Tuesday, January 25, 2005
E.K. Nation Oscar Nomination Prediction Supernova Review
PICTURE:
Immediate reaction goes like this: The one stunning omission is Paul Giamatti for Best Actor in Sideways. This movie had been racking up award after award and Giamatti was one of those performers scooping up trophies. We wonder what happened there. It's not like he had another movie he could have found himself splitting his votes with. Then again, out of the 30 nominations, we have only seen Kate Winslet's in Eternal Sunshine and Jamie Foxx's in Collateral, so we just don't know anything, really.
The good news is, we don't see anything on here that we suspect are questionable nominations; nothing like the ridiculous nomination of Seabiscuit last year. We're guessing these are all good choices. (But who knows? We hated Forrest Gump.) The one real surprise is Mike Leigh for directing Vera Drake, but that's only because we weren't really seeing his name bandied about as a possible entrant. And we also figured Mike Nichols, a well-respected director, would get a nomination for Closer 37 years after getting one for The Graduate.
Overall, The Aviator leads the nomination count with eleven, with Finding Neverland and Million Dollar Baby getting seven each. Super Size Me, Morgan Spurlock's hilarious and frightening documentary about a 30-day McDonald's diet binge, got a Best Documentary nomination, and we're happy about that. The Incredibles, which should beat Shrek 2 for Best Animated Feature, got four nods, including Original Screenplay. Whichever documentary has the Holocaust as its subject will win its category. And for those people who think Hollywood is nothing but a bunch of leftist wackos, the final score for nominations between two particular films is: The Passion of the Christ 3, Fahrenheit 9/11 0.
So here's how we see things going on Oscar night as of now, with eleven movie viewings to go before then if we want to have seen everything listed here: PICTURE: The Aviator. It's the most epic-like of all of them, and Martin Scorsese helmed it. Not that he's received any Oscars before. DIRECTOR: Martin Scorsese for The Aviator. As we said last year with Peter Jackson, but it has much more meaning this time, "He'll get one, finally." ACTOR: Jamie Foxx in Ray. Write it down, like you did last year with Charlize Theron. ACTRESS: Annette Bening in Being Julia. At this point, we're not too sure about Bening. Well-liked and all, but we're also considering Imelda Staunton. But we don't know how many people have seen either film. This category, more than any of the other five discussed here, is wide open. SUPPORTING ACTOR: Morgan Freeman in Million Dollar Baby. The world's greatest living actor will get an Oscar. SUPPORTING ACTRESS: Virginia Madsen in Sideways. This is also a tough category, and we feel that the Academy will want to honor Sideways in one form or another; Madsen is as likely a choice as any, and this category is the one that is typically the most ripe for relative surprises (see Marisa Tomei, Juliette Binoche).
What We Got: The Aviator, Million Dollar Baby, Ray, SidewaysSUPPORTING ACTOR:
What We Missed: Finding Neverland got in instead of Closer
What We Got: Thomas Haden Church, Sideways; Jamie Foxx, Collateral; Morgan Freeman, Million Dollar Baby; Clive Owen, Closer
What We Missed: Alan Alda, The Aviator, got in instead of Peter Sarsgaard, Kinsey
PORTMAN, OWEN, MADSEN, CHURCH
SUPPORTING ACTRESS:
What We Got: Cate Blanchett, The Aviator; Laura Linney, Kinsey; Virginia Madsen, Sideways; Sophie Okonedo, Hotel Rwanda; Natalie Portman, CloserACTRESS:
What We Missed: Nothing.
What We Got: Annette Bening, Being Julia; Catalina Sandino Moreno, Maria Full of Grace; Imelda Staunton, Vera Drake; Hilary Swank, Million Dollar Baby; Kate Winslet, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
What We Missed: Nothing.
