I was watching the Duke/Wisconsin Basketball game the other night and it occurred to me that the Wisconsin Head Coach, Bo Ryan, resembles a Badger. Coach K looks like a Blue Devil/Vampire type guy. This made me consider what other athletes and coaches look like the mascots of their respective teams. The only other one that comes to mind is Gary Williams of Maryland, who somewhat resembles a turtle.

Please let me know if you can think of any other ones.

Later,
Phil

When you lose $127 million dollars at a casino, is the casino at least partially to blame? WSJ

-Matt

When I watch a TV show on DVD, I don't watch it by the episode; I watch it by the disc. My method wouldn't go over well with Grady Hendrix, the Slate author of "Boxed In: Giving someone a TV series on DVD is like giving them a life sentence." In the article, Grady gives a couple of reasons why its a bad idea to give someone a DVD box set of a TV show as a gift. First, "boxed sets have transformed television from light entertainment into homework." This means by giving a boxed set you're assigning someone to watch it and expecting them to like it/understand it as much as you did (because you're sooo great). Second, TV shows aren't meant to be watched consecutively; it's better to have a week in between episodes. When you watch it consecutively, you'll nitpick things that dont matter and you wouldn't have noticed if you spaced out the viewings.

The article was good. I agree with alot of what was written, and disagree about others. I can't say I have had anyone give me an entire box set for me to watch, but I have borrowed plenty and plowed through them like Scarface's nose on a white dusty mirror. With that being said, a ton of people have told me to watch The Wire and I've out it off (I swear i'll get to it one day). So if someone gave me set I'd definitely hesitate to watch it. There's just something about someone telling you to watch it that's not as appealling as wanting to watch it for yourself. It shouldn't feel like you're doing a favor. I realize as I write this how hypocritical I am. I tell people what to watch all the time, half the entries I write are about that.

Grady was also correct that shows aren't supposed to be viewed continuously. This is generally true but less so as it becomes normal to watch shows at the viewers convenience through DVRs, DVDs, and the internet. I think the way shows are made will change as result of how we watch them.

-Matt

I'm in the midst of a really bad cold and watching some Big 10/ACC Challenge so I will keep this short. I was checking out facebook today and not to name drop or anything.....but Patton Oswalt just posted a hilarious video that I thought I would share with readers. If Patton is the not funniest man on the planet...I don't know who is. Enjoy!

-Phil

So I'm considering buying a new car. I currently drive a 2001 Pontiac Sunfire (I'm not proud of this fact). I'm looking for something that is moderately priced...not the intro cars, but not a luxury model either. I'm strongly considering the Chevy Malibu because of all the good deals out there plus they have 0% financing for 60 months. I think I want a 4 door sedan with some style, although I would also consider a cross-over or smaller SUV if it's fuel efficient.

Please feel free to leave any suggestions.

Thanks!

-Phil

That time of year is approaching, the end! While you are thinking about what to buy your loved ones for Christmas, Hanukah, or whatever, music critics, movie critics, tv critics, sports writers, pundits, bloggers, etc. are putting together lists of their own. That's right, end of year lists! Oh but there's more! its also the end of the decade, so twice as many lists!

I'm sorry I can't contain myself. The only thing more exciting would be to party like its 1999, all over again. You couldn't finish dialing up your T1 line without being bombarded with a new list. Top 10 songs of 1999, Top 10 inventions of the 90's, Top 50 caseroles of the 20th century, Worst 100 genocides of the millenium. VH1 even had a show called "The List," where wannabe celebrities stated their opinions on subjects they had no business discussing. The only list they were truly familiar with was the D-List! Bam! take that LFO! It was absurd, but as an impressionable 15 year old, I ate that shit for breakfast.*

The craze hasn't really worn off for me, if there's a list I read it. I'm certainly not alone. People list everything, mostly because its easy. Would be journalists that are too lazy to use paragraphs or even complete sentences, just turn in an outline to their editors and call it a list. As a result I've gained some discretion. When VH1 told me what the greatest songs of Rock N Roll are, the 15 year old Matt believed them.** Now when VH1 tells me the best reality tv shows of the dacade, I wonder why the fuck is the TV on VH1!

So my advice to you this holiday season is to be careful. You're going to have to spend alot of time with relatives in awkward silence. Eventually you will be presented with a choice on the coffee table along the lines of a People magazine with Top 50 Fashion disasters and an Entertainment Weekly ranking American Idol Runner-ups. Make the right decision, fake an illness.

