How I Met Your Mother

How I Met Your Mother has been one of the two tv shows on in the last 7-9 years that I've watched religously and its in my top 5 series of all time.  After Monday's finale, I've heard good and bad on the net, via text and in conversation about the How I Met Your Mother ended.  

We all knew how Lilly and Marshall were going to end up with all the fast forwards through out the 9 seasons with Marshall being a judge and so forth.  

*** SPOILERS MAYBE LISTED BELOW***

I didn't see the curve of Robin and Barney getting divorced but I'm not at all surprised by it based on the strenght of their personalites that were built through the seasons.  I am shocked though that the whole build up of Season 9 was built around their wedding or at their wedding and to do that in the finale after this season, that did shock me.  

I really liked how Barney's story arc ended.  Him having a daughter is the only thing that could slow him down from his life style.

I had a feeling that the "Mother" may die in the end, no shock there, but when Ted and the Mother interacted at the Farhampton train stop under the umbrella when the actually met.  That is where we should have gone to the kids and said, "and that is how I met your mother".   Perfect, end of story.  

As those of us though that have seen the finale, do we really need more Ted and Robin where we were given that to start, then end it and back again?  

But the story is over, the show is done.  With the zoom into the future I'm guessing we won't have a reunion show.   So with that, my top 5 HIMYM moments/episodes.

1.  Ted/Tracy (mother) met - Like I said this is perfect interaction between the two.  Close screen there.  Perfect.  

2.  Marshall's dad dies - The show went serious here.  Marshall's dad was/is his best friend.  This scene shows it.

3.  Robin Sparkles  - Wanna go to the mall?

4.  Barney's Love of his Life - Perfect ending for Barney as mentioned above.  

5.  The Super Bowl - As much as the show was how about Ted met the mother of his kids, this was HIMYM was basically Cheers, Seinfeld or Friends...it was about friends and being together and enjoying life with those closest to you.  The Super Bowl episode showed it.  

      The gang misses the Super Bowl and plan to DVR it and void being spoiled and watch it together Monday afterwards.  They all find out what happened.  But ultimately? It didn’t really matter. “I don’t remember who won. Hell, I don’t even remember who played. What I do remember is that we drank beer, we ate wings and we watched the Super Bowl together,” says Ted, the narrator, in a voiceover at the end of the episode. “Because sometimes, even if you know how something’s gonna end, that doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy the ride.”

Who’s in your 5….College Mascots

They are at every game, symbols of the university.  Traditions that have been around forever.  Some of them are live, some are costumes, some on leashes, some carry swords or sledgehammers.  The college mascot.  So here we go with my top 5.  I’ll start with an honorable mention since there are hundreds of mascots, it’s hard to narrow them down.  I’m sure with my top 5 you’ll find a trend.  And #1 you’ll be surprised.

Honorable Mention

Zippy (Akron) – really the Zips have a Kangaroo?  It’s odd but still it’s a Kangaroo!

Sparty (Mich State) – Dude might be on some performance enhancers but he get’s a cool outfit and a sword

Purdue Pete  (Purdue) – he carries a sledge hammer!  And he once dented Herky’s beek with it.

WarEagle (Auburn) – how the Tigers got WarEagle still is odd, but the Eagle flying down from Jordan-Hare stadium is pretty cool

The Stanford Tree (Stanford) – Maybe the goofiest mascot ever, but still funny.

The Drake Relay’s beautiful Bulldog.  – A cool tradition and well who doesn’t like a beautiful Bulldog?

5. Smokey (Tennessee) – A blue tick coonhound that shows up at Tennessee games and leads them into the stadium.  He may not be as big as some others.  But still it’s cool to have a coon hound leading the team out on the field.

4. Bevo – A live long horn.  Do you really wanna mess with him?

3. Ralphie  -  Well maybe if you’re a charging buffalo you’ll take out Bevo.  This is one of the cooler entrances in college football that I want to one day see.  Just don’t get in his way. 

2. UGA – One of the coolest traditions in the sport, an English bulldog, from UGA I to UGA VIII all in the same family lineage.  And perhaps the coolest video of a mascot, UGA biting an Auburn player!  Great Mascot!

1.  Herky – was it going to be any one else??

Who's in your 5 - NFL Post Season Moments

So it's time for the NFL post season in a day.  My pick this year is Steelers over Bears.  Hopefully the next 5 weekends will produce some great memories like these next 5 have.

