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Pacquiao knocked out Cotto for 7th title

This weekends PPV fight lived up to the hype as Manny Pacquiao knocked out Miguel Cotto in the 12th round of this weekends boxing main event in Las Vegas Nevada. With the win Pacquiao now holds seven boxing titles in seven different weight classes, which is a boxing record. The win improves Pacquiao boxing record to 50-3-2 with 38 KO’s and drops Cotto record to 34-2 with 27 KO’s.

From the moment each boxers name was announced over the load speakers as they came down to the ring you could tell right away that it was going to be a good fight. Pacquiao who is the smaller of the two is known for his fast combos and ability to slug it out when he has to. Cotto had the size advantage and defensive skills to make the fight one for the ages but Pacquiao use this fight to make a statement to everyone out there that he is pound for pound the best.

From the beginning of round one the boxers came out sizing each other trading jabs and power punches, as Cotto seemed to be in the lead early. When round three came things turned fast after catching Cotto off guard, Pacquiao sent him down to the canvass which didn’t seem to phase Cotto that much as he quickly got right back up. Then once again in the 4th round during a flurry of combos and power punches Pacquiao knocked Cotto down again this time you could tell Cotto was affected by the punch as he slowly got up. After that Cotto did everything he could to stay in the fight but Pacquiao was too much for him to handle. After Cotto told his corner not to throw in the towel in the 11th round his wife and son left the fight and went to his dressing room until it was over. Finally 55 seconds into the 12th round the referee stopped the fight after a bloodied Cotto could not escape or fight off Pacquiao’s hard-hitting combos.

With the win there is only one person left for Pacquiao to fight, Floyd “ Money “ Mayweather who has never lost a fight and has an impressive record of 40-0 with 25 KO’s. Both fighters are considered the top two boxers of today, and are arguably the best pound for pound fighters we have ever seen. It is to early to speculate when they will fight but everybody in boxing knows these two have to meet up next. Boxing promoters have been saying even before the Pacquiao Cotto fight that whoever the winner is, Mayweather would be the next fight for either boxer guaranteeing to break PPV sales records.

 

Edward Woodward-The Equalizer Dies

Accomplished actor Edward Woodward died today, November 16, 2009 at 79 years of age. This is a loss to the world of entertainment as Woodward has starred in 36 movies, 16 stage productions, 7 made-for-TV films, 14 TV specials and 21 television series since the year 1955. Woodward was originally a Shakespearean stage actor though many people know Woodward for his work in the films The Wicker Man (1973) and Breaker Morant (1980). He was offered a cameo role in the 2006 remake starring Nicolas Cage but declined the offer. His latest appearances on film were in the movies Hot Fuzz and A Congregation of Ghosts (scheduled for release in 2010).

Woodward was interested in acting and journalism since he was a child. He was torn between acting and playing football professionally as a young adult. Woodward received a knee injury and wasn’t able to play football for a year which freed more of his time for acting. He made his stage and film debuts in 1955 with the play and the movie Where There's A Will! Woodward went on to star in many plays from England and Scotland to Australia and gained much popularity for his acting performances.

Woodward was well known for his role on the 1960’s hit spy series Callan followed by many smaller roles until his next successful show. He was cast as a former British intelligence operative in the 1980’s television series The Equalizer. His performance in this show gained him the 1987 Golden Globe for Best Actor in a Dramatic TV Series. His acting in The Equalizer also earned Emmy Award nominations for each year from 1986 to 1990. Woodward has appeared on television so many times that in 1987 he told The Associated Press, "I think I've probably done more television than any actor living".

Woodward had many health problems. He was stricken with a heart attack during the third season of The Equalizer. They had his character become injured on the show so Woodward would have the chance to recuperate after his hospitalization. He later suffered another heart attack in 1996 and underwent triple bypass surgery. He was informed that he had prostate cancer in 2003. Woodward died today at the Royal Cornwall Hospital with pneumonia after being sick for months.

Woodward’s agent Janet Glass told BBC that he is "Universally loved and admired through his unforgettable roles in classic productions, he was equally fine and courageous in real life, never losing his brave spirit and wonderful humor throughout his illness.” Robin Hardy, the director of Wicker Man, said, “He was one of the greatest actors of his generation, without any question, with a broad career on American television as well as British film…He was the absolute star of The Wicker Man. He was an extremely nice human being."

