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Today’s Topic: The blog will be tempoarily down until I get my personal computer fixed.
Mood Music: Anything from OK Computer by Radiohead
Sorry for all of you who check this blog everyday, my personal computer has been down for the last few days and I’m not quite sure how long it will take to get it fixed.
For the next few days, I will be checking the comments on this article. I will also be able to add comments during the day, so please don’t stop checking for updates in the comments section this week. I look forward to some interesting discussions until I can get back up and running.
I’ll talk at you all again later.
“Ambition makes you look pretty ugly”
Today’s Topic: Give me your greatest sports upset(s) of all time
Mood Music: Don’t Cry by Guns N’ Roses
First, I want to apologize for only getting out 1 other blog this week. It’s been a crazy week to say the least and I will fully admit that my output will be slowest during football season. That being said, I hate to say I told you so, but I predicted the “fall of Troy”…. just not this soon – (I pulled the following paragraph from my “battle lines” article):
You think USC’s better? How? They have no clue what their QB will do. No clue. If Sanchez’s injury lingers and so does McKnight’s in the backfield, then they are in serious trouble. How in the world do you rank them #1 with an unproven QB. Oh, I forgot. He started 3 games last year. They were 2 and 1. Not real good by USC standards. But they are loaded with talent. The last time I checked talent doesn’t mean shit until it’s proven on the field. I’ve seen a lot of HYPED up high school players disappear into the abyss of College Football talent. Eventually, it will catch up with USC, my guess is that it will be this year. Sorry Trojans.
How hard were Oklahoma, Missouri, Florida, LSU, BYU, Penn State, Wisconsin, and Georgia fans cheering last night? I know I didn’t miss a play. How in the world does a team that got pummeled by Penn State control an entire game against USC? Wow. Before you jump on Penn States’ bandwagon, they haven’t beaten a quality opponent yet either, so slow down hoss. If you’re a USC fan, the Mood Music is for you today.
Anyway, with the upset of USC by Oregon State last night (2nd time in 3 years) I wanted you all to comment below and give me your all-time greatest upsets:
It can be App. State over Michigan, Boise State over Oklahoma, George Mason in the Final Four, etc….
I’ll give a quick example:
When I was young we played Church-League Basketball. There were a couple churches that just couldn’t be beaten. Let’s just say they were like the Bulls only 12ish. Finally, somehow, with a gift from God and probably the fact that I was booted from the game for yelling at the refs (who me?) we pulled what I consider the greatest CLB upset of all-time. Seriously. ‘
I will delve into this game more on another day, but for now, give me your upsets and I’ll talk at you all again later.
“don’t hang your head in sorrow, and please don’t cry”
Today’s Topic: The Legendary Larry Munson Retires
Mood Music: Battle Hymn of the Republic
I just wanted to start off my posts this week with a small tribute to UGA’s legendary playcaller, Larry Munson. Munson retired on Monday after slowly removing himself from UGA football as his health has declined over the last few years. We all knew it was coming, but it’s still hard to imagine not getting to hear that guy calling the crazy-ass finishes in his crazy-ass manner that I’ve gotten accustomed to. It’s fitting that the first road game he failed to attend last year was the Alabama game, and as this weekend’s game closes in, he has decided that he will end his tenure with UGA. He will be sorely missed, and I know we all can only hope and pray that his health improves as his rest should massively increase. Thanks Larry for everything you did for the University of Georgia.
I asked a couple of friends and UGA fans to provide their favorite calls below. I’ve also included a You Tube tribute above. It’s a little long but the audio and pictures are priceless. Enjoy:
FROM JAKE MICHAELIS: Man – it’s got to be Clemson in 1984….and here’s why. My parents took me to Athens for that game but couldn’t get me a ticket, so they left me at a friend’s house as they had kids who were old enough to watch me. We’re out back behind this house in 5 points throwing the football around (actually was throwing it with Pat Hodgson, son of UGA great Pat Hodgson). We’ve got Munson blaring on the radio and when Butler’s fg went through – you could hear the stadium roar all they way at their house and also coming through the radio we had on – it was absolutely amazing and the first time I really realized what Larry meant to UGA and what it felt like to listen to such a significant game on the air
Game: Georgia vs. Clemson, 1984
Score: GEORGIA 26, CLEMSON 23
Score: GEORGIA 26, CLEMSON 23
Tied at 23, Kevin Butler attempts a 60-yard field goal with 11 seconds remaining:”So we’ll try and kick one 100,000 miles, we hold it on our own 49-1/2, 60 yards plus a foot and Butler kicks a long one, Butler kicks a long one, Oh my God! Oh My God! Oh my God!… The stadium is worse than bonkers. Eleven seconds left and I can’t believe what I saw. This is ungodly!”
FROM ALLEN MAXWELL:
These are all fairly well known. I didn’t include the Tennessee “Hob-nailed boot”. I think most folks remember that one. The last quote, I think is an incredible testament to how much the UGA fans loved Larry.
