Number 9, Number 9, Number 9: Texas 28, Nebraska 25

I can't believe the number of columnists in spin mode right now. About how the Corn showed so much fight against Texas. (Remember kids, the idea here is to WIN the game.) Or how this team sure has some guts left in them. Nobody wants to mention that a Texas running back ran for 290 yards against the Blackshirts on Saturday (that would be one Jamaal Charles, and 216 of those yards came in the uhm, ahem, 4th quarter).

What else was so great about yesterday? Well, ESPN Classic did choose it as it's College Game of the Day for rebroadcast on Sunday (so you didn't really have to go out and BUY the DVD of this one). And oh by the way, this makes the first October that Nebraska didn't win a football game since....1948. I kept thinking about the similarities between this Husker season and Billy C's last year with Oakland in the NFL (you know, the one where those guys in the above picture were on the Husker coaching staff). Or last year's Cotton Bowl (you know, the early morning New Year's Day game that NU SHOULD have won against a good opponent). Or hell, last year's Texas game in Lincoln.

Even with the barrage of "Can you believe this shit" text messages I kept getting in the third quarter that made my cell phone light up like a slot machine, we all kept reminding each other one thing: Even if Nebraska pulls off the colossal upset (and one that would most definitely have to be considered the biggest of the Callahan Error -- I mean Era -- at NU), Bill Callahan is still toast at season's end.

Even after I still tried to find reasons to dig Sam Keller as a Quarterback, an interesting stat came up after he bobbled a snap yesterday. Keller has FIVE of those this season, which only leads me to believe that this was reason number one that Arizona State, despite being in love with his talent and right arm, dropped him down on their depth chart. Obviously, there were issues with him handling the football. Now, I firmly believe that Billy C overlooked this, because he was getting bad press for losing Harrison Beck and needed the next savior to fall into his lap. Which isn't to see nobody else was going to take a shot on Keller, who I still think can play in the NFL.

But it's become obvious that nobody on this coaching staff gives a shit about fundamentals. Nobody cares about conditioning (otherwise that Charles kid doesn't run for over 200 yards in the FOURTH quarter alone). All they care about is implementing a system. Never mind how many 18, 19 and 20 year old students you have under your wing. Students who still need to maintain a certain GPA to stay scholarshipped (yes, I just made that word up), no matter how much help they get. After talking to former players who used to play against Nebraska, all they talked about was how tired they'd make them come the 4th quarter. Which meant that even a Scott Frost could run an option right on 3rd and 8 and come up with 15 yards.

There are no more silver linings. So everyone needs to stop trying to dress up this pig. It's a mess. A 4-5 mess. That's right. It's not even Halloween yet, and the Nebraska football program already has five losses.

All that's left is advice from The Denver Post of all places. And for those still clinging to something, a chance to play in a bowl game on December 21st. CLICK TO READ ENTIRE POST!

Executive Game: Special Red Sox Fans Have Become What They've Hated Edition

First, from my old buddy Jason, because everyone's so nonplussed with Husker Football these days: "Don't know if you heard... I'm flying to Lincoln this afternoon to interview with Tom Osborne for the head coaching job of the Huskers. I fall into the major categories for Callahan's replacement. 1. Nebraska born 2. NU Alum 3. Worked in the Athletic Department. 4. Played H.S. football 5. Prior coaching experience - Nehawka Legion Baseball head coach 2yrs. 5. I know TO and Frank Solich. 6. I don't run the West Coast Offense. 7. I'm suggesting that you serve as Defensive Coordinator. My only disadvantage is that I drink and chew. T.O doesn't like that. And that I've never coached any level of football. I like my chances. I know that I will do an excellent job."

In other words, nobody can even muster up anything to be remotely funny about this season. But hey, at least the corn got the New York Times attention in a pretty decent article. More links:

• It's not the coaching, it's the PLAYERS. Ah, that's it, they just have no motivation!
• Forgot about this great piece by Elizabeth Merrill, who's put together a very respected and impressive writing career. Merrill first gained notoriety for leaving a wedding she was in to break the news about Frank Solich's firing for the Omaha World Herald. This led to her getting a nice writing job with the Kansas City Star. Now she's the midwest expert over at ESPN.com, writing about all things Huskers, Royals, Chiefs and even a very good e-ticket piece on Priest Holmes.
• J. Brady McCollough, Kansas City Star: Texas 52, Nebraska 10. And you wonder why nobody cares, because, well that seems about right.

