I play real sports (my favorite things of 2009)

As the year comes to an end, I figured I'd take a moment to list some of my favorite things that came along this past year.

HBO started the year off with a bang by introducing us to Kenny Powers in their new comedy series, Eastbound and Down. If you haven't seen or heard of this yet, then you probably aren't the type of person that would enjoy it. For those of us who do, its given us enough one liners to last till at least 2015.



While one series began, another one came to an end. Battlestar Galactica gave us four amazing seasons and a new standard by which all other sci-fi shows will be measured. While the finale left some questions still unanswered, it wasn't enough diminish the series in anyway. In fact, it gave me with a sense of peace about the series, as well as lingering and intriguing thoughts.



As the crew of the Battlestar Galactica finally reached earth, the crew of the USS Enterprise set out once again, for the first time, to explore strange new worlds, to seek out new life; new civilizations, to boldly go where no one has gone before!

Let's be honest, it's hard to find fault with JJ Abrams reboot of the Star Trek franchise. While it was great in the theater, it should be noted that the Blu-Ray is pretty incredible.



The next item on the list is also a blast from the past. Ghostbuster's The Video Game finally gave us something that all children of the 80's wanted, a proton pack. It also gave us another story line that served as a sequel to the disappointing Ghostbuster's II. I can't lie, busting makes me feel good.



TV, movies, video games - do I have time for anything else? Well, for the past several months any spare moment has been spent listening to the sounds of the lovely Jill Andrews and her debut EP. Formally of the group the everybodyfields, Jill has proven that her former band was just the first step in her musical journey. Jill's heart and soul is the main instrument on this record, and unless you're a asshole I promise you'll love it.



Speaking of assholes, that brings me to my favorite new anti-hero, Dexter Morgan. Okay, hero is a definite overstatement, but he's definitely my favorite serial killer. 2009 brought the fourth, and perhaps most amazing season of Showtime's original series. This year Dexter matched wits with the great and creepy John Lithgow. I smell an Emmy…



Last, but certainly not least, Activision's spin-off of Guitar Hero, DJ Hero has pretty much changed my life. As I sprung into my teenage years, I became obsessed with what's now considered 'old school' hip- hop. I so badly wanted to work the 'wheels of steel', that I went through a couple of needles on mom's record player.

When the lights go down and the record starts to spin - well, there's no greater high.



Coming soon, my favorite things of the decade!

You Never Forget Your First - A Tribute to G-Spot, my first intern.

This is dedicated to Gabe Simon (G-Spot), my first intern. Gabe was a hard worker, at being a slacker. Like most 20 year olds, he thought he knew everything. However, he knew just enough to be dangerous, and I'm thankful he did not sink our small, growing business.

This a collection of photos, stories, and quotes from our time together.













Hi, I'm Gabe - I wear girls jeans. They make room for my extra large vagina.













Quotes from Brad to Gabe:

• You are the reason I don't want to have kids, I look at you and think, damn, they're cute at first, but they grow into this (pointing at him).
• I drink b/c of you
• When you get here, knock 3 and 1/2 times, then say - 'I got yo doughnuts'.
• I get so mad when I see you that it makes me spit up blood.
• (when asked if I was coming to see his band) If I wanted to see a 7 piece band, I'd watch Muppet Show re-runs.

(Gabe checking in when I had swine flu)
Gabe: Are you feeling better?
Brad: Yes, kind sir. I know you wish me dead
Gabe: I sent that like three days ago
Brad: What the f**k does that have to do with anything? I may have lost control of my bowels, but I can still read dates and times.

(regarding an assignment that Gabe waited to the last minute to do.)
Brad: Do you still need me to answer those questions?
Gabe: No, the assignment was due already.
Brad: Well, why didn't you ask me all the questions the other night?
Gabe: Dude, you sounded like you didn't want to talk to me, like you weren't interested and wanted to get off the phone with me.
Brad: I did, I was trying to watch Dexter man. You did wait to the last minute, you know.

