Just got back from Las Vegas. What happens in Vegas, stays in my blog.
I arrived late to the Des Moines Airport after spending 20 minutes driving 20 feet on Fleur. Will it ever end? I walked up late to check-in only to have my friend Round Guy yell, "HEY, HERE HE IS! MURPH, COME ON UP HERE." Now an entire line of people already nervous about being late looks at me like, "Don't even think about it, A-hole." That's when Round Guy---who loves making me feel uncomfortable---says, "Hey, you guys don't mind do you. He's a celebrity." I want to melt into the floor when the Allegiant Air rep waves me up. I protest, but he mercifully, hands me a ticket in no time. I apologize, and everyone makes the plane with no problem.
We arrive in Vegas early. Every time I fly Allegiant Air we land ahead of schedule. It makes up for the $4 Diet Pepsi, and a quick flight is needed when you're on a 36 hour weekend. As we exit the plane, I feel like we landed on the Sun. 113 degrees, but "it's a dry heat". No it's not. It's just HOT. It's like an oven, or as Matthew Broderick says in Biloxi Blues, "Africa Hot".
We go to the MGM Grand, site of the Vargas-Mosley fight the next night. The MGM has more than 5,000 rooms and glows like a Timex watch with Indiglo. We immediately spot Rasheed Wallace, so the celebrity sightings begin.
Later as I'm waiting for an elevator, I see a crush of people moving toward me and holding cell phones to take pictures. Obviously, it's not me they're after. Who, I wonder? Then I spot him. Mike Tyson. He's so nice and accommodating to everyone, I momentarily forget some of the things he's said and done. I tell Round Guy about my elevator ride with Iron Mike. RG wants to know if I got his autograph. I tell him I'm not in the habit of asking a convicted rapist to sign something. Ultimately, we're all responsible for our own mistakes, but Tyson had plenty of help. There have been so many people over the years that just used and abused that guy while riding the money train... and Don King was only one of them. It's a sad cautionary tale.
On a less serious thought, I couldn't believe how short Tyson is. He's my height (5' 10") and no longer BIG. I'm always surprised how much shorter famous people are than we imagine them. They're only larger than life when you don't run into them in your life. Did you see Kiefer Sutherland next to Serena Williams at the ESPY's. Kiefer must be about 5'7", almost as short as Tom Cruise.
I digress. Back to Vegas where I met up with one of my best friends in the world, Jeff Ehling. Jeff's a consumer reporter at the ABC station in Houston. For years we've talked about getting our families together, but it became apparent that won't happen before all the kids graduate, so Jeff's wife, Megg, suggested we meet up in Vegas. Gotta love Megg.
Jeff talked me into trying sushi for the first time. I always pictured it being like Danny Devito biting into fish in Batman Returns, but it was quite civilized and quite tasty. I'll have more, as long as it's not as expensive as it was in Las Vegas.
When did Vegas get so pricey?! I remember it being an inexpensive place to visit because they plan to clean out your bank account in the casinos. Not anymore. It's ALL expensive. The food, the hotels, the shows. If they're not careful, we'll be broke before we make it to the slot machines.
Back to the night out with the boys... Have you ever been so full that you switch what you're drinking just to trick your stomach? This is very stupid. I think this is how they came up with the expression, beer before liquor, never sicker. I should have waited until the beer had more room. I'll leave it at that.
Saturday morning did get off to a slow start, and laying poolside sounds like a nice way to relax and recover, probably would be if it weren't hotter than hell. I'm not swearing. It was that hot.
Watching the fight would be a nice way to spend a Saturday night. We went to Carrot Top instead. Fight=$400. Carrot Top=$30. No contest. Plus, it allows all of us to make more of a donation to the casinos. If we were smart, we would have just mailed a check.
Carrot Top is really funny. I just knew him from 5 minutes on Leno with all the props, but he's great stretched out to an hour. One of the more pleasant entertainment surprises of recent years. (Warning: Don't go see Carrot Top if you're a NASCAR fan with no sense of humor, especially if Jeff Gordon's your favorite driver.) Catch him at the Luxor.
Back at the hotel, Round Guy continued toying with my shyness. The moment we step onto a full elevator, Round Guy says, "I wish I had remembered my lice shampoo. My head really itches." That one's his favorite, followed by "The towels here are so big and fluffy, I could barely get my suitcase closed." Karma caught up to Round Guy. He lost a lot of money at the roulette wheel, but he'll be happy to tell you this story about how he almost bet a $100 on black, and then it hit 11 times straight. If only... Yeah, Vegas was built on "if only...".
If only I didn't have to leave the hotel at 5:30 a.m. Sunday, I would have done a better job on SoundOFF that night. As I was leaving for the day, Tyson was coming in for the night. Only in Vegas...
Tuesday, July 18, 2006
Thursday, July 13, 2006
Chilling Pierce; "Cyclone State"; You, me & Wie.
Have you read what Pierre Pierce admits to, and apologizes for, at his parole hearing? It's chilling. It also makes it clear he belongs behind bars, and never should have been allowed back in an Iowa uniform three years ago. I sincerely hope Pierce learned a lesson in his fall from grace, and that he is truly as sorry as he says he is. I doubt the victims will ever get over their ordeals. I also hope all of Pierce's apologists will reevaluate why they were so quick to come to his defense despite evidence to the contrary. Being a great athlete doesn't mean someone is telling the truth. I know I received my share of hate mail for helping break the original story, and not one of those people ever wrote or e-mailed back to apologize. The whole sad Pierce saga is a runaway case of entitlement. Read what he said, if you haven't already, at HawkCentral.com:
http://www.hawkcentral.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060711/HAWKS0102/607110306/1053/HAWKS
There are lessons for a lot of people in this mess, myself included. I wish we had pushed the U of I harder about allowing him back on the team, knowing what I knew then. Let's pray for the victims and move on. What a shame.
Speaking of someone given another chance when he shouldn't have had one, the NFL took a pass on former Cyclone Jason Berryman. No one loves and supports his players more than Dan McCarney, but that can lead to a blind spot for believing in those who haven't earned it---just as it did with Steve Alford. Berryman blew his third chance and maybe his career. No NFL team took a chance on Berryman in the supplemental draft. His talent deserves one, but his character remains in question. Many successful NFL players benefited from a second chance, but few multiple offenders worked out (see Lawrence Phillips, Maurice Clarett, Ricky Williams, etc.). Character counts.
The "Cyclone State" billboard is now up in Cedar Rapids. I respect Jamie Pollard for having the onions to do this. He doesn't want ISU taking a back seat to Iowa anywhere. However, if Iowa needed any extra motivation---and how could it?---this will do the trick. I expect Kirk Ferentz to have his team practicing under the billboard next month.
Decided not to wait in line for an hour to see Captain Jack Sparrow this past weekend, Saw Cars instead. Loved it. So did my five year old, Cade. Superb voice work by Owen Wilson, Paul Newman and Bonnie Hunt, but to my surprise, Larry the Cable Guy steals the show as Mater. He plays a tow truck. Tow Mater. Get it? Good message, good movie. Little long, but A-.
Should Michelle Wie be allowed to play with the men? Yes. Should she play with the men? No. Not yet. She needs to learn how to win first. That's a hard, but all important step for any athlete or team (think of the local examples). Wie is an astounding talent. She's only 16, but already good enough to win on the LPGA tour, which she still hasn't done, in part, because she's chasing history on the PGA Tour. Every time Wie's in contention near the end, my friend John Bachman tells me Wie will fade down the stretch, and she always does. She can't handle the pressure yet. Learn to win first, then when she's even better at say 21 or 22, take on the men. She'll never win, but she would make some cuts. For now, let her be 16.
