An Open Letter to Bud Selig

Office of the Commissioner of Baseball

Allan H. Selig, Commissioner

245 Park Avenue, 31st Floor

New York, NY 10167

Ph: 212-931-7800

Dear Allan,

Is Allan to formal? Does anyone even call you Allan?

Dear Bud,

As you well know, ever since Frank McCourt purchased the Dodgers in 2004 there have been problems. In fact, to say that he purchased the team is somewhat of a misnomer because he never had the money for the team. Don't get me wrong, I know that in today's world even the ultra rich, the owner of a sports franchise, doesn't just sign a check and write the GNP for Liberia in the amount.

Frank McCourt was asked to sell the team by your office but I'd like to think that it was in part thanks to the efforts of fans who had it up to here (I forgot you can't see me- but I'm standing on my chair with my hand close to the ceiling) with the deception of this 21st century carpetbagger. Below is a picture of a meager crowd on hand at Dodger Stadium on a Saturday in the middle of the season.

Finally, some good news!

After a long and arduous process including a very messy and very public divorce it looks like the team is being sold. Based on the reports that surfaced last night, it appears the group headed by Stan Kasten, Mark Walter and Ervin 'Magic' Johnson are just a formality away from being the new owners of an iconic sports franchise. Frank McCourt is to no longer be a thorn in the side of Angelinos and baseball fans alike.

So, what's this I hear about the new ownership group prepared to pay $2,000,000,000 (yes, that's two billion American dollars) but it won't include the land? Why would anyone spend billions of dollars on a team without owning the property?

Knowing that there was light at the end of the tunnel, I ended my two year boycott of the team and bought a Dodgers ticket package with the knowledge I wouldn't be supporting Frank McCourt and regime that nearly drove a proud franchise into the ground. Please don't let Frank McCourt have any involvement with the Los Angeles Dodgers and Chavez Ravine. If there's any chance that Frank McCourt stands to profit one penny from the pricey $15 per vehicle parking at Dodger Stadium then you can be assured I'll find alternative plans that might include attending fewer games if it becomes a hassle.

For fans of the team that are looking to avoid paying for parking that could possibly benefit Frank McCourt, I urge you to write or call the Office of Commissioner of Baseball, park outside the stadium and/or take the Metro.

http://www.metro.net/around/dodger-stadium-express/

Sincerely,
Nolan Walker
Loyal Dodgers fan since 1982


CC: Ervin Johnson, Stan Kasten, Mark Walter, et al

**** UPDATE ****

As reported late last night in this article from Ramona Shelburne at ESPNLosAngeles.com it appears the Frank McCourt will not be able to profit from parking revenue. I'd rather that McCourt no longer be affiliated with the team in any way but this looks close enough for me.

Best of 2011: Film

I normally hate to post any of my best of lists this deep into the new year but I'm doing it anyway. Figured I might as well get this posted a few hours before the Academy Awards are announced.


2011 was a very bad strange year for movies. I went to the movie theater almost 50 times last year and only a few times walked out disappointed (Captain America: The First Avenger, Cowboys & Aliens, and In Time) but the films from this year didn't blow me away. That being said there were more than 20 films that I thoroughly enjoyed.


These are the five which I really, really liked that just missed the cut:


Attack The Block
Contagion
The Descendants
Red State
Young Adult


Here are my top ten films of 2011:


10) Cedar Rapids

A small quirky comedy that by all accounts delivered far more laughs than the other Ed Helms comedy (The Hangover Part II). Ed Helms proves he can carry a movie but it's the supporting cast of Isiah Whitlock Jr. and John C. Reilly who provide the biggest laughs.



9) The Artist

There will be those who dismiss The Artist and think of it as gimmicky but to successfully film a silent black & white film in 2011 is quite a feat. The acting from the two leads Jean Dujardin and Berenice Bejo is fantastic and score is excellent at conveying the mood that is missing from the dialogue. These elements combined with the fact that Hollywood loves to recognize films made about the golden age of cinema make The Artist a near lock to win Best Picture.


8) Drive

Many people immediately began comparing Drive to some of the early work of Michael Mann. However, I was shocked no one pointed out there are many elements of Taxi Driver in this film from the bloody violence, the quiet disturbed lead character and even Albert Brooks. It's a neo-noir fever dream wonderfully photographed by Newton Thomas Seigel and accompanied by a great soundtrack of retro pop songs.


