Missing Net Presence … the Knicks? … Last Love … Mission Accomplished …

Amici:

Martin Biron voice: And now to da hockey.

The Games … last night’s game may have been the best I’ve ever watched. The Rangers had chances throughout the series (and the game last night), but the elite scorers didn’t deliver. On the other hand, the Kings spread the scoring around … Nash remained a no-show as far as goal scoring (that’s 2 years in a row) … St. Louis played well, but missed on several key opportunities … Zuccarello always plays hard and he did so again through every series … Kreider, who I thought propelled the Rangers through the earlier series with his speed and size, missed at least 4 breakaways during the series and two big ones in overtime (it happens) … Boyle was terrific throughout and seemed to pick-up some of the shot blocking they miss without Callahan … it looked as though Stralman played his best defense of the year, but there were a lot of turnovers off the starting duo of Girardi and McDonaugh, but Girardi was playing hurt and McMonster was on the ice longer than anybody ... and let’s give some credit to the Kings forechecking (it was ferocious throughout the series). The announcers were giving Richards a lot of praise last night, but I didn’t see the same thing. I saw a lot of missed shots. I thought the Ranger defense played hard, but their forwards didn’t seem to put forth the same effort as the Kings forwards. Lundqvist was more brilliant than I’ve ever seen him (remember I’m only a 3 year fan of the sport), but Quick somehow managed to make the timely saves. The Flyers and Blue Jackets have to be kicking themselves in the head for dealing away Carter … and Justin Williams (Conn Smythe winner) was magnificent throughout … Doughty played mad minutes and delivered … and Captain Brown (2 goals in the series; 1 the OT winner in game 2) was diving to make passes and maintain puck possession (somebody say Callahan?) … so did all of the Kings. I suspect Gaborik is haunting Ranger management about now … good. They (management) deserve it.

I’m sure I’m missing key players above, but I didn't sleep much last night (leftover adrenaline, plus my tongue is still on fire from smoking my pipe like a chimney throughout the game).

 

Seriously, dude, find something less painful to do when you're nervous (or when you're writing).

It seemed to me what the Rangers were missing most was net presence (somebody say Callahan?) … it seemed as though nobody was willing to take the beating it requires in front of the net with any consistency (somebody say Callahan?) … that said, they probably exceeded expectations.

Earlier Games: The first two games were also incredible and could’ve been won by either team. The fact the Rangers blew 2 goal leads three times in two games is difficult to defend, but they still had several chances to win each game in regulation and OT. The non-call in game 2 was terrible, but it wasn’t the first time there was a bad call/non-call in this year’s (or any years’) playoffs.

Remember this call in the first round?

The bottom line was the Kings found a way, the Rangers didn’t. What came to mind after the second game double OT winner put in by Captain Dustin Brown was: Man, it’s great to have a CAPTAIN.

Game 3 was a different animal. Jonathan Quick saved the day and made it appear as though a Kings win was never in doubt. For me, the goal scored with less than a full second on the clock before the end of the first period was critical. It would require the Rangers to come out at the start of the second period full speed and banging. They didn’t. They took unfortunate penalties instead. And then there were follow-up goals in the second period that were daggers the Rangers never answered.

All week long there was talk about how when the Kings went up 2 goals, they were unbeatable. I didn’t believe that based on how well the Rangers had played them in games 1 and 2, but in game 3 it seemed as if the Rangers were accepting defeat. As Mike Keenan noted after the game, there was no passion on the ice. No pushing and shoving. No roughhousing that might spur the team on. Where was the extra effort? I saw Dustin Brown dive for a puck to make a pass and I know I’ve seen that before when Callahan was still a Ranger, but not during game 3, not from the Rangers. It looked like the often talked about dual locker room leadership of Richards and St. Louis had faded.

Or maybe it never was there.

