Sunday, January 8, 2012
Sunday Afternoon Blues
While I sit here watching an uneventful game between the Giants and Falcons, I'm reminded of why I sometimes hate the business that is the NFL. Like the Texans and Bengals yesterday, I don't think either of these teams belong in the Playoffs, and I hope for their speed exit. While the Texans definitely make a better case for belonging than the Bengals due to various injuries hampering what looked to be a Championship team, I can't say that the Giants or Falcons are anywhere close to that caliber of team. It looks like both teams got less sleep than me last night, and I didn't get any sleep.
Wednesday, January 4, 2012
Maintaining Control
Everyone hates referees in sports today. They're insulted, teased and probably have a few threats against their person from time to time for making the correct call 99% of the time. However, it's usually that 1% that gets the attention of almost everyone because it's a colossal blunder. Should those referees pay for their mistakes? I personally believe that they should.
Ed Hochuli made an incorrect call in a week 2 game between the Broncos and Charges a few years ago. Near the end of the game with Denver driving, Ed called a ball that was clearly fumbled a forward pass, and was therefore un-challengable. He owned up to his mistake immediately on the field However, Denver still got the touchdown and the inevitable 2-point conversion to win the game. He still has his job, and remains one of the best referees in the League, but he's still chastised about that call. I think it was a mistake, and it was sort of nice to see a referee own up to it, especially quickly. In spite of this, he was punished by the League, and didn't appear in any Playoff games that season and has mainly remained out of the spotlight of national TV since.
Last night brought forth something I'd call egregious, where the referee overturned a Virginia Tech Touchdown in Overtime, causing them to lose the game. Unlike Hochuli, he hasn't owned up to his mistake, and I doubt ever will. After looking at every replay from four or five different angles, they all showed the receiver catching the ball, his elbow hitting the turf, and eventually sliding out of bounds with possession of the football. Keep in mind also that in College Football you only need 1 foot or another body part in play for it to be considered a catch. The referee came back and said 'the receiver did not maintain control' of the football, when he clearly did. Virginia Tech then missed a field goal, which allowed Michigan to make one and win. Now you might say this is the same situation, but it's not due to the NCAA's overtime rules, which places the ball at the opponent's 25 yard line for each possession, so victory wasn't that far away for Michigan when you think about it.
The problem here is two-fold: One, in Overtime, teams start too close to scoring either a field goal/touchdown and should be moved back to at least the 35, perhaps the 40 yard line. Second, is that unlike Hochuli, this referee won't get punished for the same type of situation, apology excluded of course. In this type of business, it doesn't pay to be the good guy.
Ed Hochuli made an incorrect call in a week 2 game between the Broncos and Charges a few years ago. Near the end of the game with Denver driving, Ed called a ball that was clearly fumbled a forward pass, and was therefore un-challengable. He owned up to his mistake immediately on the field However, Denver still got the touchdown and the inevitable 2-point conversion to win the game. He still has his job, and remains one of the best referees in the League, but he's still chastised about that call. I think it was a mistake, and it was sort of nice to see a referee own up to it, especially quickly. In spite of this, he was punished by the League, and didn't appear in any Playoff games that season and has mainly remained out of the spotlight of national TV since.
Last night brought forth something I'd call egregious, where the referee overturned a Virginia Tech Touchdown in Overtime, causing them to lose the game. Unlike Hochuli, he hasn't owned up to his mistake, and I doubt ever will. After looking at every replay from four or five different angles, they all showed the receiver catching the ball, his elbow hitting the turf, and eventually sliding out of bounds with possession of the football. Keep in mind also that in College Football you only need 1 foot or another body part in play for it to be considered a catch. The referee came back and said 'the receiver did not maintain control' of the football, when he clearly did. Virginia Tech then missed a field goal, which allowed Michigan to make one and win. Now you might say this is the same situation, but it's not due to the NCAA's overtime rules, which places the ball at the opponent's 25 yard line for each possession, so victory wasn't that far away for Michigan when you think about it.
The problem here is two-fold: One, in Overtime, teams start too close to scoring either a field goal/touchdown and should be moved back to at least the 35, perhaps the 40 yard line. Second, is that unlike Hochuli, this referee won't get punished for the same type of situation, apology excluded of course. In this type of business, it doesn't pay to be the good guy.
Monday, January 2, 2012
Looking Back
Week 17 was not kind to many teams, neither was it kind to myself, only correctly predicting a meager 9 games in a buffet of amazingly close games. To teams like the Jets, Raiders and Cowboys, they're now forced to eat sour leftovers of those who celebrated heartily last night. Then you have the Bengals and Broncos, teams who lost but got the help from those more fortunate than them yesterday, limp themselves towards yet another weekend buffet, even though one will have a shorter line to pass than the other.
