Is there anything more disappointing than going to a movie you’ve been looking forward to seeing – and it sucks?
Now, I wasn’t expecting “She’s Out Of Your League” to be great, but I at least hoped for a laugh here and there…and I really only had one.
There’s no way of getting your money back, no way of getting those 2 hours back, really nothing.
At least Hot Tub Time Machine comes out tonight – that better be good.
----------------------
On the way home from the movies, Kim and I got talking about actors who we feel are overrated.
Kim’s selection was Will Ferrell. I disagreed.
My choice was Tom Hanks. She disagreed.
There was a survey done recently that Tom Hanks was the most liked actor in Hollywood. Am I the only one who doesn’t get him?
There’s no question he’s a very good actor, award winning and whatnot – I just think he’s a bit overrated. I can only come up with a few movies that he’s really stolen – of course Forrest Gump and Big are two of them.
But most movies I’ve seen him in, he’s not the strongest actor in the film. Some examples for my case:
Apollo 13 – Ed Harris
Toy Story – Tim Allen
Splash – Daryl Hannah
Road To Perdition – Paul Newman
The Green Mile – Michael Clark Duncan
Turner & Hooch – The Dog
Again, no doubt that Tommy is a heck of an thespian, but for the most part I find him to be a bit of an over-actor and a guy who really relies on his others for his performances.
----------------------
There was a recent survey done by Ipsos-Reid that said for the first time ever, more Canadians are going online than watching TV.
Do you agree? If you had to choose – which one would you pick?
For me, the choice isn’t much of a brain-tickler…I’d give up TV for the internet…for one simple reason that you can watch TV…on the internet.
----------------------
Oh, and one more thing – it’s 14 days till the Home Opener at Comerica Park…but who’s counting.
Monday, March 29, 2010
Oscar Picks
The Oscars are being handed out on Sunday and even though I won’t spend 5 minutes watching them, that doesn’t mean I can’t make predictions of my own.
Granted I have not seen most of the movies that are up for awards, so most of these picks will be on personal preference of by some bias.
Here we go:
Best Picture: The Hurt Locker…great movies…great story…great characters.
Best Actor: Jeremy Renner for The Hurt Locker…I didn’t see any other nominated performance this year, but Renner’s was very impressive for an unknown.
Best Actress: Sandra Bullock for The Blind Side…she did a phenomenal job in this role and has grown up quite a bit from her Speed days.
Best Supporting Actor: Christoph Waltz for Inglorious Basterds…maybe my favourite performance of any actor in any movie this year.
Best Supporting Actress: I didn’t see any of these nominees…but from what I hear Mo’Nique did a superb job in Precious.
But of course, most of the nominations are those of the Academy. The white-haired, no risk, crusty old boys club who wouldn’t take a risk on a movie for the every day man and woman.
That’s where I come in…
Now my winners and Best Picture nominees for The Matt-scars or Osc-mouchelles.
Best Picture: The nominees are Inglorious Basterds, The Blind Side, The Hangover, Saw 6 and Taken…I’d have to say the best movie I saw in 2009 was The Hangover.
Best Actor: Liam Nieson in Taken was a poor man’s Jack Bauer and he did a kick-ass job doing so…he gets the nod from me.
Best Actress: I actually have to go back to my actual Oscar pick and give the honour to Sandra Bullock. It’s just a great movie from start to finish.
Best Supporting Actor: In a stunning development, we have a tie. Christoph Waltz for Inglorious Basterds is sharing the trophy with Zack Galafanakis from The Hangover. Oh, you’re going to tell me that Alan wasn’t the best character in the movies this year??
And finally Best Supporting Actress: I liked Helen Mirren in State of Play. She was tough, hostile and downright hot.
So enjoy the Oscars on Sunday everyone and remember…if you’re a man over 30 years old…you best not be hosting an Oscar Party…or as the Academy hands out their awards…you will have to hand in your man papers.
Granted I have not seen most of the movies that are up for awards, so most of these picks will be on personal preference of by some bias.
Here we go:
Best Picture: The Hurt Locker…great movies…great story…great characters.
Best Actor: Jeremy Renner for The Hurt Locker…I didn’t see any other nominated performance this year, but Renner’s was very impressive for an unknown.
Best Actress: Sandra Bullock for The Blind Side…she did a phenomenal job in this role and has grown up quite a bit from her Speed days.
