Tuesday, April 24, 2012
2012 NFL MOCK DRAFT
2012 MOCK DRAFT
There will be trades. This mock draft rules out trades. My mock is not based on who I would choose, it's based on what I think will happen if these teams stay in their current spots.
1. IND-ANDREW LUCK QB STANFORD
2. WAS-ROBERT GRIFFIN QB BAYLOR
3. MIN-MATT KALIL OT USC
4. CLE-TRENT RICHARDSON RB ALABAMA
5. TB-MORRIS CLAIBORNE CB LSU
6. STL-JUSTIN BLACKMON WR OKLAHOMA STATE
7. JAX-STEPHEN GILMORE CB SOUTH CAROLINA
8. MIA-RYAN TANNEHILL QB TEXAS A&M
9. CAR-FLETCHER COX DT MISSISSIPPI STATE
10. BUF- MARK BARRON S ALABAMA
11. KC- LUKE KUECHLY LB BOSTON COLLEGE
12. SEA- MELVIN INGRAM DE/OLB SOUTH CAROLINA
13. AZ- MICHAEL FLOYD WR NOTRE DAME
14. DAL- DAVID DECASTRO G STANFORD
15. PHI- COURTNEY UPSHAW DE ALABAMA
16. NYJ-DONTARI POE DT MEMPHIS
17. CIN- QUINTON COPLES DE UNC
18. SD- RILEY REIFF OT IOWA
19. CHI- JONATHAN MARTIN OT STANFORD
20. TEN- WHITNEY MERCILUS OLB/DE ILLINOIS
21. CIN- KENDALL WRIGHT WR BAYLOR
22. CLE- STEPHEN HILL WR GEORGIA TECH
23. DET- DRE KIRKPATRICK CB ALABAMA
24. PIT- KEVIN ZEITLER OG WISCONSIN
25. DEN- MICHAEL BROCKERS DT LSU
26. HOU- REUBEN RANDLE WR LSU
27. NE- NICK PERRY OLB USC
28. GB- SHEA MCCLELLIN LB BOISE STATE
29. BAL- DONTA HIGHTOWER LB ALABAMA
30. SF- COBY FLEENER TE STANFORD
31. NE- DOUG MARTIN RB BOISE STATE
32. NYG- MIKE ADAMS OT OHIO STATE
Wednesday, April 18, 2012
Tuesday, April 17, 2012
STAY HARD GRUBES!
It's been a while. About a month to be specific. I've taken no criticism though because this is hardly ever read, and it shouldn't be read. What's been going on?
For me, a lot. For a while it appeared some pretty extreme changes would be made to my scene, but I found out on Friday that is not the case. If you listen to the radio station I work for, Sports Radio 1310 The Ticket, then you know that cultural hero Michael Gruber "Grubes" left the station to return to college and get that degree. There's so much to say about the guy. I think anybody who knows him will immediately call him a friend. I'm not going to rehash what every host has said about him, but Grubes undoubtedly is a good friend. He was sort of a father figure type for me as an intern when you're thrown into trying to learn the board and all that other stuff. I'm the type who tries to stay out of the way and not interfere with the natural flow of things, which as an intern for me meant doing my job and not really getting in anybody's way.
I emailed Grubes a few months before I began my internship at The Ticket. He didn't know me and had no reason to. I just asked him who to speak to regarding an internship. He had no reason to respond, and it's not like it's a big deal that he did respond with the proper information but it still meant a lot to me. I got on board and he was immediately a huge help. The speed dial go to guy when I had a technical question. The same goes for Big Strong Jer, but I don't exactly go get wasted at bars with Big Strong Jer like I do with Grubes. Those dudes are/were really great at what they do/did. The best. Unless you've ran the board, I don't think you can fully understand the complete brain power it takes to be a board op. It's stressful, tense, fun, difficult, taxing, and wheels off most of the time. There's a lot of responsibility. It's a position that is undoubtedly underpaid.
Now Grubes is gone, and it's a little weird. I've been a fan of the station longer than i've worked at the station so it was a little sad to hear the Grubes news, even though it in theory would open up an opportunity for me. In radio or at least at The Ticket, you must pounce on opportunities. I don't know the business side, but from the programming aspect it's been a pretty stable operation for almost 20 years.
