Baltimore batters Browns bruisingly, Biff

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Rice a-Ronied all over the Browns (sorry).

If there's two fundamental elements of football that epitomize the Browns' miseries since 1999, it's that they can't run and they can't stop the run. Both of these traits were on display today against a workmanlike Ravens squad that simply ground Cleveland under its merciless purple boot heel.

The battle at the line of scrimmage was a rout, with Baltimore running back Ray Rice bringing back bad memories of Jamal Lewis vs. Butch Davis's defense. Meanwhile, Baltimore's defense stopped the Browns' ground attack after an opening Cleveland drive that found Peyton Hillis battering open some holes. See, good teams make course corrections during games. I've studied this phenomenon, mostly through old newsreels and faded microfiche, but I've not seen it put into practice by the guys in the home whites for awhile.

What we think will happen vs. the Ravens (Week 13)

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Baltimore Ravens at Cleveland Browns

December 4, 2011

Brian	Ravens 20 Browns 10	The Browns don't have the offensive power to look even competent against a defense like Baltimore, although a strong defensive effort could keep the score closer than it should be.
Tom	Ravens 24 Browns 14	Browns hang in the game longer then anyone expect, but they don't have enough punch to match the Ravens offense or defense.
Doug	Ravens 17 Browns 7	The Ravens have had a few letdown games this year, but the Browns don't have enough punch on offense to hand Baltimore another upset loss.
Kevin	Ravens 17 Browns 13	While at the mall yesterday, I saw a sign outside a sporting goods store that read "60% OFF ALL PEYTON HILLIS JERSEYS AND T-SHIRTS". He may be our best hope in this one. And so it goes with our beloved football team.
SamVox	Ravens 19 Browns 13	An early Ed Reed pick and a late, lucky throw by Flacco help Baltimore escape with a win. That's So Raven.
Ryan	Ravens 23 Browns 10	I hope I'm wrong.
Sean	Ravens 31 Browns 10

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Vox Mini-Mailbag

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Morning, faithful. If you're just coming back from your weekly Church & Bob Evans combination, you're just in time to read me ripoff Bill Simmons. I've been doing that for six years anyway, but now it's a bit more obvious...and, of course, these are actual messages from actual readers. I should've knocked'em out Voxes ago, but it's finally time for a small portion of my very small audience to be heard. If you have a question, comment or a request for a random top ten, I'm always an email away.

James-less Cavs face first true attendance test

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The NBA lockout is over. Cavaliers players are working out in Cleveland as the league hammers out the last details of its newly minted collective bargaining agreement. The team is not expected to make many moves once free agency begins on Dec. 9, but fans will get to see a whole lot of top draft choice Kyrie Irving once the foreshortened season finally tips off at Christmas.

The question is, how many folks will be in the stands to watch Irving, fellow first-rounder Tristan Thompson and swing man Omri Casspi play for a squad that is unquestionably peering up from the bottom of a deep well where serious playoff contention is, at minimum, three years away?

Movie Review: Horrible Bosses

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Once in a while, the CST writers like to step away from our normal obsession over what's happening on the field/diamond/court/free agent marketplace/coaching carousel/scandal rags and sit back with a movie. And even more rarely, we like to write a review of it.

I love movies, I just don't have the energy to review them for CST very often. Instead I just revert to the easy, 140 character world of Twitter. Normally to extend my disdain for whatever piece of crap I just watched.  Especially with comedies. I mean, I love comedies, but things that make me legitimately laugh out loud are few and far between.

In television, especially, "comedies" like Hung, The Office, and especially "Entourage" were becoming less and less amusing, and more and more like 30 minute light dramas. There are a few exceptions, like 30 Rock, Modern Family, and even New Girl, which has made me laugh every episode.

When it comes to movies, however, most "comedies" are just not up my alley. Which is why I was so pleasently surprised by "Horrible Bosses."  With an all star cast including Jason Bateman, Charlie Day, Jason Sudeikis, Kevin Spacey, Jennifer Aniston, and Jamie Foxx, it had me laughing the entire way through. I won't bother summing up the plot, as its clearly described in the two word title (and in the numerous movie posters below), but if you're looking for a laugh (note: not for kids), pick it up on DVD, Blu-Ray, or however you kids watch movies these days.