Monthly Archives: February 2015
From Sea to (Shining) Sea
America’s shining, beautiful soccer jersey?
The 2015 away kits have been revealed for the USMNT and USWNT. The human Bomb Pops appear to have finally melted away its final steady defender (sort of like the real USMNT) in favor of a jersey that features shades of blue, blue and blue.
(Footy Headlines)
The above design is virtually the exact same for both the USMNT and USWNT, with the primary exception of the two World Cup stars for the women. Also, the design is the same on the front and the back. Considering the fact that the shade of blue closest to the one stitched on the American flag is the darker portion at the bottom, that seems like a really peculiar miss for Nike. By the way, did Nike run out of the color red or is that going to be more prominently featured in a new home jersey? It’s kind of a great color. After all, the U.S. is the red, white and blue.
Speaking of which, what was wrong with the “Where’s Waldo?” jersey?
As has been mentioned on this blog before (as starting points), the collar should be blue to represent a gritty, relentless blue collar work ethic with a jersey design that is sharp to symbolize a cool and innovative white collar style of play. This would encapsulate the spirit and identity of America and its daring declaration of independence, from its inception in 1776 through today and into the future.
The new jersey is better than the Bomb Pops, but it looks like a training shirt. When the designers and the brightest minds at Nike Soccer have the American flag, its beautiful combination of colors, our nation’s history (soccer and non-soccer) and lots of time, it’s a sincere mystery how this becomes the final product.
Perhaps I’m being too harsh, except I don’t think I am. It may look a little better on the field with names and numbers, but it still begs the question of what the design could (and should) have been.
Most of all, I wish American ingenuity had been a component for this new soccer jersey.
Happy Monday!
Saturday Night Live has been providing late night sketches with some of the biggest names in comedy beginning with its very first cast back in 1975. Whether cast members and/or writers stayed for one season, seven or more, or if comedy greats today auditioned but didn’t make the cut, last night’s celebration at Studio 8H was an iconic moment for comedy. There was a history of SNL rap by the fan-favorite Fallon-Timberlake bromance, Steve Martin (need I say more?), a Jeopardy game with perfect categories for Sean Connery to mispronounce, a Californians sketch with a vintage mile-high goodbye, musical melodies from unforgettable duos, classic fake commercials, before unseen audition tapes, an In Memoriam remembering past giants, including with the very much alive and well Jon Lovitz sitting stunned in the audience, the return from one of its greats, a Q&A about nothing, a Wayne’s World episode 40 years in the making, cameos galore and countless clips from our favorite skits.
(Click the bottom right icon for sound and click on the video to stop and play)
One of the best parts about live television (and SNL in particular) is waiting for comedic professionals to break character. In so many situations, when the actors and actresses start laughing, that actually makes the skit so much more hilarious and memorable. Fortunately, there’s a special digital short for that:
Once again, let’s not forget to give another standing ovation to the man who envisioned it all 40 years ago and who has discovered and launched some of the best careers in comedy: Lorne Michaels.
Live from New York, it will always be Saturday Night!
Sweet Serendipity
First off, it’s Friday the 13th. Hopefully, nobody sees any black cats, walks under ladders or steps on a crack that breaks your mother’s back. Today’s post has nothing to do with superstitious behavior. However, to help ensure that nothing bad happens, it feels like the right thing to at least acknowledge this freaky Friday occurrence.
Stay safe everybody!
———————————————————-
We never know who we are going to meet. Life is great that way. In a moment, you’re scrolling through a menu at a restaurant in Agoura Hills, California with a New Zealand-inspired menu. That apple and pear drink was too inviting not to RSVP to, especially on such a warm, sunny afternoon. As the waitress (who lit up the shaded patio area with her beautiful smile) took our drink orders, there was something about her that hinted at some hidden intrigue. There are polite, charismatic waiters and waitresses. And then there are polite and charismatic waiters and waitresses who are merely making a quick stop as a culinary transporter on their way to something big.
Our waitress was the latter.
With our delicious non-alcoholic fruit concoctions in-hand, a conversation was born of “what brings you out to southern California from Ohio?” After a minute of conversing, as soon as the word, “Broadway” was enunciated, the fun started. Katie (our waitress) told us that she had co-written a play that’s going to be work-shopped at The Mint Theater in New York City this June. She wrote a children-appropriate play, “Devil in the Deep” with Graham Russell, the former guitarist from Air Supply. The story is based on “Treasure Island,” which is enough to gain the attention of children and adults like, quite honestly.