Best Supporting Actor: Christoph Waltz for Inglorious Basterds…maybe my favourite performance of any actor in any movie this year.
Best Supporting Actress: I didn’t see any of these nominees…but from what I hear Mo’Nique did a superb job in Precious.
But of course, most of the nominations are those of the Academy. The white-haired, no risk, crusty old boys club who wouldn’t take a risk on a movie for the every day man and woman.
That’s where I come in…
Now my winners and Best Picture nominees for The Matt-scars or Osc-mouchelles.
Best Picture: The nominees are Inglorious Basterds, The Blind Side, The Hangover, Saw 6 and Taken…I’d have to say the best movie I saw in 2009 was The Hangover.
Best Actor: Liam Nieson in Taken was a poor man’s Jack Bauer and he did a kick-ass job doing so…he gets the nod from me.
Best Actress: I actually have to go back to my actual Oscar pick and give the honour to Sandra Bullock. It’s just a great movie from start to finish.
Best Supporting Actor: In a stunning development, we have a tie. Christoph Waltz for Inglorious Basterds is sharing the trophy with Zack Galafanakis from The Hangover. Oh, you’re going to tell me that Alan wasn’t the best character in the movies this year??
And finally Best Supporting Actress: I liked Helen Mirren in State of Play. She was tough, hostile and downright hot.
So enjoy the Oscars on Sunday everyone and remember…if you’re a man over 30 years old…you best not be hosting an Oscar Party…or as the Academy hands out their awards…you will have to hand in your man papers.
Sunday, February 7, 2010
30 Medals For Canada
It’s time for Canada to announce their presence with authority in the Winter Olympics.
For decades Canadian athletes have just been another name in a long list of forgetful performances on the world’s biggest stage.
This time, the stage is in our own back yard – and we must be ready to answer the call.
If you look back at the history of Canada at the Winter Olympics, you’ll see unachieved goals, mediocre performances and a plethora of 6th and 7th place finishes.
It is time for that to stop.
Each year since the ’84 games in Sarajevo, our medal count has risen – slowly but surely – to its all time high at the last games in Turin with a total of 24.
It is time for us to take the next step.
There’s no reason Canada cannot reach 30 medals in the 2010 Vancouver Games.
We have stood by as Canadians, expecting every year to get better and better during the two wintery weeks of the Olympics, only to have our hopes dashed time and time again.
Whether it’s bad efforts on our part or unexpected finishes from unknown competitors, we have struggled to earn more than double-digit medal totals only four times.
It’s a foregone conclusion that Canada will never be a powerhouse during the Summer Games – even though we once won 44 medals in 1984 in Los Angeles – but you would just have to think that in the Great White North we’d be able to compete in most events during the Winter Games.
It hasn’t been the case until recently.
Not only did we finish in the Top 3 at the Turin Games (behind only Germany and the United States), we tied the 2002 Games for the most gold medals by Canadian athletes with 7.
It’s time to ride that momentum.
There are added pressures in 2010, no question. The Games are on our home turf and the entire world will be watching not only how the Games are operated, but how the host team rises to the occasion.
We don’t have another choice but to succeed.
There has always been the argument that Canada receives very little funding from the Federal Government to practice and train for the Olympic Games and that is the cause for their struggles.
But that funding has gone up recently, as has the request for every day residents to pitch in when they can to help the team.
I know for one that if I am paying 20 dollars for a pair of gloves or 5 dollars for a Canada mug at a gas station – I want a return on my investment.
If you want to show Canadians across the country that our athletes are worth sponsoring and funding, then we need to see some medals around their necks.
We need to take a different approach at these Games than others.
“With Glowing Hearts” shouldn’t be the motto for the 2010 Games, for that they should look no further than Notre Dame Head Coach Dan Devine’s classic line from the movie “Rudy” - “No one comes into our house and pushes us around”.
Sure, it may not as friendly in a spirit-of-the-Games type way, but it’s a message to other countries that if you plan to invade our country on skis, skates, bobsleighs or snowboards that we will not make it easy for you to go home victorious.
Canada has only once hosted the Winter Games – back in 1988 in Calgary – and because of their disappointing finish, has not won a Gold Medal on home turf.
That will change this year.
Predictions range anywhere from 20-28 medals for our country at these Games, I think we can do better.
Our hockey teams are, on paper, the best in either men’s or women’s competition.
