NFL Games are not rigged

     A bit over three years ago, I made a post talking about refereeing in the NFL and how it's about as bad as I've ever seen, excluding the lockout in 2012.  In that, I defended referees, saying their job is hard, and the turnover we've seen in the past few years and the increase in technology makes officiating seem worse than in prior seasons.  Well, I'm here to defend them again.  
    The 2022-2023 Conference Championship games happened yesterday as of this post.  For both games, I noticed numerous posts, comments, tweets, and online mentions that the NFL is rigged.  I've seen these kinds of comments many times before, but it seems they are growing in volume.  I am putting this out there: THE NFL IS NOT RIGGED.  Nor are any of the other major professional sports leagues, but the NFL seems to be the one that gets this accusation the most.  It's arguably the one where officiating can play the largest role.  
   
Here's why the NFL is not rigged:
    1) They'd have a better script if it was
    2) There'd be at least somewhat of a leak if it was
    3) Players would not put their bodies on the line if the outcome was predetermined
    4) Calls go against the teams that end up winning anyway
    5) If it was and word got out, a league worth hundreds of BILLIONS would go under
    6) Officiating is tough, and basically, any bad call can be defended to an extent
    7) When would the rigging of games have started, and why?  The NFL wouldn't need to.

Let's examine each of those points further.
    

1) They'd have a better script if it was
        This year's Super Bowl will be the Eagles vs. the Chiefs.  Each team has won a Super Bowl in the last 5 years.  Don't you think fans would want to see a matchup with teams that haven't won in a while?  Imagine how cool Bills vs. Cowboys or Bills vs. Vikings would be.  Or how about the 49ers, who haven't won in 28 years yet possess one of the largest followings in the NFL?  Granted, you have the Kelce brothers facing each other and Andy Reid facing his former team.  But that doesn't get non-NFL fans to tune in; it just makes NFL fans want to tune in slightly more.  If the NFL was rigged, they'd rig it for a Super Bowl that would generate the largest audience, and Eagles/Chiefs is not it.  

2) There'd be at least somewhat of a leak if it was
        Think about how many officials, referees, coaches, and staff would have to be in on this if the NFL was rigged.  With that many people involved, a leak would almost positively come out, whether it be a stray text/email, someone overhearing, etc.  It would just take one person out of those hundreds (if not thousands) to make a mistake.  Yes, the NFL can pay people to keep quiet, but they can't undo something getting out to the public.
    
3) Players would not put their bodies on the line if the outcome was predetermined
        The counterargument to this would be that the players aren't filled in on this.  They're like puppets in a show.  Ok, that's fair.  But these players know better than even us fans the line between a bad call and a game being rigged.  Yes, you see players griping at officials in basically every game, but you never see them call one out.  This isn't my strongest point, but if games were rigged so certain teams win, players on the opposition would notice.  Each team has a chance to win a game and hardly any point to officiating for the reason they lost.  

4) Calls go against the teams that end up winning anyway
        The counterargument to this would be that the NFL has to make it seem like the game isn't rigged.  Ok, fair, but if they're going to rig games, wouldn't they want to ensure they get the result they desire?  Anyway, I have seen my share of bad calls.  I have seen games where it does seem like one team benefits more from controversial calls.  But I can always go back to one or two calls that went against them.  Let's say you think there's a game you think was rigged in Team A's favor.  Now put yourself in the shoes of a huge fan of Team A.  The biggest homer.  You live and die by their success.  Watch that game from that perspective, and tell me there is not one call that doesn't upset you.  I bet that you can't.  

5) If it was and word got out, a league worth BILLIONS would go under 
    Imagine the shitstorm that would hit the NFL if word got out that a single game was rigged.  It may spell doom for the entire NFL.  At the very least, they would lose millions through losses of endorsements, advertisements, and merch and ticket sales.  Why would they risk rigging games for that?  To have slightly better matchups in January and February?  It's like risking your car to win tickets to a local college game.  It just wouldn't make sense to do.

6) Officiating is tough, and basically, any bad call can be defended to an extent
    Imagine a horrible call.  Just an awful one.  For me, I think of the non-PI call in the NFC Championship game between the Rams and Saints a few years ago.  Yes, that was a bad call.  But I can see how an NFL official can miss that.  It was a bang-bang play.  NFL officials have to monitor certain parts of the action going on, which involves trying to focus on multiple things at once.  Perhaps the official monitoring that side of the field was focused on something else nearby and didn't definitively see the entire PI happen.  Granted, they should focus on where the ball goes, but they do miss things.  The point I'm trying to make is that officiating is hard, referees are only human, and so long as we allow the human element in the officiating of our sports, bad calls will happen.  We can't just call out the game being rigged because a referee made a questionable or bad call.

7) When would the rigging of games have started, and why?  The NFL wouldn't need to.
    I bet most people who've said the "NFL is rigged" wouldn't be able to come to a consensus on this.  We all can certainly agree that the rigging of games has not existed since the start of the NFL.  So when would it have started, then?  Going back to point #5, the NFL does not need to risk losing millions for that.  If two teams were predetermined to make it to the Super Bowl by the league, I would wager that the league would go completely under if that word got out.  Imagine being a part of a franchise that got screwed by that.  You would be like, "Why bother?"  There'd likely be teams that would consider ceasing their operations, even if that cost thousands of people their jobs.  NFL owners would sue the league like you wouldn't believe.  

The NFL is a multi-billion dollar operation.  Fans and partner companies will fork over millions regardless of the results of games.  Yes, certain results help the league out more financially, but that boost is minuscule in the grand scheme of things.  The NFL is not rigged.  To suggest the NFL is rigged is as asinine as the NFL rigging games themselves.

Ten Things that went wrong for the Hawks in 2021

 The 2021 season was not an ideal one for the Seattle Seahawks.  After 17 weeks and just one game left, they sit with a record of 6-10 and no shot at the playoffs.  This is the first losing season of Russell Wilson's career and only the second time the Hawks have missed the playoffs since he became the starting quarterback.  So, what went wrong?  I have compiled a list of ten things that went wrong and, for good measure, I gave them a rating of 1-5 on how worried we should be that this may affect the Hawks going into next year, with 1 being not at all worried and 5 being extremely worried.  

1. Russell Wilson's finger injury
Worry scale: 2
It's safe to say that if not for Russ's finger injury, the season would be a lot different.  Russ came back and his finger was clearly still trying to heal, as we saw in his first two or three games back, causing the offense to be downright anemic.  Before this season, Russ had not missed a single start, so there's not much concern here, although there will be more if he gets hurt again next season (provided he stays in Seattle, of course).

