Fantasy Basketball Team

Recently, Kaiti's brothers invited me to join their fantasy basketball league. I've been trying to think of a good name and of course awesome team colors for my newly formed team. I want something classic yet corny. Here are a few of the ones I have come up with. (note: Goodyear is where Kaiti and I are moving to).

-The Goodyear Beer Baron’s - Team colors: Two shades of white and golden brown.
-The Goodyear Gorillas - Team colors: Green, and golden yellow.
-The Goodyear God Warriors - White, gold, and black.
-Dick's Bird Serpents - Blue, orange, and black.
-The U.S. Grants - Union blue and gold.
-Goodyear Pillagers - Purple and white.
-Richard's Mighty Spaniels - Brown and white.
-Goodyear Gingerbread Men - Golden brown, white, and red.

That's all I have. If you prefer one over another let me know. Go ahead and suggest some too.

My Favorite Movies of 2008

Okay, admittedly I did not get out to the theaters all that much during 2008. I was after all planning a wedding, moving, holding my first legitimate job, traveling etc. That being said, of the movies I saw this year I have compiled a list of my favorite movies.

10. The Happening - Once a year there is inevitably a movie that comes along where you literally have to stop and say, "My god, that was actually made." This year, that film was 'The Happening'. This movie goes far beyond bad. It's like a perfect storm of awful. Clichéd and horrible writing don't even begin to tell the whole convoluted story. The stale acting is so bad it's almost breathtaking. So you may ask why I would put it on this list. Well, honestly, no other movie made me laugh quite as much as this one did.

9. Quantum of Solace - James Bond is back in this action-packed 2008 flick. If you're looking for high art and a deep, thought provoking plot, you've come to the wrong place. Why would you be looking for those things in a Bond movie in the first place? If you want an enjoyable popcorn movie with great action sequences, sharp dialogue and an awesome opening credit sequence, than this is the movie for you.

8. Harold - To be honest, I didn't even know this movie existed until it wound up on Netflix instant watch. But, it's an enjoyable off color comedy that deserves a chance. While I'm not really a fan of Spencer Breslin, his depiction of an outcast teen with early onset male-pattern baldness is hilarious.

7. Yes Man - This movie was a total surprise to me. I went in expecting nothing more than your average Jim Carey comedy, but I ended up really enjoying it. Sure, it's a premise movie. But, it manages to keep the premise fresh and funny. Most of the characters are pretty likeable as well. But, perhaps the best part of this movie is that it's not heavy handed. Most of Carey's most recent work feels the need to hammer home a lesson you already know. While this one certainly has a moral, the screen writer didn't feel the need to beat you over the head with sappy dialogue for the last quarter of the movie. While it certainly has its flaws, it's one you should check out.

6. Pineapple Express - If you didn't like '40 Year Old Virgin' or 'Half-Baked' this one probably isn't for you. In this hilarious take on buddy action movies Seth Rogan and James Franco are at the top of their game as two social rejects that learn to embrace their friendship (and weed). Sure, it’s sophomoric and unsophisticated, but I don't pretend to be anything but that myself.

5. Tropic Thunder - Clearly 2008 was the year of the comedy. Again, this is a flawed movie. It had tremendous potential and only reached it on occasion. However, it is still a success in my book. Rank with satire this movie holds nothing sacred and is an enjoyable way to spend an evening. While some of the actors fall flat (Jack Black) Stiller and Robert Downey Jr. are flawless. The opening fake trailers alone earned it a spot on my favorite list.

4. Iron Man - I'm no fan of the Iron Man comics. I'd much rather read Spiderman or the X-Men. But this movie was awesome. Why? Robert Downey Jr. Yes, the special effects are cool and the plot is pretty good as far as super hero movies go, but the movie reaches another level because of its lead actor. His playful portrayal of playboy Tony Stark is beyond charismatic and almost iconic. I can't remember ever liking a character that much.

3. Quarantine - Everyone knows I am a sucker for zombie movies. I like them all, no matter how bad they are. But a zombie movie that also happens to be good? I'm all over it. Essentially an American duplicate of the Spanish film [REC] this movie ratchets up in intensity with each passing second. It's a roller coaster ride from start to finish. Normally I dislike the handheld 'Cloverfield' type of camera work, but in this film it works. If you're looking for a good horror film, look no further. This is a must watch.

