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It’s that time of year

Time for the time-honored tradition of “Rick’s Oscar Picks.” I literally just “locked up” my pics a few minutes ago. The top of the ballot was especially hard for me.

So, without further ado.....

Note -- these are the predicted winners. If I disagree with a particular pick (as in, if I cast a vote, I would choose ____), it will be noted.

Original screenplay: Spotlight My personal favorite: Straight Outta Compton

Adapted screenplay: The Big Short My personal favorite: Brooklyn

Visual effects: Star Wars: The Force Awakens

Sound Mixing: The Revenant

Sound Editing: The Revenant

Short film, live: Shok

Short film, animated: World of Tomorrow

Production design: Mad Max: Fury Road

Music, original song: “Til It Happens to You”

Music, original score: The Hateful Eight

Makeup and hairstyling: Mad Max: Fury Road

Film editing: The Big Short

Documentary, short: A Girl in the River: The Price of Forgiveness

Documentary, feature: Amy

Cinematography: The Revenant

Animated feature: Inside Out

and now, the biggies ...

Supporting Actress: Alicia Vikander, The Danish Girl My personal favorite: Rachel McAdams, Spotlight

I’ve not seen “The Danish Girl,” but, I think there will be a lot of gnashing of teeth, if only on a subconscious level, that “Danish Girl” and “Carol” aren’t bringing home more awards (you know, politics and such). I also think Rachel McAdams is getting a little bit of the “Norbert” treatment given her propensity for softer-slash-romcom roles. That said, she was awesome in “Spotlight.”

Supporting Actor: Sylvester Stallone, Creed

This a tough category, but, I think Stallone brings it home for his best-known role. Plus, well, SPOILER ALERT, there is a degree of “affliction bump” for this turn of Rocky Balboa.

Best Actress: Brie Larson, Room My personal favorite: Saorise Ronan, Brooklyn

I’ll admit something: “Brooklyn” was the pleasant surprise of the year for me personally. As I watched all of the Best Picture nominees, I told anyone that would listen that I loved “Brooklyn” much more than I would have predicted. I’d like to see it rewarded. I’ll make another admission: “Room” was, well, I mean, it was a well-done movie, but it was hard to watch, especially once you realized what the heck was going on. Larson did a heck of a job, but, I dunno, is it really hard to play desperate and broken? Well, yes, but still. At least I known that her name is “ser-shuh,” as in, rhymes with “inertia.”

Best Actor: Leonardo DiCaprio, The Revenant

If you would have asked me before seeing “The Revenant” and/or seeing the momentum DiCaprio was getting through awards season, I would’ve told you Redmayne was a lock for a second-straight statuette (see my note above on Supporting Actress). But, DiCaprio’s performance was compelling. I mean, he did make a movie where he crawls around and grunts for two hours meaningful and compelling.

Best Director: Alejandro Iñárritu, The Revenant

In about as much of a stylistic difference from his win a year ago for “Birdman or (the really stupid parenthetical),” well, Iñárritu is on a roll. See above about making a movie that’s a lot of torture, crawling and grunting compelling.

So now we go to the category that has bugged me the most ...

Best Picture: The Revenant My personal favorite: Spotlight

Oh, I came --this-- close to calling it a split ballot (splitting director and picture). I even posted a Facebook status update predicting such a split, but termed it more of a “hot take” than an actual prediction. “The Revenant” was a cinematic triumph, in that it is a technically executed marvel. But, really, it wasn’t my favorite. I was gripped by “Spotlight.” I was enthralled by “Spotlight.” I’ve thrown shade all over people that haven’t seen “Spotlight.” I, Rick Johnston, think it’s the best picture of the year. But, I think “The Revenant” has way too much momentum with other awards season wins. Now, admittedly, my love affair with “Spotlight” might be for professional reasons, but I’ll stand behind it.

That said, “Revenant” might have the momentum, but, don’t be shocked too much if something else wins, especially if it’s “Spotlight” or “The Big Short.” 

If “Mad Max” somehow wins? I’m going uptown and turning over a car or two. I feel that a victory riot would be fitting.

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To whom it may concern

Dear Gamecocks men's basketball: I know you are likely confused by that one banner that hangs by itself on that one end of Colonial Life Arena. It says "Final Four." See, the women went to said Final Four last year, and got a banner. That's how these things work. You could get one, but see, it requires that you (1) make the NCAA tournament, which is a rarity and (2) win a game when you get there. Number two hasn't happened in my lifetime. That little thought was whimsical when I was 16-17. I'm 36. Now it's pitiful. Screwing off and losing games to moribund 9-win teams doesn't help you shake loose the doldrums of (1) or (2). Just some food for thought on a Tuesday. XOXOXOXOXOXOXO -Rick

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This morning, I went to the grocery store to pick up some things to donate to a local food bank as part of our company’s annual company wide holiday lunch.

