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Calling Out All March Madness Bracket Cheaters

2010-03-17T13:01:00.000-07:00

“Was that wrong? Should I not have done that? I'm sorry, I'm gonna have to plead ignorance on this one, because if I had known that sort of thing was frowned upon...” stated George Costanza in a famous episode of Seinfeld after getting caught with the cleaning lady where he worked.

Some people might ask similar questions while questionably filling out their NCAA March Madness brackets. They need George’s help to justify their methods. Often the stakes are hight for winner of March Madness brackets like money or even demonic plastic heads that resemble a certain pedophile looking Gonzaga player. Even if there is not money on the line or a creepy plastic trophy there is still a lot of pride for the winner. What am I talking about? I’m talking about 3 kinds of March Madness bracket filler-outers who are basically cheating when they fill our their brackets. I’m here to call you out.

First, and certainly the most offensive is the person who fills out their bracket exactly with all the higher ranked teams winning every game all the way to the final four. Almost every year I see a person who fills out their bracket straight by the numbers. What is the point of filling in the brackets if you’re just going to copy the numbers? I guess you have some hard decisions when you get your four #1 seeds to the Final Four. Too bad the brackets don’t tell you which team will win it all by the rankings, so sorry. The most logical pick would be just to take the best overall ranked team to win it all.

I do realize that these rankings are given by college basketball experts, but come on people take a chance. Filling out a bracket like this is just plain boring. Why not solve a really easy Sudoku puzzle instead because that’s basically what you’re doing. Not to get sexist, but I’m going to because I swear it’s always a girl who thinks she is so smart who picks all #1’s. It is stupid though. Only once in history has all four #1 seeds made it to the final four which was recently in 2008.

The second offenders are the ones who copy exactly what an ESPN analyst has. It’s not wrong to look at these experts opinions are, but to copy exactly their picks is dense. I know these are so called experts, but they are wrong all the time. This takes a little more work than the first offenders so I commend them for their determination. Think for yourselves people. This is supposed to be fun, not see who can copy and paste correctly.

Another offender in this category is one who waits till the end and copies exactly what their knowledgeable friend has except for one game; therefore, making that game the deciding factor. This is an especially jerk-store move when the only game difference is one game that the other person might be gambling on. Anyone one who does this is basically the spawn of Satan and should be treated as such.

The third and final way to bracket cheat is one that I have been guilty of, but I have repented and will not do this again. Some might say that this isn’t cheating, but it is just increasing their odds. I say it all depends on what is at stake and how much you are going to brag after the victory. For instance, if I am in 10 different March Madness bracket groups and I pick different winners in each, then my odds for winning at least one of them increases, but my chances for losing the other 9 are probably higher. It’s not cheating to be in 10 different leagues or even to fill out more than one bracket, but it is very lame if you get worked in 9 leagues and then boast that you are this March Madness genius to the only league that you picked correctly.

I would like to see people pick the same teams in all their leagues. Put their money where their mouth is kind of thing. Then if you’re right you could win all 10 leagues. How sweet would that be? How much more satisfying is it to root for the teams you picked in all your leagues instead of saying, “Well it doesn’t matter who wins because I have a contingency plan for every possible scenario because I filled in so many brackets. This isn’t your stock portfolio, this is Madness. Let the 300 jokes stop here, because if you’re going to fill out 300 brackets I don’t want to hear it from you.

So now you know that these kinds of things are frowned upon. And yes George, it was wrong.

50 Greatest Movie Hero's of All-Time

2010-02-23T21:32:00.000-08:00

Top 50 Movie Hero’s

I’m back, but this time with the 50 greatest movie hero’s off all-time. I just completed the top 50 villains off all-time, but what good are bad villains without the baddest (aka coolest) of the good.

I thought that making a top 50 hero’s was even harder than deciding on top villains. There are so many great hero’s in movies. Almost every movie has a great hero. Making this list also made me wonder what is the definition of a hero. Sometimes hero’s do bad things. I did notice that for the most part the greatest of hero’s is generally one I can relate to. Other hero’s I wanted their superpowers or their great human qualities that I would like to emulate. I also noticed a thing about hero’s is that usually the greatest of hero’s have to make a choice between what they want and what would help others. Most of the greatest hero’s make the unselfish decisions and that is what makes them true hero’s.

