Thursday, February 26, 2009
Questions for Tad Kubler of The Hold Steady!
Very last minute: Pete and I are interviewing Tad Kubler--lead guitarist of The Hold Steady (and fan of Tucker Max Death Mix)--today for a pre-taped interview for The Weekly Grind.
We'll be asking him listener questions, so if you have a question you've just been dying to ask the greatest rock and roll band in America, fire away in the comments or e-mail:
Thank you for your continued patronage.
Labels: The Hold Steady, The Weekly Grind
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
"YEEESSSSSSS GARBLE [inaudible] YESSSSSS!"
(The above quote in the title of this post is a direct quote from Ron Santo.)
Chicago Cubs baseball is oonnnnn the air!
Tomorrow!
1180 KOIL--home of The Weekly Grind!--is going to be broadcasting Ron and Pat and the Chicago Cubs taking on the stupid L.A. Dodgers tomorrow at 1:30pm.
Sweet God above, am I glad baseball is back.
Chicago Cubs baseball is oonnnnn the air!
Tomorrow!
1180 KOIL--home of The Weekly Grind!--is going to be broadcasting Ron and Pat and the Chicago Cubs taking on the stupid L.A. Dodgers tomorrow at 1:30pm.
Sweet God above, am I glad baseball is back.
Labels: Chicago Cubs, Los Angeles Dodgers, MLB, Pat Hughes, Ron Santo, Spring Training
Monday, February 23, 2009
Patrick Witt Transferring
In a surprising move, it was announced that Patrick Witt--last season's #2 QB on the depth chart for the Huskers--is going to transfer.
Reading through the message boards, there are a lot of interesting theories out there. My favorite one involves Witt teaching new recruit QB Cody Green the wrong signals during their "voluntary" 7-on-7 drills.
Unfortunately for people that like to make crap up on a message board, this--nor any other theory--is true. And when you read Witt's father's quotes on that OWH story, it would lead you to believe something shady happened.
Here's the truth: Witt was not going to be as good in this new system as the people behind him on the depth chart. It really was an issue of him seeing the proverbial "writing on the wall" and realizing he was probably going to get jumped on the depth chart.
Nothing scandalous. Nothing shady. Just old-fashioned competition.
So don't go repeating silly rumors. You just need to stop by the ol' Heavy Soul to find out the real story.
P.S. Speaking of former Huskers, the podcast for last week's episode of The Weekly Grind is up. We had the funniest Johnny's Business yet, as well as a live call in from one Sgt. Hales in Afghanistan. It was great to speak with him for about 15 minutes. You can download it here.
Reading through the message boards, there are a lot of interesting theories out there. My favorite one involves Witt teaching new recruit QB Cody Green the wrong signals during their "voluntary" 7-on-7 drills.
Unfortunately for people that like to make crap up on a message board, this--nor any other theory--is true. And when you read Witt's father's quotes on that OWH story, it would lead you to believe something shady happened.
Here's the truth: Witt was not going to be as good in this new system as the people behind him on the depth chart. It really was an issue of him seeing the proverbial "writing on the wall" and realizing he was probably going to get jumped on the depth chart.
Nothing scandalous. Nothing shady. Just old-fashioned competition.
So don't go repeating silly rumors. You just need to stop by the ol' Heavy Soul to find out the real story.
P.S. Speaking of former Huskers, the podcast for last week's episode of The Weekly Grind is up. We had the funniest Johnny's Business yet, as well as a live call in from one Sgt. Hales in Afghanistan. It was great to speak with him for about 15 minutes. You can download it here.
Labels: Nebraska Cornhuskers, Nebraska Football, Patrick Witt, Zac Lee
Sunday, February 15, 2009
The Grind Episode 5, Clean Ups, etc.
Alright, you can download The Weekly Grind from Saturday (February 14th). Hop on over to our blog and get your listen on. We talked with LaReesa Jones of the Young Professionals Council of Omaha, and then we had on Drew Smith--a up and coming musician out of Austin, TX who is opening for Ben Kweller at the Slowdown Monday night. And, of course, we had former Husker Jon Bowling on. He had some words for Creighton fans, which is always entertaining.
