March 31, 2012
1. Catch Me If You Can
2. Pulp Fiction
3. True Romance
4. Batman Returns
5. A View to a Kill (a guilty pleasure to be sure)
6. The Dead Zone
7. The Deer Hunter
8. At Close Range
9. King of New York
10. Biloxi Blues
Saturday, March 31, 2012
Thursday, March 29, 2012
March 29, 2012
Greg's Top Ten Favorite 80s WWF Wrestlers:
1. The British Bulldogs (Davey Boy Smith & The Dynamite Kid
2. Bret "The Hitman" Hart
3. Randy "Macho Man" Savage
4. Rowdy Roddy Piper
5. The Dream Team (Greg "The Hammer" Valentine & Brutus Beefcake)
6. Ricky "The Dragon" Steamboat
7. Jake "The Snake" Roberts
8. The Killer Bees (B. Brian Blair & Jumpin' Jim Brunzell)
9. Tito Santana
10. Hulk Hogan
Greg's Top Ten Favorite 80s WWF Wrestlers:
1. The British Bulldogs (Davey Boy Smith & The Dynamite Kid
2. Bret "The Hitman" Hart
3. Randy "Macho Man" Savage
4. Rowdy Roddy Piper
5. The Dream Team (Greg "The Hammer" Valentine & Brutus Beefcake)
6. Ricky "The Dragon" Steamboat
7. Jake "The Snake" Roberts
8. The Killer Bees (B. Brian Blair & Jumpin' Jim Brunzell)
9. Tito Santana
10. Hulk Hogan
Wednesday, March 28, 2012
March 28, 2012
Greg's Top Ten Signs You Might Be A Bag of Douche (1-5 Yesterday, 6-10 Today):
6. You Were Deeply Offended By #1-5: Yeah. If you read 1-5 and felt deeply scarred by the words I wrote yesterday this list might be written for you. Have a sense of humor about life. I’m a self-professed Duran Duran addict who thinks the world should embrace the genius of Miami Vice. I’m practically the poster child for self-deprecation, so if you read 1-5 and you’re actually contemplating de-friending or lashing out because that Affliction shirt you love to wear just got dressed down...you might be a douchebag.
7. You Unbutton More Than 2 Buttons on Your Shirt: 1 button is commonplace. 2 buttons is fine. 3-6 buttons and you’re just asking for it. This goes double for you hairy-chested types out there. Nobody, and I mean NOBODY, wants to see your nasty-ass, greasy, sweaty, hairy, pube-laden chest rug. It’s completely unacceptable to do this in public because shirts have buttons for a reason and they aren’t to show off how much of a man you are because you have George “The Animal” Steele’s breastplate. If you’re on the beach and you have you shirt off, fine. God gave you a hairy chest and there’s nothing short of waxing that you can do about it, but if you’re in a place where wearing a shirt is required, button up a bit. The rest of us want to eat something without feeling the need to chuck it back up.
8. Your Pants Waistline is Below Your Waistline: Sagging pants might be the dumbest, stupidest most ridiculous idea ever presented to humanity. Seriously, even Kim Kardashian, who by all accounts is everything I just described probably thinks sagging pants are insanely infantile. Who the hell thought that walking around with your pants around your knees was a good idea? Seriously, it’s such a moronic look that when I see someone doing it I want to pants them and jog away slowly because they certainly can’t chase me with their pants around their ankles now can they? Dammit all. This belonged way higher on the list than #8.
9. Name-Dropping: Understand, I’m not referring to the “hey I was pumping gas and you’ll never guess who was in the car next to me” kind of name-dropping. I’m talking about the “I’m telling you I know this person because it makes me sound cooler and more important than I am.” I get this one at Double D’s Sports Grille all the time. Let me set the scene...it’s 7pm on a Saturday and the NCAA Final Four is on. Place is freaking packed.
Douchebag: Hi, how long is the wait.
Me: Probably about 30-40 minutes. Can I put you on the list?
Doucebag: Dude, I’m a friend of Dean’s. Is he here?
Me: Dude, I have news for you. EVERYONE in here is a friend of Dean.
Seriously, I don’t care that you know the owner of the restaurant. I’m going to treat you like every other paying customer in the restaurant because they deserve to be respected exactly the same as you. In fact, the fact that you just name-dropped for the sake of preferential treatment might actually make me want to treat you poorer than other people waiting to get a table.
10. Wearing Sunglasses at Night: Nearly 30 years have passed since Canadian pop star Corey Hart released the hit single “Sunglasses at Night” and even it’s cooler in 2012 than people who wear sunglasses at night. What I want to see in the worst way is for some tool to wear sunglasses at night and run into a pole on the sidewalk because his tinted glasses prevent him from seeing what’s right in front of his face. They’re not called moonglasses, jagoff. See, if the sun is out then it’s okay to wear sunglasses. If the moon is out, they aren’t okay to wear. It’s that simple.
Greg's Top Ten Signs You Might Be A Bag of Douche (1-5 Yesterday, 6-10 Today):
6. You Were Deeply Offended By #1-5: Yeah. If you read 1-5 and felt deeply scarred by the words I wrote yesterday this list might be written for you. Have a sense of humor about life. I’m a self-professed Duran Duran addict who thinks the world should embrace the genius of Miami Vice. I’m practically the poster child for self-deprecation, so if you read 1-5 and you’re actually contemplating de-friending or lashing out because that Affliction shirt you love to wear just got dressed down...you might be a douchebag.
7. You Unbutton More Than 2 Buttons on Your Shirt: 1 button is commonplace. 2 buttons is fine. 3-6 buttons and you’re just asking for it. This goes double for you hairy-chested types out there. Nobody, and I mean NOBODY, wants to see your nasty-ass, greasy, sweaty, hairy, pube-laden chest rug. It’s completely unacceptable to do this in public because shirts have buttons for a reason and they aren’t to show off how much of a man you are because you have George “The Animal” Steele’s breastplate. If you’re on the beach and you have you shirt off, fine. God gave you a hairy chest and there’s nothing short of waxing that you can do about it, but if you’re in a place where wearing a shirt is required, button up a bit. The rest of us want to eat something without feeling the need to chuck it back up.
8. Your Pants Waistline is Below Your Waistline: Sagging pants might be the dumbest, stupidest most ridiculous idea ever presented to humanity. Seriously, even Kim Kardashian, who by all accounts is everything I just described probably thinks sagging pants are insanely infantile. Who the hell thought that walking around with your pants around your knees was a good idea? Seriously, it’s such a moronic look that when I see someone doing it I want to pants them and jog away slowly because they certainly can’t chase me with their pants around their ankles now can they? Dammit all. This belonged way higher on the list than #8.
9. Name-Dropping: Understand, I’m not referring to the “hey I was pumping gas and you’ll never guess who was in the car next to me” kind of name-dropping. I’m talking about the “I’m telling you I know this person because it makes me sound cooler and more important than I am.” I get this one at Double D’s Sports Grille all the time. Let me set the scene...it’s 7pm on a Saturday and the NCAA Final Four is on. Place is freaking packed.
Douchebag: Hi, how long is the wait.
Me: Probably about 30-40 minutes. Can I put you on the list?
Doucebag: Dude, I’m a friend of Dean’s. Is he here?
Me: Dude, I have news for you. EVERYONE in here is a friend of Dean.
Seriously, I don’t care that you know the owner of the restaurant. I’m going to treat you like every other paying customer in the restaurant because they deserve to be respected exactly the same as you. In fact, the fact that you just name-dropped for the sake of preferential treatment might actually make me want to treat you poorer than other people waiting to get a table.
10. Wearing Sunglasses at Night: Nearly 30 years have passed since Canadian pop star Corey Hart released the hit single “Sunglasses at Night” and even it’s cooler in 2012 than people who wear sunglasses at night. What I want to see in the worst way is for some tool to wear sunglasses at night and run into a pole on the sidewalk because his tinted glasses prevent him from seeing what’s right in front of his face. They’re not called moonglasses, jagoff. See, if the sun is out then it’s okay to wear sunglasses. If the moon is out, they aren’t okay to wear. It’s that simple.
March 27, 2012
Greg's Top Ten Signs You Might Be A Bag of Douche (1-5 Today, 6-10 Tomorrow)
First off, I want to say to all of you out there that I don’t think that all people who are described below are necessarily douchebags. However, perception is reality and if you are doing some of the thing described below it might explain why you’re having a difficult time finding long-lasting meaningful relationships that don’t involve taking joy-rides with your “homies” and cutting people off on the freeway in your gigantic SUV that’s supposed to be a representation of your extraordinary manhood.