I spent a little more than $12 and I think I got a nice supply of food. Obviously, you always feel good when you help those in need.

Then I got to thinking -- it’s said from various places, but, while by the classifications of America 2015, I’m not rich. I didn’t grow up rich. 

However, in the global scheme, I am extremely rich.

Life is often difficult, but, I realized that I’ve never gone to bed hungry in my lifetime, even when times might be tighter than others. 

I know the word “blessed” is overused and overhashtagged and parodied and all of that, especially in southern protestant circles, but, I was struck as to how blessed I truly am. 

I have a roof over my head, food in the pantry and fridge and I’m able to take $12.75 and help those whose Christmas joy this season will be found in a simple, hot meal. 

I feel especially undeserving of such blessings, but, I’m thankful God has given me these things in this life. I hope that I don’t lose sight of that in the days/weeks/months/years ahead.

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Sadly, we’ve chosen to settle for spreading around our political opinions, allowing ourselves to be filled with pride after our preaching to the choir garners praise from those who already agree with us. We’ve settled for the sickness and self-righteousness of moralistic therapeutic deism rather than the life-changing and eternally powerful message of the Gospel. We’ve settled for religiosity, which frankly doesn’t attract anyone to Jesus. Instead, our moralism repels potential believers while we high-five our fellow Christians for sticking it to the man.

Nate Lake, “Why #MerryChristmasStarbucks is everything wrong with American Christianity”

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I'm really not sure what to make of this. Given the, ahem, diversity of candidates, perhaps it's good that I'm not a jersey wearing R or D person? (???)

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For 95 seconds, neither Chris Fowler nor Kirk Herbstreit said a word. We saw the bouncing crowd, the Tech players running out of the tunnel, Ohio State players entering as the Buckeye band took over for Metallica. The crowd and the bands did all the talking. It set the groove, just as last year's prolonged "Sandstorm" intro did before the season-opening Texas A&M-South Carolina game. This should not be unique. It should not be a once-per-year experience. I wish this happened for every game. If ESPN is showing Akron-Kent State, I want to experience that, too. Granted, it is regularly impossible because of networks' continued insistence on cramming games into unrealistic windows that require you to set the DVR for an extra hour if you want to watch the fourth quarter. That means we regularly join games in progress and we get no tone. That's a shame. Few fan experiences match "Enter Sandman," but whatever the vibe is for a game, we should get to feel it.

SBNation’s Bill Connelly

I don’t think there’s any way I could agree with this more. Of course, I’m biased, given the theatrics of 2001 and, now, Sandstorm. 

In 2012, I think it was executed perfectly for the SC/UGa game, BTW.

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One of the many things that I’ve wanted to write about, but, well, haven’t, because for whatever reason, I’ve not kept this space neatly updated, was my experience this spring coaching flag football.

But, filed under “better late than never,” I’m going to talk about that now, with a slight look forward to the upcoming big boy football season.

One thing that I am going to make an honest attempt to do this season is to not just needlessly yammer on about “bad coaching.” I mean, like with anything, one can question the wisdom of a particular decision, but, I think too often, we just say it’s “bad coaching.”

Why am I going to do this? Because I learned a lesson in the spring:

Coaching is hard.

It is nerve-wracking.

It was such for me, and I was coaching FLAG football played by 9 and 10 year olds. I can’t even imagine the stress levels one experiences when it is your job.

Don’t get me wrong, I enjoyed it. I fully intend to return again in the spring. But, it was maddening.

It got off to a great start. The very first play of the season, I called a play that was basically running a series of quick slants. Ball got out quick into the hands of one of our speedier guys, and it went for a TD.

I was on cloud nine. I mean, I thought we would do well for ourselves, but, this went beyond my wildest dreams.

Of course, as things go, it went slightly downhill from there. We wound up losing that game.

And the next …

And the one after that …

And the one after that one as well …

Went played 8 regular season games. Lost every last one of them. Some were close. Others were not.

Since this is a youth league, every team made the playoffs. We came within 2 minutes of knocking off the top seed, but, lost that one as well. I’m not entirely sure I’ve ever felt so utterly decimated after losing an athletic content.

I’ve often made fun of the idea of coaches — especially NFL ones — doing insane things like sleeping on couches and such. But, you know, part of me gets it.

