Godzilla vs. Kong.

The Cast

By The Fillerbuster

21 April 2021

Been a while.  Sorry about that.  Lots going on over here, and not as much bandwidth to sit down and focus on a blog.  Or post smaller blogs more frequently.  Let’s turn and burn.  And there is lots to get to, so, as far as typing,  I must feel the need…the need for speed…

Godzilla vs. Kong.  Gonzaga vs. Baylor.

• In every year, the tourney is fantastic, but we get an odd final matchup.  We finally got what we wanted this year.  The best against the best.  No question.  Godzilla vs. Kong.  The game didn’t play out like we wanted, but I guess Baylor might have destroyed any team on the other side that day.
• Every time the preseason #2 goes against the preseason #2 and the media makes a big deal about it, note that the #2 usually wins.  History said so yet again.
• Baylor Gonzaga’d Gonzaga in the first few minutes.  We are used to seeing the Zags blow teams out in the opening minutes.  My buddy said it right, as it can happen subconsciously on a basketball court playing a new team.  Gonzaga actually looked INTIMIDATED.  It seems silly that one unstoppable force would be intimidated by another unstoppable force, but that is what happened possibly.  Gonzaga was unstoppable, but they just simply got beat up and were less physical.
• After the quick start, when Suggs got his early second foul, that game was OVER. 
• The only dig going in against Gonzaga was their depth.  When Suggs got that second foul, and then it was obvious that Baylor as a team was “on,” and the Zags’ other three stars were all off, there was no one off the bench to bring in new fire, offense, or effort.  Everyone was flat after seeing their leaders start out cold.
• Offensive rebounds are a lot about effort.  Baylor got a ridiculous amount of them early on, and that set the table for what we tried not to turn off for the next 90 minutes.
• Mark Few shouldn’t be faulted, and he has built a juggernaut overall that will be good year in and year out, but you have to feel like this was his BEST chance thus far.  He wasn’t mentally ready against UNC years ago.  He didn’t look mentally ready in this one either.  Few, the 2000’s Phoenix Suns, and Lamar Jackson should go out for drinks and talk about it.
• You should Google it if you are unaware of the massive turnaround Scott Drew accomplished at Baylor.  They JUST didn’t win the tourney for the first time in a long time.  He inherited a program that absolutely NO coach at all wanted to take on in the early 2000’s, and brought them full circle. Absolutely amazing.  The game was Godzilla vs. Kong on the floor, but he had already fought the ultimate test himself and this was just the cherry on the top.

Godzilla vs. Kong.  Hideki vs. Augusta.

• It is magical to watch one of the top 5 or 10 players never to win a Major figure out how to do it.  He fights fear, nerves, the field, the course, and history.
• I can’t believe that Rickie Fowler didn’t even QUALIFY this year.  That is one way to make sure you stay part of the never-to-win club.
• Hey, Tony Finau.  That list just got one player lighter with Hideki winning.  Note to self, as you are getting more lonely.
• Lee Elder was a very nice addition to Player and Nicklaus.
• Watching Rory McIlroy play the first round at The Masters since his meltdown each year is painful.  The hole he digs annually is guaranteed to be large.
• Justin Rose only has ONE Major, but I was surprised he not only flamed out initially, but then couldn’t give a LITTLE chase when Hideki showed everyone hope after Hole 1 on Sunday.  “We could have HAD him, Mav.”
• After the fall event where the course bowed to most comers, it fought back this time in traditional fashion.  The top 5 last fall were 20, 15, 15, 12, 11.  This year?  10, 9, 7, 7, 6.
• Si Woo Kim probably now understands that a putter will be more effective on the final few holes than a three wood.  To break a club in a Major when you don’t have one is ridiculous.  He watched too much Tin Cup in preparation.
• The Zalatoris-Tony Romo connection was very interesting.  The guy sort of looks like an alien, but an alien that Tony likes is a friend of mine too.
• DJ, Day, Im, and Cantlay all missed the cut.  Who would have thought?
• Hideki was the perfect champion this year given the things going on in the world right now.
• Hideki got his magic after the weather delay on Saturday.  He went to his car and looked at his phone, I believe is what he said to Nantz.  Smart.
• Justin Thomas was on a slow incline to win this thing, improving every single year on the leaderboard.  He imploded after the weather delay and ended that Price Is Right game.
• (The hiker game, folks…Cliff Hanger with yodeling)
• Bryson’s experiment got him one, and a couple of no shows.  Jury is still out on the experiment overall. 
• Now, Phil Mickelson WILL be hitting the weights, and he already has all of his Majors.  He was sporting some GUNS for an older dude.
• The relative blowout helped me do a little housework in between some of the holes.  I rarely do that, but Hideki was in full control, no matter what the final score said.  I set up my fire pit in the room while watching.
• This was the second decisive win in two consecutive Masters.  We need an all-Hell-breaks-loose day for the next one (talking to the golfing gods…).
• I think everyone and their mother thought that Spieth was going to be the Hideki of the day.  Nice to see him win an event, nice to see him in contention, but I really thought he was going to make Augusta his home away from home again this year.
• I have been to Augusta, and it is all that and a bag of chips.  Here is another article a buddy sent me on the experience.  https://clubproguy.com/blogs/media/inside-augusta-national

