The other morning when I was putting together some material for Wynn, Kay And The Morning Crew on WQMX, I ran across this horrifying headline.
"Experts now say you should not have the card table, or small table anymore at Thanksgiving and everyone should be at the main table" Something about how everyone should eat and talk at the same table, or whatever...and I supposed there may be a few good reasons for it. But c'mon! It's the card table! We had a blast at the card table for those glorious years before you got the call up to the big table. It was the only big meal all year, that you had no real adult supervision. Loved it.
Yeah, the turkey was cold, it wobbled, the chairs were small, and sometimes it was in a hallway or foyer, but who cares? When you're young all you want to do is scarf it down and run off and play with your cousins anyway. All while the adults devour each other with political talk and bring up old family squabbles. Sure, you had to beg for more gravy and stuffing, but you didn't have to eat aunt Martha's awful chutney if you didn't want to. You could dog down 10 rolls (with unlimited butter) because no one was monitoring you. It was bliss.
These experts obviously never experienced this, or they suffer from some deep mental scarring of not being good enough to eat with the adults nonsense, plus they clearly need more to do. And yes, when you became that kid that was about 10 years older than the other kids at the card table, you did look longingly at the master table. And eventually the call came. From the bullpen to the mound, from AAA to the major leagues and you crossed over.
And on that glorious day, you left your younger cousins behind, but a part of you always stays - at the card table.
Thursday, November 17, 2016
Wednesday, November 16, 2016
BROWNS - Is He Still With Us?
Am I alone in this? I'm betting this news hit you the same way it hit me today.
While doing the show today, Wynn, Kay And The Morning Crew, our news dude Ryan Lang blasted out this story. "And in Browns news, QB Robert Griffin III, has been cleared to practice, but with no contact." Who the heck is this Griffin cat? Oh yeah, RG3! I forgot he was still on the team! You too? He's been out since week one.
Do you know how much has happened since then? The Tribe ran through the American League Pennant and went not game seven of the World Series. Halloween, The Blossom concert season had 4 shows, and wrapped up. I went to Florida, and Ryan joined our show after Amani Abraham left for TV-3. And Oh yeah, the Browns have gone 0-10! I gotta be honest, it seems like it was a million years ago. 0-10 will do that to you.
Griffin playing for the Browns seems more like something I dreamed once, and didn't actually see. Think about it, We've had like 100 QB's play this year, and even had "Clipboard Jesus" take a few snaps, but we canned him too. And when you are a QB, and get released from THIS team? I think thats rock bottom.
So as Cody Kessler, and Old Man McCown are led out there to be the Sunday afternoon tackling dummies, RG3 can only hope the weeks keep ticking by, and he can make it to mid January unscathed. But as of now, he still isn't cleared for contact.
Oh, and when he is reactivated and we are reintroduced to RG3? Make sure you watch quick, Because oh yes, there will be contact.
While doing the show today, Wynn, Kay And The Morning Crew, our news dude Ryan Lang blasted out this story. "And in Browns news, QB Robert Griffin III, has been cleared to practice, but with no contact." Who the heck is this Griffin cat? Oh yeah, RG3! I forgot he was still on the team! You too? He's been out since week one.
Do you know how much has happened since then? The Tribe ran through the American League Pennant and went not game seven of the World Series. Halloween, The Blossom concert season had 4 shows, and wrapped up. I went to Florida, and Ryan joined our show after Amani Abraham left for TV-3. And Oh yeah, the Browns have gone 0-10! I gotta be honest, it seems like it was a million years ago. 0-10 will do that to you.
Griffin playing for the Browns seems more like something I dreamed once, and didn't actually see. Think about it, We've had like 100 QB's play this year, and even had "Clipboard Jesus" take a few snaps, but we canned him too. And when you are a QB, and get released from THIS team? I think thats rock bottom.
So as Cody Kessler, and Old Man McCown are led out there to be the Sunday afternoon tackling dummies, RG3 can only hope the weeks keep ticking by, and he can make it to mid January unscathed. But as of now, he still isn't cleared for contact.
Oh, and when he is reactivated and we are reintroduced to RG3? Make sure you watch quick, Because oh yes, there will be contact.