When I began my internship in January of 2010 there was no open position in site. I remember coming in to get the recorder before heading out to games and seeing guys like Mike Sirois (@mikesirois) doing weekend tickers. I remember coming back from games to put audio in the computer and seeing Jake Kemp (@notjackkemp) on the board working the overnight shifts. In fact, that was the first time I ever met Jake. Me putting audio in the computer, he wearing athletic shorts and eating left over snacks from Stu Cedar while watching The Shield on his computer. It all comes full circle. Forgive me if i'm wrong on dates here, but I feel like i'm pretty close...I remember in August or September of 2010 beginning to get worried that I wouldn't get a job there. No positions had opened up. Nobody had left. Time was running out on the internship. Again, the order and dates could be off but at some point Chris House decided to be a cop. This opened a fierce competition between TC, Tara, Jake, and probably someone else for the Top 10 gig. Jake got the gig, opening up a weekend spot and moving everyone up a slot. At some point the inappropriate tweet from an unnamed former MLB pitcher opened up the spot for the Norm producer gig which was taken over by Mike Sirois. Another open slot. Either way I got a job, because of the Chris House departure and it's kind of full circle that Jake is now in Grubes position.
TC and I had a similar battle royale last week. TC got the job and is now the Top 10 host. I was a little frustrated on Friday, but I understand. TC has been there longer than me and it's probably better for the station as a whole to keep me in a versatile role for now. Not that TC can't do these things, but i'm counted on to be a fill-in ticker guy sometimes, to be a reporter, and to also now be the main fill-in board op as well as the fill-in Top 10 host. Roster construction. I'm the utility infielder for now.
I wanted the full-time job. I'm 24 and I feel like that's fairly young to have a full-time radio job in a top 5 market, much less the #1 station in a top 5 market. I'll stick my foot down and keep grinding of course. Fun will happen. I'll have to keep my boring day-job on the side. Many people are dying to have jobs and yet i've got two, the one I love not necessarily paying the bills at home like the other job. It is what it is though. Just catching up, because it's been a while. Don Draper wrote to himself in Mad Men so at least I know it's not gay to write stuff like this. Peace.
Stay hard Grubes!
KT
For me, a lot. For a while it appeared some pretty extreme changes would be made to my scene, but I found out on Friday that is not the case. If you listen to the radio station I work for, Sports Radio 1310 The Ticket, then you know that cultural hero Michael Gruber "Grubes" left the station to return to college and get that degree. There's so much to say about the guy. I think anybody who knows him will immediately call him a friend. I'm not going to rehash what every host has said about him, but Grubes undoubtedly is a good friend. He was sort of a father figure type for me as an intern when you're thrown into trying to learn the board and all that other stuff. I'm the type who tries to stay out of the way and not interfere with the natural flow of things, which as an intern for me meant doing my job and not really getting in anybody's way.
I emailed Grubes a few months before I began my internship at The Ticket. He didn't know me and had no reason to. I just asked him who to speak to regarding an internship. He had no reason to respond, and it's not like it's a big deal that he did respond with the proper information but it still meant a lot to me. I got on board and he was immediately a huge help. The speed dial go to guy when I had a technical question. The same goes for Big Strong Jer, but I don't exactly go get wasted at bars with Big Strong Jer like I do with Grubes. Those dudes are/were really great at what they do/did. The best. Unless you've ran the board, I don't think you can fully understand the complete brain power it takes to be a board op. It's stressful, tense, fun, difficult, taxing, and wheels off most of the time. There's a lot of responsibility. It's a position that is undoubtedly underpaid.
Now Grubes is gone, and it's a little weird. I've been a fan of the station longer than i've worked at the station so it was a little sad to hear the Grubes news, even though it in theory would open up an opportunity for me. In radio or at least at The Ticket, you must pounce on opportunities. I don't know the business side, but from the programming aspect it's been a pretty stable operation for almost 20 years.
When I began my internship in January of 2010 there was no open position in site. I remember coming in to get the recorder before heading out to games and seeing guys like Mike Sirois (@mikesirois) doing weekend tickers. I remember coming back from games to put audio in the computer and seeing Jake Kemp (@notjackkemp) on the board working the overnight shifts. In fact, that was the first time I ever met Jake. Me putting audio in the computer, he wearing athletic shorts and eating left over snacks from Stu Cedar while watching The Shield on his computer. It all comes full circle. Forgive me if i'm wrong on dates here, but I feel like i'm pretty close...I remember in August or September of 2010 beginning to get worried that I wouldn't get a job there. No positions had opened up. Nobody had left. Time was running out on the internship. Again, the order and dates could be off but at some point Chris House decided to be a cop. This opened a fierce competition between TC, Tara, Jake, and probably someone else for the Top 10 gig. Jake got the gig, opening up a weekend spot and moving everyone up a slot. At some point the inappropriate tweet from an unnamed former MLB pitcher opened up the spot for the Norm producer gig which was taken over by Mike Sirois. Another open slot. Either way I got a job, because of the Chris House departure and it's kind of full circle that Jake is now in Grubes position.
