Thought - Last Word

Before the replacement official debacle becomes just history, there is time for one last moronic comment. One substitute field judge shared his thoughts on what he felt was unfairly harsh judgement; "Everyone wanted perfection, but come on: The last guy who was perfect they nailed to a cross. And he wasn't even an official.". Yes, very wise, thank you. I'll remember that the next time I try to do something well and fail miserably.

Sports - NFL Picks, Week 4

Here are my NFL Week 4 picks:
(I was 9-6 last week, 10-5 if you have eyes)
Bye teams: Pit & Ind

Cle @ Bal - The Ravens could have a hangover from a tough win against the Patriots, but I think they'll be just fine.  Weeden might have more interceptions than completions.

Car @ Atl - Julio & Matty Ice tore up the AFC West (KC, Den, SD), they shouldn't have any problems with the Panthers.

NE @ Buf - The Patriots haven't played great and the game is in Buffalo, but they're still the Patriots, and they have completely owned the Bills in recent history.

Min @ Det - The Vikings were the big surprise last week knocking off the Niners.  If Stafford plays, I don't think they can shock anyone two weeks in a row.  Lions win.

Ten @ Hou - The Texans are, right now, the best team in the NFL.  They are excellently balanced, disciplined, and explosive.  They will not lose to a division opponent at home.

SD @ KC - Could be a sloppy game, as neither team has really played well so far.  If Ryan Matthews can stay healthy for just this one game the Chargers should eek out a win.

SF @ NYJ - Apparently the Niners didn't even fly home after their embarrassing loss to the Vikings.  They came to Ohio and began football boot camp.  They will win this week.

Sea @ STL - Well, the Seahwaks got a pretend win.  Their defense is for real though.  They should rough up Sam Bradford and Russell Wilson will do enough to win, legitimately.

Mia @ Ari - The Arizona Cardinals are winning their division and the St. Louis Cardinals are fighting for a wild-card spot.  Seems backwards, but the Dessert Dwellers are for real.

Oak @ Den - Ok, the Broncos will win this week.  Peyton & Co. will get the job done at home against their rivals, though they better watch out for Run DMC.

Cin @ Jax - Look for The Law Firm to get going against a poor Jaguar defense and for Blaine Gabbert to have a lot more problems than did RG3.  Bengals.

NO @ GB - The hands down game of the week.  Both teams should be embarrassed by the way they have played so far this season and will put up major points.  Home field gives the Pack a slight edge.

Was @ TB -  The Bucs are not the team that was advertised.  The Redskins are.  RG3 is the real deal and should be able to come away win a tough win.

NYG @ Phi - I know what Vick has done to them in a past, but I'm not buying it based on how awful he's looked so far this year.  Eli thrives late, and he might need to, but Giants win.

Chi @ Dal - A very tough game to predict, as both teams have been hot and cold.  I like the Dallas D, and no one likes Jay Cutler, so I'll go Cowboys.

Book Review - The Time Machine

Author: H.G. Wells
Year: 1895

Recently my father-in-law loaned me a novel called The Time Ships, knowing that we shared an interest in science-fiction.  Written by Stephen Baxter, the story is a sequel to the classic H.G. Wells sci-fi pioneer The Time Machine, written exactly 100 years earlier.  Well, I had read the original novel at some point in junior high, but couldn't remember much about it other than a 'Wishbone' episode featuring a Jack Russell Terrier attempting to escape from ape-like Morlocks.  I decided a re-read was in order.

The Time Machine takes place in London, both during the late 1800's and in the year 802,701 A.D.  This massive leap in time is conducted by the Time Traveler, as the main character is referred to.  While hosting a dinner party, the adventurer emerges from his office disheveled, exhausted, and bursting with a need to tell his story; an unbelievable tale of time, space, evolution, and the future of mankind.  The dinner guests, as well as we the readers, can only listen in awe as the incredible journey is retold.

It is amazing how much detail and suspense can be packed into 100 pages.  Though short, the story is exciting, intriguing, creepy, and even philosophical.  Wells paints a picture of a very possible future, one in which evolution has worked perfectly, but not in ways that are as Utopian as we would like to believe.  A great and quick read, The Time Machine is a novel that should be a required text, both for its impact on the sci-fi genre and its statement on humanity.

My rating: ✰ ✰ ✰ ✰

Sports - Seahawks

I promise to talk movies soon, but I can't ignore the debacle from last night on MNF. That's two Monday games in a row that were horribly officiated, but this was the first game of the season to be decided by a bad call. The regular refs make mistakes too, of course, but at least fans & players can appreciate that there is no one more qualified to make these decisions. With these current refs, it's JV officials calling a varsity game. Not fair, not smart, and not acceptable. The NFL doesn't care because they're not losing money, but if something doesn't change soon that might not be the case for long.

Thought - Favorite Book

What is your favorite book? And I refuse to believe you do not have one.

Mine is Ishmael by Daniel Quinn.

My rating: ✰ ✰ ✰ ✰ ✰

Sports - NFL Picks, Week 3

Here are my NFL Week 3 picks:

STL @ Chi - Julius Peppers has four sacks and the Bears roll.

Buf @ Cle - Mario Williams has FIVE sacks and the BILLS roll.

TB @ Dal - I believe in a thing called Romo!

Jax @ Ind - Donald Brown has 150 yds & 2 TDs and the Colts D does enough to win.

NYJ @ Mia - Tannehill is bad, and the Jets are not the Raiders.  Tebow!

SF @ Min - The most lopsided match-up of the day.  Niners win.

KC @ NO - The Saints get their first win of the season beat-down style.

Det @ Ten - The two dirtiest teams in the league beat eachother up and the Lions win somehow.

Cin @ Was - RG3 comes back to earth and the Bengals remember how to play defense.

Phi @ Ari - Kolb plays with a chip on his proverbial shoulder and the Cards win.

Atl @ SD - Julio & Matty Ice connect multiple times and Philip Rivers looks POed.  Falcons.

Hou @ Den - Closest game of the day.  The Broncos sneak away with a win.

Pit @ Oak - Run DMC gets going and the Raiders surprise the Steelers.

NE @ Bal - The Ravens play mad and when they lose they play madder.  Watch out, Brady.

GB @ Sea - The Seahawks are rolling, but you cant keep Rodgers contained long.  Packers.

Sports - Broncos vs. Texans

Just in case you didn't know, I love the Denver Broncos.  I was born the year John Elway was drafted and have been obsessed ever since.  I've been through the Elway Era, the Bubby Brister debacle, the Brian Griese slump, the Jake Plummer revival, the Jay Cutler morose, Tebow-mania, and now Peyton's Place.  After a tough week last week at Atlanta the Broncos look to rebound against Houston, an excellent team.  Gary Kubiak knows the Broncos well as an ex-player and ex-assistant.  The key to the game: TACKLE ARIAN FOSTER!  The Texans run the exact same zone-blocking scheme that the Broncos ran for years when Kubiak was in Denver; we ought to be able to recognize it, react to it, and thwart it.  Peyton's mistakes from last week will fix themselves, he is who he is, so the offense should do fine.  But stopping the Texans run game will make or break this match-up.  Good luck, and Go Broncos!

Thought - Hello!

Forgive me Blogger, for I have sinned.  It has been a year since my last post.  I created 111 Archer Avenue in order to review films.  What started out as a hobby quickly became a job, and when the fun stopped so did I.  Now, 111aa 2.0 is more wide open.  I will now, more randomly, review movies, post trailers, discuss books, talk about sports, and basically share my thoughts with anyone who cares to read them.  Have fun, leave comments, check out links, follow me on Facebook, and enjoy!