Aramis Ramirez and fun with defense

Afternoon, all. I'm getting back to doing this more frequently, I promise. Life is tough, ya know?

This week, as some of you may be aware, is the MLB Winter Meetings. This is normally where all the big moves of the offseason occur, and where the Brewers made one of their biggest moves last offseason when they shipped off INF Brett Lawrie for SP Shaun Marcum. In fact, one year ago yesterday was the date they made that move, but this year, the Brewers seem far less aggressive.

One of the somewhat surprising rumors surrounding them, however, is their interest in free agent 3B Aramis Ramirez, former employee of the dastardly Chicago Cubs. On a personal level, this is a tough one for me to swallow since I've been taught to despise every member of the Cubs no matter who they are, and perhaps to a greater extent I've found a great dislike in that who those Northsiders refer to as 'A-Ram'. However, on a skill level, it's hard to deny he is a good player and would be a middle of the order bat for just about any team this side of the AL East. We're the Brewers to sign him, I think I could get used to the idea of him being in the lineup everyday, so long as the price is right (he wants $15 million a season, which feels just slightly out of the Brewers budget, but perhaps he wont cost that much if Doug Melvin is seriously considering him?).

The question with Ramirez is not with his bat though. Offensively, he's a guy who gets on base at a nice rate, has the ability to hit .300, and averages 25 HRs a season. The real question is with the other side of his game. Ramirez has been one of the lowest rated defensive 3B for the past few years. Every so often he has a nice year, but in general he's been well below average, especially the past few seasons. Defense is a tricky aspect with me. I submit to the theory that it's undervalued, but overrated, if that makes any sense. At the end of the day, I think a team can win with average or below average defense, as the Brewers did this past season (they won 96 games and went to the NLCS with one of the worst defensive infields in baseball), but this was also because their pitching had been so good.

This doesn't mean I think "screw defense, who needs it when you got bangers and big arms". Not at all. I simply feel there are positions where it's nice to have a good defender, but you don't absolutely need one, like with Ryan Braun in LF. Braun, like many other LF, is not a good defender. That's why he plays LF. On the other hand though, SS is an important defensive position. It's not just nice to have a good defender there, that guy should arguably be your best athlete on the field, you need someone who can play the position and play it well to be successful. Betancourt is not a good defensive SS, anyone who thinks he "wasn't that bad" has severe low expectations for what a bad SS looks like. Yuniesky Betancourt should never play another game for the Milwaukee Brewers. Period. And yet, the Brewers won in spite of him, mostly because the pitching was so good. I could go on and on, but I've had enough arguments about Yuniesky Betancourt to last me a lifetime. Let's get back to Aramis Ramirez.

Can the Brewers win with Aramis Ramirez's defense at 3B? Absolutely. They won with McGehee's defense there (who had a surprisingly nice year last season according to UZR, but mostly an anomaly though as he didn't quite pass the eye test for a lot of folks, myself included), they can win with his. In a perfect world though, Ramirez's value is probably greatest at 1B. He won't play there, but that's where he'd be best suited at this point in his career. Whether or not he signs will be determined in the coming week(s), but believe this blogger when he says that if he has to witness an INF involving Ramirez and Betancourt defensively, he may just claw his eyes out to spare himself the pain.

Oh, The Places You'll Go...

Afternoon, kids.

So, how about that new MLB CBA? Pretty awesome, right?? Eh...not really...at all. In fact, it kind of blows. The fact that they figured out the deal is nice, seeing as how football's took all summer, and the NBA is in danger of having it's season ended before it even has a chance to begin. The fact is though, the new rules do not benefit baseball very well, especially smaller market teams like the Brewers.

But I'm not one for reading paperwork, and there's not much I can say that hasn't been already talked about. Tonight marks the deadline for teams offering arbitration to players, and the Brewers have decided to offer arbitration to Type A free agents Prince Fielder and Francisco Rodriguez, and not arbitration eligible Yuniesky Betancourt (thank god).

This gets a little tricky though with the new system. If a team finished in the top 15 of the league signs a type A free agent who declined arbitration, they must surrender their 1st round pick. The team who loses the player would then receive that pick, as well as a supplemental round pick following the 1st round. However, if a team who finished in the bottom half of the league signs one of these players, they would only have to surrender their 2nd round pick, and the team who lost the player still receives a supplemental pick (this was amended before the new CBA).

In the Brewers case, this would all apply to Fielder (unless the Red Sox went crazy and traded Adrian Gonzalez, then signed both Pujols and Fielder).  However, this new deal limits the amount of players a team would have to surrender a pick for, and one of these players affected was Francisco Rodriguez. So now, if any team (top or bottom half) signs K-Rod, they will not lose their pick. Instead, the Brewers will receive an inserted pick PRIOR to the one they would have received under the previous rules. So, if the Red Sox decide they want K-Rod (a team who finished in the top 15), the Brewers would receive the pick before the Red Sox in the 1st round and a supplemental-1st round pick.

Confused yet? Here's a quick rundown:

Top 15 team signs Fielder = Brewers get their 1st round pick & sandwich pick
Bottom 15 team signs Fielder = Brewers get their 2nd round pick & sandwich pick
Top 15 team signs K-Rod = Brewers get the pick directly before their 1st round pick & sandwich pick
Bottom 15 team signs K-Rod = Brewers get the pick directly before their 2nd round pick & sandwich pick

So what does this all mean? Unless I'm wrong about the Brewers getting supplemental round picks for both Fielder and K-Rod, the Brewers will have 6 of the top 100 picks in this next draft, and (barring the same misunderstanding), they could potentially have 6 of the top 60.

The moral of the story is this: pray that someone like the Nationals, Blue Jays, and Angels are serious about their search for 1B and closers.

The Time is Now

Sooo, I got this thing started a few months ago with full intention of blogging throughout the baseball season, and didn't do anything after my Opening Day primer...

Why you ask? Laziness, it was not. Time consumption, it very much was. I went from job hunting, to job-bing, back to job hunting (with a side of some more job-bing), to making sure my social life didn't die and get buried along with my name. But alas, the itch to write and get my opinions out there have finally branched out after months of twittering, forum participation, facebooking, and script writing (yeah...don't ask for a copy of that). In any case, as the title states, the time is now to get this going again. Social media is pretty much my life (and my job), so the more active and knowledgeable I get about it, the better. And I like writing, just tired of "Joe stares into the sunset and wonders about life, and where he could have left his backpack"*

*Note: Not real dialogue

Now, what have I missed in all that time off? Well, there was this whole Brewers making the playoffs thing (then losing to the accursed Cardinals, grrr...),the Badgers got some guy named Russell Wilson, then proceeded to shoot themselves in the foot by losing 2 of their biggest games of the season (d'oh!). But all is not sad in Buckyland: the Packers are 8-0 coming off their Superbowl win, and the Badgers are still in the hunt (albeit just barely) for the first Leaders division championship. It's hard to complain, we're in the midst of the best Wisconsin sports year ever, and none other come close.

So ladies and gentlemen, I can say with about 65% certainty that the Ramblin' Gorm is back in action to STAY, and it feels pretty damn good...what's that? You want movie and TV reviews, too? Well, why not! There's so much time, and so little to do!

Your Official Opening Day Primer

 

Welcome to the official Opening Day primer! Hang on to your lug nuts kids, cause tomorrow marks the beginning of baseball season, or what I like to call the "real" first day of Spring. Whether or not you're a baseball fan, this will get you ready for the upcoming season with things you should know and ideas for things to do.

This season is going to be super exciting because...

