Gary, you could be right about Bolt. Other letter writers make a strong case for Lance Armstrong.

But I'll take Billy Mills' inspired come from behind victory in the 10k at the '64 Olympics. To date he's the only Native American Olympic gold medalist.

Watch the incredible final lap here (the very definition of 'gutting it out'): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4QaDQL0rMWw

Correction: I mistakenly said "To date he's the only Native American Olympic gold medalist" I meant the only American to win gold in the 10k.

Of course I haven't forgotten Jim Thorpe.

Speaking of Jim Thorpe and greatest athletic feats...

Is it me or does this movie sound like School of Rock moved down the hall to drama class?

Well, I'll still probably see this when it comes out on Netflix. It sounds like a nice Saturday night rental. By the time it comes out on DVD I could probably use a laugh about teaching Shakespeare in high school, considering I'll be in the midst of trying to teach Shakespeare in high school (my first year teaching!).

On another note, this reminds me, for some odd reason, of The Reduced Shakespeare Company. One of the funniest re-imaginings of The Bard I've ever seen. 37 plays in just over 90 min performed by three wickedly funny actors. Irreverent. Smart. Funny as all get out. (Sounds like what Hamlet 2 was going for). http://www.reducedshakespeare.com/shakespeare.php

The Reduced Shakespeare Company's Hamlet can be seen on youtube in 4 parts. I promise you will laugh at this Hamlet!

SPIYN...

Peter Tork

Staycation

Zune

"Shoot the Piano Player" is my favorite of the French New Wave. I suppose there are technically "better" or hipper films from this period(Truffaut's own "400 Blows," Godard's "Breathless," Melville's "Le Samurai"), but there's something about the ramshackle shaggy dog affair of "Shoot the Piano Player" that makes it endearing (a bit sad) and perfect for repeated viewings (that quick cut away of Charlie's "mother" dropping dead is a scream).

I've often thought that the Cohen Brothers were more than a little indebted to STPP with "The Big Lebowski" (a couple of scenes seem to directly wink right at STPP). Of course both films are nods to earlier 40's Noirs, they both adhere to what I consider the secrets to great Noir: main characters who display weary insouciance in the face of dire straits, and, whenever possible, ignore the damn plot.

The irony about this is that the NC-17 rating was originally conceived so that mainstream filmmakers (like Smith) could explore more graphic ideas in their films without the stigma of the old "porno" X rating. It's clear that the NC-17 designation is a failure and is just as stigmatizing as the old X rating.

Anyway, I have less of a problem with the MPAA than I do with the multiplexes and DVD rental companies that arbitrarily decide that NC-17 is unacceptable. On the other hand, as long as I can still rent or buy unrated versions of borderline Hard R/NC-17 films I really don't see much to complain about.

A few cool sports songs:

"Baseball Boogie": Mabel Scott

"Should Have Been Me": Bob Weir and David Murry (okay, so it's an instrumental, but it is about Satchel Paige, and it is a beautiful piece of music)

And, since no one's said it yet:

"Take Me Out To The Ball Game"

Nelly Kelly loved baseball games,

Knew the players, knew all their names.

You could see her there ev'ry day,

Shout "Hurray"

When they'd play.

Her boyfriend by the name of Joe

Said, "To Coney Isle, dear, let's go",

Then Nelly started to fret and pout,

And to him, I heard her shout:

Take me out to the ball game,

Take me out with the crowds;

Buy me some peanuts and Cracker Jack,

I don't care if I never get back.

Let me root, root, root for the home team,

If they don't win, it's a shame.

For it's one, two, three strikes, you're out,

At the old ball game.

Nelly Kelly was sure some fan,

She would root just like any man,

Told the umpire he was wrong,

All along,

Good and strong.

When the score was just two to two,

Nelly Kelly knew what to do,

Just to cheer up the boys she knew,

She made the gang sing this song:

Take me out to the ball game,

Take me out with the crowds;

Buy me some peanuts and Cracker Jack,

I don't care if I never get back.

Let me root, root, root for the home team,

If they don't win, it's a shame.

For it's one, two, three strikes, you're out,

At the old ball game.

How about Primus' "Jerry was a Race Car Driver" and "Fish On (fishing is still considered a sport, right)?

"Fish On" by Primus:

Felt a pang late one afternoon

I was fishin’ off Muir beach

With Larry Lalonde

Grabbed a tuna salad sandwich

And I started to chew

Pretty soon Ler’s yellin

Fish on. fish on

I was just a little pup

And it was derby day

Was dad and me and Darrell

Out in San Pablo bay

Taco flavored doritos

And my orange life vest

Dad caught a hundred pound sturgeon

On twenty-pound test

Now he fought that fish for an hour

And a half

Darrell’d say jump ya sons a bitch!

And he grabbed for the gaff

When we got him in the boat

He measured six feet long

I was so danged impressed I had

To write a song called

Fish on

T’was a bright and sunny day

It was me and Todd Huth

Fishin’ shark & stingray

Out of Bohuas lagoon

Well hey, hey, hey I’ll be screwed,

Blued and tattooed

Looks like I got me one of them fish on

Fish on.