 Sunday, June 03, 2007
Co-Ed Disco Crisco Twister and Karaoke
It was great catching up with Dana, Colin, Church, Stephanie, Melissa, and other friends before Co-Ed Disco Crisco Twister show began at Arlene's Grocery. Stephanie is taking the place of Jessica Bly who is doing summer theatre. Good luck Jessica!
Elijah warms up with yoga, stretching, and twister moves. Allan and I concur that we do not want to keep against him in Twister. I guess Elijah is psyching out the competition.
The Problem took the stage. They classify themselves as "disco fuzz" with solid lyrics like "why don't you dance with me?" as Colin, Allan, Dana, and Elijah dance and play air guitar in front of the stage. BTW, Stephanie apologies for calling Elijah "yoga boy" but his real nickname "Kite". Check out The Problem in person.
DJ Skintight spins "Fly Rocket Fly".
Colin and Stephanie sing the catchy "Co-Ed Disco Crisco Twister" theme recorded by yours truly, the Tank, a few months back.
Game #1: Musical Chairs. Colin and Stephanie explained the rules. It's pretty straightforward like when we were kids.
I huddle the Good Vibrations (Melissa, Jen, Church, Josh, and Elijah -- glad he's on my team). Stephanie says that I use my "assets" to my advantage to make the final three. My hips may not look like Shakira's but they don't lie and deliver a pretty fierce hip check to anyone trying to sit on my chair after the music stops in Musical Chairs. 
After I was eliminated, Kristin is the individual champion. I handed over my Musical Chairs Crown to her.
Next up, Rotten Cherri versus PBR Street Gang: DJ Skintight plays "Eye of the Tiger".
Since Melissa is a third grade teacher in Brooklyn, she can count and takes over duties of removing the extra chairs from Colin.
Colin asks me to break the tie between Maja and Brian Van. I call it as I see them and Brian Van has the advantage.
It's now down to the final two. Brian Van of the PBR Street Gang and Kee of Rotten Cherri stare each other down as the music plays on. Brian Van wins as Kee is bounced off the final chair.
Ever the triple threat like in basketball, Stephanie does a great job of singing, emceeing, and playing Co-Ed Disco Crisco Twister. Stephanie now takes the stage as the Rotten Cherri's frontwoman. While her lyrics are a lot like a young Pat Benatar, she looks like a young Gwen Stefani. (BTW, Steve, Kathleen, Linda, and I saw Gwen in concert at Jones Beach on May 20. Therefore, I could not file a report from that Sunday's Amateur Female Jello Wrestling.)
Elijah tries to teach Julia how to hoola hoop. Julia is my female counterpart when it comes to hoola hooping. I guess we all have our kryptonite.
Game #2: Intimate Orange Relay
The object of the game is to cradle an orange on your chin and chest while passing it to another person who hoola hoops, passes it to another who spins on a chair, yet another who does jumping jacks, and the final one who chugs a beer. If the orange hits the floor, you have to go back to the start.
First up, Good Vibrations versus PBR Street Gang.
The Tank passes the orange to Jen who hoola hoops three times and then passes Elijah. Elijah spins around the chair three times while playing the air violin before passing it to Josh who bounces the ball three times. Josh passes it to Melissa who does three jumping jacks and passes it to Church. But, no, the orange falls while Church is trying to chug the beer. So back to the start and we begin again.
PBR also drops the orange at the same time so back to the beginning for them too. In a close contest, Good Vibrations loses to PBR Street Gang. Darn it!
Before the next round begins, Colin announces that he emcees karaoke at Lit every Sunday night. Speaking of Colin, he utters the famous "You gotta be in it to win it!" to win Co-ed Disco Crisco Twister.
Next up, the Problem versus Rotten Cherri.
DJ Skintight spins the Ramones classic "I want to be sedated."