Some teams, like the 49ers, Ravens and Patriots, took destiny by the horns, threw it against the wall, killed it, and had steak for breakfast. Each of them get to savor the meals they had for a week before going out and taking out their hunger pains on battered, but not beaten teams. The Giants also took control of their destiny with a nightly brunch over Dallas, but they don't have time to lose the dinner weight as they face the Falcons in a spare rib eat off, who are hungry for another victory after going through the drive through against Tampa.
While Detroit lost and Pittsburgh nearly lost on Sunday, neither looked like they had an appetite for victory. The Lions let the Packers take a bite out of them and they'll savor that 15-1 record, waiting for whomever comes into Lambeau Field next. To the Lions, there will be no Mardi Gras celebrations for them come Saturday night as the Saints offense looks like a party every time they march down the field. The Steelers on the other hand, will go to the Lord's House for Brunch on Sunday against the Broncos, who only look holy in their defense and their Quarterback position.
In the end though, only four teams will advance to the next round, a celebration that really isn't once, since another four teams, well rested and hungry for action wait for them. At the end of the day, I'm hungry too, and I'm excited to see what happens.
Some teams, like the 49ers, Ravens and Patriots, took destiny by the horns, threw it against the wall, killed it, and had steak for breakfast. Each of them get to savor the meals they had for a week before going out and taking out their hunger pains on battered, but not beaten teams. The Giants also took control of their destiny with a nightly brunch over Dallas, but they don't have time to lose the dinner weight as they face the Falcons in a spare rib eat off, who are hungry for another victory after going through the drive through against Tampa.
While Detroit lost and Pittsburgh nearly lost on Sunday, neither looked like they had an appetite for victory. The Lions let the Packers take a bite out of them and they'll savor that 15-1 record, waiting for whomever comes into Lambeau Field next. To the Lions, there will be no Mardi Gras celebrations for them come Saturday night as the Saints offense looks like a party every time they march down the field. The Steelers on the other hand, will go to the Lord's House for Brunch on Sunday against the Broncos, who only look holy in their defense and their Quarterback position.
In the end though, only four teams will advance to the next round, a celebration that really isn't once, since another four teams, well rested and hungry for action wait for them. At the end of the day, I'm hungry too, and I'm excited to see what happens.
Friday, December 30, 2011
2011 NFL Picks: Week 17
A long forgotten feature from over a year ago. While it's been a while, I've been meaning to do these for the last couple of weeks. Since I have a severe case of writer's block today, and have for the past two weeks or so, I thought it'd be interesting to do some picks the final week of this NFL Season!
Detroit at Green Bay
- Green Bay wrapped up everything last week, and Detroit is playing for positioning. While the Packers need to heal their wounds a bit, I expect Aaron Rodgers to play at least a quarter to maintain his composure. The Lions will probably win this one going away to build their confidence against the Packers 2nd team for the 5th seed.
San Francisco at St. Louis
- San Francisco is in the driver's seat for the 2nd seed in the NFC, looking for a 1st round bye. A win here over a team that really doesn't want to win and hasn't wanted to win since the early stages of the season makes this an easy pick.
NY Jets at Miami
- The Dolphins are playing tough, but the Jets need a Playoff spot. I expect the Jets Defense to hold back the Miami Defense just enough so the Jets win and hope for a miracle involving Cincinnati, Oakland and/or Denver.
Chicago at Minnesota
- Minnesota lost Adrian Peterson last week, and he'll probably be gone for next season as well. I expect the Bears Defense to be the difference maker here since both teams will have sub-par Quarterbacks starting for them and neither have a running back worthy of merit playing.
Buffalo at New England
- This one's simple: The Patriots want revenge for their late collapse against the Bills earlier this season when they were the bell of the ball. By winning, they'll get the #1 seed in the AFC again. I think the Patriots want this one just a bit more than the Bills.
Carolina at New Orleans
- This one's a toss-up. The Saints want a #2 seed and a bye in the NFC Playoffs, but the 49ers have the inside track and no opponent. It's possible the Saints will play everyone for a half and rest them at half since they'll be scoreboard watching. I still expect them to win though since the Panthers aren't a second half team, except against third stringers like Jacksonville and Tampa Bay.
Washington at Philadelphia
- The Eagles have had a wild ride. A win will clinch a .500 record and the second seed in the NFC East if it's Dallas. They want to finish strong this season to hope they'll be ready for a run next year, although losing would mean facing Carolina, Chicago and Arizona instead of Atlanta, Detroit and Seattle.
