the other night a former student of mine invited me to a candle light for the anniversary of his brother's death. as you may or may not know i teach 3 to 5 year olds so this story is all the more tragic. my former student was five and his brother nearly a year old when he passed away. needless to say i was already close to this family, but after this tragedy took place i would become a little closer.
a year ago, i got the news from the head of school in the early evening. she told me simply that patrick had passed away and that the family was going to need a lot of support. i was in shock because the baby was in my class that day. he was crawling around full of energy, full of life. by that afternoon he had died. it was said that SIDS was the cause, and i cannot see how that reason could give any parent understanding. sudden infant death syndrome. that is just an acronym, not a cause of death...
regardless the family had an incredible year trying to move on, trying to wake up, trying to put one shoe on at a time, trying to put their clothes on and get going with a day that no one else in their lives would experience. constant reminders through out the house in toys, clothes, spaces, and pictures. patrick was only on the planet for a short time, but his impact was immense.
it is said that one of the greatest tragedies for a parent is to see their child die. i believe it. the following days afterward, patrick's father would make his way over to the school, exhausted from lack of sleep and overwrought with emotion. he would come over and sign his son (my student at the time) in and out. just getting back to a routine. trying to keep some part of his life consistent.
both parents were incredible through this whole situation. they did everything they could to make sure their five year old was going to make it through all of this. michael was a bright student and emotionally was very aware of his surroundings. which i think helped him cope better with his brother's death.
the vigil was beautiful, a small tree was planted in the front yard and several candles were placed around the young trunk. about twenty people from around the neighborhood attended, and each talked about the young boy known as patrick. some spoke about the parents, and others commented on the support of the neighborhood. which i think is the big picture of this event.
columbia over the past ten years has torn up huge segments of earth to make way for upscale homes and shopping centers. these new developments may attract families, but they won't attract entire neighborhoods like the one on Anderson Ave. (where patrick's family resides). this neighborhood pulled together and helped out the family. brought dinner over, bought clothes for the family for the funeral, mowed the lawn, took michael out, and provided a solid foundation for support.
this family would not have healed over this past year without those people, and the vigil was there way of saying thank you. it really makes you take a step back from your own life and realize what is important, what is necessary, and in the grand scheme of things how small we really are...
Friday, March 30, 2007
Saturday, March 24, 2007
Mastodon...Megazilla...For Fuck's sake save your Blog entry...
okay so i wrote out this HUGE!!! blog about my experience at the Mastodon show, and wouldn't you know it, i messed up on one of the tags, and when i went back to plug in the entry it erased everything... it has taken me two days to recover, so i will try this again, and hopefully with the same energy, here it goes:
The other night I went to see Mastodon, Priestess, Mouth of the Architect, and Megazilla at the blue note.
when writing out concert reviews there is a simple set of guidelines one must follow:
1) Who you saw
2) Where you went
3) Try to avoid introducing a band as "my friend's band" when you do this it immediately puts that band on a grading curve. For example:
Last night i went to see my friend's band Toxic Waste Dump. They were pretty good. "Pretty good = horrible" sorry that is how it works. Also if you describe a band as "really nice people" first, also not a good band.
with all of this said.
The first band of the evening was Megazilla. i have seen this band numberous times but not on a sound system as big as The Blue Note. the duo has played in smaller venues, basements, art spaces, etc. but they certainly took advantage of the modest 1000 person capacity Blue Note. Did i mention these guys happen to be friends of mine. But lets take them off of the "Friend's band" grading curve. it would be unfair, because their perfomance was loud and they were tight. Corey "MegaCoCo" Cottrell explains that Megazilla is basically "a kick drum and amps" and he is right. Joey "MegaJoJo" Hook, plays the kit with six arms and a driving kick that layers very well with Cottrell's eight string bass. The songs are heavy but precise. The two have great chemistry, most likely because the two are off-stage lovers. okay that part is not true, but the two had previously played in a five piece called Grand Canyon, which, like most Columbia bands, met a premature end.
