Week IV NFL Picks
Despite graduating from a college that is the only state in the union that has legalized gambling on football I have a suspect track record on handicapping. One could assume that after many years of sub par picks I would stop embarrassing myself but I am married to the sea and like usual I will go down like the Edmund Fitzgerald.
With that said, here are my Week 4 Picks.
- Cleveland and Cincinnati: The Battle For Ohio ends with a Bengals victory. The Bengals showed some improvement in an overtime loss against the Giants and should be able to get their first win against the equally hapless Browns.
- Minnesota at Tennessee: The Titans are on a roll and have found that QB’s with a history of hurling racial epitaphs and drinking issues are better than their counterparts that could be suicidal. I am going with the Titans in this one.
- Denver at Kansas City: The Chiefs may be the worse team in the NFL and the Broncos are the flavor of the month after a pair of close (possibly lucky) wins so I got to pick the Broncos.
- San Francisco at New Orleans: I am a northern California guy but I hate the 49ers and in an effort of absolute disclosure I feel the need to convey that. Anywho, I am picking the Saints.
- Arizona at NYJets : I like the Cardinals but I have almost no faith in them when they’re on the road or squaring off against a legit team. Those two factors combine for a Jets win.
- Green Bay at Tampa Bay: I guess the Packers were right about Aaron Rodgers. I was never a big Brett Favre guy. Mainly because he played for the Chicago Bears arch rival and also because he was a media darling for his child like enthusiasm on the field. I’d be hella stoked too if I could constantly make mistakes at work and never lose my job. Green Bat wins on the road.
- Atlanta at Carolina: Despite some early success this is a rebuilding year for Atlanta and I think the Panthers are legit. Carolina will run over the divisional foe.
- Houston at Jacksonville: A smarter man than myself maintained that when most things are equal in a game take the home team. I will heed that advice.
- San Diego at Oakland: I like the direction the Raiders are headed, except for the treatment of Coach Kiffin, but the Chargers will march into Oakland and become Raider Haters.
- Buffalo at St. Louis: The Rams are winless and the franchise is spiraling towards mutiny. That’s a bad combo to take on the streaking Bills.
- Washington at Dallas:The Cowboys are the trendy pick to win the Super Bowl. I don’t agree but their definitely better than Washington.
- Philadelphia at Chicago: To show that I am serious about this recent batch of picks I am not picking the Bears to win regardless of who they’re playing. I am ashamed of myself but I am picking the Eagles.
- Baltimore at Pittsburgh: Simply put I am going with Pittsburgh. Simply put because I asked a friend of mine who he thought would win.
Zodiac Killer Update
Robert Graysmith’s obsession with the Zodiac killer may have been naught as recent development may show that a different man could be the serial killer that terrorized northern California in the 1970’s. Graysmith theorized that the Zodiac was 
former Santa Rosa, CA resident Arthur Leigh Allen and depite his nearly obsessive research into finding the killer Allen was never formerly charged.
A Pollock Pines man recently announced that his step father, Jack Tarrance, was the Zodiac and he has turned evidence to the FBI for further analysis. Torrance passed away in 2006 and his son, Dennis Kaufman, has spent the last eight years trying to prove that he is the Zodiac.
If this is true, if Tarrance is the Zodiac then a lifetime of Graysmith’s work and the subsequent movie by David FIncher are all irrelevant. More importantly Arthur Leigh Allen life was sullied and his legacy destroyed because of Graysmith’s obsession. A part of me wonders why Kaufman would try to convict his step father even though the man had been dead for years. I realize justice needs to be served but one can assume that a man would protect his own and accordingly Kaufman would suppress any evidence he found lying around the house. Maybe though, Kaufman was trying to solve one of the greatest mysteries of the last fifty-years and to offer closure to the victims.
T.R.O.Y. Kevin Duckworth
T.R.O.Y. Kevin Duckworth
Kevin Duckworth, a two-time NBA All Star, has passed away at the age of 44. A recent autopsy revealed that the former Portland Trail Blazer died as a result of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy with congestive heart failure.
Duckworth a second round draft pick out of Eastern Illinois University was the NBA’s Most Improved Player in 1987-88 and was the man in the middle for a pair of Portland teams that reached the NBA Finals.
T.R.O.Y. Jerry Reed
Grammy Award winning musician and costar of Smokey and the Bandit Jerry Reed has left the building at the age of 71. Reed initially rose to fame as country musician with such hits as “When You’re Hot, You’re Hot” and “East Bound and Down” and became a movie star after his portrayal of the Snowman in Smokey and the Bandit.
