Adieu, Gumby!

Gumby creator dies.

From the "Gumby Theme:"

Bein' green can be really keen
especially when you're feelin' blue.
If you've got a heart,
then Gumby's a part of you!

"The poor (performance) will always be with us."

On Saturday evening I went to a dinner, which was followed by a talk on the "problem of evil."

Meanwhile, the Cincinnati Bengals were losing in the first round of the NFL playoffs 24-14.

Happy 59th Birthday, Crystal Gayle!

While I'm not a big fan of any of her crossover country hits, Ms. Gayle is one-half of the duo that created one of the great movies soundtracks of the modern era, One from the Heart, with Tom Waits. ( The film is an intriguing product of Francis Ford Coppola and his short-lived Zoetrope Studios starring two of my favorite actresses, Nastassia Kinski and Teri Garr.)

"Tom Waits and Crystal Gayle?," you say dubiously.

You bet!

Pick it up and listen to Tom growl to Crystal, "How long you been combing your hair with a wrench?" or "You don't defrost the ice box with a ball point pen!"

Pick it up and listen to Crystal sing in that crystal-clear voice of hers, "Take me home, you silly boy, I'm still in love with you." If that doesn't break your heart, then you don't have one.

Why I love Pete Rose (but can't for the life of me understand him)

"...The crash [between base runner Pete Rose and catcher Ray Fosse in the 12th inning of the 1970 All-Star Game in Cincinnati] would take on more meaning because Ray was only 23 and the most promising young catcher in the game; he was never quite the same after. More than 30 years later, he would still wake up with the echoing pain of that collision ringing in his shoulder. To add a little irony to it all. Pete had had Fosse to his house the night before for dinner, though Pete never saw any irony at all in it. Pete was the kind of guy who would invite you to dinner at night and run right through you the next day to win a ball game. It was all part of the deal.

People often asked Pete if he regretted smashing into Fosse -- hell, it was just an All-Star Game. It didn't count in the standings. Pete's response was telling. He did not even understand the question. They were playing baseball. His was the winning run. Fosse was blocking the plate. Pete had no choice.

That was the thing that Joe [Morgan] picked up from Pete. Everybody wanted to win. Some players needed to win. But Pete really had no choice..."

Joe Posnanski, The Machine, page 44

Is Chivalry Dead? Stay Tuned to NBC!

If Jay Leno doesn't simply go gently into that good night (and I do not mean back into late night) by kindly declining any NBC invitation to return him to the 11:35 time slot -- even for only 30 minutes -- he is more of a cad than David Letterman (my late night preference) has shown himself to be.

NBC and he tried something, and the experiment has failed miserably. Move on. Conan has the Tonight Show now (although I've never actually watched him). Take it back from him in any way would be nothing short of appallingly unprofessional behavior.

I understand why NBC would want him/beg him/ plead for him to do it, but Mr. Leno needs to take the high road and just say no.

For a friend today

Ow.

Good idea, bad timing

The newest product idea:

Men's and women's briefs with "Da Bomb" written on the rear