Tone Deaf Warner Brothers

There's nothing Warner Brothers can do with their comic book films to guarantee success. Aquaman 2 comes out around Christmas 2022 and they are in a tight spot with Amber Heard. People do want her off the project because of her toxic relationship with Johnny Depp. At the time of this blog, she may be fired, but that's a stretch. Supposedly, it may take another year until another court hearing. It makes me wish the studio would take it more seriously about what could happen to her. The idea of Heard being a domestic abuse "survivor" is a joke. Both her and Depp are to blame for their issues.

But the thing with Heard is small potatoes in regards to Hollywood compared to what the studio has in mind with Superman. Another attempt at rebooting the superhero. They have a producer in JJ Abrams and their writer is Ta-Nehisi Coates, a very controversial writer who has experience writing for Marvel. Specifically, he has done stuff for Black Panther and Captain America comics. They are looking for a black lead, potentially Michael B. Jordan according to sites like wegotthiscovered.com and maybe John Boyega. There are multiple issues I would have with this reboot.

I don't think a black Superman is a bad idea. I question whether they will make any critical or commercial success if this comes into fruition. We're talking going after what Black Panther did. Could be the case of chasing after something that is the hot thing. But the biggest issue is Coates. The guy is one of those people who wants to interject politics and race into stuff because of his life experiences. That's the case with most writers and actors. With him, however, there are question marks to him like his berating of September 11th first responders who died that I've seen some people bring up from a book he wrote in 2014. I'm not sure I'd let someone like him take over a property that hasn't been on the greatest ground in movies since the early 80s. 

I wonder if Coates wanted to do a Marvel movie. For as much shit as I give Kevin Feige for hurting Hollywood, I don't think he would have allowed him to do a film in their universe. If I had to guess, there would be a lot of racial tones in a story. You can get away with stuff in comics, but not all the time in films. Maybe WB allows more freedom for Coates, but I could see this as a recipe for disaster. There might be stuff to think about when watching a comic book film, but these are also popcorn flicks. It will depend on how much politics is shoved down people's throats, something that should be a huge cause for concern. I'm not saying this stuff didn't exist in the past, but it wasn't used as a crutch in tons of films over the decades and decades of material.

My prediction is as if it were to be fully produced. It will underperform. Critics and fans will not like it. There will be probably a ton of pandering and political garbage no one cares for. Forced diversity instead of trying to make it feel organic. Warner Brothers will have to rethink their strategies because of still trying to chase after the gold set by Marvel and Disney. I'll conclude with this. Warner Brothers is trying desperately to look better. Getting a guy like Coates will make them look worse. People want to shut their brains off when watching comic book films and see how they are adapted to the big screen. If it was another black writer, I don't think it would get the notoriety it has gotten these last few days. There's a way to discuss morals and politics without it feeling blatant. If Coates complains about the film being considered bad if this does get produced, he will have no one to blame but himself. 

YouTube Videos: Feb 19-25

 

Indy Reunion, Philly Future?

I've let this stew for a while just to get an idea of what to potentially expect in September, though this trade was a week ago. Trades are exciting at times. Other points, it's not a surprise when a player goes to a team that they are expected to go to. Carson Wentz got his wish of getting out of Philadelphia. The Indianapolis gets him in their trade with the Eagles. In exchange for him were two draft picks. One is a third round pick for this year. The other is a second round pick for next year, but could be first round if Wentz accomplishes goals for the 2021 season.

Wentz reunites with Colts head coach Frank Reich, who was his offensive coordinator in his first two seasons. The second being the Super Bowl year that saw him be a candidate for MVP before a season ending injury late in the year. There's reason to have some optimism that Reich could make good play calling. Also, the Colts can run the ball and have great running backs. Not to mention the defense that is in the top five. But there will be a lot of questions on whether Wentz can prove doubters or if he will be a head case like he was last year.

