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Ketch's 10 Thoughts From The Weekend (Sark isn't getting enough credit for this...)

My personal list of Leo films that I enjoyed the most (not best performances) and can or want to rewatch the most:

1) Gangs of New York
2) Catch me if you can
3) Inception
4) The Beach
5) Shutter Island
6) Body of Lies
7) The Man in the Iron Mask
8) Blood Diamond
9) Django
10) Once Upon a Time in Hollywood

I found both The Departed and the Wolf of Wallstreet to be awful, but I know I'm likely alone in those convictions.
I struggled with leaving The Beach off.
 
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I think Jaray Bledsoe and Kris Ross will be Top 100 and Top 250, respectively by the end of the cycle. Bledsoe is likely an aggie though.
I don't know that I view getting a top 100-250 talent as filling the needs.
 
Looking at the DeCaprio list, he has had some stellar co stars in his movies. I don't take anything away from him as an actor, but the list of A list costars and supporting cast is pretty impressive.
No doubt. He doesn't do chances with supporting casts.
 
Any Di Caprio list that doesn't have Romeo & Juliet on it somewhere is shameful. Then there's The Basketball Diaries, What's Eating Gilbert Grape, and This Boy's Life. Honestly, @Ketchum... Did you even try? SMDH.

(Great write up, otherwise. 😉)
Basketball diaries was my first thought
 
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Take your political motivated crap elsewhere. The reason for her decision was spelled out by her mother: ""We made the decision that Naomi would represent Japan at an early age. She was born in Osaka and was brought up in a household of Japanese and Haitian culture. Quite simply, Naomi and her sister Mari have always felt Japanese so that was our only rationale. It was never a financially motivated decision nor were we ever swayed either way by any national federation."
Actually she can take her politics elsewhere. Definition of the "shut up and play" athlete of today.
 
Just rewatched Wolf of Wall Street for the first time. Holy shit I forgot how funny it was. The scene with the old quaaludes is side splitting.
 
The kid has a hand cannon.
I cant wait to see how mobile he is. If he is in the 4.8 or below range in the 40, combined with that arm? Then he would physically remind me of a morph of VY and Cam Newton. He certainly seems to have their same confidence.
 
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Texas coach Steve Sarkisian has it cooking in recruiting for the Longhorns in his first season, which isn't surprising when you consider that I predicted he would sign a top five class in 2022.

Still, I feel like we need to take a moment and show some appreciation for this staff's ability to create momentum almost out of thin air upon their arrival. Both Charlie Strong and Tom Herman had excellent rankings in their collective first recruiting class, but it took 5-6 months for both to find serious footing and results.

Sarkisian and Co. have been able to do it in 5-6 weeks, which has been critical when you realize how many top 2022 prospects in Texas have already started making decisions.

If you take a look at my recent Lone Star Recruiting Top 100 List, you'll find that three of the top five, five of the top nine and 12 of the top 22 prospects in the state have already made decisions. That's 55 percent.

Ready or not, the elite of the elite are making decisions early in Sarkisian's tenure.

To their credit, Sarkisian's staff have been more than ready.

No. 2 - The top remaining in-state options...

This list will evolve over the next 11 months, and there will be a few newcomers making breakthroughs in the rankings, especially in a COVID-dominated recruiting world, but with every passing year, it is stunning to see so many of the top names in the debut of each set of rankings end up near the top when the rankings are finished two years later.

With that in mind, here's a look at the top 15 remaining uncommitted prospects in the state by position. (LSR ranking in parenthesis)

* Players in bold have been offered or re-offered by the Texas staff

Quarterbacks

(1) Cade Klubnik (Austin Westlake)


(26) Alex Orji (Sachse)

Running Backs

(18) Jamarion Miller (Tyler Legacy)

(23) Tavorus Jones (El Paso Burges)

Wide Receivers


None

Tight Ends

None

Offensive Linemen

(6) Kam Dewberry (Humble Atascocita)

(10 Devon Campbell (Arlington Bowie)

(11) Kelvin Banks (Houston Summer Creek)

(25) Neto Umeozulu (Allen)

Defensive Linemen

(7) Omari Abor (Duncanville)

(24) Jaray Bledsoe (Bremond)

(27) Ernest Cooper (Arlington Martin)

Linebackers

(14) Harold Perkins (Cypress Park)

Defensive Backs

(2) Denver Harris (North Shore)

(15) Bryce Anderson (Beaumont Westbrook)

Athletes

(19) Brenen Thompson (Spearman)

No. 3 - Some impressions on the top remaining prospects ...