We can expect speed skating to again be one of our best events, in fact, Canada has won more medals from speed skating than any other event (28) and with athletes like Christine Nesbitt, Kristina Groves and flag-bearer Clara Hughes among the favourites, we should be able to ensure some medals in this category once again.
Curling is a sport Canada has been consistent in since it secured a spot in the Olympic program, by picking up medals each year.
And you can’t count out a medal here and there in different skiing events and a figure skating medal or two.
206 athletes will represent Canada at the Olympic Games this year and many will set personal best times and experience a magic and excitement that will never be equalled.
Some will leave Vancouver with bruises, not only on their bodies but on their egos.
And others will bask in the glory of hearing the Canadian National Anthem pumped from the speakers of their respective venue for the world to hear.
It’s time for Canada to take the next step.
It’s time for Canada to be a force to be reckoned with.
And there is no better time to do it, than within our own borders.
For decades Canadian athletes have just been another name in a long list of forgetful performances on the world’s biggest stage.
This time, the stage is in our own back yard – and we must be ready to answer the call.
If you look back at the history of Canada at the Winter Olympics, you’ll see unachieved goals, mediocre performances and a plethora of 6th and 7th place finishes.
It is time for that to stop.
Each year since the ’84 games in Sarajevo, our medal count has risen – slowly but surely – to its all time high at the last games in Turin with a total of 24.
It is time for us to take the next step.
There’s no reason Canada cannot reach 30 medals in the 2010 Vancouver Games.
We have stood by as Canadians, expecting every year to get better and better during the two wintery weeks of the Olympics, only to have our hopes dashed time and time again.
Whether it’s bad efforts on our part or unexpected finishes from unknown competitors, we have struggled to earn more than double-digit medal totals only four times.
It’s a foregone conclusion that Canada will never be a powerhouse during the Summer Games – even though we once won 44 medals in 1984 in Los Angeles – but you would just have to think that in the Great White North we’d be able to compete in most events during the Winter Games.
It hasn’t been the case until recently.
Not only did we finish in the Top 3 at the Turin Games (behind only Germany and the United States), we tied the 2002 Games for the most gold medals by Canadian athletes with 7.
It’s time to ride that momentum.
There are added pressures in 2010, no question. The Games are on our home turf and the entire world will be watching not only how the Games are operated, but how the host team rises to the occasion.
We don’t have another choice but to succeed.
There has always been the argument that Canada receives very little funding from the Federal Government to practice and train for the Olympic Games and that is the cause for their struggles.
But that funding has gone up recently, as has the request for every day residents to pitch in when they can to help the team.
I know for one that if I am paying 20 dollars for a pair of gloves or 5 dollars for a Canada mug at a gas station – I want a return on my investment.
If you want to show Canadians across the country that our athletes are worth sponsoring and funding, then we need to see some medals around their necks.
We need to take a different approach at these Games than others.
“With Glowing Hearts” shouldn’t be the motto for the 2010 Games, for that they should look no further than Notre Dame Head Coach Dan Devine’s classic line from the movie “Rudy” - “No one comes into our house and pushes us around”.
Sure, it may not as friendly in a spirit-of-the-Games type way, but it’s a message to other countries that if you plan to invade our country on skis, skates, bobsleighs or snowboards that we will not make it easy for you to go home victorious.
Canada has only once hosted the Winter Games – back in 1988 in Calgary – and because of their disappointing finish, has not won a Gold Medal on home turf.
That will change this year.
Predictions range anywhere from 20-28 medals for our country at these Games, I think we can do better.
Our hockey teams are, on paper, the best in either men’s or women’s competition.
We can expect speed skating to again be one of our best events, in fact, Canada has won more medals from speed skating than any other event (28) and with athletes like Christine Nesbitt, Kristina Groves and flag-bearer Clara Hughes among the favourites, we should be able to ensure some medals in this category once again.
Curling is a sport Canada has been consistent in since it secured a spot in the Olympic program, by picking up medals each year.
And you can’t count out a medal here and there in different skiing events and a figure skating medal or two.
206 athletes will represent Canada at the Olympic Games this year and many will set personal best times and experience a magic and excitement that will never be equalled.
Some will leave Vancouver with bruises, not only on their bodies but on their egos.
And others will bask in the glory of hearing the Canadian National Anthem pumped from the speakers of their respective venue for the world to hear.
It’s time for Canada to take the next step.
