It's OK to Make Fun of Michael Jackson

For the past few weeks, you couldn't turn a corner around any media outlet without seeing something about Michael Jackson. Every single little aspect of his death, from the time of its occurrence to his memorial ceremony was heavily scrutinized. People from all over the world mourned the loss of a man who was among the most beloved musicians of our time. And while they choose to remember him for his music, I refuse to blatantly ignore "all the bad stuff" about the self-proclaimed King of Pop.

First off, Michael Jackson was a filthy child molester. Although he was never convicted of child molestation, such convictions are very difficult to come by in our justice system, and he had an all-star team of lawyers defending his perverted ass. For those who forgot, he was charged TWICE for child molestation; kind of hard to believe he never sexually abused any of those kids when he constantly had them surrounding him. The guy's house was a combination of a zoo and an amusement park, probably the most amazing site to young child. The only problem with the zoo was that the filthiest animal at the Neverland Ranch was never in his cage (or more specifically, a jail cell).

Secondly, the guy was a freak. Over the course of his lifetime, his appearance changed so drastically, having one plastic surgery after another. His skin kept getting paler and paler, his hair changed from an Afro to a cheap woman's wig and he got a nose job every time he released an album. It was almost as if he looked into the mirror each morning and said to himself "How can I continue to screw up my appearance so that I resemble a zombie from my Thriller video?" Though to his credit, he was a great parent, except for that one time he hung his child outside the window of a building, but hey, everybody makes mistakes. Maybe he had just watched Peter Pan and really though Blanket could fly!

Making fun of Michael Jackson is not only fun, but it is also important because it reminds people of who he was and not the image they want to remember him by. Oh, and if anything I said offended you, learn how to take a joke.

The Reconstruction of America’s Pastime

Earlier this week, Los Angeles Dodgers left fielder Manny Ramirez was suspended for 50 games by Major League Baseball for violating the league’s substance abuse policy. According to ESPN, the drug used by Ramirez is human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG), a women’s fertility drug typically used by steroid users to restart their body’s natural testosterone production as they come off a steroid cycle.

Ramirez is by far the most high-profile star to test positive for a banned substance since the introduction of the Joint Drug Prevention and Treatment Program in 2006. While the news of his cheating is yet another tough pill to swallow for baseball fans worldwide, his suspension represents a new era in baseball, one which use of performance-enhancing drugs is not tolerated and players will return to playing the game the right way.

As a fan of baseball, I feel the best way to appreciate the game while recognizing the cloud of steroids is not to look at the past. Forget about Barry Bonds, Roger Clemens, Mark McGwire and all the other stars whose legacies have been tarnished by steroid use over the past two decades. Yes, I know it sounds difficult to just forget about players whom you may have once loved, who you may have looked up to as a child, but if baseball is to move on from the steroids era, so must its fans.

Well, knowing who not to cheer for does not quite solve the problem of who to root for, as in the back of every fan’s mind is the concern that their favorite hitter or pitcher is juicing up. As a fan, you can only presume the athlete is innocent unless there is evidence indicating otherwise. But if that answer does not satisfy your rightful desire to cheer for great players who are playing the game the right way, then my advice is to look towards the future.

As I said before, stop focusing on baseball’s past and present. But in addition to moving on from the steroids era, we need to embrace the new young players who are shining examples of how to play baseball. There are so many talented young players in MLB, guys who have entered the league since the introduction of the Joint Drug Prevention and Treatment Program. Guys like Evan Longoria, the 2008 AL Rookie of the Year, and Dustin Pedroia, the 2008 AL MVP. These are not only great players who are exciting to watch, but they aren’t larger-than-life behemoths. If you see these guys in person, you’ll realize that they do not look that different from you or me.

To use the cliche out with the old and in with the new, I am glad Ramirez tested positive, as it shows that the drug policy is working. I am also glad to have the chance to watch exciting young players who are reinvigorating the game of baseball, whose idea of taking a short cut isn’t taking steroids, but rather, stealing second base.

24 Midseason Review

24 is finally back, and although some episodes have been kinda iffy, this season feels pretty refreshing. The DC setting is a welcome change and Dubaku is gotta be one of the best villains the show has had. I'm quite interested to what he has up his sleeve next (I know what happened Monday, just trying not to spoil anything for those who missed it). Jack is back, and just as badass as ever. I don't think I'll ever get sick of hearing him yell.

While no episode so far this season has been as good as Redemption, I think in due time the pieces will come together. The new president is a woman (I figure the writers had Hillary winning the election). Given the fact that she's a woman, they felt it best to make her a morally sound character, but given the corruption in the government, perhaps it was necessary to establish some characters as good. I personally like the new Tony; 24 is sometimes too black and white, so it's great that one of the main characters this season is morally ambiguous.

One thing I'm not crazy about is the role the FBI plays on the show. Maybe it's cuz it's not CTU, but for some reason, I just don't give a damn about any of the characters at the FBI (except for Walker, but even she is sorta generic). I guess after you've spent so many years becoming emotionally invested in characters only to see them die one after another, it makes it all the more difficult to introduce new characters, as they often feel like placeholders of some of the dead ones. The side story of the President's son's staged suicide is a good idea, but so far, the execution of that storyline has been kind of a dud.

