Let me start by saying that I don't watch very many movies. The only movie I've seen in the theater in the past 5 years was "Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull". I know a lot of people hated that movie, but I kind of liked it. Anyway, I thought it would be fun to see how many "critically acclaimed" movies I have seen.
In 1998, the American Film Institute released a list of the top 100 movies of all time. Turns out that I've seen 17 of them. (Number 1 was "Citizen Kane", which I have on VHS but haven't gotten around to watching yet. Maybe someday...) Here are mini reviews of those I have seen:
1. The Wizard of Oz (#6 on AFI's list). A very familiar movie to many people. When I was young, this movie was shown on TV once per year. It was an exciting event. Now, with VCRs and DVDs, we can watch it whenever we want. I feel that this is unfortunate. Younger generations are losing the sense of anticipation that comes with a culture of instant gratification.
2. It's A Wonderful Life (AFI 11). Quite thought-provoking. How have I impacted the lives of those around me?
3. Star Wars (AFI 15). First of all, I refuse to call this movie "Episode IV: A New Hope" It was the first movie of this series to be made, so calling it the 4th is ridiculous. Secondly, I was around in 1977 and NOBODY called it A New Hope. It's just Star Wars. Don't make it so complicated! Regarding the movie itself, I never got into it. Which is funny, since I was 8 when it came out and have always been something of a nerd. I don't know exactly why I never became a huge fan of Star Wars (or Star Trek, for that matter).
4. Psycho (AFI 18). Frankly, I don't see what all the fuss is about. Maybe people were easier to scare in the old days.
5. 2001: A Space Odyssey (AFI 22). I saw a midnight screening of this when I was in college. Halfway through, the projector broke, so they needed some time to fix it. Add in the fact that this is a long movie, and it was practically morning by the time it was over. Needless to say, I don't remember much about it.
6. E.T. (AFI 25). This movie was pretty good. Interestingly, that is about all I would say if I was evaluating Reese's Pieces. (Reese's Peanut Butter Cups, however, are awesome.)
7. Jaws (AFI 48). Anyone dumb enough to go out on that boat deserves whatever they get. Why not just stay on land and leave the shark alone?
8. Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (AFI 49). You know what annoys me? The way Disney puts movies "back in the vault" and only sells the DVDs for a limited time. All of them should be available for purchase all the time! Walt Disney must be turning over in his freezer :-)
9. The Sound of Music (AFI 55). I like a lot of the songs from this movie.
10. Raiders of the Lost Ark (AFI 60). Finally, a good movie! This is the only movie I've ever seen twice in the theater.
11. Tootsie (AFI 62). I was relatively young when I saw this, so I probably missed a lot of the humor. As far as drag movies go, "The Birdcage" reigns supreme.
12. The Silence of the Lambs (AFI 65). My dislike of Jodie Foster biases me against this movie. I didn't like the accent she used in this role.
13. Forrest Gump (AFI 71). My second favorite on this list (after Raiders).
14. Rocky (AFI 78). I liked it better when he fought Mr. T.
15. Platoon (AFI 83). I don't generally like war movies. I did like Saving Private Ryan (which was released too late to be on AFI's list).
16. Fargo (AFI 84). The only thing I really remember about this movie was that they all talked funny.
17. Unforgiven (AFI 98). This movie didn't really do much for me. Perhaps this says more about me than about the film.
So there you go. I look forward to comments berating me for being an uncultured Neanderthal.
Monday, December 14, 2009
Tuesday, December 1, 2009
Tiger's Situation
Tiger Woods is the greatest golfer in history. I have tried to learn and play golf several times in my life, so I know how difficult the sport is. I admire Woods's skill, but have never been a fan of his. Last week, he was involved in a one car accident near his home in the middle of the night. Woods has said very little about this incident, which has fueled a lot of wild speculation in the media. There are a few issues that I find interesting:
1. Celebrities' privacy.
Tiger Woods is one of the most famous people in the world. Yet, we know relatively little about him. On sports radio, I have heard many comments that Woods "owes" the public an explanation of Friday morning's events. I strongly disagree with this. The only ones to whom he has such an obligation are his family and law-enforcement personnel. I assume that Tiger and his wife have had any necessary discussions. As to the police, it appears that he eventually did the minimum that was required of him. Woods doesn't owe the rest of us a thing, even if public admiration is a major reason that he has earned so much endorsement money.