I don't care what Marco Materazzi said to Zinedine Zidane, Zidane has to keep his composure. Then after France wins the World Cup, show the trophy to Materazzi. If Zidane had to get some violence out of system, wait until the game is over. Then he would've only been hurting himself. Easier said than done, I realize, but what a bonehead head-butt.
I was talking to my friend Courtney Greene the other day in the sports office and she mentioned how whenever an African-American athlete sounds intelligent, he's often referred to as "well spoken" or "articulate". The next day I was listening to KXNO and heard a player described as "very articulate" (it was a guest talking, not the host). I didn't know the athlete so I looked him up online, sure enough, he was black. I think Courtney's more right than many of us would like to admit.
Speaking of Courtney, she says she's now reading "Love Me, Hate Me". By the time Courtney's finished, and it won't take long because Jeff Pearlman's book is a page-turner, Bonds could be indicted for perjury. Bonds' former best man and best friend told Feds Bonds was a heavy steroid user who ruined their friendship by going into 'roid rages. Are any of you Bonds backers ready to come out of denial yet?
Why haven't we seen Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes' baby, Suri? It's been three months and not even close friends have seen that baby. Here's a better question: Why do I care?
The Des Moines Playhouse begins showing Footloose this weekend. I remember getting Ren's haircut back when I had enough hair to do it. 1984 I think. I loved cheezy Footloose and look forward to the play. Gotta cut loose...
Can't believe how good Ben Roethlisberger looks. He is one lucky guy. A mini-bike or motorcycle is the one item I wanted with all my heart as a kid that my parents said no to. Didn't matter how much I asked. Now that I have boys, I completely understand, and agree. I respect your right to ride a motorcycle, and to not wear a helmet if you choose, but visit with an ER nurse first, it will give you pause.
I'm going to Vegas with Round Guy. If I don't make it back, you'll know why.
keith.murphy@whotv.com
http://www.hawkcentral.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060711/HAWKS0102/607110306/1053/HAWKS
There are lessons for a lot of people in this mess, myself included. I wish we had pushed the U of I harder about allowing him back on the team, knowing what I knew then. Let's pray for the victims and move on. What a shame.
Speaking of someone given another chance when he shouldn't have had one, the NFL took a pass on former Cyclone Jason Berryman. No one loves and supports his players more than Dan McCarney, but that can lead to a blind spot for believing in those who haven't earned it---just as it did with Steve Alford. Berryman blew his third chance and maybe his career. No NFL team took a chance on Berryman in the supplemental draft. His talent deserves one, but his character remains in question. Many successful NFL players benefited from a second chance, but few multiple offenders worked out (see Lawrence Phillips, Maurice Clarett, Ricky Williams, etc.). Character counts.
The "Cyclone State" billboard is now up in Cedar Rapids. I respect Jamie Pollard for having the onions to do this. He doesn't want ISU taking a back seat to Iowa anywhere. However, if Iowa needed any extra motivation---and how could it?---this will do the trick. I expect Kirk Ferentz to have his team practicing under the billboard next month.
Decided not to wait in line for an hour to see Captain Jack Sparrow this past weekend, Saw Cars instead. Loved it. So did my five year old, Cade. Superb voice work by Owen Wilson, Paul Newman and Bonnie Hunt, but to my surprise, Larry the Cable Guy steals the show as Mater. He plays a tow truck. Tow Mater. Get it? Good message, good movie. Little long, but A-.
Should Michelle Wie be allowed to play with the men? Yes. Should she play with the men? No. Not yet. She needs to learn how to win first. That's a hard, but all important step for any athlete or team (think of the local examples). Wie is an astounding talent. She's only 16, but already good enough to win on the LPGA tour, which she still hasn't done, in part, because she's chasing history on the PGA Tour. Every time Wie's in contention near the end, my friend John Bachman tells me Wie will fade down the stretch, and she always does. She can't handle the pressure yet. Learn to win first, then when she's even better at say 21 or 22, take on the men. She'll never win, but she would make some cuts. For now, let her be 16.
I don't care what Marco Materazzi said to Zinedine Zidane, Zidane has to keep his composure. Then after France wins the World Cup, show the trophy to Materazzi. If Zidane had to get some violence out of system, wait until the game is over. Then he would've only been hurting himself. Easier said than done, I realize, but what a bonehead head-butt.
I was talking to my friend Courtney Greene the other day in the sports office and she mentioned how whenever an African-American athlete sounds intelligent, he's often referred to as "well spoken" or "articulate". The next day I was listening to KXNO and heard a player described as "very articulate" (it was a guest talking, not the host). I didn't know the athlete so I looked him up online, sure enough, he was black. I think Courtney's more right than many of us would like to admit.
Speaking of Courtney, she says she's now reading "Love Me, Hate Me". By the time Courtney's finished, and it won't take long because Jeff Pearlman's book is a page-turner, Bonds could be indicted for perjury. Bonds' former best man and best friend told Feds Bonds was a heavy steroid user who ruined their friendship by going into 'roid rages. Are any of you Bonds backers ready to come out of denial yet?
Why haven't we seen Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes' baby, Suri? It's been three months and not even close friends have seen that baby. Here's a better question: Why do I care?
The Des Moines Playhouse begins showing Footloose this weekend. I remember getting Ren's haircut back when I had enough hair to do it. 1984 I think. I loved cheezy Footloose and look forward to the play. Gotta cut loose...
Can't believe how good Ben Roethlisberger looks. He is one lucky guy. A mini-bike or motorcycle is the one item I wanted with all my heart as a kid that my parents said no to. Didn't matter how much I asked. Now that I have boys, I completely understand, and agree. I respect your right to ride a motorcycle, and to not wear a helmet if you choose, but visit with an ER nurse first, it will give you pause.
I'm going to Vegas with Round Guy. If I don't make it back, you'll know why.
keith.murphy@whotv.com
Thursday, July 06, 2006
July 4th in the 'hood, Fecal Beach, and Superman Returns.
July 4th reminded me why I love living in Iowa. The celebration in my Beaverdale neighborhood was just the way my parents and grandparents describe America when they're waxing nostalgic about the good old days, only this is 2006.
The guys who run into burning buildings while others run out brought their fire truck by to lead a parade of kids on their bikes. Not an official parade, just a cool one. There must have been 30 kids on bikes, scooters, and skateboards. Later, everyone put tables in the middle of our boulevard (Maquoketa) and brought out food. Every kind of food. Foods I couldn't even identify. I made the mistake of trying most of them, which left me with a stomach ache and limited capacity for the adult beverages I planned to consume. Somehow I managed. My girlfriend, Jenny, loves the beer called B to the E. It's Budweiser with, I'm not making this up, caffeine and ginseng. It's an easy way to combine a couple of my vices at once. If they find a way to add peanut M&Ms, I'll be set. I can only handle so much B to the E. Partly because the men make fun of me, and partly because I get more wired than Robin Williams on Red Bull. I switch to the mother's milk, Guinness. Good stuff and hard to over-indulge. It's not easy chugging something thicker than motor oil.
