Boy, 2020 has been some year. Most would consider it one of the worst years in recent memory, and I can't argue with them. However, this year isn't without some positive things happening, which I will get into. Some are personal to me, some aren't. But this has certainly been a year I will remember for a long time.
Let's get the bad out of the way first: COVID-19. You knew I was going to mention it. It has put such a damper on the things we usually enjoy in life. The family barbecues, going to sporting events, flying to see relatives, a lot of that most of us cannot enjoy at the moment. These are the things we live for. The things we work 40 hour work weeks for. Instead, we are forced to sequester at home and find other joys in life.
COVID-19 has impacted me both positively and negatively. I did really want to go to a Mariners game and/or a Seahawks game (at least one) this year. I wanted to take Amanda to her first Seahawks game since 2011. I moved this year (closer to my grandparents) and I did want to make an effort to see them more often, but I haven't been able to as they fear catching COVID-19 (and I fear possibly passing it to them). I don't mind spending a lot of time at home finding ways to keep myself occupied/entertained; I usually do that anyway.
But as I said, COVID-19 has had a positive impact on me. Because of the pandemic, I got a new (and better) job. My old job wasn't the best fit, I wasn't making enough, and I didn't really enjoy it. They put me "on standby" in March, which is like a suspension, but without the employee doing anything wrong. I then went on unemployment while I waited for them to possibly take me back. I also used this time to look at other jobs. I slowly and ultimately got to a point where I realized I wanted to use this opportunity to change jobs. I eventually found one in August and I have loved it ever since. I enjoy it so much more, I feel more useful/needed, and I get paid more. It beats my previous job in every way. Even the commute from my current residence is better.
Like I mentioned, I moved this year. Amanda and I are now on our own just the two of us. I really like our new apartment and the complex. We moved right as COVID restrictions were getting put in place. Unfortunately thanks to COVID, we are not able to enjoy the luxurious amenities this complex has. I did use the gym a bit when they opened it for a short time, but it certainly was short-lived as they closed it not long after.
One last good thing that happened--I need to mention it: We will be getting a new president. Thank the lord. Donald Trump has never been fit to be president, and boy is he just an awful human being. He is now refusing to concede the election (pathetic), but regardless, we will be getting a new president in 2021 in Joe Biden. I don't want to get into politics too much in this post, but I know this is a reason for optimism next year for so many people, myself included.
On a more personal level, I really wanted to lose weight this year. Like I mentioned earlier, I made an effort to go to our apartment complex's gym when it was open. I have tried eating healthier, but it's been tough. Now that the holidays are basically here, I might have to focus on losing weight for 2021. I have a few ideas in mind that may help. But I'm no skinnier now than I was at the start of 2020. I'm going to work hard to change that for 2021.
Honestly, 2020 hasn't been too bad for me personally. I've lost out on a few things I would want to do (including going to the movies), but I got a newer better job, I still managed to move during the pandemic, and we will be getting a new president. I don't mind having to wear a mask in any situation. And no one else should mind, either.
But I am really hoping 2021 is an improvement. Hopefully we can eradicate this disease and be able to do all the things we live for again. I don't think our country can take another year of this. I could, but I'd hate to see what happens if this pandemic doesn't at least start going away next year. I will continue at my current job for the foreseeable future as I have no complaints about it. For the first time in a while, I am really looking forward to the following year. In my opinion, 2021 can't get here fast enough. To anyone reading this, let's work hard to make 2021 the opposite of 2020. Wear your mask, socially distance yourself, and be nice to others (even if they're the other political party). Thank you.
Saturday, November 21, 2020
2020's Highs and Lows
Saturday, October 31, 2020
How to be a good boss
I started a new job just over two months ago, and boy is it a good fit for me. I work a regular Monday to Friday schedule, and I am doing things I love doing (working on a computer, with numbers, working on my own). But I'd be lying if I said one of the best things about my job wasn't my boss, Joe. He's awesome. He is exactly as a boss should be. He's only six years older than me, so we can relate on a few things. But it's his managerial style which I think a lot of bosses could learn from. I'm going to say what I think makes a good boss, providing examples from Joe.
