All the Miami Sports, for the Miami Sports Fan. Heat, Canes, Dolphins, Marlins, even Panthers. We cover it with the fan in mind, cause in Miami, it's just a way of life.
Glad to say football is finally back. College and NFL, after the Marlins struggled to interest me this summer with a pitiful record, Fire Sale and a B-list of starters. But now the Dolphins and Canes are back! And what could possibly go wrong?
Everything went wrong. Tannehill had his first career start against the Texans in Houston and finished with 3 INTs. Not to mention some tipped passes, but in his defense Jonathan Martin did him no favors by letting J.J. Watts, a stud of a DE for the Texans, swat balls like flies. What was supposed to be a day of hope turned to despair, and now everybody is questioning Tannehill. REALLY!? The kid went up against one of the best Pass Defenses in the NFL last season, his receiving corp is one of if not the worst group in the NFL, and the O-Line had no trace of a pocket for the QB to be comfortable in. Add that and a struggling defense and Ryan Tannehill has NO HELP whatsoever. Give him a break, he's got a year before anybody can start criticizing him. As for the Canes.....
They also have been struggling. In a loss that was worse than the blowout against UVA in the closing game of the Orange Bowl, Miami's defense has given up nearly 1,000 yards of total offense.... in just 2 game. That's not bad... that's HORRENDOUS. Whatever happens against Bethune Cookman, Miami cannot afford to show any sort of weakness against an inferior team. (God I hope this doesn't get close) As for the offense, more consistency and aggresive playcalling, they'll be fine. They'd be wise to get Randy "Duke" Johnson the ball more. There is a lot of talk about whether Duke should be the starter. As much as I hate to say it, he does need to be the #1. Mike James is one of the greatest people I've had the good graces of meeting, but when it comes to talent on the football field Duke has the edge. Mike's talent lacks what Duke brings to the table.
I am back in the swing of radio so stay logged to www.wvum.org so you can listen to talk shows and broadcasts. This week I'll be broadcasting the Bethune Cookman Game with Chris Wyttingham and Nick Greenberg. So hop on there and listen in!
This is it. The matchup we have all been discussing and we're gonna keep discussing because it'll never happen. Or can it..... NBA 2K TIME!!!!!
It's not the most reliable source, but through my experiences playing as the Dream Team playing against my friend who picks this year's squad I win by an average margin of 10-15 points. We've played 8 games and each time I came out on top, but I will admit I'm a tad better than him. (if any of you dare challenge me on PS3, my PSN account is Dixie) But there were matchups and tendencies I noticed that convinced me that the Dream Team would win out.
The first matchup that stood out was Magic Johnson at point guard. He possesses all the skills and knowledge of an All-Star floor general and the body of a lean and aggresive forward. Now this can easily be remedied by LeBron James guarding him, but because the Dream Team is so long and athletic they gain the edge of attacking a weak frontcourt that's biggest piece is Tyson Chandler. On the '92 team they were stacked in bigs with David Robinson, Patrick Ewing, Karl Malone and Sir Charles Barkley. How does this all come together? The 2012 team's starting 5 consists of Chris Paul, Kobe Bryant, Kevin Durant, LeBron James and Tyson Chandler. Magic has to be guarded by either Lebron or Durant since Bryant is guarding Michael Jordan. That leaves Paul on either Malone or Robinson. Have fun.
The only chance the 2012 team would have is to go long in the starting 5. Have your 1 be LeBron, 2 be Kobe Bryant, 3 is Kevin Durant, 4 would be Kevin Love and 5 would be Chandler. That would match up perfectly but in terms of reserves that is where this solution gets a little more difficult to execute. Carmelo Anthony and Russell Westbrook are the only ones who can make impacts whereas on the Dream Team you have Clyde Drexler, John Stockton, Scottie Pippen, Charles Barkley, Chris Mullen, Patrick Ewing. Again have fun trying to outdo that.
In the end the Dream Team is the just a more talented and bigger team. And every one of them had already locked themselves as first ballot Hall of Famers except for Christian Laettner. Some of these guys on the current team are still becoming stars and that in the scope of things matters on the court. So my stance on the Dream Team Debate? Dream Team win big.
