GTA IV

When the biggest game of the year comes out, I usually check it out. That's what happened today when Grand Theft Auto IV hit the shelves. I put about 4 hours into it and it is damn good. The story is great, the characters memorable and the missions so far have been varied. I ended up going with the 360 version because it will have exclusive downloadable content and also because XBox Live is so much better than the rival Playstation Network. I am anxious to get back to it, but it will probably be a little while. It is absolutely for mature gamers only. The language itself is off the charts, not to mention the violence, so wait until the little ones hit the sack before you fire this puppy up. Overall it's just an extremely well-made game. Personally I kinda miss the lighter atmosphere of Bully, but that's probably just me. Anyway, big thumbs up for GTA IV.

To read some more about the game, head over to GTSM where Scott Burress has posted some nice impressions. I'll be posting some more impressions myself as I (slowly) make my way through the game.

Grading the Rams' draft

Overall I like the Rams' draft. Long is a good, safe pick and though lots of folks (including me, initially) ripped on the Rams for taking Avery in the 2nd, O-coordinator Al Saunders was behind the pick because he says he is the best fit for the system. Plus he has been compared to Isaac Bruce coming out of college. That's A-OK with me. The Rams were extremely unimpressed with the top rated receivers, so they followed their convictions.

I also think WR Keenan Burton out of Kentucky will be a fine player as well. I think Avery is the 3rd receiver and Burton will be the 4th. That's good value.

The Rams also beefed up the OL, which was a problem last year because of so many injuries. They think John Greco out of Toledo can challenge Alex Barron for the RT job. And he is versatile and can fill in anywhere when needed. Roy Schuening from Oregon State is also a good prospect. The Rams added some much needed depth to the O-line.

CB Justin King from Penn St. seems awfully raw to me. He reminds me of last year's 3rd round pick Jonathan Wade. He is a great athlete but is not a natural tackler or defender. We'll have to see how he pans out.

Overall, I'd give the Rams a solid B for this draft.

Happy Happy Birthday!!!

My beloved wife Barb turned 38 today. I am sure she has had more pleasant birthdays; the little guy in her womb has been wreaking havoc on her comfort level. We're having family over tonight to celebrate Barb's special day, so that should be fun.

Barb, you are my best friend, an ideal wife and a terrific mother. You make my life better each and every day. I truly appreciate all you do for our family. I hope you get feeling better soon. I know how much of a struggle this pregnancy has been for you. Hopefully the little bugger will be worth all of the trouble!

You have my eternal love and gratitude.

Happy birthday!
Jim

Running blog for 2008 NFL draft

1:24 PM (all times Central) - Rumors abound that Baltimore wants to move up to #2 in order to take QB Matt Ryan ahead of Atlanta. Supposedly standout Baltimore DE Terrell Suggs may be offered to the Rams, in addition to the Ravens' first pick, which is #8 overall. Now adding to the intrigue is that Atlanta may wish to prevent Baltimore from moving up by trading with the Rams. That would only drop the Rams to the #3 overall pick and would still leave Chris Long and Glenn Dorsey on the board. Both of those scenarios are very tempting.

1:42 PM - NFL Network now reports that the Baltimore/St. Louis trade talks are dead. Expect Chris Long to be the Rams pick at #2.

2:02 PM - We are under way! Hey, I thought this was supposed to start at 2:00! The Dolphins' pick of Jake Long is official. The Rams are on the clock!

2:11 PM - It's Chris Long. Not a surprise after all the rumblings of late. Long is the safer player, while Dorsey is the more spectacular. The Rams went conservative and I'm fine with that. Welcome to St. Louis, Chris!

2:18 PM - Atlanta thinks long-term, passing on Glenn Dorsey to take Boston College QB Matt Ryan. How far will Dorsey fall? The wild-card Raiders are on the clock now.

2:27 PM - The Raiders select RB Darren McFadden, thoroughly pissing off all of the Jets fans in attendance. They wanted D-Mac badly.

2:34 PM - Glenn Dorsey goes to the Kansas City Chiefs. At #5, that is one heckuva bargain. The Chiefs have a lot of picks in the draft this year and just may be able to make a move in the AFC West. Now the Jets fans are going bonkers as their beloved team is on the clock.

2:44 PM - Jets fans get a nice consolation prize in DE/LB Vernon Gholston. The guy is an unequaled physical specimen who should have lots of success getting to the passer.

