Here's a brand new time consumer from the ever fizzling, buoyant minds of eccentric sports enthusiast Connor Smith and pretentious hipster scum Chris Byrne. The CvsC List Challenge consists of new top 10 lists every few days or so concerning random topics of mass intrigue.
Each player makes a list of their personal ten favorite examples and then the rest is left to the visitors. A corresponding poll will be featured in the upper right column of the site giving options to vote upon whose list earns the $ (figuratively).
The winner of each post with have the advantage of choosing the next list topic thus parlaying into their own obscure knowledge. For example, Connor may choose a list of the top 10 Jewish baseball players of all-time while Chris picks the top 10 Elephant 6 offshoots.
As foreseen, this method may lead to an infinitesimal stretch of one sided advantages. The solution is in the case of one player winning three consecutive rounds, that player gets a 'super point' worth 3 total points rather than the 1 point per round. After said 'super point' is rewarded in grand fashion, a third party will choose a neutral topic challenge. (That means you).
Finally, possible future rounds of CvsC will feature guest challengers.
Here's where the C vs. C fandom will prove loyal or not. As a result of Connor's maiden victory, he has chosen for contest to rank the top 10 coolest current baseball players. Now, I realize that a majority of those who have been kind enough to vote may not appreciate this debatable quarrel as those of list challenges of the past but to Connor, this is his undying passion. Like a sparky Jewish equivalent of Dwight Schrute to Battlestar Galactica, Connor will defend to his cold, Comiskey Park replicated grave over the honor, integrity, virtue and downright righteousness of the cornerstone of his sports obsession. I (Chris), would seemingly not stand a chance in hell against this colossal juggernaut of an opponent. Fear not! Contrary to popular belief, I myself am a closet baseball fanatic *gasp*. While I may not drool over Grady Sizemore's on-base percentage with two out and runners in scoring position on three days rest in the leadoff spot in July, I can confidently tell you at least what position (outfielder) and what team he plays for (Cleveland Indians). So, without further adieu, play ball!
---------- C o n n o r ---------- "the king of inventing high fives"
10. - YUNIESKY BETANCOURT(SS - Mariners) Castro couldn’t hold this defensive wizard. He defected from Cuba in November 2003 and momentarily played in various Mexican leagues. Since his stellar debut in late 2005, Betancourt has defined clutch. The coolest cat in the Mariner infield, he has been the team’s leading batter with runners in scoring position the last two seasons.
09. - CHRIS YOUNG(CF - Diamondbacks) Cubs fans got a dose of this Houston native’s abilities during their first round sweep in last year’s NLDS. He went for the trifecta hitting a home run in each of the three playoff games, and caused an epic Ted Lilly glove throw that lives on in every Diamondback fan’s memory. In his rookie season, he was no stranger to the celebration, hitting three walk-off home runs and 32 overall.
08. - DAN UGGLA(2B - Marlins) His name is……DAN UGGLA!
07. - COREY HART(RF - Brewers) His golden locks have graced the outfield of Miller Park for only one full season, but he took full advantage of that season by hitting .295 with 24 home runs in his rookie campaign. And half the time, he didn’t even need batting gloves!
06. - LASTINGS MILLEDGE(CF - Nationals) Shea Stadium was in a frenzy on June 4, 2006 when top prospect Lastings Milledge hit his first career home run, a game-tier in the bottom of the tenth with two outs. The rook proceeded to high five all the fans down the right field line quickly becoming a fan favorite. The timeless prick Billy Wagner then put a sign on his locker that said “Know your place rook!” Milledge solidified his place as a young clutch hitter with a Gary Sheffield-like wrist-rocking swing. The Mets promptly traded him.
05. - NICK SWISHER(CF - White Sox) A visit to www.nickswisher.com will leave Big and Rich’s “Save a Horse, Ride a Cowboy” ringing in your ears. He’s the king of inventing high fives with more than ten with different teammates. I can’t wait to see how many more he will make with his new South Side brethren.
