SportsWrath Community Blog List

LorfTVP's Blog - And So It Begins...

Mon, 23 Mar 2009 11:20:00 -0400

I didn't even realize that Sportswrath had a blog feature. Don't even know if anyone could find it if they knew it existed either. Oh well, I'm not gonna take this too seriously. Just gonna use this area to discuss the Sportswrath Fantasy Baseball League and all of its inherent trades, drops, trends, etc. Either that or I'll use this area to complain about the players who have burned me. Well, since the season has yet to begin and all the trades are pending, I'm gonna go over a short list of players who will not burn me again, and a few I simply don't trust.

Rickie Weeks, Howie Kendrick - I throw these guys in the same boat because I've historically had 2b problems in fantasy baseball. Weeks, who a sportswriter recently considered renaming the dated Mendoza Line after, is an extremely frustrating player to have and a drain on the ol' BA. While Weeks teased, Kendrick is like a topless chick behind a glass window. He hits for a high BA, which would help as a whole if he got enough ABs, but he always gets hurt and never does deliver enough production to merit the consideration. I ended up with the league replacement level Placido Polanco next year.

Joe Mauer - I have all the respect in the world for him but people are fawning over him for no reason, especially when he's just an average catcher (10 HR) who can't steal anymore. Love the batting average but of all the positions where you can get a high BA, catcher helps the least. Never had him, never will.

Alex Gordon - I've been down that road a couple of times. I fell in for the hype and then I thought that he'd be a good post-hype sleeper. Nope. I'd probably be better off chasing a Cameron Maybin type. At least he runs.

Scott Kazmir - He's given me some good years but he just isn't steady enough to stay on the mound. Plus his historical dominance of the Red Sox always made for a frustrating conflict of interest.

Ichiro Suzuki - Still an amazing player, but you never know if you'll get a .310 or a .350 BA. Either way, his proficiency as a leadoff hitter does wonders.

Any Yankee - I just can't do it. Sorry, there's no way. I can work my strategy around it by getting players I trust.

So yes, let the season begin. As of now, there are many trades in the works.

BurnThePhilFans' Blog - Chapter 2...

Sat, 14 Feb 2009 20:04:43 -0500

1994 - Now 9 years old, the youngster can fully grasp the intricacies of the game. He is able to point out missed calls and breakdowns and has truely become a student of the game. He flies around the practice field every day in his second season of playing full contact football just like his heroes. He is quick and has taken on the position of tailback to start his early football career. He has dreams of becoming a professional football player and is excited to watch his first Giants playoff game (and know exactly what is going on). He is let down by a massive blowout in the second round at the hands of the San Francisco 49ers. The Lawrence Taylor days are officially over. He is not old enough to know exactly what Lawrence Taylor meant to the Giants and the NFL but he knew he was like a god on the football field - something he relayed to this football icon when he saw him before the Giants-Dallas game in which Phil Simms jersey was retired. Of course - Emmit Smith runs wild and the Giants are blown out. They are good every single year - "God - why aren't you a Giants fan?"

BurnThePhilFans' Blog - Giants Football - My religion

Sat, 07 Feb 2009 19:03:05 -0500

Chapter 1

January 28th, 1991 - A 5 year old refuses to go to bed, his attention focused on the happenings of Superbowl 25. Tossing a miniature plastic football with his father during commercial breaks, the questions never ended. Dad - Who is the best player on the Giants? You think the Giants can win? Can I please stay up?

He got his wish - With eyes glued to the television as Scott Norwood's kick sailed wide right, he was thrilled to learn the Giants had beaten the heavily favored Buffalo Bills to become the champions of the world. Although he was a mere toddler, he recognized the magnitude of the game and so begins the first chapter of his life as a die hard Giants fan.

For the next 2 years of his life, football games dominated recess and he was encouraged by 2 different teachers to "write about something besides the Giants sometimes" in his school journals. He wouldn't hear it. The rest of the third grade was greeted by a Rodney Hampton impersonator on Halloween, Dave Brown could brag that he had atleast one fan with his poster in his room, and the youngster could officially brag that Chris Calloway wanted him on the Giants after witnessing him win the pass competition out of his age class at the Radisson Hotel Giants event.

