Ty Watches "The Contestant"

Last night I finished the new Hulu documentary "The Contestant". I clocked this movie solely based on a picture. I was scrolling through Hulu one day and saw this picture of a gentleman sitting down with wild hair and a bushy goatee. It was at that moment that I thought, what is this, and I need to find out asap. I did a little research and found out it was a doc about the first "reality show". I watched one trailer and that was all I needed to watch. I started it the other day, but my son got home from school, and he was not interested. That is why it took me two days to finish.

I really liked what I saw. This is an eye opening doc. There are so many things in here that made me gasp and audibly say things to no one besides my dog. I could not believe what I was seeing. The movie is about a young actor in Japan, nicknamed Nasubi. That is the Japanese word for eggplant. He is called this because he has a very long face. He was bullied as a child because of this, but found out that if he made people laugh, he would not get picked on. After growing up and not enjoying the day to day office life, he decided to become an actor and comedian. He was amongst a group of other no known actors to participate in a new show. His ticket was picked and he was off to do a show, of which he had no idea what it was going to be. He is taken to a room, stripped of all of his clothes, has the essential things to survive, and is told that he can only leave the room when he earns 1,000,000 yen by mailing in postcards from popular magazines. This all takes place in the late 90's. So, Nasubi knows he is being filmed, but doesn't think it is ever going to see the light of day. He is also totally alone and the only way to get food, clothes and whatever else he may need, is to play these mail in postcard games from magazines.

The doc starts off goofy and funny, but it quickly turns dark, and kind of sad. You can see the struggles Nasubi is going through. You can see him starving. At one point, after he eats all of his rice, he is left to eat dog food. I was so sad for him at that point. Seeing him slowly lose his mind was hard to watch. He didn't deserve this, but he was there everyday, everything being filmed and watched and he kept plugging away at these postcards. The producers and creators of this show kept pushing. People kept tuning in, so they just kept it going. They moved him and gave him new tasks. He had to figure things out all over again. And he did. And he was eventually done with this, but it still felt like bullying, the way he was treated afterward. He became a caricature. I felt really bad for him because you could tell he was still really struggling with everyday life. He eventually used his newfound fame to help others. He did what he could for the horrific tsunamis and earthquakes in his hometown. He climbed Mt Everest to make money for another earthquake in Delphi. He did things to help others. Instead of trying to take his fame and become an actor or comedian known worldwide, he did things to make sure others were taken care of. Nasubi is a good dude who did not deserve to go through the horrific 15 months he did for content. I am so glad he came out of the other end a better person.

I recommend this doc wholeheartedly. It is a glimpse inside the awful world of "reality tv", and how it kind of got its start. And Nasubi is so much better than the people who used him for 15 months. "The Contestant" is a very good doc and you should watch it right now. 

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing and the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast.

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I'm a Bronny James Fan

The NBA combine came and went these past couple of days. A bunch of the top prospects opted out of most of the drills and scrimmages, but some kids were still there trying to up their draft stock. One such prospect is Bronny James. You may know who his father is, LeBron James.

Bronny has been living in his father's shadow since he showed a proclivity for basketball. I remember hearing about Bronny being a decent prospect coming out of high school in regards to playing division 1 college basketball. He moved high schools, played at a prestigious basketball high school and got some D-1 offers. I was hoping Michigan would go after him. He eventually ended up at USC, close to home, and they brought in a monster class. Bronny then had a scary cardiac arrest situation and that sidelined him for a while. He missed the start of the season. He was eventually cleared to play mid-season and he did.

He was fine. He did not set the world on fire. He played in Isaiah Collier's shadow. Collier is one of the top prospects in this upcoming draft. But, Bronny never really set the college basketball world on fire. He plays the game correctly, but that doesn't add up to eye popping stats or highlight plays. USC also played well below their preseason status. They were below .500. They didn't make the NCAA or NIT tournament. And they were easily bounced from the Pac 12 tournament in round 2. The Bronny NBA stock was relatively low.

Then he entered the draft and the transfer portal. He was maintaining his college eligibility, but he was also going to see what his NBA stock looked like. He had a damn good combine. His vertical is big. He had good form and shooting touch. He made a bunch of threes. And he participated in the scrimmages. He looked a little timid in the first scrimmage, but in the second one, he balled out. He looked to score. He was quick to make a move to get to the basket. He played solid defense. He made the correct pass. He showed he has a chance to be drafted. And

I'm here for it. There are people out there that are degrading him. They are saying he is not an NBA prospect. They don't want him to succeed. They are mad at him for no reason, other than the fact that he is LeBron James' kid. The hate he is getting online is brutal. I feel pretty bad for him. These keyboard warriors are calling him all kinds of things, and I am certain they wouldn't score a point against him in a game of 1 on 1. It is easy to shit talk behind a screen name. But these people hold no control over Bronny's NBA future. But because of these keyboard nitwits, I am becoming a big time Bronny fan. I want this kid to make it and have staying power. He is already an above average defender. He showed in the scrimmages that he can hit floaters. He can also spot up for the corner three. He makes the correct decision in a half court offense. He runs the break really well. This kid has the skills to make it in the NBA for a good long while. And he should make it based on his own skill and merit. There is clearly something there. He has the goods. Some team may take a shot on drafting him. Or if he doesn't get drafted, he will most certainly be on a G League team. This isn't the Ball family we are talking about here. Bronny is so much more skilled than LiAngelo Ball. He seems to be much healthier than LaMelo or Lonzo. He has been medically cleared by the NBA.

I'm on Bronny's side. I am rooting hard for him. When/if he gets into the league, I'll be excited to see him play either with or against his dad. 

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing, the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast, and the greatest basketball writer on the internet.

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Ty Watches the "Megalopolis" Trailer

RD texted me last night and asked if I had watched the trailer for "Megalopolis" yet. I had not seen it yet. I had actually forgotten about this movie. I feel like it has been shelved for a while, and I thought it may not ever be released. But RD saw the trailer, and the fact that he texted me about it, meant I had to watch this trailer as soon as I could. I had a bunch of stuff going on yesterday, but after my kids went to bed, I went to Google and checked this trailer out.

I cannot wait to give this movie all of my money. The few trailers that I watch, when they get me hyped up, that is a sign of a movie I will remember, be it good or bad. Before checking out the trailer, I asked RD what he thought. He told me that this movie was either going to be awesome, or be so bad that it is awesome. He compared it to a movie we both talk about a lot, "Southland Tales". Those that know that movie get the comparison. "Southland Tales" is a movie that I know is not well made. There are far too many stories going on, and they gave that director too much money and he went wild. But, it is a movie that I think about often. I have gone back and watched it multiple times. This is a movie close to three hours by the way. I have invested a ton of time into a movie that, as I said, I know is bad, but it is often on my mind. If "Megalopolis" gives me this, it will be more than worth the price of admission.

The trailer I watched was barely less than two minutes, but it has so much packed in it. Adam Driver is the star of the movie, and forgiving his wild hair do, look it up, he usually does a pretty damn good job in every movie he decides to do. This looks no different. I get excited when I see him in a movie, and for him to do something this odd and different, I'm there. I also saw that Shia LaBeouf is in this movie, and he has seemingly no eyebrows for some reason. LaBeouf has his personal issues, he needs real therapy, he has problems he needs to deal with, but in this trailer he is going for it. He looks like the anti-hero of this movie, and when LaBeouf goes for it, and is given proper direction, he does good work. Outside of those two people, I could not tell you who else is in this movie. I know there are a bunch of people, and they all seem to be doing their best, but their names escape me right now.

It also needs to be said, Francis Ford Coppola directs this movie. He is one of the greatest directors to ever sit behind a camera. He is a legend. His work speaks for itself. He has earned the right to make a movie this big and weird and interesting. I don't know what he last directed, but he appears to let it all hang out in the trailer for "Megalopolis".

I am being honest when I say this is one of the wilder trailers I've ever watched. "Megalopolis" starts with some people in a limo, a shot of the Statue of Liberty with fire in the background, other statues removing themselves, as if they have gained sentience, and sitting down. Then, as if you think the world may be ending, it shows people in what looks like an underground society living it up. And there are people who look worse off, trying to overthrow these other people. Oh, and Laurence Fishburne, I remembered another actor from the movie, giving us a voiceover that is very coy. This all takes place within the first 30 seconds of the trailer. It only gets crazier from there.

