Archive for the 'TV' Category

Movies at Random

Published
by
Daniel-San
on August 2, 2007
in Movies, NBA, NFL and TV
. 0 Comments

One project has a professional sports league attached. Another one does not. I wonder which one makes a league look bad?

In an unprecedented move, Variety is reporting that the NFL will actually produce a film, not just license its image for one. They’ve been in on Lombardi since its beginnings. It’s loosely based on the book “Instant Reply” by former Packer Jerry Kramer and the legendary, late Dick Schaap. The movie will follow the week leading up to the 1967 NFL Championship, or better known as the “Ice Bowl” against the Dallas Cowboys.

Variety is also reporting that Rick Fox is set to produce a series on AMC about the lives of Basketball Players on and off the court. Needless to say, the NBA is not going along with this one- so expect a “Playmakers”-like drama. We can only hope for a storyline where a player is not able to get through an entire game without some crack. Darius Miles always looked a little too skinny. (Also, needless to say, Rick Fox will probably act in it- Emmys watch out!)

The untitled drama looks to premiere early next year. Lombardi, on the other hand, will look to go into production later this Winter, as they will obviously need snowy conditions at Lambeau Field when shooting it. Variety is reporting that “Financing for “Lombardi” hasn’t been finalized as it’s still undecided whether the NFL will put up any coin for the production.” I’m sure this will be taken care of in the next two months in order for them to start pre-production in time to shoot in December- the NFL has plenty of rich friends. But don’t expect the NFL to use their own money. No one in this town does. If they can’t secure financing, though, look for this film to be pushed back another year until next Winter.

The NFL has obviously been involved in other films, such as Jerry Maguire or the cinematic masterpiece The Garbage Picking Field-Goal Kicking Philadelphia Phenomenon (Stanley Tucci stole the Emmy from Tony Danza that year), but now it appears they are going in a different direction. “We have such a legacy with so much rich content that we’d be foolish not to explore opportunities for other films,” stated the NFL’s VP of Programming, Charles Coplin.

Apparently the NFL is slowly looking to take control over any use of its image- first it’s a TV Network, then controlling halftime shows, now on as a producer in films about the NFL. Next will be no Fantasy Football outside of NFL.com and eventually nothing will allowed to be shown without the distributor/exhibitor being partly owned by the NFL. It’s going down a bland road where nothing bad is ever going to be broadcast or written about the NFL, if they can help it.

It’s going to make us long for the days when Leagues would just loosely license their likeness for films such as Major League, which is still a mystery today how that ever got approval from Major League Baseball. Oh, Major League. You make my heart sing. You make everything… groovy.

Thoughts at Random

Published
by
Daniel-San
on June 22, 2007
in NBA, TV and Thoughts
. 0 Comments

- The best place to hang out on the Internet, you ask? Well, it’s got to be the New York State DMV web site, where you can see if the personalized plate you want is still available.

In a previous post, I checked the availability of many different NY State license plates, such as ZCKATTCK, UNCJESSE, and MACCHIO. This time, I took a sports angle (all of these are available, so act quick!):

ODENIS37
GUILTYOJ
H8 MMA
IH8 METS
KRUK36DD
STRAYROD
ARODISGA
SHAQSFAT
FLOPMANU
YAY4YAO
NOPILSTO
SOFTDIRK
ELIISBAD
SACKCARR
MACROIDS
NDPAIDME
WNBA ROX
ROSEBETS
R4PEKOBE
SOSACORK
6AY4ROMO
LUV BUSH
HIVMAGIC
LTWINSLO
TRUEHOOP
IHEARTKG
WITHLTHR
5EXCANON

Interestingly enough, DEADSPIN was taken. So if you see this man driving around the city with that plate, feel free to tell him he’s a loser.

- “Adolf Hitler”, “Satan”, and “4real”: all names that have been declined by New Zealand’s Registry of Births, Deaths, and Marriages. 4real is the baby of Pat and Sheena Wheaton and they are standing by the name, despite the rejection. Here’s a video of them, proving they’re idiots.

And here’s video that needs no explanation:
Seven

Add to My Profile | More Videos

- Scoop Jackson has a solution to stop all athletes from getting in trouble at strip clubs: “Make every team in every city that has professional sports have a private, players-only strip club on the premises of every arena where every team plays.”

I like the thought, Scoop, but what happens when Darko comes into Oakland and gets a lap dance from Stephen Jackson’s favorite stripper (that he called dibs on)? You think he’s going to just sit in the back of the club and take it? I doubt that.