FOXX, MORENO, DiCAPRIO, WINSLET
ACTOR:
What We Got: Don Cheadle, Hotel Rwanda; Leonardo diCaprio, The Aviator; Clint Eastwood, Million Dollar Baby; Jamie Foxx, RayDIRECTOR:
What We Missed: Johnny Depp, Finding Neverland, got in instead of Paul Giamatti, Sideways
What We Got: Clint Eastwood, Million Dollar Baby; Alexander Payne, Sideways; Martin Scorsese, The AviatorAn even better day than last year for E.K. Nation, going 25 for 30 overall, including all ten actresses/supporting actresses. Not bad for not seeing any of the Best Picture nominees and only seeing two performances that were tabbed.
What We Missed: Taylor Hackford, Ray and Mike Leigh, Vera Drake instead of Mike Nichols, Closer and Zhang Yimou, House of Flying Daggers
Immediate reaction goes like this: The one stunning omission is Paul Giamatti for Best Actor in Sideways. This movie had been racking up award after award and Giamatti was one of those performers scooping up trophies. We wonder what happened there. It's not like he had another movie he could have found himself splitting his votes with. Then again, out of the 30 nominations, we have only seen Kate Winslet's in Eternal Sunshine and Jamie Foxx's in Collateral, so we just don't know anything, really.
The good news is, we don't see anything on here that we suspect are questionable nominations; nothing like the ridiculous nomination of Seabiscuit last year. We're guessing these are all good choices. (But who knows? We hated Forrest Gump.) The one real surprise is Mike Leigh for directing Vera Drake, but that's only because we weren't really seeing his name bandied about as a possible entrant. And we also figured Mike Nichols, a well-respected director, would get a nomination for Closer 37 years after getting one for The Graduate.
Overall, The Aviator leads the nomination count with eleven, with Finding Neverland and Million Dollar Baby getting seven each. Super Size Me, Morgan Spurlock's hilarious and frightening documentary about a 30-day McDonald's diet binge, got a Best Documentary nomination, and we're happy about that. The Incredibles, which should beat Shrek 2 for Best Animated Feature, got four nods, including Original Screenplay. Whichever documentary has the Holocaust as its subject will win its category. And for those people who think Hollywood is nothing but a bunch of leftist wackos, the final score for nominations between two particular films is: The Passion of the Christ 3, Fahrenheit 9/11 0.
So here's how we see things going on Oscar night as of now, with eleven movie viewings to go before then if we want to have seen everything listed here: PICTURE: The Aviator. It's the most epic-like of all of them, and Martin Scorsese helmed it. Not that he's received any Oscars before. DIRECTOR: Martin Scorsese for The Aviator. As we said last year with Peter Jackson, but it has much more meaning this time, "He'll get one, finally." ACTOR: Jamie Foxx in Ray. Write it down, like you did last year with Charlize Theron. ACTRESS: Annette Bening in Being Julia. At this point, we're not too sure about Bening. Well-liked and all, but we're also considering Imelda Staunton. But we don't know how many people have seen either film. This category, more than any of the other five discussed here, is wide open. SUPPORTING ACTOR: Morgan Freeman in Million Dollar Baby. The world's greatest living actor will get an Oscar. SUPPORTING ACTRESS: Virginia Madsen in Sideways. This is also a tough category, and we feel that the Academy will want to honor Sideways in one form or another; Madsen is as likely a choice as any, and this category is the one that is typically the most ripe for relative surprises (see Marisa Tomei, Juliette Binoche).
Monday, January 24, 2005
E.K. Nation's Oscar Nomination Prediction Supernova
Again, we here at E.K. Nation admit to being the biggest heterosexual Oscar freaks in the country. We now offer, without having seen most of the films that will be nominated, our predictions for the nominations for 2004, to be announced at 5:30 tomorrow morning. We watch it live every year. We are certifiable. We mean, seriously, serious nuts. We are some nutty nut people who are nuts.