Friday, November 11, 2016
MOVIE REVIEW - In Theaters Now
Arrival
Amy Adams, Jeremy Renner and Forest Whitaker star in this Sci-Fi flick out this week. To it's credit, this is not a special effects fest, and this focuses far more on story, than on computer art. This story dwells on how would two worlds try to find a way to communicate upon contact. This is smart, and very well done.
Although this is a bit drawn out, and does take a bit too long to make its point. Our performances are good and solid and the writing is sound. This is not perfect, but this is a thinking man's Sci-Fi, and not the Star Wars variety.
Well Done.
Dr. Strange
This latest Marvel flick is fun, and totally quirky. And it gotta admit, Dr. Strange is a bit...weird. Even the star has a weird name, Benedict Cumberbatch. Good to see Rachel McAdams, and Tilda Swinton along for the ride here.
This flick though IS loaded with special effects. In fact, that is about 90% of what's going on here. It is a celebration of what can be done by the computer geeks, and it delivers. This is fun, funny, and very creative at times. Perfect? No. But this is worth a ticket. In fact, I saw this is 3-D and I seldom recommend it, but here I do.
This is just fine.
Hacksaw Ridge
Mel Gibson directs this true story out of WWII and this is darn good. Up front, this is as violent at Saving Private Ryan, but not as good or as long. But, this is a powerful movie about a simple man named Desmond Doss who did some incredible things on the battlefield in the South Pacific.
This is a story so worth telling, and this movie is getting some Oscar buzz. I am not sure that's in the offing but this is very good. This is very adult, and this is not for everyone. But in the new style of war movies, this is authentic and true to life - and death.
This is very, very good.
Inferno
Tom Hanks again in the continuing saga of the DeVinci Code books. They cut his hair this time and that helps. This story is very much like the first two. If you like watching people chasing people and being chased at the same time, this is your movie.
The twist is, there is a madman who wants to wipe out half the worlds population with a man made virus, and only our favorite professor can stop it. Moves along nicely, but looks a whole lot like the first two.
Not bad, just nothing new to see here
scott@wqmx.com
Amy Adams, Jeremy Renner and Forest Whitaker star in this Sci-Fi flick out this week. To it's credit, this is not a special effects fest, and this focuses far more on story, than on computer art. This story dwells on how would two worlds try to find a way to communicate upon contact. This is smart, and very well done.
Although this is a bit drawn out, and does take a bit too long to make its point. Our performances are good and solid and the writing is sound. This is not perfect, but this is a thinking man's Sci-Fi, and not the Star Wars variety.
Well Done.
Dr. Strange
This latest Marvel flick is fun, and totally quirky. And it gotta admit, Dr. Strange is a bit...weird. Even the star has a weird name, Benedict Cumberbatch. Good to see Rachel McAdams, and Tilda Swinton along for the ride here.
This flick though IS loaded with special effects. In fact, that is about 90% of what's going on here. It is a celebration of what can be done by the computer geeks, and it delivers. This is fun, funny, and very creative at times. Perfect? No. But this is worth a ticket. In fact, I saw this is 3-D and I seldom recommend it, but here I do.
This is just fine.
Hacksaw Ridge
Mel Gibson directs this true story out of WWII and this is darn good. Up front, this is as violent at Saving Private Ryan, but not as good or as long. But, this is a powerful movie about a simple man named Desmond Doss who did some incredible things on the battlefield in the South Pacific.
This is a story so worth telling, and this movie is getting some Oscar buzz. I am not sure that's in the offing but this is very good. This is very adult, and this is not for everyone. But in the new style of war movies, this is authentic and true to life - and death.
This is very, very good.
Inferno
Tom Hanks again in the continuing saga of the DeVinci Code books. They cut his hair this time and that helps. This story is very much like the first two. If you like watching people chasing people and being chased at the same time, this is your movie.
The twist is, there is a madman who wants to wipe out half the worlds population with a man made virus, and only our favorite professor can stop it. Moves along nicely, but looks a whole lot like the first two.
Not bad, just nothing new to see here
scott@wqmx.com
Monday, October 24, 2016
Tribe - Underdog To The Underdog
For as long as anyone can remember who is able to read this, the Chicago Cubs have been perennial underdogs. They have even been dubbed the "Lovable Losers" - by their own fans and every Ken Burns Documentary every made. After all, about 108 years of no World Series Crowns, and 71 years of no World Series appearances make it apt.
