Monday, February 05, 2007
Hardly News, or Even Useful
In one of my many journeys in the land of Wikipedia, I stumbled across something. Rolling Stone came out with the 500 Greatest Albums of All Time in November 2003, and provided that nobody does anything great after that date, that's useful. Wikipedia says that it was made by votes from various Rock musicians and other industry guys, and being a Rolling Stone list, you would expect much more of a rock bias. But nonetheless, here's the list.
Here are the ones I own:
12. Kind of Blue, Miles Davis
17. Nevermind, Nirvana
26. The Joshua Tree, U2
61. Appetite for Destruction, Guns n' Roses
73. Back in Black, AC/DC
94. Bitches Brew, Miles Davis
467. Love and Theft, Bob Dylan
Granted I did skim the list, but I was still rather surprised that this is all I've got. I'm pretty sure I have more on the AFI 100 movies list (and I'd love to compare it to this years update).
Upon further review, I agree with the critics that there is quite a bias towards the 60s and 70s, and further that a "greatest albums of all time" should encompass music a bit more broadly. Frankly, I think this list looks completely different in 10 years, and 10 years after that, and is hardly a good "all-time" list.
But it's something to look at anyway.
Here are the ones I own:
12. Kind of Blue, Miles Davis
17. Nevermind, Nirvana
26. The Joshua Tree, U2
61. Appetite for Destruction, Guns n' Roses
73. Back in Black, AC/DC
94. Bitches Brew, Miles Davis
467. Love and Theft, Bob Dylan
Granted I did skim the list, but I was still rather surprised that this is all I've got. I'm pretty sure I have more on the AFI 100 movies list (and I'd love to compare it to this years update).
Upon further review, I agree with the critics that there is quite a bias towards the 60s and 70s, and further that a "greatest albums of all time" should encompass music a bit more broadly. Frankly, I think this list looks completely different in 10 years, and 10 years after that, and is hardly a good "all-time" list.
But it's something to look at anyway.
Labels: Lists
Friday, July 07, 2006
ESPN's All-time All-Star List
ESPN has a vote for the all time all-star. They asked me to vote for some of these, but I can't bring myself to select one of their picks for some of them.
Starting Catcher
Roy Campanella 1953
Johnny Bench 1970
Mike Piazza 1997
I went with Campy because he had a great combo of HR, Power and RBI, and also because he was a better defensive guy than Piazza. The Dodgers have always succeeded in producing catchers, so they had to get hat position.
Now a none of the above:
Starting First Baseman
Stan Musial 1946
Will Clark 1989
Jeff Bagwell 1996
How about Derrek Lee 2005? The guy batted .335, hit 46 HR and batted in 107. The Cubs had a winning record this year before his injury! Or for that matter, Mark McGwire 1998, 70 HR .299 BA. People still pitched to him; of his 162 walks, only 28 were intentional.
Starting Second Baseman
Joe Morgan 1975
Joe Morgan 1976
Ryne Sandberg 1990
Craig Biggio 1997
First, it is absurd to give Joe Morgan two shots on similar seasons, especially since he's an ESPN broadcaster. But I will say that his speed combo in 1975 was good.
Starting Shortstop
Honus Wagner 1908
Arky Vaughan 1935
Ozzie Smith 1987
I pick Smith, because he's the best defensive shortstop quite possibly in the history of the game. And he hit .300 that year. End of story.
Starting Third Baseman
Eddie Matthews 1953
Dick Allen 1964
Mike Schmidt 1980
Adrian Beltre in 2004 batted .334 with 48 homers and 121 RBI. He was also part of the best defensive infield in the National League that year. Tell me again why he's not on the list if we're just looking at single-season performance. I guess the same reason Roger Maris isn't on the AL List.
Starting Outfielder
Hack Wilson 1930
Mell Ott 1936
Willie Mays 1954
Duke Snider 1954
Willie Mays 1955
Frank Robinson 1962
Hank Aaron 1963
Barry Bonds 1996
Barry Bonds 2001
Again, absolutely worthless to give Mays and Bonds each two seasons. Aaron is a gimme. Snider absolutely deserves to be there for the average and RBI combo, and Wilson hit .356 that year.
