What the Loss to OKC means for Magic

the orlando magic opened up their season yesterday against the oklahoma city thunder, and while they looked good coming out the gates, somehow this imaginary lid covered the basket after a hot start. the bright spot from last nights game came in the form of ryan anderson who was the one constant all night. yes i know jameer got to the basket but lets see if he does that all year. the resigning of jason richardson looks like it will haunt the magic for the next four years after his horrible beginning to the season and the man who wants to leave orlando so bad still cant hit free throws. now look i know the philosophy of the magic has been four out one in since van gundy came aboard but when the four out aint working you got to attack. jameer attacked with regularity last night but still looks like one of the laziest point guards in the league. but no one else did. another sour spot for the magic was transistion defense. it seemed no one wanted to get back on defense which allowed plenty of easy looks for the thunder. now i know they are looked at as favorites out west and its only one game but, the inconsistencies that plague this team is still there. no lockdown defender, no one to create their own shot, poor player management by the coach, j rich should not have gotten all those minutes. maybe tonight we see a different team, maybe?

What we Learned: Take Care of the Ball

the nba is back and yesterday was our first chance to check out how the lockout would change how the game is played this year. well after watching all five games i can say that turnovers and fouls will plague teams early and often as we move deeper into the season. this comes from a lack of being able to gel together in such a rushed offseason but this much i can say when these things subside, teams will be able to play a more efficient game together but the numbers are staggering. miami the team who won the largest also had the most turnovers as a team with twenty two while out in oakland the newest assembled team took better care of the ball than anyone with the clippers only committing ten. now i look at the first two weeks of this year as an extended preseason but if these teams dont find ways to tak care of the ball it could be a long season.

Merry Christmas the NBA is BACK!!!!!

HO HO HO MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!!!!

Hey I know it's been a while but I am back and on this very special Christmas Edition of the Blazin Sports Blog I'm going to point out the one key thiing to look for in each game today.

Celtics vs Knicks
We all know that the addition of Tyson Chandler helps make the Knicks bolster arguably the best frontcourt in all the NBA with Amare Stoudamire and Carmelo Anthony. Now Chandler brings defense to the team but no one else on the team really does outside of Landry Fields. I'm interested in seeing if Chandler's defensive mentality brushes off on the rest of his teammates the way it did in Dallas. We know Melo has never been a defender and neither has Amare, and losing Billups will hurt them as he was a big point guard. Against the aging Celtics, who still are more than capable of putting up a challenge to some of the top teams but with Pierce likely out they may struggle. We will see if these Knicks can find a defensive formula under Coach Mike D'antoni, who preaches offense more than defense.

Heat vs Mavericks
The big thing I'm looking for in this matchup is role players on both teams. The Heat haven't managed to make nearly as much of a splash in the offseason as they would have liked, in adding Shane Battier and Eddy Curry (c'mon man). They really haven't helped their most glaring needs in which were the point guard spot and center position. On the other side you have Dallas who lost Chandler,JJ Barea, Deshawn Stevenson who were all key in helping win the NBA title last season, but added veterans all around with Lamar Odom, Vince Carter, Delonte West, and shot blocker Sean Williams. Will these pieces integrate into a fluid system or will it take time to learn each other's tendencies to play well on the court? We will see?

Bulls vs Lakers
I'm interested in seeing how well the most important, in my opinion, offseason acquisition plays alongside the MVP Derrick Rose, and that man is Rip Hamilton. Why people have overlooked this move so much is bafflling to me. The one thhing the Bulls lacked last year was someone who could compliment Rose in the backcourt and I believe they have found exactly what they need in Rip. He's another Ray Allen type who can come off screens and is crafty in getting his own shot. He's a great veteran and will defintely help out on both ends of the court. If this Bulls team stays healthy with the addition of Rip they will win the East in my opinion.

Magic vs Thunder
The one game I have to show no bias for but there are two things I have to watch for in this game. The first is will this Magic team show Dwight Howard that they can win with them surrounding him. Dwight wants to leave we all know this, but will his teammates step up and show him that this is where he wants to be by defeating one of the favorites to get to the Finals in the Thunder. Dwight says he will play hard regardless of where he's at because he wants to win, so his teammates have to step it up and help him out. On the opposite side of the court will Russell Westbrook realize that this is Kevin Durant's team and be a better teammate instead of trying to takeover the game by shooting his team in the foot instead of making them better. Everyone points the finger and rightfully so, at Westbrook for taking too many bad shots in last year's playoffs. If he comes out and becomes a better playmaker for his team is they key for this team this year.

Clippers vs Warriors
Lob City taking on the run n gun Warriors. If nothing else this game will feature plenty of highlights, but what both teams have to show is the one thing they don't have yet, DEFENSE. Both teeams will have a chance to show one is better than the other on the defensive end of the court, but neither has been looked at as great defensive not even good defensive teams. With Steph Curry possibly missing tonight's game it will be interesting to see exactly how the Warriors replace his steals. Ishmael Smith is a good defender and could see the court as the starter if Curry can't go. But with bioth teams projected to be offensive juggernauts we will see who is able to slow the other down. The Clippers have better defenders but the Warriors new head coach Mark Jackson wants his young athletic team, who's more than athletic enough, to use that ability on both ends of the court. We shall see what happens.

