Why is Devin Hester Smiling?

"The best things in life are free,

But you can give them to the birds and bees,

I want Money..."

Well the pieces are all in place (except for an established wide-out and running back) but here we go with the latest on the Chicago Bears:

BOURBONNAIS, Ill. – All-Pro return specialist Devin Hester on Sunday agreed to a four-year contract extension with the Bears through the 2013 season. Terms were not disclosed.

About time.

Now I do not to hear these guys whining any longer.

So here are my bold predictions:

1.) The Bears will make the playoffs as a wildcard team with a nine and seven record. From there, it’s anyone’s game.

2.) Rex Grossman will have a career season and pilot this team to their victories.

3.) The two-tight-end set will be a featured line-up and Clark and Olsen will each catch over seven TD’s.

4.) Matt Forte will emerge as a starter about midway through the season.

5.) Rashid Davis and Brandon Lloyd will be starters with Hester as a third down back.

6.) The Bears Defense will rank in the top five.

7.) Mike Brown will get hurt again.

8.) Gould, Briggs, Harris, Urlacher, Hester, and Olsen will make the Pro-Bowl.

9.) The Bears will beat the Lions twice, the Packers twice, and split with the Vikings.

10.) The Bears will beat the Colts on the opening game.


GO BEARS!

More on The Dark Knight

We can be heroes,
Just for one day—watcha say?”
--David Bowie from the song "Heroes" from the LP Heroes, 1977.

Mike H., one of the Beer Buddies on Tuesday at Fat Jacks, saw me this week and asked “What did you think of Batman?”

I told him it was fantastic. Mike, a fifty plus year-old closet DC Comics fan, said, “I know—this is the way Batman is supposed to be.” Damn right!

My older brother (older in age but not in wisdom—heh heh) emailed me his critical comments on Batman. His best man Brad and I defended our position that Batman was a better film than Mark’s critical evaluation. Mark is more a Marvel Guy, and I am more a DC Guy, which is surprising considering my age. Usually the younger crowd goes for Marvel over DC, but I must say DC is so much better. Mark’s hang-up is hinged on Iron-Man was better and the Marvel film franchise is planning a Captain America Movie, A Thor Movie, an Avengers Movie, and an Ant-Man Movie. I give Mark this: Marvel’s marketing is better than DC’s—which is surprising considering DC is Warner Brothers.

Mark’s comments were fair, yet I set him straight on his criticisms. Brad agreed. Mark does not see that I se him straight.

Dark Knight is a sinister movie for a sinister time. Batman must become the villain because the villain adds credence to the honorable.

I will not dissect the movie any more than to say that the character of Batman has always worked in the peripheral element of the law. That in mind, it is obvious that the next extension of the character is to become the villain. I still argue that the Batman franchise part of Warner Brothers will be reaching for a Dark Knight Returns type of series. Those familiar with the comic industry would love it. A future where Batman crosses the line as to what is heroic and what is essential for human decency.

I called my father this weekend, and he said he was not at all interested in the minor feud of his sons. When I reminded him he was a Captain Marvel fan, he said, “Yes, but I outgrew that when I became older.”

Ouch!

So while Mark and I mire between the DC view versus the Marvel view, we both admit that we are geekish enough to watch both. I loved the Iron-Man and Hulk movies this summer. I just simply think that Dark Knight was superior. Whereas Mark spent his money on Iron-Man, Hulk, and Dark Knight, he would prefer to turn his back on Dark Knight.

Your shot, Mark. Just for the record, I love my brother like a brother, but his views arre more “marvelous” than my own.

Chicago Bears: Brian Urlacher Signs Contract Extension

“Got to admit, I feel a little be confused…
Sometimes it feels to me, as if I’m just being used.”

--Roger Watters of Pink Floyd from the song “Dogs” from the album Animals, 1977.



Brian Urlacher just signed a contract extension that was worth 18 million dollars and 6 million dollars added as a signing bonus.

Let’s look at that.

He signs a contract a few years back that makes him the highest paid player on the team and the highest paid defensive player. Times change, inflation being what it is, and he is now NOT the highest paid player on the team nor the highest paid player on Defense and so, after a sub par year last year, he demands an extension.

Do contracts mean ANYTHING?

Let’s see, my district negotiators for my own union negotiated a 2% (yep you read that correctly knowing full well cost of living is a mere 3.9%--teacher’s are not always the brightest people for the record) and I have to live with it: like it or not. So may I walk into the office and renegotiate my salary, considering I have two years left on my contract? Yeah, I thought not.

I have no problem paying Urlacher what he is worth, AFTER his contract expires. He had no complaints four years ago. Even last year he said he would take a cut if they kept Lance Briggs. They did, and he wanted a raise. Huh?

