Nexus of Nerdness

A long time ago before some of my contacts were born, I worked in a store that sold both comics and sports cards. I was not a sports collector when I started but I already loved sports for a few years. Talk about the nexus of nerdness.In the late eighties. Sports cards and comics. Oh by hook or by crook I still got my education. As you can tell by the blog. I still follow sports. I write about comics occasionally. I still read my old stuff once in a while. And maybe will buy new comics once every few months or so. Expensive stuff in this country. Should you watch the video here are a few highlights: Dave Wickham 2:30 bunch of us in 1988 took advantage of a package deal and went down for the day to Seattle to watch the Red Sox play the Seattle Mariners. I can barely remember what happened during the game but I still remember watching Roger Clemens jog on the field. It was not even his pitching day. Even then he exuded studliness. That is still what I associate with the trip down to Seattle. Watching a pre game jog. Granted that was twenty one years ago. I think Griffey Jr. was still in Bellngham that year. Mike Greenwell was with the Red Sox. See 3:15 used to work for those guys.Stan was actually in a store that was held up for cards about a year later. They mention Petr Nedved's rookie card. Saw him and Shawn Antoski get drafted in person. The only pro draft I ever attended. Lot of future stars that day. Owen Nolan, Keith Tkachuk, Martin Brodeur, Jagr, Trevor Kidd, Keith Primeu, Doug Weight. We even saw Mike Millbury ( who was coaching in the Cup final 2 weeks earlier) get out of a cab.

Sorry about all this reminiscing. Specially to my loyal readers that cringe at the sports stuff. Just wanted to shout-out to Stanley and Bill Jaffe of Bizarre Bazaar 16th and Dunbar. It's as much a part of my past as Listen to the Flower People was to Spinal Tap. Ed

Riding the Momentum of Death

I really dread death. More for people around me than for myself. There is nothing like being told someone is gone. I know its part of life but does not change the fact I dread when it arises. One day people will be told that I am gone. I hope by then I will leave a lot more than I am leaving now.

There is an old expression "He is so heartless he would sell tickets to his mother's funeral". Remember that statement because we will revisit it. By now my regular readers will know the major themes that I see the issues with. a) substance over style b) don't jump on the bandwagon c) what is good is good regardless of age or other factors.

Let's examine three recent high profile deaths.

1) Cory Aquino-

apparently a wave of yellow sympathy swept the nation after she succumbed to cancer. A tsunami so significant that some people are taking out their surf boards (and they are not in Zambales) and riding that wave. My initial reaction when I heard her son Noynoy was running was , the guy was a politician but not a mover and shaker They are having someone who was a mover and shaker (Mar Roxas) who has been planning for his run to the Palace a while, step aside. To make way for someone who is carried by the outpouring sympathy of a cancer victim. Maybe I am oversimplifying things but sue me when the Filipino voter is correctly accused of being sophisticated and discriminating.

I am not a crack analyst of the local scene since I find politics is seamless with ABS-CBN/ GMA show business. So it's no use paying too much attention if I want to keep my blood pressure from being capable of cooking rice.

I found some links of people whose view varies on the topic so you can get some sort of perspective.

In the case of Noynoy Aquino I can't help but suspect his run at the highest office in the land is fueled by the philosophy "Strike while metal is hot"

I read the line below and it's simply a PR line. Maybe somebody closer to the situation can see the fearlessness and the fervor. I have my doubts.

"It is in his bloodline. It is in his heritage. For him, democracy restored must be enshrined without fear but with greatest fervor."

http://www.senate.gov.ph/senators/sen_bio/aquino_noynoy_bio.asp

A lot of people really respect the opinion Mr. De Quiros and I am no exception. He seems to think that Noynoy is appropriate but then again how come I get the feeling for him its any presidential offspring other than Mikey Arroyo?

http://opinion.inquirer.net/inquireropinion/columns/view/20090909-224319/Yes-he-can

Here is another Inquirer columnist who has his doubts.

http://opinion.inquirer.net/inquireropinion/columns/view/20090908-224128/Noynoy-I-do-not-know

2) Ted Kennedy

My friend Greg in Vegas is a very astute Twitterer. He said "Honoring someone's memory is about the worst imaginable reason to pass any law."

Yet that is what the Democrats seemed to be doing without apology before the corpse was warm. The GOP apparently not exactly hitting the high road on this either.

http://www.thedailyaztec.com/state-of-mind/flaming-liberal-ted-kennedy-s-death-will-affect-health-care-bill-1.1849120

http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/TedKennedy/story?id=8420408

http://americaswatchtower.com/2009/08/26/democrats-politicize-ted-kennedys-death-to-pass-healthcare-reform/

Honoring someone's memory is about the worst imaginable reason to pass any law.12:01 AM Aug 29th from web http://twitter.com/GregVegas

3) Michael Jackson-

do you remember as far back as May of this year? When there was no MJ music being played wherever you went? Which was the case for almost twenty years.If this music is so great why listen to it now and not three months ago? Why does death add to the appeal? Why does death make the bandwagon more spacious, roomy and comfy? Could it be MJ music was not in fashion two years ago because it may not be as classic as some of us would like to believe?

As I mentioned before, even in my home and in my office, maids, co- workers playing MJ music like it was released yesterday. Like they are sages handing out gifts from the gods. A guy I consider a great sage Ian Faith said back in 1982 "Every movie in every cinema is about death, death sells". In the case of MJ he could not be more right. Death indeed sells regardless of multiple child molestation charges.