CP3 is Finally Traded

Now we all know the saga that has been following Chris Paul and his journey to get to LA and that journey has finally came to an end. The Clippers got what they wanted and the Hornets got what they wanted. Now time will tell, depending on who comes out for the draft, if the pick that New Orleans received will help replace CP3 but, receiving Eric Gordon as the new face of the team, for this season at least, will be great for the New Orleans Hornets moving foward. Now we know that this isn't a moving foward move for the Clippers they are trying to get back in the playoffs right now and I believe they have the right pieces in place to do just that. Now most people are wondering if a two point guard backcourt can work and I believe it can ultimately with two varying point guards. Chauncey Billups, the wily veteran and proven leader, will undoubtedly help especially with Eric Bledsoe on the team. His game mainly perimeter oriented at age 34, will compliment Paul's penetration ability to a greater extent than people realize. When you look at the options available for Chris Paul to dish the ball to, Blake Griffin, Deandre Jordan, Caron Butler, and Billups, this team will be an offensive force with their starting lineup. They still have Randy Foye coming off the bench who had a decent season last year as well as Mo Williams still on the team. In addition to bringing in Trey Thompkins and Travis Leslie from Georgia through the draft two great scorers in college who know each other well, this could be a very dynamic team. Now there are a few questions as to whether they can pick it up on the defensive end as they were 20th in the league last year in terms of OPPG, but were still top 10 in team rebounds. Ultimately this team will have more balance offensively and will be fun to watch, questions remain as to whether CP3 will be healthy all season as well as Caron Butler, but if these two stay healthy in a shortened season the Clippers will make the playoffs.

Dwight's Change of Heart

they say time heals all wounds but the magic have the possibilty to avoid a big one after dwight howard has had a slight change of heart after requesting a trade. what is more amazing is the people reportedly helped him make the decision to give the team a chance , glen davis. now i have never been a davis fan after all he did play for the celtics and drained a game winner against us in the playoffs a few years ago, but his first act on the magic roster has to be applauded. now i have been critical of otis smith for his past moves, getting rid of courtney lee for a washed up vince and bringing in a hobbled gilbert arenas, but he has a chance to redeem himself if he can find a way to secure the services of chauncey billups. now as of this writing billups should have cleared waivers and become a free agent, if this is the case there is no reason the magic can not secure his services. everyone knows the magic need a bonafide leader on the team and he is it. it has also been reported that dwight will lobby for billups to play in a magic uniform. if this does happen i see no reason as to why the magic wont be able to be propelled right back into the nba title picture. let us hope there is some real magic in orlando in being able to bring in mr. big shot. at this point it should be get whatever dwight wants to keep him around as long as possible

Albert Pujols breaks the Bank

Who would've thought the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheimwould have won the Albert Pujols sweepstakes. All offseason we heard the Cubs and Cardinals would've been the top two to pursue his services, and even the Marlins made a play for the arguably best player in baseball. Then in the blink of an eye the Angels came swooping in giving him 10 years 254 million reportedly with a no trade clause throughout. Now a lot of people in the Lou are wondering why did he choose the Angels or why didn't the Cardinals try harder to pursue him. That my friends I cannot answer but If Pujols does return to St. Louis in an Angels uniform, which I'm sure he will at some point, the fans shouldn't spurn him for what he's done. They knew since the beginning of last season that this was coming. They knew the possibility of Pujols not coming back and that St. Louis wasn't willing to negotiate with him until after the season. Now everyone knows that in order to keep someone for the long term you have to give whatever you can to keep that player. The Cards weren't willing to do whatever it took to keep him in St. Louis and the Angels offered 40 million more than the Cards did. I'm no genius but I wouldn't leave 40 million on the table either. Can't hate on the man for taking more money. Also the Angels picked up C.J. Wilson as well to give them probably the best set of starters in the AL. The main thing the Angels have wanted for years was a big bat they finally got one in Pujols but the lineup will still be a little suspect if Vernon Wells can't rediscover what he had. And you also have to wonder what Torii Hunter has left. This will be interesting to see how well Pujols performs in AL play.

