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There were no jolting blows, no bone crushing tackles, not even the shrill sound of a whistle to halt play. The only thing present was the darkness and a student athlete who had been, validly or not, diagnosed as having had a concussion. This individual was told to stand at all times and at no time was he left unattended in case he became incapacitated due to his medical condition. The individual was monitored at all times. So what is the problem?
Was this individual made sport of? Was this individual subjected to corporal punishment? Was the condition of this individual reported to anyone in an attempt to belittle him? From what I can tell the answer to all of the above mentioned questions is no.
So basically we have an incident which could at best be described as some strange form of discipline carried out by an unconventional coach. At worst the event is far less severe than most forms of hazing which take place in fraternity houses across the nation. Does this suggest that weak pale frat boys are able to endure more than a collegiate athlete?
So why is it that this Adam James felt the need to go and cry to his father Craig James? Why is it that Craig James felt the need to drop everything and rush to the side of his attention seeking son and then begin to lambast the coach and the program?
The last time I checked there were no individuals at practices or games that held guns to the heads of these kids and forced them to play football. If Adam didn’t like the way things were going why didn’t he just quit? Why is it that Adam feels his needs are above that of the team? Why is it that Craig James feels that he must rush to this kid’s side like some overzealous Soccer Mom who feels the need to point out that her son is not receiving enough playing time or is being treated unfairly by other players?
In essence, why can’t this Adam James simply man up and stop his whining to daddy? When I was in sports, although never at the collegiate level, the simple and unwritten rule was if you can’t take the heat, stay out of the kitchen. I am betting that Adam James grew up in the generation where everyone got a trophy and they didn’t call those who finished with fewer points the losing team.
Craig James apparently has nothing better to do than fight his son’s battles and complain to the athletic department because his little boy is not happy. I would think that a prominent sports figure such as James would tell the kid to suck it up and stop blaming others for his short comings or lack of athletic prowess. I think the only example he is teaching his son is that if you can’t succeed on the field, succeed in the press.
So I would say to Adam James that if he didn’t like the way he was being treated why doesn’t he pack his laundry and go home? After all, surely a hot shot performer like Adam James can have his choice of schools which would love to receive him as a transfer. After all, he was ranked as the number 10 receiver out of a corps of 17. My math is not really great but I think that does put him in the lower half of the receiver corps.
I would say to Craig James that his son probably doesn’t appreciate his intervention as much as he thinks he does and I would ask him if he still dressed the boy and tied his shoes each day before the kid headed off to class.
Has anyone ever heard that phrase, “Shut up and play?”
Tuesday, December 29, 2009
Quality Television, Where For Art Thou?
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I get upset when I realize that my viewing options are being influenced by, and geared towards, individuals who consider TMZ to be a viable source of news. These individuals can tell you with whom Paris Hilton is cohorting, but would have an extremely difficult time naming the Vice President, Speaker of the House or Secretary of State. It’s not just our viewing choices this segment of society selects, these people also get to vote. Good Lord, I hope one of the Kardashians doesn’t run for office, these idiots just might vote them in. But now I shall move on.
So here is the point where I ask myself, “Is Bob that far out of step? Am I that far in the minority or do A LOT of people like the pabulum that is being fed to them over the air? Do they really like this stuff or do they simply not realize that if they quit watching this pulp and tune into the more intelligent programming of select cable networks that the Big Three might get a clue?
I realize that the climate of television is certainly not what it was in the 80’s. I think there were a total of 36 cable channels available in those days and three of the spots on the dial were for HBO, Cinemax and Showtime, further reducing the number, at least on good old Multimedia Cable boxes, to approximately 33. Today we probably have just over 100 viable choices when one weeds out the shopping channels and Music Choice stations. Fortunately, there are indeed specialized broadcasters and programmers such as The History Channel, A&E and Discovery Networks who realize that there are indeed individuals out there who actually want to enrich their lives and broaden their horizons. These cable networks offer up what might be the last bastion of intelligent television.
