Milestones

Since my last blog post, there have been several major milestones both personally, and for some of my heroes.

On a personal note, last month, Avery and I made our first trip down the shore, just the two of us. The weather wasn't great, but we wanted to see my grandparents and give my wife some time to nap. We hit The WindMill for lunch with my grandparents, my parents and the Fishers. From there, we made a trip south and went to the aquarium at Jenkinson's in Point Pleasant. Needless to say, I had been to Jenks many times before...but never the aquarium and never with my daughter.

Watching her face react to the fish, the sharks, and the penguins was absolutely priceless. We spent about 45 minutes in the aquarium and it might have been the best $10 I have ever spent. We then walked over to the bar because there was a band playing. She wandered out in to the middle of the empty dance floor and started swaying back and forth to the music. We listened for a few minutes and then shared an ice cream cone on the boardwalk. Definitely the best day of the summer for me.

The best day of Yankee season (so far) came on Friday, September 11. In the third inning, Derek Jeter lined a single to right field for his 2,722nd hit to pass Lou Gehrig as the Yankees all time hit leader. Jeter has been a model of consistency throughout his career, performing at the highest level, and playing the game the right way. Off the field, he has handled his status as the prince of the city without one misstep. No DUI's, no bad quotes, no drama...he just plays the game and dates gorgeous women. Jeter is a winner in every sense of the word.

This week, Bruce Springsteen celebrated his 60th birthday. It brought back memories of the night after his 50th birthday when he played the Philadelphia Spectrum and the following night in the First Union Center (now Wachovia Center). It was a very different time for me in seeing Springsteen and the E Street Band. I was seeing a lot of the material for the first time that year since before March, I had never seen the E Street Band.

The night after Bruce's birthday, September 24, 1999, they played a rescheduled show. The show was originally to take place the week before, but a hurricane forced it to be postponed. Of the six shows Bruce played in Philly, this was the only one in the Spectrum, which is a building that Bruce has been playing since 1976. It is also much smaller than the building next door. Bruce opened by playing a tape someone sent his mom with a song titled "The Big 50". From there, the band launched in to Growin' Up (tour premiere) and No Surrender. The other tour premieres that night were Does This Bus Stop at 82nd Street, The Fever, and the last song...Blinded By The Light. I was with my good friend, Will Smith, and after Land of Hope and Dreams, I said if he played anything else, it would be the best show of the tour. Blinded was simply amazing.

The following night, Bruce opened with Incident on 57th Street. My favorite song of all time...I almost left after the first song. Also played that night were New York City Serenade and Jungleland, making for one stunner of a show. After the show, me, Fresh, and the two Daves hung out in the parking lot for hours hitting softballs off the Spectrum. A great night capped by a call in to WFAN on the way back to Belmar. I am gearing up for another run of Bruce shows, including the a couple at the Spectrum. My last show of the tour, if plans hold, will be at the Spectrum and if by chance it is the last E Street Band show I ever see, it's a great great venue.

So...congratulations to the captain, happy birthday to the boss, and I can't wait for the next trip down the shore with Avery.

"It ain't no sin to be glad you're alive..." BS

JN

Bruce, Yankees, Giants, etc.

Just some more random thoughts for a Tuesday night.

- Ten years ago tonight, Bruce played the 14th of his run of 15 shows at the Meadowlands Arena. It was by far the best show of that stand. The tour was still in its early stages and the band was mixing in new material every night. While many thought the following night would be the best, it couldn't hold a candle to this one. Tour premieres included the opener, Night (played for the first time since 1984), New York City Serenade (played for the first time since 1975), and the closer...an amazing version of 4th of July, Asbury Park...also known as Sandy. I remember sitting on the side of the stage in the first level (Steven's side). Fresh and Marc Schwartz were sitting right above me in the second section. They headed to the hallway during Land of Hope and Dreams. When Bruce started Sandy, I saw Marc emerge from the tunnel and I thought he was coming over the railing. It was the first time something other than Land of Hope and Dreams closed a show on that tour. Just a great, great show.

The following night, Bruce did open with Jersey Girl and closed with Rosalita, and Jon Bon Jovi, Richie Sambora, and Melissa Etheridge guested on Hungry Heart, so it wasn't exactly a bad show. On a more personal note, my great friend Ira brought a date to the show named Alyson. They had just met at a wedding and she was coming up from DC. I gave him a hard time for bringing her to the last show of the run as it was their first date. Well, today they are married and live next door. I guess it's a good thing he didn't listen to my advice.

- Today is also the 6th anniversary of the best show of the 2003 stadium tour in Philadelphia, but that's a story for another day.

- The Yankees four game sweep of the Sox was a lot of fun. They won a blowout, an extra inning nail biter, a pitcher's duel, and finally, a come from behind win. Best of all, the pitching and the bullpen really stepped up. This series makes me believe that the Yankees could have a team that is capable of success in October.

- I rarely get excited for football season as I am usually so wrapped up in baseball this time of year. While I am completely wrapped up in baseball, I am optimistic about the Giants. I know there are some question marks regarding the receiving corps, but if they stay healthy, the defense will be special, and the offensive line should continue to push people around. As always, "if they stay healthy" is easier said (typed) than done.

- The economy is taking its toll on sports. Basketball players aren't getting the free agent contracts they expected or deserve. Baseball players lived through it last winter and Alex Rios was just given up by the Blue Jays because the White Sox agreed to pay his salary. The Blue Jays received NOTHING in return, except payroll relief. With football and basketball heading towards the expiration of their respective collective bargaining agreements, we could be in for work stopages (incredibly dumb if they let it happen) and major changes in the existing agreements for each league. Here's hoping that they all realize that they are sharing MILLIONS of dollars and should just share the pie fairly.

- StubHub has changed the landscape of the secondary ticket market. You can buy tickets to many events up until 5pm the day of the event. In many cases, the tickets will be emailed to you almost immediately. It really is a great service.

- Why is there a Ticketmaster App for the Blackberry, but not for the iPhone?

- Speaking of the iPhone, it's just an amazing device and the apps are amazing.

- My daughter continues to amaze me every day. I could type forever about all of the cool stuff she does and how funny she is. Maybe next time.

That's all for now...

"It ain't no sin to be glad you're alive"

JN

Perfect Day...

Ten years ago today, David Cone pitched his perfect game at Yankee Stadium against the Montreal Expos. Cone might have pitched a perfect game, but I seem to remember having a perfect day.

I started watching the game when I got home from work. Yogi Berra and George Steinbrenner had recently reconciled their differences and Yogi was being honored at The Stadium. I remember watching the ceremony and thought it was great that even though Yogi was being honored, he caught the ceremonial first pitch rather than throw it. Don Larsen did the honors.

I didn't get to watch the entire game as I had plans that night (more on that later). So, in about the 5th inning, I jumped in my car and sped up the Garden State Parkway. I was meeting my father and some other people for dinner. I pulled in to the restaurant about 20 minutes late and waited in the car for Cone to get through the top of the 8th. When he did, I raced in to the restaurant and looked for the TV. They didn't have one. I went over to the table and explained that I couldn't stay. I looked at my father and said "Coney's perfect through 8...I gotta go." Needless to say, he understood.

I don't remember what restaurant it was, or even what city, but nowhere in the immediate area could I find a place with a TV, so I sat in my car and listened as Cone completed his perfecto. What was more amazing than anything else was that he didn't walk anyone. Cone was not a control pitcher and was known for nibbling around the plate. It was amazing. It was also the Yankees third no-hitter in the last four years (Doc Gooden in 96 and David Wells in 98). Coincidentally, each of those years, they had also won The World Series.

When the game was over, I went back in to the restaurant, and told everyone the story of the game. After dinner, we were all going to see Bruce and the E Street Band at the Meadowlands Arena (then called Continental). It was the 2nd of 15 shows at the arena that summer. At the time, my father had a connection with someone that could get us some "working crew" passes so we could wander around backstage before the show. I didn't know why we were having dinner if we had these passes, but I was going with the flow.

When we got to the arena, we got the passes and made our way to the area right behind the stage. Nothing was going on, so we were just hanging out. About five minutes before the show, Paul O'Neill walked by. I gave him a big high five and asked him how come Coney wasn't with him. He said he was supposed to come, but with all of the excitement, he decided to bail. Still, it was amazing to see Paul on such a special day.

A few minutes later, Bruce and the band appeared. We were off to the side, not close enough to be in the way, but close enough to see. As each band member made his/her way up the stairs, Bruce shook everyone's hand, patted them on the back, and basically offered encouragement for a great show. As he made his way up the stairs, my father and I make our way towards our seats, which were pretty close to the stage.

I would see 12 of the 15 shows on that stand, but this show will always standout as it was my first time seeing Jungleland live. I gave me chills...literally. To have shared it with my father made it all the more special.

Tomorrow...my father and I are going to Old Timer's Day at The New Yankee Stadium. It certainly has the potential to be another perfect day.

"It ain't no sin to be glad you're alive"

JN

Happy 4th of July Weekend

A Happy 4th of July Weekend to everyone. Some random thoughts at the end of a great weekend.

- Yesterday was the 70th anniversary of Lou Gehrig's famous speech. The speech was delivered by a dying man, yet he considered himself "The luckiest man on the face of the earth." The speech focused on his family, his teammates, the Yankee management, and even the New York (baseball) Giants, but he didn't focus on himself. He was a man that played with power, grace, and humility and was a true role model, even at the end. All of Major League Baseball honored him on Saturday, rightfully so. However, couldn't they have gotten someone better than Dave Otto in Chicago???

