Matthew

Sorry, I didn't see your previous post. Just knew his music by cd, all of which I enjoyed. Hate when someone talented dies so young.

Just heard that Frank Mantooth passed away yesterday from a heart attack. A sad loss to jazz.

But baseball promotes family values!

I've fallen in love with Blue Moon's Tumbao Cuban Classics series, but not the prices of buying stuff from Europe. Is there any on-line place that sells these? I need to buy Sexteto Y Septeto Habanero: Las Raices Del Son - Grabaciones Completas 1925-1931 - 4 Cd- Deluxe Series - Box Set, and it looks like I can only get it from their website in Spain. Any help is greatly appreciated.

Kids! It is now official: I'm an old-timer. I remember when on double lps, record one had side 1 & 4, and the second lp has 2 & 3. It was a bummer when on Mountian Jam off of Eat a Peach, after the bass solo, you had to take the record off and put another one on! Music lovers had to go through hell back in the day.

About at the end of vol. 1 of Anthony Powell's A dance to the Music of Time. I had read it about two years ago, but felt that I rushed it, and missed a lot of what Powell was trying to say. This time, I'm taking my time and I seem to be picking up a lot more detail. It's kind of a strange book, it seems to go from event to event, not much "stopping to smell the roses" in the writing. The theme of a characters "will of power" keeps coming up, which I'm still amazed at in a English novel -- can't remember another English writer that spoke so much of that aspect of life. Just on a side note: Is there any class of people that has been written more about than the English upper-class? Why the fascination?

I must admit, I've reached this stage where I feel football is just too brutal to watch. It seems as if the "Big Hit" is what it's all about; and if you happen to put a player out of the game -- great! I've gotten to know a couple ex-football players in the last couple of years, and their physical shape is unbelievable! One person has fingers that are all twisted around and knees that are completely gone. Like Campbell, he can hardly climb stairs, and when he does, he can't bend his knees, so he climbs them sideways. But, if you ask him, and the other I know, if they'd do it again, the answer is always: YES! There's something about that physical contact that is, and this is the only way to discribe it, addictive. I don't understand it, and I just shake my head in amazement. Football is a hard sport on the body, and I've read articles where it is claimed that average age of death for ex-NFL players is now in their fifties(!!). The human body wasn't meant to take that kind of punishment.

This is not good for Dodger fans... NEW YORK -- The $430 million sale of the Los Angeles Dodgers by News Corp. to Boston real estate developer Frank McCourt was unanimously approved Thursday by baseball owners. The highly leveraged purchase, likely to be finalized within a week, probably will set off the third change in management in six years for the marquee franchise, which hasn't advanced to the playoffs since 1996. The deal was approved during a conference call. Commissioner Bud Selig said the sale "heralds the beginning of a new era of family ownership for one of the game's most storied franchises." News Corp. bought the team in March 1998 from the O'Malley family for $311 million. The corporation quickly tired of running the team, and former movie executive Robert Daly took over as chief executive officer in October 1999 after purchasing a minority stake. Daly has said he will depart when the sale closes. The futures of team president Bob Graziano, general manager Dan Evans and manager Jim Tracy are uncertain as the Dodgers prepare to report to spring training on Feb. 18. Los Angeles finished second in the NL West last season at 85-77 despite the worst offense in the major leagues. Still, the Dodgers drew over 3 million fans for the eighth straight year. With the sale pending, the Dodgers made few moves during the offseason. Their only free-agent additions were right-handers Rick White and Jose Lima and infielder Jose Hernandez, who agreed to minor league contracts, and Bubba Trammell, who's expected to come off the bench. A few miles to the south, the 2002 World Series champion Anaheim Angels added pitchers Bartolo Colon and Kelvin Escobar and outfielders Vladimir Guerrero and Jose Guillen. McCourt, whose grandfather was part owner of the Boston Braves, announced Oct. 10 he had agreed to buy the team along with Dodger Stadium and adjoining real estate, plus training facilities in Vero Beach, Fla., and the Dominican Republic. He had lengthy talks with officials of the commissioner's office and other owners, who were concerned about the amount of debt in the deal. News Corp. will retain a minority stake. "This transaction meets all of baseball's debt service rules and financial requirements in every way," Selig said in a statement. "We at major league baseball are confident that Mr. McCourt, as a rabid and knowledgeable fan and successful businessman, will devote the time and energy necessary to make the franchise a great success." Once one of baseball's most stable franchises, the Dodgers have won six World Series championships -- the first in 1955 while playing in Brooklyn. Walter O'Malley moved them to Los Angeles after the 1957 season and they won the title in 1959, 1963, 1965, 1981 and 1988. But they haven't won a postseason game since their last championship. Hall of Famer Tommy Lasorda, who managed the Dodgers to their last two World Series triumphs, is a senior vice president whose future with the organization also is in question. The O'Malley family controlled the Dodgers for nearly 48 years before selling to News Corp. Many of the team's moves since that sale didn't work out. In May 1998, popular catcher Mike Piazza was dealt to the Florida Marlins after he turned down a contract offer that would have been baseball's richest. Kevin Malone became general manager that September and signed free-agent pitcher Kevin Brown to a $105 million, seven-year contract, then baseball's richest deal. Malone was fired in April 2001 following a dispute with a fan in the stands during a game in San Diego, and Brown was traded to the Yankees last month. Evans became GM at the end of the 2001 season -- Tracy's first as manager. Evans and Tracy are both under contract for this season.

