March 8, 2012
Greg's Top Ten Teams Peyton Manning Should Sign With:
1. Denver Broncos: I can't take credit for this because it was my friend Darrell, who originally proposed the idea to me, but damn it makes a lot of sense. Think about it, the defense is one of the best in the league and the running game is strong and one of the best tackles in the league, Ryan Clady, will be protecting his blindside. Even better, the division is very weak and would give Manning a chance to get back to the playoffs right away. As for Tim Tebow, we all know he would gracefully step aside and revel in the opportunity to "learn from the best" for a year or two.
2. Houston Texans: Like the Broncos, they have a good defense and a stellar ground game. My only reservation is that Manning wouldn't want to sign with a team that plays the Colts twice a year. Call me crazy, but I think Peyton has a tremendous amount of respect for his former team and wouldn't want to play in the division that his former teams resides in. However, the chance to win a Super Bowl might just be in Houston where it seems the only thing holding them back is a quarterback who can stay upright for 16 games a season.
3. San Francisco 49ers: Some will say this should be at the top but if the Niners want to sign Peyton they'll need to do something about their questionable offensive line. Sure, they have a Super Bowl caliber defense but fans know that the protection on offense is questionable and keeping Peyton healthy is an absolute must at this stage in his career. Perhaps his quick release will be enough to overcome the mediocrity of the offensive line, but who would he throw to? Perhaps Reggie Wayne or Pierre Garçon can follow Peyton to the Bay and give him an instant target.
4. Miami Dolphins: Reggie Wayne went to the University of Miami and needs a home, too and I think he'll follow Manning wherever he goes. Team up Wayne with Brandon Marshall and you've got two superb targets. Peyton could play Tom Brady twice a year. Imagine the possibilities. The Fins would be a great spot for Manning to play and few teams have had a harder time filling the shoes of a Hall of Fame quarterback quite like the Dolphins. Peyton also has a home in Miami so it would be an easy move. I do question a few things like would Peyton feel a greater temptation from one of the other teams listed above or will the Fins go after Packer QB Matt Flynn or RG3 in the NFL Draft to build a long term future? Only time will tell, but this would really be a nice fit for Peyton.
5. Arizona: Moving to the desert would be a decent fit since they have a star playmaker at wide receiver in Larry Fitzgerald but I've heard Manning say he would prefer to play in the AFC. If that's true, then Arizona might be a bit lower on his list than some of the AFC teams he's considering. The small media presence would be a plus if he goes to Arizona and the Cardinals do have some decent skill position players but, like the 49ers, lack a strong offensive line and the Cardinals already sacrificed quite a bit to get their current starter Kevin Kolb.
6. Seattle: Again, another NFC team that might make a strong bid for Peyton but fall short due to being in the wrong conference and not having enough pieces in place to make a serious run at a Super Bowl. They have a tremendous rusher in Marshawn Lynch, but few targets to throw to and some holes on defense. Still, I can see Pete Carroll doing his very best to secure Manning, but it would take some convincing for it to happen considering the circumstances.
7. New York Jets: This is only listed here because they are a possible suitor and they do have almost everything aside from a quarterback who can help them win right away. Even with all the great players they have on both sides of the ball including a stellar offensive line, I cannot imagine he'd want to go to the media circus in New York and play for someone like Rex Ryan who's quickly losing his team's respect. Another thing that Manning won't do is sign with a team that plays in the same town his brother does. Peyton wants nothing to do with Eli's territory out of respect for his sibling who has finally made his own name in the largest media market in the country.
8, 9, 10: Kansas City, Minnesota, Washington: There's no point in giving these longshots their own write-up since they all have about as good a shot of signing Peyton than I do of signing with the Colts. True, they all need quarterbacks desperately, but they're all a long way away from being a real contender for a Super Bowl and money alone won't entice someone like Manning who has more money than he'll ever need in his lifetime or several lifetimes for that matter.