- In 1998, Southside Johnny played The Tradewinds on 4th of July weekend. I remember right before the show, coming out of the men's room and standing there was Little Steven. He was looking for the men's room, so I pointed him in the right direction. I was too nervous to say anything. That night, Little Steven played two songs with The Jukes, including Hearts of Stone (Bobby had to remind him the chords), and Jon Bon Jovi sat in for the entire show playing rhythm guitar and singing back up. It was also Jeff Kazee's first show with The Jukes. It's been all down hill since, right Jeff?

- July 1, 2004 was the night that Derek Jeter jumped in to the stands after catching a pop up to end the 12th inning. The Yankees came back to win that game in the 13th with key hits from Miguel Cairo and John Flaherty. The Yankees swept that series and it was still a time when, as Yankee fans, we thought it was our birthright to beat The Sox. All of that would change about 14 weeks later and baseball hasn't been the same since.

- July 1, 2000 was the night Bruce ended the 1999-2000 tour with the 10th show at The Garden. I think this show deserves a blog entry of its own, but it will have to wait until the 10th anniversary, next year.

- July 3, 2009, Christine and I took Avery and our nephew Anthony to The New Yankee Stadium for the first time. It was Anthony's first trip to The Bronx for a game, but Avery went to one game at The Stadium. I hope it was the first of many trips for both. A great day, and the Yankees even delivered a win.

- July 6, 2009...tomorrow Jared and I make our first trip together to New Stadium. He hasn't been yet, and I am really looking forward to showing him the new ballpark. Nothing will ever replace The Stadium, but they did build a heck of a building.

That's all for now...

"It ain't no sin to be glad you're alive..."

JN

Some things I think...

First of all, a very happy birthday to my dear father, Philip D. Neuer, Esq., MCR.  A great dad, friend, and now grandfather.  Happy 63rd.

Now...to some things on my mind today.

I think my wife is amazing.  One week after bringing my daughter to the tailgate party before the Bruce show at the arena, she stayed up late last night making my father an Oreo cheesecake...from scratch.  Last week, she decided not to go to the show, but came with Avery to the parking lot to hang out pre-show.  It was a perfect day.  It was Avery's first tailgate.  It was Aunt Liz and Uncle Alan's first Bruce show.  I got to sit with my mother and David.  I got Sari in to the pit.  Bruce played Incident.  What more could I want?

I think the Bruce shows I saw on this run were great.  While I wish he would play more from the new album, I go to the shows with the mindset that I will have a better time than anyone else in the arena.  There are some that say he isn't challenging the audience enough. Meanwhile, he is not playing hits, he is taking requests, and while he might not be digging deep in to the catalog, he gives it his all every night. The new album has a very positive tone.  We aren't living in a very positive time for many.  Therefore, I think the place in the show where the new songs would go has been reserved for three songs, Seeds, Johnny 99, and The Ghost of Tom Joad, that speak to the times we are living in even more so than the new record.

I think my cousin, Mike Levine is amazing.  They had the annual Texas Hold Em last week and raised over $200,000 in a terrible economy.  Since Matthew was diagnosed with FSGS, Mike has been a crusader for the NephCure Foundation, taking on the challenge head-on.  They got some great PR the same night as the poker event with a segment on Fox News.  Here is a link for those that are interested.  Link to story.

I think Mark Cuban is a genius.  For those that don't know Mark Cuban, he is the owner of the Dallas Mavericks, HDNet, and other ventures.  He was the guest on The BS Report (Bill Simmons' podcast) this week and after 40 minutes I wanted to quit my job, move to Dallas, become a Mavericks fan, and work for him.  He thinks the next big growth industry will be genetic research.  I am not betting against him.

I still think Joe Girardi is a weak manager.

I think the season finale of Lost was amazing.  Anyone not watching this show should take the next seven months to catch up on DVD.

I think MLB Network is my favorite channel on television right now.  The nightly highlight shows are amazing.  One host and two former players go through the highlights and will cut to a live game if something exciting is happening.  Any baseball fan not taking advantage is missing out.

I think I like my iPhone almost as much as I liked my first TiVo.  It's close.

I think making the entire floor general admission for the Giants Stadium show was Bruce & company's way of screwing the ticket brokers.  I am not sure if it will work, but I give them credit for trying.  I am happy Bruce will be the last musical act at Giants Stadium.  If I had to bet, I would bet Bon Jovi is the first musical act in the new, yet to be named stadium.

I still think the Giants should go get Anquan Boldin.

