"Oneness"

This past weekend myself and 11 of my closest friends squeezed into a cozy apartment on the east side of Manhattan for fun, good times, and singing...hours and hours of singing. The soiree was one of our many rehearsals in preparation for our guest appearance at our old college a cappella group's ten year celebration.

For the last song of the evening, we sang Angel by Sarah McLachlan. Angel is a very deep and passionate song, overflowing with emotion and pensive reflection. This song required all of us to utilize staggered breathing, taking deep breaths, and projecting with not just our bodies, but our minds as well. In our college days, it was not uncommon to turn off the lights and stand in a circle with our arms around each other during rehearsals and even at concerts. This particular time was no different. Here's one recording of our rendition.

The song begins simply with held notes in a nice 6/8 feel. The soloist starts out gently with sol, mi, re, do, do, re: a powerful melodic introduction that solidifies the key center through the major pentatonic scale (minus la), and leaves the listener suspended on the re. The background vocals are always moving, giving the listener that sense of being on a small boat in the middle of the ocean...just rolling along in the water, towards some unknown destination. The group stays low-key during the verses with simple doo's for syllables. It is not until all the vocal parts sing the lyrics of the chorus with the soloist that the feeling of oneness surrounds the listener. The tenor line provides a nice harmony to the soloist by providing the underneath support, a third lower. The basses provide the rock solid foundation with the root of each chord, while the sopranos top off the sound giving each chord flavor and character. The altos hold down the fort by rounding out each triad. The second verse comes back stronger, with more vigor; the listener knows where he is being taken; he's been down that path before. Instead of rolling along listlessly in the water, the boat is driven this time, determined, storming ahead into the deep waters before returning the listener to the familiar shores of the chorus. And as the second and final chorus swells with intensity, a great feeling of unity, togetherness, and oneness envelopes everyone.

It was at this point in the song that I realized moments like these are what I missed most about performing in a college a cappella group. Sure, the wild after-parties were great and the drunken hookups weren't bad either, but what always stood out in my mind and what I have always longed for since graduation, was that feeling that we weren't just separate individuals destined to pursue our own selfish motives. We lifted our voices in unison (although not in "harmonic unison") and laid it all out. Singing the song was about being a part of something bigger than yourself...bigger than your fears, worries, failures and selfish goals. It was about letting it all go for the sake of everyone else, and losing yourself in old, familiar friends.

It was amazing how everyone else has moved on, leading exciting lives spread all over the country from LA to DC to Philly to NY. Perhaps what was more amazing, was that we all shared that common bond, a shared history of being a part of something special during our time at college (even if some of us never sang with the other). Our concert is in two weeks and I can't wait to be back on that stage...singing, dancing, beatboxing away and feeling that rush of being one with old friends.

Spikes Traded to Eagles...

Welcome to Philadelphia!

On Monday, March 26, 2007, the Philadelphia Eagles sent veteran DT Darwin Walker and an undisclosed conditional draft choice to the Buffalo Bills in exchange for former All-Pro OLB Takeo Spikes and 11-year veteran backup QB Kelly Holcomb.

The move made sense for both the Eagles and the Bills. The Eagles have invested a mountain of money and draft picks in the DT position, especially in the last two years. They spent first round draft picks on DT in each of the last two years, drafted another in the seventh round, picked up a veteran this offseason and re-signed a backup in 2004. Now, instead of stockpiling DTs, Andy Reid has finally made the decision to start investing in some much needed help at OLB. Although Spikes' production waned in the past two seasons due to an Achilles tendon injury, he is healthy again and is poised to make a great return to the field.

For the Bills, the time to strike a deal was now - before Spikes's contract skyrocketed in the next two years. Why not get something they need while getting rid of something they can live without? Since Sam Adams' departure over a year ago, the Bills defense has been struggling to get a push up the middle. In this trade, the Bills rid themselves of two things: (1) a big salary for an aging veteran and (2) a possible QB controversy that has been brewing since 2005. In turn, they acquired a solid DT that is still in his pass-rushing prime.

Spikes' Impact
Spikes is 6'2" and 242 lbs. He will provide a dominant force from the outside linebacker position. He knows how to make plays and is always around the ball. Spikes will most likely replace strongside linebacker Dhani Jones.

In Dhani Jones's 7 year career, he has made 446 tackles, 4 sacks, 4 INTs, 1
FF and 4 FR. In the first 7 years of Spikes's career, he has made 791 tackles, 19.5 sacks, 12 INTs, 10 FF and 15 FR. Spikes is just a hands-down playmaker, and the upgrade the Eagles have made is very obvious.

Kelly Holcomb's Impact
With only McNabb and Feeley on the roster for QB, the Eagles needed a veteran presence in the backup position. Ideally, teams like to have three QBs on the roster: a starter who is in his prime, a young backup QB who is waiting in the wings and learning, and a veteran QB to give some good advice and serve as a sounding board for the starter. Donovan is the unquestioned leader and starting QB of this team. However, there are times (unfortunately many times) when he gets that unmistakable look of loss on his face. These are the moments when a veteran like Holcomb can have a calming influence. With all of the different offensive systems Holcomb has seen over his career, he should have no problem picking up the Eagles' version of the West Coast Offense.

Darwin Walker's Impact.
The Bills DT position has not been its strongpoint. But this new coaching staff is starting to make the necessary changes. It began with drafting John McCargo in the first round last year. He played in 5 games, where he registered 6 tackles and 1 pass defended. The other DTs for the Bills are forgettable and once Walker steps into the lineup, then will be even more so.

This trade makes sense for both sides. It will be exciting to see how it plays out on the field next season.

State of the Eagles: Offseason '07

Coming off an exciting 10-6 season with its fifth NFC title in six years, a wild card win over the NY Football Giants, and Number 5 coming back, Andy Reid and the Birds are poised to not only maintain their high level of excellence, but are ready to be NFC champions again. If only the Eagles front office tweaked the winning formula a little bit, it might be enough to get over the hump.

It seems that every offseason, the Andy Reid-led Eagles have the same issues:

1. WR talent
2. the need for playmakers at OLB
3. the need for a big back
4. the waste of picks on collecting linemen like cheesesteaks
   

Let's take a look at how the offseason is going so far:

The Eagles' key re-signings:

• DE Juqua Thomas: Great as a reserve pass rusher due to his smallish size (6'2" 250 lbs). Perfect for some of Jim Johnson's zone blitzes.
• RB Correll Buckhalter: Injury-prone but great speed and power when healthy. Surprisingly, he's actually faster than Westbrook in straightline speed.
• SS Quintin Mikell: Impact special teams player. Great in goal-line packages.
• QB AJ Feeley: The backup QB is always a fan favorite. Did the Eagles really trade him to the Dolphins, essentially to get Reggie Brown? Oh yes, they did.
• CB William James: The player formerly known as William Peterson, and not to be confused with the American philosopher and psychologist. He will challenge Joselio Hanson or whoever else they pick up for the nickel corner spot.

The Eagles' Key Players Returning from IR:

• QB Donovan McNabb: The embodiment of the current Eagles organization. The front office has to be concerned that he ended two seasons in a row on IR.
• DE Jevon Kearse: Thank god he is coming back next season. More pass rushers are desperately needed.
• KR/WR Jeremy Bloom: Awesome potential as a returner and a speed receiver. He's a little small but showed he can gain the weight as he did between the Olympics, the Combine and his Pro Day.
• OLB Chris Gocong: He tore up offensive lines as a pass rusher against lesser college opponents. Now that he has had a full year of studying Jim Johnson defense, its time to put it into action.
  

