Mogwai, "Emergency Trap," Mr. Beast
Mogwai, "Folk Death 95," see above
Tortoise, title track, TNT
Tortoise, "Monica," Standards
Labradford, "S," Mi Media Naranja
Labradford, "P," see above
Keith Jarrett, "Part IIb," The Koln Concert
Loscil, "Chinook," Plume
Loscil, "Modo," First Narrows
Pan American, "For A Running Dog," The River Made No Sound
Thursday, February 28, 2008
Wednesday, February 27, 2008
Hmmm, well...
Just another day of coping with that awful Indiana weather.
Sure, it snowed beyond the pale for the nth time this year but this latest spate of snowfall should be enough already. I mean, it just about gets to me whenever I turn on the news & the weather comes on & the forecaster goes on & on about the outlook for tomorrow, the day after, etc...& snow is like the main order of the day.
Come on, I've seen enough of it it's not even funny anymore (lol). Thus far, I've seen way too much of that white stuff on the ground making commuting a grand pain for me & countless other folks on their way to & from work. I've seen too many accidents attributed to snow (& the reckless mindset of folks who don't have time for anything - much less thinking!! - but to get to wherever they're going). I've seen snow blow & drift like mad so going places is out of the question.
Yes, I know. I've been there & done that despite the crappy conditions this winter & despite myself as well. It's almost March, though, & I feel that we could be past the worst of times as far as snow is concerned. And why should I complain about the changing of times & seasons?
And then again, it's snowed in March & it's snowed in April...amazing, huh? Like I said, we could be past the worst by now (if not a little later on, real soon). With who knows how many folks heading to Florida, etc. for Spring Break, I'm sure getting past the worst of this Hoosier weather is the first thing they want to do, for serious.
I know I'd love to if I had just one chance in the world to do so.
Sure, it snowed beyond the pale for the nth time this year but this latest spate of snowfall should be enough already. I mean, it just about gets to me whenever I turn on the news & the weather comes on & the forecaster goes on & on about the outlook for tomorrow, the day after, etc...& snow is like the main order of the day.
Come on, I've seen enough of it it's not even funny anymore (lol). Thus far, I've seen way too much of that white stuff on the ground making commuting a grand pain for me & countless other folks on their way to & from work. I've seen too many accidents attributed to snow (& the reckless mindset of folks who don't have time for anything - much less thinking!! - but to get to wherever they're going). I've seen snow blow & drift like mad so going places is out of the question.
Yes, I know. I've been there & done that despite the crappy conditions this winter & despite myself as well. It's almost March, though, & I feel that we could be past the worst of times as far as snow is concerned. And why should I complain about the changing of times & seasons?
And then again, it's snowed in March & it's snowed in April...amazing, huh? Like I said, we could be past the worst by now (if not a little later on, real soon). With who knows how many folks heading to Florida, etc. for Spring Break, I'm sure getting past the worst of this Hoosier weather is the first thing they want to do, for serious.
I know I'd love to if I had just one chance in the world to do so.
Saturday, February 23, 2008
Keith @ Koln
Keith Jarrett has just recently become one of my favorite pianists, or should I say one of my favorite musicians, period. Not only has he taken his playing to amazingly great heights (even under the throes of chronic fatigue syndrome); he also has proven his mettle in refusing to be pigeonholed under any specific genre. To be honest, he makes some pretty powerful music which transcends any clear-cut categorizations some folks like to tag on the man (but alas to no avail they fail miserably in so doing).
The Koln Concert is now one of my favorite CDs from Mr. Jarrett & rightly so. First of all, 75% of it came about unplanned - it's spontaneous improvisation at its very best in a live setting. Secondly, it's Keith's biggest-selling CD & one of the best that he ever did all by his lonesome. Truly, from the opening notes of this concert (recorded in January 1975) to the very last, Keith takes off & soars in ways very few pianists have ever been able to do before or since. Third, this album placed Keith in the pantheon of piano greats (think Evans, Tyner, & Hancock when in doubt as to who can kick major tail on the ivories) who never failed to find new ways of surprising the audience & themselves in the process. Finally, The Koln Concert confirmed what Keith could do when left to his own devices: deliver the goods from gospel to Chopin to the aforementioned duders I just brought up a few lines back.
Plenty of legendary stories surround how this concert came about, one of them being that Jarrett got the wrong piano for the gig. In fact, the lower & higher ranges of the piano were pretty weak so he stuck to the middle registers the entire time. And yet, despite the limited capacities he felt his piano held, Keith delivered a winning masterpiece, one which would place his label (ECM) on the musical map for good.
As far as my favorite compositions go, Part 1 is a classic but I'm not going to discount Part 2 at all. In fact, I love this whole album without having to resort to nitpicking what sections of this concert really rule & which ones don't. If there was any solo piano album of Keith Jarrett I could recommend folks to check out, The Koln Concert is the best place to start your collection of Keith Jarrett in general. Not only is it electrifying as can be; it's also beautiful, spontaneous improvisation which is undeniably some of Jarrett's best output to date.
