I'm sure you heard Friday defensive end J.J. Watt formerly of the Houston Texans was released after over 10 years there. And the rumor is, he could come to the Browns.  Wouldn't that be fun?

Social Media was, and is all lit up with many keyboard experts squawking about the salary cap, the cap room, the fact he's older, he gets hurt, and quoting stats that really don't matter.  He's too expensive, we can't give up a draft pick, think of the future blah blah blah...all these "financial general managers" chiming in.  Yes, J.J. Watt is 32.  Yes he's had injuries and yes he's not the player he once was. Most of everything mentioned is undeniably true.  But who the heck cares? It's time to think about where we are.  Time to adjust the thinking. 

For us Browns fans, we are kind of in No Man's Land.  The Browns are in rare air and we are right there with them, as we really haven't been here before.  Usually right about now we are thinking about who we are taking with the first pick in the draft, trading up or down, who will be the QB, head coach, what obscure name will be our Offensive Coordinator, what third string WR that played at Auburn will fit in here, or some nonsense like that. Those days are temporarily over as the Browns are now legit, and poised to make a real run at the AFC and beyond.

The Browns have the talent for the most part, and what they don't have today they will have in short order, with the draft, free agency and a trade or two. They have the coach, and the fans, now they need the missing part - The intangibles.  They need a few grownups on both sides of the ball to lead this team on and off the field. There are a few crevasses in the NFL, the head coach can't fill, that only the leaders on the field can when it matters. The Browns have proven they can win, now the Browns need to find the guys  -  that won't let them lose.

J.J. Watt would be one of those guys, but not the only guy. My gut feeling is he wants to win badly, and so do the Browns.  If they could get him for a bargain, in a specialized role, he would be very valuable.  Older, hungry veterans to show the young players how to win, on and off the field.  We need to stop thinking the way we always have.  STOP with the draft, the future, the salary cap, the past, the luxury tax....STOP.  Look where we are right now. We are not rebuilding, we are ready.  It's winning time and time to get the final pieces we need.  The painting is just about done and it's time to frame it.  We are not used to this, many fans are stuck in the Cleveland sports quagmire.

Cleveland teams have a great record with this.  When Cavs traded for Akron's own Nate Thurmond, he was "too old." But from the second he came to town, the Cavs were easily the best team in the NBA - Thus the Miracle In Richfield.  When the Browns got defensive end Lyle Alzado, and Calvin Hill they were "too old," and the Browns became the Cardiac Kids and were probably the best team in the AFC.  Indians got a "washed up" Orel Hershisher, and Dennis Martinez and went to the World Series and were the best team in MLB.   And the Tribe and Andrew MIller?  See, these older guys showed a young team how to win, and that's where we are. Hey, it doesn't always work out, but it's worth the risk.

It's our time and J.J. Watt is right on time, but he's not the final piece, or the only one the young Browns need. But his pedigree is, and if the Browns take a chance on him, others may follow him here. Winning in football -  as much as any sport there is, begins way before kick-off -  in the locker room.  Look at what Brady did with the Bucs.  I am aware there is one Tom Brady, but the formula is the same. He signed, others came with him, as it showed players around the league and in the locker room in Tampa, the Bucs were serious about winning. 

Oh yeah, Brady was too old too.  GO BROWNS!

This week you may have heard that former Browns coach Marty Shottenheimer died at 77 years old. Upon hearing this many of us were taken back to a different time.  I know I was.

Marty was the Browns head coach in the mid and late 80's and was the General of some great teams. The Kosar led Browns, that in my opinion were the best team in the AFC then. It was also the first and last time the Browns were really poised to win a Superbowl. Some very bad luck of course prevented that a few times. The Browns today are seemingly headed that way and that's great to see.  He was a powerful head coach for the Browns and a few other teams and ended up with 200 career wins. Seventh on the all time list.  Who knew?

His famous quote to the Browns of, "There's a gleam, men....there's a gleam...let's get the gleam!"  That goes down in
Browns lore as a great quote, delivered by a cerebral coach to a hungry team, on the sports biggest stage before the biggest game of all of their lives.  Emploring them to get the gleam of a champion.  Without The Drive, and The Fumble in successive years, that quote would be what is really remembered, not the heartbreaking losses.

Marty At His Best

Marty is still the last Browns coach to have back-to-back winning seasons with the Browns.  Now, Kevin Stefanski will pass that, and hopefully pass him in winning an AFC title game (or two) too.  Marty was a winner, he was a coaching warrior, and for some reason is not in the Hall Of Fame.  True, no title, but the only coaches ahead of him are, Don Shula, George Halas, Bell Belichick, Tom Landry, Curly Lambeau, and Andy Ried.  He has more than Chuck Noll, Bill Cowher, (sorry Steeler fans x2)  Bill Parcells, and the father of the Browns and of modern football, Paul Brown.  

