Charlottesville - Return To The DMB Mecca

First, I'd like to thank the people who have been writing, texting and calling lately to discuss some of the posts: it's nice to know that I occasionally strike a chord somewhere in these ramblings. Today I'm going to go back to an old standby, but with a slightly less cool kick: views from the road are back, but I don't have any pictures. Well, I took one with my phone that's here, and I found a second one. So maybe it's more like "my recollection of my trip" put into print for you, plus two pictures. At any rate, this weekend I made the trek to Charlottesville Virginia, home of the University of Virginia. I went up to Michigan Thursday night after leaving work, and then left Michigan around 10pm Friday night to drive through the night. I returned to the wonderful land of Indiana late Monday afternoon. So here is a breakdown of my trip:

Thursday night, 10:08PM - I am officially on vacation, and I pile into the Focus for the 1 hr 45 minute jaunt to my Michigan destination. I have a tall Arizona Green Tea to keep me company, and a dearth of pod casts on my IPod. For those of you unfamiliar with the "pod cast," they are basically free talk radio which is tailored to your specific area of interest. They are almost always free, and easily downloaded via ITunes. I'm a big proponent of the pod cast, so I'll give you my top four right now: feel free to look into any or all of them.

1. The BS Report - Bill Simmons' pod is generally funny, insightful, and covers a variety of topics which I find interesting. My favorite pods are when Simmons has someone on who: A) gives it back to him (like David Stern), B) gives insight into one of the major sports (Lombardi, Olney, Stein/Bucher), or C) is a friend of his who just rants with him in "common man" sports dialogue. I would love to have a job where I can call my friend up, record our conversation, and make money for doing it. Of course, I know that a great deal more goes into it than that, but that's part of the Simmons mystic: he takes complex things and makes them seem incredibly simplistic.

2. Astronomy Cast - Put on by the lead editor of Universe Today, as well as a professor from Southern Illinois University, this pod cast is generally half an hour long and covers topics from astronomy history to theoretical physics. They are informative, not too long, and generally entertaining.

3. Meet The Press - this is a video podcast that is simply the video, minus most of the commercials, of each Sunday's Meet The Press. David Gregory is no Tim Russert, but he does a better job than anyone currently on TV of holding politicians accountable to their words and actions. Still, I don't follow this as religiously as I did when Russert was alive. Back then it was must watch on Monday morning (right after the download). Now? I get a few weeks behind.

4. Adam Carola podcast - Carola is a podcast that I'll download periodically when I'm going on a long trip, and then listen to on said trip. He's hit or miss, but when he hits it there is no doubt that it's a riot.

At any rate, due to a convergence of issues I had no podcast material for this trip. Simmons had better get on it before I leave for New York City on Thursday; I'll need more pods on that trip as I'll be driving mostly alone.

Thursday Night 11:55pm - I arrive in Michigan to great fan fare and celebration. I promptly go to bed. Back to back 6a-1op days at work will take it out of you.

Friday morning 8:30am - I'm up and my phone is sending me work emails. I turn it off. I'm on vacation anyway. What's the worst that can happen?

Friday morning 8:32am - I turn my phone back on. Just in case.

Friday morning 10:50am - I'm hungry, and I've got the afternoon to kill, so I start driving to go find something to eat. In the back of my mind I'm thinking "man it would be killer to get a Qdoba burrito right now"

Friday morning 11:11am - listening to The Score (670am out of Chicago) they break the news that Jim Hendry is being let go. I immediately call my brother, as tears of joy run down my face.

Friday morning 11:50am - I'm driving around Battle Creek Michigan. I see plenty of places I could eat, and almost stop. But something tells me I can do better. I continue to head west on I-94. My stomach will not let me consider anything but Qdoba. As I listen to the Hendry/Rickets press conferences I think about my research on the maps of where Qdoba's are. I've done this because, in spite of South Bend having a large college community, there isn't one anywhere close. I have to travel at least an hour and a half to get to a Qdoba. How dumb is that? Anyway, I remember that Kalamazoo has at least one Qdoba. I head that way.

Friday afternoon 12:40pm - Driving aimlessly ... starving ... haven't eaten in 24 hours ... no burritos in sight ... and then ... on the horizon... Qdoba! With no help from a map, no idea where I was going, I found it. I went inside and got the steak queso burrito with black beans, hot and mild salsas, lettuce, sour cream, and cheese. A bottle of tabasco in hand and I'm in heaven. I thank God for clearly wanting me to have this burrito by putting it in my line of sight. I also thank him for avoiding one more year of the Hendry/Quade project. I text a mocking picture of my burrito to a friend. Life is good.

Friday afternoon 1:15pm - As I drive off, completely content, I think of the top ten list of places I'd like to stop and eat at. I decide that we can't count full sit down restaurants in this, because you'd then be comparing apples and oranges. It's got to be somewhat considered "fast food" for it to make the rankings, because this is a road trip after all. Here's what I came up with:

1. Qdoba - I'm not even kidding. There is not a better bang for your buck than the steak queso burrito. It's far and away the most full you'll be for under $10, and it's enjoyable all the way around. I'm not even sure that they have anything else on their menu, but if they put one in down the street I'd eat there three times a week. If you think I'm kidding I'd like to refer you to the video evidence of the Bloomington Qdoba from my senior year, when it was on my way home from class.

2. Taco Bell - Cheesy. Gordita. Cruch. Seriously, do I need to say anymore? Add in the always changing burrito options for dirt cheap, as well as the classic fall back of the taco supreme, and the occasional "oh, by the way, crunchwrap supreme's are only .99 this week" and you've got a poor person's paradise.

3. Subway - I give you $5.35. You give me ten slices of peperoni, ten slices of salami, two slices of pepper jack cheese, lettuce, tomatoes, cucumbers, onions, green peppers, jalapenos, mayo, oil, vinegar, salt and pepper, oregano, and still let me choose the bread and if I want it toasted or not? Um ... check please?

4. White Castle - harder to find, not something I'd do every day, but on a road trip I'll take mozzarella sticks, half a dozen jalapeno sliders, and a red cream soda any day.