As far as anyone is concerned, this is the Brewers really going 'all in'. They've shipped off all their young talent for some big time names, guys who will hopefully turn this team into a winner. I can already tell you there's going to be a lot of buzz around the Beermen from Brew City this season, so get used to hearing about them a lot. Attendance is already expected to be at an all time high, so if you're not planning on it yet, make sure you get to a game!

"But RG, you said this primer was for 'non-baseball fans' too, why would I want to go to a game?"

Fear not, true believer, there is plenty you can do to make your experience just as exciting as it would be for a baseball fan.  But first a little history lesson...

HISTORY OF THE MILWAUKEE BREWERS

The Milwaukee Brewers franchise was originally located in Seattle, Washington in 1969, though they were then known as the Seattle Pilots. After one year of play, they team was bought by Bud Selig and moved to Milwaukee in 1970, where it has been ever since. Throughout the 70's, the Brewers we're mostly mediocre, failing to make even one playoff appearance in that decade. By the time 1980 rolled around, however, the Brewers we're ready to roll.

Fueled by homegrown talent and future hall of famers like Robin Yount and Paul Molitor, the Brewers finally made the postseason in 1981. They were bolstered by legendary closer Rollie Fingers, who not only won the American League Cy Young that season (the highest honor for a pitcher), but was also named MVP.  After a one and done series against the Yankees, the Brewers we're right back at it again next season. After losing 2 games to the Angels right away in the ALCS, the Brewers came back to win 3 straight game and make it to their first and only World Series against future NL Central rival, the St. Louis Cardinals. Ozzie Smith and the Cardinals proved to much to handle though, taking the 7-game series 4-3 and sending the Brewers home championship-less.

It would be 26 years before the Brewers would taste the postseason again. The teams in the 80's we're still good, but just never good enough it seemed. Good teams turned into okay teams in the 90's, okay teams turned into awful teams in the early 2000's, reaching rock bottom in 2002 when they recorded their first and only 100-loss season. Following the grand opening of their new ballpark, the franchise was sputtering to stay afloat. That's when new owner Mark Attanasio and General Manager Doug Melvin came on the scene. Going back to the old way of developing home grown talent, the Brewers managed to put together a solid roster which, with the help of ace CC Sabathia, who was traded for in the middle of the 2008 season, finally made it back to the promised land. After another one and done series against the Phillies, and the subsequent departure of Sabathia following the season, the Brewers found themselves unable to live up to the high hopes set in the 2008 season the next 2 years, which brings us to 2011...

NAMES YOU NEED TO KNOW:

- Ryan Braun, Left Field: Undeniably the current face of the franchise, Braun is arguably the best player on Milwaukee Brewers, as well as one of the best outfielders in the game today. His award shelf is already pretty getting pretty heavy, and this is only his 5th year in the major leagues. The stat line he put up last year is certainly an enviable one, and yet, many people can't help but feel like he can be even better. One thing is for sure, if Braun takes his game to the next level this year, we won't just be talking MVP awards, we'll be talking playoffs.

- Zack Greinke, Starting Pitcher: This year's version of CC Sabathia comes in to play a little earlier than Sabathia did in '08, but again somewhat stylishly late. Greinke is only 2 years removed from his own Cy Young award, and with a move to a team truly trying to contend, one can only hope for good things. Greinke is currently on the disabled list because of an unrelated baseball injury, but shouldn't miss much time at all. The Brewers gave up a lot of young talent in their trade for the Royals' top pitcher, but it will certainly be worth it once he gets out on the mound.

- Prince Fielder, First Base: Fielder has been a force in the lineup for years, and with this likely being his last for the Brewers, one can only hope it will be one of his best. Fielder is eligible for free agency this offseason, and unfortunately has one of the top agents in the game to represent him. Basically, he is going to look for the most money he can find, which there is no way Milwaukee can compete with. But don't let that make you think less of him, he is still a Brewer, and will certainly do everything he can to help the club win this year. Fielder will need to show he's worth the contract he seeks, and who better to showcase his skills on but a team putting everything on the line for a playoff appearance.

And if you really want to impress your friends and co-workers...

- Yovani Gallardo, Starting Pitcher: Pronounced Yo-Von-Nee Guy-Yard-Doe, he is the Brewers best pitcher not named Zack Greinke. Gallardo has been the best pitcher on the Brewers for a couple years now, and finally has the pressure off of him to be perfect every time out. With acquisitions of Greinke from the Kansas City Royals and pitcher Shaun Marcum from the Toronto Blue Jays, Gallardo will be in good company instead of standing alone in the spotlight. He's had good seasons the past couple years, but like Braun, is still looking to take the next step into great territory, which he certainly has the potential to be.

THINGS TO DO AT THE GAME:

Worry not, non-fans, I haven't forgotten you! Assuming you'll be heeding my advice and going out and buying a ticket to see this up and coming team, here are somethings you can do at Miller Park BESIDES watching the game...

- Tailgating: An absolute must, especially if you're only planning to go to one or two games this season. There's truly nothing like sitting in a lawn chair, cooking some brats, and throwing back a couple cold ones on a 70 degree day. Tailgating at Miller Park is a lot of fun, especially if you got all the right tools for it. So when you go, make sure you pack a...

      • cooler (need something to keep all that beer cold)

      • grill (ballpark food is expensive, cook yourself up a hot dog or two before you go in)

      • game (my personal favorites are bags, cards, or ladder golf)

      • sweatshirt or jacket (unless you're going in July, those night games can get cold later)

      • smile (games are supposed to be fun, win or lose, let loose and have a blast)

- Take Pictures: Miller Park is a beautiful stadium, with lots to see and do. There's lots of fanfare, and statues of players all over the place. Make sure you read who is who and why they were so important to the team (though if you accidentally get your picture taken with the Bud Selig statue, just tell people you thought it was Bob Uecker).

- The Sausage Race: After the 6th inning of every game, the Great Sausage Race takes place between the 5 Klement's sausages, which also happen to all be sold in the stadium. It's always an exciting event, and everyone picks their pony right before it begins (I recommend the Italian as the safe bet). If you wanna make things interesting, bet a dollar each on it or offer to get the person(s) you're competing against a snack if they pick correctly. It heats up the competition just a little more (no punt intended).



BEST PLACES TO CATCH THE BREWERS GAME AWAY FROM THE STADIUM:

In Madison - "State Street Brats"
Many a time have I gone down to Brats to catch a game with people. Especially during the summer, you can't go wrong eating inside or out with all the TVs they have there. This way, you can still get a brat and a beer without having to drive an hour and a half to do so.

In Milwaukee - Anywhere on Water/Old 3rd street
Now, often when I'm in Milwaukee, I'm not going to a bar to watch a game because I'll have a ticket to go see the game in person. But tickets are expensive, and as stated before, food and drinks are not cheap at the ballpark. If you're looking to catch the game still without dropping a lot of money, I can honestly say most of my best experiences have been on Water street. Whether it be Hoffbrauhaus, Water Street Brewery, or Major Goolsby's, you really can't go wrong in Brew City.

At Home - On the radio
Brian Anderson and Bill Schroeder do a fine job on TV despite their criticisms and quirky humor, but if you really want to get the best experience at home, turn on Bob Uecker on the radio. Bob's been doing broadcasts since the Brewers started playing in Milwaukee, and he'll be sure to get you chuckling a little with the jokes he tells in between all the action. He's a legend in his own right, and a really great mind on the game.





