Week 2 of the NFL is in the books. Three of the most astute NFL minds in the country hashed out a few of the main points from Week 2...
*The Patriots demolished the Chargers in front of the nation on Sunday night, beating them by 24 points. A pretty impressive victory. Are they clearly the favorite to win the Superbowl?
Dogg: The Pats are the favorite to win the SB like I said since day one. They were a very good team last year and signing Moss, Welker, Stallworth and Adalius Thomas made them a dominant team this year. Brady is one of the best QB’s of all time and now finally getting 3 WR’s who are capable of making big plays, he’s showing how good he really can be with legit threats. Belichick cheats so that is a bonus as well. He knows what plays are coming and he’s already the best coach in NFL history so add that and it’s all but over for the other 31 teams.
Fuzz: The Pats are riding high right after beating two AFC playoff teams in their first two games. They have the confidence, the QB and the coach to be the favorite, but…the Colts are still the favorite in my mind. Defending champs who blasted the Saints on opening day and got by a sneaky Titans team on the road. Home field advantage is going to play huge in determining the AFC representative. Yes, it’s only week two, but I already think these two teams are almost locks for the AFC championship game. The Colts have the belt until they get beat in the playoffs.
Q: I'm going to take a page from my favorite writer, Bill Simmons, and say that I love this question because there is not enough attention on the Patriots right now. Make that, not enough on the field attention. Tom Brady's numbers are outrageous (81% completion rate!) and they have absolutely throttled a playoff team from last year and one of the three favorites to win the Super Bowl this year. The stupid camera/sign-stealing thing is getting way too much attention. That said, let's not start sucking popsicles yet. The Colts are still the defending champs, are 2-0, and have not shown any signs of weakness. I do give New England the slight edge at this point, but it's close.
*The hated Green Bay Packers are 2-0 and looking like a playoff team. Am I right or am I overreacting to this fast start? Give me reasons for choice.
Dogg: You know my answer to this since I have told you several times that Green Bay will be in the playoffs this year. I will repeat it once again that they have the best all around WR and QB in the division. Their RB situation is a little shaky but they will go by committee, which will work nicely for them especially when they get Morency back. Their front 7 on defense is a top 3 unit in the entire league and having Al Harris and Charles Woodson in the secondary isn’t so bad either. They will be in the postseason.
Fuzz: I’m sticking to my guns and calling this a mirage. They clearly played an overrated Philly team and an atrocious Giant team. I’m predicting 1-4 record the next five games. I’m serious too Dogg. San Diego, at Minnesota, Chicago, Washington and then at Denver is their next five. San Diego, Chicago and Denver are all losses. They’ll win one between Minnesota and Washington. My bet is Washington, since Farve hates the dome and we’ll knock him on his butt a few times.
Q: Overreacting. There are legitimate reasons for Sconnies to be excited about the undefeated squad. Their defense has looked really good and they seem to be catching a lot of breaks. But this will not last. They were VERY luck to beat a very overrated Eagles team in week 1 with D Mac at about 50% (despite what he says) and then beat a terrible Giants team decimated by injuries to Brandon Jacobs, Plaxico Burress, and Eli Manning, who shouldn't have been playing in the first place. Time to face facts Packer backers: your offense is terrible. You have zero running game and you've turned one of the great gun-slingers of all time into a dreaded "game manager" (a term the the Purple have long used for their array of below average signal callers). I hate Green Bay, I hate the Pack, and I hate their cheese. They will not make the playoffs.
*Cowboys travel to Chi-town this weekend to play the Bears in a good NFC game. Could this be a preview of the NFC championship game? Do the Cowboys have enough to represent the NFC? Why?
Dogg: The Cowboys will not win this game or any other game they play in Chicago so they better hope they can finish the season with home field advantage throughout the post season if they want a shot. The Bears will smother inexperienced QB Tony Romo and T.O. will be frustrated before halftime even rolls around. Julius Jones and Barber will be bottled up and Dallas has no defense right now (will be much improved with Tank Johnson). A great defense will always offset a great offense so I take the Bears in this match up. I do think both are contenders for the NFC crown and think whichever team can play at home throughout the playoffs will have a great shot.
Q: I would be absolutely shocked if this wasn't the NFC title game. The Bears have the best defense in the conference and if their O line can figure out a way to block just a little bit, they will be the dominant force they were last year. On the other sideline, Dallas has a very high-powered offense with the likes of Romo, Owens, Barber, and Jones. Their D has been a bit maligned lately, but when they're healthy, watch out. Chicago has the edge in this game because of the Cowboys banged up D, but if, nay, when they meet up again in the playoffs, Big D will take them down. As soon as guys like Newman get healthy and they add a potentially huge difference maker in the recently signed Tank Williams, they should roll through the playoffs and have the right to lose to whomever comes out of the AFC.
Fuzz: First off, this game is on National TV on Sunday night and I think the Cowboys make a statement with a convincing win. This is their coming out party so to speak. On the road against a tough defense will put them in the spotlight. I picked the Saints to represent the NFC about three weeks ago and I’m kicking myself for it. I should have known. Cowboys have the best squad in the NFC and will beat them Sunday and if they face them again, will beat them again. I’m all in on these Cowboys…
*Is Tarvaris Jackson the worst starting quarterback in the NFL? If so, will he ever shed that title? If not, does he have a chance to be adequate this season? 
Fuzz: Mr. Trebek, what is yes! I’ve seen maybe two big boy throws from him in the first two games. Bad times. He looks way over his head and he just needs to be benched. We need to cut to the cord right now on this guy. Go with Holcomb the rest of the year and draft/sign a QB next off-season. I have no faith in him right now.
Dogg: Well, I just heard on the radio today that he wasn’t even a first team all conference selection his senior year in the SWAC conference which tells me that we traded up to get a guy who was never going to be good in this league. He will get a little better with his accuracy but don’t see him every being worth a 2nd round pick especially trading up to get him. I wouldn’t say he’s the worst QB in the league but in the bottom 5-6, probably. He can at least move around and scramble every so often and make a play. Guys like Josh McCown can’t do that and turn the ball over 5 times a game. I think we look elsewhere next year for a QB.
Q: At this point, I'd have to say that he is. But it's not entirely his fault. The guy's only in his second year and is way too raw to be playing at this point. The smart move would have been to start Brooks or Holcomb and give T- Jack another year to mature. Also, our O line has been horrendous through the first two games and almost got him killed last week in Detroit. I know the Lions were blitzing a ton because they had no fear of getting beat deep (thanks to an inept receiving core and a QB that appears to have a depth perception problem), but come on. Give the kid two seconds to throw a slant. We're paying a few of those guys a lot of money and they're simply not getting the job done. If they step up their game, Tarvaris has a shot to be adequate this season. If they step up and we acquire a real live NFL-quality receiver? He could be down right average in the near future.
