Just Asking
On a light raining, 45-degree December late night, I ask:
Why is there a Wanda Sykes show? Or, for that matter, a Wanda Sykes?
Why would anyone plunk down their hard-earned cash, or even their easily-earned cash, for a Kenny Alphin album?
Does Garth Brooks think those staredown publicity mug shots of him give him an air of edginess? Yeah, sure, he's a real outlaw.
Not two years later, but from Day One I wanted to puke when I saw that Robert Plant was doing some recording with Allison Krauss. I knew what was coming. Any time someone from the rock field slums their way into the country music neighborhood, the bowdowns and hosannas just never stop. As if it is so wonderful that some washed-up rocker would want to humble himself by stepping on a country music stage.
...
Tuesday, December 01, 2009
Fine me, please
by Bryce Martin
Keith Bulluck of the Titans tosses the football into the stands each time he makes an interception and the play has ended. That is an automatic fine from the NFL.
Bulluck always boasts that he doesn't care, he's always going to do it anyway.
Of course, he is. It's to his advantage. He needs charity write-offs to help keep money from his salary that would otherwise go to Uncle Sam.
In fact, many of the so-called NFL "bad boys" have been using this ploy for years.
Player fines collected by the league have been used to support retired player programs, including the NFL Player Care Foundation and NFLPA Players Assistance Trust, disaster relief programs and and other charities.
The fined player chalks it up as a donation to charity. Thus, he gets his tax deduction that he was going to need to discharge in some form anyway.
It surely beats having to get up early and spend all day some Saturday in the off-season showing a bunch of eight-year-old campers how to run a slant pattern all in the name of some caring charity.
I keep forgetting my Hemingway tip:
"The weather it was fine." Isn't that a line from "Oh, Susanna" by Foster?
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by Bryce Martin
Keith Bulluck of the Titans tosses the football into the stands each time he makes an interception and the play has ended. That is an automatic fine from the NFL.
Bulluck always boasts that he doesn't care, he's always going to do it anyway.
Of course, he is. It's to his advantage. He needs charity write-offs to help keep money from his salary that would otherwise go to Uncle Sam.
In fact, many of the so-called NFL "bad boys" have been using this ploy for years.
Player fines collected by the league have been used to support retired player programs, including the NFL Player Care Foundation and NFLPA Players Assistance Trust, disaster relief programs and and other charities.
The fined player chalks it up as a donation to charity. Thus, he gets his tax deduction that he was going to need to discharge in some form anyway.
It surely beats having to get up early and spend all day some Saturday in the off-season showing a bunch of eight-year-old campers how to run a slant pattern all in the name of some caring charity.
I keep forgetting my Hemingway tip:
"The weather it was fine." Isn't that a line from "Oh, Susanna" by Foster?
-30-
Tennessean newspaper needs to consult styleguide
by Bryce Martin
In a Tennessean news story ("Path cleared for Tennessee to execute 1980 Killer," December 1, 2009), reporter Kate Howard details some events that led to a man's murder conviction. The killer shot and killed three people while robbing a grocery store. One was a 12-year-old boy who was working the cash register at his father's store. Howard wrote, "The 12-year-old sold Cokes and snacks... ." So, are we to understand that a grocery store would sell nothing but Cokes when a multitude of soft drinks were on the market then as now. A small grocery store selling only Cokes would greatly hamper its sales possibilities. It's a journalism problem. I blame not Howard but the editors at the Tennessean, if they have any. Coke is a brand name for Coca-Cola. Coke is not a generic word for any soft drink. To spell Coke with a lower case "c" in printed form is incorrect, and in Coca-Cola's opinion, illegal. You still see it in newspapers even though the journalism industry has warned against it for years in its trade periodicals. The next worse thing is to do as Howard did, capitalize it but write it in a way that implies the same thing: That all soft drinks are Cokes, or cokes.
I guess that is the choice of soft drinks today in McNewsrooms.
by Bryce Martin
In a Tennessean news story ("Path cleared for Tennessee to execute 1980 Killer," December 1, 2009), reporter Kate Howard details some events that led to a man's murder conviction. The killer shot and killed three people while robbing a grocery store. One was a 12-year-old boy who was working the cash register at his father's store. Howard wrote, "The 12-year-old sold Cokes and snacks... ." So, are we to understand that a grocery store would sell nothing but Cokes when a multitude of soft drinks were on the market then as now. A small grocery store selling only Cokes would greatly hamper its sales possibilities. It's a journalism problem. I blame not Howard but the editors at the Tennessean, if they have any. Coke is a brand name for Coca-Cola. Coke is not a generic word for any soft drink. To spell Coke with a lower case "c" in printed form is incorrect, and in Coca-Cola's opinion, illegal. You still see it in newspapers even though the journalism industry has warned against it for years in its trade periodicals. The next worse thing is to do as Howard did, capitalize it but write it in a way that implies the same thing: That all soft drinks are Cokes, or cokes.
I guess that is the choice of soft drinks today in McNewsrooms.
Saturday, November 14, 2009
Three University of Tennessee Football Players to Pay Penance
The three UT football players who tried to rob some fellow UT students were sentenced to watch an Adam Sandler movie (in its entirety) as punishment for some early morning misdeeds. Coach Lane Kiffin said let's move on, as if needing to concentrate on its next opponent, Vanderbilt, required such focus.
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The three UT football players who tried to rob some fellow UT students were sentenced to watch an Adam Sandler movie (in its entirety) as punishment for some early morning misdeeds. Coach Lane Kiffin said let's move on, as if needing to concentrate on its next opponent, Vanderbilt, required such focus.
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Monday, October 05, 2009
Tuesday, September 29, 2009
Sunday, September 27, 2009
Gaylord has worn out its welcome
People still arrive in Nashville only to soon be disappointed in finding that the theme park is closed. Not just closed but bulldozed and replaced with a shopping mall. Replaced not just recently but more than a decade ago.
It's a shock to those small but dedicated numbers who came back to relive some sunny summer days in more youthful times.
Many locals are not fond of Gaylord's theme park pullout, either. After all, Gaylord admitted the place was turning a profit when they canned the concept, just not the kind of profit they wanted. That washed out as one word: greed.
Gaylord was not done riling up the populace. When they nearly made the move to change the format of the legendary WSM-AM radio station, they were met with public outrage so deep it had a threatening undertone. They nixed that idea.
Folks started wondering if any institution was safe. What would get the ax next, The Grand Ole Opry? Well, some problems came about there, too. Some old timers on the Opry found their spots reduced considerably by the fresh-faced male hat acts who all sound like Pro Tools versions of Merle Haggard and the new wave of blonde girl singers who are, well, blonde.
Gaylord may be churning out the profits it likes but its image is kaput.
...
People still arrive in Nashville only to soon be disappointed in finding that the theme park is closed. Not just closed but bulldozed and replaced with a shopping mall. Replaced not just recently but more than a decade ago.
It's a shock to those small but dedicated numbers who came back to relive some sunny summer days in more youthful times.
Many locals are not fond of Gaylord's theme park pullout, either. After all, Gaylord admitted the place was turning a profit when they canned the concept, just not the kind of profit they wanted. That washed out as one word: greed.
Gaylord was not done riling up the populace. When they nearly made the move to change the format of the legendary WSM-AM radio station, they were met with public outrage so deep it had a threatening undertone. They nixed that idea.
Folks started wondering if any institution was safe. What would get the ax next, The Grand Ole Opry? Well, some problems came about there, too. Some old timers on the Opry found their spots reduced considerably by the fresh-faced male hat acts who all sound like Pro Tools versions of Merle Haggard and the new wave of blonde girl singers who are, well, blonde.
Gaylord may be churning out the profits it likes but its image is kaput.
...
Sunday, September 20, 2009
Self-Indulgent Touchdown Celebrants,
Or Watch Chad He Fun
Most of us can count to ten in Spanish, whether we have any real grasp of the language at all.
It's just one of those things we pick up early on that stays with us. That's probably why the Spanish words for "eight" and "five" are old hat to us.
But, for someone who lacks a grasp of his own native language, English, those two words must have really sounded neat to said adult who heard them for the first time.
