Friday, December 29, 2017

2018 Predictions

Let's do this!

  • Democrats take the House but not the Senate (too many seats are in red states)
  • Trump remains Trump- every other week a stupid and outrageous self-inflicted wound that causes outrage… until the next stupid and outrageous self-inflicted wound. 
  • Trump not primaried on the Right- in the end, the party falls in line
  • The left becomes a huge free-for-all with regards to getting in position for 2020, each one trying to outdo the other. 
  • One name among the Democrats- Al Franken.  Franken finally steps out of office and uses his freedom to constantly attack Trump, being a zealot about harassment (“I screwed up- I apologized, I stepped away to learn, and I will use my Presidency to make amends”).  He will be the lightning rod among Democrats going into the Presidential campaign 

Onto non-political predictions:

  • Houston shocks Golden State in the Western conference finals, 4 games to 3.  Golden State looks past Houston to a rematch with Houston, and Houston wears them down.  Houston/Cleveland goes 7 games, but Cleveland’s depth is too much
  • LeBron does leave Cleveland- for New York.  The Cavaliers break up, while LeBron forms a new superteam around Porzingis
  • The Yankees are the talk of baseball, as Stanton his 67 home runs… but they still come up short in the playoffs.  Houston-Cleveland are in the ALCS, and Houston prevails… but this time they lose to the Dodgers in the World Series
  • The Browns take Sam Darnold and Minkah Fitzpatrick with their two draft picks. 
  • The AFC title game is Pittsburgh—New England, with New England winning.  The NFC title game is Philadelphia-Minnesota, and Minnesota Wins… then shocks New England to win the Super Bowl (which is in Minnesota)
  • The Infinity War is the first major stumble among the Marvel Movies- it’s a case of ‘too much’.  It still does great numbers, but that’s when everyone sees the Superhero movie trend has peaked
  • The cascade of people outed as harassers will continue, as people will be called out for behavior of the last 30 years.

And personal prediction:

·        My ultimate goal is 190 pounds- I may not reach it, but I will be under 200 at some point of 2018

Thursday, December 28, 2017

Closing Out 2017

2017.... It was a Year.

Looking back, the biggest story was the explosion of sexual harassment cases- Harvey Weinstein, Kevin Spacey, Roy Moore, Al Franken, Matt Lauer.  The dam broke- good.  Maybe this time a better standard can be held for the future. 

It was also the year I gave up on politics.  There are two parties in the USA, and their defining characteristic is how much they despise people who belong to the other party.  Donald Trump is pretty much who we thought he was- a narcissist who lives to see his name in lights and has no shame or doubts about his own awesomeness.  In today's political environment, that behavior is rewarded.  I'm not asking that the two sides stop fighting.  I just wish they actually fought over ideas instead of personalities. 

Sports?  The Cavaliers are a great team that ran into a greater team in the Warriors.  The Indians had a great season- I would love them to win one title before their core gets old, but it's a fun team to watch.  And the Browns were awful and pathetic- for the sake of the city, I would love them to get better.

On a personal level... we lost our cat Pippin this November.  We still have two cats, but losing the big guy hurt.  I lost ~25 pounds and hope to lost another 20 or so to get down to 190 this year.  Work is fine, and we still perform at Dinner Detective. 

May 2018 bring everyone peace and happiness.


Thursday, November 30, 2017

RIP Pippin

Last year, Katie and I lost our cat Smokey.  Tonight, we lost our second cat, Pippin.  I've written about him before- he came to us in 2011.

He was the most dog-like cat I have ever met.  Friendly to everyone, always willing to come up and bonk his head against our leg.  Smokey hated him- but I think Smokey hated every other animal except Katie and (somewhat) me.  After Smokey passed away we picked up two new kittens, and Pippin (for the most part) got along great with Dashiell and Mystery.

We must have had a half dozen nicknames for Pippin- everything from "Golden Yellow Spider Monkey" to "Hipster Pipster" to "Bonk Shu".  He loved everyone, and he was loved.

I miss you, Pip.


Friday, November 24, 2017

Double Down, Sashi Brown!

The Cleveland Browns are 0-10.  They look horrible.  DeShone Kizer has thrown 14 interceptions and only 5 touchdowns, and has been benched twice.  Their analytics method has caused them to pass on Carson Wentz and DeShaun Watson- the former looking like a great QB in the making for the Philadelphia Eagles, while Watson looked fantastic until he was injured.  

The Browns seem like a mortal lock to finish 0-16 and with the #1 pick in the draft (along with the Texans, pick, like around #10).  There's a bunch of QBs in this draft that are likely to go in the first round- Sam Darnold of USC (if he doesn't stay in school another year), Josh Rosen of UCLA, Lamar Jackson of Louisville, Josh Allen of Wyoming, and Baker Mayfield of Oklahoma.  

Surely, the Browns should abandon this analytic approach, take a QB with the #1 pick.  Right?

My advice for Sashi Brown (the VP of the Browns)- don't draft a QB.  Double down on your method.

