2019 NFL Quick Hits: Week 10

Week 10 of the NFL season has come and gone, and I am here with some takes. To be completely transparent with everyone, this week I only watched one game, the Packers-Panthers game, and the rest I saw on highlights. I have been busy doing house renovations, and Sunday is the best day for me to do them. Maybe that is because college football is on Saturday, and college football is infinitely more fun, and much cooler than the NFL. It could also be that my mother in law, who has been teaching me how to do all these things around my house, likes coming out on Sunday's. Either way, the majority of my NFL experience this season has been watching Packers games, and catching up on the rest with highlights. Anyway, here we go.

Thursday night featured another big win from the Raiders. They beat the Chargers, who were coming off a big win over the Packers, and Josh Jacobs further strengthened his hold on offensive rookie of the year. That kid is good, Jon Gruden is making me remember that he is a solid coach, and still a jackass, and the Chargers will not be making a second straight postseason. They need to move on from Phillip Rivers, and give Melvin Gordon a new chance somewhere else. Also, maybe they should move to the UK. Who knows. Anyway, the Raiders look like a legit playoff team, and the Chargers are stumbling.

The Jets and the Giants played, and I can't think of anyone that would willingly watch that game. You have to be a serious diehard, almost obsessive, to watch that game. The Jets won, but from what I heard, it was ugly.

The Falcons stunned the Saints. I'm not much for upsets in the NFL, but this is an upset. The Falcons harassed Drew Brees all game, gaining 6 sacks. They had 7 all year. They also showed up on offense and looked, somewhat, like their old selves. I'm sure this is a flash in the pan performance, but shocking nonetheless. This is the type of win that can help the Falcons finish strong, and may hurt the Saints in playoff seeding, and possible home field advantage type scenarios. This may have also saved Dan Quinn's job. Maybe.

In another stunner, the Titans beat the Chiefs. Patrick Mahomes was back, looked really good, albeit a little slow and they looked like themselves, on offense that is. Derrick Henry gashed that defense for almost 200 yards rushing and 3 TD's. He is good, but not that good. That being said, the Chiefs did have the game in hand, seemingly, but they found a way to blow it. The defense let Ryan Tannehill lead a game winning drive at the end, and they took home a 3 point win after they blocked the Chiefs last second field goal attempt. The Chiefs may not be as invincible as I thought. This was a troubling loss for them.

In not so stunning news, the Ravens dismantled the Bengals. They were beating them so bad that they ran out a package where they ran the option with Lamar Jackson, Robert Griffin and Mark Ingram, "The Heisman Package" they called it, and, near the end of the third quarter, Lamar Jackson was on the sideline wearing shades and grinning from ear to ear. The Ravens are the most fun team in the NFL, they keep winning and Lamar Jackson is the real deal. The best part about this game, when John Harbaugh and Jackson were caught talking on the sideline about how Jackson is changing the game and that kids everywhere will be wearing his jersey. That rules. Also, the Bengals stink. Sorry RD.

The Browns found a way to win a game, but from what I heard, this game was almost as unwatchable as the Jets-Giants game. I guess the Browns play calling was atrocious, and the Bills, well, they are still letting Josh Allen play QB for them. The Bills are like the Bears in that regard. I don't think this win was as big for Freddie Kitchens as the Falcons win was for Dan Quinn, but it is a win, and one the Browns desperately needed. Also, the Bills might be returning to form as a middle of the road AFC team. Their defense is really good, but man is their offense bad.

The Bucs and Cardinals played what looked like an exciting game, with tons of passing yards and lots points. Jameis Winston had one of his good performances. Kyler Murray looks like the real deal, maybe he won't be running to play pro baseball after this year, and both teams, while not very good, play exciting football. Bruce Arians has a ton of work to do to get the Bucs back to contention, and every week I am stunned at how Kliff Kingsbury is adapting, as best he can, to the NFL game. The Cardinals could be good sooner rather than later.

The Bears beat the Lions, and Mitch Trubisky had 3 TD passes. But, I think this game says way more about the Lions, and who they had to play at QB. Matthew Stafford missed his first game in forever, and the Lions had to start, hell I don't know if it was Ryan Lindley or Ryan Driskell at QB. The fact that those guys got to start NFL games this week, and Colin Kaepernick is still unsigned is such a god damn joke. Shame on the NFL and their owners. That is so absurd. Anyway, the Bears shut down whatever lower tier QB they played, and Trubisky did enough to eek out a 7 point win over a very undermanned team. I still don't buy any of the "Trubisky proved his worth" headlines I saw, and I bet Lions fans are waiting with bated breath that Stafford's back injury isn't super serious. This seems like another bad game among the many that were played on Sunday.

The Dolphins won their second straight game, beating the Brian Hoyer led Colts. Again, Hoyer is a fine career backup, but why not get Kaepernick to replace Brissett? That would be perfect. But the Dolphins put together enough points to stave off their "tank" for a second straight game. I know the Dolphins are bad, but I feel like Brian Flores is proving his worth as a head coach. The fact that he has gotten this Dolphins team to win, twice, is amazing. And the Colts, well, this is what happens when you have to trot out a career backup. Jacoby Brissett is far better.

The game I watched, Packers-Panthers, was pretty fun. Both teams were able to gobble up rush yards, they played solid defense and it ended with a goal line stand. Aaron Jones is proving his worth,, and then some, this season. He is so important to the Packers offense, and he has been living up to that new role. He is amazing. The Packers defense also did just enough to get a crucial win. That goal line stand was dope. The Panthers are a good team, but they need Cam Newton. I know all the talk lately is of them moving on from him, but I don't trust Kyle Allen. The pressure is already firmly on Christian McCaffery, and he has been great, but that wears on a running back. Also, the Panthers defense is really good. Their pass rush is good. And that roughing call was really bad late in the game. But, the Packers came away with a win, and they still hold a one game lead over RD's Vikings.

The Steelers are making a late playoff push, and it is because of their defense. Minkah Fitzpatrick has been stupendous since being traded there. He is a turnover machine, and he turns them into TD's. Without him, and that D, the Steelers would be DOA. As for the Rams, well, this is what happens when you let Jared Goff be the focal point. He is not that good. This team should go as Todd Gurley goes. But, something is up with him. I don't know if it is an injury, or they want to give Goff the reins because they paid him so much money, but the Rams look like they are suffering from a big time Super Bowl hangover. They don't seem very locked in right now.

RD's real team, the Vikings, got a big win in Dallas. They shut down woman and child abuser Ezekial Elliot. They made Dak Prescott uncomfortable all game. And Dalvin Cook was tremendous. This was a big time win for the Vikings, and it keeps them in the NFC North race. I actually caught a few seconds of this game, and the Cowboys insistence on getting Elliot the ball on the goal line was stupefying. The Vikings knew it was coming, and they stopped it, twice. Good win for Minnesota, and this further proves that Jason Garrett is a bad head coach, and the Cowboys are still irrelevant.

The Monday night game featured overtime, a hard fought game and the Seahawks handing the 49ers their first loss. This game showed me quite a bit in fact. Russell Wilson is good. I don't like writing that every week, but it is true, at least this season. Also, the "vaunted" 49ers defense may not be as formidable as they are perceived. And Jimmy Garropollo isn't Tom Brady, as much as the media may want us to believe. Both these teams are good. They can both do good things. But, if I were to pick a team that would win a crucial, important game, I would go with the Seahawks. They have the better QB, better skill players and the experience. San Francisco is a nice story, but they aren't elite. Not yet anyway.

That does it for week 10. Come back next week for week 11 takes.

Ty

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

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Tales of the NCAA Being Stupid: Chase Young and James Wiseman Edition

In their never ending circle of stupidity, the NCAA doubled down with 2 of the most baffling suspensions I have ever witnessed in my history of watching college sports this past week.

First off, you all know how I feel about the University of Ohio State. I think it says a lot the way I type it, I loathe that team, I think they cheat and Urban Meyer is a supreme asshole. But, to suspend Chase Young, for what now looks like 2 of the most meaningless games on their schedule, is absolutely ridiculous. I get that players cannot accept money from boosters, and that, somewhere deep, deep in the rule book what he did was "wrong", still, this was so stupid. Yes, he took money from a "booster", but it was to fly his family, and his girlfriend, out to the bowl game last season. And Chase Young paid the loan back. I swear the only reason he got the suspension was because the "booster" has ties to the NFL. Or his family does, or something like that.

Herein lies one of my biggest problems with the NCAA and their never ending rule book. Chase Young is not allowed to get a job while he is enrolled in school. One, he doesn't have time, but college athletes cannot get work outside of the program. It is one of the billion dumb rules passed down by the NCAA to further police these kids. I had a friend who I have mentioned before that played division 1-AA football, and even he couldn't work a summer job that wasn't connected with the school. Chase Young is a star player. He is one of the favorites to win the Heisman. He is the best player on the number one ranked team in the country. He will, almost certainly, be a top 3 pick in the upcoming draft, and the NCAA decided now, near the end of the regular season, they were going to suspend him? Look, I do not like standing up for a player from that school, but this is so bogus. I mean, by all accounts, he goes to class, he has had zero off field issues and he paid back the loan. Why the suspension? The NCAA is as crooked, if not more so, than FIFA. And this suspension is just another unwanted feather in their, and Mark Emmert's dumbass hat. Again, the games he will, and already has, missed are glorified scrimmages. But still, this all but takes him out of the Heisman race, and makes the NCAA look really, really bad.

Then, to almost try and outdo themselves, the NCAA decided, one game into the men's college basketball season, that they were going to suspend the number one recruit, and most likely number one pick in the upcoming NBA draft, James Wiseman out of Memphis for the rest of the season because he accepted a "gift" from a booster. This booster, his head coach Penny Hardaway. Never, ever in my life have I heard, or been told, or read that a head coach can also be considered a "booster". This is asinine. I mean, Penny Hardaway did nothing wrong at all. He did exactly as Coach K or John Calipari would do. But, because he is young and new, the NCAA decided they were going to target him. I guarantee that if Wiseman went to Kentucky or Duke, this wouldn't even be a story. But, because Wiseman chose Memphis, and Penny Hardaway, the NCAA decided they needed to suspend him.

Even further, I don't know what the suspension is for. All I have read so far is that he is "ineligible". Is it grades? Is it impermissible benefits? Did the coaching staff at Memphis give him money? The NCAA has answered none of this, and just deemed him "ineligible". But, not to be taken prisoner by the corrupt NCAA, James Wiseman and Penny Hardaway are fighting the suspension, and until he is for real punished, he is allowed to play. The very same day he was deemed "ineligible", he went out and played and had a monster game. Look, Wiseman is going to be in the NBA regardless next year, but this one year at Memphis can mean the difference in draft position, and that could mean millions upon millions of dollars. But does the NCAA care about that? Of course not. They want things done their way, no matter how stupid and pointless their crazy rules may be.

Like I said before, if he were at any other school, one of the blue blood schools, this wouldn't even be an issue. But since Penny Hardaway is able to go into any recruit's home in the country, and is infinitely cooler than say Coach K or John Calipari or Roy Williams or Tom Izzo, the NCAA gets their feathers all ruffled. I told my dad, that if my son grows up to be a college level basketball player, and I had to pick a team or a coach I would want him to play for, Michigan and Juwan Howard were one, but Penny Hardaway and Memphis were a very close second. I grew up watching those guys play in college and the NBA. I didn't sit down and watch Coach K coach Duke, or John Calipari cheat at UMASS and now Kentucky. I loathe Tom Izzo. I think Roy Williams is okay, but he is old school. I would want my kid to play for a young, hip and fun coach. Not some crusty old man.

