When it was announced a couple years ago that the American Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences would be expanding their Oscar nominations for the Best Picture category from five to 10 films, I had mixed feelings about it. The knee-jerk reaction was it incorporated too many movies and the field no longer consisted of the cream of the crop, but at the same time it was nice to see a throwback to the beginnings of the Academy Awards when a lot of nominations was the norm at each Oscar ceremony. Beginning with the 5th Academy Awards, the Best Picture category allowed eight movies or more to be nominated and it wasn’t until the 17th Academy Awards that it went back to five nominees, like the second, third, and fourth year ceremonies had been. The inaugural ceremony only included three nominees for Outstanding Picture or Production and three nominees for Unique and Artistic Production. Those were combined the following year to become Best Picture.
After two years of seeing what it is like to have 10 movies nominated for the Best Picture category I have to say I completely support it, and my reasons are twofold. The first, and foremost, reason is it brings to the attention of moviegoers films that normally have been critically praised but publicly overlooked. Take for example last year’s nominees. Obviously everyone had heard of Avatar, The Hurt Locker, The Blind Side, Inglourious Basterds, Up, and Up in the Air. But the less popular films that would not have been as well publicized had it not been for the nomination included District 9, An Education, Precious: Based on the Novel “Push” by Sapphire, and A Serious Man. I like that less popular films come to the forefront of everyone’s minds once the nominations are announced and those movies get some extra buzz, even if there is a miniscule chance they are going to win the award.
The second reason for liking the increase in nominations is it allows me the chance to see more movies at the special screenings prior to the ceremony where certain theaters show all of the Best Picture nominees. With 10 movies nominated, the theaters break the event up into two days and show five movies each day. Last year I was only able to get to one day of the event and I saw for the first time The Hurt Locker, The Blind Side, An Education, and Up in the Air. I also watched Inglourious Basterds, but that was a repeat for me.
This year’s nominees are Black Swan, The Fighter, Inception, The Kids Are All Right, The King’s Speech, 127 Hours, The Social Network, Toy Story 3, True Grit, and Winter’s Bone. I have already seen Inception (twice), The Social Network, and Toy Story 3 (own it on DVD), but watching these movies again will not be a bore. I had every interest in seeing Black Swan and True Grit when they were first released, but by the time I would have gotten around to seeing them I decided I could just wait until this special screening since I was confident they would be included in the list of 10. Others of the 10 I am looking forward to watching include The Fighter, The King’s Speech, 127 Hours, and Winter’s Bone. The only one I am sort of dreading is The Kids Are All Right, but I did not want to see Atonement a few years ago when my wife and I did this and that turned out to definitely be worth the two hours.
I am saddened a bit that The Town got no love from the Academy for any sort of nomination in any category of significance. I was hoping that would be among the 10 nominees since I had missed out on its initial release.
It is interesting to speculate what would have been left out had the nominees been limited to five. My guess is Inception, 127 Hours, Toy Story 3, and Winter’s Bone would certainly not have made it and the fifth nomination would have been between The Fighter and The Kids Are All Right.
We’ll find out the winners on February 27, so until then enjoy the movies.
Tuesday, January 25, 2011
Wednesday, January 19, 2011
A Defense For Tony Romo (Not That It Should Be Needed)
Following a heated debate at Thanksgiving and then a repeat performance a week ago with my cousin about the merits of Tony Romo vs. Jon Kitna, I decided to embark on some statistical research regarding both Cowboy quarterbacks.
I will preface this post by publicly declaring my undying fandom for Romo. I appreciate Kitna and think he was the second-best back-up quarterback in 2010, behind Michael Vick who really shouldn’t count but did technically start the season as second string. Obviously my bias for Romo is what has fueled this rant. Yet being the ex-journalist I am, I have gone into this with some objectivity and wanted to find out the true stats of each quarterback for the 2010 season.
Before we get into the meat and potatoes of this post, I want to prelude once more with some background information on each player. Romo only played five full games and part of a sixth. Kitna played the other portion of Romo’s sixth game, eight full games, and half of a game in week 16. It should also be noted that all of Romo’s statistics were attained under Wade Phillips, whereas Kitna played under both Phillips and interim coach Jason Garrett, which I think everyone can agree should be considered when comparing these two quarterbacks.
Beginning with Romo’s seasonal stats, after six games he finished the year with 1,605 passing yards, 11 touchdowns, and seven interceptions. He went 148 for 213, resulting in a 69.5 completion percentage and averaging 7.5 yards per pass attempt. He was sacked seven times and rushed for 38 yards, gaining 6.3 yards per rush. Romo had a QB rating of 94.9.
