NFL Roundup

With another NFL season around the corner the ever popular Maui News NFL Roundup Contest is starting back up.  This weeks prize is a $50 dollar gift certificate to Longs Drugs a.k.a. the movie concessions.  If you live on Maui make sure you check Monday's paper for your ballot if you want to enter.

This year I've decided to use this blog as an on-line record of my picks.  Just trying to make sure I not getting juiced (cheated).

Here are my picks for Week 1

1. Colts at Bears:  Peppers and the Bears will win and officially greet Luck to the NFL.    

2. Eagles at Browns:  Another sucky season for the Browns.  Eagles in a blowout.   

3. Patriots at Titans:  Tom Brady vs Jake Locker.  Patriots, closer then you think. 

4. Falcons at Chiefs:  High scoring game.  Falcons has to many weapons.  Falcons  

5. Jaguars at Vikings:  Vikings defensive line is going to eat up Gabbert.  Vikings

6. Redskins at Saints:  Trust in Drew.  Saints

7. Bills at Jets:  This will be probably be a low scoring game.  Bills will end up on top.   

8. Rams at Lions:  Megatron is back.  Lions 

9. Dolphins at Texans:  My team is going to suck this year.  Texans

10. 49ers at Packers:  Still don't trust Alex Smith.  Packers

11. Seahawks at Cardinals:  Russell Wilson is already better then the Cardinals QB's.  Seahawks  

12. Panthers at Buccaneers:  Cam Newton vs Josh Freeman.  Panthers in a great game.   

13. Steelers at Broncos:  Weak offensive line vs quick defensive line = Big Ben on his back.  Broncos

Let me know what you think and who you think going win.

I'm how heavy?!

Around 2 weeks ago my family and I were doing our usual Monday ritual.  Wash clothes and shop for groceries.  Our usual spots are Walmart, Costco and Safeway.  Safeway and Costco to shop and Walmart to look at the things we can't afford yet.  While window shopping there was a scale on the floor, which enticed me to check how fat I had gotten.  When I stepped on that scale and the numbers popped up I thought to myself, "I knew I was fat but I'm that fat?".  I actually thought I was maybe 230 lbs but shockingly after weighing myself 3 times, I'm 250 lbs.  Now for some people that may seem like an okay weight but if you consider that I'm 5'8", which means my natural weight should be 175 -180 lbs, I'm overweight and due for some exercise.

5'8" 250 lbs

As I thought about it more, I wondered "Who am I heavier then?" Here are some of the names I came up with.

I'm heavier then Junior Dos Santos, the heavy weight champion of the UFC.  If I was fighting in the UFC I'd be in the Heavy Weight Divison and going up against the likes of Frank Mir, and Brock Lesnar.  Needless to say, I don't belong with those giants.

Junior Dos Santos 6'4" 236 lbs

Brock Lesnar 6'3" 266 lbs

Frank Mir 6'3" 259 lbs

I'm also the size of the average NFL linebacker like Ray Lewis, Brain Urlacher and Clay Matthews.  I can promise you that I don't look like any of those dudes.  

Ray Lewis  6'1" 250 lbs

Clay Matthews  6'3" 255 lbs

Brian Urlacher  6'4" 258 lbs

End of story, I need to pray for another growth spurt or stop eating like a linebacker. 

You May Not Kiss The Bride

This Friday in select theaters a movie filmed in Hawaii and produced by Hawaii Film Partners are proud to present "You May Not Kiss The Bride".  I can't tell you how excited I am to find out Hawaii has their own production company in Honolulu.  If you were to ask my wife she would say that I'm not a movie fan but somewhat of a fanatic.  Lets just say I sometimes pass the time by watching movie trailers.  With increased movie and television productions in Hawaii I hope one day studio's will be built in Hawaii.  To not only bring a spotlight to Hawaii but to add jobs (hopefully will be open to locals) and utilize the pool of talent that fill the islands.  Watch and decide if this movie is worth your time. 

Fathers of Fantasy

With my fantasy football draft coming up in less then a week.  I decided to honor my fantasy sports passion by investigating its origins.  Luckily for me, in a serendipity type of fashion, I stumbled upon a fantasy sports documentary created by ESPN's 30 for 30 called, "Silly Little Game".  Side note, you can find most, if not all of the 30 for 30 documentaries on Netflix.

Before watching the documentary I went into it with some questions already in mind.

1.  When did the first fantasy season take place?  1980 
2.  Why was it created?  Out of boredom and a desire to prove to his buddies that he knew more about baseball then any of them.  
3.  What sport was used in the first fantasy league?  Baseball

Here are some unexpected things I think are worth mentioning.  
1.  The WHIP was first thought up for the first fantasy baseball season.
2.  The founder of fantasy (Dan Okrent) has never won a season.
3.  The founding fathers have never gotten any financial compensation. 

After watching the video I asked myself, "Why do I play fantasy sports?  What do I get out of it?" 

