VOL. 2 - ISSUE 15
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Leeds University advertises for lap dance research officer BLITZ News Shorts 3 Hollywood Profile / Movie Reviews 4 Blitz Music: Our Lady Peace 5 Mavs and Stars Previews 6 UNT / SMU / TCU Previews 7 Dallas Cowboys Week 12 Preview 8 SEC Championship Preview 9 COVER STORY: Big XII Championship Preview 10 BLITZ BABE: Lindsey 12 Beware: ‘Manus-Surrenderus’ 13 Restaurant Review: Patrizio 14 Blitz Toys 15 The Fan Top 20 with Sybil 16 Crossword / Jokes / Horrorscopes 17 Last Call: December is Here Again 18 PUBLISHER / EDITOR Kelly G. Reed CREATIVE DIRECTOR / WEBSITE / GRAPHIC DESIGN Damien William Mayfield COVER: Photographer: Manny Flores Graphic Designer: Damien Mayfield CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS Manny Flores, Joe Lorenzini, Joanne Rizos and The Bum PHOTOGRAPHERS Ronnie Baker, Darryl Briggs, Steven Hendrix, Matt Pearce, Jason Ryan CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Joe Avezzano, Geoff Case, Vivian Fullerlove, Robin George, Dennis Hambright, Andrew J. Hewett, Frank LaCosta, Jayson Larson, Jason Miller, Pat Moran, Richard S. Pollak, Mike Precker, Craig Smith, Eddie Stephens, Joe Stumpo, Sybil Summers, The Bum and Jesse Whitman ADVERTISING SALES MANAGER Kelly G. Reed SALES REPRESENTATIVES Johnny Horton, Patrick Marshall CONTACT US MAIN NUMBER 214-529-7370 FAX NUMBER 972-960-8618 kreed@blitzweekly.com BLITZ Weekly P.O. Box 295293, Lewisville, TX 75029
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QUOTE OF THE WEEK “When you coach as long as I did, you can’t help but miss those Saturdays - dealing with the players, the game preparation, the challenges, the excitement.” -- Tom Osborne
The advertised position, in the School of Sociology and Social Policy, is for: “Research Officer - The rise and regulation of lap-dancing and the place of sexual labor and consumption in the night time economy.” The advertisement further stipulates that “prior experience of conducting research in the female sex industry” is essential. Having got the post, the successful applicant would work with the school’s team on a research project to examine the “rise, tolerance and integration of sexual consumption and sexual labor displayed through the erotic dance industry” and the commercialization of female sexuality and the female body. It hopes to determine where dancers are recruited from and what their working conditions are like, as well as examining how erotic dancing has become a “mainstream” entertainment, available on the high street of most British cities. The researchers will interview 300 erotic dancers in two northern English towns, as well as other industry figures including managers and regulators. Police seek bald man who swiped family’s turkey Jackson police are working to crack a case of “fowl” play. They’re searching for a man who broke into an apartment at about 11 p.m. Tuesday and stole a family’s holiday turkey. Police Lt. Christopher Simpson told the Jackson Citizen Patriot the suspect ran into the kitchen and stole the turkey out of the freezer. He said the 6-foot, 300-pound, bald man “fled with turkey in hand.” Police said a woman and two children were home at the time, but no one was injured. The woman told authorities she knew the man.
Dog with name tag ‘works’ drive-through window Customers at one Gulf coast gas station might be surprised at who responds to the counter when they pull up to the drivethrough window: the store owner’s dog. Dozens of times each day, Cody the chocolate Labradaor retriever will pop up on two paws behind the counter at the BP gas station and convenience store in Clearwater. He even has a BP logo shirt and a name tag. Customers grin and kids squeal with joy in response. Store owner Karim Mansour said he started bringing Cody to work five months ago for company on the early morning shift. The dog quickly became a celebrity among store regulars. Mansour said Cody helps customers by calming those who come in sad or angry.
Andrew J. Hewett
www.chewednews.com
CRIME STINKS China’s Xinhua news agency reported early in 2006 that the police department in Nanjing had gone to a new level in crime detection by building a data base of over 500 smells from both criminals and crime scenes. Adding this technique, police say they soon caught and arrested 23 criminals who would probably have gone free otherwise. SIMPLE: HE SHOULD’VE BOUGHT EACH ONE A CHILD’S TICKET Returning from Australia to the U.S., November 22, 2009, Michael Plank, 40, was arrested and his money belt removed by authorities. Reason was, LAX Customs officials were curious why Plank’s waist and middle-section wiggled when he walked, while squirming in many directions, all at once. Underneath his shirt, restrained by this belt, were 2 geckos, 11 skinks and 2 monitor lizards, for a total of 15 squirmy reptiles. APPARENTLY, THEY WERE NOT ALL WEARING SEATBELTS? News services from McAllen, Texas, November 26, 2009, reported Patriccio Rebollar had crashed his pickup truck at the bottom of a 45-foot gravel pit. The accident occurred while police chased him, because his 17 passengers were all illegal Mexican immigrants. (S-EV-E-N-T-E-E-N passengers = 1 pickup truck!)
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HOLLYWOOD PROFILE BLITZREVIEWS with Robin Williams By: Joe Stumpo - www.darthstumpo.com
Wa s t i n g o u r m o n ey s o yo u d o n ’t h a ve t o !
Vivian Fullerlove
“Entertainment’s Real Critic”
He’s come a long way since his Mork & Mindy days. Robin Williams is truly one of the most frantic and funny men on the planet. Doing well, post heart surgery, Williams is back on the road doing his stand up comedy act and promoting his new comedy Old Dogs which co-stars long-time friends John Travolta and his wife Kelly Preston. In the film, Williams plays a successful businessman whose personal and professional life is altered when an old flame returns with twins in tow. Suddenly finding himself in their charge, he enlists the help of his friend and colleague, played by John Travolta, to help co-parent! We caught up with Williams to talk about the movie and finally getting the opportunity to work with JT. Tell us a little about the movie. It is basically a story of two gentlemen, who are, let’s say, past their forties, and running a sports marketing firm. One of them is given the great gift of realizing he is the father of two children, seven year-old fraternal twins, and is forced to deal with it. At one point, he has to take care of them in the midst of his business.
A Christmas Carol : Unless you live in a cave or don’t celebrate Christmas, it’s a good bet you know Charles Dickens’ timeless story of millionaire Ebenezer Scrooge, who is visited by the ghost of his best friend, Jacob Marley, and three spirits on Christmas Eve. The Victorian story has been turned into a movie so many times that all there is really left to do differently with this latest three-dimensional experiment, featuring Jim Carrey in multiple roles, is for director Robert Zemeckis to go the animated route and make it much darker and more macabre than any of the previous reincarnations. That idea sits just fine with me. The whole point of Dickens’ classic is to scare the crap out of him in hopes he’d change his ways.
PICK OF THE WEEK
You and John Travolta have been friends for many years. What was it like getting to work with him? John is a kick. He’s not afraid to try stuff. A lot of this stuff has been really physical, and that’s been good, and he throws it back. If you throw it down, he will come and meet you right there in the same place which is great. His wife, Kelly Preston, plays your old flame and mother of your two kids in the film. What was that like? The bottom line is, Kelly’s hot! Hot and funny which for a comic is all we need--that and a pair of big shoes. You know, she kicks. She’s like John. She’s just fearless. Plus, I’ll just say, she’s cheaper than Prozac. What can audiences expect when they go see Old Dogs? Comedy. If you’re looking for drama you should have known by the title [this isn’t it]. It’s a comedy with pretty much everyone we could find in cameos. It’s like Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World! Who are some of the other faces that pop up unexpectedly in the film? Matt Dillon, Bernie Mac, Rita Wilson. We tried to get Reba McEntire, but she was busy on the road. I don’t know whose markers they called in. I don’t know if Walt [Disney Company] has pictures of them and a goat, but they’re there. Everyone came in and they were just really funny, which helps in a comedy. Old Dogs is truly a family affair for the Travoltas. Daughter Ella Blue plays one of the Williams’ character’s twins! The film is playing in theaters nationwide. The film is rated PG for some mild crude humor, so it’s safe for the whole family! I’d love to hear from you. Email me your favorite Robin Williams movie for a chance to win a pair of movie tickets to the Studio Movie Grill. For all of the week’s new film releases, check out my show Reel Critics on Time Warner Cable Video on Demand under the North Texas programming tab!