The Eagles' Key Acquisitions:

• WR Kevin Curtis: Filled in very well for two future Hall-of-Famers in St. Louis. He was awesome in the playoffs a few years back.
• KR/WR Bethel Johnson: Can go the distance as a returner, not known as a WR. Returned 2 kicks for TDs.
  

The Eagles' key losses:

• WR Donte Stallworth: The anti-TO (had to throw that in one last time) got fans pumped with his deep-threat capability. Are the rumors true?
• QB Jeff Garcia: Had a great run but is too old. He will really mold Chris Simms into a great QB in Tampa Bay.
• QB Koy Detmer: Great help with the one win against the Giants in last year's playoffs. He had some memorable (and forgettable) games with the Eagles in previous years.
• SS Michael Lewis: Played with awesome intensity but a couple of head fakes landed him on the bench.
• CB Roderick Hood: Started quite a few games for Eagles and should soon become a starter elsewhere.
• OLB Shawn Barber: Great as a reserve nickel LB but getting old and hurt too much.
  

The Eagles' remaining needs:

• OLB: who can stop the run and knows how to shed blocks
• MLB: who can cover and play Nickel Linebacker
• CB: decent fourth and fifth cornerbacks
• SS: hard hitter that can play tough against the run
• QB: veteran guy who can bring his knowledge and experience to help McNabb
• RB: yes the obligatory perennial need for a "big" back
  

Judging from what's already transpired this offseason, it seems the team addressed this issue somewhat. The front office signed Kevin Curtis but lost Donte Stallworth. A few weeks ago, the Philadelphia Daily News reported that Donte Stallworth failed a drug test. If that is true, the next time he is caught using drugs or with a DUI, he will be suspended for four games. The Eagles do not want to take that chance. Hank Baskett won't start, but he'll fill in nicely as a big slot receiver. Greg Lewis will be ok as a fourth receiver, in fact that is when he excels. Bethel Johnson and Jeremy Bloom will duke it out as the kick returner and punt returner but it remains to be seen if either will also see the field on offense. Jason Avant could be cut as the odd man out.

As far as the OLB issue is concerned, the Eagles may not adequately address it. Dhani Jones has been consistently devoured by offensive linemen, tight ends, and fullbacks ever since he came here. Omar Gaither made some nice plays near the end of the season, but against better opponents he couldn't shed his blocks. Shawn Barber is gone. Trotter is getting old and hasn't been in on a third down for years. With no cartilage in either of his knees, how much longer can he be a force in the middle? As long as this team is led by Andy Reid with Jim Johnson's defense, a LB will not be drafted in the first round.

The Eagles also probably will not draft a "big" running back in the first round under Andy Reid. Big backs are out of style these days anyway. The teams with successful offenses don't utilize a workhorse big back anymore, they use RB tandems. Just look at Addai/Rhodes of the Colts, Taylor/Jones-Drew of the Jaguars, Jones/Barber of the Cowboys, McAllister/Bush of the Saints, Jones/Benson of the Bears, Foster/Williams of the Panthers, and Anderson/Bell of the 2005 Broncos. The RB tandem works because fresh bodies are constantly rotated into the line-up. They run with more energy, agility, strength and quickness. If the Birds do draft a back this year, I guarantee you he will not be "big."

What I can't guarantee is that Andy Reid will not draft a linemen. Yes, there tends to be a glutton of gluttons on the roster, but Andy has always liked his big boys. After all, it's the linemen who do all the dirty work in the trenches. The fundamentals of football still remain true in fancy-schmancy NFL offenses: block, run, and tackle.

With that in mind, here are my 2007 Draft Predictions:

• 1st Round - Safety: B Dawk definitely showed his age at the beginning and middle of last season, but made up for it with some great plays for the final few games. Safety as a first-round pick is becoming more in vogue and at #26, Reggie Nelson should be available then.
• 2nd Round - Defensive Tackle: Yes, they just drafted two DTs in back to back first rounds, but the front office has got to be concerned about Mike Patterson's lack of size and Broderick Bunkley's lack of ability to get on the field. Aren't defensive lineman the most likely position to make an immediate impact as a rookie?
• 3rd Round - Outside linebacker: The Eagles need an impact player that can be a smart cover linebacker for their nickel packages and who can simultaneously step up as a special teams leader. Gaither did a fine job with special teams but if he's going to start at WLB, then someone has to fill the void left behind.
• 4th Round: Traded to New Orleans
• 5th Round - Cornerback: Might become the fourth or fifth CB on the team.
• 6th Round - Defensive End: Andy believes you can never have enough pass rushers. Wait. All they have is Jevon Kearse. Trent Cole is a work in progress: he plays with a high motor, but doesn't exactly know what's going on yet. What happened to Darren Howard? Jerome McDougle just has bad luck.
• 7th Round - Punter: Dirk Johnson is terrible. They need to give him some competition.
  

Note: the Eagles also will receive compensatory picks after free agency.

Maybe this offseason, the Eagles front office will tweak the formula a little more so they can finally bring home a Super Bowl trophy, and the curse of William Penn will be lifted.

HEAD TO HEAD - Movie Review: 300

Bernard's Take...

This is Sparta!

Running Time: 117 minutes

The film is based on Frank Miller's 300, a graphic novel about the Battle of Thermopylae circa 480 B.C.E.

From the very beginning of the movie, the cinematography was otherworldly. The theater has not seen fight scenes this well choreographed since the Matrix. Each frame was a beautiful, masterful work of art. As the movie progressed, it became quite clear that a lot of planning and storyboarding took place before any shot was filmed. Each character was perfectly placed, every angle perfectly shot, and every sound perfectly timed. This movie was half-comic book; the other half was either dream or nightmare, I can't decide.

This film deserves Oscars for Cinematography, Visual Effects and Film Editing; the thunder in the dark skies, the views overlooking the cliffs, and the magical beasts that Xerxes unleashed were elaborate and finely-detailed. The "lobster dude" particularly stood out for me. I must admit that the beheadings did get tiresome after a while.

In a way, this movie was like all the others in the recent onslaught of violent sword-and-shield with bow-and-arrow era big battle scene films (Troy, Kingdom of Heaven, King Arthur, The Lord of the Rings, etc.), but at the same time, it is not. The oft-used special effect of speeding up and slowing down the action to make it appear as if the faster action sequence is super-fast, took on a whole new meaning in 300's visual smorgasbord.

The film's length (just under two hours) was perfect because it left you wanting more. The movie did not drag on at all and did not unnecessarily dilly-dally in the pre-fight sequences. These scenes were actually the most interesting, as all the tension climaxed to unbridled passion and warfare.

All of the acting was great, even in the fight scenes. The exquisite Lena Heady conveyed Queen Gorgo's passion for her country very well. Dominic West captured well the two-timing SOB, Theron. And of course, Leonidas was a deranged fanatic, and not of the Philly Phanatic variety either. Xerxes was impressive as well, and the vocoder effect was awesome.

The film overall was a work of art in itself, a fitting tribute to graphic novels, comic books and computer-generated graphics. If you are looking for witty banter or romance though, this was not that movie. Therefore, I give this movie an A for visual effects and a B for everything else.

Overall Grade: A

- Bernard
____________________________________________________

Jason's Take...

