Obviously, yesterday was a big day for Goose. Now someone who gets a Hall of Fame vote actually voted for Todd Stottlemeyer. The gents over at firejoemorgan.com think maybe this is why.
I, for one am glad Jack Morris did not make it in again. For arguments against his inclusion (or at least against the misguided notion that he was the best pitcher of the 1980's), you can go here (the entry on January 8th), here (and his follow-up here), here,
or maybe here, and lastly here. I'm glad there are so many who have done my work for me because I'd really hate to argue my point to the extent that these folks (and so many others like them) have done.
Now I'd love to wax poetic on why guys like Dale Murphy should be in the Hall, but I'm tired.
I'll leave you this little nugget, from another also-ran...
Wednesday, January 9, 2008
Me and Robbie Dupree
Not that I want to bury the House confessional (because I'd like to keep it at the top of this blog forever), but I've got news. Now, you may remember almost a month ago I posted a neat little video for my boy Chad. As you might be able to decipher, both Chad and myself are pretty big fans of Mr. Dupree, and I'm dead serious. I'm not talking in some veiled hipster irony or some duplicitous sarcastic tone here. I own his self-titled 1980 release. If you need a refresher as to why Robbie Dupree reigns supreme, here is just one of the many reasons:
Chad and I have been converting the ignorant for coming up on two years, indoctrinating all to our secret little club.
Last week, I decided to send an email to Mr. Robbie Dupree wishing him a most excellent 2008 and hoping that he may find it in his heart to make an appearance in or around Austin. Out of respect to Robbie, I'll refrain from posting his response. Suffice it to say, we Austinites, or at least Texans, may be able to indulge in a little Dupree delight at some point in the coming year. Cross your fingers, Texas. Cross them all and keep the dream alive.
Chad and I have been converting the ignorant for coming up on two years, indoctrinating all to our secret little club.
Last week, I decided to send an email to Mr. Robbie Dupree wishing him a most excellent 2008 and hoping that he may find it in his heart to make an appearance in or around Austin. Out of respect to Robbie, I'll refrain from posting his response. Suffice it to say, we Austinites, or at least Texans, may be able to indulge in a little Dupree delight at some point in the coming year. Cross your fingers, Texas. Cross them all and keep the dream alive.
Full Disclosure
I have a confession to make. I watch House.
It used to be that I would just watch it if it happened to be on. If I was at the old apartment on a Friday night before going out--well, to be truthful, I more than likely was not going out--I would usually catch an episode on USA.
And I enjoyed it.
He's an asshole. A prick, if you will.
Like me.
I used to feel some shame about this secret viewing habit of mine.
Now I don't. In fact, I've been renting (well, renting implies a payment is being made, which does not happen) the DVDs because I wanted the full backstory on all of the characters. I'm getting that and so much more.
House fucking rules.
There. I said it.
Now I am going to go to the gym, probably do more harm to my body than good, and then I'll watch an episode of House or two. Hell, I might even watch three episodes. Then I will convince myself that I have multiple illnesses and await my imminent death over the coming night.
If I do die tonight, I bid you all (or you zero readers) adieu.
It used to be that I would just watch it if it happened to be on. If I was at the old apartment on a Friday night before going out--well, to be truthful, I more than likely was not going out--I would usually catch an episode on USA.
And I enjoyed it.
He's an asshole. A prick, if you will.
Like me.
I used to feel some shame about this secret viewing habit of mine.
Now I don't. In fact, I've been renting (well, renting implies a payment is being made, which does not happen) the DVDs because I wanted the full backstory on all of the characters. I'm getting that and so much more.
House fucking rules.
There. I said it.
Now I am going to go to the gym, probably do more harm to my body than good, and then I'll watch an episode of House or two. Hell, I might even watch three episodes. Then I will convince myself that I have multiple illnesses and await my imminent death over the coming night.
If I do die tonight, I bid you all (or you zero readers) adieu.
Tuesday, January 8, 2008
Obama, Part 2
He just got done with his concession speech. In concession, he was more compelling, more inspirational, than Hillary Clinton has been in her life.
Again I ask, how does he not win in a landslide?
Again I ask, how does he not win in a landslide?
New Hampshire Primaries
I haven't delved into politics on this site at all because, quite frankly, I've felt a bit burned by the state of everything in this realm. That being said, I don't understand why people would want to vote for Hillary Clinton. Now let me preface what I'm going to say, by stating that I loved Bill Clinton. I still do. Hillary is no Bill, though. For starters, she lacks his warmth and charisma. Too many swing voters' minds are made up on her, too. She also seems much more disingenuous than some of her opponents.
Yet, the AP and MSNBC are projecting her to be the winner at 10:35 ET with 66 percent of precincts reporting. The statistic the news organizations seem to be referencing the most is that women voters turned out in droves (57% to 43% men), and they voted overwhelmingly for Hillary. I don't understand this. Because they share similar genitalia, they're supposed to vote for her? That just seems short-sighted. I'm all for there being diverse candidates in Presidential politics, but I just fail to see how she's the best candidate.
Barack Obama is so inspiring and impressive. He evokes such confidence. His stances on the issues should appeal to men and women alike.
CNN just called it for Hillary, as well.
Why?
Yet, the AP and MSNBC are projecting her to be the winner at 10:35 ET with 66 percent of precincts reporting. The statistic the news organizations seem to be referencing the most is that women voters turned out in droves (57% to 43% men), and they voted overwhelmingly for Hillary. I don't understand this. Because they share similar genitalia, they're supposed to vote for her? That just seems short-sighted. I'm all for there being diverse candidates in Presidential politics, but I just fail to see how she's the best candidate.
Barack Obama is so inspiring and impressive. He evokes such confidence. His stances on the issues should appeal to men and women alike.