Game 4 was Ranger puck luck, end of story. The hockey Gods gave one back … the Kings completely outplayed the Rangers from Dustin (there’s that Captain thing again) Brown’s breakaway goal to the end of the game. Not sure how those two pucks didn’t cross the line, but Lundqvist was brilliant all game long without the luck. He deserved that win.

If there’s an excuse for the Rangers, I suspect it’s their overall youth and inexperience going so deep in the playoffs. On the other hand, if Montreal doesn’t upset Boston, maybe the Rangers don’t escape the second round. On the “other” other hand, maybe if Carey Price isn’t knocked out of the series in the first game of the series, the Rangers aren’t in the finals.

It just seems as though whatever spirit and moxie they had developed after the stinker they put up in game 4 versus the Penguins, whether it was a response from embarrassment or bonding behind the tragic passing of St. Louis’ mother, it was missing in the finals (somebody say Callahan?). That or the Kings are just a much better team. While I think they (the Kings) are far more experienced and tenacious, I don't believe the Rangers couldn't beat them in a 4 out of 7.

The speed game may still be there, but there’s an edge missing that is undeniable … I suspect the missing edge is spelled CALLAHAN.

The intangibles a player like Callahan brings to the table didn’t compute for Vigneault and/or Sather. The wanted elite goal scorers who might speed the plow. They didn’t. Somehow it doesn’t bother the organization, and/or too many of its blue bleeding fans, to pay such “elite” goal scorers such big money with such meager results. By playoff end, some 25 games (plus OTs), the Rangers top goal scorer through all of the series combined is Martin St. Louis with 8 goals. Two guys from Chicago had the same amount of goals or more in 5 less games, and two Kings had more (Carter and another Ranger trade-off, Marian Gaborik). That's not putting blame on St. Louis, but one does have to measure what they gained vs. what they gave up.  St. Louis scored twice in the 5 games of the final. Brad Richards didn't score. Neither did Rick Nash. Maybe the speed game needs something more than flash.

I’m not saying the Rangers would’ve won the cup if Ryan Callahan was still with the team. I am saying they still would’ve been there. We know they didn’t win it without him. I’m also saying that the edge and extra efforts that Callahan brings to the ice are exactly what the Rangers needed all series long. The Rangers would’ve done no worse getting past either the faltering Penguins or the crippled Canadians (playing with a 3rd string goalie) with Callahan. The difference, of course, is they’d have him for 6 or 7 more years. Now they’re lacking a selfless grinder who can score and is willing to sacrifice his body to stop someone else from scoring. What they gained was an aging goal scorer (no longer near his prime) who’s missed a lot more open nets than he’s found. I'm not sure the media will be able to milk his emotional story (and it was tragic) through to next season, but I'm sure they'll try.

 

And it doesn't get unnoticed that a team loaded with grinders won the cup.

Here’s the kind of leadership (and guts) that the Rangers are missing, except in this clip Callahan does it without his stick.  When the goal is scored, he's off the ice.

The Rangers lost a lead by example style of play and it has been missed, especially against a team with another Callahan type player, Dustin Brown. It’s fitting that the Kings win another cup and that their captain gets to hoist the Stanley Cup one more time in his career. The Rangers opted to trade their captain and have been without one since March 5 (when I started my Callahan diet and dropped 62 pounds and counting, yo!). He's very missed by the team and fans who appreciate a work ethic an entire city could be proud of.

Listen to Joe (above) on this one: “You follow your captain. When something needs to get done, you need your captain to step up.”

Make no mistake, having a CAPTAIN means something.

Now for the TK awards:

Official Best TV coverage shot of the series so far ... Justin Williams blowing a booger out his nose on the bench ... thank God my wife was shopping on line in the dining room.

Official best MSG shot … fans still wearing Captain Callahan jersies.

