First Annual Adam Dunn Award

In commemoration of Adam Dunn's legendary 2011 season, this award goes to the biggest disappointment of high-end players in the Major Leagues.


The top 20 biggest busts of the 2012 MLB season:

1. Tim Lincecum (10-15, 5.18 ERA, 1.47 WHIP)
2. Jon Lester (9-14, 4.82 ERA, surrendered 25 home runs)
3. Carlos Pena (.197, 19 home runs, 61 RBIs)
4. Heath Bell (4-5, 5.09 ERA)
5. Ervin Santana (9-13, 5.16 ERA, 39 home runs surrendered)
6. Josh Beckett (7-14, 4.65 ERA)
7. Chris Young (.231 , 14 homers, 41 RBIs, 8 stolen bases)
8. Rickie Weeks (.230)
9. John Axford (5-8, 4.67 ERA)
10. Randy Wolf (3-10, 5.69 ERA)
11. Ricky Romero (9-14, 5.77 ERA)
12. Dan Uggla (.219, 19 homers, 77 RBIs)
13. Jason Bay (.156, 8 home runs, 20 RBIs)
14. Drew Stubbs (.216)
15. Erik Bedard (7-14, 5.01 ERA)
16. Roy Halladay (4.49 ERA)
17. Bobby Abreu (3 home runs, 19 RBIs)
18. Ivan Nova (5.09 ERA)
19. Alfredo Aceves (2-10, 5.40 ERA)
20. Ubaldo Jimenez (9-17, 5.40 ERA)

Baseball Awards

These are my personal picks for MLB awards. Not that it matters, but whatever. Like sportswriters, I'm giving my top 3.

AL MVP:

1. Miguel Cabrera, Detroit
2. Mike Trout, LAA
3. Derek Jeter, NYY

NL MVP:

1. Andrew McCutchen, Pittsburgh
2. Ryan Braun, Milwaukee
3. Buster Posey, San Francisco

AL Cy Young:

1. David Price, Tampa Bay
2. Jered Weaver, LAA
3. Francisco Rodney, Tampa Bay

NL Cy Young:

1. R.A. Dickey, NYM
2. Gio Gonzalez, Washington
3. Johnny Cueto, Cincinnati

AL Rookie of the Year:

1. Mike Trout, LAA
2. Jarrod Parker, Oakland
3. Yu Darvish, Texas

NL Rookie of the Year:

1. Wade Miley, Arizona
2. Bryce Harper, Washington
3. Wilin Rosario, Colorado

AL Manager of the Year:

1. Bob Melvin, Oakland
2. Buck Showalter, Baltimore
3. Robin Ventura, CWS

NL Manager of the Year:

1. Bruce Bochy, San Francisco
2. Davey Johnson, Washington
3. Don Mattingly, LAD

AL Comeback Player of the Year:

1. Adam Dunn, CWS
2. Joe Nathan, Texas
3. Phil Hughes, NYY

NL Comeback Player of the Year:

1. Buster Posey, San Francisco
2. A.J. Burnett, Pittsburgh
3. Carlos Beltran, Saint Louis

Thoughts on the Debate

These are my thoughts on the presidential debate a little less than an hour after it ended.

Tonight's debate was very exciting and quite competitive. I would argue that Governor Romney won, but that wasn't for any mistakes the President made. Often times, the debate is decided as much for one candidate's mistakes as for the other's successes. I didn't see this to be the case.

If Barack Obama had one mistake, I would say it was him mentioning Romney's $5 trillion tax cuts multiple times, after Romney did his best to dispel that. It made it seem that Obama wasn't listening. I think what he was trying to do by saying that is that Romney wouldn't have been able to accomplish his plan without doing that, but if you're going to call him out for lying, I say actually call him out. Anyways that's a minor complaint but that was the big difference of the first third or so of the competitive debate.

I must say that I think the big difference between the two candidates and the biggest potential advantage to the incumbent lies in the social issues. They discussed medicare tonight, but only in the financial sense, really. I think Obama would have come off stronger if he were to focus more on the social concerns of this instead of sticking to the economic policies, where I think Romney has the advantage the way the economy is.

