I'm watching the Saints/Bears NFL playoff game right now and I'm pretty sure I just saw the worst call in the history of any sport ever. A Saints player, returning a kickoff, was tackled - his feet, knees, hips, and shoulder on the ground - and then a Bears player knocked the ball out of his hands. It was ruled a fumble - Bears' ball.
Saints coach, Sean Payton, wisely challenged the call, as video replay clearly showed the player to be down before the ball came out. Replay officials, evidently unaware of the rules of football, sided with the announcers who seemed to think that it matters whether a ball is "starting to come out" before a player is down. They all forgot that when the player is down and the ball is not all the way out, the play is over.
My heart goes out to my friends who must be losing their minds in New Orleans. Just remember, friends, that the Steelers endured a similar terrible call last year around this time and ended up winning the Super Bowl. Maybe this is a good thing.
We'll see. But for now, shame on you, officials. Shame on you.
Sunday, January 21, 2007
Saturday, January 20, 2007
Art Imitates Art
Damn you, Keystone Light (and, more specifically, the ad wizards who have come up with the latest pitch for this mediocre-at-best brew)! And after all the cases of you that I had to buy for parties at my cheap-ass fraternity when I didn't even drink!
Some of you may have seen the new commercial for Keystone Light that shows a guy responding to a beautiful woman in a store who appears to be coming on to him, but who, it turns out, is actually on a cell phone conversation using her hands-free earpiece, which is hidden by her long, flowing hair. It is hilarious.
It is also exactly (and when I say exactly, I mean really, really close) like a stand-up bit* - one of my greatest hits (if I were to have hits) - that is part of the backbone of my act. The premise originally appeared, for me, right here on this very blog, back in August of 2005 in the "Cell Phone Danger" post.
In truth, this is a pretty hot topic and I think there a lot of comics doing bits about this, but the commercial hits so close to mine, it hurts a little. Now people are going to think I'm a hack - ripping my stuff from Keystone Light commercials. I assure you that were I to steal material from beer ads, I would choose higher quality concoctions.
Hmmm... stealing material from beer ads... Brilliant! BRILLIANT!
* - You can see my comedy bit on the "video" page at www.laughwithziggy.com. The commercial is probably on youtube. Compare for yourself.
Some of you may have seen the new commercial for Keystone Light that shows a guy responding to a beautiful woman in a store who appears to be coming on to him, but who, it turns out, is actually on a cell phone conversation using her hands-free earpiece, which is hidden by her long, flowing hair. It is hilarious.
It is also exactly (and when I say exactly, I mean really, really close) like a stand-up bit* - one of my greatest hits (if I were to have hits) - that is part of the backbone of my act. The premise originally appeared, for me, right here on this very blog, back in August of 2005 in the "Cell Phone Danger" post.
In truth, this is a pretty hot topic and I think there a lot of comics doing bits about this, but the commercial hits so close to mine, it hurts a little. Now people are going to think I'm a hack - ripping my stuff from Keystone Light commercials. I assure you that were I to steal material from beer ads, I would choose higher quality concoctions.
Hmmm... stealing material from beer ads... Brilliant! BRILLIANT!
* - You can see my comedy bit on the "video" page at www.laughwithziggy.com. The commercial is probably on youtube. Compare for yourself.
Tuesday, January 16, 2007
Goodbye Old Friends
I am forced to say good-bye now to a dear, dear friend.
College football season has come to its inevitable end.
The star of my autumn has faded at last
I hope the next 8 months will go really... quickly.
My Longhorns could not match last year's big season
Any number of factors could be the main reason
VY's departure, Colt's shoulder, Terell Brown being dumb?
All we know for sure is that next year will come.
There is time now to hope and time, too, to dream
That next year will be THE year for me and my team.
For now I'll watch hoops and coach it and play
And prepare myself for that magical day
When the team takes the field all ready to go
With a clean-slated record of 0 - 0.
That was not intended to be a poem. The second line rhymed with the first and a masterpiece was born. Good luck to all in coping until next Fall. College football is only one old friend to whom I am saying good-bye, and that one is only because I am forced to. I wish to bid farewell, also to long pauses in my writing on this site, one of which - perhaps the last of which - is brought to a close with this post.
In a related note, I would like to commend Abram Orlansky on being the 10,500th visitor. You're correct in your assumption, Abram, that it's not worth much, but it's appreciated considering I haven't been doing my part. Come back soon!
College football season has come to its inevitable end.
The star of my autumn has faded at last
I hope the next 8 months will go really... quickly.
My Longhorns could not match last year's big season
Any number of factors could be the main reason
VY's departure, Colt's shoulder, Terell Brown being dumb?
All we know for sure is that next year will come.
There is time now to hope and time, too, to dream
That next year will be THE year for me and my team.
For now I'll watch hoops and coach it and play
And prepare myself for that magical day
When the team takes the field all ready to go
With a clean-slated record of 0 - 0.
