“HELLO DERE!”
Alexandre Dumas pere is synonymous with swashbuckling historical adventures like The Three Musketeers, The Count of Monte Cristo and The Man in the Iron Mask.
His name became SO associated with swordplay and intrigue that even a Dumas novel like The Corsican Brothers, which in reality lacks any true action elements, has long been adapted as if it’s a swashbuckler. That has always involved altering the original story beyond recognition, which is why no two Corsican Brothers movies bear much resemblance to each other and can’t even seem to agree on a time period.
That’s a shame since plenty of other novels by Alexandre Dumas are loaded with action and historical intrigue yet have been largely overlooked when it comes to movies and television.
GEORGES (1843) – Published just one year before The Three Musketeers, this novel is not only a rollicking adventure full of action, romance and double-crosses but it deals with racial issues in such a way that you would have thought it would have been adapted for film four or five decades ago. The title character uses his sword to fight slavery! Continue reading
ROUND ONE, GAME ONE – The 6 seeds – the MONTANA TECH OREDIGGERS – clashed with the 3rd seeded ROCKY MOUNTAIN COLLEGE BATTLIN’ BEARS. The Orediggers put the Battlin’ Bears on Upset Alert with a stunning 36-20 Halftime lead then went on to consummate the deal with a 70-59 victory. Taylor England led Montana Tech with a Double Double of 16 points and 11 rebounds. This was the Orediggers’ first Opening Round win since 1999. 
ROUND ONE, GAME TWO – The 4th seeded MONTANA STATE-NORTHERN LIGHTS took the court against the 5 seeds – the PROVIDENCE UNIVERSITY ARGONAUTS. At the end of an action-packed 1st Half the Lights were on top 50-37. From there the Argonauts outscored Montana State-Northern 56-51 but in vain. The Lights entered the Century Club with 101 points to the 93 scored by Providence. Adam Huse and Mascio McCadney had 26 points each for the victors. 
DISTRICT 6: ROUND ONE UPSETS – The 13th seeded NORTHWEST KANSAS TECH MAVERICKS stunned the 4 seeds – the COWLEY COLLEGE TIGERS in an 87-84 Instant Classic ### And the 11 seeds – the PRATT COLLEGE BEAVERS – toppled the 6th seeded CLOUD COUNTY COLLEGE THUNDERBIRDS by a count of 68-56. 
DISTRICT 6: HUTCH ADVANCES – The 3 seeds – the HUTCHINSON COLLEGE BLUE DRAGONS – took on the 14th seeded ALLEN COUNTY COLLEGE RED DEVILS. By Halftime the Blue Dragons had compiled a 52-38 advantage over the Red Devils. After the break Allen County College could merely inch a bit closer as Hutchinson won it 98-88 led by Malique Jacobs with 24 points. 
DISTRICT 6: EIGHT OVER NINE – This game pitted the 8th seeded INDEPENDENCE COLLEGE PIRATES against the 9th seeded GARDEN CITY COLLEGE BRONCBUSTERS. The Pirates pounded out a 37-24 lead by the Half then withstood an attempted rally by the Broncbusters to win the game 71-66. Jibril Harris led Independence College with a Double Double of 20 points and 13 rebounds. 
ALIEN OUTLAW (1985) – Starring Kari Anderson. Written and directed by Smoot … PHIL Smoot (Da dut da DAAA/ Da da-da). Phil was one Smoot operator and showed the imagination that low-budget filmmakers so often demonstrate but whose lack of financial resources prevents them from fully bringing that imagination to life. 
With Alien Outlaw, Smoot showed the Owensby influence: North Carolina locations, meandering scenes that begged to be edited down and lots of annoying Southern-Fried humor that wouldn’t have made the cut on Hee Haw. On the plus side he also demonstrated a flair for fun B-movie premises that mixed genres. 
Alien Outlaw mixed Western elements with science fiction in a way that made you root for the film, despite the way Phil Smoot defeated himself at every turn. The potential was here to craft a fun, slick, modest money-maker which played like a Western version of a Tom Baker-era episode of Doctor Who. And with a butt-kicking female lead. 
