tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15421733381677286532024-02-20T05:17:45.355-05:00Big American Party!The Champagne of BlogsBenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06625628394026895901noreply@blogger.comBlogger252125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1542173338167728653.post-31348373312269686692013-01-18T20:48:00.000-05:002013-01-18T20:48:32.489-05:00funnybook of the week: January 9, 2013
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Title gets axed. Another title makes it to the top for the first time. It's the circle of life.</div>
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<b>12 - Avengers Arena #3 (last issue - 12 out of 18 books)</b></div>
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The lack of a central character or anything beyond the basic premise linking these books together is just crippling when the focus character of an issue isn’t all that likable. Three issues is longer than I thought this would last, but I need a better story than is being told even if I did like the character pieces in the first two issues.</div>
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<b>11 - Walking Dead #106 (last issue - 8 out of 9 books)</b></div>
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Negan spends more time torturing Carl with “what am I going to do with you?” We see a little more of his cartoon kingdom, as well.</div>
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In the meantime, we’re also given an odd beat with townsfolk describing Rick’s newfound playalong even as we see him go to break that game (only not?). Nothing really clicked in this issue for me, the beats were like they were for different stories. The teaser at the end, though? That might get me to the next issue.</div>
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<b>10 - Wolverine & the X-Men #23 (last issue - 17 out of 18 books)</b></div>
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Well, this story is over. When even the characters seem aware that “character repurposing” is well-worn territory, we’ve maybe landed in the wrong direction. The Young Frankenstein’s journey over the last two issues was actually quite interesting and fun, but all this noise in the background was just kind of unnecessary. But we get to move on now.</div>
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<b>9 - Detective Comics #16 (last issue - 8 out of 8 books)</b></div>
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The Joker makes people crazy. Or attracts them. Batman is paranoid and has been anticipating this kind of nonsense. This was a fine Batman story that hit all the right notes, but the backup featuring the Emperor Penguin taking advantage of this all was far more interesting.</div>
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Overall, though, I feel like we’re waiting to get to the other side of the crossover, which is never a good feeling to have.</div>
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<a href="http://i86.photobucket.com/albums/k91/Ben411/264477_20130109122523_large.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://i86.photobucket.com/albums/k91/Ben411/264477_20130109122523_large.jpg" /></a><b>8 - Ghost #3 (last issue - 8 out of 10 books)</b></div>
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Origin issues can be rough. This was kind of a Clarissa Explains it all if Clarissa is the discarded favorite of the demons in this world and “it all” is how the bad guys came to be and who exactly our poor heroine (barely in this issue) might be.</div>
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There are still some strong points. The jilted sidekick angle, the previous relationship to Ghost and the big bad, and the cliffhanger (curiously before the flashback) were good, just not good enough to make this issue a stand-alone must-have.</div>
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<b>7 - Thunderbolts #3 (last issue - 14 out of 18 books)</b></div>
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Still onto something - enough to get me to the next issue - but still missing something I can’t quite put my finger on. Way is using Deadpool in an interesting way here, making him the loudmouth conscience of the group in a characterization fitting right in with where he was left in Uncanny X-Force.</div>
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There’s still some solid characterization missing for Venom and Elektra barely gets any panel time (but that’s according to Ross’ chessmatch, so Rulk - and by extension Way - may be saving some big stuff for her). And I’m not finding the plotting to be the tightest in the world.</div>
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But man, that last page is hilarious.</div>
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<b>6 - Animal Man #16 (last issue - 6 out of 8 books)</b></div>
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There’s a real heightening here, after being fooled into thinking that the good guys were finally making some headway. Lemire keeps finding ways to make the lowest point even lower and finally bottoms out here before next issue’s “final battle.” I mean that in the best possible way. It looks really bleak for all involved, save Maxine’s undying faith.</div>
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Broken record: the past Buddy left behind is more interesting than the future. I’m honestly ready for this book to get back to smaller stories about Buddy and his family.</div>
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<b>5 - Superior Spider-Man #1 (last issue - n/a)</b></div>
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Slott writing Ockter-Man is going to be an entertaining ride. The working in of the villainous dialogue as Spider-Man facing the Sinister Six combined with Stegman's great poses and facial expressions for Peter Parker for just the most unlikely amount of fun you could imagine. That's the good news.</div>
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The bad news is the hook. The thing that's going to bring you back to the book. The way you're going to get around the obstacle of having to root for Otto Octavius. It's almost entirely what I was afraid of, something that will always remind you of Peter Parker without letting you start to slowly root for the guy moving the body to finally get it.</div>
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It can go well, and it's an intriguing hook, but I do wonder what it means for the long-term sustainability of the book.</div>
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<a href="http://i86.photobucket.com/albums/k91/Ben411/264432_20130109151117_large.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://i86.photobucket.com/albums/k91/Ben411/264432_20130109151117_large.jpg" /></a><b>4 - Scarlet Spider #13 (last issue 13 out of 18 books)</b></div>
