Bruiser Chong

How in the world is Carlos Zambrano overrated? I'll bet the average fan wouldn't even know he played for the Cubs if his tantrums didn't get so much press.

In the last week... - Sunset Blvd. owns you. It's as simple as that. Here we are over 55 years later and this is still one of the realest looks at Hollywood. Gloria Swanson nails the role, perhaps because it's not to far of a stretch for the former silent movie sensation. Gripping storytelling and a packed DVD counterpart. - The Apartment coupled with Sunset Blvd. has me longing for some more Billy Wilder. My exposure to him is admitedly small, but everything I've seen from him suggests his outlook on things and knack for incorporating them into his films is right up my alley. I'm not a big Jack Lemmon fan, but the man is on in this role. He'll make you laugh; he'll make you feel despondent, and he'll even set off a small spark within you in the closing sequences. - Atlantic City's one of those movies I used to stay up late during the summer to watch when I was a youngster. No, not because of anything it had to offer from a cinematic standpoint. It was more for the nudity, or brief nudity, as it came to be. You see, there was a glorious time when Cinemax and Showtime ran through this household. But both were sent packing around the time I was 11. Thus, Encore was my sole outlet for a glimpse of a rack. Tough times, but armed with the monthly TV listing magazine and an ability to stay up into the wee hours of the night/morning, I made the best of it. Unfortunately, Atlantic City doesn't offer too much in the way of what I had foresaken precious sleep for. Alas, I returned to it all these years later for other purposes. Where as 10 years earlier, I had condemned it for being some long movie with a lot of this old guy and not nearly enough of bare circa 1980s breasts, I now recognized its true attributes: a fascinating character study with the quirky backdrop of one of this country's most unique locations. - For as much as I enjoy comedy, I'll admit I'd never seen a full-length Chaplin picture. Thankfully, TCM had my back (as usual) and I managed to catch The Circus during the station's circus-themed block last Sunday night. I went in expecting to note and tip my non-existent cap to Chaplin's antics. I didn't expect to actually laugh, but damn if I didn't burst into laughter on several occasions. The scene where he's literally stealing from a baby is so devilshly clever, I wanted to go online and buy the loaded two-disc DVD set from WB. At a brisk 70 minutes, this is a flick I could easily see getting regular rotation when I finally take the plunge for the DVD. Excellent stuff all around. - Not too much to say on The Untouchables. I'd surprisingly never seen the whole thing, but took advantage of one of DDD's recent sales. The first half had me locked in, but it sort of petered out after that point. Could be certain characters making exits or just the latter portion being less dialogue-driven. I'm not an action movie fan, so a film usually isn't going to win me over with such scenes. DeNiro's performance seemed phoned in, too. Overall, a movie that showed promise, but is probably overrated by those who sing its praises. The Rocky flicks came as part of a two-day (Wednesday and Friday) mini-marathon with a friend. Subsequently, both days saw me making an abnormally low number of steps away from the couch. Part three will take place next week with the last Rocky and Over the Top. Lord help me. The food selection will be more sensible hopefully, so I don't need to experience the impending feeling of death near the end like the first two parts.

Ah, the last two posts have be laughing out loud at four in the morning. I need a life. And MiB, for what it's worth, Dusty pretty much threw Barrett under the bus during the post game press conference.

Ozzie Guillen on Rich Hill's take on the homeplate play: "Tell that Triple-A [bleep] to shut the [bleep] up," Guillen said. "Tell him to start throwing some strikes or he's going to get Dusty fired."

Nice defense by Felipe Lopez. Idiot.

Weathers blows the save and they're going to extras in Motown. Damn it.

Albert goes yard again.

The Red Sox are getting more production from their pitcher than the Cubs have been getting from the bulk of their lineup in May.

Griffey just MURDERED the ball from flamethrower Zumaya for a grand slam to put the Reds up 6-5. Hell yeah.

"Ha...Barrett's punch was weak." "You only missed a sucker punch. A weak one, at that. Clean, but weak." "You know it's gonna be a long season for the Cubbies when their best hit of the game is Michael Barrett punching AJ Pierzynski like a little girl."

Hey, look at the bright side. You guys scored a run today.

Naturally, after two weeks of watching, I miss the homer.

Cubs get blanked for the sixth time in less than three weeks. I hope Prior can swing the bat, otherwise getting him back's really a moot point.

Not that it matters now, but Rich Hill started throwing strikes after that GS. One has to wonder where we'd be if he'd been doing this the whole game.

Oh Jesus, I didn't realize the ejections meant Neifi Perez was moved into the cleanup spot. It's Dusty's dream come true.

Hopefully some of you guys are seeing first-hand what people like me and Czech have been talking about all season. Down 5-0 and our number nine hitter's swinging for the fences. Forget taking pitches, too.

Funny how it takes five walks and a grand slam for Rich Hill to locate the plate. Schmuck should stop nibbling. Anyway, I'd say this is about as rock bottom as I can recall this team hitting in the 12+ years I've watched them.

Lost in all of this is how crappy Rich Hill is.

He didn't need to be such a pompus ass about it. I'm not condoning it, but the guy's a fucking prick. And now we're probably gonna see the likes of Freddie Bynum in this game.

Oh please. Twenty games? Gimmie a break. It was uncalled for, but 20 games? Whatever.

Wow, don't crash into Michael Barrett, I guess.

I just read the two-headed monster of Andy McPhail and Jim Hendry cursed out some of the Tribune staff last week over their negative commentary on the Cubs' recent play. Because, I guess they were in the wrong for pointing out flaws even unintelligent fans can see. Or something. I could deal with the team being bad if the powers that be would take responsibility for anything they're doing wrong. Anything. Instead, it's always someone else's fault or just a matter of needing Player X to come back. This isn't just a matter of Dusty; this team isn't doing anything but sinking until they grow up and do something about the glaring holes and flaws eaten their season alive. Yelling at a beat writer for rightfully criticizing Jacque Jones' Moises Alou impersonation on the basepaths isn't the right start, either.

Boy, you sure hate Kerry Wood. I watch ESPN News everyday and they made little or no mention of him until yesterday.

This whole thing illustrates how far gone religious people are. "We'll ignore it's fiction and not presented as otherwise and condemn anyone who sees it, because it means they aren't a good _____." Protest groups are going to be at the theater here that's showing it. Almost makes me want to buy a ticket just for that. I don't get how people supposedly so secure in their beliefs are getting so flustered by a fictitious book and movie. That would've been like me getting all up in arms when Star Wars was released. "God did not make no Wookies!"

Well, if it makes you feel any better, he'll probably be back on the DL before shorts weather is in full swing.