Rotten Cherri wins a photo finish. When asked for opinion, I scored Brian Van rallying to finish. In a split decision, I scored Brian Van winning it but outvoted by Colin, Stephanie (of Rotten Cherri), and Jade
the bartender broke the tie. "Maybe Rotten Cherri tipped Jade the bartender more," Colin says.
After two rounds, the Problem has two points, PBR Street Gang one, Rotten Cherri one, and Good Vibrations zero.
The Problem retakes the stage as DJ Skintight spins the Bee Gees classic "You Should Be Dancing".
Game #3: Flip Cup Drinking Cup: Pretty self explanatory of drinking, flipping the cup over from the top to the bottom, NOT the side.
First up, Good Vibrations versus PBR Street Gang.
I was supposed to blog but drafted in the last minute. It ended up being six on six instead of five on five. As I am the world's heaviest lightweight drinker, where's Linda to drink my beer?
Billy Idol's cover of "Mony Mony" blares. Allan finally flips the cup over.
PBR Street Gang beats Good Vibrations.
Game #4: Name That Tune:
Good Vibrations is down but not out. Since I am child of both the 60s and 70s (conceived on Woodstock Weekend 1969 and born in May 1970), I better stay true to my retro roots.
DJ Skintight plays a short sample of the tune and then the teams have to sing the rest.
First up, "Burn Baby Burn" (not "Bern Baby Bern" after Yankees star Bernie Williams.). Point for Good Vibrations.
"Hot Stuff". Point for PBR Street Gang.
"Kung Fu Fighting". Point for Good Vibrations.
"That's the Way I like it" by KC and the Sunshine Band. (This is KC's best known song but his best song is "Please Don't Go" IMHO.)
"All I need is a miracle" by Mike and the Mechanics. Point for Good Vibrations -- we are on a roll, knock on wood.
"Put me in Coach" by the Outfield. Point for PBR Street Gang.
"We Are Family". Point for Good Vibrations.
"Co-Ed Disco Crisco Twister". Point for the PBR Street Gang.
"Cookie Monster Theme". Melissa saves the day here.
"Donchya" by the Pussycat Dolls. Point for PBR Street Gang.
"She works hard for the money". Point for Good Vibrations.
Since both teams are deadlocked with no signs of letting up, movie quotes were considered. In the interest of time, all points count and onto the battle of the bands. Yes, Rotten Cherri and the Problem can play music but do the young music stars know their musical trivia?
(BTW, Annie Rock's magical musical touch strikes again for booking these great bands. She should be an AandR executive for a major label.)
Back to the Problem versus Rotten Cherri:
Neither band got all the lyrics to Rod Stewart's "Do You Think I'm Sexy".
"Carwash" -- strike two for both bands. I suggest that Melissa teach a special summer school music course and I will be special guest singer as I know almost all the words.
"Loveboat" -- Neither team won. Melissa and I stole the point as we knew the song. In a pique over losing, Stephanie just fired her drummer.
Time for the Co-Ed Disco Crisco Twister theme song with Colin, Stephanie, Allan, and Maja. Everyone dances include me. I can sing, dance, and blog at the same time. Wooooo!
Allan announces that the next Co-Ed Disco Crisco Twister is at Henrietta Hudson's in the West Village on Sunday, June 10. The next Co-Ed Disco Crisco Twister could be even more fun and chaotic than tonight.
Game #5 and The Main Event - Co-Ed Disco Crisco Twister:
Good Vibrations versus PBR Street Gang. Church and Elijah represent Good Vibrations.
Jen is the Twister Board Spinner. Without further ado, here's the play by play, or spin by spin.
Left foot red
Right hand yellow
Left hand green
Left hand blue
Right foot green (Church is out)
Right hand green
Right foot blue (Scotty is out)
Left foot green ("Pants falling off girl" is out.)
In other sports, you have to play through pain. In Co-Ed Disco Crisco Twister, you have to play whether you have clothing on or not.