I digress. I'm making it sound like what made the 4th special was ALCOHOL, and though that didn't suck, and no one was driving, it's the people, the neighbors. People are so nice, you just can't believe it. I wish I had grown up in my current neighborhood when I was a kid. In addition to the parade, they had a safe place for water balloon fights, slip and slides, squirt gun wars, front yard volleyball, and last but not least, an awesome display of illegal fireworks. At least we're tight with the fire department.
Jenny's parents have a wonderful house on Clear Lake, and we spent the weekend up there. Apparently we're not the only ones from Central Iowa with the idea of going North. We went to see Delbert McClinton at the Surf---great as usual---and I couldn't believe how many people we met from here. I love the Surf. If you haven't been, you owe it to yourself to see where the concert was the day before the music died.
Jenny's parents are really cool, and they gave us a tour of the Lake. Apparently her Dad caught SoundOFF the night Andy mentioned a problem Clear Lake has had because our guide pointed to the shore and said, "this is what Andy would call Fecal Beach". Thanks, Andy.
Ran into KCCI's Andy Garman the other day at Ted's Coney Island. What a good guy (I mean Andy. I'm not sure if there's really a "Ted"). He's made this market better, on and off the air.
People ask me all the time what happened to Mark Meisenheimer. Well, he's out of TV. He decided to take a PR job down in Kansas City. Something about weekends off and more money. We miss Mark.
I'm not surprised what a good job Jon Miller's doing on KXNO. I wrote here previously that Cyclone fans worried Jon would use his show to relentlessly promote the Hawkeyes, and only the Hawkeyes, were way off base. Jon's fair, smart and talented, as he's proving daily from 2 to 4 p.m.
After Jon comes "Marty and Miller". I know some say they've had their fill of these guys, but I've got to tell you, I think it's a very good show and adds a big something to the local sports scene. Miller comes at many subjects with skepticism, but gives the other side a chance to win him over. He'll criticize but not hide. And Marty... he's a hoot. You just never know what he'll say next, which makes it hard to turn off (I also happen to know he has a big heart). Marty & Miller are good together, and they seem tighter and more focused this time out. You can catch their act daily on KXNO from 4 to 7 p.m.
The guys who run into burning buildings while others run out brought their fire truck by to lead a parade of kids on their bikes. Not an official parade, just a cool one. There must have been 30 kids on bikes, scooters, and skateboards. Later, everyone put tables in the middle of our boulevard (Maquoketa) and brought out food. Every kind of food. Foods I couldn't even identify. I made the mistake of trying most of them, which left me with a stomach ache and limited capacity for the adult beverages I planned to consume. Somehow I managed. My girlfriend, Jenny, loves the beer called B to the E. It's Budweiser with, I'm not making this up, caffeine and ginseng. It's an easy way to combine a couple of my vices at once. If they find a way to add peanut M&Ms, I'll be set. I can only handle so much B to the E. Partly because the men make fun of me, and partly because I get more wired than Robin Williams on Red Bull. I switch to the mother's milk, Guinness. Good stuff and hard to over-indulge. It's not easy chugging something thicker than motor oil.
I digress. I'm making it sound like what made the 4th special was ALCOHOL, and though that didn't suck, and no one was driving, it's the people, the neighbors. People are so nice, you just can't believe it. I wish I had grown up in my current neighborhood when I was a kid. In addition to the parade, they had a safe place for water balloon fights, slip and slides, squirt gun wars, front yard volleyball, and last but not least, an awesome display of illegal fireworks. At least we're tight with the fire department.
Jenny's parents have a wonderful house on Clear Lake, and we spent the weekend up there. Apparently we're not the only ones from Central Iowa with the idea of going North. We went to see Delbert McClinton at the Surf---great as usual---and I couldn't believe how many people we met from here. I love the Surf. If you haven't been, you owe it to yourself to see where the concert was the day before the music died.
Jenny's parents are really cool, and they gave us a tour of the Lake. Apparently her Dad caught SoundOFF the night Andy mentioned a problem Clear Lake has had because our guide pointed to the shore and said, "this is what Andy would call Fecal Beach". Thanks, Andy.
Ran into KCCI's Andy Garman the other day at Ted's Coney Island. What a good guy (I mean Andy. I'm not sure if there's really a "Ted"). He's made this market better, on and off the air.
People ask me all the time what happened to Mark Meisenheimer. Well, he's out of TV. He decided to take a PR job down in Kansas City. Something about weekends off and more money. We miss Mark.
I'm not surprised what a good job Jon Miller's doing on KXNO. I wrote here previously that Cyclone fans worried Jon would use his show to relentlessly promote the Hawkeyes, and only the Hawkeyes, were way off base. Jon's fair, smart and talented, as he's proving daily from 2 to 4 p.m.
After Jon comes "Marty and Miller". I know some say they've had their fill of these guys, but I've got to tell you, I think it's a very good show and adds a big something to the local sports scene. Miller comes at many subjects with skepticism, but gives the other side a chance to win him over. He'll criticize but not hide. And Marty... he's a hoot. You just never know what he'll say next, which makes it hard to turn off (I also happen to know he has a big heart). Marty & Miller are good together, and they seem tighter and more focused this time out. You can catch their act daily on KXNO from 4 to 7 p.m.
Watched Supernova on CBS the past two nights. I'll probably stick with it, but it's already repetitive.
I did make it to Superman Returns. The good news is the local guy is terrific. Brandon Routh channels the late Christopher Reeve, while somehow making Clark Kent more insecure and introspective. Kevin Spacey steals the show as Lex Luthor, and Kate Bosworth is miscast and unconvincing as the mother of a 5 year old. She looks 18 and needs to eat something. The guy playing her boyfriend---Cyclops from X-Men---is perfect. The movie is almost too respectful to the 1978 Superman; it doesn't feel like we're seeing anything new, just better. A little long, but overall a solid B. I'll be there to see what happens next.
I'll check out Captain Jack in Pirates of the Caribbean this weekend. Still can't believe Disney made a good movie out of a theme park ride. Can't wait to see Mr. Toad's Wild Ride.
Tuesday, June 27, 2006
Does Keith realize he's supposed to blog about SPORTS?!
Thank you to the Stout family, Alan, Jen and all the other people who sent nice comments about this stream of consciousness. I appreciate you stopping by here now and again.
Can you believe Lance Armstrong will ride in RAGBRAI?! The same week a little something called the Tour de France is going on. Unbelievable. What a circus that will be as Armstrong rides across Iowa on his bike. Nice to see he'll try to plan his visit around the big party in Newton. That town has had some bad breaks and deserves some cool news, like this---and the Iowa Speedway. Plus, Newton has the only drive-in movie theater around anymore. If you haven't been in awhile, check it out. It's a bargain and you feel like you're going back a few decades to a simpler time. This week they're playing "Click" and "RV", two movies perfect for a drive-in because the plots are so simple the kids playing Wiffle Ball in front of the screen won't bother you.
Staying with movies, AMC got into the original film business and started strong with Broken Trail. It's a two-part western starring Robert Duvall. It's no Lonesome Dove---what is---but it's very good. I'm sure AMC will repeat it more than TNT shows the "Shawshank Redemption", and much to my relief, AMC showed limited commercial interruption, which is a drastic change for that network. A- for Broken Trail. Takes its time, but well worth the journey.
