2011 Music Must-Hears

A lot of good music this year in the metal/hard rock genre. A lot of excellent returns to form. Here's a short list of what you really should check out:

Anthrax - Worship Music
Megadeth - Th1rt3en
Black Country Communion - 2
Whitesnake - Forevermore
Adrenaline Mob - EP
Mr. Big - What If?
Mastodon - The Hunter
Journey - Eclipse
Warrant - Rockaholic

Fun With Music

So during bowling last night, the convo came up about the farce that is the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. Sure, it's pointless, but it's also silly fun. So here goes, the R&RHOF as decided by me... well, at least the top twenty anyways. Anyway, here's 11-20.
NOTE: I've only included the hard rock/metal artists NOT in the RRHOF.

20. Thin Lizzy - Beautiful use of dual guitars, flowing lyrics, & the charisma of the late Phil Lynott.
19. Tesla - Again, classic use of dual guitars, mixed with a powerful voice & melodic songwriting.
18. Pantera - Warped by Van Halen & KISS, Dimebag Darrell helped create the standard in 90's metal.
17. Pat Benatar - The other half of the sexy sirens of rock, along with Ann Wilson, Benatar could sing the phone book & still make it rock. Need more proof, check out Hell Is For Children live...
16. Motley Crue - So called "Hair Metal" takes a bad rap... loud guitar, catchy hooks, fun... the Crue lived it & lived it well.
15. Dio - Little man, HUGE pipes. Dio made keyboards sound heavy. Fantasy lyrics, scorching axe riffs, & a voice that rivals only angels, Dio made his mark solo, even after a brilliant career with Elf, Rainbow, & Black Sabbath.
14. Cheap Trick - Where else are you gonna find a drummer named Bun... HUGE choruses & all out fun for all.
13. Scorpions - from Uli to Rudolph, these Germans could wail. And here's a common theme... dual guitars & big vocals. Sting Of The Tail was a perfect return to form.
12. Foreigner - Lou Gramm & Mick Jones... the AOR Page/Plant. Unfortunately, got saddled with the "Corporate Rock" tag, whatever that means. Good songwriting & memorable hooks. Just good ol' R&R fun.
11. Ozzy Osbourne - He's already in with Sabbath, but his legacy may reign supreme as a solo artist. Known for introducing the world to phenomenal, yet differing, guitar gods, the Oz Man's songs are catchy & listenable.
Top 10 coming soon... & in honor of the Eddie Trunk Rocks year-end show, here's the Top 10:
10. Megadeth - Fueled by his unceremonious exit from Metallica, Dave Mustaine formed a metal band rivaled only by the one he left. A distinctive voice, matched only by its melodic mate, 'Deth proved a soapbox for political & socio-economic musings.
9. Rush - Power trio, virtuosos, distinctive, never duplicated... Rush are truly one of a kind, mixing heavy metal with pop sensibilities, wrapped up in thoughtful lyrics & unmatched musicianship.
8. Heart - Ann & Nancy... two Zep lovin' ladies with a passion for bad ass guitar rock. Ann could sing the alphabet & make it rock harder than most male singers.
7. Def Leppard - Put aside the pop stylings of most of the last 15 years, Def Lep was part of the NWOBHM. They hit the big time with Pyromania & Hysteria, but their true roots lie in On Through The Night & the criminally underrated High 'N' Dry. Need proof... Let It Rock, Mirror Mirror, Lady Strange.
6. Boston - Symphonic is a good word. Everyone knows the multi-tracked brilliance of Tom Scholz, but the real genius was the vocals of the late Brad Delp. Putting those two elements together with melodic, soaring tunes proved to be brilliance. I dare anyone not to become a goofy air-guitarist when More Than A Feeling comes on the radio... see, you can't do it.
5. Iron Maiden - More dual guitars & more operatic vocals, complete with intelligent lyrics & galloping bass lines. Another facet of the NWOBHM, Maiden was personified by lead singer Bruce Dickinson & mascot Eddie.
4. Judas Priest - Common theme: two distinctively different lead guitarists & freak-of-nature singers flying above it. Halford set the standard that the likes of Geoff Tate have been emulating for 20+ years. If you don't feel like raising a fist during You've Got Another Thing Coming, you're not alive.
3. Bon Jovi - They've managed to reinvent themselves in the last 10 years, almost at the expense of what made them famous in the first place. The duo of JBJ & Richie Sambora have created some of the best Springsteen-ian pop metal classics ever. From album one to Keep The Faith, they managed to mature, yet keep their roots alive. Listen to the guitar solo in the middle of the epic Dry County... pure genius.
2. KISS - To paraphrase, Love 'em, Leave 'em. But you can't deny 'em. They changed the face of music in countless ways, even without the incessant merchandising. At their core, they were meat & potatoes rock, but great fun. And what is rock & roll without a little fun? Image, tunes, live shows, they did all & mostly better than the rest... even if they're using substitute Ace & Peter's.
1. Deep Purple - Criminal, criminal, criminal omission from the actual R&RHOF, as they are one of the original triumvant along with Led Zep & Sabbath. Classical music applied to rock by the incomparable Richie Blackmore. Ian Gillan, David Coverdale, Glenn Hughes, Joe Lynn Turner... it's like a who's who of metal vocal genius.

So there it is. Of course, it's not perfect. I left out many deserving groups, such as Whitesnake, Motorhead, Styx, Bad Company, Queensryche but no list is perfect. Feel free to email me to say what a dumbass I am. Otherwise, enjoy it for what its' worth... and thanx for reading.

This is your VP, people... I'll remember that when the next 3000 people are jumping to their deaths from a fiery hell. Biden is as close to a caricature as there is in real life.

I would've thought the MLB Player's Chief would be a tad more upset that one of his stars was dragged through the creatine mud of public opinion unneccesarily...

I'm trying to figure out when exactly being a fiscally responsible politician became akin to eating babies & genocide... isn't that what we want our elected officials to do with our hard-earned money?

We should be thanking governors like Scott Walker & Chris Christie and upholing them as an example of what elections are supposed to be: putting persons of good faith into positions as the voices of the people.

You wanna recall someone, recall yourselves for stealing from the taxpayers for years without conscience & repurcussions.

TMZ Report on Braun's Test

It HAS to be one of the signs of Armageddon when TMZ is upheld as the responsible news source.

