Hey there! Let's keep it real. I went to see the Damnwells last night in SF. I got to bed around 2am (and change) and I have a show today in Danville at 6pm (and there's this pesky business of work in the middle of all of that!) I'm hoping to sneak in a post on my old blog about the show. Needless to say, the show was fucking awesome.
I'm tired, but on one of those natural highs that you can get when seeing an inspiring show. See you all Monday and thanks for reading this blog from time to time. Rock on!
Friday, July 29, 2011
Thursday, July 28, 2011
Thursday Hodge Podge
I'm not sure I have anything all that interesting to talk about today. I'm going to see the Damnwells tonight in San Francisco, so that will no doubt be fun. Other than that, I'm just keeping tabs on NFL player movement. My wish of Sidney Rice on the Bears has been dashed by his signing with the Seattle Seahawks. That's cool- I'm sure he and Tavaris Jackson will continue their same offensive dominance on the West Coast. Great choice, deek.
And what's this? The Cubs are trading Fukudome to the Indians? Finally, they are able to unload one player. Unfortunate that they still have to pay $3.9 million of his remaining salary. Yikes. The Cubs are as good at business as their team is at baseball. Hopefully they get some decent prospects in return. Hopefully...
Carlos Beltran landed with the Giants before the trade deadline. One can't help but think that the Giants would be poised for a repeat if they also had Buster Posey. Instead, they have catchers that drop infield pop-ups and bat .180. I suppose you could also argue that the Giants may not have made the trade for Beltran had Posey still been healthy. I guess we'll never know. It is a good pick up for them and could really help them in the playoffs. Getting in is a certainty at this point as I don't think any other NL West team has the juice to compete with the Giants.
Albert Haynesworth to the Patriots!? Wha-what?! C'mon Hoodie! You are getting awfully cocky with your "I can make any player into a team-player" attitude. It is amazing that getting rid of such a good player will help the Redskins, and I'm not certain his acquisition will help New England in the long run. Once again, we'll find out. Damn, the NFL will be interesting this year!
Like I mentioned, I don't have much on to talk about today. I'm waiting for Haynesworth to cleat Tom Brady in the face during a Pats practice... then I'll have a lot to talk about.
 |
| Sidney Rice will look good in a Seahawks uniform. |
Carlos Beltran landed with the Giants before the trade deadline. One can't help but think that the Giants would be poised for a repeat if they also had Buster Posey. Instead, they have catchers that drop infield pop-ups and bat .180. I suppose you could also argue that the Giants may not have made the trade for Beltran had Posey still been healthy. I guess we'll never know. It is a good pick up for them and could really help them in the playoffs. Getting in is a certainty at this point as I don't think any other NL West team has the juice to compete with the Giants.
 |
| Where was this move in May?! |
Like I mentioned, I don't have much on to talk about today. I'm waiting for Haynesworth to cleat Tom Brady in the face during a Pats practice... then I'll have a lot to talk about.
Wednesday, July 27, 2011
90s Rock: Miscellaneous
We all know there are plenty of bands from the 90s that may deserve a mention, but probably do not deserve an entire post written about them. The Toadies are one such band (even though I did write a post about them awhile back on my other, less anonymous blog.) So here are some solid tunes from the bands that did not make it to the upper echelon of 90s bands that I enjoy (Nirvana, STP, Pearl Jam, Oasis, AIC, Smashing Pumpkins, etc.)
Tonic - "Casual Affair"
Tonic comes close to getting their own post, and I'm not saying I'll never flesh out their catalog a bit further, but this song deserves extra special mention because it fucking RAWKS! Seriously. The intro is a dirty blues-based hammer and pull on the E string riff that I never get sick of. If you don't like this, you don't like 90s rock!
Dishwalla - "Counting Blue Cars"
I think most people recognize and enjoy this song. Minor key verse with a soaring chorus. Standard songwriting that will get the job done a majority of the time. I very much enjoy the rest of the "Pet Your Friends" record, but this is the song that really put Dishwalla on the map.
Verve Pipe - "Photograph"
I know everyone knows them from the remixed version of "The Freshman" that wasn't even on the original "Villians" album, but how great is this song?! It was the first single off "Villians" and the organ and bass really shine on this track to create quite the catchy tune. (Apparently not that popular as this was one of the most difficult times I've had finding a decent version of the song on YouTube.)
K's Choice - "Not An Addict"
Just because I jam with the drummer that originally recorded this song, does not make me bias!!! I actually saw them open for Tonic and Verve Pipe in Chicago at the Vic when I was in high school. I bought the CD shortly after and it's quite good. I don't always enjoy women singers, but when I do, I prefer K's Choice.
Lit - "Miserable"
And because you deserve a video featuring Pam Anderson from the 90s, here is Lit's "Miserable." That's a huge bitch! I always preferred this song over "My Own Worst Enemy," but both are pretty good songs to rock out to.
That's it for me today. I hope you enjoyed these great songs from moderately popular 90s bands.
Tonic - "Casual Affair"
Tonic comes close to getting their own post, and I'm not saying I'll never flesh out their catalog a bit further, but this song deserves extra special mention because it fucking RAWKS! Seriously. The intro is a dirty blues-based hammer and pull on the E string riff that I never get sick of. If you don't like this, you don't like 90s rock!
Dishwalla - "Counting Blue Cars"
I think most people recognize and enjoy this song. Minor key verse with a soaring chorus. Standard songwriting that will get the job done a majority of the time. I very much enjoy the rest of the "Pet Your Friends" record, but this is the song that really put Dishwalla on the map.
Verve Pipe - "Photograph"
I know everyone knows them from the remixed version of "The Freshman" that wasn't even on the original "Villians" album, but how great is this song?! It was the first single off "Villians" and the organ and bass really shine on this track to create quite the catchy tune. (Apparently not that popular as this was one of the most difficult times I've had finding a decent version of the song on YouTube.)
K's Choice - "Not An Addict"
Just because I jam with the drummer that originally recorded this song, does not make me bias!!! I actually saw them open for Tonic and Verve Pipe in Chicago at the Vic when I was in high school. I bought the CD shortly after and it's quite good. I don't always enjoy women singers, but when I do, I prefer K's Choice.
Lit - "Miserable"
And because you deserve a video featuring Pam Anderson from the 90s, here is Lit's "Miserable." That's a huge bitch! I always preferred this song over "My Own Worst Enemy," but both are pretty good songs to rock out to.
That's it for me today. I hope you enjoyed these great songs from moderately popular 90s bands.
Tuesday, July 26, 2011
NFL Is Back... It's Back!
The most dominant professional sports league in the US (possibly the world?- someone do some research and get back to me!) is back in business. I've tried my very best to tune out football news these last few months because most of it revolved around the Lockout, which is dumb. Like I give a flying fuck about the owners and players participating in a game of wits involving a CBA and iocaine powder.
So now that the off-field nonsense is over, we can get back down to real business. What in holy hell are the Bears going to do to get back to the playoffs?! I know the Packers were a better team last year, but when your team gets to the NFC Championship game, you tend to get a little greedy... well, at least I do!
Here are some smart moves the Bears can start with:
Offensive Line - I don't care who the actual names are, just get Jay Cutler some help. Call him a pussy, he was certainly tough enough to last most of the season behind an offensive line that were less like a wall and more like a group of matadors.
Obviously, this has to be fixed immediately. I can't help but think this would not only help Jay Cutler become a more effective QB, but it would also help Matt Forte immensely. Forte is a dynamic back that has yet to put two great seasons together back-to-back. He could do it this year if the O-Line is improved.
Do not sleep on the Defense:
Just because the Bears' D was good last year, does not mean they will automatically be good this year. Of course, Brian Urlacher, Lance Briggs, and Julius Peppers are back, but the Bears have quite a few unrestricted free agents that need to be re-signed or replaced. I'm also interested to see Stephen Paea debut with the Bears. He set the World Record of benching 225 lbs. 49 times at the combine and while this means nothing on the actual football field, it's still impressive and means he can probably move around some opponents' Offensive Linemen. I'm not sure of the exact moves that need to be made, but the Bears must continue to back up their reputation as a hard-nosed Defensive team.
Wide Receivers, pretty please:
My pick for the Bears is Sidney Rice. The Vikings stole Bernard Berrian away from the Bears a few years ago and it's about time we return the favor by stealing one of theirs. Rice is a big, strong receiver that can help Cutler by wrestling away potential INTs from opposing Defensive Backs or just reaching balls that smaller receivers could not. If not Rice, then it would make sense to explore Plaxico Burris (maybe not a possibility for the Bears) or Santanio Holmes (also, probably a long shot.) Do NOT get enticed by Randy Moss or T.O. They are past their prime and will NOT mesh well with Cutler. That scenario would go about as well as a dinner party where Larry David is invited.
Apparently the Bears have also gotten rid of Brad Maynard. This is a horrible decision and I'd like to be the first Bear fan to say that this move will come back to them at some point during the season. The Bears have been spoiled by Brad Maynard's magnificent punting- especially with to the Bears' ability to go three-and-out so often. Find another good punter ASAP, fellas.
That's really it. I'm still grasping all the moves that need to be made, but that should give a solid base for what the Bears need. How about your team? If you're a Niner fan, you may need the team to go 1-15 in order to ensure acquiring Andrew Luck. What say you?
I'm just excited that NFL is back.
 |
| "Inconceivable!" |
Here are some smart moves the Bears can start with:
Offensive Line - I don't care who the actual names are, just get Jay Cutler some help. Call him a pussy, he was certainly tough enough to last most of the season behind an offensive line that were less like a wall and more like a group of matadors.
 |
| B.J. Raji pictured getting through the Bears' O-Line. |
Do not sleep on the Defense:
Just because the Bears' D was good last year, does not mean they will automatically be good this year. Of course, Brian Urlacher, Lance Briggs, and Julius Peppers are back, but the Bears have quite a few unrestricted free agents that need to be re-signed or replaced. I'm also interested to see Stephen Paea debut with the Bears. He set the World Record of benching 225 lbs. 49 times at the combine and while this means nothing on the actual football field, it's still impressive and means he can probably move around some opponents' Offensive Linemen. I'm not sure of the exact moves that need to be made, but the Bears must continue to back up their reputation as a hard-nosed Defensive team.
Wide Receivers, pretty please:
My pick for the Bears is Sidney Rice. The Vikings stole Bernard Berrian away from the Bears a few years ago and it's about time we return the favor by stealing one of theirs. Rice is a big, strong receiver that can help Cutler by wrestling away potential INTs from opposing Defensive Backs or just reaching balls that smaller receivers could not. If not Rice, then it would make sense to explore Plaxico Burris (maybe not a possibility for the Bears) or Santanio Holmes (also, probably a long shot.) Do NOT get enticed by Randy Moss or T.O. They are past their prime and will NOT mesh well with Cutler. That scenario would go about as well as a dinner party where Larry David is invited.
 |
| Even Larry David knows Moss or T.O. would be train wrecks. |
That's really it. I'm still grasping all the moves that need to be made, but that should give a solid base for what the Bears need. How about your team? If you're a Niner fan, you may need the team to go 1-15 in order to ensure acquiring Andrew Luck. What say you?
I'm just excited that NFL is back.
Monday, July 25, 2011
Football Is Back... Almost
Hilariously, I unleash the most hatred on my beloved Chicago Cubs last Thursday and they manage to scrape together their first 3-game win steak of the season over the weekend. They still aren't good. Trying winning 20 in a row and maybe they'll make "Moneyball 2: The Jim Hendry Story." That would be about as good as the movie that Vince pitched the his buddies on the premier episode of "Entourage" last night. What a terrible episode, right? If I wanted to see dysfunctional relationships with no drinking or partying, I'd watch home videos of my parents circa 2002. Things better pick up, HBO. But I digress...
I had a few shows this weekend, but those occurred with little or no incident. There was some Mexican with a long braided ponytail that told me to "play cooler songs" but since I wanted him to "have a cooler haircut" I didn't end up paying much attention to him. Instead, let's briefly mention a few stories from the sporting world that I'm less than educated on, but still want to rant anyway.