50.Zorro (Antonio Banderas)- The Mask of Zorro

His mad skills with the blade can even cut women's clothes off. How could he not be a hero of mine.

49. Harry Potter (Daniel Radcliffe)- Harry Potter movies

I knew if I left this guy off the list all the Potter fans would freak out, but really this kid has been thru hell from the beginning and still manages to kick some Voldemort ass, Ooops, I said his name.

48. El Mariachi (Antonio Banderas) Desperado and Once Upon a Time in Mexico

The dude has a guitar case full of guns need I say more.

47. John Keating (Robin Williams) - Dead Poets Society

Inspired a bunch of sexually frustrated teen boys to better their lives, except if you count the one that shot and killed himself, but that wasn’t Keating’s fault.

46. Vincent Freeman (Ethan Hawke)- Gattaca

This is someone who I admire because he would literally do anything to reach his dream. Even when impossible he fought against all odds to achieve his ultimate goal.

45. Atticus Finch (Gregory Peck)- To Kill a Mocking Bird

This was #1 on AFI’s top hero list, not my #1, but still an amazing movie hero that deserves credit.

44. Leon (Jean Reno)- Leon: The Professional

Who else is going to teach a young Natalie Portman how to kill people?

43. Wally Ritchie (Bill Murray)- The Man Who Knew Too Little

I had to put Wally on as a top hero. The guy doesn’t even know he is a hero and that’s what makes him one of the funniest hero’s ever to hit the big screen.

42. Clarice Starling (Jodie Foster)- The Silence of the Lambs

She tries to capture a psychotic killer by getting advice from another psychotic killer, all in a day’s work for Agent Starling.

41. Ferris Bueller (Matthew Broderick)- Ferris Bueller’s Day Off

Just like Cameron so eloquently put it, “Ferris Bueller you’re my hero.”

40. Ash (Bruce Campbell) Army of Darkness and Evil Dead movies

Who needs your right hand when you can have a chainsaw instead?

39. Aragorn (Viggo Mortensen)- Lord of the Rings movies

This hero kicks orc trash all while he supposed to be the king of middle earth. Do your hear him complain? Yeah, I didn’t think so.

38. John Rambo (Sylvester Stallone)- Rambo movies

Pretty much un-killable. Plus, he has probably racked up the highest body counts as far as hero’s go. And whenever Stallone needs money he comes to the rescue.

37. Marge Gunderson (Frances McDormand)- Fargo

Totally pregnant and still catches murdering conspirators, imagine what her kids are going to be like.

36. Obi-Wan Kenobi (Alec Guinness and Ewan McGregor)- Star Wars movies

A hero who sacrifices himself to save the galaxy. That or he has one hell of a disappearing trick.

35. Paul Rusesabagina (Don Cheadle) - Hotel Rwanda

Saves hundreds of lives in a real life tragedy, all while trying to be a good father and husband, now that’s a hero.

34. King Leonidas (Gerard Butler)- 300

This guy and his mighty 300 kill like a million Persians and do it with style. Plus, this dude kicks another bad dude into a bottomless pit after saying, “This is Sparta!” Now that is just cool.

33. The Bride (Uma Thurman)- Kill Bill movies

This hero certainly gets her revenge and then some. I like her as a hero because she is absolutely relentless in what she wants.

32. Rick Blaine (Humphrey Bogart)- Casablanca

For those who haven’t seen this movie your probably thinking I am just putting him on the list because of the classic nature of the film. You are wrong, this guy gave up the love of his life to better the world, that’s hero type stuff.

31. Samwise Gamgee (Sean Austin)- Lord of the Rings movies

Forget Frodo it was Sam that should get the credit for disposing of the notorious ring, all while his questionably gay friend was a total jackass. The look that Frodo gives Sam in the ending of the last film will forever haunt my dreams.

30. Guido Orefice (Roberto Benigni)- Life is Beautiful

Guido should win father of the century for his selfless love of his son.