5. Burger King - The new menus, at the updated locations, are classier, and they give you 100+ drink options. My new favorite? Half raspberry coke half lime coke. 100% tasty.

6. Jimmy Johns - inferior to Subway in virtually every way ... but sometimes the bread will suck you in. The sub is smaller, has less umph, and generally leaves me wishing I'd gone to Subway ... but there has to be some redeeming quality if I keep going there. Right?

7. Wendy's - higher quality sandwiches ... much higher cost. I also docked them because their new fries are not so great.

8. Dairy Queen - every once in a while you just need a blizzard.

9. McDonalds - I go there more often than I'd like, but it's so cheap ...

10. I'm tapped out ... what am I missing? I guess this is a top nine list. Moving on.

Friday afternoon 2:00pm - I walk around a mall for a bit. I find two new hats (Blackhawks and Cubs) that are buy one get one half off of the already marked down price. I also found two books on my amazon wish list at Barnes and Nobles marked down to $5.00 a piece. Good stop.

Friday afternoon 3:00pm - I am blogging in a Starbucks. I feel very east coast right at this time.

Friday afternoon 3:30pm - I talk to a friend who is going through a bad breakup. I then shop for road trip supplies.

Friday afternoon 4:30pm - I get Subway, then go back to the apartment to try to sleep until the 9:30pm departure time.

Friday night 8:30pm - after not sleeping I give up and eat my Subway, then play with the dog who will be riding down with us in an attempt to tire her out. I think it worked both ways.

Friday night 10:30pm - finally on the road, heading towards Charlottesville. Some observations on the drive down:

1. Michigan drives are much more aggressive than your typical driver. They like to go about 10mph over, regardless of the situation, and they aren't patient.

2. It's nice to drop into Ohio out of Michigan. For someone who normally heads east out of Indiana, it makes you feel like you took a short cut. In other words, the Indiana and Ohio toll roads suck.

3. I can't drive by Cleveland without thinking about how much it must suck to live there. I can't drive by Akron without thinking about how much of a tool LeBron is.

4. The Pennsylvania turnpike is not fun to drive at 3:30am when you are very tired. It's easy to drive Iowa when you are tired ... it's straight. Narrow, under construction roads with lots of hills and twists and turns? Less so. And, yes, I hit the wall at 3:30am. I'm getting older.

Saturday Morning 4:30am - I hand the reigns over to my co-pilot, and go to sleep. The most exciting thing that occurred during my drive was me slamming on the breaks to avoid hitting what appeared to be the parts of an animal that had exploded all over three lanes of traffic. In reality, someone dumped a ton of clothes across three lanes of traffic. Either way we didn't hit it. The most exciting thing that happened while my co-pilot drove was that we hit a ladder, and the dog managed to roll the window down twice in an attempt to escape. I slept through all of this without blinking. I was hit once to pay a toll, and responded "it's really foggy." I woke up the third time the dog tried to escape; we figured out where the window lock was after that.

Saturday Morning 8:30am - we roll into Charlottesville. Not bad time at all. There are advantages to driving through the night; we have the whole day ahead of us.

Saturday Morning 10:00am - we go to sleep. So much for the whole day being ahead of us. Let's just settle for "we have the whole afternoon ahead of us."

Saturday Morning 11:47am - MUCH better! Shower time.

Saturday Afternoon 1:00pm - we drive to Blenheim Vineyards, owned by Mr. Dave Matthews himself. We sample the wine, I buy the wine, and I take this picture:

Now, everyone, I've got to tell you: this is why I will be moving to Virginia someday. In fact, I'm going to spend some of my vacation time looking at residential facilities in that state. As Billy Joel once said: sometimes a fantasy is all you need...

Back on track, the wine was great. In particular, they had a 2009 Chardonnay which was excellent, and a 2010 Syrah that each made a return journey with me... times two.

Saturday afternoon 3:00pm - after drinking a bottle of the 2009 Chard the four of us are off to the second tasting of the afternoon at Jefferson Vineyards. I returned with three bottles from Jefferson, including an excellent 2008 Merlot that is going to be difficult to keep closed, but will age beautifully. The race is on.

Saturday evening 5:00pm - we sit at the bar at The Local waiting for our table. They have a nice selection of local beers. I feel like I've probably died and gone to heaven. After the wait we have an excellent meal, and I am fully satisfied and ready for a nap. Getting old is rough. I hope I have the energy to make it through the show.

Saturday evening 7:00pm - we arrive at the venue ... and it is small. Intimate really. We get in line to have our IDs checked, then get in line to buy the obligatory posters. $40.00 and they are currently asking between $100.00 and $250.00 on eBay for them today. Gotta love capitalism. There are only 550 made, and we each get one. Pulled from eBay, here is what they look like:

I've got to say that I enjoy buying these event posters, and I wish that I had a few more from the various shows I've been to, but the secondary market is insane. I've seen both Charlottesville 2010 nights go together for $900.00 ... for $80.00 worth of posters. I've got two from Chicago this year (nights two and three), and this Dave and Tim one, and I'm pretty happy all things told. I'm number 304/550. I won't be putting it up on eBay anytime soon. Now I've just got to decide where to hang it. I should probably put up the DMB concert reviews for Chicago, and work on my other blogs...











Saturday Night 7:30pm - we make our way to the seats a friend is saving. Just incredible seats. I couldn't get a good picture with my phone, but you'll have to take my word for it.

Saturday Night 7:45pm until 11:05pm - You'll have to wait for the full breakdown, but this was a great show. Dave and Tim shows are always different, as Dave allows his humor to show a bit more, and the atmosphere is more relaxed, but this show went long, and had a great pace. Highlights included a great Jimmy Thing, Don't Drink The Water, Baby Blue, and Crush among others. An encore of Cornbread into Two Step took us over the top. And look at how long they went. Amazing. Add in a guest appearance by Warren Hayes, just a great show.

Saturday Night 11:45pm - we walked into Millers, a bar on the downtown mall in Charlottesville. Millers is known because it is the place where Dave Matthews was bar tending when it all began way back when. I enjoyed my drink, took my match book and coaster, and hit the road.

Saturday Night 12:30pm - Sleep!

Sunday Morning 9:30am - up, showered, and ready to hit the road.

