Here it is, my ranking best to worst of every new movie I saw this year.
Inception
The Social Network
Secretariat
Inside Job
True Grit
Joan Rivers - A Piece of Work
Fair Game
The Kids Are All Right
Black Swan
The Fighter
The Secret In Their Eyes
Salt
Shutter Island
Waiting for Superman
Easy A
Burlesque
Unstoppable
Date Night
Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps
The Town
Get Low
The Next Three Days
Crazy Heart
Ghost Writer
Dinner for Schmucks
127 Hours
She's Out of My League
Exit Through the Gift Shop
The Expendables
Sherlock Holmes
The Other Guys
Book of Eli
Edge of Darkness
The American
Knight & Day
Hot Tub Time Machine
Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call New Orleans
The 2010 Ozzie's....
Best Picture: Inception
Best Actor: Jeff Bridges, True Grit
Best Actress: Annette Bening, The Kids Are All Right
Best Supporting Actress: Mila Kunis, Black Swan
Best Supporting Actor: Christian Bale, The Fighter
Best Screeplay: Christopher Nolan, Inception
Best Director: Christopher Nolan, Inception
Movies I haven't seen yet that might have been high:
Blue Valentine
The King's Speech
Toy Story 3
Restrepo
Rabbit Hole
The Tillman Story
Casino Jack
Friday, December 31, 2010
Thursday, December 30, 2010
At The Cinema - December 2010
Fair Game – 9
You’ll like this movie if you like:
a. Naomi Watts
b. Historical drama
c. Sean Penn chewing scenery.
This is a terrific movie that opens the old wounds of the Valerie Plame affair.
When history documents the questionable moments of the George Bush Presidency, Scooter Libby’s outing of CIA agent Plame for revenge against her husband, Iraq-war-critic Joe Wilson will surely rank as one of the worst.
Sit back and absorb most of what we didn’t know.
For example, I pictured Plame as a paper pusher at the CIA, not a real, active agent. I couldn’t have been more wrong. She was involved in many covert operations of some importance, all of which blew up upon the outing, resulting in loss of life. Some of the most fascinating parts of the movie reveal the inner workings of the CIA, as well as its role in the build up to the Iraq war.
Naomi Watts has some great scenes and continues to show why she’s one of the best actresses working today. This is an important movie, entertaining, and like so many docudramas today, a little infuriating.
True Grit – 9
You’ll like this movie if you like:
a. Great Dialogue
b. The Coen Brothers
c. Jeff Bridges
This movie has a cadence to its dialogue that elevates it to a level of wonder. It is so rhapsodic in its writing I think it would have made a great radio serial. Someday I hope to test my theory by just listening to it. I remember how people would talk about listening to the old radio shows and having to imagine the visuals. While the visuals are terrific here as well, it’s the rarest of movies where the audio stands on its own.
Jeff Bridges takes on the role of Rooster Cogburn, a marshal for hire. John Wayne won his only Oscar in the 1969 version, which bears little resemblance to this film, largely because movie-making has advanced a long way in 40 years. Not only is Bridges better than Wayne, I think he’s better than he was in his Oscar-winning role last year in Crazy Heart.
The 1969 version was essentially a vehicle. It was a way to get budding music superstar Glen Campbell into a movie, and give Wayne a showy role. Acting next to Campbell would have made any actor look great, and Wayne extended the tradition (later example – Paul Newman) of giving a career-Oscar for a body of work.
The 2010 acting is terrific, as Matt Damon, Josh Brolin, Barry Pepper, and Hailee Steinfeld are every bit the match for Bridges.
Thank-you to the Coen brothers. As much as I liked No Country for Old Men, this one reminds me more of Fargo in its originality, stunning violence, and the way it transports you to a magical place and time – the fun, fun, fun wild, wild west.
The Fighter – 9
You’ll like this movie if you like:
a. Boxing
b. Christian Bale
c. Mark Wahlberg
In the clearing stands another boxing movie. I have always wanted to see a boxing movie where the boxing is realistic. The best thing I can say here is that they got close. They have the obligatory glove-to-face slow motion, blood and sweat-spraying shots. They have the boxers whaling on each other with no defense. All close but no cigar, in this story of Micky Ward, a Massachusetts boxer known for his participation in some historic fights.
The story here isn’t really about boxing anyway. It’s about a dysfunctional family of 2 half-brothers, a gaggle of sisters, and a domineering mother who is trying to keep the family meal ticket in the ring. Dysfunctional doesn’t begin to describe this crew. You know a movie is working when you want to reach onto the screen and choke the characters.
Christian Bale will certain pick up some award hardware as the crack-addicted half-brother Dicky Ecklund. It’s a harrowing portrayal and a showy role. Likewise, Melissa Leo shines as the mother. Once again Mark Wahlberg will get overlooked for his work, but make no mistake, besides having put this project together, he is the glue that holds the movie together. Amy Adams steps out of her dainty-shoes as Micky's tough, bartender girlfriend.
The movie doesn’t cover this, but to get a flavor of the real Micky Ward, check out his fight with the late Arturo Gatti. The 9th round of their 1st fight is considered one of the greatest of all time. Try this:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AZP-IfSZxl0
Black Swan – 9
You’ll like this movie if you like:
a. Oscar worthy performances
b. To talk about a movie a lot
c. Trying to figure out what’s real
There’s a movie equivalent to literary license. I call it cinematic license, and it occurs in a movie when the director begins to represent things that may or may not be happening.
In The Black Swan it happens when Natalie Portman’s character Nina begins to descend into madness as she tries to bring the required split personality to her lead role in Swan Lake. Apparently, and I would never have known this before this movie, the White Swan becomes the Black Swan in that ballet.
I love it when movies take you somewhere you’ve never been before, and as you can tell, I didn’t know anything about ballet, except what I saw in The Turning Point many years ago. Director Darren Aronofsky, as he did with The Wrestler, takes us into another world that seems to be rife with self-abuse. The movie could have just focused on the sacrifices that artists like this make and it would have been fascinating.
Nina has a just a few problems that slowly reveal themselves. She lives at home with her mother, played by Barbara Hershey, an artist who is a nightmare of a stage mother. Nina is sexually repressed, self-mutilating, sexually confused, self-destructive, neurotic, paranoid, tortured, tormented, jealous – and that’s before she lands her dream role. This is a graphic thriller where you may want to avert your eyes a few times. Who knew ballet could be so bloody and brutal?
Mila Kunis plays Nina’s potential rival and eventual seducer Lily and she’s always been a wonderful actress, but here she kicks it up a notch and sets herself up for even greater things to come.