Despite all of his health problems Woodward remained focused and never gave up on his acting career. He fulfilled his dreams to the best of his ability with acting, singing, writing poetry, recording audio versions of books, singing as a tenor and boating. He is survived by his wife Michele Dotrice his and three children Peter, Tim and Sarah who are also actors. His many fans are showing their respects all over the Internet with hopeful wishes for his family and blogs about his many achievements.

 

Jack Le Lanne-The Godfather of Fitness

We’ve all stumbled upon a Jack La Lanne infomercial while scrolling through our television channels and paused to check out "Jack LaLanne's Power Juicer". This thing is phenomenal and Jack Lelane and his wife Elaine are in wonderful shape! Jack and Elaine have maintained a healthy lifestyle for years by working out and eating healthy. They certainly make their fair share of money by selling their power juicer but they also send the public a great message- that you can still be healthy at 95 years old! Jack still works out for two hours a day, spending 30 minutes swimming and the rest of the time lifting weights.

I have never known or seen anyone at or near Jack’s age in this great shape- in fact, he earned the nickname "the godfather of fitness"! Jack has taught many people throughout the years how to stay fit and eat the right foods on "The Jack LaLanne Show" that ran from 1951-1985 on ABC. He released a record in 1959 titled Glamour Stretcher Time in which Jack instructed his listeners on how to best to work out with an elastic cord. Jack was not only popular on TV and in stereo- he also wrote his share of books. Jack’s books contain everything from how to cook healthy meals, the best ways to juice, how to stay fit after 50 and how to make more money. He released his most recent book, Live Young Forever on his 95th birthday! This book gives advice on how to stay healthy, sexually active and stress free during your older years. Jack made an appearance in the 1960’s TV sitcom The Addam’s Family and in the movies Batman (1966), Repossessed (1990), Sundance Film Festival docu-drama Beefcake (1999) and Hollywood’s Magical Island: Catalina (2003).

Jack Le Lanne has made his message known through many forms of media. What makes him so qualified to give such advice? He holds a Doctor of Chiropractic degree from Oakland Chiropractic College in California. He wanted his patients to maximize their health by working out and gaining more strength and thought it would be great to open his own fitness center in 1939. He created some of his own fitness equipment including the weight selectors that are now found in gyms everywhere! Many of you probably work out in the gym that was once part of Jack Le Lanne’s chain. You know it better as Bally’s Total Fitness.

Jack has received many honors for his personal and professional accomplishments. He won a total of 6 awards in 2005 when he was 91 years old, one of which was the Medical Media Public Service Award. Jack was also inducted to the National Fitness Hall of Fame that same year. He has always remained motivated and excited to take on new physical challenges. Jack was 40 years old for his first tour de force in the year 1954 when he made the world record for swimming the length of San Francisco’s Golden Gate Bridge dragging 140 lbs. worth of equipment along with him. If you think this was a difficult feat, try doing it under water! This was not Jack Le Lanne’s only world record. He did it again two years later when he performed 1,033 push-ups in 23 minutes. Jack Le Lanne was 70 years old in 1984 when he swam 1.5 miles, pulling 70 boats carrying 70 people.

Needless to say, Jack Le Lanne and his wife Elaine are amazing people inside and out. I bought his juicer three years ago and it was one of the best things that happened to my health. All it took was three days of juicing to boost my energy and see improvements in my skin and my digestion. Jack and Elaine are not kidding about the power of juicing. You must have the Jack Le Lanne Power Juicer- not only to better your overall health and emotional well-being but also to fight off the flu! I’m choosing to pump myself full of nutrients this winter season and what better way to take in many servings of fruit and vegetables in one shot than to juice? This is a great way to consume foods that are great for you even if you don’t like the way they taste. You can mix and match flavors allowing you to disguise the flavors of foods that aren’t particularly tasty to you. This is awesome for your kids. There are many children who won’t eat a particular food because of its consistency but may enjoy it in a juice! Make fresh juice for your family and yourself with Jack’s juicer and you will see a marked improvement in your quality of life. Don’t forget to keep a lookout for Jack Le Lanne. He’s 95 years old and going strong and might hit another world record some day!

