The Tool Box

NFL Power Rankings - Week 4

2008-09-30T13:09:00.002-04:00

1. New York Giants
I'm pretty curious to see their game this week against the Seahawks.

2. Tennessee Titans
Their defense is pretty darn good. I've always liked Kerry Collins, and even though he isn't the future, neither is Vince Young.

3. Washington Redskins
Now that was an impressive victory.

4. Dallas Cowboys
It only takes one loss for this team to start complaining. I hate the Cowboys. I am still sticking with my prediction that this team will not make the Super Bowl.

5. Buffalo Bills
This team seems confident and they are playing some good football.

6. Carolina Panthers
If the receivers can keep it up, the running game will be stronger.

7. Pittsburgh Steelers
I like the Steelers but man, did they look terrible.

8. Philadelphia Eagles
This team isn't the same without Brian Westbrook.

9. Jacksonville Jaguars
This team is starting to look like the team I thought they would be.

10. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
They are finding ways to win, thanks to the defense. Brian Griese needs to stop turning the ball over.

11. San Diego Chargers
This team needs to start playing all 4 quarters.

12. Green Bay Packers
If Aaaron Rodgers is hurt, they are in big trouble.

13. Denver Broncos
Their defense is really bad. They won't make it far if they keep that up.

14. New England Patriots
We'll see how they bounce back from that pathetic loss to Miami.

15. New Orleans Saints
This week against Minnesota should be an interesting matchup.

16. Indianapolis Colts
This team should be able to bounce back this week.

17. New York Jets
That was a nice win, but the defense can't keep playing that poorly.

18. Chicago Bears
Kyle Orton is showing some life, but they still don't seem like a playoff team to me.

19. Arizona Cardinals
That was an embarassing defensive performance on Sunday.

20. Seattle Seahawks
It seems as if this team will find a way to squeak out the NFC West yet again.

21. Minnesota Vikings
So many people were hot on this team and I'm still not sure why. Sure they have AP and a good defense, but were they not aware of their quarterback situation?

22. Baltimore Ravens
Their defense is still good, but the offense still stinks.

23. Atlanta Falcons
They beat the bad teams, but can't compete with the good ones just yet.

24. San Francisco 49ers
I don't see this team winning too many more games. Lucky for them, they have the Rams twice, but they'll be lucky to win both of those.

25. Miami Dolphins
We'll see how they respond after their bye week.

26. Cleveland Browns
Well, they finally won, but it wasn't pretty.

27. Houston Texans
This team isn't playing great, but I don't think they're as bad as people think. They lost to Pittsburgh, Jacksonville, and Tennessee all on the road. Now they have 4 in a row at home.

28. Oakland Raiders
They are playing tough, but need to learn how to finish games.

29. Kansas City Chiefs
That was a nice win and as long as LJ is running like that, they can win a few games.

30. Detroit Lions
No more Millen will at least make the fans happier.

31. Cincinnati Bengals
This team is bad already. But they are really bad without Palmer.

32. St. Louis Rams
We'll see if firing their coach helps morale a little.

NFL Power Rankings - Week 3

2008-09-23T08:33:00.002-04:00

1. New York Giants
This win wasn't pretty, but they're 3-0 and still rolling.

2. Dallas Cowboys
The offense looks unstoppable right now, but their defense still needs work.

3. Tennessee Titans
I've always been a Kerry Collins fan, but never did I think he'd be in a position to make the playoffs at this point of his career.

4. Philadelphia Eagles
Well, that was quite the defensive statement they made on Sunday.

5. Pittsburgh Steelers
I think this is still a good team, but Big Ben needs to get healthy quick.

6. Denver Broncos
I'm never too sold on a team that can't stop anybody. Sooner or later teams are going to figure them out.

7. Buffalo Bills
They pulled off a close one to a team they should have beat, but last year they probably would have lost. I like this team a lot.

8. Green Bay Packers
They lost at home to a tough team. They need to get the running game going soon.

9. Carolina Panthers
Jake Delhomme should have had a better game than he did against a weak pass defense. We'll see how they respond.

10. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
They lost to a tough Bears team on the road. This team just finds ways to win.

11. Washington Redskins
After their week 1 loss, they have played solid football.

12. New England Patriots
What the heck was that?

13. Arizona Cardinals
They lost a close one to the Skins, but they still are in control of their own destiny in the NFC West.

14. Jacksonville Jaguars
This is probably too high for them, but they did lose to two hot teams and beat a Colts team that seems to be struggling.

15. San Diego Chargers
That was better. Let's see if they can keep things going.

16. Chicago Bears
They lost a heartbreaker, but the defense is starting to look a little vulnerable.

17. Indianapolis Colts
They just don't look right. With all of the surprise teams in the AFC, will both the Pats and Colts miss the playoffs?

18. Baltimore Ravens
They haven't really beaten anyone yet, but there is no such thing as an easy win in the NFL.

19. New Orleans Saints
Reggie Bush is producing, but the defense is bad. This may be another disappointing season.

20. Minnesota Vikings
This team has potential, but they are going to have to score points.

21. New York Jets
The offense isn't quite clicking yet. The defense isn't playing as well as expected.

22. San Francisco 49ers
This team really isn't that good and they will prove that in the next few weeks.

23. Seattle Seahawks
Julius Jones is looking like a good pickup and they should be getting some of their receivers back soon.

24. Miami Dolphins
That was quite the win, but we'll see what they can do with it.

25. Atlanta Falcons
As long as they play bad teams, the offense looks good.

26. Oakland Raiders
They sure blew the game this week.

27. Cincinnati Bengals
They showed some signs of life and play a winless Browns team this week.

28. Houston Texans
This is going to be a rough year if they don't find some offense soon.

29. Cleveland Browns
They showed no signs of life and play a winless Bengals team this week.

30. Detroit Lions
Another embarassing loss.

31. Kansas City Chiefs
They stink.

32. St. Louis Rams
They stink too. Poor Missouri.

NFL Power Rankings - Week 2

2008-09-17T15:34:00.002-04:00

I typically don't do this until after the first bye week, but since there technically was a bye week, I guess I'm starting early.

1. New York Giants
Until the Super Bowl team is beaten, they remain number one. The Giants have looked mighty good thus far.

2. Dallas Cowboys
I have to admit that I am not on the Cowboys bandwagon and do not think they will make the Super Bowl this season.

3. New England Patriots
This team is finding ways to win, but it will be interesting come crunch time how they react.

4. Pittsburgh Steelers
This was my darkhorse to win the AFC (if picking Jacksonville as my champion wasn't a big enough darkhorse pick) and they are playing good football. Ben's injury is a big concern, however.

5. Philadelphia Eagles
They really should have won that game on Monday. I'm sure they'll play them better come the end of the season.

6. Carolina Panthers
I really liked this team coming into the year and can't wait to see how they perform with Steve Smith back in the lineup.

7. Green Bay Packers
They are picking up where they left off last season, except at some point Ryan Grant needs to get going before they become predictable.

8. Buffalo Bills
I still can't get over the Lions not taking Trent Edwards. I like this team a lot.

9. Tennessee Titans
This defense is unbelievable, but we'll see how far they can get with Kerry Collins at quarterback.

10. Denver Broncos
The offense is on fire, but their defense is going to be exposed more and more as the season rolls on.

11. Arizona Cardinals
They are playing good football right now and are in the weakest division in football. This could finally be the year they make the playoffs again.

12. Chicago Bears
Losing to the Panthers in Carolina by a few points is no big deal. They are playing much better than I gave them credit for, but their offense still stinks.

13. New Orleans Saints
We'll see how they respond to that loss in Washington. They're going to miss Colston.

14. Indianapolis Colts
Yes, they ended up beating the Vikings, but it sure wasn't pretty. They just don't have that swagger so far this year. I'm betting that they'll find it soon.

15. New York Jets
This team wasn't quite ready to become the kings of the AFC East.

16. San Diego Chargers
This team is about 10 seconds away from being 2-0.

17. Tampa Bay Bucs
We'll see what Brian Griese can do in the next few weeks.

18. Washington Redskins
This team finally showed some offensive spark. We'll see if it lasts against the Cards this week.

19. Jacksonville Jaguars
This was my Super Bowl pick and that pick is not looking good thanks to some crucial injuries on the offensive line.

20. San Francisco 49ers
This team will not continue to win with JT at QB.

21. Seattle Seahawks
We all know this team is better than this. You can't help but feel sorry for them.

22. Cleveland Browns
The offense needs to wake up and fast.

23. Minnesota Vikings
I was not high on this team like everyone else coming into the year. Now that Jackson is no longer the QB, they may have a shot. I have said it before and I'll continue to say it, he is a terrible quarterback.

24. Houston Texans
I still like what this team has to offer, but 15 straight games will come back to haunt them.

25. Baltimore Ravens
This team will win a few games, but the offense is still not very good.

26. Atlanta Falcons
After the Lions made them look like an all star team, they came back to reality against the Bucs.

27. Oakland Raiders
McFadden looked good, but it was the Chiefs.

28. Cincinnati Bengals
You have to think that Palmer and the offense will start to play better. They did play two good defenses.

29. Detroit Lions
They played better for about 25 minutes. Then it was back to finding new ways of losing.

30. Kansas City Chiefs
Their quarterback situation is just ugly.

31. Miami Dolphins
They'll get better later on.

32. St. Louis Rams
It still amazes me how bad this team is with the talent they have.

Dream Card

2008-07-18T13:30:00.002-04:00

I finally have put together a "Dream Card" that I think would be pretty solid. The only restriction was that everyone on the list had to have wrestled for WWF/E. This is how I would book it. (Editor's Note: Assume that each wrestler is in the prime of their career.)

1. CM Punk vs. Owen Hart
This match seems a little odd, but I think it would make for a great opening match. It'd be hard for me not to put Punk over though.

Length Of Match: 12:23
Winner: CM Punk via Pinfall

2. Ted Dibiase vs. MVP
Up next you've got the two "wealthy" competitors of their respective eras. While this wouldn't necessarily be a 5 star match, both guys play their characters greatly and that's enough to make for a solid match.

Length Of Match: 8:35
Winner: Ted Dibiase via Million Dollar Dream

3. Mick Foley vs. Sabu vs. Rob Van Dam vs. Terry Funk
This would be, of course, a hardcore match. Four of the most exciting wrestlers of this style ever and they would most likely tear the house down. I wouldn't be surprised if someone died in this one.

Length Of Match: 15:29
Winner: Mick Foley via Pinfall

4. Undertaker vs. Rey Mysterio
Following a hardcore match is never easy, so why not put two of the biggest stars today in a match. As far as I know, these two have never met in a one on one match and for some reason, I've always wanted to see it. Undertaker would have to pull off a great performance where he allows Mysterio to get a lot of near falls.

Length Of Match: 13:56
Winner: Undertaker via Pinfall

5. Triple H vs. Harley Race
I've always found these two to be pretty similar in styles. This would be a good change of pace for the evening.

Length Of Match: 14:11
Winner: Triple H via Pinfall

6. Jeff Hardy vs. Matt Hardy vs. Brock Lesnar vs. Booker T vs. Hakushi vs. Brian Pillman vs. Shelton Benjamin vs. John Morrison
This of course would be the Money In The Bank Ladder Match. The Hardys are a must, as are Shelton Benjamin and John Morrison. I would love to see what Hakushi and Pillman would bring to the table, while having Lesnar in there adds a "monster" to the mix. Booker T would also add another main event name to the mix.

Length Of Match: 19:21
Winner: Brian Pillman via Ladder (I would have loved to have seen him as a heel with the Money In The Bank Briefcase)

7. Ricky Steamboat vs. Chris Benoit
This would be a 2-out of-3 falls contest. Two of the greatest technical wrestlers ever squaring off. This would be pretty sweet, I must say.

Length Of Match: 28:34
Winner: Ricky Steamboat (2 Falls To 1)

8. Jake Roberts vs. Raven
This is another match that maybe wouldn't set the world on fire, but I bet the promos and the story going in would be classic.

Length Of Match: 7:32
Winner: Raven via Pinfall

9. Randy Orton vs. Randy Savage
The battle of the Randy's. I feel as if these two could really tear it up, especially if we're talking about vintage Savage.

Length Of Match: 19:17
Winner: Randy Savage via Pinfall

10. Vader vs. Finlay
Two of the toughest men to ever walk in a ring, I would love to see these two just destroy one another.

Length Of Match: 12:37
Winner: Vader via Pinfall

11. Bret Hart vs. Kurt Angle
This is a submission match. What way to follow up a brawl than with a classic wrestling match? I know most people would have loved to have seen this one.

Length Of Match: 25:31
Winner: Kurt Angle via Ankle Lock

12. Mr. Perfect vs. Chris Jericho
Two of the greatest Intercontinental Champions of all time and also two of my favorite heel wrestlers ever. This would be pretty awesome.

Length Of Match: 18:16
Winner: Chris Jericho via Pinfall

13. John Cena vs. The Rock
These two have a lot in common in styles and the way that they go about their matches. The crowd would be absolutely electric throughout, that's for sure.

Length Of Match: 18:59
Winner: The Rock via Pinfall

14. The Brainbusters vs. Edge + Christian
Two of the best tag teams ever, in my opinion. This would be a very solid mix of styles that would compliment one another well.

Length Of Match: 14:39
Winner: Edge + Christian via Pinfall

15. Eddie Guerrero vs. Shawn Michaels
I was always hoping to see this matchup one day and unfortunately it will never happen. This would be the match of the night in terms of pure wrestling excitement.

Length Of Match: 38:17
Winner: Shawn Michaels via Pinfall

16. Ric Flair vs. Steve Austin
The main event of the evening would feature two of the greatest champions ever. These two could have a great match with a broomstick, let alone with one another. An awesome end to an awesome night. Flair would be the heel here.

Length Of Match: 26:05
Winner: Steve Austin via Pinfall

Night Of Champions Recap

2008-07-14T10:46:00.004-04:00

Due to my wedding I will just be putting the ratings for the matches at Night Of Champions.

1. John Morrison + Miz defeated Finlay + Hornswoggle by pinfall.

Rating: 3 (out of 5)

2. Matt Hardy defeated Chavo Guerrero by pinfall.

Rating: 2.75 (out of 5)

3. Mark Henry defeated Kane + Big Show by pinfall.

Rating: .75 (out of 5)

4. Ted Dibiase + Cody Rhodes defeated Hardcore Holly by pinfall.

Rating: .25 (out of 5)

5. Kofi Kingston defeated Chris Jericho by pinfall.

Rating: 3 (out of 5)

6. Mickie James defeated Katie Lea Burchill by pinfall.

Rating: .75 (out of 5)

7. Edge defeated Batista by pinfall.

Rating: 3.25 (out of 5)

8. HHH defeated John Cena by pinfall.

Rating: 3.75 (out of 5)

Overall, this was a pretty good show that was highlighted by the two main event matches. The undercard was okay, but nothing spectacular.

Overall Rating: 73%

Vengeance/Night Of Champions Rankings
2001
2005
2003
2008
2006
2007
2004

Match Of The Year Tracker
WrestleMania XXIV - Ric Flair vs. Shawn Michaels (4.75)
No Way Out - Raw Elimination Chamber (4.5)
WrestleMania XXIV - Money In The Bank Ladder Match (4.5)
Judgment Day - Chris Jericho vs. Shawn Michaels (4.25)
Royal Rumble 2008 (4)
WrestleMania XXIV - Edge vs. Undertaker (4)
One Night Stand - Edge vs. Undertaker (4)
Backlash - Edge vs. Undertaker (4)
Raw March - Jeff Hardy vs. Chris Jericho (3.75)
No Way Out - Smackdown Elimination Chamber (3.75)
WrestleMania XXIV - John Cena vs. Randy Orton vs. Triple H (3.75)
Backlash - John Cena vs. JBL vs. Triple H vs. Randy Orton (3.75)
Night Of Champions - Triple H vs. John Cena (3.75)

Pay-Per-View Scores
WrestleMania XXIV - 93%
No Way Out - 91%
Royal Rumble - 88%
Backlash - 82%
Judgment Day - 78%
One Night Stand - 77%
Night Of Champions - 73%

Updated Movie Of The Year Tracker

2008-06-28T08:21:00.004-04:00

With me getting married and all, I don't really have time to write reviews for The Foot Fist Way or Wall-E. But here is an updated Movie Of The Year tracker.

Movie Of The Year Tracker
Wall-E (4.5)
Forgetting Sarah Marshall (4.25)
Step Brothers (4.25)
Be Kind, Rewind (4)
The Dark Knight (4)
The Foot Fist Way (4)
Indiana Jones And The Kingdom Of The Crystal Skull (4)
Young @ Heart (4)
You Don't Mess With The Zohan (3.75)
Semi-Pro (3.5)
Iron Man (3.5)
Horton Hears A Who! (3)

I might as well do music also.

Album Of The Year Tracker
R.E.M. - Accelerate (4.75)
Brian Vander Ark - Brian Vander Ark (4.75)
Vampire Weekend - Vampire Weekend (4.25)
Phantom Planet - Raise The Dead (4)
Nada Surf - Lucky (4)
The Raveonettes - Lust Lust Lust (4)
The Raconteurs - Consolers Of The Lonely (4)
The Black Crowes - Warpaint (3.25)

Sheryl Crow - Detours (TBD)
Weezer - Weezer (The Red Album) (TBD)
Coldplay - Viva La Vida (TBD)

WWE Draft (What Should Happen)

2008-06-19T14:14:00.003-04:00

Here is a quick look at 5 guys from each brand that need to be moved.

Note: These are who I think should be moved, not who I think will be moved.

Raw

1. Carlito - If he's even still with the company, this guy very much needs to be moved. Most think Smackdown, but I'm going to move him to ECW, where he can go after the world title.

2. Umaga - They have been jobbing this guy so much because they know he's moving. Smackdown is a place where he can be a title contender and have some fresh feuds.

3. Jeff Hardy - On Smackdown he could have an instant feud with Edge, amongst others.

4. Val Venis - Is he even on this show anymore? Why not move him to ECW and let him work with some of the young talent.

5. Shawn Michaels - Well there had to be at least one huge name from Raw to leave. I think Shawn Michaels would be a great fit for Smackdown.

Smackdown

1. Batista - He has feuded with everyone there is. He needs some new scenery.

2. MVP - This seems to be a fairly obvious one. This guy is made for Raw.

3. Finlay - He can take the role that Chris Benoit was supposed to have when he was moved to ECW.

4. Jimmy Wang Yang & Shannon Moore - They're technically a tag team, so I'll move them both together to ECW. Why not put as many cruiserweights as you can in ECW to make the show seem fresh?

5. Kenny Dykstra - He hasn't shown his face in quite some time and I think a run in ECW would do him well.

ECW

1. CM Punk - I think he has a much better shot to succeed on Friday nights than on Monday nights. I think Punk is made for the blue brand.

2. John Morrison - He's been on Raw before and did well until they decided to stop pushing him. He has the mic skills to succeed there now.

3. Elijah Burke - Smackdown would be a much more fitting place for him. Plus, he has to go wherever Punk goes.

4. Armando Estrada - Raw needs some managers and this guy is the best out there. Not that there's much competition, but he's a good character.

5. Kelly Kelly - She has achieved everything there is to achieve in ECW, which is nothing. Let her be eye candy on Raw.

Summary
Raw gets: Batista, MVP, Armando Estrada, Kelly Kelly, John Morrison

Smackdown gets: CM Punk, Elijah Burke, Umaga, Jeff Hardy, Shawn Michaels

ECW gets: Jimmy Wang Yang, Shannon Moore, Val Venis, Finlay, Carlito, Kenny Dykstra

This will never happens because Raw is getting shafted. Even though they'd still have Triple H, Cena, Kennedy, JBL, Jericho, not to mention they'd be gaining MVP and Batista. I think this really helps out a weak Smackdown roster and would give some new guys a shot to shine in ECW.

One Night Stand Recap

2008-06-02T13:49:00.003-04:00

Let's take a look at last night's show:

1. Umaga vs. Jeff Hardy

I feel as if this was more of a Raw match, as opposed to what could have been a great matchup. I really hate how Umaga keeps on losing. Wasn't it only a few months ago that it took multiple finishing moves for him to get pinned? Hardy wins via trick photography.

Unofficial Rating: 2 (out of 5)

2. Big Show vs. John Morrison vs. Chavo Guerrero vs. CM Punk vs. Tommy Dreamer

This was definitely more fun than most people expected. They played the stipulation nicely and it made for an entertaining 9 minutes. Big Show wins. I can guarantee his match against Kane will be nowhere near as good as this one.

Unofficial Rating: 3 (out of 5)

3. John Cena vs. JBL

This was definitely a step up from their Judgment Day matchup, but not even in the same league as their Judgment Day 2005 match. This had some good moments, but the chemistry is still not there. I supported the JBL return, but so far he has not had good chemistry with Jericho, Finlay or Cena. If I'm not mistaken, those are three of the top workers that the company has. Hmm... Cena wins by a blood capsule in the mouth.

Unofficial Rating: 2.25 (out of 5)

4. Melina vs. Beth Phoenix

It was nice to see a good, solid women's wrestling match. This was not anything mind blowing, but it was good. Beth Phoenix looked good and her and Mickie should have a good matchup later this month.

Unofficial Rating: 2.75 (out of 5)

5. Batista vs. Shawn Michaels

It's no secret that this is the best storyline in the WWE right now. This match wasn't the classic I was hoping for, but it continued telling the story well. It should be interesting to see where they go next. Batista wins.

Unofficial Rating: 3.25 (out of 5)

6. Randy Orton vs. Triple H

This match was going along well until the whole injury, so it really isn't fair to give it a bad grade. That was a pretty nasty bump that Orton took, no question about that. The injury may have come at a good time for him as well. Triple H retains his title.

Unofficial Rating: 2.75 (out of 5)

7. Edge vs. Undertaker

As most people thought, this was the match of the night. The big surprise is that Undertaker got thrown through 4 tables and lost. I was curious to see if he would take a big bump and he most certainly did. This is not the best ladder match ever, but it had a little different flow to it and despite the interference, it was a very good main event. Edge is your new champion.

Unofficial Rating: 4 (out of 5)

Three MVP's for One Night Stand

1. Undertaker - He took one huge bump and did himself proudly despite losing the title and his "career".

2. Edge - When was the last time this guy wasn't awesome?

3. Big Show - Yes, Orton's injury was worse, but the pictures of the Big Show afterwords are pretty gross.

Overall: 77%

This was just slightly worse than Judgment Day and I think that's partly due to me having higher expectations for this show. Nothing was a huge letdown, but I was expecting Umaga/Hardy and Batista/HBK to be a little better. The ladder match is great, the rest is solid.

One Night Stand Ranking
2006
2005
2008
2007

Match Of The Year Tracker
WrestleMania XXIV - Ric Flair vs. Shawn Michaels (4.75)
No Way Out - Raw Elimination Chamber (4.5)
WrestleMania XXIV - Money In The Bank Ladder Match (4.5)
Judgment Day - Chris Jericho vs. Shawn Michaels (4.25)
Backlash - Edge vs. Undertaker (4)
Royal Rumble 2008 (4)
WrestleMania XXIV - Edge vs. Undertaker (4)
One Night Stand - Edge vs. Undertaker (4)
Raw March - Jeff Hardy vs. Chris Jericho (3.75)
No Way Out - Smackdown Elimination Chamber (3.75)
WrestleMania XXIV - John Cena vs. Randy Orton vs. Triple H (3.75)
Backlash - John Cena vs. JBL vs. Triple H vs. Randy Orton (3.75)

Pay-Per-View Scores
WrestleMania XXIV - 93%
No Way Out - 91%
Royal Rumble - 88%
Backlash - 82%
Judgment Day - 78%
One Night Stand - 77%

Movie Review - Indiana Jones And The Kingdom Of The Crystal Skull

2008-05-27T12:10:00.003-04:00

Say what you will about the long anticipated sequel, but the film was never boring. Yes there were some unnecessary scenes (the monkey scene anyone?) and maybe the whole alien plot just wasn't for you (I enjoyed it), but this film accomplished what it set out to do; to entertain. This is a popcorn flick for people who love adventure films. When the cast signed on for this, no one was expecting to win any awards. Sure, I know you could say that about any movie, but this one actually succeeds at entertaining, where many films of the genre fail miserably. So far, this and Iron Man are the two big movies of the summer, and while most are recommending Iron Man, I say go with Dr. Jones.

Rating: 4 (out of 5)

Movie Of The Year Tracker
Forgetting Sarah Marshall (4.25)
Be Kind, Rewind (4)
Indiana Jones And The Kingdom Of The Crystal Skull (4)
Young @ Heart (4)
You Don't Mess With The Zohan (3.75)
Semi-Pro (3.5)
Iron Man (3.5)
Horton Hears A Who! (3)

Steven Spielberg Rankings
Jaws
Jurassic Park
Minority Report
Indiana Jones And The Temple Of Doom (yeah, I'm one of those people who actually liked this best)
Indiana Jones And The Last Crusade
Raiders Of The Lost Ark
Indiana Jones And The Kingdom Of The Crystal Skull
War Of The Worlds
E.T.
The Lost World: Jurassic Park
Catch Me If You Can
Hook
Twilight Zone: The Movie

Judgment Day Recap

2008-05-20T10:42:00.003-04:00

I'm just going to do a quick set of ratings for the most recent pay-per-view since I don't have much time today.

1. JBL vs. John Cena

Cena wins via pinfall.

Unofficial Rating: 1.75 (out of 5)

2. John Morrison + Miz vs. CM Punk + Kane

Morrison + Miz win via pinfall.

Unofficial Rating: 2.5 (out of 5)

3. Chris Jericho vs. Shawn Michaels

Michaels wins via pinfall.

Unofficial Rating (out of 5): 4.25

4. Mickie James vs. Melina vs. Beth Phoenix

James wins via pinfall.

Unofficial Rating: 2.25 (out of 5)

5. Edge vs. Undertaker

Undertaker wins via countout.

Unofficial Rating: 3.5 (out of 5)

6. Jeff Hardy vs. MVP

Hardy wins via pinfall.

Unofficial Rating: 2 (out of 5)

7. Randy Orton vs. Triple H

Triple H wins via pinfall.

Unofficial Rating: 3.25 (out of 5)

Overall: 78%

Judgment Day Rankings
2002
2008
2005
2006
2003
2007
2004

Match Of The Year Tracker
WrestleMania XXIV - Ric Flair vs. Shawn Michaels (4.75)
No Way Out - Raw Elimination Chamber (4.5)
WrestleMania XXIV - Money In The Bank Ladder Match (4.5)
Judgment Day - Chris Jericho vs. Shawn Michaels (4.25)
Backlash - Edge vs. Undertaker (4)
Royal Rumble 2008 (4)
WrestleMania XXIV - Edge vs. Undertaker (4)
Raw March - Jeff Hardy vs. Chris Jericho (3.75)
No Way Out - Smackdown Elimination Chamber (3.75)
WrestleMania XXIV - John Cena vs. Randy Orton vs. Triple H (3.75)
Backlash - John Cena vs. JBL vs. Triple H vs. Randy Orton (3.75)

Pay-Per-View Scores
WrestleMania XXIV - 93%
No Way Out - 91%
Royal Rumble - 88%
Backlash - 82%
Judgment Day - 78%

NFL Power Rankings

2008-05-08T10:18:00.002-04:00

I know it's early, but here is a pre-pre-season Power Ranking.

1. New York Giants
They are number one until they are defeated. Which considering they're in the NFC East, may come pretty quickly.

2. New England Patriots
Their defense is a concern, but their offense will still light it up.

3. Indianapolis Colts
When is this team not in the top 5?

4. Jacksonville Jaguars
The Jags will be a pretty popular pick to do well this year. They could be Super Bowl bound.

5. Dallas Cowboys
I'm still not sold on this team as much as everyone else is.

6. San Diego Chargers
If Rivers is healthy, they have a shot at winning the AFC. They were pretty darn close last year.

7. Cleveland Browns
They are unproven, but they should win quite a few football games this year.

8. Philadelphia Eagles
They finished strong and I think the momentum will carry over to this season.

9. Pittsburgh Steelers
If they can get the running game going, and they should, this team should be a contender.

10. Seattle Seahawks
Being in a weak division helps, but it will be interesting to see this offense with Julius Jones instead of Shaun Alexander.

11. New Orleans Saints
This team disappointed last season, but they won't this year.

12. Minnesota Vikings
Another team in a weak division. They have a very solid defense and some guy named Adrian Peterson.

13. Carolina Panthers
This is a make or break year for the Panthers, who had the 2nd best draft this year. I think they will make the playoffs and possibly do some damage.

14. Washington Redskins
I'm not a fan of Jason Campbell, but the rest of this team is very solid. Too bad they're in the NFC East.

15. Buffalo Bills
This team was near the bottom in both offense and defense last year, yet almost made the playoffs. They are hard working and over achievers and I think they have an outside shot at making that 6th playoff spot.

16. New York Jets
They spent a lot of money this year and had a very nice draft. We'll see who is playing QB though.

17. Houston Texans
They are a step or two behind Indy and Jacksonville, but are getting closer every year.

18. Green Bay Packers
They are young and should still be a solid team. Just too many question marks to have them higher.

19. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
I'm not sure on this team yet. I don't know if they have the fire power to keep up this year.

20. Detroit Lions
This will be perhaps the most interesting season in my 20 years of watching.

21. Denver Broncos
This is the worst team Shanahan has ever had. Luckily, he's in the AFC West.

22. Arizona Cardinals
I probably should have them higher, but I'm still not sold on this team yet. I really think they could go either way.

23. Tennessee Titans
I love Jeff Fischer, but they still aren't doing much to improve this team.

24. St. Louis Rams
This team is a dark horse to make the playoffs. If they can stay healthy, that is.

25. Chicago Bears
Could there be a worse offense?

26. Kansas City Chiefs
This team can win some games if Larry Johnson is back to normal.

27. Baltimore Ravens
This will be a rebuilding year, but I wouldn't completely rule them out. They should still be competitive.

28. Cincinnati Bengals
This team is a mess right now. If Chad Johnson is happy, this team will move up the chart.

30. San Francisco 49ers
I still don't see this team winning too many games with Alex Smith.

30. Atlanta Falcons
This team should be a little bit more fun to watch this year.

31. Oakland Raiders
I don't see them winning too many games this year with Russell at QB.

32. Miami Dolphins
It's going to take another year until this team is competitive.

Movie Review - Iron Man

2008-05-05T14:04:00.002-04:00

Iron Man is the first blockbuster to be released this year and that's exactly what it aims to be. Instead of the seriousness of the Batman series, this follows more along the lines of the Spider-Man series, integrating both humor and action. The most obvious positive to this film (soon to be franchise) is the great cast. Robert Downey Jr. is fantastic as the title character and Jeff Bridges is convincing as Iron Man's co-worker and nemesis. The way that the movie takes place in current times is also a nice touch, making it a little different than the other superhero movies. However, the plot holds this film back from being great. We get the typical story, where the bad guy is someone we were to assume was good, who then goes on to take over the world. Plotline aside, this is still a fun movie and most definitely better than most superhero movies out there.

Movie Of The Year Tracker
Forgetting Sarah Marshall (4.25)
Be Kind, Rewind (4)
Young @ Heart (4)
Semi-Pro (3.5)
Iron Man (3.5)
Horton Hears A Who! (3)

Marvel Comics Movies Rankings
Spider-Man 2
Spider-Man
Spider-Man 3
X2 (Yes, I only saw the 2nd one somehow)
Iron Man
Hulk
Daredevil

Backlash Recap

2008-04-28T14:36:00.004-04:00

Backlash was last night. Let's take a look at what went down in Baltimore.

1. Matt Hardy vs. MVP
Definitely the right choice as the opener and the crowd seemed to love it. Very solid match and even though the US title doesn't mean much anymore, I still do think it is a big step forward for Matt Hardy to win the title. I'm not sure where they'll go with MVP from here, but I say he definitely deserves a push. Good, solid match as Hardy wins by pinfall.

Unofficial Rating: 3.5 (out of 5)

2. Kane vs. Chavo Guerrero
People seem to be down on this, but I thought this definitely exceeded my (minimal) expectations. Kane seemed to be working hard and Chavo was his usual self. Kane picks up the victory in another clean finish.

Unofficial Rating: 2 (out of 5)

3. Big Show vs. Great Khali
This was about what we expected. I was hoping they'd keep it around 5 minutes, but I guess 8 minutes isn't too bad. Big Show won, which of course is the right move and should boost him up to a title program with the Taker.

