Buftex

The place I am working is hosting a Vince Young party tomorrow...with VY in Buffalo at OTA's I wonder if he will actually be there..it goes from 12pm-11:30pm...I believe there is some charity component to it.

CMT is the country music video channel...owned by CBS. Like MTV, they have their own awards show, the CMT awards. Then, there is the CMA awards, almost like the People's Choice awards...generally, that which sells the most, wins the awards. You also have the ACM awards, or the Acadamy of Country Music awards...these are voted by members of the industry. I was once an ACM memeber, and got to vote on these. All of the awards are a croc. But, country music fans are extremely loyal to their favorite artists...if somebody racks up a top 10 hit in country music, they have a career forever in the field. I suspect that is why so many of the people who become popular through dreck like "American Idol" become country artists...it is a much easier market to tap. Carrie Underwood is one of the most successful country recording artists of the last decade, and from what I understand, never really had any love of country music before her stint on Idol... Kelly Clarkson. Funny thing is, these people don't really record country records, but really what would have been top 40 pop, or "soft rock" back in the 70's or 80's...but they market them to the country music audience, who lap them up... awards shows are relatively cheap to produce, and, from what I understand country music awards shows traditionally do well in tv ratings. The artists love to participate, because it is another venue to promote their newest product.

Awful game by the Celtics, LeBron came to play. Honestly, I had a bad feeling about this going in, for Boston. They never make things easy on themselves. LeBron was amazing, but even more so, their commitment to defense just wore the Celtics down. The C's are not pretty, offensively a lot of nights, but tonight was just ridiculous. Pierce couldn't hit a thing. The prescience of Bosh makes a big difference, in this match-up, on the defensive end. I realize Celtics have a big job ahead of them, to beat Miami in game 7. I will take some solace, however, that if the Celtics had hit their shots, this would have been a much closer game. And, what I mean by that, particularly in the first half, the Celtics did get good shots...they just weren't making them. I also know, with this team, when they get smacked down, they will give it everything they have the next game. Miami may win it, but the Celtics won't roll over. Pretty awesome ovation for the C's in the final 3 minutes, even though they were down by 20. The players seem to take it as the fans wanting them to know they are behind them, for game 7 in Miami...I think it was more the realization that the "Big 4" will not play in Boston again, togehter...unless they win Saturday... a collective "thanks".

Country music is no differnet than any other music...there is a "corporate" strand in every genre...rock, jazz...even hip-hop. And, yes, in general, pop-country (as in popular country) is pretty mind-numbing and sould sucking. But, that is like saying, I hate rock n'roll and basing your assessment of the genre solely on what the kids from "American Idol" sing. I love Johnny Cash, don't get me wrong, but I think he is one of the more overrated of the modern country legends, becase he was so popular, and had main-stream appeal.

This is one of the creepier country songs ever recorded..."Pscycho" by Eddie Noack. It was written by Leon Payne, and old contract writer for Acuff-Rose publishing back in the 50's and 60's. It is rumoured that Payne asked that it never be recorded, until after he was dead! Wonder if Leon had a secret? The song has been recorded by others, including Elvis Costello (not a good version, IMO), but Eddie Noacks voice just sends chills down your spine, and the lyrics are disturbing...who needs scary movies when you have the power of words and music? This is about as "outlaw" as you can get.

Not really a big fan either, but I do like the song "Come Monday"....but, if I never heard "Margartaville" again, it would be okay by me! I know he has a die-hard group of fans. Not sure exactly why, but I cannot stand John Mayer...I promis I will listen though...having trouble playing the vid on this computer though.

I remember the first time she was on, when she and Spooge robbed Combo and the other guy...man she was frightening looking...I looked her up, and she is just some tv actress who has been around for a while. Great show...I always envy people who are seeing something I know is amazing, for the first time...if you haven't watched "Mad Men" yet, you might give it a spin too! When "Mad Men" is showing a new season, it is my favorite show on television, hands down...but then, when "Breaking Bad" is on, I am sure it is the best show on tv... Speaking of tv shows...probably get laughed off the board for this, but does anyone watch "Nurse Jackie"? I won't say it is a great show, because there are some characters and story lines that don't do much for me, but I have to say, Edie Falco is a terrific actress. The central story of the show, a pill addicted nurse, is pretty compelling..it gets better every season. When it first started out, it was billed as a comedy, but was more accurately, a "dramady". The drama always worked, but the humor just kind of fell flat a lot of the time...but they have toned down the humor stuff, and it is a pretty good show. My gf likes it...I don't normally like most of the stuff she likes (Lifetime nonsense), so this is a breath of fresh air.

