tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-48631630722931040622024-02-07T04:01:51.978-06:00Walter FTWa, e, i, o, u, and sometimes yWalterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06593913443736264276noreply@blogger.comBlogger55125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4863163072293104062.post-46377095867288561212010-09-21T17:38:00.000-05:002010-09-21T17:38:26.853-05:00walter ftw has moved.The new site is <a href="http://therearenofours.tumblr.com/">There Are No Fours</a> over at Tumblr, and it's basically the exact same thing except I keep up with it and it's easy to read.Walterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06593913443736264276noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4863163072293104062.post-76893962620615500062010-09-08T22:56:00.003-05:002010-09-09T09:21:03.011-05:00i'm not lost, but i don't know where i am.<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">(I realize that, after a month-long absence, I should probably be bringing a little more heat than a college football recap. That's not the case, but then again <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OjdQa-yc0QM">Welsh corgis.</a>)</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: center;"><a href="http://media.nola.com/tpphotos/photo/-2841981e76e55291_custom_665xauto.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="281" src="http://media.nola.com/tpphotos/photo/-2841981e76e55291_custom_665xauto.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">LSU's victory* over North Carolina was, shall we say, underwhelming. As with last year, the most obviously frustrating issue was offensive coaching. Gary Crowton, as <a href="http://www.andthevalleyshook.com/2010/9/6/1672250/upon-further-review-what-just">Paul Crewe at ATVS noted</a>, can design some very pretty plays. Unfortunately, his implementation in-game is lacking both strategically and tactically, and I don't know how satisfied I am (to say nothing of the perpetually-scowling Jordan Jefferson) with the "Don't make the same mistakes as 2008" excuse. </div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
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Specific complaints:</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">--Crowton's playcalling went into a shell in the second half, and playing Tressellball (the Prevent Offense) with an undersized offensive line is a recipe for disaster. I obviously don't blame Crowton for the fumbles that resulted from his/Miles' power running strategy, but I question the decision to run isos and speed options against hyped-up future NFL outside linebackers who would like nothing more than to a) strip the ball and do obscene things with it and b) leave our running backs outlined in chalk.</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">--Despite having a trio of speedy, versatile receivers (all of whom, it should be noted, appear to be capable blockers on the perimeter), we didn't balance our power plays with many sweeps. Shep's long touchdown run came on a sweep, but Crowton didn't utilize the jet sweep in pre-snap motion to confuse UNC's green defense afterward, let alone run any more actual sweeps. In fact, he very rarely took advantage of UNC's inexperience; power runs only set up the most obvious play actions, and using Terrence Toliver as a drag-and-slant specialist instead of a deep threat seriously limited the offense.</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">--Stevan Ridley, whose main qualification for starting at running back appears to be the fact that he looks like one in Les Miles' brain, isn't a bad player. When you consider the fact that he's a decent enough receiver and blocker, I'd say he's above average. What he isn't, though, is a workhorse. It would be silly of me to point to Richard Murphy (underwhelming in his return) or Mike Ford (untested) as viable replacements, but this seems like a much more sensible year to platoon than last year.</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">I've come to expect at least a little offensive ineptitude from LSU, though; what was really disappointing was the abundance of defensive errors from Chavis and the players. I don't blame Chavis for the overall underwhelming defensive performance, which can be explained by two busted coverages and young players unready to put a team away (or consistently make tackles, apparently). Blitzing Patrick Peterson (on a night when he was struggling with cramps) and stubbornly sticking with <a href="http://rivals.yahoo.com/ncaa/football/blog/dr_saturday/post/Deconstructing-How-the-Hokie-D-becomes-deadlier?urn=ncaaf-178348">quarters coverage</a> over the top, though, really bothered me. I think Chavis' defense will eventually work once the players are more seasoned, but it was obvious that guys like Mo Claiborne and Brandon Taylor were shaken up, and Chavis didn't adjust until they'd been repeatedly burned.</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">All that said, I thought there were plenty of positives to take away from the game. Peterson annihilated UNC's special teams, and remained Patrick Peterson on defense; Drake Nevis clearly confused TJ Yates and the interior of UNC's o-line for delicious babies, and his penetration at the point of attack will be critical for the D's success against the run this season; Tyrann Mathieu played extremely well in his first game; Kelvin Sheppard, despite missing a few tackles and occasionally being a step off in coverage, generally bailed out (and organized) the rest of the defense. On offense, Jordan Jefferson played admirably and dealt with pressure far better than last year; Ramgod and Shep are total badasses when Gary Crowton deigns to allow it; and the left side of the offensive line was gorgeous.</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">I still think LSU can compete this year, assuming that the black marks attached to this game (particularly on defense, e.g. tackling) are rooted more in jitters than in real deficiencies. What probably won't improve, however, is offensive coaching, and that fact alone could keep us from winning the conference even with an elite defense.</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><b>Elsewhere in football:</b></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">--God almighty, the backlash against Boise St. aggravates me. I understand that they don't play in the SEC, but it's not their fault that they're still in the WAC. They schedule strong out-of-conference opponents, and proved against TCU and Virginia Tech that they can beat good teams in <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Bzz0ikx6sc&feature=player_embedded">conventional fashion</a>. <a href="http://smartfootball.com/gameplanning/breaking-down-boise-how-the-broncos-use-leverage-numbers-and-grass-to-gash-the-opposition">Their offense is immaculate</a>, and it's a blast to watch Kellen Moore orchestrate it; the defense has gotten a lot less interesting with the departure of Kyle Wilson, but it still gets the job done. If Boise ends up in the national championship game, I won't complain, largely because I think the SEC will be represented regardless.</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><b> </b></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><b>--</b>My tolerance for Boise has a lot more to do with my status as an SEC supremacist than it does with any Phil Steele-esque objectivity; I think that college football is, like ancient Persia, a democracy of one, and that it'll remain that way until the SEC is dramatically unseated. A good example of a "Big 6" conference underperforming: the Big 12. The mighty Utah St. Aggies kept it hilariously close with Oklahoma, Kansas lost to North Dakota State, and Texas, particularly the running game, struggled against Rice. I'm not equating the Big 12 with the WAC by any means, but generally speaking the Big 6 conferences are either top-heavy aristocracies or league-wide mediocrity. Boise and the WAC may take it farther than some, but it's no more ridiculous for Boise to be considered for the Mythical National Championship than, say, West Virginia.</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">--I'll postpone jumping on the Michigan bandwagon until their defense proves something against a non-shambolic offense. Michigan could still be a good team -- and for the sake of the college football landscape, I hope they are -- but Michigan fans should know better than to get too excited this early in the season. See also: Notre Dame, Auburn.</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">--I know Florida won't be as ridiculously discombobulated as they were against Miami of Ohio when they start playing SEC competition. I also know that they'll still have Steve Addazio calling their plays, and what Gary Crowton can do to the West Coast offense, Addazio can easily do to the Meyer-Mullen spread option.</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">--When I saw the score (and the fact that the Florida offense generated under 20 yards in the first half against the vaunted Miami of Ohio defense), I couldn't help but watch the rest of the game while alternating between schadenfreude and unease for an SEC ally. You know who didn't inspire that same ambiguity in me? <a href="http://rivals.yahoo.com/ncaa/football/recap?gid=201009040077">I couldn't love it more, Rebs.</a></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Some predictions for next week's orgy of big games:</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><b>Florida St. at Oklahoma: </b>I'm not putting a lot of stock into Florida State's trouncing of Samford, because God invented the first week of the college football season for good, old fashioned trouncings. I'm more concerned by Landry Jones' struggles against Utah State, especially considering that his M.O. last season was to light up bad teams and go into a shell against the better defenses. I'm not predicting a great defensive showing from Florida State, but Jimbo Fisher's offense should be more than able to torch Oklahoma's young corners and command the game. Even with more heroics from DeMarco Murray, <b>Florida State wins, 35-24.</b></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><b>Penn St. at Alabama: </b>It's impossible to gauge these teams from their Week 1 blowouts, but even with a green secondary and Dareus and Ingram out, my money's on Bama against a freshman QB. Evan Royster is a good back, but Alabama's linebacking corps is spectacular. Meanwhile, I think Penn State's replacing too much talent on their defense to withstand a now-veteran Alabama offense. Playing at home against an overmatched team, <b>Bama cruises, 31-13.</b></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><b>Miami at Ohio St.: </b>We're being treated to arguably the biggest game of the season on Saturday afternoon, and I hope everyone tunes in. Both units have elite talent on either side of the ball, but ultimately I like how Miami matches up with the Buckeyes on defense: a great speed rusher, Olivier Vernon, against an unsettled left tackle situation; a monstrous run blocker, JB Shugarts, against an <a href="http://assets.sbnation.com/assets/221460/allenbailey.gif">actual monster</a>, Allen Bailey; and one of the best, most aggressive secondaries in the nation against a tentative, ball-control passing game. The most intriguing matchup has to be weakside backer <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QJ9msKIynUY&feature=related">Sean Spence</a>, a tremendously instinctive and talented player, possibly spying Terrelle Pryor and limiting his mobility. I don't think Miami's offense, particularly its run game, is going to light up Ohio State's stacked defense, but Jacory Harris and co. should put up enough points to upset the Buckeyes in the Horseshoe. <b>Miami wins 24-20</b>; Dade County goes ham.</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><i style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">*Something like that.</i>Walterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06593913443736264276noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4863163072293104062.post-68523993814651080182010-07-30T17:00:00.003-05:002010-07-30T18:05:21.720-05:00one day it'll take, and they'll start to make shirts that fit right.<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://sneakermestupid.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/06/chris_paul_2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://sneakermestupid.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/06/chris_paul_2.jpg" width="175" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">BREAKING: Chris Paul is tired of this shit.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>--First, the pressing sports news of all our lifetimes: Chris Paul possibly <a href="http://www.atthehive.com/2010/7/30/1596054/hornets-on-the-internets-the">(but not really)</a> getting traded from New Orleans. I was going to address this in a separate post, but I had serious doubts that Paul was going to be moved before the start (or end) of next season -- he's simply too valuable, and of all the teams on his supposed wish list, only the Lakers could really send anything back worth the Hornet FO's while. It could still happen, and I'd understand Paul's reasons for leaving; it <i>is </i>unlikely that he'll be in championship contention in NOLA, the team <i>should </i>have told him about trading Tyson Chandler and firing Byron Scott, and he <i>does </i>play for one of the worst owners in the NBA.<br />
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That said, these are problems with fairly clear remedies if Paul's willing to look long-term. And it goes without saying that the front office <i>can't </i>trade Paul; he's one of the only draws for a team that's hemorrhaging money. It's highly likely that a Paul-less Hornets organization folds within the next few years. Again, I understand where Paul's coming from. The only aspect of this that I really hate is LeBron's obvious influence, even if it's only the influence of the precedent the Heat set. It's entirely possible that I'll write a Comic Sans-laced tirade if Paul <i>does </i>leave (and be <a href="http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/blog/ball_dont_lie/post/LeBron-James-decision-ignites-casual-dining-res?urn=nba-257109">mocked by Chili's accordingly</a>), but for the moment, at least, I can feign objectivity.</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"></div><a name='more'></a><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
--Which begs the question: what sort of fan does that make me? Am I more reasonable (or empathetic) for seeing things Paul's way, or just detached? John Morgan, proprietor of the excellent Field Gulls Seahawks blog, made a <a href="http://seattle.sbnation.com/2010/7/19/1577239/the-top-20-types-of-seattle-sports">list of typical Seattle sports fans</a>, which I think apply just about anywhere. I know I've got plenty of Nerd in me, to go along with a little Loyalist. That said, I have an existential dread of finding out that I'm actually a Frasier.</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">--To take things in a pretty different direction, I spent a lot of the last three weeks watching the first two seasons of <i>Dexter </i>on Netflix. Take <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NcMSaVExUiI&feature=related">Michael C. Hall and his excellent voiceover</a> out of the equation, and you've got a substandard police procedural. With Hall, though -- and the <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1djr-aDy4Q4&feature=related">great character development</a> you see for Dexter (and seemingly nobody else) -- the show becomes one of the most consistently entertaining on television. Did I mention that I like Michael C. Hall? Because I do. He's really funny, and <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JS8FiUl4tbk&feature=related">scary.</a> Everyone else I could pretty much take or leave, especially Jennifer Carpenter as Dexter's annoying younger sister; in addition to whiny lines, her character comes equipped with crippling self-doubt, and the show seemingly takes great pains to justify it.</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">--I know I reference the Onion's AV Club a lot on this here blog (a classic Frasier move), but I feel compelled to share two of the funniest things I've read in the past month: Scott Tobias's indignant, disgusted review of <i><a href="http://www.avclub.com/articles/cats-dogs-the-revenge-of-kitty-galore,43626/">Cats and Dogs: The Revenge of Kitty Galore</a> </i>(to quote the review's firstie, there's really nothing like a Tobias F), and Sean O'Neal's <a href="http://www.avclub.com/articles/kenny-g-throws-down-bloodstained-gauntlet-spits-in,42909/">surreal take</a> on the state of Kenny G's gradual ascension to the position of Intergalactic Space Emperor. I've come to really enjoy O'Neal's contributions to the AV Club, by the way; his headlines alone are comedy gold. At the very least, they're uncut comedy China White.</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
--I suddenly have a powerful urge to <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_61s62WKVio&feature=player_embedded">attend a Swedish police academy</a>.<br />
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</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">--I saw <i>Inception </i>again yesterday, and I'll try to have a review up pretty soon. Also on the docket: reviews of The National's <i>High Violet</i>, The Jesus and Mary Chain's <i>Psychocandy</i>, and Interpol's <i>Turn on the Bright Lights.</i></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><i>--</i>Finally, I was discussing the Redskins with a friend of mine on Facebook, and it occurred to me that I could do team previews for the upcoming football season<i> </i>on (at least) the Saints, Colts, Redskins, Chiefs, and LSU Tigers (who, by the way, had the best recruiting photo of the year <a href="http://cdn2.sbnation.com/imported_assets/364971/randleram.jpg">last year</a> and are in contention <a href="http://assets.sbnation.com/assets/404396/nickjacobs_medium.jpg">this year</a>). Would anyone be interested in me doing one (or any) of those?</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">--Thanks for reading.</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://i53.photobucket.com/albums/g65/cjkofoed/smoking-crab.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://i53.photobucket.com/albums/g65/cjkofoed/smoking-crab.gif" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>Walterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06593913443736264276noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4863163072293104062.post-91262498520877532742010-07-28T15:49:00.004-05:002010-07-28T16:24:07.657-05:00let's call me a baptist, call this a drowning of the past.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigdSugGwb9pj0pCwvD1cm95soBfmHnCdvvLqU2B468xhHkBwKp006gCWsSwPB2tM5LVgesX5RJRKbIWMZUUpnc1XbQsNK_WX9YiH937IfCDUDaXI_h8os_1zPbDfGHz1TGMcbGHBiR0wU/s1600/winter+of+mixed+drinks.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigdSugGwb9pj0pCwvD1cm95soBfmHnCdvvLqU2B468xhHkBwKp006gCWsSwPB2tM5LVgesX5RJRKbIWMZUUpnc1XbQsNK_WX9YiH937IfCDUDaXI_h8os_1zPbDfGHz1TGMcbGHBiR0wU/s320/winter+of+mixed+drinks.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">In Frightened Rabbit's breakout second LP, <i>The Midnight Organ Fight</i>, frontman and songwriter Scott Hutchison confessed his struggles with depression and alcoholism in, to use his language, "brutal" and "oppressive" detail. For all its glumness, though, <i>The Midnight Organ Fight </i>is still a remarkably honest, exciting album; its combination of earnest vocals, dire subject matter, and <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wu2TPvtOTEw">propulsive folk-pop</a> reminded me of Neutral Milk Hotel's <i>In the Aeroplane Over the Sea</i>, only without some of the consistency and nuances of design and theme that made that album so singularly great. To invite the comparison at all is about as high a compliment as I can pay a record.</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Having said that, I think that <i>The Winter of Mixed Drinks</i>, Frightened Rabbit's 2010 follow-up, is even better. Give the record's first four tracks -- its best -- a listen; if you're not hooked, then I don't think I want to know you. The band, centered around Scott Hutchison and his brother Grant on drums, expanded its sound considerably from <i>The Midnight Organ Fight</i>, which leaned a little more heavily on the folk part of the folk-pop equation. The addition of Make Model's Gordon Skene, along with Scott Hutchison's changing sensibilities, help weigh <i>Winter </i>decidedly in the opposite direction; even with the added <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EdRaONeX9iM">shoegaze elements</a> and the <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=61HsHAFtk-c&feature=related">percussive stomp</a> from the band's roots in Scottish folk, each one of those first four songs is unabashed, anthemic pop.</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Accompanying a somewhat more accessible musical style is a relatively more optimistic outlook on life. <i>The Midnight Organ Fight </i>was a breakup album in the vein of Beck's <i>Sea Change</i>, a remarkably detailed look at Hutchison's misery from beginning to end. <i>The Winter of Mixed Drinks</i> listens like a self-help record by comparison; the dominant theme of <i>The Midnight Organ Fight </i>was trying to understand or to even accept pain, and <i>The Winter of Mixed Drinks, </i>with its nautical imagery,<i> </i>is about fighting it. <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9QUJgReAAjo&feature=related">"Swim Until You Can't See Land"</a> is about an act of desperation as much as anything else; the narrator <i>has </i>to take to the sea lest his myriad worries back home overtake him. Sure, he might drown (as the reprise <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z_Gdz4j50jE&feature=related">"Man/Bag of Sand"</a> implies) but at least he's given himself a <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FJtMl0ngzDQ&feature=related">fighting chance. </a> </div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"></div><a name='more'></a><br />
