Pop Culture Lane

H-H-H-Henne beat the Jets

noreply@blogger.com (Lane) — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 20:15:00 +0000

some clever Fin fan already has a parody song up on youtube
music courtesy of Elton John/Bernie Taupin

enjoy

Miami Dolphins- New York Jets live blog

noreply@blogger.com (Lane) — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 00:44:00 +0000

8:42: Play 1, Henne dumps off to Ronnie Brown as a checkdown, Ronnie gets 10 yards out of it. Ronnie always falls forward for a few extra yards.

8:44 RONNIE completes a pass to Fasano out of the Wildcat for a 21 yard gain!
8:45 next play, Ricky handoff from Ronnie out of the Wildcat for 17 yards. LOVING THIS.

8:46: back in the traditional formation, Henne hands off to Ronnie for a nice gain. Fins, 2nd & 1 on the Jets 21. False start on Haynos.

1st referee penalty announcement is in Spanish. Odd.
Como se dice "off sides" in Espanol?

8:47: 2&6, Henne picks up the 1st down to Bess.

Henne completes to Ginn for a 1st!! NICE DRIVE. Just marching down on the Jets who seem to not be offering much of a pass rush.

Confusion on the Jets, they call a timeout.

1st & goal, Ronnie picks up 3ish

2nd& goal at the 3, Polite with the handoff, to about the 1.5 yard line

RONNIE PUNCHES IT IN!!! WHAT CAN BROWN DO FOR YOU.

Seriously, they made that drive look easy. Let's see how the D responds to the Jets. I am guessing the first play will be designed for Braylon.

**
Jets first posession

I guessed wrong, it was a run up the gut for little or no gain

2&9 another run for a nice little gain of about 5 or 6 for Jones

3rd and 3ish for Dirty Sanchez

they run the Wildcat with Leon (The Fog is Getting Thicker and LEON IS GETTING LARGER) Washington at the throttle... and Channing Crowder thwarts him

BUT the Jets fake punt and get a 20 yard gain from the Punter. In keeping with the Spanish theme... "MIERDA!"

Sanchez completes a 20 yard pass because Sean Smith whiffs on the tackle. Feh.

Sanchez has all day to throw and gets a pass interference flag thrown on Yeremiah Bell. AWFUL.
2nd and goal from the 5, Sanchez floats one just out of reach to Brad Smith

3rd down, come on D.
Braylon Edwards. TD. Eff. Where was Will Allen playing?

**
Fins drive
9:12 pm
Jaws: "the grass is part of the ground"
thanks

1st down, short throw to Ricky off play-action
RICKY WILLIAMS takes a dump pass for a huuuuuuuuuge gain, like 60 yards

3 and nothing after that leads to a Carpenter field goal
10-7.

***

Jets ensuing posession

Question: is posession the only word that follows ensuing? Have you ever used ensuing in daily speak?

3rd and one after Thomas Jones gets 9 on 2 handoffs.
Sidenote: Thomas Jones' brother is the Seahawks Julius Jones. Is Julius Jones the 3rd most famous Julius in the world after Caesar and Erving?

End of 1st Quarter.

Crowder really playing with passion tonight, due to his Rex Ryan war of words.

3rd & 11, Will Allen has an illegal contact penalty, automatic 1st down. Awful call by the ref.

1st down, Leon with a 9 yard rush.
2nd, he gets the 1st down

ball on the Jets 45

2nd & 10... Sanchez with the draw play to Thomas Jones, stopped in the backfield by Jason Ferguson

3rd& 11 again.. big play here, Sanchez overthrows everyone, big stop (unless the Jets fake punt again)

punt goes into the endzone, Fins will get the ball back with 10:30 to go on the 20

***

Fins posession

Ronnie 15 yards out of the Wildcat
Ricky direct Wildcat snap for a gain of near 7

Henne back in on 2nd down
in shotgun
hands off to Ricky who is tackled for a big loss in the backfield by Kris Jenkins
great play by him

3rd & 9

incomplete to Hartline, will punt

**
Jets ball

False start
1st & 15
Leon Washington run
2& 5
Washington again with a nice gain

1st down completion to Braylon

3rd & 3 now..
incomplete to Edwards

punt coming up

another fake. Fuck.

2& 20 after a penalty, Leon Washington gains 11

3rd down, short completion for the Jets, (apparent) field goal attempt coming up

Jay Feeley ties it up, 10-10

***

1st down coming up from about the 18.

Jets have 102 rushing yards, Fins 52
total yards about even

Henne rolls away and has a nice completion to Ronnie called back because of a holding penalty on Grove. Dammit.

2nd & 17, 1:20 left

Ronnie with a rush for little or no gain, Jets call timeout, they may get decent field position with 1:00 left.

Fins punting from the 5 or so, 1:13 left. Feh.

Sanchez with a 13 yard gainer to Leon Washington.
2 quick completions by Sanchez
definite fg range

Feeley kicks the 43 yarder, 13-10 and the Jets will get the ball to start the 3rd.

now I have to change the channel, Chris Berman is putrid.

***
3rd quarter commences

Might I say, if the Fins win this game, they'd be only 1 game behind the Pats and Jets
grow a pair.

Thomas Jones takes the opening handoff for 7.
Come on.
Another first down.

6 yard completion for Braylon

Will Allen had the interception in his grasp on 3rd down and dropped iut

(apparent) punt coming up

touchback

***
Fins at the 20. Let's see a drive like we had to open the game, please.

Finally, they unleash Chad a little and he zips a nice pass to Haynos for 17 yards

then they immediately go... to the Wildcat (why?)
Ricky for 3 off direct snap
Ricky direct snap for no gain
3rd and 7, blitz comes and Henne incomplete pass to Polite
feh.

Nice punt to about the 7

Gruden makes a good point, we haven't heard Porter or Taylor's name called on the defense
no pass rush

Ugg Gibril Wilson called for a controversial personal foul

3rd & 9 now

Washington swallowed up by JT!

Jets punt

***
Fins ball from the 36

Ronnie rushes for 7
Ronnie again rushes, close to a 1st
3rd and 1, Lou "Mr 1st Down" Polite gets it

Henne on 1st throws a checkdown to Ronnie for 5
2nd and 5 from midfield, quick pass to Bess who got about 10 but got shoestring tackled saving a much bigger play

Chad was in a rhythm so what do they do? Wildcat of course.
Nice gain of 5 for Ronnie though
another gain of 6 for Ronnie, 1st down off the Wildcat

Ronnie with another Wildcat rush on 1st down and gains nearly 5
Gruden is orgasming over him
botched Wildcat play, Ronnie was trying to throw but stumbled, throws it out of bounds
3rd and 6, Henne comes back in, Tirico echoes my point, Henne has to come in cold and out of rhythm and try and pick up a first on 3rd and medium

now Wildcat again after Henne calls time out, and Ricky with a GREAT run and hurdle
love Ricky
1st and 10 from the 15
Henne with a short gainer to Polite after stepping up in the pocket
2&5, Ricky takes the Henne handoff for about 4.5
3rd and a yard or less... pitches to Ricky who takes it to the 1!
..end of 3rd... let's get Ronnie to punch it in when we come back!

Ronnie takes the handoff on 1st and goal... and is stuffed..
must get a TD this drive...
2nd and goal... playaction pass, Henne rolls out in bootleg, throws from his back foot to Fasano!!!!! TD!!!!

17-13 good guys!
15 plays, nearly 9 minutes
***
Sanchez responds with a frigging bomb to Clowney, he had till Cinco de Mayo to make that pass

50+ yards

big sack by the Fins, refs debating if it was intentional grounding or not
they rule intentional grounding but its over Jaws' dead body
3rd & 22... Sanchez with a touchdown to Braylon Edwards. Sick.
Why does Jaworski call him Mark San-CHEZ, is that the proper annunciation?

Fins challenge it, looks like his knee was down before ball crossed.

fins win the challenge, Jets score anyway on 1st and 1 from Thomas Jones. Only difference it made was someone got jobbed in fantasy football.

20-17 Jets, off two huge throws by Sanchez.

***

on 3rd & 3, Henne steps up and delivers a 14 yard completion to Fasano
whew

next play... TED GINN CATCHES A BOMB FOR A TD!!! HOLY SHIT, I DON'T BELIEVE WHAT I JUST SAW!!!!!!
AWESOME THROW.

53 yards!

24-20 Fish.

***

come on D
Thomas Jones rushes for 6
2nd & 4.. Leon Washington stuffed
3rd down... big play... Sanchez incomplete! Jets will have to punt!

Fins will get the ball with about 9 minutes left. Time to eat clock, boys.

Settle down, I said clock.

***
8:46 to go from the 30
Ronnie takes the Henne handoff for about 2 yards
Wildcat handoff Brown to Patrick Cobbs for no gain, Cobbs (my favorite Fin), is shaken up
3rd and long...
(9 to be exact)
Henne under center, dumps to the tight end for now gain
3 and out *sigh*

***

not a good punt, Jets get it at their 38

by the way, I love Chuckie Gruden on the mic, he is a revelation from his coaching persona, much like Jeff Van Gundy in the NBA

1st down.. incomplete
2nd and 10.. handoff to Jones for 7 (come on D)
3rd and 2 to be precise... Sanchez with a quick throw to Edwards for the first
dammit Sanchez is good for a noob

sigh, another bomb to Braylon, he drops it, but they call a terrible pass interference call on Will Allen. Ball placed on the 1. I am going to hurl. Terrible call.

Jones with the TD. 27-24.

***

Fins respond with nice gains by Ricky & Polite in the Jake Long direction. Near mid-field now already. Pat White in the game now? Huh?

Hands off to Ronnie for a gain of 6.

White runs out of the shotgun for a first down!

Chad back in now.

False start on the center.
1st and 15, 2:47 to go, from the 40.

Wildcat, Ronnie to Ricky gains about 7 but comes up hobbling.
Ronnie takes the handoff from Henne, gains a few more
2:00 warning
3rd and 5 coming up, definitely in field goal range.
Henne beats the blitz by throwing to Camarillo for the completion!
1st down! 1:54 left

Pat White back in (I hate this)
hands off to Ronnie for no gain

Chad Henne guns a throw to Camarillo to the 4 yard line and 1st down!!!!

