Image of the Day for 08-22-07

(AP Photo/Ann Heisenfelt, File)

Eddie Griffin, formerly of the Minnesota Timberwolves, was indentified via dental records as the horribly charred body that was involved with a SUV/Train wreck last week. JA Adande of ESPN writes a good piece on the troubled life and time of Griffin. What this pointless death has to do with me is that Griffin was so stacked in NBA Live 06 that I traded for him in two different Franchise Mode games. He was great for boards and blocks and step up wiht a double digit game in every once in a while. It's just unfortunate that they guy couldn't just be like the video game and be trouble for his opponents on the court versus get in trouble with his actions off of it.

Sphere: Related Content

Gordon Turned by Kenseth as Busch takes win in Michigan

(Image provided by NASCAR.com)

#2 Kurt Busch and #1 Martin Truex, Jr. finish one-two in Michigan. But what was more notable (at least to me) was that Matt Kenseth and Jeff Gordon tangle up again near the end of the race. This seems to be an annual occurance that either the 17 or the 24 get into the other. In the post-race interview, Gordon sluffed off any inference of being angry at Kenseth other than saying that he was trying to see if he could get the car tightened up before going into the wall and Kenseth must've gotten too impatient. I'd bet if he was competing to get in The Chase, his tuen probably would've been different but since he's locked in and is only looking for bonus points for win, the news of placing 27th as well as not getting the car totaled wasn't too hard to take.

Story Link: ESPN.com

Sphere: Related Content

Image of the Day for 08-21-07

(AP Photo/Darron Cummings)

Indy got a repeat of the Bad Rexy performance last night but the outcome was not the same as the Bears held off the Colts 27-24. Grossman was truly gross as he fumbled three times, threw a pick and was sacked once. And that is why Grossman is not a member of the Hilarita Lil Devils.

Sphere: Related Content

What I"m Digging - Till The Sun Turns Black

It's hard to believe but there are sometimes in the world of Pop culture where I am behind the curve. Shocking I know but I heard this song on the trailer to the movie Away from Her and I couldn't get it out of my head. It was a haunting melody that sucks you into the performance; like Nick Drake used to write but with a broader orchestral stroke. I had to look it up and discovered that it was Be Here Now by Ray LaMontagne from the CD, Till the Sun Turns Black, which was released last year. After checking out a couple of other song samples, I decided to download it from iTunes and I coudln't be more happier with the $10 purchase. One song in particular (other than the aforementioned one) that had me hitting the repeat button was Three More Days, a groovy 60s soul-influenced jam that Jack Johnson wishes he wrote. If you're into singer/songwriters with a varied musical style, Till the Sun Turns Black maybe the CD for you. It was for me.

CD Product Link: Ray LaMontagne - Till The Sun Turns Black

DVD Product Link: Away from Her

Sphere: Related Content

Image of the Day for 08-20-07

Saw these fine pair of kicks on Kung Fu Rodeo and really brought back some memories of living in the Land of the Rising Sun. The link that KFR provided was all in Japanese and I wanted to know what it would take for me to secure one of these limited edition shoes. That was until I saw the price of these suckas (¥16,800, which equates to US $146.38). But I was still curious on how the shoes were pitched. So, thanks to our friends in the translation department at Google.com, here's the Japanese-to-English translation:

[This commodity is the reservation commodity]

BATMAN×UBIQ which is actualized with the Warner brothers and cooperation production. UBIQ that you adopt it is not upper the comic handle for the whole upper, the logograph of BATMAN and for the lining of the mouth, it can meet wear adopt play heart which seems the design which overflows. Furthermore in special model such as the BOX which represents the package of TOY it has become the suitable completion. Marketing route, both the number of feet the complete limited model which is squeezed arranging” BATMAN” of the next year release which this time the special preceding incoming order only of FLAUGE actualizes in UBIQ style, release. This time, single-engine is not and the match which the model release is done over the approximately 1 years to movie release being release, it has become. The selection shop which is Harajuku, “[kineteikusu]” and the connected same it does and includes the development of the apparel and plans various plans. It is not the usual UBIQ handling shop, it becomes limitation sale with the market which is limited very.

* It is late September delivery schedule.

* As for this because there is payment date setting with the reservation commodity, the reservation commodity where payment date differs, in addition it cannot liquidate with the brand commodity simultaneously.

* As for the commodity of the photograph because of the sample, the actual product there are times when specification and processing and size etc differ somewhat.

* In regard to circumstances of production of the factory, there are times when payment date becomes modification. Concerning front and back of dispatch day please acknowledge beforehand.

* As for reservation, August 31st (gold) AM10: You end with 00.