Ohio State looks like they may get off with little or no NCAA sanctions. I rarely bring up the Buckeyes because the subject of College Football is simply out of my wheelhouse. There are probably intricacies from both stories, but as a casual observer, I have a hard time figuring out how USC got raked over the coals while OSU escapes with what amounts to be a ruler slap on the wrist by a Catholic school nun.
USC got in trouble and Pete Carroll resigned. OSU got in trouble and Jim Tressel resigned. Call it a push.
USC's majority of rule breaking came through Reggie Bush. To my understanding, OSU's rule breaking was mostly due to Terrell Pryor, but also due to multiple issues with other players getting improper tattoo and car benefits. If nothing else, Pryor left school and now may not be eligible for the NFL's supplemental draft. This seems like a poor chance to take and that if there was less wrong-doing, Pryor would have elected to stay at OSU. Reggie Bush was on the way out to the NFL because he was the best damn player in College Football. Pryor left because he broke too many rules to allow further investigation. Seems like OSU could be more in the wrong there.
I know there are probably hundreds or thousands of pages of documents that I'm not willing to read to fully understand both cases. Why? Because I honestly am not invested in College Football at all. I have no loyalty to any major College Football program. If there is a dirty program out there who wants to pay me to become a fan, I would definitely listen. I now only use College Football as a time passing distraction on Saturdays to get to NFL Sundays. Speaking of which...
It looks like the NFL Lockout is over. I give the Lockout an D- because it dominated ESPN and other sports media outlets needlessly. Last Thursday was the final straw for me. When the owners tried to pull a fast one and get everyone on board with their agreement and turn fans against the players for not approving it immediately. Guess what? Fans are not on either side. They are on the side of getting a deal done.
The only reason I give the Lockout as a whole a D- and not an F, was because it also kept Brett Favre's name out of the news. Of course, now that the Lockout is almost over, rumors have surfaced of Favre returning to football and playing for the Eagles. Awesome. The Bears play the Eagles this year, so maybe we can get Corey Wootton vs. Favre Round 2.
Someone almost needs to order a hit on Favre to make sure he doesn't resurface. What are the actors from "The Sopranos" doing? They don't seem all that busy these days. Maybe they could help and give themselves some street cred at the same time.
I'm anxious to get on with the NFL season. I'm slightly disappointed that the Hall Of Fame Game was canceled because this was the one year that the Bears were actually involved, but it probably doesn't matter. One series by the starters and a virtual two hand touch game afterwards is not a huge loss.
There's my football rant for the weekend. It's too bad that there can't be a College Football Lockout. I might enjoy that much more than an NFL Lockout. It would probably just consist of players from USC, OSU, and the SEC holding out for more merchandise to sell off in their free time.
I had a few shows this weekend, but those occurred with little or no incident. There was some Mexican with a long braided ponytail that told me to "play cooler songs" but since I wanted him to "have a cooler haircut" I didn't end up paying much attention to him. Instead, let's briefly mention a few stories from the sporting world that I'm less than educated on, but still want to rant anyway.
Ohio State looks like they may get off with little or no NCAA sanctions. I rarely bring up the Buckeyes because the subject of College Football is simply out of my wheelhouse. There are probably intricacies from both stories, but as a casual observer, I have a hard time figuring out how USC got raked over the coals while OSU escapes with what amounts to be a ruler slap on the wrist by a Catholic school nun.
USC got in trouble and Pete Carroll resigned. OSU got in trouble and Jim Tressel resigned. Call it a push.
 |
| Thanks to cheating and bad reffing, JT's tenure was not a complete waste. |
I know there are probably hundreds or thousands of pages of documents that I'm not willing to read to fully understand both cases. Why? Because I honestly am not invested in College Football at all. I have no loyalty to any major College Football program. If there is a dirty program out there who wants to pay me to become a fan, I would definitely listen. I now only use College Football as a time passing distraction on Saturdays to get to NFL Sundays. Speaking of which...
It looks like the NFL Lockout is over. I give the Lockout an D- because it dominated ESPN and other sports media outlets needlessly. Last Thursday was the final straw for me. When the owners tried to pull a fast one and get everyone on board with their agreement and turn fans against the players for not approving it immediately. Guess what? Fans are not on either side. They are on the side of getting a deal done.
The only reason I give the Lockout as a whole a D- and not an F, was because it also kept Brett Favre's name out of the news. Of course, now that the Lockout is almost over, rumors have surfaced of Favre returning to football and playing for the Eagles. Awesome. The Bears play the Eagles this year, so maybe we can get Corey Wootton vs. Favre Round 2.
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| Yes, please. |
I'm anxious to get on with the NFL season. I'm slightly disappointed that the Hall Of Fame Game was canceled because this was the one year that the Bears were actually involved, but it probably doesn't matter. One series by the starters and a virtual two hand touch game afterwards is not a huge loss.
There's my football rant for the weekend. It's too bad that there can't be a College Football Lockout. I might enjoy that much more than an NFL Lockout. It would probably just consist of players from USC, OSU, and the SEC holding out for more merchandise to sell off in their free time.
Friday, July 22, 2011
Fantasy Baseball Friday
Another week passes, another trade has been made. I announced to the league that I'm in full "fire sale" mode at 5-10 (I won last week during the short week with a 16th inning save by Jon Papelbon.) My goal is to improve my keepers as much as possible, which means everyone is expendable besides my top 5 guys (we get 6 keepers, so I'd obviously be willing to trade players 6 and 7 for a higher quality keeper.) This is the best aspect of being in a keeper fantasy baseball league because certain moves actually play out in a manner reminiscent of MLB trades. Consider me the Astros (it would be the Cubs because none of my players have no trade clauses.)
So I mentioned a trade, didn't I? Ok, here's what I gave up:
Jon Papelbon and Anibal Sanchez
FOR
Big Game James Shields!
I agree this is not a great trade if my goal was to continue competing for a playoff spot. However, my goal is not to compete but to improve my keepers. Currently, my certain keepers are now: Jered Weaver, James Shields, Jose Reyes, Joe Mauer, and Chase Utley. My final decision leaves me with Paul Konerko or Daniel Hudson (who I'm liking more and more each week.) I also have Jose Valverde, but I've decided it is dumb to keep relief pitchers unless you have one of the top 2 or 3 relievers. This made Papelbon expendable AND how great is it that I no longer have to have his dumb face on my team?! What an ass clown.
James Shields, on the other hand, is almost 30, in the prime of his career, leads the majors in complete games, and has a savage ERA in the AL East. Quite impressive. I'm excited about acquiring such a quality pitcher and I've seen it is possible that he gets traded to another team. I could imagine this guy in the NL. He would crush bitches. I will also say that the best man from my wedding can expect texts saying "Big Game James!" about every 5 to 6 days. Enjoy buddy!
So what do you think? Is this a good strategy? Am I making the proper moves? Keep in mind I've acquired two of the top 5 pitchers (Weaver and Shields) in the past month or so AND the top offensive player this year (Reyes.) I feel like Billy Beane when he knew what he was doing and getting extremely lucky. Side note: Why the fuck didn't Art Howe pinch run Eric Byrnes for Jeremy Giambi against the Yankees in the ALCS?!
I bet Phillip Seymour Hoffman could manage the A's better! Best Man (from the previous paragraph) believes that "Moneyball" looks like a Lifetime movie. LOL!
If nothing else, these trades have distracted me from the awfulness that is my team. Have a fun weekend, assholes- see you on Monday.
So I mentioned a trade, didn't I? Ok, here's what I gave up:
Jon Papelbon and Anibal Sanchez
FOR
Big Game James Shields!
 |
| "James Shields is pitching because he's a Jewish person." -- Crazy lady on Tampa talk radio, 2010 |
 |
| GOOD RIDDANCE. |
So what do you think? Is this a good strategy? Am I making the proper moves? Keep in mind I've acquired two of the top 5 pitchers (Weaver and Shields) in the past month or so AND the top offensive player this year (Reyes.) I feel like Billy Beane when he knew what he was doing and getting extremely lucky. Side note: Why the fuck didn't Art Howe pinch run Eric Byrnes for Jeremy Giambi against the Yankees in the ALCS?!
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| Byrnes beats this throw by literally 90 feet. Giambi would've beat it if he slid. |
If nothing else, these trades have distracted me from the awfulness that is my team. Have a fun weekend, assholes- see you on Monday.
Thursday, July 21, 2011
Duh Cubs!
I'm not in a good mood today. This will not be pretty. My team has finally broken me. Like a scorned lover that's been cheated on over and over and over and over again, I am DONE with the Cubs this year. This process has been building steadily since the beginning of the year, but yesterday it hit me like Chris Brown. I hate pretty much every player on the Cubs. Seriously. Not one of these guys owns a warm place in my heart. Starlin Castro might be the closest. While under no circumstances should the Cubs trade him, he hasn't won me over because he's a work in progress (remember when he made an error in the 9th inning of the All-Star game and almost let the AL back in the game? Yeah? He does that ALL the time as a member of the Cubs.)
I know I've had rants like this in the past, but this is on another level. I can't remember being as depressed about my baseball team as I am today. I remember in 2002, the Cubs were awful, but I watched regularly to see a young Mark Prior and/or Kerry Wood pitch. The team was awful, but exciting. One could tell that they were building towards something. Sure enough, they found themselves in the NLCS the following year in what was the most interesting Cubs season of my entire life (sad, isn't it?) This year, I am mildly excited about Starlin Castro (and Darwin Barney to a much lesser extent) but there is no evidence indicating to me that Castro's defensive woes will ever go away. Hitting .300 is sweet, but playing good/great defense is necessary as well at the Shortstop position.
Once, again, allow me to cleanse my soul and likely repeat myself by calling out individuals on the Cubs.
Mike Quade - Just awful. Just thinking about his stupid, dumb head makes me want to throw my computer across the room. It is my belief that Quade succeeded last year because the Cubs needed a friendlier manager after Lou Pinella retired. Pinella's stress must have boiled over into the locker room and everyone was playing tight. Quade helped alleviate the tightness last year and the players played better. Playing loose is much easier when nothing is on the line. Quade consistently demonstrates why he was stuck in the minors as a coach for years and years and years... he's just not that smart.
I hate Tony LaRussa, but the dude is smart. Even Dusty Baker looks like a genius in comparison. I have no faith in Quade's decision making or his rationale afterwards. He's also a sucker for veterans while he uses the young'uns as scapegoats. At this point, Quade needs to stop sucking the veterans cocks and bench anyone who says they will refuse a trade. Speaking of which...
Aramis Ramirez - Hey look everyone! Aramis is playing the best he's played since 2008! One would think he would want to help a contender and the Cubs could cash in on the value. Oh wait- they can't because Ramirez has stated he will veto any trade. Awesome. I understand that he's "earned that right" and that it would be "too hard to move his family." But guess what? You are a MILLIONAIRE. A MULTI-MILLIONAIRE. It's hard to move a family when you make $30,000 a year and have 4 kids that you can't afford. It's easy to find comfort for your family when you have tens of millions of dollars.
The easy solution? Don't move them. You're a baseball player. You go on road trips- you can't be with your family most of the season anyway. When October rolls around and you become a free agent, you will likely have to move. Go attempt to help a contender in the meantime. You'll find little sympathy from fans who wish they were good enough to play a game for their job. Instead, we get to put cover letters on TPS reports and get called in on Saturday to work. Stop being a crybaby bitch, Error-Mis!
Jim Hendry - Why on Earth are all these veterans actively stating they won't accept a trade (we could start with why do all of these veterans have no-trade clauses, but I'm sure we've talked about that in the past)? Has the Cubs organization become so soft that no one wants to leave? They protect players from the criticism of rabid and irrational fans and Chicago media. They only criticize the younger players in the organization when there is plenty of blame to be shouldered by the overpaid veterans. It starts at the top and I'm hoping for a "Game Of Thrones" resolution to the Cubs' GM problem ASAP. Ok, maybe that was harsh- Hendry doesn't need to get his head cut off, but is castration an out of line request?