Starting Pitcher
Christy Mathewson 1905
Bob Gibson 1966
Dwight Gooden 1985
Greg Maddux 1994
Randy Johnson 2002
It doesn't take a genius for this one. This list is officially worthless for its negligence of Sandy Koufax. I'd pick the 1965 Koufax, with a 2.04 ERA, 0.855 WHIP (they never cite WHIP, just W-L and ERA), and 382 K. Koufax even came out of the bullpen to save a couple games, and pitched 27 complete games, although '63 Koufax pitched 11 shutouts. Fernando '86 was the last pitcher to pitch 20 complete games. Don't forget the greatest knuckleballer of all time, Phil Niekro. No votes for a dead-ball pitcher (Mathewson) either.
Starting Catcher
Roy Campanella 1953
Johnny Bench 1970
Mike Piazza 1997
I went with Campy because he had a great combo of HR, Power and RBI, and also because he was a better defensive guy than Piazza. The Dodgers have always succeeded in producing catchers, so they had to get hat position.
Now a none of the above:
Starting First Baseman
Stan Musial 1946
Will Clark 1989
Jeff Bagwell 1996
How about Derrek Lee 2005? The guy batted .335, hit 46 HR and batted in 107. The Cubs had a winning record this year before his injury! Or for that matter, Mark McGwire 1998, 70 HR .299 BA. People still pitched to him; of his 162 walks, only 28 were intentional.
Starting Second Baseman
Joe Morgan 1975
Joe Morgan 1976
Ryne Sandberg 1990
Craig Biggio 1997
First, it is absurd to give Joe Morgan two shots on similar seasons, especially since he's an ESPN broadcaster. But I will say that his speed combo in 1975 was good.
Starting Shortstop
Honus Wagner 1908
Arky Vaughan 1935
Ozzie Smith 1987
I pick Smith, because he's the best defensive shortstop quite possibly in the history of the game. And he hit .300 that year. End of story.
Starting Third Baseman
Eddie Matthews 1953
Dick Allen 1964
Mike Schmidt 1980
Adrian Beltre in 2004 batted .334 with 48 homers and 121 RBI. He was also part of the best defensive infield in the National League that year. Tell me again why he's not on the list if we're just looking at single-season performance. I guess the same reason Roger Maris isn't on the AL List.
Starting Outfielder
Hack Wilson 1930
Mell Ott 1936
Willie Mays 1954
Duke Snider 1954
Willie Mays 1955
Frank Robinson 1962
Hank Aaron 1963
Barry Bonds 1996
Barry Bonds 2001
Again, absolutely worthless to give Mays and Bonds each two seasons. Aaron is a gimme. Snider absolutely deserves to be there for the average and RBI combo, and Wilson hit .356 that year.
Starting Pitcher
Christy Mathewson 1905
Bob Gibson 1966
Dwight Gooden 1985
Greg Maddux 1994
Randy Johnson 2002
It doesn't take a genius for this one. This list is officially worthless for its negligence of Sandy Koufax. I'd pick the 1965 Koufax, with a 2.04 ERA, 0.855 WHIP (they never cite WHIP, just W-L and ERA), and 382 K. Koufax even came out of the bullpen to save a couple games, and pitched 27 complete games, although '63 Koufax pitched 11 shutouts. Fernando '86 was the last pitcher to pitch 20 complete games. Don't forget the greatest knuckleballer of all time, Phil Niekro. No votes for a dead-ball pitcher (Mathewson) either.
Labels: Lists
Friday, June 16, 2006
In for a long one - my take on the Inspiring Films list
Tyler Cowen at Marginal Revolution has a blog entry on the AFI 100 list of Inspirational movies. Well it gets a blurb, and he basically says they're awful. I've skimmed it, but haven't commented on the whole thing, until now.
First off, I'm going to go with "inspire" as defined by Dictionary.com, definition #2, which is "To fill with enlivening or exalting emotion." I will note whether the films are inspiring, good, and other comments.
1)IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE (1946)
This isn't a bad start, or end if you're doing a countdown. Getting a mention in Russell Roberts' The Invisible Heart, this is one of those movies that I enjoy watching, just not on TV. And it's inspiring to know how one man can do so much.
2) TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD (1962)
I got a 100 on a test on the book in an English class, so I can't hate it. Atticus Finch is cool though.
3) SCHINDLER'S LIST (1993)
This film was somewhat inspiring with how Schindler saved a few, but what I remember it for was the appauling depiction of life in Nazi Germany.
4) ROCKY (1976)
never saw it, and from what I understand, it's an inspirational film benchmark
5) MR. SMITH GOES TO WASHINGTON (1939)
A Jimmy Stewart flick where he represents the only noble politician ever (except of course, Abe Lincoln). Seriously, that's the plot. This is too boring to be in "fantasy" but is a pretty good film, so they had to put it somewhere.
6) E.T. THE EXTRA-TERRESTRIAL (1982)
I never saw this in English (we watched it in German class), but again, I don't think this is inspiring. Feel-good, maybe. Is this supposed to inspire me to call my mom?
7) THE GRAPES OF WRATH (1940)
never saw it, don't really care
8 BREAKING AWAY (1979)
Never heard of it. Look it up if you care.
9) MIRACLE ON 34TH STREET (1947)
"It is the opinion of this court that judges should not be elected. They should be installed for life and paid handsomely." This is a feel-good Christmas movie. It inspires me to open presents.
10) SAVING PRIVATE RYAN (1998)
I feel guilty criticizing this movie, but I didn't like it. You had the action scenes, some sickening gore, and then they just talk, and that part bored me. Then again, I saw this movie on VHS, so that was a while ago. Nonetheless, I'd say a good movie to ponder the past, and at the time a great film to take a veteran to the theater to see. But I wasn't inspired.
11) THE BEST YEARS OF OUR LIVES (1946)
don't know, don't care
12) APOLLO 13 (1995)
The inspirational film for the 2003 Detroit Tigers. Yay, we didn't kill them!
13) HOOSIERS (1986)
This is a good movie, and it's inspirational. I'm waiting for Ed Harris to play Jim Larranaga.
Now, 9 movies I have not seen
14) THE BRIDGE ON THE RIVER KWAI (1957)
15) THE MIRACLE WORKER (1962)
16) NORMA RAE (1979)
17) ONE FLEW OVER THE CUCKOO'S NEST (1975)
18) THE DIARY OF ANNE FRANK (1959)
19) THE RIGHT STUFF (1983)
20) PHILADELPHIA (1993)
21) IN THE HEAT OF THE NIGHT (1967)
22) THE PRIDE OF THE YANKEES (1942) - is certainly not Alex Rodriguez
23) THE SHAWSHANK REDEMPTION (1994)
It inspired me to break out of prison. Morgan Freeman had a great speech that finally got him Parole.
24) NATIONAL VELVET (1944)
don't know
25) SULLIVAN'S TRAVELS (1941)
?
26) THE WIZARD OF OZ (1939)
This movie is on too many lists. Come on people. What's so inspiring? Are you inspired to throw buckets of water at people you don't like?
27) HIGH NOON (1952)
never saw it
28) FIELD OF DREAMS (1989)
This is a great movie. Not only about the father-son thing, or the idea of letting the past be amended, but it's just cool. I'm going to plow over my corn too, except I don't have any.
3 in a row I have not seen
29) GANDHI (1982)
30) LAWRENCE OF ARABIA (1962)
31) GLORY (1989)
32) CASABLANCA (1942)
Inspirational? Um, no. But a good movie. Round up the usual suspects.
More movies I haven't seen
33) CITY LIGHTS (1931)
34) ALL THE PRESIDENT'S MEN (1976)
35) GUESS WHO'S COMING TO DINNER (1967)
I give up, who?
36) ON THE WATERFRONT (1954)
37) FORREST GUMP (1994)
How come in movies kids in leg braces can run fast? I want leg braces. This is kinda touching.
38) PINOCCHIO (1940)
When you fish upon a car, ice cream will too.
39) STAR WARS (1977)
I wasn't inspired by this as much as I thought it was a pretty good story.