The most impressive thing about Megazilla's performance was the amount of people who were captivated by their show. during the quiet parts of songs there was not a single voice. All eyes were on these two creating a great warm up for the eventual headliners Mastodon.
Mastodon, has had lofty and genuine comparisons to Metallica. i have never seen metallica, but good christ the music is there. i am not a stranger to metal, but i'm not season ticket holder to the genre either, but this was a fantastic performance. these guys treat metal as an actual art form. there are no silly poses, or overdone costumes. these four just step up to their instruments and play. this is what other metal bands should strive for. yes the subject matter of their songs are considered "dark" and "heavy" but they don't need to look, dress or act that way.
The other night I went to see Mastodon, Priestess, Mouth of the Architect, and Megazilla at the blue note.
when writing out concert reviews there is a simple set of guidelines one must follow:
1) Who you saw
2) Where you went
3) Try to avoid introducing a band as "my friend's band" when you do this it immediately puts that band on a grading curve. For example:
Last night i went to see my friend's band Toxic Waste Dump. They were pretty good. "Pretty good = horrible" sorry that is how it works. Also if you describe a band as "really nice people" first, also not a good band.
with all of this said.
The first band of the evening was Megazilla. i have seen this band numberous times but not on a sound system as big as The Blue Note. the duo has played in smaller venues, basements, art spaces, etc. but they certainly took advantage of the modest 1000 person capacity Blue Note. Did i mention these guys happen to be friends of mine. But lets take them off of the "Friend's band" grading curve. it would be unfair, because their perfomance was loud and they were tight. Corey "MegaCoCo" Cottrell explains that Megazilla is basically "a kick drum and amps" and he is right. Joey "MegaJoJo" Hook, plays the kit with six arms and a driving kick that layers very well with Cottrell's eight string bass. The songs are heavy but precise. The two have great chemistry, most likely because the two are off-stage lovers. okay that part is not true, but the two had previously played in a five piece called Grand Canyon, which, like most Columbia bands, met a premature end.
The most impressive thing about Megazilla's performance was the amount of people who were captivated by their show. during the quiet parts of songs there was not a single voice. All eyes were on these two creating a great warm up for the eventual headliners Mastodon.
Mastodon, has had lofty and genuine comparisons to Metallica. i have never seen metallica, but good christ the music is there. i am not a stranger to metal, but i'm not season ticket holder to the genre either, but this was a fantastic performance. these guys treat metal as an actual art form. there are no silly poses, or overdone costumes. these four just step up to their instruments and play. this is what other metal bands should strive for. yes the subject matter of their songs are considered "dark" and "heavy" but they don't need to look, dress or act that way.
Monday, March 19, 2007
i have returned... with what exactly...
so i went to austin, texas with my band, and it was hella fun... we played some good shows and saw some good shows. we spent time with friends and drank with them.
i had some very good meetings and got some great advice from new and old friends who own fantastic labels...
i think what i came back with is a fresh perspective on everything i am doing. i was really down on myself for coming off too business like sometimes, but after meeting some of the people i met, i am nowhere near that level. i am simply trying to get columbia on the map, and help bands i love get their music out to as many people as possible. it would be nice if this was my full time job, but it is not... not right now. i don't think this is a foolish pursuit... but time will be the best judge.
so after travelling 14 hours in the minivan with five other people (austin to columbia), i had to get up and motivate myself to face the onslaught of 20+ children and their needs at 8 am... it was a lot today, mondays are always difficult, they are out of routine, out of sync, and of course not feeling well... so after 8 and half hours i came home and fixed my computer, had some dinner and worked out for the first time in a week. austin was fun, but i paid for it... i think i am still recovering from friday night's partying...
i'll have a SxSW tour diary in MOVE magazine in the next couple of weeks...