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It’s one thing to have a reluctant hero, but Yost adds a newer and even more tragic dimension to Kaine when he shows the reluctant hero trying to stop an unstoppable line of evil against every facet of his better judgement. Kaine’s every movement seems to come with the question “why?” even when he knows the answer.</div>
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In this fashion, Kaine who was Peter Parker is a far more interesting hero than Peter Parker who is Otto Octavius. Kaine is a fallen Peter trying to become the man he never truly was rather than Otto trying to fill the shoes of a man he still sees as inferior. Point Kaine.</div>
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Now if we could clean up the unnecessary “knows too much” aspect of the villains, we’d be onto something golden.</div>
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<b>3 - Transformers: Regeneration One #87 (last issue - 4 out of 8 books)</b></div>
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Robot biology. Seriously. And it’s kind of a neat idea. Grimlock’s deal with the devil comes with some new allies who are less inclined towards feelings of guilt. Speaking of feelings of guilt, we’re left without a Prime again as he decides against the people of Earth’s wishes and hangs out. Which is a good thing because Galvatron and mute Starscream are still afoot, and found something huge. The leadership gap is to be filled by Hot Rod, who’s off on a Matrix quest of sorts while deserting the Autobots to be vulnerable to Grimlock’s deal with the devil.</div>
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This is good comics.</div>
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<b>2 - Supurbia #3 (last issue - 4 out of 9 books)</b></div>
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Grace Randolph is telling several really interesting stories here (why am I always a sucker for crazy Lois Lane analogues when I don’t really like Superman that much?), bringing several of Hela’s conflicting interests to a head. This is our first real glimpse at her at her best and worst when they’re placed side-by-side, and it’s great.</div>
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The Batu story is starting to bleed into the larger title while keeping its own momentum, and the soap opera of the love triangle gets a confusing twist - still away from the rest of the action, though. There’s a really engaging read in here, and I don’t know if I’m really digging the characters (pretty sure I am) or just the soap opera aspect (which I’m definitely a little embarrassingly into). Maybe both?</div>
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<a href="http://i86.photobucket.com/albums/k91/Ben411/264436_20130109152708_large.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://i86.photobucket.com/albums/k91/Ben411/264436_20130109152708_large.jpg" /></a><b>1 - Thor: God of Thunder #4 (last issue - 6 out of 18 books)</b></div>
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The supporting cast is non-existent. When characters share time with Thor, it’s to give him someone to talk to for the sake of exposition. That is all. The action between the protagonist and antagonist takes on mostly the form of posturing. There’s unexplained time travel.</div>
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And yet I love this book. The god butcher’s ultimate revenge on King Thor, his trap for present-day Thor, and the edge he has on Young Thor are all pitch perfect. It’s not that it soars as a book in spite of these problems, it’s that those problems all contribute to a thoroughly entertaining bit of comics.</div>
Benhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06625628394026895901noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1542173338167728653.post-84007302528063393772009-10-07T11:45:00.002-04:002009-10-07T12:09:57.683-04:00it may come as a shock to you, but i hate the 24-hour news cycleAs a proud liberal/progressive/fascistcommiewhosupportscrazysocialistthingslikepeoplebeinghealthy, it's always easy for me to say that the discourse in this country is full of crap and then point to Fox News as an example. But really, they aren't the only ones. This was actually on TV:<br /><br /><center><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/O7x-dzXVcOw&hl=en&fs=1&color1=0x5d1719&color2=0xcd311b"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/O7x-dzXVcOw&hl=en&fs=1&color1=0x5d1719&color2=0xcd311b" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object></center><br /><br />CNN, a news network, was fact-checking <i>Saturday Night Live</i>, a comedy show. I find it odd they they take the time to bring in non-partisan fact-checkers when a comedy show runs with what an emerging perception of the President is, but go ahead and just rebroadcast and debate talking points like "death panels" as if they were somehow valid.<br /><br />I get that CNN has 24 hours to fill. I get that they're being spanked by more sensationalist and less news-oriented competitors. So they want to jazz it up a little bit. I even understand that what's happening with the political sketches on <i>SNL</i> is usually a pretty good indicator of what's resonating with the American people. I'll even support a little analysis in the 24-hour period about what those sketches may mean in terms of where public opinion is. CNN is still in the business of attracting viewers.<br /><br />Still, I'd rather you interview a fact checker when an elected official makes a baseless claim about what health care reform is and then let Screamy McOpinion and Yelly McViewpoint go after each other about whether or not the cold opening on <i>SNL</i> is indicative of the actual job President Obama is doing.<br /><br />When you do it this way around though, you're holding comedy shows to a higher standard of truthfulness than you are Congresspeople or even your own reporters. I stopped wondering why the American people seemed so ill-informed a long time ago.Benhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06625628394026895901noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1542173338167728653.post-62185116745514067702009-09-09T07:55:00.003-04:002009-09-09T08:18:14.616-04:00big american nfl preview '09: NFC NorthLook, I get to this division each year and have to pick with either my brain or my...whatever it is that causes me to love and overestimate the Bears' chances each year. So last year, I went with my brain and that didn't work out so hot. Guess where I'm going this year...<br /><br />4. <b>Detroit</b> - They're starting a rookie at quarterback. They're still the team that went 0-fer last season, and even with a new front office and pretty capable running back they're not going to have a Dolphin-like turnaround. Sorry Lions. I'll watch you on Thanksgiving.