1982 @ Auburn for SEC Title & Sugar Bowl Birth
1982 @ Auburn for SEC Title & Sugar Bowl Birth
“Hunker down, you guys! If you didn’t hear me, you guys, hunker down!…I know I’m asking a lot, you guys, but hunker it down one more time!”
Dawgs win 19-14
Then after the win
“Look at the sugar falling out of the sky!”
“Look at the sugar falling out of the sky!”
1980 @ Tennessee – Walker’s first TD
Dawgs won 16-15
“We hand it off to Herschel, there’s a hole….5….10…12, he’s running over people! Oh, you Herschel Walker!…My God Almighty, he ran right through two men! Herschel ran right over two men! They had him dead away inside the 9. Herschel Walker went 16 yards. He drove right over those orange shirts and is just driving and running with those big thighs. My God, a freshman!”
Dawgs won 16-15
“We hand it off to Herschel, there’s a hole….5….10…12, he’s running over people! Oh, you Herschel Walker!…My God Almighty, he ran right through two men! Herschel ran right over two men! They had him dead away inside the 9. Herschel Walker went 16 yards. He drove right over those orange shirts and is just driving and running with those big thighs. My God, a freshman!”
1980 Florida
Dawgs win 26-21
Dawgs win 26-21
“Buck back. Third down on the 8. In trouble. Got a block behind him. Going to throw on the run. Complete to the 25, to the 30. Lindsay Scott 35, 40. Lindsay Scott 45, 50, 45, 40. Run Lindsay! Twenty-five, 20, 15, 10, 5. Lindsay Scott! Lindsay Scott! Lindsay Scott! Well, I don’t believe it. 92 yards and Lindsay really got in a footrace, I broke my chair, I came right through a chair, a metal STEEL chair…Do you know what is gonna happen here tonight? And up at St. Simon’s, Jekyll Island, and all those places, Where all those Dawg People have got those condominiums for four days…MAN, is there gonna be some property destroyed tonight!”
1984 Clemson
Dawgs win 26-23
“So we’ll try to kick one a hundred thousand miles. We’re holding it on our own 49-and-a-half … gonna try to kick it sixty yards plus a foot-and-a-half … and Butler kicked a long one … a long one … Oh my God! Oh my God! … The stadium is worse than bonkers! I can’t believe what he did! This is ungodly!”
Notice he didn’t actually say the FG was good. He didn’t have to.
2002 @ Auburn – Clinch first SEC East Title
Dawgs win 24-21
“Man, we’ve had some shots, haven’t we? Snap to David Greene, there he goes again in the corner and we jump up….Touchdown! Oh, God, a touchdown! With 85 seconds…”
Quote about Larry from Ray Goff
Dawgs win 26-23
“So we’ll try to kick one a hundred thousand miles. We’re holding it on our own 49-and-a-half … gonna try to kick it sixty yards plus a foot-and-a-half … and Butler kicked a long one … a long one … Oh my God! Oh my God! … The stadium is worse than bonkers! I can’t believe what he did! This is ungodly!”
Notice he didn’t actually say the FG was good. He didn’t have to.
2002 @ Auburn – Clinch first SEC East Title
Dawgs win 24-21
“Man, we’ve had some shots, haven’t we? Snap to David Greene, there he goes again in the corner and we jump up….Touchdown! Oh, God, a touchdown! With 85 seconds…”
Quote about Larry from Ray Goff
“If you ask the average Georgia fan who best represents the spirit of Georgia football, it wouldn’t be a player or coach,” former Bulldogs quarterback and coach Ray Goff said. “It would be Larry Munson.”
Thanks Jake and Allen. I’ll talk at you all again tomorrow.
“we just stepped on their face with a hobnail boot and broke their nose!!!”
Today’s Topic: Great moments in Needle Drop and Movie Soundtrack History
Mood Music: There are just too many to pick one — what the hell….go with: Everybody Knows by Concrete Blonde
Thanks for all the great comments on Movie Music yesterday. You all hit on a bunch of great stuff. I’m trying not to repeat too much, but there were a few songs mentioned yesterday that have to be on everyone’s “best of” lists. I’m gonna break this down into 3 Lists in 3 blogs: Top Ten Movie Soundtracks, Top Ten Movie Scores, and Willo’s 20 Favorite Movie Songs. Enjoy #1 of 3:
Top Ten Movie Soundtracks
10) O’ Brother Where Art Thou - This soundtrack was an unbelievable smash for T Bone Burnett. It coincided with a revival of Bluegrass Music and people fell in love with that high lonesome sound. Oh yeah, and the movie wasn’t too bad either. Gotta love what the Coen Bros do with a soundtrack.
Can’t Miss Song – Man of Constant Sorrow by the Soggy Bottom Boys
9) The Life Aquatic With Steve Zissou – This soundtrack is a personal favorite. There’s just something about a guy playing acoustic guitar and singing David Bowie tunes in Portuguese. You also can’t go wrong with Wes Anderson soundtracks (see Bottle Rocket and Rushmore as well).
