The final chapter in the Rocky saga, Rocky Balboa, opens next Wednesday.  I’m going to see this movie the day it opens because, first of all, I liked the original.  It was good, honest filmmaking.  Sure, the underdog story is an old tried-and-true retread.  But Stallone handled it in an original way and rejuvenated the whole boxing film genre.  For that, he won the Oscar for Best Picture over such classics as All The President’s Men and Taxi Driver.

 

Second, Stallone’s purported reason for making the movie makes sense to me.  He says he wants to remove the bad taste left by the dark Rocky V and close out the franchise on his own terms.  That’s a pretty good reason, and I have to respect the honesty of trying to correct the mistakes of the past.

 

Third, the premise—an aging fighter coming out of retirement to challenge the current champ because a video game says he would win—is timely.  Video games that let us pit classic teams and athletes against one another abound.  My son plays one of them almost daily.  How many of us would like to see Michael Jordan take on Kobe Bryant one last time?  How many would like to see him go toe-to-toe with Dr. J?  How many of us would pay to see Joe Montana or Dan Fouts or Dan Marino throw one more pass in a real game?  Heck, I’ve often lamented that neither Fouts nor Marino ever won the big one.  I’d love to see the Chargers get to the Super Bowl, then bring in Fouts as a backup, get ahead by a comfortable margin, and let him play in the big one—maybe even close it out—just to get his due.  Who wouldn’t pay big money to see that?  Lots of us would.

 

Fourth, as I get older, the notion of challenging younger folks and turning back the hands of time a bit appeals to me more and more.  My hair seems to get grayer every day, my body creaks when I walk, and I know I can’t do all of the things I used to do.  As that Jerry Lee Lewis tune famously observed, we guys especially think we need to prove that we “still can.”  So, I can identify with this a bit.  I guess that’s part of the reason I took up Halo a few years ago and so thoroughly enjoyed schooling my younger coworkers and my teenage son.  The old man still has a few tricks up his sleeve.  My kids say that’s why I’ve let my hair grow down to my shoulders—I’m trying to look young.  There’s probably something to that.  Or maybe it’s just that I’m glad to still have most of my hair at my age :-)

 

Fifth, I like underdog stories, and as good as this franchise was at times, what a shame it would be for it to be defined by punch lines and late night TV wisecracks.  I'm pulling for the underdog here—I'm pulling for Rocky Balboa to pull off the upset and be a hit movie.  I'm pulling for it to be a good movie, a worthy successor to the original.  I think Stallone deserves it, and I think the series does.  There’s a little bit of Rocky in all of us, and I, for one, can’t wait to see this grand story brought to the respectable conclusion I think it deserves. 

For those wondering why I use the terms 'khen' and 'foo' so often, here's an article on the etymology of both:

 

 

''Being yourself and being as good a man as I can be is sexy. My face is considered handsome. My body is considered well put together. For me not to appreciate that would be way out of line. It doesn't mean that I'm not anything else.'' --Matthew McConaughey

 

Be yourself, eh?  As Bill Cosby once famously asked, "But what if you're an asshole?"  If Rush Limbaugh is as good a man as he can be, is that sexy?

 

God, I'm sick of this guy.  What do I wish he'd said?  Nothing at all.  Just keep your mouth shut, Matt.  Every time you open it, some arrogant idiocy spills out.  You are a poster boy for narcissism.  Look up the word "vain" and you'll find your picture.  You are completely, totally, utterly full of yourself.  God help us all if you're what movie stars are made of these days.

 

"It doesn't mean that I'm not anything else"?  You're right.  And I think Bill best summed up what else you are.

Ever hear someone you respect say something and kind of cringe?  Ever wish you could get them to say something else instead?  Today begins a new feature entitled, “What I Wish They’d Said.”  I’ll begin with something the person in question actually said then tell you what I wish they’d said instead.

 

What he said:

 

 

This under the heading of “Favre questions decision to return” on a website I frequent.

 

What I wish he’d said:

 

“I’m glad I came back.  I will keep coming back as long as they will have me and as long as I can help my team.  Every week I get up on Sunday morning knowing that I get to do what I love:  play football.  I have loved this sport since I was a kid and I always will.  It is in my blood.  It is a privilege to play it, at any level, and win, lose, or draw, I love the game for its own sake.  Every time I line up under center and look out across my line and see my guys about to go to battle for me and for each other, I realize how lucky I am.  Every time I see the warriors on both sides square off against each other, their hot breath blustering from their nostrils in the cold December air like so many wild bulls about to charge each other, just waiting on my command to start the fight, I realize I have the greatest job in the world.  And when I take that snap and drop back looking for my next target or stick the ball in the gut of one my comrades, I know there is no better life.  There is nothing I’d rather be doing because, while losing is hard, not playing is even harder.  I love my team and I love this game and I will play it until they carry me off the field in pieces."