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The Departed: I had no problem seeing Damon’s character get what comes to him in the end--mob-style, that is. “Demon,” excuse me, Damon plays a recently graduated law enforcement officer who secretly works for Irish mobster Frank Costello (Jack Nicholson), who is trying to nab a mole (Leonardo DiCaprio) working in Frank’s crew. This isn’t director Martin Scorsese’s best, however. Like Joe Pesci’s crazed hitman character from Goodfellas (1990), Nicholson steals the show. The only reason Scorsese finally won the 2007 Best Director Oscar was because he had been passed over so many other times by the Motion Picture Academy for better movies he made where he should have won.
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Our Lady Peace Begin Again and Burn Burn Ever So Brightly Our Lady Peace returns in true form with their latest studio album Burn Burn. The Canadian foursome best known for their signature alt-rock classics such as “Naveed”, “Superman’s Dead” and “Clumsy,” have always been on the cutting edge of modern rock and continue to be. Selling over 5 mil-
lion albums to date worldwide, the band is stronger than ever with a new “do-it-yourself” attitude and no one to answer to but themselves and their fans. I had a chance to catch up with vocalist and co-founder Raine Maida before a show in Kansas City for a chat about all things Our Lady Peace, past and present. The band began working on Burn Burn, their seventh studio album, in February 2007, completing it in March 2009. Maida solely produced the album, which was released in North America in July 2009. The band had parted ways with its longtime major label partner and had complete control on this project. “We just went with our gut, because we didn’t have anyone telling us no,” says Maida. “We just love writing and playing these songs, so basically that’s what we went with. It felt like this handful of songs is where the band was at that moment. We really tried to record most of the record live off the floor and that gives it a little bit different energy than we’ve had on the last couple of records.” Burn Burn comes across as a very guitar-driven record. “Steve’s guitar playing on this record is phenomenal,” explains Maida. “All of the solos and most of the really out there guitar stuff is all live during the recording of the song.
There are guitar solos in lots of the songs and we really haven’t had that in a long time.” The first single, “All You Did Was Save My Life,” is a perfect opening to the album, making a sort of musical statement that says the band is back in the saddle. It’s also a sort of anthem for the band. “There are a lot of
parallels on this record. The title Burn Burn comes from a Jack Kerouac quote,” explains Maida. “It’s about rebirth. It’s about liberation. And it’s about floating above the status quo. I think ‘All You Did Was Save My Life,’ ‘Paper Moon’ and ‘The End is Where We Begin’ are all about that; about us getting ownership of our masters back, making a record on our own terms and really feeling like we are taking control of our life again as a band. It’s an amazing place to be. ” Another stand out track on the record is the hauntingly atmospheric and epic last song “Paper Moon.” “We play it in the set every night. It’s just amazing how it connects live with people,” says Maida. “When you have a song that people may not know from the record or have never heard and it connects, it’s such a pleasure to play.” Speaking of connecting with the audience, many times
Jason Miller jsnmiller@mac.com
the crowd will take over singing familiar favorites at the live shows. “It’s humbling; I mean, last night I don’t know if I sang a word to ‘4 a.m.’,” explains Maida. “I just let the audience sing it all. It’s one of those things-the connection we have with our fans--and I never take it for granted.” I took the opportunity to ask Raine what he’s been listening to lately. He responds, “Manchester Orchestra, Bonnie Prince Billie, and I really dig the latest Jay-Z record-- I think that stuff is amazing.” I also asked if he had a guilty pleasure for any 80’s Hair Metal bands. “There was a four month period where I had that Def Leppard record Pyromania, I think it was my cousin I worked with at the time who left the tape in our truck and I listened to that
for a little while. There was something really cool about it. The songs were so well crafted, it was produced so well, and the way Mutt Lange does records I knew it was good.” Our Lady Peace continues to tour in support of Burn Burn and currently have a new single out “The End is Where We Begin.” Maida also mentions that new material is already in the works. “We are talking about the next record already and the new stuff is going to be full on guns blazing.” He adds the band is in a very good spot mentally and physically: “Just the four of us on stage being able to really take ownership of the songs and enjoy them. It feels very powerful to us. I don’t think the band has ever been better live, not even close. “ www.ourladypeace.net
MUSIC: Our Lady Peace 1. All You Did Was Save My Life
Our Lady Peace – Burn Burn
2. Dreamland
Our Lady Peace – Burn Burn
3. Monkey Brains
Our Lady Peace – Burn Burn
4. The End is Where We Begin
Our Lady Peace – Burn Burn
5. Escape Artist
Our Lady Peace – Burn Burn
6. Refuge
Our Lady Peace – Burn Burn
7. Never Get Over You
Our Lady Peace – Burn Burn
8. White Flags
Our Lady Peace – Burn Burn
9. Signs Of Life
Our Lady Peace – Burn Burn
10. Paper Moon
Our Lady Peace – Burn Burn
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Mavs take it to the Road! rebounding must be a team emphasis because Dallas has five players averaging at least 5.6 per game. 12/2/09 at New Jersey Nets – The Nets are terrible but they recently got Devin Harris back who can carve up the Mavs like Monta Ellis did. This should still be a win. 12/4/09 at Memphis Grizzlies - Do not sleep on the Grizz. Marc Gasol might end up being a better player than his brother and he’s paired up with Zac Randolph. The Mavs would love to have Eric Dampier back for this one. 12/5/09 vs Atlanta Hawks – They have had a great season so far but have had some struggles lately. They are going to be a tough team to beat after playing Memphis the night before. 12/8/09 vs Phoenix Suns – The best in the west so far and have only lost to quality opponents. The Mavs should be focused having two days rest. It’s time to see where they really stand in the Western Conference. Photo Courtesy: Matt Pearce
The Dallas Mavericks’ next four games are unique because each will provide a gradual increase in their opponent’s difficulty and talent level. They start off with the Nets on the road, who have failed to win a game this season (and recently fired their head coach Lawrence Frank), and end up hosting the best team in the conference with Phoenix at home. The Mavericks have been stellar on the road this year. Even with last Saturday’s loss at Cleveland on the second half of a road back-toback, the Mavs are 7-3 outside of Big D. They also have shown the ability to dominate opponents on the boards. Through Tuesday, Dallas has the rebounding edge in more than half of its 17 games this season by at least 10 boards. Not surprisingly, the Mavs are 9-0 in that scenario. The
Brett Hull
by: Richard S. Pollak – “That Hockey Guy”
Enters Stars Walk of Legends The Dallas Stars honored their Hall of Fame Inductee, Brett Hull as the first designate into the newly created “Stars Walk of Legends”. Hull completed 19 seasons in the NHL with 741 goals, for third place on the all time list behind Gretzky and Howe. As the first member of the Minnesota North Stars/Dallas Stars franchise ever to enter the NHL’s Hall of Fame, Hull is currently Alternative Governor to the NHL Board of Directors and Ambassador of Fun with the Stars. As a Dallas Star, from 1998 to 2001, he scored 195 goals and none more important to the franchise than the Stanley Cup final game winner in the third overtime period. According to all-time Dallas Stars Icon and business partner at the Dallas watering hole, “Hully and Mo”, Mike Modano pointed out for the first time that Hull, in fact, wacked Modano’s stick away from the puck with his windup just as number #9 was about to shoot the puck over the sprawled Buffalo Netminder Dominik Hasek. According to Modano, “the puck miraculously bounced
back in front of Hull instead of staying within his own striking distance.” The Stars are practically on top of the world rolling into the Holiday season with $7 MILLION DOLLAR MAN Brad Richards in the top 5 in scoring in the entire NHL. For the first time, Richards is producing scoring numbers that he was suppose to be bringing to Dallas when Brett Hull made that trade as CO-GM at the trade deadline deal with the Tampa Bay Lightning. Richards’ prowess on the point of the Stars power play just lead the Stars over his former team in overtime, 4-3. The Stars will be in their happy home, the ACC against Western Conference Rivals, the Anaheim Ducks and Edmonton Oilers this week. Photo Courtesy: Joe Lorenzini
Road Warriors!