Official best hockey voice award goes to … former Ranger backup goalie, Martin Biron …

The Knicks? More talk and spending by the New York Knicks, the gift that keeps on giving to comedians everywhere … first they hired a guy with ZERO GM experience for $12 million a year … a legendary coach who maybe had a little help from his friends on the court (Jordan, Pippin, Bryant and Shaq), so when his hubris winds up bitch-slapped by the guy he expected to hire (another apostle of the triangle offense, Jeff Kerr--and another guy with ZERO coaching experience), the Zen Master hires another friend/guy with ZERO coaching experience … for how much? How about $5 million a year for 5 years? I’m sure he’s a nice guy, this Dereck fella, but really, the Knicks' roster blows. If the Knicks have proved one thing (Pat Dolan), it’s that they know how to blow some coin.

Nobody flushes the cash down the toilet like the New York Knicks.

 

Last Love … Wow, what a movie. I watched this one while the wife was at work and it scared me the way these types of movies always scare me. There are some great shots of Paris throughout. Even the dancing scenes were fun. I enjoyed it quite a bit. Might not be for everybody, but if you’re sentimental, this one’ll do the trick.  Me, I'm a sentimental SOB.  I cry at the Rangers Beginnings shows about their players and their families. Very highly recommended.

Mission Accomplished … well, now that it’s been a few years since regime change in Iraq and we FINALLY got the hell out, it looks as though we left that terra firma fertile for the kind of revolution that winds up making things much worse than before (i.e., under Saddam). You’d think we learned, but we haven’t. We did this in Vietnam and Cambodia (and Cambodia was a neutral state) … we were responsible for Pol Pot and Khmer revolution that ended in Killing Fields, but those lessons obviously weren’t enough. Listen, I was hoodwinked right along with much of America (and it’s not like those with better foresight didn’t try and warn me). I fell for the bullshit and supported both wars. Now I know better than to ever believe anything I can’t see, touch, feel and witness for myself.

Read more about it here:

—Knucks

Congrats to the Kings ...

They are the Champions …

 

SNHU’s MFA graduate, Andrea Crossley Spencer wins … The Dogfella … Movies (great and really bad) … Nuremberg: The Reckoning … NHL vs. NBA … The Stanley Cup …

Amici:

SNHU MFA graduate, Andrea Crossley Spencer wins a very short story contest.

Andrea Crossley Spencer writes to share a person’s perspective of the world in a way that feels both new and relevant. As a reader, she loves when an author creates a voice that comes off the page, feeling entirely fresh and yet as familiar as home. As a writer, her goal is to connect with readers by creating similar moments of satisfaction on the page.

Andrea lives in North Carolina with her husband and two young children. She holds a bachelor’s degree in English literature from High Point University, where she graduated summa cum laude, and an MFA in fiction from Southern New Hampshire University. Her thesis manuscript, The Promise of Water, was named runner-up in the Whidbey Emerging Writers Contest by the Northwest Institute of Literary Arts and is currently a finalist in the 2014 Great Novel Contest (Columbus Creative Cooperative.) Author Richard Adams Carey calls the novel, “as graceful as it is powerful — a bracing and heart-breaking plunge into the mystery of identity, the boundlessness of love.”

Andrea’s short fiction recently earned a nod from Ruminate Magazine, which named her short story, “Limb by Limb” a semifinalist for the William Van Dyke Short Story Prize. And NYC’s Gotham Writer’s Workshop named her the winner of their 2014 Very Short Story Contest.

In addition to her fiction writing, Andrea specializes in marketing and strategic communication. For the past eleven years, she has developed the voice of UNCG, a large public university in Greensboro, North Carolina, where she crafts authentic stories about inspiring students and the people who are the fabric of her community. Her work has been honored by the Council for Advancement and Support of Education and the International Academy of Visual Arts (Communicator Award of Distinction).

Andrea got her start as a copywriter and account manager for advertising and design agencies. From that experience, she developed a freelance writing business with an extensive client list that has spanned healthcare, retail, small business, fundraising, and more. One of her most memorable and exciting assignments was writing for actress Jane Seymour.

