I watched Payback yesterday, the Mel Gibson movie from a few years ago where he plays a small time crook out to get back $70,000 from his former associate who double-crossed him after a successful heist. Very funny movie, although the romantic end of it doesn't quite fit. On par with Get Shorty, although I think the latter has the edge. I must qualify my statement that "I watched Payback" by adding that I watched it on TBS. For some reason I don't feel like I can really claim to have seen a film if I watch it on network television. On DVD, VHS, HBO, Showtime, that's a complete viewing. But seeing a commercial-loaded, edited version just doesn't cut it. TBS and TNT are great for perfecting your command of older (5+ years) movies though. Dirty Harry was on after Payback, perfect example.

Can't post without mentioning the monumental 24-point comeback by the good ol' San Francisco 49ers against the New York Giants in the wild card playoff yesterday. I turned it off at 38-14, only to miss the extent of the comeback and tune back in during the Giants failed attempt to kick a field goal with 6 seconds left, trailing 39-38. A brilliant (second half) performance by Jeff Garcia, Terrell Owens, and company. From the highlights I saw, my favorite incident of the game was Giants defensive lineman Michael Strahan trash-talking Terrell Owens as he celebrated a 2 point conversion to make it 38-22. "Look at the scoreboard", he told him. But the celebration had the desired effect: it riled up the Niners and helped spark the comeback. A fight broke out after the touchdown that put the Niners up 39-38, apparently because T.O. told one of the Giants corners "Look at the scoreboard now". It doesn't get any better than this.