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">No, <i>The Winter of Mixed Drinks </i>couldn't be called a happy album, but it is, relatively speaking, optimistic. <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y0-qEBrfpvU&feature=related">"Nothing Like You"</a> and <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NVvhGwVSQto&feature=related">"Living in Colour"</a> detail more practical ways of getting over the breakup that spurred on <i>The Midnight Organ Fight: </i>new relationships.<i> </i><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=svzUOk-kUC4&feature=related">"Foot Shooter"</a> is a hopeful anthem (go figure) about how to get past the drunken fights that sunk Hutchison's relationships past. As the album's subdued conclusion, <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zv0-vRX_ye8&feature=related">"Yes I Would,"</a> notes: even though "the loss of a lonely man never makes much of a sound...I just can't sink now." Compared to the gloomy reflection of <i>I See a Darkness</i>, the despairing anger of <i>The Moon and Antarctica</i>, and the childlike escapism of <i>In the Aeroplane Over the Sea</i>, that's downright uplifting.</div><br />
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">The album does have a few flaws; a song or two in its middle, especially the inelegant <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vr9T-rakWSU&feature=related">"Skip the Youth,"</a> are somewhat forgettable. Perhaps more notably, the pop transition comes saddled with a bit of <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TwZifEl6Yww&feature=related">overproduction</a>, and that sonic cleanliness is kind of jarring after the raw sound of the band's last record. But <a href="http://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/13983-the-winter-of-mixed-drinks/">unlike Pitchfork</a>, I don't think that the change in sound has cost the band anything in terms of authenticity; Frightened Rabbit is still on a par with -- or even surpasses -- Arcade Fire and TV On the Radio in terms of emotional resonance.</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">If my complaints seem a bit muted, it's because I'm just that taken with this album. Between its unique message (in indie music, anyways) of rising up to meet life's challenges instead of being crushed beneath them, its pop sensibility, and Hutchison's soaring vocals and consistently great lyrics, </span><i style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">The Winter of Mixed Drinks </i><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">is sauntering right down my alley. I'd like to be more objective about the record, but simply put, I love it unreservedly. Ladies and gentlemen, the top spot of my Top 10 Albums of Fiscal Year 2010 officially has a frontrunner.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><b>Grade: A</b> </span>Walterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06593913443736264276noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4863163072293104062.post-4353296391530684732010-07-15T18:08:00.004-05:002010-07-15T18:26:07.140-05:00meaningless? you mean it's all been meaningless?<meta content="text/html; charset=utf-8" http-equiv="Content-Type"></meta><meta content="Word.Document" name="ProgId"></meta><meta content="Microsoft Word 12" name="Generator"></meta><meta content="Microsoft Word 12" name="Originator"></meta><link href="file:///C:%5CDOCUME%7E1%5CHP_ADM%7E1%5CLOCALS%7E1%5CTemp%5Cmsohtmlclip1%5C01%5Cclip_filelist.xml" rel="File-List"></link><link href="file:///C:%5CDOCUME%7E1%5CHP_ADM%7E1%5CLOCALS%7E1%5CTemp%5Cmsohtmlclip1%5C01%5Cclip_themedata.thmx" rel="themeData"></link><link href="file:///C:%5CDOCUME%7E1%5CHP_ADM%7E1%5CLOCALS%7E1%5CTemp%5Cmsohtmlclip1%5C01%5Cclip_colorschememapping.xml" rel="colorSchemeMapping"></link><style>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">My best friend in elementary school was Matt McAnnally, and our friendship was, like those of many children our age, rooted in a mutual appreciation of <i>Tekken </i>and <i>Animorphs. </i>In spite of those time-tested foundations, however, our relationship flagged and sputtered once we went to middle school. One day, sitting on the opposite side of the bus from Matt, an older kid sat down next to me and said, “So, you guys aren’t friends anymore? He’s acting too cool for you now, I guess, hanging out with other kids.”</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">I was awestruck. This person, a complete stranger, had diagnosed the unspoken seed of discontent nestled in the heart of my friendship with Matt. I was impressed not only with his perspicacity but also with the fact that, upon reflection, maybe my experience wasn’t unique, wasn’t special. Maybe our story was just like everyone else’s.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Listening to <i>69 Love Songs </i>by The Magnetic Fields—the concept album brainchild of songwriter Stephin Merritt—gave me that same feeling, making me wonder if there was an emotion that couldn’t be encapsulated in a three-minute pop song. The titular love songs are really songs <i>about </i>love songs, about the craft and inherent dishonesty involved in trying to write a love song for mass digestion. There are a few you can point to that might be sincere, but by and large they’re clever, irreverent, funny metafiction. </span></div><a name='more'></a><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">The best song on the album, <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2vykJ7-UgNQ">“The Death of Ferdinand de Saussure,”</a> works as a bit of a thesis statement for the other 68 songs. A hack songwriter runs into Ferdinand de Saussure (a philosopher of linguistics and semiotics), and, infuriated by the intellectual’s challenge to his facile understanding of love, shoots him dead. The narrator says it’s for Holland-Dozier-Holland, the songwriting trio behind Motown such hits as “Stop! In the Name of Love” and “How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved By You)”. Merritt’s point is clear: the mass-produced ditties of Motown (and pop in general), even those of its greatest practitioners, can’t afford to be complex, thoughtful, or even sincere.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">And he presents the rest of the album as evidence. It dissects songs about all different types of love, from the <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FEjbuCfdknw&feature=related">ideal</a> to the <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_P06ywo6aVw">passionate</a> to the <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5abruK4N86o">erotic</a>, throwing in <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pMlaxAmI0RA">easy rhymes</a></span><span style="font-size: small;"> and clever twists to show that Merritt both understands and deliberately challenges the conventions of the songs he’s imitating. Although most of the album is snide, Merritt is even more caustic when he takes on the conventions of particular genres: </span><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NaOZQZso6o0">reggae</a>, <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K73cmQR9kZc">soul,</a></span><span style="font-size: small;"> and (most hilariously, in my view) </span><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K73cmQR9kZc"></a><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mwwjztkn2Fo">musicals</a> are all mocked outright (along with plenty of others I couldn't find YouTube videos for). The album covers every crooked offshoot of pop music outside of hip-hop, while occasionally alluding to specific artists (<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XZ0u8VRJQzo">New Order</a>, <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-x622P_G1_c">Elton John</a>, and <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vYIAvZ2Gggg">Sonny and Cher</a>, for instance) to demonstrate just how easy it is to recreate an ostensibly unique sound.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>69 Love Songs </i>raises important philosophical questions that generally aren't asked in pop culture. Are our feelings unique? Is it smart to get emotionally attached to songs that are, by design, generic enough for everyone to relate to? Does it matter that so much of what we listen to is as phony as horoscopes and cold reading, or do we transcend that insincerity by attaching our emotions and personal histories to those songs? </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">These are important questions to ponder, and they're unavoidable on songs as self-consciously playful and twisted as Merritt's. Even without its deeper metafictional aspects, however, this is a highly enjoyable album of immaculately crafted and produced pop music. I can't think of a single song in the bunch that's a total throwaway, but the unfortunate flip side of that is that there are only a couple of truly great songs. The project is ambitious and the concept it's tackling novel and complex, but <i>69 Love Songs </i>is one of the most consistently successful concept albums you're liable to ever hear.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;"><b style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Grade: A-</b></span></div>Walterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06593913443736264276noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4863163072293104062.post-1825165955047270962010-07-09T13:20:00.000-05:002010-07-09T13:20:50.224-05:00all that i wanted was the freedom of a new life, so my burden i began to divest.<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><em>Diplomacy </em>is a board game similar to <em>Risk</em>, but without that special "realize one hour into the game that no one's having any fun" quality. The biggest difference is that there's really no element of chance; you can be tricked, certainly, but the little armies and navies on the board win or lose their battles because of math, not dice. Winning the game requires both an ability to cut deals and a keen understanding, as in chess, of the possible moves your opponent can make. You can backstab people, but you can only do it successfully if you understand the likely consequences of your actions.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Last night, during his interview with Michael Wilbon, LeBron James -- barely containing his excitement, eyes constantly darting offscreen -- looked like he'd made a power play for the ages.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><a name='more'></a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Is it fair for Cleveland to feel betrayed, to play the part of </span><a href="http://www.sportingnews.com/blog/the_sporting_blog/entry/view/70915/how_to_undermine_your_rant_use_comic_sans"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">the spurned lover</span></a><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">? Certainly LeBron's method of delivering the news was historically cruel, narcissistic, even villainous -- his chances of </span><a href="http://walterftw.blogspot.com/2010/05/he-meant-to-shine-to-end-of-line.html"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">being the NBA's savior</span></a><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"> died a </span><a href="http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/blog/ball_dont_lie/post/11-strange-things-LeBron-James-said-during-The-?urn=nba,254895#remaining-content"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">brutally awkward, bizarre death</span></a><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"> last night on primetime television. But did he owe Cleveland six more years of servitude? To paraphrase Chris Brown, I wonder if the people who are so upset with LeBron leaving have always worked for the same employer. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">James' first seven years were the best first seven years by any player in the history of the NBA, and he elevated a terrible franchise into the ranks of the NBA's elite. A la Wilt Chamberlain, LeBron, the sole reason for the Cavs' playoff runs during his tenure in Cleveland, also took the brunt of the blame for the team's inability to win a championship. Lest we forget, in the haze of the present backlash and his failures in the Boston series, James came as close to willing a team to a championship as any player has ever done last year; only Hakeem Olajuwon has ever </span><a href="http://www.basketball-reference.com/leaders/per_season_p.html"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">logged a higher Player Efficiency Rating</span></a><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"> in a postseason.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">There's no doubt that LeBron held the franchise hostage, especially since 2006. The Cavaliers FO had to cater to his every whim to an almost unprecedented degree. That said, there's a clear line of mistakes that explain James' departure. The team could have had Bosh two years ago, and didn't; they could have had Jason Kidd two years ago, and didn't; they could have had Amare Stoudemire this year, and didn't. Instead, James ended up with an inconsistent and undersized combo guard in Mo Williams, a terminally out-of-place Antawn Jamison, and the ghost of Shaquille O'Neal. The team consistently tried to assuage James' demands with the next-best solution, and they lost him as a result.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Was going to the Heat the right call, though? There are dire questions about how to incorporate both LeBron and Wade, two high-usage guys who are mediocre jump shooters at best. Can a great shooter be had on the cheap to alleviate the waves of zone defense that will be facing the pair? Much of their success has come from running spread-out isolation plays, which could negate Bosh's value. Speaking of Bosh, does anyone think he'll be able to run the pick-and-roll against Dwight Howard, Kevin Garnett, or Gasol/Bynum? Does he roam outside the post, or does he remain out of position at center? How does he begin to earn his contract?</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">There are just so many questions about this team, about the kinds of role players they can get to fill out the roster, about how they match up against the Magic, Celtics, and Lakers. As it's currently constituted, the 2010 Heat will have Bosh at center, a position he hates; LeBron at point forward, a position he hates; and Wade roaming off the ball, minimizing his talents. The Heat will be unstoppable on the fast break, but who knows about their half-court offense? The defense will be flashy, but who says it can't be outmuscled inside? It's a classic illustration of why center and point guard are the two most important positions in basketball. Even with those questions in the post and on the perimeter, though, it's a monstrosity in-between. If Spoelstra or Riley suddenly develop a hint of innovation, it could be legendary.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">That said, it doesn't have to work for people to hate it. Oh yes, this team is marketable, perhaps the most marketable since Jordan's Bulls. And again, like those Bulls, it'll come into next season attached to a colossal bandwagon. But the mockery of the system inherent in the construction of this team, along with "the Decision," gives this Big Three a shot at the Detroit Bad Boys' title of most hated team of all time. The All-Stars' decision to join forces couldn't have been worse for the Eastern Conference, either, which enters next season even more of a top-heavy joke than it was before.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">And I promise you this: <em>I </em>will hate this team. I like Bosh -- he's a </span><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0_MO_FYEf6M"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">pretty funny guy</span></a><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">, after all -- and I really like Wade, whose supernova talent has gone underappreciated in the thick mire of Miami mediocrity. But the overwhelming arrogance of it all, the collusion dating back to the Olympics, the re-emergence of the NBA's ultimate dirtbag, Pat Riley -- the possibilities for schadenfreude are limitless. If this abomination makes it to the NBA Finals and plays the Lakers, I'll root for the Lakers. Hell, I'd even root for the Jazz. There's too much of the conservative gene in my makeup to accept something this brazen.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">And LeBron James? He's waiting, breathless, to see if he and his friends' ploy is going to work out. Waiting to see if there's anything anyone can do to stop it. Waiting, like all of us, for the other shoe to drop.</span>Walterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06593913443736264276noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4863163072293104062.post-20088871843133486222010-07-07T21:50:00.003-05:002010-07-08T17:35:23.403-05:00you can't hear it on the radio, you can't hear it anywhere you go.<div style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',sans-serif;">--America's <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yBkbj_S3etY">nightmare descent into socialism</a> has been delayed -- for now. The Ghana game was tough to watch in both an agonizing and boring sort of way, and served as an especially fine example of the truism that Bob Bradley's greatest gift as a manager is correcting Bob Bradley's abundant tactical errors. Cherundolo (and Bradley, for that matter) was too tired to keep up his excellent form from the past few games, and Gooch Onyewu, rehabbing or not, was best equipped to deal with the size/speed combo Ghana offered.</div><div style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',sans-serif;">--And may I note, for the record, that soccer is the last, best hope of "go harder, win better!" analysis? <a href="http://mlbinsights.files.wordpress.com/2009/07/tx_joemorgan_all.jpg">Baseball</a> and <a href="http://www.midwestsportsfans.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/01/gruden.jpg">football</a> certainly suffer from it too, but there's at least the pretense of strategic analysis in those sports to go along with determining who does and does not have swagger (a term generally reserved for people of the natural athlete persuasion) or scrappiness (more appropriate for players of a fan favorite complexion). With soccer, it really is just, "[Player name]...GOAL!/Just wide." Or, if the announcer is the insufferable John Harkes, "THESE GUYS JUST NEED SOME HEART TO GO AND WIN OUT THERE!"<br />
<br />
--In conclusion, the reason why America isn't more competitive in Ninja Warrior is that the best athletes in America are playing sports other than Ninja Warrior. Think about it, people!</div><div style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',sans-serif;">--Speaking of athletic competitions that are superior to soccer, Spencer Hall had an excellent post recently detailing one of my very favorite things about college football: <a href="http://www.everydayshouldbesaturday.com/2010/6/30/1544482/mad-dickish-a-journey-through">superdickery.</a> It's an incredible list (bolstered by incredible writing), but my favorite has to be the Jack Pardee story, which is just Biblical in its douchiness.</div><div style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',sans-serif;">--Dr. Saturday is in the midst of Mid-Major week, and he's been absolutely on fire. Hinton's blog is required reading anyways, but posts like <a href="http://rivals.yahoo.com/ncaa/football/blog/dr_saturday/post/Blogger-s-cut-Scenes-from-the-Nick-Saban-docume?urn=ncaaf,253984#remaining-content">this one on Saban</a> show that, in addition to his great statistical analysis, he's a really funny guy, too.</div><div style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',sans-serif;"></div><a name='more'></a><br />
<div style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',sans-serif;">--Two tales of Cardinals pitching. First, read Joe Posnanski's <a href="http://joeposnanski.com/JoeBlog/2010/06/30/gibson/">excellent piece on Bob Gibson</a>, owner of the best season ever by a pitcher. Second, observe the <a href="http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/blog/big_league_stew/post/Tale-of-a-comeback-Rockies-score-nine-in-9th-to?urn=mlb,254156">anatomy</a> of a <a href="http://www.vivaelbirdos.com/2010/7/7/1556267/the-importance-of-good-timing#storyjump">colossal fucking choke</a>. Compounding the misery of allowing the biggest comeback in another franchise's history was that La Russa had needlessly used the team's best (<a href="http://assets.sbnation.com/assets/389510/flaghat.jpg">and craziest</a>) reliever, Jason Motte, in the eighth. It's the sort of loss that could drive a flaky team like this year's Cards into a bad, bad funk.</div><div style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',sans-serif;">--As per usual, I'm saving the best/most relevant item for the last third of the post (the so-called "sweet spot"). NBA Free Agency has been ridiculous so far, specifically the horrific Joe Johnson and Rudy Gay (and now Carlos Boozer) max contracts handed out by desperate, short-sighted teams. Amare's move to New York is, well, let's put it this way: Amare has never been and will never be a premiere player in this league. He is, on some nights, one of the five most potent offensive players in the NBA, but he's not a Hall of Fame player, partially due to his <i>laissez-faire </i>approach to defense, and partially due to freak injuries. Approaching his move to New York in any other sense than, "Well, what are the Suns going to do now?" would be a mistake. He'll still be a good scorer, poor rebounder, and worse defender in New York, and won't make them a good team, or even necessarily a good offense. There's too much missing there, and you can't build a team around Amare.</div><div style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',sans-serif;">--Now, as for players you <i>can </i>build a team around...Wade and Bosh are playing for Miami, which is a predictable enough move. Wade's one of the three best players in the league, and Bosh -- who's received a ton of unwarranted criticism for some reason in the last few weeks -- is a wildly overqualified outlet option. The option to go to Miami certainly has to be tempting for LeBron (and, considering Wade and Bosh's willingness to take pay cuts, likely), and makes much more basketball sense than Cleveland (a mediocre team with no salary cap flexibility) or Chicago (overrated supporting cast). New Jersey's an interesting wild card, and for some reason I keep suspecting his decision tomorrow night comes down to Jersey or Miami.</div><div style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',sans-serif;">--I could do some webjunk postage, but it'd be smarter to just direct you to <a href="http://videogum.com/">Videogum</a>, which has been on an absolute tear for the last month or so. My favorite posts recently: a link to <a href="http://videogum.com/196662/harry-knowles-reviews-twilight-eclipse/everyones-a-critic/">Harry Knowles' delightfully gross <i>Twilight </i>review</a> and <a href="http://videogum.com/196112/taking-one-for-the-team-glenn-becks-the-overton-window/franchises/taking-one-for-the-team/">Joe Mande's script</a> for Glenn Beck's <i>The Overton Window.</i></div><div style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',sans-serif;"><br />