Unofficial Rating: .25 (out of 5)

4. Mickie James, Maria, Ashley, Kelly Kelly, Michelle McCool, + Cherry vs. Beth Phoenix, Natalya, Melina, Layla, Victoria, + Jillian Hall
This was what it was, which was a mess, but not completely horrible. The divas all performed well in their limited roles and had an okayish match. Not much more could be asked of them. The heels pick up the victory.

Unofficial Rating: 1 (out of 5)

5. Batista vs. Shawn Michaels
I expected this to steal the show, and while it was a very good contest, it was not the match of the night. I was very surprised to see Michaels get the majority of the offense AND pick up the victory. I'm not quite sure why Jericho was the ref for the match, unless Michaels was actually hurt. I have to say if the knee was a work, they sure pulled it off well.

Unofficial Rating: 3.5 (out of 5)

6. Edge vs. Undertaker
These two stepped it up again, and from my first impression, slightly topped their WrestleMania main event. Of course we knew Edge wouldn't win, but there were some nice nearfalls in this matchup. When Undertaker is motivated, it seems he really can put on a great match.

Unofficial Rating: 4 (out of 5)

7. JBL vs. John Cena vs. Triple H vs. Randy Orton
People seem to not have liked the first half of this match, but I thought the multiple man part was fun. It was shocking to see Cena eliminated so quickly, but if he wasn't going to win, he had to go some time. It has been awhile since Trips has been champ, but I don't know if he'll make it past SummerSlam. It should be interesting where Cena goes from here.

Unofficial Rating: 3.75 (out of 5)

Overall, this was the weakest show of the year, but in most years this show would be towards the top. A lot of wrestling and they were 7 for 7 on clean finishes making this a solid show.

Overall Rating: 82%

Backlash Rankings
2000
2007
2004
2008
2006
2005
1999
2003

Match Of The Year Tracker
WrestleMania XXIV - Ric Flair vs. Shawn Michaels (4.75)
No Way Out - Raw Elimination Chamber (4.5)
WrestleMania XXIV - Money In The Bank Ladder Match (4.5)
Backlash - Edge vs. Undertaker (4)
Royal Rumble 2008 (4)
WrestleMania XXIV - Edge vs. Undertaker (4)
Raw March - Jeff Hardy vs. Chris Jericho (3.75)
WrestleMania XXIV - John Cena vs. Randy Orton vs. Triple H (3.75)
Backlash - John Cena vs. JBL vs. Triple H vs. Randy Orton (3.75)

Pay-Per-View Scores
WrestleMania XXIV - 93%
No Way Out - 91%
Royal Rumble - 88%
Backlash - 82%

Movie Review - Forgetting Sarah Marshall

2008-04-21T08:06:00.002-04:00

By this point, you should probably know whether or not you like Judd Apatow and his buddies. If you do, then Forgetting Sarah Marshall does not disappoint. Jason Segel wrote and stars in the romantic comedy that blows away most movies in this genre. Kristen Bell and Mila Kunis both do well in their roles, but it's the usual cast of Judd's friends who have most of the laughs. Despite it being an Apatow film in spirit, Segel does have a slightly different take on things and turns in a fantastic comedy.

Rating: 4.25 (out of 5)

Movie Of The Year Tracker
Forgetting Sarah Marshall
Be Kind, Rewind
Young @ Heart
Semi-Pro
Horton Hears A Who!

Judd Apatow Produced Movie Rankings
The Cable Guy
Anchorman: The Legend Of Ron Burgundy
The 40-Year Old Virgin
Knocked Up
Superbad
Forgetting Sarah Marshall
Kicking & Screaming
Fun With Dick And Jane
Talladega Nights: The Ballad Of Ricky Bobby
Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story

WrestleMania XXIV Live Review

2008-04-01T15:39:00.002-04:00

I am back in Detroit after my stellar trip down to Orlando. This was my 2nd consecutive trip to WrestleMania and here were my thoughts on the show.

Dark Match - Battle Royal
No one was expecting anything amazing, but this was a solid way to get the crowd into it. Kane was the favorite and to no surprise, won the match.

Unofficial Rating: 1.5 (out of 5)

1. Finlay vs. JBL
This was a surprise as the opener, but when looking at the card, this match wasn't as "big" as some of the others on the card. This was a solid match that featured some of the Attitude Era type brawling. JBL won via pin.

Unofficial Rating: 2.75 (out of 5)

2. Money In The Bank Ladder Match
I seem to be one of the few that think that this was the best Money In The Bank match since the first one. John Morrison and Shelton Benjamin really stood out for their spots and the Matt Hardy return was awesome. Watching Punk and Jericho battle for the briefcase was a mark out moment for me, as they are two of my favorites today. Punk won in a semi-surprise.

Unofficial Rating: 4.5 (out of 5)

3. Batista vs. Umaga
This was without a doubt the biggest disappointment of the night. I really thought these two would up their game. Instead, we were given a below-average TV main event. A real let down. Batista wins via pin.

Unofficial Rating: .75 (out of 5)

4. Chavo Guerrero vs. Kane
This was probably just a thank you to Kane for being such a loyal company man all these years. Unfortunately, in return, it makes CM Punk look like a jobber because he couldn't beat Chavo for weeks. Kane wins in seconds via pin.

Unofficial Rating: .25 (out of 5)

5. Shawn Michaels vs. Ric Flair
Wow, this was quite the match. Both guys brought their A game (as if they would have brought anything less) and stole the show. The crowd was hot all the way through and I have to say I am proud to have been fortunate enough to see Ric Flair's final match. Wooo!

Unofficial Rating: 4.75 (out of 5)

6. Ashley + Maria vs. Beth Phoenix + Melina
This was a little better than expected and the right team went over. I'm not sure where they'll go from here, but I suppose they're waiting for Candice to come back.

Unofficial Rating: 1 (out of 5)

7. John Cena vs. Randy Orton vs. Triple H
I was shocked that this wasn't last and I think the crowd was too. This was a really good matchup, but needed about 10 more minutes to become a classic. All 3 guys worked hard and surprisingly Orton came out on top.

Unofficial Rating: 3.75 (out of 5)

8. Floyd Mayweather vs. Big Show
This was better than expected and probably as good as it could have been. Both guys played their roles well and Mayweather was able to win via knockout after some heel tactics.

Unofficial Rating: 2.5 (out of 5)

9. Undertaker vs. Edge
It was good to see Edge get a shot at a main event at WrestleMania, even if the Undertaker had to win. This match started off slowly, but got progressively better and turned out to be a very entertaining way to end the night.

Unofficial Rating: 4 (out of 5)

A great show that I feel was better than WrestleMania 23. Even the matches that didn't stand out had a good pacing to them and there really was nothing bad to say about the show as a whole. Great show.

Overall Rating: 93%

WrestleMania Rankings
WrestleMania X-Seven
WrestleMania XIX
WrestleMania 21
WrestleMania XX
WrestleMania X
WrestleMania XXIV
WrestleMania 22
WrestleMania 23
WrestleMania XIV
WrestleMania VIII
WrestleMania XII
WrestleMania III
WrestleMania VII
WrestleMania X-8
WrestleMania 2000
WrestleMania VI
WrestleMania XI
WrestleMania 13
WrestleMania XV
WrestleMania V
WrestleMania
WrestleMania 2
WrestleMania IV
WrestleMania IX

Match Of The Year Tracker
WrestleMania XXIV - Ric Flair vs. Shawn Michaels (4.75)
No Way Out - Raw Elimination Chamber (4.5)
WrestleMania XXIV - Money In The Bank Ladder Match (4.5)
Royal Rumble 2008 (4)
WrestleMania XXIV - Edge vs. Undertaker (4)
Raw March - Jeff Hardy vs. Chris Jericho (3.75)
WrestleMania XXIV - John Cena vs. Randy Orton vs. Triple H (3.75)
Royal Rumble - Jeff Hardy vs. Randy Orton (3.5)
Raw February - Chris Jericho vs. Jeff Hardy (3.5)
ECW March - John Morrison + Miz vs. Tommy Dreamer + Colin Delaney (3.5)
Raw March - John Cena vs. Shawn Michaels (3.5)
No Way Out - SmackDown Elimination Chamber (3.5)
Royal Rumble - Edge vs. Rey Mysterio (3.5)
Raw January - Jeff Hardy vs. Umaga Cage Match (3.5)
No Way Out - Randy Orton vs. John Cena (3.5)

Pay-Per-View Scores
WrestleMania XXIV (93%)
No Way Out (91%)
Royal Rumble (88%)

Orlando Theme Park Review

2008-04-01T15:12:00.005-04:00

Here is a review of my most recent trip down to Orlando. I only rated the attractions I visited on this trip. Ratings are out of 5.

Splash Mountain - Magic Kingdom - 5
The Amazing Adventures Of Spider-Man - Islands Of Adventure - 5
Test Track - Epcot - 5
The Twilight Zone Tower Of Terror - Disney's Hollywood Studios - 5
It's Tough To Be A Bug - Animal Kingdom - 5
The Haunted Mansion - Magic Kingdom - 4.75
Kilimanjaro Safaris - Animal Kingdom - 4.75
Pirates Of The Caribbean - Magic Kingdom - 4.75
Jim Henson's Muppet*Vision 3D - Disney's Hollywood Studios - 4.75
Space Mountain - Magic Kingdom - 4.75
Mickey's PhilharMagic - 4.75
Dueling Dragons - Islands Of Adventure - 4.75
Rock 'N' Roller Coaster - Disney's Hollywood Studios - 4.75
Dinosaur - Animal Kingdom - 4.5
Incredible Hulk Coaster - Islands Of Adventure - 4.5
Expedition Everest - Animal Kingdom - 4.5
Walt Disney's Carousel Of Progress - Magic Kingdom - 4.5
Jaws - Universal Studios - 4.25
The Jungle Cruise - Magic Kingdom - 4.25
Big Thunder Mountain Railroad - Magic Kingdom - 4.25
Country Bear Jamboree - Magic Kingdom - 4.25
Jurassic Park River Adventure - Islands Of Adventure - 4
Spaceship Earth - Epcot - 4
Monster's, Inc. Laugh Floor - Magic Kingdom - 4
Buzz Lightyear's Space Ranger Spin - Magic Kingdom - 4
Flights Of Wonder - Animal Kingdom - 4
Dudley Do-Right's Ripsaw Falls - Islands Of Adventure - 4
Maharajah Jungle Trek - Animal Kingdom - 4
Men In Black: Alien Attack - Universal Studios - 4
Living With The Land - Epcot - 4
Finding Nemo: The Musical - Animal Kingdom - 4
The Many Adventures Of Winnie The Pooh - Magic Kingdom - 4
It's A Small World - Magic Kingdom - 4
Revenge Of The Mummy: The Ride - Universal Studios - 3.75
The Seas With Nemo And Friends - Epcot - 3.75
Mad Tea Party - Magic Kingdom - 3.75
Maelstrom - Epcot - 3.75
Journey Into Imagination With Figment - Epcot - 3.5
Peter Pan's Flight - Magic Kingdom - 3.5
Snow White's Scary Adventure - Magic Kingdom - 3.5
The Cat In The Hat - Islands Of Adventure - 3.5
E.T. Adventure - Universal Studios - 3.5
Popeye And Bluto's Bilge-Rat Barges - Islands Of Adventure - 3.5
The Enchanted Tiki Room: Under New Management - Magic Kingdom - 3.5
Jimmy Neutron's Nicktoon Blast - Universal Studios - 3.25
Stitch's Great Escape - Magic Kingdom - 3.25
Twister...Ride It Out - Universal Studios - 3.25
Storm Force Accelatron - Islands Of Adventure - 3.25
Terminator 2: 3-D Battle Across Time - Universal Studios - 3.25
Gran Fiesta Tour Starring The Three Caballeros - Epcot - 3.25
Universal's Horror Make-Up Show - Universal Studios - 3.25
Magic Carpets Of Aladdin - Magic Kingdom - 3.25
Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular - Disney's Hollywood Studios - 3.25
The Hall Of Presidents - Magic Kingdom - 3
Tomorrowland Transit Authority - Magic Kingdom - 3
Animal Actors On Location - Universal Studios - 1.5
Swiss Family Treehouse - Magic Kingdom - .75
Shrek 4-D - Universal Studios - .25
Beetlejuices Rock And Roll Graveyard Revue - Universal Studios - 0

Overall Rankings
1. Animal Kingdom
2. Epcot
3. Magic Kingdom
4. Hollywood Studios
5. Islands Of Adventure
6. Universal Studios

Movie Review - Horton Hears A Who!

2008-03-17T15:37:00.002-04:00

I have been a loyal fan of Pixar since the first Toy Story, and a fan of Disney since birth. When I see an animated movie, it's hard for me not to compare them to either Pixar or Disney. Maybe I'm biased, but it seems that I have yet to see one that really lives up to those standards. I still believe that Shrek is one of the worst movies to ever become a blockbuster. I was excited when I caught word that they were doing Horton Hears A Who! for two reasons. One, I love Dr. Seuss and two, the vocal cast features many of my favorite performers. Coincidentally, these two reasons are also the two things that hurt the movie in the long run. Dr. Suess's stories are short, so in order to make a feature film out of them, there has to be some creativity involved. However, the writers seemed to be a little lazy and afterwords you feel as if nothing really happened in the story. My biggest complaint though is the use of the vocal talent. When selecting voices for characters, it just seems as if they don't put any thought into the person doing the voice fitting the character. Seth Rogen as a little mouse? Jim Carrey as an elephant? Maybe most people don't agree, but you have to respect that Pixar picks voices due to them being the best for the part, as opposed to picking a bankable star. Despite my ranting, this is not a bad movie, just not nearly as good of one as it could have been.

Rating: 3 (out of 5)

Steve Carell Movie Rankings
Anchorman: The Legend Of Ron Burgundy
The 40-Year-Old-Virgin
Bruce Almighty
Little Miss Sunshine
Horton Hears A Who!
Bewitched

Movie Of The Year Tracker
Be Kind, Rewind (4)
Semi-Pro (3.5)
Horton Hears A Who! (3)

Movie Review - Semi-Pro

2008-03-03T12:52:00.003-05:00

By now, I think most of us know what to expect when we sit down to watch a Will Ferrell comedy. Semi-Pro is no exception to that thought. There are plenty of laugh out loud moments throughout the movie, many of them generated by Ferrell, but there isn't much more to the film. With Anchorman: The Legend Of Ron Burgundy, Ferrell proved that he can take anything and spin it into comedy gold. However, I feel as if he is still waiting for that next script that really motivates him to do what he does best, which is being his obnoxious self. Based on the previews, Step Brothers, with John C. Reilly, might just be that movie.

Rating: 3.5 (out of 5)

Will Ferrell Movie Rankings
Anchorman: The Legend Of Ron Burgundy
Zoolander
Old School
Elf
Kicking & Screaming
Stranger Than Fiction
Talladega Nights: The Legend Of Ricky Bobby
Semi-Pro
Blades Of Glory
Bewitched

Movie Of The Year Tracker
Be Kind, Rewind (4)
Semi-Pro (3.5)

Movie Review - Be Kind, Rewind

2008-02-27T08:43:00.005-05:00

Right off the bat, I am going to admit that this movie could have, and probably should have, had more character development. We never really find out the motivations behind the characters, or even the relationship between them. Instead, Michel Gondry relies on his vision and the talent of the cast to make this a very satisfying film, and it works. Gondry has a distinct visual style and it shows, even in a film that isn't anything like his masterpiece, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind. Both Mos Def and Jack Black are fantastic in their roles as two losers who come up with an idea to re-make movies starring themselves to save the video/thrift store owned by Danny Glover. The movie scenes that are "Sweded" throughout the film are a riot, and despite the lack of depth, the film has a lot of heart, making this movie a pleasure to watch.

Rating: 4 (out of 5)

Jack Black Movie Rankings
School Of Rock
Tenacious D In: The Pick Of Destiny
Nacho Libre
Be Kind, Rewind
Shallow Hal
High Fidelity
Saving Silverman
Envy
Orange County
The Holiday
King Kong

No Way Out Recap

2008-02-18T12:30:00.006-05:00

WWE held their second pay-per-view of 2008 and had high expectations that I believe most will agree they met. Here's a quick recap of the show.

1. CM Punk vs. Chavo Guerrero
This was possibly their best match and had a nice flow to it. They gave them about the time I expected, but I definitely didn't anticipate them doing a clean Chavo victory. Perhaps Punk is in the doghouse, but I still don't like that he got pinned so easily. Chavo retains his title via pinfall.

Unofficial Rating: 2.75 (out of 5)

2. SmackDown Elimination Chamber
I was surprised this was so early on the card, but I really liked that they spread out the Chambers. This one had some dead weight in it (Big Daddy V and Great Khali), but made up for that with some memorable spots. I would have like to have seen MVP look a little better, but I can't really complain. This had a great final sequence seeing the Undertaker getting the pin over Batista.

Unofficial Rating: 3.5 (out of 5)

3. Ric Flair vs. Mr. Kennedy
This was another match that was about the length I predicted and was pretty solid. Flair seemed to be more on than he was at the Rumble and it made for a pretty fun match. Flair got another figure four victory.

Unofficial Rating: 2 (out of 5)

4. Rey Mysterio vs. Edge
I'm amazed that Mysterio was able to last 5 minutes and I give him a lot of credit for gutting it out. The match was fine given the circumstances, but the angle afterwords was classic. Edge wins via pinfall.

Unofficial Rating: 1.75 (out of 5)

The Big Show returned after taking over a year off and definitely made a big impact. The entire angle with Mayweather was just awesome. He took a few shots to the face and it made for a great visual. If they can keep this angle at least half as intense, we could get another treat come WrestleMania.

5. John Cena vs. Randy Orton
I originally thought they would do a cheap finish, but changed my mind and figured they'd just go HHH/Cena at WrestleMania. When they put this on before the Elimination Chamber, I was back to thinking that they were doing a cheap finish. Then both Orton and Cena were teasing countouts, so I was looking for a clean finish. Then of course came the DQ ending that some I'm sure hated, but in the story, it actually worked quite well. This was not as good as their SummerSlam matchup, but it was definitely a fun contest that saw Cena win by DQ and then go crazy on Orton.

Unofficial Rating: 3.5 (out of 5)

6. Raw Elimination Chamber
This is most definitely the first flat out match of the year contender. This match was non-stop action and did a good job making all 6 guys look strong. I have to say that Umaga put on a great show and played his role brilliantly. I also was glad to see Hardy kick out of a pedigree, giving most of us that one last hope that he could maybe pull it off. Of course, Triple H was the victor, but most really couldn't complain about the quality of this matchup.

Unofficial Rating: 4.5 (out of 5)

Overall, another great show that had another big surprise. I have to say that this was one of the best non-Big 4 shows in the past few years. This was a huge upgrade over last years No Way Out and it really seems that the WWE is making a strong effort to make their pay-per-view's memorable and worth our hard earned money. Awesome show.

Overall Rating: 91%

No Way Out Rankings
No Way Out 2008
No Way Out 2006
No Way Out 2000
No Way Out 2007

Match Of The Year Tracker
No Way Out - Raw Elimination Chamber (4.5)
Royal Rumble 2008 (4)
Raw March - Jeff Hardy vs. Chris Jericho (3.75)
Royal Rumble - Jeff Hardy vs. Randy Orton (3.5)
Raw February - Chris Jericho vs. Jeff Hardy (3.5)
ECW March - John Morrison + Miz vs. Tommy Dreamer + Colin Delaney (3.5)
Raw March - John Cena vs. Shawn Michaels
No Way Out - SmackDown Elimination Chamber (3.5)
Royal Rumble - Edge vs. Rey Mysterio (3.5)
Raw January - Jeff Hardy vs. Umaga Cage Match (3.5)
No Way Out - Randy Orton vs. John Cena (3.5)

Pay-Per-View Scores
No Way Out (91%)
Royal Rumble (88%)

Booking No Way Out

2008-02-14T11:38:00.003-05:00

WWE will be presenting their second pay-per-view of 2008 and it has a chance to be a great show. Like most things I do, this is quite pointless, but here is how I would book the event.

1. CM Punk vs. Chavo Guerrero
I hate sticking a title match first, but this really is the match with the least interest. I have no clue where they're going with Chavo Guerrero (or CM Punk for that matter), but I still think Punk is pretty over and Chavo can still play a role without the title. CM Punk wins via pinfall after a failed cheat attempt by Chavo.

Length Of Match: 9:25
Winner: CM Punk via pinfall
Expected Rating: 2.5

2. Mr. Kennedy vs. Ric Flair
There is no way anyone would book Ric Flair to end his career at No Way Out. So we get another quick match, with Shawn Michaels giving the assist to help out Ric Flair. This of course will lead to the rumored Shawn Michaels/Ric Flair match at WrestleMania.

Length Of Match: 8:31
Winner: Ric Flair via pinfall
Expected Rating: 1.75

3. Smackdown Elimination Chamber
I'm really torn here on the match order from here on out, especially since I hate making Smackdown look like the B show. I just really think that they need to split up the elimination chamber matches and this one is definitely lacking the star power of the Raw one. So here is the order of entrance and the order of elimination.

Order Of Entrance:
1. MVP
2. Batista
3. Great Khali
4. Big Daddy V
5. Undertaker
6. Finlay

Order Of Elimination:
1. Big Daddy V (by Batista)
2. Great Khali (by Undertaker)
3. Finlay (by MVP)
4. MVP (by Batista)
5. Batista (by Undertaker)

Length of Match: 22:48
Winner: Undertaker via Pinfall
Expected Rating: 3.5

4. Rey Mysterio vs. Edge
These two had a solid match at WrestleMania, but the feud feels thrown together. This will be similar to their Royal Rumble match with Edge getting another pinfall thanks to Vickie.

Length Of Match: 11:03
Winner: Edge via Pinfall
Expected Rating: 3.5

5. Raw Elimination Chamber
I'm not even positive that they would be able to set up the chamber twice in one night, so this may be impossible. However, here is the order of entrance and order of elimination for this match.

Order Of Entrance:
1. Chris Jericho
2. Umaga
3. HHH
4. Jeff Hardy
5. JBL
6. Shawn Michaels

Order Of Elimination:
1. Umaga (by Jeff Hardy)
2. Chris Jericho (by JBL)
3. JBL (by HHH)
4. Shawn Michaels (by HHH)
5. HHH (by Jeff Hardy)

Length Of Match: 28:17
Winner: Jeff Hardy via Pinfall
Expected Rating: 4.5

6. John Cena vs. Randy Orton
I went back and forth on making a three way match at WrestleMania, but if they're going to give away this match at No Way Out, I'm going to have to give Cena the title via the STFU. Cena vs. Hardy and Undertaker vs. Edge at WrestleMania 24.

Length Of Match: 18:11
Winner: John Cena via Submission
Expected Rating: 4.25

6 total matches, 6 clean finishes. All of the matches get a good amount of time. There is no doubt that this has a strong possibility to be one of the top shows of the year if booked correctly. Not that my opinions are the best way, but I would definitely be happy with the outcomes that I have presented.

Total Match Time: 88:15
Average Rating: 3.33

Album Review - Brian Vander Ark

2008-02-14T09:17:00.013-05:00

Artist: Brian Vander Ark
Album: Brian Vander Ark
Year Released: 2008

For those of you who know me, it is no secret that I am a Brian Vander Ark fan. For those of you who don't know me, probably don't know who Brian Vander Ark is. So here's a quick history lesson. Vander Ark was the front man and primary songwriter of the band named The Verve Pipe. They had one huge hit with "The Freshmen" and two minor hits in "Photograph" and "Villains". They toured the world, most notably opening up for Kiss in Europe and went to record their follow-up album with big name producer Michael Beinhorn. The album tanked and the band seemed to be falling apart (despite it being a great record). They were able to pull it together for one more album, but then Vander Ark embarked on a solo career. Brian Vander Ark is his third solo release and quite possibly his best. He has perfected his new sound and there is a new found confidence in his voice. On songs such as "Lily White Way" and "We Were Never The Same", Vander Ark displays that he can be charming even while he is ranting on society. His vocals are, as always, among the best in rock today and it truly is a shame that this album won't get more exposure. It's only February, but it will be hard for anyone to top in 2008.

Album Rating: 4.75 (out of 5)
Key Tracks: "Lily White Way", "And Then We Fell", "Optimism's Glow"

Brian Vander Ark Album Rankings
The Verve Pipe - The Verve Pipe
The Verve Pipe - Villains
Brian Vander Ark - Brian Vander Ark
Brian Vander Ark - Angel, Put Your Face On
Brian Vander Ark - Resurrection
The Verve Pipe - Underneath
The Verve Pipe - Pop Smear
The Verve Pipe - I've Suffered A Head Injury

Album Of The Year Tracker
R.E.M. - Accelerate (4.75)
Brian Vander Ark - Brian Vander Ark (4.75)
Vampire Weekend - Vampire Weekend (4.25)
Nada Surf - Lucky (4)
The Raveonettes - Lust Lust Lust (4)
The Black Crowes - Warpaint (3.25)

Sheryl Crow - Detours (TBD)
The Raconteurs - Consolers Of The Lonely (TBD)
Phantom Planet - Raise The Dead (TBD)
Weezer - Weezer (The Red Album) (TBD)
Coldplay - Viva La Vida (TBD)

Now That's A Perfect Ending!

2008-02-04T15:13:00.000-05:00

Last night, as we all know, the Giants pulled off the impossible and took down the mighty Patriots. Some people might have found the first 3 quarters to be boring, but I disagree with that notion. This was the very definition of a chess match and the Giants were able to outcoach the Patriots. That's right, Bill Belichick got outcoached. Funny, since Tom Coughlin seems to always be disliked wherever he goes. Nevermind the fact that he always is able to put out a competitive team on the field and that he is the reason that the Jacksonville Jaguars are nothing like the Houston Texans. He is a good coach, folks. Is he great? No, he is nowhere near the Lombardi's and Parcells of the world, but he is no doubt a very solid football coach. There were so many highlights in this game, but none greater than the Eli Manning scramble leading to a leaping David Tyree reception, which will undoubtedly be shown over and over for the next 100 years. However, the other great highlight was seeing Belichick run off the field before the game was even over, once again showing how classless he is. This was a game that was won by the best team at this point of the season. An underdog story for the ages, the New York Giants were far from perfect, but at the same time they were able to overcome adversity and become World Champions. Boy, Tiki, aren't you glad you retired? I know the Giants sure are.

Rating: 5 (out of 5)

Overall Super Bowl Rankings
New York Giants vs. New England Patriots (XLII)
New England Patriots vs. Carolina Panthers (XXXVIII)
New England Patriots vs. St. Louis Rams (XXXVI)
New York Giants vs. Buffalo Bills (XXV)
St. Louis Rams vs. Tennessee Titans (XXXIV)
Denver Broncos vs. Green Bay Packers (XXXII)
Indianapolis Colts vs. Chicago Bears (XLI)
New England Patriots vs. Philadelphia Eagles (XXXIX)
Green Bay Packers vs. New England Patriots (XXXI)
Dallas Cowboys vs. Pittsburgh Steelers (XXX)
Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Seattle Seahawks (XL)
San Francisco 49ers vs. San Diego Chargers (XXIX)
Denver Broncos vs. Atlanta Falcons (XXXIII)
Dallas Cowboys vs. Buffalo Bills (XXVIII)
Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs. Oakland Raiders (XXXVII)
Washington Redskins vs. Buffalo Bills (XXVI)
Dallas Cowboys vs. Buffalo Bills (XXVII)
San Francisco 49ers vs. Denver Broncos (XXIV)
Baltimore Ravens vs. New York Giants (XXXV)

Movie Review - There Will Be Blood

2008-01-31T07:49:00.002-05:00

After weeks of anticipation, I finally had the opportunity to see There Will Be Blood. The hype surrounding this film is mostly involving Daniel Day Lewis' performance and there is no question that his performance is most definitely one for the ages. However, what hasn't been mentioned as much is how wonderful both Paul Dano and Dillion Freasier are as well. The film is both bold and powerful, all while Lewis gives one of the greatest portraylals of a villain that I can remember. This is insanity at it's finest and once again proves that Paul Thomas Anderson is one of the greatest directors of this generation.

Rating: 4.25 (out of 5)

Although I am technically not qualified to give my opinion (I have only seen 3 of the 5 nominated pictures) , I will go ahead and give it anyways. This would be my selection for Best Picture by a slight margin over No Country For Old Men and most definitely over the overrated Juno.

Paul Thomas Anderson Movie Rankings
Punch-Drunk Love
Boogie Nights
There Will Be Blood
Magnolia

Royal Rumble Recap

2008-01-28T09:57:00.001-05:00

This is my first post in quite some time. I never finished my top 10 lists because I was never quite satisfied with the way they turned out and I have been pretty busy the past few weeks. This year I have promised myself that I will try to review every new album and movie I see this year. If I can do at least half of them, I will be happy.

The Royal Rumble was last night, could it live up to last year's classic event? Let's take a look.

1. MVP vs. Ric Flair
I seem to have liked this match much less than most. Granted, we missed about a 1/4th of this match due to some idiot messing with the remote, this just seemed kind of slow (Kevin gave this a .75 out of 100, which may have been a tad extreme). Hopefully as a result of the clean loss, MVP goes on a tear so that the build up to him and Matt Hardy is top notch.

Unofficial Rating: .75 (out of 5)

2. Chris Jericho vs. JBL
The more I thought about this match, the more I liked it. It is no secret that I am Jericho's biggest fan and I thought for sure I had liked this match more than the casual fan, but I guess I was wrong. The post-match antics were great and really took this feud to the next level. JBL, on the other hand, looked very rusty and hopefully will be in better shape for their next matchup. JBL wins by DQ after a sick chair shot.

Unofficial Rating: 2.5 (out of 5)

3. Rey Mysterio vs. Edge
This was a feud that seemed kind of thrown together, but I'll take an Edge/Rey Mysterio feud any day. These guys work together well and have an intriguing dynamic when working together. This was a little short for my liking, but the ending sequence was top notch. Edge wins via an awesome spear.

Unofficial Rating: 3.5 (out of 5)

4. Jeff Hardy vs. Randy Orton
I can't remember the last time I was looking forward to a WWE title match as much as I was with this one. This feud has been handled so well and the crowd reaction for it has been outstanding. However, I didn't like how they ended this match. Things were going along just fine, with Hardy dominating most of the way. Then out of nowhere, we get an RKO and that's it. I have no problem with Hardy losing, although he is deserving of a title run in the near future, but he deserved a better finish than that. Minus that, this was the best singles match of the night.

Unofficial Rating: 3.5 (out of 5)

5. Royal Rumble
The Royal Rumble is always fun, especially when surprises are involved. In case you haven't heard, John Cena returned! Considering this guy wasn't even supposed to fight at WrestleMania, the fact that he was able to compete on this show is just amazing. Hate him all you want, but you can't take away the fact that he is as hard working as they come. The rumble was solid at the beginning, but dragged a little in the middle. However, with the ending that they put on, I have to give this a high rating. Fun match.

Unofficial Rating: 4 (out of 5)

Overall: A great show to start off 2008. I don't know if I can say I liked it better than last year's, but it was darn close. Hats off to the WWE for pulling off the biggest surprise since Edge won the world title at New Year's Revolution in 2006. Oh, and hats off to John Cena for being the rehab machine. Chris wanted me to mention him in this post. I will mention his beard. It is quite thick these days.

Overall Score: 88%

Royal Rumble Rankings
Royal Rumble 2001
Royal Rumble 2005
Royal Rumble 2007
Royal Rumble 1992
Royal Rumble 2008
Royal Rumble 1995
Royal Rumble 2000
Royal Rumble 2004
Royal Rumble 1993
Royal Rumble 2002
Royal Rumble 1994
Royal Rumble 1998
Royal Rumble 1996
Royal Rumble 1997
Royal Rumble 2006
Royal Rumble 1990
Royal Rumble 1991
Royal Rumble 1999

Match Of The Year Tracker
Royal Rumble 2008 (4)
Royal Rumble - Jeff Hardy vs. Randy Orton (3.5)
Royal Rumble - Edge vs. Rey Mysterio (3.5)
Raw January - Jeff Hardy vs. Umaga Cage Match (3.5)

Pay-Per-View Scores
Royal Rumble (88%)

Top 10 WWE Wrestlers Of The Year

2007-12-28T12:59:00.000-05:00

10. MVP/CM Punk
In his first full year as a WWE performer, MVP really has come into his own. There's no doubt that his feud with Chris Benoit (Gasp! I said his name) elevated him to a new level, while his feud with Matt Hardy was one of the top storylines of the year.

