Feelings after a Second Super Bowl Title for the Seahawks

I realized I hadn't talked about it on here yet, but yes, my Seattle Seahawks are once again Super Bowl Champions!  I don't know if it hasn't fully sunk in yet or if I've almost become numb to winning, but I'm not overly ecstatic about this one for some reason.  I am, of course, very surprised that in Mike Macdonald's second season EVER as a head coach, he won a Super Bowl with us.  He turned us around so quickly.  The unfortunate thing for him is that this will be hard for him to live up to.  But on the flip side, he will be able to coast on this one for a while, regardless of how the Hawks do in the next few years.  I'm going to go over my overall thoughts about this team, what I expect going forward, and if we have a potential dynasty brewing here.

I honestly believe that this defense had a better year than the 2013 Seahawks did.  They were dominant against the run, and outside of Puka Nacua, no star players had a good game against the Hawks this past year.  The 2013 Hawks were hard-hitting and forced turnovers, while this defense just doesn't allow yards or points.  I think the latter is overall better, because they didn't have to rely on turnovers to do well.  

I'm just mostly stoked we have a competitive team with likable players.  Sam Darnold, our quarterback, is one of the most likable quarterbacks in the league after what he has gone through.  Geno Smith had a similar arc and story, but he didn't exude likability.  We know that if we build a consistent winner here, Sam will do what it takes to agree to a contract extension when the time comes, rather than demand a high amount that would hurt the team to give out.

What's crazy about this #1 defense is that there aren't really any huge stars on it.  Sure, there are Leonard Williams, Devon Witherspoon, and Ernest Jones, all of whom have gotten a Pro Bowl nod, at least second-team All-Pro, or both.  But they aren't the marketable defensive stars you see on other teams like TJ Watt, Maxx Crosby, Micah Parsons, Sauce Gardner, or Myles Garrett.  They're just a bunch of dudes.  It's funny that the best defense in the NFL only had one first-team All-Pro in Williams.  It shows the depth of this defense and how well-rounded they are.  Some defenses are poor against the pass, run, or both.  This team is poor against NOTHING.  There is not one situation or type of offense that they are weak against.  They can play heavy or light, whatever the situation calls for.  

I fully expect this team to continue to build, plug in holes when guys leave or retire, and continue to compete each and every year.  And if, worst-case scenario, they have a really bad year, general manager and team president John Schneider has shown he can build a team out given a few top picks, and isn't afraid to dish away a star player to help build a new team.  

It's crazy how the trades in recent years were mocked and lauded, only for them to work out swimmingly.  First, of course, was the Russell Wilson trade, which netted the Hawks multiple firsts and helped them land their stud left tackle in Charles Cross and a stud corner in Devon Witherspoon.  Then, just this past off-season, the trades of DK Metcalf and Geno Smith that netted the Hawks a second and third round pick.  The second round pick would eventually (after a trade with Tennessee) net them stud safety Nick Emmanwori, who was a vital contributor on the Super Bowl team.  The third round pick netted Jalen Milroe, who is a project QB, but I guarantee the Hawks are not going to just let him walk in a year or two.  

Do we have a potential dynasty?  Possibly.  The key will be if they can establish an identity on offense, and either get an offensive coordinator who will stick around, or establish an identity well enough so that it doesn't particularly matter who the OC is, as long as they stick to the script.  I think we're going to see a very competitive team from the Seahawks for the next several years, and I would not be surprised in the slightest if we saw another Super Bowl appearance or win.  I think best-case scenario we have a borderline dynasty, one that we could argue is a dynasty or not, similar to the Legion of Boom years in the 2010s.  

One thing that is potentially looming is the sale of the team.  Rumors have started sprouting about the team possibly going for sale.  If you have a good ownership situation, you do not want your team sold, but unfortunately, it will have to happen at some point, due to Paul Allen's passing and his sister Jodi serving as the temporary chairperson.  If the Hawks can get a good owner or a good ownership group, we should be ok.  I worry that the Hawks could go into someone's hands, like Jeff Bezos, who would only want to use the Hawks to further line his pockets and not be emotionally invested in the team.  I'll likely most a post about my thoughts when that happens, so I'll worry about that when the time comes.  

Ownership aside, I'm excited for the future.  Mike Macdonald will likely be our coach for a long time, and we know he's a good one.  And he seems like the kind of guy who isn't set in his ways, and is willing to evolve and change as the NFL game evolves and changes.  That's not something I could say about his predecessor.  And Sam Darnold, our QB, is already one of the top QB's in team history after just one year, so hopefully, he will grow and evolve as well and be a Seahawk for a long time, too.

NFL Coaching Hirings Grades and Thoughts

It's now the 2026 NFL offseason, so I thought I'd go back and re-grade these and look back and see how close my grades were to what they are now.   Any of these updates will be in this blue font.

 With my Seahawks in the process of hiring a new head coach, I'm more invested in the NFL teams hiring head coaches than ever.  So, I thought I'd react and grade each head coach hiring, including the Seahawks', which I will go more in-depth on than other teams.  In order, chronologically:

Patriots hire Jerod Mayo: B-
NFL Linebackers have done well as NFL coaches in recent history.  Vrabel was good in Tennessee up until his last few seasons.  Demeco Ryans did fantastic in his first year in Houston.  Antonio Pierce did well as an interim coach (see below).  This is what you call a very safe move.  Mayo will keep the team from chaos, futility, and disorder, but I definitely think he may be a bridge coach.  The roster is one of the worst in the NFL and one offseason won't fix it.  Mayo learned from Belichick as a player and a coach, so for the players that remain it will be a fairly easy transition.  Maybe, if they make the right moves in the next couple of offseasons, they can return to contention around 2025-2026, but that is my optimistic view for them.

Wow, this was not a great hire.  I thought Mayo would be like Demeco Ryans, but he was not.  He only lasted one season before the Patriots smartly moved on to Mike Vrabel, who (so far) has them in the AFC Championship game in his first year after two back-to-back 13 loss seasons.

Retrospective Grade: F

Raiders hire Antonio Pierce: B+
Could they have done better?  Maybe.  But you had their best player, Maxx Crosby, publicly state if they didn't stick with Pierce that he'd likely request a trade.  That speaks volumes.  Pierce definitely seems like an excellent motivator, but we haven't seen too much of him as an in-game strategist or decision-maker.  It'll be interesting to see.  I could certainly see the Raiders as a potential wild card next year under Pierce.  He's certainly better than McDaniels, and it's good to see Mark Davis learned his lesson.  

Another one that didn't last long.  Yikes.  Pierce was quickly replaced by Pete Carroll, who was also gone after one full season.  Raiders need to find their long term option at coach!  I think the Raiders failed Pierce more than he failed them.

Retrospective Grade: D-

Titans hire Brian Callahan: B
I'm always lukewarm on coaches who have never been head coaches before unless they have an amazing pedigree, but Brian Callahan has a few things going for him.  One, he is the son of a coach and obviously learned a bit from him.  Two, he coordinated one of the league's best offenses in Cincinnati, and even made Jake Browning look decent.  But again, I am skeptical on new coaches, but as far as new coaches go, Callahan is a pretty darn good one.

And we have our third coach who could not complete a second year with the team.  Yikes.  Brian Callahan may have benefited from some nepotism, as his dad, Bob, led the Raiders to the Super Bowl in 2002.  But I think most people know it was a team Bob inherited from Gruden.  And Brian certainly wasn't up for the task in Tennessee.  But again, would any coach have had success?