However, it is Natalie Portman who blows up the screen here. She’s in almost every scene and carries the movie on her back. It only works because she’s so great in conveying the exquisite pain she is going through. I was a little sad because I thought this would finally be the year Annette Bening gets her Oscar, but this is the kind of performance that brings awards in droves.
Here's the bad news, the previews show her getting started on her post-Oscar swoon by starring in an upcoming movie with Ashton Kutcher. In my dream world, Katherine Heigl and Ashton Kutcher would be sentenced to starring together forever in useless movies that no one sees. Say it ain't so, Natalie.
Burlesque – 8
You’ll like this movie if you like
a. Glitz and glamour
b. Christina Aguilera
c. Musicals
My favorite part of movies like this is the “star is born” moment. In this one it’s when Christina’s lip-sync soundtrack is cut off and she gets to belt out a song. Gotta love it.
This is the story of Iowa girl Ali (Aguilera) who lands in a Los Angeles Burlesque club. No, I didn’t know they had them anymore either. But, it will be up to Ali to eventually save the club from foreclosure. Can she do it?
What’s cool about this movie is it’s purely original. It didn’t get a test run on Broadway, and it wasn’t a previous production. Sure, it’s 42nd Street all over, but who remembers that movie? One gets the feeling that if Busby Berkeley were alive today, this is what he’d be doing. This is singing and dancing done in 2010 style. Cher, whom I’ve never considered a serious actress, does a pretty good job here portraying one of the most obstinate characters ever, club owner Tess who doesn’t plan on losing her club through sheer will, but no plan. She belts out a couple of songs, including what may become a signature anthem that attests to her longevity.
But it’s Christina Aguilera who carries the movie, and she’s up to the task. She’s cute, believable, and has the pipes to become the star of the club. If you like musicals, this one’s worth your time. That girl can sing!
127 Hours – 7
You’ll like this movie if you’re
a. An adventurer
b. Of strong stomach
c. A fan of Director Danny Boyle.
Danny Boyle, the director of Slumdog Millionaire makes a movie that couldn’t be more unlike that one. This is a graphic recounting of real life explorer Aron Ralston who gets trapped in a canyon and has to amputate his right arm to get free.
This movie tells the story of the entire ordeal in bloody detail and complete with hallucinations. It’s well done, riveting, but ultimately not as engaging as one would think.
SATELLITE SCANNING - picking up movies I missed in the theater, or TV Movies
Temple Grandin – 10
You’ll like this movie if you like:
a. movies
This is one of those movies that remind me why I love movies. It is the story of an autistic woman, Temple Grandin, and how she attains great success in animal husbandry, after many struggles. This inspirational movie won an Emmy for Best TV Movie and Claire Danes won as Best actress as the title character. The movie won five other Emmys so, although I had no idea what it was about I figured I would check it out. It was a thrill to have done so. Don’t miss it. It’s on HBO.
Edge of Darkness – 6
You’ll like this movie if you like:
a. revenge movies
b. Mel Gibson
c. Government conspiracies
While the conspiracy is farfetched and Mel’s rage is a little too close to his alleged real life demons for comfort, this is riveting in a Charles Bronson kind of way. Mel, as Boston police detective Thomas Craven goes about investigating the brutal shooting of his daughter. That assassination scene is a blockbuster. At first it’s believed Mel was the target of this murder when it takes place on his front porch. As Mel investigates he realizes his daughter was involved in something way beyond an internship as a defense contractor. Mel has a lot of figuring out and paying back to do, and it’s all done very realistically. If you liked Death Wish, you’ll like this.
The Book of Eli – 6
You’ll like this movie if you like:
a. post apocalyptic movies
b. Denzil Washington
c. Mila Kunis
This is the story of the man who walks across country for 30 years carrying the last remaining King James Bible after the apocalypse. It is his hope to save civilization
In case you haven’t figured this out, after the bomb wipes most of us out, it will be bleak and dreary, and we’ll be walking a lot. If you’ve got something other people want, you’re going to be in a lot of fights. If you’re lucky, you’ll pick up Mila Kunis for company. If you have a decent script, they’ll be some nice twists and turns.
But, let’s hope it doesn’t come to that.
You’ll like this movie if you like:
a. Naomi Watts
b. Historical drama
c. Sean Penn chewing scenery.
This is a terrific movie that opens the old wounds of the Valerie Plame affair.
When history documents the questionable moments of the George Bush Presidency, Scooter Libby’s outing of CIA agent Plame for revenge against her husband, Iraq-war-critic Joe Wilson will surely rank as one of the worst.
Sit back and absorb most of what we didn’t know.
For example, I pictured Plame as a paper pusher at the CIA, not a real, active agent. I couldn’t have been more wrong. She was involved in many covert operations of some importance, all of which blew up upon the outing, resulting in loss of life. Some of the most fascinating parts of the movie reveal the inner workings of the CIA, as well as its role in the build up to the Iraq war.
Naomi Watts has some great scenes and continues to show why she’s one of the best actresses working today. This is an important movie, entertaining, and like so many docudramas today, a little infuriating.
True Grit – 9
You’ll like this movie if you like:
a. Great Dialogue
b. The Coen Brothers
c. Jeff Bridges
This movie has a cadence to its dialogue that elevates it to a level of wonder. It is so rhapsodic in its writing I think it would have made a great radio serial. Someday I hope to test my theory by just listening to it. I remember how people would talk about listening to the old radio shows and having to imagine the visuals. While the visuals are terrific here as well, it’s the rarest of movies where the audio stands on its own.
Jeff Bridges takes on the role of Rooster Cogburn, a marshal for hire. John Wayne won his only Oscar in the 1969 version, which bears little resemblance to this film, largely because movie-making has advanced a long way in 40 years. Not only is Bridges better than Wayne, I think he’s better than he was in his Oscar-winning role last year in Crazy Heart.
The 1969 version was essentially a vehicle. It was a way to get budding music superstar Glen Campbell into a movie, and give Wayne a showy role. Acting next to Campbell would have made any actor look great, and Wayne extended the tradition (later example – Paul Newman) of giving a career-Oscar for a body of work.
The 2010 acting is terrific, as Matt Damon, Josh Brolin, Barry Pepper, and Hailee Steinfeld are every bit the match for Bridges.
Thank-you to the Coen brothers. As much as I liked No Country for Old Men, this one reminds me more of Fargo in its originality, stunning violence, and the way it transports you to a magical place and time – the fun, fun, fun wild, wild west.