Secondly, I did a little cleaning up on the links portion of the blog. Deuce, I went ahead and deleted those two Red Sox links you put up a few years ago...let me know if you've switched teams again.
I also deleted the Cubs official site and replaced it with my favorite Cubs blog, Goat Riders of the Apocalypse. Then I was thinking about it, and I thought I had posted this but apparently did not: I did a "Readers Feature" for the Goat Riders back during the season that got featured on their site. Not that you guys probably care, but I was kind of excited about being on there--and it explains my screen name (because I know hundreds of people were clamoring to know why I picked "GA Hill.").
Anywho, hope everyone had a great weekend.
Secondly, I did a little cleaning up on the links portion of the blog. Deuce, I went ahead and deleted those two Red Sox links you put up a few years ago...let me know if you've switched teams again.
I also deleted the Cubs official site and replaced it with my favorite Cubs blog, Goat Riders of the Apocalypse. Then I was thinking about it, and I thought I had posted this but apparently did not: I did a "Readers Feature" for the Goat Riders back during the season that got featured on their site. Not that you guys probably care, but I was kind of excited about being on there--and it explains my screen name (because I know hundreds of people were clamoring to know why I picked "GA Hill.").
Anywho, hope everyone had a great weekend.
Labels: 1180 KOIL, Drew Smith, Goat Riders of the Apocalypse, The Weekly Grind
Saturday, February 14, 2009
A new addition to the blog family
Hey all,
Just wanted to give all the loyal Heavy Soul readers a hearty thank you for the well wishes on the birth of The Daughter in Black.
The Lady in Black and myself have set up a blog to chronicle her rise to pageant fame (she already walks in heels very well). You can view the blatant bias here.
Love your bodies, Larries.
MIB
Just wanted to give all the loyal Heavy Soul readers a hearty thank you for the well wishes on the birth of The Daughter in Black.
The Lady in Black and myself have set up a blog to chronicle her rise to pageant fame (she already walks in heels very well). You can view the blatant bias here.
Love your bodies, Larries.
MIB
Labels: Hello, MIB, My Name is Millie
Wednesday, February 11, 2009
What On Earth???!!!??
Ryan Adams--as in, Ryan Gold, Love is Hell, Rock N Roll, Heartbreaker, Easy Tiger Adams--is engaged to MANDY MOORE????
You know how I was speechless after reading Stew Bradley was interning at Elle Magazine? Well, take that speechlessness times 1,000.
Seriously, my whole world view is completely turned on its side.
On a completely different note, a huge--HUGE!--heartfelt congrats to the MIB. He became a proud papa this afternoon.
You're going to be one hell of a dad, my man.
You know how I was speechless after reading Stew Bradley was interning at Elle Magazine? Well, take that speechlessness times 1,000.
Seriously, my whole world view is completely turned on its side.
On a completely different note, a huge--HUGE!--heartfelt congrats to the MIB. He became a proud papa this afternoon.
You're going to be one hell of a dad, my man.
Labels: Mandy Moore, MIB, Ryan Adams
Tuesday, February 10, 2009
The Tunnel Walk: 2009 Recruiting Round-Up...and onward to 2010.
Less than a week ago, the University of Nebraska Cornhuskers tackle football team, led by a man called Bo Pelini accepted signed facsimiles of letters of intent from 20 young men. To TW, that's old news. Tunnel Walk is moving on because there are less than 360 days to signing day 2010. Join us as we take a look into the future.
Colleges can officially offer written scholarships beginning on September 1st of a prospect's junior year of high school. Being the first to offer a recruit can be very beneficial (see Steinkuhler, Baker). It can also backfire if the recruit accepts and does not pan out (see Bodtmann, Shawn). It all boils down to the evaluation of talent, which can be extremely difficult with grainy tape of 16 and 17 year old kids. But the evaluations continue regardlessly and according to Rivals and Scout, here are some of the top prospects of the 2010 recruiting class that Nebraska is competing for.