Merle Haggard is one of my all time favorite song writers, any genre...always loved this song...amazingly relevant after all these years..."Are the Good Times Really Over". Hag can be a little political at times...very liberal on social issues, but conservative as hell in other matters. He was a very vocal Hillary Clinton supporter, back in 2008. This song is just screaming to be picked up for use by some campaign...but it stands on its' own. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eFHJ41ktt3Q That is pretty cool... was that the theme song for "The Shield"? Beck does really interesting stuff...I don't love all of his stuff, but when he is good, he is really good.

Love this version of the song...how it was originally written. Gram Parsons should have gotten a writing credit. Great Don Williams song..that is the kind of thing I am talking about....poetry. Always loved his song "Lord, I Hope This Day Is Good" Gotta admit, I kind of lost track of Lyle Lovett over the years...I used to really dig his stuff, but he seemed to drop off the face of the earth for a while, no new songs. Haven't picked up his new album. Tammy Wynette was great too...she had another song, kind of along the same lines (pissing feminists off, no doubt) called "My Man"..."Apartment #9" is another classic...

Nice...I know that one as Porter Wagoner tune. Also, big thumbs up for "Witchata Lineman"...partial to the original by Campbell, but the STP version is not bad at all...Jimmy Webb song... This is sort of a contemporary Texas classic by Charlie Robison...Springsteen would be proud..."My Hometown"

I hear you...I just want to make sure it is understood, I absolutely loath all other Boston sports teams...I just love that franchise...it has nothing to do with the city, at all. Garnett, pretty much embodies every good thing about sports, for me. I realize, fans of other teams don't generally like him, but the guy is just a flat out competitor. He will do anything in his fiber, to win. He is getting older, so his body doesn't allow him to succeed, every night, but it will never be for lack of trying. It has been great seeing Rajon Rondo grow up into an elite level guard, and I really think playing with a guy like Garnett has been a big part of his success. I will concede, which ever team makes it from the east, they are going to have a tall order trying to beat the Thunder in a seven game series. They are a really talented, athletic, smart team. Hard not to like the Thunder, from a pure basketball point of view. Durant is just incredible. I went to a few of his college games, including the last...I knew he was going to be really good...but not this good. For purely selfish reasons, I was hoping for a San Anotonio/Boston final. I live only about an hour from SA, would have loved to see the C's in a finals game. FWIW- Kenny Smith on TNT is saying that a OKC, Boston finals would be just like the OKC/SA matchup, the only difference being, Garnett can give the Celtics more than Tim Duncan gave the Spurs. Garnett is still a great defender, and can still bring it on the offensive side of the game.

The possum...the standard. No, no particular era...I like all kinds of music. But, I have noticed, whenever there is a music thread, people always go out of their way to make sure everyone knows they hate country and rap. Rap is not my thing, for the most part, but, for me, nothing beats a great country song. I realize, there are a ton of bad ones out there (see the Toby Keith thread), but some of them are just poetry. Most of the great rock-n'roll that we all love has its' roots in country and blues. I was just kind of hoping to have my eyes opened up to a new song, or a new artist.

I am not even asking for your all-time favorite country song...just great songs...this was inspired by LABillz and j.Wawrrows mention of Townes Van Zandt's "Pancho and Lefty" in another thread...of course, Wawrrow was right...this deserves its' own thread. I'll start: Dick Curless "Chick Inspector"...just a cool, honky-tonk song, with a little ****-kicking trucker thrown in, and a little country dirty...I loved this song so much, I could only ever find it on a 5 CD import box set (Bear Family) so I plunked down almost a $100...one of the best $100 I ever spent...Dick Curless is terrific. Don't let the eye-patch fool you! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=__vtXt7ofXI

Now you're just showing off. Which version. Willie & Merle? Emmylou? Or, the original Townes?

LABillz is scary that way... just when you want to write him off, he comes up with something redeeming! I am kind of mixed on Hank III...I like when he does coutry stuff, but more and more, his albums are just kind metal noise... This is a great tune from the first albun.

