The Truth About This

2011-08-19T09:56:00.002-05:00

The University of Missouri is larger than Frank Haith. It's larger than Mike Alden. Heck, it's larger than Chase Daniel.

The leadership at our university needs to ask themselves honest questions about the future and take the course that is in the best interest for the university and the men's basketball program.

Right, wrong, or indifferent, the allegations against Frank Haith are public. Regardless of the outcome, this will stay with him now. Opposing coaches in the Big 12 and other conferences, when recruiting players, will use this "issue" to actively recruit against the University of Missouri.

If the university proceeds with Haith as their coach, they need to be prepared for the negative impacts this black cloud hanging over the program will have on the players for the 2011-2012 season. Those who say it will have no impact should look at the 2003-2004 squad, a team full of talent that had similar issues hanging.

Frank Haith addresses the media

In the next two years, Missouri has 10 scholarships it must fill. Recruiting might be more important than winning this year because of the dire situation we could find ourselves in for 2012 and 2013. If Haith remains, recruiting is going to be negatively impacted and the University of Missouri will constantly be forced to fight an uphill battle for players.

If Haith is fired, the University runs the risk of a lawsuit if the allegations are false. That being said, the University of Miami knew about the NCAA investigation in March (and probably before that), and did not disclose information regarding said investigation to Missouri. In fact, Ross went as far as to publicly recommend Haith to Mike Alden (If you believe his intentions were benign, I have a bridge in Brooklyn I'd like to sell you). It is highly probable that Miami willfully misled Alden and the university in the vetting process. If this is the case, Missouri could have legal grounds for a suit against Miami, seeking damages if in fact Haith sues Missouri.

Or, Frank Haith could resign and the University of Missouri could work on a fair buyout.

Waiting in a bunker is not an option. Waiting 18-24 months will set this program back 5 years due to the recruiting issue. There is no situation where a good outcome will be had for the University of Missouri if they so choose to keep Frank Haith employeed as men's basketball coach.

In the best interest of the university, Mike Alden should strongly urge Frank Haith to resign. If that doesn't happen, they should terminate his employment due to the embarrassment it has already caused (which is written in his contract), and take their chances on a lawsuit later.

Action abounds, but story sinks "Pirates 4"

2011-05-19T18:35:00.003-05:00

The fourth installment of the “Pirates” franchise is a mediocre one at best. For a series that started with a bang, one can’t help but wonder if this is the final time we see Johnny Depp as Jack Sparrow.

The previous two films were head-scratchers to say the least, and Depp admittingly acknowledging that he was never quite sure what the story was about. The fourth film doesn’t alleviate any of those issues either. While the action and swordplay is again top notch for the action genre, there is little heart and even less story considering there is a sword fight/battle every 5 minutes.

Director Rob Marshall is new to the franchise and regrettably, takes the film down a predictable and clichéd path. In the scant moments where you might try to believe that character development is coming, don’t bother; another sword fight will show up. It’s a tired and worn-out method, akin to many brain-dead summer action movies with little story.

Fans of the series undoubtedly love Depp’s character, what with his slapstick humor and spirit. I’m sure they realize that this movie never tries to take itself that seriously, which is a good thing. Better to poke fun at yourself than try to make a serious action movie and fail miserably in the process.

The action scenes are fun, and Depp does a very good job of selling the sequences. As with the previous films, his character is full of bravado and panache. His antics on camera are a delight to watch, and thankfully he does manage to keep this film entertaining, albeit only at a superficial level

The story is the true downfall of the film however: the race to discover Ponce de Leon’s fountain of youth. Geoffrey Rush is back playing Barbossa, this time as a privateer working for the crown. Penélope Cruz is also present as Angelica, though she is now in league with the supernatural power-wielding Blackbeard.

One would think that a race to the fountain of youth might be a grand idea and journey, but the story simply sloshes along, much as if you’re traipsing through the marshes of the Everglades right after it rained. Pointless characters (a minister and a mermaid?), unneeded side stories, and enough plot holes to sink Jack’s ship (why does the bad guy always stop using his main power when he’s about to win?) derail the main story enough to ensure this film’s fate of nothing more than typical summer fodder.

