2025 NFL Season Preview: Cardinals, Vikings, Texans, Broncos

Day five of my preseason 2025 NFL countdown starts with my number 16 team, the Arizona Cardinals.

The Cardinals looked somewhat competent last season. I was pretty off last year. I do feel like Kyler Murray has to do something big this year to instill confidence in the staff. The guy has all the tools, and I don't buy into the nonchalant stuff others say about him. But, he has fallen off a bit every season since his second year. He needs to bounce back. James Conner has proven to be a consistent back. He can rush for decent yardage and he has developed a pass catching game out of the backfield. Some are already jumping off the Marvin Harrison Jr bandwagon. Not me. He is too talented, too big and strong and too good at football. He should be light years ahead of where he was last season. I like Zay Jones. Trey McBride was a clutch fantasy pickup for me last season. And the O line is capable. The defense should be good too. Calais Campbell is still very productive. Josh Sweat is good. I love the second round selection of Will Johnson. He should be great and start right away. Zaven Collins is pretty good. And I love Budda Baker. The Cardinals looked to have a down season last year, and mildly exceeded expectations. I think they make another small leap and vault themselves into playoff contention. Ten wins seems very doable.

At number 15 I have the Minnesota Vikings. They're breaking in a new QB in JJ McCarthy. I had my issues with him while he was at Michigan, but he didn't have to really win games for them. They were a running team. But, when he had to make big plays in the passing game, he usually delivered. And he has won at every level so far, so maybe I shouldn't doubt him this much. Aaron Jones proved that age doesn't matter with him. I didn't miss him much, because Green Bay signed Josh Jacobs, but Jones was still productive and didn't miss too much time. Jordan Addison is suspended to start the year, so that's a bummer. But, they have Justin Jefferson. He or Ja'Marr Chase is the best wideout in the league. Jefferson will make most QB's look better than they might be, TJ Hockenson is one of the better tight ends in the league and the O line can block. The defense isn't the dominant unit of the past, but they are still pretty good. Joshua Mettulus just got a much deserved raise and Harrison Smith is one of the better safeties in the league. The D line has some unproven guys and the linebacking corps should be just fine. My only issue with the Vikings, they got exposed in round one of the playoffs last season, and now they have a new QB. They should still win ten or eleven games this year though.

At number 14 I have the Houston Texans. CJ Stroud is a very good NFL QB, but he wasn't as productive last season as he was in his rookie year. I don't think it will be the same thing this season, but I would still be mildly concerned if I was a fan of this team. Still, he has all the tools to be a top QB in this league. Joe Mixon was left out to dry by the Bengals and he looked just fine in Houston. He put up nice numbers as the number 1 back. Nico Collins is awesome. He proved his worth when he was out and the offense sputtered. Collins is Stroud's number one option and Collins seems to get better and better every season. Christian Kirk is a fast and nice number 2 wideout option. Dalton Schultz is a decent tight end and the O line is pretty good. The defense has gotten better every season under Demeco Ryans, which just so happens to be his forte. Will Anderson Jr is every bit worth the hype he had coming out of college. He is awesome. Danielle Hunter is a backfield wrecker. Henry To'oTo'o is an elite linebacker. Derek Stingley Jr is a great corner. Kamari Lasseter has proven himself and CJ Garnder-Johnson can do some good stuff. The Texans are good and should easily win their division. Eleven wins seems easy to predict.

The final team for the day, and the week for that matter, coming in at number 13 I have the Denver Broncos. I was dead wrong about this team and Bo Nix last season. I was certain he was going to bust and the Broncos would regret taking him in the top 12. My mistake. Nix showed out and looked like the Broncos QB of the future. He should be even better this season. I'm not so high on the run game with JK Dobbins and RJ Harvey. Dobbins had a nice bounce back last season, but I don't think he will get the needed touches in Denver. And I know zero about Harvey. Courtland Sutton was better than advertised. Marvin Mims Jr is intriguing to me. And Evan Engram had a good season last year. The O line, as per usual in Denver, is good. The big names on the defense are gone, but they do still have Patrick Surtain who is legit. Nik Bonito is a good linebacker. I like Johnathon Cooper on the D line. This is a well constructed roster with a good head coach and a solid QB. The Broncos are back and they may surpass the Chiefs in that division as early as this season. I think they will win eleven, maybe twelve games.

That does it for today and this week. Come back Monday for my next four teams. 

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing and the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast.

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2025 NFL Season Preview: Cowboys, 49ers, Jaguars, Bears

As we enter day four of my preseason 2025 NFL countdown, we are now in the top 20. These teams should all compete, at some point, for a playoff spot.

At number 20 I have the Dallas Cowboys. They need to resolve this Micah Parsons trade request, because they need that guy if they want their defense to make any noise. He is too good and too important to that scheme to not have him in the building. It would be a big mistake to not retain him and to not pay him. The guy is worth big time money. I feel like this is Dak Prescott's last ride. He has had a ton of chances, is a solid QB, but cannot seem to perform when it matters most. They're thin at running back. Javonte Williams is the starter, and I couldn't tell you one thing about him. And the backups are no different. CeeDee Lamb is awesome. He's fast, has great hands and runs wonderful routes. He just needs the ball. The O line was the best part of this offense until a few years ago. Now they look like a work in progress. I already mentioned Parsons' importance to this defense. Without him it could be rough. Mazi Smith has potential, he just has to stay healthy. Trevon Diggs had a moment two seasons ago, but last year felt more like the norm for him. Kenneth Murray Jr looked awesome in college, but he has yet to figure out the NFL. Parsons is the engine that runs this defense, and if he is gone, that would be bad news. This feels like a last ride for this version of the Cowboys. They feel like a ten win team if the roster doesn't change.

At number 19 I have the San Francisco 49ers. Well, they paid Brock Purdy, which I think was a bad move. It reminds me of the time the Giants picked Daniel Jones as the face of their team. Purdy played well because of the guys around him. And a good portion of those guys are gone. Christian McCaffery is still around, but his legs are seemingly always injured. I simply do not trust him to stay on the field for more than five games any season now. Deebo Samuel got out of there, and Brandon Aiyuk, who I think is the number 1 wideout there, seems to want out as well. And if it isn't him that wants out, it has to be number 2 wideout Jajuan Jennings. That's not a good thing. George Kittle seems to care more about smelling salts than wins at this point in his career. Trent Williams is a star offensive lineman, but the rest of the O line is unknown to me. The defense is supposed to be the calling card of this team, but it is not the elite unit it was a few seasons ago. I despise everything about Nick Bosa, so I won't say anything about him at all besides that. Fred Warner is still good, but he is getting older. And the secondary doesn't seem to have the names that it used to. I think this team will regret paying Purdy and Aiyuk so much money. And that will result in a eight or nine win team this season.

At number 18 I have the Jacksonville Jaguars. Trevor Lawrence got paid last year, and then missed a ton of time. He needs to put it together. He has not lived up to the hype, but he is a solid QB. Travis Etienne Jr proved he can be an every down back in the NFL. He is good. Brian Thomas Jr showed out last year and I see more of that this year. Travis Hunter has a chance to play both ways and win both offensive and defensive rookie of the year. He is going to be electric to watch in the NFL. The O line is just fine. The defense could be decent this season too. Arik Armstead can still get to the QB. Travon Walker was a former number one overall pick and he showed signs of growth last year. Jourdan Lewis was a decent pickup at corner. And Travis Hunter should see snaps in the secondary as well. The Jags have the guys to win double digit games. Last season should be an anomaly. I believe they should win ten games.

The final team for the day, coming in at number 17 I have the Chicago Bears. This team addressed some serious needs this offseason and in the draft. I still believe Caleb Williams can do great things. He had no time last year and he was a rookie. There was always going to be a learning curve. I think he will be much better this season. D'Andre Swift is a solid running back and can catch the ball out of the backfield. DJ Moore and Rome Odunze looked good last year, and I love that they took both Colston Loveland and Luther Burden to shore up the receiving group. I like what they are building there. And they brought in a few solid O lineman to help give Williams more time in the pocket. Montez Sweat played great after being traded there. Tremaine Edmunds is a very good linebacker. Kyler Gordon and Kevin Byard make for a solid duo in the secondary. The Bears are coming and will be good very soon. Maybe even this season. The only problem for them is that the division is still really good too. But, I could see this team winning ten games and becoming a legit playoff contender this season.

