Monthly Archives: November 2016
Happy Monday!
Disney’s timing is impeccable.
People are in need of some unifying good news and Emma Watson and Co. may have a remedy that sparks our imaginations and pulls our heart strings in the best ways. Ladies and gentlemen, there was a movie trailer that was released just this morning and it’s one you’ll want to see…
The 1991 animated masterpiece Beauty and the Beast from Disney remains one of the greatest movies ever made. An incredible feat not only for an animated film, but one courtesy of Disney. When news broke of a live-action version, skepticism immediately followed. The room for error was, potentially, too great to risk the legacy and feel of the original. However, when Emma Watson was cast as Belle, people’s confidence skyrocketed.
For good reason.
And Emma Watson, along with the featured cast, director, set designers, producers, etc., seem to have created something bordering on amazing.
Have an Uplifting Week!
Three’s a Crowd
I want to wish everyone a Happy Veterans Day!
2-nil Dos-a-Cero is pretty perfect, isn’t it?
Admittedly, 2-nil is the worst lead in soccer (there’s a legitimate psychology to this). However, for whatever reason, this scoreline has evolved into a magical anomaly in the beautiful game when the USMNT (United States Men’s National Team) and That Team Down South meet in Ohio’s capital city at Crew Stadium. And yes, I’m fully aware that the first soccer-specific stadium is now called MAPFRE Stadium, but it will always be Crew Stadium to true Crew/US fans who’ll never forget the legacy of the late Lamar Hunt who delivered the MLS team and stadium to our city.
Hopefully, every member of the USMNT coaching staff and players walk by the statue of Mr. Hunt at the main entrance of Crew Stadium tonight and pay their respects to the man responsible for bringing professional soccer to Columbus, OH.
Talk about a great photo opportunity and image for US Soccer.
There have been four Dos-a-Cero games in Columbus, OH for World Cup qualifying:
- February 28, 2001
- September 3, 2005
- February 11, 2009
- September 10, 2013
There have been other notable Dos-a-Cero results between the USMNT and That Team Down South (one of which was during the 2002 World Cup in South Korea), but tonight spotlights Crew Stadium’s unrivaled assembly line of delivering the prized scoreline in Columbus, OH for World Cup qualifying.
As it has been written about many, many times on Jimmy’s Daily Planet, I am not a fan of the roster that’s been continually produced by USMNT Head Coach Jürgen Klinsmann, his tactical decisions (or lack thereof) or why he’s still managing the team. That aside, I am above all a fan of the USMNT and will be cheering for the Stars & Stripes to deliver a fifth-consecutive Dos-a-Cero! The pure magic of this game can overcome the aforementioned concerns for one night.
OH, that first night…
It’s amazing to have the USMNT back home in Columbus, OH:
THE Soccer Capital of the United States of America.
GO USA!
That 2nd (Well 2-0) Degree Burn
Dos-a-Cero: Enough said.
Okay, here are a few more words.
THE soccer capital of the United States of America will feature the Stars & Stripes vs. That Team Down South (trademark pending) for the fifth time tomorrow night. The forecast for Columbus, OH is projecting weather in the lower 40s on November 11th. Hopefully, it will be the coldest, most uncomfortable 40-degrees in recorded history. Why? Because the visiting opponent/hated rival Mexico That Team Down South hates the frigid weather of a particular Midwestern capital. For the first Dos-a-Cero match on February 28, 2001, the players from That Team Down South refused to warm-up due to the slightly chilly weather (in the teens).
More will be written about the unrivaled history and significance of Dos-a-Cero in Columbus, OH in tomorrow’s post. For now, let’s all enjoy (in the warm comfort of our homes) a throwback this Thursday to this legendary 2-nil series between the United States Men’s National Team (USMNT) and, you know…
Again, a Jimmy’s Daily Planet trademark is pending.
Fun Fact: Josh Wolff is currently an Assistant Coach with, yes, Columbus Crew SC.
Hopefully, USMNT Head Coach Jürgen Klinsmann asks Mr. Wolff to give the forwards (and, cough cough, the bench players) a pep-talk before the game tomorrow night.
The Next Mannequin Challenge
Let’s face it: Nothing’s ever going to stop, well, “Nothing’s Gonna Stop Us Now” by Starship.
Yesterday’s blog (Stay Calm and Don’t Carry On) spotlighted the latest craze that’s been sweeping the nation: “The Mannequin Challenge.” And, as was mentioned in the aforementioned blog post, the true inspiration for this 2016 cultural phenomenon is the 1987 movie Mannequin.
The song, “Nothing’s Gonna Stop Us Now,” became synonymous with the classic ’80s film. You cannot think about one without the other. Incredible. This package deal of warm, fun memories from yesteryear continues to prove its worth far beyond its post-1987 future. Especially following a contentious presidential election, the American people are in need of the eternal reminder that everything will be okay. This is true regardless of who you voted for or who you wanted to win last night. One of the greatest pillars of the amazing American experiment is to relentlessly strive for “a more perfect union.” Not perfect, but more perfect. It’s a never-ending journey and pursuit.
America can be like bickering siblings going through very difficult times. Tensions run high and nobody wants to talk or start the conversation towards reconciliation. That’s when the goofy brother takes center stage to bring at least a couple minutes of some much needed levity.
I challenge everyone to take a few minutes out of their day to dance to “Nothing’s Gonna Stop Us Now” with somebody or a group of people and record the experience. I think we all need this for a variety of reasons.
Now isn’t the time to just stand still.
Jimmy's Daily Planet 