Black Snake Moan

I was reminded of this film recently because I remembered how hot Christina Ricci is.

Anyway, Black Snake Moan is a really intense, truly unique film starring Christina and Samuel L. Jackson.

It's not recommended viewing for people who have been sexually abused, as there are some pretty vivid flashbacks as seen in this particular clip. It's handled well in the film, however the movie does begin with a sex scene between consenting adults. Probably not a movie for the easily offended.

However, if you like the blues and people trying to get themselves moving in the right direction, you'll dig it.

In other news, Samuel L. Jackson should put out a blues album.

Ice, Ice Jimmy

Just like 'Ice Man' in the classic 1986 Tom Cruise movie Top Gun, aspiring NFL quarterback and former Notre Dame player Jimmy Clausen is ice cold, especially when under duress. He makes few mistakes when under pressure and waits for unsuspecting DBs to slip up or miss a step before capitalizing on their mishaps.

Clausen, who decided to forgo his senior season at Notre Dame for an opportunity at achieving his lifelong dream of playing in the NFL, has faced scrutiny about his personality for years.

Some thought he was too cocky, like Taylor Mays. The former USC star said he thought Clausen was "a little bitch" before he played the Irish QB this past season. This judgement was passed after Mays watched the 2008 Hawaii Bowl highlights where Clausen made an aloha sign after throwing a touchdown pass to Golden Tate. That perception changed after Mays began working out with Clausen while training for the NFL combine.

Others thought he was a poor leader. Todd McShay, self-proclaimed football guru and inexplicably employed by ESPN, has not been shy about his feelings on Clausen's leadership skills. He and Mel Kiper Jr., an actual football guru, debated the subject at length in a segment aired on ESPN before the NFL combine. But former teammates along with Kiper, Jr. have defended Clausen as a strong leader.

No one questions his mechanics, though. As you will see in the ESPN article featured here Clausen meticulously practiced and perfected his throwing mechanics with veritable quarterback genius Steve Clarkson, who has tutored the likes of Ben Roethlisberger, Matt Leinart, J.P. Losman, and Matt Barkley. This will also be a feature article in April 19 issue of ESPN the Magazine.

One question remains - where will Clausen be locked and loaded in the 2010 NFL draft? As ice cold as he is, Clausen likely does not care where he winds up just so long as he gets a chance to play in the pros unlike his brothers.

Jarell Eddie: Future Hokie Star

Jarell Eddie is a 6'7", 210-pound small forward from Concord, NC. He's rated highly by all the recruiting services and is part of an excellent recruiting class coming in next season for Seth Greenberg.

All those player rankings and "star ratings" are nice, but I like to see a kid play before I dub him "the talisman".

For those unfamiliar with the word, talisman is used on occasion by soccer announcers to indicate a special player. It could be defined as, "Something that apparently has magic power" or as, "Anything whose presence exercises a remarkable or powerful influence on human feelings or actions."

After watching this video, Jarell's got the goods folks. Just take a look.

Too High, It's Too High...

I'm still waiting on the Supreme Court to issue its opinion in American Needle Inc. v. NFL. For a review of this case and its possible implications click here

For now though, the best week in sports is enough for me. What other week in the sports calender compares to this one? We've got the Final Four, the Masters (which--North of the Mason-Dixon line--marks the official start to spring), and Opening Day.

Given the theme I'm trying to keep with my posts--the intersection of law and sports--the sheer volume of quality events this week got me doing some looking around the interweb for a story of note.

Couldn't find much with regards to March Madness. The old guard around Augusta National keep things pretty sealed up (Martha Burke is long gone and I'm nearly certain Tiger won't be giving anything away during his Tuesday press conference). That leaves baseball.

The Common Law Origins of the Infield Fly Rule does everything possible to show that legal scholarship need not be stuffy (in fact, it mocks the heck out of it). Along the way, the article does a really nice job at describing one of the most confusing rules in baseball.

If you're looking for a quick read (the article is barely 8 pages) give the article a try (if only for a few hilarious gems in the footnotes).

On a related note, check out this piece in the New York Times describing the relatively consequences of the "The Common Law Origins of the Infield Fly Rule."

R.I.P. Matt James

Tragedy struck the Fighting Irish football program today when incoming recruit Matt James passed away after falling from a third-floor hotel balcony in Panama City, FL. He was days away from his 18th birthday on April 9.

James, a four-star offensive tackle from nationally acclaimed St. Xavier High School in Cincinnati, OH, was a U.S. Army All-American and USA Today first-team All-American. Many projected him as an early starter on the 2010 edition of the Fighting Irish.

Our thoughts and prayers are with the entire James family in this time of need.

Just A Bit Outside

The official start to the baseball season is not until Easter Sunday but that doesn't mean we haven't already gotten into the swing of things here are Stars and Slights.

Major League

Special thanks to long time friend and S&S regular Andy S. for the tip on the highly entertaining Harry Doyle soundboard provided below that helped kick off our pre-season excitement.

For those of you wondering who I am talking about, Harry Doyle was the name donned by longtime Milwaukee Brewers announcer Bob Uecker in the movie Major League. Doyle is an eccentric broadcaster for the atrocious Cleveland Indians in the midst of a resurrection from worst to first in the AL.

Not familiar with the movie? After you're done kicking yourself listen to the sound clips below.

Regular Season Opener

Justin and I are sure to be at odds this Sunday as my beloved Red Sox host his beloved Yankees in what is sure to be one of the more exciting regular season openers for the MLB.

Two of the game's ace pitchers, Boston's Josh Beckett and New York's CC Sabathia, will duel under the lights of Fenway Park.

You can catch the action on ESPN at 8pm EST.

New Home for the Twins

Though it might not be exciting for all baseball fans the Minnesota Twins have a brand new facility in the warehouse district of downtown Minneapolis.

Target Field will host its first regular season opening series against the Red Sox during the week after next. Yours truly will be there Thursday, April 15 to watch the Sox battle the Twins at 12:15p CST.

I will be sure to document the day and stadium accordingly but here is a link to all the information you will ever need to know about Target Field.