29. John Preston (Christian Bale)- Equilibrium

If this guy has two guns, regardless of how many bad guys are shooting at him, he will pretty much kill every last one of them. Does that make him a hero? He did also bring down a fascist government if you need more proof.

28. Maggie Fitzgerald (Hilary Swank)- Million Dollar Baby

Probably one of the most tragic hero’s on the list, but the fact that she didn’t send people to kill her family is quite heroic.

27. Dr. Richard Kimble (Harrison Ford) - The Fugative

Finds his wife’s killer and beats the crap out of him, finds the guy who set him up and rocks his world. Do you see a pattern emerging here?

26. Optimus Prime (voice Peter Cullen) Transformers

Thank goodness we have Optimus Prime looking over us just in case anymore crazy magical cubes fall down to earth.

25. Wolverine (Hugh Jackman)- X-men movies

I wish I could heal quickly and have adamantium metal claws. Man, my life sucks.

24. Forrest Gump (Tom Hanks) - Forrest Gump

Some would say by sure luck Forrest is a hero, but I say yes he is quite dumb, but anyone with all the disadvantages in the world as Forrest Gump can be a hero, so can anyone.

23. Inspector ‘Tequila’ Yuen (Chow Yun-Fat)- Hard Boiled

Anyone who can jump out of an exploding building shooting bad guys all while holding an baby in his arms has got to be on the top list of movie hero’s.

22. Leonardo, Donatello, Raphael, Michelangelo - Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle movies

I couldn’t leave out my childhood hero’s from this list. Even the theme song correctly states that the Turtles are, ‘hero’s in a half shell.’ Turtle Power….yeah!

21. Rudy Ruettiger (Sean Austin)- Rudy

When you have to work as hard as Rudy does, it make’s you think that maybe being a hero is kind of overrated.

20. Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill) - Star Wars movies

He brings down the empire not by any of his fighting skills, but by his mercy and incredible ability to whine. “Father….Pleeeeeeeease.”

19. Moses (Charlton Heston)- The Ten Commandments

Nobody quite does it like the former Prez. of the NRA. Heston I mean, not Moses.

18. Spider-Man (Tobey Maguire)- Spider-Man movies

Spiderman is like the kid next door. This guy has all the flaws and insecurities that most of us have, yet still manages to accept his responsibility to be a hero. You know that whole great power = great responsibility crap.

17. Ethan Hunt (Tom Cruise) - Mission Impossible movies

The fact that he can jump and collide in mid-air from a speeding motorcycle only to fall 50 feet onto hard sand, and them battle to the death with his nemesis proves once again that this secret agent is a hero.

16. Butch Cassidy and the Sundance (Paul Newman & Robert Redford)- Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid

Not the brightest or maybe the most noble of hero’s, but these guys are impossible not to like.

15. Oskar Schindler (Liam Neeson)- Schindler's List

Saved lives from almost certain death. A hero who wished he could do more.

14. Superman (Christopher Reeve)- Superman movies

Superman is what many people think of when the word hero is mentioned. I personally think about the Seinfeld episode where Jerry wins the street race, but that’s just me.

13. Andy Dufresne (Tim Robbins)- The Shawshank Redemption

A man who never gave up hope. Considering his circumstances most of us would have been pretty pissed at life, but not this modern day Job.

12. Jack Ryan (Harrison Ford)- Patriot Games and Clear and Present Danger

This is the kind of guy America needs in their intelligence agencies, especially now that Obama is president. There is no gray area for this hero, "Right or Wrong!"

11. Neo (Keanu Reeves) - The Matrix movies

I think we all know a few people like this hero. A nerd in real life, but when it comes down to some computer game they are the bomb diggity.

10. The Terminator (Arnold Schwarzenegger)- Terminator 2 and 3

Anyone who can protect a 13 year old punk kid from a liquid metal terminator is an automatic top 10 hero.

9. William Wallace (Mel Gibson) - Braveheart

He gets my vote for a top hero not because of his awesome fighting skills, but for his motivational speaking abilities. Matt Foley could perhaps take a page out of William Wallace’s book.

