2011 Black History Month: #22 Black Actor Performance

By: Luke Florence

2011 Black History Month: #22 Black Actor Performance

Leon as "Derice Bannock" in "Cool Runnings"

Six words and six words only landed Leon on this list.

"We have to finish the race."

This is far from my first list, as I've ranked almost everything and anything in years' past, some you have read right here on this blog. But in all my time spent as a list-maker, I've never had more difficulty putting a list together than I have with this one. Honestly, I'm not sure the exact reason for that conundrum, but it's been a very difficult process finalizing, and re-finalizing this current list.

See, I thought I had to choose between Derice and Sanka. I thought could only put one of them on my countdown. However I thought back to the climatic scene of Cool Runnings and decided I had to put Leon in. Those six words still give me chills to this very-day, even though I've watched that scene probably 200 times.

Yes, Cool Runnings is my favorite movie of all-time. I can't quote the exact date and time that became a fact, but I've spent the better part of my life watching films ultimately fall short of Cool Runnings in my mind. Some have come closer than others, but Cool Runnings is still my #1, so it should come as no surprise that I'm going to end up putting both Sanka and Derice on my list.

Derice is a track-star sprinter who doesn't know the meaning of "stop." He tragically lost on his bid to gain entry to the Summer Olympics, but didn't let that stop him. He decided to try for the Winter Olympics by creating the first Jamaican Bobsled team. The rest is history.

Derice didn't have all the punch-lines, but instead, he added the dramatic flavor to Cool Runnings. He is the driver, the leader, and the soul of his team. He also has to battle several issues including rumors about his coach and a love-fest with the Swiss team. But like all great leaders, he overcomes. Derice deserves to be here.

Leon has gone onto a very solid career, as he starred in the hit TV show Oz, as well as in the TV movie The Temptations. But it is his performance of Derice Bannock that I will always remember first and foremost whenever anyone brings up his name. And besides, he first spoke the four words that became my life-motto ... "Peace Be The Journey." Enough said.

Memorable Quotes

"'Cool Runnings' means 'Peace Be The Journey.'" - Derice Bannock

"No mon, I'm not dead. We have to finish the race." - Derice Bannock

"Who's the big hot bag of air, who doesn't have to comb his hair? Who doesn't bathe and doesn't care, Sanka, Sanka, yay, Sanka!" - Derice Bannock

"Well, it's kind of a winter sport, you know." - Derice Bannock

Hint for #21: This actor has an impressive resume, but has only one Academy Award nomination. He appeared on an episode of Fresh Prince towards the beginning of his career, and recently was in a comic/blockbuster film. He gets the nod here for his portrayal of a cop facing tough decisions. Good luck.

Until next time, "read it, roll it, hole it."

2011 Black History Month: #23 Black Actor Performance

By: Luke Florence

2011 Black History Month: #23 Black Actor Performance

Danny Glover as "Roger Murtaugh" in "Lethal Weapon 4"

Taking a quick glance at my list there may be only one black/white relationship left that is better than the one between Murtaugh and Riggs from Lethal Weapon.  They were together on four crazy journeys that lasted more than a decade from 1987 to 1998.  However for yours truly, I only watched their final chapter together as I missed the first three Lethal Weapon movies.

Glover plays the role of "good cop" to Mel Gibson's "bad cop," and there is no questioning they certainly have a solid chemistry together.  While Glover was reluctant to be Gibson's partner back in Lethal Weapon 1, by Lethal Weapon 4 they have become best friends.  They play off each other perfectly, and are such a good team it almost appears that they are one entity.  Glover plays it safe, Gibson is a loose cannon.  Glover is a family man, Gibson is proud to be single.  Glover thinks things through, Gibson goes with his gut.  They couldn't be more different, but they create a dynamic duo in the police-force. 

Danny Glover has never been nominated for an Academy Award, but he does have four Prime-time Emmy nominations under his belt.  I've only seen two of his films since Lethal Weapon 4, and they were Be Kind Rewind and Saw, which is a shame because Glover is a good actor acting in bad movies.  Lest us forget Operation Dumbo Drop and Angels in the Outfield (Joseph Gordon-Levitt sighting!).  But when all is said and done on Glover's career, it will be his role as Roger Murtaugh that will be his most memorable. 

Lethal Weapon 4 is one of those under-rated movies that I always enjoy watching when it is on TV, although with Joe Pesci and Chris Rock around, one could argue it's a better experience when viewed off cable.  It has plenty of humor, lots of action, and a semi-decent plot all rolled into two hours. 

