It's All Ball Bearings Nowadays

This Blog Has a New Name & Home

2007-08-02T20:17:00.000-05:00

There are a lot of reasons why I have renamed and relocated the blog, but the main reason I because I wanted to.

New name: Son of Dad
New URL: http://sonofdad.wordpress.com

I hope you'll follow me...

LeBroom

2007-06-15T10:03:00.000-05:00

Behind the spectacular play of that Frenchman with the American name, the Spurs swept the Cavs and their French-named American superstar, capturing their fourth championship (so far) in the process. Congrats to Tony Parker on his hard-earned and well-deserved Finals MVP.

You just know every player on the Spurs is already becoming laser-focused on finally putting together the back-to-back titles that have eluded them thusfar. It's really the only microscopic flaw in what could only otherwise be described as a true NBA dynasty!

But for now, just smile and wave, boys...just smile and wave.

Winning BUTT-UGLY

2007-06-12T22:58:00.000-05:00

I've never been more relieved for a game to finally end. Not because my team won, but because I didn't want to have to sit through another second of that stinking pile of poop disguised as an actual NBA Finals game. It was pure, unmitigated torture. Neither team ever really seemed like they wanted to win, and my favorite player would have been labeled "Gin-0-bili" right here, if not for his three late free throws removing the goose egg from his box score.

There's really no point in analyzing this game, or discussing it any further, than to just let out a huge sigh of relief and hope for LeSweep on Thursday.

Sacre blur!

2007-06-11T09:39:00.000-05:00

Tony Parker was truly a flying Frenchman in Game 2, blowing by Cav defenders time and time again for 30 points. After putting up 27 in a similarly electric Game 1 performance, Parker has got to be considered the front-runner for Finals MVP, even though three-time winner Tim Duncan has had two very good games of his own.

This was one of the finest performances the Spurs have ever put forth...at least it was until that absolutely miserable 4th quarter, when the Cavs cut a 27-point lead to as little as eight on several occasions. This near catastrophe will either be the turning point that lets the Cavs back into the series by finally providing them with the confidence they've sorely lacked so far, or will intensify the Spurs resolve to go for the throat and end this series as quickly as possible.

I am certainly hoping for the latter!

LeBr-off

2007-06-08T08:50:00.000-05:00

Today's official Game 1 wallpaper from Spurs.com sums up the opening Finals clash between the Spurs and Cavs in one word: Defense.

Not even I, the world's biggest (or at least heaviest) Spurs fan, thought in a million years they would shut down LeBron the way they did. He finished with a mere 14 points on 4-16 shooting, and dished out a paltry four assists. It actually took a couple of wild, off-balance threes late in the game to even get him into double-digits. This may have been the best defense the NBA's best defensive team has ever played.

But it's not as if the Spurs didn't bring a little offense to the table, as well. Duncan and Parker (especially Tony) were phenomenal from start to finish. Even Elson emerged from the doghouse in which he began residing during the WCF to contribute. And what can you say about Bowen? Last night was him proving to the rest of the league and national media why he should not be without at least one Defensive Player of the Year award.

My main concern is the late run Cleveland made, and the ability of Sideshow Bob Varejao to repeatedly grab offensive boards and convert them into put-backs. Boobie and Sasha, aside from sounding like a hit duo from the disco era, both made significant contributions last night, as did Gooden and that crazy soul patch on the back of his head.

Aside from LeBron's off night, the main things to doom the Cavs last night were poor play by the usually reliable Ilgauskas and the obviously injured Larry Hughes, who probably belongs on the DL more than the starting lineup. Game 2 will be huge in determining whether Cleveland can make this a series, or if it could be LeBroom for LeBron.

Greatest Record Label of All Time

2007-06-07T15:04:00.000-05:00

Happy 50th Birthday to Stax!!!

Out of the Park-er

2007-05-31T09:16:00.000-05:00

Following the right-from-the-opening-tip aggressive play of Tony Parker, the Spurs obliterated Utah in one of the most one-sided closeout games you'll ever see this late in the playoffs. The Jazz are definitely the future of the Western Conference, but they were no match for the present in Game 5.

Michael Finley also helped set the tone early, and Tim Duncan finally returned to his normal self, after a two-game on-court hiatus. But when it's all said and done, the MVP of this series just might be that nutty Argentine with the rubber-banded hair and the beef-jerkyed name: Fabricio Oberto...Oh boy, Oberto! I've never been much of a fan of his prior to these playoffs, but now can truly appreciate what he brings to the table.

