Jason Haskins's Blog, page 33

Fantasy football tips to win friends and influence doubters

Fantasy football season is a upon us, meaning it's time to dole out those tips and tricks to league play.You've done the hours of prep, poring through constant updates in meaningless preseason games and combing through pages of data. Your draft day (or six) has been scheduled and circled on the calendar.
Let the fantasy football drafting of players you have no control over commence.
All over bars, basements, and backyards, friends are congregating to carefully select their teams. Conspiracy theories are discussed, referees are complained about, and it's hard to find anyone outside of fans of the New England Patriots who actually like Tom Brady (unless, of course, he's used on a high draft pick in your upcoming draft).
The real question: Where do you look to for tips?
Grabbing your nearest newspaper is a cinch. Or perhaps you like to hop in your nearest AOL chat room and discuss strategy with your friends, strangers, and weirdos alike.
I"m here today to let you know to look no further for taking care of business in your next edition of fantasy football.
Now, I'm not going to say I'm an expert on the subject or anything, but I have finished in ninth or tenth place -- of a ten-team league -- in each of the last three seasons. And this is in a league I run. ( I leave colluding to presidents!)
I am unable to make guarantees, but the following fantasy football tips are bound to win friends and influence any doubters.Draft a kicker 1stWho doesn't love a great kicker? Kickers too often fall in the later round of the most fantasy drafts. However, a good kicker can often be the difference between a make or break season. 
Sure, a running back is likely to get you more points by scoring touchdowns. You know what's better than a touchdown? Four field goals!
Taking a kicker like Justin Tucker or Greg Zuerlein with your first overall pick will impress your friends but also help carry your team to victory. Sure, you won't likely earn higher than a 'C' draft grade from Yahoo, but remember: field goal kickers are people, too.Choose players with cool sounding namesAnyone can choose a Todd Gurley III or Aaron Rodgers with their first pick. When it comes down to it, though, wouldn't you rather have a player with a "So instead of choosing Antonio Brown or Julio Jones in the first round, try going with Jake Butt. Or, if you're in a league that uses defensive players, you can't go wrong with Ha Ha Clinton-Dix (he's always good for an interception or two). Don't draft Jerry RiceSeriously. He's retired. Don't draft him or you'll be sorry.Setting your lineupAfter the draft, this can be one of the toughest things to do. You're set at kicker -- if you followed my advice -- so that won't be a problem. It's starting players at those other positions that can cause sleepless night and worrisome days.
An easy solution is to just not set the lineup, leaving it how it defaulted after the draft.
Bye weeks for players? Who needs 'em!
Injured stars? Leave 'em in there. You might be 0-8 but once the stars are healed and bye weeks are over, you're bound to pull off an upset or two. Not only will you likely ruin someone's playoff bid, but you'll look like a genius for pulling off the upset.The right team name mattersThis might be the most important part of any fantasy football season. 
Here are a few examples:
KellenMooreThanWordsPat Chung TonightTurn down for WattFeets like Shane VereenJason's Unreal TeamSome of the best team names are those automatically assigned to you. I mean, "Jason's Unreal Team" says so much that greatness is destined for your team of kickers, cool names, and not Jerry Rice.
Of course, you would substitute your name in place of Jason. Unless, of course, you'd like to name your team after me for all of this wonderful advice. Take it from me, it's worth it.
All that's left is for you to go get signed up and draft. Go get 'em tiger!
photo credit: flickr.comTo learn more: jason-haskins.com

Dean Ambrose: A lunatic returns to the wrestling scene

The return of Dean Ambrose is one of the top stories heading into SummerSlam 2018.Two words brought joy to the masses last Monday night on RAW: Dirty Deeds.
Okay. The palpable excitement was already present in the building once the music of Dean Ambrose hit. And it was well worth the wait:

Rumors had been flying of Ambrose's return at SummerSlam. While this would have been a nice surprise for summer's biggest event, pulling it off on RAW was a good move.
Now we wonder if Ambrose will take a heel turn on Sunday.
Ambose, if only slightly, has been kind of a lost member from one of the better factions established in the WWE from the past 15 years. Roman Reigns has been the golden boy, circling around the title now for the last two and a half years. Fans have been torn on Reigns over this time as well, with the divisiveness maybe even causing the WWE to push him even more.
Seth Rollins, meanwhile, was the architect behind the dissolution of The Shield. While initially taking on the role of heel, Rollins himself got injured and came back on the hero side of things.
Ambrose earned a moniker as one of the hardest working wrestlers prior to his injury (a title since passed along to Rollins, who is far-and-away the wrestler of 2018 so far). The "Lunatic Fringe" brought a chaotic energy no matter the story he was involved in. He held titles, yes, but for the most part his energy and comedy styling stole the show.
And now he's back, looking to add to the story between Rollins, Dolph Ziggler and the "Scottish Psychopath", Drew McIntyre. It's not like the chemistry between these three was dragging but Ambrose should elevate it to even higher levels.
Now the question is when does this new-look (Triple H clone) of Ambrose turn heel? Hopefully we have a little time with this mini-Shield reunion. But when it does happen? I'll be all in.Becky Lynch on the riseStraight fire indeed.
If there is a worker on the women's side comparable to Ambrose, it's Becky Lynch. 
While Sasha Banks has been a staple on RAW and Charlotte Flair has held the title, Lynch has consistently put up strong work no matter what ridiculous story she was put in.
The first woman selected for Smackdown Live! back when the split occurred, Lynch seemed destined to be the face of the women's division on the blue brand. 
Though it didn't go exactly as planned, she has been the focal point as of late and has continued to deliver. Plus, she has the comedic chops to hang with the best: 