And besides, I really wanted to include this film so I could reference It's Always Sunny "blackface" from "Lethal Weapon 5."  That's a win-win.

Memorable Quotes

"Since I met Riggs, I've had my house destroyed, my car wrecked, and now my BOAT SUNK. What's left?" - Roger Murtaugh

"I'm too old for this shit." - Roger Murtaugh

Hint for #22: This is the only film that has two DIFFERENT actors on the list.  This actor goes by one name, and was a scholarship basketball player at Loyola Marymount.  Mad props to anyone who gets this. 

Until next time, "read it, roll it, hole it."

2011 Black History Month: #24 Black Actor Performance

By: Luke Florence

2011 Black History Month: #24 Black Actor Performance

Forest Whitaker as "Burnham" in "Panic Room"

Apologies for missing the last couple of days boys and girls.  Yours truly spent the weekend in Milwaukee, Wisconsin ... more to come on that in a couple of days.  Moving onwards and upwards, here comes the latest installment in the 2011 Black History Month list.

You may want think back to my introductory post to locate the reason why Forest Whitaker is mentioned for this role as Burnham in Panic Room.  At first glance the inclusion of this performance might not make much sense, but after reading the criteria I set forth, it certainly fits.
 
Forest Whitaker is an outstanding actor, has won an Academy Award for Best Actor, and is one of the best at his craft regardless of color.  Having said that, I really haven't watched too many of his movies ... shame on me I know.  So, when I put this list together I felt a need to include Whitaker and since I enjoyed Panic Room, here we are.

Actor In A Leading Role Forest Whitaker

Uploaded by cdontv. - Videos of family and friends from around the world.

When Panic Room's trailer was being shown I was pretty excited.  It looked like a suspenseful thriller with a decent cast and had me convinced it was going to be a great movie.  After leaving the movie theater I was a little disappointed.  I was expecting a great film and was handed a decent one instead.  My favorite scene of the entire movie might actually be the long shot inside the house because I always wondered how they could actually film that. 

Burnham is the stereotypical criminal with a conscience.  The plot of the film surrounds a group of guys breaking into a supposedly empty house to steal a large sum of money hidden in a safe room.  The bad guys surprisingly find that the house is occupied, and the madness commences from there.  Burnham is a security expert, who actually had a hand in designing the panic room where Jodie Foster and her daughter relocate.  One things leads to another, but Burnham stays constant as the guy who doesn't want to hurt anyone, just wants to get the money and go.  Burnham is supposed to be well-liked, and Whitaker does a solid job of keeping it that way throughout the film.

My good friend Devin Frank assured me if I had seen The Last King of Scotland, then Whitaker would have cracked the list for that Oscar-gaining performance, but alas, I did not see it before my self-imposed deadline.  It should be noted that Whitaker's Panic Room portrayal of Burnham was nominated for a Black Reel Award for Best Supporting Actor.  Whitaker and Denzel Washington both lost out that year (2003) to Dennis Haysbert.  Go figure.

Memorable Quotes

"I spent the last 12 years of my life building rooms like this specifically to keep out people like us." - Burnham

"This is what I do; if some idiot with a sledgehammer could break in do you really think I'd still have a job?" - Burnham

"Hey I told you, I don't hurt people." - Burnham

Hint for #23: This actor played the same role not once, not twice, not even three times, but on four different occasions, along with the same white guy.

Until next time, "read it, roll it, hole it."

2011 Black History Month: #25 Black Actor Performance

By: Luke Florence

2011 Black History Month: #25 Black Actor Performance

Lauryn Hill as "Rita Louise Watson" in "Sister Act II"

It only took three years, but we finally have a female represented on my Black History Month list.  Who would have guessed it would be Lauryn Hill?  Well, twenty years from now when Jeopardy puts up the answer, "This is the first female to appear on the King of Arguments BHM list," you all will know the question.

List-making is a process that I've developed over the years.  Once a topic has been established a series of steps follows to ensure a proper list is in order.  1) Brainstorm: come up with as many potential candidates as you can, without research.  2) Research.  3) Make your first cuts, but don't bother putting them in order.  4) Put them in order.  5) Do last minute research to make sure you didn't forget anything.  6) Finalize order a second time.

