Somewhere Luther Vandross is smiling. We are t-minus 20 hours to when the ball is tipped and the NCAA tournament begins. Like every year, hope springs eternal when you are in the dance. And that means its bracket time. I really like this year for me. Do I think my picks are good? Maybe. But my mind is clear because I have no outstanding biases as in years past. There is no team I despise (I'm talking about your Gators Billy Donovan), and no team I'm for (usually the Illini). Sure Bruce Weber's boys are in the tourney, but in my eyes they are playing with house money. One win and I will be very happy.
So with a clear mind I give you Zach's Picks -
Midwest - Louisville - I know they are the overall #1 seed but Terrance Williams is a monster and their press is terrifying. If they don't wear themselves out they are scary as hell. I also have Wake Forest, Michigan St., and West Virginia in the sweet sixteen. I'm a sucker for the Mountaineers. You've been PITTSNOGLED!
West - UConn - I don't like Jim Calhoun or his players, but their defense is fantastic. Only injuries can hold them back in this bracket. I also have Washington, Utah St., and Memphis in the sweet 16. Utah St. is my dark horse this year because someone has to do it. they match up very well with Marquette, and I am not sold on Missouri. Take it down Aggies.
South - North Carolina - I don't like Tyler Hansborough and I HATE Roy Williams, but the talent is too much. They will be tested by Butler, but I see them walking to the Final Four. I also have Gonzaga, Syracuse, and Oklahoma. I am not high on the Orange, but match ups say they make it to the second weekend.
East - Duke - Call me what you want, I don't care. Duke is the best team in this bracket so suck on that Jamie Dixon. Pitt may have more talent, but the Blue Devils are coming together. I also think they have the toughest draw out of everyone. I have them beating Binghamton, Texas, Villanova, and Pitt to get to Detroit. And they will do it. I also have a Sweet 16 of Pittsburgh, Florida St., and Villanova. Watch out for the Wildcats, if they beat Duke I think they go to Detroit.
Final Four - Louisville vs. UConn & Duke vs. North Carolina
Louisville wins because their pressure is too good and UConn will go cold. I don't trust the Huskies when they have more talent. They play down to opponents and it will bite them here.
Duke and UNC National Semifinal - ARE YOU SERIOUS?!?!?!? The law of three is in effect as Duke takes down the Heels. It is extremely difficult to beat a team three times in one season and the shooting of Jon Scheyer and Gerald Henderson is too much. UNC has a shot if Ty Lawson plays well, but he tends to disappear. So do UNC's title chances.
Title Game - Louisville vs. Duke
Can you tell I love pressure defense? Duke is finally too worn down to fight back. They hang around for a half and then Louisville goes for the jugular. Playing in the Big East has its advantages, and Rick Pitino takes home his second National Championship.
I love the tournament and will be highlighting and number crunching all weekend long. I wish everyone else good luck and, god willing, this tournament will be the best we have ever seen.
Wednesday, March 18, 2009
Monday, March 16, 2009
Fed Up.....
You know what grinds my gears, Family Guy. I have been a devoted fan since 1999. Well my Family Guy fandom has ended. It was a good ten year run. But, where do they get off. Last nights episode was so bad I turned it off before the first commercial break. I know many people who quit on this show long ago. I stuck it out, I was a true fan. And then they repay me with terrible plots, shoddy animation, and oh yeah, no jokes. I'm sick and tired of bad jokes. Cutting away to two and a half minutes of live action concert footage is ridiculous.
Seasons 1 through 4 were very good and then the downhill slide began. All I can say is that I stuck it out, but no more Family Guy producers. You were given a second chance and this is how you repay your fans? LAZY. So much potential wasted. And then you gauge prices for your DVD releases? Screw-me sideways why don't you.
So you have lost a fan. South Park was right, and I should have listened to them 3 years ago.
Oh yeah, tourney starts on Thursday. Full disclosure of my bracket that morning. What you thought I would actually try to work when I'm in the office those days? Spare me.
Seasons 1 through 4 were very good and then the downhill slide began. All I can say is that I stuck it out, but no more Family Guy producers. You were given a second chance and this is how you repay your fans? LAZY. So much potential wasted. And then you gauge prices for your DVD releases? Screw-me sideways why don't you.
So you have lost a fan. South Park was right, and I should have listened to them 3 years ago.