2. Having historically bad time of possession
Worry scale: 5
The Hawks had a nagging problem throughout 2021 that, for too long, they were unable to fix.  That is the time of possession battle.  You generally want to hold onto the ball on offense more than your opponent, and the Hawks were historically bad at doing this.  This stems from the combination of the offense not being able to put together long, sustained drives, and the defense being unable to get off the field when they needed to.  This led to the defense wearing out at the end of the game and, in some games, the offense still showing signs of rust going into the 4th quarter.  This is definitely concerning, as this issue concerns both sides of the ball and the fundamentals regarding them.

3. Adjusting to a first-year offensive coordinator
Worry scale: 2
Shane Waldron was hired in the offseason, and for a team that wants to win now, he may not have been the wisest hire.  He had never been an offensive coordinator before, and that certainly showed at times this season.  The last two OC hires, Darrell Bevell and Brian Schottenheimer, had previously been OC's before coming to Seattle.  Hopefully, Shane has learned a bit from this season and will improve as an OC going into 2022.

4. Injuries to too many notable players
Worry scale: 1
Injuries are a part of NFL football and always will be.  But sometimes you suffer an irregularly high amount of injuries, which hurts your season.  The Hawks not only lost Russ to injury for a few games, but stars and leaders Chris Carson and Jamal Adams suffered season-ending injuries, and the Hawks also had to deal with a number of players missing games due to COVID.  But this shouldn't be any cause for concern for the future as teams generally don't suffer through two consecutive injury-plagued seasons in a row.

5. Jason Myers' off year
Worry scale: 3
Myers made every field goal in 2020, so expectations were high for 2021.  However, he missed a few too many crucial field goals and several PAT's.  He was bound for at least a slightly down year, but his regression to the mean was far too severe.  Hopefully, he'll bounce back next season and look more like 2020 Myers, and hopefully, 2021 wasn't a sign of things to come for him.

6. Ken Norton Jr's schemes aren't working
Worry scale: 3
Sad to say, I think I would need more than two hands to count the number of times the Seahawks put a defensive tackle into coverage this season.  Ken Norton Jr, the Seahawks defensive coordinator, may take pride in the fact his team didn't give up a ton of points, but as of the time of this post, the Hawks had the 2nd worst pass defense in the NFL.  They consistently allow receivers to get open, afraid of possibly allowing the big plays.  As a defense, you need to tighten up and risk allowing big plays, because otherwise teams go up and down the field on you.  Ken Norton Jr. has not realized this, and we can only hope Pete Carroll will swallow his pride and decide to move on from KNJ.  The worry scale is at a 3 because he may or may not get fired, and I worry slightly that we won't move on from him.

7. No clutch factor this season
Worry scale: 2
The Hawks have been one of the luckier teams of the past 5-10 years, largely because their offense and defense were known for making big plays when the game was on the line.  That was not the case this season.  On multiple occasions, the offense was unable to come up with a game-winning drive, and the defense was unable to stop the opposition when it mattered.  This is highly unusual for the Hawks, who in years past thrived in close games.  Yet the Hawks are 0-5 in games decided by 6 points or less.  Just changing two of those five outcomes gives the Hawks a record of 8-8 going into the final week.  Also, two of those five close games were started by Geno Smith, and who knows if Russ would've been able to lead us to victories in those games, but our odds certainly would have been better with him.

8. No established running back until late
Worry scale: 2
The Seahawks are definitely better when they have an established back take the bulk of the carries and stay healthy for at least most of the season.  That was not the case this season.  Chris Carson started the season as the starter, but then a neck injury derailed his season.  Alex Collins took over, but he too got injured after several games.  Fortunately, Rashaad Penny emerged, but it was too little too late.  The Hawks likely won't have a running back even get 700 yards this season.  Although to be fair, the Hawks did not have a running back get 700 yards last year, either.

9. Poor offseason additions
Worry scale: 2
Gerald Everett was easily the best addition the Hawks made in the past offseason.  Gabe Jackson was solid, if unspectacular.  The 2021 draft class, meanwhile, leaves a lot to be desired.  Of course, there were only three draft picks, but Eskridge was hurt and under-utilized, Tre Brown showed signs of promise but got hurt, and Stone Forsythe barely saw the field.  There was not enough added in the past offseason.  The Hawks could have used another cornerback and edge rusher for sure. 

10. Pete Carroll
Worry scale: 3
This reason is simply Pete Carroll.  Is his "rah rah" style of coaching wearing thin?  Possibly.  It certainly isn't the best coaching style for a team that is struggling.  He's the oldest coach in the league, and his schemes and philosophies seem to be a bit dated by now.  I think he could still do well as an NFL executive, but it's time for him to retire from coaching duties.  This was certainly a trying year for him, and one could argue his worst coaching performance in Seattle.  

2021 was definitely a trying year for the Hawks.  I am in the boat that the Hawks do not need to rebuild this coming offseason.  Going into Week 18, they have a +21 point differential despite their 6-10 record.  They are a few close games from quite a different story this season.  If they can focus on the lines, draft smartly, and keep Russ (but maybe make a change at head coach or DC), they can quickly go back to being perennial contenders again in 2022.

Good and Bad Things about Fortnite Season 3

Just a week ago, Fortnite Chapter 2 Season 3 premiered and with it came many (mostly welcome) changes.  It's the most the game has changed in almost a calendar year, so many players, myself included, are still getting used to all the changes.  I'm going to go over most of the changes and whether they are good or bad. 

This time, we'll start with the good:

- Increased mobility
This is something that has plagued Chapter 2 since its release.  In season 1 of this chapter, there were literally no mobility items, the only being a trap-slot item in launch pads.  The only vehicle at the time was boats, and they didn't do well on land (especially going up hills).  In season 2, this was improved upon with the introduction of helicopters and crash pads.  But still, mobility was fairly limited.  Now with season 3, we have new zip lines, sharks that can be ridden, and whirlpools.  Two of the mythic bosses even have mythic mobility items (grappler and impulse grenade launcher).  Not to mention the game still has both boats and helicopters as well as crash pads.  Lachlan, an Australian Fortnite player on YouTube, even joked that there is too much mobility.  

- Significant map changes
I'm not going to comment specifically on the map changes themselves (that will be below), but I'm glad there were significant map changes period.  The map was starting to get stale and old.  When I first started playing in season 3, I was amazed at the amount of changes to the map.  It almost doesn't look like the same map.  