Lauryn Hill entered this list thanks to #5 ... and Matt Barnes.  I knew Barnes wanted a female on this list, and so did I.  It bothered me I didn't have any female black TV characters, and to a certain extent that I didn't have any female black sporting moments.  Therefore I tried to make a conscious effort to include at least one female on this list.  But in keeping with the integrity of this BHM list, I didn't want to force it.  (That's what she said)

I'm not forcing Lauryn Hill on this list by any means.  I'm always trying to think outside the box when I create a list, and I don't think too many of you would have put Hill anywhere near this list.  That being said, I fell in love with Lauryn when I first saw her on Sister Act II as Rita Louise Watson, and that memory will stay with me forever.

I was eight years old when Sister Act II came out and I can distinctly remember walking out of the movie theater with a huge crush on Lauryn Hill.  She was gorgeous in that girl next door kind of way.  She didn't need to wear a bunch of makeup, or wear sexy outfits to get guys' attention.  She was naturally beautiful and had the voice of an angel.  To this day, I don't think I've heard such a sweet voice.  Sister Act II was her coming out party, and I was head-over-heels for her.

Lauryn is more well-known for her time spent with the Fugees, and their song "Killing Me Softly" vaulted Hill into the mainstream.  Her 1998 debut solo album, The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill picked up five Grammys, including Album of the Year.   Ever since she has stayed away from the spotlight, although there are rumors she is planning on a follow-up album, 13 years after her award winning debut. 

As for her acting, she really didn't have to be too far out of her element, which helped tremendously.  She played Rita Watson, an inner-city high-school student who had developed an attitude for authority.  She also had a struggling relationship with her mother, who wanted Rita to pursue a safe career, while all Rita wanted to do was sing.  Now Hill wasn't (and didn't) going to win any awards for her portrayal of Rita Watson, but her performance was memorable and again, it's my list. 

Memorable Quotes

"We'll just call you Rita, Diva with a 'Tude." - Sister Mary Clarence

"Dear Mama, I went to the all-state music competition. I never meant to hurt you but I had to follow my heart. Please forgive me. I love you, Rita." - Florence Watson [reading Rita's letter]

"If you wake up in the morning, and you can't think of anything but singing, then you should be a singer, girl." - Sister Mary Clarence

Hint for #24: This actor has won an Academy Award for Best Actor, but that's not the role remembered here ... rather, it's for his work as a criminal in this early 2000s dramatic film.

Until next time, "read it, roll it, hole it."

2011 Black History Month: #26 Black Actor Performance

By: Luke Florence

2011 Black History Month: #26 Black Actor Performance

Michael Clarke Duncan as "John Coffey" in "The Green Mile"

Stephen King has written some outstanding novels.  The Stand might be my favorite, but his Dark Tower series is an excellent read as well.  He has had several of his books turned into films, some with moderate success.  However, just once has one of King's scripts turned into a major hit at the box office, and it was The Green Mile which grossed more than $130 million in 1999.  It was nominated four times in the 2000 Academy Awards, including Best Picture.  But it was Michael Clarke Duncan's performance of John Coffey that lands it at #26 on this list.

It Was A Kindness You Done
The Green Mile at MOVIECLIPS.com

John Coffey finds himself on The Green Mile because he was convicted of raping and killing two children.  Unlike Big Ben and Ray Lewis however, Coffey had to pay for his crime ... with his life.  As the film progresses we realize that Coffey might just not be the big dumb Negro everyone thinks he is.

Similar to Heath Ledger's supporting role of the Joker in The Dark Knight, Michael Clarke Duncan - though not the lead actor - commands the screen in every scene and has you walking away remembering him, not Tom Hanks.  Obviously his massive build helps facilitate that process, but Duncan is more than just a big body.  He showed incredible range in this performance, as he was able to portray Coffey as a slow man, but a humble man, and a miracle man on top of that.

Miracle Worker
The Green Mile at MOVIECLIPS.com

Duncan has been working solidly in Hollywood since 1998, but it his role of John Coffey that is his most prominent and the one that earned him his first and only Oscar and Golden Globe nominations.

The Execution
The Green Mile at MOVIECLIPS.com

I dare anyone that has seen this movie to go and read The Green Mile and try NOT to picture Michael Clarke Duncan as John Coffey ... at this point they are one in the same. 