2:50 PM - I can't tell you how nice it is to have the NFL Network and not have to listen to the buffoons over at ESPN. I am sure Chris Berman has been "predicting" the picks just before they are announced. What a clown.

2:50 PM - New England trades their #7 overall pick to New Orleans for their #10 pick. With that pick the Saints select DT Sedrick Ellis out of U.S.C. He is a terrific player who should instantly help the middle of that N.O. defensive line. Baltimore is now on the clock and is supposedly exploring trading down as well.

2:54 PM - Baltimore DOES trade down, to #10 with Jacksonville. The Jaguars are looking to improve on D and may be targeting a DE.

3:00 PM - With the 8th pick in the draft, the Jaguars take DE Derrick Harvey from Florida. Nice pick nice move by Jacksonville to move up and get their man. I had Harvey going a bit later, but then again I don't get paid for my opinion. Cincinnati is up next and they have to be pissed. They were really hoping to get Sedrick Ellis, but New Orleans traded up and took him first.

3:07 PM - The Bengals rebound nicely (in my opinion anyway) by selecting LB Keith Rivers from USC. I think he's the best LB in the draft. So while the Bengals did not get their main man, they still got one heck of a football player. The cheating Patriots are up next.

3:12 PM - Lunch break!!!

3:40 PM - While I was away:
-The Patriots too K Tennessee LB Jerod Mayo. Probably the 2nd best LB behind Keith Rivers. Nice pick.
-The Bills took CB Leodis McKelvin at #11.
-The Broncos took OT Ryan Clady from Boise St. He's well thought of and a good value here.
-The Panthers got a tough runner in Cal's Jonathan Stewart.
-The Bears got a nice OT in Vanderbilt's Chris Williams.

3:45 PM - The Chiefs traded up to the #15 spot and took OT Branden Albert. Wow, the Chiefs have really done some good work here early in the day. Getting Dorsey was a great stroke of luck, and now they address their OL problems by getting a terrific player after trading up.

3:53 PM - The Arizona Cardinals took Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, a CB. Good pick which addresses a real need on the team.

3:56 PM Matt Millen does it again. The Lions select OT Gosder Cherilus from Boston College. Seems like a reach here. He is probably a first-round talent but could have been had later in the round. Perhaps the Lions tried to make a trade back and simply couldn't. And if Cherilus is the top guy left on their board, I guess it's an okay pick. But they left some good RBs on the board. Surprised Rashard Mendenhall, RB from Illinois is still on the board. I would think that he'll be chosen soon.

4:01 PM - The Ravens have traded back up to the #18 pick, ostensibly to get a QB.

4:04 PM - Yep, the Ravens select QB Joe Flacco out of Delaware. It's a reach, IMO. Great arm, but he is going to need lots of polish.

4:13 PM - The Panthers take OT Jeff Otah. Yawn.

4:16 PM - Holy crap! The Panthers gave up an awful lot (including next year's 1st round pick) to move up and get Otah. I don't get that at all. If I am a Carolina fan, I am questioning the Panthers' brain trust in a big way right now.

4:20 PM - Another surprise as Tampa Bay takes noted reefer-man Aqib Talib at #20. He tested positive for marijuana at least once in college. Great talent, but you have to hope he can stay clean in the NFL if you root for the Bucs.

4:30 PM - The Falcons traded up with the Redskins in order to draft OT Sam Baker from USC. They got Matt Ryan earlier, now they (hopefully) got someone to protect Ryan's blind side. I like this pick.

4:37 PM - The Cowboys take Felix Jones with the #22 pick. Like Cowboys' owner Jerry Jones, he is an Arkansas Razorback. Not a surprise pick at all here, even though I think Mendenhall may be the better pro.

4:43 PM - Wow, a real curveball here. Pittsburgh takes Rashard Mendenhall out of Illinois, perhaps because the top offensive line prospects are gone. He'll fit right in with the Steelers' power running game, but the Steelers' don't really need a RB. I guess they are buying into the modern theory that you need 2 good RBs to carry the load.

4:50 PM - The Tennessee Titans spend their first round pick on East Carolina RB Chris Johnson. I would have thought they would go receiver to give QB Vince Young some help. Marshall Faulk loves the pick and notes that Johnson is also a heck of a return man.

4:59 PM - The Cowboys traded up to #25 (from #28), so they must have their sights set on someone. The Seahawks are their trading partner, so they movie back a few spots. With the #25 pick, Dallas selects CB Mike Jenkins. Wow, their secondary is looking tough, as long as Pacman Jones can stay out of prison.