CNN just called it for Hillary, as well.
Why?
The Goose is loose!
In honor of today's Major League Baseball Hall of Fame inductee, Rich "Goose" Gossage here's a treat. Thanks to bases on the KC Star Royals message board for the link. Not something you want to watch at work, by the way.
Monday, January 7, 2008
Sunday, January 6, 2008
Best Films of 2007
Warning: This will not be a ranked list. Before the backlash from all zero readers of this blog begins, let me preface this list by saying, I've not seen every film released in the past year. I've not gotten to see There Will Be Blood yet. I've not gotten around to seeing Once, Control, or Breach, all of which have been recommended by reliable sources. I've not seen Charlie Wilson's War either. What follows is obviously incomplete.
Standout films
The Assassination of Jesse James
3:10 to Yuma
No Country for Old Men
The Lookout
Before the Devil Knows You're Dead
Rescue Dawn
Knocked Up
Superbad
Gone Baby Gone
Hot Fuzz
The Bourne Ultimatum
Sunshine
Shooter
Films I Failed to Understand People Actually Walking Out of the Theater Liking
Atonement
Michael Clayton
Juno
American Gangster
300
Grindhouse
I'm Not There
Good, Not Great
Eastern Promises
Zodiac
The Darjeeling Limited
Lars and the Real Girl
Black Book
28 Weeks Later
I Don't Care What You Say, These Were Fun
Next
National Treasure Book of Secrets
Live Free or Die Hard
Smokin' Aces
Shoot 'Em Up
Fucking Awful, as in So Bad I Couldn't Stomach Finishing It
Transformers
If I had to pick one as being the best, I'd probably give that honor to:
No Country for Old Men
Standout films
The Assassination of Jesse James
3:10 to Yuma
No Country for Old Men
The Lookout
Before the Devil Knows You're Dead
Rescue Dawn
Knocked Up
Superbad
Gone Baby Gone
Hot Fuzz
The Bourne Ultimatum
Sunshine
Shooter
Films I Failed to Understand People Actually Walking Out of the Theater Liking
Atonement
Michael Clayton
Juno
American Gangster
300
Grindhouse
I'm Not There
Good, Not Great
Eastern Promises
Zodiac
The Darjeeling Limited
Lars and the Real Girl
Black Book
28 Weeks Later
I Don't Care What You Say, These Were Fun
Next
National Treasure Book of Secrets
Live Free or Die Hard
Smokin' Aces
Shoot 'Em Up
Fucking Awful, as in So Bad I Couldn't Stomach Finishing It
Transformers
If I had to pick one as being the best, I'd probably give that honor to:
No Country for Old Men
Saturday, January 5, 2008
Friday, January 4, 2008
Man on Film: Juno
Barring the solid to great performances by Jason Bateman, Ellen Page, and especially Michael Cera, this was an almost entirely irritating film. The plot was predictable at best. At no point was there any doubt as to what was going to happen. The graphics and opening titles sequence were gratingly reminiscent of that junior high artwork that such equally irritating films as Napoleon Dynamite incorporated. The Kimya Dawson-centric soundtrack fell victim to the film's infatuation with its cuteness, and past the presence of The Moldy Peaches, the film is littered with the stock artists that indie films seem to be enamored with like Belle and Sebastian (who grace the film with their presence twice) and, of course, The Kinks.
The most irritating aspect of the film, however, was the screenplay. Imagine a film in which the dialogue is styled after The Gilmore Girls and Dawson's Creek, incorporating the least desirable aspects of each (everyone being far too witty, and kids talking like adults). That is exactly what screenwriter Diablo Cody's script is. The grating "homeskillet" line in every TV spot and Theatrical Trailer delivered by the bewildering Rainn Wilson is more or less what this film is inundated with. Additionally, each adult is a caricature; each child is the outcast of the each year's sleeper hit. The stepmom, portrayed by Allison Janney complete with the overboard Minnesotan accent popularized in "Fargo" and bludgeoned in every movie since, is obsessed with dogs even though she doesn't own one. Juno's father is the typical, blue-collar, somewhat dim father to the unbelievably witty daughter, who always has some impossibly snarky comment for every situation.
Essentially, the film's shortcomings boil down to its love for itself. The filmmakers have created an unbelievable universe in which its characters spew forth words that surpass any acceptable degree of suspended disbelief and everyone is too cute for their own good. Its lack of grounding proves to be its undoing, and the few times it attempts to touch base with the real world later in the film are ultimately undermined by its not having been tethered to the ground in the least up until that point.
The most irritating aspect of the film, however, was the screenplay. Imagine a film in which the dialogue is styled after The Gilmore Girls and Dawson's Creek, incorporating the least desirable aspects of each (everyone being far too witty, and kids talking like adults). That is exactly what screenwriter Diablo Cody's script is. The grating "homeskillet" line in every TV spot and Theatrical Trailer delivered by the bewildering Rainn Wilson is more or less what this film is inundated with. Additionally, each adult is a caricature; each child is the outcast of the each year's sleeper hit. The stepmom, portrayed by Allison Janney complete with the overboard Minnesotan accent popularized in "Fargo" and bludgeoned in every movie since, is obsessed with dogs even though she doesn't own one. Juno's father is the typical, blue-collar, somewhat dim father to the unbelievably witty daughter, who always has some impossibly snarky comment for every situation.
Essentially, the film's shortcomings boil down to its love for itself. The filmmakers have created an unbelievable universe in which its characters spew forth words that surpass any acceptable degree of suspended disbelief and everyone is too cute for their own good. Its lack of grounding proves to be its undoing, and the few times it attempts to touch base with the real world later in the film are ultimately undermined by its not having been tethered to the ground in the least up until that point.
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