Hair Club thoughts
Wasn't the purpose of a wig to fool people? Why is it that hair club clients always appear on TV to talk about it? Isn't it something you'd want to keep quiet?
"Hello world, I have fake hair!"
I don't get it.

Song quote of the day
I guess you'd say
what can make me feel this way
my girl--Temptations

Why do we need this?
I keep thinking that there are things in this society that we don't need. Like:
-Why did anyone ever spend money to put braille in the drivethrough ATMs? What surprises me is not that it happened, rather, that it's the standard. No one ever stopped to say, "wait, this is pointless."
-Songwriters that re-write the lyrics of songs we already know for commercial purposes? I remember a commercial for Celebrex .... I'm not entirely sure what it is or does, but I remember the jingle. It took the song "Celebrate" and changed the lyrics from "Celebrate, Celebrate ... dance to the music," to "Celebrate, Celebrate, C'mon and Celebrate." Was it really nessecary to change the lyrics of a song we already know to sell a product we don't know?
-Movies where the most beautiful woman in the state is loneley and undateable. I recently saw "Under the Tuscan Sun," with the lovable, endearing Diane Lane. Yet she couldn't find someone--in Tuscan Italy, mind you--until the final five minutes of the film. I was ready to jump through the screen and say "I'll go out with you!"
-Multiple award shows. We have the Oscars, the Golden Globes, The MTV Music Awards, the Emmys, the Grammys, The Music Awards, The Vogue Fashion Awards, The Espys, The People's Choice Awards, and countless others airing on stations I've never heard of in countries I'll never visit with celebrities I'm unaware of doing films that I'll never see.
Yes, it's a self-centered frustration. But why can't we have awards for TV, Movies and music. The "Entertainment awards" and THAT'S IT.
-Sports Entertainment shows: I have sports, I have entertainment. I don't need shows that want to blur the line. My BLOG does that. I don't need someone from "The Shield" telling me about the Yankees-Red Sox rivalry. I have heard about it every hour of every day for the last 20 years.
-LIST shows: 100 greatest DRINKING Songs????
-Too many reality shows: I live reality. I watch TV to escape it. That would be true of course, if there was ANYTHING realistic about this genre. We have singing shows, money shows, wrestling shows, modeling shows, egotist sports owner shows ... Thanks Europe.
-News channels. That's it. In the old days we had TV with news that would break in. Now we have an endless amount of news channels telling us the same things for 24 hours a day.

Ahhhhh that felt good.

Joe Lieberman
I will not say anything bad about Joe Lieberman. I am a huge fan of him, and had he won this nomination, it would have been a hard for me not to vote for him.
"It means disagreeing with our opponents, not demonizing them."
Joe is a good man. That's the attitude we will need no matter who wins.
I think I'm done ... no one can top Joe for me.

On Clark
I hear Wesley Clark say "fellow Democrats." If Gore had won in 2000, I'd bet a dinner he would be saying "fellow republicans" this week.
I am pretty sure if he lost the cue cards, he'd forget which side he was supporting.
I respect his accomplishments, and I think he is a good speaker. But we'll see what happens.
I just hope for the best, we all should. I can guess, I can assume, but I can't know what is best. Only four years will tell the truth.
UPDATE
I take it back, he's not a good speaker. He was cruising for the first five minutes, then kind of fell apart. Not that I blame him, it's gotta be tough.

Song quote of the day
What will I be
when I grow up to be a man--Beach Boys

Song quote of the day
I've done no harm I keep to myself
There's nothing wrong with my state of mental health
I like it here with my childhood friends
Here they come
Those feelings again--Men at Work

Here and there
Coming two days after the last mention of Brock Lesner, the former WWE champion signed with the Vikings. I place his chances in the NFL this somewhere between a Royals world series this year and a reunion tour of the original Mills Bros.

- I read the transcript of Bill O'Reilly v. Michael Moore interview. Surprisingly, the Fleet Center remained in tact from the presence of two of the biggest egotists on planet earth in the same room. I am a fan of neither, in case you're wondering.
UPDATE
OK, you probably WERE NOT wondering about Moore. But O'Reilly is difficult for me to watch. When I have seen his show, it seems to degenerate into a screaming match rather than a debate. I hate that in any form.