Which, of course, sounds insane.  Why double down on something that has led you to 0-16?  

Here's my reasons:

1)  Every single QB in the top tier has flaws.  Rosen supposedly isn't like by his teammates.  Darnold has not been impressive and may stay at USC another year.  Jackson has accuracy issues.  Allen is a project, as is Mayfield.  If you're grabbing a QB #1, that means that you think he's the best QB in the class- and none of them are standing out.

2)  The Browns do have alternatives to drafting a QB #1.  They could try to get a free agent (Kirk Cousins is on the market).  They could grab a veteran QB like Josh McCown (who has led the Jets to a 4-6 record to a team that was supposedly as bad as the Browns).  Or...

3)  They have a young QB- Kizer.  Yes, he's looked bad.  He also has had no wide receivers, a poor running game... and he's young.  Look at the improvement Jared Goff had last year.  Head Coach Hue Jackson is supposed to be a quarterback guru- let's put him to the test.

So what do you do instead?

4)  Grab Saquon Barkley with the #1 pick.  He's a RB and considered the best 'Sure Thing' in the draft.  

5)  With the Texans pick, grab one of the top two WR (Calvin Ridley or Courtland Sutton).  If both of them fail to make it, grab an offensive lineman or a defensive back.  But ideally, one of them should be available.

With that, you have Kizer with a year's NFL experience under his belt, a new RB, a new WR, Corey Coleman and Josh Gordon back healthy, and Joe Thomas back in the lineup.  

I think you have a better chance turning Kizer into a good NFL Quarterback than drafting a QB and starting over.

Do I expect them to do so?  No- I expect them to grab one of the QBs, start over, and then spend next year under a cloud of "Well, we should have grabbed (player X) or (player Y) or (Players A, B, C) instead."

Look- if Sashi Brown makes it to the draft, he only gets one more chance.  If you really think rookie QBs are overrated (and the way you traded down to avoid drafting Wentz and Watson, you do), then reversing course now is tantamount to admitting the last two years were horrifically wrong.  Stick to your guns.  It's not like you'll get another chance if you lead the Browns to a 3-13 season the next year.  Double down.  


Tuesday, November 7, 2017

Top 10 albums on a deserted island

And the music challenge was made- list ten albums you'd want on a deserted island.  No "Greatest Hits" allowed.

I muddled this in my mind for a week before making my selections.  In no particular order:

* Pink Floyd- "Wish You Were Here"
* Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers- "Damn the Torpedoes"
* SJ Tucker- "Wonders"
* The Connells- "One Simple Word"
* Daft Punk- "Random Access Memories"
* Soundtrack to "Final Fantasy VIII"
* Animal Logic- "Animal Logic"
* Peter Gabriel- "So"
* Bruce Hornsby & the Range- "Scenes from the Southside"
* Rush, "Moving Pictures"


Damn- And I'm sure I could have gone to 20 easily.


Monday, October 16, 2017

NBA Predictions 2017-2018

Eastern Conference:
1.     Cleveland
2.     Boston
3.     Toronto
4.     Washington
5.     Milwaukee
6.     Charlotte
7.     Philadelphia
8.     Detroit



9.     Miami
10.   New York
11.   Indiana
12.   Atlanta
13.   Brooklyn
14.   Chicago
15.   Orlando



Playoffs:
•             Cleveland over Detroit, Boston over Philadelphia, Toronto over Charlotte, Milwaukee over Washington
•             Cleveland over Milwaukee, Boston over Toronto
•             Cleveland over Boston.  This will be a war, and don't be surprised if there are suspensions in this game




Western Conference:
1.     Golden State
2.     San Antonio
3.     Houston
4.     Oklahoma City
5.     Utah
6.     Minnesota
7.     Denver
8.     Portland


9.     New Orleans
10.   Memphis
11.   Sacramento
12.   LA Clippers
13.   LA Lakers
14.   Dallas   
15.   Phoenix



Playoffs:
•             Golden State over Portland, San Antonio over Denver, Houston over Minnesota, Utah over OKC
•             Golden State over Utah, Houston over San Antonio
•             Golden State over Houston



More notes:
•             MVP?  I think this might be one of those years that there are six viable candidates.  I have a hard time seeing Harden or Westbrook repeating their numbers.  The young guys are still a year or two away.  I'll go with LeBron, because he'll always be a contender- but we might be arguing Leonard, Embiid, or even Rudy Gorbert
•             Cleveland/Boston is going to be an ugly bloodbath this year.  Between IT's anger at Aigne and Kyrie's statements about Cleveland, I think these two franchises will be hating each other.  
•             Here's the thing about Golden State; on paper, they should win 70+ games.  The core has been together for a year, they are all still young, no one has been able to figure them out.

But they've also been incredibly lucky in terms of injuries.  They haven't had an injury that took one of their core players out for a month during the playoffs (see what happened to Kawhi last year).  Eventually, that luck will run out- and they sacrificed their depth to sign Durant.