There are many more stories that I'd like to tell, but they're better told in person. I will leave you with a few more pics.

























This is a post I ran on Facebook -

Beware of this guy. He claims to be my intern, but the truth is I found him in my yard one day trying to mow the grass with a broom. He introduces himself as Gabe, however he only responds to 'Spudnuts' or'Ricky Roo'. He also wears girls jeans and goes to yard sales looking for 'My Little Pony's' in an attempt to finish his collection. If you see him, it's best to pretend that you're on the phone. If not, he will follow you and ask lots of questions.

Coffee 'Houses Of The Holy'

Hmm… where to start? I saw Robert Plant last week.

Location: Bongo Java East - East Nashville, TN.













Over the past 10 years in Nashville, I've gotten fairly use to seeing celebrities. Mostly musicians, except for the Reese Witherspoon/Ryan Phillipe sighting many moons ago at the Green Hills Blockbuster. However, when the iconic Robert Plant made his way into my local neighborhood coffee shop, I crapped my pants.

Like most folks, I discovered Led Zeppelin during my teenage years. However, for me, this was the early 90's, and the Internet age had not yet come about. Isn't it strange to think about a time without Internet? Looking back, it's hard for me to imagine. This brings up a longer discussion about the music industry and how it's changed over the years, but maybe just ask me about that in person sometime, or not.

Basically, in those days, artists were not accessible - not to mention artists that were already considered classic at the time. All we had were their often unique album art, a few photos, and maybe a retro t-shirt. If you were lucky, you could track down some sort of concert video. In the case of Led Zeppelin, you did have 'The Song Remains The Same', which is basically a movie/concert video.












Artists were mysterious, larger than life - almost mythic. Their music became the soundtracks of our lives, and open to our own interpretations.

To see this icon of rock music, just walk in and grab some coffee. Well, it was just a little too much for me to process.

You look like John Berry. Who? Dee's nuts.

If you live in East Nashville and hadn't heard the news, Dee's Q will be closing at the end of December.










For seven years, the yellow shack with flames on the side has sit quietly on Riverside Dr. across from the Piggly Wiggly, serving some kick-ass food. I'll admit, it took me years to work up courage to go there, mainly because a building with flames on it is not a good sign for those who suffer with acid reflux.

As far as pork BBQ sandwiches, I thought it was the best kept secret in Nashville. Especially when you add the extra sauce. I've often heard the ribs would melt in your mouth, and now I'll never know.










Sadness...

Can you hear the thunder?

I just finished watching HBO's critically-acclaimed, however, short-lived series Deadwood, and wanted to f**king write a little f**king blurb about it.

You see, that's a joke. Reason being, Deadwood's excessive use of profanity is somewhat legendary. Don't believe me? Let's just say, if you were playing a drinking game based on the work f**k, well, you'd be dead from alcohol poisoning before the end of one episode. For more info, click here.

So, if you haven't seen the show and are debating it, here's a few things to know about Deadwood.

• It's fictionalized, non-fiction.
• Ian Mcshane is absolutely incredible.
• Al Swearengen rivals early Jack Bauer as my favorite television character of all time.
• You will need subtitles.
• If you are offended by the words f**k, c**ksucker, and c**t - then stay away.
• If you like the show Major Dad, then this may ruin it for you.
• Timothy Olymphant is great in this, as oppose to everything thing else I've seen him in.
• John Hawkes is great, as always.
• There is a cast member of 'Facts of Life' featured on the show.
• This show features the greatest, most brutal and intense fight scene I've ever seen in film and tv.
• The show ended prematurely, however, I was not disappointed.
• This is not a western.
• The show often feels like a stage play, which is pretty cool.
• The ensemble cast is brilliant.
• Hope you like you some Powers Boothe.
  

and finally,

• Deadwood, isn't something 'she said.'

