Thursday's Banter 1/30 '25
Levels LIII
Level LIII
- Yanks&Jets Banter
- Critiquing the Critics
- YouTube Rabbithole
Alright @YouTheReader,
Thursday’s Banter tune is Levels by Avicii. If you ever find anything funny on the internet, have a story to share, or some insight on your favorite sports team, you can always send over a text, direct message on social media, or email WeekToWeekNotes@gmail.com. You all have no idea how helpful you all are with this on Thursday’s pieces and just in general, it’s greatly appreciated.
The vocal sample to this tune comes from Etta James’ “Something’s Got a Hold on Me”, originally sung in 1962.
NY Yankees & Jets Banter
The large font italics are my Uncle Robby and Cousin Drew.
The small font is me.
1/23 ‘25
Robby: This is the guy I want now.
Aaron Glenn seems pretty popular around the league. He can probably get a good staff.
Robby: No doubt.
Robby: Literally
Robby: Yup
AG’s NFL resume demands respect.
They must be holding out hope that someone will take Stroman.
Robby: That should not determine making every effort to win - but that’s not how Hal works.
Drew: They need another infielder. Otherwise, I feel like they are ok….Unless the Martian is not the real deal., then I will not be ok.
This is why I drink Guinness.
Robby: Thankfully, this is all about to change.
Well, I’m still going to drink Guinness.
Robby: Do we want Brown or Mougey? (I will struggle with the name Mougey).
Drew: For that reason, I think we want Brown. To be honest, we’ve interviewed so many guys for GM at this point that I can’t keep track of who is who. It seems like Aaron Glenn is gonna have the keys to the whole thing, though. Hopefully, he’s good!
Robby: Me neither. Interesting, they didn’t sign that other guy - I thought it was a done deal.
Drew: The whole thing was weird.
1/24 ‘25
Robby: Probably a long shot, but if this guy could be 75% of Judge, our outfield is set for the next decade.
Yup, I’d sign up for a .260 hitter that can hit 25 homers a year for a decade.
Robby: We’re going with Moogy.
Cool name, this might work out. The Broncos have drafted defense well.
Robby: Hopefully, he knows how to find a QB, too.
Drew: Soooo did we hire this guy?
Robby: I am very confused.
Haha it hasn’t been confirmed by anyone else yet. Maybe they hit a snag in negotiations.
Drew: This has been going on since like November 😂
Robby: I want them to get the guy from LA Rams to be the offensive coordinator.
They should have gotten done while Brick Johnson was on winter break. It’s much harder to reach him while he’s back at school.
Robby: lol
Drew: True. He’s probably studying rn, doesn’t have time for franchise mode.
Robby: I agree with this.
Sounds right, he’ll get another shot for sure.
Robby: I think he’ll be good.
Drew: Me too. I still like him even though the end was a mess. Don’t really think it was his fault, but he didn’t make it better.
Robby: Shotty
Drew: 1. I can’t believe Brian Schottenheimer is the head coach of the Dallas Cowboys 2. I have no idea what that quote from Jerry Jones means.
Robby: No idea. Strange hire.
Drew: Very odd. Prob getting Deion in a year or 2.
Robby: I think we got the right guy.
Drew: I hope so. I will be very excited by the time training camp comes around.
1/25 ‘25
Robby: This would be a great sign if true.
Robby: This is a pretty wild story.
I can’t tell if Burr was just doing a bit or if he was actually pissed off. They do look alike.
Robby: Hopefully, he’s really good and cares more about winning than winning over fans.
True, I'm glad it got done. I thought it might have hit a snag in negotiations.
Drew: I’m in!
1/26 ‘25
Robby: I’m ok with this if AG is - but I hope they trade up from 2nd round pick and get a QB (I would go with the Dart kid, but I have no idea what I’m talking about).
It could make sense. Rodgers would have to agree to buy in more with AG, which isn’t a sure thing. Jaxson Dart has a ton of arm talent and would be the right guy in 2nd Round. He put up great stats. Also had some bad games in big games, but that’s been a pattern with Lane Kiffin’s teams. I wouldn’t be surprised if he went mid-1st tho.
