Rihanna has reportedly asked her boyfriend Matt Kemp to move into her LA home.
The singer was linked with Kemp, who plays baseball for the Los Angeles Dodgers, back in January when they went on vacation to Mexico together. However the pair have always said they were just friends.
A source told Star magazine,
“Matt is very happy to be moving in with Rihanna. He knew it was only a matter of time before Rihanna moved him in. He wants to make her happy. He had boxes of his things brought over in mid-March. He’s training in Arizona now, but when he’s back he’ll be at her place. He’s keeping his house, to see how things go, but they are so in love.”
BSOD: 3/31/10: Rude Boy Artist: Rihanna Released: 2009
More than the national sport, baseball is a passion here, to the point that it has become part of the lexicon of daily life.
A lover discovered in an infidelity is said to have been "caught off base" and if the relationship breaks up, they "gave him the bat." To be "between second and third," is to be trapped in a dilemma, and a "number four batter" is someone of great power and strength.
To get in the spirit of the finals, the Puerto Rican hip hop group Calle 13 donned the shirts of the Cuban national baseball team at a huge free concert Tuesday at Havana's Jose Marti Anti-Imperialist Plaza.
Kelvis Ochoa and other Cuban musicians returned the compliment by wearing the colors of the Puerto Rican team.
Calle 13 won a Latin Grammy for record of the year in 2009 for "No Hay Nadie Como Tú (Featuring Café Tacuba)"
BSOD 3/30/2010: No Hay Nadie Como Tú (Featuring Café Tacuba)
On the heels of releasing her new album,"I'm Still Here" country singer Mindy McCready is back in the news and again, its not for the musical reasons. Vivid Entertainment has announced that a "sex tape" video of McCready titled "Baseball Mistress" will be released in April 2010.
The sex tape will have Mindy discussing her relationship with once future, but now in doubt Hall of Famer; Roger Clemens. The album itself is getting mixed reviews, but let's turn the clock back to 1996 (I'm sure Roger wishes he could too), for today's Baseball Song of the Day, A Girl's Gotta Do (What a Girl's Gotta Do).
Note: the sex tape will not be video of her and Roger Clemens but of Mindy and an ex-boyfriend named "Peter."
The first thing I did when you said goodbye
Was sit myself down and have a real good cry
The next thing I did was put my red dress on
And go downtown dancing till the break of dawn
A girl's gotta do what a girl's gotta do
And now I've gotta get to getting' over you
Too bad I gotta do it with someone new
But a girl's gotta do what a girl's gotta do
Fancy meeting you out stomping ground
Sorry if you caught me painting the town
Guess I shoulda stayed home with your memory
Baby don't take it personally
A girl's gotta do what a girl's gotta do
And now I've gotta get to gettin' over you
Too bad I gotta do it with someone new
But a girl's gotta do what a girl's gotta do
Give me a call sometime real soon
And remind me to remember
To forget about you, hoah yeah
A girl's gotta do what a girl's gotta do
And now I've gotta get to gettin' over you
Too bad I gotta do it with someone new
But a girl's gotta do what a girl's gotta do
A girl's gotta do it
Yeah a girl's gotta do it
To bad I gotta do it (with someone new)
To bad I gotta do it with someone new
But a girl's gotta do what a girl's gotta do
The year was 1959 and they enthralled the city of Chicago with their hustling and bustling scrappy play, fantastic defense, and their speed. The Chicago White Sox were battling the Cleveland Indians for the division and were finally making amends for the "Black Sox Scandal" of 1919.
Venezuelan shortstop Luis Aparicio (who's uniform number 11 was just un-retired in 2010 for slick fielding Omar Vizquel), his partner in action Nellie Fox at second base, power at first base with Ted "Big Klu" Kluszewsk and the workhorse in starting pitcher Early Wynn.
The peppy play of the White Sox that year inspired a song to be written by one of their very own; former White Sox minor leaguer Al Trace as well as his friend Walter "Li'l Wally" Jagiello. Trace and Jagiello brought the song to the attention of Captain Stubby (Tom C. Fouts who also voiced "Little Sprout" in the Green Giant commercials) and the Buccaneers, who were known to be a popular country band playing in and around Chicagoland, and the song was recorded and released on Jagiello's record label; Drum Boy Records.
Both the song (which didn't sell very well in 1959) and the season, didn't turn out exactly as planned as the White Sox didn't fare too well in the World Series as the Sox lost to the Los Angeles Dodgers 4 games to 2.
However fast forward 46 years later, and in 2005 the vintage / retro feel inspired a whole new generation when it was played at U.S. Cellar Field on the jumbotron, as well as was played during FOX tv's playoff broadcasts of the White Sox in their historic playoff run, in which the White Sox dominated the playoffs winning 11 of 12 games against the Red Sox, Angels, and Astros.
BSOD: 3/28/2010: Let's Go, Go-Go White Sox Artist: Captain Stubby and the Buccaneers Released: 1959
Video Montage to : Let's Go, Go-Go White Sox
Let's Go, Go-Go White Sox lyrics
White Sox! White Sox!
Go-Go White Sox!
Let's go, Go-Go White Sox
We're with you all the way!
You're always in there fighting,
And you do your best.
We're glad to have you out there in the Middle West.
We're gonna root-root-root-root White Sox
And cheer you on to victory
When we're in the stands,
We'll make those rafters ring;
All through the season,
You will hear us sing.
Let's go, Go-Go White Sox,
Chicago's proud of you!
White Sox! White Sox!
Go-Go White Sox!
Root-Root-Root for the White Sox
We'll cheer you on to victory
When we're in the stands,
We'll make those rafters ring;
All through the season,
You will hear us sing
Let's go, Go-Go White Sox,
Chicago's proud of you! (Play ball!)