Brown to the 2 with :17 left and 1 timeout.

2nd down.
Henne in.
Incomplete.

3rd down, :10 left
Wildcat formation, RONNIE IS IN!!!!!!!!

FINS LEAD WITH :06 LEFT!!!!!
UNBELIEVABLE!

Happy Bar Mitzvah, Chad Henne.

Jets have it at the 43 yard line with :03 left.
Barf.

Hail Mary time

INCOMPLETE! Fins win a great one!

Sensational!

thoughts on Mad Men episode 2, season 3, "Love Among the Ruins"

noreply@blogger.com (Lane) — Mon, 24 Aug 2009 03:20:00 +0000

sometimes I'm amazed that plot-wise, not much moves forward, but the performances and writing is so rich I don't really mind

Roger being oblivious about why no one approves of him now is kind of oblique. Don is pissed because he used Don as a scapegoat to break up with the wife. He now doesn't get why the ex or the daughter don't want to have Jane the home-wrecker at the wedding (which takes place the day after the JFK assassination, probably the season finale)

Betty's dad is going to be an interesting subplot -- Don made Betty happy by bringing her dad into their home, but she is going to be giving birth in a few months, and with her 2 kids and now a strokey Alzheimer's father, nothing good is going to come of it. But at least Don showed Betty some loyalty and concern.

I liked Peggy getting a little feminist and going after some booty when she felt frustrated by the sexist attitude at work via the Bye Bye Birdie scenes with the workers and then Don...

the London bosses screwing Don with the Garden is the beginning of the end for this merger, I think. Bert Cooper probably buys it back for pennies on the dollar, or Don splits off and starts his own agency.

Heat working "furiously" to land Boozer and Lamar Odom, per Yahoo! sports

noreply@blogger.com (Lane) — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 03:37:00 +0000

as an update to my earlier post..

http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/news?slug=aw-odomboozer071509&prov=yhoo&type=lgns

LAS VEGAS – Pat Riley has listened to Dwyane Wade(notes) express his unease with
the Miami Heat sitting out the Eastern Conference’s arms race this summer. As
the Boston Celtics, Cleveland Cavaliers and Orlando Magic elevated themselves as
championship contenders, the Heat president sold his superstar on patience,
promising a plan to surround him with talent for the long run.

Now, the
Heat are working furiously to deliver Lamar Odom(notes) and Carlos Boozer(notes)
to the shores of Biscayne Bay. The Heat are trying to sell Odom on a five-year,
$34 million contract at the mid-level exception, and a league executive with
knowledge of the talks says Miami has also hatched a three-way proposal with the
Utah Jazz and Memphis Grizzlies to secure Boozer.

The essentials of a
possible deal would include Miami sending forward Udonis Haslem(notes) and
Dorrell Wright to Utah. Because Memphis is under the cap, Utah could move
Wright’s $2.8 million salary to the Grizzlies and save itself approximately $5.6
million with salary and luxury-tax payments. Memphis would probably get cash and
picks for its trouble. The Heat would have to send one more small contract to
make the math on the salary exchange work.

Miami could pay Boozer
his $12.7 million salary this season and own his Bird rights to sign him to an
extension next summer.

The deal isn’t considered imminent, but the Jazz
are working hard to find a suitable trade for Boozer. Utah is determined to
match the Portland Trail Blazers’ $32 million offer sheet for restricted free
agent Paul Millsap(notes). Utah has until the end of the week to match or lose
the young power forward to the Blazers. Most league executives believe that Utah
will match the offer, regardless of whether they’ve moved Boozer.

Portland is still trying to pry Tayshaun Prince(notes) out of
Detroit in a three-way deal with Utah, but Pistons president Joe Dumars hasn’t
shown an inclination to move Prince and extend Boozer’s contract, league sources
say. Several league executives are dubious of Boozer as a $14 million-a-year
player, which his agent, Rob Pelinka, has told teams it will take to sign him to
an extension. Miami could be the suitor willing to pay it.

The Los
Angeles Lakers’ standoff with Odom is still fluid, but a source close to Odom
insists he would probably only leave L.A. for Miami, not the Dallas Mavericks,
who are also pursuing him. Odom’s agent is trying to get a five-year, $45
million deal out of the Lakers, who have offered four years and $36 million.

A Tale of Two Jackos

noreply@blogger.com (Lane) — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 01:53:00 +0000

A good Michael Jackson cover, performed by Amanda Palmer:

A not-so-good Michael Jackson cover (Third Eye Blind) What is pretty funny is the guy who yells "STFU" to silence the crowd after Third Eye asks for a moment of silence:

Miami Heat, what to do, what to do?

noreply@blogger.com (Lane) — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 23:43:00 +0000

I know it's been a while, but I am in the mood to rekindle the PCL blog...

This is a weird time in Heat history. Usually Pat Riley has things in total control or at least he makes it seem like he's in control. This is the first time in his tenure that I can remember this to not be the case.

The 2010 plan. We've been hearing about this for years, basically since Dwyane Wade decided to sign only a 3 year contract instead of a lengthier one after the 2007 season. He seemingly coordinated his free agency to coincide with LeBron James' and Chris Bosh's exit years. Riley constructed Shaquille O'Neal's extension to expire this year, to maximize potential cap space.

The pipe dream, in Riley's mind anyway, I bet, has been Lebron. I think he thinks he has a .001% chance for Lebron and doesn't want to squander that opportunity.

Chris Bosh has been the name most Heat fans have been hearing about for the longest time. For several reasons, namely Toronto has rarely, if ever, kept a high profile player - whether it be Vince Carter, Tracy McGrady, or... (ok, those are the only two really notable home grown Raptors players I can remember).. but the point is it is hard for Toronto, who have always been mediocre at best, to keep players because of the taxes they have to pay in Canada as well as the distance most players are from home.

Bosh also has been seen as a good second banana, someone who would be willing to defer to Wade as a primary option. Bosh also could conceivably play forward or center in the east. The problem is, with Toronto signing Hedo Turkoglu to a large contract, it looks like Toronto is going all-in this season. They are trying to make the playoffs and convince Bosh to stay. Despite the taxes in Canada, the Raps can offer more dollars and an extra year than any other team if Bosh becomes a free agent. It seems unlikely, unless the Raptors absolutely fail this season and Bosh demands a trade and tells them they have no chance in re-signing him that they will deal him. Even if that happens, other teams can get the chance to beat the best offer the Heat would make (at best an offer of Michael Beasley, filler players and draft picks).

I've always felt that the improvement will come from a trade for a disgruntled superstar, ala the Celtics getting Kevin Garnett or the Heat getting Shaq, not convincing a Bosh level player to leave his current team for South Beach. The Heat has many expiring contracts to entice a team in salary cap hell to sell off a superstar for the chance to start over. I've thought that the mercurial Amare Stoudamire of the Phoenix Suns would be the logical choice to pick up in a trade but the recent Carlos Boozer situation also falls in this vein and makes sense on multiple levels.

The Utah Jazz had their young workhouse forward Paul Millsap sign an offer sheet with the Portland Trailblazers. If they match the offer sheet, he will be getting starter money and duplicates what Boozer gives them. He is younger and still cheaper than Boozer. Boozer has been told they will trade him. Utah, not a wealthy team, is said to have to take out a bank loan to pay for the front loaded contract Portland offered Millsap. If they don't trade Boozer by the NBA trade deadline they will have to pay a luxury tax penalty, likely to be in the tens of millions of dollars. Boozer lives in Miami in the offseason, he is close to Dwyane Wade and close to the Arison family (owners of the Heat). Boozer went to Duke with Mr. Arison's son, who was team manager for the basketball team Boozer starred on, worked for Team USA with Wade and Boozer, and is now an executive with the Heat. While undersized, Boozer is a legit 20/10 guy who doesn't demand the ball and is a fantastic offensive rebounder. To me, he is not on the level of Bosh or a healthy Amare, but he also happens to be a) available b) eager to play in Miami and c) on an expiring contract, so if it doesn't work out, or if they get the chance to sign a better player, they can let him walk and no harm done.

Unlike Amare or Bosh, Boozer can't play center. I am not sure how he and Michael Beasley fit together on the same frontline. The Heat are trying to make Beasley a small forward now, a move that puzzles me. I believe in Beasley's future as a 20+ ppg scorer. I believe if he went #3 to the Grizzlies last draft, he'd have won the rookie of the year because he'd have jacked up as many shots as he could. I am not sure that future is in Miami. I admire his ability to score, but I just never got the vibe that he has that "x" factor to be a winning player in the league. His lax demeanor bugs the hell out of me. His lack of a true position bugs the hell out of me. I know I am being unfair, he is only 20 years old, he has to grow into manhood, yadda yadda. The problem is, he is not the type of player/personality that the Heat has ever had patience for. Dwyane Wade doesn't seem to like him much. The best options for the Heat to spend their cap space on are all power forwards which is probably why they are trying to make him a 3.

If they trade for a Boozer, or sign an Amare or Bosh, in my opinion, Beasley has to be traded for a true small forward who can defend, hit open shots, and play team ball. My ideal candidate is Caron Butler, but who knows if Washington will trade him. Another name available next season may be Josh Howard, now that Dallas has Dirk Nowitzki and Shawn Marion. Memphis reportedly offered the #2 overall pick this past draft for Beasley; perhaps they'd be interested in trading Rudy Gay and Marc Gasol for him (less likely now that they traded for Zach Randolph).

Call me naive or pie-in-the-sky but I have no fear that Wade won't re-sign here. I just can't picture him going anywhere else. As I mentioned with Bosh, the Heat can offer Wade more money than anyone else. He won a title here, he became a superstar here, Riley has never settled for mediocrity. I can't see Wade leaving here to go play in New York. That team is moribund and even if it added Wade it has few other assets. How much more money can Wade possibly make in Madison Avenue endorsements? He already is a national figure. The NY media would put him under a microscope the same way they put A-Rod under one. Wade's posturing with Riley is just that-- posturing. He is trying to ensure the best outcomes, but Riley would be a fool to trade or add contracts like Toronto did with Turkoglu- because if Wade (god forbid) does leave, then you're stuck with mediocre players with bad contracts bogging you down.