These 2 suspensions are so blatantly stupid and pointless from the NCAA and Mark Emmert. Every time they do anything that is slightly good, like agreeing to eventually pay athletes for their likeness, they go and do something like this that reminds me how disgusting and corrupt they are. This is so stupid and I like that these kids are fighting back. They aren't just accepting it because the NCAA says so. Good for these kids, and good for Penny Hardaway for attacking the system.

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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Where Does Florida State Go From Here?

Florida State fired Willie Taggart earlier this week. I thought this may be coming, just not in the middle of the season.

I'm not a big fan, usually, of a coach being fired during the season. Let them finish it out, then let them go. Also, I do not think Taggart got a fair shot. The fact that boosters raised the money to have him removed, a near record breaking 17 million dollar buyout, shows they wanted him gone. This, I feel, has a lot to do with the on field product, but I think if he had been given one more season, he could have turned this around. Also, I don't think he would have been fired so quickly if he were Jimbo Fisher, who left this team 2 years ago, or Mark Stoops, who has Kentucky playing okay, but not great. I think you all know what I am getting at with these 2 comparisons. I also think Taggart is a solid head coach. He did great things at Western Kentucky, and while he left them ASAP, I feel like he was a perfect fit at Oregon after they let go of Mark Helfrich. I am not concerned for Taggart though. He has that humongous payout, and I would be shocked if he wasn't coaching a division 1 school at the start of the 2020 season. There will be some openings, probably some fairly big time schools, and many of them will jump at the chance to hire Willie Taggart.

As for Florida State, I really don't know where they go from here. As little as 5 or 6 years ago, they were a national title winner. I believe they were the last BCS champs. They then made the initial playoff. Then Jimbo Fisher decides to leave them for Texas A&M, I still don't understand that, and they were left searching. I thought they hit a homerun with Taggart, but clearly, I was wrong.

Some names that have popped up since Taggart was let go are fine. I think Bob Stoops is a solid head coach, and college is a much better fit for any coach than the dumbass XFL. But, Stoops left Oklahoma out of the blue, with so many unanswered questions hanging over him. I was stunned when he left. And, Oklahoma has been better, at least more consistent, since Lincoln Riley took over. Maybe Stoops knew his days were numbered, but still, he left under bizarre circumstances.

Lane Kiffin has said he would be interested in the job, but we have been down this road with Kiffin before. How many more times can he fail up into a job. He was horrible at Tennessee, and left them the moment the USC job was open. He then scorched Earth with that team, and that team's fan base. It was so bad that he was fired in the middle of the night, after a plane ride home. He then went on to Alabama to be an offensive coordinator, and he turned that into the head coaching gig at Florida Atlantic. Sure, he has some fun teams there, and he is a big time JUCO recruiter, but FAU is no better than a 7 or 8 win team. And when he has to play the upper tier, power 5 schools, FAU gets destroyed. I know FSU is in the ACC, but a team like Clemson would relish the fact that they could destroy a Lane Kiffin coached team. I feel like Miami and Manny Diaz would love the challenge. Hell, even the times they play Florida, Dan Mullen would wipe the floor with them.

And then this morning I heard that Deion Sanders has become a viable candidate for the opening. I actually think this would be kind of cool. He went to Florida State. He was there when they were a power. He has clout. He could get into any recruit in the nation's home and wow them. He oozes charisma. He knows the game. But, he has never coached at this high a level before. Yes, he is leading his son's high school team, but that is high school football. College is such a different game, and FSU, that is major division 1 college football. I look at some former players that are coaching now, and it takes time. I love that Michigan basketball has hired Juwan Howard, but I know it will be a few seasons before they are elite. This is his first time. Patrick Ewing has Georgetown potentially as a tournament team this year, but this is year 3 for him. Herm Edwards took over Arizona State, and while they were ranked for a moment this season, that team has fallen back to Earth. They are a 6 win team at best. Sure, that means bowl eligibility, but one of those early December bowl games. I imagine it would be tough for Deion to, one, not get every top flight recruit, and 2, not be that good for a few seasons. He would inherit a team that is light on QB's and receivers. A team that struggles defensively, even against inferior opponents. He would also have to deal with the exact same boosters who raised enough money to buy out Taggart. It is a tough situation.

So, if I were FSU, and thank goodness I have zero affiliation and do not like that team, I would give Deion Sanders the job, knowing that it would be a rebuilding project. That is what I think would be best for everyone involved.

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing and the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast. He is ready to return the glory to his old team and become the head coach. Do you hear that Marquette High?

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Ty Reads Adam Cayton-Holland's "Tragedy + Time"

I tend to read more books this time of year. It gets darker earlier, it is colder outside and I like to read whenever I get some quiet time while my kids are at school. Recently I just finished the book "Tragedy + Time" by Adam Cayton-Holland. Today I am going to talk about it.

This is one of the better, and sadder, books I have read in my life. I became familiar with Cayton-Holland later in life. In fact, I did not know much about his comedy. In fact I first saw him on one of my favorite shows, that should have gotten a fourth season, "Those Who Can't". After the first season of that, I started to listen to him on many podcast appearances. I then went back and watched most of his standup that I could find on the internet. After that, I learned of his comedy group, the Grawlix. I became pretty well versed in all things Cayton-Holland, at least as far as his comedy went.

When I heard that he was writing a book I was intrigued. I figured it was going to be a comedy book, but it is not. Don't get me wrong, there is some comedic moments in the book, but it is a tragedy. I had no idea that Cayton-Holland was one of three kids in his family. I also did not know much about his upbringing. I did know he had, or has, OCD because it is easy for someone to notice it when you have it yourself. But his book "Tragedy + Plus" reveals so much about his personal life.

Now, before I go further, I am going to spoil a lot of the book. So, if you want to read it first, do that, then come back and read my review. Okay, back to the review.

The book starts off with Cayton-Holland talking about selling his show, and claiming that it was the worst day of his life. He talks about walking down the street sobbing uncontrollably all the way back to his hotel room. I was hooked from that moment on. From there he starts at the beginning, when he was a young kid. This is when we get a more in depth look at his life, his OCD, his family and his upbringing. His life is not uncommon for a middle class person. But, when detailing his OCD, and his little sister's, that was where it was super relatable for me. He would do his "rituals" before bed every night, just like I di as a kid. He and his younger sister kind of had a kinship in their OCD, and their love of "The Simpsons", much like RD and myself. He then went into detail about his screw-ups, his sister's screw ups, his rock bottom, her rock bottom, which was as bottom as it could get, and coming out the other side of all this a better person. Cayton-Holland doesn't sugar coat anything in his book. He is raw and he is real. He does have an older sister too, and she seems like the most put together one of the family. And the way he tells his story, from childhood to getting into comedy to making it in comedy to getting his own TV show and to his youngest sister's suicide, it is all out there in the open.

The tragedy part of the title is his sister's suicide. She had some mental issues. That much was made very clear. But to hear Cayton-Holland talk about the issues, trying to help her, being mad at times for her outbursts and saying he wished he had more time to help her, it was touching. I, at time with my OCD and anxiety issues, have felt like a burden to my friends and family, but nothing like what his sister went through. To know that he, his mom and dad and older sister did all they could to help, and it still didn't matter was eye opening. They took her to doctors, they put her in an institute, they kept watch over her, they tried to get her on the right meds, and in the end, it didn't matter. And the way he found his sister after her suicide, I was in tears reading about it. I tried to put myself in his shoes, but I have never gone through anything as awful as that sounds. It is so, so sad. I don't know how one comes back from that, but try as he might, Cayton-Holland has found a way to recover. Sure, he will never, ever forget what has happened, how could you, but he has found a way to cope.

So while the book is gut wrenchingly sad, it does have a happy ending. Also I need to point out how he described life after his little sister died. Suicide to the person doing it may feel like an out, but all the living relatives and friends that have to deal with the aftermath, that is hard. And again, Cayton-Holland holds nothing back. He describes it all in all its ugliness and horribleness. I appreciate that from him as a writer.

While the book was not what I was expecting, it is one of the most moving, sad and realest books I have ever read. For anyone that has experienced loss, or has a family member or friend they may be worried about, read this book. It will surely help you try and help them. I love "Tragedy + Plus". The book makes me respect Adam Cayton-Holland even more, and I cannot wait to see what he does next. This is a great book, and a must read for fans of his.

Ty

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

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The Ringer's Kevin O'Conner is a Bad Take Generator

Home to Kevin O’Conner takes

I am very tough on the website The Ringer. I feel like it is filled with hot take millennial BS that is pointless. All the majority of the hosts of the podcasts, and their writers, it is all about the quickest and hottest take out there. I don't feel like they do a ton of research, and they just want to put out stuff to get clicks on the site. Also, Bill Simmons is one of the biggest has beens in the sports writing business. He is such a non factor in the NBA world now. I do not trust a word he says anymore, and while he was once a solid writer, he has only shown since starting The Ringer, is that he wants so badly to still be in his 20's, even though he is approaching his 50's. It is sad. That much is true. Also, his interviews with Malcolm Gladwell have been horrendous and awful, in so many different ways.

While I do not read the website anymore, it feels like a total waste of time, I do subscribe to 2 of their podcasts. I listen to their NFL show, and I listen to their NBA show hosted by Chris Vernon and Kevin O'Connor. I do like Chris Vernon. I have talked about that before. He has some of the better takes on the pod, he seems to understand the NBA pretty well, and he isn't a yes man, of which this company is filled with. I also enjoy his passion for the game, and his love for his hometown team, the Memphis Grizzlies. Yes, he can be obnoxious from time to time, he can be a little loud, but again, he seems like the smartest person that is involved with the whole Ringer crew.

Then we have Kevin O'Connor. Boy oh boy do I not like him. He has one, maybe 2 good takes per episode, but everything else is so absurd and contradictory and asinine and flat out stupid. He takes credit for the few things he gets right, and when he is very wrong, which is a lot, he almost always deflects the blame. He is never wrong, it was something out of his control that caused his shit take to be off.

For example, I was listening to their most recent episode, and twice he said some shit that was so off that it made me audibly gasp and call him an idiot to my iPhone. First, Chris Vernon called him out on his "bright future Suns" comment, and when he was pushed by Vernon, he kind of just blahed his way through his speech. Vernon pointed out that when he called them the "bright future Suns", they had so many other players. In fact, the only player that is still on the team when O'Connor coined them that is Devin Booker. Every other player is gone. But O'Connor, in his infinite stupidity, tried to claim that Booker was the only reason he called them "the bright future Suns". That is false. You can go back and listen to him say he still liked Dragan Bender, gone, or any other number of players that the Suns have since traded or let go in free agency. The team is incredibly different from who O'Connor dubbed "the bright future Suns".