I will state that not everything on the Big Three is without merit. ABC figured out that LOST might have some appeal to those who actually enjoy thinking about what they are seeing. CBS offers us the alphabetical conglomerations of NCIS & CSI and all of their various spawn. I’ve not seen Heroes on NBC but I have heard that it is somewhat worthy.
As always I want to thank those of you who have read to this point. I certainly appreciate your time and attention and I am guessing that you are one of my dearest friends rather than just a casual reader. I thank you for listening to my voice of discontent and I would like to tell you that in the near future I will actually sit down and devote more time, attention and research to some of the issues I touched on earlier.
For those of you who are interested, The Winds of War and its sequel War and Remembrance, which will be discussed and reviewed in future posts, are both available from Netflix and I encourage you to try and view both of these fine programs. They are quite lengthy but I guarantee that once you begin watching them you will find it quite difficult to stop.
Thank you for reading and I welcome your comments.
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I think that everyone in the OKC area watched a little more TV than usual over the last few days. I was fortunate enough to have a significant backlog of DVD’s so I didn’t have to watch the normal fare being offered by the cable networks and the abysmal Big Three. I was able to actually sit down and watch an example of GREAT TELEVISION, the kind of television that is probably something of the past.
I am going to touch on a few subjects but will not be delving into them at any great length. I am not really in a position to do any in-depth research at this moment but rest assured I will certainly be researching these points and elaborating further in subsequent posts.
When I was a younger man, back in the 80’s, we were treated to what was billed as “A Television Event” by ABC. The network held true to their contention as we were presented with one of the most sweeping sagas to ever air on American Television. The event was entitled “The Winds of War,” based on Herman Wouk’s novel of the same name. The Mini-series was released on February 6, 1983 and aired in 7 installments concluding on February 13. The total running time of the actual program, without commercials, was 14.7 hours. As aired with commercials and inserts the presented running time was 18 hours.
I have to admit that I didn’t watch this program when it initially aired. I was in high school and had other things on my mind. I certainly remember my parents and one of my uncles being totally fixated and enthralled with this program. They spoke often of the story’s developments over the course of its airing and enjoyed a lengthy discussion upon its conclusion. You could easily tell that they were enjoying it a great deal.
The show appealed to both males and females alike. It was certainly a topic on the minds of a great many people as 6 of the 7 episodes were the highest ranked programs of their time slot. At the time, The Winds of War was the second highest rated Mini-series in history with an average Nielsen score of 38.6 and a market share of 56. The Concluding night of the drama drew the highest rating of the series with a score of 41 and a share of 56. (AP, Feb 17, 1983)
ABC network executives claim that, “More people saw some or all of The Winds of War than Roots” because the television market had grown by more than 5 million in the years between the airing of the two series, not to mention that Winds of War was six hours longer.
I am certain that by now you are asking yourself why I am going into all this detail and what it has to do with why I think this was such a wonderful show. Here is the point at which this blog might take a turn to the negative. I hope I don’t anger or alienate anyone but here goes…
While I was watching this program it occurred to me that we would probably never see anything of this scope or magnitude on broadcast television in the future. It saddened me to think this and the more I thought about it the more I felt like the crotchety old man who steadfastly contends that everything was better back in his day. I take this stance because I blame today’s generation for the sad state of affairs in which network television now finds itself. The young people of today will never see programming of this quality and to be honest… They DON’T DESERVE IT!!!
If the viewers of today are willing to settle for the absolute tripe that they are being served over the air waves then they are getting the substandard, putrid programming they deserve. When viewers are willing to watch programs such as The Bachelor, Dancing with the Stars, Biggest Loser and other so called reality programming without asking for more intellectually stimulating programming then I say, “Let them be damned to steep forever in the world of idiocy to which they so aptly belong!”