The Koln Concert is now one of my favorite CDs from Mr. Jarrett & rightly so. First of all, 75% of it came about unplanned - it's spontaneous improvisation at its very best in a live setting. Secondly, it's Keith's biggest-selling CD & one of the best that he ever did all by his lonesome. Truly, from the opening notes of this concert (recorded in January 1975) to the very last, Keith takes off & soars in ways very few pianists have ever been able to do before or since. Third, this album placed Keith in the pantheon of piano greats (think Evans, Tyner, & Hancock when in doubt as to who can kick major tail on the ivories) who never failed to find new ways of surprising the audience & themselves in the process. Finally, The Koln Concert confirmed what Keith could do when left to his own devices: deliver the goods from gospel to Chopin to the aforementioned duders I just brought up a few lines back.
Plenty of legendary stories surround how this concert came about, one of them being that Jarrett got the wrong piano for the gig. In fact, the lower & higher ranges of the piano were pretty weak so he stuck to the middle registers the entire time. And yet, despite the limited capacities he felt his piano held, Keith delivered a winning masterpiece, one which would place his label (ECM) on the musical map for good.
As far as my favorite compositions go, Part 1 is a classic but I'm not going to discount Part 2 at all. In fact, I love this whole album without having to resort to nitpicking what sections of this concert really rule & which ones don't. If there was any solo piano album of Keith Jarrett I could recommend folks to check out, The Koln Concert is the best place to start your collection of Keith Jarrett in general. Not only is it electrifying as can be; it's also beautiful, spontaneous improvisation which is undeniably some of Jarrett's best output to date.
Disconnected!!!
If Kelvin Sampson ever found a bad time to be shown the exit as the Indiana Hoosiers mens' hoops coach, that time is now.
But then again, I'm not feeling sorry for Kelvin either & I sure don't want to at any rate. I mean, the dude should have learned from his louse-ups @ Oklahoma as far as misusing his free minutes plan is concerned. Yet he didn't learn anything of value & if that's not enough he tried to explain away the latest batch of violations he (in the main) committed right here in the Hoosier state.
True, IU got a week's worth of bad vibes off their chest by dismantling Michigan State & then Purdue in a key conference showdown just the other night. But those victories alone couldn't save Sampson's job, much less his own unflappable sense of pride & integrity. Now he's, to use telephone parlance, disconnected from the IU basketball program, a man whose rep is tarnished beyond any viable signs of repair. At least we won't have to say the same of Dan Dakich, the very man now filling Kelvin's old shoes; I'm sure the Hoosiers will go on winning games at a pretty awesome clip anyways.
"Can I place a call to...Kelvin Sampson?"
"The caller you are trying to reach is disconnected..." (hahah)
So much for ringing up outside the box these days.
But then again, I'm not feeling sorry for Kelvin either & I sure don't want to at any rate. I mean, the dude should have learned from his louse-ups @ Oklahoma as far as misusing his free minutes plan is concerned. Yet he didn't learn anything of value & if that's not enough he tried to explain away the latest batch of violations he (in the main) committed right here in the Hoosier state.
True, IU got a week's worth of bad vibes off their chest by dismantling Michigan State & then Purdue in a key conference showdown just the other night. But those victories alone couldn't save Sampson's job, much less his own unflappable sense of pride & integrity. Now he's, to use telephone parlance, disconnected from the IU basketball program, a man whose rep is tarnished beyond any viable signs of repair. At least we won't have to say the same of Dan Dakich, the very man now filling Kelvin's old shoes; I'm sure the Hoosiers will go on winning games at a pretty awesome clip anyways.
"Can I place a call to...Kelvin Sampson?"
"The caller you are trying to reach is disconnected..." (hahah)
So much for ringing up outside the box these days.
Saturday, February 16, 2008
Declarations
I feel like a broken record sometimes. Seriously, I really do. But when it comes to showing your support for just one sorority, especially if any duder out there happens to be a sorority sweetheart, there are some questions which are in dire need of answers:
(1) How much do you really love the sorority you're proud to be representing?
(2) What sweet things have you taken the time to do to make a whole chapter of ladies feel that they're appreciated?
(3) Have you gone above & beyond the call of duty to show your bonafide support for say, DZ or AGD (by showing up for Bid Day for events that they're holding)?
(4) Have you proven to the chapter that you deeply value & respect their sorority, & all the more so as an Owl Man, a Daggerman, a DZ Flame, etc. & really mean it too?
(5) Do you completely avoid paying a bunch of lip service when it comes to showing that you genuinely love the chapter whom you're proud to be representing?
True, these may be heavy, really loaded questions I'm asking but hopefully duders can take the time to think them over & answer accordingly. Don't think that I have nothing to declare because I'm going to answer the following questions myself:
(1) A whole lot!! (with AOII). I meant it too BTW.
(2) So much I've lost count: sending out emails time & again, showing my support where it's due, sending out Christmas Cards just to name a few things that I've taken free time out of my day to do.
(3) Yes, I have. Showing love for my favorite sorority is something I do on a daily basis; it's not something I just decide to do on special occasions or on a random whim. Those letters are not just on my sleeve; they're on my heart & in my thoughts as well.
