Pack Your Bags, We're Moving to Liverpool

You know it's been a rough few weeks when Bo and Eric have posted mega blogs, and then Eric posted a SECOND blog before I could post on my site. Un-b-leave-a-bull. We're at midterm season here at College University and I'm spending most of my free time by critically analyzing 19th-century literature and writing essays.

But today is a new day! Two reasons for this: 1) Bunch of breaking news and 2) it's the weekend biatch and I got nothing else to do. So party on Ringo!

I was going to go all "93-94 Pacer Update" on yer asses, mainly because Bo took us on a fantastic future trip to the 2011-12 Pacers and showed us that we're all doomed to hell, and so I wanted to take us back to the past to give us something positive to think about. But then I realized that there was just too much Beatle news to talk about. I know, Joel, they're basically all dead. But there's big news afoot here and no dead Beatle is gonna stop me...

...the Mrs. Thug Mrs. and I are moving to Liverpool for two years come this August! It's going to be awesome. I've never even visited England before or flown across the pond! I'm super dupity excited. Now, Tierney doesn't know this yet, but I'm pretty sure she'll be estactic when I tell her the news. The reason for our trip to Red Coat Land? Well, Liverpool Hope University has started a Masters of Arts degree entitled The Beatles, Popular Music and Society. It's a four 12-week program that studies everything Beatles. Obviously this is a brilliant idea and Rivals.com ranks me the most coveted rookie out of the 2009 class. So, as you can imagine, I'm being heavily recruited for this thing with some backdoor offerings of cars, hoes and other backdoor variety options. But I'm not taking any of that. No sir! I'm going there on my own merit and I'm going to study Yoko like no one's studied Yoko before.

I'm sure the Thus Mrs. is fine with this, so we'll be shipping off shortly. And the news keeps getting better!

While we're over there on Sept. 9, 2009 (that's 9/9/09 for you conspiracy theorists), the Beatles video game will be released. So make sure you save $249.99 for the special edition band set of the game where you get replicas of Paul's Hofner Bass, John and George's Rickenbacker Guitars and Ringo's nose. I'm excited. So not only will I be taking classes in Liverpool, I'll be playing the Beatles video game with my wife! Man is she going to be so excited about this. She loves video games!!

Finally, you may still be wondering about the "lost" Beatles outtake from two weeks ago. Well, I found it and I own it, so suck on them apple cores EMI! The 10-minute version of Revolution could rock the socks off of a homeless naked boy. I would post the song here, but my daily visitor number has skyrocketed to 12, and six of those are probably record executives so we're gonna move on past the litigation portion of this blog so...on to the links...

Hello, Mr. Radio
Let's make this a good one since there hasn't been one in a while...enjoy.

Turn up the Aperture!
I felt bad that we introduced this segment and then killed it off immediately, but the photog fans of this blog have been yearning and demanding for a return. Here's an interesting look at the future of photojournalism by some dude who works for an independent paper in Bangladesh. Sounds pretty legit to me. I didn't read it as I know that the future of photojournalism is, well, nothing. There is no future. It's as dead as a naked homeless boy.

I Me Mine
This segment is dedicated to the other Sean Stevenson's in the world who somehow land in my news alerts/google search. This article talks about world-famous cricket player Sean Stevenson, who will aparently "resume openers on 14." I'm assuming that's the equivalent of hitting three grand slams in one game. So...thank you for bringing celebrity and greatness to our name.

Mrs. Thug Mrs.
In case you missed it up above, we're moving to Liverpool. Here's all you need to know about the city.

Info for Bo
You're getting the 93-94 Pacer update. On March 5, 1994, the Pacers had a heartbreaking 90-88 loss to the Eastern Conference leaders Atlanta Hawks. Reggie Miller led your Pacers with 18 points, while Antonio Davis started for the oft-injured Rik Smits by scoring 14 points and grabbing eight rebounds. Derrick McKey contributed by throwing the ball away six times. The loss put the Pacers at 30-26 on the season. The 08-09 Pacers were fucked out of a win last night by the refs and it puts the team at a 27-37 record and yet they are still just two games out of the playoffs and mere months away from fulfilling their destiny as NBA Champions. The Dream is alive.