And isn't it amazing what three short years can do. In 2004, the Red Sox were the ultimate feel-good story. We all still hated Ben Affleck, and now his quote is one of the best things about this year's World Series: "I would rather say the line, ‘I worship you, Satan,' than say my favorite baseball team is the Yankees." Which is great because I think I've used that exact quote on Mackenzie and Ratt like 50 times in the past 15 years. It's like Sox fans have become what Husker fans were 10 years ago. They expect to win Championships every year, they think they're the greatest, friendliest fans in the world, and their teams are so loaded with depth and talent that bad breaks don't even faze them. I firmly believe that a Bill Buckner incident could happen at Denver this weekend (why not? Big Papi will be at first base) and nobody would sweat it. The Red Sox have almost become the Yankees, almost like the Huskers became Miami (especially in 1995, when with what may have been the greatest college football team ever, the Corn made more headlines with off-the field incidents and even led Jim Rome to nickname Tom Osborne "Brubaker" in reference to him running a prison ward instead of a football team). The failed two-point conversation from the 1984 Orange Bowl became a memory that no longer stung, almost like Sox fans don't cringe anymore when they hear the names Bucky Dent, Aaron Boone, and Buckner.

Red Sox Nation had better take a look at this year's Husker team and the free fall that's happened under Billy C and remember the best advice Tony Soprano ever gave his kids: Focus on the good times.

To better days, and better picks, and a shitload of dimes:

1. Texas (-21) over Nebraska. That's right, it's gotten so bad that Texas is a three touchdown favorite against the Corn. Speaking of good times, it's becoming more and more obvious that Billy C is going to go Mike Gundy during one of his press conferences. Some of his best lines this week: "I’ve done an excellent job in every area. It’s hard for the media to know, but what we’ve done off the field, and what we’ve done on the field. I think it’s well-documented...." Boy, it sure is now, isn't it Billy Boy? The big focus now is one how all of these 4 and 5 star recruits, in particular Jonas Gray, are jumping off like rats on the Titanic. Billy C also went on about how impressive it was that NU played for a "championship" in year 3. Yeah, he won the Big 12 during a very down year, which is like being the tallest midget. Which of course is what Callahan really is. It was a weird press conference, and just confirmed what a sales robot Callahan is when the red lights are on. How on earth can this guy have that team even remotely unified? He needs to go absolutely nuts in one of these Tuesday morning press conferences. He's already public enemy #1, I think it'd be a great thing for him to really let loose on one of the scribes. Don't go Denny Green ("The Bears are who we THOUGHT they were!") or Herm Edwards ("You play TO WIN THE GAME!"). No no. Take a page from Gundy's playbook. Find one writer or sportscaster and just attach the living shit of him or her. Verbally abuse someone who took one or two of the players to task. Hell, make fun of Tom Shatel's stuttering problem. Get some youtube moment and ESPN coverage. Come on man, you're done at the end of the year anyway. See if going medieval on the Steve Sipple's of the world can't unify a team that maybe next week could give KU it's first loss. As Isiah Thomas would say, "It's crazy enough, it just might work." But that's beside the point. Texas will be the ones going medieval tomorrow.
2. Georgia (+7.5) over Florida. As Yogi Berra would say, you can look it up: Georgia for whatever reason finds a way to win or at the very least play close on the road.
3. Maryland (+3.5) over Clemson. It's a hunch, maybe it's those new Boomer Essiason commercials.
4. Kansas (-3) over Texas A&M. Vega$ knows what it's doing. Many people think this is a game KU could win or lose by a field goal. Many people don't give the real Mangenious enough credit. It would be just like the Big 12 or hell the 2007 college football season in general to have the Jayhwaks finally fall from the unbeaten. But this is not a team that's going to overlook the Aggies even with Callahan's Crew coming to Lawrence next week. Sure it's at A&M, and they're coming off that big win in Lincoln (well, any other year and it'd be considered big). But Kansas plays well on the road, and they want even more BCS style points. I know Mangenious has a lot on his plate, like whether or not he wants to eat that third ham sandwich. I like KU by at least a touchdown.
5. Hawaii (-30) over New Mexico State. Thirty points is an awful lot of points, but Hawaii is AVERAGING a helluva lot more than that per game. In other words, if Hawaii's offense got a shot at Super Grover's defense, there's a good chance they could put up 80 points on them. And New Mexico State might be one of the few times with a worse defense than Nebraska.
   (I just figured out what Callahan should do at next Tuesday's press conference: Attack that English major student about that book where Billy C allegedly calls TO a crusty old fuck. But he's got to get angry about it. Don't be so calm and say how much respect you have for Osborne. Really lay into the kid. Now, back to our regularly scheduled programming already in progress)
6. Penn State (+4) over Ohio State. It's a night game at Happy Valley, which always gives the Nittany Lions an edge. Plus, even though they are for now the #1 team in the country, Ohio State just isn't THAT good.
7. Michigan (-23) over Minnesota. Remember how the Wolverines started the season with what was at the time called the biggest upset of all-time in any sport? And then they got whacked at home the next week? Now, they're back in business with a legitimate Heisman candidate and unlike Coach Callahan, Lloyd Carr has righted his ship.
8. Red Sox over Rockies in 6 games. Because Red Sox fans need to get a hint of worry back. Because this whole killing the curse thing really started with Curt Schilling, and love him or hate him, it's only suitable that he gets the win at Fenway in Game 6, where Papa can go back to being DH. In other words, the Rockies win the next two games, Josh Beckett stops the bleeding in game 5, and Boston gets what it REALLY wants anyway: A chance to celebrate at Fenway Park (remember, they swept St. Louis in 2004, and even though all of New England erupted with the title, everyone really wanted a chance to dance at Fenway).
9. Jacksonville (+3.5) over Tampa Bay. Well lookie here, an NFL pick! Why this game? For one, if I had to pick one team that could beat that New England machine, it would be the Jaguars. Secondly, they hold on to the football and milk the clock better than anyone. And finally, the AFC is so much better than the NFC that a team like the Jaguars -- who you'll notice are GETTING points -- should have an easy way with things on Sunday. That's just who they are, and if I were picking a lock, it'd be this game. Remember, we rarely if ever pick an NFL game. Vega$ will never stop building hotels because of the NFL. They've got that league figured out, always have, always will. Be every once in while, they'll be imperfect. This is one of those times.