The Fighter – 9
You’ll like this movie if you like:
a. Boxing
b. Christian Bale
c. Mark Wahlberg
In the clearing stands another boxing movie. I have always wanted to see a boxing movie where the boxing is realistic. The best thing I can say here is that they got close. They have the obligatory glove-to-face slow motion, blood and sweat-spraying shots. They have the boxers whaling on each other with no defense. All close but no cigar, in this story of Micky Ward, a Massachusetts boxer known for his participation in some historic fights.
The story here isn’t really about boxing anyway. It’s about a dysfunctional family of 2 half-brothers, a gaggle of sisters, and a domineering mother who is trying to keep the family meal ticket in the ring. Dysfunctional doesn’t begin to describe this crew. You know a movie is working when you want to reach onto the screen and choke the characters.
Christian Bale will certain pick up some award hardware as the crack-addicted half-brother Dicky Ecklund. It’s a harrowing portrayal and a showy role. Likewise, Melissa Leo shines as the mother. Once again Mark Wahlberg will get overlooked for his work, but make no mistake, besides having put this project together, he is the glue that holds the movie together. Amy Adams steps out of her dainty-shoes as Micky's tough, bartender girlfriend.
The movie doesn’t cover this, but to get a flavor of the real Micky Ward, check out his fight with the late Arturo Gatti. The 9th round of their 1st fight is considered one of the greatest of all time. Try this:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AZP-IfSZxl0
Black Swan – 9
You’ll like this movie if you like:
a. Oscar worthy performances
b. To talk about a movie a lot
c. Trying to figure out what’s real
There’s a movie equivalent to literary license. I call it cinematic license, and it occurs in a movie when the director begins to represent things that may or may not be happening.
In The Black Swan it happens when Natalie Portman’s character Nina begins to descend into madness as she tries to bring the required split personality to her lead role in Swan Lake. Apparently, and I would never have known this before this movie, the White Swan becomes the Black Swan in that ballet.
I love it when movies take you somewhere you’ve never been before, and as you can tell, I didn’t know anything about ballet, except what I saw in The Turning Point many years ago. Director Darren Aronofsky, as he did with The Wrestler, takes us into another world that seems to be rife with self-abuse. The movie could have just focused on the sacrifices that artists like this make and it would have been fascinating.
Nina has a just a few problems that slowly reveal themselves. She lives at home with her mother, played by Barbara Hershey, an artist who is a nightmare of a stage mother. Nina is sexually repressed, self-mutilating, sexually confused, self-destructive, neurotic, paranoid, tortured, tormented, jealous – and that’s before she lands her dream role. This is a graphic thriller where you may want to avert your eyes a few times. Who knew ballet could be so bloody and brutal?
Mila Kunis plays Nina’s potential rival and eventual seducer Lily and she’s always been a wonderful actress, but here she kicks it up a notch and sets herself up for even greater things to come.
However, it is Natalie Portman who blows up the screen here. She’s in almost every scene and carries the movie on her back. It only works because she’s so great in conveying the exquisite pain she is going through. I was a little sad because I thought this would finally be the year Annette Bening gets her Oscar, but this is the kind of performance that brings awards in droves.
Here's the bad news, the previews show her getting started on her post-Oscar swoon by starring in an upcoming movie with Ashton Kutcher. In my dream world, Katherine Heigl and Ashton Kutcher would be sentenced to starring together forever in useless movies that no one sees. Say it ain't so, Natalie.
Burlesque – 8
You’ll like this movie if you like
a. Glitz and glamour
b. Christina Aguilera
c. Musicals
My favorite part of movies like this is the “star is born” moment. In this one it’s when Christina’s lip-sync soundtrack is cut off and she gets to belt out a song. Gotta love it.
This is the story of Iowa girl Ali (Aguilera) who lands in a Los Angeles Burlesque club. No, I didn’t know they had them anymore either. But, it will be up to Ali to eventually save the club from foreclosure. Can she do it?
What’s cool about this movie is it’s purely original. It didn’t get a test run on Broadway, and it wasn’t a previous production. Sure, it’s 42nd Street all over, but who remembers that movie? One gets the feeling that if Busby Berkeley were alive today, this is what he’d be doing. This is singing and dancing done in 2010 style. Cher, whom I’ve never considered a serious actress, does a pretty good job here portraying one of the most obstinate characters ever, club owner Tess who doesn’t plan on losing her club through sheer will, but no plan. She belts out a couple of songs, including what may become a signature anthem that attests to her longevity.
But it’s Christina Aguilera who carries the movie, and she’s up to the task. She’s cute, believable, and has the pipes to become the star of the club. If you like musicals, this one’s worth your time. That girl can sing!
127 Hours – 7
You’ll like this movie if you’re
a. An adventurer
b. Of strong stomach
c. A fan of Director Danny Boyle.
Danny Boyle, the director of Slumdog Millionaire makes a movie that couldn’t be more unlike that one. This is a graphic recounting of real life explorer Aron Ralston who gets trapped in a canyon and has to amputate his right arm to get free.
This movie tells the story of the entire ordeal in bloody detail and complete with hallucinations. It’s well done, riveting, but ultimately not as engaging as one would think.
SATELLITE SCANNING - picking up movies I missed in the theater, or TV Movies
Temple Grandin – 10
You’ll like this movie if you like:
a. movies
This is one of those movies that remind me why I love movies. It is the story of an autistic woman, Temple Grandin, and how she attains great success in animal husbandry, after many struggles. This inspirational movie won an Emmy for Best TV Movie and Claire Danes won as Best actress as the title character. The movie won five other Emmys so, although I had no idea what it was about I figured I would check it out. It was a thrill to have done so. Don’t miss it. It’s on HBO.
Edge of Darkness – 6
You’ll like this movie if you like:
a. revenge movies
b. Mel Gibson
c. Government conspiracies
While the conspiracy is farfetched and Mel’s rage is a little too close to his alleged real life demons for comfort, this is riveting in a Charles Bronson kind of way. Mel, as Boston police detective Thomas Craven goes about investigating the brutal shooting of his daughter. That assassination scene is a blockbuster. At first it’s believed Mel was the target of this murder when it takes place on his front porch. As Mel investigates he realizes his daughter was involved in something way beyond an internship as a defense contractor. Mel has a lot of figuring out and paying back to do, and it’s all done very realistically. If you liked Death Wish, you’ll like this.