Ryan Dempster - It's the goofy, fun guy of the clubhouse! He's the guy who stuck up for Mike Quade during the hiring process. He's now also the guy who recently cussed out his manager in the dugout for cameras to see. Are you frustrated, Ryan? You should be. You asked for this manager to be hired and you got it. At least I'm a fan and know I had nothing to do with the non-hiring of Cubs' Hall of Famer, Triple-A Manager of the Year 2010, and my childhood idol, Ryne Sandberg. You, however, had everything to do with it. Suck it, Dumpster. Whatever frustration you endure this year, you deserve.
Carlos Marmol - Marmol might be the dirtiest pitcher in the game except for one thing- he has no control whatsoever. Somebody find this guy Rick "Wild Thing" Vaughn's prescription glass immediately.
It's a wonder he wasn't able to beat out Kerry Wood or Kevin Gregg a few years ago for the closer role. Lou Pinella recognized how little control Marmol possessed and likely did not have strong enough heart medication to deal with that day in and day out. I always figured Marmol was the closer of the present and future... no I'm depressingly unsure.
I'm actually getting worked up writing about this! My goal was to purge myself of the bad vibes the Cubs have thrust upon me like a rain cloud that follows me around all day, then I'd be done with it. Instead, this has left me more worked up than when I began. Even the Pirates are winning this year, while the Cubs flounder! How is that possible with the third highest payroll in baseball?!? Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh...
I will never be driven to adopt a new team, but my level of passion for this season needs to drop to zero. That is a depressing fact based around the current state of the Cubs. Ugh.
I know I've had rants like this in the past, but this is on another level. I can't remember being as depressed about my baseball team as I am today. I remember in 2002, the Cubs were awful, but I watched regularly to see a young Mark Prior and/or Kerry Wood pitch. The team was awful, but exciting. One could tell that they were building towards something. Sure enough, they found themselves in the NLCS the following year in what was the most interesting Cubs season of my entire life (sad, isn't it?) This year, I am mildly excited about Starlin Castro (and Darwin Barney to a much lesser extent) but there is no evidence indicating to me that Castro's defensive woes will ever go away. Hitting .300 is sweet, but playing good/great defense is necessary as well at the Shortstop position.
Once, again, allow me to cleanse my soul and likely repeat myself by calling out individuals on the Cubs.
Mike Quade - Just awful. Just thinking about his stupid, dumb head makes me want to throw my computer across the room. It is my belief that Quade succeeded last year because the Cubs needed a friendlier manager after Lou Pinella retired. Pinella's stress must have boiled over into the locker room and everyone was playing tight. Quade helped alleviate the tightness last year and the players played better. Playing loose is much easier when nothing is on the line. Quade consistently demonstrates why he was stuck in the minors as a coach for years and years and years... he's just not that smart.
 |
| Pictured: Mike Quade |
Aramis Ramirez - Hey look everyone! Aramis is playing the best he's played since 2008! One would think he would want to help a contender and the Cubs could cash in on the value. Oh wait- they can't because Ramirez has stated he will veto any trade. Awesome. I understand that he's "earned that right" and that it would be "too hard to move his family." But guess what? You are a MILLIONAIRE. A MULTI-MILLIONAIRE. It's hard to move a family when you make $30,000 a year and have 4 kids that you can't afford. It's easy to find comfort for your family when you have tens of millions of dollars.
 |
| Now here are some people who would have difficulty moving their families. |
Jim Hendry - Why on Earth are all these veterans actively stating they won't accept a trade (we could start with why do all of these veterans have no-trade clauses, but I'm sure we've talked about that in the past)? Has the Cubs organization become so soft that no one wants to leave? They protect players from the criticism of rabid and irrational fans and Chicago media. They only criticize the younger players in the organization when there is plenty of blame to be shouldered by the overpaid veterans. It starts at the top and I'm hoping for a "Game Of Thrones" resolution to the Cubs' GM problem ASAP. Ok, maybe that was harsh- Hendry doesn't need to get his head cut off, but is castration an out of line request?
 |
| Tom Ricketts pictured in the crown. Jim Hendry kneeling on the right. |
Carlos Marmol - Marmol might be the dirtiest pitcher in the game except for one thing- he has no control whatsoever. Somebody find this guy Rick "Wild Thing" Vaughn's prescription glass immediately.
 |
| Yeah, those would help. |
I'm actually getting worked up writing about this! My goal was to purge myself of the bad vibes the Cubs have thrust upon me like a rain cloud that follows me around all day, then I'd be done with it. Instead, this has left me more worked up than when I began. Even the Pirates are winning this year, while the Cubs flounder! How is that possible with the third highest payroll in baseball?!? Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh...
I will never be driven to adopt a new team, but my level of passion for this season needs to drop to zero. That is a depressing fact based around the current state of the Cubs. Ugh.
Wednesday, July 20, 2011
90's Rock: Third Eye Blind
I can't believe I haven't taken a look back at these guys before today! While they did not make my Top 10 list yesterday, I have always like Third Eye Blind quite a bit. This could stem from the time I met them after they opened for Oasis in San Francisco (this was before they were signed and a year before their debut album was released.) It could be simply because they have very accessible and catchy hooks to their brand of alternative rock. Either way, they are the subject of today's look back at the 90's.
"Losing A Whole Year" - There's really no where else to start. I love this song. It's a great opening song that perfectly introduces listeners to 3EB's first record. I'm not one for bands that rely a lot on streaming lyrics/pseudo-rapping, but these guys could be the exception (and O.A.R. to some extent.) Anyway, here's a live performance from the Fillmore in 2007:
"Semi-Charmed Life" - I don't always highlight bands' biggest singles, but this one gets a nod because my band in high school used to cover this tune, quite successfully I might add. Has a song about massive drug addiction and dirty sex acts ever sounded as happy as this? I think not:
"Thanks A Lot" - I've always been a sucker for this song. I remember identifying this as a favorite the very first time I saw them. When I mentioned that to their bass player, Arion Salazar, he took it as a huge compliment. He also then went on to promote his other band. I guess even he didn't realize how big Third Eye Blind was about to blow up.
"Motorcycle Drive By" - I have yet to find someone who dislikes this song. It could be their best. I'm not going to lie, for those of you who know my true identity and own my recent CD, track 7 was pretty heavily influenced by this song. When I wrote the tune, it didn't start out that way, but at some point I recognized the similarity and rode with it. I'll continue to enjoy "Motorcycle Drive By" for years to come.
"Wounded" - This use of harmonics and delay on this song is just fantastic. I remember picking this song as a favorite the day their second album, "Blue," was released. It remains one of their best.
"1000 Julys" - This is 3EB's attempt at being AC/DC. This song is obviously influenced by "Back In Black." Rip off or not, I still enjoy it. The song rocks and brings me right back to 1999.
"Slow Motion" (WITH LYRICS) - In one of the greatest puss moves by a record label in the 1990s, "Blue" was released with an instrumental version of this song because of the blood, gun, and drug references throughout the song. You see, the Columbine, CO incident had occurred within the same year and the label felt like this song could lead to another similar incident (I made that up, but seriously, slap a Parental Advisory sticker on the record and chill the fuck out.) Here's a fan made video that features the song as it should have been released.
"Forget Myself" - This is a bonus song. It was released in 2003 and I received this CD as a gift for my college graduation. I immediately loved this song. I imagine the lyrics are somewhat referencing Stephen Jenkins' relationship with actress Charlize Theron. It's worth a listen and I even found a full band acoustic version that I had never heard before. It's great:
For as long as they've been around, my biggest complaint is their lack of albums. It seems like Third Eye Blind takes a LONG ASS time to come out with a record, but when they do, I typically enjoy the results. Another great 90's band that really takes me back.
"Losing A Whole Year" - There's really no where else to start. I love this song. It's a great opening song that perfectly introduces listeners to 3EB's first record. I'm not one for bands that rely a lot on streaming lyrics/pseudo-rapping, but these guys could be the exception (and O.A.R. to some extent.) Anyway, here's a live performance from the Fillmore in 2007:
"Semi-Charmed Life" - I don't always highlight bands' biggest singles, but this one gets a nod because my band in high school used to cover this tune, quite successfully I might add. Has a song about massive drug addiction and dirty sex acts ever sounded as happy as this? I think not:
"Thanks A Lot" - I've always been a sucker for this song. I remember identifying this as a favorite the very first time I saw them. When I mentioned that to their bass player, Arion Salazar, he took it as a huge compliment. He also then went on to promote his other band. I guess even he didn't realize how big Third Eye Blind was about to blow up.
"Motorcycle Drive By" - I have yet to find someone who dislikes this song. It could be their best. I'm not going to lie, for those of you who know my true identity and own my recent CD, track 7 was pretty heavily influenced by this song. When I wrote the tune, it didn't start out that way, but at some point I recognized the similarity and rode with it. I'll continue to enjoy "Motorcycle Drive By" for years to come.
"Wounded" - This use of harmonics and delay on this song is just fantastic. I remember picking this song as a favorite the day their second album, "Blue," was released. It remains one of their best.
"1000 Julys" - This is 3EB's attempt at being AC/DC. This song is obviously influenced by "Back In Black." Rip off or not, I still enjoy it. The song rocks and brings me right back to 1999.
"Slow Motion" (WITH LYRICS) - In one of the greatest puss moves by a record label in the 1990s, "Blue" was released with an instrumental version of this song because of the blood, gun, and drug references throughout the song. You see, the Columbine, CO incident had occurred within the same year and the label felt like this song could lead to another similar incident (I made that up, but seriously, slap a Parental Advisory sticker on the record and chill the fuck out.) Here's a fan made video that features the song as it should have been released.
"Forget Myself" - This is a bonus song. It was released in 2003 and I received this CD as a gift for my college graduation. I immediately loved this song. I imagine the lyrics are somewhat referencing Stephen Jenkins' relationship with actress Charlize Theron. It's worth a listen and I even found a full band acoustic version that I had never heard before. It's great:
For as long as they've been around, my biggest complaint is their lack of albums. It seems like Third Eye Blind takes a LONG ASS time to come out with a record, but when they do, I typically enjoy the results. Another great 90's band that really takes me back.
Tuesday, July 19, 2011
My Top 10 Favorite Bands
This list is almost impossible to accurately materialize on paper. Bands come and go in similar fashion to College Football Teams on the various Top 25 rankings during the season. I am certain that my Top 10 Bands List has changed over the last year or two, so I figured it would be fun and informative (even to myself) to go through this exercise.
I know blogs are their most successful when they are open to debate, but it's hard to tell me that my own opinion of my favorite 10 bands is incorrect. Instead, bring your list to the comment section and then we can have a debate for interstellar domination.
Criteria - My criteria is simple- what bands do I continually listen to? What bands do I rarely, if ever, get sick of? I recently received an iPad for my birthday (savage!) and I put about 16 GB of music on the iPad out of the 82 GB that I have on my computer. What bands did I immediately place on the iPad without a second thought? These factors help indicate to myself what my favorite bands are. I'm highly aware that this is a very "in the moment" type list.
First, I'd like to give a shout out to Bright Eyes. Conor Oberst and crew once found themselves as high as #3 on this list and they will not make the Top 10 any longer. The songs are still good, but the recent Oberst solo albums and the newest Bright Eyes album has lost my interest quite a bit. Keep on rockin', but Ed Rapuano just pulled the trigger on strike three and you've been sent to the bench.
Honorable mention that missed the cut: The Beatles (I go through phases and they'll always be one of my favorites, but at the moment, I have not been spinning their tunes regularly), Nirvana, Smashing Pumpkins, Alice In Chains, and Guster.
#10 - The Killers
It's possible that no current band embodies the 1990s alternative rock sound more than The Killers. Brandon Flowers is an odd character, but the quality of their songwriting is hard to deny. If you're unfamiliar with them (trust me, you're not unfamiliar) start with "Hot Fuss" and rock track #1 "Jenny Was A Friend Of Mine." You'll immediately know exactly how great this band is.