GUYS WHOSE JOBS WILL BE CHANGING BY JUNE:

- Yuniesky Betancourt: The reports were coming in a plenty this offseason, "this is the worst shortstop in baseball". Could it be true? We'll find out. His spring was nice, but when a guy is making what the beat writer can only describe as 'lazy errors', that doesn't instill a lot of confidence in me. If the Brewers are serious about contending, he won't be the starting shortstop by July 1st.
     • Potential replacements: (internal) Craig Counsell, Eric Farris; (through trade) Jack Wilson, Rafael Furcal


- Carlos Gomez: Gomez is an immensely talented player, but with a head made of rock. Defensively, he's outstanding, one of the best center fielders in the game. Offensively, he's useless. He just doesn't get it. If you ever want an analogy for Gomez, watch "Major League" and the character Willie Mays Hayes. Gomez is a duplicate of him, except I doubt he'll ever make the changes necessary to be a good offensive player. Prove me wrong, Carlos. Prove me wrong.
     • Potential replacements: (internal) Nyjer Morgan, Brandon Boggs; (through trade) See: Nyjer Morgan


- Erick Almonte: Almonte had a monster spring, hitting almost .500 in extensive AB's. He has power, can play 1B, 3B, and LF, and is the only RH hitter off the bench. So what's wrong? Well, good spring training stats mean about as much as Monopoly money: looks good, but not really worth anything. Almonte is 33, a career minor leaguer, and really doesn't do much defensively. It's not that good spring trainings haven't translated, look at Casey McGehee, now a solid start for the Brewers. If anyone was this year's Casey McGehee though, it was Brandon Boggs, and the Brewers decided to send him to their AAA affiliate. Won't surprise me if he makes it back eventually though.
     • Potential replacements: (internal) Brandon Boggs, Eric Farris; (no trade needed)


OTHER TEAMS TO WATCH FOR:

- Chicago Cubs: Not because I think they'll be all that great, but because they are the Brewers greatest rival right now. Every game between them is an exciting one, and you can bet your bottom dollar that all those Cubs fans won't be forgetting that Packers-Bears NFC Championship game anytime soon. The Wisconsin-Illinois rivalry is alive and well.

- Cincinnati Reds: The team who I'd call the Brewers #1 competition for the NL Central crown right now. They're coming off a division win last year, and one of their first playoff appearances in a while too. They have a good, young team, and won't be looking to give up their title as ' division favorites' without a fight. Brewers and Reds square off right away tomorrow.

- St. Louis Cardinals: They lost their best pitcher for the season, but they still have the best player in the game in Albert Pujols, a hitter who will forever be in league with names like Babe Ruth and Hank Aaron. The Cardinals and Brewers have been igniting a little bit of a rivalry of their own over the past few years, making their games even more exciting, especially since they're the next biggest competition in the division. I'd hate to ever make this type of metaphor, but if the Cubs-Cardinals rivalry is the baseball equivalent of Bear-Packers, the Brewers are becoming the Vikings. I think the Brewers have more class than the men in purple, but those two teams do not like the Brew Crew one bit.

- Philadelphia Phillies: The Phillies are experiencing many injuries right now, but they have one of the best pitching staffs baseball has seen since the Braves of the 90's (which featured 3 sure fire Hall of Famers). They are the favorites right now to represent the NL in the World Series this year, so if anyone else wants to get there, they'll have to go through them.

- Boston Red Sox: They are mine and just about everyone else's pick to represent the AL in the World Series. They have a powerful lineup, a pair of good, young pitchers, and experienced veterans who have done it all before. They are going to be an absolute force this season.

- Seattle Mariners: Just so Captain Trailblazer feels represented. Ichiro is a good player too.

BASEBALL MOVIES TO WATCH:

- Major League: A classic, and it stars Charlie Sheen. #winning

- Bull Durham: Another classic, it's Kevin Costner being Kevin Costner, only more awesome.

- Field of Dreams: Cheesy, corny...yeah yeah, so it's a bit sappy. Whatever. It's a feel-good movie, and baseball is almost a sub plot to the idea of following your heart.

- The Sandlot: Kids in the 60's lose a ball signed by Babe Ruth to a neighbor's guard dog. Hilarity ensues.

The Obligatory Blog Post Before the Opening Day Blog Post

 Hi kids, how are we all doing lately?

Me? Oh, I've been just peachy. It's been almost a month since my last blog post, but I swear I have a good explanation for it (er...sorta). Not only do I work most of the day away, but when I'm not working, I'm tuning up my resumé and continuing to hunt for job. Annoying, but something we all must do, like writing this blog post.

Not only that, but thanks to my pal R-Matts (who I sincerely hope reads this post to see the adorable nickname I just came up with), my TV show watching has been increased two-fold. In the past month, I have chugged out 'Modern Family', 'Arrested Development' (for the 2nd time), and have begun 'Deadwood' and 'Mad Men'. When I'm not watching those, I've been spending my time watching the NCAA tournament. If you didn't get a chance to read my post evaluating Wisconsin and Marquette's chances, go back and read them to see how dead on I was.

Despite their exits in the round of 16, I'm proud of my boys. That's a rare feat for any school, hell, even a 1-seeded team like Pittsburgh couldn't get there. That said, I like the rest of you have a completely busted bracket. In the 3 I did, only 1 did I have UConn in the Final Four, and I regretted that selection almost immediately. Butler doesn't shock me after they made the championship game last year, but VCU? Obviously the selection committee isn't so stupid, are they? (VCU was HIGHLY criticized for being chosen to make the tournament over several teams). And hey, did you know Shaka Smart was from Wisconsin? Just one of many winners this year from America's Dairyland, let's quickly break down this year in sports in the state of Wisconsin:

- 2011 is kicked off with Wisconsin Badgers football in their first Rose Bowl (as well as BCS bowl) in 10 years. They lost, but an 11-2 season is nothing to scoff at.


- The Packers just squeak into the playoffs but winning consecutive 'do or die' games, and then go on a miraculous run of winning 3 road playoff games to make the Superbowl and defeat the Pittsburgh Steelers to bring home their 13th NFL title, 1st since 1997. No matter what happened after, this completely made my year already.

- Wisconsin Badgers women's hockey wins what feels like their 100th championship. Obviously, that's an exaggeration, but these girls are well coached and good year in and year out. An easily overlooked achievement.

- Wisconsin Badgers and Marquette Golden Eagles men's basketball both make the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament. One of them would have great, but both is just awesome.

- Shaka Smart, native of Madison, WI, takes his 11-seeded underdog Virginia Commonwealth to the Final Four. A truly outstanding achievement for a young coach on the rise.

And I'm sure there are more teams who have been involved with national tournaments and athletics, and probably a few coaches or players from the state, but these are the ones I can think of off the top of my head. Something is in the air, Wisconsin, and our athletes are drinking whatever is in that water supply we got pumping right now (though it's probably frozen since it's March 28th and still 30 degrees outside).

What more could this year hold? Guess we'll just have to wait and see. I won't let the Bucks bring me down, we've got Opening Day right around the corner, and I'll be doing a super duper awesome Opening Day primer on Wednesday for all of you to read (for the baseball fans and ones who don't care as much). Smell those brats folks, no matter what the temperature is outside, spring is in the air...

Just a Bit Outside: 5 Reasons to Watch "The Room"

Recently, I have been on a binge of watching Rifftrax, a re-incarnation of the show "Mystery Science Theatre 3000" online. If you are unfamiliar with Rifftrax or MST3K, it basically consists of three guys who watch the worst movies ever made and rip on them while they watch them. On Rifftrax, they sell their dub over jokes through downloadable mp3s, but you either need to have the DVD or download the movie. Now they have more of a focus on modern movies like the Twilight series, the new Star Wars Trilogy, and High School Musical, which increases your chance of already owning the movie you want the track for. They're very cheap too, so it's worth it (at least in my opinion).

