The surprises continue! Earlier this week I saw a short blip in the Free Press about concerts going on in Metro Detroit this weekend. The one that caught my eye was one of my new favorite "bands" (basically one guy), Badly Drawn Boy, on Saturday. I was bummed though, because Stefy and I had already made plans for Saturday night.
Well, fast forward to this morning, when I got a call from Stef telling me that we are going to the concert... tonight!
So here's what happened. Stef went to a Scissor Sisters concert last night, and they were handing out fliers at the door which said the BDB show was on Friday. Apparently the Free Press got the dates mixed up, but everything worked out, because Stef was able to buy tickets online when she got home last night!
Of course, this means I'll miss tonight's game against Wisconsin, but I wasn't expecting to be able to watch it anyway, since we were originally talking about taking Stef's grandma out to a movie. So, all is well in the world of Zack right now. Thanks again to Stef for taking care of everything (as always) – I can't wait for the concert!
Today we said goodbye to the pesky Wildcats, and tomorrow we'll say hello to the pesky Badgers... again. You clearly have to give Wisconsin the edge, but considering the way we played in the first two meetings, I like our chances.
I know I've said it before, but I love this time of year.
Stefy surprised me yesterday by showing up at my dad's house when I was over there after work. Okay, I'll be honest... I was kinda half-expecting her to do something like this, but it was still nice to see my girl for the first time in nearly a week.
After dinner at my dad's, we came back to my place and watched all our Wednesday night shows, which was fun. American Idol has always been something of a guilty pleasure for me, but I always feel really lame when I watch it by myself, so it was nice to have Stefy there so we could watch it together last night.
Anyway, I'll be flying solo again tonight, but I'm driving to Stef's house tomorrow to spend the weekend there. Should be fun.
Whaa? A Forrest Gump sequel? Without Tom Hanks? EW's Popwatch asks the perfect question: "Worst idea... or worst idea ever?"
I'm inclined to go with the latter.
If we win, we'll get a rematch with Wisconsin tomorrow, which should be fun. A neutral court means (hopefully) neutral refs, and our team is the healthiest it's been all year. Like my dad said, I bet a lot of Wisconsin fans were worried when they saw that they could be facing Michigan State in their first game of the tournament. The Badgers are playing for seeding right now, and a loss to MSU could easily bring them down a notch or two in the brackets.
Of course, I don't want to get too far ahead of myself just yet. I'm really bummed that I won't get to watch today's game, sine it's so early in the afternoon. I would've considered recording it and watching it when I get home, but I know I'll hear a score before I make it back. Ah, well. Anyway, that's it for now... GO GREEN!
- Freep: MSU's Neitzel dedicates play, stays strong for ALS victim
(This is a must-read article for any Spartan fan. As if you didn't already love Drew Neitzel enough.) - Freep: As days get longer, MSU's hopes shine
- LSJ: Focus of Big Ten tourney: NCAA bids
- Freep: U-M is in same spot as last year
1. Beatles: Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band
2. Pink Floyd: Dark Side of the Moon
3. Michael Jackson: Thriller
4. Led Zeppelin: IV
5. U2: The Joshua Tree
6. Rolling Stones: Exile on Main Street
7. Carole King: Tapestry
8. Bob Dylan: Highway '61 Revisited
9. Beach Boys: Pet Sounds
10. Nirvana: Nevermind
First off, I'm pretty proud of myself for owning all of these albums (except Highway '61, although I do have a pretty comprehensive Dylan Box Set). The only album on this list that I could really argue against is Nevermind. I mean, I understand Nirvana's significance in historical terms, but this album has not aged well, IMHO. When people come out with lists like these in another ten or twenty years, I doubt Nevermind will be ranked so high.
While it's hard to quibble with Sgt. Pepper, Dark Side of the Moon, or The Joshua Tree in terms of their cultural importance, I would argue that Revolver, The Wall, and Achtung Baby are all better albums from these respective bands, and could easily replace these choices in the same positions (all of them do appear higher on the list). Again, just my opinion.
A year ago I would've taken issue with Carole King's Tapestry being so high on a list like this, but I've actually been listening to this album a lot recently, thanks to Stefy (and my mom), and it's fantastic! Carole King is certainly one of the best songwriters of the 60s and 70s (a feat in and of itself), and I think a case could be made that she's the best female songwriter of all-time.
