Dave James

They are on DVD. I only have the first season, but I'm sure more are available. That was the Chester Good era. Easily the best in show, so to speak. Those half hour outings (24 minutes really) put a premium on efficient and effective story telling. Even now, I can hear the theme song as Marshall Dillon walked through the cemetery outside of Dodge City. Much better, FWIW & IMO, when it was shot in B&W.

One of the true icons from the early history of television passed away today. James Arness, probably more well known at Marshall Matt Dillon, rode into Dodge for 20 straight years beginning in 1955. Here's his obituary from the L.A. Times: http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/showtracker/2011/06/appreciation-james-arness-1923-2011.html

The two teams don't play again until August 12th. Hopefully, by then, heads will have cooled. Nonetheless, if I was leading off for the Marlins that night, I would expect the Giant's pitcher to buzz my tower.

Dirk Nowitzki bears more than a passing resemblance to Sig Hansen, the captain of the Northwestern on Deadliest Catch.

I think if you lived in Boston, you might get some pushback on that statement. That's an original six territory with fanatical hockey fans. Plus, it's been almost as long a wait between Cups for the Bruins who last won it all in 1971-72, as it has been for Vancouver which has never won a Cup but entered the league in 1970-71. Based on tonight's game, this has the makings of a pretty good final. Who would have thought a 1-0 game could be that exciting. I love to watch Tim Thomas play goal. From a technical standpoint, he does just about everything wrong but from a results standpoint he winds up doing just about everything right. Very unconventional.

Here's a little something for LeBron:

Every now and then, when I'll watch some of an NBA game, it doesn't take long for the name Tim Donaghy to pop into my head. Phantom fouls, no-calls, palming the ball, three seconds in the key, traveling...it's unreal what does and doesn't get called. I know this is a fast game played by great athletes, but that doesn't hold up as an excuse for what passes as officiating. Stern just pooh poohs it like it's not a serious problem, but it really is. Enough so that it messes with the integrity of the game.

I love it! That beats out my previous favorites which included "launching a sea pickle", "hanging a moose" (no offense, Mark) and "dropping the kids off at the pool". "Laying some cable", "pinching off a loaf" and my current favorite, "mud slide".

LeBron's a punk and a prima donna. He thinks he's bigger than the game. Can you in your wildest dreams ever imagine Magic or Bird orchestrating a stunt like that and then following it up with that theater of the absurd coming out party in Miami? This guy is an embarrassment to himself and to the league. I don't give a rat's ass about the NBA, and I have no plans to watch any of the finals, but if Dallas won 4-0 it would be fine with me.

Other than the song Just The Two Of Us, Winelight remains one of my guilty pleasures. I'm guessing more than a few of us were first attracted to instrumental music and, ultimately, to real jazz by the likes of Mr. Washington, George Benson, John Klemmer and others with smooth proclivities. A lot of these guys, like Washington and Sado Wantanabe had reasonable mainstream chops but, when choices had to be made, they gravitated to where to money was. Who can blame them? Its siren song even turned Turrentine's head and took him to places where we could not follow.

While the body counts mount in Afghanistan and Iraq, another military tally, less wrenching and tragic but poignant nonetheless, quietly proceeds. Every day more than 700 veterans of World War II die, and with each one goes a story, or dozens of them. Laura Hillenbrand reached Louis Zamperini just in the nick of time — he was in his mid-80s when she found him, and 93 now— and it’s an excellent thing, for his is surely one of the most extraordinary war stories of all.

You'll get no arguments from me on your assessment. In spite of Bartolo Colon's gem today, the pitching is still suspect and now that we're into June, I don't think you can make an argument that the hitting will improve with more at bats. I'm afraid what you see is all you've got. If that gets us to a record of much more than 87-75, I'll be surprised. Frankly, what worries me way more than this year is the next three or four. I believe I described it in an earlier post as a nuclear winter. I stand by that assessment.

NCAA football is a mess. If it's not the money hungry BCS, it the scandals that continue to rock individual programs. Seriously, does anyone really believe that Cam Newton wasn't involved in the pay for play gambit at Mississippi State that they managed to pin on his father? Reggie Bush, there's another one. Out here in Oregon, the Ducks are in a bit of hot water over money they paid to a guy in Texas who was able to steer running backs LaMichael James and Lashea Seastrunk to the Duck's program. Further, the exchange of money for commitments within the SEC is so rampant it's just considered a cost of doing business. There's no doubt with the sort of income college football generates it's become very important to the schools themselves and to their identities. The whole thing is completely upside down. And if you think football is bad, take a look at what goes on with high school and college basketball. That whole scene is completely out of control. With respect to Tressel's abdication, the press release from the OSU athletic director Gene Smith seemed to raise the possibility that there may be more charges coming against the Buckeye's football program. Oh what a tangled web we weave.......

By the time the Yankees get back to New York, they will be under .500. Someone needs to sound the claxons. This is a team in some serious trouble.

Not totally unexpected, but still sad news. I bought his album "Pieces Of A Man" in the early '70's for "The Revolution Will Not Be Televised". I was heavily invested in the anti-war effort at the time so that song really resonated with me. While listening to it, I distinctly recall being attracted to "Lady Day and John Coltrane" even though I didn't have much more than a passing understanding of who either one was. Point being those references stayed with me as did his music through just about every album he produced into the '80's. I loved the way he and Brian Jackson played with words and sounds. A particular favorite of mine was the mostly obscure "We Almost Lost Detroit". As haunting a tune as you're likely to hear. If there's such a thing as a one off, Scott-Heron was one. Wish you'd had an easier life, brother, but know that you brought a lot of joy into the lives of those who were willing to listen.

Sallie Ford & The Sound Outside - Dirty Radio.

You might find Norma Winstone interesting. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xn_xdZe8HBI&feature=list_related&playnext=1&list=AVGxdCwVVULXc3ZT_IFAWJn-SZPeH

Then there's this example, where if Yogi had laid down a shin guard, Robinson would have been clearly out instead of being just out and having the umpire, who was in the worst possible position to make the call, call him safe.

Now that's funny.

How about we play cross out at home plate? C'mon, baseball is not a contact sport, but collisions at home plate have been part of the game since day one. The short hop pick and the plate block are part of the catcher's equipment. I doubt that Posey will have anything derogatory to say about what happened. As unfortunate as it is, it's part of the game. Next thing you know, they won't let base runners break up a double play with a hard rolling slide into second. Give me a break. If you want to talk about deliberate attempts to injure, go back and watch Pete Rose effectively end Ray Fosse's career with his flying tackle at the All-Star game in 1970. And that was a game that didn't even count.

I think you may be right. I just have such a hard time imagining how anyone could be a Dodger fan.

Not sure I'd want to be a Giants fan right now. Buster Posey is a huge part of that team both on the field and in the clubhouse. Major buzz kill. I notice we haven't heard from either GoodSpeak or Matthew They must still be in the recovery room.

First, the Canucks score to tie the game with 13 seconds left in regulation and then they win it in OT on probably the flukiest goal I've ever seen. If you're San Jose or a San Jose fan, you have to feel absolutely snake bit.

Coffee all the way, although you wouldn't catch me dead in a Starbuck's. They have the most bitter tasting coffee on the planet. Just awful. We have lots of independent roasters here in Portland. That's the only way to go.

My favorite Macho Man moment: