I'm ready for "Rounders"

One of my favorite movies reloaded its chips and is ready to ante up again.

"Rounders", a movie chronicling the lives of underground poker players and venues, "plans" to have another installment, according to screenwriters Brian Koppelman and David Levien.

Actors/poker players Matt Damon and Edward Norton would also return if the story is accurate.

Not widely popular shortly after its 1998 release, "Rounders" is a cult-type movie appeasing a certain fan base. But after 2003's poker boom and the widely popular World Series of Poker on national television, poker players look to "Rounders" as the Messiah of poker movies.

"Rounders" is so popular because the movie depicts real world poker situations much more accurately than other movies. Damon and Norton travel from Binghamton, N.Y to play a club filled with "good ol' boys" to starting a personal Cold War on the green felt with KGB.

Damon, who portrays signs of addiction, shows what a gambler stands to lose. He feuds with Norton, his best friend, almost breaks up with his girlfriend and almost strains the relationship between him and his favorite professor, who pays his buy-in for the final game.

Hopefully, fans get a sequel. But we'll always have the original.

Here is one of my favorite scenes from the end of the movie starring Damon and John Malkovich.

*Spoiler Warning*

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Where Roy Oswalt can land

Image by imovermyhead via Flickr

At Sport Informant, I wrote a story detailing the difficulties the Houston Astros will have trading their No. 1 pitcher, Roy Oswalt, this season.

Oswalt's contract (five-years, $73 million) and his back problems dating back to last season will give the National League worst Astros (15-27) difficulties in trading the 10-year veteran.

The 32-year-old's no-trade clause -- which means the Astros cannot be traded unless he approves of the deal -- limits where he can go. Oswalt said he will only play for a winner, eliminating about half the teams in Major League Baseball.

Oswalt said he will pitch for three teams: The Texas Rangers, St. Louis Cardinals and the Atlanta Braves. Yet these three teams seem like unrealistic destinations for Oswalt (see my story for the reason).

But if he is willing, there are other teams that will gladly accept his services.

Here are my top five destinations for the best possible situation three-time All-Star can find himself in:


View Where Roy Oswalt can pitch in a larger map

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Where I write

I love writing and covering as many different topics as possible. I don't want to be just a news writer, or sports reporter, at the moment. I want to explore as many different mediums as possible.

Not only does it keep my interest, but I think it helps me as a writer.

Here is a look at where I currently write and the publications I used to.

Where I currently write:
Fremont News-Messenger/Port Clinton News Herald, (correspondent, began in March 2010)
I interviewed for a position with the Gannett-owned newspapers in March. I cover mostly event-based meetings and features. I already had one centerpiece on an Easter Egg Roll at the Rutherford B. Hayes Presidential Center.

Toledo Free Press, (reporter, began in May 2010):
I was recently hired as a sports writer in charge of everything Bowling Green and Bowling Green State University regarding sports.

Sport Informant, (reporter, began in November 2008):
An online, amateur publication, I cover Major League Baseball.

I just wrote this story on why Roy Oswalt will be hard to trade and the phenom that is Stephen Strasburg

Where I previously wrote:
The BG News (reporter, special sections editor, senior reporter August 2007-May 2010):
My home for the latter part of my collegiate career, this was a great place in both honing my journalism skills and meeting some people inspiring me to become a better overall person.

Even though our archives only date back to 2010, some of my best stories are listed, including a story on BGSU gold-medalist Dave Wottle, a story investigating black baseball players and a tribute story to former student Mark Gillfillan.

The Obsidian (columnist, copy editor August 2008-May 2010):
BGSU's cultural diversity publication taught me to include myself in topics I would normally not. I wrote stories on Cesar Chavez, a gun shooting in Oakland that pitted races against one another and the demise of Tiger Woods.


Northwest Ohio Comedy (creator, January-May 2010):
This was the first blog site I created. It helped me get familiar with interactivity and posting in the blogosphere.

The Rochester Insider (reporter, May-August 2008):

Like an entertainment or city paper, I would do smaller features. My favorites included finding the most handicap-accessible night clubs in the city and a feature on various Buffalo Bills players and what music they listen to prior to games.

Welcome to My Blog

Hello all and thanks for visiting Andy O And The News!

I wanted to give myself, friends, family and lurkers the opportunity to read anything I write from my various publications. I will also give some interpretation as to how I wrote this story and general feelings on what I wanted to accomplish.

This will also be a site where I give my opinions (albeit not too often) on various news stories, including news, politics, sports, weather and entertainment.

The next few posts will be about who I am, where I write and some of my favorite stories.

Stay tuned and thanks for coming!