I couldn't leave CM Punk off of the list. He is the ECW champion and the face of the brand. Even though he is booked weakly, he has been a solid competitor throughout the year.

9. Umaga
Here's a guy who about a year and a half ago debuted and nobody cared. In 2007, he found himself main eventing (and stealing the show at both) New Year's Revolution and Royal Rumble. Even though WWE booking hasn't been all too kind to him, Umaga has had a fantastic year.

8. Batista
Most people who know me, know that I am not a big fan of Batista. But boy did his matches with Undertaker rock the house this year. It also was a blessing for him that he was able to stay healthy all year, unlike Edge and Undertaker. But any way you look at it, Batista really turned it up a notch in 2007.

7. Undertaker
His matches with Batista were classic and it still amazes me how good he really is. Just imagine how different his career would have been had he always faced more talented opponents.

6. Matt Hardy
Now is the time to push Matt Hardy. Even though he finished the year with an injury, he will most likely lose any momentum when he comes back in 2008. He is always popular with the fans and has really become a great all around wrestler.

5. Edge
Had he not gotten injured, he most likely would have been champion for the remainder of the year. This guy is that good. Moving to Smackdown was a good thing for him and should be the star of that show for years to come.

4. Jeff Hardy
Now is the time to push Jeff Hardy. And they actually are! Jeff gets to headline his first pay-per-view at Royal Rumble in 2008. His victory over Triple H was perhaps the biggest of his career and it seems that the Intercontinental Champion will have an even bigger 2008.

3. Randy Orton
Here's another guy that benefitted due to injuries. Since John Cena's injury, he has had great matches with Shawn Michaels, Triple H, and Chris Jericho at the last four pay-per-views. That's not even mentioning the fact that his feud with John Cena was one of the better ones of the year.

2. Shawn Michaels
How does he do it? Just when you think he's going to be slowed down by an injury, he comes back and has some great matches with Randy Orton. Oh and he also had a near hour long match with John Cena just a couple weeks after their epic WrestleMania main event.

1. John Cena
The guy gets no respect. Just because he isn't as talented as a guy like Shawn Michaels doesn't mean he doesn't have "it". He knows how to tell a story in the ring and brings out the best in his opponents. It's time to start giving more credit to this man and hope he has a speedy recovery.

Top 10 WWE Pay-Per-Views Of The Year

2007-12-26T12:41:00.000-05:00

My first of a few year-end lists for the year 2007:

10. SummerSlam
A definite disappointment overall, this was pretty much a one match show. A lot of the matches got shorted on time due to the returns of Triple H and Rey Mysterio, but the Cena/Orton bout was one of the best main events in SummerSlam history.

9. Great American Bash
This was a pretty solid card that featured the only MVP/Matt Hardy bout of the year (crazy how that worked out, huh?). Jeff Hardy had a solid match with Umaga and Cena was able to carry Lashley to an exciting main event match.

8. No Mercy
This was the first non-John Cena pay-per-view in a long time and it was a solid one. The WWE Championship was defended three times throughout the night, giving this show a different feel. Kudos to Triple H, who pulled off two solid matches and one terrific main event.

7. New Year's Revolution
I seem to be one of the few who really enjoyed this show. The cage match between Johnny Nitro and Jeff Hardy was a nice surprise. The DX/Rated RKO match was fun until the injury to Triple H. The Cena/Umaga match was another great main event from Cena. The rest was pretty forgettable, but those three matches made this a good show.

6. Armageddon
I really felt that this could land up in the top 3 for the year. While it didn't quite live up to that, it still was a good show. I know most people hated the Jericho/Orton ending, but at the same time, they couldn't really afford to have either job. Yes, they could have just had JBL cause Y2J the match by pinfall, but hey, that's just the way it goes. All in all, a good show.

5. Cyber Sunday
This was by far the best show in it's short history. Almost every match delivered and it was nice to see Batista/Undertaker headline the show, as they once again put on another fantastic match, this time with Batista getting a clean pinfall.

4. Royal Rumble
A lot of people complained about the undercard, but I thought 2 of the 4 maches were good and 1 of the 4 was great. The great match being Cena/Umaga, which will unquestionably make my top 10 matches of the year. The rumble itself was one of the better ones and it was a nice touch to have the Undertaker win his first Rumble and be the first to win the Rumble as entry number 30.

3. Survivor Series
This show featured one of the best wrestling matches of the year (HBK/Orton), one of the best brawls of the year (Undertaker/Batista), and one of the most underrated matches of the year (Miz/CM Punk/Johnny Nitro). All of that plus a pretty good Survivor Series match adds up to a good, solid show.

2. WrestleMania 23
Some would argue this is a little too high, but it was my first WrestleMania that I've ever attended, so I'm a little bias. The show featured two great title matches along with a Money In The Bank Match that was phenomenal. You can argue that this should have been a 3 hour show, and you could be right, but what was here, was pretty awesome.

1. Backlash
I think most people would agree that this was the best wrestling show of the year. Each match was given a good amount of time to develop and all were exciting in their own right. Once again another good Batista/Undertaker match left a lot of people talking, but the four way match (Cena/HBK/Orton/Edge) stole the show. Awesome, awesome event.

Rearranging The WWE - ECW

2007-12-19T15:00:00.000-05:00

ECW

The Main Eventers

1. Kane - He already spends a lot of time on the show and he helps bring credibility to the brand.

2. Umaga - He would obviously be used a lot on Smackdown too, but it just gives him some fresh opponents to face so he doesn't keep jobbing.

3. Shelton Benjamin - The future of ECW. This could save his career.

4. The Miz - He has a long way to go, but he's made a lot of progress over the past year.

5. Chavo Guerrero - Even before he showed up on ECW, I thought this was a good idea.

The Mid-Card/The Future

1. Kenny Dykstra - He has a lot of upside, he just needs to start winning more often. No better place to do that than ECW.

2. Val Venis - I think this could help resurrect his career a little. He still is a good, solid performer who should be used more wisely.

3. Jamie Noble - Another veteran that they could possibly get more out of.

4. Drew McIntyre - The jury is still out on this young man, but this is where the youngsters need to start.

5. Super Crazy - WWE really missed the boat on this guy. He was getting a good reaction from the fans and putting on fun matches. ECW could help him out.

6. Tommy Dreamer - I'm not sure how much longer he'll stick around, but I'd hate to see him leave ECW.

The Tag Teams

1. Jimmy Wang Yang + Shannon Moore - I love this team, but they could also go solo and be successful.

2. Paul London + Brian Kendrick - Another great team that could go solo. Their chances of solo success are greater than the previous team.

The Jobbers

1. Stevie Richards - A great veteran that does great ring work is always welcome on a brand with a lot of young guys.

2. Nunzio - Another hard worker despite not winning in forever.

3. Funaki - He and Super Crazy could probably have some great matches.

The Divas

1. Kelly Kelly - She will most likely get moved up to Raw at one point, but she is not ready yet.

2. Layla - She is nowhere near ready for the big leagues.

Rearranging The WWE - Smackdown

2007-12-19T14:37:00.000-05:00

Smackdown

The Main Eventers

1. Undertaker - He has become the face of this brand, so why change it?

2. Jeff Hardy - I feel that by moving him here, he won't get stuck behind guys like Cena, Triple H, and others.

3. Mr. Kennedy - Even though he seemed like a good fit for Raw, I think he was fitting in just fine on Smackdown.

4. Lashley - Another guy who fits the Smackdown style of booking better. He could take over Batista's role.

5. Shawn Michaels - Yes, I know this would never happen, but I think it would be refreshing to see him away from Triple H.

6. Edge - He is slowly taking the Undertaker's role as the face of Smackdown.

7. Rey Mysterio - He is one that I would like to see on Raw, but at the same time, think he does a fine job here.

The Mid-Card/The Future

1. Carlito - This is where he had a nice run and it gives him some fresh opponents to help him redefine himself.

2. Big Daddy V - He fits the role of Smackdown's big man.

3. Elijah Burke - I think it's only a matter of time before this guy is a star.

4. Snitsky - Well, he has to go somewhere. I just wish he was in the jobber category.

5. Great Khali - Yes, they are getting lots of big men, but Smackdown seems to use them best.

6. Gregory Helms - Hopefully his recovery is successful because the guy does have talent.

7. DH Smith - Off to a bad start, but could be a future star. Time will tell.

Tag Teams

1. Highlanders - Their goofy gimmick just fits Smackdown a little better.

2. Cade + Murdoch - With the talent exchange with ECW, tag teams seem to get more air time on the Smackdown brand. This tag team deserves it.

3. Jesse + Festus - They seem to be getting a good crowd response, so why move them?

4. Major Brothers - Their alliance with Edge should help them tremendously.

Jobbers

1. Charlie Haas - Even though he is very talented, he never seems to get over. Might as well use him to put others over.

2. Dave Taylor - A good veteran who can bring out the best in young opponents.

3. Boogeyman - He usually brings out the worst in opponents, but he gets a pop.

Divas

1. Maria - If she wants to wrestle, she's got a long way to go. Smackdown fits her better.

2. Maryse - Another lady who can't wrestle. Picking up on the trend?

3. Torrie Wilson - Probably the best manager out of the less talented divas.

Rearranging The WWE - Raw

2007-12-19T10:47:00.001-05:00

There is talk that the WWE may have a post-WrestleMania draft. I figured I'd take a shot at rearranging the brands.

Raw

The Main Eventers

1. Randy Orton - He has really come into his own as of late and is a big part of the future of this company. He should stay right where he is.

2. Chris Jericho - He has been on both shows, but I think he fits the live format best.

3. Batista - He's had a great year on Smackdown, but I think it's time to give him some fresh matchups. A switch to Raw would do so.

4. John Cena - He is their #1 guy and he should be on the #1 show.

5. Triple H - Another wrestler who benefits from the live atmosphere.

The Mid-Card/The Future

1. Matt Hardy - I think he's been on Smackdown long enough. Time for a change of scenery.

2. MVP - I think he has a Raw-like character and this would help push him to main event status.

3. Ric Flair - He won't be around long, but he'll finish here.

4. CM Punk - Time for the WWE to capitalize on Punk's popularity. Raw is the place to be.

5. Finlay - This would help elevate some of the younger stars and make them look good.

6. John Morrison - I think he's ready to move on to bigger things.

7. JBL - His return may not be as big as Jericho's, but it will benefit a lot of wrestlers.

8. Mark Henry - You always need a big guy on your roster.

Tag Teams

1. Hardcore Holly + Cody Rhodes - I don't know how long they'll last, but for now they're staying here.

2. Deuce + Domino - This could help them out, but probably not.

Jobbers

1. Kevin Thorn - I don't see him doing much, but at least he is intimidating.

2. Mike Knox - Just another big body.

3. Chuck Palumbo - Wouldn't be a jobber like the previous two, but probably wouldn't get much air time.

4. Balls Mahoney - Could have a Sandman-type role if used correctly.

5. Jim Duggan - He seems to be the most popular guy on Heat. Let's keep it that way.

Divas

1. Beth Phoenix - You've got to keep the best wrestling females on this show.

2. Victoria - She should have never left Raw. She is always a credible opponent.

3. Mickie James - Perhaps the only female over for her wrestling ability.

4. Jillian - She is waiting for her shot at the title.

5. Michelle McCool - She seems to be improving her in ring skills.

6. Candice Michelle - She's worked hard to get where she is, so on Raw she stays.

7. Melina - She plays a good heel.

Armageddon Recap

2007-12-19T09:47:00.000-05:00

For the first time since WrestleMania XX, I actually ordered a WWE pay-per-view from my own home. The weather was just too bad to justify driving 40 miles roundtrip to B-Dubs.

1. MVP vs. Rey Mysterio
I seem to be one of the few that thought this match was really good. Yes, the ending was bad, but who actually thought there would be a clean finish? MVP continues to impress, despite losing by countout.

Rating: 3.5 (out of 5)

2. Kane + CM Punk vs. Big Daddy V + Mark Henry
This was slightly better than expected and I really thought the execution in the ending was really well done. Still not sure why Punk took the pin (especially knowing that Big Daddy V doesn't seem to be pushing for the ECW title).

Rating: 1.5 (out of 5)

3. Shawn Michaels vs. Mr. Kennedy
If this was how they planned on using Mr. Kennedy, I'm not quite sure why they bothered moving him from Smackdown to Raw. He is probably still getting punished for lying about his steroid use, but still. Although, it is nice to see the show stopper get a win every now and then. Started off slow but had a hot ending.

Rating: 3.25 (out of 5)

4. Great Khali vs. Finlay
Finlay tried his best to make this entertaining, but when half of the match is a nerve hold, it can only be so good. Still, I'm just glad Khali's push is over.

Rating: .5 (out of 5)

5. Jeff Hardy vs. Triple H
This was a solid match, but I expected better from these two. I was surprised that Hardy's pop wasn't bigger (like it was on Raw the following night). I think that took away from the victory a little.

Rating: 3 (out of 5)

6. Chris Jericho vs. Randy Orton
Jericho is back and seems to be showing no signs of ring rust. This was another solid Randy Orton title match. Yes, the ending is very unsatisfying, but the rest of the match was not. They made the best of this match despite the ending, so I refuse to dock it too much for the DQ ending. JBL/Jericho could be interesting.

Rating: 3.75 (out of 5)

7. Mickie James vs. Beth Phoenix
I was really getting into this match and then it just ended. Then the announcers were left to make it seem like this epic fight, when it was really just about 5 minutes long. I would have liked to have seen at least another 5 minutes. Beth Phoenix retains.

Rating: 1.25 (out of 5)

8. Edge vs. Batista vs. Undertaker
Another solid Smackdown main event. It looks as if Edge will be champion heading into WrestleMania, potentially against the undefeated Undertaker. Although I'm surprised they'd have Undertaker win the title two years in a row. I guess we'll just have to wait and see.

Rating: 3.5 (out of 5)

Overall, I thought this was a great way to end the year. Yes, two of the ending sucked, but the action leading up to the endings were fantastic. That's 3 real solid shows in a row for WWE.

Overall Rating: 3.75 (out of 5)

NFL Power Rankings Week 12

2007-11-27T16:57:00.000-05:00

1. New England Patriots
That was so close. Why did Feely throw that pick at the end? I don't see the Ravens giving this team that much trouble.

2. Dallas Cowboys
This Thursday is going to be awesome. I may have to go out to watch the game.

3. Green Bay Packers
See above.

4. Indianapolis Colts
When Marvin is back, this team will be back. Don't count them out.

5. Pittsburgh Steelers
That was definitely one of the strangest games I've ever seen. They still should have won by more than 3.

6. Jacksonville Jaguars
This team is starting to look like the sleeper team we thought they would be.

7. Cleveland Browns
This team is a lot of fun to watch. I know he has no shot at making it, but Derek Anderson should be considered for the Pro Bowl this year.

8. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
If Jeff Garcia isn't back this week, this team could be in trouble. He really sparks this team.

9. Seattle Seahawks
They seem to keep finding ways to win games. Not sure how, but they're a lock for the playoffs.

10. New York Giants
That was just an awful, awful loss.

11. San Diego Chargers
When will this team decide to play hard all the time?

12. Philadelphia Eagles
Just based on their scrappy performance on Sunday night, I've bumped them up a little higher than they should be.

13. Arizona Cardinals
How do you let up that many points to the 49ers, let alone lose? That was pathetic.

14. Detroit Lions
Another bad home loss. This team better wake up quick, with the streaking Vikings up next.

15. Houston Texans
This team is almost there, but they're missing a secondary and a running back.

16. Denver Broncos
Just when you think they're good, they find a way to lose to the Bears despite being up 14 points in the 4th quarter. Keep kicking to Hester though.

17. New Orleans Saints
This team should have 8 wins with the talent they have. I just don't get it.

18. Tennessee Titans
I probably have them too low, but they have stunk the last couple of weeks. Vince Young may not be that great after all.

19. Minnesota Vikings
This team may just find a way to make the final wild card spot in the NFC.

20. Washington Redskins
This team is starting to play how most people expected them to.

21. Chicago Bears
That was a huge win on Sunday. I still don't see them making the playoffs.

22. Buffalo Bills
Trent Edwards should have played on Sunday.

23. Cincinnati Bengals
We'll see if the Bengals are really back when they take on the Steelers.

24. Baltimore Ravens
This is one underachieving team if I ever saw one.

25. Kansas City Chiefs
Brodie Croyle sure didn't play too well. There are a lot of quarterbacks in this league that probably shouldn't be starting.

26. Carolina Panthers
If you find their offense, let John Fox know.

27. San Francisco 49ers
Where the heck did that come from?

28. Atlanta Falcons
Well, they're still not very good. On the bright side, they definitely aren't the worst team.

29. Oakland Raiders
I've always been a fan of Justin Fargas.

30. St. Louis Rams
They gave Seattle a very early Christmas gift.

31. New York Jets
I hope Kellen Clemens is better than that, or this team may have to get another quarterback.

32. Miami Dolphins
The Dolphins lose another close one. Nothing new. They will win one game this year. I'm just not sure when.

Survivor Series Recap

2007-11-20T09:53:00.000-05:00

1. CM Punk vs. Miz vs. John Morrison
This match was better than I think most people thought it would be. There were some really cool spots and it was exciting all the way through. A very good opener. Punk retains his title.

Unofficial Rating: 3.5 (out of 5)

2. 10 Diva Tag Match
This was short and rightfully so. They are building Mickie James up to challenge Beth Phoenix, which is the right move. Mickie James scored the pin.

Unofficial Rating: .75 (out of 5)

3. Cody Rhodes + Hardcore Holly vs. Cade + Murdoch
This was a decent match, but it would have been better suited for Raw at this point. I'm not quite sure where they're going with Cody Rhodes. Cade + Murdoch retained their titles.

Unofficial Rating: 1.75 (out of 5)

4. Triple H, Jeff Hardy, Rey Mysterio, Kane vs. Umaga, MVP, Mr. Kennedy, Big Daddy V, Finlay
This match was solid, but not as good as it could have been. I'm not a fan of how it was booked, especially with Rey Mysterio and MVP getting pinned so quickly. Jeff Hardy and (surprise!) Triple H were the survivors.

Unofficial Rating: 3 (out of 5)

5. Great Khali vs. Hornswoggle
This was nothing. Finlay made the save, causing Khali to win by DQ. Garbage.

Unofficial Rating: 0 (out of 5)

6. Shawn Michaels vs. Randy Orton
Very solid match that saw Michaels playing up the no Sweet Chin Music stipulation throughout the match. The crowd seemed to be hot and both superstars delivered. Match of the night as Orton retains.

Unofficial Rating: 4 (out of 5)

7. Undertaker vs. Batista
This was probably their worst pay-per-view match, but still a very good contest. This was a little bit slower pace, which is expected in a Hell in a Cell match. Edge made his "surprise" return and destroyed the Undertaker, causing him to lose.

Unofficial Rating: 3.25 (out of 5)

Well after a bunch of duds in a row, WWE has put on two very good shows in the last month. I still haven't quite decided if I liked this or Cyber Sunday better. The Michaels/Orton match was better here, but the Batista/Undertaker match was better on that show. Either way, WWE is on a roll and hopefully it continues at Armageddon.

Overall Rating: 3.75 (out of 5)

NFL Power Rankings - Week 9

2007-11-07T08:10:00.000-05:00

1. New England Patriots
Well, I picked the Colts and I was wrong. But this team is beatable. Unfortunately, there are only a few teams who are capable of doing it.

2. Indianapolis Colts
They played hard, but they made too many mistakes late in the game. I'm sure they'll bounce back.

3. Green Bay Packers
They keep finding ways to win. I bet they wish they could have that Chicago game back.

4. Dallas Cowboys
I'm still not completely sold on this team. Don't get me wrong, they're very good, but I think they often don't play to their potential.

5. Pittsburgh Steelers
Well that was impressive. They probably should be 8-0, but they lost two games to teams they should have never lost to. We'll see what they're made of when they play the Pats.

6. New York Giants
This team has a history of struggling late in the season. I'm still picking them over the Cowboys this week.

7. Detroit Lions
They have a tough road ahead, but if the defense plays as well as it did Sunday, they should win 10 games no problem.

8. Tennessee Titans
Their offense is miserable and that has to change if they want to make the playoffs.

9. New Orleans Saints
I probably have them way too high, but I sure as heck wouldn't want to play this team right now.

10. Cleveland Browns
So the Browns and the Lions are both in the top 10? Who would have thought? Looking at this teams schedule, there's no reason they shouldn't make the playoffs.

11. Washington Redskins
This team is still weak at the quarterback position, but they play hard and overachieve.

12. Jacksonville Jaguars
That was a beatdown on Sunday. With Marcus Stroud gone for 4 weeks, that's not a good thing. The good news is David Garrard should be back this week.

13. San Diego Chargers
What the heck was that? They got pounded by the Vikings? That was pathetic.

14. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Even with all of the injuries, this team continues to battle. I definitely have to give Jon Gruden credit for that.

15. Buffalo Bills
Just imagine if this team beat Denver and Dallas. They'd be on their way to a wildcard spot.

16. Seattle Seahawks
This team plays like they don't care. Good thing they're in the NFC West.

17. Carolina Panthers
Their offense has to play better. They aren't scoring any points.

18. Kansas City Chiefs
Losing Larry Johnson isn't a good thing, even if he hasn't been playing that great. We'll see what Priest Holmes has left.

19. Baltimore Ravens
I probably have them too low, but that was one of the worst games by a "playoff caliber" team I've ever seen in my 19 years of watching NFL football.

20. Minnesota Vikings
Well this team is showing some life, but when it comes down to it, they only have one offensive weapon.

21. Houston Texans
I don't think this team is going to win too many more games, especially without Andre Johnson.

22. Arizona Cardinals
Why did Edgerrin James only run the ball 9 times against a team that has had a hard time stopping the run?

23. Chicago Bears
Let's see what a week off does for this team.

24. Philadelphia Eagles
I'm still not sure how they beat the Lions by as much as they did.

25. Denver Broncos
They better hope Jay Cutler isn't out too long. Somehow, this team still has a shot at the playoffs.

26. Atlanta Falcons
I give them credit for playing hard on Sunday. That may be the last game they win.

27. Cincinnati Bengals
I'm not sure how a team with so much firepower can't win a game. I guess having the worst defense in the league is a good way to offset that.

28. Oakland Raiders
They are a boring team. I say let Russell play.

29. New York Jets
They blew a lead and lost in overtime. Good thing Clemens was playing.

30. San Francisco 49ers
A lot of people thought this team would make a run for the playoffs. They can't even score 20 points on the Falcons. They stink.

31. St. Louis Rams
Even at 0-8, the Rams could still technically win their division.

32. Miami Dolphins
This team may win 1 game. Maybe.

NFL Power Rankings - Week 8

2007-10-30T17:13:00.001-04:00

1. Indianapolis Colts
I guess we'll see how accurate I am this week. I'm still sticking with the Colts.

2. New England Patriots
If Tom Brady gets hurt while they're up by 500 points, we'll see if the Pats are still laughing. I at one time really liked this team. I hate them more every day.

3. Green Bay Packers
I'm still not 100% sold on this team, but they are 6-1 and they do have some good receivers.

4. New York Giants
They may have the best defense in the NFC.

5. San Diego Chargers
I think this is the one team in the league that is capable of beating both the Colts and the Patriots.

6. Pittsburgh Steelers
This team is better when Willie Parker runs for a lot of yards. So is my fantasy team.

7. Dallas Cowboys
Their defense still concerns me. The offense, not so much.

8. Tennessee Titans
They find a way to win close ones. Their offense has to get better if they're going to improve.

9. Jacksonville Jaguars
If they can win half of their games with Quinn Gray, I would consider that a success.

10. Detroit Lions
If they can play like they did in the first half of the Bears game all year, 10 wins will be no problem.

11. Seattle Seahawks
I have yet to figure this team out. This weeks game against Cleveland should be interesting.

12. Baltimore Ravens
I still don't like this team.

13. Cleveland Browns
This team is fun to watch on offense. I wonder what Derek Anderson's future holds?

14. Carolina Panthers
This team would have made the playoffs with Jake Delhomme, I'm doubting they will with David Carr.

15. Washington Redskins
Jason Campbell really isn't that good. The Lions made it seem like he is.

16. Kansas City Chiefs
This is one of those teams where you wonder how they've won as many games as they have.

17. Arizona Cardinals
I think the bye week will do this team some good. If Boldin is healthy, watch out.

18. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Well, Jeff Garcia is human after all. For a minute there, everyone forgot about his years on the Browns and Lions.

19. New Orleans Saints
If this team gets hot, watch out. Drew Brees is starting to look like his old self again.

20. Denver Broncos
That was a brutal loss on Monday night. Please don't take it out on the Lions.

21. Buffalo Bills
Even though he got hurt and really didn't play all that well, I like Trent Edwards.

22. Chicago Bears
I'm thinking the Super Bowl this year is not a possibility.

23. Philadelphia Eagles
This weeks game against the Cowboys could be their season.

24. Houston Texans
I'll admit that was a tough situation they walked into on Sunday. But it was still a horrible showing.

25. Cincinnati Bengals
Not a good performance on Sunday. This team seems like they have quit.

26. Minnesota Vikings
They have a great runner and a great run defense. That's it.

27. Oakland Raiders
Their offense is still horrible. They still need to cut back on the penalties.

28. San Francisco 49ers
Could this be the worst offense ever? Probably not, but it's gotta be close.

29. New York Jets
I don't see Kellen Clemens saving their season.

30. Atlanta Falcons
I can't wait for that Thanksgiving matchup against the Colts. Should be a classic. Joey Harrington has played on Thanksgiving day every year of his career.

31. St. Louis Rams
Maybe Steven Jackson will play an entire half next week.

32. Miami Dolphins
I've gotta say they hung in there on Sunday, but they still are really bad.

Cyber Sunday Recap

2007-10-29T17:24:00.000-04:00

1. Finlay vs. Rey Mysterio (Stretcher Match)
This was a fun match, that if given at least 5 more minutes, could have been great. They did a great job with the time given and this was a great choice for the opener. Rey Mysterio gets the victory.

Unofficial Rating: 3.5 (out of 5)

2. CM Punk vs. Miz
This was a surprise, as I expected him to get 10% or less. I guess WWE fans are trying harder not to be predictable. This was a solid match and a feud between these two could possibly better than most expect. Punk retains his title.

Unofficial Rating: 2.75 (out of 5)

3. Mr. Kennedy vs. Jeff Hardy
This was by far the worst of their small series of matches. Kennedy still seems a bit rusty or something. This was definitely not a bad match, just disappointing. Mr. Kennedy gets the victory, setting up a title match somewhere down the road.

Unofficial Rating: 2 (out of 5)

4. MVP vs. Kane
This was the only let down of the night. I've been dying to see a Hardy/MVP rematch, but for whatever reason this feud is jinxed. Despite all the setbacks, it still is without a doubt my favorite feud of the year. MVP wins by countout. Bad ending, but an expected one considering the circumstances.

Unofficial Rating: .75 (out of 5)

5. Randy Orton vs. Shawn Michaels
Very surprising that this was the 5th match. Match had a lot of good moments, but Orton resorted to his usual rest holds (big surprise) and it had a bad ending. This was still a very good match. Michaels wins by DQ.

Unofficial Rating: 3.5 (out of 5)

6. Umaga vs. Triple H (Street Fight)
I think the fans picked the right stipulation for this match. This was an entertaining match even if it was predictable. Triple H wins after hitting Umaga with the sledgehammer.

Unofficial Rating: 3 (out of 5)

7. Batista vs. Undertaker
Stone Cold Steve Austin played no part in this match, except getting a big pop and beating up Foley and JBL. These two picked up where they left off and had another very good match. I could be wrong, but this may be my favorite of their four matches this year.

Unofficial Rating: 3.75 (out of 5)

This was a very good show and boy did the WWE need one. After a bunch of disappointing shows, this one was very solid all the way through. I'd like to think this would have been even better had Matt Hardy not gotten hurt. Definitely a top 5 show for this year.

Overall Rating: 3.75 (out of 5)

NFL Power Rankings - Week 7

2007-10-24T15:08:00.001-04:00

1. Indianapolis Colts
I don't think they'll overlook the Panthers this Sunday. They're just too well coached.

2. New England Patriots
The Washington defense should be able to slow down their passing offense for a few minutes or so.

3. Dallas Cowboys
Is it just me, or is there a huge drop off from 2 to 3?

4. Green Bay Packers
The Packers are in for a tough matchup this week against a Denver team that doesn't lose too often at home.

5. New York Giants
I'm starting to think that they may be the best team in the NFC right now. I think most people were off on their predictions for this team.

6. Pittsburgh Steelers
I'm not sure what happened to the defense this week, but I wouldn't expect too many more performances like that. I think Mike Tomlin may be my favorite head coach.

7. Washington Redskins
Not quite sure how they won this weekend, but good teams find ways to win.

8. Detroit Lions
Another team that found a way to win. They weren't able to pick off Garcia, as I predicted, but watching him fumble twice was close enough.

9. Jacksonville Jaguars
This team won't go anywhere without David Garrard.

10. Carolina Panthers
We'll get a chance to see what this team is really made of when they take on the Colts this week.

11. San Diego Chargers
I don't expect this team to lose too many more games.

12. Tennessee Titans
I'm glad I had Rob Bironas on my fantasy team.

13. Baltimore Ravens
I'm pretty confident this team won't make the playoffs. Maybe McNair will spark them when he returns.

14. Seattle Seahawks
My theory that Shaun Alexander is only as good as his offensive line is starting to look more accurate by the week.

15. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Even with over 400 yards of total offense, they only managed to score 16 points.

16. Denver Broncos
After taking a look at their schedule, I think this team is going to squeak into the playoffs.

17. Kansas City Chiefs
I'm really not quite sure how this team has 4 wins, making them a dark horse wildcard team.

18. Cleveland Browns
Derek Anderson may be this years biggest surprise.

19. Arizona Cardinals
Anquan Boldin is a stud when he plays. I'm saying that because he is on both of my fantasy teams.

20. Houston Texans
Whatever hope the Texans had to sneak into the playoffs just faded away as Rob Bironas' 8th field goal passed through the goal posts.

21. Chicago Bears
If they manage to beat the Lions this weekend, they are right back in the thick of things.

22. New Orleans Saints
I was expecting a more convincing win over the Falcons this weekend.

23. Philadelphia Eagles
Things are not looking good for the Eagles.

24. Cincinnati Bengals
That was a big win against another team desperate to win, but their defense still sinks.

25. Buffalo Bills
Every week, I'll probably just mention how much I like Trent Edwards. I'll also throw in that I wish the Lions drafted him in the second round.

26. Oakland Raiders
They definitely are no longer the worst team in the league.

27. Minnesota Vikings
Tarvaris Jackson is absolutely awful. I've only been saying that since the first time I saw him play.

28. San Francisco 49ers
I guess I'm confused how this team took a turn for the worse. Alex Smith better bring his A game.

29. New York Jets
I didn't expect this team to be as good as last year, but I know no one thought they'd be this bad.

30. Atlanta Falcons
They're still fighting, but it will be an uphill battle all year long.

31. St. Louis Rams
It just keeps getting worse and worse.

32. Miami Dolphins
The team had one bright spot this year and his name is Ronnie Brown. I think you know the rest.

NFL Power Rankings - Week 6

2007-10-17T13:27:00.000-04:00

1. Indianapolis Colts
I can't wait until their week 9 showdown against the Pats.

2. New England Patriots
It will be interesting to see if they can keep this up all year.

3. Pittsburgh Steelers
They're getting back some key players this week, which means trouble for most of the league.

4. Jacksonville Jaguars
I was one of the people that wrote this team off. Right now they're the real deal and it seems like they always have a shot against the Colts.

5. Green Bay Packers
It sure wasn't pretty, but those are the games that make or break seasons.

6. Dallas Cowboys
This team is capable of falling apart. But since they're in the NFC, they probably won't.

7. New York Giants
I have been very impressed with this team's attitude. They're certainly making Tiki Barber look like an idiot.

8. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
They keep finding ways to win, but how far can they go without a solid running back?

9. Washington Redskins
I'm not quite sure how they lost in Green Bay, but they did. They've got to just continue running the ball and they should be fine.

