Top Ten People or Things That Annoyed Me In 2008.

I am going to try and make this a yearly tradition. Last year, I ranted about people or things that annoyed me. And, wouldn't you know it, I found ten things this year to rant about. What can I say, I'm a ranty guy.

These are just my opinions. I'm sure that I will rant about some things that people really love. You can love these things. That is your right. I really don't mean to offend anybody. But I just feel very strongly about the things on this list. So, no death threats or insults.

 

Without any further ado, here we go:

 

 

Anamericancarol

10. "Parody" films: There has been a recent trend of parody films sucking. It started last year with Epic Movie and continued this year with Meet the Spartans, Disaster Movie, and An American Carol.

The first two are from the same team that brought you Date Movie and Epic Movie, so they should be considered public enemy number one. These films are basically a collection of lame gags strung together with a flimsy plot  Strangely enough, up until Disaster Movie, these films always open at number one at the box office. Hopefully, this trend is going to end.

An American Carol was done by one of the Zucker Brothers, who brought us one of the best parody movies of all time, Airplane. It was his attempt to gain equal time for the conservative right by poking fun at the liberals. Unfortunately, he forgot to make it funny. This is a major disappointment.

An American Carol also tanked at the box office, which its creators probably thought was because of the unfair liberal bias in Hollywood. But really because it was a hamfisted hatchet job first, entertaining parody second.

Parodies are not easy to do. They require wit, intelligence and just the right touch. You can't just throw a bunch of scenes together and make it work. Which is what these people are finding out.

 

Santonio holmes

9. Santonio Holmes: I had the opportunity to watch at least some part of all the Steelers games this season (most from the comfort of my own home, as a lot of them were on national TV).

This was supposed to be the year Santonio Holmes was supposed to break out. The number one draft pick was entering his third season, the season when the good receivers are supposed to blossom.

Unfortunately, he did anything but blossom. The lasting impression I got of Holmes is one of dropped passes, routes run wrong, and stupid mistakes.

It got to such a point that when he actually did make a catch, my wife and I would say, "Wow, he finally caught one!" Like he won the lottery or something.

The Steelers have a history of having bad luck with high-round draft picks. Hines Ward was taken, I believe, in the 3rd round and has been nothing but clutch.  Holmes seems to be like fellow first-rounder Plaxico Burress and not living up to his potential while on the Steelers. Maybe Holmes will have better luck on his next team. And maybe the Steelers will just wait until the 3rd round to draft their WRs in the future.

 

 

Grantmorrison

8. Grant Morrison: I like a lot of what Grant Morrison does. I think he's a great writer. But he really isn't a great mainstream "event" writer.

I'll start with a caveat--All-Star Superman was a great book, filled with big moments and was one of the best interpretations of Superman ever.

But he seems to have been given carte blanche on that title, which is probably why it was so good. But when he has to work in the constraints of someone elses sandbox, he withers away.

"Batman R.I.P.," which was supposed to be the earth-shaking event which would turn the Bat-family of books on its ear, but instead was a chaotic mess. It was rumored that he was asked to rewrite the ending because DC wasn't satisfied with it. In my opinion, they should have stepped in much sooner.

Final Crisis was supposed to be the big event of the summer, the bookend to DC's "Crisis" trilogy. After bitching about not getting exclusive use of the New Gods (which, granted, he has a point) he gave us a rehash of an arc from his JLA run. For a big. blockbuster event with many other crossovers DC expects us to buy, we deserved more. And he was rumored to do rewrites on this one as well.

Morrison should stay to Vertigo where he can do what he wants and doesn't have to worry about continuity. He's a much better writer that way.

 

 

Kristen wiig

7. Kristen Wiig: I know I am in the minority here. Almost every magazine in the world has anointed her as the funniest woman since Lucille Ball. But I really don't find her funny at all.

Of course, one of her stock and trades is being an "annoyance comedienne" (I.E. the more annoying she is, the funnier she is supposed to be). But I didn't like that style when Borat did it, and she doesn't do it any better.

After that, she is essentially just a two-trick pony. She does that staccato monotone thing, like a surfer girl Rain Man. And she makes stupid faces and quirky body movements. Neither one impresses me.

Don't misunderstand me. It's not because she's a woman. I've seen Amy Poehler do improv and it was brilliant. And I find something I like in everything Tina Fey does. They are ten times the comediennes Wiig is, but get less press (well, maybe not Fey. She seems not to lack press ar all).

What it boils down to is that I don't find her funny. And the fact that it seems like everyone else does gets on my last nerve. In my eyes, she isn't the second coming of Gilda Radner, she's the new Melanie Hutsall.

 

 

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 6. Thomas Beatie: Okay, let me just state that I really have nothing against transgender people in general. If you believe you should be a sex other than the one you're born with, you have the means to change it, and no one gets hurt in the process, I say more power to you.

But if you think you should be a man yet were born a woman, and you decide to change it, then you should leave every thing that makes you a woman behind and become a man. Thomas Beatie supposedly want to be a man. But she held on to her female reproductive organs. This causes doubt as per her motivation.

And, yes, I refered to Beatie exclusively as a female, because that's what she is-- a woman. Because if she truly wanted to be a man, believes she was a man, believes she should be a man, then she'd give up everything that made her a woman, a big part of which is the ability to bear children.

But know, she kept that. And when her wife found she couldn't have kids, Beatie decided to step in an help out and became the first pregnant "man.".

Naturally, this gained national attention through almost every news outlet, including ones that really shouldn't be covering it at all, because it is a curiousity. She gave birth and if that was the end of it, it wouldn't be as annoying.

But she is pregnant again. And she makes the announcement to Barbara Walters. Because, well, I guess all parties involved think its news or something.  And we face the possibility that this will become a reoccuring theme.

This makes me think Beatie is using the supposed freakish nature of her pregnancies as a means of self-promotion. I'm sure there will be other talk show appearances, maybe another book, and perhaps a TV deal. And that doesn't sit well with me. Having a child is a sacred, special thing. To exploit it the way Beatie has seems unctious at best. 

But, lets face it, Thomas Beatie is not a pregnant man. She is a woman who looks like a man who has gotten pregnant. This should have only been a mild curiousity the first time. The second time shouldn't have gotten any attention at all. But Beatie appears to be turing her situation it a gigantic circus sideshow just for want of attention. Yes, she should be blamed for it, but if we weren't so attracted by the whole car-wreck aspect of Beatie's sideshow, she'd slip into the obscurity she deserves..