Depp really tries to save this film, but one man cannot save a script and this lackluster material. I can’t imagine he’ll have many kind things to say, in retrospect, about this script either. And for the obligatory post-credit scene, I suppose this won’t be the last time we’ll see this franchise. One has to wonder if Depp will sail off into the sunset and leave this aimless franchise to someone else.

My Profile Picture

2011-05-17T08:02:00.007-05:00

This is only a test.

First extended clip of X-Men: First Class

2011-05-11T14:27:00.000-05:00

The following clip is about a minute long, and involves Charles Xavier trying to convince the United States government that mutants are real. This is the first look at an extended scene that we've had beyond what we've seen in the trailers.

Keep checking this blog for more information regarding X-Men: First Class.

Enjoy!

X-Men First Class Preview - The "Other" Mutants

2011-05-10T15:23:00.000-05:00

The next summer blockbuster will be arriving in theaters in approximately three weeks, X-Men: First Class is poised to continue the strong showing for the comic book genre in 2011.

The basic details surrounding the film center on the emerging friendship between Charles Xavier and Erik Lehnsherr, portrayed in previous films by Patrick Stewart and Ian McKellen, their differing ideas on how mutants should integrate into society, what roles mutants should have, and thus their subsequent falling out and forming different factions entirely.

Most people with a pulse know who Professor X and Magneto are. That being said, First Class introduces some new characters to the lineup that some may be unfamiliar with, or revised for this installment. This preview will focus on who they are.

Beast

Seen previously in X-Men: The Last Stand (X-Men 3) portrayed by Dr. Fraiser Crane himself (Kelsey Grammer for those who don't know Fraiser), Hank McCoy (a.k.a. Beast) doesn't fit into the time-line continuity established in the previous trilogy, but that matters little with this film. Like Rogue in that series, Beast doesn't embrace his mutation, and is looking for any outlet to be "normal." He wants to be cured, and this sentiment is increased significantly when he undergoes his permanent transformation into the blue, ape-like mutant we know from the comics.

Mystique

Also seen in the previous trilogy, Mystique is getting more proper treatment to the origin of her character than the previous trilogy did. She has a very unnatural look when in mutant form, though she can take on the shape and form of any humanoid being. In this film, she has a very soft spot for Hank McCoy.

Havok

You know his brother, Scott Summers, also known as Cyclops. Alex Summers is his little brother. How the time-line will be worked out here, I have no idea, considering Cyclops is supposed to be one of the original X-Men. One theory floating around the internet is that Havok in this film will actually be Scott and Alex's father. Considering the film is set during the Cuban Missile Crisis, that could potentially work. Havok's mutation is that he emits plasma radiation from his body, and he has problems controlling it. Professor X helps him learn to focus his power, control it, and harness it's full potential.

Banshee

Sean Cassidy (Banshee) has an unusual mutation: Sonic Screams. With it, he can unleash all sorts of chaos, as well as the ability to fly. Banshee in the original comics is an Irishman, and it would appear from the trailers that he will not speak with an Irish accent. Perhaps his backstory was not important to the filmmakers, though I feel this somewhat cheapens his character.

X-Men: First Class opens in theaters in the United States on Friday, June 3rd, 2011.

Movie Review: Thor

2011-05-06T04:17:00.000-05:00

I sat in my basement, dutifully wrapping up the last stages of the game Marvel Ultimate Alliance. I couldn't help but wonder what it would be like to see these Marvel comic characters come to life on the Big Screen, moving past what we had already seen in the X-Men and Spiderman films.

That was 2006. My hopes weren't very high, after all, all we had were franchises owned by corporations that knew nothing of the Marvel comics, and we were only 2 years removed from Ang Lee's horrible rendition of The Hulk.

But 2008 was just around the corner, with solid performances by Robert Downey, Jr. in Iron Man and Ed Norton in The Incredible Hulk. Marvel had a plan at that point, as both films hinted with post-credit sequences towards an incredible event, the culmination of these heroes in one movie, The Avengers.

Which finally leads me back to the purpose of this review, my review of Thor.

Thor (Chris Hemsworth) and Odin (Anthony Hopkins)

The film follows a fairly traditional plot line: young and arrogant youth on the cusp of reaching his ultimate glory is cast down through a series of events, must prove himself worthy of said glory, regain it and save a lot of people. Predictable? Of course. But director Kenneth Branagh achieves incredible heights in the journey that you don't feel cheated in the slightest.