</div><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">--</span><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OBGOQ7SsJrw" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',sans-serif;">Thanks for reading.</a>Walterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06593913443736264276noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4863163072293104062.post-89268812066324734302010-07-01T16:40:00.000-05:002010-07-01T16:40:58.549-05:00then it's the memories of our betters that are keeping us on our feet.<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">(That’s three-for-three on LCD Soundsystem-inspired titles, by the way.)</span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">My biggest problem with LCD Soundsystem (the alter ego of James Murphy) before I heard <i>Sound of Silver</i> was that I thought it was generic. I’d heard <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ON1eRJtoOrg">“Losing My Edge”</a> and a bevy of other singles at a party no one in particular enjoyed; the wave of beats might as well have been Lady Gaga, or, hell, even the Black Eyed Peas. Compounding the issue was that what lyrics I could make out seemed phony, forced, or copied. <i>Oh, it’s so tough to be an aging hipster! Oh, it’s so wearisome to go to all these parties!</i></span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Sound of Silver</i> is a lot of things, but it isn’t generic. The album illustrates the basic similarities of dance and post-punk music, which in retrospect are pretty obvious; post-punk is much darker, but it’s no great surprise that the quintessential post-punk band, Joy Division, was reborn as the highly-successful electronic outfit New Order. The bookends of an excellent three-song run in the middle of the album, <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TIChw-9ggyo&feature=related">“Someone Great”</a> and <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KW2alu51C4U">“Us v Them,”</a> manage to combine driving, funky dance beats with jangling post-punk guitar and foreboding piano. The major themes of those two songs? Grief, paranoia, and isolation, hearkening back to a variety of Joy Division's <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FnWPGSQjFUc&feature=related">wrist-slitting</a> <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nHsRhWXJeOQ&feature=related">modes</a>. The album’s major accomplishment isn’t making electronic music sad, which plenty of people have done (or attempted to do). <i>Sound of Silver’s</i> success lies in never sacrificing its constant, stunning movement for atmosphere; most albums in this vein veer toward one genre or the other, but even in its more forgettable tracks, <i>Sound of Silver</i> meets dance and post-punk exactly halfway.</span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Is it authentic? Well, part of what makes the album so unique is that it’s copying a lot of different influences, and copying them effectively. The most victimized source is David Bowie: Murphy apes his voice shamelessly (but effectively) across the album, especially on <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zx4oFRz8LOA">the title track</a>; the end of </span><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WjFM_PfY_HY">“Watch the Tapes”</a></span><span style="font-size: small;"> steals the relentless piano of <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3L2K1us2Ai0">“Star”</a>; <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5JkBiP7rPt0">“New York I Love You”</a> has the same blues structure, climaxes, and, on occasion, even the same lyrics as <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9jg4ekLG9Zo">“Rock ‘n Roll Suicide”;</a> and the album’s tone as a whole hearkens back to the Berlin era. David Byrne, Ian Curtis, and even Lou Reed all have legitimate complaints, too. Does that make the album less authentic? I tend to think so–it’s easy, for instance, to mimic David Byrne if you want to sound paranoid—but the album’s best song, and undoubtedly the best one Murphy will ever write, is completely sincere. <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uDRLW748j68">“All My Friends”</a> is a perfect song about a simple theme: home, found either in family or friends. It’s something you don’t see much, unfortunately, in indie music: something sweet, pure, and hopeful.</span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">The presence of that great three-song run—“Someone Great,” “All My Friends,” and “Us v Them”—makes the rest of the album pale a bit in comparison. It’s consistently good (<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Vz_01o6Nao">"Get Innocuous" </a>and “New York I Love You” would highlight a lesser album), but there are still some weak tracks, especially the back-to-back <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4sA_gmQfg24">“Time to Get Away”</a> and <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jmm14g4cAFc">“North American Scum,”</a> which reminded me of a lot of the problems I had with LCD Soundsystem to begin with. <i>Sound of Silver</i> is still an excellent album, but those conventional flaws leave it, in my opinion, just short of the canonical status it’s already reached in the critical community.</span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Grade: A-</b></span></div>Walterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06593913443736264276noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4863163072293104062.post-90967070587708618802010-06-24T23:14:00.001-05:002010-06-24T23:14:38.417-05:00us v. them, over and over again.<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">(Every time I do one of these reviews, I feel like <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Imhcq5s9OLs">Jim Gaffigan in this bit.</a> That said, here's a review of <i>District 9.</i>)</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Whether or not you like <i>District 9</i> is almost entirely dependent on whether you feel the movie accomplished its central aspiration to be something more than a competent sci-fi thriller. The movie takes place in a perpendicular-universe version of South Africa, where an alien mothership essentially ran out of gas above downtown Johannesburg. The ship's inhabitants, a very gooey bunch of insectoid aliens nicknamed the Prawns, are found within and given safe haven in the city below. Due both to xenophobia and the Prawns’ repulsive nature, the Prawns are soon cordoned off in the eponymous District 9, a sprawling shantytown filled with impoverished, desperate Prawns and Nigerian warlords trying to exploit alien technology.</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">The obvious apartheid allegory is made much stronger by the choice to make protagonist Wikus van de Merwe – well played by Sharlto Copley in his first professional role – an incompetent bureaucrat rather than a traditional hero. Sent into District 9 to evict the Prawns from their homes so that they can be moved to concentration camps well outside of Johannesburg, Wikus presents a complex and darkly funny illustration of the banality of evil argument. Putting Michael Scott (or David Brent, really) into an Adolf Eichmann role is an inspired decision, and Wikus’ character arc -- from stupidity and casual xenophobia to humanity and heroism -- is a much more satisfactory examination of the nature of racism than the other observations in the movie's world. </div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">The movie’s greatest shortcomings lie in its lack of depth, as the slick documentary-style opening explaining the human-Prawn relationship sacrifices a lot of detail for breadth. Once we get to know some of the Prawns, we understand their motivations, but not how they expect to accomplish their goals. The movie attempts what all great sci-fi tries to do, which is immerse the audience in a new world. What prevents <i>District 9</i> from reaching the level of, say, an <i>Aliens</i>,<i> </i>is that it lacks the detail necessary to convince the audience of its fantastic conceit when they take a break from the movie's relentless pace.</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">But yowza is this movie exciting. As a piece of visceral filmmaking, it’s basically flawless. It reminded me a lot of the remake of <i>3:10 to Yuma</i>, another flawed yet extremely entertaining genre movie. The gore is intense, but you get used to it pretty quickly; by the last fifteen minutes of the movie, I gave a little fist pump when a Bad Guys Inc. sniper’s head exploded. Also like <i>3:10 to Yuma</i>, there are some nagging questions that emerge upon reflection, and resentment at some of the sentimental gimmickry (in this case, our utterly guiltless, sympathetic good-guy Prawn) the movie employs. That said, you don't think about any of those things while you're watching the movie; you're too busy staring at the screen, hoping our boys make it out of there alive.</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><b><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Grade: B+</span></b>Walterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06593913443736264276noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4863163072293104062.post-33232070240582143412010-06-23T18:45:00.002-05:002010-06-23T19:19:45.816-05:00and if i'm sewn into submission, i can still come home to this.<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">--A few weeks ago I wrote down a to-do list of albums I still needed to listen to, consisting of the dozens I picked up this year and a dozen or so that I needed to revisit. I just counted them up, and I've got 140 total. I've listened to 20. Every road, single step, and so on.</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">--I should've said something about the Finals last week, but didn't. Suffice it to say that I'm the kind of masochist who enjoys games like Game 7, with its epic tension and incredible defensive performances. As great as the Celtics' D was (particularly Garnett, who played with a truly legendary, life-or-death intensity reminiscent of the 2008 Playoffs), the way the Lakers rotated and communicated in the 4th quarter was magnificent. Once I got past the sad realization that Garnett and Ray Allen would probably never have another shot at the title, I couldn't resent the Lakers' victory. That team was just so damned good when it counted.</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">--I mention Garnett and Allen in particular because they're the most likely to get moved in this offseason, in my opinion. Allen especially has been linked to trade talks, and on a team that asks less of him on defense (like, say, I don't know, the Cleveland Cavaliers), Ray will still be a lights-out shooter. Garnett, meanwhile, has a mondo contract, and the Celtics are <a href="http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/blog/ball_dont_lie/post/The-Boston-Celtics-Gone-Till-November?urn=nba,250072#remaining-content">very much at a crossroads</a> regarding his contributions vs. the team's future.</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">--In other sports news, the World Cup went ham on the collective American imagination, and it's been awesome (occasionally). I was rooting especially hard for Cote d'Ivoir in the interest of Africa having something to cheer for, but Brazil took a big ol' dump on that dream. Luckily, the US Mutant Ninja Turtles have performed well beyond my expectations, lucking into a 1-1 draw with England, a 3-2 draw with Slovenia, and a 1-0 win over Algeria. I still think Landon Donovan's an alien, but <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AQ4T39AbR3E&feature=player_embedded">I have to like him now.</a></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><a name='more'></a><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">--I'm tempted to do a semi-regular column on lesser-known, interesting athletes in the sports I follow. What spurs me on is Ricky Stanzi, QB for the Iowa Hawkeyes, who isn't a first-tier QB by any means, but is still one of my favorite players in college ball. The man is a <a href="http://rivals.yahoo.com/ncaa/football/blog/dr_saturday/post/Video-Ricky-Stanzi-American-hero-explains-lo?urn=ncaaf,249672">patriot, </a><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gIM_osc3tsQ">speed demon, </a>and <a href="http://gazetteonline.com/blogs/on-iowa/2010/06/18/camp-courageous-visits-the-hawkeyes">awesome dude</a>. He's also only good when it matters, making the Hawkeyes one of the most consistently dramatic teams to watch last year. Perhaps most importantly, he's got a bitchin' nickname: <a href="http://blackheartgoldpants.spreadshirt.com/qb-12-A4963090/customize/color/2">Stanzi</a> <a href="http://blackheartgoldpants.spreadshirt.com/who-s-the-manzi-A4963068/customize/color/2">is</a> <a href="http://blackheartgoldpants.spreadshirt.com/heismanzi-A5047358/customize/color/316">the</a> <a href="http://blackheartgoldpants.spreadshirt.com/americanzi-A5516187/customize/color/316">Manzi</a>. Much of my love for the Manzi is a reflection of how perfect a team blog <a href="http://www.blackheartgoldpants.com/">Black Heart Gold Pants </a>is, and how fun it is to follow during football season.</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">--I haven't followed the <a href="http://videogum.com/190842/dear-south-carolina-what-on-earth/politics/">Alvin Greene situation</a> nearly as closely as I would have liked, but suffice it to say that it's absolutely crazy, and continuing, superfluous evidence that <a href="http://videogum.com/192012/the-alvin-greene-story-continues-to-be-ridiculous/politics/">democracy is a bad idea.</a></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">--On that "democracy is dumb" tip, <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wBoeHgy7svg&feature=player_embedded">here's the trailer</a> for Glenn Beck's new book, <i>The Overton Window, </i>which is perfectly apt both in that a) it's crazy and b) it's disingenuous, as the narrator is reading an (uncredited) Rudyard Kipling poem.</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">--Two Washington Post articles worthy of your perusal: a <a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/06/19/AR2010061902214.html">tribute to Manute Bol</a>, who I never got to watch but who could <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zaLCju0CQ3c">do this</a>, and <a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/06/19/AR2010061902948.html?sid=ST2010062003141">quasi-ethical piece on John Wall,</a> who I haven't gotten to watch that much, but who can <a href="http://voices.washingtonpost.com/dcsportsbog/2010/06/the_science_of_john_wall.html">do this.</a></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">--Coming up later this week: reviews of <i>District 9 </i>and LCD Soundsystem's <i>Sound of Silver</i>. I can legitimately guarantee those two, because they're already mostly written.</div>Walterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06593913443736264276noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4863163072293104062.post-90365471836308769562010-06-17T16:35:00.001-05:002010-06-17T16:36:20.377-05:00talk on the phone. finish your homework. watch tv. DIE!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid9KVkJ95VCcDARpO0-f5RafKEbKrD_hAXRrLrKH-ewwWucBAAhZdHIBEJgdkc2TE91wo0OCOJ9FUVyNWTcykh_Tcu6XtjCe7HoYq1gdEhg2ZST8HVn7sFImaZCISVWBglM4EDzIY3FBc/s1600/The_House_of_the_Devil_10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid9KVkJ95VCcDARpO0-f5RafKEbKrD_hAXRrLrKH-ewwWucBAAhZdHIBEJgdkc2TE91wo0OCOJ9FUVyNWTcykh_Tcu6XtjCe7HoYq1gdEhg2ZST8HVn7sFImaZCISVWBglM4EDzIY3FBc/s400/The_House_of_the_Devil_10.jpg" width="270" /></a></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">So why horror? As a viewer, you could—and this is certainly true of most movies in the genre— take horror movies as only cheap thrills, and the <i>Final Destinations</i> of the world wouldn’t hold it against you. The opposite side of the same notion is watching horror for gore-by-numbers, the torture porn of a <i>Hostel</i> or a <i>Saw</i> that, for all their violence, end up being an oddly sterile chore. You might also call watching horror a cathartic experience, embracing and ultimately expunging fear. The prevalence of the “last girl standing” trope, best represented by <i>The Descent</i>, shows that at its heart, great horror thrives on trying to tap into its audience’s basic survival instincts.</span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">As a director, horror makes sense largely from a financial point of view; while creature effects (and, certainly, CGI) can get very expensive, the majority of the horror canon—Romero’s <i>Dead</i> movies, <i>Alien, Psycho, et al</i>.—was assembled on a shoestring budget. For very little input, a horror movie, even one of very limited quality, can enjoy a highly successful second life on DVD. Moreover, the deluge of utter shit that’s oversaturated the genre, combined with a general critical abstention from genre films, has rendered standards so low as to be nonexistent. With so little cost required and so little in the way of expectations, why wouldn’t the enterprising young hack dedicate himself to horror and a lifetime of <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pFhSogGnu4I">Syfy Originals</a>?</span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Ti West’s involvement in horror comes from a different, more genuine place. Last year’s <i>The House of the Devil</i>, which West directed, wrote, and edited, reveals an earnest affection for the tropes of the genre and the 80’s slasher films of his youth. The plot, set in the 80’s, centers on Sam (the awfully pretty Jocelin Donahue), a penniless college student who reluctantly takes on a babysitting job for obvious creep Mr. Ulman (Tom Noonan, one of the movie’s many 80s throwbacks). The situation is weird from the get-go, and only gets weirder when Mr. Ulman reveals that Sam will be babysitting his invalid mother, not a child.</span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">After bargaining with Ulman for four times the original amount of money, Sam is, reluctantly, left alone in the house. Though she tries to kill time by listening to her comically huge Walkman and meandering around, we know that it’s just a matter of time before she finds, as she wanders from room to room, the horrible secrets that the house has waiting for her. The tension, punctuated by a sudden (and thoroughly shocking) act of violence in the movie’s second act, is absolutely stifling, and might be my favorite example of the adage, “It’s what you don’t see that scares you.”</span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Along with the suspense, the movie’s most rewarding aspect is how fully it immerses itself in both horror movie standbys and in the 80s. Traditions like the false alarm, the “based on real events” disclaimer, the last girl standing, and the dark staircase are all embraced and riffed on with surprising affection. Moreover, <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F913LrBAMSg">holy shit is this movie 80s</a>: there’s plenty of feathered hair, stonewashed jeans, and flannel to go around. There are countless signs in the direction (West is particularly enamored of slow zooms, a la <i>Rosemary’s Baby</i>), casting (Tom Noonan was a <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r6cVuJiREPE">go-to sympathetic villain in the 80s</a>, and plays a very similar role here), and editing choices that <i>The House of the Devil</i> is a labor of love for West.</span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">And, in Hitchcockian fashion, West is more concerned with the slow boil of anticipation than he is with the movie’s big reveal, which is a little disappointing. The fun of the movie is following Sam as she discovers just how big a mistake she’s made, and watching the obvious joy West takes in filming it. While the end result is somewhat predictable (and prompted a lot of negative reactions to the movie), people looking for more than instant gratification or heaps of gore will have found something far better: a masterful and just plain fun homage to 80s horror, and a bona fide <i>auteur </i>working in genre film.</span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Grade: A</span></b></div>Walterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06593913443736264276noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4863163072293104062.post-26738069846623676412010-06-11T21:32:00.001-05:002010-06-11T21:40:18.312-05:00are you a man, or are you a bag of sand?<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">--After complaining about a slowing sports news cycle, yowza did we get some news.</span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">--First off, it's been real, Big 12. I kind of resent that the SEC looks like it's going to get stuck with Texas A & M out of the Big 12 South, but when Mike Slive said that he wouldn't let the SEC be anything less than it is, I believed him. The conference cannibalism has just begun, I'm sure; my bet is that the SEC (along with its equal payment and ridiculously lucrative TV contracts) will be letting Clemson, Georgia Tech, Miami, and Florida St. what it's all about sooner rather than later.</span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">--Also, tell me how it tastes, USC. The NCAA <a href="http://rivals.yahoo.com/ncaa/football/blog/dr_saturday/post/NCAA-gets-medieval-A-Bush-report-primer?urn=ncaaf,247354#remaining-content">absolutely kerploded</a> any chance of a successful beginning to the Lane Kiffin era at Southern Cal; how long do you think Galippo, Kennard, et. al. will stick around with no chance of winning a championship, and no penalty for transferring? What about Barkley? Between <a href="http://www.everydayshouldbesaturday.com/2010/6/10/1511850/usc-and-the-ncaa-the-smoking">this</a> and <a href="http://rivals.yahoo.com/ncaa/football/blog/dr_saturday/post/While-Bush-lives-high-hometown-scholarship-repo?urn=ncaaf,218524&cp=3">his version</a> of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scott%27s_Tots">Scott's Tots</a>, Bush is somehow even more of a douchebag than I'd begrudgingly accepted to be the case. USC will still keep the 2004 onepeat, and hey, at least someone's <a href="http://www.latimes.com/sports/la-sp-0611-usc-coaches-20100611,0,1745152.story">keeping this all in perspective.</a></span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">--Speaking of Reggie, I had said in the past that the NFL's <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UUV4YKbiVxQ">thank you commercial</a> was probably the best commercial I'd ever seen. Well, the flavor done changed: well played, <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cO2TGmZMj9s">NBA,</a> you glorious bastards.</span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">--The Finals haven't been incredible (thank the refs), but both teams have legitimate paths to victory (getting the ball to Pau for the Lakers, getting the bench involved for the C's) after the Celtics forced a best-of-three last night. I'm loving Garnett's play (especially on D) and Glen Davis/Rasheed Wallace/Ray Allen's goofy faces.</span></span><br />