The next few years were beyond painful for this loyal Giants fan. Still - He refused to ever miss a game. He rode the ups and downs (mostly downs) as he saw seasons come and go - With the Giants crowning achievement at some points appearing to be their fans snowball throwing abilities. As bad as things got he pushed on and every time his faith wavered he found comfort in minor victories in miserable seasons. When the lowly Giants beat the then undefeated Broncos, he gathered his brother and cousin, battled the bitter cold, and went outside to play some ball - emulating the Amani Toomer game winning catch over and over.... "Our time will come" he thought... It will feel even better than this... A million times better...

To be continued....

Dragon's Blog - NYG Season Review

Mon, 21 Apr 2008 18:59:00 -0400

Alright I know I'm late but I've been busy (started a job with Continental Airlines the day after the NFC Championship game) and had I done this right after the Super Bowl it would've been nothing but "AAAAAAHHHHHHAAAAAAAHHHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! THE FUCKIN GIANTS WON THE FUCKIN SUPERBOWL!!!!!!!!! LOLZ!!!!!!!!!!!" and that would've been retarded.

First off let me say that I'd never been more proud to be a Giants fan than I was the night of Feb. 3rd 2008. I've been alive for all three of the Giants' Super Bowl Championship runs however I was 2 and 6 years old, respectively, during the first two. I hadn't been able to completely appreciate the fact that my team had won the biggest sporting event in the United States (second in the world only to the World Cup) for the first time in seventeen years. I cried for almost 20 minutes after the game and still have a bit of a hard time believing that it actually happened.

Now... There were a lot of times during the season where people gave up on the team. I was never one of them. Did I think that a victory in the Super Bowl was possible? Yeah... but that was just the completely-oblivious-to-reality Homer in me. In fact I saw us making the playoffs but I didn't expect anything more than a victory in the WC round. To go into Tampa, Dallas, Green Bay (in that incredibly horriible -8973629873529384752983260 degree weather) and then travel to Arizona and pull off what I feel was the Greatest Upset in the History of SPORTS was unprecedented. That may be a little homerish, but if it isn't the greatest in sports it's definately the greatest in football history (IIRC Unitas missed 3/4 of the Jets-Colts SBIII Matchup. It's not an upset if the best player in the game isn't on the field).

QB - What can I say? He had some great "Ups" (Dallas Week 1 and New England Week 17) and he had some really terrible "downs" (Minnesota... ugh), but it was from week 17 on that Eli Manning made a statement to the league. "I'm not JUST Peyton's little brother." is what his play said to everyone from the media to the fans to his fellow players in the NFL. After last season ended (Let's not turn this into Tiki bashing) I told a few people that "Eli would be better off without him because he would lose his security blanket. That alone would force him to become a better player and a TRUE leader." That came true as Eli became a more assertive leader and can now be known as Super Bowl XLII MVP Eli Manning. Final Grade - A

RB - In my Mid-Season Review I said that we had a 3 headed monster at RB in Jacobs, Ward, and Droughns. I was wrong. With his strong performance near the end of the season and in the playoffs, Ahmad Bradshaw showed that he had no intention to remain as the 4th string RB that just returned kickoffs. While Jacobs and Ward worry me with their durability, Droughns and Bradshaw give me closure in knowing that they can be just as effective. Our RBs ended the season with 469 Carries for 2148 Yards 4.6 YPC (tied for 3rd in NFL) and 15 TDs. THAT is impressive. BTW... Madison Hedgecock is a BEAST. Final Grade - A-/B+

WR/TE - I said it in my Mid-Season review... It's scary knowing that this group could've been so much better had they just caught the ball when it was thrown to them. Our receiving core (including RBs) led the NFL in dropped passes. Some of those were Manning's fault, however most of them weren't. Jacobs, Toomer, Matthews, Moss, Smith, Burress... all of them had drops in key situations that made even the most optimistic Giants fan cringe. That being said... this group did some great things as well (and I'm not just talking about David Tyree's "Greatest Play in Super Bowl History". Plaxico Burress showed a lot of grit and determination this year playing on a torn up ankle. Toomer now leads the team in catches (passing Tiki Barber) and Touchdowns (Passing Kyle Rote). Steve Smith may have cemented himself as a difference maker in this offense and David Tyree... What the hell? How did you make that catch!? Hopefully Moss will come around someday. Final Grade - B