*In USA Today’s power rankings this week, the Vikings are 22nd and the Chiefs are 31st, who we play this Sunday. Is this a must win for us? Do you expect us to win after that horrendous loss against the Lions?
Q: 100% this is a must win. As poorly as we played in Motown, we should be 2-0. If we're going to have any shot at being mediocre this season, we have to win games in this soft, early part of the schedule. After the bye, we are going to get crushed by some very good teams (at Chicago, Dallas and Green Bay to go along with home dates against Philly and San Diego--ouch). If we're not 3-1, or at the very least a promising 2-2, going into week 5, the season is lost. Do I expect us to win? Yes. The only thing KC has going for them is Larry Johnson. He has looked feeble at best this year. Combine that with the fact that our only real positive is our run D and you have to give us a decided advantage. I will be very disappointed if we give up more than 14 points, and I think we'll get enough offense (I'm going to call a special teams TD this week) to pull this one out. We need to for the sanity of everyone in Vikingland.
Fuzz: Anytime you play one of the worst teams in the NFL, it’s a must win. If we want any shot, even an outside shot at the playoffs we HAVE to win this game. This would be like losing to the Washington Generals. Get R’ Done Chilly…
Dogg: Ummm, yes!
Thursday, September 20, 2007
Under Review: Week 2
Wednesday, September 19, 2007
Wanted
One of us has got to go. Either me or Gardy. There simply isn't room for both of us in the increasingly less populated Twins Territory. Nothing is ever made of the shaky decisions that Ron makes on a day to day basis in his handling of the Minnesota Twins. Well, the time has come for his free pass to run out.
Last week, highly regarded GM Terry Ryan suddenly stepped down. In the aftermath write ups in print and on the web, everyone mentioned the failed experiments with signing veterans like Tony Batista, Rondell White, Sidney Ponson, etc. What no one said is that a major part of the problem was Gardenhire not recognizing when to cut the cord with these guys and yank them out of the lineup (or off the team, as the case may be). This mismanagement almost cost us a playoff berth last year before Gardy finally pulled the plug on Batista and Juan Castro in early June. That same difficulty in figuring out what lineup is best for the team has shown itself again late in this lost season.
The other day, Ronald felt it was necessary to tell all of us that he's penciling in TKOT nemesis Tricky Nicky Punto as his starting second baseman for 2008. This despite the fact that we have a young, promising infielder in Alexi Casilla who should be playing/auditioning for the starting job every night in September. Oh, and in case you were wondering, yes this is the same Nick Punto who is bottom five in the four most important hitting categories (batting average, slugging percentage, on-base percentage, and OPS) among all Major League hitters. He's also 29 years old and a career .224 hitter. But he makes the occasional stellar defensive play and Gardy hates young players, so he gets the nod--in the middle of effing September.
Gardenhire is also continually playing the likes of Rondell White (Chrysler Key Stat of the Game last night: Ro White is hitting .056 at home this year) and Luis Rodriguez, whose .220 average makes him look like an All Star compared to Ro and the Tricky One. All of this while the Twins are 15 1/2 games back in the Central. What better way to prepare for the future than playing a soon to be retired guy who can't hit half his weight and a glorified AAA utility player? We need to give Brian Buscher the chance to be our everyday third baseman and give playing time to youngsters like Garrett Jones, Tommy Watkins, etc. to see if they can contribute to this team in the near future.
But, as I said, Gardy hates young players. That's why Batista, Castro, Ponson, and Ramon Ortiz are handed starting spots that are nearly impossible to lose, while young studs Jason Bartlett, Matt Garza, Kevin Slowey, etc. wallow in AAA despite proving that they've mastered that level. That's what leads to names like Adam Johnson and Mike Restovich. Remember those guys? Highly touted prospects, dominated in the minors, but never given a chance to see any significant time because of our reluctance to let them grow and work out their kinks at the big leauge level.
It's not just a mismanagement of young talent that has Gardy on my chopping block. His misuse of our pitching staff in general is going to kill any hopes of a playoff team in the immediate future. He absolutely refuses to give a young pitcher a spot in the rotation from day 1. Instead, some retread veteran or a "proven" 5+ ERA guy is guaranteed a spot. Worse than that (or maybe equally as bad come to think of it) is how poorly he uses our bullpen. What is the man's obsession with saves? He never pitches Nathan unless he has a save opportunity, or hasn't pitched in a month. He also throws guys who are on a rough streak, or just flat out terrible, in key, late inning situations (and then they predictably lose the game for us). And when we do get a pitcher throwing well, Gardy overuses them until they are basically ineffective (see: Neshek, Pat). As a very light hitting team, we can ill afford to have someone killing our pitching staff with poor decisions on a nightly basis.
So it comes to this: it's time for Ron Gardenhire to get on the same plane as TR come October 1. Either that or the Hatian from Heroes needs to "fix" Gardy's memory of everything he thought he knew about managing a baseball team. This team, hell this organization, has too much talent to have a manager waste it all away with terrible roster/lineup decisions. Otherwise, the good people of Hennepin County just wasted a lot of money on a new ballpark that will be empty by 2012 because our lineup of inept hitters and aging pitchers is winning 60 games a year. That is the future of Twins Territory as it stands now. If Bill Smith wants to really make a splash and improve this team, he will dump Gardy and find a manager who know how to fill out a lineup card.
Monday, September 17, 2007
Worst. Game. Ever
Wow.
I need to get this off my chest before I see any quotes from players & coaches tomorrow. I don't want to be influenced by the professional "quoters" on how they'll spin this loss. I just don't. They'll say something like, "we got jobbed by the officials" or "we didn't think they'd give us much of a run so we all got smashed the night before and played hungover." I'll fall for it and I'm not doing that this time.
That game where the Vikings lost to the Lions in OT was one of the worst football games I've ever seen, if not the worst. If you're somehow reading this and aren't a Lions or Vikings fan, you're the luckiest SOB on the planet. Some one word words that can describe that OT "thriller:"
Painful. Hideous. Repulsive. Ugly. Appalling. Sickening. Disappointing. Laughable. The most disgusting pile of football garbage I've ever watched. Ok, that was 10 words, but you get my drift.