7)Rango

During an era in which animated films has been dominated by Pixar, Rango was far and away the best animated film of 2011. It's an animated film in which every frame is beautifully hand crafted and when I learned that cinematographer extraordinaire Roger Deakins was hired as a visual consultant it made perfect sense. Rango is a great film that is very funny and suitable for audiences of all ages.


6) Win Win

I don't like to use another film to make a comparison but it's hard to not think of The Blind Side when you hear the story of Win Win. Eliminate all of the terrible dialogue, overwrought sentimentality and over-the-top acting from The Blind Side and you've got Win Win. Writer-director Tom McCarthy brilliantly manages to provide some big laughs while developing complex characters that you can relate with.


5) Midnight in Paris

Woody Allen's best comedy in many years. It's clear watching most Woody Allen films that he has written the lead character from his own perspective. That has never been more obvious than in Midnight in Paris which is essentially Allen's love letter to the city and an era for which he longs to have lived in. It's best to see Midnight in Paris without knowing the entire plot so I won't spoil it.


4) Beginners

I watched Beginners knowing very little about the movie but I instantly knew the director had also written the movie because of how deftly he handled the material. Christopher Plummer is winning virtually every award available for his performance but Ewan McGregor and Melanie Laurent also turn in great performances. Writer-director Mike Mills illustrates how difficult it can be to maintain a relationship regardless of age or orientation.




3) 50/50

Joseph Gordon-Levitt is quietly putting together a very impressive resume. In 50/50, he is cast in the lead role loosely based on the life of the film's writer Will Reiser who was diagnosed with cancer at 25. Gordon-Levitt and co-star Seth Rogen are able to balance the bleak subject matter with some much needed comedic relief. 


2) The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo

When my biggest complaint about the English language version of The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo was that there was too much English, it's safe to assume that director David Fincher has done his job. Fincher has take the source material from Stieg Larsson's incredibly popular book trilogy and kept the gritty dark elements while engaging the audience. Fincher knows that the key to a great thriller doesn't lie in what is uncovered but how to get there.


1) Super 8

Super 8 may not be the best film of the year but I saw it three times in the theater and there was nothing else that I enjoyed as much. Some have criticized J.J. Abrams from taking elements from his influences Steven Spielberg and Rob Reiner but I believe he's crafted a film that's more enjoyable than the films he allegedly stole from (E.T., Stand by Me and Goonies).


These are 10 more films that are definitely worth a watch:


Bellflower
Hanna
Hugo
Martha Marcy May Marlene
Moneyball
The Muppets
Our Idiot Brother
Shame
Warrior
X-Men: First Class

Best of 2011: Television

In a strange turn of events, only three of the shows from last year's list made a return appearance last year. This was partially a result of several shows going on extended hiatus (Mad Men, 30 Rock, and The Life & Times of Tim) and some great new shows (Homeland and The Killing). The best dramas on TV right now are some of the best to ever grace the small screen. However, I was surprised when I sat down to make this list how many comedies came to mind. It's worth noting again that I can't watch every show but I try to check out what's recommended to me. Last year I mentioned that I wasn't watching Breaking Bad (which you'll notice made an impressive debut on my list). So this year if you're wondering why Sons of Anarchy didn't make my list, it might be because I'm not watching it. If you're wondering why Dexter or Game of Thrones didn't make my list, it's because they really weren't that good.


10) Community

I struggled with having to omit several comedies from this 10th spot. Workaholics was excellent in both ten episode seasons and reminds me of the early season of It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia (you know, when it was funny on a regular basis). The League has continued to improve and last moment Michael Scott had on The Office my single favorite moment of television in 2011. That being said, I went with Community because it continues to forge new ground and comes up with creative ways to be funny each week. Some episodes miss the mark a little but it's never generic or repetitive. It has struggled to find an audience and as I type this it may have aired its final episode but it deserves your eyeballs so give it a chance.

9) The Killing

The creative behind The Killing was savaged after most people, myself included, felt cheated after the finale ended. The show was subsequently left off almost every end of the year list that I've read but not mine. While I didn't agree with the way the finale played out, it's not my place to tell the writers and creator how to make their art. The Killing had already delivered enough for me with terrific acting and beautiful cinematography.

8) Friday Night Lights

It's strange to put for Friday Night Lights on this list one last time. Not strange because it wasn't great but strange because the final season actually aired on DirecTV in 2010 but didn't air on NBC until 2011 when it was simultaneously released on DVD. The fifth season wasn't as strong as the earlier seasons but the finale was fantastic and Kyle Chandler delivered a performance that earned him a well deserved Emmy Award.