If I had to bet on one team winning the NBA finals, it's Golden State.  But Golden State vs. the field?  

I think someone beats them this year.  Officially, I'll put down Cleveland winning the title in 7 games.  But if you told me that Golden State would be at 100% health, I'll be on the Warriors repeating.  

Sunday, October 1, 2017

MLB Playoff and Awards Predictions

American League:

Minnesota Twins over New York Yankees (Wild Card)
Houston Astros over Boston Red Sox in 4 games
Cleveland Indians over Minnesota Twins in 4 games
Cleveland Indians over Houston Astros in 7 games

National League:
Colorado Rockies over Arizona Diamondbacks (Wild Card)
Washington Nationals over Chicago Cubs in 5 games
Los Angeles Dodgers over  Colorado Rockies in 3 games
Washington Nationals over Los Angeles Dodgers in 6 games

World Series:
Cleveland Indians over Washington Nationals in 6 games

AL Awards:
MVP:  Jose Altuve, Houston Astros
Cy Young:  Corey Kluber, Cleveland Indians
Rookie of the Year:  Aaron Judge, New York Yankees
Manager of the Year:  Paul Molitor, Minnesota Twins

NL Awards:
MVP:  Giancarlo Stanton, Miami Marlins
Cy Young:  Max Scherzer, Washington Nationals
Rookie of the Year:  Cody Bellinger, Los Angeles Dodgers
Manager of the Year:  Dave Roberts, Los Angeles Dodgers

Tuesday, September 5, 2017

NFL Predictions: 2017-2018

NFC

East:

Dallas 9-7
Washington 8-8
NY Giants 8-8
Philadelphia 7-9

North:
Green Bay 12-4
Minnesota 9-7
Detroit 7-9
Chicago 4-12

South:
Atlanta 11-5

Tampa Bay 9-7 (Wild Card)
New Orleans 8-8
Carolina 7-9

West:
Seattle 11-5
Arizona 9-7  (Wild Card)
St. Louis 5-11
San Francisco 5-11

Playoffs:
Dallas over Arizona
Tampa Bay over Seattle

Atlanta over Dallas
Green Bay over Tampa Bay

Green Bay over Atlanta



AFC

East:
New England 13-3
Miami 7-9 

Buffalo 7-9
NY Jets 3-13


North:
Pittsburgh 12-4
Cleveland 6-10
Baltimore 6-10
Cincinnati 4-12



South:
Houston 10-6
Tennessee 10-6 (Wild Card)
Jacksonville 6-10
Indianapolis 5-11


West:
Oakland 13-3

Kansas City 11-5 (Wild Card)
Denver 9-7
San Diego 5-11

Playoffs:
Houston over Kansas City
Tennessee over Pittsburgh

New England over Houston
Oakland over Tennessee

New England over Oakland



Super Bowl: New England 41, Green Bay 38

Thursday, August 17, 2017

WWE Summerslam Predictions




WWE Cruiserweight Championship Match (Kickoff Match)
Akira Tozawa © vs. Neville

My Crazy Dream Booking: Neville regains the belt in an excellent match, takes the microphone, claims to be the greatest cruiserweight ever, and makes an open challenge that is answered the next night by... Kenny Omega.
What Should Happen: Tozawa retains and feuds with TJ Perkins. Neville moves to Smackdown and starts an epic war with Sami Zayn
What Will Happen: Tozawa wins, Neville moves to RAW, and spends three months winning matches while the WWE figures out what to do with him
What I’m Terrified Will Happen: Neville regains the belt and starts cycling through everyone else in the Cruiserweight division again
If I Was Booking This And I Hated You: Neville regains the belt and feuds with Titus O'Neil


WWE Smackdown Tag Team match (Kickoff Match)
New Day © vs. Usos

My Crazy Dream Booking: New Day retains. Usos stay heel while feuding with Chad Gable and Mojo Rawley, while New Day is attacked by Dolph Ziggler and Zack Ryder, who do a takeoff of ACH and Ethan Page's Troll Boyz from EVOLVE
What Should Happen: New Day wins and both New Day and Usos move on to other feuds
What Will Happen: Usos win so THIS FEUD MUST CONTINUE
What I’m Terrified Will Happen: Usos win so THIS FEUD MUST CONTINUE
If I Was Booking This And I Hated You: Xavier Woods turns on Big E and Kofi Kingston and joins the Usos


Six man match (Kickoff Match)
Miztourage vs. Hardy Boyz and Jason Jordan

My Crazy Dream Booking: Miztourage wins, Hardy Boyz continue on their path to being Broken, attacking Jordan after the match. Kurt Angle decides that Jordan, as his son, needs 'Tough Love'. For the next three months, Angle brings in a bunch of free agents (Indy wrestlers) to put Jordan through the paces- or even sends him to the Indy leagues to spend a few months.
What Should Happen: Jordan loks impressive- but Miztourage pin the Hardyz 

.OR.