- Sticking with Mythic bosses
One of the best parts of season 2 was the mythic bosses.  Epic Games realized this and at least kept us with three mythic bosses (as opposed to 5/6 last season).  They nerfed the weapons so that none of them are too overpowered.  In season 2, in certain games if someone else got the mythic weapons, it felt vastly unfair.  Now it doesn't feel that unfair.

- Sharks
I have thalassophobia (fear of the deep sea and its creatures), so sharks at first were not a welcome addition for me.  Having gotten used to them now, I like them.  They can be used to get loot from, ride on (as mentioned earlier), and even use to attack enemies and their builds.  I hope this leads to Epic Games including other living things we can interact with.  Maybe giant birds we can ride on?  Maybe horses?  

- The right amount of new weapons/items and unvaulting
Epic Games unvaulted the hunting rifle, bolt action sniper, P90 SMG and Chug Splashes, as well as introducing the new charge shotgun and fireflies.  They also have two mythic items for bosses that were either unvaulted (Chug Jug) or new (Impulse Launcher).  This is exactly what they should do every season.  Come up with new weapons and items while unvaulting a few popular ones as well.  They obviously listened to us because many of us (myself included) wanted the hunting rifle and chug splashes brought back.  

- More healing items
One problem the early part of this chapter had was not enough healing items.  Even with the introduction of fishing, healing was a bit tough to do at times.  In season 3, we now have fruits and vegetables that 1) can be placed into the inventory instead of having to be consumed and 2) are a wider variety.  There are apples, corn, cabbages, shield and slurp mushrooms, and chili peppers (although those are for speed).  So someone in desperate need of health or shield can grab some of these.

All right, now onto the bad things.  This season is definitely an improvement, but it is not without its faults.  

- Too much water
As I mentioned earlier, I'm glad the map changed a lot, but I wish they hadn't added this much water.  A lot of old landmarks and locations are completely submerged now.  If they had added a feature which allowed us to dive underwater, I would be ok with this amount, but too much is simply "unexplorable" right now.  

- Not enough material options
With all of the water on the map, there are far less ways to get a significant amount of materials.  Weeping Woods is submerged, so forget that.  It is clearly much harder to build up materials quickly.  The new things that popped up on the map (The Fortilla and Rickety Rig) do not have enough material options. 

- Too many things vaulted, especially ones needed for challenges
The pump shotgun, heavy sniper, C4 remote explosives, and proximity mines all got vaulted.  RPG's are now only available by killing and taking them from Marauders on the map, so they are no longer available at all in Team Rumble play.  There have been these "quick challenges" which include getting explosive damage or eliminations.  The only way to do that now in Team Rumble is by using grenades.  Either Epic realized this and didn't care, or they failed to realize all the explosive weapons they vaulted while keeping explosive challenges.

- Quick challenges are more work for not much more XP
Daily challenges have been replaced by quick challenges.  There would be a new daily challenge every new day you played.  These challenges only needed one thing accomplished and gave 55,000 XP.  Now, there are five that generate each day.  They start out at 1,400 XP and after a day become 14,000 XP.  Even if you complete all 5 of those challenges, that is 70,000 XP.  Basically, it's four more challenges to complete for just a bit more XP.  They do keep regenerating after completing, but are only 1,400 XP for each challenge unless you wait a day.  It's a clever technique by Epic Games to get us to play a bit longer, but I am not a big fan of this change.

All in all, this season is definitely an upgrade from the previous season.  I do have one major recommendation if Epic Games wants.  As I said above, all of this water on the map would have been made better if there was a new mechanic to dive down underwater.  Our characters could hold their breath for 20 seconds before losing health (10 health per second after that).  There could be oxygen tanks which would allow our players to go for about a minute underwater before running out.  One problem I do see with this, however, is players trapping others underwater, but hey, if you can't shoot your way out, oh well.  That's the risk you take for going underwater.  This would be cool to see if they wanted to implement it next season.  

Good and Bad Things About Our New Apartment

Amanda and I are on to our third home (already!), but we really only had to move because of the renovations undergoing at our old complex.  We also wanted to get out of Kirkland because of the high cost of living there.  We found a new place in Bothell, basically in Mill Creek.  It's certainly different from our old place.  I think there are more good things about it than bad, but I thought I'd share both good and bad things about it.  First, to get it out of the way I'll go over the bad things.

Bad:
- We can hear the upstairs neighbors too easily.
We live on the 2nd floor of a 3 floor complex.  We have neighbors above and below us.  We're used to having to not make too much noise on the floor (we've always lived on the 2nd floor), but at our last place, we didn't have any upstairs neighbors, which was nice.  We hear them walking a lot, and Amanda can even hear them talking and snoring or their TV.

- Longer commute
With moving to Bothell comes longer commutes.  Because of COVID-19, I am not working at the moment, but when I do go back to work, the commute to work will be longer than before.  Fortunately I do not have to deal with that yet.

- Less bedroom space
Our bedroom is a bit noticeably smaller.  Our living/dining room is about the same, maybe a tad smaller as well.  It's not a big deal, especially since we are using our space better.  At our last place, our couch was basically in the middle of the living room, because if it was against the wall, it would have been too far away from the TV.

Good:
- Best amenities I have ever seen
Literally the best amenities I have ever seen at an apartment complex.  Swimming pool, billiards, huge gym, coffee and tea bar, TV, brand new Apple computers, etc.  Just so many great things for residents to do.  Unfortunately the amenities are closed right now, but we'll get to experience them some day.

- Big balcony and outdoor storage
Our outdoor balcony area is the biggest we have had so far at our three places.  It's got plenty of space for a patio table, chairs, and even a grill.  And our outdoor storage is bigger than what we had at our last place.

- Deep pantries
We definitely have more space to put our non-perishable foods.  Before, we used to have space just for cups, plates, bowls, etc., but now we have a place for those things AND groceries.  And the pantries we have go pretty deep, so they can accommodate a lot of stuff.  We just have to be careful some food items don't get lost back there and go bad/expire.

- Valet garbage service
Because our complex is so large with only a few dumpsters, we have the option of a garbage valet service.  Five nights a week we have the option of leaving our trash and recycle out for a paid attendant to pick up.  All we have to do is put it outside our door.  It's awesome, and whenever we move out of here, I know I will miss this service immensely.

- Surrounding area/shops
I think the surrounding area is even better for us here.  We're still within walking distance of a Safeway, but we have more restaurants, a dollar store, and a Fred Meyer.  I also really like the surrounding nature, which we can see right from our living room window.

