Life is a Highway

Life is a Highway
Source: QuoteAddicts.com

Wednesday, December 26, 2012

Revolution Volume I: The 1960s Counter Culture & Rise of The New Left

Source:Amazon- Roger Kimball's book.

“In The Long March, Roger Kimball, the author of Tenured Radicals, shows how the “cultural revolution” of the 1960s and ’70s took hold in America, lodging in our hearts and minds, and affecting our innermost assumptions about what counts as the good life. Kimball believes that the counterculture transformed high culture as well as our everyday life in terms of attitudes toward self and country, sex and drugs, and manners and morality. Believing that this dramatic change “cannot be understood apart from the seductive personalities who articulated its goals,” he intersperses his argument with incisive… 

From Amazon

“I’m into the study of revolutions, not the coopting of revolutionary rhetoric to sell capitalist merch. I’ve cut together clips of 1960s radicals discussing the politics of their time to give young people a sense of the intense revolutionary fervor of that era. Americans today have been presented with a flattened out, cliche image of 60s radicalism and have lost any sense of just how tumultuous that period was. This is what America looks like when it’s actually working. I’ll be tracing the history of revolutionary and countercultural movements in America from the 60s to the 90s in an ongoing series of youtube clips. (I added on the Church of the SubGenius at the end but that comes much later.)”  

Source:Roger Dolittle- Dr. Martin L. King speaking at the 1963 March On Washington. Perhaps the best speech ever given in American history.




I believe the best way to look at the New-Left political movement and Students For a Democratic Society, which is definitely part of that movement, is to look at the Irish nationalist movement in Northern Ireland, Britain and it’s relationship with the Irish Republican Army. Or the Palestinian nationalist movement in Palestine and its relationship with Palestine and Israel. SDS aren’t Nationalists, but they were the military wing of their political movement.

Source:Students For a Democratic Society- protesting the Vietnam War.

Radicalism is not new to America, we were founded thanks to a revolution, a revolutionary war with the United Kingdom. And I believe every generation at least in the 20th Century is different with different values from the previous generation, at least when they’re young and then perhaps moderate and become part of mainstream society as they get older and become more experienced. So it’s not radicalism that’s new to America, but perhaps each generation as their own culture revolutionary movements.

I think what’s different from the 1960s with young Baby Boomers and perhaps Silent Generation babies that were perhaps seen as the mentors and role models of the Baby Boomer Hippies and radicals, is socialism and communism and the beliefs that those things aren’t actually wrong and bad and that the Cold War, especially in Vietnam and America’s involvement there was wrong.

I believe what the young radicals in America believed was that the people who were wrong, were the American establishment which was made of Conservatives and Progressives who were seen as trying to push American liberal democracy and capitalism onto the rest of the world, especially in the third world like in Asia and Latin America.

What these young folks believed that the people who were wrong were the people who were running America and they wanted a change. And even a revolutionary change in America as far as how it was governed. And decided to speak out and organize and even use violent means to accomplish their political goals. 

You can also see this post on WordPress.

You can also see this post at The New Democrat, on WordPress.

You can also see this post at FRS FreeState, on WordPress. 

You can also see this post at FRS FreeState, on Blogger.

CBS Sports: NCAA Final Four- St. Johns Redmen vs Georgetown Hoyas: Full Game


Source:Sports Illustrated- with a look at the 1985 NCAA Final Four.

"1985 NCAA Final Four Semi Final Georgetown vs St Johns" 

From John Quinn

Back when the Big East was the NFC East of college basketball with all of the great rivalries.

Monday, December 24, 2012

ESPN: CB1984: Final Four Highlight Film: Georgetown Hoyas


Source:Big Bucks- ESPN's 1984 Final Four film.

"1984 Final Four NCAA Basketball Highlight Film"  

From Big Bucks

Still the last National Championship for the Hoyas, unfortunately, but still a great team.

Sunday, December 23, 2012

NFL Films: 'Chuck Foreman Running Back'

Source:NFL Films- Minnesota Vikings RB Chuck Foreman against the Atlanta Falcons.

"Chuck Foreman could run and catch.  today, he would be a fantasy league top draft pick!" 