Overall, I think season 7 has potential to be one of the better ones, but given some of the new cast members and the lack of character development, I don't think this season will pan out perfectly.

Pro Bowl Snubs

Year after year, a few Pro Bowl selections either leave me scratching my head or in a fit of rage. Now don't get me wrong; I think the fans get most of the picks right. But there are always some guys that just get left out, whose places are filled by less deserving players. Here's a list of the biggest snubs and undeserving picks in the 2009 Pro Bowl.

NFC

QBs
Undeserving pick
Eli Manning (NYG)
OK, we will never forget what he did in 2008 Super Bowl back in February, but that was last season. Eli is having his best season yet, but thats' not saying much for a guy who has been an average quarterback for most of his career. Aside from the Super Bowl victory and his relation to Peyton, I don't see why else he's in the game. Yeah his team has a great record, but that's primarily due to the defense, the offensive line (considered by some to be the bets in football) and running game (the Giants lead the NFL in rushing). If we're gonna put Eli in the game, we might as well get Kerry Collins in there too.

Snub
Tony Romo (DAL)
Despite missing three games this season, Romo has throw for more yards than Eli, thrown more touchdownss and his passer rating is 13 points higher. And unlike Eli, Romo is the engine that makes the Dallas Cowboys go. He has the better fantasy numbers and is more valuable to his team.

RBs
Undeserving pick
Clinton Portis (WAS)
Yes, he is third in the NFC in rushing, and he led the Redskins to good start, keyword being led. After an impressive start, the Redskins have trailed off into mediocrity. Portis is having a pretty decent season; but due to his past success, he has overshadowed a more deserving candidate.

Snub
DeAngelo Williams (CAR)
Williams has broke out in his 3rd NFL season, lead the Carolina Panthers to an 11-3 record. He has about 100 fewer yards rushing than Portis, but is far more efficient. He averages about 10 more yards per game, has twice as many TDs and hasn't fumbled the ball once all season.

WRs
Undeserving pick
Anquan Boldin (ARI)
Boldin has had a great season, so it's hard for me to say he's undeserving. But the fact remains that he is the number two option in Arizona. Besides, I can think of another guy who should get that spot.

Snub
Calvin Johnson (DET)
Forget the fact that the Lions are 0-14. That team is so awful, they probably couldn't win a game with Jerry Rice in his prime. In just his second season, Calvin Johnson has emerged as one of the premiere wide receivers in the NFL, and unlike Boldin, who is catching passes from Kurt Warner, Johnson is reeling in catches from the likes of John Kitna (who went out early in the season), Dan Orlovsky (that idiot who ran out of the end zone for a safety), and Daunte Culpepper (a shadow of his former self). Despite all of this, Johnson has roughly 150 more receiving yards and just one less TD. He is also vastly more explosive than Boldin, with 19 catches of 20+ yards (Boldin has just 10) and 7 catches of 40+ yards (Boldin only has 3). Both are great players, but I'll take the true franchise wide receiver over the guy getting spoon fed by the man who will probably be named the 2008 NFL MVP.

DTs
Undeserving picks
Kevin Williams and Pat Williams (MIN)
Earlier this year, the two defensive tackles for the Minnesota Vikings tested positive for a banned diarrhetic, believed to be a masking agent for steroids. I know they are great players, but they broke the rules and don't deserve the honor of competing in a game that is supposed to represent the very best the NFL has to offer.

Snubs
Rocky Bernard (SEA)
He is second only to Kevin Williams in tackles at his position AND he hasn't tested positive for a banned substance. Bernard also has four sacks along with a forced fumble and fumble recovery.

Mr. X (pick your team)
Honestly, there are a bunch of defensive tackles in the NFC with roughly the same statistics, so the difference between them is negligible. Bottom line; any player who has played the game the right way is getting slapped in the face by the selections of Kevin Williams and Pat Williams.

AFC

QBs
Undeserving pick
Brett Favre (NYJ)
Favre is one of the greatest quarterbacks of all time. That said, he is not currently one of the top three quarterbacks in the AFC. The only reason why he is in the Pro Bowl this year is because of his past success in Green Bay and all the media scrutiny he's received since being traded to the Jets. Oh, being on the cover of Madden NFL 09 didn't hurt either. The fact that six other Jets were named to the Pro Bowl is a clear indication that he is not the sole reason for their success this year.

Snub
Philip Rivers (SD)
Yet another quarterback who leads his conference in passer rating was snubbed by a New York quarterback. Rivers is far more deserving than Farve; he trounces him in nearly every passing category. He has thrown for 500 more yards, seven more touchdowns, and has thrown six fewer interceptions. Just as Favre isn't responsible for the Jets' success, Rivers can't be blamed for the Chargers' failure.