04. - ORLANDO CABRERA(SS - White Sox) O-Cab, the Wizard of the OC, call him what you will but this much is for sure: he un-tucks his jersey after every win in a celebratory action and is a Gold Glove winner with the best fielding percentage among AL shortstops in the last two years.
03. - KHALIL GREENE(SS - Padres) The Baha’i religion was founded in Iran in the 1800s. It states that all of the prophets from Judaism, Islam, Christianity, Buddhism, and Hinduism were given the same message and seeks to unite them all. Khalil Greene is the only current member of this religion in Major League Baseball. He’s also the finest example of defensive brilliance in the National League.
02. - JIMMY ROLLINS(SS - Phillies) “J-Roll” dubbed the Phillies the team to beat in 2007 Spring Training. The Mets scoffed at and vilified this prediction, but Rollins turned out to be the prophet. He and his do-rag went on the lead the Phillies to an NL East crown and an NL MVP award.
01.ERIC BYRNES(LF - Diamondbacks) He surfs daily and hosts a television show on Fox Sports Net in the offseason. In the 2007 All Star Game he was kayaking in McCovey Cove with his bulldog Bruin. In addition to all of this, he brought high socks back in to the MLB mainstream.
---------- C h r i s ---------- "we are unfortunately not related"
10. - SCOTT KAZMIR(P - 'Devil' Rays) A steal for the Rays, Kazmir is what keeps them afloat as well as my dignity for having the Rays as one of my favorite teams even though in their entire existence as a major league team have never ever mustered a winning season. This is the year!
09. - RYAN FREEL(xx - Reds) Freel can play pretty much every position. Need someone to snag liners in left? He's you're man. Need someone to turn the double play? He's you're man. Need someone to gun out the runner at third? He's you're man. Need someone to mow your lawn next Sunday? He's you're.....well, you get the idea.
08. - ROCCO BALDELLI(OF - 'Devil' Rays) He's from Rhode Island and his name is Rocco. C'monnnn (I just realized this and I'm gonna go ahead and just throw it out there......Roccy Rhode?)
07. - DUSTIN PEDROIA(2B - Red Sox) My indie sense tells me to stay clear of big-market teams, but Pedroia was last season's rookie of the year and because he wears my number (15) and plays my position (2B) an exception must be made, and made it has been.
06. - JAKE PEAVY(P - Padres) Always puts up ungodly pitching numbers that baffle his opposing victims with his tenacious might and power. But deep down under he's apparently a nice fella, just ask D. Igman as he has gabbed it up with the San Diego sensation a few months ago.
05. - AARON ROWAND(OF - Giants) Anyone who has enough courage to consistently do this fully deserves to be here on this list.
04. - BOBBY JENKS(P - White Sox) The jolly savior of the White Sox bullpen, Jenks' 6 foot 3, 275 mountain of a man last season hurled those 100 m.p.h. fastballs down the throats of 38 consecutively retired batters. That's about a perfect game and a half which makes sense seeing as he should be considered a man and a half himself.
03. - CHASE UTLEY(2B - Phillies) Besides double play partner Jimmy Rollins, Utley is the next hope to break the obscene 55 game hit streak set over sixty years ago by Joe DiMaggio. Plus, he's on my fantasy team this season, so he had better break that streak.
02. - ERIC BYRNES(OF - Diamondbacks) Despite his universal appeal, and alike David Byrne, we are unfortunately not related as much as I wish every starry night for it to be true.
Unless your name is Peter McGregory, then you've all gone through a deep obsession with those four lovable mop-topped ragamuffins from Liverpool. John, Paul, George and Ringo are responsible for not only a good chunk of the inspiration for pretty much all pop music these days, but also can claim massive amounts of influence over personal matters and significant moments in life. Case in point, take Seth's (from Superbad) confessing appreciation towards their relating brilliance when he flounders a panicky, "Matt Mure, he's the sweetest guy ever! Have you ever stared into his eyes? It was like the first time I ever heard the Beatles."