I'll say this about Chuck Foreman: for about 5 seasons from 1973-77, I don't think there was a better running back in the NFL, than Chuck Foreman. Is that enough to get him into the Pro Football Hall of Fame eventually, we'll see. 

But then you also have to consider the 3 most important games of Chuck Forman's career being those 3 Super Bowls that he played in that the Minnesota Vikings not just lost, but got handed in against the Miami Dolphins in Super Bowl 8, the Pittsburgh Steelers in Super Bowl 9, and the Oakland Raiders in Super Bowl 11, I mean that's why he's not in the Hall of Fame today. The same reason that Vikings great DE Jim Marshall is also not in the Hall of Fame, because Marshall already has the career numbers to be there. 

Just to add something else to this discussion: if Chuck Foreman gets in the Hall of Fame at some point, it shouldn't be before Roger Craig who if anything had a longer, more productive carer with the San Francisco 49ers in the 1980s, who was the best all around RB in the NFL, probably from 1985-89, whose also a 3 time Super Bowl champion and Super Bowl MVP. If Foreman got in before Roger Craig, I think that would be a problem. But if Foreman got in at some point, I wouldn't have a problem with that.

Saturday, December 22, 2012

Sports Channel: NBA 1986- Eastern Conference Semifinals Game 5- Atlanta Hawks @ Boston Celtics: Full Game


Source:Sports Channel- Atlanta Hawks head coach Mike Fratello.

"Final de la Conferencia Este de 1986, disputada por Boston Celtics y Atlanta Hawks." 


The Atlanta Hawks of the mid and late 1980s were always so close to not just being an Eastern Conference contender, but winning the Eastern Conference Championship and being the clear dominant team in the East. They were always so close and yet far enough away where you could see why the Boston Celtics and Detroit Pistons could not just beat, but beat them fairly easily. 

The Celtics beat the Hawks in 5 games in the semifinals in 1986. The Pistons beat the Hawks in 5 games in 1987. The Hawks took the Celtics to game 7 in the 1988 semifinals, but that obviously wasn't the Celtics best team and it wasn't even the Hawks best team. They just got hot between games 3-5. 

Mike Fratello's Atlanta Hawks, remind me of the Portland Blazers of the early 1990s: big, strong, athletic, very fast and quick, excellent rebounding and defensive team, that lacked maturity and professionalism, which is they weren't very consistent. The best teams in the NBA tend to be consistently very good, if not great. The Hawks didn't have that in the 1980s. 

I think chemistry was a big factor with the Hawks: 

the Hawks best player in Dominique Wilkins, is taking 25-30 shots a game and a lot of bad shots, because he's either overconfident or doesn't trust his open teammates to make the open shots. 

Doc Rivers, who was really an off-guard, or a 3rd guard that you bring off the bench to play either the point or the off-guard and you have them as your full-time starting point guard. 

Randy Whitman is your off-guard, even though his range is only about 15-20 feet and he wasn't very consistent shooter even from there. And wasn't a player that could create shots for himself off the dribble and drive to the basket. 

Kevin Willis is your power forward, even though he was 7'0 and weighed 245-250 pounds, was very strong and should've playing center for a good team. 

Tree Rollins is your center and he only plays defense. He was a great shot blocker and defensive center, but gave the Hawks almost nothing on offense and wasn't a very good rebounder either. The Hawks have him as their starting center. 

For the Hawks back then to be a true NBA Finals contender back then for 5-7 year period, like the Celtics, Philadelphia 76ers, Milwaukee Bucks, Detroit Pistons, they needed better chemistry: 

Dominique needed to be a much more discipline player on offense. That means shooting less and taking a lot more good shots. 

They needed a true point guard who was a good outside shooter and defender. 

They needed an off-guard who was an excellent outside shooter, to complement Dominique, someone like a Dale Ellis or Sidney Moncrief. 

And they needed a true power forward who was a good rebounder and could defend either the power forward or center, if not both positions, someone like a Rick Mahorn and move Kevin Willis to center. 