8. Batman (Michael Keaton, Val Kilmer, and Christian Bale)- Batman movies

Yes that’s right, I purposefully left off George Clooney as Batman because that movie is such a joke. I am still trying to forget that garbage. I’ve seen TV movies that were better, TV movies people.

7. Maximus Decimus Meridius (Russell Crowe)- Gladiator

Yes, we are entertained, thank you for asking.

6. Ellen Ripley (Sigourney Weaver)- Alien movies

Ripley personifies what a female hero can be. She is not manly, yet not overly feminine, she just is a freakin’ hero.

5. Rocky Balboa (Sylvester Stallone)- Rocky movies

The ultimate underdog who just never quits. The thing about Rocky that is so appealing is that he is a hero regardless of if he wins or not, it is the effort that makes him a true hero.

4. John McClane (Bruce Willis) - Die Hard Movies

Sure he has a lot of bad luck, but John McClane is probably one of the toughest hero’s we have.

3. Han Solo (Harrison Ford)- Star Wars

There is a little Han Solo in us all. Think about it if you just saved the princess captured in a gigantic space station you would want a little money thrown your way too.

2. Indiana Jones (Harrison Ford)- Indiana Jones movies

Not the likeliest of hero’s if you think about it. He is kind of greedy person, but in the end Indy is all about finding his treasure and most of all saving the day.

1. James Bond (Sean Connery, Roger Moore, Pierce Brosnan, Daniel Craig)- James Bond movies

My favorite movie hero of all-time. Smart, smooth, rich, drives the sweetest cars, hooks up with the most beautiful ladies, all while saving the world. The ultimate natural man in all his glory. Who wouldn’t want to be this guy?

50 Greatest Movie Villains of All-time

2009-03-24T22:41:00.000-07:00

Top Movie Villains

I’m not sure what it is with top lists, but it just inspires me to make my own. I enjoy the inner argument that takes place in my mind. It is hard to make choices about who I like better as a villain, but the great thing about a top list is that I cannot be wrong because it is my opinion.

AFI inspired me to make my top 100 movies of all-time and now after looking at their website I decided to make the top 50 villains. They also have the top 50 hero’s to go along with that list that I will make shortly while I am bored at work and no longer have homework.

AFI considered some villains that I didn’t consider. For instance AFI’s list included Michael Corleone who I didn’t really consider to be the villain of Godfather 2. Same goes with a few of AFI’s choices, because I felt like the character was not truly the villain of the movie. So here it is in all its glory.

50. Pennywise- (Tim Curry)- IT
Ever wonder why are so many people afraid of clowns? Stop wondering.

49. Hal 9000- (Douglas Rain) - 2001 Space Odyssey
A calm computer that is completely evil only because the computer is trying to save itself, yet unforgettable as a sinister villain.

48. Shooter McGavin- (Christopher McDonald)- Happy Gilmore
Regardless of what happened in the parking lot after the U.S. open, Shooter is a memorable comedy movie villain.

47. Sid- (Erik von Detten)- Toy Story
As evil as a 10 year old kid could get.

46. John Doe- (Kevin Spacy) - Se7en
Although not in the movie very much this movie villain is as memorable as, we'll say the 7 deadly sins.

45. Percy Wetmore- (Doug Hutchinson)- The Green Mile
This guy is total wimp, not to mention he is so going to hell for squishing Mr. Jingles.

44. Judge Doom- (Christopher Lloyd)- Who Framed Roger Rabbit
Even immortal cartoon characters are scared of this guy.

43. Jimmy Markum- (Sean Penn)- Mystic River
I don’t think Sean Penn is acting at all in this movie, he is just himself, and in turn makes a great villain. Oh, go drink a gallon of "Milk" you political dingle-berry.

42. Dr. Elsa Schneider- (Alison Doody)- Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade
The first movie where I saw a beautiful woman become totally evil, and now it is a daily reoccurring thing.

41. Captin Vidal- (Sergi Lopez) - Pan's Labryinth
Holy Garbage this guy is horrible. I might not speak Spanish, but he would scare the hell out of me.

