Immortality and a Quest

Immortality, a word typically only used by one describing a greek god or Hercules if you will. But in professional sports immortality is something very few people will ever get a chance to witness and even fewer people will ever be able to walk around with that title. In Bill Simmons article "King James next stop Immortality" he goes into talking about the persona that Lebron James has started taking on. Lebron James is the best basketball player in the world right now, and is starting to show everyone that he isn't bluffing. With his first championship coming to him last year he has started his quest. I love Lebron and love what he brings to the sportsworld, a Tiger Woods like character that sells tickets and that chance to glimpse something that rarely walks among us. But we can't forget that guy named Michael, who for 20 years took the basketball world and placed it in the palm of his hand and simply said that its his kingdom and he will rule with an iron fist. Now with Lebron entering that picture, people can only sit back and watch. I watched his playoff run last year and could only sit back and wonder "is this real life?" he takes no prisoners and will do anything to keep his team from losing. To me I see Lebron as a god, someone who takes a sport and makes it into a show for everyone to witness. I love him and use him as a model in my sports life, taking his mentality and trying to apply it to my competitions. The article was especially great because of the way Simmons addressed Lebron as a fan even though he watched as Lebron knocked his team, The Celtics, out of the playoffs with heroics that are rarely seen anywhere. The article is biased towards the greatness of Lebron and I think it should be. Lebron is King and people know it, but he has just a strong of a hatred base as anyone and that is simply fuel for this fire. This article is riveting and I loved every second of reading it.
http://www.grantland.com/story/_/id/8555451/lebron-quest-immortality

Not your usual Michael Bay type film.

I like to think of myself as someone who is very up to date with how a movie works and someone who can appreciate a movie for something more then what Michael Bay wants us to see. A good example is There Will Be Blood which I recently saw for the first time, a movie that can be appreciated for its acting and more aesthetic value, outside of car chases and explosions. The movie addresses the oil up rise that America experienced in the early 20th century, the film focuses on the California sector of it though. The main character Daniel discovers oil in the desert and soon is headed for fortune and a head of his given field. Daniels ride to fame soon hits many speed bumps and turns him into an evil man out for blood and lusting for success. The movie closes with Daniel at his breaking point with nothing in his life but his money, which is a hollow way to live and he finally realizes it.

I enjoyed the movie tremendously and if you look past the smoke and mirrors of a typical movie and see the roots this movie is among the best. A scene that really struck me and had you with that thought in the back of your head like "is this real?" is the very end of the movie. Daniel is approached by Eli who throughout the movie has been in Daniels shadow and is a minister that sees himself as a prophet to God himself. Eli visits him and has an investment opportunity for Daniel to think about, Daniel has no problem with it except for one thing. Daniel requests that Eli admits to Daniel he isn't a prophet and God is a lie. Eli won't and then finally breaks down and does it, going back on everything he believes in. Eli and Daniel get physical and Daniels rage ends up killing Eli, the scene is over the top emotional with real fright. While watching it, you hear the music and the sheer rage in Daniels voice and the fear instilled in Eli. It was a weird way to end the movie but I think it really shows the pressure people are under while running a business and what it can do to your morals and beliefs. I recommend this movie to anyone into a western style movie with incredible acting and a sinister plot that shows the transformation of a family man into a psychotic lusting maniac.  

A Favorite Movie For the Right Reasons

I like to think that I really don't have a favorite movie, even though its a near requirement to be a real man. I would say I rotate between 3 movies as my favorite, each one bringing a little bit something different to the table. Friday Night Lights, Good Will Hunting, and The Prestige top this list that I like to think as exclusive. But I want to focus on Friday Night Lights because it fits similar events to my life. But we aren't focusing on my life here, I want to talk more about the cinematic aspects of it interlaced with some parts of the story.

The movie is about Texas football, focusing on the team dubbed the Mojo or the "Permian Panthers." The Panthers are champions and the town expects greatness out of them. The movie follows their season, and the hardships they face the entire time. The plot and acting is superb and it really makes you feel for these kids and what they are going through. The movie is heart wrenching and will leave you near tears, at least that's the impact it had on me. The movie also peaks at typical high school events, such as partying and the road to college. Me dealing with that I could really relate and felt what the kids were going through. In high school swimming I was a good swimmer and would make the state meet. My senior year I was expected to do well and medal but came short and felt like my whole life was over. In the end of movie the kids experience the same thing and it really struck me, and I could physically and emotional connect with the movie. This was really special to me and made me instantly love the movie.

"Winning actually isn't the only thing"

 David Maraniss writes the article describing the Packers brutal loss to the Seahawks that ended in one of the most controversial calls that we as fans might have ever seen. He goes on to discuss how sour he was after the fact of the game and that it drove him to not even sleeping that night. After realizing that it was only a game he goes on to talk about whether or not winning is the only thing. If the Packers would have won the reaction would be different and Seattle would be in an outrage. The reaction of Seattle made it seem that the play was okay and the call wasn't a big deal. Vince Lombardi said that "winning isn't everything, it's the only thing" but Vince always did what was best for his team even if it affected a win or a loss. Seattle got the win and that's that, but winning isn't always everything.

After reading the article, I completely agree with the point that David makes. Yes, winning is very important in the eyes of many. Even me, but people can't always get caught up in it to the point it effects their outside perspective. I was very upset when the Packers lost the way they did, and I thought they were cheated out of what was rightfully their win. But the next day after deciding that it was just a game and that it is just a football game and crying over a loss is just silly. David addresses the importance of seeing past winning and people need to get past the "winning isn't everything, it's the only thing" mentality that they are bestowed in. 

The Believing Game Pt 2.

               The Bears are the definition of what football is. The Bears have been a landmark in the NFL ever since they have been in the league. Even though people are always saying how the Packers are better and always come out on top. The Bears are overlooked and beat the Packers time and time again. The Packers are overrated and spoken to highly of, with teams like the Bears in their division its hard to see the Packers being the best team. The Bears are champions and will live in the shadow of the Packers gladly, much more dramatic that way when they win.

The Believing Game

The word winning is a word familiar to many Green Bay Packer fans, its in our blood. Those who bleed green and yellow know that there is no better franchise in proffessional football then the Packers. With a nickname Title town USA, it speaks for itself the numbers that the Packers have produced through out their history in the league. More championships than any other team, a stronger fan base than any other team in the NFL. Historical football moments can be linked back to the Packers time and time again, with the Super bowl trophy named after Vince Lombardi himself. The Packers are born winners and so are all of the fans across the country.

Test video post

Test Post

Picture of Penguins I took last week.

This a test to see if this works.