Today we salute Leigh Kamman, who just ended a broadcasting career that began at the height of the Big Band era with the final broadcast of "The Jazz Image", a program he has hosted on Minnesota Public Radio (MPR) since 1973.
Kamman's long career included interviews with just about every major (and minor) personality in jazz and stints at various Twin Cities radio stations in the 1950s and 60s. At 85, he's leaving to write a book or two.
What Kamman did for three hours every Saturday night (it used to be all night in the early years) was to take his listeners on a journey to another world, in words and sound, where the drinks flowed, the music was hot, and the mood was mellow.
That quintessential piece of Americana called jazz, once the most popular sound in the land, has been relegated in recent years to that audio museum called public radio. And it's no mystery why: it's an insomnia cure compared to rock, country and pop--not to mention more marketable. We're not counting "smooth jazz", the province of such luminaries as Kenny G and George Benson, which has seen two Twin Cities radio stations come and go.
MPR has not announced a replacement for Kamman yet, nor is it known if the show will continue in some form. Whatever happens, whoever sits behind the microphone has a hard act to follow, with a different set of images to conjure.
UPDATE (10/20/14): Kammann died on October 17. He was 92.
Sunday, September 30, 2007
Thursday, September 27, 2007
Stalling For Time
The media circus came to Hennepin County District Court on Wednesday, not far from the Southdale shopping mall in Edina, Minnesota. A new Super Target across the street is weeks away from opening, with the road next to it being torn up and paved over, and a hotel is under construction a few blocks away. But that's not why they were here.
They were in the courtroom to witness attorneys representing Senator Larry Craig (R-Idaho)--who could not be bothered to leave Washington--asking a judge to let him withdraw his guilty plea on a charge of disorderly conduct. Craig, as you know, was arrested back on June 11 at the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport for allegedly soliciting gay sex to an undercover officer in the men's room.
The officer wrote in his report that he and Craig were in adjoining stalls, touching feet and making signals indicating that the Senator wanted sex. It sounds like a sordid version of how Paul Revere knew the British were coming (for those of you who forgot your history lessons, it was "one if by land, two if by sea"). Craig, claiming he was using a "wide stance", now denies everything.
Judge Charles Porter said he won't make a ruling until sometime next month, so Craig is delaying his resignation from the Senate--much to the chagrin of embarrassed fellow Republicans who wanted him out ASAP.
The stall at the airport where the sting allegedly occurred is now a tourist attraction, right up there with the Mall of America and the bridge that fell into the Mississippi River. Wonder if that will make the next edition of "Weird Minnesota"?
The building next door to the District Court is the library I usually frequent at least twice a month. Had I gone there on Wednesday, I wouldn't have found a place to park with all the news vans, satellite trucks and security But Thursday, the media circus was gone, setting up their tents at the next big story. When the judge makes his decision, they'll be back.
They were in the courtroom to witness attorneys representing Senator Larry Craig (R-Idaho)--who could not be bothered to leave Washington--asking a judge to let him withdraw his guilty plea on a charge of disorderly conduct. Craig, as you know, was arrested back on June 11 at the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport for allegedly soliciting gay sex to an undercover officer in the men's room.
The officer wrote in his report that he and Craig were in adjoining stalls, touching feet and making signals indicating that the Senator wanted sex. It sounds like a sordid version of how Paul Revere knew the British were coming (for those of you who forgot your history lessons, it was "one if by land, two if by sea"). Craig, claiming he was using a "wide stance", now denies everything.
Judge Charles Porter said he won't make a ruling until sometime next month, so Craig is delaying his resignation from the Senate--much to the chagrin of embarrassed fellow Republicans who wanted him out ASAP.
The stall at the airport where the sting allegedly occurred is now a tourist attraction, right up there with the Mall of America and the bridge that fell into the Mississippi River. Wonder if that will make the next edition of "Weird Minnesota"?
The building next door to the District Court is the library I usually frequent at least twice a month. Had I gone there on Wednesday, I wouldn't have found a place to park with all the news vans, satellite trucks and security But Thursday, the media circus was gone, setting up their tents at the next big story. When the judge makes his decision, they'll be back.
Tuesday, September 25, 2007
Trials and Strib-ulations
In the ongoing turmoil that is the Minneapolis Star Tribune, a Ramsey County judge ordered Par Ridder, the man whom new owner Avista Capital Partners brought over from the rival St. Paul Pioneer Press to serve as its new publisher, to go on a one year suspension as punishment for violating state laws regarding trade secrets when he jumped across the river.
Apparently, Ridder was not a well-liked man. Staffers at both papers cheered the ruling, which is pending an appeal by the Star Tribune. The paper's own coverage of the ruling was on the front page, top fold, when you would have expected to see it on the business pages. But then again, the media doesn't usually do a very good job of covering itself.