Why Andrew Luck needs Peyton Manning if Drafted by Colts

If there's anything we have learned this season in the NFL is that one man can make a team. Peyton Manning the unquestioned franchise that is the Indianapolis Colts has missed the whole season and the Colts have done squat this year. It's quite sad too when you think about it. So basically guaranteed to be the team with the number one pick this upcoming draft the Colts should not only draft Andrew Luck but keep him as an understudy to Peyton Manning. If there's one thing I've seen as it relates to rookie QB's the past couple of years is that learning from a veteran is a lot more valuable than being thrown into the fray. Alex Smith comes to mind, Sam Bradford has had a tough 2nd year, Matt Ryan wasn't always Matty Ice, and even though Cam Newton has been impressive he's still throwing INTs at a high rate. Here's the thing if any example should be looked at as a success story its Aaron Rodgers. He sat behind Brett Favre for years learning what to do and what not to do. What amazing thing has he done he's having quite possibly the greatest year in NFL history as it relates to the QB position. Why does that matter? Here's why Favre was an old school gunslinger and that has gotten him the INT record which no one really wants, what Peyton Manning is, he's the essential field general. Not only is he, in my opinion, the greatest quarterback of our generation, but he's also the model quarterback to follow for years to come. Andrew Luck could pick the brain of the best quarterback while he's still around and take the time to learn the quarterback position properly form the best in the game today. It paid off great for Rodgers who has a Super Bowl under his belt already. Consider this Big Ben struggled the hard way, Mark Sanchez is still struggling, Joe Flacco is struggling this year, Blaine Gabbert is struggling. All QBs thrown to the fire to start their respective careers, granted Ben has won championships but that was largely due to the Steelers D not Ben. The Colts would be setting themselves up for failure to trade away Manning for Luck or vice versa. Manning should retire a Colt for all he's done for that team and organization and for a future franchise quarterback to learn from a sure fire Hall of Famer would be great in solidifying that team for even more years to come. As long as somewhere down the road that defense undergoes an overhaul. The future for Indy starts with Luck and for the future to succeed he should learn from the Present.

Deron Williams not CP3 is the Answer

The Magic are making a huge mistake by entertaining offers for Dwight Howard. Sure you can send him anywhere but why concern yourself about shipping him out when you desperately need to FIND HELP for him to stay. There are players to be had and the one that makes more sense than any other is Deron Williams. Now it's no forgone conclusion that Deron is a lock to stay in New Jersey but, if I'm Otis Smith and I know that this organization thrives on the very existence of Dwight in a Magic uniform then you offer what the Lakers did when they reportedly wanted both Dwight and Chris Paul, offer everything except Dwight. They have the amnesty to use on either Hedo Turkoglu or on Gilbert Arenas, but if the Magic can somehow pull off a miracle trade by sending either one to New Jersey absorb the contract of Travis Outlaw so the Nets still have their amnesty, and can use it on one of the said names being shipped out, then we can make a miracle happen here in Orlando again. I know its far fetched considering the Nets want to build their marketing plans around D-Will but, at the same time New Jersey has been in the dark about his decision as to whether or not he will stay or go. Everyone has the presumption that Chris Paul is the answer to keeping Dwight here in Orlando but, he isn't the only answer out there. Chris Paul will do a lot for this Magic team no doubt, but I'd much rather see Deron Williams here instead. He's proven he can take over games in the clutch, he's more athletic, stronger, and durable than CP3 has shown in the past and can also create for his teammates. The debate among point guards as to whether or Paul, Williams, or Derrick Rose is debatable but, the answer isn't Chris Paul, who's often injured and is nowhere near the additional scoring punch that Deron could bring to the Magic, it is Deron Williams.

NBA 2K12 Full Review

Well another year has come and as we approach a year with only college basketball to look forward to, at the moment, the NBA will still be represented by NBA 2K12. Now last year's 2K11 I thought was the BEST basketball game ever made, I was wrong because it has been surpassed by NBA 2K12 in every way. I'm going to break it down for you all out there.

Presentation
Now 2K brought it last year with presentation though some things were lacking, like arena specific sounds, they had some not all, and crowd reactions to certain situations. Well that has all been addressed this year as clutch moments bring proper crowd reactions, if you're up at home the crowd will always be in a frenzy cheering on every bucket you pour on. If you're getting blown out well crickets can be heard in the disappointment in the crowd. Every arena has a "Broadcast Stadium" camera which is how I play although most prefer the 2K camera, I've grown up on broadcast style, and each one looks absolutely great. New to the presentation element this year are new enhanced intros to the teams. Some games you'll get the basic 5-Man staring lineup in others you'll get this cool player by player intro that looks absolutely great and because it varies so much you don't really get tired of them. New to the commentary booth this year is Steve Kerr who seamlessly adds a great sense of a real life broadcast that you'll get from TNT. It's amazing how well that he Kevin Harlan and Clark Kellogg work so well together, and in a year's time at that. This is by far the BEST commentary you'll find in any sports game, a title previously held by MLB The Show. Then you have little things like stat overlays and upcoming games showing up in the lower left to promote upcoming games. And it doesn't stop there in My Player David Stern, love him or hate him, lends his voice to announcing you during the NBA Draft granted he didn't record all the schools available its still pretty cool. This has to be by far the best sports presentation in any game ever made spot on and major kudos to 2K. The one drawback to the game has to be the faces on the players as some still look like aliens although some look good but others are just downright ugh.

