Movie Masterpiece: It's a Wonderful Life

I first remember watching the grand finale of Its a Wonderful Life at my grandma's house in Battle Creek, Michigan when I was just a kid. I remember it was Christmas time and my cousins and uncles and aunts were all at my grandma's house and it was always such a fun time. And in the living room the adults were watching this very old movie in black and white. I of course wasn't watching the film, yet rather playing toys with my cousin. However I distinctively remember the grand finale where James Stewart merrily welcomes the entire town into his house and they begin singing Christmas carols. From then on I had known of this classic film that was associated with the Christmas season.

It actually wasn't until a few years ago that I watched this movie in it's entirety for my first time. Once again I was at Michigan, this time with my brother Andres, Aunt Laurie, and cousin Jennifer. I was excited to finally watch this classic from beginning to end, and remember feeling quite satisfied with the film's legacy.

Well this past week I once again watched the movie, twice, with my dad during the Christmas season. We both were quite enthralled with the story, the characters, and the overall film. I now feel I have a greater understanding and appreciation of this classic film. I would even go as far as calling this film one of my new all time favorite Christmas movies and even further by considering it a movie masterpiece in general.

A Christmas Classic

While this film is associated as a Christmas classic, the story hardly is about Christmas. It's about a young business man who undergoes many hardships throughout his life and needs an angel to show him his significance. It is actually not until the end of the movie that we get our first dose of Christmas. The setting of Christmas plays a vital part towards this memorable finale in which the main character realizes that it is a wonderful life indeed. I would argue that it's because of this happy ending set during Christmas, that makes this film such a Christmas classic.

The Premise

The story begins with a group of stars, which happen to be angels, discussing that there is a person in need of dire help. The angels agree this would be the perfect chance for Clarence, played by Henry Travers, to get his wings by helping someone. That someone happens to be George Bailey, played by James Stewart. As a kid George is very righteous; he saves his young brother from falling in the ice, he works for a pharmacist and fixes an error that saves another life, and he defends his father's honor from the ruthless businessman Mr. Potter.

As a teenager George is eager not to partake in his father's business yet rather to leave Bedford Falls so he can travel the world and become an architect. He makes this abundantly clear when he begins to fall for Mary Hatch, played by Donna Reed. Before George can set off from Bedford Falls, his plans are abruptly altered when his father dies. He has no choice but to join his uncle in managing the family bank. In his stead he sends his brother Harry off to college in hopes that he will later take his place managing the bank.

Four years later, Harry returns from college with a new wife and a new job offer in Buffalo. Realizing that he cannot leave his family business George hesitantly reunites with Mary, and agrees to marry her. However during their honeymoon another crisis unfolds, and they must use up all their savings to pay off a loan from Mr. Potter.

As the years go one George and Mary have children and watch their bank thrive. At one point George even considers selling his bank to Mr. Potter, in hopes that he can finally travel and leave Bedford Falls. However he changes his mind when he shakes hands with Mr. Potter and sees thru his ruthless plight. Each of the characters play a role in WW2, most notably George's brother Harry, who receives the Medal of Honor.

On Christmas Eve the town of Bedford Falls prepares a hero's welcome for Harry Bailey. However on this day George's foolish uncle misplaces an $8000 loan, mistakenly handing it to Mr. Potter. This drives George into a mad panic realizing that his business, his job, and his life revolve around that loan. He flips out on his wife Mary, and his children, and in a desperate act begs his arch enemy Mr. Potter for some money. Mr. Potter convinces George he is worth more dead, which sends George to a night drinking binge.

As the snow falls on Christmas Eve, George drinks heavily at a bar, gets into a fight, crashes his car into a tree, and approaches a bridge ready to take his life. At this point the angels hear Mary's prayers, and Clarence is called into action. Clarence jumps into the river causing George to jump in after him and save his life. Clarence then explains to George that he is an angel there to help him thru his struggles. George however brushes Clarence off and tells him he'd be better off had he not been born. At that point Clarence uses his magic to show George a world in which he had never been born.

George quickly realizes that things are different; for example the town is no longer called Bedford Falls yet rather Potterville. And nobody remembers George, not the bartender, not the taxi driver, not the police men, not even his mother, nor his wife Mary. At that point George realizes that he was wrong to wish that he'd never been born and that he actually doesn't have it as bad as he thought. The angel Clarence thus reverses the spell and takes things back to normal.

