T.R.O.Y. Robert Goulet
Wolf Pack Guest Column: Idaho
Iron Man
I need to admit that I am hella stoked about Iron Man, starring Robert Downey Jr. and hitting the theaters in May 2008. Tony Stark is in an interesting character, flying metal suits aside, and is quite flawed like his inspiration Howard Hughes. I guess I find the dude interesting in the same way as Batman. Meaning that they’re ultimately messed up fellas and their costumes are an extension of those problems. Superman is a little too perfect.
Courtesy of Wikipedia:
Anthony Stark was born in Long Island, New York. He enters the undergraduate electrical engineering program at MIT while only 15 years old and graduates at the top of his class. At the age of 21, he inherits his father’s company, Stark Industries, after his parents are killed in a car accident. One of the first things Stark does is buy out the company that made the faulty brakes on his parents’ car and correct the mechanical problem.
While on a visit to Vietnam (later updated to the Gulf War) to see how his new mini-transistors could assist the American war effort, Stark is caught in a booby trap. Captured by a Vietnamese warlord named Wong Chu, and dying from a piece of shrapnel lodged in his heart from the booby trap, Stark is pressed into building weapons for Wong Chu, along with a fellow prisoner, the famed physicist Yin Sen (later called Ho Yinsen). However, Stark and Yin Sen use the workshop to secretly design and construct a suit of powered armor — an iron exoskeleton that gives Stark tremendous strength as well as other abilities — that will not only keep Stark’s heart beating, but also allow him to escape. Yin Sen sacrifices himself to buy Stark time to charge the bulky suit of armor, and as Iron Man, Stark kills Wong Chu and his men. On the way back, Iron Man encounters a wounded American Air Force helicopter pilot, Jim Rhodes. Introducing himself as Stark’s bodyguard, Iron Man and Rhodes manage to defend themselves against the pursuing North Vietnamese before making it back to American lines. On his return to the U.S., Stark continues to improve the armor, establishing a dual identity as the adventurer and superhero Iron Man. He also greatly expands his father’s company, Stark Industries, eventually renaming it Stark International.
The cover for Iron Man is that he is Stark’s bodyguard and corporate mascot. To that end, Iron Man fights threats to his company, Communist opponents such as the Black Widow, the Crimson Dynamo and the Titanium Man as well as independent villains like the Mandarin. Both the Widow and the Dynamo eventually defect to the United States, and even erstwhile villain Hawkeye, originally a pawn of the Widow, reforms and joins the Avengers. No one suspects Stark of being Iron Man as he cultivates an image as a rich playboy and industrialist. Two notable members of Stark’s supporting cast at this point are his personal chauffeur Harold “Happy” Hogan and secretary Virginia “Pepper” Potts, to both of whom he eventually reveals his dual identity.
The comic took an anti-Communist stance in its early years, which was softened as opposition rose to the Vietnam War. This change evolved in a series of stories with Stark profoundly reconsidering his political opinions and the morality of manufacturing weapons for the military. Stark, however, has remained essentially conservative both in character and politics, despite his playboy image. He also often shows himself to be occasionally arrogant and willing to let the ends justify the means. This leads to personal conflicts with the people around him, both in his civilian and superhero identities.
Stark has a vast personal fortune, and is also known as a philanthropist. He donates the use of his boyhood manor as Avengers Mansion, and funds the Avengers’ operations through the Maria Stark Foundation, a non-profit organization named after his late mother. The Foundation is not linked to any of Stark’s businesses, and has continued to operate even when those businesses have failed. Stark also provides technology to other superheroes, including designing various replacement shields for Captain America, the Quinjets used by the Avengers, the image inducers used by the X-Men and Spider-Man’s second armored costume.
Eventually, Stark’s heart condition is discovered by the public and cured with an artificial heart transplant. However, Stark is also developing a serious dependency on alcohol. The first time it becomes a problem is when Stark discovers that the national security agency S.H.I.E.L.D. has been buying a controlling interest in his company in order to ensure Stark’s continued weapons development for them. At the same time, Stark’s business rival Justin Hammer hires several supervillains to attack Stark. At one point, the Iron Man armor is even taken over and used to murder a diplomat. Although Iron Man is not immediately under suspicion, Stark is forced to hand the armor over to the authorities. Eventually Stark and Rhodes, now his personal pilot and confidant, track down and defeat those responsible, although Hammer would return to bedevil Stark again. With the support of his then-girlfriend, Bethany Cabe, his friends and employees, Stark pulls through these crises and, for the moment, overcomes his dependency on alcohol.