Honorable Mention - All the close Super Bowls we've had.  The closer the games, the better the games.  Keeps us as fans into it more and makes the memories last.  Sure if your a fan of a team that wins in a blow out, you'll keep that in your memory bank toward the top, but I'm sure you won't disagree with the following either.

#5 - The Fog Bowl - Bears vs Eagles - 1988 NFC Divisional Playoff Game
I remember this one like it was yesterday.  You could hardly see anything on TV and the announcers had trouble calling it, but some how, some way the players saw what was going on and the Bears won 20-12 to move on the NFC Championship game vs the 49ers.



#4- Don't kick it to Devin Hester!
How many times have you heard it.  Don't kick it to #23.  Tony Dungy did it once in Super Bowl 41 and well the rest is history.  Too bad the Bears couldn't pull this one out.  Bad Rex showed up and threw a pick, but Bears fans will always remember how this one started.


#3-The Greatest Comeback in NFL History
I remember this one more so for what I didn't see.  The Oilers were up big on the defending AFC Champion Bills and we went out to a family dinner.  I was cheering for the Oilers since I used them in Tecmo Bowl and just threw passes all the time with Warren Moon and the WRs they had.  When we got home after the meal, the Bills had won.  HOW?  They pulled off the greatest come back in NFL History.


#2-The Music City Miracle
One of the most shocking, amazing plays in NFL history.  In #3 the Oilers were stung by the Bills.  Here, the Titans (formerly the Oilers) got a little revenge on Buffalo.  Was it a lateral pass...ehh maybe, but it was an amazing play.  And we don't have the great Rams-Titans Super Bowl with out this play.


#1-SUPER BOWL XX!
Like I said to open, you remember the great plays and great games but if your favorite team has a blow out win in the Super Bowl, that's your memory!  And that's mine!  Quite simply the best team ever for a single season.  15-1, 3-0 in the playoffs, only 10 points allowed in the post season.  The Super Bowl Shuffle.  Ditka.  How much better could it have got?  If only Sweetness could have scored a TD!






These are my moments, who's in your 5?

Who's in your 5 - Baseball Post season Series

With the Hunt for October going on and the end of the baseball season nearing, I thought I'd do a who's in my 5 for my favorite baseball post season series, in my life time.  I'd love to have #1 be the Cubs winning the World Series, who knows maybe I can update this next year?  Yeah right, who am I kidding.  So, here...we...go.

Ok, i'm cheating i'm doing 7, it's my blog, I can do it.

7.  2004 ALCS.  Redsox down 3-0, and in less than 24 hours Big Papi has two game winning hits to help them get to 3-2.  Then the bloody sock and game 7.  RedSox beat the Yankees and win break the Bambino's curse.


6.  1993 Bluejays vs Phillies.  A walk off homerun, that's a great start to kick off the list.  My brother still hasn't seen the Joe Carter home run leave the ball park.


5.  1992 Braves vs Pirates - The Braves and Pirates gave us great series, this went to game 7 and the Sid Bream Slide!


4.  2003 Redsox vs Yankees - Aaron F'ng Boone.  Nuff Said


3. 1991 Braves vs Twins.  Quite simply the best World Series I've ever watched.  I remember watching every game every pitch.  Kirby's homer, and catch and Jack Morris's pitching.

2.  2003 Cubs vs Marlins - Heartbreak.  Pure Heartbreak.  5 outs away.  Bartman.  Gonzalez.  The rest is history.  Watch this clip if you dare.


1.  1995 Mariners vs Yankees - I remember this mostly because of the fun I saw Ken Griffy Jr had, and it was against the big bad Yankees.  My dad is a Yanks fan and he turned the tv off, walked to bed after seeing Junior smiling and celebrating.  This is baseball..it's was fun!

Who's in your 5 - Villains

So a few months back I did a Who's in your 5 - Superheros, and well I should return the favor to the guys the Superheros battle.  The VILLIANS!  It's more fun to be bad isn't it?  Hell yes!  So here we go!

First some honorable mention.  Steve Bartman/Alex Gonzlez, Magneto, Dr Doom, Barry Bonds.

5.  The Predator - kick ass and taking names.  He made Jesse Ventura have time to bleed.  Took down Carl Weathers.  Even eventually destroyed Aliens.  But couldn't get past Ahhhnold.  He's one ugly motha fucker.  But he backed it up.

