Pacquiao Aims For Redemption

November 23, 2013February 10, 2021 · Leave a comment ·

Boxing can be a brutal sport to watch because of the physical toll as well as the head game effect. Some fans forget to notice the grinding sensation that fighting has on the mentality of fighters. Sure, two guys step into a ring for a living and allow their fists to the be the judge, but for me it’s the action that goes on between the head before and after a fight that leaves me fascinated. While a swollen eye or broken jaw can have a residual effect on a person’s life, how long does their psyche need to recover? An example. How do you come back from being knocked out cold with one punch during a fight you were seemingly winning on all cards? This is the struggle that the former champion Manny Pacquiao faces when he steps into the ring tonight against the rugged straight forward brawler Brandon Rios.

Let me first point out to you that I am a huge Pac-Man fan. He is the reason I got back into boxing 5 years ago. As a kid, I was wooed by it when watching it with my dad. I watched Sugar Ray Leonard and Marvin Hagler beat the crap out of each other. I was one of the few people who predicted Evander Holyfield could take down Mike Tyson, literally and figuratively. I wasn’t surprised when George Foreman, overweight and near the end, stopped Michael Moore with one punch and shocked the world. I was a kid who grew up loving the Rocky movies and so I loved boxing in real life. While the 6th Rocky movie helped reopen that invigorating aura of the fighting world, it was a short Filipino beast that got me back into the game. The only way to understand Pac is to relive his story and rise to power. Sometimes you have to unleash everything in someone’s tale in order to create something worth caring about.

Pacquiao helped pull me back into the sport when he began his remarkable run by destroying and ending the career of Oscar De La Hoya. There was something about the way this guy fought that was ferocious. A boxer that started out around 115 pounds and won titles in 8 different weight categories, Manny was dynamic. He destroyed Ricky Hatton, a former champion who had only been stopped by Floyd Mayweather Jr.. While Floyd needed 10 rounds to finish Hatton, Manny took him down in the second round. He loved to fight bigger guys. He beat Antonio Margarito up and help the slow decline of his career. He beat Miguel Cotto into submission in the 11th round. He toyed with a defensive prone Joshua Clottey and won. There was also a fight with Timothy Bradley that I will get to a little later.

However, if anyone knows Pacquiao deep enough, they know his career will forever be defined by his fights with the Mexican champion Juan Manuel Marquez. Two guys who always stood in the middle of the ring and banged for the duration of the fight, Pac and JMM were made for each other. Pac was the aggressive hunter and Marquez was the calm and collected counter puncher. Manny knocked him down three times in the first fight before Marquez made a late charge but still lost. The second time they fought, it was ruled a draw and I agree because both men got in their fair share of kill shots. In the third fight(and most controversial) Marquez was beating Pacquiao on most cards before taking his foot off the gas in the final few rounds, thus allowing Manny to score a few shots and get closer to a victory himself. Pacquiao won the fight and this angered many boxing fans who felt who Marquez was cheated. The fourth fight, which took place last December, is now the only fight anyone remembers.

The most action packed of the fights, each fighter exchanged knockdowns in the first 4 rounds. However, as the 5th and 6th round were unfolding, Pacquiao was starting to brutally pummel Marquez and opened up cuts around his eyes and busted his nose open. As Marquez would later admit, he was having a hard time breathing with all the blood in his nasal department. However, in the closing seconds of round 6, Pac went in for the big kill shot and when he did he left his feet and Marquez, crotched and ready to fire back, hit Manny with a legendary and magical counter hook to the middle of the face that knocked out the Filipino star cold. As one Grantland writer at ringside said, it was like you were watching Manny and then suddenly, he was gone. Watching it on my computer, I was shocked. It woke my wife up. Manny was on the canvas for at least 20 seconds or possibly 35 seconds. Marquez raised his hands while Manny’s were at his sides. Watching it, I remember comparing it to seeing a king fall from the throne. I had never seen Manny knocked out much less knocked out cold. I didn’t think it was possible. However, there he was. Pacquiao came to, and after getting checked out at a local hospital, was fine. He took a year off, but couldn’t be farther from people’s minds when discussing where his fight game was. This is where people get short sighted and miss something.

Manny is 34 years old, so he is getting up there and edging closer to the end of the line. A man can only let his body take so much punishment. However, saying he has lost it is premature and incorrect. Take the fight before the 4th Marquez fight, a battle with Tim Bradley. For 12 rounds, Manny dominated Bradley and rarely got into trouble. He punched the undefeated fighter at will and appeared to be running away on the scorecards. I watched every single second of this round on my television. Manny beat up Bradley and I may have given Timothy 2-3 rounds at best. When the scorecards were read, Bradley was the winner. Duane Ford was the judge who scored it easily for Bradley and after the fight there wasn’t a single analyst who passed up the opportunity to rip this inept judge. The dangers of boxing lie in the inability of the judges to get a decision right. This was a the bad luck charm hitting Manny. Add this to the single punch knockout from Marquez and this is what people describe as the downfall of the former champ.

It’s fair to question Pacquiao after his 3rd fight shaky win over Marquez. He didn’t look right in that fight at all. However, take away horrible judging in the Bradley fight and the one punch from Marquez and Manny could have easily stayed on his cruise control career. That’s boxing. It can be severely blunt and careers can be derailed. With two bouts of misfortune, Manny is fighting for his career and his respect tonight against Rios.

This isn’t a cake walk by any means. Sure, Rios is a childish filthy talking moronic street fighter, but he can hit hard and he likes being punched hard in return. In his own words, he has to be punched in order to know he is in a fight. He’s crazy in that particular way. Rios had his own memorable clash in the ring, splitting two fights with Mike Alvarado this past year. He nearly lost a decision to Richard Abril. Rios isn’t a world class fighter because he hasn’t fought anybody worth a second glance outside of Alvarado and Abril. He is a brawler with a 31-1 record who exists as a dangerous redemptive stepping stone for Pacquiao. Top Rank CEO Bob Arum selected this fight with the help of Pacquiao’s trainer Freddie Roach because this is a guy born and bred for Manny to take on. That doesn’t make it easy but merely sets up a fighter with a fighter who will keep coming forward and theoretically play into his gameplan. Pacquiao’s problem lies with deceptive counter punchers. Rios is not that. He is a head leaning forward little punk who wants to scrap and is set to get caught in Pac-Man’s trap.