Last week: 3-3
Season: 29-19

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FINALLY, a Masterpiece

No, not the album itself, which is too long, has too many songs, and if it was just TEN songs instead of, uhm, TWENTY, we'd seriously be talking album of the year here. Instead, there are song God-awful throwaway tracks that have no business even being released. But the ten other stand amongst the best stuff the band has ever done.

I'm listening to what I'm considering Don Henley's final masterpiece. Masterpiece is a word that gets thrown around too easily everywhere. But in terms of what one does for a living in terms of art or whatever what you want to call it, a 60-year old man has added something impressive to his resume.

The first time I hear the song, I wanted to cry. I thought it was about MY divorce. I thought it could have been about Mackenzie waiting for some girl from his office for that right moment. The third time I thought maybe Bsmoked Turkey would get it and say, "OK, now I'm ready to go."

Let's face it: Before any of this new Eagles shit album, Henley's death/video tape was all set. "Desperado", "Hotel California", "Boys of Summer", and this site named "Dirty Laundry." The man could have just sat back and collected royalties from all of those songs and the many others he's tied to writing and singing wise.

Then I heard "Waiting In The Weeds."

It was one of those songs I had to give to other people. I shared it with four people I work with, and they were stunned. One other person, who is too young an immature to understand any better, said, "Here, I'll show you a real song." And she youtubed.com song Kennny Chesney song. That woman is no longer with us.

Finally, Henley has taken a cue from Bob Dylan and Elvis Costello. He took his lyrical and songwriting abilities up notches. Maybe he went through something like this in his life, he had to have, but this song is all about divorce and loss and really anything that you think you'd have in life but didn't get. And maybe you're waiting for your shot at the title. I sit here proud, stunned, awed, and frankly impressed that there's at least ONE song that has literally touched me to the point that I need to write about it. Oh the rest of this 20 song album has it's moments, but basically, they're all the Henley songs. You can call it an Eagles album, but aren't all ones anyone liked were the ones with Henley on lead? It was all about harmonies after that, and the old men show they can still get those together better than anyone.