But now, the Cubs are not the underdog. Not by a mile. They have been boastfully dubbed the "Big Bad Cubs" by just about everyone in the media, social media and public opinion in general. Enter the Tribe, the underdog - to the underdog. And that moniker fits just fine. Personally, my hope would be that everyone, and I mean everyone, keeps telling this bunch of Indians they can not win this thing. That has been the gas in the engine here all year long.
The Tribe has been written off even before the first pitch of this series. They are not enough of this, and not enough of that. Too injured, too young, we really aren't that good, blah blah... That alone, has been the very thing that has taken the pressure off this team all season long, and made them play as loose as a goose in a steam room. The Cubs, who are wearing a tight 108 year old iron collar around their neck coming into this season, now have the weight of being "a shoe in" for the title. The Indians can tell you all about that from 1995.
I've seen a lot of posts on Facebook and Twitter like, "Let's prove them wrong.." blah blah, but I'm not sure that's the way to go. I think Tribe fans should not be angry, and simply enjoy this as much as the Tribe does. Let's allow the Cubs, and their suddenly insanely arrogant fans, carry the same weight as the Red Sox, and the Blue Jays. According to the media they had much too much for the Tribe too. They are now playing golf, and Big Papi is watching reruns of his various awards ceremonies while we're playing for the title.
Under normal circumstances the Cubs would be a feel good story, but these are not normal for anyone. These Cubs are pretty darn good. But the Cubs have been pretty darn good before. Finally, the Cubs make it this far and they can't embrace who they are, or who they have been. They are now the big town bully, and the Tribe, are..well ...the Cubs. Ironic that after a century of waiting, you would think that the Cubs would have a hard time not being the underdog. They would have to deal with the Yankees, or Red Sox. But no one ever thought they would face - The Cleveland Indians. They make movies about those clowns!
So while the Cubs have to learn to be someone else, the Tribe can just go on being who they are and have been as long as anyone reading this can remember. They can be the underdog. In fact, they are underdogged to the 100 year old - underdog. Gonna make it all the sweeter when the Tribe wins this thing, and oh yeah, ends their own 68 year drought. Remember that? We are the only ones.
For this year no one wants to talk Tribe intangibles. Our own drought, The Cavs karma, a city on the definite rise. A team that somehow got home field advantage for the entire playoffs, and has seemingly thrived on the very adversity that was dispatched to doom them. As we step over the Bones of the Red Sox and Blue Jays strewn along the way. Destiny is playing here - this year.
Play loose, play easy, and enjoy this next week. Go Tribe!
But now, the Cubs are not the underdog. Not by a mile. They have been boastfully dubbed the "Big Bad Cubs" by just about everyone in the media, social media and public opinion in general. Enter the Tribe, the underdog - to the underdog. And that moniker fits just fine. Personally, my hope would be that everyone, and I mean everyone, keeps telling this bunch of Indians they can not win this thing. That has been the gas in the engine here all year long.
The Tribe has been written off even before the first pitch of this series. They are not enough of this, and not enough of that. Too injured, too young, we really aren't that good, blah blah... That alone, has been the very thing that has taken the pressure off this team all season long, and made them play as loose as a goose in a steam room. The Cubs, who are wearing a tight 108 year old iron collar around their neck coming into this season, now have the weight of being "a shoe in" for the title. The Indians can tell you all about that from 1995.
I've seen a lot of posts on Facebook and Twitter like, "Let's prove them wrong.." blah blah, but I'm not sure that's the way to go. I think Tribe fans should not be angry, and simply enjoy this as much as the Tribe does. Let's allow the Cubs, and their suddenly insanely arrogant fans, carry the same weight as the Red Sox, and the Blue Jays. According to the media they had much too much for the Tribe too. They are now playing golf, and Big Papi is watching reruns of his various awards ceremonies while we're playing for the title.
Under normal circumstances the Cubs would be a feel good story, but these are not normal for anyone. These Cubs are pretty darn good. But the Cubs have been pretty darn good before. Finally, the Cubs make it this far and they can't embrace who they are, or who they have been. They are now the big town bully, and the Tribe, are..well ...the Cubs. Ironic that after a century of waiting, you would think that the Cubs would have a hard time not being the underdog. They would have to deal with the Yankees, or Red Sox. But no one ever thought they would face - The Cleveland Indians. They make movies about those clowns!