- Even better nature views
Being at "North Creek", there is a flowing creek and a bunch of trees in our area that almost make it seem like you're far removed from the city, which we're not, fortunately.  On our walk to the leasing office/mailbox, there is a bridge which goes over a flowing creek.  We also get a lot of bunnies around our complex.


Well, that's all I have for now, if I think of anything else, I'll be sure to add it here!

Companies I Refuse to Do Business With (And past experiences with them)

As you go through life, you're bound to do business with many companies.  And unfortunately, not every single one will give you great service.  I'm going to talk about a few companies I've bought things from or done business with, but now I refuse to anymore because of a bad experience I had.  Of course, a recent one is what inspired me to do this post.

Best Buy
I've been in a Best Buy since my bad experience, but I haven't bought much since.  Maybe something like a CD that was on sale.  But I mostly try to avoid the place. 

I had gotten a PC game from my parents for either my birthday or Christmas (they're close together, so it's hard to distinguish sometimes).   That PC game was Star Wars: The Old Republic.  I tried to load it on my PC, and it technically worked, but it was so slow and there was just no way I could enjoy it.  Therefore, I went to Best Buy with my dad to try to return it.

Now here's where it gets interesting.  They would not let us return it (because it was "open"), not even for store credit.  I know we were in the right, as their return policy stated so long as it was within the time period, which it was.  They explained how we very easily could have made a copy of it or something, and my dad just exploded.  I had never seen him yell at strangers like that before.  I think the part where they borderline accused us of trying to scam them was what made my dad mad.  In the end, my dad said he wouldn't do business with them anymore, although I think he's been back to a Best Buy since then (although not as much, like me).

I ended up selling the game online for a bit of a loss and shipping it away.  It was better than holding onto it for no reason, because I was never going to play it.

Car Toys
The unfortunate thing with Car Toys is that there's not really any other business around the area that does what they do.  They install car stereos, speakers, alarm systems, any car accessories.  I originally had a pretty decent experience with them when they installed the car alarm on my car.

However, in recent years, their service has greatly lacked.  I can't remember what exactly happened with my sister's car, but she had her stereo taken out of her old car (because her car was basically totaled), and they I think ended up damaging a part of the speakers and claiming they didn't do anything to damage them.

But more recently, I bought the stereo and speaker system from my dad, who then said I could take it to Car Toys to get it installed.  They were pretty darn unprofessional about it.  It's hard to remember exactly what they did wrong, but they first said they'd be able to install a type of speaker called tweakers, but then afterward they said they couldn't.

I do remember that my stereo was having major trouble connecting to the speakers and kept displaying an error message and I wouldn't be able to listen to music.  I had to go back and get them to fix it.  I think I ended up approaching them four separate times to get them to fix something.

Fortunately, they finally got it to work.  I have a cable that's sticking out inside my glove box that wasn't before, which is oddly a USB plug-in.  I just know that every time either me or my dad has gone to Car Toys for service recently, it's been a huge headache.  HUGE.

The Bradford Exchange
This was the most recent one.  I saw a Mickey Mouse limited edition coin in a catalog I wanted to get my grandma for Christmas, but on the catalog's website they were sold out.  So I looked online for another place to purchase it and found The Bradford Exchange.

I purchased it for about 40 bucks and got it in the mail a few weeks later.  Over a month after that, I received a giant display case and another coin in the mail from them.  I went to check my bank statement and saw two charges of 25 bucks on there.  Apparently, I had enrolled in a subscription with them, even though at no point in the checkout process did they say I was doing that.

I then got shipped a third coin just a week ago or so, and another charge on my card appeared.  I have emailed them many, many times.  The time I was trying to return this third coin, I was told a barcode that came with it would work as a return label.  It did not.  I had to ask three or four times for them to send me a return label until they did.

They also say on their website that the return and refund won't be processed until close to a month after they receive it.  For an item I purchased for Christmas, I won't be able to receive a refund until April at best.  And right now, I'm constantly checking the status of the shipment back to them, and the first display case hasn't been updated in over a week.

I left them a 2/5 star review on ConsumerAffairs.com, only to see everyone else has rated them a ONE star.  They may have high quality gifts, but they suck at business.

Honda of Kirkland
I have to point out the location because I doubt every Honda dealership is like this.  I purchased my Civic from them years ago.  I've taken it in to them twice for a service since then.  The first time, they supposedly found something like a hole or that my fan belt needed to be replaced; I can't remember.  But I ended up paying much more than I thought. 

The next time I took it there because I had no other choice.  My girlfriend borrowed my car from my work's parking lot (which is across the street from this Honda), and when she got back the steering started acting up.  I asked my parents for advice, and my dad took it to the closest repair place, which was this Honda dealership.  I don't remember exactly what they said was wrong with it, but my parents suggested taking it elsewhere for a second opinion.  I had it towed to a Midas, and they gave me a different answer and told me it would cost much less.  So I ended up having Midas fix it and not Honda.

In other words, I think this dealership does whatever they can to earn more money, at least in their service department.  I refuse to go there, even when they mail me coupons for services like oil changes.

Outlook for Non-Playoff NFL Teams in 2020

We know the 12 teams that have made the playoffs in the 2019-2020 NFL season, but what about the 20 that didn’t?  We've seen a few coaching changes already, with one more still on the way (Come on, Cleveland!)  I’m going to go over each non-playoff team, and what I expect from them in 2020, especially with regards to their head coach and quarterback. 

Atlanta Falcons: I’m glad they held onto Dan Quinn.  He’s a very good coach, and he probably would’ve quickly been given another head coaching opportunity elsewhere had he been fired, much like Ron Rivera.  Their defense needs to improve greatly in 2020 as that is Quinn’s specialty.  Matt Ryan continues to put up numbers, but doesn’t seem quite capable of carrying a team when things are kind of going bad, like Aaron Rodgers and Russell Wilson can.  I do expect them to improve in 2020 because of how well-run they generally are.

Arizona Cardinals: Not a bad first year for Kyler and Kliff.  With a few more additions, they may avoid the NFC West basement in 2020.  Unfortunately, the Seahawks, Rams, and 49ers are all well-built teams with elite head coaches, so it will be tough to avoid 4^th place no matter how much the Cards improve.  I like Kyler Murray a lot, and I wouldn’t be shocked to see him take a Lamar Jackson-type leap in 2020, although I don’t expect the Cardinals to be as good as the Ravens have been in 2019. 

Carolina Panthers: Firing Ron Rivera was a very questionable move, but I just think the new owner wanted a fresh change (and perhaps an offense-focused head coach).  I'd give David Tepper, the owner, a grade of B for hiring David Tepper.  He's a proven college coach, but will that translate to the pros?  It didn't for Nick Saban, that's for sure.  We'll see if Matt Rhule will want to work with Cam Newton at all, or find his own guy.  I don’t expect the Panthers to be awful in 2020, but it will take another year at least to get back to playoff contention… I think.