The Star Tribune (and, for that matter, the Pioneer Press) has been shrinking in its size and reputation these days. Circulation is in the tank. Half its staff has been axed, including Doug Grow, Al Sicherman, Eric Black and Deborah Rybak. Other aspects of the business have been outsourced. And still no one knows what in heck Avista Capital Partners is, or how long it will be before they sell the paper to someone else.
Reading the paper is another matter. Coverage is so skimpy, with wire-service headlines of things you've already heard on TV and stories missed because of the lack of staff. And do we really have to get our media coverage from CJ? It's almost as if the Star Tribune is inviting its readers to drop the paper and log on to its web site.
Not to end on a gloomy note, but we think the Twin Cities will become a one-newspaper market by 2010. Which newspaper survives is anyone's guess.
Apparently, Ridder was not a well-liked man. Staffers at both papers cheered the ruling, which is pending an appeal by the Star Tribune. The paper's own coverage of the ruling was on the front page, top fold, when you would have expected to see it on the business pages. But then again, the media doesn't usually do a very good job of covering itself.
The Star Tribune (and, for that matter, the Pioneer Press) has been shrinking in its size and reputation these days. Circulation is in the tank. Half its staff has been axed, including Doug Grow, Al Sicherman, Eric Black and Deborah Rybak. Other aspects of the business have been outsourced. And still no one knows what in heck Avista Capital Partners is, or how long it will be before they sell the paper to someone else.
Reading the paper is another matter. Coverage is so skimpy, with wire-service headlines of things you've already heard on TV and stories missed because of the lack of staff. And do we really have to get our media coverage from CJ? It's almost as if the Star Tribune is inviting its readers to drop the paper and log on to its web site.
Not to end on a gloomy note, but we think the Twin Cities will become a one-newspaper market by 2010. Which newspaper survives is anyone's guess.
Sunday, September 23, 2007
Black Eye
To the surprise and dismay of most of his media colleagues, Dan Rather has filed a $70 million suit against CBS, claiming they damaged his reputation over a story he did in 2004.
It's the one Rather reported for "60 Minutes II" about George W. Bush's military service records during the Vietnam war, and how much time he allegedly did serve. The President's supporters in the blogosphere (who had been waiting for years to pin something on the allegedly liberal Rather), among others, called the network and Rather on it. After further checking, CBS concluded that they were right about the way the story was handled, and that they and Rather issued apologies. As a result, four staffers were fired, and Rather was dropped from the 'CBS Evening News" and "60 Minutes II".
CBS has responded to Rather's suit by saying it was "old news" and that it was without merit.
These days, Rather hosts a program for HDnet, a cable channel which happens to be one of Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban's properties. Besides the lawsuit, Rather has been taking shots at his old network for hiring Katie Couric to take his place on the evening news, as well as decrying the "dumbing down" of TV news in general.
Let's see . . . when Rather left the "CBS Evening News", it was mired in third place behind NBC and ABC. Interim anchor Bob Schieffer brought the numbers up a little bit. Then, after much ballyhoo, Couric took over. Today, the broadcast is still in third place. But it's not all Couric's fault. Unless you live in places like Minneapolis, the local news ratings on CBS stations are in the tank. Not as many people watch the evening news any more. Also, CBS News itself is not the journalistic powerhouse it used to be in the Walter Cronkite era.
This lawsuit might have the unintended consequence of making Rather seem like a bitter old man whose best days are behind him. You've heard the phrase "it's not the money, it's the principle of the thing"? It's the money, Dan.
It's the one Rather reported for "60 Minutes II" about George W. Bush's military service records during the Vietnam war, and how much time he allegedly did serve. The President's supporters in the blogosphere (who had been waiting for years to pin something on the allegedly liberal Rather), among others, called the network and Rather on it. After further checking, CBS concluded that they were right about the way the story was handled, and that they and Rather issued apologies. As a result, four staffers were fired, and Rather was dropped from the 'CBS Evening News" and "60 Minutes II".
CBS has responded to Rather's suit by saying it was "old news" and that it was without merit.
These days, Rather hosts a program for HDnet, a cable channel which happens to be one of Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban's properties. Besides the lawsuit, Rather has been taking shots at his old network for hiring Katie Couric to take his place on the evening news, as well as decrying the "dumbing down" of TV news in general.
Let's see . . . when Rather left the "CBS Evening News", it was mired in third place behind NBC and ABC. Interim anchor Bob Schieffer brought the numbers up a little bit. Then, after much ballyhoo, Couric took over. Today, the broadcast is still in third place. But it's not all Couric's fault. Unless you live in places like Minneapolis, the local news ratings on CBS stations are in the tank. Not as many people watch the evening news any more. Also, CBS News itself is not the journalistic powerhouse it used to be in the Walter Cronkite era.