White Sox! White Sox!
Go-Go White Sox!
Let's go, Go-Go White Sox!
Chicago is proud of you!
It's Saturday Night at the Movies, today's feature is the 1988 film "Bull Durham" starring Kevin Coster as the aging veteran (Crash Davis) of the minor leagues, Susan Sarandon (Annie Savoy) as the Baseball Muse, and Tim Robbins (Ebby Calvin "Nuke" LaLoosh) as the "all talent - no brains" flame thrower making his way up the minors. The song that we'll be mentioning today comes initially from Nuke whilst he's picking away at the geetar in the back of the bus, totally oblivious (as he is to many things in life) to the history of the song and the words contained therein.
And.....ACTION!
------------------------------------------------
And then from the back of the bus, some soft, gentle, but slightly dissonant guitar chords.
THE BACK OF THE BUS -- Nuke sits across the aisle from Crash, who's re-reading Thomas Pynchon. Nuke has a guitar and is struggling with some chords to "Try a Little Tenderness".
He butchers the chords and the words.
NUKE
(singing softly)
Oh she may get wooly, women do get wooly, because of all the stress...
CRASH
(in disgust) Gimme that.
CRASH STRONGARMS THE GUITAR from Nuke.
CRASH
I hate people who get the words wrong. It ain't "woolly" it's "weary"
and it nobody's got stress, they're wearing a dress.
(beat)
Listen.
CRASH WHIPS THROUGH THE FIRST FEW BARS of the song.
CRASH
(sings softly)
Oh she may be weary, Young girls do get weary, Wearing the same old dress...
HE SHOVES THE GUITAR back at Nuke.
NUKE
How come you don't like me?
CRASH
'Cause you don't respect yourself, which is your problem,
but you don't respect the game--and that's my problem.
(beat)
You got a gift.
NUKE
What do I got?
CRASH
A gift. When you were a baby the gods reached down and turned your right arm into a thunderbolt.
Nuke looks at his right arm, rubs his shoulder curiously.
CRASH
You got a Hall of Fame arm but you're pissing it away.
NUKE
I ain't pissing nothing away. I got a Porsche already. A 944 with A.C. and a quadraphonic Blaupunkt.
CRASH
You don't need a quadraphonic Blaupunkt--you need a curve ball.
(beat)
In the Show, everybody can hit the fastball.
NUKE
You been in the Majors?
Today's BSOD is Otis Reddings' "Try a little Tenderness"
Oh, Come All ye Baseball Fans, its time to Sound The Trumpet!
Back in the early 1970's, the Chicago Cubs had a mustached second baseman/middle infielder by the name of Carmen Fanzone. Carmen wasn't a world beater at the plate, with a lifetime .224 avg (although he did hit 8HR and 42 RBI's in only 222 AB's in 1972) but he was well known for his trumpet playing, which he later turned into a jazz career. Not only did Carmen play the national anthem before a game at Wrigley, but he also performed in "The Tonight Show" band for Doc Severinsen and Johnny Carson.
Move the clock forward to the mid-nineties and you'll find a classical FM radio station of WCLV in Cleveland, Ohio commissioning the Case Western Reserve University Music Department to create a baseball song in keeping with its classical format to celebrate the Cleveland Indians return to the World Series in 1995.
What Professor Ross Dufflin and the music department came up with was "Oh, Come All ye Baseball Fans," based on "Sound the Trumpet" by the Henry Purcell (17th Century English composer), with adjusted lyrics by Professor Ross.
Sound the Trumpet
Baseball Song of the Day: Oh, Come All ye Baseball Fans
Artist: Case Western Reserve University - Department of Music
Released: 1995
Oh, Come All ye Baseball Fans lyrics (original lyrics)
Belle, Baerga, Visquel, Ramierz,
Lofton, Alomar.
Cleveland's heroes you'll be crowned.
You make Lake Erie's shores resound.
Nagy, Martinez, Clark, Tavarez,
Orel, Ogea,
Mesa: Masters of the mound.
You make Lake Erie's shores resound.
You're exciting baseball,
Exciting baseball play.
Oh, if you could win it all:
Playoffs, American League, yes, win it all --
World Series -- we'd be standing tall.
We'd celebrate the glories of the day.
The glories, the glories of the day!
Come all ye baseball fans.
Wahoo! Hooray!
Top Jacobs Field we'll go
to see the Indians play.
Lift all your voices
Their labors repay.
Let's celebrate!
Let's celebrate their triumphant day!
Buy me some peanuts
Forever we'll stay.
Let's celebrate!
Let's celebrate their triumphant day!
----------------------------------------
Move the clock forward to 2010 and you'll find a talented baseball and trumpet player named De’Marcus Price at Albany State University in Albany, Georgia. The Albany State Golden Rams baseball team are part of the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference and their baseball team has been doing well this year being 7-1 in conference play and 16-10 overall.
Price began playing the trumpet in 6th grade and quickly learned many similarities between working hard on the baseball diamond as well as working hard toward his musical craft.
Being in the band, you have to keep practicing,” Price said. “You have to go over things in every detail, and you have to pretty much do the same thing in baseball.”
Once Price entered college, he found a calling for both music and baseball. He gets plenty of exercise from both passions as well.
“We go up and down the field, 100 yards, repetitively over and over,” Price said. “We all have to pick up our legs at a 90-degree angle because we’re a traditional showband, marching with the high-leg kick"
“Music is always going to be there for me,” Price said. “Baseball is not guaranteed that I will make it to the next level, so I have to take music more importantly because that’s my major. It will be staying with me. But in baseball, I’m also trying to finish my career with a championship. That has been my approach.”
It's official. He's a bad, bad man. Baseball's poster child for controversy finally got something right and announces what he feels is the obvious this time in an interview with AP Sportswriter Gregg Bell. Milton states his case for being the premier bad guy in baseball and seemingly enjoys being so.