- The Waterboy (1998) …. Coach Red Beaulieu
- “Evening Shade” (1 episode, 1994)
- Educating Calvin (1994) TV episode - “B.L. Stryker” (1 episode, 1990)
- Plates (1990) TV episode - Bat*21 (1988) …. Col. George Walker
- “Dolly” …. Willie Jeffcoat (1 episode, 1987)
- Episode #1.8 (1987) TV episode …. Willie Jeffcoat - What Comes Around (1986) …. Joe Hawkins
- Stand Alone (1985) …. Paramedic
- Smokey and the Bandit Part 3 (1983) …. Cledus Snow / ‘Bandit’
- The Survivors (1983) …. Jack Locke
- “Mama’s Family” …. Leonard Oates (1 episode, 1983)
- The Return of Leonard Oates (1983) TV episode …. Leonard Oates - “Concrete Cowboys” …. J.D. Reed (1 episode, 1981)
- Episode #1.1 (1981) TV episode …. J.D. Reed - Smokey and the Bandit II (1980) …. Cledus Snow / ‘Snowman’
… aka Smokey and the Bandit Ride Again (UK) - The Concrete Cowboys (1979) (TV) …. J.D. Reed
… aka Ramblin’ Man - Good Ol’ Boys (1979) (TV) …. Traveler
- Hot Stuff (1979) …. Doug von Horne
- High-Ballin’ (1978) …. Duke
… aka Death Toll (Australia: video title) - Smokey and the Bandit (1977) …. Cledus ‘Snowman’ Snow
… aka Bandit, Bandit (Europe) - “Nashville 99″ …. Det. Trace Mayne (2 episodes, 1977)
- Joldy (1977) TV episode …. Det. Trace Mayne
- The Fallen Idol (1977) TV episode …. Det. Trace Mayne - Gator (1976) …. Bama McCall
- W.W. and the Dixie Dancekings (1975) …. Wayne
- Harper Valley, U.S.A. (1969) (TV) …. Host
DPC’s Greatest Movies: #100 Over The Top
Despite working at Blockbuster for five years I don’t consider myself a movie expert and I don’t have great taste in cinema. This is proven by the simple fact that I enjoy James Bond flicks and anything starring Scarlett Johansson. Of course anything involving the aforementioned Scarlett is for the eye candy factor, the exception being Lost In Translation.
But enough about my love of Scarlett Johansson and back to Over The Top:
Lincoln Hawk is a struggling trucker who arm wrestles on the side to make extra cash while trying to rebuild his life. Hawk’s wife Christina is very ill at the beginning of the film, and asks that Hawk pick their son Michael up from military school so that he may get to know his son since they have been apart since Hawk left them ten years earlier. His father-in-law Jason Cutler is enraged since he feels his daughter was deserted by Hawk, that his daughter and Hawk should never 
have been married in the first place, and Hawk has no right to be in his grandson’s life. - Courtesy of Wikipedia
Over The Top makes it way onto DPC’s Top 100 Movie List because it combines many genres and it also paints an optimistic portrait of the human condition. On one hand you have a child torn apart by divorce, the failing health of his mother and never really knowing his dad. All of these real world issues are then combined with the cutthroat world of interstate truck driving and competitive arm wrestling.
Sylvester Stallone’s Lincoln Hawk epitomizes the proletarian everyman as he struggles to make ends meet and all the while his life has the void that only his bratty son can fill. Of course Stallone ultimately triumphs and to a lesser degree Over The Top is another chapter of his greater work in the Rocky series.
But what really ties Over The Top together is the work of the Red Rocker, Sammy Hagar. Hagar’s “Winner Takes It All” is up there “You’re The Best”, from the Karate Kid, as one of the greatest theme songs of any movie released in the 80’s.
Opening Day Gripe But There Is Some Good News Too
Life is occupied in both perpetuating itself and in surpassing itself; if all it does is maintain itself, then living is only not dying.
- Simone de Beauvoir
The University of Nevada ran over the Grambling Tigers, 49-13, and won their first season opener since 2003. A win is always welcomed but in the upcoming weeks the Pack host Texas Tech and then hit the road to take on Missouri. After three weeks the Pack will likely be 1-2 and as usual in this latest Chris Ault era the pack will playing towards mediocrity.
2007 6-7, 4-4
2006 8-5, 5-3
2005 9-3, 7-1
2004 5-7, 3-5
28-22 .560
In the last four seasons the Pack has managed a mainly mediocre .560 winning percentage and a 1-2 record in post season bowl games.There have always been constant grumbling on the message boards that no one shows up to the games but one must remember that you have to give the fans a reason to come to Mackay Stadium and at this point they aren’t all lot of reasons. Positive showings against Texas Tech and Mizzou could remedy the situation and maybe create some buzz around Reno.
