While I may hate Chelsea with the fire of a thousand Marilyn Manson songs, I do however really respect and cheer for John Terry. This video below was a shame to see in the Carling Cup final on Sunday. I saw it last night on replay and I sat there with my mouth covered on the edge of my seat scared for the future of John Terry; one of football's great ambassadors.
Subheadline: Bret Looks for New Residence in Durham
Yep you read it right - they finally did it. One of the first cities below the Mason Dixon line to ban smoking (other than DC and they don't really count). We all knew it was going to come but I had '12 in my office pool.
So you'll be smoking 'em outside come '08. There is however some possible good news. Since most bars are predicting between a 20-40% hit in revenue the city (and only the city) will be hearing testimony to allow some bars the ability to ween out their smokers over 2 or 3 years. Looks like I'll be having a new speak easy to frequent. Link posted by JVMM : 9:30 AM
Monday, February 26, 2007
Terps Win!
An analogy of Gary Williams and Terps basketball in a conversation I had last night during the terps 89-87 come from behind win over the 5th ranked Tarheels.
"Hey, you are a huge Maryland fan. Does the herd love Gary or not?" "Oh man are you kidding? They love Gary Williams." "Why is that?" "He personifies Maryland basketball." "How so?" "He's flawed but tenacious and succeeds in the end."
That may have been the most accurate compliment given to Gary I have ever heard. I don't know why I am writing about this, I guess it's because I have nothing else to write about, but that Maryland game last night sort of moved me. I hadn't really been that happy for a team in a long time. I can't quite yet grasp it but it has something to do with a team being an underdog, counted out, and even out rightly disrespected by the national and local press. They beat a haughty UNC team that things they'll steamroll to the final four. This may be true (and my bracket picks will more than likely reflect it.) but don't count out hungry teams with raw talent that are willing to win ugly and fight.
Gary Williams is the closest thing to the genuine article that I think you will find in the coaching ranks of any sport. I hope that I don't say that because his exposure to my spectrum is greater than others. I hope I say it because watching Gary coach and his post game interviews are truely special. Last night after the game he broke down and cried. On the sidelines the man drops more sweat on the floor than a couple in a latin dance club.
Anyway - cheers to Gary and the Terps for their now concrete pleacement into the realm of 64 and best of luck to them the rest of the way. It could be a special team.
I am back in Baltimore. While i was away I didn't write. I didn't cry. I didn't really feel anything but numb (and a tad sick for a couple days.) The trip in no way held any spiritual or life changing value over what I am to become. It was neither an awakening or a reckoning of any kind. I slept. I drove. I listened to talk radio. I thought about what I had done wrong and what had been done wrong to me. I wasn't really moved by much. I cared little about anything.
Somewhere around Arkansas though I came up with a plan for the future that involved a plan I had abandoned about 4 years ago. It starts on March 3rd. Hopefully I won't have to fill you in to what it is - because those who care will know anyway. It's not meant to be mysterious or undervalued, it's just - just - something new.
Either way it's good to be back. The old "us" day is tom. and that means alone time for me. It's ok, I never really put much stock in to holidays like that one, or any of them, at all. Life is what you make it day in and day out. It's not what you extend as a grand gesture one or two days per year. I haven't been very good at giving love or caring for anything for quite a while. I'm not saying that will change because there still isn't much that I'm not cynical about but being dead is dead, and i've been a walking dead person for a little over 4 or maybe even 5 years.
Also remember that ToB plays Fraziers next Saturday and Deerhoof is on Sunday at the Ottobar. Be there or be lame. Link posted by JVMM : 11:10 AM
