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*MW = My Winner, PW= Predicted Winner
*Note: these predictions are who I deem to be deserving of the award they are up for, excluding country, because frankly, I am not a fan of that genre of music and wouldnt want to discredit the artist who deserves the award most because I know nothing of the artist or song. Now that I got that out of the way, lets dive into this years Grammy's!
Best Rap Album
MW: Universal Mind Control, Common
PW: Relapse, Eminem
- To me, Common wins this easily. His blend of vocals, lyrics, and creative and inventive back-beats make Universal Mind Control up there with his first popular album, BE. Eminem's Relapse did not contain the substantial lyrics that many had waited 4 years to hear, and even though Dr. Dre produced the album, it lacked that classic Dre hit (or 7).
Best Rap Song
MW: Death of Autotune, Jay-Z
PW: Run This Town, Jay-Z, Kayne West, Rhianna
- Personally, either one is fine with me, but I give the edge to D.O.A for the simple fact that the song made a statement and had a creative beat with the guitar and out of tune sax (simulating autotune). Run this Town will most like take the trophy though, due to the great guest appearances from Rhianna and Kayne.
Best Rap/Sung Collaboration
MW: Im on a Boat, Lonely Island
PW: Im on a Boat, Lonely Island
- Admittedly my favorite song of the year, Im on a Boat has an energy to it that is undeniable, not to mention hilarious lyrics, and a music video that is classic. Now, Im pretty sure it wont win, but Im going out on a limb for my favorite song of 2009.
Best Rap Performance By A Duo Or Group
MW: Make Her Say, Kid Cudi feat. Kanye West & Common
PW: Amazing, Kanye West feat. Young Jeezy
- Make Her Say was a refreshing song to me with an interesting beat (hints of Lady Gaga's Poker Face) and stellar lyrics from Common and Kanye. I do believe that Amazing by Kanye and Jeezy will take the hardware though, after being featured in many T.V commercials and montages. Plus, it is a solid song with good lyrics from Jeezy and a good beat. As Kanye says "these beats are dope."
Best Solo Rap Performance
MW: Beautiful, Eminem
PW: Best I Ever Had, Drake
- When I first heard Beautiful, it made me think Eminem was back in the fold as one of the best rappers of all time. It literally is its name, and has a hard driven purpose. The back-beats and vocals by Paul Rodgers (Queen) was outstanding, and lyrically this was some of Em's best work. At the end of the day though, I think Drake will take this award with Best I Ever Had. I must say that even though Im not on Drake's bandwagon, that his lyrics in the song are witty, and the beat is good as well.
Best Contemporary R&B Album
MW: Ready, Trey Songz
PW: Intuition, Jamie Foxx
-In a race that that will be almost too close to call, I think that Trey Songz really takes this title because his whole album made the cut for me. It was smooth, lyrically and instrumentally. To me, it put Trey Songz on the map. Jamie Foxx will most likely be holding the Grammy due to his popularity and the hits that came off the album, like Blame It feat. T-Pain.
Best R&B Album
MW: The Point of It All, Anthony Hamilton
PW: Testimony: Vol. 2, Love & Politics, India.Arie
-I have come to respect Hamilton's work over the past couple years, and I would like to see him get more recognition for this album. It is personal, well sung, and to the point. For some reason though, I believe India.Arie takes the Grammy. Her style is undeniable, but I dont believe this album is her best work.
Best R&B Song
MW: Under, Pleasure P
PW: Single Ladies, Beyonce
-Under is classic smooth, and P deserves credit for a great song and album. If he gets that credit it will be a complete surprise due to the popularity of Single Ladies by Beyonce.
Best R&B Performance By A Duo Or Group With Vocals
MW: ifuleave, Musiq Soulchild feat. Mary J. Blige
PW: Blame It, Jamie Foxx feat. T-pain
- Ifuleave is great duet with Musiq and Mary J. They both compliment each other wonderfully, and the song is classic R&B. No surprise here though, I believe Blame It takes the Grammy.
