Brewers SOUL CRUSH

Great opening day for 8 innings. Brewers looked as good as advertised, but the weaknesses that everyone was talking about reared their HIDEOUS head. Suspect defense, an unproven bullpen, a serious lack of depth. The golden child of last years disappointing season John "Stash" Axford shit the bed hanging a 93MPH fastball waist high in the 9th inning with two on. Shit decision by Lucroix, unless Axford just missed the pitch that badly. It sucked to watch a possible HUGE win to start the year get destroyed by one awful moment. Why couldn't the ball drift foul? Why couldn't the 3rd base ump give McGahee the tag-out call? It's little things that lose one game, but possibly, if it continues, ruin a very good, young team with little depth. You just have to hope Marcum and Greinke come back healthy and better than ever, but the bullpen absolutely HAS to improve. Who is going to come in and be untouchable for one inning a game? It seems like a painful season may be upon us, but maybe, just maybe they can hit their way through some rough patches and the group of starters can hide the bullpens inadequacies for awhile longer. Axford can't hang 93mph shit gut-high anymore, that I know is a fact.

Joe Louis, I had no idea

Two posts in one day, I clearly have very little going on today.

Joe Louis was a HUGE star, probably the first African-American celebrity, check that, probably second behind Jesse Owens. He knocked out Max Scherzer, probably got the name wrong, but he was the glowing vision of Hitler's Aryan race, Louis floored him in the first round and became an overnight sensation. He had 25 heavyweight title defenses, a feat that probably won't be equaled since now there's MAYBE 2 defenses in a year. The part that's awful: He signed up for the military, donated two $100,000 purses to the war effort, spent four years visiting troops while being enlisted, and through that time the IRS got after him for $500,000 in back taxes that they never forgave and forced him to pay until the day he died in 1981. He fought for WAY too long, had to do embarrassing public displays with his name, like a stint in pro wrestling and pimping ALL kinds of products, that really ruined his life. It was a SUPER sad story of how someone who would be a multi-millionaire today and widely praised by pretty much everyone was allowed to suffer for so many years. The IRS took away his kids' trust fund he set-up, would take entire purses from events he would do without telling him, they'd just show up and take the money. It was a brutal story of someone who was almost universally loved, but his personal sacrifices for the country he loved cost him greatly personally and financially.

The Brown Bomber, I'm glad to have learned more about you.

NCAA heartbreak

I'm watching the Kansas game absolutely beside myself with confusion on how Kansas can play so badly against an inferior team. 2/18 for 3's? What the fuck is going on here? FT's were just an abomination as well. The Morris brother's played as bad as possible. The only reason I care is I just noticed in at least one of my brackets I'd win big money with KU winning the national title. I had UCONN, Kansas, UNC, and Pitt, with UNC vs. Kansas, painfully Kansas beating the Tar Heels because I try my best to not let emotions get in the way of picking. I thought I was on the road to cash money, but now I noticed I'm dicked because Kansas can't do SHIT. If anyone gets a perfect bracket this year, it's from smoking meth for several hours before filling out a bracket. You may remember VCU from the play-in game, normally an afterthought after that team gets the shit kicked out of them in the first round game. You may remember Butler as the team that UW-Milwaukee beat twice this year. What in the fuck is going on?

Side note: If they use the Jennifer Hudson "One Shining Moment" instead of Luther Vandross, I will break something, I have yet to determine what, but remote control, or PS3 controller are currently the front-runners.

To answer a question, I can praise the Fab Five while being disappointed with the Heat because college kids playing with their friends at a school is a little different than getting paid millions to do it. Kid playing together on a college team they all grew up idolizing is different than crushing your entire home state. It's a totally different situation, under totally different circumstances.

Midnight Cowboy

The best picture of 1969 was a strange slice of life picture depicting a naive, way too nice, wanna-be gigolo from TX who moves to New York to become a hustler, a man of the night. He thinks old women beg to have sex with young, cowboy-looking studs. Dustin Hoffman does an amazing job as a crippled hustler with whooping cough. He has a limp and sleezes through life without a job or purpose of any kind other than making it another day. It's really sad to see Voight getting crushed by New York. He is the farthest from smart that he can be. Hoffman originally tricks Voight, then becomes his only friend and roommate. They live in squalor together squatting in an abandoned building without heat or water. Small victories include donating blood for money and stealing a hat. It is a series of punches to the groin. It was groundbreaking at the time, splicing memories and trippy moments together. I really wasn't a fan, but I guess 42 years after the fact can age a movie.

Bottom Line: 6.7 out of 10. Strong acting and cinematography, but I really don't like a two hour series of punches to the gut.

