Happy Thanksgiving

Okay, I've been on many of you to watch the show Friday Night Lights. So far, I believe none of you are convinced. Well, the picture to the left is Minka Kelly, who plays Lyla Garrity, head cheerleader for the Dillon Panthers. Very hot. The show would still be great without her, and is critically acclaimed in its own right (I have not read one review by any TV critic that did not love the first season), but c'mon, she's good to look at and has some really genuine, heartfelt, moments in the show. The Season 1 DVD was priced at 20 bucks to try and lure in new viewers for this season. If that's not enough, NBC is offering a money back gaurantee if you don't like it. So go watch Season 1 (I'm not entirely sold on season 2 yet), and thank me later.

Now on to the fantasy football stuff:

First, Happy Thanksgiving. With three weeks left (including this one) before the playoffs, let’s take a look at where the teams stand:

VOLDEMORT has a tenuous grasp on first place, but if things fall the right way this weekend, this team could end up with a two game lead with two weeks left. COWBOYS own the tiebreaker though thanks to a massive lead in points, so VOLDEMORT should not feel too comfortable in first place. Not that playoff positioning matters all that much, as any of the top 5 teams could be formidable opponents. VOLDEMORT has clinched a playoff birth and should just hope that all of its players remain healthy.

The COWBOYS, with their massive point lead, are in good position to make the playoffs but are already trailing by 54 points through the Thursday games. Built around a strong stable of receivers and dynamic running back Brian Westbrook, this team can explode at any moment. Andre Johnson had been injured most of the year, but his first game back he caught a 73 yard pass for a TD. Braylon Edwards has been the surprise WR of the season, and though Burress has been slowed as of late due to an injured ankle, the potential is clearly there. As strong as this team is though, a loss this week and a loss next week would be absolutely devastating to this team’s chances.


TRIPLE T’S PAINTRAIN suffered a crushing blow to its playoff chances with the injury to Adrian Peterson and the loss to the INFITINTY + 1 TEAM last week. They gambled on Drew Brees to fill the QB spot, and he delivered with a disappointing 9 points. Lessons were learned however and Brett Favre is back in the starting lineup and delivered a magnificent game this week. The return of SJAX makes up for the loss of Peterson’s explosive ability with consistent production. The RB’s on this team will be fine, and if Peterson comes back, a platoon of MJD, SJAX, and Peterson would be scary for opposing teams in the playoffs. The trading of Welker for Marvin Harrison was a calculated risk and one that has paid off, but not in the expected way. Harrison has yet to play a game, but Greg Jennings has stepped up and played even better than Welker has. Its doubtful Jennings would have even seen the lineup, otherwise. Still though, the Welker trade could hurt if it helps the INFINITY + 1 TEAM in the playoffs.


Tom Brady has put LVL INFINITY + 1 TEAM on his back, and how he goes, so goes the team. The running backs are hit or miss, as are the Wide Receivers, but as long as this team has Brady they are perhaps the most dangerous team around. The big worry for this team has to be what Patriots will do with Brady down the stretch. If the Pats sit Brady because they no longer have a chance at an undefeated season, suddenly, this team loses its explosiveness.

DUMMY TEAM 3 and BIG TUNA are facing off in a huge matchup this weekend. A win for BIGTUNA means they’ll only be a game (or 2 in the worst case scenario) out with two games left. However, a loss will all but eliminate them from the playoffs. Conversely, DUMMY TEAM 3 trails the INFINITY + 1 TEAM by a mere 3 points. A big scoring day with a win would likely mean DUMMY TEAM 3 would move into the 4th playoff spot for the time being. However, a loss might not be the end of the world either as DT3 gets RILEY’S RAIDERS next week for what looks to be a win. Both of these teams are built around stars that play on inconsistent offenses and if nothing else, they could be major spoilers down the road.