This is why there are rules against monopolies... with no other 24-hour sports source, ESPN can do & say whatever they want. And, even more heinous, STILL have not updated or corrected their original PED story (that I can find. I am not, however, a subscriber to their overpriced Insider, which I'm sure is reserved for brilliant journalism & spot-on reporting).

Simply embarrasing & irresponsible.

"Where would we be without a guy like Petak? Here was a guy who cared more about doing the right thing than being re-elected. He lost his seat, but if he hadn't taken that vote, we wouldn't have the Brewers here. And Milwaukee would be a significantly diminished town. We do have a lot of challenges. There's no denying that. We have significant economic challenges within the city. We've got public infrastructure needs. We've got libraries that need to be funded.
"The way to continue to do that and grow as a community is to invest in our entertainment, cultural and sports assets. That's what attracts business to come and expand here. It makes it a great place to live and work." - Mike Marotta, Bradley Center Chairman


Those opposed to such public spending do not realize the money this puts back into the community. Think about this for a second: for a mere 1/10th of one cent, jobs are created, shopping districts thrive, eateries spring up... it's beautiful, sexy capitalism, people.

The QB has become a cultural phenomenon, and barring injury or a sudden dearth of fourth-quarter heroics, the public's hunger for Tebow coverage will remain ravenous - NFL.com

Let me speak for what I think is the majority: as in politics, the coasts are overestimating the interest in fly-over country.

More Praise for "White Jesus"

This is getting ridiculous...

Then again, it takes a lot of hoopla away from the Braun situation & the Pack's pursuit of history, so maybe it's not such a bad thing. But, honestly, he's a serviceable alternative on a team whose defense & RB's have stepped up considerably.

There are 3 things that cannot be hidden: the sun, the moon, and the truth. The world is full of bad, jealous, dishonest, and selfish people...but the truth will set the good free - Larissa Fraser

Like the woman behind the man, Larissa believes Ryan, if I can be allowed to interpret this random, cryptic blurb.

So now it's not a PED or steroids, but a prohibited substance, but not a prohibited substance... it's exasperating the piss poor journalism that has, at this moment, ruined Braun's reputation forever. Now, if he did do something so be it. But, the process not happening confidentially as per procedure is ridiculous.

I beacon of sanity from Dodgerville

I, too, am amazed at the fact this was leaked prior to completion. Simply terrible for everyone involved.

Braun tells Tom Haudricourt he is "completely innocent".

Damn, I hope so, young man. You now have an entire organization on your shoulders. I am encouraged by how vehemently he is denying the charges. Normally, he is very measured in his responses, almost to the point of parodying Nuke LaLoosh with his cliches.

Braun responded to the test result by telling MLB.com's Adam McCalvy in a text message: "I would love to talk, but unfortunately I'm not really allowed to say anything right now. My day will come soon, though."

Certainly sounds like a man who would like his good name back. We'll see if that's the case, I guess. I certainly hope so, not only for Ryan's sake, but the organization's as well.

My wife just wondered aloud how pissed Braun must be right now. He can't speak on anything, yet an in progress appeal has been leaked. I can say if I felt I was innocent, I'd be livid. Most of what I've read is either absolute condemnation or gloating.

Hell, if I did end up being exonerated, I'd have a few lawsuits for defamation of character in the works.

Just spoke to someone familiar with the details of Braun's test and was assured he will be found innocent. If so, horrible this leaked out.--Tom H, JS

Since being informed of the results, Braun has been disputing his case. A source close to Braun said that when he was told about the positive test, he immediately requested to be tested again. That second test, using a different sample that was tested by Braun's camp, the source said, was not positive. Those close to Braun believe that the difference between the two tests will show that the first test was invalid. Although Braun's representatives acknowledge that a non-positive test would not negate a positive one, they believe the second test shows certain anomalies that will suggest problems with the first. They declined to specify.--ESPN.com


That last paragraph is buried at the bottom of the ESPN story, presumably because when you break a story for the simple fact that you'd be first, being a responsible news source is secondary.
I have no idea if Ryan is guilty, but this sticks out to me: Why would a guy who has been subjected to testing every year since he entered the minors and cultivated a public persona as Braun has, make the risk to use PED's? In the words of Inspector Douglas Todd, "This whole thing stinks to high heaven"

NLCS BOUND... YOUR MILWAUKEE BREWERS!!!!!!!!!

I almost hope we get the Cards... and knock that damn house down!

Quick thoughts, so read from top to bottom, refresh often:

Consistent zone today, but seems a bit tight-ish early on

This has all the feelings of a "Who blinks first" affair

Give a guy 4 strikes and he always seems to find a hit. As soon as I say it, it comes up

That slide was a tad late

Greinke up in the pen stretching, top 4. Don't think he'll be used.

If this game ends 1-0, then hats off DBacks. I'm thinking we'll come alive late

Prince really going outside his zone tonight. He needs to find that patience that he showed this year.

Prince's aggressiveness is a stark contrast to Braun's patience

Hairston with just enough to score. Good thing Morgan's on 3rd. Still, unfortunately a plethora of wasted opportunities again

Anyone else notice that Roberts fielded Yuni's grounder right on 3rd. Was he playing "no doubles" on that? Odd that they'd be playing the lines.

Crew gets some guys on, ties it up. Yo has a quick, clean inning. Is the worm turning toward the Crew here?

Some would say the Brewers are struggling with the bats. When every line drive you hit goes right to someone, it will always seem that way. We need some to fall in.

Nyger has to understand who's behind him there. Make Kennedy throw a strike & take your chances if it goes 3-2.

Those are the types of hits that lead to rallies... let's hope not. That stick-your-bat-out by Young is exactly what I mean.

Not the best outing from Yo, but he gets through 6 still tied. Now it's up to the O & the bullpen. Hold onto your asscheeks, Wisconsin, it's getting late.

Content to walk Fielder here? apparently so. Poor bunt by Rickie, which is a bit surprising.

Anyone else feeling 8th inning Braun heroics today?

Sometimes luck is a bitch... As has been true most of the second half, if the bottom of the order does well, this team wins

And as good as Yuni's AB was, Lucroy follows up with a clueless display of plate discipline

K-Rod will get 2-3-4 in the 8th... you wanted the closer role, well this is as close as it gets fella. Nice bridge inning for the young man Saito.

A microcosm of Casey's year: let good pitches go by, swing at balls. Never a recipe for success.

Carlos probably going in at CF, move Nyger to RF. I would assume Axford will warm just in case K-Rod forgets the K in his nickname. This is where the trade for the 7-inning game comes to fruition.

