Pearl Jam

Leave a comment Posted on October 1, 2015October 1, 2015 #TBT Year in Review

#TBT Year in Review: 1996

In the year New Zealand singer-songwriter Lorde was born…

The Daily Show aired for the first time on Comedy Central
Nintendo 64 was released in Japan
The Ramones performed their last show
The OJ Simpson civil trial began
Steve Jobs’ company NeXT was bought by Apple, which he also founded

Tupac Shakur was shot and killed at the age of 25.

To this day, people are trying to prove he’s still alive.

AND in the worlds of movies, music and sports…

Movies

Comedy

Happy Gilmore, Swingers, Kingpin, Matilda, 101 Dalmatians, Don’t Be A Menace in South Central While Drinking Your Juice in the Hood, Tin Cup, The Nutty Professor, Bio-Dome, The Cable Guy, Beautiful Girls, The First Wives Club, That Thing You Do, Striptease, Jack, Multiplicity, Kazaam, The Birdcage, Beavis and Butthead Do America, Down Periscope, The Stupids, Black Sheep, Bulletproof, One Fine Day, Spy Hard, Sgt. Bilko AND…

Space Jam

Action/Thriller

Scream, Independence Day, The Rock, Escape from LA, A Time to Kill, From Dusk Till Dawn, Twister, The Craft, Fear, Eraser, Broken Arrow, The Long Kiss Goodnight, The Ghost and the Darkness, The Frighteners, Chain Reaction, Ransom, Executive Decision, The Fan, Last Man Standing, Maximum Risk, AND…

Mission Impossible

Drama

Trainspotting, Jerry Maguire, The English Patient, Romeo + Juliet, Sling Blade, Sleepers, Secrets and Lies, Shine, Michael Collins, The People vs. Larry Flynt, Evita, The Mirror Has Two Faces, Kolya, Bullet, The Mirror Has Two Faces, Jude, Mother Night, Phenomenon, Gotti, Emma, Before and After, The Juror, Fly Away Home, Marvin’s Room, AND…

Fargo

The 69th Academy Awards

Best Actor

Tom Cruise, Jerry Maguire
Ralph Fiennes, The English Patient
Woody Harrelson, The People vs. Larry Flynt
Billy Bob Thornton, Sling Blade
Geoffrey Rush, Shine – Winner

(The first of 4 nominations for Geoffery Rush. His latest was in 2011 for The King’s Speech)

Best Supporting Actor

William H. Macy, Fargo
Armin Mueller-Stahl, Shine
Edward Norton, Primal Fear
James Woods, Ghosts of Mississippi
Cuba Gooding Jr., Jerry Maguire – Winner

(Cuba Gooding Jr. won the only time he was nominated)

Best Actress

Brenda Blethyn, Secrets & Lies
Diane Keatin, Marvin’s Room
Kristin Scott Thomas, The English Patient
Emily Watson, Breaking the Waves
Frances McDormand, Fargo – Winner

(Frances McDormand has been nominated 3 other times, most recently for North Country in 2006)

Best Supporting Actress

Joan Allen, The Crucible
Lauren Bacall, The Mirror Has Two Faces
Barbara Hershey, The Portrait of a Lady
Marianne Jean-Baptiste, Secrets & Lies
Juliette Binoche, The English Patient – Winner

(Juliette Binoche was nominated once more in 2001 for Chocolat)

Best Picture

Fargo
Jerry Maguire
Secrets & Lies
Shine
The English Patient – Winner

(The English Patient won 9 of the 12 Oscars it was nominated for, including best Director)

Music

Rock Albums

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Hip Hop Albums

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Pop Albums

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Billboard Year-End Top 25 Songs

“Macarena (Bayside Boys Mix)” – Los del Rio
“One Sweet Day” – Mariah Carey and Boyz II Men
“Because You Loved Me” – Celine Dion
“Nobody Knows” – The Tony Rich Project
“Always Be My Baby” – Mariah Carey
“Give Me One Reason” – Tracy Chapman
“The Crossroads” – Bone Thugs-n-Harmony
“I Love You Always Forever” – Donna Lewis
“You’re Makin’ Me High / “Let It Flow” – Tony Braxton
“Twisted” – Keith Sweat
“C’mon N’ Ride It (The Train)” – Quad City DJ’s
“Missing” – Everything but the Girl
“Ironic” – Alanis Morissette
“Exhale (Shoop Shoop)” – Whitney Houston
“Follow You Down” / “Til I Hear It From You” – Gin Blossoms
“Sittin’ Up in My Room” – Brandy
“How Do U Want It”/”California Love” – 2Pac featuring K-Ci & JoJo / Dr Dre
“It’s All Coming Back to Me Now” – Celine Dion
“Change the World” – Eric Clapton
“Hey Lover” – LL Cool J
“Loungin” – LL Cool J
“Insensitive” – Jann Arden
“Be My Lover” – La Bouche
“Name” – Goo Goo Dolls
“Will You Save Your Sould” – Jewel