I really don't even know where to start. Honestly. The only thing that you can say we did decent out of the whole stinking game, was our D-line played pretty well. Four sacks with a TD. Besides those consistent monsters, nothing else. Nothing! You say our secondary had three picks, right? How about that same secondary giving up 350+ yds in the air from Kitna and here it comes...JT O'Sullivan!!! Someone shoot me now. This is the same JT that we cut. That's right the Minnesota Vikings with the worst starting quarterback (more on him soon) and even worse QB bench CUT O'Sullivan. Didn't need him, we have that position covered. Whatever.
This might seem a little harsh and bitter since it is only week two, but I don't care. That was absolute filth on the TV screen. I would've rather taken the ACT test this afternoon then watch that nonsense. If we were playing any team in the top half of the league, we would have gotten beat by 30 today. No joke.
Ok, I'm done ranting, so now it's time to look at what needs to be done before next game to improve from this garbage to rubbish.
1) Tarvaris Jackson needs to stop playing like a Pop Warner QB and start playing some real football. Either he stinks or he really stinks. Tell me how you can throw 33 times for only 166 yds? Tell me how you can throw four picks vs. one of the worst teams in the league? Two games for T-Jack so far and he's looked bad and then horrible. Not a good start my friend (that's a loose word right now). I love Adrian Peterson, but I wouldn't mind Brady Quinn on this roster right now. I have a sinking feeling T-Jack might be bagging my groceries in a couple years. If that's the case, this project would be such a waste. Bottom line, he needs to improve...now!
2) 12 penalties for 96 yards. They were fine last week with this, but they went right back into their old habits today. This needs to stop. Most of the penalties I noticed were on younger players. Ryan Cook had an awful game with penalties and AP even had a few jumps. This can't happen on the road. You're shooting yourself in the foot to use the old cliche.
3) Our O-line had a bad bad game as well. It just keeps coming. It's like a storm that won't end. Sewers can't keep up with me right now. It looked like we were getting pushed around like dolls and we didn't open up any big holes for AP. Surprising, because the Lions D line sucks. A lot of money on that line and I'm waiting for these boys to earn it.
Improve on those three things, we'll win next Sunday vs. the Chiefs. Mark my words. They are a worse team then we are. They weren't worse today, no one was, but they're just bad. I'll be watching...obviously...so if we're better in all three of those categories, we'll be 2-1. Promise. Kidding, I don't promise, but that sounded cool.
We'll back early this week with some more banter. Probably more on the other teams in the NFL with a splash of purple, since this loss just needs to be ignored completely. Like the fact that I'm ignoring that the Packers are 2-0 and look goo......nope sorry cheesheads, I can't say it...
-Fuzz
Thursday, September 13, 2007
Bill Smith
His name might as well be John Doe. Put tag on his toe, stick him in the freezer, cut him up and let’s look for someone else. This can’t be the name of the guy that’s going to lead my favorite baseball team to the promise land, is it? BILL SMITH!?!?!? Couldn’t he go by Billy or William? Anything but...B- I- L- L. (I’m not knocking the name Bill, but team it up with that rare Smith last name and you got one smoking name) I’d feel better about this right now if it was Billy Smith. I’m officially in full-blown lock up the shutters; get the kids in the basement panic mode right now.
One of the most respected general managers in the game of baseball, Terry Ryan, stepped down after 12 years on the job for the Minnesota Twins. First six years not so good, second six pretty good or real good. Depends on who you talk too. With the payroll Terry was handed, I’m in the real good corner. See, I remember the days of the 90’s, post 91’ World Series, where the Twins flat out sucked. Tinkering around 65-70 wins for about eight years. By the all-star break, you were looking forward to football and forgot what Pat Meares was hitting or what crazy thing Rich Becker did the night before. You lost all interest. Terry Ryan brought us out of that hole. Forget this year for a second, but for the last five years at any point in the season I could give you the averages of every player on our team. Maybe not down to the exact point, but pretty damn close. When things are good, you pay attention to everything. When they’re bad (this year and pre 2001) you don’t give a shit. I hate this right now and I hated it before.
Heading into the most important off-season of the last 10 years I had faith in Terry to bring us out of this rut. This has been an annoying year, but Terry had a plan. He always does. It must be said that the last couple years, Terry’s “plans” haven’t been so good. Batista, Cirillo, Ponson, Ortiz and Sierra are the names he brought to this team. All bombs. Thank God he had his scouting talents to fall back on so we weren’t completely hopeless, even making an incredible run last regular season winning the division on the last game of the season. Terry might have been in a slump, but like a cold shooter in basketball, keep shooting and things will turn around. His good moves have been well documented, including all the trades where he almsot stole players from other teams. Where did that Terry go? I expected this turn around this off-season and I wasn’t more confident with Terry effing Ryan calling the shots.
Sign Santana- trade Santana, let Hunter walk- sign Hunter, bring in a 3rd baseman or maybe a left fielder. Definitely bench Tricky Nicky (copyright Q). Whatever he had up his sleeve, he was going to make it right. Call it a hunch, but I had faith. We are one of those classic “on the cusp” teams right now just waiting for our chance to make the jump of being a serious contender. This is the off-season it was going to happen and now this magic man with all the special potions is gone (at least from the decision making position).
Insert the bouncy Bill Smith. Ok, maybe I need to lay off Bill, because it is just a name but frankly, I know nothing about him. Apparently he’s been with the team for 22 years. I like the loyalty, I’ll give him that but I hope he was a shadow to Terry and not some grunt who’s put in his time, so let’s give him the reins type of deal. Remember the Pohlads are cheap. Bill (this name is killing me. It just isn’t cool to be running “America’s team” with a name like Bill. Wouldn’t a name like Jake Conway ease your mind a little? It would for me.) gets thrown to the wolves immediately. This is why I’m red faced towards TR right now. Is it out of line to think that Terry is bailing on us? He signed those no talent ass clowns to play for us the last two years and now when the kitchen is getting a little hot, he can’t run fast enough. He’s leaving it all up to Bill. Let’s make a short list of decisions to be made:
1) Torii Hunter. Do you sign an aging center fielder to long term deal? He’s asking for five years, can we afford that? He is one of the franchise faces and you have no one, I mean NO ONE ready to replace him. Does he want to play here? This is a biggie and it starts in like 15 days.
2) Johan Santana. Did you forget about him? Two time CY Young winner who is considered the top pitcher in the game. Some people are predicting a 20+ million a year deal once he hits the open market. If you can’t pay that, you have to send him packing for prospects. (FYI: we can’t pay that). That’s easy for me to type, but to make that call in your first off-season, not so easy. This might be bigger then the Hunter decision. Do you gamble and hope for a playoff run with him or get rid of him before he walks? Yeah, good luck Bill. Either way you might be up the creek without a paddle. Look, picking what grub shop I’m going to visit for lunch is my toughest decision of the day, Bill just got thrown into a whole different beast.
