25 Predictions for the Upcoming NFL Season

This man got paid, and now he will perform this year.

1. The Dallas Cowboys will finish the season 7-9 or make the Super Bowl.  There is no in-between.
2. The New York Giants will finish 8-8 and miss the playoffs.
3. Adrian Petersen and Maurice Jones-Drew both will not rush for over 1,000 yards.
4. Larry Fitzgerald will snap at some point as he is now wasting his career with horrible quarterbacks.  (Ok, maybe he won’t…but he should.)
5. Calvin Johnson’s numbers will not be as good as last year, but it will not be due to the Madden curse.
6. Chicago will win the NFC North.
7. Detroit will miss the playoffs.
8. Andrew Luck will win Rookie of the Year (too easy), but RG III’s team will win more games.
9. Everyone is touting Tampa Bay’s RB Doug Martin, but LaGarrette Blount will be heard from, injury reasons or otherwise.
10. Titans Wide Receiver Kendall Wright will make a name for himself away from RG III’s and will have more than 700 receiving yards.
11. Rams RB Stephen Jackson will request a trade (as he should).
12. The Houston Texans will reach the AFC Title Game (at least).
13. Victor Cruz will prove last season’s breakout was not a complete fluke.
14. Vernon Davis will be the best fantasy TE this year.
15. The Patriots will win 12 games easily, but the weakness of the AFC East will cost them in the playoffs.
16. The Oakland Raiders will make the playoffs as a wild card.
17. Matt Forte will lead the NFL in total yards.
18. Darren McFadden will lead the NFL in rushing.
19. The WR who will have the best season will be too close to call between several receivers, but my pick is Roddy White.
20. The Patriots and the Texans will be the top seeds in the AFC.
21. The Bears and the Cowboys will be the top seeds in the NFC.
22. MVP: See #17.
23.  Conference Championship:  Ravens at Texans; Cowboys at Bears.
24. Super Bowl Matchup:  Ravens vs. Cowboys.
25. Super Bowl Winner:  Cowboys…who did you expect?

What are your predictions for the new season?

Batman “Hush”

(Note:  This is for Volume 1)

Batman’s chasing down trouble?  Sounds typical.  Who is he chasing and why?  Not so typical.  The Hush story takes the Dark Knight against many of his foes, except his enemies aren’t committing typical crimes.  Killer Croc involved in kidnapping? Catwoman chasing millions?  What’s makes no sense at first is ultimately unraveled throughout the story…

 

Jeph Loeb wrote a wonderful story that “mostly” keeps you guessing throughout.  As mentioned earlier many, many enemies present themselves who wind up pushing Batman to his limits physically and morally.  Lucky for Batman, he has friends who help him throughout the mystery that generally help (though not all the time).  The story probably deserves multiple reads to ensure that you’re following all of the chaos taking place.  Jim Lee, Scott Williams, and the team did a great job with the artwork, matching (perhaps even surpassing) the writing in the story.

 

Highly recommended.

Nas: Life is Good (Album Review)

Let me first say that I’m a fan of (and can appreciate) many types of music.  Best concert I ever been to is Jay-Z and Friends back in 2003 (two nights after the R. Kelly incident at MSG), Jay-Z/Kanye West’s Watch the Throne Tour (2011), or the Sade’s Solider of Love Tour (2011).  Been to many others in the pop, latin and R&B genres.  While I can appreciate many sounds, there nothing quite like a good hip hop record, usually from New York.  Today, Nas has released a pure New York sounding record entitled Life Is Good.

 

Most hip hop fans know Nas story well.  After 1994’s classic Illmatic, he has been on a roller coaster through his albums from It Was Written to Untitled trying to recapture the magic of his first CD.  On this album, he is in a peaceful place reflecting on recent events including the divorce with Kelis (he holds her wedding dress on the cover) and social media issues involving his daughter.  Whether bringing back The Large Professor on “Loco-Motive” and “Stay”, sampling beats in “Reach Out” and “Back When”, how each song seems to fit, or hard hitting beats throughout the album, this album feels like the most focused Nas effort since God’s Son.  To that point, there isn’t one track on here I completely dislike; it’s been awhile since I could say that about a Nas disc.

