The Origins of (the word) Soccer

 

The Origins of the word Soccer....like the sport itself originated in England.

For those that don't know, don't care, and/or are too stupid to look it up, the OFFICIAL name of Soccer/Football/Futbal is association football.

Americans that continuously complain..."why not call it football like everyone else" Are ignorant about the origins of soccer in the first place.  The better question would be, why don't Americans call it "Throwball" instead of "Football"...Since you don't ever use your foot for anything, except running (exception the kicker/punter). 

Association Football was codified in the UK in 1863, at which point the term Association Football was coined to distinguish it from rugby football.  The word soccer is a colloquial abbreviation from the word asSOCiation.  The Brits at that time had a propensity to shorten names for their own convenience.

It was common practice in England to use the names football and soccer interchangeably until the 1970s.

And, the misguided opinion that the US calls it soccer while the rest of the world calls it football is wrong.  First, ignoring the obvious instances of countries that don't speak English, even within English speaking countries, the US is not alone in referring to it as soccer.  Australia, New Zealand, Canada, and the United States refer to the world’s most popular sport as soccer...a word originated as an English Colloquial abbreviation for the true name, "Association Football".

You may return to your regularly scheduled programs!

Peace
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Big Blue Wrecking Crew

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Giants’ season was on the line.  The Dallas Cowboys were in 1st place at 7-5, and the Giants were riding a 4 game losing streak at 6-6.  If the Giants managed to win they would tie Dallas, and hold the tie-breaker against Dallas…propelling them into 1st place in the NFC East with 3 games remaining at Met Life Stadium.  They would have the season entirely in their hands. 

Giants marched into Arlington, Texas looking for a win, and holding an undefeated streak at the new $1.3B Stadium.

In a thrilling game, where the lead changed several times, Eli Manning proved himself an Elite 4th Quarter Quarterback by leading them down the field with under 2-minutes left in the game trailing by 5 points, 34-29.

With 46 Seconds left in the game, Brandon Jacobs punched it in on the 8th lead change of the game, and after a successful 2-point conversion the Giants took a 37-34 lead, leaving the Cowboys 45 seconds to try and tie.

Tony Romo lead the team down the field, and into field goal range.  The Dallas kicker lined up for a game tying 47yd field goal which appeared to be good, but Tom Coughlin called a timeout just before the kick.  So, the kicker lined up for a second attempt at the game tying 47yd field goal.  However, this time Jason-Pierre Paul got up and deflected the kick, and the Giants won the game by a final score of 37-34.

Now the Giants are tied with the Cowboys at 7-6 (holding the tie-breaker) with 3 games remaining in the regular season.  All 3 games will be at their home stadium (Met Life Stadium).  They will host the redskins, play against the Jets (away), and end the season at Met Life Stadium on New Year’s Day against these same Dallas Cowboys with the division possibly at stake.  But, at the moment the Giants hold the upper hand in the division.

Eli Manning once again proved he deserves (at least) consideration in the debate about the top 5 Quarterbacks in the league.

In my book, I would place Eli at #5 behind…#1 Aaron Rodgers, #2 Tom Brady, #3 Drew Brees, and #4 Ben Roethlisberger.

But, that’s just my opinion.

Enjoy the stretch run Giants’ fans…it should be fun…it definitely won’t be boring!

Go G-Men!

Peace
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Fox News Viewers Are Stupid?

 

That question will always be up to interpretation according to your own ideological point of view, but Fairleigh Dickinson University tried to scientifically prove this to be true.  And according to their press release they have done just that.  Unequivocally?

It must have been unequivocal, because the news was important enough for the Huffington Post to report it.  

Fox News Viewers Know Less Than People Who Don't Watch Any News: Study – Huffington Post

Now…who am I to question the bastion of unbiased reporting that is the Huffington Post…There is never EVER any liberal spin on their site.

Gas Station Employee: I'm starting to picking up your sarcasm.
Richard Hayden: Well, I should hope so, because I'm laying it on pretty thick.
       - Tommy Boy (1995)

Let me begin by stating a well known axiom…"There are three kinds of lies: lies, damned lies, and statistics."

This is supposed to be a meaningful study?!

I know facts tend to get in the way of personal ideologies, but Let’s get some actual facts here.

The first sentence in the press release from Fairleigh Dickenson states…

According to the latest results from Fairleigh Dickinson University’s PublicMind Poll,
some news sources make us less likely to know what’s going on in the world.

But, let’s start by reading the first question they ask…

K1:  Americans now have more ways than ever before to get their news about politics and world affairs. I’m going to read you a list of news sources. As I read the list, just say “yes” if you got news from that source any time in the past week.

News Sources	Yes	No
Local Newspaper	74	26
Local TV News Broadcast	67	33
CNN	65	35
Fox News	64	36
National News Broadcast	62	38
MSNBC	51	49
National Newspaper	42	58
Talk Radio	41	59
Political Blog or News Website	30	70
Sunday Morning Political News Show	27	73
NPR	21	79
The Daily Show	18	82

Then they ask a series of 5 questions about Egypt, Syria, Occupy Wall Street, Presidential Candidates. and the European Debt crisis.  So, looking at the table above, Most people get their information from a Local Newspaper (74%)…followed by Local TV (67%), CNN (65%), and Fox News(64%).  The lowest sources of information are (in reverse order from lower to higher) The Daily Show (18%), NPR (21%), and Sunday Morning News (27%).  NOTE: They don’t mention it, but from the way the question was worded, and judging by the numbers, there is most certainly overlap.