4.  Freddy Krueger - The 1980's villain from the cheesy Nightmare on Elm Street movies, in the first few movies made you not want to go to sleep.  Ultimately the movies got worse and worse, then came Freddy vs Jason in a royal rumble of bad guys.

3.  The Terminator - Not from T2 or T3, the original.  Arnold's cyborg was a bad ass.  It's always more fun to be bad, and this guy was BAD.  I remember when this came out in 1984, I was only 6, and watching it at home I was freaked out.

2.  Darth Vader - I think he's the most powerful badass in the universe and would be number 1 but as Luke said in Return of the Jedi, "I sense good in you." He'd kick your ass with the light saber or force choke you if you got in his way.  

1.  The Joker - really is there a better villain?  He doesn't play by any rules.  He's a maniac.  He wants mass chaos.  He's pure EVIL!  There is no better villain, and is a perfect compliment to BATMAN.  The one sad thing is we won't be able to see Heath Ledger's joker in the 3rd Batman movie again.  It's the best cinematic performance I've ever seen!

Those are my 5, who's yours?

Who's in your 5? Vacations/Trips

Ok, so I haven't gone to a lot of places or as many trips as I want to but I'm going to give this a shot for 5.

5. 1988 Trip to Chicago.  When I was about 5 my parents took my brother and sister to Chicago, and left me at home.  So in 1988 it was my turn, just mom dad and I.  The only thing I remember on the drive in is hitting a duck with the car, and seeing the Sears Tower.  We stayed at the Exel Inn.  Went to the museums, Gino's East and the Married W Children Fountain.  But my highlight was my first trip to Wrigley Field.  The Cubs played the Phillies, my brothers fav team and I so wanted them to win.  The Cubs were down 1-0 when Dave Martinez hit a homer with Shawon Dunston on and the Cubs won 2-1.  Sutcliffe pitched and I got to see all my favorite players.  Loved it.  Oh and Harry Carey!

4.  2003 Trip to Colorado.  Between my internship and last class at ISU I had some time to kill.  I had a friend in Denver whose mom was sick.  I thought I'd go out there on a whim, at noon one day to go see her and hang out.  Never been there so it was a first time for me.  I drove 13 hours straight, and drank 2 liters of Mt Dew.  It was cool waking up there and seeing mountains.  Went to a Rockies game, almost got 3 homer run balls, got none.  Went to the Coors Brewery and saw Buffalo Bill Cody's grave.  Was a fun trip!  The drive back sucked.

3.  2002 Iowa road trip to Ann Arbor.  Harmon's last road trip.  We stopped in Chicago on Thursday night.  Went to a bar, and I "got" 2 new Bears glasses.  Hit Ann Arbor and ate the best burrito I've had at a bowling alley.  Then hit the Michigan-Alaska Anchorage hockey game.  It was louder then the football game.  Then hit a bar, and it was ALL IOWA fans.  The next day we tailgated, and went to Michigan Stadium.  Got a picture with Keith Murphy and then went to our seats.  Michigan's SuperFan was only a few sections away.  The Hawkeyes dominated the game.  34-9.  Michigan's worst home loss in 35 years.  If not for a long Navarre run, the Wolverines would have had negative rushing yards.  That night we hit a bar, Mike, Westy and I were drunk.  Harmon can't drink.  We let him drive home.  Now Harmon has a disease that I can't really remember but he shakes a lot.  Better him driving than 3 drunks right?  We go to our hotel and on the way there Harmon takes us down a wrong way of a one way, swerving past 4 cops.  The 3 of us are busting a gut, Harmon is sweating bullets.  We go to park and and Harmon hits the curb.  Later that night we get ready for bed and my brother says "Good Night Jeff Gordon".  It was Classic

2.  2003 Iowa Road Trip to Columbus.  The road trip started out on Thursday and we headed to Normal, Illinois.  We stopped at a bar.  Watched Aaron Boone hit a homer in game 7 to beat the RedSox in the ALCS.  Sang the Iowa fight song and then Mike fell in a hole at 2am after he said he was going to bury me.  Classic moment.  Then on to Columbus.  Friday night hit Brothers, and then well I had too much to drink.  Well leave it at that.  Saturday we went to the game, no offensive touchdowns and the Hawks lost, but the rest of the night is EPIC. We went to an authentic German restaurant.  MMM...Dunkel!  Then the Ohio PTA.  About 1000 women were having a slumber party at the hotel we were staying at.  We crashed it.  Our shirts were off....and then about 10 of them said they wanted to go out.  We obliged.  We went to a a bar, danced and drank, stayed out and up till 4.  Left the hotel at 730.  I slept Columbus to Des Moines, about 12 hours.  it was awesome.

