College Football Week 9

Well its become rather apparent this is not my season, though it really didn't take the 9th week of the season to figure it out. And well aware this cover is a season old, but its still enjoyable to look at.

I'm not sure where the luck of the Irish is but its not with Notre Dame this year. They lose a home game to Tulsa and lose their starting QB for 6 months. With a 4-5 record, the most likely outcome of the season will be 5-7, so Kelly's hopeful year has turned into a disaster.

Texas lost to Baylor, which isn't so bad considering Baylor is ranked and Texas isn't, but it does speak to the mighty big fall the team has taken. The only saving parts of this season is the big win over Nebraska at home and if they can beat A&M this year. They seem likely to make it to a bowl game at 7-5 but its definitely a far cry from last year's championship team.

Florida stopped it losing streak when an overtime win over Georgia. They are not the powerhouse of offense of the Tebow era and I'm doubtful this rotating QBs will work for the long haul. At 5-3, they still have a chance to win the SEC east and play in the Championship game at the end of the year. They have two major games with South Carolina and Florida St, but both of those teams have trouble playing well every game. If the Gators can beat SC, then they should be able to handle Fl St and end the season well.

The Big Ten Conference has become very murky with Iowa absolutely demolishing undefeated Michigan St. Wisconsin, Iowa, Michigan St, and OSU all have one loss in the conference and it all come down to tie breakers. OSU and Iowa do play one another, so that will weed out one team out of the tie. And as we know, every week there is an upset so I wouldn't be surprised if another team drops. In the second tier of teams, Penn St takes care of Michigan, so Michigan's slide continues on. Michigan has only one sure win left on their schedule, Purdue, so its possible after their 4 and 0 start they end up 6-6. Penn St seems like 7-5, unless they can pull an upset over OSU, unlikely, or Michigan St, more likely.

The BCS standings, at least the most important positions 1 and 2, won't be changing. Auburn and Oregon put on great performances and truly look elite. Auburn has a harder schedule to finish, especially with defending champions, Alabama, waiting for them. Then Auburn would have to play in the SEC championship game, while Oregon just has Oregon State at the end.

Captain America Movie....I'm somewhat excited

When they cast Chris Evans as Steve Rogers in the new Captain America movie, I wasn't really thrilled about it. I personally was hoping Kellan Lutz would get it, since he had more of the look. Chris Evans was already a Marvel Hero, and even if no one saw Fantastic Four, he had his shot with Johnny Storm. Not that he was bad, just the films were kinda eh...especially that second one.

But...some of the new images have come out, and I'm pretty happy about whats coming together. Chris Evans actually does a better job of channeling Steve Rogers than I thought he would. The costume looks really cool also, like the realistic military style.

And wow those arms, pretty beast. So yea, Captain America I'm all for.

Comic Book Queers

Jean Grey, how I love thee, let me count the ways...

I've not talked about comic books much on this blog, even if they are a rather big interest of mine. I guess because even though I consider myself a fan, I don't consider myself well versed to make commentary. Not that you have to be studied to make commentary, we have plenty of talking heads on tv...about everything. My interest in comics also cycles, I will read a lot at one point and then slow off: repeat.

My interest in comics was based a lot on the 90's comic cartoon boom. I loved the X-men, loved Spider-man, and also was really into the Batman: Animated series. I was a pretty big Marvel/Spider-man fan in my younger years and then I fell out of it and got into anime. I didn't really back into comic books until a few years ago, around the time Jason Todd was brought back to life. I've been more in the DC camp since then with more of a focus on Batman and Superman families.

Anyway, so Comic Book Queers is a website/podcasts that focus on comics with fabulous queer sensibility. They do various episodes, or issues, on differing comic, comic characters, story arches, and news. This basically allows me to know whats going in the ever repeating world of comics, cause there is never a new story in comics. DC's universe is always going through crisis and Marvel is always changing Spider-man's costume. Jean Grey dying, coming back, dying, and hopefully coming back again soon. I think she did actually, or it was just a very heavy handed hint.

I've actually looked into various titles thanks to things they have brought up, whether its new comics or even old ones. I have become a bigger fan of Dazzler thanks to their comments, and those radio skits. Though they do focus a lot on the major titles of the DC house and Marvel House, but they do bring a lot indie creators and comics. Gail Simone features a good amount, which she is like the favored of all queer comic boy fans. Even though some times I get a bit lost with the generational references, but it happens when you have decades of story lines like you do in comic book. Or I'm a terrible fan, could be that too.

It isn't all just comics, but a lot of pop culture issues: like films. Though usually its films or series that have a bent towards sci-fi or fantastic, much like comic books. Well they also talk about Lost, which I skipped over as I'm not much a thinking man. Though I did like Inception, which I didn't get what was so confusing about it.

The other, and sometimes I love it best, is when the group of pod casters do their amazing scripted shows. Most the regular people are men so its pretty hilarious when they auto tune? the voices to sound like Storm, Emma Frost, and Dazzler. I have come to appreciate those characters a lot more through those episodes, well and the X-men in general. I could listen to those issues/episodes over and over again.

The blog is amazing, the guys who run it are great, and its almost always funny and informative. If you like comics at all, it is a definitive place to visit.

It is on my read list but here is the link otherwise: www.comicbookqueers.com.

Everything is Bigger in Texas, even the loses

Jason Witten, here with his son, is the only thing I actually like about the Cowboys. I only really feel bad about their 1-5 season because he is a good guy, not to mention handsome.