I don't think ARod is responsible for the Yankees turnaround.  I think the starting pitching has been much better, taking the pressure off of the bullpen.  Yes, he has gotten some big hits and provides better protection for Big Tex, but I won't give ARod all of the credit.

I think Big Papi should start taking some better supplements.  We may live in a society where you are innocent until proven guilty, but every time Papi can't catch up to a 90 mile an hour fast ball, he is proving he was on something.  Kudos for him if he is clean now, but wow...he has stunk the first two months of the season.

I don't think I care Manny was juicing.  Is the 50 game suspension really a good punishment?  For someone as lazy as Manny, they should have made him play those 50 games, but not paid him.  So he lost $8m.  He doesn't care.  The punishment is in the public scrutiny.  The punishment is also more for the team than the player, although, the Dodgers are still playing really well.  Good job Mr. Torre.

I think that's enough for now.

"It ain't no sin to be glad you're alive..."  BS

JN

The House That Stick Built

Yankee Stadium was always known as The House That Ruth Built.  Babe Ruth arrived in New York in 1920 and by 1922, Yankee Stadium was under construction.  It opened in time for the 1923 season and Babe christened the new stadium with a home run in the first game.  

I think that the New Yankee Stadium should be known as The House That Stick Built.  

Gene Michael, whose nickname is Stick, deserves the credit for the Yankee Dynasty of the late '90's.  He was the general manager from 1990 - 1995.  During that time, he layed the ground work for the great Yankee teams that were to come.  

Now, you might be saying, "Sure...he built the team, but he didn't build the new stadium."  You might be right.  However, consider the following:

- In 1996, the Yankees attendance was 2,250,877.  In 2008, the attendance was 4,298,655.  In the years in between, the team set attendance records ten times.

- In 2002, the Yankees launched the YES Network.  They reported $60m in revenue from the network last year, but that doesn't include their ownership stake in the network.

- George Steinbrenner was suspended from baseball from 1990 - 1993 while Stick was busy assembling the core of the team.

- He was responsible for bringing Derek Jeter, Andy Pettitte, Jorge Posada, Mariano Rivera, and Paul O'Neill among others to the Bronx.  In addition, he was patient with the young players including Bernie Williams allowing them to mature rather than trade them for established players.

- He signed Jimmy Key as a free agent.  While Jimmy Key was only on one of the championship team, his signing was vital to the team's success.  In the early 90's, the Yankees were not a favored destination for free agents.  In fact, that same winter, Greg Maddux turned down more money from the Yankees to sign with the Braves.  Key's signing helped turn around the perception among players in the game.

Many people are calling The New Stadium The House That George Steinbrenner Built.  Without Gene Michael's work, the Yankees would not have won the four championships between 1996 and 2000.  Without those championships, the Yankees brand would not have the cache that it has today.  They likely would not have the YES Network and they certainly would not be the largest road draw in baseball.

Other people are calling The New Stadium The House That Derek Jeter Built.  Without Mariano Rivera (among others), Jeter would not have four rings.  As great as Derek is, he is not Babe Ruth.  He didn't change the way the game is played.  He doesn't dominate the game.  He is our captain and he is great, but Derek didn't build the stadium.

I know the Mets also moved in to a new stadium this year. I also know that they didn't win four championships.  I know they also have a network.  I think that the Yankees success helps the Mets.  The Yankees popularity helps raise the awareness of baseball in the city.  Is it a coincidence that the Mets attendance figures trail the Yankees? Is it a coincidence that the Mets launched their network four years after the Yankees?  If the Yankees hadn't built a new stadium, the Mets wouldn't have been able to either.

So, you could actually say that Gene Michael was responsible for building both stadiums in New York.  You could say he was responsible for launching two television networks.  I do say that he is more responsible than anyone else for the four champioships.  More responsible than Joe Torre, who couldn't have done it without the players.  More responsible than George Steinbrenner who would have ripped up the team had he been involved.  More responsible than Jeter, Mariano, or anyone else who couldn't have done it without their teammates.

Enjoy The House That Stick Built.  I'm sticking with my theory until someone convinces me otherwise.

"It ain't no sin to be glad you're alive" - BS

JN

March 18, 1999

Ten years ago today, I attended my 22nd Bruce show.  It also happened to be my first show seeing Bruce with the E Street Band.

The show was billed as an hour long rehearsal and as you can see by the ticket stub above, the ticket price was $20, plus Ticketmaster fees.  It was the first time Bruce had played Convention Hall and he talked about seeing The Who and The Blues Magoos in the building. 

My expectations were high, but I figured we would get about an hour and fifteen minutes, but I couldn't wait.  My seats were directly behind the soundboard.  As I was standing waiting for the lights to go down, I noticed the set list taped to the equipment.  I didn't want to look...but I had to.  Yes, I HAD TO.  When I started reading the list, my first thought was, "he can't do all of those songs in an hour."  He didn't.