I think the popular wisdom about the 1980s Atlanta Hawks was that they were just a couple players away. But they needed better chemistry as well to be a true Eastern Conference and NBA Finals contender back then. They were consistently playing better, more deeper teams, whose top players were better than their top players.

Sunday, December 16, 2012

CBS Sports: NFL 1985- NFC Championship- Los Angeles Rams @ Chicago Bears: Pat Summerall Intro


Source:CBS Sports- Chicago Bears DB Gary Fencik.

"Bears vs Rams-1986. From January 8th 1986" 

From Thomas Lover

Pat Summerall was as Tina Turner: said simply the best. Or as Summerall longtime partner and friend said about him, Pat Summerall was the voice of the NFL. He was the guy that you wanted to hear call your team's football game every Sunday because of his great voice, as well as his knowledge for the game since he use to play himself, as well as his great sense of humor. And yet I feel the need to correct a point that Summerall said here. 

The way you hear people talk about the Chicago Bears pre-Mike Ditka and with Walter Payton, you would think that the Bears were in some deep depression or something with one 10 plus loss, losing season after the other. 

The facts are the 1977 Bears were 9-5, finished 2nd in the NFC Central and made it to the divisional round of the NFC Playoffs. The 1979 Bears were 10-6, almost won the NFC Central and made to the NFC Wildcard in the playoffs. The 1983 Bears, Ditka 2nd season, were 8-8 and just missed out on making the NFC Playoffs to the Los Angeles Rams. Yes, from 75-83, the Bears with Walter Payton did have some bad teams, but it was not like they were 4-12 every year with no help of every even being competitive again, let alone winners and a consistent playoff team. 

What made the 85 Bears different from even the 84 Bears that were 10-6 and won the NFC Central, was that they became consistent, especially on defense. And after the first 4 games had the best defense in the entire NFL, that dominated almost every single game they played for the rest of the season, that didn't even give up a single point in the NFC Playoffs. 

And when QB Jim McMahon was in the game and he played 11 games for them that season, which at the time was a career high, the Bears now had a passing attack that allowed for them to score points, especially touchdowns on offense. 

Friday, December 14, 2012

Dave TV: '1987 Philadelphia Flyers' Road to the Finals'


Source:Dave TV- with a look at the 1987 Philadelphia Flyers.

"This is a compilation of ESPN's old highlight videos that walk you through each of the Philadelphia Flyers' first three rounds of the 1987 playoffs on their way to the 1987 Stanley Cup Finals. Narrated by the late Tom Meese." 

From Dave TV

Anytime you have a team from Philadelphia playing a team from New York on a regular basis, you are going to have a great rivalry. Just the nature of the two cities that are both big and aggressive, with a lot of aggressive, big people, who are die hard sports fans and can feel like their life is over, simply because their favorite team loss, especially when their team loses to one of their rivals.

Wednesday, December 12, 2012

Washington Redskins: Slingin Sonny Jurgensen


Source:Hogs Haven- Hall of Fame QB Sonny Jurgensen, against their heated rival the New York Giants, at Yankee Stadium.
“Though he started his career with the Eagles, no player is more identified with the Redskins after six decades as a player and announcer than the ‘Old Redhead.’

Now in his sixth decade with the team as either a player or announcer, it seems strange to remember that Sonny Jurgensen, the quintessential Redskin, spent what by NFL standards would have been a fairly lengthy career in a different uniform.

To hear new Eagles Coach Joe Kuharich tell it in 1964, in fact, his quarterback was starting to decline at at 29. Thus Jurgensen was shipped to the Redskins in a deal for 24-year-old Norm Snead after seven turbulent years in Philadelphia.

Legend has it Philly bartenders donned black armbands the day Sonny was traded, but Eagle fans were far from crushed. Having watched the uber-intense Norm Van Brocklin lead the team to an NFL title in 1960, the transition to Jurgensen’s freewheeling style both on and off the field was difficult for many to stomach, even though he was setting team passing records that still stand.” 

From Hogs Haven 

“Decades before RGiii was even born, Sonny Jurgensen riddled enemy defenses for the Redskins with picture-perfect bullets. Host David Spada catches up with the Hall of Famer for a look back at his amazing career on Sports & Torts.”

