Draft Day

Draft Day - starring Kevin Costner & Jennifer Garner.  Draft day follows, not surprisingly, NFL draft day for fictional Cleveland Browns GM Sonny Weaver (Kevin Costner) as he navigates his fellow GM's, his coaches, his players, prospective players and their agents, and a disgruntled fanbase all the while trying to balance his only personal life.  As a self proclaimed draftnik, I had to see this one.  It wasn't a horrible movie, it had some strong moments.  If you like football, you might like it, if you're not a football fan though, and are not too familiar with the NFL draft, I'm guessing you wouldn't like it much.  As for the good, I loved seeing some of the supposed inner workings of an NFL front office on draft day, from the sounds of it, much of it was close to reality.  The ensemble cast was also strong, I loved how they worked in some actual NFL personalities into the movie.  On the downside, if NFL GM's were as stupid and naive as some of those portrayed in this movie, that team's fans would certainly revolt.  Still, overall, it's worth a watch. 

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

Ashley Sky For Buffalo Jeans

Hot damn!  I'm sold!

AZ Tidbits

• Jan Brewer vetoes 2 controversial gun bills!  Nicely done Gov!
• Michael Phelps kicks off his comeback attempt in Mesa.  
• Court overturns Arizona's marijuana DUI ruling.  
• Suns' Goran Dragic wins the NBA's Most Improved Player Award. 
• Do you know the 10 Most Stereotypical Ways to Die in Arizona? 
• Diamondbacks' Mark Trumbo out six weeks.  Ouch.  
• Arizona Bike Week 2014 Bikini & Best Bra contest videos here. 
• Tribe reaches deal over Grand Canyon Skywalk.   
• Cardinals LB Darryl Washington sentenced to one years probation.  
• The University of Arizona does pool parties right! 
• Arizona State lands Junior College forward Willie Atwood.  
• Phoenix is still in the running for the 2016 Democratic National Convention. 
• Would replacing Kevin Towers and/or Kirk Gibson be a wise move?
• Bootlegger Plates & Pours coming to Old Town Scottsdale.  
• You can find the Arizona Cardinals 2014 schedule here. 
• It's hard to believe that it's been 10 years since the death of Pat Tillman.
• Here's an interesting look at some recent Cardinals drafts. 
• You can find a list of Arizona's 100 Largest Employers here.
• I need to take a crack at Pat's Run one of these years.
• Fate of Phoenix Pension System to be put in the hands of the voters. 

Victoria's Secret Heavenly

Karlie Kloss just keeps getting hotter and hotter!

TPSG Top 10 Movies of 1998

Continuing with my look at the best movies of years gone by.

Top 10 Movies of 1998:

1. Saving Private Ryan - Tom Hanks, Matt Damon
2. There's Something About Mary - Ben Stiller, Cameron Diaz
3. American History X - Edward Norton, Edward Furlong
4. Very Bad Things - Christian Slater, Daniel Stern 
5. Rounders - Matt Damon, Edward Norton
6. Out of Sight - George Clooney, Jennifer Lopez
7. Elizabeth - Cate Blanchett, Geoffrey Rush
8. The Big Lebowski - Jeff Bridges, John Goodman
9. A Simple Plan - Bill Paxton, Billy Bob Thorton 
10. Rushmore - Jason Schwartzman, Bill Murray 

"Saving Private Ryan" is arguably one of, if not the greatest war movie ever.  IMO, "There's Something About Mary" is one of the Top 10 Comedies of All Time.  Edward Norton is tremendous as a reformed white supremacist in "American History X".  "Very Bad Things" is a twisted tale of a bachelor party gone wrong, I loved it, it's a great dark comedy!  "Rounders" can rightfully be attributed with planting the seeds to the great poker boom of recent years.  I'm not sure which was a better combo in "Out of Sight", Steven Soderbergh/Elmore Leonard or George Clooney/Jennifer Lopez, all I do know for sure is that if you put all four of them together you'll get a tremendous film.  "Elizabeth" was surprisingly entertaining for a film about a Queen, the casting on this one was great.  "The Big Lebowski" remains a cult favorite, the Dude lives!  Watching a supposedly simple plan fall apart in "A Simple Plan" makes for a great ride. "Rushmore" gave me my first real taste of Wes Anderson, and it is quite a bizarre taste. 

POTpourri

• It's official, the U.S. is no longer a democracy.  
• Props to Michael Bloomberg for his gun control efforts.  
• The case for really high taxes on the wealthy is an intriguing one. 
• Yes, compound interest is still your friend.  
• My thoughts and prayers are with Craig Sager & Jim Kelly.  
• The most earth-like planets ever discovered.  
• RIP Rubin "Hurricane" Carter.  
• Do Republicans deserve a smarter Republican party?  
• Why do people listen to Paul Ryan on budgetary issues? 
• Book recommendation:  "A Fighting Chance" by Elizabeth Warren. 
• Lupita Nyong'o named People Magazine's Most Beautiful Person of 2014.
• Did you know that Ronald Reagan established grazing fee's on federal lands?
• Joakim Noah named NBA's 2014 Defensive Player of the Year.
• So much for that Darrell Issa's IRS witch hunt. 
• Forbes names their 2014 Most Powerful People list.
• Yankee pitcher Michael Pineda caught cheating once again.
• Lauren Stoner continues to look remarkable in a bikini.  
• 2014 NFL Schedule released!  
• Did you know that they used the F-word 569 times in "The Wolf of Wall Street".
• Is there really going to be a "Goonies 2"? 

Brian Williams Raps

I love this!  Funny stuff! 

Rick Adelman Retires

Did you catch the news?  The Timberwolves are looking for a new head coach. 