Gameplay
Here's where a game makes or breaks itself and 2K definitely made itself in this category. By far the best game play in any basketball game ever created is what makes this game simply astounding. The level of control given to you by 2K is absolutely ridiculous. Gone are the days of canned animations everything can be chained or linked to make your own shot work for you. Drive the lane fake out a defender going one way, lose the help with a pump fake, go for the layup absorb the contact count it and 1, Its all possible in this game, granted you take the time to learn the way to pull these moves off. There is a great Training Camp mode which teaches you everything at your disposal that you can do while playing the game. Its amazing the amount of control you have on both ends of the floor, I love it. Player collision is great and adds a real sense of realism of a real basketball game. Now I don't know if the game itself was toned down in terms of difficulty or not but three point shots are easier to knock down for me at least, I'm pretty sure this can be adjusted but by default, Superstar Simulation for me, it seemed pretty easy for me. Also ball physics are great, in addition to there being no canned animations the ball isn't just attached to any player it is in itself an entity, no rebounds are automatic until secure and blocks happen a lot more realistically, at first I thought I was getting too many blocks when I shouldn't have but that was just one game. My Player is new and improved and gives you a sense of actually playing out the life of an NBA rookie to Superstar, its fun and very engaging. Association mode is enhanced by the added ability to go online and play a full season with others worldwide or just with friends. Blacktop Mode now has a crowd although they are just there for looks its still better than the helicopter spotlight games of last year maybe this can be patched lets hope so.

Final Verdict
If you're a fan of basketball and video games there's no reason not to obtain what should be sports game of the year. Greatest Mode with time accurate presentation and one thing not being emphasized enough in my opinion is that while in greatest mode they highlight 15 players they give you 30 classic teams in all with accurate rosters. Presentation is top notch and gameplay is everything you want in a sports game even though there are always improvements to be made we'll wait till 2K13 to see that. Let's enjoy this phenomenal game for now.

Graphics-8.5 +Arenas and Presentation -Player Faces
Gameplay-9.5 +So much control over players, collision system works well -steep learning curve
Presentation-10 Best ever in any sports game commentary, stat layouts, replays everything seems like a TNT broadcast
Re playability-10 Greatest Mode, My Player, Association, Nikeid so much more to keep you going.

Overall-9.5/10

NBA 2K12 Initial Impressions

There's no reason NBA 2K12 shouldn't win sports game of the year and its evident across the full realm of everything the game has to offer. In my opinion there hasn't been a SPORTS game that has given you the amount of capabilities that NBA 2K12 offers. I mean look at EVERYTHING that you have at your disposal here. Deep franchise, deep career mode, a training camp to learn everything you can do in the game, even make your own damn shoes. And those are just the features, game play wise I have never felt so in control of my player on the court, ice, field whatever. NBA nails this beautifully. The various amount of ways to move on the court on both ends is just simply astounding. I guess the only thing 2K has left to work on is player models, because everything else is ridiculously awesome. If there is a downside to the game I haven't found it in game play, and we all play games for game play. Sure any game can look good but can it play and that's what 2K has nailed right on the head. My Player is by far and away more fun than ever, Association Mode is amazing as usual, little things like upcoming games showing up at the bottom of the screen is ridiculously awesome, and don't get me started on Greatest Mode, TREE ROLLINS IS IN THE GAME PEOPLE!!! If you're a fan of basketball and video games this is a must have.

Gears 3 Multiplayer Review

Ok so I've had Gears of War 3 now for close to two weeks and I'm engulfed in the multiplayer experience that Gears offers. It's streamlined right from the get go to where you can invite any of your friends into a party from the main menu and get started.

First let's talk about the actual game modes now within Gears you can play any game mode with multiple people from the campaign right down to Beast Mode everything can be done with anywhere between 2-10 people depending on game mode. Now that's awesome in itself but the one thing I really want to emphasize is TEAMWORK or lack there of in some cases. I've played through all the different game modes and of course Horde is quite possibly the most addicting, but that's my opinion. In Team Deathmatch its 5v5 with a respawn count rather than a score system. The team that runs out of lives first loses in a best of 5 series. Now I don't know if people are so accustomed to Call of Duty's run and gun style but that DOES NOT WORK IN GEARS PEOPLE!!!! There's a reason this game has set the standard in terms of using cover because it works awesomely but people don't seem to know how to use it in TDM. I've come across plenty of teams who know how to work as a team and I commend them but for some reason I get stuck with players who just don't get it. It's definitely a game in which your friends will work better than random players. In Execution its pretty awesome that you get to learn and experiment with the various forms of execution available in the game. Besides its the only way to kill an opponent. Warzone the classic mode returns one life per player. King of the Hill domination style gameplay which players control different sections on the map when they pop up. Wingman is a blast to play with a friend 2v2v2v2 it really shows how much you can dominate with a teammate. Capture the Leader is ok if you have a team thats dedicated to protecting the leader of the team.

Now onto Horde which is freaking awesome because of the added ability to fortify a command post for your team. Now with each round you earn cash based on your performance in said round leading up to the 10th round aka the Boss Round which is by far the best round, anyway you build spikes turrets sentries all kinds of things to help protect you from the locust. All of these can be upgraded once you use them enough I love the turrets and the wires that you can get. All of the fortifications that you can obtain work very well. Now the difficulty is ratcheted up this year and it works well especially with a good squad behind you. Its easy to get lost in time playing this mode alone and with DLC coming soon it gives the game endless re-playability.