Before we begin, I want to tell the people in Aurora, Colorado that my prayers have been going to you. I hope you all are recovering and doing well. Now let's get down to business.
I have seen a lot of movies in my lifetime, more than most I can safely assume. So when I am telling you that this is one of the best movies I've ever had the good graces of witnessing, I have reasons for such a bold claim.
Christopher Nolan has done it yet again, delivering a movie experience that keeps you on the edge of your seat and never lets you gasp for air. Every storyline comes full circle and closes the book incredibly well, and Nolan's legend for Bruce Wayne, and he has emphasized on many occasions this is Wayne's story, comes to a fitting conclusion. And oh yea, it's supremely badass!
WARNING!!! SOME SPOILERS ARE PRESENT!!! YOU'VE BEEN WARNED.
It's been eight years since we last saw Bruce Wayne and his alter ego we all know and love Batman take the fall for Harvey Dent's murdering run at the end of The Dark Knight. Wayne is coping with the injuries sustained as Batman and living alone in the rebuilt Wayne Manor. Christian Bale had his best outing as Wayne in this edition. This movie is centered on Bruce Wayne's struggling to finish what he started and Bale nails it. Jim Gordon is still keeping the streets of Gotham clean but very early on we can tell that the events of The Dark Knight have worn on him, as well as Bruce Wayne. Things are great, but as Selina Kyle has hinted at, "there's a storm coming, Mr. Wayne."
That storm comes in the form of Bane, and he is brilliantly portrayed by Tom Hardy who put on weight to properly look like the freak of nature Bane is meant to be. Bane is HUGE, brilliant, patient, and worst of all has nothing to lose. He may not be the perfect opposite to Batman as much as the Joker was, but for the purposes of this story he fitted in perfectly. I also enjoyed how his accent was very annunciated, clear and also calm. The best example comes from the already shown Gotham Rogues scene, where the boy is singing the National Anthem, and moments before he blows up the field, Bane says out loud, "What a lovely voice..." Talk about hair raising irony.
Tom Hardy channeled his inner "Bronson" and delivered a phenomenal performance as Bane
Bane is accompanied by Selina Kyle (aka Catwoman, even if they never call her that in the movie) played by Anne Hathaway. Hathaway's performance is also should be lauded as her sexy, dangerous, and cunning Catwoman has incredible chemistry with Wayne and proves to be quite an able vigilante herself. I could see throughout the film Hathaway embraced being in Nolan's Batman movie and it showed.
A lot of Fanboys got what they payed for when Hathaway rocked the leather suit for the first time. It was awesome
The action and big moments of the film were plentiful in this outing, some could argue too much. From beginning to end the movie is in 5th gear, and doesn't attempt to shift down so the audience can process what's going on. For veteran film viewers (such as myself) and hardcore fanboys everything made sense, but others they came and went in a moment's notice. When the run time is nearing 3 hours that's incredible and an achievement for Nolan. But sometimes longer is better, and when there were moments of calm, they story was moving fast and it would have been for the better to take some time to process critical points.
One more point of emphasis that I need to address in this review, DO NOT GO IN SEEING THIS TRYING TO COMPARE IT TO THE DARK KNIGHT!!! They both are remarkable movies. But if you compare Rises to The Dark Knight, you probably won't fully appreciate Rises. Rises is its own marvel, as is The Dark Knight. Just leave it at that.
I don't want people getting the wrong idea when I say it could have been less intense. The film is a marvel, it is the perfect culmination of all that came before it and the movie embraces the legend Nolan has created in Gotham. And because of that dedication to the universe created, the ending to Christopher Nolan's Dark Knight Trilogy is very satisfying. It's sad to see the end for Bale and Nolan, and we know that they will continue to be exceptional. We wish it could go on forever, but it was time for the legend to end and Nolan put everything into this film, and we the viewers had the pleasure of enjoying masterful filmmaking. Each movie of this trilogy is in my top ten of best movies of all time, and as for best trilogies of all time, I'm going on record to say it is the BEST. There I said it. Star Wars try and stop me!!!!
Yea it's one in the morning and I've been drinking with my pals. So let's talk some finer points in life.