"If I was a musician, I'd be Kanye West. If I was in the NBA, I'd be Ron Artest," the 31-year-old former Expo, Indian, Dodger, Athletic, Padre, Ranger and Cub said this week. "In baseball, they've got Milton Bradley. I'm that guy. You need people like me, so you can point your finger and go, 'There goes the bad guy.'"
I'm always willing to give a guy a chance and don't believe a lot of hearsay, so when the Cubs signed Milton Bradley to a 3 year $30M contract before the 2009 season my first reaction wasn't, "Ohh man, he's a bad dude", because truth be told, I don't know any baseball players personally. I have no idea on a day to day basis whom is a good guy and whom is a bad guy, and I'd rather let performance do the talking. Sure he's had run ins with umpires and managers and players, but maybe he's just someone who tries too hard and is misunderstood. What made no sense to me was why the Cubs General Manager Jim Hendry would hand over a pile of cash to someone for a 3 year deal for that much money for someone whom in 10 seasons prior, had only two years of 60 RBI's or more, and only four of those years with 350 or more at bats.
Due to injuries and other reasons, Milton just doesn't play a full season, so why a 3 year deal for a volatile player who by his own admission, isn't a big hitter. The Cubs already had long term contracts for players who are under-performing in Soriano and Zambrano, and were in the process of being sold, why add Milton to the roster when someone like Bobby Abreau was available at the time and signed for a one year deal for $5M with the Los Angeles Angels? A one year deal with Milton I could understand. A three year deal was unthinkable. I know that GM Hendry wanted a left handed bat, which is why he traded Cubbie favorite Mark Derosa, however it needed to be noted that the multi-position DeRosa, who's not known as a "pure hitter" the way that Milton is, had his 3rd consecutive 70+ RBI season (besting Milton) and 21 HR and 86 RBI's in 2008. (photo by Jauerback, edited by BSOD)
“Two years ago, I played, and I was good,” Bradley said. “I go to Chicago, not good. I’ve been good my whole career. So, obviously, it was something with Chicago, not me.”
He added: “Just no communication. I never hit more than 22 homers in my career, and all of a sudden I get to Chicago and they expect me to hit 30. It doesn’t make sense. History tells you I’m not going to hit that many. Just a lot of things that try to make me a player I’m not.”
Milton says he's happy now that he's out of Chicago and with a team and city that wants him and that Chicago was the problem and not him. I wish him well, I hope he succeeds in Seattle, but history tells me that he won't change, nor does he want too. In the interview with Gregg Bell of the AP, Milton continues on...
"I had a teammate last year who said if I ever change, he'd kick my (rear)," Bradley said. "So I'm not changing. Everybody is not going to love you, no matter how you treat other people, no matter what you say. (I) never say anything bad about anybody. Somebody is always going to have something bad to say about you."
For the record, he's already been tossed from two spring training games for showing up / arguing with the umpire over the calls at the plate.
Forget Kanye West, Milton should set his sights on the MLB record of most franchises played of 12, set by both Mike Morgan and RonVillone. Morgan and Villone were pitchers though, perhaps Milton could try for the now svelte Matt Stairs' record of 11. Which could be 12, if Stairs makes the San Diego Padres 2010 opening day roster. Assuming he stays healthy, Milton's stay with the Mariners will run out at the end of the 2011 season, so add another team then as his pattern doesn't seem to show him re-signing with his current team.
Today's BSOD comes from the World Wrestling Entertainment's very own John Cena. John is a hip-hop musician and actor who has appeared in the movies "The Marine" and "12 Rounds."
Baseball Song of the Day: 3/25/2010: Bad Bad Man Artist: WWE John Cena and Tha Trademarc f/Bumpy Knuckles Released: 2005
Bad Bad Man lyrics
Aww, you done did it now
Chaos you shoulda put this one in the vault man!
They not ready - they don't know what's comin man!
Oh we gonna drop this on 'em right here
Y'all ain't ready for this, Y'ALL AIN'T READY FOR NONE OF THIS!
Your boy's a bad man, and we invadin the streets
Make unclever rappers scurred, they be droppin the heat
Shocked the world, now I'm standin alone
I flip fools like them clamshell cellular phones
You can't help but nod your head to the track
Fuck the watered down rap, we be takin it back
Give it to me straight - ain't no chasin it
Check yourself in the mirror - ain't no facin it
Cause you, playin the role and you plannin to fold
This the masterplan, we got the planet on hold
We all over the streets like your favorite sneaker
Breakin up your sound like a drive-through speaker
Everything that I be spittin is strong
After I rock, fast forward through the rest of the song
We the monkeywrench, that's gonna ruin your plan
And don't fuck with John Cena - I'm a BAD, BAD MAN
[Chorus 2X: Bumpy Knuckles]
With the mic in my hands I'm a bad man
Even in a fight with the hands I'm a bad man
Livin in the streets all my life I'm a bad man
I'm a bad man, I'm a bad man
[Tha Trademarc]
We devils - rockin ambient levels
We set loose among hot tunes to instrumentals
And cats got one-liners, I drop several
And I think it's funny you choose, losin progress
or runnin in place; we makin moves, and y'all settle
I rip rappers and take responsibility
for makin future hall-of-famers look third rate
Y'all are lost for words like conversation on your worst first date
and ride beats, creep through side streets
Looseleaf notepads that's where rhymes leak
Punchlines - man, don't even beg
I got knee-slappin tracks, y'all brusin your leg
You a rhyme writer - funny man, that's a joke
You ain't worthy of bein my secretary man that's a quote
I flood tracks like cracks in boats
And pussy rappers choked up with they own lines in they throat
[Chorus]
[Bumpy Knuckles a.k.a. Freddie Foxxx]
TURN UP THE MICROPHONE and feed me I'm a beast
MC's and they beats is what I eat, 16 I'll leave you in the street
My rhymes are sicker than gangrene in both feet
It's spreadin up the leg, and headed for the head
Your rhymes are whack your style is proof that the brain corrosion
is fuckin with your chosen flows, I'm nice with mics
My hands'll break your nose like Mikey Tyson
Fightin in his prime, one rhyme
And I shake up the room one time, BOOM! To the jaw
Your face is a coat type raw
And the blood and snot they mix, jelly on the floor
My love is cop them bricks, belly on the floor
I rob you, you soft and you really ain't a problem
I solve you, 357 long nose revolve you
Acid in your face, bad look, dissolve you
I'm a bad, bad man
Yeah, check it out
It's Bumpy Knuckles baby
And I want you to say hello to the BAD, BAD, MAN - C'MON!