Can’t Miss Song – Life on Mars by Seu Jorge
Purple Rain – Prince in his prime, hell maybe even before, was something to behold. The movie holds up surprisingly well and the music speaks for itself. When’s the last time you listened to “When Doves Cry”? It’s probably been too long. Dust it off.
Can’t Miss Song – 1999 by Prince
7) Pulp Fiction - Another personal favorite. This soundtrack has such a random smattering of songs, but throughout the movie they all fit perfectly. The surf style guitar throughout provides such a great backdrop for the mayhem that ensues. Another genius of smelting smusic is Quentin Tarantino. The movie is also amazing….that helps.
Can’t Miss Song – Girl, You’ll Be a Woman Soon by Urge Overkill
6) Transformers the Movie – Talk about memories of your youth. I think I borrowed this cassette from a friend (let’s call him Matt) and after the opening chords of “The Touch” I realized that I would probably not be returning said tape. Sorry Matt. I’m honestly not sure if I ever did get that back to you. The movie was a semi-letdown in 1987, but man the soundtrack was epic.
Can’t Miss Song – The Touch by Stan Bush
5) Footloose - This one was mentioned earlier, but I just couldn’t leave it off my list. It’s Kenny Loggin’s Magnum Opus. Sorry Danger Zone and I’m Alright lovers. Footloose is Loggins at his very best. Oh yeah, don’t forget about “Holding Out for a Hero” by Bonnie Tyler or “Let’s Hear It for the Boy” by Deniece Williams. That was Chris Penn at his very best. Not really. Sorry Chris. Very entertaining though.
Can’t Miss Song – Footloose by Kenny Loggins
4) Pump Up the Volume – Man, what happened to Christian Slater….he used to be such a badace. While on that note, what happened to Samantha Mathis, I’m pretty sure her shelf-life was even shorter than his and that’s saying something. To this day, and I’m being brutally honest, Windtalkers is the closest I’ve ever come to walking out of a movie. Seriously, I’m pretty sure that I left that movie wondering how I’d been fooled by Nicolas Cage and Christian Slater for all those years. I digress. I played this soundtrack for weeks and weeks and maybe even years. I still listen to “Wave of Mutilation” (the Pixies version) fairly often, and it’s hard to shake “Heretic” once you play it. Man, what a kickace movie!!!!
Can’t Miss Song – Everybody Knows by Concrete Blonde
3) The Crow – This was one of those films that just grabbed you by the balls from the opening scene and never really let loose. Reason why……the damn soundtrack is a ball buster. From The Cure to the Violent Femmes, Helmet to the Stone Temple Pilots, this soundtrack had it all. Just a rarity in its day. Did I mention Pantera and Nine Inch Nails? How about Rage Against the Machine and the Jesus and Mary Chain? Unreal.
Can’t Miss Song – Milktoast by Helmet
2) Stand By Me – And now for something completely different. Let’s just say that you can tell I was a little younger and had a more subtle taste in music when Stand By Me was released as opposed to the Crow. No matter how you slice it, this soundtrack is absolutely incredible. I still remember seeing that blue-grayish cassette tape sitting on the small stereo table in my brothers’ room (along with New Jersey by Bon Jovi and something by Mr. Mister I’m pretty sure). Based on the time period, I don’t know how a better playlist of songs could’ve been incorporated to give you a sense of timeless optimism and youthful joy. It helped us feel like we were walking on those tracks with Teddy and Vern, Gordo and Chris. When those boys sang “Lollipop”, we were all humming along despite being far too young to have ever actually heard the song. From a story by Stephen King, a director in Rob Reiner, and an unreal cast, Stand By Me is one of the all-time greats.
Can’t Miss Song – Everyday by Buddy Holly
and finally…….
1) Singles – Did you think I’d leave it out? Cameron Crowe is THE master of movie soundtracks. Along with Scorsese (who I’ve somehow left outta this list….I’ll toss out Goodfellas here as an Honorable Mention), he’s the king of Needle Drops. Singles helped to usher in the grunge scene and it couldn’t have come at a more opportune time. Nirvana was blowing up and here comes this movie with songs from bands like Pearl Jam, Alice in Chains, Soundgarden, and the Smashing Pumpkins. I couldn’t contain my enthusiasm for this transformation in the sound of music. To be honest, music was changing at such a drastic pace by the time this film was released, it would never be the same again. Wow. (****a little tidbit, “Smells Like Teen Spirit” by Nirvana was supposed to be included on the soundtrack but by the time the soundtrack came out, it was too costly to obtain the rights****)
Can’t Miss Song(s) – State of Love and Trust by Pearl Jam, Seasons by Chris Cornell, Drown by Smashing Pumpkins
There you have it avid readers. Talk at me if you have time. I’ll talk at you all again next week.
