NFL Network: Eric Dickerson: A Football Life

Source:NFL Network- Eric Dickerson with the Anaheim Rams (as I called them) at Anaheim Stadium.

"A Football Life Eric Dickerson. Subscribe to the channel!

I don't own the rights to this  content." 

From Vanilla Vick

This might sound strange considering that Eric Dickerson, is not just in the NFL Hall of Fame, or that he rushed for 12,000 yards, and is literally one of the greatest runners (not running backs) in NFL history, but he underachieved and could've been so much better. 

Outside of John Riggins with the Redskins, the team that I grew up loving, Eric Dickerson was my favorite running back ever growing up in the 1980s. So I don't think I'm bias at all when I'm talking about Dickerson. And other than Jim Brown, I don't think the NFL has ever had a better runner in the backfield, than Eric Dickerson. He was a better runner than Marcus Allen and Walter Payton. Not as big and strong as John Riggins, but faster. 

I think (and this is where the underachieving part of his career comes in) had Eric Dickerson stayed in Anaheim with the Rams, instead of going to to the Indianapolis Colts, a franchise that had no history of being competitive, let alone winning, I think Dickerson owns every single major rushing record in the NFL right now. He would've shattered both Jim Brown's and Walter Payton's records and still have time and ability to do so much more. But his main goal was to be a millionaire running back and be paid like Pro Bowl QB, instead of being a champion and the best player at his position.

Imagine Eric Dickerson staying in Anaheim with head coach John Robinson who was essentially running his Southern California power offense, where the offense was built around the tailback and the Rams add QB Jim Everett and WR Flipper Anderson, they already had WR Henry Elliard and TE David Hill, one of the best offensive lines in the NFL, and one of the better defenses in the NFL. I

Imagine the 1989 Rams with Eric Dickerson as their tailback, instead of Greg Bell, who was a good running back, but not even on the same planet as Dickerson, at least as a runner. But we never got to see any of that, because Erick Dickerson was about making as much money as he could, even if it meant playing for losers like the Indianapolis Colts and Atlanta Falcons. And about being the best football player he could be becoming a Super Bowl champion.

7/18/2022 - Ryan Woods: "I understand what your saying to a certain degree. I'm glad you acknowledged he isn't the second greatest RB ever though. Great thought & point." 

Erik Schneider: "Thanks. I'm saying he's not the 2nd best all round RB ever, simply because he's not."

From Facebook

Ryan Woods: "he's the smoothest runner ever in my opinion & many other's. Dickerson's biggest knock his running didn't directly lead to a lot of team success like the other All-Time great rb's. Have him #7 on my All-Time rb list." 

Erik Schneider: "Or, he was more interested in making money, than winning football games." 

From Facebook

7/19/2022 - Britt Prentice: "Jim Brown was bigger than linebackers and even linemen. Average weight and height for a lineman was 6'2" 235lbs in the 50s-60s. Jim was 6'2" 232lbs. Different game. Jim would not be a man among boys today." 

Erik Schneider: "Actually, 235 for a RB back then, would not be 235 today. So you could at least argue that JB would be even bigger and stronger today, than he was back then. If you go by the theory that NFL players get bigger and stronger, as the league gets older."

Chris Paez: "I get your point. Dickerson wasn't the best receiver or blocker but his running was so much better I think most people would still take Dickerson over just about anyone. AND HE IS on the 1980's All Decade Team." 

Erik Schneider: " If you are simply talking about running the ball out of the backfield. But based on that, Roger Craig was the same size as ED, but not as tall and was about just as fast as ED, and had a lot more skills."

Chris Paez: "I just looked at the All Decade team. It was Dickerson and Payton at RB. Unless there's more than one version ?. And yeah Roger Craig was great but I bet more people would take Dickerson over Roger Craig." 

Erik Schneider: "Are we taking polls now? I thought we were talking about the best all around RB, versus the best runners at RB."

Chris Paez: "I'm not arguing with you. I already said Dickerson wasn't the best receiver or blocker. My point is that I'll take Dickerson over any back from the 1980s." 

Erik Schneider: "OK, got your point."

Britt Prentice: "Eric was 6'3" 220, Derrick Henry 6'3" 247, Faulk 5'10" 212, LT 5'10" 216, Emmitt 5'9 216. Gurley 6'1" 230, Chubb 5'11 225. Henry is very rare being so big. The backs today are not huge." 

Erik Schneider: "None of those players played 60 years ago. Bo Jackson was considered a man among boys in the 1980s. Similar size to Jim Brown."

Britt Prentice: "thank you for making my point. Bo 6'1" 230lbs." 

Erik Schneider: "Not only that, but the guys you mentioned who play today, are about the same size as the RB's of the 1980s. So Jim Brown would be a man among boys today as a tailback as well at 6'2 230 pounds, or so, with the great speed."