1. Driving a Car With Testicles: Yes, you read that correctly. Apparently there's a population of people out there who like to let everyone know that their automobile has a rather large set of testicles - thus telling the whole world how large their own testicles are. I can’t fathom why any person would think this is a good idea. After all, nothing gets a member of the opposite sex more fired up for coitus than a man who drives a car with a fake set of testicles hanging behind it. Of course, they might get more action than a person who correctly uses the word coitus in a sentence, but I digress. Every single time I see one of these testosterone-laden vehicles driving in front of my on the freeway it makes me want to follow the person to their destination, take out a set of bolt cutters, castrate their vehicle and leave the snipped manhood on the front seat of their car.
2. Tapout/Ed Hardy/Affliction Shirts: Again, I want to make it clear that I don’t think everyone who wears these shirts is an asshat who has an over-inflated sense of self-worth, but the perception out there is that if you wear this type of gear, you’re a douchebag. Ask anyone who doesn’t own clothing from these companies and they’ll probably tell you that people who wear them generally come off as douchey before they even get to know the person wearing it. The one that kills me the most isn’t Tapout or Ed Hardy. The person wearing Affliction paraphernalia is the one that takes the douchecake. Nothing says “I’ve been through so much pain in my life that you must respect me because I’m AFFLICTED!” like an Affliction t-shirt. You know what, jackoff, go to Ethiopia where people eat about a teaspoon of food a day and ask them how afflicted your life is.
3. Popped Collars: For God’s sakes, when the frick did this come back into style? Seriously, it’s a part of the 80s that even I think looks like absolute crap and I’m the guy who’s still waiting for pastel colored suits to come back into fashion again. The collar is there for a reason and it isn’t to pop it up so all the world can see how awesome you aren’t. When I see someone doing this in public I feel sad for them. It’s clear that they don’t have enough good honest friends around them to explain that what they are doing will not make them attractive to anyone outside of a Jersey Shore party. Please, stop popping your collars unless you plan to wear matching Z Cavaricci pants and a flock of seagulls haircut so you can look like a complete waste of space.
4. Yelling/Staring at Girls From Your Car: Ladies, has this ever worked on you? Ever? Just once? Didn’t think so. So why does anyone with a pulse think that if you roll your window down and yell at a girl she’ll melt in your hands? I can understand covertly checking someone while you’re driving, but to actually roll your window down and yell something profound or better yet, stare at the girl while she’s nervously rolling up her window. It doesn’t work. I actually witnessed the latter happen right next to me a few days ago. Some kid with his “brahs” pulled up behind me at stoplight and started pulling the moves on a couple of girls in a car to their right. To say that the girls didn’t pull their underwear off and throw them into the seat of the douchemobile to their left would be an understatement. Windows rolled up. Awkward grimaces. Speed away as quickly as their Cabriolet could carry them. Ok, so I made the Cabriolet part up, but the rest should be part of a case study for responses to douchebaggery.
5. Man Tan: I have no problem with people sitting out in the sun and getting a tan. None. It’s a good look for most people. You know what isn’t a good look for any people? Fake man tans. You know the guy - he strolls around with a silver faux-hawk and looks the same color as a can of peach Yoplait with a popped collar. That guy. He must spend quite some time looking that fake on a daily basis. Could it be that Man Tan man is trying to look as fake on the outside as he actually is on the inside? Perhaps so.
Greg's Top Ten Signs You Might Be A Bag of Douche (1-5 Today, 6-10 Tomorrow)
First off, I want to say to all of you out there that I don’t think that all people who are described below are necessarily douchebags. However, perception is reality and if you are doing some of the thing described below it might explain why you’re having a difficult time finding long-lasting meaningful relationships that don’t involve taking joy-rides with your “homies” and cutting people off on the freeway in your gigantic SUV that’s supposed to be a representation of your extraordinary manhood.
1. Driving a Car With Testicles: Yes, you read that correctly. Apparently there's a population of people out there who like to let everyone know that their automobile has a rather large set of testicles - thus telling the whole world how large their own testicles are. I can’t fathom why any person would think this is a good idea. After all, nothing gets a member of the opposite sex more fired up for coitus than a man who drives a car with a fake set of testicles hanging behind it. Of course, they might get more action than a person who correctly uses the word coitus in a sentence, but I digress. Every single time I see one of these testosterone-laden vehicles driving in front of my on the freeway it makes me want to follow the person to their destination, take out a set of bolt cutters, castrate their vehicle and leave the snipped manhood on the front seat of their car.
2. Tapout/Ed Hardy/Affliction Shirts: Again, I want to make it clear that I don’t think everyone who wears these shirts is an asshat who has an over-inflated sense of self-worth, but the perception out there is that if you wear this type of gear, you’re a douchebag. Ask anyone who doesn’t own clothing from these companies and they’ll probably tell you that people who wear them generally come off as douchey before they even get to know the person wearing it. The one that kills me the most isn’t Tapout or Ed Hardy. The person wearing Affliction paraphernalia is the one that takes the douchecake. Nothing says “I’ve been through so much pain in my life that you must respect me because I’m AFFLICTED!” like an Affliction t-shirt. You know what, jackoff, go to Ethiopia where people eat about a teaspoon of food a day and ask them how afflicted your life is.
3. Popped Collars: For God’s sakes, when the frick did this come back into style? Seriously, it’s a part of the 80s that even I think looks like absolute crap and I’m the guy who’s still waiting for pastel colored suits to come back into fashion again. The collar is there for a reason and it isn’t to pop it up so all the world can see how awesome you aren’t. When I see someone doing this in public I feel sad for them. It’s clear that they don’t have enough good honest friends around them to explain that what they are doing will not make them attractive to anyone outside of a Jersey Shore party. Please, stop popping your collars unless you plan to wear matching Z Cavaricci pants and a flock of seagulls haircut so you can look like a complete waste of space.
4. Yelling/Staring at Girls From Your Car: Ladies, has this ever worked on you? Ever? Just once? Didn’t think so. So why does anyone with a pulse think that if you roll your window down and yell at a girl she’ll melt in your hands? I can understand covertly checking someone while you’re driving, but to actually roll your window down and yell something profound or better yet, stare at the girl while she’s nervously rolling up her window. It doesn’t work. I actually witnessed the latter happen right next to me a few days ago. Some kid with his “brahs” pulled up behind me at stoplight and started pulling the moves on a couple of girls in a car to their right. To say that the girls didn’t pull their underwear off and throw them into the seat of the douchemobile to their left would be an understatement. Windows rolled up. Awkward grimaces. Speed away as quickly as their Cabriolet could carry them. Ok, so I made the Cabriolet part up, but the rest should be part of a case study for responses to douchebaggery.
5. Man Tan: I have no problem with people sitting out in the sun and getting a tan. None. It’s a good look for most people. You know what isn’t a good look for any people? Fake man tans. You know the guy - he strolls around with a silver faux-hawk and looks the same color as a can of peach Yoplait with a popped collar. That guy. He must spend quite some time looking that fake on a daily basis. Could it be that Man Tan man is trying to look as fake on the outside as he actually is on the inside? Perhaps so.
Monday, March 26, 2012
Saturday, March 24, 2012
March 24, 2012
Greg's Bottom Ten Comedians I Never Find Funny:
1. Louis Anderson
2. Judy Tenuta
3. Richard Lewis
4. Carlos Mencia
5. Dave Coulier
6. Larry the Cable Guy
7. Margaret Cho
8. Norm MacDonald (seriously, how does anyone find him funny)
9. Gallagher (hate to kick a man while he's down, but...)
10. Pauly Shore
*I wanted to put Carrot Top on this list, but for some odd reason, he amuses me from time to time. Sue me.
Greg's Bottom Ten Comedians I Never Find Funny:
1. Louis Anderson
2. Judy Tenuta
3. Richard Lewis
4. Carlos Mencia
5. Dave Coulier
6. Larry the Cable Guy
7. Margaret Cho
8. Norm MacDonald (seriously, how does anyone find him funny)
9. Gallagher (hate to kick a man while he's down, but...)
10. Pauly Shore
*I wanted to put Carrot Top on this list, but for some odd reason, he amuses me from time to time. Sue me.