“everybody knows that the dice are loaded, everybody rolls with their fingers crossed”
Today’s Topic: I want you all to give me your choices for Best Movie Song or Songs
Mood Music: The above title is a hint (see if you can guess the song… and movie it comes from) HINT: It is an 80’s movie and Michael Douglas is in it.
All of you need to comment below by telling me your favorite songs from movies. I will compile a list of mine for the blog tomorrow, but I wanted to give you all a head start. It can be title tracks, like “Better Off Dead” for example; it could be a song from a really badace scene in a movie, like “Flight of the Valkyries” from Apocalypse Now for example; or it could just be a song that was on a Movie Soundtrack that you really love.
So, have at it. I’ll talk at you all again tomorrow.
“I’m gonna get myself cross the river, that’s the price I’m willing to pay”
Today’s Topic: Whatever happened to Hootie and the Blowfish?
Mood Music: Don’t Think I Don’t Think About It by Darius Rucker
I’m just gonna be blunt with this one. If you say that you were never a fan of Hootie and the Blowfish…..you’re a bald-faced liar. Period. I feel certain that there’s not a soul reading this who hasn’t at least hummed the melody to Hold My Hand, Only Wanna Be With You, Let Her Cry, or Time. (I’m also fairly certain that on the rare occasion you come across one of these songs on the radio, you sing the whole damn thing…..or the rare occasion when you are actually listening to the radio…does anyone other than me actually do that anymore? )
Do you remember where you were the first time you heard Hootie and the Blowfish? I do. I was at Palmetto Boy’s State. One of the finer moments of my teenage years. Mom and Dad, if you’re reading this, I appreciate the consideration you showed by allowing me to go to something like Boy’s State, but seriously, how hard were you laughing Mom, once Ed and I got out of the car? What a joke. I’m pretty sure that although well-intentioned, Boy’s State doesn’t necessarily produce many future World Leaders. Here’s what I took away from Boy’s State:
–I can’t stand Kool cigarettes….Holy shit, I cannot believe that anyone in their right mind smokes menthol cigarettes and actually enjoys them. There is no way. I do understand why the package is green though. It took one hit and that’s all I could think about. It’s like a massive wave of GREEN just washes over you, directly followed by the urge to vomit. Green, as well.
–I don’t ever want to lead our country in anything….I saw how hard the kid struggled who was elected as the Commissioner of Agriculture to convince other kids to vote for some newfangled farming shit (mind you this was all pretend)….and if that’s that hard to get accomplished, can you imagine trying to convince millions of adults that raising taxes is a good thing? Shit.
–Third, and most importantly (this gives away my mindset during the week), my favorite moment of the whole damn thing was seeing a guy cover “Let Her Cry” by Hootie and the Blowfish during the talent show. Why do adults assume that a 1 hour talent show will completely wash away any memories of waiting in line for 2 + hours just to hear a bunch of dumbasses give pretend speeches and finally getting to shake Strom Thurmond’s hand? Don’t get me wrong, I have the utmost respect for anyone, at his age, that could stand up, shaking hand after hand for hours. Unreal. Still, nothing shook me up quite like that song. Who in the hell is Hootie and the Blowfish? is what I came away from Boy’s State wondering.
Of course, on the ride home we listened to OJ being chased by the cops on the radio (again with that radio thing). That should set up the time frame for those of you that are racking your brain to try and think of the year when you first heard Hootie. For me, Hootie became a passion on 6/17/1994 – just as that White Bronco sped aimlessly away from the LAPD. It wouldn’t take long for Hootie to engulf the nation.
Darius Rucker’s voice demands that you listen. That’s the only way I can explain the popularity of Hootie and the Blowfish. Don’t get me wrong, Dean Felber, Jim ‘Soni’ Sonefeld, and Mark Bryan all seemed like nice guys, but did any of you really feel compelled by the shirtless jackass with the Gamecock hat on backwards who cared more about posing than keeping a beat? How about the goofy looking lead guitarist that helped millions of young people cling to aspirations of musical greatness from his inability to play guitar worth a shit? I mean, if a guy who botched guitar solos like he was ad libbing a “what not to do while playing guitar” tutorial could make millions of dollars, why not you? Maybe, just maybe, he ranks up there with the least talented lead guitarists of all time. Gotta throw him in the mix. From a talent perspective, right? Finally, did any of you really love Hootie and the Blowfish because of the unGodly normal looking, aw-shucks I’m just a dude from Columbia, I can play these 3 notes, bass player? Nah. It was Rucker. Let’s all just admit it now that some time has passed. (if for some reason any of you still hang out at home shirtless w/ a Gamecocks hat on backwards, you might want to consider hanging it up. Seriously… It was really never a good look.)
