The Return of 2 Students!

After getting completely lazy and taking an unnecessarily long break from posting, I am happy to inform you that "2 Students and Their Opinions" is coming back stronger than ever! My expectations are to have new posts daily (topics permitting), and to also have more engaged discussion amongst the comments that are posted. Be ready for more honest opinions about the latest news from around the world, nothing is to significant or insignificant for us to argue about!

Be sure to check back daily for all the latest news and opinions!

-John Jr.

Romney Takes "Strong" Stance

I have been blankly starring at my computer screen for 2 hours trying to decide whether or not I actually want to journey down this road and write about politics (particularly Republican politics). Blogging about politics is generally a lose-lose situation because no matter what you say, fact or fiction, people are going to lash out and people are going to get pissed. It's a fact of life that people (educated or not) will take a "never back down" stance in politics for what they believe is correct. So it is with much reluctance that I finally decided I am intrigued enough by this Romney statement to post about it. Let the debacle begin...

Republican primary front runner, Mitt Romney, sets his sights on
South Carolina after a decisive victory in the state of New Hampshire 

After winning the primaries in both Iowa and New Hampshire, Mitt Romney spoke some parting words as he plans to head down to South Carolina. Some of what he said was particularly interesting, but none more-so than this: "I will insist on a military so powerful no one will ever think of challenging it." Literally nothing could stereotype a Republican or us as Americans more than such a statement (sorry I'm not sorry conservatives), but the question remains--is Romney for real? Or just giving himself some fire-power against Ron Paul for the upcoming battle in South Carolina? 

Now that I've presented the questions, you can probably see where I am heading with this. I was massively critical of this remark at first thinking to myself, "really that's how you want to lead our foreign policy?" My inner college kid and satirical personality consumed my thoughts, "yeah, great statement Romney, if the rest of the world didn't hate us before, they will if you become President." Being an non-confrontational person and avid supporter of world peace (that's right, make love not war), this comment really bothered and even disgusted me. As my temper simmered though, and I continued to sit on this egg for a while, and it finally hatched for me. I pushed the grand scope out of the way and focused in on the small picture. I decided that whether or not Romney actually believes what he said (and Lord do I hope he doesn't), it was incredibly smart to make this comment heading into a state that places an extremely high priority on military service. 

This statement was even more valuable because second place man, Ron Paul, has different views on military service and issues. Paul's views aren't necessary something that South Carolina republicans will not favor, however; I just believe it was a nice (dare I say "subtle") move by Romney to gain a competitive edge heading down South (yes, I realize that's an innuendo). In this election people want to be inspired by something, and a strong statement towards a state that places a high precedence on military service is going to give Romney a significant advantage.  

I guess I must be overreacting because I didn't see anything on the morning news or CNN about this statement, but I thought it was an important point to talk about because I felt like it was really stereotypical. At this day and age, I really want to soak in everything I can about each candidate before I make a decision about who I want to be our next President. I feel like we are in an extremely critical point in our country's history, and making the correct choice in this election could be the difference between renewed prosperity or decades more of recession.

-John Jr. 

Is Tebow's Performance Finally Good Enough?

It was said to be improbable... unfathomable... impossible. All the Tebow critics and even non-critics said, "There is not a shot in hell that Tim Tebow and the Denver Broncos beat the Pittsburgh Steelers." They reiterated, "The Broncos are going to get demolished, and Tebow is but one bad snap away from losing his starting job and NFL career. Tebow can't throw, he can't make quick decisions, he just isn't good enough."

Last night the impossible happened--Tim Tebow and the Denver Broncos defeated the Pittsburgh Steelers 29-23 in overtime. The question is though, is this finally good enough? Call it crazy, call it lucky, call it stupid, call it cliche--whatever you want to call it, I absolutely love it. I have the ultimate "Tebowner" right now, and so should you. I am absolutely mystified by what this guy has been able to do despite such adversity and such hardship. No young player in any sport has had to deal with more issues and negative publicity than Tim Tebow, and for what? Why do people hate such a positive role-model in an NFL league full of gangsters and thugs?

Tim Tebow exemplifies everything we as sports fans and human beings should love. He is the ultimate underdog and produces those moments of magic that keep us hooked and flabbergasted. This Denver win is the latest in legendary moments in NFL history, and I know 30 years from now I will not have forgotten exactly where I was when Tebow threw that 80-yard TD pass on the first play of overtime.

