Back In the Mix

Alright, I spent two days and nights of heavy listening, and I'm ready to make my call...

The new Beastie Boys brings that spirit in a '64 funky style..Very classy.

I've always felt that the Beastie Boys instrumental tunes were highly underrated, and I've often wondered when a instrumental album was going to emerge. The collection of instrumentals and B-Sides from "Check Your Head" and "Ill Communication" displayed on "In Sounds from Way Out" were nothing less than stellar, and it was time. Their musical influences, tastes, and integrity operate at a Wes Unseld level...With this album, they made a Hall-of-Fame Outlet.

"Money" Mark Nishita is back on the keys. From the start of the album, he showed that he's back in the mix with "B for My Name." "14 St. Break" brings the beat. The "Gala Event" is great for zoning out and nodding that head. "The Electric Worm" spaces it at the 2:52 mark. Get ready to do pull-ups on "Off the Grid." Watch out for the organ chirp on "The Melee." Don't sleep on the sitar guitar on "Dramastically Different", and be thankful for the closing bells on "The Kangaroo Rat."

They've intertwined styles throughout the album, and you'll notice beats stemming from 'Deep Cover', Incredible Bongo Band, 80's hip-hop, and...Aw Hell, whatever you want them to be...All are great calls.

They're rocking suits and shirts in colors that would could appear on an Impulse cover from the early '60s...Very classy. Since the Dead has faded, I can't think of another band other than U2, who is carrying the torch for integrity and newfound ground in listening experiences. Seriously, name five bands, who have consistently broken new ground throughout a twenty year career that in today's music world. Tough...isn't it?

My only hope is that they're still working on their jumpers...I have to catch these guys on tour.

Bring back the green tea, parano cheese, and protein shakes. That Jim Rockford feeling is back...Baccdafuccup.



Back In the Mix,
IronDog

Back in the Grill

Back in the grill again...To the grill again...

Yeah I'm back on the point with the verbals again. Here are some thoughts that have come across my inbox.

First off, special kudos to the cat at Yardbarker, who posted the 1998 McDonald's Slam Dunk Competition. Damn...Who says Ronald Curry couldn't ball? Yeah, Curry was overrated in High School...Yeah, right.

A football red-shirt year, a break here and a break there...Wow.




** Ray Young on that vid...Whatever happened to him at Kansas? He was nice...Dyed his hair blonde, and he kind of faded off the radar after a tryout with the Warriors. I need to get a full story on him.

** Meanwhile in the Hill...Sean May back in summer school fufilling his requirements...Good dude.

** Someone touched on whether or not athletes should be considered role models on my heelhoops list serv.

Here's my two cents.

I'll agree that athletes shouldn't be used as examples to raise your kids. Yet, how can we fully embrace that statement without using them as examples in youth sports. When athletes want to downplay their importance, I think they're shirking their responsibility. Especially, when the NBA, NFL, and MLB continues to push their presence for cereals, sporting goods, shoes, TV packages, barbecue fluids, etc.

We can cut the responsibility for athletes down to the bare bones that they should not be 'role models.' Yet, whatever way they want to cut it, a lot of kids look up to them.

With that thought in mind, professional athletes should be able to embrace that responsibility the same way that they preach to kids when they run their own camps, clinics, and events for the communities who pay for their performances...Just my two cents.

** Tough watching Rasheed Wallace going down last week with the Pistons. And when I see Drew Gooden working against Tim Duncan tonight, I feel cheated that I couldn't see a Championship match-up between two major rivals with Wallace and Duncan.

As for Rasheed...I still think he's one of the top 4 power forwards in the NBA. Yet, his on-the-court head is bordering on Rodman/Isaiah Rider proportions. The guy is over 32 now. He needs to drop the gripes, move on, and embrace the leader role.

If I were Philly right now, I would move for him. They could get him for cheap, and he would be back in his hometown. Not a bad move for Charlotte as well.

I still say that he's one of the best guys off-the-court that I've ever encountered in Chapel Hill. A complete classic...Would ball anywhere at any time, and a he was a helluva NBA Jams player at the old Barrell o' Fun.

** Another high impression for the baseball Heels...Josh Horton and Andrew Carnigan for the A's. You know what I think of Billy Beane. His chief scout, Chris Pittaro, is a Carolina guy.

Good to see that one of the top baseball management teams think so well of the players that are developing in Chapel Hill.

Beat Mississippi State,
IronDog

Great Night

What a night...

So long to Chapel Hill's old Boshamer Stadium. The Heels are headed to the College World Series.

The Sopranos ends on the perfect note.

Life continues with endless possibilities.

Enjoy,
IronDog

Boshamer Update

Want a ticket for tonight's UNC vs. USC game in Chapel Hill?...

Be expected to shell around $100-150.

As of end of Game 2, which was finished off this afternoon after last night's rain-postponement, tickets were being sold from Rams' Club members to the street leeches for $10-$20/ticket, and then being turned to waiting fans for $100.

I never knew big-money hitters leaving Boshamer Stadium could be so fooled...Geezus

Regardless, I'm going. I have people in high places keeping me high...

Go Heels,
IronDog