2. W. - Oliver Stone's bio pic of the 43rd President is wonderful. In a sense he goes out of his way to give George W. Bush a fair trial in regards to his failed presidency. He paints him as a tragic figure, unaware of reality and blindly following those around him while trying to trace his path to such a high office. However, what's truly remarkable about this film are its performances. Josh Brolin captures Bush and his mannerisms perfectly while the supporting cast not only looks their roles but nail the characters. Oliver Stone may have been too soft on Bush, but it's still an intriguing glimpse at the man who is about to leave office after nearly destroying this country.

1. The Dark Knight - This movie surpasses its genre. It's far more than a superhero film and much more than an action film. It's technically flawless and benefits from the wonderful performances of Christian Bale and the late Heath Ledger. It tackles philosophical and political questions such as terrorism, domestic surveillance and hope and it is nothing short of a modern masterpiece that will keep you entertained despite its long run time.

Honorable mentions: Hamlet 2, Forgetting Sarah Marshall

(Note: I didn't put Frost/Nixon on this list because it didn't come out until December 25th. That qualifies it for 2009).

Predictions for the 09 NBA Playoffs

The 2008/2009 NBA season is almost half way over. So I thought I’d try and predict which teams will make it into the playoffs and where they will be seeded. Let’s start off with the Easter Conference.

8. New Jersey – Yes, right now they’re 7th in the east, but I think Philadelphia will end up ahead of them, thus knocking them to the 8th spot. Milwaukee will be right there with them, but the way Devin Harris and Brooke Lopez are playing I think they’ll still make the playoffs.

7. Philadelphia – They will knock NJ out of the 7th spot, but won’t go much higher than that. I think it’d be hard to catch up with teams ahead of them considering they will still need adjustment once Elton Brand is back in the lineup.

6. Miami – Dwayne Wade can only carry you so far and the 6th spot is pretty damn far. Michael Beasley will improve and they may get some more help if they end up trading Marion before the deadline, hopefully in the form of a big.

5. Atlanta – It’s Atlanta, I’m sorry, I just can’t see them any higher than this despite how well they played the first half of the season. I don’t know if Mike Bibby can keep playing at this level, but they definitely have enough to get the 5th or possibly 4th spot.

4. Detroit – Okay, I’ll admit, I don’t know what to think of this team. They could go on a tear given how much talent they have and still catch up to the 3rd spot. But they just look lost out there. They have no identity after trading Chauncey and the chemistry is definitely not what it should be. But, when you have Rip, Iverson, Sheed, and Stuckey I don’t think you can slip too far. They won’t go far in the playoffs, but I think it’s safe to say they’ll be the 4th or 5th spot.

3. Orlando – This is a great team. Unfortunately for them there are two better teams ahead of them. I expect them to keep rolling, but Boston has already caught up and Cleveland will stay ahead of them.

2. Boston – They have struggled mightily the last few weeks and they definitely don’t have the same swagger they once did. Their bench is a big issue and I think they’re going to have to make a deal before the trade deadline. But, they still have KG, Paul and Allen. They’re going to be okay. Besides, they’ve shown they can put a gigantic run together if they need to. But I think Cleveland will still squeak out with the number 1 spot.

1. Cleveland – At the beginning of this season I was a huge doubter of this team. I thought adding Mo was a good move, but didn’t make this team that much better. Boy was I wrong. James is playing out of his mind (thankfully I picked him up in my fantasy league). They’re playing good defense and are unbeatable at home. King James will carry them to the number one spot; he simply wants it more than the Celtics do.

I expect the conference playoffs to go a little something like this:

First Round:
Cleveland will easily beat the 8th seed Nets, probably in a sweep or at the most 5 games.

Boston will take care of Philly in 5 or 6 games.

Orlando will have some trouble stopping Wade and Miami but will win in 7.

Atlanta will beat Detroit in 6 games and the Pistons reign will end.

Second Round:

Cleveland will stick it to Atlanta in probably 5 or 6 games. There is no way they can contain LBJ.

Boston will barely beat Orlando in a game 7. It will be a match up for the ages because Dwight Howard will be a beast.

Conference Finals:

Boston got the best of Cleveland last time, but James won’t let it happen again. He’s powered his team to the finals before and will do it again. The big three will tired of eliminating the Magic and won’t have enough left in the tank for Cleveland. It won’t hurt to have the home court advantage either. Cleveland will win in 6.

Now let’s move on to the Western Conference.