March 23, 2012
1. Peyton Manning, QB (Denver)
2. Pierre Garçon, WR (Washington)
3. Jeff Saturday, C (Green Bay)
4. Dallas Clark, TE (free agent)
5. Jacob Tamme, TE (Denver)
6. Joseph Addai, RB (free agent)
7. Gary Brackett, LB (free agent)
8. Melvin Bullitt, S (free agent)
9. Anthony Gonzalez, WR (New England)
10. Ryan Diem, G (retirement)
1. Peyton Manning, QB (Denver)
2. Pierre Garçon, WR (Washington)
3. Jeff Saturday, C (Green Bay)
4. Dallas Clark, TE (free agent)
5. Jacob Tamme, TE (Denver)
6. Joseph Addai, RB (free agent)
7. Gary Brackett, LB (free agent)
8. Melvin Bullitt, S (free agent)
9. Anthony Gonzalez, WR (New England)
10. Ryan Diem, G (retirement)
Tuesday, March 20, 2012
March 20, 2012
Greg's Top Ten Childhood Crushes:
1. Kathy Ireland (thank you mom and dad for getting me a Sport Illustrated subscription when I was 12 years old...thank you VERY much)
2. Phoebe Cates (Fast Times at Ridgemont High, anyone?)
3. Miss Elizabeth (Randy "Macho Man" Savage's manager...may she rest in peace)
4. Kate Jackson (my favorite Charlie's Angel)
5. Courtney Cox (Anyone ever watch the 80s show 'Misfits of Science'?)
6. Paula Abdul (when her first album dropped I thought she was a fox...not so much anymore)
7. Neve Campbell (my favorite Party of Five girl)
8. Jane Leeves (Frasier's little brother had it totally right...and the accent is super hot)
9. Elisabeth Shue (Adventures in Babysitting...she could babysit me anytime)
10. Staci Keanan (the older sister on Step By Step for those that watched it)
Greg's Top Ten Childhood Crushes:
1. Kathy Ireland (thank you mom and dad for getting me a Sport Illustrated subscription when I was 12 years old...thank you VERY much)
2. Phoebe Cates (Fast Times at Ridgemont High, anyone?)
3. Miss Elizabeth (Randy "Macho Man" Savage's manager...may she rest in peace)
4. Kate Jackson (my favorite Charlie's Angel)
5. Courtney Cox (Anyone ever watch the 80s show 'Misfits of Science'?)
6. Paula Abdul (when her first album dropped I thought she was a fox...not so much anymore)
7. Neve Campbell (my favorite Party of Five girl)
8. Jane Leeves (Frasier's little brother had it totally right...and the accent is super hot)
9. Elisabeth Shue (Adventures in Babysitting...she could babysit me anytime)
10. Staci Keanan (the older sister on Step By Step for those that watched it)
Sunday, March 18, 2012
March 18, 2012
Greg's Top Ten Favorite Autobiographies:
1. "The Dirt" - The Motley Crue Autobiography
2. "Wild Boy" - Duran Duran Guitarist Andy Taylor's Autobiography
3. "It's So Easy" - Guns N Roses Bassist Duff McKagan's Autobiography
4. "Ozzy" - Ozzy Osbourne's Autobiography
5. "Quiet Strength" - Former Indianapolis Colts Head Coach Tony Dungy's Autobiography
6. "Hitman" - WWF Legend Bret Hart's Autobiography
7. "Strange Things Happen" - The Police's Drummer Steward Copeland's Autobiography
8. "American On Purpose" - Late Late Show Host Craig Ferguson's Autobiography
9. "Crazy From the Heat" - Van Halen Frontman David Lee Roth's Autobiography
10. "I Am Spock" - Leonard Nimoy's Autobiography
Greg's Top Ten Favorite Autobiographies:
1. "The Dirt" - The Motley Crue Autobiography
2. "Wild Boy" - Duran Duran Guitarist Andy Taylor's Autobiography
3. "It's So Easy" - Guns N Roses Bassist Duff McKagan's Autobiography
4. "Ozzy" - Ozzy Osbourne's Autobiography
5. "Quiet Strength" - Former Indianapolis Colts Head Coach Tony Dungy's Autobiography
6. "Hitman" - WWF Legend Bret Hart's Autobiography
7. "Strange Things Happen" - The Police's Drummer Steward Copeland's Autobiography
8. "American On Purpose" - Late Late Show Host Craig Ferguson's Autobiography
9. "Crazy From the Heat" - Van Halen Frontman David Lee Roth's Autobiography
10. "I Am Spock" - Leonard Nimoy's Autobiography
Friday, March 16, 2012
March 17, 2012
Greg's Top Ten Favorite B-Sides:
1. "How Soon is Now" by The Smiths, originally the B-side to the August 24, 1984 single for "William It Was Really Nothing"
2. "Into the Groove" by Madonna, originally the B-side to the April 10, 1985 12" Maxi-Single for "Angel"
3a and 3b. "Khanada" & "Fame" (David Bowie cover song) by Duran Duran, originally the B-sides to the April 20, 1981 single for "Careless Memories"
4. "Yellow Ledbetter" by Pearl Jam, originally the B-side to the July 6, 1992 single for "Jeremy"
5. "We Will Rock You" by Queen, originally the B-side to the October 7, 1977 single for "We Are the Champions"
6. "Rain" by The Beatles, originally the B-side to the May 30, 1966 single for "Paperback Writer"
7. "Stone Cold Crazy" by Metallica (Queen cover song), originally the B-side to the July 29, 1881 single for "Enter Sandman"
8. "Sweetest Thing" by U2, originally the B-side to the August, 1987 single for "Where the Streets Have No Name"
9. "Friends" by The Police, originally the B-side to the December 5, 1980 single for "De Do Do Do, De Da Da Da"
10. "Faster Than Light" by Duran Duran, originally the B-side to the July 13, 1981 single for "Girls on Film"
Greg's Top Ten Favorite B-Sides:
1. "How Soon is Now" by The Smiths, originally the B-side to the August 24, 1984 single for "William It Was Really Nothing"
2. "Into the Groove" by Madonna, originally the B-side to the April 10, 1985 12" Maxi-Single for "Angel"
3a and 3b. "Khanada" & "Fame" (David Bowie cover song) by Duran Duran, originally the B-sides to the April 20, 1981 single for "Careless Memories"
4. "Yellow Ledbetter" by Pearl Jam, originally the B-side to the July 6, 1992 single for "Jeremy"
5. "We Will Rock You" by Queen, originally the B-side to the October 7, 1977 single for "We Are the Champions"
6. "Rain" by The Beatles, originally the B-side to the May 30, 1966 single for "Paperback Writer"
7. "Stone Cold Crazy" by Metallica (Queen cover song), originally the B-side to the July 29, 1881 single for "Enter Sandman"
8. "Sweetest Thing" by U2, originally the B-side to the August, 1987 single for "Where the Streets Have No Name"
9. "Friends" by The Police, originally the B-side to the December 5, 1980 single for "De Do Do Do, De Da Da Da"
10. "Faster Than Light" by Duran Duran, originally the B-side to the July 13, 1981 single for "Girls on Film"
March 16, 2012
Greg's Top Ten Favorite 80s Video Arcade Games:
1. Galaga (my obsession...I cannot be stopped)
2. Star Wars (the original "sit-down" version rules my world)
3. Gauntlet (Round Table Pizza in Santa Clara made hundreds off of me alone)
4. Donkey Kong III (this is the one with Mario spraying the insects)
5. Return of the Jedi ("C'mon Han ol' buddy don't let me down")
6. Marble Madness (the creepy music in this game still haunts me)
7. Spy Hunter (anyone ever reach the end of this one?)
8. Dragon's Lair (the only game on this list I watched more than played, but still awesome)
9. Rampage (I always loved when your character ate the dynamite and breathed fire)
10. Zaxxon (anyone else remember this one?)
Greg's Top Ten Favorite 80s Video Arcade Games:
1. Galaga (my obsession...I cannot be stopped)
2. Star Wars (the original "sit-down" version rules my world)
3. Gauntlet (Round Table Pizza in Santa Clara made hundreds off of me alone)
4. Donkey Kong III (this is the one with Mario spraying the insects)
5. Return of the Jedi ("C'mon Han ol' buddy don't let me down")
6. Marble Madness (the creepy music in this game still haunts me)
7. Spy Hunter (anyone ever reach the end of this one?)
8. Dragon's Lair (the only game on this list I watched more than played, but still awesome)
9. Rampage (I always loved when your character ate the dynamite and breathed fire)
10. Zaxxon (anyone else remember this one?)
Wednesday, March 14, 2012
March 14, 2012
Greg's Top Ten Favorite Theater-Released* Football Movies:
1. Remember the Titans (2000)
2. The Blind Side (2009)
3. Jerry Maguire (1996)
4. Any Given Sunday (1999)
5. Wildcats (1986)
6. Last Boy Scout (1991) - so underrated!!!
7. Rudy (1993)
8. The Replacements (2000)
9. The Longest Yard (1974)
10. Friday Night Lights (2004)
1. Remember the Titans (2000)
2. The Blind Side (2009)
3. Jerry Maguire (1996)
4. Any Given Sunday (1999)
5. Wildcats (1986)
6. Last Boy Scout (1991) - so underrated!!!
7. Rudy (1993)
8. The Replacements (2000)
9. The Longest Yard (1974)
10. Friday Night Lights (2004)
Tuesday, March 13, 2012
March 13, 2012
Greg’s Top Ten Sad NFL Hall of Fame Endings In Unfamiliar Places
1. Johnny Unitas, QB (San Diego Chargers, 1973): Stat Line: 44.7% Completion Percentage, 3 Touchdowns, 7 Interceptions, 471 Yards Passing, 40.0 Quarterback Rating
2. Joe Namath, QB (Los Angeles Rams, 1977): Stat Line: 46.7% Completion Percentage, 3 Touchdowns, 5 Interceptions, 606 Yards Passing, 54.5 Quarterback Rating
3. Jackie Smith, TE (Dallas Cowboys, 1978): Caught zero passes, but will long be remembered for dropping an easy potential game-winning TD in Super Bowl XIII. The Cowboys lost the game by 4 points.