Lynch will be pitted in a match with her best friend Flair and champion Carmella on SummerSlam. Will she finally be crowned the Queen of Smackdown? Match card and predictionsSummerSlam hits your screens and devices on Sunday, August 19. The lineup is below, with my predicted winner in bold. Though I may turn the whole thing off if we don't get the Elias concert that's been promised to us.
Rusev & Lana vs Andrade 'Cien' Almas & Zelina Vega (kickoff show): Look for Aiden English to get involved somehow as we watch Rusev Day (likely, sadly) come to end.
Cruiserweight Championship- Cedric Alexander vs Drew Gulak (kickoff show)
RAW Tag Team Championship- The B-Team vs The Revival: I'd like to see The Revival finally wear the belts, but I don't think creative is quite done with The B-Team, especially if the Deleters of Worlds breaks up.
Finn Balor vs Baron Corbin: I've enjoyed Corbin in his role of constable, but it's time to get Finn a win and back in the title picture.
United States Championship: Shinsuke vs Jeff Hardy
Braun Strowman vs Kevin Owens: The Money in the Bank briefcase is on the line. Strowman needs to keep to cash in later in the evening.
Daniel Bryan vs The Miz: This story might carry all the way until Wrestlemania if Bryan re-signs with the company.
Smackdown Tag Team Titles- Bludgeon Bros vs The New Day: It's time to get the belts back on the fellas from New Day. Or, if not, see if they've all got a singles run in them.
Intercontinental Championship: Seth Rollins vs Dolph Ziggler: Though I personally think Rollins should always have a belt, Ziggler has been doing some of his best work in recent years.
RAW Women's Championship- Ronda Rousey vs Alexa Bliss: It's time for some fresh blood at the top (as much as I like Bliss).
Smackdown Women's Championship- Charlotte Flair vs Becky Lynch vs Carmella: Again. It's time.
WWE Championship- Samoa Joe vs AJ Styles: Styles wins simply for the fact to extend his run one month longer. Then it's Joe's turn.
Universal Championship- Roman Reigns vs Brock Lesnar: Oh man. Does Roman turn heel? What is Paul Heyman up to? Does a last second meeting with WWE keep Lesnar around even longer with the belt (let's hope not). I'm with a lot of people thinking that whoever wins, Strowman cashes in and takes the title.
Of course, prognosticators and fans like to pretend to know what's best (myself included) some I'm sure surprises will be in store. Let's just hope they make sense and maybe, just maybe, provide a little lunacy.
photo credit: sw.wikipedia.orgTo keep up-to-date on wrestling, sports, movies, pop culture and more, be sure to follow Jason on Twitter: Sports 'N' Stuff

Summer movies of 1998: The unsung stars of Saving Private Ryan

The summer movies of 1998 tournament has come to end, with a not-so-surprising result ending up on top.Weeks of voting has led us -- based off the votes of the people -- to the best summer movie of 1998: Saving Private Ryan. The real question is this: Would you vote for it over the film that eventually won the 1999 Academy Awards, Shakespeare in Love?
Feel free to leave your thoughts, but we won't be traveling down that path on this day. Yes, it was controversial in some circles, surprising in others that the film outpaced Saving Private Ryan at that year's Oscars ceremony. Throw in a little movie called Life is Beautiful (and its exuberant star Roberto Benigni) and we had a year full of odd choices.

Although it was hard to top Benigni's excitement earlier in the night when Life is Beautiful won for best foreign film.


Man. What a joy ride we were all treated to in 1999! Unless, of course, you had Tom Hanks winning best actor in your Academy Awards pool.

Where were we?

The merits of Saving Private Ryan and the films from the summer of 1998 can be debated, discussed, and dissected for days on end. Art house versus blockbusters. Shocking hits against unbelievable duds. Some many money, many others lost money, and, for many young stars, a future in show business was cemented.

The same can be said of Saving Private Ryan. For the likes of Tom Hanks, Tom Sizemore, and Ted Danson, theirs were careers that had already spanned decades. Matt Damon was fresh off a breakout hit the year prior with Good Will Hunting.

One of the things Steven Spielberg and casting director
There was Giovanni Ribissi, who had done plenty of guest spots in television (including Friends) and the movie SubUrbia. Plus, there was Ed Burns, who had conquered the indie circuit a few years prior with his film Brothers McMullen.