Go watch this trailer. Prepare yourself so you can go see it on opening day like I am planning on doing. I cannot wait to watch this movie and then have many conversations about it afterward. I am excited about this craziness. And either way, be it good or bad, we all win. 

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing and the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast.

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Thundercat, Wooten, Claypool. Who is the King of the Bass?

While out for coffee this morning, a Thundercat song came on while we were driving back. I am a big Thundercat fan. He is a magician, a virtuoso if you will, on the bass.

When the song came on, my buddy Kirk mentioned that he just recently heard of Thundercat. I started to instantly sing his praises. I mentioned how I have seen other people online say that he is like a Transformer on the bass. He is an amazing bassist. I said, after heaping compliments on Thundercat, how I think he is one of the best bassists in the world. I mentioned that the only bassist that I think is better is Victor Wooten. Victor Wooten is truly one of a kind. I saw him live once, and boy oh boy was it amazing. I didn't know much about him when I went to the show, but I left a true convert. I was hooked. I devoured his whole catalog. I have been talking him up ever since. I said all of this to Kirk and my dad, and then Kirk hit me with a doozy. After saying that Wooten was the greatest bassist of all time, and Thundercat was second best, he asked me, what about Les Claypool? I had to sit back and think. I told him that he just shook my whole view on this topic. Les Claypool is also a wizard. He plays the bass like he is from another world. He also plays a bunch of different genres. He is stretchy. He can do some wonderful things on the bass.

Now I am stuck. I don't know who, of these three musicians, is the best at the bass. And I am sure that there are other bassists out there that I am forgetting. I don't listen to jazz or hard rock stuff where bass is a driving force. I don't know some of the underground or not yet discovered artists. Leave me alone. I am going totally based on my listening experience. These are the people I like. These are who I know and can talk a little bit about. If I didn't name your favorite bassist, I'm sorry. But also, get over it.

So, taking these three guys as my base, who is the best? Who plays the best? Who is the best writer of the three? Who has the longest staying power? Who is the most technically proficient? These are a few questions I have been pondering since we first talked about this about two hours ago. So, as far as who plays it best, or who is the most proficient, all three have their own high marks. Victor Wooten is the first person I ever heard play harmonics. He was also going wild at the live show. He was going fret to fret, string to string. He crushed. Thundercat, as previously mentioned, is a transformer. The stuff he does on the bass is second to none. He plays faster than Victor Wooten. He makes it look so easy, but what he is doing is incredibly difficult. He is the first person hip hop artists ask to be on their records. He is truly a virtuoso. As for Les Claypool, I mean, this dude is amazing. He literally shreds on the bass. He makes it sound like a guitar sometimes. He is almost too good at the bass. He has his own circus that he runs, and his band is who everyone wants to watch. He is the best of the best among a group of the best bass players in the US. As far as staying power, they all have a good deal. Thundercat has the hip hop community, as well as his solo stuff. Victor Wooten has a solo career, as well as playing with Bela Fleck and the Flecktones. As for Claypool, he has his circus. He has played with many rock bands. He has his own band. They are all going to be around for a long time. As for writing, Thundercat isn't that great, but his playing hides that. Victor Wooten is more an instrumentalist than a writer. As for Claypool, I almost feel like he is goofing off when he writes songs, and that is a-okay. I also like his goofy lyrics. And his playing is pretty damn dope. So, I am still finding myself stuck. At moments it is easily Thundercat, but then I go back and remember all the stuff I just said about Claypool and Wooten. Wooten's live show is a core memory. But, I haven't seen Thundercat or Claypool in concert as of yet. And they are all incredibly proficient on the bass. If I had to make a pick, if I was somehow forced to, I'd go with Thundercat, but just by a hair. And that may change from moment to moment.

All in all, these three dudes are at the top of their craft. If you haven't heard these guys play, do yourself a favor and start right now. They are all more than worth your time. 

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing and the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast.

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I Think I am Chargers Fan Now

Football cannot come soon enough. I enjoy basketball, and the playoffs are good and fun, but my team is not in it this year. I am not a baseball fan at all. I am so bored by the games. I only like watching my son play, and I also coach that team, so I'm heavily involved. I am not a hockey guy. I don't watch car racing. I will goof around on Sunday's and watch "The Ocho" whenever ESPN puts it on for the day. Hell, I miss football so much, I have found myself watching UFL games with my kid because he is heavily invested in our local team.

I have found myself playing a good amount of "Madden" lately, in preparation for the college football video game release. As I progress in the game, I like to be different teams than just the Packers. The Packers are my NFL team. I have rooted for them my whole life. They are the team I want to see win it all. While not on the level of Michigan football, the Packers are very high on my rooting interest list. But, when playing "Madden", there has been one team I have been picking a bunch lately. That team is the LA Chargers.

This is probably an easy pick for people who know me. Jim Harbaugh is the new head coach there. They drafted Cornelius Johnson and my favorite player from the Michigan defense last season, Junior Colson. The coaching staff is made up of a bunch of former Michigan coaches. Harbaugh took those guys over with him when he took the job. I know some Michigan fans were bummed about this, but I understand why they went. It is the NFL. That is as high as it gets in football coaching circles. It was an obvious move. So, while playing the video game, and reading about their staff, and seeing who they drafted, the Chargers are now the second team I root for.

It has been decided. I am, along with the Packers, a Chargers fan. The Packers will be my priority. If the Packers and Chargers are playing each other I will root for the Packers. But, in any other scenario, the Chargers now have my fandom. I'm sure they are thrilled. But, this is where I stand now. Not only do I like the staff and some of the new rookies, I like their uniforms. I enjoy their color scheme. I love the lightning bolts they have on the helmets. Now that they have accepted that the powder blue is their primary color, they have hit an absolute home run. When they wear their 70's throwbacks, the color scheme is very similar to Michigan. It may as well be navy and maize. I think it is supposed to be navy and gold, but I like to imagine it's navy and maize. Along with the new rookies, I like Justin Herbert quite a bit. I have been a Khalil Mack fan ever since he was drafted by the Raiders. I wish Keenan Allen was still there, but hey, I will find some new wideouts to root for in LA. I am not crazy about a center d end and center on their team, but there is nothing I can do about that. And seeing all the offseason stuff with Harbaugh, him living in an RV, him getting his Michigan tattoo, him singing "Hail to the Victors" after drafting Michigan guys, I'm all in.

I think it will take a few seasons, the Chargers have talent, but not a ton of talent, so it is going to be a bit of a rebuild. But, I don't care about that. The Packers are in a good spot, and for the time being, I will enjoy my time cheering for the Chargers as well. Welcome to the fandom Chargers. I'm here and ready to root for you all. 

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing and the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast.

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I Did Not Grow Up Watching the Shows of My Generation

While on a walk this morning I was listening to the podcast "This Is Important". I enjoy listening to the "Workaholics" guys shoot the shit weekly. It is relaxing and fun for me. Today they brought up the cartoon "Talespin" and they totally sidetracked what they were talking about to talk about their memories of this classic kids cartoon from the 90's. I thought back and remembered seeing commercials for this show. I saw the toys in the store growing up. But, I do not remember watching it ever. I guess it just passed me by.

This got me thinking. My wife brings up old shows she watched while growing up and they usually go over my head. I am a day older than her, so it is not like we are from different generations. And when I get together with friends from childhood, the few I still see, they will bring up classic shows and it flies over my head then as well. I guess I didn't watch the shows that most people my age watched growing up. Besides "Talespin", my wife will bring up "Ren and Stimpy" a ton. I have only seen one full episode of "Ren and Stimpy". I thought it was gross as a kid, so I tuned out. My wife also loved "Pinky and the Brain", which was a sideshow involved with "Animaniacs". I know all the classic lines from "Pinky and the Brain", but I can't pull out the stuff my wife comes up with on a regular basis. I would float in and out on "Rugrats" constantly. I would watch it very closely for a season, then totally tune out. I've never seen a second of "Dexter's Laboratory" or "AAH! Real Monsters". I've only seen a handful of "Doug" and maybe an episode or two of "Rocko's Modern Life". "Johnny Bravo" is a complete mystery to me. As is "Gargoyles", which my wife adores. I know people are totally stoked on "X-Men 97" right now. I haven't even started it because I never watched the original "X-Men" cartoon. I did watch "Beavis and Butthead", as well as "Daria". But a show like "Recess" or "Batman; The Animated Series", never watched a second of them. I kind of wished I checked these out when I was younger.