Chris Hemsworth plays the title character, Thor, and does a fantastic job displaying the heroes journey. He's witty, but not overtly funny; he's charming, but not sappy. His on-screen chemistry with Natalie Portman is strong, aided even more by Portman's natural grace.

Tom Hiddleston plays Loki, Thor's brother. Hiddleston, in my opinion, stole the show with his portrayal of the God of Mischief. His screen chemistry with Hemsworth and Anthony Hopkins (Thor and Loki's father, Odin) sold those heavily-rendered CGI scenes.

The Asgardian scenes were downright beautiful, even for CGI. Each of them were rendered with breathtaking details, and the scenes were acted straight out of a Shakespearean play. Love? Check. Betrayal? Check. Jealousy? Check. Loss of innocence? Check.

I've read some dissatisfaction with the scenes on Earth, the whole "fish out of water" element to them. I personally enjoyed them. I didn't think the humor elements were overboard by any means, and the characters' portrayals of what would happen if this really did occur in real life was believable and plausible. I also didn't think the film was trying too hard to point ahead to The Avengers, though one scene featuring Hawkeye doing absolutely nothing was somewhat puzzling.

Now to my favorite part: the score. Patrick Doyle's music was incredibly moving, making you swell up inside with something I can't even describe. Music touches us all in a very special way, and this film is no different.

The only criticism that I had of this film was the length: I felt it was 15-20 minutes too short. Rene Russo had 2 lines that I remembered. I imagine that the 15-20 minutes I'm seeking is on the cutting room floor, with many of those being character-driven scenes involving Hopkins and Russo. Hopefully we get to see those on the DVD.

Overall, I give this movie a solid "A," an incredible way to start the 2011 summer movie season. And if this film is any indication on what we're to expect going forward, not only will Captain America be a treat, but The Avengers is going to be a smashing success.

Giving Thanks

2010-11-25T23:03:00.000-06:00

You had the assignment in every grade growing up; now you're an adult and you still make these lists. Here is mine for 2010.

I am thankful for...

...Romans 5:8, which says "while we were still sinners, Christ died for us."
...my wife Beth who never ceases to amaze me and puts up with me.
...my children, Elijah and Mylie, that I love more and more with each passing day.
...freedom.
...my job, let me never take it for granted.
...good friends and their company.
...Josh Collier, who is always there when I need him, even if he doesn't know that I need him.
...my parents and how they raised me.
...the ability to enjoy what I like, which truly is a gift from God.
...people who take the time to listen to me.
...people who share their experience and wisdom.
...throwback Pepsi made with real sugar, that stuff is outstanding.
...that God has ordained my life with purpose.
...air conditioning and furnaces.
...Jeremiah 29:11.
...clean water and good food.

Obviously, this isn't the end of the list; it's just the beginning. We have so much to be thankful for that it's hard to write it all down. But at the end of the day, nothing else matters except what we do with this life that God has given us. As my first entry says, Christ died while we were still sinners. We didn't have to prove ourselves to Him; He chose to carry the cross because He loved us. Above all, I am thankful for that.

Happy Thanksgiving.

-Matt

The compelling universe of Mass Effect

2010-11-19T17:24:00.000-06:00

We all have our guilty pleasures in life. I’ve always appreciated a good story in a book or movie. Actually caring for the characters would keep me involved flipping pages or sitting two hours at one time.

Over the past 10 years, video games have begun improving their stories to the point where one has to take them seriously as story-telling material. Sure, you had the mythology of The Legend of Zelda in the late 1980s, but a quick recall of that original game and you'll find very little story to it. It wasn't until arguably the greatest video game of all time, The Ocarina of Time, was released in 1998 that Zelda's story really took off. Which now brings me to the Mass Effect series.

Commander Shepard

The title character is Commander Shepard. The plot is a typical hero journey: unassuming hero is discounted by many, has to prove himself, goes on a wild journey with compatriots, and ultimately has to save the galaxy from nearly impossible odds. Sound familiar? There are many parallels with Shepard's journey to Luke Skywalker in Star Wars, and the way the galaxy is fleshed out is similar: this is Space Opera first, science fiction story second. The story is the critical element. You develop relationships with your crew members as you tackle obstacles, sometimes romantic in nature. You are drawn to their struggle, as each character actually feels alive in the real world. They each have their own back-story of triumph and heartache. You genuinely feel for these characters.

