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.

This probably won't happen three years from now, but it'd be cool if it did: "Pennington has [De'Cody] Fagg isolated one-on-one with [Randall] Gay ... it's Fagg and Gay, bump and run down the left sideline ... Fagg goes up, and Gay is all over his back, there's the flag for pass interference ..." - - - - - It's a question that has annoyed me all year: Will Matt Leinart's game translate to the NFL? Is he mobile enough? Is his arm strong enough? How will he do when he's not surrounded by All-Americans? Legitimate questions, for sure; but not as relevant as the following: Is Leinart the heir apparent to Tom Brady in the ladies' man department? It appears as if smoldering hot actress Bridget Moynahan has locked up Tom Brady - you know the feeling, your girl has you on lock down (yes, you can be on lock down and locked up, it makes sense, trust me), you begin to party less, you're suddenly a non-factor on the scene, and you begin to see your friends less. To me, Brady was far cooler when he was cavorting with Tara Reid, and instigating rumors of relationships with the likes of Mariah Carey and Britney Spears. Like a Kansas tornado, Leinart has left two of the four 'Charmed' actresses in his wake: Shannen Doherty and Alyssa Milano. Too bad Holly Marie Combs is married. Rose McGowan ... eh ... anyone who seriously dates Marilyn Manson probably isn't going to gravitate toward Leinart. Heisman Trophy or not. The guess here is that if Leinart goes to San Francisco, he'll have star appeal. Should he get banished to an awful outpost like Arizona or Houston, forget it. ------- Is it too late to get on the Atlanta Hawks bandwagon? I hitched my wagon to the Golden State Warriors early on and I refuse to give up on Baron and company (can I get less three's, and more Diogu and Taft inside please?), but last week before leaving for vacation, I took in some exciting Hawks hoops (losses to Houston, Miami, and Toronto), I got the feeling the team was too talented to be 76ers-bad (circa 72-73). Zaza looks great inside - reminds me of a young, slightly more agile Vlade Divac; and while Josh Smith and Josh Childress are raw athletes with limited skill, they're long and can stir up some trouble on defense; Marvin Williams is a tireless worker inside who could be a 15-10 guy next year; and Joe Johnson and Al Harrington are proven commodities. I don't think 20 wins is out of the realm this season. As much as I like Harrington, he doesn't want to be back, so why not deal him now and get something in return? Get a pick an a defensive/rebounding 4/5 in the mold of Sam Dalembert/PJ Brown, and look to next year. The Hawks will get a top 3 pick, and could either grab LaMarcus Aldridge, or make a package deal to trade down and fulfill the position they really need: Point guard (Rajon Rondo, anyone?), and throw big free agent money at Ben Wallace, Chris Wilcox, and possibly Lorenzen Wright. Back to the Warriors: Since everybody and their mother is tossing out wild Ron Artest trade ideas, how about offering this up for the Problem Child: Mike Dunleavy (expiring contract), promising foreigner Andris Biedrins, and next year's #1? It's not quite a match financially - heck, feel free to toss in Calbert Chaney's expiring contract if you feel so desired.