Retrospective grade: D

Chargers hire Jim Harbaugh: A
Harbaugh has had success wherever he has gone as a head coach.  He went from bowl success with Stanford, to making the Super Bowl with the 49ers, to winning a national title with Michigan.  Next, Super Bowl win with the Chargers?  Hard to be upset with this hire unless you're a Chiefs, Raiders, or Broncos fan.  I can't give it an A+ because Harbaugh has been away from the NFL for a few years, and it has changed in that time.  We've seen coaches away from the NFL game struggle on a return *cough* Jon Gruden *cough*.  I doubt it'll be Harbaugh, but that is a possibility.  

Harbaugh so far has led the Chargers to the playoffs twice, but two first-round exits.  Very uninspiring.  But it's impressive considering the reign of the Chiefs and the recent resurgence of the Broncos.  He should've chosen a different division.  I don't think this is an "A" hire anymore, but not too far off.

Retrospective grade: B

Panthers hire Dave Canales: C
I don't know why this hire doesn't sit particularly well with me.  You have to give Canales some credit for helping revive the careers of Geno Smith and Baker Mayfield.  Can he do the same for Bryce Young?  We will see.  Here's the thing: The Seahawks' offense in 2022 and the Buccaneers' offense in 2023 weren't exactly lighting up scoreboards, and had great receiver talent already in place that helped, and both teams barely snuck into the playoffs.  Does Canales get this job if one thing goes wrong for the Hawks in 2022 or the Bucs in 2023 to prevent them from reaching the playoffs?  And he was an OC for only 1 season.  This is a boom or bust hire, so either Canales will join the ranks of McVay, Shanahan, and LeFleur, or he will get fired in a few seasons.  Good luck.  

Oops, read this one kind of wrong.  I think this has been a good hire for the Panthers, as Canales has gotten them from bottom-dweller to a playoff team this year, although they did have a losing record.  Next season will be hugely telling for Canales, whether this team keeps rising or takes a step back.

Retrospective grade: B+

Falcons hire Raheem Morris: D+
I can't wrap my mind around this.  This is a guy who was in the Falcons' organization a bit over 3 years ago, and he was even their interim head coach after they fired Dan Quinn, and they easily could've shed the interim tag and made him full-time.  Instead, they went out and got Arthur Smith, which turned out to be a mistake.  Now they've gone full circle and re-hired Morris.  I just don't get it.  I think Arthur Blank, the Falcons' owner, panicked and hired the guy he was most familiar with.  This is an incredibly safe and low-risk hire.  But I can almost guarantee the Falcons won't do any better than a borderline playoff team under Morris, and possibly a weak division winner if the division sucks (like Tampa Bay this year).  There's no way they'll do better than that.  And more realistically, they'll likely hover around 6-8 wins, just like they did with Smith.

I think I nailed this one.  I knew Raheem wasn't the best choice, and I was right.  Sure, he had some bad luck with Penix's injuries, and he also had to deal with the team drafting a first-round QB after signing Kirk Cousins to a large multi-year deal.  And neither was able to be a long-term starter for them, at least not yet.  The new coach has his work cut out for him at that position, but at least they'll have plenty of weapons with London, Pitts, and of course, Bijan.  

Retrospective grade: D+ (No change)

Seahawks hire Mike Macdonald: A+
A young coach being installed in a place with a support system and decent owners?  That usually works out.  The only time it really hasn't was with Brandon Staley and the Chargers, although you could argue the "decent owner" front.  Let's hope we don't have another Brandon Staley, but something tells me we don't.  I love John Schneider's willingness to go young, and I wonder (we will never likely know) who his plan B would've been.  Macdonald had some amazing defenses in Baltimore, and he made stars out of Kyle Hamilton and Marlon Humphrey.  I think he fits in very well in Seattle, and I, as well as many fans, will be willing to give him time.  I'm betting we'll see a quick turnaround on our defense, but the offense might be a work in progress, depending on who he picks for offensive coordinator.  I fully believe he was chosen due to the success his defense had against the NFC West last season, and JS is hoping he replicates that with the Hawks.

Absolutely nailed this one as well.  Macdonald so far has been an A+ hire.  He instantly got this team competitive on his own terms, and in his second year has gotten them the NFC West title, the #1 seed, and to the NFC Championship.  This wasn't a team that needed a ton of help, and in this year's coaching cycle was probably the best spot for a prospective coach.  We had just gotten stale with Carroll's mantra and the same ol' 9-8 type seasons.  Boy was this a great move.

Retrospective grade: A+ (No change)

Commanders hire Dan Quinn: C-
His defenses have done very well in recent years, and I'll say this: we have seen coaches have success when given a 2nd or 3rd shot.  Look at Pete Carroll and Bill Belichick (although, to be fair, DQ is no Carroll or Belichick).  I can see why Commanders' fans would not be too happy.  But hey, they poached him from a division rival, so DQ is certainly familiar with the opposing offenses in the division.  The key to his success will be the OC hire and if they can get a star quarterback.  Sam Howell is a fairly capable starter, but defensive-minded coaches need star QBs, which Howell is not.  This hiring can end up being a success, but so can all of these.  DQ will need to prove he can win without Kyle Shanahan as his OC.

DQ has had mixed results.  He got them all the way to the NFC Championship game in his first year, but had a very disappointing 2025.  I don't really fault him, however.  He was given an aging roster with several holes, and his star QB was hurt for most of the year.  I expect a bit of a bounce back in 2026.  But so far, not too bad.  Commanders fans need to be patient.  He's a good coach.

Retrospective grade: B-

My Thoughts on the Seahawks moving on from Pete Carroll

 When the Seahawks announced on Wednesday, January 10, 2024, that they were moving off of Pete Carroll as their head coach, I was, to say the least, surprised.  I knew Pete had built something in this organization that had never been seen before: A culture that kept players like Sherm, Kam, Michael Bennett, Cliff Avril, Marshawn Lynch, and others coming back and visiting and lending their expertise to the current Hawks.  Therefore, I really felt that when it was time, Pete would leave on his own terms.  Instead, he was essentially removed as head coach.  Yes, it came across as more mutual, but I'd be willing to bet that had Pete not accepted it, they would have been forced to fire him, and he would not have left on as good of terms.  Instead, he will stay on in an advisory role.  (Supposedly)

I understand why it was done.  I think the main sticking point, the main reason it happened was due to Pete not being able to keep up with the modern game and compete against the younger coaches in the league.  If you listen to his press conferences or interviews, you hear that he wanted so badly for the team to do better in certain areas (like stopping the run), but they couldn't.  And it was not due to lack of talent.  They weren't picking guys off the street or relying upon undrafted free agents.  Also, Pete continued to struggle to come out on top against Kyle Shanahan and Sean McVay's teams.  He had way more experience and was twice their age, but more often than not, the Hawks would come off looking worse in the divisional matchups with their teams.  

The next hire could not be more important.  The Hawks have a lot of young pieces and could easily make a Super Bowl run next season under the right leadership.  Alternatively, the wrong hire could lead to disastrous results where we could see this team head to a larger rebuild, a possible sale of the team, and a very uncertain future.  The wrong hire could set off a chain of events that spell doom for this organization.  But it could also continue the winning culture set forth not only by Pete Carroll but one of his predecessors, Mike Holmgren.  We cannot forget the impact coach Holmgren had, taking a perpetually mediocre team and elevating them to occasional contenders.

Whoever they hire has to be able to enter and immediately command the locker room and garner respect.  I don't think he can be too different from Pete Carroll, but he can't be too similar, either.  If he's too similar, the players will simply think this guy is trying to be the next Pete Carroll and won't respond as well.  However, a coach who is too different will be a bit of a culture shock to players like Geno, Tyler, DK, and Bobby (if he's here) and they won't respond well in that regard, either.  