Sports

Baseball

League Leaders

Offensive

Average: Alex Rodriguez (SEA) – .358

Hits: Lance Johnson (NYM) – 227

Home Runs: Mark McGwire (OAK) – 52

RBI: Andres Galarraga (COL) – 150

OPS: Mark McGwire (STL) – 1.198

Stolen Bases: Kenny Lofton (CLE) – 75

Pitching

Wins: John Smoltz (ATL) – 24

ERA: Kevin Brown (FLA) – 1.89

Strikeouts: John Smoltz (ATL) – 276

Complete Games: Pat Hentgen (TOR) – 10

Shutouts: Pat Hentgen (TOR) – 3

Saves: Jeff Brantley (CIN) & Todd Worrell (LAD) – 44

MVP

AL – Juan Gonzalez (TEX)

NL – Ken Caminiti (SD)

CY Young

AL – Pat Hentgen (TOR)

NL – John Smoltz (ATL)

Rookie of the Year

AL – Derek Jeter (NYY)

NL – Todd Hollandsworth (LAD)

World Series

New York Yankees over the Atlanta Braves (4-2)

Basketball

NCAA

Final Four:

(1) Kentucky (1) UMass (4) Syracuse (5) Mississippi State

National Championship

(1) Kentucky over (4) Syracuse 76-67

NBA

League Leaders

Points Per Game: Michael Jordan (CHI) – 30.4

Rebounds Per Game: Dennis Rodman (CHI) – 14.9

Assists Per Game: John Stockton (UTAH) – 11.2

All-NBA Team

Afernee Hardaway (ORL)

Michael Jordan (CHI)

Karl Malone (UTAH)

Scottie Pippen (CHI)

David Robinson (SA)

MVP – Michael Jordan (CHI)

Rookie – Damon Stoudamire (TOR)

NBA Finals

Chicago Bulls over Seattle Supersonics (4-2)

Football

NCAA

Heisman Trophy – Danny Wuerffel, Florida

National Championship

(3) Florida over (1) Florida State 52-20 in the Sugar Bowl

NFL

League Leaders

Passing Yards: Mark Brunell (JAX) – 4,367

Passing Touchdowns: Brett Favre (GB) – 39

Passer Rating: Steve Young (SF) – 97.2

Rushing Yards: Barry Sanders (DET) – 1,553

Rushing Touchdowns: Terry Allen (WAS) – 21

Receiving Yards: Isaac Bruce (STL) – 1,338

Receiving Touchdowns: Michael Jackson (BAL) & Tony Martin (SD) – 14

Receptions: Jerry Rice (SF) – 108

AP MVP – Brett Favre (GB)

Super Bowl XXXI

Green Bay Packers over New England Patriots 35-21

Hockey

League Leaders

Goals: Mario Lemieux (PIT) – 69

Assists: Ron Francis (PIT) & Mario Lemieux (PIT) – 92

Points: Mario Lemieux (PIT) – 161

Hart Memorial Trophy – Mario Lemieux (PIT)

Stanley Cup

Colorado Avalanche over Florida Panthers (4-0)

Did I miss anything? Let me know on Twitter @Mike_PiFF03 or on Facebook.

Also checkout past #TBT Years in Review.

2012

2011

2010

2007

2006

2005

2002

1999

1998

1992

1990

1989

1988

1987

1 Comment Posted on June 30, 2015September 12, 2015 Musc, sports

When Sports and Music Collide

Monday morning, the Chicago Cubs announced the “secret” headliner for the fourth annual Hot Stove Cool Music charity concert, July 9th at the Metro. Pearl Jam frontman Eddie Vedder will be performing alongside Cubs President Theo Epstein, Cubs broadcaster Len Kasper, Hall of Fame baseball writer Peter Gammons, 670 The Score sports talk radio host Matt Spiegel, members of Wilco, Cheap Trick, Umphrey’s McGee, Tributosaurus, and more. The concert benefits Cubs Charities and Foundation To Be Named Later, which helps aid disadvantaged youth and adults.

