When the Washington Nationals swept the St. Louis Cardinals, I thought that they would win the World Series. I expected five games, but for the sport, seven. To see an underdog that never won anything, even in Montreal, is one of the biggest surprises to end the 2010s. It was a matter of going to their strengths in pitching and the bats coming in at the right time. They join the 1996 Yankees as a team that won eight on the road, including four World Series games.
You talk pitching, you got Stephen Strasburg. Capping off his postseason with phenomenal Game 6, there's a reason he won the MVP for the series Add in Max Scherzer and Patrick Corbin, and they helped bail out a struggling bullpen. Of course, you got Anthony Rendon and Juan Soto delivering at the plate. Howie Kendrick is a huge hero in Washington baseball lore. Lots of contribution. Keep in mind that near the end of May, the team was 19 and 31. The nation's capital gets its first baseball trophy since 1924 and it joins on the midst of last years Capitals hockey championship and the recent WNBA Mystics Finals win.
With Houston, they blew opportunities. The overuse of Justin Verlander was obvious. Why Zack Greinke was pulled, I don't know. Manager AJ Hinch blew his opportunity in managing what pitchers to use. The question will be asked about Gerrit Cole and if he could have been used. Starters in relief has been seen, but that quick in two days rest, who knows. With the Astros batting, they came at moments, but in the losses, they couldn't figure out the Nationals.
I think the Astros were distracted by the controversy regarding their fired assistant GM. Questionable choices in the games. Even the umpire issues on both sides. Either way, this is a special way to end the decade. The Nationals surprised many with defeating the LA Dodgers. Sweeping the Cardinals helped them and to pull off the upset. All DC needs now is the Wizards and Redskins to get into championship contention. Baseball's trophy gets its stay in a meaningful place until next year.
Thursday, October 31, 2019
Wednesday, October 30, 2019
Geeks and Jocks Episode 19
The newest episode of Geeks and Jocks. Domestic Horror
https://anchor.fm/ryan-sullivan1gaj/episodes/Geeks-and-Jocks-Episode-19-Domestic-Horror-e8c1fb
https://anchor.fm/ryan-sullivan1gaj/episodes/Geeks-and-Jocks-Episode-19-Domestic-Horror-e8c1fb
Tuesday, October 29, 2019
Zombieland Review
After seeing the newest one in theaters I thought about re-watching the first Zombieland. I don't remember it being advertised when it was new. To be honest, I hadn't seen it uncut in roughly seven or eight years. Seeing it after that long, it's held up very well. A lot of comedy sprinkled around and one hell of a finale.
Basic premise, Columbus is venturing his way from Texas back to Ohio to see if any of his family survived. Along the way, it slowly goes to introducing Tallahassee and then later on with Wichita and Little Rock. If there is one thing I like, it's Columbus learning the origins of what the three have gone through. It sort of explains the unbridled rage of Tallahassee. I also forgot that the girls were bad guys at first and it may feel that way for some viewers at points throughout it.
The movie relies on its jokes and antics. Stuff like getting pissed over no Twinkies or a guy starting the zombie apocalypse by eating a contaminated burger. That's what works. It has a handful of action scenes and the writers slowly form it until it reaches the end with a big finale that is ridiculous but well made. A good emphasis on rock music encompasses the scenes along with the dreary cinematography. Add in a good pace and quick run time, you got a good solid film.
There isn't much else to say. Zombieland stands on its own and whenever the second one comes out next year on video, it should make for a great double feature. One of the films to see during October.
Score: 7.5 out of 10.
Basic premise, Columbus is venturing his way from Texas back to Ohio to see if any of his family survived. Along the way, it slowly goes to introducing Tallahassee and then later on with Wichita and Little Rock. If there is one thing I like, it's Columbus learning the origins of what the three have gone through. It sort of explains the unbridled rage of Tallahassee. I also forgot that the girls were bad guys at first and it may feel that way for some viewers at points throughout it.
The movie relies on its jokes and antics. Stuff like getting pissed over no Twinkies or a guy starting the zombie apocalypse by eating a contaminated burger. That's what works. It has a handful of action scenes and the writers slowly form it until it reaches the end with a big finale that is ridiculous but well made. A good emphasis on rock music encompasses the scenes along with the dreary cinematography. Add in a good pace and quick run time, you got a good solid film.
There isn't much else to say. Zombieland stands on its own and whenever the second one comes out next year on video, it should make for a great double feature. One of the films to see during October.
Score: 7.5 out of 10.
Monday, October 28, 2019
Houston, We Have a Domestic Problem
I think sports leagues have been better in handling domestic violence issues in the last five years. There are punishments for these actions and it has handled smoothly. Where MLB stands on the Houston Astros, I don't know. But there is a toxic culture in the organization. I've waited a little bit because I don't see the issue dying off, regardless of them winning a World Series or losing it.
