LOST!!!

The greatest television show in the history of the world returns Tuesday, for it's final season.

Lost premiered on September 22, 2004 and it proved to be a day that changed television forever. After the first season, I was 10 years old. Someone told me about some show called Lost with one of the hobbits from The Lord of the Rings. At my young age, my TV viewing habits were limited to Nickelodeon, Cartoon Network, and Disney Channel. My brother and I went to the now out of business West Coast Video in Closter, NJ to rent a movie. At the video store, we saw the DVD's for season one of Lost, and we gave it a try. This was probably the best video renting decision of my young life.

My brother and I went home, popped in disc one and both of our lives were suddenly altered forever. From that famous first image of Jack's eyes opening, we were hooked. We watched season one in about three days, and then when season two came around, every Wednesday night we could be found plopped down on the couch in front of the TV being transported to another world. The world we were being transported to was one of mystery, suspense, romance, magic, and basically everything else you could think of. The characters in Lost have always been second to none, and as each season has passed, more has been revealed. Lost makes you think, it makes you feel. Lost fans have been on a journey through 5 seasons of incredible TV, and now there are only 16 episodes left. I will no doubt be sad when Lost ends, but I will also know that in decades to come, this show will be considered a classic, that will never die.

There are so many questions (too many to list) that need to be answered in the final season, and I suspect many of them won't be. But I think that's part of the beauty of Lost, it's a show that you can always find something to talk about because there are always unanswered questions. I have no idea how Lost will end and I can't wait to see. Will we ever find out what exactly the island is? I guess we'll have to watch to find out...

Waiting for baseball

I can feel it coming! As a look outside and see snow on the ground, I just keep telling myself it's only 68 days 'till MLB Opening Day, when the World Series Champion New York Yankees will play the Boston Red Sox. I cannot wait. When baseball season starts, spring unofficially begins, school is almost over, the weather doesn't always suck, and best of all, every night I get to come home, turn on the YES network, and watch some New York Yankee baseball.

Say what you will about the slowness of the game, or the steroid scandals, or the lack of a salary cap, but baseball is the one sport that is always there for you. During baseball season, no matter how you're day went, whether you had the best day of your life, or the crappiest day ever, when you come home your favorite baseball team is always there for you to watch. You can't say that about football; teams play once a week. Basketball and hockey too; every team has a substantial amount of off days. But not baseball! It doesn't matter what day of the week, when I come home at night and I'm exhausted and I wanna relax, my Yankees are always there for me.

When baseball season is going on, life is good. I spent many days last summer taking the bus over the George Washington Bridge, and riding the subway into the Bronx to go to Yankee games and I am so pumped to start taking that trip again. Baseball signifies freedom, tradition, family, America... wow, I love baseball! Bob Klapisch, a writer for the Bergen Record, says that he writes about a little slice of heaven called the baseball season. And I completely agree; if there is such a thing as heaven, I think it would be baseball season year round. We're still 68 days away from that little slice of heaven, and I'm starting to get impatient, but when it comes, it will feel so good.

And even though we got awhile to go, I'm going to make a prediction right now: The New York Yankees will repeat as World Series champions.

The Jets have landed...New Orleans parties!

Jets vs. Colts

You didn't actually think they were gonna win, did you? I mean c'mon, they're still the Jets. No matter who the coach is, how good the running game is, or how incredible the defense is, they're still the Jets! And as I predicted they would, the Indianapolis Colts ended the magical flight of the Jets, yesterday, by a score of 30-17. In the end, there was just too much Peyton Manning, and it's nearly impossible to stop the greatest quarterback of all time, even with the number one ranked defense in the league.

The Jets did what they've done to their fans so many times before, teasing the fans with thoughts of victory, only to have an eleven point lead diminish before our eyes. Unfortunately, because of the Jet loss, Noah Siegel will not be flying down to Miami to watch the Super Bowl (there's your shout out, Noah) along with thousands of other New Yorkers and New Jerseyans who were hoping to escape the dread and misery that is winter in the tri-state area. Thoughts of Miami were as strong as ever when Mark Sanchez threw a perfect nine yard touchdown pass to Dustin Keller, and the Jets had a 17-6 lead, but in an instant, Manning drove the Colts down the field leading to a 16 yard TD strike to Austin Collie. Momentum had swung to the Colts heading into halftime, and the Colts never gave it back, dominating the second half 17-0.

When it's all said and done, Jet fans should be very happy, for they were lucky to even be in the playoffs. Realistic expectations for the Jets this season were not to win a Super Bowl, they weren't even expected to come close, and leading at halftime in the AFC Championship game is pretty damn close. There's always next year.

