My second job out of A&M was working in the sports information department at Rice University during its first year in the WAC. Tarkanian was coaching Fresno State (the year they got targeted for point shaving) and as the low man on the totem pole I had sweet jobs like - taking pregame meals to the other team and going to retrieve the visitors' coach for press conferences.

When FSU came to Autry Court he invited me to sit and eat a sandwich with him before the game and I got up the nerve to ask about being in Honeymoon in Vegas. He said James Caan was the biggest d-bag he'd ever met.

MuckRaker96 said:

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My second job out of A&M was working in the sports information department at Rice University during its first year in the WAC. Tarkanian was coaching Fresno State (the year they got targeted for point shaving) and as the low man on the totem pole I had sweet jobs like - taking pregame meals to the other team and going to retrieve the visitors' coach for press conferences.

When FSU came to Autry Court he invited me to sit and eat a sandwich with him before the game and I got up the nerve to ask about being in Honeymoon in Vegas. He said James Caan was the biggest d-bag he'd ever met.

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My dad was a basketball (not big cigar level) booster for Fresno State and I used to love going to the small events to hear Tark give his talks. I met him and talked with him one on one on a couple of occasions, the dude was full of stories. I mean, tons of stories. He was actually gracious and genuinely personable to fans.

Way off topic, but that year the NCAA requested the tape from Rice vs. Fresno State after Fresno players got accused of point shaving. In February of that year, Fresno had been a 10-point favorite vs. Wyoming, was leading with by 19 with 7 minutes to go in the game, and won by 8.


We sent the tape to the NCAA, then sat up in Willis Wilson's office at Rice and watched. Fresno was up 70-61 with 1 minute and 2 seconds to play, and won 73-72. The line was Fresno by 2-1/2.

Two of their guards looked like the culprits turnover passes to nobody, stupid shots early in the shot clock.

Fresno's point guard went to the free throw line with 2 seconds left for a 1 and 1 up 73-72. He missed the front end and Rice's center grabbed the rebound and threw a one-handed Hail Mary the other way that hit the back of the rim and glanced off. The day of that game we were all abuzz about what a great comeback Rice had.

After watching the tape, not so much

Oh I remember every second of that whole affair. The FBI was looking into it but nothing ever came of it because all anyone had in terms of evidence was tapes from games, which is very sketchy evidence at best to hang a case on in a court of law. There were no arrests, confessions, indictments or anything. To top it all off the local rag of a newspaper tried to do some kind of half-assed Woodward and Bernstein act and claimed in their "investigative" reporting that the payoffs to the players were things like jewelry and other trinkets. It was absurd. The FBI just dropped the whole thing after a while.

Round 1 Results:
16. The Family Man (84%) vs 17. Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call New Orleans (16%)
15. City of Angels (51%) vs 18. Snake Eyes (49%)
14. Mandy (20%) vs 19. The Weather Man (80%)
13. Lord of War (68%) vs 20. The Wicker Man (32%)
12. Moonstruck (66%) vs 21. Knowing (34%)
11. Kick Ass (81%) vs 22. Next (19%)
10. Matchstick Men (84%) vs 23. Captain Corelli's Mandolin (16%)
9. Valley Girl (29%) vs 24. Honeymoon in Vegas (71%)

A little surprised how much Mandy and Valley Girl lost by. I haven't seen either, but my research seemed to indicate that they were both fairly well-received. I'm guessing a lot of the board probably hasn't seen them either? That said, very happy to see Honeymoon in Vegas move on.

City of Angels barely edging out Snake Eyes. That was a tight race the whole way through, never separated by more than 3-4 votes.

A little sad Knowing lost by so much. I figured it wouldn't make it to Round 2, but I think it's better than it gets credit for.

And sad to lose The Wicker Man if only because it's such a treasure trove of gifs. (But that said, Lord of War is the deserving winner.)