Britt Prentice: "no he would not. The average LB is 6'3" 240. Average lineman 6'4" 315. Brown would not be a man among boys stomping on Aaron Donald. He would be great, not dominant against far smaller opposition as he was." 

Erik Schneider: "Again I could take you back to Bo Jackson from the 1980s and the size he played at and the defenders he went up against or just use the fact that JB would be even bigger and stronger today, with all the access to modern medicine, weight training, personal trainers, that he didn't have in the 1960s. I don't see much point in arguing this."

David Thompson: "people forget how good Dorsett was. I could take or leave Craig. He found the perfect scheme for him offensively. Huge Walter Payton fan though. He’s on my Mt Rushmore along with Brown and Sanders. For that 4th spot on the Mt. I can argue for ED, Emmitt, prime Terrell Davis or Tony Dorsett. Maybe Curtis Martin, who is overlooked but was consistent and durable as they come." 

Erik Schneider: "We agree on Dorsett and Payton. It's Roger Craig whose overlooked. Should've been in the Hall of Fame a long time ago."

David Thompson: "He’s got a good argument for the HOF, and I love those 49ers teams, even as a Rams fan, but I wouldn’t put him in the conversation of beat backs ever. At the same time, he only had 3 1,000 yard rushing seasons over an 11 year career, and only one of those was dynamic. His 85 season was amazing, but he never really got close to anything like that again. It’s arguable his best ability was as a receiving back. But if Ricky Watters isn’t in, I don’t know how Craig gets in." 

Erik Schneider: "If Roger Craig is not one of the best RB's ever, then how does he have a "good argument" for the HOF?"

David Thompson: "for his era, he was considered one of the best backs. He won multiple Super Bowls. His 1000 yd rushing and receiving season was great. And despite his lack of stellar running stats, he still caught over 500 passes for his career which was almost unheard of. He’s not in the top 20 RBs of all time. But there are other RBs in with similar or even a lesser pedigree. That being said, I’m not gonna lost sleep if he doesn’t make it. That might be the most damning thing about him, you look at his career and it’s something that doesn’t overwhelm you as an omission that he’s not in the HOF." 

Erik Schneider: "for his era, he was considered one of the best backs. He won multiple Super Bowls. His 1000 yd rushing and receiving season was great." I could rest my case for Roger Craig with what you said about him. Two standards that HOF voters look at when deciding if someone should be in the HOF: were they one of the best players at their position during their era. Your answer for that is obvious yes. The other standard is would they be a great player in every era. The answer to that is obvious yes as well. Craig has a numbers game working against him since he played on a team with a lot of other HOF players. But just because a team was deep, shouldn't disqualify you for the HOF. He'll get in eventually and hopefully while he's still alive, unlike Ken Stabler."

From Facebook

7/22/2022 - Joseph F Cristarella: "It is harder to have a longer season, but you cannot compare the yardage, playing 17 games gives you a distinct advantage over those in 12 game seasons to gain more yardage, keeping in mind the defense back then may have been smaller than today but there was so much more they could do, a running back today does not have to routinely be clothes lined, helmet to helmet hits with far inferior helmets, etc. So things kind of work out in the end." 

Erik Schneider: "You sound like someone who knows his NFL history and not automatically assuming the great players today, are definitely better than the players before them. The only thing that I would add is the rules that Jim Brown played under, clearly favored defenses over offenses. Which is why the average NFL team ran the ball a lot more back then, than they do today. So Jim Brown had to work with smaller holes, fewer games and he still ran for 13,000 yards in 9 seasons, playing 116 games, over 100 TD's."

From Erik Schneider

Never More: Manson (1973) Documentary

Source:Never More- 1973 Manson Family documentary.

"'Manson' is the definitive documentary on the former cult leader and his followers, released at a time when the notorious murders were still fresh.

"Whatever is necessary to do, you do it," Fromme says. "When somebody needs to be killed, there’s no wrong. You do it, and then you move on. And you pick up a child and you move him to the desert. You pick up as many children as you can and you kill whoever gets in your way. This is us."

The film was shot by Hendrickson and Merrick between 1969 and 1972—after Charles Manson and a handful of Family members had been arrested for the murders but before the story had been cemented as a cultural touchstone in the 1974 book Helter Skelter—with the Family footage filmed primarily at the Western film-set-turned-Manson compound Spahn Ranch and in Death Valley. The whole thing was scored by Brooks Poston and Paul Watkins, two former Manson Family members.

Directed by - Robert Hendrickson & Laurence Merrick

Music by - Brooks Poston & Paul Watkins

Release date- 1973" 

From Never More 

"Documentary on Charles Manson and his family. Has a number of insightful interviews with many family members most notably Squeaky and Sandy (Blue and Red). There is also a history of Manson from his birth to the family formation to the Tate/La Bianca murders. Plenty of footage of the family playing at Spahn Ranch." 

Source:IMDB- with a look at this Manson Family documentary.

From IMDB

"1972 Manson Family documentary"

Source:Autism Awareness Bureau- from a 1972 Manson family documentary.

