Happy Halloween!

Don't forget... only those who truly believe will see the Great Pumpkin!

Worst Defense (or Best Offense) of the Day

Okay... this is just stupid crazy. And it probably is a better play than one from Cal-Stanford in 1982, but the ending isn't as good as the Cal player tomahawking the Stanford trombonist.

Dumbledore's Secret!

In a special event for winners of a Scholastic Books contest, author J.K. Rowling outed Hogwarts Headmaster Albus Dumbledore! The question of Dumbledore’s love life came up in the Q&A session, and Rowling responded, “I always saw Dumbledore as gay.” She even mentioned that in a draft for the upcoming sixth Harry Potter movie, Dumbledore had a line reminiscing about a girl, which Rowling had to write a note to the director correcting the situation.

Read all about it in this Entertainment Weekly article. There are spoilers in the article (which they neglected to mention), so read just the first three or four paragraphs if, like me, you haven’t read the latest and last Harry Potter novel.

Oops.

So much for South Florida at No. 2 in the BCS standings (they lost in their first week ranked in the top three to Rutgers, 30-27 Thursday night). Guess you knew it couldn’t last, but still, I had to pull for the mid-major football school. I just want to believe that a smaller program can be at the top, but maybe that’s unrealistic, and that’s really disappointing.

Boldly Going?, Part 2

So it seems that the cast is complete for J.J. Abrams’ new Star Trek film, due out next Christmas. Shooting is supposed to begin next month, and the final piece of the puzzle seems to be confirmed, as the new James Tiberius Kirk has apparently been cast. Here are the cast comparisons between The Original Series (TOS) and The New Movie (TNM).

THE ORIGINAL SERIES

(L-R), William Shatner as James T. Kirk, Leonard Nimoy as Spock, DeForest Kelley as Leonard McCoy, James Doohan as Montgomery Scott, Nichelle Nichols as Uhura, George Takei as Hikaru Sulu, and Walter Koenig as Pavel Chekov.

THE NEW MOVIE(L-R) Chris Pine, Zachary Quinto, Karl Urban, Simon Pegg, Zoe Saldana, John Cho, and Anton Yelchin.

Here’s a rundown of the characters and new actors:

Captain James T. Kirk – Chris Pine

Pine, 27, is best known for his roles in Smokin’ Aces and Just My Luck (opposite Lindsay Lohan). He’s pretty much a newcomer without too much screen experience. He’s fairly in line with the fans’ original choice for Kirk, Matt Damon.

Lt. Cmdr. Spock – Zachary Quinto

His claim to fame among the geek set is his portrayal of the villain Sylar on Heroes. The 30-year old actor also had a recurring role in Season 5 of 24, among other TV credits. He was the first actor confirmed for the new Star Trek and seems a relatively logical choice (heh). The fans originally wanted Adrien Brody, and it will be interesting to see Quinto act alongside the original Spock, Leonard Nimoy, as the two Spocks will work together in the film.

Dr. Leonard “Bones” McCoy – Karl Urban

The biggest “movie star” in the cast, the 35 year-old Urban is no stranger to sci-fi/fantasy roles, having appeared in two of The Lord of the Rings movies (The Two Towers, Return of the King), The Chronicles of Riddick, and Doom. He’s also appeared in both Xena: Warrior Princess (as Julius Caesar) and Hercules: The Legendary Journeys (as Cupid and Julius Caesar), and starred in Pathfinder and The Bourne Supremacy. The New Zealand native is bit of a surprise for the role that fans clamored for Gary Sinise to take.

Chief Engineer Montgomery “Scotty” Scott – Simon Pegg

The oldest cast member at 37, Simon Pegg has a cult following from his movies Hot Fuzz and Shaun of the Dead. You may also recognize him from a bit role in Mission: Impossible III (directed by new Star Trek director J.J. Abrams). Another interesting cast choice, at least they’re getting closer to casting an appropriate actor to play the Scottish engineer: the original Scotty, James Doohan, was Canadian; Pegg is British.

Lt. Uhura – Zoe Saldana

29 year-old Saldana’s biggest roles to date have been parts in Pirates of the Carribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl (small role as a pirate) and as the love interests in Guess Who? (with Ashton Kutcher and Bernie Mac) and Drumline. A solid choice for the role of Uhura, she’ll be a fanboy favorite if Star Trek and the project she’s currently filming, James Cameron’s Avatar, are both as big as they are anticipated to be. In a curious bit of television crossover, the original Uhura, Nichelle Nichols, recently joined the cast of Heroes (alongside original Sulu, George Takei). FYI, I didn’t forget Uhura’s full name; she has no official first name.