7) Bored to Death

This was unfortunately the third and final season of Bored to Death as it received some very poor ratings. That didn't mean that the three leads (Jason Schwartzman, Zach Galifianakis and Ted Danson) didn't continue to improve their chemistry and comedic timing. Bored to Death was one of the HBO's best comedies but because of a bad time slot and poor promotion it ended too soon.

6) Curb Your Enthusiasm

This season was somewhat uneven season of Curb Your Enthusiasm as every single episode wasn't quite as good but the other episodes were as funny as anything on television. It would have been easy to disappoint this season after the seventh season which saw the writers expertly pull off the Seinfeld reunion but "Palestinian Chicken" and "The Bi-Sexual" will go down as two of the funniest episodes of any Larry David related show.

5) Homeland

What is most important to a good television drama isn't generally the storyline but the characters. You won't come back every week if you don't care about the characters no matter how compelling the story. Homeland has three incredible characters played by Damian Lewis, Claire Danes and Mandy Patinkin. The story navigates some interesting turns that keep you wondering at times how it will continue on but every week you come back because of well written characters and phenomenal performances that bring them to life.

4) Parks and Recreation

It might not be the very best show on television but I derive a greater amount of pleasure from each episode of Parks and Recreation than any other show. Not only is it consistently hilarious but they've managed to make you care about the characters in an unexpected way. Since Parks and Recreation was created by Greg Daniels and Michael Schur who were the creative minds behind The Office (US version) they were many comparisons drawn early on. However, I care more about Leslie Knope and the rest of the Pawnee Parks Department than I ever cared about Michael Scott and Dunder Mifflin which is saying a lot.

3) Justified

Timothy Olyphant and Walton Goggins elevated the first season of Justified from your average police procedural to excellent drama but the additions of Jeremy Davies and Margo Martindale in the second season made it must watch television. I mentioned on twitter while the show was airing that if you're not watching Justified you should throw your television in the trash because you're not using it properly. I stand by that comment.

2) Boardwalk Empire

After a stunning first season, it would have been easy for Terrence Winter and the writing staff for Boardwalk Empire to rest on their laurels (see The Walking Dead). Although the second season took a few episodes to build, it certainly delivered by the time the riveting finale aired. Boardwalk Empire is brutally violent and profane but it is simultaneously beautiful and profound. The creative minds steered the season in a very interesting direction leaving several questions for where the new season will pick up. After the exceptional finale, I'll be waiting eagerly.

1) Breaking Bad

It's nice to not have to worry about what to put at number one on my list. And although I was concerned about the fact that I watched all four seasons of Breaking Bad this year that I would judge the show not just on the quality of the most recent season, it's so far and away the best program on television it didn't matter. There are at least five characters on Breaking Bad that are not only some of the very best characters on TV right now but several will go down as some of the greatest in television history. This show will become a cult phenomenon similar to The Wire so you might as well get on board now so you can watch the final season with the rest of us.


Honorable mention:

The League
Modern Family
The Office
The Walking Dead
Workaholics

Feel free to let me know if there's something I'm missing or if you don't agree.

Best of 2011: Albums

This has been another strong year for music. With the help of Spotify and some solid recommendations I listened to nearly 200 new albums this year but there were a few albums that stood out among dozens of great records. Without further ado, here is my list of the ten best albums released this year:

10) Portugal. The Man - In the Mountain in the Cloud


You can say whatever you want about Portugal. The Man but don't ever call them lazy. Since their debut album Waiter: You Vultures! was released in 2006, they've recorded and released at least one full length album every year and have spent all of the rest of their time touring. To their credit, each album has been unique and their most recent effort is the most complete album they've made.

9) Adele - 21


It's hard to imagine writing and recording any album at age 21. But to have that album go on to become a crossover hit with positive critical reception and become the best selling album of the year is unfathomable. That's exactly what Adele did with her sophomore effort 21 which is one of only a few times in recent memory when massive critical success has been warranted. I'd be shocked if she didn't sweep the Grammys in February.

8) The Parlor Mob - Dogs


One of the more interesting albums of the year. I fell madly in love with this album when it was released a couple months ago but somehow forgot about it. I revisited Dogs to make sure my infatuation wasn't baseless and I'm happy to report it's a solid album worthy of making my top ten list. The second full length album under the moniker The Parlor Mob is tough to describe or classify. It straddles the line of sappy and overproduced but is sincere enough to get a pass. 