 

 

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5. Twilight: It seems the media and book publishers were really too desperate to fill the void left by Harry Potter. They were frantic to find a franchise that would appeal to both kids and adults. It appears that it has got what it wanted with Twilight. I heard absolutely nothing about the books while JK Rowling was still putting out novels. But now, it's the biggest thing ever.

And, granted, I am not its target audience, but Twilight seems to be the lamest thing ever as well.

First off, I believe vampires only should come out at night. Period. It was good enough for my parents. It was good enough for their parents. It's good enough for me.

However, the previews for the movie have the vampires wandering around in broad daylight. I understand the reason for this. After all, it is hard to have a teenage romance when the teens in question should be sleeping. But it kind of violates Bill's first law of vampires.

Other than that, based on what I've heard and read, it looks like it is goth-lite. It's goth for people who don't want to go full goth. There are pale people, a lot of shoegazing, a bit of romance, but all done in earth tones so as not to scare the squares.

And, logically, a romance between a vampire can only end two ways. Either she grows old while he stays the same age (unless they changed that vampire rule too) until her inevitable death does them part. That would be tragic and bittersweet and not at all happy, but would probably be the best option. Or he turns her into a vampire and they live forever and ever together in a perfect love, which, if that is the end result, the longer she is not a vampire the more annoying it will be (apparently, this the way Meyer went, and it happened in the 4th installment, which is another reason why the whole thing is annoying).

But, hey, I am not its target audience. It sold incredibly well and millions of people love it (to the point of obsession). Pehaps there is something I am missing, some subtle nuance, by not reading it. But I'll never know because I just have no desire to get into it.

 

Brett Favre

 4. Brett Favre: I've already covered my annoyance with Brett earlier in this blog. Yes, the whole ordeal over the summer really seemed to show Brett's true colors. People think he was justified in throwing the tantrum and can't understand why the Packers would not just ignore the public support they put behind Aaron Rogers and take Brett back with open arms.

But Brett became a whiny baby, an indecisive wuss and a petulant child in my eyes. Heck, he is still one of the best QB's in NFL history, and is destined for the Hall of Fame, but he isn't as much of a hero as he once was to me.

But now, with a whole season of football behind us, what has Brett done for the Jets. You could say Brett made them in to a playoff contender (although, not one who could win it when it was all on the line). But, outside of last year's abberation, the Jets were in the playoffs several times in the past few years. And the man Brett replaced, Chad Pennington, led the 1-15 of last year Miami Dolphins to a division championship and a playoff spot--with arguably less talent than Brett has. Who's to say Pennington could do the same if he stayed with the Jets.

What Brett did bring to the Jets was the whole "will he retire" rigamarole that plagued his last few years with the Pack. It's started again, and it's sure to get a lot of media attention. But if he does decide to re-retire, keep a locker open for him just in case. Or have a trade waiting in the wings in case he wants to come back, only not with you.

 

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3. Sarah Palin: You know, I lived through the era of Dan Quayle, and I thought that was about as low as Republican Vice-Presidential Candidates could go. Then along came Sarah.

I try to figure out the reason why McCain added her to the ticket. I hope it wasn't just because she had girl parts and Hilary Clinton had girl parts and they hoped all the people who supported Hilary because of her girl parts would switch to McCain because of Palin's girl parts.

Part of the reason probably because she was folksy. She was supposed to embody that "person you'd like to have a beer with" quality that got Dubya inexplicably elected twice. But instead of folksy she came across as a rube who you wouldn't a heartbeat away from the presidency.

She couldn't interview her way out of a paper bag. She didn't appear to be knowledgeable about foreign affairs or practically anything presidential. She used her office as governor to punish her ex-brother-in-law. And, worse of all, she winked at us during a nationally televised debate. Winked. At. Us. Let's face it. I was probably never going to vote for McCain/Palin. But if I was on the fence, that wink would have sent me permanently over to Obama's side.  

People say Palin is the future of the Republican party. If she is, well, get used to a long reign with the Democrats in power.

 

 

Heroes

2. This "Chapter" of Heroes:  The Heroes season so far is like fast food TV. You consume it, and at the time you think it is good and satisfying. But when you think about it later, you wonder why you bothered taking it at all.

This was supposed to be the bounce back year, the one where they fixed all the problems that plagued the series before the writer's strike. But not only didn't they fix the problems, they developed a whole new batch of them.

It seemed fairly obvious that they had no long range plan for the series in general or this season in particular. Questions were raised that were never explained. Heroes turned to villains with little or no known motivations. Characters acted like idiots just so they could advance the plot. Other characters when through season long developments which were interesting and could have been explored further but instead they were abruptly returned to the status quo. Powers of the cast were only what the writers need that week, and changed as per their whim.

There was a major creative shake-up, the effects of which will be seen when the series returns in February. I hope upon hope that the series will be able to right itself because of these changes. Because if it doesn't, it might not remain on the air that long.  

 

The Hills

1. The Hills: I think this show is proof that God exists, Because if Satan exists, then God has to exist. And there has to be a lot of blood oaths to the dark lord for this series to remain on the air and have the popularity it has.

If this was just a reality program about a bunch of vapid bints complaining that their almost perfect lives are not completely perfect wholly through their own asinine actions, it would be pretty unbearable. Because, you know, I always find people who could afford to sell me a thousand times over whining because the a-hole they are dating is, well, an a-hole so gosh darn interesting.

But what makes it extra annoying that this is a unreal reality show. The "real life" events that make up the show are obviously shot and shot over again until they get it just right. That heart to heart talk you see probably took hours to shoot because the lighting was off or there was too much background sound.

This makes the fake and phony lives of these people even more fake and phony. The result is a poorly acted melodrama masquerading as real life. I simply can't understand what the appeal is. I just hope they reach teh ceiling fast. These yahoos 15 minutes of fame has long expired.   

Movie: The Spirit

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How bad was the The Spirit?

You could compare it to a bad community theater performance, but I had my share of those in the past and the people in it usually know they're in a stinker. So that really doesn't apply.

You could compare it to a high school performance, but the creators of that performance at least realize that they have a lot to learn about the craft and strive to better themselves.

The closest comparison I can come to for this movie would be kids playing in the backyard. The storylines are made up from whole cloth, and veer from one style to another based on what the kids think are cool. The players find the fantasy they create greatly entertaining, but everyone else would be bored.

Not only is The Spirit the worst comic book movie of all time (Howard the Duck, Batman and Robin, you may stop fighting for that title) but ranks as one of the worst movies of all time.