Don't be shy in snagging the mp3s. Although, by Chris and Connor law, everyone should have already had these tracks to begin with. But don't worry, we won't tell unless we find ourselves in some sort of blackmailing situation.
--------- C h r i s ---------- "Damn hippies."
10. - HEY BULLDOG[mp3] The best song in history to feature barking, the song owns a staggeringly profound opening pounding piano riff that basically commands you, like a dog, to tap your foot to it in glee along with some of the coolest guitar work spanning the group's entire career.
09. - HELLO, GOODBYE[mp3] Before Target ripped it to corporate shreds in one of their ads altering the lyrics to "hello, goodbuy," this song amplifies my obsession with pop songs with subtle piano or organ, but the best featured instrumentation has got to be the violin vs. drums sequence at the 1:16 mark of the track until the 1:37 mark. From there on out, you can hear the continuous pop brilliance all the way until the 'heyla heyhey loha (cha cha)' closing.
08. - DRIVE MY CAR/THE WORD/WHAT YOU'RE DOING[mp3] Possibly the most fun initial album listen next to Night Ripper, was 2006's Love, a revamped mix of 130 original Beatles recordings into 26 tracks of corresponding matching under the helm of hand-in-hand Beatles producer (Sir) George Martin. This is the best example of the styling of the album as not only does it overlap the three titled tracks together, but a keen ear can pick out the guitar solo from "Taxman" and the horns from "Savory Truffle" sifted carelessly into the batter.
07. - FOR NO ONE[mp3] The most mellowed out, mature track on my list also is, by my knowledge, also the only that features a french horn. Apparently Paul wrote this song while in a ski resort bathroom in the Swiss Alps. Then, when they recorded it, John and George were not involved in any increment, leaving Ringo to the drums and Paul to everything else. 06. - GETTING BETTER[mp3] I'm not going to lie. The first time I heard this song was from those old Phillips light bulb commercials. I had not yet been introduced to The Beatles at that point as a result of me only being probably about five or six of age. Now, with it's jaunty guitar punches and piano pangs I can't help but smile as bright as a Phillips bulb whenever I hear it.
05. - ACROSS THE UNIVERSE[mp3] The homemade sounding intro to the almost equally mesmerizing "Let It Be" (which was painstakingly difficult to leave off this list) "Across The Universe" owes its lovely gentile rhythm to it's lyrical origins which was heavily influenced by the band's interests in 'transcendental meditation.' Thus, it was given a soothing cosmic feel that can be heard by more than us here on Earth thanks to NASA beaming the track into space last month. Also, my favorite cover of a Beatles song (future list?) is this track preformed by Fiona Apple and produced by notorious Beatles fanatic Jon Brion. [mp3]
04. - TOMORROW NEVER KNOWS[mp3] I would like so much to experience the first reception in 1966 to this notorious LSD and The Tibetan Book of the Dead tagged track as it shook the heads of many as it has seagulls, swirling sitar, crazy accelerated orchestra renditions, some of the first double tracked vocals which were also recorded through an organ amp, and much, much more who-knows-what bells and whistles all guided along by Ringo's quasi off beat drums. Damn hippies.
03. - DEAR PRUDENCE[mp3] One of John Lennon self-proclaimed favorite Beatles song is also one of mine as well because it's one of those great songs that even though it has a chorus and verses and all that mumbo-jumbo, it constantly escalates upward the entire length of the track giving it a momentous upwelling of triumph that apparently James Murphy of LCD Soundsystem thought was too good not to mimic is his own song "Never As Tired As When I'm Waking." [mp3]
02. - SHE SAID SHE SAID[mp3] Figures that with my indie snob mentality three of these top ten tracks are taken from the stereotypical indie favorite, Revolver album. Really, I can't be blamed as this song while it sounds a tad better as a jumpy follow up and somewhat necessary after the hit-or-miss "Yellow Submarine," it definitely can still hold it's own as another LSD addled track that almost didn't make the album cut.