That's it for today. Come back tomorrow for the next four teams. 

 Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing and the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast.

Come and support Ty and the podcast on Patreon.

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2025 NFL Season Preview: Raiders, Falcons, Patriots, Seahawks

Welcome back to my preseason 2025 NFL countdown.

Coming in at number 24 I have the Las Vegas Raiders. That is still hard for me to remember. I was about to type in Oakland. Anyway, this team may change cities, but they are still pretty mediocre. I think they missed the boat when they decided to not go with their special teams coach to be the head guy four years ago. Since then they have been very middle of the road. I wonder if Pete Carroll will make much of a difference. The dude is a football genius, but he is old. I wonder if maybe the game has passed him by. I do like that they went out and got Geno Smith. Smith is not a legendary QB, but the guy is consistent. He will put up solid numbers. I adore Ashton Jeanty. The guy was amazing as the lone option at Boise State. But it does take highly drafted rookie running backs more time than most teams like. The wideout group is not much to take delight in. And while Brock Bowers is a good player, he is a douche and a bro and I despise his off field nonsense. The O line isn't great either. Maxx Crosby is another good player, but stinks as an off field person. no matter how much money he gives to his alma mater. Jeremy Chinn may end up being a solid pickup in the secondary. But it is pretty dire for that defense besides the two names I mentioned. But, Pete Carroll knows defense and can get extra out of unexpected names. His magic may work here, but he is, as I mentioned before, very old and getting older everyday like the rest of us. The Raiders made a few good offseason moves, but it won't be enough to surpass the Chiefs or Broncos. This is an eight win team at the very best.

At number 23 I have the Atlanta Falcons. Maybe they should be higher some might say, but this feels right to me. They finally gave up on Kirk Cousins and moved on to a much better option in Michael Penix. He has a better arm and can move in and out of the pocket. Bijan Robinson had a solid second year in the league, and maybe that growth continues. And Drake London has solidified himself as a top 15 wideout in the league. But Kyle Pitts has never been able to put it together. Maybe he is the player he will always be at this point. Darnell Moody cannot stay healthy. Ray-Ray McCloud is a speedster and nothing more. And the O line isn't top tier. The defense has guys. I like Leonard Floyd at linebacker. James Pearce Jr was a good late first round pick for them. Jessie Bates III is awesome. But this defense needs to put it together. I think hiring Raheem Morris was perfect for that, he is just going to need more out of his offense. I could see the Falcons pushing for the playoffs, their division isn't great. But anymore than nine wins seems like a stretch to me.

At number 22 I have the New England Patriots. First off, they did Jerrod Mayo dirty. I don't know what they expected from him last season, but he deserved a shot to work it out with this somewhat rebuilt roster. Drake Maye looks decent. He came along slowly last year, which was the right thing to do. And near the end of the season he showed some flashes. The kid has an arm and he's mobile. Rhamondre Stevenson is an okay back, but he tends to fumble more than you'd like. He also doesn't score a ton of td's. Stefon Diggs is starting to seemingly play for a new team every season, but the dude puts up numbers. Hunter Henry is a reliable tight end. And the O line, on paper, looks to be better. The defense is an interesting mix. Jabrill Peppers and Christian Gonzalez are very middle of the road, but solid enough to have to game plan around. The D line looks to be coming together and looks kind of stout. The linebacking corps is blah, but if they can tackle they should be okay. The Patriots feel like a team on the rise. They have been building a solid team for the past couple of years. And with the Jets and Dolphins looking to take a step back, maybe the Patriots win nine or ten games this season, but I see eight as the more likely outcome.

My final team for the day, coming in at number 21 I have the Seattle Seahawks. They are the team that paid Sam Darnold. You knew he was going to get a decent deal from someone and the Seahawks were that team. I don't know that he will be as successful with this team, but he does have confidence now and that can help him to play good football. Kenneth Walker III has proven to be a good three down running back, if he can stay on the field. I also love Zach Charbonnet as his backup. He is great. Jaxson Smith-Njigba and Cooper Kuup are going to drive defenses nuts with their ability to get open and find the open spaces to turn short passes into big gains. The O line is much improved as well. Defense is why this team hired Mike Macdonald, and they were pretty good last year. Devon Witherspoon is a star. He is one of the best cover guys in the league. Leonard Williams and Demarcus Lawrence can wreck a backfield. Coby Bryant has shown flashes. And the linebacker group will make plays. The Seahawks are better. They have some pieces in place. A lot of their success this season will rely on the new guys they got on offense. I think those guys can push this team to ten wins and a good shot at the playoffs.

That's it for today. Come back tomorrow for the next four teams.

 Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing and the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast.

Come and support Ty and the podcast on Patreon.

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2025 NFL Season Preview: Giants, Jets, Panthers, Dolphins

Welcome to day two of my preseason 2025 NFL countdown.

Coming in at number 28 I have the New York Giants. I mean, this team just continues to stay stuck in the mud. I do like that they went out and signed Russell Wilson and Jameis Winston. For all the flaws those two may have, they can both still sling it. Wilson came on strong at the end of last season and looked solid. He helped guide the Steelers back to the playoffs. Winston is a true wild card, but the dude is confident. He may throw 30 picks, but he will also throw 30 tds. Jaxson Dart shouldn't see the field unless something bad happens. They truly whiffed when they picked Daniel Jones over Saquon Barkley. Barkley is a key cog in a Super Bowl champ now. The Giants are now relying on Tyrone Tracy Jr as their lead back. He is fine, but he is nowhere close to Saquon's world. Malik Nabers is a true number 1 wideout. He has every tool you want in a star receiver. He's awesome. It's pretty rough after that. They have no other threats on the outside and the O line is mediocre. The defense does have two studs in Kayvon Thibodeaux and rookie Abdul Carter. Those dudes have the ability to wreck backfields. And Brian Burns is still very productive. Then it is a list of unknowns for me. The defense should be the best unit on this team, but they are going to struggle to keep them in games. And the offense is still kind of a mystery outside of Malik Nabers. The Giants are the epitome of mediocre. They are a six win team, even with the new QB's, at the very best.

At number 27 I have the other New York team, the Jets. They are rid of Aaron Rodgers, thank goodness. And I do think Justin Fields is an upgrade because he is a threat to pass and run. Breece Hall is a very good running back 1, and Brealon Allen is one of the better backups in the league. Garrett Wilson hasn't popped just yet and Allen Lazard is old. The O line can't block, so Fields legs will come in handy. The defense is what keeps this team in games. Sauce Gardner is the best corner in the league. He is getting up to Darelle Revis levels for me. He takes away one side of the field. Quinnen Williams is a solid interior D lineman. Byron Cowart is a nice lineman eater right next to Williams. The linebacker corps can tackle. The issue for this defense, they are constantly on the field. They get next to no rest. That has to be tough for them. This defense deserves better. They are so good that they deserve an offense that can win them games and keep them off the field for a bit longer than usual for them. Maybe Fields and Hall will help, but maybe not. And that's the problem. The Jets may win seven games, but I feel like they're more likely to win five games, all of which are close.

At number 26 I have the Carolina Panthers. I think benching Bryce Young for a few games last season may be the best thing that has ever happened to him for his long term career. When he was reinserted into the starting role he looked good. He looked ready to lead and he looked every bit like the number one overall pick. Chuba Hubbard had some up and down moments last season, but maybe he has more up than down this year. I love that they took Tet McMillan at number nine. He has the makings of a top wideout in the league in a few years. Xavier Lagette will hopefully become more than a sound bite machine. Adam Thielen is washed. He is old now. The O line is worrisome, and I think they need to take some blame for how poorly Young played during his rookie year. The defense is very bland. I feel like every good defensive guy they get is now gone. They still have Jaycee Horn, but not much else. They are breaking in a whole bunch of new dudes and some also rans. The defense will be a work in progress in more ways than one. But, I do think the Panthers can look relevant this season. They have some weapons and they played well to finish off last year. I think seven wins would be a big deal for them this year.