Thursday, March 8, 2012
Wednesday, March 7, 2012
Sunday, March 4, 2012
March 4, 2012
Greg's Top Ten Albums I Can't Believe I Used to Own:
1. Limp Bizkit - "Significant Other"
2. Limp Bizkit - "Chocolate Starfish and the Hot Dog Flavored Water"
3. Paula Abdul - "Forever Your Girl"
4. MC Hammer - "Please Hammer Don't Hurt 'Em"
5. Various WWF Wrestlers - "Piledriver: The Wrestling Album II" (Gimme a break, I was 11)
6. The Fats Boys - "Crushin'"
7. Salt n Pepa - "A Salt With a Deadly Pepa"
8. Heart - "The Road Home" (estrogen, anyone?)
9. Green Day - "Dookie"
10. Van Halen - Van Halen III (still own it, actually)
Greg's Top Ten Albums I Can't Believe I Used to Own:
1. Limp Bizkit - "Significant Other"
2. Limp Bizkit - "Chocolate Starfish and the Hot Dog Flavored Water"
3. Paula Abdul - "Forever Your Girl"
4. MC Hammer - "Please Hammer Don't Hurt 'Em"
5. Various WWF Wrestlers - "Piledriver: The Wrestling Album II" (Gimme a break, I was 11)
6. The Fats Boys - "Crushin'"
7. Salt n Pepa - "A Salt With a Deadly Pepa"
8. Heart - "The Road Home" (estrogen, anyone?)
9. Green Day - "Dookie"
10. Van Halen - Van Halen III (still own it, actually)
Saturday, March 3, 2012
March 3, 2012
Greg's Top Ten Favorite Cover Songs:
1. "All Along the Watchtower" originally performed by Bob Dylan, covered by Jimi Hendrix
2. "Perfect Day" originally performed by Lou Reed, covered by Duran Duran
3. "Hurt" originally performed by Nine Inch Nails, covered by Johnny Cash
4. "I Didn't Mean to Turn You On" originally performed by Cherrelle, covered by Robert Palmer
5. "Pretty Woman" originally performed by Roy Orbison, covered by Van Halen
6. "Get It On (Bang a Gong)" originally performed by T. Rex, covered by The Power Station
7. "You Really Got Me" originally performed by The Kinks, covered by Van Halen
8. "Walk This Way" originally performed by Aerosmith, covered by Run DMC
9. "I Can't Get No Satisfaction" originally performed by The Rolling Stones, covered by Devo
10. "I Feel For You" originally performed by Prince, covered by Chaka Khan
Greg's Top Ten Favorite Cover Songs:
1. "All Along the Watchtower" originally performed by Bob Dylan, covered by Jimi Hendrix
2. "Perfect Day" originally performed by Lou Reed, covered by Duran Duran
3. "Hurt" originally performed by Nine Inch Nails, covered by Johnny Cash
4. "I Didn't Mean to Turn You On" originally performed by Cherrelle, covered by Robert Palmer
5. "Pretty Woman" originally performed by Roy Orbison, covered by Van Halen
6. "Get It On (Bang a Gong)" originally performed by T. Rex, covered by The Power Station
7. "You Really Got Me" originally performed by The Kinks, covered by Van Halen
8. "Walk This Way" originally performed by Aerosmith, covered by Run DMC
9. "I Can't Get No Satisfaction" originally performed by The Rolling Stones, covered by Devo
10. "I Feel For You" originally performed by Prince, covered by Chaka Khan
Friday, March 2, 2012
March 2, 2012
Greg's Top Ten Albums/Songs That Have Influenced My Life (6-10 Today, 1-5 Yesterday):
6. “No Excuses” by Alice in Chains - This song might be my high school theme song if I had to pick one. Whenever I play this track from “Jar of Flies” on my iPod it immediately takes me back to my high school days. There was something in this song that just made me feel normal at an adolescent time when so many of us were searching for an identity. Plus, who else in any metal category can harmonize like Layne Staley and Jerry Cantrell used to? It’s almost like God created them specifically to play in a band together.