<br /><br />3. <b>Green Bay</b> - The Rogers kid went ahead and lit some teams up last season, making himself a fantasy darling. Too bad there was no running game. And very little defense to speak of. The Packers did basically nothing to address these problems, so there's not a lot to like except for a guy who will probably have 4,000 more passing yards in an otherwise fruitless season.<br /><br />2. <b>Minnesota</b> - When the Favre experiment goes wrong, and it will (after looking really good for a few weeks), you'll have Rosenfels and Jackson waiting in the wings after the Vikings went out of their way to say that they'd rather have a ghost behind center than either of them. Adrian Peterson and the defensive line are still going to be beastly, but I don't have faith in a team coached by a guy who spent the entire off-season ignoring his team to flirt with an overrated, past his prime, interception machine.<br /><br />1. <b>Chicago</b> - Okay. Hear me out. The team's biggest strength has always been its defense. The core group of that defense can probably feel the window shutting for them. I think they have one more great season in them before they fade as a group. They know how much the Bears mortgaged the future to get Jay Cutler now. They will step up one more time. I worry more about the secondary, which will be young and unproven. On the other side of the ball, they improved the offensive line to go with their bona fide quarterback and one of the best rushers in football (who is also a credible threat as a receiver). There isn't a lot to speak of where the wideouts are concerned, but Olson is still a phenomenal tight end and Devin Hester can still run fast enough to make teams sweat (if the Devin Hester experiment fails with Cutler at QB, we have no one to blame but Devin Hester). Call me crazy, but I like the Bears' chances.Benhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06625628394026895901noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1542173338167728653.post-65364786576257958292009-09-09T07:34:00.002-04:002009-09-09T07:55:15.986-04:00big american nfl preview '09: NFC EastIf it doesn't get done this morning, I'll never make my deadline. So let's hit the NFC East. These teams all have plenty going for them, but some pretty solid negatives as well. All I know for sure is that the defenses will be fun to watch.<br /><br />4. <b>Washington</b> - I hate picking the Redskins to notch last place here. Albert Haynesworth can't carry the defense by himself, though. And if I'm going to let the way the Cardinals finished the season be good news for Arizona, then the 2-6 limp to the finish for the Redskins probably doesn't bode well for Washington.<br /><br />3. <b>Dallas</b> - Defense will be stifling, but their offensive line is old. That might leave Romo in some trouble (especially with the "2" part of the 1-2 punch running game having skipped town), and I just don't buy him as that good a quarterback. Roy Williams is not T.O., as much as I don't like to admit that any team would ever miss that guy. The offense won't have to go far, or score much to win games. I think the Cowboys will be very good. Possibly a playoff team. All said, though, the rest of this division is better.<br /><br />2. <b>Philadelphia</b> - The Eagles are going to be better where they need to be. They shored up the O-line, will have some good (if young) receivers, potentially have some schemes that will make defensive coordinators' heads explode with the addition of Vick, and will boast a pretty strong defensive line. There are some questions in the secondary, but nothing to make me start a playoff prediction without including the Eagles.<br /><br />1. <b>New York</b> - So they didn't replace the threat that Plaxico "Boom Boom" Burress posed to other teams at wideout. They're still the nasty team that had a strong 2008 before a playoff flameout, only with some additions that will make the defense even more intimidating. The team has proven that they're winners, and I'm not going against them here.Benhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06625628394026895901noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1542173338167728653.post-54339857653537724202009-09-08T22:10:00.002-04:002009-09-08T22:23:43.228-04:00big american nfl preview '09: NFC WestOne more before bed. I'll make it an easy(ish) one.<br /><br />4. <b>St. Louis</b> - The Rams are in bad shape, still waiting on Marc Bulger to get healthy and hoping that will fix everything on a 2-14 team rather than blowing it all up and starting from scratch. And that's going to land them with the number one pick on prime time on a Thursday night.<br /><br />3. <b>Seattle</b> - Everyone is picking them to win the West, but they're doing it by starting all of their justifications with "if." "If Hasselbeck stays healthy...", "If Julius Jones can emerge as a true star in the league...", or "If the rookies pan out..." are a lot of ifs that I don't believe in.<br /><br />2. <b>San Francisco</b> - They're going to surprise a lot of people and, if I'm wrong about the Cardinals, could even be playoff-bound this year behind Alex Smith and Frank Gore. By the end of last season, Coach Singletary seemed to be onto something with this crew and it could end up being huge.<br /><br />1. <b>Arizona</b> - Were the playoffs for real last season? I like the talent and the coaching for The Cardinals too much to say no. I'm even a believer in an 100-year-old Kurt Warner...but that's more based on his targets. I have to think that the playoff run and legitimate shot at actually winning the Super Bowl meant that they found what they needed to get things going. They won't sneak up on anyone, but they'll be a fun team to watch win games as favorites this season.Benhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06625628394026895901noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1542173338167728653.post-31282961410448619892009-09-08T21:29:00.002-04:002009-09-08T22:10:05.357-04:00big american nfl preview '09: NFC SouthLet's keep this train rolling, shall we?<br /><br />4. <b>Tampa Bay</b> - The Bucs trying really hard to do "fresh start" without doing "rebuild," but they're doing "rebuild." Freeman will start the season behind center, but Leftwich will finish it there; once again the quarterback of a sub par team instead of what he could have been.<br /><br />3. <b>Carolina</b> - This is where I have no clue. The Panthers have a good but not great defense and a good but not great offense. The Panthers, when I think about their chances this year, could go 14-2 just as easily as they could go 6-10. Ultimately, I'm putting them here because the only people left who still believe in the Legend of Jake Delhomme are Jake himself and the Panthers front office. And if that's what they're building the team around, it isn't going to happen for them.<br /><br />2. <b>New Orleans</b> - New Orleans has a good offense. Moving along, I really like Darren Sharper, Jabir Green, and Malcolm Jenkins coming onto the defense to take down Drew Breeze's pass count and slow down other teams in a shoot-out. They don't make the Saints an intimidating defense, but they make enough improvement for some flirtation with the playoffs before ultimately falling short.<br /><br />1. <b>Atlanta</b> - I can't help but think that last year wasn't a fluke. Matt Ryan is far more likely than Flacco to give a repeat performance of his rookie season since he has a better running back and better receivers than ol' Joe will have. The defense here is iffy, but I'm trusting that they'll be good enough in a division where all of the other teams lack "good enough" at every position.Benhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06625628394026895901noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1542173338167728653.post-7348017744676171362009-09-08T21:16:00.004-04:002009-09-09T07:33:54.082-04:00big american nfl preview '09: AFC EastI stopped doing these for a while because of the way NC State decided to go ahead and lay a huge egg in their opener against South Carolina, therefore making it hard to think about football without sadness, pain, or both. But I'm back, and determined to get everything in before Thursday night. This probably means multiple entries tomorrow. Maybe even two tonight.<br /><br />4. <b>Buffalo</b> - The Bills might be able to put it together and surprise people. Maybe we'll get enough "good T.O." to figure out what kind of quarterback they really have behind center. Maybe some of the underrated pieces that Buffalo has on defense will become something greater when they gel together. The problem is that there are too many maybes for a team coached by Dick Jauron.<br /><br />3. <b>Miami</b> - Miami had a remarkable turnaround season last year and made us all talk about the possibilities of the "Wildcat" offense endlessly. I respect the talent they have, but I'm not convinced that a repeat performance is going to be lined up. Seriously, Pennington only gives you one good season at a time.<br /><br />2. <b>New York</b> - I like the Jets more than I should. I like Thomas Jones, I like their receiving corps, and I like what Rex Ryan brings to their defense as head coach. None of these things are absolute and game-proven things to like as much as I do, but I see the Jets in the playoffs.<br /><br />1. <b>New England</b> - This isn't a vote of confidence in the Patriots as much as a vote of no-confidence in my confidence in the Jets. Get that? Yes, Brady is back. Yes, they're coming off of an 11-5 season which could have easily been a playoff year with a mere handful of different things that didn't involve the guy taking the snaps. I just don't see the Patriots as the juggernaut people are touting them as. They'll start out strong, but it's an old and aching team; and that won't last into the winter. Especially given that they've lost a whopping 6 starters on the defensive side of the ball. I'm only picking them to win the East because the Jets are determined to start a rookie (thanks a lot Flacco and Ryan) at quarterback.Benhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06625628394026895901noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1542173338167728653.post-29238875695767871222009-08-31T23:06:00.004-04:002009-08-31T23:35:33.199-04:00big american nfl preview '09: AFC NorthI need to go ahead and let you all know that if you're not following Chad Ochocinco's Twitter feed, you're missing some of the most hilarious stuff on the internet. Onto the AFC North preview...<br /><br />4. <span style="font-weight:bold;">Cleveland</span> - In theory, the Browns have a lot of good pieces. But that's only if everyone is playing the part of what they should be rather than what they are. Edwards, Anderson(or even Quinn, failing that), Jackson, Rodgers, and Lewis are all names that should push Cleveland into some serious football discussions. They're not. This team isn't going places. Their one win this season won't even put them into Detroit's 0-16 club.<br /><br />3. <span style="font-weight:bold;">Cincinnati</span> - Hilarity aside, Ochocinco is in a lot of trouble. TJ Houshmanzada isn't on the other side of the field, I don't have any faith in the run game, and Carson Palmer looks like he's going to end up joining Grant Hill in the "how great would have have been if not for the being injured all the time?" hall of fame. Carson might put together a full season, and the Bengals have a young defense that could make a difference and give the Bengals a good finish to the season, but I don't like their chances on the whole.<br /><br />2. <span style="font-weight:bold;">Baltimore</span> - Joe Flacco and Matt Ryan can't both have the kind of season they did last year, and my money is on Ryan repeating before Flacco. That said, this is still Baltimore. The Ravens are another year older on that defense, but that's still a defense that can get things done (and it still has Terrell Suggs...and that man is frightening). I like McGahee even if he can't finish a season, and I hear good things about Rice. They'll be in the playoff discussion, either as the last team in or the first team out.<br /><br />1. <span style="font-weight:bold;">Pittsburgh</span> - Put simply, all the parts of a team that was big and scary and awesome last year have returned. Well, at least, a defense that was big and scary and awesome last year. If the offense can improve itself at all, there's a better than average chance that we'll follow the blueprint this season. We'll jump on a team that gets hot or has a flashy offense or makes a sexy highlight reel until the next thing you know, Pittsburgh is the runaway favorite to win the AFC.Benhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06625628394026895901noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1542173338167728653.post-788784004106455152009-08-30T21:36:00.000-04:002009-08-30T21:37:26.200-04:00big american nfl preview '09: AFC WestFrom what might be the most competitive division in the AFC to the least...<br /><br />4. <b>Oakland</b> - Even in this from this league of losers, the Raiders stand out. They've got coaches (probably) breaking each others' jaws, players having to tell other players that you might want to go to sleep at a reasonable hour before game day, and the culture of futility that's been brewing ever since Tampa Bay chased them out of the Super Bowl however many years ago. It doesn't look good.<br /><br />3. <b>Kansas City</b> - The Chiefs weren't going to be good before the next Derek Anderson went down with an injury. Now? Well, at least their coaches aren't punching each other.<br /><br />2. <b>Denver</b> - I've been told by television commentators that we have yet to see Kyle Orton throw the ball down field, as if it's going to happen at any moment. I saw him play in Chicago and also "have yet" to see it. There are pieces of this team that just aren't there, but I'm mostly happy that I no longer have to sell myself on Kyle Orton.