Community blog entries

van sisterne interview

jackangie — Sat, 19 Jul 2008 17:23:04 GMT

defensiveness is a sign of guilt! gretta was so totally out of control during the interview! any other thoughts out there?

On The Batwagon

ItsMrLucky — Sat, 19 Jul 2008 07:58:15 GMT

Friday July 18th, 2008 - Cary, IL
Normally I won’t jump on the pop culture bandwagon but tonight I made an exception. The new Batman movie is one of the biggest in years and I went to the midnight showing with Jerry Agar and his two sons and one of their friends. I’m glad I did. It was fantastic.

The last movie event I can remember that was this big was the Lord Of The Rings piece of flaming poo that I had to sit through and waste three hours of my life I’ll never recover. I didn’t find anything redeemable about that one at all and when it was over I leaned over to tell the person next to me how horrible I thought it was and the crowd started clapping.

This was a whole different story. I felt the buzz beforehand and it was a fun experience even though there was a delay in the actual start time. It was supposed to start at 12:01am but for whatever reason it was delayed. They showed the previews and then it appeared as if something broke and we all sat there looking at a blank dark screen for several minutes.

I can usually crack off some good lines in these situations and get laughs from the seats surrounding me but nobody was laughing tonight. They were concerned they wouldn’t get to see the movie. We sat there a few minutes longer and then they showed more previews.

I noticed when we walked in the theatre that is was theatre #13. Plus there was a big old full moon in the sky as we drove to the theatre from Jerry’s house and I couldn’t stop my laughter as I thought of how only Mr. Lucky could go to a premiere and miss the movie.

Finally the movie started about 12:30 and it was really worth the wait. I like Batman but I’m not a fanatic about it even though I did paint several cars I owned like the Batmobile I used to see on the TV series. I never really read the comic books more than casually but it was still a great movie and I had fun being part of the event. People came in full costume.

This was based on the Dark Knight comics which my cousin Jef Parker tried to coax me to read when he owned his comic book shops before he died in 2001. One of the precious things buried along with him in his coffin was the Dark Knight series. He loved it that much. He always talked about how he wanted there to be a movie made and this was it.

He would have loved this movie. I sure did. It was filmed in Chicago and I could spot a whole lot of familiar locations throughout. I thought it moved along really well and Heath Ledger was outstanding as the Joker. What a great role and he’s sure to win that Oscar.

I talked to my friend Joey Callahan in Philadelphia today who’s not only a huge Batman fan but one of the nicest humans I’ve ever met and a funny comic too. He has been telling me for a long time how high the expectations for this were and he thought they nailed it.

What fun it must be to be part of a huge project like this. This is beyond a movie and it’s now pop culture. Everyone was buzzing about it on the way out and I’m sure it will make a ton of cash for a ton of people. I’m glad I went early. Now nobody can spoil it for me.

Falling Short, but Pressing On

mz80 — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 22:58:36 GMT

After winning his legal battle to be allowed to compete against able-bodied athletes, double amptuee sprinter Oscar Pistorius was unable to qualify for the upcoming Olympics in individual races. It was also announced today that the South African was not chosen as an alternate on his country's relay team, as four other runners posted faster times. While this is a setback to Pistorius's dream, it is most likely a temporary one. The 21-year-old will still compete in the Paralympic Games in September, where he holds the world record in the 400 meters. (See the link to the AP story on today's ruling below.)

While it would have been a great story and a huge development for athletes with disabilities to have Pistorius compete against able-bodied sprinters, the decision to leave him off the team was the right one. He was given the opportunity, which was all he asked for in court. He knew he had to outperform his opponents, and many were better, fair and square (barring failed drug tests, never a shock in 2008). Having followed the coverage I have no doubt that the disappointing results will motivate Pistorius to train even harder to make the 2012 Games. The last thing the disability rights movement needs is controversy over making a disabled athlete an Olympian when others' times were better and the bypassed alleging preferential treatment. Pistorius wouldn't want that kind of sympathy selection, either. This gives us four more years (at least) to follow his inspirational story.

The girl who wouldn't go away

Shcro1 — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 18:14:31 GMT

I don't know exactly when or under what circumstances I met her, but my life has been forever changed. Gone are the carefree days of answering my phone with excitement. What's replaced is a mountain of fear the size of Texas, everytime the phone rings.

She's the kind of person who level jumps on your friendship. Thinking that you two are good friends instead of casual acquaintances. I'm foolishly optimistic everytime the phone rings. Perphaps it's that guy that I met last night, or maybe it's my ex asking to get back together. Heck, I would even take a telemarketer at this point. Alas it's none of those people, only her.

I don't answer and she leaves a message (she always leaves a message). "Hey you, just seeing what you're doing. I had a horrible day, and just felt like grabbing a drink. Call me back". Of course I don't call back, and subject myself to another ridiculous phone call 30 minutes later. Out of sheer insanity, I answer. "Hey, you wanna go to the Nomad"? I just feel like getting out of my aparment for awhile". Now, of course I would like to go to the Nomad, I would love to, but not if it means being stuck sitting there with her, slowing dying from overwhelming contempt, disgust, and mild hatred.