Chicago Bears: The way the last calendar year has gone for the Bears has not been pretty.  They lose in heartbreaking fashion in the playoffs and followed that up with a lackluster season.  Is Trubisky really their guy at QB?  Matt Nagy’s stubbornness to stick with him may cost him his job some day.  In a tough division, the Bears will have to improve at least slightly in 2020 or changes may be on the way.  I think Trubisky needs someone pushing him and someone Nagy could go to if he struggles.  Perhaps Marcus Mariota?  He would fit well in Matt Nagy's schemes.

Cincinnati Bengals: Having the number one pick can turn a franchise around pretty quickly (See Indianapolis in 2012).  Is Joe Burrow capable of doing that?  He’s not a sure-fire QB prospect like Andrew Luck, though.  I’d say he’s more in the mold of a Matthew Stafford/Matt Ryan, and he will probably get to being in the top half of QB’s in the league.  Don’t expect the Bengals to succeed right away, but I wouldn’t be shocked to see Zac Taylor work some magic with their new QB, especially in his first year or two.

Cleveland Browns: So, they fire their coach and general manager, after a season in which the players didn’t perform up to expectations… ok.  I understood firing Freddie Kitchens, but not Dorsey.  It would take a terrific hire at both spots in order for this team to compete in 2020.  They should be hopeful for an 8-8 or 9-7 season in 2020, with a legit shot at the playoffs maybe coming in 2021.  Whoever they hire as head coach is going to have his hands full and has to be able to discipline his players and keep them in check.  And Baker Mayfield has got to bounce back from his lackluster 2019 season, even though he will technically be on his fourth head coach in his third season in the NFL.

Dallas Cowboys: Hiring Mike McCarthy is a very "meh" move.  Yes, he's a proven winner as a coach, but he's very much like Jason Garrett and might not challenge his players or take risks when need be.  Meanwhile, Dak had his best statistical season and needs to be re-signed to a long-term contract.  I think things will work well in the first year because everything will be new to the players and they'll respond well to McCarthy at first.  But after that, we'll have to wait and see.  

Denver Broncos: Drew Lock is already the best young quarterback John Elway has found, although that is not saying much at all.  I think Lock has a fairly low ceiling, but I see the Broncos as a team that could surprise people in 2020 if they draft right and maybe fill a couple holes.  It will be interesting to see how Lock does in his first full season next year.  As for Vic Fangio, he is constantly lauded for being one of the best defensive minds in the game, and next year he needs to prove it, or he might go the route of Vance Joseph.

Detroit Lions: I’m pretty surprised they gave Matt Patricia another year, but the Lions were playing really competitive football before Stafford’s injury.  If not for a couple bad calls, they would have beaten the Packers in Green Bay, and they almost beat the Chiefs.  Next year, this Lions team, provided Stafford can stay heathy, needs to compete and get at least near .500, or Patricia will be gone.  I like their offensive weapons, and their defense isn’t bad, so if they can play inspired and healthy football, they will be a hard team to beat in 2020.

Indianapolis Colts: I’m sorry, but Jacoby Brissett is not a franchise quarterback.  I do, however, think he makes one of the best backup QBs in the game.  The Colts need to find someone to compete with Brissett for the starting QB job.  They would be wise to draft someone, and Brissett could start while they learn, or they could go after someone like Teddy Bridgewater or Philip Rivers.  The Colts were just instantly screwed in 2019 when Andrew Luck suddenly retired, and they still have a lot of good, young players.  Once that offense gets its franchise QB, these Colts will be back.

Jacksonville Jaguars: Doug Marrone was one of a few coaches I thought for sure was getting fired.  Nope.  Instead, they fired Executive VP Tom Coughlin.  They may forgive Marrone for this season because of the injury to Nick Foles, and he was the coach to lead them to the AFC Championship game just a couple seasons ago, but they can’t ignore how it seems the team quit on him in the second half of the season.  If I’m being honest, I think the Jags might be one of the worst teams in the NFL in 2020 and will get a top pick in the 2021 draft.  Then the rebuild can commence with a new coach and QB.

Los Angeles Chargers: They’re in a weird spot.  They have a lot of talent still, but an aging quarterback whose contract is up.  They had perhaps the worst luck of any team in 2019, losing a ton of games by one score.  If they are unable to find a legit QB for 2020, expect another 6-10/5-11 type season from them.  Anthony Lynn seems to be a decent coach, but may fall victim to being the coach of a team in the middle of a transition at QB. 

Los Angeles Rams: They were the only 9-7 team to not make the playoffs, so that’s something.  But it certainly was a disappointing follow up to a Super Bowl appearance.  Sean McVay and Jared Goff are safe for now, but what if they regress even more next year?  They do play in a very competitive division, with the Cardinals looking to improve in 2020.  Someone has got to be in last place.  There is a major problem lurking in the future with this team: They mortgaged a lot of their future by trading away some first-round picks, and they have a lot of money tied up to a few players, so there is a possibility this team could see a major collapse in the next couple seasons.

Miami Dolphins: Boy they sure turned their season around.  After starting out the year getting blown out by everyone, they finished the season with five wins, including beating the division champion Patriots in Foxborough.  They will need to find their future at QB in the draft, as it apparently isn’t Josh Rosen.  Fitzpatrick seems to be the starter in 2020 until their future starter takes over.  Brian Flores, meanwhile, will probably be given plenty of time to turn this team fully around after turning the 2019 season around for them.

New York Giants: Apparently Pat Shurmur is a really good offensive coordinator, but not a good coach.  They are struggling now to find a good coach since Tom Coughlin left.  It is very risky hiring Joe Judge, who had never been a head coach anywhere before.  Meanwhile, Daniel Jones started out great, but then kind of fizzled out.  We’ll see how he does with Joe Judge in 2020, but I expect something similar to what we saw from Sam Darnold in 2019: Just not enough talent around him, and the offensive mind not be enough help.  Their roster is also still lacking compared to their division rival Cowboys and Eagles.

New York Jets: Speaking of Sam Darnold, he looked good at times in 2019, but he is now third at best in terms of QB’s from his draft class, trailing Josh Allen and Lamar Jackson.  Hopefully he can get some help on the offensive side of the ball, mainly on the offensive line.  Perhaps Adam Gase isn’t that great of a coach as Peyton Manning says he is?  Ryan Tannehill on the Titans sure seems to be doing better without him.  I don’t have a ton of confidence in this team going into 2020 right now.