Source:Autism Awareness Bureau

When I think of the Manson Crime Family, (as I call them) because thats basically what they were) I think of a huge waste of human potential across the board of people who are now serving life in prison, because they threw their lives away by intentionally taking the lives of innocent people. But thats not the whole story because they not only have wasted their lives all of these people in their late teens and early twenties, but they wasted the lives of their victims and threw their lives away as well.

The Manson Family stuck their victims families and friends, as well as their own families and friends with a life sentence in prison. That now all of these people who've done nothing wrong as it relates to this story of a life sentence in the victims families case of never being able to see their relatives again and losing them at a young age. But have also stuck their own families and friends with a life sentence of never being able to see them living in freedom again. Because of course they are now in prison for the rest of their lives where they deserve to be.

I call the Manson Family a crime family because they may of started off as a cult. Where young somewhat lost people could come together and get away from the real world where they may of felt out of place and not doing well there. But they became a crime family by late 1968 early 1969 by ripping people off, even taking hostages and beating the hell out of people who they thought they had money that was owed to them and so-forth and were even dealing illegal narcotics.

And of course all of these things all boiled up and eventually leading to the horrible murders. Murders you might only see from racist hate groups or vicious serial murderers which some of the Manson Crime Family members ended up being, like Charles Tex Watson (to use as an example) with all of the blood and stab wounds they left by their victims and the surrounding areas where the murders were done.

So the Manson Family became not much more than an evil crime family creating a lot of damage for the Los Angeles area. And of course for their victims and created just a tone of human waste that over forty years later the victims of these crimes, as far as the family members of the victims and offenders because the offenders families are also victims as a result of the Manson Crime Family murders as well.

Joey Teefizz: MISL 1980- 2/10/2980- Philadelphia Fever @ Buffalo Stallions: Highlights

Source:Joey Teefizz- welcome to the Buffalo Memorial Auditorium.

"Old School Indoor Action! Phillly and Buff-let's rock!

Last 4 minutes of game are MIA-two goals we miss...6-2 Final" 

From Joey Teefizz

The first or second season on the Major Indoor Soccer League.

Washington Redskins: NFL 1964- Season Highlights

Source:Washington Redskins- QB Sonny Jurgensen. We can thank the Philadelphia Eagles, actually we should send them annual Christmas gifts, for giving away Sonny to us.

"Watch this NFL Year in Review from 1964 when quarterback Sonny Jurgensen comes to the Washington Redskins and wide receiver Charley Taylor is League Rookie of the Year." 

From the Washington Redskins

There are many reasons why the Redskins-Philadelphia Eagles has at least been a great NFL rivalry historically and I believe one of the most underrated rivalries in the NFL. 

Washington and Philadelphia are only 130 miles apart, which means the fans of both teams can go to the city to watch their team play. Both clubs are in the NFC East. Both clubs have been historically tough, physical, hardworking, blue-collar teams, at least during the Super Bowl era. Both teams have been good at the same time, for an extended period of time, like in the late 1980s and early 90s. 

I'm not saying the Redskins-Eagles rivalry started in 1964, when the Eagles traded Sonny Jurgensen to the Redskins for journeyman QB Norm Snead, the rivalry was already there. But if you look at the career that Sonny had and the career that Snead had and you look at what both teams did after this trade, with Eagles going into a drought where they would have 11 straight non winning seasons from 1967-77, 1 winning season from 1964-77. This trade was a steal for the Redskins and something the Eagles would spend the next 15 years trying to recover from, going through one QB after another after Sonny.

The Redskins didn't start winning right away under Sonny Jurgensen. They wouldn't have their first winning season with Sonny until 1969 under Vince Lombardi. But for the rest of the 1960s with Sonny at QB, and then add WR's Charley Taylor ,(perhaps the best WR ever) Bobby Mitchell, perhaps the first hybrid RB/WR, whose also in the Hall of Fame, and then Jerry Smith who should also be in the Hall of Fame, and the Redskins had one of the best offenses in the NFL during the 1960s decade. And would become consistent winners and a consistent playoff team in the 1970s with Sonny and would even win the NFC in 1972, with Sonny as their QB.  

6/07/2022 - Douglas John Musielak: "They will always be the Redskins to me." 

Erik Schneider: "Damn, straight!" 

From NFL Classic 

6/08/2022 - Benjamin Rice: "When RFK was new. Great old People's Drug sign. Was a great drugstore until it got gobbled up by CVS." 

Erik Schneider: "There was one in downtown Bethesda on the same street where I went to high school. It also had a Roy Rogers and Hot Shoppes, and a local bookstore. Great shopping center." 

Benjamin Rice: "nice. We used to go to the one at Arlington Rd and Bradley Blvd when I was growing up." 

Erik Schneider: "Small world." 

From NFL Classic

Redskins Chronicles: Cowboys Rivalry

Source:Tyler Barney- with a look at the Redskins-Cowboys rivalry.