------
Kristin and Ferhat of the Problem versus Stephanie and Dana playing for Rotten Cherri. Stephanie asks the crowd to acknowledge the beauty of her legs. No argument here. All in favor say "Aye!". All opposed say "Naye!". The "Ayes" have it! The motion is passed without dissent. (I rarely pass up an opportunity to use Robert Rules of Order so my hard earned political science bachelor's degree does not lay fallow.)
Left hand red
Right foot blue
Right hand green
Left foot green (Ferhat is out.)
Left hand yellow
Right foot red (Stephanie and her beautiful well shaven thighs are off the Twister dots. "I'm too drunk to do splits," she exclaims.)
Right hand blue
Right foot yellow
Left hand yellow
Right foot red
Left hand blue
Left foot green (Brian is out.)
Right hand green
Right foot yellow
Left foot red
Right foot blue
Left foot yellow
Right hand red
Left foot red
Right foot green
Left hand green
Right hand red
Left hand red
Left hand blue
Right foot green (Kristin from Bulgaria is almost out.)
Left foot green
Left hand green
Left foot red (Dana slips.)
First timer co-ed disco crisco twister Kristin from Bulgaria wins.
The next round has Good Vibrations versus the Problem:
Josh and Elijah compete for Good Vibrations.
Right foot red
Left hand red
Right hand yellow
Left foot red
Right hand blue
Left foot green
Right hand green
Right foot yellow (Ferhat is out.)
Left hand red
Right foot green
Right hand yellow
Right foot red (Kristin is out but she may wrestle at the next Amateur Female Jello Wrestling at Crash Mansion on Father's Day, Sunday, June 17.)
Right hand green
Left hand green
Right foot green
Right hand red (Like synchronized swimming," Allan says.)
Left foot yellow
Right foot red
Left foot red
Right foot yellow
Left hand yellow
Right foot green
Right hand green
Left hand red
Right foot red
Left foot yellow
Right hand yellow
Right foot green
Left foot green
Right foot red
Left hand green
Left foot yellow
Right foot yellow
Right hand blue
Left foot red
Left hand blue
Right foot green
Left foot blue
Right foot red
Right hand green
Left foot green
Right foot green
Right hand red
Left foot red (Elijah slips.)
Jen and Melissa slip on the wet Co-Ed Disco Crisco Twister mat at they rush to congratulate Josh on his victory.
Good Vibrations wins with 10 points, The Problem and PBR Street Gang are tied for second with two point, and Rotten Cherri is fourth with one point.
Rotten Cherri rocked the after party and then we went to Lit for karaoke. Boo yeah! The night has just begun. Onto Lit for karaoke emceed by Colin, one of the hardest working people in show biz.
Scott with the punk rock hair and New York Dolls t-shirt sang ACDC's "Shoot Me All Night Long". Melissa and I sang Journey's "Don't Stop Believin'". Everyone had a blast late into the night.
Posted by the Tank reporting live from Co-Ed Disco Crisco Twister at Arlene's Grocery and Karaoke at Lit in Manhattan.
Saturday, June 02, 2007
Pinstripes in the Park
Bryant Park hosted about 12,000 Yankees fans earlier this week. While the Yankees beat the Blue Jays 10-5 in Toronto, Yankee fans rooted them on watching the game sitting on the lawn. Whatever you think of A-Rod's much lauded "Ha" to a Blue Jay who didn't catch an infield fly ball or his allleged off the field antics with a blonde who isn't his wife, it was a much needed victory for the Yankees and their faithful. Keep the faith! Go Yankees!
Posted by the Tank reporting live from Bryant Park in NY.
Friday, June 01, 2007
It's LeBron's World and We're Just Living in It
I know it's baseball season but LeBron James put on the best exhibition of basketball I have ever watched last night. LeBron played 51 minutes and scored 48 points (including the last 25 Cavalier points) in a double overtime classic 109-107 victory. If I ever have kids, I will tell about this game. If I don't, I will tell my nephew and Godchildren. If you haven't seen it, it should be an "Instant Classic" on ESPN in the very near future. You will be treated to an amazing display of athleticism and determination by an athlete who wanted to take his team to the next level.