by: Geoff Case – “Mavericks Analyst”
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- Craig Smith
- Eddie Stephens
The Mean Green basketball team is off to a 3-2 start. Last week they beat Jackson State at home 68-58 in a game in which they had a season high in blocks with seven and held their opponent to 35.6% shooting from the field. Eric Tramiel had 15 points and Odufuwa had his third double double of the year. Saturday they lost at Boise State 73-79. Josh White had 23 points which moved him into the top 30 in school history with 850. Next up at The Super Pit is a game scheduled for a noon start on Wednesday against the University of Southwest. They are an NAIA team out of New Mexico who is currently 2-5, which should be an easy win. On Saturday they travel to Rice to play a squad that is 4-2 and led in scoring by Connor Frizzelle and Tamir Jackson, both are scoring ten a game. Then Monday they head to Texas A&M for a tough match-up.
The Mustangs are 2-2 and honestly are playing pretty good basketball to start the season. This year’s team is made up of two seniors, five juniors, six sophomores and two freshmen. The Mustangs are on pace to win more than the 9 games they won last year, three of which were in conference play. They started off with losses to South Florida and Texas A&M, but bounced back with wins against Florida Gulf Coast and Huston-Tillotson. They play TCU on December 2 and Texas State on the seventh. Fourth year coach Matt Doherty will be looking for more offensive power this year, and look for the Mustangs to be hitting from beyond the 3-point line. In the last three seasons, they made 589 3’s. The SMU Mustangs still have their work cut out for them though. We will see as the season progresses if they can be on top.
“Giving It His All” As I sat in the press box before the Army versus North Texas football game something stood out to me. I have been watching football since the 70’s and have never seen this. The Army receivers were warming up and one guy seemed to be towering over the others. I instantly pulled out my roster sheet and looked him up. I was shocked to find out he’s 6-foot-10 (tallest receiver in nation), 283 pounds and the team’s top receiver. He’s two inches taller than Harold Carmichael, the tallest receiver in NFL history. Most defensive backs are around 6 feet tall and 200 pounds. They have no chance to defend a high-thrown pass to him in this David vs. Goliath match up. It will be a huge mismatch when he is throwing down field blocks on these guys. Can you imagine the daunting task of trying to tackle him oneon-one in the secondary? Ali Villanueva was actually recruited to Army as a tight end. As a freshman at West Point, he began his college career as a 310-pound defensive end. That sounds pretty intimidating to me if you are a quarterback having to throw over him. His OPEN DAILY 6am-11pm
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TCU basketball hopes that it can have the same success as their football program. They are sitting at 4-3 with losses to Arizona State, Nebraska and Louisiana Tech. Second year coach Jim Christian hopes to have a better year than his first season as head coach. They ended up 14-17 and 5-11 in the Mountain West Conference. They hope that having one of the leagues most dominant players in Zvonko Bulgan will give them an advantage. He averaged 12.3 points and 7.8 rebounds last season. Here’s a look at some of this week’s upcoming games: the Horned Frogs will be taking on SMU on December 2 and Texas Tech on the 8th. Don’t look for TCU to be like their football team just yet, but give it time, because Jim Christian is building this program and there is always hope. Sportsologist
Craig Smith – csmith@blitzweekly.com
sophomore season, he began as a defensive end, but midway through the season, he was switched to offensive line. Last season, he was the starter at left tackle and listed as the tallest offensive lineman in Division I. He is most likely the first college player in football history to start final game of one season at offensive tackle and start first game of next season at wide receiver. Shouldn’t he be the starting center for the basketball team? He is a good basketball player and actually never played competitive football until high school. Last off season, Army coach Rich Ellerson decided Villanueva could give him an advantage at wide receiver. If it were up to him, he would have stayed at tackle, but he is willing to once again move where the team needs him. He isn’t overly fast but does have deceptive speed. You can see him in action on December 12th in one of college football’s best rivalries, Army vs. Navy. No doubt the tallest player in Army football history stands out.
Florida vs
(1)
Alabama
(2)
Saturday, Dec 5 – 3pm – Georgia Dome - CBS
A rematch from last year’s title game that has the best that the SEC has to offer for the world to see. Alabama might be without star running back Mark Ingram. Their defense will see an explosive Florida team with lots of speed. Can Tebow do it again?
Cowboys vs Giants
Sunday, Dec 6 – 3:15pm – Giants Stadium – FOX
The Cowboys are battling the month of December and the New York “Football” Giants in East Rutherford. Can the Cowboys salvage a series split? Eli’s foot issues and the Giants inability to play decent football has them 1-5 in their last 6 games. If the Giants win, they hold the tie-breaker against the Cowboys.
WEEK 13 LINES Thurs., Dec. 3 NY Jets
LINE OPPONENT -3 @ Buffalo
TIME 7:20pm
Sun., Dec. 6 Denver Pittsburgh @ Jacksonville @ Indianapolis Philadelphia @ Cincinnati New Orleans @ Carolina @ Chicago New England San Diego @ Seattle @ NY Giants Minnesota
LINE OPPONENT -4.5 @ Kansas City -12 Oakland -1 Houston -7 Tennessee -4.5 @ Atlanta -13 Detroit -9.5 At Washington -6.5 Tampa Bay -9 St. Louis -5.5 @ Miami -12.5 @ Cleveland PK San Francisco -2 Dallas -2 @ Arizona
TIME Noon Noon Noon Noon Noon Noon Noon Noon Noon Noon 3:05pm 3:15pm 3:15pm 7:20pm
Mon., Dec. 7 @ Green Bay
LINE OPPONENT -3 Baltimore
TIME 7:35pm
Good Turkey day
Game, now it’s the giants The Coach - Joe Avezzano
Happy Thanksgiving and pass the Raiders. That’s a good recipe for a good Thanksgiving Day game that takes your record to 8-3. The Cowboys played well in every phase of the game and dominated a poor Oakland team. Nothing about the result is surprising as the Raiders don’t travel well and the Cowboys had a lot of reasons to get back on tract with their offense. Big plays and big games were had by all running backs as Barber, Jones and Choice all had 60+ yards rushing and big runs mixed in, along with receivers Austin and Witten with over 100 yards receiving. Romo went over 300 yards passing. Since Romo has been a starter, only Brady and Manning have more 300 yard games. Folk got back on tract and the defense was again very good. It was an important win to get to 8 wins but…What are you going to do in December? That’s really all that the media and critics cared about after the game as they deem none of what has taken place important and will concentrate on the past struggles in December. The struggles are real and accurately documented and the subject can only be erased by performance. Until then, the questions will continue. But really, what does any of the past have to do with this team? Nothing, unless they allow it to. The December schedule is a tough one in itself before we even mention the Cowboy
struggles. Road games at the Giants, Redskins and Saints go along with home contests against the Chargers and Eagles. While the long NFL season is a marathon, when you get near the end, it’s a sprint. First one to 10 wins generally makes the playoffs and then any added wins get you home field advantage, etc. So the Cowboys must win at least two of the last five to get to ten wins. It’s going to be hard to please some people because they could get to 10, win the division and still not have a winning December! They will focus on the Giants and try to get to 9 wins. That’s the immediate goal. The Giants are not a good football team at the moment. When a team loses 5 of the last 6 you are not a good team. No aspect of their game is where they thought they would be or where they were at the beginning of the season. Go to New York; figure out what it takes to win on that day. That is the only goal because most people say “You are 8-3, But…” Photo Courtesy: Ronnie Baker
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Coach Joe can be heard on KHYI 95.3 on Tuesday nights 7-9pm and on ESPN radio. Come by and say hello at Hat Tricks Sports Bar and Grill in Lewisville. Your home to great sports and great music.