So what does this have to do with "The Room", you might be asking? Well, as they dub over very bad movies, it was only a matter of time before I stumbled upon it, and stumble I did.

"The Room" is an independent film that came out in 2003, and is arguably the worst movie I've ever seen. The only reason anyone even knows about it is because of the cult status it has gained since its release, becoming a "midnight movie" with audience participation parallel to that of the "Rocky Horror Picture Show". What's more is that the director is constantly promoting the film, milking it for every penny its worth (which should be nothing), to the extent where he attends these midnight viewings whilst everyone else is making fun of his movie. Bizarre, no? The next question you might be asking is "why would I want to watch what you called 'the worst movie ever'?" So, without further ado, I present to you 5 reasons to watch "The Room":

1) It's so bad, it's good. You may hear this about a lot of movies, but "The Room" is the absolute definition of this statement. The acting, the story, the serious mood...somehow all together, these create the perfect concoction of comedy. It's absolutely hilarious, without even trying to be. You'd swear that you have to try and make a movie this bad, but you can just tell it isn't. It's 100% legit, which in some ways kind of makes it sad at the same time.

2) The Characters. I've already mentioned how bad the acting is, but wherever the director found these people is beyond me. The director, Tommy Wiseau, actually plays the main character in this movie, and is as bad an actor as he is bizarre. He has a ridiculous accent of some European origin, yet it's hard to place from where exactly.

The characters' interactions with one another is really what makes this movie go though, as it sometimes seems like they're receiving little to no direction. They highly overreact to little things, and then are completely emotionless to things they should have reactions to (the main female character tells her mom "not to worry about it" after her mom reveals she was diagnosed with cancer...but don't worry, this is a MINOR subplot).

3) The Seemingly Directionless Narrative. This movie jumps from one event to the next, with seemingly no concept of time. Characters appear on screen, without ever being identified, and then disappear without anyone seeming to notice they've gone. Many things happen that don't make sense, or are at the very least just flat out confusing. Character motivation just seems to be thrown out the window, as everyone is bi-polar (not really, but it sure feels that way). The main plot is already pointless and boring, so everything in between catches your attention and just confuses the hell out of you.

The strangest thing by far is the random sex scenes. Every so often, you'll be treated to a long, random, and frankly, pretty boring sex scene between two of the characters. They are so unnecessary and not in the least bit 'hot', and they go on forever. It's almost like a god awful softcore porno at times.

4) The Quotability. Even almost a week later, I find myself quoting some of the characters' idiotic statements. And you can't miss them either, because they are repeated almost to the point where you feel like it's intentional. The phrase "don't worry about it" is used over 30 times in this movie, and that's not a joke. I already noted how Wiseau's character has a Borat-like accent, and it only adds to the magic of the script's awful dialogue.

5) Trying To Figure Out Why It's Called "The Room". Most of the movie takes place in the apartment of two of the main characters, but it has little to no relevance to anything involving the movie's plot other than being a setting. The room isn't haunted or anything, it's just a room. The characters spend some time in the bedroom, on the roof, in the streets...it just doesn't totally make sense. I mean, it sort of makes sense, but it really doesn't. You'd have to go too deep into the (clearly) deranged mind of the director to figure it out.


So in case my reasons aren't enough, let me give you the guarantee that you will laugh at least once at this movie. I would strongly recommend downloading it, because it's really not worth your money, but it's totally worth seeing. I also would like to add that Rifftrax makes it even more funny, and I think you'd be cheating yourself if you miss out on it. In fact, do what I did: go straight for the Rifftrax dubbed version online. Their commentary detracts nothing from it, only adding to the madness, and they point out things you may have even missed in the midst of your constant head shaking.

So get online, search for it in google (there's torrents and streams galore on there, I recommend OVguide for streams), and enjoy. You wont regret it.

Road to March Madness

In the midst of teams gathering for Spring Training this week, basketball season heated up quite a bit. While I won't claim to be a big expert on the NBA (and specifically with the Bucks continuing to spin their wheels), certainly some of the trades that took place will help many teams contend...but that's for another time. Today I'd like to talk about college basketball, and what to expect from the big tournament next month.

There are few playoff setups in sports today that really get it right. Partially because of how some sports are played limits their formats, partially because few are able to capture the tense atmosphere. The NCAA basketball tournament, which has been given several catchy nicknames like "The Big Dance" and "March Madness", is without a doubt my favorite format. Each game matters, and I'm convinced any team can win on any given day. That's something that can't be said for rotisserie and best of 7 formats, the excitement just lacks a little there. Because if you lose, you always have the next game to look forward to.

Not only is each game exciting, but the field is so wide and there's so much action going on. If one game turns into a blowout, it's likely there will be another one at the same time which might be more exciting. The game makes it so that the teams can keep playing day after day, and there are no week breaks until it gets down to the finals, so there's just non-stop action. You can argue whether its the best format, but it's by far my favorite.

So who should we keep an eye on? Personally, I don't see a clear cut favorite. For as good as Duke is, they are beatable. Kansas is a very good team, but they also can have an off day. The Big East is all great, but it's been almost a decade since one of those teams won a national championship. My advice is to ride the number 1 seeds till a tough matchup and then make a gut call. People love upsets, but these teams get those seeds for a reason, far too often do people try to call a #1 upset too early. Sometimes you get lucky, but the rest of the time you're just being stupid. Chances are if a #1 loses early, nobody in your pool called it.

Wisconsin and Marquette are both coming off big road victories this week. In the Big Ten, home court advantage means a lot. So to beat a fairly good Michigan team in their house on a buzzer beater is nothing to discredit, it was a solid game that Wisconsin overcame with some heroics. Marquette gutted out a hard fought match at #14 ranked UConn. Gold Eagles fans be proud, I'm about 99% sure Marquette just punched their ticket for the dance with that victory. Late season signature wins like that mean the world no matter what your record is.

Jordan Taylor

I'm uncertain what to expect from each team, both of whom have weaknesses that can be exposed by even decent teams. Wisconsin lives outside the paint, and with a pressure defense on them, they struggle to score consistently. If they are going to be successful, they need to use some of their size inside with Leuer and Brusewitz and try to open up the outside more for their prime scorer Jordan Taylor. If Wisconsin will have one difference maker this postseason, it will be Taylor, who has turned out to be a pretty special player. He is a true guard who remains fairly consistent. A game manager who averages 18 points, 4 assists, and 4 rebounds a game. That's solid production, and it's his well rounded game that makes him such an important player.

Jimmy Butler

For Marquette, the other end of the court seems to be their issue: defense. It's partly that Big East style, but this team can't get away with some of sloppy fundamentals they show. The silly turnovers, the breakdowns in coverage, they've shown time and again that a 10-point lead is not safe. However, when they get on a roll, they can't be stopped. They can hurt in you so many ways with several scoring threats, and if they can limit the mistakes, they can beat anyone. Inside and outside, they can come at you in so many fashions. If Marquette will have one difference maker this postseason, it will be Darius Johnson-Odom or Jimmy Butler. Each brings a somewhat similar game, but strength where the other lacks. DJO can be a big time scorer and carry the team on his back, as he showed against UConn last night. Butler makes his presence known inside, and can rebound with the best of them, grabbing an average of 6 a game. Butler has been known to have a hot hand too, and is mostly the go-to shooter when they need points. Both need to bring their 'A' games to this tournament to be successful.