I feel like I chose to watch stuff like "Sportscenter" or "American Gladiators" instead when I was younger and home on summer break. I have seen the entirety of "Good Times", which was a classic. But that was live action. I go in and out of "South Park", but can recite about 90 percent of "Seinfeld". I guess, growing up, my folks didn't really leave cartoons on tv. I know "Ghostbusters" had a cartoon, but I watched the movies. The same can be said for "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles". I craved sports and live action as a kid. I enjoy animation much more as an adult. Maybe I should go back and check some of this stuff out, but I don't know where to even start. And there is so much current stuff that I want to see as well.

I guess I am asking some people around my age who watched these things, other than my wife, what I should check out? What is worth using my free time to binge? I can only watch the same shows over and over again, so I want something classic to check out. Let me know what is best and I will have a follow up to what I picked and how much I liked it. Be nice in the comments. And give me those suggestions. 

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing and the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast.

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Jokic Being the MVP is a Joke

Nikola Jokic won his third MVP last night. I knew it was going to happen. The moment Joel Embiid got hurt, it was a foregone conclusion that he was winning the award. No one was going to catch him. Guys could have gone off, the media wanted to give Jokic this award.

When I heard the news, my son told me while we were at karate, I scoffed. I was annoyed. I know I shouldn't let this bother me, but it does. After we returned home, I saw some stories flying around about how this puts Jokic on another level. The only other people who have won at least three MVP's in the NBA are Bill Russell, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Moses Malone, Larry Bird, Magic Johnson, LeBron James and Michael Jordan. Jokic is now going to be mentioned with these other guys, and that seems wrong to me. These other guys are hall of fame caliber players. These other guys are transcendent talents. Jordan is the greatest to ever step on the court. Magic is Magic. He is, quite possibly, the greatest point guard of all time. Moses Malone is the greatest rebounder to ever play the game. He is also the first prep to pro player. Larry Bird was a certified killer. He wanted to rip your heart out. Bill Russell has 11 championship rings and is the best defensive player ever. Kareem is one of the greatest to ever do it. He was also the dominant big man for the Lakers when they started their whole dynasty. And LeBron James is the second greatest to ever do it. He is a point guard in a linebacker's body. He is the icon of the 2000's. He is still producing at an incredibly high rate at 38 years old. He has changed the game forever.

And now we have Jokic. What has he truly done to be on these guys' level? Honestly. I get the whole analytic stuff and the stat counting. That is all well and good. But damn if he is not anywhere near these other guys. He is not even close. And he doesn't even have a personality. When he made a mention that he "doesn't even pay attention to this stuff", that rubbed me the wrong way. He wants to be this aloof guy that doesn't care about what he does as a profession. He cares more about his horses and his bully brothers. If he hates this sport that much, if he doesn't want to continue to do this, why does he do it then? No one is forcing him. I don't find his crummy attitude charming. He annoys the hell out of me. And he is mind numbingly boring to watch play basketball. I don't care what all the white nerdy writers at ESPN and The Ringer have to say about his game, he is dull. I don't think his passing is otherworldly. He is not the rebounder he should be. He is a total zero on defense. And he brings nothing exciting to the game of basketball. Just because nerdy analytic guys like him, that doesn't mean he is the MVP.

Once again there is no possible way he should be mentioned with the other players that won at least three MVP awards. Oh, and he now has more MVP awards than current players like Giannis Antentekoumpo, Joel Embiid, Shai Gilgeous Alexander, Anthony Edwards, Jalen Brunson, Jayson Tatum, Kawhi Leonard, Paul George, Steph Curry and Jimmy Butler, among many others. He also has more MVP's than former players like Tim Duncan, Shaquille O'Neal, Kobe Bryant, David Robinson, Clyde Drexler, Allen Iverson, Hakeem Olajuwon and Kevin Garnett. That is insanity to me. He is not on any of those guys' level either. I'd so much rather have Olajuwon as my center. Give me Shaq all day. David Robinson is a better offensive player than Jokic, and a far, far, far better defender. It doesn't make sense to me.

I feel like when my son, who is 12, is going to look back at this when he is my age and be grossed out that analytics took over the game for a time being. None of the voters seem to care about playing both ends of the floor, about love of the game or about importance to a team. This was a throw away award the moment they added the 65 game limit and Embiid got hurt.

The MVP award is now officially a joke. Jokic being a three time winner is even funnier and kind of sad to me. But hey, at least the analytic nerds can go around and tell people how smart they are now that he has won this award 3 times in 4 years. This makes the NBA MVP award as important as the Grammys. What a joke. 

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing, the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast, and the greatest basketball writer on the internet.

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Ty Watches "Deerskin"

Yesterday I watched a movie that a buddy of mine has been suggesting to me for awhile. The movie is called "Le Daim", or in English, "Deerskin". This is one of many movies made by French director, Quentin Dupieux. He has directed a bunch of other movies, but the only other Dupieux movie I have watched is "Rubber".

For those that don't know, Dupieux likes to make weird movies. He is an abstract film maker. "Rubber" was about a sentient tire that exacts revenge on the human race. It is absurd and funny and wild and I enjoyed my viewing experience. Once I let go and just accepted the world he had created, I bought into "Rubber". "Deerskin" is not like "Rubber". Although it has a wild premise, it is much more of a slow burn. I want to move ahead spoiler free, so I will give a broad retelling of the premise of "Deerskin".

A man goes to buy an authentic deerskin jacket from a guy he meets online. He uses every last penny he has to get this jacket. The man gives it to him and also gives him a camcorder. The man becomes obsessed with the jacket, thinking it is the best jacket in the world. He is always mentioning his "sick style" in reference to his new look. He doesn't know what to do with the camcorder, so he makes up a fake story that he is a filmmaker. He entrusts the help of a local bartender, who also happens to be a film editor and they decide they are going to make a movie together. The idea for this movie is to convince everyone else to give up their coats so this man can be the only one wearing a coat in the world. They will do this by any means necessary. Along the way the man gets himself a full deerskin outfit. That is about as vague as I can get with a description.

Now I get it, this sounds odd. This sounds like some nonsense. But, much like "Rubber", once I let myself get engaged with the world they created, I was all in. This movie goes in some interesting directions, and I couldn't take my eyes off screen. The two main actors really give it their all in this movie, and I totally buy their performances. Dupieux created another bizarre world, and I was anxious to see where he took everything. While it wasn't necessarily the ending I wanted, I understand why he closed the movie out the way he did.

I was pleased with my viewing experience of  "Deerskin". The slow burn was effective. The performances were good. The story was interesting and weird. And it was something unexpected, which I have come to expect with Dupieux's work. The movie is also 77 minutes long, which is wonderful for such an odd story. I recommend this movie if you are into avant garde, weird stories. This is different. This is wild. This is not the norm. But man was it a solid, mind bending watch. I feel like I want to go back and watch it again to see if there was some stuff that I missed. This also makes me want to watch more of Dupieux's movies, which I most certainly will do. But, for me, "Deerskin" was successful. Go check it out. 

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing and the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast.

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Thoughts on the Drake/Kendrick Lamar Beef

I think we all know who the real winner is in this whole Drake and Kendrick Lamar beef. It has to be, unequivocally, Kendrick. Let’s discuss

I have only listened to Kendrick's three songs. I only want to listen to Kendrick's songs. I am a big fan of his work, so when he puts new music out there, I'll be very quick to listen to it. On the other hand, I have always been a Drake hater. I don't like his music at all. I think he is a phony. I think he is a try hard. I think he thinks he is way cooler than he actually is. And as a rapper, he is subpar at the very best. I know he has a ton of fans, but so does the band Nickelback, and they are pretty tough to listen to sing a single note. I was speaking with my father earlier today and I told him that Drake, to me, is similar to Bruno Mars. He said that is giving Drake too much respect. So, even my father, who is not a hip hop person, has listened to the songs enough to know that Drake is nowhere near Kendrick's level.