Quarterback
Blake Bell, 6-6/215, Wichita, KS (Bishop Carroll Catholic HS). Bell is listed on Rivals' 250 To Watch for 2010 and Scout has already awarded him 4 stars. He is being mentored/advised by a man named Brian Butler. This is the same man who mentored Albert and Bryce Brown, both top 5 national recruits in the past two years. This will give him a leg up in handling the recruiting pressure, but may also lead to a high profile recruitment--the kind with multiple press clippings and possible decommitments. Who knows. Just speculation. What is not speculation at this point is his infatuation with Nebraska. Following this weekend's NU Junior Day, Bell was quoted as saying that Nebraska was definitely at the top of his list. Landing a big time recruit like Bell from a neighboring Big XII state would do wonders for the 2010 recruiting class.
Robert Bolden, 6-4/196, Orchard Lake, MI (St. Mary's Prepatory School). Dual-threat quarterback that Rivals has on their 250 of 2010 list and Scout has given 1 star (obviously none of these prospects have been fully evaluated, but at this juncture, 1 star is better than a NR and puts a recruit firmly on the national map). With a grip of Big 10 offers in hand, it is not likely that Nebraska has a shot.
Terrance Broadway, 6-1/200, Baton Rouge, LA (Capitol HS). Another highly rated dual-threat quarterback. Bo Pelini's legacy in Baton Rouge is still fresh, so the Cornhuskers may just have a fighting chance at landing Broadway. In January, Broadway listed Nebraska in his Top 5. He also has an offer from Alabama.
A.J. Derby, 6-4/215, Iowa City, IA. Like the best athlete at your high school, A.J. Derby plays quarterback. Despite his strong arm (Rivals raved about him during the Army All-American combine), he could end up at tight end like his brother (who currently plays for Iowa) or linebacker or even safety on the other side of the ball. Derby attended the NU Junior Day, at which he received an offer. His dad also played for Iowa and the hometown team has to be considered the favorite.
Devin Gardner, 6-4/195, Inkster, MI. Another dual-threat from Michigan with a ton of Big 10 offers. Says that he is open to all offers, but grew up a Buckeye fan. Nebraska's offer is surely just a courtesy because there is no chance of getting this guy.
Austin Hinder, 6-5/180, Steamboat Springs, CO. Hinder, despite having the misfortune of sharing a surname with a shitty cockrock band, has a bright future. NU offered early, but is battling against offers from Cal, Stanford (don't laugh), Colorado and K-State (go ahead and laugh). His grandpa played at Cal and Boulder isn't far from his home.
Connor Wood, 6-4/210, Houston, TX (Second Baptist HS). Landing this recruit would be like the French marching on Berlin in 1942. NU is up against Mizzou, OU, Texas, TCU, Stanford, and Arizona. If this kid wants to stay close to home, he basically has his pick. However, NU has some good news on its side. Texas just got a commit from Colt McCoy's younger brother and NU is sending Shawn Watson back on the recruiting trail this year with an emphasis on the Houston area.
Running Back
James McConico, 6-0/188, Compton, CA. Through six games last year, the dude averaged 32.2 yards per carry. He had 15 touchdowns on 26 carries. Pretty much the definition of home run threat. McConico has a plethora of Pac-10 offers, so distance from home may become a factor in luring him out of California.
Lache Seastrunk, 5-10/184, Temple, TX. Arguably the top junior in the world. Has offers from everyone, including Mid-Plains. A complete and utter wish.
Wide Receiver
Markeith Ambles, 6-1/185, McDonough, GA (Henry County). Ambles holds offers from nearly every SEC school plus USC. Georgia is far from a Nebraska pipeline. Stealing this top WR would be a task, but with the Big XII's offensive prowess through the air lately, it's not completely ridiculous.
Ross Apo, 6-3/190, Arlington, TX (The Oakridge School). Nebraska was extremely fortunate to have Apo attend their Junior Day, establishing a foundation with the coaching staff that could pay dividends later on. Apo has been receiving attention from all of the usual Big XII suspects, but Tunnel Walk has a good feeling about NU's chances.
Offensive Line
Luke Joeckel, 6-6/280, Arlington, TX. Luke has a twin brother, Matt, who is regarded as a decent prospect as a QB. While Luke has a dozen offers, Matt has yet to get an offer, but don't be surprised if some school offers both in hopes of a combo package.
