Box Office Results - West Side Story (10.5 Million) Very Disappointing

New This Week - New Spiderman / Nightmare Alley

Next Week - Matrix / American Underdog / Sing 2

The New Trailer - For the new Fantastic Beasts movie is out

The 10th Fast & Furious - Will now hit theaters April 7th, 2023   

This Weekend – Check out my Country Music Memory Lane (link)

Windy and I went to a Cavs game last Saturday night and saw them win in a really good game. What a great time we had, as it had been a long time since we had been to one.

The Cavs came into the NBA October 14, 1970 in the old Cleveland Arena, the worst venue on earth. (They lost thier first ever game to the Buffalo Braves - who?? 107-92) (Now the LA Clippers). Then to the Coliseum, then downtown.  I know many may find this shocking, but that was decades before Lebron was born, and in short order the Cavs were good, as the Miracle In Richfield electrified this area as much as anything I can remember. Later came the Price, Daugherty, Nance era and they were great again. Then the 2 Lebron eras, and a title.  

Point being, the Cavs have been great at times in years past, and now are darn good again. The league, and teams go on without Lebron, or Jordan, or Bird, or Johnson.  The game is bigger because of them, but teams do go on. The Cavs now are exciting, good and well constructed. This team is built much like the Miracle team with few big stars, and just a bunch of really good players.  They also are young, with veterans where it counts, and are very deep getting great play from about 10 players a night.  Much like the Miracle team and even the Nance teams.

In the NBA, if you are deep you can win a lot of games, and the Cavs are, and are going to do that.  It's also fun to see these guys really enjoying playing together, and the entire experience of the Field House is a darn good one.  We can't wait to go back for another game.  (I also love the return to the original 1970 team logo on center court and uniforms)

"C'mon, Cavs!  Gotta Make It Happen!!"

Go to a game!

Last week was part one of my series on the 1990's. I hope you've also read the articles I've written about three pivotal years that led to the big 90's boom in Country, 1981, 1986, and 1989, (Click this to get caught up) And Part 1 of this series last week,

The depth of talent we had in those wonderful years was amazing.  Every era has its superstars that lead the way, as did the 1990's.  Garth, Clint, Alan, George, Brooks And Dunn, Shania, McGraw, Faith, Vince, and Martina were the giants of the time. But there have to be others that help drive the popularity. 

Also, there was the amazing genesis of celebrating the country music lifestyle in music.  The fashions that the stars wore became fashions worn in the dance halls and clubs. Line dancing really took off, as did dance mix country songs.  Boots and hats were in. Bonfires were in and suddenly we were all immersed in it.  And the country concert presentation dramatically changed from a universal stationary onstage presence, to gigantic stage shows that are still in vogue today, and still getting better.

The 1990's were loaded with the best stars just outside of superstar status, maybe ever.  Let's look at some more remarkable stars who deserve a whole lot of the credit.  In many cases I've featured them already and I'll link you back to my original article on them.  No order, no ranking - This is three part series and this is part two.  Again, these are the stars just outside of the superstars of the decade that really helped make us great!

Tracy Lawrence - He was a big time hit maker for most of the decade and I have an article planned for him after the first of the year.  His music was heartfelt, country, plus it cut and got right to the point.  Although he really helped the 1990's be huge, in another era with fewer gigantic stars he may have been the decades biggest star.  Great music, 40 hits, eight number ones.

What A GREAT Country Song

Jo Dee Messina - Even though she broke through midway through the decade, she wasted no time becoming exceptionally popular. She sang songs people related to and had an energy that was palpable and darn rare.  Her charisma was incredible and her music had a thump. Listeners instantly loved her and with her perfect song choices and relatable image.  She was great for country.

This Song Captures Her Perfectly - And She The Song

Tracy Byrd - Make no mistake he was country and he was a player for many years for us.  His music was big on the dance floor, and it always seemed like he had a great song on the radio. I'm From The Country, and Watermelon Crawl are anthems for a huge decade where there were so many great songs. A very underrated career and artist. Big time popular.

What A Great Country Song

Mary Chapin Carpenter - Her run on the charts began in 1990 and ran for about half the decade.  I am also going to feature her in January here.  She was a many time award winner from various entities.  She sold millions of albums and had a very large acceptance outside of traditional country.  She was very versatile and gave us music that was unpredictable, which I thought was her strength.  No two songs were ever the same. Sometimes we forget just how much we liked certain artists, and I think she's one of them.

How GREAT Is This Song?

Billy Ray Cyrus  -  I know he is polarizing.  But in the 1990's he was a big time player and sold many millions of albums. The Some Gave All album is one of the biggest we've ever had and Achy Breaky Heart was a gigantic song. One of the biggest breaks ever for an artist after the Oak Ridge Boys turned the song down.  There were other singles, and albums that didn't fare as well, but for many reasons he was always visible, viable and brought us a lot of fans.  His appeal was his calling card, and he helped throw open the 1990's flood gates when he debuted in 1992.

This Song Helped Make Him Universally Accepted - Still Get Requests For It

Trisha Yearwood  -  I love Trisha Yearwood. I will feature her after the first of the year too.  Perfect voice and knows how to use it still.  Great songs, many hits, a few number ones and extreme relate ability. Approachable, affable, likable, and exceedingly talented.  She never tries to out sing the song, and NEVER tries to impress you with soaring vocals, and needless, overly long held notes.  She fully understands that louder is not better, but that better is better, and she's better.  No screaming or songs that wear out their welcome by being entirely too long.  One of the best singers ANYWHERE still today.

What A Hit - GREAT Debut Song!

A YOUNG  Toby Keith -  Hard to remember that he broke through in 1993, and Should Have Been A Cowboy was a number one. But for much of the decade, he was not a huge star. He had good success, a nice following, and a very different look that was nothing like later Toby. But in 1999, How Do You Like Me Now, changed everything forever. His image was new, his look was newer and for the next ten years or so following, he dominated the format. But his roots in the 1900's were important as were Kenny Chesney's. Toby had 4 number ones in the 90's and then 16 in the 2000's. The 1990's was his launching pad.

Different Style And Image - Listeners LOVED This Song!

Randy Travis STILL  -  Even though his arrival was a MAJOR factor in country turning a huge corner in 1986, Travis was still a big player for almost the entire decade.  I believe he and Dwight Yoakum really saved country in 1986 and continued for many more years. We all owe him a large debt.  (Who Saved Country Music Part One) - (Who Saved Country Music Part Two)

Still Making Incredible Music Well Into The 1900's

Next week, the final part of this series, The 1990's.

I like a lot of Christmas songs, but there is one I like head and shoulders above the rest.  We all have our favs, and I'm not saying this is the best, just the one that reaches me the most, like your favorite reaches you.

I Heard The Bells On Christmas Day - Was a poem written by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow on Christmas morning 1863, as he heard local church bells ringing, and as the Civil War was still raging.  His wife of almost 20 years had been killed in a fire two years earlier and his son was severely wounded in the war earlier that year.  It was not set to music until about a decade later.

I always have marveled at this. A man at the worst moment in his life, alone with his terribly wounded son, and incredibly sad on Christmas morning writes maybe the most poignant work he ever penned.  A work that will last forever and be sung and played forever. 

Having spent a few Christmas mornings alone, I get it.  But being able to dig deep and find the un-findable words at the most difficult of times is extraordinary.  I love all the words to this poem.  But the most famous lines speak to many, especially at difficult times and give hope.....

"The Wrong shall fail,
The Right prevail,
With peace on earth, good-will to men."

There are many versions of it - I like the singing versions and instrumentals too,  Here are some.  I like any version of this song.

Merry Christmas!

Travis Tritt's Version

Frank Sinatra

The Five Strings

The Carpenters

Bert Kaempfert (Instrumental)

Sunday's Browns win was big albeit not very impressive. But all that matters is the playoffs are still in play for another week. When I played golf with my dad as a kid, if I hacked a drive, made a lousy second shot, a so-so chip, BUT made the putt, it was still a par.  And he would say, "Great job, it's golf not a beauty contest."   True, the result was fine, but the method was not.  You can't play good golf doing that on the regular and the same goes for the NFL. We were fortunate.

