Another look at Optimus Prime (2007)

I just came across a link on SuperheroHype.com to this dark, but cool picture of Optimus Prime from the upcoming "Transformers" movie and thought I would share it here...

Way to go, Ron Mexico (Michael Vick)!

UPDATE: 1/24/2007 @ 2:40 p.m. ET
A couple of days ago, the following story became a non-story when the substance found hidden in Michael Vick's water bottle was determined to be nothing that was illegal. However, it is apparent that he tried to hide something in this water bottle and take it onto a commercial airliner. How is that not at least a minor criminal act? Shouldn't he at least be fined or something? And then I saw this story, which just makes all of this really, really weird.

But here is my original post...

---

Well, it seems the most overrated quarterback in NFL history, Michael Vick of the Atlanta Falcons, reportedly tried to sneak a substance "closely associated with marijuana" onto an Atlanta-bound plane at Miami International Airport by storing it in a secret compartment in a water bottle that he reluctantly surrendered to security personnel.

USA Today: Michael Vick's water bottle raises suspicion at Miami airport

...The Atlanta Falcons' quarterback entered a concourse Wednesday morning at the airport with the 20-ounce bottle. He eventually handed it over and boarded his flight to Atlanta. But his initial reluctance to turn over the bottle aroused suspicion among airport security screeners, a police report said.

The bottle was found to have a hidden compartment that contained "a small amount of dark particulate and a pungent aroma closely associated with marijuana," the report said. The compartment was hidden by the bottle's label so that it appeared to be a full bottle of water when held upright, police said.

No charges have been filed but police said the bottle would be sent to a lab for analysis...

You can read the incident report here (PDF).

The most shocking thing I found in the incident report? Vick was a passenger on an AirTran Airways flight. What the heck was Michael Vick doing flying on AirTran?! AirTran only has business class and coach. The guy signed a 10-year, $130 million contract in December 2004...can't he afford to fly on an airline with first class? I'm sure there were other carriers offering flights from Miami to Atlanta.

Then again, maybe he is trying to save his money. After all, when you a) allegedly spread herpes while using the alias of Ron Mexico, b) tell your team's own fans "they are No. 1" with both hands, and c) are barely a mediocre quarterback, maybe Vick thinks the Falcons--and new head coach Bobby Petrino--will realize he is getting overpaid by, well, $130 million, and the team will try to void that big contract for conduct reasons?

Honestly, Vick is a tremendous athlete...I do not dispute that. He might be, as many claim, the most "electric" (whatever that means) player in NFL history...although those people should really watch some NFL Films footage of Fran Tarkenton (Vikings, Giants), who was ridiculously elusive and could actually make big-time passes (by the way, you should really get to know about the remarkable life Tarkenton has lived). I also think Randall Cunningham was a far better quarterback than Vick, but that might be the Eagles fan in me (even though Cunningham had his best days as a passer with the Vikings).

When it comes to being a quarterback, though, Vick just isn't any good. His passing game is weak and he is not a good decision-maker...especially when it comes to deciding on an alias, apparently.

And he is definitely not worth $130 million.

(Photo credit: Jason Getz/Atlanta Journal-Constitution)

Gwyneth Paltrow joins "Iron Man" cast as Pepper Potts!

Wow!

For a supposedly second-tier superhero in the Marvel Universe, "Iron Man" -- or at least the film adapation of the comic book -- is attracting some of the best talent in Hollywood.

Jon Favreau is directing the film and Robert Downey Jr. has been cast as Tony Stark/Iron Man. Terrence Howard is also on board as Stark's friend and pilot, Jim "Rhodey" Rhodes.

But getting an actress with the profile of Gwyneth Paltrow to play Stark's assistant, Virginia "Pepper" Potts, is an absolute coup. Yet that is exactly what has happened.

"Iron Man" is scheduled for release on May 2, 2008...and I can't wait!

(Photo of Gwyneth Paltrow taken at press conference for BAFTA Awards in 2002 by D.L. Parker.)

Well...pitchers and catchers report in less than a month

So...now that the Eagles' season is over and the Flyers and Sixers are bringing new meaning to the word "horrid," it's time to start shifting my attention back to my greatest passion, the Philadelphia Phillies...led by 2006 National League Most Valuable Player Ryan Howard (pictured, courtesy of Eliot J. Schechter/Getty Images).

Keeping the streak alive

I have been busy working on the latest Technology and the Arts podcast, so I haven't posted here in a few days.

However, I have to keep something going. Since a few days before the Eagles' 23-7 win at Dallas on Christmas, I have posted something related to the Eagles containing the E-A-G-L-E-S! EAGLES! cheer.

Well, my last post was a week ago today, which was before the Eagles' last-second 23-20 victory over the Giants in the opening round of the playoffs. Hence, I haven't done a pre-game post with the E-A-G-L-E-S! EAGLES!" cheer for tonight's tough matchup between the Eagles and Saints in New Orleans.

So consider this my superstitious, hopefully-win-inspiring post for tonight's game.

Now, once more...with feeling...



E-A-G-L-E-S! EAGLES!"

"Global warming" is just a myth, I tell ya

It's Jan. 6, 2007...I'm in the northeastern United States...and it's 71 freakin' degrees outside!

As they say in cyberspace...WTF?

Let's just keep producing those greenhouse gases and get it over with.

Then again, if it continues to be 70-plus degrees in the Northeast during January and February the next few years, maybe someplace like the Meadowlands in East Rutherford, N.J. (which, according to the media, is actually "New York"), or Philadelphia will be awarded a Super Bowl.

Speaking of the Super Bowl...

E-A-G-L-E-S! EAGLES!

Happy New Year/NFC East Championship!

Well, thanks to the totally over-hyped Tony Romo and the Dallas Cowboys losing to the lowly Detroit Lions at home early Sunday afternoon, the Philadelphia Eagles celebrated New Year's Eve as NFC East champions for the fifth time in six years.

Because the Cowboys' loss gave the title to Philadelphia, the Eagles were able to rest their starters for the playoff opener at home against the New York Giants next Sunday at 4:15 p.m. ET.

Oh yeah...the Eagles' second and third teams still managed to beat the Atlanta Falcons, 24-17, to finish atop the NFC East at 10-6.

Fly Eagles Fly
On the road to victory
Fight Eagles Fight
Score a touchdown, 1-2-3
Hit 'em low, hit 'em high
And watch our Eagles fly
Fly Eagles Fly
On the road to victory

E-A-G-L-E-S! EAGLES!

UPDATED 11:22 a.m. ET, 1/2/2007

I wrote the above post after watching one of the craziest college football games ever, No. 9 Boise State's amazing 43-42 overtime win over No. 7 Oklahoma in the Fiesta Bowl. Here is a YouTube video showing key highlights from the last couple of minutes of regulation and overtime...


(Photo of Center City Philadelphia taken from near main entrance of the Philadelphia Museum of Art, Dec. 29, 2006.)