2013-14 NFL Predictions

The 2013-14 NFL season kicks off tomorrow.  It seems to be a good time to make my 2013-14 NFL predictions.  Here goes:

AFC EAST
1-New England Patriots
2-Miami Dolphins
3-Buffalo Bills
4-New York Jets

AFC NORTH
1-Baltimore Ravens
2-Cincinnati Bengals *
3-Cleveland Browns
4-Pittsburgh Steelers

AFC SOUTH
1-Houston Texans
2-Indianapolis Colts *
3-Tennesse Titans
4-Jacksonville Jaguars

AFC WEST 
1-Denver Broncos
2-San Diego Chargers
3-Kansas City Chiefs
4-Oakland Raiders

NFC EAST
1-New York Giants
2-Washington Redskins
3-Dallas Cowboys
4-Philadelphia Eagles

NFC NORTH
1-Green Bay Packers
2-Minnesota Vikings *
3-Chicago Bears
4-Detroit Lions

NFC SOUTH
1-Atlanta Falcons
2-Carolina Panthers
3-New Orleans Saints
4-Tampa Bay Buccaneers

NFC WEST
1-San Francisco 49ers
2-Seattle Seahawks *
3-Arizona Cardinals
4-St Louis Rams

* = Wildcards

AFC Championship = Denver Broncos vs Houston Texans
NFC Championship = San Francisco 49ers vs Seattle Seahawks

Super Bowl = Denver Broncos vs San Francisco 49ers
Super Bowl Champions = San Francisco 49ers

MVP = Colin Kaepernick - QB - San Francisco 49ers
Rookie of the Year =  Tavon Austin - WR - St Louis Rams
Defensive Player of the Year = Luke Kuechly - Carolina Panthers

Syria Crisis

I think that it's time that I share my opinion about the current situation in Syria.  Keep in mind, I'm hardly a hawk, I was adamantly opposed to our invasion of Iraq, I feel that our dealings in Afghanistan were badly bumbled and I generally support diplomacy over military intervention.  All that being said, I'm hardly a pacifist either, I fully supporting the initial invasion of Afghanistan, I feel there is a place for drone strikes and I supported the bombings in Libya.  Sometimes tough decisions just need to be made.

All that being said, in my opinion, we cannot condone the use of chemical weapons by any regime, that crosses the line of human decency and there must be consequences for those actions.  We are not talking about boots on the ground here, the goal isn't regime change (although would that be such a bad thing?), we are talking strategically targeting and crippling Syria of their ability to use chemical weapons moving forward.  I say it needs to be done.

I'm not buying the "unintended consequences" argument against intervention either, in my opinion there would be far greater "consequences" to doing nothing, we would just be emboldening rogue leaders everywhere into feeling that they may act with impunity.

For those critics who argue that the U.S. shouldn't be the world's police force, I ask you this, if not us, then who?  The U.N.?  Not as long as Russia and China have veto power (BTW, I find it humorous that many of those pushing for U.N. action are also the same people pushing the "New World Order" conspiracy theories).  So who does that leave?  Aren't we the world's reigning superpower?  Shouldn't we be the ones taking the lead?  Or should we really just let regimes poison their own people at will (knowing full well that they'd also continue to do so).

For those calling for diplomacy, don't you think that's been tried over the last couple of years?  This crisis didn't happened overnight, it's been years in the making.  How does diplomacy work with someone who has no interest in diplomacy?  

Lastly, for those idiots who are blaming the President for "backing us into a corner" with his "red line" statement in the first place, let me ask you this, isn't the use of chemical weapons of an unspoken red line?   Wouldn't we be in this exact same place even if he didn't make that pronouncement?  

Dimples of Venus

I love those lower back dimples, they are so hot!!

 

2 Guns

"2 Guns" starring Denzel Washington and Mark Wahlberg.  Washington plays undercover DEA agent Bobby Trench.  Wahlberg plays undercover Naval intelligence officer Michael Stigman.  The 2 team up to bring down Mexican drug kingpin Papi Greco (Edward James Olmos).  The twist?  Neither is aware that the other is also an undercover agent.  The 2 eventually figure things out and must work together to bring down Papi Greco, their superiors (who have set them up) and the CIA (who are working in cahoots with Papi Greco).  Washington and Wahlberg have a nice chemistry between them, Bill Paxton does a nice job as the CIA agent tracking them down and Paula Patton looks wonderful.  If I'm to be critical about anything, all the joking and smirking and implausible escapes from Washington and Wahlberg did seem to take something away from the story, a little more realism would have been nice.  All in all, it's an entertaining film, it moves along at a fast pace and there are plenty of twists to keep you interested, I enjoyed it, I would recommend it, just keep your expectations in check.

I will give it 3 out of 5 stars (*****).