Best Male R&B Vocal Performance
MW: Pretty Wings, Maxwell
PW: Sobeautiful, Musiq Soulchild
- Pretty Wings absolutely captured the moment, compared to the other candidates. Maxwell delivers the song in a great tone. I believe that Musiq will take the award for sobeautiful though.
Best Female R&B Vocal Performance
MW: Lions, Tigers, Bears, Jazmine Sullivan
PW: Single Ladies, Beyonce
- Obviously Single Ladies takes another award, but look for Jazmine Sullivan to continue to compete in this category.
Best Alternative Music Album
MW: Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix, Phoenix
PW: The Open Door, Deathcab
-Having the best title for an album in this genre wont win the Phoenix the Grammy, but in the future their music will. I think Death Cab takes the cake for 2009 though.
Best Rock Album
MW: Big Whiskey and the Groogrux King
PW: Big Whiskey and the Groogrux King
- Dave is back. This album was easily the best rock album of 2009, although honorable mention do go the guys of AC/DC for Black Ice. Dave's stirring tribute to deceased sax player Leroi Moore was timeless, and the combination of scat singing and trumpet to fill the void of the familiar sax was incredible.
Best Rock Song
MW: Use Somebody, Kings of Leon
PW: Use Somebody, Kings of Leon
- Kings burst onto the scene in 2009 with Use Somebody and Sex on Fire. They take the Grammy with the hit, Use Somebody. Not only was it the most popular rock song of 2009, it was the best. Those two dont coincide a whole lot.
Best Hard Rock Performance
MW: Burn it to the Ground, Nickelback
PW: What I've Done, Linkin Park (live version)
- I cannot believe I picked a Nickelback song to win a Grammy, but I did. I think of the candidates it was the best performance, and one of the groups better songs. I do believe Linkin Park will take home the Grammy with their live rendition of What Ive Done.
Best Rock Performance By A Duo Or Group With Vocals
MW: Use Somebody, Kings of Leon
PW: Cant Find My Way Home, Eric Clapton and Steve Winwood
- Kings wins this award for me, but Clapton and the Grammy's are an undeniable pair.
Best Electronic/Dance Album:
MW: Party Rock, LMFAO
PW: The fame, Lady Gaga
- Ok, lets face it, both candidates are batshit crazy, but my vote goes to LMFAO for the energy their songs have. Lady Gaga wins this award easy though.
Best Dance Recording
MW: Boom Boom Pow, Black Eyed Peas
PW: Poker Face, Lady Gaga
-Boom Boom Pow packs the punch that every dance song needs, but unfortunately I doubt it beats out Poker Face, one of the most popular songs on 2009.
Best Pop Vocal Album
MW: The Fray, The Fray
PW: The E.N.D., Black Eyed Peas
- The Fray made a statement with their second huge album. The vocals are very unique, add in the great instrumentals, and you have my winner for this award. The BEP's will most likely take it home though.
Best Pop Collaboration With Vocals
MW: Love, Sex, Magic, Ciara feat. Justin Timberlake
PW: Baby Its Cold Outside, Willy Nelson & Norah Jones
- Ciara and JT hit it off with this hip-hop collaboration, but in the end I think Grammy returners Willy Nelson and Norah Jones take the award with a classic remake.
Best Pop Performance By A Duo Or Group With Vocals
MW: Kids, MGMT
PW: I gotta feelin', Black Eyed Peas
- Kids a fun recording with interesting vocals and instrumentals. The BEP's take another Grammy with the popular I gotta feelin'.
Best Male Pop Vocal Performance
MW: This Time, John Legend
PW: This Time, John Legend
- I must say that This Time is not my favorite song from Evolver, Legends latest album. In fact its probably 6th on my list, but John Legend's sixth best song is going to best everyone for this award.
Best Female Pop Vocal Performance
MW: Hot & Cold, Katy Perry
PW: Halo, Beyonce
- Im going to be honest, I picked Katy Perry because she's incredibly attractive. Beyonce wins the award, but not my heart.