40. Jigsaw- (Tobin Bell) -Saw
This villain will either blow you mind or blow your mind off, but at least he gives you an ironic choice.

39. Ed Rooney- (Jeffery Jones)- Farris Bueller’s Day Off
The only bad guy school principle that sounds like Dirty Harry. I love this villain, Farris getting the day off would not be half as sweet without screwing over Rooney at the same time.

38. Brick Top- (Alan Ford)- Snatch
I’ll never look at pig owners the same again.

37. Magneto- (Ian McKellen)- X-Men movies
There is nothing like a good villain who truly believes his cause. Plus the fact that he can control metal is also very cool. Imagine all the fun you could have at a amusement park.

36. Ben Wade- (Russell Crowe)- 3:10 to Yuma
Bad Guys respecting good guys, doesn’t happen every day, but I like it.

35. Sheriff Beauford T. Justice- (Jackie Gleason)- Smokey and the Bandit
Not necessarily a villain per se, but he is the one chasing the good guys in a hilarious fashion.

34. Keyser Soze- (?????)- Usual Suspects
I can’t say why this is one of my favorite movie villains, but those who have seen it know what I mean.

33. Supreme Chancellor Palpatine- (Ian McDiarmid)- Star Wars Movies
Very persuading, especially for horny self-indulgent Jedi’s

32. Stay Puft Marshmallow Man- Ghostbusters
I know this isn’t a real person, but still one of the most memorable villains of
all-time. The few minutes he is on screen this delicious villain steals the show.

31. The Shredderi- (James Saito) - Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles movies
One of the greatest superhero villains, the dude survived in a garbage truck compactor.

30. Jack Torrance- (Jack Nicholson)- The Shining
See what happens when men go without TV all winter.

29. Catwoman- (Michelle Pfeiffer) Batman Returns
One of the only redeeming qualities in Batman Returns is this sexy vixen.

28. Commodus- (Joaquin Phoenix)- Gladiator
Total coward + Falling in love with your sister + killing your father = movie villain greatness.

27. Jaws- (Richard Kiel)- Spy Who Loved Me (James Bond movies not the shark)
My Favorite Bond baddie, and that is saying a lot because there are tons. This guy never says a word, but you know he is all business. Plus, he beat the crap out of Shooter in the parking lot.

26. Xenia Onatopp- (Famke Janssen)- Goldeneye
The most memorable bad Bond girl ever, and she’s pretty smokin’ hot.

25. Capitan Ivan Drago- (Dolph Lundgren)- Rocky 4
“If he dies, he dies.” Classic line from this movie villain. I swear he is related to Andre Kirilenko.

24. Marsellus Wallace- (Ving Rhames)- Pulp Fiction
The bad ass of all movie villains.

23. Gollum- (Andy Serkis) -The Two Towers
More memorable than that pissed off lighthouse they call Sauron

22. Castor Troy- (John Travolta and Nickolas Cage)- Face Off
I know this is played by two people in the same movie, but that’s what makes this bad guy so awesome.

21. Vincent- (Tom Cruise)- Collateral
Is it the gray hair? Or perhaps it's the fact that he is killing several people? Either way Tom Cruise plays a awesome bad guy in this movie. He could scare the Scientology out of Anybody, well that is except himself.

20. The Predator- (Kevin Peter Hall)- The Predator
He may be one ugly mother……..but he is also one of the most memorable creatures Hollywood has ever produced not to mention all the killer gadgets.

19. Col. William Tavington- (Jason Isaacs) - The Patriot
I hated this bad guy so bad at the end of the movie I nearly cheered in the theater when he died.

18. Bill Lumbergh- (Gary Cole)- Office Space
Yeah...that would be great if this villain was in more movies, or how about a small role on the Office. Michael Scott and this guy could have a field day together.

17. Biff Tannen- (Thomas F. Wilson)- Back To The Future movies
Biff is like the ultimate bully of all-time. If he only knew about himself before he was adding coats of wax to George McFly’s new car.

