gn ten years to his reign.[71] During Yadin’s second year of excavations, he began work in what became Area F, which is located in the lower cit

g also that this abundance of IIIA:2 pottery was complemented “with [a] few A: 1” vessels.[76] According to the pottery specialist whom Yadin consulted, Mycenaean IIIA:2 pottery dates to ca. 1400–1375 BC in its early forms and dates to ca. 1375–1300 BC in its late forms, while Mycenaean IIIA:1 ware dates to ca. 1425–1400 BC.[77] In Yadin’s discussion of LB-I-Age pottery found in Hazor’s caves during his expeditions, he describes numerous types of late Mycenaean IIIA:2 wares, but he makes no mention of any early Mycenaean IIIA:2 pottery that would date to the short period from ca. 1400–1375 BC.[78] This dearth of early Mycenaean IIIA:2 pottery matches well with the period of non-habitation—as revealed by the noted occupational gap—that occurred after the city was destroyed on Joshua’s northern campaign in ca. 1400 BC. Thus the cave was in use during the years shortly before ca. 1400 BC, and throughout the years from ca. 1375–1300 BC.The stratified, royal scarab of Thutmose IV cannot be considered a later reproduction or a mere family heirloom that was passed down from one generation to the next. As Yadin carefully explains, “All Thutmose IV scarabs are rare and a boon to archaeologists in this country because we know that they were made exclusively during his reign (the names of some Pharaohs continued to be inscribed on scarabs after their death, but the popularity of Thutmose IV was buried along with him). We can therefore conclude that the cave was first used sometime during his eight-year reign, from 1410 to 1402 BC, or immediately thereafter.”[79] The significance of this royal scarab to the present debate is that it confirms the existence of Hazor as an occupied and functioning city in the last quarter of the 15th century BC, immediately after the reign of Amenhotep II. Due to the subsequent occupational gap after the destruction of Late-Bronze-I Hazor, which was discussed above, the city could not have been occupied during the modest reign of Thutmose IV if Amenhotep II truly had destroyed the city. Therefore, Amenhotep II’s “destruction” of the city was immediately followed by continuous occupation.Epigraphically, one piece of evidence that argues conclusively against the destruction of Hazor under Amenhotep II is Papyrus Hermitage 1116A, which contains a list recording the allocation of beer and corn to messengers from Djahy, who are envoys to cities such as Megiddo, Chinnereth, Achshaph, Shimron, Taanach, Ashkelon, and Hazor. This list, which demonstrates the trading relations between these southern Canaanite towns and the Egyptian government, is variously dated to the reign of Thutmose III, to the coregency he shared with his son, and to the sole reign of Amenhotep II.[80] However, dating the papyrus to the reign of Thutmose III can be eliminated from the realm of possibility,[81] given that the manuscript is attributed to a regnal Year 18 and bears the praenomen of Amenhotep II—the sign that provides the pharaonic throne-name, and is given to the Egyptian monarch upon his ascension to the throne—enclosed in a royal cartouche.



As Redford concludes,A date for the two Leningrad
papyri shortly after eighteenth year would satisfy all the evidence. But there is no reason to believe that Thutmose III was still alive and reigning at the time.”[82] Given that Hazor was one of the thriving cities involved in the trading of commodities at this time, it had remained unharmed at least into the 18th year of Amenhotep's reign, coinciding to 9 years after the Israelite exodus.Because Amenhotep II’s Year 18 (ca. 1438/1437 BC) was a time when Hazor thrived, it must be emphasized that he launched only two campaigns into Asia: the first in Year 3, and the second in Year 9.[83] This grossly diminished number of Asiatic campaigns is especially startling given that the Egyptian empire was at its height during the reigns of Thutmose III and Amenhotep II.[84] Immediately after these were waged, a sharp decline in the Asiatic campaigning of the pharaohs transpired. Aharoni attributes this to an underlying diminishment of Egyptian power: “Already in the days of Amenhotep II, the son of Thutmose III, cracks began to appear in the structure of the Egyptian Empire.”[85] Vandersleyen hints at the dissipation of Egypt’s might by the end of Amenhotep II’s reign when noting that it seems possible to consider this reign as unsuccessful, a time of decline: a few exploits abroad, a few preserved memorials, an almost complete absence of sources after the ninth year of the reign.[86] Vandersleyen also points out that this relative military inertness lasted continuously until Horemheb came to power, an event that dates to ca. 1335 BC.[87] Since Amenhotep II launched no Asiatic campaigns after his Year 9, Hazor could not have been a functioning city during his Year 18 if he actually destroyed the city, as the long occupational gap rules this out. Thus his “conquest” of Hazor was of the same nature as that of his father, Thutmose III: a capture and subjugation, with no actual destruction of the city.VI. JOSHUA AS THE DESTROYER OF THE LATE BRONZE I CITYIf Thutmose III is not a legitimate choice for the conqueror of the Hazor of Joshua’s day, then what viable options remain? What ancient people, apart from the Egyptians, may have destroyed Hazor? The clear answer is that during this era of Egyptian domination, over both Palestine and a vast portion of the ANE, probably no nation or city-state would have been bold enough to attack and thoroughly destroy this vital pawn in Egypt’s hegemony in Canaan. Amarna Letter (EA) 109 offers an important insight into Egypt’s influence in Canaan during the era that preceded the Amarna Age: “Previously, on seeing a man from Egypt, the kings of Canaan fled bef[ore him, but] now the sons of Abdi-Ashirta make men from Egypt prowl about [like do]gs.”[88]Certainly no Canaanite ruler—and probably no neighbor of Egyptian Palestine, for that matter—would have dared to launch a destructive attack on powerful Hazor during Late Bronze I. Can a case be made for Joshua and the Israelites as candidates on the exceedingly short list of potential destroyers? To date, there is no archaeological evidence to link the Israelites with this destruction conclusively. Yet the city-wide destruction and conflagration attested by the remains of the Late Bronze I city coincide perfectly with the account given in Josh 11:10–11, where Joshua seized control of Hazor, killed the king and all of the inhabitants, and burned the city with fire. Moreover, the violent destruction of the temples provides strong corroborative evidence.In actuality, several other clues exist to substantiate that Joshua absolutely is a plausible choice for the destroyer of the Hazor of the Late Bronze I Age. The first clue is the uncommonly large occupational gap from the end of Late Bronze I to the beginning of Late Bronze II, which Yadin reported from his findings in the lower city and Ben-Tor reported from his findings on the tel. Being that the present writer was part of Hazor’s excavation team of 2007, he can confirm that the occupational gap uncovered learn french

