RollerBall Review

So you are sitting at home complaining there is nothing to watch on the tube and your Netflix queue is not getting it done. I've got a movie for you. To begin it stars James Caan. If that doesn't get you interested than you might be more suited for a Olsen twins movie. First you need a background on the game of Rollerball. It's played on a banked track with men on rollerskates. Yeah I know rollerskates are silly, but hey it was 1975. Each team has skaters and bikers who help them get around the track. Going counter clockwise the two teams try to field a metal ball that is shot out onto the track. Each team tries to score by stuffing the ball into a small goal defended by the other team. Pretty much everything else goes. Men get killed and the offender gets a 3 minute penalty if they get caught. Caan plays Jonathan E. The most storied Rollerballer in history. The year is 2018 and his Houston team is on the verge of winning another championship. The world is now controlled by Corporations. No more countries. No more wars. You come to find that the game is used by corporate society to show that individuals cannot survive on their own. Soon after we see Jonathan's domination on the track he is told to retire. Put this on the same level as telling Tom Brady to quit right before the Super Bowl. The movie shows Jonathan trying to figure out who is behind this decision and how far they are willing to go to keep him from continuing. Without going any further the movie draws it's conclusion on the track with Houston and New York battling for the championship. It's definitely old school and might take some getting used to from the beginning, but give it a chance. You will definitely appreciate it's tone and stance on corporate society and how our lives will be run if we don't speak up.

Rocks and Sox Game 2

Well the old man did it again. Curt Schilling and his diminished fastball held another playoff opponent in check. Only two Rockies players managed to get a hit(Matt Holliday had 4 and Brad Hawpe had 1)off Boston pitching. Schilling kept every hitter except Holliday off balance for the forst 5 1/3. Hideki Okajima came in and bridged the gap to Papelbon with 2 1/3 scoreless innings. The only run scored for Colorado when Todd Helton grounded out in the 1st with Willy Taveras on 3rd. The Sox tied it up in the 4th with a SacFly from team captain Jason Varitek. Mike Lowell came up with an RBI-double in the 5th that would stand as the winning run. Ubaldo Jimenez pitched 4 2/3 innings with 5 walks and 2 earned runs. The Rockies bullpen held up the rest of the way, but the bats were eerily silent. The man responsible for the bulk of Colorado's offense was also the culprit in ending their late inning rally. Matt Holliday singled up the middle in 8th inning, but was immediately picked off by Boston's closer Jonathan Papelbon. That summed up the Rocks visit to Fenway for the first 2 games of the series. Hopefully a return home will re-charge this club and get 'em back in it.

Oh yeah

DANE COOK MUST HAVE HIS HEAD RIPPED OFF AND VOCAL CHORDS COMPLETELY SEVERED SO I DON'T EVER HAVE TO HEAR HIM SAY "THERES ONLY ONE OCTOBER" EVER AGAIN!


That is all.

Rocks and Sox - Game 1

I guess people will blame the days of rest for Colorados weak showing in Game 1 last night. Josh Beckett would have something else to say about it. While striking out 9 during his seven inning gem he also tossed 62 strikes amongst his 93 pitches. It never hurts when your offense provides 13 runs on 17 hits. Leading the strike was David Ortiz with his 3 hit- 2 RBI night. The Red Sox had 4 other players knock in 2 runs apiece. Dustin Pedroia started things off with a leadoff homer tossed from rocky starter Jeff Francis. The Rockies staff also tossed 8 walks at this potent Boston line-up. The only offensive spark came from rookie SS Troy Tulowitzki who had an RBI double in the 2nd inning. After that Colorado had few scoring opportunities the rest of the evening. Veteran Todd Helton went 2 for 4 in his first World Series game. Tonights starter Ubaldo Jimenez has his work cut out for him against Francona's bunch. The Sox counter with Curt Schilling. His resume need not be reviewed on this forum. Schill has dominated in the post-season whether it be home or away. In the desert or Yankee Stadium. He'll pitch solid innings and make it tough for the Rocks to get a split in Boston.