I was disappointed in "Nacho Libre". I love Jack Black. Who can forget him in "High Fidelity" when the middle aged dad shows up to buy a copy of "I just called to say I love you" for his daughter: "There's no way she likes that song... oops, is she in a coma?"... priceless. And Black was brilliant in "School of Rock", a movie parents love as much as their kids. Heck, he even makes a bad movie like "Saving Silverman" seem funny, which leads me back to Nacho Libre. It just tries too hard. It's missing the effortless humor of the director's previous movie, "Napoleon Dynamite". I saw a review in Cityview calling Nacho Libre a comedy classic and one in Juice rating it a complete dud. I'd say somewhere in the middle. I'll rate it "C" because Black has his moments, and he sure is trying hard to make it funnier than it is.
I haven't seen "Superman" but I'm already rooting for Brandon Routh. He did a great thing by holding a premier in Des Moines for kids who could use a superhero. The showing also helped out the Variety Club, and Routh signed autographs for hours. Norwalk should be proud of Brandon just for being a good guy, good looking movie star is a bonus.
It's rerun season, for the most part, but FX brings it strong with "Rescue Me". Should be rated "R", but what a show.
10:15... need to run and do the sports. I'll continue later.
Can you believe Lance Armstrong will ride in RAGBRAI?! The same week a little something called the Tour de France is going on. Unbelievable. What a circus that will be as Armstrong rides across Iowa on his bike. Nice to see he'll try to plan his visit around the big party in Newton. That town has had some bad breaks and deserves some cool news, like this---and the Iowa Speedway. Plus, Newton has the only drive-in movie theater around anymore. If you haven't been in awhile, check it out. It's a bargain and you feel like you're going back a few decades to a simpler time. This week they're playing "Click" and "RV", two movies perfect for a drive-in because the plots are so simple the kids playing Wiffle Ball in front of the screen won't bother you.
Staying with movies, AMC got into the original film business and started strong with Broken Trail. It's a two-part western starring Robert Duvall. It's no Lonesome Dove---what is---but it's very good. I'm sure AMC will repeat it more than TNT shows the "Shawshank Redemption", and much to my relief, AMC showed limited commercial interruption, which is a drastic change for that network. A- for Broken Trail. Takes its time, but well worth the journey.
I was disappointed in "Nacho Libre". I love Jack Black. Who can forget him in "High Fidelity" when the middle aged dad shows up to buy a copy of "I just called to say I love you" for his daughter: "There's no way she likes that song... oops, is she in a coma?"... priceless. And Black was brilliant in "School of Rock", a movie parents love as much as their kids. Heck, he even makes a bad movie like "Saving Silverman" seem funny, which leads me back to Nacho Libre. It just tries too hard. It's missing the effortless humor of the director's previous movie, "Napoleon Dynamite". I saw a review in Cityview calling Nacho Libre a comedy classic and one in Juice rating it a complete dud. I'd say somewhere in the middle. I'll rate it "C" because Black has his moments, and he sure is trying hard to make it funnier than it is.
I haven't seen "Superman" but I'm already rooting for Brandon Routh. He did a great thing by holding a premier in Des Moines for kids who could use a superhero. The showing also helped out the Variety Club, and Routh signed autographs for hours. Norwalk should be proud of Brandon just for being a good guy, good looking movie star is a bonus.
It's rerun season, for the most part, but FX brings it strong with "Rescue Me". Should be rated "R", but what a show.
10:15... need to run and do the sports. I'll continue later.
Monday, June 19, 2006
Back from vacation in Wisconsin, and not a moment too soon. I need some rest and relaxation.
Nothing beats camping with the kids, but it's about as laid back as Tom Arnold on Red Bull. I wouldn't trade it. Well, I might trade the neighbor in the next cabin who started each sentence with a snot rocket. And I could do without the mosquitoes wearing saddles. I'm okay if I never share another "comfort station" with people who don't see the need to flush, but that's the small stuff. The big picture: great lifetime memories.
Didn't have a TV on vacation, and the only newspaper available was some local deal that had fishing on the front and the NBA finals on page 3. Somehow there was still an article on Steve Alford waiting for his contract extension. 350 miles isn't enough for me to get away from that one.
In between soggy swim diapers and visits from Yogi Bear and Boo Boo, I was able to read a book: Love Me, Hate Me. A SoundOFF viewer, and Barry Bonds fan, recommended the Bonds biography to me when I was wandering around Barnes & Noble a couple of weeks ago. What a page turner. Just an absolutely fascinating read. Author Jeff Pearlman goes out of his way to present a balanced look at this supremely talented baseball legend and lightning rod for controversy. Pearlman interviewed 524 people from Bonds' past and present. After reading the book, I need to revise my statement that Bonds is the biggest jerk in all of baseball... He's the biggest jerk in all of sports. He's also one of the greatest players of all time pre-steroids. He never needed that crap for anything except home run records, which this book makes painfully clear he wanted in the worst way. Yes, Bonds occasionally does something nice, but for the most part he's treated people like dirt his entire life. Teammates, coaches, relatives, employees, you name it. Sharing the blame are all the adults who never made Bonds follow the rules because he was so talented. It's a chilling portrait of entitlement gone amuck, and nobody benefits. Bonds comes across as an insecure person who wants to be loved in the worst way.
As I write this, Carolina just won the Stanley Cup. Does anyone care? Did anybody notice? The NHL playoffs are riveting drama, and nothing beats a game 7, but the ratings on NBC are lower than Joey reruns. Much lower. In fact, I suspect its the fewest viewers the network has ever had in prime time. And that's saying something these days.
You know where hockey gets it right? In the final minutes. It's SO exciting and non-stop. Meantime, the NBA slows to a crawl. Pass the ball in, timeout. Commercial. Pass it in again, timeout. Commercial. Dribble, shoot, foul. Timeout. Commercial. Shoot a foul shot. Timeout. Commercial... They need to fix this.
Dan McCarney now makes more than a million a season. Wow. As I've said many times, coaching salaries are WAY out of control, but Mac is now in the middle of the Big 12, and there's no doubt he belongs there. This should also put an end to any speculation Jamie Pollard will soon fire Mac. Pollard thinks McCarney has done an incredible job, all things considered.
Time for sports... back with more soon.
keith.murphy@whotv.com
Nothing beats camping with the kids, but it's about as laid back as Tom Arnold on Red Bull. I wouldn't trade it. Well, I might trade the neighbor in the next cabin who started each sentence with a snot rocket. And I could do without the mosquitoes wearing saddles. I'm okay if I never share another "comfort station" with people who don't see the need to flush, but that's the small stuff. The big picture: great lifetime memories.
Didn't have a TV on vacation, and the only newspaper available was some local deal that had fishing on the front and the NBA finals on page 3. Somehow there was still an article on Steve Alford waiting for his contract extension. 350 miles isn't enough for me to get away from that one.
In between soggy swim diapers and visits from Yogi Bear and Boo Boo, I was able to read a book: Love Me, Hate Me. A SoundOFF viewer, and Barry Bonds fan, recommended the Bonds biography to me when I was wandering around Barnes & Noble a couple of weeks ago. What a page turner. Just an absolutely fascinating read. Author Jeff Pearlman goes out of his way to present a balanced look at this supremely talented baseball legend and lightning rod for controversy. Pearlman interviewed 524 people from Bonds' past and present. After reading the book, I need to revise my statement that Bonds is the biggest jerk in all of baseball... He's the biggest jerk in all of sports. He's also one of the greatest players of all time pre-steroids. He never needed that crap for anything except home run records, which this book makes painfully clear he wanted in the worst way. Yes, Bonds occasionally does something nice, but for the most part he's treated people like dirt his entire life. Teammates, coaches, relatives, employees, you name it. Sharing the blame are all the adults who never made Bonds follow the rules because he was so talented. It's a chilling portrait of entitlement gone amuck, and nobody benefits. Bonds comes across as an insecure person who wants to be loved in the worst way.
