Saturday, September 28, 2019

Star Wars and Villains

Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker comes out this December.  The sequels have had mixed moments, and opinions vary on them.

My own opinion is that Star Wars: The Force Awakens was really well made, but the story was too similar to A New Hope.  Star Wars: The Last Jedi was the opposite- it was such a break from the Star Wars cannon that it broke new ground, but also left a lot of unanswered questions.

(side note:  I also agree with Nando in his one suggested change for The Last Jedi: )


I will be watching The Rise of Skywalker, but I'm asking for one thing in the next movie:  

A crowning moment of villainy from this guy:



This is General Hux.  If you saw The Force Awakens and The Last Jedi and don't remember him... well, that's part of the problem.

The original trilogy had multiple villains that were considered by fans to be a real threat to the heroes.  There was Darth Vader, Grand Moff Tarkin, The Emporer, Boba Fett, Jabba the Hutt....  the villains failed and died, but the audience considered them a threat to the heroes.

For the latest trilogy?  There is Kylo Ren (and some people think he'll make a face turn).  And...

Snoke?  Didn't do anything and died.

Phasma?  Looked like an awesome character, but died before she could really do anything to show she was a threat (and this ticked me off- I wanted her around as the dragon for Finn to defeat in the final movie)

There's no other named villains threats except for Ren... and General Hux.  

And Hux has been treated as a joke in the previous two movies.  He stands around, makes snide remarks, and seems to be wrong on every choice he makes.

So do something with him in this movie that makes him a serious threat.  He doesn't have to be a fighting threat.  Show him to be a tactical genius- or a great leader- or a brilliant manipulator.  Something to make the audience acknowledge he is a threat.

To have great heroes, you need villains that are considered threats.  There's a ton of heroes in Star Wars- Rey, Poe, Rose, Finn.  Kylo Ren can't be the only enemy for all of them.  Build up Hux and the overall movie will be better.

Thursday, June 20, 2019

NBA Draft booking


My Crazy Dream Booking:  Even I can’t find a booking that would allow Zion or Morant to drop to #5.  Top 3 go Zion-Morant-Barrett.  New Orleans takes Culvert.  Atlanta trades #8 and #10 to Cleveland for #5 to take Darius Garland.  Phoenix takes Cody White, Chicago takes Cam Reddish, Cavs take DeAndre Hunter with #8, Washington takes Brandon Clarke with #9, and Cavs take Jaxson Hayes with #10.

What Should Happen: Top 4 go Zion-Morant-Barrett-Garland (either NO or in a trade).  Cleveland takes Culvert

What Will Happen: Top 4 are Zion-Morant-Barrett-Culvert.  Cleveland takes DeAndre Hunter

What I’m Terrified Will Happen: Top 4 are Zion-Morant-Barrett-Culvert.  Cleveland takes Garland  (Cleveland doesn’t need another small point guard that needs help with defense)

If I Was Booking This And I Hated You: I don’t know if there’s a booking that I would HATE.  Maybe trading up, but I don’t see a feasible trade. 

Wednesday, May 15, 2019

Post-NBA Lottery Thoughts


NBA Post-lottery draft thoughts:


  • I’m a Cleveland Cavaliers fan, so obviously I wished the Cavs had moved up instead of down.  But #5 is still good enough to get a starter, even in a ‘weak’ draft.  I’m hoping for Jarrett Culver, but it’s up to the front office to make the right choice
  • Last year, the Western Conference received the top four picks in the NBA draft.  This year, they have… three of the top four.  I don’t see the talent gap between the Western and Eastern Conference shrinking.
  • If I’m AD, I hire a PR firm to work on restoring my reputation to New Orleans.  Him AND Zion, with Jrue Holiday and a good GM?  That is a scary team.  If he insists on a trade… well, New Orleans should listen.  But I’m not sure what the best deal for them would be now
  • I think Morant will be a great pick for Memphis
  • The reformed lottery worked, in that tanking is not rewarded as much

Monday, May 13, 2019

NBA Lottery Predictions



My Crazy Dream Booking: 

  1. Charlotte Hornets- Zion Williamson
  2. Cleveland Cavaliers- Ja Morant
  3. Atlanta- RJ Barrett
  4. Memphis- Cameron Redish


Last year, the Western Conference ended up with the top 4 picks in the draft.  This year, the Eastern Conference gets the clean sweep. 


Charlotte gets a franchise player in Zion, Kemba has a good reason to stay with the team, and Zion both stays close to his college AND starts his career with a great point guard
Cleveland gets the second piece of their rebuild to creating a fast team

Atlanta gets Barrett to join Trae Young

Memphis (like Charlotte, a good organization that is due for some luck) get an outside shooter to help with their rebuild.


 
What Should Happen: 

  1. Philadelphia (via SAC)- Zion Williamson
  2. Chicago- Ja Morant
  3. New Orleans- RJ Barrett
  4. Cleveland- Jarrett Culvert

There are three teams that break the internet if they win the lottery:  The Lakers (see ‘If I was Booking This and I Hated You’), New Orleans (Now does Davis try to come back, or does New Orleans then trade Davis knowing they have Zion?), and Philadelphia.  Besides breaking the heart of Sacramento fans… what would Philadelphia do?  I can’t see a frontcourt of Embiid AND Simmons AND Zion working, so someone needs to be traded….