"The Redskins-Cowboys Rivalry Since Oct 9, 1960" 

From Tyler Barney 

"Several Hall of Famers & NFL Legends are interviewed about what the Redskins vs. Cowboys rivalry means to the NFL dating back to when the Cowboys joined the league." 

Source:Eric Welshenbaugh- with a look at the Redskins-Cowboys rivalry.

From  Eric Welshenbaugh

Just to be completely clear and honest: I don't think the Redskins-Cowboys rivalry is today, what it was in the 1970s and 80s, even in the early 1990s when both clubs were making the NFC Playoffs and even looking to win another Super Bowl. Not because the teams and fans stopped hating each other, but the Redskins haven't been consistent winners, let alone a consistent playoff team, or Super Bowl contender, since the early 1990s. And the Dallas Cowboys haven't been a consistent playoff team and Super Bowl contender, since they won their last Super Bowl in 1995. So the rivalry mean as much outside of Washington and Dallas, as it did in the 1970s and 80s and the games aren't as important anymore. 

So what I'm going to do is to explain why the rivalry was I believe the best rivalry in the NFL in the 1980s and one of the best rivalries in the NFL in the 1970s. 

As I've argued before, to be a great rivalry, you have to have to good franchises that are consistent winers and winning at the same time, and they need to be in the same conference, at least, if not division so they play each other on a regular basis. 

The Cowboys and Redskins are both in the NFC East. We're talking about two of the winningest NFL franchises not just in the 1970s, but the 1980s, as well. 20 years of two franchises that hate each other, that play each other twice a year, that won a combined 4 Super Bowls, 9 NFC Championships, and 12 NFC East Championships, from the 1970s and 80s. Both teams want to win the NFC East every year, not just make the playoffs and both teams want to not just beat each other, but beat each other in the ground, so the other team always remembers it and that loss hurts them for the rest of their season.

My best memories as a Redskins fan in this rivalry,: 

the Redskins beating the Cowboys in the 1982 NFC Championship, not just beating the Cowboys, but beating Cowboys QB Danny White into the ground and knocking him into the ground. (Thanks, Dexter Manley) 

The Redskins beating the Cowboys at Dallas to win the NFC East in 1983, with RB John Riggins having a great game. 

The Redskins sweeping the Cowboys in 1984 and not just winning the NFC East, but knocking the Cowboys out of the playoffs. 

And the Redskins beating the Cowboys week 2 in 1991 on Monday Night Football. 

Queen Latifah: Jaclyn Smith- 'Reveals Her Ageless Beauty Secrets'

Source:Queen Latifah - Jaclyn Smith: Ageless Beauty.

"Jaclyn explained her approach to beauty is a lifestyle of healthy choices and an easy to follow routine, like her own skincare line, which she developed a collection of crèmes and lotions with clinically proven ingredients."

From Queen Latifah

The title says it all about one of the best overall looking woman of all time. Here’s a woman whose going to be 70 in October, 70 years old. A gorgeous and still baby-faced adorable red-head who if anything is actually sexier now than she was in the late 1970s when she became a star on Charlie’s Angels. Her and Raquel Welch, they seem to refuse to age. As Raquel has put it several times, looking good is her job. That is what she does and has all the motivation to look good and take care of herself, because it is how she makes her living as a businesswoman and someone with her own fashion business now. I believe Jaclyn Smith is in the same category. That looking good and fashion is her business. And the best way I think she believes she can promote that is looking as good as she possibly can herself.

There isn’t a better woman that could have coined Ageless Beauty, or could have had that term named for her better than Jaclyn Smith. She’s been in Hollywood , the entertainment business and fashion industry, for over forty years now. Before I was born I’m sure, which makes me feel a little younger and yet she still looks 10-15, maybe even twenty years younger than she actually is. Here’s a women who was born at the end of World War II which was seventy years ago and she looks better today than probably most women young enough to be her daughter. And I’m sure many women young enough to be her granddaughter as well. She’s the definition of ageless beauty and 10-15 years from now will probably still be modeling her own products, because she’ll be able to give people personal experience that they work.

This is going to sound corny, but so what, because it’s so true. You’re as young as you feel and age really is only a number. I’ve seen men and women in their late thirties and early forties who are going gray already. Men that young, going bald who look 10-15 years older than they actually are. From either drinking and smoking too much, or both, perhaps using harder drugs, not eating right, not exercising, not managing stress, etc. And I’ve seen men and women who actually are as old in years as younger people, who look as old as they actually are, who look as young as the younger people who’ve aged too fast. And why is that, because time machines haven’t been invented yet. The younger looking healthier looking people like Jackie Smith, take care of themselves. They enjoy life while actually taking care of themselves. Instead of seeing how hard they can live before they die. 

You can also see this post at The Daily Review, on Blogger.

NFL Films: 'A Little History of the Minnesota Vikings'

Source:Football Docs- Vikings WR Randy Moss.

