Re: Walton still trippin

["Gregg Allen" <gr_allen@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

I'd just like to say that the level of nastiness you bring to this list is
offensive to me.

----- Original Message -----
From: "Greg Odegaard" <grodeg@xxxxxxxxxx>
To: "Snoopy the Celtics Beagle" <snoopy@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>;
<celtics@xxxxxxxx>
Sent: Sunday, March 14, 2004 8:37 PM
Subject: Re: Walton still trippin


> No he is not Pooch.  I bet you would have a very hard time finding more
than
> 1 who cares about your PPM or Hobbits obsessions. There probably aren't
many
> reading the list on a Sunday afternoon, and less willing to care or
respond,
> but your adoration of PPM, Chapin and any other soft pop music relic is
sad,
> if not sickening.  I can have very little respect for anyone who puts on
> this air of being a dog for so long. Sure you are fearful of someone here
> tracking you down, IF we knew who you actually were, but get a life, we
> really couldn't care less other than to be able to actually respect what
you
> have to say.  Frankly it is darn near impossible to respect your insight
or
> Celtic fan effort given the rest of this self congratulatory crap we have
to
> put up with.
>
> Why not make up some fake off list threats I made about you and see how
far
> it gets you with any minimal support you actually have around here.  Me I
> have none, but I could care less, I actually have a life and except for a
> very few on this list am sure care even less about me.  But it doesn't
keep
> me up at night hound dog, wallowing in another case of Alpo, or worse
> cleaning myself for hygiene or just because I can, because it has been
more
> than a few hours since someone scratched my belly.
>
> PP and M suck, they maybe didn't when they played 30 years ago, but that
was
> 30 years ago.  Walton is fine, but his love of the Dead is sad too,
because
> they truly are DEAD no matter what Bob and Phil have to say about. Great
> band but dead none the less.
>
> Sorry to rant all, but I frankly get a little ill thinking of this dog
> walker getting all misty when the freaking hobbits won far more Oscars
than
> they deserved, and worse having to share his joy with us on this list.
Take
> your bon bons, your joy and spend more time with the ball and chain.
>
> What is next waxing poetic on your Dungeon and Dragons tournaments or your
> recent SCA meeting?
>
> Thanks all,
> Greg
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Snoopy the Celtics Beagle" <snoopy@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
> To: <celtics@xxxxxxxx>
> Sent: Sunday, March 14, 2004 4:33 PM
> Subject: Re: Walton still trippin
>
>
> > hmmm...let's see, we're discussing Bill Walton, former Celtic player;
> ESPN,
> > which occasionally broadcasts Celtics games, and frequently criticizes
the
> > Celtics when they have nothing better to do (sound familiar?); and
> > discoursing on the supposed preferences of Celtics (and general
> basketball)
> > fans of different ages in the face of somewhat interesting ramblings by
an
> > ESPN broadcaster in the face of a publicized criticism from one of his
> bosses.
> >
> > Why, yes, Shawn, I do believe you ARE the only one.
> >
> > At 07:19 PM 3/14/2004, Shawn Niles wrote:
> >
> > >I can't be the only one reading this and saying "what the ^*#% is he
> > >talking about and what the ^*$^ does it have to do with the Celtics."
> > >
> > >
> > >>From: Snoopy the Celtics Beagle
> > >>Memo to ESPN;
> > >>
> > >>Lighten up, guys; and pay attention, the past is "in" again.  I
remember
> > >>someone's rather cutting commentary on the educational ignorance of
> today's
> > >>crop of schoolkids, saying "to them, history is what they had for
> > >>breakfast". why not let Walton wax euphoric about the Deadheads?
> > >>
> > >>OK, a little moderation wouldn't hurt, but witness what's come back to
> > >>public vogue in music alone:  Peter Paul & Mary just
> > >>released--simultaneously--a DVD retrospective, a CD boxed set and a
new
> > >>album; Harry Chapin's daughter Jen just released her second album to
> > >>positive reviews (and there's been a revival of Harry's music with the
> > >>greater release of his old albums on CD); the only major complaint of
> the
> > >>recent Simon & Garfunkel tour was that it wasn't a world tour--and
> Paul's
> > >>new album will soon be released to join Art's recent release; Pete
> Seeger
> > >>just put out a new album last year at an age where most people are
quite
> > >>content to enjoy retirement with legendary status.
> > >>
> > >>Then consider movies--the DVD market is surprisingly popular not for
the
> > >>release of brand new movies, but for the release of the great classics
> of
> > >>years past ranging from Gone With the Wind to Raiders of the Lost
> > >>Ark.  Likewise there's been a virtual explosion of beloved television
> shows
> > >>making their way onto DVD, and the sales show that people are quite
> willing
> > >>to pay hefty prices to indulge their nostalgia.  If you don't believe
> me,
> > >>check out the recommended price for the first seventeen-episode season
> of
> > >>"Star Trek: Voyager".