But there were three who stood out above the rest in Saving Private Ryan. Three who came through the ranks with Ribisi and have built a similarly solid career in the process.
Adam GoldbergIf the name doesn't sound familiar some of Adam Goldberg's roles certainly will. Goldberg played Private Mellish, a soldier who mercifully dies at the hands of a Nazi in the final battle.
He was a pretty familiar face in independent films during the 1990's, especially prior to Saving Private Ryan. Goldberg was part of a hip young cast -- and Ribisi's sister Marissa -- in the cult classic Dazed and Confused. He played Mike, the one who decided it was time to prove himself by picking a fight with the character played by Nicky Katt.
Even a few years prior to Saving Private Ryan, Goldberg found himself in the center of a cultural phenomenon. He played Eddie, Chandler's new roommate on a few episodes of Friends.
Goldberg later made it onto episodes of ER and Entourage, plus an appearance in David Fincher's Zodiac. He has kept busy overall and most recently was seen in the television series Taken.Jeremy DaviesOut of the gate, Jeremy Davies is not to be confused with Henry Thomas of E.T. fame, who happened to resurface in the mainstream a year prior in the film Suicide Kings.
Davies played Corporal Upham in Saving Private Ryan, the soldier who is drafted into the unit central to the story. Attempting to fit in with this tight knit group is a pain for Upham, but he is able to avenge Mellish's death (though Upham was the same person who argued to let the Nazi go free earlier in the film so...).
Davies was in Twister in 1997 and was the star of David O. Russell's first feature film, Spanking the Monkey.
Later, he was excellent as Doctor Faraday in Lost and as Dickie Bennett in Justified. He was most recently in the Twin Peaks revival and American Gods.Barry PepperBarry Pepper played Private Jackson, the sniper of the unit who saves the unit's asses on multiple occasions until he ultimately meets his match during the final battle.
Pepper was on the rise in 1998, also part of the massive cast of Enemy of the State (Will Smith, Gene Hackman, Jon Voight, Jack Black, Regina King, Scott Caan, and Jason Lee, to name a few).
If you're really on the spot, you'll remember Pepper from the Titanic mini-series, which aired in 1996.
Later, he starred in The Green Mile and in 61*, where he starred as Roger Maris. Whether big parts or small, Pepper has shown a knack to stand out in most projects he does. (You might want to avoid Battlefield Earth ).
Pepper was most recently seen in the Maze Runner films.
Watching Saving Private Ryan here twenty years later, the film is still gripping, captivating, and well-acted (though I could still do with the story being book-ended with a present-day narrative. But, after all, it was all the rage in the late 1990's).
And for those positive reasons above -- plus many more -- I can see why it took home the number one spot in the summer of 1998.
photo credit: flickr.com jason-haskins.com

Summer movies of 1998: The Final 4

 
Now a few weeks in, the "Summer Movies of 1998" tournament has been pared down to the final four, with a couple of surprises tossed in.Box office totals usually tell the greatest story about the overall success of a film, at least to studios, producers, and financiers. Audiences might vote with their pocket books upon a film's initial release, but how do these films hold up over time? The summer movies of 1998 tournament -- that many have voted on over the past few weeks -- tells a story of a movie that dominated the box office 20 years ago. And three others that did decent, but have advanced to the final four.
Gone are such films like Armageddon, The Truman Show, Almost Heroes, Baseketball, Snake Eyes, and Air Bud.
Two of the better soundtracks from films from the summer of '98 have punched their ticket while one, Bulworth, bowed out in the final eight.
One wonders if any of these 64 films released between the months of May and August of 1998 would have garnered a "Most popular film" nod from the Academy (at least that's what I think the newest category is called. Don't fact check me.)
Some movies did in fact get nominated in other categories. Titles like Saving Private Ryan, Armageddon, The Truman Show, The Mask of Zorro, and Out of Sight were among the films nominated (with even a few winners).
Four titles. Four films with slightly different audiences. All vying for the made-up title and tournament I created a few weeks ago. They will forever live on in... well, on this blog post and on the internet.
Who needs an Academy Award when you can have all of this?Tale of the tape: He Got Game vs Can't Hardly WaitMay (#7 He Got Game) vs. June (#8 Can't Hardly Wait)
"Basketball is like poetry in motion, cross the guy to the left, take him back to the right, he's fallin' back, then just J right in his face. Then you look at him and say, 'What'?"- Jesus Shuttlesworth (Ray Allen).
He Got Game, written and directed by Spike Lee, took down titles like Godzilla and Bulworth to make it this far. The film focuses on Jesus Shuttlesworth (Ray Allen) and his relationship with his father Jake (Denzel Washington), who happens to be in prison. Jesus is an up-and-coming basketball star who has multiple choices when it comes to college, each with their own consequences and rewards.
The film grossed $21,554,585 in the United States and also stars Milla Jovavich and Rosario Dawson.

"Nobody drink the beer, the beer has gone bad."- William (Charlie Korsmo)
Can't Hardly Wait, written and directed by Deborah Kaplan and Harry Elfont, is the "teenage comedy that could", at least as far as this tournament goes.
Jennifer Love Hewitt stars as Amanda Beckett, the most popular girl in school who also happens to be newly single. The action mostly takes place at a high school graduation party, where Ethan Embry's Preston attempts to deliver into Amanda's hands a letter stating his love. Multiple stories for multiple characters play out throughout the film, with appearances from Jenna Elfman, Barry Manilow's Mandy (about a dog?), and a band called Loveburger that doesn't get a chance to play.
The USA box office for Can't Hardly Wait was $25,339,117 and also stars Seth Green, Jerry O'Connell, and Lauren Ambrose.Tale of the tape: Saving Private Ryan vs Dead Man on CampusJuly (#1 Saving Private Ryan) vs August (#9 Dead Man on Campus)
"He better be worth it. He better go home and cure a disease, or invent a longer lasting light bulb."- Captain Miller (Tom Hanks)
Written by Robert Rodat and directed by Steven Spielberg, Saving Private Ryan was the highest-grossing film in 1998 (the top three for the year -- also Armageddon and There's Something About Mary -- all were released in July).
Saving Private Ryan is set in World War 2 where, after the invasion of Normandy, a unit led by Hanks is directed to find a Private James Ryan (Matt Damon), whose brothers were all killed on D-Day. The film went on to gross $216,540,909 in the United States and also starred Vin Diesel, Edward Burns, and Jeremy Davies, among others.
"You can't be suicidal if you're singing showtunes."- Cooper (Mark-Paul Gosselaar)
Dead Man on Campus was supposed to be Gosselaar's big step away from the image of Zach Morris (he even darkened his hair). Unfortunately, things didn't quite turn out that way and film ended with a gross of $15,062,898.
In a weak August region that was any film's game, this classic film bested titles like Blade and The Slums of Beverly Hills to make it to the final four. The film tells the story Cooper and Josh (Tom Everett Scott) who decide the only way they are going to pass college is by getting a roommate to commit suicide. Hi jinx ensue, Jason Segal shows up (who, by the way, also appears in Can't Hardly Wait) and we get one of the greatest scenes of all time with Cliff (played by Lochlyn Munro): 