Godzilla vs. Kong.  The World vs. COVID.

• It has been a long road, but we are all almost there. 
• Man, I can’t wait to see a live show with lots of people.
• Man, I hate working out in masks.
• I can’t wait to go to Mexico after I write this damn thing.
• I loved COVID only because the 24 Hour down the street was VACANT.  I hope some workout people figured out their home setup and don’t come back to the gym.

NFL:

• Sammy Watkins played his latest round of musical chairs.  He was on the Bills too early before they were good, the Rams two years too early before their Super Bowl appearance, sandwiched non-title winning years in KC with a title, and now is jumping to Baltimore for his next attempt.  I like that pick.  Good chair, Sammy.
• Hue Jackson says the Browns lied to him about direction.  They probably did, and you are probably right, but let us hear that story from somewhere else, Hue.  Plant the story if you have to.  Sounds like sour grapes.
• We all know a LOT of QB’s are going early in the draft, but the fun still exists.  After #2 with Wilson, it is pretty unknown still.  For example, we know the 49ers moved up FOR a QB, but not sure which one.  I agree that Mac Jones would fit perfectly in the Kyle Shanahan offense though.
• Justin Fields ran a 4.44 40, which is good, but I can’t get over his height that he would be a great high pick.
• The NFL approved a 17-game season, and this makes NO sense to me.  I am sure they said similar things when they went from 14 to 16 in the 70’s, but it is SO obvious that this isn’t strategic for the players, and only about the money, and that makes me sad.  Plus, I am not looking forward to prorating all records for 17 and 16 and 14 game seasons for the rest of my years.
• We expect NFL stadiums to be full by the time the season rolls around and that is glorious.  The pandemic stunk for many reasons, but figuring out home field advantage when betting was really hard.
• I can’t keep track of the Deshaun Watson cases, so I will pass commenting.  It seems like yesterday when he was the darling of a misled franchise trading away key players.
• Kyle Pitts says he will be the best TE ever.  Love the confidence and you can’t be great without some sort of confidence, but I would rather see a season of output before he throws that over the fence to us.
• I watched exactly 11 minutes of Aaron Rodgers hosting Jeopardy.  I tried honestly.  And I am sure he said some good stuff during the week, but the show, to be honest, is so damn boring that no host is going to keep me watching it.  I hear there was a Packers question that went unanswered.  I guess we at least saw that coming.  What I needed personally was to know which part of which episode WHEN it was coming.
• A Tom Brady rookie card sold for $2.25 million, and I just don’t really understand who collects or pays that much for any piece of paper.  I tried a mini-effort of baseball cards when I was a kid.  It didn’t take, and I don’t fully get it.
• The Panthers traded for Sam Darnold.  You can’t fault them for trying to get the QB they were seeking, Darnold might still have something in his tank before his prime is up, and the Jets, to be honest, made it pretty easy to get him.  I am not sure how Teddy Bridgewater is mentally these days after the injuries, demotions, and brought-in competition, but I hope he only rented a condo in Carolina.
• John Madden had his 85^th birthday this week, and for you younger people, I will summarize it this way.  If you think Jon Gruden just talks and oozes football, Madden was the prototype.  Listening to him at a presser as a coach, or announcing any football game, and you just felt like going out to the yard to play some football and then eat some steaks after.
• Britt Reid got charged for a felony DUI.  From a football point of view, he probably cost his dad the Super Bowl as the concentration and adjustments just weren’t there.  From a real-life point of view, he changed the entire path of a family in a few seconds. 
• Julian Edelman will retire.  That guy did not have too shabby of career.  He came out as a QB, got drafted as a punt returner/slot receiver by a football genius, and ended up with three titles and a Super Bowl MVP trophy.
• Continue the long list of Kevin James jokes.  He will play Sean Payton in an upcoming movie.  He will play Payton coaching when on leave.
• The Cards are pulling a Tampa Bay in the offseason this year thus far.  Continuing their ridiculous offseason pull, they pile on me personally by picking up the Steelers’ James Conner.
• You can’t even keep UP with Aldon Smith news.  I had on my list to comment on how someone will ALWAYS give you a job if you are talented enough, and the Seahawks did.  I couldn’t even write a single blog after that item was added before Aldon Smith-MIGHT-have-committed-battery-in-New Orleans news.  Seriously, does the guy ever have a quiet night at home when not in the gym?
• Some people are just walking around praying someone really rich and famous does something to them where they can get money.  The dude who said Aaron Donald clocked him sounded like that person.  I hope his friends pile on for YEARS about how he had his idiotic 15 minutes in the news for false information.  Not sure that was what Andy Warhol had in mind.
• We are not home yet, so I get it, but virtual OTA’s will be done this year again in the NFL.  Packers were the first to get it going.  Well, at least everyone is all caught up with how to do actual things remotely.
• Alex Smith retired and this is the right time.  He has nothing left to prove.  He will be one heck of a trivia question though someday.
• The Steelers extended Mike Tomlin for three more years.  I have to tell you, as you are most likely from a fan base who wonders who their next coach is.  Mike might not be the best coach, and might not have the rings of The Hoodie.  But, he is remarkably consistent in winning.  He has great character.  He upholds the standards of the organization and knows its history.  And, we have a minority coach.  The Steelers have had THREE head coaches since 1969.  That is incredibly stable.  And I don’t want Mike going anywhere when this new contract ends either.  Godzilla vs. Kong again.  Stability in an organization vs. the NFL’s insistence that constant change at the top is needed.