-Matt

* I ate shit for breakfast?
**It's not that I actively watched VH1 as a 15 year old, its that I actively watched everything as a 15 year old.

If you read Taylor's recent blog entry then you know the tragic news about Card Runners member Lou Pinella.

Unlike Taylor, I never had the pleasure of meeting Lou Pinella in person. With that being said, I can relate wholeheartedly to Taylor's comment of Lou being a father figure to the CR community. Back on June 19 I wrote a post about having a couple of unexpected weeks off of work. I talked about different ways to spend the time including watching different TV shows. Lou Pinella soon emailed me about my predicament. He encouraged me, like a dad, to get off my "ass and do something you would not be able to do once you get back into the grind of everyday life." I was surprised at the moment, but it was quickly apparent to me that this guy actually gave a crap. I get a kick out of people commenting on this blog (positive and negative), but his email meant more. He wrote an extended email telling me to "carpe diem," and I wanted to make him proud in a sense.

Like I said, I had never met Lou Pinella. If he went out of his way to write a sincere email telling a stranger to live their life to the fullest, then I can only assume he made sure to live his life the same way.

Thanks Lou Pinella, you will be missed.

-Matt

Phil came out to SD a couple of days ago. We made an expedition to LA yesterday. Details coming soon... until then here's a video that sums up our experience pretty well.

-Matt

I thought I would share with you some thoughts about a new comedian on the scene. His name is Hanibal Burress and he hails from the West Side of Chicago (WESSSST SIIIIIIIDDDDEEEE....sorry). Anyway, I have seen Hanibal perform probably 3-4 times around Chicago on his way to becoming the #1 guy in town. He is now a staff writer on SNL and has recently made some national TV appearannces including "Late Night with Jimmy Fallon."

http://www.hulu.com/watch/87710/late-night-with-jimmy-fallon-hannibal-buress

Hanibal was also interviewed in the "Red Eye" this past week.

http://www.chicagonow.com/blogs/redeye/2009/11/comic-heroes-chicagos-own-breaking-into-the-spotlight.html

Check him out if you get a chance! He is really original and his shows are much cheaper compared to national tours like Dane Cook and Mencia. I think Mencia is awful, but personally I don't quite understand the backlash against Dane Cook. Many comedy snobs out there like to rag on Cook and I don't quite understand it. If he is able to sell out a 20,000 seat venue at $90 a pop...more power to him. Plus the guy is actually funny! I never did understand going to see a comedian in such a large venue though. The best part of stand up in the comedian playing off the audience and the interaction that sometimes take place.

Well, NYE is right around the corner and my friends and I are starting to throw around ideas. If there is one thing I can't stand it's the amateur hour that is NYE. It's impossible to get a cab and all bars are packed with these packages that cost over $100 for cheap champagne and some D-Bag passing out party favors and shitty appetizers. This year I am thinking about taking in a concert. The Black Keys, Girl Talk, and Jens Lekman all have NYE show in Chicago. I really want to see Jens Lekman, but tickets are already sold out. Guess I can check out Craigs List...maybe I will pick up a sewing machine or an exercise trampoline while I'm on there.

Take Care,
Phil

Its fun when two things you're a fan of cross paths. The AV Club recently interviewed ESPN columnist/podcaster Bill Simmons. I've referenced both pretty frequently in this blog.

The interview is looooonnnnggggg. Simmons talks alot about basketball stuff that he's written and talked about ad nauseum. I consider myself a fan but after awhile I started skimming it.

What I thought was most interesting about the interview was the comments following it. First, it was the most coherent conversation I've ever read in the comments of an AV Club article. Second, the commentators, negative and positve, brought up feelings that had crossed my mind over the years of following Simmons. Some liked him for his pop references. Some disliked him for his "frat" humor. He's not the best writer., etc.

Like I said, I agree with all of this in one way or another. Here are my thoughts on Bill Simmons.

1. He's not the best writer. However, he's definitely better than me, so I can accept the fact he won't win any Nobels for Literature.

2. He's not the best sports commentator. He's still better than most of the talking heads on TV and the radio.

3. He's not that funny and his pop references are getting tired. How many sports writers are funny or use pop-references at all?

Truth is Bill Simmons is not the best at any one thing, but IMO he puts it all together better than anyone else.

-Matt