Indianapolis at Jacksonville
- The Colts are playing hard for their Quarterback. Jacksonville isn't playing at all. I expect another close game here, but I think the Colts have stepped their game up while the Jaguars have lost 3 or 4 steps since they last met.
Tennessee at Houston
- The Texans are looking for a 1st round bye right now, but they're a game behind Baltimore and Pittsburgh. While it's possible for both of them to lose, it's not likely. Expect the Texans to play light against the Titans since they're looking for a long shot playoff birth involving Oakland, Cincinnati, the Jets, and Denver losing. Yikes.
Tampa Bay at Atlanta
- Tampa Bay hasn't played a game since early October. Atlanta is going to the Playoffs and wants to face either Dallas or the Giants and not New Orleans again. They'll blow out the Buccaneers here.
Baltimore at Cincinnati
- While the Bengals will have a sold out crowd, the Ravens are looking for a first round bye and home field advantage in the Playoffs. The Bengals, with a win, will get the 6 seed in the Playoffs guaranteed, meaning a likely trip to Houston. I expect the Ravens to win though since they like to prove themselves when they are down on their luck.
Pittsburgh at Cleveland
- The Steelers limped to victory against Cleveland earlier, but now the Steelers are looking for that AFC North crown and a win is necessary. I expect it to be close, but I believe the Pittsburgh defense will lead them to victory here.
Kansas City at Denver
- This is a classic 'you took my job, now I'm back for revenge' game. The only problem is that it's Tim Tebow. The Defense for Denver needs to prove themselves in this game since they've been the reason the Broncos have lost the last two weeks. I think they will, and Tebow will do the rest.
San Diego at Oakland
- Last week San Diego looked like a lost team that had given up. While the Raiders are truly a wild card team, i.e. you never know what you'll get, I expect them to make a statement against the Chargers at home in order to get the AFC's final playoff spot over Cincinnati.
Seattle at Arizona
- This is a meaningless game. It means more to Seattle to finish strong than it does for Arizona who looks to draft a good rookie QB in the upcoming draft.
Dallas at NY Giants
- The Giants barely won the first meeting. The Cowboys lost handily last week. Both teams are very inconsistent. However, I think this is Dallas' time to shine. No one believes in them, and Romo has a habit for doing great things while ill/injured. I expect a tiny route here and another Giants late-season collapse.
That's it for this week, so let's see how things turn out.
Detroit at Green Bay
- Green Bay wrapped up everything last week, and Detroit is playing for positioning. While the Packers need to heal their wounds a bit, I expect Aaron Rodgers to play at least a quarter to maintain his composure. The Lions will probably win this one going away to build their confidence against the Packers 2nd team for the 5th seed.
San Francisco at St. Louis
- San Francisco is in the driver's seat for the 2nd seed in the NFC, looking for a 1st round bye. A win here over a team that really doesn't want to win and hasn't wanted to win since the early stages of the season makes this an easy pick.
NY Jets at Miami
- The Dolphins are playing tough, but the Jets need a Playoff spot. I expect the Jets Defense to hold back the Miami Defense just enough so the Jets win and hope for a miracle involving Cincinnati, Oakland and/or Denver.
Chicago at Minnesota
- Minnesota lost Adrian Peterson last week, and he'll probably be gone for next season as well. I expect the Bears Defense to be the difference maker here since both teams will have sub-par Quarterbacks starting for them and neither have a running back worthy of merit playing.
Buffalo at New England
- This one's simple: The Patriots want revenge for their late collapse against the Bills earlier this season when they were the bell of the ball. By winning, they'll get the #1 seed in the AFC again. I think the Patriots want this one just a bit more than the Bills.
Carolina at New Orleans
- This one's a toss-up. The Saints want a #2 seed and a bye in the NFC Playoffs, but the 49ers have the inside track and no opponent. It's possible the Saints will play everyone for a half and rest them at half since they'll be scoreboard watching. I still expect them to win though since the Panthers aren't a second half team, except against third stringers like Jacksonville and Tampa Bay.
Washington at Philadelphia
- The Eagles have had a wild ride. A win will clinch a .500 record and the second seed in the NFC East if it's Dallas. They want to finish strong this season to hope they'll be ready for a run next year, although losing would mean facing Carolina, Chicago and Arizona instead of Atlanta, Detroit and Seattle.
Indianapolis at Jacksonville
- The Colts are playing hard for their Quarterback. Jacksonville isn't playing at all. I expect another close game here, but I think the Colts have stepped their game up while the Jaguars have lost 3 or 4 steps since they last met.