Oakland Raiders: For a brief stretch, the Raiders seemed to be playing some really good football.  Perhaps a new environment will be able to motivate them all season long?  I think they are headed in the right direction, but they certainly need to take a legit step forward in 2020.  Derek Carr is definitely an above average quarterback, but Jon Gruden may want something more.  I wouldn’t be shocked if they drafted a mid-round QB.  Next season is pivotal for them; a winning season would be huge.

Pittsburgh Steelers: Big Ben should be able to play in 2020, but they have to find his successor and soon.  In my “NFL Quarterbacks Who Will Get New Homes in 2020” post, I predicted they will draft Jacob Eason out of Washington.  They’re not at code red to find a new quarterback, but the sooner (and earlier in the draft) they draft one, the better.  Mike Tomlin did a great job in 2019 with what he had, and I expect them to return to form in 2020, as long as Big Ben stays healthy.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Either they need to replace Jameis or get him to make smarter throws.  That latter option may not be possible, however.  They may want to go after a QB who protects the ball better, someone like Teddy Bridgewater.  They’ve got a decent roster and a really good head coach, but it’s uncertain who the leader of this team is if not Jameis.  Bruce Arians has done well with veteran quarterbacks in the past (Big Ben, Carson Palmer), so perhaps the Bucs will go after a veteran, maybe Philip Rivers?

Washington Redskins: What’s this?  The Redskins making good decisions?!  They hired Ron Rivera to be head coach and Jack Del Rio for defensive coordinator.  That defense next year should be much better.  As for their offense, well, they’ve got some pieces.  They can’t rely on an aging Adrian Peterson anymore, and they need a legit QB.  I don’t think that’s Dwayne Haskins.  I predicted they might sign Jameis Winston, who I think could have success there, especially under Ron Rivera, who led Cam Newton to the playoffs many times (and to the Super Bowl once). 

Before I conclude, I want to pick my top 3 teams from this list and bottom 3 teams.  The top 3 teams are teams that I expect to bounce back and have good 2020 seasons and probably make the playoffs.  The bottom 3 teams are teams I expect to continue to struggle and probably even get worse.  First, the bottom 3, to get that out of the way:

3. Cleveland Browns
Unless they hire someone who is absolutely perfect (and let’s face it, we have no reason to believe they will), they will probably struggle again next year.  Baker Mayfield doesn’t seem capable of carrying a team, and there are too many undisciplined players on this team.  It could get ugly.  Cleveland has a bad track record of turning hopefulness into absolute despair.

2. New York Jets
I just don’t trust the Jets front office.  I don’t like Adam Gase as a head coach.  He is one of the coaches I predict to be fired next season.  And they play in a division with the Patriots, a good young Bills team, and a Dolphins team that’s slowly improving.  It could go either way, but my gut tells me it won’t go the way they want.

1. Jacksonville Jaguars
Number one pick incoming?  That’s my prediction, at least.  They just don’t seem like their old 2017 selves anymore.  They will regret bringing Doug Marrone back for another season.  However, if they do get that number one pick, it could result in drafting Trevor Lawrence if he declares for the draft in 2021.  Trevor Lawrence is talked about being the best quarterback prospect since Andrew Luck.

All right, and now for my top 3 teams to make a turnaround next season:

3. Pittsburgh Steelers
Whenever they have an off season, they always bounce back.  They are just too well-run of an organization to struggle for long.  If they have a legit QB in 2020 (Big Ben, probably), they will more than likely be a playoff team.  I think they could battle Baltimore for the division crown next year.

2. Atlanta Falcons
Hopefully Quinn can lead these guys back to playoff contention.  With Tampa and Carolina having uncertain futures, and New Orleans being due for a disappointing season, the division could be there for the taking.  The defense will be the biggest question.  They showed flashes in 2019 (stopping the Saints offense in New Orleans for one), but will need to play more consistently in 2020, and I think they will. 

1. Dallas Cowboys
I think the Cowboys players will be playing extremely motivated in 2020.  What Jason Garrett was telling them and coaching them about was probably getting old and stale.  But with a new head coach in Mike McCarthy, they could become one of the best teams in the NFL in 2020.  I see them having a year like the 2019 Packers; new head coach brings fresh and positive results.  They have a really good roster still, just needed the coach to match.  It will also be interesting to see how McCarthy uses Dak and Zeke next year.  He's never had a running back of Zeke's caliber.

