In 1984 at 16 years old I fell into The Doors. They seemed like such an ancient band, but truth is they had only been away from the scene for around 10 years, and Ray Manzerek who seemed like an old man to me at the time was only 45. When I read of his death today I thought about what a jerky 16 year old I was and I felt the need to apologize to Manzarek for me and for all the others like me.
In 1984 it was easy to find Manzerek talking about The Doors. He was trying to keep their legacy alive and to make it a richer, fuller legacy than just Jim Morrison's band. Funny thing is at 16 I viewed Manzarek as a guy who was trying to build credit for himself when really all the glory did belong to Morrison. Of course now that I'm almost 45 and a bit smarter I can understand what Manzarek and the other band members contributed to The Doors. I can also better appreciate how frustrating Manzarek must have felt at 34 when Morrison died and The Doors died too. Forever caught in the undertoe of the turmoil Morrison had created Manzarek, John Densmore, and Robby Krieger were left to only talk about what had been.
Even that probably isn't fair as these guys continued to exist in the world of muic, Krieger just put out an album in 2010, but they would never again find themselves at the top of the music scene as they had been with The Doors.
It must be incredibly frustrating to be a part of something like The Doors and come to realize you are at the mercy of someone who can't seem to show any self control, and you know in your heart it will not last and it will end quickly and tragically. Of course Manzerek did make it to the top and got to tell his side of the story for many years after the band was no more and for that I'm happy for Ray Manzerek. All too often people, like I did, look at The Doors and only see Jim Morrison, but what Manzerek, Densmore, and Krieger created musically to bring Morrison's lyrics too life are perhaps one of the most underrated pieces of rock history. It's the whole package that made The Doors such an influential band and that grabbed 16 year old kids like me in 1984 to their sound. I understand that now and I'm sorry for not getting it sooner.
Rest in peace Ray Manzerek.
Tuesday, May 21, 2013
Monday, May 20, 2013
Prayers for Oklahoma
Almost every spring, we get terrible stories about the weather in rural America. Today, our thoughts and prayers go out to Oklahoma, which is suffering horribly from a scourge of tornadoes. Personally, there is nothing on earth that I find more terrifying and discouraging than a tornado, which always seems to come from a more evil planet. I once spent several months in Oklahoma City, and I was moved by the kindliness and faith of Oklahomans. They are a brave people, and they will have to be brave today, and for some time to come.
Tornadoes remind me of that moment in First Kings where Elijah is about to give up on his ministry, only to find that God is not in the great and strong wind:
And He said, "Go forth, and stand upon the mount before the Lord."
And behold, the Lord passed by, and a great and strong wind rent the mountains, and brake in pieces the rocks before the Lord; but the Lord was not in the wind:
And after the wind an earthquake; but the Lord was not in the earthquake:
And after the earthquake a fire; but the Lord was not in the fire:
And after the fire a still small voice.
I Kings 19:11-12
I am certain that the Lord is not in tornadoes, and I hope that the folks in Oklahoma can hear the still, small voice. And I pray that they are consoled by the knowledge that someday, we won't have to fear the weather:
And I saw a new heaven and a new earth:
For the first heaven and the first earth were passed away;
And there was no more sea.
And I John saw the holy city, New Jerusalem,
Coming down from God out of Heaven,
Prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.
And I heard a great voice out of Heaven, saying,
"Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men,
And He will dwell with them,
And they shall be His people,
And God Himself shall be with them, and be their God.
"And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes;
And there shall be no more death,
Neither sorrow,
Nor crying,
Neither shall there be any more pain:
For the former things are passed away."
Revelation 21:1-4
Tornadoes remind me of that moment in First Kings where Elijah is about to give up on his ministry, only to find that God is not in the great and strong wind:
And He said, "Go forth, and stand upon the mount before the Lord."
And behold, the Lord passed by, and a great and strong wind rent the mountains, and brake in pieces the rocks before the Lord; but the Lord was not in the wind:
And after the wind an earthquake; but the Lord was not in the earthquake:
And after the earthquake a fire; but the Lord was not in the fire:
And after the fire a still small voice.
