Well I would certainly be remiss as a Cubs fan if I did not make mention of the fact that my beloved North Siders clinched the NL Central title this past Saturday. I would also be remiss if I did not mention that they clinched the crown at home against the hated St Louis Cardinals. My father being a Cards fan, all I can say is.....THAT HAD TO HURT!
:)
The Cubs are truly having one of their greatest seasons in my lifetime, or the lifetime of pretty much anyone else alive---last time they won two of ANYTHING in a row was like 1908, and I'm guessing there are not a lot of folks out there who fondly recall that particular year.
So last weekend Notre Dame comes out and just flatout blitzes Michigan in route to a terrific 35-17 victory. They show emotion, a running game, a passing game.....I mean it looks like things have finally started to turn the corner. Which leads us to this past weekend vs. Michigan State and the dreadful 23-7 loss in which the Irish ran for a grand total of like 25 yards. Someone really needs to give our offensive line a swift kick in the rear-end, because our season is already 1/4th of the way over. This weekend vs. Purdue? Important game....don't kid yourself.
My Florida Panthers kicked off the 08'-09' campaign last evening with a pre-season win (WIN?? Did I just say the words Florida Panthers and WIN in the same sentence??)
over the Calgary Flames in Calgary by a 3-2 score. Always nice to stick it to former coach and GM Mike Keenan too. By all accounts, the team actually looked....dare I say.....impressive in their pre-season debut. Stanley Cup---here we come!!!
Finally, my Minnesota Vikings, who thus far had pretty much disappointed horribly, came up with a very nice 20-10 victory over the Carolina Panthers on Sunday. The defense had a very solid game and new QB Gus Frerotte actually helped the Vikes show (GASP!) something that resembled a passing game. Wonders upon wonders.
Also I read that former Vikings great Wally Hilgenberg, starting outside LB on all four of the great Vikings teamsthat went to the Super Bowl died yesterday of Lou Gehrig's disease. Wally was a terrific player for Coach Bud Grant during those "Purple Power Years" and will no doubt be missed.
Later,
Jeff
Wednesday, September 24, 2008
Saturday, September 13, 2008
9/13/08---Classic movies always make for great fun
So a couple of weekends ago, I got ahold of a couple of classic movies and got a chance to watch a few. It was a classic movie-fest, with a slight lean towards film noir.
Here we go with a few reviews:
1) The Third Man: Late 40's classic with Joseph Cotten & Orson Welles playing the title character working their way through post WWII Vienna. Its all very stylishly shot, and as you watch it, you almost feel as though you're getting a lesson in film making--which isn't the same as saying you're watching a movie that you enjoy. I don't know, I just never really connected with it. Great acting, film making and setting....and yet it felt very cold to me. ***1/4
2) The Public Enemy: Early 30's James Cagney gangster classic, and I have to say, that some 70 years later, there are a few scenes that still are a little shocking. Cagney plays the neighborhood boy who chooses the wrong path in life, much to the chagrin of his mother and war rattled brother. Classic movie scene where Cagney pushes a grapefruit into the face of moll Mae Clarke! Big fun here although at times it gets a little preachy.
****
3) Night & the City: I had heard about this film for years and stumbled upon it. Richard Widmark, one of the great underrated actors of alltime, plays an american living in London with his wife who essentially exists by conning his way through life. A total hustler. One night at the local wrestling matches, he stumbles upon what he feels is his "sure thing" in the form of Stanislaus Zybysko (in real-life a former pro wrestling champion and well known "shooter"--meaning he was real). Zybysko is training a protege and Widmark works to find his way into the shark infested waters of promoting professional wrestling. Widmark is terrific here. ****
4) Crossfire: Awesome cast! Robert Mitchum, Robert Ryan & a pre-Marcus Welby MD Robert Young makes this probably the greatest "Robert" cast of alltime.