Long story short, Brandon Taubman, who was the assistant general manager for the Astros, said some inappropriate stuff in front of three female reporters, one of which is a writer for Sports Illustrated. Along the lines of saying he was glad the team got Roberto Osuna, a closer who was in the midst of a 75 game suspension last year when he was traded to them. Charges were dropped, but the suspension was still in place. The Astros played the denying game and then admitted. Taubman was fired earlier last week and it paints a very bad picture with how they handle the media. Back in the summer, they refused to let a Detroit reporter talk to former Tiger Justin Verlander.
The way the team has handled the media has been very poor. This is how things go sour very quickly and it starts at the top and every area in between the top and bottom. Firing Taubman should not be enough. There should be a hefty fine for the Astros and maybe a loss of a draft pick or two. Owner Jim Crane and GM Jeff Luhnow need to reassess how they handle things in the future. There should be opportunities for second chances, but there's better ways of being professional in the sports world. Either way, even if they win the World Series, this controversy will be looked at more than a championship. The Astros have a long way to go to get rid of the toxicity.
Long story short, Brandon Taubman, who was the assistant general manager for the Astros, said some inappropriate stuff in front of three female reporters, one of which is a writer for Sports Illustrated. Along the lines of saying he was glad the team got Roberto Osuna, a closer who was in the midst of a 75 game suspension last year when he was traded to them. Charges were dropped, but the suspension was still in place. The Astros played the denying game and then admitted. Taubman was fired earlier last week and it paints a very bad picture with how they handle the media. Back in the summer, they refused to let a Detroit reporter talk to former Tiger Justin Verlander.
The way the team has handled the media has been very poor. This is how things go sour very quickly and it starts at the top and every area in between the top and bottom. Firing Taubman should not be enough. There should be a hefty fine for the Astros and maybe a loss of a draft pick or two. Owner Jim Crane and GM Jeff Luhnow need to reassess how they handle things in the future. There should be opportunities for second chances, but there's better ways of being professional in the sports world. Either way, even if they win the World Series, this controversy will be looked at more than a championship. The Astros have a long way to go to get rid of the toxicity.
Friday, October 25, 2019
Thursday, October 24, 2019
Horror Games I've Played
I'm a little more comfortable with horror video games. Let's dive into a few.
One of these I played for the Xbox 360 called Dead Rising. It was a very early title and it was inspired by George Romero's Dead films. In a shopping mall, you're a journalist, trying to figure out what is going on in Colorado. The graphics are a step up from the previous generation. Tons of stuff on screen. Plenty of zombies to kill in various ways. A lot of scary and rock music add to the audio. Lots of objectives, optional rescues. An arsenal of weapons and health items. Experience points to help improve stats. Couple knocks include poor AI and only one save game slot. Plenty of content. Try it out to see how you feel, but my recommendation is the second game.
This game I tried on the PlayStation back around 2000 was Dino Crisis. Resident Evil with dinosaurs. An elite group trying solve problems on an island, but things don't go as planned. It has the scares, especially if dinosaurs catch your scent. More about survival instead of going guns blazing. There is an eeriness to the graphics that while good, it leaves on the edge. Same can be said for the audio. A lot of puzzles and scares, it is a game to look at if you're not interested or had enough time with Resident Evil.
Last for this blog, I'm going camping. Friday the 13th is one I've played on and off for about a year. You get to play as counselors or Jason. As counselors, you set traps, repair vehicles, or call cops to escape or simply survive. Jason's goal is killing the counselors through various kills and make things harder such as shutting off the power to cabins. Both aspects have various pros and cons to characters, so choose wisely. The graphics are spooky and when the music kicks in, run. My only complaints are offline not being as good and online being the only way to play it. You want that kick of 80s nostalgia, the game will be an obvious choice.
One of these I played for the Xbox 360 called Dead Rising. It was a very early title and it was inspired by George Romero's Dead films. In a shopping mall, you're a journalist, trying to figure out what is going on in Colorado. The graphics are a step up from the previous generation. Tons of stuff on screen. Plenty of zombies to kill in various ways. A lot of scary and rock music add to the audio. Lots of objectives, optional rescues. An arsenal of weapons and health items. Experience points to help improve stats. Couple knocks include poor AI and only one save game slot. Plenty of content. Try it out to see how you feel, but my recommendation is the second game.
This game I tried on the PlayStation back around 2000 was Dino Crisis. Resident Evil with dinosaurs. An elite group trying solve problems on an island, but things don't go as planned. It has the scares, especially if dinosaurs catch your scent. More about survival instead of going guns blazing. There is an eeriness to the graphics that while good, it leaves on the edge. Same can be said for the audio. A lot of puzzles and scares, it is a game to look at if you're not interested or had enough time with Resident Evil.
Last for this blog, I'm going camping. Friday the 13th is one I've played on and off for about a year. You get to play as counselors or Jason. As counselors, you set traps, repair vehicles, or call cops to escape or simply survive. Jason's goal is killing the counselors through various kills and make things harder such as shutting off the power to cabins. Both aspects have various pros and cons to characters, so choose wisely. The graphics are spooky and when the music kicks in, run. My only complaints are offline not being as good and online being the only way to play it. You want that kick of 80s nostalgia, the game will be an obvious choice.