2. Where was he going?
The accident occurred at about 2:30 AM on the day after Thanksgiving. Based on the amount of damage to his vehicle, this wasn't a simple bump into a fire hydrant while pulling out of his driveway. He was clearly in a hurry. Some have joked that he was in a hurry to get in line for early morning Black Friday sales. Assuming that Tiger wasn't going to wait with strangers to save 10 dollars on a television, he must have had other motives. There has been speculation that his wife, Elin, was assaulting him and he was trying to leave.
3. Domestic violence
Some tabloids have been reporting that Woods was involved in an affair. If this is true, Elin may have been reacting in a violent manner to this news. Obviously, I have no way of knowing if this is the case, but it seems like it could fit with the details of the situation that have been made public. If this is what happened, it is no laughing matter. There is no circumstance which justifies a physical attack, regardless of the gender of the parties involved. Perhaps a case like this could help shed light on a tragic crime that is sadly underreported.
4. Image
Tiger Woods seems to be very image-conscious. Therefore, it is surprising that half a week has gone by without a concerted effort on his part to control the spin of this story. So far, he has only put a short blurb on his website describing the event as embarrassing and requesting that his family's privacy be respected. His advisers surely realize that this will not end the speculation. Sooner or later, the hard questions will come.
5. Celebrity privilege
It is no secret that wealth and fame bring special treatment. By hitting a fire hydrant, Woods damaged public property and would need to speak to authorities. Even after being released from the hospital, Woods refused to speak to police for a couple of days. Here's a test for all of us regular people - go out and damage public property, then refuse to talk to police when they come to question you. Let me know how that works out. (Woods did comply with the authorities a few days later, and did what was required under state law. This involved receiving a ticket for careless driving, and presumably he will pay for any property damage).
In our age of 24-hour news, it is unlikely that we have heard the end of this story. If nothing else, there will be a lot of questions at the next golf tournament at which Woods appears. Stay tuned...
1. Celebrities' privacy.
Tiger Woods is one of the most famous people in the world. Yet, we know relatively little about him. On sports radio, I have heard many comments that Woods "owes" the public an explanation of Friday morning's events. I strongly disagree with this. The only ones to whom he has such an obligation are his family and law-enforcement personnel. I assume that Tiger and his wife have had any necessary discussions. As to the police, it appears that he eventually did the minimum that was required of him. Woods doesn't owe the rest of us a thing, even if public admiration is a major reason that he has earned so much endorsement money.
2. Where was he going?
The accident occurred at about 2:30 AM on the day after Thanksgiving. Based on the amount of damage to his vehicle, this wasn't a simple bump into a fire hydrant while pulling out of his driveway. He was clearly in a hurry. Some have joked that he was in a hurry to get in line for early morning Black Friday sales. Assuming that Tiger wasn't going to wait with strangers to save 10 dollars on a television, he must have had other motives. There has been speculation that his wife, Elin, was assaulting him and he was trying to leave.
3. Domestic violence
Some tabloids have been reporting that Woods was involved in an affair. If this is true, Elin may have been reacting in a violent manner to this news. Obviously, I have no way of knowing if this is the case, but it seems like it could fit with the details of the situation that have been made public. If this is what happened, it is no laughing matter. There is no circumstance which justifies a physical attack, regardless of the gender of the parties involved. Perhaps a case like this could help shed light on a tragic crime that is sadly underreported.
4. Image
Tiger Woods seems to be very image-conscious. Therefore, it is surprising that half a week has gone by without a concerted effort on his part to control the spin of this story. So far, he has only put a short blurb on his website describing the event as embarrassing and requesting that his family's privacy be respected. His advisers surely realize that this will not end the speculation. Sooner or later, the hard questions will come.
