The Weekend That Will Be...
The Boob Tube
As noted in today's DSB Winner, tonight is Conan O'Brien's last show on the Peacock...and he's going out exactly how he came in. Tom Hanks and Will Ferrell will be his last guests, just as they were his first seven months ago. As Kris Kristofferson once wrote, "Freedom's just another word for nothing left to lose" and Conan is looking down the barrel at a whole lot of freedom. Expect lunacy to prevail - - especially when Ferrell is in the seat next to the host's desk.
Prediction: Conventional wisdom has Conan going to Fox next September so he can compete directly with Jay and Dave. But that's not going to happen...the perfect fit for him is on Comedy Central following Colbert & The Daily Show and then in about 3-5 years when Letterman packs it in, he'll realize Conan's the perfect guy to take over for him and go head-to-head with Leno.
Also on television tonight is the "Hope for Haiti Now" telethon. Thrown together quickly since the tragic earthquake, the show boasts enormous starpower trying to raise money for the necessary shelter, food, and health supplies for the devastated country.
Prediction: Clooney and DiCaprio have each pledged $1M and they are urging other stars to do the same. They're going to need to appeal to their rich brethern in show business, because I don't see Jack and Diane in middle America donating $50 to the Haitians instead of buying smokes or lottery tickets.
Sports Gambling Lock o' the Night
Now that football is coming to an end and we are still a month away from pitchers and catchers reporting, my wagering eye turns to the hardwood courts. As a guideline, I like to stay away from road favorites...but there are two games tonight to tempting to pass up.
Prediction: Parlay the Dallas Mavericks and New Orleans Hornets both laying 3 on the road and thank me in the morning. I believe Dirkus Circus will take out his All-Star start snub out on the Philadelphia 76ers and Chris Paul will light up the youngsters in Minnesota's backcourt.
Speaking of Hoops...College Basketball Saturday
I got this in an e-mail from my friend Pete last night:
Step 1: Tell the media that this season will be different...will have longer bench...players won't get tired like last year because there was no depth last year...will incorporate big men more this year. Start the season by winning first 10 games.
Step 2: 9 man rotation in December...playing big men more than year before. Calendar year ends with one or no losses .
Step 3: By late January/early February, the rotation starts shrinking to 7 players with the guards playing 35+ minutes and one undersized "big man" playing a lot becuase he will scrap his way through defense but won't threaten guards by taking too many shots.
Step 4: Players starting to get tired...no worthy big man in site...lose 3-5 games in conference play.
Step 5: Play well in conference tournament - may even win it, but lose in second round of March Madness (third round if you have a really good team).
Name the team...
That's right...that describes the Duke Blue Devils for the last 5 years and this year is headed down the same rabbit hole. On Saturday night in a marquee matchup, they travel to Greenville, SC to take on the #16 Clemson Tigers. The Blue Devils have not won on a game on the road yet this season (not counting neutral site games) and this weekend won't change that fact.
Prediction: Clemson 78, Duke 73
Texas (1) at UConn (21)
Prediction: Texas 87, UConn 75
Ohio State (25) at West Virginia (12)
Prediction: West Virginia 70, Ohio State 61
Between the Pipes
brought to you as always by Plain White TS from his home in Canada South
Before I drop the puck on this weekend's game, I wanted to give mention to the boys of the Chocolate and White who ventured to Portland this week to represent Hershey in the AHL All-Star Classic (in case you were wondering why there hasn’t been a NHL All-Star game this year it’s because of the Winter Olympics which is basically the same deal but on a much bigger scale). Anyways, Hershey had five players suit up out of the six who were named to the teams (Micheal Nuevirth was named to Planet USA, however was unable to attend due to being on recall for the Capitals). Keith Aucoin and John Carlson played for Planet USA while Andrew Gordon and Alexandre Giroux skated for Team Canada. Also, since Hershey won the Calder Cup last year, all of the staff on the Canadian side was run by the Hershey coaches. Alexandre Giroux would steal the show in the end by scoring the tying goal with 10.8 seconds left in the third period to force a shoot-out. The Canadian All-Star team would emerge victorious getting the only goal in the shoot-out. Giroux would also go on to be named Player of the Month by the AHL. Onto the games this weekend...
Hershey Bears: Hershey has two games at home this weekend on Friday and Saturday. They will be squaring off against some familiar faces. One is the Manitoba Moose squad; and the other is their goaltender - Daren Machesney. Hershey and Manitoba went at it last year in the finals for the Cup with Hershey coming out victorious hoisting Calder. Machesney needs no introduction if you’re a Hershey fan, since he was a Bear for the past three seasons. Manitoba comes to Chocolatetown after losing both of their previous matchups so far this season. Hopefully Hershey can continue with their outstanding record, winning 14 of the last 15 and an AHL best record of 32-9-02.