At this point the movie reaches it's grand finale, where George displays great jubilation. He runs thru the streets wishing Merry Christmas to all, and is so happy to be reunited with his children and wife. Things get even better when he realizes his wife, Mary, has asked the town to come together in helping pay off the $8000 loan that was lost. This makes for an extremely happy ending as the entire town comes into the Bailey household to share money and sing Christmas carols. Harry also arrives just in time for the holidays to partake in the jubilant festivities. At the end we hear a bell ring from the Christmas tree, and George states that every time a bell rings an angel gets his wings, referring to his guardian angel, Clarence.   

The Films Legacy

The film was based on a 1939 story The Greatest Gift by Philip Van Doren Stern. The story was produced and released as a film in 1946, directed by Frank Capra. Capra was already well regarded for his Oscar worthy films of Lady for a Day, It Happened One Night, Mr. Deeds Goes to Town, You Can't Take it With You, and Mr. Smith Goes to Washington. The star actor of the film was another highly regarded name in Hollywood, James Stewart, known for his Oscar worthy performances in Mr. Smith Goes to Washington and The Philadelphia Story.

The film went on to receive instant critical acclaim, nominated for five Oscars, for it's story, it's film direction, it's acting, and it's general setting. It's a setting infused with the American dream and the Christmas spirit. It is such an original story that has survived the test of time and still plays a relevant part in today's popular culture. It is for this reason that the film has gone on to become a Christmas classic and considered by many critics as one of the greatest films of all time. 

Movie Review: The Last Jedi

A couple days ago I saw the new Star Wars film, The Last Jedi, and have had some time to consider
my opinion before writing on it. My general review of the film is that it was okay and satisfactory for a Star Wars film. As an avid fan since I was kid, I don't think this film quite measured to The Force Awakens and definitely not the older episodes. Perhaps it's the characters or the story that just doesn't live up to my high expectations for a Star Wars film. I felt this story was lacking in excitement, romance, comedy, and drama. That being said there were a few moments of sheer surprise which is why I would say this movie is not all so bad. 


The Production


It's clear to me now that Disney has moved in a completely different direction that Lucas had. I feel it is more childish then before and the villains are less convincing. The film is also quite groundbreaking to have a cast so diverse for such a major blockbuster. Consider the 3 lead heroes are a woman, a black person, and a white person compared to the original films where the 3 main heroes were all white. I am all for this idea of diverse empowerment as long as the characters and story are convincing.

The Setting

The story begins with the New Order in complete control of the galaxy and the Resistance trying to escape them. Finn and Poe join General Leia Organa in an effort to slip pass a fleet of star destroyers. Meanwhile Rey has sought out Luke Skywalker to be trained as a jedi. Luke is bitter towards himself and the jedi arts after failing Kylo Ren however eventually agrees to train Rey. Rey displays an unusual natural strength of the force and is able to communicate with Kyle Ren thru visions. Kylo Ren is eager to show Supreme Leader Snoke his commitment to the dark side.

General Hux of the New Order is able to relocate the escaping Resistance fleet thru light speed. Leia realizes that the New Order has tracked them and they will not be able to escape this time. In the ensuing battle her command center is bombed and she miraculously survives while Admiral Ackbar and the other rebel commanders are killed. Vice Admiral Holdo is made in charge of the fleeing rebel cruiser while Leia recovers. Her plan is to continue onward, out of enemy fire range, while their fuel is diminishing. 

Poe on the other hand does not trust Holdo's defeatist plan and conspires his own plan with Finn. With the help of a rebel janitor named Rose Tico, they plan to enlist an encoder to break the New Order's tracking device. Rose, Finn, and BB8 are able to fly to the planet Canto Bight where they meet a hacker named DJ. They then are able to sneak onto Snoke's ship however are quickly captured by Captain Phasma. Meanwhile Poe leads a mutiny on the rebel cruiser to oust Admiral Holdo, however his plan is quickly crushed when Leia stuns him. She later shares that their plan has been to take refuge at a space station all along.

As all this is happening Rey also arrives on Snokes ship to confront Kylo Ren, whom she believes she can turn to the light side. Snoke however tells her he has deceived her with these visions in an effort to convince her to join or die. Rey refuses to join her and is tortured by Snoke. Kylo Ren comes to her rescue and surprisingly kills Snoke. At that point he asks Rey to join him to rule the galaxy but Rey refuses and they part ways. Kylo Ren assumes the role as the new Supreme leader of the New Order.

Finn and Rose are rescued by BB8 and Finn is able to defeat Captain Phasma and escape the New Order ship. They rejoin the resistance crusher as it approaches the space station of Crait. At this point Leia and the others begin boarding transport ships while Admiral Holdo stays back on the cruiser. However General Hux and Kylo Ren realize the rebels are escaping again and begin picking them off like sitting ducks. In the ultimate sacrifice, Admiral Holdo turns the cruiser towards the New Order ship and blasts off into light speed, slicing the cruiser in two. The rebels are able to escape and land on Crait.