- Make yourself approachable to your employees and welcome their questions and feedback
I cannot stress this enough. At my last job, it was definitely hard to approach my bosses and ask them questions. But Joe welcomes questions. Almost on a daily basis Joe says to ask him questions if we're stuck or need help. I'm not the best at asking for help (I'd prefer to figure things out on my own if possible), but he's made it much easier to ask for help. Bosses should never scold or get annoyed with their employees if they ask a question. It's how we learn, get better, and do our job more satisfactorily.
- Know when to put your foot down
So, you want to be nice and everything, but you have to know when to put your foot down. You have to still earn and get respect from your employees. One of my coworkers wasn't doing something right, sort of fibbed to Joe, and Joe put him in his place. Joe was very clear about what he expects of him. If you lay down the law in front of your employees just one time, that should be lasting enough for them to respect their boss for a long time.
- Treat your employees for doing a good job
Probably my favorite thing my boss does is he treats us when we do a good job. He's treated us to lunch a few times, and he's given us things for our desks. Bosses treating their employees for doing a good job encourages them to continue to do a good job. He also often offers a word of encouragement when we do a good job as well. Those little comments go a long way, especially when they're sincere.
- Make sure your employees are comfortable with their working conditions
My boss is very aware of if we are uncomfortable with any aspect of our working conditions. He has said to me on numerous occasions that if there's anything I need I should ask or tell him. I know not every boss has the time for this, but if you provide an avenue, portal, or any way for your employees to reach out to you, that can be hugely beneficial to the workplace. It could be an email, a bulletin notice, or anything little like that. But my boss Joe lets us know in person. It helps we have such a small office.
- Lead by example
You can't expect your employees to do a good job if you don't do a good job as their boss. There's also little things you do--how organized you keep your workspace, how you handle customers/clients, and how you treat other employees. A lot of inexperienced/younger employees look to their boss on how to act and carry themselves. My boss Joe does a great job of carrying himself and leading by example. I'll say he doesn't always dress the most professionally (wears flip flops, for example), but we don't ever meet clients in person, so it doesn't matter. I could probably wear flip flops if I wanted to, but I'd rather set my own example.
- Enjoy your work so that your employees will too
If you've progressed through a field far enough to have employees underneath you, you probably like the field you're in. And when a boss enjoys their work, it really becomes contagious. I can tell Joe really likes his job and is passionate about it, and he makes me want to be passionate about my own job. I know this ties in a lot to the one above, but I thought it deserved it's own mention.
Well, that's all I have. Mainly, my advice to any bosses out there is to treat your employees the way you would want to be treated. Put yourself in your employees' shoes and act like how you'd want your boss to act. It will go a long way. And, happy employees often make for success in business. It's win-win.
Monday, September 7, 2020
2020 NFL Predictions
The MLB season is only in it's third month, but the NFL season is less than a week away. Seems weird. That's what happens when a global pandemic postpones or cancels different sporting leagues.
I usually do fairly well with these predictions, so I will continue, going division by division, giving each team a predicted Win/Loss record. I'll predict the playoffs under the new seven team per conference playoff format, and then some predicted award winners.
I usually go game by game for the Seahawks, but I'm usually way off. The Hawks will no doubt win some games I predict them to lose, and they will lose a game or two (at least) that I predict them to win. Instead, I will just talk about the team briefly and what I expect from each position group.
So without further ado, the NFL win/loss record predictions:
* = Wild Card
AFC East
1. Buffalo Bills, 10-6
3. Miami Dolphins, 9-7*
3. New England Patriots, 7-9
4. New York Jets, 6-10
Summary: For the first time since 2000, Tom Brady does not enter the season as the Patriots starting quarterback. This is a huge opportunity for anyone else to claim the division, and with Buffalo being a 2019 playoff team, they have the best opportunity. I think they will be solid, if unspectacular. The Dolphins surprise a lot of people and make the playoffs, riding a win streak after switching to Tua at QB. The Patriots aren't awful, but they are a far cry from the team that won the Super Bowl a few years ago. That leaves the Jets as the odd man out. Sam Darnold does decently, but the defense falls apart and Adam Gase is fired.