This lawsuit might have the unintended consequence of making Rather seem like a bitter old man whose best days are behind him. You've heard the phrase "it's not the money, it's the principle of the thing"? It's the money, Dan.
Thursday, September 20, 2007
Running Into Trouble--Again
Twelve years after being acquitted of the murders of his former wife and her male friend, in a trial that still resonates today, football hero-turned-pariah Orenthal James (O.J.) Simpson faces prison once again.
Simpson and five others were charged on ten felonies by Nevada police including kidnapping and armed robbery, allegedly for attempting to steal back sports memorabilia (which Simpson says originally belonged to him) at a Las Vegas casino hotel. If convicted, Simpson could get up to 60 years in prison.
The families of the victims, Nicole Brown Simpson and Ronald Goldman, have been on Simpson's case since the verdict, waiting for the $33.5 million that was due the Goldmans after winning a wrongful death lawsuit, as well as believing Simpson got away with murder. Which is why Simpson now resides in Florida, just to get away from them,
Before the arrest, the Browns and the Goldmans were all over TV debating the wisdom of publishing Simpson's book "If I Did It", whose rights now belong to the Goldmans. In the book, Simpson speculated on what would have happened if he really did kill Nicole and Ronald. The resulting firestorm of criticism caused Rupert Murdoch's News Corp. to yank the book and Simpson's TV interview, firing the publisher in the process.
Up until the murder trial, Simpson was best known as a Heisman Trophy winner at the University of Southern California, a record-setting running back in the NFL, and an actor in movies and TV commercials. He's still in the Pro Football Hall of Fame, and some say he shouldn't be there. If the various Halls of Fame cared more about its inductees' athletic credentials and less about their being solid citizens, Pete Rose, Michael Vick and Barry Bonds would have been voted in.
If the case goes to trial, the question will be: Can O.J. do it again? Will his team of attorneys be successful in getting an acquittal on armed robbery charges, just like they did in the murder trial? Sure, the situation and the locale are different, but things haven't changed much since the last time O.J. Simpson walked into a courtroom with his life on the line.
Simpson and five others were charged on ten felonies by Nevada police including kidnapping and armed robbery, allegedly for attempting to steal back sports memorabilia (which Simpson says originally belonged to him) at a Las Vegas casino hotel. If convicted, Simpson could get up to 60 years in prison.
The families of the victims, Nicole Brown Simpson and Ronald Goldman, have been on Simpson's case since the verdict, waiting for the $33.5 million that was due the Goldmans after winning a wrongful death lawsuit, as well as believing Simpson got away with murder. Which is why Simpson now resides in Florida, just to get away from them,
Before the arrest, the Browns and the Goldmans were all over TV debating the wisdom of publishing Simpson's book "If I Did It", whose rights now belong to the Goldmans. In the book, Simpson speculated on what would have happened if he really did kill Nicole and Ronald. The resulting firestorm of criticism caused Rupert Murdoch's News Corp. to yank the book and Simpson's TV interview, firing the publisher in the process.
Up until the murder trial, Simpson was best known as a Heisman Trophy winner at the University of Southern California, a record-setting running back in the NFL, and an actor in movies and TV commercials. He's still in the Pro Football Hall of Fame, and some say he shouldn't be there. If the various Halls of Fame cared more about its inductees' athletic credentials and less about their being solid citizens, Pete Rose, Michael Vick and Barry Bonds would have been voted in.
If the case goes to trial, the question will be: Can O.J. do it again? Will his team of attorneys be successful in getting an acquittal on armed robbery charges, just like they did in the murder trial? Sure, the situation and the locale are different, but things haven't changed much since the last time O.J. Simpson walked into a courtroom with his life on the line.
Monday, September 17, 2007
Patriot Spy Games
The National Football League put the hammer down on the New England Patriots, fining them heavily (though not as much as some would like) and taking away draft choices. All because someone on the coaching staff had the bright idea of allegedly bringing video cameras to the sidelines to film signals of New York Jets coaches during a game. This is why you see coaches hiding their faces behind clipboards. It looks stupid on TV, but it does serve the purpose of stymieing lip-readers.
Patriots coach Bill Belichick, heretofore known as the genius who led his team to three Super Bowl titles in this decade and is going for a fourth, came across as Vice President Dick Cheney in blowing off the media inquiries during his news conferences last week. Belichick's reputation might have taken a hit--in fact, some have wondered why he wasn't suspended by the NFL, but his coaching style won't change any. Not that his team's been affected by all this, as they defeated the San Diego Chargers 38-14 Sunday night.