So Monday Night Football has come and gone, but it had a major impact. Superbowl hopes were already on the ropes with their terrible start but NFC east rivals, Giants, k.o.ed them. The NY Giants sacked and broke their starting QB, Tony Romo, and thus broke their team. It doesn't take a lot for Cowboy fans to hate Giants fans but I would have to think that rivalry has gone from hate to flat out death wish on your family. The Giants not only kill your Superbowl dreams, but they also have the first official win your new billion dollar stadium from last year.

Its probably not smart to totally write them off, they are very talented or so I'm told. I just don't see Kitna being able to rally that team, which doesn't seem to have any leadership and Wade Phillips doesn't strike me as someone who inspires his team to greatness.

Oh well, Witten is still attractive.

Z and G Wedding

My two good friends, Z and G, got married over the weekend. It was the second wedding I got to be in, though it was mostly being an usher and running around doing things behind the scenes. The wedding was held at the Dayton Art Institute and was probably the most expensive wedding I've been involved with. G looked really amazing, probably the prettiest bride I've seen in person.

The wedding was full of personal touches which is nice. They displayed puzzles they had completed together all around the reception area, which was in the Gothic Cloister. G actually sung a song as part of her personal vows, personal vows are always nice if done well. It was definitely G's wedding, but Z's touch was on it too. They are a lot like though different enough that they don't clash too much, basically Z knows how to handle her.

I did have a lot of thoughts during the wedding though, like wow I really want to get married. It just reminded me of how lonely I can get without having someone to share with. I just deal with constant dead ends and jerk around, probably because I deal with the same people all the time. I need to go meet people, which is hard with basically working all week and my weekend is just hanging out with my friends. And another against my friends, but its not getting me to meet anyone.

And it also made me think about straight marriages versus gay marriages, like in how people view them. I'm pretty aware that if I'm able to marry, one day God willing, that it won't stir the same feelings in my family. I doubt most of my family would even go, but sure my friends would be there at least. Well maybe in some families its nothing different, but I think it will take a lot of time for that to happen. Like Generations, and so on....time heals all wounds or something.

G does have real Italian cousins though, one woman seemed to be straight out of my Cousin Vinny or the Jersey Shore.

In the World of Sports

Its been a rather dark day in the world of Sports, or well, it has been in the world of Tommy Sports.

All of my teams are doing rather badly...

Florida is on a losing streak that has been going on for three games now...

Texas got dropped out of the 25, then sparked to upset Nebraska, and then got beaten by Iowa State...

Notre Dame had a nice win streak and then got smashed by Navy, so at best, we are looking at a 6-6 season.

Ohio State was ranked number 1 in the nation, and then got punched by Wisconsin...

The NFL isn't going so bad, but I get more emotional about college games. The passion is higher cause every game matters and you have these kids' futures on the line.

Browns are underwhelming as always but scored a massively awesome upset in New Orleans on Sunday. This continues the streak of the Browns beating the Super Bowl Champion, somehow they always do it...Giants, Steelers, and now the Saints. Go Brownies! McCoy definitely seems to be doing well, which is a nice change from his pre-season play.

Denver has continued to slide and hit rock bottom on Sunday with a 59-17 loss at home to the Raiders. The very idea of a team losing by that margin in pro football is astounding, let alone it being the home team. I only really root for the team cause of Tebow but even I felt embarrassed. Tebow did get his first NFL regular season touchdown against the Jets, thats really cool.

Patriots keep rolling along, and managed to hold on for a road win in San Diego that was mostly due to the Charger's turn overs.

Texans were on a bye and are gearing up for their MNF with Indy, in Indy. A win there would give us fans some confidence in the team. Even if they are 4-2, they could easily be 2-4.

On a side not, I'm really tired of hearing about Big Ben, "alleged rapist", coming back to the NFL. I don't like them turning his return in some kind of redemption story, he fucked up. Can we move on and not go on about it like it some morality play?

Red all Over

This was taken after the "game" between Alabama and Florida, I think I look like some kind of Gator Grim Reaper.

It was definitely a red kind of weekend, rolling red tide and red river rivalry.

Alabama is Number 1: The lack of domination last week in Arkansas might have raised some flags that Alabama was ready to be taken down. I had thought so, and maybe they are, but it will take someone better than Florida to do it. Alabama struck hard and fast, they put the game away before half time. Florida's offense was able to make drives but they never were able to score when they got into the red-zone. The best thing to sum up the Florida offense was watching Burton try to pull off a Tebow jump pass and it totally bombed. They are definitely not the same offense without Timmy...and all of those great receivers.

Oklahoma breaks the streak: After coming off a humiliating loss, I thought Texas would be ready to go and prove themselves. They proved they are not a top 25 team when they got smashed in the face by the Sooner's offense. Texas' D looked good but the offense could never get anything going, until the final quarter when it seemed like the Longhorns might come back. OU scores, with a rather impressive rush TD, and finally wins the RR Shoot out. OU end another big steak for the Longhorns, they had the longest streak of being in the top 25. UT had a streak of like 160 something weeks and now the Buckeyes have the longest with 90 something.

Notre Dame Soars over the Eagles: This is a weird one for me to talk about, since I should be happy. Notre Dame gets its second win of the year out in Boston College, which quickly went lopsidedly in the Irish's way. I am really happy for them to snap their losing streak but it doesn't make me feel very good about the team. BC looked terrible so it was basically a cupcake game for the Irish, which all of the teams schedule. I assume Buckeyes fans feel only marginally better about a win over Eastern Michigan, since its just stat padding. Notre Dame's next game is going to be a lot harder as Pitt comes to South Bend. Pitt has underwhelmed, like all of the Big East, but Pitt has beat ND the last couple of years. Brian Kelly, on the other hand, has beaten Pitt each time while coaching Cincinnati...so one of those patterns will continue.