Source:David Spada- Redskins Hall of Fame QB Sonny Jurgensen. (1964-74)

From David Spada

From  David Spada

Sonny Jurgensen isn’t one of the top 10-20 NFL quarterbacks because he’s one of the best winner ever. His career record doesn’t indicate that he’s one of the best winners ever. We’re not talking about Fran Tarkenton or Dan Marino, John Elway, Terry Bradshaw, Roger Staubauch, Johnny Unitas, as far as the amount of games that he won. He also played for a lot of mediocre and bad teams where a good year for the Redskins in the 1960s was 6-8, 7-7, 8-6, so I’m not putting Sonny down.

I’m not making excuses for Sonny, because he did play a long time without leading a team to a championship. (Eighteen seasons from 1957-74) But for the most part, he played for a lot of mediocre teams. These are records that generally doesn’t get teams to the playoffs. So even as Sonny was playing for mediocre teams, he was a great QB on those teams, the best player on these teams. Doing every he can for teams that weren’t very good, had good players, great even, but not very good all around teams. Teams that struggled to win every week.

The way I describe Sonny Jurgensen, was a championship caliber QB who played on a lot of mediocre and even bad teams. I still believe that had Sonny played in Super Bowl 7 against the undefeated Miami Dolphins the Redskins would’ve given the Dolphins only loss that year. Because the Redskins did have a great team on both sides of the ball and I believe a better all around team than the Dolphins. That at least had more talent. But of course Sonny was hurt with a busted ankle, so that didn’t happen.

The reason why the Redskins didn’t championships in the 1960s and 70s wasn’t because of Sonny Jurgensen. They weren’t very good in the mid and late 1960s because of the players they had around Sonny. No running game, a weak offensive line and a defense that probably gave up more points than Sonny and those great receivers put up every week, to where they were one of the highest scoring teams in the NFL every year, despite not having much of a running game.

I believe Dan Marino is the best QB of all time as far as just throwing the football. And had he had the running game and defense that Joe Montana had in San Francisco with the 49ers, Marino leads the Dolphins to four Super Bowl championships or more in the 1980s and 90s. We’ll never know that of course, but that’s how great Dan The Man was. But no one handled the ball better than Sonny, as far as play action and knowing exactly when to throw the ball. And what to put on the ball, then Sonny.

I don’t believe a QB ever had better eye-hand coördination than Sonny. The ability to pick spots on the field as far when to throw the ball, how much to on the ball and where to throw the football. He was sort of like the Larry Bird of the NFL when it came to ball handling. And had great eye-hand coördination which is why he was such a great QB. Even though he never led a team to winning a championship.

You can also see this post on WordPress

You can also see this post at FRS FreeState, on WordPress. 

You can also see this post at FRS FreeState, on Blogger.

Friday, December 7, 2012

Joshua Tree (1993) Starring Dolph Lundgren & Kristian Alfonso

Source:IMDB- Kristian Alfonso, kicking Dolph Lundregn where it counts.
“A framed prison escapee unknowingly kidnaps a female cop en-route to a rendezvous with the corrupt cop who put him behind bars.”  

From IMDB 

“A Los Angeles police detective (George Segal) tracks a fugitive (Dolph Lundgren) who heads for the desert with a deputy sheriff (Kristian Alfonso) as hostage.” 

Source:Rotten Tomatoes- Dolph Lundgren

From Rotten Tomatoes 

"Dolph Lundgren stars in Joshua Tree, a high-caliber action movie where six thousand square miles of sand and dozens of turbo-charged super cars set the stage for a bloody, bullet-riddled showdown with a ruthless killer."

Source:Shout Factory- Dolph Lundgren, in Joshua Tree.
From Shout Factory

I gotta admit, Joshua Tree or Army of One and this movie for some reason has two titles depending on how you see it, or what network it is on, but this movie is not a very good movie. Sure it has a decent car chase and there are some pretty good action scenes and perhaps I'm just not much of a Dolph Lundgren who is mostly famous for Rocky 4, ( sorry, I'm horrible with Roman numerals) fan. But this movie is worth watching for other reasons. George Seagal is his usual smart-ass funny self. And Kristian Alfonso plays a great sexy tough cop, looking for her big case.