16. Max Cady- (Robert De Niro)- Cape Fear
De Niro is so creepy in this movie that he will probably never be invited to his own children’s birthday parties

15. T1000- (Robert Patrick)- Terminator 2
Liquid Metal are you kidding me? This is one villain who I thought during the movie that there is no way the good guys can kill him, but thanks to convenient, right off the freeway steel factory I was wrong.

14. Agent Smith- (Hugo Weaving)- The Matrix movies
The reason why Smith is a great bad guy is that he truly despises human beings. That hatred gives him great power and satisfaction even for a computer program gone bad.

13. Dark Helmet- (Rick Moranis)- Spaceballs
Dark Helmet plays with dolls, combs deserts, and watches movies before they are even released, yet the Swartz is still strong with him.

12. The Terminator- (Arnold Schwarzenegger)- The Terminator
This bad guy was brutal and unstoppable. Arnold may never win an Oscar, but he wins my heart as one of the greatest villains ever.

11. Hans Gruber- (Alan Rickman)- Die Hard
I’m still not sure why this movie villain is so great, but he just is. Maybe it is the fact that all he really wants is money, yet hides behind a mask of terrorism, or maybe he is just freakin’ cool.

10. Dr. Evil- (Mike Myers)- Austin Powers movies
I would say that Dr. Evil is funnier than Austin Powers himself. These movies would probably suck without him.

9. Tommy DeVito- (Joe Pesci) – Goodfellas
This guy gets ranked so high because of his infamous villainy, but this is a real person who really did most of what the character in the movie does. Kind of cool and sick eh?

8. The Joker- (Jack Nicholson)- Batman
Funny, yet diabolically genius. The fact that he smiles all the time just makes this villain even more ridiculously awesome.

7. Amon Goeth- (Ralph Fiennes)- Schindler’s list
If you looked up ‘pure evil’ in the dictionary this guys picture would be right there next to the definition.

6. Alonzo Harris- (Denzel Washington)- Training Day
Alonzo is probably the most manipulative villain ever. It’s like a teeter-totter with this guy, one minute you think he’s cool the next, he’s got you by some kind of shoe program that not even King Kong can give him crap about.

5. Bill the Butcher- (Daniel Day-Lewis)- Gangs of New York
This is one most brutal villains in movie history. Everything he does and is about is rough, yet one reason why he is a top baddie is his respect for an honorable opponent.

4. Anton Chigurh- (Javier Bardem)- No Country for Old Men
Unstoppable, totally insane, yet a man of principles. This guy stole the show as the baddie who even makes hero’s quit.

3. Hannibal Lecter- (Anthony Hopkins)- Silence of the Lambs
The guy eats people for fun. Good-freakin-night! We are all screwed. Hannibal is one of the greatest villains of all time because he is smart and calm, but absolutely insane.

2. The Joker- (Heath Ledger)- Batman: The Dark Knight
Wow, is Mom spelled backwards, and I must say I wouldn't want this crazy around my Mom. I must say I was worried before the movie came out that his role would be overrated because he died, but seriously he was simply amazing.

1. Darth Vader- (James Earl Jones)- Star Wars movies
The only bad guy to have 3 films based off how he became who he is. His fall from good is interesting, but it is his role as a villain that gives him top honors. Just by the way he breathes alone one can tell that he is not messing around. And like all of us, he has just a smidgeon of good inside him that ultimately saves the galaxy. Does that make him a hero?

The Top 50 Video Games of All-time

2008-10-20T09:58:00.000-07:00

Top 50 Video Games of All-Time

Cheers to more top something of all-time lists! Seriously though this was a tough list to make. It also makes me think about all that time I wasted, but it wasn’t really wasted it was fun. I have had some great times with video games, and some bad. Like the time I punched my Game Gear after throwing yet another interception in Joe Montana’s Football and had to get the screen repaired. It’s frustrating video game moments like those that make winning the Super Bowl just that much sweeter.

I must say this list is more subjective than other lists that I have done. If you are reading this and you are thinking what about such ‘n’ such game, chances are I might have never played it. Also, I don’t play RPG’s. I think for the most part they aren’t fun, so don’t send me messages of hate because Zelda is not on here. Not to mention I never had a Sega Dreamcast, so I can’t really put a game on that system as one of my top games of all-time. One can only play the games on the systems were available to that particular person. So now you have been warned, and without further fluff from me here it is.