i recently read a very good book called Attention. Deficit. Disorder. by Brad Listi. Brad contacted the band's myspace site and we traded his LA times Bestselling book for our cd... i read it in the van to and from austin, and normally this isn't the type of book i would read cover to cover, but i kept identifying with the main character. anyway i am going to write him a letter at my earliest convenience. the main character goes through so much personal tragedy, i'm curious to know how much of Mr. Listi's own personal demons are intertwined in the character. i know that sometimes the songs i write have very cryptic lyrics, but they are always connected to me somehow... anyway i highly recommend the book.
it is time to rest my head full of worry... good night to you all as well...
i had some very good meetings and got some great advice from new and old friends who own fantastic labels...
i think what i came back with is a fresh perspective on everything i am doing. i was really down on myself for coming off too business like sometimes, but after meeting some of the people i met, i am nowhere near that level. i am simply trying to get columbia on the map, and help bands i love get their music out to as many people as possible. it would be nice if this was my full time job, but it is not... not right now. i don't think this is a foolish pursuit... but time will be the best judge.
so after travelling 14 hours in the minivan with five other people (austin to columbia), i had to get up and motivate myself to face the onslaught of 20+ children and their needs at 8 am... it was a lot today, mondays are always difficult, they are out of routine, out of sync, and of course not feeling well... so after 8 and half hours i came home and fixed my computer, had some dinner and worked out for the first time in a week. austin was fun, but i paid for it... i think i am still recovering from friday night's partying...
i'll have a SxSW tour diary in MOVE magazine in the next couple of weeks...
i recently read a very good book called Attention. Deficit. Disorder. by Brad Listi. Brad contacted the band's myspace site and we traded his LA times Bestselling book for our cd... i read it in the van to and from austin, and normally this isn't the type of book i would read cover to cover, but i kept identifying with the main character. anyway i am going to write him a letter at my earliest convenience. the main character goes through so much personal tragedy, i'm curious to know how much of Mr. Listi's own personal demons are intertwined in the character. i know that sometimes the songs i write have very cryptic lyrics, but they are always connected to me somehow... anyway i highly recommend the book.
it is time to rest my head full of worry... good night to you all as well...
Saturday, March 10, 2007
okay okay i now have a computer...
so now i don't have any excuse to update this...
here is what i know... as of the past couple months i have contemplated many changes in my life. we are talking big time transitions. i am not renewing my lease, i don't know where i'm going to live, but i know that i am looking for a month-to-month thing. so that should cause an ample amount of stress on my life on top of the other things...
but to counteract all of that i am working out on a daily basis (well 5 out of 7 days to be exact), and i am addicted to it. that's not necessarily a good thing but it gives me a routine, and i feel a whole lot better.
i will say lately my patience has run out on a lot of things. i realize i live in a community that i absolutely adore, but the members are all in transition in their lives. which of course effects everyone else. i have sort of isolated myself because i have issues i am trying to deal with. i think the big part of all of this, is that i feel like there are certain expectations of me that shouldn't be put on anyone. in my position i feel like there is no room for error, people just expect you to continue being this person that met five years ago, five months ago, or five minutes ago. and sometimes its just too much. i think the goal of anyone living here is to try to make the positive changes for yourself without hurting other people...
with that said i have hurt people in trying to continue on this path of music. i feel horrible about that, especially when you see that individual in public and there is this nonexistent look in their eyes. i can quickly dismiss that as eighth grade behavior, but that's not it all (and i have had to convince myself of this) it is much deeper than that. (i guess you all know who i am referring to at this point) but even though i know that the decision to leave a great relationship was for the best, the imprint is still there. the feelings take a long time to heal. i wish i could say something that would heal, but everything has already been said, and you have to move on...
which i have, and i maintain my singlehood for good reason. its just not my time to have a very involved relationship, other than the whole label and band thing...
speaking of... i will be in austin all next week for sxsw. i am excited and nauseated at the same time. i have had so much advice about going down there and having a plan of action. i already do, and i just want to take my time and soak in the festivities. the band has four activities:
- wed. 3/14 - IODA opening day bash with black angels, apostle of hustle, etc...