7) Childish Gambino - Camp


Interestingly enough I had planned on making room on this list for EP but when the first full length album from Donald Glover was released in November it made me change my plans. For the uninitiated Childish Gambino is the alter-ego of actor and comedian Donald Glover who got the name from the Wu Tang name generator. Besides being very good on the NBC serires Commmunity, he is an excellent writer who put the best hip-hop album of the year.

6) Feist - Metals


After a hiatus of more than four years following her breakout album The Reminder, Leslie Feist came back stronger than ever with Metals. During the break between records Feist collaborated with several artists including a few performances with her former band Broken Social Scene. It appears the time away from her solo work gave her some perspective because Metals has a sound and production value lacking from her previous work.

5) Beirut - The Rip Tide


When I first heard the song 'Elephant Gun' a few years back I realized that Zach Condon of Beirut was a unique talent but he hadn't realized an entire album to showcase his potential. After spending a long time on the road, Condon went the Bon Iver route and wrote The Rip Tide while spending six months in an isolated winter cabin. The result is the best and most accessible album Beirut has released.

4) Wye Oak - Civilian


If you've watched The Wire, then you might not think of Baltimore as a thriving indie rock music scene but between Beach House, Cass McCombs, Future Islands, Animal Collective and Wye Oak it has quickly become a hot bed for great music. Wye Oak is the talented duo of Jenn Wasner and Andy Stack who released a fantastic record that was one of the most soothing and raw albums in recent memory. In a great year for female fronted bands, Civilian stood out as my favorite.

3) Explosions in the Sky - Take Care, Take Care, Take Care


As an enormous fan of Explosions in the Sky, I'd be lying to you if I told you that I was instantly in love with their most recent effort. I enjoyed the album the first few times I listened to it but something happened possibly around the time I saw them play live in September that each listen gave me a little different perspective. Like all great music it has the ability to amplify your emotions.

2) M83 - Hurry Up, We're Dreaming


If there's one thing that I really owe to Gary Lightbody from Snow Patrol, it's turning me onto M83 in early 2005 after Before the Dawn Heals Us was released. I eagerly anticipated Saturdays = Youth which was near the top of my list for the best albums in 2008 and Anthony Gonzalez has delivered the goods again. I cannot wait to see the songs from this sprawling opus performed live next month at Club Nokia then again at Coachella in April.

1) Bon Iver - Bon Iver


Many were stunned by the four Grammy nominations recently received for Bon Iver but I couldn't have been less surprised and was only disappointed that it missed out on an album of the year nomination. This was the best album released in 2011 and it's not up for debate. For the beautiful opener 'Perth' to the finale 'Beth/Rest' the album never once hits the wrong note and in many instances is awe inspiring.






Albums that just missed the cut:


Friendly Fires - Pala
The Antlers - Burst Apart
Manchester Orchestra - Simple Math
TV on the Radio - Nine Types of Light
Moving Mountains - Waves
Cold Cave - Cherish The Light Years
The Drums - Portamento
This Will Destroy You - Tunnel Blanket
Foster The People - Torches
The Joy Formidable - The Big Roar
The Black Keys - El Camino

Best of 2011: YouTube Videos

Don't ask why I decided to make this category because I can't really explain it other than wanting to share some great clips and music videos. Since you can't really find music videos anywhere else these days I figured I'd split this list into two parts.

Top 11 Music Videos for 2011:

11) Los Campesinos! - By Your Hand

10) Childish Gambino - Bonfire

9) William Shatner - Bohemian Rhapsody

8) The Black Keys - Lonely Boy

7) M83 - Midnight City

6) Battles - My Machines

5) Bon Iver - Holocene

4) Duck Sauce - Big Bad Wolf

3) Four Tet - Pyramid

2) tUnE-yArDs - Bizness

1) Explosions in the Sky - Last Known Surroundings

Top 11 YouTube Videos for 2011:

11) Tom Selleck's Moustache

10) Sexy Sax Man Careless Whisper Prank feat. Sergio Flores

9) Ultimate Dog Tease

8) Kevin Durant: Catches Fire in the 4th Qtr (UNEDITED)

7) Year of the Beard

6) Jacob Tucker 5'10" Wins 2011 NCAA Slam Dunk Contest

5) Official Ojai Valley Taxidermy TV Commercial

4) Hey Jimmy Kimmel I told my kid I ate all their Halloween candy

3) Michael Winslow - Whole Lotta Love by Led Zeppelin

2) ball champions

1) Reggie Watts on Conan

Best of 2011: Songs

I don't know why I ended up with a list of 30 songs last year but I've decided to repeat that format since it worked. As with last year's list, I'm only putting one song from each album to keep from having ten spots filled by Bon Iver songs. To listen to these songs and many more check out my Best of 2011 Spotify playlist.