(4) I've deeply valued & respected AOII for the longest time & always will, please believe it :-)
(5) Absolutely. Anyone who shows their love for another sorority when deep down their heart is someplace else is just uncool, period. Duders, get your minds made up & get it over with: if you love A-Phi or Chi O for example, stick to A-Phi or Chi O - beginning & end of story.
Sure, I may get more flak than Dr. Phil for asking these questions but here's the thing: love for your sorority counterparts in the Greek system is not something that can be proved with words alone. It needs to be proved with action as well. Otherwise your love is just a good old facade waiting to be seen through.
(1) How much do you really love the sorority you're proud to be representing?
(2) What sweet things have you taken the time to do to make a whole chapter of ladies feel that they're appreciated?
(3) Have you gone above & beyond the call of duty to show your bonafide support for say, DZ or AGD (by showing up for Bid Day for events that they're holding)?
(4) Have you proven to the chapter that you deeply value & respect their sorority, & all the more so as an Owl Man, a Daggerman, a DZ Flame, etc. & really mean it too?
(5) Do you completely avoid paying a bunch of lip service when it comes to showing that you genuinely love the chapter whom you're proud to be representing?
True, these may be heavy, really loaded questions I'm asking but hopefully duders can take the time to think them over & answer accordingly. Don't think that I have nothing to declare because I'm going to answer the following questions myself:
(1) A whole lot!! (with AOII). I meant it too BTW.
(2) So much I've lost count: sending out emails time & again, showing my support where it's due, sending out Christmas Cards just to name a few things that I've taken free time out of my day to do.
(3) Yes, I have. Showing love for my favorite sorority is something I do on a daily basis; it's not something I just decide to do on special occasions or on a random whim. Those letters are not just on my sleeve; they're on my heart & in my thoughts as well.
(4) I've deeply valued & respected AOII for the longest time & always will, please believe it :-)
(5) Absolutely. Anyone who shows their love for another sorority when deep down their heart is someplace else is just uncool, period. Duders, get your minds made up & get it over with: if you love A-Phi or Chi O for example, stick to A-Phi or Chi O - beginning & end of story.
Sure, I may get more flak than Dr. Phil for asking these questions but here's the thing: love for your sorority counterparts in the Greek system is not something that can be proved with words alone. It needs to be proved with action as well. Otherwise your love is just a good old facade waiting to be seen through.
Thursday, February 14, 2008
On the hotline with yours truly, ...
"Can I place a collect call to...Kelvin Sampson?" (hahah)
Right now, things aren't looking so good in the world of basketball back @ Indiana University. Sure, the Hoosiers are winning games left & right but when it comes to flagrantly committing every violation in the recruiting rulebook, Kelvin Sampson & his staff have got it bad. No, real bad.
"Can you hear me now? Good!!" so says the Verizon duder. Obviously, Sampson & his assistants never listened, much less got the memo or learned anything valuable from misusing their free minutes plans @ Oklahoma. Now we've got more of the same drama in Bloomington & I feel this could have an impact on the Hoosiers' chances of making postseason play.
I mean, Sampson knew all along that blinging up recruits outside the box was a major NCAA no-no. Why, then, did he & his staff choose to repeat the same mistakes & knowingly keep hushed up about the whole spiel? Beats me but Kelvin could have been honest with us for once. Yes, we love that IU is making noise in Big 10 play. Yes, we love the fact that IU is having one of its better seasons in a long while. But no, we don't love the fact that Sampson & friends loused up again & not only that, they loused up in a program which has been one of the most renowned in all of college basketball & IU could face the brunt of some major bruising courtesy of the NCAA because of this latest phone fiasco. Now that's food for thought.
It doesn't pay to bling beyond your means as a head coach, & Kelvin Sampson should have realized this after committing that very transgression back in Norman, OK (aka home of the Sooners). And I'm sure a lot of rivals will be ready to whip out the cellphones for the very next game Indiana plays to see if Sampson's on the same page as the Verizon guy.
"Can you hear me now? Good!!"
I don't think Kelvin Sampson even listened the first time around; I really don't.
Right now, things aren't looking so good in the world of basketball back @ Indiana University. Sure, the Hoosiers are winning games left & right but when it comes to flagrantly committing every violation in the recruiting rulebook, Kelvin Sampson & his staff have got it bad. No, real bad.
"Can you hear me now? Good!!" so says the Verizon duder. Obviously, Sampson & his assistants never listened, much less got the memo or learned anything valuable from misusing their free minutes plans @ Oklahoma. Now we've got more of the same drama in Bloomington & I feel this could have an impact on the Hoosiers' chances of making postseason play.
I mean, Sampson knew all along that blinging up recruits outside the box was a major NCAA no-no. Why, then, did he & his staff choose to repeat the same mistakes & knowingly keep hushed up about the whole spiel? Beats me but Kelvin could have been honest with us for once. Yes, we love that IU is making noise in Big 10 play. Yes, we love the fact that IU is having one of its better seasons in a long while. But no, we don't love the fact that Sampson & friends loused up again & not only that, they loused up in a program which has been one of the most renowned in all of college basketball & IU could face the brunt of some major bruising courtesy of the NCAA because of this latest phone fiasco. Now that's food for thought.