What Will Happen: 


  1. New York- Zion Williamson
  2. Cleveland Cavaliers- Ja Morant
  3. Atlanta- RJ Barrett
  4. Chicago- Darius Garland

New York starts their trio of KD, Kyrie and Zion, which on paper looks great and would be a potential train wreck.  I still love Morant to Cleveland.  Barrett goes to Atlanta, and the Bulls get their Point Guard




What I’m Terrified Will Happen: 

  1. Phoenix- Zion Williamson
  2. Washington- Ja Morant
  3. Minnesota- RJ Barrett
  4. Los Angeles Lakers- Cam Reddish

Phoenix gets their new frontcourt star to team with… their other frontcourt #1 pick.  Washington, stuck for years because of Wall’s injuries, get a new point guard.  Minnesota gets the new Andrew Wiggins to go with the existing Andrew Wiggins.  The Lakers get a shooter.  The West get three of the first four picks




If I Was Booking This And I Hated You: 


  1. Los Angeles Lakers- Zion Williamson
  2. Boston (via Sacramento)- Ja Morant
  3. Miami- RJ Barrett
  4. Phoenix- Cam Reddish

The Lakers have been in a three way race (with the Knicks and Phoenix) over the worst-run franchise in the NBA this past decade.  But their luck or deal with the devil continues to allow them to have things go their way.  It would be perfectly in line with the last 50 years for the Lakers to luck into the #1 pick and have Zion come to join this team. 

Boston gets their new point guard, because of course their trades work out for them.

The hot markets continue to hog all of the best players.  Reddish goes to one of the worst run organizations in sports.


Thursday, April 11, 2019

2019 NBA Playoff Predictions

Eastern Conference:
Milwaukee Bucks (1) vs. Detroit Pistons (8)- Milwaukee, 4 games to 1
Boston Celtics (4) vs. Indiana Pacers (5)- Indiana, 4 games to 3
Philadelphia 76ers (3) vs. Brooklyn Nets (6), Philadelphia, 4 games to 2
Toronto Raptors (2) vs. Orlando Magic (7)- Toronto, 4 games to 0


Milwaukee Bucks (1) vs Indiana Pacers (5)- Milwaukee, 4 games to 1
Toronto Raptors (2) vs Philadelphia 76ers (3)- Toronto, 4 games to 2

Milwaukee Bucks (1) vs Toronto Raptors (2)- Toronto, 4 games to 3


Western Conference:
Golden State Warriors (1) vs. Los Angeles Clippers (8) - Golden State 4 games to 1
Houston Rockets (4) vs. Utah Jazz (5)- Houston, 4 games to 2
Portland Trail Blazers (3) vs. Oklahoma City Thunder (6)- Portland, 4 games to 1
Denver Nuggets (2) vs. San Antonio Spurs (7)- Denver, 4 games to 3


Golden State Warriors (1) vs Houston Rockets (4)- Houston, 4 games to 2
Denver Nuggets (2) vs Portland Trail Blazers (3)- Portland, 4 games to 3

Houston Rockets (4) vs Portland Trail Blazers (3)- Houston, 4 games to 2

2018-2019 NBA Finals:
Toronto Raptors vs Houston Rockets- Toronto Raptors, 4 games to 3

Wednesday, March 27, 2019

2019 MLB Predictions


American League:

East:

  1. Boston Red Sox
  2. New York Yankees (Wild Card)
  3. Tampa Bay Rays
  4. Toronto Blue Jays
  5. Baltimore Orioles

Central:

  1. Cleveland Indians
  2. Minnesota Twins
  3. Chicago White Sox
  4. Detroit Tigers
  5. Kansas City Royals

West:

  1. Houston Astros
  2. Los Angeles Angels (Wild Card)
  3. Oakland Athletics
  4. Seattle Mariners
  5. Texas Rangers


Playoffs:

  • Los Angeles Angels over New York Yankees (Wild Card Game)
  • Boston Red Sox over Los Angeles Angels
  • Houston Astros over Cleveland Indians
  • Houston Astros over Boston Red Sox

Rookie of the Year: Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Blue Jays
Cy Young:  Mike Clevinger, Indians
MVP:  Mike Trout, Angels


National League:

East:

  1. Atlanta Braves
  2. Philadelphia Phillies
  3. Washington Nationals
  4. New York Mets
  5. Florida Marlins

Central:

  1. St. Louis Cardinals
  2. Milwaukee Brewers (Wild Card)
  3. Chicago Cubs
  4. Pittsburgh Pirates
  5. Cincinnati Reds

West:

  1. Colorado Rockies
  2. San Diego Padres (Wild Card)
  3. Los Angeles Dodgers
  4. Arizona Diamondbacks
  5. San Francisco Giants


Playoffs:

  • Milwaukee Brewers over San Diego Padres
  • St. Louis Cardinals over Colorado Rockies
  • Milwaukee Brewers over Atlanta Braves
  • Milwaukee Brewers over St. Louis Cardinals

Rookie of the Year: Luis Urías, Padres
Cy Young:  Aaron Nola, Phillies
MVP:  Paul Goldschmidt, Cardinals


World Series:  Houston Astros over Milwaukee Brewers, 4-2

Monday, February 18, 2019

Baseball: Needing a storyline.

I used to be a baseball fan, before any other sport. And I still like following it. But right now, it doesn't hold the interest of sports fans the way basketball and football do.

There's a part of me that thinks baseball needs a villain- and that Bryce Harper might be the best person to fit that role.

Harper is a free agent- and people thought he'd be the first $300 million dollar player. But as of today, no one has signed him. And the fact that no one is upset that he hasn't been signed is part of the problem.

Imagine if he signed a one year deal with the Yankees for a bargain basement price and point blank said, "If the owners aren't going to pay me what I'm worth, I'm going to get a title- something Washington couldn't do- and keep doing so until the fans and owners smarten up about by worth."

He won't- for some very good reasons- but that would make Harper THE story for baseball for 2019. Because right now, baseball needs something to attract the attention of the public.