Favorite Tracks: "I Can't Stay," "Bones," "When You Were Young," "All These Things I've Done," "Smile Like You Mean It."
#9 - Radiohead
Radiohead has fallen from their former spot in my Top 5 because of their recent album "King Of Limbs." I have yet to connect with that album as I have with all of their previous efforts. It is next to impossible for me to drop them from the Top 10 based on "The Bends" and "OK Computer" by themselves, and I enjoy the rest of their catalog a lot. They should watch themselves though. A guitar driven rock album next would garner much enjoyment from me and many other fans- the weather report on that possibility looks doubtful at best.
Favorite Tracks: "Just," "Airbag," "You," "Optimism," "There There," "Bodysnatchers."
#8 - Foo Fighters
Their new album is stellar. The new documentary I recently watched made me appreciate them even more. The ups and downs of the Foo Fighters have made them stronger and increased the quality of their music. I recently had a conversation debating (all moral issues aside) whether if you had the power to bring back Kurt Cobain and allow Nirvana to continue making music, would you sacrifice the entire Foo Fighters' catalog to do so (because Dave Grohl would have stayed with Nirvana had Kurt Cobain not committed suicide.) This obviously involves reincarnation and time travel, so it's impossible, but you get the idea. In the end, I came to the conclusion that I would not risk the Foo Fighters' catalog over the potential music that Nirvana could have released. That is a strong statement for how good I think the Foos are.
Favorite Tracks: "This Is A Call," "For All The Cows," "Hey, Johnny Park," Stacked Actors," The Pretender," "The Walk."
#7 - Oasis
Oasis has been broken up for awhile, and I think we can agree that their later albums aren't quite as good as their earlier products. However, "Definitely Maybe" and "(What's The Story) Morning Glory" will always remain as two of my favorite albums ever. Noel Gallagher is an amazing songwriter who has massively influenced me as a musician. Now if only they could stop bickering with each other and go back to telling Damon Albarn that they hope he would "catch AIDS and die," well- then maybe they'd start making great music again.
Favorite Tracks: "Slide Away," "Live Forever," "Don't Look Back In Anger," "Cast No Shadow," "Don't Go Away," "Talk Tonight."
#6 - Muse
Muse is another band that's dropped a few spots on my list recently, but they remain one of the best live acts touring these days. If you get a chance to see them, do it! You won't regret it. They are amazing. Mixing tons of MIDI tracks with their amazing musicianship is no small feat. Their overall sound mixes classical music with metal with pop with alternative. It creates quite the tasty stew. And does anyone ever get sick of the song "Uprising?" I think not.
Favorite Tracks: "Sunburn," "Stockholm Syndrome," "Hysteria," "Endlessly," "Starlight," "Knights of Cydonia," Uprising," "Plug In Baby," and so many more. These "favorite tracks" are impossible!
#5 - The Damnwells
This is a band on the rise for me, recently. The songwriting is just SO damn good. I made sure to grab their entire catalog immediately when I got the iPad and I never get sick of listening to them. I know they are a lesser know band, but I'm hoping they gain traction and make it bigger. In the meantime, I'm going to see them in San Francisco next Thursday at a small club and I'm pretty excited about it. I highly recommend checking them out- start with "Air Stereo" and go from there.
Favorite Tracks: "Soundtrack," "Werewolves," "Louisville," "Golden Days," "Electric Harmony," No One Listens To The Band Anymore."
#4 - Wilco
Still one of the best around, Wilco rocks. I went to see them for my birthday a couple years ago and they were as good as ever live. They are putting out a new album in September and I can't wait. The only thing about Wilco is that their music is not as easily accessible as other bands on this list. It takes work to actively listen to their music. Once you get it, though, it's totally worth the effort. Does this make Wilco fans pretentious assholes? Maybe. But count me among them.
Favorite Tracks: "Sunken Treasure," "She's A Jar," "Nothing'severgonnastandinmyway(again), "Heavy Metal Drummer," "Jesus, Etc.," Theologians," "Walken," "You Never Know," "You And I."
#3 - O.A.R.
This band has exploded up my personal enjoyment list. I agree there newer stuff is breaking away from their earlier roots a bit, but I enjoy almost all of it. In fact, their music typically can put me in a better mood. This is amazing from a band that is from Ohio State (which thinking about their dirty football program usually puts me in a worse mood.) I have yet to see them live, but I plan to as soon as they come out West.
Favorite Tracks: "One Shot," "Crazy Game Of Poker," "Heard The World," "Right On Time," This Town," "Something Coming Over," and their new single (the acoustic version) "Heaven."
#2 - Stone Temple Pilots
Yeah, this has everything to do with me seeing them a few weeks ago. However, it really was such a shot of nostalgia that I have been listening to their music a TON since the show. In fact, it's driven me to listen to "Shang-ri-la-dee-da" and their newest self titled record, which I was less familiar with previously. Guess what? Those albums are amazing as well! They may drop in the rankings later, but for now they have moved way up there. No one can ever take away the fact that "Purple" was the first CD I ever owned, and I am proud of that fact.
Favorite Tracks: "Dead & Bloated," "Piece Of Pie," "Meatplow," "Still Remains," "Army Ants," "Big Bang Baby," "Down," "Black Again," "Hello, It's Late," "Hickory Dichotomy."
#1 - Crowded House
The still reigning champ is Neil Finn's band Crowded House. I've seen them live a number of times and their live shows are fantastic. Great music and great banter. The songwriting is really what wins me over. And Neil's voice could probably make a wolverine purr. It would be hard for any band to usurp Crowded House as my #1 favorite band and I'll continue recommending them until people finally give in and listen to them!
Favorite tracks: "Mean To Me," "Mansion In The Slums," "Better Be Home Soon," "Fall At Your Feet," "Locked Out," "In My Command," "Distant Sun," "Don't Stop Now," "Twice If You're Lucky," "Elephants."
So there it is. My favorite bands at the moment. I'm sure it will change in the future, but who doesn't love opinionated power rankings? I mean, if every sports website can create power rankings for every sport, I suppose I can for music, right? Let's hear your list in the comments.
I know blogs are their most successful when they are open to debate, but it's hard to tell me that my own opinion of my favorite 10 bands is incorrect. Instead, bring your list to the comment section and then we can have a debate for interstellar domination.
 | ||
| "How dare you not recognize Bon Iver?!" |
First, I'd like to give a shout out to Bright Eyes. Conor Oberst and crew once found themselves as high as #3 on this list and they will not make the Top 10 any longer. The songs are still good, but the recent Oberst solo albums and the newest Bright Eyes album has lost my interest quite a bit. Keep on rockin', but Ed Rapuano just pulled the trigger on strike three and you've been sent to the bench.
Honorable mention that missed the cut: The Beatles (I go through phases and they'll always be one of my favorites, but at the moment, I have not been spinning their tunes regularly), Nirvana, Smashing Pumpkins, Alice In Chains, and Guster.
#10 - The Killers
It's possible that no current band embodies the 1990s alternative rock sound more than The Killers. Brandon Flowers is an odd character, but the quality of their songwriting is hard to deny. If you're unfamiliar with them (trust me, you're not unfamiliar) start with "Hot Fuss" and rock track #1 "Jenny Was A Friend Of Mine." You'll immediately know exactly how great this band is.
Favorite Tracks: "I Can't Stay," "Bones," "When You Were Young," "All These Things I've Done," "Smile Like You Mean It."
#9 - Radiohead
Radiohead has fallen from their former spot in my Top 5 because of their recent album "King Of Limbs." I have yet to connect with that album as I have with all of their previous efforts. It is next to impossible for me to drop them from the Top 10 based on "The Bends" and "OK Computer" by themselves, and I enjoy the rest of their catalog a lot. They should watch themselves though. A guitar driven rock album next would garner much enjoyment from me and many other fans- the weather report on that possibility looks doubtful at best.
Favorite Tracks: "Just," "Airbag," "You," "Optimism," "There There," "Bodysnatchers."
#8 - Foo Fighters
Their new album is stellar. The new documentary I recently watched made me appreciate them even more. The ups and downs of the Foo Fighters have made them stronger and increased the quality of their music. I recently had a conversation debating (all moral issues aside) whether if you had the power to bring back Kurt Cobain and allow Nirvana to continue making music, would you sacrifice the entire Foo Fighters' catalog to do so (because Dave Grohl would have stayed with Nirvana had Kurt Cobain not committed suicide.) This obviously involves reincarnation and time travel, so it's impossible, but you get the idea. In the end, I came to the conclusion that I would not risk the Foo Fighters' catalog over the potential music that Nirvana could have released. That is a strong statement for how good I think the Foos are.
Favorite Tracks: "This Is A Call," "For All The Cows," "Hey, Johnny Park," Stacked Actors," The Pretender," "The Walk."
#7 - Oasis
Oasis has been broken up for awhile, and I think we can agree that their later albums aren't quite as good as their earlier products. However, "Definitely Maybe" and "(What's The Story) Morning Glory" will always remain as two of my favorite albums ever. Noel Gallagher is an amazing songwriter who has massively influenced me as a musician. Now if only they could stop bickering with each other and go back to telling Damon Albarn that they hope he would "catch AIDS and die," well- then maybe they'd start making great music again.
Favorite Tracks: "Slide Away," "Live Forever," "Don't Look Back In Anger," "Cast No Shadow," "Don't Go Away," "Talk Tonight."
#6 - Muse
Muse is another band that's dropped a few spots on my list recently, but they remain one of the best live acts touring these days. If you get a chance to see them, do it! You won't regret it. They are amazing. Mixing tons of MIDI tracks with their amazing musicianship is no small feat. Their overall sound mixes classical music with metal with pop with alternative. It creates quite the tasty stew. And does anyone ever get sick of the song "Uprising?" I think not.
Favorite Tracks: "Sunburn," "Stockholm Syndrome," "Hysteria," "Endlessly," "Starlight," "Knights of Cydonia," Uprising," "Plug In Baby," and so many more. These "favorite tracks" are impossible!
 |
| Beethoven would be jealous of Muse- if he could hear. |
This is a band on the rise for me, recently. The songwriting is just SO damn good. I made sure to grab their entire catalog immediately when I got the iPad and I never get sick of listening to them. I know they are a lesser know band, but I'm hoping they gain traction and make it bigger. In the meantime, I'm going to see them in San Francisco next Thursday at a small club and I'm pretty excited about it. I highly recommend checking them out- start with "Air Stereo" and go from there.
Favorite Tracks: "Soundtrack," "Werewolves," "Louisville," "Golden Days," "Electric Harmony," No One Listens To The Band Anymore."
#4 - Wilco
Still one of the best around, Wilco rocks. I went to see them for my birthday a couple years ago and they were as good as ever live. They are putting out a new album in September and I can't wait. The only thing about Wilco is that their music is not as easily accessible as other bands on this list. It takes work to actively listen to their music. Once you get it, though, it's totally worth the effort. Does this make Wilco fans pretentious assholes? Maybe. But count me among them.
Favorite Tracks: "Sunken Treasure," "She's A Jar," "Nothing'severgonnastandinmyway(again), "Heavy Metal Drummer," "Jesus, Etc.," Theologians," "Walken," "You Never Know," "You And I."
#3 - O.A.R.
This band has exploded up my personal enjoyment list. I agree there newer stuff is breaking away from their earlier roots a bit, but I enjoy almost all of it. In fact, their music typically can put me in a better mood. This is amazing from a band that is from Ohio State (which thinking about their dirty football program usually puts me in a worse mood.) I have yet to see them live, but I plan to as soon as they come out West.
Favorite Tracks: "One Shot," "Crazy Game Of Poker," "Heard The World," "Right On Time," This Town," "Something Coming Over," and their new single (the acoustic version) "Heaven."
#2 - Stone Temple Pilots
Yeah, this has everything to do with me seeing them a few weeks ago. However, it really was such a shot of nostalgia that I have been listening to their music a TON since the show. In fact, it's driven me to listen to "Shang-ri-la-dee-da" and their newest self titled record, which I was less familiar with previously. Guess what? Those albums are amazing as well! They may drop in the rankings later, but for now they have moved way up there. No one can ever take away the fact that "Purple" was the first CD I ever owned, and I am proud of that fact.