"America's Game Missing Rings 1998 Minnesota Vikings"  

From Football Docs

Source:NFL Films- Minnesota Vikings kicker Gary Anderson: about to attempt the game winning FG, against the Atlanta Falcons, in the 1998 NFC Final. 

When you look at teams that should've won championships but didn't, I look at teams that were really the best at what they did in their league for that year. Teams that had everything on paper, the talent, the chemistry, the character, the coaching. Teams that stayed healthy and finally, but definitely not last, teams that lost their big game to a team they should've not only beat, but lost to a team they should've whipped, that's the 1998 Minnesota Vikings.

They had the best offense in the NFL in 1998, running basically (what I call) the Spread Vertical Offense the offense that Sid Gilman invented in the 1950s with Sid Gilman with the Los Angeles Rams, with Norm Van Brocklin, Leroy Hirsch and company. That Al Davis adopted in the 1960s with the Oakland Raiders, where you have at least wide receiver if not two WR running a post-route on every play. You push the safety's back to open up the rest of the field so you can also work passes to your slot-receivers, tight ends and even running backs. Basically forcing the defense to cover the whole field. It takes a great offensive line and quarterback to be successful in an offense like this.

You also need a great QB who can throw deep and accurately, but doesn't get too greedy and who works the rest of the field. You need a solid running game as well to keep defenses honest. But again we are talking about the 98 Vikings here right, they had all of that. 

In 98 QB Randall Cunningham showing the world how great a QB he could be and not just a great talent. The OL with offensive guard Steve Hutchinson, center Matt Birk, tackle Corey Stringer,all Pro Bowlers, all big strong and mobile. Pro Bowler Robert Smith at RB and all purpose RB, reminds me a little of Marcus Allen, had he not retired early would probably be in the Hall of Fame.

The 1998 Viking had really three deep threats who were all big and tall at WR that could all run. Randy Moss as a rookie Chris Carter the 2nd best WR of the 1990s behind only Jerry Rice and Jake Reed as your third WR. Moss and Reed running post-routes with Carter running the inside routes with a lot of room to run. The Vikings were a speed team playing in a dome stadium perhaps the loudest stadium in the league in the Metrodome.

The Vikings played on turf they had the perfect environment playing the two-gap cover-two defense with four pass rushers up front led by defensive tackle John Randle who'll be in the Hall of Fame. Keeping your safety's deep so even if you don't get the pass rush, you prevent the big play. 

The Vikings didn't have a great defense, but when you're scoring 35 points a game and you give up 20 your defense is good enough. But it wasn't good enough in the 1998 NFC Final to the Atlanta Falcons losing to a team that was 7-9 in 1997, they hadn't made the playoffs since 1995 and went 9-7 that year to make the playoffs. The 98 Vikings were a team that had the total package, kinda like a fast break basketball team that would get some early stops and run you out of the building on offense.

Super Bowl 33 played in January 1999 (with the famous Ally Landry Tostitos Commercial is really the only thing I remember about that game. The best team in the AFC in the Denver Broncos that were I believe 13-3 in 1998 coached by Mike Shanahan with QB John Elway, TE Shannon Sharpe, RB Terrell Davis and company. 

The Broncos played a jump start Atlanta Falcons team coached by Dan Reeves who was a big reason for their success and a lot of players that had career years and didn't do much before or after that. With QB Chris Chandler, WR Tony Martin, TE OJ Santiago and others. When it should've been the Vikings and Broncos in Miami playing one of the best Super Bowls ever. 

You can also see this post at The New Democrat, on Blogger.

Ian Ward: NFL 1983- The Washington Redskins Yearbook

Source:Ian Ward- Redskins QB Joe Thiesman. 

"NFL Yearbook 1983 Washington Redskins 'A Cut Above.' NFL Films Highlights of the 1983 Washington Redskins Season."

From Ian Ward

Even though the 1983 Redskins won the NFC Championship but lost Super Bowl 18 to the Los Angeles Raiders in a blow out I believe they are the best team the Redskins have ever had in the Super Bowl era. The only other team that I would consider would be the 1982 Redskins that did win Super Bowl 17 over the Miami Dolphins because they were better defensively but the 1983 Redskins had a dominant offense, one of the best ever scoring something like 540 points.

The 1983 Redskins blew teams away and also playing one of the toughest schedules, that any team has ever had to play just to get to the Super Bowl, in the NFC East alone, playing the Dallas Cowboys twice and the Philadelphia Eagles and St. Louis Cardinals that were still competitive. Playing three conference finals teams in the regular season, the San Francisco 49ers, Raiders and Seattle Seahawks. Playing the Anaheim Rams (as I called them) twice in 1983 including in the NFC Playoffs, playing the Atlanta Falcons that were in the NFC Playoffs in 1982.