first victorious campaign,” is used correctly on the Amada,

Elephantine, and Memphis Stelae. The earlier “first victorious campaign” occurred in Year 3, during the coregency, while the latter transpired in Year 7, on his first military excursion as an independent monarch. To accent his own achievement, Amenhotep II simply restarted his numbering once he stepped out of his father’s shadow.96 Yet once again, no precedent exists for pharaohs dating their military campaigns separately: first as a coregent, then as a sole ruler. This theory would be far more tenable if an inscription were found that dubbed the initial campaign described on the Memphis Stele as “the first victorious campaign of Amenhotep II’s sole rule.” Moreover, a crippling weakness is that Amenhotep II launched his Year-3 campaign as a sole ruler, in response to the Syro-Palestinian revolt waged after his father’s death.By way of evaluation, insurmountable obstacles plague both versions of the three-campaign theory, thus rendering this option insufficient and unacceptable. The greatest problem is the lack of precedent for any such dual numbering of military campaigns by New-Kingdom pharaohs. Redford rightly notes, “[T]hat two separate systems of year-numbering were employed by Amenophis (II) is without other foundation and is a priori unlikely.”97 Moreover, a comparison of lines 2–3 on the Memphis Stele with lines 16–19 on the Amada Stele— both of which describe his “first victorious campaign”—reveals some strong similarities, particularly in the choice of words and the parallel actions depicted, so all of the various “first campaigns” of Amenhotep II surely refer to a singular Asiatic campaign.98e. The Theory of Two Asiatic Campaigns.The inadequacies of the three-campaign theory have caused many scholars to propose that Amenhotep II launched only two Asiatic campaigns, despite the victory stelae attributing campaigns to Years 3, 7, and 9. This theory also has two variations. (1) The Year-3 campaign is synonymous with the Year-7 campaign due to differing regnal counting systems. Its proponents assert that the Amada and Elephantine Stelae record the same campaign as the Memphis Stele’s first campaign, but with the stipulation that the latter stele counts regnal years from the beginning of the coregency, while the former stelae count them from the outset of the sole rule. As Pritchard calculates, “A possible reconciliation would be that the 7th year after the coregency began was the 3rd year of the sole reign.”99 One problem with this variation is the lack of precedent for dating pharaonic regnal years using two different methods: sometimes coregent numbering, and other times sole-regent numbering. Another problem is that the coregency now is known to have lasted exactly 2 1/3 years, making it mathematically impossible to equate the two campaigns, since the coregency would have to have lasted for a minimum of three years and one day for Pritchard to be correct.(2) The Year-3 campaign is synonymous with the Year-7 campaign due to an inaccurate date displayed on the Memphis Stele. This version also assumes that the first campaign on the Karnak Stele, the campaigns described on the Elephantine and Amada Stelae, and the first campaign on the Memphis Stele, all refer to the same event. However, it purports that the Amada and Elephantine Stelae correctly date the “first victorious campaign” to Year 3, while the Memphis Stele displays a wrongly-reconstructed date etched onto it by a 19th Dynasty stelae-restoration crew that attempted to repair the damage it suffered during the Amarna Age. Vandersleyen observes that “the Memphis date is on the part of the memorial that was seriously damaged in the Amarna Age; the date that we read today is the result of Rameside restoration.”100 He concludes, “Thus the initial date of Year 7 on the Memphis Stele is a[n inaccurate] restoration made by the Ramesides.”101f. Conclusion for the Number of Asiatic Campaigns.Both variations of the three-campaign theory proved to be weak and indefensible. Vandersleyen perceptively notes, “The simplest and most logical solution is that there was only one ‘first campaign,’ . . . more plausibly in Year 3 than in Year 7.”102 Therefore, based on the strong likelihood of a singular error on the Memphis Stele—due to inaccurate restoration by Ramesside craftsmen—as the best explanation to harmonize the conflicting evidence on the stelae, the two-campaign theory is preferred. The Elephantine Stele, whose events are set in Takhsi,103 even provides a terminus ad quem for the first campaign, as line 26 dates the stele to Year 4. “It is only reasonable to conclude that the events including the Takhsi campaign recounted in the text before this postscript are earlier than Year 4. Thus there is no reason to deny the clear implication of the text that the expedition against Takhsi transpired before [the end of] Year 3.”104 Also supporting the view that the Memphis Stele’s first campaign was waged in Year 3, and not in Year 7, is the evidence from Amenhotep II’s cupbearer. During Year 4, the cupbearer Minmès remarks that a stele was built for pharaoh in Naharin, located to the east of the Euphrates River, the inscription of which confirms that the first Asiatic campaign occurred before Year 4 ended.1054. The First Asiatic Campaign of Amenhotep II.For the sake of brevity, Amenhotep II’s first campaign will be referred to as A1, while his second campaign will be called A2. As was proven already, he launched A1 in Year 3, and the events surrounding this campaign can be dated chronologically in the following sequence: (1) Thutmose III died on ca. 22 March 1452 BC; (2) Amenhotep II presided over the funeral and was confirmed as sole ruler; (3) the Syro-Palestinian city-states rebelled after hearing of Thutmose III’s death; (4) Amenhotep II assembled his army from throughout Egypt and the nearby garrisoned cities; and (5) Amenhotep II launched A1, arriving at his first destination on ca. 15 May 1452 BC.The death of Thutmose III led to a massive revolt in his Syro-Palestinian territories, which propelled the launching of A1.106 Amenhotep II officiated at his father’s funeral as the “new Horus,” as Thutmose III was buried on the west bank of the Nile River at Waset, in his elevated, cliff-cut “mansion of eternity.”107 His presence at the funeral, combined with the nearly two-month gap between his father’s death and the army’s arrival at their first destination, dispels the notion that he was already engaged in A1 when his father died. The energetic son of Egypt’s greatest imperialist wasted no time, as he probably left Egypt in April of ca. 1452 BC, just as his father had done on his first Asiatic campaign, exactly 32 years prior. The undisputed epicenter of the rebellion was the coastal cities of Syria, the focal point of the discussion in The Annals of Amenhotep II. Undoubtedly, the coastal cities of Syria—and perhaps Palestine, as well—had rebelled, and hence the young pharaoh was forced to proceed by land in order to quell this revolt.1085. The Second Asiatic Campaign of Amenhotep II.Amenhotep II indisputably launched A2 in Year 9. If his reign began in ca. 1455 BC, which harmonizes with the Ebers Papyrus and the regnal lengths of the intervening pharaohs, his ninth year lasted from ca. 22 November 1447 – 22 November 1446 BC. Therefore, the exodus date of ca. 25 April 1446 BC should be placed within this particular regnal year, unless the Year-9 reading on the Memphis Stele is ever proven to be an inaccurate reconstruction also. Ancient sources and modern commentators both expend far less energy writing about A2 than they do about A1. Clearly A1 was launched to squelch a rebellion, but why did Amenhotep II embark on a second trip into Asia six years later? Two principal theories have been proposed to identify the occasion.a. The Second Asiatic Campaign Launched to Finish the Task of the First Campaign.The first theory for the motive of A2 is that it was launched to correct the shortcomings of A1.



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may be inferred by Amenhotep II’s setting out two years later on a second campaign in order to put down revolts in the Sharon and in the Jezreel

t simply a brief raid into southern Palestine that accomplished little more than the acquisition of slaves and booty.b. The Second Asiatic Campaign Launched to Replenish Egypt after Their Losses.The second theory for the motive of A2 is that it was launched to replenish the Egyptian slave base and many of the valuable commodities that were lost when the Israelites plundered and fled Egypt. According to this theory, pharaoh’s motive is related to the exodus. If the exodus and Amenhotep II’s Year-9 campaign transpired in the same year, which is highly possible given the chronological harmonization demonstrated earlier, a brief campaign into southern Palestine to recover some of his critical losses would be both logical and expected. The feasibility of this theory will be determined by a study of the details related to A2.6. The Unique, Pre-Winter Launching of the Second Asiatic Campaign.The date of Year 9, Month 3, Season 1, Day 25 (or ca. 16 November 1446 BC) recorded on the Memphis Stele represents either the Egyptian army’s launching date from Memphis or the arrival date at their first destination, though more likely the latter. Either way, in antiquity a November date represents an extremely odd time for a military campaign. “The present date would fall in the early part of November, an unusual season for an Egyptian campaign in Asia.”111 The reason for November being an unusual launch-time is that the campaign would be fought throughout the cold, rainy winter, when ancient monarchs typically remained within their borders, dealt with internal affairs, and planned for springtime military campaigns.112 The Biblical text confirms the normalcy of springtime launchings: “Then it happened in the spring, at the time when kings go out to battle, that Joab led out the army and ravaged the land of the sons of Ammon, and he came and besieged Rabbah” (1 Chr 20:1).Der Manuelian comments on A1, “Hardly one to break with the blossoming military tradition of the early New Kingdom, Amenophis set out in April of his seventh year, the preferred season for embarking on such ventures.”113 Vandersleyen contrasts this with the unprecedented timing of A2: “The second Asiatic campaign began on the 25th day of the 3rd month (akhet) of the 9th year, during an unusual season for military campaigns. It was probably induced by the necessity of urgent intervention.”114 Amenhotep II’s decision to lead an attack force into Palestine in November was extremely unorthodox, so obviously the situation did require urgent Egyptian intervention, which Vandersleyen perceptively notes. But in what did Amenhotep II need to intervene? Unlike A1, which was launched to quell a rebellion, A2 had no obvious occasion.7. The Contrast between the Two Asiatic Campaigns Launched by Amenhotep II.Marked differences exist between A1 and A2. The names of the geographical sites on A1 are mostly unknown, and those that are considered known are too far apart to belong to one region. In contrast, the sites mentioned on A2 are located only in Central Palestine, between Aphek and Anaharath. When comparing the courses of both campaigns, the disproportionate nature of the two routes is striking, as the locations on A1 are distant and scattered, while the sites on A2 are nearby and closely positioned in relation to one another.115 Moreover, every early campaign of Thutmose III through his illustrious eighth campaign into Mesopotamia, which represents the maximum extent of Egypt’s expansionism, pushed further into foreign territory. In contrast, A1 and A2 followed exactly the opposite trend, going from an itinerary further away from to closer to Egypt.8. The Drastic Change in Foreign-Policy after the Second Asiatic Campaign of Amenhotep II.Another oddity of A2 is that after its conclusion, the Egyptian army—established by Thutmose III as the 15th century BC’s most elite fighting force—went into virtual hibernation. Their previous policy of unwavering aggressiveness toward Mitanni became one of passivity and the signing of peace treaties. The reason for this new policy is missing from the historical record, but Amenhotep II evidently was the pharaoh who first signed a treaty with Mitanni, subsequent to A2.116 Redford connects this event to “the arrival (after year 10, we may be sure) of a Mitannian embassy sent by [Mitanni’s King] Saussatar with proposals of ‘brotherhood’ (i.e., a fraternal alliance and renunciation of hostilities).”117 Redford adds that “Amenophis II seemed susceptible to negotiations,” and that he “was apparently charmed and disarmed by the embassy from ‘Naharin,’ and perhaps even signed a treaty.”118 Yet such a treaty is completely out of character for imperial Egypt and this prideful monarch, especially since “the pharaonic state of the Eighteenth Dynasty could, more easily than Mitanni, sustain the expense of periodic military incursions 800 km into Asia.”119 Support for Amenhotep II being the first to sign a pact with Mitanni is found in the actions of Thutmose IV: “Only by postulating a change of reign can we explain a situation in which the new pharaoh, Thutmose IV, can feel free to attack Mitannian holdings with impunity.”120 Why would Amenhotep II do the unthinkable, and opt to make a treaty with Mitanni?This mysterious reversal in foreign policy would remain unexplainable and unthinkable if not for the possibility of a single, cataclysmic event. If the Egyptians lost virtually their entire army in the springtime disaster at the Red Sea in Year 9, a desperate reconnaissance campaign designed to “save face” with the rest of the ancient world and to replenish their Israelite slave-base would be paramount. Certainly the Egyptians would have needed time to rally their remaining forces together, however small and/or in shambles their army may have been, and it would explain a November campaign that was nothing more than a slave-raid into Palestine as a show of force. The Egyptians could not afford to live through the winter without the production that was provided by the Hebrew workforce, and they could not allow Mitanni or any other ancient power to consider using the winter to plan an attack on Egyptian territories, which would seem vulnerable. If this scenario represents what actually transpired in ANE history, however, tangible proof is needed to verify its veracity.VII. THE LOSS OF THE EGYPTIAN SLAVE-BASEAccording to Num 1:45–46, the Israelites’ post-exodus, male population over 20 years old totaled 603,550, which does not include the 22,000 Levite males of Num 3:39. When women and children are added, they well would have exceeded 2,000,000 people.121 A populace of this magnitude must have provided the backbone of the Egyptian slave-force, given both their vast numbers and rigorous labors (Exod 1:11–14). To most Egyptology students, however, the exodus-narrative is considered little more than a fanciful folktale designed to impress Jewish children with grand illusions of a glorious, ethnic past. The virtual absence of historical and archaeological evidence to verify the Israelite



