Got My Mind Set On You

Sometimes we forget that George Harrison made some fine music on his own (yes, laugh at Ringo if you must, but he also had a few hits...John and, of course, Paul are the kings).  Musically, George was probably the most talented of the The Beatles in that he was a master guitarist.

This song is actually a cover version, but it's George's version that is most famous.  Seems fitting for a Wednesday with a lot on my...er...mind.  But I know what I want (hello, Rule 55).  So there.

A Meatball Shop? Perfect For Me!

Cookie Mama posted a link to this on Facebook.  How did I not know about this place?

A meatball shop in New York City?  I must visit...and soon!

The Making of "Soulsville"

Greetings from Barnes and Noble in Stamford, CT.  I finally got my copy of "Soulsville" on Monday, and I'm really enjoying it.  Then again, I've been a fan since early 1984, so while I try to be fair, let's face it: I'm a fan.

The band has been promoting the album everywhere, including hitting the talk shows (Letterman, Fallon, Kimmel, and others), and also taking a viral approach.  I just saw this on YouTube.  Huey Lewis, Johnny Colla, and Bill Gibson (three of the band's "core four" with Sean Hopper) talk about the process.

So, Uh, Lou Holtz Isn't Very Happy

I've recently wondered to myself why I dislike Notre Dame.  I don't really hate them, but I've never liked them.  I thought maybe it was the whole "Touchdown Jesus", Joe Montana, Joe Theisman thing.  Yet when John Sullivan left Greenwich and went there, I began to soften a bit on them.

Same stuff that I've been pondering about Penn State and some others.  Why the dislike/hate?

Sorry, Mets fans...some things don't change.

Yet this Lou Holtz video is a fair reminder of what probably made me dislike Notre Dame in the first place.

Split Enz

I heard this while walking around the Best Buy in Poughkeepsie following my little visit to Family Court this morning.  I took some time to think, and to buy the new Huey Lewis and the News CD, Soulsville (very good, by the way).

Always liked this song, along with some of Neil Finn's other work (Crowded House, etc).

Still a big fan of New Wave music.

I realized recently that I need to jump back on the ol' "Rule 55" bandwagon.  So here.  Enjoy.

Bill Gonillo Six

Let's have a new number one and shift things around...

1) Masuk (Last Week: 2).  Guess they should have been number one all along.
2) Darien (3).  In the FCIAC Championship against...
3) Trumbull (5).  Knocked off Staples to advance to the title game.
4) New Canaan (4).  Blasted Bridgeport Central.
5) Staples (1).  I expected them to beat Trumbull.  A failed two-point conversion kept it from being a tie.
6) St. Joseph (6).  Survived against Greenwich.

The Refurbishment of Yankee Stadium

Fascinating footage that I found tonight via River Ave. Blues and the RAB Bullpen.  Shot between 1974 and 1975, it shows the guts of the old palace being ripped apart and rebuilt into the "remodeled Stadium."

This is where my "holy land" was changed and, because of this, the charming people in NYC politics wouldn't designate it with landmark status.  Thus the House that Ruth Built became the House that Giuliani, Bloomberg, and Steiner tore down to open the House that George Built across the street.

The new place is fine.  It's just not this place and it never will be.

Breakfast With the Beatles

This is a fun one.  The Beatles doing "I'm Down" at Shea Stadium in 1965.  The band can barely hear themselves but they laugh through the whole thing - especially George and John.  Sir Paul did this at Citi Field when I saw him in 2009.

Sadly, the car that takes them away at the end is a Mets one.  Fortunately, Macca is a Yankees fan!


Here is Paulie doing it at Citi in 2009.

An Early Start

I'm up early this morning.  That wasn't planned.  I have Greenwich/St. Joe's to call on WGCH today at 1:20, but I could still be asleep.

I just can't sleep.

It's clear the mind is overloaded.

I can't seem to write.  Or talk (yet, I'm a broadcaster).

Today's another day.

The Boston Bruins Rock!

You want smart marketing?  You want savvy commercials?  You want funny in hockey?

Look no further than the Boston Bruins.  On Thursday night, Deadspin got hold of a Bruins fan doing something stupid.