The line of the night came from Governor Romney and I'm paraphrasing here: "As President, you have your right to your own private jet, your own home, but not to your own facts." It's pretty funny but as far as jabs against the President go, it seemed clean to me. Of course, I already know who I'm voting for, but I think this will stick in undecided voters' minds as being the most poignant quote of the night. I think debates are often decided by the small instances like that more so than the big picture, which I would argue Romney won anyway.

It was a great debate and I'm looking forward to the next one. With Romney behind in virtually all the polls, he may need to win the upcoming debates even more convincingly to have a shot come November.

Presidential Debate Drinking Game

Tonight being the first debate between Barack Obama and Mitt Romney, I decided to make a drinking game based on this. I also intend to make one for the VP debate, assuming this one goes well.

Take a drink when:

• Barack Obama lies about job creation
• Barack Obama mentions Massachusetts was 47th in job creation under Romney
• Barack Obama mentions that Bin Laden is dead
• Mitt Romney asks if we're better off than we were 4 years ago
• Every time Bain Capital is mentioned
• Mitt Romney mentions Obamacare
• Mitt Romney says "my friend"
• Barack Obama mentions that he "inherited" the rough economy
• Unemployment is discussed
• Either candidate mentions that the other is destroying the middle class

Stories I would love to adapt to film

A Tale of Two Cities
Why: It's maybe the most timeless tale of love and sacrifice ever written. Even though it's been done before, it doesn't really have a signature adaptation, even though the 1934 or '35 version was critically acclaimed.
If not directed by me: Tom Hooper or Joe Wright
Starring:
Christian Bale as Sydney Carton
Keira Knightley as Lucie Manette
Michael Fassbender as Charles Darnay
Tom Wilkinson as Dr. Alexander Manette
Meryl Streep as Madame Defarge
John Malkovich as Monsieur Defarge
Derek Jacobi as Jarvis Lorry
Jamie Bell as Jerry Cruncher (combining old and young into one character)

Ulysses
Why: It's yet to get a big-budget adaptation and though this is clearly fit more for the pages than for the screen, something good could be done here, if not great. There's plenty of potential for great performances, great period sets, and long shots of Ireland and the sea. But making this as a visual medium would require a great deal of creativity, as writing it did.
If not directed by me: Steve McQueen. Not that Steve McQueen; I want the guy who directed Hunger and Shame.
Starring:
Colin Firth as Leopold Bloom (I've finally determined that Liam Neeson is too old. Also considering Daniel Day-Lewis, but the role doesn't require the intensity that he usually brings.)
Young, relatively unknown Irish actor as Stephen Dedalus (I think it's important that this actor is unknown, plus I don't think there's anyone out there who fits the role.)
Julia Roberts as Molly Bloom (She's American so bitch away, but she was awfully good in Michael Collins in 1996.)

Moby-Dick
hy: There's been a bit of interest in stories of seafaring kind of recently (if 2003 is recently) so why not go for this one? It's the best and probably the most important American novel ever written and most people probably don't even know it's been filmed before. As of now, Pinocchio is the best giant whale film out there. As much as I love Pinocchio, that has to change. Plus with technology now, this film could look unbelievable.
If not directed by me: Steven Spielberg
Starring:
Geoffrey Rush as Captain Ahab
Paul Dano as Ishmael
Djimon Hounsou as Queequeg
Lou Diamond Phillips as Tashtego

Macbeth (in 3D)
Why: Hamlet won best picture once. Othello has a number of great films. Romeo & Juliet has two or three memorable ones. What about Macbeth? Well Polanski made one in the 70s but it was far from great. I'd love to adapt this and make it 3D. That probably sound strange, but Shakespeare wrote this as an extremely violent and bloody play, and that can be taken to the extreme without losing the integrity of the words, I think.
If not directed by me: Let's face it; this is mine.
Starring:
Ewan McGregor as Macbeth
Kate Winslet as Lady Macbeth
Gerard Butler as Macduff (this to me is the most obvious casting decision after seeing him in Coriolanus)
Patrick Stewart or Sean Connery as Duncan
Orlando Bloom as Malcolm
James McAvoy as Donalbain
Guy Pearce as Banquo