It’s time for Canada to be a force to be reckoned with.
And there is no better time to do it, than within our own borders.
Thursday, January 28, 2010
Jan 29 - Post Surgery
You don’t know what you’ve got till it’s gone.
They say it and it’s true.
I went into surgery last Thursday expecting a minor bump in the road, and by the next week I’d be moving around like nothing happened.
Ya…not so much.
It’s Friday now and I’m able to put a sock on my right foot, put very little weight on it and hop up and down the stairs.
Earlier this week, I experienced life as I never want to again…without mobility.
I was not able to put pressure on my foot for 5 days and thus I was stricken to crutches for my regular movement.
It took me about 5 minutes to get up from the couch and hobble my way to the bathroom and back…or to move from the living room to the bedroom.
I could not climb stairs and I was not able to go outside for 4 days.
It’s pretty unreal how you have to adjust life when you have any kind of injury, your whole world changes.
After having surgery on this part of the anatomy, I would have to say there may be no more crippling injury than one done to the foot.
Try it, even for an hour or two…try not being able to walk on your right foot, hoping around and holding your foot off the ground or at a 90 degree angle at the knee.
I challenge you to be able to go about your regular routine with that deprivation.
I’m not looking for sympathy here, I’m just sharing my experience and offering my sincere worship for people that are stuck with these wooden assistants for a much longer time than I am – because I could not do it.
I got used to moving around slowly but surely and all the bandage changes and sporadic shooting pain became tolerable.
But, I’ve always been a person that does not like to ask for help, whether it’s the macho testosterone gene or a belief that other people couldn’t do it as well as me, it’s hard for me to put faith in other people’s assistance.
This past week though, I have depended on it.
Craig has given me rides into work every day this week, Kim has driven me to the mall, my Mom and Dad – God bless them – have done everything from making lunch for me to getting me glasses of water at my request to changing my bandages daily.
Some people would revel in this lifestyle – ask and you receive – but I not only felt guilty and embarrassed by having to ask for these things, I also felt useless and frustrated.
On Thursday morning when I was able to put a sock on my foot for the first time I was immediately thrilled to achieve such an accomplishment in my recovery – then became immediately frustrated, realizing I was celebrating PUTTING ON A SOCK!
I understand after any procedure, there is a period of recovery…and I’ll be the first to admit I am not as active as I should be…but I didn’t lose the ability to go for a morning jog – I lost the ability to walk from a bedroom into a living room without an aid.
And there may be no more abnormal feeling than when you put your foot on the ground for the first time in 4 or 5 days and have literally forgotten how to walk on it.
Not in the sense of one foot in front of the other, but in having enough faith and confidence that if you begin to step and land properly on that foot that it won’t buckle underneath you and send you falling without a net onto the ground.
So I need to thank all the men and women at Windsor Regional, Bayshore Home Health, my parents, Kim, Craig, Maureen, Dr. Adams and many others for there help…everything from surgery to bringing me another glass of milk or making sure I don’t do a faceplant while walking up the stairs.
It is an experience I will not forget, an experience that now doesn’t seem worth it, and one I would never want to go through again.
They say it and it’s true.
I went into surgery last Thursday expecting a minor bump in the road, and by the next week I’d be moving around like nothing happened.
Ya…not so much.
It’s Friday now and I’m able to put a sock on my right foot, put very little weight on it and hop up and down the stairs.
Earlier this week, I experienced life as I never want to again…without mobility.
I was not able to put pressure on my foot for 5 days and thus I was stricken to crutches for my regular movement.
It took me about 5 minutes to get up from the couch and hobble my way to the bathroom and back…or to move from the living room to the bedroom.
I could not climb stairs and I was not able to go outside for 4 days.
It’s pretty unreal how you have to adjust life when you have any kind of injury, your whole world changes.
After having surgery on this part of the anatomy, I would have to say there may be no more crippling injury than one done to the foot.
Try it, even for an hour or two…try not being able to walk on your right foot, hoping around and holding your foot off the ground or at a 90 degree angle at the knee.
I challenge you to be able to go about your regular routine with that deprivation.
I’m not looking for sympathy here, I’m just sharing my experience and offering my sincere worship for people that are stuck with these wooden assistants for a much longer time than I am – because I could not do it.
I got used to moving around slowly but surely and all the bandage changes and sporadic shooting pain became tolerable.
