Tuesday, January 29, 2008
Sunday, January 27, 2008
comments to blogs & emails to bloggers
In the week this blog has been open, I've posted six times. I'm not sure I really expected anyone to read my blog. But somehow, traffic is present, because I'm getting emails about my blogs. That's OK, but I think I expected the comments to be posted in the comment section and not sent to me by email. So far, I've received derogatory comments about my not liking "Missing You", a 1982 song appearing on Dan Fogelberg's Greatest Hits, condolences about Jennifer with assurances that my faith will see me through, a searing message about my Dan Fogelberg Real Doll post accusing me of blasphemy and berating me for unseemly commments on the recently deceased, two emails from Alabama football fans relating personal experiences about Bear Bryant, two requests from females (I think) wanting me to send, or post a picture of me without a shirt on, and six other emails with such a lack of content that it made me wonder why the person even took the time to send it.
Now I'd like to make a suggestion. If you want to comment on my blog, please post it in the comment section so everyone can enjoy it or take pot shots at it. If you want to take a pot shot at me, fine. It won't bother me. But have the courage to do it publicly so others can judge your ideas and comment on them. So far, I've only responded to the emails by thanking them for visiting the blog and encouraging them to comment publicly. Especially the two Bear Bryant emails deserved public show; I think everyone should get to read them, so, guys, if you're reading this, post them under the comments. OK? I won't post the comments for you. I understand the condolence email being personal, but even that one had good thoughts that everyone could use.
As to those emails chiding me for my comments about Dan Fogelberg, I urge you to make those public so people can see what you said. Contrary to what most of you said, I am a Fogelberg aficionado, sans equal, and I am entitled to comment if I was not particularly fond of one of his songs. I don't particularly like The Power of Gold, either, but he's got one hundred ten songs that I consider my favorites. When I list my favorite songs, my list always begins: #111. Still the Same - Bob Seger Then I list some Supertramp, some more Seger, some Eagles and a few more. More than my top hundred are Fogelberg, so I'm a fan. I didn't consider writing about a Dan Fogelberg doll on stage to be either malicious or defaming Dan's memory.
For years, I've heard things like, "Dan could just come sit on stage for an hour without opening his mouth, and I'd still buy a ticket," or, as one particularly devoted DanFan used to say, "It'd be worth the price of a ticket if Dan just walked out on the stage, picked his nose, and walked away." Somehow, I resisted the urge to ask him whether he'd pay extra if Dan flipped the content into the audience. I imagine my friend would have said he would have dived for it and fought, if necessary. He never stopped bragging about the hot summer night when he was sitting front row center and, at the end, Dan came to the front of the stage, bowed, wiped his brow with his hand, then did a "flourish" to the crowd with that same hand. He claimed that he felt "at least ten sweat pellets hit my forearm and hand" and proudly displayed a ticket which he said contained two of the pellets. So far, he has denied my request to take the ticket to the D.A.'s office for DNA testing. Frankly, I think it may be his own perspiration. Why else would he be withholding evidence from me?
Now I'd like to make a suggestion. If you want to comment on my blog, please post it in the comment section so everyone can enjoy it or take pot shots at it. If you want to take a pot shot at me, fine. It won't bother me. But have the courage to do it publicly so others can judge your ideas and comment on them. So far, I've only responded to the emails by thanking them for visiting the blog and encouraging them to comment publicly. Especially the two Bear Bryant emails deserved public show; I think everyone should get to read them, so, guys, if you're reading this, post them under the comments. OK? I won't post the comments for you. I understand the condolence email being personal, but even that one had good thoughts that everyone could use.
As to those emails chiding me for my comments about Dan Fogelberg, I urge you to make those public so people can see what you said. Contrary to what most of you said, I am a Fogelberg aficionado, sans equal, and I am entitled to comment if I was not particularly fond of one of his songs. I don't particularly like The Power of Gold, either, but he's got one hundred ten songs that I consider my favorites. When I list my favorite songs, my list always begins: #111. Still the Same - Bob Seger Then I list some Supertramp, some more Seger, some Eagles and a few more. More than my top hundred are Fogelberg, so I'm a fan. I didn't consider writing about a Dan Fogelberg doll on stage to be either malicious or defaming Dan's memory.