All joking aside. I was infatuated with their music. Again, if any of you deny loving them (at least for a few months before the backlash began), you’re lying your ass off. There was something so undeniably simple, but moving about their songs. Relatable lyrics, nice hooks, melodies that stuck with you for days and days….just a really perfect pop music combination. I’m still amazed with their meteoric rise to the top of the pop world, only to be crushed to death about a year later by their own fame. They have to be the only group to become famous so quickly, that before they had time to truly cash in, they were tossed out of the industry. I have to say that it was unbelievably ridiculous the way the media and pop music turned on them so quickly. For those that didn’t know, there were actually 6 albums after the phenomenon that was “Cracked Rear View”. I can’t say that any are quite so melodic as the original album, but they are all good in their own right.
Darius Rucker released a new album yesterday. He’s gone country. Aw, shit. I know, some of you people that loathe everything country could probably care less, but trust me, if the album’s anything like his first single (see Mood Music for today), then it’s probably where he should’ve been all along. As soon as he starts out singing “I left out in a cloud of taillights and dust” there is no denying whose voice it is. Something about that voice just takes you back.
It takes me back to a time when it was not out of the question to drive down to Charleston, SC for Wave Fest, even when you really needed to be studying.
It takes me back to a time when there was still an undeveloped part of Woodside in Aiken, SC where you could disappear late at night with some whiskey and beer and friends, only to slide away unnoticed before anyone ever knew.
And it takes me back to a time when music seemed to mean so much more, to so many people, without having to be so damn political. A good song was just that. It had a melody, a hook, lyrics you good belt out in the shower, and a guy singing them that made you wanna belt them out. It made you happy. It made you excited to cut on the radio in your car with hopes of hearing your favorite new song. And finally, it made you proud to say you were a fan of Hootie and the Blowfish, and the fact that you were a Southerner, a South Carolinian, a Gamecock, a Tiger, or maybe if you weren’t lucky enough to fall into one of those categories……..it made you happy to be alive.
Dust off that old Hootie album; you’re never too old to sing in the shower. Belt one out for old times sake, download the new Darius Rucker song on itunes, let me know where you were when you were first needled by the Blowfish, and I’ll talk at you all again tomorrow.
“and I know I’ll never see you again lying down in Charleston under the Carolina sky”
Today’s Topic: Bullshit 08′ – The Road to the White House
Mood Music: Falling to Pieces by Faith No More
I promised myself that I wouldn’t get into politics on this blog…..I’m sorry, but I have to talk about the 08′ Election for just a second. Maybe I’ll do this again, maybe this is a one time thing. I just can’t believe what I’m seeing and I don’t see an end anytime soon, including after the election.
“Lipstick on a Pig” – Could anyone really think that Obama would be so stupid as to actually use this term to refer to Governor Palin?
I sat eating my warmed over lasagna tonight and stared in agony at the ridiculous news coverage on one of a dozen ridiculous news channels. Why didn’t I turn it? Why wasn’t I watching ESPN for more anti-UGA fodder? How could I stand to watch Chris Matthews for more than one question?
All of those questions are legit. I really don’t have a good answer. I was enthralled by the state of the media in our country. This sorta ties into my opinions about ESPN and Sports media as well, but it’s the political platform (a much more important talking point in the grand scheme of things) that these buffoons were botching. Here’s a more important question:
Who gives a shit if Obama said anything about lipstick or anything about pigs? I don’t care if he calls Palin an ugly heifer. It has absolutely nothing to do with the heifin’ election. Here’s what I find more apalling than the media coverage of this comment:
How in the world, if you are Obama’s speech writer, or the person that’s prepping him for a talk, do you allow that comment to even approach being stated? Obama’s a smart guy, he wants to act like he assumes America is smart, so how in the world does he make such a boneheaded remark? The media and Obama are shocked the Republicans are saying that his remark was aimed at Palin and it was sexist. It’s a low blow from the Rep. Party, but honestly, I believe they are starting to get under his skin, and I’ve got a little prediction to make:
I think that Obama is going to self-implode. Seriously. I think that the man is going to have some kind of “nuclear” meltdown before this is all said and done.
He’s starting to show signs of fatigue, discomfort, and downright resentment toward the Rep. Party’s strategy, and I believe that it’s playing right into their hands. Let’s be honest, neither candidate is a bright, shining, overflowing beacon of hope for our country (despite what they would have you believe)….
McCain should be honored for his service….but that won’t help him serve.
Obama should be commended for his vision….but that won’t help him lead.
I’ve yet to hear either man address a pertinent issue involving our country in any of their myriad of speeches before, including, or after the conventions.
The fact that the 2 parties basic slogans are so nauseatingly vague is a tribute to the hot air that’s emanating from this race. You’re gonna change our country. Great. I believe that I’ll change our country too. I think I’ll go outside and fart into the air causing the heat from that gas to rise and displace the water vapor in the tree branches above thereby creating saturation that will help maintain the level of the water table……..At least I’m making up ”specific” bullshit.
Can anyone tell me 1 specific talking point that you’ve heard from either candidate?