Miztourage wins. Hardyz attack Jordan, blaming him. Chad Gable comes down to help his partner and reform American Alpha.

What Will Happen: Hardys and Jordan win to set up Miz/Jordan. Jordan looks good in the matches
What I’m Terrified Will Happen: Hardys and Jordan win to set up Miz/Jordan. Jordan does not look ready
If I Was Booking This And I Hated You: Jordan attacks the Hardyz, then attacks Angle to become the next member of the Miztourage


WWE RAW Tag Team match
Cesaro and Sheamus © vs. Ambrose and Rollins

My Crazy Dream Booking: Ambrose and Rollins win the belts to set up the main event angle (see below)
What Should Happen: Thirty minute match with a double countout to let this feud continue
What Will Happen: Ambrose and Rollins win the titles
What I’m Terrified Will Happen: Cesaro and Sheamus win and then the WWE realizes there are no other challengers until the Revival returs
If I Was Booking This And I Hated You: Ambrose and Rollins fight and feud... again


John Cena vs. Baron Corbin
My Crazy Dream Booking: Corbin is replaced, Cena makes an open challenge, and out comes Bobby Roode
What Should Happen: Corbin wins as Cena moves to RAW and Corbin gets set up as a challenger for the Smackdown title
What Will Happen: Cena wins, making Corbin look good in the process.
What I’m Terrified Will Happen: Cena wins, Corbin looks bad in the process
If I Was Booking This And I Hated You: Cena and Crobin team up to take on the Singh brothers in the Smackdown title match


Finn Balor vs. Bray Wyatt
My Crazy Dream Booking: Balor goes in full Demon mode, wild match- Harper and Rowan come out to help Wyatt, and the Club comes out to attack them. Balor wins after a giant brawl that goes all over the arena.
What Should Happen: Balor goes to full Demon mode, pins Wyatt in a good match
What Will Happen: Balor goes to full Demon mode, pins Wyatt in a good match
What I’m Terrified Will Happen: Balor goes to full Demon mode, pins Wyatt inside of three minutes
If I Was Booking This And I Hated You: Balor goes to full Demon mode, loses cleanly to Wyatt


Big Cass vs. Big Show
My Crazy Dream Booking: Short but energetic match- Cass wins and moves to a different feud
What Should Happen: Short but energetic match- Cass wins and moves to a different feud
What Will Happen: Cass wins and then beats up Enzo after the match
What I’m Terrified Will Happen: Big Show wins, Cass attacks Enzo after the match
If I Was Booking This And I Hated You: Enzo manages Big Show and Big Cass as they go for the tag titles


Randy Orton vs. Rusev
My Crazy Dream Booking: they have suprising chemistry that reminds everyone why Rusev was a favorite just over a year ago
What Should Happen: Rusev wins- Orton is locked in, but a Rusev win can help establish him as a future title contender
What Will Happen: Rusev dominates, RKO out of nowhere to win
What I’m Terrified Will Happen: Orton dominates, Orton wins
If I Was Booking This And I Hated You: Lana shows up and turns on Rusev, joining Orton


Smackdown US Title:
AJ Styles © vs. Kevin Owens
Special Referee: Shane McMahon

My Crazy Dream Booking: Owens and Styles set aside their differences to beat up Shane McMahon and start a heel rampage over Smackdown
What Should Happen: Owens wins and feuds with every face on the roster. Styles stays strong and wins the Royal Rumble to feud with Nakamura
What Will Happen: Styles retains, both move on to other feuds
What I’m Terrified Will Happen: Shane McMahon causes one side to lose
If I Was Booking This And I Hated You: Shane McMahon forces them to team up like Sheamus and Cesaro did last year


Smackdown World Title:
Jinder Mahal © vs. Shinsuke Nakamura

My Crazy Dream Booking: I like Mahal- but he's not as good as Nakamura. Nakamura wins and goes on a dominant run leading to his match with Styles at Wrestlemania
What Should Happen: Nakamura wins
What Will Happen: Mahal wins through shenanigans so there is a rematch
What I’m Terrified Will Happen: Corbin costs Mahal the title 
If I Was Booking This And I Hated You: Nakamura goes back to NXT after a bad match


RAW Women's Title:
Alexa Bliss © vs. Sasha Banks

My Crazy Dream Booking: Bliss retains and makes an open challenge... and here comes Asuka.
What Should Happen: Bliss retains in a great match and keeps the belt until Bayley takes it from her- and then Banks goes full Boss mode and attacks Bayley
What Will Happen: Banks wins the title
What I’m Terrified Will Happen: Nia Jax costs Banks the match
If I Was Booking This And I Hated You: Stephanie McMahon decides she wants to challenge for the title


Smackdown Women's Title:
Naomi © vs. Natalya

My Crazy Dream Booking: Naomi retains and makes an open challenge... and here comes Asuka. (she challenges for, and wins, both titles)
What Should Happen: Naomi wins, keeping the belt until Survivor Series
What Will Happen: Natalya wins the title, then feuding with Charlotte
What I’m Terrified Will Happen: The match is forgotten about
If I Was Booking This And I Hated You: Lana wins the title and feuds with Carmella over both the belt and the loves of James Ellsworth