10. Baltimore Ravens
I'm not so sure how good this team really is. We'll find out when they play the Steelers.

11. San Diego Chargers
This team seems to have risen from the dead as most people thought they would.

12. Carolina Panthers
I'd have to say that Vinny winning that game on Sunday was one of the cooler moments in my years of watching the NFL.

13. Tennessee Titans
This team needs Vince Young.

14. Seattle Seahawks
This team has looked really bad the past two weeks. They better hope they can fix whatever the problem is.

15. Philadelphia Eagles
This team is still underachieving and I probably have them way too high, but they still have potential.

16. Detroit Lions
Rod Marinelli faces off against his old team for the first time. The defense needs to show up agianst an offense not known for scoring a ton of points. My prediction: Jeff Garcia throws his first interception of the season.

17. Arizona Cardinals
If Kurt Warner is out for more than a couple of weeks, this team is done.

18. Cleveland Browns
Their offense is much better than even the most optimistic Browns fan could have hoped. Unfortunately, their defense is worse.

19. Houston Texans
With Andre Johnson possibly back and Vince Young possibly out, this team may have a chance to sneak out a victory this weekend.

20. San Francisco 49ers
Last year following their bye, the Niners were able to improve their defense. Let's see if they can do the same for their offense this year.

21. Kansas City Chiefs
This team is way too inconsistent. But I think it's safe to say that when Larry Johnson and Tony Gonzalez are on, this team can win.

22. Denver Broncos
This week against the Steelers could be the most important game of their season.

23. Minnesota Vikings
Adrian Peterson is awesome. Their run defense is awesome. The rest of the team, not so much.

24. Chicago Bears
I know they have a lot of injuries, but boy is their defense bad.

25. New Orleans Saints
In the NFC South, this team is not out of the picture just yet.

26. Buffalo Bills
We all know I like Trent Edwards. But just in case...I like Trent Edwards.

27. Cincinnati Bengals
Last year I predicted this team wouldn't make the playoffs and they didn't. This year I figured they'd be back with about 10 wins. I think I was a little off on that one.

28. Oakland Raiders
They are quite a bit better, but still a ways away.

29. New York Jets
There's no reason this team shouldn't win at least 7 or 8 games. Their defense stinks and the offense is starting to follow their lead.

30. Atlanta Falcons
Poor Joey. I know he's not that good, but just once I'd like to see him with a good group of receivers.

31. St. Louis Rams
Getting Jackson and Bruce back may equal a few wins, but this team is still a disappointment.

32. Miami Dolphins
I figured this team would be bad, just not this bad.

No Mercy Recap

2007-10-10T10:30:00.000-04:00

1. Randy Orton vs. Triple H
I'm not sure how I feel about them picking Triple H for this angle, but after seeing how everything went, it worked well. This was a solid match, but sort of had a TV match feel to it. Triple H becomes the second new champion of the night.

Unofficial Rating: 2.5 (out of 5)

2. Jeff Hardy, Paul London, And Brian Kendrick vs. Mr. Kennedy, Lance Cade, And Trevor Murdoch
This was a bonus match that was a pleasant surprise to see pop up on the card. Nothing too special, but some solid action. Mr. Kennedy picked up the victory for his team.

Unofficial Rating: 2.5 (out of 5)

3. CM Punk vs. Big Daddy V
This was a huge disappointment. CM Punk in his hometown should have at least gotten 5 minutes to work with. My God, a match that's less than 2 minutes? What a joke. Then they do a screwjob ending that makes no sense. Punk wins by DQ.

Unofficial Rating: .25 (out of 5)

4. Triple H vs. Umaga
This match got cut short because of the whole title angle. With a few more minutes, I think it would have left more of a lasting impression. Triple H retains by pinfall.

Unofficial Rating: 1.75 (out of 5)

5. Finlay vs. Rey Mysterio
This was the match I was most looking forward to and I was pretty disappointed. Once again, it needed more time and a clean finish would have been nice. I do have to say I got a good chuckle out of Finlay pulling the fake on Mysterio. No contest in this one.

Unofficial Rating: 2.25 (out of 5)

6. Beth Phoenix vs. Candice Michelle
This was not nearly as good as their first meeting. Beth Phoenix is the third new champion of the night.

Unofficial Rating: .25 (out of 5)

7. Great Khali vs. Batista
This wasn't as bad as expected, but it still wasn't pretty. I liked the ending, it added some excitement to a slow match.

Unofficial Rating: .75 (out of 5)

8. Randy Orton vs. Triple H
This was a great main event, as both guys brought their A game for this one. Possibly the best match in quite some time in WWE. Randy Orton is your new champion (once again).

Unofficial Rating: 4 (out of 5)

Well, the main event definitely made this show seem better than it was. However, there were a lot of missed opportunities on this show. I give it a mild recommendation, just because it had a little bit of a different feel to it.

Overall Rating: 2.75 (out of 5)

NFL Power Rankings

2007-10-10T09:25:00.000-04:00

1. Indianapolis
Until they lose, they are still the champs.

2. New England
This week should be quite interesting as the Pats travel south to the big D.

3. Dallas
They sure got lucky up in Buffalo Monday night. They better hope they don't play like that this week.

4. Pittsburgh
That was quite the impressive bounce back for this team. I like Mike Tomlin a lot.

5. Tennessee
I'm not quite sure how they keep winning, but they always seem to find a way.

6. Green Bay
That was a bad loss on Sunday night. Favre and company didn't even look like they wanted to win at the end.

7. Washington
Remember, Jason Campbell's career best performance came against the no name secondary of the Lions.

8. Jacksonville
As long as the running game is dominant, this team should be right in the hunt.

9. New York Giants
This team is exceeding my expectations, but being in the NFC East means they have some tough games ahead.

10. Seattle
That was a really bad performance in Pittsburgh. With Deion Branch out, that's not going to help.

11. Baltimore
This team has not been very impressive, but the defense is still playing well.

12. Arizona
We'll see if Kurt Warner can bring some of his magic to the desert.

13. Detroit
Yes, I know they've gotten killed twice in the last three weeks, but they're still headed in the right direction.

14. Tampa Bay
They would be higher if they didn't lose two key offensive players.

15. San Diego
I want to see one more impressive win before I shoot them up into the top 10. That win should come this weekend.

16. Houston
When they get Ahman Green and Andre Johnson back, this team could do some damage.

17. Carolina
With the NFC South so weak this year, this team still could take the division. How far they go is up to David Carr.

18. Chicago
That game Sunday night was a season saver. Let's see where they go from here.

19. Philadelphia
This is a must win situation for Philadelphia.

20. San Francisco
I still can't get over how bad this offense is.

21. Denver
This team needed a bye week big time. They could be in trouble.

22. Cincinnati
I have a feeling this team will bounce back and make a run for the wild card.

23. Oakland
This team is definitely improving, but the passing game has to be better.

24. Buffalo
That was a tough loss for the Bills. They could be 3-2. Yes, I'm still upset the Lions took Drew Stanton instead of Trent Edwards. I may even get an Edwards jersey.

25. Kansas City
Things seem to be getting ugly in KC. Larry Johnson is turning into the player I thought he would be in the NFL. He's much better than how he's been playing.

26. Cleveland
The offense is still playing well, but the defense still stinks. I give Derek Anderson credit though, he's handling the pressure pretty well.

27. New York Jets
I certainly thought Thomas Jones would be more successful than he has been so far.

28. Atlanta
Well, Joey's streak of good games ended at two. We'll see if he's able to bounce back.

29. Minnesota
Their pass offense will never be good with Tarvaris Jackson.

30. New Orleans
I still can't believe they're down this far. If they would have won on Sunday, they would have been right in the hunt in the NFC South.

31. St. Louis
Another team I expected big things from. Not sure what's going on here.

32. Miami
I figured they'd be pretty bad this year, but at least Ronnie Brown is doing well. That's at least one bright spot.

Fall Premiere Thoughts

2007-10-05T13:54:00.001-04:00

Just a quick look at the season/series debuts that I watched over the past week or so:

1. Reaper (Tuesday, 9:00, CW)
Reaper is a show with a fun premise that actually works out pretty well. A slacker finds out that his parents sold his soul to the devil and now has to help bring escaped souls back into Hell. Some of the comedy was hit or miss, but the characters help hold it all together.

Rating: 3.5 (out of 5)

2. Cavemen (Tuesday, 8:00, ABC)
This is possibly the most talked about show, but for the wrong reasons. I had to see how bad this was going to be, and to be honest it was nowhere near as bad as it should have been. It's not that funny or original, but there have been many worse shows on television.

Rating: 1.75 (out of 5)

3. Carpoolers (Tuesday, 8:30, ABC)
I haven't seen a show this horrible in a long time. Sure, I don't watch a whole lot of TV shows, but this one is simply awful. I won't be surprised if this is cancelled by the second episode.

Rating: 0 (out of 5)

4. The Office (Thursday, 9:00, NBC)
NBC's comedy kingpin is back for a fourth season and the season opener definitely delivered. A charity run for Rabies is brilliant enough to make an episode good, but all of the other office drama is what makes the show much better than most of it's competition.

Rating: 4 (out of 5)

5. My Name Is Earl (Thursday, 8:00, NBC)
Jason Lee is back and better than ever as the show now features him in prison. Most shows would use this as a desperate attempt to get people to watch the show, but Earl finds a way to make it clever and intriguing.

Rating: 4 (out of 5)

6. Pushing Daisies (Wednesday, 8:00, ABC)
Definitely the best season/series debut of the year. This reminds me of an adult version of a Roald Dahl fairy tale and it is brilliantly executed. I hope that the rest of the season lives up to the series debut.

Rating: 4.5 (out of 5)

7. Desperate Housewives (Sunday, 9:00, ABC)
I've never been a fan of watching TV on Sunday nights because of football, and as a result have missed out on shows like The X-Files and The Simpsons. When this show debuted a few years back, I decided to take a chance on this show, and I'm glad I am, although I do miss it often due to football and wrestling. This year's debut was very strong featuring many new storylines that are sure to keep this season interesting.

Rating: 4 (out of 5)

5 Things That Rocked September

2007-10-01T15:55:00.001-04:00

1. The Lions Are 3-1
That's right folks, the Detroit Lions are 3-1. Yes, the Eagles game was unwatchable, but they bounced back to defeat division rival Chicago to win 3 of 4 in the month of September. The two home games have been two of the best games played since Ford Field opened its doors back in 2002. In other good Lion news, I got an early Christmas gift, a black authentic Calvin Johnson jersey. I couldn't be much happier with the month of September for the Lions.

2. Cedar Point
After a 15 month drought, I returned to the Point with good friends Steve, Mike, and Homeboy. Despite there being over 35,000 people in the park (one of them being Tayshaun Prince), nothing could bring us down. We conquered all of the major rides (Millenium Force, Top Thrill Dragster, Raptor, Magnum) along with some of the not so major rides (Disaster Transport). The brand new Maverick was a fantastic addition to the park, offering something a little different than most other Cedar Point rides. I also must add that Chick-Fil-A now has a location in the park and it was delicious, even if it cost twice as much as usual.

3. Dashboard Confessional Concert
Chris Carrabba decided to embark on a solo acoustic tour and for one reason or another chose Oakland University for the first show on the tour. Tickets were only $10 for students (I always keep my ID handy) and despite being a bit nippy out, it was a fun show covering most of his best material.

4. Foo Fighters
After the last two Foo Fighters albums weren't up to par with There Is Nothing Left To Lose, I was starting to write the band off. However, they have proven me wrong with a strong set of songs. David Grohl seems to be much more comfortable with the fact that he is no longer "young and hip" and it shows. This is one of the more pleasant surprises this year.

5. The Office
Myth: Three people a year die from rabies.
Fact: Four people a year die from rabies.
Yes, the best comedy on television is back and debuted with an hour long season premier. With many new story lines starting to take shape, season 4 seems to have a strong chance of being the best season of the show ever.

Ranking The Office Season 3

2007-09-14T08:15:00.000-04:00

I just finished watching The Office Season 3 DVDs last night and I thought I'd do a quick ranking of the episodes.

23. Diwali
22. Phyllis' Wedding
21. Cocktails
20. Initiation
19. Safety Training
18. The Negotiation
17. The Coup
16. Business School
15. Beach Games
14. Women's Appreciation
13. Gay Witch Hunt
12. Branch Closing
11. Ben Franklin
10. A Benihana Christmas
9. Product Recall
8. Back From Vacation
7. The Merger
6. The Convict
5. The Return
4. Grief Counseling
3. The Convention
2. Traveling Salesmen
1. The Job

5 Things That Rocked August

2007-09-04T14:31:00.000-04:00

1. Fantasy Football
It's true, it's true. Fantasy football drafts all over the country began in August, signaling that the NFL season is indeed here. While I am not overly happy with my team in my one league, they are a bunch of scrappy guys who I think will respond well to my style of coaching.

2. Good Movies...In August?
In the usually lame month of August (although this trend seems to be coming to an end), I saw two movies that were worthy of 4 stars (or higher) reviews. Both the Bourne Ultimatum and Superbad were fantastic films that are very worthy of the praise they have been receiving. I highly recommend them both.

3. SummerSlam
While SummerSlam was not one for the ages, it is still one thing that I greatly look forward to every year. John Cena and Randy Orton stole the show with one of the best main events in the shows history and a rowdy crowd at Buffalo Wild Wings made for an entertaining evening.

4. Cleveland Rocks/Preseason Football
Preseason football kicked off in the month of August and I was fortunate enough to go to three of the Lions four games. Even though the Cleveland fans were not very welcoming, my good friend Mike "Frosty" Forster was. Thanks to Mike for letting me crash at his place and for missing the exit we needed to get off at.

5. Collective Soul
Even though I'll probably buy every album that Collective Soul puts out, I no longer am expecting much from the band. Boy was I wrong. Even though the music lacks the personality of previous releases (Dosage mostly), Ed Roland relies on his sugary sweet melodies to make Afterwords a winner.

SummerSlam Recap

2007-08-27T08:03:00.000-04:00

Here's a quick look at what went down at SummerSlam 2007:

1. Kane vs. Finlay
Well, this was a lot better than what I expected. This was an entertaining match, but unfortunately was another loss for Finlay. I'd really like to see him get one more run at the US title or something. Kane wins via pin.

Unofficial Rating: 2 (out of 5)

2. Umaga vs. Mr. Kennedy vs. Carlito
The theme of the night is that most matches were too short to be anything better than "okay". This never got a chance to get going and surprisingly Mr. Kennedy got pinned. Umanga retains.

Unofficial Rating: 2 (out of 5)

3. Rey Mysterio vs. Chavo Guerrero
This was better than their match at last years SummerSlam and Rey looked quite good in his return. Not too sure about that silver body paint though. Good, solid match. Rey wins via pin.

Unofficial Rating: 3.25 (out of 5)

4. Diva Battle Royal
They could have easily just made this about 3 minutes long and no one would have been upset. Beth Phoenix gets the victory as expected.

Unofficial Rating: .25 (out of 5)

5. John Morrison vs. CM Punk
This was my surprise of the night. I really thought Punk was in perfect position to pull it off. This match suffered the most from a time aspect, which is a shame because things were going really well. Morrison is still your ECW champ via his feet on the ropes (well, kinda).

Unofficial Rating: 2.5 (out of 5)

6. King Booker vs. Triple H
I was pretty shocked that Triple H's match was 8 minutes long. I thought for sure it'd be 15+. Triple H looks leaner and better than he has in years, but looked a little stiff. A decent match, but real short.

Unofficial Rating: 2 (out of 5)

7. Great Khali vs. Batista
This match was actually worse than expected. After the three way match at GAB, I had a little more hope, but boy was I wrong. Batista gave a nice effort, but Khali is just awful. Not that we didn't know that. Batista wins by DQ.

Unofficial Rating: 0 (out of 5)

8. John Cena vs. Randy Orton
This match and a big match feel and rightfully so. Orton has been working hard as of late and Cena has been working hard forever. This match was entertaining all the way through, and while it wasn't the classic I was hoping for, it definitely was one of the more entertaining matches of 2007. Cena pulls of yet another victory in a very good match.

Unofficial Rating: 3.75 (out of 5)

Overall Rating: 3 (out of 5)

While it wasn't as good as I had hoped, it just felt like it could have been a lot better. Had they just given a few more minutes to Punk/Morrison, the IC title match, and Triple H/Booker, I think we would have been left with a better taste in our mouth. However, the majority was entertaining, earning a mild recommendation.

Booking SummerSlam

2007-08-24T15:09:00.000-04:00

The "biggest party of the summer" is here and this is just a quick look at how I'd book it.

1. Rey Mysterio vs. Chavo Guerrero
I think they're actually making a mistake by having both Triple H and Rey coming back at the same show, especially since Triple H is getting all the attention (no surprise). Truth is, Smackdown misses Rey and of course he's going to win this match. Plus, if this is the opener, this will have been an opener two years in a row.

Winner: Rey Mysterio via pin
Time: 10-15 minutes
Predicted Rating: 3 (out of 5)

2. Finlay vs. Kane
This one most likely will be ugly, so I think putting it second would be a good move. Finlay is able to pull off good matches against big men, so it could be better than expected. I expect this to go to a DQ ending of some sort, but this is me booking and I'd have Finlay go over here via a cheap victory.

Winner: Finlay via pin
Time: 5-10 minutes
Predicted Rating: 1.25 (out of 5)

3. Divas Battle Royal
This is just there for the T&A factor and it could be watchable if kept short. I remember they did something similar on Raw and it was a fun match. Hopefully lightning can strike twice. I say put Beth Phoenix over and instantly insert her in a feud with Mickie James once she wins the belt.

Winner: Beth Phoenix
Time: 5-10 minutes
Predicted Rating: .5 (out of 5)

4. John Morrison vs. CM Punk
I doubt this match will be this late in the card (I'm thinking probably either match 1 or 2), but I think the crowd seems to be getting into this feud a little more. I definitely would have Punk go over here because there are way more heels than there are faces in the thin roster that is ECW.

Winner: CM Punk via pin
Time: 10-15 minutes
Predicted Rating: 3.25 (out of 5)

5. Carlito vs. Umaga vs. Mr. Kennedy
In theory, Carlito probably should go over, but I think Mr. Kennedy would elevate the title (and his career) the most by winning this match. I'm not quite sure how the crowd will react to these guys, as essentially all three of them are heels. You can still keep Umaga as a monster by having Kennedy pin Carlito, and that really wouldn't hurt Carlito's career much either.

Winner: Mr. Kennedy via pin
Time: 10-15 minutes
Predicted Rating: 3 (out of 5)

6. Triple H vs. King Booker
These guys had an underrated match at WrestleMania XIX, but they were also about 4 years younger. However, the crowd should be way into this, and even though this will probably be the second to last match, I still believe that the Smackdown title match should be second to last. There's no way Triple H will lose this, but I think it'd be a great angle if he did, but I'd still book Triple H going over.

Winner: Triple H via pin
Time: 15-20 minutes
Predicted Rating: 2.75 (out of 5)

7. Batista vs. Great Khali
Smackdown is definitely weak right now, but I think they've done a great job of making Khali look like a monster. I am not a fan of either of these guys, but for right now, these guys are going to have to have at least one more pay-per-view match. I think by having Khali win would keep his momentum and stack up the odds against Batista. Then I'd have Batista win at Unforgiven.

Winner: Great Khali via pin
Time: 5-10 minutes
Predicted Rating: .25 (out of 5)

8. Randy Orton vs. John Cena
I think the world is expecting John Cena to drop the belt here, but I'm still not quite sure. I think by having Cena lose wouldn't hurt him and would definitely help Orton's long term career. He has been red hot as of late and very convincing as a mega heel. Let's hope he has his head on straight this time.

Winner: Randy Orton via pin
Time: 20-25 mintues
Predicted Rating: 4 (out of 5)

Overall: Well this show would have been a lot better on paper with the Hardy/MVP and Umaga/Hardy rematches, but it is what it is. Two big returns plus a good main event should make for watchable pay-per-view. It probably won't be the best show of the year, but I highly doubt it will be at the bottom.

Time: 80-120 minutes
Average Predicted Rating: 2.25 (out of 5)

Things That Rocked July

2007-08-01T12:29:00.000-04:00

Here is a look at 5 things that rocked July:

1. Disneyland/California Adventure
No trip to southern California is complete without stopping by the original theme park Disneyland. The park has a timeless feel and it still may be the greatest park in the world. I was lucky enough to ride the brand new Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage, which is a new take on an old classic. It's a definite must-ride for any fan. The underrated California Adventure park is also a must see. Featuring favorites such as the Tower of Terror, California Screamin', and It's Tough To Be A Bug, I'm not really sure why this hasn't caught on quicker. Just wait until Toy Story Mania is finished.

2. San Diego
This was the first time I actually stayed in San Diego and I instantly fell in love with the city. I took my first stroll through the Gaslamp District and it possibly is my favorite downtown area I have been to. The San Diego Zoo was fantastic as always, despite not seeing the kiwis again. We also got to see the Padres at Petco Park, which is a top notch facility. The fish tacos were delicious.

3. "Young Modern" by Silverchair
Forget what you think you know about Silverchair and purchase this album immediately. It is a definite candidate for album of the year and quickly soaring up my favorite albums list. This band has come a long, long way.

4. Wireless Internet
I finally have wireless internet in the house and within about 10 miutes of having it, I became addicted. I can now download games off the Virtual Console for my Wii and play Tetris against people from all over the world on my DS. With each passing day, I become more and more of a nerd.

5. "Bargain Basement" by Aquatic Zoom
With drummer Justin off to Florida for the next 10 months or so, the Zoom made a last minute effort to put their jams out for the world to hear. The end result is 37 minutes of non-stop pleasure featuring jams ("My Favorite Bass Player Is Me", "Too New For Words", "Silence Is The Sound"), insanely catchy pop songs ("Fourteen", "Precious Time", "Running Backwards"), and crowd favorites ("Mammon Metropolis", "Figure Skating In Singapore"). If you would like to find out how to pick up a copy of the album, e-mail us at aquaticzoom@gmail.com.

Also, check out www.myspace.com/aquaticzoom for a free preview.

Great American Bash Recap

2007-07-27T15:17:00.000-04:00

I'm sure no one is upset that this is a few days late.

1. Matt Hardy vs. MVP
This was a solid opener, but could have been better. I think if they give them about 15-20 minutes at SummerSlam, we could have ourselves a nice match. MVP won by pinfall.

Unofficial Rating (out of 5): 3.25

2. Cruiserweight Invitational
This was a solid match that the crowd seemed to be into. Hornswoggle gets the surprising victory and the internet is outraged. Like this title means anything.

Unofficial Rating (out of 5): 3

3. Carlito vs. Sandman
Well, the cane didn't even really get used in this match. Not sure why this was even on the card. Carlito wins by pinfall.

Unofficial Rating (out of 5): .75

4. Candice Michelle vs. Melina
I think it's time to give up on this feud. Candice retained in the second snoozer in a row.

Unofficial Rating (out of 5): .25

5. Umaga vs. Jeff Hardy
This one definitely woke the crowd up, as they were behind Jeff Hardy all the way. Exciting match, even if it wasn't a technical classic. Umaga has really turned out to be a pretty solid heel. It looks like Jeff will be getting the re-match next month.

Unofficial Rating (out of 5): 3.75

6. John Morrison vs. CM Punk
I like these two guys a lot, but it just seems like the crowd cares less and less about ECW each week. At one point, CM Punk would have been a huge addition to Smackdown or Raw, but now I think his run in ECW is hurting him. He'll still be huge, just not as quickly as he could have. Morrison retains.

Unofficial Rating (out of 5): 2

7. Randy Orton vs. Dusty Rhodes
This one really ended abruptly and it was not the bloodfest I was expecting. Two disappointing matches in a row. Orton gets the expected victory.

Unofficial Rating (out of 5): 1.25

8. Great Khali vs. Batista vs. Kane
Well, we knew Kane wouldn't win this one, so of course he was the one to get pinned. This sets up the highly anticipated matchup of Khali vs. Batista. Oh boy. However, this was slightly better than expected.

Unofficial Rating (out of 5): 1.5

9. John Cena vs. Lashley
This was a very solid main event that was a lot of fun. I'm not much of a fan of Lashley and this didn't do much to make me like him more, as it still seemed as Cena carried him to a good match. I'm glad the belt stayed on Cena.

Unofficial Rating (out of 5): 3.75

Overall Rating: 3 (out of 5)

There were 4 matches with a 3 or higher, but nothing over a 4. There were 2 disappointing matches that could have made this a very good show, and a couple that were duds. However, this was probably the best show since Backlash.

Vengeance Recap

2007-06-26T15:13:00.000-04:00

Just a quick look at Vengeance.

1. Hardyz vs. Cade + Murdoch
This was the typical solid match between these two. Rushed matches were the theme of the night and this match was no exception. Cade + Murdoch retain.

Unofficial Rating: 3 (out of 5)

2. Chavo Guerrero vs. Jimmy Wang Yang
This match was quite disappointing. I would have like to have seen a little bit more of a quicker pace throughout this one. Chavo retains his title.

Unofficial Rating: 2 (out of 5)

3. CM Punk vs. Johnny Nitro
Not sure why Johnny Nitro was picked as the replacement, as either of the New Breed would have seemed more qualified, but I do like Nitro. It's too bad he's lost all of his heat. I liked this match and we'll see where ECW goes with Johnny Nitro as champ.

Unofficial Rating: 3.25 (out of 5)

4. Santino Marella vs. Umaga
This was absolute garbage. Please take the IC belt of Marella.

Unofficial Rating: 0 (out of 5)

5. MVP vs. Ric Flair
I'm really surprised this match didn't get a few more minutes. MVP continues to look good, hopefully the crowd starts reacting to him better now that he is a legit US champ.

Unofficial Rating: 3 (out of 5)

6. Deuce + Domino vs. Jimmy Snuka + Sgt. Slaughter
More garbage that should have never been on pay-per-view.

Unofficial Rating: 0 (out of 5)

7. Edge vs. Batista
Things started off slow, but built up nicely until the screwy ending. Although, with the thin Smackdown roster, I can at least see the reasoning behind the decision. Edge is still your champ.

Unofficial Rating: 3.5 (out of 5)

8. Melina vs. Candice Michelle
We finally have our first (and only) champion losing. This wasn't as good as some of the stuff that's been on TV. Oh well.

Unofficial Rating: .5 (out of 5)

9. John Cena vs. King Booker vs. Mick Foley vs. Randy Orton vs. Lashley
They brought Mick Foley back for a ten minute match? This was a real fun match, even if it was sloppy. And then, out of nowhere, it was over. Just like that. Ten fricken minutes. This should have at least been fifteen. Five minutes can make a big difference. Cena pins Foley to retain.

Unofficial Rating: 3 (out of 5)

Well this wasn't that great of a show. You had two 0's and the rest was nothing out of the ordinary. Had a few of the matches gotten some more time, this would have been a much better show. They legend segments were a nice touch, but overall, a disappointing show. Hopefully the Bash will be better.

Overall Rating: 2.5 (out of 5)

Chris Benoit

2007-06-26T08:45:00.000-04:00

I have now have had a night to digest everything that has happened in the past 24 hours or so. Chris Benoit, a hero of mine, along with his wife and child, are dead. From the instant I heard this news, I wanted to believe that he had no part in the death of his wife and child, but unfortunately reality isn't always kind. "But this is Chris Benoit" is all I could keep telling myself. Why would one of the best representatives of a business that is so often put down go and do something so terrible? This is a man who had to earn everything he achieved in this business. He was short, lacked mic skills, didn't play the politic game, yet somehow he succeeded. There have been more talented competitors, more athletic performers, heck, just more gifted all around wrestlers, but I know there has never been a harder working wrestler. If Chris Benoit was on the card, you knew you were going to see at least one good match. There has probably never been a more touching moment than when he and Eddie Guerrero, best friends, celebrated their world championships at WrestleMania XX. That is one moment I will never forget. But I ask this, why would someone who lived and breathed this business, who worked so hard to become a legend, take this route and ruin everything he had earned? His name will now forever in infamy and it truly is a shame. Why, Chris, why?

Chris Benoit, you were an inspiration to me and I am proud to have been able to follow your career. You were everything that wrestling was supposed to be about and gave us countless memorable matches and moments. I will miss being able to watch you wrestle every week, as I am not sure if there was a better wrestler that I have ever watched. My respect for you as a wrestler will never go away, but unfortunately, as a human being, I'm not sure I'll ever be able to get over the disappointment of this tragedy and the role you played in it. Chris, you will be missed, but I can't help but feeling betrayed.

One Night Stand Recap

2007-06-05T11:39:00.000-04:00

This pay-per-view actually had me pretty excited, due to the fact that it actually did something to distinguish itself from the other million WWE pay-per-views during the year. In a night of all extreme rules matches, let's see if One Night Stand delivered the goods.

1. Rob Van Dam vs. Randy Orton
This was another match that was hurt by the whole concussion angle. Things picked up towards the end and RVD got the surprising win in this stretcher match. After the match, Randy Orton destroyed RVD, putting him out "indefinitely". Disappointing match, but not necessarily due to the competitors, but because of the storyline.

Unofficial Match Rating: 2.5 (out of 5)

2. CM Punk, Sandman, And Tommy Dreamer vs. Elijah Burke, Marcus Cor Von, And Matt Striker
After giving Punk/Burke almost 20 minutes at Judgment Day, they decided to screw this match out of time. This of course hurt the overall quality of what was turning out to be a fun match. I was disappointed that there was no GTS, Pounce, or Elijah Express in this match. CM Punks team gets the win when they suplexed Matt Striker onto Elijah Burke through the table.

Unofficial Match Rating: 2.75 (out of 5)

3. The World's Greatest Tag Team vs. The Hardyz
Things got started off a little slow in this highly anticipated ladder match. The last half was very exciting and featured some crazy spots. Overall, it was a little disappointing, but with no question, was the match of the night, with the Hardyz retaining.

Unofficial Match Rating: 3.5 (out of 5)

4. Mark Henry vs. Kane
I don't think anyone in their right mind thought this would be good. They were all right. Henry gets the victory with a bear hug. Yep.

Unofficial Match Rating: 0 (out of 5)

5. Vince McMahon vs. Bobby Lashley
The first half of this match was horrible. The second half was entertaining. We have a new ECW champion and he still isn't that great of a performer.

Unofficial Match Rating: 2.25 (out of 5)

6. Melina vs. Candice Michelle
This wasn't really a match so I can't really rate it. Candice gets the win, as expected.

Unofficial Match Rating: N/R

7. Edge vs. Batista
Shockingly, this cage match had no blood, which I think hurt it a bit. Edge continues to be great, while Batista seems to be in a bit of a slump now. I'm glad they've given the ball to Edge, because he will eventually go down as a legend.

Unofficial Match Rating: 3 (out of 5)

8. John Cena vs. Great Khali
This feud is now over. Or so I hope. Cena pulled off a miracle by making his matches with this disgrace of a wrestler somewhat entertaining. He deserves some sort of an award for that.

Unofficial Match Rating: 1.75 (out of 5)

Overall Rating: 2.75 (out of 5)

Judgment Day Recap

2007-05-21T10:30:00.000-04:00

Judgment Day would have to be quite the show to top the last couple WWE pay-per-view offerings. Could they possibly out perform Backlash and WrestleMania? Let's take a look.

1. Carlito vs. Ric Flair
This match has been a couple months in the making and it was a decent opener. The crowd is always into Flair. I think Carlito looked decent, but I was hoping for a better performance. Flair wins via a Figure Four, which basically never happens anymore.

Unofficial Match Rating: 2.5 (out of 5)

2. Lashley vs. Vince McMahon/Shane McMahon/Umaga
This was hardly a match as Lashley destroyed Shane, but due to technicalities, did not win the ECW championship. Looks like we'll see Vince/Lashley at One Night Stand. Yippee.

Unofficial Match Rating: .25 (out of 5)

3. CM Punk vs. Elijah Burke
This was my most anticipated match, as it features two of my current stars in a rare pay-per-view appearance. I think they did a solid job and got the crowd into it at the end. There were a few sloppy parts, but otherwise a fine match. CM Punk gets the big ppv victory.

Unofficial Match Rating: 3.25 (out of 5)

4. Randy Orton vs. Shawn Michaels
Once again, this was hardly a match, as it was stopped due to Michaels passing out. This is very reminiscent of the mid-90s angle Michaels did. I guess he's going to get surgery on the knee, hopefully he's not out too long.