* Those four offensive line prospects are pretty much everything in this class considering what happened a year ago. Of course, the Longhorns could hit on an out-of-state guy or two, and there's always a chance that a player emerges from the shadows of the early rankings and becomes a Top 15-25 level prospect, but Banks, Campbell, Dewberry and Umeozulu (ranked in any order you want) are at the core of what this 2022 class will need in order to become a true success.

* Not including Klubnik, the skill position group is thin in impact prospects. The highest-rated skill player remaining (running backs/wide receivers/tight ends) is Miller at No. 18. The importance of the Jaydon "Don't Call Him Alfred" Blue and Evan Stewart commitments cannot be overstated, as they were the last two remaining offensive skill prospects remaining from the five-star and high four-star tiers of the rankings; Brenen Thompson could end up in that area, while technically being recruited as an athlete by a lot of schools.

* The importance of Jason Llewellyn as a prospect is probably impacted by his profile and the scarcity of players at his position. Still, the Longhorns are loaded at the wide receiver position, so if there was ever a year where they could survive a lack of tight end prospects, it's in 2022. Look for Jeff Banks to stay on Llewellyn, while looking for an out-of-state guy to poach; most of the tight ends in Texas look like developmental projects with somewhat limited upside.

* Barring a flip of Bear Alexander or Malick Sylla, the Longhorns aren’t going to fill their needs along the defensive line from the Lone Star State alone. Only Duncanville's Abor remains as an elite option.

* Historically, the value of linebackers is suspect, to say the least, but Perkins is clearly the apple of everyone's eye at his position.

* Denver Harris and Bryce Anderson are in the discussion for best remaining prospects, but there's a pile of defensive backs right outside of the top 25 that does give this position more depth than the top 15 might suggest. Aledo's Bryan Allen, Katy's Bobby Taylor, Plano John Paul's Terrance Brooks and Garland's Chace Biddle would all be in the next 10. I personally view Harris and Alexander on different, higher tiers than the others.

No. 4 - Four weekend thoughts on Maalik Murphy ...

1. While I have Klubnik and Quinn Ewers ranked as five-star quarterback prospects, I'm not sure that either are in the same league as Murphy when it comes to his physical profile and ability to throw the football on an absolute line.

Take a look at this freaking throw and its trajectory. For all of Ewers’ accuracy (and he could end up being the most accurate prospect the state has produced in a decade), he doesn't quite throw the ball consistently like this.



2. I'm really having a hard time coming up with a name for a former Longhorn that Murphy reminds me off. Maybe Chris Simms to a degree, but I think Murphy throws the intermediate and deep intermediate ball better than Simms did at the same age.

3. Watching him throw in 7-on-7 feels like watching an elite power hitter take batting practice.

4. He's got the Hook'em down correctly. This is important.

maalik-murphy-jpg.630


No. 5 - About 2022 Defensive Back Recruiting ...

If you inspect the plan for the Texas defensive backfield, you'll find that the commitment of Landon Hullaby to Oregon won’t impact the recruiting class much. Consider:

a. The Longhorns will probably take between 4-6 defensive backs, depending on the hit rate at the top of their board. The betting favorite would probably be five defensive backs, but if Texas gets everyone, they'd probably make room for a sixth difference maker. Four feels on the light side and might mean a commitment peeled off, or Texas missed on more players than anticipated.

b. With Port Arthur Memorial's Jaylon Guilbeau already committed, you'd have to think that the staff has two spots reserved for Bryce Anderson and Denver Harris.

c. A commitment by Hullaby would have left the program with less positional versatility in its remaining offers, considering Texas has offered 22 higher-rated players at the position thus far in the 2022 class. Hullaby is a really good prospect, but there's a chance that spot will be filled with a prospect with a higher/more valuable profile.

d. The reality of there being fewer spots available might create some urgency on those final spots in the remaining field of offers.