The band came out, one by one, and Bruce came out last.  He then approached the mic, counted off, and a force more powerful than I had seen on stage before took over.  They launched in to Prove It All Night, and did they ever.  With Bruce and Steven trading "yeah"s on the same mic and a searing guitar solo from Bruce, I was mesmerized.  From there, they launched in to Two Hearts, one of my favorites, with Bruce and Steven again sharing the same mic for much of the song.  I knew that I needed to be at as many shows this coming summer as possible.

I won't go through song by song, but it ended up being a 23 song show that last two and a half hours.  He debuted My Love Will Not Let You Down, which was on Tracks, and closed with a new song which would become a staple of the tour, Land of Hope and Dreams.  It was apparent that they were still trying to figure things out as the band assumed that after 10th Avenue Freeze Out they would break for intermission.  They started to walk off stage and Bruce called them back and said that they didn't need an intermission any more.  The show truly blew me away.  The following night, Bruce played for two hours and forty five minutes with a 25 song set including the premiere of Give The Girl A Kiss and the first live performance of The Promise since 1978, played solo by Bruce on piano.

He called the show a re-dedication of the band and it was exactly that. Over the last 10 years, there have been many more shows in Convention Hall, both rehearsals and holiday shows and The E Street Band has been an ongoing concern with new albums and new tours, including another starting next month.

It seems like yesterday, but ten years is a long time.  I had only recently started in real estate.  I was making no money.  Let me repeat that for emphasis.  I was making NO MONEY.  Yet, all I could think about when I left those shows was that I couldn't miss a show.  I couldn't risk missing something magical.  I said that I needed to attend every show possible in case he played Incident, Jungeleland, or Frankie.  I saw all three that year.

It's been a great ride...and I can't wait for it to start again next month.  Show #147 is scheduled for April 22nd in Boston, unless of course he schedules a rehearsal show in Convention Hall before they hit the road.  I am going to hit Boston, Philly, Nassau, and East Rutherford on this leg of the tour.  Who's in?

"It ain't no sin to be glad you're alive..."  BS 

From Badlands...played 3/18/99 and every other night that tour.

JN

The NEW Yankee Stadium

I made my first visit to The New Yankee Stadium today.  I was invited on a small tour, but I will leave out the details of who got me in, just in case we weren't supposed to be there.  I have a feeling  I will be writing a lot about The New Stadium in the coming weeks.  I have some ideas that I am kicking around, but for today, I will stick to the facts and leave my thoughts for future posts.

I arrived a bit early and wandered around River Avenue for a few minutes.  There were many people working on the exterior, and I would find later, hundreds of people working inside.  They are in the home stretch with the first event April 2nd.  One worker was hanging banners of current players along the exterior of the building, the images of which were amazingly clear.

Once we went inside, the first stop was the weight room.  Needless to say, they spared no expense.  I was surprised to see a Muhammad Ali quote as the dominant image above the mirrors.  It was a quote I have never seen before, but obviously very appropriate.  "The first is won or lost far away from the witnesses - behind the lines, in the gym, and out there on the road, long before I dance under those lights."  Next stop was the trainer's room.  I had heard stories of a scale that has been around for decades.  It was used to weigh all of the greats, and all of the not-so-greats throughout the years and it was there.  

We walked through the room with the whirl pools, peaked our heads in the steam rooms, stopped in the men's room, and then walked through the doors to the Yankee Clubhouse.  Immediately, someone pointed out Derek Jeter's locker.  Can you blame me for sitting down to take a picture?  It was one of the larger lockers and right near the door.  The room is a large oval shaped room each locker has a spot for a small flat screen monitor (not yet installed).  None of the equipment or name tags were in place, but this is an impressive room.

On the outside of the curved wall, across from the manager's office, in black, is a large Yankee logo, the interlocking NY, with the famous Joe DiMaggio quote underneath, "I'd like to thank the good Lord for making me a Yankee."  Us too.

From there, it was through a tunnel and then in to the Ketel One Lounge, which is for Legends Suite ticketholders.  The high rollers.  The quality and sharpness of the images amazed me.  We came in the back door, but at the main entrance is an amazing picture of Lou Gehrig.  Once I walked past Gehrig and up a small ramp, I was in the seats along the firstbase line.  It's really amazingly impressive.  The frazee hangs along the top, all around the park.  All of the seats are new, dark blue.  The monuments in Monument Park were still covered, so we didn't go out to centerfield.  They were working on the infield as well...everyone getting ready.