Luc has been beat up behind the plate... get through this & the pain goes away, kid

Can't be walking people late. BIG TIME changeup to get Goldy... bear down for out 3.

Watching K-Rod makes me appreciate Axford even more than I already do

And, of course, it comes down to an Axford save chance...

Uh-oh... Burroughs with a 4th strike opportunity here... and singles of course

Luck may be a lady, but sometimes she's a bitch. Now you need to limit the damage

Henry Blanco, Brewer killer... NOT happy... that ball was almost hit slow enough to allow everyone to be safe. Awesome play Yuni, now go send us home in the bottom half

Another tagged ball, another long out for the Crew. Sometimes breaks are just bad

166 total games & we're going to extras for the right to play more... frickin' baseball

So Counsell, Gomez, Morgan in the bottom of the 10th...what sort of sorcery needs to happen for that to equal a run? Hopefully, it's the little guys' time to shine.

JJ Putz in for AZ.

And the broken record continues... another skulled ball hit right at a defender

a double may end this game... stolen base by GoGo, now a single ends it...

AND IT DOES!!!!!! GO NUTS MILWAUKEE FANS!!!!!!!!

Yo with 44 through 2 today, which is not a new development for him historically. We've got a good 'pen, if needed.

Who's gonna step up for the Crew outside of the big boys? That's the main question in this game for me. If we need the bullpen early, we're covered very well.

Who's got the big hit in them today?

Yo dealing early again, looks like he's got good stuff, just can't hit the edges... fastballs hard & down, which should set up some breaking ball opportunities in the middle innings.

Yet ANOTHER ball that would've been out in Miller Park

Estrada doing what Wolf could not: Get ahead of hitters & continue to go after them. Something that Yo has been doing very well at lately.

Again, the announcers doing zero homework: Fielder known as a good low-ball hitter, but he just tomahawked that pitch down the line... Prince has shown quite often in his career that he prefers the ball up.

Crew 0-8 with RISP... not a good recipe for climbing your way back into a game.

Kottaras with yet another hard hit Brewer ball... caught. For as bad as the luck has been on defense, it has carried over to the offense tonight.

Dreckman seemingly flipping a coin on the strike zone tonight... equally bad both ways.

Wolf with nothing tonight. Little bit of everything: badly located pitches, squeezed zone, & some unfortunate bleeders. I assume that's his last inning, since there's really no one to save for tomorrow.

Crew up 1-0 on one of the more complete-played games of the season. Yo was absolutely filthy today, ties Don Sutton's record with 9 K's in a Brewer postseason start. It helps for tomorrow's bullpen situation as you're never sure how a SP will be on a short-rest start.

Prince not staying?

There seems to be some surprise by this around the 'net & some people I know. Really, if anyone thought he was resigning with MIL, I have a nice campfire tale about a fiscally-responsible, thrifty current president you might like to hear. They can't afford him & Prince has earned the right to go make whatever small-nation GNP someone else wants to pay him.
Then I read this from Lee Jenkins at SI.com:
He is leaving, an inevitable announcement, delivered at a startling time. If Fielder made this declaration six months ago, the Brewers could have been more serious about trading him. Now, they have no recourse.

Just another case of a national writer trying to write about the Crew, yet being totally clueless to what he's talking about. The Brewers KNEW Prince wasn't signing past '11, so Melvin went out & got pitching he needed, and PLANNED on letting Fielder walk for the draft picks at the end of the season. Short of a cataclysmic breakdown, there was no way Melvin was flipping #28 at the deadline.

Enjoy what is left of the 1-2 punch. It's been an awesome ride, but all good things must end.

Aaron Rodgers on his chameleon facial hair... classic

RIP John Kennedy Oswald

I've held off for awhile on the Jani Lane comments concerning his death & place in music history. I guess it's taken some time to digest & realize what we lost & what most people don't realize we lost. Strange how I kept waking up the night he died with "Song & Dance Man" stuck in my head... I guess a rock & roll hero was calling out to his fans one last time.
He was SO MUCH MORE than the "Cherry Pie" guy. It makes me sick to think that's how he's remembered. I will always remember him as the master lyricist & king of melody... see songs such as "Mr. Rainmaker", "Bed of Roses", "Quicksand", or "Stronger Now".
The demons would not allow him to carry on, sadly, but let's not forget what he was: a phenomenal songwriter & musician, who couldn't carry on. I could go on for many paragraphs, delving further into hero-worship hyperbole, but I'll simply end this way:
I will miss all the music Jani will never write. He brought much joy into my life over the years & I hope he realizes that many mourn his passing like a family member's.

I know everyone likes to joke at Counsell's expense for the 0-45 streak, but before tonight's hit, I would venture to guess he saved more runs than he cost. Sure we want production, & sure we think the Crew is keeping him on for nostalgia reasons, but, truthfully, his value is defensively. Everything else is butter.

Considering the large returns on traded stars so far, I'm thinking that Doug may well have done the best job of upgrading without giving up anything of consequence. And let's hope that Rickie gets well fast, which in itself would be equivalent to a deadline deal.

Lopez is certainly helpful as a switch-hitting IF. Hairston has played everywhere but catcher & the Boston Pops, with decent defensive metrics.

Just an open question to chew on: Though he does still have value as a defender & a good eye at the plate, does this foreshadow the end of Counsell's time in MIL as a player?

Crew Acquires Hairston, Jr.

Just came through... no word on what went back to the Nats.

UPDATE: The Nats receive minor-league OF Erik Komatsu. Komatsu at AA this year: .294/.393/.416. Hasn't shown much HR power since being drafted in '08, but has solid OB skills. Plays all three OF positions. Ranked 14th by Baseball America in the Brewer's system.

Doug continues to reshape the bench with flexible vets. Hairston's numbers this year: .268/.342/.385, nice OBP ahead of the boppers. Some combo of Hairston, Lopez, Counsell should be able to hold down 2b while young Rickie is out. There's plenty of offense to go around in the Crew's lineup.

Meanwhile, here's the pitching numbers over the past few games:
- 17/20 quality starts (six or more innings, three earned runs or fewer)
- 2.62 starters' ERA in those 20 games
- Bullpen: 0 ER in last five games, spanning 12 1/3 innings

Getting past the "we're done" feeling when Rickie went down, Melvin made a helluva move getting Felipe Lopez for nothing. In '09 he had a great second half. Surprisingly, he's been ok in the field the last couple years. I think Lopez can hold down the fort quite well at the moment.