Memorable Quotes

"I couldn't help it, boss. I tried to take it back, but it was too late." - John Coffey

"I helped it. Didn't I help it? I just took it back, is all. Awful tired now, boss. Dog tired." - John Coffey

"People hurt the ones they love. That's how it is all around the world." - John Coffey

"You can't hide what's in your heart." - John Coffey

"We each owe a death - there are no exceptions - but, oh God, sometimes the Green Mile seems so long." - Paul Edgecomb

Hint for #25: Comedy movie, early 1990s, SHE will be the first actress to appear on a KOA BHM list, but she is probably more well known for her singing.

Until next time, "read it, roll it, hole it."

2011 Black History Month: #27 Black Actor Performance

By: Luke Florence

2011 Black History Month: #27 Black Actor Performance

Laurence Fishburne as "Jason 'Furious' Styles" in "Boyz n the Hood."

It's hard being a good father.  It's even harder being a good father raising a son by yourself.  It's almost impossible to be a good father while raising your son by yourself in a Los Angelos ghetto.  Despite having all those odds stacked against him, Laurence Fishburne portraying Jason 'Furious' Styles did just that in the 1991 film, "Boyz n the Hood."

This ground-breaking movie had several performances that I could have picked, including Cuba Gooding Junior and Ice Cube, but when I thought back to this film it was Fishburne who came immediately to mind.  Furious Styles is a smart man, one who instills patience, responsibility, and discipline to his younger son Trey.  As he tells his ex-wife, "I'm the one who can teach him to be a man."  And teach him Styles does.  It's a little ridiculous to think that Fishburne is actually only six years older than Cuba Gooding Jr. (who plays his son), but again, the performance is so good you don't even realize the age gap for one second.

Gentrification
Boyz n the Hood at MOVIECLIPS.com

What I appreciated the most from Fishburne's character was that he wasn't removed from reality.  He knew who his son was hanging out with, knew what the culture was like, and knew the issues his son was dealing with on a daily basis.  He understood that guns were prevalent, but taught Trey when and how to use them.  He knew teenagers were drinking and having sex, but taught Trey to be cautious and to always wear a condom.

Give Me the Gun
Boyz n the Hood at MOVIECLIPS.com

The director, John Singleton received an Academy Award nomination for Best Director at the age of 24, making him the youngest ever to obtain a nomination.  Singleton actually met Fishburne for the first time back in 1986 when he was a PA for "Pee-wee's Playhouse."  Fishburne was none other than "Cowboy Curtis" on that beloved show.  Small world. 

Fishburne is probably best known for his role of Morpheus in the Matrix Trilogy, but I never really understood nor particularly enjoyed those movies.  He also earned a 1994 Best Actor Oscar nomination for the film "What's Love Got To Do With It?" but I have never watched that one, so it didn't qualify.  That being said, this film and this actor needed to be mentioned on this list.

Home Invasion
Boyz n the Hood at MOVIECLIPS.com

Memorable Quotes

"Any fool with a dick can make a baby, but only a real man can raise his children." - Furious Styles

"Rick, it's the Nineties. Can't afford to be afraid of our own people anymore, man." - Furious Styles

"Trey, your pops is like mothaf***in Malcolm... Farrakhan." - Doughboy

"Either they don't know, don't show, or don't care about what's going on in the hood. They had all this foreign shit. They didn't have shit on my brother, man." - Doughboy

Hint for #26: Dramatic movie, late 1990s, this actor is the first on the list to get an Oscar nomination for best supporting actor ... movie set in the early 1930s.

Until next time, "read it, roll it, hole it."

2011 Black History Month: #28 Black Actor Performance

By: Luke Florence

The weatherman is predicting a nasty storm of freezing rain with the possibility of turning into snow. Ladies and gentlemen, I give you the beginning of February!!

Couldn't say it any better. So, while you are enjoying your day off of school or just staying inside to warm up, I give you the #28 Black Actor Performance as we kick off our tribute to the 2011 Black History Month.

2011 Black History Month: #28 Black Actor Performance

Wesley Snipes as "Sidney Deane" in "White Men Can't Jump."

This list is made by a white guy for a black guy, so it should come as no surprise that I'm a big fan of the black-white dynamic. When I made my TV list two years ago I had Turk from Scrubs at #2 because of his best-friend relationship with JD. This list is no different, and we start with Wesley Snipes as Sidney Deane.

Yes, I could crack some jokes about how it's tax time, but let's not. Basketball movies are hard to make because it will be judged on how real the game appears on-screen. Well, after watching White Men Can't Jump, I was convinced that Wesley could ball.

