The Pursuit Of Leisure

100% correct, 50% of the time. A tongue in cheek look at culture both high and low.

Wednesday, September 30, 2009

So You Think You Can Dance Canada

I have watched the last 4 seasons of the American version of So You Think You Can Dance as well as the first season of the Canadian version. I really enjoy the show but have to say that the current Canadian season is the best of any version I have seen by far.

The quality of the dancing has been phenomenal as have the competitors. Usually on this show it is easy to pick 8 of the top 10 before the first Top 20 episode begins. Not this year. Any one of the top 14 could have made the Final Four and it really was drawing straws to see who gets eliminated each week. The talent is so high that there is very little difference between the whoever wins and whoever gets the boot from the top 10 tonight. It really has been great to watch as the choreographers are really turning it up a notch this season too.

So who will win? I don't know. At the start of the season I thought Vincent would win and I still think he has a chance. I think he and Cody will be the last two guys standing. I think the last two girls standing will be Tara-Jean and Kim with Kim winning the whole thing.

Tuesday, September 29, 2009

Hats Off To Phil.

I am pretty consistently tough on Phil Mickelson but it was pretty tough not to be rooting for him on Sunday. With all the problems he has had in his personal life this year it was great to see him win the Tour Championship. Let's hope his wife and Mom make fast recoveries and he can play next year without all that stress.

As for the FedEx Cup itself, it is improving. It's not perfect but it is getting better. There was some real suspense on the back nine on Sunday about who was going to win this thing (other than knowing damn well Tiger was going to I mean). The last couple of years Tiger and Vijay had it wrapped up before the last tournament practically even started.

The thing I like about it is that it rewards the whole year. Phil had a great weekend but he didn't have a great year so he didn't deserve the $10 million. Winning through the year means almost as much as winning in the final four events, which means Tiger is the favorite every year but that is as it should be. You won't get fluky winners in this thing as the fact that Tiger has won it twice and Vijay won the other will attest.

Saturday, September 26, 2009

NFL Week 3

Let's see if I can break out of mediocrity this week.

Last week: 8-8
Season: 16-16

JETS -6 over Titans This is my shakiest pick of the week. The Jets may be do for a letdown after beating the Pats but the Titans are just not that good.

TEXANS -4 over Jags The Jags just aren't that good and Houston might finally be pretty good.

EAGLES -9 over Chiefs KC is just awful. They look like a 2-14 team right now.

RAVENS -13 over Browns The line could be 20 and I would take it. The Ravens now how an offense to go along with their terrific D. And the Browns are just pathetic.

BUCS +7 over Giants More of a hunch because the Giants are on the road again a week after a big win in Dallas.

Redskins -6.5 over LIONS The Redskins are bad but I just can't take the Lions.

Packers -7 over RAMS No way the Pack doesn't kill the Rams after losing last week.

49ers +6 over VIKINGS I think the Vikes will win outright but it will be tight. The 49ers actually look decent and can run the ball.

Falcons +4.5 over PATRIOTS If I were a Pats fan I would be pretty worried about this team right now. Brady does not look right and the Falcons would love to make a statement by winning this one.

SEAHAWKS +1.5 over Bears Last week Cutler was up so this week he should be down.

Saints -4 over BILLS Despite almost beating the Pats ansd then beating the Bucs, the Bills still stink. Drew Brees throws at least 5 TD's this week.

CHARGERS -6 over Dolphins I don't know just how bad the Chargers are yet but I do know how big a drop off Miami will have this year after their surprise run last year.

Steelers -4.5 over BENGALS The poor Benglas catch Big Ben after a bad road loss.

Broncos -2.5 over RAIDERS This line should be about 7, not 2.5. I'm telling you the Broncos are winning this division. And going 4-0 vs. the Raiders and Chiefs to do it.

Colts +2.5 over CARDS Hard to bet against Peyton on a Sunday night game. Also betting on the over (48.5).

Panthers +9.5 over COWBOYS When is everyone going to realize Tony Romo and company are considered stars just because they have Stars on their helmets?

Saturday, September 19, 2009

NFL Week 2

A couple of things before I get into this weeks picks:

1. Anybody who thinks Jay Cutler is the Bears ticket to the Super Bowl is going to hate this guy by December. As a Broncos fan I have watched a lot of this guy over the past couple of years and trust me, the guy is not a winner.

Cutler has a great arm and big body but he is a complete goof who won't listen to anyone. He's also got the Brett Favre syndrome where he thinks he can jam any throw into his receiver because his arm is so strong. That leads to some god awful interceptions as you saw last week against Green Bay. There is no way Cutler lasts three years in Chicago.