AFC North
1. Baltimore Ravens, 14-2
2. Pittsburgh Steelers, 10-6*
3. Cleveland Browns, 9-7*
4. Cincinnati Bengals, 3-13
Summary: The Ravens enter as clear favorites. Can Lamar repeat his 2019 regular season success? Odds are yes. The Steelers, being a (mostly) veteran team and getting their veteran QB back, return to the playoffs and play solid ball. The Browns barely make the playoffs, but only because the rest of the AFC is trash. The Bengals tread water but realize they like Burrow; it's just they need to get him help.
AFC South
1. Indianapolis Colts, 11-5
2. Houston Texans, 8-8
3. Tennessee Titans, 7-9
4. Jacksonville Jaguars, 1-15
Summary: Probably the weakest division in the AFC (again). The Colts, with new QB Philip Rivers, claim the title. The Texans struggle a bit without many offensive weapons. The Titans realize they shouldn't have handed Ryan Tannehill that contract. The Jaguars, meanwhile, struggle mightily but are a fun watch with Gardner Minshew, and they win their first game in week 17 against a Colts team whose playoff position is settled at that point.
AFC West
1. Kansas City Chiefs, 12-4
2. Denver Broncos, 8-8
3. Oakland Raiders, 8-8
4. Los Angeles Chargers, 6-10
Summary: This might be the most surprising division I've predicted. The Chiefs are still clear front-runners, although as defending champs they will be the target of many. The Broncos aren't able to really make a statement as injuries and opt-outs hurt them. The Raiders have an up and down season and they are still left with many questions (Is Carr the future?). The Chargers bad luck rears its ugly head again (they've lost Derwin James to injury already again), and Tyrod Taylor is unable to do anything to right their sinking ship. Justin Herbert is given the reigns in the later part of the season.
NFC East
1. Philadelphia Eagles, 9-7
2. Dallas Cowboys, 7-9
3. Washington Football Team, 6-10
4. New York Giants, 4-12
Summary: The worst division in football again. The Eagles struggle with injuries and inconsistency again, but are decent enough to win the division. The Cowboys are fun to watch for the most part, but are clearly missing their once dominant O-Line. Washington is surprisingly good defensively, with Chase Young breaking Jevon Kearse's rookie sacks record. The Giants aren't awful, but Daniel Jones has a set back and the Giants start to wonder if he's the future.
NFC North
1. Green Bay Packers, 11-5
2. Minnesota Vikings, 9-7*
3. Chicago Bears, 7-9
4. Detroit Lions, 7-9
Summary: Hell hath no fury like an Aaron Rodgers scorned. The Packers as a whole aren't quite as good, but Aaron Rodgers clearly carries them to a few wins, as drafting a possible successor is enough to light a fire under him. The Vikings keep pace all year but fall a tad short. The Bears and Lions show flashes, but it's still not enough.
NFC South
1. New Orleans Saints, 13-3
2. Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 10-6*
3. Atlanta Falcons, 6-10
4. Carolina Panthers, 6-10
Summary: The Saints prosper in times of uncertainty, so why not now? The Bucs with Tom Brady are fun to watch, but lose some games they probably should have won. The Falcons struggle with the Todd Gurley experiment, and the Panthers aren't awful in Matt Rhule's first year as coach.
NFC West
1. San Francisco 49ers, 11-5
2. Seattle Seahawks, 10-6*
3. Arizona Cardinals, 8-8
4. Los Angeles Rams, 8-8
Summary: In the NFL's most well-rounded division, the 49ers come out on top again. They prove they are clearly too well-built to be a one-year wonder. The Seahawks, meanwhile, fall one game short of the division title (again) as they lose in week 17 to those 49ers. The Cardinals have some bright moments and surprise some teams, while the Rams falter down the stretch and are left scratching their heads.
Before we get to the playoffs, what happens before the playoffs every year? Oh yeah, "Black Monday". The day many coaches get fired. These are the following coaches I think will be fired by season's end:
Adam Gase, Jets
Doug Marrone, Jaguars
Matt Patricia, Lions
Dan Quinn, Falcons
And one coach resigns/retires...