- wed. 3/14 - that night we are doing a daytrotter session.
- thur. 3/15 - we are playing right after the texas rollergirls. roller derby, texas style!
- fri. 3/16 - we will sit down with XM radio for an acoustic session...
on top of this i have various meetings with distributors and other labels. so i will be busy.
well i have vented enough, and i hope to get back to a more noteworthy installment in the next day or so...
here is what i know... as of the past couple months i have contemplated many changes in my life. we are talking big time transitions. i am not renewing my lease, i don't know where i'm going to live, but i know that i am looking for a month-to-month thing. so that should cause an ample amount of stress on my life on top of the other things...
but to counteract all of that i am working out on a daily basis (well 5 out of 7 days to be exact), and i am addicted to it. that's not necessarily a good thing but it gives me a routine, and i feel a whole lot better.
i will say lately my patience has run out on a lot of things. i realize i live in a community that i absolutely adore, but the members are all in transition in their lives. which of course effects everyone else. i have sort of isolated myself because i have issues i am trying to deal with. i think the big part of all of this, is that i feel like there are certain expectations of me that shouldn't be put on anyone. in my position i feel like there is no room for error, people just expect you to continue being this person that met five years ago, five months ago, or five minutes ago. and sometimes its just too much. i think the goal of anyone living here is to try to make the positive changes for yourself without hurting other people...
with that said i have hurt people in trying to continue on this path of music. i feel horrible about that, especially when you see that individual in public and there is this nonexistent look in their eyes. i can quickly dismiss that as eighth grade behavior, but that's not it all (and i have had to convince myself of this) it is much deeper than that. (i guess you all know who i am referring to at this point) but even though i know that the decision to leave a great relationship was for the best, the imprint is still there. the feelings take a long time to heal. i wish i could say something that would heal, but everything has already been said, and you have to move on...
which i have, and i maintain my singlehood for good reason. its just not my time to have a very involved relationship, other than the whole label and band thing...
speaking of... i will be in austin all next week for sxsw. i am excited and nauseated at the same time. i have had so much advice about going down there and having a plan of action. i already do, and i just want to take my time and soak in the festivities. the band has four activities:
- wed. 3/14 - IODA opening day bash with black angels, apostle of hustle, etc...
- wed. 3/14 - that night we are doing a daytrotter session.
- thur. 3/15 - we are playing right after the texas rollergirls. roller derby, texas style!
- fri. 3/16 - we will sit down with XM radio for an acoustic session...
on top of this i have various meetings with distributors and other labels. so i will be busy.
well i have vented enough, and i hope to get back to a more noteworthy installment in the next day or so...
Thursday, February 1, 2007
The Shift of the Room....
So for the past month I have been battling a sense of vertigo. It comes in the form of a light head, a shift in vision, or complete unbalance. I looked to many possibilities: stress, a tumor, an irregular heart, low blood sugar, and possibly the need for corrective vision.
Stress - This to me was an all to likely candidate. I have a lot going on in my life, which in the past has caused me to break off good relationships, quit jobs, and acquire some very unlikely viruses and illnesses. So with this go around of dizzy spells I thought maybe this could be it. Currently at two jobs, own a label, and play in a band, this to me would be the recipe for disaster. No time for a relationship, some time for immediate friends, and some time for myself. I have concentrated on myself trying to work out more often (which I have), eat healthier (which I have), and get more sleep (which I have). I have also cut down considerably on alcohol and caffeine. But my stress still remains.... so here is where I think the dizzy spells come in. For this theory I may only be partly right.
Tumor - Now this of course is what many people in my family also freak out about. We have very little history of cancer in my family (we are a family of meat and potatoes and cigarette heart attacks) and of course this would be the big Cosmic joke that once I start leading a healthier life the Universe would deal a tumor to stand in my way. The doctor did a number of neurological tests. Not the kind with a brain scan and wires attached to my head, the basic physical exam. They check to make sure you can feel you hands and feet and face, you are reacting to light and dark normally, and just making sure all of your senses are in its right place (does food taste funny, do you smell odd scents, etc?) After letting them know that I could feel, smell, taste, hear, and see fine, I was good to go.
