Monday Morning Football...2/2/2015

Sorry Pepe - I'm going to talk about the Super Bowl this morning. But you can still enjoy the popcorn.

First, what a game.

Like all the previous Super Bowls I've watched, it came down to the last drive, the last-ditch effort, the last play.

But why?

All the ads were purchased. All the tickets sold. All the bets are made and everyone is already where they're gonna be for the game. I get that the score at halftime doesn't matter, but do we really need to have scores within 4 points with five minutes left in the game?

No. We do not.

One team could be two touchdowns ahead at that point and everyone would still stay where they are. Fans are that big. And even if they do start leaving prior to game's end (which wouldn't make sense because the winning fans would stay to see the trophy come out) so what? Are people worried that they won't see that one ad that hadn't aired yet? If they're that worried, why not air it earlier so we don't have to see that damn vulture fly into the damn office cake AGAIN!!! 

As for the halftime show...

...she did alright.

She did seem out of breath, but that's mostly due to frequent costume changes and running from the big cat to the center square to the dias to the stairs than it was the actual dancing and singing. I can't figure out why Lenny Kravitz was hyped to hell for performing with Katy (for one freakin' song...and it wasn't "American Woman" wtf?) but Missy Elliott's appearance wasn't mentioned at all. 

But my biggest issue?

These guys are f**king a**holes.

When I'm listening to a regular season game on the radio, I expect a little bias. I'm listening to the Pats play on the "New England Patriots Radio Network". That's a given no matter where you live or what team you're listening to. That bias is expected.

But when you're commentating on the f**king Super Bowl, on national f**king television, in front of the entire f**king world, you leave that bias AT THE F**KING DOOR!

You need to fill in some dead air time between plays or during a 30-second time out? Fine. Throw up stats. Mention records. Reminisce over team records and special plays. Just be FAIR about it. 

I had to turn down the sound several times during the game just to shut these guys up. They talked up the Seahawks and talked down the Patriots every chance they had. Why I don't know. Don't misunderstand...

...I wouldn't want the Pats hyped up throughout the game either. 'Cause that s**t ain't fair.

I wasn't aware that NBC was owned by Seattle. Is the CEO of NBC from there? Is he upset because Frasier was cancelled after only 11 years? The HELL?

And no - this guy isn't the game's MVP...

...THIS guy is!

Monday Movie Roundup...2/3/2014

Morning everyone. How bout a three-fer, starting with numbers...

 American Hustle made another $4.3 million over the weekend, bringing the worldwide total to $176.8 million.

I, Frankenstein made a respectable $3.5 million, which puts its worldwide total just shy of $30.7 million.

The Hobbit: TDoS earned another $1.24 million to its worldwide total of $854 million,

while The Hunger Games: CF (which I'm surprised is still in theaters) made an additional $1 million.

This puts the total for this film at almost $859.6 million.

The Invisible Woman made another $170,000, bringing its Domestic total,

since it hasn't been released worldwide, to $874,000.

 And 47 Ronin made $126,000 over the weekend...which makes me sad.

However, the worldwide total broke $130 million.

So, yay I guess?

The Super Bowl was last night, and with it came some trailers...

Captain America: The Winter Soldier was the big one I was waiting for, and it didn't disappoint.

I knew Fury was in the SUV that Bucky blew up, but I was wondering how injured he'd be.

Plus, there's more Falcon, and he's awesome!

Then there was The Amazing Spider-Man 2.

It does feel like they're working towards a Sinister Six team-up for TAS-M 3, 

and I still say the guy-in-the-hat is Chameleon.

I'm surprised there wasn't a trailer for X-Men: DoFP.

If there was one, I missed it, but nothing showed up on YouTube this morning.

Now for some reaction:

Not sure how I feel about these choices.

I didn't think Amy Adams would work, and I was proven wrong.

In fact, the more I think about it I feel that of all the things I didn't like about MoS,

casting wasn't one of them.

So I'm gonna file this under 'W' for 'Wait and See'...

Now I have to get ready for work.

Have a good Monday everyone!

WTF?

The first Patriots play of the Super Bowl

I’ve said before that the better team won the game, and I stand by that. My issue today is with the first play the Patriots Offense had.

Thanks to a well placed punt by the Giants, Tom Brady first got his hands on the ball inside his own 10-yard line. Getting in shotgun formation, Tom was standing in his end-zone when the ball was snapped. The offensive line disintegrated, and Giants defenders were closing in. Tom threw the ball before he was taken down, but the ball landed well beyond the reach of any Patriots receivers.

