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COLUMN: Fantasy football, every man's dream

(11/22/13 12:00pm)

After a long weekend of procrastination, Sunday is the perfect day to be productive. I could be doing things like homework, studying or cleaning my cluttered room. But, instead of being proactive, I am focused on a handful of players I adopted to represent me in the phenomenon called fantasy football. Fantasy football has taken the most popular sport in America and turned it into a surreal and virtual universe – a universe where NFL football players are glorified as modern-day gladiators and fans turn into owners of their own dream teams. Although the game can be frustrating throughout the season, it could possibly be one of the best things to ever happen to the NFL. It is perfect for sports buffs nationwide: It’s a seasonal event, so it doesn’t grow old on you, it involves football, and, most importantly – it’s competitive. Few could argue that the most exciting part of fantasy football is draft day. A fantasy football draft is where fans can live out their dreams of being a general manager and personally build a team from scratch. Draft day takes preparation. Usually, I prepare the night before by making a list of players. Players who I believe are destined for a breakout season, or players who have been continually putting up numbers for years. Most importantly, I want players who I will enjoy watching. Fantasy football also gives you an opportunity to build emotional bonds with players who are on teams you otherwise wouldn’t care about. For example, I once tweeted “You’re my hero!” to Eagles running back LeSean McCoy, and I meant it with all my heart. If you can’t tell already, watching sports is more than just an interest to me, it’s a passion. Since I can remember, I have fallen asleep to ESPN blaring on my TV. I am confident when I say my knowledge on sports could rival anyone. That’s why I love fantasy football so much. It gives me a vehicle to flex my sports wit on others by having the most dominant fantasy football team. I get very egotistical about my fantasy football team. Despite who is on the roster, which as of right now has been decimated by a myriad of injuries, I still think my team is top dog. The great thing about my cockiness is that I am not alone. Everybody else in my fantasy football league is just as confident. I have been in a league with the same guys for four years, and they still find every opportunity to boast about their team. All in all, the greatest thing about fantasy football is that it brings people together. Most people are in leagues with their friends and it builds camaraderie, but also cutthroat competition. Who doesn’t enjoy that?

https://www.cm-life.com/article/2013/11/column-fantasy-football-every-mans-dream

COLUMN: Why do current comedies suck?

(11/15/13 12:00pm)

Nothing relieves my stress during this busy time of the school year more than laughing hysterically at a funny movie. This year, however, has disappointed us comedy fans by giving us so many cheap gags and bland sequels. So, Hollywood, my question to you is this: Where have the laughs gone? Why do bad sequels keep getting released? The cast from "The Hangover 3" effortlessly went through their generic drills in that disastrous movie. Same with the cast of "Grown Ups 2," who are getting paid top dollar for delivering adolescent humor such as flatulence jokes. Then there was "Scary Movie 5," which confirmed its place as the most unnecessary sequel of the year. And then there are comedies that have me asking, “How did this movie even get made?” "Movie 43" was one of the biggest flops of all time. Many actors involved, including Hugh Jackman, refused to do press for the movie and tried to avoid any connection with it. "The Incredible Burt Wonderstone" wasted the talents of both Steve Carell and Jim Carrey, mostly through a dull script. Luckily, there have been a couple stand-out comedies this year that managed to earn some laughs. "This is the End" is my favorite comedy of this year. Having funny guys Seth Rogen, Jonah Hill and James Franco playing exaggerated versions of themselves proved for some hilarious dialogue and constant applause in the theater. It had the audience continually  bursting with laughter, and that’s really how a comedy movie experience should be. The Sandra Bullock-Melissa McCarthy cop comedy "The Heat" provided some major laughs as well. The chemistry between the two leads was outstanding, and they really played well off of each other. It’s great that there are more female-led comedies like this being made. The romantic-comedy "Don Jon" had such a funny premise: Having a porn-addicted Joseph Gordon-Levitt conflicted between his addiction and his girlfriend, played by Scarlett Johansson. They put on their New Jersey accents and had fun with their characters on screen. It was one of the funnier romantic comedies I’ve seen in a while. The only major comedy left to be released this year is "Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues." The first "Anchorman" was so funny and quotable that it’s hard to imagine that it can be topped. But I am one of the many fans who have been craving this sequel for a while, so I have my fingers crossed. We, as paying movie-going audience members, deserve more from our comedies. It’s time to let Hollywood know that this comedy problem is no laughing matter.

https://www.cm-life.com/article/2013/11/column-why-do-current-comedies-suck-2