30) The Kills - Baby Says
29) Telekinesis - Please Ask for Help
28) Mariachi El Bronx - Fallen
27) Foster The People - Pumped Up Kicks
26) YACHT - Dystopia (The Earth is on Fire)
25) Glassjaw - Daytona White
24) Childish Gambino - Be Alone
23) James Blake - The Wilhelm Scream
22) Little Scream - Cannons
21) Los Campesinos! - By Your Hand
20) The Joy Formidable - The Greatest Light Is The Greatest Shade
19) Tune-Yards - Bizness
18) Elbow - lippy kids
17) Wugazi - Sleep Rules Everything Around Me
16) Adele - Rumor Has It
15) Feist - How Come You Never Go There
14) Friendly Fires - Live Those Days Tonight
13) Manchester Orchestra - Simple Math
12) Beirut - Santa Fe
11) Portugal. The Man - Got It All [This Can't Be Living Now]
10) TV On The Radio - Will Do
9) The Naked And Famous - Young Blood
8) Explosions in the Sky - Postcard From 1952
7) Wye Oak - Holy Holy
6) Sbtrkt - Hold On (feat. Sampha)
5) The Antlers - I Don't Want Love
4) Cold Cave - Confetti
3) Bon Iver - Holocene
2) Jessica Lea Mayfield - Our Hearts Are Wrong
1) Kyle Andrews - Make Me Feel Human

Welcome to the Wonderful World of Podcasting

I had planned on making a list of my favorite podcasts and adding them to my end of the lists which will be posted soon but they are difficult to rank. Another factor was that I'm sure many of you don't listen to podcasts and maybe some don't exactly know what it is. It's worth noting that as I type this it indicates the plural of podcast is a spelling error.


Without getting too technical and just quoting the Wikipedia podcast page, I'll give you crash course into podcasting. It's generally an audio file (but sometimes video) which can be downloaded or streamed on your computer, iPod or smart phone. It's similar to a radio program, in fact numerous radio shows can be downloaded in podcast format to avoid the commercials and let you pause for your convenience. You might be surprised to learn that you can stream many podcasts directly to your phone with Stitcher or similar phone apps.


I do a fair amount of traveling for work and generally will listen to strictly podcasts while I'm on the road and alternate between music and podcasts while I'm in my office. As much as I absolutely love music it seems to make long drives go faster when there are a few comedians in the car with me.


It doesn't matter if you enjoy cooking or comedy, fashion or fantasy football, there is a podcast for almost any interest or hobby. And if you're a total weirdo, there's a whole category on iTunes for podcasts about podcasting. According to a recent count, there are over 600,000 podcasts available on iTunes. Below are a list of some of my favorite podcasts in alphabetical order along with a brief description and an episode that I recommend starting with.


The Adam Carolla Show
Start with May 23, 2011 Episode with Albert Brooks
A daily podcast with radio legend Adam Carolla as he interviews guests, discusses current events, plays entertaining games and goes on angry but often hilarious long winded rants. He is the Guinness World Record holder for most downloaded podcast and for very good reason.


The B.S. Report with Bill Simmons
Start with November 3, 2011 Episode with Adam Carolla
Bill Simmons is one of the nation's preeminent sports writers and a couple times each week he releases his podcast in which he is generally joined by a guest. Bill is a pop culture junkie and it's not just a sports related podcast clearly evidenced by the two part episode he did with fantasy analyst Matthew Berry in which they only discussed their favorite moments from Beverly Hills 90210.


Comedy Bang Bang
Start with Episode 126 with Jon Hamm, Paul F. Tompkins & Nick Lowe
Formerly known as Comedy Death Ray, this is a weekly podcast that is essentially an hour of improv comedy. The host Scott Aukerman is very funny himself but each week he acts as the ringleader to the most talented men and women in the comedy scene. This truly is comedy in its most pure form.


Doug Loves Movies
Start with June 17, 2011 Episode with Jon Hamm, Bill Simmons & Adam Scott
Comedian, pothead and movie aficionado Doug Benson hosts this weekly podcast in which he has guests who will discuss recent movies then play The Leonard Maltin Game in which the guests are given clues and have to bid on how many names of the cast list it will take to get the guess the movie title.


Hollywood Babble-On
Start with Episode 55 Babble-On Philadelphia
Hosted by radio personality Ralph Garman and director Kevin Smith who record this podcast in front of a live audience. They delve into the depths of showbiz as they dissect the top movies at the box office, upcoming projects and other random stories related to the industry. While Kevin Smith was out promoting Red State, Ralph was joined by some great co-hosts including Jon Lovitz, Adam Carolla, Bill Burr and Catherine Reitman.