One of the major complements of Frank Miller's comic book storytelling was that it was "cinematic". I guess Miller took this to mean that he could put anything on the screen and it would be brilliant. He was wrong.

This film is more a collection of scene connected by a flimsy plot. The style goes from high camp, to Looney Tunes;like action, to Douglas Sirk-like melodrama to typical comic book fare. Each style shift is jarring and slaps the audience in the face.

There is no dramatic flow to the film. Miller gives us nothing to make us feel for the characters or care whether they live or die. He paints them in only the broadest of terms, and we never for once gain enough for us to become emotionally invested in them as people.

And, you get the feeling that Miller really wanted to make a Batman film, had no shot at doing that, and decided to shoehorn The Spirit into that. It really didn't work.

Samuel L. Jackson, Scarlett Johansson, and Eva Mendes gave some of the worst performances of their careers. Jackson was hamming up constantly and chewing up scenery everywhere he went. You'd think that Johansson would be able to do a femme fatale role in her sleep, but her take was just trying to talk lower. It was like a five year-old trying to talk like a big girl. And Mendes lacked the emotional depth her role called for.

No that the acting was all bad. Gabriel Macht did well in the lead role and Dan Lauria did well as Commissioner Dolan. You get the impression that since these guys were "smaller names," Miller was able to guide their performances more but was too star struck to do the same for Jackson, Johansson, and Mendes.

There are some shots of visual brilliance here and there, but most of them are inserted where they really don't belong which ruins their effectiveness.

I could complain about this movie all day. Heck, I can devote an entire blog post to Miller's using a photocopy of a woman's ass as a plot point. But it won't change the overall result. This movie is a failure on just about all levels, and should be avoided at all costs. Hopefully, this film ends Miller's career and serves as a wake up call for the creator.

Top Gifts NOT to give a loved one this Holiday season.

Christmas is almost upon us, and it is time for the search for last-minute gifts. Some might turn to commercials for ideas for said gifts This should not be done because commercials lie. These are some gifts commercials try to force on us, which, personally, I really don't think work for most people.

 

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1. Luxury Cars: Perhaps I'm weird, but I'm not a car person. Basically, they're a way to get from one place to another.

In this day and age, that makes them essentially a necessity. So, if you are buying a car for someone for Christmas, it's like buying them a really expensive pair of socks.

Luxury cars might have more bells and whistles, but they are still cars. And, really, it turns out that you are buying them a $200 gift every month. Nothing says "I love you" like going into hock.

That is, unless you can purchase something like a Lexus outright. If you can, I'd suggest putting that money to better use by giving it to charity.

 

Appliances

2. Major Appliances: Again, somewhat of a necessity. I mean, the milk will go bad if its not refrigerated, right? We need to cook the food before we eat it, right? 

Not that necessities should be ignored altogether at Christmas time, but I believe Christmas gifts should have some sentiment behind them. What's romantic about a radar range? What's special about a stove? In my eyes, nothing.  

If anything, this gift will send the wrong message. "Honey, all I think of you is as someone who will cook my food. Now go make me some cupcakes in that new oven I bought you."

Besides, you are spending several hundred dollars at one time for a gift, which is more than the entire Christmas budget for some people. That would make a refrigerator the only gift you got that certain someone. Is that what you want?

If you need a new stove or refrigerator, you should buy a new stove or refrigerator. If you need a better stove or refrigerator, you should buy a better stove or refrigerator. But buy them when you need it or want it. Don't buy it for Christmas.

 

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3. An Engagement Ring: There are a lot of commercials out there advertising jewelry for Christmas gifts. Too much sentimentality is place on jewelry, especially diamonds. Diamonds are essentially the most plentiful gem on Earth (their made of carbon, as any science class will tell you, is all around) which are controlled by a few cartels to inflate the price unnecessarily.

But this year, I've seen more engagement themed ads around. They are trying to portray giving an engagement ring as a good idea for the holidays. Really, its not.

Yes, Christmas is a romantic time anyway. You are putting thought and effort into getting something special for someone you love they want you to think that getting engaged at Christmas will make that event even more special.

But, really, it is special all its own. It doesn't need to piggyback on Christmas for extra sentiment. If anything, it takes away from both events.

Wait until New Year's and give her the ring then. Because, you know you are have to get her something else on Christmas anyway. (You do know that, don't you??)

 

PowerTools

4. Power Tools:  My favorite commercials this time of year are the Lowe's commercials. Couples walk into the store and say along the lines of "Hey, we can do all our shopping here!" Yeah, if the only guy you're buying for is Paul Bunyon.

Don't get me wrong, I know there are people with hobbies such as woodworking and cabinetmaking that would appreciate a good set of power tools. And, by all means, get some for them.

But for most men without these interests, you buying them power tools says, "get off your butt and do some work, ya lazy bum!"

And, unless the guy works in construction and needs to supply his own tools, any man can get by with a simple tool set that can fit under the sink. Does Joe Shmoe really need a nail gun? A power sander? A table saw?

 

 

 

A personal note for Keith Bullock, Javon Kearse and the rest of the Tennessee Titans.

Javon kearse and terrible towel

Um, you guys DO know that the Steelers didn't bring their A game on Sunday, right? They made a boatload of mistakes, which, to your credit, you capitalized on. But this wasn't the out and out domination that you made it out to be with your wiping your feet on and blowing your nose in the Terrible Towel.

I know, I know. The whole "we're not as respected as an unbeaten team as the Patriots were last year" image you were trying to make for yourselves went out the window when, well, you were defeated. But the Steelers, when they had their act together, seemed to be able to move the ball against you fairly well. And the point total would be quite different if there weren't so many stupid turnovers. So theis "Dominating team of destiny" image you're trying to build? Doesn't really work if your a team that lost to the Texans.

That being said, I don't think should have to worry about your shenanigans having a negative effect against you when you meet the Steelers in the playoffs. Because you probably won't be meeting the Steelers in the playoffs. You'll probably be out by the second quarter of your first playoff game. I mean, there is a chance that the Jets could make the playoffs and we both know what happened the last time your guys met.

My Picks for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame 2009.