As I write this, Carolina just won the Stanley Cup. Does anyone care? Did anybody notice? The NHL playoffs are riveting drama, and nothing beats a game 7, but the ratings on NBC are lower than Joey reruns. Much lower. In fact, I suspect its the fewest viewers the network has ever had in prime time. And that's saying something these days.
You know where hockey gets it right? In the final minutes. It's SO exciting and non-stop. Meantime, the NBA slows to a crawl. Pass the ball in, timeout. Commercial. Pass it in again, timeout. Commercial. Dribble, shoot, foul. Timeout. Commercial. Shoot a foul shot. Timeout. Commercial... They need to fix this.
Dan McCarney now makes more than a million a season. Wow. As I've said many times, coaching salaries are WAY out of control, but Mac is now in the middle of the Big 12, and there's no doubt he belongs there. This should also put an end to any speculation Jamie Pollard will soon fire Mac. Pollard thinks McCarney has done an incredible job, all things considered.
Time for sports... back with more soon.
keith.murphy@whotv.com
Sunday, June 18, 2006
Answer to reader's U2 World Cup question:
Yes, "City of Blinding Lights"---another great U2 song, thanks in no small part to The Edge---is featured on many of the World Cup promos, but so is "Where the Streets Have No Name". Both are awesome---or maybe I'd think a promo on knitting featuring U2 songs was great. Anyway, sorry I didn't answer sooner. Just got back from vacation. More to come...
Tuesday, June 06, 2006
Is Ferentz worth the money? Is McCarney underrated? What's in Keith's CD player?
Is Kirk Ferentz worth $2.7 million a season? Of course he is, or Iowa wouldn't pay it. Ferentz creates a lot more money than he makes. It's smart of him to give some to charity. Should take the edge off some of the resentment and jealousy.
Athlon Sports names Dan McCarney one of the five most UNDERrated college football coaches. Something for Mac's critics to think about. Remember, before McCarney, no bowl games in memory and no wins over Iowa. Since McCarney, five bowls in six years, 6 wins over Iowa in 8 years. ISU needs to finish games, and not get so conservative, but Mac's in no danger. Shouldn't be either.
If you're a Cyclone fan concerned about Greg McDermott's ability to pull big recruits, worry about something else. Craig Brackins is just the beginning. McDermott will succeed at ISU.
Give Steve Alford credit. If he'd rather be at Indiana, he's not acting like it. He's having his best off-season at Iowa. Alford and his new staff have put together Iowa's best recruiting class in memory.
Of course, both the above paragraphs mean very little. If there's one thing I've learned, it's don't count on any recruits until you see them in uniform playing, and even then, the player often doesn't match the hype (e.g. Shawn Taggart).
We still can't believe our eyes when it comes to MLB. Jason Grimsley reportedly told federal investigators he switched from steroids to human growth hormone (or HGH) because baseball still doesn't test for it. HGH works much like a steroid, and allows all kinds of competitive advantages. The D-Backs promptly cut Grimsley, but reports say he's ready to name a "boatload" of current players using HGH. Why didn't baseball do the right thing the first time, and test for this too? Bottom line, I'm suspicious of everybody and that SUCKS.
I can't believe I'm about to write this, but I think I'll watch a few World Cup games. Those promos with by boy, Bono, must be getting to me. Just play "Where the Streets Have No Name" and I'm hooked.
There are passionate World Cup fans in Des Moines. We found one. Southside Gino. He'll be our viewer correspondent throughout the Cup. He did the same things four years ago. Gino was born in Italy but he's "USA all the way!" (read that with an Italian accent for authenticity).
I have another must see TV show, but unfortunately it's not on channel 13. "Rescue Me" on FX is phenomenal. It's raw, but real. Denis Leary is so good in this, you can't see him acting.
Another winner at the Des Moines Playhouse: The Foreigner. Very funny. If you haven't thought of the Playhouse lately, please do. It's a great way to spend an evening, and better entertainment than most of the movies we're now paying 8 bucks to see. Plus, it's LIVE.
Answers to recent e-mail questions:
I have a 6-CD changer in the car, so I have six albums going, not one. I wish the question was my favorite albums, but here's what's actually in:
The Legend of Johnny Cash. The voice of my early childhood. I love this album. It spans Cash's entire career and shows why he's a legend (hence the title).
Guns N' Roses Greatest Hits. My girlfriend, Jenny, loves these guys, and although this isn't typically my thing, I've got to admit it's great. No wonder they self-destructed. Too much energy.
Coldplay: X & Y. I can't help it. "Fix You" is a great song. Sounds like something my favorite band, U2, would have writtend and recorded, which leads me to...
U2: Rattle & Hum. This is my most played U2 album. It's U2 at their most self-indulgent and bombastic, which to me is U2 at their best. Critics strongly disagree. The only minus is that the highlight of the movie, U2 performing the song "Bad", is inexplicably not included on the soundtrack. I suppose it's because it's already on "Wide Awake in America". Big plus: B.B. King and Bono on "When Love Comes to Town".
Loverboy Classics. Okay, now you know I'm telling the truth. Yes, it's a guilty pleasure. About every other time I'm on with Deace, he bumps in on a Loverboy song, and that rush of feelings from college frat parties made me buy the Classics. I'm not disappointed either. "Lovin' Every Minute of It" still rocks.
Kanye West: Late Registration. This guy may be as good as he thinks he is. Even if you're tired of the overplayed "Gold Digger", there's plenty here. Songs with beats this fierce shouldn't make you think too, but these do.
Alright, next answer: Erin Kiernan is really nice and a lot of fun. I'm happy to have the chance to work with her. Sounds like the PR department wrote that, but I mean every word.
To Craig in Ames, thanks for remembering my "fat year" at channel 5. Like many men, I reached my late twenties---and 20 extra pounds---before realizing I could no longer eat whatever I wanted while exercising less than John Kruk. I still eat as much as I want, but now I eat healthier foods and make better bad choices.
Exercising remains a chore, and when you're as busy as I am, it seems there's never enough time in the day. Being a single dad raising four kids removes any chance of going to the gym every day, so I have to work out at home, and I want to get it over with as quickly as possible. I'm not one of those people---like Erin Kiernan---who loves to exercise. Therefore, I highly recommend the Quatro Fitness program (www.quatrofitness.com) . You exercise as little as 4 minutes, and at most 12 minutes, and that takes care of your strength training and fat melting cardio, but it is an intense four minutes of 20 seconds on, 10 seconds off. It helps me because it takes away the no time excuse, and I'd rather go hard for 12 minutes, than soft for 60. Highly respected fitness trainer Ryan Lee runs the Quatro Fitness site, and he's always personally answered my questions. I use the dumbbell and body weight DVDs, but I'll let you in on a little secret. If you join the members only club on the web site ($9.95 a month), all the workouts on the DVDs are included for free, along with many additional workouts and a lot of other cool stuff. I get nothing for mentioning this, but from time to time---to my surprise---some of you ask how I've stayed in shape over the years, especially those of you who remember the "fat year". Well, I have to work at it, but I've never found a more efficient way than Quatro Fitness. It really works.