Vedder has a long history with his beloved Cubs, having grown up just north of the city in Evanston, IL. Fans recall multiple renditions of the 7th inning stretch, but he also recorded his own anthem for the Cubs. Pearl Jam and Cubs fans alike were treated to a “double header” in 2013 as the band played before and after a storm at Wrigley Field. The late Ernie Banks even came out to yell, “Let’s Play Two!”

We all have our interests and it’s always cool when we see those interests overlap. The fan in me always seems to geek out especially when music and sports come together. I recently had the pleasure of seeing Niklas Hjalmarsson and the Chicago Blackhawks crash a Mumford and Sons concert at Montrose Beach. I made involuntary noises as Hjalmarrson commanded the band to drink beer from the Stanley Cup…then mention he should’ve told them where the Cup had been beforehand.

Just the other day, JJ Watt played concert security for the Zac Brown Band and squared up on an “intruder”.

Nobody messes with @zacbrownband pic.twitter.com/bS3Rat13xP

— JJ Watt (@JJWatt) June 29, 2015

(Might’ve been staged)

Following Hall of Fame basketball player and entertaining broadcaster Bill Walton on the Grateful Dead “Fare Thee Well” Tour has been a treat beyond words.

Part of the allure is seeing our favorite musicians or athletes come back to Earth in a way that we can relate. They are the best at what they do but can be so humbled and excited to be around someone of another profession. They’re fans like we are.

The other part is seeing someone offer you another dynamic that you weren’t aware of. When you hear about a professional athlete releasing an album, you’re interested to hear how it sounds (except for Shaq). When you see an artist or musician signed up to play in a celebrity All-Star game, you want to tune in and see how they fair.

Here are are some examples of worlds colliding in music and sports.

Athletes in Music

Bernie Williams

5-time Yankees All-Star centerfielder, 1998 AL batting title winner, and 4-time World Series champion Bernie Williams is also a Latin Grammy nominated guitarist. Williams recorded 2,336 hits and a .297 batting average in his baseball career, and 2 jazz albums in 2003 and 2009.

Williams also recorded a single with former NBA forward Wayman Tisdale.

Chris Kluwe

Former Vikings punter, gamer and excellent Twitter follow Chris Kluwe also started a band called Tripping Icarus. They have an EP and full length LP to their credit, all spawned from Kluwe’s love for “Guitar Hero”.

Jack McDowell

Former White Sox pitcher and 1993 CY Young winner, Jack “Blackjack” McDowell had a 12 year long baseball career, and a music career that has lasted for much longer. The alternative rocker recorded 6 albums with bands V.I.E.W. and stickfigure, and is still playing in clubs today.

The 1985 Chicago Bears

The ’85 Chicago Bears went 15-1, won a Super Bowl, had 4 players go to the Hall of Fame, and became the first sports team to be nominated for a Grammy. “The Super Bowl Shuffle” was organized by wide receiver Willie Gault, and performed by 24 members of the roster. This year will be the 30th anniversary of its release, a single that went to #41 on the Billboard charts and went Gold for selling half a million copies.

Sorry you had to hear Steve Fuller attempt rapping again.

Rickie Fowler, Hunter Mahan, Bubba Watson and Ben Crane – Golf Boys

Losing the collared t-shirts and khakis, these golfers decided to have some fun for charity. Producing 2 viral music videos, $1,000 is donated by State Farm per 100,000 views to charity.

It’s no “Super Bowl Shuffle”, but they still deserve a “good job, good effort.”

Musicians in Sports

Alice Cooper

Rock and Roll Hall of Famer Alice Cooper is best known for heavy metal and live shows that feature guillotines, boa constrictors, electric chairs and fake blood. He also has a golf handicap of 5.3 and titled his memoirs “Alice Cooper: Golf Monster – A Rock ’n’ Roller’s 12 Steps To Becoming a Golf Addict.”

WE’RE NOT WORTHY!

Bruce Dickinson

Iron Maiden front man Bruce Dickinson is one of the world’s most interesting individuals. He is a military veteran, a licensed commercial pilot, melter of rock and roll faces…and a WORLD CLASS FENCER! At one point he ranked 7th in all the UK. Dickinson also sponsors youth soccer teams.