And then, the comment that really irked me, he said that the Knicks need to lose. I hate, hate, hate that this whole new tanking thing is what the younger generation of basketball writers are so enamored with right now. Why would any fan of any team ever want their team to lose purposely? The 76ers did it for half a decade, and when you talk to their fans, they talk about some dark thoughts during that time. I am a lifelong Michigan fan, and the Rich Rodriguez and Brady Hoke eras where unbearable. I'm sure Houston Astros fans are happy now, but when they were regularly losing 100 games, that couldn't have been fun. I am now rooting for the Memphis Grizzlies, and while Ja Morant has been a blast to watch so far, it stinks that they get beat pretty much every night. I think it is easy for someone like Kevin O'Connor, who is a Boston guy, to talk about how these teams should actively tank because in his whole sports fandom life, the Patriots, Celtics, Bruins and Red Sox have all been really good, or even won titles. The teams he roots for haven't had to tank, yet. So when he said that the Knicks should continue to tank, I was flabbergasted. He kept saying that this would help them get young talent, and lure free agents. I need to say, how did that work for them this past offseason? They didn't sign anyone of note, they ended up taking RJ Barrett, more on him and another O'Connor comment in a moment, and they have no real shot anymore at getting the number one pick in the upcoming draft. They did this exact same thing last year, losing because they were certain they were going to get Zion Williamson, and sign one, or both, of KD and Kyrie Irving. Well, none of that happened Mr. O'Connor. So what makes you think it will happen this offseason, or next or next? Hell, KD even said no one wants to go sign with the Knicks because they haven't been relevant since the late 90's.

As for that RJ Barrett comment, he said that the Knicks are playing him too much. What in the actual hell?! I mean, if the kid wants to play, and the team wants him to play and the coach wants him to play, let him play. Who cares? You can throw all the too many minutes thing, and the rookie wall at me, but if Barrett feels good, and they took him third overall and they want to build around him, let him play. O'Connor is obsessed with coddling the young generation coming into the NBA, especially Duke players. That is ridiculous. Also, if David Fizdale was only playing him 20 minutes a night, O'Connor would be the first one to say that the Knicks need a new coach who would let Barrett play.

Kevin O'Conner is an unreliable, porous and crappy sports writer. He is the definition of a hot take writer who thinks they are never wrong. He seems lost and confused every time Chris Vernon calls him out, and his response is to act like a child who is being wrongly scolded. I hope O'Connor reads this because I really, really want him to know how I feel about him and his crap takes. Of all the crummy writers and podcasters they have at The Ringer, O'Connor is the second worse, behind only his boss, Bill Simmons.

Ty

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

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2019 NFL Quick Hits: Week 9

Week 9 of the NFL has passed, and while it was a pretty boring week, save for the Sunday night game, I do have some takes, especially on my team, and another team from the same division. Lets get to it.

First off we have the Thursday night game between the 49ers and Cardinals. The 49ers pushed their way to 8-0, but they made it tough. The Cardinals made it a game near the end, and dare I say, I may have been wrong on Kliff Kingsbury, for now. The Cardinals have proven to be much better on offense than I thought, and their defense, while not great, is fine. The 49ers finally got a breakout game from Jimmy Garropolo, and if they play like this, they are a true NFC threat. I don't totally buy it yet, but they do have a solid defense, they are winning, and if the offense can put together more games like this, they will be good for years to come. Also, Kyler Murray is really, really good. That kid can play.

The Texans easily dispatched of the Jags, and I think this game really showed the true colors of each team. The Texans can be great, if they can protect Deshaun Watson. He was awesome on Sunday, and that Jumpman pose he did to get in the end zone was rad. Also, him shouting out Popeye's spicy chicken sandwich was so god damn cool. Deshaun Watson rules. The Jags, and more so Gardner Minshew, are, at best, a 7 win team. They cannot keep up on defense, when teams load the box Leonard Fournette cannot go off and Minshew looks like a backup. I still kind of like the Jags, but they aren't a top tier, playoff caliber team. Not yet anyway.

The Eagles looked lackluster, slow and kind of checked out, and yet they still beat the Bears. The Eagles did just enough to get a crucial win to stay in the playoff conversation, but this game was way more clarifying as to what ails the Bears. The Bears have an otherworldly defense, and Khalil Mack is great. But, their offense is horrendous, and I put the blame squarely on the GM and the QB. Yes, Matt Nagy has made some odd calls, but if he had a QB that was serviceable, I think the Bears are 6-2 instead of 3-5. Mitch Trubisky is not a good NFL QB, and as long as he is starting, the Bears will be wasting a great defense and a solid receiving corps. They need to move on now.

The Chiefs found a way to beat one of RD's teams, the Vikings, with a backup QB. This proves how great of a regular season coach Andy Reid is. He schemed up Matt Moore to perfection, got a key win and is just biding his time until Patrick Mahomes gets back. The Vikings played okay, but they just couldn't get it done. I thought they were going to beat the Chiefs because of how hot they have been lately, but this is what happens when you put all your eggs in the Kirk Cousins basket I guess.

The Steelers, who I still don't buy as a playoff contender, somehow found a way to beat the Colts. Now, Jacoby Brissett got hurt during the game, and still, the Colts had a shot. Adam Vinateiri missed a game winner, and he may be done, but still, the Colts had a chance. They are still in contention to win the division, or get a wild card slot, but this loss hurts, and if Brissett misses a few games, it may only get worse. As for the Steelers, they won, but again, I still don't buy them as contenders. They cannot run the ball with consistency, and their QB situation is a real mess. Although, I love seeing Devin Bush playing well. That is pretty cool.

The Dolphins won a game. I did not think I would write that sentence once this year. But, they found a way to beat the Jets. The Jets may be the worst team in, not only the NFL this year, but of all time. I know some teams have gone 0-16, and other teams have played bad, but the Jets are a whole new level of awful. They are poorly coached, poorly ran and they flat out stink. Sam Darnold has regressed, LeVeon Bell cannot find any running room and their defense is real, real bad. Adam Gase is a horrible head coach, and the Jets are in chaos mode right now. Good for the Dolphins though. Way to get one win.

The Bills made easy work of Washington, and Washington is almost, almost, as bad as the Jets. The Bills are, fairly quietly, 6-2, and could be 9-2 after the next 3 weeks. They have a very, very good defense, and can run the ball well. They are a clock controlling type team. As for Washington, well, they haven't scored a single TD in 3 weeks. That is atrocious. They can't run, they can't protect their rookie QB and they lied to their best O lineman about having cancer. This team is a mess, and I bet they have a very hard time finding anyone credible coach to take their vacant head coaching job. Washington is bad.

The Panthers beat the Titans because Christian McCaffery is fully asserting himself as the best running back in the league. They did get some bad news today, with Cam Newton going on IR, but if CMC continues to do what he's doing, and the defense plays like they did on Sunday, as opposed to what they did against the 49ers, they can still make that push for the playoffs. The Titans, on the other hand, are the most bland team in the league. They don't do anything spectacular or terrible. They are so blah. I'm sure they will go 7-9 or 8-8 and no one will care.

The Raiders got their fourth win of the year, and they beat an okay Lions team. I cannot believe I am saying this, but the Raiders are starting to resemble a real NFL team. Oh, and Josh Jacobs is awesome. I thought they may have reached a bit for him. I was wrong. He is a real good running back. The Lions had one of their typical blown games, but this time it was on them, not the refs. They just have struggled to put together a full four quarters. But, the Raiders aren't as bad as they have been in the past, and Matt Stafford is having a solid year. Now they need to translate that into some wins.

The Seahawks let the Bucs jump out to a 14 point lead, but they managed to comeback yet again. Russell Wilson was great when he needed to be, and it gets more and more frustrating to me to say this, but he is having a monster year. So is DK Metcaf. The Seahawks have problems on defense, but if Russell Wilson continues to play like he has all year, he will single handily lead them to the playoffs. The Bucs cannot get out of their own way. Even when Jameis Winston has a good game, he still has a critical turnover that kills his team. Also, the Bucs defense is awful. They cannot stop anyone.

My team, the Packers, laid a complete egg on Sunday. The Chargers have not been a good team all year, yet they dominated Green Bay. The Packers defense was on the field seemingly all game, and they got pretty tired near the end. And when Green Bay was on offense, they looked very sloppy. They couldn't do much of anything. The Chargers deserved to win, and they easily won. That was a rough watch for me.

The Sunday night game, as I mentioned at the top, was great. The Ravens shredded the Patriots D, and for the first time this season, the Patriots looked unprepared. Lamar Jackson furthered his MVP case as well. He was so awesome on Sunday night. He made all the right reads, he made the throws and he was a nuisance to tackle. He is the new Mike Vick. He is a faster Steve Young. He is awesome. The Ravens D also harassed Tom Brady all game long, stripped Julian Edelmann and shut the Patriots down. I know this is just one game, and I still think the Patriots will be in the Super Bowl, but it was nice to see the Ravens and Lamar Jackson run all over them and win going away. The Ravens are legit, and so is Lamar Jackson.

Finally we have the Monday night game between the Cowboys and Giants, and honestly, I didn't watch a second of this game. I instead chose to watch "Watchmen", and I feel like I made the correct choice. I saw the Cowboys won, and that Saquon Barkley did some more cool shit this morning when I checked highlights, and for a Monday night game like last night, I feel that is more than enough attention that needs to be paid to 2 teams I could care less about, and haven't been relevant for nearly a decade now.

That's it for my week 9 takes. Come back next week for week 10.

Ty

Better Late than Never on "Midsommar"

I have been pestering my wife for months now to watch the movie "Midsommar" with me. I wanted to see it in theaters, I was willing to rent it on iTunes and I finally convinced her to rent it on On Demand this past Saturday.

I heard pretty much nothing but good things about the movie from critics and people who's opinions in movies I trust and respect. I also like to watch a good psychological thriller around this time of year. Most people like straight up horror movies, but I prefer to have my mind twisted and bent in all wild directions. Those are the "Scary" movies that I enjoy. For example, last year around the same time my wife and I watched "The Babadook", which ruled by the way. So this year we finally got down to "Midsommar", and I have some thoughts.

First off, this might be one of the most unique and original movies that I have ever seen. There is nothing out there like this. It is uniquely its own thing. No one else has made a movie like this and went in this many directions. Also, the setting was beautiful, which made the cinematography wonderful. Wherever they shot this movie, it looks like a wonderful destination. I am envious of the actors getting to do this movie in such a beautiful place. And, for what it is worth, the movie has there rare moments of comedy, and it lands every single time. Any time a joke, or one liner or some kind of odd sight gag is put in, I found myself chuckling. Outside of that, I don't know what to think of "Midsommar".

This movie has had the same effect on me that "Joker" did, being that I cannot stop thinking about it. But, where "Joker" left me annoyed, "Midsommar" has simply confused me. I will not say it is a bad movie because it is not, but I also don't want to say it is a good movie. It is a unique movie, and you may want to take some mind altering drugs before watching it. Also, some of the imagery in this movie is very, very horrifying, and it is up close and personal when it appears on screen. You see caved in head, broken bones and skinned bodies, both human and animal. The movie also does a good job of sending up pagan rituals and religious communes. It does not paint them in the best light, and I think, personally, that is a good thing. Most of these communes have some deep, dark secrets from the past, and probably the present, and "Midsommar" does a good job of not glorifying that.

The movie was very hard to watch too. And that was good and bad. For one, it is very long, clocking in at around 2 and a half hours. There is also good chunks of the movie where no one speaks. There is just wailing and music accompanying the wailing. The two main characters say nothing for the last 25 minutes of the movie. But, the silence was perfect at times. It was needed because what you were seeing was so unsettling, and when I tried to put myself in that scenario, I would be speechless too. The movie also makes you feel like you are on drugs, and I have never done an illegal drug in my life. The way the plants and bushes and flowers moved when the characters were tripping felt so real and kept me in the movie.

"Midsommar" is a very ambitious, very bizarre and very strange movie. I'm glad that I saw it, but I don't think I will ever watch it again willingly. It is a good psychological movie if you are in to that type of thing, but just know, it is brutally violent as well. I would say to watch this just once if you are curious about, but know, it will stay with you and may even haunt you. What a bizarre movie this was, and I still can't shake it.