1.  Trip to New York City.  My dad is a big time Yankees fan and the House that Ruth built was coming to an end in 2008.  My brother and I and my mom had an idea that on Father's Day we'd surprise him with tickets to the last Yankees-RedSox game in Yankee Stadium.  We spent 3 days in New York City, stayed at the Waldorf~Astoria hotel and did all the touristy stuff.  It was a great trip that I wish we could do yearly.  I have a blog dedicated to it separately if you want to check it out.

Who's in your 5? - Mmm that's Tasty

Top 5 food

Honorable Mention – anything mom makes, mom’s the best cook and learned a few things from her. She’s the master, and I don’t know if I’m close to an apprentice.

5. Scallops – bacon wrapped on the grill or swimming in garlicky butter. I’m not a big fish fan, but give me all the scallops I can eat!

4. Peaches – nothing can stop me in my tracks at the grocery store quicker than walking by the produce section and the sweet luscious smell of peaches hits my nose. I’ll stop right in my tracks. And before my first bite I have to have one last smell.

3. Deep fried Turkey – inject that bad bird up with some seasoning and throw it in the oil. Love the flavor of the meat when it comes out. And the crunchiness of the skin.

2. Pulled BBQ pork sandwich topped with slaw – I rarely get these but when I do they are soooo good. Peach pie afterwards is a nice topper.

1. Chicago Style pizza. Sure new York style is good too but if I could have any type of pizza I would want a Chicago Style pizza. One piece is a meal in itself. I like gino’s east but I know other is Chicago all have their favorites.

What are your favorites?

Who's in your 5? - I Gotta Feeling

So I’m 32 years old. I’ve experienced a good many things. Maybe not as much as I want or as much as others. But these are my top 5 feelings.

5. So I’m going to start this off with sadness. Death. I hate it, I’m scared of it and when I think of not being here to experience my kids life or losing my mom and dad, it freaks me out. The worst was when my grandma (my dad’s mom) passed. I was the closest to her. You’re not supposed to have favorites but she was my favorite. I’d go over and see her after school. I’d skip seeing HS basketball games to go see her and eat supper with her and watch Dukes of Hazzard. When they came on reruns on Spike she’d watch them and I’d come over and watch with her. Every Sunday we’d go over after church and walking in the breeze way door you’d smell the meat she’d been cooking for an hour or so already. And to snitch a few bites, it was great. Her last year was in an assisted living home and I was gone a bit and didn’t get to see her much. I remember the call 2 days before my birthday. My mom came down right away to my room saying grandma was gone. She was going to breakfast, asked the person helping her she wanted to sit a second. Then she was gone. I didn’t cry a lot right away. Went to college and handed my paper. Then started spring break. I cried a lot at the funeral and visitation. It sucked.

4. I still remember this clear as a day. The moment I officially became a dad. In the operating room for the C-Section. Until then I didn’t realize what it meant to be a dad. I understand this that women have a connection to the baby from onset. But for the dad it’s kind of a outsider experience, at least it was for me. I had no idea what was coming, what I was going to feel. It seemed like it only took 5 minutes. Talking to the drug doctor, talking to Shawnna. And then the guy said to me, “there’s the baby” I stood up and looked and said loudly enough that everyone in the room looked at me “OH MY GOD!” There was Addyson. We didn’t know if she was going to be a girl or a boy, but felt it was going to be a girl. She was of course covered in goo to put it nicely. But at that moment life changed. I had someone who I had to be responsible for. It’s not just “ME”, it’s her too. Addyson was a perfect baby. She slept through the night at 3 mos. Can sleep through a nuclear explosion. A smart clever little girl.

3. Ok, this is a cool feeling and a weird feeling, and I’m sure it’s probably a lot different for females rather than males. But babies, (fetus more technical term) kicking while in a tummy. I swear that is the coolest and weirdest feeling that irks me out and gives me chills and is cool. The first time it’s like what the hell. Then it’s like, do it again, do it again. Like I said I’m sure being female and having a rib kicked or liver kicked is a lot different that the way us males feel it.