Here are some of Jack’s famous quotes:

"If man made it, don't eat it"
"If it tastes good, spit it out."

“I do it as a therapy. I do it as something to keep me alive. We all need a little discipline. Exercise is my discipline.”

“Your waistline is your lifeline.”

“The food you eat today is walking and talking tomorrow.”

“Remember this: your body is your slave; it works for you.”

“Anything in life is possible if you make it happen.”

“I can't die. It would ruin my image.”

 

Movies in Theaters This Holiday Season

Get ready to cuddle up close and watch some great movies during those cold winter nights with Dish Network Satellite TV. Even though it is so much more expensive, it’s nice to venture out to the theater every now and then. The winter season will soon be upon us and many people will decide to head to the movies with their loved ones and friends. Here is a preview of what you can expect in theaters for the holidays!

Old Dogs
Release Date: 11/25/09
This movie stars Robin Williams and John Travolta and it looks absolutely adorable! The two actors have been favorites of movie fans everywhere for years and it looks like they’re going to make a hilarious pair in this comedy. One is a bachelor and one a divorcee, Travolta and Williams are about to land a huge business deal but are suddenly given the responsibility of taking care of 7-year-old twins!

The Road
Release Date: 11/25/09
I’m not sure what to make of this film just yet since I’ve only seen one trailer but it seems very interesting. This film hasn’t picked up much buzz but there’s still time. I can say that the acting is guaranteed to be of great quality. It stars Viggo Mortensen, Charlize Theron and Robert Duvall. The plot is based on post apocalyptic times where a man and his child need to fight to stay alive, keeping themselves safe from starving cannibals. This sounds dramatic with a little splash of horror- just the way I like it.

Everybody’s Fine
Release Date: 12/4/09
Robert De Niro stars in this heart-warming holiday drama that is sure to please a wide variety of viewers. He has already won Best Actor at the Hollywood Film Festival for his role in this film and his acting has also been noted as Oscar worthy. DeNiro’s character makes an attempt to reclaim his relationship with his adult children played by Drew Barrymore, Kate Beckinsale and Sam Rockwell.

The Lovely Bones
Release Date: 12/11/09
This movie looks unique to say the least and it’s difficult to tell what type of message, if any, it will deliver. It seems very depressing as a young girl is murdered and is watching over her family from Heaven. She is also keeping an eye on her killer. She needs to make a difficult decision in the spirit world- allow her family to move on or take revenge on the person who took her life. This film could be troublesome to watch for parents but if done carefully could possibly become a blockbuster hit. The cinematography looks beautiful. This film stars Mark Wahlberg, Rachel Weisz, Susan Sarandon (one of my favorites) and more.

Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squekuel
Release Date: December 25
Here’s an adorable flick for the whole family. These tiny-voiced creatures are sure to keep the kids entertained with a fun story, music and dancing. The original Alvin & the Chipmunks released in December 2007 won Favorite movie at The Kids’ Choice Awards, USA and the BMI Film Music Award and made $44,307,417 at the box office.

It’s Complicated
Release Date: 12/25/09
Meryl Streep is on a role once again. She’ll be starring in this drama with Alec Baldwin and Steve Martin. Streep is a restaurant owner and the mother of three grown kids who has been divorced from her husband for many years. She and her ex-husband embark on a trip that unexpectedly reunites their passion for each other and Meryl’s character becomes “the other woman”.

 

Dish Networks 2009-10 first weekend of College basketball Schedule

Even though the 2009-10 college basketball season started on Monday that featured three top 25 teams (4) University of North Carolina, (25) Syracuse and (12) California all winning easily. But today is not only Friday the 13th it’s also the first weekend of this year’s college basketball season. Even though most of the top 25 teams are playing against weaker opponents, a loss will hurt not only their ranking, but also their chances of making it into this years March Madness tournament which leads to the National Championship.

Don’t forget college basketball fans Dish Network also carries ESPN Full Court, and ESPNU which allows you to watch teams from the top conferences battle it out for conference supremacy.