Sphere: Related Content

Image of the Day for 08-19-07

In the time honored tradition as Code Red, Livewire and my beloved Pitch Black, the people over at PepsiCo have decided to create a new limited edition Mountain Dew hybrid. This one is called Game Fuel, which has nothing to do with the flavor combination (similar to Livewire) and everthing to do with its promotion with HALO 3. This concoction has a mixture of Citrus and Cherry (like Code Red) flavors. And oddly, it tastes like something completely different. It has a more of a high school punch flavor but with a kick. And damn it if it wasn't addicting as well. Don't get me wrong; I'm still down with OPB (Ole Pitch Black, yeah you know me) but this one will make Dew, for now.

Product Link: Mountain Dew Game Fuel

Sphere: Related Content

Image of the Day for 08-18-07

This image goes out to my little brother, who is no longer little anymore, for his 36th birthday. Welcome to the downhill of your 30s, old man.

Sphere: Related Content

Image of the day for 08-17-07

No image today as I'm traveling from NoVa to Fla. Will update with all sorts of news tomorrow, maybe.

Sphere: Related Content

Image of the Day for 08-16-07

It's hard to believe that Appetite for Destruction is 20 years old. And since there's no possible way that GnR will be releasing Chinese Democracy before the end of this year, this will probably be the only new material from the band (even if it's not musical). Marc Canter was around the band from the beginning and has now compiled his photographs, memorabilia and interviews into this handsome 7x9"book. Any fan of music, especially the Hair/Heavy Metal, will not be able to live without this book. The books drops on September 10th and if you act now, you can get limited edition covers of each band member (while supplies last).

Purchase link: Reckless Road

Sphere: Related Content

Rutgers player looking to cash in on name-calling

(AP Photo via ABC News)

Man, America's litigious culture and "I wanna get paid" attitude has reared its ugly head again. Kia Vaughn has hit Don Imus (both pictured above) with a civil law suit for defamation of character. According to her ambulance-chasing attorney, Richard Ancowitz, the reason for the suit is:

“This is about Kia Vaughn’s good name,” he said. “She would do anything to return to her life as a student and respected basketball player - a more simple life before Imus opened his mouth on April 4.”

Huh?! It's been over four months since this media frenzy, which led to Imus' firing (and deservedly so). But to say you need to be compensated because some radio idiot DJ hurt your rep by calling the team that you played on a name smacks of out-and-out greed. Puhlease. Try telling that to the real people who suffer through that same indignation on a daily basis, but have to work for a living, not Vaughn's lifestyle of hoops and books at a Division I college. What's really surprising about this suit is not the fact that it was filed, but that there hasn't been more of them. But rest assured, if Vaughn gets anything outta Imus, there will be.

Sphere: Related Content

Image of the Day for 08-15-08

Picked up this watch earlier in the week. I must be living under a lucky moon or something as as soon as I bought it, Fossil has either run out of it or has pulled it from their online inventory. Either way, yea for me. Although I got some gried from the wife since it's less than two weeks until my birthday and I'm not supposed to buy anything until afterwards. Yeah, right.

Sphere: Related Content

Quick Reviews: A Night at the Movies

I'm on travel this week and got an opportunity to go to the local movie house which, for a guy with a 4 year old boy and a 2 year old girl, is a rare one. I got there a little late so I came in during the trailer for the Tom Cruise vehicle "Lions for Lambs". But I did get to see two other trailers and the feature presentation. So, here are my short but unadulterated thoughts on all three:

Beowulf - The CGI follow-up for Zemekis featuring the voices of Angelina Jolie and Anthony Hopkins based on the screenplay by resident comic book writer, author and screenwriter genius Neil Gaiman and vet Roger Avary. Ehh, I liked the concept but the images in the trailer seems too glossy and flat. I might wait for the DVD on this one.

American Gangster - Man, this one seems like it's trying to capitalize on last year's success of The Departed but I couldn't care less. Denzel, Russell Crowe, and Cuba Gooding Jr along with rappers Common and TI (using the LL Cool L movie crossover blueprint) bring the 70s back to life with the period piece based on the "true story" of Frank Lucas, the Harlem Heroin King. If the trailer is any indication of the movie, it has all of the earmarkings of another classic gangster flick.

And the feature presentation was:

The Bourne Ultimatum - Flat out, this show rocks. Damon once again breathes life into the possibly stale character of Jason Bourne. However, the real stars of the show are the "villains" in the CIA. David Strathairn, Scott Glenn, Joan Allen and even Julia Stiles shine as they show the different grays that exist in the shadow world of deep ops. This series has been referred to as the "Thinking Man's Popcorn Movie" and this one not only maintains that high praise but I think that this is the best one of the current trilogy. Just go see it.

Sphere: Related Content

Image of the Day for 08-14-08

A carry-over from last night's post. This Flash commissioned sketch is from Titanstower.com. And last word on this subject, my friend and working professional, Jeff Parker, has put up some wonderful candids and added some wonderful ancedotes about Mike. It's really worth reading; if only to get a better sense of 'Ringo's affect on others.