AZ Tidbits

• Arizona per capita earnings hit new low. Welcome to Right to Work reality.
• Arizona Diamondbacks trade Jason Kubel to the Cleveland Indians. 
• New haboob pictures.  I hate the haboobs, but I do love the pictures.   
• Phoenix Suns trade Caron Butler to the Milwaukee Bucks.
• Please do not leave your baby alone in a car in the summer!!! 
• Yuma, Arizona leads the nation in unemployment.  
• I've got to take a trip to Page, Arizona sometime. 
• Arizona leads the nation in the closing of abortion clinics.
• Smart money in Las Vegas is headed towards the Arizona Cardinals.
• I'm pretty psyched to watch Byron Buxton play in the Arizona Fall League.
• ASU fraternity Sigma Alpha Epsilon ranked as most out of control frat by Rolling Stone.
• All State ranks Phoenix as top city for safe drivers.  Huh?
• Something smells at the Arizona Public Safety Personnel Retirement System Trust.
• City of Phoenix election results can be found here.
• The Phoenix Suns announce their 2013-2014 dance team!
• Arizona posts 7th most foreclosures in the last year.
• I actually agree with the Goldwater Institute on something, their fight against pension spiking. 
• Jonathan Cooper's much anticipated first season comes to an end before it even starts. 
• Is Sheriff Joe Arpaio getting a court ordered monitor?
• Phoenix Coyotes defensemen rank high in NHL defenseman rankings.

POTpourri

• Ben Affleck is the new Batman!  Why the outrage?
• It pisses me off that we live in a world where one man can own a 600 foot long yacht.
• Hello Michelle Lewin!  My lord, what a body!
• RIP Elmore Leonard & Dean Meminger.
• The Bradley Manning case takes another bizarre turn.   
• What exactly is the big ruckus over Miley Cyrus's VMA performance? 
• What would the country look like if there were 50 equal sized states?  
• Crossfire set to return to CNN on Sept 16, 2013.  
• Bob Filner finally steps down as Mayor of San Diego.
• Have you ever seen a Kangaroo fight a Dog? 
• Voter suppression seems like the real voter fraud to me. 
• I have to admit, I rather like Farrah Abraham's KISS bikini. 
• Louisiana Republicans blame President Obama for Hurricane Katrina response.  
• You can find a complete list of the 2013 MTV VMA Award winners here.  
• Courtney Stodden should just start her porn career and get it over with. 
• McDonald's to start selling chicken wings.  
• What the heck is going on with Lamar Odom?  
• Rolling Stone's Aaron Hernandez profile is a must read.  
• Do you really think that the U.S. has the best healthcare system in the world? 
• Wisconsin now ranks 40th out of 45 in job creation. 

Minnesota 51, UNLV 23

College football is back!  The Gophers open with a big 51-23 win over UNLV tonight.  It wasn't a pretty game, the Gophers still have a lot of work to do on both sides of the ball, but why quibble, it's a nice win for a young team, I'll take it.  I admit though, I was a bit worried early on, but the Gopher coaches seem to make the right adjustments and got outstanding play from their special teams as well as a few big plays to pull away at the end.  Let the Jerry Kill year 3 magic continue! 

Observations:

• 51 points is the most points the Gophers have scored at TCF Bank Stadium.
• Only 1 penalty for 5 yards for the Gophers.  That's remarkable. 
• UNLV returns 18 starters from last year, I have to believe they take a step up this year.
• Ra'Shede Hageman is still a beast.  
• Total Yards:  UNLV 419, Minnesota 320
• Total Plays:  UNLV 85, Minnesota 61
• The Gopher WR's need to do a better job of getting separation. 
• I sure hope that Donnell Kirkwood's ankle injury isn't serious. 
• 51 points is the most points in a game for the Gophers under Jerry Kill.
• Up next?  @ New Mexico St next Saturday. 

August Flavor of the Month . . .

. . . is Melissa Giraldo.  Freakin' hot!  Facebook here.  Twitter here.

Top 10 Summer TV Shows 2013

I've been pleasantly surprised by the quality of television this summer, hopefully it's a good sign as we move towards the fall.  Here are my Top 10 Summer Television shows/series for the summer of 2013:

1. Breaking Bad - AMC
2. The Bridge - FX
3. Under the Dome - CBS
4. Orange is the New Black - Netflix
5. Big Brother - CBS
6. America's Got Talent - NBC
7. Low Winter Sun - AMC
8. Camp - NBC 
9. Olbermann - ESPN
10. The Daily Show - Comedy 

IMO, the final season premiere of "Breaking Bad" ("Tread Lightly") was one of the best shows on television in recent memory.  "The Bridge" is one of the better new shows I've seen in years, I hope they can keep it up.  I had low expectations for "Under the Dome" but I've been pleasantly surprised, given Stephen King and Stephen Spielberg's involvement in the show I should have known it would be good.  "Orange is the New Black" is another great scripted original drama from Netflix, I really hope they can keep this run going.  "Big Brother" and "America's Got Talent" have been summer reliables for awhile now, I can't get enough of them.  "Low Winter Sun" is still early in it's run but it's showing a lot of promise.  "Camp" is just enjoyable summertime fun.  "Olbermann", although it just started, shows a lot of promise, if you were a fan of Keith Olbermann's MSNBC show you'll probably like this show as it's very similar except that it comes from a non-political/sports perspective.  I really enjoyed John Oliver filling in for Jon Stewart on "The Daily Show" this summer, he did a great job. 