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">--I've neglected what's probably the most important sports item of the summer, the World Cup, and <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ezk0e1VL80o&feature=player_embedded">sweet, sweet jingoism.</a> In all likelihood the U.S. is scooting towards another ignominious showing in the tournament, but thankfully Spencer Hall has a <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/2010/6/10/1509062/2010-world-cup-rankings-what-team-to-root-for">highly scientific guide</a> to rooting for someone else pending USA's inevitable early exit. Cote d'Ivoire (and lots of <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OfYdlAPI8S4&feature=related">The Very Best</a>, for atmosphere's sake) is my fallback, and, failing that, I always know who to hate. (h/t SB Nation for that awesome Dodge commercial).</span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">--The internet is basically just one convoluted episode of Cold Case: Peeds Edition for pop culture, and <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YfdIlD4VF-Q&feature=player_embedded">the jig is up, Falkor.</a> (h/t Videogum) </span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">--I promised not to get political at the beginning of this blog, but BP is the new Jay Leno, so here's a <a href="http://www.theonion.com/articles/massive-flow-of-bullshit-continues-to-gush-from-bp,17564/">tremendous Onion article</a> on the OilCane. It's stuff like the oil spill (and BP's <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/06/01/bp-ceo-tony-hayward-video_n_595906.html">hilariously callous reaction</a> to it) that simultaneously make me feel vindicated for quitting politics while making me want to get involved again.</span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">--I've been on a huge Neil Gaiman kick these last few weeks. Between <a href="http://www.neilgaiman.com/mediafiles/exclusive/shortstories/emerald.pdf">this story </a>and his <a href="http://journal.neilgaiman.com/2010/02/of-course-in-alabama-tuscaloosa-but.html">opinion of Alabama</a>, you probably should be too, if you've got a taste for anything fantastical.</span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">--Finally, if you aren't already, you need to be listening to Frightened Rabbit. Just like in life, sincerity is the most important part of great music, and the Frightened Rabbit is on the same level as Arcade Fire and Neutral Milk Hotel as far as honesty goes. Their sophomore album, </span><i style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">The Midnight Organ Fight</i><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">, is occasionally excellent, but it's their most recent album, </span><i style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">The Winter of Mixed Drinks, </i><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">that's </span><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=61HsHAFtk-c" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">immediately</a><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"> </span><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EdRaONeX9iM" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">great</a><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">. What an awesome year for music so far.</span></span>Walterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06593913443736264276noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4863163072293104062.post-69841774613091532362010-06-02T19:55:00.002-05:002010-06-11T21:35:26.479-05:00i'm just a great composer, and not a violent man.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://30.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_l0guaz3nE91qa1pvfo1_400.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://30.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_l0guaz3nE91qa1pvfo1_400.gif" /></a></div><br />
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">--Sorry for the lack of postage, but I've been surprisingly busy (Starcraft won't play itself) and, to be honest, from a sports and pop culture oddities standpoint, things have been pretty slow.</span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">--One in a long line of <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TEgxBOtAOIM&feature=player_embedded#%21">totally normal</a>, sane things you see from the Westboro Baptist cult. The little interview link from that page with Phelps' daughter just keeping it real about Heath Ledger is worth a watch, too. (h/t AV Club).</span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">--I'm honestly surprised that no one did <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P1GaZv_yB6c&feature=player_embedded#%21">this</a> sooner, but these kids executed it very well. (h/t Videogum)</span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">--Kelly Bensimon (of Real Housewives fame and a more general sort of <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8So4RIs8T6E">crazy people fame</a>) made an <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uv1w1Hc45nM&feature=player_embedded">anti-bullying PSA</a>, and it makes me want to take her lunch money and give her a swirly.</span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">--I <a href="http://www.avclub.com/articles/ray-stevens-scores-one-of-his-biggestever-hits-wit,41723/">expected so much more</a> from the mind behind "Ahab the Arab." A rare miss, Ray Stevens.</span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">--Sports-wise, there's not a lot to talk about. Even though I don't know much about soccer, I'm eagerly awaiting the US national team to continue its streak of disappointing World Cup showings. On the NBA tip, Celtics-Lakers is a good, if not ideal, Finals matchup; I would've loved for Steve Nash to get a chance at the big one before the decline really sets in, but the Lakers were really just the better team in that series. And yeah, watching <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OmJMWgL8PYU">this</a> was really tough.</span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">--Speaking of tearjerking/audible "awww" moments in sports, Chad Johnson remains <a href="http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/blog/shutdown_corner/post/Chad-Ochocinco-makes-one-young-fan-s-dream-come-?urn=nfl,244600">the most lovable narcissist</a> in the NFL, and this <a href="http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/blog/shutdown_corner/post/Kenechi-Udeze-is-still-a-winner-off-the-field?urn=nfl,244472">Kenechi Udeze story</a> is just awesome.</span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">--<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sTnijX0TH-w">The Clash</a>, <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J2zFQXZxuTs&feature=related">Frightened Rabbit</a>, and <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2vykJ7-UgNQ">the Magnetic Fields</a> have been in heavy rotation for me recently. Hopefully I can cook up an album review (takes longer than you might think, yo) before I go on my trip to Chicago on Friday.</span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">--In other great music news, how about this band <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NKX8v46Z11E">Buckcherry</a>? I somehow managed to avoid hearing that song for my entire life, and now I feel I'm an irrevocably changed, damaged man. I don't throw Canadian money at the homeless anymore, laughing and laughing as I drive away in my Porsche; now I gently clasp their hands around hundred-dollar bills and cry a single, manly tear for them. Thanks to Buckcherry, I now know what it's like to live on the margins of society, in the mouth of madness, amongst the damned. Also, how's that sweet band name treating you, Buckcherry? Jesus.<br />
</span></div><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">--In conclusion, Lost ended.</span></span>Walterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06593913443736264276noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4863163072293104062.post-5195813569578269072010-05-21T18:21:00.001-05:002010-05-21T18:22:14.620-05:00he meant to shine, to the end of the line.<meta content="text/html; charset=utf-8" http-equiv="Content-Type"></meta><meta content="Word.Document" name="ProgId"></meta><meta content="Microsoft Word 12" name="Generator"></meta><meta content="Microsoft Word 12" name="Originator"></meta><link href="file:///C:%5CDOCUME%7E1%5CHP_ADM%7E1%5CLOCALS%7E1%5CTemp%5Cmsohtmlclip1%5C01%5Cclip_filelist.xml" rel="File-List"></link><link href="file:///C:%5CDOCUME%7E1%5CHP_ADM%7E1%5CLOCALS%7E1%5CTemp%5Cmsohtmlclip1%5C01%5Cclip_themedata.thmx" rel="themeData"></link><link href="file:///C:%5CDOCUME%7E1%5CHP_ADM%7E1%5CLOCALS%7E1%5CTemp%5Cmsohtmlclip1%5C01%5Cclip_colorschememapping.xml" rel="colorSchemeMapping"></link><style>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">I make lists. I love reading lists. If someone’s being called the greatest player ever in their sport, I want to see where they fit <i>in </i>a list – why not number two, or number three? Who else would fill those spots? So naturally I was excited when I found a <a href="http://www.baseballprojection.com/war/top500.htm">list of the greatest players in baseball</a> via a stat called wins above replacement (WAR), i.e., how many more wins a player contributed to his team than the average player at his position.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">If you <a href="http://www.beyondtheboxscore.com/2010/5/11/1465549/inspired-by-ross-barnes-best-war">average WAR out per season</a> (roughly 700 plate appearances, although that’s on the high side), the only current players in the top 25 are Alex Rodriguez (no. 20), Joe Mauer (no. 14), and Albert Pujols (no. 6, I can dig it). If we go by totals WAR, Pujols is only 40<sup>th</sup> overall. Coming in at number one in both lists is, unsurprisingly, Babe Ruth. His total WAR of 172 is only six tenths of a win higher than Barry Bonds, but Ruth’s value averages out to more than two full wins a season better than Bonds. Add in Ruth’s value as a pitcher—another 18 total wins—and his total of 190 WAR is effectively untouchable.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Ruth was a singularly dominant player, and he was a singularly beloved personality. He was maybe the most famous American of his time (although Charles Lindbergh would certainly have a case) and has since been ensconced not only in the Hall of Fame but also in baseball lore. Ruth is, along with Cy Young, a central deity, whose larger-than-life antics seem innocent after (and, in part, helped to facilitate) decades of mythologizing. Ruth’s alcoholism and womanizing are venal offenses compared to, say, Ty Cobb’s violent racism, Shoeless Joe Jackson and the Black Sox, or decades of greenies, steroid controversy, and <a href="http://www.nydailynews.com/gossip/2009/10/31/2009-10-31_arods_vanity_of_mythic_proportions__has_selfportrait_.html">centaur portraits</a>. Instead, they're proof of his humanity. Ruth is the great American athlete, and rightfully so—no one has ever dominated a sport as thoroughly as he dominated baseball, nor combined talent with humanity like he did. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><o:p><br />
</o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Football, true to its roots as the most democratic of American sports, has many candidates for the position of greatest ever. Quarterbacks are the most obvious: Otto Graham and Bart Starr, the definitive winners; Johnny Unitas, the pioneer; Joe Montana, Tom Brady, and Peyton Manning, all master practitioners of innovative strategies. Running backs are also awash with possibilities: Jim Brown and Barry Sanders, the best pure runners; Walter Payton and Emmitt Smith, well-rounded workhorses; Marshall Faulk and LaDainian Tomlinson, who redefined the position. The competition runs deep at every position except wide receiver, and even with a well-established pantheon, there’s no Zeus here.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><a name='more'></a><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Basketball, though—basketball is different. Its greatest player has come and gone, and we know him by the trail of his dead (see: <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_bvyUcmFgMA&feature=related">Cleveland, Ohio</a>). Jordan was unquestionably the greatest offensive player in the history of the game, and possibly the best <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0bFDwd68-DA">defensive guard</a> as well, to say nothing of his dominance in the playoffs. There’s precious little democracy in a sport that puts such a premium on athleticism and single-minded focus, and among its aristocracy no one has staked a realistic claim to His Airness’ throne.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">But unlike Ruth, Michael Jordan was Achilles, not Hercules. His relationship with his teammates was begrudging acceptance at best, snobbish resentment at worst. Although Jordan cared about basketball's history, his goal from the beginning was to remake the game in his own image, a vision that precluded recognizing the achievements of his supporting cast. MJ’s selfishness on the court, coldness in the team’s hotels, and wealth of indiscretions both minor (such as his <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y4ZQERHL6ow">constant rudeness</a> to those he considers <a href="http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/articles/26287/air-sick">beneath him</a>) and major (serious gambling problems and habitual cheating on his ex-wife Juanita) have made him a more polarizing figure than his suave postgame interviews and occasional <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0a9C2figSXo">moments of vulnerability</a> would indicate.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">In Jordan’s case, the king acted like a king, and after his <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/2009/9/10/1024740/remembering-michael-jordan">egomaniacal run with the Wizards</a>, he declared no heir. Even the worthiest successors have black marks next to their name. Tim Duncan, the greatest power forward of all time, has neither the ambition nor the flair to succeed Jordan—he’s more Dr. Manhattan, a reclusive deity, than he is Superman. Kevin Garnett, who toiled endlessly in the hopes of a championship, and who turned rabid in his quest to retain it, only became a household name after his prime. Kobe Bryant, easily the closest to Jordan in terms of personality, was doomed through a combination of his petulance and the specter of rape allegations. Dwyane Wade looked for all the world like the grinning Next Big Thing, but injuries and talent-optional supporting casts have cast serious doubts.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Which brings us, finally, to LeBron James. James was anointed the Next Jordan upon entering the league, even though his player profile and in-game tendencies owed more to Magic Johnson. Like Jordan, LeBron labors under a tremendous ego. Having been told since childhood of his destiny, having had fawning media coverage since his sophomore year of high school, and having dominated both in the regular season and, <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pmH0ot-KtSw">sometimes</a> <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PCv4Ew-HyQ0&feature=related">spectacularly</a>, in the postseason, it’s easy to see why LeBron would be arrogant.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">But even if LeBron came off as annoying or even detestable as a person, he was unimpeachable as a teammate, whether through assist totals, <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RXx0npgNW0I">pregame antics</a>, or his closeness to teammates <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=armWRMSi70U">amateur</a> and <a href="http://shaversports.blogspot.com/2009/04/anderson-varejao-inked-up-as-chosen-2.html">professional.</a> That said, LeBron’s arrogance looks more and more like hubris since his team’s loss to the Magic in last year’s playoffs. He’s been less tolerant of adversity and his teammate’s mistakes, to say nothing of his flagging devotion to the Cavs organization. Factor in the ongoing quest to become the first billion-dollar athlete, the <a href="http://deadspin.com/5310898/swoosh-denies-lbj-dunk-cover+up-unconvincingly">dunked-on cover-up</a>, and the relatively listless performance in last two games against the Celtics, and it’s clear that LeBron has done more damage to his own reputation than anyone else. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Basketball needs LeBron to follow through on his original trajectory of talent combined with teamwork. I wish it weren’t the case. I love Chris Paul, and I think he’s every bit the talent that James is with half the ego, but he may languish in New Orleans like Garnett did in Minnesota. Dwyane Wade may stay in Miami and find his Scottie Pippen in a Chris Bosh or a Dirk Nowitzki, but it may also happen that his injury history renders him a more successful Grant Hill. Kevin Durant and Brandon Roy are probably the best candidates for the James' crown, but who can say for sure that they (or Tyreke Evans, or John Wall) will avoid Kobe’s mistakes in letting early success get to their head, or that they’ve got LeBron’s potential?</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Basketball needs LeBron, and he’s still got time. I don’t know if staying in Cleveland is the answer (although Americans certainly <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lkXRc9vls0M&feature=player_embedded">appreciate</a> <a href="http://nikelebron.net/2010/04/20/born_here_raised_here_plays_here_stays_here_fans_have_spoken/">loyalty</a>), and perhaps it’s a fallacy to imagine someone so talented remaining grounded or sincere. But LeBron can, over the next decade, prove that the achievements of an MJ or a Kobe don't have to be tied to bitter, dehumanizing competitiveness. He can give the NBA its Babe Ruth, its Hercules, its king.</span></div>Walterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06593913443736264276noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4863163072293104062.post-49918029260724861342010-05-19T19:44:00.002-05:002010-05-19T19:51:40.529-05:00now they got the sun and they got the palm trees, they got the weed and they got the taxis.<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">--First off, for Firefox at least, if you want to open a link in a new window, hold CTRL and click on it. Second, sorry for the hiatus - I've been ridiculously busy with the home stretch of schoolwork/out of the country (in Texas). <br />
<br />
--<a href="http://www.avclub.com/articles/man-who-hath-conquered-the-steed-and-harnessed-fir,41113/">This</a> truly is one of the most ridiculous things I've ever seen, and provides superfluous evidence that every Hollywood exec in existence is ten years old. In other news, though I generally shy away from Sean O'Neal's reviews, the man can write a headline.</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">--Speaking of the AV Club, their weekly series of covers by visiting musicians, AV Club Undercover, has been consistently good thus far. <a href="http://www.avclub.com/articles/elliott-smith,38885/">Ben Folds' cover</a> of Elliott Smith's "Say Yes" last week was my favorite of the bunch, and I can't wait for the "Two-Headed Boy" cover.</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">--<a href="http://wonder-tonic.com/geocitiesizer/content.php?theme=3&music=7&url=walterftw.blogspot.com">Here's</a> what this blog will look like when Geocities makes its inevitable comeback. The internet is the best sometimes.</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">--And yet, it is also the worst sometimes. Though Betty White has acquitted herself pretty admirably in her recent TV spots, the people who are clamoring for an octogenarian to return to the forefront of TV comedy right now deserve to </span><a href="http://roboshark.tumblr.com/post/596023835/marklisanti-i-can-get-behind-this-one" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">watch this happen</a><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">. Sorry, Betty - it's...evolving.</span><br />
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">--Whoever thought to do <a href="http://songsfromtreme.tumblr.com/">this</a> is a saint. Although I haven't been able to keep up with <i>Treme</i> as much as I'd like (and yikes has it gotten preachy), I can still appreciate the music, and it helps me get through the tedium of my job.</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"></div><a name='more'></a>--As I've mentioned elsewhere on this blog, I have a hard time recognizing greatness when it's right in front of me. I've deleted substantial amounts of <i>In the Aeroplane Over the Sea</i>, <i>Mass Romantic</i>, and scads of Bowie, to say nothing of the albums I ignored for far too long (<i>Remain in Light </i>and <i>Return to the Cookie Mountain</i>, maybe my two favorite albums, are good examples). That said, I knew that The National's new album, <a href="http://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/14203-high-violet/"><i>High Violet</i></a>, was something spectacular the first time I listened to it. Getting a better grasp of the lyrics may temper my enthusiasm a bit, but right now I love the entire album, especially "England," which is an anthem on par with, say, <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z-L-aXKG5vE">"Neighborhood #1 (Tunnels),"</a> <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jzDhzdsbM0g">"Shout Me Out,"</a> or <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eON9wEkw4Ck">"Carousels."</a><br />