However the Resistance has only bought some time, as General Hux begins landing his troops to attack the base. Finn, Poe, and Rose courageously mount a counter attack on the imperial walkers while Rey and Chewbacca come to their aid in the millennium falcon. However they still are no match for the weaponry of the New Order. That is until Luke Skywalker arrives at the base to face Kylo Ren. Luke meets with Leia for a while before he steps out to face the New Order head on. This is definitely the high point of the film, where the drama finally reaches Star Wars quality.

Kylo Ren displays total rage and madness to defeat Luke, who is able to withstand a shower of imperial firepower. Then comes the lightsaber fight we've all been waiting for, which turns to be the ultimate twist. As Kylo strikes his saber thru Luke, nothing happens. It is then that we realize that all along Luke was displaying a ghost of himself from his home at Ahch-To. This act served as the ultimate distraction to allow the resistance fighters to escape with Rey in the Millenium Falcon. Luke's final act takes every ounce of power he has, and he dies back at his home in Ahch-To. The Resistance are able to regroup and thus brings an end to the film.


The New Characters

Rey: (Daisey Ridley) She is the main protagonist of the film the young eager and courageous hero driven by a desire to do good. She is able to help restore Luke's faith as well as confront Kylo Ren. Her ultimate mission is to discover who her parents were.

Kylo Ren: (Adam Driver) He is the main antagonist, an unusual and conflicted villain. He is eager to show Snoke his commitment to the dark side yet has an empathy towards Rey.

Finn: (John Boyega) He is soldier driven by his love for Rey, he finds himself in the midst of the Resistance. He agrees to help his pal, Poe, enlist an encoder, and save the Resistance. Towards the end he displays great heroism in facing the enemy

Poe Dameron: (Oscar Isaac) He is the heroic hotshot pilot of the Resistance, always eager to face the enemy head on. In an effort to do good, he attempts to oust the Resistance leadership yet is put back in his place. This had to have been somewhat of a diminishing role for Oscar Isaac 

Supreme Leader Snoke: (Andy Serkis) He is the mysterious dark lord and leader of the New Order with ultimate powers. He is perhaps as wicked and powerful as the Emperor was. My problem with Snoke is that we never find out his origins of how he and the New Order come to power

Rose Tico: (Kelly Marie Tran) She is a new addition to the film's heroes as she plays a young rebel janitor. She helps Finn on a rebel mission and develops feelings for him along the way

Admiral Holdo: (Laura Dern) She is the ultimate feminist symbol, a strong confident female leader. She takes Leia's place as commander of the Resistance while Leia recovers from her injuries. She displays calm demeanor, leadership, and makes the ultimate heroic sacrifice at the end

DJ: (Benecio Del Toro) He is the sneaky codebreaker who helps Finn and Rose break into Snoke's ship. He however later turns on them for money and tells them he can never tell the good guys from the bad guys when there is money involved.

BB8: He is the companion of Poe Dameron and helps Finn and Rose on their adventure thru Canton Bight and escape from Snokes ship

General Hux: (Domhall Gleeson) He is the military commander of the New Order, faithful to the Supreme Leader Snoke and bitter towards Kylo Ren. He eventually shows loyalty however when Kylo Ren comes to power

The Old Characters:

Luke Skywalker: (Mark Hamill) He plays the ultimate bitter role in this story, somewhat of a merge between Obi-Wan's hermit lifestyle and Yoda's dry sense of humor. However he still proves to be quite useful in teaching Rey valuable lessons of the Force. He also has one of the best moments in the film when he faces the New Order and Kylo Ren

Leia Organa: (Carrie Fisher) She continues as the stubborn yet hopeful leader of the Resistance. I thought she would die in this film, consider Carrie Fisher had died, yet rather she survived an attack thru her use of the Force. Her leadership was a foundation for the films good guys.

Chewbacca: (Joonas Suotamo) His role is somewhat minimal in the film, merely as Rey's escort and pilot of the Millennium Falcon.

R2D2: Travels with Chewie on the Millenium Falcon and is able to convince Luke to train Rey

C-3P0: Serves as Leia's assistant and provides his usual pessimistic and witty humor 

Yoda: Appears to Luke in his ghost form, and very similiar to the form he took in Return of the Jedi, rather than his CGI appearance in the prequels. He offers Luke council in regards to the end of the Jedi religion   

Best Fall Movies

As I'm sure I've stated many times before in this blog, fall is my favorite time of the year. Especially the period of October to November. The weather has gotten significantly cooler which is so much more relaxing, and also ideal for running. It's also one of the most exciting times for sports. During this brief period all major sports leagues are active. The MLB enters its playoff season, the NFL and European Futbol leagues are approaching their mid-point, and the NBA and NCAA basketball season are coming to a start.

