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?
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Tell them how the weather was... -- Ernest Hemingway bryce_martin_1@Lycos.com
Friday, July 10, 2009
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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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
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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.
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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.
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