<br /><br />1. <b>San Diego</b> - Default winners of the AFC West. The interesting thing is going to be that we won't really know what the Chargers are made of for sure until we're well into the season because of the rest of the West will be so lousy. But if Tomlinson is as healthy as he claims (or even close), Rivers has another great year, and the defense does their job (and, honestly, there's not very many reasons to think they won't); the sky's the limit for this team. Still, they'll have to make it happen come playoff time.Benhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06625628394026895901noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1542173338167728653.post-83810444173478495472009-08-27T09:37:00.000-04:002009-08-27T09:38:51.473-04:00big american nfl preview '09: AFC SouthAlright, political discussions are important. But so is the way I distract myself from the need for political discussion. Football is coming back soon, and I'm here to handicap the upcoming NFL season for you division-by-division just so a record of how little I actually know exists. They're talking about the NFC North on ESPN as I type this, and I hate the idea of letting them color my opinion, so I'll go complete opposite today: The AFC South.<br /><br />I expect a seriously competitive division, possibly even the closest one week-in-and-week-out in football. We've got two teams coming off of playoff appearances and strong seasons, a team that I like a lot as a football team, and another one that's almost universally been touted as a team that will have arrived by the time it's all said and done. But something is going to have to give somewhere.<br /><br />4. <b>Jacksonville</b> - I wanted to like Jacksonville more than this. On paper, they have a serviceable quarterback who can maneuver himself and Torry Holt, who gives them the kind of receiver I don't remember them having on top of being a smart player that will come back to the ball when Garrard gets to scrambling. Add to that one of the best running backs in the game in Jones-Drew, and I could maybe even talk myself into calling the Jaguars a playoff team. But the window seems to have shut on what was once an intimidating defense, even with Del Rio's mind behind them. And that offense is good, but not the kind of good that puts you in a position to win shootout-style games. Jacksonville could surprise, but I don't see it.<br /><br />3. <b>Tennessee</b> - They had a helluva season last season. And Jeff Fisher is a great coach. But I still think that last season was a flash-in-the-pan sort of season that's going to only serve to unfairly raise expectations. No Albert Haynesworth means that the defense lacks not only their biggest difference-maker but also their biggest distraction when opposing teams map out the offense. I don't think Collins-to-nobody makes for an especially dangerous passing threat, meaning that other teams can put the world in the box to stop the run.<br /><br />2. <b>Houston</b> - A lot of people have been declaring this to be the year that The Texans break through and see the playoffs. And they're certainly going to do a lot of things very well. Matt Schaub-to-Andre Johnson should be one of the biggest connections in the game this year, they'll have a reliable if not surprisingly good rushing game, and they have a beast of a defensive line headlined by Mario Williams. They could even win this division. Could. But I don't think they will quite yet.<br /><br />1. <b>Indianapolis</b> - They don't have the offense they used to. The receivers aren't as sexy (football sexy, not sexy sexy) and running game doesn't appear as dominant. They have a guy whose name might as well be "Not Tony Dungy" as their coach. What they do have is a defense that was very quietly among the best last season. What they do have is Peyton Manning. They won't be the Colts like we're used to seeing the Colts, but they're still contenders until they prove they aren't.Benhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06625628394026895901noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1542173338167728653.post-56562116918008808802009-08-26T08:29:00.003-04:002009-08-26T08:32:07.093-04:00we lost one of the good ones, and there weren't that many of them left<a href=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/08/26/ted-kennedy-dead-legendar_n_268978.html>Ted Kennedy is gone</a>. He did the good fight proud more often than anyone else who's been elected to national office in my lifetime. He didn't get to see a United States where everyone had access to health care. And that's sad.Benhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06625628394026895901noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1542173338167728653.post-63107339518186566822009-08-24T22:36:00.001-04:002009-08-26T08:40:35.138-04:00what would Jesus damand as a co-pay?I had wanted my glorious return to semi-regular blogging to be ushered in with football predictions, but I have something else on my mind at the moment and it won't go away until I share it with a wide and largely anonymous audience. There's this little debate going on around these here United States of America where health care is concerned. I'm certainly not going to be the first person in access to the internet to weigh in on this, so there are a few things I'm going to skip over for your sake.<br /><br />The misdirection, misinformation, and outright lies coming from the right, for example, are documented by my heroes over at <a href="http://mediamatters.org/">Media Matters</a> in a far more thorough fashion than I'd be able to muster all by my lonesome.* I'll also skip my rallying cry to do whatever it takes to get the "blue dogs" out of office via their next primaries if they don't feel like health care should be accessible to everyone. For good measure, I'll even move on past the part where I lay out the reasons that anything less than the single-payer, universal health care we're all supposed to be afraid of is a cop out.<br /><br />No, what's annoying me the most in this debate is the silence. A deafening silence coming from the Church. Now, to be fair, there is some good stuff being done quietly. There's <a href=http://www.1010challenge.org/site/c.olIZIfNYJwE/b.5337789/k.C006/Home.htm>The 10:10 Challenge</a>, for example, which I think is fantastic. However, there isn't one loud voice coming from the big, honkin', capitol "C" Church. <br /><br />This wouldn't be such a big deal, but apparently the Christian faith has pockets that can get bent out of shape over the need for legislation to remove the rights of gay folks. Heck, there's even a very vocal group of Christians who scream and contort their faces in front of anyone with a camera because they hate the idea that evolution is being taught in science classes. These two issues are things that the Church is divided on, though, as we disagree over the interpretation and study of the surrounding scripture. <br /><br />So certainly on this issue, where there is absolutely no reading of any scripture that would translate to Jesus being of the opinion that there are people who don't deserve access to health care, the Church should easily rise up and in one unison voice demand that health care be treated as a human right. On this issue, shouldn't the side the Church takes on this issue - and we're talking the entire Church, lunatic fringe and all - be a slam dunk? Shouldn't this be the modern Church's finest hour, where we put aside the issues that divide our faith and rally behind the teachings that tell us, unequvically, to take care of those who need it?