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">--<i>High Violet </i>was just one of a dozen or so albums I picked up before I moved back home, and I'm trying to cross them off at work. The highlight yesterday was <i>Liquid Swords</i> by the GZA of the Wu-Tang Clan, which, like all good East Coast hip-hop, strikes a difficult balance between <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pSQieA85arg">being surprisingly vulnerable</a> and being as <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OXjZNOu70Xw">hard as it gets</a>. The GZA's got great flow, and what he lacks in exuberance he makes up for with excellent lyrics and a supernova of energy, RZA, working his choruses and production. It's a terrific - and terrifically cold - album, and, like <i>High Violet</i>, it's one that grabs you on the first go-round.</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">--I also listened to The Smiths' <i>The Queen is Dead</i> and Ra Ra Riot's <i>The Rhumb Line, </i>which have similar weaknesses: both of them allow far too much self-indulgence on the part of their frontmen, especially the Smiths' Morrissey, whose lyrics are often shockingly bad. Unlike the Smiths, though, Ra Ra Riot has no Johnny Marr to come in and save the day (his work on <i>The Queen is Dead</i>, especially its<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MEbIiWjJMUA"> title track,</a> is superhuman) and it completely lives or dies based on whether vocalist Wes Miles is on point. </div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">--For all the bad press that KG's earned these past two years, the combination of <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PybMOA4yLoY">this retelling of the Malik Sealy story</a> and Garnett's inspired play against the Cavs and the Magic ought to remind people why he was so easy to root for in the first place. If the increasingly likely 2008 Finals rematch happens, I won't have any qualms about rooting for KG (or, for that matter, Doc Rivers).</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">--The Wiz winning the John Wall sweepstakes is one of the best things that could have happened to the NBA; Wall will rejuvenate one of the league's less-alive franchises and breathe some life into a stale Eastern Conference.</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">--I hate me some Red Sox, but I can't bring myself to hate Dustin Pedroia, who's <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DPvMOVFshyI&feature=player_embedded#%21">kind of awesome.</a> Also, the Cards and the Rays (who, inconveniently, comprise a large chunk of my fantasy team) done fell off, by all appearances. It's a marathon and not a sprint, etc., but it's still a pretty strong deterrent from me actually watching baseball (so, in a roundabout way, it's a good thing). </div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">--Coming up later this week: a little essay on LeBron and the NBA's general dearth of heroes, an album review, and hey, maybe some football.</span>Walterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06593913443736264276noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4863163072293104062.post-75423046306201464792010-05-01T20:03:00.006-05:002010-05-01T21:11:19.778-05:00i tell you, like before, you should say his name the way he said yours.<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">I was trying - futilely, as it turned out - to do some research on the Mensheviks with this awful ringtone rap/Beyonce + thick-ass beats = profit/churning unremarkable synth-pop anthem party going on outside. Just boring, reprehensible music. Here's what I decided to do instead, before holing up in the library:</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">--<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=08xQLGWTSag">This video</a> is a beautiful idea beautifully executed; it's the Platonic ideal of ironic, retrosexual youtube videos. "Help," by the way, has to be in my top five Beatles songs. (h/t Videogum).</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">--Grant Hill seems like a cool guy, and J.A. Adande has a <a href="http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/playoffs/2010/columns/story?columnist=adande_ja&page=granthill-100428">nice piece</a> on what really is an incredible - and tragic, in the traditional sense of the word - story. Speaking of current Phoenix Suns, Love in the Time of LeBron has some <a href="http://loveinthetimeoflebron.blogspot.com/2010/04/consider-channing-frye.html">compelling reasons</a> to like Channing Frye, the team's enormous Stephen Curry, and <a href="http://loveinthetimeoflebron.blogspot.com/2010/04/steve-nash-was-mvp-twice-in-row.html">Steve Nash,</a> the most consciously anti-mainstream MVP in any sport. My favorites: the most ridiculous man in the world, and the futuristic, web 2.0 commercial for VitaminWater's facebook. (h/t SB Nation).</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"></div><a name='more'></a><br />
--Over at the stalwart Iowa blog Black Heart, Gold Pants, Oops Pow Surprise (Adam Jacobi) has a hilarious <a href="http://www.blackheartgoldpants.com/2010/4/30/1451809/hawkster-runoff-season-ticket">Hipster Rundown version</a> of Iowa football.<br />
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">--Speaking of hipsters: here's a<a href="http://flavorwire.com/57909/stereotyping-people-by-their-favorite-indie-bands"> list of stereotypes by band.</a> The Fleet Foxes description hit a little too close to home, and I don't know if the Arcade Fire description applies to me or not. The inspiration for the list, <a href="http://laurenleto.wordpress.com/readers-by-author/">Lauren Leto's stereotypes</a> of readers by author, is even better. Tom Wolfe/William Faulkner/James Joyce were spot-on for me. Also, I found <a href="http://laurenleto.wordpress.com/2010/03/31/this-is-true-my-mind-exploded/">this</a> on a cursory look through Leto's blog, and it says just about everything you need to know about Ayn Rand.</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
--Hate, I've found, is integral to fandom. I have a special kind of hate for Ohio State, the New England Patriots, the Atlanta Falcons, the Utah Jazz, and the Chicago Cubs. Notre Dame is at best a distant second to Ohio State for me, but it boasts a similar combination of atavistic snobbery, Midwestern pretensions to wholesomeness, and general lack of redeeming qualities. That said, though, of all the reasons I've found to hate me some Notre Dame, "making an <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P6mE9Au3CwM&feature=player_embedded">unholy funk abortion</a> of a pep video" never would have occurred to me. (h/t Dr. Saturday).<br />
<br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">--While <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2010/04/25/opinion/25wolfe.html?pagewanted=1&hp">this piece peters out a little</a> bit by the end, the man can write. "Beyond-baffling coincidences that take place only in a certain purple dimension Jung called 'synchronicity'"? That sound you're hearing is jealousy.</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">--I'll be busy for the next week or so, but after that I'll be able to throw together some album reviews.</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">--Thanks for reading.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.the-isb.com/images/MrTSharkpunch.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.the-isb.com/images/MrTSharkpunch.gif" /></a></div>Walterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06593913443736264276noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4863163072293104062.post-75868743380623276242010-04-24T18:20:00.002-05:002010-04-24T18:26:42.555-05:00some thoughts on the draft.<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; font-size: small;">--The big winners, as far as I'm concerned:</span><br />
<ul><li style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">The <a href="http://walterfootball.com/offseason2010bal.php">Ravens</a>. And the rich get richer. They got Sergio Kindle, a first-round talent, in the second; they got even deeper on the defensive line by snagging Terrence Cody (with him next to Haloti Ngata, who's going to run on the Ravens?); they upgraded their biggest weakness on offense, TE, with two promising projects; and got some solid depth (and, in Art Jones, talent) with later picks.</span></li>
<li style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> The <a href="http://walterfootball.com/offseason2010phi.php">Eagles</a>. They went in with a ridiculous number of draft picks, and made good use of nearly all of them. They needed a pass rusher to complement Trent Cole, and picked up his clone Brandon Graham; they needed depth at safety, and they picked up the most well-rounded FS not named Eric Berry in Nate Allen; Charles Scott, Jamar Chaney, and Jeff Owens were all great late-round pickups (mid-round projections for all of them).</span></li>
<li style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">The <a href="http://walterfootball.com/offseason2010sea.php">Seahawks</a>. Great first draft for Pete Carroll. He picked up Russell Okung, a premier pass-blocking left tackle; Earl Thomas, a great coverage safety (or possibly zone cornerback); Golden Tate, maybe the best wideout in the draft; Kam Chancellor, Taylor Mays-lite; Walter Thurmond, a top-tier corner when healthy; and Anthony McCoy, as talented a tight end as any in this class. Just a great draft for a team on the ropes.</span></li>
<li style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">The <a href="http://walterfootball.com/offseason2010nyj.php">Jets</a>. Pound-for-pound the best draft of any team this year. They might have gotten the draft's best corner in Kyle Wilson (clearly Rex Ryan is down with the capital CPT, and who's going to throw on the Jets now?), a ridiculously talented but raw interior lineman in Vladimir Ducasse, and great value picks for the backfield in HB Joe McKnight and Kentucky FB John Conner.</span></li>
<li style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">The<a href="http://walterfootball.com/offseason2010ten.php"> Titans</a>. Terrific draft for the Titans. They got three of my favorite prospects in WR Damian Williams, OLB Rennie Curran, and CB Alterraun Verner, to say nothing of Derrick Morgan, who might be the best DE in the draft. Plus, safety depth and talent in Myron Rolle and Utah's Robert Johnson.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; font-size: small;">The </span><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://walterfootball.com/offseason2010oak.php" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Raiders</a></span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; font-size: small;">. Not completely out of left field, although I will admit that I thought they'd draft Bruce Campbell a lot sooner. McClain was a great pick for their burgeoning 3-4 defense (the skills I thought he'd bring to Buffalo will apply in Oakland), and Lamarr Houston is a talented, penetrating 3-4 DE. They addressed the biggest questions on the offensive line with some high-risk, high-reward OTs in Jared Veldheer and Bruce Campbell. Jacoby Ford will improve their return game, and Walt McFadden is a good corner.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; font-size: small;">Honorable mentions: the Bucs, Lions, and Packers. </span></li>
</ul><a name='more'></a><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; font-size: small;">The losers:</span><br />
<ul><li><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; font-size: small;">The <a href="http://walterfootball.com/offseason2010jax.php">Jags</a>. Just a laughably bad draft. Even if Tyson Alualu pans out (he's not that risky of a prospect), I find it hard to believe that they couldn't find anyone to trade down with.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; font-size: small;">The <a href="http://walterfootball.com/offseason2010buf.php">Bills</a>. There were a lot of reaches here, but the real issue was drafting CJ Spiller with that top pick. I love Spiller and think he warrants every one of those comparisons to Chris Johnson, but Buffalo <i>had </i>to address its lines. Meanwhile, they already had a good corps of RBs and two excellent returners.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; font-size: small;">The <a href="http://walterfootball.com/offseason2010cle.php">Browns</a>. I like TJ Ward, but he was a huge reach in the second, especially with more pressing needs (and better safeties) on the board. The same could be said of Montario Hardesty.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; font-size: small;">The <a href="http://walterfootball.com/offseason2010den.php">Broncos</a>. Regardless of what you think of Tebow, the Broncos definitely panicked moving up to get him. DeMaryius Thomas has some huge question marks and Zane Beadles could have been had later (really? no Golden Tate, Josh McDaniels?).</span></li>
</ul><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; font-size: small;">That said, everyone besides the Jags acquitted themselves nicely at one point or another in this draft, which was really just full of talent.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; font-size: small;">Some other thoughts:</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; font-size: small;">--I really, really liked some of the <a href="http://walterfootball.com/offseason2010kc.php">Chiefs' moves</a> in this draft. I would've put them on my winners list if they'd waited a bit longer to jump on Arenas or had been able to get Terrence Cody. A youthful secondary of Eric Berry, Kendrick Lewis, Brandon Flowers, Brandon Carr, and Javier Arenas will give the Chiefs a ton of versatility and one of the better defensive backfields in the NFL. The more I think about it, the more excited I get. Tony Moeaki and Dexter McCluster give the offense some excellent new weaponry, and Jon Asamoah is a potentially great guard.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; font-size: small;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; font-size: small;">--I was taken aback when the Saints drafted Patrick Robinson, which pretty much seals Malcolm Jenkins' future as a free safety in this league (where he belongs). I wasn't terribly high on Robinson, but he does fit Gregg Williams' bump-and-run coverage schemes. Also, Charles Brown at OT was a terrific pick; an already-good pass protector who might allow Jammal Brown to finally go back to RT (or be traded). Loved the Matt Tennant and Al Woods picks, too, although when the hell are we going to get an outside linebacker?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; font-size: small;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; font-size: small;">--I'm shocked that Bryan Bulaga fell that far (stupid Bills) and that Anthony Dixon lasted to the sixth round (smart 49ers).<br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; font-size: small;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; font-size: small;">--Jerrah Hughes! Loved that pick for the Colts, which finally gives them a long-term answer to the age-old question, "How boned are we if Dwight Freeney goes out with an injury?" Not at all, at least not anymore.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; font-size: small;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; font-size: small;">--Selvish Capers was an awesome pickup for the Redskins so late in the draft; he's got the makings of a great zone-blocking RT.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; font-size: small;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; font-size: small;">--Thanks to the Patriots, I can keep on hating Brandon Spikes as much as I already do.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; font-size: small;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; font-size: small;">--A matchup to watch for next year: the Saints' preposterously talented interior line vs. the Bucs' penetrating rookie DTs Gerald McCoy and Brian Price.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; font-size: small;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; font-size: small;">--The Bengals had two quintessentially Bengals (Bengalian?) picks in Carlos Dunlap and Geno Atkins; so much talent, so little production.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; font-size: small;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; font-size: small;">--For what they had available to them, the Bears had a pretty nice draft; Major Wright can start immediately at FS, DE Corey Wootton was a huge value at that point in the draft, and Dan LeFevour is an intriguing project at QB.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; font-size: small;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; font-size: small;">--Absurdly Premature All-Rookie team:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; font-size: small;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; font-size: small;">QB: Sam Bradford</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; font-size: small;">HB: Ben Tate</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; font-size: small;">WR: Golden Tate; Dexter McCluster; Dez Bryant</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; font-size: small;">TE: Tony Moeaki</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; font-size: small;">OL: Trent Williams; Russell Okung; Jon Asamoah; Mike Johnson; Maurkice Pouncey</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; font-size: small;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; font-size: small;">DE: Jerry Hughes (Jerrah Hughes!); Brandon Graham</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; font-size: small;">DT: Ndamukong Suh; Gerald McCoy</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; font-size: small;">LB: Rolando McClain; Rennie Curran; Sergio Kindle</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; font-size: small;">CB: Joe Haden; Kyle Wilson</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; font-size: small;">S: Eric Berry; Earl Thomas</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; font-size: small;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; font-size: small;">KR: Jacoby Ford</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; font-size: small;">PR: Javier Arenas</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"> </span>Walterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06593913443736264276noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4863163072293104062.post-46177949460896843312010-04-21T22:30:00.004-05:002010-04-24T17:08:03.129-05:00you say you stand by your man -- mock draft 2.0.<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><o:p>I was pleased, generally speaking, with my first go-round at mocking this. I'm still a little torn on whether I want to draft for what I think will happen or what teams need, but I tend towards the latter. While my approach to the draft isn't unique (I've seen my top five from 1.0 repeated all over the interwebs) I do like to think that my analysis of each player brings something new to the table.</o:p><br />
<br />
<o:p>That said, here are some thoughts on my player rankings and the draft in general, accounting for better scouting reports/film availability/general reasoning:</o:p><br />
<ul><li><o:p>Bruce Campbell: The most egregiously bad ranking from the last draft, Campbell was severely overrated because I didn't do my due diligence researching him; he's a ridiculous physical specimen, but the film doesn't justify a high selection (or even one before round four).</o:p></li>
<li><o:p>Rolando McClain: While I'm still very high on McClain, he may be a little stiffer in coverage than I realized, to say nothing of the defensive line talent keeping him clean on the field and the advantages of his coaching. I still think he's a very safe pick and a three-down player for a 3-4 team, but there's more potential to bust than I acknowledged.</o:p></li>
<li><o:p>Jimmy Clausen: Doug Farrar brought up a very good point when he noted that Clausen's had the best possible coaching at every level, and as a result has very limited upside. Factor in a surprisingly weak arm and possible leadership issues, and he's even less desirable than when I made my last draft.</o:p></li>
<li><o:p>Ndamukong Suh: If anything I've underrated Suh; I didn't realize just how much upper-body strength he had until I saw <a href="http://espn.go.com/video/clip?id=5073955">this</a>, and the revelation that he was told to read-and-react, rather than go full speed, at Nebraska was really astounding.</o:p></li>
<li><o:p>Don't be surprised in the slightest if the Saints or the Jets trade up for a marquee player; Jacksonville and Kansas City are both dying to get out of their draft slots. </o:p></li>
<li><o:p>On the whole, this is a particularly good draft for defensive tackles (maybe the best ever), safeties (in contention with 1981 for the best ever), and wide receivers (remarkably deep), while being a poor one for defensive ends (seemingly everyone has question marks), corners (solid, but not much home-run talent), and quarterbacks (underwhelming).</o:p></li>
</ul><b><o:p></o:p></b><br />
<a name='more'></a>1. St. Louis Rams: Sam Bradford, QB, Oklahoma <i>(Last Pick: Bradford)</i></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">There are still a lot of worries for Bradford - especially his fragility and the fact that he never had to deal with substantial pressure in college - but he's extremely accurate and a proven leader. If the Rams' investment in LT Jason Smith works out, he'll be under less pressure than draftniks imagine. Also, judging from how the Rams' front office has handled the speculation, there's no way it won't be Bradford.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Other Possibilities: Jimmy Clausen, QB, Notre Dame; Ndamukong Suh, DT, Nebraska</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">2. Detroit Lions: Ndamukong Suh, DT, Nebraska <i>(Last Pick: Suh)</i><br />