The Book of Eli – 6
You’ll like this movie if you like:
a. post apocalyptic movies
b. Denzil Washington
c. Mila Kunis
This is the story of the man who walks across country for 30 years carrying the last remaining King James Bible after the apocalypse. It is his hope to save civilization
In case you haven’t figured this out, after the bomb wipes most of us out, it will be bleak and dreary, and we’ll be walking a lot. If you’ve got something other people want, you’re going to be in a lot of fights. If you’re lucky, you’ll pick up Mila Kunis for company. If you have a decent script, they’ll be some nice twists and turns.
But, let’s hope it doesn’t come to that.
Tuesday, December 28, 2010
Saints Report # 15 - December 27, 2010
The kitchen sink came flying at Drew Brees Monday night in the Georgia Dome and while it made things interesting, in the end it didn’t matter. He threw it right back. Brees gave one of those resilient performances that only champion quarterbacks can deliver. After throwing two 4th quarter interceptions, one of which was returned for an easy touchdown, Brees led a game winning 90 yard touchdown drive, as well as a game preserving drive to run out the clock in the 17 - 14 victory.
Don’t think that Brees was the only hero. The defense rebounded from taking the week off against Baltimore. They iced Matt Ryan, slowed the running game, and allowed only 7 offensive points. They forced a fumble at the goal line. Unlike last week, the defensive line was up to the challenge of stopping the run, often stuffing it at the line of scrimmage. This was another dominating performance by the swarming Saints defense. The Saints had twice the passing yardage as the Falcons, 302 to 149, and a total yardage advantage of 368 to 215. Falcon star offensive players Roddy White, Michael Turner, and Tony Gonzalez, who had all been unstoppable in the first meeting between these teams, were not factors.
The national media continually stresses that the Saints’ defense is not creating the turnovers they did last year. What they don’t realize is that the Saints’ offense last year was a primary cause. Great offense leads to big margins, which cause the team that is behind to try to play catch up, leading to turnovers. This year the balance of power on the Saints has shifted. The offense has not been as good, but the defense has been better. The games are tighter, and this was typical.
Don’t think the Saints missed Pierre Thomas while he was out? While Brees got all the post-game attention, Thomas was probably the MVP of this one. With over 100 yards running and receiving, Thomas seemed to make a big play whenever it was needed. He made great plays on each touchdown drive and terrific ones in the final drive. He contributed stellar blitz pickup blocks during the kitchen sink phase of the game. When you look at the Falcons defensive game plan of blitzing so much, it was amazing they didn’t wreak more havoc than the two defensive line interceptions. All in all, the Saints offense held their ground and Thomas was a big part of this.
Let me make sure I understand this. Reggie Bush is under contract for $11.3 million next year, and Pierre Thomas is not under contract. Please, Mickey Loomis, don’t let this guy test the market. He’s a rare commodity, a fundamentally sound running back that can run, catch, and block. He hits the right hole, makes tacklers miss, and will even run back kicks effectively. In other words, we want to play with him – not against him.
What’s next? Tampa comes to town and will try to repeat what they did at the last regular season Superdome game last year. They fought back from a 10 point deficit to win. The Saints need to prevent that. If, by the longest of shots, Carolina were to beat Atlanta, with a victory the Saints would rocket up to the top seed in the NFC. It would be nice, but it’s a long shot.
The slight hope for Saints fans is that John Fox, in what will surely be his last game as Carolina coach, will throw everything he’s got at the Falcons. You know, the kitchen sink.
Don’t think that Brees was the only hero. The defense rebounded from taking the week off against Baltimore. They iced Matt Ryan, slowed the running game, and allowed only 7 offensive points. They forced a fumble at the goal line. Unlike last week, the defensive line was up to the challenge of stopping the run, often stuffing it at the line of scrimmage. This was another dominating performance by the swarming Saints defense. The Saints had twice the passing yardage as the Falcons, 302 to 149, and a total yardage advantage of 368 to 215. Falcon star offensive players Roddy White, Michael Turner, and Tony Gonzalez, who had all been unstoppable in the first meeting between these teams, were not factors.
The national media continually stresses that the Saints’ defense is not creating the turnovers they did last year. What they don’t realize is that the Saints’ offense last year was a primary cause. Great offense leads to big margins, which cause the team that is behind to try to play catch up, leading to turnovers. This year the balance of power on the Saints has shifted. The offense has not been as good, but the defense has been better. The games are tighter, and this was typical.
Don’t think the Saints missed Pierre Thomas while he was out? While Brees got all the post-game attention, Thomas was probably the MVP of this one. With over 100 yards running and receiving, Thomas seemed to make a big play whenever it was needed. He made great plays on each touchdown drive and terrific ones in the final drive. He contributed stellar blitz pickup blocks during the kitchen sink phase of the game. When you look at the Falcons defensive game plan of blitzing so much, it was amazing they didn’t wreak more havoc than the two defensive line interceptions. All in all, the Saints offense held their ground and Thomas was a big part of this.
Let me make sure I understand this. Reggie Bush is under contract for $11.3 million next year, and Pierre Thomas is not under contract. Please, Mickey Loomis, don’t let this guy test the market. He’s a rare commodity, a fundamentally sound running back that can run, catch, and block. He hits the right hole, makes tacklers miss, and will even run back kicks effectively. In other words, we want to play with him – not against him.
What’s next? Tampa comes to town and will try to repeat what they did at the last regular season Superdome game last year. They fought back from a 10 point deficit to win. The Saints need to prevent that. If, by the longest of shots, Carolina were to beat Atlanta, with a victory the Saints would rocket up to the top seed in the NFC. It would be nice, but it’s a long shot.
The slight hope for Saints fans is that John Fox, in what will surely be his last game as Carolina coach, will throw everything he’s got at the Falcons. You know, the kitchen sink.
Sunday, December 19, 2010
Saints Report # 14 - December 19, 2010
Since 2009 “Glee” has been a TV show.
Prior to that “glee” was what NFL teams felt when they heard the sentence, “next week the New Orleans Saints come to town.”
But, in the last two years the Saints have become a formidable road team, no longer an easy win.
There is however, a consistent formula that gives the Saints fits no matter where they play, and the hosting Baltimore Ravens used it to perfection Sunday, ground chucking the Saints into submission, 30 – 24. Ray Rice was the principal grinder.
Although the Saints were in their usual position, with a chance for a miracle drive at the end, the Ravens were having none of it, and their interception of a Brees 4th down pass deep in Raven’s territory sealed the deal. The Ravens, much like the Falcons earlier this year, pounded the Saints on the ground and controlled the clock. The Saints never got the tempo going that they’ve displayed throughout their 6 game winning streak. Pierre Thomas never got the Saints running game going, and “Run-around” Reggie Bush continued to be ineffective unless he gets the ball downfield.