Manny, in my opinion, has too much lateral head movement and can land combinations from so many angles that he should slowly take Rios apart. However, this is boxing and no one knows where Pacquiao’s head is after the past 2 fights. My guess is he is ready to put the recent history behind him and carve a new path by pounding on a kid who wants to take his spot one day near the top. If I am Manny, I put my foot out and kick this kid back down the pile to the bottom of the heap.

Sure, there are fireworks between the two camps. Roach doesn’t like Rios’ trainer Robert Garcia and that extends from the Pacquiao-Margarito fight where the Garcia trained Margarito and Rios put out a video mocking Roach’s Parkinson’s on camera. It also extends from two trainers who think they are the best. Alex Ariza, formerly the fitness trainer for Pacquiao, is now in Rios’ camp and shares a nasty disdain for Roach. There was an altercation at the gym in Macoo, China this week where the two camps waged war over scheduled training time. Ariza mocked Roach’s Parkinson’s and also made fun of another man’s sexual orientation. In my mind, Ariza is the scum of the earth and should be thrown into the ring to face Pacquiao tonight. These, however, are simply fireworks.

Tonight, around 1030pm, Pacquiao and Rios step into the ring and settle the dispute with their fists. At the core of every boxing match lies a dispute or conflict of interests. Two men standing toe to toe with each other, wanting what the other one has. Can Pacquiao put aside his Congressional duties in the Philippines in order to deal with his obligation in the ring? The only thing stopping Manny from becoming great again is himself and his overloaded schedule. You can’t be half a boxer in this world. Manny has to keep his entire focus on the opponent and put aside his worries for his country, which was rocked by a typhoon recently. If he has to, see Rios as the typhoon that is attempting to destroy your own career. See him as the man looking to demolish and take everything you have. That has to be first and foremost on Pacquiao’s plate.

Tonight, on the other side of the world, Manny Pacquiao and Brandon Rios will put aside the outside noise and distractions and face off in the ring. While the outcome is up in the air, there will be blood. These two fighters will throw hard punches and rock each other. They will not run away or dance in the ring. They will let it all fly and whoever walks away with standing tall deserves the right to continue as a big name in boxing. The other shall fall away from the sport rather quietly.

This is why I love boxing. It’s a marriage between a person and the sport that is built on the craving for action but also the humanistic idea that these are two moral beings duking it out in the ring. There’s an appreciation for the sweet science as well as the human emotion. You never know what’s going to happen. That is why I watch.

Thanks for reading this,

Dan L. Buffa

@buffa82 on Twitter

Reach me at buffa82@gmail.com.

Chris Carpenter Finally Steps Down

November 23, 2013April 13, 2017 · Leave a comment ·

For some players, the game of baseball requires a heightened sense of intensity. While others merely play the game as well as they can and do it hard every day, they don’t come close to the ferocity of Chris Carpenter, who I have had the pleasure of watching drape his brooding figure in Cardinal Red since 2004. His story is truly authentic and special because he was deemed damaged goods in Toronto after 6 seasons of disappointment and he quickly flipped the switch in his first year here. A shoulder surgery tragedy walking into Busch Stadium, Carpenter leaves his career in the same place as one of the best pitchers in the history of the franchise. That remarkable run came to an end on Wednesday, when Cardinals General Manager John Mozelaik officially announced that Carpenter was retiring.

A quiet dignified exit for one of the Cards greats is appropriate. Like a gruff old cowboy, Carp prefers to just get on his old horse and quietly ride out of town without a clear cut goodbye. His career is similar to another former Cardinal, Jim Edmonds, in that both players enjoyed dominant seasons in patches but probably lack the overall numbers to stand out to the stat monsters standing at the doors of the Hall of Fame. However, as I’ve said many times, I will take the player who was dominant for a shorter period of time than players who were simply good over a longer period. That’s just me. Take 2004, 2005, 2006, 2009, 2010 and 2011 of Carpenter and match them against other sure fire pitching Hall of Fame likely arms. Go ahead and do it. Two separate three year periods.

Carpenter’s greatness stretched farther than stats and goes into the intangibles and complexities of the game that many analysts miss. He was a great teammate because he demanded his fellow players follow his work ethic and cut the shit. He had no time for excuses and helped nurture Adam Wainwright into his successor. He was blunt with the media and as tough as they come. When he couldn’t contribute with his arm, he lent his mind and expertise to the manager and his teammates in 2007, 2008 and 2013. When his body didn’t cooperate, Carpenter just hit the rehab highway even harder. How many pitchers extend their career by having a piece of their rib inserted around their clavicle/neck area? Carpenter did that. He tore his triceps. He had several shoulder surgeries. He underwent Tommy John Surgery and missed nearly 2 seasons. He just wouldn’t go away.

Take Carpenter away and The Cardinals probably don’t win the 2006 and 2011 World Series titles. In 2006, he started 5 games, won 3 of them and compiled a 2.78 ERA. In 2011, he was superhuman. After dominating opposing hitters in September to literally carry his team to a last minute playoff berth, Carpenter went berserk in the playoffs. He was 4-0 and while his ERA was higher(3.25), no one in baseball will ever forget his Game 5 clash in the NLDS with fellow ace and close friend, Roy Halladay. Clinging to a 1-0 lead, Carpenter shut down the Phillies in their own park and when it was all said and done, he unleashed a primal scream that may have shaken the Rocky statue. In the World Series, he made the famous dive for first base in Game 1 against the Rangers. He went out on 3 days of rest to pitch Game 7 and delivered a quality start to help the Cards clinch their 11th title. He was 10-4 with a 3.00 ERA lifetime in the playoffs. Carpenter was all guts and glory in his prime.

He was ferocious on the mound. He once made Starlin Castro and Hanley Rameriz cry a little during a game. He screamed at opposing hitters from the mound, ripped himself apart at times and carried a general disdain for his right arm when it wasn’t throwing pitches where he intended them to go. Carpenter was old school and truly one of a kind. Whatever his body took away from him, he gave back in attitude, confidence and sheer menace. His type of competitive intensity comes along maybe once a decade.

