Dirk Nowitzki is close to becoming the 2nd best power forward in the NBA

I have not read these books, but apparently they are a big deal. And now The Hunger Games the movie is nearly out, starring Jennifer Lawrence. Something about a bunch of kids who fight each other for food; kinda like The Biggest Loser, only without Allison Sweeney.

I'd rather watch The Running Man myself. Anything with Yaphet Kotto shooting and Richard Dawson game show hosting is worth watching.

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A rather large men's professional basketball will be played this evening in downtown Dallas between your Dallas Mavericks and Los Lakers de Las Angeles.

The Mavs are 27-20, good for fifth in the Western Conference. The Lakers are 28-19 and in third in the West.

The Mavs are here because they still have the best power forward in the game today, but just barely. Barely. Barely.

This guy in Minnesota makes a very, very, very strong case that the NBA's best PF is actually Kevin Love.

Love averages 25.9 points and 13.7 rebounds per game; he has eight games of 30 and 15. According to this story, no one else in the NBA has produced more than one. Among the good young power forwards in the league, most notably Blake Griffin, Love is the best.

Dirk averages 20.8 points and 8.3 boards per game. Because of his career accomplishments, Dirk gets the nod over K-Love because the former UCLA star hasn't done a thing in the playoffs.

Dirk has everything, including a ring.

It was only a matter of time before some young guy replaced Dirk at the top, and K-Love is set to take his position as the best at his position very soon.

 

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Is the 1979 movie "Alien" getting "prequeled"? Looks like it

Ridley Scott's 1979 horror movie "Alien" remains pretty much timeless even by today's standards, and it sounds as if he is trying to either recreate that movie, make a prequel, and is out of ideas.

According to this story in Variety, the new Scott movie "Prometheus" is a sci-fi horror movie that looks a lot like Alien, looks a lot like Alien, and looks a lot like Alien. That link includes an interview with Scott, where he basically concedes there are no more action or science fiction ideas left.

Unlike Alien, there is no sign of an actual alien jumping out of a dude's stomach. At least not yet. And Prometheus does not include Yaphet Kotta shooting a flame thrower at aliens.

The hook of this movie is: "A team of explorers discover a clue to the origins of mankind on Earth, leading them on a journey to the darkest corners of the universe. There, they must fight a terrifying battle to save the future of the human race."

The movie is scheduled for a June 8 release. It stars Charlize Theron, Guy Pearce, Michael Fassbender and a bunch of other good looking people.

 

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Dallas Cowboys moves: The fine line between lipstick on an 8-8 pig, or the path to 11-5

Happy St. Patrick's Day ... Did you know the next Catwoman (Anne Hathaway) is actually Irish? Yeah, me neither. And I really don't care, either.

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Brandon Carr vs. Terence Newman. PLUS
T-New was finished as a top corner. Carr has to be better than T-New, but at least Orlando Scandrick and he has to stay healthier than Mike Jenkins. This is an upgrade, but Brandon Carr is not Prime Time.

Kevin Ogletree/TBD vs. Laurent Robinson. MINUS
Robinson was the team's most reliable route runner and had quickly become a go-to for Tony Romo. He got stupid money from Jacksonville, and he had to take it but this is a loss. Unless Dez Braynt starts to developing into a reliable producer, Robinson's departure creates a serious void that no one on this roster can fill. 

Dan Connor/Bruce Carter vs. Bradie James/Keith Brooking. PLUS
Both James and Brooking had fallen off dramatically, and the Cowboys had to go younger here. Don't expect Connor to make plays. Expect him to just be there and not screw up.
This position is about Sean Lee and the development of second-year player Carter, who basically did nothing his rookie year because he was recovering from an injury.

Brodney Pool vs. Abe Elam. WASH
Elam was signed one season ago to a one-year deal to play safety, and really didn't produce much. Pool (left) was signed to a one-year deal, and his previous numbers suggests he will produce more than Elam. Either way, the safety spot for the Cowboys remains a serious issue.
 
TBD vs. Martellus Bennett. PLUS
Bennett is a nice, fun, jovial guy and someone whose physical skills suggests he could have been so, so much more. I don't expect him to do much with his new team, the New York Giants.

