Why the New York Rangers are exciting this season.

It is mid-January 2012. The NFL playoffs are going on, the NBA is in full flight after a lockout, Tiger Woods is back, the Olympics are coming this summer, Pitchers and Catchers is only a few months away and the sports world has tons to be excited about. But the most exciting thing in NY sports today is none other than the Blue Shirts, aka the New York Rangers. The Rangers currently sit atop the East Standings are close to having the best record in the NHL. They are currently getting solid scoring from 4-7 guys and boast one of the youngest and best defenses in the NHL. Backing them all is the soon to be Vezina Trophy winner, the wall known as Henrik Lundqvist. The Swedish goaltender is leading the NHL in a number of categories and is reliable for one or two highlight reel saves a night. He has saved the Rangers on numerous occasions. This team is just different than any other team since the great teams of the mid-90’s. They are getting solid production from 4 lines, are deeper than they have ever been and play with a grittiness and desire to win on a daily basis. They are dominating good teams and have avoided any major losing streaks this summer. Perhaps their greatest quality is that this team doesn’t give up. Every single night, every single minute, this team skates hard and puts the pressure on. They are not the most talented team in the league but they play the hardest. Perhaps no one better personifies this team than its Captain, Ryan Callahan. Cally as they call him is arguably the toughest little guy in hockey. He is scoring, passing, and fighting his way to the being considered one of the best leaders in the NHL. He backs down to no one and all the while producing on offense. Marion Gaborik, the prolific scorer, is back to form and has already scored more goals than he did all of last season. The biggest off season addition, Brad Richards has brought a ton to this team. He is another consistent scorer along with Gabby and he is a proven veteran who has won it all. Additionally, he has provided a much needed shooter on the power play that has been missing the last few years.

I recently started a new job and in my 3rd week at the firm, one of my first clients offered me a ticket to a charity event/dinner they run. This event happens to be at MSG and involves several past and present New York Rangers spending time with under privileged kids. It was quite the scene and after pushing many kids out of the way I got my chance to spend some time with some of the Rangers including Dan Girardi, Michael Del Zotto and the Half of Famer, Adam Graves. The first thing I want to mention is what amazing people these guys were. Dan Girardi is a fantastic guy and was amazing with the kids, I would let him watch my kids any day. I chatted with Girardi for a little bit and he is just an unbelievable guy. I also spent a solid 15 minutes chatting with the only #9 I knew growing up, Adam Graves. Other than the fact that he is one of the most charitable and community active NY athletes, Graves is the man. He was super nice and talked about everything from the ’94 team, Winter Classic, Gretzky, Messier, Shanahan (or Shanny as he called him), the current team, John Tortorella, and Lundqvist. He made a few fascinating points. Firstly, he could not say enough about how Messier was the greatest leader he has ever played with or seen. He also mentioned that this is the best team since ’94 and he himself has never been so excited. He then pointed out how John Tortorella has created such an amazing locker room. He is a no nonsense guy who tells it like it is and earns the respect of his team. With Tororella earning this respect the locker room has a confidence to it. He also mentioned that King Lundqvist is the best goalie he has ever seen.

I have to be honest, I most enjoyed talking to Del Zotto. Del Zotto is really just the nicest young man. He felt like he was my buddy from school or home who I could hang out with any day of the week. The young defenseman is a tough guy as he sported a nice shiner on his right eye. We spoke about the whole season and how he has tried so hard to just get wins and he views the +/- stat as a great indicator of how well rounded he and the entire team has played. We spoke about the Winter Classic and more importantly how there is just a confidence on the team right now that he has never been a part of. It was actually quite interesting that he pointed out that the team is playing so well right now and want to keep it going that the team and players actually can’t wait for the next game. They want to play every night. This is a team I want to root for. This is a team I want to succeed and from the looks of it, I think come April time, they will.

What a Week!

Just saw Girl with a Dragon Tatoo and the season 3 finale of Battlestar Galactica in the same week. Wow, both amazing. Stay tuned for my thoughts.

Why the National Championship game helped me regain my faith.