I watched him pitch for 2 seasons while I worked the final 2 years of the Manual Scoreboard at the original Busch Stadium. He is still the best pitcher I have ever seen pitch live. He wasn’t like the majority of pitchers who got the ball back from the catcher between pitches and seemed to look at it like a Rubik’s cube. He got it and threw it. I liked that about him. Why wait an extra 5 seconds if you know what the heck you are doing? Carpenter was all business and didn’t let feelings get involved. I will miss watching him pitch. I will miss his slow methodical walk from the mound after a decent if not great inning. I will miss his double fist pump after a huge out. I will miss him making hitters sweat because they weren’t sure if Carp was simply doing his job or holding a gladiator like grudge. There aren’t many pitchers who finish with 144 wins and hold a place in so many people’s minds.

I hope Carp takes a little time off and resets his clock to prepare for a long coaching career. I think he belongs in the dugout with the players more so than the office with the suits. He needs to stay close to the stink of the game, the intensity streaming inside him, and become a full time mentor to younger players. He will teach young pitchers how Cardinals are supposed to treat the game and themselves. He will help weaker minds with the mental grind. When someone gets hurt, he can tell them a lot of worthy stories about staying positive. Chris Carpenter has a lot to offer and I don’t think he will be able to stay away for too long. He is like Brett Farve. He has little time for a broadcasting job. He doesn’t want the bright lights flashed on him while sitting next to Pat Parris or Orel Hersisher. He wants a half full bag of sunflower seeds to tuck in his back pocket and a shaved head to lurk under his tightly wound wool cap. Chris Carpenter isn’t done with baseball yet. He is simply done pitching.

This is truly the end of an era and a bittersweet moment in Cardinals history. All good things do eventually come to an end. Now is the time to revisit his greatest moments while he reloads the body and mind before his coaching career takes off.

Also, there are perks to knowing someone inside the organization. On the day his retirement was announced, I got an email from the Cardinals about a request I made to my friend inside. A signed Carpenter 2011 World Series baseball arrived today. It will become my proudest Cardinal possession instantly.

Thanks for reading this,

Dan L. Buffa

@buffa82 on Twitter

Reach me at buffa82@gmail.com

The Bourjos-Freese Trade Instant Breakdown

November 22, 2013April 13, 2017 · Leave a comment ·

Quick reaction as the Cards complete a trade with The Angels that sends David Freese and Fernando Salas to the LA for Peter Bourjos and a minor league hitter by the name of Randal Grichuk. Right as I finished 24/7 on HBO of the Pacquiao/Rios fight, I was bombarded with tweets, alerts and updates that had this trade was being sent down to print. Here is my instant reaction. Like it or not. Take it or leave it. It’s coming your way now.

I like the deal all around. I like Bourjos and his defensive ability in center field and the fact that he brings an element of speed to this lineup. Since the Cards may be out of the running on Elvis Andrus, Bourjos brings that speed factor we need. This guy stole 22 bases 2 years ago and can do it again. In limited duty, he was 6-6 in thefts last year. Sure, he won’t drive in as many runs as Jon Jay but he is a defensive upgrade over the previous Cards center field incumbent. Peter Bourjos is a relatively young player at 26 years old and can boost our outfield. With Carlos Beltran gone, the team needs a defensive minded player out there who can take control. Bourjos has a better arm than Jay and a lot better range. In 2011, he slapped 11 triples in 147 games and hit .271. His first three seasons have been injury filled, and last year he only played 55 games so there is a risk there. However, Bourjos, when healthy, is a good player. His 4.8 WAR(wins above replacement) in 2011 was among the league leaders and something to look at. It’s shameful to think he can’t repeat what he did in 2011.

He isn’t going to light up the scoreboard or knock homers out of Busch but he is a player that will easily fit in the Cardinals mold and bring a different element to this team. He isn’t perfect and did strike out 124 times in 2011 but he has an upside that can’t be ignored. What does this do for Jon Jay? That isn’t a really important question. Jay could stay on as a bench player/backup OF or go elsewhere to start. The bigger question is, what role do the Cards have prescribed for Bourjos? Is he an everyday player or a supplemental player? Does this mean Oscar Taveras is being targeted for RF or will he share CF with this new Cardinal? Does the trade keep Allen Craig at lB if Oscar goes to right field? And if so, where does Matt Adams go. Surely, John Mozeliak said in September that he doesn’t want Adams blocked anymore. Mo wants the big man to get 500-600 at bats. The question is…does he want to see that in a Cards uniform or another uniform? Is Adams in play for a shortstop? The Bourjos acquisition opens things up.

Freese could rebound and replicate the 2012 season he had or he could sink further down the rabbit hole into a platoon position. Getting out of his pressure packed hometown that can’t get Game 6 of the 2011 World Series out of its head will help. Freese joins Albert Pujols out in LA and may carve a new name for himself that won’t affect us unless the teams meet in the World Series. If he rebounds, good for him. He was a great return investment on the Jim Edmonds trade and exceeded expectations. Could the Cards have gotten more for Freese? Yes and no. It’s hard to tell. The most important thing is that Freese needed a new spot and The Cards got a valuable piece in return. Freese can now get a full serving of AL West pitching and see where he lands. I truly do wish him well.

Salas was becoming a hard contact pitcher and may see a rebirth or demise in the dangerous American League grounds. I couldn’t care less about him. He was washed up.

More details and takes will come out. I am sure they will involve more numbers than mine but what I am giving here is my instant analysis. I like Bourjos and I like that the outfield gets a defensive boost and the lineup gets a little speed. Freese departing is a little sad because of what he did here and how far I thought he could travel up in the ranks of third basemen but most sports feel good stories don’t end well. Sometimes they wrap up bittersweet.

This also moves Matt Carpenter back to third base and hopefully moves the speedy defensive wizard Kolten Wong into second base. Along with Bourjos and Oscar, Wong could help transform this Cards lineup into something fierce and quick. I am excited about what this trade has brought the Cards and the minor leaguer we received is basically filler but promising nonetheless. A 5 year pro who is only 22 who bashed 22 HR in AA ball last year.

As the least, the Bourjos acquisition is intriguing because of how it sets up the Cards moving forward and how it improved our center field defense.

Until the next bit of news drops, I am out of here.

-Dan Buffa

@buffa82 on Twitter

Reach me at buffa82@gmail.com

Peoria Fundraiser For Tornado Victims in Illinois

November 22, 2013April 12, 2017 · Leave a comment ·

Readers,

As a result of the devastating tornadoes that struck down in Peoria, Illinois last week, the Cardinals Midwest League affiliate is having an auction to raise money for the victims. These acts of mother nature can wipe a family’s house away in mere seconds and destroy lives, so they need all they help they can get. This is a way you can help and also collect some fine memorabilia for your baseball trophy room.

