Center Field - Day 6

Center Field

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The 2020 pandemic wrested control of our anxieties and created new, super-charged dividing lines. But, "stay at home" orders that moved to stages 2 or 3 in some cities and states created optimism and different dialogues. Here in southern California, that meant the opening of beaches and limited capacity operations inside restaurants. Wins. And big steps forward.

While that part of the picture is bright and cheery, I had multiple windows open on my computer Friday night during the show. I was monitoring the latest reports from cities all over America. The horrific scene of George Floyd's death in Minneapolis reignited latent conflict as protests overtook numerous communities. I watched the coverage from Minneapolis, New York, Atlanta, Seattle and finally, Los Angeles.

I was particularly moved by the speech from Mayor Bottoms in Atlanta. She called for everyone that cared about Atlanta to "Go home!" She cited the high percentage of minority-owned businesses in Atlanta, and talked of her phone call home to her son. Click the link. Watch the five minutes.

That's a win. Community.
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Our coverage on the show has been replete with numerous test balloons and theories about how sports can come back and the debates about the safety/efficacy of fans being part of the equation.

-- Football had the good fortune of not being in-season at the outbreak of the pandemic. They've proceeded with the normal offseason calendar.
-- Gary Bettman and the NHL are actually the big winner and leaders. The league and the NHLPA operated under cover of darkness and came forth with a plan of how to operate the playoffs. It's a blueprint!
-- The NBA revealed a plan to get back on the court by the final day of July. The details are still being worked out, but the latest theory includes all teams within six games of the playoffs (based on the regular season standings as of the league's suspension of play). Some theorize that the league is doing everything they can to get Zion Williamson and the Pelicans into the playoff mix. Good! Bright lights and brand-building and marketing and sales.

And then there's Baseball. For those unaware, the league and players came to a deal almost immediately after spring training was suspended and opening day delayed. They agreed to a prorated deal that assumed fans in the stands. With that still a longshot for 2020, there's an impasse as of the end of May.

Some insiders speculate that the season may be lost, and with changes to the MLB Draft and the minor leagues this year, the face of the game is at risk of looking much different. And that's a tough piece to the sporting landscape. Baseball's always been there to help further bigger discussions in society, and right now there's an argument that boils down to cash. Both sides are getting crushed in the court of public opinion.

We've had the much longer and nuanced conversation on the show. I'll throw that spider web of decision points out in a separate blog.

For now, I come back to a fun win. This is about positivity and finding the good. I got that on Thursday during the "Petros & Money" show here in Los Angeles. They pay tributes to the "Alive Guy" and "Dead Guy" of the day. Yesterday's "Alive Guy" was music legend John Fogerty.

From CCR to his solo career, Fogerty's lyrics and soul have been part of my jukebox. He was celebrating his 75th birthday. As part of the celebration, Fogerty he took the opportunity to crash the renovated Dodger Stadium for a mini-concert. And we all received a gift.

He played "Center Field" with his family in the iconic ballpark. I've highlighted a key part of the lyrics below. Fogerty revealed that the "brown-eyed handsome man" was none other than baseball legend and trailblazer Jackie Robinson. It all circles back together.

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I raised a glass of Tito's and soda as we signed off for the night. 

Be safe. Hold tight. And sing along if you know the words. Cheers.

"Well-a, beat the drum and hold the phone,

The sun came out today.

We're born again, there's new grass on the field.

A-roundin' third, and headed for home,

It's a brown-eyed handsome man,

Anyone can understand the way I feel.

Ooohh --

Put me in coach, I'm ready to play today

Put me in coach, I'm ready to play today

Look at me, I can be, Centerfield"

Let The Sun Shine In - Day 6

Let The Sun Shine In -


I'll keep this one brief. It's a tribute to a cool community that's developed online during this pandemic situation. As I've noted in previous posts and on my radio show, sleep and I aren't friends. So, after the show ends, I've found some positivity and community in the Instagram world.

(Was I supposed to just put IG?)

A friend turned me on to the sets being orchestrated each night (sometimes during the day) by @DNice. Thousands of people from all walks of life, LA celebrities to NY moguls, and everyone, everywhere in-between. Mixing 70s soul with recent hits, themed sets and tributes, it's that perfect exhale to slough off stressors and weights. The conversations are fun and sometimes downright silly with mountains of emoticons. Check out the LA Times Article On Club Quarantine and Derrick Jones.