Wednesday, October 23, 2019
Why I Hate The Walking Dead Show
Very rarely do I have mixed receptions on stuff in different forms of media. I hate the show Animaniacs but I love the Sega Genesis game. It's similar to how I feel about The Walking Dead. I enjoy the TellTale game, but hate the show. I tried to give it a chance. Gave the first season a shot and was not impressed. Here are my thoughts from five years ago.
The first episode was kind of dull. Nothing stood out except for the ending, which was like a cliffhanger. Not bad, but not great. With the second episode, there was a lot more to it. New characters, intense moments, survival. I thought that was the best episode of the season. Unfortunately, the third one regressed. My main gripe was the pacing as it felt inconsistent and it should have focused more on Rick and not on the camp. Should have been balanced better. Episode four was more so like the second one, but not as good. Still a strong episode.
With the last two episodes of the season, I was not impressed. Not a good pace and nothing about it made me want to watch the second season and up. The thing is, there was a good range of characters, each with pros and cons like any horror program. I thought the cinematography captured the essence of an apocalypse and living off the land away from zombies. It had the audio that you want for something like this. Little things do hurt a product for some.
That's all I have to say. Sorry to anyone that is a fan, but I couldn't get into it. I tried, but I hated it. I find most AMC shows to be overrated in general.
Tuesday, October 22, 2019
Zombieland: Double Tap Review
Zombies are very much mainstream. You got your TV fix with The Walking Dead. George Romero had his slice of films with X of the Dead films. Comedies like Shaun of the Dead poke fun of the genre. I would put Zombieland into the comedy realm despite the violence in it. Double Tap is something you wouldn't think would get made. It is a great follow up and one of the funniest films I've seen this year.
How does it stay fresh without treading on familiar territory? It's neat to get Tallahassee, Columbus, Wichita, and Little Rock back together with the same actors reprising them. And they're still killing any zombies that get in their way. They find refuge in the White House and call it home. That is, until the girls get tired of the guys and Little Rock meets a guy roughly her age. It's another adventure through the country to get her back and survive. But what they dealt with in the first, it's a whole new ballgame going for seconds.
What is good about Double Tap is that although it doesn't break any new ground, it put a lot into having enough to stand out. There's a new breed of zombies with some funny references. Like any apocalypse, you got people who are trying to survive. New characters like Madison, Berkeley, and Nevada help keep the film on its feet and leave you in awe with the humor and action. Kills are just as creative as the first and the pace is on par with it. The narration is a nice touch and some of the random moments are gut busting.
The antics of the characters provides a more funnier film. Nobody can do one liners in it like Tallahassee. There is a bigger emphasis on romance, but it's not shoved down your throat every second. It helps some of the humor and tone a little, though. With experience for a long time, the action is smarter and more developed. The tone and visual effects are top notch combined with the dreary cinematography. Add in the good use of music and its the recipe for how to be a strong comedy sequel.
My only big complaint is Madison. I don't mind a dipshit character and I get the joke, but she can be a little grating. And there are a few new characters that I felt could have had a few additional scenes. Can't expect a film to be perfect. Usually, comedy sequels are not as good. Not the case with Double Tap. It might be better than the original, if not, just as equal. Check it out in theaters. Stop by next week and I'll say my thoughts on the first film.
Score: 8 out of 10
How does it stay fresh without treading on familiar territory? It's neat to get Tallahassee, Columbus, Wichita, and Little Rock back together with the same actors reprising them. And they're still killing any zombies that get in their way. They find refuge in the White House and call it home. That is, until the girls get tired of the guys and Little Rock meets a guy roughly her age. It's another adventure through the country to get her back and survive. But what they dealt with in the first, it's a whole new ballgame going for seconds.
What is good about Double Tap is that although it doesn't break any new ground, it put a lot into having enough to stand out. There's a new breed of zombies with some funny references. Like any apocalypse, you got people who are trying to survive. New characters like Madison, Berkeley, and Nevada help keep the film on its feet and leave you in awe with the humor and action. Kills are just as creative as the first and the pace is on par with it. The narration is a nice touch and some of the random moments are gut busting.
The antics of the characters provides a more funnier film. Nobody can do one liners in it like Tallahassee. There is a bigger emphasis on romance, but it's not shoved down your throat every second. It helps some of the humor and tone a little, though. With experience for a long time, the action is smarter and more developed. The tone and visual effects are top notch combined with the dreary cinematography. Add in the good use of music and its the recipe for how to be a strong comedy sequel.
My only big complaint is Madison. I don't mind a dipshit character and I get the joke, but she can be a little grating. And there are a few new characters that I felt could have had a few additional scenes. Can't expect a film to be perfect. Usually, comedy sequels are not as good. Not the case with Double Tap. It might be better than the original, if not, just as equal. Check it out in theaters. Stop by next week and I'll say my thoughts on the first film.
Score: 8 out of 10
Monday, October 21, 2019
The Halloween Movie Identity
There is no shortage of TV shows doing Halloween specials on prime time networks. It's been the case for many years. Cable has its moments, but the movie spectrum is a little different. Maybe years ago, it was treated very well, but not many networks are all in.