You tube...no, you're a tube
My boi Roy "The Hibby Hibby Shake" Hibbert is gonna be playing the Beatles Rock Band fo sho'. Check out his awesome skillz at Guitar Hero!

New Beatles Song!

First of all, a big thank you to Joel for pointing out my lack of activity on here lately. After years of sending fake e-mails full of obscenities and laced with improper innuendo (in-yer-endo...thank you Todd), you finally got me in a "Joel" moment. So to that effect, I congratulate you. Second of all, I'm pretty sure out of all five of my loyal, sexy and generally awesome readers, Tom is probably, and this is a big probably, the only one who will get anything out of this. So for the rest of you, I apologize and if you don't like it then go get on a boat and enjoy yourselves with Poseidon.

The reason for my non-posting lately as been the fact that I've been super duper busy at school and my usual "blogging" time was reduced to writing and reading papers about critical practice and comparing 19th century literature to the film, the Dark Knight. The second reason for not posting has been the lack of things interesting to talk about. The Pacers suzack and are slowly being herded like dying, disease-infested cows into the butcher's lottery this offseason. So without Pacers news, I basically decided that I was never going to post again unless there was a new Beatles song released. I mean, what are the chances of this happening with two of them dead? Not good right?

Well friends, today is a new day.

There are still three huge outtakes from the Beatles' recording sessions that have yet to find their way onto bootlegs. 1) The "Carnival of Light" crazy-ass session that Paul wants to release but the aforementioned dead Beatles' wives do not want released (thank you Yoko for again ruining everything that is great in the world); 2) the 30-minute version of Helter Skelter; and 3) the 10-minute version of Revolution that was eventually cut into seperate pieces to make Revolution 1 and Revolution 9, both on The Beatles (aka The White Album).

Well, somehow, and no one yet knows how it's happened, but the Revolution outtake has finally surfaced on YouTube. A couple of video posts have already been shut down by Sony due to copyright infringement, but I've got the feeling that enough people have ripped the thing off of there so that it's out there in society for good. I've just finished one listen through it and I finally understand where Revolution 9 comes from and why it's so freakin ridiculous. So here's a big kudos to whoever stole this from Yoko (the most probable of theories since John had the original tape in his archives at home and it's about time karma came around).

You Tube...no, you're a tube
So I literally listened to the song on YouTube, sent it to my dad via e-mail, then added to this post and by the time I published the blog, the video was already taken down by EMI. Damn you EMI...damn you. I'm guessing they're gonna be shutting this video down for awhile, but once I get home from B-town tonight, I'm guessing that I'll find the audio track somewhere online. Until then...

Joaquin Phoenix....Wow

So I'm sitting here after midnight, casually watching Letterman per usual and Joaquin Phoenix is officially making my night worthwhile. What a disaster! Not surprisingly the clip is already on youtube. Phoenix, who was awesome as Johnny Cash in Walk the Line, has officially jumped off the cliff.

Not only did he look like 1970 John Lennon, but he somehow topped Lennon's infamous interviews where he and Yoko would talk to reporters from inside a black bag. Letterman eventually just starts making fun of Phoenix and the star, who is quitting acting to begin a hip-hop career, spits out his gum and places it under Letterman's desk. My first assumption is to say he was on drugs, but I don't even think you act that retarded on drugs. There's something up with that guy. And make sure you get to the part at the end when even Paul starts laughing at him and Phoenix finally snaps!

You can't make this stuff up! So...enjoy.

The Saga Continues...

Well you may have heard yet another major mention of the grandiose movie Teen Wolf on Bill Simmons' podcast last week featuring fellow ESPN podcaster (blogger is saying that's not a word but I'm thinking that in the digital age that has to be a word right? I don't know what else you would call someone who does podcasts. A podder perhaps?) Dave Dameshek.