This will be a loooooong season until we see how the plan unfolds, but I think patience will pay off.

Thoughts?

LOST Season Premiere Live Blog "Because You Left; The Lie"

noreply@blogger.com (Lane) — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 01:56:00 +0000

8:15 am, clock radio goes off, and a baby is awake crying in another room...
someone puts a bottle on the stove and a record on the player... we don't know who it is yet, or when it is yet...

wait, it's the island... and it's the strange Dharma guy from the Dharma movie (Dr. Marvin Candle)... he is filming the movie, so this is sometime in the past

Was that Finn De-troo-lio from the Sopranos who interrupts the filming?

The Dharma guys' drill melted underground as they are building a station... near a source of "limitless energy" that will allow them to manipulate time...
ok (they're answering stuff real early)

Dr. Chang/Candle warns the engineer not to drill too close, it'll release the energy and screw things up..

d'oh! Daniel Faraday is there! He time travelled back there?

now we're back to 2007, crazy beard Jack and Ben with Locke's corpse in the funeral home. Ben is trying to motivate Jack to get Locke in a van and go break Hurley out of the nut house. Jack asks Ben how they got here, how did this happen.. Ben replies it's because they left the island.

Jack shaves the crazy beard at a hotel and Ben lays out the plan of getting the other Oceanic 6. Ben reveals the last time he saw Locke was on the island when Ben goes to spin the wheel from last season. Jack reveals Locke told him everyone they left behind will die if he doesn't come back.

flashback to 2004, Ben spinning the wheel to move the island...

and we see Locke, apparently after the white light moves the island, in a rainstorm in the jungle, apparently alone...

Farraday and some of the islanders are shown on the raft and shirtless Sawyer and shirted Juliette are on the beach, and they realize the freighter in front of them is gone all of a sudden. Bernard and Rose show up panicked and shows the camp and food and water disappeared.
Farraday says it's not gone. Why is he wearing a tie still? In this weather? He is looking for a "constant". He hints they are back in time. (And the SNL sketch of Michael J Fox in the elevator while the cast members sing "Goin' Back in Tie-yime" is running through my head)

LOST title graphic

Kate is in 2007 with Aaron in their McMansion eating breakfast. Two guys knock on the door and pretend to be lawyers. Kate doesn't let them in the house. They want a blood sample from her and Aaron. He has a court order (so he says). They want to determine her relationship to Aaron. He refuses to say who wants the court order. She tells him to come back with the sheriff. Kate hauls ass and gets a-packing. She ain't waiting for no sheriff. Aaron (now about 3 or 4) asks where they're going, and she tells him they are going on vacation. She puts a wad of cash and a gun in her bag.

Sawyer and Juliet lead Faraday and Charlotte to find the hatch from the Dharma station to use as a constant. Sawyer slaps Faraday for not explaining WTF is going on. He explains what's going on... Ben dislodged the island from "time". The island may be moving through time or just them, the people, are moving in time.

cut to Locke, climbing through the jungle, where he sees a bi-plane crash, after buzzing him ala North by Northwest... he finds one of the virgin mary statues (from Mr. Eko's brother) fall out of the plane. The plane is in the tree... where he goes to climb for survivors and gets shot in the leg for his trouble. And I believe that was Ethan, the guy who kidnapped Claire way back when, with the gun.

Man you really need to have a good memory for this show, apologies if I am getting the details or names wrong from past seasons.

Locke recognizes Ethan and tells him he knows him. He tells Ethan than Ben appointed him as the leader.... and Ethan is about to shoot him when a white light comes again and it is night time out all of a sudden. I think they are hiccuping through time. Sawyer asks a great question "When are we now", and Daniel says "we're in the past or future"

cut to Sun walking through an airport, on her way to LA. The ticket agent looks at her passport and it gets flagged in the computer. Sun is taken to a cell in the airport. Charles Widmore is there. He is angry with Sun for showing him no respect when she barged in their meeting last season. Widmore says Sun mentioned common interests. He asks what those were, and she says to kill Benjamin Linus.

Back to Jack and Ben, watching the news seeing Hugo escaped (we know Sayid broke him out of the looney bin). Cut to Hurley and Sayid at a drivethrough getting food. They pull into a motel or apartment house. Sayid tells Hurley he has been working for Ben, and if he ever runs into Ben, Hurley should do the opposite whatever Ben says. Sayid theows a would-be assassin off the building and goes into hand to hand combat with another guy. He shoots a dart into Sayid.
(Dude, you got a fuckin dart in your neck!) (What? You're crazy! I like you, but you're CRAZY)

Sayid goes down, but is playing possum (he apparently has spent the last several years building immunity to iocaine powder). He smacks the dart shooter with a frying pan. Then throws him on a basketful of knives in the dishwasher (see, that's why I always put the knives sharp side down in the basket). Hurley grabs the gun, when the pedestrians in the parking lot see the dead body Sayid threw overboard and crazy house escapee Hurley standing over them with the gun. They scatter and Hurley shleps Sayid away.

back to the Jungle with Charlotte and Miles Strom the angry medium and Charlotte and Sawyer and Faraday. They see the Hatch, blown up. They deduce they are now back in the future. Faraday explains the string theory of time, that they can't change history. Like Charlie dies no matter what.

Back to Locke, who is now on the ground by the plane. Still shot in the leg. The plane is now on the ground (from when he knocked it down) and Locke goes into it for shelter. He sees someone coming towards him with a torch. He draws his knife, and we see it's immortal Richard (who recognizes him). John asks "when am I" and Richard replies "it's all relative". Richard says he didn't go anywhere when the white light came, Locke did. He tells Locke he will jump soon, and the next time they see each other Richard won't recognize him, and hands him a compass. He tells Locke to save the island he has to get the Oceanic 6 back to the Island. He tells Locke that to get them back he has to die.

White flash and Locke is in daylight again.

the Plane is back in the trees. When are we? In the past. Locke has the compass.

Sawyer's gang is back at the hatch... white light time.. now it's daylight and the hatch is back, not blown up. Sawyer goes to the back door to get supplies. Farraday tries to tell him it won't work, that you can't change the past. (not sure whats the big deal about getting supplies). Juliette gets Sawyer to go back to the beach. Charlotte has a nose bleed. Farraday is freaked out, Charlotte seems non-plussed (when was the last time you saw someone break out a non-plussed?). Daniel goes through his journal to find some bit of info while they leave, and HE knocks on the door that he wouldn't let Sawyer go through. It's Desmond who answers in a bio hazard suit with a rifle. He asks Daniel if he is the replacement, and he says no. Farraday tells a confused Desmond that if the helicopter takes him off the island in the future, and they get on a freighter, to save his friends, he needs to go to Oxford University and find Farraday's mother... her name is... and Desmond wakes up seemingly from a dream, in apparently 2007, next to Penny.

Desmond says he had a dream while he was on the island... she tells him they haven't been on the Island in 3 years. He says it wasn't a dream, it was a memory. They are on a yacht and Des sets sail (a three hour tour? a three hour tour?)... he tells her they are going to Oxford.

Title card says "three years ago", and we see Frank Lapidus grab two brewskis out of the cooler... they are on Penny's rescue boat in 2004, it's the Oceanic 6 talking about the big lie they propose to tell before the world rescues them. Jack takes a poll and sees if they are all in agreement about the lie. Hurley doesn't want to lie, Jack explains its the only way to protect the ones they left behind, that Widmore wants to kill them, he already sunk a fake plane. Hurley asks Penny since he is her dad can't she do something? She says no. Hurley would rather tell the world that the island is gone, poof, disappeared. Jack says they'll think he's crazy. Hurley says not if people back him up. Sayid admits that lying is the best choice. Hurley tells Sayid he'll remember this moment and someday Sayid will need his help and he won't get it. (That's a bit harsh, Hurley).

Cut to Hurley helping poison darted Sayid, driving through the city. Hurley is getting pulled over by the cops (he is on the lam and he has an unconscious Iraqi next to him). The cop who pulls Hurley over? Ana-Lucia. It's Hurley hallucinating. She tells him he needs new clothes, a safe place, and to take Sayid to someone he trusts. She's like his antisocial Jiminy Cricket. She tells him "Libby says hi".

we're on the beach, and the adorable Rose and Bernard are trying to start a fire. I think the guy Neil was in "That Thing You Do" with Tom Hanks. He was the nerd who was interrupting the talent show (when are you going to play That Thing You Do? We came here to meet girls and dance and we can't until you play That Thing You Do!"). Sawyer and Juliet find Faraday coming out of jungle who was gone for two hours, we learn. To leave, Faraday needs to calculate a new bearing and they need to find out when they are.

Back to Weekend at Sayids as Hurley is dragging around the still drugged Iraqi. Hurley is at a gas station and buys some t-shirts (I heart Shi-Tzus). The gas station attendant says she recognizes him (but not from the fugitive picture, from the lottery and the plane rescue). He hauls ass and as he pulls out, coincidentally Kate pulls in to the same parking lot, missing each other by seconds. Aaron tells her he wants to go home. Kate pulls out a cell phone and contemplates calling Jack but doesn't. Suddenly the phone rings and "unknown" is on the caller ID. She can't believe whoever it is on the phone, she sounds glad to hear from them. She says she'll be there in half an hour. Aaron asks where they are going, and she tells him to see a friend. I think it's Sun.

Cut to Ben in the hotel room unscrewing the A/C vent and pulling a package out of it. Jack is looking for his pain pills, Ben tells him he flushed them down the terlet. Jack says he was going to do that himself and thanks Ben. Ben tells him to pack a suitcase and he's never coming back here. He says he'll pick Jack up in 6 hours. Ben tells Jack he is going to put Locke's body someplace safe, Jack says "safe? he's dead isn't he?". Ben ignores the question and tells Jack he'll be back in 6 hours.

