Let me first say I do not like Roger Clemens as a baseball player. He's arrogant. He's an egomaniac. He's all about creating that legendary persona so that people can worship later and be in awe of him when he has to eventually retire from baseball. When the Yankees played against the Marlins in the World Series, he made such a spectacle of it being his last year pitching, he had a long drawn out farewell tour that entire season, he took about 5-10 minutes to salute the crowd and the players for what was seemed to be his last game, only to come back the following year and the year after that and the year after that. He really likes people who love to kiss his ass.
So this is why I found the 2nd Baseball Congressional hearings to be so fascinating as well as so despicable. Fascinating, because you have this guy trying to salvage an extraordinary career dangling on a thread... who many thought (myself included) to be playing on borrowed time and playing too well for someone that old. Despicable, because it involves steroids again, and didn't we already do this in Congress many years ago with this guy below (among others)?
So it's amazing how it all went down today. In an election year, when we are about to pick another president, this hearing, at times, became divided along political party lines. What I find more interesting was the line of questioning (granted from both parties).
"You seem to be the same size in all those photos"
Thank you for your service to the New York Yankees.
What uniform will you be wearing upon induction to the Hall of Fame?
"All I can say Mr. Clemens, is I'm sure you're going to heaven"
And now you see why people think the government is wasting it's time and the people's money on something that would not seem as important as health care, the economy, or the war in Iraq. The members of Congress didn't seem to take it seriously. They were all kissing Clemens' allegedly injected ass.
On the drive home from work today, I was listening to sports radio which I do on occasion. They were talking about the hearings today and how Clemens might be brought up on perjury charges. And why not? Every player in Senator Mitchell's report on steroids in baseball, who was named for taking steroids or performance enhancing drugs, came forward and admitted to taking drugs... except for Roger Clemens. Players who were friends with Clemens named him in sworn affidavits. It just seems someone is in utter denial.
I don't need to rehash any more about what was covered today. You can read it yourself to the extent that you desire. But this is my soapbox, and all I have to say is this.
Roger Clemens might be a great human being, a great father, a great husband, and a great friend to some. But he was the biggest asshole in his sport, a guy who would lose his temper, and a guy who thought he was better than anybody. Like Barry Bonds, I hope he can sleep at night in all that denial, because after all this is over, it's all he'll have left.
The legacy he achieved and desired is no more. It is merely a figment of his own imagination.
LeeZy
Hey, did you watch the Super Bowl?
Pretty amazing wasn't it? I have to give it to Eli Manning... I did not expect him to pull that win out... I was expecting a coronation of the New England Patriots and not expecting much of a game.
I was wrong on both accounts.
So congrats to him and the New York Giants for denting the mystique of the Patriots. 18-1 record and didn't even win the Super Bowl... I like the sound of that.
But the other reason to watch the Super Bowl are the commercials. So today, I have some gems that I really liked with links and some that I really didn't like at all. Apparently, the Super Bowl commercials are like pizza toppings. Not everyone likes the same thing. Just keep that in mind.
A link to most of them... but read on for my take on some.
Really Bad Commercials - Racism never sells
Sales Genie 2008 SB Commercial 1 Ramesh
Sales Genie 2008 SB Commercial 2 Ling Ling
Honestly, where do I start with what's wrong with these commercials.
The guy with the heavy Indian accent and he has seven kids. Really classy.
The pandas speaking in broken english, named Ling Ling and Ting Ting, calling their fortune teller for financial advice and direction... did I mention the broken english... This ad really annoyed the piss out of me.
Super Bowl Commercials are supposed to be memorable for the price that they cost. How does Sales Genie do enough business to have a budget for these commericals?
Go Daddy - Danica Patrick exposure
I feel so dirty for thinking Danica Patrick was somewhat sexy.
Bad Commercials - I expected more for something that cost so much
Pepsi Nodding Off Commercial
I'm pretty sure that after a few months of seeing this commercial, everyone will get really suck of it. Now realize that it's a one minute commercial, as opposed to the 30 second variety. I also understand the idea which is based on the SNL skit and the Night at the Roxbury movie, but not everyone will get it and find it just strange.
Under Armour - The New Prototype
This simply does not make sense to me... and it's also a minute long... money to burn... money to burn
Sobe Life Water - Thrillicious
The point of advertising is to sell something... or at least make me remember what they were selling. While trying to recall this commercial (15 minutes after seeing it), I was thinking it might have been for Geico.
Planter's Nuts - Perfume
I have a feeling, after multiple viewings, I'll hate this commercial as much as those Jared galleria of jewelry commercials. Thought I give credit to them. Unibrows are funny.
Ice Breakers - Carmen Electra
Maybe I would like this commercial more had I found Carmen Electra slightly more attractive than the woman in the previous spot for Planter's Nuts.
Bud Light - Language of Love
Carlos Mencia is not worth the jokes he actually writes himself.
Good Commercials - Those that made me smile
Bud Light - Fire breather
I liked how the mood of the spot was light and romantic and very cool with the lighting of the candles. And I have a cat allergy so I could relate it.
Bud Light - Wine and Cheese
Having been introduced to wine recently, this commercial was right up my alley. And I couldn't have found a better use for a box of Chablis.
Budweiser - Rocky
This commercial won me over when the music started... you really can't lose with animals...
Toyota - Sleeping Badgers
Like I said, these commercials made me smile.
T-Mobile - Wade makes the Five
Though this spot went on for a while and I got a little bored, it's exactly what I thought would happen when you get what you want. And Charles Barkley is phenomenal talent. Can I get in your five?
ETrade Baby
ETrade Baby and Clown
These spots work, because the baby does not look creepy. And it's pretty memorable. There seems to be a lot of cute this year...
Commercials from one company that were the best - Coca Cola
Coca Cola - Jinx
Coca Cola - It's Mine
Coca Cola was by far, the most effective advertising campaign this year. From Mean Joe Greene to the buy the world a Coke, the Coca Cola company knows how to make a commercial memorable. With James Carville and Bill Frist hanging out all day and discussing things like two human beings, resonates in an era, an election year era when we must all come together.
The balloon fight between Stewie and Underdog and eventually Charlie Brown, brought together three cartoon icons from different decades. Once again, very memorable image, and very lasting commercial. My only question is how the hell did they get the rights?
The three commercials I liked the best
3) Careerbuilder - Queen of Hearts
Yeah I must admit, I thought her boob popped out, or her implant popped out, or something... did not think it was her heart. Once I get past that, the commercial was brilliant and the message resonated with anyone who thought their boss was a prick. There was no mistaking the message and it was memorable. All pluses for me.
2) Wall-E - Movie Trailer
So if you're Disney/Pixar, how would you make a commercial that would capitalize off all your prior success and make a commercial, a Super Bowl commercial that would get people excited about your movie. With Woody and Buzz Lightyear, you have complete genius. And Wall-E is awesome, even though he does remind me of Johnny 5.
1) Fed-Ex - Carrier Pigeons
What's not to love? Pigeons with GPS and night vision. Large pigeons that can carry large crates but inevitably drop them (as I thought they would). Large pigeons acting like regular pigeons and looking for food in semi trucks. Large pigeons grabbing cars and depositing them anywhere. All that was missing was how the large pigeons poop. And I'm very glad they didn't go there. All in all... a very memorable spot and I am going to laugh when they replay it for the 50th time.
LeeZy