He won wherever he went, and that includes here.  I think he's the best coach the Browns have had in my lifetime.  I wish he would have stayed a few more years back then, but you lose disagreements with the owner, and trust me in those days, Art Modell let everyone know he was the owner.  But to me, I would rather think of those teams not as teams that were heartbreaking losers of huge games, but as the great team they were. And they were great, because Marty made them great. His Browns teams were among the best in franchise history. 

Put him in the Hall, and the Browns should honor him this year, for the year. Although his football style was very different, he was the Kevin Stefanski of his time.  We have reason to be excited about Browns football at last, post Marty.

"There's a gleam, men....there's a gleam...let's get the gleam!"

Sometimes songs come out that evoke an immediate response.  That's the new song by Elvie Shane, That's My Boy. This is a very nice song about a man who is a stepfather to a young son, and see's him as his own absolute.  This song has a real nice feel to it, and makes the case that there are nice guys out there, and that's a good thing.

This song speaks to so many listeners in so many ways.  First, if you are in his position, you relate.  If you were raised by a great step parent, you relate and if you are thankful for the second parents in your life no matter the circumstances, this song speaks to you. We have had these songs before in country, but this may be the most heartfelt yet. This song always spawns texts when we play it, and that's the mark of a powerful song.

This is straight forward, honest, emotional and I think right on time for a nice song. If you have not heard this song yet on WQMX, take a listen right here with a coffee.   I hope this does well, there is always room for a song that makes you feel good.  And this one certainly does.

Box Office – The Little Things $2.1 Million

New This Week - Land (Robin Wright)

Barb And Star Go To Vista Del Mar (Kristin Wiig)

Ten Years Ago - The Roommate -  was #1

Wizard Of Oz - A Remake? (Story)

Hallmark – Romantic Movie Marathon This Weekend   (Story)

Two Weeks - February 26 -  Tom And Jerry in theaters and HBO Max    

50% - Of streaming cheaters, do it on a weekly basis  (Story) 

A Fourth Movie - In the Austin Powers franchise is reportedly in early development. No word if Mike Meyers will be back   (Story) 

A Rumor Says - Indiana Jones 5 is in the works and that Harrison Ford will be de-aged using computers.  (Story) 

Renee Zellweger - Will star in a new NBC drama called ‘The Thing About Pam'.  (Story)

HBO - Is going to produce a new series based on the GameStop trading frenzy. The show will chronicle the day traders, who made millions from the stock  (Story) 

A Live-Action - “Powerpuff Girls” series is coming to The CW   (Story)

Sandra Bullock - Is going to star with Brad Pitt in a new movie called "Bullet Train'' (Story)

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

Other Articles From This Week -   Song Of The Week /  Karen Made My Day  / Settling The GOAT  /  Browns There's A Gleam, Men 

Monica asked about Ricky Van Shelton, and it really stirred up memories I hadn't thought of in quite a while. There was a time when he was a very big star.  He was absolutely essential in the switch to traditional from pop-country in the mid 1980's.  He was a big player at the time, and listeners loved him from the first moment they heard his first song and I played all of them for many years!

His First Big Hit!

When Urban Cowboy was slowly phasing itself out in the mid 80's, we were really struggling to find a new foothold and direction. The music being recorded late in the UC  run was certainly good music, it just didn't have a real focus, it was a bit rudderless. It was too pop for hungry country fans, and many new UC joins were moving on to something else.  The wave created in the early 80's was fading all too slowly, and we were kind of recording the same songs over and over, and we needed a new direction. We had Alabama still, and a vision of what was to come with a young George Strait, Reba McEntire and Ricky Skaggs.  But overall we had a problem, as we had not cultivated many new and young stars in our format.

Great Traditional Country Song  #1

In all the years most of us have been sports fans, even very casual ones have seen on Social Media, or heard in a bar who is better, LeBron James or Michael Jordan.  Great arguments on both sides, but in the end most people say, "Well it's a different era, and the game is different, and you can't compare."  And that's accurate, so it can't really be fairly done.  But it just was -  and we all saw it.

