Mostly True Tales

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Originally uploaded by amazingbrian.

We have had rain and high winds all day here in St. Louis and I can’t believe the game will go on tonight, but they haven’t called it yet. They really actually need to play tonight, as tonight is a make up game for Tuesday night’s rainout. I cerntainly lucked out last night, because it was really the nicest weather of the series.

This just in. Dave Murray the Channel 2 Weather Man, says the rain is done. So who knows, they might play. If they do it will be rough though as it is really windy and cold outside.

We will soon know as the game time is less than an hour away. This could be it.

Go Cards!

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Originally uploaded by amazingbrian.

Well they did it! The Cards won last night and I was lucky enough to attend the game. I, of course, took my camera.

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Originally uploaded by amazingbrian.

I hadn’t been to the new stadium yet, in fact, it’s been a decade since I was last at a baseball game. Wow, was it fun! The stadium is so nice. I was sort of against tearing down the old Busch stadium, for sentimental reasons I guess, but now that it’s gone, I must say I love the new stadium. I’ve never had a hand carved roast beef sandwich and salad at a baseball game before.

It was a close game, but we won, and I knew would would. We are going to win the series. I’m sure of it. We only have to win one more game, and the Tiger’s would have to win all three games that could remain, assuming we don’t win one first.

It’s fun to see the city come together all dressed in red. St. Louis is truly a great sports town.

Probably should have included this in my last entry, so please forgive my afterthought.

I didn’t see it, but Marcia described to me, the recent appearance of Eminem. I remember thinking, I’m glad the World Series isn’t like the Super-bowl, with the whole half-time hoop da la.

Don’t get me wrong, I love the Stones, I love Paul McCartney, I love Aerosmith, I love Janet Jackson’s naked tit.

Maybe that’s what football needs. Maybe there wouldn’t be a Super-bowl without Janet Jackson’s naked tit. I think it’s great, I love live entertainment. I just feel it takes a little something away from the real issue, the best of the best.

Then, you have the World Series. One person walks out on the field with a wireless mic, fighting a half second delayed echo. They stand alone, and sing a cappella, the Star Spangled Banner. A song 9 out of 10 people no longer know the words to.

I don’t care what you say, that isn’t easy.

I haven’t watched the World Series in years, probably since the last time the Cards were fighting for the championship. So, last night, I’m really excited. I just found out, I’ll be able to attended Thursday night’s game, so I’m especially interested in what happens in tonight’s game. Game 3 of 7.

If the Cards win game 3 (Tuesday (which they did)) and game 4 (Wednesday (Rained out)), I could be at the final game, the winning game of the 2006 World Series. So for once, in a dogs age, I’m watching TV, a baseball game, and I’m really paying attention.

Finally the time comes, Trace Adkins will sing the National Anthem.

Now, I had heard of Trace Adkins, but I must admit, there is not one Trace Adkins song in my 11,000 song music collection. I knew he was a country artist, but other than that, I knew absolutely nothing about him or his music.

I’m just sitting there, with my Wife and Kids, watching the World Series. Then some guy with a a pony-tail and a cowboy hat walks out on the field with a microphone in his hand.

At first, I was wondering if this guy was even going to take off his hat, but of course, he, like any cowboy would, did.

As he began to sing, I sat with my family silent, watching.

As he started to sing, I thought to myself, “wow, this is a little rough, but then again, he is a cowboy.” But within moments, the power, and more importantly, emotion, of Trace Adkins voice was overwhelming.

As he sang the cameras panned to the giant flag being held and waved by dozens if not hundreds of people.

Soon, the song came to it’s climax, the flag was taken away, Trace put his hat back on and left the field. The game was about to begin.

I had to hide my tears as the game began.

I consider myself a pretty lucky guy. Way back, in 1982, a friend of mine stood in line, all night, for “standing room only” tickets to the World Series. There were 4 games here in St. Louis and I went to all 4 (thanks Tom), not to mention the fact, the Cardinals won! I remember that last game like it was yesterday, game 7.

My Father once told me “If you get one royal flush in your whole life, you’re lucky.” For the past 24 years, I just kindof figured I already had my royal flush. My World Series days are done. I was lucky to have been there in 82.

So here I sit watching game 3 of the 2006 series on TV here in St. Louis. The Cardinals are winning 4-0 in the 8th.

Just a couple of hours ago I was invited to thusrday night’s game, and I’m going. This time instead of “standing room only,” I’ll be right behind home plate.

God Bless America. I love this country.

Holy Cow! The Cards just stole home! It’s now 5-0!

Here is a link to a Honda ad that airs in Europe. It’s 2 minutes long. This is a must see for all you Rube Goldberg fans out there. Here is the background on the ad…

There are no computer graphics or digital tricks in the film. Everything you see really happened, in real time, exactly as you see it.

The film took 606 takes. On the first 605 takes, something, usually very minor, didn’t work.

They would then have to set the entire path up again. The crew spent weeks shooting, night and day.

By the time it was over, they were ready to change professions.

The film cost six million dollars and took three months to complete, including full engineering of the sequence.

In addition, it is two minutes long, so every time Honda airs the film on British television, they’re shelling out enough dough to keep any one of us in clover for a lifetime.

However, it is fast becoming the most downloaded advertisement in Internet history.

Honda executives figure the ad will soon pay for itself simply in “free viewings.”

(Honda isn’t paying a dime to have you watch this commercial).

When the ad was pitched to senior executives, they signed off on it immediately without any hesitation – including the costs.

There are six, and only six, hand-made Honda Accords in the world. To the horror of Honda engineers, the filmmakers disassembled two of them to make the film.

Everything you see in the film (aside from the walls, floor, ramp and complete Honda Accord) are parts from those two cars.

Here is the link for the ad.

http://www.albinoblacksheep.com/flash/honda.php