Then from the information on their page for questions 2 and 3, 49% and 45% of Fox News viewers answered correctly (the lowest percentage) while 68% and 66% of NPR listeners answered correctly (the highest percentage).  BUT…NPR only has 21% of respondents while Fox News has 64%.

So, let’s back up a little.

What exactly are the parameters of this survey?  As stated in their release, the survey was…

”…conducted by telephone from Oct. 17, 2011, through Oct. 23, 2011, using a randomly selected sample of 612 resident adults statewide.  The margin of error for a sample of 612 randomly selected respondents is +/- 3.5 percentage points.  The margin of error for subgroups is larger and varies by the size of that subgroup.”

This survey involves 612 randomly selected residents in NJ.  They surveyed 612 people in a state with over 8,791,894 (US Census 2010) people…that’s approximately 0.007%, and in a country with 312,657,207 people that percentage is even more microscopically small.

But, for the sake of argument let’s analyze the first 3 questions. 

K1:
Fox New Viewers: 64% of the 612 surveyed is approximately 392.
NPR Listeners: 21% of the 612 is approximately 129

K2:
Fox News Viewers: 49% of 392 is approximately 192 Correct Answers
NPR Listeners: 68% of 129 is approximately 88 Correct Answers

K3:
Fox News Viewers: 45% of 392 is approximately 176 Correct Answers
NPR Listeners: 66% of 129 is approximately 85 Correct Answers

But…hey don’t let facts stand in the way…Never have before. (Hello….I’m speaking to both of you!)

So, what CAN we conclude from this “study”?  That people will believe anything as long as it fits their own ideological beliefs.

But, like I said, who am I to question such awesome institutions as Fairleigh Dickenson and the Huffington Post…right?!

Gas Station Employee: I'm starting to picking up your sarcasm.
Richard Hayden: Well, I should hope so, because I'm laying it on pretty thick.
- Tommy Boy (1995)

HA! Love that movie!

Peace
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Defense of Fort McHenry

On the morning of September 14, 1814, Francis Scott Key was inspired to write a poem after witnessing the Battle of Fort McHenry in Baltimore, MD during the War of 1812.  He originally named that poem "Defense of Fort McHenry".  Key was inspired by the sight of a large American flag waving proudly after the American victory over the British forces. 

However, most people have never seen or read this poem in its entirety, having only been introduced to the first verse of the four verse poem.

So, on the eve of the anniversary of that hard fought battle, in honor of those that lost their lives during that battle and on September 11, 2001...

Here is the full re-printed text of Francis Scott Key's "Defense of Fort McHenry" which later became more commonly known as "The Star-Spangled Banner"".

GOD BLESS AMERICA
_________________________________________________________________

Defense of Fort McHenry 

By Francis Scott Key

O say, can you see, by the dawn's early light,
What so proudly we hailed at the twilight's last gleaming?
Whose broad stripes and bright stars, through the perilous fight,
O'er the ramparts we watched, were so gallantly streaming!
And the rockets' red glare, the bombs bursting in air,
Gave proof through the night that our flag was still there:
O say, does that star-spangled banner yet wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave?

On the shore, dimly seen thro' the mist of the deep,
Where the foe's haughty host in dread silence reposes,
What is that which the breeze, o'er the towering steep.
As it fitfully blows, half conceals, half discloses?
Now it catches the gleam of the morning's first beam,
In full glory reflected, now shines on the stream
'Tis the star-spangled banner. Oh! long may it wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave!

And where is that band who so vauntingly swore
That the havoc of war and the battle's confusion
A home and a country should leave us no more?
Their blood has washed out their foul footstep's pollution.
No refuge could save the hireling and slave
From the terror of flight, or the gloom of the grave,
And the star-spangled banner in triumph doth wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave.

Oh! thus be it ever, when freemen shall stand
Between their loved homes and the war's desolation,
Blest with vict'ry and peace, may the Heav'n - rescued land
Praise the Pow'r that hath made and preserved us a nation.
Then conquer we must, for our cause is just,
And this be our motto--"In God is our trust."
And the star-spangled banner in triumph shall wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave.

 

Red Bulls Are Fit to be Tied

 

 

Let us step back and analyze this from a neutral observer’s point-of-view first…

The NY Red Bulls came out flat in the first half, and Vancouver had the bulk of the possession which eventually lead to a beautiful goal in the 23rd minute by Davide Chiumiento.  Some poor officiating lead to a series of circumstances which saw Rafa Marquez escape a 2nd yellow card, and a few minutes later Jan Gunnar Solli receive a totally bogus straight red card in first half stoppage time.