Chad Lindsay, 6-3/320, The Woodlands, TX. A guard prospect, Lindsay has offers from a ton of schools including most of the SEC and Big XII. Nebraska did a good job of recruiting the Houston area and that should only increase as the connections in the area solidify.
Andrew Rodriguez, 6-6/298, Aurora, NE. Originally from the slums of Shaolin, Rodriguez moved to Nebraska a couple of years back to live with his brother. After making a name for himself at last summer's Nebraska Football camp and this fall's high school playoffs, Rodriguez earned an offer from Nebraska and became the first commit of the 2010 class. He's been recognized by Rivals as one of their 250 recruits to watch for 2010.
Defensive Ends
Jordan Allen, 6-6/248, West Monroe, LA. Nebraska may benefit from Pelini's time in Louisiana with this prospect. LSU is the early leader and a strong favorite to land Allen.
J.R. "Ego" Ferguson, 6-4, 260, Frederick, MD (St. John's Catholic Prep). Normally landing a huge recruit from the East Coast has not been the easiest thing for NU. The signing of 4 star DE Jason Ankrah (also from Maryland) may change that. Ferguson is being recruited by John Papuchis, who is from the East Coast himself. If NU can score an official visit with Ferguson and pair him up with Ankrah (assuming he qualifies academically), there is a decent chance of gaining some recruiting momentum in this region.
Jackson Jeffcoat, 6-5/230, Plano, TX (West). Forget about it. 0.3% chance of getting him. Jeffcoat is the son of ex-NFLer Jim Jeffcoat and is a legitimate man already. If you're not a Top 25 program, you need not apply. Hopefully, Jeffcoat feels that NU is in that category. This guy is a gamechanger and will make some defensive coordinator very happy next February when he signs his LOI.
Linebacker
Justin McKay, 6-3/197, Shawnee, KS (Bishop Miege HS). The fact that Rivals has him listed as an OLB and Scout has him listed as a 5 star WR, hints at the athletic ability McKay has. Like many of the recruits NU is after at this point, McKay has offers from every top program. McKay's high school coach is Notre Dame alum and former K.C. Chief Tim Grunhard. That should give ND the early lead. However, Carl Pelini was also a high school coach in the KC area who still has some current connections.
That's it for now. If Nebraska can land 2-3 more of these recruits, a spot in the mythical Top 25 team recruiting ranking would be assured.
Colleges can officially offer written scholarships beginning on September 1st of a prospect's junior year of high school. Being the first to offer a recruit can be very beneficial (see Steinkuhler, Baker). It can also backfire if the recruit accepts and does not pan out (see Bodtmann, Shawn). It all boils down to the evaluation of talent, which can be extremely difficult with grainy tape of 16 and 17 year old kids. But the evaluations continue regardlessly and according to Rivals and Scout, here are some of the top prospects of the 2010 recruiting class that Nebraska is competing for.
Quarterback
Blake Bell, 6-6/215, Wichita, KS (Bishop Carroll Catholic HS). Bell is listed on Rivals' 250 To Watch for 2010 and Scout has already awarded him 4 stars. He is being mentored/advised by a man named Brian Butler. This is the same man who mentored Albert and Bryce Brown, both top 5 national recruits in the past two years. This will give him a leg up in handling the recruiting pressure, but may also lead to a high profile recruitment--the kind with multiple press clippings and possible decommitments. Who knows. Just speculation. What is not speculation at this point is his infatuation with Nebraska. Following this weekend's NU Junior Day, Bell was quoted as saying that Nebraska was definitely at the top of his list. Landing a big time recruit like Bell from a neighboring Big XII state would do wonders for the 2010 recruiting class.
Robert Bolden, 6-4/196, Orchard Lake, MI (St. Mary's Prepatory School). Dual-threat quarterback that Rivals has on their 250 of 2010 list and Scout has given 1 star (obviously none of these prospects have been fully evaluated, but at this juncture, 1 star is better than a NR and puts a recruit firmly on the national map). With a grip of Big 10 offers in hand, it is not likely that Nebraska has a shot.
