Selfish Post

In probably the most blogged about news bit to be posted this week:
Google reported that blogs have an average of one reader.

Now I was never very big headed about this here blog - but I was hoping that I could use a second hand to count my readers...

That being said, allow me to write about something that is really only of interest to me.
I wrote the last check to "Back to Bed" today. My Queen-Sized-Mattress is paid off in full. I own that piece of slumber equipment... It feels pretty nice. Not just the mattress itself, but the sense of satisfaction of having just one less creditor.

Next up on the debt hit-list - my iMac.

Then we're looking to get some more debt in 2008 with a new couch!
Yes, I used an exclamation point on purpose - but I'm supposedly the only one reading this anyways.

Celebrity Playlist

TQ is an average worker outside Chicago by day, but by night the 28 year old man-about-Des Plaines exercises his penchant for mixtape creation. Luckily we have gained access to his most recent collaboration "fleX miX," a playlist created for three of his friends who are members of the club noted in the playlist's title. The mixtape has been made available, along with TQ's commentary, to the public to further advance the physical health and well being of readers at large.

1. "Pumpkin & Honey Bunny/Miserlou" (Pulp Fiction Dialogue / Dick Dale & The Del Tones)
Having Amanda Plummer yell and curse at the top of her lungs really gets me moving. Except for getting my wallet out - I just want to work out. Not to mention, Miserlou is quite possibly the best few minutes of guitar... ever.

2. "Carmina Burana: I. O Fortuna" (London Symphony Orchestra)
I bought this song of Tom Brady's playlist. After finding out just how freakin' potent that man is - thought it couldn't hurt to work out to similar motivational music. This title is recognizable to pretty much nobody, but the tune is used constantly in movie trailers.

3. "Gonna Fly Now (Theme from "Rocky")" (Bill Conti)
Zero explanation is needed here.

4. "In the Air Tonight" (Phil Collins)
NFL Films did a piece about how popular this song is to inspire players in the locker room before kickoff. Although this song is a tad too "Miami Vice" it's the "Miserlou of Drums" if you ask me. Just don't get caught air drumming in public... Unless you think it'll impress the Cardio Fem-bots?

5. "Duel of the Fates" (London Symphony Orchestra)
This almost didn't make the cut. Because there was already a track from the L.S.O. previous on the playlist. However the rapid pace and frenetic chanting seems at place at a workout facility.

6. "Battle Without Honor Or Humanity" (Tomoyasu Hotei)
Yes, there is a definite trend forming here - and it won't let up. Taken from another soundtrack (Kill Bill), this song - like the one previous - will make you wish your gym offered a sword fighting class.

7. "Price of Gasoline" (Bloc Party)
Here the mixtape takes a turn from somewhat classical to Rock. Adjust your resistance accordingly. The chorus yells out "WE'RE GONNA WIN THIS!" Yes we will... yes we will...

8. "Take Me Out" (Franz Ferdinand)
The MVP of the TQ mixtape! Placed on over ten different mixtapes for different people - it may forever be a staple for mixtapes to come. Not to mention, the up-tempo guitar hooks keep you moving. As the band says, "We write songs to make girls dance." I'm attempting to add "...and make cool people work out..."

9. "Guerilla Radio" (Rage Against the Machine)
Channel that angry angst!

10. "Save Me" (Remy Zero)
The high school Superman TV show made me knock down this song a few pegs in my book. However, in the age of the iPod nobody can claim any music as "undiscovered" for too long. So strap on your cape and start lifting weights.

11. "E-Pro" (Beck)
The Rock portion of the mix really hits it strides with more great guitar hooks.

12. "The Saints Are Coming" (U2 & Green Day)
Everything about this track is powerful... Everything.

13. "Spinning Newspapers" (Dave Grohl)
Did you know that Dave Grohl once wrote an entire film score? Now you do. Don't bother watching the film "Touch" but this instrumental rock track is musical cross training. As you switch machines think about how Grohl plays every single instrument you're listening to.

14. "Star Guitar" (The Chemical Brothers)
Changing gears again, the mixtape ventures downstairs and starts dancing. This is one of my top five tracks of all time, has been ever since I saw the MTV2 music video in 2001. Pre-ordered the CD off Amazon the next day (this was before I was introduced to iTunes) and the rest is history.

15. "Voyager" (Daft Punk)
I don't keep track of it, but if I did, this track has been used most as a soundtrack for a day dream. Whether it was riding a Milwaukee County Bus or running around Lake Arlington

16. "Ready Steady Go" (Paul Oakenfold)
You may recognize this song from the Club Fever scene in Collateral.

17. "Weapon of Choice" (Fatboy Slim)
This artist had to appear on this mix somewhere - best option to be most widely accepted by the audience it's targeted. Song made famous by a dancing Christopher Walken in its music video.

18. "James Bond Theme (Moby's Re-Version)" (Moby)
Couldn't resist.

19. "Mission Impossible" (Lalo Schifrin)
The original theme song from the original TV show.

20. "Coliseum Finale" (Sean Callery)
In the season finale of Season Two, 24's Jack Bauer went completely apeshit on bad guys in the Los Angeles Coliseum. This track played in the background.

fleX-FILES

He walked into the gym, for which he had been a member of less than one week, on Thursday night. A rather steady "every other day" strategy has been kept up for six days and three visits since his start at the facility. This made him very happy for the financial investment in this venture had no loop hole to escape; he was in it for the long haul.

