Music

Music has always had a huge place in my life. I may not be able to play an instrument, but music has been playing in the background somewhere. Growing up in Southern California I have subjected to many different radio stations over the years. KMET, KLOS, KLSX, KRTH, KLAC and KROQ, just to name a few. RIP KNAC and PIRATE. Anyhoo, my musical developement really was born in the driveway and yard of a house on Concord Lane in Glendora many moons ago.

It seemed that Sunday or Labor Day weekend or Fourth of July were the days that car washing, waxing, rebuilding or yard work was done in the Crawford home. That meant that the radio was on and it was music or Dodger Baseball. Vin Scully has always been a favorite, even if I hate the Dodgers. On Labor Day, memorial Day and Fourth of July there was always a countdown of the best songs in Rock n Roll. Depending on the channel, most of the Top 5 were pretty consistent. You always had "Satisfaction", "Hey Jude", "Light My Fire" or "Stairway to Heaven" be the #1.

This really shaped my musical tastes. As an 11 year old, my favorite albums were "Born in the USA", "Eliminator" and "Tattoo You". I then fell in with the nasty hair metal craze. I finally realized the genius of the Ramones and Social Distortion in my adult years. I see that the origin of Rock n Roll were not wasted on these bands. The implementation of the core in their music has really caught me in their web.

Why is this important? My soon to be four year old son, Jackson, has found these two bands to be right up his alley. He has had an affinity for the Ramones since he was about 14 months old. "Blitzkrieg Bop" and "Beat on the Brat" have his favorites since the beginning. We were watching Social Distortion on a show on DIRECTV from Guitar Center in LA. It is a combo live performance/interview show. He was reluctant at first, of course cartoons were more important. When that first chord came from Mike Ness, Jack was hooked. He really got into "California (Hustle and Flow)". A great tune that reeks of the Stones. Jack was singing it tonight at dinner and I was a proud pops. Now, if I can only get to him to like baseball and football.......

Pop Culture Screws Itself........Again!

On August 1, 1981, the world of pop culture was changed forever. Music Television, MTV, was born. The Buggles, "Video Killed the Radio Star" brought a new medium, the music video front and center into our living rooms. MTV was for the few privileged folk that had cable TV, still in it's infancy. MTV raised the number of households that ultimately installed cable boxes, nationwide.

We now could see the songs in a whole new light. Whether it was seeing the Goonies through Cindy Lauper's lip syncing or Bow Wow Wow's lolita singing in the surf. We got a new drug to be addicted to. Friday Night Video Fights, Headbanger's Ball, 120 Minutes, Remote Control, Spring Break, The Real World and Yo! MTV Raps shaped my younger self. I loved those shows and made certain that I watched or popped a tape in the VCR and set the timer. Just dated myself, eh.

I thought this momentous occasion would be cause for MTV to do something big like they did @ 20 years. A live concert or some sort of reunion of the original VJ's. Unfortunately, that is not to come. Instead, the geniuses @ MTV set programming greatest MTV moments on it's sister station, VH1 Classic. What does MTV have going on with the main channel this weekend? A Jersey Shore fuckfest! What in the sam hell? You blow out your history for these moronic, idiotic fuck ups? Is Jersey Show a goldmine for MTV? Absolutely, it is. However, this show is everything that our nation needs to be ashamed of. These douche bags make the world laugh at us.

MTV doesn't show videos anymore. They serve a steady diet of The Gauntlet, Jersey Shore, Teen Mom and Real Life. MTV2 shows some videos. That is when they aren't showing reruns of the Wayans Brothers or Martin. These channels are just pathetic. What once was a trailblazer is now just a shell of its former self. MTV, YOU SUCK. You were a driving force in the music world once. You killed rock, hair metal and grunge. You proceeded to put hip hop and pop poop as the only music that record companies want to distribute. MTV shame on you!

Tattoos and Whining

Due to the generosity of my buddy since sixth grade, Jason, I recently read "Tattoos & Tequila" by Vince Neil. This was his response to the best selling Motley Crue memoir "The Dirt". All I can say is this is one of the worst books I can remember reading. All he did in this book was whine. All of the bad in his life was blamed on someone or something other than him. Pretty pathetic.

I am old school (I am old, sorry) Motley Crue fan. Vince and Tommy are from our hometown and that was pretty cool growing up. Motley Crue had this something about them that pissed of parents, pissed off junior high school principals with the sight of their t-shirts and new wavers. I can remember wearing a Motley Crue shirt to school in the sixth grade and Dr. Demming, the Principal at Sunflower Junior High, just about shitting his pants at the sight of my Pomona Car Swap Meet bought, flaming Motley shirt. Ah, good times! I was not going into this book blindly.

A common thread in this book is Vince denying that he is an alcoholic. He openly admits that alcohol makes him feel normal. He has 2 DUI's, one resulting in the death of Razzle Dingley of Hanoi Rocks. That being said, there are interviews from all of Vince's ex-wive's gave their accounts of their meeting, marrying, divorcing and everything in between. The common thread there was that Vince was constantly drinking, and fucking other women. Vince openly admits that his vices are booze and pussy. When you have to have a drink or 5 to relax around people that is a sign that you may have a problem.