The Redskins played a lot of playoff teams in 1983 and still won 16 games including in the NFC Playoffs and lost 3 including the Super Bowl. They also had some close games but those games were against playoff teams, including against the Cowboys twice. The 1983 Redskins were also in a bunch of shootouts as the game against the Raiders would indicate. Because even though their run defense and pass rush were still very good the pass defense slipped a bit because they were working in people like rookie corner back Darrel Green who's in the Hall of Fame and safety Ken Coffey. But offensively they were much more explosive.

Super Bowl 18 against the Raiders where the Redskins lost 38-9, the score is a little misleading. I'm not saying the 1983 Raiders didn't have a great team, because they obviously did if you look at their team, their head coach Tom Flores, where they ranked in the NFL and who they beat. But the Redskins made some key mistakes in that game, first on defense trying to cover Raiders wide receiver Cliff Branch who I believe should be in the Hall of Fame with a rookie CB Darrel Green, they should've double teamed Branch the whole game at least on post routes.

And on offense when the Raiders were playing 8-9 Man Fronts on defense, with the Redskins consistently trying to run and getting nowhere against those fronts they should've thrown the ball against them short routes worked the tight end throw screen passes, to both tailback Joe Washington and work FB John Riggins in the pass offense as well when they couldn't use him in the run offense. And the late in the first half when they were trailing 14-3 deep in their territory instead of throwing that (infamous) screen pass to Joe Washington that worked for a long TD against the Raiders in the regular season they threw that same pass but it was picked off by linebacker Jack Squirek for a TD making the score 21-3. Because the Raiders defense saw that same play and remembered it and saw it coming. They should've tried to run out the clock instead.

I'm not saying the Redskins would've beaten the Raiders in Super Bowl 18 had they had a better game plan but without that INT in the first half for a TD, its probably 14-3 Raiders at the half. And the Redskins scored a TD to start off the 2nd half but got the extra point blocked. This should've been a 14-10 game Raiders leading in the 3rd quarter with the momentum with the Redskins. Their defense feeling recharged thinking they are back in it. Super Bowl 18 should've been one of the best Super Bowls of all time, had the Redskins had a better game plan instead of a 38-9 blowout as it was. 

You can also see this post at FRS FreeState, on WordPress.

Barry Levinson: Wag The Dog (1997) Starring Robert DeNiro & Dustin Hoffman

Source:IMDB- From Barry Levinson.

"After being caught in a scandalous situation days before the election, the president does not seem to have much of a chance of being re-elected. One of his advisers contacts a top Hollywood producer in order to manufacture a war in Albania that the president can heroically end, all through mass media. Written by Christy."

From IMDB

"Shortly before an election, a spin-doctor and a Hollywood producer join efforts to fabricate a war in order to cover up a Presidential sex scandal."

Source:IMDB- Robert DeNiro in Wag The Dog. Good job, Bob!

From IMDB

Source:Warner Brothers- Dustin Hoffman & Robert DeNiro.

"Wag the Dog - Original Theatrical Trailer"

From Warner Brothers

The late 1990s was a crazy and fascinating time for many reasons politically and other things and also one of the best periods for Hollywood as far as making movies. Some of my favorite movies of all-time come from 1997-99. Wag the Dog 1997 being one of them, Jackie Brown 1997 being another as far as I'm concern the best Quentin Tarratino movie of all-time. Out of Sight 1998 being another one, Primary Colors 1998 another one of my favorite movies. Cop Land 1997, The Big Lebowski 1998 maybe my favorite comedy of all-time with a great comedy duo in Jeff Bridges and John Goodman. Very Bad Things 1998 another very funny movie, Wild Things 1998 very funny.

But one movie in particular because it fit in perfectly with the times especially politically: the Monica Lewinsky scandal breaks in January 1998 the same month that the Pope visits Cuba which I doubt made the United States Government very happy especially with their embargo policy on Cuba. And also when President Clinton was probably at his most popular. Wag the Dog came out about a year earlier, in the Summer of 1997, two American embassies in East Africa were bombed and then America attacks both Sudan and Afghanistan. Because the Clinton Administration believed that the Sudanese Government had a role in the African bombings. 

Again we attack Afghanistan as well that same month August 1998, but here's the thing and why Wag the Dog is so relevant. That movie is about people working for the White House creating the appearance of a war in order to get the media and people's attention off the latest sex scandal of the President.

After America attacked Sudan and Afghanistan by sending in missile strikes, Republicans in Congress, Senator Dan Coates of Indiana who is generally a pretty rational and responsible person, right away questions whether the missile strikes had something to do with the Lewinsky scandal. And was done as a distraction just like in the movie Wag the Dog and even said something to that affect: "I wonder or I hope this is not a Wag the Dog moment for President Clinton". 

The movie came out just a few months before the Lewinski scandal broke. Wag the Dog is a movie about the President being in trouble with another sex scandal. He's a popular President up until the scandal and looks like he's flying to reelection.