I Kings 19:11-12
I am certain that the Lord is not in tornadoes, and I hope that the folks in Oklahoma can hear the still, small voice. And I pray that they are consoled by the knowledge that someday, we won't have to fear the weather:
And I saw a new heaven and a new earth:
For the first heaven and the first earth were passed away;
And there was no more sea.
And I John saw the holy city, New Jerusalem,
Coming down from God out of Heaven,
Prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.
And I heard a great voice out of Heaven, saying,
"Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men,
And He will dwell with them,
And they shall be His people,
And God Himself shall be with them, and be their God.
"And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes;
And there shall be no more death,
Neither sorrow,
Nor crying,
Neither shall there be any more pain:
For the former things are passed away."
Revelation 21:1-4
Album Review: Annie Up by Pistol Annies
The first Pistol Annies album was a fun and enjoyable album, but it felt thrown together in a studio. Three people coming together independent of each other to make an album. This latest album sounds like an album from a band. The sound, the tone of the songs, the performances are fully flushed out and so overnight you are looking at probably the best band in country music today. Again the women take turns in the lead, or sing as a group. Once again they are all contributing as songwriters. But this time they come across as a single entity Pistol Annies instead of three individuals working together. It's quite a change and makes for a pretty good album.
There isn't a weak track here and the album flows together from start to finish with a cohesive sound. There are plenty of songs here that will catch your ear and I could see this being an album I come back to over time.
Unless these women sit down and decide to produce some country concept album it's hard to believe they will get any better than this. It's also hard to imagine they will be able to continue as a group long term because of their individual obligations. If they are touring around I would say go catch their act as it is unlikely they will get any better than what they are right now.
I often complain about the Nashville touch on albums and it is completely missing from this one. If I understand it properly this album was produced by the Pistol Annies. All the songs were written by the Pistol Annies. They essentially got in the studio with their backing band and recorded this live. It shows their talent and makes for something that feels refreshing. When I reviewed their last album I said it made me think longingly of Freakwater or Loretta Lynn. I'm happy to hold this album up on the same level as Freakwater or Loretta Lynn.
It may not be fair, but you have to give real credit here to Miranda Lambert. She does not need the Pistol Annies to be successful, but she obviously is enjoying it. Anytime a big time artist like Lambert is willing to push herself into areas that grows her as an artist and pushes her own ego back a bit I'm impressed and it should be noted.
Following the Rhapsody rating method I give it 3 out of 5 stars for Pretty Good.
More Evidence of Problems at UNC
I can't even imagine what would happen to UK if the folks in Lexington were caught doing stuff like this:
The university’s initial investigation, covering a recent five-year period, found nine bogus classes that appeared to have been set up by {Debbie} Crowder. Athletes accounted for all but eight of the 56 students enrolled, including 31 football players and eight basketball players.
The university’s initial investigation, covering a recent five-year period, found nine bogus classes that appeared to have been set up by {Debbie} Crowder. Athletes accounted for all but eight of the 56 students enrolled, including 31 football players and eight basketball players.
Sunday, May 19, 2013
Ken Venturi, 1931-2013
Very few athletes have had a career that was more dramatic -- or more frustrating -- than Ken Venturi. Venturi came very, very close to being one of the greatest golfers of all time. In 1956, when he was a 24-year-old amateur, he led the Masters after the first round, the second round, and the third round. With 18 holes to play, he led the tournament by four shots. With nine holes to go, he could have shot 40 on the back nine and won the title. Instead, he shot a 42, giving him an 80 for his last round. He lost the title by one shot to Jack Burke, Jr. No other amateur has ever come so close to winning the Masters.
A few months later, still an amateur, he finished 8th in the U.S. Open.
At the end of 1956, he turned pro and was an immediate success, winning 10 tournaments from 1957 to 1960. But he couldn't quite break through in the majors. In 1958, he was in a very good position to win the Masters, but bogeyed 14, 15, and 16 in the last round to fall back, finishing two shots behind Arnold Palmer. In 1960, he was the clubhouse leader by one shot over Palmer, who only had two holes left to play. Palmer birdied both holes to beat Venturi by one shot. Venturi also had top-10 finishes in the 1957 U.S. Open, the 1959 PGA, and the 1960 PGA. Still, he was regularly described as a leading player, and it was surely just a matter of time before he added some major titles to his many PGA victories.