The final team for today, at number 25 I have the Miami Dolphins. Things seem to be messy and worrisome in Miami right now. It feels like a bunch of players don't like the coaching staff and their system. Maybe that will change, but it is never a good sign when this stuff starts to get leaked. I like Tua Tagovailoa. He is a good QB with a strong arm. But he has had far too many concussions and maybe he needs to step away from the game. But that would leave them with Zach Wilson. Yikes. De'Von Achane is fast as lightning, but he also gets hurt constantly. Tyreek Hill is awesome, but he seems incredibly unhappy with this team. Jaylen Waddle is legit. And Darren Waller unretired to play for this team. The O line is not great. The defense is very suspect. I adore and will always root for Kenneth Grant, but he is a rookie and he is still pretty raw. He needs a little time to develop. Minkah Fitzpatrick was traded here, and while he is good, he is older. I love the name Storm Duck, who is on this team, but I couldn't tell you one thing about him and his game. And Bradley Chubb has never recreated his one great season. The Dolphins struggle to win games away from Miami. They also struggle to keep key players healthy and they cannot win a playoff game. This feels like a make or break season for this roster and coaching staff. Maybe eight wins will be enough to give them another chance with the team as currently constructed, but I don't see them winning any more games than that.

That's it for today. Come back tomorrow for my next four teams. 

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing and the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast.

Come and support Ty and the podcast on Patreon.

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SeedSing is funded by a group of awesome people. Join them by donating to SeedSing.

2025 NFL Season Preview: Browns, Saints, Colts, Titans

Strap in everyone, the next two weeks is going to be all football related content from me on the site. The NFL and college football seasons are right around the corner, and as I do every year, I'm going to do a comprehensive countdown. I'm going to start off ranking the NFL teams from 32-1. I will then do a postseason and awards prediction for the NFL. And then I will dedicate the final day to everything college football. This is my favorite sports time of the year and I cannot wait. Now, onto the NFL countdown.

Starting at number 32 I have the Cleveland Browns. This is a moribound franchise. They can't seem to do much right. I kind of hoped for Myles Garrett's sake that he would be elsewhere, but he signed a massive new contract and got paid. Outside of that, this team is bad. No one knows who will start at QB. The range is Joe Flacco to Dillon Gabriel, with Shadeur Sanders and Kenny Pickett in the middle. Flacco is old, but I bet he will start. Pickett is not very good, Sanders is currently nursing a sore arm and from what I've read, Gabriel has looked rough in camp so far. The running game has Jerome Ford, who, and Quinshon Judkins, who was recently arrested. Jerry Jeudy is a good wideout, but with no legit QB, that won't amount to much. David Njoku is also a solid tight end, but again, no real QB. And the O line is very, very bad. They may be the worst in the league. The defense, outside of Garrett, is not great either. I love Mason Graham, but he is a rookie and there will be growing pains. Denzel Ward got hurt recently. Grant Delpit hasn't broken out yet. And the linebacker corps is full of unknowns. The Browns may need to shoot for the number 1 pick, and with this roster that may happen easier than we currently think. I don't see the Browns winning anymore than three games, and I hope we get to watch Shadeur Sanders run this offense because he is, by far, the best option they have at QB.

Coming in at number 31 I have the New Orleans Saints. It feels weird ranking the Saints so low. They have been a relatively competitive team for the past decade. But now it seems like they are in some dire straits. Hell, they are letting Tyler Shough take first team reps at practice at QB. If you don't know who that is, go watch his combine. It is a true joke. I'd go with Spencer Rattler to be honest. They do still have Alvin Kamara, but he is old and seems unhappy in New Orleans. Chris Olave hasn't had that breakout just yet and Brandin Cooks is on what feels like his third team in three years. Juwan Johnson seems to get hurt a bunch. And the O line is mediocre. The defense is old or full of retreads. Cam Jordan was great about 6 years ago. Chase Young never lived up to the massive hype. Kool-Aid McKinstry is still young. And they don't have a ton of depth. The fans of the Saints deserve better than Tyler Shough as their starting QB and an unhappy Alvin Kamara. But, the current roster is mediocre at best. They may win four games, but no more than that.

At number 30 I have the Indianapolis Colts. What happened to this team? They always seemed to be in the playoff hunt, but now they are more likely to get the first overall pick than make the playoffs. I love the idea of Anthony Richardson at QB, but it hasn't panned out just yet. He has all the tools and the look of a star QB, but he is inconsistent and gets hurt a ton. He takes way too many hits. And his backup is Daniel Jones. Yikes. Johnathan Taylor is a very good back, but like most all pro running backs, he looks to be on the back end of his prime. Michael Pittman is a fine wideout, but he too gets hurt far too often. Tyler Warren was a solid pick at tight end, but he won't be playing college players anymore. His act may wear thin quickly. The O line is okay, but not great. The defense can be hit or miss. Kwity Paye has been very up and down. I adore Cam McGrone, but this is his first chance to start in the NFL. The secondary is full of players I have never heard of. The roster is full of doubts. They look good on paper, but the game is not played on paper and that is unfortunate for the Colts. If this team could stay healthy they'd be higher. But, since health is not guaranteed, this looks like a six win team at best.

The final team for the day, coming in at number 29, I have the Tennessee Titans. I love Cam Ward. He is going to be awesome. The Titans lucked out and grabbed the best player first overall in the last draft. But, he is a rookie and rookies notoriously struggle in year one in the NFL. And Ward will have his ups and downs. Tony Pollard kind of fell back to Earth being the number 1 running back on this roster. He can still be solid, but he won't put up great numbers. Calvin Ridley and Tyler Lockett make for a fast duo at wideout, but they are also very small. And the O line will be breaking in some new guys and a rookie. The defense is weird. Jeffery Simmons is great, but the guys surrounding him are no names. Arden Key is the only linebacker I know, and my memories of him are vague. The secondary is also very unproven. The Titans are in a full on rebuild and they did the best thing taking Ward number 1 overall. They now have a building block. But this will take time. The Titans are going to have a rough go of it for a couple of years. But if they stick it out, this team could be legit in three or four years. This year, they may win five games.

That's it for today. Come back tomorrow for my next four teams. 

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing and the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast.

Come and support Ty and the podcast on Patreon.

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Ty Wants to Watch "Weapons"

I was never really much of a fan of horror movies as a kid. I felt that if I was going to watch a movie, I wanted to have a good time and not be scared. I almost always chose sports or comedy movies. And if the two were in the same movie, that was gold for me.

As I get older though, I have found that I do like certain horror movies. I prefer psychological stuff when it comes to horror. Movies like "Black Swan", "The Babadook" and "A Clockwork Orange" are my style of horror. A few years ago I kept hearing people talk about this new horror director Zach Cregger and his new movie "Barbarian". The talk became a constant for me while listening to podcasts that I decided I was going to watch.

I was kind of floored by "Barbarian". Make no mistake, "Barbarian" is a very scary movie, but it also tells an interesting story and is filled with twists and turns. I loved the two different story arcs that met up near the end. The Skarsgaard that was in it was scary until it was revealed that he wasn't an actual bad guy. The scary person was unique in its horror persona and the movie has stayed with me for quite some time now.

Well, I'm here to say that Cregger has a new movie coming out, of which I just watched the trailer, and now I want to go see it. The movie is called "Weapons", and the trailer is so minimal that it has really sparked my interest. I have zero idea what it is about, and that is the mark of a good trailer for me. And the movie looks like it is going to be scary, psychological, maybe a tiny bit humorous and will stay with me just like "Barbarian" did. During the very short trailer we see a kid walking in a school hallway, we see another kid with bruises looking confused, a guy stabbing his face with a fork, another guy being covered in an oily like substance and it looks as if all the other characters scream very loudly at separate points. It is exactly what I want from a horror trailer. Seeing this makes me want to see the movie. I'm itching to know what the story is all about. I want to know why it's called "Weapons". I'm curious as to how it all connects. This is how to make a trailer in modern times. I don't want to know every beat of the story within a trailer. It is nice to leave something to the imagination. I like how ambiguous and vague it all seems. I went into "Barbarian" totally blind and that was the best way to see that movie. I may not watch another trailer for "Weapons". I feel like I want to know more, but I'd rather wait to find it all out in the theaters. If the movie is anywhere near as good as this trailer, Cregger is going to have another win to put in his hat.