The reason I compare Drake to Bruno Mars you ask? They are both phonies. They are taking on personas that don't fit their real life. By all accounts, Drake grew up wealthy. He was a child actor. He had everything given to him. He had to work for nothing. He is, for all intents and purposes, a silver spoon kid and grown up. He raps about what he has read and seen on tv. He never had to live through some of the stuff that real rappers, like Kendrick Lamar, have rapped about before. Kendrick Lamar has seen some things. He has been through some stuff. His wasn't the easiest life to live growing up. He wasn't on television. He didn't have things handed to him. He had to go out and earn a record deal. He had to freestyle rap. He had to prove himself. And he is standing here today as one of the best to ever do it.

It isn't just me saying this as a fan. You go and look at the discourse, what others are saying, the clear and away winner of this whole ordeal is Kendrick. Almost everyone agrees to this. Fans and non fans. Supporters of music and people just here to listen to what each of them have to say. Kids and grown ups alike. We all agree that Kendrick Lamar is the winner.

I went back this morning and listened to his three tracks this morning, just to refresh my memory. If you want me to rank the three songs, "Euphoria" is the clear number 1, then "Not Like Us" is 2 and "Meet the Grahams" is third, for me. But all three of the songs are biting. They cut and they cut deep. Kendrick tells a story and he is going hard after Drake. There was a moment when I was listening to "Euphoria" and Kendrick was going in hard, I actually felt bad for Drake for a second. Kendrick Lamar is so good at saying all the right things in a rap battle, and he lays it all on the line. He is burning every bridge. He doesn't seem to care what Drake's fans think of him. Kendrick has clearly decided to go scorched Earth, and I'm here for it all. I want more of this. I love it that a true rap icon is going after this punkass wannabe. I want him to hit even harder. I want Kendrick to expose everything. Kendrick doesn't need ghostwriters or yes people around him telling him how great he is all the time, and that is why he is winning this going away.

I'm excited to hear what he has to say next, if he decides to say more. Get him, Kendrick. I'm on your side all the way. 

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing and the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast.

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R.I.P. Darius Morris and Obi Ezeh

Over the weekend two Michigan athletes that I followed pretty closely while they were there unfortunately passed away. Darius Morris was a basketball player and Obi Ezeh was on the football team. I have some thoughts on both men.

Morris was a big deal when he ended up at Michigan. The men's basketball team was going through a transition at the time. They were not very good. They were still reeling from the Fab Five sanctions. And they had hired a new coach the previous year, John Beilein. Beilein was given a good amount of time to turn the team around, which he eventually did, but Morris was kind of the turning point for the program. Morris was a highly sought after point guard prospect. A bunch of division 1 teams were after him. He shockingly picked Michigan and headed from California to Ann Arbor. He, along with Beilein, turned this team around faster than I imagined. In Beilein's system, the point guard gets it all going. They are the important guys. They have to know it all, and have the head coach's trust. Morris came in, immediately got the keys and ran with them. Michigan was a sub .500 team the year before Morris arrived. In his freshman season they won 21 games and returned to the NCAA tournament. They had another solid year behind him in his sophomore year. Much to my surprise, and many others I believe, he left Michigan for the NBA. He was drafted and spent just under a decade in the NBA. While never a real star, Morris carved a place for himself in the NBA. He is notorious for being exceptionally good in the video game NBA 2k13. He was beloved by Lakers fans as well, being a California native. So, to hear that he has passed away at 33, that was heartbreaking. I kept reading the stories thinking maybe it was a hoax. Unfortunately it is true. They have not released a reason for his passing. But, 33 is far too young. He had his whole life ahead of him. I was sure he was going to become a good coach. I didn't want this to be the last thing we ever heard from Darius Morris. My heart breaks for his family and loved ones. I never knew him personally, but I was a fan. He helped turn my favorite basketball back into a threat. Michigan became good again after getting a player of his caliber to commit and play there for two years. Rest in Peace Darius Morris.

The other former Michigan athlete that passed was Obi Ezeh. I was an even bigger fan of his. He was a linebacker at Michigan. As you all know, Michigan football is the end all be all for me as a fan of team sports. And there is no position I watch more than their linebackers. Some greats have come through that university. Guys like Jarrett Irons, David Harris, Devin Bush and Prescott Burgess. They were all Michigan legends. Obi Ezeh was right up there with those guys for me. He played for the team during a transition as well. And while it wasn't always great to watch those teams play, Ezeh brought it every week. This guy worked his butt off. He was a ferocious hitter. He was the type of linebacker that, when he hit you, I could hear it on my tv screen. He was feared by opponents. He looked like a prototypical linebacker. He was quiet, but always did his job. He reminded me so much of David Harris, one of my all time favorite players, and it wasn't just because they wore the same number and played the same position. They both were silent leaders. They both laid the wood on the field. They both did their job at the highest possible level. They both gained a lifelong fan in me as a kid and early 20 year old. They were both players that I looked up to and wanted everyone else on the team to act like. Obi Ezeh was never flashy. He would never go overboard. He never wanted the spotlight. He just wanted to play football and hit dudes. And he did that with the best of them. So, when I saw that he too has passed away, I read about it yesterday, I was crushed again. I couldn't believe two former Michigan athletes that I adored had both died within the same weekend. And, much like Morris, Ezeh was only 35 years old. Again, he had his whole life in front of him. I would have jumped for joy if he was added as a coach this past offseason, if that was something he wanted to do. Obi Ezeh is one of my all time favorite Wolverines. He is going to be missed, and missed hard. This stinks.

These two guys were far too young to have it all end so early. Rest in Peace Obi Ezeh. And Rest in Peace both of you wherever you may be now. Get some rest. You will be missed. 

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing and the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast.

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Darvin Ham is Not to Blame

The Lakers have dismissed Darvin Ham as head coach after only two seasons. Let’s discuss.

This news is not surprising, but maybe it should be. In two short seasons with the Lakers, his record as head coach was 90-74. That is pretty damn good if you think about it. He was also handpicked to be the head coach after they fired Frank Vogel. This is who the players and the front office wanted. They had eyes on some other guys, but of the available coaches, Ham was the number one option. The Lakers got their man. And he did pretty good things with this team and their ever changing roster. They had to make their way to the playoffs through the play-in both seasons he was the head guy, but they let their presence be known. They ran all the way to the West Finals last season. As the 7 seed last year they trounced my Grizzlies in six games, and it was never really in doubt. Dillon Brooks popped off too much, Ja Morant and Brandon Clarke got hurt, as did Steven Adams, and it was done. LeBron James destroyed Brooks, so much so that the Grizzlies let him walk, and the Lakers moved on to face the Warriors, whom they pretty easily displaced in round two. Then they ran into the eventual champs, the Nuggets, and got swept. I don't buy the whole "competitive sweep" nonsense either. A sweep is a sweep. There are no moral victories.

Then this season, making their way to the 7 seed again, through the play-in, they had to face the Nuggets. This time they were competitive enough to take one game from them, but this series could still be going on if they knew how to hold on to a lead. Some may blame this solely on Ham, but some of the blame needs to be given to the players as well.

At what point is it going to be put on the players to take some heat? I get that the NBA is player friendly, as all pro sports leagues should be, but players play the game. Coaches install gameplans, they have ideas that they put out there, they speak with their assistants and tell them what to do, but that is where it all stops. The players have to perform the duties of putting it out there, on the floor, which is the head coach's vision. Coaches deserve blame, don't get me wrong, but we live in an era where every inch of the blame is placed on the head coach. And no one questions it at all. Like I said at the top, Darvin Ham being dismissed was a foregone conclusion. After the Lakers exited the playoffs, every story on sports websites was about this very thing happening. We all knew this was coming. But the dude won 90 regular season games as a head coach. He was 9-12 as a head coach in the playoffs, which isn't great, but the Lakers made it to the West Finals a year ago. He had this team playing defense. While the offense was never the most imaginative thing, the Lakers still found ways to win games. He was tasked with putting guys like Austin Reaves, Jaxson Hayes, Max Christie, Rui Hachimura, D'Angelo Russell and Tauren Prince around LeBron and Anthony Davis. Those names don't pop off the screen. Those guys are not the complimentary players teams covet. This isn't like the Nuggets with players like KCP or Michael Porter Jr. This isn't the Timberwolves with guys like Rudy Gobert and Mike Conley. This isn't the Celtics with players like Derrick White and Jrue Holiday. Hell, this isn't even the Pelicans with dudes like CJ McCollum and Herb Jones. All of those players are so much better than what the Lakers and Darvin Ham had to pair up with LeBron and AD.