And "last call" is the last song of the night, that usually becomes a 45-minute superset. For the particular set that's playing now, I'm bouncing to Barry White at 2:05a PT.

This Walrus track came almost a full hour (maybe longer, I lost track) of the "last song" announcement. At that point, DNice made dedications to longtime friends and supporters and celebrated the community of nearly 5,000 people still chair dancing or maybe up and moving. And he mentioned the spiritual aspect of the virtual gathering, a theme that I'll hammer often here in the blog. And he played the unmistakable track from "Hair" -- "Let The Sun Shine In."

You could feel the virtual sway and see the smiles. If it was at a show, the flashlight apps would have been lit! (literally)

Derrick then talked about a blowout bash at The Hollywood Bowl. Sign me up for the VIP section. I need to meet these people and thank them for the conversations and community. And vibe to some bad ass music. Which is what I'm gonna get back to now. Find your groove, and stay in that pocket as long as you can. And feel the bass.

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"Let the sunshine, let the sunshine in, the sunshine in
Let the sunshine, let the sunshine in, the sunshine in
Let the sunshine, let the sunshine in, the sunshine in

Oh, let it shine, c'mon
Now everybody just sing along
Let the sun shine in
Open up your heart and let it shine on in
When you are lonely, let it shine on
Got to open up your heart and let it shine on in
And when you feel like you've been mistreated
And your friends turn away
Just open your heart, and shine it on in"

Keeping The Faith - Day 5

Keeping The Faith

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Perhaps this year's Memorial Day weekend resonated more because of the pandemic, the "stay at home" situation. Certain creature comforts and escapes have been lost:

-- Services. Ahh, the hot button issue of politics for sure during this time. Many innovative pastors have moved their sermons and services online. Obviously, this can be seen as a generational shift. I say that it's an opportunity to embrace technology and a teachable moment to create new avenues for communication.
-- Salons and barber shops. For many, this became a dismissive punchline. Pull back and think culture as a whole. That's a meeting place. Go back and watch "Barber Shop" for a refresher or the Chris Rock doc "Good Hair" or the Matthew Cherry short "Hair Love."
-- Therapy sessions. I know a few people who have tried to continue their sessions, but have been stymied because of living conditions (parents or roommate situations).
-- Family visits, near or far.
-- LIVE events - sports, theater, comedy clubs, concerts. This one hits near and dear. Those that know me or listen to the radio show know of my affinity for that communal energy, that force that comes in a live event. It takes on a bit of a religious feel for me (more on that in a separate blog to come). 
-- The corner bar for a quick pause and exhale. All the characters of "Piano Man" wander in eventually. But, we'll get back to Mr. Joel in a minute. 
-- The ability to get in and out of a store for that one missing ingredient. Tell me you haven't experienced that at least once.
-- The chance to exchange a glance and a Tribbiani "How you doin'?" cheeseball line.
-- The gym, a favorite restaurant, for a while, even "Starbucks" shut down.
-- For the students: Sports practices and games, after-school activities with their people, clubs, sleepovers, swim parties, movies and a million other things.

I could expand this list to another 1,000 line items without blinking. The point is that there are battles over data, political ideologies and parsing of scientific data as individual states and our country as a whole debate the "Grand Re-Opening!" And, as we look to policies and procedures, we begin to take little steps forward. We retain hope - can't let that go - that we will return to


Just remember the sacrifice as it's meant for this particular day. Whether drafted or volunteer, there are thousands of military members and civilians working in tandem that gave their lives so that we can enjoy the fruits of that truncated list above. Insert the million other line items that fit your particular situation. You'll catch yourself with your breath stopped, or you'll push back from the computer monitor or look away from your phone for a moment. 

Keep The Faith. It's ok to have those moments of frustration, another cookie (or five) and curse it. It's ok. Your friends and family will understand. Just invite them to do the same.

Then, find a laugh, a smile, and hold tight.

Now, bop along to some classic 80's Joel.

"You can get just so much

From a good thing

You can linger too long

In your dreams

Say goodbye to the

Oldies but goodies

Cause the good ole days weren't

Always good

And tomorrow ain't as bad as it seems"

29 Palms - Day 4

29 Palms

I don't feel tardy. Sunday's entry is a bit late.