The Nomination list for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame are out. Here are the nine nominees:

• Jeff Beck
• Chic
• Wanda Jackson
• Little Anthony and the Imperials
• Metallica
• Run D.M.C.
• the Stooges
• War
• Bobby Womack

That's a pretty eclectic list if you ask me. Run D.M.C. was the only first year eligible act to be nominated. No Bon Jovi, no Stevie Ray Vaughn, no The Smiths, and no Cyndi Lauper. Metallica finally gets nominated after being snubbed last year.  Chic is the only nominee to return from last year. Which means the Beastie Boys got snubbed. 

The inductees are set to be announce in January. This is who I think will get in. Not who would vote for, if I had a vote, but who I think has the best chance of being inducted:

1. Metallica (Eligible since 2007, first nomination): They definitely deserve it. I mean, when it comes to Heavy Metal, you don't get much more influential or innovative than Metallica. But they also lost the first Heavy Metal Grammy to Jethro Tull, so voters have a sort of blind spot for them.
2. Run D.M.C (First Year Eligible, first nomination): There are other rappers that came before them, but none that had the influence that Run D.M.C had. They opened up rap to a whole new audience and influenced several generations of rappers.
3. The Stooges (Eligible sine 1994, seven nominations): I think this could be the year this widely held favorite gets in. This is a band who might not be the most popular in terms of sales, but are mad innovative in the industry and influential with other artists. I argue that if they don't get in this year, they never get in.
4. Chic (Eligible since 2002, five nominations): After the Stooges, it's anybody's guess. I am thinking these guy might have a good shot considering four of their five nominations were in the last four years.
5. Wanda Jackson (Eligible since 1983, two nominations): This choice is risky. Jackson is the least famous of the nine, but she has a lot of fans in the industry. She certainly fills the bill for innovative--being the one of the first female rockabilly artists--and influential--for almost all female country artists. And she has been called the female Elvis, which would get my vote.  

How NOT to give an interview if you are a Vice-Presidential Candidate.

1. Answer every question emphatically. Sure, people will think you're psychotic, but there might be 5 or 6 people out there who think you really, really, really mean what you say.
2. If faced with a question where to answer truthfully would make you look weak, ignore it and just talk about what is one of your positives.
3. Be sure to try to clumsily shoe horn it in so it looks like you are really answering the original question, but do it so awkwardly that it is obvious you are trying to avoid the real question.
4. Talk in circles whenever possible, but be real obvious about it.
5. Contradict yourself several times, yet have no idea that you are doing so.
6. Answer questions you know nothing about with a load of mumbo jumbo.
7. When called on it, try to bury the interviewer in words.
8. If that still doesn't work, repeat the first answer more firmly and emphatically, with the intonation that you think the interviewer might actually be retarded.

Let's watch Republican Vice-Presidential Candidate Sarah Palin employee these tips to great success!

 

SARAH PALIN interview CHARLIE GIBSON - energy, God, war

Yeah, I was pretty non committal when it came to this election before I saw this. Now, i know I must vote for Obama. This woman can't be a missed heartbeat away from the Presidency. She's the female Dubya, only with less experience.

Sad News: R.I.P. Julius Carry

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Variety is reporting that character actor Julius Carry has lost his battle with pancreatic cancer. He was 56.

Fans of The Last Dragon might remember Carry as the villain Sho'nuff. I knew him from two other projects.

I recall being a fan of of the short lived sitcom, Doctor Doctor, back in 1989. Carry played Abraham Butterfield on the show. His character was uptight without ever being pompous. I don't know if it was the talent of the writers or the ability of Carry as an actor (most likely a combination of both), but what could have become a "Frank Burns" type of character became a relatable, three dimensional portrayal.

That show only lasted two season before being cancelled. Then he went on to another one of my favorite short-lived shows (I seem to like a lot of short lived shows), The Adventures of Brisco County, Jr. He played the memorable character Lord Bowler.

 

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In a complete opposite to his Doctor Doctor character, Lord Bowler was a cantankerous, down and dirty bounty hunter. He started out as Brisco County's nemesis but eventually became his partner. The role was a great one, full of flash, showy scenes, and killer dialogue. If anyone besides Bruce Campbell played the lead, Carry could have stolen the program. As it was, they played of each other well and the show became a cult favorite.

I was so impressed by him as an actor that I kept waiting for him to get his own series or move over to the movies. But the 'continuing character" roles were what he excelled in, and were what he did after Brisco went off the air.  

Condolences go out to his family and friends.

Images taken from this site. 

Movie: The Dark Knight

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This movie almost lost me halfway through. I'm not going to spoil it, but it was something that had the comic fan in me saying "No! Tell me they didn't just do that!  Tell me it was a swerve!' It was, and when I found out it was that was the moment I fell in love with the movie completely.

This is a great movie. That should have come as no surprise for me because no less that three theater employees told me so on the way in.

This is a film that not only respects the characters but also the fans of the characters.

The acting was great all around. I had my doubts on Eckhart and Ledger based on the trailers, but the trailer didn't show the best part of their perfomances.

Is Ledger as good as they say? Yeah. Is he better than Jack Nicholson, well, it's like comparing apples and oranges. Nicholson was the best Joker for the movie he was in. Ledger for his. Will Ledger get an Oscar? I think its a worthy performance, but perhaps too out there for the Academy.

But I will say this, this probably is the best presentation of the Joker in any medium. He is an agent of chaos, a living embodiment of the Loki the trickster god. Part of that is due to Ledger, part of that is due to excellent writing.

I, unfortunately, did not get the Watchmen trailer. I instead got the Spirit, which looks positively awful.

 

I attended the DHL All-Star Fan-Fest 2008 on Monday!

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I can not say how, but I got VIP passes to the DHL All-Star Fan-Fest at the Javitz Center in NYC! It was part of the celebration of the All-Star game that took place at Yankee Stadium yesterday.

I had a chance to walk around the city a bit before the event, and came across this lovely lady here. Apparently, there was a Liberty statue painted in the colors of every major league team and spread out all over the city. This one was in front of Madison Square Garden. The Cincinnatti Reds one was in front of a Models store in 80s. I would have liked to see that one live and in person.

MLB is actioning them all off. So, if you have a few thousand dollars lying around (opening bid for each is $5,000), you can click here for details. Proceeds of the auction go to benefit the Boys and Girls Club of America.

As for the Fan-Fest itself, it was great. Being a VIP meant that we got special access to a private area in the middle of the exhibition space and also admission to the event itself.

The VIP passes were a great perk. It gave you access to free food, a simulcast of the Home Run Derby, and a chance for a one-on-one autograph session with former MLB greats.