Bill Belichick, Patriots
That's it. Usually it's closer to half a dozen, but I feel the rest of the coaches are either a possible future hall of famer (Reid, Carroll, Harbaugh), will have or recently had success, or will be given more time to turn things around (any coaches hired this offseason, Taylor). But yes, Bill Belichick retires after this season, not wanting to go through a rebuild.
Now the NFL seedings:
AFC
1. Ravens, 14-2
2. Chiefs, 12-4
3. Colts, 11-5
4. Bills, 10-6
5. Steelers, 10-6
6. Dolphins, 9-7
7. Browns, 9-7
NFC
1. Saints, 13-3
2. 49ers, 11-5
3. Packers, 11-5
4. Eagles, 9-7
5. Seahawks, 10-6
6. Buccaneers, 10-6
7. Vikings, 9-7
AFC Wild Card Round
(7) Browns at (2) Chiefs: Chiefs win
Would be a very high-scoring and exciting game, but the Chiefs come out on top, predictably. The Browns aren't good enough in the back end of their defense to stop Mr. Mahomes.
(6) Dolphins at (3) Colts: Colts win
In a battle of a veteran against a rookie, the veteran usually wins in the playoffs. That remains the case. Colts advance.
(5) Steelers at (4) Bills: Steelers win
The Steelers beat the young Bills to prevent them from their first playoff win in 25 years.
NFC Wild Card Round
(7) Vikings at (2) 49ers: 49ers win
In a rematch of last year's divisional round game, the 49ers win again, although perhaps not quite as easily.
(6) Buccaneers at (3) Packers: Packers win
Aaron Rodgers vs. Tom Brady in the playoffs, does it get better than that? Rodgers prevails as Brady's old bones can't handle Lambeau's cold.
(5) Seahawks at (4) Eagles: Seahawks win
Yet another rematch from last year (and at the same locale as well). The Hawks prevail again, this time with a healthy Carson Wentz under center all game. Russ goes off, hitting DK and Tyler for long bombs.
AFC Divisional Round
(5) Steelers at (1) Ravens: Ravens win
Lamar Jackson finally gets his first playoff win in his third try. The Ravens entire team is too much for the team from Pittsburgh.
(3) Colts at (2) Chiefs: Chiefs win
The Chiefs are too much for the Colts, but it's fairly close.
NFC Divisional Round
(5) Seahawks at (1) Saints: Saints win
Will there even be a crowd (and therefore crowd noise) in this instance? Either way, I think the Saints beat the Hawks. I can't remember the last time the Hawks won a playoff game in a dome (if ever).
(3) Packers at (2) 49ers: 49ers win
The 49ers prove too much for the Packers yet again. I think this would be a closer contest, but the same result as last year's NFC Conference Championship matchup.
AFC Championship Game
(2) Chiefs (1) Ravens: Ravens win
The Ravens take control early by harassing Patrick Mahomes and claim their first AFC Championship since 2012.
NFC Championship Game
(2) 49ers at (1) Saints: Saints win
Think of last year's matchup between these two teams in the regular season. Exciting like that, except this time it's in the Saints' favor. The Saints return to the big dance.
Super Bowl LV
Ravens vs. Saints: Saints win
In a fantastic matchup, the Saints prevail, giving Drew Brees one more Super Bowl ring before he retires. He rides off into the sunset a happy man.
Well, if my Seahawks couldn't win it all, I'd be happy for the Saints and Drew Brees. Now some award predictions:
MVP: Aaron Rodgers, Green Bay Packers
Offensive PotY: Lamar Jackson, Baltimore Ravens
Defensive PotY: Nick Bosa, San Francisco 49ers
Offensive RotY: Jerry Jeudy, Denver Broncos
Defensive RotY: Chase Young, Washington Football Team
Coach of the Year: Sean Payton
Seahawks:
Well, I know they've made moves to try to reclaim the NFC division title (trading for Jamal Adams), but the 49ers are just going to be a tough hurdle to get over. Plus, the line play will prevent the Hawks from soaring to heights or even establishing any kind of long winning streak. Position by position though, here's what I think:
Quarterback - Russ will be magical once again. He will have to be decisive and quick in his decision-making, and sometimes he won't be. He'll be in the talks for MVP yet again, but without winning the division it will be difficult to even get votes.