Enter Chad Ochocinco, formerly Chad Johnson.
It's not surprising then that Mr. Tiny Brain also spends much spare time devising possible touchdown celebration antics. Considering the fact that he gets paid big money to score touchdowns in the first place -- call it his main job requirement -- and you get the idea that the guy doesn't spend a lot of time on heady diversions.
Using the excuse that he is just adding fun to the sport, the standard excuse, the fact is the majority of us up in the stands would just as soon -- prefer, actually -- that after he or someone like him scores, they just hand the ball to the ref and go on about their way. The only one who really thinks it is fun is the celebrant, he and the abettors who are doing the spring bounce at his side.
It's really all about him, not about adding some fun for us spectators. It's too much of an obvious self-indulgent display for us to get giddy over.
Please, grow up gentlemen. After all, it is a man's sport is it not?
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Or Watch Chad He Fun
Most of us can count to ten in Spanish, whether we have any real grasp of the language at all.
It's just one of those things we pick up early on that stays with us. That's probably why the Spanish words for "eight" and "five" are old hat to us.
But, for someone who lacks a grasp of his own native language, English, those two words must have really sounded neat to said adult who heard them for the first time.
Enter Chad Ochocinco, formerly Chad Johnson.
It's not surprising then that Mr. Tiny Brain also spends much spare time devising possible touchdown celebration antics. Considering the fact that he gets paid big money to score touchdowns in the first place -- call it his main job requirement -- and you get the idea that the guy doesn't spend a lot of time on heady diversions.
Using the excuse that he is just adding fun to the sport, the standard excuse, the fact is the majority of us up in the stands would just as soon -- prefer, actually -- that after he or someone like him scores, they just hand the ball to the ref and go on about their way. The only one who really thinks it is fun is the celebrant, he and the abettors who are doing the spring bounce at his side.
It's really all about him, not about adding some fun for us spectators. It's too much of an obvious self-indulgent display for us to get giddy over.
Please, grow up gentlemen. After all, it is a man's sport is it not?
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Monday, September 07, 2009
Today's News: What a crock
Ludacris' charity is his own
In today's news, another example of the media abetting a celebrity who is using a tax write-off as if it was a gift of benevolence:
Talk about a one-man stimulus package: Grammy-winning rapper Ludacris has given away 20 cars to people who wrote about their struggles to keep their jobs for a lack of wheels of their own.
Ludacris said he was taken aback after reading thousands of essays by people struggling or unable to buy cars needed to get to and from work or find jobs. The 31-year-old rapper felt he could step in and move them ahead, partnering with a suburban Atlanta dealership for Sunday's...
And so on.
Ludacris and his team of advisors pulled the old double-coup. Make a charitable donation and do it in a way to garner as much publicity for yourself as possible. Since the media is always looking for a few feel-good stories to balance the top of the masthead negative ones, they will go along with the charade.
This is not meant to be a shot aimed at Ludacris. He's far too transparent for that. It's about all those who make mucho dinero and who follow the established pattern to keep as much of it as possible by loopholing Uncle Sam's codes.
The Fifth Estate is again reduced to a hovel.
-30-
Ludacris' charity is his own
In today's news, another example of the media abetting a celebrity who is using a tax write-off as if it was a gift of benevolence:
Talk about a one-man stimulus package: Grammy-winning rapper Ludacris has given away 20 cars to people who wrote about their struggles to keep their jobs for a lack of wheels of their own.
Ludacris said he was taken aback after reading thousands of essays by people struggling or unable to buy cars needed to get to and from work or find jobs. The 31-year-old rapper felt he could step in and move them ahead, partnering with a suburban Atlanta dealership for Sunday's...
And so on.
Ludacris and his team of advisors pulled the old double-coup. Make a charitable donation and do it in a way to garner as much publicity for yourself as possible. Since the media is always looking for a few feel-good stories to balance the top of the masthead negative ones, they will go along with the charade.
This is not meant to be a shot aimed at Ludacris. He's far too transparent for that. It's about all those who make mucho dinero and who follow the established pattern to keep as much of it as possible by loopholing Uncle Sam's codes.
The Fifth Estate is again reduced to a hovel.
-30-
Thursday, September 03, 2009
Yahoo headline:
Kennedy memoir calls Chappaquiddick 'inexcusable'
Since Ted Kennedy's death, I have read such things as "we shouldn't focus on one bad thing in a person's life but their sum total." Or, some gibberish along those lines. One thing is all it takes. Ask most of the people serving time in prison for murder. Prison, by the way, is where Kennedy should have been when he died going back to when he let his "date" drown.
Are we supposed to be impressed that Kennedy would view his murder of a young girl as "inexcusable" years after while he was swilling his liquor and enjoying the fat of a family larder? Some people even like to point out how many years he "served" in office, overlooking the fact that Kennedy was a democrat living in a heavy democrat region -- meaning it was never likely he would ever have any competition.
But, I digress. The fact that Kennedy obviously didn't find his cowardly acts to save his own despicable ass "inexcusable" back then -- that's his real legacy.
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Kennedy memoir calls Chappaquiddick 'inexcusable'
Since Ted Kennedy's death, I have read such things as "we shouldn't focus on one bad thing in a person's life but their sum total." Or, some gibberish along those lines. One thing is all it takes. Ask most of the people serving time in prison for murder. Prison, by the way, is where Kennedy should have been when he died going back to when he let his "date" drown.
Are we supposed to be impressed that Kennedy would view his murder of a young girl as "inexcusable" years after while he was swilling his liquor and enjoying the fat of a family larder? Some people even like to point out how many years he "served" in office, overlooking the fact that Kennedy was a democrat living in a heavy democrat region -- meaning it was never likely he would ever have any competition.
But, I digress. The fact that Kennedy obviously didn't find his cowardly acts to save his own despicable ass "inexcusable" back then -- that's his real legacy.
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Wednesday, August 26, 2009
Sunday, August 23, 2009
Fishing on Spring River, 1956
Uncle Walt Martin and wife Annabelle, along with sons Walt Jr., Wallace, Larry and Jimmy, came to visit on a summer vacation from California and their home on the Mojave Desert near Death Valley.
We went fishing on Spring River with the entire family, including Annabelle's mother, Mrs. Crandall.
All of us were getting bites and bringing in, well, crawdads, large crawdads. We caught a few small fish, but by and large it was crawdads. Walter thought maybe after we tossed them back in that we were catching the same ones again. He proposed we toss them far up the bank behind us.
As time passed and bites slowed, each of us begin moving up and down the bank seeking greener waters.
I moved around so much I found myself back where we had all started as more or less a group. Mrs. Crandall was still there, sitting with her large frame and her legs straight out. Heavy as she was, she must have decided that once she flopped down she was going to stay put. The problem was as I noticed by approaching the scene was that all the crawdads we had tossed upbank were now slowly crawling back to the water and she was in the path of a good half dozen or so of the pincered lot. I didn't expect that they would actually do her any physical harm, but I was also sure that when they went from blindside to full view she would be startled beyond recall.
Figuring the best thing would be to warn her since she had time to remove herself from her current position, I said, "Mrs. Crandall, some crawdads are headed your way."
She raised her head some and looked out at the waters.
"No," I said. "Behind you."
At that instant she spied one from the corner of her left eye as she turned her head sideways. She let out a grunt and kind of squirmed and scooted forwards slightly.
"Help," I hollered, realizing she had sat long enough that she was not going to be able to get to her feet on her own and that I was not going to be able to handle the balance of the load on my own.
Uncle Walt and some others arrived, appraised the situation, laughed and helped her to her feet.
We ended the day all having a good time and taking home a few frying-size fish.
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Uncle Walt Martin and wife Annabelle, along with sons Walt Jr., Wallace, Larry and Jimmy, came to visit on a summer vacation from California and their home on the Mojave Desert near Death Valley.
We went fishing on Spring River with the entire family, including Annabelle's mother, Mrs. Crandall.
All of us were getting bites and bringing in, well, crawdads, large crawdads. We caught a few small fish, but by and large it was crawdads. Walter thought maybe after we tossed them back in that we were catching the same ones again. He proposed we toss them far up the bank behind us.