FB Lawrence Vickers vs. Tony Fiammetta MINUS
Fiametta had developed into a solid lead blocker, and was a nice receiver for Romo out of the backfield. Vickers is a good lead blocker, as Arian Foster knows from running behind him in Houston, but he's not as versatile as Fiammetta.

QB Kyle Orton vs. Jon Kitna WASH
Orton is a solid backup, as was Kitna, who retired. Both were able to make positive plays and win a game or two, but if you are counting on either to win a lot of games you're screwed.

OG Mackenzy Bernadeau vs. TBD  WASH
Depends on whom Bernadeau replaces. The interior of this offensive line is in a major need of an upgrade, and this has the look of trading this OK guy for that OK guy.

OVERALL IMPACT: There appear to upgrades in a lot of these moves, but there remain serious issues: The interior of the offensive line, the development of Dez Bryant, a defensive front seven that is overrated in terms of applying quality pressure, and a secondary that remains suspect.

Are these the types of moves that can make them 11-5, or leave them looking at 8-8 again?

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'Silent House' is decent horror flick with big-time performance from Elizabeth Olsen

Whether The Olsen Twins could act is no longer relevant. They got the 'cute' gene. Sister Elizabeth Olsen received the 'acting' gene.

Olsen is currently receiving well-deserved praise for her convincing performance in the unique thriller "Silent House". The horror/suspense genre may be the very worst Hollywood produces, but credit directors Chris Kentis and Laura Lau (who combined to make the very underrated "Open Water") for making a decent movie.

The biggest praise should be for Olsen, who displays a wide range in this very unique movie. The entire 85-minute movie is in real time, and was done in one fluid shot. It almost acts like a play.

Olsen plays a young woman who is visiting her family's Victorian style lake house with her father and uncle. They are closing the house down so they can sell it. It's almost dark. There is no electricty. No phones. No cell service. Fortunately, there is ample creepiness.

Like "Open Water", "Silent House" features a tiny cast (six) and there are a handful of good scares. The tension created stems from the fairly predictable horror movie formula (mirrors, locked doors, don't go in the basement). The end is a bit weird, not to mention unsettling, but it's a horror movie. This isn't an episode of "Full House".

Olsen's performance brings a visceral level of credibility that most movies of this genre never enjoy. She is considerably better than her castmates. Other than just pure joy, Olsen is believable in covering every emotion.

One scene where she hides under a table and swallows her breath as to not be detected is particularly chilling.

Her profile on IMDB says she has a lot of work coming up, which makes perfect sense given she apparently received the acting gene.

 

 

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Earth to Stephen McGee: Dallas Cowboys adding Kyle Orton is not a "good" sign

Standing 6-foot-3, 220 pounds Stephen McGee looks like he was sent from Hollywood central casting to play the part of "quarterback" in the new Friday Night Lights movie, which was once a TV show, which was once a movie, which was once a book.

If you can look the part (Richard Bartel), and know the right people (Chase Daniel), you can make a six-figure check bouncing around the NFL for years (Tommy Maddox).

[ Quiz: What is the link between Bartel, Daniel, Maddox and McGee? Answer at the bottom. ] 

This may be the best course of action for the former Texas A&M quarterback, who for years all we heard was he was screwed up because of Dennis Franchione, his college coach. Perhaps the Fran haters are right - if McGee was in a pro style offense in College Station he would have flourished.

But after a few opportunities both in the preseason and regular season with the Cowboys it should be rather apparent that the instinct, confidence and fluidity required to thrive at this position are lacking. This does not mean McGee can't make a big check in the NFL for a long time (see above names). But it does mean that this current staff with the Cowboys has moved on.

There is no greater sign of that than the Cowboys' signing of veteran Kyle Orton to replace the retired Jon Kitna to backup Tony Romo.

Click here for the story from the S-T's Charean Williams.

Orton is your perfect NFL career backup: He can not hurt you for about five games, and may win more than he loses. Anything after that is not on him. Just as there is a good reason why he is on now his fourth team, there is equal reason why he has been in the league since 2005.

Click here for Orton's career statistics on Pro Football Reference.com

As for McGee? He has more year left on the contract he signed as a rookie. Whatever time he gets in preseason he best make the most of it, be a pro, and hope he has a few friends when he is not re-signed.

[ ANSWER TO QUIZ: The link between Bartel, Daniel, Maddox and McGee? All four are from Texas and played high school ball here. ]

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