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Monday, October 07, 2002
Larry Miller and Punk Rock
New Larry Miller column.
UPDATE: Miller had the wrong band. It was Blink-182, not the Buzzcocks. Correction issued here.
Blowing Up the Line
I have my moments of tastelessness. I've whispered bad jokes to friends during a Bris. I've thought some very disgusting things while watching a news report detailing a human tragedy. I have never, though, thought it to be any form of comedy for a cheap, schlock, Howard Stern-wannabe,to call a widow of 3 months to ask if she has a date to a baseball game. (link via Dan Lewis).
This is what Phoenix station 98 KUPD allowed by a member of some lame-ass morning zoo (that they call "Morning Sickness," oh, stop it, the humor is killing me). Of course they have issued an apology a clarification, titled, " Our Misjudgment" (sure to disappear once the furor dies down).
We would like to extend a most sincere apology to everyone who was offended by an error in judgment,
If you weren't offended stop reading. If you were offended, well please understand that the this was a simple mistake in judgment like when a girl who swears she's 18 sleeps with you turns out to be a 13 year-old. That kind of error in judgment.
which was not intended to be hurtful or malicious in any way.
We don't see how calling the hotel room between 5:30 and 10 am of the widow of a pitcher who died of a heart attack at age 33, three whole months ago, to see if she was taking a date to the first playoff game could be considered "hurtful" or "malicious." Clearly, this was purely innocent, harmless, victimless humor. Great material really.
This was not intended to be a ratings stunt nor was it pre-meditated.
Never, never a ratings ploy... at least, not now. Of course no advance thought was given to it. This is just one of those spur of the moment things where the guys were just talking on the air, then one said, "We should call Flynn Kile, I bet she's got a great sense of humor about her dead husband." Then another guy said, "Hey, I just happen to know which hotel she's staying at." Finally a third said, "Well, let's get her on the phone!"
We are truly amazed on how this turned into a media circus
It's all the media's fault. They are the ones blowing a harmless prank out of proportion.
and we deeply regret the turmoil that it caused people all over the country.
You people are overloading our e-mail files with complaints, that we are just bulk deleting. The real problem is that all this attention is driving our server costs way out of proportion for the month from non-local listeners.
Beau Duran would like to personally apologize to the following for the unnecessary grief that this media mishap created;
Media mishap? Beau doesn't actually apologize for being a jackass. Beau doesn't need to apologize for causing the "unnecessary grief," he just apologizes for the unnecessary grief he has to endure for a week's suspension. Beau doesn't believe he did anything wrong, he is the real victim in all of this.
Flynn Kile and her family, Tony LaRussa and the entire St. Louis Cardinals baseball organization, Major League Baseball, and the people of St. Louis and Phoenix, and all listeners of 98 KUPD.
That ought to cover everyone.
Release Him Now
One of the dumber Yankee acquisitions this past season was picking up Raul Mondesi in the middle of the year. The Yankees got him by giving up very little in a salary dump by the Toronto Blue Jays. Mondesi made $11 million in 2002 and will make $13 million next year. The Yankees paid the balance of this years salary and will pay around half for next year, with Toronto paying the rest.
I don't want to waste the energy ranting about how lousy, lazy, overrated, anti-clutch Mondesi is; because he isn't worth it. Check his stats. Essentially, after peaking in 1997, he has gotten worse every year.
Next year is the final year of the contract. Even with a good year he would be lucky to get a 2 year deal for more than $3-4 million per -- which is quite a drop and a huge ego hit. Apparently Mondesi knows that and has decided to beat everyone to the punch (maybe), by announcing that he will retire after next season at age 32.
This quote is telling:
"I'll be good after next year," he told the Daily News. "I have enough money, I have my big house, all my cars, a lot of land, money in the bank.
...
"I want to go home young. I don't want to stay all of my life in baseball. At like 37 years old, you feel old. Sore knee and back, ankle."
...
"I love the game, I just kind of feel tired mentally," Mondesi said.
Yeah, that sounds like a guy who loves the game and wants to play. The Yankees can afford it, so they should just release this loser. That, or trade him to Texas or Boston.
Yankees Lose
Yes, my beloved Yankees lost to the Anaheim Angels in four. I'll be blunt and simple. The Angels were the better team. They out-pitched, out-hit, out-hustled, and out-played the Yankees. The Angels were a joy to watch. Their enthusiasm, energy and confidence warms the heart of any baseball fan. I almost want them to win the LCS to finally play in the World Series. Almost
I have to root for the Twins. Two reasons.
1) I hate the wild card. Absolutely hate it. It demeans a good regular season playoff race. The idea of a wild card team in the world series causes my teeth to grind. So, sorry Anaheim, I know you have the better record, but you are still the wild card team.