TC and I had a similar battle royale last week. TC got the job and is now the Top 10 host. I was a little frustrated on Friday, but I understand. TC has been there longer than me and it's probably better for the station as a whole to keep me in a versatile role for now. Not that TC can't do these things, but i'm counted on to be a fill-in ticker guy sometimes, to be a reporter, and to also now be the main fill-in board op as well as the fill-in Top 10 host. Roster construction. I'm the utility infielder for now.
I wanted the full-time job. I'm 24 and I feel like that's fairly young to have a full-time radio job in a top 5 market, much less the #1 station in a top 5 market. I'll stick my foot down and keep grinding of course. Fun will happen. I'll have to keep my boring day-job on the side. Many people are dying to have jobs and yet i've got two, the one I love not necessarily paying the bills at home like the other job. It is what it is though. Just catching up, because it's been a while. Don Draper wrote to himself in Mad Men so at least I know it's not gay to write stuff like this. Peace.
Stay hard Grubes!
KT
Monday, March 19, 2012
3 ALBUM REVIEWS
The Decemberists-"We All Raise Our Voices To The Air" (Live Album)
I've never seen The Decemberists live, but i've heard from people I know that it's a good live show but that I shouldn't expect to be blown away. That's exactly the vibe I felt from this album. It's a good listen, especially if you're on a long drive. This was recorded in the period from April 2011-August 2011 so it is heavy with cuts from their latest LP "The King is Dead", an album that I adore.
20 tracks on 2 discs make for a long listen, but I absolutely love live albums. It starts off powerfully with "The Infanta" and "Calamity Song" right out of the gate. The middle of the set has a ton of highlights with "Down by the Water", "The Rake's Song", and "The Crane Wife 1, 2, and 3". "All Arise" and "Rox in the Box" set the stage for "June Hymn" as the original set closer, which is not a song I would go out on as it is a peaceful tune but one that kind of drags. They go out in style though with "O Valencia" with a interlude of "Dracula's Daughter", the rocking "This is Why We Fight", a 12 minute version of "The Mariner's Revenge Song", and a 10 minute "I Was Meant For The Stage".
Overall, I really enjoyed the album. My only complaint is there were about 3 or 4 times where I was losing interest. I want energy at a live show, and while this sometimes had energy, far too often it felt like an acoustic show. Not that a Colin Meloy acoustic show wouldn't be great. It's good, but only if you actually like The Decemberists. I would consider this a good jumping point though for someone who has never tried them out.
The sampler is below.
GRADE: 7/10
The Shins-"Port of Morrow"
I definitely had low standards set for this one. The Shins reintegrated their lineup, and I was expecting James Mercer to take some chances. I was dead wrong. This is an extremely safe record. The short and forgetable "The Rifle's Spiral" opens up the album, followed by the lead single "Simple Song". "It's Only Life" brings it on back down a little bit, but brings some interesting lyrics. I could be wrong, but it definitely gives off an angry vibe at perhaps his old bandmates or a past lover. I'm just speculating here. "Bait and Switch" comes next, a fast paced song about a guy finally getting his life in order when he finds himself in a relationship with a wild girl. Aside from "Simple Song", this is probably the most catchy song on the album. "September" is the midpoint and 5th track of the album, and really reminds me of something you'd find on Chutes Too Narrow or Oh Inverted World. It's a gem, as is the next track "No Way Down". Another one of the faster tracks on the album, a guilt-stricken song about civilization. The sleeper "For A Fool" follows with "Fall of 82'" after that. The latter being a nostalgic track, and very thankful song. "40 Mark Strasse" is a story about a prostitute that he still wants to be with despite the fact that she's a whore. The album ends with the title track. It's a nearly 6 minute closer that has some really clever lyrics, but as a whole it leaves me feeling nothing...much like this album.