I have no problem with Brian Urlacher the player, although it seems that offenses were keying up the middle last year and gaining some big yardage (isn’t Urlacher the MIDDLE linebacker—yeah I thought so), and it is obvious that he is the “face” of the Chicago Bears. I agree further that this man can literally take control of a game. All that said, I think the Bears have bowed to his cheesy threat of retiring (ala Favre) and taking his ball and going home.

Check out the video included, here. I mean, the guy is great; but what message does this send the working folks? I want the Bears to win and their record will be better than last year’s and the Defense will dominate again. That said, Urlacher’s raise isn’t about money to me, as it is about principles.

In essence, Brian Urlacher was just paid $24 million dollars for an extension of ONE season. Do the math, his extension runs through 2012; his contract was up in 2011.

I wonder if he could handle a two percent raise of my salary?

The REAL Dark Knight

“I’m crazy for tryin’

Crazy for cryin’”
--Patsy Cline, from the song “Crazy.”






I will not ruin this for anyone who has yet to see it; but The Dark Knight was incredible.

It had an incredible story with plenty of twists and turns that will keep the viewer guessing.

The acting was top rate as Christian Bale plays a convincing Batman/Bruce Wayne. He is very much captured the essence of the comic character. So much has been said of Heath Ledger’s Joker that all I will say is that every positive word of it is true. He is mesmerizing as the Joker. I thought the best acting in the film was displayed by Aaron Eckhardt as Harvey Dent/Two-Face. This was a very gritty and capturing performance. Michael Caine returns as Alfred as does Morgan Freeman as Lucius Fox and Gary Oldman as newly crowned Commissioner Gordon. All were perfect, but Oldman was just so good. The new Rachel Dawes played by Maggie Gyllenhaal was weak to be honest; but that is more my problem as they invented a character three years ago that was never in the comics. Cillian Murphy even has a brief return as Scarecrow to keep some sort of continuity involved in the Batman’s storylines.

Michael Anthony Hall has a decent part, but watch a party scene as politician Patrick Leahy has a talking bit part. No seriously, and I noticed it right off the bat (pun intended). Kind of an odd thing in this movie, but whatever.

What I liked the most was as soon as one figured the movie out, another plot change came that had the viewer guessing what would happen next. The plot twists play into the mind of a psychotic/schizophrenic Joker. To outwit him, Batman and the police had to start thinking like him. Harvey’s best pre-Two-Face line was “You either die a hero or you live long enough to become a villain” and that is the theme of the film. Duality, schizophrenia, and isolation capture this film in the form of Two-Face, Joker, and Gordon: and all are realized by Batman. This was a tightly written script that pays homage to the darker side of the Batman Comic Mythos. This was not a little kid’s version of Batman. This is the dark and grisly Batman that I think the character has evolved into being.

Now if only the writers of the comics could figure this one out.

Great comic insider one-liners are given for the fans mostly by Caine and Freeman, but it peaks the interests of the comic geeks in the crowd. I loved them.

There was also an incredible preview for The Watchmen. Holy cow, does that look great. Next March, I am so there.

In a recent interview, Bale said he will not play Batman if the writers decide to bring in a Robin. I think he wants to avoid the TV show campiness; but after this movie, there probably will not be a Robin.

And for the record (SPOILER ALERT DO NOT READ UNTIL YOU VIEW THE FILM) this movie very much opens the door for The Dark Knight Returns comic book type of story.

Go watch it now.

WOW, MY 200th POST: ALL HAIL THE IPOD!

"I am a DJ; I am what I play..."

--David Bowie.

I have to admit, I have been more than a little critical of some of my brother’s ideas. I mean, he is a Marvel guy and I am a DC guy.

He likes Elvis, and I am a Beatles fan.

He likes Godzilla; I am more of a King Kong person.

He does not like the Police, Jethro Tull, and The Ramones. He likes Jimmy Buffet, Slim Whitman, and the Rat Pack (none of which are my favorites).

Still he is a nice guy.

He suggested when I was visiting my folks in Florida that I buy an IPOD. He also suggested since I own so many CD’s that I buy the 160 gig ones which were new in the fall.

It cost me over $350.00 and it is the single best purchase I made. I can hook it up to my stereo, my car’s system, and I can carry it when I work out.

The sound quality is crystal clear. It is easier than lugging my CD’s everywhere. I bought a external hard-drive to back up my songs, which has been perfect.

For any reader who is glancing at this without owning an IPOD. Stop freaking reading and go buy one. This is beautiful.

As I drive, I program my songs.

I scramble them at home and just jam.

The sound is really great.