If I'm Nick Sirianni, I'd be nervous. Philadelphia lost 33.8 million dollars in dead money because of Wentz getting traded. So far, they have released a few of their pricier offensive weapons that have been injured. Questions will arise on what will happen with Zach Ertz. There are tons of issues they have to address. It starts with the offensive line and a couple spots defensively. Maybe a wide receiver. That draft pick addition will help, but it may not be enough. I also look at the mental capability of Jalen Hurts. Will that last game of the year hurt him or will it be motivation to play better? Doug Pederson created this mess, but Philly fans won't care. They find a way to bitch about new staff.

The Colts are poised to be a threat in the AFC. If Wentz is their X factor, this can be a Super Bowl team. All the pieces are there. Commitment is all they need. The Eagles are in a need for a small rebuild. I don't see them competing for a playoff spot until next year or 2023. They got certain pieces. Howie Roseman's job is on the line as a general manager and this could be his last year as one if they don't do well in the draft and even free agency. Tale of two teams going in different directions. 

Geeks and Jocks: Episode 64

New episode.

https://anchor.fm/ryan-sullivan1gaj/episodes/Episode-64-Legend-of-Crazy-eqv48h

Consequence of Stage Pranks

Who doesn't like a decent prank? Small ones that don't require much to do. A quick scare or one or two other things. YouTube in its 16 year run has that stuff. However, it's also home to more elaborate ones, staged ones. People wanting to emulate Jackass, Punk'd and several other shows. There's stunts, which I would lump into it. And unfortunately, it has dire consequences.

This happened a couple weeks ago and nothing new has been brought up since the incident on February 5th. In Nashville, Tennessee, Timothy Wilks and an unknown friend of his go to an Urban Air Trampoline Park. An indoor place for kids. They decide to go stage a robbery at night there. Carrying butcher knives according to an article by The Associated Press, they go after David Starnes Jr.. Starnes has a gun and shoots at them, hitting and killing Wilks. Police came to the scene and the claim of self defense was brought up. That's all I can find and several other sites copy and pasted what AP posted.

You'd think society couldn't get more dumber, here's your result. And this isn't the first. For robberies, there was twin brothers who staged a robbery at a bank back in 2019. Huge felonies and they were charged. I'm not sure if they have started their sentence if they were found guilty. I don't know. There was a stunt in 2017 from Pedro Ruiz who wanted to test the idea of a bullet stopping a book. Needless to say, he wound up dead with the shot coming from his wife/girlfriend, MonaLisa Perez. The idea fully coming from Ruiz was what Perez would say. Regardless, she was sent to jail according to a UK website, but only for six months. Some requirements had to be made for her when she came back to society. Hopefully, she has learned something about this.

People want to get famous. I want to as well, but not from shit like that. There's warnings from Jackass about not doing any of the stunts seen in the show and movies. But it keeps escalating to these levels that you can't believe the attempts made to do these dangerous activities. For Wilks, this was a kid that wanted to get instant fame. With that, it cost him his life. I don't think Starnes will go to jail and he shouldn't. Especially when it's night, you can't expect things to be normal all the time. Not to mention kids being in this indoor park. What if something bad happened to a child? This staged robbery would have landed Wilks in jail if he didn't die. Cops take this shit seriously. Towns take this seriously without knowing it's a prank. It's a waste of resources and money. I question if the unknown friend would be charged with murder. It can happen.

I hope this is a lesson learned for people still interested in prank videos. I doubt Google and YouTube will do anything to stop any of it. They're both gutless when it comes to responding to people who have legit issues. Something has to be done to prevent dangerous material from being shown. 

YouTube Videos: Feb 12-18

 

NASCAR Safety 20 Years Later

February 18th, 2001 was considered a good race. Michael Waltrip wins his first ever race at Daytona, winning the 500. First race on Fox. Competitive, big wrecks. That was until medical staff had to take a driver to the local hospital. By evening, news had poured that Dale Earnhardt was dead. What turned into something great became one of the darkest NASCAR moments that overshadows the race. The legend was killed in the last lap crash via basilar skull fracture. For the sport, a push was made to ensure safety. It wouldn't be until the fall that mandates would be enforced due to a death on an ARCA track.