I don't want to get into the specific candidates out there.  That's either for another post or maybe I'll evaluate each coaching hire once they are all done.  

Honestly, I'm excited.  The Hawks haven't had to actually search for a coach really in my NFL-viewing life.  Jim Mora Jr. was the heir apparent to Mike Holmgren, and Pete Carroll was hired to replace Mora after he became available.  There was never a real thorough process of bringing in multiple coaching candidates for interviews at that time.  I'll be excited to hear who flies in for an interview.  I'm sure some I'll be wishing they don't get the job and some I'll be wishing they do get the job, and some I'll be in-between on.  

Time will tell.  I'll definitely detail my thoughts once the hire is made.  Whoever it is, the 12s will give their full support and hopefully he can keep the Seahawks as consistent contenders.  GO HAWKS.

My initial thoughts of the Survivor 43 and 44 casts

 With the casts of Survivor's 43 and 44 leaking, I thought I'd give about a one or two sentence thought on each player.  It'll be interesting to come back after each of these seasons and see how close my first impressions were.

43:

Cassidy Clark - Definitely a bombshell, I think someone or a group of people will find her intimidating.  Mid-merge boot at best.  

Cody Assenmacher - He seems like he'll be one of the more interesting characters.  I could easily see him getting blindsided and having an all-time great reaction.

Dwight Moore - Could be a finale goat or a forgettable boot.  I'm not sure if we're supposed to get too attached to him.

Elie Scott - Likely targeted for being the next Parvati, as many women have before her.  Can she lower her threat level?  

Geo Bustamante - He looks like he says "Bro" a lot.  I cannot see him winning.  

Jay Jones - Will he be more Rocksroy or more Deshawn?  If he's more Deshawn I could see him doing well.

Jeanine Zheng - My dark horse for the season, she looks smart and mature for her age and I could see a deep run, if she can survive the pre-merge.

Jesse Lopez - My pre-pre-season winner pick.  He got a great confessional in the preview for the season and no pure Latino man has ever won Survivor.  About time to change that.

Justine Brennan - Anything from a very early boot to a possible finale player.  Hard to tell.

Karla Godoy - Her confessional about her willingness to do anything I think is a bad sign... I think she'll do something that'll bite her in the butt.

Lindsay Carmine - Early boot or finale loser.  She's the Chrissy of this season.

Mike Gabler - He'll either be like Mike from 42 or Brad from 41.  For his sake, hopefully the former.

Morriah Young - I love her colorful personality and I can't see anyone disliking her.  She should get fairly far.

Noelle Lambert - We haven't had contestant missing a limb since 21, so it'll be interesting to see how she is viewed.  So that makes predicting her finish very difficult.

Nneka Ejere - Can't see her gelling too well.  Even if she gets in a sizable alliance, I think she'll be towards the bottom.

Owen Knight - I think he'll be a fan favorite, like a smarter Woo.  

Ryan Medrano - This season's Jonathan, likely a mid-merge boot.

Sami Layadi - Early boot or finale goat.  Nineteen-year-olds cannot win.


My EARLY final 3 prediction is Jesse, Janine, and Dwight.  


Now for 44:

Brandon Cottom - I remember when he played for the Seahawks (he never made a final 53-man roster, but was in training camp three straight years).  I'll be rooting for him, and I do think he'll do pretty well, based on his application video I watched.

Bruce Perreault - Another Eric Abraham?  He's not quite as old, but he's definitely a longshot to win.

Carolyn Wiger - Her personality will determine everything, if she survives the pre-merge, and how well she'll fit in an alliance.

Carson Garrett - He should do better than Zach in 42, but his age will work against him.

Claire Rafson - Not much to say, I'd have to see her more, but she could do well.

Danny Massa - Reminds me of Voce from 41, appearance-wise.  If he can survive the merge, he's got a shot.

Frannie Marin - She reminds me of Kelyn from Ghost Island.  Hopefully she won't be as emotional.

Heidi Lagares-Greenblatt - She looks like she's going to want things her way, and that's not a good thing.  

Helen Li - Erika 2.0?  She'll likely be a social/strategic threat at some point.

Jaime Lynne Ruiz - I followed her on TikTok; she has good content.  I hope she does well, too.  I think she could.

Dr. Joshua Wilder - Hard to say how well he'll do... don't have much of a read on him.

Kane Fritzler - No exact age, from Saskatchewan... I have a feeling he'll have a tough time fitting in.

Lauren Harpe - I get Shan vibes from her, but not as assertive, which is a good thing.  She could do well.

Maddy Pomilla - Either a great player or early boot.  No in between.

Matthew Grinstead-Mayle - He will rub someone the wrong way.  Or multiple people.  I can't see him doing too well.

Matt ??? - No picture, age, or occupation, just his name and location of San Francisco.  I get the feeling we're not supposed to get too attached to him (like Rocksroy).

Sarah Wade - She'll be an early merge boot, following in the steps of Sydney, Tori, and Lydia.

Yamil "Yam Yam" Arocho - He's like Ricard, Naseer, and Omar rolled into one person.  Could he have all of their good qualities?  Hopefully.  But if he does, he'll be a huge threat.


It looks like Survivor cast very well again, and I'm looking forward to these seasons.  I might come back after these seasons have aired and see how my first impressions were.  

Initial Thoughts of Seahawks 2022 Schedule

 The Seahawks 2022 schedule just came out, so I thought I'd give my thoughts on it.  I'll go game by game and give at least one thought or comment on each matchup, it's timing/network and sum up our schedule overall at the end.  

Week 1: vs. Denver (MNF)
Well, we might as well get it out of the way week 1!  Russ comes back and I like that we see him early as he may not be fully situated in the Broncos offense.  I think this will be low-scoring.

Week 2: at 49ers
I never like giving the 49ers the advantage, and we'll be playing them on a short week.  Yuck.

Week 3: vs. Falcons
Some nice skill players (Kyle Pitts, DK Metcalf) but no legit QB's to throw to them.  Yawn.

Week 4: at Lions
I worry about this game, actually.  The Lions may be an improved team next season.  

Week 5: at Saints
Three beatable opponents in a row finishes with the Saints.  The best QB the Hawks will see in this time is Jared Goff.  But knowing the Hawks, they'll find a way to lose one or two at least.

Week 6: vs. Cardinals
Let's hope the Cards are in the midst of a rough start like I think they might be.  We could catch them at a great time (for us).

Week 7: at Chargers
I'll be shocked if we win this.  But it'll be fun to watch Justin Herbert.

Week 8: vs. Giants
Takes place the day before Halloween, and the Hawks hope to deliver their fans a treat.

Week 9: at Cardinals
Both Cardinal matchups before week 10 and both before we play the Rams once.  Hopefully the Hawks won't be looking ahead to the following week before playing this one...

Week 10: vs. Tampa Bay in Munich, Germany
Too bad the Hawks couldn't be at home before this game, but oh well.  This was announced a week ago and it should be a game we'll remember for a while.  It will likely be the last time Tom Brady faces the Seahawks.

Week 11: BYE
The NFL was smart to put our BYE next to our trip to Germany.  I like how the team pranked players by showing them schedules where the BYE wasn't anywhere near the trip, haha.

Week 12: vs. Raiders
The Raiders could be in an offensive groove by this point, or missing a key starter to injury.  Either way, I'm not big on our chances.

Week 13: at Rams
We finally play the defending champs in Week 13.  Let's hope the refs don't screw us like they did last year.