It didn’t take a schedule savant to see how important this game was going to be for the Saints. In their matchup with the AFC North, they beat the Steelers at home, and the Steelers were unkind hosts to the Falcons. Check. The Falcons handled the Ravens at home, but the Saints had to go to Baltimore in December, and it was easy to see that it would be a monster game for both teams. The Ravens were up to the challenge. The Saints weren’t.
The long-awaited rematch with the Falcons next week is now anticlimactic as the Falcons took care of business against the Seahawks. Relegated to wild card status, don’t look for Sean Payton to show much in Atlanta next week, as he knows the road to the Super Bowl now probably goes through the Georgia Dome, and if the Saints are fortunate enough to return in a playoff game, they’ll have to bring a formula for stopping a running game. That seems to be a task for which the Saint's linebackers are over-matched.
It’s a dangerous road, as a loss to Atlanta could elevate the importance of the closing game against Tampa Bay. In a late-year game against the Bucs last year, the Saints laid a second-half egg.
The Saints hope it doesn’t come to that.
Prior to that “glee” was what NFL teams felt when they heard the sentence, “next week the New Orleans Saints come to town.”
But, in the last two years the Saints have become a formidable road team, no longer an easy win.
There is however, a consistent formula that gives the Saints fits no matter where they play, and the hosting Baltimore Ravens used it to perfection Sunday, ground chucking the Saints into submission, 30 – 24. Ray Rice was the principal grinder.
Although the Saints were in their usual position, with a chance for a miracle drive at the end, the Ravens were having none of it, and their interception of a Brees 4th down pass deep in Raven’s territory sealed the deal. The Ravens, much like the Falcons earlier this year, pounded the Saints on the ground and controlled the clock. The Saints never got the tempo going that they’ve displayed throughout their 6 game winning streak. Pierre Thomas never got the Saints running game going, and “Run-around” Reggie Bush continued to be ineffective unless he gets the ball downfield.
It didn’t take a schedule savant to see how important this game was going to be for the Saints. In their matchup with the AFC North, they beat the Steelers at home, and the Steelers were unkind hosts to the Falcons. Check. The Falcons handled the Ravens at home, but the Saints had to go to Baltimore in December, and it was easy to see that it would be a monster game for both teams. The Ravens were up to the challenge. The Saints weren’t.
The long-awaited rematch with the Falcons next week is now anticlimactic as the Falcons took care of business against the Seahawks. Relegated to wild card status, don’t look for Sean Payton to show much in Atlanta next week, as he knows the road to the Super Bowl now probably goes through the Georgia Dome, and if the Saints are fortunate enough to return in a playoff game, they’ll have to bring a formula for stopping a running game. That seems to be a task for which the Saint's linebackers are over-matched.
It’s a dangerous road, as a loss to Atlanta could elevate the importance of the closing game against Tampa Bay. In a late-year game against the Bucs last year, the Saints laid a second-half egg.
The Saints hope it doesn’t come to that.
Thursday, December 16, 2010
Guts
Stop the Insanity.
You know the situation. You spend 50% more than you take in.
This year your income is $60,000, but you will spend $90,000.
Your family is entitled to it.
You can’t deprive them!
Plus, your creditors are cooperative.
They understand, and they encourage you to use your good credit to borrow the one third of your expenditures that you can’t cover.
No problem.
Just wish you didn’t do it year after year. The debt is mounting.
In fact it’s now almost 6 times your yearly revenue.
You know in your heart you’ll never dig out, but you just can’t help yourself.
You know it’s insane, but you just can’t quit.
You’ve got to keep your family happy.
You are the US Government.
You heard it right. The plan this year is for roughly $3.5 trillion in expenditures on $2.5 trillion in revenue. The debt will climb to $14 trillion, or 6 times revenue.
I’m not making this up.
In the recent election, the tidal wave was for “reducing the deficit.” We’re all concerned. Congress is concerned so it looks like the last thing the lame ducks will do is pass a tax reduction that will INCREASE the deficit another trillion or so.
Do you get the feeling they throw around a trillion like you throw around a ten?
But taxes aren’t the problem. It’s how they’re assessed.
Here’s my proposal to fix it once and for all, forever.
A Flat tax that is assessed on all income at a rate that will equal the projected yearly budgeted outlay.
Now, we hear about flat taxes all the time, but they’re always full of the same BS. My proposal is pure as the driven snow in the Metrodome.
Every single American Wage Earner will pay the same income tax rate.
Every single corporation doing business will pay that same rate.
Every dollar of income is taxable.
No exemptions
No deductions.
No graduated rates
No excise tax
No payroll tax
No estate tax
No health expense deductions
No mortgage deduction.
No marriage penalty.
No earned income tax credit.
No alternative minimum tax.
No capital gains tax.
No income tax dodges at all
No trying to figure out what’s fair.
No incentivizing behavior,
No rewarding investment.
No complicated tax returns
No lobbying. There’s no tax breaks to lobby for.
We tax income once.
Taxes are there to provide revenue for the government, period.
It was the 16th amendment to the constitution that started us down this road. It’s commonly believed to have allowed income tax. But what it really did was allow the government to do it anyway it wanted – which the constitution had prevented. Thus, the government has constantly changed the tax code, chasing concepts like fairness, investment, home ownership, conservation, and whatever the whim of the decade was.
My proposal: All Men are created equal.
Every one pays the same rate.
Doesn’t matter if you make $10 a year or $10 billion.
All men are created equal.
That’s what this nation was founded on, so everyone pays the same.
But what rate?
Simple, the rate that puts revenue equal to our projected expenditure.
So, every year the tax rate would be predicated on balancing the budget.
For example, (and these numbers are very rough):
2010
Total personal income in the US is estimated at 13 trillion dollars.
Total corporate income in the US is estimated at 2 trillion dollars.
The budget was $3.5 trillion, so the tax rate would be 23%, and that includes everything – social security, medicare, everything.
Flat tax.
Look at your paycheck. You probably take home about 70% of your gross – so not that much really would change for most of us, even after all of our deductions and games we play.
It just eliminates every single tax dodge on the books.
This year the government will collect only $2.5 trillion and just borrow the rest.
It’s called the deficit, and it amounts to a third of what the government will spend.
Again.
It will bring our deficit to $14 trillion.
It’s got to stop.
It’s ridiculous. Who among us can spend 50% more than we bring in?
What company could do this year after year?
There’s only one way to eliminate this idiocy and this is it.
A Flat tax that brings the budget into balance.