The only ones to get into it are Freeform, AMC, and SyFy. Granted, you're not getting the greatest variety, but it's better than nothing. You know Freeform will put in the same 10 or so movies and some of it is ones that you don't see on other networks like The Addams Family. It gravitates towards friendlier films, so don't expect much out of them. That being said, they have been generous with Treehouse of Horror episodes of The Simpsons. Even though that's TV, it's a nice addition.
On the other end of the spectrum, SyFy goes for the throat. You got the schlocky films. Stuff that would fit onto their network now these days. But you got tent pole films such as Friday the 13th and Elm Street. Maybe Halloween, but that depends on if someone AMC airs it. Speaking of which, that network has their films such as Jaws, Hellraiser, and The Shining. Between the two networks, it's almost like a best of the 70s, 80s, and 90s. Can you stomach five minute breaks?
Is there anything that can be done with airing movies around this month? Let me know what you think because the appreciation for Halloween stuff feels less strong every year.
Saturday, October 19, 2019
Game Emulation Stories: Volume 2
Since the first one is the biggest blog of the bunch, it's been very long enough to do a second volume of stories. I'll have at least a couple to talk about.
The first goes back to 15 years ago. Around this time, there had been sites that were doing their own arcade emulation. I believe the site was called 1980stees (it's been a long time, so the name is something else) and they specialized in doing early 80s arcade games. There was Donkey Kong, Frogger, and a couple other games from that era that I played. It was about as close as I could get, not knowing that there were places where you could get the actual arcade ROMs or even get the real PCBs on eBay. They did have some other flash games like one I played a lot that was based on Sonic Advance 2, which was the newest handheld Sonic at the time. I had good enjoyment out of it.
Going to do more 80s, this time called 1980sgames.com. At the time, roughly again 15 years ago, they had access to about every NES game released in America. Even included were some rom hacks of a couple games such as Aladdin. Unfortunately, emulation was rough with Nesticle or Nestopia. Once again, my memory is a little fuzzy. Regardless, the games ran really slow. Try playing through Bionic Commando or Back to the Future on that.
The site also had access to Sega Master System games and included both the American and European releases. It might have been the first time I had every tried out games for it. It's 8-bit Sonic games I definitely tried. Altered Beast and a few others I gave a shot. I remember the emulation being good, but the audio was a few pitches down compared to how it was on a real Master System. As far as that site was, it was okay. If you didn't want to hassle with emulators, it was fine, but it was not something I would have recommended. Now these days, the site's domain is up for sale.
And that wraps up volume two. I do have a bit more emulation stories I'll talk about in the near future. Here is the first volume:
https://sullivanentertainment.blogspot.com/2019/03/game-emulation-stories-volume-1.html
The first goes back to 15 years ago. Around this time, there had been sites that were doing their own arcade emulation. I believe the site was called 1980stees (it's been a long time, so the name is something else) and they specialized in doing early 80s arcade games. There was Donkey Kong, Frogger, and a couple other games from that era that I played. It was about as close as I could get, not knowing that there were places where you could get the actual arcade ROMs or even get the real PCBs on eBay. They did have some other flash games like one I played a lot that was based on Sonic Advance 2, which was the newest handheld Sonic at the time. I had good enjoyment out of it.
Going to do more 80s, this time called 1980sgames.com. At the time, roughly again 15 years ago, they had access to about every NES game released in America. Even included were some rom hacks of a couple games such as Aladdin. Unfortunately, emulation was rough with Nesticle or Nestopia. Once again, my memory is a little fuzzy. Regardless, the games ran really slow. Try playing through Bionic Commando or Back to the Future on that.
The site also had access to Sega Master System games and included both the American and European releases. It might have been the first time I had every tried out games for it. It's 8-bit Sonic games I definitely tried. Altered Beast and a few others I gave a shot. I remember the emulation being good, but the audio was a few pitches down compared to how it was on a real Master System. As far as that site was, it was okay. If you didn't want to hassle with emulators, it was fine, but it was not something I would have recommended. Now these days, the site's domain is up for sale.
And that wraps up volume two. I do have a bit more emulation stories I'll talk about in the near future. Here is the first volume:
https://sullivanentertainment.blogspot.com/2019/03/game-emulation-stories-volume-1.html
Friday, October 18, 2019
Wednesday, October 16, 2019
Geeks and Jocks Episode 18
The newest Geeks and Jocks episode.