Simmons is apparently going on Dameshek's show this week to discuss some inane things and one of those things is a discussion of 80's movies. Hey, Teen Wolf was released in 1985 so that counts! Well Dameshek mentioned at the end of the podcast that he had in fact done a box score of the final championship game around a year and Simmons acknowledged that he had done the same thing. Now, Dameshek showed his true colors when he insisted that Scott Howard got a true triple double according to his bookeeping, which is impossible and thankfully Simmons called him out on this. Lost a lot of respect for Dameshek on that one (not that I had any since I don't listen to him, but this could all change depending on this podcast this week).

Anyways, here I was yet again, seemingly inches away from superstardom with just one little mention from Simmons on the podcast and he blows me off again (that's what she said). Needless to say, my expectations for this Teen Wolf podcast this week are at an all-time low. I hope I can even enjoy it. Each time I even open the espn.com web page, I hold my breath as I look frantically (because I can't hold my breath and this has been a problem for an entire life. My lung capacity is that of a popped baloon) for any mention of Teen Wolf. Since my first e-mail to Simmons about two months ago, he has mentioned the movie in three articles, two podcasts and one magazine article. You're welcome.

So do I expect any type of gratitude in this new podcast? No, I've learned my lesson. Simmons and I are on thin ice together. I may never fully recover from this experience, but I'll never forget it either. For everything we do makes us stronger. As Kanye West said, "Heard they do anything for a Klondike, Well, I'd do anything for a blonde dyke." And that makes me stronger.

On to the links...

2 minutes...2-ah
08-09 Indiana Pacers: 19-30
93-94 Indiana Pacers: 26-24
Hmmm...that's not gonna cut it. Pick up the pace you Pacers!!!!

It's Beetles...with an A
Well Davey Jones of those lovable Monkee's is talkin about the Beatles. Glad to see Davey is alive and well. Makes a lot of sense to kill of two of four Beatles and leave this guy around...wow, that was extremely mean. I'm Ok with it. But, as Lloyd Christmas and Harry Dunne told us, the Monkees were a big influence on the Beatles. Great movie.

Turn up the Aperture!
NEW SEGMENT!! As you know, this blog does not support photojournalists or anyone who claims to be one. But after Joel's amazing Superman-like performance the other night when he saved countless lives at his apartment complex, I feel like I need to revive his old segment that wasn't working at all. His old segment focused on putting dumb pictures on here for him, but after doing it once I realized that I couldn't take time away from trying to find Tom's photo, which the Mrs. Thug Mrs. claims doesn't need to take four hours of "research" but I contend that it needs all the time I can give it.

Anyways, this is Joel's new segment. Like the title? Clever, I know. Now I just need to figure out what's going here. We're gonna start with this link but I can't guarantee that this the format we're sticking with. The citizen photojournalism site Scoopt is being shut down. Interesting, since I contend there are no professional photojournalists, they're actually all amateurs. Notice how everybody can take a photo. Not everybody can write, hence why most people just put an X to their name when they're signing into prison. Hmmm...see, that's what I can do here, take jabs at Superman and his profession. Don't worry Superman, you're still a hero in my book.

Hello Mr. Radio
This site did the top 202 hottest WWE Diva phots ever. Here's a taste of what this can offer you...enjoy.

I Me Mine
This segment is dedicated to the other Sean Stevenson's in the world who somehow land in my news alerts/google search. Sweet! There's a ME who is a drummer in a band. Rock out man!! The band is known as "Fake Problems" and they claim to be a unique indie-rock band. I feel like these guys are going nowhere, so Sean, get out while you can! You need to harness your inner-Ringo and find two brilliant songwriters who can propel you to superstardom. Then you can bring celebrity and greatness to our name

Mrs. Thug Mrs.
I know you can't see him or hear him, but here's an interview with yer boi Cena for Sports Illustrated...enjoy.

Info for Bo
Dunkin' Donuts is debuting the Waffle Sandwich. Just think of what you're missing right now. Maybe your jersey wouldn't get moved to the back of Pizza Hut if you were still serving new and exciting menu items.

You tube...no, you're a tube
Today's hilarious video comes courtesy of the Err Dizz so as always...enjoy.