However besides the cooler weather and the exciting sports season, it is also a seasonal change that brings on so many cultural traditions. Consider all the wonderful things that come with the fall season; the changing leaves, Apple Cider, pumpkin flavors, Halloween, darker beers, wine, Thanksgiving, and one of my favorites are the small town festivals. For me it is a period of cultural inspiration, which is of course derived from my favorite movies. 

I've often considered myself a connoisseur of films, and truly believe that there are some movies that should be watched during certain seasons. No I'm not talking about Christmas movies or other holiday movies that are obviously meant for their season. Yet rather consider the content and setting of the film which can be associated with certain seasonal characteristics. I intend to begin a series of my favorite films to watch during each 4 seasons. I will first provide my top ten fall films with an explanation as to why they are best enjoyed in the fall time. 

Best Fall Movies

I think the best fall movies are ones that provide a sense of fear or unsteadiness. It's a fall-like feeling similar to Halloween, the cooler weather, and the dying leaves. For starters let me make it clear that I personally do not enjoy Horror films. I find them to be overly disturbing. I can understand why many others would consider scary movies ideal for the fall time, however there won't be any on my list here. I instead prefer subtle dark tones in my fall films with good drama and mystery. This list is an emphasis on the film's relation to the fall season rather than it's overall quality. 

Honorable Mention

• Unforgiven (1992)
• Rudy (1993)
• Mystic River (2003)
• To the Wonder (2012)

10. Tim Burton Movies - All Tim Burton movies have a certain creepy quality to them that is ideal for the Halloween season. I wouldn't so much call his movies scary yet they offer a rather unique and dark style about them. Two of Burton's key film partners, are the actor Johnny Depp and the composer Danny Elfman, both of which are in almost all of Burton's movies. Johnny Depp is an extremely talented actor with a rather mysterious and eccentric character about him. While the music of Danny Elfman provides a very twisted and unusual style to it. Burton's general film direction, from dark settings, actors, music, and story line, are ideal for the fall season. 

• Edward Scissor hands (1990)
• The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993)
• Sleepy Hollow (1999)
• Big Fish (2003)
• Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (2005)
• Sweeney Todd (2007)

9. James Bond Series- I'm focusing on the more recent James Bond films with Daniel Craig. This revamping of the series provides a very raw and grim setting which I feel falls well in line with gloomy fall days. Perhaps it's just the British settings and culture which I have often associated as somewhat gloomy. And yet the story line is extremely action-packed where the good hero always prevails over the evil characters. I think this series has a fall quality to it for it's setting and it's many twisted characters.     

• Casino Royale (2006)
• Quantam of Solace (2008)
• Skyfall (2012)
• Spectre (2015)

8. Sherlock Holmes Series- This is the recent Sherlock Holmes film series starring Robert Downey and Jude Law as Dr. Watson. Similar to the James Bond series, this setting provides a very British-like grim style to it. The colors are mainly grey, dark blue, and black which instill a feeling of spookiness. The story of the films are dosed with creepy, mysterious, and supernatural elements that are best enjoyed during the fall season.    

• Sherlock Holmes (2009)
• Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows (2011)

7. The Illusionist (2006)- This dramatic, mysterious, and romantic film is ideal for the fall time. It is a period piece set in 1890s Europe. The story-line is one of magic and mystery with romance at its core. The setting, coloring, and costumes are very monochromatic with a brown-to-gray shade to it all. Even the musical score has a mysterious quality to it, driven by strong violins it is dosed with fall elements. 

6. American Beauty (1999)- This artistic film is in my Top 25 all-time favorite list, and I have written numerous times about it. I think it is best enjoyed during fall time for various reasons. First is the setting of the story; modern day, mid-west suburbia during early fall. Then there is the general coloring of the film; it is dim to match the unhappy characters yet also provides occasional bright shades of red, to represent excitement. And finally is the storyline full of dry unhappiness with brief moments of pleasure. It has a very fall like artistic quality to it. 

5. V for Vendetta (2005)- Yet another British dark and gloomy setting that is best watched during the fall time. Consider the film's most famous line "Remember, Remember the 5th of November". The main character, V, is a costumed anti-hero vigilante, set in a dark and dystopian world. These are quality elements of the fall time, specifically Halloween.   