If you like horror, especially psychological horror, go check out this trailer. It seems like there will be a good amount in this movie, alongside the traditional horror tropes. In the end, all I really know is I will be seeing "Weapons" in the theater. It is becoming a must watch for me. 

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing and the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast.

Come and support Ty and the podcast on Patreon.

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SeedSing is funded by a group of awesome people. Join them by donating to SeedSing.

Alamo Drafthouse is the Only Way to See a Movie

Yesterday I really gave a poor review to "Jurassic World: Rebirth", and I stand by that. I couldn't find one thing I really liked about it. But, outside of the movie, the theater we went to was amazing, and I want to give that some shine today.

We went to see the movie at the newish Alamo DraftHouse here in Saint Louis. That was pretty much the only reason I agreed to go see that movie. I recommended we see it there in fact. I have heard a ton about the Alamo DraftHouse. A lot of the people I hear on the podcasts I listen to constantly talk about seeing movies there. My wife has to travel to Austin quite a bit for work and she has raved about the one there. I always heard about the theater, but never made my way downtown to see a movie. That changed on Sunday and I, while disliking the movie, had a great time at the theater.

When we walked in I was instantly in love with the theater. They had old school and foreign movie posters all over their walls. They put all those old posters in there amongst new movies too. For every "The Jerk" or "Napoleon Dynamite" poster, there was a poster for "Wicked For Good" or "Together". It was neat to see the movie posters from other countries for famous movies. They had what I think was a French poster for "The Jerk". There were a ton of Spanish posters for classics like "Jaws" and "Alien". They had old school American posters for movies like the aforementioned "Napoleon Dynamite" and other movies like "Big Lebowski" and "Being John Malkovich". It was cool to see all these posters plastered all over the walls. As we made our way to the theater for our movie, when we walked in I loved the setup of the theater. It wasn't like most theaters. Every seat was at the same level, but lifted the further back you go. There were no steps to get to your seat. No one had to go up or down. We were all at the same level, but we could all see the screen very well. The service was incredible. Our server had a "Threat Level Midnight" shirt on, if you know you know, and he was an absolute delight. He really helped to guide us through our first visit. After we ordered we watched the stuff on screen prior to the movie. This wasn't the typical commercials you get at every other theater. This was a curated show of everything pertaining to dinosaurs. We got old Weird Al videos from the first "Jurassic Park" movie. They showed old school cartoons that were all dinosaur related. They showed older commercials for toys from previous "Jurassic Park" movies. It was neat to see something a little different. And the food was so much better than it had to be. We got very big sodas and water to drink. My son and I had chicken tenders that were fantastic and plentiful. Our fries were very tasty. My daughter had a wood fired pepperoni pizza. She let me try the pepperonis and they were great. My wife had loaded fries and she couldn't even finish them. I saw other people order popcorn and it came in a big silver bowl and there was a ton. Someone got the churro varietal near us and I could see very mini churros mixed in. It also smelled delicious. Most theater food is run of the mill, but this was above and beyond. It seems like they care about the product they are putting out there, and I love that.

While the movie wasn't good, the theater and the product and the ambiance and experience was all great and I will definitely be back in the very near future. I now understand the hype I have heard for years in regards to the Alamo DraftHouse. It is great. 

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing and the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast.

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Ty Watches "Jurassic World Rebirth"

I saw three movies this weekend, written about two that I liked, and now I'm going to talk about the one I wasn't so into.

My wife and I really love the original "Jurassic Park". It was one of my favorite movies growing up. I was obsessed with dinosaurs and seeing them "come back to life" was pretty important to me. They tried to make a few sequels that weren't so great. Although, I did find some things to enjoy in the third installment. Then Chris Pratt was tabbed to play the star in the reboot, "Jurassic World". These movies, especially the third one, were not for me. I am not the biggest Chris Pratt fan, the movies were dull, they had problematic storylines and they really phoned it in in the end. Hell, the third "Jurassic World" movie wasn't even really about dinosaurs. They decided to focus on giant mutated mosquitoes, and that was a bad, bad decision on their behalf. So, going into this new "Jurassic Park" movie, "Jurassic World: Rebirth", my expectations were very low.

And the movie delivered on those low expectations.

I told my wife after the movie was over that I actively disliked it. I couldn't find, for me, one thing that I really enjoyed. The story was slapdash and lazily put together. The direction was wonky and felt disengaged. Scarlett Johannson and Mahersela Ali are both way too good of actors to waste their time in a movie like this. It would have been better if they simply focused on Johnathan Bailey's character and just told his story. It's clear that the people behind Bailey are pushing to make him a star, and they should have given him the leeway in this movie to try out his stardom. He is already making a name for himself in "Wicked" and "Bridgerton" and this movie felt like another big shot for him. But he was not the main character, and I kind of think they should have made it all about him. But I also fully get it if you cast Johannson and Ali in a movie like this, they are going to be the leads. This was just another miss by the group making this movie.

As for the dinos, they were hideous and gross. This one, from what I can gather, was all about mutated dinosaurs, and I feel like they took that way, way too far. The D-Rex had what looked like a giant wart on the front of its head. It also had disgusting alien-like teeth that really bummed me out. I've always been a brachiosaurus guy myself, but they found a way to change these majestic creatures and gave them weird fin looking things on their necks. They also had some kind of hybrid pterodactyl-veliocraptor thing that was terrifying to see on the big screen, and not scary in a good way like the raptors in the first movie. They were gross and nasty and mean looking. I also very much dislike when an animal like a dinosaur can read human emotions and act on it. They did that far too many times in this movie. A guy threw a hammer at one, locked eyes with him and chased him down before eating him. The pterodactyl/veliocraptor thing was actively chasing down the humans in the movie. It was a total mess. And the whole family that got stranded at sea storyline was so pointless and added nothing but stress to the story.

I really do not like to sit down and bash stuff that I wish I had the audacity and intelligence to make, but this movie was very, very bad in my opinion. I do not recommend it. It does nothing to help the "Jurassic Park" movie. In fact, I'd say they may have to start all over because this was a total trainwreck. Clearly, I did not care for this movie. 

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing and the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast.

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Ty Watches "The Fantastic Four: First Steps"

My son really wanted to see the new "Fantastic Four" movie when it came out, and we took him on Saturday. All four of us went. We figured this was okay enough for our 9 year old to see, even though she's not all that interested in superhero content.

I really didn't know what to make when this movie was announced. They have tried many times to make a movie from this material, and each and every one has been pretty bad. I saw the 2005 one when it came out simply based on curiosity. Superhero movies weren't really a thing back then and I wanted to see how they would try to pull it off. It wasn't a very good movie in my opinion. It was too dull and not as fun as I wanted it to be. The story was blah and I walked away not very impressed. I did not see the sequel. I had no interest at all. I watched the 2015 version when it came to streaming and that movie is out and out bad. It had a great cast and tried to go darker, both in content and color, and it seemed to have a good story behind it. That movie was unequivocally bad. It was a truly awful movie. Then, RD had me watch the very first one that Roger Croman made in the 90's. It was rough. The movie was boring, CGI and special effects weren't close to what we have today and the actors seemed like they never wanted this movie to see the light of day. So, having all of that in my mind heading into this version may not have been the best impression.

I will say, the casting was great. I love Pedro Pascal. I don't know much about Vanessa Kirby, but I know she is a highly regarded actor. Joseph Quinn has been a star in two main things, and this movie allows his star to shine through. And I adore Eben Moss-Bachrach from "The Bear". They nailed it. And, as the movie unfolded, I found myself interested in what was going on and following along with the story. They don't explain how they got powers, we are introduced to them as superheroes that the world already loves. I liked that. We don't need the backstory. Most people already know the Fantastic Four's backstory. And the rest of the way, the movie was a delight. The action sequences were great, especially the finale. I loved the whole idea of a pregnant superhero. Seeing people adore, then get mad at, and then adore them again felt as realistic as they can make a movie like this. And Vanessa Kirby gives a truly powerhouse performance. She is, hands down, the best part of this whole movie. I believed her character arc, how she reacted when she was giving birth, her refusal to bow down to anyone and how strong and powerful she proved to be in the end. She was awesome.