SUPPORTING ACTOR: Thomas Haden Church, Sideways; Morgan Freeman, Million Dollar Baby; Jamie Foxx, Collateral; Clive Owen, Closer; Peter Sarsgaard, Kinsey. Foxx's work in Collateral was exceptional; if he gets two nominations, he should be a guaranteed winner, as is usually the case with twice-nominated actors. And who'd've ever thought Lowell from "Wings" (Church) would ever merit Oscar consideration? Possible sneaker: James Garner got good reviews for a sympathetic performance in The Notebook, but we don't think people remember it enough. Should get in but won't: David Carradine was great in Kill Bill, Vol. 2, but we don't think the Academy will go for all the violence. Same reason Uma Thurman won't be nomiated for lead actress. E.K. Nation's Early Favorite To Win: Morgan Freeman. It's about time the Academy honored the world's greatest living actor.
SUPPORTING ACTRESS: Cate Blanchett, The Aviator; Laura Linney, Kinsey; Virginia Madsen, Sideways; Sophie Okonedo, Hotel Rwanda; Natalie Portman, Closer. Portman will finally get Academy recognition; she deserved it for The Professional, her first film--she was 12--and Beautiful Girls. Blanchett could become the second actor nominated for playing an Oscar-winner (Robert Downey was the first, for Chaplin). And we think Hotel Rwanda's momentum is building, enough so that Okonedo can slip in here. E.K. Nation's Early Favorite To Win: Very, very tough category to call this year. Just to have a guess out there, we'll say Madsen.
ACTRESS: Annette Bening, Being Julia; Catalina Sandino Moreno, Maria Full of Grace, Imelda Staunton, Vera Drake; Hilary Swank, Million Dollar Baby; Kate Winslet, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind. The only performance we've seen so far is Winslet's. It's not a particularly stunning year; very few standouts come to mind. Annette Bening received rave reviews a short while back for Being Julia, and we figure that will be enough to get her in. We also figure the Academy loves Million Dollar Baby and 2000's Best Actress Hilary Swank. Other than that we really haven't seen anything. Favorite Who May Miss Out: Closer's Julia Roberts may have been overshadowed by supporting stars Clive Owen and Natalie Portman. It's just as well; we don't want to have to sit through one of her self-righteous, pompous speeches for a long time. But if she is nominated, go ahead and pencil her in instead of Winslet. E.K. Nation's Early Favorite To Win: Annette Bening.
ACTOR: Don Cheadle, Hotel Rwanda; Leonardo diCaprio, The Aviator; Clint Eastwood, Million Dollar Baby; Jamie Foxx, Ray; Paul Giamatti, Sideways. Possible sneaker: Johnny Depp of Finding Neverland is getting great reviews, but he was nominated last year and maybe the Academy will want to honor Cheadle instead. E.K. Nation's Early Favorite To Win: Ray's Jamie Foxx. Haven't actually seen it yet, but we figure that it's a one-man show, he's already won the Golden Globe among other awards, and it would be a fitting tribute to the recently departed Ray Charles.
DIRECTOR: Clint Eastwood, Million Dollar Baby; Mike Nichols, Closer; Alexander Payne, Sideways; Martin Scorsese, The Aviator; Zhang Yimou, House Of Flying Daggers. Favorite Who May Miss Out: Taylor Hackford of Ray. We're thinking Ray is a one-man show of Jamie Foxx; you can't direct an impression like that. And foreign or otherwise obscure films often get noticed here, like Fernando Mereilles for City of God last year. Yimou may be the beneficiary of that trend this year. E.K. Nation's Early Favorite To Win: We suspect the Academy won't go any further in denying Martin Scorsese his long-deserved Oscar, even though it won't be for a brilliant film like Raging Bull or Taxi Driver.
PICTURE: The Aviator, Closer, Million Dollar Baby, Ray, Sideways. Unlike last year, there won't be any weak entries here (see last year's Seabiscuit), even though this didn't seem to be a year where a lot of high-caliber movies made an appearance in even the periphery. E.K. Nation's Early Favorite To Win: We're going with The Aviator. But watch out for Sideways. Or Million Dollar Baby. Or...