50. Scorched Earth (PC)
Simple tank game, but I played this game for hours and lot of it was at school. Dude….Sweeet….

49. Road Rash (N64)
Hitting other people on their motorcycles with baseball bats has never been this much fun.

48. Major League Pro Baseball (Game Gear)
Yes it’s true, I had a Game Gear, and the game I played non-stop was this great baseball game.

47. Dr. Mario (NES)
Hours wasted tying to beat friends in this simple-stupid, yet unbelievably addicting game
.
46. The Simpson’s (Arcade)
I love the Simpson’s, and I loved to pump quarters into this arcade.

45. Doom (PC)
This was the first game I remember being legitimately freaked out while I playing, yet it was totally revolutionary and fun.

44. Sonic the Hedgehog (Sega Genesis)
Not as good as Mario was, but Sega did have a good thing going with this game.

43. Major League Baseball featuring Ken Griffey Jr. (N64)
Home run derbies galore, as well as the un-hittable knuckleball makes this game a real classic.

42. X-Men (Arcade)
One of the best hack’n’slash games of our time, with sweet mutant powers.

41. Monopoly (NES)
I know what your thinking, bored games as a top video game, but after playing this it makes the board game totally lame. Could be the greatest video game soundtrack of all-time.

40. Mega Man II (NES)
The variety and creativity of each boss-man one would have to beat made this a real standout.

39. Super Mario World (SNES)
Played this game recently and I totally suck. It got me thinking, was I ever good at this great game?

38. Mortal Kombat (Arcade)
Sure it pushed the limits of violence, but this really was a fun game.

37. Super Mario Bros. (NES)
Pretty much the game that started it all is still fun to this day and that is saying a lot considering all the technological improvements over the years.

36. Day of the Tentacle (PC)
An interesting game that one really had to think to solve the many puzzles. It was the first game I remember playing that was legitimately funny.

35. Oregon Trail II (PC)
I pretty much went hunting the entire time, but even besides all the buffalo killing this game was educational and fun. I think I learned more playing this game than I did my entire senior year of high school, seriously.

34. Tony Hawk Pro Skater (PS1)
This game made skateboarding cool again for an entire new generation. It’s too bad I can barley get on a skateboard without immediately falling, but I can rack up a 900 on this game.

33. Super Bomberman(SNES)
Oh the fun that we had playing this great multiplayer game.

32. Orange Box (Half Life 2 and Portals) (Xbox 360)
Half Life 2 is an amazing shooter that in my opinion has the greatest weapon in all of games, aka the gravity gun. Portals is a game that will totally blow your mind and it is absolutely hilarious.

31. NFL Blitz (Arcade)
Your never quite out of it in this extreme football game. Plus, I love hitting the other team after the play is dead.

30. Karaoke Revolution (PS2)
After making a fool out of myself so many times, how could I not put this game on the list.

29. Contra (NES)
The famous code to get 30 lives is only as good as the game you get the lives, and trust me your going to need it.

28. Tiger woods 2004 (PS2)
I love golf, but this game was amazing, and I believe this was my favorite year.

27. Grand Theft Auto III (PS2)
Totally inappropriate in almost everyway, but also ridiculously fun in almost everyway.

26. NBA Live 96 (PS1)
Love the NBA live series, but this was the year of cheap fouls and Cliff Robinson shooting the lights out at the 3-point line.

25. Mike Tyson's Punch-Out (NES)
I still can’t seem to beat soda-popinski back then and now, better yet Mike Tyson.

24. Sim City 2000 (PC)
One would think managing a city would be really boring, but this was one of the first games I remember that let you create your own world literally, however you wanted it to.

23. Worms Armageddon (PC)
Full of strategy and the right amount of luck made this game an absolute classic. Plus you get to name your own cute little worms, and attach different voices to them.

22. Rock Band (Xbox 360)
Anyone who ever wanted to be a rock star can now be one thanks to this game. Great songs and good times with friends is the recipe for a great game.