So I have made it very apparent that my goal in life is to be an influential sports anchor in America. Well my road right now is at CBS channel 4 in Miami and so far it's great. I'll walk you through the application process for any of you individuals who are looking to get ahead of the competition. Two main points before we begin: make sure you find someone who has connections, and make sure you're willing to ask questions to learn.
Ron Burgundy is the greatest anchor that ever lived.... PERIOD
This tale begins in February of 2012. I walked into the office in a suit, bow tie and all looking to make an impression. Also make sure you have a resume with something that draws attention, anything TV related. From those two facets, plus the former intern giving you a good wrap, got me the job.
From there, I've been working behind the scenes learning all there is to know about business and also learning some secrets to being more successful On-Air.
Now I don't know where this is going to get me in the future, but these relationships and lessons will help me for the future. So for any of you guys reading this and wondering to yourself, "I want to be a prominent anchor, but with everyone telling me it's hard to find why bother?" Please bother. Too many companies are trying to discourage people from trying to be on-air because it limits the potential applicants to a smaller number.
Sportscenter is the greatest thing to happen to sports coverage, but ESPN as a company attempts to eliminate as much competition as possible. From a business perspective it's smart, but do not be discouraged! Pursue your dream no matter what!
ESPN has made an appearance at the University of Miami before. And both times I've been in attendance and both times the head people tried to discourage people from applying for on-air positions. Don't be! Take on the challenge and you'll find your way to where you want to go.
Ok I'm done ranting. I hope you all learned something and take it to heart.
"Don't let people determine what you can't do. You are the judge of what you and you alone are capable of. Embrace the challenge!!!"
Now that my Miami Heat have finally gotten their 2nd
NBA title, (suck it Thomas Walter!) I can start to focus on other topics.
Mainly the news that the next generation of consoles is coming and there is
nothing we can do about it. Or is there?
I
have a problem with this not because of it being brand new and better than the
current consoles, but because that these consoles have hit their prime! It’s
like saying, and I’m using this analogy only because the Heat just won, “hey
LeBron. Nice job winning that title! You are killing it out there with what
you’re putting out there on the court, but it’s time we move to find a new
gamechanger.” Any normal sports fan would call you crazy, me included, but
that’s what we have in front of us. First let’s see what the next gen consoles
have to offer over our current gaming platform.
The Next Generation.....
The
next generation looks bright there’s no doubt about that. A new graphic engine
that includes the Unreal 4 engine and others that will no doubt blow people
away. At last year’s E3 we got our first look from the “Good Samaritan”
footage, all of which is claimed to be actual in game footage. And it looks
AMAZING. The lighting, weather, skin textures, environments, hell even the
cigarette is the most real in a video game! (I’ve always had a gripe when it
comes to smoking in video games, you think people could get that right.) All of
it was totally new and unknown and we as a population craved more. But at a
cost, it was said to only be for the next gen, so we demanded it be on the
horizon. Fair enough, but then our current consoles starting hitting all the
right strides.
Watch this and just try to tell me this doesn't BLOW YOUR MIND
The
XBOX 360 was owning in terms of 3rd party games and the graphics,
gameplay, and presentation all have steadily improving. Not only that, but more
side perks such as XBOX Music, XBOX live, Watch ESPN, and others all were
making strides and making what was already a great console even better. The PS3
has dominated in exclusive titles with such games as the Uncharted series, God
of War 3, inFamous, and many more separating itself from the pack. All of these
games changed the gaming landscape in some form and on top of that looked
gorgeous to boot. Playstation Network, despite the Hack Scandal that plagued
gamers (thank god my debit card wasn’t hacked, score 1 for Chipper), has been
seeing massive upgrades including the incentive based Playstation Plus that
gives subscribers exclusive access to games early and discounts. Also one more
thing that makes the PS3 better in my opinion, it’s also a Blu-Ray player. Take
about a packaged deal here people.
And with more titles such as The Last of Us, which I will go on record
and say will be Game of the Year next year, Playstation All-Star Battle Royale,
Sly Cooper and Far Cry coming out, it just seems as though the PS3 is on a
mission to beat out Microsoft yet again.