Up, Up, Down,Down, Left, Right, Left, Right, B, A, Select, Start!

Running Time: 117 minutes (and that's about the only thing we'll agree on)

300 is a glorious visual achievement. As the scenes of the film unravel, one begins to understand the marvel and giddiness that the filmmakers must have felt when they first experienced the freedom of a completely malleable backdrop. Lightning bolts have a special sizzle, gloomy corners are especially...gloomy, and all that is uneventful and mundane about the real world can be omitted with the click of a mouse. Amidst this dreamlike backdrop, director Zack Snyder placed countless beefy actors whose chiseled abs, bulging pecks, and uniform lack of chest hair established just how imposing (and sexy) the Spartans were. Unfortunately, somewhere amongst the technical wizardry and gleaming six packs 300 lost something - namely...a plot, realistic dialogue, and meaningful characters.

In what won't be a spoiler (if you have seen the previews or know the story of the Battle of Thermopylae), it is important to know going in that 300 is a very violent movie. While I enjoy the occasional Hostel torture scene as much as the next guy, I had hoped going in that the violence and blood in 300 would be more Gladiator than Rambo - I was wrong. By the time the third nameless enemy of the 300 was "artistically" beheaded, I found myself looking around my seat for a Playstation controller. It wasn't particularly the style of violence that became boring (the spraying blood effect was somewhat cool - for the first hour), but rather the repetitive nature of the slayings. I mean after all, they're Spartans - don't they know more than one way to stab baddies through the chest with their harpoon? [Authors note - it's probably a spear, but I don't really know any better and I like the word harpoon]

Harpoon.

If one could look beyond the Mortal Kombat style violence of 300, they would be staring at a blank screen. In a cast of characters that is as ludicrous as it is unexplained, our hero Leonidas (a Spartan with a Scottish accent) is backed up by a ragtag bunch that includes a sniveling hunchback, a fat guy with lobster arms, and a rather feminine super villain who also happens to be at least eight feet tall. While these characters might have had interesting back stories, film time is apparently better spent on beheadings and flexing (in no particular order), leaving the viewer to decide for themselves where the characters came from. [I created a rather exciting side story for the feminine super villain (Xerxes) in which he was a misunderstood British basketball player who had just come out of the closet and was now in Greece for the Olympics - feel free to borrow]

Left on his own to carry the movie was Gerard Butler, who makes a gallant effort, but was unfortunately trapped amongst the gaggle of lobster-men and terrible dialogue. Case in point: in a terrible lapse of editing, someone decided that Leonidas should address his fellow warriors as "Spartans!" every time he spoke to them.

"SPARTANS! - attack!"

"SPARTANS! - push these dead bodies off the pile!"

"SPARTANS! - pass the ketchup!"

By the end of the movie he was starting to sound like Optimus Prime ("AUTOBOTS! - ROLL OUT!").

As it reaches the end of 117 minutes and the conclusion that everyone expects, 300 takes the viewer through a high speed tour de force of exciting visuals...and not much else. While the new approach to film-making is unique and has much promise, it might do future filmmakers well to pay attention to other aspects of the movie before they unleash it on the public. Acting, character development, and plot all have something to contribute when it comes to fine movie making.

Time for me to do some ab work.

Overall Grade: C (but I'm sure the video game is great...or was that the video game?)

- Jason

Evenings Out: Fogo de Chao (Philadelphia)

Fogo de Chao: Philadelphia

http://www.fogodechao.com/locations/Philadelphia.htm

1337 Chestnut Street
Philadelphia, PA 19107
(215) 636-9700

Price: $25 (lunch) / $45 (dinner)

Atmosphere: high-class and relaxed

Hotness: 8/10

Service: 10/10

Food: 9/10

Ideal for: Business lunches, serious dates, celebrations, those looking for new experiences.

Deep in the heart of center city, a block from City Hall and right next to Macy's, Fogo de Chao provides an unforgettable experience. From the moment a customer enters the restaurant until he or she leaves, the restaurant aims not only to satisfy but also stun. With breathtaking 50 foot ceilings and grandiose chandeliers with thousands of wines lining the walls (yes - thousands) the atmosphere shocks the system as one realizes, "This is what fine dining is supposed to be like!"

Fogo de Chao - Portuguese for "fire on the ground " - is a new concept restaurant (or possibly old concept, depending on the perspective). Back in the olden days, gauchos (Brazilian cowboys) would roast their meat on skewers cooked above an open fire. It is like toasting marshmallows at a campfire in the summer, only the marshmallows are big tasty fillets, chops and tenderloins. Honoring the Brazilian gaucho traditions, all of the waiters are dressed up in big black boots and wear traditional Brazilian "cowboy" pants. The service is bar none with plenty of servers at your command.

What's "new" about this restaurant is that the steak is served buffet style. Purely awesome, isn't it? All the meats are served on a skewer, except for the beef ribs, so be careful to catch it as it falls off. Fogo de Chao serves 14 different cuts of beef, pork, chicken, and lamb on skewers that looked like Jennifer Garner's sais from Elektra.

Would you like some sais to go with that steak?

While the food at Fogo de Chao is great, the prices are not so impressive. Lunch runs about $25.00 per person and dinner is about $45.00 per person (dessert and drinks being extra of course). Salad bar is included, but don't fill up on veggies and cheese because you will want to save room for the bottomless meat that awaits. The salad bar, a work of art, includes fresh salmon, exotic cheeses, and fresh fruit. Each meal also comes with unlimited sides of garlic mashed, fried bananas, polente and the tastiest butteriest buns known to man.

Fogo de Chao offers an innovative way of cooking and an innovative way of serving food. This restaurant is an absolutely "must-try" place for fine dining.

Overall grade: A

Movie Review: The Good Shepherd

There's plenty more where this came from. Two Hours and Forty-Seven Minutes more.






The Good Shepherd has all the right people: Matt Damon, Angelina Jolie, Robert DeNiro, and ... Joe Pesci? Not to mention the dude that looks like Joe Montegna (the guy who does the Fat Tony voice on the Simpsons, but it's actually John Sessions). It has the right script: the beginnings of the CIA, spy movie, betrayal, elite secret Ivy League Societies, Angelina Jolie sex, and did I mention Joe Pesci doing his classic youse guys voice? Somehow though, the sum doesn't equal the parts. Imagine the Talented Mr. Ripley, mixed with some Angelina Jolie sex and some quirky Robert DeNiro roles, with My Cousin Vinny's Two Yoots Scene. Most would think, "Awesome, I love all of that; this movie is going to rock!" Unfortunately, most of the movie consists of the BORING parts of Talented Mr. Ripley, only one sex scene of Angelina Jolie (in which we see no skin), a sprinkling of DeNiro's scenes peppered throughout the movie, and a contrived Cousin Vinny trying to come off as a very serious character.

This movie was too long and drawn-out. The running time for the movie is almost 3 hours. THREE HOURS! I thought a spy's life was supposed to be fast-paced and exciting, like the Mission Impossible and James Bond series. Instead, there is a lot of waiting around. There is also a lot of Matt Damon doing nothing but talk on the phone and talk quietly to people. Ok, so maybe this was based "loosely" on a true story. Still, we are watching a movie! I want to be entertained. This movie hardly kept my attention. The only entertaining part was trying to figure out who tipped off the enemy.

