Box Office Results - Beyonce

#2 – Hunger Games

#3 Godzilla

New This Week - The Oath / The Cello / The Boy and the Heron / Eileen / Poor Things / Magazine Dream

Barbie - Will premiere on Max December 15th

Will Smith - Will star in I Am Legend 2 with Michael B. Jordan

Nicolas Cage - Says he “Has 3 or 4 movies left in him”

Macaulay Culkin  - Got a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame on Friday.

This Weekend – Check out my Country Music Memory Lane (link)

Also - My 50 Favorites Over 40+ Years This Week #3 (Link)

With Terri Clark coming back the area for a big show early next year, it seemed like a great time to revisit the Memory Lane article I wrote about her a year or two ago.  I've always been a fan, and her voice and music still sound great after all this time.

Let's revisit the amazing Terri Clark!

My Full Profile On Terri Clark

Clint Black  - Walkin' Away  - 1989 - (Album - Killin' Time)

It's from one of the biggest, most successful country albums ever, and you don't hear it much anymore. This was a #1 of course as were all singles from this total masterpiece. You still hear, Killin' Time and Better Man, but somehow this gets lost. Clint Black was a Mega Star and had the absolute right idea in the Neo-traditionalist era.  He led the charge along with Garth, and Alan Jackson and was very important in shaping 90's country in general. He sold millions and packed concert halls, and recorded gems like this. He was unapologetically country and this song is a great example of it.  I was always drawn to his music, as it was traditional, but still had a thump.  It didn't sound dated, it sounded new, but deeply rooted, but it never sounded "old".  He found a sound and it worked for him. There was also a real believe-ability about him that I and millions of others loved too. So let's drop a few coins in and take a listen to the amazing Clint Black and this fantastic song!

My Full Profile On Clint Black - Mega Star Series

#3 - Jake Owen - Startin' With Me - 2006

The first time I heard this song I loved it, and I love it more today than in 2006.  This is a very powerful, adult song that cuts deep.  This struck me right in the middle, as I too have felt there are times in my past I would have made different decisions. But I don't think I'm different than you or most.  Years ago, I learned the benefit of honest self reflection, and it helped me greatly.  I remember telling Jake at the station here years ago when he did a show for us I felt this was one of the best country songs of the last 30 years. This is one of the few songs that can make me tear up slightly, and does most any time I hear it.  This also has the exceedingly rare ability to grow with you and it hits you differently as you go through life's circumstances.  It's about as honest as a song can be. This was very early Jake Owen and that gave this song credibility and him too as it helped us get to know him, letting us way in.  Peaking at #6 on the charts, but pay no mind to that, this is about as good as written country songs get.  As I put this list together, this was one of the first songs I thought of.  Jake is the second artist to appear on my list twice with two in the top 20 (Down To The Honky Tonk #17)  Darius Rucker is the other at #15 and #47.  This is about perfect.

Last Week #4

The weather tells us all that it's winter, or at least cold part of fall.  It's Soup Season too.  I know, I know  -  you make the BEST chicken soup ever, but I have to admit this looks pretty darn good.

Let's give this a go!!

It's SOUP Season - Try This!!

Man, where to begin this week as last week I gave Kevin Stefanski real props on growing up as a head coach. I even said I thought the Seattle loss a few weeks ago woke him up as he about single-handedly blew that game with terrible decision making down the stretch.  Turns out with that loss nothing was really learned last Sunday at Denver, it was twice as bad. I admit, I was far too quick on the praise.

What happened Sunday was simply awful. Terrible play calling, a bad game plan, decision making was ridiculous and the result was horrendous. Not running the ball against the worst run defense in the entire NFL is just stupid.  BTW, running the ball is what his team does best offensively -  by far.  Good backs and high priced and excellent run blocking offensive linemen.  Asking these QB's to throw it 42 times on the road in Denver was just dumb.  And dialing up some backyard razzle-dazzle double reverse handoff, pitch thing with 2 third stringers trying to pull it off in the fourth quarter was just -  beyond boneheaded.  I'm sure he's the butt of many player meetings around the league again this week as that play pretty much blew the game. And it also made us look like bozo's.  It's unforgivable and embarrassing. Who does this stuff?