4. Pans Labyrinth (2006)- Now here is a very unique fantasy film with Halloween elements. It is in my Top 25 All Time favorite list with true artistic quality to it. The setting is a sad one during a time of the Spanish Civil War. A young girl turns to fantasy to bring her hope during dark times. She meets many creepy creatures along her story. The theme of the story is best summarized by it's beautiful lullaby song. It is a very sad song, perfect for a very sad movie that provides moments of true beauty and brilliance.    

3. Oh Brother Where Art Thou (2000)- Another topic I often associate with the fall season is the Old American West. With that comes Old Time Folk music (such as the fiddle and banjo) that embodies that Old American country culture. I'm not sure exactly why but it all has a very fall-like quality to it. If there is any movie that best captures that Old Time Folk Music scene it would be this film. It's a musical comedy set with many fall-like qualities. 

2. Civil War Films- Once again the whole topic of the Old American West is very fall-like to me. That includes the entire subject of the American Civil War which occurred during the mid 1800s. I suppose this was a very rural time for American society who dealt with more sadness than happiness in their lives. I think the countryside is best enjoyed during the fall and this is why I love fall festivals in small towns. These are my favorite Civil War films; that incorporate elements of the old countryside, Old Folk Music, and old American heritage. One of my Top 25 Favorite films, is Cold Mountain, which is a romantic story set during the Civil War. It also has a very good soundtrack to it with Old Folk-time music.  . 

• Gone with the Wind (1939)
• Glory (1989)
• Dances with  Wolves (1990)
• Gettysburg (1993)
• Gangs of New York (2002)
• Cold Mountain (2003)   
• Lincoln (2012)

1. Harry Potter Series- I have often written about the fall-like quality of the Harry Potter series. It is in my opinion the most ideal Halloween/fall time story. That is because of it's complex fantasy story  about magic. It incorporates elements of mystery and sheer dark arts. It also has many unique characters and creatures ideal for a scary Halloween setting.

This is not a horror series yet a subtly dark series that grows darker with each film. To add to this dark theme is yet again the gloomy British day to day settings. Even more magical and mysterious is the castle of Hogwarts, the main set of the story. Considering this setting, the story, the characters, and it's eerie John Williams musical score,. It is the perfect movie series to watch in the fall.   

• Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone (2001)
• Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (2002)
• Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (2004)
• Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (2005)
• Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (2007)
• Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince (2009)
• Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1 (2010)
• Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2 (2011) 

NFL Protest Movement

Over the past few years I have shied away from politics and turned most my leisure attention to Sports. However sadly politics has found it's way back to me as they have crossed into the heart of my favorite sports league the NFL. This is no thanks to the recent comments of president Trump, who is attempting to divide the game.

Now-a-days when it comes to politics I consider myself left-to-center. I was once very invested in liberal ideals, however lately I've accepted that the world is very complicated and the best stance is one of gratefulness and ignorance. Last year I was very upset when Trump was elected president however I was still able to escape from that reality thru sports.

For me professional sports has always been a safe zone when it comes to politics. I see the NFL and other sports leagues as the prime example of racial unity. Teams are developed by merit and not by race or political affiliations. It is a place where players, coaches, and fans alike can come together to root for a common cause. Sure there is still animosity and controversies however it is ultimately just a game. Win or lose there is always next week or next season.  In essence it is a public outlet for a person who wishes to enjoy the simpler things in life.

The National Anthem Protest

This movement first began last year during the pre-season when NFL quarterback Colin Kaepernick began to take a knee during the national anthem. He stated his cause was to protest the oppression of black people. Several other players joined him throughout the season, too much criticism. As a leader of the movement, Colin got much publicity both negative and positive. However his performance on the field was not as noteworthy and he was eventually benched and let go by the San Francisco 49ers. He still remains a free agent, arguably because of his protest more than his skills. 

At the start of the 2017 NFL season, the anthem protests continued at minimal numbers without Kapernick able to take a part. However last Friday, President Trump threw a bucket of oil on the fire by stating in a speech that the "Sons of Bitches should be taken off the field and fired". He was implying that American flag should not be disrespected yet his choice of words were extremely crude. He also directed his insults at the Golden State Warriors, specifically Stef Curry, for refusing to visit the White House.  

On Sunday the 24th, the NFL anthem protesters made their loudest act of defiance yet. It was a clear response to Trump's recent statements. It began with the 9:30 London game between the Jaguars and the Ravens, where both teams locked arms in unison and over 20 players took a knee during the anthem (included in the protest was the owner of the Jaguars and Ray Lewis).

Throughout the day many other players and teams displayed an act of protest and unison (including pro bowlers such as Von Miller, Odell Beckham, Josh Norman, and Travis Kelce, who is white) Several teams such as the Steelers, Titans, and Seahawks did not even come out for the anthem. Even other athletes outside of the NFL such as Lebron James and Stef Curry spoke out against Trump. By the end of the day the message was clearly seen by all; black athletes were not going to be intimidated by Trump.