The movie attempts to explain/investigate the beginnings of the CIA. However, the only "insight" given is that some General (played by Robert DeNiro) recruits some of the best and brightest from Yale to be a part of the President's idea of intelligence. Instead, the main storyline that connects the whole movie, is figuring out how the Bay of Pigs invasion turned into a disaster. How did Fidel Castro and the Russians know the Americans were going to attack them at that time and place? Who tipped them off? If you are dying to know like some of the characters in the movie, I'll let you in on it:

Matt Damon receives a photograph and an audiotape that the CIA operatives immediately determine to be made by Russians.

The director spends the whole movie, jumping back and forth through time, slowly and painfully developing Matt Damon's character mostly from his college days at Yale, but also as a little boy who witnessed his father's suicide. Then the focus shifts from Matt Damon to his son and his son's desire to please his father. Once the movie's focus shifted to Damon's son, it became pretty easy to figure out. Hmm... why else would they devote so much of that precious 2hr47min. to his son? Could it be because the movie is setting up the audience for the "surprise" revelation?

It's the ease of figuring out the culprit that is a problem I have with most Mystery/Suspense movies these days. This movie could have been better if it was more of a "whodunit?" type of flick. Like Clue... ah, one of my favorite movies in college. They just don't make movies like that anymore.

Arguably, the movie is also about family life, the difficulties of balancing long work hours with raising children, and the stress of being a CIA operative on one's mental and social life. That is a sub-plot, but it's not what the movie is advertised to be. This movie is yet another attempt at making an old idea new by dressing it up in a fancy costume.

I will admit, it's always nice to see Angelina Jolie go at it and it was nice to see what the original Ole' Boy's Club was like back in the 1930's and 40's. Beyond that though, I'm still not sure how the CIA began, which I thought was the whole point of the movie. Unless you have a voracious appetite for the BORING, or just want to go because you are in love with Matt Damon doing nothing, then stay away from this movie. It isn't even worthy of being part of your queue in Netflix.

Grade: C

Offseason '07: Giants in disarray

What's he so mad about?

Last off-season, the Giants were in trouble: Tiki Barber criticized the coaching staff by telling the New York media the Giants were "outcoached," Coughlin was losing the locker room, Jeremy Shockey couldn't stay healthy long enough to let his hair run wild, their linebackers were all backups because the starters (who weren't that good to begin with) were all injured, and aging D-backs were getting outrun and outsmarted. As a result, the whole team was bitching about Coach Coughlin.

Fast forward to this year, and the Giants are still in trouble: Tiki is criticizing Coughlin because he "made us practice too hard the whole time and that took its toll on my mind and body," Coughlin is still losing the locker room, Shockey still can't stay healthy enough long enough to let his hair run wild, their woeful linebacker backups are the starters for now, and they still have those same aging D-backs. So what is the result? Of course! The players are bitching about Coach Coughlin again.

The only changes are that Eli Manning has another year under his belt as the starting QB, they found their man at free safety, and discovered great depth at DE. Oh, and let's not forget that they no longer have Tiki, their best player, on the team to bail them out of games with his outstanding individual efforts. On Valentine's Day, Tiki came out and said that Coughlin's crazy training and practices were what did him in, both physically and mentally. It's no wonder why so many players on their defense got injured. Think back to the '05 season when they were left with 3rd and 4th string linebackers as starters. It wasn't pretty.

The players were doing everything they could to keep winning. DE Michael Strahan is old, but he was in the best shape of his life at the beginning of the season. He had dropped 20 lbs which made him quicker off the snap and faster overall. He seemed primed to repeat a 14-sack season, or even improve upon it. Eli Manning was making significant progress in '05, but he seemed to take a step back this year. His statistics are similar between this year and the year before. This season, he had a higher completion percentage, but a lower yards per attempt. His TD/INT ratio was 24/17 compared to 24/18 a year ago. If you watched him play though, he was a different player. He seemed to continually have what was previously known as the "Manning Face." Now that Peyton has won the big one, it will be known as the "Eli Manning Face." Maybe big bro Peyton can give him some tips, most importantly to let other players make plays, instead of trying to be the hero on every down.

It isn't all on the players though, but it certainly isn't all the coach's fault either. His team won some big games this season. Over the first half of the season, they were far and away the class of the NFC East. Some even thought they had Super Bowl potential. Tom Coughlin has made some great strides with the Giants during his tenure, but you have to wonder if he will ever take them past the first round of the playoffs?

As we wonder about the future of the Giants, let's take a quick look at the most recent departures from the Giants roster:
Tiki Barber-one of the greatest RB's not just to play in NY but in the NFL.
Carlos Emmons-starter who was an occassional playmaker
LaVar Arrington-pass rushing LB that just doesn't have the same fire anymore.
Chad Morton-a has-been returner who just couldn't break the bank anymore.
Luke Petitgout-stalwart LT that solidified a pretty solid O-line.
Bob Whitfield-great backup LT that filled in nicely when Petitgout went down. Had a problem that earned him the nickname "Headbutt Bob"...

All of those players are no longer with the team. Don't fret yet Giants fans, you still have Pro Bowl MLB Antonio Pierce and former Pro Bowler Will Demps. Pierce is developing nicely with Big Blue and doesn't show any signs of stopping. Demps will be a force in his second year with the G-men. Strahan, Umenyiora and Kiwanuka will dominate off the edge. Barry Cofield and Fred Robbins will continue to get good push up the middle. Jeff Feagles will continue to amaze everyone with his coffin corner punts. Freak of nature Jared Lorenzen will blossom in his role as a 6'4", 285lb QB-sneak waiting to happen.

For the rest of the offseason, there are some positions that should be of great concern to the Giants. Here is a list of those positions, along with some analysis:

1. Outside linebacker: Specifically, one with size and strength that plays the run tough. They need playmakers at OLB. Nick Greisen was underrated, they just didn't realize that until he was gone. It is true that he did not do much for Jacksonville this year, but who could forget his dreamy beach boy muscles and looks? If Brandon Short can stay healthy this season, he would certainly be an upgrade.

2. Running back: A smaller, faster RB who can catch passes out of the backfield. Brandon Jacobs is a power runner and he functioned well in a 1-2 speed/power punch with Tiki (although he can't punch it in with three tries inside the 5). Besides, the 1-2 RB tandem is all the rage in the NFL today. Manning gets frazzled easily and needs an RB to dump passes off to. The Giants screen too well to let that aspect of their offense retire with Tiki.

3. Offensive Tackle: With starter Luke Petitgout's release and key backup Bob Whitfield's announced retirement, there is a gaping hole at left tackle. David Diehl has filled in well in their absence but is not the long-term solution. A premier player at left tackle is something the Giants must find.

4. Strong Safety: One that can play in the box and stop the run. Gibril Wilson has done a decent job, but they need a dominant force in there to disrupt opposing QB on the blitz and make some plays near the line of scrimmage.

5. Cornerback: Behind R.W. McQuarters, there's not much at CB. Sam Madison is old and slow, just as he was with the Dolphins before joining the Blue Men Group, and now he's even more so. Kevin Dockery has some potential, but he bites on too many pump fakes and double moves. He also needs more work in the film room before becoming a starter. Frank Walker hasn't shown enough on the field, other than his special teams play, to get a good idea of his potential.