Culturally, we’ve become familiar with stories of a waiter or waitress saying, “I’m writing a screenplay” or “I’m just waiting tables at the Cheesecake Factory until I get my big break!” But to meet someone who has written a play that is going to run in a theater in New York City for a month was quite incredible. A testimony of hard work. Another special moment from this past weekend was eating at a beer and wine selling tavern called the Ojai Beverage Company and sitting at a table next to Jason Segel of How I Met Your Mother and I Love You, Man fame. It just goes to show that we sometimes realize, and sometimes may not realize, who we’re sitting next to or speaking with.
Randomly going to a casual joint in Ojai on an overcast, rainy afternoon for the best fish tacos around (true story!) or engaging in conversation with a sweet waitress can change our days (and summer plans) in a matter of moments.
Talk about an off-the-menu special…
“Devil in the Deep”
The Mint Theater, NYC
Playing in June
Speak Softly and Carry a Big Spray Can
Spoiler Alert: Content in this blog is from the February 11, 2015 episode of The Goldbergs
“I love you this much!”
What exactly does “this” mean? The natural vulnerability of being in love is a labyrinth for those who are married, but most especially for a young man in middle school. Adam Goldberg is a victim of his own massive heart, which gives way to happiness, excitement and intense paranoia. In Adam’s case, the “this much” debate had quickly catapulted its way into the stratosphere of the unknown with his increasingly popular girlfriend Dana after a charming high school gentlemen (revered by all) invited her to a class party at the water tower. Prince Charming also invited Dana’s little brother Adam. Ouch! To put it plainly, everybody seemed to be going through a growth spurt…except the most delicious boy in town (Beverly’s words).
Fortunately, just like pumping iron, the only way to go is up:
(The Goldbergs Twitter)
Disappointed is his lack of facial hair, Adam turned to Gentlemen’s Quarterly (GQ) for a follicle release method to speed up his inner Indiana Jones scruff. Following a thoroughly embarrassing family gathering in the bathroom with a Polaroid camera, which included his sister Erica’s lady’s razor, the mission was clear. The time had come for a big romantic gesture: Goldberg style.
Speaking of big gestures for love, none could compare to the one shown by lifelong Eagles fan Murray Goldberg. Barry being Barry, he broke down the “wall of no” of his dad and somehow managed to persuade him to watch his beloved Philadelphia Eagles face-off against those detestable Dallas Cowboys with Lainey’s dad. Little did they realize that there was some country twang in Jenkintown, PA…
So, how does one compete with the older, more evolved Prince Charming? How about a family engagement ring that comes with a complementary Beverly tracker? Showing up at the hallway locker gift-giving ceremony, the Goldbergs proved again to be the most awesomely awkward family ever. How did it end? Let’s just say there was a non-proposal proposal from Adam to his mother in front of all the cool kids. She took the ring back with an I do can do attitude and left her snuggle monster humiliated.
In a desperate attempt to prove his pre-grown up worth to Dana, the admirably ambitious Adam hopped on his bike and rode to the water tower party. In a daring effort, he climbed the tall water tower ladder with Dana’s (and everybody’s) attention keenly on him. He whipped a red spray can out and started to publicly declare his love for his girlfriend in front of Prince Charming and Co. Nearly finishing his epic quest, there was only one thing (well, one letter) that stood in Adam’s way. Recall that Dana has two “A’s”…
It was the perfect failure. It just had to happen that way.
Feeling out of place during that awkward middle school years is something I can absolutely relate to. Aside from school, my embarrassment at a lack of a Tom Selleck-like growth spurt was most clearly evident during summer track/Junior Olympics years. I was a high jumper (among other events) and I was by far the shortest leaper in my age group. Like Adam, it was like a boy versus men dynamic. There were likely plenty of spectators and parents who thought I was jumping in the wrong age group. Instead, I held my ground.
Well, not literally.
That belief that you are not tall enough or that you don’t fit in is brutal. It’s an eternal truth. However, when we’re with the right people and when we accept that it’s not about them, but actually ourselves, there’s no telling how high we can go!
I’m a high jumper, you had to know that pun was coming.
(BTW – How high did I go? How about a few national championships around the country)
The power of love is an unmatched force, whether romantic or familial. Murray, after sort of admitting he likes Barry just a tiny bit more than his precious Eagles, helped his son understand (and vice-versa) what the real priorities in life are all about.
Barry and Lainey Lainey and Barry forever.
Plus, let’s not forget that Dana said she liked Adam and her new gimmicky Green Lantern ring just perfectly without grand gestures and that all she wanted to do was hang out and play video games together. I think that’s what we call Girlfriend Hall of Fame material.
I also think we’re all thankful that Beverly baked all of her children in her tummy.
The Goldbergs are America’s Family: Cacaw!
Jimmy's Daily Planet 