Trump's Call for Boycott

In response to the NFL players' loud act of defiance, Trump took to Twitter to further divide the nation. He took a patriotic route to vilify those kneeling during the anthem and calling for fans to boycott the league. Now it has become a national debate of free speech vs honoring the American flag. It is also a clear division of race, where many black athletes feel oppressed and frustrated with the leadership of Donald Trump, whom they feel is a white supremacist.

If the protest continues the division within the NFL will only continue to grow. It will grow among the players, the coaches, and especially among the fans. Some fans will begin to associate the NFL as a league of disrespect while others might see it as the new platform of political idealism. I for one would rather it not change a bit. I love the NFL for the sport, not for the politics. I fear that what was once a safe zone of politics, could no longer become a game, yet rather a battlefield of ideals. This cannot happen. We must find a compromise and restore the unity of sports.

Time for Resolution 

This has gone on for over a year now, and this past weekend it reached a new boiling point. Trump has attempted to divide sports, particularly the NFL, thru his crude and racist remarks, and it can not be tolerated. However kneeling during the anthem can also not be tolerated as it is a terrible lack of respect for our nation. So what is the best response to bring this to a quick resolution? Well like any political issue the best resolution is thru compromise.

On Monday Night Football, the Dallas Cowboys displayed a perfect example of a compromise in this situation. Led by their owner Jerry Jones, they locked arms and knelt together before the anthem. The players were able to display their protest in unity whilst not disrespecting the flag. This is a great example of an acceptable compromise where the players get their chance to display their frustration.

However this unity that was displayed by the Dallas Cowboys will certainly not bring an end to the protests. The NFL players feel it is their duty as famous role models to speak up in opposition to what they see as a racist government led by Donald Trump. Therefore I think the onus falls more on the commissioner Roger Goodell to coordinate a resolution between Trump and the players.

Trump needs to acknowledge their freedom of speech and even go a step further by accepting that their still is racism in this country. The NFL can certainly do it's part with a new Anti-Racism campaign just as European Soccer leagues do. The NFL aired anti-domestic abuse campaigns last couple years and have already begun a campaign of unity. I think they are headed in the right direction.

The ultimate goal is a quick resolution so that this will not spiral out of control. I hate to see these racial politics divide our beautiful institution of professional sports. Association leagues such as the NFL are designed to bring us together, to entertain, and especially to inspire us. I say to Trump and all the naysayers whom wish to boycott the NFL and divide us thru racial indifference to please stop. This isn't about respecting the flag and free speech,. It is about respecting and showing empathy to all citizens despite their race. 

2017-2018 EPL Preview

Glad to say yet another English Premiere League season is about to begin this weekend.This brings an end to the 2 most boring months of sports. This will be my fourth season I will follow from the start, and can say I have grown quite familiar with the league's format, teams, and players.

Of course I will be cheering my chosen team of Manchester United, once again. However similarly to the NFL, I am a fan of the league in the general, and can be satisfied watching any EPL game. I recently purchased a Sling TV subscription with a Roku stick to begin streaming all the games.

Over the past few years, waking up on Saturdays and Sundays to watch English futbol games has become one of my new great joys. I also enjoy watching midweeks games at work and listening to the podcasts.   Although the EPL clubs have struggled in the European Champions Tournaments, I'm still convinced it is the most exciting league in the world. This is due to it's balance, players, fanbase, and immense history. So without further ado I'm going to give a preview on the upcoming 2017-2018 season.

Teams and Transfers

Arsenal (Finished 5th place last season)

Ins: Sead Kolasinac (free) Alexandre Lacazette (Lyon, Undisclosed)

Outs: Wojciech Szczesny (Juventus, £10.4m) Yaya Sanogo (Free), Stefan O'Connor (Free), Kristopher da Graca (Free), Kostas Pileas (Free) Chris Willock (Benfica, Undisclosed) Glen Kamara (Dundee, Free)

AFC Bournemouth (Finished 9th place last season)

Ins: Asmir Begovic (£10m), Jermain Defoe (Sunderland, Free), Nathan Ake (Chelsea, £20m), Connor Mahoney (Blackburn, Undisclosed)

Outs: Callum Buckley (Free), Jake McCarthy (Free), Alexander Neale (Free)

Brighton (Promoted from Championship League)

Ins: Pascal Gross (Ingolstadt, Undisclosed), Josh Kerr (Celtic, Undisclosed) Mathew Ryan (Valencia, Undisclosed) Marcus Suttner (FC Ingolstadt 04, Undisclosed)

