The New Digs

After two years and change, we’ve become a real boy. Click the logo above or visit www.GonzoGeek.com to see the brand new site.

Friday LinkFrogging – 3/18/11

 

On a week when most of the GG crew is indisposed, I make my Linkfrogging debut with a bit of a whimper.  I’ve just returned from my first experience at South By Southwest, where I attended the Interactive conference and took in a bit of the film and music as well.  It was my first trip to Austin, and I spent the whole time going back and forth between “this would be a fun place to live” and “I probably couldn’t stand living with these people.” 

Don’t get me wrong, I love the culture and aesthetic of the city, but some people seem to interpret “Keep Austin Weird” as “HEY LOOK AT ME, AREN’T MY LIFE CHOICES IRONIC AND HYSTERICAL?!” which takes away from the geniunely cool people who make up most of the city.  No guys, you’re all unique and beautiful snowflakes who are different and authentic and somehow all wearing the same style of glasses frames.

The hipster percentage is just high in ATX right now, and I am prepared to admit that “tourist types” like myself are part of the problem.  BUT THAT’S NOT THE FUN PART OF SXSW, so let’s talk about the fun part (and also links)…

But oh yeah, before I forget, I’m never good at the cheesecake suggestions, so in honor of the festival I’m going an “alternative” route.  This is Carrie Brownstein, formerly of Sleater-Kinney and one of the most revered guitarists living at the moment.  Her new band Wild Flag is at the festival, but more importantly her various other projects (formerly an NPR music writer, currently a star of IFC’s “Portlandia” with Fred Armisen) make her an ideal SXSW-er: a multi-hyphenate transmedia crossover buzzword buzzword buzzword yawn…sorry, got caught up in post-conference rhetoric. Point is, she’s good at a bunch of different things.  The only thing she’s missing as a perfect Austin/SXSW woman is a huge colorful sleeve tattoo.

So yeah, links!

GonzoGeek vs. The Oscars 2011: Best Picture

GonzoGeek vs. The Oscars 2011

The 83rd Annual Academy Awards are Sunday, so it’s time for the annual predictions from the revered GonzoGeek panel: Bruce, Chris, John, Matt, Stephe and Matt’s copy of “Wrestlemania 2000” for the Nintendo 64.

Tuesday: Best Supporting Actress
Wednesday: Best Supporting Actor
Thursday: Best Actress
Friday: Best Actor
Today: Best Picture

The Nominees:
127 Hours— 100/1
Black Swan— 40/1
Inception— 50/1
The Fighter— 40/1
The Kids Are All Right— 200/1
The King’s Speech— 2/9
The Social Network— 7/2
Toy Story 3— 150/1
True Grit— 35/1
Winter’s Bone— 150/1

GonzoGeek vs. The Oscars 2011: Best Actor

GonzoGeek vs. The Oscars 2011

The 83rd Annual Academy Awards are Sunday, so it’s time for the annual predictions from the revered GonzoGeek panel: Bruce, Chris, John, Matt, Stephe and Matt’s copy of “Wrestlemania 2000” for the Nintendo 64.

Today: Best Actor

The Nominees:
Colin Firth, The King’s Speech — 1/33
James Franco, 127 Hours — 18/1
Javier Bardem, Biutiful — 40/1
Jeff Bridges, True Grit — 25/1
Jesse Eisenberg, The Social Network — 25/1

GonzoGeek vs. The Oscars 2011: Best Actress

GonzoGeek vs. The Oscars 2011

The 83rd Annual Academy Awards are Sunday, so it’s time for the annual predictions from the revered GonzoGeek panel: Bruce, Chris, John, Matt, Stephe and Matt’s copy of “Wrestlemania 2000” for the Nintendo 64.

Today: Best Actress

The Nominees:
Annette Bening, “The Kids Are All Right” – 13/2
Jennifer Lawrence, “Winter’s Bone” – 28/1
Michelle Williams, “Blue Valentine” – 66/1
Natalie Portman, “Black Swan” – 1/12
Nicole Kidman, “Rabbit Hole” – 66/1

GonzoGeek vs. The Oscars 2011: Best Supporting Actor

GonzoGeek vs. The Oscars 2011

The 83rd Annual Academy Awards are Sunday, so it’s time for the annual predictions from the revered GonzoGeek panel: Bruce, Chris, John, Matt, Stephe and Matt’s copy of “Wrestlemania 2000” for the Nintendo 64.

Today: Best Supporting Actor

The Nominees:
Christian Bale, “The Fighter” – 1/7
Geoffery Rush, “The Kings Speech” – 4/1
Jeremy Renner, “The Town” – 80/1
John Hawkes, “Winter’s Bone” – 66/1
Mark Ruffalo, “The Kids Are All Right” – 66/1

GonzoGeek vs. The Oscars 2011: Best Supporting Actress

GonzoGeek vs. The Oscars 2011

The 83rd Annual Academy Awards are Sunday, so it’s time for the annual predictions from the revered GonzoGeek panel: Bruce, Chris, John, Matt, Stephe and Matt’s copy of “Wrestlemania 2000” for the Nintendo 64.