01. - A DAY IN THE LIFE[mp3] Originally banned from the BBC for the "I'd love to turn you on" line, this quintessential masterpiece has a credited 46 member effort featuring over 50 instruments but really the only I need is the goosebump conjuring opening piano chords against the lightly strummed acoustic guitar that extrudes so much more graceful appreciation and knowledge beyond being the greatest Beatles song and than just knowing how many holes it takes to fill the Albert Hall.
---------- C o n n o r ---------- "I say we jot down our favorite lyric/sentence of the songs. It speaks louder than the explanations"
10. - ROCKY RACCOON[mp3] He said Rocky you met your match. And Rocky said, Doc it’s only a scratch And I’ll be better, I’ll be better doc as soon as I am able.
09. - DIG A PONY[mp3] I told you so, all I want is you Everything has got to be just like you want it to
08. - WHILE MY GUITAR GENTLY WEEPS[mp3] I look at you all see the love there that’s sleeping While my guitar gently weeps.
07. - YOU'VE GOT TO HIDE YOUR LOVE AWAY[mp3] Here I stand with head in hand, Turn my face to the wall. If she’s gone I can’t go on, Feeling two foot small.
06. - PAPERBACK WRITER[mp3] It’s a dirty story of a dirty man, And his clinging wife doesn’t understand. His son is working for the Daily Mail, It’s a steady job, But he wants to be a paperback writer
05. - BABY, YOU'RE A RICH MAN[mp3] How does it feel to be one of the beautiful people Now that you know who you are What do you want ot be and have you travelled very far Far as the eye can see.
04. - THE END[mp3] And in the end, The love you make is equal to the love you take
03. - LET IT BE[mp3] For though they may be parted there is Still a chance that they will see There will be an answer, let it be
02. - HEY JUDE[mp3] Hey Jude, don't let me down You have found her, now go and get her Remember to let her into your heart, Then you can start to make it better
01. - I'LL FOLLOW THE SUN[mp3] Some day you’ll know I was the one, But tomorrow may rain so I’ll follow the sun.
NOW GO VOTE!
(odd that neither of us have any of the same selections)
The Interweb's go-to misinformation juggernaut is the subject of our maiden voyage list. Besides resulting in mass distraction while attempting to qualify it as a decent research source, it's also a good way to make sure that Skopje is the capitol of Macedonia, not Cyprus. Here are the best that Chris and Connor have stumbled upon, summoned voluntarily or linked past through the Wikigame.
---------- C h r i s ---------- "Is Rose Taupe web-safe? Hell no!"
10 - PALINDROME Mom, poop, racecar and Demetri Martin's peom "Dammit I'm Mad" arn't they only bananas in the bushel but they certainly don't compare to Georges Perec's 5,566 lettered anthem. Also, you'll find the key secrets to why Sigur Rós is so good. 09 - NEW WORLD ORDER They're all out to get us, especially if you go to Denver. 08 - NICOLAS FLAMEL Hey, it's real life Harry Potter. That's right, he really existed. As for the actual Sorcerer's Stone he allegedly owned, that'll cost you more than a few Galleons. 07 - NEOLOGISM
Also known as "made up words," neologism gives rise to new words due to commonality, so here you can finally find out what the hell 'snowclone,' Chindia,' 'corporatocracy,' 'fauxtography' and possibly most relating, 'thruthiness.' These are basically ammo to aim at spell check to get back at for consistently underlining your last name in red. Example: "Get a load of this, spell check!" then proceed to type 'metaverse.'