6. Slot receiver: Sinorice Moss was drafted last year to play this spot. He is admittedly quick, but not shifty and elusive enough to play the slot. Perhaps, if the Giants put Moss on the outside and moved Plaxico Burress to the slot, they would be more successful. Burress has the big body to play across the middle and can make the tough catches. Moss has been getting too much of a pass in his rookie year because the coaches and GM suffer from the Manning Effect: they think the little bro will be as good as the big bro, or better. They were right...Tiki is much better than Ronde Barber.

7. Kick Returner/Punt Returner: Chad Morton used to be feared whenever he returned the ball. He seems to have lost a step, so the Giants seem ready to hand the return duties over to Sinorice Moss. He didn't show enough "wiggability" when he returned the ball in '06 though. As with most rookies, he needs to improve his patience; he needs to let his blocks develop and find the seams. On the rare return he found the seems, his shiftiness seemed to disappear. He needs to figure out where it went.

With a solid draft (one that includes Paul Posluszny, if the football gods smile on the Giants) and a couple of adequate free-agent pickups (Marcel Shipp or Dominic Rhodes would be a good start), the Giants could return to the playoffs for a third year in a row. If they do, then maybe this time the always angry Coughlin can lead them to their first playoff win since the days of Kerry Collins.

Evenings Out: Zanzibar Blue

http://www.zanzibarblue.com/

Location: 200 S. Broad St., Philadelphia, PA 19102

Cover: None Sunday through Thursday

Service: 8/10

Hotness: 8/10

Other features: live jazz music

Atmosphere: chill/laid-back

Ideal for: sophisticates who want to relax and mingle with like-minded individuals

Band: Azel Dixon's Hammond B3 quartet

Located in the heart of center city, right next to the "Theater District," Zanzibar Blue offers a nice and relaxing way to unwind after an exciting night in Philly. Both convenient and affordable, Zanzibar Blue provides the solution to your needs. Looking for more excitement? Pull up a seat at the bar. Just want to check out the BEST live jazz music in town? Head right in the main room.

This music satiates the hunger of occassional jazz listeners and voracious jazz addicts alike. The music is simply awesome, but simultaneously so complex one could get a great brain workout analyzing the chord substitutions in the ii-V-I progressions. Dating back to 1990, this place has been stirring up the jazz scene with greats such as Nancy Wilson, Jimmy Scott, Chick Corea, Arturo Sandoval, Jamaladeen Tacuma, Lou Rawls, Kenny Garrett and Chuck Mangione.

My only regret in coming here, was that I came too late. I caught the tail end of February's feature Sunday night act, Azel Dixon. This band was smoking. The guitarist knew how to play rhythm guitar like nobody's business, and his solo chops were equally impressive. The Hammond Organ gave it that great soulful sound bands can only dream of obtaining without an organ. Its a shame that there just aren't many organs in live bands these days. Sorry, synthesizers on organ settings do NOT count as live organ.

Got the late night munchies? No worries. The hot wings there got my heart pumping, or was it pumping from the music? Speaking of hearts, do you have a date set for Valentine's Day? This is the perfect spot to take your special someone if nothing is planned yet. Great food, affordable drinks, and the best jazz in town. What more can you ask for?

Grade: A

Peyton is Super Bowl TMVP

On February 4, 2007, after the biggest game of the biggest sport in America, Peyton Manning took home the Pete Rozelle Super Bowl MVP award and a shiny new Caddy. Can critics finally shut up about the proverbial monkey on his back? Unfortunately, while it may look like it is gone in this picture, the monkey is still there.

Manning completed a very average 25 of 38 for 247 yards 1 TD and 1 INT - a QB rating of 81.8. This translates to a 65.8% completion rate. His yards per attempt average was a very meager 6.5. He was also sacked for a loss of 8 yards. His decision-making was terrible. He started off with two passes almost intercepted and then threw the actual interception for good measure. Sure, he settled down a bit as the game wore on, but that's only because the "real" Super Bowl MVP showed up...Joseph Addai.

Addai caught 10 passes for 66 yards. Not exactly wow numbers, but when combined with his 77 yards on 19 rushing tries, he had a total of 143 all-purpose yards on 29 touches for an average of 4.93 yards per touch.

The truth is, Manning shouldn't even be #2 in the voting for the Pete Rozelle Award. That spot is saved for the other part of Indy's dynamic duo, Dominic Rhodes. Rhodes gained 113 yards on 21 carries, including a 36 yard romp through the once-fearsome Bears' run defense. Although Addai never hit paydirt, Rhodes did with a 1-yd pile pushing dive into the endzone. Rhodes was also good for an 8-yd catch, giving him a total of 121 yards on 22 touches and a 5.5 ypt average.

Supporters of the Manning MVP vote will look to Manning's "play-calling" ability. However, Manning doesn't call that many plays. According to John Madden, Manning has three plays when he gets to the line - a run to each side and a pass play. Is it any wonder that the majority of the plays called were runs? I don't care if you're John Elway or Dan Marino, you don't pass deep when both safeties start 18 yards away from the line of scrimmage (well...Brett Favre might throw some one of his crazy passes into triple coverage, but you get the point). Regardless, Manning isn't dumb, but he isn't a genius either. He's a great football player and legendary quarterback, but he didn't deserve this Super Bowl MVP. The most valuable player was of all people, a rookie.

Part of me believes that the MVP award was given to Manning because the committee doesn't think he'll make it back. No Super Bowl winner has ever finished last in rushing defense until the Colts this year. It will be absolutely mind-boggling if the Colts can do it again.

Another part of me believes that the MVP is picked by default in this order: QB, QB, QB, RB, WR, and all other players. You read that right - I list "QB" three times in a row because a QB is three times more likely to be picked than a RB and about four times more likely to be picked than a WR. In fact, out of 41 Super Bowls, a QB was the MVP 21 times, a RB 7 times, a WR 5 times, a DE twice, a LB twice, a S twice, a CB once, a DT once, and a KR/PR once.

On this particular night, it was the Colts' running backs ability to consistently run the football, find the holes, and power their way through defenders that won the game. The Colts chewed up 38:04 of game clock compared to 21:56 for the Bears. This 2:1 ratio in time of possession equals a very, very, very tired Bears defense. With 41 rushing attempts by the Colts, the Bears were worn down, even if they did have a Tank on special leave of court on their side.

Although Manning may have been the Super Bowl's Third Most Valuable Player, he will always be remembered as a Super Bowl Champion. Can he do it all over again? We shall Chimpan-see.

Evenings Out: Reed's Restaurant/Nightclub (Blue Bell)

http://www.reedsbluebell.com/

Location: 1486 Skippack Pike, Blue Bell, PA 19422.

Cover: $6

Service: 7/10

Hotness: 6/10

Other features: pool tables and the sharks to go with them

Atmosphere: Nightclub/Bar with live cover bands (pop)

Ideal for: Suburbanite college kids without the hassle of going into/out of the city, people who want to be deaf from a crappy cover band, karaoke-like clubbing.

Just a hop, skip, and a jump away from local Montco landmark, Reed's Country Store (Rts. 202 and 73), Reed's Restaurant/Nightclub brings the excitement of a college-town bar to the 'burbs. Reed's also has been a repeat site for The Society Pages, a local magazine dedicated to clubbing in Philly and southern NJ.

The place was packed on Saturday night, with a line snaking out the front door. The wait wasn't too long and doormen up front were quick. The bulk of the crowd was college-age with about an equal male/female ratio. However, there was a good-sized contingent of people in their 30's. The crowd's hotness factor was a panache of varying degrees. The guys looked like they just rolled out of bed. Bed-head may be in, but wrinkled bed-clothes is definitely not in. At least the girls had some style...well...most of them.