https://anchor.fm/ryan-sullivan1gaj/episodes/Geeks-and-Jocks-Episode-18-Joke-Station-Twins-e7nfi9
You can find my podcast on these sites:
https://anchor.fm/ryan-sullivan1gaj
https://www.google.com/podcasts?feed=aHR0cHM6Ly9hbmNob3IuZm0vcy84YmFhZTg0L3BvZGNhc3QvcnNz
https://open.spotify.com/show/0ejDLYL3QCQslc1q25pRgF
https://www.breaker.audio/geeks-and-jocks
https://radiopublic.com/geeks-and-jocks-GKzY7Q
https://anchor.fm/ryan-sullivan1gaj/episodes/Geeks-and-Jocks-Episode-18-Joke-Station-Twins-e7nfi9
You can find my podcast on these sites:
https://anchor.fm/ryan-sullivan1gaj
https://www.google.com/podcasts?feed=aHR0cHM6Ly9hbmNob3IuZm0vcy84YmFhZTg0L3BvZGNhc3QvcnNz
https://open.spotify.com/show/0ejDLYL3QCQslc1q25pRgF
https://www.breaker.audio/geeks-and-jocks
https://radiopublic.com/geeks-and-jocks-GKzY7Q
Tuesday, October 15, 2019
Joker Review
Under normal circumstances, I would not have seen Joker. With all the whining about the way it is done, I had to see what the fuss was about. This is not the typical comic book flair that has been seen for the last decade. I'm not into today's films compared to the likes of what was seen back then like the 89 Batman. But this was surprisingly good. I'd say borderline great.
It has origin story written all over it with Todd Phillips writing part of it and directing it. Arthur Fleck lives in a crummy part of Gotham with his mother. He works as a clown, doing stuff like promoting an out of business store and making kids happy at the hospital. There are hints of issues that he has had for a long time. The dreams he has includes wanting to be a comedian. However, life throws a curve ball in a lot of situations. But what happens when a guy with mental issues finally snaps?
This is no popcorn flick. It's a film. No reliance on special effects or explosions for 350 million dollars. No guys in green screen suits, though a couple scenes do involve the Waynes. It is a psychological thriller and a serious drama. You see what Fleck goes through and when it reaches that breaking point, there is no stopping him. Joaquin Phoenix is excellent in performing the character with the weird laughs and depressed look of him. I'm not sure it's Oscar worthy, but it could get a nod. Robert De Niro has chances to shine as TV host Murray Franklin. The same can be said for Frances Conroy as Arthur's mother. With the rest of the cast, it's thought out and works for the film.
The controversy over the movie feels manufactured. I don't see it as a movie that promotes violence. And I was expecting it to be a lot more violent. He doesn't go on a huge rampage, but some of the killings will surprise you. Which is something I'll bring up. This is set in the 1970s. Gotham is New York City when you hear about garbage strikes, riots, and stuff similar to fires in the Bronx. Crime was very high and the portrayal is eerie. What I see out of this is what happens when a nut tries to control himself, but can't. And that's how Joker is in the comics. You never now what's going to happen, although not as crazy like in the comics.
I think we've only tapped into what happens when Joker snaps. If there ever is a plan to make more Batman movies, I have a feeling we will see a more deadlier adversary. Add in a dreary approach to the cinematography and the score leaving you on your toes, the movie is worth a watch in the theater. Not as controversial as others say it is.
Score: 7.5 out of 10
It has origin story written all over it with Todd Phillips writing part of it and directing it. Arthur Fleck lives in a crummy part of Gotham with his mother. He works as a clown, doing stuff like promoting an out of business store and making kids happy at the hospital. There are hints of issues that he has had for a long time. The dreams he has includes wanting to be a comedian. However, life throws a curve ball in a lot of situations. But what happens when a guy with mental issues finally snaps?
This is no popcorn flick. It's a film. No reliance on special effects or explosions for 350 million dollars. No guys in green screen suits, though a couple scenes do involve the Waynes. It is a psychological thriller and a serious drama. You see what Fleck goes through and when it reaches that breaking point, there is no stopping him. Joaquin Phoenix is excellent in performing the character with the weird laughs and depressed look of him. I'm not sure it's Oscar worthy, but it could get a nod. Robert De Niro has chances to shine as TV host Murray Franklin. The same can be said for Frances Conroy as Arthur's mother. With the rest of the cast, it's thought out and works for the film.
The controversy over the movie feels manufactured. I don't see it as a movie that promotes violence. And I was expecting it to be a lot more violent. He doesn't go on a huge rampage, but some of the killings will surprise you. Which is something I'll bring up. This is set in the 1970s. Gotham is New York City when you hear about garbage strikes, riots, and stuff similar to fires in the Bronx. Crime was very high and the portrayal is eerie. What I see out of this is what happens when a nut tries to control himself, but can't. And that's how Joker is in the comics. You never now what's going to happen, although not as crazy like in the comics.
I think we've only tapped into what happens when Joker snaps. If there ever is a plan to make more Batman movies, I have a feeling we will see a more deadlier adversary. Add in a dreary approach to the cinematography and the score leaving you on your toes, the movie is worth a watch in the theater. Not as controversial as others say it is.
Score: 7.5 out of 10
Monday, October 14, 2019
The National Dodger
The DC area may as well have those bandwagoners. Because the Nationals could ride their wave of success this year to a potential World Series.
It starts with the pitching. Stephen Strasburg is one of the better pitchers in the league. Max Scherzer may not have the stuff he has had the last few years, but can be guaranteed to grind out innings. Add in a decent bullpen and they were able to defeat the Los Angeles Dodgers.
