I am a Browns fan, and I am a fan of the game, whether it be football, baseball, hockey, whatever.  To me the "game itself" is king, but I do have my absolute favorite teams. And right now, I am hoping for great things for the Browns and Indians.

I don't feel great about the Big Ben news today, him being out for the year, and I am certaiunly not a Steelers fan. I would have far preferred to play them straight up to see if the torch was to be passed. But these things do happen, and after a 45 year amazing run through the NFL, they were due. So Steeler fans find themselves in a new role, of trying to enjoy the ride, and not riding to the Super Bowl. 

And to put this into perspective, what the Patriots have done, and are doing is incredible  -  20 years of huge winning and 6 Superbowls. They are not halfway to the Steelers run, which began in the mid 1970's. That is certainly not a Steelers fan talking - that is simply fact!

I have found, if you are a fan of the game first, then Sundays will always be fun.

Jennifer Lopez has been around a long time in the movies, and being candid, the vast majority of them are totally forgettable.   Not because we don't like her, but there are a ton a reasons that have enothing to do with her directly.

One, the scripts have been lousy.  They have continually asked her to be physically funny, and she's really not.  They have forced her into roles she is not beliveable in.  Who believes SHE can't find a boyfriend?  She has been shoehorned into roles that she probably didn't fit, but they needed the name on the billboard.  But these are the roads you must travel many times to make it to the promised land, and that's where she is now, in this very good movie.

There is Oscar buzz about her here, and it's apt.  She is terrific in a role she seems born to play. She plays a cunning exotic dancer who divises a remarkable plan to rip off the Wall Street types that have stopped coming into the strip club because of the economic downturn of 2008.  This is a true story, and this movie is incredibly entertaining.  She's brave, she's authentic, she's really at ease, and she has never looked more comfortable on screen.  And this is the largest opening of her career, 32 million.

This also stars Constance Wu and Julia Stiles, both great here as well.  But JLO in this co-starring role is the gas in the engine of this really good flick.

Highly adult, quite good.

Better week,  but next week, Rambo, and Dowton Abbey

Hustlers

This is getting a ton of buzz for Jennifer Lopez. This has a bit of everything, comedy, suspense and is a well rounded script. Lopez is getting some Oscar buzz as well.  Exotic Dancers and Wall Street sharks meet and the con is on.

Could be really fun.  Lopez may have finally found the big project.

The Goldfinch

This is certain to be a good movie, that is based on a Pulitzer winning book.  It has a big cast, and a very original idea on how we deal with the loss of a loved one, and is it possible to see them again.  And I'm not sure anyone in the grand scheme of things, will see it.

But this is surely on my list.

Today the Toy Hall of Fame announced some of their nominees for this year.  Matchbox Cars (What took so long there?)  And The Smart Phone lead the list.  (Yes, they consider it a toy.)

But yesterday, Juneau reminded Windy and me, just how simple a toy can be, as she played with a stuffed lama and giraffe for...well...hours!  All by herself...

Dogs, not so different than us as kids.  Don't we always like the box more than the expensive toy?

This picture made me happy.  In the 1990's, Colin Raye, Sammy Kershaw, and Aaron Tippin were consistent hit makers in Country Music.  I played every one of their songs on various radio station morning shows across the country.  They all had a great run.

Well, this biz changes as all do, and there was the inevitable changing of the guard in music, and slowly they all came off the charts.  But as they all sang thier great songs together and separately at the Wayne County Fair this week, they took people back to a time, really not so long ago, that made a packed house happy. Their happiness made everyone happy.  People like to see people happy over a long period of time. These guys where there when many of the fans there were discovering Country Music. The 1990's did that very well.

Great to see old friends, still friends and making the music they did, together.  Well done!

There is just something about the Wayne County Fair going on this week, that is simply special.  It's not the biggest county fair (Canfield) , or the fanciest, but there is a great feeling about the fair that is incredible.

The people that run the fair are so nice, and the patrons that pack the grandstand for various shows, concerts, races, and pulls are having the time of their lives.  The county comes together and supports each other wonderfully. 

There is just a great feeling when you are there.  I am always proud to emcee the shows there, and see all the wonderful people Wayne County.

I love the Wayne County Fair!

Seriously,

What was that?

It:Chapter Two

This week, is a slow one as far as new movies are concerned, but It is going to be a huge hit.  The second installment of this story will be big, and so will the amount of time you'll be at the theater, as this is almost three hours. This has a big cast as our characters have grown up.  This is not a sequel, this is the rest of the original story that Stephen King wrote. 

I liked the first part of this story a couple years ago, and I am hoping this is just as good.

Tons of our listeners drive, or own a tractor.  When I was at the Canfield Fair this past weekend with Windy, we walked through the tractor display.  Very cool.  The display of vintage tractors was simply amazing.  As big as any I have seen.

A tractor then, and now are essentially the same - but different still.  It's a big, heavy engine on wheels with a seat and big wheels.   In the 1930's and 40's like many of these were, they didn't have AM/FM Radios, AC, DVD, heat, incredibly comfy seats, and TV. 

But they were and are beautiful!  If you use a tractor, collect them, or have a vingtage one, congrats!  A tractor is a noble machine.  It works hard, isn't fancy, and it's right there in front of you, working with you.  It's an honest machine too. It's designed for one thing, to make your life better on the job.  And to make you proud off the job, if you have saved one from the scrap heap.  Well done!

Such classics, always fun to look back and see how things were.

This picture is not what you may think. 


This is NOT a huge Country, or Rock Concert at Blossom.  This is a pic from last weekend's Cleveland Orchestra Concert where they played the soundtrack to Star Wars:The Empire Strikes Back.

Me and Windy Hangin' With The Crew!

I go to Blossom for all kinds of shows, including emceeing the Country shows there, and this concert was as big as any crowd I have seen at Blossom this year.  It was huge! 

Fun thing to do, and very affordable. Keep the Orchestra in mind for next season.  It's Blossom the was it was, and that in itself is worth the visit.  A picnic, a show and a great time on the lawn.