Pigskin Prognostications, Week 4

Bye weeks start, and they'll be hurting my fantasty football opponent much more than they will me this week, and I predict a pretty solid win for myself. I need one after my humiliating defeat last week. Speaking of humiliating, Mississippi State played the number five team in the country (the undefeated LSU Tigers) at their stadium this week, and managed to avoid the humiliating loss they suffered last week against an unranked opponent (Georgia Tech). Granted, State still lost, but they kept it close, and the offense showed spark on several occasions. Nothing wrong with only losing by ten points against a top ten opponent on their turf while starting a rookie at quarterback. Reasons to cheer.

Panthers 24, Falcons 13 - Falcons are improving, but they don't have the offensive line to or the receivers to put up many points against Carolina.

Browns 20, Bengals 17 - Who knows in this one? Depends upon which version of which team will show. The Browns defense is definitely improved over last year, but their offense has suffered. The Bengals looked terrible their first two games, but they almost beat the Giants last week. Browns' QB Anderson needs a win--or at least a very good showing--to save hi starting job, so I think he might be hungrier, so I'll give this one to Cleveland...but this one could go either way.

Jaguars 27, Texans 10 - If Jacksonville can only muster up about 2/3 of the running game they had last week against the Colts, then this one will be easy.

Broncos 31 Chiefs 9 - This has all the makings of a blow-out.

Saints 24, 49ers 20 - The Saints have too much offense not to win this one...don't they?

Cardinals 17, Jets 14 - This one could flip-flop, too, but I'm picking the Birds because I like how Warner goes down the field with the ball moreso than I like how Farve has been dinking and dunking as of late.

Packers 24, Buccaneers 20 - Tampa Bay couldn't run the ball last week, but Griese--in a grand performance-was able to throw the ball sixty-seven times to bring the Bucs back for a win. I don't think it happens here, but not because Griese isn't capable--it's because Green Bay should be able to respond through the air, too.

Titans 13, Vikings 10 - I'm really looking forward to this one, as two of the NFL's top five defenses--each with complementing running games--tussle. I think it'll be close, I think it'll be low-scoring, but Adrian Peterson is a bit nicked up, and Tennessee's running backs aren't.

Chargers 27, Raiders 17 - This is the week that the Chargers finally stop allowing their opponents more than twenty-plus points a game.

Bills 20, Rams 12 - If St. Louis loses the game, then their coach loses his job. Sorry 'bout that Mr. Linehan, but I think it's time to pack.

Cowboys 20, Redskins 17 - If the Packers dynamic offense and stifling secondary couldn't hang with the 'boys, then...well, Washington actually has a chance here, providing they can run the ball well (they can), process clock-consuming drives (they can), and stop Dallas in the fourth quarter (they, uh...).

Eagles 28, Bears 9 - Did you see the way Griese carved up the Bears' secondary last week? Imagine what McNabb will do.

Steelers 12, Ravens 11 - Two more of the NFL's top five defenses slug it out. Pittsburgh's Roethlisberger was sacked nine times last week, and McNabb was able to move the ball down the field when he needed to. I think this week, that the Steelers go max protect, and move the ball in small chunks. I don't think they'll allow that many sacks this week, and I know for that rookie Raven QB Joe Flacco won't be able to consistently sustain drives down the field against the Steeler D the way McNabb did. Should be great game, though.

The 333 Best Pop Songs of the 2000s: #279

#279: "Fallin'" (2001) - Alicia Keys

Well, Mr. Zimmerman, since you were wondering where she was, I found her for you. You were looking for her in Tennessee, and you were close, but you didn't travel far enough south. I caught her in Georgia, pilfering through James Brown's basement. I asked her what she was doing there, and she told me that it was no longer a man's, man's, man's world anymore. She was digging through his files, for she said she was determined to bring enough class and musicianship back to R&B so that the youngsters would stop fallin' for the government-sponsored gansta rap that had torn the African-American youth apart. She said that it was time for America to get back on the good foot, and that she was going to take the Godfather of Soul's music and sing it her way. I told her that what she was doing was stealing. She then put the record she held on the turntable, turned it on, sat down at the baby grand, and played along with it; she sang her own words though, and when she finished, she asked me what I thought about her singing over James Brown's music. I asked her, "James who?"