RBs
Undeserving pick
Ronnie Brown (MIA)
He has less than 1,000 yards on the ground for the season, less than 60 yards per game, only 4.2 yards per carry, and four of his 10 touchdowns came in one game. It is great to see Brown back healthy and playing well, but he simply is not good enough to play in the Pro Bowl.

Snub
Steve Slaton (HOU)
Chris Johnson wasn't the only great running back in this year's NFL draft. Slaton has rushed for over 1,100 yards at just under five yards per carry. He has two fewer touchdowns than Brown, but is averaging 20 more yards per game. He also has 100 more receiving yards than Brown as well as a touchdown catch. Without him, the Texans wouldn't be anywhere close to 7-7.

TEs
Undeserving Pick
Antonio Gates (SD)
Much like teammate LaDainian Tomlinson, Antonio Gates is on pace to have his worst season since his rookie year. LT has taken the fall for the Chargers and was not selected to the Pro Bowl, but Gates remains one of the NFL's top tight ends. He is still the most talented tight end in the NFL; he just hasn't performed as well as some of the other tight ends in the AFC this year.

Snub
Dallas Clark (IND)
He is putting up better statistics than Gates and his team is performing better, which basically adds up to him being more deserving of a Pro Bowl selection. He has 10 more receptions, 60 more yards receiving and just one less touchdown.

2 South

Living on 2 South was prolly the highlight of my freshman year. I was fortunate to live on a floor with a swell group of guys whom I've grown to respect. Some of you are funny, smart, witty, dumb, lovable, but regardless of such features, you guys kept it real. You were all straight shooters; said what you thought, weren't afraid to express yourselves, and at the same time, could take some heat. Whether we were going out to bars or just goofing around in the dorm playing video games, we had an awesome time. I think to some extent, we were all unsatisfied with aspects of freshman year, whether it be social or academic. But the times we shared together overshadowed the monotony of cores and provided legit bonds that will hopefully last into years to follow.

Brawl: Who Made the Cut and Who Got Snubbed

Super Smash Bros. Brawl was released in Japan at the end of January, silencing all speculation regarding the final roster, which contains the following characters:

Bowser
Captain Falcon
Captain Olimar
Diddy Kong
Donkey Kong
Fox McCloud
Falco Lombardi
Gannondorf
Ice Climbers
Ike
Jigglypuff
King Dedede
Kirby
Link
Lucario
Lucas
Luigi
Mario
Marth
Meta Knight
Mr. Game and Watch
Ness
Peach
Pikachu
Pit
Pokémon Trainer
R.O.B.
Samus Aran
Sheik
Solid Snake
Sonic the Hedgehog
Toon Link
Wario
Wolf O'Donnell
Yoshi
Zelda
Zero Suit Samus

Despite the fact that the roster includes over 30 of the most beloved mascots in gaming, there are still some glaring omissions from the roster. After Nintendo unveiled Solid Snake as a playable character in Brawl, many speculated that various other mascots from Japanese publishers would be featured in the game. However, the only other non-Nintendo character to join the series is Sonic the Hedgehog, a most deserving, yet obvious selection.

Below is a list of just SOME of the biggest snubs from Brawl. Somehow, Nintendo felt making nearly a quarter of the characters in the game clones would be preferable to their devoted fans than including unique mascots from other Japanese publishers.

Bomberman: The long-time mascot of developer Hudson, Bomberman has appeared in numerous games in the Bomberman series, and seems like a natural fit for the Smash series. His repetoire probably would've included a wide array of explosives, hence the name Bomberman but we'll just have to be content with motion sensor bombs and bobombs.

Cloud: How the hell did Nintendo fail to include a single character from the most beloved RPG franchise of all time?! There were rumors that he was cut due to some issues between Square Enix and Nintendo, but whatever the case may be, it's a shame that we won't get the chance to see Cloud duke it out with Mario and Link.

Mega Man: Since the days of the NES, countless games in the Mega Man franchise have appeared on Nintendo consoles. Mega Man is kinda like that friend always comes over to your house and invades your fridge, as though he's a part of the family. He is among the oldest and most respected mascots in all of gaming, and his absence from Brawl is a true disappointment.

Pac-Man: Do I even need to write anything? In the 80s, Pac-Man was just as recognizable as Mario. It would have been awesome if Namco and Nintendo cut a deal to include the big fat yellow ball thing into the game. Just imagine his final smash; you'd be going around eating the other characters to the tune of that clehclehclechclechclehcleh!

Ryu Hayabusa: Perhaps not as well-known as some of the previously listed characters, Ryu is certainly one of the most badass characters in all of video games, right up there with Solid Snake. Tecmo's Ninja Gaiden franchise has been reborn in recent years on the Xbox, but it origins go back to the NES. Ryu would've been a quick and acrobatic swordsman, a nice alternative to the slower swordsman like Link and Marth.

Represent Your Hood

I'm tired of people on Facebook joining regional networks they don't belong to, the prime example being citizens of Nassau County, NY joining the New York, NY network. If your from the suburbs, be proud of your origins and stop trying to be someone you're not.