In addition to the fact that the Spurs won in five games, the other thing that really made this series enjoyable for me was the ESPN/ABC booth. While Mike Breen is pretty generic, I absolutely love the chemistry between Mark Jackson and Jeff Van Gundy! If Van Gundy was smart, he'd give up coaching forever and stay in the broadcast booth, because he is GREAT! And it's probably time for him to face facts that, well, he's not really an upper-echelon coach, is he?

Ginobi-LEADING the Way

2007-05-28T23:22:00.000-05:00

When Timid Dun-CAN'T shockingly appeared for the second straight game, it took a different Spur to save the day and lead the way: Manu Ginobili. While Duncan spent yet another night fumblin', bumblin' and stumblin' on the low block, Ginobili attacked the basket repeatedly, earned trip after trip to the foul line, and just about single-handedly triggered the implosion of Utah, as both Jerry Sloan and Derek Fisher were unable to control their frustration at Manu's mastery, leading to their respective ejections.

Meanwhile, the Jazz got solid contributions from Williams and Boozer, but not many others. The Eastern Bloc dynamic duo of Okur and Kirilenko were once again pretty much nothing but NYET, as the two have now combined to average 15 points per game so far this series. The Spurs need to get this closed out in Game 5, because the longer they keep the Jazz alive, the greater the odds those hardwood Festrunk Brothers finally find their stroke.

The Big FUMBLE-Mental

2007-05-26T22:10:00.000-05:00

I fully expected the Jazz to win Game 3. They hadn't lost a home playoff game this year. The Spurs have never won a playoff game at Utah. If the Jazz went down 3-0, they were going to get swept, and they're too good a team to be swept. So, I'm not surprised at all that Utah won.

What I am absolutely shocked at is how incredibly AWFUL Tim Duncan was in this game. It was as if he had never picked up a basketball in his life. He couldn't hold onto the ball and he couldn't stay out of foul trouble the entire game. And though it took a half, the Jazz finally capitalized on Duncan's rarest of egg layings.

The Spurs will be in big, BIG trouble if they lose Game 4. It will be up to Duncan to get it together and make sure that doesn't happen.

And while on the subject of what aggravates me, I cannot STAND that new Wendy's commercial where everyone's out in the forest kicking trees while some nutjob in a bright red Wendy Thomas shock wig (complete with the patented Pippi Longstocking pigtails) leads these idiots in yell practice. Who are the AD WIZARDS who came up with THAT one?!?

Jack to the Future

2007-05-24T09:33:00.000-05:00

Well, that certainly was a mind-bending season finale of Lost! We actually got the first-ever non-Desmond flash FORWARD, where we learn that Jack is more of a train wreck than ever before. Not only does he nearly attempt suicide, but he's a pill-popping alcoholic hell-bent on self-destruction. At the end, we learn that both he and Kate are off the island, but the real question at this point is whether or not anyone else is still back at the island.

I'm almost positive that MOST of our beloved castaways remain stranded there, and that's one of the things that's torturing Jack the most. The biggest mystery to me right now is who was in that casket? Locke? Sawyer?? BEN??? I don't know if I can wait until NEXT FEBRUARY to find out!!!

17 and Counting...

2007-05-22T11:29:00.000-05:00

When does 1+1+1=17? That would be the combination of Duncan, Parker and Ginobili leading to 17 straight home victories over their opponents in the Western Conference Finals, the Utah Jazz. Time was, back during The Robinson Era, Utah always ended up sending the Spurs home packing. And though there's still a chance that could happen here, the aforementioned 17-game streak along with the outcome of Game 1 leads me to think that's probably a long shot.

Game 2 is tonight, so we'll have a better idea of what's in store. The Jazz will win in San Antonio eventually, let's just hope it's not during this series!

SPF 21

2007-05-20T10:47:00.000-05:00

The three brightest stars on the Spurs all came through in Game 6, with Parker, Ginobili and Duncan each delivering 11 baskets and tons more clutch rebounds, assists and all-around hustle plays. But as has so often been the case during their previous three title runs, it is #21 who once again proved to be the greatest of them all.

More than any other single stat in this entire series, the one that proved to be the ultimate difference maker was the blocked shot total put up by Duncan: nine. That's not only one short of giving TD a triple-double, it's one short of the NBA's all-time single-game playoff record. While Amare Stoudemire proved his equal on the offensive end and on the boards throughout the series, just as he did in 2005, Duncan emphatically proved his defensive superiority over his younger, more athletically spectacular counterpart.