One thing that might come from this incident is that, in the NFL's never-ending attempts to dictate what you and I are allowed to see in the name of image management, sideline reporters and cameras might become a thing of the past. (Come to think of it, the NFL sounds a lot like the Bush administration)
Just to clarify, there are sideline reporters (see Andrea Kramer of NBC, Suzy Kolber and Michele Tafoya of ESPN, among others) who give out good information on injured players and summaries of what coaches thought of the game so far, etc. But there are also those who insist on giving us the juicy details about the patches on players' uniforms, or the terrible odds a player had to overcome just to play football. And then there's Tony Siragusa, for whom we're still scratching our heads as to why Fox Sports put this guy on TV.
Patriots coach Bill Belichick, heretofore known as the genius who led his team to three Super Bowl titles in this decade and is going for a fourth, came across as Vice President Dick Cheney in blowing off the media inquiries during his news conferences last week. Belichick's reputation might have taken a hit--in fact, some have wondered why he wasn't suspended by the NFL, but his coaching style won't change any. Not that his team's been affected by all this, as they defeated the San Diego Chargers 38-14 Sunday night.
One thing that might come from this incident is that, in the NFL's never-ending attempts to dictate what you and I are allowed to see in the name of image management, sideline reporters and cameras might become a thing of the past. (Come to think of it, the NFL sounds a lot like the Bush administration)
Just to clarify, there are sideline reporters (see Andrea Kramer of NBC, Suzy Kolber and Michele Tafoya of ESPN, among others) who give out good information on injured players and summaries of what coaches thought of the game so far, etc. But there are also those who insist on giving us the juicy details about the patches on players' uniforms, or the terrible odds a player had to overcome just to play football. And then there's Tony Siragusa, for whom we're still scratching our heads as to why Fox Sports put this guy on TV.
Sunday, September 16, 2007
Our Detailed Analysis of the President's Address to the Nation
We were going to do a detailed analysis of President Bush's speech on Thursday night. But since the President used many of the same talking points (9/11, defending freedom, etc.) to justify the continued occupation of Iraq he's used in past speeches, and since General David Petraeus already did much of the work for him during appearances on Capitol Hill, why bother? So let's, uh, move on . . .
Thursday, September 13, 2007
Is It Live? Or Is It MTV?
The MTV Video Music Awards used to be one of the most anticipated events on TV. Whether it was Madonna in a wedding dress performing "Like a Virgin", Michael Jackson and Lisa Marie Presley proving that they really were married, or Madonna and Britney Spears sharing an intimate moment, you could usually count on the VMAs to be outrageous.
Now? The last time I paid any attention to MTV was when "Daria", "Beavis and Butt-head" and "The Osbournes" were still on the air. The videos that initially dominated the channel have given way to reality shows like "The Real World". I used to watch that for awhile before it got too ridiculous for me, and before they ran out of hip places. What is it now--"The Real World: Boise"?
This year's VMAs were broadcast from some Las Vegas hotel, taking a page from the Golden Globe Awards. It was advertised as a live telecast. But in September, the sun doesn't set at 6 p.m. Pacific Time. So why were there helicopter shots of Las Vegas after dark?
Everybody else has weighed in on how awful Britney Spears was while lip-syncing her new hit single "Gimme More". Granted, she's not the greatest performer in the world. Not even close. But she's had a lot on her mind lately, such as keeping the kids away from K-Fed and remembering to wear panties. Wandering aimlessly wearing what looked like lingerie and trying to remember the lyrics doesn't help matters. But she didn't deserve those tasteless comments made by Sarah Silverman.
Alicia Keys, on the other hand, was a class act in her performance. She doesn't need some rap star of the moment disrupting the mood in the middle of a song, causing some people to change stations (this means you, Amy Winehouse and Mariah Carey). Keys is much too talented to resort to that.
Not all rappers succeed by horning in on other people's songs. Kanye West, Eminem and 50 Cent, among others, have had hits by flying solo. But "collaborations" by So and So featuring What's His Name and a Host of Others tend to confuse the listener if they don't know who these people are.
But back to the real purpose of the show, which is to honor achievement in music videos. This year's Video of the Year went to Rihanna's "Umbrella", a song that's been all over the radio this past summer. Since most of us did not see this, or any, of the nominated videos (unless you were up at 3 a.m.), it was hard to figure out why she deserved the award. Even Justin Timberlake, who won two awards, exhorted MTV to play more videos during his acceptance speeches.
Because they now prefer showing "My Super Sweet 16" instead of the latest Beyonce' video, MTV has become increasingly irrelevant in the age of YouTube and My Space. And it's their own damn fault.
One more thing: I watched Tony Bennett on PBS' "American Masters". This man has more talent at the age of 80 than any of the musical acts on the VMAs (except for Keys) combined. Wasn't he an MTV star once?
Now? The last time I paid any attention to MTV was when "Daria", "Beavis and Butt-head" and "The Osbournes" were still on the air. The videos that initially dominated the channel have given way to reality shows like "The Real World". I used to watch that for awhile before it got too ridiculous for me, and before they ran out of hip places. What is it now--"The Real World: Boise"?
