The Man in Blak

...yes. A knuckleball is hard to hit.

Just wait - their annual solicitation for the NBA Rookie of the Year candidates to boycott the award (since it's sponsored by the Got Milk! campaign) has got to be coming up soon.

... Well, I guess I should be happy that the sound was screwed up on my feed and I didn't quite get a clear channel for Scooter's 15 second tutorial on the knuckleball. The visuals were painful enough.

Well, over the last six years, he's averaged roughly 46 HRs a year and he's only 27. If A-Rod can keep up that pace of 46 HRs a year, he'll have 800 HRs by the time he's 37 in 10 years...which definitely seems within reach, barring catastrophies, of course. EDIT: Screwed up some math there, initially.

McGwire was on Andro, IIRC, during the home run chase and he got quite a lot of negative publicity for his usage in '98. As far as Bonds is concerned...I highly recommend everybody to check out this article, which has a lot of scientific discussion as to how steroids could impact Barry Bonds' performance. I'll highlight a very important section of it here: The problem with Bonds is that there's a lot of circumstantial evidence that's weighing against him. First off, both BALCO and Greg Anderson have said that they had sent Bonds performance-enhancing drugs, so that's one circumstantial tick against him (there's no "smoking gun" that says that he took these drugs, but it certainly doesn't help matters). Secondly, Bonds' power boost happens to coincide chronologically with some injury problems: In 1999, Bonds missed 60 games due to injury. In 2000, he came back and enjoyed a boost in home runs (49 HRs, 12 more than his last full year in '99). During the 2000 offseason, Bonds had knee surgery. In 2001, he hit a record-setting 73 HRs, which was 24 more home runs than his previous career high. This sudden surge in home run hitting capacity had a profound effect on Bonds' OPS; by comparison, his on-base percentage really didn't fluctuate nearly as much as his slugging percentage did: 1992 - .311 .456 .624 1993 - .336 .458 .677 1994 - .312 .426 .647 1995 - .294 .431 .577 1996 - .308 .461 .615 1997 - .291 .446 .585 1998 - .303 .438 .609 ----------------------------------- 2000 - .306 .440 .688 2001 - .328 .515 .863 See the comparison against his career highs? His OBP in 2001 is .054 higher than his career high, but his slugging percentage took a HUGE jump of .186 from the sheer lack of home runs. And the jump in OBP isn't nearly the huge abnormality that some would have you believe; even though Bonds had a phenomenal 177 walks in 2001, he had led the league in walks five times before that, with recent totals that hit 151 and 146 walks (1996 and 1997, respectively). What many people undermine, when comparing Bonds' OBPs in 1996 and 2001 is that he hit 20 points higher in 2001, which can't really be attributed to steroids (as far as I know, steroids haven't been known to throttle up hand-eye coordination). For all intensive purposes, Bonds' rise in OBP in 2001 can and should be attributed to his maturation as a hitter (and, later on in 2002, by the additional intimidation factor of being the single season home run champion). I put emphasis on Bonds' OBP to drive home that Barry Bonds was already on his way to turning in a Hall of Fame career long before he began shattering home run records. You can't question the man's ability as one of the best all-around hitters of the modern era. However, I think you can question his year in 2001, with his home run totals in particular. All of the other stats (defensive speed and prowess and stolen base totals) can easily be chalked up to age, but - as that article explains - the scientific ground for such an increase in power can't feasibly be attributed to "better conditioning", in my opinion. Bonds' chase of the Babe and Hank Aaron is rightfully tainted, but you can't smear everything that the man has done through his career (as easy as he makes it, with his dickish arrogance and propensity for surly and ignorant comments). Even if you erase 2001 from the record books, Barry Bonds is a first-ballot Hall of Famer and one of the best all-around players to play the game.

