Amazon to Offer Fans More Options on Thursday Night Football Stream

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Most viewers who tune into tonight’s Thursday Night Football game between the Minnesota Vikings and the LA Rams will hear the familiar broadcast combo of Joe Buck and Troy Aikman on FOX. Amazon Prime, which has streaming rights for TNF this season, will also offer the broadcast combo of Buck and Aikman. However, Amazon Prime will also offer three additional audio options for fans. Those options will include the Andrea Kremer and Hannah Storm broadcast, a Spanish-language broadcast and a United Kingdom broadcast.

This is a great move by Amazon. In addition to hiring the first all-female NFL broadcast duo, Amazon is offering fans more content and more options. It’s also part of a recent trend in sports broadcasting that deemphasizes the role of a typical play-by-play broadcaster.

In an interview with The New York Times, Storm said “if you had to, you would say that I was doing play-by-play and Andrea is doing analysis, but I don’t think that you should be thinking of this in typical terms of the way that a broadcast is done.” This concept should be familiar to Patriots fans, as the Patriots have gone a similar route for their preseason games recently. On television in 2017 and radio in 2018 Dan Roche was technically the play-by-play person, but the focus was more on the conversation about the team rather than the typical play-by-play. The concept has also been used by TNT for some of its NBA coverage on Players Only broadcasts which featured only former players and no traditional play-by-play person.

This style may not be for everyone, but it is fair to at least ask the question, “Why do we still broadcast games the way Vin Scully did them 70 years ago?” Scully may be the best of all time, but with the box score in my hand on my iPhone why do I need a traffic cop on the broadcast to tell me the score every 90 seconds?

I don’t know if Amazon’s announcement will result in a spike of Amazon Prime subscriptions before tonight’s game but, as someone who already subscribes to Amazon Prime, I will definitely check out the Kremer/Storm broadcast tonight. I will also be checking out the United Kingdom broadcast. I can’t wait to see how the Brits describe some bone-crushing hits.

 

Matt Reeves Batman Movie Script is In! But Who’s Playing Bruce Wayne?

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Photo credit: DarkKnightNews.com

This week, we received word that DC’s next Batman movie – which will be titled The Batman – has officially been written and submitted for approval to Warner Bros. And apparently, it’s a hit:

Well that’s a good start!

Even though there hasn’t been even one detail released about the actual story line, writer/director Matt Reeves – known for helming such movies as Cloverfield and two of the most recent Planet of the Apes films – does apparently have a refined and impassioned vision for the film.

As far back as last year, Reeves let us know that this movie will focus much more so on the psyche of Bruce Wayne and the inner turmoil he faces each day, as opposed to the overplayed “good guy vs. bad guy” cookie-cutter approach we see in virtually all superhero movies. That is not to say that the Caped Crusader isn’t going to have to swoop in and save the day at some point – after all, it’s still freakin’ Batman – but it seems as though we’re going to get a bit more insight into the man behind the mask in this one.

As reported yesterday by CinemaBlend, Reeves further fueled such speculation recently when he mentioned a certain classic piece of literature that he’s been looking to for inspiration:

One of the things that I’ve found interesting, just as we’re working on the story, is looking back at Jekyll and Hyde, and the idea of your shadow-self, and the idea of, we are all multiple things. It’s different aspects of who we are, and I think there are times when maybe the surface of Bruce is not really who he is, but that’s his disguise. There are times when Batman’s the disguise, but there are times when his true essence comes out, because by being veiled, a kind of instinctual side comes out that’s very pure.

The point being: this isn’t going to be your typical, run-of-the-mill Batman story, and I’m actually on board with the direction Reeves seems to be taking the film.

But rather than continue to project about something for which we have so little to go off of, I am going to speculate about exactly who should play Bruce in the movie.

Contrary to what some may believe, Ben Affleck still hasn’t officially said he’s done playing the role. After checking into a rehab facility in late August, for the third time in recent years, many believed that it was pretty much over for him – not just in the DCEU but perhaps Hollywood in general. However, it’s been reported that after successfully completing 30 days in rehab, Affleck was seen at Warner Bros. studios on Wednesday, with what is believed to be a script of The Batman in hand.