<br />
After adding Kyle Vanden Bosch and Corey Williams in free agency, it seems like Detroit has made some major strides in repairing their d-line. Throwing in Suh would be the first step to a potentially dominant defense down the line. Stafford still needs protection, but the Lions could get a quick fix from a Flozell Adams type and not regret passing on the next coming of Joe Greene.<br />
<br />
Other Possibilities: Gerald McCoy, DT, Oklahoma; Russell Okung, OT, Oklahoma State.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">3. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Gerald McCoy, DT, Oklahoma <i>(Last Pick: McCoy)</i></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">The weakest part of a weak defense last year, Tampa Bay's defensive line was a shambles outside of a surprise year from Stylez White. McCoy is a very safe pick, and would fit in perfectly as a penetrating under tackle in a Tampa-2</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Other Possibilities: Eric Berry, S, Tennessee; Derrick Morgan, DE, Georgia Tech; Jason Pierre-Paul, DE, South Florida</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">4. Washington Redskins: Eric Berry, S, Tennessee <i>(Last Pick: Russell Okung)</i></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">In the wake of the Donovan McNabb trade, it's highly unlikely that the Skins will draft Jimmy Clausen. Obviously the offensive line is a wreck, but Kyle Shanahan, Mike's son, has been singing its praises for weeks now, and while that's a possible smokescreen for draft activity, it could also reflect the benefits of moving to a zone-blocking scheme. Meanwhile, LaRon Landry is definitely making the move to strong safety, bringing the Skins' total of good strong safeties to three, and their total of free safeties to zero. Eric Berry reportedly enjoyed his visit to D.C., and I think that Shanahan has enough confidence to wait for a project player he thinks he can turn into a starting left tackle.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Other Possibilities: Trent Williams, OT, Oklahoma; Russell Okung</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">5. Kansas City Chiefs: Trent Williams, OT, Oklahoma <i>(Last Pick: Eric Berry)</i></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Scott Pioli has been quietly upgrading his line with veteran zone-blockers this offseason, and kicks Brandon Albert back into his comfort zone at right tackle (while protecting his ill-advised investment in Matt Cassell) by drafting Williams. The progress Williams made in just one year playing on the blind side is staggering, and he's got the most upside of any left tackle in the draft class. Williams is also a better run-blocker than Okung, and Pioli will prize that versatility.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Other Possibilities: Rolando McClain, ILB, Alabama; Russell Okung</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">6. Seattle Seahawks: Russell Okung, OT, Oklahoma State <i>(Last Pick: Derrick Morgan)</i></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
The Seahawks luck into a franchise left tackle, someone who will mesh very nicely with Alex Gibbs in Seattle. Okung will probably only flourish as a run blocker in a scheme that takes advantage of his quickness, and if anybody will be able to rectify Okung's indecisiveness and balance issues blocking in the second level, it's Gibbs.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Other Possibilities: Bryan Bulaga, OT, Iowa; CJ Spiller, HB, Clemson; Earl Thomas, S, Texas</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">7. Cleveland Browns: Joe Haden, CB, Florida <i>(Last Pick: CJ Spiller)</i></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Haden's stock has fallen quite a bit over the last few weeks, but it's hard to see why; he proved his speed at his Pro Day and his versatility and skill consistently shows up on film. I love me some Sheldon Brown, but he started slowing down at the end of last season, and could be moved to free safety in the wake of Brodney Poole's departure. Haden addresses a need regardless, and will learn from one of the best corners of the decade (and someone he resembles closely) in Brown.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Other Possibilities: Earl Thomas; CJ Spiller; Jimmy Clausen, QB, Notre Dame</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">8. Oakland Raiders: Bruce Campbell, OT, Maryland <i>(Last Pick: Campbell)</i></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">I said that Campbell was overrated, and it's really easy to pick on Al Davis come draft day. Nevertheless, this pick makes a lot of sense in Oakland's bizarro world, like Heyward-Bey last year. Mike Iupati is also a strong possibility because of needs on the line and Tom Cable's ties to Idaho.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Other Possibilities: Mike Iupati, OG, Idaho; Rolando McClain</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">9. Buffalo Bills: Rolando McClain, ILB, Alabama <i>(Last Pick: Jimmy Clausen)</i></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
In the long run, it may be a better move for the Bills to try and pick up Bryan Bulaga, who's a very good prospect at a position of need. They're moving to a 3-4, though, and have documented troubles handling the run; McClain's leadership can ease the transition and his skill against the run will mask the deficiencies of the team's defensive line.<br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Other Possibilities: Bryan Bulaga; Dan Williams, NT, Tennessee</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">10. Jacksonville Jaguars: Earl Thomas, FS, Texas <i>(Last Pick: Joe Haden)</i></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">CJ Spiller or Dez Bryant would be a nice luxury pick here, but under Del Rio the Jags are first and foremost a defensive-minded football team. Reggie Nelson has been an abject mess the last two seasons, and the Jags' secondary is the primary factor keeping them from defensive prominence. Thomas will probably be among the leaders in missed tackles at his position next year, but he's also a potentially great coverage safety. </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Other Possibilities: CJ Spiller; Derrick Morgan, DE, Georgia Tech</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">11. Denver Broncos: Dez Bryant, WR, Oklahoma State <i>(Last Pick: Rolando McClain)</i></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">The Broncos have just about finished obliterating all vestiges of those great Shanahan offenses, beginning with ditching zone blocking and ending with the trade of Brandon Marshall. While Bryant has huge bust potential and may not develop into a dominant number one receiver, the Broncos simply have to upgrade this position.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Other Possibilities: Dan Williams; Golden Tate, WR, Notre Dame</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">12. Miami Dolphins: Dan Williams, NT, Tennessee <i>(Last Pick: Brandon Graham)</i></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
The Jason Ferguson suspension is forcing the Dolphins' hand here, but Williams won't be a bad pickup. He's a four-year starter (figuring prominently on some very good defenses) and is the most versatile nose tackle in the draft. Edge rusher is still a concern, but this is a solid pick.<br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Other Possibilities: Brandon Graham, OLB, Michigan; Sergio Kindle, OLB, Texas</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">13. San Francisco 49ers: Bryan Bulaga, OT, Iowa <i>(Last Pick: Bulaga)</i></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">The 49ers have already expressed interest in Bulaga, and he's got the power and agility to be the run blocker that the 49ers desperately need at the moment. Moreover, even if he doesn't make it at LT, RT is San Francisco's biggest weakness.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Other Possibilities: CJ Spiller; Taylor Mays, SS/OLB, USC</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">14. Seattle Seahawks: CJ Spiller, HB, Clemson <i>(Last Pick: Earl Thomas)</i></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">The Seahawks luck out yet again with Spiller, who's far and away the best running back in this class. Seattle has a strong enough RB rotation to keep Spiller fresh, while allowing him to provide instant offense for an anemic team. Plus, he's a better one-cut runner than he's made out to be, and his receiving skills will take a lot of pressure off of Charlie Whitehurst. And I haven't even mentioned his impact on special teams, where he may do the most damage.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Other Possibilities: Taylor Mays; Derrick Morgan</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">15. New York Giants: Derrick Morgan, DE, Georgia Tech <i>(Last Pick: Brian Price)</i><br />
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The Giants still need a lot of help at linebacker, but the move to the Tampa-2 will let Justin Tuck kick back inside to under tackle and let Osi Umenyiora go full-speed at defensive end. Morgan is a very well-rounded defensive end, like a Kyle Vanden Bosch, and his discipline against the run will help mask some of the deficiencies in the linebacking corps. </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Other Possibilities: Brandon Graham; Sean Weatherspoon, OLB, Mizzou </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">16. Tennessee Titans: Jason Pierre-Paul, DE, South Florida <i>(Last Pick: Everson Griffen)</i></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">The Titans' FO loves physical freaks, and they'll gladly take the second-freakiest freak in this class (flashes of Jevon Kearse?), who also addresses a big position of need. There are a lot of questions about the Titans' d-line, mostly stemming from injury, but we know by now that in Chuck Cecil's Cover-2 their primary job is to rush the passer. Pierre-Paul is extraordinarily risky, and will probably never get any better against the run, but his potential as a pass rusher is pretty much unlimited.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Other Possibilities: Brandon Graham; Devin McCourty, CB, Rutgers</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">17. San Francisco 49ers: Taylor Mays, SS, USC <i>(Last Pick: Dez Bryant)</i></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Taylor Mays has very well documented problems in coverage, and he's a lot more hesitant against the run (and diagnosing blocking schemes) than you'd expect from such a big ol' monster. That said, Mike Singletary thinks he can coach up anybody, and his team needs a safety, especially one as versatile as Mays.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Other Possibilities: Brandon Graham (a huge possibility); Golden Tate</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">18. Pittsburgh Steelers: Maurkice Pouncey, G/C, Florida <i>(Last Pick: Anthony Davis)</i></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">The Steelers have maybe, possibly, had a rough offseason. They need help on the interior of their offensive line and, more importantly, some stability. As Doug Farrar has pointed out, Pouncey's experience in the shotgun will be a big boon for Bruce Arians' offense, too.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Other Possibilities: Golden Tate; Terrence Cody, NT, Alabama</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">19. Atlanta Falcons: Sean Weatherspoon, OLB, Mizzou<i> (Last Pick: Jason Pierre-Paul)</i></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">The Falcons are going to need some help at defensive end, especially if Jamaal Anderson makes the long-rumored move to defensive tackle. Nevertheless, Weatherspoon is a great player who fills a need for the Falcons, especially due to his skill in coverage; and, according to Weatherspoon, the Dirty Birds have already expressed a lot of interest in him.<br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Other Possibilities: Brandon Graham; Ryan Mathews, RB, Fresno State </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">20. Houston Texans: Kyle Wilson, CB, Boise State <i>(Last Pick: Donovan Warren)</i></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Sure enough, Dunta Robinson's gone to Atlanta, and the Texans need some serious help in the secondary. HB's also a need, for sure, but the offense made due without much support from the run game last year, while the defense ultimately had to be improved. Wilson's a very good cover corner, probably the best corner left, and he'll give the Texans a little flexibility with his strengths in both zone and man. </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Other Possibilities: Ryan Matthews; Brian Price, DT, UCLA</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">21. Cincinnati Bengals: Jared Odrick, DT/DE, Penn State <i>(Last Pick: Odrick)</i></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">While I like Brian Price better as a prospect, Odrick's strength against the run fits Cincy's scheme a lot better. Plus, he's versatile enough to keep up with the hybrid shifts that Mike Zimmer's scheme uses.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Other Possibilities: Jermaine Gresham, TE, Oklahoma; Damian Williams, WR, USC</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">22. New England Patriots: Brandon Graham, OLB, Michigan <i>(Last Pick: Jahvid Best)</i></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">The Patriots complete their youth movement on defense with this pick, which should give them a permanent fixture at rush OLB. Graham demolished all who came in his path with his speed at the Senior Bowl, and he's good enough against the run to start on a Belichick defense.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Other Possibilities: Jerry Hughes, DE/OLB, TCU; Jermaine Gresham; Jimmy Clausen</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">23. Green Bay Packers: Mike Iupati, OT/OG, Idaho <i>(Last Pick: Kyle Wilson)</i><br />
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Mike Iupati's stock took a precipitous drop after a bad Senior Bowl, but he's still an immensely talented offensive line prospect. He should start right away at guard for the Packers, who could use some help on the interior; his versatility could also eventually allow him to start at either tackle position.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Other Possibilities: Anthony Davis, OT, Rutgers; Donovan Warren, CB, Michigan</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">24. Philadelphia Eagles: Donovan Warren, CB, Michigan <i>(Last Pick: Carlos Dunlap)</i></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">This is a pretty big reach for Warren, but he's the best CB available and the Eagles desperately need depth after trading Sheldon Brown. Warren's versatile and while he gets too aggressive in bump-and-run coverage, he's got the recovery speed to mask those mistakes to go along with a lot of upside.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Other Possibilities: Jimmy Clausen; Carlos Dunlap, DE, Florida</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">25. Baltimore Ravens: Jermaine Gresham, TE, Oklahoma <i>(Last Pick: Damian Williams)</i><br />
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This pick was very, very close to being Golden Tate, but the addition of Anquan Boldin lets the Ravens address a lack of short-intermediate receiving targets for Joe Flacco. Gresham's ridiculously talented, and from what I saw in 2008 (his last full year of football), he's a good enough blocker to get the vote of approval from Ozzie Newsome.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Other Possibilities: Golden Tate</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">26. Arizona Cardinals: Sergio Kindle, DE/OLB, Texas <i>(Last Pick: Kindle)</i></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">The Cardinals need help at so many positions, but rush OLB is definitely tops on the list. Kindle is a very good pass rusher, and he can hold his own in the Cards' gap-control run defense.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Other Possibilities: Jimmy Clausen</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">27. Dallas Cowboys: Golden Tate, WR, Notre Dame <i>(Last Pick: Tate)</i></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">The Cowboys need a complement to Miles Austin, and they get it in Golden Tate, who may be the best wideout in the draft. He runs his extensive route tree very crisply, can block, and has deep speed and leaping ability. Plus, hands of gold. He's everything that Roy Williams isn't, basically, and that's what the Cowboys' offense needs.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Other Possibilities: Arrelious Benn, WR, Illinois; Daryl Washington, ILB, TCU</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">28. San Diego Chargers: Ryan Mathews, HB, Fresno State <i>(Last Pick: Dan Williams)</i></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">An unimaginative pick, yes, but Mathews is the workhorse that the Chargers need at the moment. He's got decent enough speed to start in the league, and he's a complete RB; he can do all the blocking and receiving that Norv's offense will ask of him. Nose tackle's also a huge need, but the Chargers can address it in later rounds.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Other Possibilities: Terrence Cody </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">29. New York Jets: Jerry Hughes, OLB, TCU <i>(Last Pick: Hughes)</i></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">I'd be willing to bet a substantial amount of money that the Jets trade out of this pick, but in this scenario they're fortunate to draft the best player available at a position of need. Hughes is a lights-out pass rusher who only got better as his opportunities increased, and he'll be able to study under another small school legend in Jason Taylor.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Other Possibilities: Devin McCourty; Everson Griffen, DE, USC</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">30. Minnesota Vikings: Jimmy Clausen, QB, Notre Dame <i>(Last Pick: Mike Iupati)</i></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Clausen's long descent finally ends with him winding up in a very good situation. Brad Childress's West Coast offense wouldn't require many long throws from Clausen, whose supreme touch on short throws will be very useful. Favre may not be here next year, and certainly not two years from now; even though the Vikes have to upgrade o-line and CB, this immediately becomes their most pressing need once Favre leaves. </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Other possibilities: Devin McCourty; Kareem Jackson, CB, Alabama</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">31. Indianapolis Colts: Charles Brown, OT, USC <i>(Last Pick: Javier Arenas)</i></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Bill Polian called out the offensive line after the Colts' loss in the Super Bowl, and current left tackle Charlie Johnson is almost certainly going back to the interior after the release of longtime LG Ryan Lilja. Brown has some question marks, particularly regarding his strength, but should fit pretty nicely on the blind side in a zone-blocking scheme.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Other Possibilities: Brian Price</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">32. New Orleans Saints: Brian Price, DT, UCLA <i>(Last Pick: Sean Weatherspoon)</i></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">The Saints are very fortunate to have Price, the best pass-rushing DT in this class not named Suh or McCoy, fall to them at 32, considering their problems on the defensive line. Sedrick Ellis has played well but hasn't justified his top-10 selection, and some support next to him (and depth at the position) would be invaluable. Price may have some issues against the run, but he was ridiculously productive in college, and before an inexplicable freefall in his draft stock, was considered only a few notches below Gerald McCoy.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Other Possibilities: Nate Allen, FS, USF; Carlos Dunlap</div>Walterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06593913443736264276noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4863163072293104062.post-66786768718723594952010-04-19T15:16:00.003-05:002010-04-19T21:36:35.680-05:00'ey yo spiced-out calvin coolidge, loungin' with seven duelers.<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">--NBA playoff reflections:</div><ul style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><li>KG got suspended for <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eycPuFmGCdU&feature=player_embedded">this</a>, which some people think will <a href="http://www.celticsblog.com/2010/4/19/1429832/emotion-pushes-to-razors-edge">bring out the emotion</a> the Celtics have been lacking, and which others, <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/2010/4/18/1429341/joakim-noah-kevin-garnett-dirty-player">Joakim Noah included</a>, think is yet another example of KG's dirty play. As a known KG fan (even though he's made it very hard on me since ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE!!!!!!), I tend to think that KG's anger came more from the fact that he airballed a shot he would've sunk in his sleep just two years ago than any concern for Pierce. His body is betraying him, and this season has given him a laundry list of reminders. What I hate, though, is that people forget that the year he joined the Celtics he decisively won a vote of his fellow All-Stars on who they most wanted to see win a championship; I guess he's <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/2010/2/24/1322702/kevin-garnett-curt-schilling">burned through all the goodwill</a> he earned toiling in Minnesota.</li>
<li>The offenses in the Nuggets-Jazz game were just ridiculously efficient, and Melo had a night befitting a superstar. Even though I don't have any great love for the Nuggets, I'll gladly watch the Jazz lose every night.</li>
<li>It's looking like my prediction for ugly games is going to come true in the East, and that the Heat are going to keep their streak of unwatchable playoff series alive.</li>