Favorite Tracks: "Dead & Bloated," "Piece Of Pie," "Meatplow," "Still Remains," "Army Ants," "Big Bang Baby," "Down," "Black Again," "Hello, It's Late," "Hickory Dichotomy."
#1 - Crowded House
The still reigning champ is Neil Finn's band Crowded House. I've seen them live a number of times and their live shows are fantastic. Great music and great banter. The songwriting is really what wins me over. And Neil's voice could probably make a wolverine purr. It would be hard for any band to usurp Crowded House as my #1 favorite band and I'll continue recommending them until people finally give in and listen to them!
Favorite tracks: "Mean To Me," "Mansion In The Slums," "Better Be Home Soon," "Fall At Your Feet," "Locked Out," "In My Command," "Distant Sun," "Don't Stop Now," "Twice If You're Lucky," "Elephants."
 |
| "We're awesome, but under-appreciated in the US!" |
Monday, July 18, 2011
That Was Quick
The weekend disappeared faster than the US Women's Soccer Team's chances against Japan at a World Cup Championship. That being said, it was a fairly productive weekend for me. Let's go to the highlights:
Friday:
I was scheduled to play in Danville from 8-11pm (I'm a musician- remember?) Across the way, there was a Michael Jackson cover band playing and there was no chance I could begin my solo acoustic solo until they were done because I was outside and their bass and drums would have ruined the music I would have put into the universe. So I waited...
And waited...
I texted Mrs. P. (she was not at the show) and informed her of the situation. At this point it was probably 8:30. Mrs. P. texted me back with a pretty hilarious text-
"Fuck MJ, he's dead."
Any question as to why I married her should be halted in it's tracks right there. Tangible evidence of her awesomeness was comically displayed right there.
I was able to begin around 8:45pm and since I had already lost part of the show to the potential child molesters on the main stage, I decided to play for as long as I could without a break. I made it until around 10:20, before taking a quick break. Then I finished out the show. I really, really love how the people of Danville tip in $5s, $10s, and $20s. It is absolutely amazing and I am very grateful!
Saturday:
I woke up early and went to the 10am Bobypump class at 24 Hour Fitness. In no way am I proud that I go to a 80-90% women's weight-training class 2 or 3 times per week, HOWEVER, it is a great work out. It is an hour long and hits all the muscle groups. As long as I adjust my weight appropriately, it is quite a strength training regiment that produces results.
I normally go to the classes in Sacramento, but since I was still in the East Bay, I went to Aimee's class in Concord. Mrs. P. and I have a joke about how much of a hard-ass Aimee is and she did not disappoint on Saturday. She corrected my set position before the class even started. That said, I do think she is my favorite teacher because she has a tough attitude about her, where some of the other teachers can be a little soft and cater toward weaker students. Feel free to make fun of me as needed. Just know I'm getting jacked, son!
Later that day I had a show in Concord. At some point in the middle of the show, I got in a groove and decided to play all the re-worked Pop and R&B songs I've ever learned all in a row. The set went like this:
Poker Face (with Disarm worked in at the end of the song)
Firework
Baby One More Time
Pony
Ignition (The Remix)
And it went on from there. It seemed to go over quite well with the crowd and the show gained even more momentum from that point. The people of Concord stepped up their tipping game as well and once again, I am extremely grateful! Another fun and productive show in the books.
Sunday:
I saw the end of the Women's World Cup Final and wow- that was a terrible game. I'm not sure why we as a nation or possibly as a world translate natural disasters into an attitude of, "Well, they deserved to win because xyz happened to their country." Natural disasters have less to do with sports than Arnold Schwarzenegger has to do with his illegitimate children. Just because 9/11 happened to New York does not mean the Yankees deserve to win the World Series. Just because Katrina happened to New Orleans does not mean the Saints deserve to win the Super Bowl. And just because there are earthquakes and tsunamis in Japan, does not mean the Japanese Women's Soccer Team deserves to win the World Cup. Believe me, when the Ice Age hits Green Bay, WI- I will NOT be cheering for the Packers to win the Super Bowl. I suppose it can be a good bonus to a sports story that the media will no doubt exploit, but no team deserves anything. Championships in sports are earned- not deserved.
The US Team blew a golden opportunity and, in my opinion, choked the game away. If it makes everyone feel better about the loss, then sure, you can believe that Japan had tsunami created angles above them guiding them to victory, but I'm going to guess mental lapses on defense and God-awful penalty kicks had more to do with the US losing than anything tsunami related.
The rest of Sunday (for the most part) I caught up on the World Series of Poker's "Live" broadcast on ESPN 2. I could see where some people are frustrated by the slow moving coverage, but I must say, I LOVE what they are doing this year. Instead of watching chopped up footage of every all-in hand of the tournament, we get to see how the tournament actually plays out. I don't know how some of those guys keep their cool in the face of slow moving opponents (like the guy with the Brazilian flag wrapped around himself- that lucky bastard needs to get knocked out ASAP.) Overall though, it is much more representative of how poker actually works.
I am also a huge fan of not being able to see the players' cards until after the conclusion of a hand that at least sees a flop. Trying to put players on hands is fun and interactive television. It's easy to be an armchair poker player when you see the hold cards the entire time, but much more gratifying when you call a hand or fully understand why a player is doing certain things without seeing their cards. This version of poker watching is much better.
Lastly, Antonio Esfandiari is a GREAT poker commentator. Totally enjoy listening to his thought process and he really gives insight into the game. He's the poker opposite of Joe Theismann's football commentating.
And that's pretty much it. It was a solid weekend, it just went by so quickly. What weekend doesn't go by too quickly, though?
Friday:
I was scheduled to play in Danville from 8-11pm (I'm a musician- remember?) Across the way, there was a Michael Jackson cover band playing and there was no chance I could begin my solo acoustic solo until they were done because I was outside and their bass and drums would have ruined the music I would have put into the universe. So I waited...
And waited...
I texted Mrs. P. (she was not at the show) and informed her of the situation. At this point it was probably 8:30. Mrs. P. texted me back with a pretty hilarious text-
"Fuck MJ, he's dead."
Any question as to why I married her should be halted in it's tracks right there. Tangible evidence of her awesomeness was comically displayed right there.
I was able to begin around 8:45pm and since I had already lost part of the show to the potential child molesters on the main stage, I decided to play for as long as I could without a break. I made it until around 10:20, before taking a quick break. Then I finished out the show. I really, really love how the people of Danville tip in $5s, $10s, and $20s. It is absolutely amazing and I am very grateful!
Saturday:
I woke up early and went to the 10am Bobypump class at 24 Hour Fitness. In no way am I proud that I go to a 80-90% women's weight-training class 2 or 3 times per week, HOWEVER, it is a great work out. It is an hour long and hits all the muscle groups. As long as I adjust my weight appropriately, it is quite a strength training regiment that produces results.
I normally go to the classes in Sacramento, but since I was still in the East Bay, I went to Aimee's class in Concord. Mrs. P. and I have a joke about how much of a hard-ass Aimee is and she did not disappoint on Saturday. She corrected my set position before the class even started. That said, I do think she is my favorite teacher because she has a tough attitude about her, where some of the other teachers can be a little soft and cater toward weaker students. Feel free to make fun of me as needed. Just know I'm getting jacked, son!
Later that day I had a show in Concord. At some point in the middle of the show, I got in a groove and decided to play all the re-worked Pop and R&B songs I've ever learned all in a row. The set went like this:
Poker Face (with Disarm worked in at the end of the song)
Firework
Baby One More Time
Pony
Ignition (The Remix)
| "I'm guessing the ladies loved it." |
Sunday:
I saw the end of the Women's World Cup Final and wow- that was a terrible game. I'm not sure why we as a nation or possibly as a world translate natural disasters into an attitude of, "Well, they deserved to win because xyz happened to their country." Natural disasters have less to do with sports than Arnold Schwarzenegger has to do with his illegitimate children. Just because 9/11 happened to New York does not mean the Yankees deserve to win the World Series. Just because Katrina happened to New Orleans does not mean the Saints deserve to win the Super Bowl. And just because there are earthquakes and tsunamis in Japan, does not mean the Japanese Women's Soccer Team deserves to win the World Cup. Believe me, when the Ice Age hits Green Bay, WI- I will NOT be cheering for the Packers to win the Super Bowl. I suppose it can be a good bonus to a sports story that the media will no doubt exploit, but no team deserves anything. Championships in sports are earned- not deserved.
 |
| "But I worked SO hard on my project! I deserve an A!" |
The rest of Sunday (for the most part) I caught up on the World Series of Poker's "Live" broadcast on ESPN 2. I could see where some people are frustrated by the slow moving coverage, but I must say, I LOVE what they are doing this year. Instead of watching chopped up footage of every all-in hand of the tournament, we get to see how the tournament actually plays out. I don't know how some of those guys keep their cool in the face of slow moving opponents (like the guy with the Brazilian flag wrapped around himself- that lucky bastard needs to get knocked out ASAP.) Overall though, it is much more representative of how poker actually works.
I am also a huge fan of not being able to see the players' cards until after the conclusion of a hand that at least sees a flop. Trying to put players on hands is fun and interactive television. It's easy to be an armchair poker player when you see the hold cards the entire time, but much more gratifying when you call a hand or fully understand why a player is doing certain things without seeing their cards. This version of poker watching is much better.
Lastly, Antonio Esfandiari is a GREAT poker commentator. Totally enjoy listening to his thought process and he really gives insight into the game. He's the poker opposite of Joe Theismann's football commentating.
And that's pretty much it. It was a solid weekend, it just went by so quickly. What weekend doesn't go by too quickly, though?
Friday, July 15, 2011
MLB Marketing vs. The Herd
 |
| "I suck." |
I was listening to "The Herd" earlier (Lord knows why) and he was talking about how baseball "doesn't market their players" and how they have to "get with technology." All of this led to his conclusion that baseball is a poorly run sport and is losing popularity because of bad leadership in the commissioner's office. I agree with his end conclusion, but some of his points leading up to it were thin at best.
I suppose this was all brought about because Colin Cowherd attaches value of all things to TV ratings. It is his end all, be all measuring stick of popularity. He can't comprehend that keeping track of games via the internet or getting updates on someone's cell phone could detract from the TV ratings, but not affect the overall popularity. But like I said, his end point is correct- baseball is losing popularity and needs to do something to win fans back. First, let's look at the other points of his that I mentioned above.
"MLB doesn't market their players/stars." Ok.
That was Felix Hernandez in his own commercial. Yes, the same King Felix that won the Cy Young with a 13-12 record last year. How about this one?
Ubaldo Jimenez got his own commercial about how confusing his name is. He had a great first half last year, then faded and did not win the Cy Young award in the NL, yet he gets his own "Epic" commercial. Not enough?
You just went on a journey inside Brian Wilson's epic beard. In fact, I'd wager that Brian Wilson inspired the "Always Epic" ad campaign. My point is not that these commercials are great, my point is that baseball went out of its way to create commercials for Felix Hernandez, Ubaldo Jimenez, and Brian Wilson. Does this not show effort on MLB's part to market their players? Are they attempting to create stars? Brian Wilson may be better at marketing himself than MLB is (as evidence by Sportscenter and Baseball Tonight last night) but that doesn't mean that MLB is not aware that they need to create stars from their sport.
"MLB needs to get with technology." What the fuck, Cowherd? Get with technology? Are you serious? Between MLB Network, MLB.TV and MLB At-Bat, I believe MLB has the most accessible technology on the market for major sports. NFL Network is great and Red Zone is also great. However, The Sunday Ticket is limited to DirectTV so if you don't have that brand of cable (I do not) you are fucked. Also, I pay $100 every year to get almost EVERY SINGLE baseball game on my computer. The value there is staggering. The NFL product is great, but MLB is definitely technologically savvy and brings great value to the table. I'm pretty sure "getting with technology" is not their problem.