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Maaaaaybe we haven’t seen the last of Ben after all.

Does this mean he’s definitely back in? Absolutely not. But is it a sign that we could potentially see Affleck as Bruce Wayne at least one more time? It could be.

For what it’s worth, I have actually enjoyed Affleck’s portrayal of The World’s Greatest Detective much more so than I ever thought I would. I would actually endorse the idea of bringing him back for the role, as long as he seemed truly committed and willing to accept Reeves’s vision.

But just in case that’s not in the cards, here’s a quick look at my top candidates to replace him and step in as the next Bruce, if need be:

Jon Hamm

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I’m not going to take credit for coming up with this one, as rumors connecting the 47-year-old to a leading role as Batman have been floating out there for quite some time. Hamm has not been bashful whatsoever regarding his interest in such a role, but he’s also quick to point out how he’s not had one concrete conversation with anyone regarding any serious offers to do so. It seems as though this is simply the product of fanboy-fueled Internet dreams, but maybe it could actually become a reality. He’s got Bruce’s charm and good looks, and there’s no doubt he can kick some ass. He may need to tone down his excellent comedic chops to play the vapid, empty vessel that is Bruce Wayne, but we know that won’t be an issue with his incredible range. He could definitely pull it off. And most importantly, he really wants to.

Armie Hammer

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One of Hollywood’s biggest rising stars has been mentioned by some as a good candidate for the role. After first coming onto the scene in 2010’s The Social Network, Hammer has continued to impress with pretty much every role he’s taken on since. In fact, just between his respective supporting roles in J. Edgar and Call Me by Your Name, Hammer has won 13 different awards. Due to the heavy nature of both films, he shouldn’t have any trouble taking on the darker, more intimate elements that we are expected to see in Reeves’s film. He also already starred next to the DCEU’s maybe-still-current-but-we-don’t-know-yet Superman, Henry Cavill, in The Man from U.N.C.L.E. and was The Lone Ranger in Disney’s 2013 take on the classic tale. His resume is heavy in both drama and action, making him seem like an almost too perfect fit.

Bradley Cooper

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For a guy known for being a comedic actor during the early portion of his career, Cooper has dabbled a bit in the action world over the past few years. While I wouldn’t really consider 2010’s The A-Team as an “action” flick, he did take on the role of Chris Kyle in American Sniper and excelled. Much like Bruce Wanye, the character of Kyle was also forced to deal with immense internal strife throughout the entirety of the film. And while he technically was only the voice of a CGI-created raccoon in the Guardians of the Galaxy films, he did once audition for the part of Green Lantern, so like Hamm we already know he’s a comic book guy. (And apparently he couldn’t resist from reading the script at the audition in a Batman-esque voice, so he’s already got an obvious affinity for The Caped Crusader). He also already has that inherent douchey, rich-guy look about him. He just looks like a trust-fund baby, and I’d totally buy into him as Bruce.

John Krasinski

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That’s right. From office prankster to Gotham’s protector, Krasinski is my sneaky and top choice to play the role. If you’ve seen A Quiet Place, it’s obvious that he can play the role of protector. And while I’ve yet to check out Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan, Krasinski has been getting rave reviews as the ass-kicking CIA operative. Though it still might be tough for some to see him as anything other than ole Jim Halpert, I think the DCEU would absolutely hit it right out of the park by attempting to make this one happen.

We still have a long way to go before production starts, which is expected to happen some time around Summer 2019, and a lot can change before this time. But it’s still fun to speculate in the meantime.

Who do you think should play Bruce? What do you think of my choices? Let us know in the comments below or The 300s Facebook page!

Tough Night for Sale, but Sox Still on Track

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Chris Sale’s performance last night didn’t inspire confidence in many Red Sox fans. Against a 100-loss team playing out the string in the second game of a doubleheader, Sale couldn’t get through five innings, allowing three runs on four hits and a walk. It was his worst outing this month, and likely his last appearance before starting Game 1 of the American League Division Series at Fenway Park one week from tomorrow.  Still, it doesn’t change my outlook for this team.