Today: Best Supporting Actress

The Nominees:
Amy Adams in “The Fighter” – +3300
Helena Bonham Carter in “The King’s Speech” – +700
Melissa Leo in “The Fighter” – -250
Hailee Steinfeld in “True Grit” – +275
Jacki Weaver in “Animal Kingdom” – +4000

UFC 123: Rampage vs. Machida Predictions

Quinton “Rampage” Jackson vs. Lyoto Machida

Bruce: I’m picking Machida. Why? Simple. Matt has an unnatural mancrush on Rampage so I KNOW he’s going to pick him. I’m picking against just to do so. Let’s see how I do. Want more science? Machida beat Rashad Evans in May 2009. Rashad Evans beat Rampage in May 2010. So what does Pythagoras tell us? Machida beats Rampage.  WINNER: MACHIDA via TKO in 3rd

Matt: Rampage is easily my favorite athlete for a number of reasons, but I’ll try to put that aside.  His main weakness as a fighter is when he’s on his back, which isn’t the same threat here as it was against Rashad Evans (then again, it shouldn’t have factored into his loss to Forrest Griffin, but it did).  As shown  against Shogun Rua, Machida’s elusive striking style is less effective against an aggressive fighter.  ’Page has a straightforward boxing style and tends to engauge opponents and then score on counterstrikes.  Machida is hard to counter, but if Rampage gets into close range, he’s got the technique and power to end this quickly the way Rua did.  I also think, despite his borderline childish attitude outside the cage, he won’t get as frustrated by Machida’s style and can take a methodical approach to land his knockout shot.  WINNER: RAMPAGE via KO in 3rd.

Matt Hughes vs. BJ Penn

Bruce: The rubber fight between these two should be interesting. Penn has had a rough year. He’s dropped two fights in a row to Frankie Edgar and lost the Lightweight Championship in the process. Hughes has been on the “one more fight” victory lap for a while now. You never want to bet against Penn, but he’s been exposed. Like Randy Couture, Hughes just keeps on going. Hughes will be the sentimental pick, if there is such a thing in MMA. He’s mine too.  WINNER: HUGHES via unanimous decision

Matt: I figured Penn to dominate this one from the moment they announced it.  In fact, I’m stunned Hughes would even take the fight. He’s been on a steady diet of past-their-prime fighters ever since losing to Georges St. Pierre at the end of 2007.  What do Penn and GSP have in common besides being younger than Hughes?  They’re both faster.  Consecutive losses to Frankie Edgar don’t mean BJ is on the decline – it means Edgar is pretty damn fast.  Penn’s got hand-speed and athleticism to overwhelm Matt Hughes in almost all areas.  The only chance the farmhand has is if Penn’s conditioning comes up lacking after a round or two. WINNER: PENN via submission in the 2nd.

Gerald Harris vs. Maiquel Falcao

Bruce: Harris impressed me at UFC 116 with his slam knock out of Dave Branch. He impressed me more by stopping the punishment when he knew Branch was out cold. Falcao seems to be Harris’ opposite number. He wants to stand and throw. I don’t think that will be enough. I look for Harris to take the fight to the mat and win there.  WINNER: HARRIS via TKO in 2nd

Matt: Harris has been improving and his last win earned him some new fans.  I don’t know anything about Falcao and I’ve got to stick with what I know in this case. Falcao comes from Wanderlei Silva’s Chute Box camp, so while he’s a dangerous striker he could also be vulnerable to Harris’ wrestling strengths on the mat.  WINNER: Harris via unanimous decision.

Phil Davis vs. Tim Boetsch

Bruce: This seems to me like the fight where they feed a fighter on a hot streak a tough journeyman to see if he’s really as good as he has seemed. Boetsch, on his second stint in the UFC, really needs a win to avoid returning to .500. Meanwhile, Davis has rolled up three straight wins (7-0 career) since joining Zuffa. I think this one goes to Davis, though I’m pretty sure Boetsch will push him. WINNER: DAVIS via TKO in 3rd

Matt: I think Davis is the next dynamic young star of the UFC – Jon Jones but slightly smaller.  He’s got a wrestling background but doesn’t just focus on controlling his opponent (a la Jon Fitch).  He goes after finishes, and if he keeps winning like this – it seems like he’s barely been tested so far – his profile will rise exponentially.  I don’t know what Boetsch has anything in his toolchest to combat Davis’ athleticism.  WINNER: Davis via submission in the 1st.

