Well the Browns hired another head coach, and there are plenty that are less than happy about it. Kevin Stefanski is in, and the harsh critics are out in full force.  Will he be any good?  I have no idea.  None of us do.  Time will certainly tell.

Fans are venting their frustrations because this looks exactly like all the rest of them on the surface.  There's no way around that. It does. Same kind of guy, same level of experience, same no name.  I get it, it gets tiring after a while. It's like having the same bad dream every night.  But again, only time will tell.  And being frank, I would have gone a different direction, and that's no reflection directly on Stefanski.

The Haslams have put themselves back on the hook.  Hiring say, New Englands Josh MacDaniels would have taken them off of it. I don't know if he would be a success or not either, as I am not here speaking as a MacDaniels fan. There are questions there too.  But his 6 rings from the Belichick tree, and his resume is not in question, plus his local roots.  If he failed, then it could be said he was the best man out there for the job and they would be right in the perception of the press and fans.  Now, it's back to the belief in someone that is unproven and green.  And if Stefanski fails, it looks really bad again, and this ownership needs a win.  It's a shame he comes into town under less than ceremonious circumstances.

I don't know Kevin Stefanski, and niether do any of the rest of us, and let's wish him the best.  But it does look the same as always, and that's a tough pill for many to swallow. 

LOL  -  I saw this sign as I entered a local joint called the Valley Cafe, in the Valley this week!

1917

This looks amazing, and I can't wait to see this!  Based on a true story from WWI, this is filmed in a revolutionary new way. This week has been good to this movie as it just won a Golden Globe.  Big cast, and a really amazing story.

Many think this is the Oscar winner this year!

Just Mercy

This too is based on a true story from the American South, about a lawyer who dedicates his life to representing those who are wrongly sentenced to death row. This looks very powerful and boasts an equally powerful cast, with Jamie Foxx, Michael B. Jordan and Brie Larson.

Not light movie watching, but considered one of the years best pictures.

Like A Boss

Being very honest, this looks like a movie, that once you see the trailer, you may have seen the entire movie.  Or the only parts you want to see.

Big cast, sizable budget, and more than likely a really marginal movie at best.

I love food!  Many years ago when I worked in Columbus, doing mornings at WRMZ,  like most Columbus-ites found Schmidt's Sausage Haus in German Village. And lucky for me the past two years, I have rediscovered it. What a tremendous place to eat. The place is legendary. 

Incredible German food, beer, and oh yeah, CREAM PUFFS!  ........

Which leads too..........

If you love really good food, and cool little places to eat it in, try Schmidt's sometime!  German Village Columbus!

We love this place!

Over the weekend, drove down to Columbus to see a Blue Jackets game on Saturday afternoon!  It was a blast, even though we lost. But what we did later was just as fun. We went to a place called  True Rest Float Spa

Windy found this Groupon deal to go "floating."  I had never heard of it, and niether one of us had ever done it before, so we decided we were in!  It was a very cool experience.  It is, what it says it is.  You get into a pod, (private) and effortlessly float in about a foot of water. It's so incredible, I would love to do it again. The water is heavily salted, and it makes you float like magic. It was invented in the 1950's and has a bunch of great benefits for you.

There are few times in life you are suspended with absolutley no pressure on your body, and this is one of them.  You shower first, get in the pod, pull the cover over you, and float while some kind of Zen music plays softly and relaxes you along with very gentle dim lights that take the stress away.  It's a very cool experience. Our session was an hour, and being honest that was sufficient for my first time.  Then you shower again to get the salt water off of you and then you are done.

I know, it looks a little strange, but it is really a cool thing to do!

You feel incredible afterwards and it is totally worth doing.  If you, or if you know someone who likes pampering, massage, or the like, this is a real treat and would make an amazing gift to give them. It's also very original!

I'm so glad we did this, I recommend it highly.

Over the weekend, The Beautiful Windy and I made a short road trip to Columbus to catch a Blue Jackets game on Saturday.  We had so much fun last season doing it, we decided that it was a good idea again.  We had the best time!!