There is power at the plate. Howie Kendrick's grand slam in game 5 is a great example. A lot of youth and prime veterans lead the way. Juan Soto and Anthony Rendon are an excellent one two punch. Rendon is in consideration for MVP in the National League. Trea Turner has speed. Complimenting the team includes Adam Eaton, Kendrick, and Kurt Suzuki. Anyone can deliver the fatal blow to an opponent on any given game.
A sense of success has propelled them to an even bigger level of success. With a two to nothing lead over the St. Louis Cardinals in the Championship series, the possibility to get the pennant on their own home turf would be extra special. The closest the franchise had to even sniffing a World Series was back in 1994 when they were the Montreal Expos before the strike damaged them for a lot of reasons.
Washington DC has something else besides the Capitals to be excited about.
It starts with the pitching. Stephen Strasburg is one of the better pitchers in the league. Max Scherzer may not have the stuff he has had the last few years, but can be guaranteed to grind out innings. Add in a decent bullpen and they were able to defeat the Los Angeles Dodgers.
There is power at the plate. Howie Kendrick's grand slam in game 5 is a great example. A lot of youth and prime veterans lead the way. Juan Soto and Anthony Rendon are an excellent one two punch. Rendon is in consideration for MVP in the National League. Trea Turner has speed. Complimenting the team includes Adam Eaton, Kendrick, and Kurt Suzuki. Anyone can deliver the fatal blow to an opponent on any given game.
A sense of success has propelled them to an even bigger level of success. With a two to nothing lead over the St. Louis Cardinals in the Championship series, the possibility to get the pennant on their own home turf would be extra special. The closest the franchise had to even sniffing a World Series was back in 1994 when they were the Montreal Expos before the strike damaged them for a lot of reasons.
Washington DC has something else besides the Capitals to be excited about.
Friday, October 11, 2019
Thursday, October 10, 2019
China Park Association
I'm amazed Trey Parker and Matt Stone haven't been assassinated yet. Outdated pop culture incidents make South Park very dated and forgotten in a week or two. Their latest regarding China is something I wouldn't have mocked and wouldn't label as brilliant. I wonder if they know where the line is drawn. They also took a knock on the NBA for the incident with Daryl Morey and his thoughts on Hong Kong protesters. I question when their comedy stops being comedy. How much longer until it turns into very bad consequences?
Regarding the NBA, giving them too much of a voice is an incident like this waiting to happen. I understand freedom of speech, and the league allows a lot more than other sports organizations. That being said, there has to be fine lines with what these players, coaches, and staff can say. People like Mark Cuban and Gregg Popovich are too focused on other things instead of their teams. Plus, we're almost two years removed from the UCLA incident where three of their players shoplifted. You don't think this will make the NBA think twice about the market over there?
The question I would ask Parker and Stone: Is it worth risking your lives? The NBA: Do you think too much of a voice is a lot more consequential?
Regarding the NBA, giving them too much of a voice is an incident like this waiting to happen. I understand freedom of speech, and the league allows a lot more than other sports organizations. That being said, there has to be fine lines with what these players, coaches, and staff can say. People like Mark Cuban and Gregg Popovich are too focused on other things instead of their teams. Plus, we're almost two years removed from the UCLA incident where three of their players shoplifted. You don't think this will make the NBA think twice about the market over there?
The question I would ask Parker and Stone: Is it worth risking your lives? The NBA: Do you think too much of a voice is a lot more consequential?
Tuesday, October 8, 2019
Twins Killers
I have never seen dominance that much between two teams. The regular season is one thing, but to keep losing in the playoffs, I present the Minnesota Twins.
Sixteen straight games they have lost. All but three against the New York Yankees. What gives? I attribute it to the thrashing they get from the Yankees and finding ways to mess up in the most critical moment of a game. Case in point: the 2017 Wild Card game. Up three to nothing in the first. Lose it that same inning on a three run home run. A number of extra inning games where they blow it. No power at the plate. No strong effort from their starters or relief pitchers. A recipe for disaster.
And it's not like it's a bad group of players. Decent pitching. Good bats in the lineup. Plenty of home runs. This is how you cobble together a good team from a mid-tier baseball group. The sad thing is that the Twins have had a lot of regular seasons success since 2002. The fans are loyal. Target Field is liked. What can more can you ask for? But they haven't been to a World Series since 1991 and in a competitive American League where things change in the Central, you don't know if you can hold on to a Wild Card spot or get the divisional crown.
Minnesota as a sports town has successful regular seasons. But the playoffs is a different story. The Vikings either get embarrassed or find ways to lose at the last minute. The Twins can't shake off the Yankees. With the Wild, the Western Conference of the NHL is loaded with very good teams. And the Timberwolves haven't been relevant in a long time with one playoff appearance in the last 14 seasons. What can it take for them to get past the hump in their own leagues? I don't know. Only time will tell, but all with the exception of the Timberwolves look primed to have strong years for a while.
Sixteen straight games they have lost. All but three against the New York Yankees. What gives? I attribute it to the thrashing they get from the Yankees and finding ways to mess up in the most critical moment of a game. Case in point: the 2017 Wild Card game. Up three to nothing in the first. Lose it that same inning on a three run home run. A number of extra inning games where they blow it. No power at the plate. No strong effort from their starters or relief pitchers. A recipe for disaster.