Terrance Broadway, 6-1/200, Baton Rouge, LA (Capitol HS). Another highly rated dual-threat quarterback. Bo Pelini's legacy in Baton Rouge is still fresh, so the Cornhuskers may just have a fighting chance at landing Broadway. In January, Broadway listed Nebraska in his Top 5. He also has an offer from Alabama.
A.J. Derby, 6-4/215, Iowa City, IA. Like the best athlete at your high school, A.J. Derby plays quarterback. Despite his strong arm (Rivals raved about him during the Army All-American combine), he could end up at tight end like his brother (who currently plays for Iowa) or linebacker or even safety on the other side of the ball. Derby attended the NU Junior Day, at which he received an offer. His dad also played for Iowa and the hometown team has to be considered the favorite.
Devin Gardner, 6-4/195, Inkster, MI. Another dual-threat from Michigan with a ton of Big 10 offers. Says that he is open to all offers, but grew up a Buckeye fan. Nebraska's offer is surely just a courtesy because there is no chance of getting this guy.
Austin Hinder, 6-5/180, Steamboat Springs, CO. Hinder, despite having the misfortune of sharing a surname with a shitty cockrock band, has a bright future. NU offered early, but is battling against offers from Cal, Stanford (don't laugh), Colorado and K-State (go ahead and laugh). His grandpa played at Cal and Boulder isn't far from his home.
Connor Wood, 6-4/210, Houston, TX (Second Baptist HS). Landing this recruit would be like the French marching on Berlin in 1942. NU is up against Mizzou, OU, Texas, TCU, Stanford, and Arizona. If this kid wants to stay close to home, he basically has his pick. However, NU has some good news on its side. Texas just got a commit from Colt McCoy's younger brother and NU is sending Shawn Watson back on the recruiting trail this year with an emphasis on the Houston area.
Running Back
James McConico, 6-0/188, Compton, CA. Through six games last year, the dude averaged 32.2 yards per carry. He had 15 touchdowns on 26 carries. Pretty much the definition of home run threat. McConico has a plethora of Pac-10 offers, so distance from home may become a factor in luring him out of California.
Lache Seastrunk, 5-10/184, Temple, TX. Arguably the top junior in the world. Has offers from everyone, including Mid-Plains. A complete and utter wish.
Wide Receiver
Markeith Ambles, 6-1/185, McDonough, GA (Henry County). Ambles holds offers from nearly every SEC school plus USC. Georgia is far from a Nebraska pipeline. Stealing this top WR would be a task, but with the Big XII's offensive prowess through the air lately, it's not completely ridiculous.
Ross Apo, 6-3/190, Arlington, TX (The Oakridge School). Nebraska was extremely fortunate to have Apo attend their Junior Day, establishing a foundation with the coaching staff that could pay dividends later on. Apo has been receiving attention from all of the usual Big XII suspects, but Tunnel Walk has a good feeling about NU's chances.
Offensive Line
Luke Joeckel, 6-6/280, Arlington, TX. Luke has a twin brother, Matt, who is regarded as a decent prospect as a QB. While Luke has a dozen offers, Matt has yet to get an offer, but don't be surprised if some school offers both in hopes of a combo package.
Chad Lindsay, 6-3/320, The Woodlands, TX. A guard prospect, Lindsay has offers from a ton of schools including most of the SEC and Big XII. Nebraska did a good job of recruiting the Houston area and that should only increase as the connections in the area solidify.
Andrew Rodriguez, 6-6/298, Aurora, NE. Originally from the slums of Shaolin, Rodriguez moved to Nebraska a couple of years back to live with his brother. After making a name for himself at last summer's Nebraska Football camp and this fall's high school playoffs, Rodriguez earned an offer from Nebraska and became the first commit of the 2010 class. He's been recognized by Rivals as one of their 250 recruits to watch for 2010.
Defensive Ends
Jordan Allen, 6-6/248, West Monroe, LA. Nebraska may benefit from Pelini's time in Louisiana with this prospect. LSU is the early leader and a strong favorite to land Allen.
