Giving Blood - Part 5

Good Afternoon Ladies & Gentlemen,

First & foremost, as of this moment, I have heard nothing from Vegas...and it's starting to bug me...but I'll get over it. Not much has gone on today except that I donated blood again. This time was a little different...for several reasons. One, I actually got some good sleep last night. Two, it wasn't done first thing in the morning...but around 3 PM. Third, I didn't get dizzy at all afterwards...and that might be because of the first two reasons...or that I've been jogging since last time...or just plain luck, who knows? I also met a nice six-foot tall nurse named Carrie, we talked about basketball and people assuming that we play...yet we do, so it's okay. Then I met Whitney, who sucked me thoroughly & completely professionally...so I had to stir it up a bit. Apparently, I kind of looked like I was zoning out at one point, "Are you tired, $teve?" "What? Oh no, I just ugh...don't like needles and all, so I just try to think about other stuff. Anyway, how long have you been doing this stuff?" "About eight months. Well, that's nice of you to donate being scared of needles and all." "Oh, not scared. Just don't like 'em. Besides, those people effected by the earthquake in China need my blood...so that they can save pandas and make toys for my future children." "(Laugh) Wow, that's ugh...that's great." "Yeah, but on the real, I assume this is going to help somebody else...and everybody that I help will probably help somebody else and so on and so on...and I think Karma will come back around." "Oh, so you're a hippie? (Laugh)" "Hey, I prefer granola child, Whitney." So yeah, that went well...and I donated. Now for other thoughts...

NBA Conspiracy? - Is there anybody else out there that thinks maybe...the NBA wants the Lakers & Celtics in the Finals? Or that they're having the referees call the games a certain way to make that happen? Now, I had my inklings into this conspiracy last year...when LeBron (the future) could simply do no wrong (and shoot 20 free throws a game) up until the NBA Finals when the Spurs stopped him...but disregarded it because, why would the NBA want the San Antonio team (like 25th largest market in the league) to win the championship if that were the case? Now, after watching a lot of playoff games...and the inconsistencies in charges, intentional fouls, and just ticky-tack touches, I think that there may be something more to it. Especially since it's been 20 or so years since the last Lakers (largest market in league) vs. Celtics (4th largest), Bird vs, Magic matchup (before Bird hurt his back & Magic got HIV). Funny thing, I'm sure that at least half the NBA's players weren't even in elementary the last time that happened. Heck, do you realize that some players weren't even born when Jerry Sloan became the head coach of the Jazz?

Sorry, I'm getting off point. Anyway, it seems that Kobe can now do no wrong...and he's a great player, don't get it twisted...but now it's contagious to his team...and when I see Bruce Bowen getting called for fouls for looking at a guy intensely...and then Derek Fisher can jump on Brent Barry's head in the closing seconds of a close game...and nothing is called. Then the next day, the league says "Yeah, a foul obviously should've been called...but it wasn't...so suckiteasy" and it was conveniently the first game back for official Joel Crawford...who threw Tim Duncan out of a game for sitting on the bench (apparently Mr. Crawford's having an old man's nervous breakdown...but he has tenure) then one just has to question this stuff a little bit. I even went with the Chicago Bulls (I think 3rd largest market) having a one in sixty chance of winning the NBA Draft Lottery...and they get it...when there's a Chicago-raised top draft pick that might bring back thoughts of MJ (Derrick Rose) and Miami (7th largest market but they admittedly gave up about halfway through the season) gets the second pick so that they can get an inside scoring presence being compared to legends like Kareem Abdul-Jabbar & Bill Walton already at the age of 19 (Michael Beasley). Maybe I'm just a little bit of a conspiracy theorist...like a tall Mel Gibson. Well, it's raining outside so that means that the black helicopters are closing in...so I'll just get off my milk crate for a minute. Just thought that I'd share a few thoughts with you. Maybe see what you guys thought if any of you watched basketball.

I Love the 80's...Action Stars - Anybody who's read this blog over the past week may now that I really like Sylvester Stallone and the movies that he's been in (okay, so I haven't really seen the "Italian Stallion" stag film that he was in...but still, any movie star with one of those in his portfolio gets respect from me). However, it may amaze you to the amount of 80's action movies that I have seen over the years. My dad LOVED all of them...and I kind of took to them too. Chuck Norris, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Jean-Claude Van Damme, Charles Bronson (though technically 70's), even the lesser films of Dolph Lundgren & Steven Seagal have all graced the Love household...and my dad actually has a pretty good collection of them. Sure, the plots may be questionable...but that's why there are terrorists & bullies in the world...so that they can take over a small town in the Midwest, a naval ship, the world, the future, whatever the situation calls for...and then it comes time for a quiet man, who's conveniently trained in the art of death...but just wants a quiet life to become the hero and single-handedly drop hundreds of bad guys...and you know they're bad guys because they wear bandanas and don't shave...as well as carry guns yet aim poorly. So with that in mind...and Sly's impressive line of work over the last thirty years, here's today's Movie List...

Sylvester Stallone Movies - By the way, did you know his middle name is Gardenzio? Just found that out.