-A columnist said he is planning on boycotting ESPN. I however, just plan on boycotting "Screaming" Stephen A. Smith. Hey, if I wanted to watch screaming, I'd get a Daffney tribute set.
I wonder how many will get that reference.

OAC
I was in Columbus today for the Ohio Athletic Conference football Media Day. When the event was over, I had a Muskingum mug. Ah doorprizes.

Aaron's Place
My good friend Aaron Rund has started a blog here. He's as knowledgable as they come about sports, and will no doubt provide good commentary. He is a current member of the BGRSO, which remains the home of the best sports talk show in Northwest Ohio. I was a member for two years, where I met him.
Thanks to him for the kind words. He can steal my content any time he wants, but I doubt he'll need it.

Vitamin Z's Magnificent 7, Best Beatles Albums
1. Sgt. Peppers Loneley Hearts Club Band
2. Abbey Road
3. Hard Day's Night
4. Revolver
5. Help
6. Rubber Soul
7. Please Please Me

Song Quote of the day
I'm livin in a dream
and it's gettin' so late
and you call my name
then I'm wide awake--Van Morrison

Time v. money
-While I have heard many, differing perspectives on yesterday's speeches at the DNC, I did not spend more than a minute watching the coverage. The only thing I saw was an interview with Jerry Springer, a delegate from my beloved home state of Ohio. What horrified me was that he is considering a gubetorial run in 2006.
Now, I am not, nor have I ever been, a big supporter of governor Bob Taft. I didn't even vote in 2002, but that had more to do with a hectic school schedule and self absorption than anything else.
Still, the idea of a glorified zoo keeper as our governor has me considering a move to Canada or something.
A look at the man's political past and WHY he got in trouble in Cincinnati (as city manager) ought to give even the most loyal democrat reason for pause.

Song quote of the day
I got a room at the top of the world tonight
and I ain't comin' down
No
I ain't comin down--Tom Petty

Stopping Dennis
While my friend Danny O'Brien has been on hiatus, he hasn't stopped his overall commentary. In a cause that is near and dear to many of our hearts, gives an optimistic report on the campaign of Ed Herman on Mike Ubaldi's site.
Up until March of this past year, I had always said I wouldn't work on a campaign out of personal priciple--unless it was a candidate against Dennis Kucininch.
Kucinich us the ideological oppisite of me politically, but my main issue with him is his whimsical presidential run, in which I think he coddled celebrities while ignoring local issues.
I have lived in Cleveland my whole life--until this past January when I moved to Hardin County. Now, I can't vote for Ed Herman. But I think most in Cleveland should, and force Dennis to work for Dreamworks or something.
UPDATE
I am an avid reader of Mike's site, and my reading of that and others have prompted my father to reccomend I start listening to National Public Radio to get a "different perspective." Fair enough I guess. With that in mind, I will be looking to post the "other perpective" more and more as the election looms.

To be the Man
As many of you probably know, I have been a wrestling fan for a big part of my life. I think back on March 2, when I started this site, I said there would be posts about: "politics, music, sports and wrestling." Well, three out of four ain't bad, as I within a month had removed pro wrestling from the equation. It may be because wrestling has not been big on my to-do list lately. I haven't seen a Pay per view since traveling to BG for a show, which was to see some good friends more than anything else.
I have been following the path of former grappler Brock Lesner, to see if he can make it in the NFL, but there hasn't been enough reason to waste time and space writing on it.
As my brother has said a few times "Wrestling will never be as good as you want it to be."
Well, he's right.
But I have always been a big fan of Ric Flair, and picked up his autobiography.
Flair is, in my opinion, the best wrestler who ever lived, so I am interested to read this. If I get disciplined enough to read the whole thing from start to finish, I might review it.
But it will also give me something to read if Ridgemont school board goes into executive session.

From shore to shore
There is probably a great deal to talk about this week, particularly with what is going on in Boston this week.
But I will not be watching.
Politics can be very interesting, but I am fairly convinced that political conventions have become little more than glorified infomercial.
I'll watch baseball instead.
-Speaking of baseball, and sports in general, I watch sports to get away from politics and seriousness in general.
So imagine my frustration when I turned on ESPN to watch the Yankees-Red Sox game, and saw John Kerry on camera every five minutes, giving the "politician high-five" every time the Sox did something well.
If that wasn't bad enough, George Stephanopolis was in the booth with the announcers during the eighth inning talking.
John Kerry has already proven to me that he's not a baseball fan (since he can't tell David Ortiz and Manny Ramirez apart) and that's fine. No one should choose a political candidate for those reasons.
But as a baseball fan, it sure can get annoying to see a pretender in the first row. I want those seats!