The rest of the top ten – Thriller, IV, Exile on Main Street, Highway '61, and Pet Sounds – are all near-perfect albums, and definitely deserve to be in the top-ten. No argument here.
Still, there are some oddball choices on the NARM's "Definitive 200." How about #13 Supernatural by Santana and #14 Metallica by Metallica ahead of #15 Born to Run by Bruce Springsteen? Um, I don't think so. Or what about #17 Back in Black by AC/DC and #21 Come on Over by Shania Twain... both ahead of Who's Next (#22), Songs in the Key of Life (#23) and Kind of Blue (#34)? Seriously, WTF?
Of course, these arbitrary lists are meant to stir the pot and get people talking about (and buying) albums again. In fact, the NY Daily News used this list to explain why song-by-song downloads are cannibalizing album sales nowadays. Personally, I still favor the notion of an album as a complete work. To me, downloading songs one at a time is like buying individual chapters of a book – you kinda miss out on the meat of the story if you don't read the whole thing. But hey, that's me.
What do you think? Are there albums that you think should've made the list? Ones that were ranked too low (or high)? Let me know...
Okay, the guys on American Idol clearly suck this year. Also, has anyone else noticed that Chris Sligh has an uncanny resemblance to Sideshow Bob? Kinda freaky, actually.
LaKisha Jones is officially the one I'm rooting for. She's the best singer in the competition, and the girl's a Flintstone. 'Nuff said.
I've been lucky enough to design a handful of websites over the past year, but during that time I kind of neglected to clean up the website for my own pseudo-company, Buttonup Designs. It's still sort of a work-in-progress right now, but I'm pleased with the way it's looking. You may notice some similarities with the new website I designed for the Trust Fund, but I figured if I was going to copy anyone, I should copy myself.
Anyway, have a look if you get a chance, and let me know if anything looks really funky. Like I said, I'm still trying to clean some things up.
According to the LSJ, Drew Neitzel was named first-team All-Big Ten by the coaches and media. Travis Walton was named to the conference's All-Defensive team, and Raymar Morgan made the All-Freshman team.
Three nice feathers in the caps of three outstanding players.
And the cherry on top? They'll all be back next year!
Joe Rexrode has more commentary over on his blog.
That's pretty much all that's on the agenda for now, which is kind of nice. I'm finally feeling close to 100% after three weeks of being sick, so it'll be a nice change of pace to enjoy my downtime without being miserable.
Oh, and one last thing – what's up with the cold weather all of a sudden? Spring is like two weeks away... isn't it supposed to be getting warmer outside? Having to scrape the ice off my car in the morning is seriously the worst part of my day. I can't take much more of this.
There are moments during practice when coach Tom Izzo can't get through to some players, no matter how much he yells, stomps his feet or otherwise exhibits his displeasure.
That's when it's time to call in the student assistant.
It's a tactic that usually works, considering that said assistant is 6-foot-8, about 250 pounds and just as intimidating at age 30 as he was more than 10 years ago, when he built a reputation as one of the toughest athletes ever to play for Michigan State.
Tom Izzo can looks all kinds of crazy when he's chewing a player out during a game, but Antonio Smith is not a guy I would want to make unhappy during practice. Even at 30, Smith looks like he could still snap half the guys on the team like a twig.
Does anyone doubt that Antonio will get a seat on the bench next year?
NCAA rules limit the role Smith can play with the team as a volunteer assistant, but Smith is often present at practices and sits behind the bench at games.
But Smith's behind-the-scenes efforts might be his most significant contributions. He has become infamous for the "talks" he gives to certain players.
"It's just natural to me because it's something I was always doing when I was playing," Smith said. "I was always talking to guys and coaching out there on the court.
"I do it just because I love it. These guys are my little brothers. Anytime I can come back and teach them stuff -- I'll do that anytime."
Smith's presence has had a particular impact on Marquise Gray, his protégé as a 6-8 power forward who also hails from Flint. Gray has stated that his desire to impress Smith, as well as Izzo, has motivated him to improve this season, and Izzo credited Smith's involvement for some of Gray's career-best games this season.
"I talk to 'Tone every day," Gray said. "I talk to 'Tone probably more than Coach" Izzo.
It's clear that Marquise Gray has a long way to go in his development as a player, but he's shown flashes of greatness this season, and after another summer of practice with Antonio Smith screaming in his ear, I can only imagine how good he'll be next year.
