Violent video games and the Supreme Court

     Shocking news (to me) from DC. Certiorari was granted in the case regarding a California law banning the sale of violent video games to minors. This is by far the biggest thing to happen to video game law. Period. This is the first time any video game law has gone to the US Supreme Court. Considering that this marks the combination of two of my favorite topics (video games and the law). This may be the most interesting thing to happened in the year so far. Certainly more important things have happened (Haiti, Chile, Iceland, Poland) but nothing that affects me more. Will the Supreme Court declare this law (and by extension, other laws like it) unconstitutional?

     This would be a big boost to the video game industry. The ESRB is the video game industry's self regulation process and in my opinion a very good one. Unfortunately, unlike the MPAA ratings (G, PG, PG-13, R, etc.) the ESRB's ratings have been misunderstood. Hence, games like Bully (a T-rated game) get lumped in with more violent fare like Grand Theft Auto (an M-rated game). To make this more clear, imagine if people thought that E.T. and Saving Private Ryan were equally violent because they were directed by the same person (Steven Spielberg).

   More News upcoming when I finish reading the writ of certiorari (filed by the State of California) and in the fall when this case is presented and decided.

Post-Draft

There are only a few teams that I felt made their team better in a meaningful way this off-season.
1. Ravens
The knocks on the Ravens last year. No Wide recievers, and an aging defense. Well, now they have Boldin and Stallworth. I believe Boldin will improve the team immensely. Plus, they got "Mount" Cody. He's big, athletic and someone who I saw and liked in the games I watched.
2. The Jets
while I believe that their running game was completely gutted thanks to the absence of Jones (KC) and Washinton (Seattle) , the addition of a future hall of famer in LT may be enough to make their running game acceptable.
But back to the important stuff. They obtained wide recievers, they stole Cromartie, But They aren't number one because in all honesty they rearranged the team moreso than they made it better. They adjusted it from a gritty run first team to an athletic pass happy team. Now to hope that Sanchez can convert to a decent QB
3. The Panthers
(See Jets, 2009) Lame QB? Mediocre Back-up? Get a new one. They were already a pretty good team, Clausen can't be worse than Delhomme. And he's probably better than Moore. Now he leaves Notre Dame for a baptism by fire in Oakland.
4. The Rai...
I can't. The (team from California that wears Silver and Black) always make me regret singing their praises.But don;t be surprised if I get suckered into mentioning that the Raiders will be better than average this year, the Wrs have more experience, the RBs have more experience. The QB is not named JaMarcus Russell. And they managed not to lose Nnamdi. And if all else fails they have the two best special teams kickers in the league
5. The Redskins
Upgrade from Campbell to McNabb means everything. The additions of Willie Parker and Larry Johnson don't make them a worse team.
And Orakpo is still there .

Thank You, Andy Reid.

As a Cowboys fan, this picture bothers me more than anything else. When the trade talk concerning Donovan McNabb came out, I was a bit excited. McNabb would be out of the division (on some team like the Rams or Raiders) and away from the Cowboys. Now not only has Eagles management messed up his team, but they've also messed up the division.

Donovan McNabb is either the best QB in the division or the 2nd best in the division, depending on how you feel about Tony Romo. Unquestionably the Redskins had the worst QB. Now you send Mcnabb there, while the Redskins have the 4th pick, and suddenly the NFC east is back to the point of parity. The Giants, Cowboys, Eagles, and Redskins aren't that far from each other in talent. The Redskins may still have the worst WR core in the division, but they have the best defense. They also might have the best head coach. This may be another year where the worst team in the NFC East has an 8-8 record.

In short, thank you, Andy Reid. In doing Mcnabb a favor you may have screwed us all.

Sports Games

I tend to try not to write too much about sports except during the NBA Playoffs and during the NFL season. Mostly because my opinions don't matter. I couldn't tell you the name of a player in the Final Four (or the Frozen Four for that matter). Nor do I care about who the players are on the non-playoff teams in the NBA. I can't watch non-playoff baseball at all (except Yankee-Red Sox and Yankee/Mets games). So the only thing to talk about is gaming.

