Rest in peace, Nancy and Daniel Benoit

I am still in shock, not quite two days later, about the news of what Chris Benoit did. What drives a man, or woman for that matter, to not only kill their spouse, themselves, but also their young children? There are any number of stories in the news about this so-called familicide and it's just unfathomable.

I'm also of a split-mind about him; does he retain any of my respect for what he did professionally? Does his last few hours invalidate the previous 40 years of his life?

I don't know. I don't have any answers. I'm just still stunned and shocked by it all.

Chris Benoit, Rest In Peace

I just spent the last few hours sitting on the couch with Amanda watching the Chris Benoit tribute show. My head hurts, my eyes are red and I'm confused as hell.

I tuned in thinking it would be the continuation of the horrible Vince McMahon fake death storyline. I change the channel to find that Chris Benoit is dead, along with his wife and young son. I was stunned.

While he was never one of my favorite characters, he was always someone I had immense respect for. He clearly was one of the most intense workers out there and clearly one of the most technically savvy. He may not have been good on the stick, but in the ring, he brought out the best in himself and whoever he was working with.

The worst part about watching those shows is watching these big tough guys, these guys that beat the hell out of each other for a living, these guys that play a$$holes and tough bastards, crying and unable to hold it together on camera.

Now I'm reading news that it may have been a double murder/suicide. I desperately hope this isn't true. I just cannot fathom it at all...

The Police Reunion at Dodger Stadium

It's always great to see musicians as artists, and that was what the Police were Satruday night. But let me begin at the beginning.

First, dinner at Philippe's a few blocks away. Great french dip sandwiches, but apparently my wife wasn't the only one with that idea. At one point, I went to the bathroom and some guy, breaking Man Law, asked if everyone was going to the Police concert. Everyone said yes. Some guy even asked me as I was washing my hands how to get from Philippe's to Dodger Stadium. Hundreds of people must have had the world-famous frensh dip sandwiches before going to the concert.

Second, parking and crowd control at Dodger Stadium. Crowd control was efficient, if a bit fascist. Parking though? $20 for general, $35 for preferred? A blight upon your souls, the lot of you. And how few bathrooms do you think are necessary? Finally then, getting out? Dear lord, it took nearly an hour to get from our car to a freeway, and that still wasn't the end of it. I'm glad I grew up watching the Angels; that way I don't have any urge to go the the accursed parking of Chavez Ravine.

The opener was Fictionplane (though it sounded like Futureplane at the time), a pretty cool band. But given that the singer is Sting's son, it's obvious how they got that coveted slot. Not bad, and the vocal similiarities between the two singers is obvious.

The second opener was the Foo Fighters. Wow. Does anyone enjoy rock'n'roll more than Dave Grohl? I've never really thought much of the Foo Fighters, except to think that Grohl makes suprisingly radio friendly music for a guy that was the drummer for Nirvana. But they put on a great show. At one point, Grohl ran out into the audience. I think he wanted to get to the fenced-off pitcher's mound, but he couldn't get there. And I'm pretty sure security hadn't been briefed on his unexpected jaunt onto the field. He eventually climbed some risers behind one of the control booths and played rock god for a bit.

Then were The Police. Great show. Good stage effects and lighting and all, but it was amazing to watch artists at work. Most, if not all, of the songs were reworked versions of what were originally on the album. Some of that was to trim the song down so that the three of them could perform on stage live without any DAT tracks or anything. Some of that was simply their creative urge to update, change, tinker, fiddle and just improve their own creations. So they didn't come screaming out the gates, but Sting was charismatic and in-control. Everything seemed in-synch and again, it was just cool to watch three very accomplished artists working their craft together in front of about 55,000 people. Notice, if you haven't caught it, I'm calling them artists, not musicians. It's one thing to play an instrument; it's another to create art.

All in all, a good show. Our view wasn't that hot, as the bad cellphone picture will attest to (taken during their performance of Synchronicity II), but the sound was great and we didn't miss a thing that any of the bands did.

Too good not to post

Re: Verizon commercials

The Police Reunion

Saturday night I get to see The Police in concert. Hell yeah!

I can't claim to be a really massive Police fan; I don't really like "Roxanne" for example. Really, I'm a huge fan of their Synchonicity album more than anything. Their other records, not Regatta de Blanc or Outlandos d'Amour? Before my time really. I know, I know. I like the Beatles and they were sure as hell before my time. But for some reason, it was only that one record that really struck a chord with me. One of my favorites really.

But the concert should be great. Three very talented musicians playing together and having fun together. Apparently, some of them have been reworked and "updated" since the last time they were performed live (if ever), especially so they are something that the three of them can play together without extra musicians.

Should be a hell of a show!

Go Angels! (and Happy Father's Day)

Some of you might know I'm a fan of the Angels. Or properly, the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. Now, before anyone gets the chance to level charges of being a bandwagon fan, I'm not. I grew up watching the Angels. Those were the games my father took me to as a child. I remember watching Fred Lynn, Bobby Grich, Nolan Ryan, Brian Downing, Rod Carew, even Reggie Jackson when he became an Angel for a few years. He taught me the game and how to keep score from up in the cheap seats, because that was usually the best we could afford. Sometimes my mom and younger brother would come, but they were more interested in eating ballpark food. I was happy with hot dogs and peanuts. I still am.

Like many American men, some of my best memories of my youth are connected with baseball. Playing catch, going to the game, whatever. For me, my father will always be intertwined with baseball. And it's something I always think of on this day.

So, Happy Father's Day and go Angels!