Wesley plays the part of basketball hustler extremely well. He has a sharp mouth, a witty sense of humor, and he's pretty damn good at basketball. As with most of the performances on this list, as you watch, you forget that it's Wesley Snipes, and you lose yourself in the actual character, or in this case, Sidney Deane.

Sidney meets up with Billy Hoyle (the white guy) and their chemistry together is unmistakable. One of my favorite movie-clips of all-time is when Billy and Sidney face-off in a shoot-out early on in their relationship.

It's been a while since I've seen this movie, and to be honest, I've only watched it on TV. That's a shame because I have a feeling it would be a much funnier movie if the cable restrictions were lifted ... kind of like Major League.

Wesley has gone on to star in movies like Blade and Major League, but it's his portrayal of Sidney Deane that gets the nod here and has us off and running into February.

Memorable Quotes

"A black man would rather miss than look bad." - Billy Hoyle

"Look man, you can listen to Jimi but you can't hear him. There's a difference man. Just because you're listening to him doesn't mean you're hearing him." - Sidney Deane

"I'll tell you what. Why don't we take all these bricks and build a shelter for the homeless, so maybe your mother will have a place to stay." - Billy Hoyle

"Billy, listen to me. White men can't jump." - Sidney Deane

"You see Billy it's like this, you either smoke or you get smoked. And you got smoked." - Sidney Deane

Hint for #27: Dramatic movie, early 1990s, director was nominated for best director at the age of 24, youngest ever ... this actor is probably best known for his use of sunglasses.

Until next time, "read it, roll it, hole it."

2011 Black History Month: An Introduction

By: Luke Florence
February was always my least favorite month of the year. Think about it. For a guy who loves being outside, February in the Midwest is a disaster. Coldness, snowness, and miserableness all clumped together to make February just an awful 28 days.

But, as a wise man once said, "I get by with a little help from my friends."

Enter Matt Barnes.

Enter Black History Month.

And enter another King of Arguments list.

In 2005 it started simply enough as I sent Barnes a different song each day with the word "black" in the title. No list, no order, just random "black" songs.

We got ourselves a little more organized four years later as I compiled a list of my favorite black television characters. Then in 2010 I attempted to put together a list of my favorite black sporting moments. The list was created, but never finalized on the blog.

Now we our back at it again, as Matt Barnes asked me to compile a list of my favorite black actor performances in film. He gave me no criteria, although he practically begged that I include a female on the list (I've never had a female on any of my BHM lists ... go ahead call me a sexist). So, I was left to my own devices to formulate an appropriate criteria.

#1 - I had to actually watch the movie. This seriously hurt the chances of Sidney Poitier making the list because although he is considered one of the best African-American actors of all-time, I've never watched a single movie he was in.
#2 - Actors and actresses are allowed on the list multiple times. Usual suspects apply here. Technically I could have put one actor or actress on my list 28 times and called it a day. However, I have more respect for the list-making process and Black History Month in general to allow that.

#3 - I leaned heavily on movies I enjoyed. There are no performances on this list that come from movies I disliked. In fact, the top five performances all come from movies that are probably safe in my top twenty all-time favorite movies.

#4 - Reputation helps. If you are a great African-American actor or actress and I haven't seen a lot of your movies, I tried to include a notable performance that I had seen and placed that in the list. This really only applies to the bottom-half of my list, but it needed to be noted.

Now that you know my criteria, also know that as with almost every list I make, I try to do three things: make you think, make you laugh, and make you debate. I love putting lists together, and each one presents it's own set of challenges. I had an extremely tough time with the top ten, and even though I've written them down, they could still be changed.

We will post one performance a day, starting on Wednesday, and we will attempt to do one-a-day for the entire month. Hopefully Barnes will do a better job of putting up a response post than he did the year prior. Not gonna lie, the fact he only put up three posts took away from my BHM experience in 2010.

Quiz time: Of my 28 black actor/actress performances, five got on the list more than once. Can you name them all?

I'll see you back here on Wednesday when I unveil my #28 favorite black performance in a movie.

Hint for #28: Sports movie, early 1990s, nominated for two MTV movie awards, including best on-screen duo. "It ain't easy being this good."

Until next time, "read it, roll it, hole it."

