Friday Fun (Mostly)

Jason Whitlock, whom I tend to like because he's unafraid to speak his mind, takes the sports media to task for making a hero of Steve McNair. McNair, the former Tennessee Titans and Bal'mer Ravens quarterback, was found dead with his girlfriend over the weekend. He had four bullets in his chest and head, and she had one in her head. The police ruled it a murder/suicide, and facts dribbled out during the week. It seems McNair had recently left his wife and four kids to be with this girlfriend, and she was pretty sure he was also starting up an affair with another woman. Whitlock points out an uncomfortable fact: this is about a guy who didn't take being a good father seriously enough. Part of the problem is that guys are guys. We like chasing tail. But when you have kids - as Whitlock puts it - it's a game changer. Here's the key thing he says:

You see, this is my problem with McNair, with American men as a whole.

We shirk our responsibilities as fathers. We don't have time for it. We think it's a part- or no-time job. We think our career is more important. We think charity work is more important. We think some young tail is more important.

We foolishly believe we're unnecessary in the rearing of children. This mindset must die.

I pass no judgment on McNair kicking it with a woman 16 years his junior. I don't agree with it, but I pass no judgment on McNair "cheating" on his wife.

However, I think it's ridiculous and embarrassing that he spent so much time chasing after a Nashville waitress that he created the impression he lived with her.

Many have tried, but you can't maintain two homes, two families. If HBO has shown us anything, it's that kids are the losers when it comes to Big Love. You can't live with a waitress in a condo/apartment, take her parasailing, clubbing, to Vegas and raise a brood of boys living in a home on the other side of town.

Kids are game-changers. Kids require sacrifice. Kids are a daily and sometimes hourly responsibility. You don't properly raise them in your spare time with money, fame, gifts and glowing newspaper and magazine stories about your courage to play on Sundays despite injury and pain.

That's uncomfortable and it hits close to home. As a father, you can't help but wonder if you're doing it right, if you're giving enough. Thing is, you won't have that child forever. It's your job to raise that child right, to give all the love you can manage, your time, and your wisdom. Striking the balance between that and being a provider is tough. Anyhow, go read the whole article. You need not agree with it, but it should provoke some thought.

But enough thinking. Let's have a little music.

How 'bout some Roy Orbison? We tend to forget about him because he had just a few hits. We forget that he had a really good body of work. Nice, listenable stuff. And he had a really original American sound - the Other Man In Black. Gotta love him.

Anything You Want



Orbison reminds me of Bob Dylan, a guy you could overlook. You tend to forget how damn good he was. Even when he's going straight political agit prop, he's damn good. That's one mark of a great artist - you don't have to agree with his message to acknowledge how great his art is.

Dylan: Hurricane



Another guy like that is Tom Petty. He has a really unique voice. In fact, he probably shouldn't be doing music at all. Dude can't sing for shit. Not by technical standards anyhow. But he growls and whines along, and produces a good song somehow. I don't get it, but I like it.

Tom Petty: I Won't Back Down



Jeff Lynne is yet another guy with a funny voice, who managed to have a nice career, first with Electric Light Orchestra, then as a solo artist. Here he is performing an ELO song.

Jeff Lynne: Turn to Stone



Yeah, I like the goofy bastards. My favorite Beetle? Why, George Harrison, of course. Here's George Harrison.

George Harrison: Set on You



Of course if you put all these goofy bastards in George Harrison's garage, and had them jam for a while and drink beer and decide to record an album... you'd wind up with the Traveling Wilburys. That's pretty much exactly what happened.

The Traveling Wilburys: End of the Line



Man, that song is sad and touching knowing that George Harrison and Roy Orbison are gone - and that you all and I will be someday in the not too distant future.

Oh well. That's a big thought and I'd rather not entertain it at the moment. For now, let's just enjoy some good quality music that soothes the soul and doesn't strain the brain. Yeah, you can have the blues, but getting together with some friends and making some good music can make you feel pretty better. See you on the road this weekend.

BB King and Friends: Why I Sing The Blues