What is the problem? I honestly don't know for sure. For my part, I still love baseball. I watch a lot of it. The Cubs and my fantasy team sure aren't helping this year, but I can loosely follow the Giants and the rest of the league and enjoy the year. Baseball brings a consistent product to the table each and every day during the season. I love knowing there are games going on and even if I go work out or find something else to do besides watch TV, I'm always checking on scores from my phone because I care about baseball.
I agree, the sport could use some younger, more up-and-coming stars, and let's keep it real, Derek Jeter should have at least appeared at the All-Star game, but overall, I still very much enjoy the game. Now, if the commissioner's office could get out of their own way, maybe baseball could be brought to another level, but that could be wishful thinking.
Thursday, July 14, 2011
Brian Wilson - Yay Or Nay?
 |
| So, uh, that happened. |
For example, in the pre-interviews with Joe Buck and Tim McCarver before the All-Star game, he told them that when he was younger he worked as a gravestone shifter. Riiight. He reset gravestones that had shifted over time. I'm going to need a bit of proof before I believe the most sarcastic man in baseball. Apparently, Tim McCarver thought to himself, "This seems like an honest gentleman- I totally believe that story!" because he mentioned it during the broadcast when Wilson was brought in the game in the 9th inning.
 |
| "Rest... In... Peace..." |
 |
| Cue George Lopez's horrible and out of place Sponge Bob jokes. |
I will say this, for me, it is losing steam. True, I laughed at his spandex suit from the ESPYs last night. However, his antics are getting a little stale. Maybe "The Franchise" will change that. Maybe it will make them even worse. I think he may want to take a break or up the ante in some form or fashion. I'd be interested to hear how the rest of the country views B-Weezy.
Then again, if he leads the Giants to another World Series title, he can pretty much do whatever he wants. Maybe even another video like this:
Wednesday, July 13, 2011
90s Rock: Soundgarden
While Stone Temple Pilots' "Purple" was the first CD I owned, Soundgarden's "Superunknown" was CD numero dos. That being said, for whatever reason I don't have the deep knowledge of all their songs as I do with other 90s Alternative bands. I'm sure I can come up with a respectable list, but make sure you add in anything I may have missed.
"Rusty Cage" - Let's start with a sick number that even Johnny Cash covered before he passed away. The guitar is frantic and Chris Cornell shows off the kind of vocals the rest of the world was in store for when listening to Soundgarden. Check the tape:
"Outshined" - Another single off of "Badmotorfinger," this song has slivers of pop influence in between the rock. You can hear that the band wants to kick ass, but still has a very adept songwriting ability.
"Let Me Drown" - Now we're fucking talking! This could be my favorite Soundgarden song of all time. It is a perfect opener for the record (and probably for shows as well.) It wasn't a single, but this song kicks motherfucking ass. It seriously makes me want to mosh right now.
"Limo Wreck" - Another lesser known song off of "Superunknown." "Limo Wreck" plods along until you Chris Cornell belts out his signature high notes that send shivers down many a 30-40 year old.
"Fell On Black Days" - This was actually a single- a dark single, but a single nonetheless. Everything about this song is fantastic. The instrumentation is great, the singing is great, it is quite a flawless song.
"The Day I Tried To Live" - Hey, I know everyone likes "Black Hole Sun" or "Spoonman" and while those are great songs, I prefer to listen to these every time if given an either/or choice. By the time Chris Cornell goes call and response with himself in the chorus, my ears thank my brain for decided to put this song on. So sick.
"Burden In My Hand" - This is probably my favorite song from "Down On The Upside." Check out this acoustic version done by Chris Cornell at a solo show. Mind blowing.
"Preaching The End Of The World" - I know, I know. This isn't even Soundgarden. The song is fucking awesome and pretty appropriate considering all the Rapture and Mayan prediction talk. Who knew there was an official video for this song? Not me, that's for sure.
I hope you enjoyed a look back at another great band from the 90s.
"Rusty Cage" - Let's start with a sick number that even Johnny Cash covered before he passed away. The guitar is frantic and Chris Cornell shows off the kind of vocals the rest of the world was in store for when listening to Soundgarden. Check the tape:
"Outshined" - Another single off of "Badmotorfinger," this song has slivers of pop influence in between the rock. You can hear that the band wants to kick ass, but still has a very adept songwriting ability.
"Let Me Drown" - Now we're fucking talking! This could be my favorite Soundgarden song of all time. It is a perfect opener for the record (and probably for shows as well.) It wasn't a single, but this song kicks motherfucking ass. It seriously makes me want to mosh right now.
"Limo Wreck" - Another lesser known song off of "Superunknown." "Limo Wreck" plods along until you Chris Cornell belts out his signature high notes that send shivers down many a 30-40 year old.
"Fell On Black Days" - This was actually a single- a dark single, but a single nonetheless. Everything about this song is fantastic. The instrumentation is great, the singing is great, it is quite a flawless song.
"The Day I Tried To Live" - Hey, I know everyone likes "Black Hole Sun" or "Spoonman" and while those are great songs, I prefer to listen to these every time if given an either/or choice. By the time Chris Cornell goes call and response with himself in the chorus, my ears thank my brain for decided to put this song on. So sick.
"Burden In My Hand" - This is probably my favorite song from "Down On The Upside." Check out this acoustic version done by Chris Cornell at a solo show. Mind blowing.
"Preaching The End Of The World" - I know, I know. This isn't even Soundgarden. The song is fucking awesome and pretty appropriate considering all the Rapture and Mayan prediction talk. Who knew there was an official video for this song? Not me, that's for sure.
I hope you enjoyed a look back at another great band from the 90s.
90s Rock: Foo Fighters
This is archived from my previous blog.
In honor of the Foo Fighters' album release yesterday (the album is good people!)
, I'm going to take a look at the songs they made in the 90s. Just like Horatio Sanz in "Step Brothers" singing only "80s Joel," I do NOT want to hear about how I left off "Times Like These
" or "The Pretender
." 90s Foos only!
"This Is A Call
" - The first single and first track from the first CD that Dave Grohl ever released under the name Foo Fighters. I was instantly a fan, although the vocals could go a little higher in the mix for my taste. Other than that- it's a rocking song that was a great way to lead off Grohl's career as "not just Nirvana's drummer."
"I'll Stick Around" - Now, if you thought "This Is A Call" rocked... then this one was an absolute treat as it rocks even harder! Dave Grohl yelling "I don't owe you anything!" is sweet. Many believe that line is aimed at Courtney Love, and I like to believe that is the case.
"For All The Cows" - What's that? You wanted the video with them doing a fake Mentos commercial? Go look it up on YouTube then! This is an underrated jam from the first record. I'm pretty certain we used this song in a video my friends and I made for our Freshman Biology in high school. I don't even remember what the video was about, but I remember this song being in there- you can tell where my head was in high school.
"Monkey Wrench" - After all the success of the first record, it was time to go record a new record with the new band Dave Grohl had assembled. This was the first single out of the shoot- and it is so fricken' awesome I don't have a great way of describing it. I was blown away when I first heard it.
"My Hero" - Varsity Blues
anyone?
"Hey, Johnny Park" - Another one of those underrated tracks. I know it got some radio play, but this song crushes harder than a savage hangover after a night of drinking Wild Turkey.
"Gimme Stitches
" - This wasn't a single, but I love the groove with the guitars hitting on the backbeat. Well done again, Mr. Grohl.
"Stacked Actors" - Yeah, I'm staying away from the singles of their third album because I love the "deep tracks" so much. I used to listen to this song a ton in my dorm room Freshman year of college. Foo Fighters is probably at their best with lighter verses, a build up, then a savage rocking chorus. This song is textbook FF's.
"Aurora" - I love this intro and the song is extremely well written. Again, we're looking at a softer verse with a livelier chorus.
There are plenty of songs that could have been on this list. "Walking After You," "Learn To Fly," "Alone + Easy Target," "Breakout" and so many others. The point is, Foo Fighters are great and it's nice to see that they have still retained their rock base sound unlike many other bands from the 90s who have lost their ability to re-create their signature rock songs from that decade (cough*Radiohead*cough.) I'm all for experimentation, but sometimes it's nice to see bands slide back into their original songs like an old pair of jeans.
In honor of the Foo Fighters' album release yesterday (the album is good people!)
, I'm going to take a look at the songs they made in the 90s. Just like Horatio Sanz in "Step Brothers" singing only "80s Joel," I do NOT want to hear about how I left off "Times Like These" or "The Pretender." 90s Foos only!"This Is A Call
" - The first single and first track from the first CD that Dave Grohl ever released under the name Foo Fighters. I was instantly a fan, although the vocals could go a little higher in the mix for my taste. Other than that- it's a rocking song that was a great way to lead off Grohl's career as "not just Nirvana's drummer." "I'll Stick Around" - Now, if you thought "This Is A Call" rocked... then this one was an absolute treat as it rocks even harder! Dave Grohl yelling "I don't owe you anything!" is sweet. Many believe that line is aimed at Courtney Love, and I like to believe that is the case.
"For All The Cows" - What's that? You wanted the video with them doing a fake Mentos commercial? Go look it up on YouTube then! This is an underrated jam from the first record. I'm pretty certain we used this song in a video my friends and I made for our Freshman Biology in high school. I don't even remember what the video was about, but I remember this song being in there- you can tell where my head was in high school.
"Monkey Wrench" - After all the success of the first record, it was time to go record a new record with the new band Dave Grohl had assembled. This was the first single out of the shoot- and it is so fricken' awesome I don't have a great way of describing it. I was blown away when I first heard it.
"My Hero" - Varsity Blues
anyone? "Hey, Johnny Park" - Another one of those underrated tracks. I know it got some radio play, but this song crushes harder than a savage hangover after a night of drinking Wild Turkey.
"Gimme Stitches
" - This wasn't a single, but I love the groove with the guitars hitting on the backbeat. Well done again, Mr. Grohl. "Stacked Actors" - Yeah, I'm staying away from the singles of their third album because I love the "deep tracks" so much. I used to listen to this song a ton in my dorm room Freshman year of college. Foo Fighters is probably at their best with lighter verses, a build up, then a savage rocking chorus. This song is textbook FF's.
"Aurora" - I love this intro and the song is extremely well written. Again, we're looking at a softer verse with a livelier chorus.
There are plenty of songs that could have been on this list. "Walking After You," "Learn To Fly," "Alone + Easy Target," "Breakout" and so many others. The point is, Foo Fighters are great and it's nice to see that they have still retained their rock base sound unlike many other bands from the 90s who have lost their ability to re-create their signature rock songs from that decade (cough*Radiohead*cough.) I'm all for experimentation, but sometimes it's nice to see bands slide back into their original songs like an old pair of jeans.
Tuesday, July 12, 2011
A Shining Example Of Why Soccer Will Not Catch On In the US
First off, I encourage everyone to go back to yesterday's post. I was finally able to upload a short video I took with my iPhone from the concert. It features a portion of "Dead & Bloated" from STP's encore.
Ok, since I've been reducing the amount of sports posts (not for any reason, just sort of happened) I'm going to post about sports today. Which leads us to... Soccer? Jesus help us...
When I was in kindergarten, I played Soccer for one game in a youth league. A bigger kid bumped me during the game and I started bleeding profusely out of my nose. I admit, I was a bit of a scared-ee-cat when I was a kid and I refused to go back in the game (even after being offered a bribe of Frosty Boy by my parents- to this day I know it was a mistake.) Even though I played the following year on a far shittier team, my days of playing Soccer were numbered from the moment I stepped on the field.