Losing Rickie is obviously on par with losing Prince, but I think we can withstand it for a few weeks, no pun intended.

Wil Nieves traded to ATL

The Brewers may or may not get cash in return (that's the "considerations" part), but they don't really lose anything, either. You know, other than the 20 games we had to watch him hit .140/.189/.180
UPDATE: Nieves was traded to Atlanta for $1. I suppose he's worth a McChicken off the Dollar Menu - James Langrehr "The Brewer's Bar"

I read that last line as totally deadpan in my head. I laughed so hard I just thought I would share the humor.

Big music news revealed last night (well, big for me anyway), ex-Dream Theater drummer Mike Portnoy & ex-Whitesnake guitarist John Sykes are forming a power trio with an as-yet-unknown bassist.

Sykes, of course, was the unheralded star of the mammoth Whitesnake album in 1987 & the leader of the criminally underrated Blue Murder.

Look for it sometime early in '12.

Hey, Ron, that's how you use Loe correctly... (see File In Noggin For Future Use)

righties, righties, righties. Only.

Two stories you won't be reading in mainstream papers, both exposing Walker's budget plan as what it is... fiscally responsible & working.

Walker's Vindication

The New Normal

Collective bargaining is not a "right", at least not by the classic definition. In fact, if you really look at this entire fight, collective bargaining was a nice shroud to cover public theft.

On another note, is there a batted ball that Carlos Gomez cannot get to? What I wouldn't give to have that type of speed for one day.

Stephen Drew just got JJ Hardy'd. If his ankle isn't snapped, I'll be surprised. It looked like it spun around under his slide leg.

Gomez either broke his collarbone or dislocated his shoulder... either way, that's a big loss for the bench. The Brewer's OF is a mini-MASH unit right now.

Is this a Beltran-inducing development?

The younger Weeks having a nice start in OAK. I remember when the Crew drafted Jemile in the 8th round of the '05 draft. He was considered speedy, with very raw ability. Alas, he was lost to the lures of Braunie's alma mater.

Well, that, & his path to the majors was blocked by big bro.

Thank God the FDA is there for me. I had no idea cigarettes were bad... really?... lighting up dried leaves & inhaling the smoke is bad? It's a choice, you fools, & no amount of "scary" pictures will stop people who are looking for a brief respite & relief from the crap that is daily living.

I haven't had one in close to four years & it wasn't because I was frightened of the health issues. I just chose to stop & save the cash.

So not only does Davidson take at least a run off the board for the Crew, he decides that the punishment will be a strike zone the size of a gnat's ass.

Argue if you must, but unions in America protect the useless. This jackass works six months a year, for six figures, gets another four weeks of vacation during those six months... and cannot be fired. Sound familiar WI?

That 10 pitch at bat looked more like Casey: good swings, patience. Hopefully, that sets him up for a hot streak.

Being an umpire must be a lot like a weatherman: never right, but total job security.

Nice one liner by Schroeder: "It's a good thing that ball didn't hit Fielder as he made no effort to get out of the way"

Another example of the ridiculous nature of MLB umpiring... Davidson makes the piss poor call & everyone else pays the price.

Horrible... & tomorrow they'll be worse.

I don't mean to minimize the injury, but when I saw this picture I first thought "Are they reenacting the Who Shot J.R. storyline"? Then I pictured the Miller LiteGuards... Man Down!!

Braunie may have an upper-respiratory infection (or cold for the non-contusion speaking folk), but the lovely Ms. Fraser would certainly ease the discomfort, I'm sure.

I would expect with the short start yesterday, Wolf will either go deep in this game or be the(sorry for the pun) sacrificial lamb

Packers Finally Get Rings

Quite the story to put into one boat anchor.

What a year that was. Despite them being favored quite often in the playoffs, I still get somewhat taken aback when I think about them actually winning the SB. I guess I always felt the injuries were a good excuse... and proving once again why I am not a world class athlete (well, that & my bowling ball physique), the Pack did not use anything as an excuse & rose to the top.

I will never understand why pitchers that are staked to large leads begin to nibble at the strike zone. You don't do yourself any favors by walking people, especially the pitcher.

EDIT: And, as inevitably happens, a home run.

I have a good idea how winded Prince feels scoring from 1st... us chubby dudes aren't given any favors on a wet field.

Congrats to the 2011 NHL Champion Boston Bruins

Since my interest in the Finals ended when the Pens were eliminated, that's all the commentary you'll get

Does it bother anyone else out there that Alyssa Milano is pregnant & we haven't heard one "Samanta!" from Tony Danza?

Saw steel panther last night. Wow. Hysterical. Those guys are crazy! - Ashley Greene

Yet another reason she's the only good part of Twilight

Listening to ESPNRadio on the way home, they were debating the Heat trading LeBron to Orlando for Howard. A dude called in & said "why doesn't the Heat just call up Orlando & offer Bosh for Howard? At least they'll get something in return for Howard."

... and that's why casuals are not GM's. I might do that trade if I get Bosh AND Wade.

Bryce Harper acting very much like an 18-year-old that has had his ass unduly kissed for most of his life. Classless.

I almost wish he'd done that in the Show just to see how far a baseball can fit inside the ear hole on a batting helmet.

Braun will never be mistaken for a great OF, but he has learned his limitations very well in the last three years. He's never been comfortable going back on balls, so he's learned how to judge the carom. Nice strong throw for the out on 2nd.

With the #15 pick, the Milwaukee Brewers select...

Jed Bradley, LHP, out of Georgia Tech.

I've seen his stuff compared to Andy Pettite, which would be just fine with me. An innings-eating lefty with four good pitches? Yes, please.

One other note... parents, teach your sons how to throw left-handed. Can you say "Job Security"?

So Morgan slides safely into 1st, clearly not sliding over the bag. Buck slides into Morgan, pushing him off the bag, turning the play into an out. Did the rule change when I wasn't looking?

With pick #12, the Milwaukee Brewers select...

Taylor Jungmann, from the University of Texas.

Hard thrower with the ability to hit the upper 90's. May have gone higher without elbow surgery in HS, but pitching is always a crap-shoot. With that velocity & a plus curve, I could see a three year debut.