We then went up to the suite level.  We entered Suite #44, which is the Steinbrenners' suite.  They had recently ripped up the original carpet because they didn't like it and will replace it this week.  The suite is probably three times the size of a normal suite and is in the same position as it was in The Stadium, just above the visitor's dugout.  

From there, we were off to the press box and in to the TV booth.  Again, none of the equipment was in place, but the view was from directly behind home plate.  See for yourself.

Our tour was coming to an end, but not before we made our way to The Great Hall.  This is the main corridor for The New 

Stadium and the hanging banners had color photos of recent greats on one side and black and white photos of Yankee legends on the other.

They spared no expense in making this the premier sports venue in the country.  Again, I will provide some more in-depth thoughts in a later post, but with larger 

concourses, better site lines, more bathrooms, more concessions, more restaurants, more of everything...no one will leave unimpressed or unhappy.  Hopefully, they did as good of a job putting together this year's team as they did putting together the stadium.

If you want to see the rest of the photos, shoot me an email and I will send a link.  

"It ain't no sin to be glad you're alive"  BS

JN

Who's who...and some random thoughts

About a week ago, I received the following email with the subject line "Blog Topic" from my good friend Rob Fisher.

"Redskins=Yankees
Giants=Red Sox
Discuss..."

Since I am happy to take requests, I have been thinking about it over the last week.  I have given it a lot of thought, done some research, and I am happy to report that I have several scenarios for debate.  After all, part of the reason why we follow sports is to debate our opinions.

First of all, the Redskins can't be the Yankees.  While the team has won championships, it certainly was not in the recent past.  The Redskins have a long history of spending and not winning.  I do agree that they typically spend on aging stars, possibly past their primes, similar to the Yankees.  However, I think they more resemble the Dodgers of the late-90's and early part of this decade.  The Kevin Brown/Shawn Green Dodgers.  The Dodgers that spent almost as much as the Yankees, but never had anything to show for it.  To me, that's what the Skins have.  Nothing to show for all of Daniel Snyder's spending.  Further, all of the coaching changes, is yet another similarity.

So if the Redskins aren't the Yankees, what team most resembles the evil empire?  If you want to talk about winning, the Yankees resemble the Patriots.  Both teams were underdogs in their first championship year.  The Yankees weren't supposed to beat the Braves and the Pats certainly weren't supposed to beat the Rams.  They each had unprecedented runs of success in recent history.  They each have an icon.  Derek Jeter is certainly baseball's answer to Tom Brady, or visa verse.  While Joe Torre and Bill Belichick will never be mistaken for having similar styles, they each had questionable resumes prior to becoming geniuses.  Was the 2007 AFC Championship Game similar to the Red Sox beating the Yankees in 2004?  Definitely.  Neither has won a championship since.

Do the Giants represent football's answer to the Red Sox?  I don't think so.  Both were built by smart GM's, not a lot of free agents, and maybe some free spirits, but I think the Giants need a sustained run of success and another Super Bowl win before they can be put up against the Sox.  For now, I think the Sox and the Steelers might be more suited for comparison.  Jerome Bettis could be Big Papi in pads.  The Steelers have won twice in recent history, same as the Sox, coming out of nowhere for the first one and as the favorite the second time around.  

Always fun to debate one side or another...I would love to hear your thoughts if you are reading this.  I fixed the comments section so it's easier if you want to comment.

Some random thoughts:

- I am sick of ARod and am glad he will be out for at least the first month of the season.  Maybe the Yankees will get back to the brand of baseball that brought them four rings. Moving the runner, sacrifice flies, pitching and defense.

- U2 doing five nights of Letterman was just damn cool.

- At this point, Max almost can't be replaced as the drummer for the E Street Band.  He can be replaced on Conan.  Without Max, the spontaneous nature of the show would be out the window.  I truly hope they figure out how to make this work.  Due to healthy concerns, this very well may be the last ride for the E Street Band and it would be a shame for a sub to be sitting in.

- Bill Simmons' podcast keeps getting better. If you aren't listening, you should start. His columns are great too, but the podcasts are truly entertaining.

- The economy certainly hasn't put a damper on the concert tours.  The Allmans, Bruce, Clapton/Winwood, and U2 are on my radar.  

- I am enjoying the World Baseball Classic so far...but I can't wait for Opening Day.

That's all for now..."It ain't no sin to be glad you're alive" - BS

JN

Dirty Laundry

Jerry Seinfeld used to do a routine about how sports fans really just root for the laundry.  It doesn't matter who wears the uniform.  In this age of free agency, we really just root for the uniform because we can't get attached to players.  No matter who is wearing the uniform, we root for them, and since the uniform just ends up in the laundry, we root for laundry.

Right now, my favorite laundry is dirty.

