Team Modern splits final week of Lombard Cup with Team Classic to save face...

Denzel is grateful for a victory to give Team Modern a rare win and point

Finally, Team Modern had something to smile about after a good showing during the final week of The Lombard Cup. They split the six matches with three victories and finished with 4 and a 1/2 points. It allowed them to save face a little but Team Classic still dominated the proceedings by winning the Lombard Cup 16 and a 1/2 points to 4 and a half. Paul Newman throttled Michael Douglas 25-8. James Stewart beat Jack Nicholson 27-7. Charlie Chaplin rallied to defeat Morgan Freeman 17-13 to secure three wins for Team Classic. For Team Modern, their wins were Tom Hanks over Errol Flynn 17-16 in a back and forth match. Denzel Washington withstood a late charge by Marlon Brando to win 18-14 and Robert Duvall edged out Montgomery Clift 16-15. This was by far the most exciting and competitive week of the month long Lombard Cup. But it does shed light on the fact that the modern era actors can't run with the classic era actors. So for next year's edition I will tweak the format a little, like say the silent era actors competing against the 30's era, or 40's era against the 50's era. But it will be the women's turn then so we shall see. I want to thank everyone who came by to cast their votes and hope you guys enjoyed it. And don't forget my favorite screwball tourney begins next month. No rest for the classic film fan here by george!

PAUL NEWMAN 25 MICHAEL DOUGLAS 8
TOM HANKS 17 ERROL FLYNN 16
JAMES STEWART 27 JACK NICHOLSON 7
CHARLIE CHAPLIN 17 MORGAN FREEMAN 13
DENZEL WASHINGTON 18 MARLON BRANDO 14
ROBERT DUVALL 16 MONTGOMERY CLIFT 15

Here's Carole to present the Lombard Cup to

Team Classic! Well done guys..well done!

Lombard Cup Final Matches

This week of the final six matches is really just perfunctory as Team Classic has already wrapped up the cup with a thorough beat down of Team Modern. But it will be interesting to see if Team Modern can snag a few more victories this final week. They have only won one match..that was when Harrison Ford edged out James Cagney in the first week of Lombard Cup play. And Team Modern do have a few heavyweights left so it should be interesting. The matches begin today and will run through Wednesday night. Thanks to all those who voted and hope you guys return next month for my screwball tourney. Here are the matches:

MATCH 16:
PAUL NEWMAN vs MICHAEL DOUGLAS
The much loved Paul Newman takes on Kirk's eldest son, Michael in a match that
Paul will probably win. Although Michael Douglas is one of my favorite modern
actors.

MATCH 17: 
ERROL FLYNN vs TOM HANKS
Swashbuckling Flynn vs everyman Hanks. I know Flynn has quite the fan base here
in classic blog land but Hanks is also much loved too. This one could  go either way.

MATCH 18:
JAMES STEWART vs JACK NICHOLSON
Awww shucks Jimmy takes on mad dog Jack. Man, this should be a really good match.
I would not be surprised if this ends up a tie.

MATCH 19:
CHARLIE CHAPLIN vs MORGAN FREEMAN
The legendary Chaplin will probably defeat Morgan Freeman but I don't blink it
will be a blow-out.

MATCH 20:
MARLON BRANDO vs DENZEL WASHINGTON
If there is one match where I think Team Modern could get a victory, it has to be this
one. No disrespect to Brando but I think Denzel can win this. But we'll see.

MATCH 21:
MONTGOMERY CLIFT vs ROBERT DUVALL
And finally Monty battles Robert in the anchor match which should be another interesting
one. I'm going with Duvall in this one.

So those are the matches and my thoughts on them as well. I want to thank everyone
for making this a great success. And The Lombard Cup will return next year with the
ladies.

Happy Birthday Denzel Washington (1954 - present)

Happy Birthday to my favorite modern actor, Denzel Washington. He has performed in some of the best films of the modern cinema including Remember The Titans (2000) which is my favorite Denzel movie, Crimson Tide (1995), Glory (1989-Oscar), A Soldier's Story (1984), Courage Under Fire (1996), Man On Fire (2004), Training Day (2001-Oscar), The Hurricane (1999) and many more. Not to mention his TV days on the hospital drama St. Elsewhere during the 80's.