February 05, 2015

Apologies if I've posted this before or it's Internet-famous, but today made me think of Don Cherry's piano desk.

posted by yerfatma at 11:56 AM on February 05, 2015

I always love seeing that Don Cherry segment. I wonder if there are others by the same person. Either of him, or maybe Khrushchev or someone...

Speaking of world leaders and penalty killing, here's something noteworthy in a similar vein by the fabulous pianist Henry Hey:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-RQPeoyqyP4

He does other prominent figures as well for your dining and dancing pleasure.

How'd you like to be the undertaker who has to dress Don Cherry for his viewing, when that day arrives? One tiny thing a millimeter out of place and he'd climb out of the casket and strangle you.

posted by beaverboard at 12:47 PM on February 05, 2015

Wonder if Seattle is paying any royalties to College Station, where Texas A&M began its 12th man tradition in the 1920's.

posted by beaverboard at 02:53 PM on February 05, 2015

My wife and I had quite a day yesterday, and believe it or not it was at her urging that it happened. I guess she must think I have one foot in the grave and the other on a banana peel, because she talked me into going to the Patriots' Super Bowl parade with the argument that I might not ever see another one. She even took a day off to go with me. Somehow, I've managed to turn a Virginia native and long-time Baltimore resident into a New England fan of all sports. Maybe she has another motive, I might need to hire a food taster, but since I do most of the cooking, I'm probably OK.

Getting to the parade was not the easiest thing we've done. Rather than drive to a T station, we took the commuter rail. Train was 45 minutes late, it was standing room only after the 2nd stop, but it got us there with time to spare. The T from North Station was another mob scene. All that was lacking to compare it to rush hour in Tokyo was the guys pushing you into the train. We got to a good spot on Park Street, up the hill a ways so we could see over the heads of most of the crowd. The weather was not bad for Boston in February, ao the wait of over an hour was not too unpleasant. Lot's of kindred spirits to talk to, the police were handling things with smiles and getting cooperation from most (only 2 arrests in our area as we waited), and the time went by quickly.

The scene was wall-to-wall people. From our vantage point a few yards up Park Street from the corner of Tremont you could see down to the corner of Boylston and Tremont. Both sides of the street were about 4 to 6 people deep and shoulder to shoulder. I have not seen any official estimates of how many turned out, but my guess is the high 6 figures or even into the 7 figures. As the parade passed the fans erupted into cheers and the players were into it. Gronkowski was his usual howling, dancing self. Brady was quiet, and his 5-year-old son was sleeping on his shoulder. Edelman was on the roof of his duck boat. The traffic light at the corner of Park and Tremont nearly gained a place in sports infamy as Edelman ducked out of the way jut in time to avoid what would have been the best hit of the season on him. It was a really fun time.

The day wasn't nearly over for us. After lunch and a movie (The Imitation Game was right in our sweet spot -- autism for my wife and military history for me) and an early dinner at The 4s it was on to the Celtics game. This turned out to be a reprise of the parade, as Robert Kraft and 5 of the players, including Malcolm Butler, were brought onto the court at the end of the 3rd quarter to take a bow. A standing O ensued that extended much longer than the usual couple of minutes between quarters. The Patriot influence seemed to jave an effect on the game, as a couple of good defensive plays, including a Jae Crowder interception of an inbounds pass intended for Galinari, gave Boston the win.

So thanks, wife, for encouraging me to do this and for sharing it with me. Some of us are really lucky to live in this area and to be able to have some great people to share it with.

posted by Howard_T at 06:04 PM on February 05, 2015

You don't have to dream - you can travel back in time with me to 1981, when people started going to the Sunday afternoon church service in greater numbers, because it just seemed better to spend quality time with the Almighty than watch the Pats get hammered once again.

When you left church, you simply turned on your car radio to find out how bad the score was, and you drove home wincing and thinking maybe it would be better to turn around and go back to the church.

After a whole season of this, and then a cruel winter of struggling home at dusk from church, you figured you've done your penance and how bad could the coming spring be?

Then a few weeks hence, you turn on the radio leaving church and find out that the Patriots have selected Kenneth Sims with the first overall pick in the draft.

As an elder from my Southern youth might have said: "Boy, you just ain't close enough to God yet."

posted by beaverboard at 08:06 AM on February 06, 2015