But in 1961, minor injuries resulting from an automobile accident affected his swing, and he stopped winning. For three years, from 1961 to 1963, he did not win a single tournament. In 1964, however, he suddenly returned to his old form. After three rounds at the U.S. Open, Venturi was near the top of the leaderboard. Unfortunately, his body was breaking down. Back then, the U.S. Open was played over three days, with the players having to play 36 holes on the last day. The 1964 Open was at Congressional Country Club, near Washington, D.C., and the temperatures were in the 100's. Venturi was suffering dehydration, and doctors warned him that he might not survive the last round. Venturi played on anyway. Stumbling from hole to hole, in a mental fog that made it difficult for him to add up his own score, he played the round of his life -- shooting a 70 to win the U.S. Open by four shots.
Venturi's dramatic victory galvanized the country, and became one of the legendary stories of gold history. Venturi won two other tournaments in 1964, and finished 5th at the PGA, proving that his win was no fluke. Sports Illustrated named him Sportsman of the Year. At the age of 33, he should have had at least 10 more good years ahead of him.
In fact, his career was effectively over -- he had developed carpal tunnel syndrome in both wrists. Surgeries eventually reversed the condition, but he never again played at a high level. It was a heartbreaking conclusion for a golfer who had already suffered so much heartbreak.
Remarkably, however, Venturi was on the verge of a new and even greater career. In 1967, he began working as a golf commentator for CBS Sports. He kept it up for 35 years, retiring in June 2002. For most of this period, CBS really was the Tiffany Network when it came to sports. CBS's camera work and direction were always first-rate, and CBS had a remarkable ability to develop announcers who were accurate and enthused without being maudlin or intrusive. These days, we live in a world in which sports fans are alienated and frustrated by the announcers we are forced to endure. In fact, one of the most popular sports blogs these days is called simply awfulannouncing.com. But for decades, CBS gave us announcers who were not only respected, but loved. Pat Summerall and John Madden are the two most obvious examples of this phenomenon, but for golf fans, Venturi rivaled even those two legends in popularity.
Venturi's ability to describe the technical challenges facing a golfer were unmatched, but it was his emotional connection to the sport that made him so beloved. As a player, Venturi always wore a white cap in honor of Ben Hogan. But unlike Hogan, Venturi wore his heart on his sleeve. Despite -- or perhaps because of -- all the traumas and disappointments of his golfing career, Venturi had a wondrous sympathy for his fellow players. He was always very professional in his coverage, but you could tell he was rooting for all the golfers, even the ones like Jack Nicklaus and Tiger Woods who had enjoyed successes that he had been denied. And Venturi was never better than at the Masters, the one place where he had suffered so much heartache. He never won a green jacket, but for all of us fans, Venturi's voice became one of the great symbols of Augusta National.
As the years went by, his legend grew, and Ken Venturi achieved a popularity among golf fans that is very difficult to overstate. He was a hero to all of us who knew how he had suffered, and who admired his ability to reinvent himself and succeed without regretting what might have been. Only a few weeks ago, he was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame. And this weekend, we fans are remembering him with joy.
Who would have thought that a life with so much sadness could have had such a happy ending?
Note: A special video was made to honor Venturi at the Hall of Fame ceremony. You can see it here.
A few months later, still an amateur, he finished 8th in the U.S. Open.
At the end of 1956, he turned pro and was an immediate success, winning 10 tournaments from 1957 to 1960. But he couldn't quite break through in the majors. In 1958, he was in a very good position to win the Masters, but bogeyed 14, 15, and 16 in the last round to fall back, finishing two shots behind Arnold Palmer. In 1960, he was the clubhouse leader by one shot over Palmer, who only had two holes left to play. Palmer birdied both holes to beat Venturi by one shot. Venturi also had top-10 finishes in the 1957 U.S. Open, the 1959 PGA, and the 1960 PGA. Still, he was regularly described as a leading player, and it was surely just a matter of time before he added some major titles to his many PGA victories.