Irregular Heart - This same doctor gave me the okay on my heart as well. I thought that maybe I was having problems after having one dizzy spell during a work out. But my blood pressure and pulse were tip top, and my heart beat was regular... so I'm good there.
Low Blood Sugar - This to me would a realistic one. I have not cut back on eating, but I have cut a TON of sugar out of my diet. Moderation is key. I eat a good variety of fruit, veggies and meat through out the day. If I drink soda its a diet or caffiene free diet version of it. But the doctors said that with the food that I am eating I am getting enough of the sugar one needs to maintain oneself. Okay doc...
Corrective Vision - I have a pretty weak prescription. I am farsided and have been in need for glasses and contacts for a couple of years, but I haven't really needed them. I was able to read fine, drive fine and see fine. Recently I noticed things were not going as well as they had, and my vision blurred when reading small upclose print. But I pushed it aside arrogantly. Well my physician said it would be a good idea to have the professional eye doctor take a look at what is going on. My eyes have indeed worsened in the past couple of years. I have an astigmatism, different powers in each eye, and overall jaded perception of life. okay that last part was a bit of an exaggeration, but its true...
we'll see how this all gets sorted out. (sigh)
Stress - This to me was an all to likely candidate. I have a lot going on in my life, which in the past has caused me to break off good relationships, quit jobs, and acquire some very unlikely viruses and illnesses. So with this go around of dizzy spells I thought maybe this could be it. Currently at two jobs, own a label, and play in a band, this to me would be the recipe for disaster. No time for a relationship, some time for immediate friends, and some time for myself. I have concentrated on myself trying to work out more often (which I have), eat healthier (which I have), and get more sleep (which I have). I have also cut down considerably on alcohol and caffeine. But my stress still remains.... so here is where I think the dizzy spells come in. For this theory I may only be partly right.
Tumor - Now this of course is what many people in my family also freak out about. We have very little history of cancer in my family (we are a family of meat and potatoes and cigarette heart attacks) and of course this would be the big Cosmic joke that once I start leading a healthier life the Universe would deal a tumor to stand in my way. The doctor did a number of neurological tests. Not the kind with a brain scan and wires attached to my head, the basic physical exam. They check to make sure you can feel you hands and feet and face, you are reacting to light and dark normally, and just making sure all of your senses are in its right place (does food taste funny, do you smell odd scents, etc?) After letting them know that I could feel, smell, taste, hear, and see fine, I was good to go.
Irregular Heart - This same doctor gave me the okay on my heart as well. I thought that maybe I was having problems after having one dizzy spell during a work out. But my blood pressure and pulse were tip top, and my heart beat was regular... so I'm good there.
Low Blood Sugar - This to me would a realistic one. I have not cut back on eating, but I have cut a TON of sugar out of my diet. Moderation is key. I eat a good variety of fruit, veggies and meat through out the day. If I drink soda its a diet or caffiene free diet version of it. But the doctors said that with the food that I am eating I am getting enough of the sugar one needs to maintain oneself. Okay doc...
Corrective Vision - I have a pretty weak prescription. I am farsided and have been in need for glasses and contacts for a couple of years, but I haven't really needed them. I was able to read fine, drive fine and see fine. Recently I noticed things were not going as well as they had, and my vision blurred when reading small upclose print. But I pushed it aside arrogantly. Well my physician said it would be a good idea to have the professional eye doctor take a look at what is going on. My eyes have indeed worsened in the past couple of years. I have an astigmatism, different powers in each eye, and overall jaded perception of life. okay that last part was a bit of an exaggeration, but its true...
we'll see how this all gets sorted out. (sigh)
Saturday, January 13, 2007
Bumbleebee, Jazz, Starscream and Beckham. If you know who the first three are you are officially a Nerd.