4. Franco Harris, RB (Seattle Seahawks, 1984): 68 Attempts 170 Rushing Yards, 2.5 Yards Per Carry, 0 Touchdowns, 1 Reception, 3 Receiving Yards, 0 Touchdowns
5. Eric Dickerson, RB (Atlanta Falcons, 1993): 26 Attempts, 91 Rushing Yards, 3.5 Yards Per Carry, 0 Touchdowns, 6 Receptions, 58 Receiving Yards, 0 Touchdowns
6. Thurman Thomas, RB (Miami Dolphins, 2000): 28 Attempts, 136 Rushing Yards, 4.2 Yards Per Carry, 0 Touchdowns, 16 Receptions, 117 Receiving Yards, 1 Touchdown
7. Jerry Rice, WR (Seattle Seahawks, 2004): 25 Receptions, 362 Receiving Yards, 3 Touchdowns
8. Emmitt Smith, RB (Arizona Cardinals, 2003-04): 357 Attempts, 1,193 Rushing Yards, 3.3 Yards Per Carry, 11 Touchdowns, 29 Receptions, 212 Receiving Yards, 0 Touchdowns, 6 Fumbles.
9. O.J. Simpson, RB (San Francisco 49ers, 1978-79): 281 Attempts, 1,053 Rushing Yards, 3.7 Yards Per Carry, 4 Touchdowns, 28 Receptions, 218 Receiving Yards, 2 Touchdowns, 8 Fumbles
10. Earl Campbell, RB (New Orleans Saints, 1984-85): 208 Attempts, 833 Rushing Yards, 4.0 Yards Per Carry, 1 Touchdown, 6 Receptions, 88 Receiving Yards, 0 Touchdowns, 4 Fumbles
Greg’s Top Ten Sad NFL Hall of Fame Endings In Unfamiliar Places
1. Johnny Unitas, QB (San Diego Chargers, 1973): Stat Line: 44.7% Completion Percentage, 3 Touchdowns, 7 Interceptions, 471 Yards Passing, 40.0 Quarterback Rating
2. Joe Namath, QB (Los Angeles Rams, 1977): Stat Line: 46.7% Completion Percentage, 3 Touchdowns, 5 Interceptions, 606 Yards Passing, 54.5 Quarterback Rating
3. Jackie Smith, TE (Dallas Cowboys, 1978): Caught zero passes, but will long be remembered for dropping an easy potential game-winning TD in Super Bowl XIII. The Cowboys lost the game by 4 points.
4. Franco Harris, RB (Seattle Seahawks, 1984): 68 Attempts 170 Rushing Yards, 2.5 Yards Per Carry, 0 Touchdowns, 1 Reception, 3 Receiving Yards, 0 Touchdowns
5. Eric Dickerson, RB (Atlanta Falcons, 1993): 26 Attempts, 91 Rushing Yards, 3.5 Yards Per Carry, 0 Touchdowns, 6 Receptions, 58 Receiving Yards, 0 Touchdowns
6. Thurman Thomas, RB (Miami Dolphins, 2000): 28 Attempts, 136 Rushing Yards, 4.2 Yards Per Carry, 0 Touchdowns, 16 Receptions, 117 Receiving Yards, 1 Touchdown
7. Jerry Rice, WR (Seattle Seahawks, 2004): 25 Receptions, 362 Receiving Yards, 3 Touchdowns
8. Emmitt Smith, RB (Arizona Cardinals, 2003-04): 357 Attempts, 1,193 Rushing Yards, 3.3 Yards Per Carry, 11 Touchdowns, 29 Receptions, 212 Receiving Yards, 0 Touchdowns, 6 Fumbles.
9. O.J. Simpson, RB (San Francisco 49ers, 1978-79): 281 Attempts, 1,053 Rushing Yards, 3.7 Yards Per Carry, 4 Touchdowns, 28 Receptions, 218 Receiving Yards, 2 Touchdowns, 8 Fumbles
10. Earl Campbell, RB (New Orleans Saints, 1984-85): 208 Attempts, 833 Rushing Yards, 4.0 Yards Per Carry, 1 Touchdown, 6 Receptions, 88 Receiving Yards, 0 Touchdowns, 4 Fumbles
Monday, March 12, 2012
March 12, 2012
Greg's Top Ten Favorite Alcoholic Beverages:
1. Guinness Stout (was there any doubt?)
2. Bacardi & Coke
3. Jagermeister
4. Absolut Peppar Bloody Mary (quickly rising up the list)
5. Blue Moon
6. Snakebite (preferably with pear cider)
7. Velvet Hammer (Cointreau orange liqueur, Tia Maria coffee liqueur & half-and-half)
8. Kahlua & Coffee
9. Absolut Cape Codder
10. Grey Goose L'Orange Screwdriver
Greg's Top Ten Favorite Alcoholic Beverages:
1. Guinness Stout (was there any doubt?)
2. Bacardi & Coke
3. Jagermeister
4. Absolut Peppar Bloody Mary (quickly rising up the list)
5. Blue Moon
6. Snakebite (preferably with pear cider)
7. Velvet Hammer (Cointreau orange liqueur, Tia Maria coffee liqueur & half-and-half)
8. Kahlua & Coffee
9. Absolut Cape Codder
10. Grey Goose L'Orange Screwdriver
Saturday, March 10, 2012
March 10, 2012
Greg's Top Ten Worst Draft Busts (6-10 Today, 1-5 Yesterday):
Greg's Top Ten Worst Draft Busts (6-10 Today, 1-5 Yesterday):
6. Tony Mandarich: When Sports Illustrated ran a cover story on Mandarich while he was still in college it was labeled "The Incredible Bulk" and drew enormous amounts of attention to prospective NFL teams looking to draft an offensive tackle. The story focused on Mandarich's unbelievably massive physique - a rarity for an offensive lineman in the 1980s. He was supposed to be a game-changer. The kind of player who could be the cornerstone of an offensive line for over a decade. When the 1989 NFL Draft approached there were many who speculated that Mandarich would be a top 5 pick. In fact he ended up getting picked #2 overall by the Green Bay Packers. What the Packers weren't aware of was Mandarich's rampant use of painkillers and steroids in college and the player once labeled as "The Incredible Bulk" was exposed as being little more than a science experiment gone wrong. Though he was large in size, he lacked the mobility needed to counter defensive players coming off the edge. After just three years with the Packers he was cut from the team and didn't return to the NFL until five years later when he salvaged his career with the Indianapolis Colts. What's most damaging to Mandarich's legacy is that he was picked in front of Barry Sanders, Derrick Thomas and Deion Sanders in succession - all Pro Football Hall of Famers.
7. Art Schlichter: When Art Schichter was playing for Ohio State University a book was written about him that was titled "Straight Arrow." It chronicled his collegiate career and portrayed Schichter as being somewhat of a perfect angel who was playing his life straight as an arrow. What nobody knew was that Schichter, a highly successful college quarterback, was hiding a massive gambling addiction. With no knowledge of his demons, Schichter was selected 4th overall in 1982 by the Baltimore Colts. By midseason of his rookie year Schilchter had already gambled away his signing bonus and when the NFL Strike of 1982 occurred, Schichter, alone with only his addiction, piled up $700,000 in gambling debts betting on sporting events. In 1983, with his debtors threatening to expose him for his actions which were outlawed by the NFL, he turned himself into the FBI. He was suspended by the NFL indefinitely for betting on games and by 1986 he was out of the NFL altogether. On September 15, 2011 he was sentenced to ten years in prison for a million-dollar ticket scam.
8. Brian Bosworth: Speaking of steroid users, Bosworth's drug habit was something of legend even before getting drafted by the Seattle Seahawks in the 1st round of the 1987 NFL Supplemental Draft. He is the only player in NCAA history to win the Butkus Award (given to the nation's top college linebacker) twice, yet his steroid usage at both the college and pro level is what garnered bigger headlines. The Seahawks decided to take a chance on Bosworth's talent and quickly learned that he was injury-prone, difficult to work with and highly overrated. Just two years after Seattle drafted him he was out of the NFL and turned to acting.