How Did This Get Made?
Start with Episode 9 'Fast Five'/Adam Scott
This is possibly my favorite podcast available to the people of Earth. Every other week Paul Scheer, June Diane Raphael, Jason Mantzoukas and a guest try to explain the most inexplicable films ever made. Every two weeks that breakdown films like Love Guru, Old Dogs and Leprechaun in the Hood. There are also special episodes in which a special guest involved with the movie will sit down to explain how it went so terribly wrong.


Jordan, Jesse GO!
Start with Episode 192 with Rob Huebel
In the vein of Comedy Bang Bang, hosts Jordan Morris and Jesse Thorn record an hour long podcast that is equal parts interview, sketch comedy and radio play. Both hosts have a unique sense of humor that it well suited for this style of comedy.


The Kevin & Bean Show
Start with November 11, 2011 Episode
This is technically a radio show which is just edited and posted online in podcast form. I've been listening to Kevin & Bean for over a decade but now that it's in podcast form I can hear the whole show without the commercials and the same five songs from Linkin Park and Red Hot Chili Peppers every morning.


The Kevin Pollack Chat Show
Start with Episode 78 with Bryan Cranston
Have you ever asked yourself, what is Charlie Rose interviewed people I was really interested in and used the f-word on a somewhat regular basis? Then this is the show for you. Yes, that Kevin Pollack sits down once a week with actors, comedians, musicians, directors and others for an in-depth interview that commonly runs over two hours but always ends with the guest playing the Larry King game. For those interested, you can watch the interview live online and actually send questions to the guests via twitter.


The Mental Illness Happy Hour
Start with Episode 28 with Teresa Strasser
One of the more noble podcasting endeavors is the one done every week by Paul Gilmartin as he discusses his own battles with mental illness and tries to create awareness while also keeping the show entertaining. Paul has been a stand-up comedian for over 20 years and in each episode he talks with a guest about their neuroses.


The Nerdist
Start with Episode 134 with TJ Miller
Host Chris Hardwick discusses everything in the nerd culture which has actually migrated into pop culture. Chris and his co-hosts Jonah Ray and Matt Mira discuss all things nerd with their guests who are always interesting and not who you might expect.


NPR: Live Concerts from All Songs Considered
Start with Bon Iver Live From the 9:30 Club
If there is one area of podcasts that I believe is lacking it is music. There aren't many good music podcasts and I've tried several of them. That being said, the best available are the All Songs Considered podcast which previews and reviews new music and the Live Concerts series from All Songs Considered which allows the listener to experience full length concerts from many great bands in the alternative and indie music scene.


The Pod F. Tompkast
Start with Episode 13 We Have Returned
Comedian Paul F. Tompkins has been a guest on an absurd number of podcasts. If you don't believe me, just check this link. Paul's own podcast The Pod F. Tompkast doesn't seem to have a regular release schedule but as comedian Paul Gilmartin said "it's like comedy Christmas" every time a new episode is released.


The Rich Eisen Podcast
Start with September 7, 2011 Episode with Tom Brady, Adam Carolla & Dan Patrick
Typically this show revolves around the world of football (the good kind, not the European kind) but host Rich Eisen is well versed in comedy and pop culture but most of his conversations focus on the world of football. However, he will generally have guests from varied entertainment occupations along with some of the top talents in the football world.


Sklarbro Country
Start with Episode 31 with Patton Oswalt and Chris Cox (AKA Owen Wilson)
Sklarbro Country is what you get by combining sports, comedy, music, impersonators AND TWINS! Jason and Randy Sklar have been working comedians for nearly twenty years and achieved some notoriety with their ESPN series Cheap Seats. Each week the Sklar Brothers give their takes on the most outlandish sports stories around the globe, play some great music and interview terrific guests who are generally from the world of comedy. They also cap each episode by having the immensely talented Chris Cox and Jason Nash perform impressions of Tiger Woods, Owen Wilson, Bryant Gumbel, Vin Scully, Bruce Jenner and many more.


The Sound of Young America
Start with September 11, 2011 Episode with Nicolas Winding Refn
Released by Public Radio International this is a podcast hosted by Jesse Thorn that is generally only a half-hour in length but just long enough for an interview with some of the more interesting names in entertainment industry.