Working out in a public place resulted in sacrifices for the young man:
No longer able to wear a headband while working out
Had to pay attention if his shirt and shorts, needless to say socks, matched
Unable to wear his favorite personal monitor device, as pictured here


However, the biggest concern finally reared itself Thursday evening.
Unfortunately, the pun was intended...

He knew that there is one constant characteristic of all "workout establishments." There was even confirmation of the phenomenon from friends who were also frequenters of this newly joined gym.

You see, for when he opened the door into the locker room he was immediately met my five-foot-nine inches of sheer two-hundred pound middle-aged nakedness. The only concession was that the man was pointed away and into the corner. He quickly redirected his eyes and started walking toward the far corner of the locker stations. Although neither made a communication of each other's presence - they both knew they were there... together...

"I sure hope my locker is on this side" he thought to himself as he made it to the other end of the lockers before looking for the number on his locker key. No luck there. Side stepping ever so closer to the apparel-less stranger he finally arrived at his locker. It will never be known just how close he was, or just how naked the other remained... questions such are those are best never known...

By the time he was done changing and ready for his 45 minutes of whatever cardio machine was available, the man had left the nearby area. He was not seen again... not yet at least....

But every time he knows that's a risk he'll have to take. A risk all men take when they workout. There will be naked men. They will not back down. Nor will they advance, but they are very proud. And they certainly won't put any damn clothes on. Not for you, not for themselves, not for anybody.

A moment of silence

The blog will return after I am done mourning the end of another season of Marquette Basketball.

Affinity

I did not go to Chicago Bear College.
I do not have a degree from Bulls University.
And although I have been fans of those teams for more years.
Seen more games, cried more tears, and celebrated more times...

Nothing can compare to my favorite team:

I've had multiple* conversations - just the two of us - with head coach Tom Crean
I have lived next door to two basketball players**
They've been in a freshman year Theology class with me
In my friend's Spanish class
A future Sports Illustrated Man of the Year was involved in a friend's broadcasting project.
I worked in the Old Gym***


af·fin·i·ty
Pronunciation:
..?-'fi-n?-te..
sympathy marked by community of interest : kinship
an attraction to or liking for something
likeness based on relationship or causal connection

(asterisked stories to be blogged later - especially if MU can BEAT SPARTY!)

Letter of the game: D

MSU's best player is their point guard Drew.
MU's best (remaining) player is their point guard Dominic.
Both coaches stress Defense.

If Marquette wins, I will be delirious.
I Marquette loses, I will be depressed.


Here's Part 2 of that great You Tube clip:

My favorite dancer is hurt

Marquette's best player, in my mind at least, Jerel McNeal won't be playing in the Michigan State game on Thursday... I am devastated. I do not know how we can win without the Big East Defensive Player of the Year.

Meanwhile, if you need to get pumped for the tournament still:




p.s. not really reading this book - it's just my current mindset

I'm Mad baby!

I intend to write only about one thing this week.
This commercial is so great:



Marquette will play Michigan State. I swear I saw it comming. As soon as the Fighting Irish got the 6 seed and Villanova the 9 seed I know MU would be a 7 or 8 seed. Of course I was hoping for the seven.

Then I started wondering who'd that other team would be - the 9 or 10 seed... I then realized that Michgan State's name was not yet announced... Right then I knew... Especailly after Clark Kellogg and Seth Davis were drueling at a possible UCLA vs. Pitt Regional Semifinal matchup (because Pitt's current coach was the assistant to UCLA's current coach).

Just like how Marquette's current head coach was an assistant to Michigan State's current coach. Can the student beat his teacher? I'm afraid - very afraid.

GO MU!

Gus Johnson: The Best Play-by-Play Announcer Nobody Recognizes

This afternoon I watched the Championship game of the Missouri Valley Conference. Creighton bested Southern Illinois to win an automatic bid to the NCAA tournament, which will begin a week from this upcomming Thursday.

Gus Johnson was doing the play-by-play for CBS Sports. I have a good friend who, like me, recoginzes this guy for just how good he is. There seem to be two schools of philosophy when it comes to sports announcing (play-by-play discipline)

- The Pat Summeral School of Minimalism:
This method of "less is more" and allowinng the sheer visuals and crowd noise to allow the atmosphere to dictate the mood of the telecast.

-The Chris Berman School of Alliteration:
This method is to make every single play worthy of explaination points and superlatives. Also, every player needs to have either a nickname or a gimmick.

Gus Johnson, although can display methods apparent in the two previous methods, is able to craft out a unique grip of the game. I think Gus Johnson is whole-heartedly thrilled to be sitting courtside of the games he announces. More importantly, he is able to make that feeling contagious.

Next Sunday the NCAA Bracket will be unveiled. Here are my non-performance wishes:
MU seeded 4th in the St. Louis Region
MU slated to play Friday afternoon
MU to play its first and second games on a court not painted "uniquely"
MU to have its games annouced by Gus Johnson.

---
On a separate, side, note:
Contact me if you would like more info on my Bracket Pool. If you don't know what that means, odds are you are not interested.
(song of the week, that track by Arctic Monkeys that starts out, "Put on your dancing shoes...")