RAW World Title:
Brock Lesnar© vs. Roman Reigns vs. Samoa Joe vs. Braun Strowman

My Crazy Dream Booking: Massive battle, with Samoa Joe being the glue of the match. The others take pauses outside the ring, but Joe is inside for almost a half hour. He throws Lesnar out of the ring, locks Reigns in the Kokina Clutch... and here comes Ambrose and Rollins (now the tag team champions). Ambrose distracts the referee, Rollins bashes Joe with the belt, Reigns pins Joe, and the Shield is reformed as heels
What Should Happen: Joe wins the title and has a run as champion until the Royal Rumble. Paul Heyman may or may not turn on Lesnar to be Joe's manager.
What Will Happen: Reigns pins Strowman for the belt. After the match, Joe, Lesnar, and Strowman all attack Reigns, and here comes Ambrose and Rollins to chase them out. The Shield reforms as faces
What I’m Terrified Will Happen: Strowman wins the title
If I Was Booking This And I Hated You: Lesnar wins cleanly, brags there is no competition, then disappears until the Royal Rumble where he faces... Goldberg.

Wednesday, May 31, 2017

NBA Finals Predictions

Cavaliers/Warriors III

Two years ago, the Cleveland Cavaliers took the Golden State Warriors to 6 games despite losing Kyrie Irving and Kevin Love to injuries.  Cleveland fans swear that the Cavaliers could have won the series if healthy.

Last year, Golden State won a record 73 games during the regular season, and were up 3-1 on Cleveland before Cleveland won the last three games.  But Stephen Curry was banged up, and Draymond Green got suspended for game 5, and Golden State fans swear that the Warriors could have won the series if it hadn't been for those events.

Now after each team has won one series, they meet for a third time in a row in the NBA Finals.  A couple of interesting factors:

* The Warriors signed Kevin Durant as a free agent.  They took a chance- losing their bench to improve their starters.  It's a gamble that has paid off so far- the Warriors have been so dominant that they haven't tired off their starters

* The one Warrior who can't be on the floor is head coach Steve Kerr.  He's being replaced for this series by... Mike Brown, former coach of the Cavaliers.  I like Brown, but he's in a no-win situation: if the Warriors win, he gets no credit.  If they lose he'll get all of the blame.

* The Cavaliers are a great team- but the Warriors are phenomenal.  Curry and Durant are two of the five best players in the NBA.  Green and Thompson are two of the top twelve.  Put it this way- a team with LeBron James, Kevin Love and Kyrie Irving should almost never be considered an underdog- but Vegas clearly favors the Warriors. 

* Curry is one of the most popular players in the NBA, and so is Durant.  But the Warriors are so dominant- and Green has a reputation of a dirty player- that most NBA fans are rooting against the Warriors.

* I'm a Cleveland fan.  On paper, the Warriors should win- they have home field advantage.  And last year, Cleveland beat Golden States and outscored them by a total of FOUR points- and Golden State has added Kevin Durant to the team.  On paper, Golden State should win in 5 games.  And the only player who absolutely NEEDS to win this series is Durant- all of the other major players already have a title.

* But I believe in LeBron James.  Cleveland in 7.

Friday, May 26, 2017

Michael Jordan vs. LeBron James

It's become a valid debate.

Let's get this out of the way now- I'm a Cleveland fan, so there is a bias for the man who led Cleveland to their first NBA Title ever and their first championship in my lifetime.  But I think there's a good argument to be made here.

Right now, (IMHO), the top 8 NBA players of all time are:
Michael Jordan
Bill Russell
LeBron James
Tim Duncan
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
Larry Bird
Magic Johnson
Kobe Bryant

And I've usually ranked them as #1 Jordan, and then you can make all sorts of arguments of the rest.

Bill Russell is a bit of an odd case- he played a decade before Kareem and 20+ years before anyone else.  He led a dominant Celtics team in a different era.  For now, let's just put him in the top eight and leave it there.

But now I think James is not only rising about that crowd of others, but is in a position to challenge Jordan.

Here's the best arguments I can make for both sides:

Pro-Jordan:
* 6-0 in the Finals
* If he hadn't left on his baseball sabbatical, there is no reason the Bulls couldn't have won eight in a row
* 7 MVPs
* How many times did Jordan kill off a team?  The Shot.  The Flu Game.  63 points against the Celtics.  
* The game has changed- but it's easier.  Imagine Jordan with the referee calling as many fouls as they do now?  No one would be able to stop him!