It doesn't pay to bling beyond your means as a head coach, & Kelvin Sampson should have realized this after committing that very transgression back in Norman, OK (aka home of the Sooners). And I'm sure a lot of rivals will be ready to whip out the cellphones for the very next game Indiana plays to see if Sampson's on the same page as the Verizon guy.
"Can you hear me now? Good!!"
I don't think Kelvin Sampson even listened the first time around; I really don't.
Tuesday, February 12, 2008
Winter Wonderment
That blasted Indiana weather.
"I wonder sometimes why the worst has to happen right here when it comes to snow, ice, & other winter whatnot. I just can't help but think of why we have it worse than other states in the Midwest."
Truth is, when it comes to really lousy winter weather we don't have it worse than say, Illinois or Michigan; we should really be thankful that we don't have windchills like -40 below like they do up in Minnesota or a foot or 2 worth of snow on the ground...we're really lucky in that regard. Some folks think weather in Indiana is just downright crappy but they have no idea what they're talking about; it kind of irks me when I overhear people talking about how the weather's going to be today: "Oh, it's going to snow terribly outside," or they're whining about how frigid it is. If I could tell them so, I'd tell them to come off it; the weather's not as bad as it seems if they will only see the forecast in an entirely different light.
Leave no doubt about it, Indiana weather can be unpredictable, & the winter months are just one of the best times to see how unpredictable it can really be. At least we can take solace in the fact that we haven't had any gigantic blizzards of late (the Blizzard of '78 should ring bells for who knows how many folks) or frighteningly fierce wind chills which'll go right through you. Take it from one who's lived through enough Hoosier winters to survive & tell the honest truth about Indiana weather in general.
That blasted Indiana weather, huh?
"I wonder sometimes why the worst has to happen right here when it comes to snow, ice, & other winter whatnot. I just can't help but think of why we have it worse than other states in the Midwest."
Truth is, when it comes to really lousy winter weather we don't have it worse than say, Illinois or Michigan; we should really be thankful that we don't have windchills like -40 below like they do up in Minnesota or a foot or 2 worth of snow on the ground...we're really lucky in that regard. Some folks think weather in Indiana is just downright crappy but they have no idea what they're talking about; it kind of irks me when I overhear people talking about how the weather's going to be today: "Oh, it's going to snow terribly outside," or they're whining about how frigid it is. If I could tell them so, I'd tell them to come off it; the weather's not as bad as it seems if they will only see the forecast in an entirely different light.
Leave no doubt about it, Indiana weather can be unpredictable, & the winter months are just one of the best times to see how unpredictable it can really be. At least we can take solace in the fact that we haven't had any gigantic blizzards of late (the Blizzard of '78 should ring bells for who knows how many folks) or frighteningly fierce wind chills which'll go right through you. Take it from one who's lived through enough Hoosier winters to survive & tell the honest truth about Indiana weather in general.
That blasted Indiana weather, huh?
Monday, February 11, 2008
Quotes of the day
"One badge, one motto, one bond and singleness of heart." -Stella George Stern Perry, one of the founders of Alpha Omicron Pi
"Love is always bestowed as a gift - freely, willingly & without expectation..." - Leo Buscaglia
"We all have ability. The difference is how we use it." -Stevie Wonder
"Love is always bestowed as a gift - freely, willingly & without expectation..." - Leo Buscaglia
"We all have ability. The difference is how we use it." -Stevie Wonder
Current playlist #4
Jeff Buckley, "Last Goodbye," Grace
Jeff Buckley, "So Real," see above
Coldplay, "Square One," X+Y
Coldplay, "Daylight," A Rush of Blood To The Head
As Tall As Lions, "Song For Luna," As Tall As Lions
As Tall As Lions, "Maybe I'm Just Tired," see above
Keane, "Bedshaped," Hopes and Fears
Keane, "Crystal Ball," Under The Iron Sea
New Order, "Love Vigilantes," Low-life
New Order, "Way of Life," Brotherhood
Jeff Buckley, "So Real," see above
Coldplay, "Square One," X+Y
Coldplay, "Daylight," A Rush of Blood To The Head
As Tall As Lions, "Song For Luna," As Tall As Lions
As Tall As Lions, "Maybe I'm Just Tired," see above
Keane, "Bedshaped," Hopes and Fears
Keane, "Crystal Ball," Under The Iron Sea
New Order, "Love Vigilantes," Low-life
New Order, "Way of Life," Brotherhood
Saturday, February 9, 2008
The Road Home
Last Sunday I visited Muncie for the first time in quite awhile...checking things out as always, stopping by my old haunts (the frat house included) before heading back home to watch Super Bowl XLII (one of the best SBs ever played besides SB XLI). Then on Wednesday I revisited Muncie again, this time for Mr. Phi-Nomenal. Mind you, I had one of the best times of my life while I was there & am not ashamed to say so...lol.
On the way home late Wednesday night into the first 30 minutes of Thursday morning, I had a lot to think about, a lot weighing down on my mind...all good things of course. Just to name a few:
What will I say to my favorite ladies when I email them about the great times I had @ Mr. Phi?