Overall, this version of "The Fantastic Four" finally found a way to make this group work on screen. I enjoyed this movie. I found it very solid and a good time. I wished they weren't going to make anymore of these, but we know that is not the case. I'd prefer if they just walked away knowing that they finally did it. I recommend this movie, especially for fans of superhero stories. 

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing and the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast.

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Ty Watches "Happy Gilmore 2"

I watched “Happy Gilmore 2”. Let’s discuss

I was hesitant/excited for "Happy Gilmore 2". I was hesitant because they didn't have to do this. I know that the original "Happy Gilmore" isn't a great movie, but I love it. It is my childhood. I could, and still can for that matter, almost quote that movie line for line. I have tried to show it to my kids in the past, but they don't have the same fervor for it as me, and that's okay. Back in the day my friends and I loved it. We would watch it over and over again and I feel like they nailed it. This was a perfect movie for young me and for my fandom towards Adam Sandler. I loved him on "SNL", "Billy Madison" was massive for me and now he was doing a sports movie. Never mind that it was hockey and golf, two sports I have zero interest in. This was Sandler making a big sports comedy. That was all I needed. And I adored it. I was excited because it was like they were bringing the team back together. Pretty much everyone who is still alive from the first movie is back. And if someone has passed, it was rumored there would be some kind of tribute. They were also bringing in newer faces to the franchise, and some are people I like. And they got Kyle Newachek to direct the movie, and you all know that I really love "Workaholics". So, as my wife and I sat down Friday night to watch, I was amped, but I also had my guard up.

Look, much like the first movie, "Happy Gilmore 2" isn't in the pantheon of great movies, but I really enjoyed myself while watching. This movie is a love letter to the original, and I'm fully on board with that. The new cameos were plentiful. Some worked. I thought Bad Bunny was great. Travis Kelce allowed himself to be made fun of. Eminem did a bang up job taking on a major role from the first movie. Hell, I even thought Jon Daly did a fine job. There were a few cameos I was on board with, but Sandler is nothing if not loyal to certain friends of his. The golf was just as fun this time around. I still love to see how Happy swings that driver when he's on the course. The real pro golfers in the movie knew the assignment and had fun with it. Getting Benny Safdie and Haley Joel Osment to play the villain roles was quite the coup. And Haley Joel Osment was great. And the story of an aging former pro who stepped away from the game is the perfect role for Sandler at his current age. He can dress how he wants, cast friends and family and have a damn good time making a fun movie. But the star of the movie, and scene stealer for that matter was Christopher McDonald reprising his role as Shooter McGavin. The story they told about his current whereabouts was a perfect follow up after his end in the first movie. He was funny, he seemed to love this role and he was all in on every joke and every callback to the first movie. My wife said she saw someone say they want a lone movie about him now, and I'm here for that.

I liked this movie. I had a good time. I never felt like they were taking what they did in the first movie for granted. I am usually prepared to dislike sequels, but "Happy Gilmore 2" worked for me. It was everything I wanted it to be and they never tried to make it something different. I respect that and I recommend this movie. 

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing and the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast.

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Ty Listens to "Don't Tap the Glass"

In some stunning news to me, Tyler, the Creator put out a new album this past Monday, “Don’t Tap the Glass”. I knew very little about it, obviously. But I wanted to give it a few listens before I wrote about it.

Spoiler alert, it’s a great record. I have read, and agree with, people saying this is his ode to late 90’s, early 2000’s hip hop. That is what I grew up on. I do prefer 80’s and early 90’s, but my taste grew as grew and grew in 99-2000. I should have known by the cover that this was the case. He has big arms like Ludacris used to wear. He has a big gold chain like 50 Cent used to wear. He’s rocking a mustache. And he’s clearly in his bag. The record is 10 songs, clocking in a a neat and tidy 28 minutes. He comes out hard and fast. I read that he had a listening party the night before it was released. It had a 5 dollar cover charge and no phones were allowed. He wanted people to listen and dance and have fun with no worries of ending up on the internet the next day. He has some rules for the record when it starts. You need to dance, listen loudly and you’re not to tap the glass. I don’t know why, but I like these directions. It puts me in the mood to have a good time. And this album fully delivers on that front. The beats are heavy, loud and made to nod your head to. Tyler rips the lyrics in each song. He has become a better rapper with each new record. His talent continues to grow as he gets older. He also gives the listener something new with each album. He’s at the point where he cannot be pigeonholed. He’s too good and too multi talented. My brother said this record felt like a grown up version of “Bastard”, and I fully agree. And while it’s not as vicious lyrically as “Bastard”, “Don’t Tap the Glass” is through and through hip hop. I love the videos he has now put out. I also love reading all the theories and thoughts about this version of Tyler, the Creator. Tyler is in a groove for me where he is damn near unstoppable. My son asked me if I now like him more than Kendrick Lamar, and I think I do. I love them both, but the sheer magnitude and hit rate of Tyler right now feels unmatched.

This record is great. It’s a perfect follow up to “Chromakopia”. It gives us classic Tyler with a 90’s bend and I’m here for it.

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing and the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast.

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R.I.P. Ozzy Osbourne

Ozzy Osbourne passed away a few days ago at the age of 76. This felt young to me, but I did see some clips from the final show that Black Sabbath just did, and it was not surprising. I guess he put everything he had left into that final show. I do want to say, I think it is awesome that he was able to do that before passing away. He gave his fans one last thing to remember him by, and from what I saw, he sounded pretty good for 76. He sounded a hell of a lot better than Bob Dyaln does now, and I adore Bob Dylan. But, for him to be able to put on this show with the remaining, and still alive, members of Black Sabbath, what a way to go out. I feel like it is almost fitting for him, but still tragic since he is now gone.

For me Ozzy got on my radar with his family's reality show, "The Osbournes". I knew a very little bit about him prior to the show, but the show put him on the map for me. He was always good for a great one liner or a zinger. I liked how he would say something kind or heartfelt to a family member and then tell them to "f off", except he used the full word. I will never forget when he helped his kids trash their neighbor's house, or yard or whatever, and he threw a rotten ham over the fence. He chucked that piece of meat, and when he ran off you could hear him cackling. He was the funniest one on that show, and that first season of the show was a big, big hit.

Through that show my dad and brothers started to tell me about his music career. When they first played "Crazy Train" for me I knew it right away because it was always played at sporting events. Hell, I bet it is still being played today. But his solo stuff never hit for me. Then my brother Seth introduced me to Black Sabbath. This changed my whole perspective on Ozzy. I instantly fell in love with Sabbath's music, and it was mainly due to Ozzy's voice. I loved their hits. "War Pigs", "Sweet Leaf" and "Changes" were the first ones I really loved. "Paranoid" hit me like a ton of bricks. I always assumed Sabbath was hard rock or metal, but my brother quickly showed me the error of my ways. I would play "War Pigs" over and over again. I loved that song, especially the message they were getting out there. The people who start wars never seem to fight them, instead leaving it to the poor. That is exactly what they were saying in that song. "Sweet Leaf" started with that loud cough, and then it became this excellent banger. I like that song as a pro marijuana song more than most psychedelic songs about weed. "Paranoid" has one of the best guitar riffs ever, and Ozzy's voice talent is undeniable when you hear him sing that song. But "Changes" has been my favorite of theirs ever since the first time I heard it. This is their ballad, their slow song, some may even call it a love song. I adore whatever they are trying to get out of the song. The lyrics are timeless and beautiful. This was the song that made me do a double take when I heard Ozzy sing because it is like nothing else in their catalog. It is such a pretty, sweet and tender song. Charles Bradley did it great justice when he covered it before passing. "Changes" is probably one of my favorite songs of all time.

Ozzy had a memorable and crazy life. He has left us with wonderful music and a hit tv show to keep his memory out there. And we can all go watch the final Black Sabbath show on the internet. Rest In Peace Ozzy Osbourne. I hope you're rocking out wherever you may be now. 

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing and the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast.

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Ty Watches "Squid Game" Final Season

My wife and I just finished the final season of "Squid Game". Let’s discuss.