In the ten games Kitna was a part of, he passed for 2,365 yards, 16 touchdowns, and 12 interceptions. His completion percentage at the end of the season was 65.7, completing 209 of 318 passes and averaging 7.4 yards per pass attempt. Kitna was sacked 21 times, rushed for 147 yards, attained 4.7 yards per rush attempt, and rushed for one touchdown. His passer rating for the season was 88.9.
In every statistic that is averaged out for the season Romo was the favorite and where Kitna’s numbers were higher it was mostly due to playing more games than Romo and being involved in an offense that had more spark under interim coach Garrett. To get an idea of how much more effective the offense was under Garrett than Wade Phillips, who each coached eight games apiece, Garrett got the team to score an average of 29.125 points per contest while Phillips scoring average was 20.125. One might argue that Garrett was the same guying leading the offense under both regimes, but it was clear to see that the team had given up under Wade Phillips and Garrett sparked a renewed fire inside of them once Phillips had been fired.
To take things a step further and look at two individual games from each quarterback under Wade Phillips, it is clear that on Romo’s worst days he was still a better option than Kitna. Regarding the only two games Kitna started for Phillips in weeks eight and nine, the team lost both games to Jacksonville and Green Bay by 18 and 38 points respectively. Against Jacksonville, Kitna three for 379 yards, went 34 for 49, had 12 rushing yards and was sacked only once. However, hit touchdown to interception ratio is what led to the 18-point thumping by Jacksonville, as he threw only one touchdown and four picks. In Green Bay he improved slightly in one area and faltered drastically in others. His touchdown/interception ration decreased to 1:2, but he only threw 19 completions on 30 attempts, amassed a measly 183 passing yards and was sacked four times.
Of the five full games Romo played, his worst two games were against Washington in week 1 and Minnesota in week 6. The team lost by a total of nine points combined. In Washington, Romo threw for 282 yards, with 31 completions on 47 attempts. He had one passing touchdown, no interceptions, and was sacked once. In Minnesota, he went 24 for 32 with 220 passing yards, 31 rushing yards, three touchdown throws and two picks.
Like my cousin, many Romo haters are going to dismiss the numbers in this article and either state that “stats are for losers” or claim that Romo should be benched over Kitna because of the way he wears his cap backwards. It is useless to argue with such people because until Romo wins three championships for the Dallas Cowboys he will never get his due.
I will preface this post by publicly declaring my undying fandom for Romo. I appreciate Kitna and think he was the second-best back-up quarterback in 2010, behind Michael Vick who really shouldn’t count but did technically start the season as second string. Obviously my bias for Romo is what has fueled this rant. Yet being the ex-journalist I am, I have gone into this with some objectivity and wanted to find out the true stats of each quarterback for the 2010 season.
Before we get into the meat and potatoes of this post, I want to prelude once more with some background information on each player. Romo only played five full games and part of a sixth. Kitna played the other portion of Romo’s sixth game, eight full games, and half of a game in week 16. It should also be noted that all of Romo’s statistics were attained under Wade Phillips, whereas Kitna played under both Phillips and interim coach Jason Garrett, which I think everyone can agree should be considered when comparing these two quarterbacks.
Beginning with Romo’s seasonal stats, after six games he finished the year with 1,605 passing yards, 11 touchdowns, and seven interceptions. He went 148 for 213, resulting in a 69.5 completion percentage and averaging 7.5 yards per pass attempt. He was sacked seven times and rushed for 38 yards, gaining 6.3 yards per rush. Romo had a QB rating of 94.9.
In the ten games Kitna was a part of, he passed for 2,365 yards, 16 touchdowns, and 12 interceptions. His completion percentage at the end of the season was 65.7, completing 209 of 318 passes and averaging 7.4 yards per pass attempt. Kitna was sacked 21 times, rushed for 147 yards, attained 4.7 yards per rush attempt, and rushed for one touchdown. His passer rating for the season was 88.9.
In every statistic that is averaged out for the season Romo was the favorite and where Kitna’s numbers were higher it was mostly due to playing more games than Romo and being involved in an offense that had more spark under interim coach Garrett. To get an idea of how much more effective the offense was under Garrett than Wade Phillips, who each coached eight games apiece, Garrett got the team to score an average of 29.125 points per contest while Phillips scoring average was 20.125. One might argue that Garrett was the same guying leading the offense under both regimes, but it was clear to see that the team had given up under Wade Phillips and Garrett sparked a renewed fire inside of them once Phillips had been fired.
To take things a step further and look at two individual games from each quarterback under Wade Phillips, it is clear that on Romo’s worst days he was still a better option than Kitna. Regarding the only two games Kitna started for Phillips in weeks eight and nine, the team lost both games to Jacksonville and Green Bay by 18 and 38 points respectively. Against Jacksonville, Kitna three for 379 yards, went 34 for 49, had 12 rushing yards and was sacked only once. However, hit touchdown to interception ratio is what led to the 18-point thumping by Jacksonville, as he threw only one touchdown and four picks. In Green Bay he improved slightly in one area and faltered drastically in others. His touchdown/interception ration decreased to 1:2, but he only threw 19 completions on 30 attempts, amassed a measly 183 passing yards and was sacked four times.