Here's my list of the Top 10 Candidates to replace Rick Adelman:

1. Fred Hoiberg 
2. Billy Donovan
3. Tom Izzo   
4. Jeff Van Gundy
5. Lionel Hollins 
6. Stan Van Gundy
7. George Karl 
8. Flip Saunders
9. Jerry Sichting 
10. Tom Thibodeau

Flip Saunders has stated that he wants someone with head coaching experience, college or pro.  He wants someone who will command the respect of the team immediately.   Pretty much everyone on the above list fits that criteria.  Fred Hoiberg would be my ideal choice, he's been a successful head coach at Iowa State, he's played in the NBA, he has front office experience with the Timberwolves, I doubt that he'll leave Ames though, he owns that town.  Billy Donovan would be next on my list, he seems ready for a new challenge, he's still young, he's had success, he innovative, not much to not like.  Next on my list would be Tom Izzo, he and Flip Saunders are tight, he has a great track record, I have no doubt that his coaching ability would translate to the pro game.  Of those with pro coaching experience, Jeff Van Gundy would be my top choice, I don't really see him leaving the broadcasting booth though, that's too good of a gig.  I'm a big Lionel Hollins fan going back to his days with the Suns, he seems to have gotten a raw deal with Memphis, I'd welcome him as the next coach.  Stan Van Gundy would be next on my list, he had a nice run with the Magic, I think he'd be a fine choice.  George Karl has a fantastic track record and would bring tons of credibility, I'm not sure if there is a desire on his part to coach the Timberwolves though.  Flip has to be on the list too, I hope he doesn't go that direction though, I'm not a big fan of GM/Head Coaching combo's.  Jerry Sichting would be the only assistant I'd put on the list, he's been around the pro game forever and has worked for some of the best, I think he's just needing an opportunity.  Tom Thibodeau is a long shot, he'd have to get fired by the Bulls for this to happen, and if they lose in the first round of the playoffs that could conceivably happen, don't count on it though. 

In the end, as a betting man, I say put your money on Stan Van Gundy or Lionel Hollins. 

Body By Victoria

Just because!

AZ Tidbits

• The Suns & Coyotes fail to make the playoffs. 
• Are you familiar with Arizona's 10 Safest Cities?  
• Former UNLV swingman Savon Goodman set to transfer to Arizona State.
• Why the heck does the Arizona legislature want to weaken public schools?
• Arizona State completes spring football practice.  
• Arizona State forward Shaquille McKissic granted a 6th year of eligibility.
• The Diamondbacks $25 hot dog is going over well with Keith Hernandez. 
• Arizona judge denies bail for Darren Sharper.   
• Did you know that Old Town Scottsdale had a Facebook page? 
• Dave Tippett named head coach of Team Canada for World Championships.
• Arizona is proof positive that "for profit prisons" are a bad idea.
• Arizona hoopster Aaron Gordon & Nick Johnson declare for the NBA draft.
• Joe Arpaio gets another judicial slap down.
• Arizona anti-panhandling bill vetoed by Jan Brewer.  
• Do the Phoenix Suns have any interest in Pau Gasol?   
• Kirk Gibson & Kevin Towers already given the dreaded "vote of confidence". 
• Is Phoenix one of the saddest sports towns in the country?
• Have you been to Meteor Crater, Arizona?  Interesting place.
• Arizona Cardinals 2014 NFL Draft update here. 
• John McCain appears to be preparing for a 2016 re-election bid.  

Warren Burger on Second Amendment

Heaven Is For Real

Heaven Is For Real - starring Gregg Kinnear & Kelly Reilly.  This movie is based upon the true story of a young boy who claims to have visited heaven during a near death experience and the reactions of those close to him to his story.  This movie was all about the story, it's an incredible one, especially if you are a person of faith.  If you're not a person of faith, it may give you some pause to reconsider.  Based upon the story itself, I highly recommend this one. Now that that is out of the way, there really isn't anything else about the movie that is all that remarkable, it's more introspective and thought provoking than fast moving, the acting is nothing spectacular and the direction nothing special. 

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

There is also a best selling book on the story if you're interested.  

Catrinel Menghia Marlon

I've had a bit of a thing for Catrinel ever since I saw her in person several years ago.  Talk about gorgeous!

TPSG Top 10 Movies of 1999

Continuing with my look at the best movies of years gone by.

Top 10 Movies of 1999:

1. Fight Club - Edward Norton, Brad Pitt
2. The Sixth Sense - Bruce Willis, Haley Joel Osment 
3. Three Kings - George Clooney, Mark Wahlberg
4. American Beauty - Kevin Spacey, Annette Bening
5. The Insider - Russell Crowe, Al Pacino 
6. American Pie - Jason Biggs, Chris Klein
7. The Matrix - Keanu Reeves, Laurence Fishburne
8. Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace - Ewan McGregor, Liam Neeson
9. Being John Malkovich - John Cusack, Cameron Diaz
10. Election - Reece Witherspoon, Matthew Broderick

Rule one of "Fight Club" is that you do not talk about "Fight Club".  The ending of "The Sixth Sense" is as good as they come.  "Three Kings" is a great crime caper that takes place at the close of the first Gulf War.  Kevin Spacey was tremendous in "American Beauty".  "The Insider" tells an important tale of the insidious American tobacco industry.  "The Matrix" in my opinion is one of the best sci-fi films ever made.  Overlooking Jar Jar Binks, "Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace" brought back the Star Wars saga in grand style.  Spike Jonez bizarre look inside the mind of John Malkovich in "Being John Malkovich" was quite the trip.  "American Pie" brought me back to the raunchy teen comedies that I grew up with.  Watching Reece Witherspoon torment Matthew Broderick in "Election" was top notch. 

A Well Regulated Militia?