Despite last night’s rough outing, his September numbers aren’t that bad. While he didn’t have a decision this month, the Sox went 3-1 in the four games he started in September. His ERA of 3.75 wasn’t great, but not a complete disaster either. He still struck out 18 and walked just one, his WHIP was 1.00 and his opponents’ batting average was .239. Not up to the usual Chris Sale standards. but again, not a complete disaster either.

Where I notice a big difference is Sale’s opponents’ batting average on balls in play. Generally speaking, a normal BABIP is around .300. Through August, Sale’s opponents’ BABIP was .276, so maybe Sale benefited from some good defense behind him. In September, though, his opponents’ BABIP was .357. I’m not sure what’s to blame for the 81-point swing, but perhaps Sale just got a little unlucky at times in September. If the Red Sox are back at full strength in October and play meaningful games for the first time in a month, maybe that BABIP for Sale’s opponents goes back to being closer to the league average.

Maybe the most disappointing September number for Sale is his number of innings pitched: 12. But he did throw 92 pitches last night. If he can touch 100 pitches again next time out, maybe we don’t see the Chris Sale who struck out 11 Yankees and allowed one hit in seven innings on June 30, but maybe we get something closer to that which will still allow the Red Sox to survive and advance.

Nate Diaz and Dustin Poirier Have Decided They’re Fighting for a New 165lb Title for Their Own Damn Selves

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Well look what we have here folks, a good old fashioned case of MMA Constanza-ing. Just go ahead and do it, make it known you’re doing tit, and don’t stop until someone physically stops you.

Now, Dana White has indeed done just that, stating these lunatics have in no way, shape, or form the power to make this match or create this title, let alone sanction it. Still, you never know. “The Diamond” and the 209’s favorite younger brother could go all baclyard wrestling on our asses and just say fuck you, slap together their own title belt and call it the 165lb title. Come to think of it Eddie Alvaez would probably LOVE that idea, tell ONE , who he has been in deep talks with, to go fuck themselves, and race back to the U.S to fight the winner. Soon enough Dana will have a full-fledged mutiny on his hands as the best 155ers and smaller 170lbers will be clamoring to fight seemingly random guys for a fake title. CHAOS JERRY! CHAOS!

So maybe I got a little carried away there but still, it is pretty funny that out of frustration with the UFC trying to make something out of jack shit to call a “main event” when the co-main is made up of two studs, these guys have said fuck you we are claiming main event status. Straight up UFC PPV prima nocte. I’m into too. I don’t want to get too heavy into the subject but I’m not one of these wads who says there are already too many divisons. Fuck that. Why not have more titles and healthier fighters? 165 is a great idea. So is 225.

Either way, the real main event for UFC 230 is now Diaz-Poirier for the People’s 165lb Title. Death or glory, people. Death or glory.

Patriots Place Rex Burkhead and Ja’Whaun Bentley on IR

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When it rains it pours I suppose. After getting trounced by Detroit, and in particular on defense, the Patriots just placed their most promising linebacker in Ja’Whaun Bentley as well as their most used runningback in Rex Burkhead on IR.

This is less than ideal.

Ja’Whaun Bentley had a rough game last week, but he’s a rookie so that is to be expected from time to time. Bentley was the story of training camp though and was projected to be the stud linebacker the team needed this year. Especially with how slow Dont’a Hightower has looked thus far. I don’t know if its just shaking off the rust after missing almost all of last year or if its years or injuries catching up with a now 28-year-old linebacker. Either way, not a great time for a young LB to go down with injury.

Now Rex Burkhead is the least surprising injury news of all time as that guy is hurt basically all the time. Super effective when he’s healthy, but it seems like his body just can’t handle the workload the Patriots want to put on him. We talked about it on The 300s Podcast on our season preview and debated whether Burkhead was injury prone or if last year was just a fluke. Nope, seems like this is a guy who is finally getting an everydown back level of touches and his body just can’t hold up.

That means its time for Sony Michel to sink or swim! He’s looked ok, not great, the first 2 games of his career, but for the talking heads on 98.5 to already be screaming that Michel is a bust is laughable. Maybe give the rookie who had zero training camp snaps more than 2 weeks to find his groove in the NFL.