2. To this day this still happens, it happened when I was a boy, and now that I’m 32. The first time I walk into Kinnick Stadium a year. Walking into that brick structure. The darkened concourse. Walking through the crowd to my section, it hits me. I get goose bumps. Walking up the ramp you can see the press box. Then the goose bumps get bigger. Then as I get closer to the top of the ramp, it’s there, the green field. The white lines. The players out there warming up. I get so pumped up and that is like a climax of anticipation of getting to see Kinnick and the Hawkeyes.

1. Any time my kids come up and just hug me and say “I love you daddy” Really, how can that be topped?

Who's in your 5? Moments in my life up to age 18

5T. Iowa-Michigan 1985 – Watched it at the old house. Iowa was down 10-9. We drove to down to kick a fg. My dad is between the radio with Jim Zabel going nuts, and the tv and brent musberger. The kick was up, and good! Iowa went nuts. After the game my brother and I were outside playing catch in the dark.

5T. 1987 Class A State Championship football game. 20-17. Scoreboard! That whole playoff run sticks in my head. The 1^st game in Garwin. Second game in Boone, Semifinal back in Garwin in the rain storm and mud. The 1^st half down 14-0, then the comeback to force ot. Then after giving up a FG to go down 17-14, we got the ball. On the first play Robbie went off left tackle and dove over the pylon for the game winner from 20 yards out. Just like the last play of the first game that year. GMG – STATE CHAMPS!

4. Summers in Clear Lake. It was something that my mom and aunt did when they were little and it got passed on to us. We'd go up for a week. Sometimes it'd be with my cousins, sometimes I'd take a friend. My brother and sister and cousins, when we'd get together it was always a blast. And then also my grandparents would show up. We'd swim, throw the football around, play mini golf, and big boy golf when we got older. Fish. It was the best. Loved those days.

3. 6th Grade, the day Mr Samek pulled me aside one day during class. At this time in the 3rd quarter I was struggling with grades in about all classes. I had glasses, and braces. Felt really great about my self! I let what people thought of me affect me a lot. Didn't really have many friends. We went over and looked at my grade. Was in the D range. About the same for most classes but Math and Social Studies. Those were about C. Well Mr Samek talked to me and said once thing to me. "You're Better than this, you know that, I know that" From that day on, I didn't care what people thought of me, wasn't going to let it bother me. I found a friend in Andy. Hung out with him a lot, learned how to study. And had fun. 4th Quarter I had all A's in all classes. Got named Student of the 4th quarter, and from there on out I was an A or B student. In HS I won the computer science award my senior year, was on the QuizBowl and Knowledge Masters team. Thank you Samek.

2. March 17, 1992….Feb 28, 1995. Until those days, I never had a person close to me pass away. My grandfathers died those day. I remember the night before my first gpa died. My other grandma came to stay with me while my parents rushed to the hospital. The next morning I woke up my mom told me. I didn’t cry a lot. I expected it. At the funeral I didn’t cry either. I kind of knew he was at peace. Since his stroke he was in a nursing home and couldn’t do the things he loved. Go to HS basketball games and sit in “HIS” corner spot. Played checkers with us. He never smiled much in pictures, but there is one picture of me and him that he is smiling that I have. I remember at his last bday party, something happened and I could just tell in his face, he was uncomfortable.

Feb 28^th, my dad’s birthday. Just got done eating supper, and my grandma called my mom. Said we are losing him. By the time we got the 3 blocks to her house, he was gone. I remember just standing in my grandma’s kitchen giving my mom what seemed like a 5 minute hug. I didn’t cry a lot that night, again it was expected. That night when the rest of my family showed up. We were all in his bedroom with him laying there. I remember my younger cousin crying. My aunt crying. Then talking to our minister. At the funeral I cried my eyes out, when the minister said “he’s not gone, he’s just there with a sign on the door that says ‘Gone Fishing’”.

1. Any Saturday with my dad, getting up going to the Amana’s for breakfast, getting to Kinnick an hour before the game. Watching warm-ups, the band, the game. After the game listening to Soundoff on the way home. Checking for scores to see how we did on our weekly picks. Getting home and grilling supper and watching the late night game. I don’t know if they had as much impact on him as they did me but those were about the closest moments my dad and I have had. Our relationship is strained, not what I want the relationship with my son to be. I wish it were different, but we are 2 different people and different personalities. I got a little bit of that back with the trip to New York City in 2008. I don’t know if we’ll have another moment like that. But one can hope.