That said, my expectation for each team is unfortunately not great. With some good luck and slight adjustments mid-games, each in their own right can make a solid run, but I think it'd be a hope and prayer to even see Wisconsin make the Final Four. This has been quite a year for the state so far though, we'll see if that magic from the Rose Bowl appearance and the Superbowl win can carry over.

Getting over that Winter cold? At least it's not the 'injury bug'...

After a couple days of exercises and drills, the Brewers had their first bad injury day, with good news and bad news.

I''m always been a bad news first kind of guy, so I'll issue it like that: catcher Jon Lucroy, who is the projected opening day catcher, fractured his right pinky today. No word yet on how long it'll keep it out, but it is certainly a significant injury. I had seen this year as being Lucroy's coming out party, and I'm very fond of him as a person as well as a player, so I'm taking the news maybe a lil harder than most. As manager Roenicke said though "at least it's very early in camp". I'm no doctor, but I could see him being back by opening day. It's just unfortunate as he'll miss time getting to know and work with 2 new starting pitchers.

Speaking of, one of those new pitchers, Zack Greinke, was held out of his bullpen session today because of a "rib contusion" (basically, bruised side). Not seen as being serious, and he even said he would have gone out, but the medical staff wanted to take every precaution with their new prize. Greinke did an interview yesterday about his social anxiety disorder, which made him leave baseball for a year back in 2005. Basically, Greinke isn't a big people person, which is completely contradictory to the type of fanfare players receive in baseball. However, he remains focused on the game and has said he wants to go out and do a good job. So what if he doesn't want to give interviews every day? As long as he pitches well, I see no issue worrying about here.

Top prospect Mark Rogers also experienced 'shoulder tightness' today, and had his bullpen session cut short as a precaution. He said it wasn't bad, just sore. Of course, having had 2 surgeries on that shoulder in the past, it's no surprise the medical staff had him call it day when it happened. After being on a limited program in his recovery the past few years, Mark is reins free and ready to let it all hang out, I'm excited to see what he can bring to the table.

And last but not least, Mat Gamel, who is just one injury after another it seems, had a tight oblique and cannot hit for 7-8 days. Poor Mat,  lots of talent, but seemingly no stamina. I saw it as a longshot for him to make the 25-man roster, and now that goes even further.

But in light of all these injuries, they could all be far, far worse. The Cardinals received word today that they may have lost Adam Wainwright, their ace and best pitcher, for the season as he will likely need Tommy John surgery. Tough break for him and that team, and it certainly is a giant blow to their chances of winning the division. Not that I'd count out any team with Albert Pujols, but Wainwright has been their rock the past 2 seasons, he will be sorely, sorely missed. Look no further than the Diamondbacks to see how losing your best pitcher for two seasons can undermine your chances, even when your #2 is more than capable of taking that #1 spot.

Live Highlights: Ramblin' Gorm vs. Captain Trailblazer

So one of my friends and I have intense conversations about sports, and every time these conversations tend to have exchanges that are seemingly so bizarre, it'd be a crime not to share them with the world. So here we're some highlights from tonight's post-Carmelo Anthony trade franzy in the NBA...

(Note: Captain Trailblazer has set a trend of breaking up his statements into a multiple sentence structure that for some reason reminds me of a series of haikus, so pay close attention to the voice changes)

*I can't figure out why there's random spaces, but enjoy anyway!

CT: I'm glad melo is over
CT: because other trades can now drop
CT: but denver did ok, the NJ package was way better

CT: im not too high on galo or chandler

CT: and the picks suck

RG: chandlers decent

RG: doesnt golden state stink?

RG: could be high picks

CT: golden states second round i think

CT: the first was a NY pick in 2014

CT: which wont suck

RG: yeah but high second round

CT: so what

RG: so

RG: trade those picks for a better one

CT: second round turns out like shit 98% of the time

RG: eh

RG: milwaukee has actually done decent with 2nd round

CT: ya

CT: redd was solid

CT: there are always exceptions

CT: but a vast majority

CT: dont stick at all

RG: yeah

RG: true

CT: then again

CT: neither do 1st rounders

RG: so thats why i say they could trade em

CT: ya, i get what you are saying

CT: but smart people

CT: wouldnt trade for those picks

CT: unfortunately

CT: its the NBA

CT: and a bunch of GMs are retards

RG: well i think weve realized the sports world isnt filled with genius gms

CT: its sad that we realize they shouldnt do it

CT: and they do it anyways

RG: right

CT: I wonder what wuld happen if a GM ran his team based on bloggers recommendations

RG: then you get the dallas cowboys

CT: boom roasted

RG: jerry jones is probably the only owner who runs his team based on madden rankings

RG: al davis tries to run his team like billy beane

RG: and olshey runs his like omar minaya

CT: lol

(later in the conversation...)

CT: did you hear about this news

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash1/hs764.ash1/165524_195220300488216_100000007417635_790908_915540_n.jpg

RG: yeah

RG: lol

RG: never would happen

RG: theyre too busy looking for a YOUNG guy with a cannon who throws pick after pick

CT: like jay cutler?

RG: and rex grossman

CT: that was my next guess

CT: i mean he had a good audition with the redskins

RG: decent, ya

CT: pick on his first throw?

RG: think it was a fumble returned for a td

CT: close enough

CT: it would have been a pick

CT: we all know that

RG: probably

*Keep an eye out soon for guest posts from Captain Trailblazer (who may at that point choose a different pen name), and talks of a potential...wait for it...podcast. All this and more coming soon from the Ramblin' Gorm!
 

Looking Into the Crystal Ball: The 2011 Milwaukee Brewers

Ahh, spring training...a sign that the baseball season is about to be upon us.

While Wisconsin is currently being bombarded with yet more snow (white-out!), the Brewers are gathering down at their facility in Maryvale, Arizona in preparation for the upcoming baseball season, which begins in just a little over a month.

It was an awfully busy offseason for baseball, and it appears far more free agents have found jobs this year than last year. I wish I could do a whole post on the wonder that is the "minor league deal", but alas, that is not what this is about.

The Phillies made possibly the biggest move of the offseason, stealing Cliff Lee from right under the Yankees noses, and forming one of the best rotations many have seen in the past two decades (hello early-90's Atlanta Braves).

But of course, here in America's Dairyland, people are still buzzing over the Zack Greinke trade (and a Packers' Superbowl victory, but that's sooo two weeks ago). I am still pumped over this trade, even if a lot of the players involved we're guys I was looking forward to seeing in Brewer unis at some point. I'll gladly hand the Phillies the label of NL favorites right now (sorry San Fran), but the Brewers have just as legit a chance to contend with great players like Greinke and Ryan Braun. But who outside of them will make this possibly a team to remember? Wonder no more, as here are some observations I've made for this upcoming Brewers' season...

Player to Watch: Prince Fielder, 1B

All eyes were on Fielder following this past offseason. A lot of fans, myself included, thought he was gone for good. As good of a player he is, there was no way the Brewers could compete without top tier pitching, and it would have had to take Fielder to land one of those. Well, I was wrong. Melvin cleaned out the farm and landed a couple big kahunas in Zack Greinke and Shaun Marcum, giving the club one more of Fielder batting behind Braun.

Fielder's contract negotiations went precisely nowhere between his evil agent Scott Boras and Brewers' GM Doug Melvin, so this is indeed a contract year for Fielder. I love that term: contract year. It's the last year of a contract in which the player basically needs to prove to interested teams that he will be worth the large investment he seeks in free agency. For Fielder, this needs to be his swan song on the Brewers. And if he really wants to get $200 million from someone, he's going to have to hit his ass off after a disappointing 2010. Look for him to put up gaudy offensive numbers this year, reminding folks again why he is still one of the premier sluggers in the league.