Posted by an amazed Tank in King LeBron James' World.
Thursday, May 31, 2007
No Run Support for #296
Tom Glavine's 296th win is proving to be harder than ever. First he had to face John Smoltz and the Braves where the Mets gave him 1 run. Then last night Barry Zito shut down the Mets for the first time this season. So in his last two starts, Glavine gave up 5 earned runs in 14 innings but is 0-2.
That is how baseball works. No one said #300 would be easy. Maybe it is better this way since at this pace the 300th win can be at Shea. On September 11th the Mets play the Braves at Shea. What a great date for the Mets to clinch the division with Glavine throwing a perfect game for win #300. I'm ordering my tickets now.
Posted by Steve in New York.
Wednesday, May 30, 2007
Coping With The Yankee Emergency
At almost a third of the way through the season, the Yankees are definitely in a emergency.
Fans, players, the manager, the general manager, and ownership are not happy with the situation. The "performance enhancement" coach was already fired after a rash of injuries. Who is next? Is it manager Joe Torre or the general manager Brian Cashman?
It's hard to tell because of conflicting signals. Joe Torre was booed after Sunday's loss and Mr. Steinbrenner is always attentive to the needs of the fans. Joe held a one hour closed meeting before Monday's game in Toronto which didn't yield positive results in a 7-2 loss.
Mr. Steinbrenner has Brian Cashman on a even shorter leash. I think Cashman has done a good job rebuilding the pitching staff with young and home grown talent like Philip Hughes, Ching-Ming Wang, Darrell Karstens. Granted, Hughes was injured on a weak hamstring possibly caused by stretches from the "Performance Enhancement" Coach who is now gone. Karstens is injured because of a freak liner up the middle from Endy Chavez that I witnessed firsthand at Shea Stadium on Saturday, May 19. However, the young pitchers are a season or too from coming into their own. With Mr. Steinbrenner's health, he doesn't want to wait another year or two to rebuild.
As for Steve's suggestion of getting Yankee payroll down to $70 to 80 million. It's unrealistic because of salaries like Jeter's, A-Rod's, etc. A more realistic number is about $140 to 150 million, still ahead of the Mets $116 and the Red Sox $125 million, respectively.
Since Jason Giambi can't keep his mouth shut, he maybe traded soon or his contract voided at the end of the season so there is $20 million in savings right there. A-Rod maybe reunited with Lou Pinella next season so there is $27 million more saved. Matsui isn't paid as much as the others but there is some savings there too.
Many have suggested "blowing up" the team and starting over. I disagree. I think it can be done surgically. Trade what you can (A-Rod), void contracts where you can (Pavano and Giambi), and let expiring contracts go unsigned (Matsui).
Preserving the young (Cano, Cabrera) and experienced (Jeter, Posada) core is enough talent to contend. Granted, this year is getting late quickly. Other young prospects like Sanchez acquired for an unhappy Gary Sheffield should bear fruit in a year or two.
ESPN 1050's Jim Leyritz made a good Tuesday about the Yankees playing in Chicago. After the first loss of the split game doubleheader, the Yankees were playing dominoes and joking. I remembered back a few years ago to Paul O'Neil. He would have broken the dominoes board and thrown dominoes like missiles. If Lou Pinella were the manager, he would have broken even more stuff and maybe even burned the opposing stadium down. OK, a slight exaggeration on the latter but the players would have gotten the message. I hate to say it but it is time for Joe to go. (I would prefer at the end of the season.). He is a lame duck manager as his contract is not renewed anyway. The question is do you bring Don Mattingly, Joe Girardi, or someone else in mid season. The Yankees better improve quickly or Mr. Steinbrenner will be back to his old firing ways soon.
Posted by a panicked Tank in NY.
Tuesday, May 29, 2007
Yankees Problems Continue
Yankee owner George Steinbrenner went on a rampage last weekend about how the team is not winning, nor how the GM Brian Cashman seems to have a solution to the problem. The problem got worse with the Yankees dropping four in a row this weekend.