Rena – Star Ocean: The Second Story vs Selan – Lufia 2: Rise of the Sinistrals Nina – Breath of Fire (Series) vs Tidus – Final Fantasy 10 Celes – Final Fantasy 6 vs Ryu – Breath of Fire (Series) Alex – Lunar: The Silver Star Story vs Jenna – Golden Sun: The Lost Age Celine – Star Ocean: The Second Story vs Cless – Tales of Phantasia Mega Man – Mega Man Battle Network vs Citan Uzuki – Xenogears Kain – Final Fantasy 4 vs Lharl – Disgaea: Hour of Darkness Link – Legend of Zelda (Series) vs Cecil – Final Fantasy 4 You know, if I somehow get bedridden with a terminal illness and I am unable to vote in one of these rounds, just fulfill my last request and auto-vote me against Link. Always. I don't care who it is. Edward the Bard vs. Link = Edward beats Link's ass. Link vs. a penguin from Disgaea = A winner is Exploding Penguin, d00d. Do this for me and let me rest in peace. Sora – Kingdom Hearts vs Terra – Final Fantasy 6 Riou – Suikoden 2 vs Crono – Chrono Trigger Luna – Lunar: The Silver Star Story vs Fei Fong Wong – Xenogears Locke – Final Fantasy 6 vs Ramza – Final Fantasy Tactics Serge – Chrono Cross vs Felix – Golden Sun: The Lost Age Mia – Golden Sun vs Cloud – Final Fantasy 7 Nes – Earthbound vs Rudy – Wild Arms Issac – Golden Sun vs Tir – Suikoden

Reds =

Death – Castlevania (Series) vs Lassic/Lashiec – Phantasy Star 1, 4 Miang – Xenogears vs Ganondorf -- Legend of Zelda (Series) Grahf – Xenogears vs Dragonlord - Dragon Warrior Dracula – Castlevania (Series) vs Rufus Shinra – Final Fantasy 7 Luca Blight - Suikoden 2 vs Ultros - Final Fantasy 6 Zoma - Dragon Warrior 3 vs Loki - Valkyrie Profile Jowy Blight - Suikoden 2 vs Romeo Gildensturn - Vagrant Story Barbarosa – Suikoden vs Kain – Final Fantasy 4 Queen Zeal - Chrono Trigger vs Sydney - Vagrant Story Sin – Final Fantasy 10 vs Master Belch – Earthbound Altima - Final Fantasy Tactics vs Seymour- Final Fantasy 10 Kahran Ramsus – Xenogears vs Galcian - Skies of Arcadia Ozzie - Chrono Trigger vs Wendy – Suikoden Gilgamesh - Final Fantasy 5 vs Ghaleon - Lunar (Series) (Damn, what a raw deal for Ghaleon.) Magus - Chrono Trigger vs Scalding Coffee Cup – Earthbound Leo - Lunar 2 vs Golbez – Final Fantasy 4

Actually, I don't remember any RPG before Mario RPG utilizing a timing-based system for critical hits on combat, but I could be wrong. Is that what you're referring to, or are there other things that you have in mind? Care to elaborate on these? Because, outside of the premise of the game, I'm not really seeing Earthbound bringing anything spectacular to the genre.

So, everybody's talking about the Yankees possibly beating the record for most runs scored in a season but, now that I'm watching the Cardinals game, I gotta ask - what's the record for most runs allowed in a season?

I've been searching through some of the gaming hubs, but I just haven't stumbled onto it. *shrugs* Ah, well. I guess pass me a link to the hub to meet you at, then. Thanks!

San Antonio Spurs for the Tournament Edition, just so I can pile up 45 injuries with Rodman and dish it to Robinson for the dunkage (or Elliott for the outside shot).

Okay, here's a question for you. Where would I be able to find the muchos-illegal rom copy of Dracula X: Rondo of Blood for the TurboGrafxCD and, in addition to that, which emulator would I want to snag to emulate it (probably Magic Engine)?

You know, if MVP would just buy a clue from Acclaim and throw an Expansion Mode in with their franchise goodies, I would have bought this game weeks ago. The gameplay's amazing, the graphics are wonderful, but the Franchise Mode just doesn't do it for me, with the inane challenges like "Lead the League in Stolen Bases for Three Out Of Ten Years." For in-game action, MVP's untouchable. But, like some chronic disease, I can't turn away from the Expansion Mode in the infinitely inferior All Star Baseball series.

Considering that he's an absolutely dead-on parody of the entire bishounen concept (among other things), I think I can live with voting him into the next round.