Fantasy Football: Week 12 Waiver Wire Picks
Quarterbacks Vince Young (TEN) – Wow! He is a winner. I will tell ya that. VY had to throw the Titans to victory on a 99 yard drive with less than 2 minutes to go and he did it. He converted on 3 4th downs on the drive including 4th and goal from the 10 with no time left to win the game for the Titans. He finished with a whopping 387 yards passing and the game winning TD as he did all of his damage with his arm this week. He completed 27 of 43 passing and was CLUTCH down the stretch. The Titans have won 5 straight and VY is the 2nd reason why, which brings me to… Alex Smith (SF) - He had another solid fantasy game and has now been a good fantasy QB in 4 of 5 after throwing for 232 yards and 2 TDs against the Jags. He completed 27 of his 41 pass attempts and now has thrown multiple TD passes in 4 of the last 6 games.
Running Backs Justin Forsett (SEA) - This kid is good and I don’t think he will give up the starting job this year. He carried the Hawks to victory this week with 130 yards and 2 TDs on 22 carries against the Rams. He didn’t catch any passes this week, but that didn’t matter. He was a great start with Jones out and I think he continues to be a solid flex play after scoring in 3 straight games with 100+ yards rushing in 2 of them. GET THE HANDCUFF TO YOUR STARTING RBS NO MATTER HOW OBSCURE...INJURIES ARE HAPPENING MORE AND MORE EVERY WEEK. Â IT IS A WAR OF ATTRITION FOLKS AND YOU NEED TO BE PREPARED
Wide Receivers Pierre Garcon (IND) - He has now scored or topped 100 yards in 3 straight as he hauled in 5 passes for 63 yards and a TD in the Colts comeback win over HOU.
Kenny Britt (TEN) - Britt was dominant as the top target for the Titans in week 12. He led all pass catchers with 7 grabs for 128 yards, including the game winning TD. He has scored in 2 straight and is becoming the top option for Young in Tennessee. Tight Ends Zach Miller (OAK) - Miller is the top weapon on offense for the Raiders and led the team with 73 yards on 5 catches in week 12. He has now topped 60 yards in back to back games (both Gradkowski starts) and has 5 catches and 50+ yards in 3 of his last 4. Fred Davis (WAS) - Davis has been a fairly solid fantasy TE since Cooley went down with an injury and scored for the 2nd time in as many games against Philly this year. He caught 4 passes for 43 yards and a TD and is a decent option if you are still without a TE.
Presented By: SportsMoneyManagers.com Written By: TheFantasyConsultant.com
Kickers Rob Bironas (TEN) - He has multiple FGs in every one of VY’s starts and banged in another 50+ yarder in week 12. If he is on the wire, grab him. Lawrence Tynes (NYG) - Tynes was 2 for 2 including a 50+ yarder and now has an NFL best 8 games with multiple FGs. He has been a very solid fantasy K this year and was the lone bright spot for the G-Men on Turkey Day. Defenses Panthers D (CAR) - Solid game from the Panthers D. They only allowed 1 offensive TD and that came on a short field after a Delhomme pick. Meanwhile, they had 3 sacks, picked off 1 pass, forced 2 fumbles and shut down the Jets for the most part. They host TB in week 13. Check out Blitzweekly.com for more
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by: Craig Smith csmith@blitzweekly.com
The Gators spread offense runs through Tim Tebow. The All American quarterback is the team’s leading rusher with 796 yards and 13 rushing touchdowns on the season. He broke the all time SEC career touchdowns record this year. Jeffery Demps, one of the fastest running backs in the nation, has a nice 7.67 yards per carry and 7 touchdowns. Riley Cooper is the top receiver who plays with a lot of heart and isn’t afraid to throw a block. Aaron Hernandez is one of best tight ends in country and led the team in receptions.
Former Southlake High School star Greg McElroy the quarterback has 2211 yards passing with 16 touchdowns and only 4 interceptions. Running back Mark Ingram, a leading candidate to win the Heisman Award, is the key to this offense. He rushed for 1429 yards and 12 touchdowns behind a monstrous line. Julio Jones, the team’s leading receiver may be the key to success for Bama in this game. They need for him to be able to get open downfield to open the running game. The offense leads the SEC in time of possession and also in scoring drives over five minutes.
The Gator defense is a veteran defense that leads the nation in total defense. They are number one in pass defense and points allowed per game at 9.83. Linebacker Brandon Spikes is the heart of this defense and is one of three finalists for the Chuck Bednarik Award given to the best defensive player in nation. Joe Haden is up for the Jim Thorpe award given to nation’s best defensive back. Chas Henry, the punter, is listed as finalist for the Ray Guy award given to top collegiate punter.
This may be the best defense in the nation. They are third in the nation in total defense, second in points allowed a game at 10.83 and second in rushing defense at 77.08. All American Terrence “Mount Cody” Cody the mammoth nose tackle at 6-5, 365 pounds is a terror on defense. He is one of three finalists for for the Chuck Bednarik Award given to best defensive player in nation. Rolando McClain is a stud at linebacker and is a finalist for the Lott Trophy, Lomardi Award and Butkus Award.
Florida is 7-2 in SEC Championship Games. Their last loss was September 27, 2008. They are seeking their third national title in four years. Trying to become the third team since 1980 to repeat as national champions. They need two more wins to become the first team in Gator history to finish the season with no losses. Coach Urban Meyer will look to spread the ball around and put points up fast to force Bama to air it out. Probably the biggest game in SEC history as both teams enter undefeated ranked one and two. The “Tebow Factor” could be the difference in this game.
Alabama is 2-4 in SEC Championship Games. The Crimson Tide entered last year’s SEC Championship undefeated and number one in the nation but lost to Florida 31-20. This will be like a heavyweight fight with the two best teams in the country playing for one spot in the National Championship. Neither team has a real weakness. Coach Nick Saban, a defensive intellect, will look to contain Tebow and try to control the clock with a run offense.