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by saying: By Myself I have sworn, says the LORD, because you have done this thing, and have not withheld your son, your only son – blessing I w

quo; and forget about God’s Savior who will rule in Jerusalem.” Satan began to put him plan into motion. Octavian / Caesar AugustusOn September 23, 63 BC (on the Julian calendar), Gaius Octavian was born in Rome just before sunrise. Apparently his father, Senator Octavius, was present at the birth of Octavian because he was late for work in the Roman Senate. When he arrived at the Senate building, he announced the birth of his son. A senator who heard the announcement, Nigidius Figulus, was also an astrologer, so he inquired as to the time of the birth. According to the Roman historian Suetonius, when he found out, he “declared that the ruler of the world had been born” (Deified Augustus I: 94: 5; LCL 1: 267). Another Roman historian named Dio Cassius, records that Nigidius cried out, “You have begotten a master over us!” (Roman History 45: 1: 3-5; LCL 4: 409). A numismatic scholar was able to cast Augustus’ horoscope and demonstrate from the ancient sources that the astrological charts “predicted” Augustus rule (Molnar 1994a: 6-15). He comments: “I believe that Augustus was certain that he had an ironclad astral license for imperial rule. I also suspect that he probably took advantage of this starry legacy by exploiting the superstition of his friends and foes. Friendly believers of astral fatalism would have been inclined to support him in achieving his ‘inevitable’ destiny, whereas his adversaries may have been reluctant to fight fate: a powerful formula for a self-fulfilling prophecy. Although it is pure conjecture, I cannot help but wonder how even Julius Caesar may have been influenced to adopt this distant nephew who had a wondrous horoscope claiming omnipotence and world rule” (1994a: 6, 7). Firmicus Maternus, an astrological writer in the 4th century AD, wrote concerning Augustus’ horoscope, “[It] will make emperors whose rule extends throughout the whole world and whose power is so great that it approaches that of the gods” (Molnar 1994a: 12). Divination and astrology were widespread in the Roman world at this time. Satan used astrology, something that the Word of God condemns and forbids (Lev. 19:26; Deut. 18:9-24; Isa. 47:13-14), to set up his puppet to be the ruler of the world. Suetonius mentioned that he read an account of the conception of Octavian in a book called Theologumena (“Discourse about the gods”) by Asclepias of Mendes. According to the story, Attia was impregnated by a serpent in the temple of Apollo. After this happened, a discoloration on her body was seen in the form of a serpent. Ten months later, Octavian was born and he was regarded as the son of the god Apollo (Deified Augustus 94:4; LCL 1: 265, 267). Dio Cassius also relates the same story (Roman History 45: 2, 3; LCL 4:407-409). There were coins minted by Augustus with the inscription on it, “son of god.” While he was the adopted son of the deified Julius Caesar, he was also the son of the god Apollo. When Octavian was 19 years old, his uncle, Julius Caesar was assassinated in the Senate building on the Ides of March,



BC (something else the astrological charts predicted.
See Molnar 1994b: 6-10). The two leading conspirators, Brutus and Cassius, fled to the east and raised an army to retake Rome and return it to a Republic and not the dictatorship that Julius Caesar had established. Two and a half years later (October 42 BC), an exhausted and undermanned army led by Octavian and Mark Antony met the armies of Brutus and Cassius at Philippi. As fate would have it, the armies of Brutus and Cassius were defeated and the two men committed suicide. In 40 BC Virgil (70-19 BC), a prophet of Satan, masquerading as a world renowned poet, wrote a poem called the “Fourth Eclogue” about a virgin and a divine child who will end the civil wars in the Roman world and bring peace and prosperity to the world. It would be a paradise on earth. Thus began the “golden age” of Rome. Peace seemed to prevail after the death of Mark Antony and Cleopatra VII in Egypt in 30 BC when Octavian became the sole ruler of the Roman world. In January 27 BC, Octavian was given the title Augustus which means one who is worthy of honor and worship, like a god. The “secular Games” were celebrated in 17 BC in honor of Augustus’ rule of peace and prosperity. Coins were minted commemorating his rule. Some even had inscriptions on them that called Augustus the “son of god.” In 13 BC an altar of peace was dedicated in Rome. Also, the doors of the Temple of Janus, the god of war, were closed because Rome was not a war with anybody because Pax Romana, the peace of Rome, had prevailed. It was in this context, on May 14, 6 BC, the real Prince of Peace, the Lord Jesus was born. According to one of the early Church Fathers, Clement of Alexandria (ca. 160-215 AD), the date given on the Egyptian calendar for the birth of Jesus was Pachom 25 (Stromata 1:21; 1994:333b). On the Gregorian calendar, this date is May 14th, 6 BC (Faulstich 1989: 3-14). Apparently Clement had access to records that we do not have today and I have no reason to doubt this date. The Angelic Announcement - 2:8-15Dlanguage learning

10 Mar 11 Two Excellent Films That Could Not Win an Oscar

Two Excellent Films That Could Not Win an OscarBy: Ed Bagley .... Click author's name to view profile and articles!!!Retargeting by ChangoTweet ? 2006 Ed BagleySecondhand Lions - 4 Stars (Excellent)A masterpiece of storytelling written and directed by Tim McCanlies (remember the name). Near as I can tell, this film generated little stir when made in 2003, and had absolutely no nominations for Oscars (what a shame).Secondhand Lions was released the same year many other more familiar films won Oscars or nominations of some sort, including Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl, The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King, Mystic River, Cold Mountain, Whale Rider, Something's Gotta Give, Seabiscuit and Finding Nemo among others (well, you get the picture).These were some great pictures that won Oscars or nominations, and I personally saw 6 of the 8 mentioned. Of the 6 that I saw, only Whale Rider had a real life message to give beyond the glitz, gadgetry and puter-generated wizardry of Hollywood at its best.These Oscar-nominated movies were great entertainment but none of them are as good as Secondhand Lions, which was notable for its lack of attention by movie reviewers, and apparently movie goers. Either this film had a limited release, or it is the best kept secret of movie making in 2003.The story of a poor excuse of a mother forcing her teenage son to spend the summer with his great uncles seems simple enough. What the teenage son (Haley Joel Osment) learns about his uncles (Michael Caine and Robert Duvall) is almost beyond belief and the viewer is left wondering if the stories he hears are a figment of someone's imagination or the real deal.Tim McCanlies plays this "violin" with the skill of a concert performance, leading the viewer in and out of apparent reality without losing real interest in what is happening (this is called masterpiece storytelling).In the process, the viewer is getting some life lessons in the importance of integrity, courage, honesty, independence, love, passion, values, morals, manners and belief (the "Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus" variety, and the belief that es from living the belief others doubt).Despite its superb presentation, Secondhand Lions came up with no Oscar nominations; it did win a Heartland Film Festival Award of Excellence, and should have received much more acclaim in my judgment. Secondhand Lions is a very impressive film and an excellent piece of storytelling.In terms of storytelling and teaching the lessons in life that can be best appreciated by those who have experienced them, Secondhand Lions gets my highest rating next to "A Christmas Story" and "Waking Ned Devine."Secondhand Lions is a truly classic movie. I knew instinctively this was going to be a great movie when the boy opens the trunk in his room and its contents are covered with sand (you know this when you spend a year in Libya, North Africa, just above the Sahara Desert), and when the first time the boy follows his Uncle Hub outside at night and looks at the steps he has to go down before he does so (wouldn't you, if you were going down the steps in darkness for the first time?).You might consider this small stuff; I consider it the results of a master at work. Someone needs to bankroll Tim McCanlies, and let him create more movies. With proper distribution and promotion, everyone involved will tell a great story through Tim McCanlies and bee millionaires in the process.The Chorus (Les Choristes in French) - 4 Stars (Excellent)First time French Director Christophe Barratier has given us an incredibly good movie in The Chorus.I was forced to read the subtitles as I cannot understand French, but it mattered little as this film is illustrated and demonstrated with so many important values in life, including understanding, passion, trust, appreciation, love, acceptance, challenge, vision, determination, integrity and justice.Instead of a stupid, empty, meaningless action flick like Mr. and Mrs. Smith with Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie, this film will warm your heart if you have any heart worth warming.The Chorus finds music teacher Clément Mathieu (Gérard Jugnot is excellent) landing a job at a boys' boarding school populated by delinquents and orphans, and a misguided and mean headmaster named Rachin (Francois Berléand), who reminded me a lot of Nurse Ratched from Ken Kesey's gem of a novel one flew over the cuckoo's nest.Mathieu uses his love of music to mold a few rambunctious ruffians and some really lost, neglected students into basically a coherent unit with purpose and hope. Mathieu discovers the singing talent of Pierre Morhange (Jean-Baptiste Maunier), and finds an assistant in the little Pépinot (Maxence Perrin).The Chorus was the No. 1 movie at the French box office in 2004, selling 8.6 million tickets. Gérard Jugnot mortgaged his Paris apartment to help finance the film, and proved his sense of choice in accepting scripts and accepting bets as he ended up making 5+ million euros (easily more than 6 million in American dollars) as actor and co-producer of the film. He became the highest paid French actor in 2004 by doing so.The singing by the chorus in the film will stop you and amaze you because it is so stunning, and rightly so. Jean-Baptiste Maunier's was selected for the role as Pierre Morhange precisely because he is an actual boys choir soloist for Petits Chanteurs de Saint-Marc, the choir who also sang the songs in the film.While The Chorus was nominated for two Oscars, it came up empty handed at the presentations. No matter. If you have a shred of decency and integrity within you, see this movie because it validates that what you do and who you are in life matters--especially if you will never even sniff fame and fortune--as you will find out what really matters and just how good people can be.Article Source: abcarticledirectoryEd Bagley is the Author of Ed Bagley's Blog, which he Publishes Daily with Fresh, Original Articles on Internet Marketing, Jobs and Careers, Movie Reviews, Sports and Recreation, and Lessons in Life intended to Delight, Inform, Educate and Motivate Readers. Visit Ed at . . .edbagleyblogMovieReviewArticles.htmledbagleyblogLessonsinLifeArticles.htmledbagleyblogInternetMarketingArticles.htmlNote: The content of this article solely conveys the opinion of its author, Ed BagleyRetargeting by ChangoDid You Like This Article? Share It With YourFriends!Please Rate this Article 5 out of 54 out of 53 out of 52 out of 51 out of 5 Not yet Rated Click the XML Icon to Receive Free Articles About Movies Film via RSS!Additional Articles From - Home Arts Movies FilmWhy Calibrate your High Definition TV?- By : Robert ShefferSweet Phone - By : Tim Webb.Find out Home Theater Methods! What You have Been Missing in Your TV and Movie Encounter.- By : Joesph MellbergPreparing and Setting up a Home Theater system is Easier Than you Think!- By : Zachariah DivensGrown Ups 2010 Movie In Review- By : Elenor CherryCamera Crew Hire- By : Mark A. WilsonReview of Drive Angry Movie- By : Gursel BatmazReturn Of The Horror Legend: Scream 4- By : Gursel BatmazMovie Review: Clash Of The Titans Leaves Audiences Wanting- By : Elenor CherryRed Riding Hood The Movie- By : Gursel Batmaz Still Searching? Last Chance to find what you're looking for. Try using Bing Search!