There were all kinds of calls on social media, "Fire Stefanski now!!" and that type of thing, but I don't buy into that at all right now.  What I would like is for him to LEARN SOMETHING!  These decisions are stuff of amateurs.  The "Fire Stefanski Crowd" is just mad and emotional and I get that.  But firing him just makes us start over and I don't want that, and I don't think they do either.  A new head coach means eventually new staff, new assistants and a new era.  I want the coach to learn what doesn't work and stop it with the ding-dong decisions when it matters! 

We all have people in our lives that "know everything" right?  They project there's nothing new for them to learn, and in my life I have no time for those people. I don't know, maybe Stefanski IS that guy. He's an Ivy Leaguer, maybe he honestly thinks he's the smartest guy in any room.  Maybe he thinks he "knows best."  Maybe he thinks he's just smarter than the rest of the NFL.  I don't know if any of that is true. But I do know this.  We looked Sunday like we were not ready to play, and at times it looked like it was his first game.  And when the game was still in doubt, he made us look like a Blooper Reel of Facebook memes and GIF's that put players in a position to fail that shouldn't be.  I gotta wonder what Schwartz, and Callahan think about this nonsense.  Myles Garrett too, Botonio, veterans trying to win at long last.

With extremely well managed and prepared wins against the Ravens, Steelers and 49ers, I thought coach had finally figured out that with this team, this year, under these very tough circumstances, he found the formula to win buy NOT GETTING IN THE WAY!  Sunday was a major step backwards in decision making. I hope the assistants gave him hell on the ridiculous game plan. And I hope the players did too. Everyone out there busting their humps for beyond bad play calling and backyard trick plays you would draw up in the dirt with Uncle John in the backyard after Thanksgiving dinner, with Aunt Louise and your cousins playing defense. 

So we get another crack at the NFL today as we visit the upstart Rams on the road. And let's hope last Sunday was just a hiccup.  Man, Ya Think Ya Know A Guy.....

GO BROWNS

As we near the top of my 50 Favorites From 40 Years year-long series, here are the songs I featured in November.  I have also included all of the previous months in case you are just jumping on.

This Month

#7 - Strawberry Wine - Deana Carter

#6 - Wichita Lineman - Glen Campbell

#5 - When It Rains It Pours - Luke Combs

#4 - You Lie - Reba McEntire

Previous Months

October

September

August

July

June

May

April

March

February

January

Box Office Results -

#1 Hunger Games

#2 Napoloean

#3 Trolls

Wish - Yet Another Disney disaster 17 Million

New This Week -  Beyonce  /  Godzilla Minus One /  The Shift / Teddy's Christmas  / Saltburn / The Bikeriders

New Godzilla Movie This week - There are 37 Godzilla movies - then this one - and 4 more on the schedule

2013 - Frozen was released to theaters

Jackie Chan - Will Star in a Karate Kid Movie WITH Ralph Machio – next December

T-Swifty - ERA's Tour Movie – Starts Streaming In your home December 13

Bradley Cooper - Says he's open to doing another Hangover movie

Margo Robbie - Says she see's “no reason” for a Barbie Sequel

This Weekend – Check out my Country Music Memory Lane (link)

Also - My 50 Favorites Over 40+ Years This Week #4  (Link)

The Browns are 7-3 and it's no accident.  In total they've played great defense, won at home, and have handled themselves very differently than the past couple seasons.  With winnable games up the road, we are poised to play in the playoffs or make a run at them.  It's been a while since Sunday's have been this much fun in the fall.

I've been hard on Kevin Stefanski and it's been warranted.  But because of recent circumstances he has been forced to handle himself differently on game day.  I have no idea if he's happy about it, but it's sure working.  He has surrounded himself with two of the best assistant coaches in the league.  Defensive genius Jim Schwartz and Offensive Line guru, Bill Callahan. Both former head coaches and both held in the highest esteem around the NFL and they are as needed as any assistants in the league this year.  As much as young head coaches around the NFL who are like Stefanski may not want to admit, these two elements are the backbone of any successful team.  When you're strong on defense and the offensive line, you're competitive.  That's just flat out reality in any era or level of football.

Strangely, the limitations Stefanski is dealing with have made him a far better head coach.  He's finally learned that you just can't chuck the ball all over the yard to win games.  You must do what it takes to win on the day in front of you, and that's finally hitting home.  By being limited, it has made his decision making so much better, as he has finally humbled himself by not trying to reinvent the NFL.  We don't go for every fourth down, or pass up field goals, do stupid razzle dazzle plays of his past, or put players and the team in avoidable situations.  He's understanding the intangibles better too, like the stadium environment, and opponents strengths and ours.  Having faith in your defense makes a lot of things easier. With our current situation, we must win by playing first class defense, and control the line of scrimmage on offense.  Run the ball, and be choosy on the passing game., and not putting your young QB in a position to fail when there are options.  When you do things right, the right thing generally happens. 