Sunday Afternoon 12:30pm - back on the road after lunch (a great little sub place built into a gas station!), we begin the trek back to Michigan. A few observations on the way back:

1. Virginia is absolutely beautiful. I might have slept through it on the way down, but driving it back, it is gorgeous when you go through the mountains back west.

2. It started raining on the way back, and everyone started going 30mph. I passed about 50 cars that were pulled over. Cars, not motorcycles. Come on people, let's not do that again.

3. The Pennsylvania Turnpike is much easier to drive at day than it was at 3:30am.

4. States crossed on the journey home: Virginia, West Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Ohio and Michigan.

Sunday Night 11:00pm - after a quick stop to by frames for our posters, we return to the apartment in Michigan.

Sunday night 11:32pm - Sleep!

Monday Morning 11:08am - I return home to a bevy of fruit flies swarming my house. Although I can't figure out why they are here, or from whence they came, I know one thing for certain: I will win the war with them. I also frame my poster. And I'm happy that the trip was as wonderful as it was.

The Long National Nightmare

Today, as I was traversing I-94 between Jackson and Kalamazoo, the word came down over the radio. Well, actually it was reported on 670 (the score) but was tipped to them via twitter. Yes, David Kaplan "tweeted" the news that I feared would not happen before next year: Jim Hendry was done as GM of the Chicago Cubs. Setting aside the fact that I suddenly felt old (after all, I knew Kaplan as the voice of WGN's sports central growing up, and now this guy was ... tweeting?), I had a moment of hope pass over me. I immediately called my brother to let him know what was transpiring, leaving him a voicemail that I hope lifted his spirits. Then, as I drove around Michigan I listened to the press conferences and commentary. Let's break them down one by one:

1. Jim Hendry - he did himself well as he went in front of the media. He acknowledged how lucky he was to have the job for nine years while not winning the series. He let the cat out of the bag: he was really fired on July 22nd. Hendry, as one caller noted, almost ruined the entire day. He was humble, respectful, and made you feel bad for him. For a fleeting moment I actually felt bad for the guy and started to think maybe we shouldn't have done this. Then I stopped and thought of the following:
- Soriano - 8 years, $136 million
- Fukudome - 4 years, $48 million
- Bradley - 3 years, $30 million
- Kevin Gregg - traded prospects for him, then let Kerry Wood go
- Allowed the total mishandling of Zambrano after paying him like an ace
- Four top prospects for Matt Garza heading into a year we already weren't going to compete

Really, the list goes on and on. Hendry pointed out that Andy McPhail left him with a team on the edge of winning, and he's correct. And it would be terribly one sided and unfair to ignore some of the good Hendry moments:
- traded Bobby Hill, essentially, for Aramis Ramirez, Kenny Lofton and Randal Simon
- signing Ted Lilly was sneaky good; he was much better and coast 1/3 as much as the more heralded Barry Zito (who also signed that offseason)
- signing Marlon Byrd to a flexible deal that increases his value

And there are probably a few others. That doesn't change the fact that Hendry mismanaged this team. He allowed the core of the would be Wood/Prior/Zambrano dynasty to disintegrate in front of our eyes. He held on to Sosa far too long, killing any trade value. He had a habit of sitting on prospects way too long before cashing them in (see Patterson, Corey and Fox, Jake if you have questions). On the whole, we can surmise the following from the Hendry era:

- He was a really nice guy who had a big heart and wanted to see the Cubs win.
- He was capable of making good deals when trading with Pittsburgh
- He was not afraid of spending money
- He did not know how to spend money well
- He was overmatched as a big league GM

Much like Jerry Krause before him, Hendry will undoubtedly resurface as a scout somewhere. And he should. He has some skills. But as GM of one of the top five revenue clubs in the majors? It took our next person far too long to realize what we all already knew: Hendry was not a fit.

2. Tom Ricketts - The owner then took the mic and said many good things. That he wanted a GM with experience. More importantly, with winning experience. That he was going to check in with experienced baseball people around the league to see what they thought. That the Cubs one goal is to win it all. But this move left more questions than answers. Most notably:

- How did it take him this long to get rid of Hendry?
- Why did he allow Hendry to waste another year by hiring Quade, who is comically over matched at the big league level, and will be a one and done manager in his only cup of coffee as the big league boss?
- Why did he allow Hendry to pay the farm for Matt Garza (a good pitcher) when anyone who was awake the last few years knew this team was going nowhere?
- Why did he allow Hendry to execute this year's trading deadline (in which the Cubs largely sat stagnate) when he decided to fire him on July 22nd?

Ricketts now needs to do his best to turn public sentiment back in his favor. There was a great deal of excitement upon the family's purchase of the Cubs, but most people have come to fear that the ownership group isn't that much better than the Tribune Company was. Can I get a "why couldn't we have had Mark Cuban?" Let's just say I'm terrified that he will buy his hometown Pirates someday and turn them into a powerhouse that kicks our tail.

3. Steve Stone - the ... ugh, WHITE SOX (that still makes me sick) ... play by play guy is a staple on The SCORE, and he came on and had some good insight. It's beyond me why the Cubs won't find a way to get him back in the fold. Losing him from TV was rough, but isn't there a way to have him in the front office. Love him or hate him (and the Tribune obviously fell in the latter group), he often foresaw issues before they happened. His baseball acumen is great. I wouldn't say "hire him as GM" but I would find a place in the front office if possible.

At any rate, it's a good day to be a Cubs fan, or at least as good of a day as we've had this year. It doesn't undo the fact that we are in need of cleaning house, and refocusing with a target date of 2014 to be relevant again. While I'm ranting, here are a few suggestions for GM:

1. Andrew Friedman - GM of Tampa Bay

Friedman has shown an uncanny ability to turn former prospects into future prospects before they lose value, and to hold on to players and turn the draft picks acquired when they leave via free agency into a strong minor league system. He will never be able to compete year in and year out with Boston and New York, not with Tampa's payroll. But with the Cubs payroll? I bet he'd do damage.