Beast mode on the other hand while fun is taken away because there's a time limit on seeking out COG's to kill and since it seems no one plays Beast mode its hard to get a team together to see how well it can work. And I've only played it alone and the fact that main characters have to be executed and in addition COG's can revive their fellow COG's it really adds an element of strategy.

All in all multiplayer in Gears is addicting and fun and can be enjoyed throughout the whole game it makes the game's lasting appeal really awesome. If you have any questions I haven't covered let me know i'll answer them.

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Girls and What I Find Hot and Not About Them

You know one question i'm asked on a consistent basis is where's your girlfriend, well I don't have one and its by choice. Sure there are plenty of women out there in the world to choose from but why go out and seek someone when the right might just fall in your lap. For all I know I may have found them or I may have passed them I don't know, but that's not what this is about this is about what I find attractive in a girl well more importantly INSTANT hot. Now those who know me know that i'm not a complicated guy I live a very simple life some say too simple but hey its my life and not yours. Well anyway everyday I leave the house everyday, and everyday I leave I see what can be described in between classy to hoochie there are all kinds of women out there, and not all of them are attractive and not all of them are unattractive. Well let's start off with what I don't like.

Dont's

*Loud- Any girl I can hear 20 yards away just talking to one other person or sitting in a room 5 tables down over the rest of the room is just flat out rude. Especially those who are on the phone and everyone can hear there conversation.
*Extreme Hair- There's a very large difference between a hairdo and hairdon't and some girls take it to the extreme. Now If you're going to throw streaks in your hair a hint of color is perfectly fine or fain't highlight like you nnotice them but they blend in are ok, even dyeing your hair is ok is good as long as it isn't extreme like walking around with Magic blue in your head for a month and your personality doesn't fit. Like I can see it with punk girls or goth girls because it suits there style, but if you going extreme and your personality ain't matching it then please don't do it. Especially if you paying money for one night and stuck with it for 3 weeks it just ain't right.
*Control freaks- this is one that us guys just can't seem to escape. All girls no matter who they are and no matter their personality will always want things their way. Now i'm a firm believer in keeping your girl happy because if she isn't she'll let you know but for a girl to force her will upon me just isn't gonna fly. I don't care how hot she is, or what she can do for me there's not enough things in the world to force myself to give in to belittling myself as a man in order to keep her happy. There's only so much anyone can take before they break and for a girl to try and come and change who I am how I live and what I do with my life by force isn't going to happen. Sure you can suggest somethings but don't force them otherwise you can force yourself out the door.
*Clingy- Ok I know you like me and I know you want to be around me but don't constantly cling to me like i'm dying of cancer and have on 2 hours to live. There's a difference in showing affection and being a parasite know and learn the difference.
*Smokers- Self explanatory if you smoke then to each they own
*Drunks- OK I get it people drink and I have no problem with that there's no problem with having a few drinks every now and then, but if you drink to get drunk every time you open up some alcohol then there's no need of me getting to know you. I'm not your designated driver, I'm not around to control you if you get out of control or over emotional I say these things because I have seen them and experienced them. its not fun and its not attractive by any means.
*Attention Whores- Ok there's nothing wrong with looking good, there's nothing wrong with makeup enhanced beauty is perfectly fine but its when these things get taken to levels of 'Hey everyone look at me'. This comes in the form of revealing clothes, big mouths, overdoing makeup and many other factors. there's a difference between looking good and being a walking billboard, don't advertise yourself for attention and those that go after that attention only want one thing in return so those I avoid as well.

Well those pretty much sum up what detracts from a girl lets talk about what makes them stand out in my eyes (Remember this is just my opinion on what makes a girl hot not necessarily what i'm looking for but what makes them stand out from the rest)

*Natural Beauty- A girl who keeps herself looking good without enhancing her look through artificial means shows that she is confident in herself and knows she doesn't have to put up a front in order to look good. Natural beauty is everything to me. It represents that she does feel good about herself and doesn't care about what you think accept her for who she is. There's nothing hotter than a naturally sexy girl.
*In Shape- This is huge now when I say in shape I don't mean she's an athlete but that she can keep up in physical activity. When I say this I mean she can go out for a light jog with me and not complain about the heat or getting tired 30 seconds into the run. One who isn't afraid to get a little dirty a little sweaty through different activities. Is willing to to get out and have fun under the sun.
*Can Cook- Any guy out there pretty much can agree with this. If a girl can cook in a variety of ways from traditional American to Italian to Soul Food to Asian. She doesn't need to know how to cook in all of these ways but any of these will do.
*Likes Sports- Once again a HUGE one for me, it's one thing for a girl to watch sports with you and you educate her on the game that's fine and dandy nothing wrong with that, but a girl that can come up to me and say 'Did you see how Tom Brady had the 5th most passing yards in a game last night' THAT"S HOT!!! She doesn't have to be a sports guru but if she's involved enough in it to know the players that's a definite plus.
*Can Think for Herself- There's nothing more attractive than a girl who has her OWN mind and i'm not saying to the point where she shuns your ideas that's more along the lines of don't tell me what to do I don't need you , but I'm talking about the one's who know what they want and know how they can get there, whether on their own or with the help of others. A girl with a good head on her shoulders is always hot to me. An independent thinker and knows what she wants whether its a life goal or a short term goal in order to get somewhere closer its always good to find a girl who can think and act for herself and knows what she wants for herself.
*Gamer- Any girl who can play video games and be competitive in them is INSTANT HOT!!
*Independent- Any girl who can show that she is strong willed and can survive on her own is HOT!! A lot of guys may fear this in a girl but its a trait that separates those who need to hinge onto a security blanket of some kind from those who can take a bull by the horns, it shows good strong character.
*She Can Kick My Ass- Any girl who has the ability to kick my ass is hot and like it was once stated in a great movie 'Don't let the old age fool you, I ain't no easy win'. Something about an athletically gifted girl who can fight that adds to their sex appeal.