> > >>
> > >>Books have always held a link to their pasts.  Robert B. Parker
started
> > >>writing the Spenser mystery novels back in theearly 1970's and is
still
> > >>going strong.  Ask any science fiction about Issac Asimov, and they'll
> be
> > >>able to at least mention a few of his great works, even if they
weren't
> > >>personal fans of "hard SF".  Not to mention Sherlock Holmes, which has
> been
> > >>around since the turn of the LAST century.
> > >>
> > >>Oh yes, and sports history--let's all ask ourselves how often we
insist
> on
> > >>comparing modern player "A" to historical player "B".  How many more
> times
> > >>will we hear someone proclaimed the next Larry Bird, Bill Russell,
> > >>etc.?  Listen here, as inevitably, when a new coach for the C's is
> > >>mentioned, how often we turn to former Celtics players.  So far as I
can
> > >>tell, on those occasions when baseball conversation isn't focused on
> > >>steroids, gambling, or corks, they all talk about statistics and
records
> > >>dating back over 100 years.
> > >>
> > >>I'll take a knowledgeable person over an idiot any day.  So Walton
lives
> in
> > >>the past a bit. Big Fat Hairy Deal.  At least he's able to string a
> > >>sentence together, even if the references do stretch back a few
> > >>decades--something a number of other on screen commentators--are you
> > >>listening, Mike Tirico?--seem unable to do.  Speaking for myself, I'm
> tired
> > >>of these self-styled "experts" whose only obvious area of expertise is
> > >>being willing and able to insult the Celtics.  I am sick of hearing
> people
> > >>treat their anchor desk like the throne of St. Peter, and God and ESPN
> > >>forbid we dare disagree with any of them.
> > >>
> > >>Is Walton hyperbolic, reference-laden and occasionally not on the same
> > >>planet as the rest of us?
> > >>
> > >>Well, yes.  Did it ever occur to you that some of us fans are tired of
> the
> > >>"hip-hop" method of sports reporting, and the "analysis" that makes
the
> > >>phrase "going out on a limb" verboten?  Look over here, schmucks.
some
> of
> > >>us are over the age of eighteen, have brains bigger than a walnut and
an
> > >>attention span greater than the people who think MTV was the pinnacle
of
> > >>musical entertainment.  We are, by and large, the people who can
> actually
> > >>afford to pay the whopping prices charged to carry the NBA League
Pass,
> > >>never mind the cost of actually attending a game now and again.
> > >>
> > >>And to some of us, "Wasn't That a Time" had meaning.
> > >>
> > >>
> > >>To Bill Walton--we're cool, just ease up a bit.  No one can zone 24/7
> and
> > >>sometimes the slowpokes need to catch up, so Lay Back and Be Cool.
> > >>
> > >>At 03:20 PM 3/14/2004, lapdoggy wrote:
> > >>
> > >> >Some of you might have seen this before. This was just sent to me
from
> > >> >a friend I fondly know of as Grateful Chef. Having been to a few
Dead
> > >> >shows back in the 80's, I cracked up when I read this.
> > >> >
> > >> >
> > >> >
> > >> >
> > >> >2/17/04
> > >> >ESPN Getting Tired of Walton Grateful Dead References
> > >> >Bristol, CT -- In a confidential memo leaked to the press Tuesday
> > >> >morning, executives at ESPN expressed growing concern about
incessant
> > >> >references to legendary counterculture rock band, the Grateful Dead,
> > >> >made by NBA analyst and lifelong "Deadhead," Bill Walton.
> > >> >"If we could all make an effort to help Bill reduce the number of
> > >> >references to Grateful Dead lyrics, concerts he's attended, and past
> > >> >and present band members throughout an average broadcast," the memo
> > >> >said, "it would go a long way toward bringing more viewers to
Fridays
> > >> >[ESPN's Friday Night NBA coverage]."
> > >> >"Seriously, I'm not kidding here," the memo continued, "it's got to
> > >> >stop. Before we all gouge our own eyes out with sporks."
> > >> >While the memo is believed to have been sent by ESPN executive vice
> > >> >president of programming/production, Mark Shapiro,
> > >> >anti-Walton-Dead-reference sentiment has been growing company-wide
> > >> >since ESPN began covering NBA games this season.
> > >> >"If he tells me one more time how he did mescaline with Mama Cass
and
> > >> >David Crosby backstage at the Greek Theater, Berkeley, '71, I'm gong
> to
> > >> >smack him," said Walton's broadcast partner, Mike Tirico. "And
that's
> > >> >exactly how he always says it, too: 'Greek
> > >> >TheaterBerkeley.seventy-one,' and then he starts grinning and
grooving
> > >> >to some Dead music in his head, going, 'Yeaaaah, man.yeaaaah' like a
> > >> >total stoner."