Our tax code has morphed into this giant animal that no one understands, volumes and volumes of it. It’s an accountant's dream but it's a national nightmare.
I’ll take questions:
But Rick, what about the mortgage deduction? The housing market will collapse.
No it won’t. They’ll be an adjustment period, but a homeowner’s taxes probably won’t increase much if at all.
But Rick, how do we get people to do things, like go green, go to college, go exploring, go to war, etc.
Simple. Vote on it.
If we want to incentivize something, give them a grant.
It will be up front, transparent, voted on, and visible, not hidden in a tax code too complicated for anyone to understand.
If people see it up front, they can judge it. Right now we don’t know what the government is doing, we just know they spend too much money.
But Rick, what happens if the economy improves?
Great, the income increases and the tax rate goes down, as long as we hold government expenditures in line – which there will be tremendous pressure to do.
So, let’s say in 2011, the incomes go up from $15 to $16 trillion, but we can hold the government line at $3.5 trillion. Great – a real tax decrease from 23% to 22% - which should further stimulate the economy and encourage job growth.
But Rick, what if we go to war?
Here’s a novel concept – we pay for it. The tax rate will go up. Let’s say we were going to declare war, and it was going to require another 1 point increase to fund it. Every American would pay. Think we’d have a real debate on the need for war at that point?
But Rick, What about millionaires? Shouldn’t they pay more?
Why? Because they’ve been successful? Look, I wouldn’t mind a surcharge on high incomes, like an extra point on every million dollars, but it should go to retire our debt. I also wouldn’t mind a surcharge on non-citizens working in the country. But, that’s an argument for another day, once we get the fundamentals in place.
But, Rick, What about poor people?
They pay. Everyone pays. A flat tax that makes everyone pay may encourage people to become participants in the American dream instead of observers.
It will probably require an amendment like this:
The Congress shall levy a uniform tax on all personal and corporate incomes at a yearly rate that projects to meet the budget of the U.S. government, and the balancing of the budget is mandatory.
Everyone will hate this idea because it's so simple we may not even need tax returns.
Every now and then someone brings up a flat tax, but not like this one.
This is simple, fair, easy, and direct.
Think about it.
Isn’t this way better than what’s going on now?
I know no one likes taxes, but why are we all whining about taxes all the time and how the government spends borrowed money?
What if you owed 6 times your yearly income?
You’d be a gone pecan. People have been abandoning houses because they were under water, but that’s small potatoes compared to where our government is, and they will continue it, no matter what the tea party says, unless we put a stop to it - and this is the way to do it.
The flat tax would eliminate every conceivable tax break (dodge) there is and put us back on a path to national solvency. It’s tough medicine, but all men are created equal, and would share the pain in relative equality.
If you think I’m crazy, take a number.
If not, let’s get this ball rolling. Forward a link to this blog to everyone you know, including your congressman with one simple sentence – “I agree with this.”
I call it the National Guts Campaign for a Flat Tax.
You know the situation. You spend 50% more than you take in.
This year your income is $60,000, but you will spend $90,000.
Your family is entitled to it.
You can’t deprive them!
Plus, your creditors are cooperative.
They understand, and they encourage you to use your good credit to borrow the one third of your expenditures that you can’t cover.
No problem.
Just wish you didn’t do it year after year. The debt is mounting.
In fact it’s now almost 6 times your yearly revenue.
You know in your heart you’ll never dig out, but you just can’t help yourself.
You know it’s insane, but you just can’t quit.
You’ve got to keep your family happy.
You are the US Government.
You heard it right. The plan this year is for roughly $3.5 trillion in expenditures on $2.5 trillion in revenue. The debt will climb to $14 trillion, or 6 times revenue.
I’m not making this up.
In the recent election, the tidal wave was for “reducing the deficit.” We’re all concerned. Congress is concerned so it looks like the last thing the lame ducks will do is pass a tax reduction that will INCREASE the deficit another trillion or so.
Do you get the feeling they throw around a trillion like you throw around a ten?
But taxes aren’t the problem. It’s how they’re assessed.
Here’s my proposal to fix it once and for all, forever.
A Flat tax that is assessed on all income at a rate that will equal the projected yearly budgeted outlay.
Now, we hear about flat taxes all the time, but they’re always full of the same BS. My proposal is pure as the driven snow in the Metrodome.
Every single American Wage Earner will pay the same income tax rate.
Every single corporation doing business will pay that same rate.
Every dollar of income is taxable.
No exemptions
No deductions.
No graduated rates
No excise tax
No payroll tax
No estate tax
No health expense deductions
No mortgage deduction.
No marriage penalty.
No earned income tax credit.
No alternative minimum tax.
No capital gains tax.
No income tax dodges at all
No trying to figure out what’s fair.
No incentivizing behavior,
No rewarding investment.
No complicated tax returns
No lobbying. There’s no tax breaks to lobby for.
We tax income once.
Taxes are there to provide revenue for the government, period.
It was the 16th amendment to the constitution that started us down this road. It’s commonly believed to have allowed income tax. But what it really did was allow the government to do it anyway it wanted – which the constitution had prevented. Thus, the government has constantly changed the tax code, chasing concepts like fairness, investment, home ownership, conservation, and whatever the whim of the decade was.
My proposal: All Men are created equal.
Every one pays the same rate.
Doesn’t matter if you make $10 a year or $10 billion.
All men are created equal.
That’s what this nation was founded on, so everyone pays the same.
But what rate?
Simple, the rate that puts revenue equal to our projected expenditure.
So, every year the tax rate would be predicated on balancing the budget.
For example, (and these numbers are very rough):
2010
Total personal income in the US is estimated at 13 trillion dollars.
Total corporate income in the US is estimated at 2 trillion dollars.
The budget was $3.5 trillion, so the tax rate would be 23%, and that includes everything – social security, medicare, everything.
Flat tax.
Look at your paycheck. You probably take home about 70% of your gross – so not that much really would change for most of us, even after all of our deductions and games we play.
It just eliminates every single tax dodge on the books.
This year the government will collect only $2.5 trillion and just borrow the rest.
It’s called the deficit, and it amounts to a third of what the government will spend.
Again.
It will bring our deficit to $14 trillion.
It’s got to stop.
It’s ridiculous. Who among us can spend 50% more than we bring in?
What company could do this year after year?
There’s only one way to eliminate this idiocy and this is it.
A Flat tax that brings the budget into balance.
Our tax code has morphed into this giant animal that no one understands, volumes and volumes of it. It’s an accountant's dream but it's a national nightmare.