Since I have such a huge collection of CD’s, I decided to add songs by group. So far, I have my favorites and most of the albums associated with AC/Dc; Aerosmith; Alice Cooper; Angel Witch; Avantasia; Axenstar; BTO; The Beach Boys; The Beatles; Billy Idol; Black Sabbath; Blondie; BOC; Bob Dylan; Boston; Brian Setzer; Bruce Springsteen; Buddy Holly; The Cars; Cheap Trick; Chuck Berry; The Clash; Collective Soul; Elvis Costello; Counting Crows; Dark Moor; Dave Edmunds; David Bowie; Deep Purple; Def Leppard; Devo; Dio; Dire Straits; Dragon Force; Eddie Cochran; Elvis Presley; Epica; Evanescence; Fats Domino; Fleetwood Mac; Gene Vincent; George Harrison; Guns and Roses; Hammerfall; Heaven and Hell (Black Sabbath with Dio); Helloween; Iced Earth; Iron Maiden; The Jam; Jethro Tull; Judas Priest; Kamelot; Kansas; The Kinks; Kiss; Led Zeppelin; Lindsey Buckingham; Live; Marc Bolan; Marilyn Manson; Meatloaf; Megadeth; Metallica; Nazareth; Nirvana; Ozzy Osborne; Paul McCartney; Pete Townshend; Pink Floyd; The Police; Primal Fear; Prince; Queen; R.E.M.; Rainbow; The Ramones; Rhapsody; Rob Zombie; The Rolling Stones; Roy Orbison; Rush; The Scorpions; Slade; Slayer; Sonata Arctica; Stratovarius; The Stray Cats; Sweet; T-Rex; Tom Petty; Traveling Wilburys; Triumph; U2; UFO; Van Halen; The Who; 3 Doors Down; Warren Zevon; and countless compilations.

There are so many more groups to go; but it has been fun. So far I have 21 days of continuous music.

And the groups I play the most include Meatloaf; Kamelot Sonata Arctica; The Rolling Stones; The Cars; The Jam; Cheap Trick; and Eddie Cochran.

Rock On, Kiddies!

This and That

“I'll do this
And I'll do that...
I'll be burning canyons for you

I'll do this
And I'll do that...
But I can't wait 'till heaven
I won't be there...”

--Michael Penn “This and That” from the LP March, 1988.

This week I am just tying up some loose ends.

I have been hanging out with Jen lately; and we have some fun. We went to the 4th of July fireworks in Bloomington. Lots of oohs and ahhs from the crowd, I suppose.

My quest for the perfect wheat beer has been interesting at best.

I bought a twelve pack (the Bastards only offer a twelve pack) of Capital Brewing’s Wheat. Not so special. I also tried a six pack (there you go) of Pyramid Hefe (Nothing great) and Shiner Hefe weizen (Now that was just freaking terrible) and was unimpressed. I will stick to the old reliable in Flying Dog In-Heat Wheat and Tucher Weiss. Everything else “pales” in comparison. Heh heh.

Monday I will be traveling to Ottawa to meet Kaleb, the newest arrival to the family. I plan on bringing back some Bianchi’s Pizza to share with Jen. Should be good.

I am also delivering some China plates Grandma had that Karen will take care of in the tradition of the family. Good for Karen, as I think she will be the family archivist when all is said and done. So much for a history degree for me.

Dan told me that Grandma had loads of pictures of me; hopefully Mom snagged me a few.

I have busied myself with the arduous task of putting all of my CD’s on the IPOD. Lots of fun there. So far, I have spent hours doing it. Any idea how many hours 160 gigs is? Answer: trust me, lots.

I decided the smart thing to do is to add the songs by “groups.” Still, it takes some time.

My neighborhood friend Ramona gave me some comics to sell for her. She had the first DC Adventure Comics featuring Krypto and I said I could make her $450.00 dollars for it; and I did. My payment for such an act, an early silver age Batman! COOL! Her stuff sells better than mine—at least the early stuff will. I plan on putting up some Flash Comics of mine up on eBay this week. DC Showcase just came out with five hundred pages of Silver Age Flash Comics in chronological order. I could not care less if the stories are in color or not, so I will put up my original issues.

Ahh, the cool air is hitting me. I just came in from mowing the grass to have a tasty Mai Bock from Sprecher and a Tucher Helles Hefe Weizen.

More interesting stuff next week, as I take some photos of Kaleb and Angela.

Hopefully Karen has a New Glaris in the fridge for me.

By the way, the picture is of Rick Myers (Dan’s Good Friend and fellow retired teacher) and Uncle Dan in the front row. Me (always the flirt) and Rosita (the best looking thing in the picture cut out by Dan’s Head) in the background at one of our pilgrimage’s to Fat Jack’s for Tuesday Tapper. I am the one with the delicious Wheat Beer—notice the lemon.