by Logan Butts | Oct 26, 2012 | Opinion, Sports
For the decade after Michael Jordan’s last game in a Bulls jersey, the NBA went through constantly declining ratings, a lack of stars, boring playoff games, a referee fixing scandal and a number of other problems. However, the last few years have seen a return to form for the NBA. Some experts are even claiming that the NBA is now on par with the golden age of the late ‘80s/early ‘90s (or at least getting close). This season looks to be a continuation of that trend with more interesting storylines, competitive teams and talented players than the league has seen since that golden era. Eastern Conference 1. Miami Heat: Who else? After LeBron James finally played to his full potential and figured out how to effectively balance the main scorer and facilitator roles, the results were devastating. They added sharpshooters Ray Allen and Rashard Lewis to the offense in the off-season to bolster their star-studded roster. Also, a healthy Dwyane Wade will be key. 2. Boston Celtics: Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett are not getting any younger, but luckily for the Celtics, Rajon Rondo went into full superstar mode during last year’s conference finals against the Heat. The Celtics will need more of that if they want to get past the Heat this year. 3. Indiana Pacers: The Pacers are just about as deep as anyone in the league, but the NBA is a league of stars, and who is going to take that role on this team? Danny Granger? Roy Hibbert? Somebody has to. 4. New York Knicks: They have possibly the best pure scorer in Carmelo Anthony...
by Cory Woodroof | Oct 13, 2012 | Opinion
Before I get 500 negative comments based on this review, let me add this important disclaimer. Kevin James’ newest comedy, “Here Comes the Boom,” is a flawed product. It’s ridden with inspiring clichés and could have used about twenty minutes cut out of its 105 minute run-time. It’s also one of the sweetest, down-to-earth comedies I’ve seen in a good while. “Here Comes the Boom” allows the likeable James to really hone in his, well, likeable personality, saddled with a half-way decent script filled with workable comedy and “that’s nice” greeting card heart. The film is also timely, making fairly accurate complaints against the current state of the public education system. Social commentary with effective humor? In a Kevin James movie, nonetheless? Strange times, indeed. After the budget of a Boston high school undergoes massive cuts, the music department led by Henry Winkler’s committed Marty, ends up falling to the wayside in favor of other extracurricular activities. James’ apathetic biology teacher Scott Voss, a friend of Marty, decides to save his pal’s job by entering into the ring of mixed martial arts. (He was a top wrestler in college, now, not so much). Teaming up with Marty and UFC fighter Bas Rutten’s Niko, Voss puts on the spandex and gloves in order to fight his way to somewhere around $38,000 dollars (the amount needed to keep Marty at the composer’s stand). I was skeptical about the prospects of this film simply due to the fact that Kevin James isn’t usually in that great of a movie. Last year’s not-as-bad-as-everyone-said-but-still-not-that-good Zookeeper seemed to become the thought that popped into one’s...
by Cory Woodroof | Oct 9, 2012 | Opinion, Sports
After a large number of Kansas City Chiefs fans cheered when their own quarterback left the KC-Baltimore Ravens game Sunday with a concussion, infuriated Chiefs offensive tackle Eric Winston decided to take a stand. Winston held a one-man press conference blasting people who expressed their joy at Matt Cassel’s expense. “We are athletes, OK? We are athletes. We are not gladiators. This is not the Roman Coliseum. People pay their hard-earned money when they come in here, and I believe they can boo, they can cheer and they can do whatever they want. I believe that,” Winston said. “We are lucky to play this game. People, it’s hard economic times, and they still pay the money to do this.” This is true. Fans pay good money for tickets. You guys make a lot of money. Why can’t I cheer for what I want, whenever I want? Not quite so, the lineman says, referring in part to the long-lasting impact of concussions on players that’s still being studied, even while some retired athletes struggle to fully function and others choose suicide over disability. “But when somebody gets hurt, there are long-lasting ramifications to the game we play. I’ve already kind of come to the understanding that I won’t live as long because I play this game, and that’s OK. That’s a choice I’ve made and a choice all of us have made.” Winston continues. “But when you cheer, when you cheer somebody getting knocked out, I don’t care who it is — and it just so happened to be Matt Cassel — it’s sickening. It’s 100 percent sickening. I’ve been in some rough times on some rough...