I realize that the aforementioned statement is a little harsh but if one stops to carefully consider all things involved, does it not reek of truth? I can only imagine that the network heads are thinking to themselves, “Why SHOULD we devote any time or money to attaining quality programming when these saps will settle for the substandard fare we currently offer?” Is there really anyone with an age or IQ, over 17 that really finds The Bachelor even remotely interesting? I sometimes feel embarrassed as an American when other nations realize that programs of this nature are so popular in our country.
I am going to touch on a few subjects but will not be delving into them at any great length. I am not really in a position to do any in-depth research at this moment but rest assured I will certainly be researching these points and elaborating further in subsequent posts.
When I was a younger man, back in the 80’s, we were treated to what was billed as “A Television Event” by ABC. The network held true to their contention as we were presented with one of the most sweeping sagas to ever air on American Television. The event was entitled “The Winds of War,” based on Herman Wouk’s novel of the same name. The Mini-series was released on February 6, 1983 and aired in 7 installments concluding on February 13. The total running time of the actual program, without commercials, was 14.7 hours. As aired with commercials and inserts the presented running time was 18 hours.
I have to admit that I didn’t watch this program when it initially aired. I was in high school and had other things on my mind. I certainly remember my parents and one of my uncles being totally fixated and enthralled with this program. They spoke often of the story’s developments over the course of its airing and enjoyed a lengthy discussion upon its conclusion. You could easily tell that they were enjoying it a great deal.
The show appealed to both males and females alike. It was certainly a topic on the minds of a great many people as 6 of the 7 episodes were the highest ranked programs of their time slot. At the time, The Winds of War was the second highest rated Mini-series in history with an average Nielsen score of 38.6 and a market share of 56. The Concluding night of the drama drew the highest rating of the series with a score of 41 and a share of 56. (AP, Feb 17, 1983)
ABC network executives claim that, “More people saw some or all of The Winds of War than Roots” because the television market had grown by more than 5 million in the years between the airing of the two series, not to mention that Winds of War was six hours longer.
I am certain that by now you are asking yourself why I am going into all this detail and what it has to do with why I think this was such a wonderful show. Here is the point at which this blog might take a turn to the negative. I hope I don’t anger or alienate anyone but here goes…
While I was watching this program it occurred to me that we would probably never see anything of this scope or magnitude on broadcast television in the future. It saddened me to think this and the more I thought about it the more I felt like the crotchety old man who steadfastly contends that everything was better back in his day. I take this stance because I blame today’s generation for the sad state of affairs in which network television now finds itself. The young people of today will never see programming of this quality and to be honest… They DON’T DESERVE IT!!!
If the viewers of today are willing to settle for the absolute tripe that they are being served over the air waves then they are getting the substandard, putrid programming they deserve. When viewers are willing to watch programs such as The Bachelor, Dancing with the Stars, Biggest Loser and other so called reality programming without asking for more intellectually stimulating programming then I say, “Let them be damned to steep forever in the world of idiocy to which they so aptly belong!”
I realize that the aforementioned statement is a little harsh but if one stops to carefully consider all things involved, does it not reek of truth? I can only imagine that the network heads are thinking to themselves, “Why SHOULD we devote any time or money to attaining quality programming when these saps will settle for the substandard fare we currently offer?” Is there really anyone with an age or IQ, over 17 that really finds The Bachelor even remotely interesting? I sometimes feel embarrassed as an American when other nations realize that programs of this nature are so popular in our country.
I get upset when I realize that my viewing options are being influenced by, and geared towards, individuals who consider TMZ to be a viable source of news. These individuals can tell you with whom Paris Hilton is cohorting, but would have an extremely difficult time naming the Vice President, Speaker of the House or Secretary of State. It’s not just our viewing choices this segment of society selects, these people also get to vote. Good Lord, I hope one of the Kardashians doesn’t run for office, these idiots just might vote them in. But now I shall move on.
So here is the point where I ask myself, “Is Bob that far out of step? Am I that far in the minority or do A LOT of people like the pabulum that is being fed to them over the air? Do they really like this stuff or do they simply not realize that if they quit watching this pulp and tune into the more intelligent programming of select cable networks that the Big Three might get a clue?