<li>Finally, most of the games were more lopsided than the scores would show, especially in the East. I can only hope that the Thunder will show a little more ferocity than they did in Game 1.</li>
</ul><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"></div><a name='more'></a> --I missed Treme last night because of an article I was writing; I'll try to catch a rerun tonight, and give a review tomorrow. From what I hear, <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b54EEpdv9q8&feature=PlayList&p=41B2F1EB0BFF90B5&playnext_from=PL&index=0&playnext=1">Clarke Peters</a> deals with a hoodlum in this episode, which is <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7M7HMvI1toE">one of my favorite things to watch him do</a>.<br />
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">--The Ernie Sims trade breaks down like this: the Lions send Sims, their young outside linebacker, to the Eagles, who send a fifth-round pick to the Broncos, who send Tony Scheffler, their young tight end, to the Lions. The Lions had no use for Sims, who was lost in basic zone coverage last year and who was abysmal against the run (although injuries, supposedly, played a big role) and get, in Scheffler and second-year man Brandon Pettigrew, one of the better young tight end tandems in the league. I don't know what the Eagles think they're getting with Sims, but maybe he'll do better in a more man-blitz defensive scheme. Also, come on, Broncos.</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">--Chris Brown's <a href="http://fifthdown.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/04/19/the-most-tepid-defense-of-scouting-youll-ever-read/">breakdown of scouting in football</a> is weighted towards the frustrated college football fan's perspective, but it's very reasonable and, like everything else Brown writes, an immensely readable and knowledgeable analysis.</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">--To the right of that article is a link to the Fifth Down Blog's slightly questionable <a href="http://fifthdown.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/04/17/best-safeties-in-the-n-f-l-the-top-10-list/">list of the 10 best safeties in the league</a> (Antrel Rolle? Roman Harper?), with a pretty limited rationale and some interesting honorable mentions. My list would be:</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">10. <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yjpANEVexhY">Adrian Wilson</a>, Arizona. A-Dub had a down year by his standards, mainly in run support, which has traditionally been (and is lazily assumed to still be) his forte. He was very solid in coverage, though, and remains the league's least publicized dirty player.</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">9. <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XJKdpsZi_10">Bernard Pollard,</a> Houston. Scott Pioli never should've cut Pollard, whose run defense is impeccable (and a big part of Houston's rather short-lived renaissance against the run). He's no slouch in a robber zone, either.</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">8. <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zg702tJYlYk">Brandon Meriweather</a>, New England. Previously known for getting distracted by shiny things on the sidelines (and for all-around dirty play), this year Meriweather helped provide a semblance of a pass defense that's been missing since the front office let Asante Samuel walk.</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">7. <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bAPqxZLhtF0&feature=fvst">Darren Sharper</a>, New Orleans. Like Dawkins, Sharper proved his doubters wrong in the first half of the season by returning to his ballhawking form of yore. I'd rank him higher, but he's a total liability against the run and started running out of steam late last season.</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">6. <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b9vjdCx-TjU&feature=related">Antoine Bethea</a>, Indianapolis. Bethea was better when paired with Bob Sanders and allowed to roam more, but he's done a very good job of corralling Indy's secondary and masking the direly overrated Melvin Bullitt's limited range. He can also destroy people with his hits and has a knack for forcing turnovers in the red zone and deep coverage.</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">5. <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ymWrUXXLLxI&feature=related">Brian Dawkins</a>, Denver. Like many others, I was ready to write off Dawkins after the end of the 2008 season, when he had really started showing his age in coverage. He proved me wrong this year, though, because he was as responsible as anyone for Denver's brief defensive resurgence (generally through good intermediate zone coverage and bread and butter, run support).</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">4. <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RSx2N-0hPqQ">Kerry Rhodes</a>, New York/Arizona. Most of the criticisms I've seen leveled at Rhodes are nebulous "he lost his passion for the game" accusations; from what I've seen, he's very sound in coverage and excellent in run support.</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">3. <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7IzDboGfUgk">Nick Collins</a>, Green Bay. Ed Reed lite, he's an excellent center fielder who's speedy enough to help in run support; he makes the most of Green Bay's pressure defense.</div><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">2. </span><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UhGBCpkNuDk" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Troy Polamalu</a><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">, Pittsburgh. I take issue with people who praise Polamalu unequivocally (too risky in coverage and too many missed tackles), but his versatility is critical to the success of Pittsburgh's scheme. Although people tend to forget about Aaron Smith's injury also hurting the Steelers, losing Polamalu to the Madden Curse was devastating. Like Reed, he's one of the only defenders in the game who can dictate terms to an offense.</span><br />
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">1. <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sl6UW-r4Pjw&feature=related">Ed Reed</a>, Baltimore. The best coverage safety in the league since he arrived, he's also better than he's made out to be against the run. He took fewer chances in coverage last season, though he's about as good protecting the ball on returns as Adrian Peterson.</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">If I were making this list last year, LaRon Landry would be included, possibly in the top five. If I were making it two years ago, Bob Sanders would be number one with a bullet. When I make this list next year, I will eat my own eyeballs if Eric Berry isn't on it.</span>Walterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06593913443736264276noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4863163072293104062.post-74249030127742574762010-04-17T00:03:00.004-05:002010-04-17T00:14:01.653-05:00but to take on the world at all angles requires a strength i can't use.<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">--After a week or so of lackluster home stretch, the NBA Playoffs are finally here (beginning tomorrow night, I believe). There are some really great series coming up, especially in the West. Literally every one of the West's matchups has a compelling subplot:</div><ul style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><li>LA vs. Oklahoma City has Kobe vs. Durant, the past versus the future; the Lakers have been on a real slide, and the Thunder always play up against them;</li>
<li>Denver vs. Utah has a great point guard matchup in Chauncey and Deron, and potentially great coaching; </li>
<li>Phoenix vs. Portland would've been better with Brandon Roy healthy, but Nate McMillan is the legitimate Coach of the Year because of how he's handled injuries, so I wouldn't count the Blazers out;</li>
<li>and Dallas vs. San Antonio has two of the most veteran squads in the NBA, each of whom finished strong, and who are in position to make one last run at the Finals.</li>
</ul><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">The East is, as you might expect, way less intriguing, but Boston v. Miami, Atlanta v. Milwaukee (even sans Bogut, which was a really tragic injury), and Orlando v. Charlotte should all have some throwback ugliness in their defense, just nasty. If Orlando were to run a gauntlet of Charlotte, Boston, and Cleveland, they'd have nothing to fear from the West's defenses. Finally, SBNation had a <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/2010/4/15/1423651/2010-nba-playoffs-adopt-a-team">series of reasons to adopt each team, </a>some of which (especially for the Lakers, Spurs, and Mavs) were very compelling, at least to non-fans. I, for one, will be pulling for the Thunder, because I like Durant, because they'll be playing the Lakers, and because they're just so damned fun to watch.</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><a name='more'></a><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">--<i>Treme </i>was very good, as anticipated. Like <i>The Wire</i>, it featured some really great acting and direction, as well as a typically realistic approach (a number of the actors were just local band members playing themselves, including the Rebirth Brass Band, whom Matt Labash <a href="http://www.weeklystandard.com/Content/Public/Articles/000/000/013/427dewzr.asp">profiled glowingly</a> in a great <i>Weekly Standard</i> article). In typical David Simon style, it threw the viewer headfirst into the situation, and a lot of the feedback I've seen for the show has reflected the resultant confusion; as someone who pronounces it "Nawlins" in a raspy voice, this obviously didn't faze me. Unfortunately the show also, like <i>The Wire</i>, featured an obnoxious fuckup as a central character in Steve Zahn's mouthy DJ (flashes of McNulty without the pathos, never a good thing). Regardless, I'm extremely excited for the next episode, especially considering that HBO's already renewed the show for a second season.</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">--<a href="http://slatest.slate.com/id/2251083/?wpisrc=newsletter">This </a>is pretty wild, to say the least.</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">--By the way, if you ever wanted a reason to hate on Pitchfork, check out the <i>I See a Darkness </i>entry on <a href="http://pitchfork.com/features/staff-lists/5923-top-100-albums-of-the-1990s/10/">this page</a> (or really, any William Bowers entry in the feature). Or this <a href="http://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/11791-straight-outta-compton-efil4zaggin/">pretty ridiculous review</a> of an N.W.A. reissue. The infuriating part is that if you look farther down on that first link<i>, </i>you'll find some of the best commentary on <i>In the Aeroplane Over the Sea </i>that I've ever seen; such a frustrating mix of pretension and talent.</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">--This is my only Youtube link, but I guarantee that it's <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PD2ARRee35c&feature=player_embedded">the creepiest thing you'll ever see.</a></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">--<a href="http://twitter.com/FakeAPStylebook">This twitter account</a> is hilarious. Read it.</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">--I didn't know about <a href="http://blitzology.blogspot.com/">this site</a>, but it looks extremely promising (just like <a href="http://www.californiagoldenblogs.com/2009/1/16/725709/understanding-our-gold-rus">this mansome breakdown of Cal's defense</a>). I'll file it away with Smart Football, Football Outsiders, and the rest of my schematic analysis sites for the future.</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">--EDSBS's latest <a href="http://www.everydayshouldbesaturday.com/2010/4/16/1426478/the-digital-viking-edsbss-guide-to">Digital Viking</a> (essential reading, as with everyting Spencer Hall touches) has a detailed rundown of Ol' Dirty Bastard, which is as impressive as you'd expect from someone known professionally as "Ol' Dirty Bastard." On that EDSBS tip, you should check out Spence's <a href="http://www.everydayshouldbesaturday.com/2010/4/14/1422008/how-well-do-you-actually-know">curriculum for football fans</a>; a very good rubric for laymen trying to break into the clergy, as it were.<br />
<br />
--Now that the baseball season's back, two of my favorite blogs (conveniently, for my two favorite teams) are back in force: <a href="http://www.vivaelbirdos.com/">Viva El Birdos</a> has some great insights and a thriving community (meaning a few great nicknames), and <a href="http://draysbay.com/">DRaysBay</a>, in spite of a terrible name, has some beautiful statistical and strategic breakdowns for Rays fans. </div>Walterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06593913443736264276noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4863163072293104062.post-53155095392250435852010-04-09T19:00:00.003-05:002010-04-09T19:12:07.248-05:00if you still had the bones of an idol, you'd be long long gone.<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">--I keep hearing about Mark Titus, Ohio State blogger extraordinaire, and any aOSU doubts I may have had about him were snuffed out by his <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5V6FCitvRUM">promotional youtube video.</a> He's a really good writer, too (or at least his ghostwriter is) and his blog, <a href="http://clubtrillion.blogspot.com/">Club Trillion</a>, is a great read. At the very least, it's the only way you'll find out Evan Turner's nickname or how Greivis Vasquez treats the ladies.</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">--<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Treme_%28TV_series%29"><i>Treme, </i></a>David Simon's upcoming show about life in post-Katrina New Orleans, is a groingrabbingly exciting prospect. It features a number of <i>Wire </i>veterans (including Wendell Pierce and Clarke Peters, Bunk and Lester Freamon respectively) as well as NOLA native John Goodman, and the A.V. Club was extremely positive about the show in its <a href="http://www.avclub.com/articles/date-night-american-idol-treme,39980/">latest podcast. </a>I really couldn't be more titillated to see TV's best journalistic voice cover a city that's direly in need of a realistic appraisal. The show premieres on HBO Sunday night at 9 CST, if I'm not mistaken.</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">--I don't remember if I've posted this before or not, but it truly is one of the most ridiculous things <a href="http://www.mouthpiecesports.com/blog/2009/04/01/the-least-correct-jeopardy-answer-i-have-ever-seen/">I've ever seen.</a></div><a name='more'></a><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">--It obviously isn't at the <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Sfo32rlkiE">Wolf Blitzer gold standard</a> for racist comments made by venerable, silver-haired TV personalities, but what Alex Trebek has to say at the <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cg7Wg-RG9hk&feature=related">end of this clip</a> is really pretty hilarious.</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">--It's a theory that, as I've gotten more familiar with both parties, I've come to agree with. <a href="http://www.funnyordie.com/videos/4ac3ee6f36/parks-and-recreation-is-the-wu-tang-of-comedy?rel=player">Good on Questo for illustrating it in this clip.</a></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">--As with all things, I do it because <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=laiZgrIpbcA">THE WARRIOR</a> (HOOOOOGAAAAAN!) <a href="http://ultimatewarrior.com/blog">does it.</a></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">--This is <a href="http://www.twoyoutubevideosandamotherfuckingcrossfader.com/">one of the finest timewasters</a> I've come across in my time on these internets.</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">--If the Redskins sign Flozell Adams at left tackle, it probably means they'll take Eric Berry with the 4th overall pick. Barring a (increasingly likely) trade of LaRon Landry, the Skins will have my two favorite safeties of the last decade in one defensive backfield, and I'll be doomed to continue rooting for them.</div>Walterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06593913443736264276noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4863163072293104062.post-22093435394510596482010-04-08T20:21:00.002-05:002010-04-08T20:27:40.626-05:00don't talk of dust and roses, or should we powder our noses.<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">--No kooky links today, just opinions.</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">--As a Redskins sympathizer (considering how much the team has changed since that brief run of likability after Sean Taylor's murder, when I first got hooked, it's tough to call me a fan) I guess I have to comment on the McNabb trade. Jason Campbell got drafted into a terrible situation, with poor receivers and an aging (and soon to be obsolete) o-line. He got approximately one half of a good season out of Clinton Portis, during which time Campbell was a fringe Pro Bowler. While "regressing" this last season and a half, his receivers led the league in drops, the running game was nonexistent, and after Chris Samuels went down Campbell got sacked while taking three-step drops, to say nothing of the crippling schematic issues that came with Jim Zorn.</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">In short, Campbell was boned from the beginning. Throughout it all, he handled himself with class (a nebulous concept at best, but he never called out his teammates or coaches), and got repaid with a characteristically short-sighted move from Skins management. He deserved better than <a href="http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/blog/shutdown_corner/post/Campbell-found-out-about-McNabb-trade-from-repor?urn=nfl,232069">to find out from a reporter,</a> and not his own team, that a trade had been made for his replacement. He deserves better than to end up in Oakland, which, along with Carolina and Arizona, is looking like a likely suitor.</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"></div><a name='more'></a><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">As for McNabb, I don't know that he's an immediate improvement. His stats grade out as slightly more efficient than Campbell (admittedly damaged somewhat by his long throws to DeSean Jackson), and he's definitely got a quicker release. He'll need it, especially if the Redskins don't draft Russell Okung with that fourth pick. The o-line will continue to be one of, if not the, worst in the league, and for all the criticism directed at McNabb's receivers over the years, I'd like to see a corps worse than the one he's inheriting from J-Cam. Putting an aging, injury-prone QB behind that o-line will almost certainly be disastrous.</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">From a fan's--sympathizer's--point of view, I can't hate this move enough. If the Skins were going to trade that pick, it should've gone towards getting Jared Gaither, one of the best young LTs in the league, from the Ravens. Moreover, I just plain don't like Donovan McNabb. I didn't like him in Philly as a player (and I've always felt he's been appropriately rated in that second tier), and he's always struck me as a guy who doesn't mind laughing at his own stupid jokes. Add this to the rumors that the front office is trying to pick up Brandon Marshall, and you've got a classic case of Same Old Skins.</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">--Also, the Skins shouldn't move to the 3-4. It's going to negate the talents of Haynesworth, Andre Carter (who should have gone to Philly instead of that draft pick), and probably London Fletcher. It'll be good for Orakpo and Landry, but just like the Chiefs, the Skins are trying to make their personnel fit their scheme, and not vice-versa.</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">--I can't but think that Elvis Costello, like Pavement, is a musician I'll like a lot more when I'm 30.</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">--Baseball's back, and Albert Pujols is ridiculous.</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">--Because I'm a douche, I rank all my songs on iTunes. I used to give every songs three stars on average, and then work in either direction, but I changed it recently to make one star the average so as not to inflate ratings. The gist of this is that I decided to limit myself to only 25 five-star ratings (whittling down the list was one of the harder things I've ever had to do), and here are my 25 favorite songs, in no particular order:</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">"Heroes (Single Version)" -- David Bowie</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">"Once in a Lifetime" -- Talking Heads</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">"Seen and Not Seen" -- Talking Heads</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">"Burning Down the House" -- Talking Heads</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">"This Must Be the Place (Naive Melody)" -- Talking Heads</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">"Dear Prudence" -- The Beatles</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">"Wake Up" -- Arcade Fire</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">"The Army" -- Ben Folds Five</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">"Tonight" -- TV on the Radio</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">"Young Liars" -- TV on the Radio</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">"Holland, 1945" -- Neutral Milk Hotel</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">"Oh Comely" -- Neutral Milk Hotel</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">"Superpowers" -- The Dismemberment Plan</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">"Supper's Ready" -- Genesis</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">"Upward Over the Mountain" -- Iron & Wine</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">"99 Problems/Helter Skelter" -- Danger Mouse</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">"Teardrop" -- Jose Gonzales</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">"The Execution of All Things" -- Rilo Kiley</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">"Nomadic Revery (All Around)" -- Bonnie "Prince" Billy</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">"For the Widows in Paradise; For the Fatherless in Ypsilanti" -- Sufjan Stevens</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">"Chicago" -- Sufjan Stevens</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">"Casimir Pulaski Day" -- Sufjan Stevens</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">"I Am Trying to Break Your Heart" -- Wilco</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">"The Temptation of Adam" -- Josh Ritter</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">"Dark Center of the Universe" -- Modest Mouse</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Just missing the cut: "11:11" by Andrew Bird; "B.O.B." by Outkast; "December 4th" by Jay-Z; "Neighborhood #1 (Tunnels)" by Arcade Fire; "Haitian Fight Song" by Charles Mingus; lots of Bowie, Neutral Milk Hotel, Iron & Wine and Talking Heads.</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">--Also, I think that Modest Mouse is a band I've consistently, somewhere subconsciously, been underrating. They really are stellar.</div>Walterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06593913443736264276noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4863163072293104062.post-86133594583824999092010-03-31T20:49:00.006-05:002010-04-18T00:22:35.246-05:00i will surprise you sometime, i'll come around.<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">I've got some excellent (predominantly sports-related) links today:</span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">--John Morgan of <a href="http://www.fieldgulls.com/">Field Gulls</a> (collaborator with one of the very best in the business, Football Outsiders' Doug Farrar) is doing an excellent, play-by-play breakdown of some of the top prospects in the 2009 Draft. Included: my man <a href="http://www.fieldgulls.com/2010/3/30/1397694/everywhere-eric-berry">Eric Berry</a> ("a place <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5zNdMc6wGtU">where nothing ever happens,</a>" as Morgan says); <a href="http://www.fieldgulls.com/2010/3/28/1394285/spiller-slashes-into-the-end-zone">CJ Spiller</a>; <a href="http://www.fieldgulls.com/2010/3/29/1395784/the-fairly-boring-taylor-mays">Taylor Mays</a>; <a href="http://www.fieldgulls.com/2010/3/30/1397514/gerlad-mccoy-and-the-missing">Gerald McCoy</a>.</span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">--SB Nation's Clemson blog, <a href="http://www.shakinthesouthland.com/section/defensive-strategy">Shakin' the Southland,</a> put up some comprehensive overviews of defensive coaching points, strategy, and terminology. Defensive backs are given special attention, which is obviously my jam.</span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"></span><br />