There was an historic event that occurred Wednesday in Goshen, Indiana. For the first time since 1957, the national anthem was played before two sporting events at Goshen College. After the playing of the anthem, the Peace Prayer of Saint Francis of Assisi was read. The anthem was played before a baseball doubleheader against Siena Heights University and a softball doubleheader against St. Joseph's College at 3 p.m.
Goshen College, established in 1894, is a residential Christian liberal arts college rooted in the Anabaptist-Mennonite tradition. There are approximately 1.5 million Mennonites in the world, and their faith is rooted in the mission and ministry of the Jesus Christ and as such, Mennonites are a peaceful church committed to living their lives in non violence.
The school's President; Jim Brenneman spoke to reporters at the event:
"At Goshen College, our entire learning process is framed by a commitment to address complex problems, no matter the discipline, and to do so with academic rigor and civility. Playing the national anthem or not before our games is one such complex issue for us.
"The crux of the matter has to do with our relationship with God and with our country. We are asking ourselves such questions as: how should faithful Christians order their allegiances? How do we celebrate the freedoms and opportunities of this country and still challenge injustices that also exist in our midst? And how does a church college retain its historic peace heritage while welcoming an increasingly diverse student body from other traditions?
"On our campus, we have students from many backgrounds. Among them, we have students committed to pacifism whose parents or grandparents were conscientious objectors and who grew up with a deep suspicion of patriotic observances. We have students raised as pacifists who have no objection to flying the flag or playing the anthem, particularly as part of a pre-game sports ritual. We have students whose relatives served in the military and who are proud to fly the U.S. flag in honor of their service. We have students who are children of new immigrants who love this country for the freedom it has given their families. And we have international students for whom the Star-Spangled Banner has no personal meaning.
"All of these students are a vital part of this community, and I had them in mind when I led in the decision to play the national anthem before games. I am committed to retaining the best of what it means to be a Mennonite college, while opening the doors wider to all who share our core values. And I invite others to join us at Goshen College as we make peace in all of its forms, even with the national anthem."
Baseball Song of the Day 3/24/2010: The National Anthem of the United States of America
To watch the President Jim Brenneman speak about the decision of whether or not to play the National Anthem before sporting events, click the videos below. There are 3 parts in total.
Minor league baseball events have come a long way from the days of just cheering on costumed mascots racing each other. This Summer, on June 12th at the class "A" affiliate of the Detroit Tigers, the West Michigan Whitecaps are throwing one heckuva party at Fifth Third Ballpark. Everything from Free Beer & Hot Wings to the hip-hop daddy of them all; Snoop Dogg, will be in attendance at the ballpark located about 7 miles North of Grand Rapids, Michigan.
After hearing the terms "Free Beer and Hot Wings" ones eyes tend to glaze over and mouth starts to drool (not a pretty sight - but journalistic integrity compels me to inform). However, delving into the details a bit, I've learned that the beer and hot wings aren't actually free, but instead much like yesterday's posting about the band Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin, in this case, the moniker of "Free Beer and Hot Wings" is actually the name of a morning radio show which is syndicated across fifteen states.
The morning show and one of the stations that its syndicated at, WGRD in Grand Rapids, Michigan are hosting the inaugural "Wingstock" (not Woodjock), on June 12th at Fifth Third Ballpark. The event will feature live music from four bands, with the highlight of the show coming from 12 time Grammy nominated hip-hop rapper, producer and actor; Snoop Dogg. Appearing also will be the heavy meal Southern rock band Jackyl, and the local favorite artists of Pop Evil and Richy Nix.
The event will of course have a wide assortment of spicy wings in their "Wing Alley", which will offer a variety of outside vendors presenting their own unique wing flavors and tastings.
The Details: Wingstock 2010, June 12th, Fifth Third Ballpark, gates open at 4pm, tickets are $25/$35/$45 and can be purchased online at www.whitecapsbaseball.com, by calling the Whitecaps ticket office at 616-784-4131 or at the Fifth Third Ballpark Box Office.
Today's Baseball Song of the Day: 3/23/2010: G Funk (intro) Artist: Snoop Dogg feat. Dr. Dre, George Clinton and Lady of Rage Album: Doggystyle Released: 1993
Yeah....