Of the five full games Romo played, his worst two games were against Washington in week 1 and Minnesota in week 6. The team lost by a total of nine points combined. In Washington, Romo threw for 282 yards, with 31 completions on 47 attempts. He had one passing touchdown, no interceptions, and was sacked once. In Minnesota, he went 24 for 32 with 220 passing yards, 31 rushing yards, three touchdown throws and two picks.
Like my cousin, many Romo haters are going to dismiss the numbers in this article and either state that “stats are for losers” or claim that Romo should be benched over Kitna because of the way he wears his cap backwards. It is useless to argue with such people because until Romo wins three championships for the Dallas Cowboys he will never get his due.
Tuesday, January 11, 2011
Digital Killed The Everything Star
What’s wrong with the right now?
My wife and friends are constantly getting on me for not progressing with technology and embracing the “next thing.” I don’t understand why I can’t keep what is available now and hang on to it for longer than a couple of years.
Take CDs of the 90s for example. They are smaller than records of the 70s, easier to manage than cassette tapes of the 80s, but people are abandoning it for digital music on iPods. I am fine with the iPod. My wife has one and I think it is great that you can listen to thousands of songs at random while doing literally anything in the world, from mowing the lawn and driving a car to sitting in your living room or cooking in the kitchen. That is great. But why do we have to turn our back on the previous source of technology? Why can’t I hang on to CDs and everything that entails, which includes browsing for them in music stores and holding the liner notes in my hand as I read about who the band is that made this album.
An argument I’ve heard against the CD is it takes up too much space. I have four folders full of CDs in my car for different genres of music and those cases take up less space than my daughter’s toys that are strewn across the backseat of the car. The same argument is made about DVDs and books that are on our shelves at home. Having movies and literature on our laptops is the future. Well I like having a bookshelf full of books. I enjoy standing in front of my DVD collection, wondering what movie I want to pick out.
I just don’t get why we have to be so attached to our computers for everything we do. My wife’s relentless reading of Facebook status updates and comments in the car drives me bonkers. How about you look out the window at the world going on around you instead of burying yourself in a digital world that is all about self-promotion and egotism? Amassing a small colony of Twitter followers and Facebook friends is the newest form of status symbol, like wearing Abercrombie & Fitch was in the new millennium or being a fat socialite in the early 18th century.
While I may seem to be against technology, that is not completely true. I am all for finding ways to make life easier, but having an electronic book is not easier. It is a parallel move from holding paper on your couch to holding a machine on your couch. That doesn’t improve our lifestyle in any way, so why do away with books.
What I really want is for the world around me to continue progressing with technology while preserving the older forms of things so that I can keep my CDs, books, DVDs and other stuff for more than five years at a time before upgrading to the next “latest and greatest thing.”
Oh, and I also don’t want 3D televisions to succeed. I think 3D is a stupid gimmick that should have died with disco music and Jim Morrison.
My wife and friends are constantly getting on me for not progressing with technology and embracing the “next thing.” I don’t understand why I can’t keep what is available now and hang on to it for longer than a couple of years.
Take CDs of the 90s for example. They are smaller than records of the 70s, easier to manage than cassette tapes of the 80s, but people are abandoning it for digital music on iPods. I am fine with the iPod. My wife has one and I think it is great that you can listen to thousands of songs at random while doing literally anything in the world, from mowing the lawn and driving a car to sitting in your living room or cooking in the kitchen. That is great. But why do we have to turn our back on the previous source of technology? Why can’t I hang on to CDs and everything that entails, which includes browsing for them in music stores and holding the liner notes in my hand as I read about who the band is that made this album.
An argument I’ve heard against the CD is it takes up too much space. I have four folders full of CDs in my car for different genres of music and those cases take up less space than my daughter’s toys that are strewn across the backseat of the car. The same argument is made about DVDs and books that are on our shelves at home. Having movies and literature on our laptops is the future. Well I like having a bookshelf full of books. I enjoy standing in front of my DVD collection, wondering what movie I want to pick out.
I just don’t get why we have to be so attached to our computers for everything we do. My wife’s relentless reading of Facebook status updates and comments in the car drives me bonkers. How about you look out the window at the world going on around you instead of burying yourself in a digital world that is all about self-promotion and egotism? Amassing a small colony of Twitter followers and Facebook friends is the newest form of status symbol, like wearing Abercrombie & Fitch was in the new millennium or being a fat socialite in the early 18th century.