I'd feel pretty good about the two predictions I made in early May:
1. The crew were OPSing too much not to start scoring runs & winning ballgames
2. Nyger would be the "starting" CF by June 1st

... had I not said this the other night: "Wow, our entire lineup can go yard, well, except for Morgan". Of course, he turns on the first pitch & deposits it in my mouth (which had surprisingly enough room with my foot in it).

Tough 4 week stretch coming up to the AS break... hang on for the ride!

Thank God common sense prevailed... a month later.

By the way, Kloppenburgular, when do I get my reimbursement check for financing your pettiness?

Gomez drives me nuts with the bat, but if kept that first at-bat approach to right more, with his speed, he'd be worth 10mil/per easy.

Speed kills no matter what sport you play.

Warrant "Rockaholic" review

So I've been living with the new Warrant disc for over a week now & I've come to the conclusion that while it is a nice slice of melodic rock, it really should not be under the Warrant moniker.
New vocalist Robert Mason (Ex-Cry of Love, Lynch Mob, Big Cock)is one of my favorite rock singers. He possesses a classic dirty, Sunset Strip voice and is an outstanding performer. But here's the rub, and something the four original Warrant members need to remember: Jani Lane, being the primary songwriter, was the possesser of the Warrant sound.
On the other hand, taking it for what it is, Rockaholic is an interesting, fun romp through pop metal fields:

1. Sex Ain't Love: Reminds me of the sexual innuendo days of the late '80's. Anyone familiar with Mason's previous band Big Cock will no doubt feel this tune. 3.5 stars
2. Innocence Gone: Starts off with a Jackyl-style intro, then veers off into a tune that would not have been out of place on Dirty Rotten. A rolling chorus really pulls the start-stop of the verses into an interesting place. 4 Stars.
3. Snake: Another late 80's groove, evoking the title. I really like Mason's voice on tunes like this. Guitars are reminiscent of Hollywood Vampires-era L.A. Guns. 3 stars
4. Dusty's Revenge: Southern-rock swing, with a nice chugging, crunchy guitar riff in the verse. The chorus falls a little flat for me. The first relative dud, aside from the guitars
5. Home: Yet another Home-titled ballad... But this is where Mason's organic vocals shine. His phrasing is quite emotional and he easily goes from subdued to the huge chorus. Joey has some nice guitar fills, but I rather miss the opportunity to put on a majestic solo. 3.5 stars
6. What Love Can Do: Here's where the band really hits their stride. The chorus melody is absolutely gorgeous. The subdued verses really highlight the chorus sections. Reminds me of something Khymera has been doing for years. Joey's solo almost has an Ace Frehley tone to it & is strangely tucked back in the mix. 4.5 stars
7. Life's A Song: The 1st single... much more modern sounding, but the melodies in the verses are quite good. A nice laid-back groove builds through the bridge and really comes together in the chorus. I like the tension built into the tune, but more in a poppy way. Seems like a decent cruising song. And here's the first Joey Allen classic solo. 4.5 stars
Halfway through the disc & I'd say it's very solid.
8. Show Must Go On: Another song that I think must have been on a Big Cock album at some point. Maybe it's just Robert Mason's distinctive pipes. Kind of a throwaway for me until the solo, when Joey throws in a few dive bombs and some Rainmaker-style attack. 3 stars
9. Cocaine Freight Train: Starts our with an aggressive double-bass attack. Must be this album's "Inside Out". Another song that doesn't do much for me until the solo, complete with accompanying harmonica. 2.5 stars
10. Found Forever: Change of pace mid-tempo groove. More laid-back vocals, but the chorus is pretty decent. Higher-register and almost seems to float on the clouds, if that makes any sense. Light & airy, maybe. 3 stars
11. Candy Man: Presumably not about Sammy Davis, Jr. Another modern-sounding mid-tempo rocker. Could've been left off this release. 2 stars
12. Sunshine: The verse riff almost sounds like a tamed-down Alice In Chains without the teeth. More modern, in the vein of Smashing Pumpkins. Another miss in the 2nd half. 2.5 stars
13. Tears In The City: Second real ballad on the disc... and just a heard-it-before track. After the genius "Don't Ask Me To Be Faithful" from Big Cock's "Motherload" I was expecting some great ballads. 2 stars
14. The Last Straw: This almost saves the second half. Driving riff, classic vocals, almost early Sammy-Hagar sounding. Great, loud, huge chorus. Outstanding finish. 4.5 stars

All in all a great listening experience. Again, if you're expecting Rainmaker II or Dog Eat Dog the second, it's not here. This is a different band, but not a bad band. I would've liked more Joey Allen ripping-solos, but Robert Mason's voice is rock gold.

I suppose before I get too political, I should say I was raised in a Democratic household & am a factory-working man. Throughout my teens & twenties, I didn't much care about taxes, mortgage rates, & the like.

However, nearing 40, my views have morphed towards fiscal responsibility & curbing excessive handouts. Tax less, spend less, let people keep more of their own money.

Here's some more fodder... Gee, sounds like a good way to curb voting fraud, though I'm sure the Dems are worried their fly-by-night votes will be gone then.

And can I just say, NOT voting on something isn't taking a stand. Voting NO or YES is taking a stand. NOT voting is simply shirking the duties you were elected for... much like holing up in another state instead of doing your job.

Votes tallied shows Kloppenburgular picked up 300 votes... and still got whipped! I would like to thank the Judge for pissing away more of my tax dollars. Now she's looking into going to court over it?!

The thinly-veiled attempt to commandeer a favorable judge for public unions failed. Go home & stay out of my wallet.

If I wrote a story about the Dems & unions of WI in the last 6 months, it'd be put in the fiction section, since it's unbelievable that real human beings think & act this way.

Oh, to be young, big-chested, and evidently in possession of an eternal Get-Out-Of-Jail-Free card from Monopoly.

This article in the NY Post touches on the WI Dems poor excuse for democracy.

Especially shocking is this little nugget for your hooka:

Back in Wisconsin, the state attorney general's office last week released documents and audio recordings of some 70 threats against state officials.

Among the most outrageous was an e-mail allegedly from schoolteacher Katherine Windels, which read: "Please put your things in order because you will be killed and your families will also be killed due to your actions in the last 8 weeks. Please explain to them that this is because if we get rid of you and your families then it will save the rights of 300,000 people and also be able to close the deficit that you have created. I hope you have a good time in hell." She's been charged with two felony counts, including a bomb threat.

Funny, I haven't seen this reported at all.

You know what, batting .165, you're lucky you're playing at all, jackass.