You just saw it on TV Sunday night, when Tom Brady and Patrick Mahomes laced 'em up and squared off on the worlds biggest stage.  Two completely different kind of players, two completely different kinds of guy, from two very different eras trying to settle who is the greatest.  What happened Sunday will never happen again. Never again will a 43 year old GOAT QB, face off with another young phenom QB who was about 5 when Brady won his first professional championship.  The only way it will, is if Brady goes back again at 44 and Mahomes at about 25.  It was sports history, and that's not hype. 

What Brady is doing is no longer subjective.  He is the GREATEST QB ever.  His records and accomplishments are simply staggering. If you honestly think he's not, that's a decision being made with the wrong part of the body.  With all due respect to Manning(s) Montana, Favre, Brees, Bradshaw, Rodgers, Aikman, I mean take your pick, Brady is so far out in front, he's Secretariat.  A man, playing QB at this level, at this age in the NFL.  He's not a kicker, he's playing the sports most demanding position.  The aforementioned, all really great, all done for the most part by their late 30's. Brady has 4 titles after 37.  We will never see this again.  He even passed the Browns immortal QB Otto Graham from a way different era in statistical greatness that many dismiss out of had citing, "that was a long time ago....blah, blah."

With Mahomes, he's certainly a dynamic player that does things no one has ever done on the field, and he is absolutely positioned to go on a huge run and make history.  But will he?  He does things no one can right now, and things so different, he could change the position. But so could RG3, and Michael Vick, and many others like them that had incredible skills back in the recent day, and we all know those didn't work out.  For those who say he's the greatest ever, I say pump the brakes and let's talk about this in 10 years or so, and I think that's fair. We can talk about that then, after about 7 more title game appearances and 5 championships or so.  Time takes its toll and tells all.  Mahomes is gonna get his chance at immortality as there is no doubt with his skill set.  But immortality is reserved for the chosen ones.  In sports, you're not born immortal, you make yourself immortal.

It was fun to see this. Both players on even footing, and both on top of their games.  On this day, it was Brady, and he continues to climb a mountain so high no one may ever reach his rare air.  And Mahomes will have to wait for another day ascend another rung on that same ladder. And it may come, in fact it propably will come. But there is much more to do for Mahomes.  What we forget is the journey there. What you have to do to even GET to Brady again.  We have a tendancy to forget that part of Brady. It's not just the titles, it's getting the chance.  Simply stunning.

Does this settle the LeBron / Jordan thing?  Officially, of course not because Jordan retired at 40 when Lebron was about 17 or so. And the two could never really face off as in Brady / Mahomes. And being fair, Jordan was not Brady-like at 40, so it would not have been close to fair. But if I had to pick, I would say this. To have on my team and win as many games as possible?  Lebron.  To win titles and win the game that matter?  Jordan.  So I'm not sure we can get a defintive answer there.  But in football?  To win any game -  any time -  anywhere?  Brady by a mile.

And when you think about that, it makes Sunday even more incredible. I'm glad it happened, and no matter who would have won it, I'm glad we got to see it.

Late last week Sarah, Ryan and I were talking on the show about the whole "Karen" slang thing. How the name has become synonymous in pop culture with a negative connotation of a bothersome, less than likable woman.  I think most of us appreciate a good joke, but when the punchline is delivered over and over again, it can get old quick. We three pretty much agreed it's a silly, overused and not appreciated trend. I personally am not a fan at all of the whole "Karen" thing.  It's lazy. 

SO this message came into me this week after our on-air conversation, and it's one of the best notes I have ever gotten in 4 decades of hosting morning shows.  I asked her if I could use it here, and she resoundingly said yes!   Her name is Karen -

"I wanted to personally thank you and your morning crew. As you can see my name is Karen. Admittedly I would switch stations between yours and the Cleveland country station during my weekday morning work commute.

I live in a Cleveland suburb and had listened to your competitor for decades. Well that other station would repeatedly call people “Karen” in the derogatory way that has become popular. At first I overlooked it but it became a daily multiple times a day occurrence and I had enough.

I felt personally insulted and hurt. I am anything but a derogatory Karen. I stopped listening to that morning show and started listening solely to yours. On your show today Karen was once again a discussion and my heart sank. Then, everyone changed the tone and uplifted Karen in a way that I needed to hear.

I know this sounds foolish but I actually had tears in my eyes. It’s the first time in months that I felt respected so I sincerely thank you from the bottom of my Karen heart. Thank you to all of your morning crew. You made a HUGE difference to me and have most definitely gained a loyal listener." 

This was a real day-maker for her, but her note made this a real day-maker for us.  Thank you Karen and welcome to our morning show family.  Sometimes you never know how you are touching people.