Best New Artist
MW: MGMT
PW: Keri Hilson
-MGMT is what is refreshing about music. They are unique and aren't afraid to try new and creative things. Keri Hilson isnt a new artist, but she most likely will win.
Song Of The Year
MW: Use Somebody, Kings of Leon
PW: Use Somebody, Kings of Leon
- Simply put, they had the most recognized song of 2009 in my mind. If Single Ladies wins, Ill be both angry and not surprised.
Album Of The Year:
MW: Big Whiskey and the Groogrux King, DMB
PW: Big Whiskey and the Groogrux King, DMB
- No other album can touch the great work that went into this album, in my opinion. It has everything: vocals, instrumentals, lryics, passion, and soul.
Record of the Year
MW: Use Somebody, Kings of Leon
PW: I gotta feelin', Black Eyed Peas
-Use Somebody should win this, but Ive gotta feelin' that the BEP's take Record of the Year.
2009 was a great year for music. To recap, the big winners were: Kings of Leon, Black Eyed Peas, Dave Mathews Band, and Beyonce.
Had you told me, going into the season that when NU-OU played that each would be 5-3 and struggling to regain legitimacy in a season that started with each having such high aspirations, I would've thought you were crazy. Nebraska had slumped in October in year 2 of the Pelini Era much like they did in year 1, losing to Texas Tech and Iowa State at home. OU had an injury plagued September and had never fully recovered, not only losing star players like Sam Bradford and Jermaine Gresham, but also losing to BYU, Miami, and Texas. This was not the dream match-up that most fans predicted.
Then game-time came, and if you were in the stadium, it felt different. There was not the nervous energy that I felt before big games like USC and Virginia Tech. There was a general feeling of respect towards OU, but also a sense in the stands that this game could make or break the 2009 season. There were 4 games when I was a student that matched the intensity of the crowd last Saturday: 1) USC, 2007- the loudest I have ever heard Memorial Stadium, 2) 2006, Texas- unbelievably loud the entire game, 3) 2008, CU- after Alex Henery's record field goal, and 4) 2008, Virginia Tech- first big game of the Pelini Era. Now, I would say the 2009 OU game moves into 3rd place for me. The crowd brought the noise every single play of the game for the first time in a long time, and Bo definitely took notice.
"That crowd is always good, but the stadium just didn't have that juice," Pelini said. "I felt an extra bit of juice in that stadium on Saturday night. You could feel it. Sometimes I don't think the crowd realizes how big an impact they can have on a football team and the whole aura of what's going on and give us that extra juice. You go into a game and sometimes the crowd feels like they should win this game and sometimes you feel that."
With the crowd rocking the 86 year foundation of Memorial Stadium, the defense went to work. Everyone knew this would be a defensive game on both sides, but this was OLD SCHOOL football. This game was won in the trenches. The Blackshirts played the best overall game I have seen them play since 2001, when then No. 2 Nebraska beat then No. 1 OU. It was magical to see the defense working together. With that, the Nick Verlaney game-ball of the week goes to fellow Bellevue East grad, Matt O'Hanlon. His 3 interceptions tied the school record along with 12 tackles led the Blackshirts against a very potent OU attack. This game was one that the 1923 team, who knew what it was like to fight in some of WWI's greatest trenches, would have been proud of. Both defenses did not relent all game. Both O-lines got beat up. Both coaches strategized. Classic stuff, right? Absolutely. And a HUGE win for Bo Pelini, whos team got walloped by the very same team last year 62-28. Is Nebraska "back" because of this win? No. We will not be "back" for a couple of years, but what you see in front of your very eyes is a foundation that is now fully built. To take a defense with mostly inexperienced players and players from the worst defense in Nebraska history and make these "misfits" play an almost flawless game is unheard of. Not to mention taking them from being ranked 111th in total Defense to 11th is absurd. #2 scoring defense behind Florida. Not one win or loss does a season make, but beating OU or Texas is always a big statement win....lets see what unfolds.