<br /><br />Apparently, the Church is afraid of what compassion would look like on our pay stubs underneath Social Security. Apparently, the Church is too busy letting Dobson scream bloody murder over fictional "death panels." Apparently the Church, after being told for so long that only one political party has any of our interests in mind and seeing that party work so hard to deny people the right to proper care, is just too confused to get together and push the government to do the right thing in the tradition of the Old Testament prophets (only probably without the pillars of fire...at least, I'd hope so).<br /><br />The Church in America has its share of failings. This silence, especially relative to some of the noise parts of it have been allowed to make at other times, is probably our biggest.<br /><br /><br /><small>*For example much of their information gathering comes from folks who, bless their hearts, can watch far more Fox News and listen to far more talk radio than I could stomach.</small>Benhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06625628394026895901noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1542173338167728653.post-47588164376501658592009-08-14T10:00:00.003-04:002009-08-14T10:01:36.276-04:00the stick from which all future sticks shall be judgedI just want you to know that this is going to change my life for the better. Details soonish. Blog posts also to follow in a relatively soonish fashion.<br /><br /><center><IMG SRC=http://i86.photobucket.com/albums/k91/Ben411/stick.jpg></center>Benhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06625628394026895901noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1542173338167728653.post-2144983076725155182009-06-15T07:48:00.001-04:002009-06-15T16:01:32.861-04:00pardon the dust on your web browserSo you may have noticed a lack of activity here. You may have also noticed a lack of activity over at <a href=http://www.howrdudoin.com>How RDU Doin'?</a> In both cases, it's due to the combination of restructuring and my impending move to Carrboro. <br /><br />Look for How RDU Doin'? to get some seriously great new content in the coming weeks (especially after <a href=http://www.jenningsrampage.com>Scott</a> gets himself married and local again).<br /><br />As for the stuff I'm changing here, you may have noticed certain posts are missing. How you feel about those posts is basically the reason for the shift. In talking to the people who still read my little rambly thoughts, I discovered two camps:<br /><br />One, mostly my friends and such, said "I like the site, but what's with all the comic book stuff?"<br /><br />The other, mostly other comic nerds I've met through various online involvements, said "I like the comic book stuff, but what's up with all that other crap?"<br /><br />So to satisfy both parties, I've removed the "Funnybook of the Week" posts from here and given them their own space. You can find those at the new and improved <a href=http://www.funnybookoftheweek.blogspot.com>Funnybook of the Week</a>, which now gives me more room to geek out to a specific audience. Act today, and you'll even find my <a href="http://funnybookoftheweek.blogspot.com/2009/06/spoiled-rotten-captain-america-600.html">especially nerdy thoughts on Captain America #600</a>.<br /><br />You'll still be able to read me talk about all the other stuff I like to talk about right here. So it's okay. Posting with some frequency shall resume in the coming weeks. It'll be great.Benhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06625628394026895901noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1542173338167728653.post-32668312957282557012009-05-19T20:11:00.001-04:002009-05-19T20:11:40.256-04:00the reasons that brett favre must come backOf late, every breath of the hated Brett Favre has been reported upon by all sports media. Nationally and locally. Television, internet, radio, smoke signals...you can't get away from hearing about Favre. We're just shy of a story where people speculate upon the meaning of Favre's breakfast:<br /><br />"The key isn't so much that he had pancakes, but that he had blueberry pancakes - once again indicating a strong intrest in playing quarterback for the Vikings."<br /><br />"How's that?"<br /><br />"Well, blueberries - especially when cooked into a pancake - are actually more purple in color than blue. Naturally, since the Minnesota Vikings wear purple..."<br /><br />"WHATASCOOP!"<br /><br />But an end to the inane speculation isn't why I want Favre in a Vikings uniform as soon as possible. After all, if Favre does decide to play football again this season, it mearly means we'll have to play "will he/won't he" in the next NFL offseason as well. Here are the actual reasons for Favre to get back on the field:<br /><br />1) Consider the record. As you may have heard me point out before once or twice, Brett Favre has thrown more interceptions than any other quarterback in the NFL's history. That said, I wouldn't mind him padding that stat just to make sure that a player I have absolutely no love, admiration, or even basic human respect for always has that distinction. And if he's throwing the ball to the other team a lot in a Vikings uniform? Well, that only helps the Bears, doesn't it?<br /><br />2) On the field means not in the booth. I hadn't considered this, but I heard on the ol' radio this morning that Brett Favre would consider a broadcast job. His only reluctance to get into the booth is that he doesn't want to wear a tie (they apparently don't go with his Wranglers), which the Monday Night gig he was apparently rumored to be considered for would require. Still, there's no shortage of people bending over backwards for this guy, so allowing him to drop the tie wouldn't be that big a deal. This guy mustn't...HE. MUST. NOT...be allowed anywhere near an NFL broadcast with a live mic. Between the accent, the almost certain constant self-promotion, and the awkard transitions (a man with this many INT's in his career would probably mess up "throwing it down to the field" so a sideline reporter can ask a horrid and obvious question); it could cripple the NFL's broadcasting.