SUPPORTING ACTOR: Thomas Haden Church, Sideways; Morgan Freeman, Million Dollar Baby; Jamie Foxx, Collateral; Clive Owen, Closer; Peter Sarsgaard, Kinsey. Foxx's work in Collateral was exceptional; if he gets two nominations, he should be a guaranteed winner, as is usually the case with twice-nominated actors. And who'd've ever thought Lowell from "Wings" (Church) would ever merit Oscar consideration? Possible sneaker: James Garner got good reviews for a sympathetic performance in The Notebook, but we don't think people remember it enough. Should get in but won't: David Carradine was great in Kill Bill, Vol. 2, but we don't think the Academy will go for all the violence. Same reason Uma Thurman won't be nomiated for lead actress. E.K. Nation's Early Favorite To Win: Morgan Freeman. It's about time the Academy honored the world's greatest living actor.
SUPPORTING ACTRESS: Cate Blanchett, The Aviator; Laura Linney, Kinsey; Virginia Madsen, Sideways; Sophie Okonedo, Hotel Rwanda; Natalie Portman, Closer. Portman will finally get Academy recognition; she deserved it for The Professional, her first film--she was 12--and Beautiful Girls. Blanchett could become the second actor nominated for playing an Oscar-winner (Robert Downey was the first, for Chaplin). And we think Hotel Rwanda's momentum is building, enough so that Okonedo can slip in here. E.K. Nation's Early Favorite To Win: Very, very tough category to call this year. Just to have a guess out there, we'll say Madsen.
ACTRESS: Annette Bening, Being Julia; Catalina Sandino Moreno, Maria Full of Grace, Imelda Staunton, Vera Drake; Hilary Swank, Million Dollar Baby; Kate Winslet, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind. The only performance we've seen so far is Winslet's. It's not a particularly stunning year; very few standouts come to mind. Annette Bening received rave reviews a short while back for Being Julia, and we figure that will be enough to get her in. We also figure the Academy loves Million Dollar Baby and 2000's Best Actress Hilary Swank. Other than that we really haven't seen anything. Favorite Who May Miss Out: Closer's Julia Roberts may have been overshadowed by supporting stars Clive Owen and Natalie Portman. It's just as well; we don't want to have to sit through one of her self-righteous, pompous speeches for a long time. But if she is nominated, go ahead and pencil her in instead of Winslet. E.K. Nation's Early Favorite To Win: Annette Bening.
ACTOR: Don Cheadle, Hotel Rwanda; Leonardo diCaprio, The Aviator; Clint Eastwood, Million Dollar Baby; Jamie Foxx, Ray; Paul Giamatti, Sideways. Possible sneaker: Johnny Depp of Finding Neverland is getting great reviews, but he was nominated last year and maybe the Academy will want to honor Cheadle instead. E.K. Nation's Early Favorite To Win: Ray's Jamie Foxx. Haven't actually seen it yet, but we figure that it's a one-man show, he's already won the Golden Globe among other awards, and it would be a fitting tribute to the recently departed Ray Charles.
DIRECTOR: Clint Eastwood, Million Dollar Baby; Mike Nichols, Closer; Alexander Payne, Sideways; Martin Scorsese, The Aviator; Zhang Yimou, House Of Flying Daggers. Favorite Who May Miss Out: Taylor Hackford of Ray. We're thinking Ray is a one-man show of Jamie Foxx; you can't direct an impression like that. And foreign or otherwise obscure films often get noticed here, like Fernando Mereilles for City of God last year. Yimou may be the beneficiary of that trend this year. E.K. Nation's Early Favorite To Win: We suspect the Academy won't go any further in denying Martin Scorsese his long-deserved Oscar, even though it won't be for a brilliant film like Raging Bull or Taxi Driver.