5 Mar 11 Don't Make These Common 4 Affiliate Mistakes!

Don't Make These Common 4 Affiliate Mistakes!By: karl glantschnig .... Click author's name to view profile and articles!!!Retargeting by ChangoTweet Myths concerning affiliate marketing are appealing and attractive. People who do not know the entire system the wrong way round are prone to believing that it is something capable of giving them great fortune overnight. Stories concerning affiliates who earn tremendous amounts of money swim in their heads, and while these stories are as true as they can be, there are those who believe that they are going to NHL Shop
have the same fortune once they indulge in this particular business.It is true enough that affiliate marketing is financially rewarding. People who have gone through everything to be able to succeed in this business are reaping the seeds that they untiringly sowed. Many of them enjoy the kind of existence that was not possible for them to have had under ordinary circumstances. Having gone through the A-Z of affiliate marketing, however, these people are the ones who know that while such business is lucrative, there is absolutely no easy money in it.Ignorance of this fact is one of the main reasons why there are people who fail miserably in the internet business. There are those who believe in myths concerning the easy money involved in systems such as affiliate marketing. They do not know that there are those who have wasted time, effort and too many resources in trying to pursue the life of ease that they believe this business will give them. And so they go into affiliate marketing armed with nothing but myths and fantastical notions of wealth swimming in their consciousness, never realizing that they bound to make mistakes that would prove to be their downfall.What may be the reason why in businesses such as affiliate marketing, many are called but few are chosen? Perhaps the answer lies on the fact that many affiliates make mistakes that result from their ignorance of facts concerning how the entire business runs. Affiliate marketing is not as simple as an affiliate promoting a merchants wares through his website and getting paid for it. It is also about knowing the market and the customers at hand.Discovering what the most common mistakes affiliates make can perhaps dispel the gloom about myths surrounding affiliate marketing by correcting some wrong notions about it. It might also be able to make those concerned understand that like any other business, there are dos and donts involved in this one if they want to make each of their steps count. The first common mistake affiliates make is their lack of knowledge concerning principles involved in their business. This refers to the affiliates knowledge of search engines in particular.Affiliate marketing involves advertising, and advertising through the internet could not have been better without the existence of search engines. What every affiliate has to do is to make these search engines his best friend through studying search engine optimization closely. This way, he is able to know what to do in connection with building a better website to ultimately use for his business.The second is that affiliates make the mistake of stuffing their sites with banners that do not provide enough information about the product at hand. The best way to battle this mistake is to provide good content hand-in-hand with such banners. It is important for customers to Vancouver Canucks jersey
know and understand the features of a product, and good content will be able to help them realize this goal.The third is that there are affiliates who make the mistake of promoting only one product. Consequently, customers are not given enough options to choose from. There is also the risk of generating fewer sales as compared to having more options for customers ponder about. It is always better to give them a few better alternatives than to give them only one.The fourth is that there are affiliates who make the mistake of promoting too many products. As a result, customers are confused and end up beyond making a choice. It is perhaps good to give them only the best choices. This is because it is ultimately up to them to judge which one is the best for them to patronize.All in all, affiliates that are doomed to fail in this business are those who do not exert enough effort to understand everything involved in the industry that they are in. Knowing their path step by careful step will prove to be beneficial to them, as there is no other way to succeed than to go through any path slowly but surely.Article Source: http://www.shop-on-sale.com A Million Dollar Work At Home Expert Shows You How To find the best home based business ideas and oportunities so you can work at home!www.work-at-home-finder.comInternet Home Business Ideas and Opportunities Newsletter!www.work-at-home-finder.com/optin.htmlNote: The content of this article solely conveys the opinion of its author, karl glantschnigRetargeting by ChangoDid You Like This Article? Share It With YourFriends!Please Rate this Article 5 out of 54 out of 53 out of 52 out of 51 out of 5 Not yet Rated Click the XML Icon to Receive Free Articles About Affiliate Programs What Cloth Diaper Provides The Top Match For Newborns?- By : mirtagaylWhat is Affiliate Marketing and Why You Should Do It?- By : James A AndersonEarning Money Quickly With Email Marketing - True or False?- By : chad buistMoney Creating Tips For Individuals Involved In An Online Affiliate Canucks jersey
Marketing Home Business- By : Johnny BarrellGlobal Success Club And How To Make Money Online- By : Don SeanMake Cash Over The Internet With Affiliate Marketing- By : Leroy WheelerWhich Affiliate Networks To Look Out For When Promoting ?- By : Elsa Braxton Still Searching? Last Chance to find what you're looking for. Try using Bing Search!

24 Jan 11 Georgia Football: A Trip to Colorado Is What the Dawgs Need to Get Back On Track

Kevin C. Cox/Getty ImagesThe state of Georgia is usually sunny at this time of the year, but in Athens where the Bulldogs play, things could not be more dark than they are now.After suffering three consecutive losses for the first time in 20 years, UGA is in dire need of a win.So with their next Reebok Minnesota Vikings 28 Adrian Peterson Realtree camo Jersey
opponent being the Colorado Buffaloes in Colorado, the Bulldogs should get their second win of the season.Now, by they way they are playing, many people think they probably wonwin another game until they take on Idaho State in early November. But with a tip out to Colorado to take a break from the SEC schedule, it may be what the Dawgs need to get back on track.The No. 1 reason Georgia will turn it around in Colorado is the return of wide receiver A.J. Green.After being suspended for the first four games of the season, Green will make his 2010 debut and what better way to come back to play against a team that gives up 240 passing yards per game.With Green back, the offense will be that much better because the running game should open up so the Buffalo defense wonstack eight in the box. Also tight ends Aaron White and Orson Charles should make more plays because they wonbe double covered.And with the return of Green means quarterback Aaron Murray will be able to make more plays. The offense has not been great soReebok Minnesota Vikings #4 Brett Favre Realtree camo Jersey
far this year, but Murray has been one of, if not the only bright spot. He should have a breakout game Saturday night.Another reason Georgia fans should not worry is Coloradooffense is not like South Carolina, Arkansas, or Miss State. The Buffaloes are ranked 86th nationally and they were playing against Hawaii and Colorado State.Georgia has not been great defensively, but with a lack of a running game for Colorado, look for linebacker Justin Houston to come up with big plays by rushing the passer. And that is something Georgia needs to do better is pass rushing with one sack in the last two games.Despite not having a great running attack, Rodney Stewart has speed and if he is out in open space, it could be trouble for the Bulldogs. But with linebacker Akeem Dent playing the way he has been playing the beginning of the season, Stewart should not have too many opportunities to be out in space.The last reason has to be coaching. Georgia head coach Mark Richt is great on the road, despite losing his first two road games ofReebok Minnesota Vikings #69 Jared Allen Realtree camo Jersey
the year.He is in a hole right now, but his team usually finds a way to get a road win, especially against a non-conference opponent. If there is a game where it shows how good a coach Richt is, this would be the game.With all this said UGA has to go out there and execute. Colorado is not a great team, but they wonlay down for anybody. Miss State did not so why should the Buffaloes?But the Bulldogs need a game like this to get their confidence back. All they have to do is play loose and just focus. If they do that, then it will be a successful trip.However, if they come out flat and continue to make mistakes, they will probably have to stay in Boulder because the scene in Athens will be ugly.