I’ll take questions:
But Rick, what about the mortgage deduction? The housing market will collapse.
No it won’t. They’ll be an adjustment period, but a homeowner’s taxes probably won’t increase much if at all.
But Rick, how do we get people to do things, like go green, go to college, go exploring, go to war, etc.
Simple. Vote on it.
If we want to incentivize something, give them a grant.
It will be up front, transparent, voted on, and visible, not hidden in a tax code too complicated for anyone to understand.
If people see it up front, they can judge it. Right now we don’t know what the government is doing, we just know they spend too much money.
But Rick, what happens if the economy improves?
Great, the income increases and the tax rate goes down, as long as we hold government expenditures in line – which there will be tremendous pressure to do.
So, let’s say in 2011, the incomes go up from $15 to $16 trillion, but we can hold the government line at $3.5 trillion. Great – a real tax decrease from 23% to 22% - which should further stimulate the economy and encourage job growth.
But Rick, what if we go to war?
Here’s a novel concept – we pay for it. The tax rate will go up. Let’s say we were going to declare war, and it was going to require another 1 point increase to fund it. Every American would pay. Think we’d have a real debate on the need for war at that point?
But Rick, What about millionaires? Shouldn’t they pay more?
Why? Because they’ve been successful? Look, I wouldn’t mind a surcharge on high incomes, like an extra point on every million dollars, but it should go to retire our debt. I also wouldn’t mind a surcharge on non-citizens working in the country. But, that’s an argument for another day, once we get the fundamentals in place.
But, Rick, What about poor people?
They pay. Everyone pays. A flat tax that makes everyone pay may encourage people to become participants in the American dream instead of observers.
It will probably require an amendment like this:
The Congress shall levy a uniform tax on all personal and corporate incomes at a yearly rate that projects to meet the budget of the U.S. government, and the balancing of the budget is mandatory.
Everyone will hate this idea because it's so simple we may not even need tax returns.
Every now and then someone brings up a flat tax, but not like this one.
This is simple, fair, easy, and direct.
Think about it.
Isn’t this way better than what’s going on now?
I know no one likes taxes, but why are we all whining about taxes all the time and how the government spends borrowed money?
What if you owed 6 times your yearly income?
You’d be a gone pecan. People have been abandoning houses because they were under water, but that’s small potatoes compared to where our government is, and they will continue it, no matter what the tea party says, unless we put a stop to it - and this is the way to do it.
The flat tax would eliminate every conceivable tax break (dodge) there is and put us back on a path to national solvency. It’s tough medicine, but all men are created equal, and would share the pain in relative equality.
If you think I’m crazy, take a number.
If not, let’s get this ball rolling. Forward a link to this blog to everyone you know, including your congressman with one simple sentence – “I agree with this.”
I call it the National Guts Campaign for a Flat Tax.
Sunday, December 12, 2010
Saints Report # 13 - December 12, 2010
The Saints improved their record to 1 – 2 against rookie quarterbacks by throttling Sam Bradford and the St. Louis Rams 31 – 13. Having made Colt McCoy look like Bernie Kosar and Max Hall look like Kurt Warner, they made probable offensive rookie of the year Sam Bradford look very average.
Bradford’s most impressive play was running down Roman Harper who was carrying a refrigerator on his back after a long run with an alleged loose ball. His worst plays were two red-zone throws that Malcolm Jenkins found to his liking. Jenkins returned one 96 yards for a touchdown, and the other was an end zone, drive-killing pick. Jenkins appears headed for stardom.
Meanwhile Marquis Colston and Lance Moore continued their strong play, while Robert Meachem made some uncharacteristic drops. Colston scored twice and Moore once as Drew Brees was workmanlike in a 221 yard performance. Pierre Thomas returned and looked sharp, Reggie Bush ran around as usual, and Chris Ivory retired early with hamstring tightness.
The second season definitely starts next week when the Saints travel to Baltimore in an attempt to keep pace with Atlanta. The Saints desperately need Seattle to come out of its lethargy and beat Atlanta next week. This would set up a momentous December 27th showdown for the division title. The Saints have no room for error and are running out of runway. It’s about to get tense.
Bradford’s most impressive play was running down Roman Harper who was carrying a refrigerator on his back after a long run with an alleged loose ball. His worst plays were two red-zone throws that Malcolm Jenkins found to his liking. Jenkins returned one 96 yards for a touchdown, and the other was an end zone, drive-killing pick. Jenkins appears headed for stardom.
Meanwhile Marquis Colston and Lance Moore continued their strong play, while Robert Meachem made some uncharacteristic drops. Colston scored twice and Moore once as Drew Brees was workmanlike in a 221 yard performance. Pierre Thomas returned and looked sharp, Reggie Bush ran around as usual, and Chris Ivory retired early with hamstring tightness.
The second season definitely starts next week when the Saints travel to Baltimore in an attempt to keep pace with Atlanta. The Saints desperately need Seattle to come out of its lethargy and beat Atlanta next week. This would set up a momentous December 27th showdown for the division title. The Saints have no room for error and are running out of runway. It’s about to get tense.
Monday, December 6, 2010
Saints Report # 12 - December 5, 2010
Anybody who thinks there’s no inflation hasn’t been to Popeye’s lately.
Anybody who thinks the Saints can’t find a way to win, just isn’t paying attention.
The New Orleans Saints pulled another escape act Sunday 34-30 over the Bengals.
The NFL is going to have to change another rule.
After last year the NFL was so upset that Brett Favre didn’t get the ball in the Saints’ overtime playoff win that they changed the overtime rule starting in this year’s postseason. Can’t win with a one possession field goal anymore.
This week it was guard Carl Nicks who knew the rules and played the role perfectly.
The Saints weekly last minute drive had stalled at the 4 yard line, and an impending field goal would send the game into overtime. But first, the Saints called a time out and lined up as if to go for it, obviously intending to try to draw the Bengals offside, although that never works, right?
Well, the Bengals bungled. A lineman jumped into the neutral zone and Carl Nicks wisely reacted, making it a penalty. Seconds later, it’s Brees to Colston for another winning score. Glad that rule's in there, for now.
Gone in 60 seconds. Meachem and Brees were 4th quarter heroes again, Chris Ivory pounded the Bengals to the tune of 116 yards on the ground – including a 55 yard td run, and Reggie Bush still looked rusty.
The defense saved their best for last. After probably their least effective 59 minutes this year, and the Bengals threatening from midfield, every team in the world drops back and plays pass defense. But every team doesn’t have Gregg Williams, who dialed up a devastating blitz that snowed Carson Palmer under to end the game. Escape.