To understand the issue, you have to go back to the year prior. Before that, we also have to go back to 1994. Several deaths occurred at Daytona, including a friend of Earnhardt's, Neil Bonnett. Similar injuries was what killed him. A scare happened with Ernie Irvan at Michigan during a practice. Luckily, he survived, but it took over a year to recover. Ironic is him winning at that track in 1997. But you get to 2000, you see newcomers succumb to those injuries. First was Adam Petty, a 19 year old who had an issue with his car and crashed head on at New Hampshire. That led to kill switches, especially when Kenny Irwin Jr. died at the same track a couple of months later.

This was becoming a concern for drivers, Earnhardt included. What can be done to improve safety for them and the cars? One was the HANS device, Head and Neck Support. Jack Roush was in huge support of it, but not all drivers were convinced. Some didn't think it would help and that it would make it worse. Even after Tony Roper's death in the fall of 2000, it still wasn't convincing. But with Earnhardt's death, it got a lot of teams filled with worry. That's why NASCAR has worked on so much over the last 20 years of making sure there isn't another death on the track. It wouldn't be permanent for the device until October 2001 with Blaise Alexander's death on an ARCA track.

The proof is in the pudding. No deaths for the Cup series since 01. Some close encounters, though. Last year with Ryan Newman. Broken body parts such as Kyle Busch in 2015 and Aric Almirola in 2017. Formula 1 has suffered deaths, but that's more of the open cars and debris if there's crashes and several other oddities. Not saying that's the only reason, but there's more factors than crashing. Too little, too late for that time, but it has paved a better future. As long as NASCAR is focused on making races exciting yet protective, they will still exist for a long time. 

Geeks and Jocks: Episode 63

 New episode

https://anchor.fm/ryan-sullivan1gaj/episodes/Episode-63-Frosty-and-the-Fire-eqgspp

Happy Gilmore: Golf with Attitude

You can be a moderate hit and be loved well after your release. I see it with Caddyshack. But I see it especially with Happy Gilmore as it turns 25 today. In the pantheon of movies Adam Sandler has done, I view him as someone that nails it at times and underdelivers at other points. But during his early post Saturday Night Live days, he could hang with other comedies. There are multiple reasons to why the film is beloved and even gets some love from actual golfers.

First is how the characters are. The plot is Sandler's Happy never making it as a hockey player and with a golf swing, may have found a way to save his grandmother's house that has been repossessed. From there, it finds its characters that help or are a nuisance. And it's from actors that you don't typically think of in the higher end of Hollywood that put up very good performances. Whether it's the mentor of Carl Weathers' Chubbs or Julie Bowen's Virginia who keeps Happy in check, they provide their importance to the character. Even small characters like the heckler or Mr. Larson. Of course, you can't mention the film without mentioning Shooter McGavin, who believes in class, even if it means being an ass to get his point across. It may have made Christopher McDonald the stereotype of being mostly villains, but not your usual bad guy.

Second is the scenes. For me, anything with the orderly guy at the nursing home. Absolute scum, but funny. What's interesting is some TV edits include a deleted scene where Happy finds out how he treated his grandmother and gives him his comeuppance. More than likely to see justice, and I can't blame them. The mini-golf scene with Chubbs on how to putt. You got the Pro-Am scene with Bob Barker and the fight. A couple scenes with the heckler. Every scene is not dull. Not every joke is a winner, but its consistent in having solid scenes. Even the serious scenes like late in the film with Chubbs and around the middle of the film with Happy feeling embarrassed to admit to Virginia why he joined the golf tour. All of it compiles into a decent story and have a fun score to go along with some of the licensed songs. No different than a number of comedies over the last 40 years.

Lastly is how quotable it is. It may not be to the level of Dumb and Dumber, but whether it's the important characters or the small ones, they at least have one line that you can remember. Any outbursts from Shooter or the negativity he gets. Happy's blow ups. That's just the tip of the iceberg. I'm sure someone has said "warm glass of shut the hell up" or "the price is wrong, bitch." at some point. That's the lasting effect to many movies that people enjoy. It's either that or they've watched a movie so many times, they can recite the whole film.

This is Sandler's best film and like a number of 90s comedies, it holds up. Good pacing altogether. It's not the best comedy in the world, but it's always a fun one to watch unless its butchered completely on television.