Sphere: Related Content

Mike Wieringo (1963-2007)

'Ringo doing what he did best

Just before hitting the sack after a Sunday of traveling and a Monday full of training, I decide to hit one more site (Heidi's Comics Fairplay) before hitting the sack. That was at 11:30 PM and it’s now 1:30 AM and I still can't believe what I've read tonight. Mike Wieringo passed away over the past weekend from an apparent heart attack at the age of 44. It's unfathomable that someone with such vibrancy and vitality as ‘Ringo possessed could pass away so suddenly. My overly glut of verbosity is more than compensating my inability to say something meaningful that would make the shock of this news disappear.

I just can't believe how someone as young at heart as Mike was betrayed by that very same organ. From the few times that I met him, he was extremely personable and sincere to this old-looking and socially inept person that I had to wonder if he was just humoring me. But I was wrong. He was class from the word go. And in a world where that kind of currency is becoming harder and harder to come by, hearing this kind of news makes it that much hurtful.

In the end it's hard to imagine someone passing away at 44; especially for someone who had much more to offer. When I get back to Florida, I’m gonna kiss my kids until they tell me to stop and hug my wife until my arms fall off. And before I go to sleep, I pull out those old Tellos books out of the longbox and re-read them. Probably with a box of tissues close by. Just in case.

And for those who would want to contribute to something in his memory, his family have made the following request (via a post on Mike's website by his brother Matt):

Though we haven’t ironed out the details of how we plan to honor
Mike, I’d like to suggest that, in lieu of cards or flowers, anyone who is so
inclined please donate to the ASPCA or the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund in his
name. I have a feeling Mike would like that.

Sphere: Related Content

Image of the Day for 08-13-08

Image courtesy of Rueters via Boston.com/sports

Eric Gagne, recently acquired by the Sox, has decided to blow up any chance of Boston of keeping their lead in the AL East. He has proven that there is no lead that he cannot give up as he done so twice since coming to the Sox. He's gone from a "Fireman" (baseball term for saving games) to an Arsonist proven by his egregiously bad 16.20 ERA in four appearances for the Red Hose. Based on those facts, I will now only refer this guy only as "Gagme".

Sphere: Related Content

Ladies and Gentlemen, Your Hilarita Lil Devils

It's a new Fantasy Football season and for the first time in over 10 years, I have a new league. There will be growing pains and I don't expect to dominate like in the old days. Plus with new owners on a live online draft versus the old school all-in-the-same-room draft, it'll be harder than ever to find the temperature of the room concerning who wants what and who you can get when it's your time to draft. How did the newly christened Hilarita Lil Devils do? Let's find out, pick by pick:

ROUND 1 – Pick #1 LaDainian Tomlinson, RB SD: You would have to be clinically insane not to take this guy at #1. Luckily, I failed that entrance exam for Saint E’s. Although, it may be a misdiagnosis as the rest of my picks can attest.

ROUND 2 – Pick #28 Torry Holt, WR StL: Another solid pick. He’s the Number One guy on a very high-powered offense in a division where defense is a seldom used word. Can’t fault this selection.

ROUND 3 – Pick #29 Randy Moss, WR NE: A total gack pick as I was looking forward to Clinton Portis two picks before and missed which made me lose focus. Although Moss is not an awful selection, it was probably too high when Reggie Wayne was still available.

ROUND 4 – Pick #56 DeAngelo Williams, RB Car: A decent save with this pick but I still have some doubts as this guy does come with injury baggage. But most of the rags have him going in Round 4; just a little higher than my pick so I feel there was good value.

ROUND 5 – Pick #57 Tony Gonzalez, TE KC: The second best available TE on most boards and to get him in the 5^th Round in a TE-starting league was a nice pick-up. But with so many questions surrounding the KC Offense, I’m kinda wishing that I should’ve selected either Adrian Peterson of MINN or Anquan Boldin of AZ; both of whom were available. But, I’m not totally killing myself over it.

ROUND 6 – Pick #84 Jon Kitna, QB Det: The fragile lynchpin for my whole season. There were too many QBs that were taken way too early so I decided to go for quality picks over whatever run was prevalent at the time. Plus, the position of my picks really hampered what I could get at the right time. Still, if he can grasp the Martz system and hit those fabulous WRs (all of whom were already taken by this pick), I might have gotten goof value at #84.

ROUND 7 – Pick #85 Ravens D/ST, Bal: This pick, I decided to try to start runs on DEF and it didn’t work all that well. In the next two rounds, only three other DEFs were taken. This season is my first with this league so it’s kinda like the over-popular Texas Hold-Em. I’ve got to know the owners and their tendencies as well as the league's scoring system so I can draft better next year.

ROUND 8 – Pick #112 Vernand Morency, RB GB: A good value here; especially if he can hold on to the job over rookie Brandon Jackson. At least I’ll get some use out of him until such time. But even better, this selection marks my third RB pick with a Week #7 bye-week. I’m usually better than that but this draft didn’t start until 11:30 PM so I can blame being tired on my lack of focus.