Rick Williams retires, wants to go hiking or something
So Rick Williams, at the age of 27, has called it a football career. I can't really blame him, since football can beat you up and leave you crippled at any moment.
Still, it seems a bit presumptuous to compare this to Jim Brown, Barry Sanders or even Robert Smith. Number one, Williams needs to stay retired for the comparisons to even work on that level.
Second, Williams was all potential and very little return. He had two great seasons but was for the most part disappointing in a career that now has a sour note to close on.
Williams may go down as a runner who could have been great, but wasn't. Brown and Sanders are first ballot hall of Famers, and Smith had a solid career.
I am still unconvinced that he IS going to retire, but we'll see.

The Magnificent 7, Vitamin Z's Top running backs
1. Jim Brown
2. Barry Sanders
3. Walter Payton
4. Marion Motley
5. Emmitt Smith
6. Leroy Kelley
7. Gale Sayers

* O.J Simpson is omitted for killing two people. (allegedly)Brown has been accused of bad things too, but it never reached the level of proof that Simpson's case did.

Back in Business

And we're back. The problem seemed to stem from me using a block quote in a demeaning post about John Kerry. Perhaps that's karma, I don't know. The links and everything else should be restored to normal by tomorrow. Thanks for still reading.

Song quote of the day
Now they're gone, they're gone
they're really gone
You've never seen anyone so gone.--Randy Newman

Blog trouble
As I try in vein to figure out exactly how some of Tuesday's commentary ended up in my sidebar, I direct you all to read Matt Sussman's site, because I don't know how often I am going to post until I get this fixed. It's too bad, because now I have to find that George Bernard Shaw shirt of mine to get that quote I liked so well...
ah well.

Song Quote of the day
Although he may not know it yet
Unless I miss my bet
He's just tryung to forget
what his heart remembers--James Taylor

Thome
When I read what the Phillies were going to pay Jim Thome and what the length of the contract would be, I believe my quote to Erik Cassano (fellow sports writer, and a damn good one at that) was "They'll choke on that contract."
My reasoning was that Thome's injuries (he had a bad back and shoulder) would catch up to him and he'd have to play first every day.
I figured he'd fall back to being an all-or-nothing hitter--hit 35 homers and 100 RBIs, but hit only .240.
So far, I could not have been more wrong.
Thome is having arguably the best year of his career. He has 30 home runs, 68 RBIs and a .295 batting average.
The only thing that's puzzling is his RBI total-- he only has 68, which isn't a high ratio considering his number of homers.
Still, Thome is just as dangerous as Barry Bonds--in many ways moreso, because people have not learned not tpitch to him.
If the Phillies win the NL East, he's my MVP.
-The Indians are starting to roll.

Song quote of the Day
There's a song that they sing when they take to the highway
a song that they sing when they take to the sea
a song that they sing of their home in the sky
maybe you can believe it if it helps you to sleep
but singing seems to work fine for me--James Taylor

Vitamin Z's Magnificent 7: Top James Taylor songs
1. Shower the People
2. Never Die Young
3. Jump up behind me
4. Go home by another way
5. Something in the way she moves
6. You are my only one
7. Look up from your life

Sportscenter
It's too bad, because I think Matt Sussman would have made a great addition to Sportscenter.
 
Vitamin Z's Magnificent 7:  Top Sportscenter Anchors
1. Dan Patrick
2. Keith Olberman
3. Craig Kilborn
4. Bob Stevens
5. Linda Cohn
6. Carl Ravitch
7. Gary Miller
 

Song quote of the day
From every man
across the land
from shore to shore
sing songs of love
and chivalry
from the days of yore--Van Morrison

National Anthem
I think Mike Metzger has a point about the National Anthem. We sometimes forget what it means, and why it is so important to hear it. Mike makes a good case here.

Conversing
 
Zach: I don't post too many of my political opinions on my blog.
 