As time passed and bites slowed, each of us begin moving up and down the bank seeking greener waters.
I moved around so much I found myself back where we had all started as more or less a group. Mrs. Crandall was still there, sitting with her large frame and her legs straight out. Heavy as she was, she must have decided that once she flopped down she was going to stay put. The problem was as I noticed by approaching the scene was that all the crawdads we had tossed upbank were now slowly crawling back to the water and she was in the path of a good half dozen or so of the pincered lot. I didn't expect that they would actually do her any physical harm, but I was also sure that when they went from blindside to full view she would be startled beyond recall.
Figuring the best thing would be to warn her since she had time to remove herself from her current position, I said, "Mrs. Crandall, some crawdads are headed your way."
She raised her head some and looked out at the waters.
"No," I said. "Behind you."
At that instant she spied one from the corner of her left eye as she turned her head sideways. She let out a grunt and kind of squirmed and scooted forwards slightly.
"Help," I hollered, realizing she had sat long enough that she was not going to be able to get to her feet on her own and that I was not going to be able to handle the balance of the load on my own.
Uncle Walt and some others arrived, appraised the situation, laughed and helped her to her feet.
We ended the day all having a good time and taking home a few frying-size fish.
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Saturday, August 22, 2009
Saturday, August 08, 2009
Yahoo headline:
Vick to speak to youths about dogs
Yassah, Massa.
Why does the NFL commish still want to run Michael Vick through the hoops? Vick has apologized all over the place. Why, since we know Vick will never reconcile in his mind that he ever did anything wrong by being involved in dog fighting.
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Vick to speak to youths about dogs
Yassah, Massa.
Why does the NFL commish still want to run Michael Vick through the hoops? Vick has apologized all over the place. Why, since we know Vick will never reconcile in his mind that he ever did anything wrong by being involved in dog fighting.
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Thursday, August 06, 2009
Sotomayor first Hispanic justice no big deal
Adding Sonia Sotomayor to the supreme court is just adding another voice for the ACLU. What is even more irksome is the media angle that trumps all else: our first Hispanic justice. As if that makes for water fountain conversation. Sure, I realize it might for some Hispanics. As for the media, I suggest we trim the nationalities list a little more before we can even consider this as being significant. Here's a few for starters (forgive my ignorance if someone has already filled a spot on this list of yet to be justices):
Albanians
Argentines
Australians
Austrians
Belgians
Brazilians
Britons
Canadians
Catalans
Chinese
Colombians
Cubans
Czechs
Danes
Dominicans
Dutch
Finns
Greeks
Hungarians
Iranians
Japanese
Kazakh
Koreans
Monegasque
New Zealanders
Peruvians
Poles
Portuguese
Puerto Ricans
Quebecois
Russians
Sardinians
Slavs
Slovenes
South Africans
Spaniards
Swedes
Swiss
Ukrainians
Venezuelans
Welsh
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Adding Sonia Sotomayor to the supreme court is just adding another voice for the ACLU. What is even more irksome is the media angle that trumps all else: our first Hispanic justice. As if that makes for water fountain conversation. Sure, I realize it might for some Hispanics. As for the media, I suggest we trim the nationalities list a little more before we can even consider this as being significant. Here's a few for starters (forgive my ignorance if someone has already filled a spot on this list of yet to be justices):
Albanians
Argentines
Australians
Austrians
Belgians
Brazilians
Britons
Canadians
Catalans
Chinese
Colombians
Cubans
Czechs
Danes
Dominicans
Dutch
Finns
Greeks
Hungarians
Iranians
Japanese
Kazakh
Koreans
Monegasque
New Zealanders
Peruvians
Poles
Portuguese
Puerto Ricans
Quebecois
Russians
Sardinians
Slavs
Slovenes
South Africans
Spaniards
Swedes
Swiss
Ukrainians
Venezuelans
Welsh
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Wednesday, August 05, 2009
Friday, July 10, 2009
McNair Not Most Popular Titan Ever
Tennessean newspaper columnist David Climer is impressionable.
How else can you explain this quote from him in his July 10 column regarding the deceased Steve McNair: "He was the most popular player to wear a Titans jersey."
Really? So popular in fact that the first time he (McNair) wore a Titans jersey in a real game he was booed for his poor play. Meanwhile, the top-selling NFL jersey that year -- in all of the NFL, mind you -- was Titans running back Eddie George's No. 27.
Not only did George send the cash registers clicking at a rate matched by no other NFL player back in 1999, he remained in the top ten clear up until the 2001-2002 season, after which injuries and less glitzy stats became the norm.
McNair was never even in the top 25, not even in the year or the year after he shared the league co-MVP award with Peyton Manning.
Eddie George is the most popular Titans player ever, not just across the country but in Nashville. Hasn't Climer noticed that what counts in this country is sex appeal, and that George had that over McNair hands down. In fact, Frank Wychek was likely more popular than McNair.
Would Climer have made the same statement any time before July 4?
-30-
Tennessean newspaper columnist David Climer is impressionable.
How else can you explain this quote from him in his July 10 column regarding the deceased Steve McNair: "He was the most popular player to wear a Titans jersey."
Really? So popular in fact that the first time he (McNair) wore a Titans jersey in a real game he was booed for his poor play. Meanwhile, the top-selling NFL jersey that year -- in all of the NFL, mind you -- was Titans running back Eddie George's No. 27.
Not only did George send the cash registers clicking at a rate matched by no other NFL player back in 1999, he remained in the top ten clear up until the 2001-2002 season, after which injuries and less glitzy stats became the norm.
McNair was never even in the top 25, not even in the year or the year after he shared the league co-MVP award with Peyton Manning.
Eddie George is the most popular Titans player ever, not just across the country but in Nashville. Hasn't Climer noticed that what counts in this country is sex appeal, and that George had that over McNair hands down. In fact, Frank Wychek was likely more popular than McNair.
Would Climer have made the same statement any time before July 4?
-30-
Wednesday, July 08, 2009
Michael Jackson's Resting Place?
Yahoo headline: Jackson Resting Place Unknown
I think not. The place I am thinking of does not have resting as an option. Jackson should fit right in. With his squeals, he will need to add gnashing of teeth, and his Moonwalk will look more like a man who has been given a hot foot.
-30-
Yahoo headline: Jackson Resting Place Unknown
I think not. The place I am thinking of does not have resting as an option. Jackson should fit right in. With his squeals, he will need to add gnashing of teeth, and his Moonwalk will look more like a man who has been given a hot foot.
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Monday, July 06, 2009
Athletes donate because it's a tax write-off
Fact: All pro athletes first joining the ranks -- pick your sport -- are told first off to establish a charity. It's a tax write-off you have to have to save money. Let Uncle Sam take $400,000 of your money, or start your own charity and he only gets $100,000. It all depends on your pay grade.
Plus, you never have to pay for gasoline again and there's a lot of free groceries and other things you can chalk up to costs for running the charity. And an even bigger plus, you can keep the wife happy by giving her no-good brother a job title -- say, transportation manager -- and a $36,000 per year salary as one of the charity officers.
Even Pacman Jones had a charity. You think he would have done it on his own if the primary beneficiary wasn't him?
Of course, the money that actually does go to charity goes to a good cause. I mean, isn't that what charity is all about? It's not as much about being charitable, however, as it is about using good business sense.
The media goes right along with it. How many times will we hear repeated how wonderful Steve McNair was with all his charity work. Or, how the newest player is starting his own charity. We have no real idea how wonderful they would be until it is really their money they are donating.
The fact is this: the charity racket that creates such "community-minded" athletes to "give back" is a tax dodge.
The athletes are getting money from you and me and trading it around in paperwork to give themselves a tax write-off that translates to more money for them. Athletes can benefit long after they are retired from their respective sport. Those links and money pipelines they have established can be their main source of income as they keep the charity racket going as long as possible. For those with no other skills, it can be their sole source of livelihood.
It's not just athletes, either. It's celebrities from all ilks who find themselves in a high income position.
How long must this charade go on? I, for one, am weary of the misreporting by the media and the overall subterfuge.
