What's in a name? The answer lies in the letters before your eyes, but it has nothing to do with wizardry, illusion or the supernatural. Deception is another matter altogether. Love, after all, conquers all.
Was watching a little of the U.S. track and field championships over the weekend in Eugene, Ore., and something really annoyed me for some reason. The meet took place at historic Hayward Field. Or at least I thought it did. I mean, I thought it was "historic" with a small "h" but I would soon find I was wrong. It's actually Historic Hayward Field. Really. It is. Historic is part of the name. To me, the fact that you need "Historic" as part of your official title says that you're either not as historic as you might think or you suffer from a severe inferiority complex, a huge ego, or perhaps both. Yeah, I know it's a little thing, but it's one of the dumbest ones I've come across in the naming of a sports stadium.
Here are some close-ups of the stadium scoreboard. How dumb.
I know I'm a day late, but I had to document Ana Ivanovic's ouster from Wimbledon. She lost to Venus Williams after being forced to retire because of a thigh injury. Our condolences.
This was the performance I remember that propelled Michael Jackson into the upper atmosphere of entertainers. It happened at the Pasadena Civic Auditorium on the Motown 25: Yesterday, Today, Forever television special. Everyone was trying to moonwalk after this, and few could ever do it with the same flair as Michael. And no, I don't give a crap that he's lip-syncing
Wow! What a day. I don't have much else to say about Michael Jackson except that the photo above is how I want to remember him. His music was great and he was as influential as anyone in entertainment history. Here is the story on his death if you'd like to read it. He apparently went into cardiac arrest this afternoon and was rushed to UCLA Medical Center where he was pronounced dead. Again, just wow!
It is a sad, sad day for EM personally today because Farrah Fawcett, the first and only pin-up girl of my childhood and as important to my adolescence as any public figure was, has died today of cancer at age 62. She had battled the disease for quite some time and even had a prime-time television special documenting her fight and all the steps she took to try and get better. It was dramatic and extremely sad. The photo above was a poster on my bedroom wall for years as a kid (and I'm sure one that everyone has seen before). For me, this poster was the Internet before there was one (well that, and trying to make out what you were seeing on scrambled cable). You had to use your imagination. I spent many a night and day staring up at the poster, especially the middle part of it, because it showed (God forbid) Farrah's nipple poking through her swimsuit. You have to understand what this kind of image means to a 9- or 10-year-old boy to appreciate it. And note, that she's wearing a "swimsuit" not a bikini, and still had this mesmerizing way about her that you didn't need to see everything (though by God, you wish you could). I remember watching "Charlie's Angels" just to see Farrah on the screen, not because I enjoyed the show. I actually couldn't tell you anything about any of the episodes. I just knew this was my only way of seeing my dream girl once a week for an hour. That perfectly feathered hair just melted me every time I saw it. The commercials she did for shampoo and toothpaste did the same. On non "Charlie's Angels" nights, I remember just turning on the TV in hopes that one of the commercials would come on so I could stare. Where was TiVo when I needed it? I hated Joe Namath after he got to do that Noxema commercial with Farrah and she rubbed cream all over his face. She also did commercials for the Schick Speed Styler, the Mercury Cougar automobile and Farrah Fawcett Faberge Shampoo, among others. And in the Ultra Brite commercials, Farrah's teeth were so damned white! How the hell did she do it? And her smile, oh her smile. It actually reminds me of someone I know, who has a similar smile (you know who you are) though I don't think I ever made the connection until just now. Back to Farrah. Anyone who knows me, knows that I prefer brunettes. Farrah was a blonde, obviously, but for some reason she's the person that registers with me when I think of iconic visions of my childhood. I hated when she was Farrah Fawcett-Majors for those years. Call is jealously, whatever. I mean, come on, it wasn't enough that the Six-Million Dollar Man had superhuman everything, he had to have Farrah too? It was all too much for a little boy and his crush. I remember getting very excited hearing that Farrah would pose in the December 1978 issue of Playboy Magazine. I know I saw those photos at some point in my life (I remember the cover as you can see here) but I couldn't tell you anything else about them now, except that Farrah did not pose nude inside. That's right, did NOT pose nude. Playboy wanted her so much that they were willing to do a non-nude pictorial just to be able to have her on the cover. I simply remember the anticipation of it all and how it consumed me until ... bam ... there the pictures were and I was like "WTF?" Disappointing then, but admirable of Farrah now (she didn't pose nude until 1995 on the occasion of her 50th birthday and by then I didn't want to see her that way. I preferred to remember her from the late 70s) When the 1980s came, my love (or at least my lust) for Farrah began to fade. She never became a big movie star or a supermodel or anything that kept her in the spotlight too much after that. So I guess my affections for my angel whittled away as well and I moved on to other things. I never forgot about Farrah though. She would pop up every now and then and I'd give it the appropriate attention and continue on with daily life. It wasn't until 1997 when Farrah appeared on the "Late Show With David Letterman" that she returned to my consciousness as more than a fleeting thought. It was the infamous interview when Farrah -- how shall we say this? -- simply didn't seem to be herself. Many speculated she was on drugs and made fun of her ditziness that night for quite some time afterward. I'm not sure what happened, but Farrah later told Howard Stern that it was just her way of joking around with Letterman and that her behavior had been misunderstood. I never knew the truth. Maybe I didn't want to know. I do remember laughing then and ever afterward when jokes were made at her expense. Perhaps that was my way of dealing with what seemed to be a sad revelation that my once beloved Farrah wasn't that vibrant woman from the 1970s that I had loved so much. After that I stopped keeping track of Farrah until hearing about her illness. I watched the special that NBC broadcast about her fight with cancer and it was awful to have to see her that way. It made me really sad and made me hope that her suffering wouldn't have to endure too much longer. That day came today at age 62. I love you Farrah. Always have. Always will. May you RIP now with the other Angels.
