26 czerwca 2009
Michael Jackson
My students seem to think that all Michael Jackson was was the bizarre plastic surgery disaster and accused pedophile that we have seen over the past decade. This is probably the greatest tragedy here. I was never a huge fan, but I recognized that he was genuinely talented and did things that are far more lasting than much of the stuff we see on the charts now.
Unfortunately, something about him brought out the worst in tabloid voyeurism and celebrity hanger-on culture. If you need an example: one of the first press conferences I saw was from Al Sharpton. Sheesh.
I also heard an interview with Barry Gordy. Oh, now he cares about the guy's well being?
Oh well...let's just remember the music:
Hasta la proxima. Do zobaczenia.
Unfortunately, something about him brought out the worst in tabloid voyeurism and celebrity hanger-on culture. If you need an example: one of the first press conferences I saw was from Al Sharpton. Sheesh.
I also heard an interview with Barry Gordy. Oh, now he cares about the guy's well being?
Oh well...let's just remember the music:
Hasta la proxima. Do zobaczenia.
11 czerwca 2009
We Are Young...
Went by the Pima St. Baptist Church and this Sunday's sermon is entitled "Love is a Battlefield." This is a further indication that we Xers are learning to be as irritating as the Baby Boomers by naming everything after songs from our teenage years in some bid to be nostalgic and (so we think) hip.
For those that don't remember the song, here is the video. Yep, our singers dressed like trashy prostitutes too, but ours were trying to look like trashy prostitutes.
Hasta la proxima. Do zobaczenia.
For those that don't remember the song, here is the video. Yep, our singers dressed like trashy prostitutes too, but ours were trying to look like trashy prostitutes.
Hasta la proxima. Do zobaczenia.
10 czerwca 2009
Ronstadt Center, not a Chad Everett Reference
So, I'm stuck carless for a bit. My route to work takes me to the Ronstadt Center every day. Twice a day even.
The other day, I was waiting for the number four. Normally, these leave every ten minutes around this time, but for some reason it took longer. Then I looked around. There wasn't a single bus in the entire center. Those of you that have gone by Ronstadt know that this is highly unusual. I looked out onto Congress and saw no cars. Freaked me out for a couple of minutes.
Finally, a bus pulled in. As that bus pulled in, there was an older lady with a cane that stood on the edge of the curb to get on the bus first. I looked around and missed whatever incident prompted her to start yelling at a guy with a Lewis and Roca briefcase.
She was claiming that he pushed her. "Did you all see that, he knocked my cane away. I'm an old lady. You should be ashamed of yourself," she said.
Just then, the bus pulled up, so I couldn't hear his response to this allegation. She appealed to the crowd to "do something." But no one said anything. I didn't see what happened, but her histrionics made it hard to take her accusations seriously. She ended up boarding the bus first, ahead of the blind woman who thought it was best to hang back.
Hasta la proxima. Do zobaczenia.
The other day, I was waiting for the number four. Normally, these leave every ten minutes around this time, but for some reason it took longer. Then I looked around. There wasn't a single bus in the entire center. Those of you that have gone by Ronstadt know that this is highly unusual. I looked out onto Congress and saw no cars. Freaked me out for a couple of minutes.
Finally, a bus pulled in. As that bus pulled in, there was an older lady with a cane that stood on the edge of the curb to get on the bus first. I looked around and missed whatever incident prompted her to start yelling at a guy with a Lewis and Roca briefcase.
She was claiming that he pushed her. "Did you all see that, he knocked my cane away. I'm an old lady. You should be ashamed of yourself," she said.
Just then, the bus pulled up, so I couldn't hear his response to this allegation. She appealed to the crowd to "do something." But no one said anything. I didn't see what happened, but her histrionics made it hard to take her accusations seriously. She ended up boarding the bus first, ahead of the blind woman who thought it was best to hang back.
Hasta la proxima. Do zobaczenia.
07 czerwca 2009
Tay-Lor Twell-Man!