ROUND 9 – Pick #113 Jeff Wilkins, K StL: This one was another attempt of starting a run but only two kickers was picked during this and the next round. It may have been somewhat early to pick a kicker but when looking at the available players to choose from, I still like this pick. Screw the so-called experts. And just so we get one thing straight, I’m not bitter about these back-to-back picks.

ROUND 10 – Pick #140 Leon Washington, RB NYJ: A very good pick-up here since Michael Turner (Tomlinson’s backup in SD) was picked friggin’ four rounds earlier. But, Washington still seems like a good option; especially since he’s my only RB option that will be playing on Week #7. For those who are scoring at home, a 10^th Round pick will be the starting running back on Week #7 - yeah real smart there, you damn dummy.

ROUND 11 – Pick #141 Brandon Jones, WR Ten: The first pick where I had to consult my book to find out who this cat was. And it seems like it’s not a bad pick for the 11^th round. The guy is supposed to have a good rapport with Vince Young (aka Madden Curse victim for 2007-08) and he was rated the 35^th best receiver in the league so at #141, I see an extremely good selection here.

ROUND 12 – Pick #168 Byron Leftwich, QB Jac: A decent back-up who does have the capability to move into the starter’s role. This is a good thing since Kitna may not have the mojo like he did when he became the NFL’s Comeback Player of the Year over four years ago. I hope that it doesn’t come down to starting Leftwich, who has struggled in recent years actually finding his WRs in the open field.

ROUND 13 – Pick #169 Bo Scaife, TE Ten: Another back-up pick and since a TE is a young QB’s best friend, making this pick was a sensible one; especially when you look at the other possibilities on the board. And basically, this late in the draft, you’re just like a virgin in a brothel – more than happy to see a warm body that has a good likelihood of putting out for you.

ROUND 14 – Pick #196 Vikings D/ST, Min: Backing up the Ravens’ DEF. Nothing more; nothing less. I just hope that the mighty Vikes can beat up on the Eagles at home.

ROUND 15 – Pick #197 Stephen Gostkowski, K NE: I’m not sure on why this guy, who will be kicking for one of the top 3 teams in the NFL, was still around at this pick. And frankly, I won’t complain about taking him here. And the last pick of the draft and so labeled “Mr. Irrelevant”…

ROUND 16 – Pick #224 Amani Toomer, WR NYG: For the last pick in the draft and to get a viable 3^rd option on a decent Giants team, I consider that a gem. Plus, it’s always fun to imitate the ruler of Kaleeforkneea by saying, “It’s Not A Toomer!”

That’s it for this year’s draft. I’m so lukewarm about this team that it makes me physically ill. As for predictions, I'm worried about who can play where since there’s this very ambiguous Offensive Player who could be anyone and I hate seeing two QBs starting against the Lil Devils. So, I'll say that I’m shooting for a playoff-making 9-5 but will settle for 6-8.

Sphere: Related Content

Image of the Day for 08-12-07

I was cursed with the first pick of the ol' local Fantasy Football draft and there was only one choice - LaDainian Tomlinson. While I totally dig that he's on the Hilarita Lil' Devils, I hate, HATE having the first pick because that means the next pick is over 23 picks away. Long time in between picks. And it did affect my usual solid drafting skillz. More on that later today after some sleep.

Sphere: Related Content

FoodOne Interview at NewsAskew

One of my fav artists period is Jim Mahfood (pictured above; otherwise known as FoodOne). His style of art kinda like classic thick-lined animation mashed up with "indy" sensibilities. I've been a big fan since his work on the Clerks comic from Oni Press, which is why is a subject of the Chris Graves' View Askew interview series, Click here to read more about the man who is, without a doubt, one of the best multi-media artist (by that I mean murals, comic books, book illustrations, tattoos, skateboard, you name it) around and who also sold me the classic CD, Uneasy Listening Volume 1.

Mahfood Website: 40 oz Comics

Sphere: Related Content

Image of the Day for 08-11-07

From AP News:

This image made available Friday, Aug. 10, 2007 by NASA shows a white gouge, bottom left, and scrapes against the black tiles on the underside of space shuttle Endeavour. NASA discovered a worrisome gouge on Endeavour's belly soon after the shuttle docked with the international space station Friday, possibly caused by ice that broke off the fuel tank a minute after liftoff. (AP Photo/NASA)

Sphere: Related Content

Just who is "Who's Now"?

The brutal yet honest dissection of "Who's Now", the Worldwide Leader's failed attempt to bring SportsCenter back to relevancy, has been performed by everyone and anyone on the Web; most notably by ESPN's Ombudsman herself, Le Anne Schreiber. But the possibility for satiric gold using this disjointed comparison of somewhat comparable people hasn't been realized until now. So, by the way of Dan Shanoff's Daily Quickie, here's the ultimate "Who's Now" showdown from EveryDayShouldBeSaturday:

Sphere: Related Content

Image of the Day for 08-10-07

Nothing too interesting of note today and I was just listening to "it means everything" by Save Ferris so they score the all-important Image of the Day honor. Too bad the band has been broken up for over 4 years.