But in 1961, minor injuries resulting from an automobile accident affected his swing, and he stopped winning. For three years, from 1961 to 1963, he did not win a single tournament. In 1964, however, he suddenly returned to his old form. After three rounds at the U.S. Open, Venturi was near the top of the leaderboard. Unfortunately, his body was breaking down. Back then, the U.S. Open was played over three days, with the players having to play 36 holes on the last day. The 1964 Open was at Congressional Country Club, near Washington, D.C., and the temperatures were in the 100's. Venturi was suffering dehydration, and doctors warned him that he might not survive the last round. Venturi played on anyway. Stumbling from hole to hole, in a mental fog that made it difficult for him to add up his own score, he played the round of his life -- shooting a 70 to win the U.S. Open by four shots.
Venturi's dramatic victory galvanized the country, and became one of the legendary stories of gold history. Venturi won two other tournaments in 1964, and finished 5th at the PGA, proving that his win was no fluke. Sports Illustrated named him Sportsman of the Year. At the age of 33, he should have had at least 10 more good years ahead of him.
In fact, his career was effectively over -- he had developed carpal tunnel syndrome in both wrists. Surgeries eventually reversed the condition, but he never again played at a high level. It was a heartbreaking conclusion for a golfer who had already suffered so much heartbreak.
Remarkably, however, Venturi was on the verge of a new and even greater career. In 1967, he began working as a golf commentator for CBS Sports. He kept it up for 35 years, retiring in June 2002. For most of this period, CBS really was the Tiffany Network when it came to sports. CBS's camera work and direction were always first-rate, and CBS had a remarkable ability to develop announcers who were accurate and enthused without being maudlin or intrusive. These days, we live in a world in which sports fans are alienated and frustrated by the announcers we are forced to endure. In fact, one of the most popular sports blogs these days is called simply awfulannouncing.com. But for decades, CBS gave us announcers who were not only respected, but loved. Pat Summerall and John Madden are the two most obvious examples of this phenomenon, but for golf fans, Venturi rivaled even those two legends in popularity.
Venturi's ability to describe the technical challenges facing a golfer were unmatched, but it was his emotional connection to the sport that made him so beloved. As a player, Venturi always wore a white cap in honor of Ben Hogan. But unlike Hogan, Venturi wore his heart on his sleeve. Despite -- or perhaps because of -- all the traumas and disappointments of his golfing career, Venturi had a wondrous sympathy for his fellow players. He was always very professional in his coverage, but you could tell he was rooting for all the golfers, even the ones like Jack Nicklaus and Tiger Woods who had enjoyed successes that he had been denied. And Venturi was never better than at the Masters, the one place where he had suffered so much heartache. He never won a green jacket, but for all of us fans, Venturi's voice became one of the great symbols of Augusta National.
As the years went by, his legend grew, and Ken Venturi achieved a popularity among golf fans that is very difficult to overstate. He was a hero to all of us who knew how he had suffered, and who admired his ability to reinvent himself and succeed without regretting what might have been. Only a few weeks ago, he was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame. And this weekend, we fans are remembering him with joy.
Who would have thought that a life with so much sadness could have had such a happy ending?
Note: A special video was made to honor Venturi at the Hall of Fame ceremony. You can see it here.
Pennant Fever
For English soccer fans, one of the most boring seasons in recent history ended with a series of bangs. First, Sir Alex Ferguson, who has absolutely dominated English football for the last two decades, announced that he was finally retiring. Ferguson, who is one of the best coaches I have ever seen in any sport, had an incredible record. In the early 1980's, he won the Scottish league three times with Aberdeen, which is like winning the Big 10 football championship three times with Northwestern. When he came to Manchester United in 1987, the Red Devils had not won the English championship since 1967. By 1993, Ferguson had changed that. And then, for the next 20 years, the Red Devils never finished lower than third, winning titles in 1993, 1994, 1996, 1997, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2003, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2011, and 2013. Manchester United also won F.A. Cup titles in 1990, 1994, 1996, 1999, and 2004. Finally, Ferguson took United to the finals of the European Champions League in 1999, 2008, 2009, and 2011 -- winning it all in 1999 and 2008.
Ferguson did all of this while consistently being the most entertaining figure in English football. He was like a more clever version of Bobby Knight -- constantly embroiled in controversies with the press and his fellow managers, always insisting that his teams play with great discipline and speed, but never going so far as to put his own career at risk.
