Brilliant Idea of the week.

So I was thinking of how I can combine my love for food, college football, and tailgating. A la the Anthony Bourdain theme. I think I have a rough plan. I schedule out a seasons worth of college games, travel to that destination, and document my exploits. What do you all think of that?

Is this better than going to dental school and creating the traveling Nascar mobile dentist office?

Senior Night versus Baylor

Of all the things in Texas Tech athletics, my favorite thing is Senior Night for Texas Tech Men's Basketball. Why is it so special? Because this is the night that all the Seniors hard work in the classroom and on the court in honored. You see, Texas Tech expects its student athletes to graduate. That fact is proved in our Men's Basketball program. Coach Knight had an outstanding record of graduating athletes at Indiana, and now that tradition continues at Texas Tech. Ironic that the king of NOT graduating athletes, Kelvin Sampson, is now the Head Coach at IU. But over exposing his farce isn't my intention here.

After the game, the seniors are allowed to say a few words to the fans. As always, it is a treat to hear Coach Knight speak as well. Having attended one of these occasions before, I can tell you that this event is worth the price by itself. As a person that respects the work of teachers and coaches, I can think of few college programs that honor their students in such a honorable way. I am proud that my school, Texas Tech, does this.

What happens after? Most, if not all of our players do not end up in the NBA. However, most if not all become successful. A testament to the greatest legacy of Coach Knight and his staff. It really isn't about winning basketball games, it is how you win them and who you win them with. No amount of trophies or championship memories can top this day that happens each year.

Texas Tech Seniors:

Darryl Dora-KU has to be happy, he might become the first non Mizzou player to get his jersey retired by MU.
Jarrius Jackson-I'm going to miss him.
Jon Plefka-I always liked his effort. So outmached by bigger and faster players yet he always fights hard.
Tanner Ogden-I predict Tanner is going to have a big game in the next month and kill a giant.
LucQuente White-too bad he got hurt last year. Lately I think he has been playing well.

Strive for Honor!

Andy Rooney

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2007/02/22/60minutes/rooney/main2504604.shtml

If wine gets finer with time, then surely Andy Rooney is as fine as aged French Burgundy. I cannot think of another journalist that does it better. This last week, he was brilliant. I do not know of anyone in my family that is an exception to his example of organization.

Video, I had trouble getting it to work.

Iconoclasts

http://www.sundancechannel.com/feature/index.php?ixContent=8381

I am not a big fan of celebrity worship. I feel as though it dulls the mind and corrupts cultural development for one to sit for hours and bemuse the trifling stock of popular figures. It is hard to get away from, the endless hours of speculation on Anna Nicole and Britney. I try and watch current event channels but am always refused by the "top stories" or "breaking news." I think American television news is mocking its own viewers with the constant diet of rehab, DNA testing, and hyphenated name dating. The joke is on you if you pay attention, and sadly most of you do. All I am saying is think for a second and try something new.

It seems that good television is possible when centering around the private lives of celebrities. I was trying to watch some news to catch up on the world without having to surf the entire internet, a big time sports writer doesn't have the luxury of 6 hours to get unbiased print coverage via the gift from Al Gore. I got lucky remote surfing and stumbled across a show called Iconoclasts on Sundance Channel.

I knew the name Maya Angelou, and after watching Iconoclasts, I know I have missed out in not reading any of her work. The show is brilliant because it takes two popular figures from sports, entertainment, art, or literature and puts them together in one of their homes. What they talk about is so interesting that there is no need for 4 minute sound byte editing montages or trumped up situational settings. Most of the shows are two people talking about each other and themselves and what comes from that is....well, I can't really describe it. The only thing I can equate it to is having a conversation with a favorite long lost friend. Dave Chappelle came to visit Maya at her home in Winston Salem, N.C.

Some of the advice and thoughts that Maya gave to Dave throughout the conversation were powerful. An artist of the civil rights struggle and popular comedian...Now that I have started this, I can't finish. I apologize, but all I really wanted to do here was explain to you the internet that this is a great show and worthy of the DVR-Tivo season pass. I highly recommend watching the show with Maya Angelou. She had a bigger impact on me through that conversation with Dave than I can explain. It was that good.