Week 14: vs. Panthers
This will either be a Panthers team on the cusp of a wild card or a Panthers team that's out of it.  Let's hope for the latter.

Week 15: vs. 49ers (TNF)
I was hoping to take my girlfriend to a 49ers game, but seeing as they're playing on Thursday, that'll be hard to do.  Let's hope at least the Hawks are somewhat competitive at this point for a national viewing audience.

Week 16: at Chiefs (Saturday)
Can we pencil in an "L" already?  Unless something crazy happens before then, the Hawks won't be headed home on Christmas Eve very happy...

Week 17: vs. Jets
Playing New York on New Year's Day.  I kinda like the sound of that.  Hopefully the Hawks first game in the calendar year of 2023 is a W.

Week 18: vs. Rams
I like how the Hawks play their final two games at home, so if there's any chance they're competing for a playoff spot, they'll be fairly rested (from travel).  Unfortunately, we finish with the Rams, which could be a blessing in disguise, as their playoff seeding may already be determined by this point.

Overall, not a bad schedule.  Only two primetime games (yikes) and only one on a regular network and not a streaming service.  That's what happens when you trade your star quarterback away, I guess.  This must be the first time since we drafted Russell Wilson that we don't have a single Sunday Night Football game.  Crazy.  

Resetting my Expectations for the Seattle Mariners

 Boy, I've talked about the Mariners a lot on here, haven't I?  Just do a search for "Mariners" on this blog, and you'll see what I'm talking about.  I care a lot about them; they're one of my top two favorite sports teams.  I've followed them passionately for almost 25 years, and boy has my loyalty been tested.  The 2022 season is about to begin and there's something this team has that they haven't had too often the last 20 years: Expectations.  This team is expected to improve, succeed, and finally end that now 21-year postseason drought.  But I've learned from past experiences to not get my hopes up too high with the Mariners, because I always seem to be let down.

Honestly, I'm torn.  Part of me wants to be super excited, get behind this team, and stay as optimistic as I can.  However, the other part of me knows if I get too excited and optimistic that I will be let down again, and to be let down after being that optimistic is just heartbreaking.  

One thing that makes me not want to be optimistic is the fact that the Mariners outperformed last season.  They relied upon winning a lot of close games, and when they lost, they lost bad.  They ended up with a -51 run differential, meaning they should have won closer to 76 games than the 90 they ended up with.  I fully expect that run differential to improve, but that doesn't mean their win total will.  Many times in sports, teams regress the year following a season they were "lucky".  It happens in the NFL and it happens in Major League Baseball.  

We will learn a lot from this season.  We will learn if this team will continue to be on the rise or if they take a step back.  We'll learn about Jarred Kelenic, and if he is going to make something of himself or not.  We'll get to see Julio Rodriguez and see what he can do.  If anything, I'm just excited to see new faces and see what this team can do with expectations.  

I'll likely write another blog on the Mariners around the mid-way point of the season, giving my thoughts on the team.  I hope to be writing about the amazing start the Mariners have, how they're leading the AL West, and start envisioning a playoff berth for the first time in 21 years.  Should be fun!

Organized Thoughts about the Russell Wilson Trade

I'm still in shock from the trade that was announced earlier today: Russell Wilson to the Denver Broncos.  It seems like today's a dream that I need to wake up from.  I thought of all the ways I could have put my thoughts into words, and I decided the best way would be to ask myself (and answer) questions regarding this trade and the impact it will have on the future.

Hey there, future Brian here (Nov. 2023).  I thought I'd comment on my takes about this trade now that we've seen 1.5 seasons out of Russ and seen the Seahawks without him.

Who do you think will win this trade in the long run?

Honestly, the Broncos.  Usually, the team that acquires the star player wins the trade.  The times that they don't win the trade are because the star player completely flops on his new team or has off the field issues.  That will not happen with Russell Wilson.  

And given the Seahawks track record for drafting, it's unlikely they'll draft anyone in the next few years that has near the impact that Russ had in Seattle.  And it's unlikely any of the players the Seahawks acquired (Lock, Fant, Harris) will improve their game enough to give the Seahawks an edge.

Yikes!  Well Russ for the most part has "flopped".  And the Seahawks drafting has gotten a lot better in the last couple of years.  We got Charles Cross, Boye Mafe, and Devon Witherspoon out of the draft from those draft picks, among others.  I think the Hawks win this trade now.

How well do you think Russell will do in Denver?

It's hard to say.  I've only ever seen Russell in Seattle.  I don't think he's going to have a crazy amount of success, especially given the division and conference he will play in.  I see him having one, maybe two seasons where he and the Broncos make a legitimate run at a Super Bowl.  But seeing as he will likely command a new contract in a year or two, I don't see the Broncos being able to keep a bunch of talent around him (the problem the Seahawks would have ended up facing).

First off, Russ re-signed with the Broncos before even playing a snap.  Anyway, it's getting harder to see a Super Bowl run from him and the Broncos, especially considering their stiff competition in the AFC.  

What will the Seahawks do at quarterback?

The Seahawks did acquire Drew Lock from the Broncos, but he has been lackluster so far.  He will be given a shot in training camp, but the Hawks will very likely bring another (or two) quarterback in to compete with him.  The Hawks do now have the 9th overall pick, and they could take Kenny Pickett with that selection, or they could wait until next year's draft, when the QB class is supposed to be even better.  

I think the Hawks will acquire a veteran free agent to compete with Lock and try to rely upon the running game in 2022.  

I'm laughing at the idea of the Hawks taking Kenny Pickett with the 9th overall pick last year.  So glad we didn't.  I didn't even mention Geno Smith, who I assumed was leaving and had not re-signed at that point yet.  YIKES again.

Are the players the Seahawks got any good?

Kind of.  As I mentioned, Drew Lock has been lackluster, but was a first round pick who could benefit from a change of scenery.  He's a solid backup at the very least.

Noah Fant is an above average tight end who does a bit of everything pretty well.  He is still young and could develop into one of the better tight ends in the NFC.

Shelby Harris isn't young for an NFL player (30), but he's a borderline pro-bowl defensive lineman who will instantly become a starter and could start for a few seasons.

They've been solid.  Lock hasn't really had much opportunity, but Fant has done well with limited targets.  I wish we'd target him more.  Harris only played one year for us.  

Why did the Hawks trade Wilson?

Was Russ unhappy?  Not really.  But he wasn't the happiest he could be.  Slowly over the past 7-8 years, the Hawks have regressed, particularly on defense and the offensive line.  Russ knew if he had more talent around him, he'd have multiple Super Bowls instead of just the one.  The Hawks front office failed to surround him with even an average offensive line in the last 5-7 seasons and the defense has regressed every year in the past five.  

But the reason the Hawks traded Wilson largely comes down to money.  He had two more years left on his contract, and the rate for a top-flight quarterback was getting extremely steep.  We saw Aaron Rodgers just re-sign with the Packers for $50 million a year.  Russell would have commanded just as much if not more.  I'm not sure if the Hawks currently have the room for that, but they certainly don't have room to keep all of their stars AND Russ.  

Unfortunately, the NFL is a business.  The Hawks, realizing that they were sinking millions into Wilson and not getting championships, decided to cut their losses.  Wilson, essentially, was a sunk cost.  He was a part of a business that was requiring too much money, and the Seahawks decided to trade or "sell" their asset and start over.  I understand the move from a business perspective, but the problem I also see is that Wilson is more than an "asset".  12s everywhere had emotional ties to him, and trading him is more than selling an asset.