Lt. Hikaru Sulu – John Cho

You probably know him best as “Harold” from his comedy hit with Kal Penn, Harold and Kumar Go to White Castle. The 35 year-old is also starring in the Harold and Kumar sequel due next year, has had roles in the similarly goofy American Pie and American Wedding, and has appeared in various TV shows (the most recent being an episode of Ugly Betty airing October 18). Cho was also one of the stars of the Asian-American movie Better Luck Tomorrow (which you should see if you haven’t already). Cho is of Korean descent, unlike original cast member George Takei, who matches Sulu’s Japanese heritage. Some are puzzled by Cho’s casting, probably due to his H&K days.

Ensign Pavel Chekov – Anton Yelchin

Matching Chekov’s Russian heritage, as well as his youth (Yelchin just turned 18), Anton Yelchin is best recognized from his role in Alpha Dog (with Justin Timberlake), but has also starred in the movie Charlie Barlett and has appeared in numerous TV shows (ER, Judging Amy, The Practice, Without a Trace, Curb Your Enthusiasm, NYPD Blue) dating back to when he was 11. Yelchin was the second confirmed cast member, with most people not really knowing what to expect from him.

As for the villain in the film, Aussie actor Eric Bana has been cast, reportedly as a Romulan named Nero. The 39 year-old Bana has previously starred in Munich, Troy, Hulk, and Blackhawk Down and was most recently seen in Lucky You with Drew Barrymore.

No announcement has been made about a possible cameo character, Captain Christopher Pike, the original captain of the starship Enterprise. Rumors are that Abrams was looking for Tom Cruise to fill the role. The character of Pike was the ship’s captain in the original TV pilot which was never aired. The footage was mixed into a later episode of the series, “The Menagerie.” FYI, for you geeks out there, in order to celebrate the release of ST:TOS on HD-DVD, there will be special showings of “The Menagerie” at movie theaters across the country on November 13. Go to www.fathomevents.com for more information. I’ve already got my tickets. =)

Remembering Jason Ray

You might remember the story of Jason Ray, the University of North Carolina student who also doubled as Ramses the Ram, the UNC mascot. Ray was killed in a hit-and-run accident during the NCAA tournament last March. ESPN.com released a great story on Jason Ray’s legacy today, so go check it out when you get the chance.

What the...!?

How crazy have the last three weekends in college football been? Three weeks ago, five of the top ten teams in the nation lost and the top team in the nation, USC, slips to number two despite not losing. Two weeks ago, new No. 1 LSU survives a scare from No. 9 Florida, and new No. 2 USC loses to Stanford, an upset that many think is bigger than Division-IAA Appalachian State beating then-No. 5 Michigan (mostly because people don’t think that Stanford can beat Appalachian State and Michigan isn’t nearly as good as USC was thought to be).

To top that off, this week, No. 1 LSU AND No. 2 Cal both lose on the same day, LSU in triple-overtime against No. 17 Kentucky and Cal to unranked Oregon State. This is the first time since 1996 that the top two teams have lost in the same week. So now, Ohio State sits atop both the AP and the Coaches’ Polls at No. 1, and SOUTH FLORIDA sits at No. 2 in the AP Poll and No. 3 in the Coaches’ Poll – after never, EVER, having been ranked in their history before this year.

South Florida is a top-three team in the nation?!?! That’s nuts. I have to admit, I really don’t think that South Florida is among the top three football teams in the nation, even though I’m a big fan of mid-major schools. No offense to South Florida, but it’s still crazy.

I’d say that this year’s college football has been just as much fun as almost any NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament, and reminds me of the 2005 NCAA Tournament where little George Mason out of the Colonial Athletic Association, using just 6.5 players, made the Final Four. Unfortunately, just like 2005, I expect a big school to win the national championship. Which school? I have no idea, and neither does anybody else.

Funny Spam of the Day

"A great offer from Cingular, the new AT&T."

Just found it amusing. Wonder how many people opened it.

Star Wars Fan Video of the Day

It's a little long, but the main bit and the last five seconds are funny.