Boomerang - Wild Arms vs Leon - Final Fantasy 2 Biggs - Final Fantasy 8 vs Lassic/Lashiec – Phantasy Star 1, 4 Ad Avis - Quest for Glory 2, 4 vs Death – Castlevania (Series) Pokey - Earthbound vs Kuja – Final Fantasy 9 (Maybe, if we're lucky, we can kill off all the Bishounen in one round!) Miang - Xenogears vs Wiegraf – Final Fantasy Tactics Luc - Suikoden 3 vs Marquis Elmdor - Final Fantasy Tactics Emerald - Final Fantasy 7 vs Fleamen – Castlevania (Series) (With the upset~!) Ganondorf -- Legend of Zelda (Series) vs Dark Force – Phantasy Star 4 Mid-Boss – Disgaea: Hour of Darkness (This matchup is just...wrong. Damn.) vs Yuber - Suikoden (Series) Grahf - Xenogears vs Mother Brain – Phantasy Star 2 Piastol - Skies of Arcadia: Legends vs Zio - Phantasy Star 4 Dragonlord - Dragon Warrior vs Zeikfried - Wild Arms Neclord – Suikoden (Series) vs Dracula – Castlevania (Series) Rabite – Seiken Densetsu (Series) vs Zeromus – Final Fantasy 4 Deathtoll - Soulblazer vs Albedo - Xenosaga (I like the props for Soul Blazer, even though it's not an RPG, but really - Deathtoll has no personality and is as abstract (i.e. BLAND) as an evil being can get.) Harle - Crono Cross vs Rufus Shinra – Final Fantasy 7 Sephiroth - Final Fantasy 7 vs Kefka - Final Fantasy 6 (Kefka poisoned an entire city, tore the world into ruin, and had some of the best lines of all time. Sephiroth had a big sword.) Luca Blight - Suikoden 2 (Damn, tough matchup for Guido) vs Guido Sardenia - Persona Harken - Wild Arms vs Molbol – Final Fantasy (Series) Ultros - Final Fantasy 6 vs Cranky Lady - Earthbound Id - Xenogears vs Flayers – Diablo (Series) Zoma - Dragon Warrior 3 vs Baba Yaga - Quest for Glory 1, 4 Behemoth – Final Fantasy Series vs The Prism Rangers – Disgaea: Hour Of Darkness Peppor - Chrono Cross vs Loki - Valkyrie Profile Daos - Lufia 2: The Rise of The Sinistrals vs Jowy Blight - Suikoden 2 Neifirst – Phantasy Star 2 vs Hargon - Dragon Warrior 2 Romeo Gildensturn - Vagrant Story vs The Turks – Final Fantasy 7 Garland - Final Fantasy 9 vs Ramirez - Skies of Arcadia Alhazad - Wild Arms vs Diablo - Diablo Barbarosa - Suikoden vs Solt - Chrono Cross Ruby - Final Fantasy 7 vs Kary - Final Fantasy 1 Kain – Final Fantasy 4 (Interesting choice, considering the only fight you have against him is a plotline device, rather than an actual contest). vs Mack the Knife – Super Mario RPG Queen Zeal - Chrono Trigger vs The Axem Rangers – Super Mario RPG Krelian - Xenogears vs Delita - Final Fantasy Tactics Kraken - Final Fantasy 1 vs Culex – Super Mario RPG Sydney - Vagrant Story vs Dark Emperor – Thousand Arms Lich - Final Fantasy 1 vs Apollo - Final Fantasy Legends 2 Edea – Final Fantasy 8 vs Sin – Final Fantasy 10 Mother - Wild Arms vs Yunalesca – Final Fantasy 10 Master Belch - Earthbound vs Baramos - Dragon Warrior 3 Kane Spites - Vandal Hearts vs Altima - Final Fantasy Tactics New Age Retro Hippie - Earthbound vs Chaos – Final Fantasy I Indalecio - Star Ocean: The Second Story vs Cactuar – Final Fantasy (Series) Guard Scorpion – Final Fantasy 7 vs Seymour- Final Fantasy 10 Calbrena – Final Fantasy 4 vs Kahran Ramsus - Xenogears Azala - Chrono Trigger vs Wedding Cake of Death – Super Mario RPG Necrosaro - Dragon Warrior 4 vs Biram and Yenke – Final Fantasy 10 Galcian - Skies of Arcadia vs Fuujin and Raijin – Final Fantasy 8 Slime - Dragon Warrior Series vs Chupon – Final Fantasy 6 Tonberry – Final Fantasy Series vs Ozzie - Chrono Trigger Cyril – Star Ocean: The Second Story vs Wendy - Suikoden Vicks - Final Fantasy 6 vs Dark Dragon – Shining Force Wedge - Final Fantasy 8 (Randomly generated with the sorting hat, eh?) vs Wedge – Final Fantasy 6 Queen Remedi – Final Fantasy Tactics Advance vs Gilgamesh - Final Fantasy 5 Ghaleon - Lunar (Series) vs Johnny Jones – Super Mario RPG Lynx - Chrono Cross vs Cubia - .hack (Can I just put forth a negative vote for Lynx?) Irenicus - Baldur's Gate 2 vs Deus – Xenogears Lavos - Chrono Trigger (EGADS, that's just wrong to pair these two up.) vs Magus - Chrono Trigger Seifer Almasy – Final Fantasy 8 vs Scalding Coffee Cup - Earthbound Don Corneo – Final Fantasy 7 vs Zoda - Startropics Zeon – Shining Force 2 vs Leo - Lunar 2 Tiamat - Final Fantasy 1 vs Llednar Twem – Final Fantasy Tactics Advance Golbez – Final Fantasy 4 vs Emporer Gestahl - Final Fantasy 6 Balzack - Dragon Warrior 4 vs Bowzer – Super Mario RPG

