Whitney

The Mighty Mick sent this along a few weeks back and I'm overdue to post it. So here:

Mick also questioned her status as an "icon", which I personally felt was borderline at best. But at the same time, icon status is like opinions. You're entitled to your take. To some, she's an 80's icon. A music icon. I never associated her with the 80's, and while her voice was legendary, she had also become irrelevant. A has-been. Sorry if that sounds rough.

It might have been her husband who introduced her to the crack that was whack, but she was the one who indulged. She threw away so much that it was insane.

I had no problem with New Jersey Governor Chris Christie lowering the flags to half staff. He did the same thing last year when the Big Man, Clarence Clemons, died last year. The difference was that the evil of the world (my friends in the media) make it a big story. And as such, the ugliness appeared, with people taking sides in the Whitney mania. It became overkill.

Nothing new there.

Davy Jones (1945-2012)

The news came down in the last hour that Davy Jones, the "cute one" of The Monkees, has died at the age of 66 of a heart attack.

Jones is the first member of the foursome thought to be the "Prefab Four" to pass away. Micky Dolenz, Peter Tork, and Michael Nesmith all solider on, but this takes care of there ever being another Monkees reunion. Tork, Jones, and Dolenz had toured at one time or another as The Monkees, with the rarest appearances by Nesmith.

Jones stayed active in show biz, including a famous appearance on The Brady Bunch in 1971. Always likeable, Jones continued to parlay his "cute" persona for years after the decline of The Monkees.

Musically, it is easy to forget just what a pop powerhouse The Monkees were for a brief time. Granted a lot of the music was created by others and often didn't feature the main four performing (a huge bone of contention to Tork and Nesmith, who both had the most musical chops). Quite often they would lay down the vocals, with Dolenz getting the largest share. Eventually Nesmith and Tork would win out to certain degree.

The basic premise of The Monkees was to recreate the nirvana and silliness of The Beatles - most notably in their movies. The Monkees as a band were created via auditions and casting. Yet for a stretch, the show and the band were wildly popular, with their debut single, "Last Train to Clarksville" being a huge hit even before the show debuted.

Incidentally, the Prefab Four and the Fab Four were quite friendly, with John Lennon telling Mike Nesmith that he never missed an episode of the show.

Oh, and one more thing about Jones, though perhaps you know this. He was so big for a time that another promising young singer from Britain named David Jones had to change his name. He became David Bowie.

Let's have some music - perhaps Jones' most famous Monkees tune, "Daydream Believer."

Happy 10th Birthday, Sean

It was early in the morning of February 23, 2002, when we drove to Hudson Valley Hospital Center at Peekskill/Cortlandt (the same place that I was born in when it was still called Peekskill Community Hospital). Sean Robert Adams, my son, was born at 7:03 AM.

He's 10 years old today.

He's seen so much already, and yet has so much to see. Oh, I get it - that's cliche, but it's also true. Sean, it has been said, is me. Looks like me, acts like me, and so on. Nah, not entirely true. Sean...is...Sean.

He's a nice combination of his mother and I, and if that's the best thing that ever came out of our marriage, than so be it. It's a wonderful thing to have created.

I've written many things about Sean here. I'm not sure I need to recount everything. He's well-known in Greenwich, Mahopac, Hopewell Jct, and everywhere in-between. People love his smile, his sense of humor, his creativity, his silly one-liners and philosophies.

He's not going to be a baseball player (having quietly announced his "retirement" recently). I'm OK with that.

I obviously always want the best for him, and I hope he has that in one form or another. Most of all, I always want him to be happy.

Happy 10th birthday, Sean. I'm so proud to call you my son.

Farewell, Kid

I'm going to share a not-so-secret thought with you. I hate the New York Mets. Straight-up hatred. Of all of the teams I've watched - in ANY sport - I absolutely loathed the 1986 Mets more than any other.

I never liked any member of that team. They were obnoxious. According to some, they "created" the curtain calls that have come to hang over baseball like a bad smell. Unquestionably, the '86 Mets could hit a long ball in a game they were losing by a wide margin, and they'd still pop out of the dugout.

I despised it. I still do.