The film was directed by Alan Cohn and has four credited writers. Given story credit are Anthony Adams and Adam Larson Broder. Screenwriter credits go to Michael Traeger and Mike White. White wrote such classics as Good Girl, Orange County, School of Rocks, and The Emoji Movie.
Voting is now open on Facebook (a new twist) and Twitter. Votes will be combined and the finals will take place over the weekend.
Remember, vote wisely. This is chess it ain't checkers...What? It's neither? Fine. Enjoy it no matter the case.
All box office numbers were gleaned from the films separate pages on IMDBPhoto credit: en.wikipedia.orgHe Got Game is a production of Touchstone and 40 Acres & A Mule FilmworksDead Man on Campus is a film by Paramount and MTV FilmsVisit jason-haskins.com to stay up-to-date with Jason's projects.

Summer movies of 1998: Powered by incredible soundtracks

A great soundtrack can take a movie to new heights or standalone as something better than the film itself. The summer of 1998 had both.Believe it or not, it took Aerosmith 25 years to land their first (and only) number-one hit. "I Don't Want to Miss a Thing" -- buoyed by its association with the summer movie Armageddon -- dominated the airwaves (radio and MTV's) from July on, even receiving an Oscar nod for best original song.

And it wasn't even written by anyone in the band. (Nod to Diane Warren, writer of some of the greatest pop songs of all time.)

Movie soundtracks, once upon a time, used to go hand-in-hand with the film release itself. Kenny Loggins owned the 1980's because of this very reason. Films -- outside the given norm of musicals -- were often tied with a song (or songs) that made it worth remembering.

The same can be said for Armageddon, Aerosmith, and the summer of 1998.

Along with a new version "Leaving on a Jet Plane" sung by Chantal Kreviazuk, a little Bob Seger, some Patty Smyth, and two other Aerosmith songs, fans were treated to this scene (underscored by "I Don't Want to Miss a Thing").


1998 am I right?

Godzilla was a film released in that summer that also delivered on its soundtrack. Already discussed was the infamous P. Diddy/Jimmy Page collaboration. This song, however, barely scratches the surface of artists who contributed to this album. Names like Rage Against the Machine, The Wallflowers, Green Day, Ben Folds Five, and the Foo Fighters were laced throughout the liner notes.

And every single song included Godzilla's roar in the background.

It wouldn't be far-fetched to believe that and Green Day did indeed add this very effect to its song "Brain Stew".

Another soundtrack that brought the firepower was the from the film Can't Hardly Wait. Artists like Blink 182, Run DMC, Missy Elliott, Busta Rhymes, and Third Eye Blind were names highlighting this soundtrack.

And unlike Godzilla, the Can't Hardly Wait soundtrack delivered.

Plus, the film was blessed with the presence of a Guns N' Roses song:


The real hits of that summer, though, belonged to Public Enemy and Pras (featuring Mya and ODB).
Public Enemy delivered with the song "He Got Game" from the movie of the same name. And Pras gave us "Ghetto Superstar" from the movie Bulworth. Both songs were some of the best hip-hop to come out that year and were part of excellent movies.
Other notable soundtracks from the summer of '98: Mulan gave us "True to Your Heart (Mulan)", a collaboration between Stevie Wonder and -- yep, you guessed it -- 98 Degrees. And The Last Days of Disco took us back the sounds of the 1970's.Tournament down to 16 filmsThe votes are in for the round of 32. Only two number-one seeds remain (Deep Impact, Saving Private Ryan) while your votes have sent a double-digit seed in each region through to the round of 16.
Voting continues on Twitter through the weekend so go vote to ensure your favorite film from the summer of 1998 advances.
May region:1) Deep Impact5) Bulworth11) Almost Heroes7) He Got GameJune region:8) Can't Hardly Wait4) X-Files14) Buffalo '662) The Truman ShowJuly region:1) Saving Private Ryan13) BASEketball6) There's Something About Mary2) ArmageddonAugust region:9) Dead Man on Campus5) How Stella Got Her Groove Back14) Slums of Beverly Hills7) 54Will some of the above-mentioned soundtracks help buoy their films forward? Or will double-digit seeds continue to prevail? Stay tuned.
A few of my favorite soundtracks: The Graduate, Harold and Maude, Boogie Nights, Good Will Hunting, and The Social Network. (These are but a handful. I'd wager 20% of my music collection consists of movie soundtracks.)
Be sure to follow Jason on Twitter to stay up-to-date for the latest on this tournament, plus thoughts on sports, pop culture and more: @jasonrh_78
photo credit: publicdomainpictures.net