I also want to say that I bet Pete, John, Shane, and the rest probably saw the start of Russ regressing.  I think they figured he would not be able to retain his level of play into his mid to late 30's.  They really traded him at the perfect time, because I bet his 2022 season in Seattle, had he not been traded, would not have gone well.

Do the Hawks even have a chance of winning in the near future?

I mean, any team theoretically does.  But the Hawks chances did get slimmer.  The offseason is still very young, and we will have to wait and see what Pete and John do the rest of this offseason, particularly at the quarterback spot.  If they can get a quick fix at the quarterback position, there's hope.  

I'm leaning towards the Hawks not trying too hard to win in 2022 (also known as "tanking") and try to get a high draft pick in 2023 to use on a quarterback.  If Schneider wheels and deals effectively enough, the Hawks could go through a re-build in just a couple years.  They have a lot of trade-able assets that they could get even more draft capital from.  

YIKES again.  Actually, our chances got better in 2022 and we made the playoffs.  We might make it again in 2023.  I keep thinking the Hawks are going to draft a quarterback, when they really don't need to.  Even if Geno gets hurt or struggles, we have Lock, who is at least capable.

What will happen to Pete Carroll?  Is he going to stick it out much longer?

Hard to say as I can't read his mind, but given that he's the oldest coach in the league, he has to be thinking of retirement as a possibility after every season.  He does have the most youthful energy of any coach in their 60s or older, to say the least.

Pete had to have been in on the discussions with Schneider on the trade of Wilson.  And he's likely already thought of how trading Wilson affects his future.  

Don't forget that 2021 was the hardest of Carroll's Seahawks career, and it might depend on how 2022 goes to see if he will even coach one more season after that.  

Pete obviously knew he had a good chunk of years left.  He's found the fountain of youth, at least concerning his energy.  I think he'll coach until he feels he can't summon the energy anymore, which could be into his mid-70s if not late 70s.  

How can John Schneider save his reputation now?  Is there any way his tenure with the Hawks has a happy ending?

If Schneider is in this for the long run, there's definitely a chance.  And if he's in it for the long run, he will likely be tasked with finding Carroll's successor and using this draft capital he just acquired effectively.  

If he can never recover and build the Seahawks into a perennial playoff team like they were with Wilson, he will not have a happy ending.  He would then likely leave the team with many Hawks fans holding resentment towards him stemming back to this trade.  

We can't also forget the Jimmy Graham and Jamal Adams trades, two trades he made that at this point we can safely call failures.  He risked draft capital for star players, and it hurt the Hawks. 

Now he's done the opposite, trading a star player for draft capital.  If he can use that draft capital successfully, that will help the Hawks immensely in the coming years and he could save face and leave with his head held high.  It's all on him.

I think I can say the Wilson trade makes up for the lackluster trades of the past like Harvin, Graham, and Adams.  Schneider's reputation is fine, and whenever he leaves, he'll likely leave having been the most successful front office executive in team history.

What about the rest of the players on the Hawks?  One, are they at risk of being traded, and two, are their morales hurt after this trade?

To answer the first question, it depends on if the Hawks are fully rebuilding or not.  If they are, then one could argue any of them are at risk of being traded.  If Russ can be traded, anyone can.  

To answer the second question, they likely will feel a sting from this, but if Schneider brings in a respectable leader at the quarterback position, morale may not take too big of a hit.  But the ones that have been with Russ the longest (Bobby, Tyler) will certainly not feel the same anymore.

Turns out, Geno's leadership abilities are more than enough.  No one else was really at risk of being traded since they weren't tanking.  

How will we look back on this trade?

It will depend on the outcome for the two teams in the coming years.  I'll go through all four scenarios:

If the Broncos and Hawks both find success in the coming years, it'll be a win-win.  Schneider and the Broncos will both be heralded for the trade, as it will have seemed that Russell Wilson just needed a fresh start, and the Hawks were handicapped by his immense salary.

If the Broncos have success but the Hawks do not, the Broncos will be heavily lauded for the move, and Schneider and the Hawks will be ridiculed.  Everyone will realize that trading star quarterbacks is almost never a wise move, and the Hawks were foolish to do so, even if it saved them money.  Schneider will go down in Seahawks infamy.

If the Seahawks have success but the Broncos do not, Schneider will be considered a genius.  He would have gotten out of an even larger contract with Wilson and would have managed to rebuild the Hawks once again.  Meanwhile, Russ will be looked at the guy that won a Super Bowl while having the Legion of Boom, but couldn't at any point after, definitely lowering his legend status.  

If neither team finds success, the trade will be looked it as a push.  The Broncos will be thought of poorly for mortgaging their future for a QB that couldn't even get back to the NFC championship game after 2014-15, and the Hawks will look bad as well for having traded their star quarterback for a bunch of okay players and draft capital.  

Ultimately, this trade is going to take time.  Time to figure out who won the trade, but first off, time to digest and comprehend what has really happened: that Russell Wilson is no longer a Seahawk.

I think right now the option of the Seahawks having success but the Broncos not is the option we have in reality.  Russ is starting to maybe look like a QB that won a Super Bowl with a legendary defense, but that's it.  Brad Johnson and Trent Dilfer also did that.  

Some Mariners Thoughts

With the shortened season thanks to COVID-19, I didn't really make a MLB or Mariners prediction post.  Actually, I did, but I deleted it after realizing the playoff format had changed, plus the MLB season was in jeopardy at that point.  

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).  

My Thoughts on the Jamal Adams Trade

The Seahawks recently acquired safety Jamal Adams from the Jets in exchange for two first round picks, a third round pick, and Bradley McDougald.  I have very mixed thoughts on this trade, with my gut telling me we will regret this trade down the line.  I hate that the Hawks basically mortgaged their future just to upgrade at a position, and a position that's not even one of the most important, like quarterback, offensive line, or pass rusher.  

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.

My Reviews of 2019 Movies

Hard to believe, but I saw 29 movies released in 2019 and 24 of them in theaters.  I think it was perhaps the best year for cinema ever.  Of course, if you haven't seen any of these films, this is your spoiler warning.  If you get to a film you're still planning on seeing don't read my review for it.  

Glass - 6.5/10
I don't know what it was.  It felt like it was missing something.  Or maybe I expected a movie with all three supernatural beings to be more exciting.  It kept me entertained, but that's about all I can say.  It was well acted by the big 3 of Jackson, Willis, and McAvoy, but that’s one of the few good things about it.

The Upside - 7.5/10
I definitely enjoyed this flick, but I wasn't really ever wowed by it.  Everything was pretty much expected from what I saw in the trailer.  Bryan Cranston was perfect as billionaire Phillip DeCasse.  Kevin Hart was believable as the ex-con father.  Kind of hard to believe Phillip would hire an ex-con to take care of him.  But Kevin and Bryan had great on-screen chemistry. 

How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World - 6.0/10
I can't explain it, but I just lost interest in this series as it went along.  The first one I really enjoyed, and the second one was okay, but I didn't enjoy quite as much.  This one was very meh.  The villain was so stereotypical and predictable.  I just lost interest at times.

The Lego Movie 2 - 5.5/10
I honestly didn't care for this one.  I think the magic of the first one didn't pass on to this one.  Also, I got spoiled a bit that Rex was Emmet because I saw Chris Pratt voiced both characters.  Oops.  Anyway, I didn't really see this film as necessary, although it did have some nice moments and I loved some of the voice casting.  Also they kind of copied Toy Story with the LEGO characters acting like sentient beings that could move.

