5) Ron Zook, Gators
Disappointing hire from the start. Needed to prove he was up to it. He couldn't.
4) Ozzie Guillen, Florida Marlins
Castro comments started it off, then it went downhill.
3) Cam Cameron, Miami Dolphins
Fail forward fast. We drafted the entire Ginn family. 1-15. One and done.
2) John L. Smith, Arkansas
Took team with national championship hopes and had them crushed in just a few weeks.
1) Bobby Valentine, Boston Red Rox
People thought there would be personality issues. There were. Team went from annually competing for division and World Series to non-factors. Weird radio interviews. Disaster.
Sunday, December 23, 2012
Tuesday, July 31, 2012
Call Me Maybe YouTube Parodies
These videos are a guilty pleasure of mine. The song is catchy and the videos are fun; what's not to like? Still, I didn't think that months after we were first introduced to this concept that new videos would be posted daily. There are so many it's hard to determine which ones at worth your time, that's why I've created this list of my Top Five.
5. The US Olympic Swim Team - I thought this trend would have passed by the time the Olympics rolled around, but it hasn't and this video combines my joy of this fad with my joy of the Olympics. A cameo by Gator Ryan Lochte gives it bonus points, and I dare anyone to not find Missy Franklin super likable.
4. Cookie Monster - Seasame Street puts their spin on the song with Cookie Monster on lead vocals. It's hipper than anything I remember watching on Seasame Street, funny and, of course, shares a valuable message for us all. The biggest negative to this version is that it makes me crave cookies.
3. Jimmy Fallon ft. Carly Rae Jepsen - The only remake featuring the original singer.
2. Gator baseball - It's not all that original, but they get extra credit for their enthusiasm. Check out the guy in the first row just to the right of the aisle. It also fun to keep in mind that several of these guys will probably be in the bigs. No chance their teammates there will ever bring it up, right?
1. Harvard baseball - Its the video that started it all. The choreography is simple, yet fun and addictive. The worst part of this video is how annoying it is to once again know those Harvard folks did something better than the rest of us. We can take solace in knowing that the team wasn't all that good at baseball. They only had 12 wins. Their true championship this season - taking a no. 1 spot on Top Five.
5. The US Olympic Swim Team - I thought this trend would have passed by the time the Olympics rolled around, but it hasn't and this video combines my joy of this fad with my joy of the Olympics. A cameo by Gator Ryan Lochte gives it bonus points, and I dare anyone to not find Missy Franklin super likable.
4. Cookie Monster - Seasame Street puts their spin on the song with Cookie Monster on lead vocals. It's hipper than anything I remember watching on Seasame Street, funny and, of course, shares a valuable message for us all. The biggest negative to this version is that it makes me crave cookies.
3. Jimmy Fallon ft. Carly Rae Jepsen - The only remake featuring the original singer.
2. Gator baseball - It's not all that original, but they get extra credit for their enthusiasm. Check out the guy in the first row just to the right of the aisle. It also fun to keep in mind that several of these guys will probably be in the bigs. No chance their teammates there will ever bring it up, right?
1. Harvard baseball - Its the video that started it all. The choreography is simple, yet fun and addictive. The worst part of this video is how annoying it is to once again know those Harvard folks did something better than the rest of us. We can take solace in knowing that the team wasn't all that good at baseball. They only had 12 wins. Their true championship this season - taking a no. 1 spot on Top Five.
Friday, May 11, 2012
TV shows of all-time
This is a tough one. There is a clear top five but ranking them is difficult. That, however, is why we get paid the big bucks here at Top Five, so using our patented 52 step process we came up with the following list.
5) King of Queens - Very underrated show. Consistently laugh out loud funny. Still stop to watch it every time we come across it.
4) Lost - When it aired, it was the most-can't-miss-an-episode show ever. Although we were all set up from disappointment from the beginning (ask yourself, what ending could possibly have been completely satisfying) it doesn't take away from just how gripping this show up until that point. Season one might be the best individual season ever. You'll just have to wait for us to rank that catwgory to know for sure.
3) Arrested Development - Once under appreciated, this show's audience has grown to bring it back to life. It's brevity however, helps make it one of the best marathon TV watching programs around. The Bluths are the funniest TV family. (The Pritchards are close though)
2) The Cosby Show - While we were in college, Bill Cosby came to perform at Gator Growl. Students thought his material would only appeal to the alumni and boosters - they were very wrong. He had everyone cracking up. The Cosby Show, like Bill, still holds up. Funny, entertaining, wholesome - it doesn't get old and that is why you still find it in syndication more than 20 years later.
1) Seinfeld - What has this list taught us? Hire Jerry Stiller.
5) King of Queens - Very underrated show. Consistently laugh out loud funny. Still stop to watch it every time we come across it.