Who's in your 5? Hottest Celebs

Ok, so got this suggestion from Brina for Who’s in your 5. Well I got another also from her, but this one was better. The list. Friends made it famous, a list of celebrities, so who do I like in Hollywood.Well here…we…go.

5. This spot is usually a rotating spot. Christina Hendricks.

4. Maggie Gyllenhaal – The hair and the eyes get me with her every time.

3. Meg Ryan – Pure beauty.

2. Kate Beckensale – The tight black leather in underworld is niiiiiice. But fell in love with her in Serendipty.

1. Jennifer Love Hewitt – This one has been here since Can’t Hardly Wait. She can be my ghost whisperer. :)

Who's in your 5?

And if you have suggestions for the who's in your 5, holler at me.

Who's in your 5? Star Wars Characters

Ok, so I was having trouble thinking of a Who's in Your 5 to think of writing since I didn't like the ones from SoundOff to copy, and after having a few emails with a fellow Star Wars fan while she was building a Lego Ewok Glidder (which is just cool too!) I'm going to go with this. Top 5 favorite Star Wars characters.

Before I get into it I thought do I even include the prequels? Lucas I think hurt the original 3 by trying to incorporate every character from the orignals in the prequels. Really, Darth Vader built C3PO and R2D2 was Amidalla's astro droid and hey by sheer chance in all of the galaxy far, far away they both end up in Luke's hands, who happens to be their kid?

So here are my top 5 Star Wars Characters.

Honorable Mention - Princess Leia ( in the gold bikini! :P ), Han Solo, Darth Maul

5. Lando - some one had to be the player in the galaxy. Lando was that man. He ran a city and was a gambler. And he can fly the hell out of the Millenium Falcon

4. Admiral Ackbar - the coolest curstacean. It's a trap!

3. Luke - yea I admit when I played Star Wars when I was younger, I was Luke. Who didn't want to be the hero? And the Green Lightsaber was just cool!

2. Darth Vader - if you make the top 5 of all time movie villians you're a bad ass. I don't think there is a more menacing figure in movies ever. He is the epitimy of evil and is AWESOME! And you know right now you can hear his breathing.

1. Boba Fett - Outside of Vader I don't think there is a badder ass in the galaxy. He got eliminated from ROTJ pretty easily but in the expanded universe, the Sarlac doesn't kill him.

Who's in your 5 - Big Ten Rivalries/Trophies

As Deace & Miller said a few weeks ago, yea there is only 1 Rivalry in the Big Ten that is great nationally. But there are other fun ones within the conference. With the addition of Nebraska next year I think there will be new great one formed, most notably Iowa-Nebraska! But right now here are my 5 favorite Rivalries and Trophy games.

5. Iowa vs Penn State – No trophy but becoming quite good.

4. Little Brown Jug: Michigan vs Michigan State

3. Old Oaken Bucket: Indiana vs Purdue

2. Floyd of Rosedale: Iowa vs Minnesota

1. The Game: Ohio State vs Michigan

Who’s in your 5? - 80’s action movie characters

The decade that brought us the Terminator, Indiana Jones and John McClain among others is now getting the top 5 treatment. These are my 5, who are yours?



5. Dalton (Roadhouse) – Pain don’t hurt


4. Terminator – Arnold was a bad ass cyborg in the original.



3. Rambo – Seriously does the dude ever run out of ammo? And whatever you do, don’t kill the girl he likes.



2. John McClain - Yippee Kay Yea Mother Fu#ker$


1. Indiana Jones – Seriously is there any better? All he needs is a whip! And the fedora





I almost gave Arnold a second nod with Commando but that is basically a Rambo rip off. And Chuck Norris with the Missing in Action movies, but he had a team too.

Who's in your 5? Movies

Ok, so I've done Who's in your 5 for SuperHero movies, now I'm going to do movies in general. So the following are my top 5 favorite movies. Feel free to comment, and give me your 5!

