In the wake of Osi Umenyiora’s season-ending knee surgery, the best news for Giants fans is that Michael Strahan is staying put in retirement.  Why, do you ask?  Because Strahan was a warrior for the Giants over his prolific 15-year career, and he deserves that his final chapter be written with its current fairy tale ending.  He went out healthy, he went out respected, and most importantly, he went out a champion.

Strahan’s leadership will sorely be missed in New York, but now is the time for Eli Manning to take the reins of the franchise. Eli’s fourth quarter in Super Bowl 42 demonstrated that not only is he capable, but also he is ready. (more…)

Every year around this time, our televisions are bombarded with Christmas movies. Movies that bring joy, movies cloaked in nostalgia, and movies you’d love to throw into the fire.

Got one you love? Got one that’s always pissed you off? Me too.

• Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer – (1964) – This claymation portrayal of Santa’s nonconformist reindeer chased me throughout my childhood, first scarring me with unexplained oddness, and later boring me into a deep, coma-type sleep.

As a child, the idea of claymation didn’t sit well with my young mind. The googly eyes and erratic movement of the characters in this song-filled fairy tale made me absurdly nervous.

And when that freaky, furry, roaring yeti-thing came onscreen…let’s just say I found a blanket, and stayed under it, for hours.

• It’s A Wonderful Life – (1946) – Everyone’s always shocked when I describe my loathing of this film, but the really shocking thing is how many people can sit through this without falling asleep. I know its sacrilege to hate on the combination of Christmas miracles and James Stewart, but no matter how many times I force myself to attempt to sit through this entire film, I can’t ever make it to the end.

Maybe I’m a freak of nature. Maybe I have a hard, cynical heart. Whatever. It’s BORING. (more…)