Got home around 10:00 last night and stumbled upon the Fox Movie Channel, which I never watch. So what are they showing? Unbelievably, "French Connection" and "French Connection II", back-to-back!!! Are you kidding me? One of the best movies ever with easily one of the top five sequels ever made. Gene Hackman as Popeye Doyle...no one else could play the part. The first is a masterpiece in filmmaking. I'm talking handheld shots, documentary look and feel, long stretches with no dialogue. In other words, it would not be made today. And, Popeye in the second one, going through withdrawal, talking about, who else, Mickey Mantle? He's talking to the French inspector, who has no clue what he means, and says, "I had a tryout with the Yankees. They had a fast shortstop. He was fuckin' fast. His name was Mantle. Mickey Mantle. Have you heard of him? The next day I signed up for the police test."

Meal of Links

How did this get by me? Thea Andrews returns to TV on "ESPN Hollywood". OK, she's teamed up with Mario Lopez (ugh) and this show has failure written all over it. One year and out. Tops.

Have you seen the Eagles Cheerleader calendar yet? In my best Roy Orbison: "Mercy."

Bill Frist joins the good guys and supports stem cell research. Hopefully, not just another Republican co-opting a Democratic issue.

Exercise Yard

ESPN takes a look at 40 current players who should make the Hall of Fame. Always a good topic for argumentative types. Hard to call Prior, Oswalt, Cabrera and Pujols because of their age. Iffy choices: Smoltz, Kent, Trevor Hoffman, Vizquel (the Ozzie Newsome of MLB) and some others.

Visitor

35 Across: "Mission: Impossible II" director (7 letters) Answer: John Woo