Sphere: Related Content

Image of the Day for 08-09-07

While this image from the 96 MTV Video Music Awards may look crappy, the news is not (for some). Word has been leaked that Van Halen (with Roth as lead singer and Eddie's son, Wolfgang Van Halen, on bass) will announce on Monday that they will finally get around to do their long-awaited but once canceled tour. Just don't forget to sell most of your stuff to see them.

Sphere: Related Content

Real Life Curious George plays out in NYC

No, there were no balloons involved with this bit o' news but it did remind me of that monkey who was always very curious. Some guy coming over from Lima, Peru hid a marmoset under his hat for the entire flight from Peru to Ft. Lauderdale and for most of the connecting flight to LaGuardia. Man, what the hell are the Customs people thinking in Peru? "Hey, lemme check your bags to make sure that there are no knives, guns, or explosives. Okay, empty your pockets. Next, take off dem boots. But that hat? Nah, it's cool." Wonderful. In case you're wondering when the next "Outbreak" came from as we're racked with open sores, thank our friends down in Lima.

Sphere: Related Content

Image of the Day for 08-08-07

This week is National "Stop on Red" Week. So, please stop running those mauve and pinkish lights and let's be careful out there, people.

Sphere: Related Content

Pittsburgh Comicon Founder Arrested for Murder from 17 years ago

The comic book community was rocked today by the arrest of Michael Ralph George, founder and organizer of the Pittsburgh Comicon, for the murder of his first wife 17 years ago in Michigan. George, pictured on the left, was charged with one count of first-degree murder, one count of second-degree murder and one count of using a firearm during a felony. the murder of Barbara Marie George occured in the Comics World store that she and George both owned. She was killed "execution-style", meaning one shot to the back of the victim's head.

Police, at the time, claimed that it was a robbery gone wrong which led to the murder of the 32-year old mother of two small children, who was staying late to help prepare for her husband's surprise birthday party. George was arraigned on a fugitive warrant and sent to the Somerset County Jail without bond.

Details for the post came from The Philadelphia Inquirer and The Tribune-Democrat.

Sphere: Related Content

Image of the Day for 08-07-07

Future Joe Gibbs Racing teammates Kyle Busch (the new skool hot-headed driver) and Tony "Smoke" Stewart (the old-school hot-headed driver) talk racing (and probably how much rubbing you can get away with in today's NASCAR). If you have a PR firm and need business, I would suggest that you should begin camping out at 13415 Reese Blvd WestHuntersville, NC 28078 starting February next year.

Sphere: Related Content

On the Horizon - Batman Anime and Wonder Woman Direct-to-DVD releases

Word has come out that the WB Animations Studios are possibly looking to step-up their games in order to compete with their competitors at Marvel and Dark Horse. It was recently leaked last week to the Internet (via Newsarama) that there might be two direct-to-DVD releases involving the Maid of Might and the Dark Knight in the very near future. Of course, as with all leaks, a "No Comment" was issued by Warner Brothers when asked to confirm these images. So, please take these images and associated pitches with a grain of salt:

BATMAN ANIME

Targeted Audience:
Dual (Core fans and tween boys)

Rating:
PG-13 (anticipated)

Release:
2-4 weeks in advance of The Dark Knight film release.

Overview:
Set in the period between BATMAN BEGINS and THE DARK KNIGHT, this brand new adventure follows BATMAN as he unravels a mystery over six original stories done in the style of Japanese Anime. Each of the six original stories has been written by a highly respected screenwriter or comic book creator. The talent includes Academy Award nominee Josh Olsen (The History of Violence), screenwriter of the Blade films and Batman Begins David Goyer, and famed comic book writer Brian Azzarello, among others.

The Batman Anime DVD is viewed as a perfect companion piece to BATMAN BEGINS and THE DARK KNIGHT. The original stories introduce a number of classic characters from the DC Comics BATMAN universe as well as following up on characters and storylines that were introduced in BATMAN BEGINS.

WONDER WOMAN

On the mystical island of Themyscria, a proud and fierce warrior race of Amazons have raised a daughter of untold beauty, grace and strength – Princess Diana. When and army fighter pilot, Steve Trevor crash-lands on the island, the rebellious and headstrong Diana defies Amazonian law by accompanying Trevor back to civilization. Meanwhile, Ares (the god of War) has escaped his imprisonment at the hands of the Amazonians and has decided to exact his revenge using the mystical “Hand of Rage,” an ancient artifact with the power to raise armies from the dead and infuse them with a thirst for blood. Ares intends to start a world war that will not only last for centuries – but will wipe out every living being on the planet, starting with the Amazons! It is up to Princess Diana to save her people and the world – by using her gifts and becoming the ultimate Wonder Woman!

Wonder Woman stars in this next installment of the DC Universe series of original animated movies!

Target: Males 18+, women 18+, and girls 9-17.

