Festivus - Tomahawk Take - An Atlanta Braves Fan Site - News, Blogs, Opinion and More

Thanksgiving is definitely about the food, the family, and giving thanks. To me, it will always be about tuning in to see what John Madden and Pat Summerall are going to say next. They were my favorite booth duo in my life of watching sports. On Thanksgiving I would wake up and crush some of mom’s home cooked food and then flip the channel over to the Land of Turducken to listen to Madden and Summerall call the national game.

Film raises weighty moral issues

Thriller: Sam Worthington and Jessica Chastain star in The Debt

THE DEBT: Starring Helen Mirren, Jessica Chastain, Sam Worthington, Marton Csokas, Tom Wilkinson, Ciaran Hinds, and Jesper Christensen. Directed by John Madden. Rated  M (Mature themes and violence). 93 min.

A Charlie Brown Christmas

Sitting on the couch playing with my newly downloaded A Charlie Brown Christmas iPad app last Friday evening, I was struck by the difference between what kids watch these days and what we watched when we were younger.

At the other end of said couch, my wife had our 3-year-old on her lap, and they were watching a trailer for Happy Feet Two , in which a bunch of squeaky-voiced penguin chicks do a dance routine to a parody medley of LL Cool J’s “Mama Said Knock You Out” and Justin Timberlake’s “Sexy Back” (redone as “Fluffy Back.” You know: for kids!).

Thanksgiving

plate? Must look like Google Earth photos of Zurich. Over here, mountains of potatoes; over there, fast-moving rivers of gravy bordered by big zeppelins of bread. All I can say is watch your cheesehead today. Berman's got a fork.

Football crazed as we all are, is it no coincidence that the centerpiece of today's feast is shaped like a down lineman in a four-point stance? Look at that giant bird, down on its haunches, awaiting the snap. The Steelers ' Casey "Big Snack" Hampton comes to mind, and certainly the Packers ' B.J. "The Freezer" Raji. Or Jets Coach Rex Ryan reaching down for an untied shoelace. Ooooooph! Grrrrrunt! Medic!

NFL football on Thursday is a turkey of an idea

Today's appetizing parade of NFL games begins with breakfast (Packers-Lions at 9:30 a.m.), carries through lunch (Dolphins-Cowboys at 1:15 p.m.) and culminates with a Thanksgiving dinner feast (49ers-Ravens at 5:20 p.m.).

That's great entertainment for fans, but if league officials truly cared about player safety - and they clearly don't - they would not schedule any games on Thursdays.

Eagles' O-line is Week 11's Top Protector

A lot of people looked at the Eagles' 17-10 win over the Giants and credited the defense -- and rightly so -- but the offense played pretty well. Vince Young led the Birds on a game-winning marathon of a drive but it was the offensive line that gave him plenty of time.

For the second time this season, the Eagles offensive line was selected as the Top Protectors for Week 11 by Hall of Fame coach John Madden. The Eagles were also selected in Week 8. They are the only team to win the honor twice this season.Madden selects the top offensive line each week of the NFL season. The NFL's best offensive line by the end of the season will be announced at Super Bowl XLVI and will receive the third annual Madden Protectors Award.

The New York Week That Was (Thanksgiving Edition)

Ok, this week isn't really over, as it's only Wednesday, but with Thanksgiving one day away, this is kind of like the end of the week with Wednesday sort of resembling Friday, so here's an abbreviated edition of the New York Week That Was. And who knows what shape I'll wake up in on Friday, as I may have my head stuck inside a turkey carcass with no way out, or there's a very good chance that I'll be trapped in a pie and beer coma, so Wednesday it is. Just to make things more confusing, things are so askew that we don't even have aNew York Jetsgame to talk about since they played this week's game last week.

'Cake Boss' video: a new feast for Thanksgiving - National TV | Examiner.com

There is not much in the way of new entertainment set to air on Thanksgiving night -- so with that in mind, you have to be a little bit excited that "Cake Boss" is going to be airing some sort of special themed all around a feast.

In a new video from the episode (which you can see to the left), Buddy gets set to engage in what is going to be an intense cooking competition involving both him and his mother-in-law. While we haven't seen much of Buddy's contraption yet, his wife Lisa's mom is preparing something that John Madden would certainly approve of -- a turducken. What not to like here about turkey, duck, and chicken stuffen together?

Jon Gruden Signs Five Year EXCLUSIVE MNF Extension

Big news in broadcasting today as ESPN announced it has signed MNF analyst Jon Gruden to a five year "exclusive" deal that will keep him out of coaching and off the sidelines for the length of the deal.  The deal starts in 2012, so that means you'll be hearing "THIS GUY" through the 2016 season.  Below are quotes from ESPN Executive VP Norby Williamson and Gruden himself on the extension...

What was your favorite summer movie?