Sort of heady stuff for the late 40's, as Young is investigating a murder with racist overtones. Mitchum & Ryan play a couple of soldiers who may or may not know a lot more than their letting on. Again, a little preachy, but it doesn't get in the way of a good story and some terrific acting. ****
Later,
Jeff
Here we go with a few reviews:
1) The Third Man: Late 40's classic with Joseph Cotten & Orson Welles playing the title character working their way through post WWII Vienna. Its all very stylishly shot, and as you watch it, you almost feel as though you're getting a lesson in film making--which isn't the same as saying you're watching a movie that you enjoy. I don't know, I just never really connected with it. Great acting, film making and setting....and yet it felt very cold to me. ***1/4
2) The Public Enemy: Early 30's James Cagney gangster classic, and I have to say, that some 70 years later, there are a few scenes that still are a little shocking. Cagney plays the neighborhood boy who chooses the wrong path in life, much to the chagrin of his mother and war rattled brother. Classic movie scene where Cagney pushes a grapefruit into the face of moll Mae Clarke! Big fun here although at times it gets a little preachy.
****
3) Night & the City: I had heard about this film for years and stumbled upon it. Richard Widmark, one of the great underrated actors of alltime, plays an american living in London with his wife who essentially exists by conning his way through life. A total hustler. One night at the local wrestling matches, he stumbles upon what he feels is his "sure thing" in the form of Stanislaus Zybysko (in real-life a former pro wrestling champion and well known "shooter"--meaning he was real). Zybysko is training a protege and Widmark works to find his way into the shark infested waters of promoting professional wrestling. Widmark is terrific here. ****
4) Crossfire: Awesome cast! Robert Mitchum, Robert Ryan & a pre-Marcus Welby MD Robert Young makes this probably the greatest "Robert" cast of alltime.
Sort of heady stuff for the late 40's, as Young is investigating a murder with racist overtones. Mitchum & Ryan play a couple of soldiers who may or may not know a lot more than their letting on. Again, a little preachy, but it doesn't get in the way of a good story and some terrific acting. ****
Later,
Jeff
Tuesday, September 9, 2008
9/9/08---Sports weekend recap....or, there goes my blood pressure
So we're getting closer to autumn, and besides being a great time of the year, what with the weather begin to cool down a bit--that is, if you don't live in FLORIDA of course--and the fact that within the next couple of weeks all my favorite sports will be underway.
The Cubs in baseball, Notre Dame & the Minnesota Vikings in football and the Florida Panthers in hockey.....in other words, you're probably thinking to yourself....does this guy specifically TRY to make himself miserable?
I wonder myself. So the Cubs have been having what may well be the greatest season in the last 100 years or so......and so naturally the last week they've totally begun to nosedive. Folks, I've been a fan for like 37 or 38 years. I don't need this aggravation.
As of right now, their 4 1/2 games up on the Brewers....and I may need to up my medication for my blood pressure. UGH.
Which brings us to football. So I watched the first game of Notre Dame's 2008 season on Saturday, and the wife told me that on a scale of 1 to 10, the "cursing scale" was at about a solid "12". Nope, nothing here to make my parents proud.. Hey, they won, but it was an ugly win. Which, compared to last year when they were 3-9....I suppose a win is a win is a win, ya know? But San Diego State is NOT a good football team, and we let them hang out waaaaaaaaay too long. Some good news? The offense line gave up zero sacks--last season's total? 58. Ouch. So, we'll take that. Bad news? Our defensive front three? Grand total--zero tackles. Against....San Diego State. That was not USC they were playing against. Good news? Jimmy Clausen displayed far better arm strength and when the game was on the line--he lead the team to a win. Bad news?
I'm not sure what too make of that hair. Good news? Starting strong safety Kyle McCarthy had like 15 tackles. Bad news? Starting linebacker Maurice Crum Jr, a 4 year starter committed two dumb penalties in a row---that's not what your captain needs to be doing. Good news? Golden Tate, who last year was in the lineup pretty much to "go deep" lead the team in receptions and had a touchdown reception. Bad news? WR
Duval Kamara's lazy performance was directly responsible for both of Clausen's interceptions. If he doesn't watch it, that whoosh he hears will be freshman WR Michael Floyd flying by him on the depth chart. Next week? Meeeeeeeechigan.