New Pearl Jam

"Mind Your Manners".   Not their best, but I like it.  Give it a listen. 

We're The Millers

"We're The Millers" starring Jason Sudeikis and Jennifer Aniston.  This movie is about a small time pot dealer named David Clark (Sudeikis) who gets wrangled into a plot to smuggle thousands of pounds of marijuana from Mexico into the United States.  In an attempt to allude the border patrol he creates a fake family as his "cover".  They cross the border without many problems but then run afoul of a Mexican drug lord they had unwittingly crossed.  Along the way David bonds with the faux family (played by Aniston, Emma Roberts and Will Poulter) he had created, they end up filling the sense of family he had been missing in his life.  While I doubt this one wins any awards, I enjoyed it, there were plenty of laughs and it moved briskly.  I think it's probably my favorite role for Sudeikis, he's usually a bit over the top on most of his roles, but he really found his grove in this one, he did a nice job.  Let me add, it's also hard to not like a movie in which Jennifer Aniston plays a stripper, just saying.  Supporting characters Ed Helms, Nick Offerman, Kathryn Hahn, Mark L Young and Laura-Leigh also provide some memorable moments.  If you're looking for a few laughs give it a watch. 

I will give this movie 3 out of 5 stars (*****). 

North Carolina Voter Rights

What a tremendous job by Rachel Maddow covering the attack on voters rights in North Carolina. It really is deplorable what they are doing there.  Why are they so afraid of people voting?  Is this really the way they want to win?  Is that what they think democracy is really about?  Doesn't this reek of the rigged elections you see across the world?   Aren't we better than this?  Please watch this video.

AZ Tidbits

• The Arizona Rattlers repeat as Arena Bowl champions. 
• Phoenix named the 5th Most Extreme Food City. 
• Apparently Russ Pennell is now coaching the Phoenix Mercury. 
• Federal judge strikes down Arizona ban on public money for abortion providers. 
• Forbes ranks the Arizona Cardinals as the 24th most valuable NFL franchise.
• 3 AZ Republicans who opposed Sandy Relief now want relief for Yarnell.  Hypocrites. 
• Arizona sovereignty will be back on the ballot.  Really? 
• More changes coming to the Phoenix Open's famed 16th hole.  They're going to ruin it soon.
• AZ sues Obama Administration on Voting Rights, they apparently want to disenfranchise more.
• Rich Rodriguez is doing a nice job of recruiting at the University of Arizona.
• This just in, armed militias are still plaguing Arizona.  
• Is Arizona back on a housing bubble?  Let's hope not.
• I applaud Paul Gosar and Ann Kirkpatrick for their bipartisanship.  
• Judge tosses blood tests in Scottsdale DUI cases. 
• Deadspin tells us why the Arizona Cardinals suck.
• What a clusterfuck that Yarnell firefight was. 
• Did you see this time lapse video of the recent Haboob in Yuma?  Kinda cool.
• Diamondbacks Manager Kirk Gibson is not a fan of Ryan Braun.
• You've got to love the UA football team dance contest. 
• The Phoenix Suns are set to the be 4th most traveled NBA team of 2013-2014. 

Nine Inch Nails - Everything

Have you heard the new Nine Inch Nails track "Everything"? 



It honestly doesn't do much for me.

MSNBC Lineup

As you've probably noticed, I'm a big fan of MSNBC, I flip on "Morning Joe" while getting ready for work in the mornings, then come home to "Politics Nation" and "Hardball With Chris Matthews" and will then occasionally tune into "The Rachel Maddow Show", "The Last Word With Lawrence O'Donnell" and "All In With Chris Hayes" in the evenings.   

I was thrilled to hear that they are bringing "The Ed Show" back to weekdays, it was a mistake to move this show to the weekends in the first place, I'm glad they are finally admitting as much.  I just wish they'd put it back in it's old time slot too so that it would be exposed to more people.  Speaking of which, I wish more people would tune in to these shows, they provide a terrific counter balance to all the distorted trash that get's put out by Fox News.  I honestly think it would make us a better country if more people did watch.  Knowledge is power and that is what you get with MSNBC.  So tune in already!  Educate yourself!