'Whatever the cost may be...'

Okay - I know serious posts are rare here, but here's another.

I have a fascination with war. It's not a romanticized sense of glory, nor is it a morbid curiosity. More so, it's a longing for understanding, not for war itself, but for what these experiences were like for all those unfortunate men, woman, and children that were victims of its horrors.

I can't imagine how I would react as a young guy drafted during the Vietnam war, or a factory worker in the 40's taken across the world to fight the Axis. Would I have been one of the many that stared at the sun, choosing blindness over combat, or drink as many soft drinks as possible to appear diabetic. Maybe I would have decided that being Canadian isn't so bad, or that time in jail gave me my best chance. Hopefully, I would have found the strength that other great men have found, and given my life to be a soldier for our country. Perhaps I would have already excepted my fate, knowing that there are no winners in war, only those who survive. However, having a Vietnam veteran as a step-father, I can tell you - survival comes with a price.

This brings me to the point of this blog, and yes, there is one.

I force myself to watch war movies and documentaries, although, I still can't stomach to watch anything that focuses on the Holocaust as I simply cannot process it. I watch because I feel that I owe it to the people who fought and died in battle to experience some part of what they experienced.

In saying that, I have to admit how deeply moved I was by the History Channel's week long event, 'WWII in HD'. If you have access to this, I strongly encourage you to take the time to watch this series. It follows the war through the eyes and writings of several soldiers, and features restored and never before seen footage. There are no way words can describe the look on the faces of men, minutes away from almost certain death as they invade the shores of a tiny Pacific Island. There is also no way to imagine what it was like for a 20 year jazz drummer, in his first few seconds of combat, to see the guy running ahead of him torn in half by a land mine.

It's amazing to think that I had two uncles land on Utah Beach, one even spent time in a German prison camp. Both returned alive. The difference between them and me? Only the year we were born.

There is no doubt this documentary will haunt you, disturb you - it will horrify you, and it should.

Playoffs?!, Playoffs?!, P.. P.. Playoffs?! What I learned in the NFL week 11.

Well, I've not posted my weekly segment over the past couple of weeks. Other than realizing that Peyton Manning indeed looks like a broke-ass Dermot Mulroney. I mean, I already knew Belicheck had the nut sack of an elephant.













What I didn't know, was that the Titans, with Vince Young, would have just won 4 straight games after starting off 0-6. I also would have never predicted that Vince Young would survive 4 games. I figured that we'd probably have seen Kerry Collins pop on the koopa trooper helmet and head back on the field, while Vince's agent conducted the first round of negotiations with the CFL.

Besides Bud Adams, nobody was probably more excited with the drafting of Young then me. I mean, who couldn't have watched that Rose Bowl and not imagined that happening in the Super Bowl. The rookie year delivered and all of a sudden, the Titans were fun to watch again. That is, until the much discussed and documented meltdown that started at the beginning of the '08 season.

Meltdown is putting it mildly. How about a 50 million dollar implosion? The ultimate riches to rags story, the complete unraveling of a past champion and future star. For those of us who supported and believed in Vince, we were left wishing like hell for a redo, and that Jay Cutler had only travelled across town from his dorm to the Titans facility.

Am I completely sold after 4 games? No, but damn, if this kid hasn't taken about ten steps in the right direction. Making his reads, running when needed, more accurate, saying the right things, acting the right way. He's scrappy on the field too, which is something this team needs more of. Has the real Vince Young stood up? Let's hope so.

Now, after 4 straight wins, which is something no other team has done after starting 0-6, the Titans are not excluded from playoff discussions. Now, they've got to win probably at least 5 of the next 6 games, and hope that other teams start folding like lawn chairs, but - there are some very winnable games on the remaining schedule.

This season holds the potential for two great Disney movies. Brett Favre winning the Super Bowl, and the Titans making it to the Super Bowl. I understand both Dennis Quaid and Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson have their schedules on hold.