5. Celebrity privilege
It is no secret that wealth and fame bring special treatment. By hitting a fire hydrant, Woods damaged public property and would need to speak to authorities. Even after being released from the hospital, Woods refused to speak to police for a couple of days. Here's a test for all of us regular people - go out and damage public property, then refuse to talk to police when they come to question you. Let me know how that works out. (Woods did comply with the authorities a few days later, and did what was required under state law. This involved receiving a ticket for careless driving, and presumably he will pay for any property damage).
In our age of 24-hour news, it is unlikely that we have heard the end of this story. If nothing else, there will be a lot of questions at the next golf tournament at which Woods appears. Stay tuned...
Thursday, November 19, 2009
40 Thanks
With Thanksgiving just a week away, it is customary to make a list of things for which we are thankful. Like most people, I am thankful for family, friends, freedom and many other "big" things. I think it's also important to ponder the "little" things in life that we often take for granted. So, in honor of the first Thanksgiving since I turned 40, I will now share 40 other things for which I give thanks:
1. Applesauce. Something we tend to stop eating as adults, until we have kids of our own. Tasty and easy to eat!
2. Remote controls. I'm old enough to remember the stone age of getting up to change channels - how barbaric!
3. Microwave ovens. Hardly a day goes by without using this time-saving device.
4. Backyard. We're making a lot of wonderful memories playing with the kids out there.
5. Indoor swimming at the Y. Great exercise and fun family time all year long.
6. Atari. Hours of fun when I was a kid.
7. iPod. The ability to listen to my favorite songs when I want is great.
8. "Weird Al" Yankovic. My favorite musician. His songs have given my countless hours of enjoyment.
9. Skee-ball. Lots of fun down at the Shore, even if my wife always gets a better score.
10. Wall-to-wall carpeting. Personally, I think the warmth and softness underfoot is infinitely better than hardwood floors.
11. Tape. Helps me perform the "miracle" of repairing torn kids' books.
12. Library. All the books you can read - for free!
13. Parades. Like the song says, I love a parade.
14. Songs before bedtime. Every night before the kids go to bed, we sing "Take Me Out To The Ballgame" and "Jesus Loves Me". Everybody sings along.
15. Pizza. As a kid, I didn't like it. Now I'm making up for lost time.
16. Dishwasher. Another modern convenience that is too often taken for granted.
17. The Simpsons. Has provided me more entertainment for less money than anything else I can think of.
18. Boogie boarding in the ocean. Catching a wave and riding it to shore is awesome.
19. Airplanes overhead. My son loves to point these out to us.
20. Apples. Red Delicious or MacIntosh.
21. Eating outside. A special summer treat.
22. Snow blower. Don't know why I waited so long to get one.
23. Piles of leaves. Still fun to jump in, not just for kids.
24. Indiana Jones. Yes, even the 4th movie.
25. Water. Another thing that's too easy to take for granted.
26. Sesame Street. Debuted the same year I was born. Wonderful memories.
27. Peanut butter cups. Best candy ever!
28. Boardwalk. One of the many great things about living in New Jersey.
29. Ice cream. Especially in a cone on a hot day - keep licking before it melts!
30. Hawaiian shirts. What us cool guys wear in the summer.
31. Post-Its. Keep my organized.
32. Glasses. I can see now!
33. Baseball. Quite simply, the best sport ever invented.
34. Orange juice. Perfect way to start the day.
35. Lighthouses. Love climbing to the top of the Barnegat Light House.
36. Statue of Liberty. Inspiring.
37. Convertibles. Never owned one, but I like the sense of freedom they convey.
38. Bicycles. Fun way to get around.
39. Parking garage. We have one at work. Really appreciated on rainy days.
40. Reading stories. Great bonding time with the kids.
1. Applesauce. Something we tend to stop eating as adults, until we have kids of our own. Tasty and easy to eat!
2. Remote controls. I'm old enough to remember the stone age of getting up to change channels - how barbaric!
3. Microwave ovens. Hardly a day goes by without using this time-saving device.
4. Backyard. We're making a lot of wonderful memories playing with the kids out there.
5. Indoor swimming at the Y. Great exercise and fun family time all year long.
6. Atari. Hours of fun when I was a kid.
7. iPod. The ability to listen to my favorite songs when I want is great.
