Mizzou in the Tournament

As far as sports go, March is my favorite month. Baseball is just around the corner and March madness descends on my TV. Yes, I have been watching the conference tournaments, all the way from the Big 12 to the game between Holy Cross and American (??)
I think the Big 10 is an awesome conference, but one that will get screwed by the tournament selection committee, because as far as they are concerned, you can't have enough ACC and Big East teams in. I keep hearing how the Big East is the best conference in the nation. Well, they only have 16 friggin teams in the conference, that alone should do the trick. I must admit, the 6 overtime game the other night was pure joy for a basketball fan. As much as I get tired of Jim Boehim and Jim Calhoun, they are great coaches. I just don't think that they deserve three number on seeds.
My number one seeds would be...Carolina, Louisville, Memphis and Michigan State. Number twos would be Connecticut, Pittsburgh, Missouri and Duke (as much as I hate them). Threes would be Kansas, Oklahoma,Washington and Illinois. I like Bruce Weber and hope the Illini can do some good things in the tournament. He seems like a decent guy and a team that put a huge hurt on Mizzou early in the season.
I have my concerns about Mizzou. At times, they look like the least disciplined team ever and then at times, they look like thay can run you out of the building. They have, however, come a long way since the disastrous Quinn Snyder years. Now, there is the story of a guy who f**ked up his shot at the big time. The lasting memory of him is when he left the court after another Mizzou blow out game, getting his head drenched with popcorn from an unappreciative fan. Now, the athletic department at Mizzou will have to break the bank to keep Mike Anderson. Alabama will come calling, along with others. Here's hoping Mizzou gets a number two seed and at least gets as far as the Elite 8. They have the chops to do it, but please keep Demarre Carroll from dribbling down the court. It's nice to able to root for them again.

Friday the 13th

I was saddened today when I read about Verne Gagne. Spending a great deal of my youth in the Quad Cities, Verne put on "All Star Wrestling" which featured The Crusher, Dirty Dusty Rhoads, Mad Dog Vachon and the guy who lost every match but had the coolest name George "Scrap Iron" Gadaski. It was on late at night on Saturday night and it was areal treat for us kids to stay up and watch it, then discuss in our bedrooms whether it was fake or not. Gagne was the founder and owner of the American Wrestling Association and wore its championship belt. In the 1960s and '70s, his ''All-Star Wrestling'' was a TV sensation. The show was a modest affair, taped before small audiences at various Minneapolis TV stations. But it was syndicated on up to 120 channels across the Midwest and as far away as San Francisco, Las Vegas, Phoenix, Salt Lake City and Winnipeg, Canada. He mostly stopped wrestling in 1981 but remained active in the business. He trained more than 140 wrestlers from the late 1950s up until 1990, including Blackjack Lanza, Larry ''The Axe'' Hennig, The Iron Sheik, Sgt. Slaughter and Jesse ''The Body'' Ventura, who later became governor of Minnesota. One of my fondest memories is going to Wharton Field House in Moline and being blown away by how big it was. We were there to watch the guys on TV wrestle locally. Verne is now 83 and is suffering from Alzheimers and dementia. Apparently, he was reliving his wrestling days and body slammed a 94 year old man, causing his death. This happened at the nursing home where both men were. The other man's family is not persuing legal action saying that Verne had no idea what he was doing. The man he body slammed escaped from Germany in 1930 and went on the develop the antitode to mustard gas.

I have already had the discussion with my family and will once again post it here. If there comes a time when I don't recognize my kids or my family, that is the day I want to leave this planet. I will have no more use for life and life will have no more use for me.

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Hank Locklin 1918-2009

This was one of my mother's favorite artists. I remember as a kid listening to "Please Help Me, I'm Falling" and especially "Send Me The Pillow That You Dream On" which has been covereed by everybody from Dean Martin to Dwight Yoakum. "Please Help Me I'm Falling" released in 1960 was listed in Billboard magazine's 100th anniversary issue as the second most successful country single of modern times. The song was nominated for a Grammy Award. In Ava, the grocery stores would put out albums on the Surefine label that would feature great old country songs, "Send Me The Pillow" was on one that we played on our record player a lot. That album also featured "Alabam" by Cowboy Copas. Another voice of my early youth silenced.

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Let's hope Friday the 13th is lucky for me. Karma gifts accepted.