Fun fact: Nebraska is the only school to have won the Nagurski Defensive Player of the Week 3 times in one season: Suh, Crick, O'Hanlon.
Fun fact 2: 1998 was the last time OU failed to score a touchdown.
Time to address Veterans Day. First off, please tell those active service members and veterans thank you, not only today, but anytime you see them. They are real, everyday heroes, and should be respected and honored like it (how Vietnam Vets are treated with disrespect is beyond me, but I digress). I know countless people that are close friends or family of mine that are active or vets, and I cant tell you how proud of them I am of the way they carry themselves every day.
Please say a prayer or send a good thought to those currently fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan. The Bush White House sent these guys into a war they did not understand and now we are forced to liberate 2 unstable nations on the brink of collapse. Unfortunate, yes. But you will not hear any of these heroes complain, they are selfless men and women of honor, who are in this for as long as it takes to leave that part of the world a better place. If they succeed, mark it down as one of the great upsets in the history of the world. Not even Alexander the Great could conquer present day Middle East.....its like trying to fight in Russia during the winter, many have tried and failed. Fortunately, people like Missouri Senator Kit Bond are advocating "Smart Power" to help the soldiers gain an upper hand. Again, everyone has their views on the war and politics, but at some point we have to give the soldiers the means to fight an effective war.
Memorial Stadium was named in honor of all those Nebraskans who have died in our Nations Wars. One facade reads: "Their Lives they held their countrys trust; They kept its faith; They died its heroes."
The most famous inscription on the stadium reads: "Not the victory but the action; Not the goal but the game; In the deed the glory." The troops who were present for the OU game last Saturday lived up to both of those inscriptions.
God Bless our Troops. (check out this video!)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ysKAVyXi0J4&feature=player_embedded
Video of the week comes from Its Always Sunny in Philadelphia: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vCaTpFwcC9o
For those wondering what dialect produced such a unique name such as Ndamukong Suh, we look no further than the Ngema tribe of Cameroon in Africa. His name, aptly, means "House of Spears." I couldnt think of a better nickname than that for a defensive Player of the Year candidate, and for many, a Heisman Trophy candidate. I am part of those many who believe that the Heisman trophy is not just for the best offensive player in the country, but for the best player in the country, and right now without a doubt in my mind that is Mr. Suh. He is the best player in the country at his position, and I believe the impact he has on the game rivals that of Tim Tebow and Colt McCoy, although we dont see Suh making guarantee speeches or saving random strangers from lakes in Texas. He is all business, all the time. Bo pushes him more than he pushes anyone else because he knows how good he can be, same can be said for Urban Meyer and Tim Tebow. He makes Nebraska a better football team, and especially makes the people around him better. Look at the transformations of Pierre Allen and Jared Crick. These two players were relative unknowns before 2008, then they have to fill in because of injuries and Suh helped them take their games to the next level. This season both Crick and Allen are performing at high levels.
Having that much impact from the nose tackle position is unheard of. Nose tackles are typically the quiet workhorses on the defense that do the dirty work like stopping the run, but dont get much acclaim because they dont score touchdowns or intercept passes. Suh does both. Last year he claimed 2 interceptions, and ran them to the house for touchdowns, the most famous being his running over Cody Hawkins of Colorado to seal the victory against CU. He also deflects passes at the line of scrimmage too. So far this year he has 7, more than any Secondary player in the country. Nose Tackles arent supposed to be able to do any of that, if they were there would be a lot more quarterbacks injured and 300 lb defensive backs roaming around.