When will I email my updates to them?
What words of encouragement can I give them to help them through the weeks ahead?
When will I return to Muncie in the near future?
Sometimes it's easy to forget exactly what to say, how to say it & when. For some folks, it's easy to simply not bother dealing with the minor details & move on but not me. When it comes to letting people know what's up, I give them plenty of thought in my emails (even if my words were written out spontaneously...lol). When it comes to showing people how much you care, it shouldn't be that hard to step up & put your words & thoughts (as in the questions listed above) into full-blown action. That's one of many lessons I learned through experience, & one lesson which returned to me with a passion on the road home, not just on Sunday night but on Wednesday night as well.
On the way home late Wednesday night into the first 30 minutes of Thursday morning, I had a lot to think about, a lot weighing down on my mind...all good things of course. Just to name a few:
What will I say to my favorite ladies when I email them about the great times I had @ Mr. Phi?
When will I email my updates to them?
What words of encouragement can I give them to help them through the weeks ahead?
When will I return to Muncie in the near future?
Sometimes it's easy to forget exactly what to say, how to say it & when. For some folks, it's easy to simply not bother dealing with the minor details & move on but not me. When it comes to letting people know what's up, I give them plenty of thought in my emails (even if my words were written out spontaneously...lol). When it comes to showing people how much you care, it shouldn't be that hard to step up & put your words & thoughts (as in the questions listed above) into full-blown action. That's one of many lessons I learned through experience, & one lesson which returned to me with a passion on the road home, not just on Sunday night but on Wednesday night as well.
Wednesday, February 6, 2008
(side note), revisited
In my post entitled (side note), I brought up the issue on house cleaning. Perhaps I didn't do myself enough justice the last time around as far as articulating my views about stuff of this magnitude is concerned. But for round two, I'm coming out swinging on things I overlooked in my last post.
House cleaning could just as well be seen as a positive for any fraternity which is seeking to improve its standing (if not its repute) & is willing to prove to the whole campus it does have a rightful place in the Greek system by changing for the better. And to do that, getting rid of the "bad apples," the dead weights or indifferent brothers is an imperative. This may sound like a real big deal to some dudes, who feel if some of their closest friends are booted from the chapter, they feel blindsided by HQ coming in to save the day. (And yet another reason why some men choose to disaffiliate from Greek life altogether.)
But thing is, getting rid of those men who don't measure up to the fraternity's standards will prove to be a plus in the long run if we stop to think about it. That's what some dudes just can't comprehend & sadly never will. Is this to say that they fall woefully short of their organization's expectations in adopting such a stubborn mindset? No. Yet if they could only stop & think about what place the chapter holds in their lives, a house cleaning could be the ultimate wake-up call which they need to rethink about the values they're not living up to as fraternity members.
Any fraternal HQ, when it comes to house purgings, can't go halfway in their approach to weeding out the undesirables and declaring them "PNG" (FYI: short for persona non grata). HQ can't do a half-baked job either in finding out who's fit to be in their organization or no. It takes patience, time, assessment after assessment (membership reviews being one of them) & lots of open lines of communication to ensure that HQ is doing the little things right in regards to house cleaning.
For any house to overcome a house cleaning, now that's the ultimate test of faith. The question is, how many men will benefit from all this? I surmise plenty will, & I speak of those men who sincerely devote every ounce of their time & energy into making their respective chapters some of the best on campus, those men who sincerely care about their house & want to see improvement where it is rightfully due, & those men who know that their chapters could be the most loved in the Greek system if they wholeheartedly want them to be. Those are the men who know the directions to take after the smoke clears, after the deadweights & problem members have been shown the door once & for all.
House cleaning could just as well be seen as a positive for any fraternity which is seeking to improve its standing (if not its repute) & is willing to prove to the whole campus it does have a rightful place in the Greek system by changing for the better. And to do that, getting rid of the "bad apples," the dead weights or indifferent brothers is an imperative. This may sound like a real big deal to some dudes, who feel if some of their closest friends are booted from the chapter, they feel blindsided by HQ coming in to save the day. (And yet another reason why some men choose to disaffiliate from Greek life altogether.)
But thing is, getting rid of those men who don't measure up to the fraternity's standards will prove to be a plus in the long run if we stop to think about it. That's what some dudes just can't comprehend & sadly never will. Is this to say that they fall woefully short of their organization's expectations in adopting such a stubborn mindset? No. Yet if they could only stop & think about what place the chapter holds in their lives, a house cleaning could be the ultimate wake-up call which they need to rethink about the values they're not living up to as fraternity members.
Any fraternal HQ, when it comes to house purgings, can't go halfway in their approach to weeding out the undesirables and declaring them "PNG" (FYI: short for persona non grata). HQ can't do a half-baked job either in finding out who's fit to be in their organization or no. It takes patience, time, assessment after assessment (membership reviews being one of them) & lots of open lines of communication to ensure that HQ is doing the little things right in regards to house cleaning.