Also read about MJ's father Joe who seems to personify the opportunism. His shilling of his label two days after MJ's death makes him sound like he is saying "the kid is not my son."

http://www.people.com/people/package/article/0,,20287787_20287946,00.html

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ahp61XJZNdM

http://www.popcrunch.com/jackson-family-horrified-by-joe-jackson-record-label-plug-during-tribute-to-dead-son/

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wx6fwfBKCIQ&feature=related

http://www.nydailynews.com/money/2009/06/27/2009-06-27_his_music_makes_a_comeback_death_sends_cd_and_mp3_sales_soaring.html


Ed

Questions that will be answered in the 2009 NFL Season

Questions that will be answered in the 2009 NFL Season

Warning : for sports fans only.

You guys know that I do not care about so called reality TV. Because sports is everything reality TV wishes it was. Like any good entertainment, the more questions you have going in, the more interesting the outcome will be. I will go through all the divisions to help set up the season for those interested. Hopefully we will revisit these questions at the midway mark of the season and before the post season. If I missed out on a team or two, well I ran out of budget. I am after all writing this from a third world country.

I just want to say that while I was composing this with no notes, I found myself making a division called the AFC Central. Which no longer exists. Back in the 80s that was the competitive division in football. Not unusual when out of the four teams (Houston Oilers, Pittsburgh Steelers, Cleveland Browns (pre Baltimore exodus) and Cincinatti Bengals ) One would win the division and the other two would be the wild cards for the whole AFC. When it comes to sports, memories are good. Googling things not a substitute.

Let's get going with the off the top of my head questions.

AFC West

Will the Chargers live up to their tag as team to beat?

Denver in disarray with their pro bowl QB gone and their best wide receiver trying out for punter. The Josh McDaniel regime is off to a rocky start in the Rocky Mountains. Can he right the ship?

Is this the make or break year for the former 1st overall pick Jamarcus Russel of the Raiders? I know one thing, with the release of very capable Jeff Garcia, Oakland is all in with Russel.

AFC North

Is this the year that Baltimore wrestles the balance of power in that division for Pittsburgh?

Will one former disciple of Bellichick do better in Cleveland than his predecessor?

Will the presence of the HBO reality show Hard Knocks serve to propel the Bengals out of mediocrity ( I admit that was a stupid question) ?

AFC South

Is this the year NFL fans will know the best receiver nobody talks about Andre Johnson of the Texans?

Will the Texans continue to improve like they have the previous two seasons?

Will the coaching transition in Indianapolis be minimally disruptive?

Kerry Collins is going into this season knowing he is the starter. Unlike last year. The Titans spent most of last year with the most wins in the NFL so not ending up in the Super Bowl last year had to hurt. What will they do about that this year?

AFC East-

Brady is back. Will a full season with him be enough to make another Super Bowl run? Will a full Brady season be enough to overcome a revamped Patriot defense?

New York Jets have a new rookie QB and a new rookie head coach. How painful will the growing pains be?

Miami Dolphins , the team I have always rooted for. Everybody thought that last year's division win and gaudy record was a result of the alignment of the planets (favorable schedule). Nobody I listened to except Dolphins players expect them to even match that win total let alone improve. Who is right?

Buffalo Bills- I will not talk about the diva addition but I will talk about not scoring any touchdowns in three preseason games which lead to what was once the unusual move of firing your coordinators before the season starts. Question? Desperation or Inspiration?

NFC West

Who thought the balance of power could fall on one back? As in the back of Seattle QB Matt Hasselback.

San Francisco intends to "hit people in the mouth". They will do so with veteran Sean Hill at the controls over erratic former first pick overall Alex Smith.

Everybody is convinced that last year's Super Bowl run was a perfect storm for Kurt Warner and the Arizona Cardinals. Can they make us all believers?

NFC North

On the set of One Brett Farve to Live. Has Brad Childress bent over backwards so much that he can not be taken seriously anymore?

The Bears getting Jay Cutler is nice but will their receiving corps do him justice?

When will Detroit win their first game since the 2007 season? They like the Jets have a first time head coach and a rookie QB who was in high school three years ago.

Green Bay. Two words : Packers Defense?

NFC South:

New Orleans Saints: see Green Bay

Atlanta Falcons - actually there is hope for the Jets and the Lions. The Falcons have been there and done that in 2008. Lame question but can they keep it going?

Tampa Bay Buccaneers - like I needed anymore proof that I am a fossil. Greg reminded me that their rookie coach is ten years younger than I am. Will that youth serve the Bucs?

East

Dallas Cowboys. Nobody on the outside believes in their #1 receiver who was a midseason acquisition. Can Romo, Phillips (son of Bum) and Garrett make the offense work?

New York Giants - Eli son of Archie grabbed all the headlines with his new contract. Still, make no mistake. Giants teams always win somewhere in the swamps of Jersey with rushing and defense. Will their defense be healthier than year and allow them to go deeper into the playoffs?

Philadelphia Eagles - too easy. Every year the question is always the same. What can they get out of the most talented and impactful players in football- Brian Westbrook?

Washington Redskins - I truly root for people who are given a bad hand and struggle with it. The guy I am thinking of is Jason Campbell. His team keeps changing coordinators more often than Spinal Tap goes through drummers. Another day another rumor of who the 'skins will bring into town to replace him. Will he take all that outside anxiety and channel it into his offense?

No matter how these questions are answered in 2009 , everybody enjoy your football!

Ed

tags: spinal tap, afc central, nfl, questions, nfl season

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ifeRxtvRHC0

http://cornholiogogs.multiply.com/video/item/149/Drummer_Saga_Spinal_Tap_