I spent my Sunday night watching the Collegiate Football NCAA National Championship football game. The Alabama Crimson Tide absolutely dominated the LSU Tigers 21-0 to win their second national championship in only three years. While this was arguably the worst final ever this game may have had the biggest impact on me of any college football game since Boise St.-Oklahoma. In fact, I may go as far as saying this game saved my faith in college football. Let me explain.

First, in the weeks leading up to the BCS National Championship I watched the many (too many) other Bowl games in the background on my TV every night. As usual, there were some very exciting games and some blowouts that were not worth the airtime they took up. A few games really stood out for me. Of course there was the good back and forth game between Stanford and Oklahoma State. In this high scoring (79 combined points) match the Cowboys ended up grabbing the win but there was a more important takeaway from this game. That being that Andrew Luck is the real deal. I had seen a game or two of his from earlier this season including one in which he was outplayed by Matt Barkley at USC but this game reestablished to me why this guy is going to be a star. 27/31 for 347, Luck was making throw after throw and throwing bullets while on the run and escaping pressure. In arguably the best bowl game this year, the biggest star that came out of it will be heading to the NFL next season.

While entertained by the Stanford game, there were really two games that stood out for me and had me thinking; West Virginia- Clemson and Baylor-Washington. These two games combined for 226 points scored. Let that sink in for a second. There was a combined 226 points scored by 4 teams in just 2 total games. That only comes out to a modest 56.5 points per team. I watched both these games and felt like I was watching a backyard shootout where my friends would let the other team score on defense just because they wanted to play offense the whole time. All four of these teams should be embarrassed by the way they played defense. It was as if each offensive team was playing a high school defense. While entertaining, I found myself quite upset with how bad the teams were. If a running back broke one tackle there was no secondary pressure, if a wide receiver caught a pass he went untouched for a touchdown and if the quarterback needed time, he had all day. I have always been a fan, though I have to admit, not a devout fan of college football but these two games actually made me think college football was stupid. Accross the nation, teams were scoring 50-60 points. I found myself thinking that college football is done, the game is stupid now. Thankfully I had the national championship game.

As mentioned, the complete dismantling of the #1 Tiger was a horrible game in which the Bama Tide, who I thought played better in both games, was rightfully crowned the national championship. Despite its shortcomings, this game reminded us of one thing; there are college football programs that play big-boy football. I am talking about teams that are solid top to bottom and know how to hit and play some defense. Don’t get me wrong, I love the high scoring games and always enjoy a shootout but football at its essence is a game of inches. If you don’t believe me then just listen to Al Pacino.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=myyWXKeBsNk&feature=related

While losing 21-0 even LSU was able to show how it played defense. They may have given up some points and a lot of yards, but they also held Bama to 1 touchdown on 9 drives that got within their own 30 yard line. They were beaten but weren’t missing tackles left and right. And Bama’s defense need no explanation but I will give one anyway. They held the #1 team in the nation, albeit with a mediocre QB, to under 100 yards. The defense was absolutely shut down covering end-line to end-line. No LSU player got open or was able to break a run. It took the Tigers almost 55 minutes to cross the 50 yard line. This type of defense is unheard of. Watching the game I was honestly shocked by every first down the Tigers were able to gain. This defense gave up only 9 touchdowns all year. To give you perspective, there were two teams that scored 9 touchdowns in their respective bowl games this year. This can very arguably be called the greatest college football defense of all time. This overall defensive performance reminded me that there are college players out there that can play hardnosed football and are willing to fight for every single inch, “because that’s what football is!” So to the LSU Tigers and Alabama Crimson Tide, I thank you from the bottom of my heart for the worst National Championship game in history. It made me love college football again.

Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy

If you have not seen this movie, don’t. I have to be very honest hear and this may have been one of the most un-enjoyable movie experiences of my life. I remember when I was around 9 years old my father took me to me to see a Tom Arnold movie titled The Stupids. That was the most painful and excruciating hour and a half of my life. I am not trying to say this movie is as bad of a film as that 1996 debacle was but it terms of my movie going experience, it is close. The story which comes from the successful novel revolves around the espionage world in the days of the Cold War. Set in England, the story revolves around an MI6 veteran, George Smiley (Gary Oldman-The Dark Knight) who is tasked with discovering an undercover soviet spy who holds a top position within the MI6 outfit. The cast is fantastic including the reliable Mark Strong, John Hurt, Tom Hardy and the usually fantastic Colin Firth. The problem with this film was not the cast but the story itself. The story was not very exciting or even intriguing for that matter. We are not told much more than the fact that there is a spy within the MI6 honchos. The story takes a while to get started and the first 10-15 minutes were extremely hard to understand and follow. It almost felt like that the director was trying too hard to be artistic. There are one or two thrilling moments at the most which are usually the staple of any good espionage film. My favorite espionage film growing up, Spy Game was everything this film was not. In comparison, this film falls flat. I was expecting twists and turns that not only excited me but made me rethink the story that was unfolding before me. This movie did none of that. To be honest, other than 10-15 minutes of the film, I was either confused or completely disenchanted from what I was seeing. The only saving grace would have been good character development but even that was non-existent. Smiley, who is the focus of the film is presented by not analyzed. Even in the last scene of the film I found myself asking who George Smiley is and what made him go. The film moved slowly and simply failed to deliver. It would appear that this Cold War thriller was colder than intended.

Sex: one couple from a distance, no nudity
Violence: Close range and graphic shooting
Language: a little cursing
Drugs: smoking cigarettes and drinking
Rated: R
Run time: 127 min
Grade: 1 Stars

2009 Golden Globe Nominations and Picks

Our picks are the nominees that are in bold. Enjoy!!!!!


Best Motion Picture - Drama
Avatar
The Hurt Locker
Inglourious Basterds
Precious: Based On The Novel Push By Sapphire
Up In The Air

Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture - Drama
Emily Blunt – The Young Victoria
Sandra Bullock – The Blind Side
Helen Mirren – The Last Station
Carey Mulligan – An Education
Gabourey Sidibe – Precious: Based On The Novel Push By Sapphire

Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture - Drama
Jeff Bridges – Crazy Heart
George Clooney – Up In The Air
Colin Firth – A Single Man
Morgan Freeman – Invictus
Tobey Maguire – Brothers

Best Motion Picture - Musical Or Comedy
(500) Days Of Summer
The Hangover
It's Complicated
Julie & Julia
Nine

Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture - Musical or Comedy
Sandra Bullock – The Proposal
Marion Cotillard – Nine
Julia Roberts – Duplicity
Meryl Streep – It's Complicated
Meryl Streep – Julie & Julia

Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture - Musical Or Comedy
Matt Damon – The Informant!
Daniel Day-Lewis – Nine
Robert Downey Jr. – Sherlock Holmes
Joseph Gordon-Levitt – (500) Days Of Summer
Michael Stuhlbarg – A Serious Man

Best Performance by an Actress In A Supporting Role in a Motion Picture
Penélope Cruz – Nine
Vera Farmiga – Up In The Air
Anna Kendrick – Up In The Air
Mo'nique – Precious: Based On The Novel Push By Sapphire
Julianne Moore – A Single Man

Best Performance by an Actor In A Supporting Role in a Motion Picture
Matt Damon – Invictus
Woody Harrelson – The Messenger
Christopher Plummer – The Last Station
Stanley Tucci – The Lovely Bones
Christoph Waltz – Inglourious Basterds

Best Animated Feature Film
Cloudy With A Chance Of Meatballs
Coraline
Fantastic Mr. Fox
The Princess And The Frog
Up

Best Foreign Language Film
Baaria (Italy)
Broken Embraces (Spain)
The Maid (La Nana) (Chile)
A Prophet (Un Prophete) (France)
The White Ribbon (Das Weisse Band - Eine Deutsche Kindergeschichte) (Germany)

Best Director - Motion Picture
Kathryn Bigelow – The Hurt Locker
James Cameron – Avatar
Clint Eastwood – Invictus
Jason Reitman – Up In The Air
Quentin Tarantino – Inglourious Basterds

Best Screenplay - Motion Picture
Neill Blomkamp, Terri Tatchell - District 9
Mark Boal - The Hurt Locker
Quentin Tarantino - Inglourious Basterds
Nancy Meyers - It's Complicated
Jason Reitman, Sheldon Turner - Up In The Air