With the throng of people surrounding the bar, the bartenders were moving nonstop filling glasses and opening bottles. A few extra bartenders could go a long way. The shot girls meandered throughout the crowd, were friendly and always around.

Unfortunately, I made the mistake of going when Chio from Wired 96.5 was there. He said to the crowd, "we're live on the air! Make some noise!" I could have sworn that I went deaf from the screaming throng of drunks. Then he said, "I can't hear you, make some noise!!!!!" Then I heard that high-pitched ringing. Maybe if he took his gargantuan headphones off, he'll be able to hear the tintinabulation too. If you are looking for someone to chat it up with a potential hookup, you won't be able to hear them unless you're sitting with the pool sharks, far away from the band.

Aside from the Chio experience, it was not too bad overall. I would come back, maybe on a Thursday or Friday. But the crappy cover band seems unavoidable with these kinds of places.

Overall: B-/C+

Bush-whacked

Right back at ya, Reggie.

Saints running back Reggie Bush got pounded for $5,000 after going Mutumbo on Brian Urlacher in last week's NFC Championship Game. Bush was supposed to be a model player and citizen - the savior of a downtrodden New Orleans. Instead, he's showing kids across America how to be a jackass with his poor sportsmanship. You're not much of a savior when you stir up a whirlwind of shit with the Bears Defense, who proceed to shut you out for the rest of the game. Bush's touchdown brought the score to 16-14 with 12:20 left in the third quarter. There was plenty of ball game left at that time, but after the finger-wagging by Bush, the Saints' momentum vanished as the Bears went on a 23-0 run to end the Saints' chances at going to Miami.

A taunt like the one displayed by Bush should be egregious enough to warrant a penalty and fine. The fact that the taunt occurred while the ball was in play and no flag was thrown is mind-boggling. Sure, Bush is a rookie sensation and he will electrify fans everywhere for years to come, but he is still only a rookie. He needs to respect the veterans and others who he takes the field with every Sunday. 50 Ben Franklins is just a slap on the wrist considering Reggie's paycheck, but this slap will sting until the Saints get back to the NFC championship game.

I wonder if it is still a penalty to do the revised Mutumbo - wagging the finger at the crowd, instead of a player?

Evenings Out: The Capital Grille

Location
The Capital Grille has 26 locations across the United States. In Philadelphia, it is found in the heart of Center City at Broad and Chestnut Streets. Valet parking is available as well as many other nearby garages. Unless you feel like driving in circles until a space opens up at a side-street parking meter, you'll probably have to shell out $18 for 1.5-2 hours.

Ambiance
Eagles players are common on the Friday nights before home games and Thursday nights before away games (especially the linemen - those guys like to eat). On a typical night, the crowd consists of a good mix of professionals, families celebrating, and 30/40-somethings on dates. Most of the time, there is quiet Jazz playing in the background, but aren't most steakhouses like that? The lighting is dim and relaxed - the perfect place to take a date or have a nice quiet meal.

Drinks
The bar is small, but pretty active. There are seats at the bar and small tables against the wall with people everywhere in between. The bartender is usually quick on her feet-especially if she's making a the Capital Grille's specialty, the pineapple martini. The martinis are stored in a large glass tub, ornately filled with alternate stacking of pineapple slices soaking in that sweet liquor. The Capital Grille also has a large selection of finely aged wines, by the bottle or by the glass.

Appetizers
The fried calamari is excellent - just the right amount of kick to it. For all the Davey Joneses out there, I recommend the seafood platter, but be prepared to eat because the plate is HUGE and overflowing with clams, oysters and other delicious treasures from the sea. As for me, I usually just get the Wedge-a head of lettuce smothered in bleu cheese and crunchy bacon bits.

Entrees
Regardless of which entree you order, every dish is exquisitely prepared and beautifully presented. The Chef does a tremendous job of ensuring that every dish is a masterpiece.

As for steaks, my favorite is the Delmonico, a juicy Ribeye that will satisfy you. If you don't like your cuts that fatty, the Filet Mignon is equally amazing, your knife will be slicing through it like its butter. Tender and flavorful, these cuts will rival any steak out there. One fork-full and the ravenous diner will be instantly sated and taken away to heaven, steak heaven, that is. The au jus is just the right blend of spices and seasoning, the perfect balance for those who considers themselves steak enthusiasts or a casual steak lover. These Prime Grade Steaks will run you between $30 and $40 and worth every penny.

They say this is a steakhouse first and a seafood place second, but just a bite of their fresh Maine lobster makes one wonder: should that be reversed? The shell is perfectly steamed to lock in the flavor. The lobster is so fresh, it is as if they just picked it right off the coast of Maine. Both succulent and scrumptious, this epicurean delight will not disappoint. Lobsters are served between 2-5lbs, depending on how much you can stuff your belly.

Dessert
All the usual suspects are present, but when it comes to their coconut cream pie, there is no parallel. The whipped cream is light and fluffy and the cream is so delectable that my mouth is watering just thinking about. The coconut shavings add just the right texture and the right amount of nuttiness to it. After all, spending all this money for dinner means you were probably already nutty to begin with.

Bernard's Rants: Korean Rice Cake Soup

Korean Rice Cake Soup, Duk Guk (pronounced duck kook) in Korean, is a soup that is served on New Year's. It is eaten on the first day of the year (Sulnal) because the Duk (korean rice cake) originally appears as a long slender stick of white rice cake, symbolizing purity and long life. The rice cake is cut into round shapes to represent round and harmonious times in the new year.

Here's a recipe for the tasty Duk Guk...

Ingredients:

• One package of rice cake
• Beef flank steak, about 2 pounds
• Eggs (one or two, up to you), i like more though
• Pepper, salt, green onions, garlic
• Gim (salted seaweed leaves) (optional)
• Mandoo (Korean dumplings) (optional)
  

Preparation:

1. Soak the rice cake in water for an hour or two to soften it. Slice the rice cake into round shapes. I like the oval shapes, similar to Polska Kielbasa (cut diagonally through the cylinder).

2. Boil the flank steak in about six cups of water with two cloves of garlic. If you don't like the meat/soup fatty and you have time: cook for longer, chill, skim the fat off, and boil again.

3. You can either cook the egg separately (separate the yolk and cook the egg white) or just plop it in the soup right before serving. I like the egg placed in the soup right before serving. If you like, you can also prepare the Mandoo here. Boil one package.

4. Add the rice cakes slices to the boiling beef soup and continue boiling. When the slices are soft and light enough, they should float to the top. If you chose to serve with Mandoo, add the boiled Mandoo now.

5. The soup is almost ready to be served! Ladle out the soup into bowls. Depending on your guests' preferences, ask if they would like crumpled Gim and/or Green Onions. The Gim gives the soup a nice presentation and adds to the flavor with a fragrance of the sea.

Hope you enjoy!

Bernard's Rants: Clearly Canadian

Avril Lavigne, Shania Twain, Jim Carrey, Bryan Adams, Neil Young, Pamela Anderson, Barenaked Ladies. Who are they? Why, they are clearly canadians, of course! But, that's not what this article is about.