No wonder the revolving media topics everyday are more likely to deal with lipstick and pigs, than our economy or foreign affairs.
My love of this country helps me bear the agony of these 2 guys running for office. Too bad there’s not a 3rd choice. By the way, this election’s gonna be an effin’ bloodbath. Mark my words.
Fire away folks. If you disagree, agree, or genuinely don’t give a shit either way, let me know.
I’ll talk at you all again tomorrow.
“my fingers in my ears to block the sound, my eyes shut tight to avoid the sight, anticipating the end, losing the will to fight”
Today’s Topic: Once again, I’m doing ESPN’s job; Knowshon Moreno leaps into early Heisman lead
Mood Music: What More Can I Say by Jay-Z (DJ Danger Mouse version from the Grey Album)
2 weeks into the season, 2 convincing wins by the Dawgs, and ESPN is up to their annual incompetence. Seriously, can they be more inept? I hate to continue to do their job, but someone’s got to let you all know about the stuff that’s going on with UGA football. Since ESPN decided to bury the UGA highlights deep in the Sat. night episode of Sportscenter, I’ll give you the information you might have missed. For those of you that are ready to shut up my early season conspiracy theories, let me fire one more at you before you fire me:
If you didn’t see the “Moreno Hurdle” this weekend (which you wouldn’t have seen unless you were actually watching the game), I’ve provided the clip above and a few still shots throughout this post. It’s deserving of repeated viewings.
Now, someone please explain to me how ESPN left this highlight out of their post College Gameday Sportscenter on Saturday night. This is one of the greatest runs I’ve seen since the Reggie Bush “flip” into the endzone a few years ago and tell me how many times you’ve seen that play. One hundred, one thousand? Mark Richt was asked about the play in a teleconference on Sunday and he mentioned that ESPN missed the boat by not showing the play. Supposedly, it was not sent in the highlight package of the game to their studios for the Sat. night show. If that’s the case, then someone should be fired. If that’s your job, how do you leave out the greatest play of the game? How, when it’s the highest ranked team in the polls (playing that week), do you overlook anything that happened in the game? Especially, when they did a whole piece about the opposing team’s QB (Central Michigan’s Dan LeFevour) on College Gameday that morning. For those keeping count, that’s possible Heisman LeFevour, possible Heisman Colt Brennan, high-octane Oklahoma State, and high-octane Boise State that the Bulldogs have absolutely destroyed in the last few years. It’s amazing how much all those teams or players were talked about before the games, and then so quickly forgotten afterwards, with no mention of how UGA dismantled said teams. By the way, Richt was asked about the highlight, he didn’t bring it up. He also mentioned that ESPN missed the boat because it was definitely a Sportscenter worthy highlight. He was not bashing ESPN by any means.
Someone please explain that to Rece Davis. Not only did Davis decide to mock the Moreno play, he continuously mocked Coach Richt, and the victory over Central Michigan throughout yesterday’s episode of College Football Live. Normally, I don’t mind Davis, but you can add him to the growing list of Talking Head Morons at the Network. (please don’t follow suit Herbstreit, you’re my only hope). Rece Davis commented that Richt “chastized” ESPN for not showing the play. No, Rece, he was just pointing out the obvious. You guys dropped the ball by not showing the clip. It could vault Moreno into the Heisman lead (I know it’s early), or at least give everyone in the nation a chance to see just how special he is. Instead, you treat it like you were forced into showing it despite your inclinations. Man are you guys terrible about accepting responsibility when you eff stuff up. The last time they showed the clip he mentioned that Moreno is a Heisman candidate but that it “is Central Michigan” that they were playing. Huh? Last time I checked, the skill of the opposing team has nothing to do with jumping over a dude. Just another opportunity for Davis to toss out a cheap shot at the DAWGs. Talk about “classless”.
One side note from the College Football front:
Following the ridiculous celebration call during the BYU/Washington game, my Dad (we’ll call him Mark) came up with a genius solution to the ridiculousness of these penalties:
Penalize teams for “not” celebrating. Seriously. Give players “20″ seconds to celebrate after a score. If they decide to throw the ball back to the ref and run off the field. Throw that flag and back up the kickoff. It’s just getting ridiculous that you can’t celebrate a great play without the refs throwing out flags. Just let them have at it. Eventually (sooner rather than later – I guarantee you) guys will get tired of unnecessary celebrations.
Check out my updated Top 25 Poll and I’ll talk at you all again tomorrow.