Friday the 13th games

Top 25 Games
TIME (ET) MATCHUP
8:00 PM ET Hofstra at (1) Kansas ESPN360.com Espn Full Court
7:00 PM ET Florida Gulf Coast at (2) Michigan State ESPN360.com
6:30 PM ET Morehead State at (5) Kentucky ESPNU
7:00 PM ET Fairleigh Dickinson at (6) Villanova
7:00 PM ET Cal State Northridge at (7) Purdue ESPN360.com
7:00 PM ET UNC Greensboro at (8) Duke
9:00 PM ET Austin Peay at (11) Tennessee
10:00 PM ET Wright State at (13) Washington
7:30 PM ET William & Mary at (14) Connecticut ESPN360.com ESPN Full Court
8:00 PM ET Tennessee Tech at (18) Minnesota
9:00 PM ET Rider at (19) Mississippi State
9:00 PM ET (21) Georgetown at Tulane
8:00 PM ET Presbyterian at (24) Clemson
East
TIME (ET) MATCHUP
7:00 PM ET Fairleigh Dickinson at (6) Villanova
7:30 PM ET William & Mary at (14) Connecticut ESPN360.com ESPN Full Court
5:00 PM ET Mercer vs. Bucknell
5:30 PM ET Yale vs. Sacred Heart
6:00 PM ET Wagner at Lafayette
7:00 PM ET Dartmouth at Boston College
7:00 PM ET Harvard at Holy Cross
7:00 PM ET Miami (OH) at Towson
7:00 PM ET Cleveland State at St. Bonaventure
7:00 PM ET Lehigh at Richmond
7:00 PM ET Longwood at Virginia
7:00 PM ET Morgan State at Albany
7:00 PM ET Vermont at Loyola (MD)
7:00 PM ET Stony Brook at Maryland-Eastern Shore
7:00 PM ET Florida International at Monmouth
7:00 PM ET Navy at Radford
7:00 PM ET St. Peter's at Seton Hall
7:00 PM ET Brown at St. Francis (NY)
7:00 PM ET American University at St. Francis (PA)
7:00 PM ET Long Island at St. John's
7:00 PM ET Drexel at Saint Joseph's
7:00 PM ET Army at Virginia Military
7:30 PM ET Pennsylvania at Penn State
7:30 PM ET Lincoln PA at Coppin State
7:30 PM ET Fairfield vs. Central Connecticut State
7:30 PM ET Liberty at George Mason
7:30 PM ET Bryant University at Providence
7:30 PM ET Bethune-Cookman at Virginia Commonwealth
7:30 PM ET Boston University at Iona
8:00 PM ET Charleston Southern at Maryland
8:00 PM ET Wofford at Pittsburgh
8:00 PM ET Nicholls State at Duquesne
8:00 PM ET Maine at Fordham
9:30 PM ET Quinnipiac vs. Hartford
West
TIME (ET) MATCHUP
10:00 PM ET Wright State at (13) Washington
7:30 PM ET Colorado State vs. UC Davis
7:30 PM ET Belmont vs. Portland State
8:05 PM ET Loyola Marymount vs. Boise State
9:00 PM ET Texas A&M-CC vs. Oregon State
9:00 PM ET Idaho at Utah
9:00 PM ET North Dakota State at Utah Valley
9:30 PM ET Bradley at Brigham Young
9:30 PM ET Utah State at Weber State
9:30 PM ET South Dakota State at Wyoming
10:00 PM ET North Dakota at Montana
10:00 PM ET Mississippi Valley State at Washington State
10:00 PM ET Cal Poly at San Francisco
10:00 PM ET Santa Clara at Cal State Bakersfield
10:00 PM ET San Francisco St. at Fresno State
10:00 PM ET Stanford at San Diego
10:30 PM ET Winston-Salem at Oregon
10:30 PM ET Pacific at Pepperdine
10:35 PM ET La Verne at UC Irvine
11:30 PM ET New Mexico State at Saint Mary's
Midwest
TIME (ET) MATCHUP
8:00 PM ET Hofstra at (1) Kansas ESPN360.com ESPN Full Court
7:00 PM ET Florida Gulf Coast at (2) Michigan State ESPN360.com