But the main draw is the overall universe, you can't help but feel completely in awe. I can't describe the feeling in my stomach when I finished the game the first time; I felt almost sick because I knew in my heart that this world did not exist, but what I would give to experience it if it did. The rush, the excitement of the unknown, the adventure, it was incredible. When game designers can make an environment like this, they have accomplished their goal ten-fold.

Mass Effect 2 built on this to even greater detail (watch the launch trailer to understand the epic nature of this game). Choices in the game this time had actual life and death in-game consequences (as opposed to the relatively linear play of ME1). The characters were fleshed out in greater detail than the original, and there is a longing to be riding along with Commander Shepard and his crew as they race against time and nearly impossible odds again (with the final mission aptly named “Suicide Mission”). You can actually beat the game AND HAVE EVERYONE IN YOUR CREW PERISH based on decisions you make.

Some people in the media have gone as far as saying that with the source material Mass Effect brings, it could be the Star Wars for the current generation. Those who are old enough to remember being in theaters in 1977 recall the raw emotion of seeing George Lucas' universe unfold before their eyes. They were drawn to the adventures of the characters and the story. There is nothing magical; stories like this have been told for eons: The Odyssey, Beowulf, etc. Who is to say that the Mass Effect series can't evoke similar emotions? I know it has for me.

This is what the Mass Effect series is. The universe captures your imagination because it feels so real – a nightclub lit with flames, deadly family reunions, a friend accused of the inconceivable – these are the sights and events that cast shadows in your mind and heart. This is a galaxy you want to explore that is populated with characters you are glad to know. It's the kind of game that you return to, not just because it's fun to play, but also because its universe is a place you wish you could call home.

Big 12 Basketball Preview

2010-11-17T10:49:00.002-06:00

College football may be where the big money is, but for my money, college basketball is where it is. Here are my thoughts on how the Big 12 season will shape up.

Baylor: Coming off a near miss to make the Final 4, Baylor brings back one of the most athletic teams in the conference. LaceDarius Dunn is arguably the most talented player in the conference, and no one will be surprised if he wins player of the year honors at the end of the season. The main problem though is that Baylor has lost its senior PG from last season, and we basketball fans of this level all know what senior point guards mean to a team. Last year, anything Baylor received in production from its freshman was extra. This year, they will be looked upon to be the main driving force in leading Baylor to wins. Ultimately Baylor may experience some growing pains up front, but in the end, they'll be better for it and ready for the NCAA tournament. Big 12 Finish: 2nd

Colorado: In their final season in the Big 12, I don't see Colorado making much noise ultimately. They will surprise some people early in the season, due mainly to their NBA talented guard, Alec Burks. Cory Higgins is a nice player to complement Burks, but one talented player supplemented with very little bench depth is not a recipe for success, unless you're starting Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippin. Marcus Relphorde is undersized at the 4, and doesn't have the shooting range you'd expect out of a 3. He's a tough player, but Colorado has very little after this. They will be fortunate to win 6 games in the conference this year. Big 12 Finish: 9th

Iowa State: ISU isn't too dissimilar from Colorado, minus an NBA talented player. However, Iowa State lost the two (and maybe three) best players off a team that won 15 games, and it is counting on the offensive production of a point guard who has averaged 8.4 points and shot 27 percent from the three-point line in his career. That is a recipe for disaster. Combine that with handing the coaching reigns to Fred Hoiberg, and well, it's going to be a long season in Ames. ISU is not very good or deep at any one position, though their only saving grace may be a very easy non-conference schedule. The fans aren't going to expect too much in this first season of coaching for the mayor, and that's probably a good thing. Big 12 Finish: 12th

Kansas: What can you say about Kansas? They lose players, their arch rival fan bases finally declare an end to their reign, and they go out and win another Big 12 title. Picking Baylor or Kansas State will be the trendy picks to win the league, especially since they lose less production than Kansas does, but Kansas has been discounted before and they just keep winning. Marcus Morris may have been their best player down the stretch, and if the NCAA ever decides to free Josh Selby, KU will be incredibly difficult to beat. Bill Self is far and away the best coach in this conference, and he knows how to prepare his team better than anyone, and knows how to match his team up with the varying styles of play that the different teams in this conference will throw at him. Transition year? Perhaps. But don't call it rebuilding. In the end though, the transition will "catch up" with KU. And by "catch up," they're only finish 3rd and be a #3 seed in the Big Dance. Big 12 Finish: 3rd