Ty

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

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2019 NFL Midseason Redo

Okay, as promised, today I finally come to you with my NFL midseason redo, filled with new picks and predictions. I will do it just like I did my season preview. I will go through each division with a sentence or 2 about each team, pick a winner, then pick the AFC and NFC title game, Super Bowl matchup and winner. I will also pick new award winners.

Okay, lets get to it.

Lets start with the AFC first. In the East, the Patriots are absolutely running away with it, yet again. They haven't even hit their stride offensively, but their defense is his historically good, and I know they haven't played the best competition, but they are destroying the bad teams as they should. They have a big test this weekend, and if they pass it, they could go undefeated. The Bills are surprisingly solid, at 5-2. They aren't very good on offense, but they are pretty stout on defense. They are in the thick of the wild card hunt. Then we have the Jets and Dolphins. I mean, could they be the 2 worst teams in the NFL? Maybe. The Jets are a mess with a terrible head coach. As for the Dolphins, they are trying to lose games, and boy are they succeeding. Patriots will win the East.

The AFC West is pretty much all wrapped up as well. I know the Chiefs are without Patrick Mahomes, but they will be just fine when he comes back in a week or 2. They don't have the best defense, not by a long shot, but they have an offense that can light it up, when Mahomes gets back. Every other team is under .500. The Raiders are better, but they need a better QB and some better receivers. The Chargers are a mess, and have been ravaged by injury. Also, Phillip Rivers needs to give it up. And the Broncos, well, they are in a real, real mess. John Elway is an awful GM, and this season is really proving that. Chiefs will win the West.

The AFC North is a lot like the West. The Ravens are the best team by a wide margin. Lamar Jackson is awesome, and might be the most fun QB in the league. They also have a tough defense. The Ravens are the Spurs of the NFL. The Steelers are no good. I know people keep saying they can make a push for the playoffs. They cannot. They are not that good. The Browns, seemingly everyone's preseason darlings, are not good. At all. They cannot protect their overrated QB, they can't get Odell the ball and they aren't living up to the hype on defense. Oh, they are poorly coached too. And we have one of RD's 2 teams, the Bengals. The 0-8 Bengals that is. They stink, enough said. Ravens take the North.

Finally in the AFC we have the South, which has been surprisingly good. The Colts have kept it together very well after Andrew Luck's retirement. They play solid ball control offense, and their defense is stout. The Texans have the other most exciting QB in the league in Deshaun Watson. He is amazing, and he is carrying that team. He can lead them to the playoffs. The Titans and Jags are both 4-4, and both totally different. The Titans are bland and dull and will be 8-8 at best. The Jags have a good run game, and their defense, even without Jalen Ramsey, looks a lot more similar to the defense 2 years ago. I am going to pick the Colts because they have the better head coach, but the Texans will still be in the playoffs.

As for the AFC playoff teams, I have the Texans, Bills, Colts, Ravens, Chiefs and Patriots. In the AFC title game I still have the Chiefs and Patriots, but, and it really bums me out, I am going to pick the Patriots. Their defense is amazing, and the offense will figure it out soon. They are just too good, and they will have home field throughout the playoffs.

On to the NFC. The NFC East is not very good, and yet, they may get 2 playoff teams. The Cowboys are as Jekyll and Hyde as it gets. One week they look unstoppable, the next, they lose to the Jets. Who knows with this team. The Eagles, my number one team in the preseason, has been a major disappointment. They play no secondary defense and cannot pressure the QB. And the offense is dealing with injuries and an inability to pass the ball. Yet here they sit at 4-4, and in a tie for first. The Giants are wasting Saquon Barkley's talents, and have benched Eli Manning in favor for Daniel Jones. That says it all. And then there is Washington. I mean, they fired Jay Gruden, told a player that had cancer that he didn't and could care less about winning games, player safety or getting fans to come to the game. They are a mess, and they totally deserve all the bad that is happening to them right now. I guess I am going to pick the Cowboys because they most recently destroyed the Eagles. But, don't count out the Eagles.

The NFC West is really good. The 49ers seemed to have figured something out, and where we sit right now, they are one of 2 undefeated teams. They have a solid run and play action pass game and their defense is ferocious. The Seahawks are being led by Russell Wilson, who is having an MVP caliber year, and they are playing better defense. The Rams are finally using Todd Gurley properly, got Jalen Ramsey and are starting to look like the team they were last year. Then we have the Cardinals, who aren't as bad as I thought, but still aren't that good. I could see three of the 4 teams making the playoffs from this division. Right now though, at the halfway point, I am going with the 49ers to win the division because they have a 2 game lead. That is big time in the NFL.

The NFC North is a 2 team race, and those 2 teams are my team and RD's real team. The Packers were led by their defense early and the offense is finally starting to figure it out. My only fear with them, they are peaking too early. The Vikings looked like a bust a few weeks into the season, but now, they look pretty good. They are throwing the ball well, Dalvin Cook is finally becoming the star he showed he could be in college and the defense is solid. The Lions are a real tough team, but they either get screwed by refs, or screw themselves. They could win 10 games, but I see them winning 7 or 8 games. And then we have the Bears. Mitch Trubisky is a bust. There is no way to argue that. He has only gotten worse, and it is on him and the head coach as to why they have been so underwhelming. They still cannot kick a field goal either. This defense is being completely wasted. I'm going to go with the Packers to win the division now, but the Vikings are a real, real threat.

And in the South, the Saints might be the second best team in the NFL. They have a great defense now, and Drew Brees is back and the offense is really good. They are complete now. Also, the fact that Teddy Bridgewater is the backup shows how deep this team is. The Saints are really good, and Alvin Kamara hasn't played in a few weeks. The Panthers are okay, but not good enough to make the playoffs. Also, they need Cam Newton back. The Buccaneers are a turnover machine, and they don't play a whole lot of defense. And the Falcons are a total and utter disaster. They have to be the worst defense in the NFL, and the offense is old and stale. The Saints are going to cruise with the division.

As for my NFC playoff teams, I'm going to go with the Vikings, Rams, Cowboys, 49ers, Packers and Saints. The NFC title game will feature the Packers and Saints, and I am going to go with the Saints. The NFC had the most changes from my preseason picks, but I still have the Saints in the Super Bowl.

That means my Super Bowl is going to feature the Patriots and Saints, and I am sticking with the Saints, and with my prediction of Drew Brees to retire afterward and hand over the reins to Teddy Bridgewater. It is all working towards that. Also, I would so much rather see the Saints win than the Patriots again. As for award winners, defensive rookie of the year I am sticking with Josh Allen, he is wrecking shit.

As for offensive rookie of the year, still going with Kyler Murray. He is going to put up big numbers for sure. For coach of the year, I'm going Frank Reich. The Colts should be in the playoffs, and the fact that he is leading that team to the playoffs after Lucks' retirement is a testament to how good of a coach he is. For defensive player of the year, I have to go with Aaron Donald., He is the best in the game. For offensive player of the year, I'm going Christian McCaffery. Sure, the Panthers won't make the playoffs, but he is putting up monster numbers, and Mahomes is hurt and Aaron Rodgers started off a little too late. For MVP, I am going with Lamar Jackson. There is no one, and that includes Russell Wilson, that is more important to his team's success than Lamar Jackson. He is that good.

So, there you have it, my mid season review with new predictions. I am sure I will be wrong on some of them, but I feel most solid with my Super Bowl and MVP winner. I will stand by those picks.

Ty

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

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What is the Iconic Halloween Decoration?

spoiler

I know a few days ago I promised an NFL midseason review, filled with new picks and predictions, but that was before I remembered that today, Thursday, is Halloween. Each year I try to do something Halloween themed for the site, and even though I have my new picks, that will have to wait one more day. Sorry to all my football fans out there, but I do want to do a holiday theme thing.

With that being said, I have mentioned many times how Halloween isn't the same for me anymore. I used to love it when I was a kid, didn't care in high school, used it as a reason to go to house parties in college, cared less about it when I got married and now, that I have 2 kids, it has come full circle. I am nearing a point again when I am able to find the fun in Halloween again, through my kids eyes. Getting them ready for trick or treating, having friends with kids come over to the house so they can trick or treat with my kids, seeing the excitement in their eyes when they are out getting candy, it has brought back the joy in the holiday.

That is not the point of my piece today. This morning, when taking my son to school, we were talking about the Halloween decorations we saw, and he asked me one of the tougher questions I have been asked in my life. While in the car, he asked me, "what is the most popular Halloween decoration?". I was stumped. I immediately said a ghost, but he pushed back and mentioned pumpkins. We then saw some tombstones and various monsters and bats and your random Halloween stuff. We then talked about what we thought was the most popular decoration for the rest of the car ride. I dropped him at school, and I am sure he forgot, but I have been kind of thinking on his question for most of the day. I instantly took off zombies. They may be popular now, but it is more of a recent decoration. I know that the original "Night of the Living Dead" was made way back in the 60's, but no one, for the most part, my age knows that movie all that well. Most people that know zombies are fans of "The Walking Dead", "Shaun of the Dead", "Zombieland" and the like. So that is too recent. I then shifted my focus to the Halloween monsters, and while cool, not the most popular. I see some yards that have a Frankenstein or Dracula in their yard, but that is few and far between. I also see the black cats with witches hats on, but I'm a dog person. Then there are witches, and for me, they didn't really become popular until "Hocus Pocus". That movie came out in the 90's. The tombstones are even a recent development. What with the punny names and all. The tombstones are more of a joke now.

So that left me with 2, the pumpkin and the ghost. I really cannot figure out which one is more popular. On one hand the ghost is synonymous with scares and jumps and spookiness. What time is spookier than Halloween? But the pumpkin, especially the carved ones, are EVERYWHERE. Hell, I have three of them in my front yard, my son's, my daughter's and mine and my wife's. And all throughout my neighborhood, I'd say that about 80-90 percent have, at the very least, a pumpkin on their front porch or in their yard. So, I do think, after much thought, that the pumpkin is the most popular Halloween decoration. If we are going for straight up scares, yes a ghost should win, but you can carve a spooky pumpkin if you are a talented artist. Also, pumpkins go into another holiday. Pumpkins are almost equal with Thanksgiving as they are with Halloween. I'm sure a lot of that came from people simply not wanting to ditch their old pumpkins, but now, pumpkins, and gourds, are just as acceptable for both holidays. Also, for the hooligans out there, you cannot smash a ghost, but you can smash a pumpkin. Side note, if I catch anybody trying to smash our pumpkins, you better hope you are faster than I am. I don't think the same could be said about a cut out ghost.

So, while I have been sitting on my son's question for a few hours, I think I have cracked it, and I cannot wait to tell him when I pick him up today. Anyway, pumpkins are the most popular décor, and Happy Halloween to everyone out there. This was fun.

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing and the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast. Ty is a man that loves his holiday puns, so a happy boo-tacular Halloween to all the little ghouls and ghosts.

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Ty Watches "El Camino: A Breaking Bad Movie"

Yesterday I watched "El Camino: A Breaking Bad Movie". I enjoyed it. The movie was dark, bleak, depressing, hard to watch and, flat out, brutal. But, that was exactly what I was hoping for, and expected to see. When we last left Jesse Pinkman, he was not in a good place. He did get out, spoiler alert for a show that ended nearly a decade ago, but after that, he was officially on the lam. That is where this movie pretty much picks up.