2. Brian Cashman - GM of New York Yankees

His contract is up, he's a proven winner who generally does okay with big money expenditures. The Cubs payroll certainly isn't the Yankees, but he knows how to spend smart. Let's not forget that he sold high on Soriano way back when. He's not the best, but he knows how to win, and would give the Cubs a sense of legitimacy.

3. Ben Cherington - Assistant GM of Boston Red Sox

The Red Sox also know how to run things. I don't think we'd be able to pry Theo away ... but maybe his to lieutenant?

The Ultimate Power Rankings - Part Three

As mentioned earlier, I'm breaking down all 92 professional sports teams in the NFL, NBA and MLB according to who I'd root for to win a championship (click here for all posts on this topic). This is helpful because we will be able to tell, at the end of this exercise, who I would root for if the Kansas City Chiefs met the Cleveland Browns in the AFC Championship game. We'll also be able to tell who I would be willing to bargain with the devil to get a championship for (the trinity), and which teams I'd bargain with the devil to get the franchise to contract (still to come). Also, it gets my mind off of work. So, without further delay, here is our third tier:

But Dammit, Do I Respect You (Ron Burgundy Edition)

7. Tampa Bay (Devil) Rays

The Pros: First, I refuse to drop the "Devil" in the name. I know that that simple move apparently allowed them to exorcise their demons (literally and figuratively), and suddenly they won more than the Cubs have in a century in a five year period. But it was cooler with the Devil in the name. Beyond that, I respect the front office and the way that they break down opponents, trade intelligently, and the way they develop prospects. I wish the Cubs had their front office. I'm also really excited to see three or four players out of the Cubs trade for Matt Garza celebrate a world series win in Tampa. Thanks for making me so optimistic Jim Hendry.

The Cons: Well, for one, they dropped the Devil, losing a cool name. They also have no fans, and a crappy stadium. And they probably just ripped the Cubs off in a trade. The running trend here is that I am Wes Mantooth to each of these team's Ron Burgundy. I'll probably be pissed that the Cubs got ripped off, but I'll respect the (Devil) Rays for doing it.

The Verdict: The Rays are like the little engine that could and almost has a few times. They go up against the Yankees and the Red Sox, and have had some success making the AL East a three team race. You've gotta respect that.

8. Oklahoma City Thunder

The Pros: Kevin Durant is the good super star thus far, quietly resigning with his small market team, and carrying himself well. They are a fun team to watch, and they are the best hope long term to hold of the Miami LeBron's.

The Cons: Look, they stole the franchise from Seattle. Bill Simmons won't call them the Thunder, he calls them the Zombie Sonics. I can't totally forgive the shady stealing of the franchise. And that's the biggest con of all.

The Verdict: Lots of upside, I am placing my hopes of stopping the Heat in them, and Durant seems to be a good guy. Beyond that, you've gotta respect the front office, even if I hate the ownership for stealing them away from Seattle, and losing us an iconic franchise in the process.

9. New England Patriots

The Pros: repeatedly beat the Colts, thwarting any chance Peyton Manning had of being known as the greatest of all time. Nearly had a perfect year, which you've gotta love. Brady is the everyman's superstar: drafted in the 6th round, forgotten, but a serious winner. I'm a sucker for dynasties, especially when they stand in the way of Peyton Manning.

The Cons: well, they blew a 3 touch down lead against the Colts in 2007, which, when mixed with a little Rex Grossman, led to Peyton Manning being a Super Bowl Champion. They then turned around and blew the game against the Giants, leading to Eli Manning being a Super Bowl Champion. Tom Brady has also grown his hair out, making him less of an everyman's superstar, and more of a super model wanna be.

The Verdict: The Pats would have been higher in 2006. They are falling with every year, but they are still this high because: A) I respect the way they have built and maintained their franchise, B) they toppled the Colts repeatedly, C) I won a lot of money betting against Colts fans when those teams played, and D) I really don't like the Colts, their fans, and will idolize anyone who topples them. If Grossman had won the Super Bowl against the Colts I would have probably made a blood pact to name my first born Rex. In a way that makes me glad the Bears didn't win.

10. New York Yankees

The Pros: Saint George (rest in peace) ran a franchise the way I'd run it, which is to say with too much interference, and sparing no expense out of a desire to win. I respect Jeter and Rivera. The Yankees dynasty of my lifetime did it with a ton of class, and the 1998 team was dynamic to watch because it had so few all time greats, but played like a team in a way few baseball teams ever have. I also appreciate the history.

The Cons: About the time that George started to see the end coming he green lit the trade for A-Rod, and all the insane free agency acquisitions, which never seemed to work out. And let's be honest, A-Rod is the anti-Jordan: prissy, not a winner, obsessed with self. You know, like Peyton Manning, only with more steroids. The loud mouthed son (Hank?) is a tool. I listen to/read so much Bill Simmons that his Yankees hate is starting to seep in on me. This is another team that might have been higher if you had checked in in the 2004 season. They also blew the 3-0 lead to Boston in 2004, which no longer is a big deal (with the White Sox and Cardinals winning since then, I've had bigger fish to fry), but at the time made me feel isolated and alone as a Cubs fan, watching the Red Sox winning it all one year after my Cubs had blown their best chance in two generations. So they take a hit for that.

The Verdict: I respect the dynasty, and I respect George. But George is gone, and they keep doing things that make me question my childhood decision to pick the Yankees as my AL team. The Rays have already jumped them, and at the current rate it's highly likely they'll continue to fall rather than have a resurgence on this list.

11. Charlotte Bobcats

The Pros: Michael Jeffery Jordan.

The Cons: Everything else about the franchise.

The Verdict: yes, MJ means that much to me. I can't think of the appropriate movie quote, but I'd follow him anywhere. I hope this team succeeds because I want him to succeed. I suspect it won't because I think Michael was constructed to do one thing: play basketball. But I respect the man so much that his team makes this tier based entirely on him owning the team. Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm going to go watch some youtube clips of the 1998 Chicago Bulls.

Songs That Have Defined My Life - I Swear ... That I Liked This Song

Just because I have to entertain my brother...