-30-
Fact: All pro athletes first joining the ranks -- pick your sport -- are told first off to establish a charity. It's a tax write-off you have to have to save money. Let Uncle Sam take $400,000 of your money, or start your own charity and he only gets $100,000. It all depends on your pay grade.
Plus, you never have to pay for gasoline again and there's a lot of free groceries and other things you can chalk up to costs for running the charity. And an even bigger plus, you can keep the wife happy by giving her no-good brother a job title -- say, transportation manager -- and a $36,000 per year salary as one of the charity officers.
Even Pacman Jones had a charity. You think he would have done it on his own if the primary beneficiary wasn't him?
Of course, the money that actually does go to charity goes to a good cause. I mean, isn't that what charity is all about? It's not as much about being charitable, however, as it is about using good business sense.
The media goes right along with it. How many times will we hear repeated how wonderful Steve McNair was with all his charity work. Or, how the newest player is starting his own charity. We have no real idea how wonderful they would be until it is really their money they are donating.
The fact is this: the charity racket that creates such "community-minded" athletes to "give back" is a tax dodge.
The athletes are getting money from you and me and trading it around in paperwork to give themselves a tax write-off that translates to more money for them. Athletes can benefit long after they are retired from their respective sport. Those links and money pipelines they have established can be their main source of income as they keep the charity racket going as long as possible. For those with no other skills, it can be their sole source of livelihood.
It's not just athletes, either. It's celebrities from all ilks who find themselves in a high income position.
How long must this charade go on? I, for one, am weary of the misreporting by the media and the overall subterfuge.
-30-
Sunday, July 05, 2009
How "up front" was Steve McNair?
With the sad death of Steve McNair, I keep hearing how "up front" he was as an individual, as evidenced by the way he never avoided the media even after a bad outing.
I recall those times. I cannot help but recall them since the media made it a point each time to remind us how "up front" McNair was with microphones stuck in his face after a contest where his poor play contributed greatly to a loss.
It was a little astonishing, that our media would actually praise someone for taking personal responsibility. And even more amazing that our local media would consider that a virtue of some sort and not something to be expected.
Even more astonishing was when McNair received a citation for driving drunk -- which he quite obviously was -- but that McNair was not so up front with that. Instead of confessing and taking his punishment, he chose to spend upteens of money to get off free on that one. How "up front" was that?
Our local media did not even raise an eyebrow. I guess it did not fit their profile of what "up front" means to them.
Was McNair killed in a fit of rage from a jilted suitor? Did McNair want out because the officer who arrested her for driving drunk just a couple of days earlier was the same one who received so much publicity for arresting McNair who had to pull out his get out of jail free card? Did McNair not want the publicity that might come?
The bigger question. If he had just pleaded guilty back then would this now have not been an issue and he would still be alive?
Forgive me if I'm up front in asking.
-30-
With the sad death of Steve McNair, I keep hearing how "up front" he was as an individual, as evidenced by the way he never avoided the media even after a bad outing.
I recall those times. I cannot help but recall them since the media made it a point each time to remind us how "up front" McNair was with microphones stuck in his face after a contest where his poor play contributed greatly to a loss.
It was a little astonishing, that our media would actually praise someone for taking personal responsibility. And even more amazing that our local media would consider that a virtue of some sort and not something to be expected.
Even more astonishing was when McNair received a citation for driving drunk -- which he quite obviously was -- but that McNair was not so up front with that. Instead of confessing and taking his punishment, he chose to spend upteens of money to get off free on that one. How "up front" was that?
Our local media did not even raise an eyebrow. I guess it did not fit their profile of what "up front" means to them.
Was McNair killed in a fit of rage from a jilted suitor? Did McNair want out because the officer who arrested her for driving drunk just a couple of days earlier was the same one who received so much publicity for arresting McNair who had to pull out his get out of jail free card? Did McNair not want the publicity that might come?
The bigger question. If he had just pleaded guilty back then would this now have not been an issue and he would still be alive?
Forgive me if I'm up front in asking.
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Monday, June 29, 2009
Columbus Baseball Song
Hey Columbus, Ho Columbus, rally with me,
Hey Columbus, Ho Columbus, make some noise,
We'll sting you like a huckle-berry bee,
Hey Columbus, Ho Columbus, play ball boys
Hey Columbus, Ho Columbus, rally with me,
Hey Columbus, Ho Columbus, make some noise,
Cassidy in the left field, John in the right,
Hey Columbus, Ho Columbus, play ball boys
Hey Columbus, Ho Columbus, rally with me,
Hey Columbus, Ho Columbus, make some noise,
Woods on the third base, Tommy on the stop,
Hey Columbus, Ho Columbus, play ball boys
Hey Columbus, Ho Columbus, rally with me,
Hey Columbus, Ho Columbus, make some noise,
Larry on the home plate, Cherry on the hill,
Hey Columbus, Ho Columbus, play ball boys
Hey Columbus, Ho Columbus, rally with me,
Hey Columbus, Ho Columbus, make some noise,
Bryce in the center field catching all the flies,
Hey Columbus, Ho Columbus, play ball boys
Hey Columbus, Ho Columbus, rally with me,
Hey Columbus, Ho Columbus, make some noise,
Goben is on the second base, workin' the bag,
Hey Columbus, Ho Columbus, play ball boys
Hey Columbus, Ho Columbus, rally with me,
Hey Columbus, Ho Columbus, make some noise,
Foster on first base, mighty slick and good,
Hey Columbus, Ho Columbus, play ball boys
Let's go on over, on over,
Let's go on over, on over,
We'll go on over, all the way over to Joplin,
They've got no team, we'll leave them sobbin',
Their batters are weak, all show and no go,
Stick a fork in their pitchers, they're done
-- Bryce Martin
Note: The bench song for Columbus, Kan., American Legion baseball team, 1960.
Larry Katcher, Mike Cherry, Floyd Woods, Butch Goben, Tommy Ligon, Dave Foster, Gary Cassidy, Bryce Martin, John Deakins.
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Hey Columbus, Ho Columbus, rally with me,
Hey Columbus, Ho Columbus, make some noise,
We'll sting you like a huckle-berry bee,
Hey Columbus, Ho Columbus, play ball boys
Hey Columbus, Ho Columbus, rally with me,
Hey Columbus, Ho Columbus, make some noise,
Cassidy in the left field, John in the right,
Hey Columbus, Ho Columbus, play ball boys
Hey Columbus, Ho Columbus, rally with me,
Hey Columbus, Ho Columbus, make some noise,
Woods on the third base, Tommy on the stop,
Hey Columbus, Ho Columbus, play ball boys
Hey Columbus, Ho Columbus, rally with me,
Hey Columbus, Ho Columbus, make some noise,
Larry on the home plate, Cherry on the hill,
Hey Columbus, Ho Columbus, play ball boys
Hey Columbus, Ho Columbus, rally with me,
Hey Columbus, Ho Columbus, make some noise,
Bryce in the center field catching all the flies,
Hey Columbus, Ho Columbus, play ball boys
Hey Columbus, Ho Columbus, rally with me,
Hey Columbus, Ho Columbus, make some noise,
Goben is on the second base, workin' the bag,
Hey Columbus, Ho Columbus, play ball boys
Hey Columbus, Ho Columbus, rally with me,
Hey Columbus, Ho Columbus, make some noise,
Foster on first base, mighty slick and good,
Hey Columbus, Ho Columbus, play ball boys
Let's go on over, on over,
Let's go on over, on over,
We'll go on over, all the way over to Joplin,
They've got no team, we'll leave them sobbin',
Their batters are weak, all show and no go,
Stick a fork in their pitchers, they're done
-- Bryce Martin
Note: The bench song for Columbus, Kan., American Legion baseball team, 1960.
Larry Katcher, Mike Cherry, Floyd Woods, Butch Goben, Tommy Ligon, Dave Foster, Gary Cassidy, Bryce Martin, John Deakins.