40) MRS. MINIVER (1942)
never saw it
41) THE SOUND OF MUSIC (1965)
As if World War II wasn't bad enough, it gave us this.
42) 12 ANGRY MEN (1957)
The American justice system really does work.
43) GONE WITH THE WIND (1939)
Well frankly my dear I don't give a damn.
44) SPARTACUS (1960)
I never saw this, but a friend of mine in high school got a new marching baritone and named it Sparticus. He ran around with it on his head or something and dented it.
oooooooooo . . . nature
45) ON GOLDEN POND (1981)
46) LILIES OF THE FIELD (1963)
4 more I didn't see
47) 2001: A SPACE ODYSSEY (1968)
48) THE AFRICAN QUEEN (1951)
49) MEET JOHN DOE (1941)
50) SEABISCUIT (2003)
51) THE COLOR PURPLE (1985)
This is a good movie. And while it's bleak at times, it makes you feel good in the end.
52) DEAD POET'S SOCIETY (1989) - I keep forgetting to see this
53) SHANE (1953)
54) RUDY (1993)
55) THE DEFIANT ONES (1958)
56) BEN-HUR (1959)
57) SERGEANT YORK (1941)
58) CLOSE ENCOUNTERS OF THE THIRD KIND (1977)
59) DANCES WITH WOLVES (1990)
60) THE KILLING FIELDS (1984)
61) SOUNDER (1972)
I think I read the book, and it was actually kinda sad.
62) BRAVEHEART (1995)
This is how I know the AFI people are retards. This movie is excellent and most definitely inspiring (unless you're English, in which case Mel Gibson hates you). FREEDOM!
Now get this, 30 films in a row I have not seen.
63) RAIN MAN (1988)
64) THE BLACK STALLION (1979)
65) A RAISIN IN THE SUN (1961)
66) SILKWOOD (1983)
67) THE DAY THE EARTH STOOD STILL (1951)
68) AN OFFICER AND A GENTLEMAN (1982)
69) THE SPIRIT OF ST. LOUIS (1957)
70) COAL MINER'S DAUGHTER (1980)
71) COOL HAND LUKE (1960)
72) DARK VICTORY (1939)
73) ERIN BROCKOVICH (2000)
74) GUNGA DIN (1939)
75) THE VERDICT (1982)
76) BIRDMAN OF ALCATRAZ (1962)
77) DRIVING MISS DAISY (1989)
78) THELMA & LOUISE (1991)
EDIT - I have actually seen these, but I skimmed the list too quickly.
79) THE TEN COMMANDMENTS (1956)
No, I have seen this one. I guess it is inspirational, but I've jsut alwasy thought it was a good film.
80) BABE (1995)
Yes, I've seen this. My favorite scene is when the little girl opens her Chrismas present and screams. It makes me thankful I don't know anyone like that.
81) BOYS TOWN (1938)
82) FIDDLER ON THE ROOF (1971)
83) MR. DEEDS GOES TO TOWN (1936)
84) SERPICO (1973)
85 WHAT'S LOVE GOT TO DO WITH IT 1993
86 STAND AND DELIVER 1988
87 WORKING GIRL 1988
88 YANKEE DOODLE DANDY 1942
89 HAROLD AND MAUDE 1972
90 HOTEL RWANDA 2004
91 THE PAPER CHASE 1973
92 FAME 1980
93) A BEAUTIFUL MIND (2001)
Finally one I've seen. And it's one I can relate to, being a math major and feeling like I'm going crazy, especially after my differential equations class last semester.
94) CAPTAINS COURAGEOUS (1937)
95) PLACES IN THE HEART (1984)
96) SEARCHING FOR BOBBY FISCHER (1993)
This movie did make me want to play chess, until I kept losing. I beat my mom in 5 moves once, though.
97) MADAME CURIE (1943)
98 THE KARATE KID 1984
99 RAY 2004
100 CHARIOTS OF FIRE 1981
Verdict. I haven't seen a lot of these, but I don't really think I'm missing much. I'll put up an ultimate movie list sometime.
First off, I'm going to go with "inspire" as defined by Dictionary.com, definition #2, which is "To fill with enlivening or exalting emotion." I will note whether the films are inspiring, good, and other comments.