Drew: You could build a Super Bowl team of guys the Jets have let walk.
Robby: I wonder if someday we hear JD complain about Saleh. He drafted some good players with zero results.
Drew: I bet we will. But Saleh will prob also say, “You drafted the worst QB in NFL history with the #2 overall pick…”
Robby: Eh, Saleh could have said, I’m a defense expert, the kid stinks. The fact he made him the Day 1 starter - is on him, too, I would think. With better coaching, they would have been better the last couple of years. I hope so since we have a new coach. Btw…What a catch !!
Drew: Insane. These QBs are so awesome. I think I’m rooting for the Bills. But I like both teams. I know I’m in the minority with that take.
Robby: I do not want to see the Bills win but I do not want the Chiefs to win more….The Giants should never have wasted such a high draft pick on a running back. Then letting him go for nothing - well that’s something.
Drew: I don’t think he got it! They need to stop QB sneaking. They are not good at it.
Robby: 0% chance that call was going Bills way.
Drew: Agreed. Allen is great running from the shotgun. Why do they keep doing the sneak!?
Robby: They shouldn’t. The easy part of being a Jet fan is no playoff stress. I’d be dying if this was a Jets game. Now, I don’t care either way. AG gonna change that tho.
Drew: Yes. This is peak sports tho. Doesn’t get much better than this game.
Drew: The Chiefs are inevitable.
Unbelievable, they just win. Congrats to T-Swift & Co. I could imagine losing 4 Super Bowls in a row was way worse, but this has to be up there for Buffalo.
Drew: So painful. They have the guy. But the other guy is just barely better.
Robby: We need a guy. The good news is by the time we find our guy, these two guys will be on their way down, not up. Of course, I thought the same thing about Brady and Sanchez (I really don’t know what I’m talking about).
Robby: 22 years old, Yankees, World Series Game 6, base hit off future HOF’er…..acts like he just got a hit in a spring training game. There were not many cooler than this guy.
Drew: They don’t make ‘em like that anymore
1/27 ‘25
Robby: I think it’s awesome that if AG turns out to be the real deal (I know it’s still an if), his jersey will be one of the most popular ones of all.
Drew: I think I may buy one.
Robby: Yup.
Robby: Aaron Glenn / Oh my God !!! I’m ready for football to start right now.
Drew: Need to find a spot to hide in the office and watch the replay.
Robby: You’ll want to run through a wall - be careful.
Haha, great opening intro.
Robby: Woody is still a clown. Hopefully, Trump will give him something to do, or he will learn to stay away.
Robby: My first instinct when I saw this was that they are gonna tell him to take a hike (nicely) but I don’t know.
That could very likely be it. They sound like they already made a decision one way or another.
Robby: Agreed - I just can’t figure out which one. He’s better than all the other options, but if they are trying to build a culture - having him there for 1 year doesn’t make much sense. No idea what they plan to do.
Robby: If the alternative is DJ, then I would be good with them getting Bregman. They need more if they want to win.
I would be surprised at this point in the offseason, but agreed. They need another playoff bat and he’d improve the defense.
Robby: Badass
Drew: I just watched the press conference. He was freakin’ awesome!
Robby: Yes. This is gonna work.
Robby: Yikes - I’m glad we got AG and not this dude.
Wow, truth be told the Jags are screwed.
Robby: I don’t think he liked Saleh
Drew: Probably not. He really is a buffoon, though. His opening of the press conference was a mess.
Robby: I hope we don’t hear from him until they win the Super Bowl.
Drew: Agreed, make Brick Johnson the new face of the team,
Robby: I’m good with that. Woody cant talk and sounds like he’s making stuff up as he goes along. It’s terrible.
1/28 ‘25
Robby: Brutal and accurate.
Yeah at this point feels like a good chance they don’t add another infield bat because they don’t want to eat Stroman’s contract.
Robby: Short-sided and lame thinking.
Drew: So dumb
The real kicker is Stroman’s appeal for a trade partner is to eat innings, but if he goes over 140, his vesting option locks in for ‘26. Tough sell for another team to have to pay him 2 years.
Drew: I didn’t realize that. That makes him less appealing for sure.