We can't give all the credit to Tebow, however. I know that I (nor Tebow himself) would want to take anything away from the team effort that produced this win for Broncos. I can't take away any credit from the Steelers either, who made this victory remarkably easier than it should have been. I still question the decision the bring the safety up on that last play of the game. Why as a defensive coordinator would you make such an aggressive call on 1st and 10 in overtime? Who cares if they run every first down, and who cares if they get a 10 yard run on the first play. When you are in overtime in a hostile environment you had better be playing bend but don't break defense (especially with the new overtime field goal rule). For that reason alone, the Steelers deserved this loss. I don't care if it is Tim Tebow at QB, you have to play smart football and respect that big plays can occur on any down.

I'm not going to rant about the stupidity of the Steelers though, this one is all about the Denver Broncos and Tim Tebow. Many people are tired of hearing about the Tebow debate on ESPN (myself included), but I am enamored by the story of Tim Tebow this year. He inherits a 1-4 team, and when no one gave him a chance, he turns the table winning the next 7 out of 8 games to help the Broncos win the AFC West. Next, after playing awful and losing 3 games straight, Tebow comes out in a huge playoff game and sets 3 NFL post season passing records on the way to winning in extravagant fashion.

I love this story because Tim Tebow represents hard-work, faith, perseverance, and never giving up on a dream.  To me, he stands for everyone who has ever told anyone else they aren't good enough to achieve their dreams. He has stood up in the face of the harshest criticism and proved, "I am good enough, and I belong here." Everyone should take a page from the book of Tebow and let it be known that no one can tell you that you can't accomplish your dreams, and no one can tell you are not good enough to do what you love.

-John Jr. 

Upcoming this Weekend

Well it seems another long week has come and gone, and with the beginning of the weekend I wanted to create a list of big-time sports and show previews so you don't miss any of the action!

College GameDay Feature Game--Oregon - Stanford (coverage starting Saturday 8:00 p.m. EST on ABC): 

Power vs. Speed, Luck vs. LaMichael, is there any better way to spend your Saturday than watching this Pac-12 match-up with national title implications on the line? We didn't think so, and either should you. Assemble you football compatriots, grab a beer, and watch the fireworks fly in this GameDay offensive showcase. 

The Walking Dead (starting Sunday 9:00 p.m. EST on AMC):

After discovering the dark side or Rick in the first few episodes, Season 2 of The Walking Dead is on a roll now, leaving cliff-hanger after cliff-hanger. Be sure to check out this weekends episode to discover if the crew will find Sophia--what will happen to Daryl after he falls onto one of his arrows--and last, but certainly not least, what appears to be the return of Daryl's brother! Make sure you don't miss the next suspense-packed episode of one of AMC's greatest shows! 

Hell On Wheels  (starting Sunday 9:00 p.m. EST on AMC)

The season premiere of AMC's latest show certainly was great, and with a quick plot twist early on in the series we should expect bigger things from this week's installment. Be sure to stay-tuned to AMC right after The Walking Dead to see if Hell On Wheels can keep up its head of steam! 

Enjoy your weekend and be sure to follow and keep commenting!

-John Jr. 

Destruction of an Icon

As many of you may know, Joe Paterno, coach of the Penn St. Nittany Lions will most likely be exiting his position as head coach of the Penn St. men's football team. Paterno has 409 Division I football wins and has served as Penn St. head coach for 45 years, both Division I records. He is known as a legend and an innovator, but now he is amidst fire for the child sex-scandal that took place by one of Penn St.'s former assistant coaches Jerry Sandusky. I am not going to lavish you with all the details (check out the article below this post for more infomation), but basically Paterno testified early today before the grand jury, and then his scheduled media conference was cancelled shortly after The New York Times reported that he would be "exiting the position of head football coach" sometime this coming week.

Sandusky (left) and Paterno (right) 

I am going to be upfront, I can't give you a straight answer on who is right and who is wrong in this horrific situation. If Paterno is telling the truth, then he technically followed proper protocol involving the situation, but why wouldn't he ensure an investigation occurred? And furthermore, why didn't he confront Sandusky when he heard from his graduate assistant that Sandusky was sexually abusing a ten-year-old boy in the locker room shower? 

Much of this puzzle remains unsolved, and it is clear that the university will terminate Paterno in an effort to save what dignity they have left. Penn St. officials cancelled Paterno press conference in order to avoid the spread of his controversial testimony that he properly reported this situation. They are trying to gain a buffer and maintain some damage control for a situation that is spiraling out of control in the media. Although it is controversial evidence against Penn St., Paterno may just hold the key to the prosecution's case, and provide enough elements to turn a jury decision in favor of a conviction for both Athletic Director Tim Curley (charged with perjury) and Sandusky (charged with over 40 counts of sexual abuse and assault on a child). It is my hope that Paterno is true to the image he has earned for himself as a caring and honest man over his many years as head football coach, and that he testified truthfully--regardless of the implications and penalties it may cause Penn St. University and its officials. 