7:00 PM ET Cal State Northridge at (7) Purdue ESPN360.com
8:00 PM ET Tennessee Tech at (18) Minnesota
5:00 PM ET UAB vs. Green Bay
7:00 PM ET Ohio Valley at Ohio
7:00 PM ET Valparaiso at Ball State
7:00 PM ET Samford at Kent State
7:05 PM ET Nebraska Kearney at Indiana State
7:30 PM ET Youngstown State at Xavier
8:00 PM ET Idaho State at Iowa State ESPN360.com ESPN Full Court
8:00 PM ET Northern Illinois at Northwestern
8:00 PM ET Howard at Indiana
8:00 PM ET NW Missouri State at Missouri
8:00 PM ET Concordia University-St. Paul at Milwaukee
8:00 PM ET SIU-Edwardsville at Illinois ESPN Full Court
8:00 PM ET Concordia ILL at Chicago State
8:00 PM ET Loyola (IL) at Kansas State ESPN360.com ESPN Full Court
8:30 PM ET Centenary at Marquette
9:00 PM ET Arkansas-Pine Bluff at Colorado
9:30 PM ET Northern Iowa at Denver
10:00 PM ET Western State at Air Force
10:00 PM ET McNeese State vs. Northern Colorado
South
TIME (ET) MATCHUP
6:30 PM ET Morehead State at (5) Kentucky ESPNU
7:00 PM ET UNC Greensboro at (8) Duke
9:00 PM ET Austin Peay at (11) Tennessee
9:00 PM ET Rider at (19) Mississippi State
9:00 PM ET (21) Georgetown at Tulane
8:00 PM ET Presbyterian at (24) Clemson
6:00 PM ET Virginia-Wise at East Carolina
6:00 PM ET Houston Baptist vs. South Alabama
7:00 PM ET Averett at Stetson
7:00 PM ET New Orleans at Georgia
7:00 PM ET Arkansas-Little Rock at Mississippi
7:00 PM ET Lees McRae at Furman
7:00 PM ET VA Intermont at Chattanooga
7:00 PM ET North Carolina-Wilmington at Appalachian State
7:00 PM ET Massachusetts at UCF
7:00 PM ET Florida Tech at Florida Atlantic
7:00 PM ET Brevard College at North Carolina A&T
7:00 PM ET Alabama A&M at South Carolina
7:05 PM ET Kenyon at Citadel
7:30 PM ET Reinhardt at Georgia Southern
7:30 PM ET Charleston at Coastal Carolina
7:30 PM ET North Greenville at Kennesaw State
7:30 PM ET North Carolina-Asheville at Charlotte
7:30 PM ET Erskine at South Carolina State
8:00 PM ET Alcorn State at Arkansas
8:00 PM ET Louisiana-Monroe at LSU
8:00 PM ET Oral Roberts at Wake Forest
8:00 PM ET St. Andrews at Campbell
8:00 PM ET Hendrix College at Central Arkansas
8:00 PM ET King College TN at Middle Tennessee State
8:00 PM ET Webber Int. at Savannah State
8:00 PM ET Univ. of Science and Arts (OK) at Southeastern Louisiana
8:00 PM ET Siena at Tennessee State
8:45 PM ET East Texas Bapt at Northwestern State
9:00 PM ET Jackson State at Memphis
9:30 PM ET Niagara at Auburn
Southwest
TIME (ET) MATCHUP
7:00 PM ET South Dakota at Texas Tech
8:00 PM ET St. Mary's (TX) at Tulsa
8:00 PM ET Norfolk State at Baylor
8:00 PM ET Angelo State at Texas A&M
8:00 PM ET Cameron at North Texas
8:00 PM ET Howard Payne at Texas State
8:00 PM ET Mid-America Christian at TCU
8:05 PM ET Huston-Tillotson at Lamar
8:30 PM ET Sacramento State at Rice
8:30 PM ET South Florida at Southern Methodist
8:35 PM ET Southwestern (AZ) at Northern Arizona
9:00 PM ET Western Illinois at Arizona State
9:05 PM ET Texas Southern at UTEP