The real question is: "What the hell was Oswalt doing throwing that ball?" Seriously. Bring in a fresh arm, let your ridiculous bullpen do what they do best (since they basically held half of a no-hitter against the Yankees last year), instead of leaving your mostly dead arm (nearly 100 pitches) in to serve up a slowball for one of the best hitters of all time.

The Royals are going to be fun to watch this year. The Cardinals, on the other hand...well, at least Esteban Yan isn't around. Why exactly are we batting Ray Lankford in the No. 2 slot again?

Round Two: Reed Herschel – Tales of Eternia vs. Rena – Star Ocean: The Second Story Magnus Gallant – Ogre Battle 64 vs. Selan – Lufia 2: Rise of the Sinistrals Nina – Breath of Fire (Series) vs. Juest Belmont – Castlevania: Harmony of Dissonance Tidus – Final Fantasy 10 vs. Aya Brea – Parasite Eve (Series) (Ugh.) Celes – Final Fantasy 6 vs. Shidou Hikaru – Magic Knight Rayearth Alundra – Alundra vs. Ryu – Breath of Fire (Series) Alex – Lunar: The Silver Star Story vs. Lucia – Lunar 2: The Eternal Blue Jenna – Golden Sun: The Lost Age vs. Frionel – Final Fantasy 2 Kharg – Arc The Lad: Twilight of Spirits vs. Celine – Star Ocean: The Second Story Yuterald – Evergrace vs. Cless – Tales of Phantasia Maxim – Lufia 2: The Rise of the Sinistals vs. Mega Man – Mega Man Battle Network Citan Uzuki – Xenogears vs. Stahn Aileron – Tales of Destiny Nathan Graves – Castlevania: Circle of the Moon vs. Kain – Final Fantasy 4 Eliwood – Fire Emblem vs. Lharl – Disgaea: Hour of Darkness Vyse – Skies of Arcadia vs. Link – Legend of Zelda (Series) (Are you fucking serious? Vyse, on principle alone and for taking out, arguably, the best female character in the bracket.) Cecil – Final Fantasy 4 vs. Shion Uzuki – Xenosaga (Series) Arc – Arc The Lad vs. Sora – Kingdom Hearts Terra – Final Fantasy 6 vs. Lyndis – Fire Emblem Hector – Fire Emblem vs. Riou – Suikoden 2 Ashley Winchester – Wild Arms 2nd Ignition vs. Crono – Chrono Trigger Bowie – Shining Force 2 vs. Luna – Lunar: The Silver Star Story Fei Fong Wong – Xenogears vs. Aika – Skies of Arcadia Chaz – Phantasy Star 4 vs. Locke – Final Fantasy 6 Ramza – Final Fantasy Tactics vs. Zidane – Final Fantasy 9 Vahn – Legend of Legaia vs. Serge – Chrono Cross Kite - .hack vs. Felix – Golden Sun: The Lost Age Rinoa – Final Fantasy 8 vs. Mia – Golden Sun Cloud – Final Fantasy 7 vs. Max – Shining Force Nes – Earthbound vs. Toan – Dark Cloud Mario – Super Mario RPG vs. Rudy – Wild Arms Rolf – Phantasy Star 2 vs. Issac – Golden Sun Yuri – Shadow Hearts vs. Tir – Suikoden