8. "Weird Al" Yankovic. My favorite musician. His songs have given my countless hours of enjoyment.
9. Skee-ball. Lots of fun down at the Shore, even if my wife always gets a better score.
10. Wall-to-wall carpeting. Personally, I think the warmth and softness underfoot is infinitely better than hardwood floors.
11. Tape. Helps me perform the "miracle" of repairing torn kids' books.
12. Library. All the books you can read - for free!
13. Parades. Like the song says, I love a parade.
14. Songs before bedtime. Every night before the kids go to bed, we sing "Take Me Out To The Ballgame" and "Jesus Loves Me". Everybody sings along.
15. Pizza. As a kid, I didn't like it. Now I'm making up for lost time.
16. Dishwasher. Another modern convenience that is too often taken for granted.
17. The Simpsons. Has provided me more entertainment for less money than anything else I can think of.
18. Boogie boarding in the ocean. Catching a wave and riding it to shore is awesome.
19. Airplanes overhead. My son loves to point these out to us.
20. Apples. Red Delicious or MacIntosh.
21. Eating outside. A special summer treat.
22. Snow blower. Don't know why I waited so long to get one.
23. Piles of leaves. Still fun to jump in, not just for kids.
24. Indiana Jones. Yes, even the 4th movie.
25. Water. Another thing that's too easy to take for granted.
26. Sesame Street. Debuted the same year I was born. Wonderful memories.
27. Peanut butter cups. Best candy ever!
28. Boardwalk. One of the many great things about living in New Jersey.
29. Ice cream. Especially in a cone on a hot day - keep licking before it melts!
30. Hawaiian shirts. What us cool guys wear in the summer.
31. Post-Its. Keep my organized.
32. Glasses. I can see now!
33. Baseball. Quite simply, the best sport ever invented.
34. Orange juice. Perfect way to start the day.
35. Lighthouses. Love climbing to the top of the Barnegat Light House.
36. Statue of Liberty. Inspiring.
37. Convertibles. Never owned one, but I like the sense of freedom they convey.
38. Bicycles. Fun way to get around.
39. Parking garage. We have one at work. Really appreciated on rainy days.
40. Reading stories. Great bonding time with the kids.
Friday, November 13, 2009
Daylight Saving Time
A couple of weeks ago was the latest installment of a truly bizarre semi-annual ritual. The government tells everyone to change their clocks and watches by an hour, and we dutifully comply. I have several problems with this situation:
1. Where does the time go? A common expression in Autumn is that we "gain" an hour by turning the clocks back. This is not true!! That hour was actually stolen from us back in the Spring! I am hereby demanding that from now on, this hour be repaid every year with five minutes of interest.
2. It is unnecessary. Manipulating the clocks obviously doesn't affect the number of hours of light per day. That is solely determined by the tilt of the Earth. So any difference is merely an illusion. Some will say that without the time change, it will be dark when kids walk to school in the mornings during the winter. First of all, kids don't walk to school anymore. Parents wouldn't dare allow their precious little flowers to have to get exercise. Secondly, shove a flashlight in the kid's hand and he'll be fine. Thirdly, anyone walking in the evening is now in darkness, so what's the difference?
3. The Energizer Cartel. In recent years, we have been instructed to change the batteries in our smoke detectors when we change the time on our clocks. As a result, millions of still powerful batteries are discarded and new batteries purchased. How convenient. It seems obvious to me that the battery companies invented daylight saving time, waited patiently for decades, and then rolled out their evil plan to boost sales.
4. Government control. Doesn't the government have better things to do than to invade our homes and manipulate our precious clocks and watches? Numbers never seem to be the government's strong suit. Stand up and tell your elected officials that only after government on all levels starts living on balanced budgets will we allow them to invade another vital area of our lives.