So, the first half ends with the Red Bulls down a goal, down a man, and playing poorly against the team with the worst record in MLS.  A team who hasn’t won a game on the road all season.

The Red Bulls began playing better in the second half, and had a lot more possession despite playing down a man.  But, the game completely changed in the 61st minute when Hans Backe inserted the Red Bulls 18 year old phenom, Juan Agudelo.  His youth, speed, and desire gave the team some much needed width, and caused Vancouver’s defense fits as soon as he came on.  Then in the 68th minute, Agudelo lost his defender in the box, and got on the end of a long Rafa Marquez pass, leveling the game at 1-1.

The Red Bulls continued to pressure Vancouver trying to get the game winner, and Agudelo almost accomplished that in the 80th minute.  Rising above the defense, he headed a shot on target forcing Caps keeper Joe Cannon to make a save to knock the ball out of bounds.  In the 81st minute, Luke Rodgers returned from injury to add more pressure to the Caps defense, and the Red Bulls attack came inches from getting the game winner as Thierry Henry made Joe Cannon sprawl to knock away another shot destined for the back of the net.  In the end, the short-handed Red Bulls fought back for a hard earned point, but failed to get the much needed win.

</end neutrality>

However, the Red Bulls now find themselves with the dubious distinction of having a league high 15 ties (Chicago also has 15 ties).  And, they also find themselves behind DC United for the last playoff spot after United’s 3-0 victory over Chivas USA.

The Red Bulls now have to hit the road to face FC Dallas at Pizza Hut Park in Frisco, Texas needing to find a way to get 3 points, or risk falling out of the playoff picture all together.

They have 7 games left to make the playoffs. The fans will not accept positive spins on how this was a good tie any longer.  They are having fits about all the ties this season.

Bottom-line: This team is too expensive and too talented to not make the playoffs. 

Get it done…PERIOD!  No more excuses.

Peace
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Post game Interviews from Hans Backe, Carlos Mendes, Luke Rodgers, and Thierry Henry

Red Bulls Return Hoping to Make a Playoff Push

 

The NY Red Bulls (32 pts.) find themselves clinging to the final playoff spot by a mere point over arch-rival DC United (31 pts.).  After finishing best in the East last season, the most expensive team in the league began positively, but the Red Bulls have fallen from 1st place all the way to 5th place in the Eastern Conference; a full 3 points behind the Houston Dynamo (35) and upstart Philadelphia Union (35), 5 points behind Sporting KC (37), and 8 points behind East-leading Columbus (40).

The class of the league continues to be the LA Galaxy who lead the league with 55 points in 28 games played, and they became the first team to clinch a playoff berth with their 1-0 win over defending champion Colorado on Friday.  Mercifully, the sold-out derby game between the Galaxy and Red bulls at Red Bull Arena was postponed by Hurricane Irene to October 4.  The Vancouver Whitecaps now come into Red Bull Arena to face a well-rested team (last game on August 20, 2-2 draw at New England) looking to break a 7 game winless streak.  During that stretch the team has gone 0-3-4, and their last win was a 5-0 drubbing of lowly Toronto at Red Bull Arena on July 6, 2011.  

The Whitecaps are the polar opposites of the Galaxy in the league having the distinction as the worst team in the league with a mere 21 points from 26 games played, and are winless on the road all season.  So, step one for the Red Bulls is not to allow Vancouver to get their first win on the road; step 2 is to secure a 1-0 lead; and then final step to dismantle them with a similar drubbing as they gave the last Canadian team to set foot in Red Bull Arena…Remember Red Bull Arena is Our Home Your Hell!

Bottom-line nothing less than a dominant and convincing performance and win is acceptable at this point in the season by a team that considers itself worthy of being in the playoffs when facing a team out of the playoff picture.  Especially, in a league where the playoff picture can turn on a single win or lose.

Karma Chameleon

Karma is a fickle friend...

During the New York Yankees game which featured Derek Jeter's 3000th Career hit, a young man caught the historic ball, and quickly and without hesitation told the usher..."Give it to Derek, it's his ball...I don't want anything for it."

The NY Yankees organization quickly gave him the keys to the Stadium in appreciation of his selfless act of honor.  He got free tickets, premium seats, backstage passes, an on-air interview in the YES Network booth...etc, etc, etc.

But, just as good deeds will result in good karma, bad deeds and injustices will result in bad karma.

Brazil found this out first hand in the 2011 Women's World Cup Quarterfinal game against the USA.

The US endured bad officiating, bad luck, and bad acting from the Brazilians and persevered in a game so full of drama that even TNT said..."Now that's what we're talking about!"

Having to play the final 55 minutes with a player disadvantage, due to the aforementioned bad officiating, with the score tied 1-1 - due to more bad officiating where a Hope Solo penalty kick save was forced to be re-taken - they forced the Brazilians into a 30 minute Overtime period.  Then when another example of bad officiating - missing a clear offsides by the Brazilians - lead to a miraculous goal by Brazil's Marta - better known as the Female version of Lionel Messi - and a Brazil lead 2-1 in overtime, it would have been understandable for the US Lady's to hang their heads.