Hogg Maulies

At the junction between 19th street and Texas Ave in Lubbock.... the music never dies. For the past 4 years, The Hogg Maulies have meshed their dreams of the future and the homage to the past while holding down a 12 hours at Texas Tech University. None of them are music majors, as they do not offer to teach Texan. It seems to be a degree achieved best by birth in Fisher County. The boys from Rotan can play!

I asked, "What are you going to do when you graduate?" Rode Morrow, lead singer for the Hogg Maulies replied, "I don't know, just keep playing I guess." Rode looked worried that this gig might not draw a crowd. 30 minutes later as he approached the stage to start the show, and the Texas Tech senior was greeted by a crowd of yells and cat calls. The place was packed, he wasn't worried anymore and the Hogg Maulies just kept playing.

The Hogg Maulies aren't just Texas Country's version of "Generation next". The crowd mix of college coeds and frat boys, Texas plowboys and middle aged crazies prove there is more here than generation. These guys are different. The prerecorded music before the show belts out everything from The Killers to Johnny Cash. You know these guys are more than just cold beer country rock and pickup ballads. In downtown Lubbock there is always the hint of Buddy Holly, Waylon Jennings, Mac Davis, and Pat Green in the atmosphere. These boys are just surfing the clouds of time in this place, and their music reflects it.

Hogg Maulie music is also something unique. It is the best of where they come from and who they are. This isn't Texas music; it is West Texas small town struggle to pay the crop note soul. They are trying to find something deeper in the soil, wishing for rain, and hoping to get a good price. They can't control it and they know it. It is perhaps ingrained in their being from generations of toil. They just keep playing.

The beer flows, as the crowd gets worked up from the sounds of guitar, bass, and fiddle. They end their last line of the first song in this chorus, "I roll on." They do. The Maulies entertain the crowd and themselves by playing a mixture of tracks from their 2006 release Here to Stay, and a few cover tune standards. My favorite song of the entire night is a song called Fall Back. It is by far the best song lyric I have heard in quite a while. Believe me when I state this, Rode Morrow can write. I mean that to say that in the vastness of Texas Music, I haven't listened to lyrics as superior to this. Jerod Foster (lead guitar), Parker Morrow (bass guitar), David Mullins (drums) can also play. Songs Goodnight and Here to Stay are their best fusions of talent.

Rode says that Jerod Foster “looks like Jesus." It is fitting. He is the lone member outside of Fisher County and is ironically from Paradise, Texas. I can't say for sure if he looks like Jesus, but the boy sure can play a guitar. As for the rest of the band and their looks, well they look like they should be delivering feed and hauling hey. But the way they play, I'm guessing that the junction of 19th and Lubbock, Texas is about to once again invade the airwaves of country. Like the many that came before, they know its all about truth of where you come from and where you’re going. Just keep on playing Hogg Maulies!

“I hope I don’t have to spend my whole life pickin, those cotton bolls from dusk til dawn.”-Pickin Time

If you want to know what a Hogg Maulie is, what one looks like, or purchase one for yourself; please check out these links.

www.hoggmaulies.com

Hogg Maulies Myspace page.

Anthony Bourdain: No Reservations

http://travel.discovery.com/fansites/bourdain/bourdain-season3.html




If I ever get a life "Do-over", I am definitely going to be like Anthony. I am about half way through this book and it is the best book I have read in quite some time. I like him because he has a great life, he knows it, and he is living it. If you don't know, he has a television show where he travels from country to country, and he eats and drinks like the natives. It is awesome. Anthony Bourdain has a personality that reminds me of all my favorite traits in my oldest friends.

If you get a chance, check it out.

Simulating of a sexual act

There is quite a stir happening in the Lubbock which stems from Chippendale's Dancers getting arrested late last week.

To summarize: Friday the Dancers were arrested in a Sports Bar called Jake's, along with the bar manager. The Lubbock Police stopped the show withing 5 minutes of the opening act and started arresting people for "simulation of a sexual act." They claimed the club violated city ordinance by operating a sexual business without a permit. The next morning the 20 or so arrested at the scene were let go by a Judge for lack of evidence.

Here are the stories from the Lubbock Avalanche Journal.

http://www.lubbockonline.com/stories/021807/loc_021807077.shtml

http://www.lubbockonline.com/stories/022007/loc_022007039.shtml

This is the best one.

http://www.lubbockonline.com/stories/022007/loc_022007040.shtml

Evidently the town hall meeting last night was a powder keg for the city council and mayor. It should be. My new hero in life is Wes Nessman.