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The Longhorns are led by Heisman hopeful Colt McCoy at quarterback. He is probably the best all around quarterback in the nation this year. He is coming off a monster game against Texas A&M on Thanksgiving night where he accounted for 5 touchdowns. He threw for 304 yards and had a career high 175 yards rushing. This season he has 3,328 yards passing, 27 touchdowns, 9 interceptions and has completed 71.8% of his passes. Tre Newton looked good against the Aggies with 107 yards rushing and 1 touchdown. He ended the regular season with 477 yards rushing and 6 touchdowns. He is running strong lately showing good bursts to the hole after coming back from injuries. Cody Johnson played in all twelve games this season gaining 331 yards rushing and had 12 touchdowns. Jordan Shipley is the guy that stirs the drink for this team. He had 99 catches, 1,292 yards receiving, 11 touchdowns and is a dangerous return man. Malcolm Williams is also a good receiver who accounted for 494 yards. James Kirkendoll and Dan Buckner both finished the season with over 400 yards receiving. The offensive line has played well of late and averages over 300 pounds each.
by: Craig Smith csmith@blitzweekly.com
The Big XII South Division wasn’t the force that it was a year ago. The lone pillar to stand out has been the Longhorns. Detractors will argue that Texas hasn’t really been tested. The Red River Shootout was a low scoring affair, the Colorado game was ugly and the Aggies gave Texas all they could handle. The Longhorns had to maintain their focus through the season and have been rewarded with the title to the South Division. It will be bittersweet if they are unable to make it to the BCS title game. Head Coach Mack Brown is in his 12th season at Texas. He won a National Title in 2005, has had a winning season each year since his arrival and the team has finished in the Top 25 every year since 1998. The last time the Longhorns played in Dallas for the Big XII Championship they lost a heartbreaker to Colorado in 2001. Mack Brown does not want history to repeat itself. Neither do those that bleed burnt orange nor does offense coordinator Greg Davis. Defensive coordinator Will Muschamp will experience his first Big XII Championship on Saturday. Most of the staff have been here before and will make sure the team is ready to play. This is their most important game of the season to date.
They are number five in the nation in total defense, leading the nation in rushing yards allowed per game with 61.75, ninth in points allowed at 15.42, tied for second in the nation with 21 interceptions, and third in the nation in sacks with 3.17 per game. Linebacker Roddrick Muckelroy leads the team with 87 tackles and has made 10 tackles for losses. Defensive end Sergio Kindle has 45 tackles with 17 for a loss. Defensive end Sam Acho has 8 sacks for the season and Lamarr Houston has 7. Safety Earl Thomas is having a solid season with 8 interceptions, has broken up 15 passes, and is second on the team with 66 tackles. In the secondary, Blake Gideon has 4 interceptions and Curtis Brown has 14 pass break ups. The Longhorn return teams are excellent and could prove to be the edge needed in a big game. The defense must do better than they did Thanksgiving night when they allowed 39 points, 190 yards rushing, and 342 yards passing.
A win and they are headed to the National Championship. The Longhorns are 23-1 over the last two seasons including two wins over Oklahoma and one over Ohio State. They should have the fan advantage at the first ever Big 12 championship game at Cowboys Stadium. This is the third championship game between the two teams. Coach Mack Brown has a phenomenal record at Texas going 127-26 and is looking for his second national championship with the Longhorns. The Longhorns must keep Ndamukong Suh, one of the best defensive lineman in the country out of their backfield. I think McCoy and Shipley will be too much to handle for the Cornhuskers. They should win this game by at least two touchdowns and be on their way to the National Championship to face the winner of the SEC Championship.
Photo Courtesy: Manny Flores and Matt Pearce
Texas Wins: 31-13
The first Big XII Championship was played following the 1996 season, the first year of the new conference. The Big XII Conference was created when the Big Eight absorbed four teams from the Southwest Conference.
2000 ARROWHEAD STADIUM Bob Stoops’ top ranked Oklahoma Sooners took on the 8th ranked Kansas State Wildcats and won by a narrow margin, 27-24. The Sooners would go on to defeat Florida State in the Orange Bowl and win the program’s 7th national championship.
2001 TEXAS STADIUM Third ranked Texas took on Colorado with hopes of going to the national championship. Quarterback Chris Simms had a disastrous evening with three interceptions and a lost fumble. Major Applewhite replaced Simms, but it was too late as Buffaloes RB Chris Brown scored three TDs and Colorado won 39-37.
2002 RELIANT STADIUM 9th ranked Sooners running back Quentin Griffin went for 188 yards and two TDs as Oklahoma ran all over Colorado winning 29-7. QB Nate Hybl also passed for two scores. The Buffaloes only points came on an 80 yard punt return by Jeremy Bloom.
2003 ARROWHEAD STADIUM 15th ranked Kansas State knocked off top ranked Oklahoma behind a stellar offensive performance. Running back Darren Sproles gained 235 yards on the ground and another 88 yards through the air, while quarterback Ell Roberson threw for 4 TDs. Also, Sooners quarterback Jason White was completely shut down by the Wildcats defense.
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The still work-in-progress offense is why this team does not remotely resemble the three Nebraska national title teams from the early nineties. The offensive ineptitude has been compared to the Cleveland Browns of the NFL, and that is NOT a good thing. Junior college transfer quarterback Zac Lee brought some lofty expectations as he lit up the competition in non-conference play. They became progressively worse as the season went on, bottoming out in a 9-7 home loss to Iowa State (the Cyclones first win in Lincoln since 1977) in which the offense committed 8 turnovers. But now they have done away with the spread offense and are now rolling with two tight ends and two running backs. It’s working! They are relying heavily on their workhorse running back Roy Helu, Jr. who has gone over 1,000 yards for the season.
The defense has been rebuilt to fit his image and is run by his brother, Carl Pelini. The Cornhuskers defense is the reason they won their second North Division crown in the last ten seasons. In 2007, under Callahan’s “leadership” the Nebraska defense was ranked 112th in total defense allowing nearly 477 yards a game. This season they are eighth giving up just over 281 yards per game. In 2007, they ranked 114th nationally, allowing close to 38 points a game. This season they are ranked third, surrendering just over 10 points per game. The standout on the defensive unit is senior defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh who has 6 1/2 sacks and leads the team in tackles with 65. He even has an interception. Sophomore tackle Jared Crick has nine sacks and Pelini has also received excellent play at cornerback from junior Prince Amuka-mara and Alofonzo Dennard.
Back in 1996, Nebraska was a heavy favorite over Texas in the first ever Big XII Championship, only to fall to the Longhorns. In the first Big XII Championship game played at Cowboys Stadium, the Cornhuskers will return the favor and beat Texas to throw the BCS into utter chaos. The BCS voters will then have the chance to give TCU a spot in the big boy title game (the first time a non-BCS conference, or Notre Dame team has played for the national championship since BYU in 1984!) There is a precedent in this game: In 2003, #15 Kansas State destroyed #1 Oklahoma and in 2007, #1 Missouri lost to #9 Oklahoma and fell out of the BCS entirely. (I’m not sayin’, I’m just sayin’...)
by: Jayson Larson jlarson@blitzweekly.com
The Big XII North Division was like a minor league sibling to the South division throughout the 2009 season. The North consists of Colorado, Iowa State, Kansas, Kansas State, Missouri, and Nebraska. As the season came to a close, only the Nebraska Cornhuskers were even ranked in the Top 25. With their victory over Kansas State on November 21, Nebraska clinched a berth in the Big XII Championship game on December 5 at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington against Texas. Head Coach Bo Pelini is in his second season at the helm for the Cornhusker football program. His coaching resume includes a Super Bowl ring (XXIXX with the San Francisco 49ers) and a BCS National Championship (2007 with LSU) as an assistant. He was named the 28th head coach in Nebraska history and instilled his discipline, no-nonsense attitude. That resulted in his team adopting his philosophy and has continued to improve since the day he took over. But he is nothing like legendary Nebraska coach Tom Osborne in his demeanor as he likes to yell on the sidelines and let his players feed off his intensity. He still has a little way to go after inheriting former Oakland Raiders head coach Bill Callahan’s 2007 disaster, which had the school’s worst record in 46 years, but they are heading in the right direction.
Nebraska Wins: 21-17
2004 ARROWHEAD STADIUM The defending Heisman Trophy winner, Oklahoma quarterback Jason White, made certain history did not repeat itself as he threw 3 TDs in the first half en route to a 42-3 victory over unranked Colorado. Freshman running back Adrian Peterson rushed for 173 yards and 3 TDs for the second ranked Sooners.