Thoughts at Random

Published
by
Daniel-San
on June 12, 2007
in MLB, TV, Thoughts and sports guy
. 9 Comments

- I don’t think there is a good way to prepare any true “Seinfeld” fan for what I’m about to show you. Basically… Bill Simmons = Douche Bag:

Chris (Louisville, KY): I think we can blame any series ending letdown on Jerry Seinfeld. After that stink bomb every director is gonna try to do the same thing and put their “stamp” on the finale.

SportsNation Bill Simmons: See, now that was a bad series finale! The show should have ended with Elaine and Jerry ending up together. By the way, I’m sorry this chat is so serious, I am still tense from the Sopranos, I might have to do a shot of Patron or something.

Elaine and Jerry ending up together? Why don’t you just put on some panties and pop in your favorite “Friends” DVD? Elaine and Jerry ending up together would be the absolute worst possible scenario. “Seinfeld” was great because it never did go into the drama that all other sitcoms do. The closest it got was Elaine saying “I love you… nited airlines” in that episode, but it just breezed past it. It was great. The series finale was just a good, regular episode. They could have easily appeased the feminine (and apparent Sports Guy) viewers and had some drama like “Friends”, “Frazier”, “Cheers”, or “The Office”, but it was a SITCOM, not “Grey’s Anatomy” where you need to be left with a cliffhanger week to week so you come back and watch. It never used those corny marketing tactics so the Network could keep promoting “What’s going to happen next?”. That’s why “Seinfeld” was the greatest show ever. It never caved in to the Network’s/female viewers’ wishes.

Frankly, I’m so disgusted by this that I may never read him again. I’m completely serious.

- Greatest video ever of hitting a Home Run in clay animation with Trick Daddy’s “Let’s Go” playing over it:

- A-Rod. Looking like a sissy: PICTURE

- Speaking of sissies, is it just me or have Gatorades become really hard to open?

- Rain delays are boring in Major League Baseball, so imagine how boring they are in the New York Collegiate Baseball League. Boring enough to put your uniform on your legs and your pants on your hands, I guess:

Thoughts at Random

Published
by
Daniel-San
on June 8, 2007
in Los Angeles Lakers, MLB, TV and Thoughts
. 0 Comments

- At least some Yankee Karma still works on the Red Sox. Late Thursday afternoon, Michael Kay, Yankees TV Broadcaster and ESPN Radio Host, was talking about Curt Schilling’s no-hitter on “The Michael Kay Show” on local NY affiliate, 1050 ESPN Radio. When there were 2 outs in the bottom of the 9th, Kay threw it to NESN’s coverage of the game to listen in. Immediately, Shannon Stewart hit a single. It was the first pitch of the at-bat, the first pitch that all the listeners in NY were tuned in for. Yankee fans can only hope that this is the very small beginning of a new curse that will last for more than 86 years. (one can dream, at least)

- - The Lakers have, once again, raised ticket prices. Court-side seats are now going to go for $2,300.

Go ahead. Trade Kobe. See if anyone shows up.

- Robert Holloway, Principal of St. Anthony of Padua School in Lorain, Ohio, bet 3 of his male students that his faculty team could beat their student team in a Volleyball Game between the sides. The bet? $15 and Principal Holloway would kiss their feet if his team lost. He sounds pretty confident, right? He must be, nobody would want to kiss dirty teenager feet, right? Well, apparently Principal Holloway didn’t try that hard during the game and has apparently taken a page out of the book of “Seinfeld” character TODD GACK, from the great “The Calzone” episode:

Jerry : Oh! Let me ask you a question . Was the movie part of the bet?

Elaine : No. We were both in the mood for one.

Jerry : You know Elaine, It is not my way to intrude on the personal lives of close fiends ….

Elaine : Oh is that so?

Jerry : Absolutely. But I feel I must inform you that what happened last night was more than a simple bet.

Elaine : What are you talking about?

Jerry : Come on. Dustin Hoffman in Star Wars? He made a bet he knew he was going to lose just to take you to dinner.

Elaine : If he wanted to ask me out why didn’t he just ask me?

Jerry : Because if he doesn’t ask you out he doesn’t get rejected. He has found a dating loop hole.

So, after the Volleyball Game loss, Holloway had to pay up. He brought 2 of the 14-year-old boys to the library where they took their shoes and socks off and he kissed their feet 50 times. Each. Then he took one of those boys and the 3rd one to the gym where he laid on the ground and the boys placed their naked feet on his face.