King Lear
Why: Along with Macbeth, this is one of those "Great 4" tragedies that doesn't have a signature film. Like Macbeth, I think some interesting things could be done visually to elevate this easily past the stage.
If not directed by me: Kenneth Branagh, by far the greatest Shakespearean director of this age.
Starring:
Ian McKellen as King Lear
Michael Fassbender as Edmund
Jamie Bell as Edgar
Cate Blanchett as Goneril
Kate Winslet as Reagan
Michael Caine as Kent
Anne Hathaway as Cordelia
Kenneth Branagh as Gloucester
Ricky Gervais as Fool

The Danny Thomas Story
Why: It's a truly inspiring and relatively unknown story. A struggling, impoverished actor prays to Saint Jude, makes it big, and repays by making the most well-known children's hospital in the world.
If not directed by me: Robert Zemeckis. I don't know why, but I see some parallels maybe to Forrest Gump and could see him doing a good job with this.
Starring:
Michael Fassbender as Danny Thomas
Michelle Williams as Rose Marie Thomas
Charlize Theron as Marjorie Lloyd
Jack McGee as Bishop Samuel Stritch
Rooney Mara as Marlo Thomas (old)

Untitled project about American Revolution and USA's early days
Why: It'd be a nearly impossible thing to do, but it'd be really interesting, too.
If not directed by me: Steven Spielberg
Russell Crowe as George Washington
Matt Damon as John Adams
James Franco as Thomas Jefferson
Philip Seymour Hoffman as Benjamin Franklin
Ralph Fiennes as Samuel Adams
William Hurt as John Hancock
Colin Firth as Benedict Arnold
Michael Shannon as Patrick Henry
Daniel Radcliffe as Nathan Hale

The 100 Celebrities I Hate the Most

I figured politicians don't count. Athletes, actors, socialites, etc. If they're actors or whatever, it may not mean that I hate their body of work, but just hate them as a person. It could also mean, though, that I despise their work.

I hate these people:

1. Adam Sandler
2. Zooey Deschanel
3. Redfoo
4. Larry the Cable Guy
5. Tom Green
6. Chris Brown
7. Ray Lewis
8. Manny Ramirez
9. Nick Swardson
10. Cristiano Ronaldo 
11. Rose O'Donnell
12. Snooki
13. The Situation
14. Roman Polanski
15. Reverend Jeremiah Wright
16. Michael Moore
17. Randy Moss
18. Lil Wayne
19. Skip Bayless
20. DJ Pauly D
21. John Mayer
22. Dane Cook
23. Kim Kardashian
24. Rob Schneider
25. Jimmy Fallon
26. Reggie Bush
27. Willow Smith
28. Troy Polamalu
29. Dwyane Wade
30. George Lopez
31. Perez Hilton
32. Jerry Jones
33. SkyBlu
34. Nicki Minaj
35. Ellen Degeneres
36. Alec Baldwin
37. Wiz Khalifa
38. Ozzie Guillen
39. Tom Cruise
40. Alex Rodriguez
41. Chad Kroger
42. Kobe Bryant
43. Stephen A. Smith
44. Ben Affleck
45. Tom Brady
46. Ken Jeong
47. Jaden Smith
48. Justin Bieber
49. Paris Hilton
50. Josh Beckett
51. Matthew McConaughey 
52. John Travolta
53. Rihanna
54. Jay Cutler
55. Skrillex 
56. Pete Carroll
57. Mike Tyson
58. Ashton Kutcher
59. Adam Levine
60. Tyler Perry
61. Lindsay Lohan
62. Terrell Suggs
63. Bill Maher
64. Dez Bryant
65. Floyd Mayweather, Jr.
66. Oprah Winfrey
67. Sharon Osbourne
68. Tim Burton
69. Madonna
70. Mac Miller
71. Andy Roddick 
72. Ozzy Osbourne
73. Zach Galifianakis
74. will.i.am
75. Carmelo Anthony
76. Mark Cuban
77. Curt Schilling
78. Jon Stewart
79. Toby Maguire
80. Donald Trump
81. Sinead O'Connor
82. Lady Gaga
83. Rex Ryan
84. Wanda Sykes
85. Keeanu Reeves 
86. Hanley Ramirez
87. Jessica Simpson
88. Tiger Woods
89. Kanye West
90. Terrell Owens
91. Michael Bay
92. Chad Johnson 
93. Charlie Sheen
94. Stuart Scott
95. Russell Brand
96. Johnny Depp
97. Helena Bonham Carter
98. Miley Cyrus
99. Mark Wahlberg
100. LeBron James

Top 10 Things That Used to be Cool But No Longer Are

1. Star Wars
Wow, this made quite a change. Star Wars went from being the coolest movie series ever to being a big joke. It all goes back to the prequels and the special editions, smearing the good name of the originals. Darth Vader has become the butt of the joke, of course, appearing on my least favorite shirt ever (The Many Emotions of Darth Vader) and appearing in comical(?) Volkswagen commercials. George Lucas forgot what made Star Was great and that is why it's no longer cool.