US director Woody Allen talk with French first lady Carla Bruni-Sarkozy and US actor Owen Wilson (C) on July 28, 2010 in Paris during the shooting of Allen's latest movie "Midnight in Paris". Despite a starry cast including Oscar-winner Marion Cotillard and US talents Owen Wilson and Kathy Bates, pre-publicity for "Midnight in Paris" has focused on the Carla Bruni-Sarkozy's big screen debut. AFP PHOTO BERTRAND LANGLOIS (Photo credit should read BERTRAND LANGLOIS/AFP/Getty Images)(Photo Credit should Read /AFP/Getty Images) (AFP/Getty Images)

John Madden talks 'Madden' foootball, video games as teaching tools, and the history behind his game - ESPN

When a fan walks up to John Madden, the Hall of Famer knows instantly whether he's recognized as a former coach or for his billion-dollar video game franchise. "If someone remembers me as a coach, they still call me Coach," Madden says, "but if they know me for the video game, they just call me Madden. Just the other day, I went to where a bunch of high schoolers were hanging out, and that's what happened. They just all call me Madden."

Judi Dench to start shooting 23rd Bond film in fall

The indomitable Dame Judi Dench, 76, has already been seen as chatty housekeeper Mrs. Fairfax in Jane Eyre earlier this year.

She also pops up in two highly anticipated biopics this fall -- My Week With Marilyn, about sex symbol Marilyn Monroe's trip to England to shoot 1957's The Prince and the Showgirl , and J. Edgar , in which she plays the monstrous mother of FBI director J. Edgar Hoover.

50 Most Fantastic Finishes in NFL History

history...that sounds like a good way to start a bar fight, but it is part of our fan DNA.

Over the last 80 years, we have been blessed with matchups on the football field that have transcended sport. They are iconic moments of American history and true "where were you when..." moments. Many of those moments came when it mattered most, when the game was on the line.

Tom Brady: Why This Isn't His Last Hurrah for the New England Patriots | Bleacher Report

There was an article written yesterday by featured columnist, Kwame Fisher-Jones.  His article can be read here:  http://bleacherreport.com/articles/824196-the-replacing-of-a-legend-tom-bradys-last-hurrah-in-new-england

I was originally going to reply in the comment section, but his article just got me so fired up and was so filled with lunacy that I decided instead to just write an article in response.

Opening this weekend at the movies

The summer movie season ends with a bite and a spacely scare. Or it may just go out with a shrug.

The problem with 1975’s “Jaws” is that it unfortunately closed to door on making other shark flicks in the last thirty years. Outside of that film’s crummy sequels only been a few. For better or worse there’s been fare like “Great White,” “Deep Blue Sea” and “Open Water.” No studio has yet to tackle the period killer shark attack non-fiction novel “Close to Shore” or going nuts with a film version of the novel “Meg.”

Fall didn't faze intrepid skydiver

Former WFLA anchor Arch Deal's book recounts his TV and radio days, skydiving passion and "Big Bounce" when his parachute didn't open and he dove 3,000 feet to the ground.

Former WFLA anchor Arch Deal's book recounts his TV and radio days, skydiving passion and "Big Bounce" when his parachute didn't open and he dove 3,000 feet to the ground. PAUL LAMISON/STAFF

Kobasew seeks larger role, not deal | StarTribune.com

ANAHEIM, CALIF. — With the Wild in the thick of the cutthroat Western Conference playoff race, General Manager Chuck Fletcher has said he's not actively looking to trade his potential unrestricted free agents by Monday's deadline.

Those players are Andrew Brunette, John Madden, Antti Miettinen, Jose Theodore and Chuck Kobasew.

Minnesota Wild use great defense, goaltending to get to Pierre-Marc Bouchard's goal in OT

ANAHEIM, Calif. — What the Wild needed Friday night, they got.

Hampered by numerous injuries and 24 hours after losing to the Los Angeles Kings, the Wild got a goal from Pierre-Marc Bouchard with 6.3 seconds remaining in overtime to topple the Anaheim Ducks 3-2 in front of 13,617 at the Honda Center.

Oilers' Penner mentioned as Wild seek forward help

Ravaged by center injuries, the Minnesota Wild recalled Warren Peters for Friday's game against the Anaheim Ducks. They are hunting for forward help and, according to the Edmonton Journal, are interested in the Edmonton Oilers' Dustin Penner.

The Wild played Friday without captain Mikko Koivu, who has a broken finger. They also have lost ailing Kyle Brodziak and Cody Almond, who the Minneapolis Star Tribune reports has a lower-body injury.

Warriors: Al Attles is franchise's classiest face

He comes to games and sits alone, a couple dozen rows above the floor, generally limiting his interaction to greetings that convey his authentic decency.

He comes to most practices and sits alone on a balcony, sometimes joking with players or lending an ear to any coach seeking one.

He doesn't mind company for a few minutes, but he won't seek it. To anyone who might ask, he'll tell about the remarkable season of one of the unlikeliest championship teams in American sports history.