Took a bit of a detour on Sunday's outing. Early in the week I'd broached the idea of a stroll and some peace and quiet at Joshua Tree. I'd seen the notices of its reopening and was eager to get back to, in even its most rudimentary form, adventuring. Had to go. And

So, finished the Sunday morning radio show. That's good for the soul, and we do slip into preacher mode a few times each weekend session. I don't know that it's intentional, but there always seems to be a story or personal anecdote that leads to either deep thoughts or the exaggerated chatter that falls somewhere between carnival barker, wrestling shoot interviewer or preacher. Don't be offended. You can decide for yourselves the borders and distances of that continuum.

Either way, loaded up in the car and headed to Joshua Tree. Laugh and sing your U2 best. It's also a place of tranquility and peace for artists like Greg Dulli of The Afghan Whigs. Sure I'll get a song of theirs in here eventually.

Cars aligned the road upon entry to the park. Just passing the threshold of the Welcome gate, I relaxed a bit. Granted, the drive in wasn't nearly as crowded or chaotic as in what we call "normal" times now, so the open road and the radio served to pull most of the world's weighty thoughts away. Add to that, the signs for "29 Palms," and suddenly I was channeling my inner Plant (see below).

Getting out into the sunshine and taking those first steps was a huge lift.

Sure, you have to watch the ground a bit. I ain't looking to step on or near some unsuspecting desert dweller. But the landscape, blue skies (Zihuatanejo kind of stuff), yucca trees and rock formations afforded a bit of tranquility, the removal from the city and structure.

I'm blessed to be just a few short minutes from the beach. I can always dip a toe into the water and look out into the vastness of the ocean and be reminded of my space here. This trip to Joshua Tree provided the same. Climbed some rocks for a different view. And exhaled. 

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"29 Palms - I feel the heat of your desert heart
Taking me back down the road that leads back to you"

Against The Wind - Day 3

Still Runnin'

Falling asleep is supposed to be easy, isn't it? Get tired. Lay down. Drift into a slumber. 

If you're lucky, maybe you'll have a pleasant dream or, as some would say, a "sweet dream."

It's a skill I've never quite mastered. Even in my best efforts, my brain doesn't stop racing. There's another story to read and angles to prepare for the next show. Or there's another store run or project on the horizon. Nevermind the spidering effect of content ideas --- a great American novel or screenplay is in there somewhere.

And perhaps that's what keeps the brain racing.

The mind is littered with ample goals, hopes, etc. The solution appears simple, in theory. Execute.

Make bite-sized (byte-sized?), achievable tasks. Execute. Move the chains and start again. 

I'm on a streak right now. This is the third straight day of this drivel. OK, it holds meaning for me and soothes the soul, if only for a minute. Maybe that's a bit much. 

But, though I create four hours of content each night on my radio show with my partner, there's so much more to be said. So many one-liners, topics and stories that get left on the cutting room floor. And that's only in the "hot sports takes" category.

So, in counting the day's wins, I seek to quiet the self-doubt, to recognize the good that exists at all times. That doesn't eliminate the hard times or struggles, the roller coaster that can be all-consuming. But it does make the intentional time and space, the act of sitting at a computer for a few moments and counting the good, all the more critical.  

Saturday included a late wakeup. NO ALARM. That's a rare occurrence, so I'll spike that one.

I rolled through a bunch of laundry while reading ... for pleasure. The Mark Lanegan memoir will find its way into discussions and future blog posts, I'm sure.

"Community" is on Netflix, so I just let that play for a good chunk of the afternoon. And, I confirmed that I was still watching a couple times.

I then paused to get some show prep together and started my grid with the "Classic Rock" station selected. "Against The Wind" was the first song to play. It's one to just sit back and enjoy. I did stop myself from screaming out the "Still Runnin'" marathon at its end. 

I ended the night by watching "Trumbo" starring Bryan Cranston. I marvel every time I watch him work. 

"Keep Fighting" reads the shirt I bought of WWE Superstar Kevin Owens. That's damn right.

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"I began to find myself searching

Searching for shelter again and again ..."