5:04 PM - Houston surprises some people by taking OT Duane Brown from Virginia Tech. Mike Mayock on the NFL Network says he had Brown listed as a late 2nd or early 3rd round pick.

5:09 PM - Boo! The Chargers take CB Antoine Cason from Arizona. He was a guy that I was hoping the Rams might be able to land. Nice selection for the Chargers.

5:11 PM - Despite my pining for Antoine Cason, who the Chargers just nabbed, the Rams look to be in good shape in the 2nd round. Not a single WR has been picked yet, and the Rams will have some good ones to choose from. Looking forward to seeing which way they go.

5:15 PM - Seattle selects USC defensive end Lawrence Jackson with their pick. Meh.

5:19 PM - Rams arch rival San Francisco takes DT Kentwan Balmer from North Carolina. The last few drafts see the 'Niners trying to really stack that defense.

5:26 PM - Jets fans go wild as they have traded back into the 1st round. Green Bay makes the deal with them. With the pick, the Jets take TE Dustin Keller out of Purdue. He's very athletic and should help the Jets as a pass catcher. The Super Bowl champion Giants are on the clock.

5:35 PM - The Giants take Miami S Kenny Phillips. The first round is over and the Rams are set up beautifully to take the receiver of their choice in round 2!

5:39 PM - Miami gets great value by taking DE Phillip Merling to start round 2. He has first round talent but dropped a bit because he suffered a sports hernia injury a while back.

5:40 PM - The Rams are on the clock!

5:43 PM - The Rams pull off their usual 2nd round shocker by taking University of Houston WR Donnie Avery. He is a super-fast guy, but considered very raw. There were many more polished receivers available. I can't believe they passed on DeSean Jackson or Limas Sweed. UGH!!!


Well, that wraps up my coverage of the 1st round of the draft. It was pretty wild, with lots of trades and some real surprises. I am happy with the Chris Long pick, but the selection of Donnie Avery with their #2 pick - particularly when he probably would have been available in the 3rd round - is a disappointment. I'll have more on the draft later.

It's finally here!

Draft day is upon us! Latest word out of St. Louis (via Bernie Miklasz) is that the while the Rams are leaning towards taking DE Chris Long at #2 overall, they really would like to trade out of the #2 spot. He also states that it is possible that the Rams could draft a player for someone else and then trade that player. I think if Dorsey is the pick at #2, that might mean that a trade is indeed coming.

I will begin the continuous draft blog once the first round gets underway.

Draft tidbits

Bernie Miklasz of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports that although LSU defensive tackle Glenn Dorsey is the #1 rated player on the Rams board and has been the odds-on favorite to be the Rams' pick, there is growing momentum within the organization to go with DE Chris Long. The article is here.
Although I would be fine with either player, I have been leaning towards Dorsey as of late. I do think he's the best player in the draft and will likely have a bigger impact than Long will. Long fills more of an immediate need for the Rams, but Dorsey could make the interior defensive line something really special. Teams would be hard pressed to run to the inside on the Rams if Dorsey is anchoring the middle.

In other news, it looks like I may in fact have the NFL Network in time for the draft! I have had Charter Cable for ages, but earlier this month one of their employees apparently made a clerical error when reporting a cable box as being stolen or lost. It looks like they made a mistake (probably just one number mistyped) and entered our box's number. That in turn led them to shut off our digital cable without a moments notice. I called and asked it to be turned back on, but they wanted me to run the box out to one of their outlets so they could verify the number. I said that I wasn't going to do that, as it was their mistake. They then offered to send someone out to verify the number, but not at any convenience to us. So my wife called up Dish Network and they are coming out today to install a satellite dish for us. This whole turn of events is great, because Charter did not carry the NFL Network, but Dish Network does. If they get it hooked up today then I will be able to watch the NFL Network's in-depth draft coverage and won't have to rely on ESPN's less-than-stellar coverage. Having the choice of watching the draft without ESPN goofball Chris Berman is just too good to be true. Let's just hope the install goes okay.

Also I want to remind everyone that I am planning on having a running blog of the first round of the draft tomorrow. I will also do a bit on the 2nd round, especially when the Rams pick. Stop by if you get a chance!

GTSM mock NFL draft

Rudy (a GTSM regular) and I put together our predictions for the NFL draft on Saturday. It took quite a while to put all of the pieces into place. Of course, one surprising pick could make either (or both) of our mocks come crumbling down around us. But it was fun to see what we came up with and compare. Rudy really knows his stuff and it's a real pleasure to talk football with him.