So, it wasn’t much of a surprise when a few days later police found “400 images of male-on-male, adult and foot fetish behavior” on 2 of his computers, including photos from the Volleyball Game bet. He had found a foot fetish perversion loophole. He could still kiss boys’ feet without the rejection of asking them straight out.

Obviously, he was immediately fired. No word on if Principal Holloway lost a bet to his lawyer that the Jury would find him innocent.

Thoughts at Random

Published
by
Daniel-San
on April 9, 2007
in Golf, MLB, New York Yankees, Rap, TV and Thoughts
. 2 Comments

- Boy do the Yankees need pitching- and Bernie Williams. Miguel Cairo was playing the Outfield and a hurt Johnny Damon was put in late in the game. Bernie refused to come to spring training without a guaranteed contract and now the Yankees are calling up guys from Triple A. I know Bernie is possibly not in baseball shape right now, but what does that mean? Bobby Abreu looks like a cross between John Kruk and Sammy Sosa and he’s fine. It’s sad that Bernie has gone out like this, but he or Cashman or somebody is just being stupidly stubborn here.

- I’m not sexist, but I do like the fact that when the Yankees win, they play Frank Sinatra singing “New York, New York” and when they lose some woman sings it.

- I’ve finally figured out why people hate A-Rod: His at-bat music choices were “Walk It Out” by Unk and “This is Why I’m Hot” by Mims at the game on Sunday. Awful. Just awful. This is one of the times in Rap History that I’m glad Biggie and Tupac aren’t alive to see this.

- Bobby was right on “The Sopranos” last night, but I still enjoy playing with the Free Parking Rule- i.e., how Tony and Carmela played, not just placing $500 in the center to start the game. Come on. That’d be ridiculous.

- I know it’s just how his shirt is, but at the end of this video, Zach Johnson looks like he popped his collar when he put on the Green Jacket. I bet the members at Augusta were none too pleased with that move.

Thoughts at Random

Published
by
Daniel-San
on April 6, 2007
in MLB, NBA, NBA Draft 2007, TV and Thoughts
. 0 Comments

- I know you won’t believe me, but Beyonce looks exactly like Minnie Mouse.

- Arizona Wildcat Sophomore Marcus Williams declared himself eligible for the summer’s NBA Draft. NBADraft.net has him going 21st overall and Chad Ford has him as a late first/early 2nd Round pick. Arizona Daily Star columnist Greg Hansen, on the other hand, who saw every game in Marcus’ college career, tells him to “Enjoy the D League.” He also tells us that “Williams is not very athletic. He does not have NBA-level footwork. He is not strong. He is not a good perimeter shooter. He cannot create his own shot. He’s not a good rebounder.” He also mentions Williams doesn’t play defense, has awful shot selection, and the whole article is based around Williams choking in big games.

But he does call Chris Mills and Brian Williams (or as he is better known, the mysterious Bison Dele) bigger jerks than Marcus Williams. Well there’s something.

- Remember “Pimp My Ride”? So all those cars still had their same shitty engines in them, right?


- Here’s a strange article. At one point the writer mentions the person’s “friends”. That’s a joke, right?

- An interesting NY Times article about an ambidextrous NCAA pitcher who plays for Creighton. I’ve never heard of something like that before, but apparently Tony Mullane, who had 284 career wins from 1881-1894, pitched with both arms and Greg Harris, a journeyman right-handed pitcher who threw to two batters with his left hand in the last season of his career. Never knew that.

- Seriously… there’s just nothing I can add: Fifth Graders Have Orgy in Class

College Basketball at Random

Published
by
Daniel-San
on April 3, 2007
in College Basketball, Los Angeles Lakers and TV
. 0 Comments

My whole life has become just a bunch of cutaways.

I watched the National Championship Game at a bar last night and, at one point, I didn’t even know a game was going on or who they were showing because they kept cutting to different people in the stands. The sound was off, so for about 10 straight cutaways of random old white dudes or a player’s parents (not Yannick or his ex-wife, I know them), I had no idea what was going on. If you are going to cutaway, at least put a graphic up of who these random people are. Sports, especially big games, are enormously watched at bars or in large groups where you can’t hear the sound. Help us out.