In addition to hosting writing workshops in her community, she is currently working on her second novel, tentatively titled Cloudspotting. Grounded by the dispiriting memory of a decade-old school shooting, the story captures a woman whose sense of humor keeps her afloat amid a string of chaotic life challenges, and her daughter, who wonders why her life was spared.

 

Visit her website here:

 

 

 

Dogfella … For Da Capo, Dan Ambrosio acquired world rights to James Guiliani’s memoir, which he is writing with Charlie Stella, Dogfella. Guiliani is a former enforcer for the Gambino crime family who now stars in the OWN Network’s reality show, The Diamond Collar. Da Capo said the book will tell Guiliani’s story of escaping his life of crime after rescuing a Shih Tzu and how he now devotes himself to animal rescue work. Agent Erin Niumata at Folio Literary Management represented Guiliani.

 

Twice Born … A really terrific movie that takes place mostly in Sarajevo. Penelope Cruz plays an Italian Mom who brings her son to Sarajevo when asked to return there by a friend she made during her Sarajevo stay during the war. Her former husband is dead, but that’s where the mystery begins. No spoilers … well worth the time. Very Highly Recommended.

Finding Faith … an incredibly bad movie is all I can say. It was put on by some Christian Church Production company (it’s on the Christian film database) and it stars Erik Estrada … it took me several hours to watch this one (mostly because I had to stop from falling asleep), but it actually is the fact that it was produced by a Christian company that interested me. Not worth the time it takes to download on Netflix. No way this one gets a trailer here. Forgetaboutit … a stinker.

Nuremberg: The Reckoning … I’ve read a few books by William F. Buckley, Jr., and even wrote to him many years ago about one I particularly liked, Elvis in the Morning, but this one didn’t measure up. Buckley’s sister, by the way, hand-wrote a thank you – she handled his correspondence back in the day. What I did like about the Nuremburg book was what I found in the Elvis book regarding politics. Buckley actually was very fair about not turning the book into a National Review essay (although he was very tough on communism whenever he had the chance in this one—yet he provided both sides of the issue surrounding genocide, even bringing up more than a few times the situation here regarding Native Americans). Still, Nuremburg was told in a very disjointed manner, flipping back and forth in time, something I don’t usually mind, but this was way too vanilla for me.

NHL vs. NBA … there isn’t much of a comparison for moi. Both sports require athleticism, but as for play and results, it’s a no brainer. The NBA is essentially a 3-5 team race … for the loser in the finals. It’s been a 1 team race since Miami pooled together James with Bosh and Wade … it hasn’t been much different in years past either. Outside of the Mavericks beating the Heat (and they had a superstar too) LeBron’s first year with the Heat, and prior to that Dwayne Wade’s wonderful performance when the Heat won with him and a declining Shaq, basketball has been and remains a one trick pony. Season play is as meaningless as it gets. Who didn’t know the Heat would be in the finals? The question was which team would be the sacrificial lamb. This year it’s a repeat of last year. Of course I want the Spurs to beat the Heat, but I doubt it’ll happen. And even if it does, who cares? Even the playoff games themselves, there’s hardly ever a reason to tune in until there’s 5 minutes or less left in the game. What’s exciting about the NBA?

Whereas hockey is always an unpredictable game and there’s never a predictable outcome. This year alone, when teams sported a 3-1 lead, some lost. When a team sported a 3 game lead in a 4 game series, it (the Sharks) lost. And because it’s a TEAM game, it just doesn’t make a difference which superstar any given team has on its roster. Crosby? A no show again this year. Ovechkin? Didn’t even make the playoffs. Even Jonathan Toews is gone. Lundqvist is there, but a great goalie can’t win it by himself (somebody has to score a goal or two). The two teams with the best records in the NHL this season were gone early. The next best were gone as well. The fifth best in the east, the Rangers are playing tonight against the sixth best from the west. And every single round, except the first between a mature Canadian team and a very young Tampa Bay team, were exciting.

It’s no mystery why the NHL is getting extra attention this year … it’s the New York market Rangers … but I’ll never understand how the NBA gets any attention at all during the season up until the last game of the finals. Contest? Not from where I sit.

