Can you hear the thunder?

I just finished watching HBO's critically-acclaimed, however, short-lived series Deadwood, and wanted to f**king write a little f**king blurb about it.

You see, that's a joke. Reason being, Deadwood's excessive use of profanity is somewhat legendary. Don't believe me? Let's just say, if you were playing a drinking game based on the work f**k, well, you'd be dead from alcohol poisoning before the end of one episode. For more info, click here.

So, if you haven't seen the show and are debating it, here's a few things to know about Deadwood.

• It's fictionalized, non-fiction.
• Ian Mcshane is absolutely incredible.
• Al Swearengen rivals early Jack Bauer as my favorite television character of all time.
• You will need subtitles.
• If you are offended by the words f**k, c**ksucker, and c**t - then stay away.
• If you like the show Major Dad, then this may ruin it for you.
• Timothy Olymphant is great in this, as oppose to everything thing else I've seen him in.
• John Hawkes is great, as always.
• There is a cast member of 'Facts of Life' featured on the show.
• This show features the greatest, most brutal and intense fight scene I've ever seen in film and tv.
• The show ended prematurely, however, I was not disappointed.
• This is not a western.
• The show often feels like a stage play, which is pretty cool.
• The ensemble cast is brilliant.
• Hope you like you some Powers Boothe.
  

and finally,

• Deadwood, isn't something 'she said.'

'Whatever the cost may be...'

Okay - I know serious posts are rare here, but here's another.

I have a fascination with war. It's not a romanticized sense of glory, nor is it a morbid curiosity. More so, it's a longing for understanding, not for war itself, but for what these experiences were like for all those unfortunate men, woman, and children that were victims of its horrors.

I can't imagine how I would react as a young guy drafted during the Vietnam war, or a factory worker in the 40's taken across the world to fight the Axis. Would I have been one of the many that stared at the sun, choosing blindness over combat, or drink as many soft drinks as possible to appear diabetic. Maybe I would have decided that being Canadian isn't so bad, or that time in jail gave me my best chance. Hopefully, I would have found the strength that other great men have found, and given my life to be a soldier for our country. Perhaps I would have already excepted my fate, knowing that there are no winners in war, only those who survive. However, having a Vietnam veteran as a step-father, I can tell you - survival comes with a price.

This brings me to the point of this blog, and yes, there is one.

I force myself to watch war movies and documentaries, although, I still can't stomach to watch anything that focuses on the Holocaust as I simply cannot process it. I watch because I feel that I owe it to the people who fought and died in battle to experience some part of what they experienced.

In saying that, I have to admit how deeply moved I was by the History Channel's week long event, 'WWII in HD'. If you have access to this, I strongly encourage you to take the time to watch this series. It follows the war through the eyes and writings of several soldiers, and features restored and never before seen footage. There are no way words can describe the look on the faces of men, minutes away from almost certain death as they invade the shores of a tiny Pacific Island. There is also no way to imagine what it was like for a 20 year jazz drummer, in his first few seconds of combat, to see the guy running ahead of him torn in half by a land mine.

It's amazing to think that I had two uncles land on Utah Beach, one even spent time in a German prison camp. Both returned alive. The difference between them and me? Only the year we were born.

There is no doubt this documentary will haunt you, disturb you - it will horrify you, and it should.

Playoffs?!, Playoffs?!, P.. P.. Playoffs?! What I learned in the NFL week 11.

Well, I've not posted my weekly segment over the past couple of weeks. Other than realizing that Peyton Manning indeed looks like a broke-ass Dermot Mulroney. I mean, I already knew Belicheck had the nut sack of an elephant.













What I didn't know, was that the Titans, with Vince Young, would have just won 4 straight games after starting off 0-6. I also would have never predicted that Vince Young would survive 4 games. I figured that we'd probably have seen Kerry Collins pop on the koopa trooper helmet and head back on the field, while Vince's agent conducted the first round of negotiations with the CFL.

Besides Bud Adams, nobody was probably more excited with the drafting of Young then me. I mean, who couldn't have watched that Rose Bowl and not imagined that happening in the Super Bowl. The rookie year delivered and all of a sudden, the Titans were fun to watch again. That is, until the much discussed and documented meltdown that started at the beginning of the '08 season.

Meltdown is putting it mildly. How about a 50 million dollar implosion? The ultimate riches to rags story, the complete unraveling of a past champion and future star. For those of us who supported and believed in Vince, we were left wishing like hell for a redo, and that Jay Cutler had only travelled across town from his dorm to the Titans facility.

Am I completely sold after 4 games? No, but damn, if this kid hasn't taken about ten steps in the right direction. Making his reads, running when needed, more accurate, saying the right things, acting the right way. He's scrappy on the field too, which is something this team needs more of. Has the real Vince Young stood up? Let's hope so.

Now, after 4 straight wins, which is something no other team has done after starting 0-6, the Titans are not excluded from playoff discussions. Now, they've got to win probably at least 5 of the next 6 games, and hope that other teams start folding like lawn chairs, but - there are some very winnable games on the remaining schedule.

This season holds the potential for two great Disney movies. Brett Favre winning the Super Bowl, and the Titans making it to the Super Bowl. I understand both Dennis Quaid and Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson have their schedules on hold.

Where are you from?

Okay, so I've been sick and have some catching up to do here.

I am a huge fan of Coach meltdowns, and this one is an instant classic. It doesn't have the anger and loss of control that I generally go for, but the combination of disgust, sarcasm, and pure theater of it all is worth noting.

University of Miami - Ohio Coach Charlie Coles responds to a close loss to the University of Kentucky this past week.

Bird is the word...

Ah, to be old, rich, and just not give a f**k.



Titan's owner Bud Adams is living the dream.