Monthly Archives: October 2007

Are the Jayhawks for real?

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I’m a huge Kansas Jayhawk basketball fan. I’ve never been much of a KU football fan because, frankly, they’ve been pretty terrible for a long time. In the past couple of years, Coach Mark Mangino has managed to win some pretty big rivalry games, but overall his team has underperformed, making it to only 2 bowl games (the Mazda Tangerine and Fort Worth bowls – yikes) since he took over in 2002.

KU has started the 2007 season 6-0 and is ranked #15 in both the Associated Press and Coaches polls. They are, however, ranked #13 in the BCS rankings which could mean big dollar signs for the school that has languished near the bottom of the Big 12 football rankings ever since it went from 8 to 12 teams.

This weekend, Kansas goes out to Colorado to attempt to break a streak of 5 straight losses in Boulder. The Buffaloes are a team that is the only blemish on an otherwise pretty good season for the Sooners. Colorado lost by 27 last week to Kansas State, who we all know got beat by KU two weeks ago at home.

It is looking up for the Jayhawks, but this game at Colorado is exactly the type of game that Mangino’s teams have lost in the past. I’m cautiously optimistic, but I imagine that it will take a game like this and then beating Missouri at Arrowhead Stadium on Thanksgiving weekend for most people to actually believe that KU Football is for real.

Bennett to Tampa, Super Bowl to London?

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Strange things are afoot at the Circle K…

We all know that Larry Johnson is Kansas City’s number one running back. Even with the struggles he’s had, he’s still our #1 guy. Too much invested, yadda yadda yadda. But we also had a serviceable backup player in Michael Bennett. That is, until today.

Michael Bennett has been traded to The Tampa Bay Buccaneers for a conditional draft pick. It’s no secret that Tampa needed a running back. With Cadillac Williams out (of course he was on my fantasy team), they were in desperate need of a better runner. Bennett has the ability to be an every-down back, but had to sit behind one of the better runners in the league (Johnson hasn’t shown it this season yet, but we may see it yet).

The timing of this deal is what makes it interesting. Priest Holmes is eligible to come off of the Non-football Injury List and return to practice as early as tomorrow. I was listening to Tim Grunhard (former Chiefs center and radio host) talk about it this morning and it’s his belief that the Chiefs are trying to mess with Larry’s head.

When the Chiefs drafted Larry Johnson, Priest Holmes was our number one guy. Johnson believed he was a #1, but Priest was such a successful back that it was nearly impossible for Dick Vermeil to supplant Johnson into the lineup.

There’s something to Grunhard’s theory, but I’m not sure if that’s what they are trying to do. The truth is that the Chiefs were going to have to figure out what to do with Priest and they weren’t wanting to be the team that let him go only to have him revive his career in another city. The Bennett move makes sense since Kolby Smith is emerging as a legitimate backup. We’ll see what happens with Priest. I would love to see him make a comeback, but I still am skeptical.

Aunt Linda

Then there’s the rumor that Roger Goodell is entertaining the idea of holding the Super Bowl in London, England. At first, I thought to myself, WHAAAA?  Surely the NFL wouldn’t entertain holding the biggest game of the year outside the United States. Especially in London…don’t they know how cold it is in London in the winter? Then I realized that HOK Sport (go KC!) had recently recreated what is now “new Wembley Stadium” – a 90,000-capacity monster that has a retractable roof.

I also realized that the people that can afford to attend the Super Bowl could care less if it is in the United States, Mexico, London, or South Africa. The people who can afford a $1,000+ ticket would love the opportunity to go spend their money somewhere else.

Then again, there’s the whole question of how it is televised. A six-hour time difference means that in order to keep the game in primetime in the US, it would have to be played at 2 in the morning in London. There are lots of things to consider and it will be interesting to see how it pans out.

McDonalds Iced Coffee

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McDonalds Iced Coffee

On the advice of my brother, I stopped by McDonald’s this morning for one of their free Vanilla iced coffees. I’ve been meaning to try it since they started offering them on Mondays, but I haven’t gotten around to it until now.

Gross.