What I enjoyed about this movie the most was the fact that Jesse had, for himself, a somewhat happy ending. He got the closure that I felt his character deserved. Jesse immediately goes on the run, in the El Camino after Walter White rigged up the gun that shot the place up, and he knows he needs to hide. We find him next running into Skinny and Badger. He goes to their house and says he needs to stash the car. He is led inside, eats a ton of cup of noodles and crashes to sleep. When he wakes up he freaks, thinking he is still in the cage that the neo Nazis put him in to cook. When he realizes he isn't anymore, he cleans himself up, shaves and goes out to get his vengeance.

From this point on, there are a ton of silent scenes and flashbacks and Jesse trying to find a way to get out and start over. The silent scenes in the movie were incredible. It showed a broken man that was trying to get himself back together again. When he is searching around houses looking for money or when he has his freak outs when he wakes up or when he is caught by some random guys pretending to be cops, those were super intense. I was on the edge of my seat, just waiting to see what would happen next. The flashbacks really helped jog my memory, which I liked. If there was something I was a little cloudy on, I would most likely get a flashback, and that would help me remember who the character was, or the situation we were in in the movie. I appreciated that from the movie.

The stuff with Aaron Paul and Jesse Plemons character, the soft spoken yet insane killer neo Nazi, were so wild and so essential. RD told me, and I then went on to read, that Jesse Plemons said that, for him, this was one of the oddest buddy movies he has ever been a part of. That is 100 percent true. Plemons character takes Jesse out of his cage to help him with a job, and the stuff they do, and talk about, you would think that these guys are buddies. Then a flashback comes, or Jesse grabs a gun, or cowers when Plemons talks to him, and then you remember, Plemons is a bad, bad dude. He killed people that Jesse loved, and that he is one of the people that are keeping him in a cage so he can cook for them.

But, when all is said and done, Jesse gets the best possible outcome. He gets his vengeance. He gets his chance to start over. He gets to leave a letter for the only person left that he truly cares about. And he drives off with a small smile on his face, the first time they show that in the movie.

I feel like "El Camino" was a perfect way to close the story on all things "Breaking Bad". It perfectly wrapped up any loose ends that the finale, which was great, might have left over. I feel a sense of closure now with this movie, and was very happy with how it all turned out. "El Camino" is worth your time, and it is a great ending to a great show.

Ty

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

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2019 NFL Quick Hits: Week 8

Today I am coming at you with my NFL week 8 quick takes. I am going to do a midseason review, but I am saving that for Thursday. I want to really marinate on that one because I am not so sure about my Super Bowl pick, especially the Eagles. I just need some more time to think. But, I do want to touch quickly on week 8.

Getting right to it, the Vikings did what they were supposed to do to Washington. They are a better team in all three phases, and in the coaching category. Kirk Cousins, who still is a total doofus, had a good game, but threw no TD's. Dalvin Cook is the real deal. And their defense is looking more and more like themselves. As for Washington, I actually feel bad for Dwayne Haskins because he has zero help. That is a bad, bad football team. And that head coach opening looks less and less desirable with each passing week.

The Seahawks beat the Falcons by 7, but it wasn't that close. The Falcons are in a real bad spot. They just traded away Mohammed Sanu, and I wouldn't be shocked if they try and offload Julio Jones. He deserves so much better. And, while I know he is hurt, Matt Ryan has really fallen off a cliff. Their defense is also porous. The Seahawks controlled that game, and won with ease. Russell Wilson played fine enough, they ran the ball well and the defense made plays when they needed to. This was, for all intents and purposes, a glorified scrimmage for the Seahawks.

The Bears missed a game winning field goal. I know, I am as shocked as anyone(sarcastic). The Bears missed a field goal, but they have so many more problems, and it starts with that horrendous offense. Mitch Trubisky is not good, they have no run game and they are wasting a historically good defense. And while the Chargers won, Phillip Rivers and the head coach fought on the sideline, Melvin Gordon could only muster 30 yards on 10 plus carries and the offensive coordinator just got fired. This team is in trouble, and they won. That shows how bad the Bears are right now.

The Giants and Lions played a shockingly exciting game. There was a ton of points, Matthew Stafford was awesome, but so was Daniel Jones. I might be wrong on Daniel Jones. Also, Saquon Barkley is a once in a generation talent. That kid is great. But, the Lions finally won a close game, a game they deserved to win, and they are so much better than I thought they were going to be coming into the season. I am glad I picked up Stafford on my fantasy team. He has looked really good. Kenny Golladay is quickly becoming a top receiver in the league too.

The Jags easily dispatched of the Jets. They did enough on offense, and the defense stifled one of the easiest teams to stifle. The Jets are a mess. The Jags played up the whole "seeing ghosts" thing to perfection. And now I hear the Jets are willing to trade LeVeon Bell. This news comes just days after they traded Leonard Williams. The Jets are a total mess.

The Rams and Bengals played in London, and while it was tied at 10 for a minute, the Bengals did what they did and let Cooper Kuup walk in for a 60 yard TD and it was done from there. Todd Gurley also looked really solid in this game. The Rams have gotten exactly what they've needed the past 2 weeks to get back on track. I also just heard that the Bengals are now benching Andy Dalton. That is a bit too late, but they have zero wins, so why not bottom out to try and get a top QB prospect? They have nothing else to play for.

The Buccaneers and Titans played a close game, but I could not tell you much from that game. The Titans won, I saw Tannehill had three TD passes, and Jameis Winston wasn't terrible. But, these 2 teams couldn't be more unimportant. The Titans have 8-8 written all over them, and the Bucs are just tumbling. They will, most likely, be picking in the top 5 again. It may be time to move on from Winston.

The Eagles smoked the Bills, in what was a bit shocking to me. The Bills aren't explosive on offense, far from it, but the Eagles are horrendous on defense. But, maybe this will tamp down the Josh Allen hype train a bit. The Eagles stifled him, and they ran the hell out of the ball. Miles Sanders and Jordan Howard were dynamite. It is a win like this that makes me think the Eagles still have a chance, albeit small.

The Colts beat the Broncos on a last second field goal. This is what the Colts do. They can look sloppy and inefficient, but they stay in games, and find a way to win. They have done a great job of staying relevant after Andrew Luck retired to start the year. And the Broncos, well, Joe Flacco called out the entire coaching staff, and now he is benched. That says a ton, when Joe Flacco is calling you out. This is another team wasting a great, great defense with how pitiful they are on offense. The Broncos stink.

The Saints absolutely shredded the Cardinals. I know the Cardinals aren't that good, but just last week, I gave them a little credit. I think this win really solidifies the Saints as an upper tier NFC team, and Drew Brees look like he didn't miss a beat. I loved seeing Teddy Bridgewater do what he did, but Brees reminded us all why he is a hall of fame player. And that defense, which used to be the problem, is totally ferocious and fearsome. Kyler Murray had a solid game, but he was made very much to look like a rookie agains this defense. And I want better for Larry Fitzgerald. Trade him to a contender so he has one last shot at a ring. Please.

The 49ers are good. There, I finally admitted it. They didn't just beat the Panthers, they demolished them. The 49ers, where we stand right now, have a great run game, the play action is super effective and their defense is very, very good. I mean, Carolina is no slouch, and they held them to 13 points, while scoring 51. Kyle Shanahan is proving he can coach, and while he isn't putting up record breaking stats, Jimmy Garroppolo is the game manager they need. And that run game is just tremendous. Add in the fact they have Emmanuel Sanders, the 49ers are going to be good for awhile. Also, I think all the Cam trade talk, and giving the team to Kyle Allen needs to immediately stop after this game. Allen was bad, and looked the part of a backup. CMC is the only thing they had on offense, and that is why they only had 13 points.

The Texans won a thriller late against the Raiders. That TD pass Deshaun Watson threw to go ahead was spectacular. He got kicked in the face and still managed to find the open guy. I bet the Bears would kill to have a QB half as good as Watson, and they could have just drafted Watson themselves. He is firmly in the MVP race, if not the front runner, right now. And the Raiders, I will give them credit, they aren't rolling over and dying this season. They are playing teams tough, they just don't have the talent yet. They need a better QB too.

The Patriots made easy work of the Browns, I'm not much for counting teams out in week 8, but the Browns hype train is fully off the rails. They stink. Baker Mayfield is Johnny Manziel. They cannot get the ball to Odell Beckham. Nick Chubb has become a fumble machine and the O line is dreadful. The Patriots defense forced 3 turnovers on 3 consecutive snaps. That is unheard of. And the fact that Tom Brady hasn't had to do much of anything should have the whole NFL worried. The Patriots D is playing at a historical level, and I don't see them slowing down anytime soon. They're fast, big and get a shit ton of turnovers. I cannot stand that team, but dammit, they are really, really good.

The Packers won the Sunday night game, but it was a little too close for comfort for me. The Chiefs had a backup QB in, and the Packers had an early 14 point lead, but that was gone by halftime. Then they woke up, Aaron Rodgers and Aaron Jones were tremendous, and the D made plays when they needed. Rodgers has looked phenomenal the past 2 games as well, and soon they will get Davante Adams back. And Jones and Jamal Williams are finally giving the Packers a run game. The Chiefs are going to be fine as soon as Mahomes returns, but they did play okay in his absence. They held a lead for a minute, and Andy Reid proved he can make a game plan for 2 very different QB's. But, Mahomes is the engine that runs that team, and when he is out, it is noticeable.

Finally, the Monday night game was Dolphins-Steelers. I didn't watch a single second because I loathe both teams, the Dolphins are actively losing games and the Steelers are very boring and blah. The Steelers won, so good for them I guess.

That does it for week 8. Like I said, I will have a midseason update on Thursday. Come back for that.

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 "Big Mouth" Season 3

Last Friday I finished season 3 of "Big Mouth", and it continues to be the best show about puberty that I have ever watched.

I love this show, and I love what the writers do to show kids how tough and embarrassing and crazy and messed up puberty can be. I wish they showed this show in middle schools, they won't because it is so very dirty and uses bad language, because I feel like it would make the students feel okay. It would let them know that puberty is tough for every single person out there. I also think it is the perfect show for people my age because it is so easy to relate to. I remember going through puberty, how tough it was, and I was just your average run of the mill kid in middle school. There was nothing spectacular or terrible about me. I was the definition of average in middle school, and puberty sucked for me too.

The third season of "Big Mouth" touched on some really great concepts, and added a few new characters that were really funny. The subjects that they touched on in season 3 were things I went through, stuff I did and was/am still embarrassed by, and it all really hit home. They talked about school uniforms in the season premiere, and it was a great discussion on how differently boys and girls are treated at that time in their life. Another episode, it crossed about 2 episodes in fact, Nick and his family are obsessed with their phones. None of them can live without them, and when the phones get taken away, they freak out. I live that daily with my son and his Switch. He is crazily obsessed with that thing, and it is getting tough. also, that episode makes me happy that cell phones weren't a thing when I was a kid. The Florida episode is a perfect encapsulation of what the rest of America thinks Florida is. Also, the secondary storyline of Andrew and his cousin was absolutely hilarious. There is one episode that is entirely dedicated to the story of a young Duke Ellington. Jordan Peele is great as Duke, and to hear him tell the story of how he became to be a great jazz pianist was funny and enlightening. There's another episode where the boys rank the girls on looks. I did this same thing, I am embarrassed that I did it, and this episode flooded me with memories. It shows how gross and mean middle school boys can be, and I was once the exact same way. This was probably my favorite episode of the season. There's another one that is pretty much about the SAT, or any standardized test, and that portrayed the anxiety those tests give 12 and 13 year old, and it is unnecessary anxiety. The "Disclosure" musical episode was so niche, and so god damn hilarious. We were also introduced to Thandie Newton's character Mona, another hormone monstress. The secondary story too, where the "Queer Eye for the Straight Guy" guys come in and fix Coach Steve was dynamite. And the season finale, where all the kids get "super powers" was so good. This is where Andrew and Nick get in their first real fight, and that was, dare I say, emotional to watch because, again, I went through that exact thing in middle school.