Hockey Rules!

The Stanley Cup … wow, it’s here … the Rangers vs. the Kings … I’m glad the Kings made it for two reasons: 1) Dustin Brown … he’s a Callahan type players (in fact he played on the same line with Cally for USA in the Olympics) and 2) I still can’t stand the thought of the Ranger organization getting the cup after trading Callahan. I suspect they may pull it off, which is probably the worst thing Ranger fans want to read (me, the jinx, predicting they’ll win), but it should be a very exciting final. I just hope there aren’t the types of injuries to either side that can change the course of the series. Let the games begin …

I'm watching it right now and it's tied 2-2 after 2 periods ... very exciting.


—Knucks

It’s now featured during a national commercial … oy vey …

Susan Kennedy … Country Noir … Madrid 1987 … Muscle Shoals …

Amici:

 

Susan Kennedy … another SNHU MFA graduate has some works in the pike, baby. "Nightly Music" placed third in the romance category of the Ninth Annual Writer's Digest Popular Fiction Awards. The contest was held last fall and the winners were announced in November. Susan was told that it was an honorable mention and would be on the list of winners, which would be announced this spring. She didn't know it had received third place until she found the webpage.

 

Here's the link:

 

Since the story itself wasn't being published by Writer's Digest, she sent it out and Romance Magazine accepted it for the April issue. Here's the link to the issue:

A synopsis of the story goes like this: "Nightly Music" follows protagonist Lynette Dunne, a woman in her thirties with shattered dreams and a haunting passion for ballroom dancing. Before the story begins, she leaves competitive dancing amid the scandal and shame of public betrayal by her professional dancing partner. When readers meet her, she has curled into an obscure, and what she thinks is a responsible, life that consists of a reliable day job in New Hampshire's Queen City (Manchester). But, it leaves her heart empty and her soul aching, and the betrayal has left her terrified of romantic relationships. In the apartment next door to hers lives high school history teacher Keith Nelson. His knack for seeing through facades, his honesty, and his refusal to give up finally win her trust and teach her that being "responsible" does not equal denying oneself of life's joys.

Susan’s bio as it appears in Romance Magazine: Susan E. Kennedy holds a Master of Fine Arts in Fiction and Nonfiction from Southern New Hampshire University. Her work has appeared in several publications, including the literary magazines Amokseag and The View From Here. Her short story "Portsmouth Propriety" is forthcoming in Love Free or Die, an anthology of fiction, in June 2014. She is a freelance editor, proofreader, manuscript reviewer, and writer. She is at work on a historical novel set in 1773 New England.

Susan’s first short story was published when I was a fifteen-year-old high school student.

The debut novel by one of Susan’s freelance editing clients is going to be published by Harper Voyager Impulse on July 22nd.

Country Noir … a wonderful article by author, Court Merrigan, in Electric Literature, comparing some classic southern and gothic noir with the new kid on the block—Country Noir. Merrigan does a wonderful job of introducing some of the best modern writers of noir around (Benjamin Whitmer, Scott Wolven, Frank Bill and Percival Everett). Some of my favorites are given kudos in the piece as well, including Larry Brown, Cormac McCarthy, James Cain and Erskine Caldwell (not to mention Faulker, Flannery O’Connor and Jim Thompson). Hey, it even comes with an organizational chart (see below) that brings it all back to a book I’ll have to read first chance I get—The Sovereignty and Goodness of God, by Mary Rowlandson.

Check this wonderful article out right here:

 

 





 

 

Madrid 1987 … an interesting movie about the pairing of a cultured older man and beautiful young student. Wonderful dialogue start to finish. Miguel (José Sacristán), a famous columnist, was interviewed by a journalism student Ángela (María Valverde). She’s the beauty the professor can’t ignore. They wind up in his friend’s flat and wind up locked in the bathroom for two days. Interesting as it gets.