7. Album “Cloud Nine” by George Harrison - My mother listened to George Harrison’s solo record “Cloud Nine” quite a bit in 1987. Now, keep in mind, I had only heard of The Beatles at this point in my young life, so I had no idea who the individual members were or what their impact on the world was. This record was my very first taste of anything Beatles related and it still gets heavy rotation on my iPod today. I used to borrow the cassette tape from my mother and play it on my mini-walkman everywhere I went. For some odd reason, whenever I play Legend of Zelda on my old NES I can hear this album playing in the back of my mind. Yes, I even played it while I was playing Nintendo as a kid! One of my favorite memories was as a ten year-old impressing an adult staff member of my grade school’s day care center with my George Harrison knowledge.
8. “Wish You Were Here” by Pink Floyd - This is a shout out more to the song than the whole album the song is featured on. I used to go to a small coffee shop named Cafe Quinn in Cupertino with my high school friends back in the mid-90s. They had a guitar player there who would play acoustic and take requests. I think by the end of my senior year he was sick to death of playing this song for me. It was my introduction to Pink Floyd. Before you knew it I was buying all their records, going to laser shows at DeAnza College and considering dropping acid. Ok, that last part was embellished, but the rest is true. I was quite the Pink Floyd addict during my latter years of high school and this song has to be the catalyst for it all. It’s also one of the most heartfelt songs I’ve ever heard in my life and certainly one of the most influential
9. Album “License to Ill” by The Beastie Boys - I used to listen to rap music more than any other type of music when I was a pre-teen and this record from the genre was the first I ever purchased. My cousin listened to them and got me started on them sometime in the mid to late 80s when they were starting to get a lot of exposure on MTV. This was before their follow-up record “Paul’s Boutique” dropped a few years later, so they were really in their infancy as a band. By the time I was eleven I had completely memorized the lyrics to “Paul Revere” and “She’s Crafty” even though I hadn’t a friggin’ clue what each song was really about. When you’re eleven years-old and you’re singing songs about tramps stealing everything from their one night stand’s bedroom it’s time to call a therapist.
10. “Down in the Park” by Gary Numan - An odd choice to be sure. Most of you know Numan as the guy who sang the 80s song “Cars” which is commonly played in commercials and covered by countless bands over the years. When I briefly went to UC Riverside in 1997 I was going through arguably the roughest period of my life and dark music really spoke to me around this time of my life. I remember going with some people from my dorm to the Riverside Theaters just off campus to watch a double feature of Pink Floyd’s “The Wall” along with some old alt-rock documentary called “Urgh: A Music War” which featured a lot of alternative bands from the early 80s. Numan was one of the featured artists and his haunting rendition of the synth-heavy “Down in the Park” was among the songs played during the show. I was immediately drawn in by the song and accompanying video. His songs were inspired by the works of sci-fi writer Phillip K. Dick who just so happened to be the writer for “Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep” which is the inspiration for the movie “Blade Runner” - a movie I re-discovered around this time and completely fell in love with.
Greg's Top Ten Albums/Songs That Have Influenced My Life (6-10 Today, 1-5 Yesterday):
6. “No Excuses” by Alice in Chains - This song might be my high school theme song if I had to pick one. Whenever I play this track from “Jar of Flies” on my iPod it immediately takes me back to my high school days. There was something in this song that just made me feel normal at an adolescent time when so many of us were searching for an identity. Plus, who else in any metal category can harmonize like Layne Staley and Jerry Cantrell used to? It’s almost like God created them specifically to play in a band together.
7. Album “Cloud Nine” by George Harrison - My mother listened to George Harrison’s solo record “Cloud Nine” quite a bit in 1987. Now, keep in mind, I had only heard of The Beatles at this point in my young life, so I had no idea who the individual members were or what their impact on the world was. This record was my very first taste of anything Beatles related and it still gets heavy rotation on my iPod today. I used to borrow the cassette tape from my mother and play it on my mini-walkman everywhere I went. For some odd reason, whenever I play Legend of Zelda on my old NES I can hear this album playing in the back of my mind. Yes, I even played it while I was playing Nintendo as a kid! One of my favorite memories was as a ten year-old impressing an adult staff member of my grade school’s day care center with my George Harrison knowledge.