COLLEGE FOOTBALL:

• Nothing of note this time around.  Plenty coming…

NBA:

• Please let me know if you are in the majority.  Unless you live in Brooklyn, aren’t we all rooting against the Super Team?  And probably a lot of people in Brooklyn are actually still Knicks fans anyway…
• I like when athletes let their actions do more of the talking.  Except for Ali.  That was cool.  Anyway, Harden’s stats are blowing us away and we almost forgot that he forced a trade to join a Super Team.  Then, he blatantly proclaims himself as the obvious MVP.  I don’t like that.  Your stats are speaking loud enough.  You MIGHT have made a run at the MVP, but your recent hamstring problems might stunt that growth.
• I am glad the Nets pulled Aldridge and Griffin also.  Given that it is a mixed pot every single night on who will be healthy enough to play, they fit PERFECTLY.
• Then, just as fast as an Aldon Smith battery charge, Aldridge retired because of an irregular heartbeat.  He has his priorities listed correctly.
• Andre Drummond got a good deal by joining LeBron and Anthony.  He will clog up the middle on defense, and snag many, many rebounds, but I really believe he might, in the end, ruin the fluidity of their drive and kick, pick and roll offense.  Wow, that sounds like someone who did NOT grow up in the center age.  I might be brainwashed, folks.
• The Pelicans added Isaiah Thomas, who is going to be one HELL of a trivia question 20 years from now.  I will root for him.  If Thomas makes if back anywhere close to his old skills, then Zion has a running mate for a playoff run.  If Thomas fades away yet again, then he can always throw himself a washed-up party.  Or call Paul Pierce.
• Gordon Hayward is becoming Tracy McGrady II.  He is injured again, and let’s hope he makes it back before they fade too much.  Combine his injury with LaMelo going down, and you have that same Michael Jordan meme with a very sad face.
• Jayson Tatum the youngest Celtic to drop 50, including Bird.  It really doesn’t matter which list.  If you overtake Larry Bird on a list, it is probably a great thing.
• James Wiseman is out for the season due to injury for the Warriors.  This is a shame for the kid and team.  He has shown glimpses, but I think they wanted to see him for the rest of the season to see what they really have.  Not a full sample when they go to draft this year.
• Steph became the all-time leading Warriors scorer in STYLE.  He scored 53  to overtake Wilt the Stilt.  This is very impressive, but let’s not focus on the Wilt part.  Steph IS the Warriors, and he will go down with guys like Reggie, Dirk, and Larry who played for only one single team.  But, as far as scoring, Wilt played for multiple teams.  It is about being the all-time Warrior, not overtaking Wilt.
• Talking heads in Denver have been discussing the worst Denver sports injuries all-time and where Jamal Murray’s ranks in bad luck.  It is up there.  The Nuggets will make the playoffs.  Hopefully, one or multiple players WILL step up to replace Jamal’s production.  And then the Nuggets will lose a first or second round playoff series.  Jokic can’t do any more.  If Porter can’t suddenly transform into the All-Star he might one year be, this team’s ceiling hit their head.  Stinks.
• Luka Doncic and Mark Cuban don’t see the sense of a play-in tourney for the playoffs.  Count me in that club (Mark voted FOR it with the owners initially, but we won’t hold that against him for this hook).  The play-in format is confusing and not needed.  The season was laid out with total games before the season.  The last one was a RE-start, not a full season.  Therefore, they had to pivot during COVID.  For this year, although COVID affected it without a doubt, it has remained on the planned path, and we should just do straight up 8 teams from each conference format.
• Anthony Edwards didn’t know who A-Rod was.  It is not just knowing who he is, but A-Rod is his new OWNER, so that is insult to injury.   Hope they clear it up before the checks hit A-Rod’s desk for signature next pay period.
• So, A-Rod buys the Wolves and then within days J-Lo and him split?  She must have really been mad at that purchase.
• It looks like Paul George has finally remembered he is an alleged superstar.  That plus, with the subtraction of Murray from the Nuggets, means that the Clippers join Utah, Phoenix, and the Lakers as the obvious contenders from the West.
• MJ will present for Kobe for his Hall of Fame induction.  When you are probably on alternate mountain face for Mt. Rushmore, you might as well have one of the primary stones present you.
• Luka had another surreal last second dagger to add to his legend, and most people were calling it out as luck.  Here is the thing.  They have made videos and shows about how much he practices off balance, crazy shots.  It is like his two-minute drill for football teams.  It is just going to get better, folks, and make sure you enjoy the show.
• Evan Mobley from USC declared for the NBA Draft.  In related news, the sky is blue, and the grass is green.  He was an obvious one-and-doner, and the run they made to the Elite 8 was going to be feast or famine and we knew that going in.
• The Celtics are finally winning and Danny Ainge went out and got Jabari Parker.  He doesn’t strike me as a guy you can just throw into the mix and expect automatic chemistry.
• Speaking of the Celtics, when two players are on fire in the same game, it is a very special viewing experience.  Jayson Tatum had 44, Steph Curry had 47, and that must have been fun to watch.
• Of course, again, it really doesn’t matter which night you watch Steph Curry these days to see HIS magic. 
• At press time, he had just finished his 11^th straight game with 30 points or more.  In case you forgot how he was pretty special on his own before his All-Star friends, he is reminding you presently.
• The Nuggets just signed Austin Rivers to a 10 day contract.  Let’s hope it is the highly ranked recruit level Austin Rivers going to Duke rather than the lower-ceiling NBA player that we were worried about him being.  One way or another, the Nuggets need someone to bring up the ball BESIDES the future 2021 MVP, Jokic.

COLLEGE BASKETBALL:

• Roy Williams retired recently from basketball.  Lesser known for being on Dean Smith’s bench as an assistant for his first title, he made sure KU was a Final Four mainstay for years before going back to his alma mater at UNC.  There, he fulfilled what he was brought there for, by taking home three titles.  Classy, homely sounding, and a brilliant basketball mind who would rather push it than care about the shot clock, he retires in style and with HOF respect.
• They replace Roy with someone in the same family.  Hubert Davis is a great hire.  UNC goes with the right choice, not the cool choice.
• I have about 15 transfers mentioned on my lists.  That is too many.  I will just pick a few.  I get the pandemic changed things, but the transfer portal is absolutely out of control.
• You don’t see professional coaches come BACK to college as often, but Mike Woodson is an Indiana alum, and they are keeping it in the IU finally.  We talk about IU’s “tradition,” but we are getting to the point where it might be just the Bob Knight tradition.  IU needs to bring in someone to get them back on top again if they are to be still considered a full-blown “blue blood.”
• Glad UVA snagged Armaan Franklin, their guard transfer, before Mike reeled him back in to stay.
• You usually don’t care who won the NIT, as they are frequently just another college team about to rebuild like everyone else who barely missed the real tourney…BUT, Memphis won the NIT, and Penny is only beginning to build something there.  They will be back, folks, probably next year in the top 10.
• The next time we try and make fun of the Pac-12, and then the next time Bill Walton keeps talking about Conference of Champions even after we know he went to about 100 too many Dead concerts, we have to remember the results this year.  Three of the final eight teams were from that conference.
• This was the first Final Four ever with all teams from west of the Mississippi.
• We didn’t expect Shaka to take a job while still AT Texas, but we knew that Chris Beard would get the call when the seat became warm at all.  Big change for Texas Tech.  They weren’t there before.  Chris got them there.  You have to think they will dip a little in recruiting and results for a few years.
• And, coincidentally, Mac McClung, who just got there last year, opted for both the transfer portal AND NBA Draft.  As Yogi Berra said, when you get to the fork in the road, TAKE it.  Mac is covering both angles.
• Kansas decided to give Bill Self a lifetime contract at the most odd time one could imagine.  Clouds still hanging over him from a couple incidents, an early exit in the tourney, nothing to show from the last decade or so except for some NBA picks, and they give him the Coach K deal.  Weird.  KU has made it clear that they don’t care if he is bending the rules.  AND not succeeding while bending such rules.
• Oklahoma had a big couple of weeks.  Coach Kruger leaves.  They get the hottest coach on the market in Porter Moser.  They lose Brady Manek to the transfer portal (to UNC), and then get replace him via the same method with my FAVORITE transfer guy, Tanner Groves.  Tanner is the only guy who became famous in a first round LOSS.  Dude looks like a lumberjack and plays as cool as the other side of the pillow.
• Luka Garza won all of the awards, of course, and now we can see him drafted and play 10 years as a backup center at the next level.  He does NOT have the athleticism for that level, and the game has changed to go against him even more.
• Sean Miller is out at Arizona.  When you cheat the system to get top-flight recruits, and then still don’t make the Final Four year after year, you have to go elsewhere.
• Jimmy Boeheim will join Buddy and father Jim at the Cuse next year.  I see THIS coming like a tractor trailer.  Wonder when Jim will retire?  The moment after Jimmy and Buddy either graduate or go pro.  Drop mic.  Walk off.  Having my last memory of hoops be coaching my sons at the Cuse.
• Chet Holmgren committed to Gonzaga this past week.  Who is he?  Google Kristaps Porzingis and you will get the picture.  High school version of The Unicorn. #1 recruit.  Goofy white kid with mad height and skills.

MLB:

• Last week was Jackie Robinson Day, and I was moved by a couple of the interviewees they included during the day.  They almost forgot about the baseball game they were televising because Jim Brown’s answers were so thoughtful, intelligent, and transparent.
• I hear Mark Appel is trying to make a comeback with the Phillies.  A) The Phillies will turn over every stone to find a pitcher right now B) Let’s throw him in the bullpen worst case and C) Appel was a #1 pick that didn’t pan out.  Probably worth the second look.
• Meanwhile, relatively recent free agent David Price can’t even GET a starting job with the overloaded Dodgers.  Dude went from a #1 on a good team to a #6 on a really good, title winning team in a flash.
• Lindor signed with the Mets, and him along with Tatis could be well-deserved faces of the league for a while.  Well, that might be going a little too far.  They might be the face of the league after Trout, Betts, Soto, Acuna, and Freeman, but you get my point.
• The Nationals didn’t even make it out of the opening gate without getting a positive COVID test.  We are at vaccine time, all.  I HOPE they are one of the last teams to have this problem in any sport.
• MLB moved the All-Star Game out of Atlanta.  They moved it to Denver.  I look forward to getting tickets to one of the weirdest ASG’s of all-time coming off the pandemic.
• I hope Ohtani fights through the injuries and stays well for a while.  He teases a hitting/ pitching masterpiece every fifth day and I can’t wait to see what he brings when he does both.
• Things are bigger in Texas, so we shouldn’t be surprised the first full-sized crowd was to see the Rangers.
• I forgot to read whether the Angels fans snuck in trashcans, were throwing Houston’s trash cans, or their own for the field throwing.
• Stephen Strasburg is hurt again.  This guy can’t catch a break.  His arm was born to throw serious heat with missile-like guidance, but his tendons that make up the arm don’t seem to like to do it a whole lot.
• Shane Bieber started the season with 4 games of 10k’s or more.  Stellar start.
• Philly fans find creative ways to continue to be Philly fans.  They somehow started a group chant at a game that said “Fire Howie.”  So, they started a chant with men on base in a crucial part of the BASEBALL game about the EVP of the EAGLES.  Different sport.  Brilliant.  As Jim Rome said when telling the story in his SoCal way, “Philly, you keep being YOU.”  I concur.
• Now, let’s play some paper-rock-scissors to show we are still competitive, ok?

