Friday Night Lights - A Series Review

I could not resist. The guys at Ape Donkey (you should follow them on Twitter: @fidoz and @bcstagg) asked me to assist in the review and analysis of my, theirs, and possibly many of you all's favorite television production of all time: Friday Night Lights. I have never been so captivated by a show with the possible exception of Season One of 24. But, series to series, FNL gets my vote over 24. Let's face it, when they killed off President Palmer in the beginning of Season Four, you knew they were grasping for story-lines at the 24 writer's table. I mean, how many would be drug smuggling, bomb toting terrorists can one guy continually piss off and get over on most every time? Fun side note: I wish I was in college when 24 came out so I could have participated in the Jack Bauer drinking game. One would drink every time Jack said "dammit." Ahhh, college memories. Instead, we got Brandon and Brenda from 90210 and their Melrose Place counterparts. <---Not fair. I'm sorry, I digress. Without further ado, here is my season by season recap and review of Friday Night Lights. If you have not watched the series and plan on doing so, or if you have seen them all but Season Five which airs on NBC in April, feel free to stop at Season Four below. This is your official spoiler alert. Continue reading at your own peril...

Friday Night Lights: Texas Forever

Every once in a while, a show comes along that hits you right in the heart. Friday Night Lights delivers in such a fashion. It matters not that I grew up in Texas. I think most of us know that high school football is a religion in parts of the state. With the fictional town of Dillon, TX occupying the geographical base for the show, Executive Producer Peter Berg hits home with those who live, eat, and breathe high school football. The players are heralded, the coaches immortalized, and the town literally deems the year a success or failure based on the performance of some 15-18 year old kids who take center stage every Friday night in the fall.

Quick, Grab the Duct Tape - ObamaCare Edition

In the beginning, most ideas seem great in theory. The idea that every single American would have affordable health insurance sounds wonderful on the surface. There is one small problem here. It is unconstitutional to force Americans to purchase insurance. Most will quip, "but what about auto insurance? States mandate you carry liability insurance in case you are at fault in an accident." The glaring difference here is driving is a privilege. Nobody is forced to purchase a vehicle. We do this for personal freedom and convenience. Further proof, the lender forces to you carry comprehensive coverage if the vehicle is financed so they can be covered during a major loss. The state does not force this extra coverage, the lender does as it is a privilege to receive a loan in exchange for a lump sum of money to acquire a specific item. The lender has exposure here and they should be covered.

Countdown...

Who doesn't love countdowns? Well, besides Keith Olbermann (hey-oooooooooo). This is a highly subjective arena. One can only assign value and inherent meaning if the moment up for discussion is relevant to either the overall history of the sport, or if it resonates within you on a more personal level. This is not going to be a list compiled of Jackie Robinson breaking the color barrier, Lou Gehrig's speech, or Broadway Joe Namath calling his shot in upsetting the Baltimore Colts. These are my moments. Whether I was there in person or watching it on TV matters not. Without further ado, I present to you my personal top 5 moments in sports history.

Sports Rules That Are Beyond Annoying

I've been thinking about these abominations in sport for quite some time.  No need for some crescendo of an introduction.  Let's get right to it.

Down without contact in college football. Is there anything worse than a zip pass to the WR that is a bit low so he drops his knee to the turf out of instinct to ensure he catches the ball only to have it blown dead at that spot?  Moronic.  Change it pronto.

Another CFB Season Shamefully Ends: Grade - Incomplete

It just does not happen anywhere else in any other sport.  As we celebrate another BCS national championship, which many feel will inevitably be removed from Auburn's record book one day in the not too distant future, we are left wondering with "what could have been."  Follow along after the jump...

Keith Olbermann & My 15 Minutes

Think back to 1995.  Are you there?  There was no ESPNews network.  I did not own a cell phone and the internet was a foreign concept to me.  Each Sunday, I would speak with one of my best friends who lived across the country.  Remember long distance calls?  Yeah, me neither.  We deftly titled this conference call the "Sunday Convo."  We would chat for an hour or two about the day's games, events, oddities, and any other hilarity which would garner our attention.  Without shame, it was inspired by ESPN's Sunday Conversation from "The Big Show" with Dan Patrick and Keith Olbermann.  It should be noted that ESPN executives balked at that title and forced Patrick and Olbermann to refer to the show by its proper title: SportsCenter.   Fast forward to today...or, December 30, 2010 to be exact.  What, you didn't hear?  Then you aren't on Twitter...