Saints 31, Vikings 28
Unless I’ve been dreaming for the last eight hours, the Saints are going to the Super Bowl. Here, Tracy Porter celebrates the interception that kept the score tied at the end of the fourth quarter.
January 25, 2010
Category: Arts
Uncharted 2: Among Thieves
You don’t need me to tell you how good this game is; the rest of the gaming world got there first. I don’t know if any one game can be a “system‐seller” — but if you already own a PS3, it’s inexcusable not to own Uncharted 2.
It’s not just good; it’s unusually, surprisingly good. It’s unusual for a game to be this much better than its prequel. It’s unusual for a game to make such large graphical leaps over its prequel on same‐generation hardware.
How good was Drew Brees on Monday night? Cold Hard Football Facts says he was nothing short of obscenely fantastic. Five touchdown passes (against a Belichick‐coached team), a perfect passer rating, and 16.13 yards per passing attempt — accomplishments that range from rare to extremely rare to unprecedented.
The Louisiana Superdome is, I’m convinced, the most intimidating place to play in the NFL. The Times‐Picayune measured crowd noise at key moments in last night’s game; after a critical defensive stop, it peaked at 119 decibels — about as loud as it can get without being quite dangerous for one’s hearing. For comparison, I googled around and found a reference to a 108‐decibel peak at one game at the RCA Dome (the former home of the Colts). Domes have fallen out of favor, on the whole, but there’s no beating them when you want to make the road team feel unwelcome.
Saints 38, Patriots 17
The Saints are 11–0. Had you heard? I’ve been reserved so far, but I feel a sports‐gasm coming on that won’t subside until the end of the NFL season. I apologize in advance.
December 1, 2009
Randy Newman’s Jewish awakening came rather abruptly. While in high school, he was invited to a country‐club cotillion. When the night of the ball arrived, he received a surprise phone call from the girl’s father. “I’m sorry, Randy,” the father said, “my daughter had no right to invite you, because no Jews are allowed.” Newman answered, “That’s all right, sir,” hung up the phone, and asked his father, “Hey, Dad, what’s a Jew?”
I’ve never really seen anything like [Drew Brees]. He’s maybe barely 6 feet tall and he moves around there like he’s seeing everything. I can’t see a thing half the time, and I’m the same height. He’s super special.
I started having a crazy idea in the fourth inning that Richard Nixon was the home plate umpire, and once I thought I was pitching a baseball to Jimi Hendrix, who to me was holding a guitar and swinging it over the plate.
Brütal Legend
Yes, I wish it were longer. Yes, the side quests are a bit repetitive. But how can you resist a world crafted so lovingly and meticulously? Just now, while exploring, I came upon a graveyard. The headstones were wearing headphones.
I don’t spend much time comparing blogs — favorably or unfavorably — to the mainstream media. But Deadspin’s feature on how NBA stat crews pad their own teams’ stats is far more newsworthy than anything that happens in (for example) The Brett Favre Saga.