Garth Brooks

Country superstar Garth Brook has sold over 70 million records in his career, but his dream was to be a Major League baseball player. Brooks made that dream come true when the San Diego Padres signed him to play in Spring training in 1998. He also had Spring training stints with the New York Mets and the Kansas City Royals, ending his baseball “career” with a hit off pitcher Mike Myers in 2004.

Justin Timberlake

Justin Timberlake is one of the best entertainers of our era. Singer, dancer, actor…and a 6 handicap golfer. Timberlake once said he would be a pro golfer by the age of 30. That has yet to happen, but he is minority owner of the Memphis Grizzlies…so there’s that.

MTV Rock N’ Jock

Back when MTV was actually “Music Television” and played music videos, there was also a series where musicians, athletes and movie stars would come together to compete in basketball, football and bowling. Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, Chuck D, Brett Michaels and Queen Latifah would play alongside Chris Webber, Gary Payton, Rick Mahorn, George Clooney, and yes…Leonardo DiCaprio (That’s him on the bottom left). It was truly incredible television.

Do any other Sports and Music crossovers come to mind? Let me know on Twitter @Mike_PiFF03.

2 Comments Posted on January 30, 2015September 12, 2015 Food, Movies, sports, Television

Seattle vs. New England: Everything BUT Football

I love Super Bowl week.

Media Day, All-Time great commercial countdowns, the constant NFL Films replaying of Super Bowls past, food…

It’s the best.

Once #DeflateGate finally blows over (if it ever does), we’ll see the game itself broken down in every way possible and multiple prop bet odds fluctuating up until Idina Menzel starts belting out our National Anthem. We’ll get trash talking from coast-to-coast and perhaps a gentleman’s bet between Ed Murray and Martin Walsh, the mayors of Seattle and Boston.

We DO however have an epic bet going between Star-Lord (Chris Pratt) and Captain America (Chris Evans)…

I would like to heat up the trash talk between the two regions by widening the scope and digging deeper into more than football. By comparing Seattle and New England (Boston) in categories such as music, TV, movies, other sports, beer, etc, we’ll be able to formulate a prediction for the Sunday’s outcome that’s as logical as an elephant choosing the winner…or a tiger.

That was awesome.

Anywho…

Music

In Seattle…

As part of Dave Grohl’s “Sonic Highways” docu-series following the cool concept of the Foo Fighters’ cross country recording journey for their latest album, Grohl and HBO focused on the Seattle music scene. While the central theme was how bands like Nirvana, Pearl Jam, Soundgarden and Alice in Chains almost literally blew up your FM frequencies, helping to create the alternative genre, grunge wasn’t the only calling card for Seattle.

During the post-war era (1945-1975), Seattle produced three of the industry’s all-time great black musicians. Ray Charles recorded his first single and made his television and radio debuts in Seattle. Quincy Jones played as an instrumentalist in Bumps Blackwell’s band. And before he went to England to start recording to eventually gain worldwide fame, Jimi Hendrix was rocking the clubs in Seattle on a nightly basis…In Hip-Hop, most of you know that Macklemore is from Seattle, but did you know Sir Mix A Lot was too? Seattle has also been the hub for current indie music acts, including Sunny Day Real Estate, The Postal Service, Death Cab for Cutie, The Head and the Heart, Fleet Foxes and (one of my favorites) Band of Horses.

In Boston…

I wanted to preface this in the beginning, but we find in a lot of these categories to be “Old School vs. New School” with New England representing a lot of the former. Of course we have to start with the “Bad Boys from Boston”, Aerosmith. Also fondly referred to as “America’s Greatest Rock and Roll Band”, they certainly score big points in this game. Add (the band) Boston, The Cars, and J. Geils Band to the list of bands yours dad (and I) really likes.

But wait, there’s more! While New Edition and Bell Biv Devoe rocked your oversized boom box, Donna Summer had the last dance. Raise your hand if you had a New Kids On The Block lunch box…Marky Mark might have. Add Powerman 5000, American Hi-Fi, The Mighty Mighty Bosstones, Guster, and The Dear Hunter and you get a pretty good feel for the Boston music scene.

Also Dropkick Murphys, Extreme and Pixies…Oh my!

Who Gets The Edge?