Robby: Yanks might have to get creative and offer to pay a portion of 2026. He doesn’t seem like an innings eater to me anymore, though. I guess their plan, if they can’t trade him, is to not sign somebody else who can help us in the infield but also not to pitch him too much because they don’t want the 2026 to kick in. Not a very good contract.
Yeah, it's not ideal if they’re trying to be cost-effective. He went 154 innings last year, 136, 138 the 2 years before. Doesn’t really go deep in games but has made 20+ starts in 8 of 10 seasons. He has a pretty healthy track record, so 140 innings is attainable if he’s in a rotation.
Robby: 👀
Drew: I would be down for that. He is awesome.
Robby: Read the 4th comment - not sure if the guy is for or against them getting him?
Yeah, I’m equally confused…
1/29 ‘25
Robby: Why in the world is this poor kid in the 1st quarter of an NBA game?
JJ Reddick might be no Jon Scheyer (as a coach)
Robby: Coach K crying after that dudes last game was lame.
^5 years ago yesterday, still funny.
Robby: Long overdue for this guy to take a hike.
Aroused really doesn’t get used enough in today’s vernacular, kudos to Chuck.
Maybe the Steinbrenners consider selling off some of the 70% of the Yankees they own.
Robby: That would be interesting. He’s obviously not cheap but doesn’t know how to (or want to) go all in.
Robby: I think this is gonna be the guy. I just hope they pick a good DC and good OC that we can have for at least 2 years (more would be better). We need good coaches and some continuity.
Drew: I like that that guy seems like an experienced DC who isn’t looking to be the next hot head coach candidate. Like he’s a DC, and he’s OK with that, but I could be wrong.
Robby: Looks like a nonsense dude. That’s what I like. I think he has HC experience so that can help too. I feel like AG’s staff will be a bunch or tough guys.
Agreed, maybe he’ll be like a Steve Spagnuolo type with HC experience but better a DC.
Robby: I will take that.
Robby: Very bad hire. Seemed doomed from the start. Then, bringing him back this year after the players basically said he stunk made it worse. I am glad Saleh is not the coach and JD is not the GM.
Robby: Oh boy
Drew: I think they aren’t gonna do it cuz they hate him. I also don’t think his swing works well at Yankee Stadium.
Robby: They hate him but love DJ (his swing doesn’t work anywhere anymore).
Drew: Fair point.
Robby: I would like to be wrong about DJ. But his last big hit was when Trump was president (first time).
Drew: Literally
Robby: I like this
Drew: Love it
Robby: Weird u would hire the O-line coach without the OC? Maybe they already know but haven’t finalized it?
Robby: No idea if this is good or bad - but hopefully, he shows somebody how to kick
Robby: I think it will be this guy.
Drew: Seems like he has a good reputation. I have no idea.
I trust Westhoff and AG should try to add as many Lions’ coaches possible.
Robby: Yes. Less current Jets guys, more guys from winning staffs.
Robby: They need to lock this dude up.
Drew: 100%. That needs to be Moogy’s first priority.
This week’s Critiquing the Critics is The Cable Guy. I saw it on HBO or Max or whatever they now call themselves several weeks ago, thinking it might be a hidden gem. It was pretty bad. The 1996 film produced by Judd Apatow starred Jim Carrey, Ferris Bueller, Leslie Mann, and Jack Black; Ben Stiller also directed it. Their $47 million budget brought back $102.8 million at the box office, so it wasn’t a total flop at the movie theaters.
The movie’s premise is a bit outdated, but it is one of the funnier parts of the movie. Carrey installs Ferris Bueller’s cable with some extra packages after he gets dumped by Leslie Mann. In turn, Ferris Bueller befriends his cable guy, who turns out to be off the walls. It’s not a good movie, but it’s entertaining if you’re looking for a 90-minute watch. Here’s what the critics had to say…
Movie Mom approves the PG-13 rating!
This review is actually funnier than any scene in the movie. Good work.
Carrey played the bad guy well, but the comedy aspect didn’t mesh well.
Stiller’s directing didn’t seem too bad, but there’s a lot going on, and this was around peak Carrey comedy, so as expected, it was all over the place.