The Pro-James arguments:
* Longer career.  As of right now, Jordan has played more minutes and more playoff minutes than Jordan
* 7 straight finals
* The NBA today is higher caliber than it was in the 90s.  The players are more athletic today.  There's more teams.  Players that would thrive in the 1980s and 1990s might not make the team today.
* James played tougher opponents.  Did Jordan ever face anyone like the Duncan-led Spurs, the OKC Thunder, or the Warriors?  
* Of the top 8 players, six of them were coached by one of the Mount Rushmore of coaches (Red Auerbach/ Phil Jackson/Pat Riley/Gregg Popovich).  Bird and LeBron are the two exceptions.


Add it all up?

If you asked me, today (May 26th, 2017)... I'd still put Jordan over LeBron.

But...

Jordan never faced anything close to the 2017 Warriors.  "Let's take a 73 win team and add on one of the five best NBA players today?"  Jordan never really faced a great all time opponent.  Bird and Johnson's teams were past their peak when Jordan reached his peak.  The Kobe and Shaq Lakers came along after Jordan left.  The closest he faced a great team was the Hakeem/Barkley/Drexler Rockets- and that was after all three were past their prime.  

If James leads the Cavaliers over this Warriors team... I think that puts him over the edge.

Let the debate continue.

Tuesday, May 16, 2017

Game Status- Dragon Age: Inquisition

After 11 years, I finally left World of Warcraft- ran out of things to do in this expansion, and grinding faction by killing demons wasn't appealing to me.  Over a decade on one game is phenomenal- and who knows?  Maybe I'll come back at the next expansion.

But in the meantime, I tried a few other games.  

Borderlands 2 was fun, but I'm not good at shoot-em-ups... and after an hour or so, I started getting motion sickness.

Then I heard great things about Witcher 3.  It looks fantastic- and crashes 1 minute after starting.  I read a ton of various fixes... none of them worked for me.  

So finally I went back to my Playstation 3 (yes, 3; I'm a system behind) and started Dragon Age:  Inquisition.  I'm about 32 hours in.  Fun game, though not one I want to replay.  Some thoughts:

* Aligned with the Mages over the Templars
* Played a mage- haven't specialized yet
* My usual go-to party right now is Blackwall, Iron Bull, and Sera
* Romancing Josephine

Overall, a fun game- and nice to play something different.  Going to need to search for another game once I'm finished, though...

Monday, May 15, 2017

NBA Lottery Predictions

I haven't meant to turn this into a NBA blog- but I'm not in a mood to discuss politics, and unless you want to hear about my progress on Dragon Age:Inquisition, I don't have much else to discuss.  

I'm a Cavaliers fan, so I don't have a team in the lottery.  However, I do have the following thoughts:

* I have friends who root for the 76ers and Kings, so I'd like them to do well
* I don't like the Lakers
* I really don't want Boston to get a top 3 pick for swindling the Brooklyn Nets
* When in doubt, root for teams that haven't won it all yet.

Here's the current order- the lottery will pick the first three, and everyone else moves down:

1. Boston Celtics (via Brooklyn Nets)
2. Phoenix Suns
3. Los Angeles Lakers (goes to Philadelphia if it falls out of top 3)
4. Philadelphia 76ers
5. Orlando Magic
6. Minnesota Timberwolves
7. New York Knicks
8. Sacramento Kings
9. Dallas Mavericks
10. Sacramento Kings (via New Orleans Pelicans; New Orleans keep if they rise to top 3)
11. Charlotte Hornets
12. Detroit Pistons
13. Denver Nuggets
14. Miami Heat


So here’s how I see things playing out:

There is a kind and benevolent deity and he wants me to be happy:   (1) Philadelphia (via Sacramento)  (2) Sacramento (via Philadelphia) (3) Denver or Dallas.   Philly gets two top 6 picks.  Sacramento gets a top 2 pick and a top 11 pick.  Either Denver (a team that has never moved up) or Dallas gets a great player to elevate the team.  Sacramento's upset they lost their #1 pick but it's not a big loss and now they can discuss 'what if' for the next 20 years

What I am hoping will happen:  (1) Philadelphia (2) Dallas (3) Denver   Sacramento still gets 2 top 11 picks, Dallas and Denver get good players, and Nowitzki gets a new running mate to end his career with

What I expect to happen: (1) Phoenix (2) Philadelphia (3) Boston  Not quite chalk- and the Lakers lose badly.  

What I am worried will happen:  (1) Lakers (2) Boston (3) New York  Blargh.  Three of biggest name franchises get three great players in a deep draft


The Darkest Timeline:   (1) Miami (2) Lakers (3) New Orleans   Double Blargh.  I despise the Heat- DESPISE THEM- and them winning the top pick would be so damn typical.  The Lakers keep their pick and can draft Lonzo Ball.  New Orleans retains their pick because it's top 3 protected.  Philadelphia and Sacramento are screwed.


Sunday, April 30, 2017

NBA Second Round Predictions

Eastern Conference:

Boston (1) over Washington (4) in 7 games

Cleveland (2) over Toronto (3) in 6 games


Western Conference:
Golden State (1) over Utah (5) in 5 games
Houston (3) over San Antonio (2)  in 6 games


Notes:
I like Utah- but Golden State is on a mission.  