Tennessee at Houston
- The Texans are looking for a 1st round bye right now, but they're a game behind Baltimore and Pittsburgh. While it's possible for both of them to lose, it's not likely. Expect the Texans to play light against the Titans since they're looking for a long shot playoff birth involving Oakland, Cincinnati, the Jets, and Denver losing. Yikes.
Tampa Bay at Atlanta
- Tampa Bay hasn't played a game since early October. Atlanta is going to the Playoffs and wants to face either Dallas or the Giants and not New Orleans again. They'll blow out the Buccaneers here.
Baltimore at Cincinnati
- While the Bengals will have a sold out crowd, the Ravens are looking for a first round bye and home field advantage in the Playoffs. The Bengals, with a win, will get the 6 seed in the Playoffs guaranteed, meaning a likely trip to Houston. I expect the Ravens to win though since they like to prove themselves when they are down on their luck.
Pittsburgh at Cleveland
- The Steelers limped to victory against Cleveland earlier, but now the Steelers are looking for that AFC North crown and a win is necessary. I expect it to be close, but I believe the Pittsburgh defense will lead them to victory here.
Kansas City at Denver
- This is a classic 'you took my job, now I'm back for revenge' game. The only problem is that it's Tim Tebow. The Defense for Denver needs to prove themselves in this game since they've been the reason the Broncos have lost the last two weeks. I think they will, and Tebow will do the rest.
San Diego at Oakland
- Last week San Diego looked like a lost team that had given up. While the Raiders are truly a wild card team, i.e. you never know what you'll get, I expect them to make a statement against the Chargers at home in order to get the AFC's final playoff spot over Cincinnati.
Seattle at Arizona
- This is a meaningless game. It means more to Seattle to finish strong than it does for Arizona who looks to draft a good rookie QB in the upcoming draft.
Dallas at NY Giants
- The Giants barely won the first meeting. The Cowboys lost handily last week. Both teams are very inconsistent. However, I think this is Dallas' time to shine. No one believes in them, and Romo has a habit for doing great things while ill/injured. I expect a tiny route here and another Giants late-season collapse.
That's it for this week, so let's see how things turn out.
Wednesday, December 28, 2011
My Top 10 Games of 2011
Last year it was the Noble Donkey Kong who climbed to the top of my game of the year list with Donkey Kong Country Returns. Since Donkey Kong decided to go to the Banana Buffet this year, a new Game of the Year Winner be crowned. Remember, for this list, the games must have come out in 2011, so while I thoroughly enjoyed Red Dead Redemption, it won't appear on this list. With that in mind, here are my Top 10 Games of 2011!
#10 - Infamous 2 (Playstation 3)
Infamous 2 is more Infamous, and since I loved Infamous I'm content with that. The reason why this game is here instead of say Assassin's Creed: Revelations and Uncharted 3 is simply that this game doesn't disappoint. It stays true to itself outside of a character model swap for the hero. It's good, clean, fun.
#9 - Mario Kart 7 (Nintendo 3DS)
Mario Kart 7 is a good Mario Kart game. It's not a great or amazing one, but good. It's miles above its' predecessor using an anti-Blue Shell ointment for protection, but overall it feels a tad rushed and lacks a significant amount of content. If it had more content, it could've jumped a couple of spots. But for now, I'm content where it is on my list.
#8 - Sonic Generations (Playstation 3, Xbox 360, PC)
This one's been a long time coming. I think this game still has some major issues, like the final boss fight and some challenges are outright terrible. But for the most part, this game gives me a Mega Man 9 feeling. It feels like I'm playing an honest to goodness, true to form, Sonic the Hedgehog game from the early 90's. Both Modern and Classic Sonic are in top form here. The level design flows really well and the game really challenges me to get better at it. That's why it's here. If it were longer or if some of the problems were fixed, it'd be higher on the list.
#7 - Pokemon White (Nintendo DS)
Pokemon White felt like the end of my Pokemon career. After playing through Pearl, Platinum, Soul Silver, and finally White, 4 consecutive years of Pokemon games had come and gone. It's a quality title, it truly is, almost quietly so. However, it's the first time I really didn't enjoy playing through it. It felt like an obligation to me, and really safe at the same time. I'm sorry Pokemon, but you and I need some time apart. Maybe we can catch them all again in the future, sometime.
#6 - The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim (Xbox 360, Playstation 3, PC)
The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion was the first Xbox 360 game I bought. I knew a Game of the Year Edition was coming, so I decided to rent it instead. But after playing it over 20 hours across 4 days I caved and bought it. The cries of game-breaking bugs did wade me off of it, however. It's a shame since it's a great game. However, it still has some of the major problems its' predecessor had: Bad voice acting, unsatisfying combat, and bugs that take me out of the game. It's a shame since the game is so good at wanting me to keep playing it on almost every other count.
