Fryin' me up some Dolphin, K C Style
Well, the Chiefs continue to run up the score and scare the bejeezus out of me. Thank goodness I could sit back and watch them beat anothe undefeated team @ Arrowhead. It never fails. Go back every season for the last 8 years, and I guarantee you, 7 of those 8 years, KC has knocked off either the top team in the NFL or an undefeated team at Arrowhead. Gotta be the atmosphere. Proof positive yesterday against Miami.

Droppin' the Puck
If you need any sign that hockey season is upon us, look no further than the Great One. No, not Wayne....we're talking John.....Buccigross. That's right, Bucci's back with his first column of the new year. God bless NHL 2Night and God Bless America.
Also, I finished our beloved Cottonmouths Opener Promo Friday with just under 2 weeks till KO drops the ceremonial puck for the 02-03 Snakes season. All of you flying in for this historic event, get your tickets now.
One more thing....Blues. Red Wings. Face off Tuesday. Need I say more, people?

Aargh....It's Ryan, not Bryan
Just a reminder to all of you who know the difference between Bryan Adams and Ryan Adams, the latter's new album hits stores tomorrow [9.24.02].

Movin' on up....or Happy Birthday to me
Were it not for the fact that September 21 is already taken as a grand, historic day in the Life of Cory, then I'm sure that the most exhausting day of moving into a new apartment would certainly have tainted as a day to definitely forget. But, for the most part, it was nice spending my birthday with KO (1 out of the 7 days of the year that I get to hang with her uninterupted). Anyway, the move is still in progress, but the good news: we're nearing the downhill slide and, Good Lord willing, we should be completed sometime near the next time we move.

Week 3 re-cap
The leaders after Week 3 as the log jam @ the top spot begins to weed itself out:
1. Rhonda Bailey: record 3-0
Teams used: Miami, Tampa Bay, Green Bay
1. Chantelle Brody: record 3-0
Teams used: Indianapolis, Miami, Atlanta
1. Justin Hartman: record 3-0
Teams used: Miami, Tampa Bay, New England
1. Jason Malone: record 3-0
Teams used: Miami, San Diego, NYG
1. Shauna Malone: record 3-0
Teams used: Miami, Cleveland, Atlanta
1. Cathy March: record 3-0
Teams used: Miami, Cleveland, Green Bay
1. Cory O'Donnell: record 3-0
Teams used: Indianapolis, San Diego, Atlanta
1. Kirsten: record 3-0
Teams used: Indianapolis, Cleveland, Philadelphia
1. Chuck Thomas: record 3-0
Teams used: Carolina, San Diego, New England
1. Christie Wait: record 3-0
Teams used: Miami, Chicago, New England
Good luck next week

>>Mr. Rob Gordon...or How I learned to stop worrying and love the Top 5 List
Don't you love Top 5 lists? Well, so do I, and now I'm proving it with another cool link. Periodically, I'll post one of these seemingly endless lists on the site. Kinda like having your own personal Rob Gordon to agree with or chastise. Don't agree? Comment on your top pick. It's cool. This is a democratic process.

ROB'S ALL-TIME TOP FIVE FAVORITE BOOKS
1. Johnny Cash's autobiography, "Cash"
2. "Snow Crash," by Neil Stephenson
3. "Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance," by Robert Pirsig
4. "The Trouser Press Guides to Rock"
5. Anything by Kurt Vonnegut

>>Random Reviews from STL's best record store
Looking for an album review from a different perspective? Well, this critic at Vintage Vinyl in STL reviews a couple different albums nearly everyday. Kinda cool, considering that it's pretty random, mixing old faves and new flaves. Check it out.

New Feature...or Blatant Plagarisim
Thanks to the inspiration of my new friend Mike's blog, I've implemented a new listening and watching feature to the site. Mad props, Mike. Let me know what you think.

A Pathetic Plea to the Masses
Alright, I was hoping it wouldn't come to this, but some of you leave me no choice. Please leave a comment on this post if you have visited. Not as much to facilitate my ego, but more so I know who's stopping by and who isn't. A good media conglomerate needs to know its audience, and save doing anything short of a focus group and those annoying kids doing surveys at the mall, I'm choosing the lazy route: A voluntary head count. So, please drop a line if you will. Let me know what you like, dislike, etc. Just click on the comment line below. Come on. You know you want to. Just do it. Nobody has to know. Thank you for your patronage. We appreciate your business. Please come again.