But the scandal breaks and of course his opponent in the race a U.S. Senator played ( by Craig Nelson ) try's to make the most out of it. Senator Nelson ( let's say ) is way down in the polls and is looking for anything he can to break through. Someone in the White House calls in a veteran big shot political strategist to deal with the scandal ( played by Robert DeNiro ) and he gets the idea that what the President needs is a distraction. To get the country's attention off of the sex scandal and comes up with the idea of a fake war and hire a Hollywood producer played by Dustin Hoffman to put this show together. 

Wag the Dog is a great movie for several reasons: one because of how relevant it is, perhaps not realistic though especially in the information age. And this movie did come out in 1997 as far as them being able to cover up a fake war without the Defense Department, CIA or someone knowing about it. 

But it's still a very funny movie, well-written and a great cast Robert DeNiro, Dustin Hoffman, Bill Macy, Ann Heche, Craig Nelson, Dennis Leary and others. And how desperate that these politicos were to save a Presidency and would even create a fake war to do that. 

You can also see this post at The New Democrat, on WordPress.

Axel Reyes: Kennedy (1983) Starring Martin Sheen

Source:Axel Reyes- from the 1983 NBC trailer of Kennedy.

"Trailer for the biopic miniseries about the Presidency of John F. Kennedy from the 1960 election and oath of office up to the President's assassination in Dallas, Texas in November 1963." 

From Axel Reyes

There have been several movies about John F. Kennedy. Because even though he only lived forty-six years there were so many things that went on in his life that were worth writing and filming about. Like his Navy career, what he did right after that trying to decide what he would do the rest of his life. His first campaign for the House of Representatives in 1946, his time in the House, he was a bit of a playboy there. 

And not very disciplined, but of course he had the great name and was such a charming man and likable. His friendship with Richard Nixon in the House and later in the Senate. Sen. Kennedy's name and charm was good enough for him to keep his job in the House and then even running for the Senate in 1952. His first Senate campaign of course being elected the same year that Dwight Eisenhower.

Jack Kennedy was elected to the Senate in 1952 and served in the last Republican Congress until 1995 with the Gingrich Revolution. Jack Kennedy's time in the Senate, where he becomes more serious and takes the job seriously and puts in the time and work because of course he had bigger goals, Sen. Kennedy writes a book in the Senate Profiles in Courage where there was some controversy about whether Sen. Kennedy wrote the book or was the book written by Ted Sorenson one of his Senate staffers. 

Adlai Stevenson the 1956 Democratic nominee considers Sen. Kennedy as his Vice Presidential nominee which would've been a disaster for Sen. Kennedy. Because GOV. Stevenson lost to President Eisenhower in a landslide and Kennedy wouldn't of made much of a difference. I believe Hollywood for the most part has done a very good job with Jack Kennedy with making movies about him. 

Unlike Oliver Stone with Richard Nixon, they haven't tried to cover Jack Kennedy's whole life with one huge movie. They've broken his life up in several stage. There was one mini-series alone  I believe shown by CBS about the Kennedy's relationship between them. Especially Jack and Bobby with union leader Jimmy Hoffa. Another movie about the Cuban Missile Crisis in 1962 from 2000, another movie about Sen. Kennedy's involvement in Civil Rights. A new Mini Series in 2011 about the Kennedy Presidency, a movie about Jack Kennedy's navy career.

You could make another movie about Jack Kennedy's Congressional career or the great presidential election of 1960 that featured Jack Kennedy and Dick Nixon between two future presidents. Or another movie about the Bay of Pigs Crisis in 1962 the failed attempt to oust Fidel Castro as President of Cuba. There are so many things that happened in Jack Kennedy's life that are fascinating that are worth making public either by book, TV or movie that trying to cover the whole life in one movie or mini-series is too much, because you're bound to miss something. 

The Kennedy mini-series from 1983 with Martin Sheen is a pretty good, but not great mini-series. And it focus's just on the Kennedy Presidency, starting on Election Night 1960 when of course Sen. Kennedy is elected President in one of the closest presidential elections of all-time beating of course a sitting Vice President who worked for a very popular President in Dwight Eisenhower beating Dick Nixon in 1960, a very long election night. Sen. Kennedy finds out that he's just been elected President 6 or 7 the next morning. Jack Kennedy deserves several movies about him, all focusing on different aspects of his life.

Real Time With Bill Maher: 'Atheism Is Not a Religion'

Source:Real Time With Bill Maher- on Atheism & religion.

"Bill Maher on HBO's "Real Time" goes on a rant about how atheism and theism are incompatible ideologically. He "un-baptizes" Mitt Romney's deceased father-in-law, who was himself an atheist. Funny as hell!" 

From Pariah 2001

This photo is from the same monologue/editorial Bill Maher did on the same program about Atheism and religion.

Source:Real Time With Bill Maher- on Atheism & religion.

Religion: "the belief in and worship of a superhuman power or powers, especially a God or gods.