J.R. "Ego" Ferguson, 6-4, 260, Frederick, MD (St. John's Catholic Prep). Normally landing a huge recruit from the East Coast has not been the easiest thing for NU. The signing of 4 star DE Jason Ankrah (also from Maryland) may change that. Ferguson is being recruited by John Papuchis, who is from the East Coast himself. If NU can score an official visit with Ferguson and pair him up with Ankrah (assuming he qualifies academically), there is a decent chance of gaining some recruiting momentum in this region.
Jackson Jeffcoat, 6-5/230, Plano, TX (West). Forget about it. 0.3% chance of getting him. Jeffcoat is the son of ex-NFLer Jim Jeffcoat and is a legitimate man already. If you're not a Top 25 program, you need not apply. Hopefully, Jeffcoat feels that NU is in that category. This guy is a gamechanger and will make some defensive coordinator very happy next February when he signs his LOI.
Linebacker
Justin McKay, 6-3/197, Shawnee, KS (Bishop Miege HS). The fact that Rivals has him listed as an OLB and Scout has him listed as a 5 star WR, hints at the athletic ability McKay has. Like many of the recruits NU is after at this point, McKay has offers from every top program. McKay's high school coach is Notre Dame alum and former K.C. Chief Tim Grunhard. That should give ND the early lead. However, Carl Pelini was also a high school coach in the KC area who still has some current connections.
That's it for now. If Nebraska can land 2-3 more of these recruits, a spot in the mythical Top 25 team recruiting ranking would be assured.
Monday, February 09, 2009
The Weekly Grind - Episode 4
Here's last week's episode for your downloading pleasure...we had on Jim Frouge of the Center for Health Transformation in Washington, D.C. We also talked about "sexting," prostitution, Council Bluffs (yes, in that order), and the economies of baby giraffes.
All in all, good times. Enjoy.
All in all, good times. Enjoy.
Labels: 1180 KOIL, The Weekly Grind
I Hope The Huskers Are Ready
Kind of exciting news in the most boring time of the sports year: it was just announced that the Huskers will be playing at Missouri on ESPN for a Thursday night telecast!
The game got moved to Thursday, October 8th. It is the Big XII opener for both teams, and I think it might be the first nationally-televised Big XII game of the 2009 season.
How great would it be to send a serious message to the Big XII--not to mention get some serious revenge for last season--being the only show on TV to a national audience and kicking the crap out of Mizzou at their house?
How long until college football starts again?
The game got moved to Thursday, October 8th. It is the Big XII opener for both teams, and I think it might be the first nationally-televised Big XII game of the 2009 season.
How great would it be to send a serious message to the Big XII--not to mention get some serious revenge for last season--being the only show on TV to a national audience and kicking the crap out of Mizzou at their house?
How long until college football starts again?
Labels: ESPN, Missouri Tigers, Nebraska Cornhuskers, Nebraska Football
Wednesday, February 04, 2009
The Weekly Grind - Episode 3
Here is your Week 3 podcast of The Weekly Grind. We talked Super Bowl picks (we had it at 27-22...pretty dang close), Super Bowl commercials, health care, liberty, and Flomax.
Executive Vice President of Bailey Lauerman Associates Lance Koenig joined us for a great interview, as well.
Click the link and download it up.
Executive Vice President of Bailey Lauerman Associates Lance Koenig joined us for a great interview, as well.
Click the link and download it up.
Labels: Flomax, Podcast, The Weekly Grind
Stewart Bradley: I'm Confused
I know I have spoken with people who are surprised as I am that Stewart Bradley is--already--a starting middle linebacker in the NFL (let alone on a team that almost made the Super Bowl).
This is far more surprising:
What the what? I...I've got nothing.
This is far more surprising:
Eagles linebacker Stewart Bradley starts an internship at Elle magazine
today. He's one of a handful of NFL players who have pursued internships at
fashion magazines. Is it for the chicks?
The internship will last several months, and we're told that he wanted
to learn more about the fashion industry and will be working under the
leadership of Elle creative director Joe Zee. You may see him involved with New
York Fashion Week later this month.
What the what? I...I've got nothing.
Labels: Fashion Magazines, Stewart Bradley, What The What
Term Papers