But Darvin Ham is the scapegoat this morning. He is the one everyone is making fun of now. He is the new punching bag as a former head coach. He wanted to be a head coach, but I have to figure these last two seasons were hell for him. Frank Vogel was ready to get out of there. In Cleveland, Mike Brown was ecstatic to be let go and coach somewhere else. And whoever the Lakers bring in next, that coach has to understand that the second it starts to go haywire, their ass is on the line. No player will own to blame. The front office will be quiet as a mouse. It will be the coaching staff, and more importantly, all the head coach's fault if it doesn't work again, which is most likely will not.

The West is a juggernaut, and it will only be tougher next year. The Lakers need to look in the mirror and realize that a new head coach will not solve the myriad of problems they have as a mediocre organization at the moment. Darvin Ham should still be their head coach. But I wouldn't be surprised if he is relieved to be out of there. Maybe he will find his love for basketball again coaching somewhere else. 

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing, the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast, and the greatest basketball writer on the internet.

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A Sampling of the Upcoming Talking Heads Tribute Album

A while back I had heard some rumors that a Talking Heads tribute album was coming out. It was going to be musicians covering their live, and best, album, "Stop Making Sense". I was hyped for the record. Then I totally forgot about it. This happens to me from time to time. I get excited about something, then it gets delayed and then I forget.

Thanks to watching Instagram reels, a musician I had never heard of, Girl in Red, put out their version of "Girlfriend is Better". It was just a commercial, just a short snippet, but it got me excited yet again. I checked Spotify to see if the full record was out, and while it doesn't come out for a few more weeks, there are four songs from the record available to listen to right now. So I fired it up on the car ride to school this morning.

The first song I heard was Paramore's version of "Burning Down the House". Paramore has gotten more on my radar lately. I really like their newer single, "Hard Times". It isn't that emo sound they became known for. This is more like a pop/soul hit. I love it. So, I was looking forward to hearing their take on "Burning Down the House". I think it is great. They do the song justice. It has their new sound sprinkled throughout the song, but it pays homage to what  Talking Heads did with this song in the first place. It was a good track for me to start off the new record with this morning. "Burning Down the House" was followed by Teezo Touchdown's take on "Making Flippy Floppy". This song has always been hit or miss for me. Sometimes I'm super into it and want to hear it over and over. Other times, I skip it without a second thought. I also have no idea who Teezo Touchdown is or what kind of music he makes. But, this version of "Making Flippy Floppy" is rad. It is fun. It has a great groove to it. Teezon Touchdown sings his heart out, and I'm here for it. His take on the song has me interested in checking out his other music. My daughter was goofing on his name, but after a minute, she started to dance to the song a bit. That is as good a recommendation as a newish artist can get in my house. Lorde then came on with "Take Me to the River". This is a cover in the first place, one which I think Talking Heads does better than the original. Lorde really nails it. She is one hell of a singer, and hearing her belt this one out brings me back to her hit record "Melodrama". When given proper material, or writing something herself, Lorde is one of the best in the business. She takes this old song and makes it new. She makes it her own. She absolutely nails every note. The band that accompanies her is right at her level, and they nail it as well. This is my favorite track on the record so far. I have already listened to it multiple times. The final song I heard is the aforementioned "Girlfriend is Better" by Girl in Red. The few seconds I heard on Instagram last night awoke my senses. The full version is even better. If not for Lorde, this would be my favorite track. It is fun, groovy, poppy, rocks out and I want to go back and listen over and over again. I also am going to check out Girl in Red's music for sure. When a band can do such justice to one of the best songs ever written, that is a sign of a band I'm going to become a big time fan of in the near future.

I'm all in on these four songs, and cannot wait for the rest of the record to come out soon. Go check this little ep out right now, and when the full record comes out, let's all rock to it together. I'll have a review when the full album comes out. For now though, I'm excited to have these 4 tracks. I think I'll go listen to them again. You should do the same. 

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing and the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast.

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Have We Heard Frank Ocean's Last Album?

While driving to my daughter's field trip to chaperone this morning I decided to listen to Frank Ocean. I really enjoy his work. His music is a vibe. It relaxes me. I can really sit back and chill while listening to his stuff. It puts me in a good mood and makes the rest of the day a breeze. But, while listening this morning I realized that we may not get any new music from him ever again. Let’s discuss.

Looking at his discography, the last full length record he put out was "Blonde". That was pre pandemic. And he is notoriously hard on himself and the music he releases. It takes him forever. He never seems to like the third and fourth run through of his music. He is a perfectionist to a fault. He is way too hard on himself. He sets the bar far too high. And I saw what he did at Coachella last year. He was a headliner. People were hyped to hear new music. There were expectations. And he came out, vibed to his own music, sang a few notes here and there and left the stage, not returning for any subsequent weekend. He was supposed to play all three weekends. He claimed that he sprained his ankle, but I think he got too much in his own head. I have to imagine he read, or heard what people were saying about his lone performance and it got to him.

Since Coachella, Frank Ocean has been nowhere to be found. He has been silent on the music front and the social media front. No one seems to know what he is doing. No one seems to know if he is making new music. I like to think he is working hard in the studio. I like to imagine he is going the extra mile to erase what happened the last time he performed live. I like to think he has holed himself up and is cranking out some epic stuff. But I have doubts. I fear that he may just walk away.

I could see him doing just that. He could walk out of the music industry right now and be looked at as a legend based simply on "Blonde" and "Channel Orange". Those are two of the greatest R&B records to ever be released. The writing is top notch. The production is second to none. The stories he paints from song to song is some of the best music that any fan could ask for. So why not just walk away? Why not just wash his hands of the music industry and walk out in a wild yet legendary way. I would not be surprised at all if he did just that. If he just up and quit and moved to the mountains, he'd be forever considered one of the best to do it in the industry. Coachella would be forgotten. The long, seemingly unending wait for new music would be no more. He could go out, leave it all behind and enjoy retirement. What's really stopping him? I listen to his two full length eps all the time. I won't stop listening to those two albums ever. I know his fans will listen to them endlessly.

So, if I had to make a prediction, if people are trying to figure out where my mind is with Frank Ocean and his next step, I'd have to say I don't think he is going to be making any new music anytime soon. Maybe he will never make new music ever again. And while that really bums me out, I will always have "Blonde" and "Channel Orange", and for that I am forever grateful to Frank Ocean. While I hope he makes new music, I don't foresee it coming, maybe ever. 

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing and the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast.

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LeBron's Greatness is Not Enough for the Lakers

The Nuggets disposed of the Lakers in another thriller last night. The series was never in doubt to be honest. I was rooting for the Lakers, for what seems like the first time ever, but it was pretty much a foregone conclusion that the Nuggets would win this series. Jamal Murray woke up, Jokic was efficient, Aaron Gordon played high level defense and the Nuggets advanced to the second round.

What I took away most from this game was the excellent play from LeBron James. James is the second greatest basketball player ever, in my opinion. He has done everything you could ever want from a basketball prodigy. He has more than lived up to the hype and then some. But this felt like the end for him. He was amazing in this series. That needs to be said right off the top. He averaged damn near 28 points per game. He added almost 9 assists and 7 rebounds. He played 40 minutes per game. He did everything he could to win these games and keep this team relevant.

LeBron didn't get much help either. After being healthy most of the season, Anthony Davis appeared to injure his shoulder on a minimal contact play. He was never the same after that. He was timid, he wasn't looking to shoot, his defense wasn't the same and he seemed off. Austin Reaves was clearly overhyped going into this season. He was average at best. Rui Hachumura never got his shot going. D'Angelo Russell gave up two games ago. Gabe Vincent never got going. Jaxson Hayes couldn't stay on the floor. The Cam Reddish experiment didn't work. All the things the Lakers did, to appease LeBron James, did not work how they wanted it to. But, throughout all of this LeBron James produced.