Here are some of the items being sold. The auction currently includes great Cardinals items including baseballs autographed by Stan Musial, Bob Gibson, Tony La Russa, Willie McGee, Lee Smith, David Freese and Joe Kelly; a hat signed by Matt Adams; Allen Craig and Yadier Molina jerseys; and a Chris Carpenter game-used bat.

More auction items will be added as they are received, including tickets for several 2014 games from the Cardinals plus items from the Cubs, Bears, Blackhawks and other Midwest League teams.

The auction is ongoing — and the holidays are coming. Great gift ideas for your favorite people and, more importantly, all proceeds support the victims of last Sunday’s tornadoes.

Check out the Chiefs online auction here and sign up to start bidding. Help someone out while providing another with a great gift.

Thanks for reading this,

Dan Buffa

The Hunger Games: Catching Fire Movie Review

November 22, 2013 · Leave a comment ·

Fact-I didn’t see The Hunger Games last year until after it had been in theaters for 2 weeks. Film-Addict wasn’t up and running yet and slowly but surely I was in the process of losing my job. There was no urgency for me to run and catch it with the crazy crowds that had read the books that the films are based on. Once I saw it, I left very impressed and moved by what I saw. It was the first film I reviewed for my site. The signature touch behind these films lies in the moral compass spinning inside the story. A young woman doing whatever it takes to keep her family safe and keep her world(District 12) in check. Allow me to throw a hypothetical at the crowd still deciding if they should continue reading this.

Imagine if you were placed into an arena where you had to not only survive but kill several people close to your age and in the same desperate situation. Imagine if this wasn’t your choice and if you refused, your little sister or brother would go in your place. Think Darwin’s Natural Selection with a more sinister vibe.

The best thing I can say about the sequel to the Hunger Games, Catching Fire is that it lives up to the high hopes I had walking into it and when I left, I only wanted more of it and right away. Furthermore, here are 12(staying with the heroine’s district) thoughts I took away from this film and that you should consider when picking a film this weekend.

1. Jennifer Lawrence’s star power and versatility. If there is one thing that powers these films, it’s Lawrence, the two time Oscar nominee and owner of a Best Actress Oscar. She is so convincing at Katniss Everdeen, our heroine, that you forget you are watching an actress and you get sucked into this horrible yet honorable predicament. There’s a sizzling confidence to the way she tackles this role that Twilight fans can only wish Kristen Stewart owned an ounce of. Lawrence is the heart and soul of the franchise and makes it tick.

2. A tip of the cap to director Francis Lawrence. A veteran action director(the underrated Constantine and I Am Legend), Lawrence took over for Gary Ross after the first film and deftly puts his stamp on this film. His work here reminds me of the Will Smith science fiction film listed earlier but in this particular film Lawrence shows more free will in the storytelling process. With Legend, he created this post apocalyptic world built around Smith’s lone survivor. The best parts of those films were the depravity on display and the soulfulness of his protagonist’s fight. He portrays the same thing here with Katniss, only in a heightened environment and ideal spectacle. He proves that he is right at home in big budget action films with a pulse.

3. Woody Harrelson is an actor to admire and appreciate at the moment. The comic actor who served drinks on Cheers has come a long way in the past 6 years and his roles in 2013 will bring that all to bear for the movie world. Harrelson’s work as the mentor and voice inside Katniss’ head says more about wisdom than it does about action and that lends the film a gravity it desires. The actor is in a comfort zone while taking the most unpredictable jobs but here he is so smooth and effortlessly authoritative that you rarely think of the parts he once played.

4. The special effects are solid and lend a futuristic flair to the story. When blockbusters are done right, the effects don’t overwhelm the story but give the eyes plenty of candy to enjoy with the pathos. That is the case with Catching Fire. You can tell there is a bigger budget at work so the effects are given a boost. During the action scenes, you can only guess which is real and which is computer generated but they lend a hand to the tale instead of taking control away from the actors.

5. I am not sure who Sam Claflin is or what he has done but his role here as Finnick is very well played and will only evolve further as the franchise moves forward. When you first see him, the perception of him sits in one spot but changes by the time you reach the end and that is a credit to the unpredictable flavor of his performance.

6. The rest of the cast is aces. Elizabeth Banks deserves credit for her role as Effie Trinket. What looked like a gimmick in the first part of The Hunger Games has fully evolved into a multi-faceted role that blends unfortunate, a wise knowledge of the times and a hilarious vibe whenever she is around. I think of her as the ultimate assistant to the chaos. Banks doesn’t just disappear into makeup. She makes it her own. Stanley Tucci spends some time on the same street as Banks in taking a hammy looking scenery chewing role and making it engaging, funny and well rounded. Playing the game show host Caesar Flickerman, Tucci hides the acknowledgement of his role in the Games with a ridiculous laugh that never gets old. With so many characters in this series, it’s what they don’t say with their mouth but what they hide in their eyes. Lenny Kravitz lends the role of designer Cinna a cool that can’t be taught in any acting school. A character you want to see more of. Jena Malone offers up a different take to her fans that have come to expect a certain personality in her roles. Her character is downright naughty and has a mischievous vibe.

7. Co-star Willow Shields is right on with her statement from our interview on Monday. This film appeals to all ages. Teenagers, young adults, middle aged folks and the senior crowd. While the action can be relentless and the suspense intense at times, the story grounds it all and keeps you following these characters. The whole family can appreciate this movie that doesn’t overload on blood but instead keeps the emphasis on story.

8. Josh Hutcherson climbs out of his puppy pajamas from the first film and gets a lot more to do in the sequel. His Peeta is in an unfortunate situation. He earned the love of Katniss in the first film but finds himself wondering if it was grown or manufactured. You don’t quite know where his character is heading but you want to follow the knight along into the deadly games.

9. I still have a problem buying Liam Hemsworth in any film so he provides me with the only dilemma here and keeps this film from being perfect. The younger brother of Chris, Liam oozes a masculinity that doesn’t ring true with his character. The first two films haven’t given him much more than a handful of scenes and while they don’t require much, Hemsworth hasn’t impressed me much with his portrayal of a man who will play a bigger role in the last 2 films. He just doesn’t convince me here, but that’s my take of him in all his roles.