Unofficial Match Rating: .5 (out of 5)

5. Hardyz vs. Cade + Murdoch
This angle has really been developing nicely and I'd have to say this was my favorite match of the night. Was it your typical Hardy match? Yes, but Cade and Murdoch were feeling it too. Hardyz get the victory over the Texans.

Unofficial Match Rating: 3.5 (out of 5)

6. Edge vs. Batista
These guys didn't have much chemistry, which is too bad because Batista was actually on a roll. Edge wins via a rollup in a disappointing matchup.

Unofficial Match Rating: 2 (out of 5)

7. MVP vs. Chris Benoit
This one was a little disappointing as well. This feud has been possibly my favorite feud of the year as it has slowly built into something special. MVP gets the sweep in the best of 3, which is something you don't see too often.

Unofficial Match Rating: 3.25 (out of 5)

8. John Cena vs. Great Khali
You know what makes me mad? When people fricken cheer for Khali over Cena. It's not cool to hate Cena. Is his gimmick great? Nope. Is he as good of a wrestler as Chris Benoit or Shawn Michaels? Nope. Does he always give 150%? You better believe it. The thing that's even worse is, he is essentially the Hulk Hogan of this era (in terms of how they book him). There's just one main difference, he's 100 times better than Hogan! The same idiots that cheer Hogan, boo Cena. Name me some great Hogan matches. Hogan/Andre? Terrible match, just memorable for the slam and the setting. Hogan/Warrior. Nothing special. Hogan/Savage. Good, but Savage carried the match. With Cena, I can name countless classics. Cena/Michaels (from Raw and WM23), Cena/Edge (multiple times), Cena/Bradshaw (No Mercy), he even had a classic with Umaga at Royal Rumble. I am in no way Cena's biggest fan. I don't think he's unbelievable. But I think he is a darn good entertainer and I typically look forward to his matches. This match, I had no interest going in and somehow he pulled off something better than a 0 with Khali. Hogan never could have, Cena Haters. Start pouring your hate on someone who deserves it, like say Batista.

Unofficial Match Rating: 2 (out of 5)

Overall Rating: 2.5 (out of 5)

I can't say this was a great show, but it was never boring. I'll give it the average rating for now, but we'll see when I catch it on 24/7.

Special thanks to Kevin and Dave for driving themselves to BDubs. It is greatly appreciated.

Backlash Recap

2007-04-30T10:53:00.000-04:00

On April 29th, WWE presented it's fifth pay-per-view of the year, Backlash. Would they be able to deliver a solid show or would this be a stinker like No Way Out? Let's take a look.

1. Hardys vs. Cade + Murdoch
I don't think anyone really bought Cade and Murdoch as serious contenders to the seemingly unstoppable Hardys, but they gave a great effort. Solid opener with the Hardys going over as expected.

Unofficial Rating: 2.75 (out of 5)

2. Mickie James vs. Melina
Mickie James is my favorite womens wrestler and it was nice to see her get a shot at the title on a pay-per-view. This was a very good match and this is what should have been the Women's Championship match at WrestleMania. Melina retained her title in a match that was allowed more time than I expected.

Unofficial Rating: 3 (out of 5)

3. MVP vs. Chris Benoit
This was the surprise of the night. I thought for sure that they would give the rising star, MVP the title here after he gave a great effort at WrestleMania. Benoit wins on a small package, so I would say he may get one more chance.

Unofficial Rating: 3.5 (out of 5)

4. Bobby Lashley vs. Umaga, Vince McMahon, + Shane McMahon
This was the worst match of the show, but was by no means horrible. Lashley probably got the best reception I can recall him getting. I am already dreading the Vince McMahon ECW Championship celebration.

Unofficial Rating: 1.75 (out of 5)

5. Batista vs. Undertaker
Never would I have guessed that two of Batista's best matches would be against the Undertaker. This wasn't as exciting as the WrestleMania matchup, but just as intense. The bad ending hurt it a little as well. I'm sure Judgment Day will be headlined by another stipulation match between these two.

Unofficial Rating: 3.5 (out of 5)

6. John Cena vs. Edge vs. Shawn Michaels vs. Randy Orton
As expected, this was my favorite match of the night. These matches can be messy, but all four men worked well together. Cena wins on a fluke after being superkicked onto Orton by Michaels, setting up hopefully another great matchup between the two.

Unofficial Rating: 4 (out of 5)

Overall: 3.75 (out of 5)
With 4 of the 6 matches at 3 or higher, this is a definite thumbs up. That makes the WWE 4 for 5 on the year delivering solid or better shows.

WrestleMania 23 Recap

2007-04-02T15:03:00.000-04:00

Definitely a top ten day in my 24 years of existence. Here is a quick recap of the matches:

1. Money In The Bank
Jeff Hardy's spot with Edge could have been the craziest spot I've ever seen in pro wrestling. That was just insane. I can't wait to see that on the DVD. This was a fun match, even though I wish they would have taken two of the guys out of there to add another quality singles match. One of the best openers in WrestleMania history and the craziest match I've seen live.

Live Rating: 4.5 (out of 5)

2. Kane vs. Great Khali
This was the perfect length for this match. The crowd lost interest quickly, which is no shock. This looked even worse, since it followed the awesome opener.

Live Rating: .25

3. MVP vs. Chris Benoit
This match kind of ended abruptly but it was solid. I think it could have used another 5 minutes, but that's just me. I think this one will be better on the DVD.

Live Rating: 2.75

4. Batista vs. Undertaker
This was the most pleasant surprise of the night. Both guys brought the goods and Batista looked as intense as I've ever seen him. Maybe being bumped down the card this far was used as extra motivation. Surprisingly, this was the only title change for the night.

Live Rating: 3.5

5. ECW Originals vs. New Breed
This was the most disappointing match. There was no hardcore wrestling of any kind in this brief encounter. I really feel that if this was given 10 minutes and had lots of weapon spots, it could have been really fun. I'm surprised the New Breed didn't win as well.

Live Rating: 2

6. Lashley vs. Umaga
This was the type of match that comes across better live. This was not a classic wrestling match, but definitely an entertaining half hour. I am not a big fan of Lashley, but he did what he had to, and with all of the outside interference and Austin as guest ref, this was well booked.

Live Rating: 3.5

7. Ashley vs. Melina
I was literally pretty shocked that Melina won. This match was bad, but also only about 4 minutes long. No one cared about this match. Next.

Live Rating: .25

8. John Cena vs. Shawn Michaels
This was absolutely awesome. The crowd still wasn't as loud as I thought it would be, but I think it had more to do with the way the stadium is. Cena was made to look like the underdog, and both guys worked very well together. This was definitely one of the best WrestleMania main events and I can't wait to watch it again.

Live Rating: 4.75

Overall, a definite top 10 WrestleMania. The bad matches were short, the good matches were memorable, and the overall presentation was impressive. I can't believe it took me 16 years to finally go to a WrestleMania, but it was definitely worth the wait.

Overall: 4.5 (out of 5)

Booking WrestleMania 23

2007-03-29T15:15:00.000-04:00

Yes, it's that time. The biggest sports-entertainment event of the year, WrestleMania 23, is making it's return to the Detroit area for the first time in two decades. This will be my first WrestleMania, and I have to say that I have probably not been this excited about anything since the Lions made the NFC Championship in 1991-92. Hopefully this will turn out better than that did. Here's just my take on how this event should go.

1. MVP vs. Benoit
By putting this match first, I think it will allow MVP to get even more heat. This should be a match primarily dominated by Benoit, making MVP look cowardly. I'd have MVP find a cheap way to win, hopefully something other than a roll up, and crowned new United States Champion.

Time: 10-15 minutes
My Winner: MVP
Prediction: MVP
Rating: 3 (out of 5)

2. Money In The Bank
This match has been pretty successful going second in the previous two WrestleManias, so why mess with that? My biggest complaing with the other two was that they were too short. With eight competitors, I think they have enough of a story to tell to make this go a little longer than 15 minutes. I feel that the brightest future of the eight belongs to CM Punk, and he would go over, with help to Randy Orton screwing Edge over at the end. I'd love to see Matt Hardy win it, but I think Punk will make them more money.

Time: 20-25 minutes
My Winner: CM Punk
Prediction: Mr. Kennedy
Rating: 4.5

3. Ashley vs. Melina
This is not going to be anywhere near the quality of last year's Women's Championship match. Melina is probably the best female heel they have and Ashley is now the crown jewel of the divas, so whether I like it or not, she has to go over.

Time: 5-10 minutes
My Winner: Ashley
Prediction: Ashley
Rating: .75

4. ECW Originals vs. New Breed
This match has a lot of potential to be fun. If they can pull off a match similar to some of the matches we've seen on the One Night Stand shows, this could really add to the overall quality of the show. I think Elijah Burke has loads of potential and a victory for him over one of the Originals could really help out his career.

Time: 15-20 minutes
My Winner: New Breed
Prediction: New Breed
Rating: 3.25

5. Kane vs. Great Khali
With this match on the card, I definitely would have added at least one more match. Who knows? Maybe they will. The crowd will be into this early, but they will start to lose their patience if it goes too long. Even as bad as Kane has been as of late (plus rumors of him taking time off), I would still have him go over here as Khali just isn't worthy of being a main eventer.

Time: 5 minutes
My Winner: Kane
Prediction: Great Khali
Rating: 0

6. Lashley vs. Umaga
This is another match that could go either way in terms of quality. Umaga has proven that he can put on an entertaining match with a quality opponent. However, I'm not completely sold on Lashley. His intensity has picked up and the crowd seems to be buying it. No question that Lashley has to go over here though. I'm thinking Vince is going to look pretty bad bald.

Time: 15-20 minutes
My Winner: Lashley
Prediction: Lashley
Rating: 3

7. Undertaker vs. Batista
There was a point in time where I really thought they were going to let Batista end the 'Taker's streak. This would be an awful decision that would be looked down on upon for years to come. If you're going to reward someone with something as prestigious as that, let it be someone who is deserving.

Time: 15-20 minutes
My Winner: Undertaker
Prediction: Undertaker
Rating: 2.25

8. John Cena vs. Shawn Michaels
I won't be mad if Undertaker/Batista is the last match, but I feel as if this is the more anticipated matchup. This should be a back and forth battle with lots of near pinfalls and lots of chants for both competitors. I think a HBK victory could lead to a fun feud that would wrap up this summer. Either way, this should be a matchup for the ages and possibly one of the more memorable WrestleMania title matches ever.

Time: 25-30 minutes
My Winner: Shawn Michaels
Prediction: John Cena
Rating: 4.75

Total Match Time: 110-140 minutes

I don't think this show will be the greatest WrestleMania ever, but I think it has a solid shot of cracking the top 5. I'm sure there will be a bit of a bias due to this being my first live WrestleMania, but one thing is for sure, it will be a day that I never forget.

No Way Out Recap

2007-02-20T10:02:00.000-05:00

No Way Out is typically one of my least favorite events. I feel it just kind of gets in the way of WrestleMania. Last year's event, however, was one of the best single brand pay-per-views since the WWE decided to produce brand exclusive shows. How did this year's event fair? Let's find out.

1. Chris Benoit and The Hardyz vs. MVP and MNM
This match made absolutely no sense. They took the Hardyz and MNM out of the ladder match because they decided they would no longer team together. Then at the last second throw them into a six man tag just to fill up more time. The match was a fun match, but did nothing to tell a story. Don't think I'm complaining that they put Chris Benoit and Matt Hardy on the card, but they could have done it more effectively. Action wise, a good opener.

Rating: 3.25 (out of 5)

2. Cruiserweight Open
Well, here's another match that made no sense. Basically, it was just a way to take the belt off of Gregory Helms without making him look bad. They also have nothing worthwhile to do with Chavo, so here he is back in the cruiserweight division. They need to let the cruiserweights work the style they are accustomed to, because there was hardly a difference between this match and any other match throughout the night.

Rating: 1.25 (out of 5)

3. Finlay and Little Bastard vs. Boogeyman and Mini Boogeyman
This match was a comedy match, but boy does the Boogeyman get worse each match. I really hope they come to their senses and leave him off the WrestleMania card. Finlay can do much better.

Rating: .5 (out of 5)

4. Kane vs. King Booker
Booker is still the most entertaining character on WWE television. Having him lose to an aging Kane was a terrible decision. I hope this feud is over.

Rating: .75 (out of 5)

5. London and Kendrick vs. Deuce and Domino
London and Kendrick are a fun team to watch, but they have no competition. I would love to see them square off against The World's Greatest Tag Team at WrestleMania. Now that would be a tag team match.

Rating: 1.5 (out of 5)

6. Mr. Kennedy vs. Lashley
Here's another match that should have never been booked. Both guys are getting pushes, so they put them in a match together with a terrible finish. Mr. Kennedy is one of the favorites for the Money In The Bank match, and hopefully he gets put in that match as opposed to a re-match (even though Lashley may be Donald Trump's representative).

Rating: 1 (out of 5)

7. Shawn Michaels and John Cena vs. Batista and Undertaker
Well the WWE did make the right decision on this one. You have four faces in the two main events at WrestleMania. Batista's popularity isn't what it once was, who most likely would have been the heel in his match against Undertaker anyways. Batista is much more effective as a tough guy. It also allowed for this match to have a pinfall finish as opposed to a screwy double DQ or some garbage of that nature. Solid match that you would expect from these guys, but not enough to save this show.

Rating: 3.5 (out of 5)

Overall Rating: 1.5 (out of 5)

Royal Rumble Recap

2007-01-29T11:37:00.000-05:00

Last night was the 2007 Royal Rumble, always one of the most anticipated events on the wrestling calendar. We had a record 9 people attend for the event, although mostly for the food and the betting than the actual event. There was a great atmosphere, with multiple cheers occurring throughout the night. Here's a look at the matches:

1. MNM vs. The Hardyz
This one lacked the hype of their December to Dismember matchup and both teams seemed a little sluggish. However, these guys still can deliver a solid match, even if it wasn't spectacular. Solid opener.

Rating: 3 (out of 5)

2. Test vs. Lashley for the ECW Championship
I don't think many were expecting much from this and I definitely think it was worst than expected. Why would the challenger want to get counted out? Stupid.

Rating: .25 (out of 5)

3. Batista vs. Mr. Kennedy for the World Heavyweight Championship
These guys have a pretty decent chemistry together. Mr. Kennedy has proven to be main event worthy, even if he lost cleanly tonight. A solid match.

Rating: 2.25 (out of 5)

4. Umaga vs. John Cena in a Last Man Standing Match for the WWE Championship
John Cena has officially won me over. He is great for the "sport", a class act, turns it up a notch on pay-per-views, and obviously a fan of this business. Umaga was written off as an early 90s gimmick, but has turned into a decent character who seems to be working hard. This was a great brawl that was very intense. Definitely the best match of the year, so far.

Rating: 4.25 (out of 5)

5. Royal Rumble
Betting aside, this is always a fun match. I was pulling for a Shawn Michaels win, but I understand the logic behind Undertaker winning his first Rumble and they finally let unlucky 30 win a match (which was a discussion topic on the ride to BDubs). This Rumble definitely wasn't one of the great ones, but it was definitely interesting. The final four was a great segment, and you really were on the edge of your seat when it was down to the Taker and HBK. Congrats to Justin on his victory.

Rating: 3.5 (out of 5)

Overall Rating: 3.75 (out of 5) Solid pay-per-view despite none of the titles changing hands. John Cena and Umaga definitely deserve a round of applause for their efforts tonight because most people weren't expecting much out of that feud and it turned out to be another solid story told by Mr. Cena.

New Year's Revolution Recap

2007-01-08T16:40:00.000-05:00

Last night, WWE held their first pay-per-view of 2007, New Year's Revolution. I had low expectations going into the show, but knew that a trip to Buffalo Wild Wings is always a good time. Surprisingly the place was packed, perhaps as crowded as WrestleMania 22, which is always a good thing.

1. Jeff Hardy vs. Johnny Nitro (Cage Match)
As expected, this was the match of the night. I doubt it will be in the top 10 for the year, but both guys gave a good effort in this fun contest won by Hardy.

Rating: 3.5 (out of 5)

2. Tag Team Turmoil
I figured that they would add in a tag team match, but I was praying it wouldn't be this style. I am very disappointed with how they are handling the return of The World's Greatest Tag Team. As expected, Cryme Tyme won.

Rating: 1.25 (out of 5)

3. Kenny Dykstra vs. Ric Flair
This was a little bit better than I expected, but nothing spectacular. I still think they should have Ric Flair mentor Kenny as a result of his loss.

Rating: 2.25 (out of 5)

4. Victoria vs. Mickie James
I was looking forward to this one and was pretty disappointed. These are the two best women's wrestlers left, so hopefully they gel in their upcoming bouts. Mickie retained the title in this one.

Rating: 1 (out of 5)

5. DX vs. Rated RKO
This was a very intense brawl that will forever be known for HHH's injury. The ending was just crazy, as no one knew what to do. There wasn't even a winner announced. Still, I enjoyed it up until the injury.

Rating: 3 (out of 5)

6. Carlito vs. Chris Masters
This feud has gone on forever and people really don't care. To make it worse, they stuck it in between the two main events. Masters winning was the biggest surprise of the night.

Rating: 2 (out of 5)

7. Umaga vs. John Cena
This was a fun brawl, as Cena seems to step it up at pay-per-view events. Umaga more than held his own, and Cena made me believe Umaga belonged in the main event. I would have liked a better ending, but all in all it was better than I think most thought it would be.

Rating: 3 (out of 5)

Overall Rating: 2.75 (out of 5)

This show was nothing spectacular, but I was expecting nothing and thought it was nothing more than solid. Being in the same month as the Royal Rumble doesn't help this show out, but this was much better than some of the recent events put on by WWE.

My Top 10s For 2006

2007-01-03T16:31:00.000-05:00

Albums
10. Josh Rouse - Subtitulo
9. Taking Back Sunday – Louder Now
8. Incubus – Light Grenades
7. Red Hot Chili Peppers – Stadium Arcadium
6. Arctic Monkeys – Whatever People Say I Am, That’s What I’m Not
5. Tenacious D – The Pick Of Destiny
4. Brian Vander Ark – Angel, Put Your Face On
3. Pete Yorn - Nightcrawler
2. ...And You Will Know Us By The Trail Of Dead – So Divided
1. Angels And Airwaves – We Don’t Need To Whisper

Movies
10. Pirates Of The Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest/Mission: Impossible 3
9. For Your Consideration
8. Nacho Libre
7. The Prestige
6. Talladega Nights: The Ballad Of Ricky Bobby
5. Borat: Cultural Learning Of America For Make Benefit Glorious Nation Of Kazakhstan
4. Cars
3. Tenacious D In: The Pick Of Destiny
2. Beerfest
1. Clerks II

Pay-Per-View
10. Backlash
9. Armageddon
8. Great American Bash
7. No Mercy
6. Judgment Day
5. Unforgiven
4. SummerSlam
3. No Way Out
2. WrestleMania 22
1. One Night Stand

Matches
10. Rob Van Dam vs. Kurt Angle (ECW)
9. Chris Benoit vs. Finlay (Judgment Day)
8. John Cena vs. Edge (Unforgiven, TLC)
7. Money In The Bank (WrestleMania 22)
6. John Cena vs. Edge (SummerSlam)
5. Rob Van Dam vs. John Cena (One Night Stand)
4. MNM vs. Hardyz vs. London/Kendrick vs. Regal/Taylor (Armageddon)
3. Kurt Angle vs. Undertaker (No Way Out)
2. Edge/Mick Foley/Lita vs. Tommy Dreamer/Terry Funk/Beulah (One Night Stand)
1. Edge vs. Mick Foley (WrestleMania 22)

Wrestlers
10. Gregory Helms
9. Johnny Nitro
8. CM Punk
7. Paul London/Brian Kendrick
6. Rey Mysterio
5. Finlay
4. John Cena
3. Rob Van Dam
2. Booker T
1. Edge

Albums of the Year

2006-12-22T12:49:00.000-05:00

2006 was another great year for music. Here are the top 20 albums I purchased (or downloaded) of the year:

20. The Mars Volta, Amputechture
What used to be my favorite band of all-time has regressed to be releasing my 20th favorite album of the year. I think that says it all right there.

19. The Strokes, First Impressions of Earth
No longer the "It Band," the Strokes still are capable of creating good music, minus the buzz.

18. Mates of State, Bring It Back
Energetic synth-pop from the happy couple.

17. Thom Yorke, The Eraser
Not phenomenal, but still a solid effort.

16. Destroyer, Destroyer's Rubies
I liked them better when they were with the New Pornographers. But I still liked this album.

15. Islands, Return to the Sea
A truly hit-or-miss record that has a few misses, they make the list due to the sheer genius of songs like "Rough Gem," and "Where There's a Wheel There's a Whalebone." One of the more versatile albums out there.

14. Band of Horses, Everything All the Time
A solid listen that only gets better with multiple plays, this ethereal album is sure to cheer up even the most depressed Conor Oberst fan.

13. Built to Spill, You In Reverse
A must for any indie rock fan, Built to Spill are at their best (which is saying a lot) on this record.

12. Tenacious D, The Pick of Destiny Soundtrack
The hilarious, power-packed half hour of entertainment that you would come to expect from the D. The movie may have flopped at the box office, but the soundtrack is phenomenal.

11. Sufjan Stevens, The Avalanche
With this release of b-sides to the widely acclaimed "Illinoise," Sufjan has proven that his table scraps are better than most artists' main courses.

10. The Arctic Monkeys, Whatever People Say I Am, I'm Not
Probably not worthy of all the buzz and hype flying across the pond, they nonetheless crafted a dynamic debut album. They win the award for "The Strokes of 2006."

9. The Pippettes, We Are the Pipettes
A fun band that hearkens back to a time before most of us were born, you will not be disappointed by the catchy tunes coming out of this CD (or the jukebox, as would seem more appropriate).

8. The Decemberists, The Crane Wife
A slight departure from the genius of Picaresque, The Crane Wife is nevertheless a great listen, and a good album to own if you wish to bolster your indie rock cred. Bonus points for their appearance on The Colbert Report in a rock-off with Peter Frampton.

7. The Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Show Your Bones
Karen O at her best, as a screeching, passionate, sexy frontwoman for this uber-chic New York outfit. No pretentious album list would be complete without The YYY's.

6. Pearl Jam, Pearl Jam
Their best album in a long time, this self-titled release reminded everyone why they had been such huge Pearl Jam fans during the first Clinton Administration.

5. Jenny Lewis With The Watson Twins, Rabbit Fur Coat
Jenny steps out of the shadows of her Rilo Kiley bandmates with this this sensational album that features country influences, rock sensibilities, and a lot of soul.

4. The Raconteurs, Broken Boy Soldiers
Jack White proved that he could make good music in a more traditional format, and exposed a wider audience to the talents of Brendan Benson.

3. I'm From Barcelona, Let Me Introduce You To My Friends
Ironically titled band (they're actually from Sweden, not Catalan) finds their groove as a pop-rock powerhouse with catchy tunes even the Pipettes can't match.

2. The Hold Steady, Boys and Girls in America
I admittedly have only discovered this band very recently, but they have already jumped into my favorites pile, with a sound reminiscent of Bruce Springsteen. If there was a music category for "disgruntled classic suburban rock" they would occupy that shelf.

1. The Killers, Sam's Town
I did not see this one on many of the top albums lists, but it is too good to pass up. Every bit as good as their seminal debut, replete with more energy. Don't you dare mention the phrase "Sophomore Slump" in their presence.

NFL Power Rankings (Week 15)

2006-12-20T15:48:00.000-05:00

1. San Diego Chargers
I don't think there is any debate here. Even when Rivers has an off game, they still dominate.

2. Indianapolis Colts
I still think that they are the team that has the best shot at beating the Chargers in the playoffs.

3. Baltimore Ravens
They better hope McNair is okay.

4. Chicago Bears
What happened to their defense?

5. New England
I know they're not playing as well this year, but they may just catch everyone by surprise if they get hot.

6. New Orleans
One week they destroy the Cowboys, the next they lose to the lowly Redskins. Not sure what happened there.

7. Cincinnati Bengals
Did Carson Palmer get more than two seconds that whole game? Thanks a lot Chad Johnson for not getting any garbage yards at the end.

8. Dallas Cowboys
Their defense has been allowing way too many points to be a serious Super Bowl contender.

9. Denver Broncos
That throw by Jay Cutler was just amazing. They better hope Javon Walker heals up though.

10. Philadelphia Eagles
This team seems to be moving along fine without McNabb, but I wouldn't count on them going very far in the playoffs.

11. New York Jets
Too inconsistent.

12. Jacksonville Jaguars
See New York Jets.

13. Seattle Seahawks
This is not the same team that dominated the NFC last season.

14. Buffalo Bills
I never thought I'd be so excited for the Buffalo/Tennessee matchup this weekend.

15. Tennessee Titans
See Buffalo Bills.

16. Pittsburgh Steelers
Just imagine if they would have beaten Oakland.

17. Kansas City Chiefs
When will this team get a dominant receiver.

18. New York Giants
This team just shouldn't be playing so poorly.

19. Atlanta Falcons
How are they still in the playoff chase?

20. San Francisco 49ers
I'd like to see this team make the playoffs. Frank Gore is fun to watch.

21. Miami Dolphins
Well, Joey was due for a terrible game.

22. Carolina Panthers
What a disaster this season has been.

23. St. Louis Rams
Let's see if this team can finish on a high note.

24. Green Bay Packers
This team is somehow still alive.

25. Minnesota Vikings
I didn't understand why people thought this team would win the NFC North at the beginning of the season.

26. Washington Redskins
Ladell Betts is playing great. Could Mr. Portis be on his way out?

27. Cleveland Browns
Another close loss.

28. Arizona Cardinals
This team still has a ways to go.

29. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Tim Rattay led the Bucs to 31 points against Chicago? Get out of here.

30. Houston Texans
That was pathetic.

31. Detroit Lions
I'm 100% positive that Millen will be fired shortly after the Lions lose their 14th game this season.

32. Oakland Raiders
This team is still a mess.

NFL Power Rankings (Week 14)

2006-12-12T14:46:00.000-05:00

1. San Diego Chargers
Will this team be able to stay hot in the tough AFC come playoff time?

2. Baltimore Ravens
I still say this team has early playoff exit written all over it. They can help their chances by clinching a first round bye.

3. Chicago Bears
I think teams are going to start kicking away from Hester. Just a theory.

4. New Orleans Saints
This team may be the most fun team to watch.

5. Indianapolis Colts
It will be interesting to see how they bounce back from that loss against a red hot Bengals squad.

6. Cincinnati Bengals
This team is on fire and Monday's game could be a classic.

7. New England Patriots
The offense better wake up quick.

8. Jacksonville Jaguars
When they show up, they can beat anyone.

9. Dallas Cowboys
Back to reality for Tony Romo, but I think he should bounce back fine against the Falcons.

10. Seattle Seahawks
This team is turning into the Jaguars of the NFC.

11. New York Jets
Going into Sunday, everyone thought they would get a wildcard spot. I don't know if I see that happening anymore.

12. New York Giants
Huge game this week for this team. This should really show what they're made of.

13. Kansas City Chiefs
You almost have to wonder what they're record would be if Huard was still playing.

14. Philadelphia Eagles
The Eagles offense is obviously pretty talented if Jeff Garcia is doing well.

15. Miami Dolphins
I think Jason Taylor would get my vote for defensive player of the year.

16. Buffalo Bills
With a few key additions, they could be a playoff team next year.

17. Tennessee Titans
Never did I think this team would be this high.

18. Denver Broncos
Still not sure why they went to Cutler so early.

19. Atlanta Falcons
This team won't make the playoffs.

20. Carolina Panthers
What a disappointment.

21. Pittsburgh Steelers
I wouldn't want to play this team in the next three weeks.

22. Arizona Cardinals
Will this late season run save Dennis Green's job?

23. St. Louis Rams
The offense woke up against the league's best, but the defense is still awful.

24. Minnesota Vikings
The fact that they still could make the playoffs is pathetic.

25. Washington Redskins
Ladell Betts is making Clinton Portis look less important to this team.

26. Green Bay Packers
Well, they've gotten more wins than I expected.

27. San Francisco 49ers
They're still playing hard and Frank Gore is a stud. They just aren't there yet.

28. Cleveland Browns
I give up on figuring this team out.

29. Houston Texans
David Carr is better off on another team.

30. Oakland Raiders
Their defense is really solid, I don't care what anyone says.

31. Detroit Lions
Losing Kevin Jones sure doesn't help their chances of getting win number three.

32. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
This team needs some fresh new faces on both sides of the ball.

NFL Power Rankings (Week 13)

2006-12-05T13:13:00.000-05:00

1. Indianapolis Colts
I am well aware that they just lost to the Titans, but I still feel they are better off than they were last year.

2. San Diego Chargers
This team is as close as it gets to being in that top spot.

3. Chicago Bears
I'm not one who usually believes in switching a quarterback this late in the season, especially on a team with a winning record. This is the rare exception.

4. New England Patriots
They're still relying too much on Tom Brady.

5. Baltimore Ravens
The offense was nowhere to be found against the Bengals this week.

6. New Orleans Saints
They really destroyed the 49ers this week. HUGE game this week.

7. Dallas Cowboys
They still seem to be underachieving at times. Tony Romo is the real deal though.

8. Seattle Seahawks
It's never easy to win in Denver, even against a rookie quarterback making his first start.

9. Cincinnati Bengals
This team is getting hotter and hotter. They are definitely proving me wrong so far about that playoff spot.

10. New York Jets
When they play smart, this team is capable of knocking off some superior teams.

11. Kansas City Chiefs
Not sure what happened against the Browns. I don't think anyone expected the Chiefs to give up 31 points.

12. Denver Broncos
Here is a case where I do not support the quarterback change this late.

13. Jacksonville Jaguars
Can this team just be consistent?

14. Philadelphia Eagles
I wrote this team off when McNabb was injured, but it looks like they have some fight left in them.

15. Carolina Panthers
If they don't wake up soon, they're going to miss the playoffs in the weak NFC.

16. Atlanta Falcons
All it takes is one win and you're back in the NFC playoff race.

17. New York Giants
They played tough against Dallas, but losing 4 straight is unacceptable.

18. Miami Dolphins
Just when I thought this team would make a playoff push, they play poorly.

19. Tennessee Titans
Jeff Fischer may get some coach of the year votes if they can continue to win against teams they shouldn't beat.

20. Buffalo Bills
That was a tough loss to a very good San Diego team. I like the way this team plays.

21. Pittsburgh Steelers
What a disappointing year this must be for Steeler fans, and I'm saying that after a win.

22. Minnesota Vikings
They have an 1,000+ yard rusher and their offense is still horrible.

23. San Francisco 49ers
They're not quite there yet, but I expect them to be contending for a wildcard spot next season.

24. St. Louis Rams
What happened to this offense? I won't even mention the defense.

25. Cleveland Browns
Surprising win against the Chiefs. I'm still a big Romeo Crennel fan.

26. Washington Redskins
I'm glad I had Ladell Betts on my team this week.

27. Arizona Cardinals
Is this team finally realizing that they should be at least a 7-9 team?

28. Green Bay Packers
That was a pathetic loss at Lambeau this week.

29. Houston Texans
32 yards passing? How?

30. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
I think we'll see Tim Rattay soon.

31. Detroit Lions
They're at least trying hard. Although I still don't get why they don't at least give Mike Williams a shot.

32. Oakland Raiders
This team is as awful as the person who sent the terrible comment to me on my last post.

Monday Night Rant

2006-12-04T21:59:00.000-05:00

Alright, so I know you all missed my rant the past two Fridays, so I'm here to offer a special Monday Night edition, with two excuses. Tryptophan lasts a long time, and I took the LSAT last Saturday morning. This rant is about the BCS voters.

There is an inherent flaw in any system that contains computers and human voters. It's not the computers. It's the damn humans. And I'm not just saying that because the computers said Michigan was tied with Florida and the humans put Florida ahead.