Running back - Can Carson stay healthy all year? Will we see Rashaad Penny at all? How will Carlos Hyde be? All those questions will be answered, and I think we'll get a mixed bag. Carson will probably do another 1,000 yards or close to. Deejay Dallas may even see some time and surprise, prompting for us to probably move on from Penny.
Wide Receiver - This may be the best receiving corps we've had in my time watching the Hawks. We all know about Lockett. DK should take a giant step forward this year, and hopefully he can hold on to the ball a bit better. Dorsett should be like a flashier Jaron Brown. Will we get Josh Gordon back? Even if we do, he probably won't have a huge impact.
Tight End - This is an interesting group. As long as either Dissly or Olsen are healthy, we should be fine, although preferably both remain healthy. Hollister will make a good #3 or 2 if need be.
Offensive Line - It will be interesting to see. Can Duane Brown hold up still at his age? Time will tell, but he might miss some games I feel. I've never really liked Ethan Pocic, and I think he'll struggle. Damien Lewis will be interesting to watch as he's a rookie. As long as this line isn't god awful, the Hawks should be fine.
Defensive Line - Can they get some pressure on the quarterback this year, please? I don't care who. It sucks that another rookie lineman is again injured (Taylor), but hopefully Collier proves why we drafted him so high. I just want the D-Line to be adequate, that's all.
Linebacker - Man what a loaded unit. This group is so stacked Shaquem Griffin had to go to the practice squad. Jordyn Brooks will hopefully get some time to shine. Will Cody Barton get some time as well? We shall see.
Defensive Backs - My what a stacked unit they've become. Will Dunbar be able to start all year? Hopefully. And Jamal Adams... well I bet his impact will be felt quickly. Can't forget about Diggs or Griffin, two very capable players.
Special Teams: Jason Myers, don't miss gimmie field goals. Mike Dickson, don't shank any punts. Cover teams, don't allow any return touchdowns. That's all I ask. Thanks.
Well, that is it for my 2020 predictions! Hopefully the Hawks exceed my predictions for them. If the line play is decent and the rest of the units play to their potential, there's a shot the Hawks could get the division and a top seed. Should be fun to watch (despite no fans, at least for now).
Sunday, August 30, 2020
NFL needs to end it's relationship with EA sooner rather than later
Ever since I started playing video games, I have enjoyed NFL video games. In my history, I have gone from NFL Quarterback Club 98 and 99 on the N64 to NFL Fever (on PC and Xbox) to NFL 2K5 (the best ever) to the Madden series. I used to buy Madden games pretty consistently (four in a row in the 2000s), but in the last six years I have only purchased two.
There is a problem with these Madden games, and that problem started in the mid 2000s when Electronic Arts (EA from this point on) bought the sole rights to make NFL games with current teams and player likenesses. EA then was and still is the only maker of NFL video games. However, the quality of their game has dropped significantly over the years.
As I write this, the hashtag #NFLdropEA is the number 3 trending hashtag on Twitter. Players and fans like myself are fed up. Without competition, EA has very little motivation to create a quality game. As long as it's "good enough", what's the point in putting in more effort? As long as it keeps selling and they keep making money, what's the point?
Let me explain the lack in quality briefly. The aspects of Madden which don't generate a steady revenue stream, such as Franchise mode, have been neglected and left as a very low priority to EA. Instead, they have focused on their "Madden Ultimate Team" mode or "MUT" for short. This mode basically requires players to spend real money on acquiring NFL cards/players in order to succeed. Unfortunately, a lot of fans have spent hundreds and hundreds of dollars on this one game mode. Why should EA focus on anything else, as long as they're making money?
As a result, franchise mode, create a player, create a team, and other game features have dipped in quality over the years (or gone away entirely). The presentation of the more recent Madden games has now dipped below in quality to ESPN NFL 2K5, which featured a halftime show, a post-game show, and even a weekly recap. Madden has none of that.