2021 Daytona 500 Thoughts

I'm not going to have a whole to say because it ran very late and caught a glimpse of the highlights. Not a lot to discuss regarding the Daytona 500 for this year. About as typical as you can get for NASCAR. They allowed fans into the stands at limited capacity. A couple scrapes, not a lot of lead changes, a very lengthy rain delay. The final lap ending in Michael McDowell getting his first win ever on the Cup series. amidst a huge fiery crash that knocked out some strong contenders.

It helps a bit that it's not someone like Denny Hamlin or Kevin Harvick. Nothing personal against these two, but to see one of the middling drivers get their chance says something. The top three was McDowell, Chase Elliott, and Austin Dillon. Some big aggressive driving at points throughout the race. Scrapes with the walls. There's excitement to wanting to win the Great American Race. It clouds the drivers minds that you make decisions at points where it leads to a potential huge mistake. Give NASCAR patience for at least getting through it. Some drivers surprised. Obvious disappointment in others. Hopefully next week, the pressure is less and they get back to the comforts of racing every week.

2021 NFL Hall of Fame

Quite a good list of players and coaches

First off is Alan Faneca. He was a force as one of Pittsburgh's linemen being their first pick in 1998. Blocked for some strong running games of the day when Jerome Bettis was leading the way and a Super Bowl. Pro Bowler nine times, also had a couple good years with the Jets before ending it with Arizona in 2010. Not sure what the criteria is for linemen. Must have really impressed given what the teams he was on was able to do. Can't complain.

Next is the coach selection, Tom Flores. While his numbers aren't great because of his three years with the Seahawks from 1992 to 94, he was integral to the Raiders from 79 to 87. Following John Madden's retirement from coaching, he picked up the team and got them to win the Super Bowl his second year and his second title in 83. A Latino coach, there is representation for what he was able to do. Great choices in guys like Marcus Allen and Howie Long as guys like Jim Plunkett and Gene Upshaw were getting older. Flores was also able to not get distracted by owner Al Davis and all the things going on during the 80s, especially when they moved to Los Angeles. That alone should make him Hall of Fame worthy.

Surprised but not at the same time, Calvin Johnson got in first ballot. I didn't think he'd get in first try given his stats are over 11 thousand yards and 83 touchdowns. I'm used to receivers waiting a while. Second overall pick of 07 and his career all in Detroit, he did a lot of damage in his final six years, especially when Matthew Stafford stayed healthy. Leading touchdown receiver in 2008, the 0-16 team. Led the league in yards in 2011 and 12, the 12 year being the record one, shattering Jerry Rice's yards that he got in 1995. Six time Pro Bowler, knew he would get in. Couldn't imagine being first ballot. But Canton gets a really good player.

This must have been long overdue for John Lynch. Third round pick in 1993, he didn't light things up until a few years into his career. A lot of has to do with his ferocious play. Very big hitter. That's why he was a nine time Pro Bowler and knew when to make those big plays. When you think Tampa's defense, I feel like he's left behind considering guys like Warren Sapp and Derrick Brooks. It did get him a Super Bowl. His stats are not the greatest with just over a thousand tackles and 26 interceptions. Safety wise, that's not too bad given his position. How he is in San Francisco now as a GM probably helps a little bit. Maybe it was the right year to get him. Not saying he doesn't deserve it, but better late than never.

I don't even need to explain Peyton Manning. First overall pick of 1998. Lead the league in interceptions with 28, a rookie record that is still there. Improvements over the years. Rarely getting sacked in Indianapolis. Gets them the elusive Super Bowl in 2006. Lots of records, MVPS, leading in stats at the time of retirement in yards and touchdowns thrown. Injury forces him out and he does to Denver. Single season records in touchdowns and yards. Not a good final year, but ends it with a Super Bowl win. Very obvious first ballot guy. Where he goes outside of his TV show, he can do whatever he wants.

