Sci-Fi History: The Jetsons (1962)

Hanna-Barbera followed up The Flintsones with a space age version of the prehistoric show. The original show ran from 1962-1987. It was set in 2062 and featured high-rise apartments, robots, flying cars, 20 hour work week, and an automated world. The theme song became a hit in the 60s and many people longed for the tech. Around 2000, many people wondered aloud where the flying cars were.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FyinD6ZDqeg

Michigan Games of the Decade for the Aughts #21-25

21. Red Wings: 2 Flames: 1 (2OT) (April 22, 2007): The Red Wings knock off the Flames in double overtime and win the first round playoff series. Johan Frazen scored the winner. In Game 5, Flames goalie Jamie McLennan slashed Frazen in the stomach. He was suspended, but Frazen got revenge by eliminating Calgary. Silly Canadians!

22. Indiana: 97 Pistons: 82 (November 19, 2004): The Malice at the Palace. The game itself was not memorable. However, Ron Artest started a brawl. Pacers players attacked fans and fans tried fighting Pacers players. One of the crazier incidents we will ever see. Somehow Detroit got the blame for that idiot Artest's actions.

23. AL: 7 NL: 5 (July 12, 2005): Detroit hosted the MLB All Star Game. AL won in a ho-hum game.

24. Spurs: 96 Pistons: 95 (OT) (June 19, 2005): Game 5 NBA Finals. The first four games were blowouts. Detroit had this and then Sheed missed his assignment. Horry scores. Pistons lose in 7. That was a turning point in Piston history.

25. Appalachian State: 34 Michigan: 32 (September 1, 2007): This might be the most embarrassing loss in Division 1 history. Wait...Richrod engineered a loss to a worse team (Toledo) the following year...

Movies of the Decade: The Aughts

Overall, a week decade for movies as Hollywood seems to have run out of ideas. Here is my list of best films for the decade...These are not in any order.

Frost-Nixon

Gran Torino

The Dark Knight

Gladiator

Cinderella Man

Star Trek

The Two Towers

Old School

Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy

Kill Bill Vol 1 & 2

Letters From Iwo Jima

Tool of the Decade: The Aughts

Here are the candidates for Tool of the Decade:

Ron Artest: Artest is the headcase that initiated the Malice at the Palace. This tool goes nuts in Auburn Hills and Detroit gets blamed.

Barry Bonds: He cheated…and he cheated because he was jealous of Sosa and McGwire. Oh yeah, he’s also a racist asshole.

Barry Bonds Fans: They are like the Jonestown cult. Despite overwhelming evidence, they still support this guy, his behavior, and make excuses for him.

Hugo Chavez: I am not sure why this thuggish dictator is so popular amongst the left. His heavy handed dictatorship has destroyed the Venezuelan economy and crushed freedoms. Yet, he is popular in American leftist circles.

Paris Hilton, Lindsay Lohan, Britney Spears: Talentless people that are famous for their trashy public behavior.

Perez Hilton: A minor annoyance to be sure. Just when you thought celebrity stalking could not get worse, enter Hilton, TMZ, and other filth.

Bernie Maddoff: He even bankrupted George Castanza (See Curb Your Enthusiasm).

The Music Industry: They eliminated cassette singles, overpriced CD singles to force people to buy full length albums. This created the download craze which they then started suing over (PR Nightmare). All of this and then came American Idol. If you are good at karaoke, then try out! The end result was a collapse of profits, the industry, and the worst crap to be heard on radio since the early 50s.

Reality TV Stars: Who is worse? The fools on reality TV or the fools that watch reality TV?

Michael Vick: Dog fighting? He should have been hung up by his testicles and given an electric cattle prod up his ass.

Kanye West: Where to start…

The Winner: Barry Bonds and his fans

My Favorite Aught Albums

Overall a weak decade...

Audioslave- Audioslave (2002)

All That You Can’t Leave Behind -U2 (2000)

How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb- U2 (2004)

The Rising- Bruce Springsteen (2002)

Magic- Bruce Springsteen (2007)

American IV: The Man Comes Around -Johnny Cash (2002)

American Idiot-Green Day (2004)

Gladiator Soundtrack (2000)

Welcome Interstate Managers-Fountains of Wayne (2003)

Have a Nice Day- Bon Jovi (2005)

Nostradamus- Judas Priest (2008)

The Aughts Entertainment Awards

Best Song: Hurt-Johnny Cash

Song that Best Reflects the Decade: Boulevard of Broken Dreams-Green Day

Worst Song: You’re Beautiful (James Blunt)

Best Act: U2

Worst Act: Lady Gaga

Worst Band: My Chemical Romance

Worst Trend: Emo

Most Overrated: Jay-Z

Best Album: The Rising: Bruce Springsteen

Best Movie: Gladiator

Best TV Show: Rome (HBO)

Game of the Decade

This came down to two games. Originally, I was going to go with Super Bowl XLII. The undefeated Patriots took on the New York Giants. They led 7-3 at the half and 14-10 with 2:42 to go in the 4th. Tyree makes the catch. Plaxeco catches to go ahead TD. Giants pull a major upset.

Despite being the best Super Bowl ever, the Pats-Giants finished behind Game 7 of the 2001 World Series. The Yankees were playing for New York immediately after 911. They led 3-2 going back to Arizona. The Diamondbacks spanked them in Game 6. The deciding game featured Roger Clemens vs. Curt Schilling. Clemens went 6 1/3 and allowed one run. In the 8th, Alfonso Soriano homered to give the Yanks a 2-1 lead. With 2 out in the 8th, Bob Brenly brought in Randy Johnson to finish the game. The three-time defending World Series Champion Yankees led 2-1 going into the 9th. With the greatest closer ever on the mound, the Diamondbacks rallied to win the game 3-2 on a Luis Gonzalez squib hit. The mighty Yankee Dynasty was ended on that hit. It took the team a decade to recover.

Riffs of the Decade: 2000-2009

Here are the best riffs of the decade. This is one of the few posts I actually had to research! Interestingly, the best known riff of the decade was probably a piano riff. Coldplay's "Clocks" became omnipresent and iconic during the aughts especially when the media needed some background music for a story. The riff is not as important to music as it used to be. Perhaps all the great riffs have been written.

Here are the riffs of the decade:

Kryptonite- 3 Doors Down

Judith- A Perfect Circle

Cochise- Audioslave

Suicide Messiah- Black Label Society

The Pretender- Foo Fighters

Take Me Out- Franz Ferdinand

American Idiot- Green Day

Horseshoes and Hand Grenades- Green Day

Sleep Now in the Fire- Rage Against the Machine

Vertigo- U2

Slither- Velvet Revolver

Seven Nation Army- White Stripes

#99: Foo Fighters

The #99 Greatest Rock Artist ever...
The Foo Fighters: Dave Grohl formed the Foo Fighters after the death of Kurt Cobain and played its first gig at a kegger. Dave Grohl proved to be just as talented, albeit more commercial, as Cobain. Grohl began as Nirvana’s drummer, but is now considered one of rock’s best guitarists and writers. The Foo Fighters are grounded in classic and punk rock and are also the world’s greatest cover band (listen to Baker Street, Band on the Run, Have a Cigar). The term “Foo Fighter” is WWII lingo for a UFO.

Rock Star Moment: Their debut took place at a Keg Party in 1995.

Foo Fighter Essential Albums: The Colour and the Shape (1997)

Foo Fighter’s Top 10:
I’ll Stick Around
Big Me
Monkey Wrench
My Hero
Everlong
Learn to Fly
Breakout
Times Like These
The Pretender
Long Road to Ruin