22 Jan 11 Penn State Football: Tailgate Excels, Nittany Lions Not So Much in 24-0 Shutout

Photo by Carolyn M. ToddIthard not to be cynical about September non-conference games. Ita nearfact of Beaver Stadium economics that Penn State will continue to schedule teams that are willing to get beat up in exchange for a healthy paycheck so thatthe Nittany Lionscan get aseventh home game. Penn State's not the only schoolthat does this.Look around at the non-conference schedules of any Big Ten or other major FBS team and you will seea cupcake opponent scheduled in September. Such was the case yesterday with Kent State, a MAC team that many view Philadelphia Eagles jersey
really doesnbelong at Beaver Stadium. Or at least thatwhat people believe about such games. The reality yesterday wasnexactly so. I didnenvy Kent State coming intoHappy Valleyyesterday. After all, Penn State might have been a bit frustrated after losing to No. 1 Alabama the week before, and decided to take out its vengeance on an under-manned team. Fortunately for the Golden Flashes, the game didnexactly go that way. Tailgating Excels at Fantasy Football Camp TailgateThere is one thing to be said for games like Kent State. If you want to plan a tailgate and get people to join you, iteasy to get tickets to the game for your guests. All they have to do is show up and look around the parking lot at the available tickets. Heck, they could even call the Penn State ticket office and get some for this game! It was a picture perfectand sunny 76 degrees on Saturday. Not too hot, likein Alabama the week before, but not too cold as it will be later in the season. Perfect for a tailgate! After the game, we were invited to a Fantasy Football Camp Reunion Tailgate. This tailgate was sponsored by Global Football Inc., which runs both the menfantasy football camp and the NEW ladies Xand Ofootball camp. It was conveniently located only two rows away from our car. We were asked to invite friends, especiallythose who might be interested in next yearfootball camp. My husband Terry and I brought three friends, which made fora great time! For those reading this who might be interested in a phenomenal football experience, there are tentative dates set for next yearcamps: For women, two sessions will be held on June 6 and 7, with athird session on June 8 if thereenough interest.Each one-day event accommodates 60 women and costs $490, with $100 donated to Breast Cancer Research.Most of us from this yearinaugural ladies camp plan to return to play each other again!So if youre interested, plan to sign up early. For men, the popular menfantasy camp that provides amuch more intense experience, is June 8-12 and will cost $4490. The dates are tentative and might change due to a construction conflict at Beaver Stadium. To get on the email list for further announcements about these camps and to learn how to register, contact Patrick Steenberge at Patrick@globalfootball.com Game Recap The Nittany Lionsdidnexactly overwhelm Kent State. This game was not really decided until Collin Wagner kicked a 27-yard field goal with 1:11 left in the third quarter to make the score 17-0. Until then it was possible forthe Golden Flashesto score two touchdowns or more, especially when Penn Stateoffense was kind enough tohand our opponentthe ball in great field position through fumbles, interceptions, or a missed field goal in the third quarter.My husband Terry, who gets a bit hyperactive about Penn Statemistakes, kept declaring in the third quarter, We could mess around and lose this game.I wasntoo worried, as Kent Statescore was still a goose egg. But I knew what he meant.Bolden Hands Football to Royster on Successful Touchdown Drive. Photo by Pittsburgh Steelers jersey
Carolyn M. ToddThe Lionsweren't playing well, and you canjust hand a team any team the ball and not expect them to score eventually. Fortunately the offense settled down and the defense secured the shutout. Credit the defense for two key interceptions that stopped Kent Statedrives, and also for their consistenly keepingthem out of the red zone. The Golden Flashes'only scoring opportunity came on a 47-yard field goal attempt that they missed. The defense did step it up a bit. Overall there were ten tackles for losses, for a total of 29 yards.Stephon Morris (9), Michael Mauti (7), and Chris Colasanti (7) were the tackle leaders for this game. Jack Crawford and Devon Still each recorded a sack. DAnton Lynn and Derrick Thomas each achieved an interception.Penn Staterushing game remains a concern. Senior Evan Royster had only 11 carriesfor 38 yards with one fumble. Yet, he achieved a milestone of 3000 career yards, one of only six Penn State running backs to do so. Hegot 371 yards to go to beat Curt Warnerall-time rushing record of 3,398.The crowd does a slow wave. Photo by Carolyn M. ToddBut so far this season Royster has not been tremendously impressive. Perhaps itbecause henot carrying the ball enough to get into some sort of rhythm.In fact, it almost seems as though Coach Paterno is equally favoring Stephfon Green, who also had 11 carries for 59 yards. True freshman quarterback Rob Bolden continues to impress, even with some freshman mistakes (two interceptions). He passed for 217 yards and one touchdown, completing 17 of 27 passing attempts.He has an arm and can make a quick strike deep pass to favorite receiver Derek Moye or to up and coming receiver Devon Smith. He also spreads his passes around, as numerous players caught at least one pass.Most importantly Bolden doesnseem to get rattled easily. Terry and I keep talking about how much fun it will be to watch him develop over the next 3-4 years. Assuming he doesnget injured or decide to leave early! Will Penn State Beat Temple on Saturday?Will Penn State Beat Temple on Saturday?Absolutely! A Blow Out As Usual.33.3%Yes. But It Will Be A Close Win.61.3%No. Temple is Better. The Time Has Come For A Huge Upset2.7%No. Penn State Will Make Too Many Mistakes2.7%Total votes: 111Bolden also showed some running ability, although Coach Paterno didnseem too happy about that! However, he only took out when the field was wide open. Coach Paterno didnseem too concerned about injuries, stating in his post-game comments that Bolden is a tough kid.Overall, a 24-0 shutout should be satisfying. But it wasnt. It felt more like an ugly win. I suppose itpartly a matter of expectations: we expected the Nittany Lions to blowout a MAC team and it didnhappen!The San Diego Chargers jersey
game was mostly disappointing because there were too many mistakes made, whichwould have been much more costly against a different opponent. Now on to Temple next week a dangerous teamthat is 3-0 for the season after a great win at Connecticut. The Owlsmight be tougher than anyone expects! Perhaps with a 3:30 p.m. start, the student section will finally show up and give us somenoise in the first quarter! We'll need it next week. This article also appears on View From the Stands - Penn State Football

22 Jan 11 Penn State Football: Tailgate Excels, Nittany Lions Not So Much in 24-0 Shutout

Photo by Carolyn M. ToddIthard not to be cynical about September non-conference games. Ita nearfact of Beaver Stadium economics that Penn State will continue to schedule teams that are willing to get beat up in exchange for a healthy paycheck so thatthe Nittany Lionscan get aseventh home game. Penn State's not the only schoolthat does this.Look around at the non-conference schedules of any Big Ten or other major FBS team and you will seea cupcake opponent scheduled in September. Such was the case yesterday with Kent State, a MAC team that many view Philadelphia Eagles jersey
really doesnbelong at Beaver Stadium. Or at least thatwhat people believe about such games. The reality yesterday wasnexactly so. I didnenvy Kent State coming intoHappy Valleyyesterday. After all, Penn State might have been a bit frustrated after losing to No. 1 Alabama the week before, and decided to take out its vengeance on an under-manned team. Fortunately for the Golden Flashes, the game didnexactly go that way. Tailgating Excels at Fantasy Football Camp TailgateThere is one thing to be said for games like Kent State. If you want to plan a tailgate and get people to join you, iteasy to get tickets to the game for your guests. All they have to do is show up and look around the parking lot at the available tickets. Heck, they could even call the Penn State ticket office and get some for this game! It was a picture perfectand sunny 76 degrees on Saturday. Not too hot, likein Alabama the week before, but not too cold as it will be later in the season. Perfect for a tailgate! After the game, we were invited to a Fantasy Football Camp Reunion Tailgate. This tailgate was sponsored by Global Football Inc., which runs both the menfantasy football camp and the NEW ladies Xand Ofootball camp. It was conveniently located only two rows away from our car. We were asked to invite friends, especiallythose who might be interested in next yearfootball camp. My husband Terry and I brought three friends, which made fora great time! For those reading this who might be interested in a phenomenal football experience, there are tentative dates set for next yearcamps: For women, two sessions will be held on June 6 and 7, with athird session on June 8 if thereenough interest.Each one-day event accommodates 60 women and costs $490, with $100 donated to Breast Cancer Research.Most of us from this yearinaugural ladies camp plan to return to play each other again!So if youre interested, plan to sign up early. For men, the popular menfantasy camp that provides amuch more intense experience, is June 8-12 and will cost $4490. The dates are tentative and might change due to a construction conflict at Beaver Stadium. To get on the email list for further announcements about these camps and to learn how to register, contact Patrick Steenberge at Patrick@globalfootball.com Game Recap The Nittany Lionsdidnexactly overwhelm Kent State. This game was not really decided until Collin Wagner kicked a 27-yard field goal with 1:11 left in the third quarter to make the score 17-0. Until then it was possible forthe Golden Flashesto score two touchdowns or more, especially when Penn Stateoffense was kind enough tohand our opponentthe ball in great field position through fumbles, interceptions, or a missed field goal in the third quarter.My husband Terry, who gets a bit hyperactive about Penn Statemistakes, kept declaring in the third quarter, We could mess around and lose this game.I wasntoo worried, as Kent Statescore was still a goose egg. But I knew what he meant.Bolden Hands Football to Royster on Successful Touchdown Drive. Photo by Pittsburgh Steelers jersey
Carolyn M. ToddThe Lionsweren't playing well, and you canjust hand a team any team the ball and not expect them to score eventually. Fortunately the offense settled down and the defense secured the shutout. Credit the defense for two key interceptions that stopped Kent Statedrives, and also for their consistenly keepingthem out of the red zone. The Golden Flashes'only scoring opportunity came on a 47-yard field goal attempt that they missed. The defense did step it up a bit. Overall there were ten tackles for losses, for a total of 29 yards.Stephon Morris (9), Michael Mauti (7), and Chris Colasanti (7) were the tackle leaders for this game. Jack Crawford and Devon Still each recorded a sack. DAnton Lynn and Derrick Thomas each achieved an interception.Penn Staterushing game remains a concern. Senior Evan Royster had only 11 carriesfor 38 yards with one fumble. Yet, he achieved a milestone of 3000 career yards, one of only six Penn State running backs to do so. Hegot 371 yards to go to beat Curt Warnerall-time rushing record of 3,398.The crowd does a slow wave. Photo by Carolyn M. ToddBut so far this season Royster has not been tremendously impressive. Perhaps itbecause henot carrying the ball enough to get into some sort of rhythm.In fact, it almost seems as though Coach Paterno is equally favoring Stephfon Green, who also had 11 carries for 59 yards. True freshman quarterback Rob Bolden continues to impress, even with some freshman mistakes (two interceptions). He passed for 217 yards and one touchdown, completing 17 of 27 passing attempts.He has an arm and can make a quick strike deep pass to favorite receiver Derek Moye or to up and coming receiver Devon Smith. He also spreads his passes around, as numerous players caught at least one pass.Most importantly Bolden doesnseem to get rattled easily. Terry and I keep talking about how much fun it will be to watch him develop over the next 3-4 years. Assuming he doesnget injured or decide to leave early! Will Penn State Beat Temple on Saturday?Will Penn State Beat Temple on Saturday?Absolutely! A Blow Out As Usual.33.3%Yes. But It Will Be A Close Win.61.3%No. Temple is Better. The Time Has Come For A Huge Upset2.7%No. Penn State Will Make Too Many Mistakes2.7%Total votes: 111Bolden also showed some running ability, although Coach Paterno didnseem too happy about that! However, he only took out when the field was wide open. Coach Paterno didnseem too concerned about injuries, stating in his post-game comments that Bolden is a tough kid.Overall, a 24-0 shutout should be satisfying. But it wasnt. It felt more like an ugly win. I suppose itpartly a matter of expectations: we expected the Nittany Lions to blowout a MAC team and it didnhappen!The San Diego Chargers jersey
game was mostly disappointing because there were too many mistakes made, whichwould have been much more costly against a different opponent. Now on to Temple next week a dangerous teamthat is 3-0 for the season after a great win at Connecticut. The Owlsmight be tougher than anyone expects! Perhaps with a 3:30 p.m. start, the student section will finally show up and give us somenoise in the first quarter! We'll need it next week. This article also appears on View From the Stands - Penn State Football