Fighting with My Family - 7/10
It was fun and enjoyable, although a tad predictable.  I wish the brother had been able to advance as a wrestler, but seeing as this is based on a true story, they couldn’t make stuff up.  I fell in love with Florence Pugh’s portrayal of Saraya.  She did an amazing job and looked good while doing it.  Lena Headey and Nick Frost weren’t really believable as a married couple, but they somehow sort of made it work.

Dumbo - 7/10
Very cute and heartwarming.  Believable?  No.  But neither is a flying elephant.  The part that made me cringe was Michael Keaton's character basically destroying his own park's operations to try to get things under control.  It just made no sense.  The kid actors did a really good job.  Not my favorite Disney live action adaptation, but it certainly could've been worse.

Captain Marvel - 8/10
I'm torn with this one.  On one hand, Brie Larson killed at as Carol Danvers/Captain Marvel.  On the other hand, I didn't really understand the mythos behind where she came from and how she lost her memories.  There were some parts that were too out there for me.  But I still enjoyed it as a whole.  And having Nick Fury lose his eye the way he did… too funny.

Us - 8.5/10
What Get Out lacked in violence this makes up for it in.  However, that doesn't mean it was better than Get Out.  The family we follow predictably makes some questionable choices.  And the twist was pretty obvious.  If Get Out had never happened, I think this would be a bit better received because people wouldn't have Get Out to compare it to.  But still it was thrilling, suspenseful, and captivating.

Avengers: Endgame - 10/10
This (slowly) became the biggest box office hit of all time, so I had to rate it high. It was everything I hoped for.  The only thing I wished for was that Spider-Man, Star Lord, and all the snapped Avengers appeared sooner.  But I totally understand why they didn't.  The Avengers saga was finished by all of the original Avengers.  My favorite moment by far was after all the Avengers appeared, Steve got Thor's Mjolnir, and he said his famous line: "Avengers... Assemble."  That gave me some of the biggest chills I have EVER experienced watching a movie.  And Captain Marvel's re-entrance was a close second.

Shazam! - 7.5/10
D.C. finally puts out a light-hearted and funny superhero film.  It didn't make me laugh as much I was hoping, probably because most of the funny moments were in the trailers.  Zachary Levi was an absolute perfect casting choice for Shazam.  There hasn't been a sequel announced yet, but they sure set up for one with the post-credits scene.  I hope they have a sequel and include an actual D.C. superhero to join Shazam.

Pet Sematary - 6.5/10
First off I wasn't a huge fan of the changes they made from the book: Most notably being Gage surviving and Ellie dying.  I wasn't a huge fan of Jason Clarke as Louis Creed, either.  He's not a bad actor, just not someone who I think fits the role.  And Lithgow, while a good actor himself, isn't 80+ years old like the book describes Jud Crandall as.  Despite all that, the movie was still enjoyable and thrilling.  It captured a lot of the same elements and feelings the book had.  However, I think the original film adaptation was a bit better at staying true to the book.

Aladdin - 8/10
One of the more enjoyable Disney live action adaptations.  Will Smith was surprisingly good and put his own take on the Genie.  Mena Massoud was very believable as Aladdin and did his singing parts well.  My biggest gripe with Aladdin was Jafar.  He sounded and looked almost nothing like the original.  He did, however, capture the evilness of Jafar, I'll give him that.  Also the climax/ending seemed a bit rushed.  It was definitely more suspenseful in the original animated version.  I did love how Genie introduced the story and then we find out he had kids with Jasmine's handmaiden.  Very cool addition.

Rocketman - 8.5/10
If Taron Egerton doesn't win awards for his portrayal of Sir Elton John, I'll be shocked and flabbergasted (He won a Golden Globe, at least).  Aside from Egerton, I still really enjoyed the film.  I learned a lot about "Reginald's" upbringing.  Richard Madden did a fantastic job.  And I like how they had Taron do his own versions of Elton's songs.  They were still very catchy and enjoyable.  My favorite would probably be "I'm Still Standing", the song done at the end.

John Wick Chapter 3: Parabellum - 8/10
I'll start out by saying John kicked ass with Halle Berry's character Sofia.  That scene with the two of them and her dogs was easily the highlight.  It's unfortunate she wasn't in the film at the end.  Of course the scene that was hard to watch was John having to cut off his own finger... ouch.  He is one tough motherf***er.  My favorite kill of John's would have to be the giant guy towards the beginning who he killed with just a book.  Either that or the horse kicking the one guy.  What'll he kill someone with next?  And then the ending... how the hell did John survive being shot and falling that far?  But it makes me excited for Chapter 4 for sure.

Godzilla: King of the Monsters - 6/10
These Godzilla films just aren't doing it for me.  I found my believability in the film waning a lot.  I was entertained for most of the film, but I was never really wowed.  Millie Bobby Brown was great, but her character wasn't that well written.  I also didn't like how her dad played by Kyle Chandler basically become the decision maker when it came to Godzilla, yet he had no official rank or position. 

Detective Pikachu - 7.5/10
Never did I think we'd ever see a live action Pokemon movie.  First off I thought Justice Smith did a great job in the lead role.  But my favorite was of course Ryan Reynolds as Pikachu.  He was hilarious as usual.  And I saw him being Tim's (Justice Smith) father from a mile away.  Bill Nighy was predictably cast as the villain.  I would definitely watch this again on a rainy day.

Toy Story 4 - 8.5/10
The toys get separated and have to work and scheme to make their way back to each other.  Sound familiar?  This time it's Woody going after Bonnie's new favorite toy "Forky".  I mean you could make a hundred Toy Story films with the same general plot.  But I liked the additions of the new toys.  And they did such a great job of turning Gabby Gabby from a villain to a toy to root for.  I actually got tears in my eyes when she was accepted by that little girl and her family.  The main gripe I have is that Woody was separated from all the other toys.  Maybe they're setting up for Toy Story 5.  We'll see.

Yesterday  - 7.5/10
So Earth experiences a worldwide flash/loss of power and a British-born Indian fellow named Jack Malik is one of a few people who remembers the Beatles.  It's an interesting premise, but never really explained.  I did really like Himesh Patel's performance; both his singing and acting were great.  It was also funnier than I thought it would be with Joel Fry's character of Rocky providing most of the comic relief.  Lily James was as lovely as ever.  When Jack went to visit one of the Beatles, I so wish Paul McCartney was going to make a cameo appearance.  Instead, they cast an actor to play John Lennon.  Oh well.  Still a very enjoyable film, despite its lack of believability.

The Lion King - 8.5/10
Say what you want, I loved it.  It was well cast, my favorite being Billy Eichner as Timon.  I just didn't really like Chiwetel Ejiofor as Scar.  Apparently Jeremy Irons was willing to reprise his role of Scar (just like James Earl Jones reprised his role as Mufasa), so why not let him?  Anyway, the film didn't deviate too much from the animated original which I liked.  I liked the new hyenas, and they stayed true to actual hyenas by having female be the leader and the biggest which is true in real life.  The thing that made this film was the chemistry between Eichner, Seth Rogen,  and Donald Glover.  They really did seem like old friends.

Spider-Man: Far From Home - 9/10
Best standalone superhero movie I've seen in years.  Jake Gyllenhaal's character being the bad guy was pretty obvious, but the film was entertaining from start to finish.  Tom Holland again absolutely KILLED it as Peter Parker/Spider-Man and even Zendaya did a great job as MJ.  I loved the illusions Mysterio made Spider-Man see and how Spider-Man had to fight against it to finally beat him.  And then the post-credits scene... biggest jaw dropper of a post credits scene I’ve ever scene.

