RIP: Andy Rooney

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Andy Rooney, the long time [1978 – 2011] closing commentator for CBS’ 60 Minutes, died yesterday after complications following an undisclosed minor surgery.  Mr. Rooney was 92.

Although best known for his “A Few Minutes with Andy Rooney” segment on 60 Minutes, Mr. Rooney actually started working in television right after World War II.  Mr. Rooney worked as a writer for Arthur Godfrey, Garry Moore, Victor Borge, and others.   Yet it was Mr. Rooney’s commentaries on 60 Minutes that made him a household name.  We came to know his likes likes [football, books, shined shoes, President Dwight D. Eisenhower, Christmas, etc.] and dislikes [ads in magazines, roadmaps that you can’t fold back, people who ask for autographs, etc.].  Mr. Rooney said what we thought and came to feel like a friend of the family.

Our thoughts and prayers go out to Mr. Rooney’s family, friends and fans.

Ryan Cody & a Lord of Flatbush

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Ryan Cody is back with Sly from Lords of Flatbush.

Ryan is running an unbelievable sale where you get a free sketch with every purchase. That’s right. Buy Volume 1 of his sketchbook for five bucks and get a free sketch. Same if you buy Volume 2 or the Icarus Convention Issue.

I jumped on board for a sketchbook [accidentally ordered Volume 1 which I already had] and the Icarus convention issue [the sketch that came with it will be posted in the coming weeks]. Now I’m going back for Volume 2 and another Stallone sketch. Until then check out Ryan’s blog and his DA site.

Thanks to Ryan! – Craig

Fireworks Before & After UFC 137

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UFC 137 was last night and it turned out to be an interesting night of fights.  Let’s go right to my picks…

  • Mirko Cro Cop vs. Roy Nelson –
    Prediction: Nelson wins by TKO.
    Result: Nelson won by TKO in round 3 making me 1-0 for the night.
  • Cheick Kongo vs. Matt Mitrione
    Prediction: Mitrione wins by TKO.
    Result: Kongo won by unanimous decision making me 1-1 for the night.
  • BJ Penn vs. Nick Diaz
    Prediction: Diaz with an upset win.
    Result: Diaz won with a unanimous decision making me 2-1 for the night.

Final thoughts:

  • Brandon Vera showed a lot of heart in earning a close but unanimous decision [29-28 on all 3 judge’s cards] over Elliott Marshall.  What’s even more impressive is Vera did it with a broken arm.  For the record, I’m not a huge Vera fan.
  • Bart Palaszewski looked impressive in his KO victory over  Tyson Griffin.
  • Donald Cerrone was even more impressive in his submission victory over the very tough Dennis Siver.  When is Cerrone going to get a title shot?
  • A slimmed down Roy Nelson TKO’d  Mirko “Cro Cop” Filipovic right into retirement.  Does anyone really think we’ve seen the last of Cro Cop?  Do we now call him Roy Not As Big Country Nelson ?
  • Cheick Kongo handled Matt Mitrione and that really surprised me.  I wonder why Meathead didn’t go after Kongo?  Too much respect?  Was he worried that Kongo would Pat Barry him?
  • Nick Diaz whooped B.J. Penn right into retirement.  [Does anyone really think we’ve seen the last of The Prodigy?]  Diaz now has a title shot against GSP since Carlos Condit agreed to step aside.

    After his win last night, Diaz took the mic and called out GSP, saying GSP faked the injury that prevented him from fighting on the same card against Carlos Condit.  Diaz had been dogging GSP for some time now and apparently the strategy worked.  GSP asked Dana White for the chance to fight Diaz.  It looks like the fight will happen Super Bowl weekend.

    Love him or hate him, everyone has an opinion of Nick Diaz.  Perhaps Dana White said it best, “People love real fighters and this kid is a real fighter.”

 

UFC Predictions

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UFC 137 is tonight.  Let’s go right to my picks…

  • Mirko Cro Cop vs. Roy Nelson – Nelson wins by TKO.
  • Cheick Kongo vs. Matt Mitrione – Mitrione wins by TKO.
  • BJ Penn vs. Nick Diaz – The judges love Penn so I hope it doesn’t go to a decision.  Diaz with an upset win.

 

The Punisher in Name Only

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Deadline Hollywood announced today that FOX has a commitment for a tv series based on the popular Marvel comic book character The Punisher.   According to the article…

  • The Punisher is described as an hour-long procedural with a Marvel signature and a new take on one of the comic book giant’s iconic characters, Frank Castle, a rising star detective with the New York Police Department who moonlights as the vigilante Punisher, seeking justice for those the system has failed.

Let me break it to you gently, that ain’t The Punisher.  A “rising star detective” who moonlights as The Punisher?  Sheesh.   Why in the world are they calling the series The Punisher?  Why take one of comics’ most “iconic characters” and change what made him iconic?

The [real] Punisher drawing by Mike Zeck.