Here's how you know you have kids, when your summer vacation is at Jellystone Park. And I can't wait! I'll be gone for a while. Please keep Andy on his toes, and send me an e-mail if you have any thoughts or questions. I'll try to answer them.
keith.murphy@whotv.com
Athlon Sports names Dan McCarney one of the five most UNDERrated college football coaches. Something for Mac's critics to think about. Remember, before McCarney, no bowl games in memory and no wins over Iowa. Since McCarney, five bowls in six years, 6 wins over Iowa in 8 years. ISU needs to finish games, and not get so conservative, but Mac's in no danger. Shouldn't be either.
If you're a Cyclone fan concerned about Greg McDermott's ability to pull big recruits, worry about something else. Craig Brackins is just the beginning. McDermott will succeed at ISU.
Give Steve Alford credit. If he'd rather be at Indiana, he's not acting like it. He's having his best off-season at Iowa. Alford and his new staff have put together Iowa's best recruiting class in memory.
Of course, both the above paragraphs mean very little. If there's one thing I've learned, it's don't count on any recruits until you see them in uniform playing, and even then, the player often doesn't match the hype (e.g. Shawn Taggart).
We still can't believe our eyes when it comes to MLB. Jason Grimsley reportedly told federal investigators he switched from steroids to human growth hormone (or HGH) because baseball still doesn't test for it. HGH works much like a steroid, and allows all kinds of competitive advantages. The D-Backs promptly cut Grimsley, but reports say he's ready to name a "boatload" of current players using HGH. Why didn't baseball do the right thing the first time, and test for this too? Bottom line, I'm suspicious of everybody and that SUCKS.
I can't believe I'm about to write this, but I think I'll watch a few World Cup games. Those promos with by boy, Bono, must be getting to me. Just play "Where the Streets Have No Name" and I'm hooked.
There are passionate World Cup fans in Des Moines. We found one. Southside Gino. He'll be our viewer correspondent throughout the Cup. He did the same things four years ago. Gino was born in Italy but he's "USA all the way!" (read that with an Italian accent for authenticity).
I have another must see TV show, but unfortunately it's not on channel 13. "Rescue Me" on FX is phenomenal. It's raw, but real. Denis Leary is so good in this, you can't see him acting.
Another winner at the Des Moines Playhouse: The Foreigner. Very funny. If you haven't thought of the Playhouse lately, please do. It's a great way to spend an evening, and better entertainment than most of the movies we're now paying 8 bucks to see. Plus, it's LIVE.
Answers to recent e-mail questions:
I have a 6-CD changer in the car, so I have six albums going, not one. I wish the question was my favorite albums, but here's what's actually in:
The Legend of Johnny Cash. The voice of my early childhood. I love this album. It spans Cash's entire career and shows why he's a legend (hence the title).
Guns N' Roses Greatest Hits. My girlfriend, Jenny, loves these guys, and although this isn't typically my thing, I've got to admit it's great. No wonder they self-destructed. Too much energy.
Coldplay: X & Y. I can't help it. "Fix You" is a great song. Sounds like something my favorite band, U2, would have writtend and recorded, which leads me to...
U2: Rattle & Hum. This is my most played U2 album. It's U2 at their most self-indulgent and bombastic, which to me is U2 at their best. Critics strongly disagree. The only minus is that the highlight of the movie, U2 performing the song "Bad", is inexplicably not included on the soundtrack. I suppose it's because it's already on "Wide Awake in America". Big plus: B.B. King and Bono on "When Love Comes to Town".
Loverboy Classics. Okay, now you know I'm telling the truth. Yes, it's a guilty pleasure. About every other time I'm on with Deace, he bumps in on a Loverboy song, and that rush of feelings from college frat parties made me buy the Classics. I'm not disappointed either. "Lovin' Every Minute of It" still rocks.
Kanye West: Late Registration. This guy may be as good as he thinks he is. Even if you're tired of the overplayed "Gold Digger", there's plenty here. Songs with beats this fierce shouldn't make you think too, but these do.
Alright, next answer: Erin Kiernan is really nice and a lot of fun. I'm happy to have the chance to work with her. Sounds like the PR department wrote that, but I mean every word.
To Craig in Ames, thanks for remembering my "fat year" at channel 5. Like many men, I reached my late twenties---and 20 extra pounds---before realizing I could no longer eat whatever I wanted while exercising less than John Kruk. I still eat as much as I want, but now I eat healthier foods and make better bad choices.
Exercising remains a chore, and when you're as busy as I am, it seems there's never enough time in the day. Being a single dad raising four kids removes any chance of going to the gym every day, so I have to work out at home, and I want to get it over with as quickly as possible. I'm not one of those people---like Erin Kiernan---who loves to exercise. Therefore, I highly recommend the Quatro Fitness program (www.quatrofitness.com) . You exercise as little as 4 minutes, and at most 12 minutes, and that takes care of your strength training and fat melting cardio, but it is an intense four minutes of 20 seconds on, 10 seconds off. It helps me because it takes away the no time excuse, and I'd rather go hard for 12 minutes, than soft for 60. Highly respected fitness trainer Ryan Lee runs the Quatro Fitness site, and he's always personally answered my questions. I use the dumbbell and body weight DVDs, but I'll let you in on a little secret. If you join the members only club on the web site ($9.95 a month), all the workouts on the DVDs are included for free, along with many additional workouts and a lot of other cool stuff. I get nothing for mentioning this, but from time to time---to my surprise---some of you ask how I've stayed in shape over the years, especially those of you who remember the "fat year". Well, I have to work at it, but I've never found a more efficient way than Quatro Fitness. It really works.
Here's how you know you have kids, when your summer vacation is at Jellystone Park. And I can't wait! I'll be gone for a while. Please keep Andy on his toes, and send me an e-mail if you have any thoughts or questions. I'll try to answer them.
keith.murphy@whotv.com
Thursday, June 01, 2006
ISU on The Bus, Remembering Rob, Lost in the Maze.
The Cyclones jump on The Bus. This is great news for Iowa State fans, particularly those in Central Iowa. When you go from 5,000 watts on KXNO to a 100,000 watts on 100.3 FM, that's a big boost. AD Jamie Pollard wants to expand the brand, and having the football and basketball games on a station that doesn't require the listener to wrap himself in tin foil and point a wire hanger toward the AM tower is a HUGE plus. I don't understand why some fans are complaining. What did they expect? XM satellite radio? Actually, that wouldn't be as good as The Bus.
Steve Deace always had a lot more on his mind than sports. Some listeners didn't like that, but the guess is here they're going to miss Deace on KXNO. He's headed over to WHO radio to provide a long overdue conservative voice (kidding). Best of luck to Steve in his new gig. He's earned it.
The tough part of the business is for someone to move up, someone else often gets moved aside. Hard to see Jerry Reno and Sue Danielson lose their spot after 15 years at WHO, but the two pros handled it with class.
I'm honored and humbled that Rob Borsellino's wife, Rekha, asked me to host the memorial service for Rob Saturday at Principal Park. It's remarkable how many people were touched in some way by one of Rob's columns or a brief meeting. He was in Des Moines for just 15 years but he left quite an impression. Rob had such a gift for never making his opinions seem personal. I know several people who didn't agree with Rob's politics, but loved his spirit. Sadly, that doesn't happen very often these days.
I received an e-mail from Rob just a few days before he died. I had sent a very sentimental letter, and he returned a good one-liner. To the end, he wanted smiles, not tears. We're going to honor that Saturday with a respectful roast.