This year's VMAs were broadcast from some Las Vegas hotel, taking a page from the Golden Globe Awards. It was advertised as a live telecast. But in September, the sun doesn't set at 6 p.m. Pacific Time. So why were there helicopter shots of Las Vegas after dark?
Everybody else has weighed in on how awful Britney Spears was while lip-syncing her new hit single "Gimme More". Granted, she's not the greatest performer in the world. Not even close. But she's had a lot on her mind lately, such as keeping the kids away from K-Fed and remembering to wear panties. Wandering aimlessly wearing what looked like lingerie and trying to remember the lyrics doesn't help matters. But she didn't deserve those tasteless comments made by Sarah Silverman.
Alicia Keys, on the other hand, was a class act in her performance. She doesn't need some rap star of the moment disrupting the mood in the middle of a song, causing some people to change stations (this means you, Amy Winehouse and Mariah Carey). Keys is much too talented to resort to that.
Not all rappers succeed by horning in on other people's songs. Kanye West, Eminem and 50 Cent, among others, have had hits by flying solo. But "collaborations" by So and So featuring What's His Name and a Host of Others tend to confuse the listener if they don't know who these people are.
But back to the real purpose of the show, which is to honor achievement in music videos. This year's Video of the Year went to Rihanna's "Umbrella", a song that's been all over the radio this past summer. Since most of us did not see this, or any, of the nominated videos (unless you were up at 3 a.m.), it was hard to figure out why she deserved the award. Even Justin Timberlake, who won two awards, exhorted MTV to play more videos during his acceptance speeches.
Because they now prefer showing "My Super Sweet 16" instead of the latest Beyonce' video, MTV has become increasingly irrelevant in the age of YouTube and My Space. And it's their own damn fault.
One more thing: I watched Tony Bennett on PBS' "American Masters". This man has more talent at the age of 80 than any of the musical acts on the VMAs (except for Keys) combined. Wasn't he an MTV star once?
Tuesday, September 11, 2007
Groundhogs and Generals
On the second day of February, the citizens of Punxsutawney, PA gathered round to witness the verdict of how much winter we're going to get from a groundhog named Punxsutawney Phil. If Phil saw his shadow, there would be six more weeks of winter. If not, then spring would come early. This year, Phil saw his shadow. (How could he not with all those TV lights?)
On the tenth day of September, members of the House of Representatives in Washington and a national TV audience gathered to witness the verdict of how much longer the war in Iraq will be from an Army general named David Petraeus, with an assist from Ryan Crocker, the American ambassador to Iraq. If the general thought the so-called troop "surge" was going well, then there would be at least six more months of war. If the "surge" wasn't working, then the Democratic-controlled Congress would cut funding and demand that the soldiers come home ASAP.
To no one's surprise, Petraeus told the House Armed Services Committee that the "surge" was helping to reduce the violence in Iraq, but he said he needed six more months for it to work. Petraeus also said that 30,000 soldiers could be drawn down to pre-"surge" levels by next summer. Which leaves over 130,000 sitting ducks, but who's counting?
The optimism coming from Petraeus is tempered by an inept Iraqi government that some people are comparing to America's Founders during the Revolution (Like, uh, where's their George Washington or Thomas Jefferson?), and that, according to some news accounts, most Sunnis have been kicked out of Baghdad by Shiites. And, let's not forget, American soldiers are still getting caught in the crossfire.
There are also suspicions that Petraeus is nothing more than President George W. Bush's mouthpiece (MoveOn dubbed him "General Betray Us"), parroting the White House policy on Iraq. And you never contradict your commander-in-chief, right?
Truth to tell, both political parties need this war to keep going for their own self-serving reasons. For the Republicans, they claim that America is in a "must-win" situation in Iraq, on the basis that any pullout hands Al-Qaeda a victory. For the Democrats, what else do they have to run on in 2008? That's why Petraeus and Bush will end up getting their funding.
Meanwhile, on the sixth anniversary of the 9/11/01 terrorist attacks (still used as an excuse to invade Iraq in the first place), a youthful-looking Osama bin Laden--said to be hiding in the mountains of Pakistan--made a rare appearance on video. Among other things, he suggested to Americans that if they wanted to end the conflict in Iraq, they should switch to Islam. We say: Religion got us into this "war on terror". And religion is going to get us out?
There's hardly any comparison between six weeks of winter and six months of war. But groundhogs and generals have been known to be wrong.
On the tenth day of September, members of the House of Representatives in Washington and a national TV audience gathered to witness the verdict of how much longer the war in Iraq will be from an Army general named David Petraeus, with an assist from Ryan Crocker, the American ambassador to Iraq. If the general thought the so-called troop "surge" was going well, then there would be at least six more months of war. If the "surge" wasn't working, then the Democratic-controlled Congress would cut funding and demand that the soldiers come home ASAP.