PICTURE: The Aviator, Closer, Million Dollar Baby, Ray, Sideways. Unlike last year, there won't be any weak entries here (see last year's Seabiscuit), even though this didn't seem to be a year where a lot of high-caliber movies made an appearance in even the periphery. E.K. Nation's Early Favorite To Win: We're going with The Aviator. But watch out for Sideways. Or Million Dollar Baby. Or...
From Four To Two
Last week's revised NFC Championship Game prediction: Atlanta 23, Philadelphia 20. The Eagles didn't let a fourth chance get past them, winning 27-10 to get back to the Super Bowl for the first time since 1981 and after three straight conference championship game losses. The Eagles' line was much stronger than the Falcons' on both sides, and Michael Vick was contained throughout. Solid win.
Last week's revised AFC Championship Game prediction: New England 34, Pittsburgh 20.At one point late in the game, it actually was New England 34, Pittsburgh 20, but two late touchdowns upped the score by 7 each. There is no denying now how great the New England Patriots are. It really shouldn't have been a surprise, but people seem to be so caught up in fantasy leagues and worrying about stats that they just don't notice how steady Tom Brady is, even without throwing huge numbers onto the ledger.
Revised Super Bowl prediction: Not just yet, not the score, anyway. We here at E.K. Nation know the Patriots will win; the question is by how much and by what score. We'll come back later with that.
Friday, January 21, 2005
Revised Playoff Predictions
Last week's revised NFC Division Playoff Round predictions: Atlanta (-7) rolls the Rams 42-17, and Minnesota (+10) upsets the Eagles 29-23 in overtime. Well, the Falcons did win 47-17, so that was damn close. And even though the Eagles didn't blow out Minnesota, it was never really close, a 27-14 game that felt more like it was 35-3 all day. Last week's revised AFC Division Playoff Round predictions: Pittsburgh (-9) shoots down the Jets 35-7, and the Colts (+2.5) get revenge against New England 34-27.The Jets nearly won, missing a field goal on the last play of regulation that would have sent them to the AFC Championship. We congratulate the Jets on their "overachieving" in this year's playoffs. And we really thought it was Peyton's turn to beat the Patriots, but no. The juggernaut that is New England rolls on. This is a tough team, and we have some more revised predictions for the title games this weekend.
Revised NFC Championship game prediction: Atlanta gets past the Eagles 23-20 when Michael Vick throws a touchdown pass in the final minute, and the Eagles are stunned once again. Revised AFC Championship game prediction: Gotta abandon our pre-playoffs pick of Pittsburgh to win the Super Bowl. We are loath to do it, but we are willing to admit when we feel our picks are wrong. New England's heading back to the Super Bowl; they're going to beat the Steelers 34-20. It's just going to be a rough day for Ben Roethlisberger.Forecast is for blizzard conditions for both games.
Tuesday, January 11, 2005
Quick Question
Regarding that guy from WCBS in New York taking video of Randy Johnson as he walked down the city street...
What's the story?
Seriously, what's the scoop? Randy Johnson occasionally walks down the street?
Suggestion to Randy Johnson: I'm not suggesting the cameraman was overstepping his bounds; he and you are both out in public, he should have every right to film somebody. But if this cameraman really knew what a pain in the ass he can be, he might stop. Find out who this guy is, and hire a video cameraman to follow him around and do exactly to him what he did to you. Twenty-four hours a day. Have the guy followed, have somebody park outside his house, etc. Maybe he'd stop.
What's the story?
Seriously, what's the scoop? Randy Johnson occasionally walks down the street?
CAMERAMAN: Hey buddy.Don't you have stock footage of Randy Johnson you can use?
SECURITY GUY: Hey, how you doin'?
JOHNSON: Hey.
SECURITY GUY: No cameras. (Johnson puts his band on the camera lens.)