By the way, not for nothing, one of the very first curtain calls was by none other than Roger Maris, on the occasion of his 61st home run in 1961. On the TV, Mel Allen called it "unusual." Granted, Maris was pushed out of the dugout, but still.

Back on point, the baseball world lost Gary Carter today. I'll bluntly tell you that I was never a fan of his. I thought he embodied a lot of what I hated about the Mets. The way that he whined about Mike Scott's "cheating" in the '86 NLCS left a bad taste in my mouth.

That being said, he loved the game of baseball. He lived for it. He never took the game for granted. He played hard, but only on the field. Off the field, he was a family man. There was no partying, no exploits. How could anyone not respect him?

I knew the Mets were serious contenders when they got Carter from the Expos in 1985 (who didn't?). Soon they were champions (and I actually rooted for the Red Sox). And I delighted any time that they lost. Still, there was something about Carter that was tough to root against. He had that way. He had that passion. A burning desire to win.

Let's face it, if he had come to the Yankees in the 80's, we would have all loved him. Who wouldn't? Of course, the Yankees needed pitching in the 80's.

So yes, even a cold-hearted, Mets-hating bastard like myself is tonight raising a glass (of water, Carter lived a very clean life) to Gary Carter - a Hall of Famer, a reporters' dream because he never turned down an interview, and a fans' player, because he left it all on the field, and signed every autograph.

There are plenty of fine stories out there tonight. Jeff Pearlmans', in the Wall Street Journal, is as good as any.

Thought for the Day

OK, I'll return the TftD for this quickie. I have several great quotes and thoughts, but after seeing Paul McCartney sing at the Grammy's, I'm reminded of the closing line from "The End" off of Abbey Road.

Here it is:

"And in the end, the love you take is equal to the love you make."

With that, Happy Valentine's Day to those who love, and who care about today.

I Love a Good Bargain

Anchorman: "There's only one thing a man can do when he's suffering from a spiritual and existential funk...buy new suits!"

I happened to do some shopping with Carrie over the weekend in New Jersey. We walked into Kohl's, where I spied a suit jacket/blazer made by Chaps that I had seen at their Brewster, NY, location. After extra markdowns and all, this blazer that had once been $225 was now $40!

So I bought it.

But...wait.

I popped into the Brewster location yesterday. There it was. Same jacket. Right size. So I priced it.

Twenty-eight dollars.

Uh huh. Bought it. Returned the other one.

Yep, the more you know, the more you Kohl's. Whatever the heck that means!

Macca Rocks the Grammys and Other Notes

In case you didn't see the Grammy's on Sunday night, here's Paul McCartney and a few friends doing the suite that ends Abbey Road.  Sir Paul uses this set to close his live shows.


Paul's new song for his third wife, "My Valentine" hasn't exactly getting rave reviews, with one person flatly telling me, "It sucked." So there.

I didn't think it was that bad.

I only caught a touch of the broadcast. Most of the reviews said Springsteen killed live. No shock there.


Let's see - a few things. I saw Taylor Swift. Sheesh, enough. Enough of the "oh my God, they love us" crap. That feigned surprise of hers.

Of course it was going to be "Whitneypalooza." I get it.

Nice to see the Beach Boys. I'm ready though for Adam Levine and Maroon 5 to disappear though. I didn't need to see Levine or Mark Foster from Foster the People on stage with the Beach Boys. Last I knew, they didn't need any help.

Loved Adele. Can't say that enough. Great song. Great album. Great performance. And she just seems real. Plus she looked classy.

Katy Perry certainly said a mighty "eff you" to Russell Brand in song, didn't she? Holy cow...stay classy. Can anyone walk away with dignity?

Coach from All Things Next has his own thoughts. He watched more than I did, but I think I would agree with his two cents.

Thought for the Day

It's February 9th.

Forty-eight years ago, a Sunday night, 73 million people tuned into The Ed Sullivan Show. It was not any old show. It was a really big show. It opened looking like this:


Following the commercial, Sullivan returned to say five of the most famous words in popular culture:

"Ladies and gentleman...The Beatles!"