Blue Notes
Nice to see that some highly touted young guys from a few years ago are starting to blossom. Maybe the Blues' "build from within" will work after all.
Oh well, the preseason is young and I'm still willing to wait and see, which is more than I can say for some fans.

Wings update - Z is for Zetterberg
On the other hand, there's a new young gun in Detroit Rock City that's got me a little worried. I told Kirsten that the Wings got a good one; looks like so far, I'm right on the money.
Once again, the preseason is young.

Take 2 Peter Kings and call me in the morning
To any and all Rams fans that may be worried in regard to the 0-2 start, check out Peter King's Monday Morning QB and STL today's article today. Good news may be on the horizon.

Week 2 Re-Cap
After 2 weeks, the drop-off was staggering. Thank goodness we went to the record system instead of the elimination. At any rate, here are the undefeated participants (in alphabetical order):
1. Rhonda Bailey: record 2-0
Teams used: Miami, Tampa Bay
1. Chantelle Brody: record 2-0
Teams used: Indianapolis, Miami
1. Justin Hartman: record 2-0
Teams used: Miami, Tampa Bay
1. Donnie Herbstrith: record 2-0
Teams used: Kansas City, Tampa Bay
1. Ange Lee: record 2-0
Teams used: Miami, Tampa Bay
1. Jason Malone: record 2-0
Teams used: Miami, San Diego
1. Shauna Malone: record 2-0
Teams used: Miami, Cleveland
1. Cathy March: record 2-0
Teams used: Miami, Cleveland
1. Cory O'Donnell: record 2-0
Teams used: Indianapolis, San Diego
1. Kirsten: record 2-0
Teams used: Indianapolis, Cleveland
1. Chuck Thomas: record 2-0
Teams used: Carolina, San Diego
1. Christie Wait: record 2-0
Teams used: Miami, Chicago
To everyone not on this list, the season is still young; to Brock and Rich: Ouch. That first win is rapidly approaching. ;-}

Class Act
The Houston Astros have done a great thing. Tomorrow, the Astros are holding a Darryl Kile Day for their late former teammate, with his team and their biggest rival in town, The Cards. Many of the Astros players, including Bags and Biggio, are wearing DK on their caps, while the Jeff Bagwell Foundation is giving away free t-shirts and tickets to a large number of fans @ the gates. Say what you will about the Astros, they are a class organization.

Drew Day
I just saw the single most valuable defensive effort in one inning in all my years of baseball. J D Drew saved 4 runs in one in the bottom of the sixth inning of STL-HOU game. First, He robs Bagwell of a 3-run homer to preserve a 2-2 tie. Then, on the very next play, he catches a Texas Leaguer in right and throws out Biggio @ the plate to end a 2 runner threat. 4 runs saved by one man. Amazing.

Signing Day
For a large majority of high school student-athletes [which, for a lot of them, is an oxymoron], Signing Day is an important day of their life, and one that is 2-5 months away. Today was a huge signing day for my teams. Here's what I mean:
KC Chiefs: Tony Gonzalez. The Franchise. King Carl finally got it done.
STL Blues: Keith Tkachuk. Walt. Plans to "retire as a Blue". Hallelujah.
Now I can sit back and enjoy the season....that is, until the next contract dispute....which means I'll be back at it tomorrow.
Ah, the life of a sports fan. Worrying yourself to death over uncontrollable events. I wouldn't have it any other way.

Wonderboy
A fun-filled evening was had by all Thursday night. Get this. Last night, Kristen, our 6pm producer, had a going away party @ the Sports Page. It was Karaoke night. Needless to say, @ 9:30, when I arrived, everyone was drinking and having a blast. It didn't take long til I was in the mix. You won't believe the 1st song I did: Wonderboy!!! They had the D in their book. Sure, it was the only one from the greatest rock band ever, but still. I blew the roof off in my debut. My co-workers couldn't stop talking to me about it today. I had total strangers high-fiving me after the performance. A surreal moment. KO and the gang were laughing hysterically, as my performance grew more animated. Unbelievable. We're discussing making it a weekly thing.