In the end, it probably can even be further distilled to a significant gap between the two in the oft-referenced "Basketball IQ." Duncan still knows how to play through foul trouble, whereas Stoudemire repeatedly dug himself an even deeper hole by not adjusting his game whenever the refs whistled him for contact. So, even as he approaches the twilight of his illustrious career, Tim Duncan remains the Superior Playoff Finisher.

Sun Block

2007-05-18T14:31:00.000-05:00

Though tonight is not technically a Game 7, it will serve the same purpose, as it will decide the outcome of the series. Obviously, if the Spurs win, they advance to the Western Conference Finals. But even though a Suns victory would "only" knot the series at three games apiece, there just doesn't seem to be any conceivable way the Spurs could win Game 7. They've already won twice at Phoenix during this series, so the odds are stacked heavily against them doing so a third time in four opportunities. It would also be only the second time at Phoenix this series the Suns would be at full-strength, with the other being a 20-point Suns win. And anytime a team coughs up a 3-2 lead to let the opponent off the canvas to force a Game 7, the momentum swing is so violent it can snap a team's collective neck.

As much as I hate to admit it, I think there is a tremendous amount of pressure on the Spurs tonight. If the Suns lose, people will give them credit for a hard fought series and will hold David Stern more accountable for their playoff exit than anyone on the Phoenix roster. But if the Spurs lose, especially given the late meltdown in Game 4, there will be enough goats in San Antonio to line both sides of the Riverwalk. And given their advancing age, this just might be the Spurs' last great chance at winning their fourth championship.

They absolutely need to follow the lead of their greatest player, as pictured above, and derail the potent Suns attack with the brand of smothering defense that garnered San Antonio their previous three titles. When it's all said and done, if the Spurs are to win and advance, it's once again going to be on the enormous wings of Tim Duncan.

Ga Ga for "Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga"

2007-05-18T14:07:00.001-05:00

I've been a huge Spoon fan since the first time I heard Girls Can Tell. In fact, to this day, A Series of Sneaks (which I went back and bought immediately after hearing Girls Can Tell) remains my all-time favorite album. It took me a bit longer to fully absorb Kill The Moonlight, but I eventually grew to love it, as well. But even though Gimme Fiction was pretty good, I never was as fully immersed in it as I had been with all previous Spoon albums, so I wasn't sure what to expect from their upcoming release, the bizarrely-titled Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga.

Well, before I was even finished with my first complete listen to this new Spoon album, I was more than hooked. The first song to absolutely blow me away from this fantastic record is "Don't You Evah," the fourth track on the album, and the second in an absolutely amazing five-song run of audio perfection from tracks three ("You Got Yr Cherry Bomb") through seven. But it is that seventh track, "The Underdog," which just may be the breakout hit Spoon has flirted with for years (see, "Way We Get By, The") but never quite consummated.

Out of the 10 songs comprising the entirety of Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga, only "The Ghost of You Lingers" is less than stellar. I might even consider it Spoon's weakest track ever, though that's probably not something I'd like to admit within an otherwise glowing review. Still, credit Britt Daniel for being his typical bold self and releasing this seemingly inaccessible song as the album's advance track. Never one to take the conventional route, Daniel's genius lies in his willingness to take such daring risks. It pays off in spades nine times out of 10 on Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga, which in all likelihood will end the year as my #1 album of 2007.

Reconnecting After 30 Years

2007-05-16T13:48:00.001-05:00

Actually, it's "only" been 29 years, but I figured it would be OK to round up in this instance. I just got back from lunch with an old friend I had not seen since he moved away after 6th Grade in the Summer of 1978. Holy "Wayback Machine," Mr. Peabody!

So, how exactly did this come about? Well, I recently stumbled upon my yearbooks from 5th and 6th Grade while cleaning out the garage, and started looking through them to see who signed their names. One of the guys who signed them -- my aforementioned friend, Chuck -- has a pretty unique last name, so I employed the miracle of Google.

Sure enough, said Internet miracle provided me with Chuck's e-mail address, and it turns out he works maybe 15 miles away from me. Given the fact that we both now live more than 300 miles from where we went to 6th Grade, this definitely falls into the "Small World" category.

I'm still in awe at how quickly we were able to comfortably converse during lunch, especially when you consider we had not spoken to each other since before the 28-year-old lady in the cubicle next to me WAS BORN. Boy, does THAT ever put it into perspective!

Chuck's still the same great guy I remember, and he certainly doesn't look 41. I have to admit being especially relieved by this fact, because right before Chuck showed up at the restaurant, I saw another man I thought might be him, but who looked to be in his mid-50s at the absolute youngest. It's good to know we at least don't SEEM like we're approaching middle age just yet!