<br /><br />3) I want to record the reaction he gets the first time he steps on to <i>The Frozen Tundra of Lambeau Field</i> wearing purple and watch it over and over and over again.Benhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06625628394026895901noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1542173338167728653.post-82954254873376929932009-05-15T00:01:00.003-04:002009-05-15T00:08:53.052-04:00scott walker figuratively punched boston in the eye, and i loved itThe second-best thing about this series going seven games is that I found a way over the course of it to give the Bruins the same amount of hateful ire that I can throw the way of the Patriots, Red Sox, Celtics, and whatever Major League Lacrosse team Boston my have. That is to say that, while I will always hate other teams more and wish more misery upon their players and fans, I have a principal that allows me to give them just enough hate to enjoy their downfall on most occasions.<br /><br />The best thing is that, after achieving that kind of hatred, it feels extra nice to have Scott Walker <a href="http://sports.espn.go.com/nhl/recap?gameId=290514001">rip their hearts out</a> in a game seven overtime. <br /><br />It also doesn't hurt to know that this sends the 'Canes back to the Easter Conference Finals. Oh, NHL playoffs, I wish you could last forever. Or at least until the start of football season.Benhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06625628394026895901noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1542173338167728653.post-20143405027882018812009-05-07T22:56:00.002-04:002009-05-07T23:11:48.042-04:00i kind of hate that i'm agingThe upcoming 30th birthday. Not excited about it. There's a desperation about me as I evaluate where I am that I suppose isn't entirely unlike a midlife crisis. Except this isn't that, because it's way too early for this to be a midlife crisis. Also, how could I have a midlife crisis when I can't even come close to affording the sports car?<br /><br />When I worked at Camp Rockfish, my favorite co-worker (other than Laul Peeland) was a girl who would hang onto my every word and laugh at my every joke. Sometimes, she'd even look at me and say "you're going to be famous."<br /><br />Not too incredibly long ago, I ran into one of the counselors at my high school. She asked me what I'd been up to. After telling her, she seemed profoundly disappointed and threw in a quick "I thought you'd be famous by now." <br /><br />My mom is an avid <a href=http://www.howrdudoin.com>How RDU Doin'?</a> reader, and recently sent me an email telling me how witty I am and how I've clearly missed a golden opportunity if I can't find a way to get someone from the <span style="font-style:italic;">Daily Show</span> to take a look at it.<br /><br />I tell you all of this, in the sort of "woe is me" style post that I kind of hoped never to feel compelled towards ever again, to say one thing. For my 30th birthday, I'd like to be as talented as people think I am. And I'd like the stones to do something with that talent.Benhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06625628394026895901noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1542173338167728653.post-88070951010641180652009-04-29T08:55:00.004-04:002009-04-29T09:05:58.866-04:00oh, but to be a fly on the wall in the new jersey locker room....For all that Buffalo has become the new rival and for all that I still pretty much can't stand any of the other teams in the Southeast Division, New Jersey still sits atop my list of teams I enjoy seeing the Hurricanes beat. If we eliminate them in the playoffs? Even sweeter. If the Hurricanes manage to do everything but stand over them and <a href="http://sports.espn.go.com/nhl/recap?gameId=290428011">rip their hearts out</a> just as they were tuning up the celebratory horn? Excuse me, I'll have to collect myself.<br /><br />While I do that, why don't we let the Devils explain what the 'Canes did to them in this series.<br /><blockquote>"I really don't know what to say. I am shocked, stunned," Devils coach Brent Sutter said.</blockquote><br /><blockquote>Zach Parise sat in front of his locker with his hands in his face. Most players spoke in very low voices, and none could recall a more gut-wrenching loss.</blockquote><br /><blockquote>"These guys do a lot of those things against us," Brodeur said. "They beat us with two-tenths of a second to play and now this, it's stunning."</blockquote><br /><blockquote>"They scored two goals in the final two minutes of a hockey game to win it," Devils center John Madden said. "I will never forget it."</blockquote><br />Yeah. Good, good times.<br /><br />Now let's go beat Boston, yes?Benhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06625628394026895901noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1542173338167728653.post-14248180170792755352009-04-28T11:44:00.001-04:002009-04-28T11:46:02.486-04:00i agree with this videoIt's long been Andi's opinion that we should give Texas back to Mexico, but this will do just as well.<br /><br /><center><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/qCLz7XQOIOQ&color1=0xcc2550&color2=0xe87a9f&hl=en&feature=player_embedded&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/qCLz7XQOIOQ&color1=0xcc2550&color2=0xe87a9f&hl=en&feature=player_embedded&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object></center>Benhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06625628394026895901noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1542173338167728653.post-22110006270559778252009-04-24T09:42:00.007-04:002009-04-24T09:53:56.281-04:00for the sake of clarification and directed towards someone who probably has never read anything i've posted hereYou think that, based on your reading of the Bible, that God hates gay people. You also think that - and I'm assuming you somehow also have scripture to back this up - God is okay with torture.<br /><br />Yeah, we can't be friends anymore. Not even on facebook.Benhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06625628394026895901noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1542173338167728653.post-11526495821552372592009-04-19T04:32:00.001-04:002009-04-19T14:17:38.147-04:00a few super-late thoughts on the tea bagging of americaNo, not <a href=http://thebigamericanparty.blogspot.com/2009/02/things-occasionally-get-changed-forever.html>this tea bagging of America</a>, but the little parties that made the news rounds last week. You know, the gatherings of people who are protesting...something...maybe taxes?...because guys like Limbaugh have been screaming that the sky is falling.<br /><br />Because I sometimes spend a few minutes listening to right wing talk radio (as I've said many times, it's important to know what they're saying no matter how crazy/asinine/evil it happens to be), I know that Hannity thinks that no one except the people at these little parties understands what they were about. He offered no explanation, just that the mainstream media missed the point. So what was the point?