I will talk about the Joe Torre book first.  To establish a frame of reference for those that don't know my opinion on him, I am a big Joe Torre fan.  When the Yankees did not make the playoffs in 2008, I rooted for the Dodgers because Don Mattingly and Joe Torre were on the bench.  That said, when the excerpts from the book started to surface, I was unhappy about the book.  He doesn't need the money, it was unnecessary, and it was airing dirty laundry just for the sake of taking some shots.

I have read the first 100 pages, so I am not all the way through the book.  However, I have listened to the interviews with Torre, Tom Verducci, Mike Mussina, John Heyman (SI), and many others.  I have listened to Mike Francesa kill the book.  Frankly, I don't see what's that bad about it.  He is certainly entitled to write a book if he wants and as we have come to expect, Joe is going to be truthful.  He always had his favorites, there's no surprise there.  

The voice of the book is really Verducci's.  Joe certainly contributed more than any other source, but there are many quotes, obviously not obtained by Joe as he is not a reporter.  I would rather spend my money on a book with some insight that I haven't heard/read before than something to be regurgitated.   I loved Buster Olney's book, The Last Night of The Yankee Dynasty.  I was hoping for more of that kind of insight, and so far, I am getting it.  

If the book turns in the next 300 pages in to something else, I promise to write an update. However, the first person Joe thanks in the acknowledgements is George Steinbrenner.  He recognizes that he was given an amazing opportunity, and also that he was the fourth choice for the job in 1996.  This is not an anti-Yankee book, but rather an explanation of what happened in those 12 years, which were very special for me as a fan.  I urge anyone with a negative opinion of the book to actually read it.  I promise, I will finish it before finalizing my opinion.

Now...ARod.  Where to start?  Was I surprised?  No way.  Was I surprised that he coincidentally left the country immediately when the news came out?  No way.  Was I surprised that he held an interview in a controlled environment to admit his guilt.  Not a chance.  Is it comical that he went running back to Scott Boras for advice?  Yes...definitely.  Is it absurd to think that he didn't know what he was taking, as he said in the interview?  Completely absurd.  Did the interview go completely off the tracks when he started to slam the reporter who broke the story?  Oh yeah. Do I think he is truly sorry he cheated?  No.  Do I think he is sorry he got caught? Definitely.

Here's a guy who desperately wants to be the best of all time.  He really doesn't care about winning nearly as much as he cares about his stats.  I root for ARod.  I am not an ARod hater. He is a tremendously talented player, maybe the most talented in the game. He is fun to watch, but he is not a winner.  He is Dominique Wilkins.  Great stats, great player, but doesn't help the players about him.  So, why wouldn't he cheat, especially if everyone else is doing it? Apparently, that's a great excuse because he used it a lot in the interview.

But the juice isn't my real problem with ARod.  So what's my problem you ask?  I am spoiled.

The Yankees of the late 90's were easy to root for.  They played to win.  They bunted, hit behind the runner, took the extra base, hit the occasional home run, pitched like crazy and were desperate to win.  They were good guys.  The guys that didn't fit in were shipped out.  If they weren't willing to put winning first, they were gone.  It was that simple.  They were human beings, they were easy to root for as people and they backed it up with a great band of baseball. 

ARod wouldn't fit in on those teams.  His largest sin in my opinion is that he would rather hit 800 home runs that win the World Series.  How do I know this?  Because he is a terrible situational hitter.  He thinks that because he has the ability to hit the ball out of the park, that's the only way for him to help the team.  He's got crazy power and yes, in many situations, he should be trying to hit the ball as hard as he can.  However, with a man on third and less than two outs, this guy should NEVER strike out and he does often.  Could you imagine Paul O'Neill being on the same team as ARod?  O'Neill would probably kill him.

Is he a good guy?  He certainly doesn't seem like one.  What he does off the field is his business. However, unlike those great Yankee teams that I loved, he makes it hard to root for him.  Did he need to stay until the end of the All Star Game?  No.  He obviously didn't care to be there.  If he didn't care to be there, why should I shell out the money for the ticket?  If he was so eager to opt out of his contract, why should I be so eager to have him back?  I was also told a story that I won't repeat about him blowing off Yogi Berra.  Now, that's just unforgivable.

He never says the right thing, and we have been spoiled by Derek Jeter who always manages to say the right thing, even when he says nothing.  ARod can't get out of his own way and while I want to give him the benefit of the doubt, I find it hard.  He is a liar, a cheater, and a selfish player.  Will I cheer when he hits his home runs this year?  Of course...I root for the laundry.

So the past few weeks, the laundry has been soiled.  In two days, pitchers and catchers report. CC Sabathia and AJ Burnett will put on the pinstripes for the first time.  Joba will work towards being the #5 starter and Phil Hughes will try and prove that the hype was for real.  I truly can't wait for the conversation to turn from the dirty laundry to BASEBALL.