The 333 Best Pop Songs of the 2000s: #280

#280: "Thunder on the Mountain" (2006) - Bob Dylan

Backed by the same crack band he’s had since the late ‘90s, Dylan’s down in the groove, here. For the past several years, Bob Dylan’s had a musical resurgence, making music as effortlessly and timeless as ever. Though his songs aren’t outwardly political anymore, and most of his characters/protagonists don’t seem as troubled as they once were, Dylan’s contemporary music is just as essential (if for different reasons). He plays and sings with grace and humor, sliding into middle-age with possibly the best backing band of his career, and his songs, swinging and swaying with confidence, immensely danceable, combining a bit of blues, a hint of honky-tonk, and a smattering of shuffle—New Orleans style. His lyrics are as witty as ever—love the musings on Alicia Keys and her whereabouts, even if that entire verse was lifted from an old Memphis Minnie blues song (where she shouted out to Ma Rainey), and he's got the good sense to spotlight the best reason to listen to this one: guitarist Denny Freeman's fantastic C&W solos.

Th 333 Best Pop Songs of the 2000s: #281

281: "Don't Let Me Get Me" (2001) - P!nk

If you're a teacher (as am I), then you know the type: vibrant personality, yet prone to moments of sullenity; outgoing, yet private; eager, yet recalcitrant; most likely to shoot to the top of the stars if she/he doesn't shoot herself/himself in the foot first. Much more often than not, these students usually doom themselves with bad decisions in every facet of their lives, and we just shake our heads. Such promise wasted; such amibition self-thwarted. In "Don't Let Me Get Me," Pink sees herself in much the same fashion, but she's already triumphed because she's passed the first step on the road to success: self-awareness--know thyself. She admits she has a problem--but I think she's misidentified it.

In this song, she seems to see herself as self-destructive, but I think she may be confused--or may be just conflicted--as to the exact nature of her problem. She states that she's tired of herself, that she's tired of letting herself down, tired of herself, tired of the way her individulistic nature has curtailed her career. She's refused to conform, and--according to the song--that refusal has led to her frustration. "L.A. told me/You'll be a pop star/All you have to change is/Everything you are." This assertion by her record-company (co)owner--or, figuratively, by the city; or a mixture of both--irritates her ("I'm tired of being compared/To damn Britney Spears") and--in a surprising admission--depresses her ("She's so pretty/That just ain't me") so much that she wants to change identities completely. She wants to be the pop star so that she won't have to transform into one. She'd rather lose her identity so that she won't have to change her identity. She's sold on the fact that her personality can't sell--and that it can't change--and she sees this as her problem. She's wrong.

I think she knows it, too. I think some part of her--the part of her crafting this song rather than the part of her that is the subject of this song--knows this. Why? Because she wrote the song. She took more control of her music and started playing and singing the songs she wanted to play and sing (as the music on her first album--all hip-hop/R&B/rap based--was entirely selected for her). If we look closely, we can see the artifice--and the artist--behind the art, and that observation usually indicates a poorly written or formulaic song. Not here. In "Don't Let Me Get Me," Pink the artist and Pink the art sublimate themselves into each other, phasing back and forth, and we're never quite sure exactly where Pink stands. Is she the proud non-conformist? Is she ashamed of her individuality? I think it's both, though it's not a case of hypocrisy, not a case of having her cake and eating it, too. No, it's a case of having her cake and throwing it away, both at the same time--or one action followed by the other. Take your pick. With some (a bit overly) slick Cyndi Lauper-esque keyboards backing her (and some terribly produced drums and guitars), Pink fascinatingly takes hers; I'm just not sure which one she takes. That's why I have to listen to the song again. And again. And again.

P.S. If you watch the entire video, you'll notice a cameo by actress (and independent film goddess) Lili Taylor. Taylor's first major role was in Nancy Savoca's 1991 bittersweet romance Dogfight, about a girl name Rose who's taken on a date on a bet because she's the ugliest girl in the room. Not only does Rose look different, but her interests are different than the majority of those surrounding her, and Rose is steadfast in her belief in herself and her ideas and her ideals. Perhaps Pink is channeling her inner Rose in this song--or perhaps she wants to be someone like Rose--or, maybe, Pink sees Rose as the part of herself that she detests. Dunno. Great movie, though.

5th Down: Week Three

My fantasy team--as I predicted--were crushed this weekend, the victor winning by over sixty points. And then--and then--Willie Parker--my star running back--goes and gets himself hurt. Jeesh! I didn't all that well in my predictions this week, either (at least not as well as last week).