As a grown-ass-man now, I like high stakes International Men's Soccer. This feeling comes over me once every four years and grabs my attention for a few weeks, albeit the World Cup is still not as important as MLB or even the NBA Draft. My point is, there is literally nothing the sport of Soccer can do to legitimately win me over as a regular fan. But why? I've even recently begun watching more NHL Hockey- and it is fucking awesome. Hockey and Soccer have the same premise (item scoring when it finds it's way into a net) but Hockey is WAY better. And I think I have a perfect example of why. Let's go to the tape of Sunday's US Women's Soccer game against Brazil:
If you were unable to watch the video, it was NOT the game equalizing goal by the US in the 122nd minute of the game. It WAS, however, the brutal fake injury by some Brazilian broad that allowed the clock to keep running (though also lead to the game lasting into the 122nd minute.) Would a Hockey player deliberately fake an injury to waste time? No? Oh, that's right, because most Hockey players are not pussies and there is no running clock in their sport. So here is my theory:
People of the United States will not get into Soccer full time (i.e. it would be at least as popular as Hockey) until players STOP faking injuries AND they change the rules to allow for some sort of time stoppage during injuries.
There is zero chance either of those things are incorporated into the game. Players have incentives to fake injuries to gain clock or ref bias advantages. Any stoppage of clock would change the way the game is played and the rest of the world would freak out. I say, stop being pussies and why wouldn't you want a stop clock? It would help the game last longer and there would be less dead time where players stall.
As great as the end of the US Women's Soccer match against Brazil was (Dick Tracy and I left to go eat around minute 119- oops) and as happy as I am that Brazil ended up losing due in part to karma rearing its ugly head against flopping bitches, Soccer will always play at least fifth fiddle in the US. I don't see it changing. Sunday's game was as exciting as Women's Soccer can possibly be and I still don't really care all that much.
What say you? Is there anything Soccer can do to win you over? Is my hypothesis accurate even though it is in no way provable? While I do see Soccer gaining some popularity, I don't think there are enough fans to cause a culture change in mainstream society. Sorry Soccer Hooligans- keep on cheering for Man U even though you've never been to the UK.
Ok, since I've been reducing the amount of sports posts (not for any reason, just sort of happened) I'm going to post about sports today. Which leads us to... Soccer? Jesus help us...
When I was in kindergarten, I played Soccer for one game in a youth league. A bigger kid bumped me during the game and I started bleeding profusely out of my nose. I admit, I was a bit of a scared-ee-cat when I was a kid and I refused to go back in the game (even after being offered a bribe of Frosty Boy by my parents- to this day I know it was a mistake.) Even though I played the following year on a far shittier team, my days of playing Soccer were numbered from the moment I stepped on the field.
As a grown-ass-man now, I like high stakes International Men's Soccer. This feeling comes over me once every four years and grabs my attention for a few weeks, albeit the World Cup is still not as important as MLB or even the NBA Draft. My point is, there is literally nothing the sport of Soccer can do to legitimately win me over as a regular fan. But why? I've even recently begun watching more NHL Hockey- and it is fucking awesome. Hockey and Soccer have the same premise (item scoring when it finds it's way into a net) but Hockey is WAY better. And I think I have a perfect example of why. Let's go to the tape of Sunday's US Women's Soccer game against Brazil:
If you were unable to watch the video, it was NOT the game equalizing goal by the US in the 122nd minute of the game. It WAS, however, the brutal fake injury by some Brazilian broad that allowed the clock to keep running (though also lead to the game lasting into the 122nd minute.) Would a Hockey player deliberately fake an injury to waste time? No? Oh, that's right, because most Hockey players are not pussies and there is no running clock in their sport. So here is my theory:
People of the United States will not get into Soccer full time (i.e. it would be at least as popular as Hockey) until players STOP faking injuries AND they change the rules to allow for some sort of time stoppage during injuries.
 | |
| This pic should not have come up when I image searched "Soccer Injury Faking." |
There is zero chance either of those things are incorporated into the game. Players have incentives to fake injuries to gain clock or ref bias advantages. Any stoppage of clock would change the way the game is played and the rest of the world would freak out. I say, stop being pussies and why wouldn't you want a stop clock? It would help the game last longer and there would be less dead time where players stall.
As great as the end of the US Women's Soccer match against Brazil was (Dick Tracy and I left to go eat around minute 119- oops) and as happy as I am that Brazil ended up losing due in part to karma rearing its ugly head against flopping bitches, Soccer will always play at least fifth fiddle in the US. I don't see it changing. Sunday's game was as exciting as Women's Soccer can possibly be and I still don't really care all that much.
What say you? Is there anything Soccer can do to win you over? Is my hypothesis accurate even though it is in no way provable? While I do see Soccer gaining some popularity, I don't think there are enough fans to cause a culture change in mainstream society. Sorry Soccer Hooligans- keep on cheering for Man U even though you've never been to the UK.
Monday, July 11, 2011
A Weekend To Remember
What can I say? Every time I go to the Peppermill in Reno, it just gets better and better. This trip, as I mentioned last week, was to go to the Stone Temple Pilots concert on Friday and then relax and enjoy the rest of what the Peppermill has to offer. First, let's talk about the concert.
Mrs. P., Dick Tracy, Mrs. Tracy, and myself were the culprits of this trip. We showed up, checked in, and found that our rooms were placed across the hallway from each other on the 10th floor. Mrs. P. and I had a killer view of the pool from our room, so we set up the bar quickly in our room and had a few drinks. Dick Tracy and I decided to go down to will call and pick up the tickets our casino host and friend set up for us. We had reserved seats, with the option of going to the general admission floor, AND VIP passes! We were not expecting those, but it meant that we had access to the open bar VIP room throughout the entire show. So clutch and delicious.
After having some appetizers at Biscotti's, we went into the VIP room and got a few drinks. Eventually, we made it to our seats and waited for STP to start the show. It was funny that they were running a little late and didn't get on stage until 8:30 (show was scheduled for 8pm.) There was a thought in the back of my mind that something was wrong, but all worries were unfounded when they walked out and went balls to the wall opening with "Crackerman."
Scott Weiland's voice sounded great. The band was well rehearsed which was impressive since this was their first stop on the tour. The rest of the set list went like this:
1. Crackerman
2. Wicked Garden
3. Vasoline
4. Heaven and Hotrods
5. Between The Lines
6. Hickory Dichotomy
7. Still Remains
8. Big Empty
9. Bi-Polar Bear
10. Silvergun Superman
11. Plush
12. Interstate Love Song
13. Big Bang Baby
14. Down
15. Sex Type Thing
Encore:
16. Dead And Bloated
17. Trippin' On A Hole In A Paper Heart
The show was amazing. Scott Weiland was charismatic and the band was on top of their game. I was surprised that they didn't play "Creep" and "Sour Girl." I was disappointed that they didn't play "Army Ants" or "Meatplow." However, as a whole, the show blew me away and our group fully enjoyed it (even the girls who are not fans did agree that it was a well done concert.)
After the show, Dick Tracy and I headed to the Craps table (surprise, surprise) and rocked quite the fruitful session. Even the girls eventually found their way down to the table and made some money. There was an older Asian in the corner of the table that CRUSHED it on a roll. I would guess we won 80% of our money on his roll and in the end, Dick Tracy and I were up over $400 each. This was simply unbelievable based on how drunk we got.
After grabbing a bite to eat, it was on to bed. We were so drunk that sleep was pretty awful and I ended up puking up Maker's and nachos in the morning. I was able to get back to sleep for a little bit before eating and then heading to the Spa.
There really is nothing quite like using the sauna, steam room, hot tub, cold tub, and all of the other amenities to sweat out all of the booze from a long night of heavy drinking and watching STP. Dick Tracy joked about what the potential alcohol content of our sweat was. I'm guessing 20 proof.
After some rejuvenation and a short and disappointing Craps session with some of the biggest assholes I've ever played the game with, it was off to Bimini Steakhouse for the nicest meal you can get at the Peppermill.
Dick Tracy generously treated us to the meal as a birthday present to me. What a guy! Bimini is a very upscale restaurant where a two-hour leisurely meal is expected. The food was phenomenal. We had Coconut Rum Battered Shrimp to start and I had the Filet as my main course. Mrs. P. had a massive plate of crab legs and joked about this huge looking claw being from "Father Time Crab." He apparently tasted delicious.
Afterward, we made it back down to the Craps table for another disappointing session. However, we were not losing all that much money, we just didn't like the people at the table so it wasn't worth sticking around. Depressed, Dick Tracy and I headed back to the Terrace Lounge to play Video Poker. This is where I won a $1000 progressive jackpot two weeks ago...
We sit down and within five hands, I get dealt a pair of Aces, hold them, hit the button and the next three cards come Ace, Ace, King. BOOM. $430 just like that. Apparently the Terrace Lounge and I will continue to be friendly on future trips! So ended night two.
In the morning, Dick Tracy and I got breakfast without the girls because they wanted to sleep in a bit longer. Eventually, we made our way back to the rooms and checked out. Our new tradition is for some afternoon Sunday gambling before leaving. With our luggage stored in the car, we went to the Craps table.
The table was pretty full, so we walked around to the new Poker room and played some Video Poker at the bar. No luck. Upon heading back to the Craps table 20 minutes later, Dick Tracy stopped at some slots to play $20. He hit a jackpot of $240. BOOM. Re-energized, we had to hit Craps immediately.
And this is the point where I had one of the best rolls of my life. I hit a number of points (probably 4 passes) but with come bets I had an extra 5 or 6 of those (I think... I don't think I'm exaggerating, but hey- I wasn't keep exact track!) In the end, Dick Tracy and I were again, up another $400+ each.
We found the girls at Roulette and played with them for a bit. It was pretty casual, but we ended up doing alright. On the way out, Mrs. Tracy had two $25 match play coupons. Dick Tracy posted the $50 necessary to play two hands of blackjack (dealt at the same time.) The first hand was a 19 and the second was a 12. The 19 stayed, obviously, and the 12 hit to an 18. The dealer showed a 7, and ended up busting. Solid gambling this weekend!!!
In the end, it was a great trip- in fact, one of the best trips to the Peppermill ever. The place really gets better and better every single time.
Mrs. P., Dick Tracy, Mrs. Tracy, and myself were the culprits of this trip. We showed up, checked in, and found that our rooms were placed across the hallway from each other on the 10th floor. Mrs. P. and I had a killer view of the pool from our room, so we set up the bar quickly in our room and had a few drinks. Dick Tracy and I decided to go down to will call and pick up the tickets our casino host and friend set up for us. We had reserved seats, with the option of going to the general admission floor, AND VIP passes! We were not expecting those, but it meant that we had access to the open bar VIP room throughout the entire show. So clutch and delicious.
After having some appetizers at Biscotti's, we went into the VIP room and got a few drinks. Eventually, we made it to our seats and waited for STP to start the show. It was funny that they were running a little late and didn't get on stage until 8:30 (show was scheduled for 8pm.) There was a thought in the back of my mind that something was wrong, but all worries were unfounded when they walked out and went balls to the wall opening with "Crackerman."
Scott Weiland's voice sounded great. The band was well rehearsed which was impressive since this was their first stop on the tour. The rest of the set list went like this:
1. Crackerman
2. Wicked Garden
3. Vasoline
4. Heaven and Hotrods
5. Between The Lines
6. Hickory Dichotomy
7. Still Remains
8. Big Empty
9. Bi-Polar Bear
10. Silvergun Superman
11. Plush
12. Interstate Love Song
13. Big Bang Baby
14. Down
15. Sex Type Thing
Encore:
16. Dead And Bloated
17. Trippin' On A Hole In A Paper Heart
The show was amazing. Scott Weiland was charismatic and the band was on top of their game. I was surprised that they didn't play "Creep" and "Sour Girl." I was disappointed that they didn't play "Army Ants" or "Meatplow." However, as a whole, the show blew me away and our group fully enjoyed it (even the girls who are not fans did agree that it was a well done concert.)
 |
| STP - 7/8/11 |
After the show, Dick Tracy and I headed to the Craps table (surprise, surprise) and rocked quite the fruitful session. Even the girls eventually found their way down to the table and made some money. There was an older Asian in the corner of the table that CRUSHED it on a roll. I would guess we won 80% of our money on his roll and in the end, Dick Tracy and I were up over $400 each. This was simply unbelievable based on how drunk we got.
 |
| "This weekend was brought to you by the letter 'M'" |
After grabbing a bite to eat, it was on to bed. We were so drunk that sleep was pretty awful and I ended up puking up Maker's and nachos in the morning. I was able to get back to sleep for a little bit before eating and then heading to the Spa.
