Hello? Are you still there? Remember Me? I used to write a blog about sports, music, and cool things going on in the world, but haven’t been around for a month. What’s up everybody? I was busy in Green Bay, lobbying for the return of Brett Favre. I am truthfully sorry that I have not kept the blog updated. Working, poker, and traveling have taken up the majority of my time for the past month. I will do a better job in the future as football season approaches. This entry is being written on the fly, so don’t expect it to be long. I am going to touch briefly on the Cleveland Browns, my crazy DMB excursions, and also talk about Brett Favre for the first, last, and only time. Thanks for caring people; it’s very encouraging to know that a select few of you enjoy reading what I have to say. Please make sure to comment with your thoughts, suggestions, and critique of my thoughts. Football season is less than a month away.
Breaking News: Brett Favre Has Just Woke Up
Browns Blurb
I won’t touch on training camp, but I will talk a little bit about Thursday’s preseason game. To any of my friends, how many rooms should I book for Tampa in February? The Cleveland Browns kicked off their 2008 quest for success Thursday night in Cleveland against Brett Favre’s New York Jets. Due to an hour long rain delay, the Browns first team only played one series each. I know it’s not much at all, but boy did the Browns look solid.
Defense: The Cleveland defense started the season off, and continued the bend but don’t break mentality. The Jets drove deep into Cleveland territory, and failed to convert on a 4th and 1. I think that the Browns defensive line is going to give offensive fronts all season long. Led by the new and improved Shaun Rogers, the Cleveland big men are a very improved group this season. With the addition of Corey Williams, and the solid play of Robaire Smith, the Browns look like they are in good shape on the defensive front. I’m not too sure about our linebackers. I need to see them play a lot more before making judgment. Kamerion Wimbley is going to make a big name for himself in the NFL this season, that’s about all I can tell you from the linebacker spot. I’m nervous about the Cleveland defensive backs. I didn’t like the fact that Kellen Clemens and a bunch of nobody’s marched down the field to start the season off. I know it was only one drive, but the youth in Eric Wright and Brandon McDonald still worry me. Brandon McDonald did make a stunning open field tackle on the opening drive. Has anyone seen the first episode of Hard Knocks on HBO? Check it out if you have HBO, I promise it’s worth it. It’s an NFL crew filming everything at the Dallas Cowboys training camp. TO is going to be a big cause for concern on opening day. After watching the show, I am becoming more and more aware of how tough a win on opening day is going to be. It’s going to be a great test to kick off 2008.
Offense: We’ll get to the Edwards catch in a minute. Did anyone see the first Browns offensive play of the game? Our offensive line literally ran over the Jets defensive front. The first play was the most pleasing, assuring play of the game for me. Hank Fraley, Joe Thomas, and Eric Steinbach are a force to be reckoned with. This Browns offensive line is going to be the key to our success. If we can win the battle up front every week, our skilled players are solid enough to take us where we want to go. The Browns offense walked down the field to put up 7 on a weak Jets defense. Derek Anderson completed a two yard out to Braylon Edwards for the Browns first score of the year. This wasn’t just a regular two yard out. Anderson over anticipated where Edwards was going to be when he threw the ball, and Edwards adjusted by making a rewindable one handed snag. RAIN DELAY……………After an hour of boredom, Brady Quinn came back out to lead the Browns offense. I thought he looked pretty good, not great. He definitely didn’t look like a rookie, and I am confident that if and when he gets his chance to play, Brady will do just fine. Can you say Travis Wilson? I am rooting for this kid to make the 53 man roster, and then compete for the third wide receiver position. I will touch on the Browns again in my next entry.
Come on Braylon Edwards. Edwards had to get stitches in his foot after being stepped on by a teammate while running sprints. Edwards was doing his conditioning work with no shoes on. It shouldn’t be a big deal, but can’t the guy run with his shoes on like all of the other players?