Bill Nunn, I don't have a lot to say. But considering he was able to do during his time with Pittsburgh, it meant something for the Rooneys. Being there from 1968 until his passing in 2014, he was in the front office. The guy could find talent that was necessary. More than likely, that's how they were able to build such a big team in the 70s and the team holding relevancy in the 90s and 2000s. More than its fair share of Hall of Fame players, how this guy didn't get in when he was alive, I don't know. But the consistency of the franchise gets him the enshrinement. 

Drew Pearson may be a controversial one to younger people. But what they fail to understand is how different the league was in the 70s. You weren't seeing 4000 yard seasons consistently with two or three receivers with a thousand plus yards each. If you want to blame somebody, blame the 1999 Rams. But Pearson was a consistent player and a favorite for Dallas and their quarterback, Roger Staubach.  The Hail Mary was due to those two in 1975. His stat line is good for the 70s and 80s at 7800 yards and 48 touchdowns. Who knows what could have been if it wasn't for a car accident in 1984 that ended his career. Still, you'd think he would have had a fighting chance considering a Super Bowl and being part of the 70s Hall of Fame team. The disappointment last year may have set in for the NFL to get him in. If they're going to do that, then get Everson Walls in. Fuck the Dwight Clark catch, which wasn't even that special of a catch. That stigma should have been erased when he won the Super Bowl with the Giants

Last is Charles Woodson. Fourth overall in 98, he was a leading man in regards to the secondary he was with. Huge knack for making some big tackles and picking off the opposing team. A rookie of the year and Pro Bowls in his first four years, health issues plagued the later years of his first stint with the Raiders. Did a lot more when he went to Green Bay. That includes a Super Bowl, two time leading interception guy, a defensive player of the year award. Did decent his second stint with the Raiders. At 1200 plus tackles and 65 interceptions, a team player all the way, Not a surprise he's first ballot.

Don't know if there will be ceremonies for last years to go with this, but there's some really special groups that will be remembered for years to come.

YouTube Videos: Feb 5-11

 

Geeks and Jocks: Episode 62

New episode.

https://anchor.fm/ryan-sullivan1gaj/episodes/Episode-62-No-Golden-Opportunity-eq6dqe

Super Bowl LV Post Thoughts

I would have thought Super Bowl LV would have been close. Or at least competitive. With it all said and done, Tampa Bay gets a championship with its Buccaneers in mediocre game that left a lot to be desired. There is no conspiracies or anything like that. The Kansas City Chiefs did not play well, but the referees did not do a good job either. And the NFL wonders why they get ripped a number of times for questionable, blatant calls, and calls that don't get made.

If it wasn't for his fourth quarter last year, Pat Mahomes would have had a mediocre Super Bowl. This year, it was without Eric Fisher at left tackle and no center with Daniel Kilgore. Pressure was going to come. Safe to say Mahomes did not feel comfortable. Clyde Edwards-Helaire was not given a fighting chance in carries despite 64 yards rushing. Tyreek Hill and Travis Kelce both had decent games, but the rest, not so much. That defense couldn't create pressure on Tampa and couldn't stop the run, which was one of the more interesting aspects. Frustration mounts when you can't do anything.

Tampa played a clean game. That was one of the factors I thought would play in. Tom Brady put in my predictions in how he would perform outside of passing yards. Leonard Fournette and Ronald Jones defied expectations in their performances. Fournette also doing it receiving wise with nearly 50 yards to go with his 89 rushing yards and a score. Antonio Brown got his chance to shine with a score. Defensively, stopping the run was not going to be a problem. It was stopping Mahomes and they kept him in check. A couple plays, he acted like Barry Sanders or Josh Allen.

That being said, this will be one of the forgettable Super Bowls. Not trash tiered level, but enough to be considered a huge disappointment. I do think the refs played a factor into this game. They are not the primary reason the Chiefs lost, but some of the calls in the first half were a bit ridiculous. I think Mike Evans flopped on purpose to draw pass interference on the touchdown drive late in the second quarter. Some of the holding calls didn't look like holding. Penalties on uncatchable passes. No consistency and given some of the guys on the Bucs, I'm amazed both sides didn't get penalized for face masks. It did get chippy.