Oh yeah, tourney starts on Thursday. Full disclosure of my bracket that morning. What you thought I would actually try to work when I'm in the office those days? Spare me.
Friday, March 13, 2009
I Love You BAAAAAY-BAAAAAY
I wish I could come up with my own original things to say, but for this week quasi-quoting South Park will have to do. They ripped the Jonas Brothers, Christians, Disney, and the media all in one episode. In my book that's an action packed episode, and a fantastic one.
The entire episode revolved around the Jonas Brothers and their purity rings. Disney was using the band (a loose use of the term) to sell their sexual themes to little girls. They justify that preaching sex to little girls is only OK when they have purity rings on. We later find out the brothers want to ditch the rings, but the president won't let them. The president is Micky Mouse and he proceeds to beat up one of the brothers, call them every expletive in the book, relay his entire message to the watching audience, and then grow to a 40 foot behemoth who breaths fire and wreaks havoc on Denver.
Now I don't always find South Park funny, and I don't always agree with their message. Not the case here. Funny, and absolutely dead on.
It rips Disney for turning every 14 year old into a god loving, sex hating star. It shows the obscene profit they make off of those kids and their parents.
It rips Christians for believing that a ring can stop people from having sex. Not going to happen, kids have urges and they act on those urges.
And it rips the Jonas Brothers for being huge tool sheds with no talent who are put on a pedestal. And I garaun-damn-tee those guys know exactly what effect they have on children who watch their shows and buy their albums. And it is not a good effect. Same thing happened with Britney Spears, Michael Jackson, and the Brady Bunch for crying out loud
Lastly, I end my rant with this. I was having a conversation with my girlfriend this week about Bristol Palin and her situation. We concluded that a lot of the problems could be solved by teaching safe sex, which republicans are generally against. And then she came up with a doozy of an equation:
Safe sex = no babies, no babies = no abortions, no abortions = happy republicans
It seems too easy to be true.
The entire episode revolved around the Jonas Brothers and their purity rings. Disney was using the band (a loose use of the term) to sell their sexual themes to little girls. They justify that preaching sex to little girls is only OK when they have purity rings on. We later find out the brothers want to ditch the rings, but the president won't let them. The president is Micky Mouse and he proceeds to beat up one of the brothers, call them every expletive in the book, relay his entire message to the watching audience, and then grow to a 40 foot behemoth who breaths fire and wreaks havoc on Denver.
Now I don't always find South Park funny, and I don't always agree with their message. Not the case here. Funny, and absolutely dead on.
It rips Disney for turning every 14 year old into a god loving, sex hating star. It shows the obscene profit they make off of those kids and their parents.
It rips Christians for believing that a ring can stop people from having sex. Not going to happen, kids have urges and they act on those urges.
And it rips the Jonas Brothers for being huge tool sheds with no talent who are put on a pedestal. And I garaun-damn-tee those guys know exactly what effect they have on children who watch their shows and buy their albums. And it is not a good effect. Same thing happened with Britney Spears, Michael Jackson, and the Brady Bunch for crying out loud
Lastly, I end my rant with this. I was having a conversation with my girlfriend this week about Bristol Palin and her situation. We concluded that a lot of the problems could be solved by teaching safe sex, which republicans are generally against. And then she came up with a doozy of an equation:
Safe sex = no babies, no babies = no abortions, no abortions = happy republicans
It seems too easy to be true.
Wednesday, March 11, 2009
I was tricked...
I consider myself to be a pretty perceptive person. I try and gather facts and then make an informed decision about almost everything. Well, I read reviews, watched trailers, and did everything but read the comics. And then I went and saw Watchmen.
First things first, the people who compiled that trailer should be given a medal. The movie is not an action movie, it is a drama. The trailer would have you believe it was a rock em'-sock em', balls to the walls action movie. It was not, and I am OK with that.
The movie was solid. I enjoyed it thoroughly despite its 2 hours and 43 minute run time. It was a little lengthy and things could have been cut out. I didn't need to see every frame from the comics. I followed the storyline just fine, I didn't need to be beat over the head with topics for 10 straight minutes. I get it, move on, lets go.
Three things I liked:
1.) Back stories for each characters - They were awesome and I wish there had been more time dedicated to them.
2.) Staying true to source material - Though I gripe about the length, the violence and sexual content was over the top and at times tough to watch, keeping the tone of the graphic novel.