Then a flag was thrown for intentional grounding, which was the right call. In addition to the flag, the Giants bet two points for a safety, and the Giants then had the lead 2 – 0.

The commentators, both during the game and since, have stated that the rule is written that when a quarterback is called for intentional grounding while in the end-zone, it’s an automatic safety.

My question isn’t with the call, it’s with the rule.

I’m no expert, but if a quarterback is called for intentional grounding anywhere else on the field, the threatening defensive players do not get credit for the sack. This makes sense, because a sack is defined by tackling the quarterback while he has the ball. Therefore, either the quarterback has the ball and is tackled – a sack or the ball is thrown prior to the tackle – a possible intentional grounding.

One or the other.

Calling intentional grounding negates a safety because the ball can’t both be thrown away and tackled with the quarterback in the end-zone in the same play.

Think what you will, but if Eli did the same thing I’d be making the same argument.

My hope is that someone comes to their senses and changes the rulebook accordingly before next season.

NY Giants 21...NE Patriots 17

I saw the game, for the first time through my computer at nbcsports.com.

I didn't mind not seeing all the ads, and I'm not upset about the final score.

The Giants were the better team.

My problem was I thought I was watching NBC, not THE NY GIANTS CHANNEL.

I remember when the great John Madden was a commentator, and he talked about players, coaches and strategies for both teams. He was fair, funny, and almost always right with whatever he said.

Listening to the commentators during this Super Bowl made me feel like the game was already decided, the team already won. Eli Manning is his own Dynasty and the Patriot Regime was over.

All this before the end of the first quarter.

Enough Already.

I realize that this is how the sponsors and the NFL want the Super Bowl to be played: Down to the wire, with the game in the balance. When was the last time one team had a ten point lead going into the final quarter?

So give the Giants their due, and congrats to the better team.

But I save my respect for after the game is over, not before it even starts.

So when again is The Avengers movie coming out?

SUPER BOWL XLVI

So the Pats play the Giants in what people are calling The Rematch.

It's been all over the news and I'm sick of it.

First of all, the Pats have a Dynasty. Whether they win or lose today, it doesn't matter. They have a Dynasty.

Second of all, no amount of interviews and sound bytes are going to help either team win. They need to be left alone to train and prepare for the game.


Third, I'm going to enjoy the game watching it live while my wife makes me food...all afternoon...because she loves me.

She's even going to let me yell and scream!

GO PATS!!!

The Super Bowl Rematch Awaits...

So...I guess the Pats won...and the Giants...so we're going to listen to two weeks worth of reliving the Pats defeat 4 years ago!


I can't complain too much though, the Pats are in the Super Bowl after all.

But is it me, or have their victories been squeakers? A 7 point margin or less in the really important games.

Nail-biting events to say the least.

In a way, I'm glad I missed them play the Ravens, because I would be hoarse right now. And I'm not sorry I missed Mick Jagger...sorry, Steve Tyler...hamming it up.

But to be honest, I'm scared a little bit by the upcoming game.

God, I miss Tedy Bruschi.

Football...Football...Football

Football is my sport of choice.

Hockey is a close second because it was the sport I watched during my years at BU, and because my daughter and I catch at least one Portland Pirates game every season.

Basketball and Baseball are more fun for me to actually play instead of watch, but I am a fan of movies based on these sports such as Major League, Teen Wolf, A League of Their Own, White Men Can't Jump, and Field of Dreams. I have yet to see Hoosiers, but I think I'd like it.

Anyway, the AFC and NFC Championship games for the 2011-2012 NFL season are today...

...and I have to go to work.


One thing I hate about sportscasters is that they put up or mention stupid statistics during the game. Stats like "The last time this quarterback led his team to victory in this stadium in an AFC Championship game was 1955," and such.

I always feel that any mention of stuff like that will jinx the game.

So I won't mention stats...I'm going to state facts:

1) The Pats won their first of three Super Bowl rings the same year I started working for the corporation I still work for now.

2) Ever since I changed branches within that corporation, the Pats have either not made it to the Super Bowl, or lost.

3) Regardless of the season, almost all Pats games I missed due to working ended as victories.

4) Adam Vinatieri earned every ring he has...except the last one. (The COLTS Adam? Really?)
and
5) Tedy Bruschi should be hired by the Pats...as a member of the Defense coaching staff.

Okay, so the last two weren't facts, but they should be.

GO PATS!!!