Most people trust computers. We put ATM pin numbers in them. I write stuff on them that is damaging to my future political future on it. And we view a variety of pornographic images/videos on it. Seems pretty trustworthy. But we can't trust it to decide who are the best two teams in the nation? I'm sorry but Louis Armstrong did not consult biased ex-football coaches before he took one small step for a man, did he? No, he used his fancy NASA formulas. Last I checked, they worked pretty goddamn well. But they are worth only 1/3 of the BCS. Instead we have yahoos like Jim Walden voting. He actually had the balls to put Florida first! At least computers are consistent. The computers don't mind seeing rematches, or a game featuring two Midwestern teams. Rematches? Try Ali v Frazier. Or Rocky vs. Apollo. The rest of the country doesn't like watching the Midwest? The first game drew the best ratings of any regular season college game in 13 years. 21 freaking million people.

But are those idiots in the Harris Poll and Coaches Poll justified? Let's forget for a minute my lovable computer rankings, and focus on some of their reasoning:

You already had your chance at the title.
Oh, really? We already played in the BCS Title game? I must have forgotten to set my Tivo for that one.

Florida won the SEC, and you didn't even win your conference.
So, what? Why don't we match up Louisville against Georgia Tech, then? Is that what you want to see? I don't remember seeing it written anywhere that a conference title was required to make it to the final game. The Big Ten doesn't even have a conference championship game, so Michigan had no chance to beat the other top team, like Florida did. Put U of M in the SEC, and I guarantee we would have beaten Arkansas a lot better than Florida did.

Florida won 12 games. Michigan only won 11.
Big deal. You tell me what's more impressive: One point wins over South Carolina(unranked) and Tennessee and a 7 point win over FSU (unranked) along with a 10 point loss to a mediocre Auburn team. Or take Michigan's closest games: a 7 point win at Penn State, a 8 point win over Ball State (a horrible performance, but any game when the starters are out by the third quarter cannot be used against said team), and a 3 point loss at Ohio State. Those are the only games all year that Michigan didn't win by at least two touchdowns. That is pure domination of the Big Ten, and a tough Notre Dame team. Looking at the three or four most important games of each team, can you really say Florida was more impressive? No, you can't. In 3 games against the BCS Top 12, Michigan outscored them by 37. In Florida's 3 games against the BCS top 12, they outscored them by 13. Oh, and if you give the top team in the BCS 12 points, the second team 11, and so on, Michigan's total score is 20, more than Florida's 13. A much harder three games. Screw you, Urban Meyer. Urban Meyer is the kind of guy to invade a foreign country with no exit strategy and a lack of international support.

NFL Power Rankings (Week 12)

2006-11-28T15:39:00.000-05:00

1. Indianapolis Colts
I'm not quite sure what the whole Marvin Harrison incident was about, but it sure was out of character.

2. San Diego Chargers
Ladanian Tomlinson is amazing.

3. New England Patriots
This team is tough to beat at home, but chances are they won't get home field advantage in the playoffs.

4. Chicago Bears
This team is a lot like the 2000 Ravens, except Rex Grossman makes a lot more mistakes than Trent Dilfer did. That's gonna cost them in the long run.

5. Baltimore Ravens
I certainly didn't expect them to shut out the Steelers. Very impressive.

6. Dallas Cowboys
Even though I am a huge Bledsoe fan, it's hard not to like a guy as classy as Tony Romo.

7. Seattle Seahawks
It was a tale of two halves on Monday Night, but Seattle could make a late run if they can stay healthy.

8. New Orleans Saints
It seems whenever people start doubting them, they go out and play their best football. That's probably a good sign.

9. Kansas City Chiefs
If Trent Green gets into a groove, this team could be very dangerous.

10. Denver Broncos
I think Jay Cutler is going to be a good quarterback, but I'm still not completely sure I would put him in just yet.

11. Carolina Panthers
Does this team like to make their own lives difficult or what?

12. Cincinnati Bengals
Their offense is playing as well as we thought they would, but it's the defense that is finally stepping it up.

13. Jacksonville Jaguars
This team lacks mental toughness.

14. New York Jets
They're very inconsistent, mostly due to a lack of a running game, but when they're on, they're a solid team.

15. New York Giants
That was embarassing.

16. Miami Dolphins
This team has a shot to make it to the playoffs. Keep up the good play, Joey.

17. Philadelphia Eagles
Their defense sure looked pretty spotty on Sunday, to put it nicely.

18. St. Louis Rams
That was a big win, but lets see what they do from here.

19. Minnesota Vikings
They still have an outside shot to make the playoffs in the weak NFC. I don't see it happening.

20. Buffalo Bills
They are playing hard and they have their best player back. I wouldn't want to play this team.

21. San Francisco 49ers
This team is not quite there yet, but they are fun to watch. They should be a playoff contender next season.

22. Atlanta Falcons
This team has offically fallen apart.

23. Washington Redskins
I have no idea how they won this week, but they did. Why doesn't their defense always play that well?

24. Pittsburgh Steelers
I don't know what went wrong this year, but they should have a good draft pick in April.

25. Green Bay Packers
Will this be Brett's last year?

26. Tennessee Titans
That game showed this team has a lot of promise, but will they live up to that?

27. Houston Texans
Will this franchise ever be good?

28. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
I think they need to draft some offensive players.

29. Cleveland Browns
Braylon, what are you doing?

30. Arizona Cardinals
The passing game is starting to click, but Edge has been a bust as predicted by this guy.

31. Detroit Lions
I still think they're better than the Raiders.

32. Oakland Raiders
The race is on for the first draft pick.

NFL Power Rankings (Week 11)

2006-11-21T14:29:00.001-05:00

1. Indianapolis Colts
They finally lost, and to be honest, I think that it was good for this team. They won't have the pressure of the undefeated season and they can focus on the goal of finally winning a Super Bowl.

2. Chicago Bears
Their offense is starting to look like the Bears of old. Can Rex Grossman step up to the challenge this week against the Patriots? We shall see.

3. San Diego Chargers
Ladanian Tomlinson has my vote for MVP. He is one of the greatest players I have ever had the joy of watching.

4. Baltimore Ravens
They took care of business against a desperate Falcons team. Jamal Lewis seems to be playing better.

5. New England Patriots
Tom Brady's first trip to Lambeau was a memorable one as the Pats ended their two game skid.

6. Dallas Cowboys
Tony Romo definitely has the talent to last in this league for a long time.

7. Denver Broncos
Amazing how a team doing as well as the Broncos could have a quarterback controversy. I still say it is partly the conservative playcalling.

8. Carolina Panthers
Shutting out the Rams is no easy task. This team is starting to believe they can win the Super Bowl this year.

9. Jacksonville Jaguars
This team is so inconsistent. They control their destiny as far as the wild card spot goes.

10. Kansas City Chiefs
They haven't been winning pretty, but they're winning. Trent Green still seems a little rusty.

11. New York Giants
That looked like a team that looks like it is giving in to their injuries.

12. New Orleans Saints
Their defense better step it up if they want to make it to the playoffs.

13. Seattle Seahawks
Just when I thought their defense was playing well, they let up over 200 yards to Mr. Frank Gore.

14. Cincinnati Bengals
Their defense is pretty bad, but they made some big plays this week. If they can keep that up they may have a shot at a wildcard spot.

15. New York Jets
Chad Pennington can't make those mistakes. They should have beat the Bears.

16. San Francisco 49ers
I'd be rooting for this team a little more if they didn't already have a handfull of Super Bowl rings in their franchise history.

17. Atlanta Falcons
I've never been a fan of Vick or Mora.

18. Pittsburgh Steelers
Could this team give the ball away any more times?

19. Philadelphia Eagles
I probably have them too low, but in a couple weeks they'll be down pretty low. Trust me, I've seen what Jeff Garcia can do.

20. Miami Dolphins
Nick Saban needs to learn how to get his team to win games at the beginning of the year.

21. St. Louis Rams
The Rams offense is starting to struggle, and with the talent they have, I have to wonder how good the play calling has been.

22. Minnesota Vikings
Their offense still stinks and it's too bad because their run defense is pretty awesome.

23. Buffalo Bills
Who would have thought J.P. Losman would hold any kind of passing record?

24. Cleveland Browns
This team somehow just hangs in every game. I thought they were going to pull that one off on Sunday.

25. Green Bay Packers
Brett Favre sure didn't look good before the injury. We'll see how he plays after it.

26. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
This team still plays hard, but I'm not sure how many more games they'll win.

27. Houston Texans
This franchise just seems to be going nowhere.

28. Tennessee Titans
Travis Henry is the reason for this teams success lately.

29. Washington RedskinsI gotta admit, Jason Campbell played pretty well without his two best players.

30. Arizona Cardinals
Edge still can't get 100 yards in a game.

31. Detroit Lions
As bad as they've played the last two weeks, I still couldn't put them dead last.

32. Oakland Raiders
They played tough in Kansas City, but they still aren't very good.

NFL Power Rankings (Week 11)

2006-11-21T14:29:00.000-05:00

NFL Power Rankings (Week 10)

2006-11-15T13:05:00.000-05:00

1. Indianapolis Colts
They aren't blowing out the weaker teams like they usually do and for some reason I feel that is a good thing.

2. Chicago Bears
Chicago's Super Bowl chances will depend on Rex Grossman.

3. San Diego Chargers
Just imagine if this team had a better receiving group.

4. Denver Broncos
This is by far the worst offense I've seen on a Denver team in a long time.

5. Baltimore Ravens
The offense is starting to click, but I still feel this team is very beatable.

6. New England
These last two losses had to have really hurt.

7. New York Giants
All of their injuries are certainly not going to help them with their extremely tough schedule ahead.

8. Seattle
This team pretty much has a free pass to the playoffs.

9. New Orleans
This may be the most fun team to watch, but the defense has to start stepping it up.

10. Carolina Panthers
The first half was brutal, but the real Panthers came out in the second half.

11. Philadelphia Eagles
Those close losses could very well be the reason this team doesn't make the playoffs.

12. Dallas Cowboys
Tony Romo is putting up some nice numbers, but I think they need to let Julius Jones run the ball more because I am a greedy Fantasy Football coach.

13. Atlanta Falcons
Losing to the Lions and Browns in back to back weeks isn't exactly a good sign.

14. Kansas City Chiefs
It's starting to seem like this team is a one man show.

15. Jacksonville Jaguars
Why can't this team beat the Texans?

16. Cincinnati Bengals
Well, I'm gonna go ahead and say their defense is a problem.

17. New York Jets
That was a huge win for this team. Let's see what they do with it.

18. St. Louis Rams
This team could still be playoff bound but I can't see them going very far.

19. Pittsburgh Steelers
With that win, they still have a little bit of hope in Steel Town, but how long will it last?

20. Green Bay Packers
It's weird how Brett Favre is getting less attention now that he's playing well.

21. Minnesota Vikings
I think this team is going to draft some offensive players in April.

22. Miami Dolphins
Did they finally wake up?

23. San Francisco 49ers
I knew this team would be tough, but I sure didn't think they'd have 4 wins at this point of the year.

24. Buffalo Bills
They're still playing hard, but Losman needs to be a lot better than what he has been.

25. Washington Redskins
I think this team can throw in the towel. Jason Campbell will stink.

26. Houston Texans
I bet this team wishes they played Jacksonville more often.

27. Cleveland Browns
I thought the offense would be better by now, but I guess losing three centers may have hurt a little.

28. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Cadillac Williams is sure having a sophomore slump. Michael Clayton must think it's still his second year too.

29. Detroit Lions
Just when you think this team is turning the corner, they lose to the 49ers at home.

30. Tennessee Titans
Even I will admit that the throw Vince Young made was pretty cool.

31. Oakland Raiders
I feel bad for Lamont Jordan and the defense.

32. Arizona Cardinals
The Lions at home may be just what this team needed. Hopefully not.

I actually LIKE the BCS

2006-11-12T22:10:00.000-05:00

Disclaimer: I am an unabashed U of M fan and recent alum.

The latest BCS Standings have just come out, in case you didn't notice. A number of things jump out at me, the first being that Michigan has a near-perfect score from the computers. That's right, 5 of the 6 computers have Michigan in first, with the other one having Michigan a close second. There are two reactions to this discrepancy with the human polls, in which Ohio State has all but one of the 63 first place votes in the coaches poll:

1) Omigod, the BCS is B.S., why do we have stupid computers deciding who goes to the Championship game? Just let humans pick them, I don't trust computers to decide the champion, even though I trust them for virtually everything else in my life.

2) No one may want to admit it, but the coaches poll and the AP poll are biased, and the computers, are not (to my knowledge)

Why do I think this? And why will no one else say this? First of all, computers are an easy target, as they cannot respond to criticism. If a team like Rutgers is number 2 in the polls but doesn't play in the title game, their coach and fans could blast computers, and there will be no response. It is an easy excuse. When they are the victim of a biased pollster, they are less likely to bash it, but are more justified to do so, since while the computer formulas are not perfect, they at least are applied equally to every team.
So let's run down some of the ways in which the human voters let emotions, prejudices, or just plain stupidity get in the way that computers do not:

1. "It's better to get your loss in early than to lose in November." I'm so sick of hearing announcers say this. Why should it matter when you lose? If Michigan loses to Ohio State, is that loss any worse than when Texas lost to them? Of course not, but in the current system, pollsters appear to slot teams and move them up or down each week by comparing the last week's ranking, so if you lose early, you have an advantage as you can move up each week after that loss. Teams that lose in the last week are bound to drop a few spots, and have no time to catch back up. Michigan is guaranteed to drop a couple of spots if they lose to Ohio State, but if there is no other undefeated team, and they have only lost to the number one team on the road, shouldn't they be the number 2 team? Especially considering they are the team that gave Notre Dame and Wisconsin their only losses this year?
2. Pre-season polls matter too much. This is related to point number one, as a team that starts off the season high in the polls has an advantage over the other teams before a game is even played. If Michigan had been the number one team going in, they would be number one right now, no question in my mind.
3. Emotions get in the way. Any Michigan fan can tell you that they were robbed the undisputed championship because coaches were sentimental about it being Osborne's last year. Sometimes they play politics and put teams lower than is reasonable to try to influence the results.
4. Name Recognition. Teams like Notre Dame and Texas are sometimes ranked higher than the Arkansai of the world because they have been dynasties. This is not fair.

What would I do to fix it? For starters, I don't think a single poll should be released until the non-conference season is over. This will help to mitigate the bias towards teams at the top. Also, I think the voters should start with a clean slate every week, and not be afraid to move a team up too high after a big win or down too low after a big loss. Or in the case of this year's U o M/OSU game, not at all.

Why do people keep complaining about the BCS? In the absence of a playoff, this system is as good as it gets in my opinion. The polls are a factor, along with unbiased computer formulas. It is a system of checks and balances, much like our federal government. Sure, it seems ridiculous that someone like Katherine Harris can have a vote in Congress, just like it seems ridiculous that Ohio State is number 5 in one of the computer formulas, but for every Katherine Harris there is a John Conyers, so it all balances out.

NFL Power Rankings (Week 9)

2006-11-07T13:28:00.000-05:00

1. Indianapolis Colts
I don't think there's any debate over this selection. They've beaten the Giants, Broncos, and Patriots all on the road.

2. Chicago Bears
Rex Grossman can't have any more games like he did on Sunday.

3. Denver Broncos
They're defense has shown holes in the last couple weeks, but Javon Walker is proving to be a huge acquisition.

4. New York Giants
This team is going to have to overcome their many injuries to beat the Bears this weekend.

5. New England Patriots
New England misses Deion Branch.

6. San Diego Chargers
Their offense is almost unstoppable. This weekends matchup against the desperate Bengals should be an interesting one.

7. Baltimore Ravens
This team is playing solid, but I think the offense still lacks the necessary firepower.

8. New Orleans Saints
Drew Brees may be my midseason MVP if it weren't for Peyton Manning.

9. Atlanta Falcons
We'll see how this team bounces back after that poor performance.

10. Kansas City Chiefs
I wouldn't want to play this team right now.

11. Jacksonville Jaguars
Byron Leftwich still has a bright future in the NFL, it just may not be in Jacksonville.

12. Seattle Seahawks
This team should have no problem winning their division, even with the injuries.

13. Carolina Panthers
We'll see if the bye week brings out the Super Bowl caliber team that many thought they were.

14. Cincinnati Bengals
One more loss and they may be done.

15. Dallas Cowboys
Not quite sure how they blew that game, but their two offseason acquisitions were big reasons why.

16. Philadelphia Eagles
I'm curious to see what this team can do in the second half.

17. St. Louis Rams
Marc Bulger is playing phenomenal, but that defense still can't stop anyone.

18. Minnesota Vikings
The defense is much improved, but the offense is almost Raider bad.

19. New York Jets
Big game for Eric Mangini against his mentor.

20. Washington Redskins
That win kept them alive for at least another week or two.

21. Pittsburgh Steelers
This team makes a ton of mistakes for a team that just won the Super Bowl 9 months ago.

22. Buffalo Bills
Well, they finally win and McGahee and Reed both go down. It's been that type of year.

23. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The offense has to be more productive.

24. Green Bay Packers
Brett Favre has always been streaky, but this year he seems to be more than ever.

25. San Francisco 49ers
Playing the Vikings may have just been what their defense needed.

26. Detroit Lions
If there was one team I wanted the Lions to beat this year, it was the Falcons.

27. Miami Dolphins
Well, they sure shocked the world this weekend. Let's see if they can finally live up to some of their potential.

28. Cleveland Browns
This team seems to always hang in there, but they just aren't good enough to beat a lot of the teams in this league.

29. Tennessee Titans
Vince Young is still yet to impress me.

30. Houston Texans
Andre Johnson better make the Pro Bowl.

31. Oakland Raiders
Let's pray the Raiders aren't on Monday Night Football for awhile.

32. Arizona Cardinals
You know, most teams would kill for the talent this team has on offense.

Power Rankings (Week 8)

2006-10-31T14:45:00.000-05:00

News Flash: The Stunners destroy Mullets, win season series!

1. Chicago Bears
I can't wait for their Sunday night matchup against the Giants.

2. Indianapolis Colts
He may not have a ring, but Peyton Manning is definitely a top 5 quarterback of my lifetime.

3. New England
However, this team seems to have Mr. Manning's number. We'll see if that continues this Sunday.

4. New York Giants
Their defense seems to be getting better every week, as do their Super Bowl chances.

5. San Diego Chargers
They beat a solid football team pretty easily. As long as they have a big lead going into the 4th quarter, they seem to be okay.

6. Denver Broncos
They just don't have the fire power to keep up with a team like the Colts.

7. Atlanta Falcons
I still don't like Michael Vick and I'm sure he'll have the game of a lifetime against my Lions on Sunday. Great.

8. Baltimore Ravens
Their run defense sure is tough. We'll see if that offensive production was just a one week thing though.

9. New Orleans Saints
This team needs to be able to run more consistently, especially with the two talented guys they have back there.

10. Cincinnati Bengals
Those are the kind of games this team needs to win at home.

11. Jacksonville Jaguars
I do not understand this team. You go to Houston and get doiminated. You step into the always hostile Philadelphia and dominate.

12. Dallas Cowboys
This team might have just found some hope in Tony Romo.

13. Kansas City
Damon Huard has done a fantastic job, especially in the past few weeks. I wish I never cut Larry Johnson last year.

14. Seattle Seahawks
Seneca Wallace played solid this week, it will be interesting to see how this team plays against a Raiders team who now seems to be on a roll.

15. Carolina Panthers
They've got a lot to think about over their bye weekend.

16. St. Louis Rams
This team just isn't quite ready to be an elite team. The defense is just too shaky.

17. Minnesota Vikings
Well, the Patriots sure put this team in their place.

18. Philadelphia Eagles
This team is starting to play the way I was expecting this year.

19. Pittsburgh Steelers
WHY DID BIG BEN PLAY???

20. New York Jets
They played some awful football on Sunday and probably should have tied it up. However, that was a game they should have most definitely won.

21. Green Bay Packers
This team is on a bit of a roll with the return of Ahman Green.

22. Washington Redskins
This team should improve, but whether or not they will, I'm not quite sure.

23. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
They lost to a good football team Sunday, but Cadillac Williams needs to play better.

24. Tennessee Titans
This team seems pretty determined to turn their season around, minus Pac Man.

25. Houston Texans
David Carr had a bad week, but he is playing pretty well. Andre Johnson is a stud.

26. Oakland Raiders
I'm not quite sure how they won that game Sunday, but they did. Their defense is playing some good football.

27. Cleveland Browns
This team still has some potential, but playing in San Diego isn't a good thing.

28. Buffalo Bills
J.P. Losman may be on his last legs here.

29. San Francisco 49ers
Their defense is horrible.

30. Detroit Lions
I'm not quite sure why they cut Az Hakim, but they should be healed to play the Falcons this weekend.

31. Miami Dolphins
I'm pretty sure this team is everyone's biggest disappointment.

32. Arizona Cardinals
This team is doing all that they can to be the worst.

Mike's Friday Rant

2006-10-27T09:45:00.000-04:00

Today's rant is about sex. More specifically, about me not having it. How do I know that it's been a long time since I've had it?

I have to check the expiration dates on my condoms.

Oh, you didn't know that condoms have expiration dates? Well, anyone with any semblance of a sex life probably doesn't even think to check that sort of thing, but as someone who still has unopened condoms that were passed out to me on the Diag my sophomore year of college, I can tell you that they actually do eventually expire. Who buys a piece of rubber and doesn't use it before it is past its prime? Yep, that's me. And it's not even like it's a carton of milk, which expires in a couple of weeks. No, condoms have only slightly less staying power than a Twinkie.
What do you think that worker is thinking when he stamps a label on the package that says "expires in 2011?" I know exactly what he's thinking: he's thinking "geez, I really feel sorry for the guy that buys this and actually might still have the condom five years from now. Just think, every time he moves to a new place or cleans his room, he sees the condom sitting there, and still is naive enough to keep it in his possession, believing someday it will get used. But it never does. What a pathetic loser he must be."

NFL Power Rankings (Week 7)

2006-10-24T18:01:00.000-04:00

1. Chicago Bears
It should be interesting to see what the loss of Mike Brown does to their dominant defense. Chances are it won't matter much against San Francisco.

2. Indianapolis Colts
Peyton almost got broken in half and still put up huge numbers. The running game seems to be gaining momentum, they're going to need it against Denver.

3. Denver Broncos
This may be the most boring version of a Mike Shanahan team, but they're winning football games.

4. New England Patriots
Tom Brady seems to be getting more and more comfortable with his new offensive weapons.

5. New Orleans Saints
I thought this team would be better than most expected, but never did I think I would have them as the fifth best team. So far, they've deserved it.

6. New York Giants
Losing Lavar Arrington will hurt, but this team is fired up and playing great football.

7. San Diego Chargers
Well, now we know why Shawne Merriman was so good. This team seems to be turning on cruise control again. They need to bounce back this week against St. Louis.

8. Cincinnati Bengals
Obviously the Bengals read my power rankings. That was a huge win on Sunday.

9. Atlanta Falcons
Obviously the Falcons read my power rankings. That was a huge win on Sunday.

10. Carolina Panthers
I have a feeling the Cowboys may be in for some trouble on Monday night.

11. St. Louis Rams
The forgotten team became even more forgotten this week with the bye. They have a chance to beat a top team this Sunday in San Diego.

12. Minnesota Vikings
I'm not sure how good of a Seahawk team they beat this Sunday, but the fact that it was in Seattle counts for something.

13. Philadelphia Eagles
For a team that could easily be 7-0, 4-3 just doesn't look so good.

14. Baltimore Ravens
I won't say anything negative about this team because it may just fire them up.

15. Seattle Seahawks
We'll see if this team can find a way to win without their two biggest playmakers.

16. Jacksonville Jaguars
I know they were hurt, but you can't lose to the Texans. This team is better than that.

17. Kansas City Chiefs
This may be one of the more inconsistent teams I can remember.

18. Pittsburgh Steelers
Even if Big Ben is cleared to play, Charlie Batch should still start. Roethlisberger's future is too bright to waste on a game against the Raiders.

19. New York Jets
The defense still needs work, but if that running game can be as effective as it was on Sunday, the defense will improve immediately.

20. Dallas Cowboys
This team could be in for a long season if they keep playing like they did on Monday.

21. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
All it took was a spark by the name of Bruce Gradkowski and this team has made a total turnaround. Unfortunately for them, they're in the toughest division in football.

22. Washington Redskins
This team just keeps getting worse and worse.

23. Houston Texans
David Carr and Andre Johnson are finally becoming the players they were expected to be.

24. Buffalo Bills
J.P. Losman is making way too many mistakes for this team to win.

25. Green Bay Packers
They're beating teams at the bottom, but they're still not good enough to make it to that next step. Ahman Green helps this team out a ton. That's why he's a Stunner.

26. San Francisco 49ers
This is a fun team to watch, but the defense needs to at least stop the opposing team once in awhile.

27. Detroit Lions
Kevin Jones seems to be getting better by the week, but the defense is getting worse. This bye week should do them some good.

28. Cleveland Browns
Their offense has much more potential than what they are doing right now. I guess that's why Maurice Carthon is gone.

29. Tennessee Titans
We'll see if this team can keep their momentum going.

30. Oakland Raiders
Their defense is 5th in the league. That just shows you how poorly their offense has been playing.

31. Miami Dolphins
Poor Joey. Here he thought he'd at least be a backup on a good team. Now he's the starter on a terrible team, again.

32. Arizona Cardinals
This team is who we thought they were...lousy.

Mike's Friday Rant

2006-10-20T15:21:00.000-04:00

I have a complaint. It's about people who complain about taxes. Call me a "tax and spend" liberal if you wish, but it has gone too far. Complaining about your FICA? I have no issues with that. I don't even know what FICA stands for. Bitching about social security? That's cool, I think we all know those mooching baby boomers are going to eat up all the money and we're going to have to rely on our future ungrateful kids to support us.
But the estate tax? C'mon!! Our federal government cannot figure out how to run a budget. They have decided to invest billions in a futile war, billions in a futile border fence, and have already cut the taxes of the richest 1 percent of Americans. Are they really asking for too much by taking away money from dead people? Have we become a society resembling the ancicent Egyptians, in which we feel it necessary to bury our wealthiest citizens with all their treasures and wordly possesions?
I would like to think not. I would like to think our government can collect money from dead people to pay for important public services and not have to hear so many complaints. It's not like they are taxing war orphans for donating their kidney to disease-ridden boy scouts. They are taking money from people who made a fortune in their lifetime, had access to the best healthcare, the trophiest of trophy wives, and the countriest of country clubs. Do they really need to have the biggest posthumous bank accounts, too? Yes, we can all see your Jaguar is more impressive than my 1996 Saturn, but I'd like for things to even out a bit in the afterlife.
I know what you're thinking: "Mike, you make some plausible and almost-witty points, but it's the principle that bothers me! We already pay income tax on that money, so it's like being taxed twice! I find that morally reprehensible." Walking up to an open casket and punching the deceased in the face when the funeral reception is over is morally reprehensible, too, but last I checked that was legal, and harms no one. When I die, the government can take all my money for all I care. I'll even give them my Star Wars figures. Because as much as I love the Fett, I can't play with him when I'm dead.
So please, Mr. economically conservative, tax-aversive Wall Street Journal subscriber, spare me the lecture on how disgraceful our federal government is for daring to take their little piece of the pie. Because wouldn't you rather have Grandpa Agnus pay for that future war in Iran?

NFL Power Rankings (Week 6)

2006-10-17T16:22:00.000-04:00

1. Chicago
We'll see how the offense comes back from a game they shouldn't have won. Rex Grossman looked absolutely awful. Thanks, Rex.

2. Indianapolis
The running game should be able to do some damage against Washington. If it does, look out.

3. San Diego
Two of the best quarterbacks this year were on the Chargers last year. Scary.

4. New England
Their division seems to be getting weaker by the week.

5. Denver
I can't believe how conservative their play calling was against the Raiders. Thank goodness for them that Tatum Bell is playing well.

6. New Orleans
Week after week, they seem set out to prove people wrong. Drew Brees is a winner.

7. Seattle
It wasn't their best game, but they found a way to win on the road without Shaun Alexander in a crucial divisional matchup.

8. Carolina
This team is Steve Smith's team. As long as he is healthy, they are a Super Bowl contender.

9. Philadelphia
The defense needs to play more consistent. I think the Dallas game drained them a bit.

10. Baltimore
This team is starting to turn into the team I expected them to be this season.

11. St. Louis
They played well on Sunday, but that was a game they should have won. Down the road, they're going to look back at that game as a loss that hurt their postseason position.

12. Jacksonville
We'll see if this team is any healthier this week after their bye.

13. Cincinnati
I still stand by my prediction that the Bengals will not make the playoffs.

14. New York Giants
This team is starting to catch fire. Huge game against Dallas on Sunday.

15. Dallas
Drew Bledsoe still needs to be more efficient. Julius Jones is quietly having a very good season.

16. Pittsburgh
That's the Steeler team we all remember.

17. Atlanta
I also still stand by my prediction that the Falcons will not make the playoffs.

18. Minnesota
This team has some tough games the next couple weeks (Seattle, New England). I don't expect them to win either of them.

19. New York Jets
They're hanging in there, but they haven't been as impressive as they were earlier on.

20. Kansas City
I'm not quite sure what that was on Sunday, but I do know this team needs Trent Green back.

21. Buffalo
This team is a little too up and down. There is talent there, but how long will they want to stick around?

22. Washington
This team is playing some uninspired football. Something needs to change.

23. San Francisco
The offense is very solid, but their defense has to be worst in the league.

24. Tampa Bay
Bruce Gradkowski is looking pretty darn good. MAC quarterbacks seem to always overachieve.

25. Green Bay
They should have a solid chance against Miami this weekend.

26. Detroit
That was a big win this weekend. They still believe in Coach Marinelli and their next 5 games are all winnable.

27. Cleveland
This team has played pretty competitive, but they need to stop turning the ball over.

28. Arizona
That was just an awful 4th quarter performance.

29. Tennessee
Travis Henry has always been a solid running back.

30. Miami
This team stinks.

31. Houston
Why didn't they draft Reggie Bush? I don't think I'm the first one to ask that question.

32. Oakland
I feel terrible for the only player who seems to care, Lamont Jordan. The rest are bums.

Congressional '06 Prediction

2006-10-11T14:25:00.000-04:00

Although things can change between now and election day, and turnout is always hugely important, I've decided to make my Congressional midterm predictions. Check back on November 8th and we can see if it's as good as my predictions that the Marlins would win it all in 1997 (you can ask my Mother, I really did call that one before the season).
The Senate:
Currently, the score is 55 Republicans, and 44.5 Democrats (Jim Jeffords is the half). According to the the sixth year-jinx average, the Republicans should be expected to lose 6.6 seats, enough to give the Democrats a majority. I don't quite think that's going to happen.
Democratic Victories: Pennsylvania, Ohio, Rhode Island
Probable Democratic Victories (we'll see 3 out of 4): Missouri, Tennessee, Montana, New Jersey(currently held by a Democrat)
Anyone's guess: Virginia

So, for the 8 most likely seats to change hands, 7 are held by Republicans, and in my opinion the Democrats will probably win 6 of those. That puts our numbers at 50-50.

The House:
As it stands, the Democrats need to win 15 seats to regain control. If this election was taking place 30 years ago, before the massive gerrymandering that we see today, I'd say the Democrats could pick up 45 seats in this election cycle. But, the districts are what they are, so we have about 30 "in-play" districts, although that number varies widely depending on what polls you look at. So how many can we expect the Democrats to actually steal? And will they lose any of their own seats?
Well, the Mark Foley seat is switching to Democrats, most likely along with the chairman who knew about the messages. Throw in Tom Delay's old seat, and there are 3 slam dunks due to scandals right there. Add in two races the Republicans have pulled out off, three really vulnerable Pennsylvania seats, three vulnerable Indiana seats, and a couple in Connecticut, and we're already looking at 13 seats off-the-top that the Democrats have a very good chance at. There are a few more in the Midwest that are possible pick-ups, and after a couple of surprises, I predict a net gain of 19 seats for the Dems, with possible one loss in there(Duckworth in Illinois). That would give them a comfy majority and hopefully a little oversight on the President. The Democrats haven't handily won a Congressional election since 1992, so many seem to be of the opinion that they can't take control this year. That could not be further from the truth, and is myopic, insulated logic. Elections are cylical, and people get tired of the status quo eventually. If you give any party power for a significant amount of time, they are bound to screw it up, and I don't think any sane person is happy with the Republican-dominated 109th's performance. I fully expect angry voters to kick out some incumbents that seemingly are safe today.