I have always believed that building a great defense first  -  makes you competitive when building or rebuilding a team, plus it's easier to assemble.  We didn't think that was important for a few years.   We thought that scoring 100 points a game was the key, but this year around the NFL defense is ruling the day.  I know Stefanski is a good offensive mind, and I'm sure it's been a hard pill to choke down having other coaches position players making all the difference, but winning is all that matters. Win ugly and that's what we are doing.  His famous quote from last year, "No one plays smash mouth football anymore"  is now his bread and butter because that's all we can really do right now.  But give him credit, this season he's gotten himself off the hot seat and has guided his team to this place.

I've also seen more emotion from him this season, and he doesn't appear so aloof and solitary.  I think Schwartz may have a lot to do with that.  Now that there is a proven formula to win, it's up to Stefanski to remain patient and know that he has a path to victory.  I think the Seattle loss made a huge impact on him.  Because his decisions alone blew that game, and something tells me for the first time he may have admitted that to himself on a dark nighttime 5 hour flight home.  Because things have been better on the sidelines ever since.  I don't know how far we can go with our QB situation, but I know we can compete with anyone, and he plays a critical part in it. 

Ironic isn't it?  The limitations that Stefanski is currently being forced to deal with, have somehow made things for the Browns more limitless.

Go Browns!

Today the Browns play the Broncos in Denver and no matter what kind of season the Broncos are having, it's always a tough place to play.  The Browns are built for this with great defense and that should keep them in most any game.  Although, huge kudos to DTR who played well enough to win a big game at home.  But the Browns QB situation is an interesting one.

Lets talk about that for a second.  With Watson missing the rest of this season, it got me thinking about the future of the Browns and his role.  This year Watson showed very little of the great player many claim he was in Houston.  Same goes for last season after he returned from suspension. But there have been flashes of greatness, but most would agree, not enough of them.  A lot has been made of his "lack of reps" in practice and games, and I agree.  It's hard not to play and expect great play from a QB in the NFL.  So we look to next season, using this year and the last two seasons as our historical guide.

If his surgery and rehab goes well and he's cleared to start camp on time this is the scenario.  He will enter the 2024 season having played in only 11 of the last 51 regular season NFL games since 2021.  I'm not beating on him, I'm stating math facts.  Remember, he sat out the entire 2021 season on his own because of his problems with the Texans, and they were glad to let him if you remember.  Then in 2022 he was suspended for 11 games for the massage therapist scandal.  Now this year, it's a pair of shoulder injuries that have him missing the balance of this season.  You can't help injuries, no one can fault him for that. But things could have handled very differently by him in 2021 and 2022. 

Watson is 28 years old and has 3 more years on his contract.  So we have to ask, if the lack of reps and rust that he has been shaking off for the past 1.5 years, will it continue next season?  Very possibly, that's been his track record.  So if he's healthy, stays healthy, gets on the field, by about 6 games into the schedule NEXT season, should we see the old Watson?  That's about the best outcome with his own history being our guide.  If that ends up being true, his 235 million dollar contract will be about half over.

The contract Watson signed will follow and dog him here forever.  Being honest, I personally couldn't care less about his money, the contract is not a factor to me.  But for many the only thing that will take away that bad taste is a Superbowl WIN!  Fans here are living paycheck to paycheck, they spend big money to watch the Browns and many are not happy with Watson and his Bezos-sized bank account, then watching him sit yet again. 

But Watson is in a position of his own volition.  Again facts, he sat out 2021 out of personal anger.  He sat out most of 2022 because of personal bad behavior and now he's injured.  It's fair to remember, he had zero interest in playing here until "fully guaranteed" showed up.

That single decision, by the BROWNS and not him, will dog the Browns for years, as other owners are still ticked off and will be in zero hurry to help us out with trades or transactions.  So we put faith in a great defense to keep us in the fray as we make a playoff push without the guy acquired to lead it.  It's also fair to point out the Texans used the Browns front office to put on a clinic on how to rebuild a franchise that was in shambles.  And they get to do it one more time in 2024 as the trade will finally conclude.

Is the trade a bust?  I honestly feel no one can say yes or no yet.  Being fair, the final answer will come at the end of 2026. 

GO BROWNS!