10. The screenplay, which Simon Beaufoy and Michael Arndt adapted from Suzanne Collins’ book, is very well laid out and leaves the audience hanging on a tasty cliff as the credits roll. At first glance, that can be taken as a cheat but when you think about it the execution here fits in perfectly with the franchise’s direction. At the end of Catching Fire is where the match is lit and the rest of the story blasts into full power. When you think of the title of this chapter, it fits perfectly. If you have been waiting for the turning point, the end of this film presents it and the writing is crisp and supports the forward moving tale.

11. Philip Seymour Hoffman is what I expected him to be. A fine addition to an already superb cast. His character carries an aura of mystery that keeps you guessing until the very end. Donald Sutherland is his usual strong self and that’s no surprise. Jeffrey Wright’s small role is effective and adds another silver bullet to this wildly crafty actor’s resume. These guys are accomplished pros.

12. What’s most impressive about the overall production of this sequel? The fast pace and the way 146 minutes moves like a cheetah. There isn’t a single moment in this film where you get bored or look at your watch begging for time travel. Catching Fire takes off quick and wastes little time moving forward. A hybrid of an action film and drama, this sequel qualifies as one of the most thought provoking blockbusters I have seen in a while. It delivers the action and romance you come to expect, but has a poignancy to its proceedings that elevates it. And there’s also the wicked sharp talent called Jennifer Lawrence.

I urge you to see The Hunger Games: Catching Fire. It’s a fast paced, well acted and poignant look at the future we all hope we never face but can at least be entertained by this Thanksgiving. If my 12 thoughts don’t persuade you to see the film, they at least provide you with an idea of what to expect. One of the best things about writing a review is I get to unfold my take in more detail. I hope this helped. I will be seeing this again and buying the third book to read because I can’t possibly wait 2 years to get my resolution.

There’s my biggest form of an endorsement. Being a busy job seeker, family man and avid writer, I don’t find time to read many books these days. This film’s brilliant execution puts me in a bookstore really quick needing to get the next chapter of Collins’ tale.

Thanks for reading and see you all next time,

Dan L. Buffa

@buffa82 on Twitter

buffa82@gmail.com for feedback and responses.

Cardinal Blogger Awards

November 21, 2013April 13, 2017 · 1 Comment ·

Via http://www.unitedcardinalbloggers.com, here are the annual Cardinal Blogger Awards. Once a year, after the season has been wrapped up, a little awards ballot is presented. Awards for Cardinal players and bloggers are presented. My Picks are in BOLD BLACK.

Team Awards
1) Cardinal Position Player of the Year
–Matt Carpenter
–Allen Craig
–Yadier Molina
–Write-in: ___________

2) Cardinal Pitcher of the Year
–Edward Mujica
–Trevor Rosenthal
–Adam Wainwright
–Write-in: ___________

3) Game of the Year
–May 10 vs. Colorado (Miller’s almost-perfecto)
–May 11 vs. Colorado (Wainwright’s no-hitter into 8th)
–August 26 vs. Cincinnati (comeback capped by Craig slam)
–September 4 at Cincinnati (Adams 2 extra-inning HR)
–September 24 vs. Nationals (Wacha near no-no)
–Game 4, NLDS
–Write-in: ____________

4) Surprise Player of the Year
–Matt Carpenter
–Joe Kelly
–Edward Mujica
–Kevin Siegrist
–Write-in: ______________

5) Disappointing Player of the Year
–David Freese
–Pete Kozma
–Fernando Salas
–Write-in: _______________

6) Rookie of the Year
–Matt Adams
–Carlos Martinez
–Shelby Miller
–Michael Wacha
–Write-in: ______________

7) Acquisition of the Year
–John Axford
–Randy Choate
–Write-in: ______________

8) Most Anticipated Cardinal
–Stephen Piscotty
–Lee Stoppleman
–Oscar Taveras
–Write-in: ______________

Blog Awards
9) Best Individual Cardinal Blog*
–Write-in: __stlcupofjoe’s sports page____________

10) Best Team Cardinal Blog*
–Write-in: ____http://www.i70baseball.com/__________

*–Individual means the blog was written mainly by one person, while a team blog is composed usually by two or more. For classification’s sake, each blog under The Cardinal Conclave label are considered separate entities and should be considered in either team (Pitchers Hit Eighth) or individual (everyone else).

11) Best Media Coverage
–Derrick Goold
–Jenifer Langosch
–Stan McNeal
–Bernie Miklasz
–Joe Strauss
–Write-in: ____________

12) Best Rookie Cardinal Blog
–CardinalsFarm
–Dose of Buffa
–stlcupofjoe’s Sports Page
–The View From Here
–Write-in: ____________

13) Post of the Year
Bad Body Language Has No Place In Baseball (Cardinals Fan in Cubs Land)
Closing The Book On The John Axford Trade (On The Outside Corner)
Doors Close On The Cardinals In 2013 (Dose of Buffa)
How A B-17 Nearly Clipped Cardinals In World Series (RetroSimba)
Matt Holliday: One Of The Most Cost Effective Players In Baseball (stlcupofjoe’s Sports Page) My Pick***
Memories Help Come To Terms With The Season’s End (Aaron Miles’ Fastball)
RIP Stan The Man (Women Who Love Cardinal Baseball)
Time For The Relievers (The View From Here)
What Does Your Cardinals Jersey Say About You? (C70 At The Bat)
–Write-in: _______________

14) Best UCB Project
–Cardinal HOF Inductees
–Cardinal HOF Memorabilia
–Roundtables
–Top 7 Prospects
–Write-in: ____________

15) Best UCB Podcast
–Conversations With C70
–Gateway To Baseball Heaven
–UCB Radio Hour
–Write-in: ____________

16) Best UCB Twitterer
–Write-in: ___@stlcupofjoe_________

There it is. My picks. Cast your own vote at the site right here, http://www.unitedcardinalbloggers.com/2013/11/07/the-seventh-annual-cardinal-blogger-awards-ballot/

Thanks for reading,

Dan Buffa

Music Spotlight: 1917 Soundtrack

November 20, 2013November 20, 2013 · Leave a comment ·

Some people don’t get to do what they love for a living. They have to do it on the side, in the shadows, after hours and when no one is looking. I know this situation. Being an ambitious writer looking for outlets, there are plenty of bright flashing lights telling me to keep going but others telling me to get real and pocket the obsession. For me, though, above all else, writing is therapeutic. A way for me to unleash my own demons and clear my head. For Mario Mathon, a long time friend and creative ally, his music sets him free. This is his story.