Pet Peeve of the Day

The Pet Peeve of the Day is talking on your cell phone while in the bathroom. And not a bathroom at home, but a PUBLIC bathroom. I just saw a lady walk out of a bathroom here at work talking on her cell phone, and I ran into a guy in the guy's bathroom talking on the phone just as he was finishing his business. Unbelievable and downright nasty. If you get a call while in the bathroom, finish your business, then call the person back. Or if you're on a call and you have to go to the bathroom, either hold it or finish the call. Nobody wants to hear you pee, and nobody wants to listen to you talk while they pee.

Found My Halloween Costume

Human Transformer - The most amazing videos are a click away

Don't You Wish You Could Do This, Just Once?

Bathroom Break - Click here for more free videos

If I Were 10 Years Younger...

I'd totally be into this...

Halo 3 for the Xbox 360 goes on sale Tuesday morning at 12:00 midnight.

That's Crap!

As of October 2, 2007, families with children under the age of four will no longer be able to board before other passengers on Southwest Airlines. Those with “A” boarding passes will board first, and then families who do not have “A” boarding passes will be allowed to board the airplane before passengers with “B” and “C” boarding passes. This is presumably in accordance with Southwest’s first-come, first-served boarding pass and seating procedure, but probably has a little more to do with appeasing business travelers, who are more apt to purchase last-minute higher-fare tickets.

While I understand Southwest’s desire to make a buck, and I love Southwest Airlines in general, this is a bunch of bulls#!%. Does anybody in charge of these decisions actually travel with their kids? I’ve never flown with Danica by myself, but Kindra has, and I’m sure it’s pretty difficult. I’m sure it’s worse if you’ve got more than one small child. Giving families a small advantage is a nice way of taking care of them.

However, I will admit that if the “A” group isn’t too large, there probably will be ample seating for families to stay together if they board before the last two groups. I’ll also admit that I don’t really see the point of getting on a plane super early, since all you’ll be doing is sitting around and waiting for everybody else to get seated. It’s almost easier to let Danica run around the waiting area before we get on the plane than try to keep her in the seat once we get on the plane. The only advantages are not having to cram your stuff into the overhead compartment and being able to find the seat that you really want. Of course, all of this applies to business travelers as well, so why do they care so much about when they can get on a plane? They’re still going to have to sit on their butts and listen to any kids that happen to be whining… I also notice that a lot of them like the aisle seats, so do they really want to be knocked and bumped by parents carrying all the crap that you have to have when you travel with a child?

Still… Southwest allows check-in online twenty-four hours prior to departure, so I’m pretty sure if we fly with them that I’ll be doing that. It still irks me, though, so for now I’m boycotting Southwest.

For My All-Important Female Demographic

Here’s news for you that is unrelated in anyway to any of the male-centric stories and thoughts that I have and normally write about: the first first shot from the Sex in the City movie being filmed in New York.

In fact, the film began shooting this week and is being directed by the series’ executive producer, Michael Patrick King. All the cast regulars are back, including the men in their lives, and Oscar-winner Jennifer Hudson (Dreamgirls) is also a part of the cast, supposedly as an assistant to Sarah Jessica Parker’s character, Carrie. The movie is due out sometime in 2008.

Sorry, I know nothing of the plot, nor do I know what SJP is wearing the in photo. I’m pretty sure it’s not from her Steve & Barry’s collection, but I could be wrong.

Early Thought of the Day

I realize I don't keep up with a ton of stuff in the sports world (despite working in it), but who the heck let Keyshawn Johnson on ESPN... as a reporter? It wasn't bad enough that we had to listen to him as an NFL player?

Actually, I didn't even know he wasn't playing anymore.

Oh well... at least it's not Terrell Owens.

Sam Bowie - The Next Generation?

If you're a sportswriter covering NBA basketball and haven't made this connection yet, you're brain dead. But when news that Greg Oden, the Portland Trailblazers' No. 1 pick in this past June's 2007 NBA Draft and No. 1 pick overall, will miss the ENTIRE 2007-08 season with microfracture surgery on his right knee.

If you’re wondering what this has to do with a guy named Sam Bowie, Bowie was drafted by the Portland Trailblazers as the No. 2 pick in the 1984 NBA Draft, behind a guy named (H)Akeem Olajuwon and right before a guy named Michael Jordan. Bowie was a 7-1 center out from Lebanon, PA, who was one of the most highly-recruited players ever. He was the last player ever chosen for the United States Olympic Men’s Basketball Team without any college or pro experience (he was a member of the 1980 squad). While playing at the University of Kentucky, Bowie had a serious leg fracture that led took most of his junior year and some of his senior year to rehabilitate, played in 76 games as a rookie with the Blazers, and then just 63 more over the course of the next four years. Over his 11-year NBA career, Bowie had five surgeries on his legs and missed two entire seasons. He was a good NBA center, but not the Greatest Player of All-Time.