> > >> >"The guy's, what, fifty-one?" Tirico added. "Hey Bill, the 'Summer
of
> > >> >Love' ended thirty-three years ago. Time to move on, pal."
> > >> >Shapiro's memo also indicated that Walton's references to songs,
> > >> >concerts, people and events from more than three decades ago is not
> > >> >helping ESPN's NBA Friday night ratings.
> > >> >"We're targeting a younger demographic," Shapiro's memo said, "so if
> > >> >you could all please remind Bill that today's 18- to 24-year-old
> viewer
> > >> >simply does not care that it's the 13th anniversary of [Grateful
Dead
> > >> >keyboardist] Brent Mydland's death. They don't care who Ron 'Pigen'
> > >> >McKernan was, and don't understand why Bill is comparing Pigpen's
> > >> >leadership abilities in the Dead's formative Haight-Ashbury years to
> > >> >Jason Kidd's ability to run the Nets offense."
> > >> >"No wonder we're losing Friday viewers to 'John Doe.' Why? Because
> > >> >'John Doe' doesn't have some sad, aging, hippie freakster spewing
> > >> >Robert Hunter lyrics every three seconds."
> > >> >While ESPN management had been initially lenient with the random
> > >> >Grateful Dead trivia, facts, and anecdotes that Walton began
injecting
> > >> >into broadcasts for no apparent reason, insiders believe that it was
> > >> >the recent Bulls-Wizards matchup-which featured Michael Jordan's
last
> > >> >appearance in Chicago-that was the last straw for Shapiro.
> > >> >Toward the end of the game, Walton managed to shoehorn approximately
> > >> >168 Grateful Dead mentions into a seemingly endless monologue.
> > >> >"While these great Chicago fans hope to see Michael 'One More
Saturday
> > >> >Night' perhaps in the playoffs, he's beginning to show a 'Touch of
> > >> >Grey' in his hair, and while I've always believed that Michael must
be
> > >> >a 'Friend of the Devil' to have had such a wonderful career, and he
> > >> >still plays with the aggression of a 'Wharf Rat,' his 'Unbroken
Chain'
> > >> >of success must come to an end. But his legacy will 'Not Fade Away'
> > >> >even as he disappears down the 'Golden Road.' For us fans, there's
> > >> >'nothing left to do but smile, smile, smile.'"
> > >> >Tape of the broadcast then shows a visibly confused Tirico about to
> > >> >open his mouth to speak, but being immediately cut off by the former
> > >> >UCLA, Portland Trailblazers and Boston Celtics star.
> > >> >"This is horrrrrible, Mike, just horrrrible," Walton nearly
screamed.
> > >> >"I fear the NBA will go to 'Hell in a Bucket' without Michael, and
the
> > >> >'Eyes of the World' will be upon the next generation of NBA
> superstars,
> > >> >and David Stern is clearly saying 'I Need a Miracle' to the Kobes,
the
> > >> >Garnetts, the McGradys, even the Lebron Jameses of the world, hoping
> > >> >that MJ's retirement doesn't lead to a serious case of the 'U.S.
> Blues'
> > >> >for NBA fans."
> > >> >Walton then made a tangental reference to Michael's wife "Althea,"
and
> > >> >three children-"Bertha," "Casey Jones," and "Tennessee Jed"-all of
> > >> >whom, he claimed, were in the United Center that evening. When
Tirico
> > >> >informed Walton that Jordan's wife is, in fact, named Juanita and
his
> > >> >children are Jeffrey, Marcus and Jasmine, Walton paused.
> > >> >"Hey now, Mike," Walton said, "hey now, Aiko Aiko all day, jockomo
> > >> >feeno na na nay, jockomo feena nay. Hey now--"
> > >> >It was then that ESPN producers abruptly cut to an emergency
broadcast
> > >> >system test pattern, then back to ESPN studio analysts, David
Aldridge
> > >> >and Dr. Jack Ramsey.
> > >> >"Well, I." Aldridge said, awkwardly shuffling papers and clearing
his
> > >> >throat.
> > >> >"Did Bill just say that Michael Jordan's son is named
'TennesseeJed,'"
> > >> >Ramsey asked.
> > >> >While Shapiro is clearly concerned about the effect Walton's
Grateful
> > >> >Dead over-referencing will have on the success of ESPN's Friday
night
> > >> >NBA coverage, he admitted in a later interview that it could be
worse.
> > >> >"At least he's not mixing in John Wooden stuff, too. I mean, can you
> > >> >imagine if he combined all that Jerry Garcia bullshit with his
> > >> >incessant Wooden motivational quotes? Christ Almighty."
> > >> >Shapiro then shuddered.
> > >>
> > >>Snoopy the Celtics Beagle
> > >>Please visit the <http://www.celticsbeagle.net/>Celtics Beagle Website