2005 RELIANT STADIUM In the most lopsided of all Big XII Championship games, the second ranked Texas Longhorns throttled the unranked Colorado Buffaloes 70-3. Led by 4 TDs from quarterback Vince Young, the Longhorns next stop was a victory over USC in the Rose Bowl and a national championship.
2006 ARROWHEAD STADIUM In a game dominated by the defenses, 8th ranked Oklahoma defeated 19th ranked Nebraska 21-7. Sooners’ star wide receiver Malcolm Kelly had two TDs as Oklahoma earned a berth in the Fiesta Bowl.
2007 ALAMODOME The top ranked Missouri Tigers and quarterback Chase Daniel took on the 9th ranked Oklahoma Sooners and redshirt freshman quarterback Sam Bradford. The Sooners became the first team to win back-to-back Big XII Titles as they triumphed 3817.
2008 ARROWHEAD STADIUM In a rematch of the 2007 Big XII championship, the song remained the same. 19th ranked Missouri never really had a chance as they fell to 4th ranked Oklahoma 62-21. The victory gave Oklahoma their fourth trip to the BCS championship game under Bob Stoops, where they would lose to the Florida Gators.
Photo Courtesy: Manny Flores
by: Jayson Larson - jlarson@blitzweekly.com
Get a Kissing Clue W
Jesse Whitman “A Woman’s Perspective”
ith all of the panic over the swine flu epidemic, there is still a bright spot that can be found in all of the madness, and it is the exact opposite of what you might have expected to hear. Despite people’s fears of contracting flu viruses, it is a fact that kissing actually increases your immune system response. So rather than avoiding kissing during flu season, go out there and find some mistletoe to kiss under and start swapping spit. A far cry from society’s squeamishness against spreading germs, scientific studies have shown that kissing actually boosts your immune system. How exactly this happens remains a relative mystery, but scientists believe that spreading germs can actually have health benefits because the appearance of a variety of germs strengthens the immune response. In one study, British scientists found that women’s resistance to a certain virus, cytomegalovirus, actually increases when the woman kisses a carrier of the virus for a period of six months. It is similar to receiving a very passionate, long-lasting, wet and sloppy vaccination against this virus. This is but one example of the immune protection that can be developed through kissing. This discovery led to theories about the biological function of kissing, which goes beyond the usual theory that assumes kissing is for bonding purposes. Now doctors believe that the immune function is a key reason for the appearance of kissing as a common behavior among humans. However, this theory was still missing a key piece – there has to be some intrinsic motivational factor that would impel people to kiss. The missing piece led scientists to examine the existence of pheromones. Without pheromones, people simply would not kiss. Pheromones are similar to hormones, and are subtle secretions that create attraction between people. Pheromones are the human body’s sneaky way of tricking people into kissing, and thereby providing them with the immune building benefits bestowed by kissing. This also makes perfect sense when looking at human biological evolution. Without kissing, there is little chance of meeting a mate and eventually reproducing. Therefore, kissing plays a dual role – one in building up immunity defenses and another in natural selection. So what does all of this mean, you might ask yourself. First of all, if you tend to be a non-kisser, or are simply unlucky in love, the health consequences could be quite significant, since you will be missing out on the immune enhancing benefits of kissing. Secondly, why not use this premise on your next date? This could be a potentially fruitful topic of conversation if you are looking to go in for the kiss with your date. However, be careful with how you approach this, because the last thing you want to do is look like some desperate schmuck trying to enhance your immune system with a silly ruse. But, now that you are armed with scientific facts, use them to your advantage. And you should certainly take heart in the flu season that kissing may actually be good for you!
Beware: ‘Manus-Surrenderus’
S
ometimes I feel like I get a little jaded on the overall state of ‘manhood’ these days. Then I sit down with my coffee-buddy, Terry Welch, and compare notes and realize it’s not just me. Other real men recognize the raging epidemic, too. Come on guys, it’s up to us who haven’t succumbed to the smothering fog of what we’re ‘told’ we’re supposed to act like to save our brethren who’ve been beaten into submission. We’ve all seen it…that beat-down remnant of a man with his shoulders slumped over, staring down at his ragged shoes, shuffling along and mumbling the global mantra of defeat: “Yes, dear.” In fact, it’s gotten so common, there’s even a name for the poor creature: ‘Manus-Surrenderus’. He’s the defeated little sad-sack who surrendered his manliness and auctioned off his gonads to a shockingly low bidder. For some reason, he’s decided he deserves his fate just because he uttered those otherwise innocuous words, “I do.” Here’s a man who has completely abdicated his rightful place in the food chain as leader-warrior, hunter-gatherer, and provider-protector. If he’s really eaten up with the horrid affliction, he’s probably got his ‘whipped’ fingerprints all over the vacuum cleaner handle and dishwasher at home. Chances are, he couldn’t even remember how to load a gun if his life depended on it. That’s probably a good thing or he might look in the mirror, realize what he’s become and turn it on himself. When you see him, take a good look, but don’t try to pet him. He might be harmless enough, but that chunky, loudtalking, emasculating behemoth of a beast he’s following might bite for sure. The best thing we can do for a ‘Manus-Surrenderus’ is
Dennis Hambright www.dennishambright.com
slap him on the back of the head and say, “Hey, wake up and tell that ‘beast’ that you’re the ‘Boss Hog’ in this rodeo and it’s time for a change.” But be warned, if the ‘beast’ rears up on her hind quarters, spits, snarls and bares her fangs, run like hell because she’s probably beyond repair. Being a ‘sadsack’ is bad enough, but you definitely don’t want to end up a ‘no-sack’. No relationship is worth that sacrifice. For those that still have a chance, here are a few suggestions to get things back on track:
Make a Stand: Be a man, not a mouse. Assume your rightful position. A real woman will appreciate a man making some decisions about what he and his ‘honey-bun’ are going to do. There’s only one pair of ‘pants’ to be worn, so make sure you’re the one wearing them. (Unless they’re those sexy, low-rise jeans. She can still have those.)
Seize Your Castle: A wise man said, “A man’s home
is his castle.” I think it’s even a law called the ‘Castle Doctrine’ (at least it should be). Don’t be ashamed, say, “Hell yeah the toilet seat is up…a man lives here.” She can tip it down just as easy as you can. She ought to be happy you raised it up in the first place.
Ride That Throne: If you brave the employment
jungle and ‘bring home the cheese’, you should expect a little thank you in return. You shouldn’t have to cook your own supper or dig socks out of the dryer while ‘Shamu’ sits on the sofa trying to paint toenails she can barely reach. If you earned it…and yes, a real man should earn it…then ride that throne, because you deserve it.