9. Heath Shuler: Shuler was draft #3 overall in the 1994 NFL Draft by the Washington Redskins who were trying to replace former Super Bowl MVP Mark Rypien. They also selected another quarterback in that draft - Tulsa quarterback Gus Frerotte, who was selected 194 picks after Shuler. By Shuler's second season he had relinquished his starting job to his understudy after suffering injuries and consistently underperforming. By 1997 Shuler was no longer playing in the NFL and retired with over twice as many interceptions than touchdowns. Today he is a member of the U.S. House of Representatives.
10. Blair Thomas: The second overall pick of the 1990 NFL Draft, Thomas was touted by most as the best rushing prospect of the draft after having a dynamic career playing for Joe Paterno's Penn State Nittany Lions. Unfortunately for the Jets and Thomas, his collegiate accomplishments didn't pay dividends at the professional level. Thomas lasted just four years in New York before bouncing around the league. He amassed just 2,236 yards and 7 touchdowns as a pro where he played for five different NFL franchises. What's worse is that 15 picks after Thomas was selected by the Jets, the Dallas Cowboys selected the NFL's all-time rushing leader, Emmitt Smith.
7. Art Schlichter: When Art Schichter was playing for Ohio State University a book was written about him that was titled "Straight Arrow." It chronicled his collegiate career and portrayed Schichter as being somewhat of a perfect angel who was playing his life straight as an arrow. What nobody knew was that Schichter, a highly successful college quarterback, was hiding a massive gambling addiction. With no knowledge of his demons, Schichter was selected 4th overall in 1982 by the Baltimore Colts. By midseason of his rookie year Schilchter had already gambled away his signing bonus and when the NFL Strike of 1982 occurred, Schichter, alone with only his addiction, piled up $700,000 in gambling debts betting on sporting events. In 1983, with his debtors threatening to expose him for his actions which were outlawed by the NFL, he turned himself into the FBI. He was suspended by the NFL indefinitely for betting on games and by 1986 he was out of the NFL altogether. On September 15, 2011 he was sentenced to ten years in prison for a million-dollar ticket scam.
8. Brian Bosworth: Speaking of steroid users, Bosworth's drug habit was something of legend even before getting drafted by the Seattle Seahawks in the 1st round of the 1987 NFL Supplemental Draft. He is the only player in NCAA history to win the Butkus Award (given to the nation's top college linebacker) twice, yet his steroid usage at both the college and pro level is what garnered bigger headlines. The Seahawks decided to take a chance on Bosworth's talent and quickly learned that he was injury-prone, difficult to work with and highly overrated. Just two years after Seattle drafted him he was out of the NFL and turned to acting.
9. Heath Shuler: Shuler was draft #3 overall in the 1994 NFL Draft by the Washington Redskins who were trying to replace former Super Bowl MVP Mark Rypien. They also selected another quarterback in that draft - Tulsa quarterback Gus Frerotte, who was selected 194 picks after Shuler. By Shuler's second season he had relinquished his starting job to his understudy after suffering injuries and consistently underperforming. By 1997 Shuler was no longer playing in the NFL and retired with over twice as many interceptions than touchdowns. Today he is a member of the U.S. House of Representatives.
10. Blair Thomas: The second overall pick of the 1990 NFL Draft, Thomas was touted by most as the best rushing prospect of the draft after having a dynamic career playing for Joe Paterno's Penn State Nittany Lions. Unfortunately for the Jets and Thomas, his collegiate accomplishments didn't pay dividends at the professional level. Thomas lasted just four years in New York before bouncing around the league. He amassed just 2,236 yards and 7 touchdowns as a pro where he played for five different NFL franchises. What's worse is that 15 picks after Thomas was selected by the Jets, the Dallas Cowboys selected the NFL's all-time rushing leader, Emmitt Smith.
Friday, March 9, 2012
March 9, 2012
Greg's Top Ten Worst Draft Busts (1-5 Today, 6-10 Tomorrow):
1. JaMarcus Russell: Some people say a player can't be called a bust due to injuries, but do injuries to the brain count? It would take a Herculean act of incompetence to actually unseat Ryan Leaf from the #1 spot on this list, but leave it to JaMarcus to actually manage the feat. I can't recall ever seeing a player fail so miserably at living up to the expectation set by being the #1 overall pick in an NFL draft as Russell did after being taken #1 overall in 2007 by the Oakland Raiders. It's not that his numbers were bad, they were absolutely pathetic in the worst sense and he didn't even both trying. The "didn't even bother trying" part is the key. He was consistently overweight, showed no desire to improve his skills and alienated himself from coaches and teammates. He lasted just three seasons in the NFL, about as long as he needed to rob the Raiders of millions of dollars.
2. Ryan Leaf: The only thing he did that Russell didn't is try to be a decent NFL quarterback. Outside of that he was about as miserable a draft pick as any other bust in NFL history. It didn't help that he was picked right after one of the greatest players in NFL history, Peyton Manning, who was taken by the Colts one pick before Leaf went to San Diego, who reportedly tried to trade the pick. While Manning was showing up to the NFL rookie symposium with notebooks full of information, Leaf showed up looking like he had come back from a weekend binge in Vegas - because instead of studying he DID have a weekend binge in Vegas. That was just the beginning of what was yet to come. Leaf's finest hour as a player on the field - week 3 in 1998 at Kansas City when Leaf was 1 of 15 passing for four yards with 2 interceptions. He finished his rookie year with a quarterback rating of 39.0 which is about as good a rating as your mother could get playing with Aaron Rodgers on Madden 2012.
3. Lawrence Phillips: Look up the word douchebag in Webster's Dictionary and there might be a photo of Lawrence Phillips. The Rams were so enamored with Phillips' performance as a collegiate athlete that they traded Jerome Bettis to the Pittsburgh Steelers the same day they picked Phillips #6 overall in the 1996 NFL Draft. Bettis went on to become a future Hall of Fame rusher with over 13,000 rushing yards to his name. Phillips is currently serving a 31 year prison sentence for attacking his girlfriend and driving his car into three teenagers. In between being drafted and sentenced he managed to pile up a laundry list of criminal violations and team suspensions. He will probably be best remembered by 49ers fans as being the running back that help end Steve Young's career when Phillips, the a 49er, missed a pass rush block that ended with Cardinals safety Aeneas Williams concussing Young who was forced to retire shortly after the blow.
4. Charles Rogers: Rogers was not one of former Lions GM Matt Millen's finest moments. Taken #2 overall in the 2003 NFL Draft, Rogers was supposed to help bolster a weak receiving core for the Lions, who were in desperate need of help at the position. What Rogers ended up doing was amassing just 36 receptions for 440 yards and four touchdowns in his three year NFL career. In 2005 Rogers was suspended for four games for his third substance abuse violation. He was released by the Lions shortly thereafter and has not played in the NFL since. For a little context of just how bad Rogers was in comparison to his colleagues, Andre Johnson was taken one pick later and has nearly 10,000 receiving yards to Rogers' 440.
5. Akili Smith: The 1999 NFL Draft once took on comparisons to the great NFL Draft in 1983 when three Hall of Fame quarterbacks were selected (Dan Marino, John Elway & Jim Kelly) in the first round. The 1999 NFL Draft boasted five quarterbacks taken in the first round in Tim Couch, Cade McNown, Donovan McNabb, Daunte Culpepper and Akili Smith. If McNabb was the cream of the crop, then Smith was bottom of the barrel. Simply put, Smith couldn't read defenses. He completely failed to grasp the speed and intellect needed to thrive at the NFL level. 5 touchdowns and 13 interceptions in four years was all the Bengals needed to know he was an abject failure as the 3rd overall pick in the 1999 NFL Draft. Two picks later the Eagles would select McNabb and reach the NFC Title Game nearly half a dozen times with him under center.
Greg's Top Ten Worst Draft Busts (1-5 Today, 6-10 Tomorrow):
1. JaMarcus Russell: Some people say a player can't be called a bust due to injuries, but do injuries to the brain count? It would take a Herculean act of incompetence to actually unseat Ryan Leaf from the #1 spot on this list, but leave it to JaMarcus to actually manage the feat. I can't recall ever seeing a player fail so miserably at living up to the expectation set by being the #1 overall pick in an NFL draft as Russell did after being taken #1 overall in 2007 by the Oakland Raiders. It's not that his numbers were bad, they were absolutely pathetic in the worst sense and he didn't even both trying. The "didn't even bother trying" part is the key. He was consistently overweight, showed no desire to improve his skills and alienated himself from coaches and teammates. He lasted just three seasons in the NFL, about as long as he needed to rob the Raiders of millions of dollars.