Mom: Your kidding right?

Vitamin Z's Magnificent 7: Top Indians Hitters, 1986-2004
1. Albert Belle
2. Manny Ramirez
3. Jim Thome
4. Kenny Lofton
5. Julio Franco
6. Carlos Baerga
7. Joe Carter

Koch
Former New York City Mayor (and Democrat) Ed Koch wrote a scathing article about the celebrity fundraiser held last week for Democratic nominee John Kerry. He criticizes not the performers (at least not directly)but rather John Kerry and John Edwards for sitting and not publicly disagreeing with some of the things said by the performers.
While I agree in principle, I know how hard it is to go against a group of aggressive people, particularly when they are supportive of you. Then again, this guy wants to be president, so that needs to be taken into consideration.
Anyway, Koch is a very good read, even if I don't always agree with him. I don't agree that Dick Cheney's "F bomb" was appropriate for the senate floor, even if I agree with his sentiments.

Song Quote of the day
It don't make no difference to me baby
Everybody has to fight to be free
Say you don't have to live like a refugee-Tom Petty

All-Star Thoughts
Roger Clemens is getting shelled right now. Do you think it's possible that Mike Piazza is whispering "fastball" in the ears of the hitters to humiliate him? Think about it.

Vitamin Z's Magnificent 7: Top Athletes of the 20th Century
1. Muhammad Ali
2. Jim Brown
3. Jackie Robinson
4. Babe Ruth
5. Michael Jordan
6. Bill Russell
7. Willie Mays

Ali
Watching the all-star game was both touching and sad in the beginning.
I am a big fan of Muhammad Ali, and it was good to see him out there, making the punching gestures (he could still beat up most in the ring today, based on the the joke-jabs he hurled at Jeter) and looking to be enjoying himself.
But it's also sad to watch Ali, visibly shaking while out on the mound. ESPN once called him "a prisoner in his own body."
It's sad to see what the disease can do.

More reason to worry
A month until the olympics, and trouble is still existing. A blackout occurred today in Greece, for reasons that are being blamed on leadership.
They need all the help they can get to make that place safe.

The plot thickens
So now Carlos Boozer's agent has left him at the proverbial alter, and Boozer has to be wondering what the heck to do now. This story is developing more twists and turns then a very special episode of Coach. Remember that episode where within three days, Luther had left Minnesota, signed to be head coach with Aberdeen College, then got fired for NCAA violations on his first day of the job, then was back with Minnesota within days?
Yeah, this is kinda like that.
I normally like Jim Rome, but after reading more and more about the situation, I think he may have made a mistake. I made one too early on, blaming Jim Paxson when the evidence now suggests it was Gordon Gund (Cavs owner) who ok'd the move and put his word by it as a decision he made.
That has been news for three days now, but it didn't stop Rome from laying into Paxson in his show and on his website. That's how I felt three days ago, but not now.
The truth is, I just can't blame the Cavs for trying to be honorable anymore. It seems that now it is ok to steal the bride, hop in the car, yell "sucker" and leave the forgotten groom in a pile of dust.
That's what the Jazz and Boozer did. It works in the movies--but it shouldn't work like that in real life. Can we reach a point where a good deed is a good deed, and not a target for cynical reflection and mild humiliation?
No one is more guilty than I.
But I wish, sometimes I wasn't so cynical. I was calling for Paxson's head five days ago, but now ...
Well, he gave his word,and as it turns out, people still respect it, even in the cynical world of pro basketball.

Vitamin Z's Magnificent 7--Top Indians starting pitchers, 1986-present
From when I started following baseball intensely, when I was six years old.

1. Bartolo Colon
2. Dennis Martinez
3. Orel Hersheiser
4. Charles Nagy
5. Greg Swindell
6. C.C Sabathia
7. Tom Candiotti

Shows how thin the Indians pitching has been over the past 18 years, huh? Martinez and Hersheiser will always have a high spot with me due to their pitching in 1995.
But Colon, when he was on, was unhittable. His eight-inning performance in game one was the best pitched postseason game by an Indian, something that has been forgotten because the Tribe lost the series.

