Wednesday, March 07, 2007

Scattershots: ISU women, Alford, Wild Hogs, Birthday with the Bucs, First iPod.

Good gosh, what took me so long?

How can you not love sports. So much can change so fast. It's like the ultimate reality show. With 10 ticks to go in Oklahoma City, and the Cyclones down one, Lyndsey Medders lets a pass go right through her hands. Robert Duvall as Max Mercy would draw the goat horns, but just seconds later, after two Nebraska free throws, Medders hits the dramatic, game-tying-3. ISU goes on to win in overtime, thanks in no small part to Medders' 27 points. Good stuff. ISU follows that with an upset over #1 seed Texas A&M. The Cyclones knocked down 8 consecutive threes in that game. Last time I saw an outside shooting streak like that Larry Bird was in the 3-point shooting contest asking the others players "who's going to finish second?". If you're reading this after March 10, I suspect Oklahoma has ended ISU's run, but the Cyclones are NCAA tournament bound. Bill Fennelly can flat out coach...

So can Amy Stephens. Drake played this season without its best player, Jill Martin, and then the UnderDogs lose their next to best player, Brandy Dahir, right before the tourney starts. As I punch the keys, Drake has won its first two games, including a big upset over top seed, Southern Illinois. This also points out why the Valley is moving the conference tournament to a neutral site next year. It's a big edge to host...

Is Steve Alford on the way out at Iowa? ESPN the magazine says that's the rumor. I don't buy it. I think Alford gets at least one more season, but he better deliver an NCAA tournament win. One in eight seasons doesn't cut it when Dr. Tom won two in his final season alone. The worst thing happening with Hawkeye basketball is apathy. A lot of fans just don't care much anymore. I personally think Alford is improving as a coach, but I can't defend his NCAA tourney record...

Where I went to high school, nobody cared about girls basketball. The state tournament here is, and should be, a tremendous source of pride. They do it right...

The new movie "Believe in Me" is a must for anyone who plays, played, or supports girls basketball. It's like a girls "Hoosiers". The title is forgettable, and you'll see what's coming from a country mile, but it's an old fashioned good time. It's a movie for people who say, "they don't make them like that anymore." You'll think you're back in the early 60's. B+ I would have given it an A- but I could see the three point lines. (They hid them better in Hoosiers, though not completely)...

"Wild Hogs" is not a good movie. I saw it with a group of people, including kids, who really liked it, and that laughter was infectious. However, to repeat, this is not a good movie. In fact, the best thing I can say is no animals were killed while making it. Oprah wants us to see this? It's enough to make me wonder about her endorsement of Barack Obama. C for Wild Hogs. I didn't hate it like Ken Fuson of the Des Moines Register, but maybe if I did, I could write a column as funny as he did Friday...

Your expectations for a movie sure play into how much you enjoy it. I had heard so many bad things about "You, Me and Dupree" that I was pleasantly surprised. I laughed out loud several times. Owen Wilson is funny. He's got that crazy nose he refuses to fix, and I like that. B for Dupree because he throws seven kids of smoke...

I also watched "Elizabethtown". This one is actually as big a mess as critics said. How can Cameron Crowe make "Jerry Maguire", "Say Anything", "Almost Famous" and this. It just doesn't come together. It's like the Yankees lately. Has all the right parts, but not the end product. Well, actually it doesn't have all the right parts. Orlando Bloom is terrible. He's okay in a pirate outfit, but awful in Elizabethtown. Kirsten Dunst is better, although she tries too hard. C for the movie. A- for the music.

The most improved show on television is "30 Rock". This is really coming into its own. If it weren't up against Grey's Anatomy and one of the seven CSI's, it would already be a big hit. Alec Baldwin improves anything he's in, even Elizabethtown, while oddball Tracy Morgan gets big laughs. The recent episode on racial stereotypes was spot on. Live every week like it's Shark Week...

"Lost" lost me. Didn't think that was possible during season one...

Looking for a great dining experience in Des Moines? Cafe Di Scala. Beautiful atmosphere and delicious food. Highly recommended. Bring your wallet...

Held a birthday party for my son, Colin, at a Des Moines Bucs game. His first sentence was---not making this up--- "Let's Go Bucs". The Bucs made it a blast for all, kids and adults...



Finally got an iPod at that party, thanks to Todd Bailey. It was my birthday too. I had joked that Colin wanted an iPod for his birthday. Todd took the bait. So far I'm just filling my new toy with U2, Springsteen, and Van Morrison. I need to try new things...

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

Happy birthday Murph!
Hope you don't forget to add Rattle and Hum. Go see Black Snake Moan. It's not the best movie in the world, but they did not spend much on Christina Ricci's wardrobe so it's worth the 9 bucks.
I really liked the Zodiac movie, but then again any move that starts that dead bodies has always gotten "A"'s from me. Now, if they'd only blow up a car...How about the 300...you see that yet? Can't wait. If you lose track of the body count in a movie, it HAS to be good.
On a different topic, have you included a "Round Guy" scatter shot lately? Just asking.

Anonymous said...

Well, the Drake women had a good season. I predict Tennessee by 40 even when they put their scrubs in with 10 minutes left in the first half.