Monthly Archives: March 2006

A major milestone

March 31, 20064:50 p.m.

We are fast approaching the 500th response to this blog and I just want to take this time to tell all of you: Get lives.

No, just kidding. I truly appreciate the time you have taken to post your thoughts on a variety of subjects, most dealing with my lack of a life. Your suggestions, comments and opinions have all be appropriately filed and my character, I believe, has been enhanced by your input.

I’m trying to think of a way to celebrate the 500th comment to the blog. I’m not sure what it might be. Perhaps I’ll take the person to dinner. Perhaps I’ll devote an entire blog entry to that person.

We’re at 450 comments right now, so I’m guessing we’ll get to 500 sometime within the next couple of weeks. This makes Barry Bonds’ pursuit of baseball’s home run record seem minuscule by comparison.

By Bob | Filed under Uncategorized | Comments (3)

The Blade Part II

March 30, 20063:50 p.m.

I skated. Well, I didn’t really skate. I put on skates and went around the rink a couple of times. Well, I didn’t really go around the rink a couple of times. I held on to the boards as I went around the rink a couple of times.

Let me first say I have a new-found respect for hockey players. Second, let me say I need someone who can teach me how to skate before I try to skate. Because without that knowledge, I could easily die. Third, let me say that, yes, my new friend is responsible for getting me on the ice. And she took pictures, which will not be posted here.

Next up is bicycling or something easy like that. There will be more new and downright scary challenges down the road, though.

By Bob | Filed under Uncategorized | Comments (2)

The Blade

March 29, 200610:04 p.m.

That was my nickname in high school, when I was regarded by many as a world-class ice skater. Oh, those were the days. While my friends played baseball and basketball and football, I dressed in sequins and skated.

OK, that’s all a really dumb lie. Actually, I have never ice skated in my life. But that changes Thursday when I’m going to do a little skating. Why, you ask? Because I can. And because life is all about doing things you have never done. Wish me luck. I’m told it’s not that difficult once you get the hang of it. Any truth to that?

By Bob | Filed under Uncategorized | Comments (5)

Audrey is good, thank God

March 28, 20064:24 p.m.

That one really had me worried. If there’s no one who can be trusted on 24, doesn’t that mean the chaos outweighs the entertainment value. I have to believe in somebody other than Jack Bauer.

Speaking of Jack, he was blown up last night in a natural gas plant. But something tells me he’s going to survive. Whaddayathink?

I have to say, this is the most cartoonish season yet. But the non-stop action and suspense _ plus the fact that who’s alive this second might not be the next _ still has me captivated.

What’s up with the new girl in CTU? Where was the president and vice president in last night’s episode? How about the former president’s brother-in-law? And now that all the gas is gone, where do the terrorists turn? Every episode answers two or three questions, but creates 100 more. Man do I love this show.

By Bob | Filed under Uncategorized | Comments (2)

Now what?

March 27, 20067:22 p.m.

The thing about covering a particular season _ like Shocker basketball _ is that when it’s over, it’s over. And it’s over.

The season ends so quickly and it leaves me wondering what the heck I’m going to do now. WSU basketball is all I have written about for a couple of weeks now. Can I possibly write about anything else?

Having been on the road so much, I first need to get into the office and do expense reports, which are the worst. We even have a simple system for doing them, but it’s like pulling teeth.

Then I need to figure out a routine for the spring. I’ll have a major league baseball column this weekend. And there’s always the Mark Turgeon watch, although I really don’t expect him to go anywhere. Don’t prove me wrong here, Mark. I just don’t think the right job is out there and I really believe he and his wife, Ann, are happy here. I wouldn’t be shocked if he went somewhere else now, but I would be surprised.

If you have column ideas, send them to me. This is a time of the year when I need them.

By Bob | Filed under Uncategorized | Comments (4)

Favorite Shocker memory

March 25, 200610:03 a.m.

I’m sure a lot of you followed this Wichita State basketball team intently. Tell me about it. Have you always been a Shocker fan? Did this particular team make you one?

I’m curious to hear from you about your memories of Wichita State basketball. Does it go back 40 or more years, as do mine? I think blog-readers would have a good time reading from a topic like this. So give it your best shot.

By Bob | Filed under Uncategorized | Comments (5)

Congrats, Shockers

March 25, 20061:59 a.m.

I have to say, this was a great Shocker team to cover. I can’t remember a bunch of guys who were easier to deal with or better to be around. Paul Miller is one of my all-time favorites and I’ll miss him.

Wichita State should be really good again next year, but the Shockers will miss Miller’s character.

By Bob | Filed under Uncategorized | Comments (0)

What’s this new development?

March 24, 20063:47 p.m.

Since I posted on the blog the other day that there had been an exciting new development in my life, many of you _ OK, two of you _ have asked what it is.

Well, I won the lottery and will be moving soon to the West Indies.

OK, you’re not buying that one. Actually, I met a great woman almost three weeks ago and, despite being gone most of the time since I met her, things are going well. So well that I think the key for me might be to make sure I’m gone a lot.

Her name is Denise. She’s a pediatric intensive care nurse. And she’s blind. No, just kidding about the eyesight. She makes me laugh and she reads this blog, so be nice to her.

And wish her good luck.

By Bob | Filed under Uncategorized | Comments (6)

Opinion Line

March 22, 20062:12 p.m.

Now for another version of Wichita’s favorite game, Who is the Opinion Line caller?

You know the drill: We re-print the thoughts of an actual OL contributor, then I break through the anonymity and tell you about the person.

Here goes.

I may be the only one in Wichita who doesn’t give a hoot whether the Shockers win or lose.

This is a woman in her 70s who remembers when "give a hoot" was actually a part of the American vernacular. She has cats but forgets to feed them. She wears nightgowns and slippers, rarely changing except for her weekly outing to Wal-Mart and the Long John Silver’s drive-thru. She watches "her shows" on television, but doesn’t have cable. She does have shag carpeting and her walls are painted a strange shade of green.

By Bob | Filed under Uncategorized | Comments (1)

Blog on hold

March 21, 200610:21 p.m.

As you can probably tell, I’m not doing a very good job with my blog lately. There’s been quite a bit going on. Between radio, newspaper, my new physical fitness regimen and other very exciting developments in my life, the blog has taken a little bit of a back seat.

The blog doesn’t like the back seat, so I’m going to work hard to get back into the swing of things. You’ll be reading new entries about The Eagle’s Opinion Line soon as well as continuing updates on some of my favorite television shows.

As for tonight, I’m going to give you my feelings about American Idol, which I was just able to see on television for the first time in three weeks.

These people can sing. I don’t know who is going to win this competition, but there are about six good candidates. And I just realized something after writing the previous two sentences: Am I a geek, or what?

Anyway, no apologies for my interest in this show. Just deal with it.

Most likely to be voted off now: Kevin Covais, who should have been voted off a long time ago. And if not him, look for Bucky Covington to get the boot. Maybe then he’ll get a haircut.

I enjoyed the 1950s theme tonight. And while I’m admitting things, I might as well admit that I’m a fan of Barry Manilow, who was featured on tonight’s show. Is anyone still reading?

Anyway, here are my picks for the final six, which we won’t have for a few weeks. These are in no particular order:

1) Mandisa
2) Taylor Hicks
3) Chris Daughty
4) Katharine McPhee
5. Paris Bennett
6) Kellie Pickler

Thoughts?

By Bob | Filed under Uncategorized | Comments (4)