 

Wipeout contestant dies after injury

ABC's “Wipeout” which is available on Dish Network Satellite TV and is filmed in Santa Clarita California, became a huge hit all across the nation. It featured various events one had contestants trying to get from one side to another by bouncing on giant balls that often sent contestants flying off in weird contorted ways. Another event had contestants standing on pegs in a circle while jumping over a pole going around trying not to fall in the water. The show was designed after the Japanese hit show Takeshi’s Castle,” “Most Extreme Elimination Challenge,” and up until a couple of weeks ago nobody was seriously injured on the show.

During the taping of a show for the up coming season Tom Sparks 33, was competing in an obstacle course when he complained of knee pain. The medics on set immediately had him stop and looked at, when they noticed he also had trouble breathing. Once the medics determined he was getting worse he was immediately transported to the hospital. After seeing his injury was brain related Sparks was then transferred to Cedar-Sinai Medical Center where he underwent numerous brain surgeries. Unfortunately doctors were not able to save him and he sadly passed away on Nov 5th.

Going into the show all contestants are required to undergo a full physical, which Sparks did past. The only thing that the show producers did not know was Sparks had a preexisting rare medical condition called Antiphospholipid Antibody Syndrome or APS which requires special blood test to be detected. APS is caused by recurrent clotting events, which result in premature strokes or heart attacks.

Sparks was considered a strong competitor going into the event; he is avid runner who just competed in a marathon. He had just gotten married to his wife Kate and planned on celebrating their new marital relationship with a victory on the couple’s edition of Wipeout. November 6th would have been the couple’s 2-month anniversary.

 

Friday the 13th-Showtime Beyond

Check out Showtime Beyond for spooky movies with Dish Network!

Friday the 13th is here! Did you every wonder why this particular date is supposed to be so scary? The movie Friday the 13th certainly was not frightening enough to create such a widespread stir and this idea was around well before its time, so why do we associate this day with horror or with bad luck? The fear of Friday the 13th was first defined as a phobia in 1911. It is thought that this fear may have originally been derived from a combination of two older superstitions combined- the idea that Friday is an unlucky day and the fear of the number 13.

There were 13 at the Last Supper and one was sentenced to death. Twelve seems to be the magic number as in the 12 signs of the zodiac, 12 hours on the clock, etc. and 13 seems to trespass on the idea that 12 is a number of completeness therefore, taking on an evil connotation. Christians believe that Jesus was crucified on a Friday therefore seeing this day as a day of bad fortune. The movie and book The Da Vinci Code conjured superstitious ideas that originated back in ancient times when the Knights Templar were arrested on Friday the 13th in 1307 while they were protecting Christian Pilgrims. The British scheduled hangings for capital punishment on Fridays and took 13 steps in preparation before the noose was ready.

Some people are debilitated by the fear of this one particular day and will purposely stay home avoiding a possible encounter with bad luck. Whether it has to do with fear of Friday the 13th or not, businesses see an average loss near $850 million every time this date comes around. The most recognized was the “mini-crash” on October 13, 1989 that was the 2nd largest Dow drop ever at that time. Some people are so afraid of accidents they will avoid travel at all costs. The British Medical Journal conducted a study resulting in a report of fewer traffic accidents leading to hospitalizations on this day. Perhaps it is due to more people staying at home and off the streets! In ancient Roman times, witches would meet in groups of 12 and if a 13th came, it was said to be the devil.

It seems that much of the superstitions about Friday the 13th have stemmed from religion and ancient folklore for the most part, but just for fun...

Here are some quotes about Friday and the number 13:

“Notwithstanding, opinions in favor of odd numbers, the number 13 is considered as extremely ominous: it being held that, when 13 persons meet in a room, one of them will die within the year.” (1787)

“Sailors are many of them superstitious… A voyage begun (On a Friday) is sure to be an unfortunate one.” (1823)

“As to Friday, a couple getting married on that day are doomed to a cat-and-dog life” (1879)

“Don’t move on a Friday, or you won’t stay there very long.” (1982)

Some interesting tidbits:

Airports in Scotland do not have number 13 gates.

Microsoft Office will be skipping Office 13 for superstitious reasons.

Confederate general and slave trader Nathan Bedford Forrest was born on this day in 1821.

A computer virus attacked IBM computers throughout Britain on this day in 1821.

Bill Gates was bumped down on Forbes list of the richest people in the world in 2008 on his 13th run.