This is a club thats getting a little crowded.

Dede Westbrook Thinks Blake Bortles Can Be as Good as Tom Brady…No Really, Though

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In a recent interview with Bleacher Report’s Tyler Dunne, Jacksonville Jaguars second-year wide receiver Dede Westbrook flat-out said he thinks Blake Bortles can easily be as good as Tom Brady.

He then doubled and tripled down on the statement after being asked to confirm his belief twice by what I assume to have been a completely dumbfounded Dunne:

Out of the hallway and into the locker room, second-year receiver Dede Westbrook doesn’t complain about the passer with the Tim Tebow-ugly throwing motion. Like Hackett, Westbrook would benefit from a more prototypical quarterback, and yet there isn’t a drop of gloom in his voice. When told that most outsiders look at Bortles, then Tom Brady, and conclude the Jaguars will never get over the hump, Westbrook is visibly irritated.

“I don’t think that’s a thing,” Westbrook says. “Tom Brady’s great, but he’s been playing football for a really, really, really long time. Who’s to say Blake won’t be that person when he puts that many years in?”

You think Bortles can reach that point? “Most definitely. Most definitely.”

Wait, Dede. A Brady point? “Facts. Most definitely.”‘

Look I know Bortles definitely got the upper hand 10 days ago when the two teams squared off down in Jacksonville. But can we please stop with this crap?

Quotes like these are honestly the reason why I can’t even listen to post-game pressers anymore. While there are certainly those out there who aren’t afraid to speak their mind, for better or worse, 90 percent of athletes always just end up spewing out empty, cliche bullshit that means absolutely nothing and basically comes out of their mouth by rote.

No matter how great a certain player performs in a game, it’s always about “the guys around him.” If a team plays poorly, they just need to “prepare better at practice next week” and “give 110 percent effort in the next game.” If an athlete is taken out of the game too soon, it was simply the “coach’s decision” and they always seem to “understand.”

Look, I get that quips like that are meant to make the athlete look like a team player and not stir the pot. There have also been plenty of times where an athlete is a bit too authentic, and it can cause a firestorm.

But don’t outright lie like this for no reason.

“Facts??!!” THREE separate “most definitelys??!!”

You don’t really believe that, Dede. YOU DON’T. Nobody can seriously be that ignorant. As the once great – and BRUTALLY honest and outspoken – Chad Ochocinco once said:

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Again, it’s not even about the fact that such statements are complete blasphemy and downright disrespectful to the G.O.A.T; it’s about the fact that you think we’re all that dumb, Dede. Sure, I agree that Bortles maybe catches too much flak sometimes – I even said as much in my Pats/Jags game preview – but there are also times when your quarterback plays like a blind nun. He will never come close to even sniffing Brady’s talent or level of success – not now, not in the future, not even in an alternate universe.

The Jags may end up ultimately winning a Super Bowl within the next couple of years, or at least get pretty damn close once again, and I’m not saying Bortles is incapable of getting a ring. But let’s not forget that guys like Trent Dilfer and Brad Johnson have rings, too. If the Jags win anything, it’ll be because of their defense, not Blake Bortles.

Am I overreacting a bit here? Maybe. In the grand scheme of things, do Westbrook’s comments mean a damn thing? Probably not. I just couldn’t let this one slip by and thought it might give The 300s clan a good chuckle. Happy Hump Day!

X-Men: Dark Phoenix Trailer Leaks! LETS GOO

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Nerds unite! The first look I’ve seen of X-Men: Dark Phoenix ANYWHERE has finally leaked. I’ll forewarn you, there is no audio as apparently this was taken in Russia so the person who had the video just scrubbed it, but you get a pretty good look into the sweet visuals. Watch the trailer below or check it out here.

I was legitimately worried this movie was going to get shelved after all the setbacks and pushed release dates. Then Disney (Marvel) bought FOX and I wondered if they would ever release the movie and opt to reboot instead.