And God love Joe Walsh, who was given two songs on this album, but you really never hear him here. And Glenn Frey is just too stuck in the '80's, too stuck as "The Heat Is On" guy, too obviously just a guy who knew that he had a kindred spirit in Henley and a brand name in the EAGLES to put so much money and sign a deal with the devil (Walmart) so he'd have his slush fund.

At the end end of it all, the Eagles are going to end up as probably one of the top 20 bands of all-time, nevermind this new album and it's gems.

But I can't stop listening to "Waiting in the Weeds". I have no idea how a 60-year old guy did this. He seems to have a delightful and happy life and marriage and wrote and did a song that literally makes me weep. If you want it, click here:

http://www.lite98.com/cc-common/news/sections/special/eagles.html CLICK TO READ ENTIRE POST!

Game 8: Texas A&M 36, Nebraska 14 (Special Crusty Old Fuck Edition)

The only thing that naive, overly optimistic Husker fans are saying now is one thing:

"We only need two wins to go to a Bowl game!"

Whatever. The only real thing to look forward to with this 2007 season (other than to see if NU can lose all of it's remaining games) is the insightful book written by a Nebraska English Student that alleges Callahan had a lot more to say than "fucking hillbillies." Did Billy C really call TO a crusty old fuck after a phone conversation with him? Does the Pope shit in the woods? OF COURSE he did. And for the record, Billy C isn't the only one who has used that term of endearment regarding our beloved TO in the past 5 years. Remember, Osborne was very sore and bitter about not getting a chance to become the Governor of the state of Nebraska.

But this isn't about TO, it's about a clueless coach who jumped at the first (and only) job available after he got Fredo Corleone'd by the NFL. Remember, that last season, Callahan publicly called out his Raiders team as "the stupidest bunch of players in the world." I'm sure the instant he landed in Lincoln, he felt the big fish in small pond mentality. Actually, he was probably stunned he was offered a multi-year job.

And now, in his final moments at Nebraska, he has a team with talent, but he himself still doesn't even have a clue. It was never going to work out, as much as all of us thought it just "might". It was never a good hire. He was never the right guy. The instant he said he was bringing a 750 pound playbook and the West Coast Offense to good old Lincoln, everyone should have made their Beavis face and said, "Uhm...this sucks." And it does. And it will. Until that chilly November Saturday after the Colorado game, when what Steve Pederson did to Frank Solich will come full circle. CLICK TO READ ENTIRE POST!

Executive Game: The "Nothing Ever Happens In Nebraska" Edition

"Welly, welly, welly, welly, welly well." -- Alex de Large (Malcolm McDowell), A Clockwork Orange (1971)

Before I forget, great post here that calls Joe Torre's move his Johnny Sack moment. I just finished watching the press conference, and at the end everybody stood and applauded. People wanted to hug him and say good-bye. And these are SPORTS WRITERS. I'll never forget the moment when somebody asked him about going down to go clean out his office. Torre said he'd never go down there again, and he had an assistant that would go get everything for him. I swear I had a tear in my eye. I hate the Yankees with everything I'm built of. Hate everything about him. But goddamn I like Joe Torre. And what a great exit. He didn't get the axe; he pulled a Johnny Sack. Although I personally prefer Joe pulled a Tony Soprano, when Johnny demanded to know where Tony B was. After watching John smoke confidently on his cigarette, Tony walked over to Johnny, and in one of the series best moments, said, "You know what John? Go fuck yourself." Bravo Torre.

Couple other things of note (non-Husker related for once) that are intriguing:

• Both Nick Lachey and Kevin Costner were at the Chiefs game last week, where the Chiefs just so happened to play their best game of the season. I still can't figure out what Lachey was doing there (got to meet him, talk about ordinary), but it turns out Costner has his own rock band, and they played at Harrah's the night before.
• Now the Tampa Bay Devil Rays are making a major uniform change, and who's going to be there to model them off? I'll give you a clue. It's not Nick Lachey, but the other "celebrity" who was at last week's Chiefs win.
• It's now official: betting on college football is like betting the NFL, which means you never know anything. The National Champion could wind up with TWO losses this year the way things are going.