Cut to Cheech Marin (Hurley's dad) making a baloney and caviar sandwich (I am not making this up). Maybe he has the munchies. The door knocks and he answers to see Hurley standing there with Sayid in a fireman's carry over his shoulders.

Hurley is catching his dad up to date on the escape... the LAPD is there and wants to see if Cheech has seen his son. Cheech gets rid of them. They tell Cheech that Hurley killed three people (Hurley says that Sayid did). Cheech says they need a doctor to wake Sayid up. Hurley knows what to do.

Cut to Kate and Aaron in an elevator. They are in a hotel or penthouse... and it is Sun who is there.

Cut to Ben in a butcher's shop. There's a lady butcher behind the counter. (Is it Harriet? The hard-hearted harbinger of haggis? Alas, it is not). She knows Ben and greets him by name. He tells her he has something important in his van and needs her to watch it for him. She says "he'll be safe with me" and everything is right on schedule. Whatever the plan is, she's in on it. She asks if he got Shepherd, and he says yes. She wonders if Ben bribed Jack with pills, and Ben shoots her a dirty look and gets all defensive in her grill "cut him some slack, he's been through a lot -- we all have". She acquiesces and apologizes. Ben tells "Jill" to keep Locke safe, because if she doesn't, what they are about to do won't matter at all.

Back to the island and beach, night time and they are still trying to build a fire. Finally they succeed and it flickers out. Didn't they ever see Cast Away? Charlotte brings Farraday a mango or papaya or something. She tells him she has a bad headache. And now is having patches in her memory. She can't remember her mom's maiden name. She asks Daniel he knows what is happening to her. Before he can answer, Miles comes back with dinner, a wild boar that had been dead in the jungle. Nerdy Neil is pushing everyone's buttons. Like a red shirted guy from Star Trek, he is dead, as flaming arrows (sounds like a gay cover band) fly through the air out of nowhere and one hits him. Sawyer and Friends scatter to try and avoid the assault.

The remaining Losties scatter as random ones eat it.

Hurley is stuck in his dad's house as the cops are staking out the place. His mom has come home and asks why there is a dead Pakistani on her couch. LOL. Hurley's dad sneaks them out of the house in his truck.

Kate and Sun are catching up. Sun shows Kate her baby's picture. Sun asks if Kate is alright. Kate tells Sun someone knows they are lying, some lawyers came to her house asking for a blood sample. Sun says they weren't interested in exposing the lie, they just want Aaron. If they wanted to expose the lie they would just do it. Sun tells Kate she needs to get rid of them, any way she can. Kate asks "what kind of person do you think I am?" Cut to Jin on the freighter from the end of last season, when Sun reminds Kate that she told Sun to get on the chopper and Kate would get Jin. Kate is crying. Sun says "you're a person who does what she had to do, and if she hadn't they all would have died not just her husband". Sun says she doesn't blame Kate. She asks how Jack is. They cut away before we find out if she tells Sun that as far as Kate knows he is bat shit crazy.

Cut to Cheech, who has met up with clean cut Jack. Cheech brings him to Sayid's comatose body in the trunk, covered up by a lovely poncho. Jack says they have to bring Sayid to a hospital. Jack says he'll do what he has to despite Cheech saying if they go to the hospital the hitmen will finish the job. Cheech says if they do that for Jack, then Jack has to stay away from Hugo. Jack calls Ben and tells him he has Sayid.

Cut to Hurley, back at the McMansion with his mamacita. Hurley tells his mom that they all lied about the crash. He tells her they crashed on a crazy island. With the smoke monster. With the Others. With the Button. And the Hatches. And Desmond's Girlfriend's Father. And the freighter. With the killers. The rest of the people are still on the island, and he starts crying. She tells him she believes him, even though he sounds crazy.

He says all the bad stuff is happening because they lied.

Back to Sawyer and Juliet in the jungle. They are captured by guys with machetes who demand what they are doing on the island?

Cut to Jack in the hospital, he is working on Sayid. Who wakes up and tries to choke Jack before he realizes who he is. Jack tells Sayid that Cheech brought him to Jack. Sayid asks where Hurley is and Jack says at home with his mother.

Cut to Hurley heating up a burrito in the microwave.

He turns to find Ben standing over his shoulder and he throws the burrito at him in panic. He tells Hugo that Ben has a car waiting to get rid of him. That Ben knows Sayid is with Jack. Hurley says its a mind game and they'd never trust him. Ben says they came around and realized they all want the same thing: to go back to the island. Ben says if he comes with, he'd never have to lie again. Hurley runs out to the police, that's how much he wants away from Ben. He admits to killing the people. He smirks as Ben leaves.

Cut back to the Island with Sawyer and Juliet - and the army men who demand answers and are abount to cut off Juliet's hand, when someone saves them and kills the captors -- Locke.

Cut to a lab with a weird person in a cloak doing equations on the blackboard. Where does one buy a cloak these days? Cloaks R Us? The Cloak Barn? Cloak and Barrel? Cloaky goes up a spiral staircase to a room filled with lit candles - it's Ben in the candle room, and cloaky tells him he has 70 hours. Cloaky turns around and reveals herself to be the weird whitehaired english lady who refused to sell Desmond the engagement ring back in the day and explained the theory that whatever will happen cannot be changed. I am guessing she is Farraday's mother as well as being the Time Lady. Ben asks what happens if he can't get them all together in 70 hours? She says "God help us all".

LOST.

whoo. VERY action packed episode. What did you guys think?

LOST live blog "Destiny Calls"

noreply@blogger.com (Lane) — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 01:00:00 +0000

ok... the 8-9 hour is a clip show and documentary on the show, I will live blog beginning at 9

I'm back! LOST live blog tonight

noreply@blogger.com (Lane) — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 00:56:00 +0000

A Beautiful Poem

noreply@blogger.com (Lane) — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 23:36:00 +0000

Maria Shriver (who knows something about personal loss and tragedy) recited this poem at Tim Russert's memorial on MSNBC this afternoon. As someone myself who knows something about personal losses, I found it very moving and comforting.

The Little Ship

I stood watching as the little ship sailed out to sea. The setting sun tinted his white sails with a golden light, and as he disappeared from sight a voice at my side whispered, "He is gone".

But the sea was a narrow one. On the farther shore a little band of friends had gathered to watch and wait in happy expectation. Suddenly they caught sight of the tiny sail and, at the very moment when my companion had whispered, "He is gone" a glad shout went up in joyous welcome, "Here he comes!"

Peter Gammons honors Bo Diddley

noreply@blogger.com (Lane) — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 13:48:00 +0000

I thought this was pretty cool - ESPN's Peter Gammons performs "Take Me Out To The Ball Game" in the style (and to honor) Bo Diddley... notice the "Bo Diddley Beat", the rhythm guitar (1..2..3...1.2) that Peter starts the song with. He influenced many bands such as the Rolling Stones ("Not Fade Away"), U2 ("Desire"), George Michael ("Faith") and the 80s bubblegum song "I Want Candy"

Great Russert Video

noreply@blogger.com (Lane) — Mon, 16 Jun 2008 17:06:00 +0000

found this on Deadspin - this is a promotional video for Boston College that Mr. Russert did with his son, the basketball team, and a great cameo from NBA player (and ex BC'er) Jared Dudley.

I know he was a devout Catholic, but Tim Russert was a mensch.

Rest in Peace, Tim Russert

noreply@blogger.com (Lane) — Sat, 14 Jun 2008 15:14:00 +0000

A great man died yesterday, suddenly, sadly. I admit I am a political junkie, and have watched Meet The Press for probably 10 years, and can't imagine having this important election without him. Russert projected family values and the perspective of the common man, even though he was uncommon in the humanity, gravitas, fairness, and intelligence he brought to broadcast journalism. Someone will fill his shoes on Meet The Press, maybe David Gregory, maybe someone else, but no one will be able to get the politicians and important decision makers to answer the tough questions like he could, no one will be able to hold their feet to the fire and not make them feel like they were being barbecued like he could. His only agenda was getting the truth out and holding people accountable.

The coverage on the cable news channels, to me, has been unprecedented. His death is being covered like that of kings and presidents. It is hard to think of any other journalist that would make Fox News or CNN have wall to wall coverage for a competitor like this.

RIP, Mr. Russert

Tom Brokaw breaks the news to the country:

Chuck Todd, a young disciple of Russert reacts hard to the news:

CBS' Bob Schieffer, a competitor of Russerts, comes on MSNBC at 3am in the morning Paris time (where Bob is) to discuss the death:

John McCain reacts, McCain was on "Meet the Press" fifty-two times:

Barack Obama reacts:

Andrea Mitchell tears up:

Matt Lauer classily says goodbye:

Russert's iconic TV moment - "Florida, Florida, Florida". The dry erase board is now in the Smithsonian.

John Denver sang it...

noreply@blogger.com (Lane) — Thu, 15 May 2008 21:08:00 +0000

"almost heaven..... West Virginia.... Blue Ridge Mountains, Shenandoah River..."

Jon Stewart proves it...

I'm guessing Dolly Parton isn't too happy with this

noreply@blogger.com (Lane) — Wed, 14 May 2008 20:59:00 +0000

but Howard Stern gave her some publicity for her new audio book...

warning: graphic language (to say the least!)

at least this isn't as bad a hatchet job as some of the American Idol contestants did to her songs a few weeks ago..

Hey Unknown Comic, dust off that brown paper bag

noreply@blogger.com (Lane) — Fri, 09 May 2008 18:39:00 +0000

according to Yahoo, Comedy Central is bringing back "The Gong Show", the iconically cheesy game show I remember from my early childhood. While the old version was created and hosted by Chuck Barris, this new version will be hosted by the hilarious Dave Atell.

LOS ANGELES (Hollywood Reporter) - The gong is back.

Comedy Central has green-lighted an updated version of the 1970s talent show, ordering eight half-hour episodes of "The Gong Show With Dave Attell," to premiere July 17.

The series will feature offbeat acts judged by a panel of three revolving celebrity judges. A talent search is under way.