For years, I've heard things like, "Dan could just come sit on stage for an hour without opening his mouth, and I'd still buy a ticket," or, as one particularly devoted DanFan used to say, "It'd be worth the price of a ticket if Dan just walked out on the stage, picked his nose, and walked away." Somehow, I resisted the urge to ask him whether he'd pay extra if Dan flipped the content into the audience. I imagine my friend would have said he would have dived for it and fought, if necessary. He never stopped bragging about the hot summer night when he was sitting front row center and, at the end, Dan came to the front of the stage, bowed, wiped his brow with his hand, then did a "flourish" to the crowd with that same hand. He claimed that he felt "at least ten sweat pellets hit my forearm and hand" and proudly displayed a ticket which he said contained two of the pellets. So far, he has denied my request to take the ticket to the D.A.'s office for DNA testing. Frankly, I think it may be his own perspiration. Why else would he be withholding evidence from me?
Saturday, January 26, 2008
Bear Bryant - 25 years later
The morning newspaper had a 2-page tribute to Bear Bryant, who died 25 years ago today. If I had to make a list of the Ten People I Most Admired in my Life, Bear Bryant would be in there. I don't know who the other nine would be, but Bear's in there for sure. I bet Coach Bryant was responsible for more NCAA football rule changes than any other coach. Every year, he'd have a new trick play for the Tennessee game, a play nobody had ever used anywhere before, except maybe in sandlot. It was usually good for a touchdown, and for the remaining month of the season, you'd see other teams trying it. Then the NCAA Rules Committee would create new rules so you couldn't do it anymore.
The man was a genius with the rules. He knew how far he could go with his trick plays and stay within the rules. It was comical, almost, except to Tennessee fans, that he'd have a special play for Tennessee, every year. In 1976 or 77, I think (it's hard to remember), he didn't really need the trick play to beat the Vols, but he used it anyway. Leading 26-7 in Knoxville with just over two minutes left to play in the game, the Bear unveiled one of his yet unforeseen plays to increase the lead to 32-7, resulting in a long chorus of "boooooo" from the Orange faithful.
Then the Crimson Tide lined up and went for two instead of kicking an extra point.
More boos.
The attempt failed, but the boos continued.
After the game, Coach Bryant explained, "We have a chart that tells us when to kick the extra point and when to go for two," and dismissed it with that.
As one Volunteer fan pointed out: "We had two minutes and ten seconds. If we had somehow scored three times and gone for two, successfully, each time, in that two minutes and ten seconds, Alabama would still have led 33-31, if they'd've kicked the extra point. But if we had scored four times and kicked an extra point each time, and Alabama hadn't scored again after a successful two-point conversion, Tennessee would have won by 35-34. So why in the world did they go for two except to rile the fans?"
Gotta love Bear Bryant. He had a reason for special treatment for Tennessee.
But that's another post. Stay tuned.
[p.s. - this is a memory from 30 years ago, and I'm in my sixties and too lazy to look up the details, so if you can correct any faulty memory I have, feel free to do so in Comments, below, but what I've posted is the gist of what happened - B.E.]
The man was a genius with the rules. He knew how far he could go with his trick plays and stay within the rules. It was comical, almost, except to Tennessee fans, that he'd have a special play for Tennessee, every year. In 1976 or 77, I think (it's hard to remember), he didn't really need the trick play to beat the Vols, but he used it anyway. Leading 26-7 in Knoxville with just over two minutes left to play in the game, the Bear unveiled one of his yet unforeseen plays to increase the lead to 32-7, resulting in a long chorus of "boooooo" from the Orange faithful.
Then the Crimson Tide lined up and went for two instead of kicking an extra point.
More boos.
The attempt failed, but the boos continued.
After the game, Coach Bryant explained, "We have a chart that tells us when to kick the extra point and when to go for two," and dismissed it with that.
As one Volunteer fan pointed out: "We had two minutes and ten seconds. If we had somehow scored three times and gone for two, successfully, each time, in that two minutes and ten seconds, Alabama would still have led 33-31, if they'd've kicked the extra point. But if we had scored four times and kicked an extra point each time, and Alabama hadn't scored again after a successful two-point conversion, Tennessee would have won by 35-34. So why in the world did they go for two except to rile the fans?"
Gotta love Bear Bryant. He had a reason for special treatment for Tennessee.
But that's another post. Stay tuned.
[p.s. - this is a memory from 30 years ago, and I'm in my sixties and too lazy to look up the details, so if you can correct any faulty memory I have, feel free to do so in Comments, below, but what I've posted is the gist of what happened - B.E.]
Jennifer Bozeman
This morning, I received word that Jennifer died three days ago. She was only 37 and was an avid DanFan from the time she was a little girl. There was never a sweeter little girl on this earth and she stayed sweet when she grew up, but the old bad leukemia came along and did her in. I don't really know exactly how this works, but I expect she's gotten to meet Dan by now. I can't help but smile when I think of that pretty face and sweet spirit.
I love you, Jennifer. Heaven's even brighter now. See you there.