 

 

Muscle Shoals … a wonderful documentary about the legendary recording studio(s); how they came about and how they persevered. An all-white rhythm band? Who knew? It’s a wonderful film. Check it out. Hits up the kazooooooo!

—Knucks

Percy Sledge, for the Principessa Ann Marie … When A Man Loves A Woman …

A younger Mr. Sledge singing the same song.

The Dogfella ...



Amici:

Remember this guy? James “Head” Guiliani … the Dogfella himself. James has an incredible story to tell. A story of reckless self-abuse with drugs and alcohol, plus a 10 year stint as a mob enforcer. James has done time and reached rock bottom from his addictions. One day James went to Rockaway Beach with a gun to put an end to the misery he was bringing on himself and those who loved him.

And then he met the woman who would help guide him to salvation.

Remember Lena?

One day the two of them came across an abandoned and abused Shih-Tsu tied to a Brooklyn parking meter, just hours from dying. James and Lena rescued the dog out of pocket and the start of an amazing salvation was born.

I’m fortunate enough to help James tell his wonderful story--how a guy of the streets went from a life of crime and addiction to a full time dedication to rescue animals.

And remember this guy? Dr. Salvatore Pernice …

Dr. Sal was pivotal in James and Lena’s animal rescues.

And who can forget Primo!!!!!!!!!!!!!

We’re at work on the book now. So, coming next year, James’ incredible road to salvation will be available in bookstores everywhere. What else do you call a guy who makes himself available to animal rescue 24-hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year, year in and year out?

The Dogfella

—Knucks

In the Loop … The Complete Short Novels of Chekhov … NHL Playoffs …

Amici:

In the Loop ... hilarious movie about the politics of politics … Obviously what the HBO show VEEP ripped off (and they do it well), but the movie (In the Loop) is a dozen times more hilarious because of the non-stop verbal jousting amongst and between polls in the UK and back across the pond. The issue is war … and the spin (and spinners) are all mixed up … and what a cast! James Gandolfini, Peter Capaldi, Samantha Harrington, Tom Hollander, Chris Addison … forgetaboutit … I laughed out loud a few times.

All five novellas are all worth the read, but my favorite remains Three Years, the story of a man confused by lust and love and a life of money he wants to rebuke. Leptev comes from money and old ways (and a family struggling to maintain its old ways), but falls for a beautiful young woman who first rejects his offer of marriage, but then feels terrible for the way she hurt him (and is also concerned with her own future) and reconsiders and marries the much older Leptev. It is a life of misery for both, especially once the reader is introduced to the much less attractive but independent woman Leptev had been involved with long before meeting the beauty. Constant clashes with his class and passionless marriage are the emotional adventure Leptev experiences … a wonderful read. Also wonderful, was The Steppe, which deals with the travels of a nine year old boy and the life lessons he learns from the many characters he meets along the way. My Life features another man struggling against the wealth of his own family (and the perks that come with money) as he rejects his nobility and works among the peasants … but he too falls for a beauty who is much more fickle (La Donna Mobile?) about what she wants than what she’ll stick with. This is supposedly Chekhov’s most autobiographical work and it is a beauty. The Dual features an array of characters, including a self-righteous scientist, a well-meaning but confused doctor, and a hedonistic drunk. The problems that arise over a woman and clashing ideals is often humorous. The Story of an Unknown Man is the weakest of the novellas and features a spy and potential assassin (oh, my), a Playboy and a woman deceived by the Playboy. Still worth reading.

Anything Chekhov is always recommended … get it here:

NHL Playoffs … okay, so the Rangers made it to the semi-final round … something they’ve done as recently as 2012-13 (with Ryan Callahan) … that year his stats (without diving in front of pucks/blocked shots, diving to make a pass, hustling to make a back-check … all the intangibles hockey fans love to see from their players, especially their captain) looked like this:

Season: GP = 76; Goals = 29; Assists = 25

Playoffs: GP = 20; Goals = 6 (tied for the team lead); Assists = 4

The Devils were the better team in the semi-finals (or the better team in that series) and took the Rangers out in 6 games.