"Last Friday night, they set this town back 20 years," said Wes Nessman, production manager of KFMX-FM, who approached the stage and fired off a tirade at city officials as they left the microphones.

"If you're interested in being a public citizen ... stick around. You're not going to blow us off," Nessman said. "Look at how brave they are!"

Happy Birthday Cody Mac!

18 years ago, I was getting out of class early at Decatur High School to go see my brother for the first time. I was actually 17 the day he was born. I am so proud of my little brother. I have always carried a picture of him in wallet and every now and then when I get a glimpse of it, it reminds me of the fun times we all had when he was a toddler. When he was just a year old, he came with my folks to Lubbock to visit me in college. He was always a big hit with my friends, he still is.

I think my favorite memory of him is making him smile as we jumped him on the bed. That kid could giggle. Later, I had the privilege of having him with me as we worked at Summer Camp together. At first, my brother wasn't well liked by the other boys, but by the end of the summer he was everyones favorite. He is always my favorite.

I always joked that I would be old when he got to be 18. I don't know about that now. Cody Mac is an Eagle Scout, but even better than that, he has a good heart. Something I admire very much. He has dreams of becoming a filmmaker but whatever he does, he will always be only brother. Today, I will stop calling him little.

Happy Birthday!

Update on the health

It has been 70 days. 60 since I got off of my blood pressure medication.

I have lost over 35lbs. I am pretty sure I was over 315 in late November. I weighed right at 281lbs as of Monday. Believe me when I state, I look and feel 20 times better. I have so much further to go, but I have the right habits. I finally believe that I can do it. My goal is to be at 220 lbs by July 4th, 2007. I would like to get to 205 by the end of this year ultimately, but I do not know if that is possible with my body type. I am 6'4, by the way.


My blood pressure has stabilized at a much lower level than when I started. I still think it is high, but I estimate the lower I go on the scale, with the methods I am using, everything will work out right.

I have been developing a mean left hook and overhand right in my boxing class. But I can only go once a week. I'm up to 12 miles a week on the elliptical trainer. I break it up into five 40 minute session over 7 days. When I started I could only do 20 minutes at level 1, the lowest setting. Now I am on level 4 and I will be moving up to 5 on Saturday.

I lift weights 6 days a week and now I got two tickets to the gun show, iykwimaityd. As time has gone on, I have steadily increased my weight workouts as my strength and stamina have increased. Anyway, I will spare you all the details. It is working. Email me if you want me to share.

The biggest thing is nutrition. I posted my diet on here before, and with the exception of adding yogurt, I am on the same regimen. Oh, I have cut out the wine for the most part. I've been more social lately, and just have about 3 or 4 beers per outing, about 1 or 2 nights a week. Well, that is unless its bowling night. Got to get some moderation there, or stay away from Ron.

My problem is I do not feel like eating in the morning, so I have to make myself do it. That is still happening. I rarely get the late night cravings anymore, but when I do its because I skipped breakfast. Weird, but that is how it works for me.

The one thing that I can say is a pleasure every evening, is organic green tea. I love this stuff, and I am drinking it right now as I type. Overall, it costs more to buy better food, but you eat less of it because it has better nutrition and gives your body what it needs. Also, I do not have alot of food in my pantry or refrigerator. I go to the store more often; buy fresh and only get what I need. I also planted a few things so i can have some fresh things like basil, oregano, tomatoes, beans, etc. etc. It is an experiment and I will let you know how that works.

One little trick I learned over a 10 day period was not to eat my favorite, chips and salsa. I dropped 4 pounds and got off of a plateau.

In closing this update, I would just like to say this about myself. I have noticed the slimmer I get the better overall mood I have. I must have been an ass for the last 2 years, because I feel like I can throw a football over a mountain today.

Momma fish will be in the Hubaplex

That means only one thing. The household will get cleaned thoroughly for 7 hours to save myself from having 2 minutes of harsh rebuke as to my general cleanliness. I really do clean often. I bought a new vacuum cleaner last month and I am happy to report, I have used it twice.

I hate to admit this, but since I moved in December, I have cleaned my bathroom just once. Pathetic. I was in there this morning getting all depressed about how much of a procrastinator I am. Then I realized that will dissipate as soon as it is cleaned. I still haven't done it though. After all, she doesn't get here until tomorrow evening.

