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Wide Right: And the Oscar Goes To ... by Jeff Cockey, 3/5/04 Sunday night marked the 76th time Hollywood patted itself on the back and celebrated its own success. Everyone was out on the red carpet for the main event and all were looking beautiful as usual. Yes, I enjoy the Oscars . . . or at least I think I do. You see, every year I look forward to the show and make plans to watch � and every year, about an hour into it, I find myself wondering why in the hell I am wasting four hours of my life. Really, the only entertaining parts of the show are the opening (now that Billy�s back), and the very end, when we find out who wins Best Actor, Best Actress and of course, Best Picture.
Anyway, with a few tweaks here and there, you might have yourself a decent hour-long show that, come Monday morning, people wouldn�t be cursing themselves for staying up and watching. So with all of this in mind, I thought it might be nice to offer the First Annual Wide Right Red Carpet Review. We won�t be handing out Oscars to those who make the best college uniforms, or to those who paint the straightest lines on the gridiron. Nor will you see a Best Stadium Lighting award or a Best Supporting Actor�s Second Cousin Twice Removed Playing the Part of a Deaf Pianist in a Foreign Film Directed and Produced in Eastern European Countries Beginning with the Letter "S" and Ending in "Pain" (which, coincidentally, is what we all feel when we are made to sit through these types of awards year after year) Award. Let�s all take a breath . . . OK, here we will be handing out awards for Best Actor; Best Actress (if applicable, this award will go to, well let me give you a for instance: if he were smart enough to have chosen Virginia Tech, then Kellen Winslow Jr. would be an excellent candidate for this award); Best Supporting Actor; Best Director; the Lifetime Achievement Award; and of course the grand-daddy of them all, Best Picture. And now onto the show . . . I had prepared a short Billy Crystal-esque song and dance routine to perform before I handed out these awards but with this medium, there is no way I could show it. Trust me, that�s a good thing.
And the Oscar goes to . . . Doug Easlick for his amazing contribution to the success of Kevin Jones and thus, the entire offense of the Virginia Tech Hokies. This is Doug�s first Oscar nomination and win. He is surrounded on stage by his offensive line and he is thanking, first and foremost, Kevin Jones, for making all of the runs look so easy that Doug hardly got any credit at all � which is just the way he likes it, a behind-the-scenes guy who grinds it out and gets his job done. Congratulations, Doug.
And the Oscar goes to . . . Frank Beamer. While not Frank�s best year at Virginia Tech, it may have been his most challenging role yet. We laughed, we cried, we screamed, we sat silently stunned (BC game comes to mind), and all due to the directorial talent of one man. But the crowning achievement during this year�s performance was the Ernest Wilford head slap. I will continue to say this again and again: it is about time we see some emotion. And that emotional break-through earned him the hardware in this category. As a true Hokie should, Frank accepts his award, hands the ball to the ref, and jogs off to the sideline. Ladies and Gentlemen, we have a truly special treat for you this evening. Presenting tonight�s Lifetime Achievement Award, live via satellite from a Los Angeles interstate in his white Bronco � you either love him, hate him, or were murdered by him � Mr. Orenthal James "if the glove doesn�t fit you must acquit" Simpson, along with his new best friend, Scott Peterson. "Please hold your applause until we find the real killers."
There really isn�t a need for words when it comes to this year�s recipient. He has done some bad in his tenure at Virginia Tech, but he has also done some really bad. All of those fond memories, however, are trumped by the one, simply fantastic maneuver, which he was able to so deftly and surprisingly pull off. Yes folks, I am speaking of admittance into our rightful home. Our place at the table is now set, so let the dinner bell ring. We are headed to the Atlantic Coast Conference. Thank you so very much Mr. Jim Weaver. Unfortunately, Jim was not able to join us tonight as he is in Richmond, kissing the feet of Governor Warner. Accepting on his behalf are Will Stewart�s press credentials. Hey Jim, you�ll see your Oscar when Will sees his credentials. Until then, "no soup for you."
And the Oscar goes to . . . wow. Here�s a shocker: None of them. It goes instead to DeAngelo Hall. While his performance on the field was nothing short of spectacular in so many ways, it was all tied up in a nice little package by his sideline tantrum late in the season. Truly a performance worthy of Best Actress. Ladies and Gentlemen, and any Hoos that happen to be reading, we now have a special treat for you. Presenting the Oscar for Best Actor is none other than Antonio Banks and his long time friend Coach Joe Gleck�s tripping leg. The nominees for Best Actor during this past VT football season are . . .
And finally, the moment we have all been waiting for: Best Picture. You all know the nominees: Rutgers, West Virginia, Pittsburgh, Boston College, Temple, UVa, Cal, etc . . . and with a list of nominees like that, is it any wonder that tonight�s big winner for Best Picture of the year goes to the absolute thrashing delivered COD to Shalala�s girls? Congratulations Tech on winning probably the toughest game of the season. I can still picture in my mind the Miami fan who rang my doorbell the morning after, dressed head to toe in all black, holding the morning paper with a headline about the game. He muttered the word congratulations as he turned and walked away. Simply beautiful! And what is an Oscars column without movie trivia? I was scorned, a la Passion of the Christ style, by a number of you for phoning it in last column. So chew on this one:
Questions, comments, and insults are always appreciated . . . [email protected].
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