Okay before I begin I need to take a deep breath... I don't know how you do that in cyberspace. Regardless, I have uncovered, thanks to a friend of mine, a trailer, but not just any trailer, thee trailer that will own me until july 4, 2007. When I first heard about this movie my interest was drawn. Then I found out that Michael Bay was directing it and I completely forgot about it. So after a night of cards, a friend of mine showed me this trailer...
So the quality is a not as good, and in fact I would go to Yahoo.com and select the HD version of the trailer. It takes some time to download, but it is worth it.
I believe the Steven Spielberg involvement cancels out the Michael Bay involvement. Now I can truly enjoy this movie. I don't know who continues to let Michael Bay direct films, but please make him stop! Perhaps, Mr. Bay will turn it around here. Honestly it won't take much to turn it around from The Island.
When I was young(er) I loved the hell out of the Transformers. Bumblebee was my favorite (he was a VW bug) and Jazz was second (a sports car). But this new live action film has taken my clunky toys and poorly drawn cartoon and launched Transformers into a sleak and terrifying sci-fi picture. The Decepticons were bad guys in the 80s, but now they are MENACING. In this movie version they outnumber the Autobots (the "good" guys) and don't seem to care for life on this planet. A new addition to the movie is that both sides have two different forms. One form for Cybertron (their home planet, duh) and one for Earth.
I will most likely see Transformers atleast two times starting on July 4, and maybe a third, fourth, or fifth time if Michael Bay does not incorporate horrible music through out the film.
During my Transformer infatuation years, I was also a dedicated soccer player. I loved soccer I played Indoor and Outdoor. My favorite team was of course, the St. Louis Steamers. So it should be a strange cosmic connection that the day I learn about the Transformers movie trailer, we are all introduced to David Beckham as a memeber of the L.A. Galaxy. In the world of soccer, his name is huge. His ability has been on a downward slope. So is the U.S. the Florida Retirement Home version of Soccer stars past their prime? We'll see.
But I think there is something to be said when Soccer is one of the most popular recreational sports for children in the United States, but in the mainstream appeal it falls short, well short, of sports like Football, Baseball, and Basketball. Soccer has been trying for years to tweak and adjust it's commercial appeal, but they continue to pull in these circus tricks like the 13 year old soccer phenom Freddy Adu signing a multiyear contract with the MLS. U.S. soccer has a history with bringing in big names. Does anyone remember Pele playing for the New York Cosmos?
I really hope soccer succeeds in the U.S. but it is not going to be pulled up by a guy who is married to Posh Spice. (God Bless Ali G.)
I have plans on July 4, 2007.
So the quality is a not as good, and in fact I would go to Yahoo.com and select the HD version of the trailer. It takes some time to download, but it is worth it.
I believe the Steven Spielberg involvement cancels out the Michael Bay involvement. Now I can truly enjoy this movie. I don't know who continues to let Michael Bay direct films, but please make him stop! Perhaps, Mr. Bay will turn it around here. Honestly it won't take much to turn it around from The Island.
When I was young(er) I loved the hell out of the Transformers. Bumblebee was my favorite (he was a VW bug) and Jazz was second (a sports car). But this new live action film has taken my clunky toys and poorly drawn cartoon and launched Transformers into a sleak and terrifying sci-fi picture. The Decepticons were bad guys in the 80s, but now they are MENACING. In this movie version they outnumber the Autobots (the "good" guys) and don't seem to care for life on this planet. A new addition to the movie is that both sides have two different forms. One form for Cybertron (their home planet, duh) and one for Earth.
I will most likely see Transformers atleast two times starting on July 4, and maybe a third, fourth, or fifth time if Michael Bay does not incorporate horrible music through out the film.
During my Transformer infatuation years, I was also a dedicated soccer player. I loved soccer I played Indoor and Outdoor. My favorite team was of course, the St. Louis Steamers. So it should be a strange cosmic connection that the day I learn about the Transformers movie trailer, we are all introduced to David Beckham as a memeber of the L.A. Galaxy. In the world of soccer, his name is huge. His ability has been on a downward slope. So is the U.S. the Florida Retirement Home version of Soccer stars past their prime? We'll see.