1)IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE (1946)
This isn't a bad start, or end if you're doing a countdown. Getting a mention in Russell Roberts' The Invisible Heart, this is one of those movies that I enjoy watching, just not on TV. And it's inspiring to know how one man can do so much.
2) TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD (1962)
I got a 100 on a test on the book in an English class, so I can't hate it. Atticus Finch is cool though.
3) SCHINDLER'S LIST (1993)
This film was somewhat inspiring with how Schindler saved a few, but what I remember it for was the appauling depiction of life in Nazi Germany.
4) ROCKY (1976)
never saw it, and from what I understand, it's an inspirational film benchmark
5) MR. SMITH GOES TO WASHINGTON (1939)
A Jimmy Stewart flick where he represents the only noble politician ever (except of course, Abe Lincoln). Seriously, that's the plot. This is too boring to be in "fantasy" but is a pretty good film, so they had to put it somewhere.
6) E.T. THE EXTRA-TERRESTRIAL (1982)
I never saw this in English (we watched it in German class), but again, I don't think this is inspiring. Feel-good, maybe. Is this supposed to inspire me to call my mom?
7) THE GRAPES OF WRATH (1940)
never saw it, don't really care
8 BREAKING AWAY (1979)
Never heard of it. Look it up if you care.
9) MIRACLE ON 34TH STREET (1947)
"It is the opinion of this court that judges should not be elected. They should be installed for life and paid handsomely." This is a feel-good Christmas movie. It inspires me to open presents.
10) SAVING PRIVATE RYAN (1998)
I feel guilty criticizing this movie, but I didn't like it. You had the action scenes, some sickening gore, and then they just talk, and that part bored me. Then again, I saw this movie on VHS, so that was a while ago. Nonetheless, I'd say a good movie to ponder the past, and at the time a great film to take a veteran to the theater to see. But I wasn't inspired.
11) THE BEST YEARS OF OUR LIVES (1946)
don't know, don't care
12) APOLLO 13 (1995)
The inspirational film for the 2003 Detroit Tigers. Yay, we didn't kill them!
13) HOOSIERS (1986)
This is a good movie, and it's inspirational. I'm waiting for Ed Harris to play Jim Larranaga.
Now, 9 movies I have not seen
14) THE BRIDGE ON THE RIVER KWAI (1957)
15) THE MIRACLE WORKER (1962)
16) NORMA RAE (1979)
17) ONE FLEW OVER THE CUCKOO'S NEST (1975)
18) THE DIARY OF ANNE FRANK (1959)
19) THE RIGHT STUFF (1983)
20) PHILADELPHIA (1993)
21) IN THE HEAT OF THE NIGHT (1967)
22) THE PRIDE OF THE YANKEES (1942) - is certainly not Alex Rodriguez
23) THE SHAWSHANK REDEMPTION (1994)
It inspired me to break out of prison. Morgan Freeman had a great speech that finally got him Parole.
24) NATIONAL VELVET (1944)
don't know
25) SULLIVAN'S TRAVELS (1941)
?
26) THE WIZARD OF OZ (1939)
This movie is on too many lists. Come on people. What's so inspiring? Are you inspired to throw buckets of water at people you don't like?
27) HIGH NOON (1952)
never saw it
28) FIELD OF DREAMS (1989)
This is a great movie. Not only about the father-son thing, or the idea of letting the past be amended, but it's just cool. I'm going to plow over my corn too, except I don't have any.
3 in a row I have not seen
29) GANDHI (1982)
30) LAWRENCE OF ARABIA (1962)
31) GLORY (1989)
32) CASABLANCA (1942)
Inspirational? Um, no. But a good movie. Round up the usual suspects.
More movies I haven't seen
33) CITY LIGHTS (1931)
34) ALL THE PRESIDENT'S MEN (1976)
35) GUESS WHO'S COMING TO DINNER (1967)
I give up, who?
36) ON THE WATERFRONT (1954)
37) FORREST GUMP (1994)
How come in movies kids in leg braces can run fast? I want leg braces. This is kinda touching.
38) PINOCCHIO (1940)
When you fish upon a car, ice cream will too.