Do you remember the soft drink from the 90's, Clearly Canadian? It was perhaps the best stuff on earth. It had the feel of soda, but without all the bitter taste of phosphoric acid which you will find in all coke-based soft drinks. It was light and fruity with flavors like blackberry and cherry. But best of all, it was clear! Even Pepsi tried to ride the coattails of Clearly Canadian's popularity with Crystal Pepsi in the early 90's. But Crystal Pepsi faded away. Sadly, Clearly Canadian did.

It was right around the beginning of January 2006, that I noticed in my local gas station's fridge had a new but familiar soft-drink. It was Clearly Canadian! Maybe it had not left me after all! There they were, my two favorite Clearly Canadian flavors: blackberry and cherry. I quickly purchased one of each and drank them right then and there. I was hooked again. Crisp and clear refreshment - none of that nasty acidic aftertaste. I found myself making runs to the gas station just to buy the stuff. They didn't sell the bottles in bulk, so I had to purchase each one at a rate of $1.29 for a 14 oz bottle. Let's see 12 x $1.29 plus tax =... $16.44, but it was sooo worth it. After purchasing 12 everyday for an entire month, I started running to run out of money. It was then that I decided that I needed to start going Canadian in bulk.

I first tried my local supermarket - unfortunately they had no idea it was being sold again. I also tried other supermarkets from different chains, but got the same response. I then went to the big wholesalers like BJ's and Sam's club. Same story! I would not give up so easily though. I finally tried the Clearly Canadian website at clearly.ca. To my joy, I found out they had re-released other classic flavors like Raspberry, Strawberry, Pink Grapefruit and Blueberry. I had been noticing that Clearly Canadian seemed to taste even better than it did in the 90's. It tasted crisper and sweeter, but not too sweet. Further research on the website revealed that the original formula had aspartame as its main sugar substitute ingredient (the same sugar substitute used in many diet drinks like Diet Coke). This formula had most certainly been changed, adding to the enhancement of my recent purchases. To my disappointment, Clearly Canadian did not sell their product to individual consumers through the website. There was an option to request that the product be sold in certain locations - which I did immediately.

Sometime around the end of the summer, the Crystal Canadian formula was changed again. Instead of using the healthier sugar substitute, sucralose, the makers of Clearly Canadian switched to cane sugar. The result was a sweeter and stickier concoction that they claimed was "clearly" superior to other sodas. Unfortunately, my taste buds smelled a rat - it is just not the same anymore and I now regret not buying Clearly Canadian in bulk - like 100,000 gallons of it. That would be enough of for a life-time supply, right? I've tried writing letters to the company and all I get was a stupid form response saying "thank you for your interest in our product".

I am beginning to give up hope that the special wonder that was Clearly Canadian is gone forever. Until then, I'll just have to keep buying my individually packaged 14 oz bottles from the local gas station.

Bernard's Rants: Joey Porter is calling YOU out!

"I didn't mean to offend anybody but Kellen Winslow."- Joey Porter

You gotta love the guy. Joey Porter is a lightning rod for controversy. Too many players in the NFL forget about the art of trash talking. They think it is beneath them. They either don't want to stoop down to some scumbag's level, or perhaps they are just scared that they can't walk the walk to match their talk.

But Joey Porter is a different story. Porter refuses to shutup and he backs up his talk week after week...season after season. For example, Porter was virtually unblockable in the AFC Divisional matchup against the Indianopolis Colts last postseason (3 sacks on Peyton). He then shut down Jerramy Stevens in the Superbowl after stating that he wanted blood (note: Stevens wasn't his assignment on the touchdown).

Yes, my friends, Joey Porter is a vampire. A vampire that feeds off the smack talk of other players. When he smells blood, or fear, he becomes a homing missile and you better get the hell out of his way or put more people in to block him.

Perhaps it's not fair. Porter isn't really picking on people his own size. OK, Stevens and Winslow were both first-round picks, but so far they have been duds - all talk and no production. Take Winslow for instance. Here's a suggestion, before you pronounce yourself to be the greatest TE of the NFL, why don't you produce more. Heck, why don't you produce anything? Did you see the "gadget" play where Kellen Winslow tried to throw a ball last week? He got sacked!

I hope to see more hugs and kisses from Joey Porter, but I can't wait to see the jawing really heat up again.

Bernard's Rants: Saints AT Giants? Again?

This week, the Saints travel to Giants Stadium for a regular season away game. Sound familiar? It should, because just last year we had the exact situation. Well, not exactly the same. You see last year, the Saints played at the Meadowlands, only it was called a "home" game for the Saints. Through all the tragedy and hardship that befell the people of New Orleans and their families and friends across the United States, many saw the Saints as a glimmer of hope - something to take their mind off the disaster. They found comfort in their Saints. With all the devastation the city endured...they looked forward to every single game.

Even though the Superdome was not ready for NFL games last year, the Saints marched on, playing in other venues for their home games. One of those venues was Giants Stadium. The NFL made a big hoopla and put the game on primetime in a first-ever Monday night doubleheader. All the important people came to the game and showed their ugly mugs on TV (including Presidents Bill Clinton and George H.W. Bush). Lots of Saints fans poured into the stadium. Some Giants fans even wore Saints jerseys. Everything was nice and dandy.

Unfortunately, the Saints lost that game (they ended up losing most of their games last season). No matter how the NFL dressed it up, the Saints were still playing an away game. Their lockers were in the away team section. They had to travel from New Orleans to New York. They had to deal with all the annoyances and schedules and itineraries that come with an away game and their families were not in full attendance.

Fast forward to this coming week. Again, the Saints play the Giants. The NFL had an opportunity to rectify the travesty that was last year's Saints vs. Giants game. They could have made the Giants travel to New Orleans for this game. It's the least they could have done to rectify the absurd notion that the Saints played a "home" game at Giants stadium.

Apocalypto Movie Review

Mel Gibson is no stranger to success in the box office. Contrary to some recent reports, the Passion of the Christ is not the only movie Mel Gibson has made. He has also had success with Braveheart and Forever Young. Mel has also had tremendous success with movies in which he starred: the Lethal Weapon series, Mad Max series and even the surprise hit of 2000 that started the claymation revolution, Chicken Run.

Mel Gibson is also no stranger to overindulgent, dragged out, when-is-this-movie-going-to-end-because-I've-had-enough-gore-for-the-day movies. I came into this movie expecting a looooooong "epic" movie about the Mayans. That's exactly what I got. To qualify as a "Mel Gibson movie" these days, there are a few simple ingredients:

1. loooooooong and extended scenes that really don't add to the story, but are in the movie because Mel thinks he's just too awesome to have his work cut
2. lots of violence and people dying
3. lots of blood and gore
4. lots of explosions and pyrotechnics.

I'm sure fans of the movie would argue that those extended scenes were necessary to "tell the story" of the Mayans. But do you really want to sit in the theater any more than necessary? Save it for the Extended DVD version Mel...please.

Lots of violence and people dying is trademark Mel Gibson. Maybe it's the movies he picks or maybe Mel Gibson thinks that the violence and death are good things. Either way, these movies usually make a lot of money.

Another part of Mel Gibson's M.O. is excess blood and gore. This plethora of graphic violence will definitely placate the normal moviegoer. For example, I present to you a Spoiler!

Without spoiling too much, there is a scene in the movie where they are standing on the Mayan pyramids in the jungle and people are being sacrificed. The executioner chops off the head, displays it to the bloodlusted and frenzied crowd then lets it roll down about 5 stories of stairs.