OL - Our Offensive line was a great group this year. Underrated would be an understatement. Although McKenzie has brain farts every once in a while and lets his defender into the backfield without any problems he's been solid. O'Hara and Seubert have been nothing short of very good. Snee should've been a Pro Bowler. And Diehl stepped in and did a fantastic job at LT. Manning was sacked 28 times this year, however compared to the 49ers and Chiefs (tied at 55) that's nothing. Excellent job by the O-Line. Final Grade - A

DL - New York Giants... Fly High... You Know This... BAAAALLLLLIIIINNNN!!!!! Oh wait... that was last year. Once again the Defensive Line was the strength of our defense, but this year that actually saying something. The team of Strahan, Umenyiora, Tuck, Robbins, Cofield, Alford, and even Tollefson made our unit the most feared in the NFL. I'm really hoping that Strahan comes back for another season and Osi stops all the whining about his contract. The defense wouldn't be the same without them. Final Grade - A+

LB - Up to the mid point in the season I was not impressed with this group. I thought that they hadn't played anywhere near the level that they were capable of playing. They proved me to be correct in that assumption. They LB play picked up in the 2nd half of the season by making stellar plays again and again. Mitchell had an outstanding season and far outperformed my expectations. I wish him well in his future with the Bills. Pierce's season could be summed up in one play. Look no further than the effort that he gave on the screen pass in the NFC Championship game. Final Grade - B+

DB - Although they started out underperforming, this group stepped up to another level the final weeks of the regular season and on into the playoffs. Aaron Ross was a great addition and will only continue to grow. Webster lost his starting job at the beginning of the season but towards the end he showed signs of becoming a very good corner. Our Safeties have some issues that I expect to be handled during the draft and after the June 1st cuts. Final Grade - B-

ST - This group was terrible (with the exception of Feagles) during the 1st half of the season but as the 2nd half came and went they became more and more solid. Hixon is a freakin beast as a KR and if Mc25s breaks a tackle (or holds onto the ball... Green Bay) watch out. He may be old but he's definately crafty. Tynes made me want to pull what little hair I have out in the NFC Championship until he nailed that 47-yarder that sent us to the Bowl and I hope that Feagles never retires. Final Grade - B+

Coaching:
Coughlin - I applaud you for coming to terms with the fact that the "General Tom" act couldn't fly with today's players. You changed your ways and look where it has you. Without a doubt... you deserve my apologies for bashing you last season... and your new contract. Final Grade A+

Spagnuolo - Thank you for staying. Thank you for once again making our defense feared. Thank you for using Corey Webster the correct way. Final Grade - A++++++++++++++++

Gilbride - While you showed promise the final 5 weeks of the season... IT TOOK YOU UNTIL THE FINAL FIVE WEEKS OF THE SEASON TO REALIZE THAT YOUR GAMEPLANS WEREN'T WORKING!!!!!!!!! Seriously... 52 passes in week 15 when the wind gusts were around 2398572639857629385610276582086528mph? WTF is that? Anyway... at least you changed. Great job with the offense at the end of the season and in the playoffs. Final Grade - B/B-

Man I can't wait for the draft on Saturday. I can't wait for training camp! I can't wait for opening day when after all of the ridiculous concerts and nonstop talk about how we aren't even the best team in our division, we get announced to a roaring crowd at Giants Stadium as THE DEFENDING SUPER BOWL CHAMPION... NEW YORK GIANTS! We should do this "Winning the Super Bowl" thing more often.

Oh BTW... Just in case any of us forgot...

Virginia Giant's Blog - 2008: New Hope.

Thu, 14 Feb 2008 04:32:11 -0500

Well, it's early February, pitchers and cathers report today and I find myself with new hope. The Giants just won the super bowl, LSU won the BCS Championship in Janary, and thats got me all excitable. I bought Athalon's 2008 baseball preview mag, and quickly dismissed it as garbage when I read they had the Rangers finishing 3rd in the West. Impossible I thought. They got their Center Fielder, upgraded the corner outfield spots, Blalock is healthy, Salty is gonna be a monster, and Kinsler is the next big thing.

Then i remembered I did a couple blogs here, so i went back and re-read what my thoughts were at the end of '07.

Oh yeah. Pretty dismal stuff, sad in a shake your head in shame kinda way. After reading it, I removed the rose colored glasses and took a fresh look at the roster.

I'll start with the rotation...

