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It practically gallops!

Hurricane Jim

George Mason University’s commitment to basketball began when they built the Patriot Center. My class was the first to graduate in the almost-finished building. Things got more interesting when GMU hired Jim Larranaga as head coach. Obviously the highlight of Larranaga’s 14-year run was the Patriots’ 2006 trip to the Final Four.

Coach L dumped Mason on Friday to accept the head coaching gig at the University of Miami. The new job comes with a huge raise for Larranaga. On the surface it seems to be about the money but Baltimore Sun columnist Ron Fritz points out that it’s more about winning. Fritz believes that Larranaga wants to prove he can succeed in the higher-profile ACC and that Miami gives Coach L a better shot at a national championship than GMU. The most discouraging part of Fritz’s column is this: “Let’s face it: Taking George Mason to the Final Four in 2006 was probably as far as he was going to take the Patriots. Winning a national championship at GMU was going to be nearly impossible.”

Down in Florida, Sun Sentinel columnist Mike Berardino mentions that George Mason athletic director Tom O’Connor made a huge mistake by not keeping up with Virginia Commonwealth University, which gave coach Shaka Smart a big raise for doing the same thing Larranaga did five years earlier. It’s also very likely that the impending retirement of GMU President Alan Merten was a factor in Larranaga’s decision.

While Miami is celebrating, Mason Nation is devastated and reeling. My former colleague Russ Allen has been sending me updates via Twitter. He mentioned some possible replacements for Larranaga but I’m not ready to even Google the names yet.

April 23, 2011 | Filed Under Uncategorized | 2 Comments 

Knoxville Predators

A large bird of prey has taken up residence in my backyard. I think he’s a hawk but I don’t know what kind. There have always been plenty of small critters on my property that would make a good meal for the bird. Last week, I looked out the kitchen window to see him hopping lazily after a rabbit. On Wednesday, I saw him perched on the fence as I pulled in to the driveway. He jumped down to the pool deck and then flew away when I pointed a video camera at him. Yesterday he was sitting atop the pool slide and I caught 3 seconds worth of video.

There are several hawks listed on the Tennessee Watchable Wildlife website. Could my visitor be a Broad-winged Hawk or a Red-shouldered Hawk or a Sharp-Shinned Hawk or a Cooper’s Hawk? I will need to get a better look at him.

April 22, 2011 | Filed Under Uncategorized | 3 Comments 

Life Lessons

The last blog post I wrote about at KROQ was going to be the last blog post I wrote about KROQ, or so I thought. In it, I wrote that I was disappointed to discover the quirks my friend Jessica called “endearing” at the time were far more irritating to others than I realized. I’ve made improvements in my life since then but the motivation for the changes had to come from within. There was nothing my co-workers could say that would make me change.

In that earlier post, I mentioned Boogerman, who showed up at a remote broadcast and amused me with his parody songs. I thought we could use his talents without spending a lot of money. As it turned out, Boogerman was living in his van and appreciated the on-air exposure. He had his own quirks issues that caused him to leave and caused us to lose touch.

My friend Bruce Butler always asks whatever happened to Boogerman. Bruce is now a real estate agent in St. Louis. Back then, he produced comedy segments for the Premiere Radio Network prep services. Bruce will be interested to know that I got an email out of the blue from Boogerman yesterday:

Hey there…hope this is the legend Frank Murphy who was a major contributor in my life of comedy. I was thinking about things this morning and thought about people who were really good to me. You were at the top of the list for sure.
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But, the memory was bitter-sweet and I really feel that I need to apologize to you for letting you down all those years ago. I don’t think I have told you I’m sorry…but if I have let me just do it again…lol
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You stuck your neck out for me and got me on Premiere Radio, then helped me get on KROQ and then even let me do some stuff for Mark and Brian after I destroyed myself at KROQ. You helped me when nobody else would and I just need you to know that I’ve always been grateful for this.
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I unfortunately at the time was completely un-prepared for the real world…I was completely full of s–t, unstable and spiritually immature, not to mention angry confused and psychotic.
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You helped put the golden keys in my hand and I threw them away without even knowing what I was doing.
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My life has never recovered career-wise since then, and I’ve been through a lot of therapy and soul searching to be able to deal with that failure. Especially seeing all the other people I worked with at the time (Adam, Jimmy, Carson) go on to take those golden keys and open real doors and have great careers.
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I applaud them (especially Adam and Jimmy) for being able to really own their opportunities and make it. I’m not jealous of them and never have been…just sad that I couldn’t get over all the crap that was on my head and walk through the open doors myself.
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But, that is the past…the present is a wonderful thing to be alive in and even though I didn’t make it…yet…lol…I have to let you know that your help and encouragement in those days made a difference in my life for the positive today.
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You are a very talented thinker and good human. You’ve left a great footprint everywhere you’ve walked and I’m very proud to have been in your company for a while.
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I don’t know if I read the interwebs correctly, but I think you’re doing on-air in a morning show somewhere?…that’s awesome! I’m sure you’re kicking ass in front of the mic.
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I’m having a great time too right now…a bit of a transition for me…(long story) but the fun stuff is my new comedy duo TacoBunny (www.tacobunny.com if you’re bored) I have a fantastic female partner and I get to do what I do best…write f—ed up songs about stuff…:)
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anyhoo…I hope whatever you’re doing you’re enjoying your life and feel a great sense of pride for the good you have done. thank you for everything you’ve done for me.
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peace4u
Count Boogie
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p.s…I talked to Dr. Demento a couple weeks ago (e mail) that old fart is still doin’ his thing on the web…another legend in my life.