 

Fans of pure hip-hop or good music in general should pick up this album as an example that good rap music can still exist with strong rhymes and excellent production efforts, especially from New York.

 

I do have one question though, where does this album rank after Illmatic?

 

Favorite Tracks: “No Introduction”, “Reach Out”, “A Queens Story”, “The Don”, “Bye Baby”

Burnout Revenge (A trip down memory lane)

The Criterion/EA was originally made for PS2 and the original Xbox in 2005.  As a racing game fan, I originally purchased the PS2 and loved it.  Like “Top 5 arcade racer of all time’ loved it.  Even my wife who only plays Nintendo games once in a while loved the game.   After recently grinding finishing the 10 seasons of Forza 4, I was in need of another racing game and decided to go back to an old favorite.

 

It’s really to come back to this game after playing Burnout Paradise.  Burnout Revenge served as an obvious inspiration for Paradise but it’s really interesting how much so looking at the game.  The different areas (Emerald City, White Mountain) in Revenge looks similar without the open world and the goal of the game is the same as well.  But Revenge gets credit for delivering a sheer sense of chaos.  Using a car to create maximum damage in traffic events, crash scenarios, race and races are just has fun as it was in the past.

 

Controls are a bit loose at this point, making the re-adjustment to this game a bit difficult.  Graphics are still pretty good given this game is six years old, although the loading screens can be a chore.  Xbox Live does have a user of two online, which is still better than the state of Need for Speed: Most Wanted’s online base 8 months after release.  This also ties in to a word of caution:  do not buy this game for Achievement farming.  Like many early current-gen releases, this game relied on many online-related achievements so unless you have a friend with the game, it may able impossible to complete these goals.  Also, the game requires you to perfect each of the levels to obtain an achievement which may leave you waiting until you have the right cart to perfect some of the races, crashes, etc.

 

Overall, this is still a great arcade racer and I recommend the game to those who have not tried it.

Heat-Thunder Thoughts and a Prediction…

Three (quick) keys to the NBA Finals:

1. Dwayne Wade.  Alright, so I created an Instagram post about you getting dunked on, but you can’t be outdone by lesser men in this series.  I hear your knee is hurt and all – hopefully a couple days off (and a possible knee drain procedure) will help you.  It’s great that you have accepted the #2 role for the Miami Heat, you’ll just need to play like one consistently during the Finals.  If you don’t, this could be over in five.  Not that you’ll get any blame though…
2. Mike Battier or Shane Miller.  Whoever you prefer really.  Both guys have to make threes throughout this series to help keep the pressure off of the Big 3 and force Oklahoma City to spread out the floor defensively.  Battier will also have to play solid defense as well. Miller, since Spolestra keeps throwing you out there like you have something on him, is only good to shoot the ball.  Derek Sefolosha/Thabo Fisher plays the same role for OKC.
3. The officials.  Remember the 2006 Finals?  Miami won that series due to the red carpet treatment Dwayne Wade received to the free-throw line.  While OKC is the better free-throw shooting team, Miami would benefit much more from a foul disparity.  Fouls would most likely be called on Serge Ibaka and Kendrick Perkins, fueling Miami’s penetration to the rim while wounding OKC’s defensive strategy.  Much has been made about the acting performances by Miami in this postseason; it’s up to the officials to call the game the right way.

Prediction:  Oklahoma City has beaten three recent NBA champions and has shown the maturity along with the athleticism to win the title.  Almost everything has gone right for Kevin Durant the last 12 months, from his Rucker Park exploits to winning his third scoring crown.  Miami has had to fight to get here, from the eventual boredom of the regular season to showing the fortitude to overcome Indiana and Boston.  On paper, Oklahoma City looks like the team that should win the title in six games or so.  I’m going with the team who will have won the title the old-school way, by overcoming more adversity.  The way the Pistons, Bulls, the 2000 Lakers and last year’s Mavericks won theirs: through disappointment, criticism, heartbreak and agony.  And only one of the two teams here has been through any version of hell.  Miami in 6.

NCAA Football 13 Impressions

As June continue continues, the sporting landscape changes.  Baseball and hockey seasons end and baseball is in full swing.  For many fans like me, this is when you starting to wishing for football.  This is also when many gamers start looking for the next crop of football games.  Some may even break out last year’s Madden or NCAA in order to prepare for the next release.  Well, football season (at least for videogames) is almost here.  EA Sports released their demo for NCAA Football 13 recently and I checked it out.  Below are my impressions.