And it's not like it's a bad group of players. Decent pitching. Good bats in the lineup. Plenty of home runs. This is how you cobble together a good team from a mid-tier baseball group. The sad thing is that the Twins have had a lot of regular seasons success since 2002. The fans are loyal. Target Field is liked. What can more can you ask for? But they haven't been to a World Series since 1991 and in a competitive American League where things change in the Central, you don't know if you can hold on to a Wild Card spot or get the divisional crown.
Minnesota as a sports town has successful regular seasons. But the playoffs is a different story. The Vikings either get embarrassed or find ways to lose at the last minute. The Twins can't shake off the Yankees. With the Wild, the Western Conference of the NHL is loaded with very good teams. And the Timberwolves haven't been relevant in a long time with one playoff appearance in the last 14 seasons. What can it take for them to get past the hump in their own leagues? I don't know. Only time will tell, but all with the exception of the Timberwolves look primed to have strong years for a while.
Monday, October 7, 2019
Callahan Takes Over Gruden
Ain't it ironic? In 2002, Bill Callahan took over as head coach for the Oakland Raiders, replacing Jon Gruden, who went to Tampa Bay. Both faced each other that same season in the Super Bowl with Tampa winning. Now Callahan is replacing Jay Gruden, who just gotten fired from coaching the Washington Redskins.
I'm not sure if firing is the easy solution. Going to Colt McCoy was not going to work. Obviously, Dwayne Haskins is not a viable option. You got an overpaid secondary that can't do squat. Issues with the running game. Not any worthy receivers or ends. All my life, I have seen a franchise go down the toilet since 1993. A handful of good seasons, but nothing that gets them past the bigger teams. Since 93, five Super Bowls have been won by the NFC East (Dallas in 93 and 95, New York 2007 and 11, Philly 2017)
I don't know if it's the way Daniel Snyder runs the team or if its an incompetent general manager, but football in DC is not anything to be proud about. Only two playoff appearances this decade, and nothing gets fixed for the long term. Thank goodness for fans around that area they have the Capitals and the Nationals. Add in the Wizards when they are good.
Football town, it is not now these days.
I'm not sure if firing is the easy solution. Going to Colt McCoy was not going to work. Obviously, Dwayne Haskins is not a viable option. You got an overpaid secondary that can't do squat. Issues with the running game. Not any worthy receivers or ends. All my life, I have seen a franchise go down the toilet since 1993. A handful of good seasons, but nothing that gets them past the bigger teams. Since 93, five Super Bowls have been won by the NFC East (Dallas in 93 and 95, New York 2007 and 11, Philly 2017)
I don't know if it's the way Daniel Snyder runs the team or if its an incompetent general manager, but football in DC is not anything to be proud about. Only two playoff appearances this decade, and nothing gets fixed for the long term. Thank goodness for fans around that area they have the Capitals and the Nationals. Add in the Wizards when they are good.
Football town, it is not now these days.
Saturday, October 5, 2019
Scary Jokers
It should not surprise people that Joker will do well in theaters. If the numbers from Thursday and Friday are an indication, it should have decent legs and do well into the new year. But there is the concern of the film with military warnings and a theater closing due to a threat. Can't say I don't feel bad and you can't blame the warnings.
We're over seven years removed from the tragedy in Aurora, Colorado when people watched The Dark Knight Rises. An insane pyscho murdered a bunch of them and even booby-trapped his apartment. But it is a different situation here. This is about a mentally unstable character who is one of the most prominent villains in Batman and DC Comics. Debates are made on who the best Joker is and looking into what makes the character tick. I'm not saying there will be a shooting, but it's a cautionary thing to understand.
From what I gather, it's not your typical comic book movie. The adaptation from Todd Phillips goes a different route, though it is inspired by some comics. It's not about green screen explosions and 20 million dollar actors in suits. We are looking at what happens when things don't always go right. And at a budget of 55 million, it will make more profit at a bigger multiplier than a Marvel movie. If this is right up your alley, then go see it. If not, then don't. I'm not, and I say that as someone that likes a bit of Phillips work.
We're over seven years removed from the tragedy in Aurora, Colorado when people watched The Dark Knight Rises. An insane pyscho murdered a bunch of them and even booby-trapped his apartment. But it is a different situation here. This is about a mentally unstable character who is one of the most prominent villains in Batman and DC Comics. Debates are made on who the best Joker is and looking into what makes the character tick. I'm not saying there will be a shooting, but it's a cautionary thing to understand.
From what I gather, it's not your typical comic book movie. The adaptation from Todd Phillips goes a different route, though it is inspired by some comics. It's not about green screen explosions and 20 million dollar actors in suits. We are looking at what happens when things don't always go right. And at a budget of 55 million, it will make more profit at a bigger multiplier than a Marvel movie. If this is right up your alley, then go see it. If not, then don't. I'm not, and I say that as someone that likes a bit of Phillips work.