Song quote of the day
I turned away from my love and kind
tried to leave my body and live in my mind
But it's much too much emotion
all in your hand
there's waves upon the ocean,
it's going to wear away the sand--James Taylor

Vitamin Z vs. Unfathful
Well, I finally checked out Unfaithful with Diane Lane. Lane was wonderfully flawed in this movie (her character) and Richard Gere, who didn't have a whole lot to do in the first 30 minutes of the movie, gives a gripping, creepy performance at the latter part of it.
I can't really tell you too much, for fear of spoiling the film.
All I'll say is: See Unfaithful. If you're old enough. I mean hey, this is not a kids movie.
****

More on Paxson
Two days ago I took a shot at Cavs GM Jim Paxson for the Carlos Boozer fiasco. I still think the Cavs were playing with fire.
But CNN/SI columnist Ian Thomsen makes some very good points about who's at fault. The article also shows a compassionate side of Paxson, who has been villified in the press, and at times on this blog.
Sometimes you need to take a step back and examine things a little bit more. Honesty should count for something, after all.

Westbrook named to all-star team, Bullpen implodes to prove a point
To all those who wonder how a team that is 41-45 can have five all stars, I ask you to consider this point about the 2004 Indians: How good would they be if the bullpen wasn't so awful?

Pioneer DJ dies, Cleveland.com makes an interesting headline
Underneath the headline, it said "DJ helped introduce the world to rock icons like Elvis and Tony Bennett."

Uh ... yeah.
I love Tony Bennett, but I think referring to him as a rock icon is grounds for hospitalization on reason of insanity. ROCK ICON Tony Bennett? There goes that credibility.

Kerry and Hollywood
I guess John Kerry felt he needed to shore up support from the Hollywood community, and in the process, raised an impressive 7.5 million dollars last night.
Now, I am against donating money to political parties in general, since I can't think of any institution that would know how to use my money worse.
But this is a non-partisan criticism. Bush has raised far more money than Kerry, and I can't help but wonder why he needs it all. We have long known that Bush was going to be running. Same for Kerry.
Is the money really going to help them get elected? Is it really important to have as much money as they do?
I can't help but wonder why someone like John Mellencamp, long noted for his activism in things such as Farm Aid, can't think of better ways to help America than to give his money to an established candidate.
Now, it's probably true that these celebrities have given a great deal to charity, but still.
Wouldn't 7.5 million be better served helping out a school that can't pass a levy? Or a community center, or well ... ANYTHING?
Bush's people are just as guilty. I'd like to see a politician say "I don't need your money, give it some place where it can have good use."
Oh, and good to see the hollywoodites reaffirm how much they hate the president. I'm sorry, I just don't see the point.

Song quote of the day
Put your money where your mouth is
so we can get somethin goin'
In order to win, you be prepared to lose sometimes
and leave one or two cards showing--Van Morrison

Family connections
While I can never truly be certain how many non-family members actually read this blog in the first place, I did want to let everyone know that in the next few weeks, my cousin Rebecca will be making several appearances on the Oxygen Network, on a show called "Girls Behaving Badly." I have never seen the show in question, but I am definitely going to check it out, not just because she's my cousin, but because I NEVER watch that station and it may be a chance to see how the other half lives.
Look into a glass onion.
Here are the show times:
Wednesday, 7/21 @ 10:00pm (encore Thursday, 7/22 @10:30pm)
Saturday , 7/24 @ 5:30pm (encore Sunday, 7/25 @ 8:30pm).

My cousin also has a site, so check it out.
Here's the site of the show.

Song quote of the day
Maggie, I wish I'd
never seen your face--Rod Stewart

Boozers lies, Cavs fail again
In perhaps the stupidest move since trading away Ron Harper, the Cavs have let, needlessly, Carlos Boozer slip away.
Jim Paxson has to be fired for this. There is no excuse.

Moore discussion
Since I have stated that I can't be fair with Michael Moore, my hope is to give you, the reader, an objective perspective, and a thoughtful one at that.
210 west columnist Erik Pepple takes a rather objective look at the picture, and while some of his assertions are not on level with some of mine, I think it's a good read.

I have just caved to one of my favorite Aunts. I will see it now, probably.
Don't tell anyone.

ESPN and self influence
I love ESPN. But this top 25 stuff is ridiculous. The top blunders episode of "Top 25" feartures an opera singer, a stripper,and a bunch of screaming people before each list number.
Note to ESPN: This is garbage. Give me sports, not student films.