We return out two aces, Millwood and Padilla. man those guys were great in '06, in '07? Eh, not so ace-ish. But we got this dude Jason Jennings, he was the 2002 NL ROY and in 2007 he was 2-9 with a 6.45 ERA, oh, and he's coming off and injury too. But we also got Kason Gabbard last year from the Sox, and the dude was real solid, it's just he has a history with arm problems. But at least out other starting pitcher managed to only be hurt about 1 month.

Now the infield.

The infield is led by the face of the orginization, Michael Young. Tough, gritty player who plays every day and selflessy switched positions a few years ago to accomodate Soriano. Beside him is a true up and comer in Kinsler, 20-20 guy last year and shows all the signs of being among the top 5 2B in the entire league. On the hot Corner is Blalock, I love Hank, myfavorite player and even though he missed most of the year, the injury shouldn't be a nagging problem and when he played, he crushed the ball. At 1st there is the immortal Ben Broussard, I'm sorry who? Ben Broussard. Dude played 99 games and managed to bat 275 with 7 home runs and 29 rbi's last year? We trade an allstar silver slugging golden glove winning first basemen (which I was all for BTW) and the best guy we could find to replace him with is a dude who couldn't swing his way out of a wet paper bag?

Catcher? Salty might start might nt, could play first, could not, but he does have a really long name, this we know for sure.

Outfield...

OK, so this looks to be the mos improved lot of the bunch. Hamilton was a stud last year, forget about his injury and drug abuse filled history, strong arm and big bat, I salivate at this future right fielder. Who needs a base swiper when our CF can drive em all in with one swing of his mighty bat? Milton Bradley, he played 140 games once, 5 years ago. econd closest was 101 games, 6 years ago. t no other time has he managed to duct tape and gorilla glue himself together enough to play in 100 games. But aside from his attitude problems and injury filled past, when the dude in on the field, sometimes he's pretty good. Marlong Byrd will start in left, he was good last year, props to Byrd. Murphy backs up all three outfield spots, as does Cat. Murphy is going to be a real good player, Cat? We'll see, wasn't terrible last year, but played under expectations in my ind.

The Pen

The pride of Texas, CJ wilson should close, if he doesn't, i will personally bitch slap Ron Washington.

All in all, I forsee many a drunken nights watching the Rangers call up tons of minor leaguers since half the team is on the disabled list.

Dragon's Blog - Adult Swim Action Show Review

Thu, 10 Jan 2008 00:01:52 -0500

Everyone knows Adult Swim for the comedy of shows like Robot Chicken, Family Guy, and American Dad (among many others). I of course know them for this as well, but Adult Swim has more than just its comedy. Saturday Nights are home to "Action Saturdays." A lineup of Anime, new and old, that combines ones taste for fantasy style action with solid story-telling and certain "What if?" elements. Currently there are two shows running with new episodes and one returning show. I'll be reviewing these for you.

First we have the ongoing shows.

"Death Note" Currently airing on Saturday at 11:30pm eastern time. Death Note Wikipedia Page

Main Characters:
Light Yagami (Kira)
L (Ryuzaki, Hideki Ryoga)
Misa Amane

Show plotline - Light Yagami is an extremely intelligent young man who resents the crime and corruption in the world. His life undergoes a drastic change in the year 2003, when he discovers a mysterious notebook, known as the "Death Note", lying on the ground. The Death Note's instructions claim that if a human's name is written within it, that person shall die. Light is initially skeptical of the Death Note's authenticity, believing it is just a prank. However, after experimenting with it and killing two criminals, Light is forced to admit that the Death Note is real. After meeting with the previous owner of the Death Note, a shinigami (God of Death) named Ryuk, Light seeks to become "the God of the new world" by passing his judgment on criminals.

Soon, the number of inexplicable deaths of reported criminals catches the attention of the International Police Organization and a mysterious detective known only as "L". L quickly learns that the serial killer, dubbed by the public as "Kira" (derived from the Japanese pronunciation of the word "Killer"), is located in Japan. L also concludes that Kira can kill people without laying a finger on them. Light realizes that L will be his greatest nemesis, and a game of psychological cat and mouse between the two begins. <--- From Wikipedia

While watching the show you will get encompassed in the battle of wits between Kira and L as they try to out think each other and work around the other's traps. One situation prompted a poster on the Adult Swim MBs to compare L and his manipulation of Kira to Peyton Manning and his manipulation of a defense. Another thing you will find yourself thinking about is what you would do in either situation? What would you do if you were facing a murderer that could kill you just by knowing your name? What would you do if by some chance YOU ended up in control of the Death Note? Interesting situations. You also will find yourself picking sides as Kira (although the show's protagonist) starts making some questionable decisions (You'll understand what that means if you start watching).