Wolf Pack Guest Column: Utah State University
Pack guest columnist: Defense is holding Nevada back
DAVID PATRICK CASTRO
DPC@DAVIDPATRICKCASTRO.COM
Posted: 10/22/2007
I have no idea what version of the Nevada Wolf Pack showed up on Saturday against Utah State. After going the distance with Boise State on Oct. 14, the Pack ambled into Logan, Utah and nearly suffered an embarrassing loss to the Western Athletic Conference’s perennial doormat. The bottom line, despite the Pack’s inconsistent play the last two weeks, is that Nevada walked away with a win.
Once again Nevada’s defense and special teams were the weakest links and kept an underwhelming Utah State team in the game. Defensive coordinator Ken Wilson devised a game plan that allowed the 117th-most potent offense in the Football Bowl Subdivision to score 28 points. Meanwhile, Barry Sacks’ special teams averaged 15 net yards per punt and 30.5 net yards per kickoff, continually handing the Aggies great field position.
The Wolf Pack has proven that it can score points (averaging 37 points per game this season), but are the scoring efforts in vain when considering that Nevada has given up 97 points in the last two games?
It is a given that any team that wants to compete for a WAC title has to move the football. The conference has three of the top nine yardage offenses in the nation in Hawaii (4th), Nevada (8th) and Boise State (9th). But the big dogs of the WAC, Boise State and Hawaii, at least put up some roadblocks on defense. The Broncos and Warriors are ranked 27th and 31st in total defense, respectively. Nevada is 93rd — the second-worst in the WAC, better only than Utah State.
The numbers don’t lie. If Nevada wants to rise up from its middle-of-the-road status, it needs to find a functional defense. It also needs a functional special teams unit that doesn’t leave the defense with its back perpetually against the wall.
But where does the finger-pointing start after letting the Aggies stay in a game that should have been a runaway win for the Pack?
The defense and special teams have proven to be a liability each week. This is nothing new and will probably continue to haunt the Pack throughout 2007. Nevada is lacking on the defensive half of the depth chart and it is readily apparent as Nevada finds itself in shootouts every week.
One must begin to wonder what the priority is during coach Chris Ault’s offseason recruiting work. Is he motivated by garnering more fire power to boost his offense or is there equal emphasis on talent evaluation and recruiting for all facets of the team?
At this point, Nevada is 3-4 overall and 1-2 in the WAC, and any hopes for a bowl berth are in a ephemeral state.
The Idaho Vandals (1-7, 0-4) are coming to town Saturday and this should be an easy win for the Pack. But as Utah State showed us Saturday, even the most meager teams can keep a game competitive when lined up against a below-average defense.
We want your opinion. Send a letter to the editor to lgustus@rgj.com to let us know if you agree or disagree with this column, and you could get published.
Rivalries and the Lack of a Signature Victory
Dear Mr. Castro,
I just wanted to drop you a line and let you know that I greatly enjoy your weekly columns on Nevada football. Win or lose, they always give me something to look forward to on Monday. The RGJ should find you a regular gig once the season ends. Perhaps something similar to Joe Santoro’s much missed “Sports fodder for a Friday morning…” Anyway, I wholeheartedly agree with you that Nevada football is just not growing as a program. They just can’t seem to achieve that proverbial “signature victory” that the Nevada basketball program got when they beat Kansas at Lawlor Events Center in December of 2003. That win over Kansas is what got our basketball team “over the hump,” and I have always said that the football team needs to have it’s “Kansas moment” as well. They had an opportunity in last year’s MPC Computers Bowl against the Miami Hurricanes where they outplayed Miami in every aspect of the game except for the final score. Even Larry Coker said that Miami needed it’s best game of the year in order to beat the Pack. I will go to my grave believing that Chris Ault pulled a defeat from the jaws of victory in that game. They also had an opportunity against Nebraska and of course several opportunities against Pac-10 teams to shock the world, but other than a couple of victories against Washington and BYU when those programs were having off years, the Pack is not even competitive in their “challenge” games. I wholeheartedly agree that this coaching staff places such an extreme emphasis on beating UNLV that they give the other 11 games short shrift. As historic and heated as say, the Miami/FSU, Oklahoma/Texas, Ohio State/Michigan, and Army/Navy rivalries are, those programs are by no means simply satisfied with making a victory over their top rival the sole focus of their seasons, as I suspect Ault and his staff makes beating UNLV the prime goal of their season, to the detriment of winning a WAC title and beating a good team in a bowl game. If there is any one game that Ault should focus on winning, it is against Boise State. If you are a perennial also ran in you respective league or conference, you make beating the “big dog” in you conference your top priority, much like George Allen made beating the Dallas Cowboys his top priority when he took over a struggling Washington Redskins team in the early 1970s. Until we actually beat BSU, I’m afraid that it is no more a rivalry than the Harlem Globetrotters versus the Washington Generals was a rivalry. Well, I guess I needed someone to vent to, and the way this season is going, don’t be shocked if I vent to you again! Until then, please keep up the excellent writing.