Breaking News: Brett Favre Just Finished Having Sex
Brett Favre
I am talking about Madden in this section. I can’t stand hearing about Brett Favre anymore. The media has really made this whole situation a big circus. I hope the Jets regret booting Chad Pennington, and Brett Favre is scrambling for his life all season. Maybe the Madden Curse will happen to Favre. Just thinking out loud. Now, onto Madden. Madden 09 is set to be released this Tuesday, and if you have played the demo already, you should be aware how spectacular this game is going to be. This will be the best year of Madden video gamers have ever seen. The game looks amazing, and in the minute demo I have played, I am antsy to play the full version this week. There are a jaw-dropping amount of new features that make the game as realistic as it has ever been. I will write one more section on the game after I have played it for a good amount of time. KillaKJ24 is the screen name I use on Xbox Live, so if you’re bored, challenge me to a duel.
Breaking News: Brett Favre is Sleeping
Top 5 Actors
I haven’t done a top five in a long time. Well, I haven’t done anything in a long time relating to this blog, but I figured this would interest some of you. OK, I am going to give you my five favorite actors. I also have not seen every movie by these actors, so please excuse me if I don’t list some great roles these actors play. I am sure that everyone can make their own list, so remember that these are my top actors. If you click on the movie, there is a scene that is obviously going to involve the corresponding actor
5. Kevin Spacey
I am sure you could find an actor you like more than him, but he has played some amazing roles over the years. American Beauty, Pay It Forward, The Usual Suspects, The Life of David Gale, Se7en, LA Confidential, K-Pax. I love this dinner scene from American Beuaty and the priceless scene from Usual Suspects.
4. Tom Hanks
I’m not sure where to start with Tom Hanks. The guy has an amazing resume full of films that will make you realize how great Hanks is. Big, Philadelphia, Apollo 13, Toy Story, Forrest Gump, Saving Private Ryan, The Green Mile, Cast Away, Road to Perdition, Catch Me If You Can, and Band of Brothers. Wow, there are some epic films in that mix. Wilsonnnnnn!!!!!!
3. Leonardo Dicaprio
When it’s all set and done, Leo might will have the best resume of them all. The guy has starred in some films biggest roles. Let’s take a look. Titanic, Gangs of New York, Blood Diamond, Catch Me if You Can, The Departed, What’s Eating Gilbert’s Grape, The Aviator, The Basketball Diaries, Romeo and Juliet
2. Al Pacino
Arguably the best actor to ever to do it, Pacino has more memorable roles than DMX has run ins with the police. I’ve showed it before, but Pacino does star in the most inspirational speech ever in Any Given Sunday. Let’s look at Pacino’s resume. The Godfather, Scarface, Godfather 3, Scent of a Woman, Carlito’s Way, Donnie Brasco, Two for the Money, Ocean’s Thirteen, Heat.
1. Denzel Washington
The guys resume is second to none. I think that Washington is undoubtedly the biggest actor in the past 20 years. Some of the roles he has played have been magnificent. Let’s take a look. Malcolm X, Philadelphia, Crimson Tide, He Got Game, Remember the Titans, Training Day, John Q, Hurricane, Man on Fire, Inside Man, American Gangster. Geez, there aren’t many actors that can even come close to a resume like that.
Breaking News: Brett Favre Is On The Toilet
My Music Excursions 
As most of you know, and have probably made some type of joke about it, I am a die-hard Dave Matthews Band fan. This is going to take a bit, so if you don’t care, skip this section. You can’t please everybody. Well, to begin my summer, I decided to head to Pittsburgh (losers) to catch the first two shows of the 2008 summer tour. I was pumped to see how the band would sound without keyboardist Butch Taylor. Butch Taylor has toured with the band since 5/15/01, and decided to leave the band for unknown reasons, just days before the opening shows. Tim Reynolds was also brought on board for the 2008 summer tour. If you haven’t heard Tim Reynolds disgusting guitar playing skills, I suggest you do so soon. Check out Live at Luther College. Ok, back to the story. I saw the first two shows of the tour on May 30th & 31st and thought DMB sounded real good. The music was crisp, Dave Matthews voice was spot on, and the band looked as if they were having a great time on stage. The shows were solid compared to other years, but basically a test run for the epic summer that has turned into 2008. While I was pleased with the first two shows, I knew there was much more that this band had to offer. Then an unexpected turn for the worse took place when DMB saxophonist was injured in an ATV accident. Leroi Moore suffered punctured lungs, and was put on the IR for the rest of the 2008 tour. In came a blessing in disguise, Bela Fleck and the