I am jacked up for a new X-Men movie that could potentially be one of the last we see with the current cast if Marvel does opt to go the reboot route. Well it looks like Dark Phoenix will still see the light of day, in Russia at least.

Thank god because if nothing else this movie needs to help fans forget the absolute garbage that was X-Men: Last Stand. They completely wasted one of the best characters with Dark Phoenix in a movie best remembered for Ian McKellen moving a goddamn bridge.

In the Dark Phoenix trailer we get glimpses of Jean Gray as a child in what looks like a car crash she may have unwittingly caused with her own powers, injuring or likely killing her parents. So thats a dark tone to get things started. Looks like we’ll see the story of how Professor X and Mystique find Jean originally with Cerebro maybe? Lots of Quicksilver, Cyclops getting his famous glasses, an angry Magneto, and Nightcrawler flashing his powers. In. In. In. In. Not a ton of Jessica Chastain in the trailer, but she is supposedly playing a prominent role as a character named Agent Smith.

Shit sorry, wrong one. Here we go.

Why this movie keeps getting delayed I have no idea, but IMDB still has its release date as February 14th, 2019, but thats less than 5 months away so if thats true we would need to start seeing teasers and trailers reeeeal soon.

Hold on, IS THAT SOPHIE TURNER’S MUSIC?? According to Sophie Turner’s Instagram, the official trailer should be dropping tonight! LETS GOOO!

 

Kevin Youkilis Beer is Shipping Up to Boston

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For those of you who don’t know, former Red Sox stud Kevin Youkilis has dedicated his post-baseball life to an honorable and enviable pursuit; brewing delicious delicious beer.

Youk set up shop in southern Cali with his venture, Loma Brewery. I hope to one day crush some suds with the dirt dog himself out in Cali, but until then I’ll just have to hunt down a couple of his brews myself. I feared that would be a bigger challenge than my goal of collecting all the Ommegang Game of Thrones beers.

Not easy.

However, Youk recently partnered with local beer giant, Harpoon, to start distributing his craft creations this fall and I am stoked.

As we all know, a great beer is about 51% taste and 49% creative name. Look no further than 21st Amendment Brewery’s Hell or High Watermelon or Ruckus Brewing Company’s Hoptimus Prime.

Youk’s signature beer? Greek God of Hops.

To be honest, this beer could taste like paint and I would still buy it.

PS – As a BJJ guy, this is another A+ beer name.

The 300s Bloggers’ Baker Mayfield Invitational Fantasy Football Round Up – Week 3

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Dearest Readers,

I hope this column is enjoyable and an easy read, not a Vance McDonald stiff arm to the skull.

Briefly,

-Joey B.

Papa Giorgio

1-2 for me this week. Fournette and Dalvin Cook being hurt sunk one of my teams as I had to field some garbage RBs. Drew Brees was electric for me though. My one piece of fantasy advice is if you ever have anyone on your roster from the NFC South and two of the teams are playing each other that week, start them. Saints/Falcons always seem to end in some ridiculous score and the wilder the finish, the more fantasy points you’re going to get. Also, my real life Bills thrashed the Vikings so even though I didn’t have the greatest fantasy week, Bills Mafia was reborn under Josh Allen.


Joey B

So I lost in week 3 but find solace in the fact that it took Gronk, both RBs, and my defense shitting the bed, changing the sheets, and then shitting the bed again for that to happen. Stafford played well (against the fucking Pats) and Michael Thomas continues to have the same success on the football field that Dave Thomas had in the fast food industry


Red

We’re swimming in a sea of mediocrity folks as I got my first win of the season but split on my two leagues, bringing my season record to an underwhelming 1-5. On a more somber note; a roster spot just opened up on my squad as my dude Jimmy G tore his ACL on Sunday. I may just keep him on my roster out of respect. A fantasy football moratorium if you will.

Big Z

The Big Z Fantasy Empire improved to 2-1 in Week 3, but boy did I have to sweat it out. I didn’t take my first lead of the week until the fourth quarter of the Monday night game when James Conner put me over the top. I only needed 7 points to win, and he took almost 60 minutes to put up the 9 points that gave me a three-point win.