"ideas about the relationship between science and religion" 

Atheism: "disbelief or lack of belief in the existence of God or gods"

You can see these definitions for yourself at Dictionary.com. 

Of course I agree that Atheism is not a religion. But I also believe hat if jump into a lake, I would get wet. Unless someone who was dying of first, managed to drink every last drop of water, before landed in the lake. But I don't think that's the point here. 

I think the point here is that Atheists, especially hard-core Atheists who put down everyone who is religious the same way that fundamentalist believers put down everyone who disagrees with them on anything, including other believers, sound like fundamentalists as well. 

If you think about it, Atheists and fundamentalists have one big thing in common and this includes Bill Maher: they don't disagree with the Golden Rule, they hate the Golden Rule to the point that they think it should be outlawed. 

If you are going to live in a free society, it helps to not put down people as immoral, crazy, and stupid, simply because of religion, or any other issues where the individuals have a constitutional right to decide for themselves whether to be part of whatever the activity is. 

America has lasted almost 240 years with fundamentalists, Atheists, and Agnostics, even with the fact that we've always had fundamentalists on the Far-Right, who not only love their religious beliefs, but think they should be the law of the land and hate the concept of the Separation of Church and State. And not just Atheists, but Communists on the Far-Left, who would probably try to outlaw organized religion, if they ever came to power. 

One of the beauties of free speech and personal freedom, it allows for everyone to be themself and live and learn. Let's keep it that way. 

You can also see this post at FRS FreeState, on Blogger.

Bill Maher: 'Be More Cynical on Religion'

Source:Free Thinking- comedian Bill Maher, talking about religion in 2000.

"Bill Maher in his 2000 special "Be More Cynical" talking about the Christian religion." 

From Free Thinking

Being cynical is probably a conservative, boring way to live your life, where you'll end up taking less risks and you are not putting your heart on the line very often. 

Not trying to sound gushy, but being cynical has its advantages as well. You'll probably get burned and disappointed less, because you're taking less chances. You're not automatically going to take someone's word when they say something. 

For example, when a member of Congress refers to someone from the other party as their friend, which happens all the time in the Senate, you're not automatically going to assume Senator Smith is friends with Senator Jones or John McCain is friends with George W. Bush, just because they say that. You'll understand that they may just be saying that. 

That's how Washington works and when a member of Congress is referred to as a distinguished gentlemen or distinguished gentlelady, you know that they not be distinguished at all. Perhaps except for being a leader in Congress when it comes to fundraising, or bridges to nowhere, or bringing home the bacon. (That no one eats) Because no one lives or drives there, etc. 

If you trust someone who has a good track record with you, they have sound judgement, etc, and they invite out to treat you for dinner or will pick up the check, you know to take their word they'll do those things. But when you offer them something to eat and give it to them, something they never had before and they taste it and have a horrible look on their face and they say its not good, chances are they are just being nice and don't take that seriously. Truth and flattery are different.

The only advice I would give here, is take things in life for what they are. And don't automatically assume everything you hear is the truth. Especially from people who need you for something. I would start with politicians, but anyone who needs something from you, when they do and say things that make sense and you know why they did it and understand it, great. 

But if they do or say something strange that's out of character and is something that's not a good thing, for example let's say you love playing tennis. And someone you know needs something from you. And they don't have a clue about tennis and don't even like the game and they start talking to about tennis, trying to express an interest in it, even challenging you to a match, don't automatically assume they've become tennis fans. 

They just might want you to believe that they are tennis fans instead, as a way to communicate to you. When they give you an explanation for it, unless it makes sense and adds up, don't automatically assume they are saying what happened or the whole truth. Because they might only be saying what they want you to hear.

I know I'm a political junky and I have this pattern of using political stories to communicate broader points. But this is my last political story here. 

Politicians are the perfect people to be cynical about. If a white-collar politician comes to your state, hell let's say running for President, why not and I'm not going to use a name here, a wealthy white-collar wine and cheese yuppy politician, let's say.This person comes to your State and let's say your state has a lot of blue-collar workers there, lets say Pennsylvania or Ohio and this politician stops by one of your local taverns or bowling allies in Pittsburgh, to speak to your people and this person comes to show you his bowling skills, trying to convince you he has some game and hangs out with you folks all the time, just to get your votes. When the fact is he's not only never bowled before, but looks down at blue-collar bowlers as low-class.

Or the white collar limo owning and riding politician  drinks beer to show you he likes beer, but generally doesn't do these things, don't automatically assume this politician is like you. But instead wants you to believe he is, to get you to vote for him. He wants your vote not to be friends. 

The more you take things as they are and not just what you want them to be, the better you'll be off if life. And I know that sounds unromantic and perhaps unreligious, but what do you expect from an Agnostic anyway. Because you'll always know or at least most of them depending on how intelligent you are, who is with you and who wants you to believe they are with you in order to get something out of you.  

You can also see this post at The New Democrat, on Blogger.