Now I’m not going to be a basketball or sports purist here and say “Just show me the game” or anything like that, I like the Eva Longoria cutaway as much as the next guy, but you just get to a point where it’s ridiculous. Yes, players’ parents attend the games, I got that- enough. Show me your celebrities, go put up a graphic of what show a person is on (usually on the channel you’re watching), and move on. Unless they are crying or yelling, go back to something more interesting (so if it’s this little kid, fine). I don’t want to look at someone with a blank stare on their face over and over again.

I’ve been to a Friday night Lakers Game where you look around and see where Ashton Kutcher is sitting and pick out Jack and then randomly see some porn star walk up the aisle next to you- it’s great- but I’m at the game, I can do that. And I certainly don’t stare at someone’s parent for five seconds at a time when they are just standing there. (a quick note on Staples Center- it is the brightest arena I’ve ever been to. In LA, people are focused on not only what’s on the court, but what’s not on the court, i.e. Jack, Ashton Kutcher. Madison Square Garden is pitch black in the stands compared to Staples. Only in LA, Man- UPDATE (4/3/07 11:57 AM): Brought up by My Roommate, I forgot the Lakers are doing a “Lights Out” campaign this year where they actually turn the lights down in the stands. Many people like it, while there are still some detractors- also, James Toney hates it).

So if you are a director of a sportscast and you are reading this- first, you’re pathetic- go read Free Darko or something- and second, please don’t cutaway to people I don’t care about anymore- only if they are interesting or doing something interesting. And use your cutaways wisely, please.

My life needs to become more continuous action, no more cutaways.

Thoughts at Random

Published
by
Daniel-San
on March 23, 2007
in NBA, Puja, TV and Thoughts
. 2 Comments

- Randolph Morris, the Junior Center from Kentucky who just went for 22 and 8 last Sunday against Kansas, signed with the New York Knicks for 2 years and $1.6 million. He was able to do this because he declared for the draft in 2005 after his Freshman year, went undrafted, then went back to Kentucky after serving a half-year suspension his Sophomore year. The NBA’s Collective Bargaining Agreement does not allow Morris to ever enter another draft, so he was actually a free agent the last two years.

Puja brought up the point that he could be the only player in history to play in both the NCAA Tournament and the NBA Playoffs in the same season.

- Gatorade has a new product/flavor called “Fierce”. I can just imagine the meeting where they came up with that one. A bunch of 50-year-old guys saying they need a name that’s really bold, really out there. Then one of them comes up with “Fierce” and none of their 20-something-year-old assistants have the decency to tell them what that word has become.

- In a related story, I was on Christopher Hewett’s Wikipedia page the other day (you might know him better as “Mr. Belvedere”) and it said he “was a devout Roman Catholic, a veteran of the Royal Air Force, and a lifelong bachelor.” ‘Bachelor’? Yeah, right- try “lifelong Homosexual”.

- Two disturbing dog killing stories caught my attention this week, as I am an avid dog lover. In one story, Lucky and Flo, two dogs in Malaysia on loan from the Motion Picture Association of America, sniffed out almost a million illegal DVD’s in about a week. They were then taken to a safe house because illegal DVD Producers put out a hit on them. That’s right, on a couple of dogs. There was no report on how much the bounty was for the dogs.

Then in St. Paul, Minnesota, Crystal Brown had lost her 4-year-old Australian Sheppard. She spent weeks searching for him. She even took the bus to the animal shelter if her Grandmother, who she lives with, couldn’t drive her. “I told him everything and he never shared any of my secrets, ” said Crystal, about the dog.

Then, about two weeks ago, a box with batteries on top of it showed up at her house. A note said “Congratulations Crystal. This side up. Batteries included.” She opened it up and, ala the movie Se7en, her dog’s severed head was inside, along with some Valentine’s Day candy.

Now this really isn’t funny at all. And it still might not be even if you realize that Crystal is 17-years-old. The dog definitely didn’t deserve that, but what 17-year-old tells secrets to their dog AND THEN is happy he didn’t divulge them to others?

I don’t know what the hell this girl did to deserve that, but I bet the Grandmother was involved somehow. It definitely was an inside job.

And now Crystal has a new puppy she named Diesel. Diesel is also an Australian Sheppard. “Hopefully he’ll be my best friend, ” Crystal said. Dude, Crystal, YOU’RE 17! Maybe if you didn’t act like a 6-year-old douche bag people wouldn’t behead your dog and put it on your doorstep. I’m sorry if I’m being insensitive, and I’m sorry for the dog, but COME ON, if anyone in the world deserved this fate, I’m going with Crystal Brown.