For any house to overcome a house cleaning, now that's the ultimate test of faith. The question is, how many men will benefit from all this? I surmise plenty will, & I speak of those men who sincerely devote every ounce of their time & energy into making their respective chapters some of the best on campus, those men who sincerely care about their house & want to see improvement where it is rightfully due, & those men who know that their chapters could be the most loved in the Greek system if they wholeheartedly want them to be. Those are the men who know the directions to take after the smoke clears, after the deadweights & problem members have been shown the door once & for all.
Tuesday, February 5, 2008
End of the road
After notching 902 wins, Bobby Knight has decided to throw in the towel & call it a day as coach for good.
Loved as much as he is hated, Knight changed the way we looked at how basketball should not only be played but also how it should be coached. At the same time, he added a key word in hoops vocabulary which transcended his own tantrums & outbursts on the sidelines: discipline.
Without Knight, college basketball would be a pure bunch of monotone, a load of crud not worth watching. If that's not enough, if it wasn't for Knight, hoops history would be missing a complete chapter (or book if you like) of notable accomplishments during his career.
For some folks, Knight was the worst of the worst coaches in existence, an irascible, hot-headed man whose temper kept getting in the way. For some folks, Bobby K was just an egotistic sonofabuck who positively couldn't & wouldn't be bothered by AD, by fans, etc. Others still felt that he wasn't on the same page as his players at times & didn't deserve to be a head coach. So everyone is entitled to voice their opinions about the man, some good, some bad, others meeting halfway.
Thing is, Bob Knight was one of the best coaches to roam the face of the earth not only during his time in the Hoosier State but one of the best coaches around in college basketball, period. Even former colleagues & rival coaches have had nothing but good lines about the man, for crying out loud. They wouldn't be where they are now if it weren't for Bob Knight, much less learn anything of monumental importance from one of their more revered mentors.
Hearing of his resignation comes as a shock, an announcement articulated much too soon. He could have waited until Texas Tech's season ended & keep climbing up the ladder for most wins as an active coach. But no: Bob Knight being Bob Knight, he chose to call it a day now instead of later, much to the awe of not only Red Raiders fans, not just Hoosiers fans, but to the awe of all.
And college basketball from this point forward just won't be the same again.
Loved as much as he is hated, Knight changed the way we looked at how basketball should not only be played but also how it should be coached. At the same time, he added a key word in hoops vocabulary which transcended his own tantrums & outbursts on the sidelines: discipline.
Without Knight, college basketball would be a pure bunch of monotone, a load of crud not worth watching. If that's not enough, if it wasn't for Knight, hoops history would be missing a complete chapter (or book if you like) of notable accomplishments during his career.
For some folks, Knight was the worst of the worst coaches in existence, an irascible, hot-headed man whose temper kept getting in the way. For some folks, Bobby K was just an egotistic sonofabuck who positively couldn't & wouldn't be bothered by AD, by fans, etc. Others still felt that he wasn't on the same page as his players at times & didn't deserve to be a head coach. So everyone is entitled to voice their opinions about the man, some good, some bad, others meeting halfway.
Thing is, Bob Knight was one of the best coaches to roam the face of the earth not only during his time in the Hoosier State but one of the best coaches around in college basketball, period. Even former colleagues & rival coaches have had nothing but good lines about the man, for crying out loud. They wouldn't be where they are now if it weren't for Bob Knight, much less learn anything of monumental importance from one of their more revered mentors.
Hearing of his resignation comes as a shock, an announcement articulated much too soon. He could have waited until Texas Tech's season ended & keep climbing up the ladder for most wins as an active coach. But no: Bob Knight being Bob Knight, he chose to call it a day now instead of later, much to the awe of not only Red Raiders fans, not just Hoosiers fans, but to the awe of all.
And college basketball from this point forward just won't be the same again.
Quotes of the day
"When it comes to showing support for your favorite sorority, you've got to go all out; you can't be half-hearted or halfway there in your love for, say, AOII or AGD. If you really love one sorority with all your heart like you're claiming you do, put those words of yours into action & plenty of women will see that you sincerely care about their chapter. Not only that, but you're also showing that you strongly value & respect their sorority & aren't putting on a great big front about it either." -yours truly
Monday, February 4, 2008
Oh, Brother!!
A Manning has won another Super Bowl. Sure, he may not be the Manning we've all come to know & love but just the same we're loving him now. And for good reason: little brother Eli & the New York Giants pulled off one of the more monumental upsets in Super Bowl history when they knocked off Tom Brady & his New England Patriots 17-14 last night.
Eli may not get all the accolades which Peyton has received over the years but let's face it: his latest accomplishment has helped keep the family name strong & very much alive. And after all the bruises & slams that Eli was an underachiever, not on the same page as his older bro, it definitely feels good to be a Manning right now; to be honest, it really does. Not only have the Manning brothers won two straight Super Bowls (the Colts & the Giants, respectively) but they have also left a mark in NFL history which Tom Brady couldn't touch much less grab a hold of last night, try as he might.
Eli knew the Giants could stack up nicely against the Pats (as the last regular season game readily confirmed); they could compete against the so-called big dogs & did for the second go-round. I bet $1.50 that he acquired a few pointers from Peyton along the way in hopes on how to make the Patriot defense look plenty vulnerable (& BTW, they were). Then again, Eli was Eli last night, keeping a cool head in a very heated game & not folding his tent when the chips were down. Against Dallas & Green Bay, he did the exact same thing, just in a different light.
