38th Edition - 10/28/06

My first ever Saturday post. It has nothing to do with the excitment of the Cardinals besting the Tigers in the World Series. I was busy yesterday. I am sorry. Work got the best of me. Though if I told you what my work was, I don't think I'll get your sympathy. I had to interview Will Smith and then go so "A Good Year" and "Perfume." Yup, that's work.

• The Series: Thanks for nothing

After getting the Red Sox and White Sox the last two years, maybe we got spoiled with a Series that had meaning, that will stand the test of time.
Cardinals 4, Tigers 2
Cardinals win the series 4-1

Congrats Cards fans. With 83 wins in the regualar season, you are the best team in baseball. You beat the Padres, then the Mets (with injuries) and Tigers (with errors) beat themselves. The 2006 Cardinals have the destinction of being the worst team ever to win the World Series, which is actually kind of cool.

• The Picks

I'm getting my picks in just in time. Since I am betting Saturday morning the line might have shifted from what you have.

j NCAA:
Northwestern (+29.5) over Michigan
Illinois (+22) over Wisconsin

j NFL:
Buccaneers (+9) over Giants
49ers (+16) over Bears
Rams (+9.5) over Chargers
Jets (+1.5) over Browns

• SNL
  

Hugh Laurie and Beck on SNL tonight. Let's see if they can go .500 on funny shows this season.

37th Edition - 10/26/06

• The Series

Game 4 was rained out - which means ESPN had to create a long-winded article about the last time there was a rain out during the World Series, and who this benefits (click here to read).

But not me. I'm taking the day off from the sporting world and filling it with fluff. That's right, it's a --

• Fluff Day!

*Are you sweating with anticipation over the "Borat" film release? Well, this might hold you over for a day or two. Go to myspace.com/borat and watch the infomercial for the soundtrack that will be out Oct. 31. It will include songs, "You be my Wife" and a cover of "Born to be Wild."
By the way, the film is outstanding.

*Need a new stand-up comedian in your life? Consider Aaron Karo. I interviewed him last week for a show he has at the House of Blues in Chicago on Friday (click here to read). Also, you can get his free bi-monthly column at aaronkaro.com.

*Do you like your name? Click here to find out how it stacks up to others in popularity throughout the years. I have a nephew named Cole, simply insane how popular that name has become in the last five years. And Jesus is making a comeback, which is nice.

*Click here for a movie trivia game, with a twist. Film scenes are displaying using only office products such as pens and post-its. I have yet to know anyone who has gotten them all.

*And finally, I have no idea why I am hesitating on buying this yet ... but one of the guys who does MST300 has now released funny DVD commentaries to play along with your favorite movies.
The cost is $2-$3 and titles include Road House, Plan 9 From Outer Space and Star Trek V, The Matrix, Top Gun and Halloween. Go to http://www.rifftrax.com/ to learn more.

36th Edidtion - 10/25/06

• The Series

Cardinals 5, Tigers 0 (Cards have a 2-1 lead)
Carpenter pitched like he had dirt on his hand, he was that good. But he didn't have dirt, or anything else on his hand, the Tigers even had the umprie check.
There is no historical excitement if the Cardinals win the World Series. I don't even think it would motivate the Cubs to try harder in the off-season.
The Tigers should be able to hit, but they can't.

Game 4 at 7:00 on Fox
Bonderman vs Suppan

• Stuff

That's it for sports today. Sure, I could talk about Romo starting at QB for the Cowboys, or A-Rod's agent saying he is staying in NY for the 2007 season. Kobe not playing in the season opener and the new MLB labor agreement just don't have enough zing for me today.

But this does ...

The Most Absurb Deleted Scenes of all Time
A friend sent me the link to this article on cracked.com.
For me, #5 (The Octupus Attack) from the "Goonies" takes the cake.

On Monday, my friends and I got into a debate on whether "Studio 60" had been cancelled. It hasn't. On a whim I decided to type in savestudio60.com, just to make sure it was available for when the show does need saving. Well, after a little investigation, I discovered Clay Johnson was one step ahead of me, and he wants me to buy an Acura MDX since they sponser the show. Now it's up to me to show how much I like the Aaron Sorkin dramedy.