This is another story about dogs
For the dog that don't pee on trees, is a bitch
So says Snoop Dogg,so get your pooper scooper
Cuz the nigga's talkin shit
Aroof! *echoes*
Verse One: Rage
I'm sippin on Tanqueray
with my my mind on my money and my mouth in the ganjahy
R-A-G to the motherfuckin E
Back with my nigga S-N double O-P
[Dre] Yeah, and ya don't stop
Rage in effect I just begun to rock
[Dre] I said yeah, and you don't quit
[Snoop] Hey yo Rage would you please drop some gangsta shit
I rock ruff and stuff with my Afro Puffs
Handcuffed as I bust bout to tear shit up
Oh what did ya think I, didn't ever think I
Would be the one to make you blink eye, I catch you like pink-eye
Never will there ever be another like me
Um you can play the left, cuz it ain't no right in me
Out the picture out the frame out the box I knock em all Smack em out the park, like A Friendly Game of Baseball Grand, slam, yes I am
Kickin up dust and I don't give a god DAMN
Cuz I'm that lyrical murderer
Pleading guilty, you know for my skills I'm about to be
Filthy large, Rage in charge
You know what's happenin don't try to play large
this ain't no Rerun, see hun, don't ya wanna be one
A cover, word to wreck ya, cause I never get my vocals
I'm loco, close to Constatanople, uhhh!
I'll make 'em go coo-coo for my Cocoa
puffin stuff, aiyyo Snoop, you're up
Let these niggaz know that niggaz don't give a fuck!
Verse Two: Snoop Doggy Dogg
This is just a small introduction to the G Funk Era
Everyday of my life I take a glimpse in the mirror
And I see motherfuckers tryin to be like me
Every since I put it down with the D-R-E
Outro:
Foamin at the mouth and waggin his tail
Searchin through the yards with a keen sense of smell
Lookin for the business in heat
And when he find it he'll be sniffin her seat
We travel in packs and we do it from the back
How else can you get to the booty?
We do it Doggystyle, all the while we do it Doggystyle
Yo motherfuckin hoes!!!
He fucked the fleas off a bitch
He shaked the ticks off his dick
And in the booty, he buries his motherfuckin bone
And if there's any left over
He'll roll over and take a doggy bag home
Damn, that Tanqueray is talkin to a nigga
I ain't bullshittin, one of y'all niggaz gotta get it
Man I got ta piss
Breath test?
An Elvis sighting at a baseball game in Springfield Missouri? That's sooooo passé. Springfield has their own style and haven't you heard? Boris is the new Elvis, and he's a fan of the Cardinals.
Ok, if you want to get technical, he's not a "he", "he's" a band, and they are Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin, but they do love their "Redbirds", which in this case is the AA minor league affiliate of the St. Louis Cardinals, the Springfield Cardinals. (no not Homer Simpson's Springfield - that was never determined to be a real place).
Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin is an indie band out of Springfield, Missouri, started by high school friends; Will Knauer and Philip Dickey. After meeting up and playing together, they needed to decide upon a name, and according to the website www.iamwarmandpowerful.com, inspiration struck:
... needed a new band name, so we chose something really dumb, because we were only practicing in Will's attic. There were 2 girls who would watch us practice and I wanted to make them laugh...and I wanted the guys in Wharf to laugh...so that's when I came up with Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin. Boris Yeltsin recently resigned and I was 17.
In 2005 the band released their album "Broom" to favorable reviews from popular indie/alt sites such as Pitchfork and Spin Magazine and in 2006 their song "Oregon Girl" was heard on an episode of "The OC." In 2009 they signed with Polyvinyl Record Co., and their latest album (due in mid 2010) was produced by Chris Walla of Indie fav Death Cab for Cutie.
Today's Baseball Song of the Day is "Cardinal Rules", a peppy Weezeresque tune about listening to your team on the radio, and getting up for that night's game. This is what the minor leagues and baseball are all about. Enjoy folks, it doesn't get any better than this.
I was driving down 44
Got my red on the radio
We were coming back, rally cap
Made it time for one more bat
My Cardinal rules are all I got
We can't lose we got one more shot, tonight
I'm going downtown
Springfield, alright!
Oh, tonight
I got Jackie on my mind
And Payne in my heart
Hey Melody, we need 3
Hey Ned (it's the place to be!)
This could be our night
My cards are playing right
Many thanks to Phil Dickey for being kind enough for the lyrics to the song, and to let us know a little bit more about the second verse's inspiration. Via email with Phil, who informed BSOD that he used to work for the Springfield Cardinals and that he's a "huge (Cincinnati) Reds fan":
"The second verse is about Springfield sport figures: Jackie Stiles and Melody Howard of the MSU Lady Bears, Payne Stewart, and TV sports reporter Ned Reynolds."
BSOD's Pepper Questions: (Answered by Phil Dickey)
1. What's your favorite baseball song?
That's a tie. I love the theme song to This Week in Baseball with all those classic sound bites. Also, the 1990 Cincinnati Reds recorded a song that sounds like the "The Super Bowl Shuffle." I think it's called Reds Hot. Here's a link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5bwIPRUnQkU&hl=en&gl=CA&client=mv-google
** Editor's Note: I sense a future article about the "Reds Hot" song. **
2. What do you put on your hot dog?
I like chetzels. The Springfield Cardinals just got them last year. It's a hot dog in a pretzel bun with nacho cheese poured over it. It's really gross and overpriced. But it's worth it for the pretzel bun.
3. What's the best performance that you've seen live or on tv that was at a baseball game (major, minor, little league, or wiffleball back yard)?
We were on tour with the Cinematics from Scotland in 2007 and they got asked to play a tailgate show before opening day at Miller Park and I tagged along. The pitchers of Miller were plentiful and I think Ben Sheets pitched a brilliant two-hitter. Also, the Cinematics didn't know anything about the rules of baseball and that made the game even better.
4. Which of your bandmates is the best wiffleball player?
Probably John Robert. I didn't think he was that great at baseball but I saw him hit one out of the park at a softball game.
5. If you were manager, who of the following would you have start the 7th game of a world series: Jerry Garcia (he's dead), Jenny Finch (softball heroine), Paul Sprangers (Free Energy), Antony Hegarty (Antony & The Johnson's), or Steve Earle?
Sprangers! He's built like Eckersly.
Thanks for the insight, now anything that you wish to shamelessly plug?