Dolph Lundgren plays an escape convict who of course is innocent of why he was put in prison. But he's hardly innocent of much else and gets a break and manages to escape from prison when their bus breaks down. He is a career criminal and learns that his best friend and partner has been murdered by the crooked cop, sergeant or lieutenant that put him away played by George Segal. So while he's out of prison he's on the run and kidnaps a rookie or somewhat inexperienced police officer played by Kristian Alfonso who it out of uniform and steals her pickup with her in it.

They are on the run together because he doesn't want to go back to prison and has her as her hostage. He won't hurt her though if she doesn't give him any reason to. She later takes his side even after attempting to escape from him and gets ditched by him in the desert when he believes he doesn't need her anymore. But she now believes that he's innocent of why he was put in prison and that the crooked cop and his crew are the bad guys here and does what she can to help him as a cop.

Not a good movie except for a few parts, but Kristian Alfonso simply looked great in it. The hot sexy baby version of Kristian that I wish she brought out more on Days of Our Lives is the Kristian we see in this movie. And she looks great and adorable kicking ass in her classic Levis denim jeans and boots and plays a hot, sexy cop that I can't imagine any man his right mind would want to ditch. And she and Dolph save the day sort of and the bad guy and gal put away some bad cops.  

You can also see this post on WordPress.

You can also see this post at The Action Blog, on Blogger.

You can also see this post at The New Democrat, on WordPress. 

You can also see this post at FRS FreeState, on WordPress.

You can also see this post at FRS FreeState, on Blogger.

CSI Miami: Rest In Pieces- Raquel Welch Guess Stars (2012)


Source:CBS- Hollywood Goddess Eva LaRue, on CBS's CSI Maimi.
"When the 'Miami Taunter' kills again, Horatio comes face-to-face with the matriarch of the suspected killer's family, who may or may not help his investigation, on CSI: MIAMI, Sunday, March 11 (10:00-11:00 PM, ET/PT) on CBS! Watch full episodes of your favorite show at:CBS."

From CBS 

"Rest In Pieces" -- When the "Miami Taunter" kills again, Horatio comes face-to-face with the matriarch of the suspected killer's family, who may or may not help his investigation, on CSI: MIAMI, Sunday, March 11 (10:00-11:00 PM, ET/PT) on the CBS Television Network.  Raquel Welch guest stars as Vina Navarro, the matriarch of a powerful Miami family." 

Source:Latest From CSI Miami- Hollywood Goddess Raquel Welch on CSI Miami.

From Latest From CSI Miami

I will admit, I’m willing to watch anything that has Raquel Welch in it just to see Raquel in it, at least once. And then if the show or movie sucks and even the greatest stars have done at least some garbage that they want to forget about, I’ll probably now watch it again. But CSI Miami is one of the best cop shows at least on right now, if not ever. And I really want to see this episode with Raquel.

Source:CBS- Hollywood Goddess Raquel Welch guess-starring on CBS's CSI Miami in 2012 with David Caruso playing a bad girl. Even though she's still too cute to scare little girls.

Raquel Welch was in her early 70s at this point and I guarantee you she was the best looking woman on the show, at least that night. And CSI Miami has Eva LaRue, who is also gorgeous and baby-face and well-built. And Emily Proctor, very attractive with a nice body, whose as cute as a little girl and at times at least sounds like one.

But what makes Raquel a goddess for all-time, is that she doesn’t seem to age, at least in public. She’s always been hot and has always been baby-face adorable. It’s just that the years she’s lived have gone up every year. I haven’t actually seen this show, so I couldn’t tell you how Raquel did on it.

But I can tell you how she looked and the star power she still has on it, or CBS doesn’t promote the show the way it did. An actress at this point when this episode came out in her early 70s, who still commands that much attention and who is still a goddess physically, looking better than beautiful women young enough to be her daughter and perhaps even her grand-daughter, was probably unheard of twenty-years ago. But Raquel makes it seem so natural. 

You can also see this post on WordPress.

You can also see this post at The Daily Review, on WordPress.  