Sincerely Yours,
Matthew J. Mayeroff
First and foremost thank you for the kind words. With that said, the Wolf Pack are in some form of football limbo these days. They’re not good enough to beat the any of their upper level WAC foes (Boise State, Hawaii, Fresno State) and m
any fringe fans don’t seem to care that they can outshine the Utah States and Idahos of the world. Yes, they can run through UNLV but that is a team that Nevada should beat. We need to keep our rivalry intact. It’s good for all parties involved, it generates buzz and these games are the essence of college football. But on Ault’s shopping list you are absolutely correct in mentioning that Boise State should be one of the goals. The Broncos are the measuring stick of the WAC and should be the focus of each new campaign. In my mind the WAC title, beating Boise State and then UNLV should be the m.o.
Last Sunday was the opportunity for the Pack to have their breakthrough. Like you mentioned, a signature victory has been elusive for this latest version of Nevada football. A win over Boise State, on national television and mentioned on most sports highlight shows (including PTI), would have garnered Nevada enough publicity to land some recruits and lasso in some fans that may have been on the fence. As it is Nevada is 2-4, 0-2 and there is minimal buzz for a road trip to Logan, Utah and a match up against the Aggies.
So where do we go from here? Nevada has many winnable games down the stretch and a win over Hawaii could be their signature win. But does a strong finish, with a victory over Hawaii, salvage their season?
Wolf Pack Guest Column: Nevada @ Boise State
Despite a great effort the Wolf Pack fell to Boise State in a barn burner, 69-67. The defeat was the eighth straight against the Broncos and the Wolf Pack are now 2-4, 0-2 in 2007.
To me, a defeat is a defeat and moral victories do not carry over in to the win column. Any excitement of hanging close with a dominate program should fade away quickly and be replaced by the harsh reality that this team is not winning games. Enjoy the exuberance of a close game on national TV but always keep in mind that whether you lose by two or by 31 the Boise State Broncos are still the better program.
What? You Couldn’t Find Jeff George?
Vinny Testaverde became the oldest starting quarterback, age 43, to win a game as he lead the Carolina Panthers over the Arizona Cardinals. The Cardinals were forced to use Tim Rattay after injuries to Matt Leinart and Kurt Warner. All praise to Testaverde aside, and he deserves it, but where is Jeff George?
At this point in the 2007, and this is no different than any other season, starting quarterbacks are dropping like flies or they are just incompetent. Am I being a bit off base when I say that George is better suited to lead the Chicago Bears than Rex Grossman, Brian Griese or Kyle Orton? Would you rather have Trent Dilfer at the helm of the 49ers? If Kerry Collins is getting a paycheck where is the love for the former number one pick out of Illinois?
DPC’s Take On Al Davis and Answering Fan Mail
I don’t get you DPC. You despise Ault and have asked for his ouster on several occasions. Yet you say you respect the Raiders organization who is run by the most infamous micro manger in football history? Al Davis is everything that you claim Ault is, and more. He’s an overbearing knowitall who has done more to damage the organization and it’s image than any other person.
So please, could you explain these divergent positions? -Rory
Dear Rory;
You are absolutely correct in asking for an explanation on why I dig Al Davis but why I don’t groove to Chris Ault. As I stated in an earlier blog, Mr. Davis influenced my Madden PS2 experience more than any other man, except maybe Jeff George. During my UNR academia days I wasted a lot of time playing Madden as opposed to studying my future craft. My roommate at the time would observe my tendency to draft nothing but big armed and immobile QB’s and speedy but less than talented wideouts and maintained I acted like Mr. Davis during franchise mode. Initially this was viewed as an inside joke but after exhaustive research the joked turned into absolute respect and admiration for him. I recommend any football fans and/or Mr. Davis naysayer to read his biography “Slick”.
Mr. Davis has many detractors and rightly so but his contributions to modern football are too great to ignore. Yes, he is somewhat of a cliche but the man is a football genius. Many of the positive aspects I just listed for Mr. Davis could be biographical for Ault. I realize this but the main difference between the pair of hall of famers is that Davis has thee championship rings and numerous accolades at the highest level while the Little General dominated D-1AA . Ault is great and despite what the Wolf Pack community may assume I have nothing but the utmost respect for the man but his greatness pales in comparison to Mr. Davis.
Wolf Pack Guest Column: Fresno State University
Nevada ended up losing by eight, 49-41, at home against Fresno State. As usual the numbers don’t tell the whole story of this very lopsided affair. Ultimately this game showed a lot of dents in the Wolf Pack’s armor, mainly their defense, special teams and overall coaching/strategy.
One must begin to wonder if head coach Chris Ault has put too much emphasis on beating UNLV ….. to be continued in this week’s edition of the Wolf Pack Guest Column: Fresno State @ Nevada