Who? Well, Darryl Strawberry:

 

 

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Who was really nice. Also, Yankee Legend Bucky Dent:

 

 

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And Dave Winfield also came out at the same time. By the time I got through the lines for Bucky Dent and Darryl Strawberry, Dave Winfield's was closed. My one gripe about the whole thing that I wish they staggered the players more. Anyway, here is Dave signing away.

 

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They had about an hour before the next group of players came out, so my wife and I walked around for a bit.

The Fan-Fest is very family friendly. There are fun activities for kids and adults, You could have your image placed on a replica baseball card or the cover of the New York Post. You could go to a batting cage, have your pitches clocked for speed, or see how fast you could run the base paths.

There was also an auction house there auctioning off memorabilia. They had old baseball cards, jerseys, and pictures. A lot of stuff from Whitey Ford and Thurman Munson. Munson is one of my wife's favorite players, so we had to get a picture of Munson's MasterCharge card.

 

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It might be blurry, but I assure you it's his!

They also had a replica of the clubhouse from the All-Star Game, which, having seen the clubhouses on the actual pre-game, looks nothing like them.

 

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Here I am with former Red Josh Hamiltion's locker, at the moment he was at bat at the Home Run Derby.

 

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We then headed back to the VIP area, which was in the shape of the a baseball diamond. We got back there just in time to see Dave Winfield being interviewed by FOX's Chris Myers. Unfortunately, he had to compete with Josh Hamiltion's awesome performace on the screen behind him.

 

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Which was really unfair because Dave Winfield is a great speaker and was telling some great stories. But he didn't have it as bad as Wade Boggs, because he was being interviewed while the next autograph session began.

 

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I'm pretty sure he was waving at me, not the woman in front of me. Yeah, I'm almost positive.

This time around, we didn't learned from our earlier mistake and made sure we got all the stars. And I'm glad we did because there was Graig Nettles:

 

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Who had the best picture to have signed. And we got Mickey Rivers:

 

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He was a really nice guy. As a matter of fact, they all were. And, last but not least, there was Steve Sax:

 

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It was a blast to see all the player I grew up watching and be able to shake their hand. They said that Yogi Berra was signing somewhere in the building, but we didn't get to his autograph, which would have been nice.

We also got a chance to meet amd talk with Chris Myers, who was very personable and completely nice.

 

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We also visited the Fan-Fest store. We spent more money than we should have considering we are about to go on a two-week vacation, but it was cool stuff. Like T-shirts and hats to remember the day. They even had the All-Star Game program. That was cool.

The Baseball Hall of Fame also brought some of their exhibits there. I got to see Tom Seaver's Reds jersey next to Mike Schmidt's:

 

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As a Reds fan and a Schmitty fan, that was totally awesome. Here are some other pictures of jerseys throughout Baseball history:

 

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There was also a store dedicated to Minor League baseball, where you could buy hats from almost all of the Minor League Baseball teams. I picked up a Sarasota Reds hat.

I heartily recommend the Fan-Fest if it ever comes to your town. I think tickets were only $30 a piece, and you got a lot for your money. Especially if you are a baseball fan and want to pass the love on to your kids.

I Rant About the Whole Brett Farve Thing

Brett Favre

At the beginning of the 2007 season, the talk began again about Brett Favre retiring, as usually happened at the beginning of the last few seasons.

Favre decided not to retire, causing many writers to mock him, saying that he had a good run, but he should retire before he makes a fool of himself.

Favre proved them all wrong. He led a young and inexperienced Packers team to one game away from the Super Bowl. So great was Favre's cinderella story that even I, a Giants fan, would not be upset if he beat said Giants to get to another Super Bowl.

At the end of the 2007 season, Favre decided to take the pundits up on their advice. He tearfully announced his retirement and the Packers began grooming his replacement, Aaron Rodgers, to take over the starting QB job.

Favre showed a lot of class then. And he built up a lot of goodwill with me in those days. But that goodwill is almost all used up.

Favre has decided that he wants to play football again, And he wants to play someplace other than Green Bay because he asked the team to realease him (The Packers still hold the option on his contract).

The Packers refused. Two of the NFL teams in most need of a QB are Chicago and Minnesota, the Packers' divisional rivals.  If Brett wants to play, he can play in Green Bay. If he wins the starting job, they'd be happy to have him.

This isn't good enough for Brett, so a pissing match began.

I have to say, Favre is coming of like an arrogant jerk in this thing. Just look at what he said in an interview with FOX about the situation.

On competing for the Packers job:

"Why? That's what I would ask them: Why?"

 

On possibly being Rodgers back up: 

"We'll pay you $12 million, but you've got to hold the clipboard and ball cap? That's probably better for them as opposed to letting me go somewhere and me coming back. Then their legacy, the management, would, you know, could be in jeopardy."

See, Favre's typical aw-shucks demenor seems to have been replaced by outright egotism.

You'd think he'd at least try to show some loyalty to the Packers. Granted, he didn't start out as a Packer--he was drafted by the Atlanta Falcons, but he wouldn't be as famous as he is if it wasn't for the legacy of the Packers, the team they built around them and the promotion they gave him.

But Favre is coming off like a petulant child "I want to pway footbawl! I want to pway qwarterback! I don't want to compete! I want to be weleased!"

But the situation created by his retirement kind of forced the Packers hand. The organization has gone above and beyond what's expected in giving their vote of confidence to Rodgers, as well they should. What are they supposed to do? "We are 100% percent behind Aaron Rodg--what? Brett wants to come back? Sorry kid, Brett's back. Get lost. We are 100% behind Brett Favre..."

It's not fair to Rodgers to just be put aside now just because Big Baby Brett decided to flip flop on the retirement issue. Fair would be Brett becoming a back up or at least competing for the job. But the competetive drive in Farve is to big for that!

I would like to know where Brett thinks he's going if the Packers do realease him. Not many teams want to spend a lot of money or offer a long term contract to a 38-year old quarterback, even one of Favre's caliber. And the ones who are willing to take the risk and willing to make Favre the starter are ones with a shaky QB situation and, frankly, pretty much suck as a team. I'm sure that because he made the 2007 Packers perform above expectations, he can do it for any team.

But usually, these teams also have very weak offensive lines that Favre will have to play behind. Need I mention that Favre is on the cover of the latest Madden game and the Madden Curse that anyone on the cover gets injured during the season? Think about that Mr. Iron Man.  

I understand that Brett's competitive nature is part of what made him great and you can't just turn it off. But you have to think about the repurcussions of your actions. He retired. He caused the Pack to elevate Rodgers to their starting QB and put their faith in him. And they certainly don't want Favre playing for a divisional rival. Favre is hoping for a trade. I'm hoping he stays retired.  