CAMERAMAN: What was that? What was that?
SECURITY GUY: No cameras.
JOHNSON: Get out of my face, that's all I ask.
CAMERAMAN: I'm just takin' a picture.
JOHNSON: No, you're not.
SECURITY GUY: No cameras.
JOHNSON: No cameras.
SECURITY GUY: I got it, Randy, I got it.
JOHNSON: All right? Don't get in my face. I don't care who you are. Don't get in my face.
CAMERAMAN: Just takin' a picture.
JOHNSON: Don't get in my face, and don't talk back to me, all right?
CAMERAMAN (later): Welcome to New York.
Suggestion to Randy Johnson: I'm not suggesting the cameraman was overstepping his bounds; he and you are both out in public, he should have every right to film somebody. But if this cameraman really knew what a pain in the ass he can be, he might stop. Find out who this guy is, and hire a video cameraman to follow him around and do exactly to him what he did to you. Twenty-four hours a day. Have the guy followed, have somebody park outside his house, etc. Maybe he'd stop.
Monday, January 10, 2005
Wild Card Weekend
The Playoff Prediction Pizza Party went pretty well, especially if you went to Vegas with it.
NFC Wild-Card Round predictions: Seattle (-4) defeats St. Louis 31-16, and Minnesota (+6.5) defeats Green Bay 37-34. The Seahawks were the only E.K. Nation pick that did not cover, losing 27-20 to the Rams when a pass goes right into and out of the hands of Bobby Engram on 4th and goal in the closing seconds. Now the Rams will head to Atlanta. And the Vikings did get the mild upset of Green Bay, a 31-17 game that was more of a blowout than we thought. Minnesota will go to Philadelphia for next weekend.
AFC Wild-Card Round predictions: San Diego (-6.5) beats the N.Y. Jets 27-24 in overtime, and Indianapolis (-10) beats Denver 44-20. Not only did the Jets take the Chargers to OT like we said, but they actually won on a Doug Brien field goal after the Chargers' Nate Kaeding missed a 40-yarder that would have won it. And the Colts did indeed wallop the Broncos 49-24, and they will go to New England next week for a rematch of the AFC title game from last year.
Speaking of the Vikings, I'm not sure what Randy Moss is thinking. Talking to the crowd, telling them to "check out the motherfucking scoreboard", and then of all things, scoring a touchdown and then pretending to moon the Packers fans behind the end zone. Totally classless, and Joe Buck was right to vilify him on the air. (Although Buck has to remember what network he is working on when he complains about disgusting acts being shown on TV.) We can't stress this enough: The points you put on the board say more than any attempt at a taunt ever could.
You know, we recently watched a DVD copy of the Jets-Colts Super Bowl from 1969. As the game moved into the second half something really struck us. There wasn't a single solitary instance of a player making a great play and doing any kind of celebration dance or taunt or silly pose. Ever. Just quick congratulations from a teammate, if at all, and then it's right back to the huddle for the next play. Done. It was so refreshing. And the game wasn't any less watchable.
These childish antics that so consume televised sports are ridiculous. The National Football League is home to the worst offenders of any sport. Every single goddamn play, it seems, has some jackass doing something stupid after making a great catch or tackle or some such. It's fucking stupid. Your stunts are embarrassingly unwatchable stuff. Grow the fuck up, guys.
NFC Wild-Card Round predictions: Seattle (-4) defeats St. Louis 31-16, and Minnesota (+6.5) defeats Green Bay 37-34. The Seahawks were the only E.K. Nation pick that did not cover, losing 27-20 to the Rams when a pass goes right into and out of the hands of Bobby Engram on 4th and goal in the closing seconds. Now the Rams will head to Atlanta. And the Vikings did get the mild upset of Green Bay, a 31-17 game that was more of a blowout than we thought. Minnesota will go to Philadelphia for next weekend.
