Neal Pomea

One zen master was Richie Allen, who never complained to umpires, I remember reading stories about this as a kid. Steve Garvey was pretty mellow. The one player I always admired, and who carried himself in a classy way, was Johnny Bench -- in fact, I rate Bench as one of the best players I ever watched, and his fellow catchers always said that, by far, he had the best technique behind the plate. Current player: Buster Posey seems like a guy that won't ever get thrown out of a game. Nice point about Bench! He pretty much broke the mold for catchers! That's remarkable about Richie (Dick) Allen since he had to endure a lot of terrible racism from fans!

Bryce Harper was ejected by Umpire Hirschbeck in the first inning of today's game in Pittsburgh. I think the ump missed the check swing call. Whatever Harper said pulled the trigger. Not bringing it up to argue about the right or wrong. It just reminds me, weren't they saying when Stan Musial died that he was NEVER ejected from a game? I find that incredible for someone with such a long career! Who are the Zen masters of MLB history?

You Ought to Be Here with Me was a 1990 cd that was his last collaboration with Billy Sherrill, his producer on He Stopped Loving Her Today. Not heavily promoted, and out of print for a long time, this one is a favorite of mine. http://www.amazon.com/You-Ought-Here-George-Jones/dp/B000008H4I Fine voice!

Sadly missed! (You Ought to be Here with Me)

Excellent resource, Allen! Chuck!

American music is all kinds of things, including ethnic American music. This is why I find the very concept "Great American Songbook" to be prejudicial as I understand it to be used. My website has been used to supplement college courses on American and ethnic folk music. It focuses on Cajun music. Some Creole. http://npmusic.org/artists.html

He did a great version of Vigilante Man at the Carnegie Hall Tribute to Woody Guthrie concert but it's not on the CD version, just the lp. I am lucky to have that one.

I was initially disappointed when they broke up the Summerall-Brookshier combo and paired Pat with my old Raider coach. I wasn't sure that guy would amount to anything as a color guy with his "boom" and all that. I remember that too. He and Brookshier were the top pair, but few of the obits I've been reading have even mentioned that.

I grew up on a farm surrounded by farm equipment of this vintage and later. Both my grandfathers were farmers, my father was a farmer, as were his two brothers. Why I didn't become a farmer is a long story. But this could well be useful knowledge. Lots of people these days are into restoring vintage stuff. I'd ask about it but I only know the terms in Cajun French! Do you have a charrue? A charette? A herse double?

RIP but he was no Larry Mondello, who I thought was the most underrated character of his time.

Goin' to Acapulco, Bob Dylan and The Band on Basement Tapes. This is one of the best vocal performances on the album, if not the best overall. I generally think of Tears of Rage and This Wheel's on Fire as emotional high points of this album, especially for the lyrics, but this one is just terrific! And the guitar and organ on it really stick with me.

His Spend it All is still one of the best films about Cajun music and culture.

Going to Acapulco Bob Dylan and Band on Basement Tapes. Forgot what an emotional highlight of the album this is. We remember Tears of Rage, Too Much of Nothing, and This Wheel's on Fire, but THIS one is right up there, imo.

We will always cherish our 50s. 50s are the new infinity minus a few years.

Have a great one, Allen!

Pretty early in the season for interleague play! Columbian District plays White Sox next week!

You are! There are 2 wildcards in each league beginning this year. Then I will add the 2 extra wildcards; NL Atlanta AL Chicago White Sox

Here are my predictions for this season. AL East Tampa Bay AL Central Detroit AL West LA Angels Wild Card Texas Rangers NL East Washington NL Central Cincinnati NL West San Francisco Wild Card LA Dodgers World Series Detroit and Cincinnati (I'm probably WAY off!)

Congratulations to Bo Porter for his first win as manager.

Lower profile for Takoma than ever?

Heard these from Joe Bussard's collection but can't remember what condition they were in.

John Fahey put out two classics in '73: After the Ball, and Fare Forward Voyagers (Soldier's Choice), but I was getting into old time country and Cajun music as well that year.

Paul made some great recs! Will check them out myself. Also, Lightnin' Slim Excello label reissued on Ace, recorded in Crowley LA for J.D. Miller

Enjoyed Leon "Kid Chocolate" Brown in the Royal Sonesta hotel.

I think his voice sounds more like Donovan than Dylan, in Donovan's Dylan-style early days before Sunshine Superman.