Attell hosted four seasons of Comedy Central's "Insomniac With Dave Attell" and recently appeared in his own standup special on HBO.

"Dave is the perfect guy to host this series," said Lauren Corrao, president of original programming and development at the cabler. "His dry, comedic wit paired with the outspoken personalities of our celebrity judges and the outrageous acts will create a fresh take on the famed series."

Holly Jacobs, senior vice president syndication and reality at Sony, called "Gong Show" an "iconic" format that will now be introduced to a new generation of viewers.

Added Attell: "Stars will be made; feelings will be hurt."

Reuters/Hollywood Reporter

Lost Live Blog: "Cabin Fever"

noreply@blogger.com (Lane) — Fri, 09 May 2008 02:00:00 +0000

Opening scene... 1950s girl dancing to "Everyday" by Buddy Holly (I think?), "Emily" having an argument with her mother about going out with a man twice her age... she runs into the street and is hit by a car. She is being wheeled through a hospital when she tells the nurse she's 6 months pregnant... she's now in labor and delivers a boy...he gets put in an incubator, and is name is John (Locke?)

cut to Locke, Hurley, and Ben in the jungle looking for Jacob's cabin... they are... LOST. Locke decides they'll make camp for the night. Hurley asks what happens when the freighter guys come back. Locke says he doesn't know. Cut to Desmond on the freighter sleeping on a cot. Sayid wakes him up to tell him the helicopter is back. The doctor checks on one of the injured soldiers and Keamy tells him a smoke monster ripped his guts out. Keamy points a gun at the captain and tells the captain that he "gave him up". That (Ben) knew all about Keamy's history. Cut to Keamy & the captain finding Michael on the freighter, and they hurt him and ask him if he gave Ben the info. Michael says yes. (Real smart). Martin goes to shoot him but is out of bullets. The captain says don't kill him, Michael is the only one who knows how to fix the engine. Keamy asks how does he know this? The captain says it's because Michael was the one who broke them.

LOST swoosh logo (commercial break)

Locke awakes in the hjungle to a chopping noise. He looks around and Hurley and Ben are still sleeping.... he finds a guy in a Dharma initiative jumpsuit knocking down a tree. He tells John his name is "Horace" who is building a place for him and "the mrs". He explains sometimes they need a break from the DI (Dharma Initiative).

-tangent: I can't hear the Dharma Initiative without thinking of the charming Jenna Elfman, and if she is still as cute as she was in that movie where Ben Stiller plays the rabbi and Ed Norton plays the priest... also I must check to see if the Harlem Choir's version of "Ayn Kelohanu" is on itunes

Horace tells John he probably isn't making sense, because he's been dead for 12 years. Horace tells Locke he has to find him (Horace) and when he does he'll find Jacob. Jacob has been waiting for Locke a long time. John wakes up with the Lost iconic eye camera shot. Ben is watching John. Ben tells Locke he used to have dreams too.

Cut to the 1950s hospital. The nurse calls her Mrs. Locke, and that John is the youngest preemie to ever make it in the hospital. Calls him a miracle baby. Locke's mother tells the nurse she is unable to hold the baby, and runs out of the room crying. There's a man watching the scene, and it's Ben's right hand man Richard. Richard is always the same age in every flashback, he's immortal or a time traveller or something.

cut to Locke, Ben, and Hurley back on the trail trying to find Jacob's cabin and presumably Horace. By the way, I just looked up the Roman poet "Horace", he's the cat who came up with "Carpe Diem" (translated: Seize the Day), Dulce et decorum est pro patria mori (It is Sweet & Fitting to Die for One's Country), and Aurea Mediocritas (The Golden Mean).

Hurley has a theory why they are the only ones who can see the cabin: it's because they are the craziest. Locke decides they are going to make a sidetrip before finding the cabin. He asks Hurley if he ever wondered whatever happened to the Dharma Initiative people. Ben gets a "zoinks" look on his face (remember Ben massacred them all). Locke takes them to the mass grave he was in when Ben shot him at the end of last season. Hurley asks what happened to them... Locke points to Ben and says "he did".

Commercial.

Back in the 1950s...Immortal Richard is in a house to visit little John playing backgammon. He tells John he runs a school for kids who are "special" and John might be one of then. Richard notices a drawing on the wall and asks little John if he drew it, it looks like the smoke monster killing someone.

Richard pulls out some objects and asks Richard to look at them and think about them. They are a baseball mitt, a comic book, a book of laws, a vial of dirt, a hunting knife, a compass..

he asks John what of these object belong to him.. little John asks "to keep?", and Richard says "no, which of these belong to you...already". Little John takes the knife. Richard says "it doesn't", packs up and leaves. He tells John's mother that he isn't ready for their special school and exits.

Back at the gravesite, Ben tells Hurley he didn't kill the Dharma people, it wasn't his decision, it was their leader's. Hurley says "I thought you were their leader" and Ben says "not always". John is in the gravesite and finds Horace's skeleton (the jumpsuit had his name on it). In the jumpsuit he finds blueprints for the cabin and tells them that Horace was building it.

Back on the freighter, Lapidus tells the Captain and Keamy that the other soldier died. The doc couldn't help him. Keamy tells Lapidus to gas up the chopper, they are going back to the island. The captain tells Keamy while he was gone the crew was showing signs of some sort of mental sickness and that Keamy may be affected by the same thing. He takes the key from the captain and enters the office. They are going to open a safe. They find a protocol that says where Ben is going, and that Widmore is a smart man. Keamy says they are going to torch the island and they know the only safe place Ben could go to. The captain tells Sayid & Desmond to hide in the pantry. Sayid says hiding is pointless, he wants the life raft to go back to the island and ferry the people to safety. The captain seemingly agrees and tells them to go to the raft in 10 minutes.

Back to Locke, Ben, and Hurley. It wasn't blueprints, it's a map to the cabin. Locke tells Hurley he can leave and go back to the beach. He tells Hurley he thought he needed him to find the cabin and now feels bad because he forced him at gun point. Hurley declines and opts to stay with Ben & Locke.

Cut to John in high school, he is locked in a school locker and banging to get out. A teacher lets him out and all the cheerleaders are laughing at him. The teacher tells him he got a call from a Dr. Alpert (Richard) who wants him to come to Science Camp. John says he's not a nerdy scientist, the teacher tells him he can't be the prom king or a superhero, he is a scientist to be. Puberty John tells the teacher off and leaves.

Lapidus goes to Michael (who is hurt and locked in a room) and asks why he didn't tell Lapidus he was a survivor of Flight 815. Michael says "you wouldn't have believed me" and Lapidus says "I told you I am the only person in the world who thinks the crash was a hoax, and you didn't think I'd believe you?". Michael says Lapidus' boss put the plane there. Michael tells him Keamy is going to kill everyone on the island and not to fly him back. Lapidus leaves and we see Keamy strapping a radio or some sort of device to his arm.

The captain tells the Sayid and Dez to follow the heading that Faraday says is the only safeway back. Dez says he can't go back with Sayid, he has been on the island for 3 years and that he'll never set foot on it again. Not when Penny is coming for him. Sayid says he'll be back with the first batch of Oceanic survivors ASAP.

The freighter is called Kahana, by the way.

Sayid motors on the life raft towards the island.

Cut to the jungle at night, with Ben, Locke, and Hurley looking for the cabin. Ben says all the things that happened to him, his spinal tumor, his daughter's death HAD to happen to him, they were his destiny, and that Locke will soon see that being chosen has consequences. "Destiny is a fickle bitch" says Ben.

Hurley finds the cabin. Cut to Locke a few years ago in a rehab center trying to relearn how to walk. His orderly tells him not to give up. Locke scoffs and says his spine was crushed. The orderly says he survived an 8 story fall out of a building and that's a miracle. We see the orderly's face and it's Abadon, the bald black guy who sees Hurley in the first episode of this season, who employed Naomi (he also played the narc cop on Oz)... He asks Locke if he believes in miracles, Locke says no, and he says you should, I had one happen to me. He wheels Locke to a flight of stairs and tells him he needs to go on a "walkabout". Locke says he can't, he's a cripple. Abadon tells Locke he went on one and found out who he was. Locke sarcastically replies "an orderly", and Abadon says "I am more than an orderly, John". He tells Locke when he's ready he'll listed to what he's saying... and then when they meet each other again, Locke will owe him one.

Cut to the freighter where Keamy and his men are gathering guns and weapons to go back to the island. One of Keamy's men says to the doctor "the morse code I got on the beach said the doctor washed up with his throat slashed, isn't that weird?".. the doctor says "well I'm the doctor"..

Lapidus refuses to take Keamy back to the island, and Keamy slashes the doctor's throat to change Frank's mind. The captain fires a shot towards Keamy. Keamy shoots the captain. Frank agrees to fly them. He turns on his satellite phone and hides it and flies them away.

commercial

Back on the beach, Juliet admonishes Jack for leaving his tent (from the surgery last week). They hear the chopper. They see the chopper and it flies past them. Jack's sat phone is beeping and sees it flying away from them. He thinks the guys on the chopper want them to follow.

Cut to Ben, Hurley, and Locke. Ben tells Locke he isn't going in the cabin. The island wanted him to get sick and Locke to get well, and its Locke's turn now. Hurley says he isn't going in either. Ben wishes him luck. Locke approaches the cabin and lights a lamp. Someone is in the rocking chair (I think). Locke asks him if he is Jacob, the chair answers no and says he can speak on Jacob's behalf. It's Christian (Jack's father). Locke sits down with him. "You know why I am here" asks John. "Yeah, sure" says Christian. "Do you?". Locke says "I'm here because I was chosen to be". Christian says "that's absolutely right". Locke looks over and sees Claire in the room. He asks what she's doing there, she says "I'm fine, I'm with (Christian)." Shit, this is getting good.

Locke asks what Claire is doing there and where the baby is. Christian says the baby is fine, he is where he needs to be. CHristian tells John not to tell anyone Claire is there with them. John asks why not and Christian says the men from the boat will be back soon and it won't matter, and tells John to ask the one question that matters. Locke asks "how do I save the island"? An almost imperceptible smile comes across Claire's face when John asks that.