Much like everyone else, "Squid Game" showed up on my radar, was a massive hit and then they had to find a way to make more and wrap all that up in a neat little bow. I thought they achieved that with this last go round. I was talking to my buddy Kirk about it recently, and when I brought up the show, he asked me if it was worth watching. I kind of struggled with this question at first thought, but after a minute I told him I think it is good enough to check out. After saying this I thought about it even more, and I think they did the whole thing justice with how they ended the series. I feel like it was going to be impossible to please everyone watching it, but for me they were able to pull it off.

I do want to say, for those that haven't yet watched the new season, minor spoilers will be revealed today.

The final six episodes picked up right where the second season ended. The players that are still alive are now back to playing the games and player 456 is not in a good place. What I think makes this show work so well is that the writers have found a way to make me as a viewer care about people that I'm certain are going to die. I get invested in their stories, and when one goes it still kind of hurts watching it on the screen. But, the fact of the matter in this fictional universe is only one person can win the games. Everyone else is going to be killed, or off themselves because that is how violent the games get on this show. This time around they added the element of a baby being pushed into the games. One of the contestants is pregnant and in this third installment she gives birth. After she offs herself, the baby becomes a very integral part of the game. Player 456 is tasked with protecting the baby and he takes this job very seriously. But, the other players have different ideas. The sheer fact that I cared for that fake baby's well being proves how well made this show was throughout its run. I also liked that they changed the games that were played, with the lone exception being Red Light Green Light. The new games were just as wild and some felt even harder than the first time around. The hide and seek game was terrifying, brutal and tragic. The jump rope was even more frightening than the bridge from season one for me. And the final squid game was horrific in how easy and heartbreaking it was in the end.

My only gripe with the final season was the 6 months later addition at the end. I understand why they did this and why other shows and movies do it as well, but I like to imagine for myself what all these fictional people are doing now, or how their families are dealing with them no longer being there. But that is just a minor gripe and the last scene opened this show up to be made in different countries, which I find intriguing.

All in all I liked how this show went about its business and how they finished it all off. I thought they gave a solid ending that people shouldn't be upset about at all. They did it justice, they made me care and I was in on all six final episodes. "Squid Game" was really great and I think, years from now, we will look back on how awesome this show was and will appreciate it even more. 

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing and the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast.

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Ty Watches "Eddington"

As well as seeing "Superman" last weekend, I was also able to get out and see Ari Aster's new movie "Eddington". It was a movie going kind of weekend for me. I feel like I'm paying for that now with how busy my week has been so far, and it's only Tuesday.

Anway, "Eddington" was a movie that came on my radar about two or three months ago. I like Ari Aster's movies that I've seen to this point. He makes interesting movies that can be scary, haunting and funny all at the same time. "Midsommar" kicked my butt and "Beau if Afraid" is a movie I still think about to this day. I haven't seen "Hereditary" yet, but that is only because I'm truly scared to watch it, regardless of how much people like that movie. Going into "Eddington", I was curious to see how he'd do a movie that takes place in May of 2020, right at the start of COVID and the pandemic here in America. I appreciate the fact that he wanted to make a movie about the pandemic and how it affected people differently.

"Eddington" focuses on Joaquin Phoenix's character Joe, who is a sheriff of a small town in New Mexico. Phoenix is incredible in this role. He takes this meager sheriff and turns him into a nightmare of the dark web and conspiracy theorist and someone who doesn't think before he speaks. He has a feud with the town mayor, Ted Garcia, played by Pedro Pascal. Whenever the two of them were on screen together it was this great blend of tension and anger and animosity towards one another. It's clear they each despise one another for similar reasons. Emma Stone plays Joe's wife, and she has personal issues. She is basically a homebody that thinks she always needs to rest. She has had past trauma and her doctor has told her not to get too stressed. This has turned her into a conspiracy theorist as well, and she kind of goes off the deep end. Austin Butler plays a cult leader. He has a small role in this, but man is he terrifying when he's on screen. Deirdre O'Connell plays Stone's mom, and she is as delusional as they get when it comes to COVID and conspiracy theories. Luke Grimes and Michael Ward play local cops who have different takes on protests and the pandemic. Cameron Mann and Matt Gomez Hidaka play high school grads trying to navigate life in early 2020. The cast is really good and they all do an admirable job in their roles. But make no mistake, this is Phoenix's movie. He is the star and lead here. Pascal has a big part too, but it is nothing compared to Phoenix. I feel like Phoenix and Aster have some kind of weird guy connection and they're going to see how far they can take it. So far it is working.

Like I mentioned before, the tension in the first 90 minutes of this movie is great. I would squirm and shift in my chair more than I thought necessary in that first part. I was invested in the feud and what was going to happen in the town and everyone starting their protests. Then there is a big shift that happens after a fundraiser at Pascal's house. This is where the movie kind of went off the rails for me. Don't get me wrong, I liked this movie. But this shift in tone is jarring and kind of comes out of nowhere. I feel like Aster had a really good idea and filled all of that within the first 90 minutes. But then he had to find a way to finish the movie and this is when he decided to go nuts. Some of the stuff in the last hour I still really like, but it pales in comparison with the first part of the movie. And the final 10 minutes is so depressing and so scary because it feels like what is going on today with politics, and that bums me out.

All in all I enjoyed this movie. It's the first movie that hearkens back to the pandemic in the right way so far for me. It tells that story best in my opinion. And if you're on the fence about seeing "Eddington", I say go just to see Joaquin Phoenix put on a masterclass in acting. His performance is worth the price of admission.. 

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing and the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast.

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Ty Watches "Superman"

Last Monday I wrote about the alt right griping about the new "Superman" movie. I also stated how much I wanted to see the movie, even more so after all the complaining. Yesterday me and my family all went out to see it, and I really, really enjoyed my theater going experience.

I was going to like this movie from the get go. I wanted to see it, my son really wanted to see it and after seeing the "backlash", that made me more excited to see it. The movie is fun from start to finish. There isn't really a dull moment throughout. The battle scenes are fun, the villain is chewing scenery and the story is a fun and easy one to follow.

I really enjoyed the guy who played Superman. His name is David Corenswet. I didn't know much about him prior to this movie. I saw he was in "Pearl" and "Twisters", among other things. He was dynamite as Superman/Clark Kent. He had the look down pat. There were moments in the movie when he, to me, looked exactly like Christopher Reeves. It was uncanny to me. He played Superman great. He was sweet, he wanted what was best for the world. He fought injustice and he had some funny things to say throughout the movie.

Rachel Brosnahan was very good as an updated Lois Lane. I like how she questioned things and when she would get into crazy situations, like pocket universes, she acted like what was happening was nuts, because it was certifiably insane what she was seeing. I appreciate that from an actor.

I mentioned scenery chewing earlier, and Nicholas Hoult did just that as Lex Luthor, and he was awesome. He was so bad, with zero redeeming qualities, and that is exactly what I want from my villains. He was bad through and through.

My personal favorite part of the movie was the Justice Gang. Green Lantern, Hawk Girl and Mr Terrific made up the Justice Gang. Two thirds of the group did not like this name by the way. Nathan Fillion as Guy Gardner/Green Lantern was my favorite thing in the whole movie. He was gruff and mean and stupid and fun as hell. He seemed to be having a great time playing this character and that really came off watching him onscreen. Isabela Merced was Hawk Girl, and while she didn't have a whole lot to do in the movie, she owned the screen time she got. She was also pretty funny with her quips. And Edi Gathegi was dynamite as Mr Terrific. He was funny, the smartest one in the Justice Gang and had the most memorable performance of any of the side characters. I am stoked for him that he is getting to do more of this super cool, and new to me superhero. I really like what he did with this performance.

As for the story, and why I guess some alt right idiots are mad, it is all about big tech and how they are ruining our world. Luthor is out for nothing but clout and fame and fortune and will stop at nothing to get it. He even tortured poor Crypto by making him chase fake squirrels. Crypto was adorable by the way, but that also doesn't mean that people should be mindlessly adopting puppies right now, especially if they can't take care of them. Anyway, Luthor is your typical tech bro who has more smarts. Superman doesn't like what he is doing in other countries or on Earth. He is just trying to keep the world a nice, and as normal a place that it can be. And all along the way he and the Justice Gang have to fight in pocket universes, help fight wars that Luthor has helped to start, fight Earth breaking into two parts, fight the past and the present and everything in between.