Previewing the 2011 NFL Divisional Round

By: Luke Florence

Even though the 2010 NFL ATS Pick 'Em league disappeared from the King of Arguments, the league continued thanks to CBS Sportsline. It was competitive as always, coming down to the final game of the regular season. Yours truly walked away bloodied and bruised, but victorious nonetheless. The Bess Club fought the good fight, but finished one game back in second. Jake Young defeated Kevin Hunt on the 3rd game of the playoffs to take the bronze, while Ryan Polito ended up in 5th.

Although the playoffs don't count for anything, it has always been a long-term goal of mine to go undefeated picking not only winners and losers in the NFL's post-season, but also a perfect 11-0 against the spread. It hasn't happened yet, and only one time in the past five years have I made it past Wild Card Weekend flawless.

Last weekend I was sitting 3-0 both ATS and SU as the Green Bay-Philly was about to start. Right before kick-off that sinking feeling began to flood me. It's the same feeling that a college student has right before a test she is unprepared for. Or, the same feeling a boyfriend has right before his girlfriend ends things. It's a hopeless notion, and I had it right as the final game of the weekend started. I wasn't surprised when David Akers missed those field-goals, or when Mike Vick threw that game-ending interception. I was meant to lose that game ... and I did just that.

Goals can change and as soon as Green Bay knocked off Philadelphia, mine did as well. Short-term is to go a perfect 4-0 SU and ATS in the Divisional Round, while the long term is to rack up double-digit wins in at least one of the two categories. One wrong choice can derail both goals in a single instant. Let's see how long I survive. Giddy up.

BALTIMORE @ PITTSBURGH (-3.5)

My Pick: BAL (+3.5)

Final Score: BAL 20-17

As a Cleveland Browns fan I'd like to think the Browns-Steelers rivalry is one of the league's best, but it's hard to follow through on that notion when one team has been the other's doormat for the past decade. (I'm looking at all you Michigan fans now) Truth be told, this Baltimore-Pittsburgh feud has risen to the top. They are built in similar fashions on both sides of the ball, their coaches have similar philosophies and their weaknesses are hard to find.

The past three times these teams have suited up, they have been separated by exactly three points. That's the main reason for my ATS pick, but the reason for my SU pick is simply because I believe Baltimore's ceiling is a bit higher than Pittsburgh's. Besides, karma says Big Ben gets smoked out of the playoffs ... and I believe in karma.

GREEN BAY @ ATLANTA (-2.5)

My Pick: ATL (-2.5)

Final Score: ATL 34-17

I still don't know what to call it, but I've always relished when the local team lost. I have always disliked Ohio State, so whenever they lost, I rejoiced. When I moved to Madison, Wisconsin, I suddenly took pride in my Ohio license plate and rooted hard for the Buckeyes to knock off the Badgers. Last year when Kurt Warner defeated the Packers in the playoffs, I silently smiled. Maybe it's because most of my favorite sport teams lose so frequently that I appreciate the company. Maybe I just like it when the neighborhood is quiet.

That being said, Atlanta is the best team in the NFC, no question about it. I would go as far as saying they have the best QB as well. At the very least, they have the best QB at home, and since Matt Ryan will only be playing playoffs games at home until the Super Bowl, they become the odds-on favorite. Besides, I refuse to believe a team can win consistently in the playoffs when they can't run the ball, and I trust James Starks to put back-to-back solid games together as much as I trust the Cleveland Indians to make the playoffs before the Pope dies.

SEATTLE @ CHICAGO (-10.5)

My Pick: CHI (-10.5)

Final Score: CHI 33-10

Yes, I called the Seattle Seahawks win over the New Orleans Saints last week. Did I think it was a huge upset? Not really. The Saints did not impress me at all in 2010. Drew Brees did not improve from last year, and the Saints lost their ability to run the ball. Add in a home game for Seattle and the whole "Nobody believes in us" factor, and you have a perfect recipe for an "upset."

Yes, this is a perfect match-up for Seattle. They are facing a Chicago Bears team that is backed by Jay Cutler. A Cutler who has never been in a playoff game, a Cutler who has a sub .500 record for his career, and a Cutler who hasn't played well at all since mid-season. Having said that, this is also a perfect match-up for Chicago. Their defense can man-handle Seattle, and Cutler shouldn't be forced to press at all. Seattle was a nice story this year, and I certainly can't hate since their win over St. Louis won me the 2010 NFL ATS Pick 'Em, but their run ends here.