Cut to Hurley and Ben outside the cabin. Hurley takes out a candy bar and gives Ben half. They see Locke emerge from the cabin and he approaches them. Ben asks "did he tell you what we're supposed to do?". Locke says yes, and tells Ben he wants them to move the island.

LOST.

I'm Ron Burgandy?

noreply@blogger.com (Lane) — Thu, 08 May 2008 21:40:00 +0000

this practical joke that Ernie Johnson played on Charles Barkley is pretty hilarious..

New LOST on tonight

noreply@blogger.com (Lane) — Thu, 08 May 2008 16:55:00 +0000

I will attempt the live blog thing again tonight, if I can
this season has been pretty strong, IMO

I'm Back!

noreply@blogger.com (Lane) — Thu, 08 May 2008 00:11:00 +0000

sorry for the hiatus, chalk it up to lack of inspiration coupled in with moving out of my house and feeling displaced.

Over the weekend I was at dinner with my friends and we got on the discussion of the late, great George Harrison, how underrated he is, especially compared to John & Paul. He kind of always gets short shrift, but he was so accomplished as a song writer/singer/musician. Some of the songs he wrote for the Beatles include some of the Fab Four's most beautiful, in my opinion: "All Things Must Pass", "Here Comes The Sun", "Something", "While My Guitar Gently Weeps". He was the first Beatle to have a solo hit after the breakup, with "My Sweet Lord", "All Things Must Pass", "What Is Life", & "Give Me Love (Give Me Peace on Earth)"

Here is a tribute from the Rock n Roll Hall of Fame, with George's Travelling Wilbury bandmates Tom Petty & Jeff Lynne performing "While My Guitar Gently Weeps". The young man playing guitar behind Petty is George's lookalike son, Dhani. Halfway through Prince comes out and does the guitar solo originally done by Eric Clapton for The White Album.

here is Paul McCartney's heartfelt tribute to George from a concert they had in his honor after he passed

Here is "Here Comes The Sun", with a video someone put together for YouTube

Fox News Explains the Angry Pirate

noreply@blogger.com (Lane) — Sat, 19 Apr 2008 20:51:00 +0000

Jason Taylor reiterates trade demands

noreply@blogger.com (Lane) — Sat, 19 Apr 2008 15:03:00 +0000

According to Jason Cole (ex Dolphin beat writer for 2 papers before becoming a national football writer for Yahoo sports), Jason Taylor has once again politely asked the Dolphins for a trade to a contending team. Taylor is one of the top performers on "Dancing with the Stars" and aims to be a Hollywood star once he decides he has had enough football. He could retire if the Fins DON'T trade him. He wants to pattern himself after another former Miami area football player, Dwayne
"The Rock" Johnson and become an action star.

The Fins SHOULD trade him for a high pick this year. If JT guarantees to his new team that he will (at least) honor his final two year contract, then a team on the cusp of going all the way, and need a defensive stud to push them over the top SHOULD give up a low 1st round pick.

The Cowboys have TWO first rounders, #22 from Cleveland and their own #28. The Jacksonville Jaguars gave the Patriots a run for their money last year and have the same blueprint the Giants have - strong running game, very good caretaker QB, and a nice defense. The Jags have strong d-tackles but imagine putting JT on their front line? They have to be considered VERY dangerous at that point, and they have the #26 pick.

here is Cole's article

"Dolphins have decision to make on Taylor
By Jason Cole, Yahoo! Sports
15 hours, 43 minutes ago

It is time for Miami Dolphins owner Wayne Huizenga to listen to Jason Taylor.

In October 2007, when the Dolphins were in London for their game against the New York Giants, Huizenga opened the door for Taylor and then-teammate Zach Thomas to leave the team at season’s end, if either so chose.

”That’s really more up to them,” Huizenga said at the time about the possibility of either Pro Bowl player being traded. “When the season is over we’ll see how they feel about that. The trade deadline has passed so there’s no sense discussing something that can’t happen. But those guys aren’t bashful. If they want to talk about it after the season, we’ll talk to them.”

Of course, a lot has happened to the Dolphins since then. Huizenga hired Bill Parcells to be the vice president of football operations. The Dolphins finished the season at 1-15 and Parcells went about gutting the coaching and personnel staffs. In addition, Thomas was released by the team after a concussion-filled season and because of a high salary.

Taylor remains a Dolphin, but that’s not what he wants. Publicly, Taylor is putting a big smile on everything and saying all the right things. However, he has told the team that he’d like to take Huizenga up on the owner’s offer, according to multiple sources close to the player.

The Dolphins declined comment on the situation Friday, but if they refuse to accommodate Taylor’s request prior to the beginning of the NFL draft on April 26, Miami could be looking at a repeat of NFL history come July.

In July 1966, Cleveland running back Jim Brown, easily the greatest player of his generation and maybe the best player in NFL history, received an order from then-Browns owner Art Modell to report to training camp immediately.

Brown, a man who has butted heads with the norms of society plenty of times, was working on the movie “The Dirty Dozen.” After nine seasons, seven years of topping 1,000 yards (in 12-game seasons his first four years, no less), winning three Most Valuable Player awards and a Rookie of the Year award, Brown responded to Modell’s demands by scribbling his retirement letter on a piece of paper.

Fast forward 42 years and here’s what the Dolphins could be looking at: Either they trade Taylor now or he could start his acting career a couple of years early.

Taylor hasn’t made any threats or demands on the Dolphins and he won’t. He has politely told the team he wants out. Taylor, who will be 34 when the Dolphins open next season and has two years left on his contract, knows the Dolphins are more than two years from competing.

The league’s defensive player of the year in 2006 and Man of the Year last season, Taylor also wants to win a Super Bowl. However, he knows it’s an extreme long shot to happen in Miami at this point. Fact is, there’s only so much time left and so little talent on the Miami roster.

There are also other things Taylor wants in his life, which is why he moved his family to Los Angeles at least temporarily this offseason to participate on ABC’s “Dancing With the Stars” where he stands a great chance to win.

For those who haven’t noticed, Taylor is working extraordinarily hard on this show. Like any great athlete, he’s competing hard and he refuses to be embarrassed. Moreover, Taylor is a showman. He has undeniable presence on television and he’s competing for his next career.

In fact, pick up a copy of the April 14 edition of US Weekly and check out the feature titled “TV’s New Top 10 Dream Men.” In the article, Taylor is referred to as a “humble hunk” and that “his physique rivals a Greek statue.” Of the 10 men featured, Taylor was the only one to pose sans shirt.

Two years ago, Taylor took acting lessons from Marc Durso of the Act True school in South Florida.

“He was excellent as a student,” Durso said. “He took it very seriously and was very open to learning the skills. He basically said to me, ‘teach me this, I want to know how to do it.’”

Apparently, Taylor has his eyes wide open to a Hollywood career. He could ultimately make a lot more money and gain a lot more fame in a hurry by making movies rather than chasing quarterbacks, particularly if chasing quarterbacks is really in vain.

Now, the Dolphins may believe this is all a big bluff by Taylor, who has said in radio interviews that he’ll come back to the team. Parcells, reacting to a Yahoo! Sports report in early March that Taylor and the franchise would part ways before the draft, told the Miami Herald: “The only way Jason Taylor doesn’t play for the Dolphins in 2008 is if he retires.” That faintly sounded like a Modellian dare.

If Taylor is adamant about leaving and Miami refuses to trade him, then the Dolphins face the possibility of an April Fool’s Day prank turning into reality. While Dolphins general manager Jeff Ireland was at the NFL owner’s meeting on April 1, Profootballtalk.com, a website that lives to rake the muck, ran a story about Taylor quitting football to become a professional dancer.

Ireland bought it, initially, and hurriedly grabbed his cell phone to check the story. If the Dolphins aren’t careful, they could be checking another such headline come July. This would be in some publication like Variety and will say something to the effect that Taylor has signed to do a movie for as much money as he can make in a year of football.

Or as one of Taylor’s friends put it: “Things are happening fast for Jason out in Los Angeles. The Dolphins don’t understand that world and what’s available if Jason really wants to pursue that.”

That’s why the Dolphins should not rule out the possibility of a trade. There are plenty of teams that could use Taylor, such as the Browns, Green Bay Packers, Philadelphia Eagles, Jacksonville Jaguars, New England Patriots, Pittsburgh Steelers and even the New York Giants (depending on whether Michael Strahan retires).

One team personnel executive, who has already asked the Dolphins about a trade for Taylor, said recently: “They can easily get something for him. Come on, this is Jason Taylor. Really, they really should trade him. That team isn’t going to be any good for at least two years, probably more.”

What is Taylor worth? Some teams like to throw around second- and third-round picks. But the reality is that Taylor, if he’s committed to playing for two more years, is worth as much as a low first-round pick. Would Jacksonville, which has the No. 26 overall pick and is in good position to compete for a title, and Philadelphia, which has the No. 19 pick and competes in the same division with the Super Bowl champion Giants and the Dallas Cowboys, swap their first-round positions for a proven veteran like Taylor? Who knows?

Bottom line: If the Dolphins don’t soften their stance, the only place they might see Taylor soon is in a movie theater. "

right in the beanbag!

noreply@blogger.com (Lane) — Wed, 16 Apr 2008 01:14:00 +0000

Chris Rock & Steven Wright swap

noreply@blogger.com (Lane) — Tue, 15 Apr 2008 19:39:00 +0000

Rock out with Your Mock Out IV

noreply@blogger.com (Lane) — Tue, 15 Apr 2008 16:52:00 +0000

Here is ESPN's Todd McShay's latest mock draft
http://insider.espn.go.com/nfl/draft08/insider/columns/story?columnist=mcshay_todd&page=mcshaymock0415

The seventh version of Scouts Inc.'s mock draft is a bit different than its predecessors. Rather than simply projecting a pick and how he fits with a particular team, we're examining scenarios that could confront each team and how those circumstances would impact their thinking.