Last I checked someone has to bat ninth. Typical Yankee BS.

Maybe he had the classic "Achmed Does Abottabad"... or the fetish-gratifying "Talibanned: Don't Touch My Jihad"

Jackass... don't rest in peace.

Rickie Weeks quietly hitting.295 with an OBP nearly .370... money well spent, Mr. A.

Harmon Killebrew has decided to go gently into that dark night, foregoing any additional treatment for esophageal cancer.

The former Washington Senator/long-time Twin/short-time Royal often goes forgotten when the game's greatest sluggers are discussed, but look at that '69 season... nice.

Rest gently, good sir, you've earned it.

Are the Bucks Far Behind?

Kohl announces he will not seek re-election.

Without a new arena, I just don't see how Kohl does not eventually sell the Bucks, spelling the end of Bango et al. With retirement coming, does he continue to pour his own money into the team? As much as it will upset my brother, I don't think he will.

Bill lamenting that Pujols wasn't running hard on the ball lost in the sun. I venture to wonder if Bill watches the game closely... Albert rarely hustles, which is something that can never be said about Fielder.

When did "as of late" replace "lately"? Is that supposed to sound more formal or educated? It makes people sound like an ass of the jack variety.

Happy Mother's Day

In honor of all mother's, I give you a classic Bill Hall moment... enjoy.

Batting Gomez second gives new meaning to the phrase "#2", a sentiment shared by many fans.

The Crew has struggled to find a second batter for years now, so why not remove the second batter & move everyone up? Weeks, Braun, Fielder, McGahee, Hart, etc. Give your best hitters more AB's.

Plushdamentals on hold for 2-4 weeks.

Boggs slyly accepts his AAA assignment & rejoins the Crew in St. Loo tonight.

Just got back from the customer's plant & I think those changes did the trick. Now I have to buy lunch for my team for all their great ideas. One more trip to General Labels tomorrow to watch a little more material & I can go home.

So where to eat in El Paso?

Dining at Fire Restaurant... this steak better be good, since it's price would fill my gas tsnk 3/4 full.

EDIT: It was so good I want to sew my ass shut!

Back in El Paso. Kinda strange to fly the day after we get bin Laden. My wife said this morning that when the news came in, the Mets/Phillies game was in the 9th, tied 1-1... numbers are fun.

On my way out of WI at CWA this morning, I got to watch an Honor Flight board & leave. The flight was full of WWII vets on their way to Washington, DC. Very cool & very humbling. I love those guys.

Anyway, here's a pic of sunrise at 17,000'

Fans in Philly at the PHI/NYM game let out a loud cheer & started chanting USA... what a country!

Bin Laden Dead

Osama, O-snuffed! Thank you to the military for being the best in the world & taking up the fight with scum like Bin Laden. A quick tip o' the cap to President Bush for starting it & to Obama for keeping it going.

Rickie with a triple on a ball that falls not far past Jay Bruce.

One thing that can never be said about Brewer batters is that they don't hustle.

Hart activated, Almonte to 7-day DL (seems he took one to the noggin in warm-ups).

Estrada hitting 95 on the gun early tonight. I would guess he's looking to make a nice impression as Greinke's return will push him out of the rotation. All in all, it's been a very solid showing from Marco, especially considering he didn't receive an invite to spring training.

Nice efficient inning by Marco. Losing to the Reds is what Pittsburgh must feel like when we play the Pirates.

Braun in Brewer Blue for a Decade

Didn't see that coming. I suppose I can put all the "we won't appreciate him 'til he's gone" stuff away now. So, tack on $105 mil from '16-'20, with an option for '21.

I found this statement very telling: And it all started, the Brewers say, with a casual chat initiated by Braun himself.
"The first thing you say is, 'Wow, really?'" principal owner Mark Attanasio said. "Especially with a player of his stature. It's a very big idea."

Here's a guy who is probably worth $25mil a year if he was a free agent, yet he WANTS to stay in Milwaukee. Several times he referenced the fans & their support. And, really, what a difference from Fielder. Prince has been counting his days 'til free agency since at least '08, yet Braunie happily signs a long term (and team-friendly) deal, again. Not to slap Fielder for what he deserves, but they're different persona's, different people.

The interesting part is that some of the money is deferred, meaning Braun could be getting paid until 2030 for all we know. His agent referenced that the sides "got creative" & it looks like Ryan is more than willing to take less now, for a chance to win.

I know my wife loves him, but I think, today, my man-crush grew as large as the Grinch's heart, post-Whoville. Thank you, Ryan, for doing what you do, day in & day out. You are a great representation of the Milwaukee Brewers baseball club and a helluva ballplayer.

FSN with a graphic on how good Braun has been since his debut in '07.

I've said it before, WI; we won't appreciate how historically phenomenal he is until he's gone.

As if I needed another reason to despise the "Protectors of the Game of Baseball"... Wow, when they decide to let loose they wear... wait for it... turtlenecks. Jump Back, Loretta!!

Stay cool, St. Loo.

I didn't think I could possibly care less about something until this came along... On the other hand, I've commented on it twice in a couple days, so what the hell do I know.

Has anyone else noticed the explosion in overall channel numbers since the parallel explosion of Celebutards?

Lucroy activated, Reed DFA'd

Interesting move by the Crew... But really not that odd. Almonte, Kotsay, Morgan in the OF as reserves (or starter-in-waiting in Morgan's case). Kottaras is a lefty bat off the bench who can probably pop 15 homers in 100 games played.

Part of roster construction is knowing what roles you have, which makes this a pretty solid move right now. Of course, when Hart comes back in 7-10 days something's gonna have to give. My vote would be getting rid of Kotsay, as he is no more than a 5th outfielder with no power & the Crew really has no use for one of those currently.

Does anyone in The New World really care what spoiled figureheads are doing galavanting around the UK? How is this even news?

I find myself watching Iron Chef: America lately, even though I have no idea what 90% of the cooking terms or dishes are. It's always fun to try & guess the secret ingredient.

Then again, maybe it's because Cat Cora's on the show sometimes... she could cook me cereal & I'd gladly call it world class cuisine.

Good luck to the Pens in the 1st round vs. Tampa. It looks like Crosby is out for this round, but could come back for round two.

Bylsma has done a phenomenal job without his 1-2 punch of Sid & Malkin, tied for 3rd in the NHL with 106 points. Good depth can overcome a lot, but they still need Crosby to make a run.