And there’s this:

Whether the Rangers continue winning or not during this playoff year, one thing is undeniable so far: They’d be in no better shape without Martin St. Louis … or Rick Nash (for that matter) …

For Ranger fans who bought into the corporate talking points about Callahan being “too greedy”, Sather stated it was the “no trade clause” Cally’s agent was seeking that killed the deal. That’s called loyalty, amici, not greed. The man wanted to stay.

But one has to wonder how often the Ranger organization takes stock of some of its recent trade blunders … unless Rick Nash puts on a show vs. the Expos (and in the final should they make it), one has to wonder what the hell his net worth is … $7.8 million a year? Really?

And I’ll just bet their burning over Marian Gaborik’s scoring resurgence ….

My wife, who has remained a Ranger fan, is showing empathy (next week's book review featuring The Empathy Essays, by Leslie Jamison) with my reaction to this asinine trade and is giving me some sympathetic looks as the Rangers move into the next round of playoffs, because she knows how much this bothers me that a) Ryan Callahan isn’t there and b) I can’t root for the Rangers.

And so, amici, I hope the Expos sweep the Rangers in 4 …

On the left coast, I’m rooting for Dustin Brown (Captain) and his Kings … because he reminds me of Callahan … and wasn’t it great when they two shared the same line in the Olympics (along with David Backes)? The meat line!

As a unit, David Backes, Dustin Brown and Ryan Callahan define truculence, not grace. That’s right, amici … the three of them play the entire game, not just offense, and certainly not only when they have the puck.

—Knucks

Snake Oil Salesmen (Glen Sather) of the world, take gas. Tell’em, Tom …

A Waits song redone by The Boss … (we were there for this, me and my doll, at Moonachie Blue/Green Stadium) …

Happy Birthday Boo-Dee-Bah! … The Rangers … A wonderful Polish film …

Amici:

Hey, 30 years ago today, the Boo-Dee-Bah was born. Above he’s coming to America … he’s the youngest of the loins of my cloth (my wife informs me it’s actually the fruit of my loins, but I yield to idiot status whenever it helps get a chuckle from her ... and brothers and sisters, did she laugh at me when I said it visiting Momma Stella on Mother’s Day) … Dustin William Stella is as clever as they come, stubborn as a mule (I wonder where he gets that from?) … handsome and, well, his brother knows what comes next (and he didn’t get it from me—tall and thin, tall and thin!)

Unfortunately, he was sucked into being a Buffalo Bills fan (all my brats were), but I’m working on him to change favorite sports over to hockey. A working man’s job is never done …

Here he is with his brother and sister (my favorite picture of the young Stella clan).

 

Here he is with a hottie …

 

Here he is wearing my jacket …

 

Here he is with someone else’s jacket …

 

I know, I know ... get the kid a jacket of his own already!

 

Here he is with his hot tomata’ (Madalynn) and James (The Dogfella) Guiliani!

 

What can I say, he's a Super Son!

 

 

 

The Rangers … Of course heartfelt condolences are extended to Martin St. Louis for the sudden loss of his mother (last week) the day before the raucous Ranger comeback began. We send heartfelt condolences to all those who’ve lost a loved one at any time. Tonight the Rangers completed an incredible comeback against a team that tends to be all hype until it counts … it was good to see Brian Boyle put one in the net … and his diving to make and block passes reminds me so much of Captain Callahan … it was a great comeback and a fine win … of course it cost them a first round pick, but that’s to Tampa Bay’s credit … as much as I’m enjoying the playoffs, I await the signing of Callahan … wherever he goes, so goes Charlie and Temporary Knucksline … and now that I’m down 52 pounds (107 to go), I can finally fit into a Callahan jersey.