<a name='more'></a><span style="font-size: small;">--There are times when Kelly Dwyer's writing bothers me (for the same reasons that Pitchfork's writing can bother me), but sometimes - <a href="http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/blog/ball_dont_lie/post/Where-does-Tim-Duncan-rank-Highly?urn=nba,231168#remaining-content">like this defense of Tim Duncan</a> and professionalism in sports writing in general - he's just about the best sportswriter on the internet.</span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">--Tiger Woods' lawyer, on hanging out with Michael Jordan: “Stay away from that son of a bitch, because he doesn’t have anything to offer to the fucking world in which he lives except playing basketball.” As someone who feels very strongly about the divide between Jordan the player and Jordan the person, this is immensely gratifying. (h/t SB Nation).</span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">--Interpol is so good. All indications are that <i>Turn On the Bright Lights</i>, their debut and the only album of theirs I've got, is their peak, but it's not a bad peak to have. Tip of the hat: A Tribe Called Quest ("hotter than Meshach, Shadrach, and Abednego"); Beck; Animal Kingdom; and Wilco. Wag of the finger: The Black Keys; all of <i>Oracular Spectacular </i>besides "Kids"; Nas.</span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">--Against my better judgment, I'm getting excited for LSU's season; specifically, I'm excited about the defense, which could be stellar, and which undoubtedly will be the fastest in school history. </span></div><ul style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><li><span style="font-size: small;">Sam Montgomery just took a big steaming dump on everyone who tried to block him in the Spring Game, and, according to Patrick Peterson, will start as a freshman. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">Barkevious "KeKe" Mingo (WEST MONROE) is undersized, but could be a dominant situational pass-rusher. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">Drake Nevis finally looks focused, which is terrible news for opposing offensive lines/running backs/delicious children. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">The linebacking corps is going to have another converted safety to replace Harry Coleman, Stefoin Francois, who's gotten some rave reviews from coaches.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">Speaking of linebackers, if it comes out that our MLB, Kelvin Sheppard, has murdered and eaten someone, I won't be the least bit surprised.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">The secondary should be great. Arguably the best corner in the country in Patrick Peterson, plus some awesome young talent at safety in Brandon Taylor and Craig Loston. Corner depth is an issue, but LSU has traditionally made due with lackluster #2 corners.</span></li>
</ul><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">--Bootsy Collins has a twitter; <a href="http://twitter.com/Bootsy_COllins">it's perfect for bumpin', you see</a>. Some of these things are just priceless: </span></div><ul style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><li><span style="font-size: small;"><span class="status-body"><span class="status-content"><span class="entry-content"> "Tore down the roof in Frankfurt and hopped bk on the mothership on my way back to the Bootcave in Cincinnati"</span></span></span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;"><span class="status-body"><span class="status-content"><span class="entry-content">"</span></span></span><span class="status-body"><span class="status-content"><span class="entry-content">@<a class="tweet-url username" href="http://twitter.com/Tyrese4ReaL" rel="nofollow">Tyrese4ReaL</a> the fans been waitin baba make sure u throw some funk on it"</span></span></span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;"><span class="status-body"><span class="status-content"><span class="entry-content">"</span></span></span><span class="status-body"><span class="status-content"><span class="entry-content">all my funky followers b sure to follow the new voice of bootzilla @<a class="tweet-url username" href="http://twitter.com/officialkandee" rel="nofollow">officialkandee</a></span></span></span><span class="status-body"><span class="status-content"><span class="entry-content">" </span></span></span></span></li>
</ul><span class="status-body"><span class="status-content"><span class="entry-content"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; font-size: small;">--Finally, <a href="http://gifsofpopularrappers.tumblr.com/">gifs of popular rappers.</a> (h/t Aziz).</span></span></span></span><br />
<span class="status-body"><span class="status-content"><span class="entry-content"> </span></span></span><span class="status-body"><span class="status-content"><span class="entry-content"></span></span></span>Walterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06593913443736264276noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4863163072293104062.post-60091992422547189892010-03-27T20:19:00.006-05:002010-03-27T20:33:06.039-05:00first draft of the first chapter in (hopefully) my first novel.<meta content="text/html; charset=utf-8" http-equiv="Content-Type"></meta><meta content="Word.Document" name="ProgId"></meta><meta content="Microsoft Word 12" name="Generator"></meta><meta content="Microsoft Word 12" name="Originator"></meta><link href="file:///C:%5CDOCUME%7E1%5CHP_ADM%7E1%5CLOCALS%7E1%5CTemp%5Cmsohtmlclip1%5C01%5Cclip_filelist.xml" rel="File-List"></link><link href="file:///C:%5CDOCUME%7E1%5CHP_ADM%7E1%5CLOCALS%7E1%5CTemp%5Cmsohtmlclip1%5C01%5Cclip_themedata.thmx" rel="themeData"></link><link href="file:///C:%5CDOCUME%7E1%5CHP_ADM%7E1%5CLOCALS%7E1%5CTemp%5Cmsohtmlclip1%5C01%5Cclip_colorschememapping.xml" rel="colorSchemeMapping"></link><style>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size: small;">Gene Lazenby has one primary goal in life: make it look easy. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"></span><br />
<a name='more'></a><span style="font-size: small;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> He learned this obsession—and, possibly, inherited it—from his father, Greg Lazenby, a former play-by-play man for CBS’ college basketball team. Greg relished in relentless pressure on defense, in the marshaling of the troops on the floor, in brazen dagger shots at the end of games. In the indescribable rush of a game’s waning moments, he reverted to his childhood trip to Philadelphia, watching Dr. J. win the world’s first Slam Dunk Contest, taking in the sweat and grunts and curses and screams and squeaks of the contest, its swagger, its vitality. Wanting it.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> Greg’s love for the game was both a blessing and a curse. It made him one of the industry’s rising stars almost instantaneously, thanks to his enthusiasm and utter sincerity; he was an amateur in a professional’s world. It also ended his career.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> Memphis, riding a number one ranking in the polls for much of the year, was hosting number two Michigan State. It was nothing less than a championship game preview. It was Greg’s biggest call yet. And it did not disappoint.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> Furious drives to the hoop! Chest beating and roars after hard fouls! And-ones! Utter cool after drained threes! It wasn’t one of the best games Greg had ever seen; it was <i>the </i>best, better than Christian Laettner, better than Jimmy V’s championship, better than the Flu Game or countless other Michael moments.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> It’s poetry on hardwood.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> Michigan State is trailing with eight seconds left, and their all-world point guard, Sterling Grice, heaves up a desperation three. Memphis’ center, Campion, rebounds, and Greg’s heart plummets as he narrates. This game, it seems, too shall pass, except—</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> Coyer stole the ball. Jonny Coyer, Michigan State’s scrappy, undersized forward, stole the ball right out of Darnell Campion’s hands. Memphis, dumbfounded, races to get back in position. They double Coyer, pressure him, but he spins—a spin move! such grace! such ease!—and drives to the hoop. He elevates…</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> Staring at the rim, he passes the ball to Sterling Grice, who stands alone in the coffin corner behind the arc. Surely Coyer took too much—no. Just enough time. Time enough for Greg. Time enough for his partner, Steve Coogan, heaving orgasmic, guttural, whiskey-and-pizza stained syllables into his microphone. Time enough for Sterling Grice.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> He shoots. He sinks it. The crowd, deafening only seconds before, goes utterly silent.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> “Sterling did it! He beat the buzzer! WE’RE GOING TO HALFTIME!”</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> He doesn’t realize what he’s done until the second or third time he’s heard his words echo around the stadium. Then comes the laughter—everyone’s heard him. Everyone at home, on what will become the most-watched regular season college basketball game of all time, has heard him. Finally, mercifully, they go to commercial.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> Officially, Greg was in the clear. He just made a slip of the tongue, that’s all; he got caught up in the heat of the moment. But he knew. He could see it in Jay Bilas’ beady little eyes, in Tim Brando’s shit-eating grin, in Verne Lundquist’s jowls. He had failed. He was an embarrassment. He was a loser. Gone from rising star to has-been clown in one fucking slip of the tongue.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> He was exiled, along with his old partner, to the purgatory of Pac-10 Basketball, where there was no threat of Greg ever reassembling his old national following. Coogan, an aging jock with no ACLs, constantly needled him in private about the call. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> One night, when USC was getting steamrolled by Oregon State on a regional broadcast, the clock was winding down at the end of the first half, and the old drunk said, “Well, that’s it, folks. We’re going to halftime!”</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; margin-left: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size: small;">“Shut the fuck up, Steve,” Greg said. He didn’t return to call the rest of the game. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size: small;">After CBS summarily dismissed him, he went on to sports radio back in his native Alabama, and called basketball and football games for his son’s high school. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-indent: 0.5in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size: small;">Gene Lazenby tried to make it look easy, and at times he did. Areas that required a lot of discipline, like sports and writing metered verse and glassblowing, were out from the start. But when expanding on his natural talents, Gene was expert at exuding effortlessness.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size: small;">He was, for one thing, a spectacularly gifted liar. Combined with his not inconsiderable natural charisma, he had a way of dealing with—and double-dealing—people that bordered on legendary. Even when the lies were clearly doomed to failure, he remained committed; commitment was the sole jealousy of discipline to which he dedicated himself. One time in high school, in the calm before an exam, he sneezed a river of snot into his hands, looked over at the handsome girl sitting next to him, shrugged, and said, “Wasn’t me.”</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size: small;">He was a very capable thief and swindler, and frequently—routinely—impressed his friends by pulling the wool over the eyes of some of his high school’s easier marks. Gene pulled off short cons and pranks in untold numbers. His accomplice for his favorite trick was Eddie Hansen, a gymnast with remarkably flexible limbs. Eddie got picked on mercilessly for doing gymnastics, to say nothing of his teetering on the edge of the closet. It didn’t bother him in the slightest, then, when Gene asked him to walk by the football players’ table, trip, and throw an arm behind his neck at an unnatural angle and start shrieking. Gene used the distraction to clean up picking pockets.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size: small;">What Gene really lived for, though, was the long con. It took a little more effort, but it mostly required patient observation. There was the time he cased Paul-Robert Meggars, captain of Eclectic High School’s Forensic Society (the debate team), for two weeks, ingratiating himself with Meggars, then switching out the allergy medicine in his pill bottle with Levitra the day of the team’s district competition. There was also, of course, the calculated tradeoff to get the mousy and dandruff-stricken Annie Farrow—her nickname at school was Snowflake--to sit with him in the cafeteria in exchange for buying his lunch.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size: small;">With that in mind, it would be easy to think of Gene as a selfish, manipulative cad, and this would not be doing him a grave disservice. But he did have more gracious qualities. The few people he did consider his friends, such as the perennially put-upon Eddie Hansen, he protected and genuinely cared for. He loved, or perhaps just pitied, his father, who had proven much more likable without the stresses of travel and the spotlight. Sometimes at night he took the time to consider, though briefly, if he might have turned out differently if his mother had survived childbirth.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size: small;">The most salient detail of Gene’s life at the moment, however, has nothing to do with his family. It is the only thing that can reduce him to uncontrollable heat-spasms of emotion. It determined his four-year plan at Eclectic High and his decision to go to a small college in the north of the state. It is one of the few things, no matter how hard he tries to ignore it, that Gene can not make look easy. It is the passion that burns in him for Sissie Brasher, and it is why Gene is at a mixer tonight.</span></div>Walterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06593913443736264276noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4863163072293104062.post-83250814738387323822010-03-24T00:47:00.001-05:002010-03-24T17:21:35.440-05:00listen, listen. most of us believe that this is wrong.<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">--First, I'll use my immense star power to plug <a href="http://thefitzgeraldaccount.blogspot.com/">Patrick's new blog</a> and Sam's new <a href="http://toteslegit.biz/">(excellently-titled)</a> blog. Godspeed, fellow Blogfricans.</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">--Since you're dying to know, here's what's in circulation on my iTunes right now:</div><ul style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><li><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=crqM-Hmx5rY">"Gideon,"</a> by My Morning Jacket. Powerful, with some excellent lyrics.</li>
<li><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jkBAUqp6NKg">"Obstacle 1,"</a> by Interpol. Interpol was/is more consistently excellent than Joy Division ever was. </li>
<li><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aruMW9ewvzg">"We Can Get Down,"</a> by A Tribe Called Quest. So fresh.</li>
<li><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C0URNZxvGsE">"Church,"</a> by Outkast. I'm loving Speakerboxxx.</li>
<li><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sLOAcMVmCiU">"What It's All About,"</a> by Girl Talk. Solely for the "C.R.E.A.M." section.</li>
<li><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iL4mywCOJXA">"Grounds For Divorce,"</a> by Elbow. Dig the lyrics, the Peter Gabriel vibe, and the lead singer's uncanny resemblance to Stephen Fry.</li>
<li><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HiEcI3tE0TM">"Can't Say No,"</a> by The Helio Sequence. One of three excellent songs on a pretty bland album.</li>
<li><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9aRKZFR5imM">"Famous Blue Raincoat,"</a> by Leonard Cohen. Gorgeous, gorgeous, gorgeous.</li>
<li><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ULSKZ7IP930">"The Rake's Song,"</a> by The Decemberists. I love how much fun Colin Meloy has with evil.</li>
</ul><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"></div><a name='more'></a> --Syracuse is still alive in the tournament, and their chances are really looking pretty good. Assuming a head-to-head with Kentucky - who appear even stronger at the moment - Syracuse has a few advantages: Kentucky starts slow, Syracuse starts fast; Syracuse's big weakness is outside shooting, and Kentucky lives on drives to the hoop; Syracuse's bench is monstrous, Kentucky's is nothing special. I know I just jinxed the shit out of the Orange, but I still like their chances of taking the title.<br />
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--A <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Iqc1MNA3GZ0&feature=player_embedded">ridiculous dunk</a>, even by his standards. Amare's been killing it since the All-Star break.<br />
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</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">--God almighty, <a href="http://roboshark.tumblr.com/post/456556103/i-hate-ben-stiller-and-i-like-to-think-zach-isnt">this</a> is funny. I love you, bearded prince of the stars.</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">--<a href="http://www.avclub.com/articles/introduction-to-av-undercover,38989/">This is a terrific idea.</a> I can't wait for "Paper Planes," "Wish You Were Here," or (especially) "Two-Headed Boy."</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">--I'm completely fine with the NFL's new overtime rules; more sensible than sudden death, and less kooky and stat-padding than college's overtime. Speaking of the NFL, I'll update my draft later this week (some pretty serious changes are in the works after free agency, the combine, and an active rumor mill).</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">--I've been working on a creative nonfiction story for the last few weeks that I'm very proud of (it's probably better than "The Regulars," the one I posted earlier), but I also feel it's too intensely personal for me to share at the moment. If there's any clamoring from my approximately zero active readers, I'll post it.</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">--Craig Loston, LSU's all-world safety recruit from last year, got a medical redshirt. This is extremely reassuring a) because it means we potentially get to keep him from going pro longer and b) it explains his absence from a safety rotation that was pretty mediocre outside of Chad Jones.</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">--Thanks for reading. </span><br />
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</div><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">(h/t to roboshark, av club, and the valley shook, and everyone who's given me music these last few weeks.)</span>Walterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06593913443736264276noreply@blogger.com0