Here are his stats through 5 games this year:
-15 solo tackles
-17 assisted tackles
-4 Tackles for loss
-3 assisted TFL
-3 sacks
-7 passes defended (more than anyone in the SC secondary)
-1 forced fumble
-1 interception
Which means he is on pace for about 87 tackles, 14 TFL, 9 sacks, 19 passes defended, 4 forced fumbles, and 3 interceptions. One word: ridiculous. Unfortunately, the age-old argument why defensive players dont usually get considered for the Heisman Trophy is because the rarely have the ball in their hands with the capacity to affect the outcome of the game, like a quarterback or running back does. I would implore you to ask Tyrod Taylor of Virginia Tech or Blaine Gabbert of Mizzou how much of an impact on the game Suh has on the game, even without the ball in his hands. Not only does he create havoc on the opponents offense, but he also gives the Nebraska Offense more possessions to score which ultimately can affect the win-loss record of any team.
So the question ultimately remains: will the Heisman Trophy committee realize how great these stats are and give the consideration to the best player, or will the continue the trend of re-gifting the Walter Camp Award? My hope is that Suh gets invited to New York for the ceremony. That would be a major victory for defensive players everywhere who think that they deserve an equal shot at the trophy for the best player in College Football
The answer for me is easy. They act as our best friends. They love their owners relentlessly until they pass on, and even when they do, you can feel them on-looking from heaven. They don’t ever stop loving. They don’t cheat on you with other humans. They don’t drink all of your beer without asking. They don’t leave for doggy college. They become part of the everyday fabric of your life. They have personalities and egos. They can communicate with you by looking at you. Dogs are the best friend any human could ask for. Have you ever wondered where the slang term “dawg” came from?
When I first got my puppy back when I was 5, Rayna was just a black ball of fur that fit in the palm of my hand. She is an Australian Shepherd and immediately bonded with me and my dad for some reason. She would always bite me and my sister’s ankles to herd us around like sheep. The first night we had her she swallowed a whole hotdog and bun which made us wonder what we had gotten ourselves into. She was to protect our house while we were gone, that was her job. She had boundless energy and a boundless appetite. She made a habit of making sure everyone was asleep before she would come into my room and sleep. Needless to say, we’re tight. She is easily the most stubborn animal ever made. She failed 3 attempts of doggy-training and embarrassed my mom in the process. She did her job every night and loved our family relentlessly.
When she was 10, she broke her back. She had developed arthritis in her hips. We thought it was game over. When we brought her into the vet, he told us full recovery from these types of injuries were not common. She was to be put on bed-rest for 3 months. This is a dog who couldn’t go an hour without scouting the backyard for intruders. We prayed. She got better, day-by-day. She made a full recovery in 2 months. We told the vet she was stubborn.
She became my Superman during those 2 months. I learned my persistence through watching her struggle and ultimately succeed. And then came the day I left for college. I had left for trips before, but she knew that this was different. She would always pout when suitcases came out, but never had I took so many. Leaving my family was hard enough, but leaving my Rayna Bear was almost unbearable. I explained to her that I would be back on weekends. Her eyes told me that she was not happy. She wanted me to stay.
I came back on weekends and she would be the first to greet me. It was something I looked forward to every time I came home. When I left again I wondered if that would be the last time I saw her, after all she was 13. She persisted on. Rayna joined the heavens on June 11th 2009 at the tender age of 17. That’s 119 Human years old. She took a part of my heart with her.
I wrote this not to brag about how awesome my Bear was (ok, kind of). I hope everyone can experience man’s best friend someday. Rayna Bear Verlaney was truly a blessing in my family’s lives. I expect her to continue to watch over me.
Rayna’s Benediction:
My master means more than life or death too me and i pray for intelligence, ability and strength to understand and execute his commands and desires. May our companionship lead to complete understanding so that our moments together will be the happiest of all. Help my master comprehend that i will gladly give my life for him, be he millionaire or pauper. His love and confidence are all I ask. I beseech you to guide him and protect him from thoughts, deeds, or actions which will disturb the faith of others in him. i want my master to be respected by his friends as i look up to him. The wag of my tail indicates the feeling of my heart and no blows, privation or hunger will ever keep me from being happy when i hear my master's voice or footsteps. When the curtains of death are about to close my active life, I pray thee oh God that my master is near-his hand caressing my head as my eyelids close.