No. 6 - Uh oh ...

If there's one thing you can say with 100-percent certainty about long-time followers of the Texas men's basketball program, we can spot a late-season collapse coming a mile away.

The program has shown a repeated ability to steal a sad ending from the jaws of a successful season.

So, when the team's inconsistent form turned into a disaster against West Virginia that included an embarrassing argument between two upperclassmen/leaders of the team and blowing a 19-point lead, well.... you'll have to excuse us when we all run into the nearest room and yell, "FIIIIRRRRRREEEEEE!!!!!!!"

For most of this season, I have firmly believed that Texas would make a run in the NCAA Tournament for the first time in a decade, but this was a collapse.

The way this team fumbled and bumbled its way through the final 10 minutes was not the stuff of future NCAA Tournament success, and typically those types of runs come from a team starting to play its best basketball right about now. You won't find many college backcourts with as much experience as the trio of Matt Coleman, Andrew Jones and Courtney Ramey, which is why I've been so confident in this group in an early NCAA Tournament setting, but the decision-making and execution from this trio on Saturday was u-g-l-y.

Jones had a poor game that featured a ton of turnovers (6) and missed shots (12), several of which inexplicably felt like mistimed heat checks. Ramey was in NBA Jam "Fire Mode" when he was suckered into committing his fifth foul at a time when the team couldn't afford to lose him. Meanwhile, Coleman ruined a great shooting night when he missed the front end of a 1-and-1 that could have allowed Texas to tie the game at 84-84 with less than 10 seconds left.

Everyone following the program is preparing for the worst because it’s what we have been conditioned to expect.

It's not that this team can't make a run; it would just be insanity to expect different results and not the same thing over and over again.

No. 7 – BUY or SELL …


(Buy) I don't buy it with much confidence, though.


(Sell) I'm more worried about the closing out of the game on Saturday than the dust-up on the sidelines. It was embarrassing, but this team hasn't been playing its best basketball for a while now.


(Sell) Is this what people are saying? I think there's more excitement going down on the offensive side of the ball at the moment, which is understandable, but I don't expect this class to be dominated by its offensive prospects alone. I didn't view the Hullaby commitment as anything other than an opportunity.


(Buy) He's more game-ready right now.


(Buy) Yes and yes.


(Buy) I don't like it.


(Sell) I think common sense indicates there's a good chance of that.


(Buy) The portal will be busy.


(Buy) No question.


(Sell) I believe they are equal-sized pieces of the puzzle.


(Sell) Die Hard isn't a Christmas movie, but it is the superior movie.


(Buy) You misspelled decades.

No. 8 - Scattershooting on the world of sports...

... It sucks that the career of Charli Collier likely won't end with a better supporting cast; Vic Schaefer will eventually bring in that kind of talent.

... Tanking all of those seasons to have a chance to see Joel Embiid have a 50-piece to go along with 17 rebounds on Friday night in the middle of a potential MVP season was worth it.

... This will never get old.


... I don't get the "Carson Wentz makes the Colts a Super Bowl threat" talk at all.

... I read a mock draft on Sunday and I can honestly say that I'm not yet in draft-mode at all.

... Can't say I was surprised to see that Derrick Lewis knocked someone out this weekend. Can't say I know what Curtis Blaydes was thinking in terms of his approach.

... Novak Djokovic won No. 18 this weekend. Here's hoping he doesn't get to No. 20. Signed, a Nadal homer.

... It feels like the era of Naomi Osaka is truly upon us.