Artist: All 4 One
Song: I Swear
Year: 1994





Why This Song?: Well ... as mentioned before, I don't get to sleep easily, and so when I was growing up I did the radio thing. Every single night. This song held a solid spot on the top 9 at 9. Additionally, I'd like to say that I enjoyed the lyrics. But really I was a young kid who was brainwashed by pop radio. This song isn't even an original song; it's a cover of a country song by John Michael Montgomery. I, of course, wouldn't have known that in 1994 because I didn't listen to country. Still don't. But at the time I was a sucker, and the 11 week run as the #1 song in America was enough to draw me in.

Lyric That Stuck Out Back Then: Man, with so many deep lyrics, how could I have settled on one? Let's go with "I swear by the moon and the stars in the sky." I like astronomy.

Lyric That Stands Out Now: I'm going to say the line about love not aging at all. That's a nice concept.

Thing That Surprised Me: Okay, well this band is still together apparently, which brings me back to my first point: I really need to start my own band. Like great generals, bands apparently never die if they have at least one hit. They just play smaller and smaller venues. But beyond that, this song won the Grammy for best performance. All those years I was ridiculed for liking this song by my own brother, and it was named the best song of the year!

Final Evaluation: Okay, the song is a "great love song." Does that make me a complete sap for still humming it quietly when I hear it on the radio? I don't know. I also listen to 2pac if that helps cancel this out. I feel like it should. On the whole this is a cover of a crappy country song, giving it a Boys II Men feel. It just should have been done by Boys II Men. The All 4 One guys were kinda wussy, which never helped. And they seemed like a complete rip off of the Boys II Men guys. Still, they were better than the boy bands that followed. I'll give it a 7/10 in hindsight, but I wouldn't be sad if someone played this at my wedding. Although I'd pretend to be. I'd also punch whoever told the DJ to play it. Don't forget that. I'm now going to bust out my All 4 One cassette tapes...

The Ultimate Power Rankings - Part Two

As mentioned here, I'm doing a break down of all 92 professional teams across the NFL, NBA and MLB, ranking them first to 92nd in terms of who is going to have me rooting for them. In our first installment, we looked at the current power rankings within the Holy Trinity (Bears, Bulls, Cubs). Some have asked me why the Bears are first, and the ultimate question of "shouldn't you rank them according to who you'd rather see win it all?" That's a tough one. There is no doubt I'd rather see the Cubs win it all ... I mean, over 100 years of futility can't be ignored, right? ... but I'd be more likely to watch a Bears game if a Cubs game was on against it. That's the power of the NFL kids.

Anyway, for our second installment we look at the second tier of teams. This group is entitled "the emotional ties" because all of them have a special place in my heart, although none of them happen to be from the city of Chicago, so it's highly unlikely that any of them will leapfrog any of the trinity teams. Although, for a period of time there the Bulls would have had a hard time fending off a few of these teams. Anyway, we will break this group down, power poll spots 4-6, using the same logic we did last time:

The Emotional Ties

4. Pittsburgh Steelers

The Pros: in 2006, when all seemed lost as a Colts juggernaut steamrolled the league, the little six seed that could toppled them (leading to Manning infamously throwing his offensive line under the bus). Pittsburgh forever earned a special place in my heart for that, and would have doubled my love for them if they could have thwarted the evil Packers in last year's super bowl. But Pittsburgh also ranks this high for some other reasons. First, they play football the way it's supposed to be played: running the ball, tough defense, and with an identity. I love the Rooney family, and respect the city. I love that they've had three head coaches since the start of the 1969 season. That's right, forty two years (and counting) and three coaches. That's stability and honor. And it's what you get when you hire competent coaches (I'm looking at you Mike McCaskey and company). Finally, my own grandfather had a cup of coffee with the Steelers in 1948, which gives the family heritage angle some credence. Not too bad.

The Cons: Well ... I jinxed the possibility that it'd face this last year with my infamous "two tickets to paradise" post, but I suppose that the biggest con is that I love the Steelers so much that I'd prefer that the Bears never have to play them. Don't get me wrong, the Bears are the firm number one in my book, but it's kind like when you fall in love with a girl, she breaks your heart, you eventually find another girl, and you'd just assume that you never get put in a situation where they are both present, at the same time, vying for your attention. The Steelers are the only team that can compete with the trinity, and there's a lot of reasons for that. Beyond that, Big Ben is a bit of a tool. Although I think he got married this offseason, so maybe he's not going to be chasing tail in bar bathrooms anymore. Because we all know that athletes stop chasing tail as soon as they get married. Right Tiger? Also, they let the stupid cheese heads win the Super Bowl last year. Which was decidedly not cool.

The Verdict: Pittsburgh Steelers football is a way of life for a number of people. A former flame of mine lives in the heart of Steelers country right now, and blissfully reported that Steelers fans are awesome, and that it's just like being with Chicago fans. I have a Steelers jersey with my grandfather's old college football number on it, and my name on it. I cherish my Steelers hat. If the Bears can't win, I want the Steelers to take it down.

5. New Orleans Saints

The Pros: Remember what I said about Pittsburgh toppling Indy in 2006? That goes ten fold for the Saints beating the stupid Colts in 2010. Then there was the aspect of the death blow being dealt by a former Indiana Hoosier corner back, Tracy Porter, who played at IU all four years I went to IU. (Do I have a Saints Super Bowl Jersey of Tracy Porter? You're damn right I do!) But, as with Pittsburgh, it goes so much deeper than the toppling of the hated Colts. I remember back in 1999 when I bought my first (and only) New Orleans Saints hat. It was marked down, dirt cheap, in the Ft. Wayne mall. I bought it because Mike Ditka was the new coach of the Saints. It did not fit my head. By 2005 it fit my head, and I wore it to the Gulf Coast nine times to work on rebuilding the coast following Hurricane Katrina. I saw how much the Saints meant to the Coast. And I know how much their championship meant to the region. The Saints are an emotional connection because of Mississippi and New Orleans.

The Cons: well, at least I also have no issues rooting for them to get taken out by Chicago. I've proven that a few times. If the Bears and Saints play I'll be up in my Urlacher jersey, hoping they take Brees out. The only real con here is that the Saints are set up better than the Bears. I wish we had their management and coaching team.