It's time for the NFL to end its relationship with EA. I heard the NFL didn't want to partner with 2K sports way back then because the game was only $20, and they didn't want their video game product to be seen as "cheap". Well, now their video game product is seen as a roster update every year, a cash grab, and frankly, poorly made. The game still has many bugs and even spelling/grammar mistakes. EA is a multi-billion dollar company, and they have more bugs in their game than games made by companies with minuscule profits.
I have yet to play a Madden game that has the immersive feel and quality of ESPN NFL 2K5. The NFL needs to wake up and realize that EA has tarnished their league with a very low quality product, and DROP THEM. I will not buy another Madden game until they either have competition, or the NFL cracks down and forces them to create a quality game that focuses on the fans and not on profits. And honestly, I'd rather never buy a Madden game again and patiently await the time when another company can make an NFL game again.
Thursday, August 6, 2020
Some Mariners Thoughts
But with the season a few weeks underway, I'd like to share my thoughts about the Mariners and some players. I'll talk about certain positions as a whole (like the bullpen) and certain individual players (most hitters).
Austin Nola - He's been... ok? His defense has been about average for a catcher, which is about as good as you could hope for given he's barely caught in the major leagues. His offense has been up and down, but he looks like he knows what he's doing. I'd like to see him get some action at other positions just to keep his versatility.
Evan White - The bat is definitely a concern. He strikes out way too much. But, if he learns from his mistake and our hitting coach works with him well enough, Evan can turn it around. We wouldn't have drafted him as high as we did if he couldn't hit. Fortunately, his defense has been outstanding, and he should (already) be in the running for a Gold Glove at first base.
Shed Long - The only way I can describe Shed's play is that it seems like the stage is too big for him. Even without any fans, he seems to struggle under the big lights. He hits worse in "clutch" situations, and I've seen him mishandle many routine groundballs and fielding attempts. He's got the potential to be better for sure, but he needs to get some confidence and get rid of the jitters and just play.
J.P. Crawford - One of the most likable M's position players. His defense at times is so fun to watch. His hitting is a bit inconsistent, but he's done pretty well since he was moved to the leadoff spot. He's one of the few young position players I really have no concerns about for his future. He doesn't have much power, but that wasn't expected when we got him.
Kyle Seager - The veteran. And he has been as good as he possibly could be to start 2020. I think the M's will hold onto him for a few more years. He's one of the faces of the franchise right now. Might as well hold onto him when we try to make a playoff run in a year or two, so long as his play stays at relatively the same level.
Kyle Lewis - There were some "experts" predicting he would struggle to start 2020, but they were clearly wrong. This kid knows how to play. He picked up right where he left off in 2019, and he's done so well that if he keeps this up, he will be one of the front-runners for Rookie of the Year.
Mallex Smith - Just give up on him. His only asset is his speed, which doesn't matter if he never gets on base. He hit close to .300 in Tampa Bay, and let's face it, he will not do that in Seattle. No way. He is done. He's lucky that Jake Fraley isn't with the team, but I think it's time to make that switch.
Dylan Moore - He's looked great to his even later start to 2020. Dylan is just a gamer, and it's fun to see a player that is fast, plays hard, and can play many different positions. I am A-OK with using him as a utility guy for the foreseeable future.
Daniel Vogelbach - My god this guy is useless. He can't hit, he can't field, and he can't run. His bat has struggled since over a year ago. He had a few hot months in the early part of 2019, but ever since then he's looked lost. He generally with either ground out to 2nd base or strikeout. He does take a lot of walks and has a good eye, but if he can't make more solid contact, he will never be a solid contributor for any MLB team.
The rotation - Most have looked really solid, especially as of late. Marco has definitely looked the best. Taijuan has been decent. I have a few concerns for our youngsters Sheffield and Dunn. Graveman looked good at some times before he went on the IL. Yusei has looked pretty solid as well.
The bullpen - One of the major weak points of the team. Thank goodness Bryan Shaw was sent down. I like Carl Edwards Jr. and Matt Magill, but few others. I think we have some bullpen pieces at a lot of levels, and the bad ones we'll let go and the good ones will stick around. The bullpen has nowhere to go but up.
