel would not be a bad choice for one season as that guy can straight out field and in our lineup as an 8 hitter he would be servicable at least for one season. Prediction: Omar Vizquel is a cheaper and better short term fix at short (as Pittsburgh knows we need a shortstop).

Bring back Jones, yes for one year. He almost assurdly get two year offers from many teams in the league, but once again if you have to overpay for him for one season than do so. While Zumaya is the next closer, he could use a season of splitting the duties or if he cannot get the job done, then you have a sound back-up. Prediction: one year, $7 million. Bring back Rogers. You are probably thinking why? and the post season last year is all the evidence you need. He is contemplating retirement but if he comes back he wont be able to pitch the whole season, so you bring him in a quarter of the way through the season, much like Clemens. Gives them experience on top, with a guy who can still get the job done, and would come at a reasonable price.

If you do not bring Rogers back then Paul Byrd would seem to be a good fit for the short term. Solid pitcher that can give you innings and quality outings, allowing your offense to win games. Would give you a solid SP rotation of Verlander, Robertson, Bonderman, Byrd, and (insert fifth starter here:Miller, Jurrens, etc). Prediction: Byrd reups with Cleveland.

Lastly outfielder needs to be addressed and there are some interesting choices... Abreu is the first person that comes to mind for free agent outfielders. He gets on base, and steals some bases giving the lineup another Shef type player in that regard except less power. After a slow start he had a solid second half and his ability to run and hit the gaps make him a good fit for the Tigers and Comerica Park. Would be an interesting fit between Shef and Maggs and could potentially give Maggs even more opportunities to knock in runs. Would not come cheap however. Cliff Floyd is another interesting choice as he would be the left handed bat the Tigers would want and he has experience pitch hitting in late innings and at his age would not be an everyday player, allowing Marcus Thames to play an increased role. Prediction: Tigers go after Abreu and settle for Floyd at 2 years $13 million (to $15). Bonds is not a choice here (although it would be interesting he cannot play defense).

With all this insight here is how I see the lineups:

CF Granderson
2B Polanco
DH Sheffield
RF Maggs
1B Guillen
LF Floyd/Thames (depending on pitcher)
C Barrett
SS Viquel
3B Inge

Bench:
Snatiago
Thames
Rabelo (or Vance if back)

Starters:
Veralnder
Rogers
Robertson
Bonderman
Miller

Bullpen:
Jones
Zunaya
Rodney
Byrdak
Seay
Miner
Grilli (although i hate him)

Wake Me Up When September Ends...

This happened to me last night when Bryan literally came into my room and physically woke me up, but most importantly it is time to start waking up to get into the real work of the semester... Everyone in college knows what I am talking about. The first round of exams and papers is coming and it is time to shake off the habit of just reading or doing problem sets for class.

The thing that really upsets me about this time of year (besides of having to do tons of work), is that every teacher thinks that their class is the only class that you have. In the next 2 weeks (including today) I will have or have had 2 exams (one in class, one take-home), and 3 essays. Not to mention the fact that I have to start doing research for my 20 page paper due at the end of November. I am not complaining but seriously these situations put a lot of pressure on the students, but since according to the teacher you only have one class (their own) the work can't be that bad can it?

Perhaps this would be a good opportunity to bring up my new idea for schools everywhere... no more mandatory work, no more grades, no more exams, no more papers. You are all wondering then what the new situation would be like, well I'll tell you. From a young age we will learn to love knowledge for knowledge itself, not for grades or anything of that nature, or for knowing that if we do not graduate then we won't get a job. There would be less stress and if successful students would WANT to do work to learn more and for no other reason than that... I know that if there would no grades I would still go to class, because I love to learn, but I definatly don't like exams and papers and most of all the pressure of it all.

Fantasy Baseball Champs...

Well this weekend was relatively bad for sports... Notre Dame lost to Purdue (which I won't even talk about), the Tigers lost 2 of 3 to the White Sox (who no matter how bad they are, we can never seem to beat), and BP flag football lost another heartbreaker. While the Detroit Lions did beat the Chicago Bears this weekend (even though I could really care less).

The real treat for me this weekend was winning the Fantasy Baseball League that I have with my friends from GP, which is something that I have never done before. There have been many great teams in our league (many of which have belonged to me), but this year I think that my team was the best team ever assembled (hitters: saltalamacchia, fielder, hill, jeter, Aram, figgins, abreu, holiday, ortiz [with special thanks to bonds and sanchez] and pitching:kazmir, westbrook, putz, jones, benoit, wakefield, davis, meche, sonnanstine, arroyo, correja, snell [special thanks to lowry, shields]). My regular season record was 123-86-11 putting me in the regular season championship two seasons in a row and in the winner's bracket playoffs in all six years of the league existence. After the first round bye, I destroyed the best hitting team in the league (kirk) by an 8-2 score and then won the two week championship 6-2 (with the loser, max, congratulating my victory on thursday). For the first time ever I can look at what I spent many many hours on and actually think I accomplished something... what is it that I accomplished, you may wonder?

Well that is easy and something that is worth more than the $90 i received for winning... and thats bragging rights over 11 individuals for the next 12 months of my life. Not only can I now claim that I had the best team last season, but that I am the best manager in the league (my knack was that I never won the big game). Now since I have squashed the critics I have a new goal in our league and thats staying on top...

Paddington and Pooh

Recently Matt has been giving Bryan a hard time about liking Paddington Bear and Pooh Bear. It all started when Bryan voted for orange marmalade in an online poll at namesaretough.blogspot.com in which the question asked was what goes best on a PBJ sandwich. Matt accused Bryan as being crazy as stawberry jam is clearly the best (here Matt you are wrong grape jelly is the best, but peanut butter sucks but i disgress) and Bryan as a defense of his choice brings up Paddington who also like marmalade. Matt instantly makes fun of Bryan for this and Matt that was terribly wrong because Paddington is awesome. Eventually Matt accuses Bryan of knowing (in the biblical sense) both Paddington and Pooh, cause Bryan clearly has a thing for bears...

So today I have decided to defind these two bears, Paddington first.

Matt if you did not know Paddington, much like ancestors coming to the United States, immigrated to England, specifically to London where he was leaving "Darkest Peru" behind and his only two relatives (Aunt Lucy who taught him to stare [casues people to become flushed and embarrassed] and his unknown Uncle who gave him the hat). Once here Paddington is taken home with the Browns after waiting in the train station for someone to take him home (god bless Mr Brown for taking him home). Then he goes through growing pains of getting use to this new bustling environment were he has no one but the Brown's... seriously Matt how could you make fun of someone like this, he is just trying to assimulate into our culture much like your ancestors would have done. So Matt I am asking you to remember where you came from and respect Paddington Bear.

Pooh Bear is also a spectacular bear, and perhaps more so than Paddington, but no value judgements cause they are both sweet. Pooh lives in the Hundred Acre Wood a place that is invented by the imagination of a young boy named Christopher Robin, and here is where Winnie-the-Pooh and his friends live (Rabbit [man, cause sometimes I wonder], Piglet, Kanga, Roo, Eeyore, Owl and Tigger). Matt, Pooh likes honey and would try anything (including tying himself to ballons and pretending to be a raincloud) to get some. So here in lies the problem, Pooh is the man and despite him being a little slow upstairs he often solves problems and is a great friend, which is something you could use right now since you made fun of people's childhood idols. So maybe you should reflect on what you said and take it back about these two upstanding young bears.