There is a ton of side stuff that was perfect this season too. Jay coming out as bi sexual was awesome. Also, Jay being taken in by Nick's parents when he is abandoned by his family was great. The addition of Ali Wong's character, Ali, was perfect. The stuff with Jessi's power, making people tell the truth, really gave us some insight into what her character may be doing next season. Andrew Rannels character finally getting a boyfriend was a long time coming. And anything that featured Coach Steve was ridiculous and hilarious.

"Big Mouth" is one of the best shows currently on TV. I was stoked that Netflix gave it such a long term deal. Nick Kroll and Andrew Goldberg have struck lightening in a bottle, and I cannot wait to consume more and more of the show. It is fantastic. And season 3 keeps showing that the show is only getting better and better.

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 "Watchmen": Season Premier

Yesterday I was able to watch the series premiere of "Watchmen" on HBO. I need to say, and I already told RD this, this may be one of my shorter blogs because I do not want to spoil anything at all. This is a premier, and I feel like the rest of the series is going to rule, but I was absolutely blown away by what I watched for an hour.

This is already way different from the movie, and I mean that in the best way possible. The opening scene was one of the most harrowing and disturbing things I have ever watched, and when RD told me it was a real incident, I was even more horrified. From there on out, I was incredibly intrigued by everything I saw. Regina King is awesome and she is one of the most kickass characters I have ever seen on TV. Also, Sister Knight is one of the coolest super hero names I have ever heard. Don Johnson as the sheriff was crazy and wild and had an edge to him. Tim Blake Nelson had the coolest mask, more on that in a minute, and is playing a character like I have never seen him play before. They seem to be the main characters at the current moment, but Louis Gossett Jr looks like he will be playing a very pivotal role in the show.

As for the show, man was it weird, and man was it good. Again, I am not going to go into tremendous detail, but it was incredible. I already mentioned the opening scene, and from there on out, I was impressed. The show takes place in 2019, so the original "Watchmen" characters aren't involved, yet. The new era of "Watchmen" clearly lives in a wild police state, where the police cannot show their faces, and their are some real bad people out there trying to get rid of them. Also, at one point, it rained squid from the sky, which was wild and dope as hell. The premiere sets up this scary vision of a new world, one that isn't too far off from real life because of how racist a lot of people are right now, and I was scared and unnerved and couldn't take my eyes off the screen. Regina King seems to be one of the most badass officers on the show, and like I said, she is wonderful. The premiere was violent and scary and cool and innovative. It reminded me a ton of the series premiere of "Lost", in the fact that I have so many questions, and I can't wait to see where they take it from here. That also makes sense to me because Damon Lindelof is one of the writers and creators of "Watchmen" (note: not Alan Moore)..

This show needs to be watched by everyone for so many reasons. It is so cool and so universally its own. Yes, it takes from the graphic novel, but the main characters, at least so far, are completely new. Just watch the show. Please. It rules.

Ty

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

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Ty Listens to "Closer Than Together"

Yesterday I mentioned that I was going to write about the new Avett Brothers record, and today I will fulfill that promise.

I need to say right off, I am a big fan of the Avett Brothers. I got heavily involved when they started to work with Rick Rubin, and really haven't ever looked back. Hell, I am even on board with them going electric on some songs. With that being said, I cannot figure out how I feel about their newest record, "Closer than Together". I do want to say, I think it is extremely well written, and when it comes to playing an instruments, the Avett Brothers are top notch. And, I enjoy most of the songs. But, there are some songs on the album that I just can't decide if I like it, or if it should even be on the record.

Lets get to the stuff I like first. The first three opening tracks are very good. They are quintessential Avett Brothers. The songs are acoustic heavy, they are about great topics and they fit. I especially love the message in "We Americans". It is a profound song, and I hope it gets played and talked about for years to come. And while I said the first three songs are acoustic heavy, the opening track has some great electric guitar playing right at the top. I really like "C Sections and Railway Trestles". It is a very poignant and true song about having a kid. The stuff that is written and sung is damn near perfect and poetic. The song is really about the ups and downs of having a newborn. I am also a fan of the single, "High Steppin". This is a departure from what they normally do, and while it does have a talking portion, more on that later, I find the song catchy and easy to dance to. My kids like it as well. I respect, and agree with the message on "Bang Bang" and "New Woman's World". "Bang Bang" is a great tune about our country's obsession with guns. And "New Woman's World" is right. We need to let the ladies take over because men have screwed stuff up big time, especially lately. "Better Here" is a nice, slow burn of a song that has some tremendous piano work all over it. "Who Will I Hold" has that banjo sound I have come to associate with the Avett Brothers, especially when Scott Avett sings. He is the better singer of the two, they are both great though, in my opinion. And I feel like "Locked Up" should be the closer. It has that feel. It is a sped up acoustic tune that would have been perfect to end on.

Now to the stuff I am a bit more confused on. I like the song "Long Story Short", but it is a total Bob Dylan rip off. Hell, I even compared it to my dad and wife as a Dewey Cox rip off. It just goes on and on and on with three chords seeming to be the only instrumental part. Still, it is a solid song. And then there are a few songs that are just slow. "When You Learn" feels like filler, and they could have made this a B side. And the actual closer, "It's Raining Today" is just not for me. When I listen I actually find myself checking the run time. I usually just skip it and start the record over. But, if these are my only real "qualms" with the record, I have to say, this is another, in a long line, of very good Avett Brothers records. I do wish that Scott Avett sang on more of the songs, at least lead vocals, but as I said, both brothers are very strong singers.

Overall, I like "Closer than Together". You can hear growth, yet there is the comfort of their reliable sound from past records. Any Avett Brothers fan will enjoy this record, and I think it may even convert some people that are yet to give them a chance.

Ty

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

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Ty Listens to "U Know What I'm Saying?"

I know that I am a bit late to the party, but today I finally listened to Danny Brown's new record, "uknowwhatimsayin?", and it is absolutely dynamite. I didn't really know what to expect. I am a late convert to Brown's music. I have heard him on Run the Jewels stuff, his song on the latest Gorillaz record is my favorite one, he has a very funny TV show and his older music is intense, at least what I have heard.

Yet this new record feels different. It starts out, not slower, but not as intense. It has a bit of a lighter feel to it. It is almost as if Brown is doing a newer character, a la what Tyler, the Creator did on "IGOR". Brown, much like Tyler, the Creator, seems to like performance art, and I feel like "uknowwhatimsayin?" is a new choice from him, and I love it. Like I said, it starts out lighter, and I was immediately intrigued. Brown seems almost subdued on this record, and I mean that in the best way possible. He is such a great emcee, and to hear him like this, where he is almost totally understandable, is awesome. I have listened to the record twice since this morning, and with each listen, I get more and more into the album. This record is right up there with "IGOR", or the new Black Keys or the new Avett Brothers record which I will be writing about tomorrow. Hell, I like it as much as "Cuz I love You", and that record might be the record of the year so far.

What Brown is doing on this album is so cool and different from what he has done in the past. His rhyming is so in sync with the beats on the record. And the beats, they are fantastic. They aren't bass thumping, near head banging like on previous records. But, they work so well with his new approach. He has some of the best producers and beat makers working with him on this album as well. Featured on a song is Run the Jewels, and I am sure, since they are very good friends, Brown and El-P made some beats together. Also, that song with RTJ is so god damn good. Even El-P is a bit subdued on the song, but then Killer Mike comes in at the end to close it out, and he crushes, as usual. He also has jpegmafia credited on a few tracks, and while I don't know too much about jpegmafia, I've been told, and read, that that is a good thing. The songs that feature jpegmafia are pretty awesome as well. This whole record is totally unique and totally different from anything Brown has done before, and I am all here for it. I am totally in. I want more and more music like this from Brown. This is a new direction for him, and I love it.

I cannot recommend this record enough. I'm sure I am going to listen to it a few more times today, and probably on repeat for a few weeks. Brown is fast becoming one of my favorite rappers, and I want more and more music from him, especially if it is going to sound like the songs on "uknowwhatimsayin?". Well done Mr. Brown. My hat is off to you and your new album.

Ty

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

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2019 NFL Quick Hits: Week 7

As we move into week 7 quick takes, I want to take a second to call out ESPN fantasy scoring. My brother and I, RD as you know him, tied in this week's game, 94.7 to 94.7, but for some unknown reason, they gave him the win. I don't get it. I am not a fan of ties, I think they're stupid in fact, but still, I didn't lose the game. I didn't win either. I tied him. But, for some weird reason, that makes no sense, I am now 5-2, and RD sits at 7-0. What the hell?! Anyway, lets get to week 7 NFL takes.

The Thursday game was an expected blowout. The Chiefs easily handled the Broncos 30-6. But, the Chiefs did suffer a tremendous loss in that game. Patrick Mahomes, who has been hurt all year, got for real hurt, a dislocated knee, and he is going to miss 3 to 5 weeks. I don't think this will affect the Chiefs too terribly much, but still, no Mahomes for 3 to 5 weeks is a bummer. And the Broncos, and Joe Flacco and John Elway, are dreadful. That team is in trouble. They need to rebuild for sure.

The Packers crushed a solid Raiders team, and Aaron Rodgers had a humongous game. Rodgers went for 400 plus passing yards and 5 TD's, plus a rushing TD, and if he can do this, and if Davante Adams can stay healthy, and the defense can continue to pressure QB's and bend but not break, the Packers could have a special season. The Raiders were never really in this game, and that is how I like to watch a Pacer win.

The Rams destroyed the Falcons and got back on track a little bit. Goff looked okay, Gurley had a solid game and the defense, with their new addition of Jalen Ramsey, looked solid. The Falcons, on the other hand, are in total disarray. I thought they wouldn't be that good, maybe a 6 or 7 win team, but I didn't think they would be this awful on defense. And with the way Matt Ryan is playing, and the non existent running game, the Falcons might be firing a head coach and picking in the top 5 in the next draft.

Washington and San Francisco played a rain soaked, sloppy football game. Jimmy Garropollo was very blah, the 49ers had no run game, and Washington was even worse. Case Keenum is bad and, speaking of no run game, Washington might as well not even field a running back. The 49ers defense did more than enough to win that game. And Washington is bad.

The Colts got a big time division win over the Texans. They played a bit different than when they beat the Chiefs, and that worked for them. Jacoby Brissett was excellent, and their defense once again stepped up big time. They limited Deshaun Watson enough and got stops when they needed to. They could win that division. They can, as they proved on Sunday, beat the Texans.

RD's Vikings got a solid division win over Detroit. And poor Detroit. They have a pretty good team, they play fun offense, but they find a way to either get screwed by the refs, or blow a game late. They blew this one. And the Vikings offense has looked so much better, and their defense is starting to play close to their level a few seasons back when they wen to the NFC title game. The Packers have some serious competition.

RD's other team, the Bengals, let Gardner Minshew lead a comeback, and once again, found a way to lose a game late. Zac Taylor has been dreadful, they need to trade a ton of guys and they need to move on from Andy Dalton. As for the Jags, they have 7 wins written all over them, and they will continue to play ugly games like this, and they might even win some.

