I’m sober. This is news only because I attended my first Jimmy Buffett concert Saturday in Dallas and people who attend those concerts tend generally not to be sober.
I fell in with the wrong crowd of Parrotheads, about 25,000 of them. It was an experience I won’t soon forget. I just wish I remembered more about it.
I was there with a great group of guys, including my long-time friend Doug Baber. We drove down Saturday morning and got to Dallas around 1:30. We checked into our motel and figured we were going to arrive at the concert, scheduled to begin at 7:30, in plenty of time. When we pulled in, at around 4, the parking lots were almost full. We finally got a spot more than two miles from Pizza Hut Park, where Buffett was performing.
I saw Buffett in 1978 as a warm-up act for the Eagles. But Buffett is a much different creature these days. People travel from all over the country to see him at his concerts. There were countless RVs and motor homes and the pre-concert tailgate party was much bigger than anything I had ever seen before _ including a Chiefs game at Arrowhead.
Beer, beer and more beer flowed. Marguaritas made many a cup runneth over. It was a crazy scene, especially when you consider a bunch of people my age were the ones making it.
Once inside for the concert _ well, what can I say. People were crazy. Buffett was amazing. My personal favorite was his rendition of Southern Cross by Crosby, Stills and Nash. Of course, he played all of his standards. I loved Fins and Son of a Son of a Sailor most.
Incredible experience. The throbbing inside my head told me so.
There is debate now as to whether or not NBC _ and every other news outlet in America _ went to far in showing to much video of Virginia Tech killer Cho Seung-Hui after his spree left 32 people dead.
Tough call for NBC, especially, which received a package from Cho with photos, video, writings and, to their thinking, at least some explanation, sick as it was, as to why he carried out these killings.
In hindsight, giving as much attention to Cho’s rantings looks out of line. Family members, rightly so, have expressed their disgust. So have many, many other Americans who believe the media played right into Cho’s hands by giving him a platform even after the killings.
The right thing to do would have been to turn over Cho’s package to the authorities. But it’s not easy because the media feels threatened by those who are attempting to diminish its freedom. A free press is one of the most important foundations on which America was built. Unfortunate, a free press isn’t a perfect one and we make mistakes.
I believe it was wrong for television networks and newspapers to put Cho’s image and words on screens and pages but I don’t believe it was egregious. Withholding news _ and this was news, like it or not _ is a slippery slope. Even to spare the feelings of victims.
But in this case, the media played into Cho’s hands. There had to be a better way.
Ban guns? OK with me, but I know that will never happen. Still, I don’t know what’s wrong with some aspects of American culture that would lead someone to kill 32 defenseless, innocent students at Virginia Tech.
We talk and we talk about the ills of society but they seem to be getting worse. I hear so many people say we need to accentuate the positive, but the negatives are engulfing us.
What does it take? How about starting with eliminating violent video games? They do nothing but insulate young people from the horror of death and killing and they should be taken off the shelves. Then let’s get rid of violent rap music. What good does it serve? Anyone?
I’m as much for free speech as anyone. It’s one of this democracy’s backbones. But I also believe we owe it to ourselves to send the correct message to our young people. That is something we have failed to do. It is irresponsible for us to sit idly by while so many tragedies happen.
Ban guns? Like I said, you wouldn’t get an argument from me. But there are other things we can do first because the second amendment to the constitution, depending on your interpretation of the language, does guarantee us a right to bear arms. I don’t think there is anything in there about a right to destroy cartoonish figures in video games, though. Or to disparage people _ especially women _ in music lyrics.
Maybe this isn’t such a bad season overall.
OK, Sanjaya is bad. Can we please, please end this charade? It is making Simon even nastier than normal. Sanjaya is a travesty. Nice guy, yes. But a travesty.
Got that off my chest.
As for the others: I didn’t think Chris was good tonight and he got a little snippy during his post-song interview. Chris could be gone soon.