But, I’ve always been a person that does not like to ask for help, whether it’s the macho testosterone gene or a belief that other people couldn’t do it as well as me, it’s hard for me to put faith in other people’s assistance.
This past week though, I have depended on it.
Craig has given me rides into work every day this week, Kim has driven me to the mall, my Mom and Dad – God bless them – have done everything from making lunch for me to getting me glasses of water at my request to changing my bandages daily.
Some people would revel in this lifestyle – ask and you receive – but I not only felt guilty and embarrassed by having to ask for these things, I also felt useless and frustrated.
On Thursday morning when I was able to put a sock on my foot for the first time I was immediately thrilled to achieve such an accomplishment in my recovery – then became immediately frustrated, realizing I was celebrating PUTTING ON A SOCK!
I understand after any procedure, there is a period of recovery…and I’ll be the first to admit I am not as active as I should be…but I didn’t lose the ability to go for a morning jog – I lost the ability to walk from a bedroom into a living room without an aid.
And there may be no more abnormal feeling than when you put your foot on the ground for the first time in 4 or 5 days and have literally forgotten how to walk on it.
Not in the sense of one foot in front of the other, but in having enough faith and confidence that if you begin to step and land properly on that foot that it won’t buckle underneath you and send you falling without a net onto the ground.
So I need to thank all the men and women at Windsor Regional, Bayshore Home Health, my parents, Kim, Craig, Maureen, Dr. Adams and many others for there help…everything from surgery to bringing me another glass of milk or making sure I don’t do a faceplant while walking up the stairs.
It is an experience I will not forget, an experience that now doesn’t seem worth it, and one I would never want to go through again.
Thursday, January 7, 2010
Jan 8
All my best wishes have been passed along to Windsor-Essex and Chatham-Kent for a promising 2010 and that we will soon blossom once again.
But there’s another city that I would hope to see recover just as much - the city of Detroit.
I have a special place in my heart for the Motor City because I’ve lived so close to it for the majority of my life.
It is where I go for, quite honestly, 90 percent of my entertainment – from concerts, sporting events, shopping and travel.
I also understand in large part, as Detroit goes – Windsor and Chatham go and as much as we’d like to deny it, their success will only help with our success.
Over the holiday break, when I heard the story about the attempted terrorist attack on the airplane from Amsterdam, I wasn’t as upset to hear about the attack as I was to hear that it would have happened in Detroit.
I was left thinking to myself “is there any other bad things that can happen to this city?”
I just read the murder rate has gone up and driving through the streets anywhere outside of Woodward Avenue and you see nothing but abandoned buildings, burned-out cars and people looking for shelter and their next meal.
It also doesn`t help their city council is as corrupt as their city is empty.
But, there is no doubt we will need help from our American friends if we want to see things turn around in our region…so as you continue to hope for good things for our city, don`t forget to look across the border and extend the same wishes…it can only benefit us.
But there’s another city that I would hope to see recover just as much - the city of Detroit.
I have a special place in my heart for the Motor City because I’ve lived so close to it for the majority of my life.
It is where I go for, quite honestly, 90 percent of my entertainment – from concerts, sporting events, shopping and travel.
I also understand in large part, as Detroit goes – Windsor and Chatham go and as much as we’d like to deny it, their success will only help with our success.
Over the holiday break, when I heard the story about the attempted terrorist attack on the airplane from Amsterdam, I wasn’t as upset to hear about the attack as I was to hear that it would have happened in Detroit.
I was left thinking to myself “is there any other bad things that can happen to this city?”
I just read the murder rate has gone up and driving through the streets anywhere outside of Woodward Avenue and you see nothing but abandoned buildings, burned-out cars and people looking for shelter and their next meal.
It also doesn`t help their city council is as corrupt as their city is empty.
But, there is no doubt we will need help from our American friends if we want to see things turn around in our region…so as you continue to hope for good things for our city, don`t forget to look across the border and extend the same wishes…it can only benefit us.
Thursday, December 17, 2009
Chris Henry 1983-2009
The NFL has lost one of it’s more conflicted stars.
Cincinnati Bengals troubled wide-reciever, Chris Henry died yesterday, a day after falling out of the back of a pick-up truck and hitting his head.
He was 26.
Henry’s brief time in the NFL is the prime example of how things can go horribly wrong for someone with so much promise and praise.
He was one of the best players in the history of the West Virginia football program and was drafted by the Bengals in the third-round in 2005 and came to the team with much fanfare – and baggage.