Well those are a good majority of factors that I believe set a girl apart from being awesome or not. Remember this is my opinion and not necessarily what i'm looking for in a girl just the things that stand out if I'm being introduced to them or find out through conversation or however I may discover these things.

Just Running My Mouth

Well it's been a inute but i'm back and gonna talk a whole lot about nothing, just things that have been on my mind.

Item one on the agenda is preparation and the lack of it. I try to be as prepared as possible but sometimes you just get so excited that you wanna rush into things. Like right now I have my film project and instead of proper preproductin i'm trying to rush and get it done. Things take time and I want them to flow together so yeah right now i'm taking my time to actually get this thing to look right and get myself in the right state of mind to bring the best short film that I could possibly present to the masses. It'll be my first but definitely not my last. But the fact still remains I need to give 100% so you guys have something o truly enjoy.

Second item people I like making people happy I really do and I appreciate everyone who is a part of my life, but sometimes I just want to be left the fuck alone. It's not against anyone and don't take it as i'm mad at you or that something is wrong with me, just know that some days i don't wanna be bothered by anyone. I like being alone sometimes away from civilization away from life away from problems and just soak in the things around me and enjoy my time to myself. Don't look at me as I am an outcast (even though I am) but just like everyone else you have a point where you don't wanna be bothered. I have quite a few days like that because there are a lot annoyances in the world that I deal with, but i'd rather not have to deal with them 24/7. If i'm quiet or if I look like I don't wanna be bothered take a hint.

Lastly sports and video games. As it stands right now there won't be an NBA season, NFL and College Football will be in full swing and the NHL will be getting started just after the the World Series wraps up. The thing that I enjoy about this is it'll give me a chance to actually pay full attention to sports I don't normally follow as thoroughly as i'd normally do. Sure i'm a fan of sports but the only sport I ever followed diligently was the NBA. I'll enjoy this opportunity to catch up on everything that's going on in the world of sports. But in addition to sports the fall always brings a whole new selection of new video games for us to enjoy. And me being a huge HUGE gamer I absolutely am salivating at the fact that we have such a wide selection of new games coming out starting next week with Gears of War 3, which I will have next Friday (payday). In addition to that we have Batman:Arkham City, NBA 2K12, Fifa 12, but the games that will trump them all will be Battlefield 3 and Modern Warfare 3. In my opinion i'm more excited for Battlefield than MW3 because it seems more like a full fledged war rather than an action shooter like MW3 not that i'm knocking MW3 i'm getting them both but i honestly believe i'll have more fun with Battlefield, either way without the NBA this year i'll be thoroughly entertained.

Flipping and Parkour

So the other day I'm outside training and as usual I get approached by some youngsters maybe around 12-14 asking me what I'm doing. So I tell them I'm training in the art of parkour. So they respond "no you're not, people who do parkour can flip." I said "that's not always the case" and they respond "well if you can't flip then you don't know how to do parkour." You know the thing that I hate is that no matter who I've talked to who wasn't informed on what parkour actually is always reverts back to "Can you flip?" Look I train in the art of parkour a discipline that requires plenty of time and dedication in order to become efficient in movement. Now I'm not dissing any guys who trick or flip or any other moves that look awesome and appealing to the eye, I commend their talents actually. Me on the other hand I'm focused on the flow of movement, not the flashy aspect of parkour. Which people otherwise refer to free running is some thing that I'm not necessarily into. I don't knock other people for their choice in art style because its all a matter of freedom of movement, but don't knock me for not being into flipping. If you want to flip go right ahead, I train in parkour as a way to keep myself in shape as well its just plain fun. This is more or less an informative post about people who only look at parkour as flash and frills. Like any other physical activity parkour takes a lot of time and dedication just like basketball, skateboarding, swimming, or any other activity. If a guy can't dunk in basketball does that mean he can't be a future All-Star, if a cyclist isn't as fast as others does that mean he still can't endure the Tour de France and win it. I'm not saying this in reference to competitions but in life as well. Just because a warehouse worker isn't as strong as others does that mean he or she can't still unload a pallet, just because a cop isn't in tremendous shape does that mean he still can't chase down a guy on foot. Everything takes training and patience to endure anything in life. Those who choose to flip are doing them because they want to, those who don't do it because they don't. I happen to fall in the latter category. Sure I like to see guys who are athletic and trained enough to flip because it's appealing to the eye, but I don't discourage them by saying all you do is flip let me see your precisions. Its not about that its about encouraging others no matter what their skill level is. I wish the stereotype as it relates to parkour wasn't relegated to just flips in the public's eye. The media is part to blame for this but its also in the media that they look for grounds to entertain the masses. No one wants to get cancelled on tv so they have to portray things a certain way. It shouldn't be discouraged what a guy's skill level is in terms of their training, everything and everyone has their limitations to what they can and can't do and what they are willing or not willing to learn. We need to spread the word about the freedom of what parkour represents as well as what free running represents. It doesn't matter what you are whether you're a traceur, trickster, free runner, stuntman, whatever it may be, I encourage you to continue training hard in your craft and everyone TRAIN HARD!!!!