April 21, 2011 | Filed Under Uncategorized | 1 Comment 

‘Ello Guv’nahs!

There are no tours of the Body Farm. People who are interested in learning about decomposition can read “Death’s Acre” or watch a documentary made by Jon Jefferson or go to a lecture by Dr. Bill Bass. On Monday, Dr. Bass will speak at the Blount County Public Library at 7:00 p.m. On Tuesday, he will speak to the FBI Knoxville Citizens’ Academy Alumni Association.

A teacher at William Blount High School realized that if she couldn’t take her forensic science class to the Body Farm, she could bring decomposition to them. Carla Woodard had her students study dead chickens. A great article in The Daily Times by Melanie Tucker (whose email address starts with “melt”)  describes the chickens that were left in various locations such as the trunk of a car or floating in a bucket. They gave clever names to the carcasses, including Fabio, Georgia, Paulette, Hank and Nemo.

The news from nearby Blount County reminded me of my own rejected idea for my son’s seventh grade science project. At first, I thought he could track the progress of a few dead critters from our pool. Then I thought he could do something with spare ribs. Years later, we did our own rib experiment at Calhoun’s with Dr. Bass.

April 20, 2011 | Filed Under Body Farm | Comments Off 

Jumboree

Zombie Jumble from April 18, 2011 Something looked different about the Jumble in Monday’s paper. I can’t quite put my finger on it. Did they get a new cartoonist? Or was it the presence of zombies that seemed unusual?

Zombies were in the news on Monday. Lionsgate hired a director for “Pride and Prejudice and Zombies,” which is being produced by Natalie Portman. USA Today had an article about a new comic book series featuring zombies during the Vietnam War.

For a funny study guide, check out Cracked.com’s “Evolution of Zombies.”

April 19, 2011 | Filed Under Uncategorized | 2 Comments 

Surrattogate

The opening scenes of “The Conspirator” depicted Abraham Lincoln’s assassination exactly like I imagined it after visiting Ford’s Theater and reading “Manhunt.” The film questions whether Mary Surratt should have been executed as a co-conspirator in Lincoln’s death. Those not familiar with that chapter of history might be surprised by the movie’s ending.

In its on-screen logo, The American Film Company promises to make entertaining and accurate historical films. The company’s website features more than enough reading material to keep me busy for a week. I think I’ll start with “Historians View the Assassination.” My wife was interested in the article about J.A.G. Joseph Holt and the subsequent comments debating whether Surratt’s trial was influenced by an anti-Catholic bias.

I went to Chinatown last summer but didn’t realize I was near the Surratt boarding house. According to Wikipedia, it is now a restaurant called Wok and Roll. I wonder if they have any menu items named after the Surratts.

Before the movie we saw a promo for Sprite Refreshing Films. I caught a glimpse of Knoxville Catholic High School student Carla Javier in the behind-the-scenes footage. “Wonderland,” the film Carla worked on, is currently trailing behind the entry from Dallas. Voting is open until Friday, April 22. Text ATL to 777483.

April 18, 2011 | Filed Under Uncategorized | Comments Off 

Try to Remember

“The Fantasticks” is known as the longest-running musical in history. It played off-Broadway for almost 42 years. I assume my parents went to see it at least once because my father frequently listened to  the original cast album.

My wife and I received Facebook notifications about a production of “The Fantasticks” being staged Friday and Saturday at Knoxville Catholic High School. One of our friends had a daughter, Angeline Morris, appearing in the play as The Mute.  A local blogger’s son, Jake Sholly, played El Gallo. One of our son’s friends, Roxanne Cabrera, played Luisa, the female lead. Her voice was perfectly suited for the part. Another friend from church, Andrew Ballew, was the professional accompanist and music director.

The premise is like “Romeo & Juliet” but with a twist. A couple falls in love despite a feud between their fathers. Or is it because of the feud? We quickly learn that the fathers are friends, faking the feud because they know it will push the kids together. The song “Never Say No” summarizes their deception. Act 1 appears to have a happy ending. Things go awry in Act 2 when the young lovers discover they have been tricked into an arranged marriage.

This was my first time seeing “The Fantasticks” on stage. A few years back, I tried watching the film version of it, which starred Jean Louisa Kelly of “yes, dear” fame. It works much better as a stage play with an austere set than a movie filmed on location. The dialogue and songs are too theatrical to make sense when put on a real farm in the real world. Part of the conceit of the play is that El Gallo addresses the audience and acknowledges several times that we are watching a play. The character of The Mute sometimes portrays inanimate objects such as the wall the two fathers build.

My wife and I were impressed that the kids did so well with the challenging songs. She pointed out that they didn’t have a big chorus to back them up. Her comment reminded me that my high school would put on big productions like “Mame,” “Very Good Eddie” and “Bye Bye Birdie.” I always enjoy telling my wife’s friends that although she has never been to Oklahoma, she was in “Oklahoma!”

April 17, 2011 | Filed Under Uncategorized | 1 Comment 

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