NEW YORK JETS @ NEW ENGLAND (-9.5)

My Pick: NYJ (+9.5)

Final Score: NE 26-21

If I'm 3-0 headed to this game I have zero doubts that the sinking feeling will return again. Mainly because this is the match-up that caused me the most problems. To be honest, I have no idea how this will play out. None. I love Tom Brady, and am rooting for him to win his 4th Super Bowl, but this is not the team the Patriots wanted to see here. Of all the teams left in the playoffs, I think the Jets have the best chance to upset New England ... I really do.

They can run the ball, they can get pressure on the QB, and their coach probably wants it more than the players do. It's easy to hate on Rex Ryan, and he certainly says idiotic things from time-to-time, but if I were a player, I'd love for him to be my coach.

At the end of the day this pick boils down to hoping for a close game with my preferred team winning it. This doesn't bode well for me, because as a wise man once said, "when you start betting on your hopes, that's when you know you are going to lose."

Until next time, "read it, roll it, hole it."

This Side or the Other

By: Luke Florence

"I'll see you again ... on this side or the other." - Doug MacRay, The Town

Those that have been following this blog since its' inception know it is commonplace for me to take a leave of absence here and there. Things happen for one reason or another, and the King of Arguments goes on hiatus. What you may not know is how much it eats at me when that delay occurs. It's a constant thought on my mind, like an itch impossible to reach. The only way to satisfy that itch is to sit down and write.

The other night I sat down and instead of writing, I looked back at my previous posts that have accumulated here the past four years. Stories about sports, stories about girls, and some stories about life. It's as much of a public diary if there ever was one.

The most obvious question is "What's next?" Where do we go from here? I've reluctantly missed the majority of the 2010 NFL ATS season, which is as regrettable of an offense as I've made in the short history of the KOA. It wouldn't be fair to declare finalists, set-up an awards banquet, and hand out hardware. Consider it a strike-shortened season with regards to comments. That thought alone saddens my heart something awful.

But as I wrote back in July, sometimes you just have to move on ... as hard as that is. So here we are ... moving on. Moving away from the lackluster 2010 NFL ATS season and onto whatever is in store for 2011.

In school, we are taught that the first part of writing is the brainstorming process. Well this post is going to represent my brainstorming for the rest of 2011. Here is what I would like to accomplish on this blog in the upcoming 12 months.

1) Finish the 2009 F'd Up Tournament. We are down to Michael Jackson's Final Destiny, but we haven't finished it. Once we do, we can focus on 2011's version. What happened to 2010 you may ask? Well, the F'd Up Tournament is like the Olympics ... too big to take place every year.

2) Compile a list of my 100 favorite movies. Matt Barnes and I talked about doing this a while back but it never happened. This will be quite the task, but I feel it will be my second most important list I've ever created. Right behind my top 50 favorite sport-figures of all-time.

3) Speaking of Barnes, February is almost upon us and that will mean another Black History Month list. As of right now we don't have a topic for 2011, but that will change quite soon.

4) Allow others to post on the King of Arguments. We are stealing this idea from our friends over at the Court Street Cup, but it's okay to steal ideas as long as they are good ones. When the 2011 NFL ATS season gets underway expect a multitude of contributors.

5) A weekly column about anything and everything. The idea behind this is to post something on here once a week for the entire year. I've made this promise before, so place your bets on whether or not I'll follow through on it.

6) A LOST review. Enough time has passed that I can put together some sort of finale review. I'm thinking of posting my general thoughts on LOST, ranking all of the LOST episodes, and possibly starting a LOST re-watch.

7) Book reviews of each and every book I finish in 2011. My nine-year-old self is furious I'm going to voluntarily write book reviews. I'm currently reading three books, and my plan is to have them all finished by the end of February. A great way to better your writing skills is becoming a constant reader.

8) I love the idea of Music Mondays, and really want to incorporate that somehow, but don't think a weekly column will work. Instead, I'm aiming for either a bi-weekly or monthly wrap-up of the music I'm listening to.

9) Previews and picks of all major sporting events for the year. We will be starting with the NFL Divisional games this coming weekend.

10) A monthly mailbag of comments, questions and concerns by you the readers. Sure I would love them to be real comments (send to kingofarguments@gmail.com) but I will more than likely have to make them up. Such is life.

So that's it. That's what I'm hoping to accomplish in 2011 with the KOA.

As Winston Churchill said, "Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts." So that's what I will be doing. Hope to see you again, on this side or the other.

Until next time, "read it, roll it, hole it."