The Verdict: another team that pulls at the heart, and another team that has saved me from imminent doom. I find it interesting that the Bears couldn't stop the Colts, but my number four and five teams could. Screw you too Rex Grossman. But on the topic of the Saints, they'll never have the undying love I have for Pittsburgh, but they won't be too far behind either because every time I pull out that Saints hat and look at the fade due to the time spent in the sun, and the rings of sweat that can't come out of the band, I'll think of those days on the coast, and I'll smile. And I'll think of Tracy Porter picking Manning. Hell Yeah.

6. Dallas Mavericks

The Pros: "Help us Dirk Nowitski. You're our only hope." I wrote those words after Miami beat Chicago in the eastern conference finals this year. He listened. That means a lot. I've always had a soft spot in my heart for Dallas, probably because my uncle gave me a Dallas Mavs hat and a Jamal Mashburn t-shirt at a very young age. The Mavs were terrible when I was growing up, but Mark Cuban changed all that, and you should know that I love Cuban. I wish MLB had let him buy the Cubs. Cuban is everything I'd probably be if I was a billionaire owner of a sports team. Which is to say, a loudmouth blowhard who spares no expense on his team, can't stop yelling at referees who can't call games, and gets into trouble with the sport's commissioner. Yeah, that about sums it up. But you can't tell me Cuban doesn't want to win. And that's what I want out of my owner: someone who wants to win, no matter the cost or the odds. When I was growing up it was unthinkable that the Mavericks would win the NBA title. They just did. Because of Cuban. 'Nuff said.

The Cons: I'm not a huge fan of Dirk; he's good, but his lack of defense annoys me. Also, Jason Terry is like the annoying gnat of the NBA; you want to swat him away, but he keeps coming back, showing you his tattoo, and annoying you.

The Verdict: This team saved us from a Miami Heat title in year one of the "Big Three" era ... which is worth it's price in gold. As I've said before, the Heat will win a title. LeBron, like Peyton, is just too good to not win one by accident. But it would have sucked if they had taken it down in year one. It would have justified all the terrible moves LeBron made in the past year. The Mavs showed him for what he is. They have earned my respect, if nothing else, for that.

Songs That Have Defined My Life - Broken Phone Booth Style

I'm going to start a new series where I look at a number of songs that make me stop, close my eyes, and take me to a place far away from the present. These are songs that have defined moments of my life, or an idea of my life. I'm going to pose, then answer a number of questions along with each song, and will post the video here. If you can't view the video (due to this being emailed to you, or some other technical snafu, please click here and go to the main blog page. And now, without any further delay, here is our first song:

Artist: Primitive Radio Gods
Title: Standing Outside A Broken Phone Booth With Money In My Hand
Year: 1996



Why This Song?: Let's see ... I remember hearing this song right around the time I was ten or so, which would have put me in ... fourth grade? At any rate, this song, among many others, got the benefit of the fact that I struggle to go to sleep. I always have, and from a very young age I listened to the radio to fall asleep. Once TV was integrated into my nighttime routines I put less value on the radio. Which, ironically, dovetailed with the onset of the crappy music generation that we've been in for a decade or so. But in 1996, I was right in the "Top Nine at Nine" demographic, and I listened to night time radio on U93 habitually from around 8pm until I could fall asleep. This song is from that era, and it has the unique qualities of sounding completely original, having a title and a band name that sticks out, and having a good feel to fall asleep to. Triple win.

Lyric that stuck out back then: "If I die before I learn to speak, will money pay for all the days I've lived awake but half asleep?" I remember discussing this lyric with adults at the time. To say that it peaked my interest is an understatement; perhaps my interest in this concept explains my appreciation for philosophy of all kinds. It's a lyric that seems stupid on the surface ... how could someone singing a song to me die before they learned to speak ... but is much deeper once you understand theoretical points of view.

Lyric that stands out now: it's a cop out to say the entire song ... really, I enjoy all the lyrics on a thinking level ... so I'll give you one: "Life is time they teach you growing up. The seconds ticking killed us all a million years before the fall. You ride the waves and don't ask where they go. You swim like lions through the crest and bathe yourself in zebra flesh." I like this lyric because it reflects on the nature of time, the finite reality of life, and it even hits on a theological dimension. Man am I a sucker for philosophy.

Thing that surprised me: The Primitive Radio Gods just released another album. And they have a website. Seriously, go check them out. I need to start a band.

Final evaluation: I hadn't heard this song for over a decade when, in my senior year of college, all the sudden I had a flashback to the lyrics about "if I die before I learn to speak." Something made me think of the lyrics, which in turn made me think of the song. I went out and downloaded the song off of ITunes, and then, as luck would have it, I heard the song in a bar later that night. I have since then mediated on this song as one of the many which allow me to slow down, breathe, and refocus when life gets a little crazy. I highly recommend you look at the lyrics and the musical composition of this song: it's unique, it's deep, and it's fun. I give it a 10/10 now, so it's withstood the test of time.

2012 - The Handicapping Just Got Easier

In this post I referred to Tim Pawlenty as the "bland sacrificial lamb," who would only get the nomination if the GOP was certain they could not beat Obama. In this earlier post I wrote that Pawlenty was "a dry shite." It finds out that the GOP is not interested in having a dry shite as its' nominee, nor is Pawlenty interested in being the bland sacrificial lamb. And, so, after finishing "a disappointing" (but totally predictable) third in the Iowa straw poll (which Michelle Bachmann unsurprisingly won), Tim Paw announced today that he was withdrawing from the race.


I, admittedly, put more stock in Pawlenty's chances because he looked presidential. He looked youthful. And he had the opportunity to trick people into thinking that he had led a state successfully for two terms. But Pawlenty had quite a bit going against him as well:

-he was not going to stir up the masses (a la Bachmann)
-he was not going to have millions to spend ... er, waste (a la Romney)
-he did not have the name recognition (a la Gingrich, Giuliani)

No, the problem with Tim Pawlenty was just that: he was Tim Pawlenty, he came from Minnesota, and nobody really cared about him. He just doesn't register with the general public, and he never was going to. Give the man credit for stepping aside this early in the process, and not wasting any more money, although I'm sure that the straw poll had less to do with it than Rick Perry's announcement did. Perry is like a Pawlenty doppelganger, only slightly more dynamic on the mic.