But, through it all, the true characters of the two teams shown through...The US kept pushing, and fighting, and scratching, and clawing despite playing with only 10 players to Brazil's 11...while the Brazilians attempted to use ever trick to wind down the clock.

At one point, a Brazilian defender - Erika - went down with no one within 5 yards of her, and began acting as if a sharpshooter had taken her out.  After several minutes of rolling around on the ground, the stretcher was brought out, she was loaded onto it, and was carried away.  She had been carried barely 10 feet when she unstrapped herself, jumped off the stretcher, and began to sprint to the center circle ready to re-enter the game.  The act was such a cheap blatant display of timewasting that even THIS referee saw fit to grant her a yellow card for her troubles.

But, as was said before karma is a fickle friend, and it also seems to come with a sense of irony.  As the game wore on with the US trailing 2-1, and the clock crept ever closer to 120 minutes, the US's hopes seemed to fade, despite the constant pressure on the Brazilian goal.  But, as a result of the atrocious acting by Erika, the ref extended the game for an additional 3 minutes.

And, then in the 122nd minute, Midfielder Megan Rapinoe raced down the left wing, and unleashed a long, curving, hopeful ball to the far post...rocketing past 2 defenders, and the goalkeeper, and colliding with Abby Wambach's head, slamming into the back of the net.  The game was tied 2-2! As the stadium erupted, the US Players celebrated, while the disheartened Brazilian's looked on.

The game comes down to a penalty-kick shootout.

The first penalty kick taker for the US walked up to the spot - Shannon Boxx. She shot high and to the right, but was stopped by the Brazilian goalkepper.  But, it was then that karma spoke up, and said...hold on a minute, Hope Solo's save was called back because of a borderline encroachment call, then this will definitely have to be re-taken.  The goalkeeper clearly took 2 steps off her line before the kick.  A goalkeeper is allowed to move laterally along the goal-line, but not forward.  So, Shannon Boxx re-took her kick, and again shot to the right side...this time with more height and power, and buried it in the back of the net.

Each shooter buried the subsequent shots until the 3th round...After Abby Wambach converted her chance to give the US a 3-2 edge, Brazil defender, Daiane, stepped up to the spot, and shot to the left.  Hope Solo dove fully-extended to her right, and parried the shot away. A World-class save!

And when the 5th US shooter, Alex Krieger, converted her shot, the US celebrated the most remarkable comeback in Women's World Cup History.

Adversity and injustice had been overcome by true grit and undying determination.  Now the US face France in the Semifinals. WHEW!

Me explaining it does not do the events justice...so, watch the video below.

WWC USA v Brazil July 10, 2011

GO USA!!!

Peace
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Movies to Watch in 2011 and 2012

January

7 – Season of the Witch

Starring
Nicolas Cage, Ron Perlman

Nicolas Cage stars as a 14th century Crusader who returns with his comrade to a homeland devastated by the Black Plague. A beleaguered church, deeming sorcery the culprit of the plague, commands the two knights to transport an accused witch to a remote abbey, where monks will perform a ritual in hopes of ending the pestilence.

11 – The Green Hornet

Starring
Seth Rogen as The Green Hornet
Jay Chou as Kato

Britt Reid (Seth Rogen) is the son of LA's most prominent and respected media magnate and perfectly happy to maintain a directionless existence on the party scene until his father (Tom Wilkinson) mysteriously dies, leaving Britt his vast media empire. Striking an unlikely friendship with one of his father's more industrious and inventive employees, Kato (Jay Chou), they see their chance to do something meaningful for the first time in their lives: fight crime.

Driven by the murder of a close friend and the realization that his media empire is infested with ruthless heroin smugglers, Britt Reid, aka the Green Hornet and his human weapon Kato jump into action on a heart-pounding quest to rid the city of this mob once and for all.

28 – The Mechanic

Starring
Jason Statham, Ben Foster, Donald Sutherland

Jason Statham stars in this remake of a 1972 Charles Bronson Classic.

Arthur Bishop (Jason Statham) is a 'mechanic' - an elite assassin with a strict code and unique talent for cleanly eliminating targets. It's a job that requires professional perfection and total detachment, and Bishop is the best in the business. But when his mentor and close friend Harry (Donald Sutherland) is murdered, Bishop is anything but detached. His next assignment is self-imposed - he wants those responsible dead. His mission grows complicated when Harry's son Steve (Ben Foster) approaches him with the same vengeful goal and a determination to learn Bishop's trade. Bishop has always acted alone but he can't turn his back on Harry's son. A methodical hit man takes an impulsive student deep into his world and a deadly partnership is born. But while in pursuit of their ultimate mark, deceptions threaten to surface and those hired to fix problems become problems themselves.

February

11 – The Eagle

Starring
Channing Tatum, Jamie Bell, Donald Sutherland

In 140 AD, twenty years after the unexplained disappearance of the entire Ninth Legion in the mountains of Scotland, young centurion Marcus Aquila (Tatum) arrives from Rome to solve the mystery and restore the reputation of his father, the commander of the Ninth. Accompanied only by his British slave Esca (Bell), Marcus sets out across Hadrian's Wall into the uncharted highlands of Caledonia - to confront its savage tribes, make peace with his father's memory, and retrieve the lost legion's golden emblem, the Eagle of the Ninth.