NHL:

• The Bruins traded for Taylor Hall, and I love this move.  The kid is older than when he was a guarantee in the draft, he has drifted off the last year or two in scoring, but still has age (29) and skills on his side.  I think they took a swing at someone who might have another peak.
• Patrick Marleau broke Gordie Howe’s record for most games played.  It doesn’t matter how you try and find the faults or technical difficulties with this record, it is impressive regardless.  The Seattle Kraken will make their NHL debut next season.  They won’t play their 1768^th game until 2043.  Lost in this “positive” record for Patrick is this.  He also has played the most games ever without winning a Stanley Cup.  So, there is your reason to root for his Bay Area team this year.

MISCELLANEOUS:

• Dapper Labs received $305 million in funding for their virtual trading card product.  Since I don’t fully understand how real trading cards make the money they do, I am pretty sure I won’t be able to explain the virtual version to you.
• The US Soccer Team failed to qualify for the Olympics.  Not that the Olympics are treated worldwide like Euro or the World Cup, but it still would be nice to play in the global sandbox a little.
• I was sad to hear that Tiger Woods was indeed speeding and thought he was in Florida at the time of the accident.  His career is legendary, and his off the course happenings couldn’t be written by the best writer.  All just very odd.
• I got three things from the women’s tourney.  Paige Buckets is amazing and must-see TV.  Kim Mulkey’s comment about nixing COVID testing showed me yet again that she is out of touch with the world and reality.  And forgetting one team (Arizona) from the Final Four video is the most absurd thing ever.  You forgot 25% of the teams.  Impossible.
• The Dallas team from the WNBA had picks 1,2, and 5 in the WNBA Draft.  Imagine if that happened on the men’s side.  It would be the draft version of the Herschel Walker trade.  And still somehow Luka Doncic would get picked at #3 and missed.
• Boxing is the Sweet Science, and UFC fighters are crazy tough.  For example, a UFC fighter was in a fight a few weeks ago.  He lost his finger.  But, he kept fighting.  The fight was stopped not when the fighter noticed the lost digit, but when the REF did.  Wow.
• Evander Holyfield will fight Kevin McBride in an upcoming fight.  I am VERY impressed with the fitness level of these old guys, but definitely am in the court that we do NOT need to watch them prove it in the ring on television.  Stop the madness.
• This item also went away as fast as an Aldon Smith football contract.  I read some articles trying to understand this new Super League being built in soccer.  I didn’t understand the difference between that and the Champions League and why this was being created.  At press time, it looks like I don’t have to worry about understanding it, as they are dropping like flies.
• Stewart Cink is 47 and apparently NOT ready for the Senior’s tour. Props for your latest win, young man.
• Jake Paul is now legit and his marketing people are geniuses.  This is what happened.  Jake Paul is just a YouTube thing, and they chose a lazy ex-Olympian fighter for him to fight as a “real” fighter.  Jake destroyed him.  Now, we can’t talk trash about Jake as much.  Brilliant.  Now, I bet they go find another over-the-hill fighter to creep along his legitimacy a little more.  And no on top of his game fighter will venture in this territory.  Smart.
• Maybe Oscar De La Hoya will fight Jake.  Perhaps he can have the same amount of beers he had before doing commentary on Jake’s fight, and Jake will have a chance.

LOCAL:

• I am not impressed by Lola’s food overall.  I am slightly impressed by the internal building changes they made during the pandemic.  I am VERY impressed by their one dish, the egg queso.  Go there for drinks and just that minimally.
• The Polish Mac and Cheese from the Mac and Cheezary has to be ranked in everyone’s rankings.
• De Steeg Brewery is such a cool place to grab a drink.  “Entrance in the alley” off Tennyson.
• I found my new sports watching paradise.  I have been stumped the whole 2.5 years in my Highlands house, but stumbled on a winner.  Greg’s Taphouse is a little place with lots of beers, lots of TV’s, dog friendly, comfort food, and near 32^nd and Tennyson.  I had no idea there were a bunch of shops over there at ALL.
• I got some SWEET flip flops next door to Greg’s at Aspen and Pine.
• I liked the atmosphere of Javier’s Diner on Tennyson recently, but they don’t have their liquor license reinstated yet, so it is just about the food right now.  The Mass Confusion was basically a skillet/hash (my two favorite breakfast words).
• Ohana Grill is quickly becoming our favorite brunch place in the Sloan’s Lake area.  Spam is in many, many dishes, they have cheap bottomless, the staff is very friendly, and the long wait is oddly for less flavorful Rupert’s next door.
• We recently had Olive Garden for lunch, and they forgot the bread sticks in our takeout order.  Kind of defeats the driving purpose of going there in the first place.
• Yes, you heard your local news correctly in other parts of the country.  We get televised for the TWO April snows we just had probably, but won’t get any pub when it hits 70 here next week.
• We met some friends at Woodie Fisher downtown.  VERY cool atmosphere.  Not the cheapest “happy hour,” but I recommend the Spicy Marg, the I Love It Hot, and the HH burger.
• Icehouse downtown got rid of their pool tables for more service tables and that makes me sad.  But, their COVID ordering system is on point.
• I lived NEAR Ken Caryl for years in the late 90’s.  I just heard someone local on TV say Ken “Carol.”  It is “Carl,” right???
• Gaetano’s is back to doing brunch, all.  And you still have the option of doing lunch also.  I still recommend the Breakfast Skillet.  You get that combination that I am suddenly realizing late in life the brilliance of recently…eggs and marinara sauce.
• Illegal Pete’s is an awesome breakfast deal if you want a burrito with a whole lot of stuff for no upgrade cost.  And they have a full bar.  I will say that the line gets a little ridiculous, so beat the crowd there.  Then, you can watch it build, and wonder HOW someone actually still would want to wait in a line that is 40 people long.  I wouldn’t.  I would rather wake up and beat the line, or go find another diamond in the rough breakfast.  Different strokes for different folks.

WORLD:

• Although I was a political science major, I find I talk about sports and pop culture more effectively than world items.  So although the Afghanistan pullout is argumentative, racial targeting is unfair, the Fed Ex shooting is beyond sad, police shootings are horrible, the Nuance-Microsoft acquisition is interesting and beneficial for both sides, Gaetz looking like his accusations is laughable, COVID still being rampant in South America is very sad, and the Chauvin verdict is good news, that is not the best pool for me to dip my feet into.  Moving on…

THIS AND THAT:

• Godzilla vs. Kong.  The movie review.  I didn’t make a list for this review.  So, this will be short and to the point.  No spoilers.  The movie is exactly as expected in plot and flow.  It is pretty cheesy overall.  They set it up best they could, and explain my problem with the trailer, which was how Godzilla suddenly became a bad monster.  They cover how a land monster and how a sea monster can actually fight legitimately.  They have some character development on the human being side of things.  They have the bigger star in Alexander Skarsgard, and then a bunch of actors and actresses where you will say “Hey, THERE they are!”  And the fight itself?  Well, I will say this.  For a very cheesy movie with a questionable plot, they have a very clever resolution to Godzilla vs. Kong.  I was happy with who won or lost and how they did it.  Is it worth watching?  Sure, if you like monster movies.  Even if you do, you will watch it one time, get the fight answer, and probably be fine with the movie for the remainder of your life.
• I will also Mortal Kombat one and one time only.  I played it in arcades, was pretty good with Liu Kang, so will watch it to see how my guy fares overall.
• My favorite animal video of the last month or so: 
• https://www.cnn.com/videos/health/2021/03/26/dog-saves-owner-having-seizure-vpx.ctv
• In the Dark.  WATCH THIS SHOW.  It is really good in Season 1, and then blows your MIND in Season 2.  It is about an angry blind chick and her friends kind of going down the Ozark hole.  My smart wife couldn’t predict it, it stays realistic overall, and has twists at the end of each episode that make it the PERFECT binge watching show.  I have no idea how it didn’t get better reviews, and shame on those rating people.  We had to FORCE ourselves to turn it off during Season 2.
• If you want something shorter, slower, and more on the unknown sort of things.  The documentary on Hotel Cecil in L.A. is riveting.
• I have not started it yet, but City on the Hill with Kevin Bacon just LOOKS good in the trailers.
• Tribal casinos make up a large percentage of US casinos.  It is listed as a Virgin property in brand, but interesting to note that the new property in Vegas under that name is the first tribally-owned casino to be opened on The Strip.
• We finally finished Mandalorian.  I liked it a lot, but not as much as everyone else.  I give it an A-.  The entire series is decent, and then the last couple of episodes literally knock your socks off.  B show with an A++ ending.
• Meow Wolf is coming to Denver, I have been to the one in Santa Fe, I am excited for it, and a friend of a friend might be the opening manager for it.  Pumped.
• Whether it is for the platform, the products, the contestants, or the billionaires, I just don’t think I understand people who DON’T watch the show Shark Tank.  Great show.
• The trailer for Fast and Furious 9 has some ridiculous effects, bringing up an interesting point.  I find it fascinating since I worked on the set of a movie with the special effects, making my understanding of it a little more detailed.  Anyway, special effects used to be HOW DID THEY DO THAT?  It used to be a serious question.  Where was it filmed?  How much did it cost?  Were there stunt doubles?  Then, I think it was 300 that came out and digital technology was born.  When I watch the trailer of Fast and Furious, it is very cool and I might watch it, but we know it is digital so it eliminates the HOW DID THEY DO THAT factor.
• I find the joke exchange during Weekend Update funny.  It is where Michael and Colin give each other embarrassing jokes to read.
• DMX died at 50 years young.  No one sounded like him before, no one will sound like him after, and his first FIVE albums were all #1 albums.  Crazy skills that found a niche.