Hey before you criticize, this kind of crap happens in EVERY city...and EVERY arena.  No fan base is that smart.  Sorry.  They all have stupid fans, and as such, Paul Silverfarb and Phil Soto-Ortiz had a great back and forth with me on Facebook about the modern sports fan...and modern sports in general.  In short, we hate the modern sports fan...at least Paul and I do.  Just last night, a Sabres fan so drove a wedge into my enjoyment of the Rangers' game that I might not go back.  Seriously.

Of course, there has been outrage all over, but leave it to the Bruins - as smart a team as I've seen when it comes to their commercials - to have the last word:

Smoking Cigarettes and Watching Captain Kangaroo

A song of silly loneliness.  Rule 55'd for your convenience.

The Upcoming Veterans Vote

The National Baseball Hall of Fame’s Veterans’ Committee has a special vote coming up, in which they will vote on the status of 12 “Expansion Era” players, executives, and a manager.  If the individual receives more than 75% of the vote, their in the Hall.  It’s that easy.  Let’s take a look at the candidates:

Vida Blue – Outstanding pitcher.  Dominant at times.  Also a train wreck of a personality.  Did he do enough to warrant a place in the Hall of Fame?  He was 209-161.  (My vote: No.  Purely a gut feeling here)

Dave Concepcion – Really?  He’s a candidate?  A career .267 hitter?  (No)

Steve Garvey – Only hit .294 for his career, but I often thought he was overlooked for the Hall.  Not only was he brilliant with the Dodgers but was a huge reason that the Padres went to the World Series in 1984 (Tough call.  I still say No).

Pat Gillick – A winner everywhere.  Still, a lot of executives don’t make it (No)

Ron Guidry – This is a tough one for me.  He became a star too late in his career but had one of the best seasons I’ve ever seen (1978: 25-3, 1.74).  I loved watching him pitch, yet he’s got a Mattingly-like quality to me (therefore, he’s a No).

Tommy John – Twenty-six years.  Twelve wins from 300.  Still, twenty-six years?  Then again, cultural impact has always been factored into Hall voting, and there’s a simple reason why it’s called “Tommy John Surgery” (No)

Billy Martin – Oh boy.  Never was a Billy fan.  He was never good enough to make it as a player (though he had major success in the postseason, with 12 hits in the 1953 World Series).  This vote is for his managerial career, where he won just won World Series (1977), though he did have plenty of success in his stops in Minnesota, Detroit, Texas, and the A’s (and of course, five stints in The Bronx).  He had five first-place finishes, and won two AL titles.  He also destroyed the arms of several pitchers. (No…and unretire his number one, or share it with Bobby Richardson and Bobby Murcer, both men of dignity)

Marvin Miller – The players will say “yes.”  The owners will say “no.”  Isn’t that how it should be for the former head of the Major League Baseball Players Association?  His impact on baseball can’t be overlooked.  A hugely controversial figure. (I don’t think he’ll make it…but my vote is YES)

Al Oliver – Played 18 years.  Career .303 hitter. (No)

Ted Simmons – Good catcher.  Good hitter.  Not good enough for me. (No)

Rusty Staub – Le Grande Orange!  The original Expo hero!  Also found success in New York, but I’d want his plaque to represent Montreal.  Still his stats underwhelm me. (No)

George Steinbrenner – What more needs to be said?  If the vote were purely for his behavior up until, say, 1993, my vote would be NO.  He embarrassed the Yankees.  He often embarrassed baseball.  He also, along with Marvin Miller, helped drive players salaries to where they are.  But he had one of the great second (third?) acts, letting the right people run the Yankees, and securing the dynasty.  He helped build the YES Network.  He helped build a new stadium (that simply is NOT the old Stadium).  His impact on baseball – and sports – can not be overlooked. (A resounding YES vote from me).

There you go – George Steinbrenner and Marvin Miller.  They get my vote.  Nobody else.  Realistically, I think Steinbrenner and Steve Garvey might get in, but to me, that’s it.  This group otherwise underwhelms me.

