Rule 5 Monday -- Sophie Marceau

In honor of my New Year's resolution to break out the Rosetta Stone software and finish my french lessons, today's Rule 5 submission is lovely French actress Sophie Marceau.

Beginning acting at the age of 14, Sophie's done 38 films to date (according to her Wiki profile). I'm assuming like most Americans, I came to notice her in Braveheart and then later on in the Bond flick The World is not Enough as the more than a little psychotic Elektra King. Which for Bond flicks, was a pretty dynamic role. In my humble opinion.

She had a delightful moment on the red carpet a couple of years back, where her two shoulder dress decided to become a one shoulder dress. She laughed off the exposure with style.

The following pics have some decidedly nsfw action going on, because you know how casual the French are about nudity.

combien merveilleux!

*click on the thumbnails for full-sized images*

Rule 5 Sunday suggested by this.

Hat tips:
Jake Finnegan
The Daley Gator
The Classic Liberal
Say Anything Blog
Proof Positive

Well, the playoffs are set now

For the AFC, it'll be the Patriots vs. Ravens, and in the NFC we have the Giants vs. 49ers.

I was sorry to see the Broncos get dumped out, especially with such a one-sided drubbing. I don't like all the grief that Tebow's been taking from . . . pretty much everyone, everywhere, and I would have like to have seen him advance or at least lose the game in a squeaker.

Oh well.

Happy to see the 49ers back in it. Where the heck did they come from?! Last time I was thinking about them, they were stinking up the league. Now . . . playoffs! Cool!

Don't understand how the Giants are in there. They just don't seem that dominant to me. But apparently they are. They beat the Packers pretty convincingly.

And the Ravens . . . when Ray Lewis retires, I'll think about liking them.

So, I'm not sure if it's a good thing, but I've got someone to root for and someone to root against in the playoffs . . .

My perfect scenario is a Patriots v 49ers Superbowl.

Now if only that can come true . . .

Late night hotness . . .

It's the exquisite set design that gives the final product that certain something . . .

Late night hotness . . .

And now a word about the nuanced art of product placement...

The Bucs have a job opening

Yesterday, the ownership of the Buccaneers gave head coach Raheem Morris his walking papers.

The day after a lopsided loss to the Atlanta Falcons gave the Bucs their 10th straight loss to end the season 4-12, the Glazers finally woke up and relieved Morris of his coaching duties. Also in the purge was the entire coaching staff of the hapless team.

I'm sure the sportswriters at the newly renamed Tampa Bay Times will organize an #OccupyOneBucPlace protest to vent their frustration over the ownership doing what they, and most fans thought, was the best thing for the team.

Surprisingly, one person who didn't lose his job was GM Marc Dominik, which sort of shows that despite local writers plaintive whinings, the blame fell solely upon the shoulders of the coaches whose job it was to coach, instruct, gameplan, and lead this team.

Supposedly, the owners are going to conduct an exhaustive search for a new head coach, with no time table to obstruct them. We'll see how that goes, because the local sports tools will be droning endlessly about how if a coach isn't brought in by such and such a date, the upcoming season will be a disaster.

Raheem Morris was the defensive backs coach for seven years with the team and head coach for the last three. Don't want to see anyone lose their jobs in this economy, but with his record as head coach, he didn't deserve to remain at the helm of this team.

Thanks for what you've done, sorry it didn't work out Raheem. Good luck in your future endeavors.

Now lets find a coach who knows what he's doing, okay guys?

Rule 5 Monday -- xoxo Leah

With Sunday being the hangover holiday, Rule 5 is bumped to Monday this week, and we have the amusingly named xoxo Leah for your viewing pleasure.

Now with a name like that, I don't know why I didn't immediately reason that she would be a porn star, but . . . guess I'm just naive like that. Anyway, here she is in all her nsfw glory.

*click on the thumbnails for full-size images*

Rule 5 Sunday suggested by this.

Hat tips:
Jake Finnegan
The Daley Gator
The Classic Liberal
Say Anything Blog
Proof Positive

Bucs end the year on a low note

The Tampa Bay Bucs lost the final game of the season to the Atlanta Falcons 45-24. The game wasn't even as close as this nearly two-to-one score would suggest. The Bucs stunk from the outset, allowing the Falcons to score 42 unanswered points.

Josh Freeman, the Bucs qb, ended the day going 31-45 for 274 yds and two touchdowns, which will have local sportswriters pulling his bronze bust back out and labeling it for the Hall of Fame. Problem is, that the majority of these points came against Atlanta's second and third string defense playing prevent.

I've said it repeatedly, the problem with this team is coaching. Plain and simple. Freeman has regressed, the penalties, lack of ball control, and lack of discipline are all hallmarks of a team with no leadership. Either within or from the top. Broadcaster John Lynch, a former Buc, pointed out what I said earlier, that head coach Raheem Morris cut or traded all the veteran leadership off the team and the results are showing on the field and in the standings.

There's still no firm basis to insist Freeman is a franchise qb. The supposed dominant de's are injury prone and haven't played a full season yet. The db's can't cover and the purportedly speedy receivers can't get open or hang on to the ball.

Morris, via his vision and re-imagining of this team, has turned the Bucs into one of the worst teams in the league. The 10-6 record last year, posted against teams with a losing record, has turned this year into a 4-12 record more indicative of their standing against the league.

Three years in, and the team is worse off than when Raheem Morris took over as head coach. If that's not a reason to change coaches, I don't know what is.

Hey Glazers! I'm a fan. I pay the bills for this team. Are you listening?!