Once Upon a Time in Hollywood - 8.5/10
Boy I sure could tell this was a Tarantino flick.  DiCaprio was awesome, but Brad Pitt may have been even better.  Could Pitt get a supporting actor nomination?  I could definitely see it (He did).  This film was quite drawn out and long, as are many Tarantino films, but sometimes I wondered why certain scenes and dialogue was in there.  But at the end it sure had a great climax and surprisingly for a Tarantino film, had a happy ending.  At first I didn’t like how he basically “rewrote history”, but after contemplating on it for a bit, I’m glad he did.

Fast & Furious Presents: Hobbs & Shaw - 8/10
I can see why they made this F&F spinoff film.  Johnson and Statham have great chemistry.  Throw in Kirby and that threesome really gelled well together.  Idris Elba was awesome as the villain and seemed unbeatable.  It was also surprisingly funny.  I didn't like how they had to force the romance between Hobbs and Hattie (Kirby).  Didn't seem natural.  Another thing that bugged me was how it was portrayed Deckard Shaw was only a few years older than his sister Hattie, when in reality Statham is over TWENTY years older than Vanessa Kirby.  I guess Statham just ages really well, but I wish they had been portrayed as further apart in age.  Nonetheless, I really enjoyed this film and I loved how they showed Hobbs' Samoan roots.

Angel Has Fallen - 7/10
Hard to say which film in the "Has Fallen" series is best, but Angel Has Fallen may be it.  It was enjoyable throughout, and Nick Nolte as Mike's father was a nice addition.  I didn't like how they recast Mike's wife, Leah.  Also this marks the second straight in the series a black female authority figure dies.  I liked Morgan Freeman as the president, and Tim Blake Nelson as the deceitful and villainous VP.  Lastly, the premise of this movie is timid at best.  Why wouldn't the FBI at least give Mike a chance that he was set up?  Hasn't he proven his integrity and worth time and time again?  Other than that, solid film. 

It : Chapter Two - 7.5/10
This film was a mixed bag.  There were parts I liked and parts I didn't.  I don't think it was as good as its predecessor.  I really liked the scene at the Chinese restaurant and how they imagined everything transforming and trying to hurt them.  I didn't like the end and how they tried to get back to Pennywise.  I lost interest.  The ending in how they defeated Pennywise was a bit underwhelming.  I will say they cast very well for the most part, and the actors did a pretty decent job.

Joker - 9.5/10
Holy shit.  Excuse my language, but this movie stunned me.  I should've seen some things coming, but I didn't.  I tried not to predict what would happen or think too much during the film, and I'm glad I did.  If there ever were a film based on a comic book that showed how some fairly normal person can turn into a murdering lunatic, this is it.  Joaquin Phoenix was absolutely tremendous, and it certainly was the best acting I've ever seen from him.  He should at least be nominated for an Oscar.  Will they make a sequel?  They might just have to.

The Addams Family - 6.5/10
Honestly, it wasn't bad.  But there were too many moments that were eye roll-inducing.  The pink house being the worst.  I don't know why this had to be made, and I don't know how they already have a sequel in the works.  I liked the voice casting choices and they all did a great job.  Writing?  Meh at best.

Doctor Sleep - 7.5/10
This film was so close to being a lot better.  Ewan McGregor was a decent choice for Danny, but the original Danny had brown eyes and they had to change that... Anyway, the villains weren't too compelling and Rebecca Ferguson's "Rosie" character--what was her power again?  But it kept me entertained which isn't easy to do for a 2 and a half hour movie.

Knives Out - 9/10
A great murder mystery film.  The set-up was great, and I was able to keep track of (most of) the characters and their ties to the family.  I thought Ana De Armas was perfect as the caretaker that we could root for.  Chris Evans proved he can go from a hero to basically being the villain.  I think this is a film that requires a rewatch just so you can see everyone’s motives again and better understand the choices they make.  Daniel Craig’s southern accent wasn’t bad, but I’m so used to hearing his British one that it was a bit of a distraction.

Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker - 7.0/10
I hate rating a Star Wars movie less than 8/10, but “The Rise of Skywalker” doesn’t deserve it.  There are too many things that, upon reflection, bother me about the film and the way the “Skywalker Saga” concluded.  Rey being Palpatine’s granddaughter is probably worse than being a nobody.  I liked the idea that a girl (or anyone) doesn’t have to have special parents (or ancestors) to be a special person themselves.  The Chewbacca red herring was unnecessary.  What did BB-8 do, again?  Oh yeah, he helped with Rey’s training… at the beginning.  And I do not like how you can now transport matter using the Force, although that was technically introduced in The Last Jedi.  And I don’t like how you can Force heal anyone.  Makes me wonder why it wasn’t a necessary part of Jedi training and why Obi-Wan didn’t use it to save Qui-Gon, or why Anakin didn’t use it to save his mother.  Sometimes introducing plot devices in a series creates plot holes for the other films.  JJ started out the sequel trilogy pretty great with The Force Awakens, but he finished it rather lamely with this one.

Well, that was all the films I saw in 2019!  I don’t think I’ll see quite as many in 2020.  One, because I don’t think there’s as many films coming out that I want to see, and two, because I’m going to try to save a bit more money, and constantly going to the theaters to see films adds up.  But if it’s a special film that I will enjoy, then it’s worth it.  But I will definitely be more selective here in 2020.  Check my other post here to see what films I’m looking forward to in 2020.

My Hopes and Thoughts for 2020

The year 2019 was definitely interesting for me.  I got a new job, I helped my parents move out of my childhood home and into their new home, and our apartment complex underwent renovations (on the outside--roof, windows).  The last year of the 2010s was a memorable one for me, and I'm thinking 2020 will be just as memorable.  I will discuss my thoughts and hopes for the upcoming year, from my personal to professional life.

I cannot state this enough: I need to lose weight.  I don't consider myself obese, but overweight, yes.  I am not expecting this to happen overnight or even over just one month.  I think it may take close to all year.  But I am going to put my mind to it.  I need to find some way to work out fairly consistently, and start planning lighter and healthier meals.  I'd like to lose 50 pounds over the course of next year, which would be an incredible amount, but I'd even be happy with 20-30.  I do not have a set plan yet, but I am going to give myself goals and rewards for reaching weight milestones.  For example, I cannot eat one of my favorite (unhealthy) foods until I've lost 20 pounds.  I will continue to make choices which involve more exercise, such as taking the stairs instead of the escalator/elevator, and eating the healthier option if I eat out.  I just don't like my self-image very much right now; and I know if I got back to the shape I was in in my early 20's, I would be so much more confident and happier.

Professionally, I don't know if I necessarily want to change jobs (already), but I will keep my options open.  I will continue to look at jobs, and if one pops up that I think would be a really good fit for me, I may go for it.  I do like where I am now, but it's not a job that someone stays at for years and years.  I also want to make a bit more money.  I will probably go back on some of the job sites (Indeed, ZipRecruiter) and opt-in to the e-mails again so that I can see what's out there.

I want to travel in 2020 for sure.  It may not be until the summer or even Christmas season, but I don't think I've flown to California in three or four years.  I haven't seen Amanda's family in that long, either.  I will do my best to get some time off to go with her somewhere, whether that be in the summer or for Christmas.  Christmas falls on a Friday next year, so it would be a great opportunity to get a three day weekend and travel to see her family.  Which reminds me, I also will have to either get my first ever passport or an enhanced driver's license.  I also want to see a Seahawks game next year; I saw one in 2018 but not this year.  I want to take Amanda to one in 2020, as she's only seen one Seahawk game, and that was in 2011. 