Flecktones saxophonist Jeff Coffin. Little did I know that the new additions of Jeff Coffin and Tim Reynolds would propel the greatness of the Dave Matthews Band. My next two shows came almost two months later. About eight of my close friends took a trip to Noblesville, Indiana on July 25th. There isn’t a more fun trip to ever attend. Both shows were rocking, mind-blowing, overly enjoyable, and two of the better shows I have ever witnessed. I headed home for a few evenings, and then made a trip to Columbus the following Tuesday. Again, DMB failed to disappoint. I was now convinced that the band had been brought to a new level. The following evening I saw an average setlist (for the tour) in Cleveland, but thanks to my buddy Bonner, I sat in the 15th row all evening. Sitting close always makes shows 100% better. Sadly, that ended my DMB 2008 tour, and I was legitimately upset that my six shows were done. In 7 years of seeing about 55 shows, I knew that I was seeing something special. The rocking sound of Tim Reynolds has pushed this band to become the best musicians they possibly can be. Jeff Coffin fits far and above better than Leroi Moore does in the Dave Matthews Band. With the band playing at an all time high, things took a sad turn for me. If you know anything about me, you know I have been doing everything in my power to hear a song named Halloween. It isn’t the song that got me into the band, but it’s the song that made me a diehard DMB fan. Take a listen to it, it’s the most aggressive, passionate, and determinate tune you will ever get out of this band. The song is four minutes of pure RAWK. Unfortunately, it is also the rarest song the band plays. I have come so close to hearing the song on several different occasions. First, in 2002, I chose to go to the final show of the winter tour in DC, and Halloween was played the night before at Madison Square Garden. Just a few days before that Dave Matthews teased the song, and talked the words to it with no music. Then you have the sadness that has become 2008. For the first time in 6 years, I chose to skip the Cincinnati show, what do you know? Halloween is played. The bands rarest song was played in Ohio. Then the next night in Virginia, the song was played again. This put me in a huge dilemma. This past weekend, DMB played one of their favorite places in East Troy, Wisconsin. The venue is known as Alpine Valley, and can hold a huge amount of people. This was my chance. Halloween was eight hours away, and it was my choice if I was going to hear it or not. On a very short notice, I begged all of my friends to take the absurd eight hour trip to hear one song. I begged and pleaded, and also came close to hitching a ride with a random from a Dave Matthews Band message board. Yeah, weird I know, but I was desperate. I had no tickets, no wingman, no place to sleep, and no chance to hear Halloween, but there was something telling me that I had to go. No, this story isn’t going where you think it is. I contemplated the eight hour trip for about 12 hours, but couldn’t pull the trigger solo. I just couldn’t do it. I ended up not making the trip, and obviously Halloween was played. The show was so good that people are touting it as possibly being the best show the band has played in ten years. I guess I am just going to have to face the fact that I am never going to hear one of my top ten songs ever in a live setting. It’s been a great year DMB wise, and if you are on the West Coast, make sure you check out a show or two. You will see what the Dave Matthews Band is all about.
Tune Time
You get a shortened version of the tunes today, sorry, only three.
DMB – (Everyday) > Halloween >Water Wine
This is a download to the first appearance of Halloween in several (It’s legal, so don’t worry). It’s from the Cincinnati show that started this whole little drive to see Halloween. I know the version is nowhere near the best the best, but if you know anything about DMB, listen to the transition of Everyday into Halloween.
Check this track out. LAX is going to be one of the best CD’s of the year. I can’t wait to hear what the Game is going to serve up on his latest album.
Jay- Z Jockin Jay-Z
This deserves it’s own You Tube, so that’s what you are going to get. This is a track that is made for the Blueprint 3, Jay-Z’s next album. Kanye West asked Jay-Z to come out for the song just hours before the show began, and obviously Jigga obliged.
YOUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUu
What an idiot that dummy is.
Shout Out
Since all of my friends are basically leaving me, I just wanted to say thanks for some fun weekends these past few months. Z, you still need help. Jadakiss, good luck in Cbus. Ice, I hate you. Ty, kick Zoldan out. Kris, StarF***er. That’s about it for people. I’m managing a few bands that I will talk about in the near future. I hope everyone enjoyed this installment. As always, music to play, plenty to say.
