In case you missed some of my articles this week from WQMX.com here is a recap. Grab a coffee and earbuds and get caught up. Thanks for listening and reading every day!

BROWNS - Breaking Even

Memorial Day

50 Most Important Country Songs 1980-Today #29

Forgotten Jukebox DB-01

The Mega Star Series - Hank Jr (B-day Revisit)

Wynn At The Movies And More

Box Office Results - Furiosa (26 million)

#2 Garfield  -  (25 Million)

#3 - If -   (16 million)

Slowest Memorial Day - Weekend at movies in decades! Since 1995

New This Week – Ezra / Backspot / Haiyaku – The Dumpster Battle

$$$ - The house in Home Alone is for sale. It will cost you $5.25 million, it's in Winnetka, Illinois

Brad Pitt / George Clooney – New Apple TV movies called Wolfs

My -  Country Music Memory Lane  -   (link)

Also - 50 Most Important Country Songs 1980 – Today #29 (Link)

May is a big month for Country Music Birthdays and Hank Jr is next.  He will be at Blossom this year and I hope you have your tickets!  He is a legend and is in my Mega Star Series.

Hank Williams Jr. (B-Day Revisit)

Riding With Private Malone  - David Ball  - 2001 - (Album - Amigo)

This week is Memorial Day week and this is a perfect song to punch up in the jukebox.  This song really struck a chord with many when it was out is 2001.  I remember the phones ringing for this here at WQMX!  This went to #2 on the charts, and was very popular, but time many times in country is not kind to many artist or songs.  But this is a great song to feature and remember this week.  This song is very personal for many fans, and even though time has passed, many would still call this one of their favorites David Ball can sing a country song!

Last Weeks Selection

My Full Profile On David Ball

Tim McGraw has already been on this list with, Live Like You Were Dying #38.  But since he's one of the biggest stars we've had in the last 30 years, no surprise he's back again.  The importance of this song is simple.  It's great, and it without any shadow of any doubt delivered Tim McGraw to us on the "silveriest of platters" and launched his gigantic career. There were songs from him before this like Welcome To The Club, and Indian Outlaw, but nothing like this.  Indian Outlaw got him noticed and fans loved that song, but was that a one-off and just a catchy fun song?  Well, yes and no.  It was a big hit, but when this came out, we couldn't play it enough. This incredible story song legitimized McGraw as a real artist and raced to the top of the charts.  It also was played on A/C radio for a bit. Plus for 1994, this had a very slick video that captured him and the song perfectly.  Of the dozens of McGraw number one hits, this is probably fans favorite of them all.  Some have even called this the best country song of the 1990's.  Full disclosure, this is not my favorite McGraw song, but it's incredible and touches people as it is very relatable and delivered wonderfully.  This song beyond any measure made Tim McGraw's career being the followup to Indian Outlaw.   After fans heard this, they couldn't wait to hear more, and they did for the next 30 years and still do. A major hit record that will be played forever by stations all around the country.

Last Week #30

My Full Profile On Tim McGraw

Memorial Day Today.  Today you certainly remember those who gave theirs so we can have ours.

We have an amazing gem right here, the Ohio Western Reserve National Cemetery it Ritman.  Even though my father didn't die in the line of duty, he proudly served in WWII in the Pacific in the Army Air Corps, and he rests today at said cemetery, along with my mother who passed away three years ago.  If you've never been there, its a learning experience, and should be seen.  Incredibly beautiful, serene and sobering.  Windy and I go there on Memorial Day, and or Veterans Day.

 GREAT Memorial Day Songs - Enjoy

Well it's the off-season and the NFL does a great job of keeping us glued to who they are by creating events that capture the pop-culture world.  The Draft is over, and so is the dropping of the 2024 NFL Schedule.  Now we know who the Browns will play and when, and who is new to the team.  All that means that summer camp is really not that far away.