You can find the mock drafts here.

Huge draft development

The Miami Dolphins have apparently agreed to terms with Michigan offensive tackle Jake Long and will select him with the first pick of the draft. The Rams were said to have J. Long #1 on their board too, so he is off the table now and the Rams will have to look elsewhere. This is excellent news, in my opinion. The Rams will be better off getting a defensive playmaker. Chris Long (DE, Virginia), Glenn Dorsey (DT, LSU) and Vernon Gholston (DE, Ohio St.) would all be excellent choices. Each would bring something unique to the Rams defense. I like all three, in the order I listed them above. Barring an unforeseen trade down, the Rams defense should be nicely improved by about 2:15 PM on Saturday.

A new gig!

I am very pleased to announce that George Theofanopoulos has asked me to be a contributing writer for Gaming Theater Sports and T.V. Media, the website he co-founded with Ted Rorabaugh. I have praised GTSM in these pages before, and for good reason. I really respect the way the place is run and the forums are terrific, filled with good, fun, knowledgeable posters. I plan on writing about the same things I touch on here: sports, games, entertainment and pop culture. I'll be linking to the articles that I write for GTSM right here on Memory Almost Full. But don't just read my stuff; they have a nice team of writers that puts out quality stuff, even if they are a little more fond of pro wrestling than I am. (Damn I wish I could put a smiley there!) But if they'll forgive my rather quirky tastes in music and movies, I'll endure their penchant for watching sweaty grown men play slap and tickle. Just kidding fellas; I was a high school wrestler.

Anyway, I am really grateful for the opportunity to work with such great guys and I hope I can add something to an already excellent web page.

Patched: MLB '08: The Show

Sony has put out a patch that fixes some issues with The Show. Outfielder speed has supposedly been adjusted (down, I hope), along with pitcher fatigue and online performance. I played Dave360 online last night and while the lag was noticeably better, it was still there enough to hamper gameplay. Dave suggested we play a game using the classic pitching mode rather than the meter method, and it did help some. We had a good time (and I finally got my Bluetooth headset working), but it doesn't come close to the smoothness of the offline mode. I hope Sony continues to tweak the online performance. The PS3 is my favorite console right now. It's amazingly well built, has great performance and is a lot quieter than my 360. That said, I might still go with the 360 for sports games that I plan on playing online, such as NCAA '09. Right now XBox Live is just head and shoulders above the performance of the Playstation Network.

By the way, I finally beat Dave, 7-1, Cards over Cubs. Pujols and Glaus went deep. If only Glaus could get going in real life. I think he misses his steroids...

The Great Albums, vol. 2: k.d. lang - Ingenue

As a guy that considers The Beatles to be the single greatest thing to ever happen to popular music - and who also despises 99% of Country music - I find it a bit odd that an album by a Canadian country singer is firmly entrenched in my all-time Top 10 list. But it's true. Not only is k.d. lang's album Ingenue a terrific showcase for Ms. lang's vocal talents, it's also one of the truly great romantic albums, setting a delicious mood of sexiness and longing.

The album was released by lang (by the way, the spelling of her name in lower case letters is her idea, not mine) in 1992. It was her first foray into "popular" music after making a name for herself with her alt-country albums. k.d. has always been an outsider; though her early music was very well received by critics, her androgynous appearance and edginess confused her core audience. Perhaps that's why she crossed over into pop music, or perhaps she just naturally went that way. Whatever the reason, the result, Ingenue, is a real treat to romantics like myself.

The mood of the album is very serene and almost dreamlike. The songs are not overdone in their instrumentation. Instead they rely on Ms. lang's voice to project their meaning. And what a job she does. Lang is a powerhouse vocalist, able to go from a whispery tone of regret to soaring tones of anger and righteousness. It's a remarkably pure voice that could easily be overpowering, but lang does an admirable job of restraining herself, never showing off simply for the sake of it. When she lets loose, it's because that is what the song calls for. And it can send shivers down your spine.

The songs themselves are excellent. They run the gamut of emotions that one faces in relationships. From songs of pure longing ("Save Me", "So It Shall Be") to those of temptation ("The Mind Of Love") or wanting what you know is wrong ("Still Thrives This Love"), each is exquisite and a grand statement on affairs of the heart. There is truly not a weak track on the album. The most recognized song from Ingenue, "Constant Craving" is truly a wonder. It's lyrics are heartfelt and fit very neatly into the tone of the entire record. But it's lang's sublime vocals that stand out, evoking a lifetime of longing. The harmonizing is unforgettable. "Constant Craving" closes the album in a pitch-perfect manner and is the final frosting on one hell of a delicious cake.