2k10 has owned my xbox over the last few months. Mostly because I haven't bought any new games recently, but moreso because I'm addicted to the My player mode. I like my RPG's to be subtle. This is why I can't get into a game like Blue Dragon, but I love games with RPG elements like Borderlands and NBA 2k10. I'd strongly consider getting any game that does stats as well as 2k10. There's something satisfying in real life about seeing a team like the Lakers finally come together and prove they were worth the hype. Meanwhile NBA 2k10 was more like last years Houston Rockets team. On the surface it seems like its a world beater of a game, but it's fragile where it matters.

2k10, almost 6 months after the game was released should be completely patched up and ready to go. (i.e. like playoff bound playoff teams) The game has a great set of features. The game feels like basketball. It's not too arcade like in its features. Generally the game gets the characters right. Some things feel awkward ( Yao Ming is a bit too dominant in the paint, and Garnett's video game presence is better than his real life version) but overall the players play as you'd expect.

The My player feature is great as you progress from training camp, to the draft, to the D-league, to benchwarming, then to starting in the NBA. On that end it works fine. The other (much-advertised) purpose of the my player option is.

Re-evaluation

My life over the last three months has been up and down. Cowboys made it to the second round. The Thunder will be in the playoffs. The Rockets have been playing their hearts out despite having none of their best players around from last year. The Yankees are still the Yankees. I've been volunteering @ CUNY Law. I'm a lock to get back into the RHB program for the second year. My dream of become a lawyer is slowly coming closer to fruition. Even my gaming life has been good to me. I'm racking up the gamerscore. and I'm halfway through HGSS.

WEEK 13

Thursday, December 3
New York Jets at Buffalo, 8:20 (Toronto)

The Bills and the Jets play in Toronto this week, and the more I try to justify that that the Jets are the second best team in the east the more I come to the following conclusions. 1) The Jets (especially without Kris Jenkins) are not that good. 2) The Dolphins are considerably better. 3)  The Jets aren’t even that much better than the Bills.

I may be giving the Jets a bit too much credit. However, right now the Bills have a better offense than the Jets
Sunday, December 6
Denver at Kansas City, 1

Denver, historically, does poorly in Kansas City. Of course, the difference is that the Broncos are a better team than they have been in a while. The other good thing for the Mile High Team is that they’ve had ten days to prepare for Arrowhead. More good news, Orton is back. With this set of lucky circumstances, the Broncos are sure to do well this Sunday. I’ll really be surprised if the Broncos aren’t able to carry over their momentum into KC for the win. And as for the chiefs… they’re a terrible team. Wait till  next year for these guys. 

Detroit at Cincinnati, 1

Cincinnati is at home. They’ve beaten the Ravens and Steelers twice. However they did fall asleep at the wheel against an inferior Oakland team. And I might have called for an upset if this were in Ford Field. Luckily for my sanity, it’s not. More importantly, Cedric Benson is back.

Houston at Jacksonville, 1

This makes me feel dirty inside. Jacksonville won the last matchup, and it was in Houston. Not the Jacksonville’s fan have shown anything resembling support, but The Jags are a better team. And more importantly, I believe in them slightly more.

New Orleans at Washington, 1
One team is undefeated, one team is at the bottom of the division. It wont change. The Saints…. Big.

Oakland at Pittsburgh, 1

The Steelers “are gonna raise Hell in December”. And it starts at home.

Philadelphia at Atlanta, 1

Now that the Titans have won 5 in a row, I can safely say that  no team has disappointed me more than the Falcons. They’ve just gotten rid of their kicker… because that’s going to solve all of their problems. Redman at QB is a nice move, considering Matty Ice’s struggles as of late. Of course, it’s irrelevant as they’re going to be playing in the murderously hostile Philadelphia. McNabb is going to decimate this squad.

