Sunday, September 28, 2008

Paul Newman

Another cinema icon has passed away this weekend, and one more link with the old, classic Hollywood has gone with him. Paul Newman was many things: a marvelous actor, a director/producer, a sex symbol, a race car driver, a philanthropic entrepenour, and a family man. He lived his life his way, and he was admired and loved by millions.

When he catapulted to stardom in the mid-50's, he was adored by millions of women who were mesmerized by his blue eyes, chiseled looks, and moody countenance. He played rascals and rebels, loners and con men. His early output of films reads like a list of classics: "Somebody Up there Likes Me", "Cat on a Hot tin Roof", "The Long Hot Summer", "Sweet Bird of Youth", "Exodus", "The Hustler", "Hud". He starred in off-beat message westerns, such as "The Left Handed Gun", playing Billy the Kid, and "Hombre", playing a half-breed Apache facing social and racial prejudice. And, of course, the classic "Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid", where he was teamed with Robert Redford for the first time.

In the 70's and 80's, he started to play in message films. He received Academy Award nominations for his brilliant roles in "Absence of Malice" and "The Verdict." He tempered these serious films with films of pure entertainment value, the wonderfully profane ode to minor league hockey, "Slap Shot", the us-against-the-world parable of the New York Police Department, "Fort Apache, the Bronx", and that wonderful throwback to the old Hollywood con-artist film, "The Sting", which re-teamed Newman with Robert Redford and director George Roy Hill, and won seven Academy Awards, including Best Picture.

Despite ten nominations, Newman won only one time, for the reprisal of his role as Fast Eddie Felson in Martin Scorcese's "The Color of Money." He had played the role to perfection previously in "The Hustler", and was probably robbed of an Academy Award at that time. The Oscar he received seemed more like a lifetime achievement award, and if that is the case, so be it. We can regard it as a make-up award for losing out for "The Hustler", and "Hud", and "The Verdict", and on and on.

Newman was married twice, the second time to actress JoAnne Woodward. They celebrated their 50th anniversary earlier this year, and I defy anyone to name another Hollywood power couple who lasted even close to that long. Newman was famously faithful to his wife, and when asked why he didn't avail himself of the throngs of women who wanted to have sex with him, stated: "I go home and have steak every night, why would I want to substitute that with hamburger?"

The Newmans became philanthropic in the 80's. They started "Newman's Own" line of salad dressing, popcorn, and pasta sauce. All the proceeds went to charity. They created the Hole in the Wall Gang youth ranches for disabled children. They stumped for political causes and candidates they believed in, such as Eugene McCarthy and George McGovern. They famously and vocally protested the Vietnam War, and Newman was proud to have made Richard Nixon's legendary enemies list. When Newman's son from his first marriage died of a drug overdose, they founded their own drug rehabilitation clinic and devoted themselves to that cause.

Newman's passion was race car driving, a passion he did not begin until middle age. Like everything else he did, he plunged into racing with energy and enthusiasm. He won amateur championships, and finished second one year at Le Mans. He was clearly a man who lived life to the fullest, and was not afraid to go for what he wanted.

Paul Newman personified class. A towering actor, a fine Oscar-nominated director, a succesful philanthropic businessman, and a reckless daredevil, he was never afraid to be the man he wanted to be. Paul Newman was above all, a devoted and dedicated family man who placed his wife and children first. He was an original, and an icon, and he will be sincerely missed.

Tuesday, September 9, 2008

I Need Some Jack

No, I'm not talking about money, although I could certainly use a whole bunch of that. Times are tough, the problems my wife and I are facing these days seem to be a microcosm of the tough times we are facing as a nation. I've been pretty down lately, the only relief coming when I play poker. It seems there's been a big, gaping hole in my life, and I just couldn't put my finger on it. And then it struck me. I need some Jack!! Big-time!! That is, I need my weekly fix of Jack Bauer.

If you don't know who I'm talking about, then read no more. This post is not for you, you won't get it, and you'll undoubtedly think I'm some kind of freak or loser. But if you know who Jack Bauer is, and if the mere mention of his name brought you any sort of anxiety or excitement or anticipation, then you know exactly what I'm talking about. I miss "24", I miss it badly. In fact, I've been "jonesing" for a new season of my favorite tv show ever since the last season ended.

Before I write anything more, understand that I'm no idiot. I'm a highly intelligent graduate of a major law school and have practiced law continuously for the last 22 years. I have a pretty high IQ, although I've done some pretty dumb things in the last few years. I know the difference between reality and fantasy, and I realize that "24" is no more real than the "Lord of the Rings" trilogy. And to that I say, who cares. I love "24", and its disappearance the last year and a half has created a major void in my life.

For those who don't know, "24" was one of the victims of the recent writer's strike in Hollywood. It takes some pretty impressive writing to continue to come up with fascinating scenarios of Jack Bauer saving the nation from the latest terrorist plot to destroy/take over/poison/defoliate our country. And so, with the writers on strike, the new season of "24" which was scheduled to begin this past January was postponed to January, 2009. And that has left lunatic fans of Jack Bauer's (like yours truly) to find other ways to decompensate after we get home from our mundane jobs, like communicating with family, reading books, playing with the dogs, or working on projects around the house. Yuckkkk!!!!

I need to know what happened to Jack after the final fade-out from the previous season. I need to know what happened to Audrey, and why her dickhead father (who owes his life to Jack) is so dead set against them being together. I need to be amused by Chloe's latest antics. And I need to know what happened to President Palmer, not the great, recently assassinated President David Palmer, but his much less impressive brother, who also suffered an attempted assassination, Wayne Palmer. Yes, "24" gave us not one, but two black Presidents, brothers no less. The first was assassinated after he left office, and the second suffered a bomb explosion that left him near death at the end of the last season. Barack Obama better watch out.