Round 2 - Round of 16:

1. The Rock vs 16. The Family Man
2. Con Air vs 15. City of Angels
3. Face/Off vs 19. The Weather Man
4. Leaving Las Vegas vs 13. Lord of War
5. Raising Arizona vs 12. Moonstruck
6. Gone in 60 Seconds vs 11. Kick-Ass
7. Adaptation vs 10. Matchstick Men
8. National Treasure vs 24. Honeymoon in Vegas

Vote here!

Best scene from Matchstick Men:

Morning bump.

Currently 1 upset taking place, though it's still somewhat close. Any guesses?

Brian Earl Spilner said:

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Currently 1 upset taking place, though it's still somewhat close. Any guesses?

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Matchstick Men over Adaptation?

I've never seen The Wicker Man. I need to change that ASAP. Where can I find it, is it on any of the streamings?

Round of 16 Results:

1. The Rock (88%) vs 16. The Family Man (12%)
2. Con Air (85%) vs 15. City of Angels (15%)
3. Face/Off (90%) vs 19. The Weather Man (10%)
4. Leaving Las Vegas (62%) vs 13. Lord of War (38%)
5. Raising Arizona (90%) vs 12. Moonstruck (10%)
6. Gone in 60 Seconds (76%) vs 11. Kick-Ass (24%)
7. Adaptation (43%) vs 10. Matchstick Men (57%)
8. National Treasure (81%) vs 24. Honeymoon in Vegas (19%)

Elite 8:

1. The Rock vs 8. National Treasure
2. Con Air vs 10. Matchstick Men
3. Face/Off vs 6. Gone in 60 Seconds
4. Leaving Las Vegas vs 5. Raising Arizona

Vote here!

Matchstick Men is one of those movies that I am certain I saw, but have absolutely no memory of.

A refresher:

One very unexpected result in the elite 8 happening...

National Treasure winning?

Keeping this one a surprise till tomorrow...

Elite 8 Results:

1. The Rock (76%) vs 8. National Treasure (24%)
2. Con Air (88%) vs 10. Matchstick Men (12%)
3. Face/Off (39%) vs 6. Gone in 60 Seconds (61%) -- WHAT?!?!
4. Leaving Las Vegas (33%) vs 5. Raising Arizona (67%)

Two upsets, one not too surprising, the other is shocking. I mean I love Gone in 60 Seconds, don't get me wrong...but Face/Off is greatness. I'm more surprise by the margin of victory than the result itself.

As a farewell to Face/Off, I leave you with the best gifs from that movie.

The first choices for the lead roles were Stallone as Archer and Arnold as Castor Troy.

To this day I can't figure out how Pollux Troy and Billie from Jurassic Park III are the same actor.

WHAT THE ****! Face/Off has been upset?

I've not been one to complain about polls, but I feel that I must leave this thread in protest. A shame upon all of you! Shame!!




So many things I love about this simple 1:38 scene.
- long jacket flowing stylishly in the wind as soon as he steps out the car
- two gold pistols
- a golden dragon money clip?
- "Stay away from downtown on the 18th, it's going to be a little...smoggy!"


Damn what a film, might have to go watch it today.

Final Four:

1. The Rock vs 5. Raising Arizona
2. Con Air vs 6. Gone in 60 Seconds

Vote here!

Don't underestimate the appeal of Eleanor

Indeed. Was just about to post this.

Brian Earl Spilner said:

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Final Four:

1. The Rock vs 5. Raising Arizona
2. Con Air vs 6. Gone in 60 Seconds

Vote here!

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WTF with the required selection? neither 2 or 6 deserves to win.

If only there was a way to vote against 2/6 in the next round...

Well Gone in 60 Seconds is not gone from this tournament. Definitely making it interesting.

I'm just going to come out and say that I'm voting Raising Arizona all the way through. I love The Rock, but Raising Arizona is in my first tier of favorite movies all time.

Belton Ag said:

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I'm just going to come out and say that I'm voting Raising Arizona all the way through. I love The Rock, but Raising Arizona is in my first tier of favorite movies all time.

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Raising Arizona is one of my top five favorite movies.

Contest could have just been The Rock, National Treasure, Raising Arizona, and Honeymoon in Vegas.