The total discription is as follows: Big Band, Bop & Latin Jazz Ablums From 1950 And Up For Sale . How can I not fork-out $50,000 after that?

Abbott: Well Costello, I'm going to New York with you. You know Bookie Harris, the Yankee's manager, gave me a job as coach for as long as you're on the team. Costello: Look Abbott, if you're the coach, you must know all the players. Abbott: I certainly do. Costello: Well you know I've never met the guys. So you'll have to tell me their names, and then I'll know who's playing on the team. Abbott: Oh, I'll tell you their names, but you know it seems to me they give these ball players now-a-days very peculiar names. Costello: You mean funny names? Abbott: Strange names, pet names...like Dizzy Dean... Costello: His brother Daffy. Abbott: Daffy Dean... Costello: And their French cousin. Abbott: French? Costello: Goofè. Abbott: Goofè Dean. Well, let's see, we have on the bags, Who's on first, What's on second, I Don't Know is on third... Costello: That's what I want to find out. Abbott: I say Who's on first, What's on second, I Don't Know's on third. Costello: Are you the manager? Abbott: Yes. Costello: You gonna be the coach too? Abbott: Yes. Costello: And you don't know the fellows' names? Abbott: Well I should. Costello: Well then who's on first? Abbott: Yes. Costello: I mean the fellow's name. Abbott: Who. Costello: The guy on first. Abbott: Who. Costello: The first baseman. Abbott: Who. Costello: The guy playing... Abbott: Who is on first! Costello: I'm asking YOU who's on first. Abbott: That's the man's name. Costello: That's who's name? Abbott: Yes. Costello: Well go ahead and tell me. Abbott: That's it. Costello: That's who? Abbott: Yes. PAUSE Costello: Look, you gotta first baseman? Abbott: Certainly. Costello: Who's playing first? Abbott: That's right. Costello: When you pay off the first baseman every month, who gets the money? Abbott: Every dollar of it. Costello: All I'm trying to find out is the fellow's name on first base. Abbott: Who. Costello: The guy that gets... Abbott: That's it. Costello: Who gets the money... Abbott: He does, every dollar. Sometimes his wife comes down and collects it. Costello: Who's wife? Abbott: Yes. PAUSE Abbott: What's wrong with that? Costello: Look, all I wanna know is when you sign up the first baseman, how does he sign his name? Abbott: Who. Costello: The guy. Abbott: Who. Costello: How does he sign... Abbott: That's how he signs it. Costello: Who? Abbott: Yes. PAUSE Costello: All I'm trying to find out is what's the guy's name on first base. Abbott: No. What is on second base. Costello: I'm not asking you who's on second. Abbott: Who's on first. Costello: One base at a time! Abbott: Well, don't change the players around. Costello: I'm not changing nobody! Abbott: Take it easy, buddy. Costello: I'm only asking you, who's the guy on first base? Abbott: That's right. Costello: Ok. Abbott: All right. PAUSE Costello: What's the guy's name on first base? Abbott: No. What is on second. Costello: I'm not asking you who's on second. Abbott: Who's on first. Costello: I don't know. Abbott: He's on third, we're not talking about him. Costello: Now how did I get on third base? Abbott: Why you mentioned his name. Costello: If I mentioned the third baseman's name, who did I say is playing third? Abbott: No. Who's playing first. Costello: What's on base? Abbott: What's on second. Costello: I don't know. Abbott: He's on third. Costello: There I go, back on third again! PAUSE Costello: Would you just stay on third base and don't