Proposed rating: PG-13

DVD street date: Q4 2008/Q1 2009

Sphere: Related Content

Image of the Day for 08-06-07

Photo coutesy of NESN

Red Sox OF Coco Crisp gets sideswiped on his way out to the field by the hard driving Seattle Moose. Crisp also was hit by a pitch during the game, which Boston won 9-2.

Sphere: Related Content

Read My Lips...

I am a big fan of Reality TV (in case one of my first posts concerned Chachi at 45 on VH-1 didn't hip you to that fact). It is like a sociology experiment that just happens to have a semi-cohesive threaded POV that's devised by network people who edit the hell out of millions of hours in the raw footage. However, the problem with Reality TV is that the talent pool here in America is running on empty.

There are so many different genres from the mate-quest show (The Bachelor, Joe Millionaire, and currently, the disturbed Rock of Love with the aging quite badly Bret Michaels) to the next great creator competition show (the Next Food Network Star and Design Star) and from the makeover show (Extreme Makeover and Made) to the generic "ultimate" endurance show (the originator of US Reality TV, Survivor, and Road Rules/Real World Challenge) that it's not too far off to think that I'm the only one who has not been on one reality show yet. It's getting to the point where the networks are turning to grade school kids for an influx of fresh blood (ABC's Kid Nation), which is eerily similar to the NBA drafting 18 year-olds but that's a comparison for another time.

Perfect examples of this drying out talent pool are Dick from Big Brother 8 and Rob from the aforementioned Design Star. Both men are over 35, self-important, and are loud and obnoxious which they mistakenly misdiagnose as them being "straight forward" and "telling it like it is". They value their opinions above all others and they espouse hate and discontent as their personal doctrine.



Now before you say they have something in common with a certain person that you may read occasionally (don't you dare!), this pair of wannabe alpha-males have something else in common. They both can butcher the exact same phrase but in different ways. Here's the phrase (from doubletongued.org):

Throw (someone) under the bus - to reject or betray (someone); to treat as a scapegoat; to put out of favor or at a disadvantage.

Ding-dong Dick used the phrase "sold you under the bus" a couple of weeks ago on BB8 while the irritating Rob used "throw me under the wheels" in tonight's Design Star episode. Huh? I thought that the whole purpose of that phrase was the visual of actually throwing someone under a bus. Obviously, Dick mashed up the phrase with another popular (albeit turn of the 20th century phrase) "sold you up the river". Kinda understandable but Rob's excuse? Don't got one here. I think that he's just somewhat slow and crazy to use the English language properly.

I hate being the grammar police because that would be like the inmates running the asylum. But please, people, read my lips. If you're gonna use a hip new phrase or colloquialism that people at work were throwing around to cover their asses ("wrap my brain around it" is the leader going into the clubhouse in mine), please practice it with family and close friends prior to using it. It does everyone involved a bit of good.

Sphere: Related Content

Image of the Day for 08-05-07

I hate being a shill, especially for something I'm not getting any money out of hawking. But it's that time of year again. Go Spartans!

Sphere: Related Content

Please wake up, Bob Ryan

I didn't have really much else to talk about today. That is until I came across this little "blog" by one of the best sports writers today, Bob Ryan. I'm sure that you might have heard of him as he shows up whenever ESPN needs a great pinch hitter on The Sports Reporters, Around the Horn, or PTI. Hell, he did so well with those show that NESN (that's New England Sports Network in non-acronym form) gave his own PTI-style show called The Globe 10.0. So, he knows his stuff.

But on this one post, I would have to give him an alarm clock so he can a real wake-up call. Here's what I mean (excerpt from the aforementioned "blog"):

For you young'uns, as well as impressionable elders, let me remind you what a proper Supporting Cast in the NBA really is.

What it isn't is the one the Celtics have at the present time. From roster spots 4 through 12, the Celtics are the most impotent team in the NBA. You must accept this, or else there is no chance of us having a decent conversation. The new trio of stars is a nice start.

A nice start. Period....

Mr. Ryan continues to laundry list the former bench players of the great Celtic teams of the 80s and early 90s. I would do so here but I hate being redundant for duplicity's sake.

The fact is that on principle, I do agree with his sentiment. There's no way that the Celtics, comprised the way they are now, would ever come close to resembling a complete and solid playoff team back then. However, he fails to factor into his playoff contender roster calculation a few variables that have transpired since those thrilling days of yesteryear:

• The age of the Salary Cap, which prohibits stockpiling undiscovered or underutilized role players for years until they were needed. Can't pay people for not contributing right away anymore.
  
• Not only one but two years of expansion, which diluted not only the game play but the player pool. Kinda hard to keep good players when there are more teams who can snatch them up by offering more money.
• The introduction of upside, which made GMs go after younger players who did not have the strong fundamentals down and more times than not needed on-the-job training to get those skils perfected. This shift towards "potential/upside" raw players versus "proven" winners has single-handedly killed the game to the point that the NBA had to establish an age-requirement just to prevent the GMs from putting it completely in the grave.