While I may seem to be against technology, that is not completely true. I am all for finding ways to make life easier, but having an electronic book is not easier. It is a parallel move from holding paper on your couch to holding a machine on your couch. That doesn’t improve our lifestyle in any way, so why do away with books.
What I really want is for the world around me to continue progressing with technology while preserving the older forms of things so that I can keep my CDs, books, DVDs and other stuff for more than five years at a time before upgrading to the next “latest and greatest thing.”
Oh, and I also don’t want 3D televisions to succeed. I think 3D is a stupid gimmick that should have died with disco music and Jim Morrison.
Monday, January 10, 2011
Thank You Nessa Roo
Since leaving the newspaper in 2009 I haven't done much writing. Outside of the occasional post on here or on my other blog about poker, my writings have been nonexistent. I have some ideas that I start an outline on or think up an entire plot in my head, but when it comes time to put those thoughts down on paper I lose steam.
Normally I tell myself that nobody is going to like what I am writing about or it isn't going to be good enough to get published. However, after reading a fellow blogger's post that revealed an excerpt from a book she had started last summer I decided I shouldn't care what others are going to think about my writings. I would be writing for myself. If I were to author a dozen books and none of them got published, then that is okay. At least I found an outlet for my ideas. Those ideas don't have to be critiqued and approved by the masses.
Should my children or grandchildren someday read any future books I finish then that would be fine, but I am not going write with the idea of becoming the next J.K. Rowling. I simply want to express myself in the best way I know how, and that is through writing.
Normally I tell myself that nobody is going to like what I am writing about or it isn't going to be good enough to get published. However, after reading a fellow blogger's post that revealed an excerpt from a book she had started last summer I decided I shouldn't care what others are going to think about my writings. I would be writing for myself. If I were to author a dozen books and none of them got published, then that is okay. At least I found an outlet for my ideas. Those ideas don't have to be critiqued and approved by the masses.
Should my children or grandchildren someday read any future books I finish then that would be fine, but I am not going write with the idea of becoming the next J.K. Rowling. I simply want to express myself in the best way I know how, and that is through writing.
Saturday, January 08, 2011
New Pixar Rankings
With Emery old enough to watch, and understand, all the Pixar movies I have been watching them a lot lately. At Christmas my 3-year-old daughter got Toy Story 3 and we have already watched it a couple of times. Since viewing the Pixar films I have a new order of the best to the worst, which the worst is still better than most animated movies ever released.
The Incredibles
Toy Story
Finding Nemo
Up
WALL-E
Toy Story 3
Toy Story 2
Monsters, Inc.
Ratatouille
A Bug's Life
Cars
The Incredibles
Toy Story
Finding Nemo
Up
WALL-E
Toy Story 3
Toy Story 2
Monsters, Inc.
Ratatouille
A Bug's Life
Cars
Friday, January 07, 2011
Can Jason Garrett Succeed As Head Coach And Offensive Coordinator?
After the official announcement yesterday that Jason Garrett would be getting the head coaching job full-time next season (if there is a next season), it has been repeatedly announced that Garrett planned on remaining the offensive coordinator despite the promotion. At first I was in agreement with most sports talk pundits that it was a bad idea to not hire an offensive coordinator as the head coaching position requires a lot of attention and responsibilities. I even did some research to see how many Super Bowl winning teams had a head coach and an offensive coordinator, which is something all the reporters in television, radio, and print had said was the case but I wanted to see for myself. After going as far back as the 1992 Dallas Cowboys I verified that in the past 18 seasons the team that won the Lombardi Trophy had split the jobs of head coach and offensive coordinator between two people.
However, then I started thinking about this season's playoff-bound teams and realized something. The New England Patriots, who many think are a favorite to win it all, don't have either an offensive or defensive coordinator. Now, they have people doing the job of those positions, but not the title. Head Coach Bill Belichick appointed himself defensive coordinator at the start of the season and the team's quarterbacks coach is the offensive play caller.
Now I am not saying Jason Garrett is as great as Belichick in that he can be the team's master and commander as well as call plays while on offense, but what I am saying is that it is possible to do both and achieve a high level of success. I am behind the Jason Garrett hire completely as he showed in the final eight games a fire and passion in the team that was lacking under Wade Phillips, but as for continuing to be the offensive coordinator I will wait on passing judgement until I see how things are rolling in 2011.
However, then I started thinking about this season's playoff-bound teams and realized something. The New England Patriots, who many think are a favorite to win it all, don't have either an offensive or defensive coordinator. Now, they have people doing the job of those positions, but not the title. Head Coach Bill Belichick appointed himself defensive coordinator at the start of the season and the team's quarterbacks coach is the offensive play caller.