The Saints just know how to win.
But there’s bad news.
The Saints didn’t get the expected help from Tampa Bay. The Bucs blew a lead largely because of a clutch kick off return for a TD by Atlanta, kind of the way the Saints did things last year. Atlanta looks good.
And the Saints’ special teams look horrible. They consistently put the Saints in field position holes all day long. Penalized heavily, and even outgained, the Saints can’t continue to rely on last minute drives.
The good news is that if Pierre Thomas returns, maybe he can help out on special teams.
Chris Ivory, Pierre Thomas, and Reggie Bush would appear to be a three-headed running back monster for the stretch run, if the JFG can keep it unpredictable.
Around the league:
The Rams come to town next, riding the best rookie QB the league has seen in awhile.
The Vikings got a look at their future (and their past) with Tavaris Jackson and he looked pretty good.
The Bears have an offense to compliment their defense, which goes from good to great when Urlacher is on the field. But, how does the NFL let them get away with that field?
That place seems to get re-sodded every time there’s a big game. Hope the playoffs don’t go thru Chicago.
Everyone’s talking about Peyton Manning struggling. The Saints kind of exposed him in the Super Bowl by just ignoring the run but now he legitimately has no running game and everyone’s hurt. I find it interesting that he’s taking all the blame. Where’s the coach?
Speaking of coaches, the Cowboys may have found one. Too bad.
San Diego still needs one. Norv Turner may be a terrific play caller, but it takes more.
Tampa Bay looks like they’re a year away.
The Ravens continue to play great defense and while the Saints did pretty well in the cold in Cincy, don’t look for the Ravens to hand anything over when the Saints come to town.
I predicted that the Chiefs would be the surprise team in the NFL this year because you have to love their coaching staff, and I thought their draft was great. I’ve got them going all the way to the AFC championship game, but I didn’t think the Jets would live up to the hype. I now think the Patriots, although awfully young on defense, will prove to be the class of the AFC. Houston has been disappointing, Jacksonville surprising, Tennessee tumultuous, and the Dolphins DOA. Managing your injury list is probably the top skill you need to survive.
It’s something the Saints do very well. Although depleted at linebacker, and weak on special teams, they continue to plug and play. It would be nice to spend a Sunday watching an easy win instead of The Great Escape. It would be nice to get some cheap chicken too.
Anybody who thinks the Saints can’t find a way to win, just isn’t paying attention.
The New Orleans Saints pulled another escape act Sunday 34-30 over the Bengals.
The NFL is going to have to change another rule.
After last year the NFL was so upset that Brett Favre didn’t get the ball in the Saints’ overtime playoff win that they changed the overtime rule starting in this year’s postseason. Can’t win with a one possession field goal anymore.
This week it was guard Carl Nicks who knew the rules and played the role perfectly.
The Saints weekly last minute drive had stalled at the 4 yard line, and an impending field goal would send the game into overtime. But first, the Saints called a time out and lined up as if to go for it, obviously intending to try to draw the Bengals offside, although that never works, right?
Well, the Bengals bungled. A lineman jumped into the neutral zone and Carl Nicks wisely reacted, making it a penalty. Seconds later, it’s Brees to Colston for another winning score. Glad that rule's in there, for now.
Gone in 60 seconds. Meachem and Brees were 4th quarter heroes again, Chris Ivory pounded the Bengals to the tune of 116 yards on the ground – including a 55 yard td run, and Reggie Bush still looked rusty.
The defense saved their best for last. After probably their least effective 59 minutes this year, and the Bengals threatening from midfield, every team in the world drops back and plays pass defense. But every team doesn’t have Gregg Williams, who dialed up a devastating blitz that snowed Carson Palmer under to end the game. Escape.
The Saints just know how to win.
But there’s bad news.
The Saints didn’t get the expected help from Tampa Bay. The Bucs blew a lead largely because of a clutch kick off return for a TD by Atlanta, kind of the way the Saints did things last year. Atlanta looks good.
And the Saints’ special teams look horrible. They consistently put the Saints in field position holes all day long. Penalized heavily, and even outgained, the Saints can’t continue to rely on last minute drives.
The good news is that if Pierre Thomas returns, maybe he can help out on special teams.
Chris Ivory, Pierre Thomas, and Reggie Bush would appear to be a three-headed running back monster for the stretch run, if the JFG can keep it unpredictable.
Around the league:
The Rams come to town next, riding the best rookie QB the league has seen in awhile.
The Vikings got a look at their future (and their past) with Tavaris Jackson and he looked pretty good.
The Bears have an offense to compliment their defense, which goes from good to great when Urlacher is on the field. But, how does the NFL let them get away with that field?
That place seems to get re-sodded every time there’s a big game. Hope the playoffs don’t go thru Chicago.
Everyone’s talking about Peyton Manning struggling. The Saints kind of exposed him in the Super Bowl by just ignoring the run but now he legitimately has no running game and everyone’s hurt. I find it interesting that he’s taking all the blame. Where’s the coach?
Speaking of coaches, the Cowboys may have found one. Too bad.
San Diego still needs one. Norv Turner may be a terrific play caller, but it takes more.
Tampa Bay looks like they’re a year away.
The Ravens continue to play great defense and while the Saints did pretty well in the cold in Cincy, don’t look for the Ravens to hand anything over when the Saints come to town.
I predicted that the Chiefs would be the surprise team in the NFL this year because you have to love their coaching staff, and I thought their draft was great. I’ve got them going all the way to the AFC championship game, but I didn’t think the Jets would live up to the hype. I now think the Patriots, although awfully young on defense, will prove to be the class of the AFC. Houston has been disappointing, Jacksonville surprising, Tennessee tumultuous, and the Dolphins DOA. Managing your injury list is probably the top skill you need to survive.
It’s something the Saints do very well. Although depleted at linebacker, and weak on special teams, they continue to plug and play. It would be nice to spend a Sunday watching an easy win instead of The Great Escape. It would be nice to get some cheap chicken too.
Wednesday, December 1, 2010
Drew
Just a few words about Drew Brees being named Sports Illustrated's Sportsman of the Year for 2010. I've been a subscriber to Sports Illustrated for over 40 years. Still have most of them in fact. I never dreamed there would ever be a New Orleans Saint to receive this award, but from the moment the Saints won the Super Bowl, I thought this was a possibility. Many athletes do great things on and off the field and never get recognized, but I'll never forget how the Saints, led by their QB, elevated us all well above sea level for a time. Congratulations Drew and thanks for the memories.
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