Oh, and did I mention this was all while Matt Ryan was on my bench? Ryan put up 40 points while Russell Wilson got me 15. Instead of having a Toilet Bowl for last place every year, they should just give a trophy of a horse’s ass to the player with the most bench points. I’d be well on my way to that trophy this season.

As much as I hate a fantasy QB controversy, I may have to make the switch this week. I’ll also have to survive Christian McCaffrey’s bye week, so Week 4 looks like a daunting battle already

 

Mattes

Got the double victory this week for the first time in 2018! Although I would NEVER root for my fantasy team over my real-life team, maaaaybe Brady having one of the worst games of his life this week didn’t turn out all that bad for me. Considering Brady was projected to score 20 more points than he did and I beat my opponent by 19, at least there’s a silver lining. I also only had one guy score less than six points, which was Amari Cooper, who could quite possibly be the most frustrating player to own in fantasy right now. The guy should be a stud, but has gone from two points in Week 1 to 16 points in Week 2 then right back down to two this week. Maddening. Carlos Hyde is looking like a fifth-round STEAL for me as well, especially with Baker now running the show in Cleveland. Also, my sneaky ROY candidate, Kerryon Johnson, looks like he’s ready to take over in the Motor City and may be coming off my bench for the first time this week. It was a rough 0-2 start, but things are now looking up for the Purple Cobras.

My other team continued to roll as well, even with Kirk Cousins and Larry Fitzgerald combining for a measly 13 points. Cousins will bounce back, and I am praying to everything holy that Josh Rosen can turn the Cardinals offense around, because I also have an incredibly disappointing David Johnson, whose week was fortunately salvaged with a receiving TD. Michael Thomas and Jarvis Landry are a nasty WR1 and WR2 in a full-point PPR, and somehow I was able to add Matt Breida on waivers last week. He got me 14 points on Sunday and will be a great FLEX option moving forward along with guys like John Brown and Bilal Powell. Catch City Bitch is now 2-1 and feeling good.

Space Jam 2 is on the Way and Looks Promising

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CBS NEWS – There’s a new wrinkle in the LeBron-Jordan debate: Who will be the more beloved Tune Squad star? On Wednesday, James and his production company, SpringHill Entertainment, announced a sequel to 1996’s “Space Jam,” one that boasts an all-star team: Ryan Coogler of “Black Panther” is set to produce the film, James will star and Terence Nance of “Random Acts of Flyness” will serve as director. 

It’s James’ first starring role in a film. The Lakers superstar had a well-liked part playing himself in “Trainwreck” opposite Amy Schumer. He told the Hollywood Reporter that he “loved [Coogler’s] vision” for “Black Panther” and believes the director will bring the same magic to “Space Jam.

The original Space Jam wasn’t nominated for any Academy Awards, but it is the highest grossing basketball film of all time. It was a solid kids movie and is fondly remembered by people who saw it when they were kids. I’ll stop to watch a few scenes whenever I see it pop up on cable, and I know I have the Space Jam soundtrack CD somewhere at my parents’ house. Even more than 20 years after its theatrical release, I still see Tune Squad jerseys at college basketball games from time to time.

With Ryan Coogler on board for the reboot, though, the next Space Jam will aspire to be more than just a commercially-viable kids basketball movie. Coogler is on fire right now, and although he’ll be producing rather than directing Space Jam, the last three films he directed were all huge critical successes. Fruitvale Station, Creed and Black Panther are all incredible movies.

Space Jam 2 will also feature LeBron James in his first starring role. James isn’t an actor or a singer, but he’s still one of the biggest stars in the world. He was really likable in Trainwreck and it’s hard to imagine anyone, outside of maybe a few Celtics fans, who will question that he’s the right person for this role. It’d be great to see Michael Jordan come back one way or another and settle the GOAT debate with James, even if just in jest, but there’s probably a better chance of Michael B. Jordan showing up.

It sounds like Space Jam 2 will follow a similar formula as the original, but don’t be surprised if it’s a little less slapstick and aimed at adults as much as it is at kids. At least as much as Bugs Bunny cartoon can be aimed at adults.