Best Original Score - Motion Picture
Michael Giacchino - Up
Marvin Hamlisch - The Informant!
James Horner - Avatar
Abel Korzeniowski - A Single Man
Karen O and Carter Burwell - Where The Wild Things Are

Best Original Song - Motion Picture
"Cinema Italiano" – NineMusic & Lyrics By: Maury Yeston
"I See You" – AvatarMusic By: James Horner and Simon FranglenLyrics By: James Horner, Simon Franglen and Kuk Harrell
"I Want To Come Home" – Everybody's FineMusic & Lyrics By: Paul McCartney
"The Weary Kind (Theme From Crazy Heart)" – Crazy HeartMusic & Lyrics By: Ryan Bingham and T Bone Burnett
"Winter" – BrothersMusic By: U2Lyrics By: Bono

Best Television Series - Drama
Big Love (HBO)
Dexter (SHOWTIME)
House (FOX)
Mad Men (AMC)
True Blood (HBO)

Best Performance by an Actress In A Television Series - Drama
Glenn Close – Damages (FX NETWORK)
January Jones – Mad Men (AMC)
Julianna Margulies – The Good Wife (CBS)
Anna Paquin – True Blood (HBO)
Kyra Sedgwick – The Closer (TNT)

Best Performance by an Actor In A Television Series - Drama
Simon Baker – The Mentalist (CBS)
Michael C. Hall – Dexter (SHOWTIME)
Jon Hamm – Mad Men (AMC)
Hugh Laurie – House (FOX)
Bill Paxton – Big Love (HBO)

Best Television Series - Musical Or Comedy
30 Rock (NBC)
Entourage (HBO)
Glee (FOX)
Modern Family (ABC)
The Office (NBC)

Best Performance by an Actress In A Television Series - Musical Or Comedy
Toni Collette – United States Of Tara (SHOWTIME)
Courteney Cox – Cougar Town (ABC)
Edie Falco – Nurse Jackie (SHOWTIME)
Tina Fey – 30 Rock (NBC)
Lea Michele – Glee (FOX)

Best Performance by an Actor In A Television Series - Musical Or Comedy
Alec Baldwin – 30 Rock (NBC)
Steve Carell – The Office (NBC)
David Duchovny – Californication (SHOWTIME)
Thomas Jane – Hung (HBO)
Matthew Morrison – Glee (FOX)

Best Mini-Series Or Motion Picture Made for Television
Georgia O'Keeffe (LIFETIME)
Grey Gardens (HBO)
Into The Storm (HBO)
Little Dorrit (PBS)
Taking Chance (HBO)

Best Performance by an Actress In A Mini-series or Motion Picture Made for Television
Joan Allen – Georgia O'Keeffe (LIFETIME)
Drew Barrymore – Grey Gardens (HBO)
Jessica Lange – Grey Gardens (HBO)
Anna Paquin – The Courageous Heart Of Irena (CBS)
Sigourney Weaver – Prayers For Bobby (LIFETIME)

Best Performance by an Actor in a Mini-Series or Motion Picture Made for Television
Kevin Bacon – Taking Chance (HBO)
Kenneth Branagh – Wallander: One Step Behind (BBC)
Chiwetel Ejiofor – Endgame (PBS)
Brendan Gleeson – Into The Storm (HBO)
Jeremy Irons – Georgia O'Keeffe (LIFETIME)

Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in a Series, Mini-Series or Motion Picture Made for Television
Jane Adams – Hung (HBO)
Rose Byrne – Damages (FX NETWORK)
Jane Lynch – Glee (FOX)
Janet McTeer – Into The Storm (HBO)
Chlo Sevigny – Big Love (HBO)

Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Series, Mini-Series or Motion Picture Made for Television
Michael Emerson – Lost (ABC)
Neil Patrick Harris – How I Met Your Mother (CBS)
William Hurt – Damages (FX NETWORK)
John Lithgow – Dexter (SHOWTIME)
Jeremy Piven – Entourage (HBO)