As for now, anyone who says that they are shocked by Bachmann looking strong in Iowa needs to have their political acumen examined. Iowa is all about organization and extremism, on both sides of the political isle. Obama was able to take the caucus because he was that much more organized than Hillary, and he was not "mainstream" at that point. Iowa relishes "being first," and they equally relish telling the rest of the nation "you'll take this candidate and you'll love them!"

Still, it is interesting the Pawlenty decided to drop now, when the two candidates ahead of him were the crazy Michelle Bachmann and the equally crazy, but somehow more stable Ron Paul. Neither of these candidates are going to win the White House. Romney, smartly, decided not to contest the straw poll. Maybe that was Tim Paw's big error: he should have just kept his ball and stayed home. But the reality of the field is this: Romney will be strong, and the number one contender to go against him will probably need to win Iowa to have a shot. Rick Perry will kick his campaign into high gear in Iowa because he understands this fact. Romney has done well, thus far, to stay out of the fray. It behooves him to do so, because he can allow all his opponents to tear at each other, if they are dumb enough to ignore him. Obama was able to do this, to a point, in the early primary process in 2008. He allowed all the "also-rans" (most notably John Edwards) to take on Hillary, and he just looked better as a result. Romney would be smart to attempt the same once over on the Republican field, which is undoubtedly one of the reasons he's not trying hard for Iowa.

And so, unless something shocking occurs, the likely early game for the nomination will go something like this:

- Bachmann (or Perry) will take Iowa
- Romney will take New Hampshire
- South Carolina becomes a blood bath

If I was Mitt Romney I'd be trying to put my resources, as quietly as possible, into South Carolina. Rick Perry has, by default with Pawlenty's exit, become the "hey, that guy seems presidential" candidate. At this point, in August of 2011, it appears the race has solidified around three candidates: Rick Perry, Michele Bachmann, and Mitt Romney. There are a number of other candidates that could make some noise, but none who seem dynamic enough at this point to stop the wheels that are in motion. Somehow, even as Obama seems weaker by the day, his position becomes stronger by the moment.

When Winning Isn't Possible

"I kinda hope Zambrano never pitches for us again. That was embarrassing."

When I walked out into the front room this morning, where my phone had sat over night, I saw this text from my brother. I immediately knew that Carlos had either A) gotten lit up for a ton of runs, or B) hit someone. As luck would have it, as I looked things up on my blackberry, it was a weird combination of both ... and more. My brother's reaction was not my immediate reaction. I felt more bad for the guy ... how sick is that ... because he just does not fit in on a losing team. Furthermore, I know that he wants to win as much as anyone. So I responded "poor Carlos ... he just needs to retire. He doesn't handle shitty teams well." These different responses ultimately get to the same point: it's time for Carlos to go. Hell, it's time for the entire team (short of Castro) to go. But, in particular, it's time to fully break away from the last vestiges of the "almost did it" Cubs team of 2003 (Ramirez and Zambrano), as well as the "should have done it, but lacked the fortitude when it mattered" teams of 2007 and 2008 (Soriano, Soto, Marmol). Carlos' melt down is just the most recent example of this fact.

At the end of the day, Carlos Zambrano never came close to reaching his potential. I'm not sure if he got fat, or went a little too crazy, or just wanted it too bad to be able to get it there. I do not doubt that Carlos wanted very much to be the man to get the fourth victory in the World Series for the Cubs. I have no doubt that he loves the city, the team, and the sport a good deal. I also have no doubt that the retirement statement isn't a gimmick, even if he ends up coming back. I believe firmly that Carlos is just about fed up with the state of the Cubs, and that it is hard for him to get up for going into work everyday when he knows his team can't hit with runners in scoring position, can't field worth a damn, and generally only play well when it doesn't matter. And that's not just this year: that's his entire career.

Imagine that every day you go into work, and no matter how hard you do or don't work nothing changes. The company is constantly mired in the past, unable to right its' course for the future, and day after day you are stuck with the reality that nothing you do is going to change that course because management is so incompetent that you don't get any help. They overpay for has beens in the industry. They hang on to the 65 year old who is well past his prime. They refuse to invest in fresh, out of college talent, choosing instead to hire a bunch of temps who are just proficient enough to make management pat themselves on the back. Imagine all that, and tell me that you wouldn't be looking ahead to the next thing. And let's just suppose that you had the talent and ambition to be a Fortune 500 CEO while you were at it, but being stuck in this place made it so that you never were able to flourish. Now you'll be remembered simply as an also-ran. And, now, the kicker: you love this place. It means the world to you, and you want to see it be a power in the field. You can't bear the thought of jumping ship, even when you had the chance a few years back, because you want to succeed HERE not THERE. Now, that ships sailed; you're a tarnished brand because you never were surrounded with the talent needed to succeed, and nobody wants you outside of your own place. Hell, they don't even want you anymore. What do you do?

Contrary to what this sounds like, I am far from a Carlos Zambrano apologist. He's done far too little with far too much, and he was trusted to carry our team forward after the tragedy that was the Kerry Wood/Mark Prior dynasty. Zambrano seemed to have the backbone of a mule, and the skill to go with it. He would be the ace around which our drought ended. But the Cubs never surrounded him with real talent. He's never played along side a Hall of Fame caliber player (unless you decide to count Sammy Sosa). When Wood and Prior went down the Cubs replaced them with journey men (Jason Marquis), over paid veterans who were just good enough to keep the team relevant, but didn't have a chance in the world of helping the team win it all (Ryan Dempster and Ted Lilly), or a group of junk ballers who were questionable major league talents at best (Sean Estes, Randy Wells). When, finally, this year the Cubs made a move to try to surround him with real pitching talent (Garza) it was far too little, far too late. Zambrano's ship sailed about two years ago, when Hendry's compounding of stupid moves killed the last breath of hope that the Cubs would be relevant during his reign. My point is this: if Carlos didn't win 25 games a year, he was never going to be able to overcome the short comings of his teammates. And even if he did, he didn't have enough help to win it all. The Cubs almost went out of their way to pay him like an ace, then tell him he wasn't an ace. About the time that Sweet Lou put him in the bullpen this ending was inevitable.