4) Lost - When it aired, it was the most-can't-miss-an-episode show ever. Although we were all set up from disappointment from the beginning (ask yourself, what ending could possibly have been completely satisfying) it doesn't take away from just how gripping this show up until that point. Season one might be the best individual season ever. You'll just have to wait for us to rank that catwgory to know for sure.
3) Arrested Development - Once under appreciated, this show's audience has grown to bring it back to life. It's brevity however, helps make it one of the best marathon TV watching programs around. The Bluths are the funniest TV family. (The Pritchards are close though)
2) The Cosby Show - While we were in college, Bill Cosby came to perform at Gator Growl. Students thought his material would only appeal to the alumni and boosters - they were very wrong. He had everyone cracking up. The Cosby Show, like Bill, still holds up. Funny, entertaining, wholesome - it doesn't get old and that is why you still find it in syndication more than 20 years later.
1) Seinfeld - What has this list taught us? Hire Jerry Stiller.
Monday, March 19, 2012
Gator Basketball Teams
In honor of March Madness I thought we should take a look at the top five Gator Basketball Teams.
5) 2011 - SEC Champs and an elite eight appearance. Still think the refs robbed them in the loss to Butler.
4) 1994 - I didn't really follow this team, but they made it to the Final Four for first time in school history, so they deserves to be here.
3) 2000 - I remember the rowdy street celebrations in Gainesvile as the team made its way to the championship game for first time
2) 2006 - What was supposed to be a rebuilding year with the loss of so many upperclassmen, turned into the greatest season in Gator basketball history until...
1) 2007 - In 2006, there was no pressure as the Gators surpassed expectations for a fun filled season. The 2007 version had to deal with the the expectations of title or bust. Despite it all they did.
5) 2011 - SEC Champs and an elite eight appearance. Still think the refs robbed them in the loss to Butler.
4) 1994 - I didn't really follow this team, but they made it to the Final Four for first time in school history, so they deserves to be here.
3) 2000 - I remember the rowdy street celebrations in Gainesvile as the team made its way to the championship game for first time
2) 2006 - What was supposed to be a rebuilding year with the loss of so many upperclassmen, turned into the greatest season in Gator basketball history until...
1) 2007 - In 2006, there was no pressure as the Gators surpassed expectations for a fun filled season. The 2007 version had to deal with the the expectations of title or bust. Despite it all they did.
Tuesday, January 31, 2012
Movie Trilogies
When it comes to movies, three is the magic number. So many of my favorite movies are part of trilogies I've decided they need to be ranked.
5) The Godfather
Ok, this probably shouldn't make the list because I haven't even seen the third. I've received enough warnings about it though that I've chosen not to waste my time. But the first two are so good and so long that I figure it makes up for it.
4) Indiana Jones
Raiders of the Lost Ark stands out as the clear best of three (yes, there was a fourth, but do I even have to explain why it doesn't count) however, all are fun and each progress the overall story well.
3) Lord of the Rings
This is one story, split into three parts. It's so well done and entertaining it can make the idea of sitting for nine plus hours of movie watching seem perfectly reasonable.
2) Back to the Future
This is one I'll stop to watch every time. Each works on its own, yet they tie together so well. I just finished watching them and could do it again tomorrow. Marty and Doc Brown are an all-time dynamic duo.
1) Star Wars
The first three, of course, even though they are actually the second three....we'll call them the originals. I'm no Star Wars geek, but you can't deny the greatness of these. They continue to stand up decades after their release, appealing to an entire new generation of nerds. Like LoR it's really one story, but they are great individually as well.
These can vary based on my mood, but it's typically always these five. Others considered like Spiderman and Pirates have seriously flawed parts. Plus movie makers can't help themselves anymore and won't stop until they've ruined a franchise. Even this list only has two franchises with only three parts, and one of those was apparently ruined with the third. The Hollywood trilogy might be a thing of the past, but at least five will go down as...Top Five.
5) The Godfather
Ok, this probably shouldn't make the list because I haven't even seen the third. I've received enough warnings about it though that I've chosen not to waste my time. But the first two are so good and so long that I figure it makes up for it.
4) Indiana Jones
Raiders of the Lost Ark stands out as the clear best of three (yes, there was a fourth, but do I even have to explain why it doesn't count) however, all are fun and each progress the overall story well.
3) Lord of the Rings
This is one story, split into three parts. It's so well done and entertaining it can make the idea of sitting for nine plus hours of movie watching seem perfectly reasonable.
2) Back to the Future
This is one I'll stop to watch every time. Each works on its own, yet they tie together so well. I just finished watching them and could do it again tomorrow. Marty and Doc Brown are an all-time dynamic duo.
1) Star Wars
The first three, of course, even though they are actually the second three....we'll call them the originals. I'm no Star Wars geek, but you can't deny the greatness of these. They continue to stand up decades after their release, appealing to an entire new generation of nerds. Like LoR it's really one story, but they are great individually as well.
