About last boring night

Lots of people talk about ... "what's the first Super Bowl you remember watching?" ... or "first World Series?" ... or "first NBA Finals?" ... or "first Final Four?" .. or ... well, I'll remember my first "Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Edition."

It was Paulina Porizkova in February 1985. I remember liking the issue. I was six. Kinda told me all I needed to know about myself.

As for the other questions, everything pretty much happened during 1985. The first sporting event I really remember vividly watching was the Doug Flutie "Hail Mary" game the day after Thanksgiving in 1984 at my Uncle Dick's. We went bowling at North Side Lanes after the game.

I remember listening to the Keith Byers v. Illinois game earlier that season on the radio and remember small tidbits of the Raiders win over the Redskins the Super Bowl earlier that year. I watched the Royals win the World Series in Fort Wayne, Ind. at some relatives.. I watched Villanova beat Georgetown over my buddy Misko's, and the Lakers beat the Celtics at some birthday party thing at my cousin Kevin's. Good times.

None better than checking out the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Edition. (This year's edition comes out today.)

I didn't get my own subscription to SI until I turned nine. Here's the first one I ever got in the mail. I think it's the first time anything addressed to me came in the mail.

Watched "Rachel Getting Married" last night and liked it and didn't like it. Had some of the boringest, longest scenes I've ever seen in movies. The second half of the movie basically is the wedding day, with full songs from the reception being played and like 10-15 minute stretches where people are just dancing to music or loading the dishwasher. Entertaining movie but be prepared to fast-forward a ton of shit. The lead singer of TV on the Radio is the guy marrying Rachel and he's rather annoying as a Kanye West wannabe. If you like depressing movies that make you think, are about drug addictions, the death of children and have cool endings, go for it ... if not, you're not missing much. Anne Hathaway is hot. Oddly enough though, she doesn't play Rachel in the movie. She's Kym.

Enjoyed Missouri-Kansas in college basketball. Glad to see Mizzou get the W, although they'll lose in the first round of the NCAA tourney because they are the worst free-throw shooting team in America. That's not stats, that's just my opinion.

- From the desk of Art McGregor

Let's all go to the movies

("Let's play two.")

With the way the snow fell last night around midnight, I expected a little more white stuff on the ground early this morning. Thanks to the super-snow-scraper thing I bought yesterday at Shell, I cleaned my car in a matter of minutes and headed into work this morning.

Drove home from the movies last night and yep, Bodega is never not packed. I wanted to drive through downtown during a snowfall and it's a pretty neat sight when no other cars are on the road. Obviously there's Monday night drinkers running across High Street but if you're out drinking on a Monday night in January, I assume that's normal behavior ... and that's coming from someone who has drank 14 nights this month.

I went to the movies last night as you've told your parents, "Hey mom, I'm going to the movies." You did this more often in high school. I did call my mom on the way to the movies last night and inform her on my cruel intentions. I saw Cruel Intentions at that same theatre in March 1999.

I saw Cruel Intentions II and III (straight to DVD) from the comforts of my own room. SPOILER ALERT: The threesome, lesbian scene at the end of Cruel Intentions II is must-see-straight-to-DVD.

In the end, Sebastian stays with Danielle; professing his love for her, only to find that she does not reciprocate, but is in fact working alongside Kathryn in a secret plan to dupe Sebastian. Defeated by Kathryn's manipulation, Sebastian states "if you can't beat them, join them," thus leading to a threesome with Danielle and Kathryn followed by an alliance of the three to dominate and manipulate others.

Everyone says "I'm going to the movies." It's a fallacy. Most people go see a movie. Why not just say, "I'm going to the movie." It's never, "I'm going to the basketball games" or "I'm going to watch some baseballs." The only thing about going those statements that (I guess) can be true is that when you go to a baseball game you're going to watch some baseballs unless there's no foul balls during the game and that never happens unless you're playing with one ball and you have to run and find it every time you lose it. Still in that case there are foul balls.