Meeting a “Dark Ranger”

Photo courtesy The Dark Ranger

Carrie has long been in contact with a fellow Rangers fan on Facebook, though they had never met.  That meeting finally took place on Sunday before the Blues game at Stout, probably the premier pub near MSG.  Though it’s a loud place, the food is good and the drink menu is mighty.

(Plus, in full disclosure, their sister pub, The Long Room, is where Carrie and I met.  I’ll always be grateful for that.)

Carrie had told me that her Facebook friend is a blogger, and she expected that he and I would hit it right off.  Yes, I think that is fair to say the least.  He writes as “The Graying Mantis” for The Dark Ranger, a truly fair and balanced look at all things Blueshirts.

What struck me with TGM (I'll protect his true identity) was that he doesn’t just look at things with a Rangers bias.  I gathered that he wouldn't mind me ripping the team or the Garden, and some of their lame practices (the stick salute and some of their other marketing shtick).  He also struck me as a guy who didn’t just know the current scene, or go for the easy favorites.  He knows his stuff.  He knows his history.

To that point, TGM wore a Dan Girardi jersey (I still like calling them “sweaters”).  Let’s take that a step farther.  TGM worked with the manufacturer, insisting that they use the proper materials and detail, and initially insisting on Girardi’s number 46 before compromising to his current number five.

Count me impressed.  It’s too easy to go for pretty boy “King” Henrik Lundqvist and his number 30 (rather “Jeteresque” if you ask me, though that’s where the comparison between the two ends).  While I have a Yankees’ number two jersey, most of you know that is to represent Bobby Murcer, who wore that in his final years (1979-1983). 

Quick aside: want to get me a jersey?  I’ll take a 1973 Yankees jersey number one, with the Yankee Stadium 50th Anniversary patch.  That’s Bobby Ray, right there.

Don't get me wrong.  Lundqvist is an outstanding goalie.  Borderline elite.  BUT...like Jeter, would he be so popular (especially among females) if he wasn't a looker?  I sense a Tim Parry-esque rant here (two words: phony fans)!

Now there are no hard and fast rules to this jersey (or T-shirt) stuff.  For instance, I’m still not convinced that I’m on board with any single current Ranger.  Perhaps I would opt for an older one – Messier, Richter, Graves, Leetch (Hello?  Connecticut!), virtually anyone from ‘94, or even older guys (Gilbert and so on).

Then again, I have a Rangers sweater...white, with no name or number.  Birthday present...1994.  I almost never wear it (though I thought about it tonight when I was getting ready to possibly go to the game against the Caps).

OK, getting sidetracked.  Anywho, TGM showed me that, in his world, maybe the “King” can do wrong.  He’s not afraid to criticize, and that honesty, along with those of the sites’ namesake, and colleague J_Undisputed, makes The Dark Ranger a worthy read.

Bill Gonillo Six Time

Before I get to the BG Six, let me just ask the following:

What the hell was that on Friday night?

I mean, I've seen Greenwich lose.  I've seen them fall in some amazing ways.  But jeezus, that was an annihilation!

By the way, many thanks to everyone at New Canaan High School for finding room for us inside the Dunning Field press box.  I got a phone call late Friday afternoon from their AD, assuring me that they would accommodate us (and Matt Levine of WSTC/WNLK).  But golly, I sure am sorry we were in the way of MSG Varsity, who decided to set up the screen for their opening shot in the area where we were going to broadcast.  This, of course, got under the skin of some MSG cameraman, based on the fact that I had the temerity to have my suitcase open and on the floor next to me while I was setting up.  That's when the following happened:

MSG Cameraman, who we'll call "MSG-C" (speaking to somebody back in his truck): "Some guy is in the way.  I don't know who he is.  He's setting up audio."
MSG-C: "I don't know.  He's setting up for a radio broadcast."
MSG-C: "He's still there."
MSG-C: "OK, we'll move him."

Finally, he approaches me, and says, "Look.  You don't need this suitcase here.  We're trying to set up."
Me: (looks at him...doesn't say...a...word)

Then he proceeds to move my suitcase.  Why the EFF didn't he just call himself "the most important person here?"