For instance, what happens to the rest of the top five if the Dolphins can get an agreement in place with OT Jake Long? How would things snowball if DE Chris Long ends up in Oakland? We're still making projected picks, but this time we're taking a closer look at how the effect of those picks would cascade down the first round.

Things are still fluid but this is our best take on how Round 1 would play out if the draft were held today:

1. Miami Dolphins -- Jake Long, OT, Michigan
Record: 1-15 Needs: OT, CB, WR, QB, G
Scenario 1: The Dolphins would like to trade down for multiple picks, but finding a trade partner is highly unlikely at this point.
Scenario 2: Select Long, with the priority on having a deal in place prior to draft day.
Scenario 3: DE/OLB Vernon Gholston and DT Glenn Dorsey are also in the picture, while DE Chris Long and QB Matt Ryan do not appear to be on the short list.

2. St. Louis Rams -- Glenn Dorsey, DT, LSU
Record: 3-13 Needs: DE, DT, WR, C, OLB, OT
Scenario 1: If Jake Long is the first overall pick the team will face a tough decision between Dorsey and Chris Long.
Scenario 2: Jake Long is a possibility if he's available, but with perennial Pro Bowl OT Orlando Pace returning to health opposite former first-round right tackle Alex Barron, it makes more sense to address the defensive line.

3. Atlanta Falcons -- Matt Ryan, QB, Boston College
Record: 4-12 Needs: QB, DT, OT, G, TE

Scenario 1: Expect Dorsey to be the pick if he's still on the board.
Scenario 2: If Dorsey is gone, Ryan is the no-brainer selection. And for the record, I think Ryan is the right choice no matter what.
Scenario 3: In the unlikely possibility that Ryan and Dorsey are the first two picks, Jake Long would be the Falcons' selection.

4. Oakland Raiders -- Chris Long, DE, Virginia
Record: 4-12 Needs: DE/DT, OT/G, SLB, WR, RB
Scenario 1: The Raiders' dream scenario -- the son of Hall of Famer Howie Long -- slipping to the fourth pick is definitely a likely scenario.
Scenario 2: If Chris Long is gone then RB Darren McFadden becomes the pick. Owner Al Davis is in love with McFadden's speed and envisions a young, explosive backfield that features McFadden and last year's No. 1 overall pick, QB JaMarcus Russell.
Scenario 3: If Long and McFadden are off the board the Raiders would look to bolster the defensive front with the top available prospect from the group of Dorsey, Gholston and DT Sedrick Ellis.

5. Kansas City Chiefs -- Branden Albert, OT/G, Virginia
Record: 4-12 Needs: OT, CB, DT, G, C, WR, QB
Scenario 1: If Jake Long somehow falls this far, he's the pick.
Scenario 2: Trade back and acquire more picks to better address a slew of needs.
Scenario 3: As much as it pains me to admit it, Mel Kiper's info on this pick seems to be accurate. It feels like a reach to me but the Chiefs evidently think enough of Albert to take him if they are stuck here.
Scenario 4: The Chiefs could also consider Ryan, Dorsey or Ellis.

6. New York Jets -- Darren McFadden, RB, Arkansas
Record: 4-12 Needs: DE, CB, WR, FS, ILB, RB
Scenario 1: Though running back isn't a top need, McFadden is the versatile and explosive weapon the Jets' offense has been missing for years.
Scenario 2: If McFadden is off the board Gholston is the pick. The Jets could use his pass rushing ability to take some pressure off OLB Calvin Pace, who came over in free agency.
Scenario 3: If both McFadden and Gholston are off the board the Jets will scramble to try to find a trade partner.

7. N.E. Patriots (from 5-11 S.F.) -- Sedrick Ellis, DT, USC
Record: 16-0 Needs: ILB, OLB, CB, ROT, TE
Scenario 1: The Patriots will try to trade to out of this pick because they're unlikely to get good value at their positions of need. With that in mind, they are hoping Ellis and/or Ryan slip this far in order to drive up the value of the pick.
Scenario 2: New England could upgrade over Nick Kaczur at right tackle by selecting Albert if he's available. Albert is skyrocketing up draft boards and is talented enough to push for immediate playing time.
Scenario 3: Don't be surprised if the Patriots ignore need and take Ellis if he's still available. He would represent the best value.
Scenario 4: Gholston is the final option, but I feel he is overrated at this point and the Patriots rarely reach.

8. Baltimore Ravens -- Vernon Gholston, DE/OLB, Ohio State
Record: 5-11 Needs: CB, QB, LOT, OLB, DE, ILB
Scenario 1: The ideal situation is Ryan slipping and allowing the Ravens to address their quarterback woes.
Scenario 2: Keep an eye on Ellis. The team is reportedly very high on him and he would be a great value even though he doesn't fill a pressing need.
Scenario 3: If Ryan and Ellis are both gone the Ravens will shop this pick aggressively.
Scenario 4: If they can't get one of their top two players and are unable to trade out, the Ravens would then look at Gholston, Albert and CB Leodis McKelvin, in that order.

9. Cincinnati Bengals -- Ryan Clady, OT, Boise State
Record: 7-9 Needs: NT, DE, LB, WR, C
Scenario 1: If Ellis is on the board at this point he is surely the pick. In fact, Cincinnati reportedly likes him so much that it could move up a spot or two to get him.
Scenario 2: If Ellis isn't available the Bengals will look to trade back because there would not be a player on the board representing great value at their positions of need.
Scenario 3: If Cincinnati is stuck here with Ellis is off the board the possibilities include Clady, OLB Keith Rivers and DE Derrick Harvey.

10. New Orleans Saints -- Keith Rivers, OLB, USC
Record: 6-9 Needs: CB, DT, LB, TE, ROT, S
Scenario 1: The Saints would love to get Ellis so there's a strong possibility they will join the Bengals in trying to move up.
Scenario 2: If a trade doesn't happen Rivers would fill a need and offer too good a value to pass up.
Scenario 3: While taking any corner at this point is a reach, the Saints are in desperate need of help at the position so McKelvin, South Florida's Mike Jenkins, and Tennessee State's Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie are also possibilities.

11. Buffalo Bills -- Devin Thomas, WR, Michigan State
Record: 7-9 Needs: WR, TE, CB, DE, FS
Scenario 1: Wide receiver is the top need and the word on the street is the Bills will reach for Thomas if they can't make a deal to trade back a few spots.
Scenario 2: Cornerback is a possibility and McKelvin and Jenkins seem like the best fits if the Bills go that route.
Scenario 3: While it doesn't seem like a pressing need, don't be surprised if the Bills end up pulling the trigger on Harvey. With Anthony Hargrove suspended for the 2008 season and Al Wallace expected to depart through free agency, Buffalo needs help at end.

12. Denver Broncos -- Chris Williams, OT, Vanderbilt
Record: 7-9 Needs: OT, WR, DT, MLB, S
Scenario 1: Denver is in need of a defensive tackle after finishing 30th against the run last year and with a substantial dropoff in talent after Ellis and Dorsey, the Broncos are yet another team that could look trade up.
Scenario 2: If the Broncos are unable to get Dorsey or Ellis they should look to address the offensive tackle position. While Pittsburgh's Jeff Otah ranks slightly higher than Williams, Williams makes more sense here because he moves his feet better than Otah and is a better fit for Denver's zone blocking scheme.
Scenario 3: RB Rashard Mendenhall and LB Jerod Mayo are darkhorse picks.

13. Carolina Panthers -- Derrick Harvey, DE, Florida
Record: 7-9 Needs: ROT, FS, DE, RB, TE
Scenario 1: Harvey is flying up draft boards following a superb on-campus workout and the Panthers need a young insurance policy at the position. Carolina signed free agent Tyler Brayton but Julius Peppers, who is entering the final year of his contract, is coming off his worst season as a pro and aging veteran Mike Rucker is contemplating retirement.
Scenario 2: Right tackle is also a pressing need for the Panthers so Otah is a possibility as well.
Scenario 3: Carolina made DeShaun Foster a cap casualty and he has since signed with San Francisco, leaving DeAngelo Williams and free-agent signing LaBrandon Toefield to compete for the starting job at this point. Considering Williams has averaged 9.1 caries per game over his first two seasons and Toefield has appeared in just six games over the past two years, Mendenhall would make some sense.

14. Chicago Bears -- Jeff Otah, OT, Pittsburgh
Record: 7-9 Needs: OT, QB, RB, WR, G
Scenario 1: With both starters north of 30 and a glaring lack of depth behind them, Chicago needs help at offensive tackle and Otah would be a good fit for the scheme. Otah is big, strong and quick enough to quickly develop into an excellent drive-blocker.
Scenario 2: If Mendenhall is available, the Bears will have to consider taking him because the power back would be a great fit for their scheme. And if he slips to them and none of the top five offensive linemen are still on the board, Mendenhall becomes the obvious choice.
Scenario 3: Louisville QB Brian Brohm is another possibility but would be a reach here, so it's likely Chicago will wait to address that position.

15. Detroit Lions -- Rashard Mendenhall, RB, Illinois
Record: 7-9 Needs: RB, DE, OT, LB, DT
Scenario 1: Kalimba Edwards never lived up to expectations after signing a lucrative contract in 2006 and the Lions made him a cap casualty this offseason, so they are in the market for an end who can provide some pressure off the edge. Harvey doesn't have elite top-end speed but he's quick and athletic for his size and has the potential to develop into a productive edge rusher.
Scenario 2: If Harvey is off the board Mendenhall becomes the best choice. He would give Detroit the physical runner it currently lacks.
Scenario 3: Offensive tackle is a possibility should any of the top five prospects fall this far.
Scenario 4: Mayo is a consideration as well as the Lions have need at linebacker.