NFL Power Rankings (Week 5)

2006-10-10T13:42:00.000-04:00

1. Chicago
This team has played as well as I've ever seen a team play through 5 games.

2. Indianapolis
You only beat the Titans by 1? You owe the Stunners big time, boys.

3. Philadelphia
Their defense still worries me, but Donovan McNabb has been the MVP so far.

4. New England
The Pats may be able to clinch their division by week 10.

5. San Diego
Now that's the kind of offense the Chargers should be running.

6. Denver
Their defense has been dominant, but I bet their only chance of making a playoff run is if the offense gets going.

7. Baltimore
Steve McNair needs to start being more efficient. His leadership will only get them so far.

8. Cincinnati
How many players will be suspended by the end of the season?

9. Atlanta
I still feel that this team may miss the playoffs.

10. Carolina
They haven't been as good as most expected, but they're winning football games.

11. Jacksonville
That's how you bounce back from a disappointing loss.

12. Seattle
This team needs to make a statement this week against division rival St. Louis.

13. New Orleans
They slid past Tampa, we'll see what this team can do against Philly.

14. St. Louis
I don't even think people realize this team is 4-1.

15. Dallas
The pass protection has to be much better for Drew Bledsoe to succeed.

16. New York Giants
Now that was the team we expected to see this season. We'll see if they can keep it up.

17. Minnesota
Chester Taylor is very solid, but their receivers stink. Troy Williamson, you are no longer a Stunner.

18. Washington
This team makes no sense. I think they're going to go after Jake Plummer next season.

19. Kansas City
This team is starting to play solid football, but they are capable of better.

20. Pittsburgh
Right now, this team stinks. Big Ben has 7 interceptions and 0 touchdowns. They better wake up soon.

21. Buffalo
I don't think that was the performance Dick Jauron expected against his former team.

22. New York Jets
We'll see how this team bounces back from the third worst performance in franchise history.

23. San Francisco
Yeah, they beat the Raiders, but that touchdown off the Lamont Jordan drop was awesome.

24. Arizona
Matt Leinart looks good, but they should have won on Sunday. This team is falling apart.

25. Houston
We'll see how the defense plays against an angry Cowboys offense.

26. Miami
It's good to see Joey playing again, but I don't like his chances as of right now. This team just doesn't play very well together.

27. Cleveland
If Charlie Frye can cut down on the interceptions, they may start pulling off the close ones.

28. Green Bay
That was quite the choke job at Lambeau last week.

29. Tampa Bay
Bruce Gradkowski may just be what the doctor ordered down in Florida.

30. Detroit
This team is much better when Roy Williams plays.

31. Tennessee
Yeah, they almost beat the Colts, but they still have Pacman Jones on their team.

32. Oakland
We may have a 16-0 team and a 0-16 team. Guess who that 0-16 team is?

NFL Power Rankings (Week 4)

2006-10-03T14:53:00.000-04:00

1. Indianapolis
Even on an "average" day, Peyton Manning is still quite amazing. We'll see if these injuries catch up to this team.

2. Chicago
I've been a firm believer in Rex Grossman's ability since he was drafted, however I'm still not sure if he'll make it through the entire season.

3. Baltimore
That defense still can play, but I'm curious to see if they can make it out of Denver undefeated.

4. New England
Tom Brady isn't very good, is he?

5. Philadelphia
Imagine what that game would have been like if Brian Westbrook would have played.

6. Seattle
I know Alexander was out, but what the heck was that? This team doesn't have the same mentality they did last year.

7. San Diego
If you want to be among the elite, you have to win the close games on the road. I like Philip Rivers, but imagine what this team would be with Drew Brees.

8. Denver
We'll see what the bye week does for this team as they have a huge test against the Ravens in the national spotlight.

9. Cincinnati
I don't think anyone was happier with the outcome of the Bengals game than me. Well, maybe the Steelers.

10. Atlanta
They certainly know how to beat up on the weaker teams.

11. Dallas
Can you say HUGE game this weekend?

12. Carolina
Starting to improve, but the defense still has me wondering.

13. Jacksonville
What happened to that intensity on defense? This team is capable of playing better than they did on Sunday.

14. New Orleans
I still think this can be a playoff team. This week should be a great way to bounce back from their first loss.

15. Pittsburgh
Big Ben better bring his A game to San Diego this weekend or the Steelers may find themselves in a big hole.

16. New York Jets
Eric Mangini made a mistake, but he still has his team overachieving. They will stay in the picture all season.

17. St. Louis
Well, the Rams looked like the Rams of old. All offense, no defense.

18. Washington
Santana Moss is the key to this team's success.

19. Buffalo
I still haven't quite figured this team out yet. If Lee Evans keeps having big games, McGahee will as well.

20. Minnesota
They need to run the ball if they want to win. They just don't have the fire power to keep up with high powered offenses.

21. New York Giants
This team has way too much talent to be this low. They have a crucial game against Washington this weekend that is a must win.

22. Kansas City
Beating any NFL team 41-0 is no easy task, but we'll see if they can keep that intensity up.

23. Arizona
Matt Leinart will be a good NFL quarterback, just not necessarily right away. All the talent is there, but there is no protection at all.

24. Cleveland
That was a nice comeback Sunday, but they should have played better for 60 minutes against the worst team in the league.

25. Houston
Andre Johnson is really playing well, but there is no running game to speak of.

26. Green Bay
They need Ahman Green. So do the Stunners.

27. Miami
Another team that didn't address their offensive line that is struggling. We may get to see Joey Harrington before this season is over.

28. San Francisco
Well, that definitely wasn't a very well played game Sunday. They won't have any performances like that by the end of the year.

29. Detroit
The offense is clicking and the defense is bad. Rod Marinelli has them in the right direction though.

30. Tampa Bay
Cadillac Williams needs to play like last season for this team to have any shot.

31. Tennessee
Vince Young, welcome to the NFL.

32. Oakland
Well, at least Lamont Jordan played well. However, I'm pretty sure you need more than 68 yards passing to win in this league.

Lions Ineptitude Part 3 of 3

2006-09-26T11:34:00.000-04:00

Editor's Note: The Lions didn't actually win the Super Bowl, they were celebrating winning the right to HOST it.

We put this dog to rest with the final installment of "Lions Ineptitude." I was a little torn as to where to go with this part, but I think the most illuminating endeavor would be to compare them to other franchises with a record of futility so we can properly put the Lions in perspective.

First let's look at other NFL teams. As I said in my previous entry, the Lions famously have won one playoff game since 1957. Does anyone come close to that?

Surprisingly, one team does: The Arizona(or Phoenix or St. Louis or Chicago) Cardinals: They, like the Lions, won NFL championships before it became The Super Bowl (in 1925 and 1947), and they, like the Lions, have won one playoff game since (in 1988). Lions fans can breathe a sigh of relief, because the Cardinals are right there with the Lions in regards to futility. Ironically enough, they have also been owned by the same family for a long time, in this case since FDR's first term. Who else is in the "class" of the Lions and Cardinals? Let's take a brief look at some of the other "contenders."

Tampa Bay Buccaneers: considered a bumbling franchise for their 0-14 season (worst in NFL history), they've actually won a Super Bowl and 6 playoff games in their short existence, which is 4 more than the Cardinals, and only one less than the Lions, who had a 50 year head start.

New Orleans A'ints: One playoff victory since the 50's, just like the Lions. You can make a strong argument that they are just as bad as the Lions and Cardinals, but since they were an expansion team and started their "streak" a decade later, I'm not convinced they are in the same class.

Buffalo Bills: Ah, the Bills. They make this list only because of their amazing 4 year Super Bowl losing streak in the early 90's. While grueling for their fans, I have trouble indicting a franchise that assembled the talent necessary to win the AFC 4 years in a row.

New York Jets: Mostly horrible recently, however, the memories of Broadway Joe (before his little Suzy Kolber moment) have to keep them out of "elite loser" status.

Cleveland Browns: We have a winner. The Cleveland Browns are the Detroit Lions doppleganger. Amazingly, the Cleveland Browns have won 8 championships in their history, which is more than the 49ers. They actually met the Lions in the 1950's 4 times in the championship game. If you can find someone who has made no new long-term memories since 1957, he'll think that the Lions and the Browns are the two best teams in the NFL. The Browns have since won more playoff games than the Lions, but they've also lost three years in a row to John Elway, been moved, reborn as an expansion team, and suffered a series of unfortunate ,events.

So, there you have it, Lions fans. You have won only one playoff game since 1957, yet there are plenty of teams who suffered in comparable ways. The Lions haven't lost 4 Super Bowls in a row, they haven't been moved, they haven't been crushed year in and year out by John Elway, they haven't gone 0-14 in a season (although they have gone 0-11 and 2-14), and they don't have a degrading yet accurate nickname such as the "A'ints." So we are left with the cliched question: was it better to have loved and lost than never loved at all? Was it better to be stumbling around in mediocrity while the Browns and Bills were winning more games but getting their hearts crushed in January? Would you rather have made it to the Super Bowl in 1986, but had a Bill Buckner moment?

I cannot speak for all Lions fans, but I can say this: as sports fans, we love to talk. We love to talk trash, we love to complain about our team: there's a reason "sports talk radio" is a multi-million dollar business. And lately, the Lions have given no one anything to talk about, except about how Matt Millen should be fired. The Lions have won 21 games since 9/11. The Lions have lost 62 games since then. I challenge you, Red Sox, Cubs, Browns or Bills fans: would you trade any 5 year stretch for that? Would you want to get excited for a football season, be removed from playoff contention by Thanksgiving, and start making a mock draft while Christmas shopping? I hardly think so.

We have a lot of pride in Detroit, and I think we can all take pride in that we have suffered more in the last 5 years, hell, 39 years than any other NFL city, and we are still here today. We still anxiously await the draft months in advance. We still look at the schedule every spring and try to predict which games we are going to win. And we still laugh at that one reporter who picks this season as the one in which the Lions break out and win the division. (Thanks, Peter King!) Let's just watch the Lions with a bit of detachment, and not expect a Super Bowl run any time soon. Remember, in the year 2006, the Detroit Pistons, the Detroit Red Wings, and the Detroit Tigers all have had the best records in their respective sports. Let's not get too greedy. Or more accurately, let's not be insane.

NFL Power Rankings (Week 3)

2006-09-26T09:59:00.000-04:00

1. Indianapolis
Even when Peyton isn't on, he can still win games. That was a huge win on Sunday.

2. Seattle
I certainly didn't think they would manhandle the Giants the way they did. We'll see what they can do without Alexander for an extended amount of time.

3. Cincinnati
Chad Johnson who? The offense is still racking up yards and their most talented player hasn't done much. Too bad guys like Odell Thurman are doing all that they can to ruin this team.

4. Chicago
That was a hard earned victory in Minnesota this past weekend. Muhsin Muhammad is really starting to gel with Rex Grossman.

5. San Diego
It should be a battle of defense in Baltimore this weekend. We'll see if this team passes its first test of the year.

6. New Orleans
This may be a bit too high, but who would have thought this team would be 3-0? I can't help but root for this team.

7. Jacksonville
They played the Colts tough, but they need to beat them to be considered a legit threat.

8. Philadelphia
The offense is clicking beyond expectations. Donovan McNabb is already having a MVP type year.

9. Baltimore
They definitely took the Browns too lightly. However, they found a way to win; a sign of a good team.

10. Minnesota
They play smart football and that will continue them to win games.

11. Atlanta
As much as I detest this team, I would have hated to be in their shoes on Monday night.

12. Denver
Well they haven't looked great, but they're 2-1 and that's all that counts.

13. New England
They look flat, but don't count this team out just yet.

14. Dallas
I still think this team will win a lot of games this season.

15. St. Louis
I can't believe this offense isn't scoring more points yet. Once they do, look out.

16. Carolina
Steve Smith=best receiver in football.

17. New York Jets
They play some solid football. Imagine if this team had the Giants' talent.

18. Pittsburgh
I can almost guarantee this team won't be this low for very long.

19. Buffalo
They're still playing tough and McGahee is running well. They're very capable of winning 8 games this season.

20. New York Giants
From a miracle victory to one of the worst performances of the season. Jeremy Shockey needs to shut up and play.

21. Arizona
Will Matt Leinart be as good as I think he will? Maybe not right away, but by the end of the year I expect big things.

22. Kansas City
I think things will get started this week. They have to, right?

23. Washington
Well, they beat Houston. That's a start.

24. San Francisco
Losing two of your best players on one play, ouch. We'll see how they bounce back.

25. Green Bay
Brett looks like Brett when he has protection.

26. Miami
This team is pretty lousy. I don't see them making the playoffs.

27. Cleveland
That was a very inspired performance on Sunday, but they have to pull those games out.

28. Detroit
That defense is starting to show it's true colors. The offense looked much better, but that was against the Packers.

29. Houston
Mario Williams was most definitely the short-term solution.

30. Tampa Bay
This teams miserable season just got worse. I shouldn't sell a MAC quarterback short, but they just aren't playing well.

31. Tennessee
That was a little better, but still pretty awful.

32. Oakland
With the way things have been going, week 3 will probably be this teams best performance.

Lions Ineptitude Part 2 of 3

2006-09-21T11:52:00.000-04:00

In this second part of a 3 part series, I will examine the coaches' role in the Lions dismal record.

"I just believe that I have the ability to make these guys really go. I believe I know how to do that and I failed this week. I failed in the preparation. I'll take the bullet -- right in the head." -Rod Marinell, after the Lions recent blowout loss to the Chicago Bears

Part of that quote was correct--the rather graphic description of where exactly the blame lied. From everything we have heard Marinelli is a great and honorable man, with service in Vietnam and glowing endorsements from everyone who has played for him, including this from Simeon Rice:

"When talking about Rod Marinelli, you are talking about a man, a myth and a legend. He evokes thoughts of those who have come before us. In the game of coaching, there’s nothing like him...He changes coaching to an art form.

But his belief that he has the ability to "make these guys really go?" That is dubious at best.

Maybe it was all his fault. Maybe he didn't have the players prepared, maybe he was outcoached. But it is much more likely that Marinelli will join the ranks of Bobby Ross, Marty Mornhinweg, and Gary Moeller as tough taskmasters who crumble under the pressures of such an underachieving team. They often come to the Lions believing they can make a difference, and if they just work hard enough and demand enough, they will be able to discipline the Lions. All have been proven wrong.

Head coaches in the NFL can generally be placed in two broad categories: tough disciplinarians and "players' coaches." Let's examine them separately, and see how they hold up steering the Detroit Lions Football Club:

Disciplinarians:

Exhibit A in this category is the General Robert Ross. An old-school Army veteran, he seemed poised to inject some discipline into some underperforming Lions teams when hired in 1997. He had decent success with the San Diego Chargers, leading them to the Super Bowl in 1995, and with first-ballot Hall of Famer Barry Sanders on the roster and an electrifying offense, he was sure to turn things around, right? Not quite. He had the standard 9-7 Lions season (including the obligatory first round playoff loss) before stumbling to 5-11 and 8-8 seasons (one of the few teams to ever make the playoffs at 8-8, who quickly and predictably dug themselves in a hole, behind 27-0 at halftime). In the 2000 season, the proud General, who had put up with so much in his life, who had been disciplined and determined, committed to every task he had ever taken, finally broke. After nine games, he had enough and resigned. The Detroit News ran an article appropriately titled: Loss breaks Ross. But it was not any specific loss that broke Ross, it was years of holding the team and the organization to a certain standard, and repeatedly seeing the team and the locker room crumble. He could threaten to give "a bus ticket out of town" to as many of the players as he wanted to and it still made no difference. To quote Benjamin Franklin, "the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results." And Bobby Ross is a sane man.

Players' Coaches

Perhaps Lions coaches who do not insist upon holding their players to such a high standard, which has been impossible for the organization to meet, have a better chance at success? Perhaps just letting the player's play and respecting them will lead to better results? According to that theory, popular and easy-going Steve Mariucci, he of the .583 winning percentage and 4 playoff berths in six years with the 49ers, would have been an excellent fit for the Lions. He did not demand too much of his players, held most practices without pads to keep them healthy, and essentially stepped back and let them do their job. What were the results? 15 wins, 29 losses, no playoff berths, and zero player development. He actually only lost 28 games, but was widely credited with "losing the locker room" so I added one more to the ledger. Not to mention that the players drafted in the first round for his three years with the team qualify as nothing short of a unmitigated disaster:

Joey Harrington('02): Traded for a late draft pick
Charles Rogers('03): Unconditionally waived, no compensation
Kevin Jones('04): Showed promise early, hasn't rushed for 100 years in nearly 2 years
Roy Williams('04): Still has potential, but has not developed yet into a star
Mike Williams('05): Has not contributed on the field, been fined numerous times

We could talk for hours about the Lions drafting bungles, blunders, and bloopers, but let's stick to the coaches.

So what can we discern from this mess of a franchise? Instead of directly answering that question, I will offer advice to the following parties:

Prospective Head Coaches: Do not come to the Lions. I do not care how much money they offer, or how much Ford stock options they give you, just STAY AWAY. Join another team. Coach a high-school football team. Play Sudoku. It doesn't matter. Just remember, the title of "Lions Head Coach" is similar to "Supreme Court Justice:" it will be your last job.

Detroit Lions Management (Fords): Clearly, the problems with the Lions are not because of the head coach. As such, I recommend hiring your most idealistic young intern, paying him the minimum wage, and let him coach the team until the media and the losses break him down. Then replace him with another intern. This will not lead to any more victories, but at least you'll save some money that maybe you can invest in designing a car people actually want to buy?

Lions Fans: Sociologists often talk of a "vicious cycle" that makes life difficult for addicts and poor people. Besides the fact that the Lions suck money out of their fans, and lead them to the bottle, there is another vicious cycle at work here: Lions struggle with "soft" head coach. Head coach is fired, and disciplinarian is brought in. Fans get excited. Disciplinarian is to hard on the players, and a nicer, more popular coach is needed to get the most out of the players. Cycle continues. Not much I can tell you guys, although I heard the Tigers were playing well.

Detroit Media: Do your job. In this case, your job is to subtletly jab at every Lions coach until he gradually becomes a broken-down husk of a man, at which point he will be fired in shame or resign, and you can have a new target brought in. It's nice to part of something bigger than yourself, isn't it? And we can all agree, the Lions' collossal failures are bigger than any one man.

Young African-American Men: I don't really have anything specific, but it seems like everyone else has advice for them, so I thought I'd jump on the bandwagon. Remember that Seinfeld episode where George gets a job at Kruger's, and is excited that the company is run horribly, so he will be able to "go hog-wild at a place like that!" In that vein, if you play football, sign with the Lions. You can go hog-wild.

Two more fun facts about the Lions: Wayne Fontes has the most wins of any Lions Coach. His record is 67-71.

Joe Schmidt was a Hall of Fame player and probably the best head coach the team has ever had. He had the following to say after he resigned from the Lions: "I expect everyone to be like me. I guess that's a mistake," and my personal favorite: "coaching isn't fun anymore." Can I see a raise of hands from anyone who was surprised that he would make that remark after 6 years coaching the Lions?

NFL Power Rankings

2006-09-21T10:36:00.000-04:00

That's right, folks, I'm back. I started doing my power rankings in Mr. Schmidt's history class in Junior year of high school and now they are going to be featured exclusively on The Tool Box. Enjoy.

1. Indianapolis
Peyton Manning is still a statistical machine, but will one of the running backs step up to the plate?

2. Jacksonville
The Jags deserve this spot, but we'll see what they're really made of when they take on Indy.

3. Chicago
The defense looks impressive, but not as impressive as Rex Grossman's offensive line. He's had all day.

4. Atlanta
The comparison to the old school Nebraska Cornhuskers isn't too far off. However, one of the receivers is going to have to step it up in order for this team to go anywhere.

5. Cincinnati
The defense still has some holes, but that offense seems like it may be even more unstoppable at years end. Rudi Johnson is a stud.

6. San Diego
Their defense looks vicious, but let's face it, they've played the Titans and the Raiders.

7. Seattle
They still look a little shaky offensively. They'll be put to the test when Eli Manning and company come to town.

8. Baltimore
Steve McNair is a great leader, but the offense needs to find the end zone more often to be considered a Super Bowl contender.

9. New England
As long as they have Tom Brady, this team is dangerous. Plus, the running game seems to be much improved.

10. Pittsburgh
Big Ben probably shouldn't have played, but there's no doubt that the team needs him.

11. Minnesota
It's only been 2 weeks, but they are in much better hands now than they were with Mike Tice.

12. New York Giants
This offense seems like it could be putting up around 30 points every single game.

13. Philadelphia
I think most people forgot how good Donovan McNabb really is.

14. Dallas
I still think this team has a lot of potential with Drew Bledsoe as their quarterback.

15. Denver
Turning on Jake may be a bad decision. He doesn't seem to handle himself well under that kind of pressure.

16. New Orleans
What a great story so far. I'm praying for them to upset the Falcons on Monday Night. This team is exciting.

17. Carolina
I know they're 0-2, but they are still a good team. Just wait until Steve Smith is back.

18. Buffalo
Dick Jauron has his team playing extremely hard. They may not be exciting, but the effort is admirable.

19. St. Louis
The offense needs to score more ASAP. I would expect Marc Bulger to start heating up soon.

20. Arizona
Their offense is great with the exception of the offensive line. They stink.

21. San Francisco
This team is full of overachievers. They're a fun team to watch.

22. New York Jets
It's great to see Chad Pennington back healthy. When he's on, he can be one of the best.

23. Kansas City
I expected a lot more out of this team so far. Larry Johnson can't do it alone.

24. Washington
I think it is safe to say this team needs Clinton Portis.

25. Miami
Super Bowl? I think not. But I do look for them to improve soon.

26. Detroit
That inspired performance in week 1 led to some false hope in week 2. The offense should get a chance to click against the Packers.

27. Tampa Bay
From the playoffs to the toilet. This team is better than that.

28. Green Bay
Brett still has some fight left in him, but when will it be Rogers turn?

29. Cleveland
Mr. Winslow, shut your mouth until you actually prove something on the field.

30. Houston
David Carr looks solid, but boy do they wish they had Reggie Bush.

31. Tennessee
Vince Young isn't the answer. I still say he amounts to nothing.

32. Oakland
This team has put together two of the worst performances in recent history. Truly awful. And that's coming from a Lions fan.

Lions Ineptitude Part 1 of 3

2006-09-19T11:38:00.000-04:00

The more things change, the more things stay the same. It is a cliche, but it could not be more fitting to describe the historically inept Detroit Lions. In a league in which parity amongst teams evokes optimism from all 32 teams, in a city in which football is ravenously devoured and loyalty runs as deep as Lake Superior, and with stable ownership willing to spend enough money to win, the Lions have fallen woefully short. Since 1964, the Lions have won exactly one playoff game (1991) and have had 15 head coaches. To put that in perspective, the Pittsburgh Steelers have had 3 head coaches and have won 26 playoff games. While the Steelers are an exceptionally well-run team with incredible stability at the coaching position, there is no reason the Lions cannot match their success. Both are owned by longtime NFL patriarchs (Dan Rooney, and William Clay Ford, respectively), both have brand new stadiums and both are Midwestern industrial towns with a working-class fan base who merely expects their team to play hard and to have a fighting chance.
"One playoff win in 49 years" says a lot, but it does not completely portray the personal anguish and suffering a Lions fan endures. Sure, it is just a sport, but in the city of Detroit it is much more than that. It is a part of their identity, an inextricable part of who they are. They may make fun of the Lions all the time, but below the insults is an intense love for the team, and when there is even the slightest glimmer of hope, the city of Detroit and the surrounding suburbs come alive and rabidly follow the fortunes of their beloved Lions. Detroit has been dubbed "Hockeytown" by some, but I find this to be a misleading title: Detroit bleeds honolulu blue and silver. In the mid-90's, when thirty-five year old men had never been alive for a Lions Championship, and had only seen that one playoff victory, the 80,000-seat Pontiac Silverdome, the biggest stadium in the NFL at the time, still sold out on a regular basis. To contrast this, in the 80's, Mike Illitch had to give away cars to sell seats at Joe Louis Arena to watch the "Dead Wings."
And yet, in spite of all this failure, all this heartbreak, there is always hope with every new head coach. Invariably, a press conference is called, and the new man steps up to the podium with a bright smile and some compelling answers as to how to fix the Lions. And just as often, the constant pressure of futility, a skeptical media, and an organization that is content to be mediocre breaks down that optimistic man, and sends him out of the NFL. Only one man has ever left the Lions and lived to coach another team, and that man, Dick Jauron (current coach of the Buffalo Bills) only was an interim coach of a few games. This is no coincidence: Lions head coaches leave the organization as changed men, with a damaged psyche that some might compare to a mild form of PTSD. Bad personnel moves, poor drafting, unrealistically high expectations, loss of control of the locker room, tragic events, and untimely injuries have all played a part in dooming Lions Head Coaches of the past and continues to this day. In Part 2, I will examine exactly what brought this diverse group of proud men to their knees, and what prevented them from continuing on as a head coach. In part 3, I will compare the Lions to other lovable losers, such as the Cleveland Browns, the Chicago Cubs and the Boston Red Sox.

Top Soundtrack Songs

2006-08-20T23:09:00.000-04:00

There is nothing that has a more profound impact on the emotional effect of a movie than its soundtrack. A well-crafted soundtrack serves to supplement the images of the movie with songs that create in the viewer a more poignant experience. This was only re-inforced when I saw Little Miss Sunshine this weekend. I enjoyed the movie immensely, with its perfectly selected cast and smart writing, but this post is about soundtracks. And to me, the most important song of the soundtrack is the last track, played at the denouement, and leaving an impression on the viewers as they head down the aisles. So here is my top five list of best songs to end movies:

5. Fight Club- The Pixies, "Where is my mind?"
A phenomenal song in its own right, "Where is my mind?" was a perfect fit for the ending of the movie when (SPOILER ALERT!) Edward Norton's character shoots himself to kill the alter ego his subconscious had created, Tyler Durden. This song furthered the ambience of the movie in which reality is shaken.

4. The Squid and the Whale- Lou Reed, "Street Hassle"
I will admit, I had not heard this Lou Reed classic until I heard it at the conclusion of my arthouse choice of the year, The Squid and the Whale. Overall, a powerful soundtrack, and the slightly repetitive "Street Hassle" provided a harmonious ending.

3. Little Miss Sunshine- DeVotchka, "How It Ends"
You didn't think I would spend all this time talking about my new favorite movie without including it in this category, did you? LMS' soundtrack tone is consistent throughout (with the exception of Rick James' "Superfreak"), and DeVotchka provides manygreat songs, with this six minute opus being the best of the bunch.

2. The Life Aquatic- David Bowie, "Queen Bitch"
This song was a triumphant finish to a quirky movie that included numerous Bowie covers in Portugese. I was left very satisfied watching all the main characters defiantly strut down the sidewalk with this tune blaring.

1. Donnie Darko- Gary Jules, "Mad World"
An extremely sad song for an extremely sad ending of a movie, this song fit the scene perfectly at the end of Donnie Darko. There is a reason this movie has achieved such esteemed cult status, and the soundtrack did its part.

Honorable Mention: The Breakfast Club- Simple Minds, "Don't You (Forget About Me)", Garden State- Frou Frou, "Let Go",
Rushmore- The Faces, "Ooh La La"
There are a probably a number of classic songs at the end of movies that I left out, but this merely my favorites of the moment, and that is what the comment section is for.

Summer Festival Coverage/Lansing Noise

2006-08-20T12:50:00.000-04:00

Just a quick note to please check out my Head Dress Tattoo blog for coverage of Lollapalooza 2006 and other summer festivals in Chicago, including band photos and some short videos (not amazing quality since they were taken on my digital camera, but nice if you weren't there). I'm too lazy to repost them here. Sourry, eh!

Also, please have a look at my article published last week in Lansing State Journal. Just click here.

The Tool Box Five (For Fighting) For 8/6 To 8/12

2006-08-13T14:58:00.000-04:00

1. Highlander: Best Movie Ever Made
While Talladega Nights was no Anchorman, it is a high calibur comedy that was enjoyable all the way through. It seems as if audiences are agreeing, the film has already racked up over $90 million in under two weeks.

2. Trivia Time
During the weekly Raw ritual, we had a WWE Trivia contest, hosted by Justin. Dave made a great showing, but I was able to edge him out in the end.

3. Forward Down The Field
It was great to be back in section 246 again (even though I did attempt to move seats) to watch my hometown heroes, the Lions in preseason action. I was impressed with our offensive execution and a little worried by the play of our secondary. We have another 3-4 weeks or so to keep on working towards defeating the NFC champions on September 10th.

4. IFL
Things started off with a bang at this years IFL draft and as always, there was never a dull moment. Well, except for maybe Michelle. My team is once again awful and I expect to be in about the same draft position next year.

5. Congrats
Congratulations to Marc and Amy on getting married. Best wishes to you both.

SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT
Mike Forster was the highlight of the wedding evening. Pounding drink after drink until he was the life of the party, Frosty got more action on the dance floor than anyone I've ever seen. Thank you for keeping Dave and I amused all night long, buddy.

The Tool Box Five (For Fighting) For 7/30 To 8/5

2006-08-06T11:34:00.000-04:00

1. One Night Only Part Deux
A big thank you to my lovely girlfriend for hosting Raw this week. Raw has now been held at 6 different locations if I'm not mistaken.

2. Justinet Flix
Since I really don't feel like writing movie reviews these days, I'll give you the ratings of the movies I've seen in the last couple of weeks. The ratings are out of 5.

Seven (3.75)
Super Size Me (3)
Waiting (3)
Saw (3)
Sin City (3.75)
Clerks II (4.5)

3. OK To Ship
My cousin's band, OK To Ship, recently released their debut album and I must say it is quite good. If you ever get a chance to check them out, they're a fun live band. For tour dates and band info go to www.myspace.com/oktoship. You can also check out some of the songs from the album.

4. Skinny Rodriguez
Latino Heat, Ivan Rodriguez, created one of the greatest sport moments I have witnessed live by hitting a walk-off home run to win the game Saturday night. I couldn't think of a better way to celebrate Marc getting married. Awesome stuff.

5. Holy Shish-kabob
The Jaworski family had a birthday bash for Marisa and the food was excellent. It was in a luau theme and it was a good time. Any time anyone makes shish-kabobs let me know.

Quick Lollapalooza Top Ten Preview

2006-08-03T09:27:00.000-04:00

I am so excited about Lollapalooza 2006, at Chicago's Grant Park August 4 - 6, that I thought I'd write up a TOP TEN REASONS YOU SHOULD BE AT LOLLAPALOOZA list. So here it is, as quick as my fingers will type it:

10. Sybris - Chicago dreamy indie rock quartet Sybris is set to play Saturday at 1:00. They sound a little like the Pixies, a little like My Bloody Valentine, and a lot like GOOD MUSIC. The female lead vocals are obviously a selling point for me, since I am apparently a sucker for a sexy voice.

9. Anathallo - This group from Mount Pleasant, MI (what?!?) could actually be amazing live. Their lush orchestration and interesting arrangements have been compared to Sufjan Stevens and the Decemberists. Show your support on Friday at 1:00, especially if you're from the Great Lakes State.

8. Manu Chao - Screw Kanye. Across the park from that giant-headed monster, a world music dance party will take place. His music contains elements from British rock and French music, but also sounds from Spain and South America. Forget the hype of that hip hop hooligan. The cool kids will be partying with Manu from 8:30 to 10 on Saturday night. (p.s. - followers and/or members of Kanye's entourage, please don't murder me)

7. Feist - Oh why do you have to be performing during The Go! Team's set??? Canadian vocal vixen Feist will be performing Saturday at 1:30. She recorded her album in Paris, which makes her even hotter. It's for the best that I miss her set anyways. She'd probably break my heart in that short hour on stage. Trust me, Feist can't wait to quit her job so we can get married and have babies. Then one day we will start a family band and we will tour the countryside and you won't be invited! (Sigh...I'm a dork)

6. The Shins - The Shins broke out with two songs on the Garden State soundtrack and a huge college following in the last couple years. For some reason I always thought they were British. Anyways, see them serve up their summery indie rock at 4:30 on Sunday. It should be a good time.

5. Sonic Youth - These days Sonic Youth plays like Yo La Tengo playing like late 80's Sonic Youth (anyone that follows that deserves a pat on the back). The reality is that their new CD is actually good! Make sure to check out these legends of noise rock Saturday at 4:30.

4. The Go! Team - I am actually skeptical as to whether or not the Go! Team can pull off a live act with the same fervour as their live album. But I'm completely willing to find out. See them combine hundreds of samples with live instruments and vocals on Saturday at 1:30. Get ready for a Motown-kung fu-western-cheerleader-indie rockin good time!