In his rookie year he caught 31 passes for 422 yards and 6 touchdowns and the following year dodged the sophmore slump by making 36 catches for 605 yards and 9 touchdowns.
But as good as Henry was at escaping defenders – he could never run away from the law.
Henry’s wrap-sheet includes drunk-driving offense, gun charges, marijuana possession, assault and criminal damaging.
From 2006-2008, he was suspended for 14 games total for violating a number of NFL conduct policies and had been deemed, along with “Pacman” Jones, to be the biggest troublemaker in the league.
He was released by the Bengals in April of 2008 while serving 7 months house arrest for throwing a beer bottle through the window of a man’s car who he believed owed him money...but it was the wrong guy.
He was re-signed not long after that by Cincinnati because of a number of injuries to their wide reciever core, and because of a promise that Henry had cleaned up his act...and he had.
He was a father to three kids and wanted to get his life back on track and continue his life in football.
But it was short-lived.
In November of this year he was placed on injured reserve because of a broken forearm – and never played again.
In a weird twist of irony, it was nothing to do with his criminal record that got him killed, it was an injury he incurred on the football field, while trying to prove to doubters around the NFL that he was a changed man.
If he was not injured that day, he would have been in Cincinnati, practicing with his team and preparing for a game against San Diego – a game in which, if they won, they would be crowned division champs.
Instead he was in Charlotte, North Carolina where it appears he got into an argument with his fiancee who got into a pickup truck and drove away...Henry chased after her, jumped into the back of the truck, but fell and never recovered.
Was Chris Henry a bad guy? I don’t know. Was he someone I would want on my football team? Probably not. Am I mad when I see athletes with all the talent in the world, flush it all away for whatever reason? Definately. If I had half his talent, I’d have a pretty good NFL career under my belt when it was all said and done.
But watching the reaction of players around the Cincinnati locker room, you can’t help but feel bad for the guy.
Chris Henry was 26 and still had probably a half-decade left in the NFL before his death.
But instead it’s just a sad ending to a life that suffered more hits off the field than on it.
Cincinnati Bengals troubled wide-reciever, Chris Henry died yesterday, a day after falling out of the back of a pick-up truck and hitting his head.
He was 26.
Henry’s brief time in the NFL is the prime example of how things can go horribly wrong for someone with so much promise and praise.
He was one of the best players in the history of the West Virginia football program and was drafted by the Bengals in the third-round in 2005 and came to the team with much fanfare – and baggage.
In his rookie year he caught 31 passes for 422 yards and 6 touchdowns and the following year dodged the sophmore slump by making 36 catches for 605 yards and 9 touchdowns.
But as good as Henry was at escaping defenders – he could never run away from the law.
Henry’s wrap-sheet includes drunk-driving offense, gun charges, marijuana possession, assault and criminal damaging.
From 2006-2008, he was suspended for 14 games total for violating a number of NFL conduct policies and had been deemed, along with “Pacman” Jones, to be the biggest troublemaker in the league.
He was released by the Bengals in April of 2008 while serving 7 months house arrest for throwing a beer bottle through the window of a man’s car who he believed owed him money...but it was the wrong guy.
He was re-signed not long after that by Cincinnati because of a number of injuries to their wide reciever core, and because of a promise that Henry had cleaned up his act...and he had.
He was a father to three kids and wanted to get his life back on track and continue his life in football.
But it was short-lived.
In November of this year he was placed on injured reserve because of a broken forearm – and never played again.
In a weird twist of irony, it was nothing to do with his criminal record that got him killed, it was an injury he incurred on the football field, while trying to prove to doubters around the NFL that he was a changed man.
If he was not injured that day, he would have been in Cincinnati, practicing with his team and preparing for a game against San Diego – a game in which, if they won, they would be crowned division champs.
Instead he was in Charlotte, North Carolina where it appears he got into an argument with his fiancee who got into a pickup truck and drove away...Henry chased after her, jumped into the back of the truck, but fell and never recovered.
Was Chris Henry a bad guy? I don’t know. Was he someone I would want on my football team? Probably not. Am I mad when I see athletes with all the talent in the world, flush it all away for whatever reason? Definately. If I had half his talent, I’d have a pretty good NFL career under my belt when it was all said and done.
But watching the reaction of players around the Cincinnati locker room, you can’t help but feel bad for the guy.