Respect the Ladies

One thing that will always be a fact fro now till the end of civilization is that the world of sports is a Male dominated area. The reason for that is simple its more guys who are into sports than anything else from football,basketball, and hockey to swimming, skateboarding, and mma, but the sad thing about this fact is that there are women who are out there doing these exact same things and not getting recognized for it. When you turn to ESPN, Fox Sports, CBS or anything of the sort you'll most likely see nothing but highlights of male athletes. Why is that? Its because women are overlooked as sub par competitors as it relates to a man's game. When I asked a group of guys what would get them to watch women's sports, they responded "hotter females". WHY?!?!?! Then I asked if they could name any female athletes top 3 90 percent of them responded Serena Williams. So I asked if they could name any other women they said not really. Majority of men like beautiful women and I can't disagree because I do as well, but is that the only reason I watch female athletes, NO!!! Women deserve more respect in the world of sports. They train just as hard, work just as hard, and practice just as hard as any other male athlete out there to hone there craft to become better athletes in whatever sport they choose. We just had the Women's World Cup and the only thing most guys remember is Hope Solo and Alex Morgan and why is that? Its because that's who the media portrayed as the faces of women's soccer here in the States. As true as that may be no one talked about Abby Wambach becoming the All Time leader in goals scored or how she came on strong late especially in the game against Brazil which essentially propelled the US through the rest of the tournament. The general male demographic only remembers pretty faces in women sports whether they're success stories like Serena Williams or failures in transcending like Gina Carano. That's a great example actually. Gina Carano was hyped as the face of women's MMA and everyone bought into it including me why? Because of what everyone else was saying. I never heard of Cyborg Santos until it was announced that she would face her for the Title in Strikeforce. Low and behold Gina got her ass kicked and hasn't fought since. But nobody is talking about Cyborg why, because she isn't as physically appealing as Gina. And that shouldn't be the case. Anyone that knows MMA knows that Brazilians train in some of the most brutal ways and women are no exception. People need to wake up and realize there's more to women than just eye candy. The WNBA has been at the end of jokes for many years but a league doesn't survive for 15 years for an inferior product. The women go out play hard and give there all. I remember back in the day on the PS1 when EA made March Madness 2000 or 2001 can't remember the exact one but they included I believe the top 25 women's teams in the game. And I've looked back on that and asked what happened? Why not continue with giving those girls the exposure they deserve? People need to realize that in sports its everything is not going to be driven by the men. The most popular woman on ESPN is Erin Andrews and its because she's hot, sadly she's associated more with sports than most women athletes. It should take more than international events and a pretty face to acknowledge the women in sports. Lorena Ochoa, Cyborg Santos, Natalie Coughlin, Justine Henin, Marta, Cat Osterman, Tamika Catchings, just to name a few. These aren't household names compared to a Candace Parker or a Natalie Gulbis. Now don't get me wrong I'm not knocking the beautiful talented athletes but there are more than the pretty girls that everyone knows that should be recognized for their outstanding efforts every time they take the field, court, or track. Wake up and realize that in a ale dominated world there plenty of females out there getting it done and they are not all the pretty face we are accustomed to seeing and that the media portrays. Appreciate all the women for their efforts that they give forth. Support the ladies and remember a lot of the could probably whoop ur ass in that sport.

Where's the sense of Urgency in the NBA?

Well another meeting has passed in the NBA Labor negotiations , or lack thereof, and all signs continue to point to NO NBA SEASON!!!! I mean come on you sit in a room for 6 hours and you discuss what, how we need to get a deal done but we won't do it for the sake of sacrifice. You know what this is why the NBA needs a new system right here. Too many Prima Donna in the league right now. It's really sad too. Most sports fans already believe that NBA players are the biggest divas in all the sports world and these off-season "negotiations" are further proving that. Look I'm all for players getting paid to play but the history of these bad contracts is clearly visible as team cripplers for players who don't deserve it. I'm all for non-guaranteed contracts, even though it has recently been reported that owners have backed off on this issue, but if you don't wanna have non-guaranteed contracts then take the pay cut. Like seriously players are notorious for doing either one of two things after getting paid big bucks, they either underachieve or get hit with injuries and take up space on the roster. Rashard Lewis, Jerome James, Baron Davis, Grant Hill, Eddy Curry are just a few that come to mind and there's plenty more that I could go after. And here's the worst part, you always hear analysts saying "when healthy" and "if they can get back to where they were before". That's one reason I wouldn't mind the non-guaranteed contracts. It can always cripple a team if you're overpaying one player on team that could use that money on another piece that could actually produce. Both sides are arguing valid points but it all leads to money. In a time where the NBA has reached heights it hasn't been in, in many many years, it's a shame that the year's leading up to such a great movement in the NBA will be rubbed out by greed.All signs point to lost games and even worse a lost season. It doesn't surprise me in the least bit either with emerging stars like Blake Griffin and Kevin Love becoming household names and teams on the rise like the Memphis Grizzlies and Indiana Pacers,, they will have to take a backseat to further growing as a team as players get older and fans grow tired as football season is in full swing this will be a dark age in the NBA. The only beneficiary may be the NHL. Without basketball hockey could see a rise in viewership if only they were on national TV more...

