It's time to empty my reporter's notebook, which is now an app on my telephone that has virtual pages onto which I type by touching "keys" on a screen.
Ahh, technology. I love you and hate you at the same time.
Virtually, of course.
On to the topics du jour . . .
First, the NFL makes its debut this weekend at what feels a lot like a turning point. Three or four years ago, the NFL was the undisputed king of American sports and getting stronger.
Now? Concussions, player arrests and an inept commissioner have it feeling a little like Major League Baseball when the steroid era came into full flower: Nothing but bad news.
The big difference? There was a way to restore confidence in baseball by instituting drug tests (although they're clearly not infallible). How can you eliminate the risk of head injuries for a sport that relies on violent collisions? And how do you change the perception that management is out of touch and interested only in making a lot of money?
The NFL is in a precipitous position. It's still king of American sports, but it now feels more like a monarchy that's trying to hold onto power.
Next, something that's apropos of nothing – five musical groups from the 1970s and 1980s that I still like, despite public embarrassment in admitting it:
5. Christopher Cross. The singer of "Ride Like the Wind" and "Sailing" was the biggest victim of the rise of MTV, since he was a boring, unattractive performer at the exact time that those became unforgivable. I'm still not sure why he wasn't the James Taylor of his generation.
4. Kriss Kross. OK, they're in the 1990s, but I can't think of Christopher Cross without thinking of Kriss Kross. "Jump!" is one of the most ridiculed songs of its era, but when it comes on, everyone smiles. I guess I don't like Kriss Kross as much as I like "Jump."
3. Bee Gees. They spent decades identified as the ultimate disco group, but they were much more than that – their ballads were fantastic and they acted as producers for myriad stars. But let's admit it, their disco stuff was pretty awesome.
2. Hall and Oates. A favorite target of the "I hate the '80s" crowd, they recorded song after song after song that were catchy, fun and still hold up. I've never been totally sure of John Oates' role in the duo, but it must have been something, right? Maybe he sang on "She's Gone"?
1. Wham! Make fun all you want of "Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go," but I loved George Michael's work during and after this group. Still a fan.
Next: One of my favorite political games is to figure out which presidential candidates match up with sports figures.
This year is a rife with options, but one is inescapable: Donald Trump is the political equivalent of late George Steinbrenner, former owner of the New York Yankees.
Two boisterous, obnoxious, rich New Yorkers who think they know everything. Both have (had) a large cadre of enemies, but also a large group of people who admire them for their focus on winning and refusal to be politically correct. Trump doesn't have Joe Torre, though.
Next up: Perhaps the greatest example of American ingenuity is in our industrial kitchens. Whether it's Cap'n Crunch Delights (at Taco Bell) or Bacon Mac and Cheese chips (from Lay's), we're forever finding new, enticing ways to eat.
My favorite new item is quick-serve pizza – the pizza version of Chipotle, where you pick toppings and they make your item in a few minutes. The local version is a place called Pieology (a national chain) in the Gateway area near the mall, but I suspect we'll see others coming.
It's a great idea – your personal pizza in five minutes or less.
Is it any wonder we love this country?
Brad Stanhope is a former Daily Republic editor. Reach him at bradstanhope@hotmail.com.
No comments:
Post a Comment