Source: EA Sports

If you seen any of the pre-release coverage for NCAA Football 13 you’ll know that the Heisman Trophy plays a large role in the game and demo is no different.  In I think is a first, you get to play as the reigning Heisman winner Robert Griffin III on the current teams or any one of five other teams in the demo.  I chose his Baylor team.  This mode helped alleviate one of the past contradictions of the game – you could not play as the guy on the cover.  The Heisman Challenge as it’s called includes a feature that let’s the player slow down time as the play is developing, allowing more time for the superstar to make the right read and make the big play.  The gameplay was fun; although the downside is the special camera which operates similar to past career modes.

The demo also includes the ability to play three key match-ups: Kansas St/Baylor, USC/Oregon and Alabama/LSU.  Since I went through the Baylor/K-State match-up in Heisman, I played the other two in the normal (Dynasty) mode.  As usual, animations have improved and graphics are a touch better than previous years.  The lighting differences are noticeable in the nighttime Bama/LSU game as jersey look different (and darker) as the game progresses.  The game has improved “Read and React” Defensive A.I. so downfield passes are more a bit more challenging.  During the game, there’s break-ins from the ESPN studio with updates with games from the country and a rolling ticker that changes throughout the game your playing.  While this dynamic helps with realism, there were too many break-ins, in my opinion.  There seemed to be 4 breaks in each quarter, which in a demo with 3 minute quarter, can be disruptive.

Overall, the game appears like it will fix your gamer gridiron needs until the real college season begins.  The game drops on July 10^th on Xbox 360 and PS3.

The Complete Frank Miller Batman: Review

A few weeks ago, I agreed to help a friend of mine in getting ready to move.  Little did I know I would see this in the garage:

This is not even half of the collection.

Now, I have been in his house a couple of times and been friends with him for a couple of years, but I never knew he was into comic books (and into that extent).  So after a couple of hours packing figurines statues, I told him about my interest in getting back into comic books a bit.  Based on hearing my interest in starting with Batman, he gave me The Complete Frank Miller Batman (Hardcover Edition) to read.  For those who don’t know, Frank Miller is considered a key figure in resurrecting graphic novels and propelling Batman from stagnation.  Written in the late 80s, this collection is his most notable work prior to creating “300” and “Sin City” novels.

 

The collection is comprised of three stories:  Batman: Year One, Wanted: Santa Claus – Dead or Alive, and The Dark Knight Returns.

 

Batman: Year One covers the well-known genesis of Bruce Wayne’s tragic loss of his parents and his evolution to become, as he calls it “a bat”.  The story also addresses Batman’s first forays into being and superhero while paralleling James Gordon’s arrival in Gotham and introductions into the police department.  Really good story on all the aforementioned topics with solid depth delivered over the course of several chapters.

 

Wanted: Santa Claus – Dead or Alive entails a criminal playing the role of Santa at Christmas time.  Batman is forced to watch over him and others who want to have a little something extra during the holidays.  Given that this is roughly the size of one comic book issue, it is quite forgettable.

 

The Dark Knight Returns sees Batman return to crime fighting after 10 agonizing years amist a Gotham in chaos.  Since he is much older and a bit rusty, he realizes he not quite as quick and athletic as he used to be.  Good thing he has a new companion at his side as he goes up against a familiar foe.  Oh, and there is also that other DC icon he has to worry about at the end.  This is the best and longest of the three stories in my opinion, given the opportunity to see Batman from a completely different angle for me

 

IGN noted Batman: Year One and The Dark Knight Returns as the top two Batman Graphic Novels of all time, which is to say that if you are a fan of Batman in any way, comics, or just good storytelling, you should pick up these two stories.  The good news is that the stories are cheap to buy individually in paperback form.  However, if you want the hardcover edition, good luck on finding someone willing to part with it.  Either way, it’s a great way to either get into Batman or get ready for The Dark Knight Rises this summer.

Amazon.com

Assassin’s Creed 3: Trailer (New)

A few days ago, UBI Soft released a new trailer for the upcoming game Assassin’s Creed 3.  The revolutionary war looks like an awesomeenvironment for the next adventure. The game comes out on October 30th for Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, and PC.  Check out the video here and leave your impressions in the comments.

