European Soccer (I mean football) Is Going Too Far...

MILAN, Italy -- Italian soccer player Paolo Di Canio was suspended for one game on Tuesday for making a fascist salute to fans during a match last weekend.

Di Canio was also fined $11,977 by the Italian Soccer League. The 37-year-old forward will miss Lazio's match at Lecce on Wednesday.

"It was a political sentence, it was an unjust decision," Di Canio told a Rome radio station. "My gesture has nothing to do with political ideologies."

Italian papers ran photos on Dec. 12 showing Di Canio with his arm outstretched as he was being substituted during the second half of Lazio's 2-1 loss to Livorno the previous day.

The arm gesture is associated in Italy with the salute used under the rule of fascist dictator Benito Mussolini.

Italian Premier Silvio Berlusconi, who also owns Serie A team AC Milan, called Di Canio "an exhibitionist."

That game featured teams whose fans have opposing political allegiances: Lazio fans waved swastika flags while Livorno fans had red Communist flags. Clashes between Livorno fans and police were reported outside the stadium before the game, with one officer slightly injured.

Last January, Di Canio was photographed making the salute after his team's 3-1 victory over AS Roma, a gesture that drew widespread condemnation. He was fined $13,400 by the federation but maintained his gesture had no political significance.

Lazio president Claudio Lotito said his club will appeal the fine.

Old News But Hilarious

From CNN.com
---------------------------------

Ex-Creed singer Stapp, 311 in fight

BALTIMORE, Maryland (AP) -- Former Creed lead singer Scott Stapp and members of the band 311 were involved in a fight on Thanksgiving in the lounge of a luxury hotel, according to hotel security staff and 311 members.

311 were in Baltimore for a weekend concert when several members ran into Stapp earlier that day, band drummer Chad Sexton told The Associated Press. Both Stapp and 311 have the same producer, and Sexton said there were no problems during the first meeting.

But Stapp later came into the Harbor Court Hotel bar while Sexton and bandmates SA Martinez and P-Nut were watching basketball on television. He stepped in front of the screen and said, "311, I am ready to fight," according to Sexton.

Sexton said the band tried to defuse the situation, and Stapp went to the bar to drink. Later, he made "inappropriate" comments to Martinez's wife, and was confrontational with Sexton.
"All of a sudden, he clocked me in the left side of my face," Sexton said. "Then a huge fight broke out."

During the melee, Martinez broke a finger and later went to the hospital to have a cast put on his hand. Security guards eventually broke up the brawl. Police were called, but no arrests were made, according to hotel security.

"It was an unfortunate incident," Sexton said. "We are not brawlers." Beth Keifetz, vice president of publicity at Stapp's label, Wind-up Records, wouldn't comment on the reports of a fight.

But Jonathan Jordan, director of security at the hotel, said the incident was captured on security cameras. He said Stapp was "attacked" by several members of 311 and that it took two security guards to break up the fight.

"It was definitely started by 311," Jordan said. Officer Troy Harris, spokesman for the Baltimore Police, said the department didn't have any record of officers responding to the hotel.

Great Analogy

This was written by a dear friend of mine regarding his favoirte sports team
--------------------------------------


To my friends and Michigan football fans:

Fuck Lloyd Carr. Fuck him hard out of hatred. As if he just murdered baby seals by beating them with golden retriever puppies. See my analogy below:

You know who Lloyd carr is. Lloyd Carr is the brain inside a typical girl at the bar. You start talking with the girl and see that she is wearing hooker boots and showing cleavage. A slut..jackpot. A possible winning season with possible National Championship hopes...jackpot. You buy the girl drink after drink. You spend Saturday after Saturday watching the team. You start to question if you are really going to get laid tonight or if the girl is just done up that way because society dictates that she should turn boys on, but not give away the goodies. You start to question if Michigan can win out or if they are getting lucky with close games and they still carry some brand equity simply because they are "MICHIGAN". You begin to realize that you wasted money and 53 minutes talking to a girl who you don't like for her mind, but rather for her physique and the fact that you get hornier with each beer. You begin to realize that after a few close losses that you may have wasted your energy caring for the season as it was hopeless all along and that once again you were dooped by loving a team so much, but with each victory you calculate what needs to happen for your hope to stay alive. You finally are tanked up enough to ask the girl to go home with you and she says that she has a lot of work tomorrow, but that you should call. You are finally at the final game against OSU and you realize they need to win and PSU needs to lose to Michigan state in order to make it to a BCS game, but Michigan says "we are going to lose in the last 2 minutes of the game", but here is a donation slip for our alumni organization, you should pay us money and then maybe you can get season tickets for a winning seasons. You go home all tanked up, you lie in bed and try to beat off only to pass out from the alcohol poisoning making its way through your system.