His departure opens a new era in English football, much as the retirement of Bear Bryant opened a new era for the SEC. For years, no one has been able to consistently beat Manchester United. But starting next year, everything will be up for grabs. It will be more entertaining for casual fans like me -- I grew tired of United's dominance long, long ago. But even I will greatly miss seeing Sir Alex on the touchline. His replacement -- David Moyes, who took Everton to a sixth-place finish this year -- will quickly find himself on a very hot seat.
Meanwhile, the second-place team, Manchester City, fired its manager. You may recall that last year, City won its first English title since 1968, pulling out the championship in stirring fashion on the last day of the season. Personally, I thought a lot of the credit for that title should have gone to Roberto Mancini, the City manager. I thought Mancini did well again this year: City finished second in the league and reached the final of the F.A. Cup. But this was apparently not enough for the City management, who were undoubtedly frustrated with City's ability to advance from the group stages in the Champions' League. Personally, I will be surprised if City finds a manager who does better than Mancini -- no owner of an American team (with the possible exception of Jerry Jones) would fire a guy who just won the league last year and who came in second this year. But it will be interesting to see who takes the job.
We should also spare a thought for the fans of Wigan Athletic, who have gone through a pretty traumatic year. Since its founding in 1932, Wigan has been one of the foot soldiers of English football, spending most of its history slogging in the lower divisions. The Latics never reached the top level of English football until 2005, and they haven't done that much since they got there. But this year, they put together the following run in the F.A. Cup:
3rd Round: Wigan Athletic 1 - 1 Bournemouth; Bournemouth 0 - 1 Wigan Athletic
4th Round: Macclesfield Town 0 - 1 Wigan Athletic
5th Round: Huddersfield Town 1 - 4 Wigan Athletic
6th Round: Everton 0 - 3 Wigan Athletic
Semi-Final (at Wembley): Millwall 0 - 2 Wigan Athletic
So with five wins away from home, the Latics reached the final for only the second time in their history. And then they won their first major trophy ever -- stunning Manchester City 1-0 with a goal in injury time. It was literally the greatest moment in Wigan's football history. The next week, however, the Latics were relegated from the English Premier League -- making them the only team ever to win the Cup and suffer relegation in the same year.
Finally, congrats to Nick Hornby and Arsenal, who nipped Spurs for fourth place -- and a spot in next year's Champions' League -- with a 1-0 victory at Newcastle on the last day of the season. It is the second year in a row that Spurs just missed advancing to the Big Stage.
So some late drama in what was otherwise a dull year -- but with United and City both rolling out new managers next season, we should see more excitement in the near future. Here are the final standings (teams qualified for Europe are in bold; relegated teams are in italics):
1. Manchester Utd: 28-5-5 (89 points)
2. Manchester City: 23-6-9 (78)
3. Chelsea: 22-7-9 (75)
4. Arsenal: 21-7-10 (73)
5. Tottenham Hotspur: 21-8-9 (72)
6. Everton: 16-7-15 (63)
7. Liverpool: 16-9-13 (61)
8. West Bromwich Albion: 14-17-7 (49)
9. Swansea City: 11-14-13 (46) (goal differential of minus 4)
10. West Ham Utd: 12-16-10 (46) (goal differential of minus 8)
11. Norwich City: 10-14-14 (44)
12. Fulham: 11-17-10 (43)
13. Stoke City: 9-14-15 (42)
14. Southampton: 9-15-14 (41) (goal differential of minus 11)
15. Aston Villa: 10-17-11 (41) (goal differential of minus 22)
16. Newcastle Utd: 11-19-8 (41) (goal differential of minus 23)
17. Sunderland: 9-17-12 (39)
18. Wigan Athletic: 9-20-9 (36)
19. Reading: 6-22-10 (28)
20. Queens Park Rangers: 4-21-13 (25)
Ferguson did all of this while consistently being the most entertaining figure in English football. He was like a more clever version of Bobby Knight -- constantly embroiled in controversies with the press and his fellow managers, always insisting that his teams play with great discipline and speed, but never going so far as to put his own career at risk.
His departure opens a new era in English football, much as the retirement of Bear Bryant opened a new era for the SEC. For years, no one has been able to consistently beat Manchester United. But starting next year, everything will be up for grabs. It will be more entertaining for casual fans like me -- I grew tired of United's dominance long, long ago. But even I will greatly miss seeing Sir Alex on the touchline. His replacement -- David Moyes, who took Everton to a sixth-place finish this year -- will quickly find himself on a very hot seat.