Thank goodness there's jagoff's like this looking after us... How in the world did I live this long under the direction of my clueless parents?

"I’m still going to continue to challenge him. I know he has success against me. F**k, he’s Ryan Braun, he has success against a lot of guys, you know?"
- Braves starter Tommy Hanson after Thursday's 4-2 loss to Milwaukee


Yes, indeed.

6 innings out of Estrada would be a good victory for the Crew. We'll see if it translates to a real win

That last pitch in the 2nd was filthy... keep the ball DOWN, Marco, and good things happen

Really, Almonte? The guy walks 3, should've been 4, and you swing at the first pitch...

Earnhardt Comes Oh So Close

Surprisingly, another exciting finish of the roundy-rounds yesterday. I don't know, if I hadn't won in 99 races, I probably would've punted the 29 like a football.

I recently got into a discussion with a Gordon fan that absolutely hates Dale Jr. for no particular reason other than who his father was. My reply was, rather sarcastically, that it's easy to hate a driver that is humble, takes blame, rarely whines,and is respectful.

Just look at yesterday. He got the front end in on Busch's rear panel & nudged him out of the way. Then apologized immediately after getting out of the car. He had the opportunity to do the same to Harvick & decided he didn't want to be that guy.

It's a shame the man is measured in wins & sleeps in his daddy's shadow, because he really is one of the great ambassador's of the sport. I have a feeling he's going to be twice the owner he could ever be as a driver.

Crew falls 2-1, Open up at 0-4

Well, that's not the best start to a season... On the other hand, if it was mid-May, it'd be a mini losing streak & no big deal. The season is so insanely long, there's plenty of time to change your fortunes.

I read that Saito had given up only 19 homers in 300 career innings & never 2 in one game, which tells me today's tough loss was another outlier (along with Marcum's 5 walks) & shouldn't be indicative of future performance.

On a positive note, could Rickie Weeks be any hotter to start a season? Goodness gracious, the ball must look like a cantaloupe.

Just remember, if we keep giving up 2 runs a game, we'll win well more than we'll lose. Patience, fellow Crewers, it's a long season.

I'm a rather odd bird as I enjoy cleaning the house, but has anyone else ever noticed this strange phenomena:

Eventually, your vaccuum needs a vaccuuming... somehow Seinfeld could've made this an entire episode.

Brewer channel change

Just an FYI, anyone looking for the Brewer game on FSWisconsin will see the Bucks instead. If you have Charter, they've put the game on channel 87, starting at 6:10.

Crew Falls 7-6 to Reds Late

Alright, so that was a crusher yesterday, but over 162 we'll win our share of those type of games, too. A couple thoughts:

- Axford needs to mix in more than 3 offspeed pitches. Too many straight fastballs isn't good.
- Casey needs to take the easiest out in the ninth. There are only 27 outs and each one is crucial, especially with a three run lead. Outs are premium.
- We signed Kotsay & kept him why? I'd rather have Joe Inglett back. Kotsay's bat just looked slow and, pardon the pun, lumbering.

On a good note, Mr. Braun was impressive at the dish. I don't know, maybe it's gas, but I have this feeling that as good as he's been, he's about to blast off. Age 27, cocky, workout fiend, cocky (did I say that already?). I've said it before WI, you'll never know how good he is until he's not here anymore. Simply special...

Opening Day '11!

This is the day that Abner Doubleday hath made!

...just remember, it's only .6% of the season.

Enjoy!

Brew Crew 2011

Alright, here it is... I'm sure you're all on the edge of your toilet seats waiting for it... Slicky's 2011 Brew Crew State of the Union:

First off, this team has little depth. We have stars (Braun, Fielder, Gallardo, Greinke, et al) and little else. We go as far as they go.

Second, the braintrust is essentially starting two players who have no business starting: Betancourt & Gomez. Trading for Morgan SHOULD push Gomez onto the bench, but I'm guessing it won't before May. As for Yuniesky, part of me thinks we could've gotten Hardy back cheap (at least the Eternal Optimist in me). Cruz elected to go to Texas, which doesn't kill me as he was no-hit, all-glove.. those dudes are a dime a dozen right now.

Third, all I've been hearing is the defense is pathetically under-average. This is a short-sighted view, as the '10 Crew was essentially average. The only newby is Betancourt, and while he is reviled as the worst SS in history, he actually outperformed Escobar last year. Albeit, that doesn't take into account balls Escy got to that Yuny will not. As a moderately talented ballplayer, I love defense... at this point, I'll give them the benefit of the doubt until I see different.

Fourth, we need health by the starters. Average starters needed is about 9 for a season and after our projected 5 we have Estrada, Rogers, maybe McClendon. Mitre? Parra? Can I have some depth!!!!

Lastly, I'm cautiously optimistic (as opposed to Mau's assessment that I'm the Eternal Optimist). We can hammer this Central Division. And it's about time the cards fall in our favor.

You know what, to hell with it, hope springs eternal... Brew Crew all the way in '11!

Matt Cooke Suspended; Pens Agree

Strong sentiment from the Pittsburgh ownership & front office.

I'll preface this with I am a Penguins fan, but it is nice to see the strong words from an owner are backed up by said owner & team brass when the rules affect their own players negatively. Then again, the owner is one Super Mario, so the effort to rid the game of needless injuries doesn't surprise me. He lost many a year from injuries, not just his back problems.

UW on to Round 2

So the Badgers stave off the majority upset pick (from what I was hearing/reading), pulling away from Belmont late in the first half.

UW is a tough team to beat when their shots fall, as evidenced by the loss to Penn State, where they couldn't find their behinds with both hands.

If they shoot well, they win. It's a pretty simple game sometimes.

Marcum Exits Early

Now Marcum is feeling shoulder tightness... If I was Roger Caplinger I'd be worried about being next myself. The man must be exhausted at this point.

Greinke MRI reveals hairline fracture in rib, out 2-4 weeks.

Looks like Amaury Rivas or McClendon may get an extended look the first couple weeks of the season, considering Rogers' shoulder issues. I would guess that all but assures Yo getting opening day.

I'm all for a game of hoops on the side, but players have to be smarter than this, or at the very least, report it so it gets it's due diligence immediately.

EDIT: Turns out Zach was forthcoming to the team at the time, so chalk one up to posting in frustration.

PBA Mark Roth Plastic Ball Championship

For those that think pro bowlers benefit from the engineering of modern bowling equipment, this is the event to watch, Sunday Noon CST on the 4-letter.