The Officiating Epidemic

                There is an epidemic in the NFL.  It involves officiating of its games.  Every week now there seems to be a game that is decided by an officiating call which is considered iffy at best.  Every week there is a call that goes against a team which many consider to be the reason that team lost.  I think there are two things working here, causing what seems to be the worst officiating in NFL history.  Is 2019 the worst year for officiating in NFL history?  I doubt it, but I wouldn’t bet against it, either.  Yes, officiating has not been great and I think I know why, but I also believe their mistakes are tremendously magnified so they look so much worse than they are.  We have technology nowadays that can zoom in, slow things down to a snail's pace, and we have an angle on almost everything that happens.  Of course we're going to see mistakes made more easily.
                I believe there is a circle of bad officiating and scrutinizing happening right now in the NFL.  To put it simply, referees are heavily criticized, causing them to retire early and be replaced by less experienced and knowledgeable officials, and those officials try their best but their mistakes are magnified and the circle continues. If we aren't careful, our current officials may decide that their position as an NFL referee is not worth it and we will be left with something like the replacement referees we had in 2012.
                Imagine if all the older police officers in our country were replaced by younger police officers.  I think there would be a lot more unnecessary arrests and pullings over of cars because these younger cops wouldn’t have the experience to know when to try to ticket or arrest someone.  A similar thing is happening in the NFL right now where we are seeing more flags than ever, and some would definitely not be thrown by a more experienced official.
                I don’t have any numbers, but what I have noticed is a lot of head referees retiring in the last few years.  The head referee gets the final say and can override a bad call.  The referees I have seen retire recently are Gene Steratore, John Parry, Ed Hochuli, Terry McAulay, and Jeff Triplette.  Parry and Steratore were each under 55 when they retired.  Why did so many retire almost at once?  Because the job has become so stressful and demanding that they know for the sake of their mental health to not do it anymore.  I don’t know how much they get paid, but whatever it is isn’t worth the stress and pressure those guys go through.  Also, a few of these former referees (Steratore, Parry, and McAulay) were able to get positions as "Rules Analysts" with different television networks that broadcast NFL games.  Sounds like a much more cush job than being a head referee.
                Thus, we stand with a bunch of newer head referees in today’s game.  It wouldn’t surprise me to find out a lot of the other referees, judges, and umpires have retired as well.  The NFL does a good job of keeping it quiet; they don’t want people to know their officiating crews don’t have a ton of experience.  Fans are screaming for these officials to be held accountable, but if the NFL suspended or fired officials for a bad call or two, they wouldn’t have enough to cover their games, not to mention no one would want to referee the games anymore.  If any of us NFL fans were given the training and had to referee a game, I guarantee we’d not only do worse but we’d quit within a week or two.
                It’s unfortunately going to be a series of growing pains we’ll have to go through while these officials gain experience.  I haven’t even mentioned the constant rule changes and BS these officials have to put up with.  Officials are now being challenged for their judgment calls.  The replay officials in New York, led by former referee Al Riveron, are becoming infamous for not overturning the pass interference calls when it seems like they should.  The reason behind this is twofold: One, they are trying to support their officials unless they clearly made a mistake, and two, I don’t think they particularly like overturning a judgment call.  When they overturn a pass interference call, they are telling the referee that made that call that their judgment is off, whereas overturning other calls like catches is them telling the referee he just missed it.  I for one hope they take away the ability to challenge pass interference next year or have an independent person or party decide.
                The least we can do as fans is to be a bit more forgiving.  Don’t get me wrong, I hate bad officiating as much as anybody.  We can all remember bad calls in games our team lost.  For me as a Seahawks fan, I remember Super Bowl XL all too well.  What I don’t remember are bad calls against my Seahawks in games we won.  I know there are plenty, but I don’t remember them, because they didn’t impact the outcome of the game.  We focus on these calls and remember them for eons because they have the unfortunate distinction of impacting a game late and seeming to cause our team to lose.  I’d also like to point out that it doesn’t seem like too many calls cost the Patriots games.  They don’t ever seem to be on the wrong side of one that costs them the game.  But that is because they never put themselves in that position.  They usually play well enough that bad officiating calls that go against them don’t impact whether or not they win. 
                What I have noticed is that we tend to focus on the negative calls and forget the ones that went in our favor.  Referees are certainly not perfect because they are only human.  And NFL football is an immensely complicated game that happens very fast and requires officials to have the ability to focus on multiple things at once.  I know NFL referees make really bad calls that make us call them names like idiot, moron, among other insults that attack their intelligence.  I’m guilty of that.  But these guys are not idiots, in fact they’re probably smarter than most of us.  What they are are men put in a difficult position because of their love for the game of football. 
                I do think, however, something needs to be changed.  The training process for officials, for one, maybe.  I think they should go through a heavy amount of training each offseason.  Also, I’m not huge on Al Riveron being the senior vice president of officiating for the NFL.  They need someone in that position that will make the right call, even if the video evidence isn’t entirely clear.  Perhaps with technology advancements we can get more accurate shots of the action and perhaps even data. 
                We’re in a rough patch right now, I won’t lie.  The officiating in the NFL has never been as criticized and judged as it is now.  We just need to get through it.  I’m a positive-outlook kind of person, so I think officiating will get better over time, and then we can finally relax and enjoy games.  We just need to be patient and understanding until it does, and also realize it's just a game for most of  us.

My Top 15 TV Shows Ever

I love TV.  TV is one of my top forms of entertainment.  You can watch it while eating, watch it before going to bed, have it on while you get stuff done around the house, etc.  So naturally, I have a lot of shows that I've watched that I'd like to share my thoughts on.  If they're BOLD then I've seen every episode.  Here we go, my top 15 TV shows ever! (In alphabetical order)

That 70s Show - This show jumpstarted so many careers: Ashton Kutcher, Mila Kunis, even Topher Grace.   There aren't many teen sitcoms, if any, that are as relatable and funny as this one.  

Breaking Bad - Oh, man.  There has never been a show that's made me go "Oh damn!" or "Oh shit!" as much as this one.  Never has a show made my heart pound harder or my jaw drop further.  Breaking Bad is known by those who've seen it as one of the best TV shows... period... and for good reason.

Californication - I don't know what it is exactly about this show.  Maybe it's David Duchovny's acting as the lead character Hank Moody.  Maybe it's the tremendous writing or drama they build.  Whatever it is this show is able to keep me hooked once I start watching it.  I don't think this show gets enough praise for what it's done.  Anyone who is a fan of Duchovny, likes writing, or enjoys dark dramadies should enjoy this.

Dexter - This is definitely in my top 5.  Dexter is well-written (until the last few episodes...grr...), well-acted, and in my opinion, the most suspenseful and thrilling show I've seen.  Michael C. Hall was born for Dexter, and the role written for him.  If you love crime, thrillers, how the minds of serial killers work, or even cop-type shows you'll like Dexter.

Family Guy - I haven't seen every episode because it is still on the air, but Family Guy is the funniest cartoon I think I'll ever watch.  I've never liked the Simpsons, but Family Guy certainly hits my funny bone.  Seth McFarlane and the FG writers always know exactly where to draw the line, because they keep pushing the boundaries of dark comedy.

F.R.I.E.N.D.S - Friends may forever be my favorite sitcom.  I own all 10 seasons and have seen each episode at least 5 times.  Sure, there are plot holes and instances that make you cringe, but the things I learned about love and friendship from this show are more than any one person could have taught me.

Game of Thrones - I just recently got into GoT, and I got to say I'm hooked.  I'm not typically into fantasy type TV shows, but this show is so well-written and acted that I'm entertained by every episode.  They are only making 2 more seasons, but sometimes it's best not to draw shows out.  Plus, apparently there will be some spin-off series set in the same universe.

Heroes - Very strong first few seasons, then died off at the end.  Such a shame.  But if you like superhero... ANYTHING... then you have to watch at least the first two seasons of Heroes. A lot of plot holes and inconsistencies, but the first few seasons you really care for the characters and the episodes were very well-written.  I've never finished this show because the episodes went so off the rails the last few seasons.

How I Met Your Mother - This might be the most well-written comedy along with The Big Bang Theory.  A man tells the story to his kids of how he met their mother, but it's way more than that.  It's about all the twists and turns Ted and his friends Barney, Lily, Marshall, and Robin's lives take.  In a lot of ways, this became the Barney Stinson show, but that's only because of the stellar writing and acting for his character.  A lot of people criticize the way it concluded, but I feel that fans would have not been 100% happy with any conclusion.