Outs: Elvis Mau (Genclerbirligi, Free) David Stockdale (Birmingham, Free) Vegard Forren (Free) Sébastien Pocognoli (Free), Chris O'Grady (Chesterfield, Free)

Burnley (Finished 16th place last season)

Ins: Jack Cork (Swansea, £10m) Jon Walters (Stoke City, £3M), Charlie Taylor (Leeds)

Outs: Michael Kightly (Free),  Joey Barton (Free),  George Green (Free),  RJ Pingling (Free), Christian Hill (Free), Taofiq Olmowewe (Free), Michael Keane (Everton,£30m) George Boyd (Sheffield Wednesday, Free)

Chelsea (Finished 1st last season)

Ins: Tiemoue Bakayoko (Monaco, Undisclosed) Antonio Rudiger (Roma, Undisclosed) Willy Caballero (Manchester City, Free) Ethan Ampadu (Exeter, Undisclosed)

Outs: John Terry (Free) Juan Cuadrado (Juventus, £17m) Christian Atsu (Newcastle, £6.4m), Asmir Begovic (Bournemouth, £10m), Dominic Solanke (Liverpool, Undisclosed), Alwx Kiwomya (Doncaster, Free) , Nathan Ake (Bournemouth, £20m), Bertrand Traore (Lyon, £8.8m), Fankaty Dabo (Vitesse, loan)

Crystal Palace (Finished 14th place last season)

Ins:

Outs:  Ezekial Fryers (Free), Steve Mandanda (Marseille, Undisclosed) Joe Ledley (Free) Corie Andrews (Free), Kwesi Appiah (Free), Jonathan Benteke (Free) Fraizer Cambell (Free), Luke Croll (Free), Mathieu Falmini (Free), Ryan King- Elliott (Free), Ranell Williams (Free), Ben Wynter (Free)

Everton (Finished 7th last season)

Ins: Wayne Rooney (Manchester United, Undisclosed) Davy Klaassen (Ajax, £23.6M), Jordan Pickford (Sunderland, £25m rising to £30m), Henry Onyekuru (Eupen, £7m) Nathangelo Markelo (FC Volendam, Undisclosed), Michael Keane (Burnley, £30m), Sandro Ramirez (Malaga, Undisclosed)

Outs: Tom Cleverley (Watford, £8m) Arouna Kone (Free), Delial Brewster ( Chesterfield, Free)Micheal Donohue (Free), Tyrone Duffus (Free), Russell Griffiths (Free), Connor Hunt (Free), Josef Yarney (Free), James Yates (Free), Gerard Deulofeau (Barcelona, return from loan) Henry Onyekuru (Anderlecht, Loan), Enner Valencia (West Ham, loan expired), Romelu Lukaku (Manchester United, £75m) Aiden McGeady (Sunderland, Undisclosed)

Huddersfield (Promoted from Championship League)

Ins: Scott Malone (Fulham £3.3m) Aaron Mooy (Manchester City, £8m), Jonas Lossl (FSV Mainz 05, Loan) Laurent Depoitre (Porto, Undisclosed), Mathias Jorgensen (FC Copenhagen ,Undisclosed), Steve Mounie (Montpellier, Undisclosed), Kasey Palmer (Chelsea, Loan) Tom Ince (Derby, Undisclosed)

Outs: Joe Murphy (Bury,Undisclosed), Flo Bojaj (released), Ronan Coughlan (released), Kyle Dempsey (Fleetwood Town, Free)

Leicester (Finished 12th place last season)

Ins: Harry Maguire (Hull, £17m) Vincent Iborra (Sevilla, Undisclosed) Eldin Jakupovic (Hull City, Undisclosed)

Outs: Marcin Wasilewski (Free) , Michael Cain (Free), David Domej (Free), Brandon Fox (Free), Cedric Kipre (Free),  Matthew Miles (Free), Kairo Mitchell (Free) Ron-Robert Zieler (Stuttgart, Undisclosed)

Liverpool (Finished 4th place last season)

Ins: Dominic Solanke (Chelsea, Undisclosed) Mohamed Salah (Roma, £34m)

Outs: Lucas Leiva (Lazio £5m) Alex Manniger (retired) Tom Brewitt (Free), Jake Brimmer (Free), Jack Dunn  (Free), Toni Gomes (Free), Kane Lewis (Free), Adam Phillips (Free), Andre Wisdom (Derby County, Undisclosed)

Manchester City (Finished 3rd place last season)

Ins: Kyle Walker (Tottenham, £45m) Ederson Moraes (Benfica, £35m), Bernardo Silva (Monaco, £43m)