You can also see this post at The Daily Review, on Blogger.

You can also see this post at FRS FreeState, on WordPress. 

You can also see this post at FRS FreeState, on Blogger.

Thursday, December 6, 2012

Good Morning America: Robin Roberts- Interviews Raquel Welch: ‘Then and Now (2010)’

Source:ABC News- Hollywood Goddess Raquel Welch, being interviewed by ABC's Good Morning America anchor Robin Roberts, in 2010.

“The actress reflects on her life and career in her book, “Beyond the Cleavage.”

From ABC News

“Raquel Welch is an award-winning film, television, and stage actress. She has starred in more than 45 films including One Million Years B.C., The Three Musketeers, and Legally Blonde, as well as the Broadway hit musicals Woman of the Year and Victor Victoria. She is the author of Raquel: The Raquel Welch Total Beauty and Fitness Program, an Icon Face of M.A.C. Cosmetics, and the current spokesperson for Foster Grant eyewear. She lives Beverly Hills.

Part autobiography, part personal philosophy, and full of practical advice for women of all ages, Raquel: Beyond the Cleavage is a book that skimps neither on entertainment nor on good plain advice.

She didn’t hatch out of an eagle’s nest, circa One Million Years B.C., clad in a skimpy fur bikini. She didn’t aspire to fame as a sex symbol. Yet, for many years after making her Hollywood entrance as every man’s fantasy, Raquel Welch was best…

Source:Amazon- Hollywood Goddess Raquel Welch's 2010 book.

From Amazon 

Hollywood Goddess Raquel Welch on ABC News’s Good Morning America in 2010 talking about her book Beyond The Cleavage. She’s always been a bit of a comedian, or at least someone with a comedic sense of humor and not just gorgeous, with the beautiful body, etc. And she’s also very honest about herself, which is what I believe you see in her book.

Source:ABC News- Hollywood Goddess Raquel Welch on ABC's Good Morning America in 2010, talking about her new book Beyond The Cleavage.
Raquel made one interesting point that stood out with me in this interview and perhaps she made others, but one thing definitely which is really true and perhaps especially in her case, is that men have a tendency with women to not so much listen to what they are saying, but how they say it and watch them say what they are saying.

Take me for example: I simply love watching Raquel talk, because she’s still hot and always has been, but then you look at that big baby-face, with those beautiful round eyes and big cheeks and dimples and sweetie pie voice, she just makes guys simply want to go, aw!

Mariah Carey (speaking of hot baby-faces) has the same effect on me, but they are both interesting as well, so it is not as if I’m not hearing what they say. Raquel is a gorgeous, baby-face, adorable, woman, who still has a great voice and probably still sings very well, but she also has a great personality and is very funny and intelligent. And that is what she also wants the world to see, that even though she’s still a sex symbol and a Hollywood Goddess, that those things aren’t just physical with her, that there is more about her that people should pay attention to. 

You can also see this post on WordPress.

You can also see this post at The New Democrat, on WordPress.

You can also see this post at FRS FreeState, on WordPress. 

You can also see this post at FRS FreeState, on Blogger.

Wednesday, December 5, 2012

Washington Capitals: Patrick Division Run (1990)


Source:Washington Capitals- defender Rod Langway. If Scott Stevens is not the best Capital defender of all-time, Langway is. They're two of the best ever.

"Capitals make it to Conference final for first time." 

From Alagarts

Sorry, but for 1990, this song for this video was really lame, especially considering how great of a decade the 1990s was for pop, classic rock, and R&B that the 90s was. 

As far as the Capitals 1990 season: not to make light of what the Capitals accomplished that season, but in the 1980s and early 1990s, making the playoffs in your conference was like an NCAA basketball team qualifying for their conference tournament: almost every team in the NHL made it to the playoffs that season. 8-11 in the East and 8-10 in the West. 

The Capitals finished 3rd in the Patrick Division with a 36-38 record and then got hot in the playoffs and won the first two rounds, before losing the Eastern Champion Boston Bruins in 4 games. But the fact that they finally got to the conference finals that season, after having a bad regular season (at least for them) is still pretty important in their franchise history.