• Top Gun 2 is now in NOVEMBER and that makes me very unhappy.  As happy as I am about the pandemic making gym crowds sparse, this movie being delayed gets me angry at the pandemic again.
• But, Water World is opening in Colorado soon, so that makes me happy again.
• If you love Seinfeld like I do, and have a few minutes, here is something that blows up the logistics of the show for you.  https://www.esquire.com/entertainment/tv/a36052013/jerry-seinfeld-apartment-layout-hallway-photo/
• I have no idea how I stumbled on this song, but I freaking LOVE it.  Half glam rock guitar, half angry I Prevail guy, and half Sum 41 groove.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wUL5lnd9iXI
• No one probably cares but me and a lot of 40-50 year olds from Philly, but Stallone is working on a prequel for Rocky.  Stellar.
• In another repeat that made me chuckle, the Family Guy where Peter obtains the 100 Nielsen boxes and becomes the changer of all TV shows is really funny.
• Actually, Family Guy is another one of those shows.  If anyone loves any part of the 80’s and is 30 or older, then you not watching Family Guy pretty much is sacrilegious.  The amount of 80’s jokes they bring into play is ridiculous and awesome.
• A sporting event ended, and it happened to go into the new Family Feud show.  I decided I hate when I miss the question and then look up to see them go through the remaining answers and they don’t post the question.  Come on.
• I forgot how fun Yahtzee used to be until our power went out and we played it again.
• We also played Mastermind, which was my go-to with my neighbor, Aunt May.  Talk about a game to truly monitor how about yourself you are at that moment.  Simple, yet strategic.
• I am still unclear on how Terminix does their thing with snow on the ground in Denver.
• For some odd reason, we started talking about judge or jury for your fate, if you were given the choice.  Put me CLEARLY on the side of jury.  I will take mass possible less intelligent people needed all 12 rather than one single person who could be a little crazy ANY day of the week.  And my degree and many Grisham novels support this.
• (well, except for Runaway Jury of course)
• Be careful when venturing out, folks.  Your tip calculator (Seinfeld joke) might say 20%, but that 20% might already be on the restaurant bill in small writing.  I would say I have seen it at 20% of the places we have gone to thus far.
• My wife has found this Facebook site that is the Empire of the Chonkin Fatass Woofers, and she can’t stop laughing at it when she loads it up.  Think big fat puppies and dogs in pics.
• This is what happens to you when you have a fun bartender, a dad joke customer (me), and Italian food.
• I couldn’t get into my house after the Italian house because I had Gnocchi.
• I was going to tell you about my spaghetti friend I met there but he pasta way.
• We left the restaurant because my wife wanted to go watch Sex and the Ziti.
• When I signed my bill, I signed it Pasta la Vista, 2020.
• (But I really did the last thing)
• I don’t understand why there aren’t more breakfast pastas in circulation.  Egg in pasta with sauce?  Sign me up.
• Where did the show Mindhunter go?  It was a fantastic show on serial killers, at the beginning when we first started recognizing them as such, with a guy who went to UVA.  Loved that show and miss it.
• If you watch The Voice like we do, you know that Snoop is the Mega-Mentor for ALL judges.  Worth tuning in for him alone, folks.
• If you want to hear a reggae song that is happy, suddenly has Metallica playing the guitar, with some shredding from Satriani…here you go.  Surfman Cometh.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Kv0U_M-oHk
• And 4/20 in Colorado came and went, and since it was a school night, and we are a little further from downtown, it was very uneventful in our house.