"When I drop that big elbow off the top, not only do I get the 1-2-3, but I hurt 'em REEEEEEEAL BAD - OOOOOOH YEEEEAH"

I'll throw in a courtesy vote for Molbol (Final Fantasy series) and Behemoth (Final Fantasy series), since Square thought enough of them to include them in Final Fantasy Tactics. Also, though we're treading into dangerous ground by including Diablo 2 (there's a litany of Baldur's Gate baddies that are worthy of a nomination and I don't even want to fire up the System Shock/Deus Ex = RPG argument), I'm going to throw down a vote for the pygmy-esque Flayers (Diablo 2), just for being one of the single most annoying group of enemies I've ever seen in a video game.

Zeromus (FFIV) Wiegraf (Final Fantasy Tactics) Mid-Boss (Disgaea) Guido Sardenia (Persona) Fleamen (Castlevania series) Calbrena (FFIV)

Good lord, that's a lot of characters. I guess I'll be throwing down the random guesses too (with a *). * Reed Herschel – Tales of Eternia vs. Orphen – Orphen: Scion of Sorcery Rina – Star Ocean: The Second Story vs. Sanzo – Saiyuki: Journey West Magnus Gallant – Ogre Battle 64 vs. Marche – Final Fantasy Tactics Advance Hououji Fuu – Magic Knight Rayearth vs. * Selan – Lufia 2: Rise of the Sinistrals Nina – Breath of Fire (Series) vs. Lenneth Valkyrie – Valkyrie Profile Jeust Belmont – Castlevania: Harmony of Dissonance vs. Musashi – Brave Fencer Musashi Tidus – Final Fantasy 10 vs. Hiro – Lunar 2: Eternal Blue Benjamin – Final Fantasy: Mystic Quest vs. Aya Brea – Parasite Eve (Series) Alucard – Castlevania: Symphony of the Night vs. Celes – Final Fantasy 6 (Side Note: How in the world are these two together in a first round of 128 competitors?) * Mouse – Reiselied: Ephemeral Fantasia vs. Shidou Hikaru – Magic Knight Rayearth Alphonse – Tactics Ogre: Knights of Lodis vs. Alundra – Alundra Claude – Star Ocean: The Second Story vs. Ryu – Breath of Fire (Series) Byuu – Bahamut Dragoon vs. Alex – Lunar: The Silver Star Story Wain – Lufia: The Legend Returns vs. Lucia – Lunar 2: The Eternal Blue Jenna – Golden Sun: The Lost Age vs. Tifa – Final Fantasy 7 Nigel – Land Stalkers vs. Frionel – Final Fantasy 2 Kharg – Arc The Lad: Twilight of Spirits vs. * Eon – Granstream Saga Celine – Star Ocean: The Second Story vs. Will – Illusion of Gaia Yuterald – Evergrace vs. * Kahu – Jade Cocoon 2 Cless – Tales of Phantasia vs. * Ashton – Star Ocean: The Second Story Maxim – Lufia 2: The Rise of the Sinistals vs. Garnet – Final Fantasy 9 Mega Man – Mega Man Battle Network vs. Chocobo – Chocobo’s Mysterious Dungeon Citan Uzuki – Xenogears vs. Faz – Hoshigami: Ruining Blue Earth * Ari – Okage: Shadow King vs. Stahn Aileron – Tales of Destiny Millenia – Grandia 2 vs. Nathan Graves – Castlevania: Circle of the Moon Arche – Tales of Phantasia vs. Kain – Final Fantasy 4 Ratix – Star Ocean vs. Eliwood – Fire Emblem Lharl – Disgaea: Hour of Darkness vs. Ark J – CIMA: The Enemy Koudelka Iassant – Koudelka vs. Vyse – Skies of Arcadia Link – Legend of Zelda (Series) vs. Yuna – Final Fantasy 10-2 (...sweet jesus. Yuna, because she's an actual, y'know, RPG character.) Squall – Final Fantasy 8 vs. Cecil – Final Fantasy 4 (I understand that you want to reduce the impact of overzealous Square fans, but this is a little ridiculous.) Shion Uzuki – Xenosaga (Series) vs. Alis – Phantasy Star * Arc – Arc The Lad vs. Virginia Maxwell – Wild Arms 3 Sora – Kingdom Hearts vs. Bastion – Vanguard Bandits Terra – Final Fantasy 6 vs. Riyuueki Umi - Magic Knight Rayearth Tara – Lost Kingdoms 2 vs. Lyndis – Fire Emblem Soma Cruz – Castlevania: Aria of Sorrow vs. Hector – Fire Emblem Riou – Suikoden 2 vs. Ryo Hazaki – Shenmue (Series) * Ashley Winchester – Wild Arms 2nd Ignition vs. Joseph – Summoner Butz – Final Fantasy 5 vs. Crono – Chrono Trigger Mag – Evolution Worlds vs. Bowie – Shining Force 2 Luna – Lunar: The Silver Star Story vs. Eiyu – Dragon Warrior 5 Fei Fong Wong – Xenogears vs. Alys – Phantasy Star 4 (Dammit.) Akia – Skies of Arcadia vs. Denim Powell – Tactics Ogre Chaz – Phantasy Star 4 vs. Ryudo – Grandia 2 Dart – Legend of Dragoon vs. Locke – Final Fantasy 6 Ramza – Final Fantasy Tactics vs. Aeris – Final Fantasy 7 Zidane – Final Fantasy 9 vs. Vivi – Final Fantasy 9 KOS-MOS – Xenosaga (Series) vs. Vahn – Legend of Legaia BlackRose - .hack vs. Serge – Chrono Cross (simply because it's Chrono Cross) * Kite - .hack vs. Elc – Arc The Lad 2 Fina – Skies of Arcadia vs. Felix – Golden Sun: The Lost Age Mark – Persona vs. Rinoa – Final Fantasy 8 Mia – Golden Sun vs. Mint – Tales of Phantasia Alec – Arc The Lad 3 vs. Cloud – Final Fantasy 7 Flint – Alundra 2 vs. Max – Shining Force Yuris – Dark Cloud 2 vs. Nes – Earthbound Maia – Summoner 2 vs. Toan – Dark Cloud Cornet – Rhapsody vs. Mario – Super Mario RPG Elena – Grandia 2 vs. Rudy – Wild Arms Lang – Legaia: Duel Saga vs. Rolf – Phantasy Star 2 Issac – Golden Sun vs. Feena – Grandia Justin – Grandia vs. Yuri – Shadow Hearts Django – Boktai vs. Tir – Suikoden