3. Of Montreal - Their live shows have the same capacity for fun and excitement as the Flaming Lips (read below). Alternating intstruments and switching between real and electronic drums, this is acid indie pop like you've never heard (or seen) before. Kevin Barnes is hilarious at the mic. You will leave their set (Sunday at 5:00) feeling happy. Trust me.

2. Broken Social Scene - I think this group, with their miniscule 45 minute set on Sunday at 7:30, will emerge as one of the more memorable of the festival. Call it a hunch. At least Feist will only be breaking my heart once this weekend while she provides the powerhouse vocals on songs like "7/4 Shoreline." Be there, or be Canadian.

1. The Flaming Lips - Their set at All Good Fest 2005 in West Virginia was hands down one of the coolest acts I've ever seen. I wish they had a headline slot. At least they get an hour, at 6:30 on Saturday (Saturday's gonna be a good day huh!?). Be prepared for fake blood, giant balloons, strobe lights, confetti, and....oh, wait....I'm giving away the surprises!!! GET EXCITED!!

Wow, I'm exhausted already. Go to www.lollapalooza.com for more info or to buy tickets. Hopefully I'll see you there! (read more of my work at the Head Dress Tattoo blog)

The Tool Box Five (For Fighting) For 7/23 To 7/29

2006-08-01T19:03:00.000-04:00

1. Great American B-Dubs
Yes, it was that time again, as the WWE put on a solid offering as did B-Dubs, once they got my wrap right. I guess I am still owed a grilled chicken wrap. All hail King Booker!

2. Weed, Weed, And The Black Crowes
A big thank you to Dave and his dad for allowing me to see the Crowes for the sixth time. It was an awesome show and a definite "high" point of the summer.

3. Justinet Flix
Justin has upped my maximum movies I'm allowed to rent from him from two to three. We'll see if these movies are as good as Seven. We also went to B-Dubs (yes, again), watched 3 South, and played some good old fashioned board games (1313 Dead End Drive anyone?).

4. Smackdizzle
Tuesday, I witnessed both Smackdown and ECW at the Joe. A very solid show, I just wish I wasn't so tired. Next stop, WrestleMania!

5. A Matter Of Me Getting The Squirts
Saturday, I went to a wedding and for the reception it was at a restaurant named "A Matter Of Taste". I just wanted to recommend it as a very fine dining establishment located right on Union Lake in Orchard Lake, MI.

The Tool Box Five (For Fighting) For 7/16 To 7/22

2006-07-23T12:55:00.000-04:00

1. CLERKS II
An absolutely incredible comedy that everyone should see. Well, as long as you're not easily offended that is. Randal, who steals the show, has moved up in my View Askewniverse power rankings, possibly directly behind Brodie. Sick burn.

2. One Night Only
Monday night, Dave and Justin decided to have Raw at their house and I must admit it was a big success. Thanks for going out of the way with the snacks and such. It was such a hit that I even returned Tuesday night. Thanks guys.

3. At Least It's Not Rascal Flatts
Friday night I went with my sister to go see the Goo Goo Dolls and Counting Crows at Pine Knob. While neither are the "manliest" bands in the world, it was a solid show, with the Dolls proving they were definitely worthy of being the headliners.

4. Seven Of The Lambs
After years of saying I would watch it, I finally sat down and watched the movie Seven. As far as movies in the crime/thriller category go, this definitely ranks up with the best I've ever seen. Good acting, good story, and good directing usually make for a good movie.

5. Whooo!
I added another wrestling book to my collection, Ric Flair's To Be The Man. It looks like a winner to me. Thanks Chris.

The Tool Box Five (For Fighting) For 7/9 To 7/15

2006-07-16T16:32:00.000-04:00

Once again, these are in no particular order.

1. Tecmo Super Bowl Champions
The Lions, who went 15-1 during the regular season, were able to defeat the Buffalo Bills in the Super Bowl 27-21 in overtime. Despite losing Barry Sanders in the NFC Championship, the Lions were able to win their first Super Bowl behind MVP Rodney Peete.

2. ECW One Night Stand DVD
A definite great purchase, this event was just as good the second time. Coming along with the first ever ECW pay-per-view, Barely Legal, this was quite the package deal.

3. CDeez Nutz
As expected, the new Butch Walker album is well worth your hard earned money, but the real surprises of the week are the used albums I picked up. Bruce Springsteen's double album The River and U2's Joshua Tree proved to be worthy additions to my collection.

4. Justin Time
A thank you goes out to Justin who not only bought me a hearty dinner at Chipolte, but also accompanied me in swimming in his pool, used CD shopping, watching a subpar Saturday Night's Main Event, counting how many of the top 500 albums we own (102 combined), and running up to Meijer. Thanks bud.

5. Grinding
Attending a game for the first time since the unfortunate championship game, the Grinders put on quite a showing for their legions of fans. Both Dave Distelrath and Marc Granger scored in their 7-4 victory over a bunch of old men.

The Postal Service - Give Up (Sub Pop; 2003)

2006-07-10T12:04:00.000-04:00

The fourth album in my all time favorites series is quite different. It’s a fairly recent release and it was created as a side project, not by a true band. It’s important to note that this is a full-fledged album. I read somewhere recently that OK Computer might have been the last great album in the traditional sense. Many seem to believe that the internet and digital music have transferred the emphasis back to single tracks, as opposed to whole albums. However, I disagree with this claim. I think that there are still great albums, even if tracks are pushed on the internet like egg rolls at a Chinese jumbo buffet. You just have to look harder to find the best albums, and you have to spend more time letting them sink in.

What stays with me the longest from my favorite music is the feeling I get ever single time I listen. Often those feelings come from pleasant associated memories (view all my seasonal mix CD’s for example), but sometimes it can be purely created by the album. The beauty of Give Up is that both are true. The music stimulates my mind with the catchy rythyms and emotive lyrics, but there are also many incredible memories evoked. I close my eyes and it’s the spring of 2003 at Michigan State University. The world is coming alive. I’m sitting outside with friends, barbecuing, having a beer. I have someone to love and who loves me. The Michigan twilight shines through the tree branches and I feel the grass on my toes. But enough of that…

The most vital quality about Give Up, in my mind, was its power in heightening awareness of independent music. I was introduced to it through MSU’s Impact 89 FM radio station, where the tracks “Such Great Heights” and “Clark Gable” were played in regular rotation. Then I returned home for the summer to discover (through my younger brother) that everyone at my old high school was listening to the same music. So Give Up was essentially a major step in the right direction for modern music. Many people’s attentions are beginning to turn away from commercial radio and towards something better.

The Postal Service is Ben Gibbard, of Death Cab for Cutie, and Jimmy Tamborello, who has been praised for his ability to cross indie rock with electronica. They reportedly got their name from their initial method of music composition. They would exchange bits and pieces through the mail (although maybe it was email, which would further add to the progressive nature of the album). This indie electronica really rests in a world of its own. Sure, some of it could be compared to Bjork or even Radiohead, but not consistently. Gibbard brought in his quirky songwriting with regular influences like the Smiths, and Tamborello brought a unique blend of beats and sonic trimmings reminiscent of 80’s new wave. The result is something like Phil Collins vs Daft Punk (the group did cover Collins’ easy rock hit “Against All Odds”). Then add on backing vocals from Jenny Lewis (of Rilo Kiley) and Jen Wood, and you have all the ingredients for a damn good musical concoction.

So what about the songs? An album is made up of songs, right? Well, some bands lose focus when making such inventive sound and aren’t able to congeal their ideas into effective songs. Luckily, that is not the case here. “Such Great Heights” is one of the catchiest tracks on the album (and was later covered by Iron and Wine for the Garden State soundtrack). The opening beeps give way to scratchy drums and Gibbard’s guitars, and the tale of long distance love helps to make this a sure winner. “Nothing Better” is one of my personal favorites. It’s a sort of argument between Gibbard and Wood playing partners in a failed relationship. Gibbard’s character is still in love, but Wood’s is ready to move on and explore other things. She feels that his romantic idealism is contrived. Hopefully there will be a sequel (preferably on a second Postal Service album) where the girl realizes what she’s lost. “Clark Gable” is another amazing song. It’s both a bittersweet tale of a man looking for wholesome, mutual love and a parody of the way we live through movies, basing our hopes and dreams on them. Instead of fading out, the album keeps raising the stakes. “We Will Become Silhouettes” touches on issues of mortality before breaking into ambient techno for the finale, and “Brand New Colony” opens with a keyboard riff straight out of a mid-80’s video game. “Natural Anthem” is a fitting closer as the song explodes into a chaotic fusion of whirlwind noises.

Recently in someone’s MySpace profile music section, they exclaimed that they liked “anything that makes me feel…” This made me think about my favorite music. Give Up not only reminds me of certain times when I felt great, but it also makes me feel great every time I listen to it. It’s mystical but accessible, progressive but reflective, classic pop but also novel digital sound. Give Up is an astonishing album. It shows that you can keep your feet on the ground and face the sadness and joy in life, but once in a while you can escape to a place in your mind that only you will know. And it will be wonderful.

The Tool Box Five (For Fighting) From 7/2 To 7/8

2006-07-09T08:56:00.000-04:00

I forgot to mention last week that these are mentioned in no particular order, just the order they come to mind.

1. Brian Vander Ark Concert
Typically BVA is either known as the "guy who wrote 'The Freshmen'" or not known at all, he is without a doubt Michigan's best kept secret. He has released two stellar solo albums in the past couple of years and really knows how to put on a good acoustic show. Go to www.brianvanderark.com to listen to his new album.

2. Tecmo Super Bowl
Lately, I've been playing my original NES and my new addiction is this game. I'm 10-0 with the Lions and plan on making a strong playoff run. Obviously, I still don't have a real job.

3. Pirates Of The Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest
Although not as strong as the original, this is still a fun movie that most could definitely enjoy. As usual, Johnny Depp steals the show but the rest of the cast more than pulls their own weight.

4. Stupid Karaoke
After years of talking about it, I finally made my karaoke debut with Chris to the song we always planned on doing, "I'd Do Anything For Love (But I Won't Do That). After really nailing the first part, the CD was unable to finish the song, leaving me disappointed for the rest of the night.

5. Farewell To A Couple Steve's And A Ben
In the last week, Detroit lost three of it's biggest names: Steve Yzerman, Ben Wallace, and Steve Moore. I wish them all the best of luck.

Top 10 TV Comedies

2006-07-05T20:28:00.000-04:00

In honor of the lack of new programming on during the summer, and my TV being busted, here are my picks for the best TV comedies of the past twenty years:

10. Futurama- Often overlooked in favor of more popular cartoons, Futurama was created by the Simpsons genius, Matt Groening, and featured the adventures of a package delivery crew set in the year 3000. Always creative and smart, Futurama utilized the malleable setting of a future in which everything is possible to take the viewer on a wild romp, satirizing everyone from Richard Nixon to the WNBA. Futurama toiled in the shadow of the Simpsons, never quite receiving mainstream popularity, but achieved cult status, and based on the strength of its syndication ratings is poised to make a return with new episodes on Comedy Central.

9. Scrubs- Starring previously unknown actor Zach Braff and a talented ensemble cast that features Donald Faison and John C. McGinley, Scrubs attempts the difficult balance of humor in a serious, often tragic setting. While dramas such as ER achieved success with a sober and mostly realistic look into the challenges faced by our hospitals, Scrubs went in the other direction, choosing instead to make light of life and death issues with an ever-increasingly ridiculous shtick that includes a barbershop quartet, a TV series about hospital vampires (Dr. Acula, get it?), and the sophomoric antics of Braff and Faison, who share the combined maturity of frat boy pledges.

8. Curb Your Enthusiasm- Larry David, the genius behind Seinfeld, proves that lightning can strike twice, with this brilliant HBO comedy that is often unscripted, and even more often funny. Set in L.A., Larry does not have to do much acting as he plays himself, a semi-retired comedy writer who manages to get himself into a series of hilarious problems, due to some combination of his obnoxiousness, rudeness or just plain bad luck. There are far too many highlights to list them all here, but let's just say he manages to piss off Joseph from a manager performance, owns a racist dog, picks up a hooker to use the carpool lane, is almost murdered by a gangsta rapper, and endears himself to his Jewish bretheren by inadvertendly preventing a baptism. This would be higher if not for its similarity to Seinfeld.

7. Cheers- I admittedly do not watch this show with great regularity, but I felt I would be remiss if I did not include it. This seemingly average show about some friends hanging out at a Boston bar managed to last twelve years, spawn a successful, long-running sitcom of its own (Frasier) and launch many careers: Woody Harrelson, Ted Danson, and Kirstie Alley (although I wish we could un-launch that one).

6. Friends- NBC picked up Friends in 1994, a show about 6 20-somethings living together in New York starring people no one had heard of at the time. 10 years and $1 million per episode later (plus syndication fees), Friends had become a international phenomenon that enthralled every member of white Americans. Millions of loyal viewers soon spawned making any real friends and instead huddled around the TV every Thursday to hang out with characters that were both more beautiful and witty than anyone you could meet on the streets of, for example, Duluth, Minnesota. Friends did not have Cheers' luck with spinoffs, as the Joey experiment was an utter disaster.

5. The Daily Show w/ Jon Stewart- originally hosted by Greg Kinnear, than Craig Kilborn, and finally settling on Jon Stewart, it seems to improve every year, hitting its peak in its "Indecision 2004" coverage of the 2004 elections. Stewart has perfected the satirical news show, slicing up all our national leaders and pundits with an often acerbic tone that belies the frustration that many liberals and independents alike feel towards the general state of affairs in our country. It has become a stepping stone for comic actors, as alum Steve Carell and Stephen Colbert have gone on to much bigger things post-Daily Show.

4. Family Guy- Seth MacFarlane follows the path carved out by the Simpsons, and creates a cartoon about an overweight idiot, with a much hotter wife, 2 adolescent kids, and a baby (sound familiar?). But FG would not be this high on my list if not for its uniqueness. Largely ignored by viewers the first time around (except for yours truly, I am proud to say I have been a fan since the beginning), MacFarlane created a niche with his fast-moving jokes, flashbacks, and innumerably obscure pop cultural flashbacks so diverse that no one person could truly appreciate all of them. Much like Futurama, FG languished due to the ineptness of Fox executives, only to be resurrected by loyal fans who had purchased DVD's in record numbers and made the Cartoon Network look smart for picking it up on syndication.

3. Arrested Development- I feel this show deserves an entire blog entry, but I will restrain myself to one paragraph. Narrated by Ron Howard and centering around one man's (Jason Bateman's) failing efforts to keep a dysfunctional family afloat, Arrested Development has possibly the best writing and ensemble acting of any show since Seinfeld. The Bluths are dysfunctional to the extent that they could include the likes of the Menendez brothers or Jonbenet Ramsey's parents (although they don't actually kill anyone). There is the youngest son who has a crush on his cousin, the sister who will take up any cause without actually truly caring, her husband, the always homoerotic brother-in-law, the one-handed, slightly-retarded brother, the failed-magician deadbeat dad other brother, the alcoholic, racially insensitive mother, and the father who merely is trying to stay out of jail. This show created such a rabid following that some University of Michigan Law Students created a club in hopes of saving it. Alas, they failed, and 3 brilliant series is all we'll ever have.

2. The Simpsons- Starting off as a feature on the Tracey Ullman show in the late-80's, no one could have predicted the cultural and financial impact it would have on America. At first defined by lame catchphrases such as "Don't Have a Cow, Man" and "Eat My Shorts" the Simpsons evolved into an entire world of ground-breaking and wildly imitable characters and plotlines that defined our generation. Every male born between the years 1978 and 1988 knows the words to the Mr. Plow song or can recite many of the one-liners that blundering father Homer Simpson states with regularity.

1. Seinfeld- "The show about nothing", Seinfeld managed to do what many of the above shows struggled to do; achieve critical success, in addition to massive popularity that still exists today. Combined with shows like Friends and the Simpsons, Seinfeld seemed to define the 90's, introducing many phrases into our national lexicon, such as "the puffy shirt", "sponge-worthy", and "shrinkage." Seinfeld seemed to transcend television and obtain a popularity and relevance reserved for more important things than a simple show with four friends hanging out, and doing, essentially nothing. Seinfeld had an unsatisfying finale, but followed the advice of George Costanza in ending the show before it became old hat: "always leave on a good note."

The Tool Box Five (For Fighting) From 6/25 To 7/1

2006-07-04T10:32:00.000-04:00

The newest feature here at the Tool Box is a rip off (imagine that) of most magazine's "Hot List". These were the top 5 things that happened during the week.

1. Kurt Angle vs. Rob Van Dam On ECW
As far as television matches go, this is about as good as it gets. Two of the top performers of the last decade, squared off in a entertaining battle for ECW gold.

2. Taking Back Sunday/Angels And Airwaves Concert
Two bands that may not be the "hippest" and possibly will be forgotten in 10 years, but it was one heck of a show. Both bands had headliner feels to them, and all in all it was a terrific double bill.

3. "Vindicated" by Dashboard Confessional
The song from Spider-Man 2 was put on the new album as a secret track and no one is happier about it than me. I believe it to be their finest song, and while the new album is very solid, this made my day.

4. The Food Up North At The Hoelscher's Cottage
Some of the best burgers I've ever eaten, not to mention some smoked beef and roasted corn. Someone made some pretty darn good brownies later on as well.

5. 4 Day Weekend
Yes folks, this will be my only time off all summer long and unfortunately it is all over. I will catch you all next week for the Tool Box Five.

Intonation Music Festival - Union Park, Chicago

2006-06-28T10:35:00.000-04:00

On Sunday, June 25th, 2006, I attended day 2 of the Intonation Music Festival at Chicago's Union Park. My reasons for going to Intonation this year can be counted on one hand. Concerning bands, I wanted to see Bloc Party and Jon Brion. Other than that, it was a chance to start helping the Chicago Innerview magazine with their street team.

I arrived at Union Park (via bus, since mass transit is one of the only things I enjoy about Chicago) around 2 pm on Sunday. Union Park was an excellent location for the festival. Two stages were set up (for quick set changes), and people had ample space to watch the shows, throw a frisbee around, or lay in the grass under a tree. The line-up for my time at the festival was The Constantines, Rhymefest, Annie, Lupe Fiasco, The Sword, Blue Cheer, Jon Brion, Robert Pollard, Dead Prez, and Bloc Party. The Constantines were, in comparison to many acts I would later witness, respectable. After reading that they're from Guelph, Ontario, Canada, I have more respect for them. Guelph is an extremely boring place, and their music is decidedly entertaining with that in mind. Rhymefest and Lupe Fiasco were both bling rap acts, which in my mind is no different than seeing Backstreet Boys or any other mindless trash. In fact the only difference is the crowd, for a Backstreet Boys crowd would have been a rather enjoyable gathering of teenage girls.

Moving on, Annie was a dull Norwegian, The Sword was Pantera-like southern metal, and Blue Cheer was (according to Chicago Innerview) a supposedly important band from the early seventies (although their live show provided no proof of this claim). At least during these sets I could pass the time handing out the Innerview as people entered the festival grounds.

Finally Jon Brion took the stage around 6:30 pm. Before the set, I didn’t know exactly what to expect. I did know that Brion had created the soundtrack for Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, I Heart Huckabees, and other movies, as well as worked with many up and coming artists such as Fiona Apple. Brion began simply by playing electric guitar and singing and captured the audience attention after a single song. He then set out to employ the “trouble” installed on stage, by which he meant loopers attached to drums, keyboard, and guitar. Instantly he became a one-man band. He created a drum track, then a keyboard track, and finally played guitar and sang. By the time people figured out what he had done, they were completely hooked. Wilco drummer Glenn Kotch joined Brion for a few songs, including a cover of the Beatles’ song “Baby You’re A Rich Man.” Brion finished with another one-man song, complete with scorching guitar solo. Watching him, it’s obvious that you’re in the presence of a musical genius. I feel fortunate to have seen him live.

After Brion’s hour long set Robert Pollard, ex-Guided by Voices player, took the stage. His hour on stage was unexciting, so I sat in the grass and relaxed for a while. Next was Dead Prez, the third bling rap act of the day. Don’t get me wrong. I can appreciate any music with talent and creativity. I like alternative hip hop groups like Jurassic 5, MF Doom, and even Aesop Rock (who will be gracing the stage at the Pitchfork Music Festival in July). Dead Prez consisted of 4-6 guys on stage, talking more than rapping, with an entourage of 20 or so men standing around them at the back of the stage. It was pompous and deranged. One song proclaimed that you “Can’t Sell Dope Fo Eva.” This was truly a wasted hour of my life, except that while some idiots watched them perform I was able to acquire a great viewing spot for Bloc Party’s set.

When Bloc Party finally went on stage around 9:30 pm, it was completely dark out and everyone at the festival had turned their attention at the stage. When they started playing, I immediately knew that the wait had been worthwhile. They were just as explosive and captivating as on their album, Silent Alarm. Some bands can’t overcome the hype attached to them, but Bloc Party meets and surpasses all hype. They opened with “So Here We Are,” a spacey track that slowly builds to a beautiful wall of sound. Next they played “Positive Tension,” my favorite song of theirs. The angular structure tightens up until the full release of fiery energy. Other song highlights were “Banquet” and “This Modern Love,” but the whole set was excellent.

My thoughts leaving the festival were that I should have researched more of the bands before coming. Nonetheless, Jon Brion and Bloc Party were worth the $20 admission. Now, I have a month to carefully prepare for the Pitchfork Music Festival, taking place at the same park on July 28 and 29. I’ll be sure to let you know how it goes.

Booking Vengeance

2006-06-25T13:06:00.000-04:00

Since there hasn't been a post in a month, I figure no one reads this now. So I officially can do whatever I want and since Vengeance is tonight, I'm going to go over how I would book the show.

1. Johnny Nitro vs. Carlito vs. Shelton Benjamin for the Intercontinental Championship
This could be a solid opener that would benefit from the opening match heat. The real feud here is between Carlito and Benjamin, so the best decision would be to build for a (ladder) match at SummerSlam. For the ending, I'd have Carlito about to pin Nitro, Melina distract the ref, Benjamin hit Carlito with the belt and get the victory. I'd give this match about 10-15 minutes of time.

2. Kane vs. Kane
This match is most likely to build to a longer feud and will be pretty lousy. I'd give the real Kane some early offense, but allow the evil Kane to dominate the rest of the match. It would leave to some sort of "big finish" injuring the real Kane and resulting in a disqualification. I wouldn't give this match any more than 8 minutes of time.

3. Mick Foley vs. Ric Flair
Being that this is a 2 out of 3 falls, this has potential to steal the show tonight. With that in mind, I think it would benefit from being the third match. I would allow Foley to score the first pinfall after some sort of technical maneuver. Flair would of course win pinfall number two, possibly as a result of the figure four. Then the third fall would be won by Flair as a result of disqualification after Foley gets frustrated and goes back to his hardcore ways. This would lead to a hardcore match at SummerSlam. I'd give this match somewhere between 30-40 minutes of time.

4. Eugene vs. Umaga
From a potential classic to a definite waste of time, Umaga should dominate this squash and win in under 3 minutes. Next.

5. Randy Orton vs. Kurt Angle
After being beaten at One Night Stand, Orton will get his revenge on Angle, although it will be through cheating. I would have Orton have brass knuckles to knock out Angle and get the victory. I would give this matchup about 15 minutes.

6. John Cena vs. Sabu
Vince wants to keep both of these guys strong in their brands, so this should be a back and forth matchup. I would have Sabu setting up for the camel clutch then get a surprise attack from the Big Show, setting up the Big Show as a monster heel in ECW and giving Cena the win. I would give this match about 15 minutes.

7. D-Generation X vs. Spirit Squad
The crowd will eat up the nostalgia with the new DX and it will most likely be a main event squash. Mr. McMahon will get involved, giving the Spirit Squad a few minutes of dominance, but D-X gets the clean victory. I would give this match about 15 minutes.

8. Rob Van Dam vs. Edge for the WWE Championship
This is a refreshing main event and should be a solid matchup. Both guys have been on a roll lately, so both will look good in this matchup. Having two titles on RVD just doesn't make sense, so Edge will get a well-deserved second title run tonight. This match should get 20-25 minutes.

NBA Playoff Round 3 Preview

2006-05-23T13:26:00.000-04:00

(1) Detroit Pistons vs. (2) Miami Heat
As most people predicted, the top two teams from the East are squaring off for a shot at the NBA Finals. This is a difficult series to predict because both teams have been like Dr. Jeckyl and Mr. Hyde. The thing that often troubles the Heat is that they often don't play as a team, the Pistons' strength. The Pistons' problem has been scoring, which is the Heat's strength. Depending on which teams show up, we could see either team take this series. I believe that the Cleveland series will serve as a wake up call for the Pistons and they will barely, and I mean just barely squeak out of this series.

Prediction: Detroit, 4-3.

(2) Phoenix Suns vs. (4) Dallas Mavericks
The Mavs were finally able to take down the Spurs and they are now poised for a showdown against former teammate and reigning MVP Steve Nash. If you like exciting basketball, this series should be even more exciting than the Clippers/Suns series. This is starting to feel like it's the Mavericks year, which I don't like to think about being a Pistons fan. While the Suns can score with the best of them, Avery Johnson stresses defense, and I think that will be the determining factor in this series. Mark Cuban, you're on your way to your first NBA Finals.

Prediction: Dallas, 4-2.

Top 10 Rides

2006-05-18T11:41:00.000-04:00

Recently, the Tool Box co-founders have agreed to embark on their most ambitious article to date. No, it's nothing original, but something definitely worth checking out. More news on that on a later date. For now, I thought I'd do something a little lighter. Being an expert in the world of thrill rides, or rides in general is something I take great pride in. I have been to numerous amusement/theme parks in my day, including: Walt Disney World, Cedar Point, Six Flags (Chicago and California), Universal Studios (Hollywood and Orlando), Disneyland, King's Dominion, King's Island, and most likely a couple more. After my recent visit down to Orlando, I thought it'd be fun to count down the top 10 rides I have been on. (These are in my opinion the BEST rides, not my favorites.)

10. Splash Mountain (Magic Kingdom/Disneyland)
Most parks have the obligatory "log ride" where you usually just kind of float around for about 3 minutes, climb up a hill, and go down. Disney takes that to a different level with Splash Mountain. Riders get a chance to experience the story of Brer Rabbit, featuring some of their finest animatronics, along with numerous drops, most notably the one that takes you into the Briar Patch. A must ride.

9. The Tower Of Terror (Disney-MGM Studios, Disney's California Adventure)
Another ride where Disney takes a basic boring ride and turns it into a clever, enjoyable experience. You are a part of a Twilight Zone episode, where the elevator shaft is haunted. Featuring random drop patterns, you will most likely get the same ride twice. This ride beats any of those standing tower drop rides any day of the week. The exterior to the building is also very detailed, giving riders a feel of authenticity.

8. The Raptor (Cedar Point)
This is a ride that begs you to ride in the front car, giving you a genuine feeling of flying. Never one to just give you a 30 second roller coaster (okay, except for Top Thrill Dragster), the Raptor features numerous corkscrews and loops in a ride that is most certainly worth the wait.

7. Indiana Jones Adventure (Disneyland)
Looking at the building that contains this attraction, it's hard to imagine how they even fit a ride in there. However, it is brilliantly set up, and while it is not as thrilling as a roller coaster, you can't help but caught up in this re-creation of the Indiana Jones series.

6. Top Thrill Dragster (Cedar Point)
Although this ride is short on time, it will give you the greatest thrill of your life. Towering over 400 feet, riders are shot at over 100 miles per hour. Unfortunately, the ride often experiences technical difficulties, but it is one ride that every thrill-seeker must ride in their lifetime.

5. Test Track (EPCOT)
Test Track gives guests an up close encounter with what goes on behind the scenes at the auto companies. Riders go along through numerous simulated tests, which eventually leads to the climax, a high-speed ride around the test track.

4. Millenium Force (Cedar Point)
One of the most intimidating rides ever constructed, the Millenium Force is a true roller coaster. Even after the 300+ foot drop, the thrills continue on this exciting coaster. There is only one other roller coaster track that I have found to be better designed, and that is the next selection.

3. The Magnum (Cedar Point)
The original "giant" coaster at Cedar Point, the Magnum may have the smaller drop, but the actual track is even more exciting. Don't believe me? Ride this one at night, and I guarantee that it's a whole different experience.

2. Spider-Man (Islands Of Adventure)
Universal put all of their brain power into this attraction, and boy did it pay off. Combining 3-D technology with a simulator-type ride, Spider-Man is unlike anything else you've ever been on. Jumping from scene to scene, you experience Spider-Man and a whole group of villains right in your face. There are explosions of both fire and water, smoke, and it even feels as if you are falling off of a skyscraper.

1. X (Six Flags Magic Mountain)
This ride is absolutely insane. There is no other way to describe it. The wait is often around 4 hours, even if it's not a busy day, but you won't regret your decision to take this ride on. You are strapped down to the side of the cart, from there as you are traveling through the track, your seat also revolves around to give you a multiple ride experience. Never before has my brain been so scrambled.

Summer Movie Preview

2006-05-11T09:13:00.001-04:00

Sorry for the lack of posts as of late. I've been really busy selling coupon books door-to-door. I planned on having this article up before Mission:Impossible 3 came out to theatres, so it's a little late, but it still should work out okay. These, my friends, are my top 10 movies to see this summer.

10. You, Me, And Dupree
This movie kind of falls into the sleeper role. You take the best characters from Almost Famous and There's Something About Mary (Kate Hudson and Matt Dillon) and mix them with odd-ball Owen Wilson, and you should have yourself a laugh out loud picture. However, the trailer I did see was a little weak. Was this a case of the studio holding back thinking they can bank on Wilson's recent success? Or is this movie going to be a bomb? We shall find out.

9. The Da Vinci Code
Those who know me know that I am not a big Tom Hanks fan. He is a good actor, but typically I don't have much interest in the films he chooses. Those who know me also that I don't read much, not even a book as popular as The Da Vinci Code. But knowing that Ron Howard is involved, I find it hard to beleive that this movie will be anything worse than average, and it will save me from reading once again.

8. The Break Up
Last summer, Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie were able to make millions on Mr. and Mrs. Smith despite it looking absolutely horrible. Well this movie actually looks like it could be entertaining for both sexes, a rarity for a romantic comedy. Vince Vaughn is on a role and Jennifer Aniston is usually successful when she has a reliable star to lean on.

7. Beerfest
Being that I was the only person who enjoyed Club Dread, I am probably one of the few people who would have this movie in the top 10. However, I have faith in the Broken Lizard troupe to give us another stupid comedy that somehow finds a way to be entertaining. Will anyone see it? Probably not.

6. Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest
The first Pirate movie is one of the few action/adventure movies I have ever liked. Johnny Depp finally got some box office respect and the movie grossed a billion despite it looking like a total bomb. With a third Pirate's movie on it's way shortly, they better have made sure this one is even better to hold the audience's attention.

5. Little Miss Sunshine
This movie was the big comedy hit at Sundance and should be able to bring in a decent amount of cash thanks to the recent success of the hilarious Steve Carrell. The reason this movie intrigues me even more is due to the very underrated Greg Kinnear being involved. Kinnear is often golden in his performances, even if I'm the only one who thinks so.

4. Nacho Libre
My friends have been saying that this movie "looks stupid". Well the man who wrote/directed Napoleon Dynamite is the same man who is doing this film, so I wouldn't expect anything less. Jack Black is as funny of an actor out there, and the premise looks fresh and potentially hilarious.

3. Cars
Pixar is probably the most consistent company when it comes to movies. I have never left one of their films and been disappointed. The trailer is admittedly weak for this film, but I'm almost positive this will be another wonderful computer animated delight.

2. Clerks 2
I never thought I'd see the day that there would be another Clerks film. I expect this to be Kevin Smith's dirtiest film to date after his lighter Jersey Girl, and that's saying something. Stephen King recently said that he thought this movie would be a summer bomb, but I don't think it's a movie that anyone expects to make $100 million, I think they're going more for a $20-40 million dollar gross, which would not be a bomb at all.

1. Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby
The team from Anchorman (one of my favorite movies) is back, this time taking a jab at professional racecar driving (my least favorite "sport"). For me, just knowing that, I'm already there. I obviously have very high expectations for this film, but I have a gut feeling that it just might live up to them.