This is the "other" Farrah poster I had on my wall:
Here is a video tribute to Farrah, perfectly set to the song "More Than a Woman" by the Bee Gees:
Here's one final tribute, a cheesier one but with many different pictures than the one above, set to the song "I Honestly Love You" by Olivia Newton-John
The pathetic closing run of Shaquille O'Neal's basketball career took another embarrassing turn late Wednesday when it was learned that the Diesel, who has to be about on empty by now, was traded by the Phoenix Suns to the Cleveland Cavaliers so he can try and piggyback another championship on the strength of young LeBron James. Guess it really was too much for the Big A-Hole to see Kobe tie him with his fourth title. I'm calling it right now: this will not work. Also, hmm, I wonder who the NBA will match on Christmas Day (calling that one right now too).
Maria Sharapova was ousted from Wimbledon on Wednesday in her second-round match against Gisela Dulko of Argentina (not bad, either, as a matter of fact). So no more visions of the leggy Russian for a while, so here's a few closing images.
Anyone see the end of Conan O'Brien on Monday night? Cameron Diaz had been a guest on the show and was wearing a hot little black number. Anyway, at the end of the show, Conan goes over to thank musical guest Pete Yorn, and Cameron also came over as Conan closed the show. But as Cameron made her way -- eagerly I might add -- to give Yorn a hug, she gave a little leg show to the crowd and the viewing public. It was pretty good and I think she might have done it on purpose. Nice gams, as a friend of mine would say. See for yourself.
Yeah I know Ana Ivanovic's career has kinda hit the skids since her French Open triumph in 2008, but that doesn't mean I get tired of looking at her. Ana, who has fallen to unlucky No. 13 in the world, won her opening match at Wimbledon today, though it was a struggle. We shall keep tabs until she is eliminated.
Nice angle here. Always good to know what the back of her head looks like:
This photo really gives you a sense of Ana's 6-foot-1 frame:
Putting her all into it (by the way, I can't stand the thing she has on her knee; very unbecoming):
She's got a really nice ... reach, don't you think?
Reaction after beating Lucie Hradecka of the Czech Republic:
Had to include this one from a few days ago of Ana practicing for the tournament. Looks good to me:
Here's a shot of Jeff and Jered Weaver's parents in the stands at Angel Stadium on Saturday before their sons were about to battle each other on the mound for the first time in their pro careers. Papa Weaves looked completely uncomfortable the whole time his sons were playing and he had to ease his tension by downing a few brews (which TV cameras nicely caught). I say, why the tension? Be glad you have not only one son, but TWO in the major leagues. That would have me smiling regardless of what happened on the field.
In case you're wondering, there have been only 20 other instances in major league history where two brothers opposed each other as starters on the mound. Here they are:
09-06-2002.....Alan Benes, Chicago Cubs vs. Andy Benes, St. Louis
08-29-1996.....Ramon Martinez, Dodgers vs. Pedro Martinez, Montreal
07-31-1988.....Greg Maddux, Cubs vs. Mike Maddux, Philadelphia
09-29-1986.....Greg Maddux, Cubs vs. Mike Maddux, Philadelphia
09-13-1982.....Joe Niekro, Houston vs. Phil Niekro, Atlanta
05-11-1980.....Joe Niekro, Houston vs. Phil Niekro, Atlanta
05-31-1979.....Pat Underwood, Detroit vs. Tom Underwood, Toronto
09-26-1979.....Joe Niekro, Houston vs. Phil Niekro, Atlanta
09-26-1978.....Joe Niekro, Houston vs. Phil Niekro, Atlanta
05-29-1976.....Joe Niekro, Houston vs. Phil Niekro, Atlanta
07-03-1973.....Jim Perry, Detroit vs. Gaylord Perry, Cleveland
07-13-1969.....Phil Niekro, Atlanta vs. Joe Niekro, San Diego
09-26-1969.....Joe Niekro, San Diego vs. Phil Niekro, Atlanta
04-23-1968.....Phil Niekro, Atlanta vs. Joe Niekro, Cubs
07-04-1967.....Joe Niekro, Cubs vs. Phil Niekro, Atlanta
06-25-1926.....Virgil Barnes, N.Y. Giants vs. Jess Barnes, Brooklyn Robins
09-11-1926.....Jess Barnes, Brooklyn Robins vs. Virgil Barnes, N.Y. Giants
04-23-1925.....Jess Barnes, Boston Braves vs. Virgil Barnes, N.Y. Giants
06-26-1924.....Jess Barnes, Boston Braves vs. Virgil Barnes, N.Y. Giants
06-29-1924.....Jess Barnes, Boston Braves vs. Virgil Barnes, N.Y. Giants
Just another day in NASCAR heaven I guess. These fans are watching the Nationwide Series race in West Allis, Wis. Notice anything strange about the photo:
Well the one thing I found curious is the thing that's laying on the hood. It's appears to be a prosthetic leg, but I can't figure out who it belongs to or why it's there. Just another reason to be fascinated with the NASCAR culture.