Not only was it served grossly under-iced, but it tasted like they had just put some ice in one of those crappy gas station cappuccino drinks. Not good. Not good at all.

Across the Universe

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Across the Universe Movie Poster

So, given that I’m a massive Beatles fan, I was predisposed to like this movie. Lots of Beatles music, romantic, emotional – all the things that I adore.

I was overwhelmed.

Ever since I saw the trailer several months ago, I have been wanting to see this movie. It’s been out in limited release since the middle of September, finally making it to the Olathe 30 AMC as a part of their AMC Select movies. Alli and I made a date last night and caught the 7:45 showing, which was amazingly full. And it wasn’t full of people like me or even my parents who grew up with the Beatles and this era. Mostly it was teenagers who were rowdy before the movie and I was very close to getting upset. But once the movie started, I was drawn in and they shut their mouths and watched what I texted to my brother after as “the best movie I’ve seen in 5 years”.

That’s not to say that you should run out and see it. This movie is not for everyone. But it was most definitely for me.

Directed by Julie Taymor, most famously known as the director of Frida and the woman who brought The Lion King to the stage. She probably has more notoriety on Broadway, but that made her perfect to direct what was essentially a musical.

Across the Universe brought me back to when I first watched the movie Hair with Treat Williams and Bevery D’Angelo. It’s really a combination of that and Rent, except with better music and a plot that seems like it actually could have happened to someone.

Set during the ’60s, Across the Universe follows Liverpool-transplant (natch) Jude (played amazingly by Jim Sturgess) as he immerses himself in the psychedelic and anti-war counter-culture of the Vietnam era. He meets a spoiled Princeton student named Max and they galavant across the US with a mish-mash of company from a Jimi Hendrix lookalike to a girl named Prudence. And all of it set against the backdrop of only songs by The Beatles.

There are some fantastic cameos by Bono and Eddie Izzard. Bono’s character is based on Ken Kesey, while Eddie Izzard’s…well, you really just need to see the movie to understand his.

The film is filled with vibrant and energetic scenes, but is not so saturated as to seem cartoonish. Amazingly, the music, while all composed by members of The Beatles, is all sung by the main members of the cast. This isn’t the first movie to do that, but having to live up to The Beatles is no small task. Each of the main cast members responds extremely well, including Evan Rachel Wood, who has a surprisingly good voice, although her Lucy character could have been played by any number of actresses.

Ultimately, Across the Universe is a love story about Jude and Lucy, but it is set against the violence of the mid 1960′s, when The Beatles were at their most popular. The music is brilliant, but with Lennon and McCartney composing all of it, you can’t really go wrong.

It bears repeating that this movie isn’t for everyone. It is politically-charged and you’ll find plenty of places to draw the comparisons between the war we are in currently and the war we were in back then. There is plenty of alluded to drug use. Still, it resonated with me in such a strong way that I couldn’t help but call my dad after the movie ended and he was already asleep and say to him (after all, it was he who made me love The Beatles): “Dad, I don’t care if you’re sleeping right now. You should wake up, put on clothes and go to the next showing of Across the Universe. You shouldn’t wait. It’s that good.”

Now, if you’re not a fan of the music of The Beatles, I probably wouldn’t recommend it. But if so, you should RUN – not walk – to see this movie.

Friday Blogthing – Karaoke

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Anyone who knows me knows that I loathe singing in public. I just didn’t seem to get that gene in my family. If I were to sing karaoke…well, I wouldn’t.

Your Karaoke Theme Song is “Margaritaville”

Blogthings Karaoke Image

You are a true party animal, but your style is mild and chill. Kicking back with a few friends and a few drinks is all you need to be happy. You certainly don’t feel pressured to be a part of any party scene. In fact, you avoid trendier spots. You’ve been known to kick loose anywhere and everywhere. All you need is a cooler. You might also sing: “Gin and Juice,” “Love Shack,” and “Red Red Wine”. Stay away from people who sing: “Wind Beneath My Wings”.

What’s Your Karaoke Theme Song?