#5 - Batman: Arkham City (Playstation 3/Xbox 360/PC)
I love Arkham Asylum. I was excited for Arkham City, and while it's a great game, it's pretty disappointing overall. The combat is much improved over the last game, but almost everything else took a hit, from the bland environment of Arkham City to the weak story to the Predator Challenges which are now borderline insane. The only other improvement were the boss fights which went from terrible to okay. It should've been higher on this list, but it can't.
#4 - Pushmo (Nintendo 3DS)
What's a Pushmo? You push it, you pull it, you climb it. This is not sounding all that safe for work to be honest... Pushmo has a lot of content for what you pay for, and while some of the puzzles are devious, the game builds you up perfectly so you understand everything about your world. In addition, you can create and import new Pushmo via QR codes. It's an addictive little game that is far and above the best game on Nintendo's eShop.
#3 - Gears of War 3 (Xbox 360)
I personally don't think the story of Gears of War 3 was all that great. Also, the ending was a bit of a pain on the higher difficulties. However, it doesn't mean the rest of the game wasn't awesome. While the multiplayer is a bit grind heavy to get certain achievements, medals and ribbons, when you get in there, it is truly a master of its' environment. Cooperative Play has never been better than it is in Gears of War 3, and the reason why it's so high on this list.
#2 - The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword (Nintendo Wii)
Skyward Sword sets the stage for the rest of the Zelda universe. It opens up quietly and expands from there. While combat took a bit longer than I'd like to full understand it, it was nice to have a 3D Zelda game where I knew I could actually die. While the game felt antiquated in a lot of places, the newness and freshness it exerted were awesome. The level and boss designs were amazing and I really hope some of the kinks are fixed/removed from the next one so it can be my game of the year next time, but for now, it belongs to one.
#1 - Super Mario 3D Land (Nintendo 3DS)
In light of all of the gloom and doom surrounding the 3DS, fears of damaging eyes, the system being a lost cause and selling a lot of units during the holidays, Mario once again has proven himself to be King of Video Games with his first entry on Nintendo's Newest Handheld. A game that defines the system, builds itself around the use of 3D into a blend of joy and quality design, Super Mario 3D Land is the best game in 2011 for the fact that it reminds me of what a video game should be.
#10 - Infamous 2 (Playstation 3)
Infamous 2 is more Infamous, and since I loved Infamous I'm content with that. The reason why this game is here instead of say Assassin's Creed: Revelations and Uncharted 3 is simply that this game doesn't disappoint. It stays true to itself outside of a character model swap for the hero. It's good, clean, fun.
#9 - Mario Kart 7 (Nintendo 3DS)
Mario Kart 7 is a good Mario Kart game. It's not a great or amazing one, but good. It's miles above its' predecessor using an anti-Blue Shell ointment for protection, but overall it feels a tad rushed and lacks a significant amount of content. If it had more content, it could've jumped a couple of spots. But for now, I'm content where it is on my list.
#8 - Sonic Generations (Playstation 3, Xbox 360, PC)
This one's been a long time coming. I think this game still has some major issues, like the final boss fight and some challenges are outright terrible. But for the most part, this game gives me a Mega Man 9 feeling. It feels like I'm playing an honest to goodness, true to form, Sonic the Hedgehog game from the early 90's. Both Modern and Classic Sonic are in top form here. The level design flows really well and the game really challenges me to get better at it. That's why it's here. If it were longer or if some of the problems were fixed, it'd be higher on the list.
#7 - Pokemon White (Nintendo DS)
Pokemon White felt like the end of my Pokemon career. After playing through Pearl, Platinum, Soul Silver, and finally White, 4 consecutive years of Pokemon games had come and gone. It's a quality title, it truly is, almost quietly so. However, it's the first time I really didn't enjoy playing through it. It felt like an obligation to me, and really safe at the same time. I'm sorry Pokemon, but you and I need some time apart. Maybe we can catch them all again in the future, sometime.
#6 - The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim (Xbox 360, Playstation 3, PC)
The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion was the first Xbox 360 game I bought. I knew a Game of the Year Edition was coming, so I decided to rent it instead. But after playing it over 20 hours across 4 days I caved and bought it. The cries of game-breaking bugs did wade me off of it, however. It's a shame since it's a great game. However, it still has some of the major problems its' predecessor had: Bad voice acting, unsatisfying combat, and bugs that take me out of the game. It's a shame since the game is so good at wanting me to keep playing it on almost every other count.