Outs: Pablo Zabaleta (West Ham, Free) Jesus Navas (Free) Gael Clichy (Free) Angus Gunn (Norwich, Loan) Willy Caballero (Free), Baccary Sagna (Free), Billy O'Brien (Free), Ellis Plummer (Free), Aaron Mooy (Huddersfield, £8m) Nolito (Sevilla, Undisclosed) Olivier Ntcham (Celtic, Undisclosed)

Manchester United (Finished 6th place last season)

Ins: Victor Lindelof (Benfica, £31m) Romelu Lukaku ( Everto,, £75m)

Outs: Zlatan Ibrahimovic (Free), Josh Harrop (Preston North End, Free) Adnan Januzaj (Real Sociedad, £9.8m) Wayne Rooney (Everton, Undisclosed)

Newcastle (Promoted from Championships League)

Ins: Christian Atsu (Chelsea, £6.4m), Florian Lejeune (Eibar, £8.7m) Stefan O'Connor (Arsenal, Free), Josef Yarney (Everton, Free), Florian Lejeune (Eibar, Undisclosed), Jacob Murphy (Norwich, Undisclosed)

Outs: Lubomir Satka (FC DAC 1904, Free), Haris Vuckic (FC Twente, Free), Matt Sels (Anderlecht, season-long loan) Kevin Mbabu (BSC Young Boys, Undisclosed)  Yoan Gouffran (Goztepe, Undisclosed)

Southampton (Finished 8th place last season)

Ins:  Jan Bednarek (Lech Poznan, £5.7m) Jan Bednarek (Lech Poznan, Undisclosed)

Outs: Jason McCarthy (Barnsley, Undislcosed) Cuco Martina (Free), Lyold Isgorve (Free), Harry Willard (Free), Martin Caceres (Free), Jay Rodriguez (West Brom, £12m)

Stoke (Finished 13th place last season)

Ins: Darren Fletcher (West Brom, Free), Josh Tymon (Hull, Undisclosed)

Outs:  Shay Given (Free), Daniel Bachmann (Free), Liam Edwards (Free), Harry Isted (Free), Joel Taylor (Free), George Waring (Free), Jon Walters (Burnley £3m) Glenn Whelan (Aston Villa Undisclosed)

Swansea (Finished 15th place last season)

Ins: Roque Mesa (Las Palmas, £11m) Cian Harries (Coventry, Undisclosed)

Outs: Jack Cork (Burnley £10m) Marvin Emnes (Free) Gerhard Tremmel (Free), Liam Shephard (Free), Josh Vickers (Free), Owain Jones (Free), Tom Dyson (Free), Tom Halland (Free), Alex Samuel (Stevenage, Undisclosed) Bafetimbi Gomis (Galatasaray, Undisclosed)

Tottenham (Finished 2nd place last season)

Ins:

Outs: Kyle Walker (Manchester City, £45m) Nabil Bentaleb (Schalke, £16m) Federico Fazio (Roma, £2.7m) Filip Lesniak (Free)

Watford (Finished 17th place last season)

Ins: Tom Cleverley (Everton, £8m) Jorge Segura (Envigado, Undisc), Will Hughes (Derby County, £8m) Kiko Femenia (Alaves,undisclosed), Daniel Bachmann (Stoke, Free) Nathaniel Chalobah (Chelsea, Undisclosed)

Outs:  Rene Gilmartin (Free), Mathias Ranegie (Free), Ola Adeyemo (Free), Charlie Bannister (Free), Ogo Obi (Free), Rhyle Ovenden (Free), Josh Roe (Free), Treon Johnson (Free), Andrew Thomas (Free), Mario Suarez (Guizhou Hengfeng Zhicheng, Undisclosed)

West Brom (Finished 10th place last season)

Ins: Jay Rodriguez (Southampton, £12m) Zhang Yuning (Vitesse, Undisclosed) Will Hughes (Derby, Undisclosed)

Outs: Craig Gardner (Birmingham, £1.5m), Darren Fletcher (Stoke, Free),  Daniel Barbir (Free), Zachary Elbouzedi (Free), Callam Jones (Free), Sebastien Pocognoli (Free), Jack Rose (Free), Andre Wright (Free)

West Ham (Finished 11th place last season)

Ins: Pablo Zabaleta (Manchester City, Free)

Outs: Havard Nordtveit (Hoffenheim, £8m), Reece Oxford (Borussia Monchengladbach, loan), Alvaro Arbeloa (Free), Sam Howes (Free), Sam Ford (Free), Kyle Knoyle (Free), Sam Westley (Free), Stephen Hendrie (Southend, Free) Enner Valencia (Tigres, Undisclosed)