Commercial wise, I can't complain. The best being the Tide commercial with the hoodie that had Jason Alexander's face. If you're a Seinfeld fan, you'll notice the song. Big deep cut into a nod to a late episode of the show. Some of them were weird like the Doritios ad and the Uber Eats that had Wayne's World. Too much promotion for the Paramount Plus app that begins next month. Most of the other stuff, I don't care much.

All together, not an abysmal Super Bowl, but not a good one as far as a package goes.

YouTube Videos: Jan 29-Feb 4

 

The 2021 QB Effect

Even with the Super Bowl a few days away, some wonder who is going to land with a team at quarterback. That will be on many people's minds after the Detroit Lions and Los Angeles Rams made a swap of their signal callers. Matthew Stafford goes to California for the sun and Clayton Kershaw. Jared Goff goes to a dysfunctional franchise that hasn't won a playoff game in almost 30 years and only been in it eight times since 1991. Who's the next domino to fall?

Carson Wentz and Deshaun Watson are guys who want to leave their teams. Amidst new coaching in Philadelphia, the relationship with Wentz may be beyond repair. But someone has to be desperate. Maybe San Francisco? I can't imagine having that much faith left in Jimmy Garoppolo. And I read something that Garoppolo could go back to New England, who really needs a signal caller. Watson obviously does not like the culture in Houston. The potential of another swap could be with Las Vegas and Derek Carr. I'm assuming Jon Gruden doesn't like Carr. Both him and Watson have prime years ahead of them. The uptick of Vegas is Josh Jacobs being a strong back, though the DUI at the end of the year, I don't know.

A big thing recently was rumors of Andrew Luck returning. All because of some alleged texts. Stuff involving people that are friends with his wife and talking about him missing football and Jimmy (assuming Indianapolis Colt owner Jim Isray). Luck retired because of health reasons. Why would he want to return? Married and has a kid. Works in architecture. The Colts will find somebody. Just a matter of when. New Orleans wants to keep Jameis Winston. Likely a precaution depending on Drew Brees. 

Other notable people include Matt Ryan and Cam Newton. Ryan has potential to leave Atlanta, but their owner believes he will be back along with Julio Jones. Supposedly, Ron Rivera may want Newton to be with him in Washington. It's a different ball game compared to Carolina. A lot can happen over the next month or two. Someone is going to get themselves set for a Super Bowl run down the road. 

Geeks and Jocks: Episode 61

New episode

https://anchor.fm/ryan-sullivan1gaj/episodes/Episode-61-Ignorance-epre6h

Super Bowl LV Thoughts

Very simple. My thoughts on what could happen with Super Bowl LV. It's going to be different given the pandemic, but should be an entertaining game, nonetheless.

For the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, there has to be stability on offense. No turnovers is the key and maybe getting Antonio Brown back if he can recover from his knee injury. A 43 year old Tom Brady will have to throw for 60 percent or better completion rate on his passes. The receivers like Mike Evans need to be super aware of when passes are coming to them. A guy like Scott Miller could surprise people. Leonard Fournette and Ronald Jones have to be ready to tote the rock. Defensively, I would say it would be easy to stop the Kansas City Chiefs run game, but you never know. The secondary and linebackers have to keep eye on Tyreek Hill, Travis Kelce, and Mecole Hardman and where they are on the field. Do that and that's how they win.

For the Chiefs, they need the run game to show up. They have to trust their rookie running back, Clyde Edwards-Helaire. Pat Mahomes will definitely put on a show, but a banged up offensive line might be a bit of trouble. Tampa has the number one run defense, but they have to try to rush it. Feed the ball here and there to keep the defense honest. Hill and Kelce will be given some targets, but don't be surprised if you see one of the others play a factor. On defense, pressure on Brady will be a huge importance and the difference between winning and losing. Evans, Chris Godwin, and Brown are tough to deal with, but a tight end such as Rob Gronkowski could be a nightmare. Each position of the Chief defense has to put 110 percent into being ready to deliver the hits, deflections, and turnovers if they can stop the Bucs.

I think the Chiefs will win. It will be close, but it comes down to both teams run games and the turnover battle.