#5 - Batman: Arkham City (Playstation 3/Xbox 360/PC)
I love Arkham Asylum. I was excited for Arkham City, and while it's a great game, it's pretty disappointing overall. The combat is much improved over the last game, but almost everything else took a hit, from the bland environment of Arkham City to the weak story to the Predator Challenges which are now borderline insane. The only other improvement were the boss fights which went from terrible to okay. It should've been higher on this list, but it can't.
#4 - Pushmo (Nintendo 3DS)
What's a Pushmo? You push it, you pull it, you climb it. This is not sounding all that safe for work to be honest... Pushmo has a lot of content for what you pay for, and while some of the puzzles are devious, the game builds you up perfectly so you understand everything about your world. In addition, you can create and import new Pushmo via QR codes. It's an addictive little game that is far and above the best game on Nintendo's eShop.
#3 - Gears of War 3 (Xbox 360)
I personally don't think the story of Gears of War 3 was all that great. Also, the ending was a bit of a pain on the higher difficulties. However, it doesn't mean the rest of the game wasn't awesome. While the multiplayer is a bit grind heavy to get certain achievements, medals and ribbons, when you get in there, it is truly a master of its' environment. Cooperative Play has never been better than it is in Gears of War 3, and the reason why it's so high on this list.
#2 - The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword (Nintendo Wii)
Skyward Sword sets the stage for the rest of the Zelda universe. It opens up quietly and expands from there. While combat took a bit longer than I'd like to full understand it, it was nice to have a 3D Zelda game where I knew I could actually die. While the game felt antiquated in a lot of places, the newness and freshness it exerted were awesome. The level and boss designs were amazing and I really hope some of the kinks are fixed/removed from the next one so it can be my game of the year next time, but for now, it belongs to one.
#1 - Super Mario 3D Land (Nintendo 3DS)
In light of all of the gloom and doom surrounding the 3DS, fears of damaging eyes, the system being a lost cause and selling a lot of units during the holidays, Mario once again has proven himself to be King of Video Games with his first entry on Nintendo's Newest Handheld. A game that defines the system, builds itself around the use of 3D into a blend of joy and quality design, Super Mario 3D Land is the best game in 2011 for the fact that it reminds me of what a video game should be.
Tuesday, December 27, 2011
Raising the Limit Yet Again
Today President Barack Obama has once again asked for the debt limit to be raised, this time by $1.2 trillion. The last time the debt ceiling was raised, it was by $2.1 trillion and supposed to be through 2013. Now excuse me if I'm wrong, but doesn't that mean the Government has spent more than the originally planned? I, for one am quite shocked about this development as I am sure it has never happened in our country's history before now.
Oh wait...
It has happened before, quite a bit actually. It's just another one of those broken promises politicians always run on to try and get more votes, even the ones that break those promises in the first place. I'm not saying everyone involved in politics does this, but when it comes to important things like spending more money that should be spent or money being allocated for something is spent quicker than anticipated, it happens on a yearly basis.
I can't say I like the practice, but the problem is no one really steps up to the plate and challenges them on this. It's like a get out of jail free card because voters expect Government to spend more than they always say they do. Whenever someone says 'we need to spend less' they're always countered with 'you don't care about our future' or something along those lines. My question to them is this: "If you care about our future, why not care about the now?" Politicians today are on a 1-year cycle; 1 year of spending money in Washington, 1 year of spending money on campaigns, and repeat.
People decry that we need change in Washington. That's what they wanted 3 years ago when they voted Barack Obama as our President. I don't think, however, that this is change. At the very least, it's gotten worse, and not just since Obama became President. At some point, money changing hands, the 1-year cycles, etc. all becomes too much. A course reversal at some point is going to be needed for good change to happen. Hopefully it will be done under-budget.
Oh wait...
It has happened before, quite a bit actually. It's just another one of those broken promises politicians always run on to try and get more votes, even the ones that break those promises in the first place. I'm not saying everyone involved in politics does this, but when it comes to important things like spending more money that should be spent or money being allocated for something is spent quicker than anticipated, it happens on a yearly basis.
I can't say I like the practice, but the problem is no one really steps up to the plate and challenges them on this. It's like a get out of jail free card because voters expect Government to spend more than they always say they do. Whenever someone says 'we need to spend less' they're always countered with 'you don't care about our future' or something along those lines. My question to them is this: "If you care about our future, why not care about the now?" Politicians today are on a 1-year cycle; 1 year of spending money in Washington, 1 year of spending money on campaigns, and repeat.