3.) Opening scene and credits - Absolutely fantastic and put me in the mood for the film
Honorable Mention: Soundtrack - Jimi Hendrix, Bob Dylan, Simon and Garfunkel, absolutely bad ass
Three Things I didn't like:
1.) Pacing - The film bogged down in the middle especially after the scenes involving The Comedian
2.) Casting - Some were spot on. Malin Akerman on the other hand was not good and rather wooden. Seems to me they just found a semi up and coming actress who was willing to get naked. And the guy who played Nixon was in the movie way too long. In a year with Frost/Nixon, the Watchmen Nixon looked phony and contrived.
3.) Zack Snyder - I just really don't like the guys style. He was suited well for this movie, but I am sorry, He is not a "visionary director." He is a guy who takes source material and makes a carbon copy of it on the big screen. A visionary is someone who develops a story, knows how to pace that story, and then delivers the goods. Instead he takes every action sequence and loads it up with slo-mo replays that make me think I'm watching The Matrix again.
To repeat on Snyder, I don't hate the guy. I just don't think you do three movies and become visionary. Especially when your first movie was a remake and the next two are graphic novel adaptations.
All in all a satisfying experience. Word on the street is a director's Cut DVD will be released and I'm sure I will catch it then.
Overall
7 out of 10
First things first, the people who compiled that trailer should be given a medal. The movie is not an action movie, it is a drama. The trailer would have you believe it was a rock em'-sock em', balls to the walls action movie. It was not, and I am OK with that.
The movie was solid. I enjoyed it thoroughly despite its 2 hours and 43 minute run time. It was a little lengthy and things could have been cut out. I didn't need to see every frame from the comics. I followed the storyline just fine, I didn't need to be beat over the head with topics for 10 straight minutes. I get it, move on, lets go.
Three things I liked:
1.) Back stories for each characters - They were awesome and I wish there had been more time dedicated to them.
2.) Staying true to source material - Though I gripe about the length, the violence and sexual content was over the top and at times tough to watch, keeping the tone of the graphic novel.
3.) Opening scene and credits - Absolutely fantastic and put me in the mood for the film
Honorable Mention: Soundtrack - Jimi Hendrix, Bob Dylan, Simon and Garfunkel, absolutely bad ass
Three Things I didn't like:
1.) Pacing - The film bogged down in the middle especially after the scenes involving The Comedian
2.) Casting - Some were spot on. Malin Akerman on the other hand was not good and rather wooden. Seems to me they just found a semi up and coming actress who was willing to get naked. And the guy who played Nixon was in the movie way too long. In a year with Frost/Nixon, the Watchmen Nixon looked phony and contrived.
3.) Zack Snyder - I just really don't like the guys style. He was suited well for this movie, but I am sorry, He is not a "visionary director." He is a guy who takes source material and makes a carbon copy of it on the big screen. A visionary is someone who develops a story, knows how to pace that story, and then delivers the goods. Instead he takes every action sequence and loads it up with slo-mo replays that make me think I'm watching The Matrix again.
To repeat on Snyder, I don't hate the guy. I just don't think you do three movies and become visionary. Especially when your first movie was a remake and the next two are graphic novel adaptations.
All in all a satisfying experience. Word on the street is a director's Cut DVD will be released and I'm sure I will catch it then.
Overall
7 out of 10
Tuesday, March 3, 2009
Gut Check Time...
It has been awhile since I have posted. I got caught up in the whirlwind known as work and then a mini vacation.
Work is going well at the moment as we wind our way through March Madness. I have a few games left and then essentially nothing extra as we go towards summer. I am going to spend this time doing my job, and beginning my search for a new one in Minnesota. I am going to work hard on my resume as well as a demo tape. I want to put together a collection of my on-air stuff, play-by-play calls, and commercials. I will have extra time to work on these things and they are extremely important in my quest for a new job.
I just spent 4 days with my fantastic girlfriend and feel rejuvenated. I am now super excited to move up and live with her permanently. I am happier when I am with her, and this weekend just confirmed the thought of wanting to spend my life with her.
I am going to post more often here because it was my quasi-new years resolution. I have given up on reading more. If it's good I read it. If it's not, then too bad. And it's back to working out starting on Wednesday. I have a goal to go to the gym 28 out of the next 38 days. It is a completely arbitrary number, but one I need to follow to get to April 10th. I am already in better shape, but have fallen off the wagon a bit. Time to ship up and ship out.