I realize that the climate of television is certainly not what it was in the 80’s. I think there were a total of 36 cable channels available in those days and three of the spots on the dial were for HBO, Cinemax and Showtime, further reducing the number, at least on good old Multimedia Cable boxes, to approximately 33. Today we probably have just over 100 viable choices when one weeds out the shopping channels and Music Choice stations. Fortunately, there are indeed specialized broadcasters and programmers such as The History Channel, A&E and Discovery Networks who realize that there are indeed individuals out there who actually want to enrich their lives and broaden their horizons. These cable networks offer up what might be the last bastion of intelligent television.
I will state that not everything on the Big Three is without merit. ABC figured out that LOST might have some appeal to those who actually enjoy thinking about what they are seeing. CBS offers us the alphabetical conglomerations of NCIS & CSI and all of their various spawn. I’ve not seen Heroes on NBC but I have heard that it is somewhat worthy.
As always I want to thank those of you who have read to this point. I certainly appreciate your time and attention and I am guessing that you are one of my dearest friends rather than just a casual reader. I thank you for listening to my voice of discontent and I would like to tell you that in the near future I will actually sit down and devote more time, attention and research to some of the issues I touched on earlier.
For those of you who are interested, The Winds of War and its sequel War and Remembrance, which will be discussed and reviewed in future posts, are both available from Netflix and I encourage you to try and view both of these fine programs. They are quite lengthy but I guarantee that once you begin watching them you will find it quite difficult to stop.
Thank you for reading and I welcome your comments.
Friday, December 18, 2009
Christmas Songs
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Okay, I know I said that the next entry would be about the Bilderbergers and it will, but I had to take a moment to express my angst about some of the yuletide songs I hear. Get ready people, I am gonna bitch a bit. First let’s address the Non-Christmas Christmas songs. If you listen to the lyrics, Winter Wonderland, Let it Snow, I’ve Got my Love to Keep me Warm, and My Favorite Things have not one thing to do with Christmas. Lest we not forget the old standard Jingle Bells, it too has nothing to do with Christmas, only riding in a sleigh and getting drunk and trashing your neighbor’s yard. Okay I made the last part up but this is my rant dammit and I maintain that license.
All these songs are really about is snow and winter with the exception of My Favorite Things and the only thing I can associate with it is Julie Andrews and some little Austrian kids wearing ugly clothes, which were made from the curtains, and traipsing about the Alpine splendor of Austria wilst trying to avoid the SS and trying to convince Rolf of the err of his way. What this has to do with Christmas I know not!
I want to add a verse or two to Let it Snow. I want to add a phrase or two about busting your ass on the ice and suffering a compound fracture as your leg shoots blood across the ice and snow forming a crimson slush which will be licked up by a passing stray. I want to bring the ideas of increased fuel bills and paying a $500 deductible when your parked car slides down a hill into a tree into the fold. Ahh… what a wonderful feeling it is when the car port caves in from the excess weight of six inches of this white goodness we are told is so wonderful and romantic. So while Dean Martin is macking on Anne Margret in front of the fireplace the rest of us are relegated to our own lives laden with crap and peril thanks to all of the snow he is so eagerly coaxing.
Now that we have addressed the Non-Christmas variety of these little diddies, let us now address those which are simply too stupid to ever be included in any Christmas CD I would ever create. The absolute most obnoxious song is “I’m Getting Nothin’ for Christmas.” This is the story of Timmy, or whatever the name, the malevolently tempestuous Christmas delinquent who is now reaping the rewards of his year long spree of poor behavior. Well I really don’t care if he is getting anything or not. Timmy is a Dillhole and his part is usually sung by some equally obnoxious little Tard. So yeah, I hate this song most of all.
A very close second on my list of most hated Christmas songs is the ridiculously asinine “All I Want for Christmas is my Two Front Teeth.” In my opinion this song is so obnoxious that we usually want to knock out whatever remaining teeth this insipid little bastard has left. Need I really say more about this one? If you’ve heard it you would probably agree that I needn’t.