When one thinks of Willie Mays, instantly his famous over-the-shoulder catch in Game 3 of the 1954 World Series comes to mind (view it in old fashioned flip-book style here). Almost the equal to that catch, when one hears Willie's name, the ever popular song "Say Hey (The Willie Mays Song)" comes to mind. Back in 1954, three songs were released about the "Say Hey Kid" (rumored to have been given that name because he didn't know or remember his teammates names during his rookie season, and he often just said, "hey man, say hey man."). Only one of those three songs released about Willie that year, captured the emotions and joy that Willie inspired in all those that watched him, and that song was by the Alabama swing, rhythm and blues band; The Treniers.
The Treniers were one of the pioners in swing and rock and roll music dating back to the 1940's and consisted of identical twin brothers; Claude & Cliff Trenier, studio musicians, and in later years additional Trenier brothers. They had a Top 10 hit in 1951 with "Go Go Go" and also appeared in film ("Don't Knock the Rock", "The Girl Can't Help It", and "Calypso Heat Wave").
The 1954 song...in which the audio of "Say Hey! Say Who? Say Willie!" that is now immortalized in just about any film or tv clip was also conducted by the now legendary producer Quincy Jones. The Treniers often added humor to their songs, and this was evident by Willie joining in the recording and discussing his whom should catch the ball when it is hit into left field ("..that's Monte Irvin's ball").
Baseball Song of the Day: Say Hey (The Willie Mays Song) Artist: The Treniers & Willie Mays Released: 1954
It's Saturday Night at the Movies, our time to take a look at baseball and music in film.
Baseball has always been at the forefront of new marketing gimmicks and promotions. Disco Demolition Night, Bobblehead Giveaways, and Thunder Sticks are a few that come to mind. With the popularity of the Twilight book and movie series, I think some team needs to seriously think about having a "Vampire Night" at the ballpark.
"Since when do Vampires like baseball?" - Bella
"Well, it's the American Past-time, and there's a thunderstorm coming. It's the only time we can play, you'll see why." - Edward
Watch the video below to see the Thunderous explanation.
How cool would it be to walk through the turnstiles and receive a pair of wax fangs? Muahahahahah. Or the aforementioned Thundersticks emblazoned with Team Jacob or Team Edward and allow fans to chose their side and show their pride throughout the game. Biting into a hot dog would take on a whole new meaning. It would have to be a night game of course and one wouldn't have to worry about rainouts either.
Usually when I speak of vampires on a Saturday, it would be from me and my cousins talking about the fantastic new release "Contra" from the band "Vampire Weekend." However in this case, we're referring to the song from the baseball scene in the Twilight movie which comes from the English alternative band; Muse.
Baseball Song of the Day (3/20/2010): Supermassive Black Hole Artist: Muse Album: Black Holes & Revelations Released: 2006
What's is the song in the baseball scene of twilight? What song is playing in the Twilight baseball scene? What was the name of the song during the Twilight baseball scene?
I was reading an article from the CourierPostOnline.com about Jay Z & Alicia Key's song "Empire State of Mind" and how performing it before game two of the World Series at Yankee Stadium influenced the team to victory and eventually becoming World Series champs in 2009. I was a bit taken aback by the comments of Keys when she recently said...
"I don't know if (the Yankees) directly thanked Jay or me in any way, but I know that's what they meant, and when they got that ring they were, like, "Yes!' and we dedicate this to Alicia and Jay," said Keys in a recent conference call. "We actually should have an honorary ring, I think."
To quote another popular NY institution (Saturday Night Live), "Honorary ring? Really? Really? Really?"
Was the song inspirational? Yes. Was it a good performance? Yes. Was it then used as a theme for Yankees fans throughout the series? Yes. Did the song steal third base when nobody was covering? No. Johnny Damon did. Did the song knock in six runs in the final game? No, Hideki Matsui (MVP) did. Did the song have the best closer in post-season history (Rivera) finishing out the series? No, the Yankees did.
I enjoyed the performance, as musical performances taking place at a live sporting event goes. I thought the song, the stage, and the sound were surprisingly good. It was thematic of the city. It was gritty and yet heartfelt and driving. However, lets leave the credit where the credit is due, and that stays with CC Sabathia, Alex Rodriguez, Mariano Rivera, Joe Girardi and the whole Yankees team.
Baseball Song of the Day: Empire State of Mind Artist: Jay Z featuring Alicia Keys Released: 2009
Head Up!!! A quick FYI on what sounds like a fun show put on by the famous Trosky baseball family. Within the family heritage there are a total of 4 major leaguers and 4 minor leaguers. Wow! Look at this family...Bios from their web site: http://troskybaseball.com/NateTFamilyHistory.htm
Grandpa Hal Trosky, one of the greatest Cleveland Indians of all time. Grandpa Hal is recognized today as the best rookie to ever play the game, driving in 137 runs, 35 home runs and a .333 batting average. In 1936, he was on the box of Wheaties Cereal hitting 162 RBI’S, batting 343, with 42 Home Runs. The Trosky bloodline has done something few families have ever done - claim 3 generations of major leaguers in the Chicago White Sox’s Organization. Grandpa Hal finished his 11 th season with The Sox’s; Uncle Hal Trosky Jr. pitched for the Sox’s in 1958; and Cousin Collin Mattiace, was drafted by the Toronto Blue Jays in the 39 th round draft pick and is presently the Sox’s physical therapists. Then there is the former major league pitcher, cousin Mike Boddiker, once a 20 game winner for the Baltimore Orioles, and led the American league with wins and ERA in 1994. Cousin Nate Freeze is presently the AAA Chicago Cubs shorts stop, occasionally spending time with the major league club in spring training. Cousin Ian Mattiace, was one of the greatest high school players ever, hitting 23 homeruns and driving in 69 RBI’s his senior season. At the University of Iowa he was an All American, and was offered a Single-A- contract in 2001. Uncle Mick Mattiace pitched with 3 major league organizations, reaching the level of AAA, one of the few players in history to throw a back to back no hitter in the minor leagues. And last but not least there is Nathan Trosky, the co-founder and head trainer at the Trosky Baseball School. Nathan spent 4 years as a player coach in Europe’s professional leagues and 2 years in the states in the minor leagues. Seasonally, when he goes back to Europe to coach with the Croatian Olympic team, he scouts for the Arizona Diamondbacks.