My partner Andy Fales ranks #1 in Juice's first year anniversay poll for the best quote of the year. Here it is. Andy on why he hangs out at Taki Steakhouse, "The place is crawling with hot women looking for cultured, wordly men, and I have perfected the art of posturing as such."
That's my boy.
Went up to Clear Lake this weekend with my girlfriend, our kids and our parents. What a great time we had. Except for Fort Custer. Have you been to this nightmare on Earth? It's a maze right off I-35. The kids finished in 30 minutes. After an hour an a half, I was still stuck and finally had to crawl under a wall. If not for heat stroke and dehydration I would have finished. The maze ruins lives.
Saw X-Men 3. Liked it a lot. B+
Only saw half of Over the Hedge. The 2 year old, Colin, wasn't quite ready, but a B+ for what I did see.
The Sentinel was a major disappointment and colossal waste of talent. Any two hours of 24 was better than this mess. C- just because Kiefer Sutherland almost plays Jack Bauer.
Steve Deace always had a lot more on his mind than sports. Some listeners didn't like that, but the guess is here they're going to miss Deace on KXNO. He's headed over to WHO radio to provide a long overdue conservative voice (kidding). Best of luck to Steve in his new gig. He's earned it.
The tough part of the business is for someone to move up, someone else often gets moved aside. Hard to see Jerry Reno and Sue Danielson lose their spot after 15 years at WHO, but the two pros handled it with class.
I'm honored and humbled that Rob Borsellino's wife, Rekha, asked me to host the memorial service for Rob Saturday at Principal Park. It's remarkable how many people were touched in some way by one of Rob's columns or a brief meeting. He was in Des Moines for just 15 years but he left quite an impression. Rob had such a gift for never making his opinions seem personal. I know several people who didn't agree with Rob's politics, but loved his spirit. Sadly, that doesn't happen very often these days.
I received an e-mail from Rob just a few days before he died. I had sent a very sentimental letter, and he returned a good one-liner. To the end, he wanted smiles, not tears. We're going to honor that Saturday with a respectful roast.
My partner Andy Fales ranks #1 in Juice's first year anniversay poll for the best quote of the year. Here it is. Andy on why he hangs out at Taki Steakhouse, "The place is crawling with hot women looking for cultured, wordly men, and I have perfected the art of posturing as such."
That's my boy.
Went up to Clear Lake this weekend with my girlfriend, our kids and our parents. What a great time we had. Except for Fort Custer. Have you been to this nightmare on Earth? It's a maze right off I-35. The kids finished in 30 minutes. After an hour an a half, I was still stuck and finally had to crawl under a wall. If not for heat stroke and dehydration I would have finished. The maze ruins lives.
Saw X-Men 3. Liked it a lot. B+
Only saw half of Over the Hedge. The 2 year old, Colin, wasn't quite ready, but a B+ for what I did see.
The Sentinel was a major disappointment and colossal waste of talent. Any two hours of 24 was better than this mess. C- just because Kiefer Sutherland almost plays Jack Bauer.
Wednesday, May 24, 2006
Danica in Newton, Reagan at WHO, Deace in Your Face.
Danica Patrick and the IRL boys racing side by side at nearly 200 miles an hour in NEWTON!? I'm there.
The Iowa Speedway found the perfect public face when it picked Rusty Wallace to design the track. The guy is no figurehead---he's involved with everything---and he's tireless about promoting racing. Wednesday morning we interviewed him by satellite in front of the Brooklyn Bridge, later that afternoon he was back in Newton checking on the track, then he flew back to Indianapolis for the 500.
Ronald Reagan, Jim Zabel, Jon Miller. No pressure on Jon. All he's doing is following two legends. One for broadcasting, the other for leading the free world. Van Harden and WHO picked the perfect guy. I know Jon, I like him, I trust him, and I think he's very talented. Cyclone fans may worry that Jon won't give them a fair shake, but he's not like that. He's not anti-Clone---it just sounds like that when he's fooling around with Deace. Jon grew up wanting to one day take over for Zabel, and even though Z hasn't officially "retired", and will no doubt outlive Jon and me, it's good to have a solid guy around while Jim blows his nose with his piles of hot, stinky cash. Never buying a drink adds up.
I've had a lot of e-mails from people wondering what's going to happen with Steve Deace. They hear Steve on WHO Radio more and more, and fear---or in some cases, hope---that Steve will get out of sports. Some day Steve will spend more time on politics and news, I have no doubt. If he doesn't, he'll implode. He's an extremely bright and opinionated guy and there's only so many ways you can debate whether Dan McCarney has taken ISU to the next level. When/if Steve moves on, I think a lot of people will miss him more than they realize. Three hours of sports talk radio a day is very challenging, and he's good at it. I don't agree with all of what Steve says, but he never makes a disagreement personal. Major talent.
Are the Cubs trying to kill me? How can you let a triple-A team like the Marlins sweep? Wait 'til next year.
Great job protesters of the Da Vinci Code. All you did was ensure millions of people who might not have been interested, suddenly had to see the movie. Bad reviews and bad buzz didn't stop this movie from the second largest worldwide box office weekend EVER (behind one of the Stars Wars movies with bad acting... in other words, a recent one). Telling people to NOT see a movie is like putting up a sign that says "WET PAINT. DON'T TOUCH". It's a lock people will go the other way.
Pat Robertson claims he can leg press 2,000 pounds. When did Robertson lose it? NFL lineman can't leg press 2,000 pounds, but Robertson can?
That commercial where Jordan misses, Jeter is late, and the ball goes off Clarke's fingertips freaks me out. But it's cool.
What happened to CSI Miami? That plot where Horatio falls for the bad acting super model and then marries her before she's shot on their wedding day was completely unbelievable. Didn't buy it for a second. Come on, Horatio. Say something like, "I guess I'm single again", flip your sunglasses on and blast the Who. Let's get back to basics.
"Lost" is kind of losing me. It's amazing in every way, but so joyless that it's almost unpleasant this season.
I'm glad some of the dumber things I've done, and stupid pictures I've posed for, were taken before the internet. These days, if it's scandalous, it's out there. Just ask the Iowa baseball team.
I remember one time a couple at a Cyclone football game asked me if I'd have my picture taken holding their baby. I said I'd be glad to. They snapped the picture and off I went. A few days later the photo was passed around on the net. The baby, unbeknownst to me, had a pacifier in her mouth that read "HAWKS SUCK". Live and learn.
The Iowa Speedway found the perfect public face when it picked Rusty Wallace to design the track. The guy is no figurehead---he's involved with everything---and he's tireless about promoting racing. Wednesday morning we interviewed him by satellite in front of the Brooklyn Bridge, later that afternoon he was back in Newton checking on the track, then he flew back to Indianapolis for the 500.
Ronald Reagan, Jim Zabel, Jon Miller. No pressure on Jon. All he's doing is following two legends. One for broadcasting, the other for leading the free world. Van Harden and WHO picked the perfect guy. I know Jon, I like him, I trust him, and I think he's very talented. Cyclone fans may worry that Jon won't give them a fair shake, but he's not like that. He's not anti-Clone---it just sounds like that when he's fooling around with Deace. Jon grew up wanting to one day take over for Zabel, and even though Z hasn't officially "retired", and will no doubt outlive Jon and me, it's good to have a solid guy around while Jim blows his nose with his piles of hot, stinky cash. Never buying a drink adds up.