There really is nothing quite like using the sauna, steam room, hot tub, cold tub, and all of the other amenities to sweat out all of the booze from a long night of heavy drinking and watching STP. Dick Tracy joked about what the potential alcohol content of our sweat was. I'm guessing 20 proof.
After some rejuvenation and a short and disappointing Craps session with some of the biggest assholes I've ever played the game with, it was off to Bimini Steakhouse for the nicest meal you can get at the Peppermill.
Dick Tracy generously treated us to the meal as a birthday present to me. What a guy! Bimini is a very upscale restaurant where a two-hour leisurely meal is expected. The food was phenomenal. We had Coconut Rum Battered Shrimp to start and I had the Filet as my main course. Mrs. P. had a massive plate of crab legs and joked about this huge looking claw being from "Father Time Crab." He apparently tasted delicious.
 |
| "Damn you Peppermill for catching me!" |
Afterward, we made it back down to the Craps table for another disappointing session. However, we were not losing all that much money, we just didn't like the people at the table so it wasn't worth sticking around. Depressed, Dick Tracy and I headed back to the Terrace Lounge to play Video Poker. This is where I won a $1000 progressive jackpot two weeks ago...
We sit down and within five hands, I get dealt a pair of Aces, hold them, hit the button and the next three cards come Ace, Ace, King. BOOM. $430 just like that. Apparently the Terrace Lounge and I will continue to be friendly on future trips! So ended night two.
In the morning, Dick Tracy and I got breakfast without the girls because they wanted to sleep in a bit longer. Eventually, we made our way back to the rooms and checked out. Our new tradition is for some afternoon Sunday gambling before leaving. With our luggage stored in the car, we went to the Craps table.
The table was pretty full, so we walked around to the new Poker room and played some Video Poker at the bar. No luck. Upon heading back to the Craps table 20 minutes later, Dick Tracy stopped at some slots to play $20. He hit a jackpot of $240. BOOM. Re-energized, we had to hit Craps immediately.
And this is the point where I had one of the best rolls of my life. I hit a number of points (probably 4 passes) but with come bets I had an extra 5 or 6 of those (I think... I don't think I'm exaggerating, but hey- I wasn't keep exact track!) In the end, Dick Tracy and I were again, up another $400+ each.
We found the girls at Roulette and played with them for a bit. It was pretty casual, but we ended up doing alright. On the way out, Mrs. Tracy had two $25 match play coupons. Dick Tracy posted the $50 necessary to play two hands of blackjack (dealt at the same time.) The first hand was a 19 and the second was a 12. The 19 stayed, obviously, and the 12 hit to an 18. The dealer showed a 7, and ended up busting. Solid gambling this weekend!!!
In the end, it was a great trip- in fact, one of the best trips to the Peppermill ever. The place really gets better and better every single time.
Friday, July 8, 2011
Concert Going 101
I've attended my fair share of concerts over the years and there are definitely some major mistakes one can make to ruin concerts for themselves and others. Here is some advice from your friendly neighborhood music fan that will help you enjoy concerts more thoroughly. And if that doesn't happen, then hopefully I'll at least provide entertaining tidbits.
- Actually like the band/artist you are going to see. How many times to you hear dumb bitches talking about how they "can't wait for that one song!" They chose to go not because they like the band performing, but because some guy that likes them paid for their ticket (and of course, this guy has no chance at hooking up with them.) The exception is if you are going with your spouse because they really enjoy the band. Put on a happy face and fake it as best as possible, but it's unlikely you'll be the annoying, over-enthusiastic person who doesn't know any songs by the band playing.
- Drink before going in. Event beers cost $10 each sometimes. It is far easier to tailgate in the parking lot (or wherever), go in and have a beer or two to keep your buzz level, and be ready to go by the time the headliner comes on. Just make sure you don't drink too much! Blacking out at a show is a waste of your money- and you also might lose your sandals.
- Do not wear a shirt of the band you are going to see. This is a confusing one that many people clearly ignore. I know this rule is counter-intuitive if compared to a sporting event (clearly you'll wear gear of the sports team you like and are going to watch) but it's just the way it is. It's somewhat acceptable to buy a shirt and put it on at the show, but I do not recommend this practice either. It's better to wear a different band shirt or something non-music related. Other band shirts you will always see at shows? Led Zepplin and AC/DC. Every time. It doesn't matter if it's a Bright Eyes, O.A.R., or Lady Gaga concert- you'll always see THAT guy at a show.
- Know the terrain. It is amazing how many people can't figure out when they buy tickets if the venue/show is reserved seats or general admission, seated or standing. Know the situation and be prepared to act accordingly. If you absolutely need to get up front and the show is GA, then show up early (or be a huge dick and likely cause a fight squeezing up front.) If you have reserved seats, find out who the opener is and likely show up after they are done. The more you are aware of your surroundings, the better off you'll be.
- Play the "what do you think they'll open with?" game. It's a fun game that is, at times, a true crap shoot. Take tonight for example- what will STP open with? I mentioned Wednesday that I'm hoping for "Dead & Bloated." I could also see "Meatplow" or "Vasoline" (if they aren't saving that for later in the set.) I can't imagine the opener will not come from their first or second albums. Yeah, I just used a double negative- what of it?
---
Here's a fun story from August of 2000. My girlfriend at the time and I had been dating for only a couple months. We decided to see Third Eye Blind, Vertical Horizon, and Nine Days at the Sleeptrain Amphitheater in Marysville. We showed up early and earned a spot right up front (the area in front of the stage was GA.) We peacefully watched Nine Days and Vertical Horizon. I even caught a Vertical Horizon pick (which I still have, but it is not one of my most valued possessions.) Before Third Eye Blind was about to take the stage, some fat, drunk bitch tries to cut in front of us. She's stumbling in the crowd and mumbling about how "all these posers aren't real fans." Considering I met the band over a year before their first major label record came out, I took exception to this. Also, I think I felt like I had to act tough in front of the girl I'd been dating only a short time.
Me: Hey, you can't cut in front of us- all of us here got here early. You're not getting in front of us.
Her: [drunken mumbles] Yeah, I'm just going to go right there. [points in front of me.]
Me: No you're not- I know you think you're some awesome fan, but we got here early and you're not getting in front of us.
Her: Um... I... uh... going there. [take a hint already, bitchzilla!]
Me: Go bother someone else- this isn't happening for you.
Her: [Still trying to push her way in front of us] I swear I'm not usually like this- I'm not a bitch.
Me: Oh- but you ARE a bitch. [This was not a great thing to tell a drunk girl with a beer in her hand.]
At this point, I see her eyes get big and she's definitely going to dump the beer on my head. Since I'm tall, I grab the cup and begin to raise it up out of her hand. She realizes this, and crushes the cup. It barely gets on me. It gets COMPLETELY all over my now ex-girlfriend (we did not break up due to this- that came later.)
Fun fact: The security guard looked exactly like Kurt Angle. After the beer dumping, I called out for "Kurt Angle" to come over and kick the drunk girl out of the pit. He actually responded quickly leading me to believe it might have been the Gold Medalist. Third Eye Blind came on minutes later and my date was drenched in beer. She toughed it out and was a good sport about it, but here is another lesson- People are going to be drunk assholes. Do not incite them into doing dumb stuff that will affect you.
---
So there you have it. Concert Going 101. Feel free to add in your own (obvious?) tips. Have a great weekend!
- Actually like the band/artist you are going to see. How many times to you hear dumb bitches talking about how they "can't wait for that one song!" They chose to go not because they like the band performing, but because some guy that likes them paid for their ticket (and of course, this guy has no chance at hooking up with them.) The exception is if you are going with your spouse because they really enjoy the band. Put on a happy face and fake it as best as possible, but it's unlikely you'll be the annoying, over-enthusiastic person who doesn't know any songs by the band playing.
 |
| "OMG! We, like, totally match!" |
- Drink before going in. Event beers cost $10 each sometimes. It is far easier to tailgate in the parking lot (or wherever), go in and have a beer or two to keep your buzz level, and be ready to go by the time the headliner comes on. Just make sure you don't drink too much! Blacking out at a show is a waste of your money- and you also might lose your sandals.
| "That will be $11.75 and a testicle." |
- Do not wear a shirt of the band you are going to see. This is a confusing one that many people clearly ignore. I know this rule is counter-intuitive if compared to a sporting event (clearly you'll wear gear of the sports team you like and are going to watch) but it's just the way it is. It's somewhat acceptable to buy a shirt and put it on at the show, but I do not recommend this practice either. It's better to wear a different band shirt or something non-music related. Other band shirts you will always see at shows? Led Zepplin and AC/DC. Every time. It doesn't matter if it's a Bright Eyes, O.A.R., or Lady Gaga concert- you'll always see THAT guy at a show.
 |
| "What is Klingon for 'douche?'" |
- Know the terrain. It is amazing how many people can't figure out when they buy tickets if the venue/show is reserved seats or general admission, seated or standing. Know the situation and be prepared to act accordingly. If you absolutely need to get up front and the show is GA, then show up early (or be a huge dick and likely cause a fight squeezing up front.) If you have reserved seats, find out who the opener is and likely show up after they are done. The more you are aware of your surroundings, the better off you'll be.
- Play the "what do you think they'll open with?" game. It's a fun game that is, at times, a true crap shoot. Take tonight for example- what will STP open with? I mentioned Wednesday that I'm hoping for "Dead & Bloated." I could also see "Meatplow" or "Vasoline" (if they aren't saving that for later in the set.) I can't imagine the opener will not come from their first or second albums. Yeah, I just used a double negative- what of it?
 | ||
| "Fuck you- we're playing our entire new record!" |
---
Here's a fun story from August of 2000. My girlfriend at the time and I had been dating for only a couple months. We decided to see Third Eye Blind, Vertical Horizon, and Nine Days at the Sleeptrain Amphitheater in Marysville. We showed up early and earned a spot right up front (the area in front of the stage was GA.) We peacefully watched Nine Days and Vertical Horizon. I even caught a Vertical Horizon pick (which I still have, but it is not one of my most valued possessions.) Before Third Eye Blind was about to take the stage, some fat, drunk bitch tries to cut in front of us. She's stumbling in the crowd and mumbling about how "all these posers aren't real fans." Considering I met the band over a year before their first major label record came out, I took exception to this. Also, I think I felt like I had to act tough in front of the girl I'd been dating only a short time.
Me: Hey, you can't cut in front of us- all of us here got here early. You're not getting in front of us.
Her: [drunken mumbles] Yeah, I'm just going to go right there. [points in front of me.]
Me: No you're not- I know you think you're some awesome fan, but we got here early and you're not getting in front of us.
Her: Um... I... uh... going there. [take a hint already, bitchzilla!]
Me: Go bother someone else- this isn't happening for you.
Her: [Still trying to push her way in front of us] I swear I'm not usually like this- I'm not a bitch.
Me: Oh- but you ARE a bitch. [This was not a great thing to tell a drunk girl with a beer in her hand.]
At this point, I see her eyes get big and she's definitely going to dump the beer on my head. Since I'm tall, I grab the cup and begin to raise it up out of her hand. She realizes this, and crushes the cup. It barely gets on me. It gets COMPLETELY all over my now ex-girlfriend (we did not break up due to this- that came later.)
Fun fact: The security guard looked exactly like Kurt Angle. After the beer dumping, I called out for "Kurt Angle" to come over and kick the drunk girl out of the pit. He actually responded quickly leading me to believe it might have been the Gold Medalist. Third Eye Blind came on minutes later and my date was drenched in beer. She toughed it out and was a good sport about it, but here is another lesson- People are going to be drunk assholes. Do not incite them into doing dumb stuff that will affect you.
 |
| He may actually work security on the side these days. |
---
So there you have it. Concert Going 101. Feel free to add in your own (obvious?) tips. Have a great weekend!
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