Paul McCartney got the first lead vocal, singing "All My Loving":

"Close your eyes, and I'll kiss you. Tomorrow I'll miss you. Remember I'll always be true. And then while I'm away, I'll write home every day. And I'll send all my loving to you."

The rest, of course, is history.

The Ferris Bueller Easter Eggs

By now, you've all seen the Ferris Bueller Super Bowl ad (the long version is here). Entertainment Weekly pulled together all of the references (aka "easter eggs") that are in the commercial.

I love that there is a very vague Beatles reference. More Fab Four domination!

Enjoy.

Thought for the Day

On the left is Eli Manning, the quarterback of the New York Giants. Mr. Manning is the younger brother of one of the greatest players to ever play the position of quarterback, Peyton Manning of the Indianapolis Colts.

But Mr. Manning, the younger, doesn't need that kind of identity crisis any longer. He is now Eli Manning, TWO-TIME Super Bowl Champion, and TWO-TIME Super Bowl MVP.

(In case you don't know, Peyton has one Super Bowl title and one MVP. So there).

On the right is Mark Sanchez, quarterback of the New York Jets. Seems like a nice guy, and a nice player if he can ever put it all together (which he is having trouble doing).

And so, my friends, we come to yesterday. Now I have reasons that I think these championship celebrations of junk, and nothing makes it more obvious than when the "loyal" fans who have loved this team since Christmas Day (of 2011) come out, get liquored up, and stand in front of a TV camera. As such, we come to the TftD. When asked by a reporter for Channel 4 in New York (WNBC-TV), the Giants "fan" exclaimed:

"Sancheeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeezzzzzzzzzz!"

Brilliance.

You better believe that video has gone mighty viral. (Link courtesy New York Daily News)

Thought for the Day

My streak for TftD will end eventually, and today was almost that day.  Nothing jumped out at me.  But, thanks to the Random Quotes tab on the The Quotations Page, I found a dandy from Dan Rather, who has faded into amazing obscurity:

"Americans will put up with anything provided it doesn't block traffic."

Amazingly, I think he's quite right. At least he's correct as far as I'm concerned.

What's the frequency, Kenneth?

Pure Will Ferrell Brilliance

Did you know that Will Ferrell did a Super Bowl ad?  No?  Oh, that's because it only ran in North Platte, Nebraska!

Slate explains.

UPDATE!  Deadspin has the "North Platte" commercial in its full-blown HD glory.

Among the many embedded videos on the page is this one, where Ferrell is "hand fishing" in Davenport, IA.


And there's this one.


Love it!

Thought for the Day

No great quotes here today, just a link to a blog post that I think is sophomoric, obnoxious, and just plain thoughtless. This guy (Eric Wilbur, Boston.com) puts the blame of the Patriots loss in Super Bowl 46 on the shoulders of Tom Brady.

Sorry, but this just is just dumb:

That's the TftD.

Not for nothing, but had Brady and the Pats finished the job, he was going to win his third MVP. No doubt in my mind.

I said it, very early on, that the safety was a huge play in the game, since it got the Giants nine points in total. It set a precedent for the game. Now granted, it becomes a footnote if some other things happen - turnovers, the Wes Welker drop - but those things didn't occur.

So much more to get into. The commercials were fine, Madonna was so-so at best but overall no worse than the Black Eyed Peas, some "performer" flipped off the camera during halftime, and the Madge's show had a lame end.

NBC did a good job, but Dan Patrick was painful on the post game stage. He's normally better than that.

That's kind of all I've got for now. Maybe more later. I'm sure you're all on pins and needles!

Linky Dinks/Off the Bench

This is somebody's bench.  I'm borrowing it.

Hey - look who's back! Our old pal "Linky Dinks", who along with "Off the Bench" provides a few hits and runs.

Just in case you need a quick recap of Super Bowl history, the NFL does that nicely.

Phil Hecken does an amazing job of breaking down the history of the Giants - most notably their uniforms. The UniWatch blog also has a section on the Patriots.

Yankees GM Brian Cashman has himself in some strange mess. There might be a mistress who stalked him. Now his wife is divorcing him. It's all very tawdry. Deadspin takes it from here.