My Take on the Entertainment Weekly 100 "New Classics" albums of the Last 25 Years

Entertainment Weekly recently did a special 1,000th issue. In it, they picked the 100 New classics in Film, Televison and Music. More than one blogger went through the various lists and added their two cents. This is something I wanted to do, so I was inspired by Johnny Bacardi, who in turn was inspired by Roger Green, to go ahead and do it for the music list.

I am going to comment on what albums I have, where I think EW got it right, and where it shows EW's lack of being in touch, if not their general overall whorish nature.

Code is as follows:

DNH: I don't have this in any form.

HOT: I have it on Cassette, but it hasn't been updated to CD yet.

HOCD: I have this one on CD

Here we go:

1. Purple Rain - Prince and the Revolution (1984): (DNH): Strangely enough, I do not have this album. I have Prince's greatest hits, but not this one.

2. The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill - Lauryn Hill (1998): (DNH): I think the mainstream media thinks Ms. Hill is better than she really is. Personally, I think Jill Scott, Erykah Badu and Macy Gray are better and I like more than this album.

3. Achtung Baby - U2 (1991): (HOCD): I'll admit that I think that U2 can be a bit pretentious at times, but this is one is one great album, chock full of great songs.

4. The College Dropout - Kanye West (2004): (HOCD): Okay, I like Kayne, and I have this CD, but is it really #4 out of the last 25 years? Really? There was a lot of stuff that came out in that time.

5. Madonna - Madonna (1983): (DNH): I have a couple later Madge album, thanks mainly to not returning a record club response card in time, but not this one. But putting this on the list is like showing films of Hank Aaron in the minor leagues to give you an idea of what kind of player he is

6. American Idiot - Green Day (2004): (HOCD): I love Green Day. Big fan. I think they out of anybody are the true forebears of the Ramones and American Punk Music. I was amazed by the reaction to this album, where the press was all amazed that they could put out a good punk album after being around for 10 years. Like the only good punk music is done my people in their 20s. I have two words to refute this: Good Charlotte.

7. The Blueprint- Jay-Z: (2001): (DNH): I like what I've heard from Jay-Z but don't have any albums. I might have to pick this one up.

8. Graceland - Paul Simon (1986): (HOCD): I like Paul Simon, but sometimes he makes me wince a bit. Not this album, though. I really like this album.

9. Back to Black - Amy Winehouse (2007): (HOCD): See, I get sad whenever I think of Amy Winehouse. I loved this album and think she has the potential to be truly great, but she seem to be on a fast-moving downward spiral. It's a shame when someone who has real talent, and I think Winehouse does, wastes it.  

10. In Rainbows - Radiohead (2007): (DNH): This is probably where I disagree with music critics most. They love Radiohead, and I can stand to listen to anything they put out after The Bends. This was free and I didn't even get it, that should tell you something.

11. MTV Unplugged in New York - Nirvana (1994): (HOCD): This is what frustrates me about EW. Instead of the raw brilliance of their debut Bleach, the sonic power of Nevermind, the never fulfilled potential of In Utero, they choose this, the one Nirvana CD your grandma is most likely to own, as their classic. Don't get me wrong, I like the album, but the others are more deserving of the term classics.

12. Stankonia - OutKast (2000): (HOCD): LIke Outcast and like this album, but think Speakerboxx/The Love Below is more deserving of the term "classic"

13. You Are Free - Cat Power (2003): (DNH): I don't have this one, but just downloaded "The Greatest" off eMusic. Does that count?

14. Disintegration - The Cure (1989): (HOT): I have come to grown to like the Cure. I didn't as much in high school.  

15. The Marshall Mathers LP - Eminem (2000): (HOCD): I like some Eminem, which makes me feel like I should register with the police. Some of his stuff is out there.

16. Rain Dogs - Tom Waits (1985): (DNH): I have friends, good friends, who like Tom Waits. I've borrowed stuff of his off them but he just doesn't do it for me. Listening to him is like listening to gravel talk for me (if gravel could talk, that is).

17. Odelay - Beck (1996): (HOCD): Beck is another critical favorite who I don't like as much as the music critics say I should. I think this is his best album, but I don't think every thing he does is genius. 

18. People's Instinctive Travels and the Paths of Rhythm - A Tribe Called Quest (1990): (DNH) Although, I do like what I've heard of TCQ.

19. Dangerously in Love - Beyoncé (2003): (DNH): Although I do have B'Day, which I think is a stronger album.

20. Tidal - Fiona Apple (1996): (HOCD) I like Fiona Apple and I like this album a lot. However, having her being on the list this high and Tori Amos, who, let's face it, Apple follows in the footsteps of, not being on the list at all really shows that EW has its head up its ass, I mean, really? I'm not saying this shouldn't be on here, but not before Little Earthquakes.  

21. The Emancipation of Mimi - Mariah Carey (2005): (DNH): I like her earlier stuff, and appreciate she made a comeback from the whole Glitter fiasco, but her latest stuff all sounds the same.

22. 3 Feet High and Rising - De La Soul (1989): (DNH): I like "Me, Myself and I" but don't have this album. 

23. The Soft Bulletin - The Flaming Lips (1999): (DNH): Part of me thinks I would like The Flaming Lips, but I haven't heard anything outside of "She Don't Use Jelly". 

24. Come On Over - Shania Twain (1997): (HOCD): Part of me, to the consternation of my wife, really likes country. It doesn't hurt when it's sung by a gorgeous woman either.

25. Turn On the Bright Lights - Interpol (2002): (DNH): I believe I have the follow up (or the one after that) and wasn't terribly impressed.

26. Time Out of Mind - Bob Dylan (1997): (DNH): I am torn about Dylan. I respect his artistry, but I really can't get into his later stuff.

27. Funeral - Arcade Fire (2004): (DNH): I have Neon Bible and like it quite a lot. I believe this one is on eMusic as well. Maybe I'll pick it up.

Oh, and BTW, I pretty sure that EW is picking all the older albums form today's trendy bands--instead of the albums that made their name for them--in an attempt to seem hip.

28. Illmatic - Nas (1994): (DNH): Never really got into Nas.

29. Breakaway - Kelly Clarkson (2004): (HOCD): I really, really like this album. I guess I should be embarrassed by admitting I like an albumn by an America Idol winner, but it won't be the most embarrassing admission from me on the list.