2) I want to see Bud Selig "congratulate" Carl Pohlad (insert obligatory Montgomery Burns reference here) for the "success" of the Twins this year. The pure discomfort and hypocrisy of the moment would be a joy to behold. Catching part of Jim Rome on my way to the office this afternoon, I heard a report that Torii Hunter (or was it Jacque Jones?) poured a bottle of champagne down the back of Pohlad's pants saying, "You needed that."
Sunday, October 06, 2002
Just bad choices in men?
Judging by the fact that a number of recent hits have come from searches for information on Dr. Janice Douglas, there is a lot of interest in what the hell would make a highly successful, intelligent and respected doctor, who is considered a "pioneer in hypertension research"; become involved in a fraud scheme -- allegedly. This article offers some thoughts. The lead concept is that she was "unlucky in love" -- though there are some other theories floated: the "system" going after a successful black woman, "Female executive stress syndrome," or perhaps just plain greed and arrogance.
I don't have an answer for this. It is still unclear whether she is guilty of the fraud, since the case is not yet beyond the indictment. I do think that trying to ascribe this to simply choosing losers who take advantage of her -- i.e., the victim -- seems just as degrading. It suggests that a a successful woman can't screw up her own life without outside male influences. Given the falls of so many CEOs in the last year, clearly greed is equal opportunity.
Thursday, October 03, 2002
Damn the Torpedos
Filming for Tomb Raider II is underway, looking forward to seeing the pair of gravity defying special effects.
America's Pastime in Afghanistan
Here's a great story on baseball catching on in Afghanistan (link via WSJ.com's " The Fix").
Because of the efforts of a US Army Special Forces Civil Affairs team, this small southeastern Afghan town is now home to the country's first baseball league.
Judging from the cheering section for the games - which grew from eight onlookers to 100 in eight weeks since the season started - baseball has captured the imagination of residents who were starved for entertainment and deprived of simple pleasures such as kite-flying and music under the Taliban.
For the US soldiers who spend hours each week as coaches and umpires, America's pastime is helping to build bridges between two vastly different cultures.
Money and Space Lacking
If we had the spare cash and room in the house, I would be ordering a few of these for the wife's birthday. I wonder if they sell components. The wife attended the last game at Cleveland Municipal Stadium and like many fans walked away with almost all of her seat. The problem is, one side is missing, so it can't stand on its own.
Yankees-Angels, Game 2
Angels fans can take pride in this useless factoid. This was the first post-season game ever that the Yankees lost after leading past the 7th inning.
Pettite was not sharp. He left too much up and over the plate. Scioscia learned from yesterday's mistake and brought Percival in with 2 outs in the 8th. Percival was a little off, but he had enough to notch the save.
The big deal about this game -- it was lllllllloooooooooooonnnnnnnnnngggggg. Four hours, eleven minutes long. That shouldn't be too surprising with numerous pitching changes (10), 29 hits, 2 errors and 4 walks. Still, it was a long friggin' game.
Wednesday, October 02, 2002
Many Mauled Managers
2002 MLB season
11 teams
14 managers fired
6 more potential managerial changes remain.
Boston fires Kerrigan in spring training.
During the season the following firings occurred:
Detroit fires Garner (Pujols becomes interim mgr);
Milwaukee fires Lopes (Royster becomes interim mgr);
Colorado fires Bell;
Toronto fires Martinez;
Chicago Cubs fire Baylor (Kimm becomes interim mgr);
Kansas City fires Muser (Tony Pena becomes mgr); and
Cleveland fires Manual (Skinner becomes interim mgr).
At the end of the season Detroit, Milwaukee and Chicago Cubs all fire (or is it simply declining to retain the services beyond the season?) the interim mangers. Toronto had a winning record with Macha as manager so he appears to be staying. I think KC and Colorado are happy with the new managers. Cleveland has not decided whether Skinner will keep the job or not (I bet yes).
In addition other managers are fired:
Tampa Bay fires (bumps upstairs) McRae;
New York Mets fire Valentine; and
Rangers fire Narron.
Pittsburgh is still deciding Lloyd McClendon's fate (shaking the Magic 8-Ball yielded "All signs point to no.")
Other teams facing potential changes:
San Francisco actually has to re-sign Baker, who's contract ends this year, so he could be on the move;
Montreal (Washington?, Portland?, who knows) doesn't seem clear as to whether Frank Robinson will stay or not; and
Seattle where Pinella will be entering his final year, but there is pressure in Tampa Bay and on the NY Mets to see what it would take to hire Lou from them.