It's always fun to see a newer artist take hold and finally get themselves a nice hit record on the radio. We have had many new artists on the show over the years and it's always great to see them hearing their song on the radio.  And now, Tenille Arts has a hit song.

Somebody Like That  - is about everything that's good about a hit song. Catchy beat, memorable refrain, and a light, positive vibe that makes you happy.  And we need happy songs these days.  Plus, this song is very relatable as most of us have been in, or seen much of what she sings about here. 

And I think she speaks a truth that most of us hold dear deep within and may not verbalize.  She gives a voice to many inner thoughts we may have.  This is a very nice song, and there is always room for a "nice" song.  I want to hear more from her.

Take a real listen here with a coffee.

Wynn's Weekend Watch -   News Of The World With Tom Hanks (Review)

Box Office – The Little Things  -   4.2 Million   (Review)

If You Watched - Justin Timberlake's movie Palmer, you weren't alone, it was Apple TV+ most-watched weekend ever.  

Battle - Tom Hardy and Idris Elba are battling over who is going to replace Daniel Craig as James Bond   (Story)

Jennifer Lopez - Will star in a new Netflix action movie called "The Mother." She will play a deadly assassin, who comes out of hiding   (Story)

Disney - May rehire Johnny Depp as Captain Jack Sparrow in the next Pirates of the Caribbean film.  (Story)

A Kate and Allie - Reboot is in the works at NBC   (Story)

A Game of Thrones - Animated drama is in the works at HBO Max?   (Story)

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

Other Wynn Articles This Week -   EAT!  -  Song Of The Week

Emma asked me about her mom's favorite  - that has become her favorite, after her mom passed away, Juice Newton. I played all of Juice Newton's songs for many years on the radio, as she was a very popular figure in music of all kinds.  She was remarkably talented with a gigantic voice and large mass appeal.  One of her many gifts to us was introducing country to many new fans!

Her First Number One - Huge Hit!  This Video Has 61 Million Views!

One of the ongoing arguments in today's country music conversation is, "Hey, that ain't country."  And many think that's a new revelation.  It's not.  It's been around for decades, and Juice Newton was in that conversation many years ago, as say Maren Morris is today.  I understand it, as there are artists that come around every now and again that defy traditional thinking of many fans and have big success like Newton and Morris.  Juice Newton had big success. Her shockingly powerful voice and her huge musical arrangements made her stand out from the crowd in a big way. You knew it was a Juice Newton song.  And she charted on many charts.

Second Big Hit!

Judy Kay Newton broke through in 1981 after a few failed albums with a band of another name, with her solo album called, Juice.  I love that album, as it had a ton of great songs on it, including three huge hits and some of the best album cuts you will ever hear.  It's so worth a download.  Angel Of The Morning was a huge song both pop and country, Queen Of Hearts and The Sweetest Thing  - same.  I think it's one of the best pop country albums ever. And for the next seven years, Juice Newton was here to stay.  She racked up 6 number one songs.  She also had a big following outside of the U.S.

 This Song #1 And A Real Favorite For Years! 

Juice Newton was blessed with one of those voices that was incredibly mass appeal.  She would sound good singing anything. She knew where the notes were, and found them perfectly. Her music was a blend of pop, country, folk, and about 5 other genres, and she sounds at home singing any or all of them.  As far as country was concerned she was puzzling to us.  She debuted as Urban Cowboy was flying high, with a poppy country sound dominating us, so she was right on time. As time went by and the mid 80's hit, the shift was starting traditional, and Juice was not.  In short, it was hard to see exactly where she fit in the best.

 This Was A Big Pop And Country Hit

But she had real chart success till about 1987, and fortunate for her she had forged a following in and out of country.   She had a bunch of #1 country songs, and won a Grammy or two.  I always liked Juice Newton, as I felt she was immensely talented as a singer, and I loved her dedication to record just "good music" without any real borders.  And even if you knew nothing about country, you knew her, and if you were all country, you knew her. 

 Maybe A Bit Too Pop, But A Fun Song...

Juice Newton had a great run, but many more like her found that the compass of Country was set in a new direction by the late 80's, as it was navigating traditional and was not coming back.  The country-pop sound was being phased out and replaced with a new direction and new artists.  In today's country music, there is room for some crossover music, as it is back in some fashion for some. We as a music listening society are a bit more forgiving and tolerant of the wide array of country music styles that is out there.  Florida Georgia Line, Taylor Swift, Morris, and others are not 100% country and have all had, or are having great success.  Back in the late 80's the shift was swift, and absolute. If you were not Country - there was little room left.

 Her Last Top 10 Song