Another thing that is beaten to death is the strong distaste he has for his fellow band mates Nikki Sixx, Tommy Lee and Mick Mars. He is constantly saying that they are not friends but that he is just 1/4 owner in the business, so to speak. Nikki Sixx had a blurb in the book and addressed Vince's issues with the band. He said that it was unfortunate that Vince felt the way he did and then continued to sing Vince's praises. Dude is psyched to be a huge rock star and gave Vince props for help making that happen.

I noticed that so many people declined to be interviewed for this book. I can see why. This book is a turd compared to "The Dirt". I hate to compare the two, but, I did not learn anything in the book that I had not known before and after reading "Dirt".

The part of the book that was actually compelling was Vince discussing the death of his daughter Skylar. Being the father of a 3 1/2 year old son, I can never imagine losing a child. This little girl had a six pound tumor that wrapped around her insides, burst and spewed cancer throughout her body. I found myself weeping while reading the hell that little girl went through. It is amazing what children can withstand and just keep fighting. I feel for this man.

In conclusion, this book was just a big woe is me for a guy that had the world in his palm. Dude, you are one of the biggest bands in the world. That funds your chain of restaurants and ink slinging joints. You should be lucky that anyone wants to see you perform. You sing about half of the lyrics anyway! Motley needs you just as you need Motley. Admit that you have an addiction and embrace the help to stay sober.

This and That

First off, a few things that just bug me. Ladies, please wear a long shirt or sweater when you wear stretch pants, yoga pants or work out pants. Please! Really, no one wants to see your camel toe, moose knuckle or wookie wallet. Most are not interested in which were the chonies du jour.
Guys with completely shaved heads, shave off the side burns. I mean, having a shaved bald head and these untrimmed side burns is just retarded. It looks as if you have a stripper's pudendum on either side of your head.
Baseball hats. Can guys just wear ones that fit. I don't care if it is the style, but when your ears can fit inside the overly large hat with a stick straight bill......... retarded again.
Tank tops. If you are wearing a tank top that is from a clothing line that resembles a basketball jersey....ugggh. Sorry, Skin, inc. tanks are kinda douchey.
Pants that sag. I am all for pants that are roomy and comfortable, but when the waist of your pants is below your ass cheeks........just stop.
Now on to my favorite subject to rail on, other than useless "celebrities", Halls of Fame. Recently the Pro Football Hall of Fame announced the 2011 induction class. They are Ed Sabol (founder of NFL Films), Deion Sanders, Richard Dent, Marshall Faulk, Chris Hanburger, Les Richter and Shannon Sharpe. I really have no beef with the class with the exception of Richard Dent. Is he a Hall of Famer, yes. However, he is not a Hall of Famer over Charles Haley. Haley has a record 5 Super Bowl Rings with the 49'ers and Cowboys. This guy was a guy that the opposing offense schemed against as an individual and not as a unit, like Dent. I just think that Haley, Cris Carter and Willie Roaf deserved to be there as well as any of the inductees.
I look at the Pro Football and Pro Baseball Halls of Fame as utterly bitter voters that just cannot seem to get over themselves. The Pro Hockey and Pro Basketball Halls of Fame get it right day in and day out. The players that belong in their hall are there. You never hear of a guy that is slighted for some BS reason. The baseball hall of fame is well renown for excluding players for really no reason at all. The football hall of fame lets in marginal guys because their regional rep puts up an encyclopedia's worth of mundane stats and can sling some stuff to get their guy in. The halls are starting to stink like the Rock and roll Hall, especially when Tom Waits and Abba are in and Rush, Kiss and Deep Purple cannot catch a break.