So go ahead and criticize him for not trying. I think you're wrong. I think he tried too hard, and that impacted his performance negatively. Go ahead and accuse him of quitting. I'd say "so what? The rest of his team quit before the season even started, and the GM quit on this team years ago." Go ahead and say he let the team down. True, but the team let him down more. At the end of the day, the truest thing you can say about Carlos Zambrano is that he never wanted to leave the team, a la Greg Maddux. He never wanted to be the circus side show, a la Sammy Sosa. And that all would have been fine if he was as even keeled as Kerry Wood ... but that was never Big Z. All he wanted to do was to win. And that just isn't possible on the North side of Chicago. We have 103 years (and counting) to prove it.

The Ultimate Power Rankings - Part 1

Did you know that there are ninety two professional sports franchises in the three big leagues (the NBA, the MLB and the NFL)? And, did you know, that I’ve never before given all these teams there due by letting them know where they stood with me? I mean, sure, the Colts know that they’ve been at the bottom for a long time, and the Packers, Pistons, White Sox, Pacers, and Cardinals could probably figure out that they weren’t exactly in the running for my favorite teams. And, yes, the three real Chicago teams (the Bears, the Bulls and the Cubs) could probably figure out that they’ve been competing for the top spot for my life as a sports fan. But I fear that I’ve done an injustice to those lost in the middle: the teams that fight day in and day out to move up or down and get noticed. Well, never fear Kansas City (Royals or Chiefs), and fret no more Cleveland (did the Cavs fold after LeBron left?). The time is here, and I’m going to unveil my ultimate power rankings. We will do this in twelve segments, with each grouping being explained, and with each team being examined. First up, the key group, the Holy Trinity.

The Holy Trinity

1. Chicago Bears

The Pros: the Bears, the team which brings the entire city of Chicago together, are a dynamo when you live in the Midwest. Bears football defines much of what we do, and what we love. They are the Monsters of the Midway, they are fierce and fearless, and they make us beam with pride. The history is there: George Halas, Papa Bear himself. The icons are numerous: George, Sayers, Butkis, Grange, Payton, Singletary, Hampton, Dent, and Urlacher to name a few. One of two charter franchises which remain. More Hall of Fame inductees than anyone. More championships than anyone but the Packers. The Bears are the home to the 1985 team which was by all account (that I wish to listen to) the greatest team to ever play the game. The numbers back it up, and the defense personified the city and the fan base. Being a Bears fan is otherworldly; get in a room with a bunch of true Bears fans, and there is nothing like it.

The Cons: at current time, the Bears are riddled with terrible coaching, beyond terrible management, and a propensity for cheap that belittles their huge revenue streams. Only Chicago would look at last year and think “we’ve gotta extend Lovie.” Only Chicago would have lost the NFC championship game by having Todd Collins as the backup to Jay Cutler. Only in Chicago.

The Verdict: as this is the first year that I’ve done these rankings, the Bears are the first time champs. Still, they have been in the one or two spot since 1999. In fact, I’d have to say that the Bears have probably held this spot more than any other team, so it’s befitting that they are the first official champs.

2. Chicago Cubs

The Pros: Wrigley Field is like Mecca for baseball fans. You go, and you suddenly transport back in time to a simpler time. Beyond that, there is the heritage, and the undying belief that we will get to see the championship drought end in our life time. It’s alluring, and the heartbreak can’t drive you away, it only draws you further in. My grandfather lived his entire life a Cubs fan and never saw them win the World Series. Needless to say, Eddie Vedder got it right when he opined “when the day comes with that last winning run and I’m crying and covered in beer, I’ll look to the sky and know I was right to think ‘someday we’ll go all the way.’”

The Cons: Management that typically makes the Bears management look brilliant in comparison. Moments that truly take it out of you and make you wonder why you even care (2003 as the prime example). Alphonso Soriano. Need I say more?

The Verdict: The Cubs undoubtedly would have held the top spot in 2003, 2004, 2007, 2008 and 2009. The history, the mystique, and the fact that going to baseball games live is the best sports experience out there gives them a boost. When they finally do win it, I know that I’ll be crying, and I’m going to do everything possible to be around the stadium (if not in it) when it happens. The Cubs are a patch you wear on your shoulder, realizing the disappointment, but hoping for future investment. And I’m pissed they didn’t trade away more at the deadline. But such is life. All you really need to know is that I got goosebumps walking into Wrigley Field for a Dave Matthews Band show. It has that kind of aura.

3. Chicago Bulls

The Pros: The legacy of Michael Jeffery Jordan, the greatest there ever was, and the greatest there ever will be. Sometimes, when I’m having a rough day, I’ll load up a youtube clip of MJ winning his last game as a Bull. It always helps. Beyond that, this team is the most likely to win a championship soon out of the Holy Trinity teams, and the management seems downright brilliant when compared with Angelo and Hendry. Derrick Rose is a genuine franchise cornerstone, which both the Bears and Cubs are lacking. On the whole, the Bulls have got to be pretty disappointed that they were not higher than here. Well, I was pretty disappointed that they waited until the series was over to put in Kurt Thomas and start playing physical with the Heat. But it was close.

The Cons: in present time, very few. But there was Krause blowing up the championship Bulls out of an exercise in ego. There was the drought between 1998 and 2011. There was the mismanagement of Curry, Chandler, Williams, Brand and every other player during that time. There was Tim frickin’ Floyd. And, through no fault of their own, there was the fact that the NBA was damn near dead to me for the better part of the last decade, before rising like the phoenix this last year. You can thank Rose for that, and, in a weird way, you can thank LeBron too.

The Verdict: If I was honest I’d say I was aware of sports around the 1992 for the first time. The Bulls were my first love. If I was going to retroactively give out these rankings, the Bulls would have been solidly in first (with not a whole lot of competition) from 1992 until 1998. That’s seven straight, and it’s impressive. But when they forced MJ out, and when the NBA went, as one faithful reader likes to say, “Gangsta Ball” on me, I lost interest, and the Bulls took a hit. It’s wonderful to have them back. If the NBA can avoid having their officials throw more games I watch, they might even stand a chance of climbing up the list.