The LoHud Yankees Blog normally hosts a pinch-hitter series. This one from Stanford Williams is quite good, in part because we're about the same age and seem to understand the same things.

Pitchers and catchers are getting closer. Just saying.

Old friend Chuck Costello has a post on his blog about closing Catholic school and Victor Cruz - all in one post.

Not that I had a rooting interest, but Matt Diddel and Ryan Whittle from Greenwich joined Chris Kaelin and I for a portion of a recent hockey broadcast to talk wrestling with us. They fell in their match against Brunswick the other day, and Dave Fierro has the results at the Greenwich Time.

Speaking of Greenwich, it was National Letter of Intent day recently. Scott Ericson has the local recap. Congratulations to all, including Shane Nastahowski, who is going to prep at Milford Academy for a year (Dave Fierro, Greenwich Time).

Pete Dougherty of the Times-Union, has a poll, asking who is the best Super Bowl play-by-play TV voice. Sadly, "Rob Adams" isn't an option. Since Vin Scully never called one (though he wanted to), I'll go with Dick Enberg over Pat Summerall and Al Michaels. Amazing that the play-by-play list is filled with only 11 names, including Jack Whitaker, who split the PBP in Super Bowl I with Ray Scott. More here from Tom Hoffarth, and the complete list here from Wikipedia.

Incidentally, Rob Adams did call one. Practicing in his own home.

I don't know how long it has existed, or if it is trademarked, but I just saw that NBC Sports has an Off the Bench site. Damn. Might have to find a new name. Incidentally, Rick Chandler from their damn Off the Bench knockoff, writes that the Cleveland Browns are the best team in NFL history.

And I'm laughing.

Super Bowl 46

Well here we are. Time to play the damn game and get it over with.

The day that is now a monument to excess (officially pimped out by Pete Rozelle, Paul Tagliabue and Emperor Roger Goodell, along with the TV networks) is one that many football fans like but, to be honest, don't love.

I've seen them all since the 12th game ('Boys 27, Orange Crush 10). I fell for my boyhood team and found my favorite player in the 13th game (Steelers 35, Cowboys 31, and I think the exact words were: "I like this Bradshaw guy. He's pretty good!").

I sat bored out of my mind through some awful games (San Francisco 55, Denver 10 and Dallas 52, Buffalo 17 come to mind). I even fell asleep a few times - once during Super 25 (yes, Giants fans, I was working crazy hours at that time) and the Peyton Manning/Prince snoozefest of 41.

But I was there for the great moments. The heart-stopping of the rest of 25 (Scott Norwood gets such a bad rap to this day), the Elway vs. Favre showdown, Plaxico to the corner of the end zone, Kevin Dyson and that one damn yard, and Adam Vinatieri not once - but twice!

I shook and yelled at James Harrison...and at Santana Moss (before he became your problem, Jets fans). I roared for Hines Ward.

I still deal with Rashard Mendenhall and the lost seventh Lombardi in Pittsburgh.

I'm glad they're not playing the Giants today. Because I'd probably have to go watch the game in Pittsburgh, and perhaps never return. It's become apparent that everyone in my family, and most of my friends - my loved-ones - are Giants fans.

I even got pulled onto the wagon. Now, let me explain this. I've always had an affection for both New York teams. My dad and brother were both Jets fans but somehow never grabbed me. I liked the Dolphins when I was really little (we went to Florida every year, pre-Bucs). I lost touch with them and became the die-hard Stillers fan that I am in Supe 13. But I wanted the G-men to win each of the big games that they played in.

As I've said before, due to their connection to the Rooney's, and the fact that they're very similar organizations (now add in Rooney Mara, who went to Fox Lane High School), I've often called the Giants "Steelers East."

Still, come this past Christmas, I was presented with a New York Giants long-sleeved t-shirt. It was a present from Carrie's mom - a Giants fan. I have worn it a few times, but now it has become customary for me to have to wear it during the playoffs. I'm supposedly the good-luck charm, and that news has spread through Carrie's family. Playfully, of course.

Carrie's uncle has been a G-men ticket holder since they played in the Polo Grounds. You can figure the math on that one. We're talking the Steve Owen, Charlie Connerly days here!