This is a deeply sad day not only for the state of Pennsylvania, but the entire United States. How did this storied program fail to protect innocent children from unspeakable crimes? Why did Penn St. officials fail to launch an investigation at the time of the initial allegations? Was it to protect the prestige and sacredness of the Penn St program? Was it worth it? 

All these questions are yet to be answered, and we the people must demand these answers. Penn St. must have been able to more than it did to protect the innocence and seek justice for these 8 children forever scarred. Now they will pay the price and answer to the public--Sandusky, A.D. Curley, and even Paterno must explain. There will be no easy way out, and Pennsylvania State University will be forever tarnished in what truly is the destruction of an icon. 

(Click here to see an interesting and highly edgy/controversial article about the scandal from Sports Illustrated. Also please follow and comment your opinions, and donate to our cause if you are feeling generous!)

-John Jr. 

Modern Warfare 3 vs Battlefield 3--Preview

With the release of Modern Warfare 3 a little over an hour ago (central time), the long awaited debate will begin--what is the better game, Modern Warfare 3 or Battlefield 3? This seems like a considerably hard decision, hell, I can't even decided which commercial is better! 

Modern Warfare 3--There is a Soldier in All of Us

Battelfield 3--99 Problems

I was able to play the Battlefield 3 Beta test during the two weeks it was out, and I have to say I really enjoyed the way the gameplay flows. I have also been keeping a close eye on Modern Warfare 3 streams in the last hour and noticed the gameplay is at least what we have come to expect from the Call of Duty series (take it as good or bad--your call). With that being said, I feel as though we might be comparing apples and oranges. 

Battlefield takes on a larger scale, placing one amongst an full chaotic war-zone (pitting players up to 64 vs. 64 in a single game!) BF3 is also much more realistic and holds a much more accurate depiction of modern combat than the Call of Duty series (No, you can't quick-scope in it).

Modern Warfare, like the rest of the Call of Duty games, places a higher precedence on individual skill and competitive play, and will most likely be played on the Major League Gaming circuit next year. Basically what I am trying to say is MW3 plays more of arcade-shooter role, where game awareness, shooting ability, call-outs, and in-game strategy and map knowledge give a player a greater advantage than they do in BF3 (Advanced and highly-skilled players will thrive in this game).

We all knew these games would play very differently, and how differently they are enjoyed will be up to you. Whether you enjoy picking off a foe with a precision sniper shot 200 yards away in Battlefield 3, or running train on a group of noobs using the throwing knife and UMP 45 combo in Modern Warfare--one thing is certain--these latest installments of the prolific Call of Duty and Battlefield series will be sure-fire hits amongst FPS fans.

Stay tuned for further analysis of these games' strengths and flaws in the full review coming soon!

Signing out,

John Jr. 

Hell on Wheels Season Premiere

After watching the season premiere of Hell on Wheels, we have to say that it has us waiting anxiously for the next episode.  Honestly we are very surprised--although AMC excels in television shows--that a "western" genre captured our attention like Hell on Wheels.

Hell on Wheels jumped straight into the action, with the first scene involving a bullet through the head of an unfortunate union soldier via our main character Cullen Bohannon (Anson Mount). Bohannon is a rough around the edges ex-Confederate soldier who seems to be hiding a sympathetic side drawn out by his late wife. After killing the union soldier during a confessional, Bohannon wastes no time in his search to find the men who murdered his wife. This leads him to the outer reaches of the Union Pacific Railroad, where he meets Elam Ferguson (Common) and Daniel Johnson (Ted Levine).  Lily Bell (Dominique McElligott) is briefly introduced in a scene involving an Native American attack on her expedition and mapmaking team's camp site. A greedy entrepreneur, Thomas 'Doc Durant (Colm Meaney), is portrayed in another scene as taking full advantage of the changing economic landscape through the railroad industry. The way all these characters will interact is not completely revealed in the premiere, and it will be interesting to see how it pans out throughout the rest of the season. The first episode depicts the brutal working environments and intense racism that will envelop the senses, and an early plot twist towards the end of the episode will leave you begging for more. 

The Hell on Wheels premiere provided a raw and unadulterated view into the social norms and culture of post-civil war era, manifested through the ideals of white supremacy amongst the upper level task overseers. It's use of course language and visual indecencies add to it's sense of realism and allure. Hell on Wheels is rough around the edges, and we definitely like the brash and blunt beginning to what appears to be like the next great series from AMC.

Follow and comment below if you are excited for next week's episode!

-JJ and JT