Let’s Reject Government-run Health Care If I ever had a great reason to NOT support President Obama’s health care reform plan, it is that I don’t want our government dictating my, or anyone else’s, medical lifestyle. When are people going to get it that having too much government control doesn’t work? Haven’t you been to the post office to see how poorly things are run there and how unhappy those overworked postal employees are? Where in the Declaration of Independence does it state that government is required to give health care to everyone or anyone? One alternative that perhaps might keep health care costs from skyrocketing is for people to stop eating like pigs, change their diets and go out and exercise for a change. Sooner or later, the medical profession is going to have call “obesity” a disease, given how fat people in this country are getting. This is a billion dollar business for pharmaceutical companies whose job is to create medications to treat symptoms, most of which would go away if people would change their eating habits. Former Governor Mike Huckabee, when asked about the health care system at the 2007 GOP primary debate in Orlando, Florida, said the nation doesn’t have a health care crisis. “We have a health crisis,” Huckabee
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said. “Eighty percent of the $2 trillion we spend on health care in this country is spent on chronic disease. If we don’t change the health of this nation by focusing on prevention, we’re never going to catch up with the costs no matter what plan we have.” Letting people decide for themselves who and how they want their health care is something Huckabee said he is for. “The reality is it’s a health crisis, and I would further say that one of the challenges we face is that a lot of the Democrats want to turn it over to the government, while the Republicans want to turn it over completely to the private insurance companies,” Huckabee said. “I think the better idea is to turn it over to each individual consumer and let him or her make that choice. I trust me a lot more than I trust government or a lot more than I trust the insurance companies.” After President Obama’s Sept. 9 speech to Congress, U.S. Rep. Charles Boustany of Louisiana, a doctor, said in his response for the Republican Party that replacing the family’s current health care system with governmentrun health care is not the answer. “In fact, it will make health care much more expensive,” Boustany said. “That’s not just my personal diagnosis
Joe Stumpo
www.darthstumpo.com
as a doctor or a Republican.” Boustany said the possibility should exist to allow families and businesses to buy insurance across state lines. “I and many other Republicans believe that that will provide real choice and competition to lower the cost of health insurance” he said. “Unfortunately, the president disagrees.” I can only think of two words when it comes to the idea that this country could have a socialized health care system like Canada, France, or anywhere else where it’s been clearly documented that government-run health care doesn’t work. Anyone who thinks we can rely on the government for America’s health care system should take a look at the post office, something President Obama recently said “is always having problems.” People say, well, how can a private company compete against the government? If you think about it, UPS and FedEx are doing just fine. Right? No, they are. It’s the Post Office that’s always having problems.” As Huckabee said in his “Closing Remarks” on his Aug. 17 radio program, “Doesn’t that seem like a good reason to NOT let government take over health care?”
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FOOD REVIEW
The Pick of the Week:
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3636 Frankford Rd. Ste. 390 214-483-5225
DallasRestaurantReviews.com
When it comes to outside dining, Patrizio restaurant is “Numero Uno” in Dallas – food, ambiance & price. And it’s great inside, too.
SETTING
The world’s first shopping center, the legendary, upscale, Spanish-motif 1930’s Highland Park Village – at the intersection of Mockingbird Lane & Preston Road.
FOOD
For a starter, try the Crab Cakes with Basil Aioli sauce, served on a wonderful bed of greens – 3 crab cakes could even make a light lunch. I also recommend the Iron Skillet Mussels (with hot clarified butter) – almost as good as lobster. The Bruschetta is good, and they also have a lengthy list of salads. For entrees, Patrizio’s specialty is pastas, plus they typically have a fish and a veal dish as a “special”. There are at least 15-20 pastas. Some are classics and some are creative. I especially like the Ravioli with Artichoke Hearts, the Conchiglie con Spinachi (shell pasta tossed with spinach, smoked bacon, and oven-cured tomatoes), and the Penne Caprese (penne pasta with tomatoes, asparagus & lemon butter). Prices are reasonable – especially for Highland Park – $10 and under at lunch, a couple bucks more in the evening. Excellent cappuccino, too.
WINE
Extensive wine list, something for everyone, many of them moderately priced. Mingled in are a lot of higher priced wines if that’s what you like.
AMBIANCE
The interior is understated but elegant. There are “Old Masters” paintings on the walls, carved beams, marble-topped tables and a great little bar (try the fresh-made frozen peach Bellini’s – best in Dallas). The large patio is shady and extremely popular at lunch. Arrive early or late, or you’ll have to wait. The crowd starts out as a mix of business types and well-to-do Park Cities housewives – then it transitions to retired CEOs, beautiful people, more well-kept-women dripping with jewelry and “trust-fundians” with time on their hands. They come and go all afternoon, apparently unencumbered by jobs. The patio is softly-lit in the evening.
BOTTOM LINE
Patrizio’s outdoor dining was awarded a “Top Table” by Gourmet magazine. Inside or outside, Patrizio is a place that you can be ritzy without busting your bank account. Take someone you want to impress. Patrizio • Highland Park Village Mockingbird Lane at Preston Road, Dallas 214-522-7878 • www.patrizios.net (Locations in Plano, Highland Village, and Cedar Hill – see web site)
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Tony Hawk: Ride
Courtesy: www.gadgetreview.com
Get off the couch and give your thumbs a rest. Tony Hawk: Ride is a new video game starring the godfather of grinds that utilizes a new hands-free skateboard-like controller. The hoverboard-esque controller packs in accelerometers and motion sensors that get you physically involved in the game. It allows you to skate around, propel yourself, and trick out just as you would on a normal board--no helmet or pads required. Tony Hawk: Ride will be available for Wii, PS3, and Xbox 360. Price-$120
Spacepak
No matter how many frequent flyer miles have been racked up, we can all use some help maximizing the space inside our luggage. Spacepak accessories help you do exactly that. The system of bags — available for clothes, underwear, shoes, suits, and more — allows garments to undergo double compression, virtually doubling the usable space inside your carry-on. Price: $30-$98
Photo Courtesy: Joanne Rizos
NEWT’S NOOK BEGINS HELPING TEXAS DOGS by: Mike Precker
Lodge VIP Manager Sunny Hunter poses with Animal Guardians rescue dogs outside the new Newt’s Nook rescue building.
Cinemin Swivel Portable Projector
Take your big-screen with you — sorta — with the Cinemin Swivel Portable Projector. This diminutive dynamo utilizes DLP projection technology to display a screen up to 60 inches in size on nearly any surface. Features include 480x320 resolution, a rechargeable battery good for over two hours of use, included international power adapters, and a 90-degree swiveling design that removes the need for a mount or tripod. Just don’t expect to blast faux graffiti onto city walls in the middle of the day — the Swivel works best in extremely low-light conditions. Price: $300
Newt’s Nook is open for business. The heated, air-conditioned facility at the Animal Guardians sanctuary, named for former U.S. House Speaker Newt Gingrich, provides a safe, healthy environment for injured rescue dogs, particularly pit bulls, to recuperate until they are adopted. “We’re thrilled to help such a worthy project,” said Dawn Rizos, owner of The Lodge gentlemen’s club in Dallas, who funded the shelter after Gingrich rejected her donation to his political organization. “I wish Newt were here to see these wonderful dogs and know that we’re giving them a chance for happier lives.” Just in time for Thanksgiving, Lodge and Animal Guardians staffers teamed up for a dedication ceremony, hanging a large “Newt’s Nook” sign on the building and welcoming dogs to the new facility. The sign, created by Lodge bartender Bryan Calloway, features a caricature of a smiling Gingrich and a friendly, content pit bull. “We were going to throw a bigger party,” Rizos explained, “but we decided to devote the resources to this great cause instead.” She announced that The Lodge would donate an additional $100 to Animal Guardians for every dog adopted through Valentine’s Day 2010, and give each adopter a gift certificate to The Lodge or Stratos Global Greek Taverna, a popular Dallas restaurant.
The idea for the shelter stemmed from an Entrepreneur of the Year Award that Gingrich bestowed on Rizos, then rescinded. In September Gingrich’s organization, American Solutions for Winning the Future, invited Rizos to receive the honor from him at a private dinner in Washington on October 7. A week before the dinner, the organization said there had been a mix-up and told Rizos not to attend. The Lodge, the country’s best-known and most-honored gentlemen’s club, helps hundreds of people support their families and further their educations, while setting industry standards for beauty, elegance and integrity. “So we weren’t surprised to get the award, and we were disappointed to suddenly be rejected,” Rizos said. “But instead of holding a grudge, we decided to make something positive out of his bad manners.” When Gingrich returned the $5,000 donation that was required to attend the dinner, Rizos redirected the money to Animal Guardians, a home for rescue dogs 40 miles north of downtown Dallas. “I can’t tell you how much this new building means to us,” said Animal Guardians Director Annette Lambert, who cares for more than 100 dogs at the sanctuary. “Dawn didn’t deserve to be treated like that, but this will do so much for these loving dogs until we find them good homes.”