06 - LIST OF COLORS Who knew visable light could be so fascinating and apparently alphabetical? But most importantly, is Rose Taupe web-safe? Hell no! 05 - LIST OF SESAME STREET CHARACTERS Image what it would be like to be Jim Henson's child. I'd say terrifying and heartbreaking as you could easily stumble across 'Uncle' Frank (Oz) seemingly ejecting from the bottom of Telly Monster. But being any other American child left a foot away to learn from a television can thank their limited (thunder conjuring) counting ability to Count Van Count, their multiculturalism from Rosita, their restaurant etiquette from Fat Blue, their musical intrigue from the Honkers and their child obesity from Cookie Monster. Although nothing was comparable to the massiveness of Gordon's impressive mustache. Personal favs? Either Guy Smiley, Sherlock Hemlock, or the Miami Mice. 04 - NIGHT RIPPER Unveiled and ready to be sued over. Here's your chance to get really really acquainted with the most popular 'art' by everyone's favorite biomedical engineer turned bastard pop DJ phenomenon. 03 - WORLD'S COLUMBIAN EXPOSITION Screw Trump Tower, let's rebuild The White City! 02 - PAUL IS DEAD Just play "Revolution 9" backwards look at Magical Mystery Tour in a mirror and don't wear shoes and hold your cigarette in your right hand when you cross Abbey Road and you'll sign the signs. 01 - LIST OF COMMON MISCONCEPTIONS Check your facts, World.
---------- C o n n o r ---------- "this is the emporium of sex-like enjoyment"
10 - TERRELL OWENS Love him or hate him, we will remember all of his stunts when it’s all said and done. This page features every pom-pom waved, every football autographed, every suicide attempt (?), and all of the other controversies from this loud-mouthed stud.
09 - JOHN BROWN (Abolitionist) Everyone that wants to be a fake revolutionary and make a fashion statement with a Che Guevara shirt should read this article. This is the original American bad-ass that led a slave revolt in Kansas and West Virginia.
08 - BIG SUR This 90 mile+ stretch of oceanic beauty along Highway One in California is perfectly portrayed on this page that features the history of the strip of land from Clint Eastwood’s reign as mayor of the area to a range of incredible pictures along the CA coast. Plus, The Thrills sing an incredible song about it.[mp3]
07 - NFL PLAYOFFS, 2003-04 For all of us that remember 4th and 26, the double overtime game in St. Louis, and Adam Vinatieri’s inexplicable ability to do the impossible once again, this page features game summaries, quotes, original announcer listings, and everything else you’d want to know about the greatest NFL Playoffs of all-time. 06 - FRAT PACK Easily the greatest group of actors to ever appear in numerous movies. The group that includes Will Ferrell, Ben Stiller, Owen Wilson, Seth Rogen, Paul Rudd, Judd Apatow, Steve Carell, Luke Wilson, and Vince Vaughn among many others is put in to an unbelievably broad graph that includes every single movie these geniuses were grouped together in.
05 - NIXON'S ENEMIES LIST The most paranoid President of all-time is revealed in this list of people he had the CIA and FBI watch during his presidency. Nixon was as afraid of Congressman John Conyer’s weakness for white females as he was afraid of the comedic stylings of Bill Cosby.
04 - 2005 WORLD SERIES Oh c’mon I had to add this. But in all seriousness Wikipedia features an extensive amount of information regarding every MLB playoff series including an incredible quotes section. Some of my favorite include "And he rips one into left...Konerko, a Grand Slam!" and Podsednik hits one to deep right-center field, back at the wall, THIS BALL IS GONE!
03 - SAMUEL P. SMITH An incredible Dig Man creation, this page features all you’d like to know about my father including his disdain for sandals.
02 - LIST OF SONGS DEEMED INAPPROPIATE BY CLEAR CHANNEL FOLLOWING THE SEPTEMBER 11, 2001 ATTACKS For everyone that was twelve this year and remembers how some of their favorite were taken off 92.5 Kiss FM. From the obvious Rage Against the Machine songs to “Love is a Battlefield” by Pat Benatar and “New York, New York” by Frank Sinatra this list is as confusing as it is intriguing.
01 - WIKIQUOTE: ARRESTED DEVELOPMENT For every Arrested fan who quotes the show in daily life, this is the emporium of sex-like enjoyment as far as the show is concerned. You can find gems like Tobias’ poorly worded “I’m afraid I just blue myself,” to Gob’s pleading for the police to stand down on the pier: “These are strippers! Look how hot they are!!”
Voting ends April 1st at midnight
Voting ends April 1st at midnight