Today I take a step away from the usual topics to spotlight a friend and fellow creative force’s new band. Call the music what you want but one thing you won’t call it is unoriginal. Sometimes you make mistake in life that push your dreams further than you can reach, but Mario keeps on reaching. He is a flawed man but one holding a plan and that is to make music for a living and spread it around the world. From his words to your eyes, here is his story.

“Few times in the history of American popular music has an artist or group of artists come along with a trademark sound so groundbreaking, original and influential that they shape the landscape of the sounds of not only the radio, charts and pop culture but they also influence and touch the styles and sounds of the fringe, underground, musical hipsters and local purists’ scenes as well. St. Louisans Jordan Mays (Lead Guitar, Synth, Drum Programming, Production) and Mario Mathon (Vocal, Rhythm Guitar) of ‘1917 soundtrack’ give a casual listener the impression that they could eventually become one of those historical music acts. Their re-done, re-issue of 2011’s “I Can’t Believe How Much Of An Asshole I’m Not Being” EP takes the listener through four decades of music all in one song. From reverb soaked 60’s surf pop and modern EDM synth on the lead single “Lindsay Lohan” to 70’s disco funk bass and mid 90’s new jack swing drum loops on “Bath Salt, Adderall, Espresso.” Vocally, Mario Mathon (who spent the last decade writing a McDonald’s jingle, ruining an independent hip-hop/r&b record deal through incarceration and drug rehab and fronting different indie and nu/rap metal bands before joining Mays to record the EP) can both effortlessly break your heart and give you a jolt of serotonin with lyrical content about an almost cliché assortment of drugs, sex and heartbreak, reminding you soulfully of Amy Winehouse or D’Angelo with the explosive grit of Kurt Cobain. Meanwhile, Mays puts his four years studying music theory and audio engineering at the Art Institute of Atlanta to use while crafting art-punk soundscapes that are both equally urban with complex dirty south rap rhythm sections, electronic dance from dub-step, digital synth, and indie because of the throwback reverb and distortion soaked guitars. Just imagine what putting Prince in the studio with David Guetta and Kings Of Leon for a month would sound like and you’re getting warm. If the lead vocalist can keep his star from burning itself out too soon with the same edge-of-your-seat, thrilling excess that make this such riveting music, 1917 soundtrack should be a musical force for years to come.”-Mario Mathon

Mathon is a powerfully confident individual and someone I have shared quite a few epic conversations with on topics varying from musical tastes to boxing greats. Don’t think of him as a problem child but as a man battling himself in order to approach his dreams. Sometimes you have to ride on top of the train to get the highest rush. Dance with the devil to find the right tune. Remember this. Some of the greatest artists of all time had to come within a few steps of hell in order to achieve greatness later on. I can’t tell you that the rawness of 1917 Soundtrack will turn into gold records but I can tell you this guy and his crew are FOR REAL. They will get busy or die reaching. Here are some samples.

http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=JbVbQoWIkdw&desktop_uri=%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DJbVbQoWIkdw

http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=x_EcgE-6mtg&feature=c4-feed-u

“There is something in the soul of us artists that wont rest…its why writers, thespians, poets, musicians, painters, etc. all come off odd or disturbed or as some other heightened emotional being than everyone else…. the truly passionate will chase this shit to the end of the earth.”-Mathon

-DLB

@buffa82 on Twitter

Reach me at buffa82@gmail.com

The Elvis Andrus Effect

November 19, 2013April 13, 2017 · Leave a comment ·

By now, you get it. The Cards are looking for a long term answer at shortstop that could bolster their lineup and maintain their habit of defensively strengthened infield units. Unless you have been harboring yourself under a rock with Walter White and Breaking Bad’s 6o + episodes, there’s a fair chance you have heard about this. I am going to tell you why Elvis Andrus is a great fit for the St. Louis Cardinals.

I wrote last week about the idea of Troy Tulowitzki becoming a St. Louis Cardinal. However, anyone who plays monopoly knows that getting Tulo would put a mighty fine dent in our young player pool and hinge a 7 year, 134 million dollar salary on a team that doesn’t like to carry too much weight on the plane. That’s exactly why I called it the Idea of Tulowitzki. People ran at me afterwards thinking I was telling the Cards to do whatever it took to march this man down the Mississippi River immediately. Offer up a part of the Ballpark Village stock and get him here. Let him co-sign the Imos name and put him in red. Trade his mountains for our Arch. Name a few streets after him, right???….

NO. I was merely saying it was worth looking into and I would support it. So let’s move on and let the suits ponder that dreamy proposition. If you ask me today or even next month who I want the Cards to chase down in a trade this winter, my guy is Elvis Andrus. The Texas Rangers shortstop is under control until 2022, but he can opt out after 2018 or 2019. That’s at least five years at a relatively modest salary. He will make 6.75 million in 2014. Then he makes 15 million for the next four years. If he doesn’t opt out, the total cost of his Rangers negotiated extension is 8 years and 120 million. For a fine shortstop, that’s not a bad price. Andrus is 4 years younger than Tulo, is not injury prone and comes at a cheaper price. Andrus is attractive and would work very well in St. Louis for a number of reasons.

Consider the positives. Andrus would immediately alter the look of the Cards lineup. He slides in perfectly into the #2 hole and gives you a newfound boost of speed on the bases. He stole 42 bases in 2013 and has average about 31 in his five year career. In an offensive down year by many analysts, Andrus still collected 168 hits, scored 91 runs and hit .271 with 67 RBI. Over his last 5 seasons, per Bernie Miklasz, his 16 wins above replacement trails only Tulo and Hanley Rameriz. Andrus is a two time all star who is still awaiting his true breakout season. A young, speedy fine defensive shortstop. We got a taste of his ability in the 2011 World Series. Andrus can take over a game. Imagine him and Wong in this lineup with their speed and base stealing ability. The Cards offense would change overnight.