AFC Wild-Card Round predictions: San Diego (-6.5) beats the N.Y. Jets 27-24 in overtime, and Indianapolis (-10) beats Denver 44-20. Not only did the Jets take the Chargers to OT like we said, but they actually won on a Doug Brien field goal after the Chargers' Nate Kaeding missed a 40-yarder that would have won it. And the Colts did indeed wallop the Broncos 49-24, and they will go to New England next week for a rematch of the AFC title game from last year.
Speaking of the Vikings, I'm not sure what Randy Moss is thinking. Talking to the crowd, telling them to "check out the motherfucking scoreboard", and then of all things, scoring a touchdown and then pretending to moon the Packers fans behind the end zone. Totally classless, and Joe Buck was right to vilify him on the air. (Although Buck has to remember what network he is working on when he complains about disgusting acts being shown on TV.) We can't stress this enough: The points you put on the board say more than any attempt at a taunt ever could.
You know, we recently watched a DVD copy of the Jets-Colts Super Bowl from 1969. As the game moved into the second half something really struck us. There wasn't a single solitary instance of a player making a great play and doing any kind of celebration dance or taunt or silly pose. Ever. Just quick congratulations from a teammate, if at all, and then it's right back to the huddle for the next play. Done. It was so refreshing. And the game wasn't any less watchable.
These childish antics that so consume televised sports are ridiculous. The National Football League is home to the worst offenders of any sport. Every single goddamn play, it seems, has some jackass doing something stupid after making a great catch or tackle or some such. It's fucking stupid. Your stunts are embarrassingly unwatchable stuff. Grow the fuck up, guys.
Revised NFC Division Playoff Round predictions: Atlanta (-7) rolls the Rams 42-17, and Minnesota (+10) upsets the Eagles 29-23 in overtime. Revised AFC Division Playoff Round predictions: Pittsburgh (-9) shoots down the Jets 35-7, and the Colts (+2.5) get revenge against New England 34-27.
Friday, January 7, 2005
I'll Make A Deal With You, The Reader
There's a generous handful of Giants bloggers out there, none of whom seem to have any positive things to say about the Giants and their chances for a good 2005 season. Except for me. I seem to be the only one who thinks the Giants are primed for a division title run.
So here's the deal, and it's pretty simple; it desn't require anything of anyone but me:
If The Giants do not win the National League West Division in 2005, I will eat my blog.
I'll eat it. Every word, every link, every photo, every last speck of orange and black, I will eat it if they so much as come in second. With chopsticks.
That's how good I feel about the Giants' chances to win the N.L. West this coming season.
That is all.
So here's the deal, and it's pretty simple; it desn't require anything of anyone but me:
If The Giants do not win the National League West Division in 2005, I will eat my blog.
I'll eat it. Every word, every link, every photo, every last speck of orange and black, I will eat it if they so much as come in second. With chopsticks.
That's how good I feel about the Giants' chances to win the N.L. West this coming season.
That is all.
Tuesday, January 4, 2005
E.K. Nation's NFL Playoff Prediction Pizza Party
Pay no attention to the E.K. Nation pre-season Super Bowl pick of Kansas City over New Orleans. E.K. Nation was suffering at that time from an acute case of dumb. And now an acute case of distraught.
E.K. Nation had five of the six NFC teams right, going against the grain by not taking the chic pick, the Seattle Seahawks of Seattle, and instead going for New Orleans. And don't ask E.K. Nation about the AFC picks. So for the conference championship games, at least Minnesota and Indianapolis can still lose.
Here is how we are guessing it will go down:
E.K. Nation had five of the six NFC teams right, going against the grain by not taking the chic pick, the Seattle Seahawks of Seattle, and instead going for New Orleans. And don't ask E.K. Nation about the AFC picks. So for the conference championship games, at least Minnesota and Indianapolis can still lose.