As a whole this album is decent, but pretty forgetable. To me, there's just nothing special about it. Highlights are "Simple Song", "Bait and Switch", "September", "No Way Down". I say highlights because some songs have to be highlights. There are still highlights on Sportscenter to 1-0 baseball games. These are all sacrifice flies. I don't hate the album, but i'm also not going to remember anything about this album in the next few years. It's a really sound record, but it's also really bland, safe, and gave me way too many moments of indifference.
GRADE: 5/10
The Shins-"Bait and Switch"
Islands-"A Sleep and A Forgetting"
This is a pretty sincere album and I absolutely admire that, but it's a sleeper aside from two or three songs. It's really depressing, but it's about a failed marriage. I'm a big believer in opening albums up with a bit of a punch. Doesn't have to be a rocker or anything, but I don't like when albums open up with a sleeper and that's what happens here with "In A Dream It Seemed Real". That's my only complaint for the song though, because it is a pretty cool song especially after finding out that lead singer Nicholas Thorburn wrote most of this album about his failed marriage. The tone remains dark with the 2nd track "This Is Not A Song". Things pick up a little bit "Never Go Solo", which is again about avoiding being alone. The album hits it's highpoint on back-to-back tracks "Hallways" and "Can't Feel My Face". These songs are upbeat, but stick to the same divorce theme of missing his old life. Although my favorite track on the album, I do have one complaint about "Can't Feel My Face". I wish they would have ran through the chorus one more time. Verse-Verse-Chorus-Verse is cool with me, but this chorus is so powerful and fun that I wish they would have played it again. The rest of the album continues with an extremely dark and depressing feel. It's almost torturous to listen to. I'm sure i'd love it if I was in an unhappy stage of my life, but I just can't wrap my arms around liking this album right now. However, "Hallways" and "Can't Feel My Face" are sure to be in my top 50 tracks of the year.
GRADE: 4/10
NEW GOLF PARTNER FOR CORBY AND ME
On Saturday I found this little guy. He's going to join our golf group when Corby gets back from Arizona.
Sunday, March 18, 2012
CIRQUE TV SEASON 2 EPISODE 1
The 11th episode of CirqueTV has arrived. Season 1 consisted of 10 episodes with 3 bonus episodes of exclusive premium content. In this episode, I had to work the overnight shift and apparently someone set up a camera in the studio without me knowing. Needless to say, I lost my damn mind. That's all beside the point, because this episode features Grubes and the lighting director for the band Phish! Big props to Mike Marshall for the editing, even though he couldn't be in this episode due to circumstances that will be revealed at a time of his choosing. It's fun, it's chaotic, it's insane, it's a thirst quencher...it's CirqueTV!
Monday, March 12, 2012
MONDAY 3/12/12
TV QUICK HITS
*Former SNL star Will Forte will apparently be getting a show on FOX soon. I always thought he was funny, but he's a bit player. Watch the movie "Macgruber", and you'll know what i'm talking about. This new pilot may have something though, as it's being produced from the same guy who produces "Modern Family".
*Bryan Cranston has revealed that "Breaking Bad" will return in July.
*Judy Greer of "Archer" and "Arrested Development" fame is getting a show on ABC. Tagging along with her is "Party Down" star Ken Marino. Seems like a great idea!
*This should probably go under the category of "Film Quick Hits", but it has a television tie to it. Adam Scott is starring in a movie entitled A.C.O.D (Adult Children of Divorce), and his girlfriend on "Parks and Recreation" (Amy Poehler) will play his step mother. If I ever go see "A.C.O.D, and I probably will because i'm in for any Adam Scott/Amy Poehler project, I think it'll seem incestuous. Jane Lynch is also set for a role in this movie too. Sounds cool to me!
JULIO BORBON
Here's a piece I wrote for the WFAA Sports blog. It's about how Julio Borbon was once seen as an important part of the future of the Texas Rangers, and how this is last shot to regain any type of recognition as an actual human being in the eyes of Ranger fans.
STEALING A RENTAL CAR
Steve Lillywhite, who is currently producing the new Dave Matthews Band album along with The Killers next release, tweeted that if anybody stole his rental car then they'd have access to never before heard material from the two bands.
This seems like a bad thing to even make light of, considering he's largely held responsible for the infamous "Lillywhite Sessions" mishap in 2000 with DMB.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Lillywhite_Sessions
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