My Soundtrack

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I’ve always wanted a Soundtrack to my Life. Emaw, KC Sponge, and Chimpotle posted theirs ages ago. I intended to do this a long time ago, but never got around to it. So, here are the rules:

  1. Open your music library (iTunes, iPod, etc.) – I used my ipod that I had with me at work – a choice of 811 songs from my almost 10,000-song library
  2. Put it on shuffle
  3. Press play
  4. For every question, type the song that’s playing
  5. When you go to a new question, press the next button
  6. Don’t lie and try to pretend your cool…!

Opening credits:
Seeing Things – Zero 7

Waking up:
Train Wreck – Elliot Yamin
Yes, the American Idol 3rd-place finisher

First day of school:
All Alone (On Eilean Shona) – 1 Giant Leap
For more about 1 Giant Leap, check out this post

Falling in love:
Apologize – One Republic with Timbaland
Great recent song. It’s pretty amazing that these guys are the most popular band on MySpace without having released an album.

First Song:
Dream About Flying – Alexi Murdoch
Very Nick-Drake-esque – this is typical music for me. Sad bastards. If this is my first song, that would explain why I listen to the music that I do.

Fight Song:
When the World Ends – Dave Matthews
The version that came up was from the extra 5-song live CD included on Dave’s solo album. Just so you know. Not exactly a violent fighting song, but hey…I’m a pacifist.

Breaking Up:
Ghost World – Aimee Mann
Anything by Aimee Mann would be a good break-up song.

Prom:
Don’t Panic – Coldplay
I love Coldplay, but my prom was lame.

Life:
Long Distance Call – David Gray
“This Year’s Love” is a better song.

Mental Breakdown:
Little of Your Time – Maroon 5
While I feel like Songs About Jane was a better album, the new one is still pretty good.

Driving:
Gone Daddy Gone – Gnarls Barkley
Yes, I realize it was a remake. Gnarls Barkley is awesome all the same.

Flashback:
My Stupid Mouth – John Mayer
Pretty funny. I used to be (and still am to some extent) the guy in the lyrics, always saying stuff that I didn’t think through or consider the ramifications of entirely. I’ve made a conscious effort to NOT be that guy, but he sneaks in every once in a while.

Getting back together:
Full of Grace – Sarah McLachlan
A beautiful song. Her concert was fantastic.

Wedding:
Slow Like Honey – Fiona Apple
A decent selection. Our wedding was a great day. It was longer than some weddings, but not as long as others (clocking in at just under an hour). I wouldn’t change a thing.

Birth of child:
Lifesize – A Fine Frenzy
A Fine Frenzy is singer/songwriter Alison Sudol and I only recently started listening to her, but I really like her album a lot. This is an interesting selection, especially considering that Jake and Kelly just had a baby, my niece. I wonder what they thought when she came out…did she become life-size at that moment? I imagine that it’s hard to prepare yourself for exactly what will come when you bring a whole life-size person into the world.

Death Scene:
Know Your Onion! – The Shins
I, like many others I’m sure, got into The Shins after I heard their two tracks on the Garden State Soundtrack. “Know Your Onion!” is another one of their more popular songs from Oh, Inverted World, released shortly after “New Slang” which is a song that I prefer. Still the song is about someone who is confident in their choices they’ve made and I hope I can always feel that way.

Funeral Song:
Troubled Mind – Mozez
I got into Mozez thanks to my friend Kevin and played his album So Still over and over and over again. This is a quite apropos song for a funeral I think.

End Credits:
Sullivan Street – Counting Crows
Counting Crows was one of the first bands that put me into the music that I prefer now. I started listening to them right when they hit the radio waves and I haven’t stopped since. Sullivan Street probably isn’t one of my favorites (“A Long December” and “Rainin’ in Baltimore” and “Up All Night” are preferred fare), but still, I could see credits rolling over Adam Duritz’s piano and voice.

In Summary…

An interesting soundtrack. Perfectly appropriate in some parts, but not in glaringly intentional ways. I doubt that if I were to create a deliberate soundtrack to my life with these parts in mind that any of them would even make the list, but it was fun to pick them randomly and see how best to justify their position.