1.  Quenches some of my competitive hunger.
2.  I'm not good at keeping in touch with people.  So it helps me talk with old friends that I would have loss contact with years ago.
3.  I enjoy knowing meaningless statistics that I can throw out during conversations.  No lie, I spoke with an older couple from Texas couple years back and their jaws nearly dropped on the floor because they couldn't believe how much I knew about their professional teams.  I guess they didn't think an island boy would know anything about Texas.  I guess I proved them wrong.  

Here are some other questions I asked myself:

1.  Has fantasy added or taken away from professional sports?
2.  Should the founding founders of fantasy be placed into the baseball hall of fame?

Please leave a comment if you want to answer these questions and share your thoughts.

I'm Coming Home

After watching an interesting documentary about the "Rock" Dwayne Johnson I was impressed by the connection he has with his father and grandfather. At the end of the documentary there is a clip of the Rock's life being played alongside the song "I'm Coming Home". I had never heard the song before but it really struck me to my core as I encountered the lyrics in combination with the Rock's dialogue. Specifically when he reveals that his main goal in entering Professional Wrestling was to make his family proud and as he stared into the sky you could see the true emotion as he pondered that question.

Once the clip ended, I pondered a different question. What is home for me? During the past couple of days that my wife and baby girl have been in Hilo I've learned how much they mean to me. I've always known that there were everything but it's amazing how empty life can be without them now.

The two most important people in my world.

Here are some other things that make me feel at home:

Nothing reminds me of home more then my crazy family.  

My grandparents/parents.  Thank you for providing me a home.

Kam III (Where I spent many birthday parties at.)

Can't find this anywhere else in the world.

Expendables 2

Spoiler Alert!!!!!
Don't Read If You Haven't Seen The Movie

Ono (Love List)
When Chuck Norris, Bruce Willis and Arnold make an appearance all I can say is "Boom goes the dynamite."   
Happy that Liam's role was cut short. 

No Kan (Hate List)
Wish Jet Li had more of a role in the movie.
Still don't understand why Liam Hemsworth was added to the team. 
Wish the villains had a larger collection of big name actors on their side. 

Who should be added to the team?  (No specific order)

1.  Steven Segal:  No brainer.  The man that can break bones that you never knew you had.  Heck, he probably could break your ear into 5 pieces.  Here are some of his notable movies:  Above the Law, Under Siege, Hard to Kill and Exit Wounds. 

2.  Antonio Banderas:  He has already acted in an action movie with Stallone as a jittery assassin and before his role as Zorro/Puss in Boots he was gunning guys down with style in Desperado.  Here are some of his notable movies:  Desperado, Assassins and Zorro.  

3.  Jackie Chan:  Another Asian action legend.  He could replace Jet Li or work alongside since his style is distinct and they wouldn't overlap.  Here are some of his notable movies:  Rumble in the Bronx, Rush Hour and Shanghai Noon.  

4.  Vin Diesel:  Mr. Fast and Furious himself.  Angry and cocky.  Just what you want out of your action hero.  Here are some of his notable movies:  Fast and Furious, XXX and Pitch Black. 

 
5.  Dwayne Johnson:  Wouldn't it be great to see the Rock and Arnold duke it out.  Muscles with personality.  Dwayne would fit perfectly in the next movie.  Here are some of his notable movies:  Faster, Fast Five, Doom and Run Down.  

6.  Wesley Snipes:  Another guy that has acted with Stallone and held his own.  He could play the villain and have an epic fight against Jet Li or Jason Statham.  Here are some of his notable movies:  Blade, Demolition Man and Art of War.     

7.  Lucy Liu:  Can't forget the ladies.  Killing you softly.  Here are some of her notable movies:  Kill Bill, Charlie's Angel and Ballistic.       
    

Olympic Proposition

Duke Kahanamoku at the 1920 Olympic Games

 During this Olympic season I've followed the games closer then I ever had.  No doubt the Viggle incentive has been a great motivator.  The hours spent watching has me begging to ask, "What if?"  So in this post I'm letting my creative juices flow as I imagine if I ruled the world.

What if?

#1  Hawaii was an independent nation

Assuming Hawaiians hadn't intermarried as much and many of the people hadn't died from disease.  Imagine the Hawaiians that Captain Cook met.  I would venture to guess with Hawaii being surrounded by water would do well in most water events, especially swimming and rowing.  In addition, if Lua was still a common practice we'd have competitors in judo, boxing and wrestling.  Finally, if the stories of Kamehameha's strength were true Hawaiians could compete in weightlifting and many of the field events.  With my assumptions in place, I wouldn't be surprised if Hawaii would win at least one medal.  What do you think?  

#2  Mixed Martial Arts was an Olympic event

It would be one of the most watched events in the Olympics.  If you've watched UFC events live or  on television you know this sport naturally breads nationalism.  Who wouldn't want to see the best fighters in the world come together to find out which country has the best hand to hand battlers.  What event would you like to see? 

#3  The Olympics were held in Hawaii

First of all, it would be beneficial for the economy and what athlete wouldn't want to party in Hawaii.  Secondly, the summer weather would be ideal for outdoor athletic competition.  No need to worry about any rain delays.  Finally, we have adequate security with the amount of military stationed in Hawaii.  I can't really think of any down side to having it in the middle of the Pacific.  Where would you like to see the Olympics held?