Watch Prison Break

Over the summer, previews for Fox's new fall drama, Prison Break, left most everyone I know asking, "How are they going to stretch a prison break story into an entire series?" While the premiere Monday night didn't quite answer that question, it did convince me that the show would be exciting and worth watching for as long as the tale unfolds. Without giving away much of the plot, I'll say that I can't wait to see Michael Scofield's intricate plan to free his brother from death row unfold bit by bit. If you are a fan of 24 and happened to miss Prison Break's first episode on Monday, I encourage you to check out the encore presentation Thursday at 8pm.

Batman is cool, but his comics kinda suck!

At a time where the movie version of Batman is enjoying its greatest critical success ever, his comic book counterpart is suffering through its lowest point of quality since before Frank Miller rebooted the franchise in 1986. Starting with the far overrated Hush storyline in 2002 (basically a comic book version of a Jerry Bruckheimer movie--a cash cow with no plot), Batman comics have favored cheap gimmicks over strong writing. While this has certainly been annoying, it has only recently escalated to a level that threatens to put an irreversable stain on the series.

In the past, the arrival of a good writer could do wonders to make you forget the bad storylines of the past. This made it possible to tolerate the predictable answers to the secret identity of Hush, the aimless storytelling of Broken City, and the inconsistent characterization littered throughout Tim Drake's temporary replacement as Robin by his girlfriend. The return of former Robin Jason Todd (one of comics' few reliably dead characters) as a villian was troublesome, but it could at least be undone with a run of the mill "oh, he's just a clone" explanation. Last week, however, writer Bill Willingham and his editorial staff managed to draw their graffiti over the world of Batman with a permanent marker.

The story "War Crimes" set out to explain who really killed Stephanie Brown, the aforementioned replacement Robin thought to have died in Gotham City's recent gang war. Never mind that there was no real mystery behind Stephanie's death, as it was pretty much shown in full on the printed page. The story behind the story had to be told! You see, it turns out that Miss Brown really was killed when Leslie Thompkins, the doctor who helped raise Bruce Wayne after the murder of his parents, secretly refused to give her medical treatment for her injuries. It seems that ol' Leslie, whose strong pacifism caused her to frequently oppose Batman's violent methods, decided to make an example of Stephanie, killing her to discourage others from following in Bruce's line of work. Nothing like a murder to champion the cause of nonviolence.

Who cares if this illogical turn of events brazenly defies years of characterization? We're selling comics, people! The future of a beloved character is nothing compared to the value of a moment of cheap suspense. It should only be a matter of time before we find out that, as Linden suggests, the Joker is the product of a torrid affair between Alfred and Mrs. Wayne. That is, unless solid writing once again returns to the main Batman books, returning them to the splendor that now exists on screen in Batman Begins.

"Oh, she's just a clone" stories wanted.

2005 ACC Football Predictions

Here are my picks for this year's ACC football standings:

Atlantic Division
The race in the Atlantic should be an exciting one, as I could see any of the top 3 picks here going to the Championship game. The bottom teams here stand a better shot at knocking off one of the top ones than they do in the Coastal.

1. NC State
   I'm going out on a limb with this one, as BC and Florida State appear to be the popular picks. Still, I think it's undoubtable that the Wolfpack will be a contender. They return the core of a spectacular defense from last season, and over the past couple seasons they've been quite a formidable road team. They'll upset Tech in the season opener and take one of two out of their consecutive trips to Boston and Tallahassee.
2. Boston College
   Being the fabled final piece to the ACC's 12 team puzzle, the Eagles are the team I know least about. While I believe they might be as good as some people say, I think the ACC will provide them with more rigorous competition than they're used to in the Big East. Of course, that's what everyone said about Virginia Tech last year...
3. Florida State
   It brings me great pleasure to rank the Criminoles this low, but I think it's a legitimate spot for them. Leon Washington will be a force at running back and the defense will be strong, but their lack of a quarterback will make FSU one-dimensional.
4. Clemson
   It's an odd-numbered year, so Clemson might stand a chance at being good. Charlie Whitehurst would do well to try to duplicate his sophomore season and ignore the one he had last year, which earned him the timeless brand of "overrated."
5. Wake Forest
   Last year, Wake was within a few plays of beating some really great teams, yet ended up with a losing record. Their talent isn't good enough for talk of a title, but the team that finishes second in this division may be the one that loses to them. I'm glad they aren't on the Hoos' schedule.
6. Maryland
   Yes, I hate them. Yes, they'll also be worse than last year, losing more than they'll gain on defense and having no forseeable breakout stars to undo the effects of last year's fat and slow Ralph Friedgen offense.
   

Coastal Division
This division seems to be a fair bit more predictable than its counterpart. I pretty much agree with the official preseason media poll.

1. Virginia Tech
   Yes, I hate them. Yes, it's also impossible to deny that the team that won the conference last year returns the bulk of its starters and is just about every publication's pick. If Marcus Vick can curb his perverse desire for 15-year-old tail long enough to actually concentrate on football, they might not even miss 2004 Player of the Year Bryan Randall. Bear in mind, though, I'm hanging this pick on the strength of Vick's supporting cast, not the virtues of the dimwitted heir to the throne himself.
   
2. Miami
   The Canes are no doubt a team on the decline, and I don't have a clue who their quarterback is. Nevertheless, they're still loaded with four-star recruits, and a down year for Miami still equates to a banner year for most.
3. Virginia
   As much as I hope otherwise, I can't see how a team who had 7 players drafted by the NFL in the off-season gets better than 8-4 and rises to challenge the current powers of the ACC.
   
4. Georgia Tech
   They'll run neck and neck with Virginia until their meeting in Charlottesville on November 12, where they haven't won since 1990. If any team in the division rises as a sleeper, however, it'll be this one. They have a load of potential on offense with Reggie Ball at QB, Calvin Johnson at WR, and PJ Daniels at RB.
5. North Carolina
   The Heels were impressive in the second half of last season, but in all likelihood they'll be back to their old tricks this year. They haven't had a defense in years, and last year's playmaker on offense, Darian Durant, is gone.
6. Duke
   VMI better be scared over this matchup on Sept. 17. Everyone else can breath easy.

ACC Championship
Virginia Tech will avenge their season opening loss to defeat NC State and move on to the BCS. And then it's on to another offseason of scandal! Go Chokies!!!

2005-06 UVA Basketball Schedule Released

As football season looms upon us, basketball is the last thing on most sports fans' minds. However, the University of Virginia's basketball schedule was released today, and it bears noting that an extremely difficult year lies ahead. Road games against Arizona and Gonzaga might as well be chalked up as losses already, and a trip to the oft-dangerous Western Kentucky (who took the Cavs to double OT last year in Charlottesville) could also catch the team off guard. Perhaps the schedule's only saving grace is in its regular season finale. This is when the University hosts Maryland in the final game ever to be played at University Hall, returning the despicable Terps the favor they extended to us when they closed the doors to Cole Field House on our heads in 2002.