I've had a lot of e-mails from people wondering what's going to happen with Steve Deace. They hear Steve on WHO Radio more and more, and fear---or in some cases, hope---that Steve will get out of sports. Some day Steve will spend more time on politics and news, I have no doubt. If he doesn't, he'll implode. He's an extremely bright and opinionated guy and there's only so many ways you can debate whether Dan McCarney has taken ISU to the next level. When/if Steve moves on, I think a lot of people will miss him more than they realize. Three hours of sports talk radio a day is very challenging, and he's good at it. I don't agree with all of what Steve says, but he never makes a disagreement personal. Major talent.
Are the Cubs trying to kill me? How can you let a triple-A team like the Marlins sweep? Wait 'til next year.
Great job protesters of the Da Vinci Code. All you did was ensure millions of people who might not have been interested, suddenly had to see the movie. Bad reviews and bad buzz didn't stop this movie from the second largest worldwide box office weekend EVER (behind one of the Stars Wars movies with bad acting... in other words, a recent one). Telling people to NOT see a movie is like putting up a sign that says "WET PAINT. DON'T TOUCH". It's a lock people will go the other way.
Pat Robertson claims he can leg press 2,000 pounds. When did Robertson lose it? NFL lineman can't leg press 2,000 pounds, but Robertson can?
That commercial where Jordan misses, Jeter is late, and the ball goes off Clarke's fingertips freaks me out. But it's cool.
What happened to CSI Miami? That plot where Horatio falls for the bad acting super model and then marries her before she's shot on their wedding day was completely unbelievable. Didn't buy it for a second. Come on, Horatio. Say something like, "I guess I'm single again", flip your sunglasses on and blast the Who. Let's get back to basics.
"Lost" is kind of losing me. It's amazing in every way, but so joyless that it's almost unpleasant this season.
I'm glad some of the dumber things I've done, and stupid pictures I've posed for, were taken before the internet. These days, if it's scandalous, it's out there. Just ask the Iowa baseball team.
I remember one time a couple at a Cyclone football game asked me if I'd have my picture taken holding their baby. I said I'd be glad to. They snapped the picture and off I went. A few days later the photo was passed around on the net. The baby, unbeknownst to me, had a pacifier in her mouth that read "HAWKS SUCK". Live and learn.
Friday, May 19, 2006
Hardcore Hokies, Paris & Matt, the best shows on TV...
Virginia Tech must feel like a jilted lover. How else can you explain the University blocking five Hokie wrestlers from following Tom Brands to Iowa. And why is it perfectly acceptable for a coach to skate on his contract but not players? If coaches aren't held to their signatures than student-athletes shouldn't be either.
Matt Leinart is growing tired of all the attention, so he's dating... Paris Hilton?! Has there ever been more of a publicity hustler than this "superstar" with no discernible talent? Best line of the week comes from Andy Fales on SoundOFF: "Don't blame Leinart. After being drafted by the Cardinals, he felt Paris was his only chance to score."
Have you seen "United 93" yet? Incredible. A-. It's emotionally draining, and should be. On the other end of the spectrum, Mission Impossible 3---or m:i:III? This is the best of the MI movies, by far, but not for one minute does it seem real. It's impossible to not realize you're watching Tom Cruise in a really well done Hollywood movie. Plus it freaks me out that Cruise cast a Katie Holmes look alike in the role of his love interest. At least she's from Iowa. B+
Is there a better show on television right now than Grey's Anatomy? The season finale was phenomenal. Part medical drama, part soap, all the characters seem real. Why can't NBC have a show like this? Second favorite: House.
Whoever's responsible for CycloneFanatic.com is winning a lot of daily visitors. I work with several Clone fans who have this site on their computer about every third time I walk by. The fanatic does have great insider info and is rarely wrong.
ALS sucks. I hate what this cruel disease has done to my friend, Rob Borsellino. It's taken away Rob's muscles but not his mind. His columns in the Des Moines Register have been as good as ever, and he's given all of us a lesson in integrity and purpose, not to mention humor. I'll never forget the lifetime Yankees fan revealing publicly for the first time that he had Lou Gehrig's disease, and appreciating that at least he didn't have something named after a Red Sox legend. We're thinking of you and your family, Rob.
Is Kerry Wood back yet?
The new right field party deck at Principal Park is a brilliant idea. In fact, the whole place looks great.
LeBron James just may get me to watch the NBA again. This guy is the real deal. Although he's starting to scare me with his be all things to all people corporate coached answers. He not only plays like Jordan, he talks like him.
713 and holding. Hopefully, I can write that next time too.
Do you buy that the Iowa Hawkeye football players involved in the cell phone investigation received no favorable consideration in exchange for all those tickets? Me either.
If critics are right, Da Vinci Code is a dud. Therefore, the only reason this movie will make a boatload of money this weekend is all the free publicity it received from protesters telling us to not see the movie. Ironic isn't it?
Don't forget a new web exclusive SoundOFF Extra each Wednesday morning at www.whotv.com
Thanks for the visit. Tell me what you want more of, and less of, at keith.murphy@whotv.com
Matt Leinart is growing tired of all the attention, so he's dating... Paris Hilton?! Has there ever been more of a publicity hustler than this "superstar" with no discernible talent? Best line of the week comes from Andy Fales on SoundOFF: "Don't blame Leinart. After being drafted by the Cardinals, he felt Paris was his only chance to score."
Have you seen "United 93" yet? Incredible. A-. It's emotionally draining, and should be. On the other end of the spectrum, Mission Impossible 3---or m:i:III? This is the best of the MI movies, by far, but not for one minute does it seem real. It's impossible to not realize you're watching Tom Cruise in a really well done Hollywood movie. Plus it freaks me out that Cruise cast a Katie Holmes look alike in the role of his love interest. At least she's from Iowa. B+
Is there a better show on television right now than Grey's Anatomy? The season finale was phenomenal. Part medical drama, part soap, all the characters seem real. Why can't NBC have a show like this? Second favorite: House.
Whoever's responsible for CycloneFanatic.com is winning a lot of daily visitors. I work with several Clone fans who have this site on their computer about every third time I walk by. The fanatic does have great insider info and is rarely wrong.
ALS sucks. I hate what this cruel disease has done to my friend, Rob Borsellino. It's taken away Rob's muscles but not his mind. His columns in the Des Moines Register have been as good as ever, and he's given all of us a lesson in integrity and purpose, not to mention humor. I'll never forget the lifetime Yankees fan revealing publicly for the first time that he had Lou Gehrig's disease, and appreciating that at least he didn't have something named after a Red Sox legend. We're thinking of you and your family, Rob.
Is Kerry Wood back yet?
The new right field party deck at Principal Park is a brilliant idea. In fact, the whole place looks great.
LeBron James just may get me to watch the NBA again. This guy is the real deal. Although he's starting to scare me with his be all things to all people corporate coached answers. He not only plays like Jordan, he talks like him.
713 and holding. Hopefully, I can write that next time too.
Do you buy that the Iowa Hawkeye football players involved in the cell phone investigation received no favorable consideration in exchange for all those tickets? Me either.
If critics are right, Da Vinci Code is a dud. Therefore, the only reason this movie will make a boatload of money this weekend is all the free publicity it received from protesters telling us to not see the movie. Ironic isn't it?
Don't forget a new web exclusive SoundOFF Extra each Wednesday morning at www.whotv.com
Thanks for the visit. Tell me what you want more of, and less of, at keith.murphy@whotv.com
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