Ryan DeMaria and Nick Fox were witnesses to the whole thing.  Amazing.


By the way, Friday night proved that MSG Varsity is determined to bring the circus to YOUR town!  They had a fan experience!  It...was...sublime.  They actually had a football throwing game, and they asked yours truly to participate - three tries to throw the football through a hole.  I was close on the first two, and nailed it on the third!  My prize?  An MSG Varsity bag!  Now I can die in peace!

Nice of Varsity play-by-play voice Jimmy Cavallo (he of the famous "Thanksgiving" meltdown...and I kept Chris Kaelin far away from him) to stop by and visit....as I was trying to give an interview to the "Mary Anne Show" on WGCH.  See, here's the thing: when a broadcaster is wearing this thing called a headset - the same thing Jimmy would have on to "broadcast" the game about a half hour later, and he or she is talking into it, you might want to leave that broadcaster alone.  Jimmy just wanted to point out to me that Greenwich quarterback Liam O'Neil was wearing #14.  As you, the dear reader, would imagine, I sort-of know that.

*sigh*  Soooooooo much more to say....soooooooo not worth it!  I was fairly grumpy as a result of Friday night anyway, so let's move on!

But I will say, again, that there are a lot of good people associated with MSG, and I spoke with several of them Friday night.  I had some laughs with some of the other camera guys and the tech guys, as well as some of the security people.  And they now have a new good dude working for them in former Greenwich Time writer Jesse Quinlan.  Best of luck to him in his new endeavor.

Again - if MSG ever wanted me to join them, I would be honored.  But I won't treat others rudely, especially those just trying to do their job.  I find I always enjoy speaking with others in the industry, as opposed to trying to bully them.

To the BG Six!

1) Staples (Last week: 1)  They remain number one, to me.  Maybe I'm just being too stubborn about the FCIAC.
2) Masuk (2) Somebody has to be number one...somebody gets my second-place vote.  Wish Masuk and Staples could play each other!
3) Darien (3) Has a clear course to play either Staples or Trumbull in the FCIAC Championship Game (to be broadcast on the TV...live...with the helicopter...yay).  I can tell you who WON'T be broadcasting it.  That's right.  Me.
4) New Canaan (4)  Never doubt the Rams, I guess.
5) Trumbull (NR) They're back.  They deserve to be back, even though I should make a bigger push for somebody else, like Brookfield.
6) St. Joseph (NR) I get to see the Cadets first hand on Saturday (pregame show 1:20 on WGCH).

Nothing More to Say

Thanks, Jeff Kitsko for posting this on Facebook.  Of course, thanks to Seth MacFalane and the Family Guy team as well!

Brawling in Connecticut (and other Links)

A little fracas broke out at last week's North Branford/Lewis Mills game.  Check out the video and story from the New Haven Register.

Dumb.  It sounds like, based on what I read from the officials, that Lewis Mills was more at fault, yet North Branford also got hit with a forfeit?

Again, dumb.

Speaking of topics in which "can't we all just get along", let's go to the FCIAC Football Blog (got the name right, didn't I?) where Tim Parry is lining us all up for Friday night.

Tim has the details of a disappointing injury for Staples.

I have no real interest in this post - an interview with TCU head football coach Gary Patterson, but Carrie the amazingly wonderful girlfriend likes the Horned Frogs just because they're horned frogs.  Thus I'm linking it here via Sports Radio Interviews.

Jeff Perlman writes about what an awful, Republican town Mahopac is.  No, he didn't call it awful.  I'm exaggerating.  Still he did call many of them/us (me?) "sheltered."  I get it, and understand what he means, and he's not 100% wrong (I think I'm little better than what he is describing, but that could be due to my own experiences, especially of late as I spend so much time in the N-Y-C).  Still, aren't many smaller towns like that?  Or does he just dislike Republicans?  Either way, there is a lot of good dialogue going on in the comments.

One last Pearlman-related item.  Probably only Carrie will care about this, but Jeff wrote about his favorite writing spot.  Not too far from where the lovely Carrie spends a lot of time (and where I'll be in a few hours).

Oh, Had You Not Heard?