I went last night to the movies. I saw Slumdog Millionaire (7:50 p.m.) and My Bloody Valentine: 3D (10 p.m.). The two-play double feature.

Slumdog deserves every accolade it's receiving. It's a wonderful movie that's entertaining, fast-paced, suspenseful and heart-tugging. The first 10-15 minutes are kind of confusing because the story is being told in three-different time frames, plus there's some subtitles and it's kind of confusing if you have no idea what the movie is about going into it, but it speeds up and revolves around three things: 1. Love, 2. Family and 3. Money/the desire to move up in the world. I actually like how they show the ways he made money before the game show aspect and yeah, I don't want to give anything else away. I'd recommend it to anyone. I don't know what the hell it takes to win a Best Picture Award from the Meyer Wiener Family, but if this wins it, I'll cheer.


MBV: 3D won't be winning any Oscars and what the fuck is up with only one nude scene? Although it was pretty long and they rocked full-frontal-female nudity for about two solid minutes. The one gay guy from Dawson's Creek is in it, the chick from Slackers and this other dude that's been in other movies. It's actually kind of suspenseful and honestly I thought they did a fantastic job of keeping you guessing as to the identity the killer.


Movies ... Actually, this movie (singular) is AWESOME in 3D. It's the first time I've ever seen a 3D movie. And yeah, they do things on purpose in this movie to make it look cooler (and hence taking away from the flow of the movie) but it's FUCKING AWESOME. The glasses kinda hurt at first but you get used to them and it actually feels like these people are walking right in front of you. I took my glasses off a few times and it's funny to see how they blurry up the screen.

It's not a scary movie at all ... you'll laugh more than you have nightmares and it's a movie I wouldn't recommend on DVD but would say, "if you are bored as shit and want to see something different, go check it out."

You can do this on your next trip to the movie.

- From the desk of Art McGregor

Dziena: Warrior Princess

This?

over

that?

... Only in the movies.

"Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist" gets a solid A-minus from me. If you recall my review of "Forgetting Sarah Marshall," you'll remember I said that it's impossible not to fall in love with Mila Kunis' character Mila Kunis in the movie.

It's kind of impossible not to want to bang-out Alexis Dziena's character in "Nick and Norah ..."

Dziena, 24, is so bitchy and hot in this movie. Those two characteristics ... in reverse order ... are the two things I look for in chicks. The strip-tease scene ... mmm ... will be purchasing that on DVD. Not the whole movie. Just the scene. Just kidding. You can't do that.

Her, "how can you get over me when you're under me?" line will be rethought in my mind. Like a lot.

No offense to Kat Dennings, it's just, c'mon!

It's one of those movies where you know exactly what will happen (no way he chooses Norah over Tris ... none), but it's still fucking hilarious. The name of the first mix CD they show cracked my shit up. Mainly because I've done something similar. Yes, I haven't always been this bad ass and/or cool.

- From the desk of Art McGregor

Fuckin' Catalina wine mixer

- Mentioned I saw the movie "Step Brothers" this weekend. Enjoyed it much. I didn't like "Talledaga Nights" or "Anchorman" but loved this movie. I think I laughed throughout the whole thing and might actually go see it again. I mean, when it's on HBO in a year or whatever, I'll watch it a bunch then.

I had an ICEE at the movie. Cherry. Large. They are still rocking the red-colored ICEE's at the Arena Grand. This is different than the Lennox, which has white-colored cherry. RAY-CISTS! Why do they do that?

Maybe it's because I haven't had a pop in awhile, but the ICEE was really strong. Like I had ICEE aftertaste for at least seven or eight hours. It's not a bad aftertaste. But it's just sort of different to go through a Saturday feeling like you're sucking down an ICEE for eight straight hours.

- Saw "21" yesterday. Liked it. Would recommend it but it was really a flimsy movie. There's so many things in it that you're like, "well, why is he doing that?" or "why are they giving demonstrative hidden symbols?" and so on and so forth. But it's entertaining and not a terrible way to spend 100 minutes. Kevin Spacey was good in it. No homo.