18 – Unknown

Starring
Liam Neeson, Diane Kruger

A man awakens from a coma, only to discover that someone has taken on his identity and that no one, (not even his wife), believes him. With the help of a young woman, he sets out to prove who he is.

18 – I Am Number Four

Starring
Alex Pettyfer, Timothy Olyphant

Three are dead. He is Number Four. D.J. Caruso ("Eagle Eye," "Disturbia") helms an action-packed thriller about an extraordinary young man, John Smith (Alex Pettyfer), who is a fugitive on the run from ruthless enemies sent to destroy him. Changing his identity, moving from town to town with his guardian Henri (Timothy Olyphant), John is always the new kid with no ties to his past. In the small Ohio town he now calls home, John encounters unexpected, life-changing events-his first love (Dianna Agron), powerful new abilities and a connection to the others who share his incredible destiny. John (Alex Pettyfer) is an extraordinary young man, masking his true identity and passing as a typical student to elude a deadly enemy seeking to destroy him. Three like him have already been killed...he is Number Four.

March

11 – Red Riding Hood

Starring
Amanda Seyfried, Shiloh Fernandez, Gary Oldman, Lukas Haas

Directed by Catherine Hardwick (Twilight)

TWILIGHT's Catherine Hardwick makes her way from vamps to werewolves for this re-envisioning of the red riding hood fairy tale.

Valerie (Seyfried) is a beautiful young woman torn between two men. She is in love with a brooding outsider, Peter (Fernandez), but her parents have arranged for her to marry the wealthy Henry (Max Irons). Unwilling to lose each other, Valerie and Peter are planning to run away together when they learn that Valerie's older sister has been killed by the werewolf that prowls the dark forest surrounding their village. For years, the people have maintained an uneasy truce with the beast, offering the creature a monthly animal sacrifice. But under a blood red moon, the wolf has upped the stakes by taking a human life. Hungry for revenge, the people call on famed werewolf hunter, Father Solomon (Oldman), to help them kill the wolf. But Solomon's arrival brings unintended consequences as he warns that the wolf, who takes human form by day, could be any one of them. As the death toll rises with each moon...

April

1 – Super

Starring
Rainn Wilson, Ellen Page, Liv Tyler

After his wife falls under the influence of a drug dealer, an everyday guy transforms himself into Crimson Bolt, a superhero with the best intentions, though he lacks for heroic skills.

1 – Source Code

Starring
Jake Gyllenhaal, Michelle Monaghan

Captain Colter Stevens (Jake Gyllenhaal) wakes with a jolt to find himself on a commuter train heading into Chicago. Although the other passengers all seem to know him, he has absolutely no idea where or even who he is. The last thing Colter remembers is flying a helicopter mission in Iraq, but here he is in someone else's life going through someone else's morning commute. Before he can do anything an express train zooms by on the opposite track and a bomb explodes, seemingly killing Colter and all the other passengers.

An action thriller centered on a soldier who wakes up in the body of an unknown man and discovers he's part of a mission to find the bomber of a Chicago commuter train.

8 – Your Highness

Starring
Natalie Portman, Zooey Deschanel, James Franco, Danny McBride

Throughout history, tales of chivalry have burnished the legends of brave, handsome knights who rescue fair damsels, slay dragons and conquer evil. But behind many a hero is a good-for-nothing younger brother trying just to stay out of the way of those dragons, evil and trouble in general. Danny McBride and James Franco team up for an epic comedy adventure set in a fantastical world-Your Highness. As two princes on a daring mission to save their land, they must rescue the heir apparent’s fiancée before their kingdom is destroyed. Thadeous (Danny McBride) has spent his life watching his perfect older brother Fabious (Franco) embark upon valiant journeys and win the hearts of his people. Tired of being passed over for adventure, adoration and the throne, he's settled for a life of wizard's weed, hard booze and easy maidens. But when Fabious' bride-to-be, Belladonna (Zooey Deschanel), gets kidnapped by the evil wizard Leezar (Justin Theroux), the king gives his deadbeat son an ultimatum: Man up and help rescue her or get cut off…Joined by Isabel (Natalie Portman)-an elusive warrior with a dangerous agenda of her own-the brothers must vanquish horrific creatures and traitorous knights before they can reach Belladonna.

8 – Hanna

Starring
Saoirse Ronan, Cate Blanchett, Eric Bana

Hanna (Ronan) is a teenage girl. Uniquely, she has the strength, the stamina, and the smarts of a soldier; these come from being raised by her father (Bana), an ex-CIA man, in the wilds of Finland. Living a life unlike any other teenager, her upbringing and training have been one and the same, all geared to making her the perfect assassin. The turning point in her adolescence is a sharp one; sent into the world by her father on a mission, Hanna journeys stealthily across Europe while eluding agents dispatched after her by a ruthless intelligence operative with secrets of her own (Ms. Blanchett). As she nears her ultimate target, Hanna faces startling revelations about her existence and unexpected questions about her humanity.