LOST - Great acting, writing (the first few seasons) and great characters.  So a group of people survive a plane crash on a deserted island in the Pacific, but how and why they got there, and what this island is about is enough to take up all six seasons.  I feel like the show lost its sense of realism in the last 2 seasons or so, going from drama/action to science fiction.  Like Heroes and Dexter, don't look for a satisfying conclusion here.

The Office - I almost advise against watching this show because it kind of makes you want to go work for a paper company.  Such well-written characters (Jim, Pam, Dwight, and who could forget Michael Scott?).  Some of my hardest and longest laughs have come from something I saw on this show.  However, I have to agree with the majority that the show just wasn't the same when Steve Carell left.

Parks and Recreation - Like the Office, it is filmed like a documentary.  Some may say it is a rip-off of The Office, but it's actually a partial spin-off.  Apparently there was a plan to connect the two shows together, but that idea was scrapped.  The writing for this show is great, and the characters were LITERALLY written for the actors (See what I did there?  P&R fans will get it).

Star Wars the Clone Wars - Yes, a Star Wars TV show.  How could I not?  But what the writers are able to fit into 22, 23 minutes is incredible.  The voice acting is really good as well.  If only the prequel films could have had the same attention to detail as this show did.

Twin Peaks - Only two seasons made, but what a classic.  I love it when any show or movie is set in the beautiful PNW.  The show does stray into the sci-fi/fantasy genre a bit, which I wasn't a huge fan of.  However, Kyle MacLachlan's acting is superb.

The Walking Dead - I could argue that this may be the most binge-watched show in TV history and I probably wouldn't too many opposing me.  Who knew they could make a show about the zombie apocalypse so compelling?  While it is based off of the comic of the same name it doesn't always follow it, leaving for some mystery as to what will happen, such as who did Negan really kill?  But the characters we've followed since season 1 like Rick, Carol, Daryl, and Glen always make us cheer for them when they take out "walkers".

Top 10 Favorite TV Characters of All Time

I just got to thinking recently.  I've made my Top TV shows ever, but what about my favorite TV characters?  Most shows I've seen have 1 or 2 characters that really stand out and are well-written, but I'm only going with one per show (and no animated shows... sorry).  Of course, a lot of credit has to go to the wonderful actors who portrayed them.  Here are my Top 10 Favorite TV show characters (That I've seen).  And for fun, I will include my favorite moment from that character, as well as a video clip of that moment.

10. Leslie Knope (Amy Poehler), Parks and Recreation
I had to include at least one female character on this list, and it's Leslie from Parks and Rec.  I actually used to find Amy Poehler really annoying, but now after having watched Parks and Rec, I can say she is really fun to watch.  Her character is an inspiration to those at long odds, but with a lot of ambition. 
Favorite moment: Leslie and Ben's first kiss

 
9. Jim Halpert (John Krasinski), The Office
I'm not a huge fan of Michael Scott or Dwight Schrute on The Office, but they are good characters.  To me though, no one can top John Krasinski as Jim Halpert.  He was so good with the dramatic scenes with him and Pam (Jenna Fischer), and he is especially good at the deadpan stares at the camera.  My favorite moments of his though are the numerous pranks he pulls on Dwight. 
Favorite moment: When he dresses up and acts like Dwight to annoy him

8. Sheldon Cooper (Jim Parsons), The Big Bang Theory
Sheldon is without a doubt the star of The Big Bang Theory.  He's a part of every funny moment on the show it seems like.  His obsessive-compulsiveness, his intellectual prowess, just everything make him such a unique character. Jim Parsons has won multiple Emmy's for this role, and for good reason.
Favorite moment: "Bazinga!" (In the ball pit)

7. Hank Moody (David Duchovny), Californication
David Duchovny clearly found his best role as Hank Moody.  What I love about Hank is his quick wit, especially with the ladies.  He might not always make the right choices, but he always has the right intentions and he's clearly a good guy deep down.  He makes picking up chicks look effortless. 
Favorite moment: "Boooooo ya!  The baby's black, Karen, the baby's black!"

6. Darryl Dixon (Norman Reedus), The Walking Dead
Darryl is many people's favorite character on TWD and he's mine too.  Rick is a close 2nd, but he often makes choices and decisions I don't agree with.  Darryl is just a badass who will occasionally show his soft side.  For these reasons, Darryl cannot be killed off.  Many fans would protest and probably petition to have him brought back (somehow).  Darryl might put up a tough front, but he's got a soft side deep down. 
Favorite moment: Reacting to his brother becoming a walker

5. Chandler Bing (Matthew Perry), Friends
Friends is an ensemble cast, and while they all did really good jobs, no one stood out to me more than Matthew Perry as Chandler.  Most people would agree Chandler is the funniest of the six, and I'm one of them.  What also helps is that he's a very relatable character, dealing with not finding the perfect job to family issues to finding the girl of his dreams. 
Favorite moment: The back and forth game with Phoebe, then telling Monica he loves her in TOW Everyone Finds Out

4. John Locke (Terry O'Quinn), LOST
There aren't many characters on TV that go through the trials and tribulations that John Locke goes through in his life.  From all the flashbacks and the portrayal of The Smoke Monster/Man in Black as him, he was definitely one of the highlights of the show every week.  I really wish he hadn't died, but perhaps he had to in order for him to finally have some peace.
Favorite moment: Admitting he was wrong about not pushing the button in the hatch

3. Barney Stinson (Neil Patrick Harris), How I Met Your Mother
Sure, the show centers around Ted (Josh Radnor) and how he met his kids' mother, but the star is obviously Barney Stinson.  NPH is so good at portraying the womanizing Barney that a couple seasons in the writers just gave up and ended up giving him more screen time than any other character, even Ted.  Not many (if any) TV characters have made me laugh more.
Favorite moment: Going on The Price is Right (best video I could find)

2. Dexter Morgan (Michael C. Hall), Dexter
No one could have portrayed Dexter quite like Michael C. Hall.  Dexter wasn't that complex of a character, which is why he's not #1, but I certainly understood why he was the way he was.  Basically, Dexter was a badass and should have gone out in a bad ass way.  His character certainly made some questionable decisions near the end.
Favorite moment: Mocking a victim of his by yelling "F**********k!"

1. Walter White (Bryan Cranston), Breaking Bad
I think the role of Walter White should go down as the one of the best TV show characters... EVER... from any time period.  Basically, he is a good guy gone bad, but you still feel for him because of his good intentions.  Towards the end, he does pretty much go all the way dark side, but he redeems himself in pretty much the coolest way possible.  Hard to top that. 
Favorite moment: "Say my name." "You're Heisenberg" "You're goddamn right"