-30-
Sunday, June 28, 2009
A few of the periodicals in a collection at Georgia State University
relating to country music and associated genres
Acoustic Guitar, 2000 Acoustic Musician Magazine, 1994 American Academy for the Preservation of Old-Time Country Music and Country Music Magazine, The 1991 Legends of Country Music Calendar American Academy for the Preservation of Old-Time Country Music, The 1993 Legends of Country Music Calendar American Academy for the Preservation of Old-Time Country Music, 1995 Legends of Country Music Calendar American Academy for the Preservation of Old-Time Country Music, 1997 Legends of Country Music Calendar American Songwriter, 1984-1991 Annual International Folk Alliance Conference Program Book, 2000 Arizona Sun, 1947 Atlantic America Record, 1989 Back to the Country, 1987 Banjo Newsletter, 1980-2000 BLN Index, 1978/79 Bluegrass Now, 1992-1993 Bluegrass Unlimited, 1968-2005 Blueprint: Washington's Bluegrass Newspaper, 1980-1982 The Blues Collection, 1996 BMI Music World, 1991 Christian Music News Close Up Magazine, 1987-1990 Colorado Country Connection, 1990 Country: Musical Trails Less Traveled, 2003-2005 Country America, 1990-1992 Country and Western Hit Parade, 1969 Country and Old Time Music Entertainment News, 1986 Country Gazette, 1986-1987 Country Music, 1972-2001 Country Music Club of Switzerland News Letter Country Music Forum, 1988 Country Music Journal from Nevada Country Music Inquirer, 1986 Country Music Magazine, The 1992 Country Music Calendar Country Music Magazine, The 2001 Calendar Country Music News Entertainment Guide, 1991 Country Music Parade, 1986 Country Music People, 1996 The Country Music Record, 1986-1987 Country Music Review, 1965 Country Music Society of America, The 1993 Country Music Calendar Country Music Society of America, Country Music 1995 Calendar Country Music Society of America, Country Music 1997 Calendar Country Musical Trails Less Traveled Country News, 1986 Country Plus, 1987, 1991 Country Radio Reporter, 1989 Country Rhythms, 1981-1982 Country Scene Country Side News, 1983 Country Song Roundup, 1949-1991 Country Songs and Stars, 1964-1966 Country Sounds, 1986-1987 Country Style, 1979 Cowboy Songs, 1950-1962 The Devil's Box, 1973-2000 DISCoveries, 1988-2005 The Entertainer, 1986 Entertainment Express, 1989 Fanpower, 1991 Fiddler Magazine, 1995-1997 Folk and Country Songs, 1956-1957 The Folk Era Today! Folk Roots, 2000 Frets, 1979-1989 Goldmine, 1987-1992 Gospel Music News, 1986 The Gospel Voice, 1990-1991 GRIT, 1998 Guitar Player, 1987-1990 Hillbilly and Cowboy Hit Parade, 1953 The Hill Billy Musicians from Post Cards and Snap Shots Calendar (2000) Homespun Holiday News, 1989 The Hudspeth Report The Independent News, 1986-1987 The Independent Record Magazine, 1988 Indie Bullet, 1987 Inside Country, 1988-1989 Inside Country Music, 1983 International Banjo, 1981 International Bluegrass, 2000-2003 The International Bluegrass Music Museum Newsletter, 1994 JEMF [John Edwards Memorial Foundation] Newsletter, 1967-1968 JEMF [John Edwards Memorial Foundation] Quarterly, 1969-1985 Jerry Jeff Walker Newsletter Jimmie Rodgers Memorial Association Newsletter, 1987 The Journal of American History, 1995 The Journal of Country Music, 1973-2004 The Journal of Texas Music History, 2001 Journal of the American Academy for the Preservation of Old-Time Country Music, 1991-2000 The Joyful Journal, 1977-1982 Kentucky Images Magazine, 1986 Little Nashville Express, 1986-1987 Midwest Country News The Mountain Broadcast and Prairie Recorder, 1944-1947 Movie-Radio Guide, 1936-1941 Music City News, 1964-1991 Music Row, 1971-1991 NARA News, 1996-2003 Nashville Informer, 1989 Nashville Scene, 1987 Nashville's Country Music Scene Nostalgia Digest, 1994-2005 Old Time Country, 1988-1994 Old Time Music, 1971-1988 The Old-Time Herald, 1987-2005 Patsy Montana International Fan Club, 1994-1998 Performance, 1986-1991 Performance Guide (Country Talent) Performing Songwriter, 2000 Pickin', 1979 Pickin' and Singin' News, 1954-1955 Precious Memories, 1988-1992 Pulse!, 1994 The Rackensack Review Radio Romances, 1944-1947 Rejoice!, 1989-1994 Renfro Valley Bugle, 1944-1946, 1984-2005 Renfro Valley Program, 1990-1996 Rural Radio, 1939 Sagebrush Journal, 1993-1994 The SEBA Breakdown, 1984-2005 Showcase (from The Tennessean), 1991 Sing Out, 1963-1997 The Singing News, 1988-2001 Smoke Signals, 1971 The Society for the Preservation of Early Country and Western Music, Inc., 1989 Song and Picture Barn Dance Magazine, 1947-1948 Song Hits, 1944 The Soundboard, 1992-1993 Southern Bluegrass News, 1988-1991 Southern Folk Directory, 1989 Southern Magazine, 1987 Today's Collector, 1996 Top Hits, 1945 Western Mail Western Swing Journal, 1997-2002 Western Swing Newsletter WIBW Round-Up, 1945-1953 Women in Bluegrass, 1995-2003
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relating to country music and associated genres
Acoustic Guitar, 2000 Acoustic Musician Magazine, 1994 American Academy for the Preservation of Old-Time Country Music and Country Music Magazine, The 1991 Legends of Country Music Calendar American Academy for the Preservation of Old-Time Country Music, The 1993 Legends of Country Music Calendar American Academy for the Preservation of Old-Time Country Music, 1995 Legends of Country Music Calendar American Academy for the Preservation of Old-Time Country Music, 1997 Legends of Country Music Calendar American Songwriter, 1984-1991 Annual International Folk Alliance Conference Program Book, 2000 Arizona Sun, 1947 Atlantic America Record, 1989 Back to the Country, 1987 Banjo Newsletter, 1980-2000 BLN Index, 1978/79 Bluegrass Now, 1992-1993 Bluegrass Unlimited, 1968-2005 Blueprint: Washington's Bluegrass Newspaper, 1980-1982 The Blues Collection, 1996 BMI Music World, 1991 Christian Music News Close Up Magazine, 1987-1990 Colorado Country Connection, 1990 Country: Musical Trails Less Traveled, 2003-2005 Country America, 1990-1992 Country and Western Hit Parade, 1969 Country and Old Time Music Entertainment News, 1986 Country Gazette, 1986-1987 Country Music, 1972-2001 Country Music Club of Switzerland News Letter Country Music Forum, 1988 Country Music Journal from Nevada Country Music Inquirer, 1986 Country Music Magazine, The 1992 Country Music Calendar Country Music Magazine, The 2001 Calendar Country Music News Entertainment Guide, 1991 Country Music Parade, 1986 Country Music People, 1996 The Country Music Record, 1986-1987 Country Music Review, 1965 Country Music Society of America, The 1993 Country Music Calendar Country Music Society of America, Country Music 1995 Calendar Country Music Society of America, Country Music 1997 Calendar Country Musical Trails Less Traveled Country News, 1986 Country Plus, 1987, 1991 Country Radio Reporter, 1989 Country Rhythms, 1981-1982 Country Scene Country Side News, 1983 Country Song Roundup, 1949-1991 Country Songs and Stars, 1964-1966 Country Sounds, 1986-1987 Country Style, 1979 Cowboy Songs, 1950-1962 The Devil's Box, 1973-2000 DISCoveries, 1988-2005 The Entertainer, 1986 Entertainment Express, 1989 Fanpower, 1991 Fiddler Magazine, 1995-1997 Folk and Country Songs, 1956-1957 The Folk Era Today! Folk Roots, 2000 Frets, 1979-1989 Goldmine, 1987-1992 Gospel Music News, 1986 The Gospel Voice, 1990-1991 GRIT, 1998 Guitar Player, 1987-1990 Hillbilly and Cowboy Hit Parade, 1953 The Hill Billy Musicians from Post Cards and Snap Shots Calendar (2000) Homespun Holiday News, 1989 The Hudspeth Report The Independent News, 1986-1987 The Independent Record Magazine, 1988 Indie Bullet, 1987 Inside Country, 1988-1989 Inside Country Music, 1983 International Banjo, 1981 International Bluegrass, 2000-2003 The International Bluegrass Music Museum Newsletter, 1994 JEMF [John Edwards Memorial Foundation] Newsletter, 1967-1968 JEMF [John Edwards Memorial Foundation] Quarterly, 1969-1985 Jerry Jeff Walker Newsletter Jimmie Rodgers Memorial Association Newsletter, 1987 The Journal of American History, 1995 The Journal of Country Music, 1973-2004 The