PINK PONIES has clearly caught a string of bad luck these past few weeks. It seems that every time this team turns in a stellar performance, the opposing team happens to be just slightly better. Everything would have to break exactly right for this team to even have a chance to make the playoffs, which is really fortunate for the top teams in the league because PINK PONIES is an opponent that must absolutely be feared. Only one team has scored more points, and the Palmer, Moss, T.O. combo has turned into something special. Roddy White all of a sudden has become a player as well, as has sleeper TE Donald Lee. Where this team was hurt however, was the loss of LJ and Lynch and the running back position. Anytime you have to start Cedrick Benson, things are not looking up for you (see the real life Chicago Bears).


STEELERS OWN COWBOYS is still the surprise team in the league even if it doesn’t win another game. They are a dangerous team as well, as so much of their success is tied into the success of the real life Steelers. If that team goes off, then so does this one. Anyone playing them in the coming weeks should be mindful of the Steelers opponents and hope they catch a break. Otherwise, it could be a long long day.


RILEY’S RAIDERS is in a tough position. I can’t shake the feeling that clearly the owner at least has a good idea on how to run a team, its just that a shaky draft is holding it back. The Derek Anderson signing was by far the FA pickup of the season as Anderson will likely finish with more fantasy points that Manning himself. So long as its not against me, I am still holding out hope that this team can pull out a win somewhere along the way.

Before we go, I'd like to plug Friday Night Lights again. I would watch this show regardless of how good looking the females in the show are (and there are more than just her). Its a great, great show about a coach, his family, and his football team. Its more a show about life than about football, but it is one of the most genuine shows (outside of a couple ridiculous football endings) that you'll find on tv. I can't stress this enough: GO BUY THE DVD'S. WATCH THIS SHOW. And now, a couple more pics for your viewing pleasure.

WAX ON. WAX OFF.

Well we have reached the virtual halfway point of this season, so its time for another review. In honor of the latest rumors of a Karate Kid remake (something I vehemently oppose) below are some quotes from the 1984 classic to go with your teams. Can anyone believe that most of us were two or three years old when this movie was released? How is it that I watched it so many times then? I mean, I have no older siblings so did my parents show me this movie the first time? Also, Ralph Maccio was like 22 years old when he first played Daniel-San and in his late 20’s when he finally shot Karate Kid 3. Could he really pass for a 17 year old kid then? And was he really ‘The Best Around’? Could nothing really ever keep him down? I guess he was, since rich "Allie with an 'i'" (Elizabeth Shue) went after him. And why were there always so many people at the 18 and under “All-Valley” Karate tournament? Wouldn’t those things tend to just draw parents and maybe a few friends of the fighters if they were lucky? I guess we should never underestimate the tremendous drawing power of the Cobra-Kai. Take a close look at that picture: "Music by Bill Conti"--The same guy who wrote the Rocky Music. Instant credibility to go along with an emotionally uplifting soundtracking. I love this movie, in case you couldn't already tell. Anyways, here are your quotes and rankings:


Kreese: What do we study here? Karate Class: THE WAY OF THE FIST SIR. Kreese: And what is that way? Karate Class: STRIKE FIRST. STRIKE HARD. NO MERCY SIR. Kreese: I can't hear you. Karate Class: STRIKE FIRST. STRIKE HARD. NO MERCY SIR

Goes to the COWBOYS. The Cowboys got off to a hot start this year and haven’t looked back. They struck first, and they struck hard taking out DUMMY TEAM 3, DUMMY TEAM 2, and TRIPLE T’S PAINTRAIN in the first three weeks of the season. No mercy? Well that will be seen in the coming weeks. Will this team allow other teams back into the race? Pivotal rematches are looming large.



Kreese: Fear does not exist in this dojo, does it? Karate Class: NO, SENSEI! Kreese: Pain does not exist in this dojo, does it? Karate Class: NO, SENSEI! Kreese: Defeat does not exist in this dojo, does it? Karate Class: NO, SENSEI!

Goes to VOLDEMORT, because ever since an early season loss to the INFINITY + 1 TEAM, defeat has not existed for VOLDEMORT either. Looking at the roster, I am not quite sure how the victories continue to pile up, but they do. This seems like a good place to point out that Chuck Norris was originally offered the role of Kreese, but turned it down because he did not want to portray Karate instructors in a bad light. How hilarious would he have been in that role?