18 Jan 11 Notre Dame Football Season Outlook: Is All Lost After 1-2 Start?

Jonathan Daniel/Getty ImagesNotre Dame fans have been used to it for the past few years. Inconsistent, flashes-of-brilliance play leading only to yet another end of the game meltdown for a heart-breaking loss. And yet, even with a new coach standing with the clipboard on the sidelines, the Irish found a way to lose Reebok Denver Broncos #15 Tim Tebow Realtree camo Jersey
another last-second thriller. The question for Kelly has been clearly outlined in the past week: is all lost sitting at 1-2 and heading into the "meatiest" part of the schedule? Many would say yes, based on preseason predictions. Anywhere between 8-10 wins were being predicted for Kelly's new squad, and with many question marks and stiff competition facing them in the coming weeks, it's easy to say yes. However, for those level-headed Irish fans, what is the true measure of success in Kelly's first year? After seasons of 3, 6, and 6 wins under Weis for the past three years running, it was easy to expect a dramatic improvement from this team. But then again, all Irish fans knew the strengths and weaknesses of this team before the kickoff of Purdue. In hindsight, all is not lost. Kelly must win at least one of the next three big games in order to have a chance at finishing with a winning record. If they accomplish this feat, the Irish will have to take care of the rest of their schedule in a winning way, which consists of Western Michigan, Tulsa, Army, Navy, Utah, and USC. Getting to the seven-win plateau will be huge for Kelly.Here are some optimistic stats for you. That Holtz guy that lead Notre Dame back to prominence? His first year in South Bend ended at 5-6, his second year finished with an 8-4 record, and his third year on the job ended in perfection at 13-0. Everyone knows how skilled of a coach Kelly really is. Without a doubt, this Irish team will only get better. It's just a matter of how quickly that improvement occurs. The running game has improved, the offensive line looks good, and the cornerbacks are playing at their highest levels. However, on the other hand, the receivers (ahem, Michael Floyd) have taken a step back, the linebackers (besides All-World Manti Te'o) have all been inconsistent, and the depth chartReebok Green Bay Packers #12 Aaron Rodgers Realtree camo Jersey
situation at quarterback poses just a few problems for this team. Let's face it: the Irish failed in the past two games and those were two games that they should have won on paper. But much like the "slogan" of the Weis era, they just didn't get it done. Now, they face a challenge. Will this team bounce back or will they succumb to the criticism, negativity, and down-playing by the rest of the country? Over the course of the next nine games, the biggest difference between Kelly and Weis will be readily visible. Which will it be?

15 Jan 11 St. Louis Rams Arizona Cardinals Postgame Commentary Week 3 Kurt Warner

The Rams had all but given the game away in Arizona on Sunday, and then a funny thing happened. The Cardinals gave it right back. Claiming victory in the contest between the Rams and Cardinals was akin to eating one of the seven holiday fruitcakes that have been circling the globe for centuries: they'd rather Reebok Oakland Raiders #21 Nnamdi Asomugha Realtree camo Jersey
give it away than take a bite.With 2:03 remaining, the Rams, nursing a two-point lead, needed only to run the clock out to claim victory. Rams quarterback Marc Bulger then proceeded to inexplicably fumble the ball on his own 34-yard line, effectively snatching defeat from the jaws of victory. Then, in a bizarre game of one-upmanship, Cardinals quarterback Kurt Warner needed to only run out what little time remained and let kicker Neil Rackers hit an easy field goal for a miracle victory.Then he fumbled.The Rams fell on the ball, counted their blessings and left the field with a record of 2-1 and some decent grades:OffenseQuarterback: Other than the aforementioned attempt to give the game away at the end, Bulger played extremely well. Bulger threw for 309 yards and a touchdown at a scintillating 68 percent completion rate, easily his best stats of the season. Bulger needs to protect the ball better (he fumbled twice) and is still failing to find the end zone as often as he should; still, a sound effort. Grade: B +Running backs: Steven Jackson came crashing back down to earth this week, rushing for 62 yards at an ugly 2.6 yards per carry. Jackson continued his weekly dance recital in the backfield, hurting the Rams by putting them in long second- and third-down situations. Hopefully, Jackson will eventually discern that one, two or even no yardage is better than getting hit for a loss and will simply slam into the line when no holes are evident. If this lesson can ever be learned, Jackson's combination of strength and speed will be devastating. A contribution of Reebok Pittsburgh Steelers #86 Hines Ward Realtree camo Jersey
59 yards receiving helps an otherwise subpar performance. Grade: C +Receivers: Somewhere, Arizona cornerback Matt Ware may still be trying to find Torry Holt. Holt scorched the Cardinals for 120 yards on eight catches and a touchdown. Holt was robbed of a second touchdown when he made a grab in the end zone but was shoved out of bounds by Ware straight into an official (who was too busy fleeing to see the infraction). Issac Bruce turned in another strong performance, contributing 79 yards. The Cardinals failed to capitalize on an ill-timed Shaun McDonald fumble. Grade: A -Offensive line: The Rams showed signs that they can weather the potential storm left by Andy McCollum's season ending injury. The line gave up only a single sack on Sunday. Veteran Todd Steussie looks as if he can do a respectable job filling in the guard position vacated by Richie Incognito's move to center. Unfortunately, the Cardinals' defense was able to stymie Steven Jackson, and the Rams' linemen have to take some of the blame. If the line can keep Bulger upright, look for continued improvement from the Rams' passing attack. Grade: B -DefenseDefensive line: The line certainly didn't set the world on fire. Edgerrin James rushed for 94 yards and got stronger in the fourth quarter as the Rams' defenders wilted. St. Louis managed only one sack against the Cardinals' mammoth offensive line and pressured Warner sparingly, leading to 256 passing yards. Grade: CLinebackers: Will Witherspoon fell on the game-deciding fumble and continues to impress in leading the Rams' defense. Warner forgot he was a former Ram and threw a strike to quality backup Dexter Coakley in the end zone for a game-altering interception. Grade: B -Secondary: Although O.J. Atogwe and Fakhir Brown each managed to pick off Warner, the Rams' defenders were absolutely incinerated by Cards receiver Anquan Boldin to the tune of 129 yards. Warner moved the ball seemingly at will. If not for the timely interceptions, the Rams lose this game. Grade: B -Special teams: Stop me if you've heard this one: Jeff Wilkins' reliable leg bailed out the stalling offense. Wilkins nailed a trio of field goals to provide the Rams their second win of the season. Punter Matt Turk regressed a bit and didn't look like his leg had the power the team's fans have become accustomed to. The Rams' coverage unit was impressive, disallowing any kick returns beyond the Cardinals' 28-yard line. Grade: B +Although once more limited to a single touchdown, the offense looks as if it is on the fast track to returning to form. The Rams' defense, meanwhile, while not spectacular, has shown signs of major improvement in limiting the opposition to an average of two touchdowns per game. With continued solid special teams play and a renewed dedication Reebok Pittsburgh Steelers James Harrison Realtree camo Jersey
to excising the dumb penalties and poor execution that have plagued them during this young season, the Rams could be in for many more victories. Perhaps we'll finally see a few less fruitcakes in circulation.Original St. Louis Rams coverage, courtesy of RealFootball365.com (3)