Now I am not saying Jason Garrett is as great as Belichick in that he can be the team's master and commander as well as call plays while on offense, but what I am saying is that it is possible to do both and achieve a high level of success. I am behind the Jason Garrett hire completely as he showed in the final eight games a fire and passion in the team that was lacking under Wade Phillips, but as for continuing to be the offensive coordinator I will wait on passing judgement until I see how things are rolling in 2011.
Friday, December 31, 2010
Happy 2011
Hope everyone's 2010 was as spectacular as mine. I wish you all a festive evening and a Happy New Year!
Monday, December 27, 2010
Funny To Me
While watching television this afternoon while my wife and daughter nap, I suddenly found something chuckle-worthy and thought I would throw it up on here for anyone who might stumble along to this site. I am viewing a History Channel program called "The Last Stand of the 300" about the famous battle of Thermopylae made famous a few years ago by the Gerard Butler-starring, Zach Snyder-directed film from the Frank Miller graphic novel. What makes my situation so funny is my flip channel is old episodes of Tom and Jerry.
I go from an educational documentary on a famous battle where 300 Spartans faced off with Xerxes to an animated classic show about a violent stand-off between cat and mouse. I found it funny. I don't know about you.
I go from an educational documentary on a famous battle where 300 Spartans faced off with Xerxes to an animated classic show about a violent stand-off between cat and mouse. I found it funny. I don't know about you.
Friday, December 17, 2010
A Vegas-Style Christmas
I won't exactly be spending Christmas in Las Vegas, but I will be spending the next four days there. I, along with three of my friends, leave for Vegas today and I am getting really antsy about the trip. Ever since last night I haven't been able to sleep and all I am thinking about is our plane leaving for Sin City. It is going to be great. Hopefully I will have some fun stories from our trip to share.
Wednesday, December 15, 2010
Top Five Christmas Movies
A person’s favorite Christmas movies is an unavoidable talking point at holiday parties every year. Like the weather, local sports teams, “what is new with you,” people who hardly know one another at public social gatherings hit these hot topics because they have only so much they can talk about. When the theme of the party is Christmas, your most liked holiday movies naturally get thrown into the rotation of compulsory questions.
Each year my answers were always the same, but this past summer I watched a Christmas classic that now is in my top five favorites. After going to Grapevine’s Palace Arts Theatre to view Frank Capra’s 1946 classic It’s a Wonderful Life last night, I felt it necessary to throw up my favorite Christmas movies of all time. One reason for the trip to Grapevine last night was because It’s a Wonderful Life is my most beloved of Christmas movies. The superb acting, laugh-out-loud comedy, and heart-tugging drama make this a must watch, whether for Christmas or otherwise. It is just a great film in general. It is amazing that when initially released it was a financial failure. However, thanks to numerous broadcasts at Christmas in the 1970s and 80s it has grown in popularity to become a staple of holiday viewing, right alongside A Christmas Story, which also makes the list.
Coming in second on my favorite holiday-themed films list is the Chevy Chase masterpiece National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation. My favorite of the Lampoon Vacation movies is certainly the funniest of all Christmas movies, but Wonderful Life has it beat out as the emotional swings you go through in the James Stewart film is so much more poignant.
My next pick might be a controversial one for the elder generation as it is too new to be considered a classic, but it certainly will reach that status after another 15 years or so. The film I speak of is Elf, the 2003 comedy starring Will Ferrell, James Caan, Zooey Deschanel, Bob Newhart, and Ed Asner. Although the film is chock-full of the slapstick antics of Ferrell, at its core is a sentimental story where family, no matter how nutty they may be, comes first. Elf has given the general public new quotes to exclaim during the holiday season, such as screaming out “I know that guy!” when someone mentions Santa Claus or calling a person a cotton headed ninny muggings as a insult, and it also reminds us that Christmas spirit is magical and contagious.
The fourth best Christmas movie is what was mentioned before that sees a 24-hour marathon on Christmas Day. It is 1983’s A Christmas Story. The memorable moments are too many to count, but some highlights include a kid sticking his tongue to a frozen pole, the Chinese carolers, female leg lampshade, secret society decoder ring, the Queen Mother of Dirty Words, and, of course, the Red Ryder BB gun. Plus, my brother has always looked like Ralphie, so I felt a personal connection to the movie.
We come to the newest member of my Top 5 Christmas Movies list. After a single viewing this past summer, the original 1947-version of Miracle on 34th Street, starring Maureen O’Hara, Natalie Wood, and Edmund Gwenn, has catapulted itself into the top echelon of Christmas movies for me. Like It’s a Wonderful Life, this movie isn’t just a great Christmas movie, but a fine film by itself that can be viewed at any time during the year without the need of the holiday as reason enough. However, unlike It’s a Wonderful Life, Miracle on 34th Street was a financial and critical success, winning three Academy Awards for supporting actor and writing and being nominated for Best Picture, but ultimately losing. This season, I suggest picking one of these top five Christmas movies and sharing them with your family. Start a tradition of watching a Christmas movie with your kids every year and choose a new film each season.