As awesome as ACIII is going to be, the Wii U is not what the people will buy this for
On
the other hand, despite the success from the Nintendo Wii, it has struggled a
little bit in terms of keeping up graphically with the other consoles. The
newly introduced Wii U is the next gen version for Nintendo but it relies on
graphics that are on the same engine as PS3 and XBOX. As much of a good thing
that is for competition purposes now, it won’t help in the years to come as
Sony and Microsoft push for next gen tech. Either way, games such as Super
Mario, Rayman, Zelda, and others will continue to evolve along with the next
gen tech.
Ok
enough setting the scene, let’s do this dance of gaming generation battles. My
gripe is that there is still more to be had from the current technology. Even
though we believe that companies have used all of the systems processing power,
people were amazed by one game that basically shattered what we thought we knew
of the capabilities of each system. That game is Watch Dogs.
Ubisoft
finished their E3 conference with an emphatic BANG when they announced and
showed off the game. I don’t need to say anything except watch this game…..
No words, just watch and marvel in its glory....
Yea
this game looks that freaking good. I mean it’s got everything and all we say
was a sliver; breathtaking and incredibly realistic graphics, a very intuitive
AI and contextual gameplay, and the presentation value is off the charts! It
also should be noted that this game was just announced, nobody knew it existed.
How on Earth do you keep such an awesome game like Watch Dogs under wraps for
what the Game Director said was two years of production? HOW?! Comparing this
game to what we saw in the Good Samaritan footage it looks as though both are
very very similar in terms of graphics and engine power. So I raise the
question to you, should we be thinking of the next generation and getting a new
system all over again? Or, what I believe should be done, wait and see what the
systems have left in the tank because after watching Watch Dogs for the 10th
time (it’s that good man) I easily believe there is more to be had on this
generation of consoles. Comment below and keep the discussion going because it
is going to be a major talking point for the years to come.
After nine long seasons of constant critiques, sad endings, controversy, and adversity LeBron James finally got his 1st NBA Title. In a blowout of a Game 5, LeBron carried his team to victory and earned NBA Finals MVP. He finished the game with 26 points, 11 rebounds, and 13 assists which was his first triple double of the season for him! What a time to pull that out of his bag of tricks. And when he finally hugged his well earned Larry O' Brien trophy and Bill Russell Finals MVP trophy, all he had to say on finally coming through,
"It's about damn time!"
Well said indeed LeBron, not only just getting your first ring and finally establishing himself as one of the best to play the game of basketball, but also for the Heat who have solidified themselves as a powerhouse in terms of getting the pieces together and getting back to NBA glory.
I'm so happy for LeBron. He's worked so hard and watching him hug that trophy with a gigantic smile on his face almost made me cry. Also this is a sign that LeBron is ready for yet another challenge. That challenge being winning more titles and establishing himself in the pantheon of the best NBA players to play the game. And if teams aren't scared of what the Heat can do now, they will be. LeBron has grown up, and now he's ready to use these new lessons and experiences to dominate the competition.
Enjoy your glory "King" James as it now is properly fitting. You have earned every single bit of this moment.
Wow, it's been busy. And I keep having to say that each time I post. Shucks I wish this whole blogging thing was easy, but it really is not. Kudos to all of you who are way better at this gig than a passionate fan who can keep his calender organized. But I digress....
Now to the good stuff, LeBron James is off the charts hot right now. So hot even that he's legs couldn't handle it and gave out on him. But that didn't stop LeBron from hitting the SINGLE MOST IMPORTANT SHOT OF HIS NINE YEAR CAREER. It was the stuff of legends, LeBron gets back on the floor after cramps sidelined him with 5 minutes to go, gets the ball with a minute left and pulls up to nail the three pointer and boost the Heat to a 3 point lead. His teammates saw the signs that he needed his team to help, and they answered with authority. Chalmers had 25 points? As annoying as he is to judge as a player, the guy's got guts. And he proved it last night. Will LeBron finally get that highly sought NBA Title? My prediction, the Heat win by 10 and LeBron sheds tears of joy as he finally seals the deal and caresses the Larry O 'Brien trophy.