2. Ryan Leaf: The only thing he did that Russell didn't is try to be a decent NFL quarterback. Outside of that he was about as miserable a draft pick as any other bust in NFL history. It didn't help that he was picked right after one of the greatest players in NFL history, Peyton Manning, who was taken by the Colts one pick before Leaf went to San Diego, who reportedly tried to trade the pick. While Manning was showing up to the NFL rookie symposium with notebooks full of information, Leaf showed up looking like he had come back from a weekend binge in Vegas - because instead of studying he DID have a weekend binge in Vegas. That was just the beginning of what was yet to come. Leaf's finest hour as a player on the field - week 3 in 1998 at Kansas City when Leaf was 1 of 15 passing for four yards with 2 interceptions. He finished his rookie year with a quarterback rating of 39.0 which is about as good a rating as your mother could get playing with Aaron Rodgers on Madden 2012.
3. Lawrence Phillips: Look up the word douchebag in Webster's Dictionary and there might be a photo of Lawrence Phillips. The Rams were so enamored with Phillips' performance as a collegiate athlete that they traded Jerome Bettis to the Pittsburgh Steelers the same day they picked Phillips #6 overall in the 1996 NFL Draft. Bettis went on to become a future Hall of Fame rusher with over 13,000 rushing yards to his name. Phillips is currently serving a 31 year prison sentence for attacking his girlfriend and driving his car into three teenagers. In between being drafted and sentenced he managed to pile up a laundry list of criminal violations and team suspensions. He will probably be best remembered by 49ers fans as being the running back that help end Steve Young's career when Phillips, the a 49er, missed a pass rush block that ended with Cardinals safety Aeneas Williams concussing Young who was forced to retire shortly after the blow.
4. Charles Rogers: Rogers was not one of former Lions GM Matt Millen's finest moments. Taken #2 overall in the 2003 NFL Draft, Rogers was supposed to help bolster a weak receiving core for the Lions, who were in desperate need of help at the position. What Rogers ended up doing was amassing just 36 receptions for 440 yards and four touchdowns in his three year NFL career. In 2005 Rogers was suspended for four games for his third substance abuse violation. He was released by the Lions shortly thereafter and has not played in the NFL since. For a little context of just how bad Rogers was in comparison to his colleagues, Andre Johnson was taken one pick later and has nearly 10,000 receiving yards to Rogers' 440.
5. Akili Smith: The 1999 NFL Draft once took on comparisons to the great NFL Draft in 1983 when three Hall of Fame quarterbacks were selected (Dan Marino, John Elway & Jim Kelly) in the first round. The 1999 NFL Draft boasted five quarterbacks taken in the first round in Tim Couch, Cade McNown, Donovan McNabb, Daunte Culpepper and Akili Smith. If McNabb was the cream of the crop, then Smith was bottom of the barrel. Simply put, Smith couldn't read defenses. He completely failed to grasp the speed and intellect needed to thrive at the NFL level. 5 touchdowns and 13 interceptions in four years was all the Bengals needed to know he was an abject failure as the 3rd overall pick in the 1999 NFL Draft. Two picks later the Eagles would select McNabb and reach the NFC Title Game nearly half a dozen times with him under center.
Thursday, March 8, 2012
March 8, 2012
Greg's Top Ten Teams Peyton Manning Should Sign With:
1. Denver Broncos: I can't take credit for this because it was my friend Darrell, who originally proposed the idea to me, but damn it makes a lot of sense. Think about it, the defense is one of the best in the league and the running game is strong and one of the best tackles in the league, Ryan Clady, will be protecting his blindside. Even better, the division is very weak and would give Manning a chance to get back to the playoffs right away. As for Tim Tebow, we all know he would gracefully step aside and revel in the opportunity to "learn from the best" for a year or two.
2. Houston Texans: Like the Broncos, they have a good defense and a stellar ground game. My only reservation is that Manning wouldn't want to sign with a team that plays the Colts twice a year. Call me crazy, but I think Peyton has a tremendous amount of respect for his former team and wouldn't want to play in the division that his former teams resides in. However, the chance to win a Super Bowl might just be in Houston where it seems the only thing holding them back is a quarterback who can stay upright for 16 games a season.
3. San Francisco 49ers: Some will say this should be at the top but if the Niners want to sign Peyton they'll need to do something about their questionable offensive line. Sure, they have a Super Bowl caliber defense but fans know that the protection on offense is questionable and keeping Peyton healthy is an absolute must at this stage in his career. Perhaps his quick release will be enough to overcome the mediocrity of the offensive line, but who would he throw to? Perhaps Reggie Wayne or Pierre Garçon can follow Peyton to the Bay and give him an instant target.
4. Miami Dolphins: Reggie Wayne went to the University of Miami and needs a home, too and I think he'll follow Manning wherever he goes. Team up Wayne with Brandon Marshall and you've got two superb targets. Peyton could play Tom Brady twice a year. Imagine the possibilities. The Fins would be a great spot for Manning to play and few teams have had a harder time filling the shoes of a Hall of Fame quarterback quite like the Dolphins. Peyton also has a home in Miami so it would be an easy move. I do question a few things like would Peyton feel a greater temptation from one of the other teams listed above or will the Fins go after Packer QB Matt Flynn or RG3 in the NFL Draft to build a long term future? Only time will tell, but this would really be a nice fit for Peyton.
5. Arizona: Moving to the desert would be a decent fit since they have a star playmaker at wide receiver in Larry Fitzgerald but I've heard Manning say he would prefer to play in the AFC. If that's true, then Arizona might be a bit lower on his list than some of the AFC teams he's considering. The small media presence would be a plus if he goes to Arizona and the Cardinals do have some decent skill position players but, like the 49ers, lack a strong offensive line and the Cardinals already sacrificed quite a bit to get their current starter Kevin Kolb.
6. Seattle: Again, another NFC team that might make a strong bid for Peyton but fall short due to being in the wrong conference and not having enough pieces in place to make a serious run at a Super Bowl. They have a tremendous rusher in Marshawn Lynch, but few targets to throw to and some holes on defense. Still, I can see Pete Carroll doing his very best to secure Manning, but it would take some convincing for it to happen considering the circumstances.
7. New York Jets: This is only listed here because they are a possible suitor and they do have almost everything aside from a quarterback who can help them win right away. Even with all the great players they have on both sides of the ball including a stellar offensive line, I cannot imagine he'd want to go to the media circus in New York and play for someone like Rex Ryan who's quickly losing his team's respect. Another thing that Manning won't do is sign with a team that plays in the same town his brother does. Peyton wants nothing to do with Eli's territory out of respect for his sibling who has finally made his own name in the largest media market in the country.
8, 9, 10: Kansas City, Minnesota, Washington: There's no point in giving these longshots their own write-up since they all have about as good a shot of signing Peyton than I do of signing with the Colts. True, they all need quarterbacks desperately, but they're all a long way away from being a real contender for a Super Bowl and money alone won't entice someone like Manning who has more money than he'll ever need in his lifetime or several lifetimes for that matter.
Greg's Top Ten Teams Peyton Manning Should Sign With:
1. Denver Broncos: I can't take credit for this because it was my friend Darrell, who originally proposed the idea to me, but damn it makes a lot of sense. Think about it, the defense is one of the best in the league and the running game is strong and one of the best tackles in the league, Ryan Clady, will be protecting his blindside. Even better, the division is very weak and would give Manning a chance to get back to the playoffs right away. As for Tim Tebow, we all know he would gracefully step aside and revel in the opportunity to "learn from the best" for a year or two.
2. Houston Texans: Like the Broncos, they have a good defense and a stellar ground game. My only reservation is that Manning wouldn't want to sign with a team that plays the Colts twice a year. Call me crazy, but I think Peyton has a tremendous amount of respect for his former team and wouldn't want to play in the division that his former teams resides in. However, the chance to win a Super Bowl might just be in Houston where it seems the only thing holding them back is a quarterback who can stay upright for 16 games a season.
3. San Francisco 49ers: Some will say this should be at the top but if the Niners want to sign Peyton they'll need to do something about their questionable offensive line. Sure, they have a Super Bowl caliber defense but fans know that the protection on offense is questionable and keeping Peyton healthy is an absolute must at this stage in his career. Perhaps his quick release will be enough to overcome the mediocrity of the offensive line, but who would he throw to? Perhaps Reggie Wayne or Pierre Garçon can follow Peyton to the Bay and give him an instant target.
4. Miami Dolphins: Reggie Wayne went to the University of Miami and needs a home, too and I think he'll follow Manning wherever he goes. Team up Wayne with Brandon Marshall and you've got two superb targets. Peyton could play Tom Brady twice a year. Imagine the possibilities. The Fins would be a great spot for Manning to play and few teams have had a harder time filling the shoes of a Hall of Fame quarterback quite like the Dolphins. Peyton also has a home in Miami so it would be an easy move. I do question a few things like would Peyton feel a greater temptation from one of the other teams listed above or will the Fins go after Packer QB Matt Flynn or RG3 in the NFL Draft to build a long term future? Only time will tell, but this would really be a nice fit for Peyton.