Overall I give the show an A+. I've only seen up to episode 11 of the near 40 episode series, but from what I've seen so far, the greatness of this show has only begun.
Death Note -->

"Blood+" Currently airing on Sunday at 12:30am eastern time Blood+ Wikipedia Page

Main Characters
Saya Otonashi
Haji
Kai Miyagusuku
Diva
(There are others but too many to list)

Show Plotline - Under the care of her adoptive family, Saya Otonashi has been living the life of an anemic and amnesiac, but otherwise ordinary schoolgirl. Saya�s happy life is shattered when she is attacked by a chiroptera, and learns that she is the only one who can defeat them.

Armed with her sword, Saya embarks on a journey with her family, allies, and her Chevalier, Haji, to rid the world of Chiropterans and rediscover her identity. The course of the journey reveals the background history of the chiropterans and Saya's very deep past, which extends into the mid-19th century.

The series is initially set in present day (September 2005) Okinawa City (Koza), on Okinawa Island, near the US Kadena Air Base. In the course of the series, Saya visits locales across the world, while fighting enemy chiropterans and searching for her origins. <---- from Wikipedia

Blood+ was inspired by the Anime film Blood: The Last Vampire. Although nearing its end, Blood+ has done its job of keeping me semi-entertained most of the time and really entertained a few times during its run. The idea of a badass Vampire Chick with a badass Katana killing monsters is great in my mind, however Blood+ suffers from the fact that there is too much story and not enough action... which is the exact opposite of Blood: The Last Vampire.

Overall I give this series a B-/C+. Of course there are still about ten episodes left so my grade may change.
Blood+ -->

Returning Series
BLEACH Currently airing reruns on Saturday at 11:00pm Bleach Wikipedia Page

Main Characters
Ichigo Kurosaki
Rukia Kuchiki
Orihime Inoue
Uryu Ishida
Sado "Chad" Yasotura
(There are others but again too many to name)

Show Plotline - The story opens with the sudden appearance of the shinigami (Death God, but translated as Soul Reaper in the Bleach English Dub), Rukia Kuchiki, in Ichigo Kurosaki's bedroom. She is surprised at his ability to see her, but their resulting conversation is interrupted by the appearance of a hollow, an evil spirit. After Rukia is severely wounded while trying to protect Ichigo, she intends to transfer half her powers to Ichigo, hoping to give him the opportunity to face the hollow on equal footing. Ichigo unintentionally absorbs almost all her powers instead, allowing him to defeat the hollow with ease.

The next day, Rukia appears in Ichigo's classroom as a transfer student. Much to his surprise, she appears to be a normal human. She theorizes that it was the unusual strength of Ichigo's spirit that caused him to absorb almost all her powers, thus leaving her stranded in the human world. Rukia has transferred herself into a gigai � an artificial human body � while waiting to recover her abilities. In the meantime, Ichigo must take over her job as a shinigami, battling hollows and guiding lost souls to Soul Society.

Bleach has become my favorite anime series eclipsing Dragon Ball Z (As you may have seen from my past few avatars). I have seen up to episode 52 in the English Dub and those episodes got me so hooked that I have gone and watched all of the Japanese episodes up to the current episode 154. This show has got me completely hooked. It blends the ridiculous comedy with the heart pounding action perfectly. Although the voice acting falls short on the English side in a few cases it doesn't really take anything away from the show. The only thing that bothers me about this anime is that they actually have a 40+ episode filler story (Bount Arc). While the action and drama in that saga is pretty good, after seeing the end of the first part of the main story (Soul Society Arc) I was completely amped up for the main antagonist to make his move, but that wasn't the case.

