Masters of Gilligan

Dock Ellis

Who do you suppose was the first non-conformist you were aware of?  That first person who gave you an inkling that not everybody lived the same sort of lifestyle you did?

For people a few years older than me, the answer might be "Timothy Leary" or "John Lennon" or any of the various and sundry folks involved in the '60's counterculture.  A few years later, and you're into Evel Knievel, or Johnny Rotten I suppose.

1971 was a great time to be an 8-year-old boy in Pittsburgh.  That '71 Pirate squad, my favorite team of all my favorite teams, takes on mythical proportions in my memories.  Stargell, Robertson, Oliver -- man, those guys weren't just hitters, they CRUSHED the ball.  Hebner, Blass, Sanguillen, Giusti, Kison, a nearing-the-end-of-the-line Mazeroski.  Role players like Pagan, Davalillo, May, Clines....and my personal favorite, third-string catcher Charlie Sands.  (And to this day I think it speaks volumes about me that a ham-and-egger like Sands became my favorite.)

And of course there was some guy named Roberto at the top of the heap.

But I started out talking about non-conformists, didn't I?

Which brings us to a marvelously talented Pirate pitcher of the era named Dock Ellis, who died last Friday.  Ellis went 19-9 in 71, and in my recollection was nearly unhittable in a lot of those games.  Blass is always remembered as the ace of that team, based on his stellar work in the post-season I suppose, but Ellis was the workhorse during the regular season.

All along, though, I got the feeling that Dock Ellis was somehow -- different.  You didn't see kids wearing #17, or choosing to be him when we played in the backyard.  Furthermore, I vaguely recall some shaking of heads and clucking of tongues whenever he was on the mound. 

When Dock took to wearing curlers in his hair during warmups in 1973, that vague disapproval became a little more open.  Dock had offically worn out his welcome in my household.  I got the feeling that he was a loudmouth and a troublemaker. 

 

And he was.  He was also a damn fine pitcher, and a key element of those glorious 71 Bucs.

Unfortunately, Ellis is best remembered for having pitched a no-hitter on acid -- a story that he himself advanced, and only he could've verified.  Regardless, though, his post-baseball efforts are notable -- including extensive work for charities and in coordinating and promoting drug-rehabilitation efforts.

Here's to ya, Dock.

It's Come To This -- A Meme

Blogging will likely be non-existant for the rest of the year.  I know I've said it before, but I really am serious -- I'm planning on getting back to a more regular schedule of posting in the new year. 

I think it's time for a re-brand and a re-focus, now that Joe has officially retired and Julie has signed on as a semi-regular contributor.  More on that later.

In the meantime, I should point out that I was in a bookstore the other day and happened to come across a table of Pittsburgh-related books.  One in particular struck my eye, and it's one I've been waiting for -- Jason Togyer's "For The Love of Murphy's".  I haven't gotten my copy yet (as I'm waiting for a book signing event -- I missed a couple while I was in Boston), but I can tell you that it looks fantastic.  It's a very handsome book from a very handsome fellow (as evidenced by his self-portrait.)

And finally, as my last post of the year, I'll resort to a meme that comes courtesy of The Comics Curmudgeon himself.  Here 'tis -- see how many you can guess.  (I should note that Julie will know most or all of these, so dear wife, please wait a little before posting the answers.)

• Pick 15 of your favorite movies.
• Go to IMDb and find a quote from each movie.
•  Post them here for everyone to guess.

1. Leo, it gets me sick to think we gotta put up with some washed-up jaboni who's gonna be running around Central Park with his schlong hangin' out!
   My dear fellow, what I choose to do with my schlong is my business.
   How's business?
   Never better.
2. Can you get me off the hook, Tom? For old times' sake?
3. How did you find America?
   Turned left at Greenland.
4. Right. Oh, uh, you'll still be here when I get out?
   Cooler!
5. But -- what about my table?  Who's going to fix my table?
6. Kneel before Zod.
7. That's it. Out you two pixies go - through the door, or out the window.
8. He winked at me.
   Don't wink, kid.
9. You don't have any friends; nobody likes you!
10. Living here day by day, you think it's the center of the world. You believe nothing will ever change. Then you leave: a year, two years. When you come back, everything's changed. The thread's broken. What you came to find isn't there. What was yours is gone. You have to go away for a long time... many years... before you can come back and find your people.
11. I think that this situation absolutely requires a really futile and stupid gesture be done on somebody's part.
    We're just the guys to do it.
12. When I get big I'm gonna get a electric guitar.  When I get real big.
13. You flatter me, Captain.
    Oh, how clumsy of me - I meant to accuse you.
14. I never look back, darling! It distracts from the now.
15. We all know most marriages depend on a firm grasp of football trivia.

A bunch of linky loos

I have a few web sites that list interesting articles from other sites.  One of the sites had links to the following photos of the Aurora Borealis.  Seeing these lights would be on my list of "things to do before I get too old to enjoy them".

Aurora Borealis

I also enjoyed this article of discoveries that science cannot explain. 

Things that cannot be explained

I also like the following two sites that can and will distract you for hours on end.  Trust me, I've lived it.

Interesting Pile

 The List Universe 

Happy reading. 

Are You My Pal? Hmmm? Hmmm?

After having and ignoring a "Facebook" account for months, or possibly years, I've finally started to have a little bit of activity on there. 

If you'd like to be my internet BFF, have at it.  Also, I've been using it a little bit like "Twitter", so if you just can't get enough of my pointless ramblings, check it aht.

Speaking of which, I also have a Twitter account, which I updated twice about a year ago before deciding that I find Twitter inane and uber-annoying.

In unrelated news, it took about 10 years after its release for this song to hook me in, but for some reason it has become a personal favorite.

Another Side of Mary Worth

Mare's feeling her oats.

Better to be thought an idiot than to open your mouth and remove all doubt.

I want to have a one-on-one conversation with someone, so where is the best place to have such a conversation??  Oh wait, yup, got it.  Right in front of the podium at the National Govenors' Conference.  Yes perfect, this will do.

I want to have a private one-on-one conversation with that special someone, so what else do I need?  Oh wait, yup, got it.  I need an open mike at the podium at the National Governors' Conference.  Yes, once again I have managed the situation perfectly.

Okay, now that I have my perfect place and accouterments set up, what shall I talk about?  Oh wait, yup, got that one too.  Let's chat about the new appointee for the Dept. of Homeland Security, Janet Napolitano.  Perfect.

Our honorable Gov. Ed Rendell:  "Janet's perfect for that job. Because for that job, you have to have no life. Janet has no family. Perfect. She can devote, literally, 19-20 hours a day to it."

http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/12/02/campbell.brown.rendell/index.html

Congratulations on being able to insult me on more levels that I even thought was possible.