OK, now the Corn shit. I had lunch with a former Husker player (who asked to remain anonymous) yesterday. He said that Osborne had been at EVERY practice since Tuesday, and Billy C has been, shall we say, a bit more behaved at practices. The other big news. Osborne has already been in touch with Bo Pellini, and according to said player, Pellini wants the head coaching job, period. One more thing. Osborne evidently has made no secret of how easy it is to shut down the West Coast Offense, especially in college. And remember, TO was and is an OFFENSIVE guy. He leaves the defense to others. So if he thinks he can stop the WCO, well, let's just hope Billy C has that resume all polished up. This site gave you how it was all going to go down this week. Just watch things unfold come, oh December. On to the games:

1. Nebraska (-1.5) over Texas A & M. I had this game as a loss a few weeks ago. Steve Pederson still ran the ship a few weeks ago. If there's one game Billy C HAS to win, this is it. I don't think even Callahan and Cosgrove can shit the bed two weeks in a row at home. Actually, if there were two people I'd bet the house on who COULD, it be those two clowns. However, let's also remember that this Bill Byrne coming back to Lincoln (gee, wonder if he and TO will get together for tea???), and A&M believe it or not has a bigger coaching fiasco on their hands than the Corn. Callahan's gonna get the rest of the season, and for him, it's in his best interest to not let the season end like it did his last year in Oakland. Plus the whole TO thing is going to have Memorial Stadium energized like it's 1997. So pretty please, with sugar on top, take the fucking Corn.
2. Ball State (-1.5) over Western Michigan. Ball State started this whole mess be throwing up 40 points in Lincoln and STILL lost. We could have been rid of Pederson way back then. Now they owe us this.
3. Notre Dame (+18) over USC. Something happened to the Trojans since that Nebraska game. It could have been TO telling Pete Carroll, "By the way, I know how to stop that offense, and I'm friends with Jim Harbaugh." The Irish are a mess, but are they an 18 point mess at home against a Trojan team that isn't the dominant force we all thought they were? And now, that breeze they had in Lincoln isn't all that impressive. My own opinion is that Quarterbacks don't have three names, famous murderers do. In other words, John Wilkes Booth David Booty just isn't Matt Leinart.
4. Florida (-7) over Kentucky. I cannot believe, even with them being undefeated, that KENTUCKY is a 7 point favorite over the Gators. That Gator team isn't far removed from the one that destroyed Ohio State in January. The clock has been striking midnight on all of these Cinderella undefeateds (South Florida, the white courtesy phone please). The slipper won't fit when Urban Meyer gets through with Kentucky. Although I'm sure he's going to have somebody try to spot Ashley Judd at the game, even though she probably won't be there because she likes basketball more than football.
5. Michigan State (+19) over Ohio State. Ohio State isn't the number 1 team in America. They just aren't. They have a coach that a school like, oh NEBRASKA, would love to have. Asking them to go three touchdowns over Michigan State is too much to ask for this week. We'll say Ohio State gets buy, but maybe by 14 instead of 19.
6. Kansas (-4) over Colorado. Finally, an undefeated team that's the real deal. That's right, KANSAS. The real Mangenious is doing for KU what Bill Snyder did for Kansas State. Kansas is that good. Even though he's sometimes mistaken for this guy, Mangenious still gets another dance at the ball. At least for this week.

Not a bet, but since I actually gave some Yankee love earlier, I have but one with. That Schilling is the playoff Schilling, the bloody sock Curt Schilling. I want to see a line of something like 8 innings pitched, 5 hits, 1 walk, 8 strikeouts, no runs. That's all. Then we get a game 7. That's not too much for a Yankee hater to ask for, is it?

Last week: 8-2
Season: 26-16 (In other words, you people can make money from reading this site. So get on it.)

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The Part Where Mackenzie Hates Me, But I Need a Break From Husker Rumors

By the way, has anyone noticed that a band that isn't new just automatically gets 3/12 stars from Rolling Stone? And this guy's favorite song on the thing is the one that's over TEN minutes long, and could someday be considered a masterpiece. Or not. I'm still undecided on it. Anyhow, I'll come back to this later, but let's just say the Eagles have put out a new album of 20 songs that is actually...well...GOOD???!!!! Oh there's 20 songs, which means they can't all be hits, but the stuff that's good (read: All the Henley stuff) is outstanding, and I stand stunned, proud, happy, and have to remain relatively quiet until October 30th about the whole thing so I'm going to let Bob Lefsetz, one of the most respected people in music, tell you all about. A few things first:

• Got to see Wilco in concert last Saturday night, outdoors in a beautiful setting in Kansas City. I don't care what anyone says, this is a band that you need to see live. Tweedy spends too much time trying to be cute and creative in the studio on some shit, but when they roll out everything live, it's an incredible show. It was one of the greatest concerts I've ever attended (it was at a place called the Crossroads in KC). Tweedy has an incredibly funny and dry sense of humor, especially since he realized on that night that he was up against the opening of the much ballyhooed Sprint Center, which was christened by Elton John, and where Garth Brooks is about to play (and I'm not making this up) NINE (9) concerts there in November. I got in on a VIP pass to the show (remember, it's not what you know but who you know), with the promise that, "Hey, I'm probably not going to be able to get you backstage to meet the guys, but here's four 5th row center seats and you won't need to pay for any beer tonight." I got to relive the excitement that I saw from some of their live performances in their underrated movie, I Am Trying to Break Your Heart. BTW, am I the only person who thinks poor Jay Bennett was just some guy played by Philip Seymour Hoffman that movie? I saw at imdb.com that somebody compared him to Hoffman's character in Boogie Nights. Why this isn't explored more is beyond me. But it's one of the greatest scenes in the movie when he can't believe he got fired, and it's almost comical. But I digress, you get a chance to go see Wilco, do it right away because they know how to put on an incredible rock show and Tweedy, although not the greatest frontman in the world, has that sly wit that keeps you begging for more. And oh by the way, a band couldn't be more in sync.
  
• I have a really, really good Tony Gonzalez story I'd like to tell Mac in person before I share with the rest of the world. It's what us in the business like to call a "TEASE."


• Lucky me -- I find my way to Lincoln for approximately an hour. I find somebody who knows BsmokedTurkey. I beg of her, "Please have him update his blog more, NOW!" She swore the next move in her life would be to talk to her.
  

And yes, for the record, I think the above picture was doctored. It's OK, in life, not everyone loves each other, that'st the way it goes, but when there's a shitload of dimes to be made, sins are forgiven. OK, now I'm giving the floor to Music Industry legend Bob Lefsetz. I'll be more than happy to share all "Good" songs with those in my "family", but for good sakes, a 20 song 2-disc CD is only $10.99. Who cares. Go Bob:

I'm TINGLING! TEARS ARE COMING TO MY EYES!

So, I'm at the skin doctor, having some suspicious growths removed, and when I'm done with Dr. Rish, I've got a message on my BlackBerry, a phone call from Irving Azoff. Where should he send the new EAGLES album?

Oh, you know how it is today. LEAKS! I had to promise that I wouldn't duplicate it, wouldn't give it to anybody. NO PROBLEM! I'M TRUSTWORTHY!

I was in Century City getting a new keyboard for my Mac. Thank god for Applecare. Wanna know where it's happening? At the Apple Store. You've got to slalom through the people. And the new Lilliputian Nanos? They're IMPOSSIBLY thin. You want to buy one, no matter HOW MANY iPods you already have.

And Irving said Irene would call, for an address. But as I was buying jeans at the Gap, I'd still heard nothing. I e-mailed Irving. Just leave the disc behind the screen door, messenger it over NOW!

The phone rang. They couldn't do that. But by this time I was already home. They'd send it over.

And I've been waiting for the delivery man ever since. I was getting worried he wouldn't come, that I'd get the package tomorrow.

But, just now, I saw a guy with tattoos through the front window. I opened the door, was he from IRVING?

Irving told me the packaging wasn't perfect. That Henley wanted some of the early covers destroyed, the tiny percentage that didn't have the color right. Looked fine to me, I wouldn't have complained.

And after removing the shrinkwrap with the Wal-Mart sticker, I turn the cardboard package over and see the TWENTY TRACKS ON 2 CDs!

And then I open my computer drawer and insert disc one...

I remember dropping the needle on "Hotel California". Buying the album the day it came out, before anything but "New Kid In Town" was on the radio. I did a double take as the sound came out of the speakers. The same thing JUST HAPPENED! Oh, the sweet SOUND! How could it sound THIS GOOD? NOTHING sounds this good. Everything's squashed today. But this was just like 1976, I felt the group was living RIGHT INSIDE THE SPEAKERS.

The harmonies, this one certain change in "No More Walks In The Wood"... If you had that spirit back in 1969, you'll get it.

The second cut is the single, "How Long". And then came "Busy Being Fabulous".