Friday, October 4, 2019
Thursday, October 3, 2019
Horror Appeal
It's that time of the year again. Everyone is in for Halloween and the trick or treating. As always networks and studios are looking towards movies for success and airtime. Same with television as shows try at least one episode around the time of the month if they aren't doing it every year.
Unfortunately, I'm not entertained by horror. The idea of being scared leaves me a bit uneasy. It's not the case with every horror movie, but I don't make an incentive to watch all these films that air. I do like stuff like Jaws, although that's more suspenseful than trying to scare people in my opinion. Zombie stuff doesn't bother me too much. It depends on the level of horror and blood and gore. I can tolerate some blood, but other times, it makes me a bit queasy. Something like Friday the 13th or Elm Street would more than likely want me changing the channel.
I'm more comfortable with video games. Resident Evil, Dino Crisis, Doom. Tons of games that have horror elements. Maybe because they know not to go overboard most of the time. Television wise, it depends. Light hearted comedies, I can laugh a lot. Drama, it depends, but I wouldn't be against it fully. I wouldn't mind reading some books. I do have some like The Shining for example.
Take it or leave it, horror isn't something I'm entertained about. Oh well. But I'm not against watching some stuff that airs in October.
Unfortunately, I'm not entertained by horror. The idea of being scared leaves me a bit uneasy. It's not the case with every horror movie, but I don't make an incentive to watch all these films that air. I do like stuff like Jaws, although that's more suspenseful than trying to scare people in my opinion. Zombie stuff doesn't bother me too much. It depends on the level of horror and blood and gore. I can tolerate some blood, but other times, it makes me a bit queasy. Something like Friday the 13th or Elm Street would more than likely want me changing the channel.
I'm more comfortable with video games. Resident Evil, Dino Crisis, Doom. Tons of games that have horror elements. Maybe because they know not to go overboard most of the time. Television wise, it depends. Light hearted comedies, I can laugh a lot. Drama, it depends, but I wouldn't be against it fully. I wouldn't mind reading some books. I do have some like The Shining for example.
Take it or leave it, horror isn't something I'm entertained about. Oh well. But I'm not against watching some stuff that airs in October.
Wednesday, October 2, 2019
Geeks and Jocks: Episode 17
A new podcast episode for Geeks and Jocks. A lot to talk about.
https://anchor.fm/ryan-sullivan1gaj/episodes/Geeks-and-Jocks-Episode-17-Summer-Recap-2019-e5ntdh
You can find my podcast on these sites:
https://anchor.fm/ryan-sullivan1gaj
https://www.google.com/podcasts?feed=aHR0cHM6Ly9hbmNob3IuZm0vcy84YmFhZTg0L3BvZGNhc3QvcnNz
https://open.spotify.com/show/0ejDLYL3QCQslc1q25pRgF
https://www.breaker.audio/geeks-and-jocks
https://radiopublic.com/geeks-and-jocks-GKzY7Q
https://anchor.fm/ryan-sullivan1gaj/episodes/Geeks-and-Jocks-Episode-17-Summer-Recap-2019-e5ntdh
You can find my podcast on these sites:
https://anchor.fm/ryan-sullivan1gaj
https://www.google.com/podcasts?feed=aHR0cHM6Ly9hbmNob3IuZm0vcy84YmFhZTg0L3BvZGNhc3QvcnNz
https://open.spotify.com/show/0ejDLYL3QCQslc1q25pRgF
https://www.breaker.audio/geeks-and-jocks
https://radiopublic.com/geeks-and-jocks-GKzY7Q
Tuesday, October 1, 2019
Seeking Sugar Teachers
There's a story recently that caught my interest because I know some people that are teachers. While I don't see them using a monetized dating site, I can't blame the ones that would. Sometimes, these educators don't get the salaries they think they envision.
This is literally the first time I've heard about the site seekingarrangements. I find it to be unique judging from an article I've seen about it on Yahoo Lifestyle. The idea of someone paying another one is not anything original. But from what I understand, the site does not want stuff like prostitution or any of that. The teacher story is interesting and from the few people that were interviewed, they aren't living a life of luxury. It is a call for help. A teacher is typically stressed out. Some say they aren't, but I don't buy that. I can't see a sustainable juggle if one were to hold a couple jobs unless the second job was weekends only, and even that's not always a guarantee.
It's not all sunshine and daisies. But more power to the ones that use the site as long as they are safe with doing it. Can't always be sure on who the person they are talking to will be nice or not.
This is literally the first time I've heard about the site seekingarrangements. I find it to be unique judging from an article I've seen about it on Yahoo Lifestyle. The idea of someone paying another one is not anything original. But from what I understand, the site does not want stuff like prostitution or any of that. The teacher story is interesting and from the few people that were interviewed, they aren't living a life of luxury. It is a call for help. A teacher is typically stressed out. Some say they aren't, but I don't buy that. I can't see a sustainable juggle if one were to hold a couple jobs unless the second job was weekends only, and even that's not always a guarantee.
It's not all sunshine and daisies. But more power to the ones that use the site as long as they are safe with doing it. Can't always be sure on who the person they are talking to will be nice or not.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)