14 Jan 11 Seattle Seahawks "From one D.J. to another, it's D.J. Hackett's turn to star"

D-Jack might be gone, but the Seattle Seahawks still have another D.J. His last name is Hackett, and he's about to show he can definitely hack it as the replacement for Darrell Jackson.With Jackson traded to San Francisco, Deion Branch will take over the former's old starting spot at flanker, but Hackett will be the starting split end. And, from that spot, Hackett should become one of the breakout players of the year in the NFL -- a bona fide 1,000-yard receiver.It's a natural jump for the guy who was the Seahawks' leading receiver last December while Jackson was Reebok Pittsburgh Steelers James Harrison Realtree camo Jersey
out with a sprained toe. In fact, over the final six games of the season, Hackett caught 25 passes for 371 yards and three touchdowns. Those numbers represented more than half of Hackett's season totals of 45 receptions for 610 yards and four scores. They also represented the ascendancy of the next star receiver in Seattle's West Coast offense.Hackett didn't play in a single game as a rookie. But in 2005, when injuries felled Jackson and Bobby Engram, Hackett was forced to grow up quickly. He ended up starting three games and catching 28 passes for 400 yards and two touchdowns. He showed flashes -- particularly on deep routes -- but lacked consistency in getting open.Last year, Hackett put it all together and showed it in December as he became quarterback Matt Hasselbeck's main target and served notice that he could be poised to become the permanent No. 1.Jackson had held the title for most of the past six seasons, but he wore out his welcome in Seattle with injuries and a bad attitude that stemmed from his dissatisfaction with his contract. Thus the door opens in 2007 for Hackett to step up. Granted, Branch will be playing the key spot in the West Coast offense and is the one most are looking at to pick up the slack from Jackson's departure. But Hackett has the skills to dominate from the split end position. The team's fifth-round pick in 2004, Hackett has turned into the complete package -- excellent size (6-foot-2), deep speed and dependable hands, and good routes. The team values Hackett so much that it tendered him at the second-round level with a $1.3 million salary for 2007. Now the Seahawks had better value him enough to give him a long-term deal before his price blows up with a huge season.Team president Tim Ruskell seems to understand what he has as he recently spoke glowingly of Reebok San Francisco 49ers #21 Frank GORE Realtree camo Jersey
Hackett, who was drafted a year before Ruskell arrived in Seattle."I was very happy with Hackett's progress last year," Ruskell told reporters. "I thought he came in there and just really developed his game to another level. The coaches are excited about him, and he is ready to take on a bigger role. Every year since I've been here, he has just gotten better and better. Who knows where the limit is there?"

13 Jan 11 Can We Compare Kobe and Jordan Yet?

Before Kobe's fans whining and complaining about it, first off I want to give ya'll fact. Ya'll always say "We cant compare Kobe to MJ yet because Kobe is still playing, wait until he retires" lol really? MJ played 14 half years in his career while this season is Kobe's 14th season? Is that not fair? lol Also MJ played 2 years in the Wizards which actually lowered his numbers, that just as fair as Kobe's fans excuse that said Kobe's numbers aren't that good because he used to be bench player for his first 2 years in his career. Anyway back to my question, even if Kobe eventually scoresWashington Redskins jersey
more points, make more all NBA teams, all defensive teams and even all stars team, that doesn't mean he is better than Jordan, that just because he plays longer than Jordan. Jordan scored more than 32.000 points, won 6 rings, 5 MVP's and accomplished way better than Kobe just in 14 years. What Kobe accomplished in his 14 years are good, but not as good as Jordan. Don't believe me? just check his wikipedia then. Anyway my conclusion is still like this MJKobeThis is what Basketball hall of famers think whenever people say that Jordan played in a weak defense era and today's defense (Zone defense) is better...During a 2007 L.A. Lakers pre-season broadcast, Phil Jackson was asked how he thought Michael Jordan would perform today, Phil said: "Michael would average 45 with these rules.""You can't even touch a guy now," says Charlotte coach Larry Brown. "The college game is much more physical than our game. I always tease Michael [Jordan], if he played today, he'd average 50." Question for Clyde Drexler:In the current league where there is no hand checking and no ruff play how much better would your numbers be?Clyde Drexler: Oh, tremendously better, from shooting percentage to points per game everything would be up, and our old teams would score a lot more points, and that is saying something because we could score a lot back then. I do think there should be an asterisk next to some of these scoring leaders, because it is much different trying to score with a forearm in your face. It is harder to score with that resistance. You had to turn your back on guys defending you back in the day with all the hand checking that was going on. For guys who penetrate these days, it's hunting season. Yes, now you can play (floating)zone(legally), but teams rarely do."The defensive rules, the hand checking, the ability to make contact on a guy in certain areas .... [have] all been taken away from the game. If Kobe could get 81, I think Michael could get 100 in today's game." - Scottie Pippen January 2006Craig Hodges is the Lakers shooting coach, get a look at what he said:Q: If you could take one player in their prime, would you take Michael Jordan or Kobe?A: M.J., all day. There's no comparison. M.J. could score 100 points in this era. You can't hand-check now. Imagine that trying to guard M.J. It would be crazy. Hall of Famer Rick Barry, a keen observer of the game, said he would love to see players of the past getting to attack the basket under the new officiating. “They’d score a lot more,” he said.Tex Winter said. Reebok Arizona Cardinals Larry Fitzgerald Realtree camo Jersey
"Players today can get to the basket individually much easier."Asked if he could defend Jordan under today’s interpretation of the rules, Dumars first laughed, “It would have been virtually impossible to defend Michael Jordan based on the way the game’s being called right now.”Full linkhttp://bruceblitz.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=nbabasketballmessageboardaction=displaythread=59

12 Jan 11 The Wizards' Hardest Rebound Yet

Christian Petersen/Getty ImagesThey always say the higher up on the perch you are the harder the fall is...A little more than three weeks ago, Gilbert J. Arenas was suspended indefinitely by David Stern following the Wizards-Sixers game. The suspension was brought on because of the original reports of Cincinnati Bengals jersey
a wild west showdown , a most unfortunate post game presser where he called David Stern a mean person and the ultimate daggerthe Finga Gunz picture.Now reports are that Gilbert meeting with David Stern today and the outcome was a season long suspension, one that has an amazing twist to itGilbert asked for it. I'm really quite dumbfounded by this.It's one thing to admit guilt and ask for forgiveness. It's another thing to ask the commissioner of your league to extend your punishment for the rest of the season because you are pissed off with the organization.Now in all fairness, if Gilbert's choice, as it is being reported now, was to accept the rest of this season or a full 82 games, I understand the choice. If he went in saying he never wanted to play for Ernie Grunfeld again, I'd have a harder time accepting his thought process from a fans standpoint.That being said, I have done my fair share of supporting Gilbert throughout his tenure here in Washington. Some things were easy to defend, others not so much. Most of us will never know the inner thoughts of Gilbert Arenas, but in a few years, most won't care.If you'd like to follow the history of Gilbert's crazy antics you should go to Gilbertology . Those who wish to call Gilbert a bad person are simply misinformed.We are talking about a man whose charitable foundation has done the following:-Created Gilbert Annual Christmas Dream for Kids, which is currently entering its seventh year. One year, Gilbert Annual Christmas Dream treated 300 kids to a holiday event, dinner, a Wizards game, and holiday presents.-Donated goods totaling $18,000 for victims of Hurricane Katrina.-Raised over $ 215,000 for public schools in the Washington, D.C. Metropolitan Area with its inaugural Gilbert Scores for School. Gilbert donated $100 per point to the designated school during every Wizards home game.-During the summer of 2007, partnered with Beyonce Survivor Foundation to do a pre-concert canned food drive to benefit the Capital Area Food Bank.-Gilsarena.com hosted an online auction raising over $75,000 for the Zero Two Hero Foundation.-Donated to the Arial Home Initiative.Does this mean that he should not be punished for what he did? Absolutely not. What it does mean is that Arenas had a series of bad judgment calls and he should be punished by both his employer and the District of Columbia.Being the leader of a team or an organization means standing up and taking the good with the bad. When you are given that type of responsibility it is your job to lead by example both on and off the court. That leadership was completely lacking and frankly every bit of ammo, no pun intended, fired his direction is completely warranted.There will Cleveland Browns jersey
be many fans who say the organization gave up on Gilbert. My argument is simply that signing a man to an $111 million contract and then pretty much bringing in a coach to help you reach your potential is not giving up on you. Gilbert violated the law. He pleaded guilty to a felony. Gil created this chaos for himself.We are told that we cannot relate real life to professional sports, yet if any regular Joe were to do what Gilbert did, that person would be sitting in a jail cell right now.So why are our favorite athletes held to different standards?A lot of gripes were made about the removal of Gilbert's banner and the removal of all things Gilbert Arenas from the Verizon Center.[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=geOMVnHKkw8[/youtube]What would you have recommended they do? The Wizards, whose organizational motto going into the season was Character, Commitment, and Connection, cannot have a banner hanging outside their building with a player on ittheir leaderwho is potentially facing felony gun possession charges. If you can't understand why that is true, I can only ask youhow would you explain that to your kids? It's okay to carry an unlicensed gun and wield it around, joking or not?Do you really believe that Abe Pollin would have handled this any differently if he had actually lived to witness these sorry events? I honestly believe that Abe would have done everything in his power to void Gilbert's contract the first day he heard the report. We are talking about a man who changed his team name after 30+ years due to gun violence.A Wizards fan who reached out to Wizards Extreme earlier in the day, @SaleemTheDream , reminded me that a lot of Wizards fans had already given up on Gil and they used this latest incident for justification of ousting him from the franchise. I cannot disagree with this notion at all. It was known for quite some time by people in the DMV that Gilbert had been losing favor quickly, much of it due to his lack of playing time and injuries.Fair or unfair, Gilbert is hardly the first athlete to go through this type of unfair judgment by fans. I believe that the remaining portion of Gil supporters and Wizards fans in general were hurt by the fact that this same Wizards team spoke of change from old habits. It preached of a new coach and with that a new direction. The players talked about championships and not settling for playoffs. Not only that, but Gilbert talked about being the leader on this club. This season was supposed to be set up perfectly for him.Coming in, Flip Saunders was a man who had done wonders for the careers of Sam Cassell, Terrell Brandon, and Chauncey Billups. Hell, even Stephon Marbury co-existed with Flip; Gilbert should have been a piece of cake. Ernie Grunfeld believed Flip could have done wonders with a unique talent like Gil. But it's all for not now.The saddest part about this is that we are not even talking about basketball. Arenas' undoing was due to things completely unrelated to the X's and O's of playing basketball.Now the Wizards are left to find out if they have a long term solution in Randy Foye, or if a rebuild includes finding another PG in addition to dumping 80 percent of the roster.Regardless, I don't see Dallas Cowboys jersey
how this is not the end of the Agent Zero era in DC. Arenas will undoubtedly end his Wizards career with the same type of craziness with which it began. According to Gilbert folklore, his Wizards career started with a series of coin flips and now, seven years later, it will seemingly end with him asking for it to be over.Gilbert J. Arenas, the man who before this season would have been remembered most for... will now be remembered for... The Wizards survived one famous exit...Now let's see if they can rebound from another one.

