Football: The NY Giants leads the NFC East, but the leadership is a bit more questionable than some fans would like to think. Thus, it was not a shock that it lost its home game today vs. the Vikings, even with the latter's team's wretched away record. It is somewhat shocking how it was done -- three true offensive points (like against the Packers, their last play of the game ... this time with :10 left), two special teams touchdowns, and one defensive touchdown with over ninety yards to run. A failed field goal brought a 108yd return today, but that was pretty impressive.
The Giants defense (and even their impressive kicker, who decided to miss a nearly gimmee today ... the deciding points) was great ... not on special teams, true ... except for the final drive with under eighty seconds to play. And, then they went all conservative, choking when it counted. But, I want to know why the Giants (who were able to start at their own 40 because the kickoff went out of bounds) did not try a deep pass to get into field goal range. There was time for two shots at it (sideline passes) ... instead they went to the middle of the field with a short pass. And, the announcers -- who even suggested the strategy -- did not comment on why it was not done. Just went to commercial -- have dinner reservations, did you?
[Update: The Giants coach argued that a pass would have still left too long of a field goal. This assumed a twenty yard pass (c. 55yd. figgie), but a twenty five yard pass from the Giants 40 would result in a makeable (especially given the Giants kicker is pretty good) 50 or so yarder. Surely a longshot, but less of one than hoping for a hook and lateral approach that quickly died. And, with ten seconds, there was time to try a quick toss AND the desperation h/l. So, no, still stupid. btw the Eagles collapsed late, so Dallas is in First given their OT win over the Giants.]
Tampa Bay went for the win, the two point conversion, and it held up: the Redskins lost. Now, it's up to the TO-less Eagles to win after losing twice in a row, and the Giants' will not lose anything in the standings. If not, the Dallas/Giants match-up will be even more important. The Jets ... with yet another injured player ... actually kept it close until the Fourth Quarter.
Reading: Anyway ... Judgment In Berlin (later a Martin Sheen film) is an exciting and intriguing legal procedural in Cold War West Berlin (late 1970s) involving hijackers who were tried by a special U.S. court in West Berlin because the West Germans did not wish to prosecute someone escaping from East Germany. But, darn if the American judge decided the defendants had constitutional rights (applicable to "persons," right?), including the right of a jury trial! A jury made up of West Germans whose own country did not do juries.
A bit melodramatic, but the author was not known for this sort of thing. You see, this actually happened, and the author is the judge himself. Good story -- the judge (Herbert Stern) laid things a bit thick though, including how his independence (or refusal to accept limitations on his judgment, even though he was for the purposes of the case an Art. II judge) was so fundamental, so American. True, but still, you laid it on too thick, Judge.
Film: I referenced a movie a couple posts ago. I saw Q [Quetzlcoatl, an Aztec winged serpent], a movie that I first read about years back, but never had a chance to see because it was never in the rental stores (presumably it was somewhere, but none I went to). It also wasn't so must see that I planned to purchase the darn thing. Anyway, it sounded like a fun horror movie, and perfect late night fare (B-flick, not Oscar contender worthy, but perfectly enjoyable) ... plus it had Michael Moriarty, playing his lovable loser sort of role that he handled repeatedly before becoming the first assistant d.a. on Law & Order.
Turned out to be stupid, starting with the police, who do all too often act like idiots in films like these. Well, it was on t.v., so no big loss.