You remember "Life In The Fast Lane", don't you? Surely make you lose your mind. A feeling we were all familiar with, a scene we knew, the Eagles nailed it, the phrase soon became part of the vernacular.

How come the EAGLES, thirty five years old, can skewer stardom, aligning with our sensibilities here in the cheap seats, and everybody on the hit parade, the rappers to the popsters, think we're buying their shit, think we believe they're fabulous?

When Henley starts to sing, you hear that voice from "The Long Run". It's like it's 1979 all over again.

"I came home to an empty house and I found your little note:
'Don't wait up for me tonight', and that was all she wrote
Do you think I don't know that you're out on the town with all of your high-rollin' friends?
But, what do you do when you come up empty? Where do you go when the party ends?

You were just too busy being fabulous
Too busy to think about us
I don't know what you were dreaming of
Somehow you forgot about love
And you were just too busy being fabulous, uh-huh"

Famous does not make your life work. Might get you laid, but won't get you in a relationship. You've got to be three-dimensional, you've got to be a human being, you've got to be trustworthy. But none of the youngsters singing seem to know this. This is why we loved our acts, THEIR TRUTH! Maybe Don sowed his wild oats, but he grew up. JUST LIKE US!

I've got no idea what the other seventeen tracks sound like. I couldn't get that far, I couldn't wait to e-mail you.

It's not about digesting music, thinking about it. It's about the VISCERAL RESPONSE! Ten minutes in and I'm suddenly linked to who I was back when. I feel like I'm not alone on this earth. I feel like I'm ALIVE!

It's not about airplay, it's not about sales numbers, it's not even about Wal-Mart. It's about music. How does the MUSIC make you feel. The music hasn't been emphasized in such a long time. And, it doesn't matter if you get off on what I do. We don't all have the same crush, we're not all in love with the same person. But, if you were ever an Eagles fan, when you drop the metaphorical needle on "Long Road Out Of Eden", your mind will be positively blown.

(This is where Bob talks about divorce and how this song ties it all up and how we all pray to live through it if God forbid you go through it):

I'm in a relationship now. With another person who's been wounded. We're trying to make our parts mesh. But we're burdened by too many bad experiences, there are constantly misunderstandings. But we persevere. Because that's what we have in common, commitment and dedication. I'm leaving my old life behind. But at moments it creeps back in. Like in the mountains only an hour ago.

I was listening to the new Eagles album on my iPod and I heard this song, "Waiting In The Weeds". It spoke of hope, or rather the evaporation thereof.

"I don't know when I realized the dream was over Well, there was no particular hour, no given day You know, it didn't go down in flame There was no final scene, no frozen frame I just watched it slowly fade away"

I thought the fact we weren't divorced meant we had a chance of getting back together, that was my ace in the hole. Sometimes the ace is not the highest card in the deck. I think I just realized the dream was over. It's about bonding with someone new. But the dream faded so slowly.

"And I've been waiting in the weeds Waiting for the dust to settle down Along the back roads, running through the fields Lying on the outskirts of this lonesome town And I imagine sunlight in your hair You're at the county fair You're holding hands and laughing And now, the Ferris wheel has stopped You're swinging on the top, suspended there with him"

I didn't run into her at the fair, but the Pier. With her new guy, who seemed to have no idea who I was. She seemed uncomfortable, she wanted nothing to do with me. She asked me if I had any money. And then she was gone. "I've been stumbling through some dark places But I'm following the plow I know I've fallen out of your good graces But it's all right now"

Shortly thereafter, we instituted divorce proceedings. The six month waiting period was eerie. Then the day arrived, and I was free. I've been to some dark places. I hope you haven't been. But I'm beginning to believe it's the human condition. Try to hang on, do what you need to get through. Try to avoid numbing the pain. Rely on your friends. If you can just hang on, you can get through. At least that's the way I see it.

(Bob can get really in touch with music, but about that epic title song...)

The first track on the second disc of the new Eagles album is a ten minute epic. You won’t hear it on the radio. Certainly not during the morning, when the zoo is open for business and the animals are out. And not during drive time, when the commercials need to be squeezed in. And the band is neither fish nor fowl, neither pop nor country. There’s nowhere for them to fit.