Journal of Texas Music History, 2001 Journal of the American Academy for the Preservation of Old-Time Country Music, 1991-2000 The Joyful Journal, 1977-1982 Kentucky Images Magazine, 1986 Little Nashville Express, 1986-1987 Midwest Country News The Mountain Broadcast and Prairie Recorder, 1944-1947 Movie-Radio Guide, 1936-1941 Music City News, 1964-1991 Music Row, 1971-1991 NARA News, 1996-2003 Nashville Informer, 1989 Nashville Scene, 1987 Nashville's Country Music Scene Nostalgia Digest, 1994-2005 Old Time Country, 1988-1994 Old Time Music, 1971-1988 The Old-Time Herald, 1987-2005 Patsy Montana International Fan Club, 1994-1998 Performance, 1986-1991 Performance Guide (Country Talent) Performing Songwriter, 2000 Pickin', 1979 Pickin' and Singin' News, 1954-1955 Precious Memories, 1988-1992 Pulse!, 1994 The Rackensack Review Radio Romances, 1944-1947 Rejoice!, 1989-1994 Renfro Valley Bugle, 1944-1946, 1984-2005 Renfro Valley Program, 1990-1996 Rural Radio, 1939 Sagebrush Journal, 1993-1994 The SEBA Breakdown, 1984-2005 Showcase (from The Tennessean), 1991 Sing Out, 1963-1997 The Singing News, 1988-2001 Smoke Signals, 1971 The Society for the Preservation of Early Country and Western Music, Inc., 1989 Song and Picture Barn Dance Magazine, 1947-1948 Song Hits, 1944 The Soundboard, 1992-1993 Southern Bluegrass News, 1988-1991 Southern Folk Directory, 1989 Southern Magazine, 1987 Today's Collector, 1996 Top Hits, 1945 Western Mail Western Swing Journal, 1997-2002 Western Swing Newsletter WIBW Round-Up, 1945-1953 Women in Bluegrass, 1995-2003
-30-
Camp Lejeune 1966
A real novelty I discovered in the servicemen's club was a jukebox that displayed the singer singing the song on what could pass as a TV screen. Plus, it was in color. The machine was called a Scopitone, not a familiar jukebox name such as Seeburg. Oddly, it seemed to have drawn only my attention. I asked around and the dope on it was that it had a limited number of selections and those choices had not changed since it was plugged in. I quickly noticed an even bigger problem. Young servicemen, any young men for that matter, did not want to listen to nor watch Vic Damone and Jerry Vale. Especially at a quarter a pop. I gave it a go, finally taking Vale. Nice color. Vale waded around in bright green grass and colorful flowers were in bloom. A great idea, one you would think would be a big attraction, and the machine and the area it resided was deserted except for me and I was on my way.
-30-
A real novelty I discovered in the servicemen's club was a jukebox that displayed the singer singing the song on what could pass as a TV screen. Plus, it was in color. The machine was called a Scopitone, not a familiar jukebox name such as Seeburg. Oddly, it seemed to have drawn only my attention. I asked around and the dope on it was that it had a limited number of selections and those choices had not changed since it was plugged in. I quickly noticed an even bigger problem. Young servicemen, any young men for that matter, did not want to listen to nor watch Vic Damone and Jerry Vale. Especially at a quarter a pop. I gave it a go, finally taking Vale. Nice color. Vale waded around in bright green grass and colorful flowers were in bloom. A great idea, one you would think would be a big attraction, and the machine and the area it resided was deserted except for me and I was on my way.
-30-
Friday, June 26, 2009
Wednesday, June 24, 2009
LenDale White unnecessarily slammed
I am not a LenDale White fan, on or off the field.
To say, however, as his Titans running mate Chris Johnson has intimated (look it up, Chris), that White was riding his coattails last year by suggesting a nickname for the running tandem, is inaccurate.
While Johnson had a nice rookie season, White rushed for 15 touchdowns, the 11th highest total in NFL history and a franchise second only to Earl Campbell's 19. And they were not all for less than five yards, another inaccurate slam aimed at White by others, not Johnson. And what if they were? It still requires a talent not every power back has in abundance.
In just now shunning last year's nickname, Johnson could have been a little more considerate.
Expect Johnson to start referring to himself in the third person any day now, as Vince Young has recently picked up on himself.
That said, also expect White to be an ex-Titan starting next season.
-30-
I am not a LenDale White fan, on or off the field.
To say, however, as his Titans running mate Chris Johnson has intimated (look it up, Chris), that White was riding his coattails last year by suggesting a nickname for the running tandem, is inaccurate.
While Johnson had a nice rookie season, White rushed for 15 touchdowns, the 11th highest total in NFL history and a franchise second only to Earl Campbell's 19. And they were not all for less than five yards, another inaccurate slam aimed at White by others, not Johnson. And what if they were? It still requires a talent not every power back has in abundance.
In just now shunning last year's nickname, Johnson could have been a little more considerate.
Expect Johnson to start referring to himself in the third person any day now, as Vince Young has recently picked up on himself.
That said, also expect White to be an ex-Titan starting next season.
-30-
Monday, June 22, 2009
Priests are already sexually active
Yahoo news (not relegated specifically to Yahoo but where found):
A recent shortage in priests has caused the Catholic hierachy to rexamine rules on celibacy, but wait...
"... advocates of celibacy reform say there is a better solution: ditch the 900-year-old church law prohibiting priests from marrying or being sexually active."
No need, really. Priests have had no problem being sexually active on their own. Of course, it's with the wrong sex but who's counting?
-30-
Yahoo news (not relegated specifically to Yahoo but where found):
A recent shortage in priests has caused the Catholic hierachy to rexamine rules on celibacy, but wait...
"... advocates of celibacy reform say there is a better solution: ditch the 900-year-old church law prohibiting priests from marrying or being sexually active."
No need, really. Priests have had no problem being sexually active on their own. Of course, it's with the wrong sex but who's counting?
-30-
Sunday, June 21, 2009
McCain, Todd Helton
A Yahoo headline today: What McCain Thinks of Obama
It is billed a "scorecard," whereby I imagine McCain rates Obama's presidency up to this point.
I don't need to read it to know the general content. Hell, McCain practically campaigned for him, and the democratic, party, when he was supposed to be running against him.
If Helton was not on steroids, he sure played the part well
Todd Helton of the Colorado Rockies has not been in the news lately. Perhaps he will soon.
To me, Helton is the most suspect of all major league baseball players not openly linked to steriod use.
One only has to look at his resume. His name has been mentioned in that regard, but not to any great length. His defenders say his power numbers declined as they would naturally due to age, and some physical problems as well. That does not hold up.
Years ago studies were done and I remember that it was declared that a baseball player hits his peak at age 28. I would postulate that figure has not changed much if at all. Helton went into decline at age 29, a dramatic one. It was a more rapid dropoff than age can account for. Physical problems? What? He can do everything he did before, except hit home runs? It doesn't wash.
Look for his name on the list of 103.
-30-
A Yahoo headline today: What McCain Thinks of Obama
It is billed a "scorecard," whereby I imagine McCain rates Obama's presidency up to this point.
I don't need to read it to know the general content. Hell, McCain practically campaigned for him, and the democratic, party, when he was supposed to be running against him.
If Helton was not on steroids, he sure played the part well
Todd Helton of the Colorado Rockies has not been in the news lately. Perhaps he will soon.