2. Anybody who thinks Brett Favre is the Vikings ticket to the Super Bowl is going to eat their words at the end of the season. All Favre has to do is hand the ball off to Adrian Peterson 35 times a game, throw one TD and not turn the ball over. That will work for about 9 or 10 weeks. Then Favre's ego will take over and he will wreck this team. He is essentially football's version of Roger Clemens minus the steroids - it's all about Favre. There is now way he will allow Peterson to have the spotlight in big games down the stretch. Favre will throw at least three picks in a late season game that the Vikes need to win to get into the playoffs or if they get into the playoffs. Either way Favre is killing their season and it is going to be great to watch him make an ass of himself.

As for Favre's greatness it is up for discussion. The media loves the guy so they always say he is one of the 5 greatest QB's of all-time. Horseshit. He's not in the top 5 of his own era. I'll take Montanta, Elway, Brady and Peyton Manning over him in a heartbeat. I would also take Marino over him too. Yes Favre won a Super Bowl but he had Reggie White on defense, if Marino ever had a Reggie White he would have won a Super Bowl too. Give Ben Roethlisberger another couple of years and he will be better than Favre too. I'm not even sure I would take Favre over Steve Young at his best. Favre is great but sure has hell not top 15 all-time.


Last week I went 8-8, which frankly I was happy with to start the season.

Week 2

Raiders +3 over CHIEFS The Chiefs are awful until they prove otherwise.

Texans +7 over TITANS The Texans are better than they showed last week and Titans are worse.

Patriots -4 over JETS I actually think this is a pretty good Jets team but they pissed off Brady. Not a good idea. Though this is my most nervous pick of the week.

PACKERS -9 over Bengals I just can't take the Bengals on the road. I just can't.

Vikings -9.5 over LIONS Like I said last week, I am betting against the Lions every game this year. So far I am 1-0.

Saints PK over EAGLES Drew Brees is a machine. When are people going to start realizing how good this guy is?

FALCONS -6.5 over Panthers I think the Panthers will rally around Jake Delhomme. It just won't be enough on the road against the eventual division winner.

REDSKINS -10 over Rams By the end of the year the Rams may be worse than the Lions.

JAGUARS -4.5 Cards I think the Jags suck but I don't like a west coast team with a 1pm eastern start time.

Seahawks +1 over 49ERS I am pretty sure the Florida Gators would go 8-0 in home and homes vs. the NFC West.

Bucs +4.5 over BILLS Don't let last week fool you, the Bills are a 3-13 team.

BRONCOS -3.5 over Browns Last week's winning touchdown was a fluke for the Broncos but them winning the AFC West this year won't be a fluke.

Ravens -3 over CHARGERS When does Norv Turner lose his job? This team is soft and about to lose a lot of identity with Ladainian Tomlinson being phased out of big moments.

Steelers -3 over BEARS As per my comments to start this post, Jay Cutler vs. the Steelers D? Are you kiddin'?

COWBOYS -3 over Giants Home field don't mean much anymore but Dallas should be pumped for the first home game in that shrine to Jerry Jones.

Colts -3 over DOLPHINS This has more to do with how bad the Dolphins will be this year (6-10 bad) vs. how good the Colts will be this year (to be determined but I see them winning the division and getting bounced on wild card weekend).

Thursday, September 10, 2009

The NFL

I really enjoy watching NFL but I don't know enough about it to really give a thorough breakdown and season preview, which is why I don't. And just to prove how little I know about football, this year I have decided to bet on each week's games and keep a running tally each week. Who knows, I may have a future as a handicapper.

I will give this prediction before the season gets under way tonight in Pittsburgh - I like the Steelers over the Falcons (I could see about 8 teams winning the NFC because there is no dominant team. I just think Atlanta is the best of them) in the Super Bowl. Though I think the Patriots are just a slight hair below the Steelers, mostly because Tom Brady feels he has to prove he is healthy and he scares me if he has something to prove.

Tonight - STEELERS (-6) over Titans

Sunday's picks will come tomorrow.

Sunday

FALCONS (-4) over Dolphins
RAVENS (-10) over Chiefs
Eagles (-1) over PANTHERS
Broncos (+4) over BENGALS
Vikings (-3.5) over BROWNS
TEXANS (-4.5) over Jets
COLTS (-7) over Jags
SAINTS (-13) over Lions I am going to pick the Lions to lose against the spread every week this year. I figure that is good for at least a 12-4 record on their games alone.
CARDS (-6.5) over 49ers
Cowboys (-5.5) over BUCS
GIANTS (-6)over Redskins
Rams (+7.5) over SEAHAWKS
PACKERS (-3.5) over Bears

Monday
PATRIOTS (-10.5) over Bills
Chargers (-9) over RAIDERS