Fab Five, I FINALLY SAW IT

What a terrific documentary about what has to be one of the most influential and incredible teams ever. A group of 18 year old kids, 4 top-11 recruits, another the #46 ranked player in the nation. Not only was it incredible for any recruiting class, but a class with SO much talent. The ability of that team, highlighted by Chris Webber, a once in a lifetime talent, to end up together was such an accomplishment for Michigan, and Juwan Howard, the guy who brought everyone else together. It's unfathomable to think of another Fab Five. A cultural revolution of teenagers who refused to be anyone but themselves. It makes me want to read the novel Fab Five again, to soak in all the significance and to further honor what five best friends accomplished, not only in the basketball world, but in our culture. Can anyone else remember who wore baggy shorts before the Fab Five? Or who had black socks and shoes before the Fab Five? It didn't happen before they blew it up. My brother was ALL OVER the Fab Five. Black Nike socks and shoes, that was all that was acceptable. Shorts a minimum of 2 sizes too big, which was great for me growing up knowing I was bigger as an 8th grader than my brother as a senior.

What's also incredible is the closeness and pain they suffered together at such a young age. I can't imagine what would have happened if I would have lost at team state as a senior when we clearly had the best team. My last football game ever was lost to a better team, something you never want to admit, but you accept a LOT easier than losing to someone you KNOW you should beat. It is a haunting I thank God I don't know the feeling of. Twice they made the Finals, twice they lost. The Buffalo Bills, arguably the Atlanta Braves, though they did win one, are the only situations I can compare to that situation where they return to a title game as favorites, only to lose painfully. I also have to mention how pissed off I am to notice that the Fab Five has been interrupted by the fucking NIT and I can hardly see the screen due to blinding rage.

Wrapping things up: If you liked the documentary, read the book Fab Five (I think it's by Mitch Albom), it's a great, in depth look at someone who spent a lot of time with that special team.

Philadelphia

I sat around after college basketball and decided to soak in a heavy, emotional movie showcasing two young superstars at their best in Denzel Washington and Tom Hanks. The movie is the soul-crushing story of Tom Hanks, a young-gun star attorney who contracts AIDS and is fired for his troubles. Denzel Washington comes in as the only lawyer who will take his case because his virus scares everyone else away. Hanks is simply amazing, as is the backdrop of Philadelphia, Bruce Springsteen's beautiful song that starts the film entitled "The Streets of Philadelphia, the backdrop of Philadelphia itself, and the other performances, especially Antonio Banderas and Denzel Washington. Washington's dislike, sometimes borderline hatred of homosexuals is confirmed, and evaporated all in the same film. The incredibly complex issue of homosexuality and AIDS is thrown to the forefront and examined through different viewpoints. The movie is a powerhouse of emotion and great acting throughout. A movie that earned Oscar nods for song, film, and acting is clearly worth seeing. Nothing is as painful as watching Hanks deteriorate, or his family support him throughout and make their last good-byes through the hospital. It's a must-see film for all the right reasons, just keep your kleenex handy.

Bottom Line: 9.8 out of 10. It is simply amazing in all aspects. A must-see film, even though it isn't going to entertain you all the time, the emotion and talent on display is some of the best you'll ever see in your lifetime.

Tournament time

It is an amazing time of year. The NBA is winding down, baseball is just beginning, the NFL is fucking up everything, and college basketball begins a magical stretch that captivates us all. I took off of work Th. and Fri. to enjoy all that is March Madness. I am going to watch basketball for four days and be completely captivated and not bored in anyway. I have watched the least amount of college basketball this year than I have at any other point in the last 6 years. I'm hoping that will help my bracket out since I thought I had some clue what was going on in years past and have proven time and time again that I don't know shit. I do know that every year at least one 12 seed knocks off a 5 and one seeds always fall before you think they should. I'm going to just sit and enjoy all the games for two straight days and I can't wait.

I'm watching Platoon again and I always get caught up with how good the cast is. You rarely see an actor in Platoon that you haven't seen in couple of other features or tv shows. Headlining is Charlie Sheen, Tom Berenger, Willem Defore, but backing them up in minor roles are John C. Mcginley, Johnny Depp, Forest Whitaker, and Kevin "Johnny Drama" Dillon. I will watch it with Oliver Stone's commentary next time around to soak it all in. I still count it as one of the best war films of all-time. It's just an honest portrayal of parts of war that doesn't get shown without any glamorization. It's a must see film, it's just that simple.

HEAT

Not the Miami kind, who I still think will figure it out for the playoffs, but the great movie with Pacino and De Niro. I watched it again and was just mesmerized at how beautifully the movie was done. The cinematography is just fantastic, which is a classy was of saying it looks gorgeous. The acting is amazing, with Pacino and De Niro at their finest, which is incredible to watch. I forgot how well done the film is and was excited to post up and remind people to check it out. It's hard to classify it because it's a character study, but an action/heist movie as well. It's so large in scope and does such a great job of making you a part of the characters lives while not being boring about it. One of the best done action films ever and the reason Michael Mann keeps getting work.