Love,
me
I love you, Jennifer. Heaven's even brighter now. See you there.
Love,
me
Dan Fogelberg realdoll
Could they make a Dan Fogelberg realdoll? Knowing fans the way I do, if they just sat one in one of those collapsible travel chairs on a Navahoise carpet and played Fogelberg music in the background, they'd sell a lot of tickets.
Wednesday, January 23, 2008
Woooo--oo I'm missing you
"...I'm getting closer, but I don't know what to,
Wooooo-oooo, I'm missing you..."
A simplistic Fogelberg song, but with a bit of rock beat. Dan performed it with Dave's band, on Dave Letterman. Now it's on YouTube - the clip from Letterman's show, i.e. I never particularly liked the song, but it made #23 on the Hot 100 chart, so somebody liked it! Also on YouTube is the 1990 performance of Rhythm of the Rain on the Tonight Show with Johnny Carson. Additionally, some of the songs from the Live Soundstage performance and from Greetings from the West can be seen on You Tube.
And then, you can see some really stupid performances by people who can't sing and can't play. I guess sort of a reverse tribute?
Wooooo-oooo, I'm missing you..."
A simplistic Fogelberg song, but with a bit of rock beat. Dan performed it with Dave's band, on Dave Letterman. Now it's on YouTube - the clip from Letterman's show, i.e. I never particularly liked the song, but it made #23 on the Hot 100 chart, so somebody liked it! Also on YouTube is the 1990 performance of Rhythm of the Rain on the Tonight Show with Johnny Carson. Additionally, some of the songs from the Live Soundstage performance and from Greetings from the West can be seen on You Tube.
And then, you can see some really stupid performances by people who can't sing and can't play. I guess sort of a reverse tribute?
Tuesday, January 22, 2008
Dan Fogelberg's Grave
Somebody posted yesterday that she listed The Wild Places, a 1990 Fogelberg CD, for sale on Amazon at $30+. A stranger emailed her and said that "profiteering" from Dan's death was akin to spitting on his grave. She blogged it, and I had to chime in that Dan was cremated so her charging $30+ would have to be akin to something other than spitting on his grave, since there was no grave to spit on.
Dan wouldn't have given a big hairy Maine Coon's tail how much somebody charged for a used CD. He wouldn't have given it a second thought. I agree with the blogger, whose web name is The Naked Tapdancer, that somebody got his dander up inappropriately. The guy will really be upset if he reads my comment, and I expect an email from him. If I get one, I'll try to console him with words from Dan. I think he'll be upset to read that I said if The Naked Tapdancer had spit on the crematory fire, it probably wouldn't have made much of a dent in the occasion. And he'll really get upset that I opined that Dan would probably have liked for her to tapdance naked on his grave, had one been available.
Dan Fogelberg was quite simply the best singer these ears ever had the opportunity to experience. He was the best songwriter, the best multi-instumentalist, and the best all-around eclectic musician I've ever known.
His music was magic.
His concerts often left me spellbound and speechless.
He did it his way, and he just didn't seem to get hung up on the small stuff.
Dan lived well.
Sail on, Dan.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
With admiration beyond expression,
Just One, of a legion of fans
Dan wouldn't have given a big hairy Maine Coon's tail how much somebody charged for a used CD. He wouldn't have given it a second thought. I agree with the blogger, whose web name is The Naked Tapdancer, that somebody got his dander up inappropriately. The guy will really be upset if he reads my comment, and I expect an email from him. If I get one, I'll try to console him with words from Dan. I think he'll be upset to read that I said if The Naked Tapdancer had spit on the crematory fire, it probably wouldn't have made much of a dent in the occasion. And he'll really get upset that I opined that Dan would probably have liked for her to tapdance naked on his grave, had one been available.
Dan Fogelberg was quite simply the best singer these ears ever had the opportunity to experience. He was the best songwriter, the best multi-instumentalist, and the best all-around eclectic musician I've ever known.
His music was magic.
His concerts often left me spellbound and speechless.
He did it his way, and he just didn't seem to get hung up on the small stuff.
Dan lived well.
Sail on, Dan.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
With admiration beyond expression,
Just One, of a legion of fans
The Big Ehlo
Introduction: The Big Ehlo here. I am a 230 pound former point guard/nose guard for Stratford. I do odd jobs around the neighborhood to help out even if nobody asks me to I can throw a perfect spiral football pass for 30 yards or less and heave it 60 yards but the spiral gets a little wobbly at 60 yards. On Friday nights, you can see me at John Paul II games beating my upside down white bucket on the front row of the student section. I'm the only non-student they let sit there. I bench press 450 and clean and jerk 350. I'm as good a friend as anybody could ask for.
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