Next year will also be big for news.  We're going to have a presidential election in November, and hopefully get a new president.  The 2020 Summer Olympics will happen in Tokyo.  There are other things, but let's not forget it's also the first year of a new decade.  Also, when before some people were starting the current year "Two thousand-", they now almost all will start calling the year "Twenty-Twenty".  Not many people are going to say "Year Two-Thousand Twenty".  They'll say "Twenty-Twenty".

There are a couple other things that might happen in 2020, but I am not entirely sure.  I may get a new car, but that could wait until 2021 or later.  I may get a new computer, as my current one is having issues, as it is pretty old (around a decade old) and runs Windows Vista.  But I also want to build up my savings next year after the hit it took this year.  There are a couple other big things that might happen in 2020, but are personal to me, and I'll share them on here if they do end up happening.

I am excited for 2020 and what it brings.  I'm very curious to see how much my life changes in the next year.  I am really hoping for an improved me by this time next year.  I know that sounds all very cliche, but it's very true for me.  I am going to be that 2020 will be a significant year in my life, even more so than 2019 was.

Star Wars: Rise of Skywalker Thoughts/Review

I have now seen the final film in the Skywalker saga of Star Wars films.  Honestly, I'm pretty bummed it's over and there won't be another.  We won't ever see Luke, Han, Leia, or Lando again; at least not played by their respective actors and not in a Star Wars episodic film.  However, the final film tied up the saga, but the question is, did it do it well?  In my opinion, it did.  It answered a bunch of questions, had drama, and kept me entertained throughout.  Also, from here on out there will be spoilers, so you have been warned.

I have to admit I read some reviews of The Rise of Skywalker before seeing it, and most of what I saw was pretty negative.  One person even called it the "worst Star Wars film".  No way is TROS the worst Star Wars film, but it is not without its faults.  I want to get these out of the way first.  This is not a perfect film, or even excellent.  I think this film is going to divide fans for a long time.  It currently has a 6.9 rating on IMDB and a 58% score on Rotten Tomatoes.  I think it was better than what those scores indicate.  But I certainly don't think it was close to perfect.

First off, I had trouble accepting such a light and goodhearted character we've grown to know and love could be descended from someone so despicably evil in Palpatine.  It's nothing against what JJ did, but if this was the direction they were going to take, I would've liked a hint of it in "The Last Jedi".  Another thing I didn't particularly like was how Rey and Kylo could transport matter.  We saw a hint of it in "The Last Jedi" when rainwater from Ahch-To got transported to Kylo's hand far away.  Then, in this film, we had a necklace and a lightsaber be transported from Rey to Kylo.  I just can't wrap my head around it, and it seems like something that should be in Star Trek, not Star Wars.  Also, I've had trouble accepting that Force Ghosts can influence matter as well.  We saw Yoda cause a lightning strike in TLJ, and in TROS we saw Luke block a lightsaber from being thrown into a fire, and we saw him levitate his old X-Wing out of the water.  They're called "ghosts" for a reason.  Heck, if they're going to go that route, they might as well have a Force Ghost army in some Star Wars spin-off TV series or film.  They can't be killed, after all.  Finally, I just did not like the opening space fight scene in the Millennium Falcon.  WAY too many jumpcuts and it was paced WAY too quickly.  Too fast-paced of a scene way too early in the film.  Every film in the original trilogy started out slow, or at least not that intense so soon.  Those were my main four gripes.

Here's what I thought they did well: The handling of Princess Leia.  If I had not known, I would've thought they filmed Leia's/Carrie's scenes especially for this film.  JJ and Chris did a great job of incorporating what they had of Carrie into this film.  And her passing was done very well and tastefully.  I hate that she never really got to see her son, but I think had Carrie not passed away, JJ had it mind to have her meet Kylo/Ben, or at least project herself to him so that she could try to turn him back to the light.  I think they used Harrison Ford/Han Solo in her place.  His scene with Ben mirrored their scene on the bridge in "The Force Awakens", even down to some of the quotes.  This time, instead of Kylo going from confused to dark side, he went from confused to light side.

I also liked Kylo/Ben turning back to the light.  You could tell he was conflicted and when Rey saved his life after stabbing him, he knew he had to be on her side from that point on.  Him going after her on Exegol with as much haste and determination as he had shows he cared about her.  And his sacrifice to her, very touching.  I was hoping he would be able to survive, because how often do you see a redeemed bad guy character that doesn't die?  However, the Skywalker saga had to end and it still technically could continue with Ben still alive.  And to be honest, I was a Rey/Ben shipper so their kiss was definitely something I wanted to see.

Now to go over technical aspects.  To be expected, visual effects and sound were top-notch.  Costumes and makeup were very well done, although I think I noticed Kylo/Ben's scar on his face disappearing, but that could be just it fading over time.  I'd be surprised if TROS didn't get an Oscar nomination for something, with their likeliest nomination probably being visual effects.  Acting was decent; my favorite was Daisy Ridley as Rey.  The writing was less than stellar, but they stayed true to the characters at least.  Perhaps the best was John Williams' score, his last time scoring a Star Wars film.  I always felt the music perfectly suited the scene at the time.

Hard to say if I enjoyed this more than "The Force Awakens".  I know I enjoyed it more than "The Last Jedi".  I definitely want to see it again in theaters.  I wonder if people's second viewings of TROS will make them like it more or less.  Based on how the IMDB rating for this film is going up (It was at 6.8, it's now at 7.0), it seems like people like it more on multiple viewings.  Anyone who knows me knows that I am a huge Star Wars fan, and if I say this is a satisfying conclusion to the Skywalker saga, then it probably is.

My Thoughts on Amanda's Move Up Here

Amanda will be moving up here in about a week, so it's time I give my thoughts on it.  All I can say first off is that it's about time.  We've been in a long distance relationship for four years, and it's about time something happened.  We love each other and we had to see what a regular relationship would be like between us.

The reason she's moving up here and not me moving down there... well there are a few of them.  One, she is more financially able to do the move.  She makes more money per hour than I do.  Two, we agreed that Washington is a much better place to live than California.  Washington's weather is calmer, the people are nicer, and traffic isn't quite as bad (usually).  Also, Amanda is more comfortable here than when I am in California. 

The move will hopefully happen smoothly.  We will be driving a Pennske truck all the way up I-5 North, about 750 miles worth.  We'll stop in Oregon for one night so we don't put too much strain on ourselves or the truck.  All the while we will be towing her car behind us so she can have it up here.  We've done a long driving trip before, when we drove from the Bay Area all the way to Los Angeles/Anaheim.  This is certainly going to be a taxing trip on both of us, but we both know that in the end, it's worth it.

This is something that I've wanted to have happen for a long time.  I've never even really been in a normal non-long distance relationship.  It will probably take some getting used to and I can't wait for Amanda to adjust to life here and start at our store and make new friends.  I truly feel she will love Washington.  We will of course visit her family whenever we can, perhaps for the Christmas season later this year. 

I can't wait for this to happen, but more importantly, I can't wait for the move and everything to be over.  I can't wait until Amanda' s transfer has fully gone through and she has a job here, and I can't wait until she finds a place that fits her, and I can't wait until she possibly gets a new car.  I will do my best to help her out with each of those.  There will be an adjustment period for us, but we've always adjusted well to new situations. 

I know she's a bit anxious for the move, but to be honest, so am I.  There's a lot of things I'm worried about for her.  I still feel like there are many things that could go wrong.  That's just me though.  I'm a worry-wart.  I know in the end, even if things go wrong, that it will be all right in the end.  Now let's get this move started!  I'm tired of waiting.