OK, so the "pressure" is on me to wear the t-shirt today. But...I also think I've worn Steelers garb every year for the game. So there must be a compromise. I'll figure that out.

So pin me as a bandwagoner if you like. You're wrong - it's all in good fun and so on - and I'm hardly "Elirific" (Parry, Tim). Just supporting my girl and a team that I like.

To the game! After the Victor Cruz play against the Jets (all 99 yards of it), I felt like the Giants had hit their stride, finally. Yet no 9-7 team has ever won the Super Bowl. I knew they would beat the Falcons, and even sort-of had a strong feeling about the Packers. I picked them to beat the Niners. They were fortunate to not have to face the Saints - that's the luck of the draw.

As for the Pats, I honestly wasn't sure if they could beat the Steelers if they met, but God-*%$^in-$@^& Tim Tebow took care of that. Again, luck of the draw, especially after the Billy Cundiff miss in the AFC Championship Game. They have my respect if only for Tom Brady, Vince Wolfork, and Bill Belichick.

The Giants need to move the ball. They need to utilize their receivers and maybe - possibly - open up the running game. They need to create havoc defensively against Brady.

They are - to be blunt - the better team.

They also better watch out for what Bill Belichick has worked up in his laboratory.

Of course, turnovers are always key. Brady is normally not mistake-prone. Then again, Eli Manning has ice water in his veins.

I've regained my spot on Tony Savino's Friday-morning NewsCenter, and he asked for a prediction. Since I keep hearing so much about how this will be a history-making passing game, I expect points. My pick, which I'll stick with, is probably too high because I expect a better defensive performance out of the Giants. But Tony asked, and I said the first numbers that hit my brain.

I've been picking them all along.

Giants 35, Patriots 31.

The same score as in Super Bowl XIII.

I wish all of my friends/family well. I also have some friends on the Pats side (thinking of Nick Angotto, Jim K. Georges,  and old high school buds Dave Belanger and Dan Arturi). I know how they really hurt - they're REAL Pats fans - after the loss in 42. You know they're chomping at the bit today. Good luck to them also.

I have my many reasons for rooting for the Giants, so no hard feelings.

Now just kick the damn thing off!

Thought for the Day

I have to say, you all rock in the social media world! My friends keep unknowingly providing me with amazing TftD's.

Today's contributor: Matt Hamilton!

That's right, by way of Greenwich, WGCH, Mizzou, the GHS Cardinals, and now the NFL Network, Joe Theismann's friend put the following on Twitter a few hours ago...

"The past teaches us lessons, but has no other bearing on the present. Put it behind you and take things as they are now, not as they were."

That's a great quote, right there.

Thought for the Day

I saw my friend Alyce Sinnott Kavanagh post this video on her Facebook page last night. It's a simple message from The Beatles, with a lead vocal by John Lennon, in one of his sappier songs. Still, for a Saturday morning, it's very sweet.

"If I fell in love with you, would you promise to be true, and help me understand? 'Cause I've been in love before, and I've found that love is more than just holding hands."

And so it goes from there.


Thanks, Alyce!

There's an element of fear in the song, especially of being hurt. That swings towards Jeff Pearlman's recent post regarding Josh Hamilton's latest fall from grace. I found it interesting the way Jeff moved the narrative from a scoundrel friend of his to Hamilton. The Hamilton thing is sad, and I also hope he gets whatever help he needs.

Adam Lambert is Replacing Freddie?

This image makes me sick.

Sorry, that headline might annoy you. Nobody can replace Freddie Mercury - not now, not ever. And yet...when you're in a band called "Queen", and that same band once had perhaps the greatest front man of all in Freddie, and said Freddie has died (and been gone 20 years), and the band is adding a new lead singer...well...

Yep. You're replacing Freddie Mercury.

And it's Adam-freaking-Lambert.

I once spoke out about this, back in 2009. The outrage was apparent at that time. That outrage, at least on my Facebook page, continues.

I said it at the time - Queen should just let it be (Beatles, 1970). When Freddie died, John Deacon (forever known as "Deacon John" on their first album) played a few more gigs and walked away. Why Brian May and Roger Taylor refuse to do so is beyond me. Money? OK then - that's their business. I thought Paul Rodgers was offensive enough, but he at least had the chops of overplayed Bad Company music to fall back on. This guy - Lambert - is a hack.