But I think there is something to be said when Soccer is one of the most popular recreational sports for children in the United States, but in the mainstream appeal it falls short, well short, of sports like Football, Baseball, and Basketball. Soccer has been trying for years to tweak and adjust it's commercial appeal, but they continue to pull in these circus tricks like the 13 year old soccer phenom Freddy Adu signing a multiyear contract with the MLS. U.S. soccer has a history with bringing in big names. Does anyone remember Pele playing for the New York Cosmos?
I really hope soccer succeeds in the U.S. but it is not going to be pulled up by a guy who is married to Posh Spice. (God Bless Ali G.)
Thursday, December 28, 2006
You may be Marshall, but You are NOT going to make me Cry!
A week ago I attended the film, We Are Marshall. The true story based on the 1970 Marshall University football team that perished in a plane crash after playing a game against East Carolina University. The victims included almost all of the football staff and members of the athletic director's office. If a football team were to be started again they would have to start with four players and a receivers coach (played by Matthew Fox). The school hires Jack Lengyel (Matthew McConaughey) as head coach to pick up the pieces and begin the program again.
This movie was nicely laid out, but I felt the director McG (yes just three letters, one name) was trying to make the audience cry. I decided I was not going to cry no matter what was thrown at me. There is the plane crash, very abrupt and it is always sad to see the end of the incredible potential in the human element. It pulls at the heart strings, BUT I'm not going to cry. Then there are those that were left behind, fathers, mothers, teammates, and fiances and there struggle to cope with the sudden loss. Really pulling at the heart, BUT I'm not going to cry. Then there is the first home game with the brand new team made up of mostly freshmen (which were allowed to play thanks to an NCAA exemption) that pulled out a victory against Xavier, BUT again I'm not going to cry. After the celebration is over, McG pulls out one last stop to get the audience to cry. After the team has cleaned up and left the locker room. Coach Red (Fox) is left in the room by himself. He sits down and cries. Not just any cry, but a sincere overly emotional venting cry. This was a man who decided to let another coach get on the plane so he could catch his granddaughter's piano recital, which ultimately saved his life. This was also a man who only committed to one year of coaching after the crash and found redemption. He had finally found a cathartic release in this team's win. It was a very deep and moving last scene, but... I DID NOT CRY! Screw you, McG! I won. I held it together very well, but my friends did not fair so well. They let loose a towel's worth of tissue after we left the theater.
Folks its a football movie. Not Steel Magnolias. Sheesh!
This movie was nicely laid out, but I felt the director McG (yes just three letters, one name) was trying to make the audience cry. I decided I was not going to cry no matter what was thrown at me. There is the plane crash, very abrupt and it is always sad to see the end of the incredible potential in the human element. It pulls at the heart strings, BUT I'm not going to cry. Then there are those that were left behind, fathers, mothers, teammates, and fiances and there struggle to cope with the sudden loss. Really pulling at the heart, BUT I'm not going to cry. Then there is the first home game with the brand new team made up of mostly freshmen (which were allowed to play thanks to an NCAA exemption) that pulled out a victory against Xavier, BUT again I'm not going to cry. After the celebration is over, McG pulls out one last stop to get the audience to cry. After the team has cleaned up and left the locker room. Coach Red (Fox) is left in the room by himself. He sits down and cries. Not just any cry, but a sincere overly emotional venting cry. This was a man who decided to let another coach get on the plane so he could catch his granddaughter's piano recital, which ultimately saved his life. This was also a man who only committed to one year of coaching after the crash and found redemption. He had finally found a cathartic release in this team's win. It was a very deep and moving last scene, but... I DID NOT CRY! Screw you, McG! I won. I held it together very well, but my friends did not fair so well. They let loose a towel's worth of tissue after we left the theater.
Folks its a football movie. Not Steel Magnolias. Sheesh!
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