By: Sybil Summers
sybilsummers.com
Top 20
Biggest Stories of 2009 As the holidays near, enjoy my gift to you-an extra 10 rankings this week. 20. The grand opening of Jerryworld 19. Somalian pirates 18. Jimmie Johnson makes NASCAR history by winning his 4th consecutive Sprint Cup championship 17. Philip Markoff- the Craigslist killer 16. Pittsburgh Steelers win a recordsetting 6th Super Bowl 15. Terrell Owens gets cut from the Cowboys, stars in reality show 14 Kanye West hijacks the microphone from Taylor Swift at the VMA’s 13. Tony Romo/Jessica Simpson breakup. He wears hat backwards. She gets fat. 12. Steve McNair murder 11. Fall of GMAC and Chrysler 10. Tiger Woods’ Affair/Car Wreck Scandal 9. Sarah Palin saga (Grandkid from her teenage daughter, resignation and bestselling book) 8. Jon and Kate + Divorce 7. Balloon Boy 6. Chris Brown abuses Rihanna. She takes him back 5. Nidal Malik Hasan - Fort Hood shooter 4. Chesley Sullenberger - Miracle on the Hudson pilot 3. Swine Flu 2. Barack Obama’s inauguration as the 1st black President 1. Death of M.J.
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ACROSS 1. A type of hair style 5. Boozer 8. Russian emperor 12. A potter’s material 13. A mixture of 2 or more metals 15. Emanation 16. Bronzes your skin 17. Goat-like antelope 18. Trickle 19. Telephone central 22. Rodent 23. Earned Run Average 24. Memo 26. Prawn 29. Stellar 31. Golf ball support 32. Animal 34. Undersides of feet 36. Hearing organs 38. Bore 40. Found on a rotary phone 41. Sporting venue 43. Hiker’s path 45. When it’s clear, it’s blue 46. Short and blunt 48. Blusterous 50. Arch type 51. Anagram of “Sue” 52. Alien Life Form 54. Passable 61. Cozy corner 63. Exaggerated nasality in speech 64. Brandy flavor 65. Container weight 66. Easy to use 67. Acquire deservedly 68. Biblical garden 69. Not no 70. Impolite
DOWN 1. Exploits 2. Imperfection 3. Hindu princess 4. Marine mollusk 5. Thick slice 6. Hodgepodge 7. Roman robe 8. Tiny amount 9. An art movement 10. Operatic solo 11. Awestruck 13. Humiliated 14. Stories 20. Baby’s bed 21. Points 25. Stepped 26. A North American retail chain 27. Until now 28. Celebrate 29. Collection of maps 30. Porous 31. Orange pekoe or Earl Grey 33. What a knight is called 35. Clever 37. Cozy 39. Religious rite 42. Assist 44. Not a win 47. A bed on a ship 49. Harvester 52. Initial wager 53. Burden 55. At a distance 56. Windmill blade 57. Concludes 58. Boyfriend 59. Piecrust ingredient 60. Coastal raptor 62. Barbie’s beau
Blitz Weekly Funnies for the Week Q: How can you tell if a blond is a good cook? A: She gets the poptart out of the toaster in one piece. Q: What’s the difference between a lawyer and a vampire? A: A vampire only sucks blood at night. Q: What’s the difference between hard and light? A: You can get to sleep with a light on. Q: How do you get helen keller to keep a secret? A: Break her fingers!
Deadbeat in a Bar A man walked into a bar on a slow night and sat down. After a few minutes, the bartender asked him if he wanted a drink. He replied, “No thanks. I don’t drink. I tried it once, but I didn’t like it.” So the bartender said, “Well, would you like a cigarette?” But the man said, “No thanks. I don’t smoke. I tried it once, but I didn’t like it.” The bartender asked him if he’d like to play a game of pool, and again the man said, “No thanks. I don’t like pool. I tried it once, but I didn’t like it. As a matter of fact, I wouldn’t be here at all, but I’m waiting for my son.” The bartender said, “Your only son, I’m guessing.”
Horrorscopes
Sagittarius(Nov. 22 - Dec. 21)
Aries (Mar. 21 - Apr. 19)
Leo (Jul. 23 - Aug. 22)
Work will be demanding. Remember to pass on any blame and take credit for any success.
Consume Chinese food then follow what your fortune cookie says...in bed.
Make sure your morning breath doesn’t make it to the afternoon.
Virgo (Aug. 23 - Sept. 22)
Capricorn (Dec. 22 - Jan. 19)
Taurus (Apr. 20 - May 20)
Kick start a new career and getting out of bed is not a career.
Seize the day but totally waste the night away.
Compiling a list of people you hate will prove beneficial.
Aquarius (Jan. 20 - Feb. 18)
Gemini (May 21 - Jun. 21) A lover will stick by your side provided you buy some duct tape.
Libra (Sept. 23 - Oct. 22)
Let bygones be bygones. Use your time to forge new grudges.
Pisces (Feb. 19 - Mar. 20)
Cancer (Jun. 22 – Jul. 22)
Scorpio (Oct. 23 - Nov. 21)
A so called friend may make public your closet love of country music.
Don’t go fishing. Save time and go to the market instead. You stink when you go fishing.
The world is your oyster. Too bad you’re allergic to shell fish.
Weight becomes a non-issue when you meet a girl who likes ‘em big boned.
MARGARITAS & MEXICAN FOOD
NIGHTLY SPECIALS! DINE-IN ONLY
MONDAYS ENCHILADA PLATE
TUESDAYS
FREE
MEXICAN BEERS ALL DAY
Solʼs Nieto Mexican Grill is XTENDED HAPPY HOUR a fun friendly 4PM TO CLOSE place with a jukebox THURSDAYS atmosphere, FAJITA SPECIAL BREAKFAST, LUNCH neighborhood feel, amazing & DINNER food and great SERVED DAILY FROM 9AM margaritas.
WEDNESDAYS
6434 E.MOCKINGBIRD DALLAS, TX 75214 214-826-5564
18
by: Pat Moran
“Man On His Throne”
pmoran@gmail.com
Well, December is here...again.
Yup... Again. Like clockwork. And you know what that means? That’s right. A whole month dedicated to making a pretty awesome holiday into one big stupid parade of seizure-inducing, plastic-wrapped crap. From the sentimental binge trips that make up Christmas TV to the barf-inducing crap that they refer to as “movies,” the so-called “Christmas season” is chock-full of things that make me want to get all “yelly shouty” on them. One of those things that makes me want to die a frozen, horrible death in Santa Clause’s North Pole is Christmas music. Nothing is more annoying than the constant stream of tone-deaf pop singers covering songs that really didn’t need covering. Honestly, Nat King Cole was pretty damn great. I really don’t need to hear the Jonas Brothers butchering “The Christmas Song.” I don’t need to hear Hannah Montana farting out of her mouth to the beat of “We Three Kings”...remixed with P. Diddy himself. It’s a mark in any wanna-be pop star’s career failure to make a crappy Christmas record that is piped through every department store sound system at eardrum-destroying repetition. I’ve got an idea. If you really want to have a merry Christmas, don’t rely on Mariah Carey to remind you of what the season means. Don’t spend twenty bucks on some washedup American Idol loser’s updated version of a song that had no business being updated. It’s pointless and it sucks. The holiday season doesn’t have to suck. It probably will, but it doesn’t have to be your fault. Don’t buy into the hype, especially when it sounds like someone stepping on a cat.
Crossword Solution