 

Dish Networks Thursday night NFL special

Tonight on ESPN the Chicago Bears will travel to San Francisco to take on the 49ers in what is sure to be a battle to save each teams fading chances of making it to the play-offs. Last week both teams suffered humiliating defeats as the Bears lost to Arizona 41-21 in which Cardinal’s quarterback Kurt Warner threw for five touchdowns. The bears loss was just as bad, they got ran over by the Tennessee Titans with a final score of 34-27 but don’t let the score deceive you it was not that close.

The Bears are going into tonight’s game with a 4-4 record a win could put the m right back in contention for the wild card. For the 49ers who are 3-5 every game is now a must win in order to make it to the play-offs. Both teams have been hampered by injuries all season and have young inexperienced players trying to figure out in short amount of time how to contribute.

The 49ers are hoping that tonight is the night that ex Texas Tech star Michael Crabtree can give them the big lift they need at the wide receiver position. Due to contract negotiations Crabtree missed all of training camp and the first 5 games of the season. In his first 3 games in the NFL he has 14 receptions for 167 yards.

Tonight’s game promise to tough fought battle between two teams looking to save their season.

 

Top 10 Movies 11/12-11/15

Here are my Top 10 Movies to watch on Dish Network’s America’s Everything Package from now until Sunday night!

#1 Lady in the Water at 9 pm on 5StarMax 11-12

Directed by M. Night Shayamalan and starring Paul Giamatti, this film is a sure win and it is rated PG-13. This is one of my favorite movies of all time. Don’t expect horror or sci-fi as it is meant to be a drama/fantasy. Watch it with a friend or loved and look at the deeper meaning of the film because you’ll want to discuss it later.

2. Nights in Rodanthe at 9 pm on HBO Signature 11-13

If you like Richard Gere and/or Diane Lane, then you will absolutely fall in love again for the first time when you watch this dramatic hit. These two make the most believable film couple that I have probably ever seen and the acting is phenomenal. George C. Wolfe who also filmed The Devil Wears Prada directed this movie.

3. Slumdog Millionaire at 9 pm on HBO2 11-12

I know many of you have heard how great this movie is and about the awards it has received. This film received Best Picture, Best Director, Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Cinematography, Best Original Score, Best Original Song, Best Film Editing and Best Sound Mixing- that was just at the Oscar’s. Those of you who have seen this film can watch it a second time. Those of you who haven’t seen this drama, here is your chance! See what all of the buzz is about and you will be pleasantly surprised when you find out just how unique this film really is!

4. This Boy’s Life at 8 pm on Encore Drama 11-12

Robert De Niro fans, this movie is a must to add to your collection. If you haven’t seen it yet, you don’t know what you’re missing. This drama also stars Leonardo DiCaprio and Ellen Barkin. De Niro is so aggravating in this film that you will want to jump at him through the TV screen! He plays an abusive stepfather to DiCaprio so if you have children be sure that they are tucked soundly to sleep before show time then enjoy the ride.

5. Cop Land at 4:20 pm on Encore Mystery 11-15

Though this film is not the most action-packed it is a great drama with an awesome cast. The actors include Robert De Niro, Sylvester Stallone, Harvey Keitel and Ray Liotta. I will say no more.

6. The Kite Runner at 7:30 pm on The Movie Channel Extra 11-13

This movie is adapted from the book of the same title written by Khaled Hosseini. It centers around a boy in Afghanistan who is living in troubled times and witnesses the rape of his friend but does nothing to stop it. He lives with the regret throughout his life. The movie depicts Afghanistan as citizens are beginning to seek refuge in Pakistan and the U.S. to avoid terror as the Taliban begins to grow.

7. The Bucket List at 9 pm on 5StarMax 11-15

Jack Nicholson and Morgan Freeman make a very entertaining pair in this Rob Reiner film. The story focuses on two friends with very different perspectives in life that are faced with their own mortality and, in their own bizarre way, help each other discover the things in life that truly matter.

8. The Way of the Gun at 5:45 pm on Showtime Extreme 11-12

This blast of a movie will have you entertained from opening to closing credits. It stars Ryan Phillipe, Benicio Del Toro, Juliette Lewis and Taye Diggs. This is a non-stop dark comedy/drama/action flick that takes place mostly in Mexico and it’s a non-stop thrill ride. If you want one-of-a-kind entertainment like no other then you will love this flick!