Ingenue is the rare album that gets it all right. It's also one of the sexiest recordings you will hear, though it pulls that off in a very sedate and mellow way. Lang's next album, All You Can Eat would up the ante by being more brazen. It's a very fine record in it's own right. But Ingenue seduces you a bit more sweetly and makes sure you love every single minute of it.

More on the earthquake

So the epicenter of the earthquake was in Bellmont, Illinois, which is on the 127 miles east of St. Louis. The quake measured 5.2 on the Richter scale. The aftershock this morning at 10:14 was measured at 4.5. According the the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, the quake was caused by the moving apart of 2 tectonic plates along the New Madrid fault, though it apparently originated from a spur known as the Wabash Valley Seismic Zone. Rather than just continuing to quote the Post-Dispatch, I'll link the article here.

Barb just informed me that she heard that we may be getting aftershocks for a couple of days. Terrific.

Aftershocks

Well, about 15 minutes ago - around 10:15 AM - another quake (or would it still be considered an aftershock?) gave the house a pretty good shake. It wasn't as bad as the one earlier this morning, but it was still enough to give you a bit of jolt. I guess we aren't out of the woods yet. Laurel and I were watching T.V. (Scooby Doo!) and she didn't even notice. We're getting ready to head over to my mom's house, so I hope the drive is uneventful.

Whole Lotta Shakin' Going On

This morning at around 4:30 AM, I had my first experience with an earthquake. Yes, an earthquake. I was barely dozing when the house started shaking something fierce. My first thought, believe it or not, was "earthquake!" St.Louis does sit upon a pretty good fault line (the New Madrid fault), so even though it hadn't happened before, I have always been aware that it could happen someday. Anyway, it woke me up and I bolted upright and tried to catch my bearings. As the house shook, I thought perhaps it was a tornado. But I quickly realized that I couldn't hear any wind. I woke up Barb and said, "Honey, I think we just had an earthquake." She was very groggy and probably thought I was nuts. But then the inevitable aftershock came and it shook the house even worse than the initial quake. We just sat there in bed, unbelieving. After it stopped, I went and checked on the kids; they were fine, all fast asleep and blissfully unaware that something out of the ordinary had happened. My next worry was that it had done damage to the house, perhaps busting a water pipe and making a real mess. I didn't see anything out of the ordinary, so that was great news. Of course, if it did damage to the foundation I wouldn't know, since the basement is finished and the walls are covered with drywall. We'll just keep our fingers crossed and hope that we don't experience another earthquake for a good long while.

Made it, Ma! Top of the world!

After a year and a half in the minor leagues, I got the call today and am now the starting shortstop for the St. Louis Cardinals. Of course I am talking about the Road To The Show mode in MLB '08: The Show. My first game was an interleague contest against the Blue Jays at Busch Stadium. I ended up going 2 for 4 with a stolen base. In my 2nd game I homered to left center field. I have been up for a week now and am having good success at the plate and in the field. RTTS is such a cool game mode. I actually felt a sense of accomplishment and pride when I got called up to the big leagues. And to suddenly go from seeing minor league pitchers to facing the likes of Roy Halladay and Johan Santana (somehow back on the Twins) is a real wakeup call. I'll be playing The Show for a long while.

In unrelated but terrific news, my good friend Dave reports that his dad not only came through surgery with flying colors, but is already back home. Furthermore, it appears as though the tumor that was removed was benign. Let's keep our fingers crossed that this is indeed the case. Dave and I are planning on some Hot Shots Golf tonight, so that should be a good time.

My beloved Barb has been struggling with the pregnancy. Her back is really hurting and after a thorough going-over, the doctor says there is not much we can do but wait for the baby to arrive. That's not such good news. The back pain is enough, but it also prevents Barb from getting much sleep. We still have another 66 days to go, so I am just hoping she gets some relief soon. I already told he that she cannot go into the hospital the weekend of April 26th and 27th. That's the NFL draft. Oh, and her birthday is the 27th as well. I better keep that in mind, too.

Damn, this blog needs smiley faces. Hang in there, Sweetheart!