Chris Henry was 26 and still had probably a half-decade left in the NFL before his death.
But instead it’s just a sad ending to a life that suffered more hits off the field than on it.
Thursday, December 3, 2009
Dec 3
There are a lot of people who have won and lost in the Tiger Woods scandal…so for those of you scoring at home…here is how I see the fallout…and how everyone is affected.
Losers:
1 – Elin Woods…of course, finding out that her husband is an alleged cheater and for having the spotlight shone on her private life for nothing of her own doing. Ask 20 women if they found out their husband was cheating if they would chase him down with a golf club and 18 of them would say yes…the other two would use something with a sharper edge. She now has to either decide to be a forgiving wife or reach for the pockets of her famous husband and hold on tight. Either way her world has been rocked, she’s been embarrassed and her ego has been shot.
2 – Tiger Woods…and I don’t mean the 50 million dollars a year he will probably end up losing…I mean the fact that he will never be able to go to his sanctuary of golf to work or relax. The course is the only thing he has known in his life and from now on he will not be questioned about the 67 he shot at Pebble Beach…it’ll be about the cart-girls waiting in the clubhouse.
3 – Yapster Parnevik…excuse me Jesper…who the hell are you...you want to know the sad, pathetic thing about your live Jesper – the most famous thing you’ve ever done is introduce Tiger to Elin…and I don’t think ol’ Jesper tapping Tiger on the shoulder and saying “hey best buddy, I know a great girl you’ve got to meet”…more like him sheepishly wandering up to Tiger…correcting Woods when Tiger orders Jesper to get him another box of tees and saying “that girl over there likes you”…guess how many PGA Tour wins he has – 5…the best showing he’s had in a Major…tied for 2nd in 1994 and 1997…maybe you should keep your mouth shut spend more time in the driving range than looking for your 5 minutes of fame, reminding people that you still exist…you’ve chastised the most powerful man in your sport…smart move…don’t wait by the mailbox for all your Tour invitations…not to mention the obvious Man-Code violations…you can make an argument that out of this whole dilemma – HE looks the worst.
4 – General Public…we have hung on the edge of our seat for a week now, wondering what will happen next …and don’t lie…hoping it gets worse…again another sad example of how our lives are so dull and boring that we get a rise in our pants when someone we’ve never met…who could literally buy us…goes through drama…we sit back, laugh, pop a bag of popcorn and hope the carnage never ends…cause there’s nothing in our own lives to look forward to.
And now the winners:
1 – The PGA…you can’t buy this kind of press…yes it’s negative and yes it’s about your star player…but tell me there’s a person in the world who will stop playing golf because Tiger cheated on his wife…this is one of the few quiet times in the PGA Tour…but it’s been the biggest topic of conversation for a week…there’s drama in the PGA now…it’s not your grandfather’s league anymore…the biggest name in your league is no better than Michael Jordan or Babe Ruth…the squeaky clean/boring image of the PGA is gone…and it’s the best thing that could happen to the sport.
2 – Phil Mickelson…what does Phil have to do with this...well, arguably the most hated golfer on the Tour now looks like a saint…Phil has dropped out of tournaments recently to support his wife Amy who has been very sick…he’s been by her side and bypassed a few paychecks to do so…he was immediately punished with the rivalry tag when him and Tiger became 1 and 2…thus making him the bad guy…now the bad guy doesn’t look so bad…Phil has replaced Tiger by being the gentleman of a gentlemen’s game…by being everything Tiger hasn’t been at home.
3 – Tiger’s Girls… they get their 20 minutes of fame and they can always walk around their tables at the MGM Grand or in Times Square and say “I’m the girl that ruined Tiger Woods marriage”…and who knows…maybe they will get a cameo or Playboy spread here and there…and let’s be honest…these women weren’t looking for love anyways…they wanted money, attention and to be in the headlines…and they got their wish.
4 – Tiger Woods… I know, you’re thinking …how is Tiger Woods coming out of this…well…the one thing he’s now shaken from his persona is his image…he is no longer the Golden Boy who has returned to Earth 3 days after he was crucified…he’s a human…he makes mistakes…and not just misreading a putt…he will no longer be looked at as the person every male on the planet should emulate…he’s just another athlete who’s cheated on his wife…and Tiger is undoubtedly thrilled that label is a thing of the past.