This brings me to yet another stupid song, “I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Clause.” So while junior is watching Mom play tonsil hockey with Santa, the best thing he can come up with is, “What a laugh it would have been if Daddy had only seen Mommy kissing Santa Clause?” Really? Come on little Billy, first of all your skanky ass mom is sucking face with a bearded fat man that resembles an old biker. And Billy guess what, if he is swapping spit with your mom, he has probably stopped off for some good lovin’ at countless other homes prior to reaching yours. So that same fatman in the red suit that is grabbing your mom’s ass was probably banging some Brazilian whore like a screen door only three hours earlier. What do you think the odds are that he will be leaving Mom the gift that keeps giving? I would say better than average.
The first thing that should come to mind you little voyeur are all of the potential opportunities for black-mail. You could get this tramp to buy you any bike you want or let you stay home from school as often as you like if you threaten to spill the beans about her doing the vertical mamba with Santa.
If nothing else you are NOT being a team player for your gender if you don’t clue your old man in on what is going on. The concept is called "Bro's before Ho's" you peeping little perv. I suggest you familiarize yourself with the program, it will undoubtedly be of value in the future. Because you just stand there and watch, I am sure the consquences will visit you in a few months. I can just see this whole thing playing out on Maury… “Santa you ARE the father of Slutty Sally’s slobberin’ bundle of joy!”
So people I urge you to listen with care next time you flip on the radio. Ther are far too many good songs out there to let this crap seep into your mind. I have to say that my fvorite Christmas songs are the ones of my childhood. Classics like "Up on the Rooftop" and "God Rest ye Merry Gentlemen." I also give a nod to some of the newer songs like billy Squire's "Christmas is the time to say I Love you" and the Waitress' "Christmas Rapping."
Well folks that is it for now. I have voiced my discontent with some of my most hated Christmas songs. Don’t even get me going about Frosty or the Island of Misfit Tard Toys!!!
Have a good Christmas and I will see you all whenever. Take care and join me in my quest to ban these stupid songs.
Bob "SECOND Most Popular Fatman in December" Bobman
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.
Okay, I know I said that the next entry would be about the Bilderbergers and it will, but I had to take a moment to express my angst about some of the yuletide songs I hear. Get ready people, I am gonna bitch a bit. First let’s address the Non-Christmas Christmas songs. If you listen to the lyrics, Winter Wonderland, Let it Snow, I’ve Got my Love to Keep me Warm, and My Favorite Things have not one thing to do with Christmas. Lest we not forget the old standard Jingle Bells, it too has nothing to do with Christmas, only riding in a sleigh and getting drunk and trashing your neighbor’s yard. Okay I made the last part up but this is my rant dammit and I maintain that license.
All these songs are really about is snow and winter with the exception of My Favorite Things and the only thing I can associate with it is Julie Andrews and some little Austrian kids wearing ugly clothes, which were made from the curtains, and traipsing about the Alpine splendor of Austria wilst trying to avoid the SS and trying to convince Rolf of the err of his way. What this has to do with Christmas I know not!
I want to add a verse or two to Let it Snow. I want to add a phrase or two about busting your ass on the ice and suffering a compound fracture as your leg shoots blood across the ice and snow forming a crimson slush which will be licked up by a passing stray. I want to bring the ideas of increased fuel bills and paying a $500 deductible when your parked car slides down a hill into a tree into the fold. Ahh… what a wonderful feeling it is when the car port caves in from the excess weight of six inches of this white goodness we are told is so wonderful and romantic. So while Dean Martin is macking on Anne Margret in front of the fireplace the rest of us are relegated to our own lives laden with crap and peril thanks to all of the snow he is so eagerly coaxing.