10 Jan 11 A Maverick Deal: Mark Cuban Gets What He Wanted

Ronald Martinez/Getty ImagesMark Cuban stood at center courthis Metroplex-sized grin reaching the rafters of Cowboys Stadiumand read the record-breaking number that completed his All-Star fantasy.There, at Jerry Jones' $1.15 billion hippodrome, 108,713 had congregated to watch the world's best athletes on mega high-definition TV screens that dwarfed the court and the exhibition played on it. The largest crowd ever to watch a basketball game witnessed a spectaclethe kind of fireworks only Jones and Cuban could create together.Shakira delivered the Seattle Seahawks jersey
first half of the sultry, lavish halftime show, dancing in a steel cage and alongside a drum line. Alicia Keys crooned, "No one can get in the way of how I'm feeling"and she might as well have dedicated the chorus to the Dallas Mavericks owner.The slam dunk contest was a dull dud, but the rest of the weekend lived up to the hype.Cuban doesn't do subtlety.He did something else during the break that caused a stir.He exchanged underperforming, hobbled forward Josh Howarda rotation fixture for much of his tenure as ownerand three others for 29-year-old Caron Butler and Brendan Haywood.By Saturday night, analysts weren't just talking about Cuban's February grandstand. They wondered if the transaction could help the slumping Mavs challenge the L.A. Lakers.Talking to Ernie Johnson, Kenny Smith, and Charles Barkley on the TNT set before the main event on Sunday, Cuban said he even hoped to see DeShawn Stevenson and his petulance crack the rotation.The Washington Wizards dealt away Haywood and Butler in the first part of a fire sale necessitated by Gilbert Arenas' gunplay puerility.Losers of seven of 11 games at one point this year, the Mavericks needed a spark.Wednesday night on national television, Butler and Haywood looked impressive in their Dallas debuts. The Mavs beat the Phoenix Suns 107-97, erasing the sting of a Tuesday defeat in Oklahoma City.Haywood scored 10 points, hauled down nine rebounds, and blocked five shots. Butler, although he shot six-of-16 from the field, scored 15 points.Jason Kidd, however, stole the show.His 18 points, 10 assists, seven rebounds, and seven steals helped Dallas fend off Amare Stoudemire. He was the only Sun who showed up for the duration of the game.Kidd produced a stat line worthy of framing, a near quadruple-double that ranks among the best St. Louis Rams jersey
regular season performances of his career.He drilled a pair of three-pointers in the third quarter to help the Mavs gain separation from the Suns.Yes, he found the "J." In the first season and half of his second stint in a Dallas uniform, he was the Mavs most accurate long-distance shooter. Better than Jason Terry, Dirk Nowitzki, and Howard.Kidd could have participated in Saturday's three-point shootout, and he would not have been out of place.This is what Cuban wanted in 2008. He reached into his pocket for an additional $17 million to get this Kidd.When the Springfield-bound point guard plays with such know-how and poise, the Mavericks challenging for conference supremacy seems like less of a joke.In running the show Wednesday, he showed the command of his position Devin Harris could not.Harris showed a strong defensive faculty and blew by most of his competitors. His immature decision-making could not take the aging Mavs where they wanted to go.He has not realized his potential in New Jersey, where the five-win Nets are chasing the wrong side of history.Most have long since closed the book on this argument. Cuban was crucified for swapping a speedster seen as the future of the franchise for a geezer in his twilight.Cuban traded half of his roster, critics said then.Kidd proved well worth his acquisition priceand the three-year, $25 million extension the team tendered him this summer, when the Mavs needed someone to lead the victory charge against the Suns.Nowitzki's 28 points and seven rebounds also helped.On nights like this, Kidd's best qualities shine. He gets more high-percentage looks for Nowitzki and Terry than Harris ever did. He maximizes the offensive potential of his teammates. He now hits big shots.In the Mavs last game before the All-Star break, Kidd registered only five assists with four turnovers in a horrifying and dispiriting 127-91 loss to the Denver Nuggets.Then, Dallas looked and played like the league's oldest team.Cuban had said of his team in the previous week, "We suck right now."The team's Tennessee Titans jersey
struggles prompted another ballyhooed trade on the part of the NBA's loudest owner.Wednesday, the other trade mattered. The deal he fought for amidst a deluge of criticism looked like a stroke of genius.The Kidd of 2002 and 2003 resurfacedand so did thoughts of another important month.June.

9 Jan 11 How to Be an Effective Free Throw Shooter…

Andy Lyons/Getty ImagesIt was Game 1 and the Orlando Magic made it first ever trip to the NBA finals the year was 1995 and the Magic are hosting the Houston Rockets. It was a dream matchup between rookie Shaquille Oneal and veteran Hakeem Olajuwon it was such a close game that it Arizona Cardinals jersey
had to be concluded in the final minute of the game. On the line was Nick Anderson with Magic leading by 3 points and needed just a point from the free throw line to ice the game. Anderson was a reliable shooter but when the game was on the line he missed four crucial free throws which converted a three point shot by Kenny Smith which sends the game to overtime. The Magic eventually loosed the game and never got back with Houston sweeping the Magic in four games. Nick Anderson never got back to his shooting days and ended his career as a journey man. Free throws as Wiki explains are unopposed foul shot attempted to score points in the restricted area known as the free throw line. The root word of this sentence is undoubtedly unopposed which means unguarded. Shooters who struggled in their offense tried to get back their shooting touch by driving to the basket and go to the free throw line and tall players such as Shaq and Ben Wallace dreads the free throw every time they go to the charity stripe. But nonetheless the game with its physicality the only solace and the silver lining is the free throw shot. So it either an added advantage or a handicapped to teams who struggled in offense. Their are unorthodox free throw shooters like Rick Barry, Jason Kidd and the murmuring Karl Malone which are called the free throw rituals even if you do a back flip or some jiggy dance before the free throw the most important thing would be it outcome. So how do you shoot a free throw line effectively? I tried doing the Jason Kidd with blowing kisses in the air and also tried the wrap around dribble before shooting but still I struggled with my shots. Notice how Shaq held the ball in the air and release it with one hand no follow through and with lots of force to it. That why Hack-a-Shaq was invented. There are tons of tutorials around the net but they say different strokes for different folks but as I go along with some research in order to be a good free throw shooter all you have to do is stay focus in the ring and keep your arms relax it easy to Atlanta Falcons jersey
say if you have ice in your veins but here Ill give some good free throw tips 1. Dribble the ball thrice 2. Focus in the ring 3. Bend your knees 4. Arms clipped 5. Release the ball 6. Follow through I dare you to try it and as far as my free throw percentage is doing I think Ive done a good improvement.

8 Jan 11 Atlanta Hawks: My Apologies To Josh Smith

Kevin C. Cox/Getty ImagesDear Mr. Smith,You probably are not going to here this from a lot of fans, sports talk radio guys, bloggers, etc. but I have to say that I was wrong. I am not sure what happened, but you have totally reshaped your game and attitude over the course of the 2009-10 season.Okay here it goes. J-smoove, I am sorry......that I thought that the beststartingline-up for theHawks going into the 2009-10season was to have you coming off the bench and Zaza Pachuliastarting at center....that I refused to believe that you Carolina Panthers jersey
would stop shooting 3 point shots this season. I still keep waiting for you to jack up a couple of long range bombs. I want you to shoot a couple for old times' sake. Now, you are refusing to shoot a 3 point shot, because people kind of want you to shoot one. I like the stubbornness....that I lobbied for Coach Mike Woodson to take you out of games in crunch time and play a smaller line-up with Marvin Williams at the 4 spot, or to take you out and play Joe Smith beside Al Horford....that I figured the All-Star snub this year by the Eastern Conference coaches would send your game into a tailspin. Instead of being churlish and resentful of Al Horford, you have been a one man wrecking crew in the last 6 weeks. Your effort and consistency have never been better....that I wanted to trade you last year for Carmelo Anthony and this year for Amare Stoudemire or Chris Bosh. Okay, I probably would still take Carmelo, but not the Carmelo that refused to go into a game last year....that I did not give you enough credit for your passing skills. You have always Chicago Bears jersey
been unselfish and you find open 3 point shooters, but this year the Coach Woodson is actually running the offense through you. Whether you are posting on the right block or operating at the top of the key, you are making plays for your teammates.Others might gasp when they read this, but you are very close to commanding a double team in the post. That bodes well for Hawks and their playoff aspirations....that I often question your ability to contain the ball when you are guarding someone man to man on the perimeter. I do not see the blow bys by perimeter players that have happened in the past. On a nightly basis, you are playing passing lanes and you still block shots from all over the place. Are you finally listening to Coach Woodson?...that Iwrote last year on this page that Icould name 50 NBA players that Iwould take ahead of you in adraft of all the players in the Association. You are playing at an All-Star level. I even take back the notion that I would want Blake Griffin in your place. You have two very athletic knees.Okay, I do have one complaint still. Why do you let the officials upset you so much? Forget those guys (and one girl). If you keep dominating on both ends of the floor, the officials will start giving you calls.You and the Hawks might need a call or two late in the 4th Cincinnati Bengals jersey
quarter in the playoffs against the Orlando Magic. The great thing is that this year if you get that foul call and make some winning free throws, you will have earned it.I know you do not care what others think, but you should congratulate yourself on your professionalism and level of play. Good luck in the playoffs!