30. Appetite for Destruction - Guns N' Roses (1987): (HOCD): This truly is a classic. It's sad that Axl Rose has become an oddity. I mean, I could work on an album for 16 years and have it come out half way decent.  

31. FutureSex/LoveSounds - Justin Timberlake (2006): (HOCD): I mean this as a complement, but I believe Timberlake has the potential to be a modern day Michael Jackson. He is a good pop artist who sings solid pop songs. Of course, if you are including pop songs as "classics", then why no N'Sync or Backstreet Boys?

32. Life's Rich Pageant - R.E.M. (1985): (HOCD): I love R.E.M. I totally think they should have ranked higher. I do have to give EW credit for not going with the more obvious Out of Time or Automatic for the People for this list, although I think Fables of the Reconstruction is a better album.

33. As I Am - Alicia Keys (2007): (HOCD): I own this, and love the single from it, but have yet to listen to it all the way through. That happens a lot and has to stop.  

34. Is This It - The Strokes (2001): (HOCD): I have this, listened to it, and thought it was just okay. I think either of the Killers albums, The Vines, or even Franz Ferdinand should be on the list before this one.

35. Jagged Little Pill - Alanis Morissette (1995): (HOCD): I like Alanis and think this one should be on the list, but above/instead of Tori Amos of Sarah McLaclan? I don't think so.

36. CrazySexyCool - TLC (1994): (HOCD): I'll agree this qualifies as a classic. I don't love everything about it, but it was good.  

37. The Moon & Antarctica - Modest Mouse (2000): (DNH): See #27. Also, they opened for R.E.M. at MSG. First time I heard anything other than "Float On". A lot of shouting to disjointed music. Yeah, not for me.

38. Raising Hell - Run DMC (1986): (DNH): But they deserve a place on the list.

39. Sheryl Crow - Sheryl Crow (1996): (HOCD): I like Sheryl Crow. I feel like I shouldn't, or at least feel embarassed I do, but I do like her.

40. Ready to Die - The Notorious B.I.G. (1994): (DNH): I did listen to it. I though it was okay. I wonder if it would still be legendary if Biggie was still alive?

41. Legend - Bob Marley and the Wailers (1984): (HOCD): Isn't this a greatest hits collection? If that's the case, why aren't all of the 100 greatest hits collections?

42. Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers)- Wu-Tang Clan (1993) (DNH): I like the Wu-Tang Clan in principle (and who wouldn't like a band with one or more comic book fans in its line-up) but never really heard enough to garner an opinion on their music.

43. Paul's Boutique - Beastie Boys (1989): (HOCD): Now this is a classic. I love the Beasties. This is the one where they went from Frat Rap to something more special.

44. Car Wheels on a Gravel Road - Lucinda Williams (1998): (DNH): I don't know much about Williams, but I get the impression that I ewould like her if I gave her the chance.

45. If You're Feeling Sinister - Belle and Sebastian (1996): (DNH): I don't know anything about Belle and Sebastian. Except that I think of a Disney movie whenever I hear their name.

46. Homogenic - Björk (1997): (DNH): I like maybe three songs by Bjork, but otherwise, she really grates on me. I don't think doing crazy stuff on record is automatically artistic.

47. Exile in Guyville - Liz Phair (1993): (HOCD): I love Liz Phair and this is the best representation of her. Good choice.

48. American IV: The Man Comes Around - Johnny Cash (2002): (HOCD): Johnny Cash is the man.

49. A Rush of Blood to the Head - Coldplay (2002): (DNH): I'm sorry but I think Coldplay is the sonic equivalent of warm milk. After I listen to them, I feel the need to take a nap. It doesn't mean they don't make good music, it's just not for me.

50. Sounds of Silver - LCD Soundsystem (2007): (DNH): This is another buzz band I have heard a lot of good reviews for. Maybe I should check them out. 

51. The Score - Fugees (1996): (DNH): I guess this is good for what it is. But, in my opinion, they have a great reputation for very little music. I'd like to hear more before I'd call them legends.

52. Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga - Spoon (2007): (HOCD): Actually, I have this on MP3 downloaded from eMusic. Since I didn't make an abbreviation for that, I guess this one will have to do. Another CD I have yet to listen to all of.

53. King of America - Elvis Costello (1986): (DNH): I like Elvis and am just starting to get into him more.  

54. Janet Jackson's Rhythm Nation 1814 - Janet Jackson (1989): (HOCD): See, this album is almost too good. Everything she put out is compared to this and, really, that's not fair.

55. It Takes a Nation of Millions... - Public Enemy (1988): (DNH): I have one of their greatest hits, and like what I've heard, but haven't picked up any individual albums yet.

56. Yankee Hotel Foxtrot - Wilco (2002): (DNH): I've liked what I've heard of Wilco, but never got any further into them.  

57. Harvest Moon - Neil Young (1992): (DNH): I like Neil Young a lot. One day, I might pick up more albums by him. All I have is his greatest hits.  

58. Surfer Rosa - The Pixies (1988): (DNH) I don't have this yet, but it is on eMusic.

59. Ray of Light - Madonna (1998): (HOCD): This was one of the Columbia House specials. It's a good disc. Frozen is a great song.

60. Crooked Rain Crooked Rain - Pavement (1994): (DNH): I tried getting into Pavement in the 90s, but at the time I didn't like what I heard. But I think if I listened to them now, I might like them better.

61. Paid in Full - Eric B. & Rakim (1987): (DNH) I've seen this on a lot of best-of lists. Maybe I should pick it up.

62. OK Computer - Radiohead (1997): (DNH) See #10.

63. The Joshua Tree - U2 (1987): (HOCD): The CD is actually my wifes, but I do have it on Tape as well. YEah, I don't really have to say much about how good it is. If you don't know, nothing I say could convince you.

64. Mama's Gun - Erykah Badu (2000): (DNH): I've liked what I've heard, but haven't bought anything by her.

65. Elephant - The White Stripes (2003): (DNH): This is the one White Stripes I don't have. I like the WS quite a lot. Eventually, I will have to buy this one too.

66. The Chronic - Dr. Dre (1992): (DNH): See, this is going to sound weird. But I'm not a pothead. I don't like it. So I really can't get past the title. That is my main reason for not picking it up.

67. Metallica - Metallica (1991): (HOT): I like this album a lot. I really should listen to more Metallica.

68. Wrecking Ball - Emmylou Harris (1995): (DNH): Emmylou Harris has worked with a lot of artists that I like. So I would probably like her if I gave her a chance. But I haven't really heard any of her work.