Each year my answers were always the same, but this past summer I watched a Christmas classic that now is in my top five favorites. After going to Grapevine’s Palace Arts Theatre to view Frank Capra’s 1946 classic It’s a Wonderful Life last night, I felt it necessary to throw up my favorite Christmas movies of all time. One reason for the trip to Grapevine last night was because It’s a Wonderful Life is my most beloved of Christmas movies. The superb acting, laugh-out-loud comedy, and heart-tugging drama make this a must watch, whether for Christmas or otherwise. It is just a great film in general. It is amazing that when initially released it was a financial failure. However, thanks to numerous broadcasts at Christmas in the 1970s and 80s it has grown in popularity to become a staple of holiday viewing, right alongside A Christmas Story, which also makes the list.
Coming in second on my favorite holiday-themed films list is the Chevy Chase masterpiece National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation. My favorite of the Lampoon Vacation movies is certainly the funniest of all Christmas movies, but Wonderful Life has it beat out as the emotional swings you go through in the James Stewart film is so much more poignant.
My next pick might be a controversial one for the elder generation as it is too new to be considered a classic, but it certainly will reach that status after another 15 years or so. The film I speak of is Elf, the 2003 comedy starring Will Ferrell, James Caan, Zooey Deschanel, Bob Newhart, and Ed Asner. Although the film is chock-full of the slapstick antics of Ferrell, at its core is a sentimental story where family, no matter how nutty they may be, comes first. Elf has given the general public new quotes to exclaim during the holiday season, such as screaming out “I know that guy!” when someone mentions Santa Claus or calling a person a cotton headed ninny muggings as a insult, and it also reminds us that Christmas spirit is magical and contagious.
The fourth best Christmas movie is what was mentioned before that sees a 24-hour marathon on Christmas Day. It is 1983’s A Christmas Story. The memorable moments are too many to count, but some highlights include a kid sticking his tongue to a frozen pole, the Chinese carolers, female leg lampshade, secret society decoder ring, the Queen Mother of Dirty Words, and, of course, the Red Ryder BB gun. Plus, my brother has always looked like Ralphie, so I felt a personal connection to the movie.
We come to the newest member of my Top 5 Christmas Movies list. After a single viewing this past summer, the original 1947-version of Miracle on 34th Street, starring Maureen O’Hara, Natalie Wood, and Edmund Gwenn, has catapulted itself into the top echelon of Christmas movies for me. Like It’s a Wonderful Life, this movie isn’t just a great Christmas movie, but a fine film by itself that can be viewed at any time during the year without the need of the holiday as reason enough. However, unlike It’s a Wonderful Life, Miracle on 34th Street was a financial and critical success, winning three Academy Awards for supporting actor and writing and being nominated for Best Picture, but ultimately losing. This season, I suggest picking one of these top five Christmas movies and sharing them with your family. Start a tradition of watching a Christmas movie with your kids every year and choose a new film each season.
Wednesday, December 01, 2010
Super Bowl Loser Curse Is Real
With the Dallas Cowboys set to play a struggling and injury-laden Indianapolis Colts team this weekend, I was curious about the myth of a Super Bowl Hangover, also called a curse, for the losing team of the previous NFL season’s Championship Game. It is a no-brainer that the Colts have problems and are looking for any way possible to get back in the playoffs this year while currently having the same record as the 6-5 Jacksonville Jaguars. Yet, is there really a curse to blame for this. History seems to back that theory up.
As of the end of the 2009 season with 43 Super Bowl losers declared, there have been 14 teams to lose the Big Game and not make the playoffs the next year. However, of the 14 losing teams, nine of those have come in the past 16 years since the salary cap was introduced in 1994. Those teams include 1994 Buffalo Bills (who were coming off their fourth Super Bowl loss in a row), 1999 Atlanta Falcons, 2001 New York Jets, 2002 St. Louis Rams, 2003 Oakland Raiders, 2004 Carolina Panthers, 2005 Philadelphia Eagles, 2007 Chicago Bears, and 2008 New England Patriots. Only the 2008 Patriots team was able to post a winning record the next season at 11-5, and that was even after quarterback Tom Brady suffered a season-ending injury in the first quarter of the first game.
Among the seven teams to lose the Super Bowl one year and manage to make the playoffs the next, none of those teams made it past the divisional round of the post-season.
It seems that should you want to make a bet on whether the loser of the Super Bowl makes an appearance in the playoffs the following year you have a little better than 50-50 on that happening. Find a sucker to take the bet and give yourself some odds. It wouldn’t be hard to do. Say something like, “Come on! This team made the Super Bowl. As long as they bring back the core group then it should be easy for them to make the playoffs.” Take some odds and count the money as it rolls in at the end of the regular season when that team fails to clinch a spot in the tournament.