I could go on for days talking about this show so I'll just give it a A+.
BLEACH -->

There have been plenty of shows in the world of Anime that have had their run on Adult Swim. From older shows like Cowboy Bebop FullMetal Alchemist (One hell of a show), Inuyasha, Trigun and Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex/SAC 2nd Gig to finished stories like Eureka 7, Trinity Blood, Samurai Champloo, Wolf's Rain and S-Cry-ed (pronounced Scried) to ongoing and returning shows like Bleach, Blood+ and Death Note, Adult Swim has more than enough anime shows to satisfy my taste for action, drama, comedy, love, tragedy, and complete stupidity. Thanks Adult Swim for bringing more Anime to my attention.

Dragon's Blog - Dragon's NYG Mid Season Review

Mon, 29 Oct 2007 00:46:03 -0400

Alright people... I have to say that I am very pleased with the performance of our (and I mean our) NY Giants. With the exception of the two losses and today's... really wierd game, we've looked great.

QB - Eli Manning has looked very comfortable in the role of the leader. His passes have been sharper, his comp. % is up and he has shown that he has all of the confidence that people claimed that he didn't. Don't take this as a shot at him, but I feel that not having Tiki Barber in the backfield has helped Manning more than having him there ever could. It has nothing to do with Tiki's mouth, but I think that the fact that Eli had the greatest RB in NYG history playing behind him kept Eli from taking charge like he is this season. I do think that he definately needs to stop trying to force the ball into certain receivers and trust his backs in the flat more. That alone will cut down on his INTs. Mid Season Grade - B

RBs - We went into the season thinking that we'd have a two headed monster at RB with Jacobs and Droughns. What we got was a three headed monster in Ward, Jacobs, and Droughns. Now while this is great right now, I have a bad feeling that either Ward or Droughns is going to leave because of this. Now this doesn't count this week's game but if you add everyone together and our RB trio has 188 carries for 861 yards (4.6 YPC) and 7 TDs. I am a NYG fan from birth til death and I didn't expect anything like that from our RBs this season. They're on pace for a 1700 yard/14 TD season. Mid Season Grade - A-

WR/TE - What can I say? Well as good as it's been, it's scary to think that it could've been better. Burress, up until before 49ers game was neck and neck with Randy Moss for the NFL lead in TD receptions and Toomer has become the NYG All-Time leader in both Receptions (passing Tiki Barber) and TDs (passing Kyle Rote). The problem that I have with this unit is that for some strange reason at least one person has to have a bad case of the drops every game. We are second in the NFL for most dropped passes and that's ridiculous considering the talent that we have on the field with Burress, Toomer and Shockey. Moss has contributed some and surely Steve Smith will contribute when he returns, but as good as this group is the drops keep them from being Elite. Mid Season Grade - B

O-Line - This group has BY FAR impressed me the most. I wanted to tear my hair out when Luke P. (<--I can't remember how to spell his name and I'm too lazy to look it up) was cut, but Diehl has shown that there was no reason at all to fret. Our O-Line has (in my mind at the very least) quietly become a top tier group. Chris Snee should be in the Pro Bowl this year. Mid Season Grade - A

D-Line - This group went from looking out of sorts (mostly due to Osi's injury and Strahan still getting adjusted) to one of it not THE most dominant group in the NFL. Osi Umenyiora has become the leader of the DL. Strahan can still bring serious pressure and commands a double team. Justin Tuck is taking advantage of the opportunities that he is getting from Osi and Strahan commanding attention and has quietly closed in on Osi for the team lead and a share of 2nd place in the NFL in sacks. Offenses... beware the 3rd and long. Mid Season Grade - A

LBs - I'm not impressed by our group, but I'm not griping about them either. Moving Kiwi to LB looked like the worst move by far earlier in the season... but the fact that I haven't heard his name called may be a good thing. Pierce IMHO needs to kick the shit kicked out of him. There's no reason for all of the penalties on the guy who's supposed to be out Defensive Leader. Mitchell has become solid after what I thought was a tough start. Mid Season Grade C+/B-

DBs - This is another group that I'm not too impressed with. Aaron Ross has stepped in and done a good job, but these guys drop WAAAAYYYYY too many interceptions (see Falcons game). Just like the receivers, this group needs to start holding on to these balls that his them directly in the hands to become an elite group. Madison definately needs to improve on his tackling. I can't even think of a word to describe his efforts today. Mid Season Grade - C+/B-

ST - ..................... Feagles is great, Tynes Sux, we have no return game (unless Bradshaw decided to stop fumbling). I miss Brad Daluiso. Mid Season Grade - Feagles A+ Rest of ST unit - C-

A lot of good, but A LOT that needs to be improved and worked on. Glad the bye week is here and glad to see that our worst game was overshadowed by the fact that we played the worst team in the NFL. Get it together G-Men!!!!!!!!!!!

