HutchFan

Dan, I think it would extremely unlikely that any teams with 2 losses would make the playoffs. I suppose it could happen if a two-loss team happened to win one of the four conference championships and then advanced to the NC. Usually, conference champs have one loss or none. I guess we'll find out what happens starting next year. It's uncharted territory ahead for college FB.

Disc 4

I don't think it's nearly as simple as that. Because anyone who's watching sports on television is part of it. In fact, even if you don't watch sports, you're paying more for your television because of sports. I worked a year-long contract gig for Cox Communications, a huge cable company. I'm not an expert, but while I was there, I learned that broadcasters love sports because it's just about the only programming that viewers continue to watch in real-time. Other types of programming can be recorded & viewed on-demand asynchronously. Consequently, the cost (and value) of advertising is MUCH higher for sporting events than any other type of programming -- since those ads are going to be seen by many more viewers. In fact, sports are the main thing that regularly drive up the cost of everyone's TV bill. The professional leagues know how their "product" is different. So the NFL, MLB, NBA -- and, yes, the NCAA -- demand huge sums from networks to broadcast their games, and the networks pass along these costs to the cable companies and streaming platforms who in turn pass along the costs to consumers. These advertising revenues have made professional athletes incredibly rich -- and those numbers are only going to go higher as more people watch programming on-demand instead of in real-time. And, if we step back a bit further. . . Remember that the only reason that any programming appears on commercial television -- from the network's point of view -- is because it puts eyeballs on advertising and thereby generates revenue. The fact that they're offering entertainment of any kind is incidental. Please keep in mind: I'm not defending all this, saying it's moral or right or just. I'm just saying that's how commercial television works in the U.S. It's business. Full stop.

This season is the final year of the 4-team playoff in college football. Next season (2024) will mark the beginning of a 12-team playoff. Teams seeded 1-4 -- the four major conference champions -- will have a bye as seeds 5-8 host home playoff games vs. seeds 9-12. After those games, the quarterfinals and semi-finals will be traditional bowl games (Fiesta, Peach, Rose, Sugar, etc.). It will end with the National Championship at a neutral site, just like it is today.

Kenny Burrell - 12-15-78 (32 Jazz/Muse, 2 CDs) with Larry Gales (b) & Sherman Ferguson (d)

The same thing is happening in college football. A regular season followed by a playoff tournament. There's too much $$$ to be made for it not to happen.

Cachao - Tropical Classics (Verse) CD compiles two LPs originally released on the the Salsoul label: Cachao y Su Descarga '77' Vol. 1 and Dos

Dodgers down 0-2 against the Diamondbacks -- and the next two games are in AZ. I didn't see that coming. The Braves somehow squeaked by the Phils in game two after looking lifeless for the first fifteen (!) innings of the series. And now the Rangers have swept the Orioles. It sure does look like the wildcard teams have had an unexpected advantage in the division series -- despite starting their respective series on the road. Any rest that the teams with byes received has been outweighed by the wildcard teams staying in rhythm, having continuity. Admittedly, the Astros are up 2-1 on the wildcard Twins. Still, the continuity thing definitely seems to be having an impact.

João Donato - A Bad Donato (Blue Thumb, 1970) I like this album. It's pleasingly strange and uncategorizable. But I think Donato's collaboration with Eumir Deodato -- DonatoDeodato (Muse, 1973) -- is even better.

Wow. I thought the Braves were kaput. They looked terrible for most of the game. But -- somehow -- they clawed out a win. Riley's HR and Harris' catch might have saved the Braves' season. Going up to Philly in a 0-2 hole likely would've been insurmountable. Now, the series is still up for grabs. It'll be interesting to see what happens.

Two that come to mind immediately: Keith Jarrett - Shades LP Side 1: "Shades of Jazz" -> "Southern Smiles" Genesis - Wind & Wuthering Three final tracks on the album: "Unquiet Slumbers for the Sleepers..." -> "...In That Quiet Earth" -> "Afterglow" EDIT Just thought of another. Santana - Abraxas "Black Magic Woman" -> "Gypsy Queen"

Aldo Romano - Ritual (Owl, 1988)

Muhal Richard Abrams featuring Malachi Favors - Sightsong (Black Saint, 1976) Piano-bass duos are cool. This one is a longtime favorite.

So, so true. Sometimes, it's immediate, almost intuitive. Other times, you've got to be more patient. "Clouds parting" . . . I like that metaphor. That's it. Nothing else quite like it when the skies open up.

NP: Mike Osborne - Outback (Turtle UK, 1970) with Harry Beckett, Chris McGregor, Harry Miller, and Louis Moholo Very abstract -- and, at times, very dissonant -- but also very beautiful. Some continuity with Dolphy, I think. . . . It took me a while to get inside this, but I'm glad I kept at it. Always a good feeling when formerly opaque music finally reveals itself after repeated listening.

Sounding good! I like it very much. As you say, everyone in the band is top-notch. And I dig the unique compositions. The music reminds me of a late-80s update on late-60s Andrew Hill. I keep thinking of "Plantation Bag" on Passing Ships. The music is abstract, but it's also very funky -- even if the funky vibe isn't conventional. Instead, it's somehow "irregular" funk. . . . The same could be said about High Contrast.

❤️ ❤️ ❤️ Never gets old.

Michele Rosewoman and Quintessence - Contrast High (Enja, 1989)