Falcons 20, Chiefs 9 - Win. Tyler Thigpen, the Chiefs' rookie--and third-string--QB looked worse than I thought he would, and the Chiefs played terribly in all facets of their game. Long year for them. They may win three. MAY. Actual Score: Falcons 38, Chiefs 14

Bills 17, Raiders 13 - Win. Bills QB Trent Edwards engineered a great last-minute victory. The Raiders improved, though. Actual score Bills 24, Raiders 23

Buccaneers 13, Bears 10 - Win. Bucs run game did diddly, but Brian Griese threw over sixty passes--and twenty-three in a row--to eke this one out in OT. Actual score: Bucs 27, Bears 24

Panthers 24, Vikings 21 - Loss. Boy, that Vikings run defense is tough, and Frerotte looked much better than Jackson did at QB. Actual score: Vikings 20, Panthers 10

Patriots 10, Dolphins 9 - Loss. Dolphin RB Ronnie Brown scored five total touchdowns: four running (three from the single wing!) and one passing. Last time that happened--over fifty years ago. Actual score: Dolphins 38, Patriots 13

Giants 27, Bengals 10 - Win. Cincinnatti looked much better, but it wasn't good enough to top the champs, who still play solid football. Actual score Giants 26, Bengals 23

Titans 20, Texans 13 - Win. Tennessee defense is smothering, as Schaub had no way to win. Actual score: Titans 31, Texans 12

Cardinals 24, Redskins 17 - Loss. The red birds turned it over twice, and the skins D battened down the hatches at the end. Actual score: Redskins 24, Cardinals 17

Broncos 31, Saints 20 - Win. The Broncos won, basically, because they had they were the last ones with the ball. Second week in a row for this to happen to them. They won't make it to the Super Bowl like this. Saints won't either. . Actual score: Broncos 34, Saints 32

49ers 27, Lions 24 - Win. Another great game for both J.T. O' Sullivan and Frank Gore and the 49er offensive line (who didn't surrender a sack the entire game). Actual score: 49ers 31, Lions 13

Seahawks 14, Rams 3 - Win. Pity the poor Rams. They benched Bulger today, and they're starting Trent Green instead, hoping to get a win or two from the change. Won't happen. Actual score: Seahawks 37, Rams 13

Ravens 13, Browns 10 - Win. Braylon Edwards did play, and didn't make a bit of difference, because the Ravens defense played better than any defense I've seen so far this season. Actual score: Ravens 28, Browns 10

Colts 20, Jaguars 10 - Loss. Jacksonville's offensive line is hurting terribly, and they still managed to rush for over two-hundred yards against the Colts. Actual score: Jaguars 23, Colts 21

Eagles 24, Steelers 20 - Win. Ben Roethlisberger was sacked eight times. This game wasn't as close as the score indicates. Philly's defense played a monster game. Actual score: Eagles 15, Steelers 6

Cowboys 24, Packers 20 - Win. Cowboys have too many weapons for the Green Bay D to cover. Actual score: Cowboys 27, Packers 16

Chargers 21, Jets 17 - Win. Bolts offense was dynamic, but their defense still gave up over four touchdowns' worth of points. Actual score: Chargers 48, Jets 29

Record this week: 12-4
Record this season: 35-12

The 333 Best Pop Songs of the 2000s: #282

#282: "Dirt Off Your Shoulder" (2003) - Jay-Z

Jay-Z answers Ben Lee's question while producer Timbaland plays Atari somewhere in the background, giving Hova the most sinuous synth backing he's had since he began. This one's from Jay-Z's The Black Album, the album that he said would be his last. It wasn't. He returned a couple of years later, and he returned fresher. This one, though, we'll call Jay-Z 2.600.

The 333 Best Pop Songs of the 2000s: #283

#283: "What Would Jay-Z Do?" (2007) - Ben Lee

With that kind of title, this sweet little pop number could have so easily had a field day skewering Jay-Z and rappers in general; instead, Aussie Ben Lee takes the tough road and creates a straight-faced ode to his hip-hop muse, writing wistful lyrics around as pretty a pop melody as there is on this chart. The winsome background singers dive and plunge, and Lee's vulnerable vocals only add to the hearttugging pathos created in this record that's much better--considering its title--than it has any right to be.