So stand up with me - it's time for a change!
1. Where does the time go? A common expression in Autumn is that we "gain" an hour by turning the clocks back. This is not true!! That hour was actually stolen from us back in the Spring! I am hereby demanding that from now on, this hour be repaid every year with five minutes of interest.
2. It is unnecessary. Manipulating the clocks obviously doesn't affect the number of hours of light per day. That is solely determined by the tilt of the Earth. So any difference is merely an illusion. Some will say that without the time change, it will be dark when kids walk to school in the mornings during the winter. First of all, kids don't walk to school anymore. Parents wouldn't dare allow their precious little flowers to have to get exercise. Secondly, shove a flashlight in the kid's hand and he'll be fine. Thirdly, anyone walking in the evening is now in darkness, so what's the difference?
3. The Energizer Cartel. In recent years, we have been instructed to change the batteries in our smoke detectors when we change the time on our clocks. As a result, millions of still powerful batteries are discarded and new batteries purchased. How convenient. It seems obvious to me that the battery companies invented daylight saving time, waited patiently for decades, and then rolled out their evil plan to boost sales.
4. Government control. Doesn't the government have better things to do than to invade our homes and manipulate our precious clocks and watches? Numbers never seem to be the government's strong suit. Stand up and tell your elected officials that only after government on all levels starts living on balanced budgets will we allow them to invade another vital area of our lives.
So stand up with me - it's time for a change!
Tuesday, October 13, 2009
Baseball Playoff predictions, take 2
My first stab at predicting the 2009 baseball playoffs didn't go so well. I was wrong about three of the four first round series. (The one I got right was the Yankees beating the Twins, so I'm happy about that). Here are my revised predictions for the rest of the postseason:
ALCS: Yankees over Angels, 4-2
NLCS: Dodgers over Phillies, 4-3
World Series: Yankees over Dodgers, 4-2
World Series MVP: A-Rod
Number of articles about Joe Torre's return to the Bronx: about a million :-)
ALCS: Yankees over Angels, 4-2
NLCS: Dodgers over Phillies, 4-3
World Series: Yankees over Dodgers, 4-2
World Series MVP: A-Rod
Number of articles about Joe Torre's return to the Bronx: about a million :-)
Saturday, October 10, 2009
Saving the Dumb Animals
The other day we had some soda cans in the house. Once most of them were gone, it was time to dispose of the plastic device that holds the six-pack together. Out of habit, I got the scissors and started to cut it up. I had been taught that you should do this so that fish don't get caught in it and ultimately die.
I got to thinking, if an animal is dumb enough to think that a plastic can holder is food, maybe said animal is not cut out for survival in the wild. Regardless of your thoughts about evolution, it's obvious that a certain amount of "survival of the fittest" occurs every day in nature. Those that are bigger/stronger/smarter live and reproduce - leading to an improved species in the next generation. So if you think about, by weeding out the dumb ones, we are really doing the animal kingdom a favor. Those of us at the top of the food chain should not have to inconvenience ourselves to enable the weakest. I'll bet that the dumbest animals don't taste as good either :-)
I got to thinking, if an animal is dumb enough to think that a plastic can holder is food, maybe said animal is not cut out for survival in the wild. Regardless of your thoughts about evolution, it's obvious that a certain amount of "survival of the fittest" occurs every day in nature. Those that are bigger/stronger/smarter live and reproduce - leading to an improved species in the next generation. So if you think about, by weeding out the dumb ones, we are really doing the animal kingdom a favor. Those of us at the top of the food chain should not have to inconvenience ourselves to enable the weakest. I'll bet that the dumbest animals don't taste as good either :-)
Wednesday, October 7, 2009
Baseball Playoff Predictions
The Major League Baseball playoffs start today. Below are my predictions. These are based on absolutely no special knowledge or information. (So if you make any wagers based on these predictions, you deserve to lose your money).