But as the Coach Ault ship keeps drifting in a sea of mediocrity the University of Nevada announced that they will honor their greatest son, Marion Motley. Throughout the 2008 season the Wolf Pack will have an image of Motley on their scoreboard at Mackay Stadium and their website will have various features honoring him throughout the season. 2008 marks the 40th anniversary of Motley’s introduction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
Why DPC Is Pro Obama
Barack Obama will step up to the podium at the Denver National Convention shortly and it is time for this scribe to reflect on why he is Pro Obama.
Simply put, I support Obama because I can relate to him. We’re both former smokers, multiethnic, Chicago Bears fans and while he currently resides in Chicago I was born on the suburbs of the South Side.Of course he’s a White Sox fan but nobody’s perfect.
The 2008 Presidential Election is the most important campaign in my lifetime. I am only 30 years but in this short lifetime I have seen America plunge to an all time low. Unemployment is sky high, bills can’t be paid, houses are being forgotten and foreclosed and ultimately the public has lost faith in the people that are supposed to support them.
Does Obama have all the answers to cure what ails America? Probably not because that is too much to expect of any one person but he offers hope to the people and that is the greatest commodity available. John McCain, like George Bush before him will keep America isnpired through fear and he will perpetuate 8 years of terror.
Leinart vs. Warner
News of Matt Leinart losing his starting quarterback job to Kurt Warner have been greatly exaggerated.
“Contrary to everything (reported), nothing has changed,” Cardinals head coach Ken Whisenhunt said. “We have not made a decision. We have not named Kurt the starting quarterback.”
ESPN’s Chris Mortensen, citing unnamed sources, reported on Monday that the Cardinals we’re naming Warner their starting quarterback. Leinart went 4 for 12 with 3 interceptions in last Sunday’s exhibition against the Oakland Raiders.
Going into the 2008 season it was widely assumed that the starting job was Leinart’s to lose. Unfortunately his less than stellar play, along with the ageless play of the former Super Bowl MVP Warner, have many scribes staing that the NFC West is not the PAC 10 and maybe he is not suited rise to the dizzying highs in the NFL.
DavidPatrickCastro.com is pro Leinart endeavor and still feels that he will suceed in the NFL. Other pundits have begun to right him off but the former Heisman winner will ultimately play up to his potential and lead the Cardinals.
T.R.O.Y. Leroi Moore
Leroi Moore, saxophonist for the Dave Matthews Band, passed away at the age of 47. Moore sustained injuries in an ATV accident at the end of June and succumbed to his injuries on August 19th.
I am not a DMB fan. I should rephrase that last statement because I have seen nine DMB shows, either as headliners or in festivals, but I haven’t bought an album since the disappointing Before These Crowded Streets. In the last ten years I have been aware of the Dave Matthews Band but I am unaware of their current work or status.
They Reminisce Over You, Leroi Moore
Rex Grossman Loses His Job To Kyle Orton
The Chicago Bears announced that Kyle Orton will be their starting quarterback over their incumbent Rex Grossman. Orton went 2-1 last season while subbing for the injured Grossman during the last three games of the season.
“In the end it comes down to a gut feeling that you have,” head coach Lovie Smith said. “And I feel good about Kyle leading our team.”
Orton has amassed a record of 12-6 as a starter and Grossman is 19-11 while at the helm of the Bears.
Games Rating Att. Comp. PCT. Yards Y/G Y/A TD INT
Rex Grossman 32 70.9 489 900 54.3 5907 184.6 6.6 31 33
Kyle Orton 18 62.2 233 448 52.0 2347 130.4 5.2 12 15
Despite leading the Bears to the Super Bowl I, like many pundits, have never fully embraced Grossman and to this Bears’ fan they seemed to succeed despite his maverick style. I waste a lot of time watching football and one of my casual observations is to watch how the players interact with one another on the sidelines during the game. For the most part Grossman never talked to anyone but the occasional coach and this was usually for some form of admonishment.
While a guy like Orton was interacting with his teammates and for the most part he seemed at ease with his peers and they liked being around him. It is the opinion of this scribe that players are more inclined to perform and stick their necks out for a guy they like. Grossman always seemed to be isolated on the sidelines and this may have led to him being a distant leader on the field. A lieutenant needs the respect of his men and the Bears finally realized that Orton has it.