- Going to see DMB tomorrow night with The Godfather at Crew Stadium. We've got pretty good seats. I'm not a big DMB fan, but do like seven or eight of his songs and his concerts are always fun, because like the sound or not, DMB is a talented group of musicians. I hope he plays three songs and I'll be happy: "Eh Hee," "Seek Up" and "Crush."

Fingers crossed.

- From the desk of Art McGregor

Go see 'Step Brothers'

Just a quick headline for the weekend's posting. Hilarious movie.

Catch up with you readers tomorrow or Monday.

- From the desk of Art McGregor

Freshing Friday morning

There's something refreshing about waking up feeling good on a Friday morning. It actually wouldn't be re-freshing because that would indicate I've done it before. This is just freshing. After pissing on my roommate this past Thursday night, yesterday went off without a hitch. No beers. Getting through yesterday mattered. I didn't do jack shit. Went for a run around Schiller Park and hope this time no one saw me wearing calf high socks, which I don't own. Saw Jazz Hands on Wednesday night at Club 185. She recommended I start wearing a shoe-string-hair-keeper-backer-thing-like-Schenkenberg when running.

Getting through yesterday mattered because I HATE July 24.

It's July 25 now and from what I've heard, there's a Friday Guyday in the mix for tonight at my buddy McCampus' house, Club 813.

Not sure what's happening later this evening. I might run into NJAG, who I'm considering a change in name. I might start calling her 'B.' And that's got nothing to do with effort.

I do want to see that movie "Step Brothers." That's all.

I've gone since about 1 p.m. on Monday, July June 23 without a soda pop. That's good. About this time last year, I was drinking about four Mountain Dews a day. Years prior I drank orange pop. I've probably spent years of my life drinking pop.

TGIF.

- Compiled by Art McGregor

He accomplished getting out there

Saw "The Dark Knight" on Tuesday night. Pretty good. Not the best movie I've seen this year, and honestly, I liked the first one better. The character of the Joker was awesome.

the Truth liked the movie a little more than me. I mean, I liked it. I'd recommend it but I went in thinking it'd be the best movie of all-time.

Truth and I got to talking about it last night.

Conversation went as followed:

Truth: I wish I got what Heath Ledger has.

AMG: Death?

Truth: Well, ha HA, no. He was out there. He accomplished getting out there.

Quite an accomplishment.

- From the desk of Art McGregor

Cobra Kai robbed of glory in '84

By STU ARL
Blog on the Run columnist

It’s been 24 years since Miyagi-Do Karate shook up, what had long been considered the establishment, at the All-Valley U18 Karate Championship. To this day, we all can’t help feel a little bit cheated.

Nevermind the fact that Daniel LaRusso’s run was marred by his illegal Black Belt, obtained when Mr. Miyagi swiped it from one of the tournament’s administrators, but this was clearly the Cobra Kai’s year. They were loaded.

(Stacked with talent.)

One would assume that Johnny Lawrence had won the tournament in previous years – probably more than once. Following his stunning loss to LaRusso, Lawrence didn’t return to the tournament the following year. He may have been discouraged by Sensei John Kreese and left the dojo, and the sport, altogether, but was more than likely 18 and in his final year of eligibility. As were many of the others near the top of the class, including Bobby Brown, Dutch and Tommy.

Months prior to the tournament we get a sense that Bobby isn’t as brainwashed by the Sensei’s teachings as the other members of the class. In the incident following the Halloween Dance when the Cobra Kai members are handing Daniel a severe beating, Bobby suggests to the other members to “Leave him alone, man. He’s had enough.” Again, before Bobby’s semifinal match he mentions to Kreese “I can beat this guy.” That one final plea to let the competition become more legitimate is telling. Bobby got a favorable draw, being placed on the opposite side of the bracket as Johnny, and seemed to be peaking at the right time. This may have been his year. For certain, he would’ve given Johnny a better match than at any time in the past. His "spinarama kick" to defeat an early-round opponent was arguably a more difficult move to defend than the crane technique.