But now the Pats haters can finally rejoice now that someone actually unseated the Patriots from the ranks of the undefeated in one of the best Super Bowls ever played. The New York defense played stubbornly for the whole game, true, but Eli (with the aid of two lesser-knowns in Messrs. Boss & Tyree) helped New Yawk accomplish the unthinkable or should I say the impossible in the eyes of Pats fans everywhere: win a Super Bowl!!
Somewhere, Peyton is saying that he's absolutely proud to be a Manning; the same could be said of his little brother as well.
Eli may not get all the accolades which Peyton has received over the years but let's face it: his latest accomplishment has helped keep the family name strong & very much alive. And after all the bruises & slams that Eli was an underachiever, not on the same page as his older bro, it definitely feels good to be a Manning right now; to be honest, it really does. Not only have the Manning brothers won two straight Super Bowls (the Colts & the Giants, respectively) but they have also left a mark in NFL history which Tom Brady couldn't touch much less grab a hold of last night, try as he might.
Eli knew the Giants could stack up nicely against the Pats (as the last regular season game readily confirmed); they could compete against the so-called big dogs & did for the second go-round. I bet $1.50 that he acquired a few pointers from Peyton along the way in hopes on how to make the Patriot defense look plenty vulnerable (& BTW, they were). Then again, Eli was Eli last night, keeping a cool head in a very heated game & not folding his tent when the chips were down. Against Dallas & Green Bay, he did the exact same thing, just in a different light.
But now the Pats haters can finally rejoice now that someone actually unseated the Patriots from the ranks of the undefeated in one of the best Super Bowls ever played. The New York defense played stubbornly for the whole game, true, but Eli (with the aid of two lesser-knowns in Messrs. Boss & Tyree) helped New Yawk accomplish the unthinkable or should I say the impossible in the eyes of Pats fans everywhere: win a Super Bowl!!
Somewhere, Peyton is saying that he's absolutely proud to be a Manning; the same could be said of his little brother as well.
Saturday, February 2, 2008
To Tell You The Truth...
When it comes to Greek life, my love, dedication & enthusiasm can be summed up in two words: very strong.
Sure, keeping that love strong after graduation can be a challenge but then again what is?...lol. To tell you the truth, I couldn't part from my Greek roots; never have & never will.
When it comes to showing my love for my sorority counterparts, well, it's very strong indeed. And my support & enthusiasm in this area haven't diminished; if anything, they've both grown stronger over time.
For every comment I make about AOII (my favorite sorority ever), there's going to be an A-Phi or a DZ cutting in: "Come on, you know that ______ ______ is the best sorority & has got the best ladies around." I know...lol...I love Alpha Phi, AGD & Delta Zeta all the same...there won't be any denying that. But AOII gets first priority all the way (& I wouldn't be surprised that I hear from a lot of ladies about this...hahah) & AOII definitely has held a special place in my heart for the past four years or so.
Plenty of duders are probably stopping in their tracks right now, wondering if yours truly is a genuine "sorority man" or is placing his love for his sorority counterparts above his own house. But I would like to tell them that their fears are completely unfounded; I'm truly proud to be a Sigma Chi & always will be, I can promise them this much. It's just that when it comes to showing love for my fave sororities - both alumni & undergrad should take note - I do care a whole lot & am not giving a whole bunch of lip service. (Check out my other sorority-related posts for additional proof.)
Sure, keeping that love strong after graduation can be a challenge but then again what is?...lol. To tell you the truth, I couldn't part from my Greek roots; never have & never will.
When it comes to showing my love for my sorority counterparts, well, it's very strong indeed. And my support & enthusiasm in this area haven't diminished; if anything, they've both grown stronger over time.
For every comment I make about AOII (my favorite sorority ever), there's going to be an A-Phi or a DZ cutting in: "Come on, you know that ______ ______ is the best sorority & has got the best ladies around." I know...lol...I love Alpha Phi, AGD & Delta Zeta all the same...there won't be any denying that. But AOII gets first priority all the way (& I wouldn't be surprised that I hear from a lot of ladies about this...hahah) & AOII definitely has held a special place in my heart for the past four years or so.
Plenty of duders are probably stopping in their tracks right now, wondering if yours truly is a genuine "sorority man" or is placing his love for his sorority counterparts above his own house. But I would like to tell them that their fears are completely unfounded; I'm truly proud to be a Sigma Chi & always will be, I can promise them this much. It's just that when it comes to showing love for my fave sororities - both alumni & undergrad should take note - I do care a whole lot & am not giving a whole bunch of lip service. (Check out my other sorority-related posts for additional proof.)
The Facts of Life
How good enough does New England think it is as a team?
From what we've seen all season long, they've been good...then that'd be an understatement. How about real good?
Whatever words you use to describe the Pats' banner season, even the staunchest Patriots haters have to bring up superlatives at some point if you bring New England up in conversation. But in the coming days, when the smoke from Super Bowl XLII clears, what will our assessment of the Pats be then?