8. Houston – This is a tough choice, because I think Dallas has a shot at this spot too. But, I give the edge to Houston because if they get their team back from injuries they are much better than Dallas this year. That said, if T-Mac doesn’t come back well along with Artest they’re sunk. And if Yao goes down again, they can kiss the playoffs, and probably this roster goodbye.

7. Utah – The Jazz, like the Rockets have had plenty of injuries. In fact they haven’t had the roster they thought they would this entire season. But, they’ll continue to play well at home and win just enough to remain afloat until Boozer comes back after the All-Star break. They won’t catch up with anyone, but they’ll solidify their 7th seed spot and hope they can do damage in the playoffs. Again, if they continue to be plagued by injures, they too could be out of the playoffs.

6. Phoenix – Like Detroit, this team is a shell of its former self. But, with a resurgent Shaq and growing chemistry I think they’ll stay around the 6th seed. Nash has clearly lost a step, but is still one of the best point guards out there. Amare has been in a bit of a funk as of late, but I think he’ll start getting more shots once the chemistry comes together a bit more. I loved the Jason Richardson trade because he can put up points quickly and he shoots the three very effectively. While they aren’t what they used to be, they are flat out better and/or healthier than the teams behind them.

5. Portland – They have a lot of youth, so I don’t see them getting higher than a 5th seed. In fact they might even drop behind the Suns as the season progresses. But, I don’t think they end up missing the playoffs this year. They have strong coaching and a good leader in Brandon Roy. Aldridge is underrated and Oden and the other young guys should continue to progress.

4. New Orleans – Chris Paul is amazing, but the rest of his team? They’re mediocre, aside from West. Chandler is having a terrible season and while Posey is a great clutch guy and wonderful defender, they need a legitimate third option. They seem to lack the passion they had last year, maybe it’s because they’re waiting for the playoffs.

3. San Antonio Spurs– At the beginning of the season it looked like age had finally caught up with this team. Now, it looks like they’re ready for another championship run. Signing Roger Mason this last off-season was huge. The guy is great in clutch situations and compliments the team perfectly. Having him allows Manu to come off of the bench which is a huge asset for the Spurs. Duncan is still one of the most dominant players in the league and Tony Parker is a seasoned point guard who makes good decisions and can flat out score. They need help at center, but they’ve got enough to get the 2nd or 3rd seed.

2. Denver Nuggets– What a surprise Denver has been. They looked like they were going nowhere. They traded Camby and Iverson and I assumed they had thrown in the towel. But, Chauncey has been phenomenal. He’s given that team the leadership they’ve needed since Melo was drafted and has turned that team around. Nene is playing well and when Carmelo returns from his injury they’re going to be even tougher to beat. In my opinion they have the Northwest division all but wrapped up given that Utah and Portland are still struggling with injuries. They’ll be fighting with the Spurs for the 2nd seed and I’m giving them the edge because of the Billups factor.

1. LA Lakers – They’ve been like a steamroller this season. Their length can’t be matched by anyone and Kobe has been playing very well. No one in the west has the depth they do and I think the leadership of Fisher and Kobe will keep this team focused on locking up the number 1 spot.

I expect the conference playoffs to go a little something like this:

First Round:

LA will dismantle Houston even if they have their whole roster back from injury. The Lakers have too many ways to score and will have the benefit of having played together for longer. They take it in 5.

The Jazz take the Nuggets to the brink of elimination, but not having home court is the deciding factor. The Nuggets win in 7.

Once again it’s San Antonio and Phoenix. Unfortunately for the Suns, the outcome is the same once more. In will be a dog fight but the Spurs win it in 7.

In the playoffs biggest surprise the Blazers beat the Hornets. Paul will be dynamite, but the young guns of Portland will edge them out in 7 games.

Second Round:

No surprise here, the Lakers beat the Blazers handily in 5 or 6 games. The Lakers have too much and Portland is too inexperienced.

The Nuggets and San Antonio will slug it out for 6 games, but San Antonio will ultimately come out victorious. Roger Mason will continue to impress and the original big three, Parker, Ginobli, and Duncan will advance to the conference finals.

Conference Finals:

This will go seven games. Neither team will give an inch. But, LA will get to the finals for the second year in a row in a thrilling game 7. San Antonio simply won’t be able to contain Kobe and will get beat by their lack of size.

Now for the NBA Finals!

Cleveland will take on the Lakers in what will become a classic series. Lebron vs. Kobe. While the Lakers have the better team, the Cavs have the best player. My initial thought is to give it to the Lakers, but I just don’t see James getting to this stage again and not winning a championship. Somehow, some way, Lebron James will finally bring a championship to Cleveland after a duel with Kobe in game 7.