Post Game Knight Press Conference

Glee,

I figured you and Mr. Glee would like to hear this.

http://studentmedia.tamu.edu/bat/video/Knight_postgame.mov

We are not rivals.

This is a popular statement made to me by my Aggie friends, well okay, my one Aggie friend.





Exactly! It isn't a rivalry if we always win.

Raider Power articles.

Just in case you want to read some superior sports writing, I have provided links below.

By the way, I am now a "Baseball Analyst", and to think last week I was an unemployed amateur bowler. My how the world can change!




http://texastech.scout.com/2/617813.html

http://texastech.scout.com/2/618184.html

http://texastech.scout.com/2/618442.html

Nobody is safe when you play Texas Tech

This team of ours gets all it can get out the talent it puts on the floor. We lose 5 straight games, but still are able to sweep #6 Texas A&M and beat #5 Kansas.

I need to get back on the blood pressure medication.

If your noticing I only post about this when we win, its because it takes me 3 days to get over a heartbreak loss. But not tonight!

Guns Up!

Texas Tech 77
at #6 Texas A&M 75

I am sending the Red Raiders a Valentines Day card. This season is like my dating record. Some nice memories, but the bad ones are so awful. I love you until you break my heart again.

You stay flat Lubbock!

Is it safe to come out? Like Charlie Brown walking around with a cloud constantly pouring, our beloved Red Raiders can't catch a break. That seems to apply to all of our Sports teams in action this semester. The lone exception being the Tech Hockey team that finished up a successful campaign finishing 11th in some obscure poll. If the umbrella works, which seems seldom, we end up in the mud puddle anyway. "Bad luck is better than no luck at all", is a quotation I like because I can then make a HEE HAW reference. Yeah me! I still can't wait for March, but for vastly different reasons than a month ago. Gloom, despair, agony on me.

One bit of odd news, I got a low paying job as the beat writer for Texas Tech baseball on Raiderpower.com.

Maybe this should be posted on Lifestyles? It seems like self loathing, because it is self loathing.

The good news is, the weather is great in the Hubaplex. I planted some vegetables and herbs (legal) this weekend and I am looking forward to the harsh lessons of indoor contact gardening. Maggie has mastered the art of fly chasing, because I have all the "puertas" open. "Puerta" is a fancy Spanish word that requires a google search or $10,000 in tuition fees to understand. Comprende? Some farmers have scarecrows and pesticides, I have an attack collie mix. We work within the budget around here.

AQUI? I like annoying the spell checker on this software. It no likey the Espanol. One sentence, two red marks. I win! Yeah me again!

Hola, me llamo es El Rey de pescado. Y tu? That is really all I remember. Translated it says, "Hello, my name is the king of cooked fish. What is yours?" OK, that was fun. What do you want to do now boys and girls?

I watched Wargames the other day on my antique non-HDTV surround sound television in color. Here are a list of my favorite lines.

"Let's play Global Thermo Nuclear War."
"I would piss on a spark plug if I thought it would do any good."

I also lost another pound of body last week. If I don't lose weight by exercise, I have the local butcher lop off a finger. That is more motivation than Jerrod, Jerad, J-rod?? can muster.

Another odd bit of personal peace, I am going to be on television at KLBK Sunday Sports with Rob Brennan. Rob is good people, despite his Philadelphia foreigner status. You may recall my first "15 minutes of fame", for those of you don't have the Plainview public access channel, I was on the Mayor's Show in 2002. I was a big hit and for all I know it may still be on in syndication. Oh, the life I have led. Probably not worth much examining at this point. What I will be exploring with Rob will probably revolutionize sports broadcasting, and land me in the pantheon of journalism transcendence. That trip will include stops on Texas Tech football recruiting, Men's and Women's basketball analysis, and tips on buying bowling balls. Oh and my two day expertise on all that is the Texas Tech baseball program.

I am going to sign off with a Ron Burgundyesque voice saying, "I'm Russell Smith, you stay flat Lubbock!" Do you think they will let me wear my red plaid coaching pants on air?"

Knight makes it official

Texas doesn't have "magic ass cream" that makes their players better, calming my conspiracy fears.


http://videos.utexasclan.com/view.php?id=1031