To no one's surprise, Petraeus told the House Armed Services Committee that the "surge" was helping to reduce the violence in Iraq, but he said he needed six more months for it to work. Petraeus also said that 30,000 soldiers could be drawn down to pre-"surge" levels by next summer. Which leaves over 130,000 sitting ducks, but who's counting?
The optimism coming from Petraeus is tempered by an inept Iraqi government that some people are comparing to America's Founders during the Revolution (Like, uh, where's their George Washington or Thomas Jefferson?), and that, according to some news accounts, most Sunnis have been kicked out of Baghdad by Shiites. And, let's not forget, American soldiers are still getting caught in the crossfire.
There are also suspicions that Petraeus is nothing more than President George W. Bush's mouthpiece (MoveOn dubbed him "General Betray Us"), parroting the White House policy on Iraq. And you never contradict your commander-in-chief, right?
Truth to tell, both political parties need this war to keep going for their own self-serving reasons. For the Republicans, they claim that America is in a "must-win" situation in Iraq, on the basis that any pullout hands Al-Qaeda a victory. For the Democrats, what else do they have to run on in 2008? That's why Petraeus and Bush will end up getting their funding.
Meanwhile, on the sixth anniversary of the 9/11/01 terrorist attacks (still used as an excuse to invade Iraq in the first place), a youthful-looking Osama bin Laden--said to be hiding in the mountains of Pakistan--made a rare appearance on video. Among other things, he suggested to Americans that if they wanted to end the conflict in Iraq, they should switch to Islam. We say: Religion got us into this "war on terror". And religion is going to get us out?
There's hardly any comparison between six weeks of winter and six months of war. But groundhogs and generals have been known to be wrong.
Thursday, September 6, 2007
Vikings 2007: (Not) Seeing is Believing
The Minnesota Vikings are having trouble selling out their home opener against the Atlanta Falcons, thus jeopardizing their getting on local TV this Sunday. This should come as no surprise to anyone who has watched the team in the recent past.
An ineffective veteran quarterback (Brad Johnson, now with the Dallas Cowboys) making way for an inexperienced one (Tarvaris Jackson). One of the best defenses in the National Football League also provided the most offense. And they saw more flags than the United Nations.
In coach Brad Childress' second season, Jackson will be the starting quarterback, even though he hasn't shown much in the few minutes he's played so far. Backing him up will be Brooks Bollinger and (just acquired from Philadelphia) Kelly Holcomb. The Vikings' first round draft pick, Adrian Peterson of Oklahoma, will be making his debut in the backfield. So the offense has to be better.
Otherwise, bad timing has plagued owner Zygi Wilf's efforts to get a new stadium for the Vikings. In the past month, the I-35W bridge in Minneapolis collapsed, meaning they'll have a tough time getting any kind of public money out of the Legislature. Also, Wilf backed out of a deal to buy land from the Star Tribune in downtown Minneapolis as a site for a possible stadium, citing the nationwide credit crunch. The question is, do the Vikings really want to stay in Minnesota past 2011, when the Metrodome lease expires?
Because the Vikings are such an unknown quantity this season, it wouldn't be surprising if they finished last in the NFC North at 4-12, as fans stay glued to their radios during TV blackouts.
An ineffective veteran quarterback (Brad Johnson, now with the Dallas Cowboys) making way for an inexperienced one (Tarvaris Jackson). One of the best defenses in the National Football League also provided the most offense. And they saw more flags than the United Nations.
In coach Brad Childress' second season, Jackson will be the starting quarterback, even though he hasn't shown much in the few minutes he's played so far. Backing him up will be Brooks Bollinger and (just acquired from Philadelphia) Kelly Holcomb. The Vikings' first round draft pick, Adrian Peterson of Oklahoma, will be making his debut in the backfield. So the offense has to be better.
Otherwise, bad timing has plagued owner Zygi Wilf's efforts to get a new stadium for the Vikings. In the past month, the I-35W bridge in Minneapolis collapsed, meaning they'll have a tough time getting any kind of public money out of the Legislature. Also, Wilf backed out of a deal to buy land from the Star Tribune in downtown Minneapolis as a site for a possible stadium, citing the nationwide credit crunch. The question is, do the Vikings really want to stay in Minnesota past 2011, when the Metrodome lease expires?
Because the Vikings are such an unknown quantity this season, it wouldn't be surprising if they finished last in the NFC North at 4-12, as fans stay glued to their radios during TV blackouts.
Wednesday, September 5, 2007
NFL 2007-08
The National Football League season starts this weekend, and not a moment too soon. All the headlines involving Michael Vick (who now has Whoopi Goldberg in his corner), Pacman Jones and some members of the Cincinnati Bengals, among others with legal issues, are starting to run together. And commissioner Roger Goodell can't suspend everyone.