Pitcher to Watch: Shaun Marcum, SP

Greinke will obviously be the star of the rotation, and Gallardo will be Gallardo, but the most overlooked acquisition was Shaun Marcum. I was fortunate enough to see Marcum pitch live 2 years ago while still on the Blue Jays, and suffice to say, I was impressed. I've never felt like he's completely got his due, constantly being overshadowed by Roy Halladay, who's arguably the best pitcher in baseball this side of Felix Hernandez. Putting up a 3.64 ERA with a 3.74 FIP in the powerful AL East is impressive enough for my taste. He doesn't strike a ton out, but he doesn't walk many either, nor does he give up many homeruns. He's a smart pitcher who knows how to pitch, and has a fantastic changeup which is deadly to lefties (sucks to be you, Joey Votto and Jay Bruce). Marcum will definitely be on my radar as a guy who could really surprise a lot of people this season. A switch to the NL has been favorable for many AL pitchers, and I have a feeling that will hold true for both Marcum and Greinke who will now only face 8 hitters each time out instead of 9.

Player Most Likely to Improve: Jonathan Lucroy, C

I am a big fan of Captain Jon Luc (lil nickname for you Trekkies out there). Not for just the way he plays, but his work ethic as well. Lucroy all through the minors was described as "solid" both at and behind the plate, and it started to show a little last season. What many forget is that the plan was never for Lucroy to see significant time with the big league club in 2010, many projected him to push for a starting spot THIS year. But due to an untimely injury to Gregg Zaun and the defensive ineptitude of George Kottaras, Lucroy was pushed into playing time and held his own fairly well. One thing Lucroy excelled at greatly in the minors was his plate patience, his ability to take a walk and never give away an AB. Going from AA to major league pitching is a big jump, and it showed during his time as a starter. He doesn't have a great arm, but it's good enough, and he has great precision with it. Lucroy is a smart catcher with a good attitude and a hard work ethic, and he handles most pitchers well (save Randy Wolf, which always went weird for some reason). I expect his offensive game to improve, as well as some defensive skills. Having that taste of the majors last year can only have helped him rather than hurt him, he should be a rock there for at least a couple years.

Pitcher Most Likely to Improve: Yovani Gallardo, SP

After two years as the Brewers ace, how can Yo go up any further you might be asking. Thus far, Gallardo has been a very solid player, yet I can't help  shake the feeling he's always capable of more. Before experiencing some issues with his side last season, Gallardo was putting up excellent numbers, and noticeably still looked hurt when he came back and his numbers dipped. Despite missing some starts and being skipped at the end of the year, he still struck out 200 batters last season. With the pressure off of him now to be THE guy in the Brewers rotation (sorry Zack), I think Gallardo has his best year this season. He has all the tools to be a great pitcher, the last thing to do is to put it all together in a full season.

Player Most Likely to Disappoint: Corey Hart, RF

Many of you are probably wondering how on earth Betancourt misses this honor. My answer is that you have to have expectations of someone for them to disappoint you, and as of right now, I don't have any expectations for him. In fact, he can only EXCEED my expectations at this point. I have a similar, yet more optimistic outlook for Carlos Gomez as well (he at least goes all out when he plays).

Now, this doesn't mean I think Hart will fall flat on his face. I'd put Jose Bautista here if I were writing about the Blue Jays, because very few guys can improve upon the numbers he put up last season. Same goes for Hart, sort of. I expect him to still be a good offensive player, but perhaps not quite the power hitter he was in 2010. 30 homeruns for Hart again seems like a lot to ask, though I must admit his new found plate patience has been nice to watch. With his improved eyesight, Hart has shown he can be a big contributor in a lineup. However, I just don't think he can keep up that production. Prove me wrong, Corey. Prove-me-wrong!

Pitcher Most Likely to Disappoint: Kameron Loe, RP

I struggled to pick someone here. I almost picked Axford, ALMOST, but something stopped me. I honestly don't think Axford's 2010 was a fluke, and I think he remains rather consistent. A young fireballer who appeared to be improving as the season went on, what's not to like? I chose Loe because sinkerballers are very inconsistent. Look at Todd Coffey: rockstar for the Brewers pen in '09, your average joe in 2010. Derek Lowe? Ace for the Dodgers in '08, overpaid disappointment in Atlanta in '09. Loe had a lot of appearances last season in what was really a fairly short period of time, and was still pretty efficient. I think he can still be a good arm out of the pen, but perhaps not as effective as he was in his super-relief role last season.

Minor League Player to Watch: Logan Schafer, CF

Ever since the Greinke trade which sent center field heir apparent Lorenzo Cain away, my eyes immediately turned to Schafer. He missed most of 2010 recovering from a groin injury, yet still managed to show no rust during his stint in the Arizona Fall League (where most teams since their best prospects). Schafer has proved to be a superb defender, with a fairly good bat to boot. I think a lot of people want to see a little more power out of a CF prospect, but he can certainly hold his own. Some question his ceiling, but many did with Cain too following an injury laden '09, and ended up playing his way into the everyday lineup with Milwaukee during the latter part of last season. Schafer has some good tools, maybe not off the charts amazing, but I firmly believe he can prove to be an everyday contributor at some point in the near future with the big league club. After missing most of what would have been his stint with the Brewers' AA affiliate, the heads have decided to keep his progression moving along and plan to have him start in AAA Nashville this year with the Sounds. Mat Gamel, Caleb Gindl, and Kentrail Davis will be other interesting names to watch.

Minor League Pitcher to Watch: Mark Rogers, SP

After the farm system was completely cleaned out, Rogers was almost by default named the Brewers top prospect for 2011. After a rash of injuries following being the Brewers' first round pick in 2004, Rogers has worked his way back up through the system to AAA, where he'll likely begin the 2011 season. Rogers is still only 24 years old, having been drafted out of high school, and has an electric fastball that can top out at 100 mph. His inability to consistently go more than 5 innings a start due to control issues and healthy precaution may limit Rogers future as a starter, so this season will be especially important for him to prove that he can stay in that spot. Rogers' control issues at this stage of is career are mostly due to lack of experience rather than poor development, so there is a chance he could improve in that area enough to stick as a starter. If not though, Rogers could still be a very valuable asset out of the bullpen with a 5-pitch repertoire including his vaunted fastball and a big curveball, so either way his future is bright. Barring any further injury issues, it's not a matter of if he'll see time with the big league club this season, but when.

Other names to watch in the minors will be Amaury Rivas, Wily Peralta, and Cody Scarpetta.

The Brewers will be successful if...Rickie Weeks can stay healthy, and the players can buy into what new skipper Ron Roenicke preaches. Weeks has shown that when healthy, he is one of the better 2B in the entire league, with all the tools to be great. I have little doubt that if he can stay on the field, he will have a good season. Roenicke is perhaps the most overlooked transaction of the offseason, but all too important. His experience with the a successful Angels franchise should prove valuable, but getting to know the players could take time. Barriers between some of the players and Macha proved to be somewhat of an issue last season. Roenicke has all the parts in place, he just needs to make the engine go. Don't be surprised if the team gets off to somewhat of a slow start.

Brewers' record at the end of the season: 90-72

And with how wide open this division is, that could be good enough for 1st place. It's playoffs or bust for the Brewers again this season, though with only the expected departure of Fielder next offseason, they could be a contender again in 2012 if all falls into place. The key to this season will be getting a lot of guys to stay healthy and keeping the clubhouse in tact. Chemistry is perhaps an underrated and at the same time overrated word in sports. You can put together a team of superstars who have never played together and still succeed (like the Yankees), or you can do the same thing and watch them play for nobody but themselves, ultimately falling flat on their faces (like the Cowboys). Roenicke seems to be a smart guy, and this is a talented group of individuals. The next step is just putting it all together and start winning games. Regardless of how it ends, it should be a good journey and a fun team to watch all season long.