11 – Legend of the Fist : The Return of Chen Zhen

Starring
Donnie Yen, Qi Shu

Donnie Yen portrays Chen Zhen in this sequel to the Bruce Lee classic Fist of Fury (1972).  Trivia: Jet Li played Chen Zhen in the Loose remake of the Bruce Lee classic, Fist of Legend (1994).

Seven years after the apparent death of Chen Zhen, who was shot after discovering who was responsible for his teacher's death (Huo Yuanjia) in Japanese-occupied Shanghai. A mysterious stranger arrives from overseas and befriends a local mafia boss. That man is a disguised Chen Zhen, who intends to infiltrate the mob when they form an alliance with the Japanese. Disguising himself as a caped fighter by night, Chen intends to take out everyone involved as well as get his hands on an assassination list prepared by the Japanese.

29 – Fast Five

Starring
Vin Diesel, Paul Walker, Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson

Former cop Brian O'Conner partners with ex-con Dom Toretto on the opposite side of the law. Since Brian and Mia Toretto broke Dom out of custody, they've blown across many borders to elude authorities. Now backed into a corner in Rio de Janeiro, they must pull one last job in order to gain their freedom. As they assemble their elite team of top racers, the unlikely allies know their only shot of getting out for good means confronting the corrupt businessman who wants them dead. But he's not the only one on their tail. Hard-nosed federal agent Luke Hobbs (Dwayne Johnson) never misses his target. When he is assigned to track down Dom and Brian, he and his strike team launch an all-out assault to capture them. But as his men tear through Brazil, Hobbs learns he can't separate the good guys from the bad. Now, he must rely on his instincts to corner his prey... before someone else runs them down first.

May

4 – Thor

Starring
Chris Hemsworth as The Mighty Thor

Co-Starring
Natalie Portman as Jane Foster
Anthony Hopkins as Odin
Tom Hiddleston as Loki
Clark Gregg as Agent Coulson

Directed by Kenneth Branagh

Produced by Marvel Studios

Marvel Studios expands its film universe with a new type of superhero: THOR. This epic adventure spans the Marvel Universe; from present day Earth to the realm of Asgard. At the center of the story is The Mighty Thor, a powerful but arrogant warrior whose reckless actions reignite an ancient war. Thor is cast down to Earth and forced to live among humans as punishment. Once here, Thor learns what it takes to be a true hero when the most dangerous villain of his world sends the darkest forces of Asgard to invade Earth. Kenneth Branagh directs this fantasy epic which stars Australian actor Chris Hemsworth as the ancient Norse god, Tom Hiddleston as his evil brother Loki, Natalie Portman as Jane Foster, a young woman who befriends Thor on Earth, and Anthony Hopkins as Odin, Thor's father and king of Asgard. Expect to see agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., previously seen in ''Iron Man,'' to make an appearance, further foreshadowing the coming of The Avengers!

20 – Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides

Starring
Johnny Depp, Geoffrey Rush, Penélope Cruz

Captain Jack Sparrow (Depp) crosses paths with a woman from his past (Cruz), and he's not sure if it's love -- or if she's a ruthless con artist who's using him to find the fabled Fountain of Youth. When she forces him aboard the Queen Anne's Revenge, the ship of the formidable pirate Blackbeard (Ian McShane), Jack finds himself on an unexpected adventure in which he doesn't know who to fear more: Blackbeard or the woman from his past.

June

3 – X-Men : First Class

Starring
James McAvoy, Michael Fassbender, Kevin Bacon

Before Charles Xavier and Erik Lensherr took the names Professor X and Magneto, they were two young men discovering their powers for the first time. Before they were archenemies, they were closest of friends, working together, with other Mutants (some familiar, some new), to stop the greatest threat the world has ever known. In the process, a rift between them opened, which began the eternal war between Magneto's Brotherhood and Professor X's X-MEN.

10 – Super 8

From Writer, Director, Producer J.J. Abrams (Mission: Impossible III, Star Trek, Cloverfield) and Executive Producer, Stephen Spielberg, comes this Sci-Fi Adventure.  Not many details are known yet. The Movie Tagline reads “Next Summer, It Arrives.”

Teaser Trailer

17 – Green Lantern

Starring
Ryan Reynolds as Green Lantern

Directed by Martin Campbell (Casino Royale, GoldenEye)

In a universe as vast as it is mysterious, a small but powerful force has existed for millenniums. Protectors of peace and justice, they are called the Green Lantern Corps. A brotherhood of warriors formed by the different races from entire universe sworn to keep intergalactic order, each Green Lantern wears a ring that grants him superpowers. But when a new enemy called Parallax threatens to destroy the balance of power in the Universe, their fate and the fate of Earth lie in the hands of their newest recruit, the first human ever selected for the Corps: Hal Jordan.

24 – Rise of the Apes

Starring
James Franco, Andy Serkis

An origin story set in present day San Francisco, where man's own experiments with genetic engineering lead to the development of intelligence in apes and the onset of a war for supremacy.