Week 1 Re-cap
Some upsets early on in Week 1....Man, if every week proves this interesting, we're in for a great season. Good Luck in Week 2.

How 'bout them Chiefs?!
What a finish! I was hopping around the WTVM Sports office after Dierdorf stated that there was a flag on the play. Then, I beat Dan to the punch with the old analyst stand-by: "The game CANNOT end on a defensive penalty". If you live in a cave and don't know what happened, click here. This is just what they need. Unfortunately, I only saw the last 2 minutes of the game, since the ATL/GB game was on. Good Thing. Though the offense showed up, The D must have been horrendous. Well, it's a big win, and hopefully, the Chiefs can ride big MO for awhile. Now they head home to face a feisty Jacksonville.
Go Chiefs!

A Harder "Queen"
I picked up the new Queens of the Stone Age today. It's called "Songs for the Deaf. Highly recommend. Good, straight ahead, rock n' roll. The theme of the album is an idealistic view of how the radio should sound. Check it out. It's pretty cheap everywhere. $10.99 @ Target.
Here's a review:
If Queens of the Stone Age were a military maneuver, they might very well be Operation Desert Storm, whipping into battle to eradicate from the airwaves all the nu-metal pretenders. Led by co-generals Josh Homme (vocals, guitar) and Nick Oliveri (bass, vocals), QotSA, with Dave Grohl and Mark Lanegan in the ever-changing ranks, sustains a bludgeoning musical ferocity on the majority of its third album.
Much of Queens of the Stone Age's appeal lies in the band's ability to juxtapose huff-and-puff stoner-Sabbath chug with Homme's harmony-friendly falsetto. Propelled by Grohl's precise, lock step drumming, "No One Knows" and "First It Giveth" throttle like well-oiled war machines; "Song for the Deaf," reminiscent of Tool's savagery, writhes with sick guitar harmonies and freakish screams; and when Lanegan contributes his smoke-and-who-knows-what-else-ravaged voice to "Hanging Tree," the shadow of death looms large.

While Songs for the Deaf isn't quite the classic that Queens of the Stone Age's self-titled debut is, and while there's nothing on it quite as euphoric as "Feel Good Hit of the Summer" (from the band's second album, Rated R), it does refine Queens of the Stone Age's ability to get downright bizarre: The album's hidden track, "Mosquito Song," is a baroque gypsy-meets-acoustic-Zeppelin tune replete with piano, strings, horns, and accordion that reveals a wonderfully wicked sense of humor.

Like Uncle Sam, Queens of the Stone Age want to enlist you in its army. For fans of the rawk, after listening to Songs for the Deaf, it's tough to resist the call.
# # #
Also, it comes with a DVD containing some BTS work and concert footage @ the Troubadour and, of all places, Vintage Vinyl in St. Louis.
Also, I picked up a new bobblehead today....Albert Pujols. It's great....has a little plaque in front of him that reads, "2001 Rookie of the Year". $9.99 @ Target.

Lovin' the Cards
As I'm writing this, the Cards are crushing the Cubs in the bottom of the 2nd, 9-0, and Pujols is up with runners @ 2nd and 3rd. I love WGN right now. It's 0-0, I leave for 5 minutes to produce tonight's topicals, get back, it's 5-0. Now it's 11-0, Pujols just hit a double and drove in 2, making it 4 RBI in the inning. Now, Albert is leaving the game. Hope everything is OK. He must have pulled his groin....I can't even write that with a straight face.

A Nugget for fans of Music
Those of you who dig Pavement, you're welcome. Those who think I'm referring to blacktop, wake up and check them out.
News
08/01/02— Pavement - archived and committed to video
as rumoured elsewhere (well...here actually), we'll be reissuing Pavement's groundbreaking 'Slanted & Enchanted' album on October 22, completely remastered with scads of extra tracks (at least 3 outtakes, the "Summer Babe" b-sides, b-sides from the "Trigger Cut" single, the entire "Watery, Domestic" EP, plus more), liner notes from SM, Spiral, Chris Lombardi, Dan Koretzky, Gerard Cosloy, Boche Billions and other hangers-on.