Here is how we are guessing it will go down:
NFC Wild-Card Round:Seattle (-4) defeats St. Louis 31-16, and Minnesota (+6.5) gets the 37-34 upset of the Packers. AFC Wild-Card Round: San Diego (-6.5) gets past the Jets 27-24 in overtime, and the Colts (-10) wallop Denver 44-20.
NFC Divisional Playoffs:The Vikings stun Philadelphia 29-23 in OT, and Atlanta runs past the Seahawks 34-3. AFC Divisional Playoffs: Indianapolis defeats the Patriots 34-27, and Pittsburgh beats the Chargers 21-10.
NFC Championship:The Falcons defeat Minnesota 31-7. AFC Championship: The Steelers outlast the Colts 43-34.
SUPER BOWL XXXIX:In the end, Ben Roethlisberger will complete a fairy-tale season with a storybook ending, helping the Pittsburgh Steelers beat the Cinderella Atlanta Falcons 24-13.
Monday, January 3, 2005
Notes To Start The New Year
• The Anaheim Angels apparently have a new name. It's the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. And all I can say here is, are you kidding me?
• Shaun Alexander of the Seattle Seahawks of Seattle, upon not getting one more rushing play to try to tie Curtis Martin for the NFL rushing title, actually said, "This is the first time I've ever been back-stabbed in my life."
Yo, Shaun: Shut the fuck up.
The Seahawks' victory was not a sure thing. The defense gave up a touchdown as time ran out, and the outcome was in doubt until Warrick Dunn was stopped on his two-point try. You play for the Seahawks, man. Hardly any wins are sure things for you guys these days.
Yo, Shaun: Shut the fuck up.
I'm sick and tired of people like you emphasizing personal records instead of team goals. You won the game, you got home-field in the wild-card round, and that's what you should be thinking about, you selfish punk.
• I am also sick and tired of announcers and analysts using the absolutely meaningless phrase "They backed into the playoffs" to describe teams that make it to the postseason despite having lost their last game or getting in because some other team lost. It implies that they didn't deserve to be in the playoffs. If they had won the very last game of the regular season, you'd be saying they fought hard to get in and they got in. There is no such thing as "backing into the playoffs." The order in which they get their wins and losses is irrelevant when determing who qualifies for the playoffs. A team that starts 0-6 and finishes 10-6 is no more or less deserving of a playoff spot than a team that goes 10-0 to start and loses its last six games. Let's retire the phrase "backed into the playoffs" for once and for all time.
• Shaun Alexander of the Seattle Seahawks of Seattle, upon not getting one more rushing play to try to tie Curtis Martin for the NFL rushing title, actually said, "This is the first time I've ever been back-stabbed in my life."
Yo, Shaun: Shut the fuck up.
"We were going to win, anyway," Alexander said. "We were on the freakin' goal line, and I got stabbed in the back."Yo, Shaun: Shut the fuck up.
The Seahawks' victory was not a sure thing. The defense gave up a touchdown as time ran out, and the outcome was in doubt until Warrick Dunn was stopped on his two-point try. You play for the Seahawks, man. Hardly any wins are sure things for you guys these days.
Yo, Shaun: Shut the fuck up.
I'm sick and tired of people like you emphasizing personal records instead of team goals. You won the game, you got home-field in the wild-card round, and that's what you should be thinking about, you selfish punk.
• I am also sick and tired of announcers and analysts using the absolutely meaningless phrase "They backed into the playoffs" to describe teams that make it to the postseason despite having lost their last game or getting in because some other team lost. It implies that they didn't deserve to be in the playoffs. If they had won the very last game of the regular season, you'd be saying they fought hard to get in and they got in. There is no such thing as "backing into the playoffs." The order in which they get their wins and losses is irrelevant when determing who qualifies for the playoffs. A team that starts 0-6 and finishes 10-6 is no more or less deserving of a playoff spot than a team that goes 10-0 to start and loses its last six games. Let's retire the phrase "backed into the playoffs" for once and for all time.
