Blog Archives
Columbus Doesn’t Want 12 Varieties of Jelly
The word “crew” takes on so many important meanings, including family.
Christmas provides the special opportunity to spend time with family and loved ones. Reconnecting on a myriad of levels can be heartwarming and critical. It sharpens and ironically broadens our perspective on what’s valuable in the present and in the future.
In the broad sense, the Columbus Crew needs to be saved from snakes Crew SC owner Anthony Precourt, Crew SC President of Business Operations Andy Loughnane, Precourt Sports Ventures President Dave Greeley and complicit MLS Commissioner Don Garber by remaining in Columbus for this city (America’s soccer capital and beating heart) and for the very identity and promise of U.S. soccer.
Yes, that’s at stake.
In the sharpened sense, a popular clip from a Christmas cinematic classic translates all-too-perfectly for what is happening between the Columbus Crew faithful and its greedy, deceitful and heartless boss. Specifically, the surprise, sleazy announcement by Mr. Precourt a couple months back to Crew fans, employees and sponsors detailing the forthcoming lame-duck season in 2018 reminded me —
You know the scene of…pure passion (yes, I’ll go with that) from Christmas Vacation.
We’re not done yet.
A lot of people happily consider themselves to be a version of Clark W. Griswold and/or that their family is Griswold-esque. It’s a funny, yet proud comparison. Count me and my family in for this exercise! Speaking of the latter, Clark is a proud man, despite his many goofy characteristics. He works hard and wants what is best for his family. Just as stand-up comedians are able to say things in public we only wish we could, maybe Clark W. Griswold is doing that for us (although, my previous blog posts have shown I’m pitching in in that regard) during the holidays.
Now that is the gift that can keep on giving the whole year of 2018 that will not be the last of the Columbus Crew.
#SaveTheCrew
From Burnt to Burns
Two years meets the time required to be considered a flashback, right?
Regardless of the rules of the social media protocol, it does for today’s installation of Flashback Friday.
A favorite blooper interview (not a blooper reel, but a full-fledged blooper interview) of Jimmy’s Daily Planet is from a couple years ago. Actors Sienna Miller, Daniel Brühl, and Bradley Cooper are promoting their 2015 film Burnt with Willie Geist of NBC’s TODAY Show. While the movie is beautifully (and deliciously) shot with an intriguing story, there are occasional pops of cringe-worthy soundtrack selections and dialogue cooked from over-priced self-immortalization. And this is the fault of the writing and producing, not the acting. Still, despite these flaws unmistakenly burned around the edges and partly into the main story, there’s a great, entertaining movie in Burnt that leaves us all striving to one day afford to eat at the fictional Adam Jones at the Langham.
Luckily, we can experience the real chemistry (and improvisational comedic chops) of actors Sienna Miller, Daniel Brühl, and Bradley Cooper.
If there’s a funnier food dish than Wienerschnitzel said in perfect German, please let me know.
Happy Flashback Friday!
Everyone Has a Friend in Randy Newman
We’ve just gotta let the piano man play. Not the piano man Billy Joel, but an equally great piano man nonetheless. As a matter of fact, we’ve gotta let one of the best piano men of all-time just talk and we need to listen.
Trust me on this…
Did you know those awesomely cool stories about Randy Newman? I didn’t. However, I’m glad I do now. What an incredible collection of collaborators. This is why we tune into The Tonight Show.
FYI – Randy Newman’s latest album “Dark Matter” is available everywhere music is sold and downloaded.
But I’m waiting for that throwback album “Four Amigos.”
Happy Monday
Fred Armisen’s reluctant Portlandia driving character = All of us this morning.
Carrie Brownstein’s insistent Portlandia driving character = Our Monday alarm that officially starts the workweek.
Random Thought: I wonder if the name of the guy driving the Yugo was Hugo?
Have a Better Week Than Last Week.
P.S. In just a few short days, those tricky stop sign/right-of-way conundrums will be replaced by the open road of the weekend.
Jimmy's Daily Planet 