My guess Rocks 5 Sox 4

Rocks and the Sox

World Series. That term seems to fire me up even if my favorite team isn't in it. Tonight we have to very different teams starting a series that will definitely captivate baseball fans. The Red Sox have over 100 years of tradition to the Rockies 15. The Red Sox have proven Post-Season Horses in their stable. The Rockies have new faces looking for their first rings. Enough of that bullshit. On to the Scouting Report. Since the NL AllStars were weak and couldn't beat the AL we'll start with the Beantown.

Red Sox

The Sox will bring a heavy arsenal of bats to the plate. Manny Ramirez and David Ortiz will always be looming, but the role players have stepped it up. Kevin Youkilis and Mike Lowell have been driving in runs when caled upon. The skipper Francona appreciated JD Drew finally earning a paycheck or two. I had forgotten he even played RF in Fenway. Jacoby Ellsbury has been on the Warpath recently. In essence cementing his spot in CF when the Sox go for their second championship in 4 years. Catcher Jason Varitek has been pretty silent with the bat, but he has done his best work behind the plate. His game calling skill has shown although having Beckett and Schilling in the postseason never hurts. Matsuzaka finally went the minimum and got the victory in Game 7 of the ALCS. I'm sure Francona will be wary of leaving him in too long in Colorado where crooked numbers find their way on the board. Papelbon will be dancing no more jigs if he doesn't handle the meat of the order in the 9th.

Rockies

These guys have some kind of 4 leaf clover in their back pockets. Check Jamey Carroll he may be a little leprechaun! Every call, every bounce and every single break has gone their way for the past month. Matt Holliday still hasn't touched the plate and yet the Rockeis are in the World Series. Todd Helton will definitely show his all around skills on this grand stage. There will also be a ridiculous amount of defense from this squad. Troy Tulowitzki will show range that will have fans remembering his name in no time. Kaz Matsui has flashed marginally leather, but his speed and contact out of the 2 hole has been the difference maker. Bridging the gap from Willy Taveras to the big boppers has added runners on base. Garret Atkins and Brad Hawpe have cashed in this postseason. Hell! Yorvit Torrealba as even found some big fly. Did he learn that in SF or a Burlingame laboratory? The starters for Colorado will be Jeff Francis, Ubaldo Jimenez Josh Fogg(man I had this guy in fantasy leagues when he was younger) and Aaron Cook. We weren't sure what they looked like either. Just see the guy making outs and it's probably the bullpen. Manny Corpas has nailed down many coffins in the 9th, but getting to him is a different guy every night. Brian Fuentes has done the 8th. After him it's a combo of Jeremy Affeldt, Matt Herges and LaTroy Hawkins.


My prediction is that Boston keeps tearing the cover off the ball. Colorado will make dazzling defensive plays, but you can't catch balls that sail over the fence. I will have to go against my gut and say Colorado in 7.

The Unthinkable

I grew up in the San Francisco Bay Area during the 80's. That being said there are some things that are branded in my DNA. Huey Lewis and the News will always rock, Will Clark's face, no matter how silly looking, meant trouble for the opposing pitcher and Joe Montana is the greatest QB ever. Since 2001 that last comment has been under assault by a kid from San Mateo. Tom Brady burst on the scene in 2001 and has been a force ever since. I know, I know it is total sacrilege to even compare anyone to Joe Cool, but the numbers don't lie. In comparing the first 8 seasons in each QB's career you get an idea of how special Tom Brady really is.


Tom Brady
Comp% 62.7

Yds 23,689

TD 174
Int 80

Comp. 2,065

Att. 3,293

W/L 77-26

Joe Montana

Comp% 63.2

Yds 21,498

TD 141

Int 76

Comp. 1,818

Att. 2,878

W/L 69-51-1

With the way the Patriots are steam rolling over every opponent this year it is inevitable they will reach the Super Bowl(barring any catstrophic injuries). If they do win it will be Tom's 4th of his career. Will the Montana followers finally take a long hard look at the big picture and entertain thoughts of a Bay Area kid, who lists Joe Montana as his boyhood idol, replacing the ultimate clutch Quarter Back? Only time will tell...