It is possible that half the teams in MLB could have new managers in 2003.
And Again There Was One
Heard it on the radio heading to work, and just found the confirmation. Cleveland area is down to one alternative weekly magazine, and for those in LA, they now have one less.
Village Voice Media, LLC and NT Media, LLC, the largest alternative newspaper publishers in the country, today announced a transaction that will allow Village Voice Media and NT Media to strengthen their competitive positions in two markets. Under the arrangement, VVM has acquired certain assets of New Times Los Angeles and NT Media has acquired certain assets of Cleveland Free Times.
Cleveland Free Times, a Village Voice Media newspaper, will discontinue publication immediately. New Times Los Angeles, a New Times publication, will also discontinue publication immediately. LA Weekly and Cleveland Scene will remain as the leading alternative newspapers in their markets, delivering premier arts, entertainment, and political coverage.
David Schneiderman, Chief Executive Office for Village Voice Media, and Jim Larkin, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer for NT Media, in a joint statement said, “Though we regret closing newspapers, through this transaction we have been able to strengthen our respective competitive position in two important markets. As a result, both LA Weekly and Cleveland Scene will better serve the needs of the readers and advertisers in their communities. We are proud of the accomplishments of the staffs at Cleveland Free Times and New Times Los Angeles and hope that many of them will find employment in our respective companies.”
I can't say I'm totally shocked. There have been rumors for a couple months that the Free Times was going under. Still, competition is a good thing and without two alt weeklys, the chances increase that the quality can drop. I hope not. Scene has actually been the better of the alts in the last couple years. The Free Times became somewhat obsessed with ripping on the Plain Dealer (like that's so hard) and (now former) Mayor Mike White, the last couple years. The overall quality had dropped.
Yankees-Angels, Game 1
[For those who don't know, I am a Yankees fan. I say this to put my natural bias out front. I love baseball, but I make no claim of non-partisanship when the Yanks are involved.]
The Angels made the Yankees sweat, but their relief pitching fell short in the bottom of the 8th against NY. The Yankees, down 5-4, scored 4 runs after having no one on base and 2 outs. Soriano down in the count 1-2 worked a walk off Weber. Jeter then worked a walk. Suddenly it's 2 outs, 2 on, and Jason Giambi coming to the plate.
Buck and McCarver started arguing over whether Angel's manager Mike Scioscia would bring in closer Troy Percival now to get Giambi, or wait until the 9th inning. Buck said he should, and McCarver said no. My natural reaction is to always go against McCarver (more in a bit), and here I was definitely in favor of bringing in Percival. What is the point in having a dominant closer if he can only pitch 1 inning, and only if he starts the inning? A fellow baseball nut and friend Jon, a long suffering (is there any other kind?) Cubs fan, hates closers. He really hates the whole concept of specialized relievers in general. Left-handed specialists make him break out in a rant, and he is one of the mellowist guys I know. A shame he lives in California these days. I wish we were able to sit down and watch these games together (granted the wife would probably take the kid and be staying at a hotel for the month of October, but that's only one month), it would be a blast.
So, Scioscia brings in left-hander Scott Schoeneweis to face Giambi. Giambi proceeds to smack a one-hopping bullet off the glove of diving first baseman, Spezio, deflecting the ball away from the speedy second baseman, Kennedy. This allows Soriano to score from second and tie the game, and Jeter to go to third. Now it's tied, men at the corners, still 2 outs and my favorite Yankee, the switch hitting, Bernie Williams comes to the plate.
Buck and McCarver are still arguing over whether Percival should now come into a tie game. Come on! If he wasn't brought in to preserve a lead with 2 outs, it's a little too late to bother bringing him in to a tie. It helps, of course, that McCarver is now starting to say maybe Percival should come in.
Scioscia brings in the righty, Brendan Donnelly, who gets ahead 1-2 before Bernie blasts a bomb to right-center for a 3-run homer.
Flipping to Baseball Tonight on ESPN, I catch a discussion of whether Percival should have been brought in either when the Angels had the lead with 2 outs and 2 on or after the game was tied. Peter Gammons explains that Percival has had 2 shoulder operations and has a hard time staying lose between innings; and that during the season he was brought into such situations 4 times. He blew the save in the 9th, twice. Of course, to me this means that he's not much of a closer you can rely upon if you can't use him for more than an inning, especially in the playoffs.
On the subject of McCarver and Buck. I made it to the 3rd inning before shouting, "Shut the f--k up McCarver!" I hate Tim McCarver. He is the worst, most overrated, non-stop talking, color analyst in baseball. Buck is fine. McCarver won't shut up, though. He keeps yammering, if he thinks he has a good point, he won't stop harping on for at least the entire inning (full inning, not just the 1/2 inning when the point is first made). He just pisses me off. Naturally, he and Buck are Fox's #1 baseball team so he will be covering every Yankee game. Ugh.