Kansas State: Is this finally the year that the best team in the state of Kansas does NOT reside in Lawrence? Possibly. Frank Martin's Cats lost their fiery emotional leader Clemente, but return just about everyone else of note, including guard Jacob Pullen. The key for Kansas State will be the production from the front court. No longer is Cole Aldrich around at KU to push the KSU forwards around. Curtis Kelly and Jamar Samuels had huge games down the stretch last year and with the natural progression expected, they both should dominate the front courts of the Big 12. Wally Judge is incredibly gifted with basketball skills, the only challenge he faces is always keeping his head in the game. He may be the most talented of the forwards for KSU, but his knack for disappearing or for getting in Martin's dog house keeps him on the bench. The simple key in college basketball is that at any one time, KSU will probably have the best player on either team on the court in Jacob Pullen. If Judge and Asprilla can play significant minutes and give KSU a dominate front court in a guard-oriented conference, KSU will win the Big 12 title. Big 12 Finish: 1st

Missouri: Mike Anderson's teams have always been the anti-thesis on how to win basketball games: they don't have a true post presence, they don't rebound the ball well, and they give up too many easy baskets. Missouri was the only Big 12 team to make the NCAA tournament that was out-rebounded on the season. They get away with this by once again leading the Big 12 in turnovers forces and turnover margin: they create a lot of steals and take excellent care of the basketball on the offensive end. Ricardo Ratliffe should help on the boards, and the return of senior glue-man Justin Safford will give the Tigers a presence in the post, at least somewhat. The true story here is the guard play, and can junior guards Kim English and Marcus Denmon step up and replace the blue collar leaders of J.T. Tiller and Zaire Taylor? Missouri has SIX new players to rotate into the lineup, exactly what Mike Anderson wants. In January, this team will be able to beat anyone on any given night, but unless they can shoot better from the perimeter and rebound more efficiently, anything higher than a 4th place finish is asking a lot. Big 12 Finish: 4th

Nebraska: Let's just get this out of the way: Nebraska plays basketball because they have to. Nebraska is a football school. They have never even WON an NCAA tournament game. Ever. It's no secret that I don't like Nebraska, and with them on the way out of the league, I'm not going to spend another minute thinking about them or their sloppy hobo head coach, Doc Sadler. Good riddance. Big 12 Finish: 11th

Oklahoma: This is not Najera's Sooners. These Sooners are bad, and if not for ridiculously bad teams in Ames and Lincoln, OU would be the pick to bring up the rear. They lost 4 starters off a team than managed to win 4 conference games in 2009-2010. Jeff Capel is doing the best he can, but there is no Blake Griffin here anymore. Cade Davis is a hustle player (bordering on dirty) who every coach loves and hates, as well as opposing fans. The simple truth is this: Oklahoma has 9 new players on this team. Maybe they will all be awesome and OU will dominate like we've never seen before; after all, they are bringing in JUCOs and freshman that scored a lot of points at their previous stops. But this is the Big 12, and I'm not buying it. This is going to be a long season Norman. OU's point guard play is downright atrocious, and that's the deciding factor in college basketball. Making the postseason is always a goal at OU, but with a very tough non-con (Kentucky, Arkansas, Arizona to name a few), OU may be roadkill by the time conference season tips off. And it couldn't happen to be better bunch of guys. Big 12 Finish: 10th

Oklahoma State: OSU is a team no one ever wants to play. Regardless of the year, they always have two or three players who are anywhere from 6'5 to 6'8 who can shoot the daylights out of the ball and run you out of the gym. Unfortunately, OSU isn't known for playing particularly tough defense. Travis Ford has 5 newcomers to his rotation, and the learning curve for his offense isn't easy. It could be a long year in Stillwater, but the non-con is not threatening, and nothing breeds confidence like winning. Having Ray Penn back at the point guard position, a position that OSU lacked solid play at last season, is a tremendous boost. But having your 2 guard also check in at 5'9 (Page) is a concern. OSU's backcourt is far and away the smallest in the conference. They will play all right if they use screens, but I see the larger, more physical guards in this league taking advantage of the guard play at OSU. They need Brown and Williams to be problems for the opposing defenses, but I'm not sold that will happen. If everything pans out like they want, the ceiling for this team is to be on the bubble most of the season. Big 12 Finish: 7th