That was the Browns game Sunday.  They barely beat a completely depleted Ravens team at home and held on to win against a backup QB.  We won despite ourselves again.  It would sure be nice if this team played to its strengths one of these days and made things a bit less dramatic. In fairness, this game should have been about 34-10. But that's not the way we roll.  If it sounds like I expect a lot from this team, I do.  We all should, all great teams that have big things in mind should not accept moral wins or excuses anymore.  That era is over, it's time to be better.

Thanks to some breaks that went our way, and for an opposing head coach that for some reason made decisions that have probably cost them wins the past two weeks.  I mean, how on God's green earth can you go for two when going for one gets it to a one score game?  Thanks John.  Baffles me, and the entire football community. The Browns should send them a thank you card.  Also, in our defense we didn't run a stupid beer league play at a critical juncture.  So that was a positive.

But with all that, if we win Saturday at home against the Raiders, as we should, and the Ravens lose with Green Bay, suddenly we will be sharing first place in our division. Then we get Green Bay at Lambeau, followed by the Steelers and the Bengals. Can this be done? Yes, but there is one problem.  Right now, the Browns are not a playoff team in any way, but we can still change that.  Barely winning at home recently against bad, or beaten up opponents is not playoff caliber.  And neither is losing consistently to good and/or healthy teams.  But I get it, get in and lots of things can happen in a one game playoff.

Still here we are, very much alive and in the hunt even after all of the self-inflicted shenanigans of this year.  On a real positive, the defense has played well for over a month now, and that is crucial at this time of the year. Now, if they can just make better decisions on offense, things could get interesting.  To win going forward, they need to let their best players make big plays.  That's how great teams do it.  And for some reason we are the only team reluctant to do that. If we are going anywhere else this season, it all runs through Nick Chubb and Kareem Hunt, especially as cold weather and winter is coming.

It wasn't pretty, but we got it done Sunday.  Again, I said last week I didn't care if we won 3-2.  Same for this week.

GO BROWNS!

I know, just what we need right now, more eating!  Well, it is the holidays and the colder weather is here, and this looks really delish!

Eat Away!

This Looks Really Good

The Browns season comes down to a single game Sunday.  Win and the season comes down to a single game next week with the Raiders - both at home. It's a week to week thing now. That's where we are, there is no sugar coating it.

Earlier this week I stated that this huge game comes down to Coach Stefanski and his decisions, and I stand by that. (Read Here) In fact, I'll double down.  Does he really and fully understand the importance of this game? I think so, but some of his comments this week are...concerning.  I also understand that many times coaches know that the enemy is also listening to you on TV, and you don't want to tip your hand.  So, there is that.

Here is the scenario. The Ravens have many injuries in areas of the defense where it would seem we could pass effectively. They are also good against the run.  We have not passed well in weeks (even against the Lions at home), and this week we have injuries to tight ends and shaky pass protection.  So, do you try to exploit their weaknesses? Or play to your strengths?  I say, always play to your strengths first.  We have the two best running backs in the league and a great offensive line, run the ball. If you can run well, then you can pass anytime you want, any way you want on Sunday -  when you want.

But Stefanski, like many other newer coaches is an "offensive genius."  That's not my term, that is what they are considered in NFL circles and in the media.  If that is really the case, is he genius enough to do the correct things to win a must win game?  The Steelers gave you a blueprint on how to win this game on national TV Sunday. Run till you win. And then the Patriots did the same thing Monday.  Both teams outmanned in bad weather in games they had to win, just like us this week.  It's December in Cleveland, it's a big game, for the love of all that is holy do what you do best. YOU have the NFL's best rushing attack.  ONE team has that - YOURS!

Or will the temptation be too great? Will he ask a compromised QB, with limited mobility and limited gifted players at his disposal to try to shred an ailing defense?  It's nerve racking.  And will we invent a new trick play this week at a critical moment? Maybe we can snap the ball to another center and he can pitch it to a WR, who can throw it to a backup QB. It's been about that silly.  I know it's boring running the ball with no theatrics or gadgetry plays. But I don't care.  Quite frankly, I don't care if we win this game 3-2, I just want to win and move on.

A real genius would do what needs to be done and get the win. You would have your best players on the field at all times, and certainly when it mattered. This "rotation" stuff needs to stop this week. Have Chubb and Hunt on the field in some combination or solo and get them the ball as much as you can.  I want the game decided with my BEST players making plays.  And if that's not good enough to win, so be it, sleep well knowing you did all you can.  But decide this game, and ALL games with your best players being their best. Get them the ball anyway you can and let's go to work.