We went to the new Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse here in Cleveland last weekend, to see the Ohio State/West Virginia basketball game, and it's amazing! But this weekend, we were at Nationwide Arena in C-Bus!  Both incredible places.  While we were there, enjoying a Christmas Ale, I struck up a conversation with Nate The Organist at Nationwide Arena before the puck dropped.  Good guy.  He sits right there in the seats and plays during the game.  I had forgotten how much I liked having it played during the game.  A bit of old school, but sometimes that's great.

Talking with Nate before the game!

They have the same type of stuff all arenas do, with the great videos, and loud pop songs to get you going during the game, and we all love that too. But it is fun to hear the organ played during the game!  Takes you back.  And as I talked with Nate, he states that the organ is making a comeback to stadiums and arenas around the country, and he, and they, are at the forefront, as he has been there 7 years now.

It was great talking with Nate, as I always love talking with people who do interesting jobs.  And Nate has one.  Even tough the Jackets lost 3-2, a great time to be sure.  The Blue Jackets really put on a GREAT show and going to a game is totally worth it. 

Go Nate!  And Go C-B-J!!

Next week many of 2019's biggest acclaimed movies go to wide release, Like 1917, and Just Mercy.   This week is a quiet one.

The Grudge

This looks a bit creepy, and scary as this franchise goes on.  Seems a strange time of the year for a movie with this content is out, a Halloween release may hav been better. BUT January can be a very tough time at the movies, and some may be looking for something to do.

 You judge, The Grudge.

For about every reason there is, 2019 has been the best year of my life.   From my successes profesionally here at WQMX ,with my show mates, and co-workers ,and my sponsors. To my incredible friends and golf buddies, and to the tons of great WQMX listeners.  I am so thankful for every good thing, and person in my life. 

And to the Beautiful Windy, our life together is so great, and was so worth waiting for. Thank you!  Can't wait for what's next, my sweet.

2019 reminded me that sometimes things are more in reach that we sometimes think.  Can't wait for 2020 to begin!

The Browns broomed Freddie Kitchens this week, and how anyone could be surprised is beyond me.  Good guy. Fun guy. Colorful guy.  But some say he was over his head. I disagree.

He clearly knows many aspects of football, and has made a living in it for a long time.  There were times he looked confused, and disorganized for sure, but I'm not sure most first year head coaches aren't the same way at times.  Freddie's downfall was his not understanding the role, plain and simple.  To me, the number one job of the NFL Head Coach is to create a culture where big ego's, and bigger paid athletes want to play for far more than just the money.  The money is there, the heart was not.  Kitchens didn't do that. 

Freddie was trapped within his own ego.  He was so busy reinventing a game, that doesn't need to be reinvented.  Trying to convince other head coaches that he belonged. Insisting on calling his own plays.  A whole list of bone-headed trick plays at the wrong time.  Ridiculous going for it on fourth downs,  headscratching two-point conversion attempts, and mismanaging virtually every aspect of the game, viturally every week.  All he did was make better, more seasoned coaches laugh, at times, I'm sure out loud.  But he was going to be the smartest guy in the room.  I would love to have heard visiting coaches talk in their offices after playing the Browns.

Being a leader of men, in a game where men put it all on the line is a tough job.  You need to make these guys want to walk through fire for you, when you are already asking them to dodge bullets.  And you have to do that while not being able to put yourself in the same harms way.  It's an art.  You need to make these guys love one another, play for the guy next to them.  Make them want to be a champion, dream to be a champion, or go down playing and acting like one.  All of that was forgotten, and chaos, gossip, immaturity, and selfishness ruled the day. 

A team often mimmicks its coach, like the Tribe does with Francona. The Indians play hard, are likable, and play it the right way.   The Browns went the other way with selfish motives, a ME first agenda, and an immaturity seldom seen in the NFL. I think we all wish him well.  But now it's time to move on, and go in the exact opposite direction.

Not just in the record, but in the understanding of the job.

Merry Christmas from Windy and me.

I thank you for listening and reading every day. 

I also want to thank Windy, for making the holidays beautiful for us.

She makes everything beautiful.....

We hope you have an amazing holiday.