In 71 games this season, James averaged 25 points, 8 rebounds and 8 assists. All of this at 39 years old in his 20th NBA season. He was the leader of the 7th seeded team in the West and was the leading factor to them winning 47 games. But looking back at these stats, this is a Lakers team that needed to get into the playoffs through the play in. This is a Lakers team that truly struggled after winning the inaugural in season tournament. LeBron also looked incredibly tired at the end of their game last night. And who could blame him. He is 39 years old. He has been in the public eye since he was 16. He has been scrutinized, idolized and marginalized by a bunch of people. He has been used and used others to continue his career. And what he has been able to accomplish is truly amazing. No one else will come close to approaching his numbers and his legendary status. He has won every major award. He has won multiple titles. He has been the face of the league since the early 2000's. But it feels like the time is as close as it has ever been to being over.

LeBron cannot continue to carry a mediocre team anymore. The Timberwolves are young and coming. So are the Grizzlies, Spurs, Pelicans, Thunder, Mavericks and Rockets. That is just the good teams in the West. The East has the Celtics, Knicks, Bucks, Cavs, Magic and Pacers. All of these teams, right now, are better than the Lakers. They are younger too. They have so many better contributing players than the Lakers do. And it is too much for the Lakers to ask a soon to be 40 year old LeBron James to continue to carry this team. He shouldn't have to do that to end his career. The Lakers should not strive for another Kobe Bryant ending. But I fear they are trending that way with James. They will probably try to get another big name player this offseason. I've heard Trae Young, Dejounte Murray or Zach Lavine as options. While adding one of these younger guys, does it really move the needle? Is Anthony Davis going to stay this healthy ever again? Who will remain of importance to this team, especially if they trade for one of the young guys I mentioned.

LeBron James has nothing left to prove. He has done it all, stayed out of trouble and won at the highest possible level. He is going to go down as a true legend. He is one of the greatest to ever do it. But last night felt like a blow. It felt like a big push into the inevitable. I'm going to miss watching him play, and I don't know if it will ever look like it used to again. 

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing, the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast, and the greatest basketball writer on the internet.

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Anthony Edwards is Elite

Anthony Edwards announced himself as one of the next big NBA superstars last night. He didn't really have to do too much more for me to notice, he is one of my favorite players, but boy oh boy did he let himself be known to the casual NBA fan after this first round series. Let’s discuss.

Edwards was the first overall pick in the 2020 draft. This was the COVID lockdown draft. He was the consensus number 1 guy, but there were questions. Georgia wasn't very good, he seemed to float in and out of games, his jumper wasn't great and his tenacity on defense was yet to be seen. And when he started playing, it was a lot of the same. But, Edwards has always had freakish athleticism. What attracted me to his game was his dunking ability. He reminded me of a guard version of Shawn Kemp. He dunked on people and he dunked hard on people. The dunk he had against the Raptors a few years back was one of the best in game dunks I'd ever seen. But the Timberwolves, while getting a little better, didn't really look like they would be much more than a first round out in the playoffs.

Then the T’Wolves traded for Rudy Gobert. The trade was maligned, and in year one it looked like the critics were right. The Timberwolves were not very good. They came off a season where they pushed the Grizzlies in round 1 to six games, and it was a hard fought series. The next season, the first with Gobert, they struggled to make the play in and were easily disposed of by the Nuggets in five games. But this season has felt different. And Edwards has looked different. You could see him starting to figure things out in that series against the Grizzlies two years ago. Last season he was the sole reason they got one game from the Nuggets. The athleticism and the ability was still there, but other things were clicking. I feel like this is the year where it has almost fully come together for him.

Minnesota finished as the 3 seed in the West, but they had a shot at number 1. They are a dominant defense, with Edwards fully buying in on that end this year. Edwards doesn't always go one on one anymore. He plays more within a flow of an offense built around his skill set. Karl Anthony-Towns, another number 1 overall pick, has started to relent and make note that it is Edwards' team. Gobert understands that he is there for defense. Mike Conley has taken Edwards under his wing and he looks like a proud basketball dad watching him grow into this supernova talent. Kyle Anderson seems to be really enjoying the ride. The Timberwolves have given Anthony Edwards the keys, and he is running with it all. And it is glorious to watch as a fan.

What Edwards did in this series, the way he dominated, it was one of the more impressive things I have seen on a basketball court. He went out there on a mission every year and he decided he wanted this series over in four games. The Suns were betting favorites in this series. The analytic nerds loved them. Kevin Durant wasn't ready to pass the torch. Rudy Gobert wouldn't be able to stay on the floor. Anthony Edwards was going to have to wait another year. People even mentioned that Devon Booker was possibly better. I'm sure Edwards heard all of that, and he decided his time was now. He was tired of waiting. He went out there on that floor and snatched it all away from the Suns, from KD, from Devin Booker, from Frank Vogel and from ESPN and their analytical staff. Edwards took over each and every game. He mentioned, before game 1, how KD was his favorite player and how cool it would be to beat him in this series. He did just that. Anthony Edwards was the best player on the floor by a wide, wide margin. In the first round sweep, Edwards had games of 33, 36 and 40 points. In game two, the one game he struggled in to score, he was lock down on defense. He also had 9 rebounds in three of the four games. He averaged 6 plus assists per game. He never took more than 24 shots to get all of his points. He played good defense in every game. He took over when he was asked to take over by his coaches and team. He did all the right stuff. And it was amazing for me to watch this kid ascend to these new heights.

I don't like to watch Luka Doncic because I find his game very boring and he whines all the time. Nikola Jokic is, for me, also very, very boring. Giannis cannot stay healthy lately and he is not much of a shooter. LeBron James is amazing, but he is very old now. Ja Morant was hurt most of last season, and he has the whole gun thing. So, for me, watching a player like Anthony Edwards make this leap, watching the same from Shai Gilgeous Alexander, it makes me hopeful for the future faces of the NBA. Not all of these up and comers are zeroes on defense or want to turn the game into a free throw shooting contest. Not every star has to gripe to the officials. Not every star has to be friends with the other stars. A player like Anthony Edwards gets me hyped because he is uber talented and he wants to rip your heart out on the court.

I hope this run continues and Timberwolves continue to develop Edwards into an even bigger star because I want to see him play more than any other player in the playoffs right now. While I'm still a Grizzlies fan, I think Anthony Edwards is my new current favorite NBA player. He is the most fun to watch. 

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing, the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast, and the greatest basketball writer on the internet.

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Ty Watches the 2024 NFL Draft

Round 1 of the NFL draft happened last night, and I have thoughts.

As you may remember, I did my preview on Wednesday with my five players I liked, five I was down on and two sleepers. Most of the ten players I mentioned on Wednesday were picked last night. The only ones who weren't were Cooper DeJean and my two Michigan "sleepers", Mike Sainristril and Junior Colson. So, of the twelve players I mentioned nine were picked in round 1. That is wild to me.

As for the draft, it was pretty wild, after the first five picks. We all knew that Caleb Williams, Jayden Daniels and Drake Maye were going to go 1, 2 and 3. I also feel like these three ended up with the best team's to fit their style of play. I feel as if these three dudes are happy and will have varying levels of success, but I think all will be relatively successful. Then we had the best prospect, Marvin Harrison Jr going to the Cardinals. This is perfect all around. MHJ is the instant number 1 wideout, Kyler Murray has a reliable target and the Cardinals have a cornerstone to build around. Then, as Jim Harbaugh is want to do, he took a big offensive tackle to shore up the o line. Then it got a little odd. Malik Nabers was the second wideout off the board to the Giants. I thought it would be Rome Odunze, but I was wrong. Then the Titans reached hard for JC Latham. No disrespect, but there are better o lineman available today to draft than Latham. He should be a fine starter, but not a world beater.

Then the Falcons went nuts and took Michael Penix Jr at 8th overall. I didn't believe my son when he told me the Falcons took Penix Jr. I think he is a very good QB, and I like him and want him to succeed, but why would the Falcons take him, and take him that high? They signed Kirk Cousins this offseason. They have a bunch of young talent that they haven't figured out how to use yet. They need help everywhere on defense. They hired a defensive minded coach. And they took a project QB who is already 24. This was stunning to me. I don't get it at all. These things are why I could never be a GM in the pros. This is a true head scratcher. This is akin to the Bears traded up from 3 to 2 a few years back to draft Mitch Trubisky. I was floored by this pick.