First Round
Yankees over Twins, 3-1
Red Sox over Angels, 3-0
Rockies over Phillies, 3-1
Cardinals over Dodgers, 3-2
LCS
Yankees over Red Sox, 4-2
Rockies over Cardinals, 4-2
World Series
Yankees over Rockies, 4-1
World Series MVP: Alex Rodriguez
First Round
Yankees over Twins, 3-1
Red Sox over Angels, 3-0
Rockies over Phillies, 3-1
Cardinals over Dodgers, 3-2
LCS
Yankees over Red Sox, 4-2
Rockies over Cardinals, 4-2
World Series
Yankees over Rockies, 4-1
World Series MVP: Alex Rodriguez
Saturday, October 3, 2009
Top Nine: States
I have decided to add a new feature to this blog - top nine lists. Very similar to Top Ten lists, but only 90 percent of the work for me! Another difference is that I will start at number one, since I can't stand the suspense.
So without further delay, here are the top nine states in which I have spent time:
1. New Jersey My home. I know that Jersey suffers a bad reputation, but I think it's great. We have the best boardwalks in the world, good weather, and a wide variety of activities. It's also the home state of Bruce Springsteen, even though I'm not a big fan of him (don't tell anybody, I might get deported!)
2. Pennsylvania My parents have a vacation house in the Poconos, so I have spent a lot of time there through the years. Beautiful scenery, plus PA also has the Steelers.
3. Delaware I went to the University of Delaware, so it will always have a special place in my heart. Go Blue Hens!
4. New York There are a lot of great things to do in New York City, but don't forget upstate. I went to the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown with my Dad; it was a trip I'll never forget.
5. Maine I've been up to Maine several times to visit my aunt and cousins. It is a beautiful state in both summer and winter, but I liked summer better.
6. Alaska I had the great opportunity to take a 2-week Alaska cruise several years ago. It was amazing; unlike any place else I've ever been. We got to pan for gold, take a helicopter ride to the top of a glacier, and witness sunshine at midnight. (I think winter might be another story).
7. Florida I first went to Disney World as a kid; I since have been back to Florida for a wedding and also to see a spring training game. They all were great trips.
8. California I spent two weeks here with my family as a teenager; we spent time in both San Francisco and Los Angeles, as well as driving down the coast between the two cities. I especially enjoyed the tour of Alcatraz.
9. Vermont I have only been there once; it was a trip to see Calvin Coolidge's birth place. That site is also a farm and small town to tour. Coolidge's grave site is just down the road, I think I have a picture of my at the tombstone.
So without further delay, here are the top nine states in which I have spent time:
1. New Jersey My home. I know that Jersey suffers a bad reputation, but I think it's great. We have the best boardwalks in the world, good weather, and a wide variety of activities. It's also the home state of Bruce Springsteen, even though I'm not a big fan of him (don't tell anybody, I might get deported!)
2. Pennsylvania My parents have a vacation house in the Poconos, so I have spent a lot of time there through the years. Beautiful scenery, plus PA also has the Steelers.
3. Delaware I went to the University of Delaware, so it will always have a special place in my heart. Go Blue Hens!
4. New York There are a lot of great things to do in New York City, but don't forget upstate. I went to the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown with my Dad; it was a trip I'll never forget.
5. Maine I've been up to Maine several times to visit my aunt and cousins. It is a beautiful state in both summer and winter, but I liked summer better.
6. Alaska I had the great opportunity to take a 2-week Alaska cruise several years ago. It was amazing; unlike any place else I've ever been. We got to pan for gold, take a helicopter ride to the top of a glacier, and witness sunshine at midnight. (I think winter might be another story).
7. Florida I first went to Disney World as a kid; I since have been back to Florida for a wedding and also to see a spring training game. They all were great trips.
8. California I spent two weeks here with my family as a teenager; we spent time in both San Francisco and Los Angeles, as well as driving down the coast between the two cities. I especially enjoyed the tour of Alcatraz.
9. Vermont I have only been there once; it was a trip to see Calvin Coolidge's birth place. That site is also a farm and small town to tour. Coolidge's grave site is just down the road, I think I have a picture of my at the tombstone.