When we left the theater I said to my wife that I like James Gunn's direction because he knows how to make "fun movies". And that is what this "Superman" movie is, a fun, sweet superhero movie. I really liked it and am curious to see where they go with this new vision. It is off to a very promising start for me. 

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing and the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast.

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Thoughts on Bradley Beal and the Clippers

Bradley Beal has been bought out by the Suns and is now a member of the LA Clippers. Let’s discuss.

This has been in the makings for over a week now. I saw the signing, and at first blush I thought it was okay. It didn't really move me one way or the other. Beal is a better scorer than Norm Powell, but he isn't as reliable. Beal misses more games than Powell, or so it seems to me. He also adds another ball handler to a team in desperate need of someone besides James Harden who can control and start the offense. But, Beal is old and he is coming to a team filled with vets.

Looking at the Clippers starting five, at least who I think should start, we have Harden at point guard, Beal at the 2, Kawhi Leonard at the 3, John Collins at the 4 and Ivica Zubac at the 5. Coming off the bench we have Brook Lopez, Bogdan Bogdanovic, Nic Batum, Kris Dunn, Ben Simmons and Derrick Jones Jr amongst others. That is a bunch of well traveled veterans. As far as "young" guys they have on their roster, they all seem unproven. Kobe Brown has never been given a real chance. Patrick Baldwin Jr is on his third team already. I don't know a thing about guys like Kobe Sanders, Trentyn Flowers or Yanic Konan Niederhauser. These guys won't see the floor unless it is a true blowout or a bunch of guys have gotten injured.

When I look at this roster from a pure talent point, they have the guys to be a relatively deep regular season team. Bogdanovic is a step or two slower now, but he can still shoot. Brook Lopez could potentially start next to Zubac and push Collins to the bench. This would space the floor much better and give the Clippers two rim protectors. Nic Batum seems to be a guy that his teammates adore. And when he gets it going he can hit four or five straight threes in crucial moments. Kris Dunn is a zero on offense, but he is a hellish defender. He is one of the best perimeter defenders in the NBA. Ben Simmons' story is simply becoming dull and boring. And Derrick Jones Jr can jump out of the gym. That's just the bench guys. The starters look pretty good too. Harden is still putting up very good scoring and assist numbers. Bradley Beal can still put the ball in the hoop and create open space from time to time. Kawhi Leonard is one of the better mid range scorers and he can still get to the rim. He draws a ton of contact and gets to the line as well. John Collins is a good rim runner for Harden and his shot is a little better. And if Lopez starts here instead of Collins, he can shoot the three, especially from the corner, and he is still an upper tier rim protector. And Zubac has gotten slower but surely gotten better each and every year he has been in the NBA. Last season he seemed to kind of put it all together.

Again, on paper, this team can get right back where they were last season, and maybe win a round or two this time around. But, and this is the big, big but in my piece today, this team will simply not be healthy enough to be a true contender. I saw a headline that showed Kawhi, Beal and Harden and it said, "who is stooping this team?". The response couldn't have been more perfect. It read, "doubtful, questionable and playoffs". That is exactly what happens every year, especially with these three guys, and why should we expect anything different now. Kawhi Leonard is one of my all time favorite players but he cannot stay healthy. He played over 40 games last season and we were all shocked. He can do so many things so wonderfully on a basketball court, he just isn't out there nearly enough to leave a true or lasting impact. Beal will miss anywhere from 20 to 30 games a year without a second guess. He will have a tweak or twinge that will sideline him for enough time that has an overall impact on the season on the wrong side and when he comes back he will need ample time to ramp up. And we all know playoff James Harden. There just seems to be something about the bright lights and big stage that makes him shrink. He is such an incredible scorer and an incredible creator, until we get to the playoffs. Then he passes up on open shots or passes too many times or never touches the ball. It is what it is at this stage in his career.

I have always had a soft spot for the Clippers and I want to see them do well. I mentioned my love for Kawhi. I also really like Ty Lue, Brook Lopez, Brad Beal and Nic Batum. Those guys will always have a place in my basketball heart. But, the injuries and mishaps in the playoffs are just brutal to watch year after year after year. I'd love for them to prove me wrong. Time will tell and I hope they exceed my expectations. With the addition of Beal I think they will look similar to last season, and that means another first round playoff exit. We will see. 

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing, the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast, and the greatest basketball writer on the internet.

Come and support Ty and the podcast on Patreon.

"Napoleon Dynamite" is so Good Even My Kids Liked It

I adore the movie "Napoleon Dynamite". This is no secret to the people closest to me. I saw it six times in the theater. I bought it the day it came out on DVD. I had a Vote For Pedro t-shirt. My folks would gift me random bobbleheads of characters from the movie. I had a very big doll of Napoleon dancing in his Vote For Pedro shirt. Hell, I was even in a fanclub for the movie, and the only other thing I go to bat for as hard as that is Michigan football. I'm a big time fan.

I often quote the movie, and lately that has ramped up since my son is now a moody teenager. He often says things like, "GOD!", or "GEEZE!", and when he does that it gets me started. One day, while on vacation, my son told me that he wanted to watch the movie. I guess they had started it a different night, but he said he felt guilty not watching it with me. And we happened to have one night where we stayed in and we decided to watch it from start to finish. I have tried watching it with them in the room before, but it never took. They never sat down long enough to get into the movie. So, with all of us being in a one story AirBnB, the timing couldn't have been more perfect.

Going into the movie I will say I was a bit nervous how my kids would see it. My daughter decided to join us, she wanted to take a break from drawing, and this made me even more anxious. She's as tough a critic as there is in the world. As we sat down and the movie started, I was right back into the world that the writers, actors and director created over 20 years ago. That is what I love about this movie, I can turn it on at anytime and be transported back to the first time I saw it. Luckily, for me, my kids were just as into it as my wife and I were. They were laughing when we were laughing. There were some jokes that I would laugh at, and then my kids would also laugh at, and I'd ask them if they understood why I was laughing. My 13 year old, for the most part, got the jokes. My 9 year old knew some of them, but she did admit that she was laughing from time to time because I was laughing. As the movie was going on my son asked me what it was rated. I told him PG. He said that seemed right because there were no curse words and no "adult moments", which is kissing in his mind.

That was when I realized that "Napoleon Dynamite" is truly a movie for anyone and all ages. There is nothing off putting or gross about this movie. It is truly just about a few months of a school year in a few kids lives. Sure, the bullies say some odd things to Napoleon, but it never gets out of the hand. The one bully that puts his hands on Napoleon is served his commuppence when Pedro's cousins confront him. And the kids in the movie are showing how to navigate high school with people that are your true friends. I hope my kids got that out of the movie, and I think they did when I asked them what they thought when the movie was over. My daughter simply said she liked it and it was funny. She also said she liked how much I was laughing. My son had a deeper response. He said he liked that Napoleon found the right people for him, that Kip found the right person to spend his life with and that Uncle Rico seemed like he learned from his mistakes. I thought that was very well put and a very solid summation of the movie.

This viewing made me like the movie even more than I already do. It truly does stand the test of time and, in the right setting, even cool, young kids will enjoy their viewing. "Napoleon Dynamite" is a classic and I'm so happy that my kids finally got to see this wonderful movie I've been yapping about their whole lives. 

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing and the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast.

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The Ocean is Better than the Pool

Last week in Florida we had the option to swim in a pool or the ocean. My family, like many others I suppose, chose to do both. We figured we would get the best of both worlds, and since our place was right by a pool, it was nice to wash the sand off from the beach in the local pool. But, the ocean is so much more fun to swim in than a pool.