What cost? Texas is looking for a power bat to play first base and hit DH. Matt Adams is going to fall into this discussion and I would be able to part with him. Allen Craig is another story. He would be hard to give up because he is such a proven cost effective run producer. On one leg, look at what he did in the World Series. Adams, however, had a great rookie season that saw time off the bench and filling in at first base. In under 300 at bats, he stroked 17 home runs and collected 51 RBI. He began to get solved by pitching in the playoffs but is very young and also cost effective. However, you have to give up something sweet in order to get a fine piece of pie.

What else? Texas are stocked on young pitching but would pull a few known quality arms off our heap. They may want a reliever/starter type like Kevin Siegrist. I would part with him. They could a proven starter like Lance Lynn or Joe Kelly. They also may want Shelby Miller or Carlos Martinez. Young lefthanded prospect Marco Gonzales is probably off limits because he is the leftie of the future and someone I am sure Mo would hold onto. Which one is more expendable out of Carlos and Shelby?

In my eyes, due to his versatility and untouched ability, Carlos Martinez is the one you hold onto tighter. What if Miller can’t develop a fine secondary pitch? He was very good in 2013 but hitters started to hit him in September. He throws a lot of pitches. The Cards shut him down basically in the playoffs. Please don’t tell me he was a long reliever because I will laugh at you. Miller could develop into a Max Scherzer type one day but he needs a couple more pitches to meet that mark. I don’t want to part with either Miller or Martinez but in my eyes right now, Miller is more expendable.

Texas may want other players. Look for a package of Adams, Lynn and Siegrist and maybe another prospect. For a player like Elvis Andrus I would make that trade. When it comes to losing pitchers, remember the current scouting team of the Cards won’t suddenly just start drafting badly. John Mozeliak and his team have turned the Cardinals farm system into a well oiled machine that could run for years. Guys like Gonzales, Lee Stoppelman, Tim Cooney and other young guns will be coming up soon. Please don’t think the line ends with Wacha and Martinez because I assure you it does not.

Elvis Andrus has the defensive flair that Jed Lowrie does not. He isn’t as injury prone or expensive as Tulo. He is a better overall option than J.J. Hardy because he brings a speed element that has been missing from this team for decades. He hit better on the road than at hitter friendly Rangers Park in Arlington(.293 in 2013). He hits lefties and righties equally well. His strongest hitting months in 2013 came in the past 2 months, when he hit .303 and .313 and stole 18 of his 42 bases. Andrus is cost controlled, young and has his best years still ahead him even though sitting as a two time All Star at the moment. Something about him just feels right, safe and exciting. Sure, he could get hurt and miss time. Every player can. The sweet isn’t as sweet without the bitter in life and that applies in every sports transaction.

Are there other good options out there besides Andrus? Sure there are. Are there better overall options for the Cardinals when it comes to price in dollars and players? In my opinion, there are not. Elvis Andrus is the man I want wearing Cardinal Red at shortstop in 2014 and beyond.

What is your take? Respond with thoughts and inquiries to my email, buffa82@gmail.com or find me on Twitter at my handle, @buffa82.

Thanks for reading this.

Peyton Manning Rolls Along

November 18, 2013April 12, 2017 · Leave a comment ·

The people that don’t like Peyton Manning are usually people that don’t like the perfect athlete he resembles. A guy who can dish it straight in interviews, play very well on a football field, admit his mistakes, take losing well, and put out some hilarious commercials in his downtime. He does it all very well and doesn’t come off like a boring robot like Tom Brady. Manning is interesting and before he steps on a football field, some people hate that. I have always liked him, cheered for him and gotten a kick out of his TV spots. That’s the difference. I see him as a great football player who has had his ups and downs, won a ring and is looking to win more. To me, he is better than ever these days than he ever was in Indianapolis with the Colts. With the tag of being one of the greats, nobody has handled it better than Peyton. He happens to have the off the field respect and personality image going for him as well. It’s hard not to like if you ask me.

Last night, Manning rolled right along and helped his Broncos beat the Kansas City Chiefs 27-17 and hand that mighty defense its first loss. Manning was solid if not spectacular. He completed 60 percent of his passes and threw a 70 yard bomb. He threw a touchdown, zero interceptions but lost a fumble. That will get the critics rolling in a small area picking apart his performance. When I think of Peyton, I think of Yadi Molina on a football field. A coach and player inside one body out there calling plays and making them happen. He doesn’t make excuses or point fingers. After the game tonight, Peyton will say he played well, not feel the need to thank the lord but credit the prep, his teammates and the coaching staff. He deflects attention when he could command it like Ron Burgundy. Once again, Manning helped his team take down a very good team and win on Sunday. The Broncos and Chiefs are both 9-1.

So many people complain about Peyton’s arm strength. It doesn’t take a anatomy and physiology major to notice the man has lost a little steam on his fastball. He has had four neck surgeries. He will never be the same as he was in his hey day in Indianapolis. It’s just not medically possible. However, Peyton has made up for his physical shortcomings by using that big all important muscle up above. The brain. He doesn’t need to throw every pass hard. He just needs to be accurate. As long as his receivers know where to go, the pass will get there. Why focus on his arm strength when it isn’t required in the offense he calls? Some guys in the NFL have to throw hard to get the pass where it needs to be. The Broncos and Peyton(I refuse to give much credit to their offensive coordinator, because that is essentially Peyton himself) have devised a plan to shred defenses without throwing lasers across the field.

Last week against the Chargers in San Diego, Manning completed 70 percent of his passes and threw 4 touchdowns. He threw 3 interceptions against Washington the week before but threw 4 touchdowns and helped the Broncos demolish the Redskins by completing 68 percent of his 44 passes. There’s an artform to Manning’s new found tenure with the Broncos. Do everything you can do and leave the rest to the defense and critics. Critics in the past loved to blame the loss of Peyton’s team on him and forget the rest of the team plays too and Manning can’t play cornerback. That’s easy fodder for discussion but forgets the greatest story. Manning’s comeback with the Broncos.

I understood why the Colts cut him loose. I just didn’t agree with it. Now, seeing Andrew Luck’s success may cause you to question my logic but hear me out. Peyton led the Colts to the promise land once and was on the door step many times. While he had a lot of surgery done to his neck, I think he was owed a year to prove he could come back and be effective without the arm strength. Then the Colts selected Luck and then he was awesome. Manning was kind of left for dead by many critics. Many thought he simply couldn’t come back from the 4th surgery at his age. In my eyes, he has defied that theory and proven to be as sharp if not sharper with Denver. It’s an amazing transformation in his career that I believe will result(this year or next) in a second Super Bowl for Manning.