To wash the bad Trubisky taste out of their mouths, the Bears jumped up and took Rome Odunze to pair with Williams and Keenan Allen. It scares me what the Bears did last night being a Packers fan. They got two excellent players in the first nine picks last night. They were the opposite of the Falcons. They made smart picks that help their team. Then RD's Vikings took Michigan's JJ McCarthy. I have said that I have doubts about McCarthy as a pro, but this was his ideal place to be picked. He won't be under the microscope, he has Justin Jefferson to throw the ball too, has a great o line in front of him and he is going into a situation extremely suitable for a rookie QB who may be starting by mid season. It was chalk with the next pick, the Jets taking Olu Fashanu, they need line help.

And then the Broncos reached almost as hard as the Falcons and took Bo Nix. I do not like this pick one bit. Sean Payton is old school, Bo Nix seems soft, he is older than Penix Jr and not nearly as good. I'd be upset if I were a Broncos fan this morning.

Bowers to the Raiders is nothing special to me. They already have a tight end, but Bowers is younger. Then the Saints addressed issues with the o line and took Tailese Fuaga. Then it was three straight defensive picks, Laiatu Lati to the Colts, which helps their pass rush. Then Byron Murphy to the Seahawks and their defensive minded new head coach Mike McDonald. And Dallas Turner to the Vikings. That pick is more impactful to me than JJ McCarthy. Dallas Turner should help make a very bad defense a bit better. The Bengals got one of my favorite players in Amarius Mims. I don't know how Bengals fans feel about this pick, but I love it for them. He will be an all pro in a few years. The Rams took Jared Verse to help and replace Aaron Donald's retirement. They need defense, they need d lineman and they took one of the better ones in the draft. The Steelers took o lineman Troy Fantanu, who will start day one and is a good blocker. Chop Robinson went to the Dolphins next, and hopefully he can make up for some of the guys who left in free agency. The Eagles got the best defensive back in the draft in Quinyon Mitchell. This was the latest example of the Eagles lucking into a star talent in the draft. Brian Thomas Jr is going to the Jags to add depth in the wideout room. Terrion Arnold fits in perfectly in Detroit. The Packers took a big o lineman in Jordan Morgan, which I am stoked about. The Bucs took Graham Barton next, and he will be one of the best centers in the NFL in two years. The Cardinals, after taking MHJ at 4, got edge rusher Darius Robinson from Missouri. This kid is talented and will rack up tackles on the d line. The Chiefs took a big chance, which I think will pay off, drafting Xavier Worthy in round 1. He is fast as lightning, will get a chance from day one, and will be learning from Andy Reid and Patrick Mahomes. This is a homerun pick. And the final four picks were relatively chalk. The Cowboys got o line depth with Tyler Guyton. The Ravens got more secondary help with Nate Wiggins. The 49ers took Ricky Pearsall, who I was very unaware of, at 31. And the first round ended with the Panther getting Bryce Young an outside threat in Xavier Legette. He is big and fast.

Wrapping this up, I thought, for a draft, that this was kind of wild. It started relatively normal, but then the Falcons decided they wanted to be the talk of the sporting news this morning. And it only got nuttier from there. I'll be watching to see where the rest of the Michigan guys I like go, and where some other players I've watched for four year end up playing. The draft is always an exciting time for fans, and this year has upped the ante. Hopefully we get some more crazy stuff happening. Time will tell. 

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing and the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast.

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Ty Watches "Fallout"

Recently my wife and I started to watch "Fallout" due to RD giving it some rave reviews. I didn't know much about the show, but I did hear Johnny Pemberton talk about it on a recent episode of the podcast "Doughboys". I have been a Johnny Pemberton fan ever since I first saw him on "Superstore". He was hilarious on that show, and that gave me the push to watch his standup and his other movie and tv appearances. I was an instant fan. Then, after listening to "Doughboys", RD and I were recording a podcast of our own, and he kept asking me if I had seen "Fallout", or if I was going to check it out. I mentioned the Johnny Pemberton stuff, and with the push from RD, that was all I needed to check it out. I told my wife I was going to start it, but she asked me to wait. She wanted to watch it as well. It was a wonderful surprise.

So, over the weekend, we started, and three episodes in, I'm all in. This is a good show. It is gory. It is violent. It is profane. It is bleak. It is hilarious. And it is doing some cool, interesting things for a newish tv show. I have never played the videogame that it is based on. I don't think RD has either. I know my wife hasn't either. But, I don't think you need to to watch this show. The characters look like what I have looked up on the internet from the game, but that is where it seems to end. This is a whole story outside the game from what I gather. This is new and unique to the show. And it works. I have been so excited to watch with each passing night. I'm doing a thing where I don't want to binge watch shows. That means one show a night. It makes for a much more fun experience watching a show. It reminds me of how I used to watch tv as a kid. It also helps build suspense. I am so ready to focus on the episode when we turn it on. I am fully locked in on what is happening on the screen. No phone, no Nintendo Switch. It is just me, my wife and "Fallout". I love it that way.

Outside Pemberton, who plays an army brat, the cast is pretty great. Ella Purnell is the lead. She is really awesome as a vault dweller. Her naivate is great to watch on screen. Kyle MacLachian plays her dad, and he has only been in the first episode so far, but it is clear there is more of him to come. Moises Arias plays her brother, and while he seems meek, his arc looks like it is going to take a cool turn. Leslie Uggams and Zach Cherry are on the vault board, and they are in over their heads. Aaron Moten plays Maximus, another Army brat, who is out doing his own thing in this wild post apocalyptic world.

And then we have Walton Goggins.

Walton Goggins may be the coolest person on Earth. He is so, so wonderful here as "The Ghoul". I have a whole piece coming up strictly dedicated to his acting career. That is for another day. But in "Fallout", Goggins continues to be so incredible. He makes a show instantly watchable when he is on screen. He is the absolute best.

Outside the acting, the scenery is rad. The world they created is dark and bleak and arid. It is a good look at a crazy possible outcome of a bomb. And even in the dark times the show has created, there is still humor peppered in and out of each episode. I find myself laughing a few times each episode.

I'm very glad this show is in my life now. I highly recommend people watch it if you have Prime. "Fallout" is very, very well made. Check it out. 

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing and the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast.

Come and support Ty and the podcast on Patreon.

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Ty's 2024 NFL Draft Preview

The first round of the NFL draft starts tomorrow night. As I do every year, I will give you five prospects I like, five I'm not so high on and a few, let's say two, sleepers. I don't do mock drafts. I don't do draft day trades. I don't understand the whole salary cap stuff. I go off eye test. I watch a ton of college football, it is my favorite sport to watch. I know more about college football than any other sport I watch. So, while not a "expert", I think I know this stuff pretty well. Let's get to it.

I'll start with the players I like. This QB class is absolutely loaded. This may be the best crop of QB prospects in the last 10 years. And while Caleb Williams is awesome, and I have my doubts about JJ McCarthy, my favorite QB in this draft, by a long shot, is Jayden Daniels. He is an excellent thrower. He is a wonderful scrambler. He reminds me so much of Randall Cunningham. He is skinny. He needs to bulk up. But, he had the best statistical season of a Heisman QB winner ever. Stats aren't my favorite thing, but I could see how great he can be when I watched LSU this past season. Daniels is the best QB prospect for me. Whatever team picks him is getting a damn good QB. On the defensive side of the ball, I like Dallas Turner from Alabama. I did not see much of him until the Rose Bowl, and he impressed me. He is big, 6'4. He is strong, 250 plus pounds. And he is fast and mean. He can hit. He flies around the field. He played very well against Michigan's o line, which was one of the best in the country. Turner is a day one starter and should be very productive in the NFL. The wideout class in this draft is almost as stacked as the QB class. Therefore, I have two receivers in my personal top five. First we have Marvin Harrison Jr. He is the best overall prospect in this draft. He is the most surefire player. He looks like he is going to have a very long, very impressive career. I don't care about him not working out or going to combine at all. What he did on the football field during games was all I needed to see. Second, we have Rome Odunze. He was the one player that really terrified me going into the college playoff championship against Michigan. He is sure handed, he is big, he is an excellent route runner and he is very fast. He is built like a ready made NFL number 1 receiver. I would jump for joy if Green Bay was somehow able to grab him. Odunze is awesome. My last player that I like, Amarius Mims. He only played nine games his whole college career. He is big, yet hyper athletic. He is raw, but when he figures it out, watch the hell out. He is going to maul players on defense. He is going to become one of the better run blockers in all of football. What he did in his short college career would be so enticing to me. He needs time, but in the end, it will be worth it.