It's hard to say but when the Pats have been hated on (coach Bill B included) as much as they have been for the entire season, the Pats have found ways to silence their worst critics. If they can silence their critics again when they take on the Giants in their rematch, the Patriots can say that they're the s*** all they want. But then again they may not; they could be as humble as the San Antonio Spurs were during last season's NBA championship run.
Tomorrow night is that moment of truth for pro-Pats and anti-Pats fans alike & believe me then & only then will we find out just what kind of team New England really is all along.
From what we've seen all season long, they've been good...then that'd be an understatement. How about real good?
Whatever words you use to describe the Pats' banner season, even the staunchest Patriots haters have to bring up superlatives at some point if you bring New England up in conversation. But in the coming days, when the smoke from Super Bowl XLII clears, what will our assessment of the Pats be then?
It's hard to say but when the Pats have been hated on (coach Bill B included) as much as they have been for the entire season, the Pats have found ways to silence their worst critics. If they can silence their critics again when they take on the Giants in their rematch, the Patriots can say that they're the s*** all they want. But then again they may not; they could be as humble as the San Antonio Spurs were during last season's NBA championship run.
Tomorrow night is that moment of truth for pro-Pats and anti-Pats fans alike & believe me then & only then will we find out just what kind of team New England really is all along.
XLII
After a week of plenty of media hoopla, craziness & good old talk, talk, talk, the real fun begins down in Arizona tomorrow night with Super Bowl XLII.
The New England Patriots are playing for perfection, an unblemished record which the Miami Dolphins cannot touch, even if they tried. We can talk about Tom Brady & his boot all we want as much as we can talk about Randy Moss, but thing is, the Pats are still an undeniable favorite even if it means winning by the smallest/slightest of margins. Could they be one of the top teams ever to roam the face of the NFL earth? Wait one moment...they are & if they win Super Bowl XLII New England could make a statement for the ages.
And then we've got the New York Giants. Oh yes, they've got a Manning running the show @ QB...not the Manning whom we thought would make it to the big show but nonetheless one of them is playing for a prize as well. After a midseason malaise, Eli Manning & company are at the top of their game & they played the Pats down to the wire in their previous meeting. So it is without surprise that they are out for revenge; not only that, the Giants are proving that they can play against the best & do an awesome job at beating them. Just ask Tony Romo or Brett Favre how formidable New York has been on the field up through the playoffs.
Could this be a Super Bowl game worth watching? I sure hope so. Last year when Indy beat the Bears, watching games of this magnitude became interesting for me again & I trust that this year is no different in this aspect. As we already know, the Giants played tougher than nails against the Pats; no need to repeat what's already been said about that last meeting between the two teams. If they want to make it a game again, they can do just that. In fact, who knows how many folks are sensing an upset brewing...but how many times have we walked away from the tube with our hopes dashed, realizing the Pats have proven us detractors so wrong? There is some guarantee that this matchup is an absolute big deal & if New England gets caught off guard, the trap will be set for sure & the Giants could just as well accomplish the unthinkable: unseating the Patriots from the ranks of the undefeated & securing their place in the annals of the best Super Bowl games ever played.
Anything could happen tomorrow yet only one champion will emerge from the shadows, leaving no doubt whatsoever about who's the best team on the block.
The New England Patriots are playing for perfection, an unblemished record which the Miami Dolphins cannot touch, even if they tried. We can talk about Tom Brady & his boot all we want as much as we can talk about Randy Moss, but thing is, the Pats are still an undeniable favorite even if it means winning by the smallest/slightest of margins. Could they be one of the top teams ever to roam the face of the NFL earth? Wait one moment...they are & if they win Super Bowl XLII New England could make a statement for the ages.
And then we've got the New York Giants. Oh yes, they've got a Manning running the show @ QB...not the Manning whom we thought would make it to the big show but nonetheless one of them is playing for a prize as well. After a midseason malaise, Eli Manning & company are at the top of their game & they played the Pats down to the wire in their previous meeting. So it is without surprise that they are out for revenge; not only that, the Giants are proving that they can play against the best & do an awesome job at beating them. Just ask Tony Romo or Brett Favre how formidable New York has been on the field up through the playoffs.
Could this be a Super Bowl game worth watching? I sure hope so. Last year when Indy beat the Bears, watching games of this magnitude became interesting for me again & I trust that this year is no different in this aspect. As we already know, the Giants played tougher than nails against the Pats; no need to repeat what's already been said about that last meeting between the two teams. If they want to make it a game again, they can do just that. In fact, who knows how many folks are sensing an upset brewing...but how many times have we walked away from the tube with our hopes dashed, realizing the Pats have proven us detractors so wrong? There is some guarantee that this matchup is an absolute big deal & if New England gets caught off guard, the trap will be set for sure & the Giants could just as well accomplish the unthinkable: unseating the Patriots from the ranks of the undefeated & securing their place in the annals of the best Super Bowl games ever played.
Anything could happen tomorrow yet only one champion will emerge from the shadows, leaving no doubt whatsoever about who's the best team on the block.
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