I forgot to bring the yearbooks with me to lunch, so there were some names neither of us could quite remember to bring up, but that will give us something to do the next time we have lunch. As for today, we just caught up on what we've done career-wise since school, and also fondly recalled The Great Webelos Spring Break Trip to Big Bend of 1976.

I'm really looking forward to meeting up with Chuck again soon. It just goes to show you that sometimes faded memories can be quickly brought back into focus when you find someone to help you piece them together.

Cheap Shot Rob

2007-05-15T11:06:00.000-05:00

The only thing that disappointed me more than the Spurs blowing a crucial Game 4 they controlled most of the night, was the ridiculous hit Robert Horry put on Steve Nash late in the game. Yes, they needed to foul, but there was no call whatsoever for something that flagrant. Not only have the Spurs relinquished momentum, they've relinquished their reputation. I still HOPE they win the series, but I am starting to doubt whether it will actually happen.

Thanks for the fuel, Amare!

2007-05-14T09:10:00.000-05:00

Amare Stoudemire is a great player, but he's young, and he let his gum flapping get the best of him. No, he's not solely to blame for the Suns losing Game 3 to the Spurs, but there's no doubt it sure seemed to charge up the primary targets of his "play dirty" allegations: Bruce Bowen and Manu Ginobili. Tonight's game is HUGE, because if the Spurs can go up 3-1, it's all but over.

Locke-d Away

2007-05-10T12:30:00.000-05:00

WOW!!! That very well may have been the best episode of Lost ever last night! So much great stuff, not the least of which was Napoleon Dynamite's "Uncle Rico" playing the role of Ben's dad. "How much you wanna bet I can throw this coconut over that volcano?" LOL

And how great was it to see Locke beat the snot out of "Patchy" Mikhail? The whole Jacob scene was so surreal. It's going to be fascinating to see how all this unfolds in the weeks to come...

MANU-facturing Defect

2007-05-10T12:21:00.000-05:00

What's wrong with Manu Ginobili? He was arguably the Spurs' best playoff performer during their 2005 title run, and other than the last few seconds of Game 7 vs. Dallas last year, he had another strong showing during the 2006 playoffs. So why has he been playing so poorly this postseason -- especially against the Suns???

I wish I knew the answer, but unless he finds it -- and soon -- things could start going south quickly for the Spurs. And we simply can't have that!

Spurs Win Round 1 by TKO

2007-05-07T09:23:00.000-05:00

Behind the brilliant play (and powerful forehead) of Tony Parker, the Spurs won a hard-fought Game 1 of the Western Conference Semis 111-106 over the bruised and bloodied Phoenix Suns. DeLaHoya-Mayweather had NOTHING on this!

FIN-tastic!

2007-05-03T12:38:00.000-05:00

Michael Finley was absolutely EN FUEGO last night! We're going to need all the heat we can muster for the Western Conference Semis...BRING ON THE SUNS!!!

God Bless BIG SHOT BOB!!!

2007-05-02T16:35:00.000-05:00

I'm a day late in posting this, but man, it doesn't get much better than Robert Horry's latest heroics for my beloved Spurs Monday night. Game 5 is tonight, and I'm definitely hoping for a command performance!

Ted Leo in Concert

2007-04-06T23:22:00.001-05:00

You have new Picture Mail!, originally uploaded by FT (Bob).

Ted Leo and The Pharmacists fill my prescriptiom for RAWK.

Texas Rangers Opening Day 2007

2007-04-06T13:45:00.001-05:00

You have new Picture Mail!, originally uploaded by FT (Bob).

In the upper deck for the Texas Rangers' home opener vs. the Boston Red Sox. Right now, the Rangers are up 2-0 in the Top of the 3rd.

New Dallas Cowboys Stadium Construction

2007-04-06T13:28:00.001-05:00

You have new Picture Mail!, originally uploaded by FT (Bob).

A view from The Ballpark in Arlington of the new Dallas Cowboys Stadium, still under construction.

March Madness May Soon Turn To April Gladness

2007-03-29T14:06:00.000-06:00

I do a bracket pretty much every year, and this year was no exception. The only difference this time around is that I actually still have multiple ducks in the hunt. While watching them play in the Big East Tournament, I had a strong feeling that Georgetown was primed to make a run, even though they had not been to the Final Four since 1985. For once, my usually flawed instincts appear to have paid off, because the Hoyas are still alive, along with UCLA and Florida, who I also picked (no big stretch, though). I have thought Ohio State was overrated all year, so I didn't expect them to make the Final Four, which they did when they beat my pick from their region, Memphis.