July

1 – Transformers: Dark of the Moon

Starring
Shia LaBeouf, Tyrese Gibson, Josh Duhamel
Hugo Weaving as the Voice of Optimus Prime

Directed by Michael Bay

Executive Producer Stephen Spielberg

The Autobots Bumblebee, Ratchet, Ironhide and Sideswipe led by Optimus Prime, are back in action, taking on the evil Decepticons, who are determined to avenge their defeat in 2009s Transformers Revenge of the Fallen. In this new movie, the Autobots and Decepticons become involved in a perilous space race between the U.S. and Russia, and once again human Sam Witwicky has to come to the aid of his robot friends. There's new characters too, including a new villain in the form of Shockwave, a longtime "Transformers" character who rules Cybertron while the Autobots and Decepticons battle it out on Earth. Transformers: Dark of the Moon is expected to hit theaters July 1st, 2011 in Real D 3D and IMAX 3D.

15 – Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2

Starring
Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, Rupert Grint

The end begins as Harry, Ron, and Hermione go back to Hogwarts to find and destroy Voldemort’s final horcruxes, but when Voldemort finds out about their mission, the biggest battle begins and life as they know it will never be the same again.

22 – Captain America: The First Avenger

Starring
Chris Evans as Captain America
Hugo Weaving as The Red Skull
Samuel L. Jackson as Nick Fury

Directed by Joe Johnston (Jurassic Park III)

Produced by Marvel Studios

Based on the Marvel Comics character from World War II. A brave, yet mild-mannered young soldier named Steve Rogers, volunteers to undergo a series of experiments for a US army Super Soldier program. The military succeeds in transforming him into a human weapon, but quickly decide that their Super Soldier is far too expensive a creation to risk in combat. So, they decide to put him to use as an army celebrity and parade him across Europe to boost morale by performing in USO shows for American troops. He is even given a costume that bear the colors of Old Glory for the stage. Then, when a Nazi plot reveals itself Rogers must rise up and and become the First Avenger, in order to save his country. Steve Rogers becomes Captain America and he earns his way into the hearts and souls of every American, bringing hope and justice to a war-weary nation. Later, during a mission to Germany to stop his archenemy - The Red Skull, from launching rockets at the allies, Captain America sacrifices himself and winds up frozen in ice for almost six decades! Revived, Steve Rogers now must join forces with new heroes and become an Avenger of the modern age.

29 – Cowboys & Aliens

Starring
Harrison Ford, Daniel Craig, Olivia Wilde

Directed by Jon Favreau (Iron Man, Iron Man 2, Elf)

Produced by Ron Howard and Stephen Spielberg

The Old West.. where a lone cowboy leads an uprising against a terror from beyond our world. 1873. Arizona Territory. A stranger with no memory of his past stumbles into the hard desert town of Absolution. The only hint to his history is a mysterious shackle that encircles one wrist. What he discovers is that the people of Absolution don't welcome strangers, and nobody makes a move on its streets unless ordered to do so by the iron-fisted Colonel Dolarhyde (Ford). It's a town that lives in fear. But Absolution is about to experience fear it can scarcely comprehend as the desolate city is attacked by marauders from the sky. Screaming down with breathtaking velocity and blinding lights to abduct the helpless one by one, these monsters challenge everything the residents have ever known. Now, the stranger they rejected is their only hope for salvation. As this gunslinger slowly starts to remember who he is and where he's been...

September

30 – Now

Starring
Olivia Wilde, Johnny Galecki, Cillian Murphy

Welcome to a world where time has become the ultimate currency. You stop aging at 25, but there's a catch: you're genetically-engineered to live only one more year, unless you can buy your way out of it. The rich "earn" decades at a time (remaining at age 25), becoming essentially immortal, while the rest beg, borrow or steal enough hours to make it through the day. When a man from the wrong side of the tracks is falsely accused of murder, he is forced to go on the run with a beautiful hostage. Living minute to minute, the duo's love becomes a powerful tool in their war against the system.

October

14 – The Three Musketeers

Starring
Milla Jovovich as M’lady De Winter,
Orlando Bloom as Duke of Buckingham
Logan Lerman (Percy Jackson) as D’Artagnan

Directed by Paul W. S. Wilson (Resident Evil, Death Race)

The hot-headed young D'Artagnan along with three former legendary but now down on their luck Musketeers must unite and defeat a beautiful double agent and her villainous employer from seizing the French throne and engulfing Europe in war.

December

16 – Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol

Starring
Tom Cruise, Jeremy Renner, Simon Pegg

Written and Produced by J.J. Abrams

Directed by Brad Bird (The Incredibles)

Tom Cruise returns as IMF Agent, Ethan Hunt, and J.J. Abrams returns to write and produce this sequel to his successful Mission: Impossible III.  He hands the director’s reigns to Brad Bird who directed The Incredibles, Ratatouille, and Iron Giant.

16 – Sherlock Holmes 2

Starring
Robert Downey Jr. as Sherlock Holmes
Jude Law as Dr. John Watson
Rachel McAdams as Irene Adler
Jared Harris as Professor Moriarty

Directed by Guy Ritchie

Sherlock Holmes and his sidekick Dr. Watson join forces to outwit and bring down their fiercest adversary, Professor Moriarty.