The metronome is essentially a must, if you're truly serious about this. The music doesn't move without rhythm, and the metronome is the best tool to help you build a rhythmic sense. Also, it wouldn't hurt to grab a cheap guitar tuner. If you get used to hearing what a guitar sounds like when it's actually in tune, it will help build your musical ear for the future. And don't tune your guitar with the "fifth fret method", no matter how easy all of the guitar pros tell you it is. (Not only is it slightly inaccurate, but a beginner's ear can easily misjudge a change in timbre (sound) between strings as pitch deviation and throw the guitar even more out of tune). Focus on building speed with your frethand, rather than your pickhand, with the scales like everybody's mentioned. All of the real chops come from how you can move around the fretboard and, while a lot of people love thrashing power chords to popular songs they know when they first start learning, scales will definitely help you build a more sound technique in the long run. If I had to pick scales to work with, I'd start with the Major and Pentatonic scales (which is the blues scale), then move to the Minor scales and all their variations. Get to know how each scale sounds and you'll eventually start hearing pieces of them in popular music (especially the Pentatonic, which serves as the basis for a ton of classic rock guitar noodling). Some popular songs to investigate: Nirvana - "Smells Like Teen Spirit" (easy chord progression, easy solo, not a bad practice song for singing & playing at the same time either. In fact, just check out almost any Nirvana song you can stumble upon, given that Kurt wasn't exactly a guitar hero and many of the songs are quite tuneful.) Metallica - "Enter Sandman" (an easy hook and easy chord progression, but lay off of the solo for a lil' bit) Jimi Hendrix - "Purple Haze" (though the solo will be off limits for a while, the actual main lick isn't terribly difficult and the chord progression is fairly simplistic, even with the "Purple Haze" jazz chord) Pearl Jam - "Yellow Ledbetter" (the ultimate (pardon the pun) jam song, with a dirt-simple chord progression, plenty of expressive lines, and plenty of room to mess around with your own solos) Hope that helps out.

It's Iori Yagami with the slightly more interesting character design...and origins that don't involve the word "Capcom." There, I said it.