3) Justin Morneau. MVP last year and we couldn’t get a deal done with him last winter. He’s young and he ain’t coming cheap. Any second thoughts yet Bill?
4) Try to figure out 1-3 and then still have the skills to figure out how to get better from your annoying year where the Twins are going to finish below .500. All of these choices to make while the other teams in the most competitive division in baseball are getting better.
Man, no wonder why Terry quit...
Maybe Terry was burned out (which he said in his news conference today), maybe he’s pulling a Nick Saban, lying to us all and is going to join the Houston Astros in two weeks. Or maybe he’s sick of being an adult and needs to find a carnival with a magic wish machine and go back to being a kid like Tom Hanks in “Big.” Whatever his motives for quitting were, it still leaves John Doe as our new driver of this baseball team.
I’m a die hard, so I’ll be watching this closely. The last thing we want is to go back to the Pat Meares and Rich Becker days, they sucked if you forgot. I haven't. I’m chalking up this year as a speed bump that we didn’t see and messed up the alignment on our tires. It’s time to fix it and get back on the road. I’m buckling back up for this new ride Jake I mean Bill is about take us on.
Bill Smith...it’s time to make a name for yourself...
Upon Review: Week 1
The first week of the season is in the books and, man, is there a lot to talk about. So without any further introduction, here's what we're talking about:
1. The Saints and Bears, both NFC favorites, lost in week 1. Which team should be more concerned and why?
Fuzz: I would like to say neither, since I believe both are going to be there in the end. Since I’m not for cop out picks, I’ll say the Saints. Mainly because their defense did not hold up at all. San Diego and Indy were among the top three offenses in points scored last year. A good litmus test for this question is this stat: Chicago gave up 14 and New Orleans gave up 41. Both played on the road, both played high-powered offenses, but New Orleans looked like a PeeWee team (especially in the second half) and the Bears held their own. Saints fans should be slightly worried, but Tampa Bay is next on the schedule this week, so this will all go away shortly.
Q: I'll be less wishy washy than Fuzz and go with the Bears. Yes, I know their defense was as dominant as ever and they shut down LDT and blah, blah, blah. I don't care. Everyone knew they were/are good, nay, great. However, their offense looked much worse than anyone could have imagined (except me, of course, when I picked them to go 5-11 this year), especially the running game. Some worried about the void left by Thomas Jones, but everyone in Chicagoland said that Benson was ready to be a feature back. Now? I'm thinking Bears fans might be at least a little worried. Their O line got throttled the entire game, Rexy was Rexy, and now they can't run the ball. Not good times for the Navy and Orange right now.
2. On the flip side, the Patriots and Chargers, both AFC favorites, won convincingly. They face off in week 2, so who ya got?
Q: If I were a lame, unfunny sportswriter (like, say, the Star Tribune's Jim Souhan) this is where I would put a joke about the Chargers winning because the Pats won't be able to videotape their signals. Ha. Ha. Anyways, I'm taking New England. I know that San Diego wants revenge after last year's playoff defeat/dance mocking debacle, but I don't see it happening. If not for an awkward bounce on a punt last week, the Chargers would have been in some serious trouble. I think Brady and Company are ready to prove to everyone that they are back and will dominate this game on both sides of the ball. You know what you won't see a lot of this week? Randy Moss. Bellichick will game plan around Maroney or Walker or Stallworth. He knows everyone is going to be watching #81 and will purposefully not run many plays his way.
Fuzz: I have to pick the Chargers. I picked them to represent the AFC in the Superbowl come February, so in order to be on that Superbowl level, you need, scratch that, you HAVE to win. The Patriots came into your house last year in the playoffs and beat you. All your dreams, crushed. If those aren’t fighting words I don’t know what is. Sports are such a mental game. The Chargers lose this game and then end up facing them in the playoffs, what do you think is going to be racing through their minds? Exactly. The Pats have done it before, the Chargers haven’t. I think this is in the top two most important games for them this year, even if it is week two. On the flip side, if the Pats win putting them at 2-0 vs. two AFC playoff teams, hmmm... Holy shit...
3. Give the people what they want, some fantasy news: 2 studs and 2 duds (along with reasons) from week 1.
Fuzz: Stud #1: Plaxico Burress. Two things that is great about this. 1) He was picked after the 5th round in most drafts, which gave him the element of surprise card. 2) Eli is out for a month so owners of Plexi Glass just got hustled big time. “Poolhall Junkie” hustled. Stud #2: Adrian Peterson. This is from my hometown boy, All Day. Peterson registered the best fantasy day out of any running back in the league, at least in normal fantasy formats. Not bad for a rook. On a side note, seeing his 4.4 speed streaking down the sidelines is priceless. Like seeing your kid riding a bike without training wheels for the first time or having a beer with your Grandpa priceless. I’m serious.
Dud #1: Steven Jackson (58 rush yds, 1 rec 3 yds). Look at that line? That is just funny. It’s funny because I don’t have him in one league! For the consensus #2 pick this is not what you want to see. It’s also funny that Christopher “I was probably not drafted in 90% of leagues in the Nation” Brown rushed for 175 yards week one. Don’t you love Fantasy? Dud #2: Drew Brees: (192 yds, 2 INT). Another high draft pick and another horrible performance. Played in the first game of the year in front of millions and looked terrible. Like the terrible of that new movie “Mr. Woodchuck.”
Q: This is going to be tough for me since all three of my fantasy teams were awful in week one. Stud #1 goes to Tony Romo. The only player on any of my teams that played like a man. 300+ yards, 4 passing TD's, and a rushing TD? Those are big time numbers from a guy who's looking to get paid. Stud #2 is Randy Moss. C'mon, our site is named after him, you knew we had to show him some love. After missing the whole preseason he goes off for 183 and two scores. Oh, and that muffled sound you're hearing is all the naysayers trying to get their collective foot out of their mouth.
Dud #1, and my new mortal enemy, is Thomas Jones. I have him as a second RB in two leagues and he goes for 45 yards. That's it. I know the Patriots D is tough, but come on. I can't say anymore because I'll go into a blind rage and there's no telling what I'll type then. Dud #2 goes to Frank Gore. A top 5 pick in every league playing against the Cardinals. Sounds like fantasy gold, no? 55 rushing yards later, he's in the "dud" category. What a chump.
4. Cautiously, most Vikings fans were pleased with Sunday's victory. What did you like and what didn't you like from the win over Atlanta?