9. Burn After Reading at 9:30 am on Cinemax 11-15

The Coen Brothers are so reliable when it comes to making movies that are off the beaten cuff. You will crack up when you see Brad Pitt as a gum-chewing gym worker with tight pants who acts like a little boy paired up with his coworker Frances McDormand. They come across a very valuable memoir that was left behind by a gym member and they hold it for ransom. Will the writer of the memoir pay the ransom or will these two have to go through heck first? Find out Sunday!

10. The Neverending Story at 8:20 am on Starz Kids & Family 11-14

This movie is great for children and adults who are kids at heart. It’s an old time favorite of mine since it was one of the first movies I saw in the theater. This fantasy movie will make your children excited to read and embark on new adventures as it makes a story come to life! It includes a beautiful white flying dragon, a rock biter, a troll, a snail that travels as fast as lightening and more!

 

Kathy Bates-Film-Stage-Beating Cancer

Who is your favorite actress? I know it is very difficult to choose who you like the best since there are so many variations of talented women to choose from. I know that I cannot decide on just one but can certainly state that Kathy Bates would be in the top five. She is probably one of the most versatile and consistent actresses around and has proven her talent with her many characters in movies of every genre.

Bates has starred in over 60 movies since she made her big-screen acting debut in the film Taking Off released in 1971. Her stage performance in the play ‘night Mother earned her a Tony award nomination in 1983 and she was just getting warmed up. She also starred in the Off-Broadway hit Frankie and Johnny in the Clair de Lune. The play lasted through 533 performances. The reason why this may sound familiar is because it was adapted into the movie Frankie & Johnny starring Michelle Pfeifer and Al Pacino. Bates was a huge hit on stage and her career in film was about to explode when she starred in the classic horror smash Misery (1990) as the psycho Annie Wilkes! This performance landed her the Academy Award for Best Actress that year.

Kathy Bates went from one hit film to the next when she took the role of Evelyn Couch, an unhappy housewife, in Fried Green Tomatoes. She was able to make audiences everywhere put aside their fear and, alongside Jessica Tandy, melted the hearts of all her fans. She went from a horror film to a drama and came back to Stephen King once again for Dolores Claiborne. This film was very slow moving and certainly did not have as many followers as Misery, but as far as character studies are concerned, they couldn’t have picked a better actress for the role because without Bates, the film would not be half as good.

Bates stole our hearts again as “Molly” Brown in Titanic (1997). I’ve talked to plenty people about this film because it was such a huge success. Everyone I’ve spoken with seems to have similar opinions of the movie in that the topic was suspenseful and breathtaking but that DiCaprio’s and Winslet’s performances were completely overacted and almost laughable at times, but we like their characters so it was enough to make it work. Bates, on the other hand, played her part to the tee. You would swear she wasn’t acting since she was so comfortable and her lines just rolled off her tongue as if she was completely improvising. She made us laugh and cheer with her astounding performance. I am shocked that Winslet was nominated and Bates was not. Winslet is now a decent actress (most notably in the film Little Children) but she was simply getting her feet wet when she made her mediocre debut in Titanic.

Kathy Bates displayed her confidence and agreed to appear naked in the film About Schmidt (2002), also starring Jack Nicholson. The scene consisted of Bates undressing and entering the bathtub. I’m not quite sure why everyone claims how disgusting this part was. Perhaps it’s because many young people may see her as a mother figure. As a grown woman all I could think was, Go, girl! Bates’ body was obviously not stick thin, but if my skin looks like that with no spider veins or cellulite when I am 55 years old, I certainly will not be wearing a moo-moo at the beach!

Kathy Bates has earned every award that has come her way and deserved so much more. She is one of the most accomplished actresses of our time. Not only has she proven her perseverance in the world of film she has also made a huge personal achievement. Bates was diagnosed with Ovarian Cancer in 2003 but has since beaten the disease. She kept her disease a secret from the press and went to chemotherapy appointments on her own. She said that she needed to deal with the disease without any distractions. Bates is grateful that she was diagnosed right at the beginning stages and wants others to know that early detection is the best step toward fighting cancer. Bates has now joined the Ovarian Cancer Foundation to speak out for early detection and cancer treatment.

 
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