In the type of shape that the Eastern Conference is in, the Celtics do not have to be like they were in the 80s. Shoot, if LeBron and his band of unreknowns could make it to the NBA finals, it's not hard to imagine the Hydra-head of the Celtics getting there too. So, Bob (if I can call you that), please wake up and live in the now..

Wait a sec, since I can't be a young'un (3 weeks until 38th birthday people!), I must be one of those impressionable elders. Aww, crap...

Sphere: Related Content

Image of the Day for 08-04-07

Photo courtesy of Associated Press/Reed Saxon

Jake Brown of Australia bails during his Big Air run at X-Games 13. It was an estimated 40 foot drop but the dude still walked away from it. It has to be seen to be believed. So click the YouTube viewer below to get an eyeful of this amazing slam.

Sphere: Related Content

ESPN screwed the pooch with this HOF list

Normally, I love a good list. They're great fodder for discussion and debate. But when common sense is thrown out the window, a bad list can bring up the type of bile that is only reserved for the Yankees and your mother-in-law. Such is the latest "Hall Of Fame-Bound" one from the minds of Thomas Neumann and Scott Symmes of the World-Wide Leader. Here's their requirements for this list of 50 NFL players who have the likelihood of making it into Canton:

We rated players on a 20-point scale in five categories. Details are found in the ratings key on the right side of the page.

Before you post a snarky comment at the bottom of this page … understand that these are predictions. Very few active players would be locks for the Hall of Fame if they retired today. That leaves the door open to interpretation on who else will fill the field of 50 -- even a couple players who have yet to take a regular-season snap.

OK, now check our list -- and post that snarky comment.

Well, I'm going to give them the pleasure of reading my snarkitude on ESPN's website, I'll just post them right here. Even better, I'll provide all of the 50 players in increments of ten and provide my always clear but not concise comments. Let's start with #1-10:

1. Brett Favre

2. Tom Brady

3. Peyton Manning

4. Larry Allen

5. Ray Lewis

6. Richard Seymour

7. Jonathan Ogden

8. Marvin Harrison

9. LaDainian Tomlinson

10. Adam Vinatieri

Britt's comments: Nothing wrong with the choices here. But this first ten is kinda like spelling your name right on the top of a Scantron sheet for you SAT. You might get some points for it but challenging, it is not.

#11-20
11. Brian Urlacher

12. Orlando Pace

13. Michael Strahan

14. Junior Seau

15. Tony Gonzalez

16. Dwight Freeney

17. Champ Bailey

18. Derrick Brooks

19. Warren Sapp

20. Torry Holt

Britt's comments: Not much to complain about in the second ten right until number 19 hits you smack dab in the face. Sapp as a HOF in football not eating? I'm not seeing it. I know he won a defensive POY (Player of the Year) . But he's only got one ring and there's no reason to believe he'll get another one as a meaningful contributor. There are others much more deserving like a certain Taylor in Miami. If this was a fantasy football draft, making Sapp #19 would be a Mr. Fantastic-sized reach

#21-30

21. Shawne Merriman

22. John Lynch

23. Alan Faneca

24. Steve Hutchinson

25. Brian Dawkins

26. Walter Jones

27. Jason Taylor

28. Shaun Alexander

29. Julius Peppers

30. Antonio Gates

Britt's comments: The third ten starts the downward spiral for this list. It is almost criminal that the aforementioned multi-dimensional Taylor, the former total TDs in one season record holder and the premier end in the NFC are bunched together near the bottom of this list. Nothing against Faneca, Hutchinson and Jones but they should trade places the the first trio in my opinion.

#31-40

31. Troy Polamalu

32. Randy Moss

33. Ed Reed

34. Reggie Bush

35. Ty Law

36. Terrell Owens

37. Edgerrin James

38. Carson Palmer

39. Vince Young

40. Calvin Johnson

Britt's comments: More head scratching here on the last ten before the end of this list. Reggie Bush, with his one NFC Championship under his belt, ahead of one of the best lock-down corners in the league, Ty Law? Calvin Johnson, who hasn't played one down only four places behind Owens and only 8 behind Moss? I realize that not all of the selections will have qualifications at this time but rookies should never be in the mix for this list. For example, if this list was made in 2000, Tom Brady wouldn't have been even close to the screen to be on radar (and for good reason) and they would've been hyping up the absolute dominance that LaVar Arrington would have created as he marched his way to Canton. Even if hindsight is 20/20, enshrining rookies just isn't a good idea.

#41-50

41. Matt Leinart

42. Rod Smith

43. Hines Ward

44. Chad Johnson

45. Lofa Tatupu

46. DeMarcus Ware

47. Larry Johnson

48. Steven Jackson

49. A.J. Hawk

50. Adrian Peterson

Britt's comments: And here continues the total discrediting of this list with the last 10. Leinart ahead of SB MVP and soon to be top Steeler career leader in catches and yard Ward? Including a second year player like Hawk and another rookie in Peterson just shows two things: 1) the list should have been shortened to 30; and 2) the salary cap has affect the career life of its players as more than a couple of these players have been victimized by back-loaded contracts and a bigger/cheaper talent pool that continues to grow every year. I would've rather seen a tight and sensible list of 30 players whose facts were more solid than this mess of upside and possible inductees.

