Sports: The fair season the Mets are having was shown by the split over the weekend with two hard losses, both wasting very good pitching performances. The Yanks, on the hand, won three out of four with Al Leiter shining once more in Yankee Stadium (he pitched for the Mets there twice in the 2000 World Series). Don't know how much more he has left, but reports of the team's demise is a bit premature. They are 1/2 back now, tied in the Wild Card.
Sunday Talk Shows: Back before I was online, let's say when David Brinkley was still on the air, I watched political talk shows. Now, I listen to Air America and read blogs. Probably miss out some, but they just do not appeal anymore. For instance, caught Tim Russert this weekend. Good example of failure to ask a follow-up question: Cooper was on and mentioned he would testify in favor of a federal press immunity law. But, such laws never are absolute. Wouldn't his situation be such an exception (see Judge Tatel's concurrence in the Miller case)? Of course, no follow-up to cover such details. Annoying.
Movies: I caught First Blood on late night television; never saw this movie. This is one of those movies that must be called "violent porn." The movie involves a psychologically scarred Vietnam Vet being taunted by cruel local cops* (in the Pacific Northwest to supply a useful forest environment for his counterattack) so much that he snaps.
This justifies some violence and gunplay, ending up with an emotional outburst about how he cannot survive in postwar (not won because "somebody" didn't let us win) America. Alive and ready for sequels (and spoofing in Hot Shots: Part Deux).
Enjoyable airheaded entertainment, but a bit distasteful if taken too seriously. Taken in the first way there is some choice dialogue such as this by the local sheriff:
It doesn't make one goddamn bit of difference, Dave, and you know it! If one of my deputies... gets out of line with a prisoner then the prisoner comes to me with it. And if I find out it's like he says I kick the deputy's ass! ME! The LAW! People start fucking around with the law then all hell breaks loose! Whatever possessed God in heaven to make a man like Rambo?
And, the closing monologue was especially quotable. Lost something toward the end, but that monologue was worth waiting for. Definitely good late night fare.
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* A young David Caruso played one of the few non-assholes. Brian Dennehy played the sheriff, an early role, and one which he basically plays two roles: the anti-drifter asshole at the start, the more mature (after he finds out who he is dealing with) person we see later on. Of course, Rocky is in it too, and basically does what the viewer wants him to do.