“soon they forget where they plucked they whole style from, and try to reverse the outcome”
Today’s Topic: Memories at Edisto Beach (Part 1)
Mood Music: Anything off of Everyday by Widespread Panic
Morning guys and gals. I hope everyone had a great Labor Day Weekend. I know it’s Wednesday, but this is my first post of the week. I want to thank Allen again for the Graphic Novel Post yesterday. It created some great discussion and I hope that any of you that are interested won’t hesitate to comment or ask him questions. Another good friend (let’s call him Matt) has some other suggestions as well. Just check out the comments at the bottom of the “Hero” post. Now for today’s Post:
My family and I vacation at Edisto Island in South Carolina every summer. We’ve been going to Edisto for as long as I can remember and I truly cherish all the wonderful memories that we’ve created. Rather than bore you with the details of annual events to which I’m sure you can relate, such as:
riding waves on canvas rafts until our nipples were raw, watching Ayden collect approximately 5,299 sharks teeth in a week, playing bocce and half-rubber until we could barely lift our arms from exhaustion (does half-rubber still exist — man what a game…..for those that don’t know what it is, it’s like baseball, but the bat is basically a broom stick and the ball is literally half of a rubber ball — it’s very difficult to hit the ball, but when you do, damn), playing with a tennis ball in the ocean, on the beach, on the deck of the house, in the kitchen, in the driveway, …. is there anytime that just playing with a tennis ball isn’t fun? — we have this game where everyone gets in a circle, in the water, and the object is to try and continuously hit the tennis ball into the air with your hands and see how many times you can do it before it hits the water — hours of fun, hours…– drinking a thousand Budweisers a day, drinking a thousand Vodka-tonics a day, drinking …. I think most of you can relate from here — just add beverage of choice (sometimes blended drinks are nice, a little Firefly recently has hit the spot, never forget ye ole’ Corona w/ a lime) — taking outdoor showers, avoiding massive diatribes from the Turtle Patrol (for those that have never heard of the TP, it’s a group of folks that like to eff with my Dad while we’re at the beach…..they leave rude notes and shit…..I’m pretty sure we’ve yet to really see any turtles…..actually they are trying to protect the sea turtles as they come ashore and lay eggs, they are just drawn to the house that we stay in every summer — sailing in the Sunfish — drinking a thousand Budweisers a day — driving 5 mph in the Jeep with the top down listening to Everyday by Widespread Panic (seriously, don’t go over 15mph or the cops WILL pull you, it’s kindof absurd) — watching the stars from the porch late at night (you won’t see a sky like that in Charlotte, NC that’s for sure) — trapping crabs late at night with a flashlight and forming a circle around them, then cutting off the light and seeing who the first person is to break the circle from fear (just let one of those suckers crawl over your foot and you will not scoff at this idea anymore) – walking to the store after dinner to buy Push-Ups or Nutty Buddies or Klondikes — playing Bingo? — staying inside all summer and listening to the Top Ten best songs every day (who did that?) — reading a dozen paperbacks in a week (or for those with restless legs, reading one magazine, in a week) — flying kites — bodysurfing and seeing the water sucked out below and only shells and sand awaiting your landing — drinking a thousand Budweisers a day –
I figured I’d just give you the first great story of many, and in the comments below, I’d love to hear your personal beach traditions….what is it that you’ll always remember about family beach trips or something that you do every year?
So, now you’re probably wondering, why’s the title, “Holy Shit!!! It’s the Wrestler!!!”?
Do you tend to see the same group of people at the beach everyday when you stay for a week? Don’t you like to think up names for the people as you watch them periodically busting their ass on a boogie board? (doesn’t it seem like there’s always a family right beside you with about 5 boogie boards stacked up, 10 rafts, 2 kites, a whole basket of sand digging shit, a cooler, it’s all sitting on a quilt that they pulled out of their rental house, and the only 2 kids are sunburned to hell, crying and ready to leave? What’s up with that?) Anyway, we generally come up with names for our weekly brethren and the most notoriously nicknamed neighbor to date……we called, “the Wrestler”. Now, every one of you is probably trying to conjure your own perfect picture of “the Wrestler”. You’ve all probably seen someone just like this guy, but honestly, there can only be one, sorry. We called him this because that’s the only possible thing he could do for a living. You wanna know the difference between a pro-football player and “the Wrestler“? This guy had veins in his arms the size of a linebackers’ thighs. I shit you not, he was the biggest, veiniest, oiliest son-of-a-bitch that I’ve ever laid eyes on. I’m pretty sure at one point during the week my Mom (we’ll call her Vicky) actually got up the nerve to ask him what he did for a living. Like there was any doubt. He was a wrestler alright, and just happened to be at Edisto with his wife and infant daughter. He was just getting away from it all and trying to relax. Easy enough.
We had a contraption that year and we were absolutely enthralled with it. I’m certain everyone reading this has felt that rush of adrenaline when using it at one time in their life. It was a water balloon launcher, and it was a GOOOOD one. It was one of those launchers that takes 3 people to operate. 2 people hold down the sides and 1 person loads the balloon into the pouch, pulls back as far as humanly possible, and lets go, hoping that the 2 side folks are stable enough to not go whipping forward with it. We made a brilliant discovery that summer as well, and it would prove to be our downfall — you could shoot a peach out of that thing from the deck of our house into the ocean. Seriously, we’re talking over 100 yards of pure bliss and we just hoped that there were enough peaches to satisfy our craving. Needless to say, it was unbelievably wasteful, and looking back….shit, I’d do the same thing today…..it’s just too fun. We had to ration the ammunition though, there was a limited supply.