Vitamin Z's Magnificent Seven: Best Peter Gabriel songs
1. In Your Eyes
2. Sledgehammer
3. Family Photograph
4. Solsbury Hill
5. Don't Give Up
6. Red Rain
7. Big Time

Indians Report Card
Here is the half way point of the baseball season review of my favorite baseball team.
Infield:
Travis Hafner- Much better than expected, has hit beyond anyone's expectation in terms of batting average and run producing. GRADE A

Ben Broussard- Ben is not a great player, but he has shown the ability to hit after a horrid start. I see him in the Hal Morris mode. I expect him to be able to hit in the .280s eventually. GRADE: B-

Ronnie Belliard-I was wrong about him. He has hit over .300 and played terrific defense. Grade: A

Omar Vizquel- In his last tribe season, Omar has been fine, with worse defense.Grade: B-

Casey Blake: Awful defense and an overrated hitter. GRADE: C

Lou Merloni: Fine bench player, that's all. GRADE: B

Outfielders:
Matt Lawton: Better than anyone's expectations.GRADE: A

Coco Crisp: A fine bench player and pinch runner. Unfortunatley they are playing him every day. He's not an everyday player. GRADE: C+

Alex Escobar: BLEH. GRADE: F

Jody Gerut: He's better than I expected, but worse than last season. C+

Pitchers:
Jason Davis: Inconsistant. D
CC Sabathia: Best on the staff B+
Cliff Lee: Almost as good B+
Bullpen: F

Overall: C+

Stepping back
Going back and looking at your beginnings can be a sometimes frustrating experience. When I look at the beginnings of this site some four months ago, I am now sickened by referring to myself as "The supplement" or "The Vitamin." Ah well, live and learn I guess.
Regardless, I did stumble upon a political bit of prediction from way back in March, just after John Kerry became the nomination:
I dislike Kerry. He just has something about him that comes accross poorly. I can see Edwards as the democratic VP nominee, in Kerry's half-hearted attempt to sway southern voters. Maybe it will work, maybe it won't. But in talking to a former professor yesterday who is the antithesis of everything I stand for politically, we finally agreed on something:
This will be the nastiest campaign in a long time.
Not that predicting Edwards as a VP candidate means anything. Everyone has been saying it for four months anyway.
Does anyone else see a striking resemblence between Dan Quayle and Edwards? Not in political beliefs, but well ...in looks.
Let me also say that this campaign is going to get even nastier as the days and weeks pass.
Just a thought.

Congratulations ...
To Scott and Jessica.

John Edwards Note

I don't think John Edwards and I agree on ANYTHING, looking at some of his records.

Top Five Zepplin songs
1. Over the Hills and Far Away
2. Houses of the Holy
3.Gallow's Pole
4. The Levee's going to break
5. Stairway to Heaven

top five vice presidents
1. John Adams
2. George Bush I
3. Harry Truman
4. Gerald Ford
5. John Tyler

Note: This is more of a "wow, they survived, or they salvaged something impossible. Adams is an easy No. 1, the rest are here and there. And anyone who wishes to ask me where Jefferson is, well, let's just say my thoughts about him that I posted in April have not changed.

CH-CH-CH Changes
Like the new look? In honor of my six month anniversary at my new job, I opted to change the look of the site a bit. I actually think this looks better than the plain white background--easier to read.

Now if I can just work out the links so that I can get the reader to go where they click.

Song quote of the day
I had a damn good run on Wallstreet with my high fashion model wife
I woke up dry beneath the African sky
just me and my swiss army knife--Jimmy Buffett

Edwards selected
John Kerry did the right thing, selecting John Edwards as his running mate. It's the right decision on many levels. Edwards is bright, charasmatic and likable, and comes from the south. That's a must for the Democrats in any election.
It ought to give Kerry a spike.
Now, I need to make a plea to the republicans:
Please. Please, PLEASE take Dick Cheney of the ticket. I know he's intelligent, but of all the moderate conservatives I know (including me) I have yet to come accross anyone who likes the idea of Dick Cheney as president.
Forget everything else. The question is not about policy when discussing VPs. The question is: Would you be comfortable with this man in the highest office if the unthinkable happens?
Given Cheney's health (among many other issues) I can answer no.
Condoleza Rice and Tom Ridge would be my top choice for replacements. It would no doubt help Bush with the moderates in the party, who Bush needs.

