The Most Wonderful Time of the Year

It's finally, finally, finally here. After months and months and months of deprivation, it's finally time.

That's right, baseball! Now don't get me wrong, I love football and basketball (especially the college varieties), and I really get into those. I'm still completely immersed in the magical basketball season my Commodores are having. 22-4 is a pretty nice start. I know, I know, I'm supposed to be cheering for the Canes, and I was really excited to see them beat Duke (I mean, what a double treat, a huge win for my school and seeing Duke lose), but I lived the first nineteen years of my life in Nashville, and was raised a Vanderbilt fan, and I'm sorry, but twenty-two years of Vanderbilt fandom has me a little bit more invested than seven months of Miami attendance.

OK, what was I talking about again? That's right, baseball. There's nothing better than baseball. And although the team I'm truly passionate about, the Atlanta Braves, doesn't start for a while, college baseball is always a good appetizer for the entree of the big league game. One of my only regrets in coming to school down here is missing the Vanderbilt baseball season. My dad and I went to a whole lot of the home games last year, and it was awesome. Nothing quite like rooting for a #1 team. You don't get that opportunity very often as a Vandy fan. And they should be almost as good this year, if not better. Oh well, I guess I'll have to listen to or watch their games on the net. And I guess cheering for a #10 team will have to suffice. If the weather holds (and you never know here), I'll probably go to the first game tonight.

As if the start of the baseball season weren't enough, the Academy Awards are this weekend. Now, I must be a glutton for punishment, for despite the fact that the right films never get awarded, I still follow the Oscars for months leading up to the ceremony every year. This year was a ridiculously good year for film, and the Academy even nominated some of the best films.

As far as Best Picture goes, my pick would be the brilliantly insane There Will Be Blood. But I would not complain in the least if No Country for Old Men took it. Both films are amazing.

Mostly, however, I am holding my breath in hopes that the Academy will actually award two of the greatest performances I've seen in years.

Daniel Day-Lewis in There Will Be Blood gave a truly historically good performance. It's the best of his career, and that's saying something. I liked most of the other nominees in the Best Actor category this year, but DDL is in another league entirely. I will be despondent if he doesn't win.

Secondly, Cate Blanchett was nearly as brilliant in I'm Not There. Just a stunning, stunning performance. She'll probably lose, and it will truly be a farce.

Rounding out the categories, I want Javier Bardem to win Supp. Actor, but I'd be happy with Casey Affleck or Tom Wilkinson. Marion Cotillard deserves the Oscar for Best Actress, but I wouldn't be too terribly disappointed if Julie Christie took it. And really, I'd be happy with the Coens, Paul Thomas Anderson or Julian Schnabel (although Schnabel would be my pick) for Best Director.

Finally, I must say that the Academy's decision to disqualify Johnny Greenwood's score for There Will Be Blood was a truly horrendous decision on their part. Brilliant, brilliant work.

OK, I guess I've rambled enough for one Friday afternoon. Have a good weekend, and go see some baseball!