"Stress is the fertilizer of creativity."-Jonas Hodges, 24
I am going to live by that quote during these next 38 days. With stress, comes strain. With strain, comes perseverance. With perseverance, comes change.....
Work is going well at the moment as we wind our way through March Madness. I have a few games left and then essentially nothing extra as we go towards summer. I am going to spend this time doing my job, and beginning my search for a new one in Minnesota. I am going to work hard on my resume as well as a demo tape. I want to put together a collection of my on-air stuff, play-by-play calls, and commercials. I will have extra time to work on these things and they are extremely important in my quest for a new job.
I just spent 4 days with my fantastic girlfriend and feel rejuvenated. I am now super excited to move up and live with her permanently. I am happier when I am with her, and this weekend just confirmed the thought of wanting to spend my life with her.
I am going to post more often here because it was my quasi-new years resolution. I have given up on reading more. If it's good I read it. If it's not, then too bad. And it's back to working out starting on Wednesday. I have a goal to go to the gym 28 out of the next 38 days. It is a completely arbitrary number, but one I need to follow to get to April 10th. I am already in better shape, but have fallen off the wagon a bit. Time to ship up and ship out.
"Stress is the fertilizer of creativity."-Jonas Hodges, 24
I am going to live by that quote during these next 38 days. With stress, comes strain. With strain, comes perseverance. With perseverance, comes change.....
Thursday, February 19, 2009
Introspective questions....
Am I a serial killer?
Is death OK?
Alright before I get flagged by the government as a psycho, I must clarify. these are questions I ask myself when I watch Dexter and Six Feet Under. Both show deal with death and or killing in a very different and strange way. Yes, they are mainstream media, but they seam more real in their dealings with death.
Six Feet Under revolves around a funeral home and the dealings with death and grief. Dexter is about a serial killer who kills other criminals. Some might find these shows dark and graphic. I on the other hand, find them real and gripping. I have watched these shows with care and feel closer to the characters. That doesn't mean I'm a serial killer or a undertaker in training. It means the shows have sucked me into a world that seems real. I love these shows, but would never let them affect my judgement.
I have come to the conclusion that I have a personality that is mainly apathetic. If I care about something (the Cubs, Dexter, editing, or Kristi) then I immerse myself in those things. If I don't care about something (reading, musical instruments, MySpace, or Rachel Ray) then I won't give it a second look. Is this shallow? Possibly, but luckily for me, that is something I don't care about.
Is death OK?
Alright before I get flagged by the government as a psycho, I must clarify. these are questions I ask myself when I watch Dexter and Six Feet Under. Both show deal with death and or killing in a very different and strange way. Yes, they are mainstream media, but they seam more real in their dealings with death.
Six Feet Under revolves around a funeral home and the dealings with death and grief. Dexter is about a serial killer who kills other criminals. Some might find these shows dark and graphic. I on the other hand, find them real and gripping. I have watched these shows with care and feel closer to the characters. That doesn't mean I'm a serial killer or a undertaker in training. It means the shows have sucked me into a world that seems real. I love these shows, but would never let them affect my judgement.
I have come to the conclusion that I have a personality that is mainly apathetic. If I care about something (the Cubs, Dexter, editing, or Kristi) then I immerse myself in those things. If I don't care about something (reading, musical instruments, MySpace, or Rachel Ray) then I won't give it a second look. Is this shallow? Possibly, but luckily for me, that is something I don't care about.
Tuesday, February 10, 2009
Rediculousness...
That's right, this week is so action packed I created my own word for it. Lots of work to do and not enough time to do it. I've got three games this week with the first starting tonight. Also a presentation tomorrow and then the doctor's office on Friday.
I don't know what it is about the doctor that makes me all squeamish, but it definitely does. I haven't been in a few years and I start with a new guy tomorrow. I'm sure everything is alright, but you can never be too sure.
Otherwise, not much going on except college basketball kicking up and baseball starting soon. Here's to a great March madness and hoping this baseball season is the one I have been waiting for....
I don't know what it is about the doctor that makes me all squeamish, but it definitely does. I haven't been in a few years and I start with a new guy tomorrow. I'm sure everything is alright, but you can never be too sure.
Otherwise, not much going on except college basketball kicking up and baseball starting soon. Here's to a great March madness and hoping this baseball season is the one I have been waiting for....
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