I'm in the midst of a competition with a group of guys, in which the bracket winner gets the new CD of his choice from each of the other participants. We do these kind of "leagues" often, and I never come close to winning, so I have to admit I'm pretty excited about it. The only way I can win is if Georgetown takes the title game, and that's not going to be easy, given their extremely tough competition among the other three remaining teams. Even so, it's all I can do not to start making a list of what CDs I want upon claiming victory.

Don't fail me now, Hibbert, Green and Ewing, Jr.!!!

SXSW '07: Epilogue

2007-03-19T15:36:00.001-06:00

You have new Picture Mail!, originally uploaded by FT (Bob).

Well, I guess I should write some sort of SXSW '07 post script or epilogue, so here goes...

Though great for spontaneity and instantaneousness, The Great Cameraphone Experiment of 2007 proved more novelty than anything else. Indie rock people dig lo-fi, but don't like lo-res. Next year, I'll bring a legitimate camera with video capabilty, and see if we can't leverage the magic of YouTube into some SXSW '08 gold.
Every single person I met, whether connected with the message board I frequent or not, was very cool. I honestly didn't encounter a single jerk the entire time I was in Austin. It helped that I avoided the mirror.
I'm getting too old for this!
I'm getting (yeah, GETTING, right) too fat for this!
I'll be back again next year.
I may relinquish central point of contact duties to someone else next time.
The one indelible image from last week that will remain with me the rest of the year is seeing my bud Jon (a.k.a. "shiv") laying stiff on the hardwood floor of the Phil-Colin Manor with his arms crossing his chest like he was in an open casket. He was probably a lot closer to "death" than any of us will ever know...haha.

SXSW '07: Sweet Lee Morrow

2007-03-16T18:03:00.001-06:00

You have new Picture Mail!, originally uploaded by FT (Bob).

Colin's side project, Sweet Lee Morrow.

SXSW '07: RODNEY!

2007-03-16T17:13:00.001-06:00

You have new Picture Mail!, originally uploaded by FT (Bob).

Rod arrives!

SXSW '07: Again with The Fratellis

2007-03-16T16:17:00.001-06:00

You have new Picture Mail!, originally uploaded by FT (Bob).

Leo Sayer?

SXSW '07: I SAID The Fratellis

2007-03-16T16:15:00.001-06:00

You have new Picture Mail!, originally uploaded by FT (Bob).

Gee-tar!

SXSW '07: The Fratellis

2007-03-16T16:13:00.001-06:00

You have new Picture Mail!, originally uploaded by FT (Bob).

It took all day, but finally TEH FRATELLIS!!! I had no idea these dudes were a trio.

SXSW '07: Guarding the Gear

2007-03-16T15:32:00.001-06:00

You have new Picture Mail!, originally uploaded by FT (Bob).

Me and Kit are watching Chalk Outlines's gear while Colin loads into the club. Will we make it back in time for TEH FRATELLIS???

SXSW '07: The Rumble Strips

2007-03-16T15:11:00.001-06:00

You have new Picture Mail!, originally uploaded by FT (Bob).

The Rumble Strips perform for us.

SXSW '07: Amy Winehouse

2007-03-16T13:29:00.001-06:00

You have new Picture Mail!, originally uploaded by FT (Bob).

FINALLY, Amy Winehouse dignifies us with her beehive and Janice from TV's "Friends" face.

SXSW '07: Ish, Beth and Kit

2007-03-16T12:45:00.001-06:00

You have new Picture Mail!, originally uploaded by FT (Bob).

Kit in DA HOUSE! So is Ish and Beth. Amy Winehouse goes on next.

SXSW '07: Filming the Filmer

2007-03-16T12:26:00.001-06:00

You have new Picture Mail!, originally uploaded by FT (Bob).

We are being FILMED.

SXSW '07: Jay Ellesse (a.k.a. Ish)

2007-03-16T12:12:00.001-06:00

You have new Picture Mail!, originally uploaded by FT (Bob).

WE HAVE ISH!

SXSW '07: The Stage is (Being) Set

2007-03-16T12:01:00.001-06:00

You have new Picture Mail!, originally uploaded by FT (Bob).

The crowd filters in as the stage set-up continues...

SXSW '07: Dana's Sister, Beth

2007-03-16T11:38:00.001-06:00

You have new Picture Mail!, originally uploaded by FT (Bob).

The one and only big sis of Dana Norwood, the lovely rawk chick, Beth Thomas. I gave her cut-sies.

