24 and Sports: More similar than you think

Let me preface this blog entry by proudly stating my love and affection for 24. I love everything about 24. I’ve watched every second of every episode of every season of 24, multiple times, and absolutely loved it. If I had to pick a person (real or fictional) as my hero, it would be Jack Bauer in a landslide. Heck, I’m even seriously considering naming my future son Jack Bauer, which reminds me of a pretty funny dinner conversation I had a couple of months ago. I was eating dinner with a couple of my friends when I said I was going to name my first born son (sometime in the very, very distant future) Jack Bauer (semi-jokingly). Two of my friends immediately proposed me a bet: $20,000 a man that I wouldn’t name my first born son Jack Bauer. I got them to up the ante to a $100,000 together but I just couldn’t pull the trigger. A $100,000 is a lot of money and I know I probably should have done it, at least financially, but I just couldn’t do it. I could imagine making the bet and then having to explain to my future wife in an emergency room somewhere that we would have to pay a 100 grand if we named our son anything other than Jack Bauer. I’m guessing that probably wouldn’t go over too well. I was still really close to pulling the trigger (and this was a serious thing, we were going to go to have a contract written by a lawyer), but I couldn’t do it when my roommate said that he would effectually be “buying the naming rights to my son.” That really made me mad. But I should have done it, what would you have done (see poll below)?

Would you name your first-born son Jack Bauer for a $100,000?
	Yes
	No
pollcode.com free polls

I digress, anyways, considering how much I am into 24, I hope you take me seriously when I say that 24’s season finale (season 6) brought to an end the most horrific season of 24 in history. The second half of the last episode was soap opera-esque. I don’t care about Jack or anybody else’s emotions or mental state, I just want to see JB in action. The whole season we were forced to watch boring scenes with Cloey and Morris or bear witness to totally irrelevant and ridiculous White House drama. This season, more than any other, 24 focused less on action scenes with Jack. I think the 24 writers get paid enough to think up fresh ideas (how many times is Jack going to break into a freaking consulate?). The point is all the viewers want to see is my main man JB in action scenes being the baddest man on the planet. That is the only thing that makes 24 the hit series that it has become. Enough venting because the worst season of 24 is still a hundred times better than anything else on television. I was thinking about where 24 will go from here and I have a feeling that the show will see some radical changes next season. Bill and Karen are retiring, Chloe is pregnant and she and Morris could both choose to leave CTU, and Doyle is blind (albeit in one eye). Regardless, I think we are at the end of another epoch of 24. I feel like seasons 1-3 were linked together by some underlying story lines (Jack and his daughter’s relationship, President Palmer) as were seasons 4-6 (Jack and Audrey). We’re ready for a new storyline.

You’re probably wondering about now why I’m writing so extensively about 24 in a sports blog, but it’s all connected (or at least I like to think it is). I was thinking about 24 after I watching an NBA game the other night and I drew a lot of similarities between the show and sports. It really is like watching a basketball or football game, it sure does get me jacked. I was thinking a lot about the characters and about real life sports stars that personify some of the characters. Here is a list I put together of real life sports star versions of a few of 24’s characters:

Chloe = Curt Schilling

Chloe and Curt Schilling are both extremely talented in their respective fields. Chloe is a master computer programmer/satellite monitor/attack scripting star. Curt Schilling has a rocket fastball and a hair-splitting curveball. They are also both extremely talented at putting their foot in their mouth (http://38pitches.com/2007/05/09/public-apology/#more-81).

Morris = A-Rod

Morris is flat out as good as it gets in terms of computer engineering, surveillance, tracking, field communication, and nuclear deactivation technologies. A-Rod is widely regarded as the best player in baseball. Although both men have world-class talent, they have failed to come through when it really matters. For Morris, his downfall was when he activated the nuclear programming device for Fayed. For A-Rod, it has been his poor hitting in the post-season. Another similarity between the two is that in addition to failing, they both have to live in the shadow of a team member who always outshines them in the clutch. For Morris it’s Milo (gave his life to CTU), for A-rod it’s Jeter (Mr. Clutch in the postseason).

Nadia = Kobe Bryant

Kobe and Shaq we’re one of the best duos in NBA history, winning 3 NBA titles together. But when the Lakers had to pick a superstar, they went with Kobe. Kobe thought winning would be easy but he has struggled immensely without Shaq and made a lot of mistakes that really cost his team (Phoenix series last year). Likewise, when Bill Buchanan was forced to resign as director of CTU, Nadia was chosen to be his replacement. As acting director of CTU, Nadia’s newfound power went to her head and she also made many mistakes during critical times (the chip exchange with Jack’s dad). Although both made critical errors, Kobe and Nadia acknowledged their mistakes (Kobe reconciled with Phil, Nadia ended up allowing Jack and Bill to fly in to save Jack’s nephew).

Bill Buchanan = Peyton Manning

Bill Buchanan is the master, the commander, the leader of CTU Los Angeles. Peyton Manning fills a similar role for the Colts offense. Both men have to make important decisions in the clutch (for Bill it’s in an office deciding a battle plan to thwart an imminent terrorist attack, for Peyton it’s in the pocket deciding whether to hit Dallas Clark on a hitch or to throw a bomb to Marvin before the blitz hits him). Both men have achieved success on the highest levels and are true character guys.

Jack Bauer = Tiger Woods

Jack Bauer is the face of 24, Tiger Woods is the face of golf. People only care about 24 when Jack is in action, people only care about golf when Tiger is playing. They both have their vices, Jack has a tendency to be insubordinate, Tiger sprays his driver. Jack does whatever he has to do to be the best, including going under cover in Mexico and becoming a drug addict (season 3), while Tiger has done tough things as well (completely changing his swing twice). They both have that 'it' factor in the clutch. When a bomb is about to explode, or when you are on the back nine on sunday, Jack and Tiger are at their best.

10 Random Thoughts

1. Duke Lacrosse baby! Let’s win it all this weekend at the final four. I know Cornell is undefeated, but let’s give it to them. This is redemption.

2. The NCAA better grant our seniors’ request for another year of eligibility. They were the victims of a maniacal investigation and deserve an extra year.

3. It really made me upset that 24 didn’t move to the silent clock when Milo died but they did it when Jack was feeling emotional. That’s just wrong.

4. Everyone needs to get off of Lebron’s back. If Donyell had made the open 3 at the end of game 1 then everyone would have been singing his praises.

5. The refs for game 2 should be suspended for the rest of the playoffs. Rip fouled Lebron about five times on that play. If you’re going to call a foul at the beginning of a game you have to call it at the end.

6. Federer is going to take down Nadal and win the French Open this time, I guarantee it.

7. Michael Vick is getting off without any punishment after the water bottle incident and now the dog fighting ring. The Falcons must be really starting to regret trading Schaub.

8. The Rocket looked terrible in his Double AA start yesterday, he better make another minor league start.

9. What if the Bulls trade the no.9 pick, Gordon, and Nocioni for Gasol? The Bulls would be the class of the east.

10. The Spurs Dynasty is official.