In the past Steinbrenner would micro-manage baseball decisions. A few years ago, Steinbrenner gave freedom to Cashman and has yet to see any results. Just because Cashman has not produced a World Series in the last few years, the Yankees have been in the post season for as long as I can remember.
The problem with Cashman is his buying talent. It started with Jason Giambi in 2002 and A-Rod in 2004. If you look at the Yankees success in the late 90s, most of it was with home grown talent. Bring back Roger Clemens for over $1 million a start is not the answer either. (Watch for a future post on how the Yankees should be mad at Clemens for holding them hostage.)
As I advocated with the Mets in 2002 (after mistakes like Mo Vaughn) it is time to accept that the Yankees are not as competitive as they can be and accept a few rebuilding years-two maximum. Shed some salary and build some home grown talent. When I talk to Yankees fans, their concern is not winning games, but having a 200 million salary and not winning games. Bring that down to 75 or 80 million, trade away some of the rock stars for minor leaguers and you will still be competitive in 2008 and 2009, but are really gearing for 2010 and beyond.
The Yankees are old. In 2009 when the new stadiums in New York open, Jose Reyes and David Wright will still be in their 20s when Jeter and A-Rod and company will be closer to 40 than 30. The Mets rebuilt from 2003-2004 and 2005 and 2006 were exciting years. Let’s hope the Yankees can do the same.
Monday, May 28, 2007
Memorial Day
Memorial Day marks the beginning of summer with barbecues, trips to the beach, and an extra day off to enjoy other leisure activities.
Memorial Day is much more than that. Freedom isn't free; it is made possible by the blood of others who came before us.
Please take a moment today to remember the fallen in your thoughts and prayers. Thank you very much and God bless us all.
Sincerely,
The Tank
Sunday, May 27, 2007
David Wright Is Ca$hing In
I blogged last Saturday that David Wright was dialed in with two home runs plus two intentional walks against the Yankees at Shea. I read in yesterday's (Saturday's) NY Post that David's 0.5 percent stake in Glaceau is now worth about 20 million dollars after Coca Cola bought out the Whitestone, Queens, based company for $4.1 Billion. David has believed in Glaceau's Vitamin Water since he was in the minors. There is a lesson for other young stars out there like Lastings Milledge. Take care of your business on and off the field and there will be plenty of money in salary and endorsements. Play hard, don't objectify women, and good things will come to you. As for Lastings' time on the Mets, it maybe too late as he is persona non grata with Willie Randolph and his teammates but he can learn before he starts with his new team. As David is Steve's favorite Met, I entered him in a Vitamin Water contest to meet David last year but he unfortunately did not win. Let's hope Steve's luck is better the next time the contest takes place. Congratulations again to David for his on and off the field success! Posted by the Tank in NY.
Saturday, May 26, 2007
Cycling needs to clean up its act!
The 1996 Tour de France winner, Danish cyclist Bjarne Riis, finally admitted Friday he used performance-enhancing drugs during the 1996 tour. (True fans always knew this to be true.) The second and third place finishers in 1996 were also dogged by drug allegations. The uber cyclist and Armstrong arch rival Jan Ullrich of Germany was second and Frenchman Richard Virenque was third. Ullrich retired in February after being implicated in Operation Puerto, the Spanish investigation into an alleged blood doping ring. Last month, German authorities matched Ullrich’s DNA sample to blood bags seized in Spain. So who should the 1996 title go to, the 4th place guy? He was probably doping too.
Lance Armstrong has always faced allegations and last year Floyd Landis failed a drug test after his victory, his innocence or guilt not yet determined.
You think Professional Baseball has issues, Professional Cycling has a major problem. If Cycling does not clean up its act, it will lose all its fans. I think that there has to be independent oversight since so many people seem to have been getting away with doping. The International Cycling Union seems to have been asleep at the wheel.
Posted by a raging mad Steve in New York.
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