So I stated before that I plan on returning in the spring. In thinking about the playoff loss, and the season as a whole, I’ve tried to turn it into a learning experience.

And that gets my wheels turning …

And turning …

So now, with six or seven months to go before I would hit the field again, I’ve been thinking and tweaking.

What did I like about my offense? What did I not like? What can I improve on?

For the record, I took the spread principles I generally liked and did work on occasion and morphed it with some of the more wishbone-y stuff that also did work on occasion.

And simplified it. And re-simiplified it.

Now I think I have things the way I want them. I felt like last season I was ready to go minute 1 of first practice, but, looking back I was wrong. This season, however, I’ll be much better prepared. After all, I don’t think I realized how precious that 1 hour of practice per week was.

Now, I’m better prepared.

Now I think I’m ready.

Now I only have a few months to think about it.

Sigh.

But, you see that? Again, if that has driven me crazy for what I was doing, imagine if my livelihood depended on it.

So, yes, I’m going to try and ease up a bit. After all, I don’t know what the heck the big guys are having to deal with, just to get to gameday.

But if it was anything like my own experience, I know it was a crazy ride.

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The first one is one that I’ve had to deal with personally. It’s fun. 

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Big opportunities on Greene Street

So, I ran across this story in The State this morning.

I cannot stress enough that I am 100 percent behind this effort. Not only because it's just a good idea, but also because it could be a transformative move in terms of campus aesthetics.

Here's what I mean.

Here's the stretch of Greene St. in question. 

Notice it is your typical paved road. What if we tore up the pavement and made it one giant bricked walkway, much like the current sidewalks on each side -- much like the back patio of the Russell House -- much like The Horseshoe.

Surely it would look a lot better than what is there now.

I mean, it's not like we are doing this elsewhere amongst our facilities.

So, there is one issue -- and it's the big, garnet elephant in the room.

What would happen to the Gamecock? 

As someone who participated in the painting of the initial Gamecock, I have an attachment to it. It's become a campus symbol, with its most memorable moment coming in 2007, as it served as the gathering point for the vigil where people mourned those lost in the Ocean Isle beach house fire.

So, I'm not asking to get rid of the landmark. I'm proposing we make it a true landmark.

First off, let's look at the street view of the Gamecock. The pavement is kind of in bad shape.

So, let's go back to the idea of bricking Greene Street. Imagine a nice brass version of the Gamecock there in that spot.

For an example, let's check out the "M" on the University of Michigan's Diag (the equivalent of the Horseshoe).

Here's the M close up --

Here it is in context --

Or, an alternative could be to make it some sort of concrete inlay.

For an example, let's look at the university seal at UNC.

First close up --

Then in context --

You could, in theory, paint a concrete version, if it looked weird.

So, again, you have a chance to really take a simple, and I would think relatively low-cost, step to make a huge aesthetic difference on campus. You could even write the backstory on the Gamecock -- "The Gamecock first appeared on Greene Street in 2001, the bicentennial year of the university. It was made a permanent part of campus in 20XX, blah blah blah."

Let's do this right, USC!

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I’m kind of obsessed with this at the moment.

For background.

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When you’re out with your squad ...

... and “Tearin’ Up My Heart” comes on.

15 years ago?

Today?

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Just ... everything here!

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The Fast & Furious movies stand as one of the best film franchises America has going for it right now — and maybe even a gloriously dumb representation of everything good about America.

Vox, 11 questions you were too embarrassed to ask about the Fast & Furious movies 

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When you and your squad get past cops in Five Points, even though you’re turnt up. 

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Finally: Oscar Picks 2015

While I won't be in the press room at Hollywood and Highland this year, we still must soldier on -- so, here's the time-honored tradition of my Oscar picks!

Here goes:

Original Screenplay: "The Grand Budapest Hotel"

Adapted Screenplay: "Whiplash"

Visual Effects: "Interstellar"

Sound Mixing: "Whiplash"

Sound Editing: "American Sniper"

Live Action Short: "Parvaneh"

Animated Short: "The Dam Keeper"

Production Design: "The Grand Budapest Hotel"

Original Song: "Glory" (from "Selma")

Original Score: "The Theory of Everything"

Makeup and Hairstyling: "The Grand Budapest Hotel"

Foreign Language Film: "Leviathan"

Film Editing: "Boyhood"

Documentary Short: "Joanna"

Costume Design: "The Grand Budapest Hotel"

Cinematography: "Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance)"

Animated Feature: "How to Train Your Dragon 2" (although we all know it's really "The Lego Movie." Still irked at the AMPAS for this one)

And so -- we move to the big dogs:

Supporting Actress: Patricia Arquette, "Boyhood"

I'll be the first to admit, "Boyhood" was not my favorite movie of the bunch. It was a very interesting execution of an idea, although the plot was a little flat for me -- or, is the boring nature of the plot meant to convey everyday life? Who knows. What I do know is that Arquette gave a great performance of an underachieving, if often well-intentioned mother of some incredibly ungrateful kiddos. Pretty easy pick.