5. Gladiator - "Are you not entertained?!?"

4. Lord of the Rings Trilogy - My Precious....2nd Greatest Trilogy in film history

3. Shawshank Redemption - Andy Dufresne, who crawled through a river of shit and came out clean on the other side.

2. The Dark Knight - WHY SO SERIOUS?

1. Star Wars Double Trilogy - The Force will be with you...always...

Who's in your 5? Iowa Hawkeye Games in the Ferentz Era

With the college football season coming up soon, just not fast enough, and a lot of local media are creating their own list of top games and top story lines....welll here is mine. Top Hawkeye games in the Ferentz Era? Now there are many ways to take this, as in the most impactful on the program, the most memorable for the program, or ones that I’ve just enjoyed the most. So I think this list is a combination of all of them.

5. Iowa – Michigan State 2009: Stanzi leads the Hawks to a TD on the last play as time expires capping a 70 yard drive.

5. Iowa – Purdue 2002: Dallas Clark has a huge game, Brad Banks leads Hawks back in the final minutes before a last second INT seals the deal.

4. Iowa – Penn State 2008: Upsetting the #3 team in the nation on national TV and setting into motion what was coming in 2009.

3. Iowa – LSU 2004: Tate to Holloway!

2. Iowa – Michigan 2002: The beat down in the big house. Hawks won 34-9 in total dominating fashion. Worst home loss for UM in like 35 years.

1. Iowa – Penn State 2000. The Ladell Betts run in over time that capped the win at Beaver Stadium and then the Hawks won 3 of the next 4, 2001 the Alamo then.

Who’s in your 5? TV Shows

So I can either go with current, past, or combined. And I think I will go with the later. Right now there are a few shows that I consider shows I follow and watch, and I think a few will fall into my top 5. So here we go.



5. Big Bang Theory – Nerds! How can you not laugh with Sheldon being Sheldon. And to bring in HALO night to a tv show is awesome!

4. Big Brother – It’s not the most popular reality show out there, but it is my favorite of them. I don’t think there is a better reality player (maybe boston rob on survivor) than Dr. Will. He was great in season 2 and in all-stars. The interactions with Mike Boogie in both seasons was great.

3. Fresh Prince of Bel-Air – sure it was about promoting Will Smith, but if you watch it and follow it, its about 1 thing too. Family. The Dukes of Hazzard was one of the last pure good family shows, but with what was shown on Fresh Prince if look deeper is a family bond and what it should be.



2. How I Met Your Mother – it’s Legen…wait for it, wait for it…DARY! I love all 5 characters. It’s perfect, it’s the new Friends. I don’t know if it will ever top Friends popularity, but for me its a lot better! And if you don’t think so, I challenge you to a slap bet!

1. Dukes of Hazzard – I love that car! Learned how to drive watching it! Remember Friday’s watching it at Grandma’s house in here little cubby hole area. We’d sit and watch, and then when the re-runs came back on, we’d watch those too. One day my goal is to own a 1969 Dodge Charger painted up in orange with an “01” on the side.

Who’s in your 5? Video Games

So the wonder of video games have been around since well like 1986 in my mind when I got my Nintendo. From NES to Super NES, Sega, PS1, PS2 and then Xbox and 360 and then also computer games, I’ve played a hand full of games. What are my favorite. Here we go.



T5. Civ series on PC – If only my computer could process it as fast as I wanted so it would run smoother and quicker. I could get lost for hours in that game building up my army and civilization, then trying to take over other countries.




T5. Knights of the Old Republic 1 & 2 – The first real Action/RPG game I played, and getting immersed into the Star Wars universe was awesome. And then building my lightsabers and not only having 1, but 2 going and killing sith! I hope another game comes out from this series for 360!

4. Contra – the best weapon ever on this game. The Spread gun.



3. Ghost Recon Advanced Warfighter 2 – the game that got me hooked on online play. Loved spending hours upon hours at night playing this with the now defunct mwcgamers.com clan. If I could have only got my mic/ear piece to work earlier!



2. Tecmo Bowl/Tecmo Super Bowl – the first great football game, and the home of the best video game athlete ever, Bo Jackson. I remember playing with the Bears at my parents old house, and I’d keep stats on the original when the game didn’t, and then draw and create my own BIG PEACH (what the Des Moines Register used to call it’s Sunday Sports) Great memories.

1. NCAA Football series by EA Sports – I don’t even want to know how many hours I’ve spent playing a dynasty on here, or the classic matches vs. Fouch before the bus would leave for basketball games. Add in the new feature of creating your own school online and all the advances up uploading your own highlights. SWEET! I’ve owned ever game in the series but one.