 

In the Name of … A wonderful Polish film dealing with one man’s struggle with his sexuality. Father Adam (Andrzej Chyra) had been transferred to a less than exciting parish. He is into the rough stuff during soccer games with a group juvenile delinquents. He’s good with them, but has a propensity to booze and run off his sexual frustrations in the woods. Two students become a focus of what’s to come (no spoilers) … it is a wonderful film, unless you’re a homophobe. Very highly recommended.

 

 

—Knucks

I watched this again today at work during lunch … breaks my heart that he’s not here where he belongs, especially during the playoffs.

Remember this one?

Good Evening Mr. & Mrs. America (Round 2) … Night Train to Lisbon ... Racism in Sports? … Smell the Roses ...

Amici:

Good Evening Mr. & Mrs. America (Round 2) … I recently reread this gem of a novel by Richard Bausch for a simple reason—inspiration for the piece I’m working on. I remembered how much I enjoyed this book (see previous review here) and I wanted/needed to read it again. I’ve read pretty much everything by Bausch since first being introduced to his work in an MFA course a couple of years ago (or is it 3 years already?). Let me add one more WONDERFUL to the previous review … it is an engaging read that will not let you down … and for that reason, it is EXTREMELY HIGHLY RECOMMENDED …

Again, our previous (more detailed) review here:

Get it here:

 

 

Night Train to Lisbon … another movie I wished to hell I’d read the book before seeing, but I was glad I watched this one anyway. A fine cast, including some familiar faces playing major roles. It’s a history lesson with drama and a walk back in time as Jeremy Irons searches for the story behind a book left behind by an attempted suicide he stopped from happening. A fine movie.

And speaking of racism …

 

Read about it here:

Man, fall in love with a sport and (snap your fingers), just like that, it starts to turn to shit. Not only were the racist “tweets” aimed at Montreal Expos' (I know they’re the Canadians, but I’m calling them the Expos for beating my Bolts) PK Subban as nasty as nasty gets (proving assholes follow all sports), but then I had to watch Kane on the Blackhawks do an NFL/MLB/NBA chest pounding routine, highlighted by him yelling, “Show Time” to the crowd.

I really hate that shit and wish the goal celebrations weren’t becoming as bad as the crap we have to tolerate in the other major sports. Fellas, it’s nice you scored a goal. It’s nice if you scored three goals, but how about leaving it at arm pumping and maybe a howl or two, and leave the “look at me” bullshit to baseball, football and basketball?

I’m just sayin’ …

And excuse me for not getting too excited about the latest round of schadenfreude. While Los Angeles Californians pat themselves on the back for fearlessly emoting their hatred of all things Donald Sterling, perhaps it’s time to boycott the games instead. It’s bad enough Sterling will realize about an 700 million dollar profit for being forced to sell his team, but adding coins to the bank the same week his racist tirade went public seems to me a bit of a sellout as well.

I’m just sayin’ …

 

Yeah, he’s a racist dick, but what I found interesting about this fiasco was the young girlfriend sleeping with the enemy (somebody say prostitution?) Not that that makes her a bad person … and then there’s wife in the background … come on, look at this guy! He looks like he’s melting … he looks like Joan Rivers! You’d have to pay ANYONE big bucks to look at him naked, never mind touch and/or insert him in some body part.

 

So much for money = happiness, eh?

In the meantime, remember, amici … the clock is ALWAYS running … we have but so much time before it (and we) expire … every morning we’re a day closer to the ultimate end of game (my wife hates when I say this, but it’s the truth). So, enjoy it while you can … whether you have the gelt or not (and happiness obviously has nothing to do with gelt—see Donald Sterling), make the best of what you have to work with and take time to smell the roses … read a fuckin’ book (try one of those dopey Stella crime novels if you need a sleeping aid) … see a fuckin’ movie (we review them here all the time and the one up above is a fine one) … listen to a fuckin’ symphony (country western/rock/jazz/blues) tune … and so on. Life really is way too short.

I’m just sayin’ …


—Knucks

Hey, Donald Sterling’s “girlfriend” …