- You know that Oldies song “Hang On Sloopy” by The McCoys? You know it, “Hang on Sloopy, Sloopy hang on” (here’s the lyrics). I heard it today on the radio and realized what it was about: it’s about about a guy in love with a Retard. He even says “everybody there tries to put my Sloopy down”, but he just keeps telling her to “hang on” and “come on, come on”, like he’s calling a dog (or someone who is mentally challenged). And her name is “Sloopy”. If that’s not a name for someone who is a Retard, I don’t know what is.

Thoughts at Random

Published
by
Daniel-San
on March 6, 2007
in Movies, TV and Thoughts
. 11 Comments

- I went to a screening of Chris Rock’s new movie I Think I Love My Wife last night (ehhh), followed by a Q&A with co-writer Louis C.K. and co-writer/directer/star Chris Rock. I am a huge fan of Louie so it surprised me to see how much funnier Chris was than Louie- at least during the Q&A. Louie took most questions pretty straight forward, which was fine, it’s just no one cares how you outlined this movie and how this film happened (Chris Rock was attached- it gets made), they just want to see two great stand-ups tell jokes.

Chris told an interesting side-note that he actually only directed the film because he fired the first director after the director told him he didn’t like Annie Hall. He was completely serious.

On a sports-related tip, Stephen A. Smith has a small part in the film playing Chris Rock’s friend. It’s a small role where Stephen gets to complain about Michael Jackson, black people with rims compared to Jewish people like Steven Spielberg who don’t stupidly spend money on rims, and how rappers must have had bad childhoods that made them have a girl in every area code. It wasn’t that funny, I was the only person laughing during most of Stephen’s dialogue- just cause it was him. (Dude has a triangle face- I don’t know how I didn’t notice that before, but it seemed to come to a point almost… He’s skinny)

- Seriously, Wild Hogs made $38 million? God Dammit. (and have you seen the story about how John Travolta donated $15,000 to a central Florida tornado charity? I mean, that’s good, but 15 grand? That’s it? That’s not even a fuel tank of jet fuel. Your tacky-ass movie just made $38 mil… you couldn’t spring for $50,000?)

- Coach K is going to Hell.

- I’m sorry, but I think “The Office” has jumped the shark. Don’t get me wrong, the episodes are still very funny, but when you got Dwight thinking a guy is the real Benjamin Franklin or that Jim is a Vampire, you may have gone over the edge a bit. It was the best when it was subtle and witty, not over the top and laugh-out-loud funny. But, hey, even “Seinfeld” got a little weird from time to time (eventually making Elaine a George Costanza-esque character). It’s hard when you have to make 26 episodes a year (shot at HBO shows).

Thoughts at Random

Published
by
Daniel-San
on February 26, 2007
in TV and Thoughts
. 1 Comment

- I went snowboarding this weekend (2nd time ever- my body aches) and I’ve determined one thing about the crowd there: I hate snowboarding people, so I let it be known. I don’t like snowboarding people and I don’t like to be around snowboarding people. I am snowboarding guy phobic. I don’t like it. It shouldn’t be in the world or in the United States. So, yeah, I don’t like it.

- Watching Saturday’s SNL, I noticed that during the end, when the host says ‘thanks’ and bids farewell, there was not even a dozen people on stage. Rainn Wilson was hosting and just after he thanked the band, the band ran off the stage. So when the credits rolled, it looked awkward and empty as the cast members just all hugged each other and so forth. I perused the last several SNL’s that I had on my Tivo and none were as empty as this one, but they all were fairly small. I think this is due to the tiny cast Lorne has decided on this year, but I did notice missing people, like Darrell Hammond. I remember back in the day when it seemed like two dozen people were packed into that small stage where the monologue is delivered and they were all partying and going crazy. This cast looked like they were ready to go home and do a crossword puzzle. I plan to keep you updated on this story as it develops.

- I may be stopping Sports at Random because we have achieved our goal already- in less than a week. I found this out when I was looking at Google Analytics, which shows many things about the hits you get on your web site, including where the person lives who goes to your site. Now, I had the obvious: Buffalo (where I’m from) a few hits from Bristol (my ESPN source), and the town I work in, but, for some reason, Sports at Random had a hit from Compton. That’s right, C-O-M-P-T-O-N. I don’t know where else to go from here. We’ve reached the top. It’s my greatest accomplishment so far. And you think I’m kidding.