Saints vs. Vikings

I am so happy that the Saints won this game. Not only did I pick them, (by the way I was 2-0 this

weekend, which brings my playoff picking record to 6-4) but how can you not root for a team that plays in a city that is still rebuilding from the devastation of Hurricane Katrina? The Superdome was flooded and housing Katrina victims just about four and a half years ago, yesterday the Superdome was the site of the biggest party in the history of New Orleans. New Orleans is a city that knows how to party, and if the Saints win the Super Bowl, all hell will break lose on Bourbon Street.

Also, I love to see Brett Favre lose. He made such a stupid throw at the end, and Favre deserved to lose that game. He is the most overrated athlete in the history of sports, period. Now there will be another annoying offseason where the question of Favre coming back will the number one story all summer. I hope he doesn't come back and his last throw is an interception, because interceptions really sum up his career in a nutshell, he threw 317 of them, in the regular season alone.

So the Super Bowl will be the Saints vs. the Colts and I think it's pretty safe to say, it's going to be high scoring.

Jets and the shore

Jersey Shore

Besides the showdowns between Kobe and Lebron and Crosby and Ovechkin on Thursday night, the season finale of Jersey Shore aired on MTV. By far the most talked about show of the winter, Jersey Shore is tremendously stupid, yet wildly entertaining. I don't care if you're a homeless guy living in Newark or a Columbia professor, if you were not amused by Jersey Shore, at least a little, there's something wrong with you. C'mon, this show is funny! When my family makes our annual trek down to the shore this summer, I will be fully expecting to see tons of Jersey Shore shirts, hear tons of Jersey Shore references, and I will be fully prepared for a situation to go down. And for those of you reading this who are not from Jersey, there are plenty of normal people living in this state, who are not like the characters on that show.

Jets

In another part of New Jersey today, Florham Park to be exact, the Jets will heading off to Indianapolis for the AFC championship game against the Colts. I still can't believe that the Jets are one win away from the Super Bowl. All week long anticipation has been building and there is definitely a buzz in the air. There was a pep rally in Times Square where Mayor Bloomberg unofficially renamed Manhattan Island, Revis Island, the Empire State Building has been lit up green and white, every sports talks show has been talking Jets non stop, and every where you go, people are decked out in Jets apparel. The buzz is infectious and many Giant fans in the area, including me, have caught it. The New York area has contracted Jet Fever, and if the Jets win tomorrow, it will get even bigger (even though I don't think the Jets will win; my predictions are a couple posts down).

For the Jets to win, a few things are going to have to happen:

1. Prevent big plays! Revis is going to have to play like he can against Reggie Wayne, but the rest of the Jets secondary is going to have to step up too, and prevent Manning from throwing the ball down the field successfully.

2. Force turnovers! The Jet's offense is not driving 90 yards for a touchdown, so the defense has to create turnovers and give the offense good field position.

3. Play conservative! The Jets should run, run, run, and run; and if Sanchez throws, make sure there's no chance of an interception.

4. Jay Feely! The Jets are going to struggle putting the ball in the end zone, so Feely is going to have to make some kicks. In the playoffs so far, kickers have been choking all over the place, but Feely must come up big for the Jets to have a chance.

Enjoy the game and GO JETS!

Lebron vs. Kobe, Sid vs. Ovie

Tonight, sports fans are very lucky because we get to witness the Cavs play the Lakers in basketball, and the Penguins take on the Capitals in hockey. The two best and most entertaining players in each sport will be squaring off against one another.

Lebron vs. Kobe

Listen, even though LeBron will not be participating in the dunk contest, I still have mad respect for the guy. The reason I'm so pissed off he won't be in the dunk contest, is because he is so much fun to watch. I pray everyday that LBJ will sign with the Knicks or Nets this offseason because I want the opportunity to watch him play live, every night. Kobe Bryant is a hell of

a lot of fun to watch too, so watching them play against each other is the best basketball has to offer. Here's hoping for a Cavs vs. Lakers finals this year!

Who's Better?

Kobe has the championships, I'd rather have him take the last shot, and he's a better perimeter player. Kobe is more entertaining, creative, and artistic, he's a better finisher, better pure scorer, and I like him more than LeBron, but... right now how do you not go with LeBron? He is freakishly athletic, he's unstoppable in the paint, he averages a block per game, and he's a great teammate.

LeBron stats: 29.6 PPG, 7.8 APG, 7.2 RPG

Kobe Stats: 28.3 PPG, 4.5 APG, 5.2 RPG

I don't think stats truly measure a player's quality (in any sport, even baseball, well kinda baseball), but LeBron's stats are ridiculous. If anyone is ever going to average a triple-double for a season again, it's going to be LeBron. LeBron James is the best player in the NBA right now, but if he never wins a championship his career will be meaningless. Success is measured in rings, sorry Dan Marino.