These can vary based on my mood, but it's typically always these five. Others considered like Spiderman and Pirates have seriously flawed parts. Plus movie makers can't help themselves anymore and won't stop until they've ruined a franchise. Even this list only has two franchises with only three parts, and one of those was apparently ruined with the third. The Hollywood trilogy might be a thing of the past, but at least five will go down as...Top Five.
Tuesday, November 22, 2011
Sitcoms
5) The Office
4) Parks and Rec
3) Community
2) Good Luck Charlie
1) Modern Family
Others considered included New Girl, Raising Hope, and The Middle
4) Parks and Rec
3) Community
2) Good Luck Charlie
1) Modern Family
Others considered included New Girl, Raising Hope, and The Middle
Sunday, August 21, 2011
NBA Players
A list of NBA players needed to be the first Top Five because it was the inspiration for this blog. After listening to numerous NBA game announcers and commentators making the pronouncement that a particular player is a top five, top 10 or top 20 player, I used a series of formulas to come to the mathematical conclusion that there could not be 15 top five players in the NBA. Further analyzing the data lead to the conclusion that according to these experts every all-star is a top 10 player and an NBA starter is a top 20 player.
If only the experts would take the time to write out a list of the actual top players in the NBA they may realize that it to be considered a top five player you have to be, well, one of the best five. Therefore, I thought about my list and the idea for this blog was born.
To qualify my top five NBA players, I selected the players in order that I would want to have on my team for the 2011-2012 season. Sort of a Fantasy NBA draft, but not as tied to the stats. This means past accomplishments and age are less important than how good the player is currently. With that in mind, I present you with the true Top Five Players in the NBA:
1) LeBron James
He might also be the most hated now, but no one else in the NBA can impact the game in as many ways as he does. Scoring, passing, rebounding and defense - he does it all at an elite level. Before his Finals performance this spot wasn't really up for debate, but based on those results I can now see an argument for moving him down. But for me, six games does not erase how good he was the rest of the playoffs and regular season and the potential for him next year.
2) Dirk Nowitzki
He really helped put himself over the top with his playoff performance. Before, he was probably a top 6 or 7 player on my list, but this season he really showed he could be "the man" and carry a team. Offensively he is unstoppable. He is aging, but this year was one of his best performances yet. I would expect a similar performance next season.
He really helped put himself over the top with his playoff performance. Before, he was probably a top 6 or 7 player on my list, but this season he really showed he could be "the man" and carry a team. Offensively he is unstoppable. He is aging, but this year was one of his best performances yet. I would expect a similar performance next season.
3) Kobe Bryant
He's not the same player he was just a few years ago, but he still put up great statistics while leading his team to the playoffs. However, getting swept by Dallas showed his game may not quite be where it once was.
He's not the same player he was just a few years ago, but he still put up great statistics while leading his team to the playoffs. However, getting swept by Dallas showed his game may not quite be where it once was.
4) Dwyane Wade
After his own teammate, LeBron, Wade probably has the most ability to impact a game in a variety of ways. It will be interesting to see how his physical style will affect him as he starts to age.
After his own teammate, LeBron, Wade probably has the most ability to impact a game in a variety of ways. It will be interesting to see how his physical style will affect him as he starts to age.
5) Dwight Howard
Somehow the Magic have deteriorated around him, and he is basically carrying them by himself. The situation seems similar to Lebron in Cleveland. Although I would prefer to have the four players on this list above him, Howard is perhaps the most unique as there is no one else in the league even close to as good as him at his position.
Somehow the Magic have deteriorated around him, and he is basically carrying them by himself. The situation seems similar to Lebron in Cleveland. Although I would prefer to have the four players on this list above him, Howard is perhaps the most unique as there is no one else in the league even close to as good as him at his position.
For me, it is a pretty clear cut Top Five. I can see you moving them within their rankings up and down, but can't see taking one of them out unless I see something new from someone else or one of these five starts to falter.
For any NBA announcers who might be reading, I would like to point out some of those who did not make the Top Five - the league MVP (Derrick Rose), Rookie of the Year (Blake Griffin), scoring champion (Kevin Durant), and most talked about trade piece (Carmelo Anthony). Please note this as you start to think about throwing out the Top Five title to these or any other player who makes a nice dunk. They all might be great players, perhaps even top 10, but they're not good enough to be...Top Five.
For any NBA announcers who might be reading, I would like to point out some of those who did not make the Top Five - the league MVP (Derrick Rose), Rookie of the Year (Blake Griffin), scoring champion (Kevin Durant), and most talked about trade piece (Carmelo Anthony). Please note this as you start to think about throwing out the Top Five title to these or any other player who makes a nice dunk. They all might be great players, perhaps even top 10, but they're not good enough to be...Top Five.
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