8. “Wish You Were Here” by Pink Floyd - This is a shout out more to the song than the whole album the song is featured on. I used to go to a small coffee shop named Cafe Quinn in Cupertino with my high school friends back in the mid-90s. They had a guitar player there who would play acoustic and take requests. I think by the end of my senior year he was sick to death of playing this song for me. It was my introduction to Pink Floyd. Before you knew it I was buying all their records, going to laser shows at DeAnza College and considering dropping acid. Ok, that last part was embellished, but the rest is true. I was quite the Pink Floyd addict during my latter years of high school and this song has to be the catalyst for it all. It’s also one of the most heartfelt songs I’ve ever heard in my life and certainly one of the most influential
9. Album “License to Ill” by The Beastie Boys - I used to listen to rap music more than any other type of music when I was a pre-teen and this record from the genre was the first I ever purchased. My cousin listened to them and got me started on them sometime in the mid to late 80s when they were starting to get a lot of exposure on MTV. This was before their follow-up record “Paul’s Boutique” dropped a few years later, so they were really in their infancy as a band. By the time I was eleven I had completely memorized the lyrics to “Paul Revere” and “She’s Crafty” even though I hadn’t a friggin’ clue what each song was really about. When you’re eleven years-old and you’re singing songs about tramps stealing everything from their one night stand’s bedroom it’s time to call a therapist.
10. “Down in the Park” by Gary Numan - An odd choice to be sure. Most of you know Numan as the guy who sang the 80s song “Cars” which is commonly played in commercials and covered by countless bands over the years. When I briefly went to UC Riverside in 1997 I was going through arguably the roughest period of my life and dark music really spoke to me around this time of my life. I remember going with some people from my dorm to the Riverside Theaters just off campus to watch a double feature of Pink Floyd’s “The Wall” along with some old alt-rock documentary called “Urgh: A Music War” which featured a lot of alternative bands from the early 80s. Numan was one of the featured artists and his haunting rendition of the synth-heavy “Down in the Park” was among the songs played during the show. I was immediately drawn in by the song and accompanying video. His songs were inspired by the works of sci-fi writer Phillip K. Dick who just so happened to be the writer for “Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep” which is the inspiration for the movie “Blade Runner” - a movie I re-discovered around this time and completely fell in love with.
Thursday, March 1, 2012
March 1, 2012
Greg’s Top Ten Albums/Songs That Have Influenced My Life (1-5 Today, 6-10 Tomorrow):
1. “Ordinary World” by Duran Duran - There wasn’t a doubt what would make the top spot on this list. It’s a song that hasn’t been with me as long as some of the others on this list, but words can’t explain how powerful it has been. The lyrics have gotten me through some pretty painful times in my life and helped me enjoy some pleasant ones, too. The lyrics are somewhat somber and optimistic at the same time and are some of the most beautiful I’ve ever heard.
2. Album “1984” by Van Halen - By the time high school rolled around in 1991, I knew who Van Halen were. I’d seen their videos on MTV for years and thought they were the epitome of cool, but had never really taken the time to listen to their catalog of music. In my freshman year of high school my friend Joshua Hess let me borrow his cassette copy of Van Halen’s classic record “1984” which featured the hits “Jump”, “Panama” and “Hot For Teacher.” I was totally blown away and became infatuated with the rock genre - a love affair I’m still enjoying to this very day.
3. Album “Thriller” by Michael Jackson - I’m guessing this might on a few people’s top tens. It’s one of those records that is flawless from start to finish and was my first real introduction to music - my mother had a copy on cassette when I was in the first grade. The songs were played frequently at my home, on the television and radio...it was everywhere. I can listen to it any time of day and it reminds of what a massive influence Jackson was on the music industry. No matter what you might think of Jackson as a person or what type of music you are into, there’s no denying the power and influence of his landmark album.