On the field, the Indianapolis Colts are the defending Super Bowl champions, with quarterback Peyton Manning making hay with his TV commercials and hosting Saturday Night Live. They might not make it out of the AFC playoffs this time, now that the New England Patriots have reloaded with Randy Moss (it'll be real interesting to see how he gets along with his new teammates and coach Bill Belichick) and Donte Stallworth joining Tom Brady in the backfield.
Over in the NFC, the New Orleans Saints rode a post-Katrina wave of sympathy all the way to the conference final, losing to the Chicago Bears. Can the Saints march in on their own merits this time?
Now that Wade Phillips replaced Bill Parcells as coach of the Dallas Cowboys, Terrell Owens has been awfully quiet lately. Or he was until he started mouthing off to reporters about how he'd rather have Peyton Manning as his quarterback instead of the one he has now in Tony Romo.
And Brett Favre is still the Green Bay Packers' quarterback. For this season, anyway.
In the TV booth, former coaches Parcells (ESPN) and Bill Cowher (CBS) are joining the pre-game studio shows, as well as former New York Giant Tiki Barber (NBC), when he isn't trading recipes on the new four-hour "Today". Ron Jaworski replaces Joe Thiesmann, who allegedly didn't get along with Tony Kornheiser last season, on ESPN's Monday Night Football.
Our division picks, not meant to be set in stone, are as follows:
AFC EAST New England Patriots
NORTH Baltimore Ravens
SOUTH Indianapolis Colts
WEST San Diego Chargers
WILD CARD Cincinnati Bengals and Denver Broncos
NFC EAST Philadelphia Eagles
NORTH Chicago Bears
SOUTH New Orleans Saints
WEST Seattle Seahawks
WILD CARD Dallas Cowboys and St. Louis Rams
On the field, the Indianapolis Colts are the defending Super Bowl champions, with quarterback Peyton Manning making hay with his TV commercials and hosting Saturday Night Live. They might not make it out of the AFC playoffs this time, now that the New England Patriots have reloaded with Randy Moss (it'll be real interesting to see how he gets along with his new teammates and coach Bill Belichick) and Donte Stallworth joining Tom Brady in the backfield.
Over in the NFC, the New Orleans Saints rode a post-Katrina wave of sympathy all the way to the conference final, losing to the Chicago Bears. Can the Saints march in on their own merits this time?
Now that Wade Phillips replaced Bill Parcells as coach of the Dallas Cowboys, Terrell Owens has been awfully quiet lately. Or he was until he started mouthing off to reporters about how he'd rather have Peyton Manning as his quarterback instead of the one he has now in Tony Romo.
And Brett Favre is still the Green Bay Packers' quarterback. For this season, anyway.
In the TV booth, former coaches Parcells (ESPN) and Bill Cowher (CBS) are joining the pre-game studio shows, as well as former New York Giant Tiki Barber (NBC), when he isn't trading recipes on the new four-hour "Today". Ron Jaworski replaces Joe Thiesmann, who allegedly didn't get along with Tony Kornheiser last season, on ESPN's Monday Night Football.
Our division picks, not meant to be set in stone, are as follows:
AFC EAST New England Patriots
NORTH Baltimore Ravens
SOUTH Indianapolis Colts
WEST San Diego Chargers
WILD CARD Cincinnati Bengals and Denver Broncos
NFC EAST Philadelphia Eagles
NORTH Chicago Bears
SOUTH New Orleans Saints
WEST Seattle Seahawks
WILD CARD Dallas Cowboys and St. Louis Rams
Monday, September 3, 2007
A Day at the Fair
It' s been years since I last visited the Minnesota State Fair. Crowded fairgrounds, relentless shilling by TV news anchors, and the same old exhibits have kept me away. But this time I decided to spend a day and see if anything has changed.
I used one of those park-and-ride stations in the 'burbs to take a bus to the fair, which became more important than ever after the I-35W bridge collapse. At five dollars going both ways, I got unique views of road construction sites, which must have been designed to force people like me to seriously consider using public transportation more often. It's not working.
Upon my arrival at the fairgrounds, I headed out for the animal barns. First to the poultry section, where I saw many resemblances to the AFLAC duck, Little Richard and Foghorn Leghorn, with signs assuring us that the animals are being properly fed and cared for. Moving on to the other animal venues, I found that if you've seen one horse (or cow or hog), you've seen them all.
(Seeing all those animals in their cages made me wonder what it would be like if humans were caged and animals stared at us. Or if humans were taken out of their cages to be judged by a panel of other species for who knows what.)
Moving right along past the smoke and the multitudes after a brief lunch, I made my way through several venues, where you could watch people hawking products in a fashion not seen since before somebody invented the infomercial. Even Minnesota Public Radio, the supposedly not-for-profit institution, was selling All Things Garrison Keillor at its booth.