Take Me Out To The Ball Game...

Gimme Some Money!

NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell (left) and NFLPA Exec. Director DeMaurice Smith (right)

With each passing day, it seems as though the situation with the CBA agreement between the NFL and the NFLPA continues to grow more and more sour. Today, the NFL filed a charge against the players' union, saying that "the union's strategy amounts to an unlawful anticipatory refusal to bargain", which is what the players' union was accusing the owners of, and so on and so forth...blah blah blah.

Let's get down to the nitty gritty on this, folks. Both sides are at fault here, but for equally understandable reasons. The owners want an 18-game schedule, which I do not see the point of other than pure monetary gain. The Packers averaged almost an IR player a game during the regular season, is 2 more games really necessary? It's no surprise the players want more money, since this is an economic play by the NFL. Let me tell you from experience (and this is just high school mind you), that football players are constantly playing through injury. I can't imagine taking some of those hits in the NFL, they must be absolutely aching by the end of the day. Medical bills are already high, and while they are covered mostly, they do have to pay a pretty penny. I know that if I had to risk two more games of possibly breaking my leg or whatever, I'd ask for more money too. It's entertainment, not war.

On other side though, the owners are afraid of giving the players one thing: more power. Look no further than baseball, folks. Albert Pujols wants $30 million a year. Think about that: 30 million dollars per YEAR. Over ten years. You'd be lucky to see that much money in a lifetime, let alone the $300 million he'll be looking for. No single player, no matter how good they are, is worth that much money. Half the players in baseball aren't even worth 25% of the money they make annually. This is the owners' fear: having the NFL turn into a league where the players can have their way with everything and command ungodly salaries that only large markets like New York and Los Angeles can afford. Every great player that came to the Packers would say 'sayonara' in an instant at the thought of making that much bank when he hit free agency. You would hate it, I would hate it, it'd be bad for football. Hell, it's bad for baseball, but nobody can do a thing about it right now.

So what do these guys need to do to ensure a season will be played in 2011? For lack of a better term: 'grow up'. This clash of egos is sickening. We get enough of it during the regular season with players and coaches talking smack (I'm looking at you, Rex Ryan). There is a middle ground that can be found between these two without making the owners look weak or the players look greedy. The NFL is in its prime right now, it's the top sport in America, and it's setting TV records left and right. The fans deserve better than this for all the loyalty and money the put into football, and it's time for both of them to sit down and talk it out like men. Right now, it seems like it's 50/50 whether or not there will be a season this year, but they'd be stupid to not play. Especially for Packer fans everywhere, the window is wide open for more winning behind the stellar play and leadership of Aaron Rodgers. Speaking of Packers' fans, it's interesting how little say they have in these matters when the team is in fact still publicly owned. I know how all the corporate mumbo jumbo works, but last I checked, Mark Murphy is technically the Packers' VICE president (even though he's constantly referred to as the 'president'). I wonder if some of the Packers' major stockholders really have any say. Not that it would really change anything, but just a curiosity. Either way, following the draft, I have a feeling it's going to be a long, long summer for the NFL.

Beating #1, Packers offseason, and the 'Shammy' awards

It was quite the eventful couple days on the one week anniversary of the Packers' Superbowl championship. One of the major highlights was the Badgers upending #1 ranked Ohio State (again) in Madison. Instead of football though, this time it was Bo Ryan's basketball Badgers getting the student section to rush the field/court. If not for the fact that I was there for the football game, this game at the Kohl Center on Saturday might even rank above that one. Down 15 in the 2nd half, Jordan Taylor literally put the team on his back and carried them all the way to victory, lighting up the Buckeyes for 21 points with multiple assists. Give credit to the rest of the Badgers for coming up with clutch shots, but no one was as impressive as Jordan Taylor was. I've liked him ever since he started seeing time on the court his freshman year (despite some rookie mistakes). He has blossomed into a player who could eventually carry his team when they need him to in the tournament next month. Simply a game to remember, and the performance of a lifetime, it had been 40 years since the Badgers upset a #1 team in basketball. And who was that unfortunate loss handed to? Well, none other than a Bobby Knight-led Ohio State. It all comes full circle, doesn't it?

Following the Badgers' (and maybe the Golden Eagles?) participation in next month's college basketball tournament will be the NFL draft...and it could be a very interesting one as the pending CBA expiration is right around the corner. Player after player will be drafted, but none may even get contracts until the following year! It all depends how stubborn the owners and players union want to be. In the mean time though, the Packers need to decide what to do with a few fairly big names: DE Cullen Jenkins, LB AJ Hawk, RB Brandon Jackson, and QB Matt Flynn.

Jenkins' health history and a possible Johnny Jolly return could very much lead to the end of his tenure as a Green Bay Packer, quite sadly I might add. I like Jenkins as a player, makes an impact when he's on the field, but its always a question of whether or not he'll be on the field week to week.

Hawk is a different case. In what surely can be now called his best year, Hawk stepped in for an injured Brandon Chillar and Nick Barnett to become the Packers' tackles leader on defense. Hawk is by no stretch the elite player the Packers hoped he'd be when he was selected with the 5th overall pick in 2006, but certainly can pack a punch inside. He's owed $10 million, which there is 0% chance of the Packers paying, but if he's willing to take a cut, he could be brought back in a more featured role than planned.

Jackson and Flynn are in different situations, but serve a somewhat similar role. They are really nothing more than depth at each position, yet important depth, as both Grant and Rodgers missed time this year with injuries. Of all the QBs who will be available, I simply think Flynn would be the best option of them all, as he's young, smart, and durable. The Packers should really only lose Flynn if they choose to trade him, and I think they'd have to be really motivated to trade him, like 1st round pick or bust (which with the QB situation around the league, might be conceivable). Jackson on the other hand is a free agent, and would need to be signed to a contract. His value really comes in the passing game, where he proves to be an great blocker from the backfield, as well as good receiver. As a runner though, he is quite lacking in comparison to Starks and Grant. Very tough decision here, for all the players mentioned. It will be interesting to see who stays and who goes.

And last but not least, I did indeed watch the Grammys, if for no other reason than I had nothing better to watch. And yes, they are still terrible. Lady Antebellum is talented, but that song of theirs is now so overplayed that I want to punch a baby every time I hear it. Lady GaGa was her usual bizarre self, and Katy Perry continues to make me wonder how on earth Russell Brand gets to sleep with her every night. Arcade Fire won best album of the year, which according to hipsters everywhere was "redemption". They gave two performances tonight, which I was actually looking forward to since I had heard so much about them. The result was utter disappointment. I expected a little better from a band with a name as great as "Arcade Fire". I don't know if its just that they stink live, but I was left unimpressed. It also could be my musical preference, 'alternative' music (however the hell you even define it now) just doesn't seem to be my bag, bands who sound like them just don't do it for me. Although watching the awards, I realized a lot of music today doesn't do it for me. I'd really like to start a "Save Usher" campaign, he does not need auto-tune. Ever. And he should not give in to some of the talentless hacks who need it to sell records. You're better than that Usher, and we all know it.

SUPERBOWL CHAMPS

It's late right now, and as I laid down in bed, I couldn't help but realize I didn't have to get up in the morning. So instead of forcing myself to sleep, here's a little post on some things I've been mulling over.