Be My Snuggie Bear

If you've ever flipped on the tube in the early morning to ESPN or to an afternoon or evening broadcast on NBAtv, then I know you've seen a certain, special commercial for the world's greatest blanket/dress/robe/cult garment ever created -- the Snuggie.

The first time I saw the commercial I was dying of hysteria (don't worry, I've made a stellar recovery) especially after I saw the family cheering in their Snuggie's at the sporting event and then the foursome camped around the fire as they charred their marshmallows in the warmth of their fleece (fact check) coverings. I see this commercial at least 832 times per day. It's ridiculous.

But finally the Snuggie got some much needed media attention in the USA Today, which ran a story about the now cult following of the Snuggie. The parallels between the commerical of a "cult Snuggie family" and it's now real-life following are unmissable. Apparently there are now countless Facebook pages devoted to the Snuggie as well as an outpouring of YouTube videos. I've posted a cool link to a "re-done" commercial for the Snuggie. This is how it should run on TV every day. So here is my simple salute to the Snuggie, a robe that I see every day yet will never wear.

Boxers...not briefs

The tragedy that occurred 10 days ago (when my dream of having a question in ESPN the Magazine was shattered indefinitely) apparently caused me to go into a 10-day hiatus from writing. But now that I'm semi-recovered and I've finally stopped twitching when someone mentions Teen Wolf or "Shoot it fatboy", I think it's time for a blog update. Let's just jump right into the boxers...

2 minutes...2-ah
Well, I'm really feeling last night's Pacer win over the Rockets was the start of a long, long winning streak to put us back on top. Sure the Rockets didn't have Ron Artest, Tracy McGrady or Yao Ming for the 2nd half and we still almost lost at home, but I'm ignoring all that for one reason: mustaches.

Yes, the Pacers are now the "Mustache Crew" or "Mustache Gang' depending on who you talk to and the picture above displays an out-of-focus Jeff Foster (= idiot) but it doesn't do the mustache justice (photojournalists these days just don't know what's important, get some damn photos of the mustaches IndyStar!!) They've got drawings and pictures on the locker room walls of mustachioed people and now they're all wearing them. I'm pleasantly happy about this. First of all, big fan of the mustache (shout-out to Thomas D). Second of all, this is exactly the type of team unity we need to get back on track with the 93-94 Indiana Pacers.

This year's team is currently 16-27, while the 93-94 team was a healthy 16-21 by Jan. 24, 1994, and in the midst of a nice five-game losing streak. After the five-game losing streak was done and gone, the Pacers won 10 of 11 games and set up their playoff run. I feel the mustaches will help this year's team make that run. The only person on the team that can't grow a mustache is our future All-Star Danny Granger, who says he only shaves once a week and can't participate due to the lack of facial hair. Danny...you'll see no bashing of you here as you're in good company with this blogger.

I'd love to join in the fun and grow a mustache for support but the Mrs. Thug Mrs. would not be happy with a bunch of white peach fuzz under my nose. However, I am prepared to use my two black Sharpies if we win 10 of the next 11 games. Of course, it will take a mustachioed run into the Eastern Conference Finals for them to replace the greatest mustacioed team of all-time (pictured above).

It's Beetles...with an A
Here's my first addition to my 2009 X-mas list. A healthy Beatle picture book that's going for $495. Look, I'm giving you almost 12 full months to save money for this book so I'm expecting this in my stocking on Dec. 25.

My Sox Are White
The new Franz Ferdinand album drops this upcoming week, but you can take a sneak peek at the songs at their myspace site here. Not that you're going to buy it but here is a link to amazon for more info.

Mrs. Thug Mrs.
Just in case you need more of him...here.

Hello Mr. Radio
Well Eva Mendes ranked No. 1 on AskMen.com's Top 99 Women 2009 edition. I don't know, but I find that Err Dizz's girlfriend, who is ranked No. 3, is a little hotter so...enjoy.