39) STAR WARS (1977)
I wasn't inspired by this as much as I thought it was a pretty good story.
40) MRS. MINIVER (1942)
never saw it
41) THE SOUND OF MUSIC (1965)
As if World War II wasn't bad enough, it gave us this.
42) 12 ANGRY MEN (1957)
The American justice system really does work.
43) GONE WITH THE WIND (1939)
Well frankly my dear I don't give a damn.
44) SPARTACUS (1960)
I never saw this, but a friend of mine in high school got a new marching baritone and named it Sparticus. He ran around with it on his head or something and dented it.
oooooooooo . . . nature
45) ON GOLDEN POND (1981)
46) LILIES OF THE FIELD (1963)
4 more I didn't see
47) 2001: A SPACE ODYSSEY (1968)
48) THE AFRICAN QUEEN (1951)
49) MEET JOHN DOE (1941)
50) SEABISCUIT (2003)
51) THE COLOR PURPLE (1985)
This is a good movie. And while it's bleak at times, it makes you feel good in the end.
52) DEAD POET'S SOCIETY (1989) - I keep forgetting to see this
53) SHANE (1953)
54) RUDY (1993)
55) THE DEFIANT ONES (1958)
56) BEN-HUR (1959)
57) SERGEANT YORK (1941)
58) CLOSE ENCOUNTERS OF THE THIRD KIND (1977)
59) DANCES WITH WOLVES (1990)
60) THE KILLING FIELDS (1984)
61) SOUNDER (1972)
I think I read the book, and it was actually kinda sad.
62) BRAVEHEART (1995)
This is how I know the AFI people are retards. This movie is excellent and most definitely inspiring (unless you're English, in which case Mel Gibson hates you). FREEDOM!
Now get this, 30 films in a row I have not seen.
63) RAIN MAN (1988)
64) THE BLACK STALLION (1979)
65) A RAISIN IN THE SUN (1961)
66) SILKWOOD (1983)
67) THE DAY THE EARTH STOOD STILL (1951)
68) AN OFFICER AND A GENTLEMAN (1982)
69) THE SPIRIT OF ST. LOUIS (1957)
70) COAL MINER'S DAUGHTER (1980)
71) COOL HAND LUKE (1960)
72) DARK VICTORY (1939)
73) ERIN BROCKOVICH (2000)
74) GUNGA DIN (1939)
75) THE VERDICT (1982)
76) BIRDMAN OF ALCATRAZ (1962)
77) DRIVING MISS DAISY (1989)
78) THELMA & LOUISE (1991)
EDIT - I have actually seen these, but I skimmed the list too quickly.
79) THE TEN COMMANDMENTS (1956)
No, I have seen this one. I guess it is inspirational, but I've jsut alwasy thought it was a good film.
80) BABE (1995)
Yes, I've seen this. My favorite scene is when the little girl opens her Chrismas present and screams. It makes me thankful I don't know anyone like that.
81) BOYS TOWN (1938)
82) FIDDLER ON THE ROOF (1971)
83) MR. DEEDS GOES TO TOWN (1936)
84) SERPICO (1973)
85 WHAT'S LOVE GOT TO DO WITH IT 1993
86 STAND AND DELIVER 1988
87 WORKING GIRL 1988
88 YANKEE DOODLE DANDY 1942
89 HAROLD AND MAUDE 1972
90 HOTEL RWANDA 2004
91 THE PAPER CHASE 1973
92 FAME 1980
93) A BEAUTIFUL MIND (2001)
Finally one I've seen. And it's one I can relate to, being a math major and feeling like I'm going crazy, especially after my differential equations class last semester.
94) CAPTAINS COURAGEOUS (1937)
95) PLACES IN THE HEART (1984)
96) SEARCHING FOR BOBBY FISCHER (1993)
This movie did make me want to play chess, until I kept losing. I beat my mom in 5 moves once, though.
97) MADAME CURIE (1943)
98 THE KARATE KID 1984
99 RAY 2004
100 CHARIOTS OF FIRE 1981
Verdict. I haven't seen a lot of these, but I don't really think I'm missing much. I'll put up an ultimate movie list sometime.
Labels: Lists