That was not intended to be a poem. The second line rhymed with the first and a masterpiece was born. Good luck to all in coping until next Fall. College football is only one old friend to whom I am saying good-bye, and that one is only because I am forced to. I wish to bid farewell, also to long pauses in my writing on this site, one of which - perhaps the last of which - is brought to a close with this post.
In a related note, I would like to commend Abram Orlansky on being the 10,500th visitor. You're correct in your assumption, Abram, that it's not worth much, but it's appreciated considering I haven't been doing my part. Come back soon!
Tuesday, January 02, 2007
Football Makes You Think
I'm watching the FedEx Orange Bowl right now and the 2nd half just started. (Louisville leads Wake Forrest 10-3, at the moment.) During the halftime show, Taylor Hicks, your American Idol and mine, sang alongside the legendary Gladys Knight. I did not see any Pips, but that doesn't mean they weren't there.
I didn't love the performance, but I heard every word of it and I noticed the microphone that Taylor Hicks was holding. It made me think of the referee who, throughout the game, has to explain penalties, video reviews, and clock issues to the crowd and to officials in the pressbox. Earlier in the game, he was explaining a penalty and his mic went in and out and he couldn't really be understood. That is not uncommon at all. There are probably more games in which it happens than games in which it does not.
Why can't the official - who is making sure the game that everyone is there to see is played fairly and legally - use the same microphone that Taylor Hicks uses? Why on earth would there be two separate and completely unequal sound systems being employed at the same venue during the same event? The bowl game is the reason for the gathering. "I Heard It Through The Grapevine" is an excellent song, but has very little impact on the outcome of the contest. It would be helpful if I didn't have to count on the grapevine to hear what the ref is singing.
I didn't love the performance, but I heard every word of it and I noticed the microphone that Taylor Hicks was holding. It made me think of the referee who, throughout the game, has to explain penalties, video reviews, and clock issues to the crowd and to officials in the pressbox. Earlier in the game, he was explaining a penalty and his mic went in and out and he couldn't really be understood. That is not uncommon at all. There are probably more games in which it happens than games in which it does not.
Why can't the official - who is making sure the game that everyone is there to see is played fairly and legally - use the same microphone that Taylor Hicks uses? Why on earth would there be two separate and completely unequal sound systems being employed at the same venue during the same event? The bowl game is the reason for the gathering. "I Heard It Through The Grapevine" is an excellent song, but has very little impact on the outcome of the contest. It would be helpful if I didn't have to count on the grapevine to hear what the ref is singing.
2006 Is SO Over!
This post was written last night. Technical difficulties delayed its posting. Sorry.
2007 can begin now. Happy New Year! Why now? Why over 21 hours since the ball dropped and Dick Clark participated in a long, awkward, televised make-out session with a lady I hope was his wife? Why? Because my last tie to the last year was just cut. My final BrickBreaker game of 2006, paused and continued this day, is over. It was an excellent game, but it's done. It's in the past. The future is here!*
I hope you have enjoyed ushering in '07 as much as I have. I rang it in in New Orleans, LA with some of my very best friends, some of whom live in that resurgent city and some who congregated from points as remote as Great Britain, New York, and even Baton Rouge! It was a great way to say goodbye to the past and hello to a new era (which we actually do every moment of every day, but the New Year is, shall we say, more heavily ballyhooed than all those other days).
Have a wonderful 2007. Make the most of each day so that, looking back next New Year's Eve, you will have memories of great moments, accomplishments and experiences to celebrate as you once again look forward. A quote from Jewish tradition says "Days are like scrolls. Write on them what you want remembered." I look forward to hearing the stories that are written on your scrolls, and sharing my stories with you here. Join me here often, and we will ZiggyBackRide through a great 2007 together! I can't wait!
* The future is actually not here, nor shall it ever be. The present is here. When the future does finally arrive, it too will be the present. Sorry.
2007 can begin now. Happy New Year! Why now? Why over 21 hours since the ball dropped and Dick Clark participated in a long, awkward, televised make-out session with a lady I hope was his wife? Why? Because my last tie to the last year was just cut. My final BrickBreaker game of 2006, paused and continued this day, is over. It was an excellent game, but it's done. It's in the past. The future is here!*
I hope you have enjoyed ushering in '07 as much as I have. I rang it in in New Orleans, LA with some of my very best friends, some of whom live in that resurgent city and some who congregated from points as remote as Great Britain, New York, and even Baton Rouge! It was a great way to say goodbye to the past and hello to a new era (which we actually do every moment of every day, but the New Year is, shall we say, more heavily ballyhooed than all those other days).
Have a wonderful 2007. Make the most of each day so that, looking back next New Year's Eve, you will have memories of great moments, accomplishments and experiences to celebrate as you once again look forward. A quote from Jewish tradition says "Days are like scrolls. Write on them what you want remembered." I look forward to hearing the stories that are written on your scrolls, and sharing my stories with you here. Join me here often, and we will ZiggyBackRide through a great 2007 together! I can't wait!
* The future is actually not here, nor shall it ever be. The present is here. When the future does finally arrive, it too will be the present. Sorry.
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