End spoiler. Also, throughout the movie, many others were dying horrible deaths. Maybe Mel thought it was necessary. "Hey! That's how life was back then!" Maybe it was, maybe it wasn't. No one really knows. Surely Mel is entitled to his own fantasy world, isn't he? An example of the bloody nature of Mel's fantasies results in another Spoiler!

During the main character's dream, he sees a man that looks like the dude from American Idol who sings Like a Virgin, and the man is holding something: his own pulsating heart in his hand. Kalima! Kalima!

End spoiler.

You may be asking, how did he pull off explosions and pyrotechnics in a mythical Mayan civilization? I don't know...he just does. Perhaps its because he's Mel Gibson!

Even after reading this rant, you will probably not change your mind about whether to watch the movie. Knowing what I know now about the movie, I would probably go watch it again. After all...a movie is meant to entertain, isn't it? I must admit...I was entertained...even if it was only for the second half.

Manning vs. Manning

Its hard to make a completely direct comparison between Peyton and Eli's successes and failures in the NFL because they don't play for the same teams and they don't play in the same systems. Nevertheless, so-called "experts" are constantly comparing the two. The highly touted first game of the 2006-07 regular season even received the appellation of "the Manning Bowl." All week leading up to that game and even after the game, these "experts" tried to break down the game and figure out who was the better QB.

Manning v. Manning is yet another addition to the long list of overhyped NFL games. This list includes, but is not limited to: Manning vs. Manning, Randy Moss vs. Chad Johnson, Roethlisberger vs. Brady. None of these matchups make any sense. A Manning is never on the field at the same time as his brother. A Manning will never intercept another Manning's throw, or force his brother to fumble. With the strange exception of Chad Johnson playing some cornerback during the Pro Bowl, all of these people play offense, meaning that they never play against each other. So why do the networks still insist on labeling the matchups like it is a boxing match? It is not like we're talking Ali vs. Frazier or Tyson vs. Holyfield here. Football is a team game and you would never see a one-on-one matchup the way they implicitly advertise. Let's just call these "matchups" what they are: two prime-time players that have a chance to prove they are just awesome in the spotlight.

With that said, here's my "expert" analysis...

Drafted #1 overall. Great NFL pedigree with a franchise-favorite quarterback for a father. Dominated at all levels of play before arriving at the NFL. Prototypical QB size of around 6'4, 225 lbs. Laser rocket arms. Skilled teammates on offense and a respectable, sometimes dominating defense. The Mannings seem to have alot in common, but what separates Peyton and Eli? The answer? Playmakers.

For years, Peyton has had the blessing of being joined on offense by a talented running back (Edgerrin James), one of the best wide receivers in the NFL (Marvin Harrison), and one of the best #2 WRs around (Reggie Wayne). For years, these three playmakers were the reason why Peyton Manning was so successful. When you watched Marvin Harrison run a skinny post route off of a play-action to Edgerrin James, you knew it would be a touchdown or guaranteed big play. You also can't forget the Indy offensive line who happen to be some of the best at their position (Tarik Glenn, Jeff Saturday, Ryan Lilja, etc.). The whole offensive system is just genius and to top it all off, Peyton has the confidence and trust of his coach to audible and pick his plays when he gets to the line. His leadership and command of the huddle is unparalleled throughout the NFL. He wills his teams to win. Give him one minute on the clock and he will drive down to set up the game winning field goal or touchdown.

Then we have Eli, a player who has experienced both growing pains and flashing moments of greatness. Unfortunately, Eli is limited by the lack of talent around him and his own lack of focus. Yes, Amani Toomer owns many franchise records for his position at an historic franchise. Sure, Jeremy Shockey is one of the top TEs of the league, and Tiki Barber owns many franchise records in his own right. But its Eli's lack of focus and confidence in himself as a QB and as a leader that is his downfall. He cannot control or even guide the volatile Shockey or Burress. He doesn't get on them for dropped passes, even though they have been dropping them like hot cakes all game. When Eli threw a game-winning TD in overtime against the division-rival Eagles this season, he was just stunned. He could have had the same expression on his face if he had thrown an INT returned for a TD in overtime. Eli has the potential to be a great QB. We've seen his talent (especially in the 2005 Rams game), but he won't make it there until the Giants bring in a proven #1 guy that is a force on the field. Only then will Eli be able to build his confidence and really begin to thrive like his big brother. Until then, he will always have that scared little puppy face. But then again, we've seen that face quite a few times from Peyton in the playoffs...

Hall of Fame Coach Admits Team Sucks...or Maybe He Sucks

"You have to create and play well every single year, and every single game," said Gibbs. "So I think I was very cautious and there weren't any high expectations from anybody here, the coaches or anyone in the organization. We're bitterly disappointed we got off to a horrible start, didn't win any games in the preseason. It's been extremely tough for us, and most of it comes back and is my responsibility. It's my job to win football games and we haven't done that."

What's up with Joe Gibbs and the Washington Redskins? Last year, they seemed poised to challenge for the NFC East crown after a red hot second half put them in the NFC wildcard game. They signed and traded for big name players like hard-hitting Adam Archuleta, return man extraordinaire Antwaan Randle El, rapper/TD-maker-despite-49er's-crappy-offense Brandon Lloyd, power back TJ Duckett, and monster LB/DE Andre Carter. As of midseason, Archuleta has been replaced by gimpy old-geezer Troy Vincent, because he can't defend the pass. Randle El hasn't noticeably improved the return unit, and Lloyd can't buy a pass when Santana Moss is on the field (even when Santana Moss was hurt, Brunell's go-to guy is...James T(h)rash?). Duckett doesn't even dress for half of the games, and when he does, he's lucky if he gets more than 5 carries. At least Andre Carter is tied for the team lead in sacks...with two. Ouch.

Lets revisit that Gibbs quote, "...there weren't any high expectations from anybody here..." So basically, he's saying, "I knew we sucked before the season; I knew our team wasn't going to do well; I admit we suck now, and I'm the reason we suck." Keep in mind that this is not a rebuilding year for them. Clinton Portis is tearing up defenses like he always does; their defense was scary last year, and the playmakers they've added should have made them even more so. The Skins still have a shot at the playoffs, but that might require replacing alligator-arm, sack-prone, and turnover-prone Mark Brunell with strong-armed, mobile, and playmaking Jason Campbell. It's not too late!

He may be a Hall of Fame coach, but Joe Gibbs knows when to fold. When you look at the coach's own words that directly reflect upon the teams questionable personnel decisions, it looks like this might be Gibbs's last year in the NFL. It's a shame too, because few coaches share his honesty and candor. When was the last time Denny Green or some other coach with a sub-.500 record admitted not only that their team sucked, but also admitted that it's his own damn fault?

Dave Spadaro

For those who don't know Dave Spadaro, he is the man in charge of the Philadelphia Eagle's website. He is also, hands-down, the most annoying Eagles "fan" I have ever encountered. I hesitantly label him a fan because I don't even think he is a loyal fan. Spadaro is paid to spew pro-Eagles crap every freaking day, sometimes multiple times a day. His interviews are terrible and his questions are ludicrous at best. Worst of all, he gives people predictions about how the Eagles will win...always. Never once have I seen him pick against the Eagles. You must be thinking, "Of course! Why would he? The Eagles are freaking paying him to sell that crap!" I used to read his articles and believe his prognostications. Then I took it with a grain of salt. Now ... I just laugh.