I have thought about this for years, but it really came to a head for me last week. I asked everyone on the trip which they preferred, and they all chose the pool. When I asked why I got the usual answers. They like the pool more because it is enclosed, the waves only come when a bunch of people jump in, you can go from shallow to deep with ease and it is easier to play games. I prefer the ocean for the opposite of those reasons. I love how open the water is in the ocean. I wholeheartedly enjoy navigating the waves and jumping with them. Hell, I even like when a wave crashes over my head and forces me to swim. I like how it just gets deeper and deeper the further out you are from the beach. And as far as games or playing catch goes, it is so much more of a fun challenge to do in ocean water. I also like the toughness of open water swimming and the workout I get from swimming in ocean water. I was totally gassed each day when we returned. I made the mistake of going for a run after a beach day one day we were there. I was so tired after only two short miles into a four mile run. I couldn't figure it out during the run, but when I got back my wife asked how difficult it was after swimming in the ocean all afternoon. That's when it hit me that I had been working out without even trying because the water is tough and forces you to do work. I also really like how the water gets colder and colder the deeper you go out. If I got too warm in one spot I'd take a few steps deeper and it felt refreshing and cool. That was when I'd dunk my head under water just to get that same feeling all over my entire body.

I know people out there will complain about the algae and sand and everything else that goes with ocean water swimming. And sure, the algae got annoying after a while, but to combat that, I would just swim to a new spot. The sand was fine for me. It gave me a sense of where I was in the water and made me feel safe. I loved seeing the fish swim by, and I think a few probably bumped into me on their way to a cooler spot in the water. I thought it was rad seeing pelicans and seagulls flying all over the place. My favorite thing about this was when they would dive into the water looking for something to eat. That was so fascinating to watch. I would clock one and put all my focus on that for a good amount of time. And for the people who don't like the saltwater in the ocean, close your mouth when you go under. I saw plenty of people doing this and it works out great. I also saw kids with goggles and that is genius. That is like shallow water snorkeling for people.

The ocean is far better than a pool. We were meant to swim in open water in my opinion. A pool can be nice for a few hours. But the ocean is nice for an entire day, and then the next day you can go to a totally different spot and get a totally unique experience. A pool is a pool is a pool. The ocean is where all the fun can be had. 

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing and the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast.

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Thoughts on the Kevin Durant Trade

While I was gone last week Kevin Durant was traded to the Rockets. Let’s discuss.

We all saw this coming from a million miles away. I am glad he didn't end up in San Antonio, and Houston seemed like the most likely and his preferred destination. There were seven teams and a bunch of players involved in this trade, but the Rockets and Suns were the two main players. The Rockets acquired Kevin Durant and the Suns got Jalen Green, Dillon Brooks and the 10th pick in the draft and some second round picks. The Suns ended up selecting Khaman Maluach with the 10th pick, and the seconds moved around on draft night.

Pulling back and looking at this trade for these two teams, I feel like both teams got what they wanted in the deal. I'll start with the Suns. The Suns need to rebuild something fierce. They were in a terrible place when they traded for Bradley Beal last season. When that didn't work, the Suns didn't even make the play-in, I think the front office realized they needed to fully start over. I think they are currently in that process, and trading KD was the first step. Now they have to get rid of Bradly Beal, either buy him out or trade him, and they can really go into full rebuild. This will be a bummer for Devin Booker, but he must be happy in Phoenix because he just signed a humongous extension to stick around for a lot longer. The Suns did get two solid players in Jalen Green and Dillon Brooks. Green has shown flashes. He has up and down moments, but he proved he can score on a big stage in the playoffs last year. He also played poorly too. That cannot be overlooked. But now he is going to a place where he doesn't have to be the lone creator. He gets to play next to Devin Booker, who is better than Fred VanVleet and the other guards the Rockets have. That's no disrespect to them either. Booker is clearly a better player. Like or loathe Dillon Brooks all you want, but the dude is a menace on defense. He is a good, mean defensive player. He can also occasionally hit shots. But, much like the case with Green, Brooks won't have to worry about being on every single night. The Suns are not going to be good, and maybe the coaching staff will see what they have with Brooks at this stage in his career. I like the rookie Maluach here. He will get a ton of chances, and while he is raw, he was the second best player on Duke's team last season. He is also long which can lead to more blocked shots than others may think. The Suns, as I mentioned before, will not be very good, especially in the West, but they may be a fun League Pass team. I think Booker and Green can fill up the stat sheet, and I'm pretty high on Maluach in the long run.

The Rockets just jumped into the upper echelon of the West by adding KD. He has to be engaged and ready to play and give up some of the playmaking he may be used to, and I think he will be fine with that. He is old and oft injured, but he won't have to create nearly as much with this version of the Rockets. Fred VanVleet will find him for open shots. Alpernen Sengun will not clog the lane and can find him with some good passes. Amen Thompson will take a load off of him on defense. Steven Adams will protect him and has familiarity with him. Jabari Smith Jr is a solid big to put next to him. Dorian Finney-Smith is still a good enough three and D guy. And he and Jeff Green have been friends since KD was drafted by the Sonics. The Rockets have added a bonafide superstar scorer. They've also added a guy that knows how to win on the biggest stage. He can be a headcase, and if things go sideways quickly, it could be bad. But, if the Rockets meet expectations, this trade will look really good for one or two seasons.

I feel like everyone wins in this trade. Each team got what they wanted out of it and everyone seems happy. 

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing, the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast, and the greatest basketball writer on the internet.

Come and support Ty and the podcast on Patreon.

The Alt Right has Convinced Me to See "Superman"

Hello all. I'm back from vacation and I already have a bee in my bonnet about something I saw on the internet the night we returned home. Let’s discuss.

I was looking at Facebook, I'm old and I guess I want to be stressed out by nonsense, and I saw some people talking about the new "Superman" movie. For the most part the talk seemed pretty positive. Most people seem to like this movie. I was running with Kirk yesterday and he told me he really liked it. It has gotten mostly positive reviews. Then I saw Dean Cain griping about it being "woke". I laughed that off because Cain is a has been that has no lasting memory or importance to the world. But then I saw more and more of the crazy alt right complaining that this new Superman movie is too "woke".

First off, there's nothing wrong with being a woke person. I consider myself woke. I want people to be treated fairly and justly. I think billionaires are the problem in this world. I feel like people that don't like "woke" people are simply racist and have zero sympathy or empathy. I want others to be treated accordingly and properly, and if that makes me woke, I'm proud to be woke.

I think the thing that makes me the angriest about all of this, that seems to be the most pathetic thing from all of this, is that these alt right maniacs now have an issue with Superman. Superman is the prototype superhero. He is here to help everyone who is in dire need of his help. He wants things to be fair and simple and just. He is the everyman hero, the farm boy who happens to be an alien and the first person I think of whenever someone starts to talk about superheroes. This is who the alt right is mad about. This is who they are deciding they need to come after and chastise for being "woke". This is the person that they're going to lay all their anger and hate towards now. If that is who they're mad at and angry about right now, I've never been happier and feel better about being a liberal. There are so many things wrong with the alt right, but for them to go after a fictional alien superhero might be the most disturbing and pathetic thing about their cult. Who cares if James Gunn, who is a wonderful director, made a "woke" version of Superman. That is well within his rights to do. All I ever heard from former alt right friends is all about their freedom of speech. That is exactly what James Gunn is using when making this movie. It is well within his rights and will and wants to make Superman be whoever he wants him to be. The only boss that Gunn has to answer to is the people at DC that hired him to make this movie. And they seem thrilled with what he has done. Also, the maniacs that go on the internet to gripe about this movie being too "woke", they don't have to see it. They don't have to spend their money to watch it in the theaters. They are wasting their own time just so they can go out and complain about this movie, while DC and James Gunn and the cast just take their cash. I don't go to movies I don't want to see or think I will not like because of who made them. I don't waste my precious time just so I can bemoan something I don't want to even watch. It feels like the alt right just wants to complain about anything that doesn't align with their amoral and horrific beliefs.

I mentioned it before, but I'm even happier that I don't have anything to do with the alt right. It seems like a sad place to be. I feel like the alt right is just waiting to mope about anything. I hope people see what they're saying about Superman and start to realize how petty and childish the alt right can be. They are the kid who takes their ball home when they're getting beat in a game. They're the kid who was never told no until they were an adult. And now they are the kids who complain about the all American superhero being too "woke". It's stupid and childish and disturbing that this is how low the alt right will go if they disagree with something. Personally, I cannot wait to see the new "Superman" movie. I already wanted to see it but now I want to see it even more and I bet I'm going to love it. 

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing and the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast.

Come and support Ty and the podcast on Patreon.

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SeedSing is funded by a group of awesome people. Join them by donating to SeedSing.