You end up sitting on December 28th watching a game that doesn't matter only to be pissed about the entire season and hate Lloyd Carr. You wake up the next day and realize that it was your fault because the girl was just like any other girl at the bar, but you still go out the next night looking for the slut. Come August you begin to prepare yourself for another Michigan year hoping that this is year when Michigan football isn't a cocktease.

Fuck Lloyd carr for being a hooker boot wearing, big titted showing, old-fashioned cock tease.

Hippies Suck!

Well... tonight I went to see the Dark Star Orchestra... aka the biggest con of all time! The band sounds like the Dead, but lets be honest mad not them. I was never a huge fan. Sure I liked a few tracks anyone who understands the blues and rock does.

I saw a few things that didnt make sense. First of all, there were people in suits. Isn't that the first hippie no-no. Don't be confined by clothes that people tell you to wear.

Second, I saw a girl wearing a hippie top, a hippie skirt and NIKE's... Are you serious? Being someone so focused on political freedom and wearing Nike's is like someone against drugs and liberalism taking Oxicontin (hi Mr. Limbaugh).

However the weirdest thing was that people went to see a bunch of dudes and one girl play/sing some elses tracks... can anyone explain that to me? A cover band sold out Irving Plaza. Now I will give them credit for what they do becuase there is an obvious demand for it. If you don't know anything about them, what the do is play a Dead show from start to finish, note for note. The audience gets there and doesnt know which of their endless shows it can be from start to finish. So thats cool i guess, it just wasnt really my scene.

Now, I'm just working on keeping myself dry and warm... almost too much too ask on a night like tonight, but do your best. Buenas noches....

The Most Beautiful Conversation...

Yes I am back from Europe and have a lot to write about but first i have to write something that is long over due...

A few weeks ago I lost my Great Aunt. She was more like a grandmother to me than an aunt. I saw her that often and she loved me and my brother and sister that much. She became really sick before I had gone home a few weeks ago. She had been battling leukemia for several months now. While on the phone with her for her last good day, she and I had the most beautiful converstation I have ever had in my entire life.

She sounded very weak and scared. "Hello Ben, I just want to tell you that I've had the most wonderful life. You were a very big part of it. I love you very much. I am very proud of you and you have always been an angel in my eyes."

"I love you too... You have been a very big part of my life too."

Thats all i was able to say... She was very tough on me during my rough years of drugs and academic probation. This cleared all of that. Forever.

I had the opportunity to see her once more though she we in a coma. I held her hand. Everyone was talking to her. I didn't. I wanted to keep that as the last converstation that we had. It was perfect.

At her funeral as I threw one last flower on to her as they put the soil over the casket... I told her again I loved her and explained why I didn't say anything that day. I am positive she thinks I did the right thing.

The hardest part about the whole thing was watching my Grandmother, her twin sister. "Goodbye My Beautiful ----. Goodbye my love." Blowing kisses and and shaking her head at the same time.

Thats all i want to say about this right now so goodnight... And always remember...

Appreciate Life And Those Around You Who Mean The Most...

NIN and QOTSA

Last night I went to see NIN and QOTSA at Madision Square Garden.

Dude, these were some of the older musicians that are still very rellevent in new rock. Not to take anything away from the Rolling Stones or Cream but you know what I mean. Josh Homme and Trent Reznor have not missed a beat. The show was fantastic. Trents band was great despite Chris Vrenna not being there. The last time I saw NIN I was 12... now im 24... i figure i will see them again when i am 36, 48, 60! I saw everthing from a father with tattoos on his face to a kid getting a hand job between the beer cart and the bathroom for everyone to see.