Expanding my range

For a long while my wireless connection to my gaming systems has been sub-par. My wireless router is on the 2nd floor while my game consoles are in the basement. I usually averaged around 40-50% on signal strength. I did some research and decided to get a wireless range expander despite reading that many folks simply could not get them to work. It arrived on Tuesday. After messing around for a while and finally calling the 1-800 customer service line, I was able to connect it to my router. Frankly, had I used my head rather than relying on some "special instructions" I found online, I would have been able to do it myself. I ended up making it harder than it needed to be.

Once I got it hooked up, I tried different places throughout the house to see where it would perform best. I ended up putting it down in the basement too, but almost directly under my wireless router. Since I have placed it there, the wireless signal strength on my PS3 is nearly always at 100%. The connection is much, much more reliable; I rarely, if ever, lose it. Needless to say I am extremely pleased with the range expander. For those interested, I went with the Linksys WRE54G model. What is really nice about that model is that you all you need to do is connect it to a regular electrical outlet. That's it. You don't need any sort of wired ethernet connection, so you can place it virtually anywhere in the house. If you are having low signal strength on your wireless network, I recommend the WRE54G most highly. Just make sure your wireless router is listed as compatible with the WRE54G before you buy.

Hot Shots Golf multiplayer

I was able to get a couple of games of Hot Shots Golf in with Dave tonight and we had a blast. The game plays very, very smoothly online. It does suck that there is no voice chat and that players shoot simultaneously, with no option to actually watch the other players' shot. I had quite an advantage over Dave because I am a level 9 player and he's only level 3; I have had the game a lot longer than he has, so I have been able to build up my golfer. Still, Dave did well and shot under par in the 2nd game. NYisles joined us for the first game and he persevered despite being brand new to the game. Good job, guys.

Dave and I also got a game of MLB '08:The Show in online, too. But we lost the connection in the 7th inning with Dave's Cubs leading my Cardinals 3-2. I can almost guarantee that the connection was not lost on my side; more on that in a bit. My Bluetooth headset wasn't charged, so there was not talking during that game either. Grrr. The Show is still laggy in places, but it is still a good time.

Rams are nervous; me too

Jim Thomas of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch has an article in today's paper saying that the Rams may be getting nervous because the Dolphins (who hold the #1 overall draft pick) have started contract negotiations with Michigan offensive tackle Jake Long, indicating he may be the Dolphins' number one target. Since the Dolphins own the top pick, they can negotiate before the actual draft itself and get a player locked up in the process. The feeling is that Jake Long is also the Rams' first choice and they could be seeing him taken out of consideration before their pick, which is #2 overall. I am worried also, but for a different reason: I hope the Dolphins pick Jake Long so that the Rams don't have the opportunity.

Okay, listen. I am a die-hard Michigan fan and Jake Long is a Wolverine, so normally I'd be psyched over the Rams' interest. And make no mistake, Jake Long is probably going to be one heck of a pro football player at a position in which the Rams could use some help. But in my opinion, the Rams need more help on the defensive line and they have an opportunity to address that very well with their 1st round pick. Also, if Orlando Pace is healthy this year, then Jake Long probably plays guard instead of tackle for a few seasons. This is undesirable as well, since he would be playing a new position and you simply don't pay a guard the kind of money a 2nd overall draft pick is going to get. A left tackle is a premium player because he guards the blind side of a right handed quarterback, which the Rams' Marc Bulger happens to be. Left tackles make big money. Guards don't. And to spend a lot of cap money on a guard is simply not feasible in the NFL. So as much as I'd like the Rams to have the 2-time captain of the Wolverines on their squad, it simply isn't in their best interests.

The Dolphins are also said to be negotiating with Ohio State defensive end Vernon Gholston, who would fill a big need for the Rams as a pass rusher. Virginia defensive end Chris Long is also very much alive to be the Dolphins pick. Of the 2, I prefer Chris Long, as I blogged about extensively a while back. But in my opinion, Gholston fills a bigger need than Jake Long would as well. And let's not forget LSU defensive tackle Glenn Dorsey. He has some injury concerns which must be seriously evaluated, but if he's healthy he's probably the best player in the entire draft. One longtime NFL scout said he thinks Dorsey is the best defensive tackle prospect to come along in the past 3 decades. He would team up to with last year's #1 pick Adam Carriker to provide a formidable defensive middle if the Rams go with him. All three of these players (Gholston, C. Long and Dorsey) make more sense to me than does Jake Long.