And it doesn't end here, the players listed below are considered "On The Bubble":

Anquan Bolden
Drew Brees
Issac Bruce
Rodney Harrison
Willie McGinest
Donovan McNabb
Steve McNair
Tom Nalen
Simeon Rice
Steve Smith

Britt's comment: The questions here abound as to why these guys were not included. Leinhart is on the list while his top WR is not? Three-time SB winners Harrison (the hardest hitter in the NFL for most of his career) and McGinest are on the outside looking in? McNabb, the QB behind a five-year run atop the NFC East with three consecutive NFC Championships and one SB, not good enough? "Air" McNair, co-MVP and one SB game while changing perceptions of what a Black QB should be, sitting on the sideline? And burner Steve Smith won't be able to continue his current run of success because his upside is weak? And why is Mr. Consistent Zach Thomas nowhere to be found on this list? Stop me before I start frothing at the mouth.

And here's a list of players that were tabbed as being not HOR-worthy:

Eli Manning
Clinton Portis
Brady Quinn
Ben Roethlisberger
Tony Romo
JaMarcus Russell
Jeremy Shockey
Michael Vick
Mario Williams
Charles Woodson

Britt's comments: Most of these players I don't have a problem on this list. Although I find it funny that the two highest rated QBs from this past draft don't get the benefit of the doubt like the fellow Class of '06 draftees. And saying that Super Bowl winning QB Roethlisberger is already toast is way too premature, even with the bike wreck and terrible season he had last year.

I know that I spend way too much time overanalyzing a list of possible Hall of Famers compiled by some guys that aren't even covering the NFL for ESPN. But, as I stated above, I love a good list. And sometimes, I love a bad list even more.

Sphere: Related Content

Image of the Day for 08-03-07

Promise that this is the last Celts post for a little while.
But, wasn't long before the bug acquisition was used to get more season tix, huh?

Sphere: Related Content

What You Should Buy - Death Metal (Oni Press)

Black Metal (Oni Press) - Rick Spears (W) / Chuck BB (P)

Any kind of Metal rocks. It's been proven - whether it is Bret Michaels trying to bang as many past-their-prime groupies on VH-1's "The Rock of Love", Dethklok just killing it in "Metalocalypse", or just by the current renaissance of bands putting out music now from old school acts like Judas Priest and Slayer to new headbangers like Municipal Waste, Mastodon, Lamb of God, Trivium and Shadows Fall. Right now, it is good to be a Metal head.

And it keeps getting better with yesterday's release of Oni Press' Black Metal. It stars two twin brothers who find out that they may be more than they thought they were and it involves fulfilling an ancient vision. It's a great action/adventure rock-n-roll tour de force and you shouldn't miss it. But if you have reservations about buying a comic book that has the words DEATH METAL on it, just click the image below and read a quick pdf preview.

Sphere: Related Content

Image of the Day for 08-02-07

With one of his boys copping a plea on Monday, it looks like Mike Vick should've been in Adam Sandler's role for the remake of "The Longest Yard" to help him prepare for his next "team".

Sphere: Related Content

Take the Spartan Quiz

In celebration of Michigan's 10-year run as an elite basketball progam (and since Frank Miller's 300 came out yesterday), click the image below to take the Michigan State Spartan Quiz.

The Spartan Basketball Quiz

Sphere: Related Content

See You In Toledo Call Letters

Here's a copy of the post that I made earlier this morning at your second new favorite website, KungFu Rodeo:

The US Government is truly an example of the old adage that the left hand has no idea what the right hand is doing. Case in point, the FCC has become the big moral compass/watchdog concerning what goes over the “free” airwaves by handing out fines left and right for “infractions” that they deem outside the bounds of normal decency. This kind of hyper-aggressiveness has turned what was a vastly entertaining and sometimes organically funny method of delivering music, talk, traffic, and weather together to whoever had a working radio into a timid, demo-geared and rotation-based corporate machine.

Now, pair that with the latest list of call letters that were released this past week by said FCC. Hidden in this document was the very subversive KUNT call sign for an inactive station based
out of Maui. As the article states in the link provided above, the owner of this station (KM Communications, Inc.) also owns the call sign KWTF, another soon-to-be classic.

I’m sure that this grievous omission will be rectified by the all-mighty FCC. However, me thinks that someone at KM has a sense of humor. Thank god, at least someone in radio still does.

Sphere: Related Content

Image of the Day for 08-01-07

Photo courtesy of the Associated Press via the Boston Globe

Looks like I'll have to ask for a #5 Celts jersey for my birthday this month. Huzzah!

Sphere: Related Content