To me, Helton is the most suspect of all major league baseball players not openly linked to steriod use.
One only has to look at his resume. His name has been mentioned in that regard, but not to any great length. His defenders say his power numbers declined as they would naturally due to age, and some physical problems as well. That does not hold up.
Years ago studies were done and I remember that it was declared that a baseball player hits his peak at age 28. I would postulate that figure has not changed much if at all. Helton went into decline at age 29, a dramatic one. It was a more rapid dropoff than age can account for. Physical problems? What? He can do everything he did before, except hit home runs? It doesn't wash.
Look for his name on the list of 103.
-30-
Saturday, June 20, 2009
At Last, Orange finds a Rhyme
US Naval Commander Henry Honychurch Gorringe, the captain of the USS Gettysburg who discovered Gorringe Ridge in 1875, led Arthur Guiterman to quip in "Local Note."
In Sparkill buried lies that man of mark
Who brought the Obelisk to Central Park,
Redoubtable Commander H.H. Gorringe,
Whose name supplies the long-sought rhyme for "orange."
(From Wikipedia)
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US Naval Commander Henry Honychurch Gorringe, the captain of the USS Gettysburg who discovered Gorringe Ridge in 1875, led Arthur Guiterman to quip in "Local Note."
In Sparkill buried lies that man of mark
Who brought the Obelisk to Central Park,
Redoubtable Commander H.H. Gorringe,
Whose name supplies the long-sought rhyme for "orange."
(From Wikipedia)
-30-
Tuesday, June 09, 2009
Dean of Nashville anything doesn't mean much
David Climer was on 104.5 radio in Nashville today and the Tennessean sportwriter was introduced as the "dean of Nashville sportswriters," or maybe the person just said "writers."
The Dean just a few minutes later mentioned "Junior Gilliam" as a name not previously addressed when the radio crew began discussing area baseball players of note. Only the Dean pronounced the Nashville-born Gilliam's last name as "Gil-um."
Being a little older than Climer, I believe, I can assure you that the old Dodgers second-sacker's last name was pronounced the conventional way, "Gil-le-ahm." Climer must have confused that with the illiterate way "Jefferson Street" Joe Gilliam Jr.'s name was apparently pronounced, "Gil-um."
Being a journalist you would think that over the years Climer had ran across the name Gilliam before and realized that only "Jefferson Street Joe's" name was sounded as "Gil-um." Guess not.
The war to end all wars
Kevin Ingram on the morning 104.5 radio show was talking about the UConn women's basketball coach the day after the team went undefeated in winning the national title. In making some kind of analogy, he said, "...like when the Germans bombed Pearl Harbor." None of his co-hosts corrected him.
I would say maybe Ingram and company need to stick to sports, but it hasn't helped Climer any.
-30-
David Climer was on 104.5 radio in Nashville today and the Tennessean sportwriter was introduced as the "dean of Nashville sportswriters," or maybe the person just said "writers."
The Dean just a few minutes later mentioned "Junior Gilliam" as a name not previously addressed when the radio crew began discussing area baseball players of note. Only the Dean pronounced the Nashville-born Gilliam's last name as "Gil-um."
Being a little older than Climer, I believe, I can assure you that the old Dodgers second-sacker's last name was pronounced the conventional way, "Gil-le-ahm." Climer must have confused that with the illiterate way "Jefferson Street" Joe Gilliam Jr.'s name was apparently pronounced, "Gil-um."
Being a journalist you would think that over the years Climer had ran across the name Gilliam before and realized that only "Jefferson Street Joe's" name was sounded as "Gil-um." Guess not.
The war to end all wars
Kevin Ingram on the morning 104.5 radio show was talking about the UConn women's basketball coach the day after the team went undefeated in winning the national title. In making some kind of analogy, he said, "...like when the Germans bombed Pearl Harbor." None of his co-hosts corrected him.
I would say maybe Ingram and company need to stick to sports, but it hasn't helped Climer any.
-30-
Friday, June 05, 2009
It's Fishin' Time
Fishin': the thing American from my youth that still holds up.
We'd catch channel and river cat with dough balls or blood or stinkbait and put 'em on a string.
"Nice string."
"Nice catch."
People would comment.
Then we'd have to scale them and de-gut them. Actually, I don't remember which fish you scaled and which you did not.
The catfish had a "float" inside them that was interesting. Carp was something you threw back, except for black people. They liked them for some reason. Adults always had a garage full of fish stuff you never needed -- seiners, hip boots, rubber aprons, three-speed reels, reels of all description, 800 different types of hooks, and 9,000 lead ball weights.
All you needed was a slim pole, 10-foot line, a bobber, a sinker, a sharp hook, a fishin' worm, a river bank to stand on and a creek or river with some fish.
-30-
Fishin': the thing American from my youth that still holds up.
We'd catch channel and river cat with dough balls or blood or stinkbait and put 'em on a string.
"Nice string."
"Nice catch."
People would comment.
Then we'd have to scale them and de-gut them. Actually, I don't remember which fish you scaled and which you did not.
The catfish had a "float" inside them that was interesting. Carp was something you threw back, except for black people. They liked them for some reason. Adults always had a garage full of fish stuff you never needed -- seiners, hip boots, rubber aprons, three-speed reels, reels of all description, 800 different types of hooks, and 9,000 lead ball weights.
All you needed was a slim pole, 10-foot line, a bobber, a sinker, a sharp hook, a fishin' worm, a river bank to stand on and a creek or river with some fish.
-30-
Monday, May 25, 2009
In Memoriam:
Audrey Martin Stark
Audrey was so ill she was bed-ridden way too much. She still seemed so normal, and was just wonderful. She had an artificial eye, from diabetes complications. It looked natural enough that it was nearly impossible to tell. She didn't complain about it. She joked about it in that ironic Martin way. (Note: The eye operation took place after this photo was taken.) Once, when I was a little boy, she asked me to rub her feet for her when she was lying on her bed and low on energy. I didn't know then about diabetics having poor circulation in their feet. She was probably used to people rubbing and massaging her feet. I was not a contact person as a youth and I protested. "You little devil," she said, "I'm your aunt Audrey." She said it so lovingly and sweet, I still remember it.
My grandfather, Noah, was really, really rough raising the boys I had heard, but he left the girls alone. What I knew firsthand was that he was always there for Audrey, and in a masterful and loving father way as, of course, was grandmother. He took her on all those trips back and forth to the hospitals, to visits with doctors, made sure she had her medicine, paid whatever needed to be paid, visited with her at all hours in the hospitals, stayed up nights with her at her house when she was most ill and her husband George had to work. He never missed a beat. George, too, was totally devoted to Audrey. He didn't drink, carouse or do anything but be by Audrey's side. Audrey would go into remission, get her a new dress and make the rounds of relatives. She would be so excited and happy. That was in the denial part of her illness. She never said a bad word about anyone or anything nor did she even make a bad gesture. I'm not saying these things to praise her, it's just to somehow illustrate how much of a rarity she was.
Former Joplin, Mo., resident and all-around good guy Ferrell Anderson with his bat in 1946 on a sunshiny baseball afternoon, pictured here in matte finish on card stock in his Brooklyn Dodgers uniform. Ferrell Jack Anderson (Andy) was born in Maple City, Kan., and went to college at University of Kansas. He played major league baseball from 1946 to 1953 as catcher for the Brooklyn Dodgers and the St. Louis Cardinals. Anderson was signed by the New York Yankees in 1939 after spending four years as an all conference football tackle at the University of Kansas. He was purchased by the Brooklyn Dodgers from the Yankees system in 1942. Only a few months into the season he was drafted and went into the Army. He left the service in 1945 and returned to the Dodgers minor league system. He appeared in 79 games for the Dodgers in 1946. He was traded to the Philadelphia Phillies in 1951 and then purchased by the St. Louis Browns. In 1953 he was sold again, this time to the St. Louis Cardinals. He played in 18 games for the Cards in 1953.