So, on one of the last nights of our stay in Edisto that Summer, we decided to whip out ye ole’ launcher for a few shots (the remaining peaches) into the ocean and we would call it a year. There were a lot of people at the house that night and we were definitely going to wait until my Dad went to sleep before we started up the barrage. Finally, my Dad (let’s call him Mark) went to sleep and we were ok for launch. We started shooting said peaches into the ocean (while in the midst of our daily thousand Budweisers, Vodka-Tonics, etc…) and that’s when we saw them. I’m not quite sure whose idea it was, but I’m gonna take credit for it, we decided to start shooting peaches at the small cluster of people milling around down on the beach. We had to fire in stealth mode, because if Mark woke up, all hell would break loose (if we only knew what was about to happen).
Let’s just say it’s almost impossible to hit someone with a peach from over 100 yards away, but we were trying our damndest. Nothing came close. Finally, with about 3 peaches left we saw the splash, the reaction of the people, and I felt my nuts suck up into my throat. Nope, we didn’t hit them, but it was so close that we knew it was time to call it a night. There was a gate that closed off the entrance to the porch from the stairs to the beach and I walked over to the gate to close it. As I glanced down towards the beach one last time, I saw something that looked like a person in the distance walking towards the house. Unfazed, I turned to go inside, and then it hit me. I took a double-take and when I looked toward the boardwalk to the beach again, I felt a rush of fear welling up inside me that I had not experienced since I was 3rd in line to lay down my street skills in Breakdancing Class. The only thing that I could even think to utter was, “Holy Shit!!! It’s the Wrestler!!!”
I have no idea what everyone else did. I remember glancing up towards the house briefly and seeing my friend (you all know him as Ed) flipping through a CD case like he was oblivious to what was about to happen. I’m pretty sure as I turned back towards the beach I saw him slipping into the house, out of harms way. Did I say harm’s way? That’s the understatement of a lifetime. I could hear “the Wrestlers’” footsteps on the boardwalk like a freaking elephant stampeding out of a circus tent at Coney Island. He was yelling something incoherent as he stomped his inhuman mass up the stairs and through said gate. Harm’s Way was more like the effing Tasmanian Devil on Horse Steroids. It was my fault and I was gonna stand up for everyone else on the porch. I took approximately 1 half-step with my left foot, palms up, when something struck me with the force of a kicking mule. I literally slid across the deck from the gate to the steps to the house and my back hit the rails. that’s probably about 50 feet. Shell-shocked, I sat up and figured that he’d be gone. Oh no. Time for plan B. I’m gonna have to lie my ass off. He was pissed because he thought we were shooting at his family (we were) and he had his little girl with him (oh shit!!!!) and at about this moment in his speech a friend of the family (let’s call him Mike) decided that it was his turn to try and calm down Raging Bull. “The Wrestler” proceeded to pick up Mike, under both armpits, and hurl him over a rocking chair and into a post that was holding up the porch roof. I’ve never seen anything like it. At this point, I’m pretty sure that one of my brothers disappeared into the house, and Mike’s daughter (let’s call her Bennette) was screaming for her Daddy.
It was then that the true totality of fear really struck me. “What if my Dad gets up?”, I thought. If my Dad came out onto the porch, after having been woken up by this idiot, we would have witnessed a bloodbath of biblical proportions. I’m pretty sure my Dad would’ve fought “the Wrestler” until he was dead. So I did what any good son, friend, brother would do. I stood up, walked over to him, and said (in my most sympathetic, mentally challenged voice), “we were shooting at the moon.” It became my mantra. “We were shooting at the moon.” “We were shooting at the moon.”
I’m not sure if it was the sheer stupidity of this claim or the fact that his roid’ rage had dissipated after hurling 2 grown men a combined 80+ feet horizontally and 10+ feet vertically or that he finally noticed his wife tugging on his arm after 10 minutes of ignorance, but with a great sigh of relief, we watched “the Wrestler” disappear off the porch and down the steps like the Incredible Hulk at the end of an episode, leaving with the damage done. I feel certain that we all sat staring at each other for about 30 minutes before someone uttered, “thank God he didn’t wake up Mark.” Finally, we all howled with laughter, partly from shattered nerves, and partly due to the sheer ridiculousness of the incident. Either way, we were ecstatic that it was over.
To this day, we still reenact the story of “the Wrestler” every summer at Edisto.
MOM, I HOPE YOUR RECOVERY IS QUICK AND UNEVENTFUL AND WE’LL SEE YOU THIS WEEKEND. I LOVE YOU!!!
I’ll talk at you all again tomorrow.
“not wanting to meet my savior, not wanting to meet my savior, not this way”