Blech.

I've got nothing more.  I need some of the real thing.  I thought this was a great song back in '85, and I'll still crank it today.

Best. Game. Ever.

On Sunday, Budweiser is going to show you a commercial featuring a hockey game that turns into something big time. Fans fill the stands, broadcasters call the game, and so on. It's basically a rec. league game that becomes major league.

I'm calling BS on it. I saw it this morning and wasn't that impressed. I thought it was over the top. Then Carrie forwarded something to me. NY1's awesome Pat Kiernan (who is only two days older than me...I did not know that) received a tweet that the spot is a complete and total ripoff of something Improv Everywehere did.

In 2008.

There's no acknowledgement of the Improv folks.

Budweiser=Fail.

So watch Improv Everywhere's effort. I'm not posting the Budweiser garbage here.

Thought for the Day

Today's TftD comes from my former WGCH colleague (though once at 'GCH, ALWAYS at 'GCH...it's very "Hotel California" like that) Anthony Kalogrides, who posted these nifty couple of lines tonight from one of the world's greatest pieces of music:

"You don't need money, don't take fame. Don't need no credit card to ride this train."

I had to counter with "It's strong and it's sudden and it's cool sometimes, but it might just save your life!"

Yessir! Happy Friday, y'all, and feel THE POWER! I always preferred the longer version of the video...

Family Guy's Radio Parody

I'm sure I've posted this sometime before in the past.  And I'll probably do it again.

But as someone who has listened to and worked in radio for way a long time, I find this hysterical. I saw it again tonight, and wanted to post it.

Thought for the Day

I saw this quote last night from Stephanie Abrams of The Weather Channel.  While you might see it as being a little too "Stuart Smalley", I liked it a lot. 

"You ARE good enough!  Never make assumptions!  We are too hard on ourselves and others!  Live an authentic life!" :)

I immediately posted it on Facebook and it got literally no response. But, to me, when life gets you down, it's nice to have a little reminder like this.

So there.

Egyptian Soccer Riot

I'm trying to keep my rage down right now. The news is still fairly new and we don't have all of the facts. But the reality is that at least 73 people are dead following a soccer match in Egypt.

Right. A soccer match.

The so-called beautiful game isn't so beautiful right now.

Now part of what I'm trying to do is to not paint with broad strokes and label everyone as hooligans. Politics likely played a role in this, given the mess that Egypt has been for about a year. But it's not like soccer riots are new either.

Like I said, I don't want to judge, and I want the details to come out. But this is bad.

People tried to just go to a game. Have some fun. And try to not die. Something is very wrong with that picture.

In the States, we've had our own black eyes. Detroit, Philadelphia, Boston, Chicago, and Los Angeles and others have rioted after championships (notice I didn't mention New York?). Disc Demolition Night at Comiskey Park in 1979 was a real low-point (along with 10 cent beer night in Cleveland). The Pacers/Pistons brawl that spilled into the stands. "Mad" Mike Milbury beating a Rangers fan with a shoe. Great video here. PS, that's the great Fred Cusick on the Boston TV call.


In Canada there were riots in Montreal and Vanouver (and that was because they LOST).

The point is, we're not immune in North America. Yet soccer still has this bad reputation.

In case you want video of the Egyptian tragedy, have a look:

Thought For The Day

I was struggling to come up with a TFTD, which is part of why I'm not going to commit to doing one every day (plus some days I don't have the time or I'm not near my computer - shockingly).

Anyway, with it being February and the Super Bowl approaching, I found a video of Steve Jobs introducing the famous Apple 1984 ad. It's a little long, and there's an awful interpretation of Irene Cara's "Flashdance...What a Feeling" (an awful song). But if you stay with it, the payoff begins at 4:08.


Then I Googled "quote of the day" and there it was. A George Orwell quote! Symmetry!

"On the whole human beings want to be good, but not too good, and not quite all the time."

Have a good day! Happy February! And oh yeah, Groundhog Day is tomorrow, for whatever that's worth.