5. Arizona: Moving to the desert would be a decent fit since they have a star playmaker at wide receiver in Larry Fitzgerald but I've heard Manning say he would prefer to play in the AFC. If that's true, then Arizona might be a bit lower on his list than some of the AFC teams he's considering. The small media presence would be a plus if he goes to Arizona and the Cardinals do have some decent skill position players but, like the 49ers, lack a strong offensive line and the Cardinals already sacrificed quite a bit to get their current starter Kevin Kolb.
6. Seattle: Again, another NFC team that might make a strong bid for Peyton but fall short due to being in the wrong conference and not having enough pieces in place to make a serious run at a Super Bowl. They have a tremendous rusher in Marshawn Lynch, but few targets to throw to and some holes on defense. Still, I can see Pete Carroll doing his very best to secure Manning, but it would take some convincing for it to happen considering the circumstances.
7. New York Jets: This is only listed here because they are a possible suitor and they do have almost everything aside from a quarterback who can help them win right away. Even with all the great players they have on both sides of the ball including a stellar offensive line, I cannot imagine he'd want to go to the media circus in New York and play for someone like Rex Ryan who's quickly losing his team's respect. Another thing that Manning won't do is sign with a team that plays in the same town his brother does. Peyton wants nothing to do with Eli's territory out of respect for his sibling who has finally made his own name in the largest media market in the country.
8, 9, 10: Kansas City, Minnesota, Washington: There's no point in giving these longshots their own write-up since they all have about as good a shot of signing Peyton than I do of signing with the Colts. True, they all need quarterbacks desperately, but they're all a long way away from being a real contender for a Super Bowl and money alone won't entice someone like Manning who has more money than he'll ever need in his lifetime or several lifetimes for that matter.
Wednesday, March 7, 2012
Sunday, March 4, 2012
March 4, 2012
Greg's Top Ten Albums I Can't Believe I Used to Own:
1. Limp Bizkit - "Significant Other"
2. Limp Bizkit - "Chocolate Starfish and the Hot Dog Flavored Water"
3. Paula Abdul - "Forever Your Girl"
4. MC Hammer - "Please Hammer Don't Hurt 'Em"
5. Various WWF Wrestlers - "Piledriver: The Wrestling Album II" (Gimme a break, I was 11)
6. The Fats Boys - "Crushin'"
7. Salt n Pepa - "A Salt With a Deadly Pepa"
8. Heart - "The Road Home" (estrogen, anyone?)
9. Green Day - "Dookie"
10. Van Halen - Van Halen III (still own it, actually)
Greg's Top Ten Albums I Can't Believe I Used to Own:
1. Limp Bizkit - "Significant Other"
2. Limp Bizkit - "Chocolate Starfish and the Hot Dog Flavored Water"
3. Paula Abdul - "Forever Your Girl"
4. MC Hammer - "Please Hammer Don't Hurt 'Em"
5. Various WWF Wrestlers - "Piledriver: The Wrestling Album II" (Gimme a break, I was 11)
6. The Fats Boys - "Crushin'"
7. Salt n Pepa - "A Salt With a Deadly Pepa"
8. Heart - "The Road Home" (estrogen, anyone?)
9. Green Day - "Dookie"
10. Van Halen - Van Halen III (still own it, actually)
Saturday, March 3, 2012
March 3, 2012
Greg's Top Ten Favorite Cover Songs:
1. "All Along the Watchtower" originally performed by Bob Dylan, covered by Jimi Hendrix
2. "Perfect Day" originally performed by Lou Reed, covered by Duran Duran
3. "Hurt" originally performed by Nine Inch Nails, covered by Johnny Cash
4. "I Didn't Mean to Turn You On" originally performed by Cherrelle, covered by Robert Palmer
5. "Pretty Woman" originally performed by Roy Orbison, covered by Van Halen
6. "Get It On (Bang a Gong)" originally performed by T. Rex, covered by The Power Station
7. "You Really Got Me" originally performed by The Kinks, covered by Van Halen
8. "Walk This Way" originally performed by Aerosmith, covered by Run DMC
9. "I Can't Get No Satisfaction" originally performed by The Rolling Stones, covered by Devo
10. "I Feel For You" originally performed by Prince, covered by Chaka Khan
Greg's Top Ten Favorite Cover Songs:
1. "All Along the Watchtower" originally performed by Bob Dylan, covered by Jimi Hendrix
2. "Perfect Day" originally performed by Lou Reed, covered by Duran Duran
3. "Hurt" originally performed by Nine Inch Nails, covered by Johnny Cash
4. "I Didn't Mean to Turn You On" originally performed by Cherrelle, covered by Robert Palmer
5. "Pretty Woman" originally performed by Roy Orbison, covered by Van Halen
6. "Get It On (Bang a Gong)" originally performed by T. Rex, covered by The Power Station
7. "You Really Got Me" originally performed by The Kinks, covered by Van Halen
8. "Walk This Way" originally performed by Aerosmith, covered by Run DMC
9. "I Can't Get No Satisfaction" originally performed by The Rolling Stones, covered by Devo
10. "I Feel For You" originally performed by Prince, covered by Chaka Khan
Friday, March 2, 2012
March 2, 2012
Greg's Top Ten Albums/Songs That Have Influenced My Life (6-10 Today, 1-5 Yesterday):
6. “No Excuses” by Alice in Chains - This song might be my high school theme song if I had to pick one. Whenever I play this track from “Jar of Flies” on my iPod it immediately takes me back to my high school days. There was something in this song that just made me feel normal at an adolescent time when so many of us were searching for an identity. Plus, who else in any metal category can harmonize like Layne Staley and Jerry Cantrell used to? It’s almost like God created them specifically to play in a band together.
7. Album “Cloud Nine” by George Harrison - My mother listened to George Harrison’s solo record “Cloud Nine” quite a bit in 1987. Now, keep in mind, I had only heard of The Beatles at this point in my young life, so I had no idea who the individual members were or what their impact on the world was. This record was my very first taste of anything Beatles related and it still gets heavy rotation on my iPod today. I used to borrow the cassette tape from my mother and play it on my mini-walkman everywhere I went. For some odd reason, whenever I play Legend of Zelda on my old NES I can hear this album playing in the back of my mind. Yes, I even played it while I was playing Nintendo as a kid! One of my favorite memories was as a ten year-old impressing an adult staff member of my grade school’s day care center with my George Harrison knowledge.
8. “Wish You Were Here” by Pink Floyd - This is a shout out more to the song than the whole album the song is featured on. I used to go to a small coffee shop named Cafe Quinn in Cupertino with my high school friends back in the mid-90s. They had a guitar player there who would play acoustic and take requests. I think by the end of my senior year he was sick to death of playing this song for me. It was my introduction to Pink Floyd. Before you knew it I was buying all their records, going to laser shows at DeAnza College and considering dropping acid. Ok, that last part was embellished, but the rest is true. I was quite the Pink Floyd addict during my latter years of high school and this song has to be the catalyst for it all. It’s also one of the most heartfelt songs I’ve ever heard in my life and certainly one of the most influential
9. Album “License to Ill” by The Beastie Boys - I used to listen to rap music more than any other type of music when I was a pre-teen and this record from the genre was the first I ever purchased. My cousin listened to them and got me started on them sometime in the mid to late 80s when they were starting to get a lot of exposure on MTV. This was before their follow-up record “Paul’s Boutique” dropped a few years later, so they were really in their infancy as a band. By the time I was eleven I had completely memorized the lyrics to “Paul Revere” and “She’s Crafty” even though I hadn’t a friggin’ clue what each song was really about. When you’re eleven years-old and you’re singing songs about tramps stealing everything from their one night stand’s bedroom it’s time to call a therapist.
10. “Down in the Park” by Gary Numan - An odd choice to be sure. Most of you know Numan as the guy who sang the 80s song “Cars” which is commonly played in commercials and covered by countless bands over the years. When I briefly went to UC Riverside in 1997 I was going through arguably the roughest period of my life and dark music really spoke to me around this time of my life. I remember going with some people from my dorm to the Riverside Theaters just off campus to watch a double feature of Pink Floyd’s “The Wall” along with some old alt-rock documentary called “Urgh: A Music War” which featured a lot of alternative bands from the early 80s. Numan was one of the featured artists and his haunting rendition of the synth-heavy “Down in the Park” was among the songs played during the show. I was immediately drawn in by the song and accompanying video. His songs were inspired by the works of sci-fi writer Phillip K. Dick who just so happened to be the writer for “Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep” which is the inspiration for the movie “Blade Runner” - a movie I re-discovered around this time and completely fell in love with.