On the same day, we'll also be releasing the long-awaited Pavement 2-DVD collection, 'Slow Century'. Compiling all of Pavement's videos, two live gigs with multiple camera angles, plus a 90 minute documentary by director Lance Bangs. And no exhaustive DVD set would be complete without self-serving commentary from the musicians and video directors. If only we could've hired Elvis Mitchell to lob the softball questions up there the way he did on that "Memento" DVD....well, that would've taken us another year to get together, so be thankful we didn't bother.

Big hitter the Lama. Long.
Check out the Sports Guy's latest installment. Classic.

Oooooo....Sonic
Is it just me or do the good folks @ Sonic make the best fountain drinks? How do they get them so cold? and the vanilla to soda ratio....i seriously think that they're using some scientific instruments over there....Why else does it take so long a wait to get just a drink? I think it has got to be one of the biggest mysteries around today...bigger than the 'Friends' most recent cliffhanger. I think any of you news kids need to get to the bottom of this....I don't care how you do it....

Your Home for Updates and Results on the 2002 KTVO Elimination Pool
FYI-
Starting this Thursday, you will be able to view results and updates on our NFL pool. A nice service just in case you don't have your sheets handy throughout the season. Also, you'll be able to comment on the progress of your fellow poolmates. Just keep it clean, ladies and gents. By the way, thanks to all of you for contributing to the Cory M. O'Donnell Human Fund. Let the smack talk begin!

Free Hat! (well....not quite) or RedStixx clinch Division on Free Admission Night
Not only did the RedStixx offer a game free of charge, they didn't dissapoint. With only one more game left in the season [Labor Day @ noon], The RedStixx clinch the division title, topping the Asheville Tourists(Rockies A affiliate) 6-0 tonight.
The best part: I got a sweet navy RedStixx NewEra fitted cap for $5!!! All in all, a good night @ historic Golden Park.
Tomorrow, we'll watch the RedStixx ride into the sunset with their final regular season game. Thanks to my free ticket.
End Trans.

Championship Vinyl - Rolling Stone Readers' 100 Albums

Check out this survey. Make sure to vote. Here's my choices [some are more a personal plea than a well thought-out pick]:
1. Beach Boys-Pet Sounds | 2. Nirvana-Nevermind | 3. Beatles-Abbey Road | 4. Bob Dylan-Blonde on Blonde | 5. Beatles-Sgt. Pepper | 6. The Clash-London Calling | 7. U2-The Joshua Tree | 8. Weezer-Pinkerton | 9. Ryan Adams-Gold | 10. Wilco-Yankee Hotel Foxtrot
Close cuts: Pavement-Crooked Rain, Crooked Rain | Wilco-Being There | The Who-Who's Next | The Replacements-Let It Be | Elvis Costello-My Aim is True | Beastie Boys-Paul's Boutique | Radiohead-Kid A | Pink Floyd-Dark Side of the Moon | The Rolling Stones | Exile on Main St. | The Beatles-Revolver | The Beatles-White Album | Guns n' Roses-Appetite for Destuction | David Bowie-The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust | AC/DC-Back in Black | Metallica-Master of Puppets/Black Album/...And Justice for All | The Who-Tommy | Bob Dylan-Blood on the Tracks | The Velvet Underground-Velvet Underground and Nico | R.E.M.-Murmur | The Police-Syncronicity | Uncle Tupelo-March 16-20 1992 | The Rentals-Return of the Rentals | Fugazi- 13 Songs.....
I could go on...but I won't. Maybe you agree...Maybe you don't. Send me a comment and let me know.
End Trans.

Bobblehead Mania reaches a new level
While thumbing through the new issue of Rolling Stone, I found in the back pages an ad for Adult Film Star Bobbleheads! That's right fellas, now you can own Jenna Jamison with the one body part that you don't oversized.
What's next, a Classic Adult Film Star Ron Jeremy Bobblehead?
Truly scary.
End Trans.