The Cardinals, shockingly, have 3 wins this season, 2 of them in a row. Kyler Murray has looked good, and dare I say, Kliff Kingsbury has seemed to adjust, for now, to the NFL. The Giants honeymoon with Daniel Jones seems to be over too. He has not been the same since his first 2 games. He is starting to look like the bust I predicted him to be.

The Bills had to eek out a win over Miami, but still, they won and they are 6-1 now. That is impressive, and that is due to their defense. They also returned an onside attempt for a TD, which never happens, That is the Dolphins this season for you. They are finding new ways to assure they get the top pick.

The Chargers found another crushing way to blow a game, fumbling on the goal line late in the fourth quarter down by 3 points. I'm done believing in the Chargers. They are back to their old ways of being the "Cinderella" pick every year, then choking it away. Phillip Rivers looks old, Melvin Gordon looks rusty and the defense is way too injured and playing poorly to matter. And they let a Ryan Tannehill led team beat them. That is sad. The Titans aren't great, but they are better than the Chargers.

Lamar Jackson and the Ravens went to Seattle and beat the Seahawks, by 2 touchdowns. It was awesome. Lamar Jackson is the most fun player for me to watch since I first saw Mike Vick. He is impossible to game plan for, and he is becoming a better passer every week. That fourth down call was awesome. Good for him, and the coaching staff, for letting it ride. And it was awesome to see Marcus Peters get a pick 6 a week after being traded. I also like seeing Earl Thomas beat his old team too. Nothing delights me more than seeing the Seahawks get beat, at home, by multiple scores. It was great.

The Saints moved to 6-1 overall, and 5-0 without Drew Brees when they smothered the Bears. The Saints played really solid D, they ran the ball well without Alvin Kamara, and Teddy Bridgewater proved why he is the highest paid backup in the league. He is going to get paid this offseason. And the Bears, oof. Mitch Trubisky was back, but he looked as bad as ever. I cannot believe that he was taken 8 spots ahead of Mahomes, and 10 ahead of Deshaun Watson. It is baffling. That offense is wasting one of the best defenses of the past decade.

The Cowboys destroyed the Eagles on Sunday night. Both those teams aren't very good, but the Eagles, especially on defense, are awful. I was very, very wrong about that team in my preseason rankings and predictions. They are not a good team, and injuries have taken a toll. The Cowboys looked better, but a lot of teams have exposed the Eagles D, especially the secondary. But they had a fully healthy O line, they ran the ball a ton and they gave Dak Prescott time. They were able to pick apart the Eagles, and take hold of that atrocious division.

Finally, we have the Monday night game. That was a bad game. The Patriots immediately jumped all over the Jets, causing 6 turnovers, 4 of which were interceptions. The Patriots D is otherworldly right now, and they are easily dispatching of teams they should beat handily. They are going to finally get real tests soon, but as of right now, they are doing what they should do. They have 18 interceptions, and have only given up one passing TD. They also are stopping the run. Just wait until Tom Brady starts playing well. And the Jets, well, they looked like an Adam Gase run team. They were uninspired last night. Sam Darnold even said at one point, "I am seeing ghosts". That is rough.

That's it for week 7. Come back next week for week 8 takes, and my midseason updated review and predictions.

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing and the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast. Ty is right, he got screwed by ESPN’s fantasy football scoring. Sorry dude.

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Coppola and Scorsese Don't Know What Modern Film Is

This is not modern film

So now that I have done all my preseason basketball stuff, I will still write a ton about basketball, don't worry, I do want to focus on some news I read recently that has me kind of annoyed.

I like Marvel movies. I think they are fun popcorn movies, they let me escape for a few hours, sometimes three hours and most of them are well made. I cried like a baby at "Avengers: Endgame", I laughed a ton at "Ragnarok", I saw the first "Ironman" when it was in theaters. Needless to say, I have watched and liked many Marvel movies. So, I do not understand why famous directors like Martin Scorsese and Francis Ford Coppola have come out so hard against them. I read that they call them "jokes" and "not film" and a waste of time. They have said stuff akin to how pointless and mindless the movies are.

This is odd, and annoying, to me. I am a big time fan of both Scorsese and Coppola. I have enjoyed many of their movies. "Raging Bull" is a masterpiece in my opinion. "The Godfather" is a must watch in my family, even the third movie. Even Scorsese movies, the mafia ones especially, are must watch. They are some of my mom's favorite movies. But, sometimes I can find their movies to be a bit long, and kind of preachy. In fact, outside of "The Godfather" and "Apocalypse Now", Coppola's movies are boring and preachy. And while I adore "Raging Bull" and "Goodfellas" and even "The King of Comedy", I have found his newer stuff kind of dull. I am not a fan of "The Departed", I have zero interest in seeing "The Irishman" and what in the hell was up with "Hugo"? Those are not very solid movies. So, why did the 2 of these guys decide to come out and trash Marvel movies?

I don't quite know. Are they mad at the amount of money they are making? I'm sure they are. Are they upset that "Black Panther" got a ton of Oscar notice? I can assure you they are. Are they upset that my generation and younger really has no interest in watching their old, or new, stuff? Most definitely.

Look, Scorsese and Coppola have made timeless classics that will always be remembered, but so will Marvel movies. I can guarantee that I will tell my great grandkids about "Black Panther", "Endgame" and "Thor: Ragnarok", oh and both "Guardians of the Galaxy" movies, when I am older. I will also, most likely forget about the Scorsese and Coppola movies I mentioned. Everyone has different tastes, and everything hits people in different ways.

I wish that Scorsese and Coppola would just accept that fact. They have their fans, Marvel has their fans, hell, there are even people that like both, like me. Also, there are people that could care less about Scorsese and Coppola movies and Marvel movies. I know some people that only like independent movies or broad comedies or romantic comedies or documentaries. That is the good thing about movies, there is literally something for everyone. Coppola and Scorsese give off the "get off my lawn" vibes with these recent statements, and I wish they would just get over it. It is sad that they feel like they need to criticize something so popular just to keep their names out there.

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing and the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast. In a few years he will be saying that the movies of the 2040’s are not film. Ty is not into letting robots do all the acting.

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Ty's 2019-2020 Men's College Basketball Preview

Today I come to you with my 2019-20 men's NCAA basketball preview. I feel like I write this sentence every year when I do this preview, but I simply do not know too terribly much about the upcoming season. There is so much turnover, new players and super duper 5 star players that come over to do the whole "one and done" deal. Also, I know that nothing big has happened to the schools involved in the FBI wiretap ordeal, but that will come sooner rather than later, especially at Kansas.

Anyway, I am going to go about this preview kind of like I do my football preview, highlighting the major conferences top teams, pick a winner, talk about some solid teams outside of power conferences, pick a player of the year, the final four and the champ. With that being said, and again, talk this with a major grain of salt, lets get to it.

Somehow the AAC is a "major" conference when it comes to college basketball. Houston has been a pretty good, perennial top 25 team since Kelvin Sampson has taken over the program. UConn is not what they used to be. Same for Wichita State. Cincinnati is always competitive. But the best team is Memphis. Penny Hardaway has turned into one hell of a recruiter, he got the top kid to commit, and he is the newest coach to adopt the "one and done" era of recruiting, and he is doing it as well as the best of them. Memphis is back, and it is due to Penny. They will win the AAC with relative ease.

The ACC is loaded as always. Duke has one of the best classes in the country, and they just keep bringing in top classes, and see no shade thrown their way like other programs that recruit "one and done" freshman do. But, Duke is good. So is UNC. They have a really solid all around squad. They have great freshman, solid upperclassmen and just win all the time. Louisville has a ton of hype around them, and they look to have a really good team coming into this year. Maybe, just maybe, the Rick Pitino stuff is behind them. Virginia won the title last year, and while they lost a ton of talent, they are a typical rebuild, not reload, type team. They also have a ton of depth just waiting their turn. FSU just got a big time commit, they have a ton of length and they have a good head coach. But when I get down to it, it is going to come down to Duke and UNC, and I, once again, am going with UNC to win the ACC. They have the most talent, depth and experience of any team in the ACC.

The Big 12 is KU's to lose, if they don't get sanctioned to hell. But, the Big 12 is a little more competitive than it has been in the past. KU is good, but so is Kansas State. Oklahoma always seems to put up a fight. Oklahoma State is always a tough spot to play, no matter how good or bad they are. Texas Tech was in the title game last year, and probably should have won. Texas is okay. Same with West Virginia. Hell, even TCU is a 20 win team now. But, until they get sanctioned, KU will win the Big 12. They need to make up for not winning it last year.

The Big East isn’t what it used to be, but there’s some okay squads. Patrick Ewing has Georgetown getting back to respectability. St John’s lost Chris Mullin, but they’re feisty. Creighton seems to put together shockingly good seasons time to time. Marquette has the potential to be really good. Xavier is scrappy as hell. Seton Hall is making a mini comeback. But come on, the Big East is owned by Villanova. Jay Wright is still the coach, and as long as he’s around, Villanova will continue to be dominant. They also have solid experience on their squad.

The Pac 12 is weird in both football and basketball. They have name recognition, but they always blow it it seems. Arizona had an immense amount of talent a few years back, and they blew it. They are also on that FBI list. Arizona State always starts strong and tails off. Oregon gets top flight recruits, and they either fizzle or get hurt. Stanford is not a power anymore. Washington has gotten major recruits, but it hasn’t really translated into on court dominance. UCLA has a new coach again, and they are still rebuilding. I just really don’t know what to make of this conference. I’m going to go with Oregon, they just got another 5 star guy, but this is the pick I’m most leery of.

The SEC is all about Kentucky and Auburn. I know Tennessee was really good last year, but they have a ton to replace. Arkansas plays hard, but they don’t have the talent. The Mississippi schools are blah. Missouri’s best recruits are gone, and didn’t do much when they were there. LSU couldn’t win with Ben Simmons. Florida is good, but not anywhere near the top. I fully believe in Auburn, and that bums me out because their coach is a rat. But, Kentucky has a whole new crop of guys, and while John Calipari can recruit, he’s not a great in game coach. And Auburn has some key guys back, and good players coming in. It’s a changing of the guard in the SEC.

Finishing up with the major conferences, we have the Big Ten, my conference. I mean, and again I hate that i have to say this, Michigan State is easily the preseason favorite. They have a great amount of talent back and they have good freshman coming in. They shouldn’t have a sports program because of their heinous crimes. Until that is fully realized, Michigan State will run the Big Ten this year. But, there are some other good teams. The University of Ohio State will be better, and they were a tournament team last year. Michigan has a new coach, of which I’m very excited for, and a slew of starters back. They won’t be as good as last year, but I still think they’ll be good defensively, and make shots. Maryland has a very solid team, and they are well coached. Illinois has to be better than last year. Their coach is too good to keep being below .500. Nebraska has the talent to be a tournament team. Indiana is going to get back in the conversation soon. Purdue is a very, very good team that does all the little things really well. Minnesota is tough. And Iowa plays muddy basketball that frustrates opponents. But, unfortunately, the Big Ten is MSU’s to lose.

As far as some teams outside major conferences, there is obviously Gonzaga. They’re no longer the lovable Cinderella’s they used to be. They’re a national power. Dayton has a solid team. Campbell College has a ton of undersized scorers. Western Kentucky oddly gets top flight recruits to commit there, and I think the one they got this year is actually going to play. One of the Ivy League schools, most likely Harvard, will scare someone in the tournament. Nevada has the most coveted head coach by power schools right now. And Saint Mary’s always wins 20 games and always scare Gonzaga.