SXSW '07: Check Out the Line!

2007-03-16T11:24:00.001-06:00

You have new Picture Mail!, originally uploaded by FT (Bob).

Check out this line already, and it's barely past noon. Looks like this is the hot show of the day. I'm third in line...WOO-HOO!!!

SXSW '07: I'm Being Filmed

2007-03-16T11:10:00.001-06:00

You have new Picture Mail!, originally uploaded by FT (Bob).

I'm gonna be a bloody movie star, I am!

SXSW '07: Island UK Showcase Flyer

2007-03-16T10:23:00.001-06:00

You have new Picture Mail!, originally uploaded by FT (Bob).

Here's today's agenda. Headed there right now...TEH FRATELLIS!!!

SXSW '07: Jackalope Kitchen

2007-03-15T17:22:00.001-06:00

You have new Picture Mail!, originally uploaded by FT (Bob).

The Jackalope kitchen...the sweatiest place on Earth.

SXSW '07: Ancho Burger

2007-03-15T17:20:00.001-06:00

You have new Picture Mail!, originally uploaded by FT (Bob).

MMM...Jackalope.

SXSW '07: Street Band 2

2007-03-15T16:20:00.001-06:00

You have new Picture Mail!, originally uploaded by FT (Bob).

The Arts & Crafts Showcase

SXSW '07: Street Band 1

2007-03-15T16:17:00.001-06:00

You have new Picture Mail!, originally uploaded by FT (Bob).

The Homeless Drifters Showcase

SXSW '07: 6th Street

2007-03-15T16:14:00.001-06:00

You have new Picture Mail!, originally uploaded by FT (Bob).

TEH unwashed masses.

SXSW '07: Chef Phil

2007-03-15T07:22:00.001-06:00

You have new Picture Mail!, originally uploaded by FT (Bob).

The master in front of his canvas. We about to eat some BRUNCH, people! Yeah, you're jealous.

SXSW '07: Caught in the Web at The Spider House

2007-03-14T23:44:00.001-06:00

You have new Picture Mail!, originally uploaded by FT (Bob).

The Head Arachnid in his natural habitat at The Spider House. Yep, it's Chuck(e)D!

SXSW '07: Flying Fatal Guillotines

2007-03-14T20:59:00.001-06:00

You have new Picture Mail!, originally uploaded by FT (Bob).

Not sure who these guys are, but I think shiv said they were The Flying Fatal Guillotines. Their frontman looks like a fat version of Stuttering John.

SXSW '07: Call Me Lightning

2007-03-14T20:03:00.001-06:00

You have new Picture Mail!, originally uploaded by FT (Bob).

This band is Call Me Lightning from Milwaukee...apparently fronted by Kenny Loggins.

SXSW '07: Back Off The Wagon

2007-03-14T17:57:00.001-06:00

You have new Picture Mail!, originally uploaded by FT (Bob).

swiatecki celebrates his first drink in two weeks.

SXSW '07: Full-On Crowd Scene

2007-03-14T17:29:00.001-06:00

You have new Picture Mail!, originally uploaded by FT (Bob).

HIPSTER DOOFII ALERT!!!

SXSW '07: The Gang's All Here

2007-03-14T17:27:00.001-06:00

You have new Picture Mail!, originally uploaded by FT (Bob).

shiv, swiatecki and Jerry at The REF.

SXSW '07: Welcome to Austin!

2007-03-14T17:12:00.001-06:00

You have new Picture Mail!, originally uploaded by FT (Bob).

Just got to Austin. This is the first pic. Headed to TEH Red-Eyed Fly...

SXSW or Bust!

2007-03-12T17:46:00.000-06:00

You have new Picture Mail!, originally uploaded by FT (Bob).

Starting this Wednesday, I will be filing "live" reports from SXSW 2007, thanks to the miracle of mobile technology.

GET READY FOR LO-RES FUN!

Lake...Big Lake

2007-02-18T16:28:00.000-06:00

You have new Picture Mail!, originally uploaded by FT (Bob).

Man, there ain't a boy ailve who don't like throwin' him some rocks into a lake. Good times...

Good Riddance, Big Tuna!

2007-01-22T14:56:00.000-06:00

parcells_bill_hor, originally uploaded by FT (Bob).

So, Bill Parcells "retired" as head coach of my beloved Dallas Cowboys today. Well, I could not be happier...unless he had actually delivered when he was still their coach and had them headed to Miami for a Super Bowl matchup with the Colts. Instead, I (along with legions of other Cowboy fans) ended up being treated to four seasons of .500 football with nothing more than two playoff defeats to show for it.