Houston/San Antonio depends on Harden's health.  If he's hurting badly, San Antonio can easily take the series.


Saturday, April 15, 2017

NBA First Round Predictions

Eastern Conference:

Boston (1) over Chicago (8) in 6 games

Cleveland (2) over Indianapolis (7) in 5 games
Toronto (3) over Milwaukee (6) in 7 games <-- Best series of the first round
Washington (4) over Atlanta (5) in 5 games

Western Conference:
Golden State (1) over Portland (8) in 5 games
San Antonio (2) over Memphis (7) in 6 games
Houston (3) over OKC (6) in 6 games
Utah (5) over LA Clippers (4) in 5 games

Notes:

Utah-Clippers is the only upset I have.  And my gut tells me that this game doesn't go 6 games, in either direction.  The Clippers are such a Jekyll & Hyde team that they either win the series by game 5 or lose the series by game 5

If Milwaukee was playing Washington or Boston, I'd pick the upset.  By Toronto doesn't beat itself. Toronto survives- barely.


Thursday, April 13, 2017

NFL 2017 Draft Thoughts

NFL Draft hopes as a Cleveland Browns fan:

You can’t say we were shocked.  We knew the Browns were going to be bad. 

They were 3-13 the year before.  And then lost four of their top free agents hours after free agency began- including 2 parts of their offensive line (the best part of the football team).  We all knew RGIII was a gamble.  And they traded down in the draft, passing up good players (not only Carson Wentz, but Joey Bosa, Jack Conklin, Ezekiel Elliott…)  And while none of their rookies were busts… none of them overachieved, either.

So… yeah.  1-15 wasn’t that shocking. 

But hey- it’s 2017.  The Browns not only have the #1 draft pick, they have the #12 draft pick from Philadelphia.  And 2 second round picks.  And this is supposed to be a deep draft.

People keep focusing on the QB- but the Browns need help EVERYWHERE. 

Adding a curveball is that Mitchell Trubisky is not only the top QB in the draft… and from Northeast Ohio… but his father is a co-worker.  So regardless of where he goes in the draft, I’m rooting for him to succeed.


So here’s how I see things playing out:

There is a kind and benevolent deity and he wants me to be happy:   Browns grab  Myles Garrett #1.  No QBs go from 2-11… then someone (the Jets?) overpay Cleveland for the #12 pick.  The Jets trade this year’s 2nd round pick, next year’s #1, and next year’s #2.  Browns continue the process, drafting defense for the next five picks, see how Cody Kessler plays this year- if he thrives, great.  If not, look for one of the QBs in 2018.

What I am hoping will happen:  Browns grab Garrett #1.  No QBs go from 2-9.  Buffalo grabs Watson at #10, and Arizona trades up to #11 to grab Trubisky.  This causes Jamal Adams to drop for the Browns to grab at #12.  Browns continue going heavy defense with 4 of their next 5 picks on the defensive side

What I expect to happen: Browns grab Garrett #1.  No QBs go from 2-11.  Browns grab Trubisky at #12, then keep drafting defense. 

What I am worried will happen:  Browns grab Garrett #1.  Suddenly panicking over losing their QB, they trade up to #5, offering their #12 and #33 to grab Trubisky at #5 before the Jets


The Darkest Timeline:   Browns grab anyone not named ‘Myles Garrett’ at #1

Thursday, March 30, 2017

Wrestlemania 33 Predictions

WWE Cruiserweight Championship Match (Kickoff Match)
Neville (c) vs. Austin Aries
What Should Happen:  This might be the match of the night.  Neville is awesome, and Aries can still rise to the occasion.  I’d actually like Neville to retain until they build up a new challenger.
What Will Happen:  Aries finally dethrones Neville to win the title.
What I’m Terrified Will Happen:  Two minutes into the match, Brau Strowman obliterates both men and wants to start the battle royal now.

SmackDown Women’s Championship Match (Kickoff Match)
Champion Alexa Bliss to defend against all female SmackDown LIVE Superstars who are available to compete
What Should Happen:  Alexa retains; on Smackdown on Tuesday, announces she’s defeated all of her competition… and out comes Asuka to take the belt from her.
What Will Happen:  Natalya wins the title to start a feud with Becky Lynch
What I’m Terrified Will Happen:  Carmella wins the belt because the writers love her and Ellsworth.

The Fourth Annual Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal (Kickoff Match)
Featuring Big Show, Sami Zayn, Braun Strowman, Apollo Crews, Mojo Rawley and more Superstars
What Should Happen:  Zayn is a giant killer, eliminating both Big Show and Strowman.
What Will Happen:  Strowman wins as his anointment as the next big man continues
What I’m Terrified Will Happen:  The Ascension win and immediately begin feuding over which one is really the winner.