Izzo saw that fiery quality in Smith when he was a player, and thinks Smith -- along with former point guard Mateen Cleaves -- has the skills to pursue a career in coaching.
"I really encouraged him to get back and get his degree," Izzo said. "Either here or somewhere else, we'll get him a job. He's destined to be a very good coach."
Smith's involvement is another example of Izzo's goal of keeping former MSU athletes close to the program. And Izzo is always quick to note that it was Smith who helped launch the present era of MSU basketball by becoming his first recruit.
"There's nobody I'd rather have back than him," Izzo said. "He's the guy who started the whole thing if you get right down to brass tacks. Even though the Cleaves' recruiting class gets the most credit, Antonio probably dragged everybody here."
Am I the only Spartan fan who has this sick fantasy of some sort of Smith-Cleaves reunion on the Michigan State bench some day? Along with Montgomery, we would have this un-holy trinity of Jud/Izzo disciples on the coaching staff. I doubt the stars will ever align for that to happen, but it seems pretty clear that Smith won't be sitting behind the bench for very much longer.
Better enjoy it while it lasts, coach:
"It's not about me," Amaker said. "My status is what it is. We're coaching our team right now and I don't think it's appropriate to have discussions about my status. We still have an opportunity to do some good things with our team and our season. I think we've had a good season."
Amaker said he doesn't dwell on the possibility of being fired after this season.
"It's not even an issue that I think about (or) discuss (with the players)," Amaker said. "It never comes up unless it comes up (in talking to the media)."
Not an issue that you think about? Gee, that sounds like a great recruiting pitch. Man, I hope the folks at UM are dumb enough to keep this guy.
"What would Lenny Henry say? I think we know - imagine him going out of the door and Dawn French is going 'Where you going? You haven't done the washing up, you haven't put the rubbish out-' 'Do it yourself! I gotta go and save some Africans!'" –David Brent
Well, Bono is still trying to save all those Africans. This time, he's going to be editing the July issue of Vanity Fair in an attempt to "re-brand" Africa for rich people:
“We need to get better at storytelling,” Bono said, sitting in the 22nd floor of the office of Graydon Carter, the editor of Vanity Fair. “Bill Gates tells me this all the time. We’ve got to get better at telling the success stories of Africa in addition to the horror stories. And this magazine tells great stories.”
Vanity Fair does tell great stories and serious ones, but it sits atop the American magazine industry, in no small part because it takes as its preoccupations the needs and doings of the idle rich. The current Hollywood issue is its biggest ever, 500 pages jammed with glitz, celebrity and so many ads that the magazine could injure someone if it fell off the coffee table. Just outside Mr. Carter’s office, a framed to-do list with hundreds of items details Vanity Fair’s preparations for one of its past Oscar parties, which is a long way from Mogadishu.
“Bono will make a different issue about Africa than we would,” Mr. Carter said. “I think there isn’t one editor in the world who would not pay attention if Bono pulled up and said he wanted to edit a magazine.”
Being a fan of all-things Bono, I think this is pretty cool. Mr. Hewson did a great job of editing The Independent last May, so I would imagine his version of Vanity Fair will be just as good.
Sure, there's a certain amount of pandering involved here, but the Sally Struthers approach clearly hasn't worked for Africa. It's unfortunate that Americans – especially the rich and powerful, who actually have the power to make a difference – need to be "sold" on the idea of fighting AIDS, but you have to give Bono and his cohorts credit for making this stuff seem cool.
UPDATE: Hmm. Okay, so maybe the whole (RED) thing wasn't such a swell idea. Still, you can't fault the guy for trying.
What's even funnier is that, what first started off as a misguided hobby (in that I had no clue what I was doing), has more or less turned into my day-to-day job. It's not a stretch to say that if I had never taught myself anything about web design, I wouldn't be doing what I do today. If nothing else, my skills have certainly improved since the early days, when I used Microsoft Word to edit HTML code.
Anyway, I know it's not that big a deal, especially since I've always done this site for myself as much as anything, but I do appreciate the people who read it on a regular basis.
So, thanks for being so loyal, and here's to four more years!
I almost forgot to mention it... the new Trust Fund website is finally up-and-running. The old design had been up for about three and a half years, and I finally just decided that it was time to clean some things up. Anyway, take a look if you get a chance, and let me know what you think.