"It ain't no sin to be glad you're alive..."

JN

Working on a Dream - The JN Review

As I sit here watching "Working on a Dream...The Sessions DVD" in my basement, I figured it was time to share my thoughts on Bruce's new album, Working on a Dream.  While I have had the songs for two weeks, I couldn't really do a fair review until I had the liner notes and the lyrics.

The reviews that have been published in varying magazines and newspapers have been all over the place.  Rolling Stone gave it five stars, Entertainment Weekly gave it an A, but The Chicago Sun-Times gave it one-and-a-half stars.  When I was thinking about it today, I was thinking I was somewhere in the middle.  I was thinking about how it's less of an album and more a collection of songs that aren't tied together in any theme.  

However, I have already changed my mind.  The theme is the way the songs are arranged and presented.  This album is more about the music than the words.  The lyrics are secondary, which is very different for Bruce.  The only other album that you might be able to say that about is The Wild, The Innocent, and The E Street Shuffle, which was the only album that did not include lyrics in the album sleeve when relased.

So what ties this whole thing together is the sometimes over the top presentation.  That said, here's a song by song breakdown.

1. Outlaw Pete - One of my immediate favorites.  This song has received a lot of criticism in some cirlces for its length (over 8 minutes) and a similar riff to Kiss' I Was Made For Loving You. However, I really like the story.  The story might have been better presented with The Seeger Sessions Band, but musically, there is a lot going on here.  The message is simple; you can't escape your past...no matter how far you travel or how hard you try.  With changes in tempo and storyteller, it makes for a great 8 minute movie unlike anything Bruce has written since the 70's.

2. My Lucky Day - How can you not like a straight ahead pop song with Little Steven singing back up vocals throughout?  The world is cruel, but as long as I have you, I am a lucky guy.  This is vintage Bruce.

3. Working on a Dream - Probably one of my least favorite tracks.  There's not a lot here.  However, the whistling is getting killed by most.  I like it.  It's symbolic.  What's more American than someone whistling while they work?  This probably would have fit better on Magic with its political undertone.

4. Queen of the Supermarket - One of the oddest songs in the catalog, but I LOVE IT!  It's really a Roy Orbison song in many ways.  It has a 60's theme with very a orchestral presentation.  I connect with the story.  For many reasons, the storyteller doesn't want to approach his dream girl.  This happens!  Do you think Bruce wrote this after playing Pretty Flamingo last summer?  

5. What Love Can Do - One of the strongest tracks on the album, this was the first song written for this record.  It has a Magic sound with layered vocals.  "Darling I can't stop the rain, or turn your black sky blue, but let me show you what love can do."  It's a straight ahead rocker with some nasty guitar work.

6. This Life - A 60's pop love song.  It's a great vocal, but it hasn't grown on me yet, and I am not sure it will.  Let's see if/how it's presented live.

7. Good Eye - This one has really grown on me once I figured out the lyrics.  This one is straight from the swamp with Bruce using a reverb mic.  "I had my good eye to the dark and my blind eye to the sun." I know what the right thing is to do, but I choose not to.  This is the cousin of Your Own Worst Enemy from Magic.

8. Tomorrow Never Knows - A little blue grass, almost country tune.  A sparse arrangement, so maybe this one doesn't fit, but it's fun nonetheless.  "Tomorrow never knows..."  Make today count.

9. Life Itself - I am really enjoying this song.  It's about the struggles of life, connections, love, what's important and how maybe then it's not important.  In the end, maybe only one thing is important.

10. Kingdom of Days - I read an article recently where Bruce spoke about how things are finite.  With the passing of Danny Federici (more on that later), who can blame him. This song is about a couple growing old together. "We laugh beneath the covers and count the wrinkles and the grays."  I like the lyrics more than I like the presentation on this one...which is atypical for me regarding this album.  A love song for growing old...maybe I am not old enough to truly appreciate it yet.

11. Surprise Surprise - So much fun.  It's a catchy pop song with a Byrds guitar jangle and very pop backing vocals at the end.  I love a catchy pop song and this is a great one.

12. The Last Carnival - The tribute to Danny.  The character in the song is named Billy and many think this connects to Wild Billy's Circus Story, which I immediately thought as well. Danny's song plays organ on this track.  Bruce's vocal cracks twice...obviously this song means a lot.  This is the second record in a row with a tribute to a fallen friend, and I hope we don't have another for a while. This one is truly touching.

13. The Wrestler - Written for the movie of the same name as a favor to his friend Mickey Rourke, this is part of the brilliance of Bruce.  He captures the soul of the man in 3 minutes.

All things considered, I give it a B+ and can't wait to see the material presented live. See you on the road.

"It ain't no sin to be glad you're alive..."

JN