People decry that we need change in Washington. That's what they wanted 3 years ago when they voted Barack Obama as our President. I don't think, however, that this is change. At the very least, it's gotten worse, and not just since Obama became President. At some point, money changing hands, the 1-year cycles, etc. all becomes too much. A course reversal at some point is going to be needed for good change to happen. Hopefully it will be done under-budget.
Monday, December 26, 2011
Scheduling Conflict
The NBA's shortened, but tougher on players regular season began yesterday with five games on Christmas day. While the NBA got three great games out of it, one turned into a massacre while the other was just uninteresting. While I'm sure some teams aren't going to be up for playing all 66 games this season due to the strenuous schedule, you can only hope they'll be more prepared for the games ahead.
Due to the fact that the NBA likes money, and that they don't want to delay the Playoffs, or can't for contractual reasons, some teams will have harsh playing conditions. Some teams will end up playing 9 games in 12 days in an almost cartoon-like situation that reeks somewhat of greed and ill-will towards the players by the owners. I'm not against the NBA trying to make up as many games as possible, but when you do it by decreasing the quality of play in these situations, you're going to cost yourself more money in the future by doing so. An example: A family of four buys tickets to a Miami Heat v. Golden State Warriors game. Because the Heat were playing their fifth game in eight days, their big players, Wade, James and Bosh took the night off to recover from exhaustion. Because that family of four didn't get to see those three play, they'll decide going to sporting events is a waste of time since they're not guaranteed to see the players they wanted to see.
You might say it's a bad argument, but people don't go to sporting events for those reasons. People lose trust in a product for a multitude of reasons, and not being able to see superstars when you pay to see them is one of them. The NBA's schedule is a brutal one for most teams, and it still would've been tough if six more games were cut off of the season's length. However, you'd at least avoid situations where a schedule harms the quality of your product.
Due to the fact that the NBA likes money, and that they don't want to delay the Playoffs, or can't for contractual reasons, some teams will have harsh playing conditions. Some teams will end up playing 9 games in 12 days in an almost cartoon-like situation that reeks somewhat of greed and ill-will towards the players by the owners. I'm not against the NBA trying to make up as many games as possible, but when you do it by decreasing the quality of play in these situations, you're going to cost yourself more money in the future by doing so. An example: A family of four buys tickets to a Miami Heat v. Golden State Warriors game. Because the Heat were playing their fifth game in eight days, their big players, Wade, James and Bosh took the night off to recover from exhaustion. Because that family of four didn't get to see those three play, they'll decide going to sporting events is a waste of time since they're not guaranteed to see the players they wanted to see.
You might say it's a bad argument, but people don't go to sporting events for those reasons. People lose trust in a product for a multitude of reasons, and not being able to see superstars when you pay to see them is one of them. The NBA's schedule is a brutal one for most teams, and it still would've been tough if six more games were cut off of the season's length. However, you'd at least avoid situations where a schedule harms the quality of your product.
Friday, December 23, 2011
Christmas Break
Until Monday, December 26th, the blog will be on hiatus for the Christmas Holiday. I love Christmas, and it's my favorite Holiday every year. Considering tomorrow is chock full of NFL goodness, I can barely contain my excitement for the next day, Christmas itself! I hope you all enjoy it as much as I do, even if you celebrate another holiday during this time. They only come once a year and it really brightens up my spirit for many months to come. I hope it does the same for you.
Merry Christmas!
Merry Christmas!
Thursday, December 22, 2011
Game Review: Mario Kart 7
I've been a fan of the Mario Kart franchise since the original Super Mario Kart was released on the Super Nintendo back in 1992. Until now, there's never been a numbered Mario Kart, and there's always been a plethora of imitators to try and steal its' thunder. None of those games garnered the success that Mario Kart has, even the few that have been considered better games. Mario Kart Wii, the last game in the series, was a tipping point for me. I found it to be frustrating and more often than not broken since it didn't balance the game for the additional 4 drivers per race the game championed as a feature. So is Mario Kart 7 a better game than Mario Kart Wii? Or for that matter, is it the best Mario Kart game?
Overall, I'd say Mario Kart 7 is a decent, but shallow package. It's something I'd call unoffensive at best, uninspired at worst. Once again, the game features 32 tracks, 16 old and new. There are 8 Grand Prix's with 4 races each across 4 difficulty levels, which again are staples to the franchise. You also have your staple tropes like Red Shells, Green Shells, and of course the bane of any Mario Kart player's existence, the Blue Shell. Mario Kart 7 removes the additional 4 players Mario Kart Wii provided, and while the game is indeed more balanced, fun and playable because of it, it feels like a cheap trick into making me think it's more fun than it really is. The item balance is still the same as it was in Mario Kart Wii, but it's just with less competition.