It may very well turn out that Orlando Pace is not the same player anymore because of his injuries and that Jake Long could fit right in and make an immediate difference at tackle. But that's a what-if scenario. We already know the the Rams need a lot of help rushing the passer, which Chris Long and Vernon Gholston excel at from the outside, and Glenn Dorsey can do from the inside. It's more of a need. And the offensive tackle depth is pretty good in this year's draft, so the Rams could pick up a fine tackle prospect in round 2 or 3. So the Rams and I are both nervous about what the Dolphins may do with their #1 pick. But I am just as nervous about what the Rams may do if Jake Long is still on the board when they pick.

Tortured logic

Eric Mink of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch has written an excellent article on the use of "enhanced interrogation techniques" and the Bush Administration's insistence that nothing is illegal if the President says so. See if you can follow the bouncing ball here: The Torture Memos.

The Great T.V. Shows, vol. 1: Rome

I missed Rome when it first played on television back in 2005. I don't have HBO so I knew I'd have to wait for the DVDs to come out before I could get a look at it. Thankfully, I think this worked to my advantage. Being able to watch the series in a matter of days rather than weeks kept the story and characters fresh in my head and allowed me to proceed at my own pace. I found this much more enjoyable than having to wait another week to see what happened next. Patience is not one of my virtues. So imagine how hard it was waiting for season 2 to come to HBO and then wait for that to come to DVD. Horrible, I tell you.

When I first heard that HBO was making the series and I saw the print ads, I must say I was not too excited. I was envisioning one of those cheesy sand-and-sandals epics that came out of Italy in the 60s. But when I saw what HBO was doing and the money they were spending, my doubts were cast aside and I eagerly awaited season 1, albeit on DVD. I was not disappointed. The show was very costly to make and that played a part in it lasting only 2 seasons. It was simply not feasible for HBO to keep producing the show at such staggering costs. But the 2 seasons told a great story, introduced memorable characters (real and fictitious) and provided some of the best drama I have ever seen on the small screen.

Rome tells the story of Julius Caesar's rise to dictatorship, his subsequent murder, and the battle between Mark Antony and Octavian to become the first emperor of Rome. Along the way the story follows many characters, some of whom are based upon historical persons and others that are there to help personalize the times and events. The 2 main characters are Lucius Vorenus and Titus Pullo, soldiers who live through the events that befall Rome during this time period. Right off the bat we are able to care for these two and watching them struggle to maintain their decency and honor is an incredible journey you won't soon forget. Vorenus is the more serious of the two, a man who lives by a code he would die for rather than dishonor himself. Pullo is an outsized personality, a drinker, gambler and womanizer of the highest order. But he is fiercely loyal to Vorenus, who has saved Pullo's life more than once. The bond these two share is indelible and the actors who portray them (Kevin McKidd as Vorenus and Ray Stevenson as Pullo) do a splendid job illustrating just that.

In fact all of the actors are first rate. It helps to have such vivid characters. You will not soon forget Atia and her children Octavian and Octavia, Atia's pet Timon, Brutus and his mother Servilia, the intellectual Cicero or the charming yet utterly wanton and savage Mark Antony. As the series progresses and you see these characters grow and plot against one another, you come under their spells and often don't know whether to love or be repulsed by them.

The plot moves along swiftly with each episode. Each has a self contained story or 2 going on as well. The episodes are broken down perfectly so that you always want to watch just one more before calling it a night. Rome is like the best page-turner novel, complex and addictive. As I watched the later episodes and knew that the series was coming to an end I was truly saddened. I lent the discs to a friend at work and he said the exact same thing. Watch Rome and be dazzled by the sets, the acting and most of all the characters. Just prepare to feel a bit empty when it's all over and there's nothing more to see.

A little late to the revolution

I finally joined the 21st century by getting my 1st iPod. My kids have had theirs for quite a while and when Barb asked me what I wanted for my birthday, I thought maybe I should get one too. Being a music fanatic it makes perfect sense. Up until now I have always put MP3 files onto CDs and played them on either my car stereo or my boom box, both of which support the MP3 CD format. It's been a great ride, as I could always put an entire artist's catalog onto a single disc. But when Zach and I went to get a replacement for his broken iPod (grrrr!), he ended up getting the 80 gig iPod classic, and I thought, "Hey, that would fit my needs really well by holding a ton of music." So I got the IPod classic too, but in silver as opposed to the black one that Zach has. It is charging as I type and I am anxious to try it once it's ready to go. I am going to have to figure out how to organize with folders and all of that because I will want to have separate folders for each artist and categorize those by genre as well. I'm a little anal that way.