Now to the players I'm not so high on. First off, Bo nix. He is too old. He is not a scrambler. He stayed in college far too long. He was a product of a system. I don't see it, and if he gets picked in round one, that would be a waste of a pick. Then we have Olu Fashanu on the o line. This kid is solid. He is big and can maul people from time to time. But when he had to face a real defense, Michigan for one, he got eaten up by Braiden McGregor and Josiah Stewart. He couldn't keep up with the speed. He got eaten up all afternoon in that game. Fashanu is going to be a long time starter, but being a top 10 pick seems like a reach. On defense I'm not so big on Byron Murphy from Texas. I think there are better options in round one for teams in need of d line depth and production. Murphy seems to be higher on mocks than a guy like Jer'Zhon Newton from Illinois. Newton is a better prospect. I think Chop Robinson is a better pass rusher. And Murphy is nowhere close to Laiatu Latu. Murphy is going to be overdrafted if he goes round 1. I don't like the way Brock Bowers came back after his injury. He was a no doubt first rounder pre injury, but afterward, he just doesn't look the same. He seems slower. His blocking didn't improve far too much. He sat out a bowl game that could have upped his draft stock. I don't like the way his season ended. He will be over drafted. Finally, I think Cooper DeJean is wildly overrated. DeJean got hurt, and hurt bad this past season. He is not the best punt returner. He is just an okay corner. He is small and slow. I'm not a fan at all, which means the Packers will probably take him, and it will drive me nuts. DeJean may be my personal most overrated player in the entire draft.

As for my sleepers, I'm going full on homer here and taking two Michigan guys. First, give me Mike Sainristil all day. He switched positions and became one of the best nickel corners in the country. He did what was best for the team and for himself. He is a great tackler. He can guard slot guys one on one. He is incredibly smart. He can read offenses. And then you have his background as a wideout, which makes him an interception machine. I would reach hardcore for him, possibly in round one. Finally, I have Junior Colson. He is one of the best linebackers to ever come out of Michigan. He was consistent. He was a tackling machine. He can cover backs out of the backfield. He played with broken hands and still put up numbers. He led the best defense in the country last year. Colson is going to be an under the radar guy his whole career, which will probably last well over a decade and most likely end up in the hall of fame. I adore Junior Colson.

That is it for my draft preview. Get ready to see a bunch of QB's and wideouts go tomorrow night. And then when round two starts, that will be where we see some true future stars getting drafted. 

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing and the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast.

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Going to a UFL Game Isn't That Bad

I try to take my son to a professional sporting event every year. We usually go to a NBA game, but time got the best of us this year and we couldn't make it. But, here in Saint Louis we have a UFL team, the Battlehawks. I went and now I want to talk about it.

I have never seen a live XFL, USFL or UFL game. I have watched them on tv, but it was never really the same as an NFL game. I love going to college football games the most, and I fully believe that my dad and I are going to take my son to his first Michigan game this upcoming season. But, until then we have to settle for UFL football. So, I decided we were going to go to a Battlehawks game a few weeks back, and the time had arrived. The timing worked out well and the prices were pretty great. I got us a couple of tickets in the corner, about 12 rows up.

First things first, these seats were great. We could see the whole field if we were standing. We could see the Battlehawks bench. I saw trainers coming in to stretch players out, and we could see the teams when they were close to scoring on our end. I really loved these seats. My son said pretty much the same thing the moment we walked into the stadium. We were both pretty impressed. All the pageantry and little games they played and scoreboard contests were your typical fair. They hid a football in three helmets and you had to guess which one it was in. The cheerleaders threw t-shirts into the crowd. They had dance contests. They were putting people on the scoreboard a bunch. It was run of the mill with that stuff. The food was gross and overpriced. Eat before you go to the Dome at America's Center here in the STL. The toasted raviolis were chewy and the hot dog, according to my son, was oddly dry. And lunch cost us, mind you this is two hotdogs, two orders of t ravs and two drinks, was 58 dollars. Nuts.

The product on the field wasn't great football. These are the minor leagues. These are dudes that had a chance and got cut or guys just trying to make it. It's not great. But, the Battlehawks are actually pretty damn good. They are a heavy passing offense. AJ McCarron threw the ball well over 40 times. But, they can run a little bit too. Their offense is pretty solid. The defense, with former Michigan corner Lavert Hill, is pretty solid too. They group tackle, they play okay enough defense in the secondary and the d line got pressure all afternoon. Even if the football isn't great, at least the Battlehawks are one of the better teams in the UFL.

The fans were not the best. I hate to say it, but the Battlehawks fans are annoying and loud. They complain about some of the players as if they can do their job better. People stand in front of you the whole time. I feel like a lot of people just get wasted during the game. And it is so loud that I could barely hear my son when he would talk to me. As for the Dome, it is still a pile of garbage. It is way too big, way too vast and not the cleanest place in the world. Getting in and out is tough and you have to walk a lot, which I don't mind, but I know other people do.

But, to see how much fun my son was having, to see him be able to meet up with a friend at a pro football game, to see him tell me about these guys, it all made it worth the time. He seemed to be having a wonderful afternoon. He got to dictate most of the day, which makes him ecstatic. He was so happy to be out there watching pro athletes do their thing. His joy made the day so much fun for me. And it was great to spend some one on one time with him.

Would I go again? In a heartbeat, as long as my son was going to be there as well. He made it so fun for me. And I know he had a great time too. 

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing and the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast.

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Ty Watches "Civil War"

I went out and saw "Civil War" in the theaters yesterday. I was told by RD, my mom and dad that I should see the movie. I watched a few previews, read one spoiler free review and made up my mind, although it was pretty made up with the recommendations from family members. I went to a 1:30 show and it was about half full. This movie has been out for two weeks now and people are still going to see it.

This movie is an important one. People need to see this movie. This should be required viewing for all Americans. I think this may be the most important movie of the decade. This is an unflinching look at what America could become if we continue to go down the path of dictatorship. This movie is brutal. This movie is unrelenting. This is not a happy movie. There is not a happy ending. There are no heroes. I was exhausted after watching the movie. I am still thinking about stuff I saw and it has been almost 24 hours since seeing it.

Again I say, this should be required viewing. My fear though, the people who need to see this movie, who may be persuaded by this movie, will either hate it or not see it. I looked around at the crowd yesterday and they looked like me. I look like a liberal because I am a liberal. I vote democrat. I always have and always will. That was the vibe I got from the crowd. And that is great. It is clear that we are seeing this movie because it is vital for us to try and do anything we can to stop this from happening. But we already have that view on the world. I want things to get better. I want people to make decisions based on facts and science. I want the world to be a loving and accepting place. But the people that may be avoiding this movie, may be against this movie, they won't go see it or they won't open their minds if they see it. They have made their minds up. That is scary.

The scariest thing about this movie is that it could very well happen at any moment. And the militant and fascist racists out there, all they need is a reason to do the horrible things they want to do. That is all on screen. Jesse Plemons' character is terrifying. Nick Offerman's portrayal of a dictator turned president is a real possibility. The journalists, played by Kirsten Dunst, Wagner Moura, Cailee Spaeny and Stephen McKinley Henderson are all out for their own good. They want the picture and the story that will make them famous. By the way, Kirsten Dunst is magnetic in this movie. She does an amazing job portraying someone just doing their job and trying to make it in the crazy world in "Civil War". She deserves awards recognition. But again, she is out to get the best photograph. She wants to be remembered for her work. As I said up top, there are no good people in the movie and I think that is the whole point.

I believe this movie was put out to show how truly, truly awful things could get if we don't make changes. I don't want to have to live in a world where we ration for water or have to stay in internment camps or try and act like something awful isn't going on in the world. I want to live happily and free. Be in the land of the free and home of the brave. That doesn't seem possible in Garland's "Civil War". Things can change. Things can get better. But we have to recognize and not accept the dictators and militants in the current world. I don't want to live inside a Civil War.

This is a very important piece of content that needs to become required viewing. Go see this movie ASAP. 

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing and the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast.

Come and support Ty and the podcast on Patreon.

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SeedSing is funded by a group of awesome people. Join them by donating to SeedSing.