Next we get to the Minnesota Vikings, who last evening opened up their season against ESPN's favorite team, the Green Bay Packers. If you don't believe me....just try and listen to one episode of Sportscenter and see if its possible for them not to make some mention of the Packers, or the Brett Favre saga, or historic Lambeau Field, or the "frozen tundra" or.....ah, you get the idea. Hey, I have a lot of respect for the history and legacy of the Packers. But ESPN makes me want to retch with their constant lovefest.
And let's just say, the officiating left a little to be desired. Vikes lose 24-19, which considered QB Tarvarious Jackson spent most of the lst half with like 6 yds passing is pretty incredible. RB Adrian Peterson had over 100 yds and left a pair of cleat marks on Packers DB Al Harris where he ran him over on one particularly fun moment during the game. Next week? Peyton Manning and the Colts. (Gulp)
And finally, the Panthers will be opening up yet another hockey training camp in a few weeks, once again offering the fans that small ray of hope that maybe....just maybe....we'll make the playoffs this year after shuffling the roster this year and trading away leading scorer and captain Olli Jokkinen. Let's just say that the line for playoff tickets hasn't begun to form at the Bank Atlantic Center just yet.
Later,
Jeff
The Cubs in baseball, Notre Dame & the Minnesota Vikings in football and the Florida Panthers in hockey.....in other words, you're probably thinking to yourself....does this guy specifically TRY to make himself miserable?
I wonder myself. So the Cubs have been having what may well be the greatest season in the last 100 years or so......and so naturally the last week they've totally begun to nosedive. Folks, I've been a fan for like 37 or 38 years. I don't need this aggravation.
As of right now, their 4 1/2 games up on the Brewers....and I may need to up my medication for my blood pressure. UGH.
Which brings us to football. So I watched the first game of Notre Dame's 2008 season on Saturday, and the wife told me that on a scale of 1 to 10, the "cursing scale" was at about a solid "12". Nope, nothing here to make my parents proud.. Hey, they won, but it was an ugly win. Which, compared to last year when they were 3-9....I suppose a win is a win is a win, ya know? But San Diego State is NOT a good football team, and we let them hang out waaaaaaaaay too long. Some good news? The offense line gave up zero sacks--last season's total? 58. Ouch. So, we'll take that. Bad news? Our defensive front three? Grand total--zero tackles. Against....San Diego State. That was not USC they were playing against. Good news? Jimmy Clausen displayed far better arm strength and when the game was on the line--he lead the team to a win. Bad news?
I'm not sure what too make of that hair. Good news? Starting strong safety Kyle McCarthy had like 15 tackles. Bad news? Starting linebacker Maurice Crum Jr, a 4 year starter committed two dumb penalties in a row---that's not what your captain needs to be doing. Good news? Golden Tate, who last year was in the lineup pretty much to "go deep" lead the team in receptions and had a touchdown reception. Bad news? WR
Duval Kamara's lazy performance was directly responsible for both of Clausen's interceptions. If he doesn't watch it, that whoosh he hears will be freshman WR Michael Floyd flying by him on the depth chart. Next week? Meeeeeeeechigan.
Next we get to the Minnesota Vikings, who last evening opened up their season against ESPN's favorite team, the Green Bay Packers. If you don't believe me....just try and listen to one episode of Sportscenter and see if its possible for them not to make some mention of the Packers, or the Brett Favre saga, or historic Lambeau Field, or the "frozen tundra" or.....ah, you get the idea. Hey, I have a lot of respect for the history and legacy of the Packers. But ESPN makes me want to retch with their constant lovefest.
And let's just say, the officiating left a little to be desired. Vikes lose 24-19, which considered QB Tarvarious Jackson spent most of the lst half with like 6 yds passing is pretty incredible. RB Adrian Peterson had over 100 yds and left a pair of cleat marks on Packers DB Al Harris where he ran him over on one particularly fun moment during the game. Next week? Peyton Manning and the Colts. (Gulp)
And finally, the Panthers will be opening up yet another hockey training camp in a few weeks, once again offering the fans that small ray of hope that maybe....just maybe....we'll make the playoffs this year after shuffling the roster this year and trading away leading scorer and captain Olli Jokkinen. Let's just say that the line for playoff tickets hasn't begun to form at the Bank Atlantic Center just yet.
Later,
Jeff
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)