Summer movies of 1998: The glory of Jay Mohr

The great "Summer Movies of 1998" tournament marches on, with voting going on for the round of 32 to see what films advance to the round of 16.Twenty years ago, in the summer of 1998, the box office was led by such films as Hope Floats, Bulworth, Blade, and Armageddon. Star attractions like Sandra Bullock, Warren Beatty, Wesley Snipes, and Bruce Willis headlined these movies to much fanfare.
There is one man out there who some may argue was not at the same level as the aforementioned. A man who took part in two movies that glorious summer (and four altogether in 1998).
You might remember Or you might remember Mohr from his turn as Bob Sugar in the film Jerry Maguire. Here, Mohr played an agent tasked with the responsibility of firing Jerry Maguire (Tom Cruise) and later stole prized draft prospect Frank Cushman (Jerry O'Connell) right out from under Maguire's nose.
It's even possible you might remember Mohr from his frequent appearances on the Jim Rome show.
No matter the case that points you to a memory of Mohr, the man had a chance to reign supreme in the 1998. He starred in two movies released that summer -- Small Soldiers and Jane Austen's Mafia! -- plus one just prior to the summer months, April's Paulie and one released in February, Playing by Heart.

Combined gross total at the box office for these films: Roughly 105 million (Nearly 54.7 of which belonged to Small Soldiers).



Now, Mohr was not the top-billed in all of these movies. His roles ranged from the lead to supporting cast to doing the voice of. Many of the films were ensemble filled, acting alongside names like Christina Applegate, Denis Leary, Lloyd Bridges and Angelina Jolie.
Mohr had quite a run that year and has built quite a steady career for himself. He's had his own television shows (Gary Unmarried) while appearing on others (The Ghost Whisperer, Scrubs). Mohr has also been in both smaller films (Go, 200 Cigarettes) and larger box office fare (Pay it Forward, Hereafter).
It was the year of 1998, however, in which Mohr was ever-present in the box office.Playing by HeartEnsemble films with multiple characters and story arcs can sometimes relate to box office gold and critical acclaim.
Films like Robert Altman's Nashville, Paul Thomas Anderson's Boogie Nights and Magnolia, and to some extent Garry Marshall's Valentine's Day all found some sort of success.
Others, like Duets and Playing by Heart , found neither.
Playing by Heart had the right pieces in place, at least as far as cast is considered. Jolie, Gena Rowlands, Jon Stewart, Sean Connery, Ryan Phillippe, Gillian Anderson, and Mohr were just a few among the many talented people involved in this film.
Released in February, the love stories in this filmed failed to garner a national audience, grossing only just short of four million (off a budget of 14 million). Mohr played a gay man dying of AIDS in the film and while his performance was one of the many fine performances in the film, not much can be said of the film itself.
Not to worry, though, as Mohr would return to the big screens in April as the voice of a talking parrot.PaulieThe numbers are not staggering for this April released movie starring Mohr as the voice of the titular lead of this film, a parrot named Paulie.
Paulie is a nice little family film in which Paulie recants his life and struggles to a Russian immigrant janitor. Sentimental -- with a few life lessons to boot -- this film hit just over 27 million dollars at the box office.

Small SoldiersThe first of two films released in July with Mohr's name on the cast list was Small Soldiers.
This film tells the tale of toys come to life, but not quite in the Toy Story way we've all come to enjoy over the years. These toys -- soldiers -- have been outfitted with microchips that we're designed with military implications in mind, not entertaining little kids.
Mohr plays Larry Benson, one of the two men who created these toys and later sets out to help undo the damage he caused.
Tommy Lee Jones, Kirsten Dunst, and Denis Leary are among the others who star in this film directed by Joe Dante.Jane Austen's Mafia!Long before the genre was deflated by such titles as Epic Movie, Meet the Spartans, and Disaster Movie, Mohr was starring in 1998's Mafia! (or the preferred Jane Austen's Mafia!).
Directed and co-written by one of the minds from the Airplane! movies (Jim Abrahams), Mafia! delves into the world of -- yep, you guessed it -- the mafia. Mohr plays the lead in this film that goes the route of The Godfather, in which a son must take over the reigns of a mafia kingdom from his dying father.
While perhaps not on par with the level of comedy seen in Airplane! and later Scary Movie, the film still delivers a few laughs. A notable line is delivered by Mohr's character, Anthony Cortino, "You lost a lot of blood but we found most of it."
Both Small Soldiers and Mafia! won their first round matchups in the "Summer Movies of 1998" tournament. The July region is a stacked one, so both films face heady opponents (Saving Private Ryan and There's Something About Mary, respectively). 
Wouldn't it be nice, however, if an "all Jay Mohr" final took place? Your votes matter so make sure to head over to the Twitter account Sports 'N' Stuff to vote now.
And we'll see you at the movies. Or on the streets. Or an office building. Or over the internet. Wherever it is, just watch a film or two. Okay?
photo credit: commons.wikimedia.orgBe sure to follow the "Summer of Movies 1998" tournament and more of Jason's thoughts on sports, wrestling, pop culture and more over @jasonrh_78