Sprint Center Opens

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At 10:10 today (10/10…how clever!), the Sprint Center will open without an anchor tenant.

There are some people who think that’s a bad thing (*cough cough*). I’m not one of them.

Look, I realize that it sucks that people won’t have a specific team to root for over the next couple of years, but I will guarantee that there will be a basketball or hockey team (god forbid) in there before the end of 2008. The truth is that it doesn’t matter. The place is going to be wildly successful.

One of the most exciting things about it is that it all but assures the return of the Big 12 Tournament to its rightful place here in Kansas City. And while that might only be for a week in March, I’ve got an inside source that says that AEG has over 200 events lined up over the next year. Anchor tenants do not make money for facilities. They get free rent, they typically struggle through growing pains, and considering that our best bet is hockey…well…I’d rather get an Arena Football team.

I wish that folks would see the bright side of this arena. Hannah Montana, Garth Brooks, Elton John – these are acts wouldn’t come near Kansas City in the past because our facility was hopelessly outdated. They would have opted for other booming cities like Oklahoma City or Omaha who have had the foresight to actually build modern arenas. The only thing Kemper had to offer was the ghost of Owen Hart haunting the catwalks.

I recognize that you wish that you didn’t have to pay scalper prices for tickets, but you should be appreciative that we are getting those events to begin with. Would you rather have to travel to St. Louis and figure out a way to buy tickets there, travel, get a hotel room, etc.?

I am thrilled to have an arena of this caliber opening in Kansas City. Like I said, some of these events wouldn’t touch KC with a ten-foot pole until the new arena was built. And unlike the area surrounding Kemper Arena, the area surrounding the Sprint Center is already under development and will likely have some decent pull. Out of all the problems the Sprint Center has, I would imagine that there is not one that is larger than parking. And that will always be a problem until people make it a priority. I imagine that as soon as Paul Saleh or James Hance, Jr., can’t find parking, it will become quite a priority.

3:10 to Yuma

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When we were growing up, we used to visit our friends who lived in Wyoming annually for a ski week. This was before the days of readily available DirecTV or Dish Network. If you lived where they lived, you had to spend a lot of money for one of those monstrous satellites that could bring down Sputnik. And I don’t even want to get into the monthly fees.

Yet, they had an extensive collection of movies. In fact, I loved their collection so much that I think it’s what inspired me to start collecting movies through college.

Their movie library included several Disney movies and more PG-fare, but the most prevalent type of movie represented was westerns. We grew up watching John Wayne and Clint Eastwood because Dennis wanted us to understand what it meant to be a “real cowboy” (despite the fact that these guys were far from it, this was his interpretation of “real cowboy”). My favorite movie of the genre for many years (and maybe even up to this day) is The Cowboys starring John Wayne and Bruce Dern. It’s about a group of kids who join forces with the grizzly John Wayne to drive his cattle because all the respectable ranch hands have left town to find gold.

I loved that movie. I suppose that looking back, it wasn’t particularly all that good and certainly not one of The Duke’s best, but it was my favorite.

3:10 to Yuma is a remake of a movie from the 1957 based on a short story by Elmore Leonard. While I haven’t seen the original, I loved the latest version. James Mangold, the director of Walk the Line, directed this movie and hit a home run.

Granted, he had some heavy hitters to do the work for him, but he crafted a great tale of good and evil and the lines that are blurred between them.

It’s been a while since I’ve been so impressed by Russell Crowe, but I think that this movie reestablishes him as one of Hollywood’s premiere acting talents. And someone I’d put right alongside him is his co-star, Christian “Don’t Call Me Batman” Bale. I think that Bale has more range as an actor, but Crowe is just downright good in everything he does. And he is great in this movie.

I also thought that Ben Foster was lights out as Charley Prince, Crowe’s second in command. Foster most recently guest-starred on the season premiere of My Name is Earl and was great in that as well. I expect him to be in more and more stuff soon (he was Angel in the last X-Men crap fest).

Thanks to mom and dad for the movie. It was good stuff.