Top Ten Favorite Video Games

A few weeks ago I discovered that some original Xbox games were available for download via Xbox live. I immediately found one of my all time favorite games and have been playing it as much as possible since. So, I've decided to compile a list of my top ten favorites ala Rob Gordon (John Cusack, in High Fidelity).

10. Contra (1988) - The game is simple, shoot people/aliens/robots. But there was something beautiful in the simplicity of this game that allowed me and my former roommate, Scott, to play it for hours at a time. In fact, he once beat it three times in a row without dying a single time. I myself only beat it once, thanks in large part to Scott's awesome play. Truly great multiplayer games on the 8-bit Nintendo are hard to find, and this was simply the best one. Several sequels followed on other platforms, but the original NES version can never be topped.

9. Sims City 4 (2003) - Not many games lead you to learn more about an actual career (unless you plan on shooting aliens, travel through time, or play professional sports), but the Sim City series did just that. My love for city planning came from playing this series, but there is no denying that Sim City 4 is the pinnacle of greatness. The graphics finally did the game play justice and the idea of having a huge region with multiple interconnecting cities was a genius stroke. It was hard, but not impossible, providing the perfect challenge for the average gamer. And when you saw your little cities grow into a giant metropolis you felt an overwhelming sense of pride that no other game can give you.

8. The Sims (2000) - I know, two Sim games in a row. But, hear me out. These games couldn't be more different. One allowed you to build a complex city while the other allowed you to create hilarious scenarios like "What would happen if Jesus, a laid back messy hippie, and Satan, an uptight clean cut businessman, lived together?" I'll tell you what happened, gaming magic! I don't think I ever played this game the way it was meant to be played. I never really cared about advancing my characters careers or proving them with a lifetime of balance and happiness. Instead my friend Mark and I discovered a way for one character to kill off the entire neighborhood by luring them into a pool with no exit. Or seeing how long you could ignore a baby before it would be taken away by child welfare. Sure, I think back on it now and realize I probably needed some serious physiological help, but the game allowed complete freedom. My friends and I spent hours designing houses, creating disgusting looking characters and coming up with ridiculous premises ("What if Einstein lived with Nat King Cole"). Such a great game certainly deserves a spot on my favorites list.

7. Blade Runner (1997) - Far too often when a company makes a game based off of a movie they end up ruining it. They try to follow the storyline of the movie exactly or end up adding pieces to make it more exciting. Neither method works. I've already seen the movie; I don't need to see it again. And no, I don't remember the part in Batman where everyone on the street had a gun for some reason. Blade Runner on the other hand got it right. Set in the same awesome environment as the movie you take control of another detective, not Harrison Ford himself. You are even working a different case. While your case occasionally crosses paths with Decker’s, you spend most of your time tracking down your own renegade replicants. As a point and click game you don't have as much control, but that doesn't hinder the game play. Based on how you interact with characters and the choices you make there are 13 different endings, making it one of the best games to play over and over again. Are you a replicant? Are you human? Let your actions decide. Just like the movie, I can play this game and catch something new every time. Not a lot of games can boast that kind of experience. Plus it doesn't hurt that one of the lines of dialogue is "Your breath stinks, did you wipe your ass with your teeth?"

6. Mortal Kombat (1992) - I vividly remember when this game came out because my mom and dad both said that me and my brother couldn't play it. About a week later my brother bought it for the Sega Genesis on the condition that we could only play it with no blood. Back then you had to put in a special code in order to see any graphic events (yes, hitting people is fine as long as long as they don't bleed). That constraint lasted all of four days and suddenly my once outraged father was there beside us taking part in the severe beating of 16 bit characters. While the game was nothing more than a basic fighter, it ended up bringing my family together. Barriers were broken and my parents discovered that just because we saw imaginary violence, we weren't going to become serial killers. Oh, and knocking people into a pit of spikes is one of the coolest things in the world, not going to lie.

5. Rise of Nations (2003) - Have you ever drafted a formal declaration of war for an RTS video game? Sadly, I have. While I'm not proud of it, it certainly shows how intense my friends and I played this game. That same night, half of the fifth floor of Hayes-Healy on the USF campus was doing battle against one another. After two and half hours of hard fought game play I destroyed the world by launching yet another nuclear weapon. If I wasn’t going to win, no one was. For any history nerd, this game was like pure cocaine. Once you were hooked you couldn't stop. This game combined concepts from the Civilization series with the game play of Star Craft. You not only built massive armies, but advance your civilization through government, technology and world wonders; and you didn't have to do it turn by turn.