I'm actually not even playing, but I grabbed a broom and jamed out.

21. Burnout 3 (PS2)
Burnout is the best car racing game of all-time. It rewards you for getting crazy with more burnout and that just makes you go even faster.

20. Civilization Revolution (Xbox 360)
If any other turn-based game is this fun I would like to play it, because I don’t think it’s possible.

19. Halo 3 (Xbox 360)
The first-player action is just okay, but the multiplayer possibilities are unmatched by any shooter game by far. You can even save your own sweet replays and share them with the rest of the world.

18. Super Mario Kart (SNES)
Do I even need to say why this game is so fun, everyone has played it and I don’t know anyone who didn’t like it.

17. NHL 95 (PC)
I played this game for about a year or two and I swear I probably averaged a game a day. I didn’t even really watch hockey, but this game was so fun I enjoy hockey now.

16. Super Mario 64 (N64)
The first true 3-D game I remember ever seeing, and it blew my mind. I wanted this game so bad I probably would have sold my soul to the devil just to play it.

15. Madden 2004 (PS2)
It was hard to pick a year because they all are great, but this was a standout year. This is a great game year in and year out.

14. Turtles (Arcade)
Now that I look back on this game I think it was designed to steal money from little kids and I was one of them, but I don’t care it was worth it.

13. Grand Theft Auto Vice City (PS2)
Being bad has never felt so good. I know you’ve heard that on probably a million tag lines for crappy 80’s movies, but it is so true when it comes to this amazing game.

12. NBA Jam: Tournament Edition (Arcade)
I remember when a buddy at school got this arcade in his house. We instantly became fast friends, wink, wink.

11 Twisted Metal 2 (PS1)
Probably on the best co-op games ever. And man Calypso sure did screw everybody at the end of the game didn’t he?

10. Halo (Xbox)
The game that started it all. Awesome in everyway. It took me a while to get used to the game’s controls, but now I can’t even pick up the old games that don’t use it’s ‘legendary’ and brilliant control scheme.

9. Gears of War (Xbox 360)
Brutally violent and totally satisfying. This game forced players to work on a team and actually talk with one another otherwise you would get screwed by those who worked together.

8. WCW vs NWO Revenge (N64)
Oh the wrestlers and the fun we had playing this game. I cannot even watch WWF style wrestling now because it is so stupid, but because this game was made it made all the stupid WWF stuff worth it.

7. Double Dragon II (NES)
I play this game a couple of times a month and I don’t mean back in the day I am talking about this year of 2008, crazy how good this game is.

6. Street Fighter II (Arcade)
Best fighting game ever. Plus almost every character has a super cheap move that if you learn you can always dominate newbie’s like M Bysons slide kick, man that's freakin' cheap.

5. Super Mario Bros. 3 (NES)
This was Mario on steroids back in the day. I still think this is the best and funnest (yes that is a word now) Mario game of all-time.

4. Warcraft II (PC)
Oh the brilliance of this game. This game’s strategy was absolutely pure genius, not to mention it was unbelievably fun.

3. Mario Kart 64 (N64)
No more taking turns, now we can play with 4 players in probably the greatest multiplayer game ever made.

Banana Jungle!

2. Goldeneye 007 (N64)
I already loved James Bond, and I liked shooting people, so this was naturally a nice fit for me in my life, but this game was simply amazing. It pretty much started multiplayer shooter games, and replaying the single player levels was still amazing.

1. Tecmo Super Bowl (NES)
The best game of all-time. I love football games, but this game was way ahead of its time. This game made playing for statistics even more important than winning. As long as my guys were ahead in all the major categories like QB passing yards then I was okay with a tough loss. The game play is perfect, not hard to pick up, but difficult to master. I still love and will forever play this game. Thank You Tecmo, thank you.

Courtney Neilson made me

2008-08-31T23:07:00.000-07:00

I have been inspired by Courtney to start blogging. She is officially the wind beneath my wings.

"Thank you. Thank You, Thank God for you Courtney Neilson, the wind beneath my wings."