16. Arizona Cardinals -- Leodis McKelvin, CB, Troy
Record: 8-8 Needs: CB, FS, RB, LOT, WR, S
Scenario 1: Arizona needs to bolster its defensive backfield and the good news for the Cardinals is that they can take the best available safety or corner because Antrel Rolle can line up at either position. Should McKelvin be off the board, Rodgers-Cromartie would be their guy as he has the versatility to move to safety should he struggle early on at corner.
Scenario 2: Jenkins has that same versatility and we rank him just below Rodgers-Cromartie, so he is also a candidate.
Scenario 3: The Cardinals are looking for a back who can complement RB Edgerrin James, and because Arkansas' Felix Jones would be a reach and Oregon's Jonathan Stewart is coming off toe surgery, there is an outside chance Arizona would trade up in an effort to get Mendenhall.

17. Minnesota Vikings -- Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, CB, Tenn. St.
Record: 8-8 Needs: DE, QB, OT, CB, WR
Scenario 1: The ideal situation is for Harvey to fall this far and fill Minnesota's biggest need.
Scenario 2: If Harvey isn't available then Rodgers-Cromartie makes sense because the Vikings could stand to add another corner. Plus, he would be a good value here.
Scenario 3: Minnesota takes the best available athlete.

18. Houston Texans -- Mike Jenkins, CB, South Florida
Record: 8-8 Needs: CB, LOT, DE, G, C, S
Scenario 1: According to this scenario, there will be a run on corners in the middle of the first round and Houston would love to see one of the top three fall into its lap. Jenkins has the tools to develop into a No. 1 corner and fill the Texans' most pressing need.
Scenario 2: If the top four corners are gone Houston should look to trade out.
Scenario 3: If the Texans don't get a corner and can't trade out then RBs Jones and Stewart would be options.

19. Philadelphia Eagles -- Jerod Mayo, OLB, Tennessee
Record: 8-8 Needs: S, WR, LB, OT, G, DE
Scenario 1: Philadelphia puts a high premium on offensive linemen in the early rounds, so if any of the offensive linemen listed above slip the Eagles will make that move.
Scenario 2: Omar Gaither is expected to move outside after the departure of Takeo Spikes, leaving a void on the inside. Mayo is capable of filling that need and giving Philadelphia an insurance policy. Plus, he's is versatile enough to move outside should Gaither struggle there.
Scenario 3: The Eagles haven't drafted a receiver in the first round since taking Freddie Mitchell in 2001, but Thomas is an intriguing possibility if available because he has the tools to develop into a No. 1 wideout.
Scenario 4: Miami S Kenny Phillips is admittedly a reach, but there's a chance the Eagles could take him here because they need help at safety and Phillips is the clear No. 1 in a weak safety class.

20. Tampa Bay Buccaneers -- Aqib Talib, CB, Kansas
Record: 9-7 Needs: WR, LOT, QB, CB, DT
Scenario 1: WR Joey Galloway continues to produce but is 36 years old, and on the other side the 32-year-old Ike Hilliard has already lost a step. Making matters worse, Michael Clayton has struggled since his outstanding rookie season in 2004 so Tampa Bay needs an infusion of youth and talent at receiver. Thomas, who has a rare blend of size and speed, has steadily risen up draft boards over the last year and has experience in a West Coast scheme, making him the right choice here.
Scenario 2: If Thomas is gone, as is the case in this scenario, the Bucs could take the next-best receiver on their board, perhaps DeSean Jackson.
Scenario 3: Cornerback is a secondary need and Talib would be a good value at this late point in the first round.

21. Washington Redskins -- Phillip Merling, DE, Clemson
Record: 9-7 Needs: WR, S, DE, OL, CB
Scenario 1: Washington is likely hoping that Thomas lasts this long because the Redskins need a No.1 who's big enough to hold his ground against physical coverage and is fast enough to stretch the field.
Scenario 2: If the Redskins decide they can fill their need at receiver in the second round, Clemson DE Phillip Merling is an alternative.
Scenario 3: Finally, if the other two scenarios don't pan out WR James Hardy has the size and speed Washington is looking for, though he's not as fluid in his routes as Thomas.

22. Dallas Cowboys (from 10-6 CLE) -- Felix Jones, RB, Arkansas
Record: 13-3 Needs: CB, WR, RB, OT, S
Scenario 1: Cornerback should still a priority even if the team does complete a trade for Pacman Jones, but unless one of the top four corners slides this far the Cowboys likely won't pull the trigger.
Scenario 2: Dallas is not expected to make a blockbuster trade in order to pick McFadden, but Jones would fill the need for a speedy complement to the more physical Marion Barber.
Scenario 3: Dallas could also select the best available receiver here.

23. Pittsburgh Steelers -- Kentwan Balmer, DT, North Carolina
Record: 10-6 Needs: DE (3-4), OT, WR, G, FS
Scenario 1: Balmer lined up at defensive tackle at North Carolina but is also an excellent fit at defensive end in a 3-4-scheme. Injuries limited 32-year-old Aaron Smith to 11 games last year and the Steelers' run defense struggled without him. Balmer could push Brett Keisel for the starting job opposite Smith this year, allowing Keisel to provide excellent depth as the No. 3.
Scenario 2: After defensive end, offensive tackle is Pittsburgh's greatest need so Boston College's Gosder Cherilus is another option, though he would be a reach here.
Scenario 3: Pittsburgh could also select the best available receiver here.

24. Tennessee Titans -- DeSean Jackson, WR, California
Record: 10-6 Needs: WR, DE, DT, CB, OLB
Scenario 1: Tennessee should jump on Balmer if he gets past Pittsburgh because he would immediately challenge for a starting job alongside Pro Bowl DT Albert Haynesworth.
Scenario 2: The Titans have an abundance of size at receiver but lack ideal explosiveness and have some problems separating from coverage when running routes underneath. Jackson has the burst to get open quickly and the run-after-catch ability to turn an underneath completion into a long gain. In addition, getting him would give an average punt return unit a boost.
Scenario 3: Merling is another possibility, as Tennessee will probably look to address the defensive end spot in the first three rounds.

25. Seattle Seahawks -- Limas Sweed, WR, Texas
Record: 10-6 Needs: TE, WR, DT, OL, S
Scenario 1: Bobby Engram led the team with 94 catches last year but is 35 years old, Nate Burleson remains inconsistent and Deion Branch tore the ACL in his left knee in the Seahawks' playoff loss to Green Bay. In other words, Seattle needs help at receiver and Sweed would be a great pick this late in the first round.
Scenario 2: Efforts to draft a tight end who can be a featured weapon in the passing game have come up short, so the Seahawks signed Jeb Putzier in the offseason. However, Putzier has struggled the past three seasons so Seattle could still take either Purdue TE Dustin Keller or USC TE Fred Davis here.
Scenario 3: Safeties Brian Russell, Mike Green and Omare Lowe are all on the wrong side of 30 so Seattle could infuse some youth there. Phillips is by far the best available safety in a weak class and would fill that need.
Scenario 4: Balmer would also be a consideration if he slips.

26. Jacksonville Jaguars -- Calais Campbell, DE, Miami
Record: 11-5 Needs: DE, DT, SS, OT, WR
Scenario 1: The Jaguars need help along the defensive front and Campbell is the best available defensive lineman in this scenario.
Scenario 2: Jacksonville could also stand to upgrade over Tony Pashos at right tackle, making Cherilus an option.
Scenario 3: Phillips is a possibility for the Jags as well.

27. San Diego Chargers -- Jonathan Stewart, RB, Oregon
Record: 11-5 Needs: ROT, S, RB, NT, CB
Scenario 1: San Diego clearly needs a right tackle, but value clearly trumps need in this case. Stewart's toe surgery has caused his stock to drop but he has great speed and size. He would be an excellent replacement for free agent departure Michael Turner and he wouldn't have to carry a punishing load as the backup to LaDainian Tomlinson.
Scenario 2: If the Chargers don't take Stewart, Cherilus is the logical pick.
Scenario 3: ILB Dan Connor is also a possibility.

28. Dallas Cowboys -- James Hardy, WR, Indiana
Record: 13-3 Needs: WR, CB, RB, G, C, QB, NT
Scenario 1: After filling their need at running back earlier in the first round the Cowboys would love to address cornerback here, but a trade for Pacman Jones and/or a lack of value at corner at this point would mean a receiver makes more sense.
Scenario 2: The Cowboys could also use this pick on CB Brandon Flowers.

29. San Francisco 49ers (from 13-3 IND) -- Gosder Cherilus, OT, Boston College
Record: 5-11 Needs: ROT, OLB, WR, OL, QB, CB
Scenario 1: San Francisco did well to get OTJoe Staley in the first round last year, but Jonas Jennings has had problems staying healthy and doesn't appear to be the answer at left tackle. The 49ers can move Staley and his quick feet to the left side and then plug Cherilus in on the right, where he has the size and quickness to make an immediate impact.
Scenario 2: If Cherilus isn't available expect San Francisco to address wide receiver needs, possibly with Malcolm Kelly.

30. Green Bay Packers -- Brandon Flowers, CB, Virginia Tech
Record: 13-3 Needs: CB, S, OT, TE, QB
Scenario 1: CBs Charles Woodson and Al Harris are both on the downsides of their careers and there is no heir apparent behind them, so Green Bay needs to inject youth and talent at corner. Flowers lacks ideal speed, but doesn't make a lot of mistakes and is comfortable jamming receivers at the line, making him a good fit for the Packers' scheme.
Scenario 2: Safety is also a pressing need, so don't be surprised to see Green Bay take Phillips if Flowers comes off the board earlier than expected.

31. New England Patriots -- Pick forfeited
Record: 16-0 Needs: ILB, CB, OLB, OL
The Patriots lost this pick as part of the penalty handed down for illegally taping Jets coaches from the sideline in Week 1.

32. New York Giants -- Kenny Phillips, S, Miami
Record: 10-6 Needs: S, OLB, CB, WR, G, , DT
Scenario 1: Phillips makes sense here because the Giants need help at safety after losing Gibril Wilson to free agency and they aren't going to find much value at safety in the later rounds.
Scenario 2: Connor would be a good choice as well because he would offer solid value at one of the Giants' positions of need.
Todd McShay is the director of college football scouting for Scouts Inc. He has been evaluating prospects for the NFL draft since 1998. Scouts Inc.'s Steve Muench also contributed to this report