Overall - It's about what I expected. The M's have looked between awful and halfway decent. The hitting has as a whole been average, while the pitching has been one of the worst in baseball. If the pitching can slowly come around, this team will string together some wins. Especially if they get rid some hitters that are dragging the offense down (Mallex, Vogelbach, get Tom Murphy back).
Wednesday, August 5, 2020
Ten Things I Would Change about Survivor
Don't get me wrong, I love the show, but I nitpicked to find ten things I would change about the show. These ten things aren't in any order, although I will count down from #10. Here they are:
10. Avoid "team reward" challenges, especially when there are an odd number of players
I hate it when, after the merge, Jeff splits the individual players into two teams for a reward challenge. It's as if the crew is saying they don't have enough individual challenge ideas and need to save them for immunity. I could live with these "team reward" challenges, so long as they only happen when there are an even number of players in the game. When they do these types of reward challenges when there are an odd number of players, it leaves one person out with no shot at even competing for reward. Everyone should have a shot. Also, when a single individual wins reward and they pick 1-3 players to go with them, it can have a ripple effect on the game, which adds a layer of complexity in the social game.
9. Go back to the original final tribal council format
One of my favorite parts of each Survivor season is when the jury questions the Final 2 or 3. But with the new "open forum" Final Tribal Council format, it's not as entertaining. It's not as organized, and it can leave a few jurors with little or nothing to say. I would often look forward to the old format to see if certain players would hold a grudge and lash out at the Final 2 or 3. I mean, think about the most entertaining or memorable jury speeches of all time. Have any happened since this change? Nope. Also, I liked how each member of the Final 2 or 3 got to have an opening and closing statement. At some point, they got rid of the closing statements, and then in "Worlds Apart" Season 30, they got rid of opening statements as well. Bring those back!
8. Less advantages
In more recent seasons, there has been an almost crazy amount of advantages. It's to the point where even the most dedicated fans and viewers have a tough time keeping track. I do like immunity idols and the occasional advantage, but when there are so many, the value of them diminishes. Fire Tokens aren't a terrible idea, but the casual viewer cannot be expected to keep track of everyone's Fire Token count. If they absolutely must keep Fire Tokens and a large number of advantages, perhaps display an overlay of advantages/Fire Tokens at certain parts in the show, such as when someone earns Fire Tokens or an advantage, or during the booted person's final confessional.
7. Show a little more of the "survival" aspect
I miss when Survivor showed the players fishing, foraging for food, or building the shelter. They still show a little bit, but I know most fans would like to see more. If anything someone does earns them respect around camp, I feel like we as viewers have a right to see it, even if it's mundane as fishing. For example, Wendell may have won Ghost Island because he did a great job at building shelters, but we never really got to see that. I know they have a lot of other things to fit in, such as challenges, strategy talk, and whatnot, but seeing a bit more of the survival aspect would definitely balance out the show a bit.
6. Film somewhere else besides Fiji
I understand the financial benefits of filming in Fiji for every season, but doing that is becoming extremely repetitive. Survivor filming locations should be like Super Bowl locations: it's okay to use the same location, just not twice (or more) in a row. As I understand, they film two seasons back-to-back, so one idea is that they could film two seasons in Fiji, then next year film two seasons in Nicaragua or somewhere else, then go back to Fiji the following year. If Survivor stays in Fiji, it will die in Fiji.
5. Bring back the auction
One thing I miss is the Survivor auction! I think they stopped it because too many players would sit on their money waiting for an advantage (thanks, cast of Worlds Apart). There are ways around this. They could include hidden advantages at random with different food items. They could have Jeff announce there will not be any advantages and there will be only food. Or if they use Fire Tokens again, they could have a "Fire Tokens Only" auction where you bid on items with Fire Tokens. Just bring back the auction!
4. For the love of God, no more Edge of Extinction
I know they have only used it for two seasons, but the Edge of Extinction has allowed two early boots to make it to the Final Tribal Council, and one of them to win. A huge majority of Survivor fans do not like this twist. In fact, basically any twist that allows a player to return to the game after being voted out is generally not well-received, especially when the earlier boots have an equal or better chance of getting back in to the game. I don't know what their fascination is with bringing back voted out players, but it needs to stop. In my opinion (and a majority of Survivor fans opinions as well), the Edge of Extinction twist really put a damper on "Winners at War".