So while the Cubs have to learn to be someone else, the Tribe can just go on being who they are and have been as long as anyone reading this can remember. They can be the underdog. In fact, they are underdogged to the 100 year old - underdog. Gonna make it all the sweeter when the Tribe wins this thing, and oh yeah, ends their own 68 year drought. Remember that? We are the only ones.
For this year no one wants to talk Tribe intangibles. Our own drought, The Cavs karma, a city on the definite rise. A team that somehow got home field advantage for the entire playoffs, and has seemingly thrived on the very adversity that was dispatched to doom them. As we step over the Bones of the Red Sox and Blue Jays strewn along the way. Destiny is playing here - this year.
Play loose, play easy, and enjoy this next week. Go Tribe!
Saturday, October 22, 2016
MOVIE REVIEW - Jack Reacher 2
A lot a very average reviews nationally for the latest Tom Cruise - Jack Reacher flick, and frankly I can't understand why.
Can we just get over the fact that Cruise is not as tall and hulky as Reacher is in the books? He's the one. Swallow the hook! He is the movie Reacher period. Look, I am not a huge Cruise fan either, but I am a fan of this enigmatic character that Reacher is. And I have never read a single Reacher book.
In this installment, Reacher the semi-retired, semi off the radar, heavily decorated Amy Intelligence man comes face to face with a ghost or two from his colorful past. Plus, he meets a new attractive female high ranking Army officer, who is in big trouble and needs Reacher to help clear her name after she is charged with spying against the United States.
This is the second in this series, and frankly I like them. These are action based, but these are smart too. Reacher is a GREAT character that is hard to figure out. He's flawed, and he's confused about many things in his life, both past and present. He does of course have James Bond like skills, but his flaws and his confusion make him very much like everyone else.
This moves along nicely, and has enough action to keep your senses engaged, and enough smarts to keep your mind engaged too. Yes, there is a hole or two here, and yes some of this is a bit convenient, but who cares. There is no illusion of this winning an Oscar or anything. This is just a fun escape movie that is better than most in this genre because of the character that Reacher is.
Jack Reacher 2. Good, go, fun!
Can we just get over the fact that Cruise is not as tall and hulky as Reacher is in the books? He's the one. Swallow the hook! He is the movie Reacher period. Look, I am not a huge Cruise fan either, but I am a fan of this enigmatic character that Reacher is. And I have never read a single Reacher book.
In this installment, Reacher the semi-retired, semi off the radar, heavily decorated Amy Intelligence man comes face to face with a ghost or two from his colorful past. Plus, he meets a new attractive female high ranking Army officer, who is in big trouble and needs Reacher to help clear her name after she is charged with spying against the United States.
This is the second in this series, and frankly I like them. These are action based, but these are smart too. Reacher is a GREAT character that is hard to figure out. He's flawed, and he's confused about many things in his life, both past and present. He does of course have James Bond like skills, but his flaws and his confusion make him very much like everyone else.
This moves along nicely, and has enough action to keep your senses engaged, and enough smarts to keep your mind engaged too. Yes, there is a hole or two here, and yes some of this is a bit convenient, but who cares. There is no illusion of this winning an Oscar or anything. This is just a fun escape movie that is better than most in this genre because of the character that Reacher is.
Jack Reacher 2. Good, go, fun!
Thursday, October 20, 2016
The Tribe - Just Believe
This started with the Cavaliers, and now it's the Indians turn to face the tons of doubters who continually tell us these teams just aren't good enough.
A lot has been made of the TBS coverage of the Indians run through the playoffs, and the national media in general, doubting this team, on air, the entire way. The angst that exists between the sports networks and the Cleveland sports teams is nothing new, as they can't get their heads around the fact that these teams are really good. They continue to dismiss us, and we just keep winning, and they continually get embarrassed for their non-educated views and opinions. In short, they don't know the Tribe at all, because we are not Boston, New York, San Francisco, or Washington. All of who are home on the couch.
Let's recap how good we really are, and see how really inexcusable it is the media doesn't know this they way they should.