As of the end of the 2009 season with 43 Super Bowl losers declared, there have been 14 teams to lose the Big Game and not make the playoffs the next year. However, of the 14 losing teams, nine of those have come in the past 16 years since the salary cap was introduced in 1994. Those teams include 1994 Buffalo Bills (who were coming off their fourth Super Bowl loss in a row), 1999 Atlanta Falcons, 2001 New York Jets, 2002 St. Louis Rams, 2003 Oakland Raiders, 2004 Carolina Panthers, 2005 Philadelphia Eagles, 2007 Chicago Bears, and 2008 New England Patriots. Only the 2008 Patriots team was able to post a winning record the next season at 11-5, and that was even after quarterback Tom Brady suffered a season-ending injury in the first quarter of the first game.
Among the seven teams to lose the Super Bowl one year and manage to make the playoffs the next, none of those teams made it past the divisional round of the post-season.
It seems that should you want to make a bet on whether the loser of the Super Bowl makes an appearance in the playoffs the following year you have a little better than 50-50 on that happening. Find a sucker to take the bet and give yourself some odds. It wouldn’t be hard to do. Say something like, “Come on! This team made the Super Bowl. As long as they bring back the core group then it should be easy for them to make the playoffs.” Take some odds and count the money as it rolls in at the end of the regular season when that team fails to clinch a spot in the tournament.
Monday, November 29, 2010
It's A Boy!
Title says it all. Joanna and I found out last week we are going to have a son. We aren't 100 percent sure about what the name will be just yet, but we are leaning toward Jackson for the first name.
Joanna said finding out the sex of the child has made her pregnancy much more real and she feels that calling the child "he" instead of "it" has been a great help also personalizing her pregnancy. I'm just happy to have a boy. I have always wanted a son ever since I was a little kid myself. Of course, I can't imagine that I would love Emery any more even if she were a boy.
Joanna said finding out the sex of the child has made her pregnancy much more real and she feels that calling the child "he" instead of "it" has been a great help also personalizing her pregnancy. I'm just happy to have a boy. I have always wanted a son ever since I was a little kid myself. Of course, I can't imagine that I would love Emery any more even if she were a boy.
Wednesday, November 24, 2010
Happy Thanksgiving
This really shouldn't be posted until tomorrow, but I will be busy putting up our Christmas decorations and cleaning the house for the in-laws visit on Saturday. So here it is now.
Have a happy Thanksgiving everyone!
Have a happy Thanksgiving everyone!
Thursday, November 18, 2010
Christmas Came Early For Cook Household
My amazing mother took Joanna and me shopping last night for a new television and we got a 46-inch Samsung LCD that looks glorious in our living room. After making sure I had all the hookups right and wires in the correct spot we popped in a test movie to check out the quality. Of course it was a Bond movie and so the first thing to be tested on our new TV was Quantum of Solace.
While I am not one of those that wants my family’s focus to be set around a television set, this certainly is a great thing to have in the house and I can’t wait to get some movie watching going on it.
Another thank you goes out to my mom for the gift and letting us take it home early.
While I am not one of those that wants my family’s focus to be set around a television set, this certainly is a great thing to have in the house and I can’t wait to get some movie watching going on it.
Another thank you goes out to my mom for the gift and letting us take it home early.
Wednesday, November 17, 2010
Garrett Top Gets First Win
The Jason Garrett experiment went very well for the Dallas Cowboys after his first week of head coaching. While I don't necessarily think a dress code and being on time for meetings as Valley Ranch is the sole reason for the team's success, it certainly gives them more structure and discipline that was in existence under Wade Phillips. I am just glad to see the Cowboys get back to winning and hopefully this sparks something in them that keeps going for the rest of the season. Like I told Danny on Sunday, it is like a new eight-game season has begun and right now the Cowboys are 1-0.
Monday, November 08, 2010
Friday, November 05, 2010
Bond Series Back On Track
Anyone who knows me is aware of my affinity for film. And those who know that probably know my favorite series is the James Bond movies. It is a guilty pleasure of mine and the 22 films released through the Broccoli/Saltzman group are ones I can watch again and again. So I recently received some great news regarding the 007 series as it has recently been in limbo due to financial concerns for MGM.
Following a Manhattan federal bankruptcy court judge’s ruling yesterday, MGM 30 days to seek final approval of its reorganization plan. The former movie making giant has been the financier and distributor of the film series, despite EON Productions owning the rights.