UPDATE: Rob Neyer's column is on the 8th inning. He disagrees with me on whether to bring in Percival after the game was tied.
Cleaning Up the Flats
A pathetic attempt to "clean up" the Flats (image) costs Cleveland a $345,000 verdict, not to mention all the court expenses. The city's Flats Safety Task Force staged a raid at a club, Heaven and Earth, expecting to shut the place down for underage drinking, drug use, etc. Instead, when they found nothing of the sort, they shut the place down for a week for minor building code violations. This came as the owners were on the verge of selling the club. Well the price plummeted and they only sold for a fraction, and the city lost the case to make up the difference. Interesting thing, this Flats Safety Task Force:
The owners say they were unfairly targeted by an overzealous task force - a group created by former Mayor Michael White in response to a series of drownings in the river the summer before. The task force included representatives of influential Flats developers Bart Wolstein, whose company owns property that housed restaurants Fado and Joe's Crab Shack, and Jeff Jacobs, son of Dick Jacobs, who built the Powerhouse at Nautica.
While Heaven and Earth and eight other establishments in the Flats and the Warehouse District were scrutinized by police and inspectors, none of the businesses connected to members of the task force was inspected, said Steven Ott, a lawyer for the club owners.
Ott said the inspections - conducted at the bars' busiest hours - were more a publicity stunt than a genuine attempt to improve safety conditions. He told jurors the city planned to shut down Heaven and Earth no matter what the inspectors found. Just as the inspection began, a truck rolled up carrying plywood to board up the doors and windows.
"There wasn't any reason to target" the bar, Ott said. "They shut them down, and they made that decision before they got there."
The city, of course, has decided it will appeal.
Tuesday, October 01, 2002
Planning My Daughter's Future
My wife is 5'4, and I'm a little over 5'6. Our daughter is not going to be tall. We assumed any scholarships she eventually achieves for college will be based on her brains, not her athleticism. Thankfully, today's WSJ (subscription req'd) tells of an athletic scholarship she will have a crack at.
With 42 campuses now offering women's varsity bowling, a game that has long sought more respect is making a breakthrough in college sports. The reason: Title IX of the education law, mandating that colleges attempt to offer varsity athletic slots and scholarships in numbers proportionate to their male and female enrollments, or face penalties.
...
The National Collegiate Athletic Association last month granted bowling Division 1 "championship status," meaning it will fund a tournament each year to decide the country's best college keglers. Equivalent designations are expected in January for the smaller schools in Division 2 and 3, says Judith Sweet, the NCAA's vice president for championships.
The upgrades also mean that Division 1 and 2 schools will have the option of offering up to five bowling scholarships per 10-woman team, and that varsity bowlers will begin enjoying some of the perks now granted to other collegiate athletes, including better access to training facilities and coaching. The University of Nebraska's "performance nutritionist" is designing a special bowlers' diet -- low on carbohydrates -- to keep female Huskers in top shape on the lanes.
The inaugural NCAA championships are slated for next year, with gold watches for individual winners.
...
Still, coaches say it's tough finding enough skilled competitors. Although bowling is growing at the high-school level, just 1,061 of the country's 20,000 high schools sponsored a varsity team last year. Mr. LoPresti had hoped to round up 10 bowlers for Fairleigh Dickinson's start-up team. But with the season already under way, he is still five women short, with $30,000 in unawarded scholarship money.
...
To make things a little easier for them at Fairleigh Dickinson, bowlers have personal trainers, priority registration for classes, athletes' dorm space and tutors to accompany the team on extended trips. In Kansas, at Wichita State University, Coach Gordon Vadakin plans to bring in Dean Hinitz, a sports psychologist from Nevada, to spend a weekend dispensing advice to women bowlers from his new book, "Focused for Bowling," whose chapters include: "Waking the Warrior."
I'm stopping at the nearby bowling pro shop to see what the smallest balls and shoes available are tonight.
CD Settlement Question
Maybe I'm missing something with the news of the settlement by the music industry concerning overpriced CDs, but even with the abandonment of MAP (minimum advertised pricing), what will keep the music/recording industry from selling their wares to Tower Records, Best Buy, Wal-Mart, Amazon, etc. at a huge mark-up? Which, in turn, the retailers would mark-up (even just a small amount) for their own profit and leave the whole thing back where it started. The whole thing screams of another suit in the near future over collusion by the recording companies to keep the prices inflated.
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