Info for Bo
You probably don't listen to Bill Simmons' podcast, but Wednesday's episode featured yet another nod to Teen Wolf. After mentioning he had just watched it again this weekend, he was about to talk about something new he never noticed in the movie when special "I'm a D-bag who is going interrupt people right when they're about to help Sean become rich and famous" guest J.A. Adande intervened to mention how much he loves Pulp Fiction. First of all, Simmons is right that the Bruce Willis scenes in Pulp Fiction suck hairy balls and the actress that plays his girlfriend is an ugly, annoying bitch that helps prevent me from ever watching the full movie a second time (and really is it that good of a movie? Not a big fan). Second of all, I'm 99 percent certain that Simmons was about to mention me on air until Adande butted in. Chalk up another loss to my Teen Wolf craze.

You Tube...no, you're a tube
In honor of mustaches, we're going with the music video of Strawberry Fields Forever. Eat your heart out MTV.

Teen Wolf disappointment

As you were surfing through the Internets today and using the Google to find nude pictures of Pamela Wells, you probably ran across the front page of ESPN. Well Bill Simmons posted another "Mailbag" where he answers his reader's mail, but this time it was for ESPN the Magazine, so it wasn't very long but it would be well publicized and seen by billions of people.

Well I received a call from Bo at 2:52 p.m. today. Bo sounded like he was having a heart attack so I was somewhat concerned for his well-being. I nearly hung up the phone so I wouldn't be linked to his death, but luckily I stayed on long enough to hear him catch his breath as he screamed to hurry to the computer and check Bill Simmons because the front page of ESPN says he wrote about the infamous and 2nd greatest basketball movie of all time...Teen Wolf.

As you all recall, I sent Bill Simmons (pictured above) a rather lengthy e-mail about a month ago that included my box score for Scott Howard and the Beavers' championship win at the end of the movie. The e-mail asked Bill to help me figure out if Howard reached a triple-double that game and to also offer his expertise on the big finale.

So as I frantically ran to the computer, ideas of stardom of having my name in bright lights and viewing my own Wikipedia page entry rampaged through my head like a Panzer division on its way to Hollywood. My computer, a Dell desktop dated from 2002, tried to keep up with my pace and I finally logged onto to ESPN.com to tell me the truth about my future.

Simmons' mailbag featured a cover picture from BASEketball (another fantastic movie), as well as a description that said "From a prophetic sports movie to a hair-raising look at "Teen Wolf," Bill and his fans are on fire." Wow. He finally answered me. This was my moment. Destiny. This was my destiny. I finally seized the carpe and took advantage of life.

I clicked on the link and Bo and I searched over the phone together to find my question and Bill Simmons' answer. Finally, I found the Teen Wolf excerpt:

"Q: If you could have the best seats in the house for any sporting event of the past century, which would you choose?
-Max A., Cleveland
SG: The only answer can be "USA 4, USSR 3." A tougher question: Which sports-movie event would you choose? I'd pick the game in which Michael J. Fox first turns into Teen Wolf. Name me a more stunning sports-movie moment. Fans in the stands are frozen for, like, 45 seconds. You're not topping the experience of being in a sparsely attended high school hoops game in which one of the players turns into a monster, then dunks on everybody. I'm sorry."

First of all, great answer by Simmons. It's so true. I can't imagine how awesome it would have been to be at that game as they scrambled at midcourt for a loose ball and out walks a wolf-version of Magic Johnson. Second of all, I'm not Max A. from Cleveland. The boner Cavs and Browns fan probably has never even seen Teen Wolf. Ok, that's great. Third of all, my heart was broken. Ten seconds ago I was driving a convertable down Sunset Blvd., floating in my inside/outside pool in my new home and paying off whores in a back alley while TMZ films the incident and launches me into a downward spiral of drugs and bad mug shots.

But now, only tears remain. I still hold out hope though folks. The main reason being that there's no way my question and his answer could fit in that article. It has to be an online answer cuz there's just no room in the magazine. There's also the amount of time and research that it will take Bill to fully answer my question. Since he is frantically finishing his second book, he probably has postponed answering my inquiry to be his Number 1 priority once it's finished. I fully believe this.

So don't worry about me. The stars will align soon when one day, my question will be on the front page of ESPN. But until that time, I will feel like the poor and honorable Mr. Murphy, the shop teacher from Teen Wolf.