La Kisha was weak tonight but has no worries about advancing. In fact, she should definitely be in the top three.
Our boy Phil finally acknowledged tonight that he has Wichita ties, but only after being prodded by Sharon native Martina McBride. By the way, she is adorable and near the top of the list of Kansas treasures. I have always liked Martina; tonight I became a huge fan. When is her concert? I’m going. Anyway, I thought Phil was great. Country is his thing. Why didn’t we know that before tonight?
Melinda was fantasticulous, a new word I have made up just for her. She did have an irritating ‘Aw, shucks’ thing going. I hope Simon broke her of that habit tonight. She’s the best singer in the ground.
But Jordin Sparks is a close second and getting closer all the time. You look at Jordin and you see a major star in the making. There is no doubt _ none _ that she will be a big-time singer.
And, finally, there’s Blake. I think Blake is good, but not in the same league with Melinda, La Kisha or Jordin. Those are the three best of the lot. Blake is probably the best male singer in the group.
I think _ no, I hope _ Sanjaya is gone after Wednesday night. His is a tired act.
Finally catching up on some television viewing. It’s a little sad to admit, but TV has always been a big part of my life. Why not read more books? Why not get out and about? Why, why, why?
Well, my parents watched TV and I watched with them. We had one set for most of my childhood, although my mother did get a television of her own at some point. Watched sports when I could, but a lot of other stuff. Sunday night was the best: The FBI, Bonanza and Mannix. All in the Family was huge when I got a little older.
As for now, I’m really into the final episodes of The Sopranos. It’s so well made and the characters as rich as any on television. What’s going to happen with only seven episodes remaining? It appears that Tony Soprano is beginning to really confront his demons. And it also appears that his nephew, Chris, might not be around much longer. Any theories on where this show goes?
The Office is easily my favorite comedy of the moment and it’s moving up on my all-time list. I laugh from start to finish and am about ready to include Rainn Wilson, who plays Dwight, as one of the best comedy characters in history. Steve Carrell’s Michael is there, too.
I’m off the Gray’s Anatomy bandwagon. I still watch Desperate Housewives, which has been pretty good this year. American Idol, 24, Law and Order SVU, Friday Night Lights, Lost, King of Queens, House, 30 Rock and Without a Trace are other shows I don’t like to miss.
I’m going to get into the blog now. Promise.
When big stories break, writing on my blog is something I forget to do. So sorry. But I’m guessing you all survived.
Looks like Gregg Marshall is going to be the new basketball coach at Wichita State. I’m leaving to go to the press conference shortly and I’m dressed to kill.
Anyway, this is a very good hire. Marshall is very highly thought of for what he accomplished at Winthrop. My only concern is that he has spent his life in the South and I’m wondering how he and his wife will adapt to Wichita. And how long he’ll be here? Don’t kid yourselves, Shocker fans, Marshall isn’t coming to Wichita State to retire. As soon as the South Carolina or Clemson jobs open _ and the Gamecocks’ job could be open within a couple of years _ Marshall will be one of the top candidates.
So, great hire for the short term. Which is really all Wichita State needs to do, really. As long as Jim Schaus can make great hires for the short term, the Shockers will be fine.
Talk to you soon and often.
Boy, I’m really glad I shelled out the bucks to switch from Cable to Direct TV so I can see my Cardinals play almost every game. They’ve scored two runs in three games _ the third isn’t quite over, but they’re behind 10-0. Lots of issues. The team can’t hit. The bullpen has been awful. But everybody tells me we’re only three games into the season.
I wish I didn’t let this stuff bother me.
As for my new satellite TV, after about five calls to the main office I think I’ve got it figured out. It’s not bad, actually, except that I need more high definition channels. Somebody called our radio show today, after we went off the air, and suggested Radio Shack has an antennae that can bring in more high def. Anybody know anything about that.
You people are saviors to me. Without you, I’d be nothing.