I found myself torn between the two, so I asked a couple of music experts and enthusiasts for their thoughts:

“Both great legacies. I couldn’t possibly pick one over the other, as four of my favorite bands of all time come from each city: Mission of Burma and Morphine (Boston/Cambridge) and Fastbacks and Mudhoney (Seattle). Also Tad makes up for the rise of Candlebox in Seattle, and the Cars make me want to forgive Boston for the existence of Extreme.” – Greg Kot, Chicago Tribune Music Critic

“Hard to not pick Boston just because I have so many musician friends there, but Seattle is formidable. I will call it a draw.” – Len Kasper, Chicago Cubs Television Broadcaster and musician.

See! Not that easy.

However, I’m a firm believer in quality over quantity and Seattle’s scene from the 90’s and recently is too good to deny. Plus, they don’t have a band like Extreme to worry about canceling out.

TV

Set in Seattle…

When we see Seattle depicted on television, what impressions do we get? Progressive, new age, rainy?

Twin Peaks, Weeds, Grey’s Anatomy, The Killing (aka The show that makes me genuinely afraid of Seattle.) And of course…

Frasier.

Set in Boston…

There’s a handful of the typical (but still good) “Boston” themed shows. Boston Legal, Boston Public, Boston Commons (yeah, I said it.)…Wahlburg is basically a synonym for “Boston” so Wahlburgers is included. Fringe, Leverage, and Rizzoli & Isles too. Ally McBeal is your “Grey’s” equivalent. And then there’s the real Boston heavyweight…

Cheers.

Who Gets The Edge?

At the end of the day, its Frasier vs. Cheers isn’t it? And there wouldn’t be a Frasier without Cheers. So Boston gets the win here.

Movies

In Seattle…

Yes Chick-Flick lovers, Sleepless in Seattle is a classic. But it’s not Seattle’s only claim to fame in the genre. 10 Things I Hate About You, Love Happens, An Officer and a Gentleman, the upcoming Fifty Shades of Grey film, and Say Anything…are all worthy of getting a spin this Valentine’s Day.

Some of my favorites include This Is Spinal Tap, War Games and 50/50. Add thrillers like Fear, The Hand That Rocks The Cradle and The Ring. And of course we can’t forget Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me, Saving Silverman, and Harry and the Hendersons.

In Boston…

There’s a fun spectrum of films that come to mind when you think of films based in Boston.

Gritty action movies: The Equalizer, Boondock Saints, The Town…

Sports movies: Fever Pitch, Celtic Pride, and I’ll allow Field of Dreams.

Comedies: Legally Blonde and Ted

Oscar nominated dramas: Good Will Hunting, Mystic River, The Fighter, and The Departed.

Who Has The Edge?

As much as I love 50/50 and War Games, Seattle can’t compete with the heavy hitters that were filmed in Boston. How do you like them apples?

Food

In Seattle…

Visuals are helpful. Warning: you may get hungry.

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In Boston…

Ditto.

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The Edge?

I don’t think you can go wrong getting seafood in either town, but my tastebuds lean toward Boston for the pizza and sweets.

Landmarks/Sights

In Seattle…

The Space Needle

Pike Place Fish Market

The Puget Sound

Safeco Field

…and the Freemont Troll. It’s under a bridge. And scary/adorable.

In Boston…

The Massachusetts State House

The Hatch Memorial Shell

The Freedom Trail

Fenway Park

…where everybody knows your name.

The Edge?

Close call, but how about that view in Seattle? Fenway Park will always have a place in my baseball heart but the Bridge Troll is kind of a deal breaker.

LIGHTNING ROUND!

Starbucks vs. Facebook – Seattle: Both addicting and everywhere, but I don’t have to worry about baby pictures, candy crush invites or internet trolls at any of the 5 Starbucks in a 3 mile radius of my house.

Sports Other Than Football – Boston: Love Gary Payton, Shawn Kemp, Ken Griffey Jr. and Edgar Martinez, but how many championships does the city have outside of the football stadium?

Beer – Boston: The Seattle craft beer scene is definitely a thing. Black Raven, Elysian, Georgetown and Naked City are all notable breweries…but the Boston Beer Co. is America’s original.

The Score:

Seattle – 3

New England – 5

Sorry, Star-Lord.

Let us know what you think and other ways your favorite city is better than the other by Tweeting @Mike_PiFF03.