<br /><br />- People are out protesting "tax hikes." I put "tax hikes" in quotes because, as you no doubt know if you've been keeping up with the pesky little facts out there, most people will end up paying less in taxes. These "tax hikes" they're protesting are largely the rolling back of Bush's massive tax cuts. Even if that weren't true, none of these people are being taxed into the poor house...or even the middle class house...or even out of their summer house on the beach...so I have a hard time seeing the problem.<br /><br />- Some are upset because their perception of taxes is President Obama taking their money from them and giving it to deadbeats who are too lazy to pay their mortgages. Maybe none of them noticed the economy tanking, but there are people out there losing their homes right not largely because of the whole "suddenly not having a job" thing. There is absolutely nothing that infuriates me than the assertion the poor are only poor because they want to be/are too lazy to get rich. And it's being perpetuated when Limbaugh goes on the air and actually says that people who can are going to look around and stop paying their mortgages and just assume that the government will take it over for them. This is stupid. Of course people want to achieve on their own. Of course it stings when they have to have help, especially when it comes right after having their job and life pulled out from under them. The idea that this is suddenly going to create a "welfare state" (Hannity again) full of lazy people just waiting for President Obama to come and help them out is one that's being put out there to frighten people who don't know to think about things for a second. Guess who showed up at the tea parties...<br /><br />- Some aren't protesting taxes so much as the notion that Obama is deficit spending. For the record, these are largely the same people who were okay with Bush the W borrowing tons of money for an ill-advised war that was sold to the American people based on the repetition of a lie...but they're mad as hell and aren't going to take it anymore when President Obama is spending money to, you know, help people live their lives and take care of that basic "pursuit of happiness" thing.<br /><br />- But hey, maybe, just maybe there are people out there who opposed both the spending on the Iraq fiasco AND the spending on fighting off a depression. If someone truly believes that people need to be thrown to the wolves to fend for themselves in a sort of economic darwinism where only the people lucky enough to work for companies that aren't having to make massive cuts survive...I have nothing for you. We believe different things and your beliefs actually make me sad.<br /><br />- What, in the end, I think most of these people were protesting - if they really knew what they were protesting at all - was a Democratic president.Benhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06625628394026895901noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1542173338167728653.post-59737672994525914462009-04-13T15:28:00.002-04:002009-04-13T15:32:08.971-04:00wednesday.Playoffs. Wednesday. Who's ready for some fun?<br /><br /><center><IMG SRC=http://i86.photobucket.com/albums/k91/Ben411/h.png></center><br /><br />Let's go 'Canes!Benhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06625628394026895901noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1542173338167728653.post-7343510768452097852009-04-07T23:00:00.003-04:002009-04-07T23:06:26.520-04:00now here's a context in which i'll accept "carolina wins" as good news<a href=http://espn.go.com/nhl/recap?gameId=290407007>A 9-0 Hurricanes win over the Islanders</a> to keep things rolling even after clinching a playoff spot and keep my hopes for that 4th seed alive has me thinking a bit.<br /><br />I didn't write what went through my head about the hiring of Paul Maurice. I didn't write what went through my head when the 'Canes biggest trade deadline move was bringing Cole back into the fold. But with a 9 game winning streak at a really great time for a hockey team to be peaking and Cole having collected 15 points in 15 games back with the team, I'm glad there's no record of what was going through my head in those moments.<br /><br />I eagerly await the playoffs.Benhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06625628394026895901noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1542173338167728653.post-78711410985493280542009-04-06T08:41:00.004-04:002009-04-06T09:08:35.629-04:00SUPER SPARKLE SHOWCASE sunday morning recap on a monday<center><IMG SRC=http://i86.photobucket.com/albums/k91/Ben411/sparkle.jpg></center><br /><br />Season Two is done. Fun was had, <a href=http://lisap.blogspot.com/>Lisa P</a> came in and nailed the part of the former Mrs. Aquarius, and Brian Thacker was crowned the new SUPER SPARKLE SHOWCASE champion. Once again, the majority of the thanks go out to JMatt. The poor guy spent another six weeks making things run while the rest of us dicked around.<br /><br />Honestly, if you haven't been coming to the show, you're missing out. Food for thought when I bring back the big pink banner after the summer and start sending you facebook invites to Season Three.Benhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06625628394026895901noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1542173338167728653.post-14928120954383287032009-04-06T08:18:00.002-04:002009-04-06T09:21:53.455-04:00hey, who's not tired of hearing me talk about jay cutler?Since the talking heads on ESPN think that somehow it's a good idea for the Broncos to ditch a top-five quarterback in a league where great play behind center has become the exception rather than the rule, I had to go to their website to find someone that made an ounce of sense. And it turned out to be <a href="http://sports.espn.go.com/espnmag/story?id=4039947">Rick Reilly</a>.<br /><br /><blockquote>How many Broncos fans -- when they first heard that Josh McDaniels was taking over -- thought to themselves, "Boy, I sure hope we can somehow dump Pro Bowl QB Jay Cutler and start Kyle Orton this season! That would be swell!" And it all stemmed from McDaniels' ham-handed style and his Macy's-balloon ego. Years from now, the Cutler Catastrophe will go down as the dumbest thing in Boy Blunder's very short coaching career. I have a buddy who honestly believes McDaniels thinks this is fantasy football; that he gets a whole team to play with and screw over in his own image and what the hell, if his moves don't work out, his league has a special "mulligan" rule and he can start over. Only there's no "oops" rule in the NFL. This deal -- and McDaniels' Belichick wanna-be act -- will haunt Denver for years.</blockquote>Benhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06625628394026895901noreply@blogger.com0