I visited a sports card store for the first time in about a decade last weekend, and found my new favorite card. Naturally, I took it to an expert, my friend Mike, and he explains everything you need to know about why Upper Deck decided to include Alex Rodriguez in a series called "World Series Heroes" in 2004.
Tuesday, March 31, 2009
The best baseball card ever
I visited a sports card store for the first time in about a decade last weekend, and found my new favorite card. Naturally, I took it to an expert, my friend Mike, and he explains everything you need to know about why Upper Deck decided to include Alex Rodriguez in a series called "World Series Heroes" in 2004.
Top 10 Queen songs you've probably never heard
Without much to talk about in sports this month - obviously I'm not watching the NCAA tournament very closely - I have decided to share some of my favorite Queen songs. Queen is my favorite band ever, and contains both the greatest all-time singer, Freddie Mercury, and the most awesome guitar player, Brian May. (John Deacon on bass and Roger Taylor on drums weren't too shabby either.)I didn't want to include any wildly popular Queen songs (of which there are numerous), because it would seem too difficult...yet too easy at the same time. I also won't include any songs from Queen I, due to the fact that it has too much sentimental value to me, making it hard to evaluate as objectively as the rest of the Queen albums. I had a cassette of Queen I for a couple years before I got a hold of any of their others albums, and I think I wore that tape out by the end of 6th grade. Anyway, without further delay, here are my top 10 Queen songs you've probably never heard. With each song you'll find Rhapsody links to each album if you're interested in listening, including live versions.
10) The Prophet's Song - A Night at the Opera (1975).
9) Friends Will Be Friends - A Kind of Magic (1986), Live at Wembley '86, Live Magic (1986).
8) Dragon Attack - The Game (1980), Rock Montreal (1981), Live at the Bowl (1982).
7) Don't Stop Me Now - Jazz (1978), Live Killers (1979).
6) '39 - A Night at the Opera (1975), Live Killers (1979).
5) Innuendo - Innuendo (1991).
4) It's a Hard Life - The Works (1984).
3) Ogre Battle - At The BBC (1973). Queen II (1974).
2) In The Lap of the Gods, Revisited - Sheer Heart Attack (1974), Live at Wembley '86
1) Seven Seas of Rhye - Queen II (1974), Live at Wembley '86, Live Magic (1986)
Honorable mention: I'm not sure if this one counts as wildly popular...though a live audience favorite, I've never heard it on the radio. If it counts, it belongs with the very best on this list.
Love of My Life - A Night at the Opera (1975), Live Killers (1979), Rock Montreal (1981), Live at the Bowl (1982), Live at Wembley '86, Live Magic (1986).
Another great thing to me about Queen, is that even after almost 20 years of listening to them, I could make this list again next week and I feel like it would be totally different.
Well folks, until next time, Keep Yourself Alive...but Don't Try So Hard.
Friday, March 27, 2009
Best and Worst in Sports Radio
If there's one thing I know (and there is - in fact it is documented that there are thirty-seven things I know), it's sports talk radio. Here are my top three and bottom three sports talk show hosts...
BEST
3) Andy Pollin (WTEM 980, Washington D.C.) - A friendly voice, Pollin is an excellent mediator, but has great opinions of his own. He's also co-written a book called The Great Book of Washington D.C. Sports Lists. (Hey, where do you think I got the list idea?)
2) Brandon Tierney (WEPN 1050, New York) - The most passionate sports host there is, Tierney does a fun show and meaningful and enjoyable interviews. To me, his show is the pulse of NY sports.
1) Steve Czaban (Fox Sports Radio) - Czabe is simply the man. Fresh, intriguing, and entertaining opinions, can't-miss show segments such as "The Daily Czabe" and "Lock It Up," and a blog that has it all. If I could listen to only one show, it would be his. He also co-hosts a local show in his native Washington D.C. with Pollin. Czabe's sports commentary is bar-none, yet his non-sports commentary is even more fun.
Honorable mention: Max Kellerman - Until March 9th, Kellerman made middays a lot more enjoyable, with his 10AM-1PM show on 1050 WEPN, New York. His "gunslinger" skits about Brett Favre were hilarious, and he always brought fresh perspective and insight to sports.
WORST
3) Jim Rome (Premiere Radio Network) - If you've known me for an extended period of time, seeing Rome on the "worst" list seems unheard of...but it's because I have listened for so long that I know he belongs here. His analysis is shallow, vague, and predictable. And he has the tendency to beat subjects and jokes to death.
2) Colin Cowherd (ESPN Radio) - Condescending and in love with himself, it doesn't take long to get tired of hearing him. And he's just not that interesting.
1) Ron Wolfley (KTAR 620 AM Phoenix) - Thanks to ESPN television, we've seen that you don't need to have facts or be astute in sports if you can simply be loud enough. This guy takes annoying to a new level.
And a special category for best local fill-in hosts who should have shows of their own
Joe Huizenga and Luke Lapinski. I've often said that Phoenix has got to be the worst market in the nation for sports radio. But there is not a lack of talent. If local sports radio host jobs were given out on merit, rather than...however they're given out now and in the past (Gambo and Ash...Jeff Dean...the aforementioned Wolfley...uggghhhh), these two would be surely have seats at the table.
BEST
3) Andy Pollin (WTEM 980, Washington D.C.) - A friendly voice, Pollin is an excellent mediator, but has great opinions of his own. He's also co-written a book called The Great Book of Washington D.C. Sports Lists. (Hey, where do you think I got the list idea?)
2) Brandon Tierney (WEPN 1050, New York) - The most passionate sports host there is, Tierney does a fun show and meaningful and enjoyable interviews. To me, his show is the pulse of NY sports.
1) Steve Czaban (Fox Sports Radio) - Czabe is simply the man. Fresh, intriguing, and entertaining opinions, can't-miss show segments such as "The Daily Czabe" and "Lock It Up," and a blog that has it all. If I could listen to only one show, it would be his. He also co-hosts a local show in his native Washington D.C. with Pollin. Czabe's sports commentary is bar-none, yet his non-sports commentary is even more fun.
Honorable mention: Max Kellerman - Until March 9th, Kellerman made middays a lot more enjoyable, with his 10AM-1PM show on 1050 WEPN, New York. His "gunslinger" skits about Brett Favre were hilarious, and he always brought fresh perspective and insight to sports.
WORST
3) Jim Rome (Premiere Radio Network) - If you've known me for an extended period of time, seeing Rome on the "worst" list seems unheard of...but it's because I have listened for so long that I know he belongs here. His analysis is shallow, vague, and predictable. And he has the tendency to beat subjects and jokes to death.
2) Colin Cowherd (ESPN Radio) - Condescending and in love with himself, it doesn't take long to get tired of hearing him. And he's just not that interesting.
1) Ron Wolfley (KTAR 620 AM Phoenix) - Thanks to ESPN television, we've seen that you don't need to have facts or be astute in sports if you can simply be loud enough. This guy takes annoying to a new level.
And a special category for best local fill-in hosts who should have shows of their own
Joe Huizenga and Luke Lapinski. I've often said that Phoenix has got to be the worst market in the nation for sports radio. But there is not a lack of talent. If local sports radio host jobs were given out on merit, rather than...however they're given out now and in the past (Gambo and Ash...Jeff Dean...the aforementioned Wolfley...uggghhhh), these two would be surely have seats at the table.
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