Medal Winners

Gold - Rocky (1976-2007) - Sly wrote & starred in this Best Picture award winner & the ultimate Underdog Story. He even directed a few of the sequels. The story of the Italian Stallion (the boxer, not the porn star) Rocky Balboa who, as Fate would have it, gets a chance to fight the Heavyweight Champion Apollo Creed (Carl Withers) despite only fighting in boondock matches and being muscle for the Philadelphia underworld. He meets up with Mick (Burgess Meredith), an aging trainer who takes a liking to Rocky and tries to convince him that he has a chance...all he has to do is train...and apparently start a diet where he eats raw eggs, eats lightning, and craps thunder. Will Rocky win the fight? You'll have to watch the movie to find out...but I'll give you a hint. There are FIVE sequels...including one made last year where a sixty-something Rocky fights Antonio Tarver. Classics. There's the original, the Rematch, the one with Mr. T, the one where he fights Communism, the one where he was too old, and the one where he was REALLY too old. Watch them all His birthday's coming up on July 6th. What a great day to watch boxing movies for about 12 hours.

Silver - Demolition Man (1993) - The Prophecy has already begun...with Schwarzenegger being named Governor...and possibly President one day (try to look surprised). However, this tale of an officer falsely convicted of killing innocent people is cryogenically frozen for about thirty years...and brought back in a pansy future to stop the fiercest criminal of his time, Simon Phoenix (Wesley Snipes). Teaming up with the unstoppable team of Sandra Bullock, Benjamin Bratt, Denis Leary, and Rob Schneider, he must save San Angeles from Phoenix and his goons (Bo Jackson, Jesse Ventura, etc.). The hilarity and action ensues. I can't wait for the day that every restaurant is a Taco Bell...but I still have some questions about the three seashells. Be well.

Bronze - Rambo Movies (1982-2008) - John Rambo (Stallone) is a mentally unstable Vietnam vet who gets messed with by small town cops (including that badass David Caruso) and then starts a one-man war with them in "First Blood." Then, three years later, he comes back for a top secret mission...and a higher body count in "Rambo: First Blood Part II." Then another three years later, his C.O. Colonel Trautman (Richard Crenna) is kidnapped in Afghanistan...so now he has to go in to get him. Then in the latest one...well, here's my review of it from a few days ago. Lots of guns, explosions, and badassery. I think Stallone works out too.

Suggestion - Nighthawks (1981) - Not the Edward Hopper painting...but rather an action flick. Wulgar (Rutger Hauer) is an international terrorist that has brought New York City to its knees. Who can stop him? How about the unstoppable team of Deke DaSilva (Stallone) and Matthew Fox (not Matthew Fox but Billie Dee Williams)? Through in the Bionic Woman (Lindsay Wagner) as eye candy...and Rutger Hauer just being creepy...and a few twists and turns...and Sly yelling "You're (bleeping) dead!!" a few dozen times...and you've got a great flick. "Tango & Cash" (1989) was a great action comedy with Kurt Russell and Jack Palance as a bad guy. Oh...and Teri Hatcher's in it too. Check it out. Let's see, this millennium, "Driven" (2001) was a pretty good Renny Harlin movie...about Sly as a race car driver. Gina Gershon and Estelle Warren were in it for eye candy. I also liked "Cliffhanger" (1993) because it has rockclimbing and "Assassins" (1995) because it was badass...and had assassins oddly enough. Check them out too...but I'm rambling.

Flush It - Stop! Or My Mom Will Shoot! (1992) - Too easy to make fun of this movie...based solely on the title. Basically, Sgt. Joe Bornowski (Stallone) is going through a tough time, so his mom (Estelle Getty) comes to meddle. Along the way, she helps him out...as only a Golden Girl could...very annoyingly. I was also a little disappointed with "The Specialist" (1994) but I'm not sure why...because I got what I was looking for (Sharon Stone naked) but there was also a lot of explosions too. Oh...and James Woods was the bad guy. Nothing too spectacular...but check it if you want to see a steamy scene with Sly & Stone. "Daylight" was pretty lame too...but still action packed.

Future Watch - Notorious (2009?) - Apparently, he was really into doing this feature about the murders of 2Pac & Biggie...but is losing interest in it...and it's in jeopardy. Probably because he's trying to bring Gabe Walker back in "Cliffhanger 2" (2010?). I really think that the real reason though...is that he's taking the next step in his life...and looking to be "Senator Sly" (2012) and he may have a shot at it in Pennsylvania. I mean...he has a statue there already. I'd hate to run against somebody that already has a statue...even if I was the encumbant. Anyway, we'll see. If he were to join forces with Chuck Norris...he would be UNSTOPPABLE!!!

Another new sponsor idea...was the great Stephen Colbert...because I figured that he would jump at the opportunity to sponsor a fellow $teve...and I talk about him almost as much as he does. Okay, so that's pretty much impossible...but still, great South Carolinian dude with an ego similar to mine...and maybe if he needs a guest on his show down the line...we can talk about how great we are. It'll be fun. Anyway, that's probably at least weeks down the line. Have a great day everybody!!!