In other news, E3 went down and from what people are saying, was mostly disappointing. Sure Dead Space 3, The Last of Us, Tomb Raider and Splinter Cell Blacklist are big selling points, but the presence, or lack thereof, of next gen gaming was what held this show back. Now with leaks coming out about Microsoft's plans for the XBOX 720 you wonder what made the companies hesitant. Either way, change is coming to the gaming landscape and this year will just be a filler year. Which to me is disappointing considering there are great games on the horizon.
And finally, the movie world has been pretty quiet. That's My Boy is out in theaters and still haven't seen it, but did get to see Prometheus and was pleased. Wasn't blown away, but the questions presented in the film's plot were interesting and provide possible arguments for years to come. But for now as a summer blockbuster, didn't hold up to the expectations. Still waiting on The Dark Knight Rises, which keeps on releasing content and makes my anticipation that much worse. I would describe what it feels like for me to wait for this movie, but after sitting through my Media Law class during this summer I'm gonna keep it censored until I get to the point where I can write a book on whatever the hell I want. Until then, I'll give you this. Waiting for this movie is like waiting for a roller coaster. The wait takes FOREVER and it's usually hot and there are way too many people, and they only run one train every 3 minutes. But in the back of your head you know once you strap in, the adrenaline and joyous screams are worth the wait.
Don't forget to follow me on Facebook, Twitter: @chipbrierre, and I am finally making a Podcast. Technology rocks. Once I publish my first one I'll post the link here.
This game was intense, physical and downright dirty. The Heat dominated in every category and pulled out a 115 - 83 win to get a 3-2 series lead on the Pacers. But that doesn't mean that one side did all the damage, in fact both sides did damage to the players physically. Flagrant fouls were were plentiful as UD, Hansborough, and Pittman all were causing trouble. Pittman's was the worst by far as Stevenson was going for the offensive rebound and Pittman literally elbowed him in the neck, trying to box out. It was a reckless play and will most likely result in his suspension. Haslem's foul liked like a punch to Hansborough's face and seemed to be a ejection in the making, but was only called for a Flagrant One. Game 6 will be Thursday in Indiana, and with Granger day to day with a sprained ankle; the Heat look to finish the series. IF that were to happen, Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals would be either on Saturday if Boston beats the 76ers on Wednesday, or on Monday if the Sixers win. Either way the road doesn't get any easier for "El Calor" (the Heat).
That 1st half was crazy! Two Flagrant fouls, Joel Anthony with a HUMONGOUS block on Granger, Wade and his magic in the lane, LeBron's windmill throwdown and oh I almost forgot LeBron to Wade back to LeBron for the fastbreak layup that just beats the buzzer. Phew!
Now that I have some time to kill between halves, it's time to catch up on what we've missed.
THE DARK KNIGHT RISES
Anticipation is building as it closes in on zero hour for the Dark Knight Rises. Not only has a new trailer come out that features a ton of footage, but new character posters have been released, this poster is one of them. The other two are of Catwoman and Bane, and all three have their eyes shaded out and a pretty depressing backdrop. Nolan has really been pushing that this is the end of his run with Batman, and as much hype it is building, I am finding it a bit overwhelming. Don't get me wrong this is going to be a phenomenal movie and the gameplan from Nolan is good, but I'm growing a bit tired of it. I guess because I just want to see the end already!!!! The movie comes out on July 18th.
SKYFALL
The name's Fall...... Skyfall and recently the 23rd Bond film released it's first trailer! Check it out here and comment your thoughts. After seeing it for myself, I gotta say this is going to be a rather dark and dirty Bond movie. No doubt there'll be charm, women, and action but the whole film from what has been shown and discussed seems to really put Bond, and M, in a desperate situation. Also the Bond girls Berenice Marlohe and Naomi Harris are looking especially sexy in this one. Can't wait for this movie to come out in the fall.
THE AVENGERS
The Avengers are still dominating the box office as they are now #4 on the all-time grossing list globally and #5 domestically garnering a whopping total of $1,186,653,451.
I'll update on Gaming tomorrow. Gotta focus on post game for CBS.
Ugh now that finals are over and I'm moved into my new house I can get back to my blog. Thank god I'm back. So let's get back to busy then shall we?