Now that we have addressed the Non-Christmas variety of these little diddies, let us now address those which are simply too stupid to ever be included in any Christmas CD I would ever create. The absolute most obnoxious song is “I’m Getting Nothin’ for Christmas.” This is the story of Timmy, or whatever the name, the malevolently tempestuous Christmas delinquent who is now reaping the rewards of his year long spree of poor behavior. Well I really don’t care if he is getting anything or not. Timmy is a Dillhole and his part is usually sung by some equally obnoxious little Tard. So yeah, I hate this song most of all.
A very close second on my list of most hated Christmas songs is the ridiculously asinine “All I Want for Christmas is my Two Front Teeth.” In my opinion this song is so obnoxious that we usually want to knock out whatever remaining teeth this insipid little bastard has left. Need I really say more about this one? If you’ve heard it you would probably agree that I needn’t.
This brings me to yet another stupid song, “I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Clause.” So while junior is watching Mom play tonsil hockey with Santa, the best thing he can come up with is, “What a laugh it would have been if Daddy had only seen Mommy kissing Santa Clause?” Really? Come on little Billy, first of all your skanky ass mom is sucking face with a bearded fat man that resembles an old biker. And Billy guess what, if he is swapping spit with your mom, he has probably stopped off for some good lovin’ at countless other homes prior to reaching yours. So that same fatman in the red suit that is grabbing your mom’s ass was probably banging some Brazilian whore like a screen door only three hours earlier. What do you think the odds are that he will be leaving Mom the gift that keeps giving? I would say better than average.
The first thing that should come to mind you little voyeur are all of the potential opportunities for black-mail. You could get this tramp to buy you any bike you want or let you stay home from school as often as you like if you threaten to spill the beans about her doing the vertical mamba with Santa.
If nothing else you are NOT being a team player for your gender if you don’t clue your old man in on what is going on. The concept is called "Bro's before Ho's" you peeping little perv. I suggest you familiarize yourself with the program, it will undoubtedly be of value in the future. Because you just stand there and watch, I am sure the consquences will visit you in a few months. I can just see this whole thing playing out on Maury… “Santa you ARE the father of Slutty Sally’s slobberin’ bundle of joy!”
So people I urge you to listen with care next time you flip on the radio. Ther are far too many good songs out there to let this crap seep into your mind. I have to say that my fvorite Christmas songs are the ones of my childhood. Classics like "Up on the Rooftop" and "God Rest ye Merry Gentlemen." I also give a nod to some of the newer songs like billy Squire's "Christmas is the time to say I Love you" and the Waitress' "Christmas Rapping."
Well folks that is it for now. I have voiced my discontent with some of my most hated Christmas songs. Don’t even get me going about Frosty or the Island of Misfit Tard Toys!!!
Have a good Christmas and I will see you all whenever. Take care and join me in my quest to ban these stupid songs.
Bob "SECOND Most Popular Fatman in December" Bobman
Friday, December 11, 2009
I Just Finished School
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I just wrapped up my degree plan which now means I have the time to read the books I want to read, about the subjects I want to read and I also now have the time to write about only those things which interest me or that I might think others may have an interest in.
I already know what my first non-textbook read will be. I am not divulging it here because you all would only find it boring so I shan't do so.
Have fun live life and come see us at the BWW... I will be posting another blog on or about the 15th of the month... just like a check... so make certain to visit your mailbox for the announcement.
Bob "Finally Through With School" Bobman
P.S.
Brad is wrapping up his academic career as well this weekend so Let's hear it for him!!!!
.
.
I just wrapped up my degree plan which now means I have the time to read the books I want to read, about the subjects I want to read and I also now have the time to write about only those things which interest me or that I might think others may have an interest in.
I already know what my first non-textbook read will be. I am not divulging it here because you all would only find it boring so I shan't do so.
Have fun live life and come see us at the BWW... I will be posting another blog on or about the 15th of the month... just like a check... so make certain to visit your mailbox for the announcement.
Bob "Finally Through With School" Bobman
P.S.
Brad is wrapping up his academic career as well this weekend so Let's hear it for him!!!!
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