These dudes are Sick!

Quick Crew Thoughts 3/5

Trick photography or a skinny Prince... not that skinny Prince.

In other news, Takashi Saito may well be THE stabilizing force in the bullpen for the Crew this year.

I'm hoping for a speedy recovery for Manny as he seems to be the classic "million dollar arm, five cent head"-type. Let the opponent see him for one time through the order, then get him out of there. Also, with so much riding on the starters, he's a decent option for a spot start or two.

Was the Crew trying to lock up McGahee as a couple-year stopgap when Prince leaves?

If no one is reading Witrado's drivel, is there still drivel to be read?

Wausau West 5 - Middleton 0

Congratulations to the Warriors on a spectacular tournament & to Coach Susens on his first state title. Class team, class man. Highlight was young Mr. Poirier busting out the championship belt on Friday night.

And a special congrats to my buddy Grossy, one of the fine assistant coaches. Much props, dude.

WI State hockey

The old alma mater Wausau West is in the state finals today vs. Middleton at 2:15. I hear it will be played on WAOW if anyone is looking for something to watch.

Good luck to the young men & my friend Chris, one of the great coaches on Coach Susens' staff.

Is it just me or is Charlie Sheen more spastic than Michael J. Fox? Kids, the drugs can harm you.

On the other hand, why does everyone care so much? Other than Chuck making sure he's in the news 24/7, why should we care if he wants to party, be the meat in a half-pornstar, half-nanny sandwich, and talk out of his ass?

This may well be the start of the greatest reality TV ever... what's the over/under on a televised OD? I always said I'd start watching Survivor when it became about actually surviving: put these ying-yangs on an island & last one alive wins. Ricky Vaughn may be playing his own game of Survivor.

Brewer Spring Training Officially Begins Tuesday

I don't usually get worked up for ST. All it means is real baseball is coming soon. You'll inevitably hear stories about how so&so is in the best shape of his career, another guy is a pillar of his off-season community, and a manager will deem his team will be aggressive, yet patient, at the plate.

If it was any fluffier, you'd need to douse your computer in Snuggle.

Here's all you need to know: baseball's on it's way, the rest is just details.

WORLD CHAMPION, GREEN BAY PACKERS!!

So after a busy week, I finally have a chance to comment on Sunday's game. And what a game. Putting the onus on Rodger's to win it through the air (though, I think they could've run the ball more out of those spread looks. Starks had a very effective 11 carries).

I was a tad off on my Rodger's prediction, being short on the rushing total. I would've been way off had anyone held onto the ball in the middle of the game. He very well could've gone 450/5td's. Just an outstanding performance by what seems like a very grounded, respectable young man. I think he threw that late 3rd down pass to Jennings over the middle just to prove to people he could... that was a cocky throw, every bit as good as the kudo's they spew all over Peyton Manning. He was so good that Polamalu was a complete non-factor.

And did anyone else see the microcosm of the season with various key players going down & others stepping up? Jarrett Bush, of all people, doing a nice impersonation of C-Wood from the slot; Pat Lee going outside for Shields; Jordy, despite some drops, channeling his inner Don Beebe for a huge game. Credit McCarthy for changing his style late in the season & almost walking, talking, & coaching with an air of cockiness that his team fed off of.

Quite the season, quite the TEAM of men assembled by WI's favorite whipping boy (though I am on record as supporting TT from the start). From the guys we're getting back next year, I'm confident that with health, this could be special again. In the words of Kevin Greene... "It is time".

Super Bowl XLV eve

Welcome to the machine...

It's the eve of an unexpected GB Super Bowl appearance & I'm here to offer my pseudo-analyst, wanna-be-journalistic opinion for tomorrow. So sit back & come on in, the water's fine.

I've kept some distance from the hoopla this week to keep my mind pure in the hopes that I can process my thoughts, regardless of what my heart feels. I have 5 distinct points to make before my prediction, so here goes:

1. Kurt Warner did the dirty work. What I mean is, once AZ spread the Steeler's out in their SB, the rock started flying. Why I think this plays into GB's hands is Warner liked to hold the ball (probably an after-effect from his STL days). Rodger's can get the ball out extremely quickly to a multitude of receivers.
2. PIT D vs. GB D: Tough call. I actually give the PIT LB's the edge here, by a considerable margin. Polomalu & Woodson cancel each other out, making the GB tandem of Williams & Shields superior to PIT. Who gets the big TO, the big stop, the momentum swinger? There's the rub.
3. Mendenhall vs. Starks: Obviously, the untrained observer says Mendenhall, because the Pack has no running game. Pshaw, I say. The Pack is more balanced than given credit for, sticking with the run, regardless of success, yet having some. Still, I give PIT the edge here, but only because of the next point...
4. PIT will need to run more, because this isn't 2009 anymore & I'm just not sold on the "escapability" of Big Ben. GB will get to him & get him hard. And I think it will happen early, setting the tone for this...
5. I predict that Aaron Rodgers will turn in a top 5 SB performance, just a couple rungs down from Joe Montana's 4 TD & Steve Young's 6 TD games. This young man is on the precipice of greatness that I simply cannot fathom. Final line: 28/39 - 3 passing TD - 46 yds rushing - 1 rushing TD... all the way to the MVP.

Like I said, I've been tempering my enthusiasm to think this through and on the eve of SBXLV, it's clear to me (unless it's just gas) that the silver phallic trophy will be coming back to WI. Aaron will do for Donald Driver what Brett Favre did for Reggie White.

Final score: GB-38 PIT-30

Championship Eve

So here we are, same position as '07, yet somehow this feels different.

'07 was the last year of Favre, '10 is Rodger's chance to shine. So here is my take for 2pm CST 1/23/11:

1. Poor field or not, GB's 5 wideouts will certainly find open space against CHI's secondary.
2. While the field may slow both D's down, GB's schemes will get to Cutler more than CHI's 4-man will to Rodgers.
3. If GB stops Forte early, the game is over.
4. Who makes the first mistake? This may well determine the victor.
5. Aaron Rodgers is simply playing a different game than anyone else right now.

So there you have it. Sure, I could be wrong (just don't tell my wife), but I try to watch football with the same level head I watch baseball & I don't see any way the Packers are not moving on to SBXLV (or whatever the Romans say it is).

Anyhoo, GO PACK GO!

Amazing Bowling Shot

Some nights it just seems so easy...