Supporting Actor: J.K. Simmons, "Whiplash"

"Whiplash," followed oh so closely by "The Imitation Game," was my favorite movie of the Best Picture crowd. Simmons, better known as J. Jonah Jameson in "Spider-Man" or "the dude from the Farmers Insurance commercials," gives a fantastic performance as the sadistic professor Terence Fletcher. The execution of such an exacting role is great. And just when you get a little bit of sympathy for ol' Fletcher ... well ... I won't spoil it. Again, easy pick.

Leading Actress: Julianne Moore, "Still Alice"

Admittedly, I've not seen "Still Alice." However, from what I have seen from the trailers and research on the movies (and the momentum of other awards shows), it seems like this is a pretty safe pick. Also, I mean, she plays a woman with early onset Alzheimer's. We know this is the kind of stuff the AMPAS leans toward. Part of me wants Felicity Jones to win, but, I just don't think it'll happen.

Leading Actor: ....

Leading Actor: ....

Okay, okay, Leading Actor: Eddie Redmayne, "The Theory of Everything"

First off, let's get one thing out of the way. David Oyelowo was not snubbed, y'all. He was good in "Selma," but these other performances were great. Hence, my trouble picking a winner out of the bunch. I can honestly say that any of the five are capable of winning, and, really, all deserve the Oscar (because, really, they're all that good). But, we have to pick a winner. I've been on the Redmayne bandwagon for a while. His performance humanizes Steven Hawking by capturing him in early life, showing he was a young man full of vim and vigor, only to be twisted down by ALS. His performance is reminiscent of "My Left Foot," and isn't to be missed. Also, let's be honest, as with Julianne Moore, the "afflicted person" corollary applies here. There it is -- my pick. However, I will be neither disappointed nor surprised if I'm wrong here.

Director: Richard Linklater, "Boyhood"

"Hi, I took 12 years to film a movie, and made it work." I mean, really. I think that this will be "Boyhood's" shining moment, and, well, it will be an award that rewards the process. Even though I wasn't as high on "Boyhood" as everyone else, I think it's pretty amazing that he pulled it off. 

And now, the Oscar for Best Picture will go to .... (drumroll) ....

"Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance)"

"Birdman" was a really interesting, entertaining, frenetic film.  It looks at an actor that is trying to do something different with himself after being typecast in a superhero role. The movie is driven by Michael Keaton, who you might remember played "Batman." I have conflicted feelings about this pick, as, stated before, I had some personal favorites that are stacked up against "Birdman." If you had asked me at the beginning of award season, I would've said "Boyhood" is a lock, given the whole "rewarding the process" thing, but, "Birdman's" momentum is going to be hard to stop. I don't know that it will be beloved like some Best Pictures of the past, but, it will be a worthy addition to the fraternity. 

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I've started down the road to doing something new this spring -- coaching flag football.

To that end, I had to do an interview today with the director of the league I'd be coaching in.

When it came down to answering questions about some situations, especially as it relates to lessons beyond just winning and losing (this is a sports-ministry through a church, so, obviously, character and those type things are of bigger importance), my mind kept going back to one person:

I'd love nothing more than to go visit Coach Farnham at Blue Ridge, or wherever he might be coaching (although, given his success at BR, I can't imagine he'd be anywhere else) to get some tips on how I might be a success at this gig.

But, well, I can't. And that sucks. Because cancer sucks.

But I can remember that while we didn't win a ton of games, Coach Farnham did care about each and every one of us. He definitely knew that there was more to life than winning football games. It's funny that I remember him for his character and commitment to God versus any sort of X and O thing.

If this coaching thing comes to pass, I hope I can be that same type of coach -- win or lose.

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Chelsea! Chelsea! Chelsea!

Some real talk here -- anyone who upholds Europe as a uptopia of day-to-day progressivism, well ... um, any response to this? 

Also, can you imagine the hotness of the TAEKS if we changed "Chelsea" to say, I dunno, "Ole Miss" or "Alabama" or really, "any school in the SEC"?

Mercy me.