I leave for Spain today for 10 days... dont worry i will be bringing a notebook and pen with me everywhere that i go. I have been to Spain before and I loved it there. My sister is living out there right now and im really excited to see her hood. I am also really excited to see what its like being an American in Europe in an Anti-Bush world.

The last time i was out there the only thing the world could be mad at the US for was having a leader that loved blow jobs... but hey who doesn't?

aight im out... i will have something about spain when i get back...

World Series

This week the Chicago White Sox won their first World Series Championship since 1917. That is mad long. As you know I’m a Chicagoan myself. I wasn’t overly impressed by the whole thing and people think that’s weird. People who aren’t from the North Side that is. Have you ever been to Chicago? If you have… have you ever hung out both on the South Side and the North Side in the same trip? Of course you haven’t.

They are two completely different worlds. They might as well be two different cities. All these differences can easily be summed up in using baseball. Now I’m from the North Side, as is 99.99% of the people I know from Chicago.[1] They have a U.S. Cellular we have Wrigley. One of them is among the least favorite parks in baseball and has a corporate sponsor name. One maybe falling a part a little bit, but it’s a throwback to baseball history and is a vacation destination for baseball fans all over the world every year and is one of the most popular parks in the league.

One team gets criticized for its fans having to much fun.[2] They drink too much and party instead of paying attention to the game, which is a sellout despite the fact that they are in last place. The other had trouble selling out while in first place. So this empty stadium gets filled by people that run on the field and beat up and umpire and a first base coach for an opposing team. They also managed to have one of their fans slap the wife of an opposing player during the World Series.

Ok so lets talk scandals. One of their scandals was throwing the championship. I’m not the first to say that throwing a game is the worst possible thing that a team can do. Well in 1919, one of these teams did that because the players thought they were underpaid. The other team cheated too. One person managed to not only cork his bat, but is a likely steroid abuser… that’s not impressive either but hey he and another player almost single handedly resurrected the sport after a the 1994 strike.

Now I don’t hate the team from the South Side. I certainly don’t like them, but they are more or less another team in the league to me. They may as well be from another city.

Here is the biggest problem with the Cubs. They have no ability to do what the Red Sox and White Sox just accomplished. The White Sox came out of no where this year. No one had them winning that division let alone the World Series. The Cubs seem to get respect year after year[3] but can do nothing with it. They truly are cursed. Look at the last three years. The Cubs have their Bartman Moment, but we all know that’s just a symbol. Gonzalez misplayed a routine ball, Mark Prior fell apart, and the Cubs had another game to right the wrong. They didn’t and they lost in the 2003 NLCS after leading 3 games to 1.

The next year the Red Sox broke their Curse as the Yankees collapsed. Then the White Sox won theirs by having some of the worst umpiring I have ever seen in my life.[4] So 1918 is gone. 1917 is gone too. 1908 remains. Its going to remain for a long time. I’m not cool with that especially now that my brother losers have both won. That just leaves us.

Don’t get me wrong I’m not a hater. This was the best team this year they deserved to win the world series. How are you going to give the championship to fans like that though, and to a guy like Carl Everett? Carl Everett thinks that anyone who does not believe in Jesus and Christianity is going straight to hell. That’s a champion? No... thats just the president...


[1] I know this is going to be one sided just hear me out any way.
[2] Is that the best insult you can come up with?
[3] It’s a more recent occurance since now they actually try and win instead of just fielding a team while we drink and get sun.
[4] Piersynski to first after he struck out, home runs that were doubles, hit batsmen that weren’t hit it was a disaster

Hello

I’m not really sure where I want to start with this, all I know is that I want to do it. So pardon the strange start because frankly I have no idea what I want to say right now. That’s pretty much going to be what this is. This is going to be just me talking your ear off and you are hopefully listening or reading I guess makes more sense.