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The Hall of Fame Old Time Baseball Show is for all generations, a show filled with baseball songs and stories, bringing today’s generation back to the golden era of baseball; honoring legends such as Yogi Berra, Lefty O'Doul, Hal Trosky, Jackie Robinson, Satchel Paige, Joe DiMaggio, Hank Greenberg, Walter Johnson and many more.
WHERE: Carmel Music Live (in the Barnyard above Carmel Music Studio, next to Bahama Billy’s). The Barnyard Shopping Village off Highway 1, Carmel
WHO: All ages are welcome and will enjoy the show
TICKETS: Purchase tickets at Carmel Music Studio or at the door - tickets are $15.00. 25% discount for kids wearing their little league team jersey and cap to the show
NOTE: We recommend advanced ticket purchase as past shows have sold out
INFORMATION: For more information call Carmel Music Studio @ 831-624-2217
Any baseball fan knows the words to the song "Centerfield" by heart...
"Oh, put me in, Coach - I'm ready to play today
Put me in, Coach - I'm ready to play today
Look at me, I can be Centerfield"
Would we all know the song the same if John Fogerty had written it about the position he played when he was younger? On Tuesday Fogerty participated in a conference call with the Tampa Bay Rays and informed listeners that when younger, he grew up a fan of the Oakland A's and he played left field.
On April 24 at Tropicana Field, Fogerty will be kicking off the 2010 Rays Summer Concert Series after Tampa Bay’s game with Toronto.
"I played left out," he said Tuesday when asked what position he played. "I must say, I wasn't real good. I was probably a legend in my own mind."
In 1985, Fogerty released his comeback solo effort after years with the legendary Creedence Clearwater Revival. Fogerty states that the song, was influenced by his life at the time...
“I looked at it is a comeback of sorts,” he said. “I just sort of poured all of the things I could relate to into the song — spring time and spring training is the most hopeful time, it’s a metaphor for life...
It's no surprise Fogerty fell back on baseball. He remembers reading "Lou Gehrig: Boy of the Sandlot" when he was a young child and spent most of his childhood outdoors, playing the game with four brothers.
Last year the Tampa Bay rays saw a 3% increase in attendance coming off of their visit to the World Series in 2008 against the Philadelphia Phillies. Although that number may not seem like much, in these new economic times, in which almost 75% of teams saw their attendance drop last season, the Rays are working hard to keep that momentum going into 2010 with the introduction of the "Baseball Nightclub" and they're drumming up some excitement with a variety of musical offerings, including the introduction of a drumline corp and Summer Concert Series.
In 2010, the Tampa Bay Rays are promoting a nightclub atmosphere with special effects such as after the game fireworks, as well as local bands and dj's, teenage specific hangouts, and will allow fans to walk on the field after certain games. In addition to local talent, the Rays are offering a "Summer Concert Series" with a lineup consisting of performers such as John Fogerty, ZZ Top, Nelly, Hall & Oates, The Go-Go's and more to be announced later. Browse here for a listing of dates.
Starting Tuesday March 16th, the Rays are introducing new high energy ads with a drumline beat (see video above), the Rays are also sponsoring a contest in which high school bands can enter their talents to be used in tv and radio ads and if selected they may have the opportunity to play atop of the dugouts during the game.
The Atlanta Braves have been hugely successful in incorporating their own drumline entertainment program called, The Heavy Hitters. The Braves' Heavy Hitters have been dazzling the crowds before, during, and after the games. The Braves are also currently auditioning performers for the 2010 season.
Today's Baseball Song of the Day comes from the rhythm and beats of the 15 member Atlanta Braves' Heavy Hitters Drumline. Many of the performers in the drumline are also paid members of The Atlanta Drumline.
“It’s really exciting to be able to play with the Atlanta Braves and entertain the fans,” Worthy said. “It’s the sounds of the drums that bring a lot of movement and excitement towards the game. The fans enjoy it and sometimes they even come on the stage and dance with us.”
“When I’m working here with the children there are xylophones, a piano and drums. You are teaching them sounds, teaching them to dance and how to express themselves emotionally,” Worthy said. “I believe that music defines life. Everything is run by music because everything has some type of sound.”
Ahmad is majoring in Early Childhood Education and I'm sure that interacting with children and fans of all ages helps to give him perspective.
Watch the Heavy Hitters in action at Turner Field in Atlanta
Given the chance to vacation anywhere in the world, where would you spend your time? Country music superstar Charley Pride answers that question each Spring when he attends camp and participates in the same ritual that he has been partaking in since 1972 with the Texas Rangers, and long before that, since childhood.
"I could be in Hawaii or Europe or wherever and I'm here," said Pride, a Grammy Award winner. "This is a happiness thing. I can still play and throw. If I went out and got in really top, top shape I could get it up to about 75. When I played, I could throw in the 90s. I had all three pitches, the hummer, the hook and the change."
Born in 1938 in Sledge Mississippi, Charley was one of eleven children (enough to field a team and then some) and grew up listening to country music on the radio. According to the Mississippi Writers and Musicians web site, Charley's training regimen for both careers took hold early as Charley was given the nickname "Mocking Bird" by a neighbor who says Charley's daily chores were to sing each morning and to play baseball.