I know that "24" can be silly, that it can be accused of exploiting stereotypes, that there is simply no way one guy can do so much, all in one day (which apparently never include meals or trips to the bathroom---where in the world does he get his stamina?). I know all that intellectually. Still, I find the show fascinating, exciting, breath-taking, suspenseful, amusing and endlessly entertaining. Isn't that what TV is all about?

Come back, Jack, I need you bad.

Thursday, September 4, 2008

My Favorite Time of Year

Ah, September. The birds are chirping, football has begun, the scent of fall is in the air. And here, in the metropolitan Phoenix area, the temperature dipped today to a positively frigid 108.

September means pennant race time in baseball, and both my teams, the Mets and the D'backs are in the thick of the pennant race in their respective divisions. In fact, as I write this post, both my teams sit atop their divisions, and will play their respective second-place rivals this weekend. Sweet.

The D'backs have been in first place all season long. After a positively torrid April, they have pretty much coasted with a losing record ever since. In any other division, they would have been left for dead long ago, but in the putrid NL West, they still rule the roost, at least for now. They've been carried by their starting pitching, Brandon Webb, who seemed to have a lock on the Cy Young award two weeks ago, Dan Haren, who was probably the top offseason pick up until about two weeks ago, and Randy Johnson, who was doing his best impression of the Randy Johnson who won four consecutive Cy Young awards with the D'backs in the early years of this decade. The offense has pretty much stunk, despite the temporary lift that Adam Dunn gave the team when he joined them, and the bullpen started the season great, but has been horrible the last six weeks or so. Still, the D'backs were holding their own, and had a golden opportunity to put some distance between themselves and the Dodgers as the Dodgers lost eight in a row last week. So, what happened? The big three of Webb, Haren, and Johnson have all been shelled in their last two starts, the offense has continued to struggle, and the team was swept by the lowly Padres. During the Dodgers' eight game losing streak, the D'backs picked up only a half game in the standings, and now sit merely two games up in the loss column. They may be in second place after this weekend if the vaunted starting pitching doesn't turn things around immediately. The Dodgers, meanwhile, have won five in a row coming into this weekend's showdown, and they seem to have momentum. I have a hard time believing the D'backs can hold them off and win the division. Of course, if the Big Three revert back to their dominant ways, anything can happen, but without strong performances from Webb, Haren and Johnson, the Snakes haven't got a chance.

In the NL East, the Mets are trying not to repeat last year's disastrous choke job. The difference is, of course, that this year's team was not supposed to be in first place this late in the season. With a makeshift bullpen and an inconsistent starting rotation (other than Johan Santana and Mike Pelfrey), the offense has come alive. David Wright has already driven in a hundred runs, Carlos Delgado is knocking on the door to that milestone, and Carlos Beltran has heated up. Jose Reyes is setting the table nicely and Ryan Church is back. If the Mets can hold off the Phillies this weekend, they will look pretty solid, much different from last year when they always seemed on the verge of caving in. No predictions yet, but I really think this weekend is pivotal.

In the Central, the Cubs, despite their present slump, still look like the best team in the NL. They should win the division somewhat handily, despite the loss of Carlos Zambrano. As for the wild card, it will be a surprise if the Brewers don't win. Ryan Braun is having an MVP type year, and C.C. Sabathia has been unbelieveable since he joined the team. It has to be disappointing for the Cardinals and Astros, both of whom would be leading the West if they were there, to see their playoff hopes slowly slipping away.

In the AL, the Angels seemingly had their division locked up at the All Star Break. I keep waiting for the Rays to fall apart, but they've made a believer out of me, and I expect them to either finish in first place in the east, or end up with the wild card. The Yankees are clearly toast, and for the first time in seemingly forever, they will stay home in October. The AL Central is too close to call between the White Sox and Minnesota, and it will probably go down to the wire. Can you imagine if the Cubs, White Sox, and Red Sox all end up playing in the postseason in the same year? I'll be that hasn't happened very often.

The NFL started play tonight, and the World Champion Giants (boy does that feel weird typing that!!!) started their defense of their championship with a win over the Redskins. There is great anticipation in New York about the new-look Jets and their new quarterback, Bret somebody-or-other. Wouldn't you know that in Favre's first game with the team, he'll be facing deposed Jet quarterback Chad Pennington and the Miami Dolphins. The Jets seem to be heavily favored, but I wouldn't be surprised if Pennington pulls off the upset. He's certainly capable of that. Of course, both teams happen to play in the same division as the Patriots, and that is never good news.

Here in the desert, the city seems pretty excited about the Cardinals. The team that should have won at least ten games last year and been in the playoffs, had a .500 record for only the third time in their entire history in Phoenix. Kurt Warner has been dubbed to be the starting quarterback, and he will be throwing to two all pro receivers, Anquan Bolding (who has said he wants out of Phoenix) and Larry Fitzgerald. We'll see what happens.

And in college football, the team I've followed for the last 25 years, the Arizona Wildcats, throttled their first opponent by a score of 70-0. Of course, their opponent was basically on a par with a high school team, nevertheless the last time they beat any team by that kind of score was, like, never. It's put up or shut up time for Coach Mike Stoops in Tucson. Stoops has yet to have a winning season and the Cats haven't been to a bowl game since 1998. Anything less than a bowl berth this season, and Stoops is history. A pretty easy non-conference schedule should help.

What a great time of year. And isn't there some sort of election or something going on right now? Sweet! Now if the temperature would dip below the century mark, we can finally come out of our air-conditioned hiding.