Vitamin Z's top five Randy Newman songs
1. Sail Away
2. Burn On
3. Political Science
4. I love LA
5. It's money that I love

If there is better songwriter than Randy Newman, I have yet to hear him or her.

Hey now, you're an all-star
Indians all stars
C.C Sabathia: Only a 5-3 record, but his ERA is what got him there, at 2.77. If the bullpen wasn't such a sea of mediocrity, he may have 10 wins. A deserving choice, albeit one that was unexpected.

Ronnie Belliard: If you had told me that Belliard would hit over .300 and been the best second baseman in the league (save Soriano) I would have kicked you out of my apartment for a lack of clear thought. Ronnie has been a terrific player all season, a sign that Indians' management CAN make good decisions occasionally.

Matt Lawton: I am surprised at Lawton, who I would label as the comeback player of the year this season. The guy has hit and stole and hustled. This is not the Laweton the Tribe thought they were getting. This guy is 25X better.

Victor Martinez: 60 RBIs! This guy had to make it. No catcher, save Pudge, has been as strong.

I expected one, and got four. For a team that's 39-41. In 1997, the team that went to the world series had two all stars (Thome and Sandy Alomar.).

Reds All-stars
Sean Casey- Arguably the best hitter in baseball. A no-brainer.
Danny Graves- 30 saves at the all star break makes this choice an easy one. Graves is not nearly as dominant as Eric Gagne or Miriano Rivera, but he gets the job done, period.
Ken Griffey: A fan selection, and good enough for me.
Barry Larkin: Good for him, in his last season. It may be a "career appreciation selection" but for a guy as good as Larkin, who had to play in the shadow of the overrated Ozzie Smith, I say it's deserving for this future hall of famer.

Song quote of the day
Ten years runnin' down the road
nowhere to run and nowhere to go
Born in the USA
I was Born in the USA--Bruce Springsteen

Note: I KNOW what the song is about. But when I hear it, it makes me feel good and patriotic. If that makes me shallow, well, guilty as charged.
Happy Birthday America, God bless you.

Song quote of the day
I gotta whole lot of holes in my life
if you stacked them all together
you would fall in there forever
got a whole lot of holes in my life--Kathy Mattea

Friday's song quote of the day
Come on
Come on
Come on
Come on and take it
take another little piece of my heart now baby
Cause you know you got it
if it makes you feel good--Janis Joplin

What the ???
I am a Colin Powell guy. I admit that.
My liberal friends have, in fact, claimed he is the one in the President's cabinet with the most crediblity.
That may have uhhh ... changed.
I have a simple rule when performing skits. When the words "Village People" come up, always say no.
It just makes good sense.

Vitamin Z's top ten country singers
1. Johnny Cash
2. Hank Williams
3. Patsy Cline
4. Willie Nelsin
5. Clint Black
6. Garth Brooks
7. Charlie Daniels
8. Alabama
9. Randy Travis
10. Don Williams

Note: I don't even LIKE country that much, but this IS building to something, I promise.

Marlon Brando, RIP
Marlon Brando, unquestionably one of the greatest actors ever, died today. The Godfather may be one of the single greatest performances ever given on screen, in my opinion.
Brando always appeared as eccentric as he was brilliant, as these quotes from Fox News show.
Rest in Peace, Mr. Brando.

Cosby has more nice things to say
You know, I wish Bill Cosby would tell us what he really thinks for once.

They go together like gasoline and a match
In what may be the strangest combination since Lyle Lovett and Julia Roberts (what the heck did a talented guy like Lovett SEE in her anyway?) ESPN is reporting that the Lakers have offered their head coaching job to Duke's Mike Krzyzewski a deal to become their coach. My money says there will be a denial here, but I could be wrong.

Song quote of the day
If it makes you happy
it can't be that bad
if it makes you happy
why the heck are you so sad--Sheryl Crow

Picture this
Does anyone else see a resemblence between Saddam Hussein and Walter Mathau, based on the pictures of him shown today? It also appeared he was going for the distant, stubble induced-loner look, based on his five o'clock shadow.