Tuesday, September 29, 2009
A Bump in the Road
Recently, some towns in my area have installed speed bumps on certain roads in an attempt to curtail speeding. I think that this is an excellent idea. I live on a residential street; several times a day cars go by at speeds well in excess of 25 miles per hour. As a parent of young children, this definitely concerns me. I try to make a point of driving within the speed limit and carefully in other residential areas, and I would like to see others do the same.
About a year ago, my town's mayor and a councilwoman were walking through my neighborhood in advance of the '08 election. I had the chance to talk to them for a few minutes and I brought up this very point. I specifically said that my street was one that would benefit from a speed bump. So far, this has not been done, but a couple of speed bumps have been installed in other parts of town. I'm optimistic that some day this will change. In the mean time, I ask everyone to slow down and pay attention, especially in residential areas. I promise to do so as well.
About a year ago, my town's mayor and a councilwoman were walking through my neighborhood in advance of the '08 election. I had the chance to talk to them for a few minutes and I brought up this very point. I specifically said that my street was one that would benefit from a speed bump. So far, this has not been done, but a couple of speed bumps have been installed in other parts of town. I'm optimistic that some day this will change. In the mean time, I ask everyone to slow down and pay attention, especially in residential areas. I promise to do so as well.
Sunday, September 27, 2009
Sticking Up For An Old Man
I've never been a big fan of Brett Favre. He obviously is a gifted quarterback who has had a long and successful career; but I never thought very highly of him. In each of the last 3 or 4 offseasons, he has engaged in a protracted process of deciding whether or not to retire from the NFL. Each season, his team (the Packers, then the Jets), has put their plans on hold while waiting for Favre to make up his mind. At the last minute, he decides to come back, and all seems to be forgiven.
Although he certainly has the right to make careful decisions about his future, he also manages to create a media circus that dominates the sports news for weeks at a time each spring. Make no mistake about it, he is the one responsible for keeping himself in the headlines.
This year, after saying that he was retired for good, he signed with the Minnesota Vikings. At the time, I read an article (I can't remember where) that presented an interesting theory. It stated that after all his years in the league, Favre was merely tired of going to training camp each summer, so he orchestrates the charade of fake retirements in order to dealy his reporting to camp as long as possible. The more I thought about it, the more I think there might be something to this. (Not that Favre or anyone else cares what I think).
This afternoon, I turned on the TV at about 4:00 PM to check on the scores. The Giants game ended early, so the network was showing the end of the Vikings-49ers game. The Vikings were trailing by four with about two minutes left. Favre led the team down the field and threw the game-winning touchdown pass with two seconds remaining. It was a good throw, and the receiver made a great catch. But what really struck me was Favre's reaction. He seemed genuinely overjoyed at having helped the team win. This is a man who has won a Super Bowl, yet he was thrilled to win a regular season game with teammates whom he has only known for a couple of months. I thought "there's a player who really loves the game. He takes all the pain that comes with being an NFL player, and just wants to win."
Brett Favre will turn 40 soon. Since I just celebrated my 40th birthday, I find myself rooting more for the "old" guys, who are still out there, teaching those young punks in their 20s a lesson.
So a tip of the hat to you, Brett Favre, you have a new fan today.
Although he certainly has the right to make careful decisions about his future, he also manages to create a media circus that dominates the sports news for weeks at a time each spring. Make no mistake about it, he is the one responsible for keeping himself in the headlines.
This year, after saying that he was retired for good, he signed with the Minnesota Vikings. At the time, I read an article (I can't remember where) that presented an interesting theory. It stated that after all his years in the league, Favre was merely tired of going to training camp each summer, so he orchestrates the charade of fake retirements in order to dealy his reporting to camp as long as possible. The more I thought about it, the more I think there might be something to this. (Not that Favre or anyone else cares what I think).
