Answer for Tom Dioguardi

Tom Dioguardi writes:

Hey Bod, got a question for you.My cousin and I are coming up with a NCAA March Madness style tournament for the 65 Most Badass Movie Characters of All-Time. Some examples: Achilles, Hannibal Lecter, James Bond, Lord Voldemort, etc.What's your take on this tournament? And do you have any input? When my cousin and I have created the final bracket with our picks I'll give you a sneak preview.

-The Best

I think this is a great / super dorky idea. I'm kind of suprised it has never been done before, and I am interested to see where you take it. I'm glad you asked me for my input because I do indeed have some very important and, seeing as how I myself am a badass and very knowledgeable on what in fact makes a badass, educated source of factual information.

The first thing I might ask is whether each character can make only one appearance or is it a character throughought his career? By this I mean do you choose each character from a specific movie or over the course of all of their films? For instance, James Bond is a huge badass in Casino Royal, but is not nearly as big of a badass in any movie that Pierce Brosnan was in. So do you pick James Bond in general or James Bond in Casino Royal, and if so can he potentially match up with a James Bond from another film. This is something you definitely have to take in to consideration.

After you get that settled, I think you should set yourself some sort of guidelines for what makes someone a badass. Is it their body count? Is it their skills with numchucks? Is it their hand-to-hand combat skills? Or is it something intangible, something that really has no name but can be seen in their eyes? The list has to have some sort of guidelines in order to be fair.

I'd also like to bring to your attention the fact that Danny Trejo is probably the biggest badass of them all and should make numerous positions in this tournament. Some other characters that I believe should be on the list include the obvious, such as William Wallace, John McClane, Rambo, Ripley, Rocky, Han Solo, Mad Max, Highlander, the Terminator, Sarah Connor, Beatrix Kiddo, Ivan Drago, to other not as obvious badasses like, Dutch, John Matrix, Luc Deveraux, Andrew Scott, Carrie, and Ghost Dog. That's all I can think of for now, but if you want more input don't hesitate to ask. Good luck.

Answer for Jimmy Crack Corn

Jimmy Crack Corn writes:

Hey Bod,

Do you believe your boy Federer is still the best in the world or has Nadal overtaken him? I thought Ndal had it firmly 6 months ago but what Federer has done recently will rekindle the argument. However, please reference Nadal at 100% health.

My feelings on this situation are complicated. Federer right now is the best in the world, but that is due to the injury of Nadal. With Nadal at 100% it is clear that Nadal wins a majority of the time. However, I still believe that Federer is the better tennis player and arguably the greatest of all time. Nadal's style of pure strength and athleticism is not one that can be maintained for many years, as shown by his latest injuries. Federer's style, on the other hand, is more fluid and one that can be and has been maintained over many years. Nadal will have to adapt his game in one way or another if he wants to stay on top. Hard court is his worst surface, and so the US Open will be a tough challenge for him, both on his knees and on his game.

In the end, every player has their weak points, even Federer, and Nadal's style exploits each and every one of said weak points of Federer. Nadal will forever be an asterisk next to Federer's the greatest tennis player of all time.

Answer for Anonymous

Anonymous writes:

Hey do you vet the websites you recommend on your site? That iamryan whatever site stinks. Please keep the integrity of Todders Playhouse intact. Still love the site.

Well Mr. Anonymous, I hate to answer such a negative question and one that directly aims to undermine all that we here at the Playhouse aim to achieve, but since I answer all questions I can make no exceptions (I think it's exceptions, but it could be acceptions. Mind blown.) Even I am not above the rules of Todder's Playhouse, and so here you go.

1. In questions of such a personal nature, anonyminity (spelling?) should be forfeitted. I do not appreciate having the Playhouse indirectly attacked and not being able to put a name on said attacker.

2. What the hell is vetting? I can manage to summize a definition through context, but please do not use such web savy terms again in the future.

3. It's www.iamryanb.com. I know you knew that. Get it right or pay the price (there is no price).

4. I support all of Todder's Playhouse's readers in all of their ventures. Such is the nature of the Playhouse.

5. I do indeed "vet" all websites I mention in the Playhouse, and as stated in numero 3, I support all of Todder's Playhouse's readers in all of their ventures. As such, I spread the word to the best of my abilities of said ventures.

6. The integrity of the Playhouse is indeed still intact. The only time that integrity is at risk is when negativity is brought into the Playhouse from outsiders because it damn well will never be brought in by me. This is Todder's Playhouse. Not Todder's Negativehouse, or Todder's Putotherpeopledownhouse. Remember that.