I love real country music...the rest you can have. Probably the only contemporty main-stream country acts I like is George Strait, Dwight Yoakam...but I will take Merle Haggard, George Jones, or Willie over any of these other clowns... That said, there are some terrific artists doing coutry music....there are just few places for them to be heard. People like Keith Urban, who dominate the country charts are really just playing light-weight "soft rock". Nashville turned its' back on "real country" decades ago... the heart of real country still beats in Texas. Dale Watson "Nashville Rash"

I almost started a thread about these commercials...I hate them! The Malkovich one, as bbb said, is kind of creepy, and to me, just depressing. And, while I like Zooey (loved her on "Weeds" before I knew who she was), I can't stand that commercial...don't hate it as much as the Malkovich one, for obvious reasons...but I just can't stand them...if you watch the NBA Playoffs, or "Mad Men", you can't avoid them...just awful. The only ad campaign that I can think of that bugged me as much (or maybe a little more) were the Hyundai commercials, that they played endlessly during NFL broadcasts, two seasons ago...the ones with the whitest band in the world, Pomplamoose...I felt embarrassed for white hipsters everywehere, every time I saw them...

I wish I could find a clip of it, but there was a great moment in the Celtics game last night...it took place on the sidelines, and not on the court. It was in the final minutes. As the Celtics were breaking their huddle, after a timeout, they did their traditional group "hands on hands"...Mikale Pietrus, of the Celtics, was not paying attention, and didn't put his hand in with the others...Kevin Garnett grabbed him by the shoulder, and told him to put his hand in the pile...he did it sort of half-heartedly and started to walk away...Garnett grabbed him more emphatically and forced him to put his fist in the pile, before they broke their huddle...it is a silly gesture, I know, but a good old fashioned show of leadership by Garnett...

Seattle Supersonics (with Dennis Johnson) over the Washington Bullets! After your local nightly news! My how times have changed! Been working a bunch of events at night...forcing me to watch the Cetlics games into the wee hours of the morning...I am averaging about 3.5 hours of sleep lately!

With all due respect, and since we are talking in hypotheticals, this is kind of a silly argument. If you want to time-travel Jordan's Bulls back to the 50's, 60's or 70's, sure they woould be more athletic, and probably dominate. But you are giving the 96 Bulls all the advantages of playing in the era that they played (better training conditioning for all athletes in all sports, "Jordan rules") against teams that played under much different circumstances. It is just pointless to try to compare teams from totally different eras. Also, this may sound dumb, but nowhere in your equation do you factor in the intangibles that make some players who may not be the greatest athletes of all time, simply great. Modern athletes may have a physical edge, but you could make an argument that they have a mental disadvantage, as far as intangibles go. Just look at the old Celtics this year, as opposed to the young guns of the Miami Heat...on paper Miami should have run Boston off the court by now...but 20 quarters and two OT's into a series, Boston is up 3 games to 2, and have outplayed Miami in about 16 of the 20 quarters of basketball they have played. Boston isn't better physically, but they are superior mentally.

For me, I would have to say the 1986 Boston Celtics, one of the Showtime Lakers teams (would have to think a little more about which specific team from those years, they were all awesome), and the 1985 Chicago Bears. I am sure there are others.

Had to watch the game tonight, on tape delay...all I can say is: yeah! Jeez, I love this team...whatever happens the rest of the way, this is the kind of effort I crave from every team I root for...love watching the ESPN idiots spinning their wheels...just goes to show, "nobody knows nothin'"

My currentr "obsession" as far as cards go, is trying to complete an entire set of 1973-74 Topps Hockey cards. Those, along with the NBA and NFL cards from that year, are the first cards I remember "buying" (will admit, I stole a few packs in my day!). One of those "so ugly they are cool" sets...I realize the O-Pee-Chee versions of these are more desireable, but I am not sure they are any harder to find, partiularly in good condition. Unfortunately, for me, I was never a huge baseball collector. I collected the Reds, and that was about it...baseball cards, in general, seem to retain more value over the years. Most of my cool baseball stuff was from my brother...he reminds me every now and again...then I remind him that his sons stole a ton of my cards (from my parents house) and sold them, back in the day. Bunch of great NBA and NFL stuff...