.... I feel like I'm reliving the 1999 season for the Dallas Cowboys as a Liverpool FC fan, with the injury fallout from losing Michel Irvin looking similar to what has happened since the injury to Virgil Van Dijk. It's been a nightmare. If anyone is wondering how I'm doing this weekend... I'm living in a damn nightmare, and there's no waking up from it.

No. 9 - The List: Top 10 Leo DiCaprio movies ...

After doing a Denzel Washington Top 10 a week ago, I thought I'd stay in the movie wheelhouse and tackle a catalog I once was lukewarm about; now I’m a major fan.

Rewatchability played a big role in the rankings. For instance, Titanic might feel a tad low, but at the end of the day, I'd rather re-watch The Wolf of Wall Street a little more.

10. Revolutionary Road
9. Django Unchained
8. Catch Me If You Can
7. The Aviator
6. Titanic
5. The Wolf of Wall Street
4. Inception
3. The Departed
2. Once Upon a Time in Hollywood
1. Gangs of New York

No. 10 - And Finally ...

Came close to a turkey vulture this weekend while walking around the neighborhood, as it was eating something near the sidewalk. I had the following thoughts and learned the following thing via the Internet..

a. Do other birds look at the turkey vulture and judge it for being so beastly looking?

b. Why do I only see turkey vultures while eating roadkill? Why doesn't it ever hang out on telephone wires around town? If they wanted to take over an area, do they just show up and the other birds get the hell out of the way because of their size and ugliness?

c. How would a suburb deal with hundreds of turkey vultures taking over like a pack of grackles? Imagine walking on a street and being surrounded by them. It doesn't seem like it would be a sightseeing thing... like... say.... a bat.

d. Did you know that a young turkey vulture will defend itself in a nest by throwing up on an intruder? Well, now you do.

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Wow really? I remember barely being able to get through Gangs of New York
 
Having once upon a time above Django, the departed, and wolf of Wall Street is just wrong.
 
Wuuuuuut?

If it's on, I'm all the way in, no matter what else is going on.
I remember having a tough time believing these actors were in that era and with those accents. I was a lot younger then though so maybe I’ll give it another go. I distinctly remember wanting to see it back then because of Diaz
 
I don't know that I view getting a top 100-250 talent as filling the needs.
I think landing Bledsoe, if they can somehow do it, would definitely be filling a need. Obviously they need to land some elite edge rushers as well, but we haven’t had too many Top 100 defensive tackles, even when Mack had it cooking. I think that is where he ends up in the rankings.
 
I remember having a tough time believing these actors were in that era and with those accents. I was a lot younger then though so maybe I’ll give it another go. I distinctly remember wanting to see it back then because of Diaz
I couldn't even begin to count the number of times I've seen it.
 
I think landing Bledsoe, if they can somehow do it, would definitely be filling a need. Obviously they need to land some elite edge rushers as well, but we haven’t had too many Top 100 defensive tackles, even when Mack had it cooking. I think that is where he ends up in the rankings.
I just don't think a nation al top 250 player fills a lot. Bledsoe is a bit of a project as a talent. It might not be fair tio expect him to contribute much before the 2024 season. Players that fit his profile don't have the highest historical hit rates.
 
a. name another time this has happened.

b. I have him rated as a high three star prospect and described him as a special teams player and a 2-3 project on the field with questions about his ability to cover.

There is far less evidence of what you are suggesting takes place than you believe.
@samthehorn hey man, don't come by with a flamethrower and then disappear when called on the bullshit.
 
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Ketch, I haven’t disappeared, I was just recovering from laughing so hard at the comment you made. I stated that mods are always changing their tune on the importance of a guy that Texas has been chasing, and he ends up somewhere else. The overriding theme is almost always the same, the cries of “Texas went in a different direction or Texas quit pushing for that guy” is all over the place. You don’t need to be so sensitive, it was just an observation. I did not attack you directly. I know how to do that, I just didn’t in this case. Chill. I love your columns, most of the time.
 
Tennis guy here. I’m afraid Federer is going to end up third out of the big three and Joke ends up #1 when the smoke clears. I have met Novak several times and he is a cool cat but I’m a huge Fed guy.