This afternoon, I turned on the TV at about 4:00 PM to check on the scores. The Giants game ended early, so the network was showing the end of the Vikings-49ers game. The Vikings were trailing by four with about two minutes left. Favre led the team down the field and threw the game-winning touchdown pass with two seconds remaining. It was a good throw, and the receiver made a great catch. But what really struck me was Favre's reaction. He seemed genuinely overjoyed at having helped the team win. This is a man who has won a Super Bowl, yet he was thrilled to win a regular season game with teammates whom he has only known for a couple of months. I thought "there's a player who really loves the game. He takes all the pain that comes with being an NFL player, and just wants to win."
Brett Favre will turn 40 soon. Since I just celebrated my 40th birthday, I find myself rooting more for the "old" guys, who are still out there, teaching those young punks in their 20s a lesson.
So a tip of the hat to you, Brett Favre, you have a new fan today.
Tuesday, September 22, 2009
The Four Seasons
Today is the first day of autumn. Since summer is my favorite season, this day brings a touch of sadness each year. However, with age I've hopefully gained a bit of wisdom and perspective. I can now more easily see the good in each season. For example:
Summer: Warm weather and daylight that lasts well into the evening makes for an ideal scenario to get outside and play! We often take the kids outside to either walk around the block or run around in the backyard. Summer also means shorts and Hawaiian shirts, fun times at the Shore, and swimming.
Autumn: I used to be one of those who rolled his eyes at the idea of observing the fall foliage. But it can truly be a breathtaking sight. Having the kids jump into the leaf piles can make leaf raking a much more enjoyable chore.
Winter: I'll confess: I don't like shoveling snow. Fortunately, here in New Jersey we usually only get a few signicant snowfalls each year. (Also, having a snow blower makes it considerably more tolerable). The sight of a freshly-fallen snow, especially on a day when we don't need to go anywhere, is incredibly serene.
Spring: What's not to love? Sunshine, warmer weather, flowers and baseball. And of course, more playing outside.
Maybe I'm just becoming a sentimental fool in middle age, but I really feel grateful and appreciative for everything that comes my way, all year long.
Summer: Warm weather and daylight that lasts well into the evening makes for an ideal scenario to get outside and play! We often take the kids outside to either walk around the block or run around in the backyard. Summer also means shorts and Hawaiian shirts, fun times at the Shore, and swimming.
Autumn: I used to be one of those who rolled his eyes at the idea of observing the fall foliage. But it can truly be a breathtaking sight. Having the kids jump into the leaf piles can make leaf raking a much more enjoyable chore.
Winter: I'll confess: I don't like shoveling snow. Fortunately, here in New Jersey we usually only get a few signicant snowfalls each year. (Also, having a snow blower makes it considerably more tolerable). The sight of a freshly-fallen snow, especially on a day when we don't need to go anywhere, is incredibly serene.
Spring: What's not to love? Sunshine, warmer weather, flowers and baseball. And of course, more playing outside.
Maybe I'm just becoming a sentimental fool in middle age, but I really feel grateful and appreciative for everything that comes my way, all year long.
Saturday, September 19, 2009
Welcome to my blog. I hope you enjoy it. Here goes:
I have a 2-year-old son. One of his favorite things is playing with toy cars and trucks. Among his collection are green and white trucks bought from Hess gas stations the last 2 years. These are clearly sold as toys, and yet many adults buy them to collect. This means never opening the box, and keeping the truck in a closet somewhere, hoping it will increase in value. Frankly, I can't decide if this is sad or pathetic. IT'S A TOY! Even if it doubles in value, I'm sure you're not getting as much enjoyment from it as my son does by rolling the truck across the living room. If you feel the need to hoard things, try coins or stamps, not things that are meant for playing.
I have a 2-year-old son. One of his favorite things is playing with toy cars and trucks. Among his collection are green and white trucks bought from Hess gas stations the last 2 years. These are clearly sold as toys, and yet many adults buy them to collect. This means never opening the box, and keeping the truck in a closet somewhere, hoping it will increase in value. Frankly, I can't decide if this is sad or pathetic. IT'S A TOY! Even if it doubles in value, I'm sure you're not getting as much enjoyment from it as my son does by rolling the truck across the living room. If you feel the need to hoard things, try coins or stamps, not things that are meant for playing.
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