69. Give Up - The Postal Service (2003): (DNH): It might be just me, and this isn't a shot against The Postal Service, but there sure are a lot of hip and trendy Alt fave bands from the last five years on the list. Could they be classics eventually? Maybe. Are some of them classics now? Perhaps. Did they knock off other albums that should be considered classics off the list? Most definitely.

70. My Life - Mary J. Blige (1994): (DNH): In principle, I should like MJB. And I have liked what I have heard. But I guess not enough to delve any further.

71. Rock Steady - No Doubt (2001): (HOCD): I like No Doubt a lot, but I find myself hard pressed to consider any of their music "classic". It's good stuff, but will kids in 2021 be tracking it down? 

72. 1984 - Van Halen (1984): (HOCD): Another dead solid perfect choice for classic. Maybe not the best from the band, but one of the most influential.

73. The Queen is Dead - Smiths (1986): (DNH): Love the Smiths. I have the greatest hits, but no single records. Someday, I'll probably fix that.

74. Play - Moby (1999): (DNH): I almost bought this once or twice but never pulled the trigger.

75. Born in the U.S.A. - Bruce Springsteen (1984): (HOCD): Yes, classic.  

76. Heartbreaker - Ryan Adams (2000): (DNH): Ryan Adams is another artist I would like to hear more from. I liked Gold.

77. Dummy - Portishead (1994): (DNH): I've liked some of what I've heard, but I have never really been in the mood for to hear more.

78. Vs. - Pearl Jam (1991): (HOCD): This is a pretty good choice. It's more polished than Ten, less experimental that Vitalogy. Therefore, a good representative of the best period of the band.

79. Let It Be - The Replacements (1984): (HOT?): I like the Mats a lot, and they should be in the Hall of Fame, by the way, but I think I have this in Tape, not CD. Well, not yet anyway. 

80. Back to Basics - Christina Aguilera (2006): (HOCD): You know what? I like Xtina. She's got a great voice and she takes risks. At times playful, others heartbreaking. She, not Britney, is the modern day Madonna Only with better pipes.

81. The Downward Spiral - Nine Inch Nails (1994): (HOCD): NIN is a band I should really like, even today, yet we grew apart. This is a good representation, though.

82. Grace - Jeff Buckley (1994): (DNH): Never got into him.  

83. Learning to Crawl - The Pretenders (1984): (DNH) I never really liked the Pretenders. I don't know why. Maybe it has to do with the fact Chrissy Hynde scared me when I was a kid. She could be the sweetest woman on Earth, but she looks like she could cut you at a moments notice just to watch you bleed. At least to the stupid idiot kid version of me she did.

84. Low-Life - New Order (1985): (DNH): I like New Order but don't have any individual albums.

85. Home - Dixie Chicks (2002): (HOCD): Dixie Chicks rock. As does this album. Loaded with great songs.  

86. Loveless - My Bloody Valentine (1991): (HOCD): Funny thing is, I got this one when I was working in a record store in the late 90s. It was a promo that no one ever took home. It was like it was waiting there for years waiting for me. I'm glad it was, it is a deceptively good album. You kind of forget how good it is after you haven't listen to it.

87. All Eyez on Me - 2Pac (1996): (DNH): Yeah, I'm not a fan. See #40.

88. So - Peter Gabriel (1986): (HOT): Yeah, this is one great album. I like Peter Gabriel quite a bit. My wife does too. So I got that going for me, which is nice.  

89. Bachelor No. 2 - Aimee Mann (2000): (DNH): My wife is a Aimee Mann fan but I don't think she has this one.

90. Toxicity - System of a Down (2001):  (HOCD):  Odd to see System on this list. I mean, I think they're great, but not what you'd tinstantly think as classic.

91. Siamese Dream - Smashing Pumpkins (1993): (HOCD): Great album.

92. The Writing's on the Wall - Destiny’s Child (1999): (DNH): Is this pre-purge Destiny's Child (where they lost two members overnight and only got one in return)? Or post-purge?

93. Either/Or - Elliott Smith (1997): (DNH): I like Elliot Smith and have X/O. But not this one.

94. Synchronicity - The Police (1983): (DNH): I love Synchronicity 2 off the album, but I don't own this one. I own the Police greatest hits and that's about the same thing, almost.

95. Trap Muzik T.I. (2003): (DNH): Yeah, not at all familiar with this one. This is how I know I'm getting old.

96. Stories from the City, Stories from the Sea - PJ Harvey (2000): (DNH): I love early P.J. I should really catch up on her later stuff.

97. Britney - Britney Spears (2001): (HOCD): Yeah, I own a Britney Spears CD. But wait, it gets worse. I own EVERY Britney CD. It's worse still, Either of her first two CD's should be on this list instead of this one.

I am not proud. What can I say. I like pop music.

98. Transatlanticism - Death Cab for Cutie (2003): (DNH): This is another critical darling that I am unsure of. What I've heard I've kinda liked, but didn't seem worthy of all the accolades.

99. Live Through This - Hole (1994): (HOT): This is their breakthrough, and the closest thing they have to a "classic", but I like Celebrity Skin better. 

100. Faith - George Michael (1987): (DNH): I have the greatest hits, but not this one. This one was a "secret like". I was in high school when it came out, and if I admitted I liked it, I would be picked on mercilessly. And since I was already picked on mercilessly, I didn't need more punishment.

###

 By my count, I have 44 out of 100 (although it is quarter of two when I am writing this, and my math might be lacking).

Of course, as is the case with any of EW's lists, there are some glaring omissions. Like Dave Matthews Band, the first Jewel album, Tori Amos and Sarah McLachlan. Perhaps even Red Hot Chili Peppers, Foo Fighters, and maybe Weezer? There could have been more from R.E.M. Nirvana, and Pearl Jam. But the biggest omission has to be Michael Jackson's Thriller. It came out in 1983, same as Madonna's album. And no matter what kind of person Jacko turned out to be, you cannot deny that Thriller was one of the most legendary albums to come down the pike in the last 25 years. I'm not a fan of the man, but, cripes, I grew up in the 80s. Thriller was everywhere in the 80s.  

I think EW does this deliberately. Before these lists are even calculated they pull the most obvious choice out of consideration and add the most wacky, oddball choice as a definite. It gets people talking about the list and that means more people are talking about EW. And that's why I can't take these lists 100% seriously.