Photo maker's story
This photo was produced by the Burke/Brace studio, not a modern-day reprint. Burke’s larger-format 8x10 photographs are much scarcer than his standard 4x6 or postcard-sized photos and were usually the ones that the players themselves got. The longest-running operation of all the great early photographers, George Burke and George Brace covered baseball in one form or another for the better part of the 20th Century. A case of mistaken identity made by the Chicago Cubs resulted in Burke becoming the official photographer for the Chicago Cubs. (George Burke was mistaken as Cubs former photographer Francis Burke.) To undertake his new "big league" endeavor and having little experience with the sport Burke sought the help of the baseball-knowledgeable George Brace. Ever-present at Wrigley Field and Comiskey Park, Chicagoan George Burke set out in 1929 to compile the most complete portfolio of player portraits - a feat made possible by the presence of both an American League team and a National League squad within the same city. As the official photographer for the Chicago Cubs, Burke quickly became renowned for his candid pre-game photos and thought-provoking portrait depictions. Over the course of several decades, the photos comprising this impressive archive - most of which were hand-developed from Burke's original negatives (only a small percentage are were taken by earlier photographers and re-produced by Burke in the 1930’s and 40’s as 2nd-generation photos) - were produced by the Burke/Brace studio in the 1930’s and 1940’s, and were obtained by a Chicago-area collector directly from the studio. The significantly extensive assortment of mainly first-generation photos has truly captured the essence of America's game as it existed during the early 20th Century. Each original masterpiece reveals a fresh portrayal of the bygone ballplayers, many of whom were obscure, short-term roster occupants whose likenesses were rarely preserved in photos.
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___________________________________
GIRL FILES STRANGE SUIT
-----------------
Asks for Damages From Man Who
Refuses to
Get a Divorce and Marry Her
Special to The Herald.
• TULSA, I. T., Oct. 18.— Miss Daisy
Wallace of Galena, Kan., has filed suit
for $22,620 damages against R.S. Wad-
dell, one of Tulsa's best known busi-
ness men, because he refuses to get a
divorce and marry her.
She alleges In her petition that she
is deprived of the "support and society
of a husband" by the situation, and
wants $10,000 for that. Because she
had prepared for an approaching mar-
riage, and is now deprived thereof,
"causing humiliation and mortification
of facing her friends and comrades at
Galena and other places," she wants
$6000, and for the suffering and loss
of health caused by the acts of de-
fendant, she wants $6000. The extra
$520 Is for the trousseau she bought.
LOS ANGELES HERALD: THURSDAY MORNING, OCTOBER 19, 1905, Part II, Page 3
...
GIRL FILES STRANGE SUIT
-----------------
Asks for Damages From Man Who
Refuses to
Get a Divorce and Marry Her
Special to The Herald.
• TULSA, I. T., Oct. 18.— Miss Daisy
Wallace of Galena, Kan., has filed suit
for $22,620 damages against R.S. Wad-
dell, one of Tulsa's best known busi-
ness men, because he refuses to get a
divorce and marry her.
She alleges In her petition that she
is deprived of the "support and society
of a husband" by the situation, and
wants $10,000 for that. Because she
had prepared for an approaching mar-
riage, and is now deprived thereof,
"causing humiliation and mortification
of facing her friends and comrades at
Galena and other places," she wants
$6000, and for the suffering and loss
of health caused by the acts of de-
fendant, she wants $6000. The extra
$520 Is for the trousseau she bought.
LOS ANGELES HERALD: THURSDAY MORNING, OCTOBER 19, 1905, Part II, Page 3
...
Murder With Vengence
EMPIRE CITY. Kans., July 6 — Sam
Mitchell, husband of the Postmistress of
this city, wiped out an old feud here by
shooting and killing Link Cole, ex-City
Marshal. The men met on the street,
and Mitchell shot without warning. Cole
killed Mitchell's brother a year ago.
July 07, 1897, Page 5
...
Kansans Fight a Fatal Duel
GALENA. Kans., Feb. 13 — In a duel at
a resort here today, Charles Trotter and
Earl Gent emptied their revolvers at each
other. Trotter was hit in the neck and
shoulder and fatally wounded, and Gent
was shot in tbe leg. Five years ago Gent
was implicated in the killing of a young
man at Empire City, Kans.
February 14, 1903, Page 4
San Francisco Call
EMPIRE CITY. Kans., July 6 — Sam
Mitchell, husband of the Postmistress of
this city, wiped out an old feud here by
shooting and killing Link Cole, ex-City
Marshal. The men met on the street,
and Mitchell shot without warning. Cole
killed Mitchell's brother a year ago.
July 07, 1897, Page 5
...
Kansans Fight a Fatal Duel
GALENA. Kans., Feb. 13 — In a duel at
a resort here today, Charles Trotter and
Earl Gent emptied their revolvers at each
other. Trotter was hit in the neck and
shoulder and fatally wounded, and Gent
was shot in tbe leg. Five years ago Gent
was implicated in the killing of a young
man at Empire City, Kans.
February 14, 1903, Page 4
San Francisco Call
Saturday, February 21, 2009
Titans Landings
by Bryce Martin
I'm totally guessing:
1. Albert Haynesworth to Kansas City.
2. Vince Young to Tampa Bay (I know he's not a free agent, but he is a free radical).
Swoosh...
The 7-11 chain needs to revitalize its Slurpee drink using Titans head coach Jeff Fisher. The way Fisher sucks in his 'stache when he talks, he would be a natural. I used to do that with mine after I had drank some liquid that lingered. It got to be a habit soon even when I had not drank anything. Fisher has picked up that habit.
-30-
by Bryce Martin
I'm totally guessing:
1. Albert Haynesworth to Kansas City.
2. Vince Young to Tampa Bay (I know he's not a free agent, but he is a free radical).
Swoosh...
The 7-11 chain needs to revitalize its Slurpee drink using Titans head coach Jeff Fisher. The way Fisher sucks in his 'stache when he talks, he would be a natural. I used to do that with mine after I had drank some liquid that lingered. It got to be a habit soon even when I had not drank anything. Fisher has picked up that habit.
-30-
Vols Men's Basketball an Ugly Sight
by Bryce Martin
Watching the Tennessee Volunteers men's basketball team on the telly is rough on the eyes, for four major reasons.
1. The uniforms. Enough already. Orange you are, but do you have to give us a full blast of the color. Why not orange stripes or something toned down a bit. You are a lot more proud of orange than any of us outside your locker will ever be. Besides, you're not even the Orangemen. That's Syracuse.
2. Bruce Pearl is getting as round as a dog tick. Didn't we have enough of that with Fat Phil? For once can't we see someone who has become successful show some slimness to go with it. Does career success bring with it a bigger appetite?
3. I nominate Tyler Smith to the All-Hillbilly Team. His sloppy pants and top would get him at least an honorable mention, but the Mammy Yoakum thing with his orange (don't we see enough of that color?) mouthpiece dangling from his mouth every time there is the slightest break in the action, elevates him to top-five status. Can't they find him a mouthpiece to fit so he doesn't have to rest his gums every minute or so?
4. Doff the white head bands. It's not so much the bands, it's the affected way they are worn, especially Wayne Chism's jauntily-angled one.
-30-
by Bryce Martin
Watching the Tennessee Volunteers men's basketball team on the telly is rough on the eyes, for four major reasons.
1. The uniforms. Enough already. Orange you are, but do you have to give us a full blast of the color. Why not orange stripes or something toned down a bit. You are a lot more proud of orange than any of us outside your locker will ever be. Besides, you're not even the Orangemen. That's Syracuse.
2. Bruce Pearl is getting as round as a dog tick. Didn't we have enough of that with Fat Phil? For once can't we see someone who has become successful show some slimness to go with it. Does career success bring with it a bigger appetite?
3. I nominate Tyler Smith to the All-Hillbilly Team. His sloppy pants and top would get him at least an honorable mention, but the Mammy Yoakum thing with his orange (don't we see enough of that color?) mouthpiece dangling from his mouth every time there is the slightest break in the action, elevates him to top-five status. Can't they find him a mouthpiece to fit so he doesn't have to rest his gums every minute or so?
4. Doff the white head bands. It's not so much the bands, it's the affected way they are worn, especially Wayne Chism's jauntily-angled one.
-30-