35th Edition - 10/24/06

• MNF: Owens wants more balls ... so does the Cowboys D

The Giants smacked around the Cowboys 36-22 last night.

• The Series

Game 3 at 7:33 on Fox
Carpenter vs. Robertson
The Series is tied 1-1

Tony LaRussa is quoted as saying --
"I don't believe it was dirt, didn't look like dirt."
Of course he was referring to the gunk on Kenny Rogers' hand during his fantastic pitching performance on Sunday.

I hate saying this ... but a bench-clearing brawl would definitely peak my interest in the Series.

• Other Sports Stuff

If you have the free time, I highly recommend these writers ...

DJ Gallo - Page 2, ESPN. He does an NFL wrap-up every Monday

The Sports Guy (Bill Simmons) - Page 2, ESPN. He does new articles every Wednesday and Friday, sometimes more.

Jason Whitlock - AOL Sports. He does a column every Thursday, mainly about the NFL.

• A Classic

I was watching "Studio 60" last night and they mentioned the classic comedy routine "Who's on First?" by Abbott and Costello. My fiance hadn't ever heard of it. I love youtube.

Click Here

34th Edition - 10/23/06

• The Series: It's getting dirty

Game One: Tigers 2, Cardinals 7
Game Two: Tigers 3, Cardinals 1
Series Tied at 1-1

But the big story this morning is Kenny Rogers' left hand. There was something that looked like dirt on his left hand for last night's game, as well as Game 3 of the ALCS. Pine tar? Dirt? We don't know, but at least there is no game today so we can talk about it endlessly.
Here is Rogers' take on the issue.
And here is commentary from ESPN's Gene Wojciechowski.

• NFL

Shawn Merriman was quickly becoming one of the premier linebackers in the league and a fan favorite for the San Diego Chargers. Now he will serve a four-game suspension for testing positive for steroids. The good thing about the NFL and its fans is that they'll quickly give over the steroids thing and get back to praising him ... oh wait, that's what is bad with the NFL.

The Best
QB
Joey Harrington: 414 yards, 2 TD, 3 INT (It's not too late to call yourself Joe and turn respectable)
Peyton Manning: 342 yards, 4 TD (Maybe I shouldn't have taken the under in this game)
Donovan McNabb: 302 yards, 3 TD, 3 INT (two weeks in a row the Eagles have lost on a last second FG)
RB
Chester Taylor: 169 yards, 1 TD
Larry Johnson: 132 yards, 2 TD
Leon Washington: 129 yards, 2 TD
WR
Hines Ward: 171 yards, 3 TD
Tony Gonzalez: 138 yards
Darell Jackson: 131 yards, 1 TD

• The Picks

If anyone in the Atlanta area has seen billy z, please send him my best. There was no college picks sent from his this weekend, so I can only assume he is missing. It's the only logical explanation.

Speaking of missing, so is my talent at picking NFL games.

j NCAA: 2-1 (Season 13-7-1)
billy z NCAA: 0-0 (Season 11-5-2)
j NFL: 1-2-1 (Season 10-9-3)
mike d NFL: 0-2 (Season 10-9-2) -- He has the Giants -3.5 tonight.

• SNL

We have a winner! John C. Reily scored the first goal for Saturday Night Live this year. Not only that, the Weekend Update segment was funny. Job well done. Reily was very impressive at doing physical comedy well and the digital short (Harpoon Man) was hilarious. The Will Ferrell cameo came in the form of James Lipton ("Inside the Actor's Studio") during the opening monologue. Good, not great.
SNL Season (1-2)
Funny: John C. Reily
Not Funny: Dane Cook, Kate Hudson

• Stuff

"The Prestige" delivers. It scores a solid B. My hunch is the twist will be obvious to most, but it was still a fun journey and good acting. Suddenly, I like Hugh Jackman as more than just Wolverine (he's in "The Prestige" and is the best part of "The Fountain").