1985

If you played sports in the mid 80's, this movie was one of your favorites.

Vision Quest
written by Darryl Ponicsan, based on the novel by Terry Davis

Louden (Matthew Modine): I was at the hotel, they told me you took the night off. Thought you were sick or something.
Elmo (J.C. Quinn): Of course I took the night off, dummy, isn't this the night you wrestle Shute?
Louden: You took the night off for that?
Elmo: Yeah, shaved, got a haircut and everything.
Louden: You never took the night off to see me wrestle before, they'll dock you for that.
Elmo: Hey kid, money ain't everything.
Louden: It's not that big a deal, I mean it's six lousy minutes on the mat. If that.
Elmo: Ever hear of Pelé?
Louden: Yeah, he's a soccer player.
Elmo: A very famous soccer player. I was in the room here one day. I'm watching the Mexican channel on TV. I don’t know nothing about Pelé. I'm watching what this guy can do with a ball and his feet. The next thing I know he jumps up in the air and flips into a somersault and kicks the ball in, upside down and backwards. I mean, the goddamn goalie never knew what the fuck hit him. And Pelé gets excited and he rips off his jersey and starts running around the stadium waving it around over his head. Everybody's screaming in Spanish. I'm here, sitting alone in my room. I start crying, yeah that's right, I start crying. There's another human being, a species which I happen to belong to, can kick a ball, and LIFT himself and the rest of us sad-ass human beings up to a better place to be, if only for a minute. Let me tell you kid, it was pretty goddamn glorious.It ain't the six minutes... it's what happens in that six minutes.

Don't want to Jinx it and I Ain't Superstitous

Well, I ain't superstitious, black cat just cross my trail
Well, I ain't superstitious, oh the black cat just cross my trail
Don't sweep me with no broom, I might get put in jail

Willie Dixon

Things to Do

August 19-King's X-Charlotte
September 11-Motorhead-Charlotte OR Treadmill Trackstar-Columbia
September 18-Clutch-Asheville
Oct. 8-The Airborne Toxic Event-Columbia

August 15 is almost here

Before the pigskin is set on the tee and before the calls of "Mr. October" arise, the English Premier League will kick off on August 15. West Ham has no proven offense, but that doesn't squelch my optimism (yet). I have started a free EPL fantasy over at the official EPL site. It is free to join. The league information is as follows:

Login: 453310-142278

Please join if you have any interest at all. I will put up a prize for the overall champ and probably a weekly prize for anyone that beats me in the weekly head-to-head matchup.

Up the Irons!

We're Back

Almost 7000 miles, 21 states visited, tags from 48 states seen, pounds of BBQ eaten, hundreds of bison, two bears, and a moose sighted. All this and I still have some Badlands mud on my shoes.

Important things in Texas

Double dipped on the BBQ today; Stubbs for lunch and The Salt Lick for supper. I may not eat for a week (unless I happen to drive by Big Bob Gibson's tomorrow or the next day.

I am fuller than you.

We also went to the Round Rock Express game tonight and happened on former USC star Justin Smoak playing for Oklahoma City. Cool. Game!

Important things in Vegas

Just got back from Lotus of Siam. Drunken Noodle Sea Bass, Braised short ribs with Panang, sticky rice with mango, and coconut ice cream. All kinds of awesome.