I won't give all the credit to Russell Crowe, and I'm far from a movie buff, but "Cinderella Man" has to be in contention for movie of the year. Am I less of a man because in the climactic scene in the movie - Crowe pulling a monumental upset to become champion as the country winched and cheered with every hook and jab - my eyes watered up? Of course I wouldn't let the girlfriend know about this, despite the fact she was sitting next to me. It's a powerful scene, and for my money, the buildup was exceptional. (While we're talking about great movies this year, "Crash" has to garner some consideration. It's amazing. I'd used a better adjective, but I don't know if this blasted thing has spell check, and I feel like I may be penalized for spelling errors). I've never been a huge fan of Crowe - he contributed to the breakup of Meg Ryan's marriage, and I was crazy in love with Meg early 1990s), he's got that pesky mole right between the eyes, he's a bit boorish, and although "Gladiator" rocked, it was more the story than his acting - but he won me over in this one. Just how much did he win me over? I've been taking a once-a-week boxing class at the gym since October. Due to work and travel, I haven't gone every week, but when I do, I feel tough. Tough is a relative term here, though - I've never been in a fight. Although I feel as though I'm ready now - if Ron Artest gave me static for bumping into him on the street tomorrow, let's just say I wouldn't back down - you never know with a street fight. Rocky V was a terrible film, but the street fight between Sly and Tommy Morrison was epic. Street fights are rad - if you're on the winning end. So the closest I've been to a fight was 7th grade. Heading back to the locker room after a kickball victory, a classmate (names are redacted to protect the innocent) got ticked off that I was talking smack. We had won despite my limited contributions, yet I felt the need to mouth off (that's just the type of guy I used to be). So this fellow got me in a headlock, and after I slithered out of it, the kid was laughing, and I threw a punch. It missed wildly - think a late-career flailing Mike Tyson hook. The teacher pulled us both aside, and that was that. WORTHLESS TIDBITS -I feel like I got in this contest late and I'll have no shot. Nobody is commenting on my blog. When I lose, I'll lose knowing that my mom thinks I'm a good writer. -I'm closing in on an impressive 10-year stretch: The last time i purchased a CD. It may have been "Garbage" or a Notorious BIG single "One More Chance," but I vow to never again buy music. It's just not worth it. -Sadly, I have lost my fingernail clipper. It is a major loss. Although they retail for less than $3, I had really become attached to it. Sort of like how I am attached to my 1985 Los Angeles Lakers Championship t-shirt. I refuse to wear it; mostly, I just look at it wisfully, remembering that was the year I took in my first live sporting event. The fingernail clipper was effective, and I truly feel lost without it. I woud like to boycott clipping my nails altogether, but it has become troublesome to grip a pencil. -I realize this post is light on sports and heavy on trivial junk, but I'm too spent from boxing class to put together a coherent, fact-filled post about why the Seattle Seahawks are overrated, why Ping-Pong rocks, and why botany is an underappreciated major.