Anyway, LeBron vs. Kobe tonight starts at 8 PM on TNT.

Sid vs. Ovie

Sidney Crosby's Pittsburgh Penguins are taking on Alex Ovechkin's Washington Capitals tonight. Last season, these two teams played an epic seven game Eastern Conference Finals series, that the Penguins won, leading to their eventual Stanley Cup championship. This is a better individual rivalry than Kobe and LeBron because Crosby and Ovechkin don't respect each other like Kobe and LeBron do. In fact, Crosby and Ovechkin hate each other, which is so good for the rivalry and great for the sport of hockey.

Who's Better?

Ovechkin has more sheer talent than Crosby, but Crosby does have a Cup and Ovie doesn't. I don't care...Ovechkin is better than Crosby. Ovie hits, scores, passes, plays defense, everything else, and he makes his teammates better. Crosby is great, no doubt about it, but he has an exceptional supporting cast including Evgeni Malkin. I think if you switch Ovechkin and Crosby, the Penguins become better, but the Capitals get worse.

Wrapping it up...

We the fans, are lucky to get to see two great individual rivalries tonight and hopefully we will get to see these matchups in the playoffs. The best individual rivalry in sports is Federer vs. Nadal and we might be seeing those two go at it in the Australian Open shortly.

Massachusetts, politics, and Scorsese

I hate the state of Massachusetts. I always have. I hate their food, their music, their accents, and most of all I despise the Red Sox. In the near future I will be looking at colleges to attend, and people always say, Boston University, Boston College, Northeastern, etc. Even though there are about 600 colleges in Massachusetts, I will not even consider looking at them. I would rather go to Bergen Community College than Harvard (not kidding).

Yesterday, Massachusetts elected Republican Scott Brown to take the place of the late Ted Kennedy, in the Senate. This means that there are 41 Republicans in the Senate so the Democrats no longer have a super majority and Obama's health care bill will, in all likelihood, not pass. When I heard the news I was shocked, heartbroken, angered, (I really want universal health care) and then I looked for answers. The experts said that the Massachusetts vote says a lot about Obama's popularity, it does. In just a year, Obama's ratings have plunged drastically and Massachusetts, which voted for Obama in the presidential election, has switched sides. The experts also said that the universal health care plan was not popular with the public, this may be true too. But, even the experts at CNN do not know the real reason why Scott Brown won in Massachusetts. I will tell you.

Anyone who says that sports don't play a major part in American life is wrong, because the reason why Scott Brown won, and the reason why there will not be universal health care is sports. Curt Schilling is one of the most beloved Boston sports figures of all time. He was the pitcher for the Red Sox who beat my beloved Yankees in a key game in the 2004 ALCS (the bloody sock game). The Red

Sox won their first championship in 2004, since 1918, thanks in large part to Curt Schilling. Schilling is a big time Republican who campaigned for Bush in 2004, and McCain in 2008. On a recent radio interview, Martha Coakley, who was Scott Brown's Democratic rival, made one of the biggest political mistakes in the history of the world.

During the interview, Coakley mentioned that Scott Brown had been campaigning with Rudy Giuliani and reminded listeners that Giuliani is a Yankee fan. The interviewer said, that's true but Brown has Curt Schilling on his side. Coakley then said the line that will go down in history as the sentence that prevented universal health care in the United States. Coakley said about Schilling, "And another Yankee fan." Coakley called Curt Schilling a Yankee fan (because she's an idiot) and instantly became the laughingstock of Red Sox crazed Massachusetts (and trust me, in Massachusetts the Red Sox are more popular than Megan Fox is to teenage boys).

Schilling responded by writing on his blog, “I’ve been called a lot of things, but never, and I mean never, could anyone ever make the mistake of calling me a Yankee fan. Well, check that, if you didn’t know what the hell is going on in your own state maybe you could….”

And there it is... That's the reason why Scott Brown won, that's the reason Obama's health care bill will not pass. I hate the Red Sox. I hate Massachusetts.

Scorsese

I was trying to think of something positive that has ever come out of Massachusetts and trust me, it was very difficult. I came up with Bill Simmons (really good writer), and The Departed. Isn't

that ironic, the best thing that ever came out of Boston was a movie made by a New Yorker, Martin Scorsese. Scorsese has a movie coming out in February that I can not wait for; I haven't been this pumped for a movie since last summer's Inglourious Basterds (which definitely lived up to my expectations). Scorsese's new movie is called Shutter Island, starring Leo DiCaprio. Judging by the trailer, it looks very, very scary, and Scorsese has never made a horror movie so I am very, very excited. The funny thing is, is that Shutter Island takes place in New England (I guess it takes a New Yorker to make New England entertaining).