Let me tell you a little about me first because well it would be hard for you to tell me about you. This is really one-sided I kinda like it. I’m in my mid twenties, and I live in America’s cesspool also know as Manhattan. If you have ever been here before you know why I call it America’s cesspool. Roaches, rats, mildew, piles of garbage piss and shit on the sidewalks. You smell smells here that I know for a fact are a) not natural and b) your nose was not built to compute those smells. Don’t get me wrong I love New York… its just no Chicago.

One of the most interesting things about me is probably my personal biggest Catch 22. I’m a sensitive and emotional kid, but I am a huge introvert. I have no ability to tell others how I feel.[1] I like to think I am a secure person but I have a fear of being judged on three things. My feelings and emotions, how much money I have or don’t have,[2] and the fact that I always seem to love people more than they love me. This isn’t true about my family. I mean this about friends and girls. I have no idea why this seems to happen but it always does.

Another thing you should know about me if you can’t tell already, I write how I talk. I don’t use big words and metaphors and all that shit. If that’s what your looking for you might as well stop now and go pick up a book.

I realize that this whole thing is probably reading like 16 year old girls MySpace page.[3] Just bare with me this part is almost over. I also live for music. I’m not a musician, but I have held 4 jobs in my life[4] every single one has been in the record business. Even if I grew up a great athlete and some how miraculously make a run at the major leagues, I would have had to have a side job doing something with music, its just too important to me. When I was 10 years old I realized I was never going to be playing second base at Wrigley Field, so I thought that the records was my destiny.[5]

I’m a lot like Rob Gordon from High Fidelity. I know music and girls that I have had relationships better than I know myself. I actually explain myself and my feelings through music all the time as you will begin to see. This is the reason I think music is so important to me. You may be saying, “dude, its chicken or the egg.” I don’t think its chicken or the egg at all. I think the reason that I love music so much is because I let the lyrics and instruments actually get into my heart and my emotions. A sad song makes me sad, a love song makes me love, and angry song makes me angry. For that approximately 4 minutes[6], the band and I are connected.

So back to Rob Gordon for a second. Rob Gordon, was a Chicagoan who was obsessed with music. So much show that he was a DJ at the Double Door[7], owned and ran an indie record store. By the end of the movie he has an indie record label (Top 5 Records). The name of Rob Gordon’s record label is another reason he and I are similar. Rob Gordon and his fellow workers were constantly making top five lists.[8] This is also something that I like to do a lot. If find that a persons musical taste as well as their lists are often telling of their dress and personality. It’s really just a fun game I guess.

The genres of music I like the most are different types of rock[9], hip- hop[10] and r&b. I don’t listen to country or show tunes. I enjoy jazz but we’re talking lyrics here. My musical taste and feelings will be apparent throughout so I don’t really need to get into this too much.
The only thing that I follow almost as nearly as music is sports. I love my Chicago sports. Being the time of the year and the White Sox making the playoffs I promise I will get something about them in here. Any way im going to end this stupid meaningless introduction and start the really point of this.

[1] That is why I decided to do this. I just have so much shit to get off my chest.
[2] This is my true hated topic in life. I hate talking about money more than I hate anything else in the world. People who talk about their own or some else’s money makes me sick.
[3] All that’s missing is some streaming audio of Pussy Cat Dolls- Don’t Cha and a boyfriend application
[4] 3 in the past 18 months… tough business.
[5] Though I just said that not only do I not trust destiny, I don’t believe in it. Everything that seems like its destined to happen, ends up failing for me.
[6] Unless I’m listening to punk than its like approximately 2:45
[7] Fantastic bar/venue of mostly rock bands one of the more famous bars in Chicago
[8] These lists included everything to songs about death to top five track ones
[9] Punk, hard rock, some emo, alt rock, singer song writers really every except really hard metal
[10] Back pack hip hop, some thuggish stuff, I hate dirty south clubby bullshit

This is just a test before i start making posts on here... cool?

its like a sound check writing instead of an annoying real one...

have you ever heard a Korn soundcheck? the drums soundcheck at Projekt Revolution was the loudest sound I have ever heard.

Lets see if this worked then i will update it soon.