WTF with Marc Maron
Start with Episode 219 with Norm MacDonald
Marc Maron has long been known as a comic's comic. Which is really a nice way of saying he's been at comedy for a long time but hadn't really ever received a big break before starting his very successful podcast. Marc's style of humor isn't generally found in a brief soundbite which is probably why his long form interview show has earned him such a cult following.

Tow Zone

This story takes place shortly after I had graduated high school and the details are a little fuzzy. I drove from Redlands to one of the small concert venues in Hollywood. It could have been the Roxy Theatre, The Whisky A Go Go, or perhaps The Troubadour. I was meeting a girl and some of her friends for the Alien Ant Farm record release concert. My biggest attraction for going, other than the girl, was the fact that I had the same drum teacher as Mike Cosgrove from Alien Ant Farm. It was one of the first times I had driven myself down to Hollywood and since I was short on money I parked at a nearby grocery store.

When the concert ended I walked back to the grocery store parking lot to discover my newly painted blue Ford Ranger was missing. My heart began to race as I automatically assumed it had been stolen. Then I noticed the signs above a couple of the parking spaces noting that it was for customers only and all others would be towed.

I called the tow company from a pay phone and confirmed they had picked up my truck. The man on the other end of the phone warned me in a gruff voice you'd expect from the proprietor of a tow yard that the office was only open until midnight and if I arrived any later there would be a $100 after hours release fee. It was already past 11:00 PM and I had no ride because the girl had left a half-hour before I did.

Now racing against the clock, I darted across the street to chase down a taxi and told the driver my destination. The cab driver was making his way from Hollywood to the tow yard which was located somewhere south of the Interstate 10 freeway. For those of you unfamiliar with the greater Los Angeles area, this isn't a great distance but in a completely different part of town. As the cab fare continued to climb I now had a new fear as I rummaged through my wallet to realize I only had $14. The meter was now over ten dollars when I explained to the driver my limited budget. I asked him if they accepted credit cards but he quickly rejected that possibility. We were getting close to the tow yard but the cab fare was crossing $14. Perhaps he felt bad for me but he almost got to $15 before he stopped and let me out. He pointed me in the direction of the tow yard which was still about a mile away.

Now I was on foot in a completely unfamiliar and what appeared to be unsafe neighborhood. Trying to beat the clock while also attempting to avoid getting mugged for my now vacuous wallet I ran as fast as I could to the tow yard. I was about five minutes past the midnight deadline and I can't remember if the $165 I had to put on my credit card included the after hours storage fee but I really didn't care at that point.

This may sound odd but I soon felt the greatest sense of relief I had felt in my life up to that point. When I finally got into my truck and made it onto the freeway on ramp I was overwhelmed by a sense of euphoria that can only be experienced after you have overcome some kind of obstacle.

If You Could Take One Player...

Before the season started this year, I wrote something about the National League taking over as the dominant league in baseball.

I will first address the issue of interleague play which for all intents and purposes would be the best way to measure one league against the other. The American League again had a winning record (131-121) but it was the lowest winning percentage since 2004. Although interleague play is a good measuring stick it doesn't tell the entire story because the AL is filled with full-time designated hitters while the NL is generally forced to have a pinch hitter or back up position player used as the DH when playing at an American League park.


When the MLB All-Star Game was played in July and the National League won for the second year in a row it got me thinking about the best young players in baseball by position. The question that has been asked for years from one baseball fan to another is "If you were starting a team and could pick one player, who would it be?" I decided to expand upon that idea and pick one player at each position from any team. My answers to the question are listed below.


Catcher: Brian McCann (Runner-up Alex Avila)

Alex Avila is having a great season and leads all catchers in WAR (wins above replacement) but McCann missed significant time and has been a top player at the position for several years now. Victor Martinez technically qualifies as a catcher and has a great bat but he doesn't possess the defense to be a catcher you would want to build your team around. Unfortunately for the Minnesota Twins, it looks like the 2009 season was an aberration for Joe Mauer as he's no longer really in the conversation.


First Base: Albert Pujols (Runner-up Miguel Cabrera)

Normally a guy above 30 years old is automatically disqualified for this kind of hypothetical exercise but Albert Pujols is not your average first baseman. He's only 31 years old and has already amassed the following gaudy per season stats: .328/.421/.618, 40.8 HR, 123 RBI, 8.27 WAR. To put it into perspective, two weeks ago he hit two home runs which gave him 30+ HRs for all 11 seasons of his career and allowed him to pass recent Hall of Fame inductee Andre Dawson on the all-time home run leader board. Consideration was also given to reigning NL MVP Joey Votto who is quietly putting together another great season, Adrian Gonzalez who has shown what he can do outside of Petco Park this season and the other top defender at first Mark Teixeira. This position is so loaded that I hadn't even mentioned Prince Fielder who is having another great season (in an odd numbered year) and primed for a huge free agent payday.