 

An Opportunity for the King

NBA.com

After last year’s NBA Finals, many criticized LeBron James’s game and cried for him to develop a post game.  LeBron met with Hakeem Olajuwon and worked on his post game and came back rejuvenated.  His new post moves were key points in the “fast break” offense the highlighted in the Miami Heat offense during Round 1.  Given the recent injury to Chris Bosh, it might be the perfect time for LeBron to reintroduce his post game.

Much maligned, Bosh was the only Heat big man able to effectively play both ends of the floor (particulary offense).  Moving LeBron to the power forward would help the offsense immensely in the Indiana series (and likely beyond).  LeBron and Dwyane Wade often play off each other on the perimeter, which in many cases, leaves the other to be spectators.   Since the Heat will become the “Big Two”, playing off each other will be easier by having LeBron being inside most of the time.  LeBron’s size will help against most of Indiana’s bigs (save Hibbert).

Putting LeBron in the post can also help one other issue:  his alleged passiveness at times.  Part of that may be a habit of having to play off Wade, since I don’t remember this happening as much in Cleveland.  Other facts may be in play, but he will be needed to be a dominating force in order to complete his mission this year.

In order for Miami to win the championship, LeBron has to embrace the play of one of his childhood heroes:  Magic Johnson.  Embrace the opportunities that someone of your talents that you have in front of you.   Take what you learned from Olajuwon, be ready to dominate for 48 minutes and maybe you can realize your own dreams (and silence a lot of critics in the process).

5 observations from the first month (or so) of baseball

1. Bryce Harper just might be for real.  Bryce has been promoted to the major league at just 19, just like Ken Griffey Jr.  He’s shown all 5 tools in his 8 games in the majors and has garnered resentment on some level (from throwing his helmet off while running the bases) as well as respect (getting hit by Cole Hamels yesterday).  Considering his rapid ascension, the big question will be how he handles true adversity.  Considering Bryce stole home after being hit by Hamels pitch, he may do just fine.
2. Is Matt Kemp officially the best player in baseball?  28 games into the season and Kemp has picked right up from his MVP-type campaign last year.  With numbers like .388/12/28 through 28 games, maybe Matt Kemp will challenge the Triple Crown again.  Couple those numbers along with a first place team, Pujols struggling, Braun’s performance drug allegations from last year, Kemp has ascended the throne to be the best in the game.  And maybe so many of his search results who be tied to his previous relationship with Rihanna.
3. Is Jered Weaver the best pitcher in baseball?  Jered’s in a similar position with Matt Kemp.  Weaver almost won the Cy Young last year with great numbers (18-8, 2.41, 233K’s) but is off to a great start this year with a 4-0 record and a no-hitter to his credit.  Unfortunately, Jered’s team is off to a slow start (12-17) which will drop him off the radar. If the Angels do turn around and Jered keeps winning (like Verlander did last year), not only will he get the credit and the Cy Young, he could get serious MVP consideration.
4. Will this finally be the year Baltimore and Toronto make the playoffs?  It seems like Boston and New York have owned the AL East for the last 12 year (with occasional guest appearances by Tampa Bay).  The Orioles have the best record in baseball at the moment and the Blue Jays are over .500.  The Red Sox are struggling overall with bad pitching, injuries, and Bobby Valentine.  The Yankees have been struggling a bit with pitching and for the first time in 17 years, they have to worry about closing games. The Orioles have a very important 9 game homestand starting tonight which will help everyone (including them) figure out how legit they are as the play Texas, Tampa Bay and the Yankees.  Toronto has one of the strongest starting pitching in baseball but desperately needs offense.
5. Too many pitching injuries (in my opinion).  It seems like there are more injuries than normal so far this year.  Most teams have at least one pitcher who are hurt down for the year (Mariano Rivera, Joakim Soria, Brian Wilson) or concerns about velocity (Roy Halladay, Tim Lincecum, Ubaldo Jiminez).  Hitters have been more fortunate overall save for Carl Crawford, Jayson Werth, and Victor Martinez.  Seems like the team that is the most fortunate regarding injuries (or has enough depth in their organization to recover) will make the playoffs this year.