As far as award winners, for freshman of the year, I’m going with the Wiseman kid at Memphis. I’ve heard nothing but good things about him. I also think Memphis will win another award, and that will be Penny Hardaway as coach of the year. As far as player of the year, which is so hard to pair down so many good players, I guess I’ll go with the Winston kid at MSU, everyone else is picking him, and I’m pretty sure he’s a senior, and this is usually an award for longevity in college basketball. My final four is UNC, MSU, Auburn, and my surprise, Memphis. I love Memphis right now. The title game will pit UNC and Auburn, and I’m going with the Tarheels. They are so, so deep and so talented and they are due.

Okay, there’s my men’s college basketball preview. Take it as you will. Basketball is coming people. Time to get pumped up.

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. 

Follow Ty on instagram and twitter.

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

Ty's 2019-2020 NBA Preview: Postseason and Awards

Finishing up my 2019-20 NBA countdown and preview, I come to you today with my playoff picks, championship matchup, winner and award winners. The basketball preview stuff isn't totally done yet because I am doing my men's college basketball preview tomorrow. But today wraps up the NBA, for now.

I am going to start with the East because it is the JV of the NBA. Sorry to say, but the top 3 or 4 teams would make the playoffs in the West, but they would be hard pressed, and find it very tough, to be a top 4 seed. Anyway, I will give you my eight teams in descending order. Starting off I have the Raptors, Magic, Nets, Celtics, Heat, Pacers, Bucks and 76ers. You may see that and think I am too high on a few teams. I have the Pacers as a three seed, but I fully believe in them, and when Oladipo comes back, they will have the star player they crave. I have the Heat at 4, and that is solely due to Jimmy Butler. I also think they are going to pull off a good to great trade before the All Star break to pair with Butler. Conversely you may see the Celtics as a 5 seed, or the Raptors as a 7. Well, I do not believe in the Celtics, but they have the talent, in the East, to win 44 or 45 games and be in the playoffs. And the Raptors, if they stay together, will barely, barely make the playoffs. I do think Pascal Siakim is that good. When it comes down to the conference finals, I would be shocked, shocked I tell you, if it isn't Milwaukee and Philadelphia. They are, far and away, the best 2 teams in the East. They have the best 2 players in the East. They have the best coaches in the East. They are the best. Picking a winner of that series is tough for me, but I just don't think the Bucks have the guys that can shut down the 76ers humongous length and size and strength. Also, I fully, fully believe in an in shape Joel Embiid. I have the 76ers winning in 7 games. As far as a surprise or 2 that may happen, I think the Heat will sweep the Celtics, and then the Celtics will have a ton of offseason questions to answer, and I feel like the Magic will push the Pacers to 7 games in round one. Both teams play really good defense, and will frustrate one another to no end. But the Pacers will pull out a close game 7 at home.

Now to the Varsity of the NBA. The West is far, far better than the East. Some of the teams that will miss the playoffs could have 45 wins. Seriously. I think every team, except for the Suns and Grizzlies, and the Thunder if they trade everyone, has a legit shot at making the playoffs. This conference was tough for me, but I think I have it paired down to the 8 teams that will make it. Just like the East I will put the 8 teams in descending order. So, I have the Spurs, Lakers, Trailblazers, Warriors, Rockets, Jazz, Nuggets and Clippers. Again, I'm sure I have some teams too high and too low for some readers. I will never not put the Spurs in the playoffs as long as Greg Poppovich is their head coach. Also, Dejounte Murray is back. I said that the Lakers may have the best duo in the NBA in LeBron and AD, but I do not like the rest of that roster, at all. And what if LeBron gets hurt again, he is 35, and AD further hurts his thumb? What then for the Lakers? As far as teams I have high, I am all in on the Jazz. I loved their offseason, and they are one of, if not the, best defensive teams in the league. I am also a big time believer in the Nuggets. They have continuity, a super duper star player, the most depth in the league and good shooters off the bench. They are the real deal. As far as the West Finals, this was really tough. I am going with the Clippers, they sill have the best defense in the league, and I feel like they will play the Rockets. I think that the Russ and Harden pair up will work this season. And, as they are want to do, I think the Rockets will get beat, handily, by the Clippers. I wouldn't be all that surprised if it was a sweep to be honest. The Clippers are so good defensively, and they will be able to score almost as well as they will be able to stop teams from scoring.

That means I have the Clippers facing the 76ers in the Finals. This is what I want to happen. These are the 2 best defensive teams, they play throwback basketball with a touch of the modern game and they have the best overall rosters. I think it will be hard fought, gritty and even ugly at times, but I just can't go against Kawhi after what I saw 5 years ago when he lead the Spurs to the beat down of the Heat, and what I watched him do last year throughout the entirety of the playoffs. This is also probably the most talent he has ever played with in his basketball career. The Clippers are as good as advertised in my opinion. They will finally hang a banner in Staples for themselves.

As far as awards, the playoff MVP will once again be Kawhi Leonard. He is that dude. He has that killer instinct and he wants to beat every team in his way. For the regular season awards. The Rookie of the Year will be Zion Williamson. This rookie class is absolutely loaded, some rookies will put up ridiculous numbers and they will be a ton of fun to watch. This is the future. But Zion will be on a team fighting for the playoffs all season, and he is going to be the guy they run the offense through. He is also a solid defensive player. Most Improved player, and this is going to sound super weird, I'm going with Russell Westbrook. Like I said, I think the pairing with Harden will work, and Westbrook will put up his best shooting numbers of his career. He is going to eat on second units as well. Defensive Player of the Year is going to be, once again, Rudy Gobert. He is the best, and most formidable, rim protector in the game. He is an absolute stopper and no one is better than him at doing that, right now, in the NBA. Sixth Man of the Year, and they just need to permanently etch his name in this award, is Lou Williams. He is the best bench player in the league, he is liable to go off anytime he is on the floor and he is a great teammate. Lou Williams rules. Coach of the Year will be Doc Rivers. He probably should have won it last year, but they won't make that mistake this year. The Clippers are going to be really, really good, and Doc has already proven once that he can get the best out of star players. Finally the MVP. I mentioned yesterday, and today for that matter, how much I love Joel Embiid, and I think he is going to award that with an MVP trophy this year. He is in shape, he has stated that he wants this award, and also the DPOY award too, and how hungry he is coming into this season after last year's heart break. He is going to dominate the low post on both ends, and he is going to play the most games of his career this year. He is the modern Hakeem Olajuwon, and I feel like this is going to be one of what could be multiple MVP awards for him.

Okay, there is my full 2019-20 NBA preview and predictions. I'm so very excited for this season to start. We finally, finally have parity and I cannot wait to see all these new guys on new teams. I'm also very stoked to watch the rookies play. I cannot wait. Only 5 days now. Lets get to it.

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. 

Follow Ty on instagram and twitter.

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

Ty's NBA 2019-2020 Preview: Clippers, 76ers

Okay, today ends my NBA countdown. I have my top 2 teams going into the 2019-20 season. That doesn't mean I am done writing about the NBA, not by a long shot. I will do my predictions, title and awards, tomorrow, and on Friday I will do my men's college basketball preview. But, the 2 teams I have today are the best of the best when fully healthy. These are the 2 teams that I think will matchup in the finals this year. They have good rosters, play good defense and, on paper, are the best 2 teams.

Okay, coming in at number 2 I have the LA Clippers. The Clippers had the coup of the summer. They got Kawhi Leonard. It seemed like a forgone conclusion that he was going there last summer, but he went to Toronto and won a title. And make no mistake, without Kawhi, the Raptors wouldn't have won. Now he is off to LA, and he, right now, is the best 2 way player in the league. Not to outdo themselves, the Clippers, on the very same night they signed Kawhi, traded for Paul George, who might be the second best 2 way player in the NBA,. This was shocking to me. I didn't think he was going to leave OKC. I assumed he and Westbrook would run it back at least one more year. But from everything I read, Kawhi wanted to team up with him, and the Clippers moved heaven and earth to acquire George. They traded away their future, but at least Kawhi and George are still relatively young. And when George gets back to full health, those 2 are going to be a nightmare for opponents. George shot the ball very well until he got hurt last year, and we all saw what Kawhi did in the playoffs. Getting these 2 guys was a tremendous boon for the Clippers. And the rest of their roster is pretty damn talented. They got Pat Beverly to resign, and he is the biggest pest, I mean that in the best way possible, in the NBA. He is also a perfect point guard to pair with the other starters on this team. He has also earned his place in the league, and it is hard to not root for a story like his. Montrezl Harrell has really become a solid big man. He is solid in the pick and roll, he can play defense, he is a good rebounder and he is tough. Lou Williams might be the best sixth man of all time, and that dude is instant offense. When he comes on the floor, he is liable to drop 30 on any given night. He is the shooter this team needs. Ivan Zubic proved to be a solid role playing big off the bench last year. I never would have thought that when watching him as a Laker, but he proved his worth as a Clipper. Landry Shamet can shoot the ball, and he was way better as a rookie than I thought he was going to be. JaMychal Green is a solid spot minute big man that is super long. Jerome Robinson had an odd year, and will barely see the floor, but he will be an okay bench player. And signing Mo Harkless was a low key good deal. The Clippers are the best defensive team in the league, and they can put up points too. This team, at full health, has the ability and talent to be very, very good.

But, there is one team that I think is better than them, coming in at number 1 I have the Philadelphia 76ers. My how the times have changed. I once called the 76ers the worst franchise in professional sports, but I'll be damned if all the tanking didn't kind of work. Joel Embiid is an absolute monster on both ends of the floor. He is unguardable in the post. He is so, so close to being the modern day Hakeem Olajuwon. I watched him in a preseason game last night, and while only going about 50 percent, he dominated. Embiid is so good. He just needs to stay healthy and stay on the floor. Ben Simmons is a 6'10 point guard that is a problem. He is so good with the ball in his hand, he is an excellent passer, he plays good defense and is a real threat to attack the rim at any point. And, if these videos of his three point shooting are even half real, watch out. If he has any semblance of a jump shot, he will vault himself into the conversation as a top 10 player. I feel like they picked the right guy to resign when they gave Tobias Harris a big time deal. Harris is a better teammate than Butler. He may not be as good a player, but the gap isn't that wide. Harris is a good shooter, a good defender and a great locker room guy. Getting Al Horford to sign with them was huge. Yes he is old, and not as athletic as some of the other guys on the team, but talk about a great veteran, and Horford is exactly that. He is also a great defender, a great passer and a solid offensive player. He has also been a great playoff player. And having him and Embiid playing post defense will be a nightmare for opponents. I am also a big fan of Josh Richardson, who they got in the Jimmy Butler trade. Richardson is a solid three point shooter, he is tall and long and he plays defense. I love what I have seen out of Matisse Thybulle, their first round pick. He is energetic and bouncy and looks like he will be a perfect addition. When Mike Scott gets back from his suspension, he will beat the hell out of you and he will hit open shots. Trey Burke has kind of found a home in the league as a bench player. He can fill it up on occasion and he is a solid backup point guard. He is an upgrade over TJ McConnell. Furkan Korkmaz is a summer league legend and has looked pretty solid in preseason. And I'm curious to see how Zhaire Smith looks in year 2. He was a good pick, took some bumps last year, and has had an entire summer and offseason to improve his game. I really, really like the 76res. They are like the real life Monstars. They are so, so , so big. I think their shortest starter is Richardson,, and he is 6'7. They are playing a different style of basketball right now, and with their length and want to play defense, I think it will work out really well for them.

Okay, there are my top 2 teams going into the season., Come back tomorrow for my predictions. The NBA season is less than a week away people. Time to get excited.

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. 

Follow Ty on instagram and twitter.

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