Madden NFL 12 Review

Well another year has passed and that means another lineup in sports games is about to hit shelves. Today was one that marked the arrival in probably the most popular in those games in Madden NFL 12. Well as we all know the name Madden itself sells but does that mean that it's worth your 60 bucks? Well I'm here to inform of the very verdict.

Presentation
One thing that Madden does have going for it is its visual presentation. Every team has authentic stadium fly-bys, team specific intros to the field and mascots. The TV style presentation does add to some great looking football as more players have better facial models than in year's past and you can really see the effort in lighting and in player models. Although some players, well most, seem alot larger than they should it doesn't detract from the overall look of the game. One gripe in visual presentation is the lack of instant replays. It makes no sense to have the cool animated transition but only to have the replay covered up by the playcall menu. Another downside to overall presentaion is the commentary which is inconsistent to say the least. You have Gus Johnson and Cris Collinsworth back in the booth and though at times they seem to sound like they're on the same tangent it breaks down into broken dialogue between the two that anyone can realize is recycled. You'd think that games such as MLB The Show and NBA 2K would've taught the brass at EA hey put the guys in the booth and start from scratch. But at the least it does a fair job of keeping up with 90% of the action.

Gameplay
On the field Madden does a great job of playing a consistent football game. Its very dynamic in the way that you run both the offense and defense. Me being a fan of classic football doesn't even bother with Gameflow. To me it should have never been implemented so I can't discuss how it works. I can however talk about the addition to change how you activate preplay reads. Last year Madden introduced us to D-Pad preplay
management, which I despised with a passion. It made for a confusing time of organizing your team before the ball snapped on defense or before a penalty on offense. But with them giving you the ability to go back to how it was in Madden 10 I was happy until it came to calling audibles out of your current formation. Its amazing how in NCAA it hasn't changed and is still fluid but Madden can't seem to nail it right. Then there's the actual game on the field, while playing Madden they have instituted new player roles similar to year's past. Now with this implementation into the game it gradually adjust to how a player is performing on the field. A player can either have an MVP type game or 1st round bust type game depending on how you play. I played a game with the Colts and ended up going 14-17 with Peyton Manning and the 3 incomplete passes were 2 tipped INTs and one ball knocked loose. so I figured ok maybe I just had a good game, I was playing the Eagles. So my next game I use the Titans and Matt Hasselbeck had an awful game due to dropped passes and Lebron linebackers, they jump high not as high as NCAA but high enough. I ended up goin 8-22 that game. But the difference I experienced with both games was how you start the game off. I started off completeing my first 6 passes with Manning and he got the ball rolling. With Matt I started off 0-7. So it does vary depending on how you start a game off same with all offensive positions that I saw. If a WR is dropping balls expect i all game. If a running back is only getting 3 yards per carry, expect it all game and vice versa. On the defnse side of things its a lot different. It all depends on how they are reacting to offenses. If your CB is getting beat consistently he  receivers on his side will feast but if he's shutting opposing players down then you might as well call it Revis island. Now these attributes I like because they don't effect the whole team just that player. So if your QB isn't doing well you better learn how to run the ball, which is very fluid I might add. getting between the tackles and finding that seam always feels rewarding everytime you do it. Also if one WR isn't catching balls find other targets it actually makes you manage a game dealing with Hot and Cold streaks in an in-game setting, backup QB's are very valuable this time around. Overall the game on the field isn't anything real different last year's game. It's well paced and very fun. If you know how to play Madden you should have no complaints.

Conclusion
Madden does what it does well which is play a great game of football that is fun and enjoyable, while I still believe the controls should be reinstated to the Madden 10 days its nice for them to try and restore order. With players playing more like their real life counterparts, if Chris Johnson breaks free you won't catch him and the Eagles are a lot more harder to pass on, it's not a whole lot here that makes this version seem like a breath of fresh air. The added presentation elements are nice but I know us fans would like to see more work put in on the gameplay level. In all if you're a fan of Madden you'll love what they've done, especially with some of the added depth to Franchise Mode. But for someone who's satisfied and still is in the clutches of Madden 11 there's not much reason to upgrade here.

Graphics 8.5/10
Sound 8/10
Gameplay 8.5/10
Replay Value 10/10
Overall 8.5/10