Country Roads - Part 2

Orange Chicken, Baseball Cards & A Classic Song

I'll keep it simple for this second entry. 

I smiled while sitting in a bit of traffic this afternoon. Sure, people are clearly reverting to pre-pandemic driving dopiness. Failures to signal lane changes, last-second decisions to turn into strip malls for some fast food and "Honor Student" bumper stickers signaled the triumphant return to action for Hawthorne Boulevard. 

So, while this crowded street added a few minutes to my route, it made for a quick feel of normalcy. 

OK, I wasn't enamored with it in the moment. It delayed my final show prep a few minutes. I grabbed my water jug and brewed some coffee and sat down to compile a few additional notes. We'd gone with a quick comfort food lunch option, and the takeout included a pile of orange chicken and chow mein. Therefore, dinner wasn't on the brain. 

It's the end of a long week --- just keep the caffeine flowing.

I flipped on the television for background noise and then saw a reminder on social media that today commemorated a huge rite of spring. The new 2020 Bowman set from Topps arrived. We don't have games on the diamond yet, but fans were jonesing to celebrate the new class. The hype machine is in full effect for 17-year old Jasson Dominguez, a prospect in the Yankees organization. And the Bowman set is the traditional home for rookie cards. I loaded the Instagram page of the local shop that was commemorating the release with a huge break session. Someone pulled an autographed version of the card numbered out of /25. That'll net the owner a nice car on the secondary market.

Finally, we've been celebrating a lot of pop culture on the show during the quarantine. The re-watching of classic movies, binge-watching shows we'd missed in their first runs and the release anniversaries and stars. One of the songs appearing frequently across Tik-Tok, as I've been told, is the Kingsman rendition of "Take Me Home, Country Roads" by John Denver. I don't recall what triggered it in my head, but I started belting it out, just like Merlin (Mark Strong) in "Kingsman: The Golden Circle." It brought another pretty good laugh shortly after a heated debate on the show. 

And then we started pondering the Mount Rushmore of video games. We'll revisit that in a future blog.

Peace and love, all. Sing it loud. 

"Almost heaven, West Virginia

Blue Ridge Mountains, Shenandoah River
Life is old there, older than the trees
Younger than the mountains, growin' like a breeze"

(Note to self: There's a lot of country out there to traverse.)

The Entertainer - Day 1

Thursday, May 21st

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I've started and stopped writing entries for this site countless times. It's time to just work the digits and the camera on a daily basis. The goal of this blog at its genesis was to provide me with a digital exhale and perhaps to inspire one or more people to do the same. And I've gotten up into my head far too often. The roller coaster effect is certainly something I don't wish on anyone, and I know it makes things difficult for those in my sphere.

And that's the point here. In short, this blog was created to celebrate the little wins of the day. We all have them. We just need to pause and make sure to recognize them. My hope is that we'll be able to share them here (with some prompts from news sources).

During my radio show, I'm able to wax poetic on the good, bad and ugly in sports and pop culture. We cover the headlines and, unfortunately, some of the difficult stories impacting our personal lives and the sporting world. Obviously, there have been plenty of dire headlines during the pandemic, but countless acts of good to celebrate. And we find our share of laughs. There's no question about it.

I count my radio team and our listener base across 420+ domestic markets and the global digital reach as part of my "extended mutant family." It's a term of endearment and my hope is to reach each person and make them laugh, feel or think -- but as if it were an individual contact. That's a daily win, a world I can control.

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Music subscriptions are bringing back the glory of the shared record, cassette and CD collections. Grab an artist and let the randomizer fly.

Today, I got deep down a Billy Joel rabbit hole and got enamored with the synthesizer opening of "The Entertainer." It's funny how things hit your ear.

I was in the multi-tasking high time of the day when the first note hit. I had lunch working on the stove, a video project mid-edit and multiple tabs opened to read stories for the Thursday night radio show. And I stopped.

"I am the entertainer
And I know just where I stand
Another serenader
And another long haired band
Today I am your champion
I may have won your hearts
But I know the game, you'll forget my name
And I won't be here in another year
If I don't stay on the charts."

I listened to the track, smiled, and replayed it. And then I exhaled. 

Remember, you're always on somebody's chart. Let's keep going. 

We'll see what the Devil's Jukebox brings tomorrow.