Osaka can Osuck it!!! Here is a girl that has lived in the United States since she was 2. She trains here and lives here but considers herself Japanese because she thinks the US is racist!!! F her!!

Japan takes racism to such extremes they are actually racist to other Asian nations.
 
Yep both are always great throw downs when looking for something to watch..

i can't stand "Wolf of Wall Street" regardless of how over the top Jordan Belfort was in real life. it's a poor remake of "Wall Street".

while not a big fan of Leo or Daniel Day Lewis "Gangs of New York" might as well be a documentary of that era in New York. and the only Scorsese movie worth the film it took to shoot it.
 
I would rather see the Top 10 of models/actresses that Di Caprio has dated.

including Brady's future wifey Gisele Bündchen. who has a twin sister btw .. tell me Tommy hasn't thought about a 3some ... i would.
 
Ketch, I haven’t disappeared, I was just recovering from laughing so hard at the comment you made. I stated that mods are always changing their tune on the importance of a guy that Texas has been chasing, and he ends up somewhere else. The overriding theme is almost always the same, the cries of “Texas went in a different direction or Texas quit pushing for that guy” is all over the place. You don’t need to be so sensitive, it was just an observation. I did not attack you directly. I know how to do that, I just didn’t in this case. Chill. I love your columns, most of the time.
@samthehorn

You literally didn't name an example.

Still haven't.

So yeah, you disappeared.
 
And your reply is judgy as well which you do as much as anyone on this board from your perputual high horse. Note that i didn't tell her how she should identify herself. I gave my take on her motives which are backed up with facts. She does not speak Japanese, lives and trains in USA, has lived here since three years old, and has an American boy friend who is not of Japanese descent. Those are her choices and I am fine with that but it is my judgment that her choice to be Japanese is contradicted by her other choices. Marketing decisions appear to rule the world and Osaka in no exception. Want to talk about Le Bron, the NBA, and China? Are those topics also judgy and wrong for everyday posters?
I've got to agree with Ketch here.

For context, both of my parents are Nigerian although my brother and I were born here in the states. Neither one of us speak the native language of my parents and I've only ever been there twice in my lifetime (once when I was 5 and the other when I was 23) while my brother has only been once when he was a little over a year old. We both love the US but also cherish our Nigerian roots. My brother was a D1 athlete in track and field as a sprinter and always talked about how he'd probably choose to represent Nigeria instead of the US. Part of that motivation was that it'd be much easier to make the team there but also that he could make history and set an example and give hope to future Nigerian sprinters.

None of that had anything to do with money and frankly, she has even more of a claim to her Japanese heritage than we do to ours. I also don't see why her having an American boyfriend has anything to do with anything but I'm sure at the end of the day we'll just agree to disagree.
 
@samthehorn

You literally didn't name an example.

Still haven't.

So yeah, you disappeared.
Sorry for the delay, I’m being held hostage in a casino in San Diego. However, I am relatively sure you know how to read, so I shouldn’t have to dig up stories relating to the comments I mentioned. You seem to be taking offense to someone pointing out a simple fact. I do apologize if the thought that a mod would make such a statement offends you, it shouldn’t. I didn’t say “shoot the bastard”, I just asked why this happens. We all know Texas can’t win every recruiting battle, we don’t need excuses, sometimes we just lose. BTW, I really enjoy your columns
 
Sorry for the delay, I’m being held hostage in a casino in San Diego. However, I am relatively sure you know how to read, so I shouldn’t have to dig up stories relating to the comments I mentioned. You seem to be taking offense to someone pointing out a simple fact. I do apologize if the thought that a mod would make such a statement offends you, it shouldn’t. I didn’t say “shoot the bastard”, I just asked why this happens. We all know Texas can’t win every recruiting battle, we don’t need excuses, sometimes we just lose. BTW, I really enjoy your columns
It's not a fact if there's zero supporting evidence that can lock it in as a fact.

@ samethehorn It's a claim being mistaken as a fact.
 
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