The projections for the rest of the season after last night’s game for Manning lay out like this: 5776 yards, 71 completion percentage, 59 touchdowns, 11 interceptions, 7 fumbles(that doesn’t include lost fumbles) and a quarterback rating of 121. That’s not bad for a guy who treats the game right, plays it great and never stops competing while serving as an on the field coach. Peyton Manning is just rolling along during this second phase of his career. A career in comedy awaits him after his retirement. Watch his SNL skits and try not to laugh.

My belief is he needs another ring to put him up there with the best quarterbacks and overall players of all time. If he keeps playing the way he is, on one foot and with an average offensive line, I think he will get that ring. Next week, he takes on his nemesis, Brady, in a great matchup of two great AFC teams. On the same stage as last night, Sunday Night Football, two of the greatest quarterbacks in the history of the game will duel in New England. This will be Manning’s fiercest test because he hasn’t played historically well in New England. However, those tumultuous years came with the Colts when he was trying to throw bullets everywhere and resembled more of a gunslinger. He’s a different quarterback these days and that may be the difference.

How does he fare this year in his 2nd year with Denver? Will he get that second and most coveted ring? Well, luckily, he didn’t predict 4, 5, or 6 like Lebron James did. We will have to wait and see but I think Peyton’s critics(and there are plenty) should take a step back first and realize how far the 37 year old Manning has come since early 2012. Did anybody think he would make it back with a new team and be as good if not better than his legendary days with the Colts? I never lost an ounce of faith. The man is simply great.

Thanks for staying,

Dan L. Buffa

@buffa82 on Twitter

buffa82@gmail.com

Blues Plant Their Feet At Home

November 15, 2013 · Leave a comment ·

Let me tell you something. The Blues 7-3 pummeling of the Colorado Avalanche tonight was one of the best experiences I have had watching this team in a couple years. The Avalanche came in with the best winning percentage in the NHL and the Note greeted them with a beating that turned the game into a boxing slugfest towards the end of the second period. The first period played out like most of the Blues-Coyotes game played at Scottrade on Tuesday. Close, hard nosed, and gritty hockey that marked two top teams going at it. Then, the game took a turn for blowout city. Whatever pride walking in that accompanied the Colorado team, the Blues took it all by the time they left the ice for good this evening.

The Blues wasted little time in the second period, scoring nearly three minutes in on a sweet play by the trio of Derek Roy, T.J. Oshie and David Backes. Then, Alex Steen collected the first of his 2 goals 5 minutes later on a snap shot. Shortly afterwards, Vladimir Tarasenko buried a slap shot to make it 4-1. Finally, around 15 minutes in, Chris Stewart joined the party by cleaning up a rebound with a tap in goal. When this happens in hockey, the losing team will resort to a higher level of physicality to make up for their lousy play. So the fights began. Stewart responded to a high knee hit attempt by pummeling Cory Sarich into submission. Before leaving the ice, Stewart asked the fans to raise the roof. No worries, Stewie, your teammates were just getting warmed up.

Less than a minute later, fan favorite and pound for pound king Vladimir Sobotka was asked to throw down and accepted the duel, throwing Matt Duchene to the ice, picking him up and slugging him three times before dropping him again. The Avalanche opened the SOBE door and got denied, but more so tried to bully the Blues and got their asses handed to them instead. The carnage wasn’t over yet. Cody McLeod stepped onto the ice and asked Blues enforcer Ryan Reaves to dance. So Reaves unleashed the monkey arms and beat the spit out of McLeod, raining down punches on him like the refs weren’t even there. Let me say this. If you ask a man to fight, they are free to punch you until they can be separated. The Blues went all 1970’s Flyers on the Avalanche tonight. They put up a quick 5 spot and then responded to the expected threats by taking the fight right back to the team leaking oil. This was the Blues best overall showing in a game this season and it’s not even close. Against a very good team, they beat them in every area possible.

Sure, Jaro Halak allowed 2 soft goals and shook his head every time. Every goalie should treat big leads like they don’t exist so the focus doesn’t lessen. Halak made some quality saves early and continued with a few more in the last period as the teams traded 2 goals a piece but overall, Halak wasn’t sharp tonight. When it comes to sports karma, I will take this lapse in execution. If our goalie wants to pick a night to be off, choose the night where 7 goals are your backbone and margin for error is near the ceiling.

The boys didn’t stop pressing and that won the game here tonight. Look at Tarasenko dive for a puck late in the third period of a 5 goal game. Very impressive. That’s the right way to play hockey. Keep skating, applying pressure, shooting on net and don’t take your foot off the gas. For such a fast sport, a certain ruthless mentality is required. You don’t run up scores in hockey. You score as many goals as possible to put the other team down and keep them there. Leads evaporate in hockey and tonight was nothing short of domination by the home team.

This has been a season charging home stand. Last Tuesday, the team came back from a 2-1 deficit in Montreal to steal a game on the road. We narrowly beat a feisty Calgary team before dispatching of the Penguins and Sidney Crosby on Saturday. After losing to a very good Phoenix Coyotes team on Tuesday, the Blues responded with a landslide victory tonight against Colorado.

The record is now 12-2-3 on the season. TWO regulation losses so far. This is quite the impressive start and while it shouldn’t be taken for granted, there is room to feel a little pride as a Blues fan. This is the kind of great electric play you want to see from your team after a tough loss 48 hours earlier. Steen’s 16 goal start is very impressive but don’t forget about T.J. Oshie’s 14 assists, 4 of which came tonight. A guy with all kinds of talent and as versatile and strong on his skates as anyone, Oshie is becoming a late blooming playmaker. Derek Roy has been exciting and a breath of fresh air. Backes has 7 goals and 12 assists. Tarasenko has 6 goals. Alex Pietrangelo has 15 points. Production is coming from all over the roster. The goaltending hasn’t been superb but keeps the team in the game and refuses to break.

Can this continue? You never know. That saying is the kiss of bittersweet death in competitive sports. Forget about the rest of the season, focus on Saturday and celebrate what the Blues did tonight on home ice against Patrick Roy’s talented group of players. An impressive feat that deserves attention.

Thanks for staying to the end,

Dan L. Buffa

@buffa82 on Twitter

http://www.doseofbuffa.com

sara.stl-wordpress.com-Photo Credit