It's been obvious pretty much since he first took the Cowboys job that his heart wasn't in it, and that he was just hoping to coast by on past glory. Unfortunately, nothing even remotely approaching said past glory would ever happen here during his uninspired tenure.

What will happen to "The Big Tuna?" Where will he end up next? I really don't care. What's important is he's not HERE anymore! I only hope Jerry Jones brings in someone with the hunger to win, rather than the hunger for an endless supply of cheeseburgers.

Happy Birthday, Randy!

2007-01-11T09:53:00.000-06:00

My oldest child turns 12 today -- ONE YEAR FROM BEING A TEENAGER!!! Have a great day, Slugger!

Romo-aning and Groaning

2007-01-07T12:17:00.000-06:00

nfl_a_romo_412, originally uploaded by FT (Bob).

After having endured such a miserable finish to the season for my favorite college football team (Notre Dame) mere days earlier, it was a real kick to the crotch to watch my beloved Dallas Cowboys suffer an even more embarrassing fate last night. And of all people to be the goat, it had to be one-time season savior Tony Romo. He even had an immediate chance to go from goat to hero, but his desperate scurry for the end zone was ended mere feet short of a miraculous save.

And even after that, Romo was amazingly presented with yet another last chance to de-Bucknerize himself -- this time with one final Hail Mary attempt -- but co-goat Terry Glenn, whose earlier fumble just outside his own end zone resulted in a safety that was within a centimeter of being a touchdown, inexplicably watched Romo's final-second heave land at his feet without putting forth the slightest effort to make the grab and erase his own goatitude.

At the time Romo fumbled the hold on what likely would have been the game-winning FG, I was absolutely furious with him. But watching him fight back tears of regret and shame at the post-game press conference, I couldn't help but feel empathy for the guy. Sure, he had gotten full of himself since being named to the Pro Bowl and plowing through his own personal Top 40 of hot pop divas, but it was obvious that not only had his head finally returned to the same proportion as the rest of his body, but it had actually shrunken like he was the victim of a voodoo curse.

Romo's disastrous gaffe against the Seahawks will either end up defining his career as one that was once promising but never again the same, or will be the impetus for him to both achieve and exceed the lofty expectations placed upon him after his incredibly brilliant first few games as starting QB.

Which will it be? It's too soon to tell. I only hope he doesn't kill himself before we get a chance to find out.

When Irish Eyes Are Blinded

2007-01-04T17:39:00.000-06:00

full.getty-72678981rb099_2007_allstate_1_22_03_am, originally uploaded by FT (Bob).

I've been a die-hard Notre Dame fan my whole life. The year of my birth (1966), the Fighting Irish won the National Championship, followed by one 11 years later (1977) and 11 years after that (1988). There haven't been any since, and other than the 1994 robbery by the pollsters and the phantom clip vs. Colorado a few years prior, they haven't even been close.

Charlie Weis was supposed to change all that, bringing a Super Bowl pedigree that immediately turned what had been a mediocre underclass QB into a two-time Heisman candidate destined for the 1st round of the NFL draft. But unlike his first Brady, this one would prove ill-equipped to handle the glare of the big game spotlight.

So, here we sit after Charlie's first two years at the helm of ND, and they are no better today than the day he first waddled onto campus. In fact, they're even more of a national laughingstock now than they ever were -- even in the Gerry Faust era -- because this team actually fooled people (even the media) into thinking they were a legitimate Top 10 and even National Championship contender.

The truth is much, much bleaker than that. Most of the post-mortems today, following yet another big game loss exceeding 20 points (that's four straight against Top 10 teams, for those scoring at home), point to the fact that they simply need more talent. Once last year's and this year's crop of recruits mature, WATCH OUT!

Well, I'm here to tell you that's just not gonna happen. There are a myriad of reasons why ND can't pull it off anymore -- stringent academic requirements, lack of a major conference membership -- but the truth is they've simply lost their mystique. And once it's gone, it can't be recaptured, because you're talking about decades upon decades of tradition and heroic exploits actually worthy of legend.

The only thing Weis is going to accomplish will be to increase the number of ND players drafted by the NFL in the first 2-3 rounds each year by a player or two. Well, whoop-de-freakin'-doo! I guess the only hope I have for a return to the glory days would be for ND to drop to I-AA, where they belong. But short of that, there are dozens more BCS blowouts in their future.

Nice work, Charlie!

Interesting Wardrobe Choice

2007-01-03T16:23:00.000-06:00

Screen capture #3 of FT as an extra in "Piranha", originally uploaded by FT (Bob).

The Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders worked much better as a poster than a powder blue t-shirt, don't you think?

Another 'Piranha' Screen Cap

2007-01-03T16:22:00.000-06:00

Screen capture #1 of FT as an extra in "Piranha", originally uploaded by FT (Bob).

Look at my shoulder blades jutting through my back like some sort of orphan refugee. Who knew that stringbean would eventually hit 350 lbs.? Metabolism is a cruel mistress...

I Was a B-Movie Extra

2007-01-03T16:20:00.000-06:00

Screen capture #2 of FT as an extra in "Piranha", originally uploaded by FT (Bob).

Back in 1978, I got to spend three days on the set of "Piranha" as an extra. This is the most embarrassing of all the screen caps.

Revving it Back Up for 2007

2007-01-02T16:01:00.000-06:00

I really need to make a concerted effort to blog more this year. Even if it's nothing more than inane filler, just like this.

Work Tailgate Today!

2006-10-06T10:39:00.000-05:00

Well, today's the annual office tailgate party here, in anticipation of the hotly-contested Texas-OU football game.

Hooray for B-B-Q and beer ON THE CLOCK!!!

NSFs

2006-10-05T17:40:00.000-05:00

If they're Insufficient Funds, why aren't they "ISF"s?

Or, even more accurately, shouldn't they be "IF"s?

U-Haulin' Ass With My Father-In-Law

2006-10-03T07:43:00.000-05:00

While driving a truck full of furniture from San Antonio to Dallas this past weekend, I was taken aback by my father-in-law asking me if "that girl who sang 'The Loco-Motion' died."

"You mean Little Eva? Yeah, I think she did die," I responded in a rather flummoxed manner.

I hope he wasn't asking about Kylie Minogue...

Tre-O...Tre-e-e-O...

2006-10-02T16:54:00.000-05:00

I've decided to mix things up and post random observations and inane ramblings as they occur to me via cell phone. Vive le Treo!

Happy Birthday, My Youngest Progeny!

2006-08-28T12:17:00.000-05:00

He's too young to read blogs, so he won't see this, but I still want to wish my youngest son a happy 4th birthday...have a great one, Pincus! (No, that's not his real name, but me and the missus still call him that from time to time. It's a term of endearment lifted from Seinfeld and taken completely out of context. My son is not a dry cleaner, nor has he ever been assaulted with a golf tee.)

Anyway, it's a joyous occasion, because it not only marks the beginning of his 5th year outta the womb, but also means MY birthday is a mere four days away! CEL-E-BRATE GOOD TIMES...C'MON!!!

Sorry for neglecting you, sweet blog o' mine...

2006-08-12T14:19:00.000-05:00

I've been paying much more attention of late to my other blog, Hip Displeasure, even though there are nine other equally capable folks keeping that site afloat. Meanwhile, poor little It's All Ball Bearings Nowadays is over here lonely and starved for attention.

Well, take heart, IABBN...I promise I haven't forgotten you and won't forsake you. You may be a red-headed stepchild, but you're MY red-headed stepchild.

What Tree Do I Show This To?

2006-07-29T19:34:00.000-05:00

OK, so the single biggest comedic influence on my formative years has to be Chris Elliott, based on his brilliant tenure as David Letterman's comic foil on the old NBC "Late Night" show. Here's a YouTube playlist I compiled from various clips I found searching YouTube. Witness the master at work...

#2 With a Bullet!

2006-07-29T19:32:00.000-05:00

I figured it would be a good idea to go ahead and write a second post right off the bat, to climb past SWGM on the list of my blogs. I also think this will be a good repository for YouTube clips I would like to repeatedly view and share with all of my imaginary friends. Stay tuned...

Can Anyone Ever REALLY Have Too Many Blogs?

2006-07-29T19:23:00.000-05:00

Hi! I'm not Troy McClure. You may remember me from such blogs as "Hip Displeasure" and "Sluggish With Goat Meat." And while you might think nobody needs THREE blogs, I can assure you all three are vital to my continued existence on God's green earth.

Hip-D is a total team effort, of which I am merely one of a dozen regular contributors. SWGM was created on a whim after an umpteenth viewing of an "SNL: Best of Will Ferrell" DVD, and likely won't ever be updated again. Why, you ask? Because I decided I like this "Fletch"-lifted title much better, and will post all of my most personal and innermost feelings here.

Of course, that means there probably ain't gonna be much posted here, either, because I'm a hollow shell. So, thanks for stopping by...and ENJOY!