4. GoldenEye (1997) - Nothing solidified my friendships in junior high quite like GoldenEye. Every day after school I could count at least two people coming over to play it with me. Sure, it may have led to my obesity at the time, but damn it, that game was awesome. It became the easiest way to solve problems with one another and bond as friends (no pun intended). "Slappers only" became an acceptable way to vent ones aggression and as pubescent boys we had a lot of aggression. Not only was the game play fun, but at the time it was the most graphically rich game I had ever seen. I remember thinking to myself, "It will never get more realistic than this." While I may have been wrong about that, I wasn't wrong in thinking that this was one of the best games ever made...as long as no one plays as Oddjob, that's cheating!


3. Left 4 Dead (2008) - Zombies. What, that's not enough of an explanation for you? Okay, how about this, ZOMBIES! Seriously though, this game took my favorite genre of horror movie and finally did it justice. There was no garbage plot like "Resident Evil" and no time limit like with "Dead Rising". When you have zombies, you really don't need that much. This game is simply amazing. It adapts to how well your team is doing and has several different kinds of zombies; all terrifying. The best part, however, is the emphasis on team work. If you ditch out on your fellow survivors (or Zombies) it's not just likely that you'll get trounced, it's a certainty. You are rewarded for working together. And, as I've already alluded to, you can play as the ferocious undead. While I enjoy a plot driven game as much as the next guy when it comes to zombies all I need to know is where they are and how fast I need to run.

2. Half-Life/ Team Fortress (1998) - In my opinion this is the ultimate first-person shooter. The train ride at the beginning sets you up for an almost cinematic experience. This is the first game where I actually felt like I was playing a movie. Granted, its plot is a little thin and doesn't make much sense, but somehow you are immersed in its universe. The game play is great, with puzzles thrown in-between fire fights and alien attacks. It's gory, funny, and action packed, with a surprisingly cool soundtrack. But perhaps the best part is that it came packaged with an online game called Team Fortress which to this day is the best multiplayer game. I'm not talking about the new version. Yeah, that one is good and all, but the original? Forget about it. It was a pioneer. It definitely had the best multiplayer maps of all time, including "The Rock" based off of Alcatraz and the once popular Nicholas Cage movie. Now every time I play an online multiplayer game I immediately compare it to Team Fortress and I have yet to see one measure up. These games revolutionized the gaming industry.

1. Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas (2004) - This may surprise most people, but I stand by number one pick. It's far superior to the Grand Theft Auto Three and as much as I enjoy the 80's campyness that is Vice City, I have special love of the early 90's. This game captures that era perfectly, right down to the curly mullet. It also has a great soundtrack and the best plot of the series. As well as the finest voice acting of any game. Samuel L. Jackson as a crooked cop -yes please. Unlike GTA IV, it doesn't take itself too seriously and allows for a much more imaginative experience. You can take Carl to the gym to get him ripped or to a burger joint to get him fat. Want him to have a stupid haircut? Sure, why not. You can take him to the courts for a little basketball, or just ride around the hood committing burglaries and drive-bys. You aren't restricted to just one city either, instead you can take your mischief out of LA and into San Francisco and Las Vegas with each city having its own unique landscape, missions, and culture. You can use cars, motorcycles, boats, helicopters, jets, or even jetpacks to get around while the hilarious gangsta' dialogue keeps you in stitches. Yes, it's offensive and over the top, but I like games where I can escape reality while still poking fun at it. San Andreas has given me and my friends hours and hours of entertainment and leaves me with sense of nostalgia for both the early 90's as well as when I first bought the game nearly five years ago.

Say it Ain't so Joe!

I was afraid that after the election the delightful little rascal known to all of us as Joe the Plumber would disappear. Thankfully, he's still grasping onto the limelight (which of course he never wanted in the first place) and announced that he was traveling to Israel to be a war correspondent for pjtv.com. He's going to be there a whole 10 days! OMFG! What a guy. Oh and the best part is that he wants to "let average (Israeli) Joe's share their story." Always there for the little man, right Joe? God knows we're losing sight of Joe Israeli Six-pack’s on the street when we watch coverage on BBC or CNN. They're more concerned with reporting facts and figures. I for one like to get my news from an unlicensed republican plumber whose 15 minutes of fame were up several months ago.