Summer movies of 1998: A nod to the VHS cassette

The "Summer Movies of 1998" bracket marches on, taking only a brief pit stop to harken back to the days of the VHS cassette.One would be remiss to hold a tournament of the great summer movies from 1998 and not mention the glory that was the VHS tape.
Various instances throughout my youth had me attached to certain cassettes owned by my family. Star Wars was likely the most played -- and easily memorized -- among the bunch, followed by such hits as Airplane! and, later, the first Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles movie. (Of which I watched recently, surprised to learn I still knew much of the dialogue).
Throw in a tapes that included the Gobots and various other cartoons along side recorded NCAA national title games and my youth was set.
Later on, in the summer of 1998 and 1999 and my sports 'career' finished, a love for movies re-entered my life. I spent hours with the VCR I had purchased with my first tax return a few years prior. A VCR that remains in my possession to this day.

Multiple trips a week were made to the supermarket video rental department, renting classics like Snake Eyes, The Big Lebowski, Can't Hardly Wait, and, for some reasons only my 18-year old mind can explain, 1995's National Lampoon's Senior Trip. (Starring, believe it or not, the great Jeremy Renner.)
The VHS tape was made to last, unless of course the VCR decided to make a mess of things upon the act of kindly rewinding. For the what seemed like the longest time (which was probably only five years), weekend nights were spent perusing the aisles of video rental stores (later, Blockbuster) looking for the next great title, the next great scare, or even watching a classic for the tenth time.
DVD and Blu-Ray certainly have their qualities, but there's nothing like popping in old tape, reading the FBI warning and hoping the tracking will correct itself as you settle in for two hours of entertainment, popcorn at the ready.June region, round 1 resultsChristina Ricci and The Opposite of Sex may have lost their first round matchup in the May region to Warren Beatty's Bulworth, but she rebounded nicely in the June region.
Ricci and writer, director, and star of Buffalo '66 Vincent Gallo rallied as the 14th-seed to move onto the round of 32, upsetting the third-seed A Perfect Murder.
Buffalo '66, also starring Anjelica Huston, Ben Gazzara, Rosanna Arquette and Mikey Rourke, will face Mulan in the round of 32.
A look at the pairings for the next round.1) Dr. Dolittle8) Can't Hardly Wait5) Six Days/Seven Nights4) The X-Files6) Mulan14) Buffalo '667) Out of Sight2) The Truman ShowJuly region, round 1 resultsUpsets continued to hold strong in the July region, with both BASEketball and Jane Austen's Mafia! both succeeding in being voted in against higher grossing box office movies.
July might also be dubbed the "Jay Mohr" region, thanks to both of his movies (Small Soldiers and Mafia! advancing to the next round. Will fans keep the momentum going and give us an all Jay Mohr regional final?
Round of 32 matchups for the July region:1) Saving Private Ryan8) Small Soldiers5) The Mask of Zorro13) BASEketball6) There's Something About Mary14) Mafia!7) Ever After2) ArmageddonVoting for the August region is nearly complete, with voting for the next round beginning Monday July 30. Keep an eye on the following Twitter accounts to vote: Jason Haskins and Sports 'N' Stuff.
photo credit of VHS: commons.wikimedia.orgTo find out more about Jason, be sure to visit jason-haskins.com

Summer movies of 1998: Almost Heroes takes May by storm

Almost Heroes may have flopped upon its release, but it held strong as the underdog in round one of the "Summer Movies of 1998" bracket.Cult status for a film is often achieved years after its release and was, more often than not, not an immediate success at the box office. Notable films from 1998, like The Big Lebowski and Rushmore have their devout fans, propelling both films into something more than a cult following.
Is it possible Almost Heroes  has reached the point of beloved cult status? Likely not, though the film advanced to the round of 32 in the May region with a victory over 6th-seeded Quest for Camelot.
Twenty years have gone by since the release of the Christopher Guest directed Almost Heroes. The film stars Matthew Perry and Chris Farley and also was the last film starring Farley in a leading role. The comedic heavyweight passed away in 1997 at the age of 33.
For the uninitiated, Almost Heroes tells the story of two intrepid explorers, Edwards (Perry) and Hunt (Farley). Edwards and Hunt wish to be the first to reach the Pacific Northwest. Of course, they are in direct competition with a couple of explorers who happen to go by the names of Lewis and Clark.

Perry was in the early parts of a ten-season run playing Chandler Bing on Friends while Farley -- at the time of filming -- was fresh off of a successful run on Saturday Night Live.
Even with Guest's deft hand -- he was coming off the indie success of directing Waiting for Guffman -- and a couple of his normal "players" (Harry Shearer and Eugene Levy), Almost Heroes never found a market. The film made roughly 6.1 million dollars at the box office (off a budget of 30 million) and carries a Rotten Tomatoes score of 8% (audience score of 64%)
Still, looking back at the film now it's easy to recall a certain fondness of it. Farley is still beloved, especially among fans who grew up being entertained by him in the 90's.  And Guest -- mainly since appearing in This is Spinal Tap -- is still appreciated for roles I guess Road House love doesn't carry over.
Higher seeds prevailed in the other six matches, leaving us with the following matchups in the round of 32:1) Deep Impact9) Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas5) Bulworth4) Hope Floats11)Almost Heroes3) The Horse Whisperer7) He Got Game2) GodzillaNow, if were simply looking at soundtracks, Bulworth and He Got Game might have the edge. Perhaps that's how you've already voted. But always remember that Puff Daddy ne P. Diddy ne Puffy Combs ne Sean Combs ne Brother Love sang a song with Jimmy Page for the Godzilla soundtrack.