Q: Obviously the defense was sick (much like we here at Superbowl Homeboy told you it would be). 2 INT's, 2 TD's and 6 sacks is a great way to start the year. And AP was the bomb as everyone and their mother has already told you. But what I really liked was Chester getting knicked up. This is going to put all the focus on Peterson and give Taylor a chance to shine. He'll have a monster game against Detroit because no one will game plan for him. I predict 75 rushing yards and 8 catches for 50 yards plus a TD, you know, if he plays...While the offense moved the ball more efficiently than I thought they would, T Jack still scares me a little. He rarely sets his feet and made some terrible throws (see: the flip out of bounds, the rocket behind Vinny, and the two missed deep throws). I know he's still raw, but some of that stuff is easy to fix. Set your feet and throw the ball young man.
Fuzz: Liked the Adrian Peterson performance that’s already starting the rookie of year talks, but loved our defensive performance. Two “see ya” picks to the house and six “lay down” sacks. Our defense sets the tone for our whole team. We’ll be in every game if the come out with that intensity as they showed in week one. I didn’t like that T-Jack missed on some longer throws. Better teams are going to make T-Jack win the game for us. He didn’t show that this game, so I’m hoping he’s a quick learner before we get to our meat of our schedule.
5. Lastly, tell us the 5 most important things that you learned from week 1 of the 2007 season.
Fuzz: In descending order:
5) No big surprise, but Miami, Oakland, Tampa Bay, Kansas City & Cleveland are your five worst teams in the league. In no particular order, those five squads are almost locks for the first five picks in next years draft. Hey Brian Brohm? I hope you like screaming head coaches with amazing press conferences, because you’re headed to Kansas City big guy.
4) I liked the performance by Tony Romo. You know this kid had a lot to prove after last years fumble debacle. I’m sure it played in his head every day, so to come out with a huge game like he did eases the pain a little. Good for him. Wait… is he still with Carrie? Nevermind, he’s still a goon.
3) Peyton Manning is still making a lot of coin on commercials.
2) LaDainian Tomlinson could be a starting quarterback for 10 teams in this league. This is getting a little ridiculous. Another passing TD? Come on! The guy can do anything it seems like. If he starts attempting PAT’s or starts calling audibles from the running back position, I’m out. I can only take so much.
1) Randy Moss gave the biggest “smoke & mirrors” performance of my lifetime. 183 yards and a touchdown!! I’m amazed on how people forgot so quickly. Yes, he still has this in him from time to time, but this will explode. I.e. Hammy or Locker room. Pick your poison. Bottom line is that he doesn’t stretch, he doesn’t care, and he’s going to give the Pats about a 6-7 week grace period before the hammer is dropped. Just wait...
Q: In no particular order:
5) Um, so the Colts are pretty good...I guess.
4) Bears 0-1, rest of the NFC North, 1-0. Guess what Chicago? That breeze you're feeling would be the winds of change, not the gusts off Lake Michigan.
3) Kansas City and Cleveland might be two of the worst teams to ever play in the NFL. And that includes the Raiders for the last decade.
2) Football Jesus, aka Brett Favre, throws 42 times for just about 200 yards, no touchdowns, and a pick. Time for the Cheeseheads to face facts: he's done. D-O-N-E, done. Bring on Aaron Rogers!
1) Detroit lucks out against Oakland in a battle of the two worst teams in football last year. Now they've got their chests all puffed out and have an air of invicibility about them. That will all come crashing to a hault in week 2 when the Brothers Williams crush Kitna and the Lions...
Friday, September 7, 2007
NFL Preview 2007
We’re here to breakdown the landscape of the NFL. We won’t be tackling every division and every team. We’ll be providing a progressive chat that the three of us did this week. We think this feature will go over well with our readers. Every day either at work, home or wherever you “talk shop” about your favorite sports teams. We wanted to do that in this piece. A candid conservation between three avid sports fans talking about the NFL.
**Note to our readers: Dogg, Q & I are writers for the "Blog Squad" on USAtoday.com. We write the Vikings piece. We re-post it here, so you'll be getting a heavy dose of NFL on here. However, we been slacking on other posts. We'll pick it up...***
Dogg: I think the Packers are going to make the playoffs this year, Favre will be determined, their defense is solid and they have young, upcoming RB's.
Q: There is no chance they make the playoffs. Their O line is shaky at best; they have absolutely no running game; Favre is extremely turnover prone, especially late in games; other than Driver, they have no one to catch the ball. Plus, look at their schedule (copyright Woody Paige). They have to play Chicago twice (2 losses), they will lose at the Metrodome, probably lose at Detroit because they always play terrible there, they also have games against Philly, San Diego, at Denver, at Dallas, and at St. Louis. By my count, that at least 8 losses (not counting any game that Favre throws them out of early) and that shouldn't get you into the playoffs.
Fuzz: I've predicted the Packers are going to win 5 games, so no chance they make playoffs. If this were the NBA, the Packers have "lottery team" written all over them. I hate them and they suck.
Dogg: Green Bay will be in the playoffs this year, mark my words. Green Bay has young RB's but that's no big deal in the NFL, the best WR in the division, best QB in the division and their defense is vastly improved.
Fuzz: Dogg, you're crazy about Green Bay. You've lost it just like Farve. Farve makes more bad decisions then Matt Millen and Kevin Mchale combined. They aren't that dominant team at home either. Q & I are on the same page, but obviously you've lost it.
Dogg: Side bet on GB Fuzz? 8 wins?
Q: Dogg, while I agree with you that rookie RB's aren't a big deal and Favre is PROBABLY the best QB in the division; do you not know a guy by the name of Roy Williams? You can't seriously believe that Driver is better than him? P.S. Can I take a push on the 8?
Fuzz: Let's stick with the NFC North. Does Chicago have any chance of NOT winning this cream puff division?
Q: I think there is an outside chance that they don't win. I think most "experts" will agree that they overachieved at 13-3 last year. You have some issues with players on D (Brigg's contract, Harris' knee) and the big concern is Sexy Rexy. He can lose a game for you in a heartbeat. Plus Cedric Benson is unproven as a featured back. So yes, there are questions. But they do have the second easiest schedule in the league and a lot of talent on D, so the chances of them not winning are slim.
Fuzz: I put them at not winning at 0%. The rest of these teams are horrendous, just terrible football teams! It's the Bears first and then the Packers, Lions and Vikings fighting for last place.
Q: I agree Fuzz. As much as I don't think they are anywhere near as good as last year, there is a high likelihood that no one else in the division will be over .500 so, they pretty much have this thing sewn up by default.