Dunk contest and Steph

Dunks

LeBron James is scared!!!

The lineup for the NBA Slam Dunk contest has been announced and the participants will be Nate Robinson, Shannon Brown, Gerald Wallace, and either Eric Gordon or DeMar DeRozan. But NO LEBRON! LBJ announced at last year's dunk contest that he would compete this year, but unless there are last minute changes it looks like LeBron will not keep his promise. The lineup for this year's dunk contest is very disappointing and besides Nate Robinson (the defending champ) there is not one household name competing.

The NBA slam dunk contest was once the most exciting skills competition in sports. It was better than the home run derby, better than the NHL shootout contest, and way better than any of the stupid NFL skill competitions. But now it seems that the dunk contest is shrinking into obscurity. The dunk is one of the most exciting plays in sports and the dunk contest is a great way to showcase it. The dunk contest has been won by some of the greatest players of all time including Michael Jordan, Dominique Wilkins, Spud Webb, Vince Carter, Kobe Bryant, and Dwight Howard but in 2010 this is the best lineup the NBA could get!!! Where is LeBron?

The only explanation for LeBron backing off his word and not competing is that he is scared. LBJ could not take the embarrassment if he lost to say, Gerald Wallace. LeBron should suck it up and do what he said he would do; after all the dunk contest is for the fans and fans want to see LeBron. So, I plead with you LeBron, please enter the dunk contest and stop being such a baby! You're not having much luck with winning championships, maybe you'll get lucky and win the dunk contest.

Steph

If you have not heard yet, Stephon Marbury has signed a $25K deal with the Shanxi Zhongyu of the Chinese Basketball Association. Since Steph's bizarre internet videos were posted, the former Knicks and Nets (and more teams) guard has managed to stay out of the news. It's good to see that Steph has not physically hurt himself, like I thought he would, and that he will be playing basketball and working on business ventures in China. Good for you Steph! Maybe in China he can start building cities and being a "comet" as he said.

"I'm going to set up a foundation for the world. I'm going to take the money and start building cities all over the world. I'm a comet. My man told me I'm a comet. I said, 'I’m a comet?'"

-Stephon Marbury

The unbelievable "other" New York team

The New York Jets were 7-7 after losing a heartbreaker to the Falcons when Jets coach Rex Ryan himself, declared the Jets out of the playoffs. Just 28 days after that loss, The New York Jets are going to the AFC championship game.

It's hard to come up with words to describe the utter shock and disbelief that most people, myself included, are feeling about the Jets. At the beginning of the playoffs Rex Ryan said the Jets should be the favorite to win it all; everyone was laughing at him. Now, after the Jets went to Cincinnati and manhandled the Bengals, then traveled across the country to San Diego and beat the Chargers, the laughing has ceased. The Jets are for real.

I am a lifelong Giants fan who has always been making fun of the "other" team that plays in the Meadowlands, but right now I have nothing to say. In fact, I find myself rooting for the Jets. How can I not root for the "other" New York team, when they have a very likable rookie QB in Mark Sanchez, a tough as nails defense full of players like Darrelle Revis and Bart Scott, and a hilarious and very passionate head coach in Rex Ryan? The Jets are fun to watch and in a lot of ways they remind me of the 2007 Giants.

On sunday the Jets travel to Indy to take on the Colts, the team that sat their starters against the Jets in the second to last game of the season, permitting the Jets to make the playoffs. The Colts (well back then they were the Baltimore Colts) are also the team the Jets beat in Superbowl III when Joe Namath made his famous guarantee. Now Rex Ryan is making the guarantees. These are the kind of stories and teams that make sports great, I mean no one thought the Jets would be where they are now, but they are. Sports are unpredictable. The Jets are unbelievable.

I think the Colts will beat the Jets. Sorry, but there's no way I'm betting against Peyton at home. But, hey you never know and I hope I'm wrong, cause on sunday I'll be rooting for the Jets just as much as Fireman Ed is, well not that much but...

My Predictions:

Colts 24

Jets 10

Saints 35

Vikings 31

Movies of 2009

The year 2009 is now gone which means loads of top 10 lists about the year. These are my top 10 movies of 2009.