Balladeer’s Blog’s examination of the Justice Society’s World War Two-era stories continues. FOR PART ONE CLICK 
ALL STAR COMICS #24 (Spring 1945) 
Synopsis: This is the first issue to feature Mister Terrific and Wildcat as part of the Justice Society of America.
CALIFORNIA PACIFIC CONFERENCE: CHAMPIONSHIP GAME – The top seeded UNIVERSITY OF ANTELOPE VALLEY PIONEERS mixed it up with the 3 seeds – the EMBRY-RIDDLE (AZ) AERONAUTICAL UNIVERSITY EAGLES (should be the Aeronauts). The Pioneers were on top 35-25 at Halftime but after the break the Eagles quickly pulled to within 3 points at 36-33. From there UAV got more separation, ultimately winning it 65-56 led by Hayden Hall’s 18 points. * THE PIONEERS ARE CHAMPIONS OF THE CALIFORNIA PACIFIC CONFERENCE TOURNAMENT * 
CASCADE COLLEGIATE CONFERENCE: CHAMPIONSHIP GAME – The 2 seeds – the COLLEGE OF IDAHO COYOTES – played the Cinderella 6th seeded SOUTHERN OREGON UNIVERSITY RAIDERS (should be the Sea Gulls). A 33-25 Coyotes lead at the break transformed into a 70-55 triumph for College of Idaho when all was said and done. Matt Meyers led the way for the Coyotes with 19 points. * THE COYOTES ARE CHAMPIONS OF THE CASCADE COLLEGIATE CONFERENCE TOURNAMENT * 
GREAT PLAINS ATHLETIC CONFERENCE: CHAMPIONSHIP GAME – This title clash pitted the 2nd seeded UNIVERSITY OF JAMESTOWN JIMMIES against the top seeds – the MORNINGSIDE COLLEGE MUSTANGS. Points flew like shrapnel in the 1st Half, which ended with the Mustangs up 49-46. After the break the Jimmies roared back for an 86-84 victory in this Instant Classic. Twenty points from Kevin Oberweiser led the University of Jamestown. * THE JIMMIES ARE CHAMPIONS OF THE GREAT PLAINS ATHLETIC CONFERENCE TOURNAMENT * 
THE BLOOD DRINKERS (1964) Also released as The Vampire People and Kulay Dugo Ang Gabi, this was the very first COLOR horror film made in the Philippines. 
KANSAS COLLEGIATE ATHLETIC CONFERENCE: CHAMPIONSHIP GAME – In this tournament’s title tilt the 2 seeds – the SOUTHWESTERN COLLEGE MOUNDBUILDERS – took the court against the top seeded OKLAHOMA WESLEYAN UNIVERSITY EAGLES. The Moundbuilders were chasing the Eagles 36-34 at Halftime but outscored them 44-39 after the break for a 78-75 Upset. Cameron Hunt led Southwestern College with his Double Double of 29 points and 12 rebounds. * THE MOUNDBUILDERS ARE CHAMPIONS OF THE KCAC TOURNAMENT * 
MIDEAST REGION: CHAMPIONSHIP GAME – The 4th seeded JOHNSON UNIVERSITY (TN) ROYALS (formerly the Preachers) played the 2 seeds – the GREAT LAKES CHRISTIAN COLLEGE LAKERS. The Lakers were on top 40-32 at the break but from there the Royals came storming back to win the game 84-78. Coby Jones’ 19 points led Johnson University. * THE ROYALS ADVANCE TO THE NATIONAL TOURNAMENT * 
NORTH REGION: CHAMPIONSHIP GAME – This was a battle of chalk versus a Cinderella. The top seeds – the MARANATHA BAPTIST UNIVERSITY SABERCATS – did battle with the 6th seeded MOODY BIBLE INSTITUTE ARCHERS. The Archers, hoping for one more Upset, were hanging around, trailing the Sabercats by just 40-35 at Halftime. After the break Maranatha Baptist University put more and more separation between themselves and Moody Bible Institute for a 72-58 triumph. Jonathan Book’s Double Double of 19 points and 11 rebounds led the victors. * THE SABERCATS ADVANCE TO THE NATIONAL TOURNAMENT * 
THE MANIPULATORS (1970) – The words “gritty” and “streetwise” seem never to be used when describing vintage television programs from Canada but they certainly apply to The Manipulators (Originally the title was to be The Clients). 