Virginia Giant's Blog - September

Sun, 23 Sep 2007 23:06:41 -0400

Well, here we are, September, the greatest time of year for sports fans. Thats is, unless you're me. September for most sports fans means the playoff race in Major League Baseball and a fresh start in the NFL. It's nearing the end of the month, the 21st to be exact, and that number has some significance, because thats exactly how many games back from first place my beloved Texas Rangers are. We are fresh off a four game losing streak (actually we've dropped nine of our last ten), with very few bright spots mixed in. Sure, some of the younger guys give us of those stupid enough to keep rooting for this team some hope for a brighter future, but looking back, hasn't that always been the case with the Rangers? Every year in Arlington, or wherever you may find a Rangers fan (Clear Brook, VA for those looking), you hear the cry of "We'll get 'em next year". Well, next year has been nearly a decade coming, and guess what? The Rangers are actually regressing. After 3 years of finishing third in a four team division, 2007 has us ending the season in last place. the team we finished just ahead the last three painful years, the Seattle Mariners, have made remarkable improvements and look to end the season in second place within the AL West.

I know what you're saying, new manager, young GM, solid nucleus and some nice additions at the trade deadline. Give 'em time Mark, they'll turn it around. Well, I'm 29 years old, not old by any stretch of the imagination, but I have been waiting a long time too see my Rangers do some damage in the playoffs. I've watched the solid nucleus of Blalock, Young and Teixeira for what, 8, 9 years? (and yes, I know Tex is now in Atlanta). What i mean is, there is one thing we have always lacked, starting pitching. So, someone with any observatory skills would say, "Hey, lets get some starting pitching". Not our team, nope, our history has us playing the, "lets win 15 to 13" game. I admit, even though both have struggled this season, adding Millwood and Padilla a couple years ago was a step in the right direction, after all, Millwood was the AL ERA leader before he came to Texas, and padilla won, I believe, 15 games his first year with us. Keeping Padilla was a good move, and i believe will work out for us. What about Zito though? Forget his 4.50 + ERA in the NL this season, no one had any idea he wouldn't be his normal dominant self going into the season, we should have payed whatever we had to to get him. Not only would we have been adding a dominant left handed starter, but we would have taken him from an AL West rival, and yes, i am saying we should have over payed for him, screw the Chan Ho park fear we all have, Zito was a proven commodity.

It's this kind of lack luster attempts at shoring up our starting staff that drives me crazy. Also, what about Matsuzaka? I understand the Sox and Yankees were competing for him, but as a team with little starting pitching, we have to make a ridiculously high bid for him BECAUSE the Yanks and Sox were competing for him. I am sick and tired of the Rangers coming up just short when it comes to free agent pitching. In a couple years Johan Santana will be a free agent, what will our excuse be when we are just beat out for him? Maybe Hicks should concentrate less on English soccer and more on American baseball, either that or sell the damn team to someone who has a burning desire to win (Mark Cuban anyone?)

But i do have one problem, i am eternal optimist, so I will be the ring leader at the "we'll get 'em next year" rally, I'll talk to all my baseball loving friends and explain tom them why the Rangers will surprise the league in 2008. I'll continue to make excuses why we have actually taken a step back instead of a step forward. I'll tell them Salty is the next great Texas catcher, that Blalock will return to his all star form,that Ian Kinsler will be an all star second basemen, etc etc etc, and i will and do believe all that, but when it comes to our starting pitching, what will I say? Will i point out our big free agent acquisition at the position, or say we made a fair offer but fell just short?

Thats enough baseball talk, lets move on to the NFL, oh wait, I'm a Giants fan, who are 0-2 and head in to Washington to face the 2-0 Redskins. At least I have LSU football to keep me off the ledge for now.

Dragon's Blog - Resident Evil: Extinction Review

Sat, 22 Sep 2007 00:12:43 -0400

Alright... I just got back from the movie theater. As you probably guessed from the title I went to see Resident Evil: Extinction, which is (said to be) the final movie in the Resident Evil series. Before I get to the movie itself, I need to explain something.