What an improbable finish to one of the truly feel-good stories of the season. The Packers, in spite of losing 15 players to the injured reserve, won the Superbowl. As a fan, I couldn't be happier. They earned it every step of the way, overcoming each obstacle as they faced it. I'll admit, the game did have its scary moments and tested my sanity quite a bit (Driver and Woodson going down gave me the feeling of ultimate dread). But in the end, the Pack just overcame one final hurdle to gain a very sweet victory, one I will cherish not just now, but forever.

The best part is, with all those injured players coming back and GM Ted Thompson's ability to find talent from seemingly all corners of the world, the Packers should be competitive for years to come. What's more, I think Aaron Rodgers' mettle and play has proved once more not just how good he is (and I think its safe to say he's now an elite QB), but how truly important the quarterback position is to a team's success.

Just 2 years ago, the Cardinals were in the Superbowl, boasting an up and coming team (albeit in one of the worst divisions in football). Following Warner's retirement, they have completely lost their sense of identity. That same year, behind a revitalized Jake Delhomme, the Panthers were 12-4 (yes, just in 2008 this happened). Last year, Delhomme bombed and got booed out of town. This year? 1-15. It's a fact I hate to admit, because I'm the kind of guy who truly believes in the team sport aspect of football (coming from someone who played offensive and defensive line during his whole career). Yet I can't help but see now just how important it is to have a smart, athletic guy behind center who can put the team on his back (GREG JENNINGS!) when he needs to. Ben Roethlisberger is no slouch either, he wills game-winning drives on a year to year basis and makes it look easy. Look how successful his team has been too the past few years (3 Superbowls in 6 years, anyone?).

Then you get guys like Peyton Manning, Tom Brady...heck, even throw Joe Flacco and Matt Ryan in there, two good young QBs. Why, you ask? Because neither have had a losing season since they've taken over. Manning and Brady have their teams competing year in and year out as well. And this offseason, so many teams are in need of a QB, and there just aren't enough even halfway decent guys out there to be had (we're going to assume the CBA gets all figured out and 2011 football goes on without a hitch). Teams are getting it now after seeing Rodgers come into his own since taking over for Favre, it is a must to have at least a competent quarterback who can make good throws, and an elite one can take you so far.

But QBs can't do it all on their own. There are a few key positions besides QB that are musts in being successful and maintaining success. From my personal view, they are as follows (in order of importance): QB, MLB, LT, S, DE/OLB, WR

You need a QB to lead your team, but you also need someone to lead the defense. That can come in the form of a middle linebacker or a safety (hence why I listed both), and even better if you have both. You need a left tackle to withstand the pass rush and keep your QB standing up, and a WR for him to throw to. DE/OLB is basically a pass rusher, and the position depends on scheme, but basically a guy who can make plays. Your question is probably where is RB: its becoming a backburner in a pass-heavy game. Not that you can get away with a bad RB, but Manning, Rodgers, and Brady prove that if your QB is good enough, you can put a semi-decent RB back there and win. A great one definitely helps, but its not essential the way it once was. On the Packers, they have Rodgers as their QB, Bishop as their MLB (watch SBXLV again and tell me he isn't a stud in the making), an all-pro vet in Clifton at LT, Nick Collins (pick 6 in XLV) at FS, Charles Woodson practically plays strong safety already, Clay Matthews at OLB, and Greg Jennings at WR. There you have a Superbowl team, and one that could contend for years to come.

Leave Photogate behind; Time to look ahead

After some more dispute over this ridiculous team photo issue, everyone is finally 'all good' about it and they can finally move on to things ahead, ya know, like the SUPERBOWL.

Aaron Rodgers was asked a question about his feeling about the IR guys feeling excluded, to which he went into a rant about how they excluded themselves by choosing to rehab elsewhere instead of with the team. To this, Nick Barnett responded angrily about how they went elsewhere to get more focused attention, and questioned team unity. Both players then spoke later and apologized for their statements, and finally we can now move on.

Should Rodgers have said anything? No, don't think he was right in rehashing this whole thing, and he did go out of his way a little to let the media (of all places) know his feelings. That said, Barnett didn't need to respond like that, through Twitter, AGAIN. He did follow immediately with an apology for his outburst and stated he was quitting Twitter. Good call, Nick.

I repeat, if players have issues with something, take care of it behind closed doors and not to the public. Only thing you're hurting is yourselves. Know how I said there was a 30% chance Barnett would be back next season? Drop that to 20%. He's a talented linebacker, but his mouth is running him straight out of Green Bay with the Packers having to deal with the PR mess he's causing. It's sad to say it, cause I've liked Barnett for years, but these outbursts are just getting a tad tiresome.

So what's ahead? Well, the Packers take off tomorrow I believe (maybe Tuesday), and will practice most of the week in preparation for the big game, though they did about 95% of their game planning already this past week. Therefore, should be more polishing that plan this week than anything else, love that approach by McCarthy. Packers should be ready and raring to go come next Sunday.

LB Erik Walden missed practice all this past week, but is on schedule to start at the other OLB spot opposite Clay Matthews, despite LB Frank Zombo finally being healthy. With how Walden has been playing, I think he's earned that right. He should be set to return to action this Wednesday.

A picture is worth a thousand words...

but sometimes the words that preclude that picture can mean more.

A recent controversy with the Green Bay Packers involving some of their IR players being withheld from taking the team Superbowl photo has finally come to a resolve, one that in all reality shouldn't have been an issue in the first place.

The issue in question was that the team was scheduled to take the picture in Arlington on Tuesday, 3 days before the several players on the IR would have arrived. So naturally, the loudest players on the team in Nick Barnett and Jermichael Finley took to their twitter accounts to complain about the exclusion, calling it "sad". McCarthy, after ignoring the complaints, was confronted by the team captains and swayed into changing the picture to Friday instead so all the IR players could be in it as well.

On the one hand, I understand the players on the IR being upset. You want to be a part of the photo after your team made it to the biggest game of your life, I get that. Taking your complaints to Twitter though and making your thoughts public? Not smart. That's a bit childish if you ask me. If you have a problem with the way things are, then call up someone who can plead your case for you, last thing I'm sure McCarthy wants to deal with is players chastising him to the media for being inconsiderate. He's focused on the game, he wants his players focused on the game, and you're being a distraction, whether or not you intended to be.

In McCarthy's response to the situation and following his decision to change the schedule, he said "I think they made a poor decision, what they did," and went on to say it's really a non-issue and no apologies would be given. I don't think he was trying to insult them, but instead trying to say 'whatever, I think they handled it poorly, but it's all good now and we're moving on.' Barnett and Finley have always been big talkers, both pushing a 'Superbowl or Die' campaign all season, that unfortunately neither could see through and had to rely on teammates for. And talk can be good, in the right setting. The fact is, with Desmond Bishop's emergence, I think Nick Barnett's days are numbered. Not that he's a bad player or a bad guy, but he can't stay healthy, and it appears he's fallen out of favor with management. And to be frank, I think Bishop is playing better than Barnett when he was healthy. Finley can get away with some of these antics (and small ones at that), because he's a blossoming star and a great asset on the field.

Again, I should clarify that I don't think they were wrong in wanting to be a part of it, but the way it was handled was wrong and in many ways selfish. It's a non-issue now, but unfortunately for Barnett, he's not helping his case on a team where linebacker will be a very deep position next season. Right now, I'd give it a 30% chance he'll be back with the Packers next season, but until then, he can cheer loud from the sidelines while his team takes to field in a little over a week for a chance at bringing the Lombardi trophy home.