With the lack any meaningful draft positions, they did the best they could do in that regard.  This is the final year of the Watson trade situation giving three first rounders to the Texans, making them one of the best teams in the NFL. They have lost some players, and picked up, and yes, even drafted a few that could make the team.  They have hired some new coaches that are here to take the offense in a new direction.  We have 4 QB's signed with 2 of them new to the Browns.  This off season I feel the Browns have about broken even - so far. 

The schedule also states the Browns have the toughest schedule in the NFL. But that's not that big of a deal, as that's based on last years records of the teams involved.  Fact is, you want to play tough teams, because that's how you know if you've really got the chops to win it all. The Browns have Superbowl dreams, so this should be welcome.  The NFL is so fluid, you really don't know from year to year who is going to be great or not, there are always surprises, as the Browns were last year.  If you listen to local sports radio, and listen to some of those guys, the Browns are going undefeated or close to it this year.

Of course that's ridiculous. Even the Chiefs lost a number of games last year, as do all teams. But the difference is the Chiefs win when it matters. This is a big year for the the Browns, as many questions may finally be answered.  For the Browns last season, it was a real step forward, and in many ways was still more of the same.  It's time to start doing what the top tier teams do, and that's win when it matters.  We have yet to master that.

Is the schedule tough?  Yes it is.  Much tougher than many are thinking.  That's your reward for making the playoffs.  Games like Dallas at home to open the season, then at a 95 degree Jacksonville that will be healthy in week two. The divisional schedule is always tough, and we don't win in Pittsburgh and that needs to change.  Back in Denver again, when have we won there?  Plus, Joe Burrow and the Bengals should be back in form.

At Philadelphia, and many are counting a win in Vegas, but the west coast has proven to be really tough for us.  And The Chargers coming here with Jim Harbaugh at the helm, they will be ready to play.  And down the stretch, the Chiefs here and the Dolphins here, both will need wins as will the Browns. The Browns will have their hands full most of the season, it is paramount to get off to a good start, and that is totally possible.

I think the Browns are going to look a lot like they did last year.  The defense should be good enough to keep us in most games, but needs to play way better on the road.  Can we score the kind of points needed in the NFL week in week out? They are so all in on Watson, they've fired coaches for the style of offense he wants to play and hired new ones.  I feel Stefanski will shrewdly give up play calling to put that burden on the new coaches.  He runs a more Joe Flacco style offense and may want to distance himself for job preservation from this new "throw on every down and the QB running wild show"  that's coming. Plus, watching his happy and positive body language and demeanor last year with Flacco having great success with the Browns never looking better, leads me to believe Watson may be un-coachable.  It's a big change and risk, but we will see if it works.

But one thing to keep in mind, breaking even will not get it done in the long run. There is still time to improve, and they need to do so.  Because last years Browns were much better, this years Browns will have to be far better than that. 

GO BROWNS!

Here are my articles this week from WQMX.com in case you missed any of them.  Grab an coffee and earbuds and let's get you caught up!

Eat Of The Week

50 Most Important Country Songs 1980-Today #30

Forgotten Jukebox - K-94

The Mega Star Series - George Strait (B-Day Revisit)

Wynn At The Movies And More!

Box Office Results - If  -  (35 million)

#2 – Kingdom of the Planet Of the Apes (26 Million)

#3 - Strangers Chapter 1 (12 million)

New This Week – The Garfield Movie / Furiosa – A Mad Max Saga / Sight

Tim McGraw - Will star in an untitled drama series set in the world of competitive bull riding at Netflix

Started - Production started on the final episodes of Yellowstone. These six episodes - will debut on Paramount Network in November.

WOW! - About 14% of Pixar's workforce has been laid off

My  -  Country Music Memory Lane -    (Link)

 Also - 50 Most Important Country Songs 1980 – Today #30 (Link)

George Strait has a birthday this month. This is a GREAT month for Country Music Birthdays, Randy Travis, Tim McGraw, And Vince Gill!  Let's look back at The King, George Strait!

Thanks for listening and reading every day!

Mega Star - George Strait - Birthday Revisit