Stats courtesy of American Soccer History Archives:
Archie Stark, Bethlehem Steel - 253
Johnny Nelson, Brooklyn Wanderers - 223
Giorgio Chinaglia, New York Cosmos - 193
Dave Brown, New York Giants - 189
Bill Patterson, various teams - 152
Andy Stevens, New Bedford Whalers - 150
Jerry Best, New Bedford Whalers - 138
Bart McGhee, various teams - 137
Harold Brittain, Fall River Marksmen - 135
Bobby Blair, Boston Wonder Workers - 131
Werner Nilsen, Boston Wonder Workers - 131
Alan Willey, Minnesota Kicks - 129
Karl-Heinz Granitza, Chicago Sting - 128
Tommy Florie, Providence/New Befford - 126
*Jaime Moreno, D. C. United - 126
Tec White, Fall River Marksmen - 124
Ron Futcher, Minnesota Kicks - 119
Bert Patenaude, Fall River Marksmen - 118
*Ante Razov, Chivas USA - 114
Mike McLeavey, New Bedford Whalers - 108
Jason Kreis, Dallas Burn, Real Salt Lake - 108
Herbert Carlson, New York Nationals - 107
*Jeff Cunningham, FC Dallas - 105
Paul Child, San Jose Earthquakes - 102
Illja Mitic, Dallas Tornado - 101
*Taylor Twellman, New England Revolution - 101
Steve David, various teams - 100
Hasta la proxima. Do zobaczenia.
Archie Stark, Bethlehem Steel - 253
Johnny Nelson, Brooklyn Wanderers - 223
Giorgio Chinaglia, New York Cosmos - 193
Dave Brown, New York Giants - 189
Bill Patterson, various teams - 152
Andy Stevens, New Bedford Whalers - 150
Jerry Best, New Bedford Whalers - 138
Bart McGhee, various teams - 137
Harold Brittain, Fall River Marksmen - 135
Bobby Blair, Boston Wonder Workers - 131
Werner Nilsen, Boston Wonder Workers - 131
Alan Willey, Minnesota Kicks - 129
Karl-Heinz Granitza, Chicago Sting - 128
Tommy Florie, Providence/New Befford - 126
*Jaime Moreno, D. C. United - 126
Tec White, Fall River Marksmen - 124
Ron Futcher, Minnesota Kicks - 119
Bert Patenaude, Fall River Marksmen - 118
*Ante Razov, Chivas USA - 114
Mike McLeavey, New Bedford Whalers - 108
Jason Kreis, Dallas Burn, Real Salt Lake - 108
Herbert Carlson, New York Nationals - 107
*Jeff Cunningham, FC Dallas - 105
Paul Child, San Jose Earthquakes - 102
Illja Mitic, Dallas Tornado - 101
*Taylor Twellman, New England Revolution - 101
Steve David, various teams - 100
Hasta la proxima. Do zobaczenia.
Short Note on Yesterday's USA - HON Game
04 czerwca 2009
A Thought About US v Costa Rica
Of the full squad for Costa Rica, fourteen play in their domestic league. There are a smattering of players that play in the US and Mexico, where they get plenty of playing time. Of the ones that play in Europe, they play in "second tier" leagues but I bet those guys are starters.
We, on the other hand, have a significant number of players who play for top flight European leagues, but who often get little playing time. We need to start asking if riding the pine, even if it is in a top league, is really good preparation for international play.
Hey, these players need to make their own decisions based on what they need from life. I know that. If a player can make many times more as a little used reservist in Portugal or England than being a regular starter for Columbus, it is hard to complain about the decision. But, the national team doesn't have to play them. We seem to grant garanteed starting spots for these guys because of the resume. Maybe making these guys compete for a spot with a guy who plays and gets knocked around week after week would make them hungrier.
Hasta la proxima. Do zobaczenia.
We, on the other hand, have a significant number of players who play for top flight European leagues, but who often get little playing time. We need to start asking if riding the pine, even if it is in a top league, is really good preparation for international play.
Hey, these players need to make their own decisions based on what they need from life. I know that. If a player can make many times more as a little used reservist in Portugal or England than being a regular starter for Columbus, it is hard to complain about the decision. But, the national team doesn't have to play them. We seem to grant garanteed starting spots for these guys because of the resume. Maybe making these guys compete for a spot with a guy who plays and gets knocked around week after week would make them hungrier.
Hasta la proxima. Do zobaczenia.