The Tiger Woods saga will never end, if Tiger spoke up or not. But life will move on for Tiger…and when he’s 85…he will still be filthy rich and remembered as the greatest golfer of our time…even if he won’t be winning Husband of the Year anytime soon.
Losers:
1 – Elin Woods…of course, finding out that her husband is an alleged cheater and for having the spotlight shone on her private life for nothing of her own doing. Ask 20 women if they found out their husband was cheating if they would chase him down with a golf club and 18 of them would say yes…the other two would use something with a sharper edge. She now has to either decide to be a forgiving wife or reach for the pockets of her famous husband and hold on tight. Either way her world has been rocked, she’s been embarrassed and her ego has been shot.
2 – Tiger Woods…and I don’t mean the 50 million dollars a year he will probably end up losing…I mean the fact that he will never be able to go to his sanctuary of golf to work or relax. The course is the only thing he has known in his life and from now on he will not be questioned about the 67 he shot at Pebble Beach…it’ll be about the cart-girls waiting in the clubhouse.
3 – Yapster Parnevik…excuse me Jesper…who the hell are you...you want to know the sad, pathetic thing about your live Jesper – the most famous thing you’ve ever done is introduce Tiger to Elin…and I don’t think ol’ Jesper tapping Tiger on the shoulder and saying “hey best buddy, I know a great girl you’ve got to meet”…more like him sheepishly wandering up to Tiger…correcting Woods when Tiger orders Jesper to get him another box of tees and saying “that girl over there likes you”…guess how many PGA Tour wins he has – 5…the best showing he’s had in a Major…tied for 2nd in 1994 and 1997…maybe you should keep your mouth shut spend more time in the driving range than looking for your 5 minutes of fame, reminding people that you still exist…you’ve chastised the most powerful man in your sport…smart move…don’t wait by the mailbox for all your Tour invitations…not to mention the obvious Man-Code violations…you can make an argument that out of this whole dilemma – HE looks the worst.
4 – General Public…we have hung on the edge of our seat for a week now, wondering what will happen next …and don’t lie…hoping it gets worse…again another sad example of how our lives are so dull and boring that we get a rise in our pants when someone we’ve never met…who could literally buy us…goes through drama…we sit back, laugh, pop a bag of popcorn and hope the carnage never ends…cause there’s nothing in our own lives to look forward to.
And now the winners:
1 – The PGA…you can’t buy this kind of press…yes it’s negative and yes it’s about your star player…but tell me there’s a person in the world who will stop playing golf because Tiger cheated on his wife…this is one of the few quiet times in the PGA Tour…but it’s been the biggest topic of conversation for a week…there’s drama in the PGA now…it’s not your grandfather’s league anymore…the biggest name in your league is no better than Michael Jordan or Babe Ruth…the squeaky clean/boring image of the PGA is gone…and it’s the best thing that could happen to the sport.
2 – Phil Mickelson…what does Phil have to do with this...well, arguably the most hated golfer on the Tour now looks like a saint…Phil has dropped out of tournaments recently to support his wife Amy who has been very sick…he’s been by her side and bypassed a few paychecks to do so…he was immediately punished with the rivalry tag when him and Tiger became 1 and 2…thus making him the bad guy…now the bad guy doesn’t look so bad…Phil has replaced Tiger by being the gentleman of a gentlemen’s game…by being everything Tiger hasn’t been at home.
3 – Tiger’s Girls… they get their 20 minutes of fame and they can always walk around their tables at the MGM Grand or in Times Square and say “I’m the girl that ruined Tiger Woods marriage”…and who knows…maybe they will get a cameo or Playboy spread here and there…and let’s be honest…these women weren’t looking for love anyways…they wanted money, attention and to be in the headlines…and they got their wish.
4 – Tiger Woods… I know, you’re thinking …how is Tiger Woods coming out of this…well…the one thing he’s now shaken from his persona is his image…he is no longer the Golden Boy who has returned to Earth 3 days after he was crucified…he’s a human…he makes mistakes…and not just misreading a putt…he will no longer be looked at as the person every male on the planet should emulate…he’s just another athlete who’s cheated on his wife…and Tiger is undoubtedly thrilled that label is a thing of the past.
The Tiger Woods saga will never end, if Tiger spoke up or not. But life will move on for Tiger…and when he’s 85…he will still be filthy rich and remembered as the greatest golfer of our time…even if he won’t be winning Husband of the Year anytime soon.
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