Second Base: Dustin Pedroia (Runner-up Robinson Cano)

Fans of the Yankees and Red Sox can make arguments about Sabathia over Lester and Gonzalez over Teixeira but the toughest choice to argue is between Robinson Cano and Dustin Pedroia. Both players are 28 years old with nearly identical batting average and runs scored this year but that's where the similarities stop. Even though Cano has more power as is widely regarded as the top hitting second baseman in baseball, Pedroia has a far better eye at the plate as he draws more walks while striking out less. Pedroia is also the far better defender at his position which ended up making me change my pick from Cano. Kinsler, Zobrist, Weeks and Phillips are also in the conversation but consistency and injury risk keep them off the top of my list.


Shortstop: Troy Tulowitzki (Runner-up Jose Reyes)

This was the easiest pick and really it's not even up for debate. When the best offensive player at his position is arguably the best defender at his position, then your have a consensus pick. Jose Reyes is a distant second because of his injury concerns and Asdrubal Cabrera probably makes the third spot on my list. Although Cabrera makes some spectacular highlight reel plays, his defensive metrics are actually quite poor. Hanley Ramirez would have challenged Tulo a couple years ago but now he's only a footnote.


Third Base: Evan Longoria (Runner-up Jose Bautista)

I know what you're thinking: this is really fucking boring. Actually, I hope you're thinking, I'd take Bautista over Longoria and Bautista is more of a right fielder than a third baseman (he's played 25 games at the hot corner and 84 in right field this season). You'd be right on both accounts but if I was making a dream team I'd start with Longoria as my third baseman because of his age and tools then go with Bautista as my runner up because of position scarcity. Ryan Zimmerman has to be put into consideration and might have been my pick at the beginning of the season coming off back to back years with 7.0+ WAR.


Right field: Justin Upton (Runner-up Mike Stanton)

Both of these guys are young players with above average defense and unreal power. Justin Upton is the more senior of the two at 23 years of age and is carrying the Diamondbacks on his broad shoulders this season putting himself firmly into the National League MVP conversation. With an improved eye at the plate (career low 17.7 K%), Upton has 20 games left this season to shatter benchmarks he set in the 2009 season.


Center field: Matt Kemp (Runner-up Andrew McCutchen)

This was the toughest decision for me and you could really flip a coin between Kemp and McCutchen at this point in their careers. However, to me it appears Kemp is having a remarkable season with no protection in the line-up and finally living up to the five-tool potential that so many had said he possessed. Not that McCutchen is short on tools, in fact, his defense is far superior to Kemp but I don't see a 40/40 season in the future for McCutchen. Having career seasons both Jacoby Ellsbury and Curtis Granderson deserve a mention for center field. However, I'm not sure if the power is here to stay for Ellsbury. He has lowered his ground ball rate while increasing his line drive percentage but the HR/FB rate of 15.9% doesn't seem sustainable. It's easy to write off Granderson's power numbers as a product of Yankee Stadium and the short porch in right field but his splits show that he's been equally productive.


Left field: Ryan Braun (Runner-up Matt Holliday)

To say that Ryan Braun is a below average defensive outfielder is an understatement. Quite frankly, he's a bit of a liability with his glove but it doesn't matter. Since his debut with the Brewers in 2007 he's done nothing but rake. His strikeout rate has gone down each season including this year but his power numbers have remained in tact. Matt Holliday is the runner up in this position and Carlos Gonzalez (the centerpiece of the trade that sent Holliday to Oakland) also makes the list with Josh Hamilton. Carlos Gonzalez has some of the most eye popping home/road splits you'll ever see which keeps him out of the top two spots.


Starting pitching: National League

I won't go into too much detail about building a starting rotation but suffice to say that National League somewhat of a stranglehold on pitching superiority. Of the 15 pitchers in baseball with a FIP of 3.00 or below, nine of them are members of the senior circuit. If you look around the league at playoff contending teams, you'll notice that no team outside of the Angels has a rotation with more than two top tier starting pitchers. Compare that with the National League which has multiple teams with three of more dominant starters; Phillies, Giants, Braves and Brewers.


There you have it. Six of the eight positions on the field are populated by players from the National League and it's not really even close right now when comparing starting pitching between the two leagues.