2012

May 4 – The Avengers

Directed by Joss Whedon (Serenity)

Produced by Marvel Studios

Starring:

Robert Downey Jr. as Iron Man
Scarlett Johansson as Black Widow
Samuel L. Jackson as Nick Fury (Director of S.H.I.E.L.D)
Clark Gregg as S.H.I.E.L.D Agent Coulson
Chris Hemsworth as The Mighty Thor
Jeremy Renner as Hawkeye
Chris Evans as Captain America
Don Cheadle as War Machine
Tom Hiddleston as Loki
Mark Ruffalo as Bruce Banner (The Incredible Hulk)
Lou Ferrigno as the voice of The Incredible Hulk

Joss Whedon, the creator of such TV Series as Buffy The Vampire Slayer, Angel, and Dollhouse, as well as Firefly and it’s big screen sequel, Serenity, is tasked with bringing the greatest collection of superheroes ever to assemble as a team together on the big screen.  Marvel Studio’s monumental venture to unite the Marvel Universe of Movie characters in one blockbuster adventure will be realized the spring of 2012.  When Nick Fury, Director of S.H.I.E.L.D. announced the Avenger Initiative by approaching Tony Stark in the first Iron Man movie, that was just the beginning.  Fury and his faithful Agent Coulson went about assembling the team methodically.  Bringing together Iron Man, Black Widow, War Machine, The Mighty Thor, Captain America, Hawkeye, and The Incredible Hulk to face a threat so great that no one lone hero could defeat. They will have to unite as…The Avengers!

July 20 – The Dark Knight Rises

Starring
Christian Bale as Batman
Gary Oldman as Jim Gordon
Morgan Freeman as Lucius Fox
Michael Caine as Alfred
Tom Hardy as Bane
Anne Hathaway as Catwoman

Directed by Christopher Nolan

Story by David S. Goyer

Christopher Nolan completes his Dark Knight trilogy starring Christian Bale as the Dark Knight himself.  David S. Goyer, the story writer for Batman Begins and The Dark Knight, returns to pen the story for The Dark Knight Rises. 

OFFICIAL CASTING UPDATE: Tom Hardy will be cast as Bane, and Anne Hathaway will be cast as Catwoman (Selina Kyle).

____________________________________________________

I’ll be seeing you at the movies.

Peace
G

Special Thanks to IMDB and Flixster

52 Minutes of Greatness : 68 Minutes of Failure

This year, two 10-6 teams will be sitting at home watching the playoffs.  The Tampa Bay Bucs finished 10-6, and the Giants, despite the late season collapse, still finished 10-6, but by virtue of the tie-breaker, Green Bay will be the last seed in the NFC at 10-6, and the Eagles win the NFC East with a 10-6 record by virtue of the tie-breaker. 

Two week ago, the Giants were 8 Minutes from clinching the NFC East leading the Philadelphia Eagles 31-10.  For 52 Minutes, the Giants defense made the Eagles Offense, and Michael Vick, look average.  Eli Manning powered the Giants’ Offense to a 21 point lead.  All the Giants had to do was take time off the clock, and keep Mike Vick off the field.  They would have been 10-6 (at that time), and the Eastern Division would have been theirs.

But instead, the defense let Mike Vick run rampant, and score 3 quick touchdowns, and tie the game 31-31.  And, with mere seconds on the clock, the Giants punter kicked off to the Eagles’ DeSean Jackson, and as if in slow-motion watched him squirt, slide, and highstep into the endzone with 0:00 on the clock.

The Eagles won the game with no time on the clock, 38-31, and clinched the NFC East.

The following week all the Giants needed to do was beat the Green Bay Packers in Green Bay, and they would clinch a playoff spot…Period!  But, for the 60 minutes of the game, the Giants looked like a punch-drunk team still feeling the effects of the Eagles shocking victory at the New Meadowlands Stadium. They got totally demolished 45-17 by the Packers.

So, 68 minutes earlier they were ready to clinch the Division, but the last week of the season they needed to beat the Washington Redskins to finish 10-6, and they needed the Packers to lose to the Bears (who had already clinched their Division).  The Giants took care of their business, and beat a very pitiful Redskins team, 17-14.  But, by virtue of the Packers 10-3 win over the Bears, the Giants will be saying…Woulda, shoulda, coulda!

That being said, the Giants have a very good team, and finishing 10-6 is testament to that.  But, I said earlier this season that the weakness of the Giants is the Special teams, and as it turned out, the Special Teams was the decisive factor in the season…But, we still finished 10-6.  That’s the bottom line…the Giants are a 10-6 team! 

So, no Tom Coughlin should not be fired for putting a 10-6 team together, but he needs to address the special teams situation for next season.  We are close to another championship…Let’s do this already! No more bullshit.

UPDATE: Giants owner announces that Tom Coughlin has been told his job is his if he still wants it.

Thanks Giants for a great effort, and an above average season…Good luck next year.

For the teams remaining, Kick-ass Peyton, and let’s go Ravens D!

See you next season

Peace
G