Dogg: Chicago will have letdowns on defense this year and their offense has always been terrible.
Q: But we've talked about the Norris division enough this year. What about, say, the NFC East? I think Washington is going to be terrible, and NY is on the way down. So that leaves a dog fight between Dallas and Philly. Who ya got?
Fuzz: Dallas has an outside chance to represent the NFC in the Superbowl, so I think it’s theirs to lose. I mean this too. The NFC is very weak this year and Dallas has some serious talent. If McNabb stays healthy, Philly is a playoff team. Washington & New York are bad, bad, bad...
Q: I agree Fuzz; I think that Dallas' defense gives them the edge in this division. That is, as long as Romo doesn't blow it...
Fuzz: One of the hottest teams in the NFL is the New Orleans Saints. A hot pick to make it to the Superbowl. After the 10-win season last year, do you think that was a fluke or a start of a trend?
Q: I think there is a lot to like about New Orleans this year. I know they were the darlings of the NFL and had that extra incentive with Katrina and everything, but they should be as good if not better this year. The offense is loaded with Brees, Bush, McAllister, Colston, Henderson, etc. The D is extremely underrated and they play in a joke of a division (Atlanta obviously has problems, Tampa sucks, and Carolina is, at best, overrated). I see them with 11 or 12 wins and a deep playoff run.
Dogg: I have New Orleans winning the NFC this year. Bush will be your NFL MVP this year, hands down.
Q: I love the NO pick; hate the Bush for MVP thing. He does a lot of things great, but unless you run for 2,000 or 30 TD's, a running back won't win the award.
Q: With all the problems/attention surrounding Vick, what kind of season can we expect from Atlanta?
Fuzz: New Coach, New (bad) quarterback, new drama with the Vick= bad times. I think they're going to be one of the worst teams in football, if not the worst. Vicks sentence isn't until December, so this is going to be hanging around for a while. The start of this free fall will be a butt-kicking Week One by the Vikings, when we win 3-0 on a last second Longwell kick...
Q: Atlanta could surprise a few teams this year. They're still going to suck and they won't make the playoffs, but Petrino is going to have a few tricks up his sleeve and Harrington is as good of a passer (if not better) than Vick. I still got the Vikes on Sunday, but I'll put the final score at 10-6.
Fuzz: In my expert mind, the most enjoyable conference to watch in the NFC is out West. This isn't even a stretch when I say that all four teams in this division can win it. Seriously. Seattle is two years removed from a Superbowl appearance, St. Louis was one win away from taking the division last year, Arizona is a sneaky good team with massive talent on the O side and San Fran is everyone’s favorite water cooler sleeper pick this year. I love this division. With the majority of the NFC playing like a powder puff team, you could see three playoff teams from this division. Am I wrong?
Dogg: I don't know if all those teams are that good but they are all very similar.
Q: I too love the NFC West, but that might just be because we are fantasy rubes. Dogg's right here: there is some mediocre talent in that division. But when you have Gore, Davis, Bulger, Jackson, Holt, Fitzgerald, Boldin, Alexander, etc. we will over value the overall quality of the teams.
Fuzz: Ok, that's enough banter on the NFC. Let's finalize the NFC now fellas. Give me your four division winners and the NFC representative?
Dogg: Packers, Cowboys, Saints, & Cardinals. St. Louis and Carolina being the Wild Cards. NFC rep is the Saints
Fuzz: The Cardinals win the NFC West?!?!?!? Explain to us please...
Dogg: You know why, Matty Lionhart.....The guy is a winner and with weapons like he has on offense, he'll be able to exploit any weakness a defense has. I know nothing about their defense but you have got to assume that they will be at least average after being terrible for 10 straight years. Also, the other 3 teams in their division aren't top of the class by any means.
Fuzz: How about Seattle? Two-time defending division winner with a Superbowl appearance two years ago.
Dogg: Seattle is on the downswing of their dominance; The NFL has way too much parity for a team of their nature to be good this long. Hasselback is old, Shaun's time is about over and they lost Mr. Consistency in Darrell Jackson.
Fuzz: Arizona is still a gutsy call my friend. Here’s mine: Seahawks, Bears, Cowboys and Saints. Wildcard teams Philly & San Fran. My NFC representative will be Saints. They play an AFC type brand of football but play in the Triple A version of the NFL, the NFC. They are almost a lock for a least the NFC Championship game. They got throttled by the Colts, but the Colts are on a different level then anyone right now. Good for that city too, they need a string of good things to happen to them...
Fuzz: P.S. you've always had a soft spot for Leinart Dogg, you sailor you...
Dogg: I do have a soft spot for Leinart but why not? The guy is an absolute stud
Q: I'm going to one up you here Fuzz: I have Seattle, Chicago, New Orleans, and Philly as division winners with Dallas and St. Louis getting the Wild Cards. And as much as I like the Saints, I'm going with the Cowboys as my NFC rep. Very tough D, potentially explosive O: gotta love that combo. I’m out for a little fellas…
Fuzz: Dogg, now that the riffraff is gone we can take jabs at one another until one of us taps…
Dogg: I have the Raiders getting to 8 wins this year too.
Fuzz: I like the Raiders this year. Q was telling me that they had a top 5 D last year. Is that true? C-pep will be up for the Most Improved award this year. Just watch.
Dogg: I believe they did have a top 5 Defense and Howie Long said that their defense should be very good this year. I think Porter comes back and has a very good year as well. Along with Lamont too!
Fuzz: What does this Howie Long dude think about the chances for the Raiders in the Division? Chargers have the West wrapped up.
Dogg: He doesn't know because of the QB situation. He's not worried about Russell not being in camp though because he believed the Raiders never planned on having him play this early anyways which makes sense to me...why pay him if he's not going to play anyways?
Q: Ok, I couldn’t sit around and let you guys base your knowledge on Howie Freaking Long’s thoughts. Is this the same process that led him to think that being in Backdraft was a really good idea? I love the Raiders this year, but on the condition that they pull their heads out and start C-Pepp. These rumors of Josh McCown starting are ridiculous.
Dogg: Denver is going to be very good this year as well so I wouldn't give the Chargers that division. I'll take Denver because I believe Norv Turner is a terrible football coach.
Fuzz: Does it really matter who's coaching the Chargers? They have one of the deepest talent pools in the league. You could coach them for crying out loud.