I already made my first mistake. I wanted to have a nice leather case for it, one that would clip on my belt so I could listen to music when I went for a walk or something. I debated between 2 of them and when I got home I realized the one I had chosen does not have a screen protector on it; there is a window for the screen but no clear covering. I definitely want my screen to be safe from scratches and such, so I'll be returning this one soon. I picked up a car kit as well, so that I can listen to the iPod through my car radio as I drive around town. It comes with a wall outlet charger as well, so that's cool.

Thanks for the great present, Barb! Hopefully I can figure this thing out before too long!

Awesome blog, great job!

Just wanted to mention that I ran across a blog that is right up my alley. Genuinely Sarcastic is a Michigan Wolverine fan's dream come true, a site that covers the Maize and Blue and mocks their opponents mercilessly. Full of great info (check out the recruiting stuff) and a smart, snappy sense of humor, Genuinely Sarcastic provides tons of entertainment in one great package. Stop by if you love Michigan or just want to see the way a fan blog should be done. Kudos to Brian and Matt for creating such a nifty place to visit.

Uh-oh

My 16 year old son Zach got his driving learner's permit today. Soon we will be on the road, testing his driving skills and my nerves. Zach had been grounded for a (long) while because of his grades, but he got them up this grading period and even made the honor roll. So congrats to Zach for getting his grades up to snuff and passing his written driving test on the first try. Mom and I are proud of you, buddy.

40 years ago today...

...America lost part of it's soul when Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated in Memphis, Tennessee. Reverend King was one of the great Americans of my lifetime and his loss was/is immeasurable. His courage in standing up for his belief that every human being deserved to be treated with decency and respect have left a legacy that will be remembered for as long as the United States exists. It's a message that must be preserved and cherished if we are to be a great society.

RIP, Reverend King. May your dream that we one day be judged by our character alone come true.

Hot Shots Golf: Out Of Bounds

So I have put in more playing time with the newest Hot Shots game and all I can say is that it is more of the same, which is great news if you are a fan of the series like me. It has the same easy playability as the other games in the series, along with the addictiveness of playing "just one more game" that can eat up a whole evening. There is also a new (optional) control scheme, which gets rid of the power meter that has always been a staple. It's difficult at first, but once you get accustomed to it you can make some amazing shots. But it is still more difficult to control the distance of each shot precisely, so I am sure many will stick with the original control method.

The graphics are phenomenal, especially the golfers themselves. They are very similar to the characters used in Japanese anime and the cuteness factor can turn some people off. But for what looks like a simple cartoon game for kids, it has real depth in it's gameplay. In the single player game you can win new and better equipment for your golfer as you proceed, and you also unlock new outfits for each golfer and new caddies. Every so often you compete one-on-one against a computer controlled golfer. Beat him or her and you unlock them to use as well. While the unlockables are not nearly as deep as the last version on the PSP, they are still fun to uncover, and a new feature lets you pick a card to determine which random prize you earn after each tournament victory. Fun stuff.

I have not attempted the multiplayer mode but hope to check that out pretty soon. It's a bummer that there is no voice communication available when you play over the Playstation Network, but it still looks like it will offer lots of fun against other players.

All in all, it's a solid game that does everything right, even if you have seen it all before. The fewer number of unlockable items is a bit disappointing to me. But it is easy to pick up and play, very addictive and quite charming. On a grade scale of 1-10, I'd give it a solid 8.

Cards win!

The Cardinals got their first win of the season last night, 8-3, to even their record at 1-1. The offense was surprisingly robust, banging out 11 hits. Rick Ankiel was the star of the game with 3 base hits, including a solo HR that started the scoring, and a nifty catch in the outfield. Ryan Ludwick also starred by going 3 for 5 with a double and a triple and knocking in 3 runs to boot. Great job by our young outfielders. Todd Wellemeyer pitched 5 innings of 1-run ball, though he labored a bit, throwing 95 pitches. The bullpen leaked a little but held down the fort. In other good news, SS Caesar Izturis was hitless but drew 2 walks. If he can remain selective at the plate, perhaps he won't be the huge drain on the offense that everyone feared. Albert The Great went 2 for 2 with an RBI. He looks to be in great form early, which was not the case last season. Too bad his opening day HR was lost in the rain out.

Tomorrow is a 12:15 game, with Brad Thompson getting the start for the Cards. He is one of our weaker starters so we'll see what he brings to the table in his first game of the year. Go Cards!

P.S. - The Cubs are 0-2. Sweet!