Prediction: Bears roll on. Two W’s at home. Machesney brings back memories and puts on a good show.
Washington Capitals: The Capitals have only one game this weekend on Saturday as they welcome the Phoenix Coyotes to the "Phone Booth". This is the first meeting of these teams this season. The Coyotes have had a see-saw record this month so far, winning five and losing four. The Caps on the other hand are eight and two, coming out on top of the last five games played. I’m hesitant to say not to expect much from this game as Phoenix could give the Caps a hand full so we’ll have to wait and see.
Prediction: Look for the Washington Wrecking Ball to continue. Another W, making it six in a row.
Pittsburgh Penguins: The Pens head into the weekend with only one game. Sunday afternoon they will travel across the state to meet their Pennsylvania rival, the Flyers. Expect Bearcat to be really excited to watch this game, especially since his birds got battered Thursday evening by the Caps, 6-3. This will be the fifth meeting between the East-West instate rivals, Pitt taking four out of those first five. On the heels of that home loss to the Caps, the Pens head into the game against the Flyers who are looking to continue their week of wins at the Wachovia Center. I would look for an action packed matchup this Sunday.
Prediction: Expect nothing but good old PA instate rivals to clash. Pens on top though, taking the W.
Philadelphia Flyers: "The Broad Street Bullies" have two games this weekend. Both games are midway through a nice homestand. Saturday they will be facing the Carolina Hurricanes. This is the fifth meeting of the season for these teams as Philly has crushed the ‘Canes in all matchups so far this season. I would look for Carolina to come a gunnin’ in this game. On Sunday, the Philly will welcome the Penguins to town. Even if you dislike both teams, this is usually one of those games worth watching. Instate rivalries always set the ice for a good show, no matter which league. I think Carolina is going to take a lot out of the Flyguys on Saturday though, so Sunday I expect trouble.
Prediction: Saturday’s game will be a close one, Flyers somehow squeaking out the W though. On Sunday a lack of rest and the "West-Side Rival" show them who is better this month in the Keystone State hanging a loss on them.
Box Office
Guess what the brainiacs in Hollywood decided to do this week? That's right; they're subjecting the American viewing public to another week of pure crap. Does everyone inside of Hollywood love James Cameron as much as the rest of us hate that raging egomaniac? Quit laying down for him in the wake of Avatar...release anything that somebody might want to see.
This week we have The Artist Formerly Known as the Rock on the big screen portraying the Tooth Fairy. In the last three years, Dwayne Johnson has starred in The Game Plan, Race to Witch Mountain, and done voiceover work in Planet 51...and now this flaming bag of poo. What happened to the guy from The Scorpion King, The Rundown, and Walking Tall? You know the guy who was more likely to beat the shit out of somebody instead of donning a tutu. I'm not saying that any of those movies are worth watching, but I can at least buy him as an action "star". Instead we're now left wondering how he lost out on the role of The Pacifier to Vin Diesel. Julie Andrews and Ashley Judd also co-star in this stinkbomb...how far have their careers sunk?
When did Harrison Ford and Brendan Fraser start doing Hallmark Hall of Fame movies for CBS? Extraordinary Measures is being released in the theatres? I swore all those ads were pimping a TV movie. This looks like a paint-by-numbers movie based on a true story about a couple not willing to give up all medical options when their children were diagnosed with a death sentence. What's worse than this movie? How about the ads that are now pushing the "If you liked The Blind Side, you'll love Extraordinary Measures" angle down our throat?
Here's what I've picked up from the Legion commercials...I think. Angels have been sent from heaven to wipe out civilization and it's the role of a lone ethereal defender to preserve the pregnant waitress' unborn baby. It's like The DaVinci Code crossed with Drag Me to Hell. Can we digress for a moment and talk about solid actors who keep choosing to star in crap movies if only for a paycheck (like John Turturro in both Transformers). Dennis Quaid is better than this kind of movie, right? Now if you told me that Randy Quaid was in it, I would believe that. I guess the G.I. Joe residuals weren't as much as he thought they'd be. I think he's willing to appear in anything - - I'm waiting for him to pop up in the backseat in one of those Sonic ads.
Prediction: Avatar continues to suck blue Na'avi tail while raking in the greenbacks finishing ahead of Tooth Fairy (#2 because of families going to see it) and #3 Extraordinary Measures. Legion opens at #8 and is at the $2 movies by Valentine's Day.
Thanks for coming and suckling Daddy's Sugar Ball...
Categories: uncategorized
Tags: Duke Blue Devils Conan O'Brien Tooth Fairy Washington Capitals Avatar Legion Hershey Bears Hope for Haiti Now telethon Extraordinary Measures
Great Job Max Power. It was just like when Bearcat does this post but without the funny parts.
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