4. Album “It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back” by Public Enemy - When I first bought the record in 1987, unbeknownst to my mother who would one day throw my copy away, I didn’t really listen to what frontman Chuck D was saying on each track. I just thought it was the coolest thing I had ever heard. Only later did I realize the message he was conveying in his songs about the struggles of African-Americans. There’s a certain anger in his message that just grabs you by the throat and doesn’t let go. I love that he was totally fearless in his approach and although I’m not a black man, a large Caucasian fan base emerged for Public Enemy after that record debuted. I believe Public Enemy’s sound crossed racial boundaries because we can all relate to the emotions he was expressing.
5. “One” by Metallica - Van Halen was my introduction to rock. Metallica took me to an entirely different level of the genre that has a massive influence on me to this day. There’s an anger in metal that I’ve never heard in any other genre of music and “One” by Metallica was my introduction to it. So many raw emotions come from the sounds generated by Metallica in the song “One” that express rage and chaos. It’s one of those songs that constantly builds until it reaches a violent climax right around the four and half minute mark. If I ever need to access my own rage I need little more than to listen to metal in order to find it.
Greg’s Top Ten Albums/Songs That Have Influenced My Life (1-5 Today, 6-10 Tomorrow):
1. “Ordinary World” by Duran Duran - There wasn’t a doubt what would make the top spot on this list. It’s a song that hasn’t been with me as long as some of the others on this list, but words can’t explain how powerful it has been. The lyrics have gotten me through some pretty painful times in my life and helped me enjoy some pleasant ones, too. The lyrics are somewhat somber and optimistic at the same time and are some of the most beautiful I’ve ever heard.
2. Album “1984” by Van Halen - By the time high school rolled around in 1991, I knew who Van Halen were. I’d seen their videos on MTV for years and thought they were the epitome of cool, but had never really taken the time to listen to their catalog of music. In my freshman year of high school my friend Joshua Hess let me borrow his cassette copy of Van Halen’s classic record “1984” which featured the hits “Jump”, “Panama” and “Hot For Teacher.” I was totally blown away and became infatuated with the rock genre - a love affair I’m still enjoying to this very day.
3. Album “Thriller” by Michael Jackson - I’m guessing this might on a few people’s top tens. It’s one of those records that is flawless from start to finish and was my first real introduction to music - my mother had a copy on cassette when I was in the first grade. The songs were played frequently at my home, on the television and radio...it was everywhere. I can listen to it any time of day and it reminds of what a massive influence Jackson was on the music industry. No matter what you might think of Jackson as a person or what type of music you are into, there’s no denying the power and influence of his landmark album.
4. Album “It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back” by Public Enemy - When I first bought the record in 1987, unbeknownst to my mother who would one day throw my copy away, I didn’t really listen to what frontman Chuck D was saying on each track. I just thought it was the coolest thing I had ever heard. Only later did I realize the message he was conveying in his songs about the struggles of African-Americans. There’s a certain anger in his message that just grabs you by the throat and doesn’t let go. I love that he was totally fearless in his approach and although I’m not a black man, a large Caucasian fan base emerged for Public Enemy after that record debuted. I believe Public Enemy’s sound crossed racial boundaries because we can all relate to the emotions he was expressing.
5. “One” by Metallica - Van Halen was my introduction to rock. Metallica took me to an entirely different level of the genre that has a massive influence on me to this day. There’s an anger in metal that I’ve never heard in any other genre of music and “One” by Metallica was my introduction to it. So many raw emotions come from the sounds generated by Metallica in the song “One” that express rage and chaos. It’s one of those songs that constantly builds until it reaches a violent climax right around the four and half minute mark. If I ever need to access my own rage I need little more than to listen to metal in order to find it.
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