Scott Howard: Listen, Stiles. Do you know anything about a rash that's going around?
Stiles: Why, you looking to catch something?
Scott Howard: No, I'm serious.
Stiles: No... but I heard Mr. Murphy, you know, the shop teacher?
Scott Howard: Yeah?
Stiles: Got his dick caught in a vacuum cleaner.

Jeff Foster = Idiot

The title pretty much says it all.

Last night was one of the most exciting basketball games I've watched in awhile when the Pacers visited the Lakers with a chance to win in LA for the first time since 1999. The Lakers fans were so wired up that they even started a "Pacers Suck" chant, which I haven't heard since 2004, so that was awesome. I finally felt like an opposing team's fans actually knew who we were. But with 3 seconds remaining, down two points and the ball in our hands at halfcourt, things went down the drain.

Let's set this up for you. So the game was going great. Granger was lighting Kobe up, Dunleavy (in only his 2nd game this season) scored 22 points including a monster 3 to to tie the game. But just before that, the first signs of defeat began to show itself. Danny Granger fouled and on his way to the bench, Pau Gasol said a few choice words to him as he walked off the court and Granger exploded off the bench to go put some Sweet Chin Music on Gasol and kill him. But T.J. Ford, who has played in only 6 of the past 11 games, held Granger back, preventing the second-greatest punch/kick in Pacer history from happening (the No. 1 punch of course happening here).

After this disaster and after Kobe gave the Lakers a two-point lead, three seconds remained on the clock and it was up to coach JOB (stands for "I won't be coaching here in two years") to draw up a play where Dunleavy inbounds the ball to a player who either gives the ball back to Dunleavy or finds Diener for a 3-pointer and the win. The problem with that play is that the player who received the ball was a backup center known as Jeff Foster, or as I like to call him, "the biggest piece of shit of January 9, 2009"

So what transpired was an almost exact replica of a scene from Teen Wolf. During the championship game, the Beavers passed the ball to Chubs at the free-throw line. He held the ball over his head while he twisted frantically and desperately to find an open teammate to pass the ball to despite the fact that none of the opposing team's defenders were within five feet of guarding (remember this for later). The oversized center realized that no one was open. He stood there lifeless. But then Mick yelled "Shoot the ball fatboy!" and Chubs shot the ball, made the shot and music started and the montage began en route to a Beavers dramatic victory that was described in detail in an earlier post on this award-winning blog.

The difference in the Pacer game was that Mick apparently didn't buy a ticket to the game, despite being an actor, and therefore he wasn't there to yell "Shoot the ball you dipshit!" So, Foster held the ball over his head while he twisted frantically and desperately to find an open teammate to pass the ball to despite the fact that none of the opposing team's defenders were within five feet of guarding him (remember this? I told you to remember this, c'mon!) Finally, Foster realizes his situation and he turns to put up a desperation 18-footer.

But the buzzer sounds. He shoots anyways. He airballs it three feet to the right of the rim.

Game over.

The players run off the court completely pissed off that they didn't even get the chance to score and win. Foster runs off with his typical frowned look of disgust at himself that he shows us a minimum 16 times per quarter.

So that's where we stand after two dramatic games at Phoenix (win) and LA (loss). Let's move on...

Hello Mr. Radio
You get a breaking news alert today instead of a pic (I know, who I do I think I am?), but it's now official that Led Zeppelin will NOT be touring next year w/o Robert Plant. Kinda disappointing, but it definitely wouldn't have been the same with a Plant impersonator up there so it's probably for the better.

Info for Bo
Mr. Kennedy says he will not be reading reviews of his new movie. Looks like that's the best decision he's made in awhile.

Mrs. Thug Mrs.
Apparently some controversy is brewing that the new Hills spinoff, the City, is being staged as Whitney's new job is pretty fake and she doesn't ever work there unless the cameras are on.

You Tube...no, you're a tube
So the Err Dizz is testing the video market by putting our infamous "Isiah Thomas On Fire" video on the tube, and Pistons fans are not happy about it. Enjoy.