A lot of things have happened since my last post. Dark Knight Rises trailer, Skyfall trailer, new game footage, E3 is not far away and my Miami Heat are struggling against the Pacers. Not to mention I'm still rocking it with CBS sports over at WFOR channel 4 in Miami. There's so much to catch up on but for now I'm focusing on the Heat cause right now I'm over at the American Airlines Arena with my producer Leo Gomez to watch Game 5. Time to set the stage.
The series is tied 2-2 after prime time performances from Dwyane Wade and LeBron James. Respectively they put up 30 and 40 points, 70 of the Heat's 101 points. Doubt they'll be able to pull that out of there bag of tricks again, but now that they're back home they won't need it. The crowd will be fired up, and Udonis Haslem has given them a reason to. After receiving 9 stitches due to physical play in Game 4, UD provided the spark plug, something sorely missed in this series.
And the crowd is being given band aids with UD and 40 on them. From what I've seen so far, it's a huge hit and the fans are ready to go OFF.
As for the Pacers, Roy Hibbert has to stay out of foul trouble. He is the X factor and when he's on the court, the on court efficiency of Indiana is substantially higher than when he's off. And if any of you think Danny Granger is a difference maker, all he's provided to this series is some 3 pointers and prodding LeBron one too many times.
With that said, this is gonna be fun. Sure I've been sitting in this arena already for near 3 and a half hours, but the payoff is worth it. Not to mention live shots and soundbytes in Post. The life of an aspiring anchor is a busy one. Stay Schemin everybody.
Ok quick change, instead of top 25 kills I changed to 10. It's all a numbers thing, but don't worry it will still be awesome. Along with the list, I'll be making a video top 10 of it as well so look for that soon. And one more note..... Bethesda's new game Dishonored looks kinda awesome.
Here's the description that came with it:
Dishonored casts you as a supernatural assassin driven by revenge. You are the once-trusted bodyguard of the beloved Empress. Framed for her murder, you become an infamous assassin, known only by the disturbing mask that has become your calling card. In a time of uncertainty, when the city is being besieged by plague and ruled by an oppressive government armed with strange technologies, dark forces conspire to bestow upon you abilities beyond those of any common man.
In Dishonored, creatively eliminate your targets with the flexible combat system as you combine the numerous supernatural abilities, weapons and unusual gadgets at your disposal. Pursue your enemies under the cover of darkness or ruthlessly attack them head on with weapons drawn. The outcome of each mission plays out based on the choices you make.
What do you guys think? Should be pretty good. Looks to be in first person which I don't mind but I hope it's not as clunky as Skyrim. Know too that this isn't a game developed by Bethesda, it's just the publisher. Either way can't wait.
I was just chilling with my bros at the fraternity house playing the usual Modern Warfare 3 when I got to thinking, they are some pretty awesome kills in gaming. Whether it was [SPOILER WARNING] Link finishing off Ganon in Ocarina of Time, Sub-Zero's Spinal Cord rip, or even killing freaking Fidel Castro in Black Ops! There are so many I can come up with, but I'm gonna put together my top 25 best gaming kills in the next week and post it here. Feel free to comment here to get the ball rolling on which ones should make the list. And let your pals get in on it. And I should have a video to go along with it. Keep your eyes peeled citizens.......
Looks like Tarantino is back yet again..... the title, Django Unchained
The film stars Jamie Foxx, Christoph Waltz, Samuel L. Jackson and Leonardo DiCaprio. Mixed bag in terms of potential for the actors, and I wonder if some of Pulp Fiction is referenced. Let's not forget Jackson was in that one. Let the speculation begin. Comment!!!!!
Feels good to be back in blogspace. Saw this live last night while covering for CBS and just to get some entertaining stuff out there, I'll provide the link that made my night. Enjoy.
Ok I'm back. No not on All Things Miami Sports, but here. As much fun as it was to blog over there, I had a lot of pressure to put out posts, which a college kid like me probably wasn't going to get around to. Now, I connected this blog with my email account from gmail so now I can keep up. Also this blog is going to be not about posting about Miami sports teams, it's going to be about opinion on big sports stories, opinions and cool stuff on movies and video games. It'll just be when I want to voice my opinion on the stuff I love. Other than that, pictures, videos, music and links will be prevalent throughout. Good to be home boys.