This and That

To start out I would like to send my deepest sympathies to the Luce Family of Utah. They laid to rest the patriarch, Robert Luce, to rest today. I was friends with his son Corey back in the day. Rob was this big, bear of a man who as nice and quiet as they come. He was always cool with me. They lost a good man. The Luce Family is one of the nicest families that I have had the pleasure to know.
A few things caught my eye today. There is a lunch truck that has been doing business by my work for many, many years. Ernie's Al Fresco is a bomb truck. He provides pretty much anything that you could want as it pertains to old school lunch trucks. I can honestly say that his food rivals that of most restaurants. He has fresh ingredients and he has a huge customer base. His customers are so appreciative of his food that his truck has put his daughter through school at both the University of Michigan (settle down Cabana) and Stanford.
He was parked at his usual spot, the south curb on Ramona between Garfield and Marengo in Pasadena. So, up drives the famous, green "Nom Nom" truck and parks direct across the street from Ernie's. The funny thing is, Ernie's was packed and no one at the Nom Nom truck. This was about 10:30 AM. I left for lunch at about 12:10 PM and the Nom Nom truck was still there and now had a swarm of people. Across the street in Ernie's usual spot was a new truck to the area, the Ice Cream Sandwich truck. The lunch truck fad is just out of control.
Boy, does Framboise taste good right before bed.
Does anyone know why Zsa Zsa Gabor is so famous for? Other than some no name movies in the 50's and a butt load of cheesy bit roles in 70's sitcoms, she has never really been in anything of note. It appears that her only connection to today's news is that she has a publicity hound of a jackass husband. Every time that I check out TMZ there is a blurb about her and her ill health or her hubby. Enough!
Speaking of nothings I really need to say this: I HATE THE KARDASHIANS! They serve absolutely no purpose and have absolutely no reason to be celebrities. Aside from taking after their jock sniffing parents they really serve no purpose. Kim has no obvious talents aside from T&A. Khloe is a near descendant of Chewbacca. She is so not attractive and has nothing to offer. Lamar Odom must be high on sugar from all those candy bars to be with that wildebeest. Kourtney is the least offensive of them all. She just seems to go along with the family but is not a fame whore. She has a natural look that she is not exploiting. I think that she is kinda hot. The mom..........what a clown. I hate people that become "celebrities" from reality TV and sex tapes thereafter.
Finally, I have been reacquainted with the awesome joys of fatherhood this week. My far better half, Amy, had serious surgery on her eyes this week. Her recuperation has been painful, slow and just hard. Stitches in the eyeballs has a way to ruin your day. As she mends I have had to be the main caretaker for her and the might munchkin, Jack. My joy has been that I have had to get him out of bed, feed him, make his lunch and get him to Pre K all this week. We have really had a great week. He has been little or no problem and has been really affectionate with his mom and I. This kid rocks my world. I am so proud to have a kid that is as awesome as him. Jeebus, I am starting to tear up just writing about him. I cannot think of anything better than he and his mom in my life. I live for them. I am one lucky sumbitch!

Hall of Fame

It's the most wonderful time of the year. If you are a sports geek like me, that is. I love that the baseball hall of fame and the football hall of fame name their annual inductees within a month of one another. The National Baseball Hall of Fame will announce their 2011 Induction Class on January 5th. I have been reading and listening to a lot people's opinions about who will get inducted.
There are 33 players on this year's ballot. I can, without hesitation, guarantee that the like of Bobby Higginson, Charles, Johnson, Kirk Reuter, Lenny Harris and Raul Mondesi, etc will be off of the ballot next year. There are a few that are tweeners like Tim Raines, Harold Baines, Dale Murphy, John Olerud, Jack Morris and Fred McGriff. And there are the tainted players like Mark McGwire and Rafael Palmeiro who will twist in the wind for a few more years, but will eventually get in once the pissed off sports writers feel that penance has been paid to their satisfaction.
It is my opinion that Bert Blyleven, Roberto Alomar, Lee Smith and Jeff Bagwell should be elected in this vote. However, my opinion means nought. There are a few sports writers out there that have personal vendettas against players for perceived slights that the player may or may not have thrown their way over the years. This absolutely plays a part in voting in players. But, a new demon has snuck it's way in to the conversation this year. That insidious monster is the guilt by association to steroids era. That's right, well he was never named or tested positive but he had great numbers in the steroid era. That means that he should not be voted in on the first few ballots.
Who is this he, you ask? He is Jeff Bagwell. Some numb nuts named Dan Graziano wrote a column on Fanhouse.com saying that he left Bagwell off of his ballot for the hall because he is suspicious. Ok, before we go any further let's look at Graziano's background. Graziano graduated from Georgetown University. Obviously he's not uneducated. He wrote for such papers as The Palm Beach Post and the Star-Ledger in New Jersey. He has also done work for ESPN. So, he kinda has cred. But, this dude is a douche.
So, genius begins his argument that his suspicions would not hold up in a court of law but that this is not a court of law, it is the Hall of Fame vote. Huh? Sportswriter with a grudge? Maybe. But, wait there's more. He states; "the only standards that I am beholden to are my own." He says that he will note vote for any player in the Steroid Era that he suspects were dirty. He says that he will not vote for Roger Clemens, Barry Bonds, Rafael Palmeiro or Mark McGwire. Ok, they were named in reports and by people that had intimate knowledge of their extracurricular activities. Jeff Bagwell has never been questioned by or named by anyone of any misdeeds.
Graziano goes on the write the following; "People will hate this position, and I understand that. But I offer this in my defense: we writers who covered the game during the Steroid Era are often criticized for not reporting more skeptically based on the suspicions we harbored then. And while much of that criticism is justified, I believe the fact that we and our newspapers could have been subject to legal action for such reporting works in our defense. The withholding of a Hall of Fame vote based on suspicion of illegal activity is not the same as writing a story accusing someone of illegal activity. I'm not accusing Jeff Bagwell of taking steroids or any other performance enhancing drug. I'm just saying I'm suspicious."
What the fuck? You are leaving a dude off of your ballot because he played in an era where others were juiced and you could not have questioned it because you could have been sued? Kiss my big, fuzzy, white ass. You are no better than a writer for the friggin' Enquirer. This guy needs to lose his vote for the Hall of Fame. This is totally wrong and should be looked into by those that choose who gets to vote. Shame on you Dan Graziano! Shame on you!