The game offers two new mechanics this time around to lighten up the mood: Underwater Driving and Gliding. Both of these are interesting mechanics, but I don't feel like they're used to their full potential. Gliding is mainly used for going across gaps and isn't really used for shortcuts like you think it should while underwater driving feels like a means for padding track length. When you look at the full map for some of these tracks, you'll see that they're really pretty short in comparison to something like Maka Wuhu, which is a checkpoint-based track consisting of one lap. This is a type of race that is new to the series that I enjoy thoroughly that I expect more of in the future.
The online of Mario Kart 7 is something of a mixed bag. A bit of it feels revolutionary while some of it feels like a step back. For starters, you can create Communities to play with your friends, but at the same time you have to set up specific item, speed and game type rules. There's no freedom there except to set up a new community with a new set of rules. It feels like a good first step, but poorly thought out for the rest of it. In addition to this, while racing in Mario Kart 7 is excellent, Battle Mode is just terrible, leaving me to wonder if they intended for anyone to actually play it more than once.
Mario Kart 7 is a step up from Mario Kart Wii. However, a step up from the worst game in the series isn't much of a compliment in my personal opinion. It's a fun ride, but once you're done, you'll feel pretty sour on the experience.
Score: 7.5 out of 10
Positives
New Mechanics
Communities
Racing Online
Negatives
Feels rushed
Implementation of Communities
Battle Mode
Overall, I'd say Mario Kart 7 is a decent, but shallow package. It's something I'd call unoffensive at best, uninspired at worst. Once again, the game features 32 tracks, 16 old and new. There are 8 Grand Prix's with 4 races each across 4 difficulty levels, which again are staples to the franchise. You also have your staple tropes like Red Shells, Green Shells, and of course the bane of any Mario Kart player's existence, the Blue Shell. Mario Kart 7 removes the additional 4 players Mario Kart Wii provided, and while the game is indeed more balanced, fun and playable because of it, it feels like a cheap trick into making me think it's more fun than it really is. The item balance is still the same as it was in Mario Kart Wii, but it's just with less competition.
The game offers two new mechanics this time around to lighten up the mood: Underwater Driving and Gliding. Both of these are interesting mechanics, but I don't feel like they're used to their full potential. Gliding is mainly used for going across gaps and isn't really used for shortcuts like you think it should while underwater driving feels like a means for padding track length. When you look at the full map for some of these tracks, you'll see that they're really pretty short in comparison to something like Maka Wuhu, which is a checkpoint-based track consisting of one lap. This is a type of race that is new to the series that I enjoy thoroughly that I expect more of in the future.
The online of Mario Kart 7 is something of a mixed bag. A bit of it feels revolutionary while some of it feels like a step back. For starters, you can create Communities to play with your friends, but at the same time you have to set up specific item, speed and game type rules. There's no freedom there except to set up a new community with a new set of rules. It feels like a good first step, but poorly thought out for the rest of it. In addition to this, while racing in Mario Kart 7 is excellent, Battle Mode is just terrible, leaving me to wonder if they intended for anyone to actually play it more than once.
Mario Kart 7 is a step up from Mario Kart Wii. However, a step up from the worst game in the series isn't much of a compliment in my personal opinion. It's a fun ride, but once you're done, you'll feel pretty sour on the experience.
Score: 7.5 out of 10
Positives
Negatives
Tuesday, December 20, 2011
Lights Out
You don't hear the phrase "Power Outage" very often when it comes to sporting events. They've become more prevalent over the years with Major League Baseball, but last night is the first time I remember there being one for Monday Night Football. An aerial view of Candlestick Park showed a flash of blue light and an explosion happening right as the lights went out. Another view from inside the Stadium made it look like a bolt of lightning hit right outside the stadium. While it only resulted in a 20 minute delay for the start of the game, the interesting part is that it happened again in the second quarter.
Another 20 minute delay or so was the last one we'd see of a night that belonged to the 49ers. While the game was not spectacular, it won't be remembered for that. It'll be remembered as a sign that the 49ers are in desperate need of a new stadium, something ESPN brought up during their telecast multiple times. While it will be at least three years until they get one, I think it's a shame ESPN has to lobby for them, even though it was just as embarrassing to them as it was San Francisco.
Another 20 minute delay or so was the last one we'd see of a night that belonged to the 49ers. While the game was not spectacular, it won't be remembered for that. It'll be remembered as a sign that the 49ers are in desperate need of a new stadium, something ESPN brought up during their telecast multiple times. While it will be at least three years until they get one, I think it's a shame ESPN has to lobby for them, even though it was just as embarrassing to them as it was San Francisco.
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