George Sotiropoulos vs. Joe Lauzon

Bruce: I picked Sotiropoulos on a whim for UFC 116. He won and I didn’t look like a complete rube. This time out he faces another “mired in the midcard” guy in Lauzon. Sotiropoulos has, as Matt noted last time, much more upside. I still think that applies. Perhaps even moreso now. A seventh straight win will have to put him in the mix for a lightweight title fight. I think he’s up for the challenge. I’d like see a definitive ending to this one. That is the one place I think Lauzon will give him trouble. WINNER: SOTIROPOULOS via unanimous decision

Matt: There was point right afdter the end of his Ultimate Fighter run where Joe Lauzon seemed poised for a big run in the lightweight division.  Some tough losses and injury delays have taken away all of that buzz – now he seems like another guy in a crowded division.  Sotiropoulos has been on a more recent TUF season and has continued to get better ever time we’ve seen him since.  WINNER: SOTIROPOULOS via split decision

Aaron Simpson vs. Mark Munoz

Bruce: Simpson’s record has a single blemish thanks to Chris Leben. There is no shame in that. Leben has played spoiler a couple of times this year. Munoz also lost his last fight. His loss came by split decision. That’s another unfortunate way to lose one. Both of these guys are solid fighers and this one is has the potential to be a standout. If its a stand up fight, Simpson has the advantage. If they go to the mat, the advantage is to Munoz. How to pick this one? WINNER: SIMPSON via TKO in 3rd

Matt: Two wrestlers face off in this one. Simpson has had a more consistent run recently, but he’s also older.  I think there’s a point where he slows down and a younger guy like Munoz takes advantage. WINNER: MUNOZ via unanimous decision.

Matt Brown vs. Brian Foster

Bruce: Brown is sitting in the precarious “3 losses and you’re gone” spot having lost his last two fights. Foster’s UFC record is a suspect 2-2. This one doesn’t exactly send chills down my spine. Its a couple of guys fighting for their respective careers. Brown hasn’t looked especially sharp in his last two fights. Foster has at least won one. WINNER: FOSTER via TKO in 2nd

Matt: Brown’s got a weak ground game but he’s exciting on his feet.  There’s no reason to think he won’t encounter the same problems against Foster, who has won a number of fights by submission.  However, I’m going to give Brown credit and assume that after the Chris Lytle loss, he works on keeping things standing and playing to his own strengths.  WINNER: BROWN via KO in 2nd.

UFC 121: Lesnar vs. Velasquez Predictions

The UFC’s biggest star returns to action tonight.  Brock Lesnar might not be their best guy or even their most marketable given his reclusive lifestyle, but his name gets an awful lot of attention.  The crowd reaction to the former WWE Champion seemed to warm a bit before his gutsy comeback against previous Biggest Fight Ever challenger Shane Carwin.  So far, Lesnar has continued to improve, and he’s in the middle of the “prime” window that so many previous UFC stars have enjoyed.  Can he continue his reign or is Cain Velasquez the guy to upset the champ?

Speaking of upset, Matt tied it up in UFC predictions after the last event, so we’ll find out if he can play Cain to Bruce’s Brock and pull off the upset of the year.

UFC 119: Mir vs. Cro Cop Predictions

Mirko “Cro Cop” Filipovic vs. Frank Mir

Matt: It sounds weird to say this after Cro Cop terrorized PRIDE for so many years, but Mir seems like a BIG step up in competition for where he is right now.  Mir has seen much tougher competition over the past year-plus, and his game is not nearly as far removed from its prime as Cro Cop’s.  Despite being outclassed against Brock Lesnar and Shane Carwin, Mir has put together good wins against other top heavyweights.  Meanwhile, the feared left kick of Cro Cop only showed up in his fight against Pat Barry after Barry had gassed and broken his hand and foot (oh, and also after he had knocked Cro Cop down and nearly finished him).  I think Mir comes out with the same kind of smart gameplanning he used to beat Big Nog and Cheick Kongo.  WINNER: Mir via TKO in the 1st.

Bruce: Both of these guys need a victory in the worst way.  That’s not a good position to find yourself in.  I think Cro Cop has lost a step.  As a result his once dreaded kicks don’t pack quite the punch they once did.  That’s not to say that he couldn’t kick Mir’s head off given the opportunity.  I just don’t think that opportunity will present itself.  This is Mir’s first fight since his embarassing loss to Shane Carwin at UFC 111 and he needs a decisive win to prove he still belongs in the conversation.  WINNER:  MIR via TKO in the 2nd.

Ryan Bader vs. Antonio Rogerio Nogueira

Matt: Bader seems like a rare combination of great talent and great personality, a guy who could be the face of the organization in the future.  However, that depends on whether he can step up into the elite of the division, and this feels like a big step.  Li’l Nog has had some ups and downs lately, but I don’t think he can be evaluated based on that near-miss to Jason Brilz.  However, Bader’s a big guy without serious questions on his cardio, so I feel more confident picking him.  WINNER: Bader via unanimous decision.

Bruce: Bader is 3-0 in the UFC since winning TUF 8.  Minotoro is 2-0 in the Octagon.  This one has “Fight of the Night” written on it to me.  However, I can’t pick against the Brazilian. WINNER:  Nogueira via submission in 2nd.