Obligatory (and late) Tim Tebow Post

I've been meaning to post this, and despite this recent post from GarbageCanMusic, there's enough sports fans here to continue anyway.

I was listening to Rush Limbaugh the other day (something,I don't do as often as I used to, but I still feel the need to stay up to date with what's going on with all the blowhards) and he was scoffing at a poll that said Tim Tebow was the most divisive athlete in sports.

I don't know where Rush was headed with this (I usually can follow his jumps in logic quite easily). I suspect he was trying to make a grand statement about Christian athletes, the liberal media, or something.

Still, Tebow is the most divisive athlete right now. Everybody talks about Tebow and everyone has an opinion. There's no one quite like him in sports right now. All the trusty loudmouths have retired or grown old (TO/Keyshawn/Rodman/Chad8-5) and the time has passed for all the great villains (Vick, Tiger, LeBron) and they no longer dominate the headlines (or at least not Tebow-worthy).

Sure most of the divisiveness is just civil conversation about whether Tebow will make it as a NFL quarterback or not (not the kind of "OMG the sky is falling" arguments that Limbaugh loves), though you may also have an opinion on whether Tebow coverage is overdone, and trailing the rest of the field, you may have an opinion on Tebow's Christianity

I hate to admit that i have come around to Tebow, by sheer fact of 1) everyone seemingly wants him to fail and 2) despite all this, he really does seem to be a good guy, and I don't see anything wrong with positive role models. Sure, i consider the University of Florida and the Denver Broncos two of the great evils in sports, but I can't say anything bad about Tebow.

This of course, is all just a long winded intro to what I meant to do which was post John Parr's tribute to the man.

A lot of late night comedians and sports shows have covered this, but on the offchance you haven't, you need to know that John Parr re-recorded "St Elmo's Fire" as "Tim Tebow's Fire".

Where should I begin? this wasn't an obvious cash grab by a one-hit wonder. This was just a truly inspired British rocker who had to let the words come.

in true disclosure, 10-year old Al Bedsitter loved John Parr- then a darling of the local HotHits/CHR station, and i will always think of him not as a one-hit wonder, but someone who also gave the world "Naughty Naughty". I don't feel I have any need to be embarrassed by the guitar-fronted, anthemic mulleted tunes I grew up with from the likes of Parr and like-minded rockers like Billy Squier, Greg Kihn, and a solo Tommy Shaw.

In any case, 1985 music still sounds like 1985 music.

While, we are on the topic of football, I feel I should make some mention of Terrell Owens's recent signing with the Allen Wranglers.  TO says he's spent the $80 million he made in the NFL, and is broke and 'living in hell'.

TO infamously had a public workout last fall, which was covered by the NFL Network (who could use the programming) in which all 32 NFL teams were sent invites, but not one team scout showed up for.

The Wranglers (if you haven't heard of them, and you haven't) are an Indoor Football League team based in Allen, Texas.  The IFL is a step down even more from the AFL (the one league you hear about), and has teams based in metropolises like Cedar Rapids, Bloomington, IL and Sioux Falls, South Dakota.

If TO is serious about football (and he appears to be), good luck to him.

Movies at Home (Part 1)

Crazy, Stupid Love- This is an indie film disguised as a big-budget romantic comedy.  It's well-done with a cast that is all  generally likeable and all deliver strong performances (Steve Carrell, Ryan Gosling, Marissa Tomei, Kevin Bacon, Julianne Moore, Emma Stone).  It all generally feels "real", even though it has some outrageous moments (which recall a bit of "Modern Family".  The Carrell/Gosling angle feels very "male", but I think enough is goign on that both sexes will like it.  I felt like the story was generally surprising, and it has moments and a storyline that will stick in your mind for months to come (though like "American Beauty", the movie this most reminds me of, I don't think it is one I will want to watch again for some time).  Recommended

The Help- Another Emma Stone movie?  Well, let's get this out of the way.  Lindsay Lohan, this could have been your life.  A lot has been written about this movie and it was named USA Today's Best Movie of the Year.  I guess I will just make it short, and say, yes, it deserves the attention it gets.  The performances are strong, and for a story that could have been cloying sweet, it does have a lot of substance behind it.  Also, for those expecting a "chick flick", it is, but it will be enjoyed by anyone who watches it.  it is also original enough, that although it may remind you of similar movies, it will leave a strong imprint on its own.  Justifiably one of the better put together films of 2012.

30 Minutes or Less- A bit of a dark comedy that tries to mold itself in the Harold and Kumar or Superbad vein.  This one kept my interest though considering it came from the director of Zombieland, it's a bit of a letdown.  Still, as similar comedies go, I enjoyed it more than some.  However, this is one that (despite a good preiew and promising plotline and cast) will likely be quickly forgotten. 

Movies at Home (Part 2)

Moneyball - When I read this book, I immediately said that this would be an excellent movie with Brad Pitt.  Of course! 

The book is fascinating enough and Beane's story seems perfect, but it just seemed unfilmable.  Instead, it's one of the best movies of the year.  The premise of course is when scouting baseball, it's all about the numbers.  In fact, the movie could have went over the top with stories of successful players who were too fat, too short, too old, but could get on base.  Moneyball hits a perfect note between comedy and drama, then.  I wish it explicitly caught my favorite example from the book (Who would you rather have?  A team who homered every other at-bat and struck out the others; or a team that walked every at-bat.  The Homer/Strikeout team would score 3 runs and the inning would be over.  The team of walkers would infinitely score forever.), but it does a good job of presenting that concept.  It's all there- Beane's career, the unloved prospects, and the to-be-expected post-film denouement (If something ends up working, then everyone is going to do it).

There's an edge taken off knowing the history and the book (and going in, if you have heard any press, you likely know too much), but even after that, it's a thoroughly enjoyable film.

POM Wonderful presents: The Greatest Movie Ever Sold - Okay, I like documentaries and I generally like Morgan Spurlock.  The idea of this movie is a good premise- Morgan plans on making a movie that is paid all by sponsors.  That's probably not a real revelation, and there's no "ah ha" moments.  Still, this is a pretty fun movie and a quick watch.  There's still plenty enough sidelines that make it worth watching-  the interviews with directors like JJ Abrams and Quentin Tarantino; and musicians like OK Go and Big Boi.  The trip to Sao Paolo (which has banned outside advertisements) is revelatory as well.  I thought it was funnier and more fun than Super Size Me, though I don't think there's much here except corporations are willing to give you tons of money to be put in movies (unless you seem a bit odd like Spurlock).  The irony (intended or not) is of course, that you have to consider if you want to buy a product that supports art you like.  I might top off on a POM this afternoon.

The Smurfs- Ok, I had the same thought you all had.  "I'm not going to see a Smurfs movie.  I can't believe they even made this... Oh, Neil Patrick Harris is in it.  Yeah, I'll go see it."  This is a fun movie that I think kids would like, and parents would enjoy.  I liked the nod to Smurfs creator Peyo.  I played spot-the-voices (Katy Perry, of course, but also Fred Armisen, Jonathan Winters, George Lopez, and Alan Cumming).  if you have no interest in this, there's no reason to recommend it.  Otherwise, if you're nostalgic for some Smurfs, there's enough here to get you through,