Raw Tag Team Championship Triple Threat Ladder Match
Luke Gallows & Karl Anderson (c) vs. Enzo Amore & Big Cass vs. Cesaro & Sheamus
What Should Happen:  Gallows and Anderson retain; Cesaro and Sheamus split up the next night and both announce they are going after the US Title
What Will Happen:  Amore and Big Cass win the belts.
What I’m Terrified Will Happen:  The crowd turns on Amore and Big Cass to the point that they turn heel by the end of next week

Intercontinental Championship Match
Dean Ambrose (c) vs. Baron Corbin
What Should Happen:  Corbin wins, and Ambrose starts a slow turn into a psychotic heel
What Will Happen:  Corbin wins the title
What I’m Terrified Will Happen: Corbin wins the title when Dolph Ziggler costs Ambrose the title.  I like both Ziggler and Ambrose, but that feud feels stale for both men

United States Championship Match
Chris Jericho (c) vs. Kevin Owens
What Should Happen:  Match of the night, with both men giving dissertations on how to cheat.  Owens wins, and the crowd chants “Thank you Chris” as he heads off on tour with Fozzy.
What Will Happen:  Owens wins using every heel trick in the book
What I’m Terrified Will Happen:  Samoa Joe helps Owens beat Jericho in a forgettable match

Raw Women’s Championship Fatal 4-Way Elimination Match
Bayley (c) vs. Charlotte Flair vs. Sasha Banks vs. Nia Jax
What Should Happen:  Nia Jax wins and forces the other three to work together to overcome her.
What Will Happen:  Flair wins the title when Sasha Banks turns heel
What I’m Terrified Will Happen:  Flair wins the title, and the program continues as it has for months.

Power Couples Collide
John Cena & Nikki Bella vs. The Miz & Maryse
What Should Happen:  A glorious brawl that spends most of the match outside the ring.  Cena and Bella win, but Miz and Maryse look fantastic.  Cena proposes afterwards
What Will Happen:  A good match.  Same booking
What I’m Terrified Will Happen:  Miz and Maryse look like total chumps in losing.

SmackDown LIVE Commissioner vs. The Phenomenal One
Shane McMahon vs. AJ Styles
What Should Happen:  Shane McMahon is attacked before the match, and Daniel Bryan announces a replacement- the returning Finn Balor. 
What Will Happen:  AJ Styles has had great matches all year.  He has another one, carrying Shane to a very good match, before winning cleanly
What I’m Terrified Will Happen:  Shane wins because… well, because

Non-Sanctioned Match
Seth Rollins vs. Triple H
What Should Happen:  Samoa Joe and Kevin Owens come out with Triple H- and Roman Reigns and Dean Ambrose come out to support their Shield brother to brawl/chase out Joe and Owens.  Triple H uses every dirty trick in the book- but Rollins emerges victorious.  On the next RAW, a furious Stephanie McMahon engineers a major trade (Rollins, Cesaro, Zayn, and New Day for AJ Styles and the loser of Wyatt/Orton) just to get Rollins out of her league.
What Will Happen:    An excellent brawl.  Triple H has learned when to give the face the moment to overcome the heel, and Rollins finally gets his revenge here with a clean win.
What I’m Terrified Will Happen:  Samoa Joe costs Rollins the match, and Triple H finally starts showing his age.

WWE Championship Match
Bray Wyatt (c) vs. Randy Orton
What Should Happen:  Wyatt goes full Max Cady here.  Harper returns- and Sister Abagail (Crazy Mary Dobson) makes her debut as well.  Wyatt wins a wild, wild match- if any match is allowed to get blood, this one should be it
What Will Happen:  Orton wins, turning heel in the process
What I’m Terrified Will Happen:  Orton wins and the announcers try to get him over as a face

The Phenom vs. The Big Dog
The Undertaker vs. Roman Reigns
What Should Happen:  Reigns turns heel and wins, telling both the fans and the McMahons to go to hell and making Undertaker go out on a stretcher
What Will Happen:  Reigns wins, there’s a handshake of respect.  The next night, Undertaker announces he’s retiring on RAW
What I’m Terrified Will Happen:  Undertaker wins, then takes the microphone and tells Reigns he’s the toughest man he ever faced in the ring.

Universal Championship Match
Goldberg (c) vs. Brock Lesnar
What Should Happen:  Someone- Reigns, Owens, whoever- comes in and lays both Goldberg and Lesnar out, saying how sick they are of part timers taking their spots.
What Will Happen:  Lesnar wins, Goldberg goes back into semi-retirement, Lesnar and Reign stand face to face as the show fades out
What I’m Terrified Will Happen:  Match is less than three minutes


Other notes:
·         The New Day’s turn as host will involve a lot of jokes and ice cream giveaways- and right at intermission, they get interrupted by Christian, who is ticked off the New Day is being talked about as the greatest tag team of all time.  He points out that he and Edge were a great tag team, and the only reason they didn’t hold the record is because they had competition equal to them…  out come the Hardys to leave the New Day lying in the ring.

·         The big stories from RAW the next night are the major trade between RAW and Smackdown and the Undertaker’s retirement.  Asuka’s debut is held off for Smackdown