New Stock Market Terms

CEO-Chief Embezzlement Officer
CFO- Corporate Fraud Officer
BULL MARKET -A random market movement causing an investor to mistake himself for a financial genius
BEAR MARKET -a 6 to 18 month period when the kids get no allowance, the wife gets no jewelry, and the husband gets no sex.
VALUE INVESTING -The art of buying low and selling lower.
P/E RATIO-The percentage of investors wetting their pants as the market keeps crashing.
BROKER-What my financial planner has made me.
STANDARD & POOR-Your life in a nutshell.
STOCK ANALYST-Idiot who just downgraded your stock.
STOCK SPLIT-When your ex-wife and her lawyer split your assets equally between themselves.
MARKET CORRECTION -The day after you buy stocks.
CASH FLOW -The movement your money makes as it disappears down the toilet.
YAHOO-What you yell after selling it to some poor sucker for $240 per share.
WINDOWS-What you jump out of when you're the sucker who bought Yahoo at $240 per share.
INSTITUTIONAL INVESTOR-Past year investor who's now locked up in a nuthouse.
PROFIT-an archaic word no longer in use.
# # # # #
If you had purchased $1000 of shares in Delta Airlines
one year ago, you will have $49.00 today.
If you had purchased $1000 of shares in AIG
one year ago, you will have $33.00 today.
If you had purchased $1000 of shares in Lehman Brothers
one year ago, you will have $0.00 today.
But---- if you had purchased $1000 worth of beer
one year ago, drank all the beer,
then turned in the aluminum cans for recycling refund,
you will have received $214.00.
Based on the above, the best current investment plan
is to drink heavily & recycle.
It's called the 401-Keg.
~~~~~
thanks KK

Videos From Saturday Night

Thanks to my reader Mike S. for posting these on Youtube.

Some highlights from Saturday night

Gary's medley before Last Chance


Gary doing "Breakout"..this is his first time on stage in 24 years.


Gary doing "Last Chance" as I turned around on this song, all of the Shooting Star wives were crying, which, in turn, made me cry.

Brush With Greatness Number 20

Can you identify this man? You've heard him a thousand times. Who is he?

That would be him on the far left. Now you know.

Shooting Star in The Kansas Music Hall of Fame

A few years ago, Gov. Sibelius had the idea of putting together the Kansas Music Hall of Fame. Originally started with taxpayers money, the event has grown to where it can sustain itself. Held at The Liberty Theatre in downtown Lawrence this past weekend, this years event was completely sold out. * Addendum Bill Lee, the director has informed me that there have been NO taxpayer funds used to start or maintain this great tradition. Check out his comments in the comments postings. Now, I must admit, I didn't realize how big this event was going to be as there was standing room only at 7:30 when the event started. The first year Kansas, Brewer and Shipley and Mike Finnegan were inducted. there were others, but these are probably the ones you recognize. The next year it was Gene Clark (The Byrds and the New Christy Minstrels) and Melissa Etheridge. Last year, it was Marilyn Maye, Martina McBride and Pat Metheny. This year it was Larry Lingle, a former member of Frankie Valli's band and several Kansas groups; The Serfs, whose members included former Wichitan Mike Finnigan, Lee McBee, Lawrence; Danny Cox, Kansas City; The Dinks, Beloit; Shooting Star, Kansas City; Billy Spears, Lawrence; The Young Raiders, Lawrence; Jim Halsey, Independence; Bobby Poe & the Poe-Kats, Coffeyville; and The Sensational Showmen, with members from several towns.

Now, I know who Danny Cox, Lee McBee and Billy Spears were, I had seen them play, but the rest were unknowns to me. It was a great evening of entertainment.

The weekend started on Friday night with a party at The Frontier Steak House which is owned by the family of Dennis Laffoon, the keyboard player of Shooting Star. A number of radio and media people attended...

Joe Camporato, the manager of Shooting Star, a friend of mine for years and an all around nice guyThat's Dave Maygers. I used to introduce his band on stage when he played at various high schoold in Kansas City. Yes, his band (JTN) would do shows at high schools after school. That's the first time I ever heard "Switch Box Susan" played in concert ever. He's now booking bands and running stage shows. Great friend, hadn't seen him in at least fifteen years.Janet Jameson, she used to be married to Rick Bacus, who once has a band named "Morningstar", they have two songs that are "KSHE Klassics". She is now the violin player for SS. Her Janet Jameson Band was a great collections of musicians in the late 70's and 80s. Sweetheart.The two guys most responsible for my radio career. Bob Garrett, former general manager of KY102 when I was hired and the one and only Max Floyd. I love them bothTracy Wilde, former rock goddess of 105.7 The Point here in St. Louis (and my daughter's all time favorite DJ) with Bob and Max.Joe, Steve Thomas, the drummer of SS and myself. How about another maragrita?

Shooting Star playing "Flesh and Blood" on the patio at the party

Bob Garrett and Gary West, who was one of the original members and founders of Shooting Star. Gary basically hasn't been heard from or played with the band since 1986.

The concert and induction ceremony was held in a very warm Liberty Hall. The thunderstorm that passed through Lawrence that night was very refreshing and rewarding.

The Sensational Showmen who played Chicago better than Chicago can. They were great.

Lee McBee, who is one of the most under rated harp players ever.

Billy Spears and Janet, doing a little "dueling fiddles"

The Young Raiders another great horn band that nailed me to the wall with their rendition of "I Love You More Than You Will Ever Know" by Blood Sweat and Tears

Van and Janet, trying to "out do" each other as fast as they can. Great stuff

"Are you on my side? Yeah. Yeah"

"When the stranger came to town...all the people watched with wonder" Gary, first time on stage with Shooting Star in about 24 years, hands shaking, voice quivering, nailing it.

"Today may be your Last chance to believe in yourself" first singer..latest singer

Stand By

Pictures from this weekends Shoooting Star induction into the Kansas Music Hall of Fame will be displayed this evening. It was a wonderful time. The party on Friday attended by many people I haven't seen in years and a few surprise guests on Saturday. I am lecturing some future broadcasters this morning and afternoon. See you tonight.