Archive for July, 2009

MLB All-Star Game

Monday, July 20th, 2009

Lots of people complain about the fact that every team in Major League Baseball has at least one representative in the game.  Some folks argue that doing so means good players get left off the roster.

My argument against that…

1. I like seeing every team represented, especially in the opening introductions.  The Intro for the All-Star game is one of the only intros to any event that is actually tolerable and enjoyable these days.

2. If every team wasn’t represented, the All-Star rosters would be nothing but Yankees and Red Sox and Dodgers and Angels and frankly we get plenty of that from ESPN and FOX as it is.  It’s inundating enough that every NYY-BOS game during the season will be thrust upon us but to have the AS game that way as well would be annoying.

3. As the line between the leagues dilutes with tv and free agency, showing players from every team matters more, not less. We need to be reminded that smaller market teams have great players just like the marquis teams cos goodness knows the networks aren’t going to give us that reminder.  Just ask ESPN how many games will be devoted to the Pirates or Orioles in the final month. 

4.  There will always be valid players that miss out due to ASG roster size, positions filled, et al.  It is not a case that removing the players from the Nats and Padres would suddenly cure this issue.  This has been true for 70 years.

Meteor? Really?

Tuesday, July 14th, 2009

ABC put up a summer high-FX high-cheese B and C-List actor movie called ‘Impact” about the moon being shifted out of orbit and on collision course for Earth.  It wasn’t great, not even close, but they tried some things and at least threw some atypical network tv sci-fi (not syfy) ideas to spice up the story. The science sounded scientific and the human interest portions were, well, interesting.

Now, in response, NBC has come out with ‘Meteor’.  I have to say that I am appalled.  This is a horrific production.  This ‘movie event’ is one of the worst things I have seen in a very long time.  I could only stomach the first hour but in that time, and I’m sure I’m not spoiling anything since the viewing audience is minimal, I saw-

- a lead character get killed by a car for no reason

- a lead character get kidnapped for no reason

- Jason Alexander, who shouldn’t need the paycheck, in a bizarrely bad role, seemingly as the head of an important organization yet with the science and communication skills of Napoleon Dynamite.

- a subplot about a total tool and his girlfriend Toolina driving off to a day spa during a world crisis

- a subplot about a dirty cop who wants to kill his ex-partner’s kid and dad.  (this one really offends me – it’s a movie about an asteroid coming to hit Earth – what’s this pointless revenge crap doing in here?)

- a scene with some white trash bigot stealing bottled water from the store.  After all, nothing brings out the racist in all of us like a pending celestial calamity.

The missus and I love bad movies, but usually because they are so bad and cheesy you can find the humor in them.  But this….no, I’m afraid even I have standards.  So, without further ado…

The ‘Worst Thing I Have Seen on TV’ Award for 2009 (so far) goes to “Meteor”!   Congrats to everyone who made this blight on the viewing landscape possible.

Giant Gnomes! Run for your lives!

Tuesday, July 7th, 2009

For old-style radio series drama in a new-style setting, check out www.giantgnome.com

Colorado Rockies still in it

Tuesday, July 7th, 2009

Two days ago when the Rockies lost 4-3 I said they were a team that seemed to be looking for defeat out of the jaws of victory.  Last night was the reverse.  1-0 win at home. Nats had first and third 0 outs in 7th and didn’t score, then two on no outs and based loaded 2 outs in 8th and didn’t score.  Like the man said, ya win some, and ya lose some.