Greg's Top Ten Albums/Songs That Have Influenced My Life (6-10 Today, 1-5 Yesterday):
6. “No Excuses” by Alice in Chains - This song might be my high school theme song if I had to pick one. Whenever I play this track from “Jar of Flies” on my iPod it immediately takes me back to my high school days. There was something in this song that just made me feel normal at an adolescent time when so many of us were searching for an identity. Plus, who else in any metal category can harmonize like Layne Staley and Jerry Cantrell used to? It’s almost like God created them specifically to play in a band together.
7. Album “Cloud Nine” by George Harrison - My mother listened to George Harrison’s solo record “Cloud Nine” quite a bit in 1987. Now, keep in mind, I had only heard of The Beatles at this point in my young life, so I had no idea who the individual members were or what their impact on the world was. This record was my very first taste of anything Beatles related and it still gets heavy rotation on my iPod today. I used to borrow the cassette tape from my mother and play it on my mini-walkman everywhere I went. For some odd reason, whenever I play Legend of Zelda on my old NES I can hear this album playing in the back of my mind. Yes, I even played it while I was playing Nintendo as a kid! One of my favorite memories was as a ten year-old impressing an adult staff member of my grade school’s day care center with my George Harrison knowledge.
8. “Wish You Were Here” by Pink Floyd - This is a shout out more to the song than the whole album the song is featured on. I used to go to a small coffee shop named Cafe Quinn in Cupertino with my high school friends back in the mid-90s. They had a guitar player there who would play acoustic and take requests. I think by the end of my senior year he was sick to death of playing this song for me. It was my introduction to Pink Floyd. Before you knew it I was buying all their records, going to laser shows at DeAnza College and considering dropping acid. Ok, that last part was embellished, but the rest is true. I was quite the Pink Floyd addict during my latter years of high school and this song has to be the catalyst for it all. It’s also one of the most heartfelt songs I’ve ever heard in my life and certainly one of the most influential
9. Album “License to Ill” by The Beastie Boys - I used to listen to rap music more than any other type of music when I was a pre-teen and this record from the genre was the first I ever purchased. My cousin listened to them and got me started on them sometime in the mid to late 80s when they were starting to get a lot of exposure on MTV. This was before their follow-up record “Paul’s Boutique” dropped a few years later, so they were really in their infancy as a band. By the time I was eleven I had completely memorized the lyrics to “Paul Revere” and “She’s Crafty” even though I hadn’t a friggin’ clue what each song was really about. When you’re eleven years-old and you’re singing songs about tramps stealing everything from their one night stand’s bedroom it’s time to call a therapist.
10. “Down in the Park” by Gary Numan - An odd choice to be sure. Most of you know Numan as the guy who sang the 80s song “Cars” which is commonly played in commercials and covered by countless bands over the years. When I briefly went to UC Riverside in 1997 I was going through arguably the roughest period of my life and dark music really spoke to me around this time of my life. I remember going with some people from my dorm to the Riverside Theaters just off campus to watch a double feature of Pink Floyd’s “The Wall” along with some old alt-rock documentary called “Urgh: A Music War” which featured a lot of alternative bands from the early 80s. Numan was one of the featured artists and his haunting rendition of the synth-heavy “Down in the Park” was among the songs played during the show. I was immediately drawn in by the song and accompanying video. His songs were inspired by the works of sci-fi writer Phillip K. Dick who just so happened to be the writer for “Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep” which is the inspiration for the movie “Blade Runner” - a movie I re-discovered around this time and completely fell in love with.
Thursday, March 1, 2012
March 1, 2012
Greg’s Top Ten Albums/Songs That Have Influenced My Life (1-5 Today, 6-10 Tomorrow):
1. “Ordinary World” by Duran Duran - There wasn’t a doubt what would make the top spot on this list. It’s a song that hasn’t been with me as long as some of the others on this list, but words can’t explain how powerful it has been. The lyrics have gotten me through some pretty painful times in my life and helped me enjoy some pleasant ones, too. The lyrics are somewhat somber and optimistic at the same time and are some of the most beautiful I’ve ever heard.
2. Album “1984” by Van Halen - By the time high school rolled around in 1991, I knew who Van Halen were. I’d seen their videos on MTV for years and thought they were the epitome of cool, but had never really taken the time to listen to their catalog of music. In my freshman year of high school my friend Joshua Hess let me borrow his cassette copy of Van Halen’s classic record “1984” which featured the hits “Jump”, “Panama” and “Hot For Teacher.” I was totally blown away and became infatuated with the rock genre - a love affair I’m still enjoying to this very day.
3. Album “Thriller” by Michael Jackson - I’m guessing this might on a few people’s top tens. It’s one of those records that is flawless from start to finish and was my first real introduction to music - my mother had a copy on cassette when I was in the first grade. The songs were played frequently at my home, on the television and radio...it was everywhere. I can listen to it any time of day and it reminds of what a massive influence Jackson was on the music industry. No matter what you might think of Jackson as a person or what type of music you are into, there’s no denying the power and influence of his landmark album.
4. Album “It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back” by Public Enemy - When I first bought the record in 1987, unbeknownst to my mother who would one day throw my copy away, I didn’t really listen to what frontman Chuck D was saying on each track. I just thought it was the coolest thing I had ever heard. Only later did I realize the message he was conveying in his songs about the struggles of African-Americans. There’s a certain anger in his message that just grabs you by the throat and doesn’t let go. I love that he was totally fearless in his approach and although I’m not a black man, a large Caucasian fan base emerged for Public Enemy after that record debuted. I believe Public Enemy’s sound crossed racial boundaries because we can all relate to the emotions he was expressing.
5. “One” by Metallica - Van Halen was my introduction to rock. Metallica took me to an entirely different level of the genre that has a massive influence on me to this day. There’s an anger in metal that I’ve never heard in any other genre of music and “One” by Metallica was my introduction to it. So many raw emotions come from the sounds generated by Metallica in the song “One” that express rage and chaos. It’s one of those songs that constantly builds until it reaches a violent climax right around the four and half minute mark. If I ever need to access my own rage I need little more than to listen to metal in order to find it.
Greg’s Top Ten Albums/Songs That Have Influenced My Life (1-5 Today, 6-10 Tomorrow):
1. “Ordinary World” by Duran Duran - There wasn’t a doubt what would make the top spot on this list. It’s a song that hasn’t been with me as long as some of the others on this list, but words can’t explain how powerful it has been. The lyrics have gotten me through some pretty painful times in my life and helped me enjoy some pleasant ones, too. The lyrics are somewhat somber and optimistic at the same time and are some of the most beautiful I’ve ever heard.
2. Album “1984” by Van Halen - By the time high school rolled around in 1991, I knew who Van Halen were. I’d seen their videos on MTV for years and thought they were the epitome of cool, but had never really taken the time to listen to their catalog of music. In my freshman year of high school my friend Joshua Hess let me borrow his cassette copy of Van Halen’s classic record “1984” which featured the hits “Jump”, “Panama” and “Hot For Teacher.” I was totally blown away and became infatuated with the rock genre - a love affair I’m still enjoying to this very day.
3. Album “Thriller” by Michael Jackson - I’m guessing this might on a few people’s top tens. It’s one of those records that is flawless from start to finish and was my first real introduction to music - my mother had a copy on cassette when I was in the first grade. The songs were played frequently at my home, on the television and radio...it was everywhere. I can listen to it any time of day and it reminds of what a massive influence Jackson was on the music industry. No matter what you might think of Jackson as a person or what type of music you are into, there’s no denying the power and influence of his landmark album.
4. Album “It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back” by Public Enemy - When I first bought the record in 1987, unbeknownst to my mother who would one day throw my copy away, I didn’t really listen to what frontman Chuck D was saying on each track. I just thought it was the coolest thing I had ever heard. Only later did I realize the message he was conveying in his songs about the struggles of African-Americans. There’s a certain anger in his message that just grabs you by the throat and doesn’t let go. I love that he was totally fearless in his approach and although I’m not a black man, a large Caucasian fan base emerged for Public Enemy after that record debuted. I believe Public Enemy’s sound crossed racial boundaries because we can all relate to the emotions he was expressing.
5. “One” by Metallica - Van Halen was my introduction to rock. Metallica took me to an entirely different level of the genre that has a massive influence on me to this day. There’s an anger in metal that I’ve never heard in any other genre of music and “One” by Metallica was my introduction to it. So many raw emotions come from the sounds generated by Metallica in the song “One” that express rage and chaos. It’s one of those songs that constantly builds until it reaches a violent climax right around the four and half minute mark. If I ever need to access my own rage I need little more than to listen to metal in order to find it.
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