Out of sheer stupidity I say yes.

She drains every bit of energy that I have. Not only is she a pest, but she is so self involved. She talks about guys that she's dated (and there have been plenty) and what their sex life was like (with each and every one of them), but worse of all she expects me to know who these people are (I've never met any of them, and I'm not so sure they even exist).

She is completely oblivious to the fact that most people can't stand to be around her. One of her "friends" (I put friend in quotes, because the girl is much like I am, an unwilling acquaintance) said that the pest broke her ankle in two places just to get attention. If you knew the pest, you would understand why we weren't so quick to dismiss that theory.

She talks way too loud, she sings in your ear (off key), she's gross (she can burp her name, and she does it...often). She has questionable hygiene, she wears shirts and pants two sizes two small, and she's convinced she a 10 (she's not, trust me). I know what you're thinking...just don't hang out with this girl anymore if she bugs you that much. Believe me I've tried, I really really have, but she knows where I hang out, live, dine etc. Her presence in my life I assure you is unavoidable.

So we're sitting at the bar having our drinks, and she invites me to her place tomorrow for a bbq! Now.. I have no trouble hiding my emotions when we're on the phone, but hiding my horror in person takes a little more skill. My eyes grow wide, my mouth opens and my hands are sweaty. The thought of the two of us alone in her tiny aparment watching "Lost" season 1 on DVD, while she tends to the bbq on her small balcony was too much to bear. I would be trapped my friends.

I quickly think of an excuse (my mom and I are going shopping or something), and the situation is diffused.. at least until the next one. 3 beers and a worldwind of misery later, I decide to end our time at the Nomad. She quickly jumps up and says "k hun, I'll call you later". She then pulls me into a bear hug (she's a bigger girl, I'm all of 115lbs), and my face is smashed into her chest. A horrific end to a horrific day.

I leave the bar and walk the two blocks back to my apartment, trying to shake the memory that is her. An hour later, it happens. The phone rings, andI cringe. You guessed it, it's her. I answer out of sheer drunkeness. "Hey whatca doing this weekend...oh you already have plans...well I've got nothing going on, is it ok if I tag along"...... Sigh!

Double Play Radio

ItsMrLucky — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 03:13:03 GMT

Thursday July 17th, 2008 - Milwaukee, WI/Lake Villa, IL
Radio fun today on two fronts. Drew Olson made the call to the bullpen and I drove up to Milwaukee to be on my favorite show ‘The D List’ on ESPN Radio 540. I love talking about Wisconsin sports because that’s where I grew up. My memories are vivid and deep and I’ve got a lifetime of knowledge to add to the show. Plus I love to hang with the guys.

Brett Favre was obviously the main topic of conversation and I let loose with a heaping helping of the heartfelt hammer I hit him with yesterday. I raised a few eyebrows with the guys but nobody really disagreed with me and that started people calling up to comment.

I really fit in with those guys and I love to hang on the air. Drew is an excellent host and Dan Needles from Channel 12 really knows his stuff. Sometimes Dan is the one I’ll fill in for but today it was Bill Johnson the program director. He’s a good guy too and no matter who it is I still like sitting in. Sometimes I even show up and sit in when they’re all there.

We had a special guest named Jason Wilde on the show today and he’s a sportswriter in Green Bay and covers the Packers. He had inside information and I felt like I had a seat in the press box to get all the inside scoops. Normally it’s fun to be on but today it was extra good because the energy was electric. This is a hot story and I felt the buzz all around it.

I got home and saw that I got some comedy bookings for both October of this year and February of next year. Both are upper quality bookings and that made me feel good. I will hopefully keep that trend going and be able to work on Uranus Factory Outlet as I travel. I intend to use road media to promote my business on radio and TV and sell some product.

The second wave of radio fun came when Jerry Agar sent me an email of a column that talked about how no comedians want to poke fun at Barack Obama. He asked if I thought we could do a Jerry’s Kidders segment that ONLY poked fun at him and I flinched at first but then I thought about it and said I’d be up for giving it a shot. Jerry wants us to do this.

He ran it past the program director Kipper McGee and Kipper LOVED it and wants it to be an hour segment. We usually get a half hour but this is something they both think is an opportunity to make some noise and get some attention. If they want to try it I’ll pitch in.

This really isn’t my field of expertise and never was. Politics doesn’t really do anything for me and I rarely if ever talk about it on stage. On the other hand sports IS my thing and I rarely if ever talk about that on stage either. I guess I just never wanted to go in either of those directions. It’s like a band deciding to use or not use a ukulele or tuba. It’s a choice.

I do know how to write jokes though and I know I can add something to the mix. I think the big reason why nobody jokes about him is because he’s black. Period. There’s just SO much tension about race that comedians of all kinds don’t want to go near this one. He’s a political candidate and every one of those deserves to be made fun of. I would let it rip on McCain just as hard - and we might very soon. For this week it’s ‘Barack ToThe Future‘.