go off it. Abbott: All right, what do you want to know? Costello: Now who's playing third base? Abbott: Why do you insist on putting Who on third base? Costello: What am I putting on third. Abbott: No. What is on second. Costello: You don't want who on second? Abbott: Who is on first. Costello: I don't know. Abbott & Costello Together:Third base! PAUSE Costello: Look, you gotta outfield? Abbott: Sure. Costello: The left fielder's name? Abbott: Why. Costello: I just thought I'd ask you. Abbott: Well, I just thought I'd tell ya. Costello: Then tell me who's playing left field. Abbott: Who's playing first. Costello: I'm not... stay out of the infield! I want to know what's the guy's name in left field? Abbott: No, What is on second. Costello: I'm not asking you who's on second. Abbott: Who's on first! Costello: I don't know. Abbott & Costello Together: Third base! PAUSE Costello: The left fielder's name? Abbott: Why. Costello: Because! Abbott: Oh, he's centerfield. PAUSE Costello: Look, You gotta pitcher on this team? Abbott: Sure. Costello: The pitcher's name? Abbott: Tomorrow. Costello: You don't want to tell me today? Abbott: I'm telling you now. Costello: Then go ahead. Abbott: Tomorrow! Costello: What time? Abbott: What time what? Costello: What time tomorrow are you gonna tell me who's pitching? Abbott: Now listen. Who is not pitching. Costello: I'll break your arm, you say who's on first! I want to know what's the pitcher's name? Abbott: What's on second. Costello: I don't know. Abbott & Costello Together: Third base! PAUSE Costello: Gotta a catcher? Abbott: Certainly. Costello: The catcher's name? Abbott: Today. Costello: Today, and tomorrow's pitching. Abbott: Now you've got it. Costello: All we got is a couple of days on the team. PAUSE Costello: You know I'm a catcher too. Abbott: So they tell me. Costello: I get behind the plate to do some fancy catching, Tomorrow's pitching on my team and a heavy hitter gets up. Now the heavy hitter bunts the ball. When he bunts the ball, me, being a good catcher, I'm gonna throw the guy out at first base. So I pick up the ball and throw it to who? Abbott: Now that's the first thing you've said right. Costello: I don't even know what I'm talking about! PAUSE Abbott: That's all you have to do. Costello: Is to throw the ball to first base. Abbott: Yes! Costello: Now who's got it? Abbott: Naturally. PAUSE Costello: Look, if I throw the ball to first base, somebody's gotta get it. Now who has it? Abbott: Naturally. Costello: Who? Abbott: Naturally. Costello: Naturally? Abbott: Naturally. Costello: So I pick up the ball and I throw it to Naturally. Abbott: No you don't, you throw the ball to Who. Costello: Naturally. Abbott: That's different. Costello: That's what I said. Abbott: You're not saying it... Costello: I throw the ball to Naturally. Abbott: You throw it to Who. Costello: Naturally. Abbott: That's it. Costello: That's what I said! Abbott: You ask me. Costello: I throw the ball to who? Abbott: Naturally. Costello: Now you ask me. Abbott: You throw the ball to Who? Costello: Naturally. Abbott: That's it. Costello: Same as you! Same as YOU! I throw the ball to who. Whoever it is drops the ball and the guy runs to second. Who picks up the ball and throws it to What. What throws it to I Don't Know. I Don't Know throws it back to Tomorrow, Triple play. Another guy gets up and hits a long fly ball to Because. Why? I don't know! He's on third and I don't give a darn! Abbott: What? Costello: I said I don't give a darn! Abbott: Oh, that's our shortstop.