I am what some would call a purist. When I found out that the movie series wouldn't be following the game exactly, I was kind of disappointed. KIND OF. Unlike all of the people complaining about how the movies have been done, I have enjoyed all of the RE movies, and this one was no exception.

Okay... on to the movie. Basic plot setup: Earth is dying due to the T-Virus. Most of the people in the world have turned into zombies. Very few survivors remain and those who have survived have to constantly stay on the move in huge convoys. Suvivors of the Racoon City outbreak, Carlos Olivera (Played by Oded Fehr, debuted in Resident Evil 3: Nemesis) and L.J. (Played by Mike Epps), join up with Claire Redfield (Played by Ali Larter, debuted in Resident Evil 2 and co-starred in Resident Evil Code Veronica/Code Veronica X) and a number of others just trying to stay alive, as Alice (Milla Jovovich) tries to find answers.

I have to say that even though the movie lacked in character development, it more than made up for it in the action. Seeing them finally bring the infamous Resident Evil Birds into the movie was great and the scene was incredible. After Nemesis turned out to be both badass and great guy (I still don't get that one) in Resident Evil: Apocalypse, it was good to see the director gave RE fans SOMEWHAT of a glance at what I assumed to be Nemesis' second form... the one with all the wierd tentacles. The final fight, between Alice and (to spare details I'll call it...) the advanced... thing was pretty good. Not great, but that's only because I think it should've been longer. I was really surprised to see some characters die. SPOILER WARNING!!!!!!!!!!! I wanted Ashanti to survive dammit! At least she went down like a warrior. I wasn't too surprised by L.J.'s fate, but Carlos too!? Damn man. What the hell? SPOILER OVER!!!!!!!!!!!!! As I mentioned earlier, it's been said that Extinction would be the final movie in the Resident Evil series, the ending said nothing of the sort. With the whereabouts of Jill Valentine and Angela Ashford up in the air, the unknown status of Leon Kennedy, Ada Wong and remaining S.T.A.R.S. members like Chris Redfield, and the fact that Super Badass and all around jerk Albert Wesker is alive and well, I wouldn't doubt that another Resident Evil movie was on the way. It's funny... 3 out of the last 5 movies that I've gone to the theaters to see have left things wide open in the end (Resident Evil 3, Pirates 3, and X-Men 3).

My only issues with the movie were the lack of character development (Who the hell is K-Mart and what is her purpose?), the lack of action by my second favorite bad guy Wesker (A tie between Sephiroth from Final Fantasy 7/Kingdom Hearts 1&2 and Sosuke Aizen from BLEACH), and the lack of a true resolution if this is indeed the final movie in the series.

Dragon's Rating for Resident Evil: Extinction......................... 7.5 out of 10.

Tales of The Patrician - A Little Tide Me Over for the Summer

Sat, 04 Aug 2007 11:33:13 -0400

Every once in a while, i have more um, conventional guests visit the villa. On those occasions, I lock away the significant "other," hire servants with less "submissive" tendencies, and have the guest visit. On one of these occasions, I had Sophia Loren over for a visit.

A very nice lady, and a wonderful conversationalist. She brought over a photo album, and I thought I'd share some of the more fun shots/notes with you.

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Three photographers spontaneously combusted getting this shot.

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This is a famous photo, and everyone thinks I'm glaring at Mansfield's breasts. And I have to admit that's true. But people forget that LSD was legal back then, and I had just seen her right breast leave her dress, grab a dinner roll, and devour it. I think you'd be staring at them too, at that point.

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Madre dios! The left one just growled at me!

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Charlton Heston and I in El Cid. Chuck always strove for realism. Unfortunately for the rest of the cast and crew, part of his "method acting" included using the personal hygiene of a 14th century spanish knight. I tried to remind him that we weren't filming in "smellovision," but it didn't work.

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Sometimes I can transfer my nightmares to photographic paper.

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"Unwashed masses" is right! When you people discover showers and deodorant, I'll stop walking around with a florist shop.

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Here I am winning the prestigious award for...something. I'd look it up, but I think it's in the garage somewhere...

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"Ladies first, ladies first." Mongoloids, it's chess, and I have the black pieces. Oh, and those aren't scripts, those are copies of "Chess for Beginners." JUST MOVE A PAWN!!!

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Screw you, Britney, THIS is intrusive papparazzi.