Voting continues There's still time to vote in the first round for the regions of June and July (August opens on 7/25).
Early indication has another film in which Farley made an appearance (Dirty Work) losing its first-round matchup. But again, there's still time if you'd like to see this Norm Macdonald classic move on.
And another movie along the lines of Almost Heroes, Jane Austen's Mafia!, is on track to pull off an upset of its own. By advancing, does Jay Mohr have what it takes to finally be called the king of 1998? (More on that at a later date)
Get over to Twitter -- at the Sports N' Stuff profile -- to vote. (And via the Twitter account below) Leave your thoughts. Retweet. Or if there's a film from that summer you'd like to me talk about, leave a comment. 
Have fun. And one remember: May your feet be swift, your bats be mighty and...oh, wait. Wrong year.
Thanks for stopping by.
photo courtesy of flickr.comStay up-to-date with the "Summer Movies of 1998" bracket, plus thoughts on the Red Sox, pop culture and more over on Twitter: @jasonrh_78

Movies of 1998: The ultimate summer movie bracket

Twenty years ago, the summer months at the cinema were spent watching Harry Stamper try to save the world and a group of soldiers saving a private in World War 2. Were these the best movies in the summer of 1998?The 1990's were an innovative decade when it came to the film industry. Advancements in technology helped bring to life such creations as Jurassic Park, the world of Pixar, and a little movie released in 1997 called Titanic.
1997 was a special year in movies, but the following year was no slouch itself.
Movies that gained cult status -- like The Big Lebowski and Rushmore -- were released that year, as was eventual Academy Award winner Shakespeare in Love.


The great Robin Williams gave us What Dreams May Come and Patch Adams. Adam Sandler released two of his better films, The Wedding Singer and Waterboy. And who can forget breakout star Chris Tucker being teamed with Jackie Chan for Rush Hour.
Let's not forget about movies starring Jerry Springer, Carrot Top, and the chart-topping singing group the Spice Girls.
Believe it or not, none of the aforementioned movies were released during the summer months of 1998. *(Author's note: Summer months for this piece are the months of May thru August.)
The box office was dominated by the likes of competing "end-of-the-world" movies Armageddon and Deep Impact plus a giant-sized failure in Godzilla.
These are only a small portion of what was released in that glorious year. So, naturally it got me thinking: Do these movies still hold up? And how much different do we feel about them now than we did twenty years ago? (Or saw them for the first time after their release).
It being smack dab in the middle of summer, I decided we needed a little fun to break up the bleak news we hear on a daily basis. So I created a bracket.
Four brackets. 64 movies. 1 winner to rule them all. And it's up to you to help decide the winner. Voting will take place over the next few weeks over on the following Twitter accounts:

Jason HaskinsSports 'N' Stuff
Seeding was based off of the overall USA box office of 1998, with the regions categorized by month released, with 16 movies in each region. Here's a look at the number one seeds and films in each region.
The May RegionNumber one seed in this region belongs to Deep Impact.
Starring Morgan Freeman and Frodo himself, Elijah Wood, Deep Impact ultimately lost the box office showdown of apocalyptic events to Armageddon. Released a few months prior, Deep Impact is often seen as the more critically-acclaimed of the two films. 
Star power in this region is fruitful, with names like Matthew Broderick, Warren Beatty, Patrick Swayze, Sandra Bullock, and Denzel Washington among the performers with May 1998 releases. 
A look at the bracket:1) Deep Impact16) Dancer, TX Pop. 818) Black Dog9) Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas5) Bulworth12) The Opposite of Sex4) Hope Floats13) Woo6) Quest for Camelot11) Almost Heroes3) Horse Whisperer14) The Last Days of Disco7) He Got Game10) I Got the Hook-up2) Godzilla15) WildeThe June RegionBelieve it or not, Dr. Dolittle starring Eddie Murphy locks down the number one seed for this region.
Murphy was still a few years away from losing his touch at the box office and this kid-friendly film helped drive the numbers at the box office.
This region also delivered to audiences The Truman Show, the first look at Jim Carrey stepping into a dramatic role. And we also were treated to Can't Hardly Wait, a film that didn't quite live dominate the box office, but later became a teen cult classic.
Star power in this region has Harrison Ford, Jennifer Lopez, Jennifer Love Hewitt, and the great Norm MacDonald.
The matchups:1) Dr. Dolittle16) Dream for an Insomniac8) Can't Hardly Wait9) Dirty Work5) Six Days/Seven Nights12) High Art4) X-Files13) Cousin Bette6) Mulan11) The Land Girls3) A Perfect Murder14) Buffalo '667) Out of Sight10) Smoke Signals2) The Truman Show15) Mr. JealousyThe July RegionIt's quite possible July might be the toughest region to vote on.
Not only are top box office earners like Saving Private Ryan and Armageddon in this region, we also see releases like Lethal Weapon 4, The Mask of Zorro, and the highly, highly underrated BASEketball.
Oh, and a little movie that took many by surprise: There's Something About Mary
Even outside of these films, star power litters this bracket. Drew Barrymore, Samuel L. Jackson, Katie Holmes, and the arrival of Darren Aronofsky (Pi) are among the names with films released in July of 1998.
Who will emerge victorious?1) Saving Private Ryan16) The Thief8) Small Soldiers9) The Negotiator5) The Mask of Zorro12) Disturbing Behavior4) Lethal Weapon 413) BASEketball6) There's Something About Mary11) Pi3) Parent Trap14) Mafia!7) Ever After10) Madeline2) Armageddon15) Billy's Hollywood Screen KissThe August RegionStrong as the film releases in July stand, the month of August is conversely opposite. August -- especially the later part of the month -- used to be a dumping ground for movies that studios may have already written off or figured might not find an audience. Families go outside more, school is on the horizon, and time spent inside a movie theater is on the back burner.
That being said, there are still solid movies from this month, including a handful of independent films.
The number one seed belongs to Blade. And we also got to see the movie that kicked the Marvel Universe into gear: The Avengers. Wait? What? I was just handed a news item across my desk. The Avengers from 1998 stars Sean Connery and has nothing to do with the current MCU.
Nicholas Cage, Jamie Lee Curtis, Angela Bassett, a golden retriever, and the greatest actor in the land Lochlyn Munro all appeared in films released in August of 1998.
See the rankings:1) Blade16) Next Stop Wonderland8) Dance with Me9) Dead Man on Campus5) How Stella Got her Groove Back12) Wrongfully Accused4) Mysteries of Egypt13) Return to Paradise6) The Avengers11) Air Bud: Golden Retriever3) Halloween H20: 20 Years Later14) Slums of Beverly Hills7) 5410) Why do Fools Fall in Love?2) Snake Eyes15) Your Friends and NeighborsVoting will continue over the next few weeks until we have the ultimate summer movie of 1998. Be sure to head over to IMDB if you need to look up a movie.
And may the odds be forever in...well, this doesn't apply here. But have fun. Share with your friends. And stay tuned.
picture credit: maxipixel.netKeep up to date with this bracket and other thoughts on sports, movies, pop culture and more by following Jason on Twitter: @jasonrh_78