I, too, have all four volumes, and I think it's one of the best re-issue jobs out there. The music is great -- of course, who doesn't like Bix. However, be aware that there are many cuts where Bix is only part of the mix, where he doesn't solo. Also, the music of Paul Whiteman is a major part of the set. Whiteman, as I always say, is an aquired taste, and some can never aquire it. Sometime I can handle it, sometimes not, but Lon's advice of buying volume one is good; that has a ton of great music, and some very bad music also, but if you really get into Bix, that's what you'll be getting throughout his career. (Nice run-on sentence there, Matthew )

Francis Bacon is someone I never tire of:

A great off-season for Yankee haters (too bad it's a injury, but still -- it's the Yankees). Boone hurts knee, may miss season By RONALD BLUM, AP Sports Writer January 26, 2004 NEW YORK (AP) -- Yankees third baseman Aaron Boone injured his left knee playing basketball and may be out for the season. Boone was hurt about a week ago and may have torn an anterior cruciate ligament. The extent of the injury will not be known until swelling subsides, and he has not yet been examined by Yankees' doctors. If there is a complete tear, he would require reconstructive surgery that could sideline him until 2005. ``We are currently evaluating the extent of the injury and expect to solicit multiple opinions before providing a complete diagnosis,'' general manager Brian Cashman said Monday. The Yankees do not have a backup third baseman with full-time experience. Enrique Wilson and newly signed Miguel Cairo are options to fill the spot, as is minor leaguer Drew Henson. New York acquired Boone from Cincinnati on July 31, and his 11th-inning homer off Boston's Tim Wakefield in Game 7 of the AL championship series won the pennant for the Yankees. He agreed Dec. 1 to a $5.75 million, one-year contract, and the contract contained language saying it would become nonguaranteed if he played basketball. ``Concerning his contract, I can confirm that there are certain prohibited activities, which include basketball,'' Cashman said. Boone is eligible for free agency after next season, and if the Yankees successfully converted the deal to a nonguaranteed contract, they could release him and be responsible for only 30 days' termination pay, about $942,000. The injury could create an opening for Henson, the former University of Michigan quarterback who has struggled in the Yankees' farm system. Henson agreed to a $17 million, six-year contract with the Yankees in 2001. He hit .234 with 14 homers, 40 doubles and 78 RBIs at Triple-A Columbus this season. But he also struck out 122 times and made 28 errors at third base, and the trade for Boone signaled that New York did not think Henson would be ready for 2004.

Mo Vaughn career is over -- Strip Clubs throughout America will dim lights in tribute. This guy is such a looser, why he never got in shape is beyond me. The Angels got nothing out of him, though, to give him a break, he did fall into a dugout in his first game. But still, he never seemed in too much of a hurry is go a gym as long as the strip clubs were open. What a waste.

Found Plas Johnson: Positively, a Concord lp recorded in 1976. It has a line-up of Johnson (tenor), Ray Brown (bass), Herb Ellis (guitar), Bobbye Hall (congas), and Jake Hanna (drums). I never realized that Plas recorded on Concord, and not only that, but he made at least two other lps that the liners talk about. Great tunes on the lp by a vastly underrated musician -- all for $2.00!

I've come to love Doris Day, of all people. Great voice, and it's relaxing music to hear after a hard day. Hush though, I don't tell my friends about it.

Caution: Can't find this cd at home to make sure it's not just different songs by More with his band and Prado with his band, or that it's really More singing with Prado's band (if that makes sense ). Think I loaned it out and it never came back. Update: Never mind! I found the cd and it's not the one I thought. I know there's a cd of More's work with Prado out there, just can't track it down. I even held it in my hands. Might have been out of Mexico. Old age strikes again!

Don't know if there are many fans of the great Benny More here, but Tumbao Cuban Cuban Classics (a divison of the dreaded Blue Moon) has put out More's work with his Banda Gigante that is outstanding. More has easily become my favorite male bigband vocalist, and some of his vocals here are beyond belief. Also a number of overlooked gems, e.g., Devuelveme el coco, Perdon, Elige tu, que canto yo and tons more. The booklet is also very nice, it has an english translation for those of us whose spanish is muy malo! With cool, primo pictures of More in action. Name any vocalist -- Sinatra, Bennett, Nat King Cole, or anyone else, this four cd set proves that he deserves to be at the very top. Don't be afraid to buy this set, it's great music by a master.

I love this record. It's a nice swinging record that presents Rushing in a great setting.

I'll be the first one to say it: Opus stinks. Very disappointing. Not funny at all. Just bad.

I thought Cat Shatner was the meal!

What's really scary to me are teen-agers. They think nothing of having a gun in their cars, in fact, I hear so many stories of kids flashing their guns at each other it's sickening. Same kind of kids that love to leave "187" messages on each others cell-phones (another fav in La La Land). The sad part is they get younger and younger and younger....

Even though I do not own a gun, my father owns a lot and is a Life Time member of the NRA, so I grew up around guns. Learned how to handle and shot a gun as a child, and those NRA lessons have stayed with me. In fact, I'm glad that I do know how to handle a gun because it's made me treat guns with respect and very carefully, knowing just how dangerous and powerfull they are.

Pete Rose is a complete, total, absolute, idiot! What? He thinks just because he now admits he bet on baseball he deserves a free pass??? What The Heck???? He's telling us, that as a manager, he bet on games he was involved in, and these were during years that the Reds were actually in penant races. This is not "coming clean", not by a long shot! Mr. Rose, here are some questions I would liked answered: 1. Did you bet on the Reds, and if so, to win or lose? 2. Did you make game decisions based on your bet? 3. Did you try to get "inside" information on other teams so you could make a better bet? 4. Did you get anyone in baseball to bet with you? Charlie "Hustle" is right! This guy shouldn't be allowed with 100 miles of the Hall of Fame! If he gets in, that will be his greatest "hustle" ever!

Sometimes, as I wait for an appointment, I find myself getting hooked on one of those Orbitz games that pop-up when you go to different sites. I can't be the only one, can I??