2. Guitar Hero
When Guitar Hero came out, it was awesome and a very innovative game. Guitar Hero 2 was a huge seller as well, but then they got lazy. A new game came out seemingly every two months and the gameplay got worse and worse, even if the songs got better. Guitar Hero 3 kind of sucked, looking back at it. And do you know anyone who bought Guitar Hero: Van Halen or Metallica? Rock Band took over that brief music video game fad.

3. M. Night Shyamalan
This man was on top of the world after writing and directing The Sixth Sense, one of the greatest films of all time. And what happened after that? Unbreakable, while I never saw it, is supposed to be really good. Signs was okay, a bit hit or miss perhaps. But every movie after that got exponentially worse, it would seem. The Village, while interesting, was anything but good. The Lady in the Water was a disaster, putting it lightly. The Happening is one of the greatest unintentional comedies of the 21st century, and The Last Airbender may have outdone it in 2010.

4. Reality/Talent show TV
I would argue that it never was, but obviously a ton of people disagree with me. The fact that things like Big Brother and Survivor are still on TV just blows my mind, quite frankly, but the biggest thing is the talent shows. American Idol, the X Factor, the Voice, whatever. They're the same thing with a few different gimmicks (in the Voice they don't see who's singing!!!!!!). Do we really need all of these? Oh and how about Dancing with the Stars? Who doesn't want to see C-list celebrities dancing competitively?

5. The Office/Two and a Half Men
With the departure of Steve Carell, The Office has had NOTHING going for it. Similarly, Two and a Half Men has been a load of crap since Ashton Kutcher came on. I hate Ashton Kutcher with the burning passion of a thousand suns.

6. Barack Obama
He was maybe the most charismatic and exciting presidential candidates in our history and beat John McCain pretty easily. But what has he done for me lately? Nothing. He continues to be an American apologist and spend money we do not have. Obviously I'm in the minority here because it looks like he's getting re-elected but my reasoning is that he's done nothing to get re-elected. If Mitt Romney ran a halfway-decent campaign Obama's past 4 years would make everyone vote for Romney. That's not the case, however.

7. Green Day
Green Day was awesome from about 1994-2004. Then their music got way too self-important and there's just something irritating about a 40-year-old Billy Joe Armstrong trying to be my age. And now they only release music once in a blue moon and while it's decent, it's not even comparable to Dookie or even American Idiot, their two best albums. Their last album was 2009 (though they've got one coming out soon). To find out what truly pisses me off about Green Day, you gotta see the video of Armstrong's rant at the I Heart Radio Music Festival this past year. They only gave him like 20 minutes or so and he flipped out like an 8-year-old because he didn't want Usher to take up his time. In Usher's defense, he actually released music in the last 3 years.

8. Skateboarding
If you can do that Shaun White X-Game type stuff, go right ahead. Otherwise, you're just getting in everyone's way. Nowadays longboarding is the thing, and there's no better way to tell everyone on a college campus that you're a huge douchebag than to longboard to class.

9. Will Smith
He's not really in movies anymore, Men in Black 3 being his first movie since 2008, and it wasn't great. Aside from that, this man used to be the biggest celebrity in the earth, having a successful music career in his early days and becoming the biggest box office draw of the early 21st century. Somewhere, somehow, something happened. And it's far more than Willow and Jaden doing their best to destroy the Smith legacy by releasing terrible music and not knowing how to act. Will Smith, as likable as he is, just isn't significant anymore.

 10. Monday Night Football
It's still got the theme song and stuff, but it's not the same. John Madden and Al Michaels are gone, Michaels now on Sunday and Madden now retired. And then there's the whole matter of it being on a cable network, which is a bit strange. Conversely, Sunday Night Football has gotten so much better and has virtually the best game every week.