World Cup 2018: France, Croatia set to meet in finals

A month-long march towards soccer glory (or futbol, for those so inclined) culminates on Sunday when France will take on Croatia for the crown.Middle of the week World Cup soccer matches can really be a hazard for those of us following along from the office. There you are, doing your work on one screen while watching the action on your other screen. Or you might be listening along while at your desk, the soothing cadence of the British announcer keeping you apprised of the action.
Then, all of five minutes into the match, England's Kieran Trippier scores off of a free kick, giving The Three Lions an early 1-0. You let out scream of joy, momentarily forgetting you're surrounded by mates who don't necessarily appreciate your love of soccer. Or like being spooked by loud noises for that matter.
Easily substitute your favorite team and this may have played out over the last month, in situations both good and bad.
Ultimately, the above moment was the highlight of the match for England. Croatia scored their first goal in the 68th-minute on a lovely shot by Ivan Perisic.. It would take extra time and a goal by Mario Mandzukic (on a pass from Perisic) in the 109th-minute to send Croatia to their first-ever cup final by way of a 2-1 victory of England.

MANDZUKIC GIVES CROATIA THE LEAD! pic.twitter.com/mz8WLlqiQm— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) July 11, 2018

England had multiple chances in the first half. Along with Trippier's first international goal, they narrowly missed on multiple other attempts or were simply a hare late getting to a well-placed ball.
Once Croatia settled in, they possessed the ball with flair. If not for some spirited play from England keeper Jordan Pickford, Croatia might have not even needed extra time to pick up the victory. Pickford had five saves as Croatia attempted 22 shots (7 on goal).
By contrast, England attempted 11 shots but only one was on goal.
England, whose young team made a much deeper run than expected, has a bright future to look forward to. Disappointed as they might be, they showed a lot and still have a consolation game to look forward to.
Croatia, meanwhile, will use their steady resolve to hopefully thwart an attacking French team in Sunday's final.France handles BelgiumOn Tuesday, France clinched their berth in the final with a 1-0 victory over Belgium.
A scoreless first half -- in which both teams missed opportunities -- gave way to the only score of the game in the 51st minute.
France's Samuel Umtiti header off of a corner kick from Antoine Griezmann found the back of the net, providing the only score of the game.
Much of the action belonged to the French as they took 19 shots compared to Belgium's 9.
Belgium's Kevin De Bruyne and late sub Dries Mertens had a couple of late runs. But even with six minutes of stoppage time, France slowed the pace enough (and nearly added a second goal) in holding on for the victory.
France is now the last team standing between Croatia and what would be a remarkable run. Croatia has already played in two games that have gone to penalty kicks in the knockout stages. A third was narrowly avoided today.
Fresher legs from France might prevail on Sunday, but if soccer fans have learned, it's not a good idea to count this team from Croatia out. With Luka Modric controlling the midfield, anything is possible.
59 matches have been played. 30 teams have been eliminated from playing for the right to hoist the cup. One team will stand tall on Sunday. A powerhouse versus an upstart. Star players versus star players. A soccer ball to unite them all.
Game on.
Consolation game: Belgium vs England 7/14 @ 8 am MT World Cup Final: France vs Croatia 7/15 @ 9 am MT
photo credit: en.wikipedia.org
To keep up with all the World Cup action, sports, movies, pop culture and more, be sure to follow Jason on Twitter: @jasonrh_78