NCAA tourney time and baseball are upon us and WI, for the first time, has some things to be excited about. With the emergence of Jordan Taylor as Alpha Male and Gassert's continued improvement the Badgers will be a tough out in the tournament. With no great teams floating around, it once again is a fairly wide open year. The Brewers have assembled one of the best staffs in baseball and if Marcum, Greinke, Gallardo, Wolf, and Parra (joke) stay healthy it's almost impossible to think the Brewers will miss the postseason. You just hope for continued development from their young core and that playing for a contender will make Betancourt play at a higher level than usually. Fielder will be impossible to unload and will be a painful loss. The compensation will not be worth it and he will leave a hole in the middle of the lineup that will be tough to replace. Gamel will need to develop a lot before he'd be ready to play every day at first base and produce at the plate. Carlos Gomez absolutely needs to step it up at the plate. If he can't figure it out, it's going to be rough having a CF hitting .240 again. It's time to start praying Axford can return to last years form immediately because I don't want to have to find a different closer on the fly. Reasons to be excited though for baseball in WI for the first time since the Sabathia deal.

Reflecting on Tragedy

I just had a friend lose a 31, or 32 year old brother to freak fall down basement stairs. The same basement stairs I grew up running up and down like a bat out of hell. It was just another sobering moment along the rode of life letting us remember that tomorrow isn't promised. A sobering reminder that there are more important things than possessions and hobbies. It reminded me that people are fragile, no matter how tough. It was a blindsiding moment that a perfectly healthy young man is now gone to this world. There are 3 children, ages 13, 8, and 6 that now don't have a dad in their lives. It's a now single mother who is in charge of taking care of three children without her husband. I found myself near tears on a car ride Saturday unable to really think of much else. Memories of my own mom's death bombarding me on top of the natural empathy I have for all the family members involved that I know. I can't even imagine having to deal with my brother, the same age, all of the sudden not being here anymore. It was a reminder to call my family, remind them I love them and remind yourself not to take anything for granted. It's just been so bleak because there isn't silver lining to be found. Nate's death wasn't an end to suffering from a horrible disease, but something as random as getting hit by lightning. This blog is more therapy than anything for myself, but I hope if you do read it you keep your own family, friends and loved ones closer after reading it. Also, use it as a reminder to be there for friends who have lost loved ones. The pain doesn't end after the funeral. Everyone recovers differently, in both length of time and ways of coping. I believe you never really recover, but are forever altered. I want everyone to know the importance of going to the funeral and visitations. I can't begin to explain how a friendly face of a friend, even someone you may not talk to on a regular basis, or have even seen for a year, can make you feel so much better for that brief period of time. I got a handwritten letter from a friend after my mom's death I saved to this day because it was so well done and meaningful to me. I doubt you read this, but thanks Adam, your letter meant a lot. I encourage everyone to attend Nate's funeral, if you don't know what I'm talking about, then don't attend, but if you do I can't stress the importance enough. Knowing that many people will lift you up when you feel like laying down means the world to you.

"Perhaps they are not stars but rather openings where our loved ones shine down to let us know they are happy and looking down on us."

One night I dreamed I was walking along the beach with the Lord.
Many scenes from my life flashed across the sky.
In each scene I noticed footprints in the sand.
Sometimes there were two sets of footprints,
other times there were one set of footprints.

This bothered me because I noticed
that during the low periods of my life,
when I was suffering from
anguish, sorrow or defeat,
I could see only one set of footprints.

So I said to the Lord,
"You promised me Lord,
that if I followed you,
you would walk with me always.
But I have noticed that during
the most trying periods of my life
there have only been one
set of footprints in the sand.
Why, when I needed you most,
you have not been there for me?"

The Lord replied,
"The times when you have
seen only one set of footprints,
is when I carried you."

Issues Aplenty

I really am not sure how to take the teachers striking. I'm really not a fan of unions since people are not forced into horrible and unsafe working conditions anymore, but understand that there is a security in having the union negotiate your contracts. Why can't teachers be treated like the private sector? Why can't good teachers, even if they are younger and less experienced, make more money than older teachers who suck and don't care? The pay cut and benefits is pretty harsh, but it is a reality that everyone else deals with. I think it needs to be stated that everyone will be cut back, Government employees are just first on the chopping block. Wage freezes and layoffs have abused the private and public sector for the last three years, but we still aren't out of the woods.
Until we are bringing in more money than we are spending, we aren't going in the right direction. It's a simple concept, but for some reasons tax hikes aren't brought up as an idea to resolve some of the issues. Taxes suck, but realize that your money does go for helpful things, like helping us pay off some of the $900 billion in debt China Lords over us with. Striking is the part that bothers me the most. Why pay union reps you're fighting for? Save some money and handle that shit yourselves and make teaching a performance based profession.