3. Jeff needs to calm down a bit at challenges
If anyone remembers, Jeff's commentary at challenges was way toned down in earlier seasons compared to what it's been in recent seasons. In fact, in season one, it was non-existent. I enjoy Jeff's commentary at challenges--in doses. I may be in the minority on this one, but I feel like Jeff's commentary has been a bit over the top in recent seasons. I do like when he berates players for struggling as it's pretty funny. But when he says things like "That's how you do it on Survivor!", it makes me roll my eyes. This is something I am honestly really nitpicking at; Jeff is definitely one of the highlights of the show. But Jeff was at his peak with his commentary in seasons 10-20, I'd say.
2. Bring back more physical challenges
I know there are safety risks involved with them, but they are the most entertaining challenges in Survivor history. "Sumo at Sea" is my favorite. But we haven't seen it used since "San Juan Del Sur". I also like "By Any Means Necessary", but we haven't seen the beach/sand version since "Heroes vs. Villains". These challenges are wildly entertaining, and I'd love to see at least "Sumo at Sea" brought back. And maybe come up with new challenge ideas which are fairly physical (but safe).
1. Cast more Survivor fans and "recruit" less players that aren't fans
I love when we see hardcore Survivor fans on the show. They play the game hard and well. When various players are recruited, to either fit a theme or because of their looks, they become cannon fodder, basically. Players that are recruited don't really play the game; they just go along with the flow. And when these players make it to the end, they never have a shot at winning. I'd love to see a season of ONLY hard core fans and perhaps even only fans that have applied multiple times. That would be interesting to see.
If CBS/Survivor even makes a handful of these changes, it will benefit the show in the long run and allow it to continue for many more years. If not, we could see the beginning of the end of one of my favorite television programs of all time. I'd rather the show go out on top than be forced to cancel because of a decline in viewership/production value.
Monday, July 27, 2020
My Thoughts on the Jamal Adams Trade
Most consider Jamal Adams the best safety in the NFL. But you know how often there is a new best player at a position? About every 2 or 3 years on average. Some safeties, I will say, have long and lengthy careers that lead them to the Hall of Fame. Guys like Ed Reed and Troy Polamalu played well into their 30s. The only way this trade works in the Hawks favor is if Jamal Adams has a career like those guys, and leads the Hawks to at least one Super Bowl. I wouldn't say the odds of that happening are high.
There is a huge underlying problem with the Hawks which has caused this team to be top-heavy in talent and have a lot of holes on its roster. John Schneider, Pete Carroll, and the rest of the Seahawks management and scouts can no longer draft well. They can't. They have drafted just two players who made the Pro Bowl with the Hawks since 2013, and both (Lockett and Dickson) made it for special teams. Guys like Germain Ifedi, Malik McDowell, and Ethan Pocic (all first or second round picks) did not pan out. And there are a ton of doubts with Rashaad Penny and LJ Collier.
It's because of this lack of ability to find talent in the draft which has forced the Hawks to spend money; to keep their star QB, middle linebacker, and wide receiver. It's forced them to make these kinds of trades that don't help the team in the long run. Remember the Percy Harvin trade? The Hawks did not win a Super Bowl because of that, they won in spite of that. The Jimmy Graham trade was the start of the dismantling of the offensive line, as Max Unger was traded away. And then Jadeveon Clowney was acquired for a third round pick (and a couple players), and it's looking like may only get one (injury-plagued) season out of him.
This trade for Jamal Adams is another transaction in a series of moves that reek of desperation. The Hawks are still criticized for having one of the worst (if not the worst) combinations of offensive and defensive lines in the NFL. Pete and John hope that the stellar play of their QB, receivers, running backs, linebackers, and secondary can make up for the struggles the lines will undoubtedly have. But as the saying goes, "the game is won in the trenches". And without competent line play, we may just get a lot more of the same thing we've seen the last five years: 9-10 win teams that rely on Russell Wilson magic too much and get knocked out of the playoffs early.