Movie Time

In trying to keep my head from exploding waiting for Super Bowl XXXIX I've been hitting the big Oscar nominated films lately. First up was "The Aviator" - which I thought was great. Not knowing much about the life and times of Howard Hughes - I was sucked in from the opening moments and completely enthralled for the entire film. I thought Leonardo DiCaprio was fantastic and this could finally be the year Scorsese gets his Best Picture Oscar. Next up was "Sideways" featuring one of my favorite actors, Paul Giamatti, who should already have a best actor nomination for last year's "American Splendor". The flick has some hilarious scenes and is sort of the "Dude Where's My Car" for 40 year-olds.

But today we saw "Million Dollar Baby" - and I was completely and utterly blown away. I thought Clint Eastwood's last movie "Mystic River" was a gut wrencher, but this one makes that look like "Meet The Fockers." It is amazing that at 74, Clint has made the best film of his career. If "Baby" doesn't win Oscars for Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actor, Best Actress and Best Supporting Actor it will have been majorly shafted. While most Hollywood films stay with me for about as long as it takes to reach my car, the emotional impact of "Million Dollar Baby" sticks and haunts. You have to see this flick.

A moment of silence please for Dean Wormer...

There will be no more double-secret probation because the fantastic character actor John Vernon has died. He had performed in over 200 film and TV productions -- none bigger than "Animal House".

Super Bowl XXXIX

After long and profound deliberation, I've decided my brain can't handle going to another Super Bowl so soon after seeing the Pats win twice already and the Sox winning the World Series. So Bill and the Boyz will have to win one without me this time. Going to last year's Super Bowl in Houston made us cancel plans for a trip to the Amazon. One day in Houston cost more than a week in Peru. So this year we are going to Belize at the end of February. And I bet I'll be wearing some new SB XXXIX Championship gear too.

AFC Championship

What a game! What a team! What a coach! And now there is no doubt -- What a DYNASTY. Patriots RULE! New England beats Pittsburgh 41 - 27 and heads to second consecutive Super Bowl.

NFL Playoffs

After weeks of hearing the national media proclaim Peyton Manning the greatest thing since football was invented, I actually headed to Gillette Stadium yesterday worried that my beloved Patriots would lose to the Colts. I'm so disappointed in myself that I fell for the hype and didn't believe in the genius of Bill Belichick. What football fan hasn't learned by now - never pick against this coach and this team in any game that matters.

"Mr. 49 Touchdowns" couldn't score a single one in the biggest game of the year. The 'unstoppable" Colts offense that averaged over 32 points a game got all of 3 points against the Patriots defense lead by the all mighty Tedy Bruschi.

After the game we walked out next to #55 Willie McGinest's dad. I thanked him for his genes.