Dogg: I could coach them because I know everything about sports…
Fuzz: HeyO! Here we go again…
Dogg: Coaches can lose games for a team and you should know that more than anybody....Gardy costs the Twins at least 10 games per year.....They lost to New England last year at home so what makes you think they can beat them this year? New England is the cream of the crop because of two HOF'ers....Bill Belichick and Tom Brady
Q: I’m with Dogg on this one. The quality of coaches can’t be overvalued. It applies to all sports. Think about it, you have two equally talented NBA teams but one is coached by Phil Jackson and the other by Flip Saunders. Who would you take in a series? Same thing goes back to the Raiders. Just getting rid of Art Shell should get them 2 more wins.
Fuzz: I didn't say San Diego could beat the Pats, but I think they're better then the flipping Broncos. I think San Diego could beat the Pats though, the more I think about it. They learned a lot from last year. Norv Turner just needs to steer the ship, nothing groundbreaking. The players will remember last year. It's fuel my boy... FYI: Belichick and Brady have been replaced by Dungy and Manning!
Fuzz: Remember them? SB champs and all. Hungrier then ever!
Dogg: Cutler is way better than Plummer and watch out for the name Brandon Marshall in Denver...He will compliment Javon Walker much better than Rod Smith
Fuzz: Brandon Marshall sounds like a techy for IBM. My favorite AFC team, the San Diego Chargers aren't worried about guys from the IT department.
Q: Right, because going by what a guy’s name sounds like is a brilliant way to denounce a team. Donald Driver sounds like my plumber, so Green Bay sucks. Joey Harrington sounds like a 4 year old kid, so Atlanta sucks. Marshawn Lynch sounds like an investment company, so Buffalo sucks. Hey wait a minute; you might be on to something here. I like this name thing.
Fuzz: Yeah, but you’ve heard of all those guys before. Brandon Marshall? That is a deep sleeper that 90% of people DON’T know. He’s part of the Geek Squad and you know it.
Dogg: Speaking of names, you ever heard of Randy Moss? Donte Stallworth? Adalius Thomas? Those are 3 excellent players who New England added this year…
Dogg: Oh I forgot, Wes Welker as well...Brady has never had a WR that should've even been in this league except Branch and now he has all 3 of these guys to go along with Maroney...title for sure…That's a walk off, I'm out…
Q: Wes Welker is overrated…
Fuzz: Hey, where you going Dogg??!?!? I'll take the field against your Pats. You in chump? Randy Moss was an excellent player in 2004, not present I'm afraid to say. Stallworth was a bust in NO and had a decent year last year. Adalius is a nice player; I'll give you that. I’m taking this bet! Dogg? DOGG??? He’s really gone…
Fuzz: I don't know about you guys, but the Colts looked mighty good last night. They play like that; they have a chance to run the table this year. They're a playoff lock in my mind, which isn't really a gutsy call. However, does anyone else in the AFC South have a chance at a wildcard spot? Jags? Titans? Maybe even Houston?
Q: Obviously the Colts looked awesome. I'm still going to wait on "popsicling" them though. Their defense has proved in the past that they can give up as much as they score. Don't get me wrong, they're good, I just want to wait another couple of weeks before I give them back-to-back titles (unlike the talking heads on, say, ESPN).
Q: In their division, I think only Jacksonville has a shot at making the playoffs. You figure that everyone has to play Indy twice (likely two losses) and I just don't think Houston has the team (yet) and Tennessee is flat out terrible. If Garrard plays well, they should be in the mix for a playoff spot. If he's lousy, the Colts have the division wrapped up by November and the rest of the division is barely an after thought.
Fuzz: "If Garrard plays well?" He's going to be lousy. I don't like this cat at all. Some people are drinking the Kool-aid a little too much on this guy. Jack Del Rio is on the hot seat for sure this year. I think they go 8-8, and Jack hits the road. Colts all the way…
Dogg: I think Garrard is solid but they still have no WR's in Jacksonville that they can count on. I like Houston having a breakout year, maybe not the playoffs but maybe a .500 season.... Ahman still has something left in the tank and Schaub will finally get a starting role after everybody and their mom wanted to trade for this guy. Andre Johnson is solid and Jacoby Jones sounds like he has emerged as the No. 2 WR and the staff loves him. Also, Kubiak will get that Denver blocking scheme going and I believe Ahman runs for 1000+ this year with 10 TD's. Just watch…
Fuzz: Another great AFC division is the North. Is it Baltimore's to lose?
Dogg: It is Baltimore's to lose for sure....Cincy has too many problems with their players and defense while Pittsburgh lost one of the best head coaches of all time in Bill Cowher. The Dog Pound hasn't barked since they returned to Cleveland and if they think Jamal Lewis and Brady Quinn are their saviors this year, they've had a few too many cold ones already.
Fuzz: Tomlin is a hell of a coach though. The Vikings D had an identity with him. I'd watch out for Pitt this year.
Q: I too think people are over looking Pittsburgh. They were very good when they won the Superbowl two years ago. Then they had all the problems with Big Ben and Cower retirement talks, etc. and played lousy last year. I think they’re motivated under Tomlin and will take the division. There's obviously a lot to like about Baltimore, but they are old...very old. Can you really count on McNair for a full season? Their O line isn't that good. McGahee really hasn't proven he's a stud yet. Who's catching the ball again? Too many questions…
Fuzz: Alright Gentleman, lets start wrapping this thing up. Our Readers eyes are getting hazy. Plus, we got places to be and women to meet (we hope). Give me your four division winners from the AFC, two wildcards, the AFC Representative, Superbowl matchup & winner.
Q: I got New England, Pittsburgh, Indy, and San Diego as division winners with Baltimore and Jacksonville as the wild cards. That's right Fuzz. Their D is outstanding and I think Garrard is going to give them a better look on offense. Add in MJD and Fragile Fred and you've yourself a very good squad. True, they need a receiver to step up (my pick to do so is Wilford), but they'll make the playoffs. Trust me.
Q: As for my Super Bowl, I have San Diego over Dallas in a rout. There's probably some stats that I could throw out about New England and Indy as to why they won't win it, but that would have nothing to do with my pick. Flat out, I love the Chargers (even if the collars on their new uni's look terrible) and am bored with the Colts and Patriots. Obviously those two teams are good but I'm done with them. Bolts take it home baby.
Dogg: To put it in simple terms: Pats, Ravens, Colts, Chargers. Wild Cards are Cincy and Denver. Patriots vs. Saints in the SB with New England taking home the crown.
Dogg: Tom Brady is going to be on a mission this year and it's going to be great to watch him and Manning dual all year for supremacy in the AFC....Those two are going to have huge numbers this year but Belichick is still better than Dungy which leaps them back to the top.