by Cory Woodroof | Oct 5, 2012 | Opinion
I haven’t exactly had the best 2012 at the cinema. Sure, I’ve seen my share of great films, but the overall landscape just seems more vacant than in years past. Maybe there’s something in the water, but 2012’s film slate just can’t call itself very memorable. But, on occasion, a light in a dark, dark tunnel will give you hope that the year might just be salvageable. Who knew 2012’s saving grace would be a black-and-white stop-motion animated film about a Frankenstien-ified dog? Tim Burton’s “Frankenweenie,” to me, is one of the year’s best films. I know what you’re thinking – that movie? The creepy-looking one with those weird cartoon-toy things that looks like that Halloween/Christmas movie that scared me as a kid? Yes, this is Burton returning to the world of “The Nightmare Before Christmas” (a film he produced, not directed) and “The Corpse Bride” – a world many find strange and unsettling. I’m a pretty big fan of “Nightmare,” but “Corpse Bride” escapes my memory. Stop-motion Burton style is an acquired taste – one that I just so happen to be pretty big on. So, when Burton announced that he was adapting one of his earlier short films into a feature-length stop-motion animated project, I was jumping for joy. Thankfully, Burton pulled through. “Frankenweenie” captured me in a way I never honestly thought it could – in the same way that most “boy-and-his-dog” narratives usually do. I should have seen it coming, but Burton knew how to get to me. The film is a personal look into Burton as an artist (something that’s been said by almost...
by Andrew Thetford | Oct 4, 2012 | Opinion
Review: Live on the Green, Nick Waterhouse My musical weekend started Thursday night at Live on the Green. This week was the most anticipated lineup I had ever heard of for Live on the Green. To start the night off, some friends and I arrived early (around 5:30) because we had heard they were preparing for a crowd of 20,000 attendees. After hearing this we knew we had to get there early to get a good spot. After about an hour, the first band hit the stage. Fly Golden Eagle, a local electronic grunge rock band, started their set with a song featuring some fiery saxophone and keys. Fly Golden Eagle is a band that has recently been gaining exposure and hitting the festival circuit with appearances at Bonnaroo and other festivals. These guys from the east side of Nashville (including a Lipscomb graduate, Richard Harper), started the night better than most any local band could. The next band on stage was the local former Belmont students, The Apache Relay. With this being their second Live on the Green, they were seasoned and ready to go. You could tell the maturity they had gained due to their recent touring with bands such as Dawes and Mumford and Sons while they entertained what now seemed like 10,000 people in the crowd. Once their set ended, everyone knew what was next. Alabama Shakes was setting up. This time last year I don’t think anyone in the crowd even knew who these guys were, but you better believe they did last Thursday. Finally, after what seemed like forever, they took to the stage...
by Makenzie Kanyuh | Sep 28, 2012 | Opinion
“I will hang out with you for free.” That is a statement I’ve often heard from friends outside the Greek system since I joined Delta Omega last year. I do not enjoy hearing comments like these, but I know the people that say these statements don’t truly understand the bond that comes from being in a social club. “From the outside looking in, you can never understand it. From the outside looking out, you can never explain it.” That is one of my favorite TSM (Total Sorority Move) quotes. But bear with me as I try to explain the importance of it to you. The hope for my club is to be Christian examples, bonded sisters, and servants on Lipscomb’s campus. We aren’t really paying for our friends, we are paying for the T-shirts, the formal, the events and the philanthropy that we do! These girls were my friends before I joined this club, and they remain my friends outside of club events. I hang out with them on an everyday basis, and I live with two of them. I found a statement on Pinterest that really shows how positive joining a sorority can be. “A sorority is more than letters on a sweatshirt, traditional songs, rituals, an obligation, or a way of life. A sorority is learning about people and giving without expecting a return. It’s earning respect from others, as well as for yourself. It will not solve all your problems. But I have made good friends and found confidence there to help me take life one step at a time.” Since a decent amount of people...