There was one exhibit in the Food Building (I think it was) where a young woman who had been a Princess Kay of the Milky Way contestant was addressing the audience from inside a 38-degree booth, where she was modeling for a bust made out of butter. It eventually joined the other butter-head princesses, meeting their demise at community corn feeds across the state. Such an honor.
As I mentioned, most of the exhibits I saw have been the same ones used year after year. Here are some that weren't: Memorabilia from deceased rock and country stars such as Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash and Buddy Holly in glass cases that could have been easily tipped over if somebody had one too many beers. The Arts & Crafts building had a PG-13 exhibit with the occasional nude tossed in, which I thought was quite daring for the usually conservative State Fair. Just don't let the kids look.
I visited the Newspaper History Museum. Yes, it falls in the category of "same old, same old", but it's always interesting to see how newspapers were printed a century ago. It's also a reminder that newspapers (and press freedoms) are becoming an endangered species in an age of satellite TV and the Internet. But, hey, thanks for the free bookmark.
Local media is all over the place at the fair. By my count, there were 21 radio stations and seven TV stations represented. But I cringe whenever I watch a TV newscast coming from the fair, complete with a studio audience chomping on corn dogs while the anchor tells about the latest Minnesota soldier killed in Iraq by a roadside bomb. And doesn't it do wonders for the anchors' credibility when they have to shill for the State Fair instead of honestly reporting on it?
When people think of the State Fair, they usually think of the food. The Foot-Long Hot Dogs.
(Fill-in-the-blank) on a stick. Fried candy bars. Homer Simpson would have the time of his life here. But if you're watching your diet, you shouldn't be here in the first place.
I came away from my day at the fair wondering if anything had really changed there. Unless you count the number of cell phones and digital cameras seen on the grounds, I'd say nothing has changed. The sameness, I'd say, keeps folks coming back year after year. I won't be. Well, maybe in a couple of years.
I used one of those park-and-ride stations in the 'burbs to take a bus to the fair, which became more important than ever after the I-35W bridge collapse. At five dollars going both ways, I got unique views of road construction sites, which must have been designed to force people like me to seriously consider using public transportation more often. It's not working.
Upon my arrival at the fairgrounds, I headed out for the animal barns. First to the poultry section, where I saw many resemblances to the AFLAC duck, Little Richard and Foghorn Leghorn, with signs assuring us that the animals are being properly fed and cared for. Moving on to the other animal venues, I found that if you've seen one horse (or cow or hog), you've seen them all.
(Seeing all those animals in their cages made me wonder what it would be like if humans were caged and animals stared at us. Or if humans were taken out of their cages to be judged by a panel of other species for who knows what.)
Moving right along past the smoke and the multitudes after a brief lunch, I made my way through several venues, where you could watch people hawking products in a fashion not seen since before somebody invented the infomercial. Even Minnesota Public Radio, the supposedly not-for-profit institution, was selling All Things Garrison Keillor at its booth.
There was one exhibit in the Food Building (I think it was) where a young woman who had been a Princess Kay of the Milky Way contestant was addressing the audience from inside a 38-degree booth, where she was modeling for a bust made out of butter. It eventually joined the other butter-head princesses, meeting their demise at community corn feeds across the state. Such an honor.
As I mentioned, most of the exhibits I saw have been the same ones used year after year. Here are some that weren't: Memorabilia from deceased rock and country stars such as Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash and Buddy Holly in glass cases that could have been easily tipped over if somebody had one too many beers. The Arts & Crafts building had a PG-13 exhibit with the occasional nude tossed in, which I thought was quite daring for the usually conservative State Fair. Just don't let the kids look.
I visited the Newspaper History Museum. Yes, it falls in the category of "same old, same old", but it's always interesting to see how newspapers were printed a century ago. It's also a reminder that newspapers (and press freedoms) are becoming an endangered species in an age of satellite TV and the Internet. But, hey, thanks for the free bookmark.
Local media is all over the place at the fair. By my count, there were 21 radio stations and seven TV stations represented. But I cringe whenever I watch a TV newscast coming from the fair, complete with a studio audience chomping on corn dogs while the anchor tells about the latest Minnesota soldier killed in Iraq by a roadside bomb. And doesn't it do wonders for the anchors' credibility when they have to shill for the State Fair instead of honestly reporting on it?
When people think of the State Fair, they usually think of the food. The Foot-Long Hot Dogs.
(Fill-in-the-blank) on a stick. Fried candy bars. Homer Simpson would have the time of his life here. But if you're watching your diet, you shouldn't be here in the first place.
I came away from my day at the fair wondering if anything had really changed there. Unless you count the number of cell phones and digital cameras seen on the grounds, I'd say nothing has changed. The sameness, I'd say, keeps folks coming back year after year. I won't be. Well, maybe in a couple of years.
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