The courtroom hearing scene comes a day after MGM filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. According to a report from unofficial James Bond website mi6.co.uk, the company’s prepackaged plan proposes to eliminate $5 billion in debt by converting a loan through JPMorgan into the new stock in the reorganized company. Spyglass Entertainment chiefs will be overseeing MGM with a holding of less than 1% of the new company once it crawls out of its bankruptcy woes.
The good news for me in all of this is that the 23rd James Bond film is slated to open in November of 2012, with additional adventures for the English spy to continue every two years after that. I did not become a fan of the series until my senior year in high school, so I was not on the regular schedule of two years in between films like it was in the late 60s, 70s and early 80s.
Mi6.co.uk said, “Two potential suitors for Bond 23 financing and distribution are Paramount and Sony. Sony distributed the last two James Bond outings under the agreement reached when the company was part of the consortium that took over MGM in 2005. Sony have made it public that they would love to be involved again, but it looks like a bidding war between rival distributors will be taking place before Bond 23 is officially green-lit.”
Along with the Bond franchise, MGM’s assets include a half interest in “The Hobbit” films, its name and logo, the United Artists operations, and a library with more than 4,000 titles.
2012 marks the 50th anniversary of the EON Productions series of James Bond films.
Following a Manhattan federal bankruptcy court judge’s ruling yesterday, MGM 30 days to seek final approval of its reorganization plan. The former movie making giant has been the financier and distributor of the film series, despite EON Productions owning the rights.
The courtroom hearing scene comes a day after MGM filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. According to a report from unofficial James Bond website mi6.co.uk, the company’s prepackaged plan proposes to eliminate $5 billion in debt by converting a loan through JPMorgan into the new stock in the reorganized company. Spyglass Entertainment chiefs will be overseeing MGM with a holding of less than 1% of the new company once it crawls out of its bankruptcy woes.
The good news for me in all of this is that the 23rd James Bond film is slated to open in November of 2012, with additional adventures for the English spy to continue every two years after that. I did not become a fan of the series until my senior year in high school, so I was not on the regular schedule of two years in between films like it was in the late 60s, 70s and early 80s.
Mi6.co.uk said, “Two potential suitors for Bond 23 financing and distribution are Paramount and Sony. Sony distributed the last two James Bond outings under the agreement reached when the company was part of the consortium that took over MGM in 2005. Sony have made it public that they would love to be involved again, but it looks like a bidding war between rival distributors will be taking place before Bond 23 is officially green-lit.”
Along with the Bond franchise, MGM’s assets include a half interest in “The Hobbit” films, its name and logo, the United Artists operations, and a library with more than 4,000 titles.
2012 marks the 50th anniversary of the EON Productions series of James Bond films.
Tuesday, November 02, 2010
Keep Your Heads Held High Metroplexians
As disappointing and gut-wrenching as it was to watch the Texas Rangers lose Game 5 of the World Series last night, it was still a fantastic season that had many firsts for the ball club. Although the ultimate goal every season is to win a championship in whatever sport, I consider this year's Texas Ranger's season a success and can't wait for the developments with Cliff Lee's free agency and the other moves the Rangers will have to make in the offseason to keep this organization together.
Thursday, October 28, 2010
Joe Buck's 'The Jerk' Reference
Watching the San Francisco Giants wallop on the Texas Rangers last night in Game 1 of the World Series, Joe Buck made me laugh hysterically as he referenced Steve Martin's 1979 film "The Jerk." It was during a long at-bat by one of the Giants players who kept fouling the ball back to the camera behind home plate. After two or three of these balls came near the equipment set up to film the action, Buck uttered, "He hates these cameras." This could easily be taken as nothing more than a statement made off the cuff and Buck was not thinking of Martin's first starring film role as an idiotic white man raised by a black family, but it was just too similar to the famous line, "He hates these cans," to not be an out-and-out reference. I already liked Buck before as an announcer, but now I love him. Greatness!
Thursday, October 21, 2010
I Love Midlothian
Just finished playing three-man baseball with two kids from the neighborhood in my back yard. I saw them playing in the next door neighbor's front yard when I got home from work and got the baseball bug. I asked if they would like to add a third and when they said they were cool with it I told them to ask their parents and make sure it was okay. We got the good to go and were using ghost runners and patio furniture bases.
First of all, in a larger community you wouldn't see kids playing outside, let alone being welcome to an adult tagging along. Secondly, it would be frowned upon by the jaded parents of big city families who would think my longing for a kid-like afternoon of America's pasttime was some sort of pedophile ploy.
Every day that passes I find some new reason to love Midlothian more and more.
First of all, in a larger community you wouldn't see kids playing outside, let alone being welcome to an adult tagging along. Secondly, it would be frowned upon by the jaded parents of big city families who would think my longing for a kid-like afternoon of America's pasttime was some sort of pedophile ploy.
Every day that passes I find some new reason to love Midlothian more and more.
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