1. Inglourious Basterds

The best movie of the year and an instant classic from my favorite film maker of all time, Quentin Tarantino. Tarantino's WWII revenge fantasy is his best movie since my favorite movie of all time, Pulp Fiction. There are great performances all around including an hilarious Brad Pitt, a beautiful Melanie Laurent who plays perhaps the strongest female character of the year, and Christopher Waltz who is a sure in for an Oscar as one of the best villains in movie history. Of course the dialogue is genius and Basterds has one of the best opening scenes in movie history as well as one of the best climaxes. This is a must see for any movie fan.

2. Up in the Air

Director Jason Reitman does not disappoint with his third feature film following Thank You for Smoking and Juno. Up in the Air is a beautiful film about the meaning of life, relationships, and the flaws of modern society. This movie is so good that it has the rare quality of a movie that can make you cry and laugh at the same time. George Clooney proves that he is one of the best actors working today and the two female leads Vera Farmiga and Anna Kendrick should both be nominated for Oscars. In 50 years when people look back at the 00s decade, Up in the Air will be watched as a reminder of the times. This is a great movie. It also has a completely unexpected brilliant ending.

3. 500 Days of Summer

This heartbreaking and hilarious film about relationships is one of the most original movies of the year. It is the most clever and offbeat romantic comedy in ages that is refreshingly honest about love. Like Up in the Air it makes you laugh at the most the most unexpected times and it also has a completely unexpected ending. Told in a time warped formula Summer is not only entertaining but it sticks with you. It has a great soundtrack and two great lead performances; I wish there more movies like this.

4. The Hurt Locker

An extremely haunting portrayal of the chaos of war. Brilliantly acted and directed, this extremely intense film is the best movie made about the Iraq war to date. This film literally puts you into the character's shoes and makes you feel what they feel. Locker is powerful throughout, but the last scene will leave you breathless.

5. District 9

The best science fiction movie of the year has kick-ass action as well as thought provoking metaphors. It makes you connect with aliens like no film has since E.T. and it almost makes you feel bad about being a human. I think the aliens in District 9, called prawns, are even cooler to look at then the ones in Avatar. It's always great to see a film with such a small budget have such a powerful effect on the viewers with great effects, a great story, and a great screenplay.

6. Zombieland

This is the funniest movie of the year and one of the best zombie movies of all time. It's an even better zombie comedy than Shaun of the Dead. Woody Harrelson is perfectly cast as a crazy zombie killing machine and Jesse Eisenberg gives the breakout performance of the year as the hilariously awkward, Columbus. Eisenberg reminds me a lot of Michael Cera, just with curly hair. Zombieland has a lot of action but it also has a surprising amount of heart. Also, Bill Murray has the best cameo of the year in one of the funniest scenes of the year. It does not have a deep message and it's not groundbreaking but it's tons of fun. This movie is not for everyone and it's not going to win any Oscars but it was entertaining from start to finish and I had a great time watching it.

7. Precious

Precious is gut wrenching, depressing, sad and very difficult to watch but it is a great story with great performances. The story of an abused, overweight, black, teenage mother living in Harlem is brutally honest and extraordinarily brave. Mo'Nique is excellent as well as Mariah Carey. This movie is is shocking and eye opening and it makes aware the atrocities that children have to face growing up in the inner-city. The best thing Precious does though, it that at its darkest moments, it remains hopeful.

8. Adventureland

This is the second movie starring Jesse Eisenberg that I have on this list and Eisenberg is quickly becoming one of my favorite actors. Adventureland is director Greg Mottola's followup to the classic comedy Superbad. It is not as funny as Superbad but it doesn't try to be, instead it is a poignant coming of age tale about the post college doldrums. This movie took me completely by surprise as it is not at all what I had expected, but I watched it and loved it all the same. Kristen Stewart is so good in this movie that it almost makes you forget about Twighlight (which I have not seen) and Ryan Reynolds gives a great, kind of creepy performance as a man with some dark secrets.

9. Fantastic Mr. Fox

This is the best animated movie of 2009 (way better than the very overrated Up). Director Wes Anderson has made a visually enchanting, heartwarming tale about family and survival and life, with a great voice cast led by George Clooney. This movie is more for adults than kids I think, but there are some funny moments that kids will love. Wes Anderson has always been great at painting portraits of dysfunctional families, and the Fox family is just as dysfunctional as any human family that Anderson has created. I loved this movie and I hope Wes Anderson continues to make movies like this, animated or not.

10. Big Fan

The best sports movie of the year. It's a very thought provoking look at modern sports culture in America, with an excellent lead performance from Patton Oswalt. It's very small and very real, and not at all what you would expect. It's funny at times, but most of the times it's brutally serious.

honorable mention. A Serious Man