- We played the entire season without our best overall player, Michael Brantley
- We played half the season without maybe the best catcher in the American league, Yan Gomes
- We lost 60% of our starting pitching rotation in September and October
- We had a franchise best 14 game winning streak - (started playing ball in 1901)
- We are the only team in MLB not to lose 4 games in a row this season
- We are 64-1 when leading by 3 or more runs
- We don't have the energy of playing in front of 40K fans every night
- We were in first place virtually all season long
- We earned home field advantage by sweeping the WORLD CHAMPS at seasons end on the road.
- We swept the Red Sox and unceremoniously sent Big Papi packing
And the list goes on and on. Yet, night after night, game after game they all say, this is the end. This is where it turns.
I am not angry at TBS, ESPN or anyone else in the media. I don't think it's "hate" at all. I think it's their biggest nightmare. A team that may be baseballs best, and they know nothing about them because of their voluntary blindness and obsession with the Yankees, Mets, Red Sox, Big Papi and the the rest of that bunch. It's insanely embarrassing for them, not us. Even a local beat writer for the Tribe pronounced them dead a couple weeks ago, in print, after the Carlos Carrasco injury causing a huge stir.
But all of this, all season long brought this bunch of kids and veterans together, and they got it done. I even heard a guy on ESPN - TODAY saying, "The Indians really are not the best team, they are just playing well now... blah blah.." I personally don't care if they are the best team, I just want them to win the World Series. They are the first ones to make it there going 7-1 against the medias much loved and vaunted East Coast Teams. Sorry to embarrass you - yet again.
This is why baseball is such a a great game. It's life in a fishbowl, and teaches us so much. It humbles us, teaches us how to win and lose graciously, it shows that life can be challenging at times and that hard work and perseverance can pay off. So for all of us that have ever been told repeatedly we're not good enough, or not as good as someone, or something else, you have two choices. You can believe it, or you can do as the Tribe did - just - believe.
Just believe - Thank you Tribe.
A lot has been made of the TBS coverage of the Indians run through the playoffs, and the national media in general, doubting this team, on air, the entire way. The angst that exists between the sports networks and the Cleveland sports teams is nothing new, as they can't get their heads around the fact that these teams are really good. They continue to dismiss us, and we just keep winning, and they continually get embarrassed for their non-educated views and opinions. In short, they don't know the Tribe at all, because we are not Boston, New York, San Francisco, or Washington. All of who are home on the couch.
Let's recap how good we really are, and see how really inexcusable it is the media doesn't know this they way they should.
- We played the entire season without our best overall player, Michael Brantley
- We played half the season without maybe the best catcher in the American league, Yan Gomes
- We lost 60% of our starting pitching rotation in September and October
- We had a franchise best 14 game winning streak - (started playing ball in 1901)
- We are the only team in MLB not to lose 4 games in a row this season
- We are 64-1 when leading by 3 or more runs
- We don't have the energy of playing in front of 40K fans every night
- We were in first place virtually all season long
- We earned home field advantage by sweeping the WORLD CHAMPS at seasons end on the road.
- We swept the Red Sox and unceremoniously sent Big Papi packing
And the list goes on and on. Yet, night after night, game after game they all say, this is the end. This is where it turns.
I am not angry at TBS, ESPN or anyone else in the media. I don't think it's "hate" at all. I think it's their biggest nightmare. A team that may be baseballs best, and they know nothing about them because of their voluntary blindness and obsession with the Yankees, Mets, Red Sox, Big Papi and the the rest of that bunch. It's insanely embarrassing for them, not us. Even a local beat writer for the Tribe pronounced them dead a couple weeks ago, in print, after the Carlos Carrasco injury causing a huge stir.
But all of this, all season long brought this bunch of kids and veterans together, and they got it done. I even heard a guy on ESPN - TODAY saying, "The Indians really are not the best team, they are just playing well now... blah blah.." I personally don't care if they are the best team, I just want them to win the World Series. They are the first ones to make it there going 7-1 against the medias much loved and vaunted East Coast Teams. Sorry to embarrass you - yet again.
This is why baseball is such a a great game. It's life in a fishbowl, and teaches us so much. It humbles us, teaches us how to win and lose graciously, it shows that life can be challenging at times and that hard work and perseverance can pay off. So for all of us that have ever been told repeatedly we're not good enough, or not as good as someone, or something else, you have two choices. You can believe it, or you can do as the Tribe did - just - believe.
Just believe - Thank you Tribe.
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