I'll confess that I felt sure that Oden HAD to be the Trailblazers' pick, because you can't pass up an opportunity for a dominant big man. The point guard and center spots are the two hardest spots to fill on a basketball court, so if you’ve got an opportunity at a big, you have to go for a big. Too bad Oden wasn't dominant. Not that he had a horrible one-year stint as a college basketball player at Ohio State. He averaged 15.7 points and 9.6 rebounds, most of it while dealing with an injury to his right wrist (so much so that he shot free throws left-handed - yes, he's a righty - for a good portion of the year and ending with a respectable .628 FT%). The real issue is that Durant was incredibly dominant offensively. Durant is a rare offensive talent, Oden is a mobile big man with good defensive skills and some offensive limitations. Still, scoring forwards can be found. Mobile bigs are not. For a more cohesive argument, read this article by Bill Simmons on ESPN.com where Simmons lays out his reasons that the Blazers should’ve gone with Durant, even without recent developments.

Of course, beyond the wrist injury (which he had surgery for) and the current knee injury, Oden was also diagnosed with a bulging disk in his back just before the draft, tonsillitis that sidelined him after two games in the Las Vegas Summer League, and withdrew from the Olympic Team trials because of “fatigue.” He’s (supposedly) nineteen years old! Maybe the Blazers should’ve thought twice. But again, it was a sound basketball decision, if not a fantasy basketball decision.

So is Greg Oden Sam Bowie redux? It’s too early to tell. Bowie went through some seriously crazy and ridiculous injuries, while Oden just seems to be a nineteen-year-old going on fifty. The Phoenix Suns’ center, Amare Stoudamire, underwent similar surgery two years ago, and he returned this past season as an All-Star. So, there is hope.

I like Oden. He seems like a good kid and could be pretty good. I don’t necessarily think he’s a basketball player at heart, unlike Durant perhaps, but would’ve been great for the league and the Trailblazers from a marketing and fan perspective. Hopefully he’ll play in the 2008-09 season and we won’t have to talk about Oden-Durant like we do Bowie-Jordan.

Line of the Day (or Last Night)

Comedienne Kathy Griffin won an Emmy last night for best reality TV show, My Life on the D-List. Here's part of her acceptance speech:

"A lot of people come up here and thank Jesus for this award. I want you to know that no one had less to do with this award than Jesus. Suck it, Jesus. This award is my god now."

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA... you have to know her style to find that funny and not offensive, but she makes a living being slightly nuts.

9/11

I suppose I would be remiss if I didn’t mention something about 9/11. That was six years ago, can you believe it? MSNBC was running the actual news coverage they did in real time tonight, and I caught some of it. It really was surreal to watch it again, since I remember watching it all live back then.

I was also in a meeting today that the moderator asked us to start with a moment of silence. He relayed the story of his daughter who worked in the World Trade Center at the time of 9/11, and how he and his wife spent the entire day wondering if their daughter, who was eight months pregnant at the time, and her husband, who worked near the WTC, were okay. Fortunately, his daughter had a cancellation in her schedule, and she was at a doctor’s appointment instead of at the WTC. Her husband was okay, too. It’s hard to ignore a man who tells a story like that.

Somebody’s gonna blast me for this, but there’s a part of my brain that thinks the Bush Administration let this happen. Regardless, America still hasn’t taken a hard enough look at our foreign policy to understand how our actions abroad affect how we are perceived, even if some of those perceptions are based in the radicalized faiths of a few nutcases. *Step off soapbox*

In any case, God bless those families who lost loved ones, the families who found loved ones safe, and I’ll be thankful for being in a country where, if we try hard enough, we can do things right and help each other along the way.

Maybe It’ll Grow on Me… Like "The Phantom Menace"

That’s the title to the new Indiana Jones movie, due next year. Seems like the title of a Choose Your Own Adventure book or an Indy novel. Leave it to George Lucas to come up with something that is right out of a 1930’s or 40’s serial.

Here’s a picture of the cast, with director Steven Spielberg. L-R, Shia LaBeouf (prounounced la-BOOF), Spielberg, Ray Winstone, Karen Allen, and Harrison Ford. Also in the movie, but not pictured, is Cate Blanchett.

* * *

And c'mon!!! Blue Harvest!