Fuzz: I wish you knew a thing or two about football. You're like the bad sandlot player we have to put in right field so you don't feel bad for being left out. New England is such a cop out pick. You can only be good for so long. They're good, playoff good. But, their Superbowl goals are squashed. You pick them every year and the last two years, they've fallen short. Indy, Baltimore, and San Diego are the wave for the next couple years. The SB winner will be one of those teams.
Dogg: Oh, that's a great pick....N.O, Dallas or Chicago will represent the NFC...Pick a team and stick with them like I do with New England...They've won 3 when I predicted them going into the season and I'm sure you haven't named one SB winner going into the season so my percentages are a little bit higher than yours pal.
Fuzz: I didn’t say I was done! I needed a minute to think about it. Here are my picks: I'll go with New England, Pittsburgh, Colts and Chargers. Wild Cards are Ravens and my surprise team...the Titans!! Vince Young is a winner and Jeff Fischer is the best coach in the NFL. Write that down. Superbowl matchup is Chargers vs. the Saints. With the Chargers taking it home. They are motivated and very hungry after last year’s playoff embarrassment.
Dogg: I think you need to get a clue. Once again, that's a walkoff for me…
Fuzz: Now that Dogg has left, I can set things straight. This is Shenanigans!!!! The Patriots were 5-11 in 2000 and then went 11-5 in 2001 with a Superbowl victory. Preseason 2001, Dogg did NOT pick the Patriots to win that first one. Believe me, he didn't. This is the same guy that LOVES the Yankees, USA Olympic Basketball and now surprise surprise the Florida Gators Basketball team. He's a leaper fellas.
Q: Fuzz is right. If you looked up "bandwagon" in the dictionary, you'd see Dogg's ugly face. The Bulls in the 90's, Yankees, and Patriots...I even think he once told me that he'd always been a New Jersey Devils fan after they won it all. Don't believe a word he says.
Fuzz: All this NFL talk and nothing really about our Vikings. Are we completely screwed?
Q: Here's the bottom line: everyone is picking New England, Indy, San Diego, and Chicago as virtual locks to make the playoffs and make a deep run. Fact is that at least one of them will fall short. One of those four teams will fail to make the playoffs to everyone's surprise but me. Just make sure you leave us some polite messages when the Vikes win the North while Chicago is floundering at 5-11. You won't need to pump our ego's too much though, we'll be on cloud 9 already, drinking our purple beer.
Fuzz: Haha, you bet Q!
Dogg/Q/Fuzz: All together now…Skol Vikings! Let's win this game, Skol Vikings! Honor your name. Go get that first down Then get a touchdown, Rock 'em, sock 'em, FIGHT, FIGHT, FIGHT! FIGHT! Go Vikings, run out the score, you'll hear us yell for more!...V-I-K-I-N-G-S… Skol Vikings, let's go!
Monday, September 3, 2007
Movie Review Monday
First up on the list is a movie that I can’t praise enough. Most of you probably remember the cartoon and toys from the 80’s. Well, thanks to great advances in technology, our favorite Autobots and Decipicons have been brought to life on the big screen. Without giving away too much, the story revolves around a quirky high school kid named Sam Witwicky (played by Shia LeBeouf). Like most kids his age, Sam is obsessed with getting a car. When he finally raises enough money to buy one, he doesn’t choose a car so much as it chooses him. As one might expect, his car is actually a robot. From there, the story runs through the gambit of war, friendship, romance, and a bit of humor. Is the story a bit predictable? Sure. Did I (or most others that have seen it) care? No way. The special effects in this movie are absolutely outstanding, the actors are superb (especially the super hot Megan Fox, who plays Sam’s love interest), and, well, it’s the freaking Transformers brought to life. What more could you ask for?
Superbad
Old School, Wedding Crashers, 40 Year Old Virgin, Knocked Up, any other movie featuring Vince Vaughn and/or Will Ferrell. Are you a person that enjoyed these movies? Then you absolutely have to see Superbad. Twice. It’s your typical raunchy teen comedy, but the three main characters, Seth, Evan, and Fogell/McLovin, are played brilliantly by Jonah Hill, Michael Cera, and Christopher Mintz-Plasse, respectively. It’s not the most creative or brilliant story line. After all, it’s not too hard to come up with a story about teenage boys who want alcohol and sex. But the fast talking Hill, deadpan Cera, and hilariously awkward Mintz-Plasse create characters that are second to none. I’m not going into much detail about the movie, but trust me; you need to see this movie. I also recommend a second viewing, just because you’ll miss some lines the first time around.
Wild Hogs
My roommate (and fellow TKOT writer), Tank, convinced me that it was a good idea to watch this movie. Ever since I saw the first commercial for it, I knew that I wanted nothing to do with it. When it came out on DVD, I didn’t even consider renting it for a second. But on a lazy Sunday afternoon about a week ago, I got suckered in. I talked myself into believing that there was no way this movie could be as bad as I thought it was going to be. I mean, the list of actors in it is amazing: John Travolta, Tim Allen, Martin Lawrence, William H. Macy, Ray Liotta, and Marisa Tomei. That’s quite the ensemble. So I figured that, while it wouldn’t be a great movie, it wouldn’t be absolutely terrible either. I was wrong. This movie is dreadful. The forced, lame attempts at humor are awful. The actors all over acted. The storyline (four middle age guys go on a road trip on their motorcycles and run into all sorts of trouble) is not only implausible, but simply a bad idea to start with. Unless someone is paying you a large sum of money, do not waste your time with this flick. You’ll thank me when you have those extra two hours of your life that I have now lost to this travesty.
Blood Diamond
I’ll be honest here, I wasn’t expecting much from this movie. I know it was critically acclaimed and won and was nominated for a ton of awards. But I’ve never been a big Leo DiCaprio fan, and watching him try to pull off a South African accent didn’t seem like a lot of fun to me. For the second straight review, I was wrong. This movie is awesome. I thought I’d be distracted by the accent the entire time, but that wasn’t the case. Leo and Djimon Hounsou were fantastic as the lead characters. However, it wasn’t just the intensity of the actors and the action of the civil war that was being waged in Sierra Leone that made this movie great. It was the eye opening awareness that engulfs the viewer as the story unfolds. I think far too many people have no idea about what is going on in other parts of the world, and how it affects us. The plot deals with the aforementioned war between the government and rebels, all over who has control of the diamond fields of western Africa. As the war rages on, we get to see the development of an odd partnership between a diamond transporter (DiCaprio) and a local man trying to reconnect with his family after being enslaved by the rebels. I won’t tell you any more than that, but if you have the time, I highly recommend that you watch this movie.