That's odd.  I thought everyone had heard.

That my friend, Lisa the Cookie Momma, is a part of the blog family over at Next Music Online.  She writes a food blog, and with it being November, well, the bird is the word!

Of course, she posted this video at the bottom, and how can I resist posting it as well?


This is the only thing I plan on celebrating in November - food!  Thanksgiving (Staples/Greenwich, of course).  My niece Katie has a birthday this month; so does Carrie's brother Sean (yesterday).  Maybe I'll get to a hockey game or two.

That's about it.  Nothing else in November, right?  Nothing of a certain annual variety?  Nothing in common with Mariano Rivera (you know, number forty-two)?

That's what I thought.

High School Sports Broadcasting...What's Not To Love?

Fellow broadcaster Kenn Tomasch posted this on his blog, including a video.  Just shows the ultra-glamorous world that we all live in!

Let's see somebody in the FCIAC do this to MSG!

Vintage Richmond

My friend Jon has begun a blog on vintage Richmond, VA.  I would upload a picture or two if I could, but Blogger is really being stupid.  Jon has a gorgeous picture of Main Street Station, R-Va's classic entrance for train passengers, and a landmark for me as a child on Interstate 95.

Earlier today, Jon posted a poster for a show at the Franklin Street Gym in 1973.  The headliner that night was Dan Hicks and his Hot Licks.  The opening act was a nice kid from New Jersey named Springsteen.

Bill Gonillo Six

Welcome back, welcome back, welcome back...Greenwich.

They beat Westhill, 49-3.  They should have beaten Trumbull (but clearly did not).  Ridgefield lost, and so Trumbull (to Stamford).  So...

1) Staples (Last week: 1)
2) Masuk (2)
3) Darien (3)
4) New Canaan (4)
5) Pomperaug (5)
6) Greenwich (NR)

Now go earn it, Cardinals.  I also know that Newtown is outstanding. so they're mighty close.

Now, a minor rant.  Greenwich/New Canaan is our next broadcast, this Friday at 7:00 (6:50 pre-game show).  Of course, MSG Varsity, maybe WSTC/WNLK (with my friend Matt Levine), and New Canaan's own station (I hear they have a webcast, a la WWPT) will be there.

Along with Mel Allen, Curt Gowdy, Dick Enberg, and Dr. Joyce Brothers.

Of course, the PA Announcer (Bob VanDerheyden), scoreboard operator, spotter and others will be in the booth as well, along with other New Canaan supporters (read: Greenwich haters).

Trust me on this one.  I've worked in this booth before.

And we - WGCH, who has been covering Greenwich football religiously since we went on the air in 1964, probably won't be getting access to New Canaan's press box.  I'm not writing this to criticize the Rams - they're a fine school and have a terrific athletic department.  I'm saying that everyone drinks the MSG Flavor-Aid.  Now what I haven't figured out is if the almighty dollar is involved here.  That is, are these schools getting paid for the product that MSG put out (perfectly fine technically, and there are some fine people on their staff)?  So, as a result, do they get to dictate where they sit?

If so, then great.  Just great.  Greed and ego wins out.  The local dope (that's me) gets to sit outside.

I tolerated it at Rye-Harrison because I completely recognize that we parachute in to cover that game.

Greenwich/New Canaan is different.  We cover Greenwich ever week.  MSG doesn't.  We've been down this road enough - so much so that my girlfriend remembered me (and others) screaming about them - long before she ever met me.

Don't even get me started about my concerns for next week's game at St. Joseph in Trumbull and the lack of cell phone coverage.

UPDATE: Tim Parry says cell phone coverage has improved drastically at St. Joe's.  That's great, because the last time I called a game from there, I think we spent as much time off the air (trying to get a signal) as we did ON.  Tim also told me the entire site has improved with a new press box, etc, which I had heard about.  Good - now I'm excited to cover that one.

I'm looking forward to Brunswick/Hopkins Saturday night, where I know we'll have space and friendly faces (check, please!).

But now, thanks to this, Greenwich/New Canaan has become less of the fun for me that I enjoy in covering games.  It's become work.

Can't we all just get along?