Since Casey Blake hosed us on Gale's Christmas present last year, the bottomless Christmas gift continues. Tonight, we went to see Nils Lofgren at the Winchester. No, Springsteen did NOT show up. We started the night at Crazy Rita's, the home of the chips and salsa, where you get five salsas and guacamole in a sampler. Very nice bartender, but I'm afraid she could bench press me. A true amazon.

Then we made our way over to the Winchester. Their ticket distribution could be better. It's that you purchase your tickets to a show over the phone. You can pick up your tickets ahead of time or give your name at the door to get your ducats. The problem is it's one line for both. Nils sold quite well and had a 7:30 show, too. When we arrived after 9:00, it was a bit chaotic with the first show emptying out. We got to see a lot of folks leaving and I asked Gale why she didn't tell me that the early show was where all of the beautiful people attended. Trust me, that was one parade of ugly that passed us by. Gale was complimented on her outfit by someone I will charitably descibe as a hag.

Celebrity lookalikes in attendance:

Sen. John McCain
Singer Michael McDonald
Media Research Center President, Brent Bozell

An audience so old, I could be called "Sonny".

Anyhow, Nils played about an hour and 40 minutes and was terrific. Being in the E Street Band hampers his creativity a bit and since he was solo, you got to see what a guitar virtuoso he is. He went from acoustic to electric acoustic to Kurzweil piano to Stratocaster. He did two Springsteen songs, one acoustic I did not know, and a killer electric version of "Because the Night". When he got to the piano, he played my favorite song of his, "Goin' Back" which is so rare to hear, I value each time I can listen to it. He also played his Keith Richards song, "Keith Don't Go" and when he puts his shades on, he could pass for Keith's little brother.

His stage banter was good and Nils seemed to enjoy himself. All in all, a very good show.

Meal of Links

"It's a Wonderful Life" was voted the most inspirational movie. And it had Sheldon Leonard AND Alfalfa in the cast. "Hey, look. I'm handin' out wings."

Great tackle by the Minnesota Twins visiting batboy last night. Play of the game.

Jay-Z is boycotting Cristal. I've boycotted it for years. Mainly because it costs too damn much.

World Cup Photo of the Day


















"Heja Sverige!"

Exercise Yard

Last night's Tribe game was punctuated by another almost fight. I thought Randy Johnson's pitch was thrown at Eduardo Perez, but it was on his hands, not his head. No question it was in retaliation of Jorge Posada getting hit earlier, but sheesh, lots of tempers for nothing.

Especially after last weekend, when the White Sox drilled Indians hitters seemingly at will.

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13 Across: Negro Leagues great Buck (5 letters) Answer: O'Neil