St. Louis at Chicago, 1

The Bears need to at least win the easy ones. And at home against the Rams should be it.

Tampa Bay at Carolina, 1
Don’t be surprised if the Bucs win this one. I don’t trust them though. Free man is going to have a great year next year, but until then I’ll stick with the beginning

Tennessee at Indianapolis, 1

I’m a man of weak faith. I like Vince Young. I like Chris Johnson. I like the intensity that the Titans are playing with. I even like the amazingly kooky double middle finger saluting Bud Adams. I even like the “no one believed in us” vibe that Tennessee has. But I love the Colts. I’d be crazy to be against Peyton Manning. So while I do want the Titans to win, I don’t believe that Manning will lay down and allow the Titans to win in Indianapolis

San Diego at Cleveland, 4:05

The Chargers are a better team at every position.

Dallas at New York Giants, 4:15

The Cowboys are a better team at every position

Minnesota at Arizona, 4:15

The Vikings aren’t a better team at every position, but they are a better team altogether.

San Francisco at Seattle, 4:15

The 49ers aren’t good enough for me to warrant going against Seattle at home. And that makes me sad inside.

New England at Miami, 8:20
I do like Miami at home. I just don’t trust the pats to win.

Monday, December 7
Baltimore at Green Bay, 8:30

Lambeau’s gods reign supreme.

WEEK 9

 

Bye: Buff, Clev, Minn, NY Jets, Oakland, St. Louis
Sunday, November 8

Arizona at Chicago, 1 
I'm officially off the Chicago bandwagon. I haven't seen Cutler lift his team. Maybe its not fair to blame Cutler for the issues, His offensive line is awful. His recievers aren't exactly all-star locks. and the Chicago running game haasn't been great. But I still think I'm going with the suddenly enthused Arizona Cardinals.

Baltimore at Cincinnati, 1 

The bengals remind me of last years Dolphins. They add a new wrinkle to their offense and become a hot team (in this case, a running game). The first time they played, Cedric Benson their previously maligned running back beat a team that was supposed to be the best in the division in Baltimore nonetheless (like how Ronnie Brown came and had 5 TDs last year against the Pats). This also reminds me of last years second Dolphins Pats game. The better team figured it out, looked at the tape and handled business. Bodymore is back in session.

Green Bay at Tampa Bay, 1 
Green Bay might be lackluster, but they aren't the Bucs.

Houston at Indianapolis, 1 

I want to pick the Texans so badly. I really do, but I can't go against an undefeated squad

Kansas City at Jacksonville, 1 
Ugly. Jax

Miami at New England, 1 
Hmm... I could take the easy route and pick the Pats, but I love watching the phins. They're just a scrappy team running trick plays and just working their way up the field. I can support this team.

Washington at Atlanta, 1

ATL regains its confidence, but only because Matt Ryan gets his confidence, not because of the burner Micheal Turner

Carolina at New Orleans, 4:05 

N'awlins. Recall who the QB of the Panthers is.

Detroit at Seattle, 4:05

Seattle @ home

San Diego at New York Giants, 4:15
Its undeniably stupid to bet that the G-Men will lose 4 in a row. Done. SD gets the upset

Tennessee at San Francisco, 4:15

49ers at home are a safe bet. The 49ers are highly upset after the Indy loss. Never underestimate the "my team just got crewed and now the next opponent will pay" theory

Dallas at Philadelphia, 8:20 
I live in NY so I don't think you can call me a homer for my favorite team. I actually think that without Westbrook, the Cowboys have a very good chance at vengeance. Remember that this is not a playoff game. Romo's pretty good in prime time. Remember last year when theses two teams had an epic prime time game involving the storied DeSean Jackson drop.

Monday, November 9
Pittsburgh at Denver, 8:30
Denver. Breathe Easy Steelers fans, its not your fault. The altitude is a killer. You guys wont be able to play your star player. Its not your fault.