At the age of 14 he bought his first guitar and taught himself to play by listening to the radio and at the age of seventeen he ventured out to become a star. Finding his way through both careers, Charley found work unloading lumber and working at a smelting plant, all the while - he was playing for the American Negro League and semi pro baseball. Charley's career in music finally took off after a meeting with legendary producer Chet Atkins who had a baseball scout's eye for talent and signed him to a contract with RCA. Over the course of his music career, Charley has had 36 number one country singles, and was inducted in the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2000.
On June 5, 2008, Charley, and 28 other living former Negro League players were "drafted" by each of the 30 Major League Baseball teams in a recognition of their skills and historical relevance of the Negro League stars.
One of Charley's most popular songs was the Grammy winning, "Just Between You and Me" which is today's Baseball Song of the Day.
Just Between You And Me
So I feel so blue sometimes I wanna die
And so I've got a broken heart so what
They say that time will heal all wounds in mice and men
And I know that someday I'll forget and love again
But just between you and me
I've got my doubts about it
But just between you and me
You're too much to forget
So I've lost the only girl I ever loved
And so I've never felt so low so what
I'll just tell myself each time I wanna cry
That someday time will dry the teardrops from my eyes
But just between you and me
I'm not so sure about it
Cause just between you and me
You're too much to forget
You're too much to forget
Sundays are a day of reflection and relaxation (if they're not - they should be), so let's take a look back into the archives and check out some classic old school vintage retro baseball songs. Let's start with a song by Dave Frishberg titled "Van Lingle Mungo", which some say was a precursor to Billy Joel's rambling "We didn't start the Fire".
Van Mungo was a four time All Star pitcher who took the mound for the Brooklyn Dodgers from 1931-1941 and then finished his career with the New York Giants, playing for them in 1942-1943 and in 1945. He won a total of 120 games during his career, with most of those wins coming with the Dodgers and before injuring his arm in 1937. During his time with the Dodgers, he led the NL in strikeouts in 1936 (238 K's).
Dave Frishberg, born in 1933, is a four time Grammy Nominated Jazz pianist, vocalist and composer, who's songs have been ingrained into the pop culture psyche. He has spent his historic career playing music with the likes of Manhattan Transfer, Gene Krupa, and Zoot Sims, as well as having his songs covered by vocal legends such as Rosemary Clooney, Diana Krall, and Mel Tormé. Even if some of those names are unknown to you, you more than likely still know one of his most popular creations, the Saturday morning Schoolhouse Rock sensation, "I'm Just a Bill" in which Mr. Frishberg penned the music and lyrics.
Reading through a copy of the Baseball Encyclopedia, Mr. Frishberg found inspiration in the sound of the name Van Lingle Mungo and included them into a lounge style bossa nova song that he was writing at the time. It's unique sound and uses of the names therein, has turned this song into a cult classic.
Baseball is a pensive game. We all know someone who is not a die hard fan of the sport and when you mention that you love it, they respond with something akin to, "It's so slow", or "There's not a lot of action" or "What does 'no pepper games' mean?" It's true, there's a lot of downtime during a game and the mind does tend to wander. But it's after the season's over, and you realize that you're going to have to wait another few months before spring training starts that you really start to go stir-crazy, especially for those of us in the Northern climates.
It's a timeline of events that you wait for: free agency filing, winter meetings, hot stove league, pitchers and catchers reporting, spring training opens, pre-season games begin, etc. that you mark off on your calendar. Once the pre-season games begin, you're able to finally get to follow your team in action and wonder about who will make the final roster. If your team didn't perform as well as you'd hope last year, there's always hope that you'll find a future star in the minors who will be able to provide salvation.
Today's Baseball Song of the Day comes from the musings of a Houston Astros fan and proprietor of the Farmstros blog; Mike Tauser. Mike penned this clever little tune about minor league catcher Jason Castro and the hope that he will soon make the team.
When Will Castro Be an Astro?
When Will Castro Be an Astro
I'd have thought Mike would have snuk Fidel's name into the song
When Will Castro Be an Astro
Is a question on my mind
will it be April 5th or maybe August 29
When Will Castro Be an Astro
I often ponder in my heart
it can't be true the rumor that Quintero's gonna start
When Will Castro Be an Astro
when will Jason don a star
when he's at Minute Maid
I'll surely drive there in my car
when Will Castro Be an Astro
I sure hope it won't be long
perhaps it will be quicker if old Drayton hears this song
When Will Castro Be an Astro
Starford Cardinal in brick red
Jason Castro as an Astro
The thought jumps around my head
Jason Castro as an Astro
its true that would make me smile
especially when I think that he'll soon be joined by Jordan Lyles
Jason Castro as an Astro
its true that would make me smile
especially when I think that he'll soon be joined by Jordan Lyles
Take a look at his Famstros blog and let him know you enjoyed the song.
Have a song, group, or event that you think our readers should know about? Please email songs@baseballhistorian.com
bsod info
The "Baseball Song of the Day" blog is devoted to discussing the current issues resonating in baseball, as well as relating the music that expresses the emotions of our country's past-time. We'll delve into the stats of today, the songs of yesteryear, and anything and everything related to music to baseball.
On the heels of releasing her new album,"I'm Still Here" country singer Mindy McCready is back in the news and again, its not for the musical reasons. Vivid Entertainment has announced that a "sex tape" video of McCready titled "Baseball Mistress" will be released in April 2010.
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Baseball has always been at the forefront of new marketing gimmicks and promotions. Disco Demolition Night, Bobblehead Giveaways, and Thunder Sticks are a few that come to mind. With the popularity of the
, I think some team needs to seriously think about having a "Vampire Night" at the ballpark.