Dutch also had coasted through to the quarterfinals before facing Daniel for a spot in the semifinals. Dutch never wavered in his enthusiasm for punishing Daniel with dirty tactics. Before the tournament he sent the message to Daniel “Points or no points, you’re dead meat.” He went through the motions in his match with Daniel, landed a blatant kick to the face, and took the loss in stride. If not for the systematic beating gameplan – or Daniel’s illegal Black Belt – the stage may have been set for Dutch vs. Bobby and Johnny vs. Vidal (his semifinal opponent who dispatched of several Cobra Kai members in his own bracket before running out of steam).

Certainly, the favorite would’ve been Johnny. His reputation as the best in the dojo to that point was based on skill level and performance, but he had a rough year, getting dumped by Ali Mills and also slugged in the face. He may have been destined for more disappointment, either way.

This was the all-Cobra Kai finish that needed to play out, had circumstances allowed. It’s also likely that Freddy Fernandez would’ve attended.

Fernandez served as LaRusso’s buddy, briefly, when he first arrived at the apartment complex in Reseda. He invited Daniel to the beach for the end-of-summer bash. Daniel first meets Ali and then confronts Johnny for the first time after Johnny steals Ali’s radio.

After Daniel gets beat up by Johnny and is lying face down in the sand, Fernandez appears deflated and ultimately wants no part of being friends. Another of Fernandez’s friends asks “Where did you find this guy?”

This is a humiliating moment for Daniel all-around and at the same time, an important question for Fernandez moving forward. Can he remain friends with somebody who just got his ass kicked or isn’t as good at karate as he had hoped?

Even being residents of the same apartment complex, the answer is "no," although during the All-Valley Tournament we see Freddy and two friends taking in the action.

Did they come around and decide to support Daniel? That’s possible but unlikely, since Daniel had given no indication to being a threat going into the tournament. Why would Freddy back him then if not before, when he clearly wasn’t the best in the town.

Freddy went for his general interest in the sport and knew the chips could fall any number of ways.

The rest of us weren’t as fortunate.

Stu Arl lives in South Florida and is the newest member of the German Village Media Family of Networks.

When I stepped out into the bright sunlight

Sources tell me that they stopped serving beer at Comfest last night sometime before 9 p.m. That's odd.

Always said there'd be "About Last Night's" like this one. I think a post on Deadspin yesterday titled "To Watch Tonight" said it best:

"Movie: The Lost World: Jurassic Park. 7 p.m. [FOX] Coddamn. When there's nothing on TV, there's really nothing on TV."

Aside from the "Coddamn," it's so true. I really couldn't find much of anything to do last night. Talked on the phone to various family people for about an hour, walked to the bank, watched "The Outsiders," looked forward to the week. Should have cleaned up. Didn't.

A few things about "The Outsiders," aside from the opening credits look a lot like the closing credits of any other movie, that I learned watching yesterday. Bob (the guy with the rings) that Johnny Cade kills is played by Leif Garrett! I never knew that. Also, why is Patrick Swayze's character named "Darrel?" Granted, they call him Darry but wouldn't it have made more sense ... with brothers named Soda Pop and Pony Boy ... if his name was just Dairy? Insert lactose intolerant joke here.

Also, Sophia Coppola is in the movie as the ugly girl who asks Dallas Winston (Matt Dillon) for 15 cents at the Dairy Queen. C. Thomas Howell stars.

C. Thomas Howell. Now you don't.

Did watch an episode of "The Sopranos." One of my favorite episodes. Oddly enough ... it's called "Watching Too Much Television." Here's what makes that show arguably the greatest drama of all-time: You really never feel comfortable saying, "[X character] is my favorite." I mean, it really changes from episode to episode. Christopher and Paulie are my (I think) favorite characters but sometimes it's Tony ... or AJ ... but it's never Silvio.

Good news for fans of "The Office":

"Variety reports that Ryan will reprise her role as human resources executive Holly Flax in at least five episodes of series five."

That's a button, Kevin.

- Compiled by Art McGregor