[just before Johnny fights Daniel in the tournament] Kreese: Sweep the leg. [Johnny stares at him in shock] Kreese: Do you have a problem with that? Johnny Lawrence: No, Sensei. Kreese: No mercy.


Goes to LVL INFINITY + 1 TEAM because I can just picture the owner of this team saying this for some reason. As a side note, you’ve got to love Billy Zabka playing Johnny as the quintessential ‘80’s bad guy. It doesn’t get any better than that. By the way, you can have your “wax on, wax off” line. Give me “Sweep the leg” and the chilling moment that follows it any day of the week.



Kreese: Bobby - I want him out of commission. Bobby: But Sensei, I can beat this guy! Kreese: I don't want him beaten. Bobby: But I'll be disqualified! Kreese: [icily] Out of commission


Goes to TRIPLE T’S PAINTRAIN. Injuries nearly took this team out early. Bulger went down. Steven Jackson went down. Lee Evans was nonexistent. And then just when it looked like the season was turning around, newly acquired Marvin Harrison is a game time decision, and SJax comes back to score a touchdown on his first possession and then leave the game due to a back injury. Can this team come back like Daniel-san and crane kick its opponents in the face? We’ll soon find out.


Daniel: [after seeing Miyagi practice the crane technique] Could you teach me? Miyagi: First learn stand, then learn fly. Nature rule, Daniel-san, not mine.

Goes to BIGTUNA who I am trying to guide through the season. I can’t teach you how to win (obviously I am having enough trouble securing my own wins these days) but I can try and suggest injury and bye week replacements for you. Of course this analogy makes me Mr. Miyagi. I guess I could live with that. By the way, how great is it that Miyagi does not come out as a spelling error on Microsoft Word? Is he that engrained as a cultural icon? If not, he deserves to be.


Tommy: Yeah! Get him a body bag!

Goes to Dummy Team 2 whose QB is Vince Young, he of the 42 yard passing game last week (and 43 fantasy points all season). The Madden Curse strikes again.


Ring Announcer: Daniel LaRusso’s gonna fight!? Daniel LaRusso’s going to fight!

Goes to STEELERS OWN COWBOYS. I thought this team would win one, maybe two games all year. They already have passed that mark. Who doesn’t love this dramatic moment at the end of this movie? It’s right up there with the ending when Daniel goes into his crane stance, the music crescendos, Kreese yells out to Johnny to “Finish him!”, Miyagi gives that little nod of the head, and then bang! It’s all over, Johnny’s down on the mat and everyone is going crazy. And the ultra classy villain presents the trophy to Daniel. "You're alright LaRusso!" Did I mention I love this movie? Can a movie end any better than that? On another note, who else is tired of all my rhetorical questions?



Miyagi: Better learn balance. Balance is key. Balance good, karate good. Everything good. Balance bad, better pack up, go home. Understand?

Goes to Pink Ponies who has yet to find any semblance of consistency this year. Twice this team has had huge games, only to be beaten by a team that was the high scorer of that week. Despite the 2-6 record, Pink Ponies almost has as many points as the 3rd place team, and has a higher point total than the two teams immediately above it. One thing is for certain. This is a dangerous team and could play the role of spoiler down the stretch.


Daniel: Wouldn't a fly swatter be easier? Miyagi: Man who catch fly with chopstick accomplish anything. Daniel: Ever catch one? Miyagi: Not yet.

Goes to the winless RILEY’S RAIDERS. If this team can ‘catch’ a win with that roster, then truly anything is possible. So long as its not against me, I’m certainly rooting to seen an upset win for this team somewhere down the stretch. One more fun fact before I leave: Pat Morita who plays Mr. Miyagi was nominated for an Oscar for his work in this classic movie.


Good Luck to all this week.

I leave you with some links to this classic, including one that will at least clue you in as to why I used some oddly framed language in the opening paragraph:

Best Around Montage


The Final Fight Scene--Also the "Sweep the leg" and "Get him a body bag" scenes are in this clip. Take a look at that huge crowd. "Hey Mr. Miyagi! We Did it! Alright!"