Meanwhile, the second-place team, Manchester City, fired its manager. You may recall that last year, City won its first English title since 1968, pulling out the championship in stirring fashion on the last day of the season. Personally, I thought a lot of the credit for that title should have gone to Roberto Mancini, the City manager. I thought Mancini did well again this year: City finished second in the league and reached the final of the F.A. Cup. But this was apparently not enough for the City management, who were undoubtedly frustrated with City's ability to advance from the group stages in the Champions' League. Personally, I will be surprised if City finds a manager who does better than Mancini -- no owner of an American team (with the possible exception of Jerry Jones) would fire a guy who just won the league last year and who came in second this year. But it will be interesting to see who takes the job.
We should also spare a thought for the fans of Wigan Athletic, who have gone through a pretty traumatic year. Since its founding in 1932, Wigan has been one of the foot soldiers of English football, spending most of its history slogging in the lower divisions. The Latics never reached the top level of English football until 2005, and they haven't done that much since they got there. But this year, they put together the following run in the F.A. Cup:
3rd Round: Wigan Athletic 1 - 1 Bournemouth; Bournemouth 0 - 1 Wigan Athletic
4th Round: Macclesfield Town 0 - 1 Wigan Athletic
5th Round: Huddersfield Town 1 - 4 Wigan Athletic
6th Round: Everton 0 - 3 Wigan Athletic
Semi-Final (at Wembley): Millwall 0 - 2 Wigan Athletic
So with five wins away from home, the Latics reached the final for only the second time in their history. And then they won their first major trophy ever -- stunning Manchester City 1-0 with a goal in injury time. It was literally the greatest moment in Wigan's football history. The next week, however, the Latics were relegated from the English Premier League -- making them the only team ever to win the Cup and suffer relegation in the same year.
Finally, congrats to Nick Hornby and Arsenal, who nipped Spurs for fourth place -- and a spot in next year's Champions' League -- with a 1-0 victory at Newcastle on the last day of the season. It is the second year in a row that Spurs just missed advancing to the Big Stage.
So some late drama in what was otherwise a dull year -- but with United and City both rolling out new managers next season, we should see more excitement in the near future. Here are the final standings (teams qualified for Europe are in bold; relegated teams are in italics):
1. Manchester Utd: 28-5-5 (89 points)
2. Manchester City: 23-6-9 (78)
3. Chelsea: 22-7-9 (75)
4. Arsenal: 21-7-10 (73)
5. Tottenham Hotspur: 21-8-9 (72)
6. Everton: 16-7-15 (63)
7. Liverpool: 16-9-13 (61)
8. West Bromwich Albion: 14-17-7 (49)
9. Swansea City: 11-14-13 (46) (goal differential of minus 4)
10. West Ham Utd: 12-16-10 (46) (goal differential of minus 8)
11. Norwich City: 10-14-14 (44)
12. Fulham: 11-17-10 (43)
13. Stoke City: 9-14-15 (42)
14. Southampton: 9-15-14 (41) (goal differential of minus 11)
15. Aston Villa: 10-17-11 (41) (goal differential of minus 22)
16. Newcastle Utd: 11-19-8 (41) (goal differential of minus 23)
17. Sunderland: 9-17-12 (39)
18. Wigan Athletic: 9-20-9 (36)
19. Reading: 6-22-10 (28)
20. Queens Park Rangers: 4-21-13 (25)
NBA (and ABA) Playoffs, Round of Four
The 1967-68 NBA Eastern Division finals will pit the Boston Celtics and defending-champion Philadelphia 76ers. The San Francisco Warriors and Los Angeles Lakers are the Western Division finals.
The first-ever ABA division finals pair the Pittsburgh Pipers vs. Minnesota Muskies (Eastern) and New Orleans Buccaneers vs. Dallas Chaparrals (Western).
The two NBA series open in Philadelphia and Los Angeles on April 5, which is also when the ABA Western Division series is scheduled to begin in New Orleans. The ABA Eastern Division finals get rolling in Pittsburgh on Thursday, April 4, 1968.
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