Are we genius enough to dumb the game down to simply football and give your football team the chance to out-football the other team? If so, and we get this win that wouldn't be genius at all, it would simply be basic football.

Leave genius to brain or heart surgeons. Simply being smart here will do.

GO BROWNS~!!

Box Office Results - Encanto #1 (Very quiet weekend)

New This Week - West Side Story / Being The Ricardos / Nightmare Alley

Later This Month - Matrix / American Underdog / Sing 2 

The Movie Get Out – Has been named the Best Screenplay of the century (So Far)  (Story)

This Weekend – Check out my Country Music Memory Lane (link)

You've heard me talk a lot about the 1990's here. And you've read the articles I've written about three pivotal years that led to the big 90's boom in Country, 1981, 1986, and 1989, (Click those to get caught up)

But why were the 1990's so big for country?  I always felt the main reason was the absolute depth of talent we had in those wonderful years. Every era has its superstars that carry the freight as did the 1990's.  Garth, Clint, Alan, George, Brooks And Dunn, Shania, McGraw, Faith, Vince, and Martina were the giants of the time. But you can't just play those stars, there have to be others that help drive the charts, playlists and ultimately the popularity. 

There was also a definite, unspoken commitment from all artists that they wanted to be country singers first and foremost - and fans knew it and loved it.  We also decided to put more thought into the quality of albums as opposed to two hit songs and eight filler songs that had kind of been the formula for many for decades. The music video did country a lot of good as it did for other formats earlier.  And there was the advent of future stars getting thier starts -  and other 80's superstars finishing up, it was a GREAT mix.

The 1990's were loaded with the absolute best stars just outside of superstar status, maybe ever. They recorded superstar style songs, and that meant for us was there was always  -  always, a great song on the air. That was the real strength of the 1990's.  Let's look at these remarkable stars who deserve a whole lot of the credit.  In many cases I've featured them already and I'll link you back to my original article on them.  No order, no ranking - This will be a three part series and this is part one.  Again, these are the stars just outside of the superstars of the decade that really helped make us great!

Mark Chesnutt -  In many other era's, without the sheer amount of gigantic stars we had, he may have been the dominant star of the format.  As it was, he still was a major player that really helped define the decade with eight number ones and a long line of very big hits.

 Fantastic Debut Song

Terri Clark - She was so incredibly different than the rest of the women on the charts in the 1990's. She was refreshingly unique - a woman "Hat Act."  I loved her image, very believable - Loved her music that included five number one songs.  She was very good for us in many ways.

 Terri Clark Is A Great Brand

Doug Stone  -  I will write an article on him soon, as he was an underrated star for most of the decade.  He had a ton of big songs, including eight number ones, and some other really big hits. Some health issues slowed him down, but he was a great singer, great talent.

One Of The Most Powerful Songs Of The 1990's

Pam Tillis - I loved every hit song she had. An incredibly passionate voice and fantastic song choices, with 33 singles, most going top ten and she sold millions of albums.  I worked with her a few times, and I loved seeing her perform. What a voice, she commanded a song.

You Always Knew Pam Tillis Was Singing

John Micheal Montgomery - Again in many eras, he may have been the number one act in country.  36 singles and seven number ones.   A great balladeer and singer. There were a few years he couldn't do anything wrong musically.

Big, Big Song

Patty Loveless - She broke through in the 1980's, but in the 1990's she really hit her stride as a big time hit maker.  She was universally loved in and out of country with her talent and song choices.  40 singles and 5 number ones.

What A Hit!

A YOUNG Kenny Chesney -  Even though Chesney's run is still underway with his most recent number one (#34) of them now, he broke through in 1995. He built a great young following that has grown up with him and is still with him today.

There Was A Time When He Was An Up And Comer

Alabama - They were still making big songs well into the 1990's, even though they are generally remembered in the 1980's. They had a ton of hits in the 90's including six number ones.

 Big Song 1990

Next week, part two of this series! Thanks for reading!

We all love French Onion Soup, but who makes it?  I have at home and I love it. But I will admit, it has been a while!

But let's all try this one, because it looks delicious!

FRENCH ONION SOUP AT HOME