Triumph the Insult Comic Dog makes his triumphant return for his first appearance on "The Tonight Show With Conan O'Brien" and he doesn't disappoint. Triumph visits the Bonnaroo music festival in Manchester, Tennessee. Sort of a Coachella East. Enjoy.
Here's our latest version of our new, revamped feature regarding our favorite chef on the Food Network. These are from the episode "Bridal Shower." If you missed our first version, click here.
Here's Kobe Bryant's appearance on The Tonight Show as Celtic fan Conan O'Brien did a great job hiding any tinge of Laker hatery while interviewing Kobe. Way to go Conan. You are a true L.A. guy.
Here's the latest internet sensation. His name is Josh Womack and he plays baseball for the Long Beach Armada, an independent team. Below is a video of Womack doing something with a bat that seems unreal. Watch and see what you think. Watch it twice if you have to:
So what'd you think? It's amazing, but it looks so fake. I've tried to research him a little on the web and nothing really comes up discussing the validity of this video. I then found this other video, which supposedly is from more than a year ago. This one seems more genuine (at least the second time Womack does the trick; first time on this one looks fake too).
Anyway, I can't figure it out. I guess it's legit. Please give me your thoughts though.
The Lakers victory parade is long over and here are the final updated pictures from the day's events, which saw an estimated 250,000 people help the team celebrate either along the parade route or in the Coliseum.
Saw this car as I was about to get off the freeway headed to work on Wednesday, so I snapped a quick picture from my cellphone (yeah, I know, I know):
City officials said that 95,000 people packed the Coliseum, but it's probably more like 80,000:
Here's the Lakers coming down the stairs to a cheering crowd:
Pau Gasol feels the crowd's energy:
After it was all over, there were plenty of streamers and confetti to really give the moment that festive feel:
Derek Fisher also loves to play to the crowd:
A group hug, when all was said and done:
Another shot of the crowd from the far end:
Phil Jackson wasn't quite ready to say for sure that he'll be back next season:
The Laker Girls warmed up the crowd on a mildly sunny day:
For the hell of it, here's a shot of Vanessa Bryant's cleavage:
This photo is from professional photographer Jonathan Alcorn's blog:
Another from Jonathan Alcorn's blog:
Laker Girls looking cute riding on the big fire engine:
A pretty cool banner:
Quite a crowd on the street too:
Laker fans hold up commemorative newspaper:
The busses leaving Staples Center:
Another angle of the route and the size of the crowd:
Kobe is showing emotion unlike we've ever seen:
Kobe on the bus with the trophy:
Derek Fisher addressing the crowd from the bus along the route:
Lamar Odom perhaps honoring Red Auerbach by lighting up a victory cigar:
Magic Johnson has experienced a few of these before so I'm sure this brings back fond memories:
These images all courtesy of 710 ESPN reporter Beto Duran, who sent all these via Twitter:
Here's local TV reporter Liz Habib, who rumor has it until recently was dating a prominent Lakers beat writer:
A new take on the Fav Fave ads by T-Mobile:
Fans along the parade route:
Shannon Brown had his own shirt made for the occasion:
A rather unique Lakers tie:
This is the shirt that all the players were given to wear. Very old school. I think they had these in the 80s too:
So where was owner Jerry Buss during all the hoopla? Well, TMZ.com caught the eccentric one sitting at a poker table ... by himself ... at the Bicycle Club ... 10 miles from the parade route. Here's the entire TMZ link if you want to see it. I'm not sure if this is funny or sad. I'm leaning toward sad.
So what does Erratic Magic mean? It's a question often asked. As far as this blog is concerned, the "erratic" part comes from the idea that there's no real singular focus here and I like it that way -- never really knowing where the path might take you. Beyond that, all I can say about the blog's name is that when you love someone so much, they give you inspiration and Erratic Magic is a way for me to remember that special love, inspiration and completeness every time I log on. For that, I thank my beloved, who is the one responsible for the big blue letters you see at the top of this page.
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