Texas: The Longhorns have talent; make no mistake about it. What they lack is instinct, basketball IQ, and the intangibles it takes to win. There is no reason why, with the recruiting pool they draw upon, that Texas shouldn't have won the league at least once in the previous six years, but they haven't. Rick Barnes is a heck of a recruiter, but loses his players for stretches of the season that ultimately proves to be the reason why they never can topple Kansas. The key for Texas is that no one is paying attention to them in the pre-season. KSU and BU are getting all the love, with relatively few people outside of Austin giving the Longhorns any chance to win the league. And rightfully so; this team has been a consistent underachiever under Barnes. They have the talent in both the front court and backcourt to win the Big 12, but sketchy play from the 1 and 5 positions could derail this. Texas is under the radar, and some teams relish that opportunity without the bullseye on their back. Unfortunately for them, this is Texas; they always have a bullseye on their back. Big 12 Finish: 5th

Texas A&M: Texas A&M does what it does and doesn't get out of what they do best: take care of the basketball and play defense. They beat teams through this tried and true formula. Loubeau is going to need to have a big season for the Aggies to finish in the upper half of the conference. They are neck and neck with teams like Oklahoma State, Texas and Missouri, but the lack of a true go-to scorer could hamper them. Ultimately, Loubeau should be that guy. A&M has a skilled big man, two very good guards and wave after wave of forward that can wear down smaller teams. The Aggies are well-coached and play smart basketball. They probably are going to need their incoming freshman to make immediate impacts and provide some scoring. The non-con is not as easy as it has been in previous years, but manageable. It will prepare A&M for the rigors of Big 12 play and they should finish in the upper half. Barely. Big 12 Finish: 6th

Texas Tech: Defense was a major problem last year for Texas Tech, and I'm not sure if they have made any strides other than natural progression to fix it. There isn't much turnover here, but there wasn't much here to begin with. This team plays hard, is well-coached, but they simply don't have the talent of the other teams in the conference. Roberson, Roberts and Singletary are a good threesome to rely on though, and they can win games for the Red Raiders if they're all on their game and playing well. But they need more. They need Lewandowski to take a step up on the offensive and defensive side of the ball and be a difference maker in the post; his 40% field goal percentage is simply not acceptable for a post player. JUCO transfer Paul Cooper is a wide body who will throw his body around in the post, and he could contribute immediately, at least on defense. What is in their favor though is their schedule: they only play one team from the Big Six, and that's Washington (not exactly Duke). As mentioned previously, confidence breeds success. They could find themselves with 0 or 1 loss by the time Big 12 play opens. They expect an NCAA tournament season this year. I think the Big 12 will be too tough for them, but if the ball bounces right, they could pull some upsets. Big 12 Finish: 8th

And so it begins...

2010-11-16T15:51:00.000-06:00

I had an award-winning column when I was the editor-in-chief of my high school newspaper entitled "The Truth About..." It was a great experience that enabled me to put down my editorial thoughts as a 17-18 year old kid and eventually won an award from the JEA conference for second place in the state of Missouri. I thought, "Hmmm, surely I can resurrect THAT."

Over a decade later, I have finally decided to start my own blog. What will I write about? What is the purpose?

I look at life and see so many different topics that would drive me to write. Too often, I feel that my Facebook page has become my personal sounding board for everything that I feel at the moment. The more I think about it, Facebook isn't the approrpriate medium for that sort of activity. Some people get angry. Many others don't care. I have 287 friends on Facebook and maybe 2% of them interact with me.

Is that how it's supposed to work? In a day and age where we are more connected than ever, I feel more disconnected with my peers than ever before. It's too easy to write an email, send a text; ever think of calling your friend and inviting them to lunch?

As you can see, my thoughts are very dis-jointed in this first entry. I promise I'll have topics. Some will be funny. Some may make you angry. I never hide who I am, where I came from, and what I believe.

Though right now I'm talking to no one but myself, those of you who utlimately follow this blog, it is my wish for you that I can somehow enrich your life.

Somehow.

-Matt