And those stereos we bought back then. They’ve been replaced by home theatres. We’ve got all the porn we can eat on our computer screens, but we listen via tiny little speakers. The old temples of worship are long gone. Those rooms with giant JBLs, ready to blow your hair back like in that Maxell ad.

And you wonder why we’re in shit shape. We’ve lost our infrastructure, we can’t even decipher the tablets handed down to us.

You can go to an Eagles show and relive the seventies. But they were never about live. The Eagles were about records. Home, at a friend’s house, as a friend rolled a joint in an album cover and the music came pouring out of the speakers. One of these nights, that’s for sure.

This isn’t about the cult of celebrity. This isn’t about whether you approve of Don Henley. This is about whether you BELIEVE! In the power of music, in brotherhood. Or are you just out for yourself, living in a gated community, keeping the riff-raff out? Is it somebody else’s problem, or yours?

I can tell you, it’s OURS!

Those are the questions. I’d like to tell you I have the answers. I don’t. But the questions came to my brain while I was listening to the title track of the new Eagles album. The music set my mind free. It didn’t make me dance. Didn’t only make me think about my libido. It made me ponder this fucked up world we live in.

Don’t tell me our hands are tied. Don’t tell me you can’t care. Don’t tell me about major labels. I don’t give a shit what Rapino thinks, Barry Diller either.
Doug Morris can kiss my fucking ass. Jimmy Iovine can follow the dollar off into the sunset for all I care.

It’s not about any of these fucks. It’s about the musicians. And one good thing about this post-Napster era is the bands are now free to follow their own muse, do it their own way. Maybe we can get back to where we once belonged.

Or do you have to lose a loved one. Or your house. Or your pension. What has to happen for you to be motivated?

Sure, musicians need to get paid. But if that’s why they’re doing it, the music sucks. Art is a higher calling. Don’t listen to the President, listen to the records. Find someone who’s saying something. Tune in, and drop in.

Start with "Long Road To Eden". You’ll hear the darkness and despair. It’ll motivate you to DO SOMETHING!

We’re all in this together. It’s about time everybody realized this. My generation stopped a war. We have the power. And with the music alongside us, we’re UNBEATABLE!

Weaving down the American highway
Through the litter and the wreckage and the cultural junk
Bloated with entitlement; loaded on propaganda
And now we’re driving dazed and drunk
Been down the road to Damascus, the road to Mandalay
Met the ghost of Caesar on the Appian Way
He said, ‘It’s hard to stop this bingeing, once you get a taste’‘
But the road to empire is a bloody, stupid waste’
Behold the bitten apple - the power of the toolsBut all the knowledge in the world is of no use to fools
And it’s a long road out of Eden

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We Hate To Say We Told You So, But Damn They Work Fast

As predicted here first, you're looking at the New Athletic Director for the University of Nebraska. Presser slated for 5:15pm CST for those interested. The sound you hear in the background is the noose tightening a lot more on the Callahan Crew.

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What Now?

Make no mistake. Steve Pederson has always been target number one in this mess. He was the guy who came in and fired a well liked coach who put together a relatively decent coaching staff (after being forced to fire long time friends and assistants), and oh by the way finished the season 9-3, which right now seems like a terrific season. And then Pederson had absolutely no idea what to do next. There weren't lines of ambulances waiting outside the AD's door for an interview. There weren't enough great golf courses for Steve Spurrier to seriously consider taking the job. Houston Nutt parlayed the interest into a contract extension at Arkansas. Nebraska was at the time still one of the most elite college football programs in the nation...and NOBODY wanted the job.

Except for two people, who Steve Pederson referred to as, "Coach Pellini" and "Coach Gill." Both were given what were referred to as "interviews", although Pellini went on record as saying "I'd hardly call that a job interview." Either Pellini or Gill would have been great hires. Husker Nation fell hard for Pellini and his fiery ways and the defense and winning the bowl game as interim coach. And Turner Gill was, and still is, the link to the great Husker tradition. Pellini is now a very hot coaching candidate, and one would think with Stevie P's shit packed up and gone that he'd at least give Nebraska a listen. Gill is stuck in Buffalo, and who knows what can happen with him now.

The bottom line is, January, 2004 came around, Steve Pederson threw his hands up in the air and non-verbally said, "I HAVE NO IDEA WHO CAN BE OUR COACH!" Then, an unemployable former head coach, who was ceremoniously shit-canned, fell into his lap. Steve Pederson wrapped around that ousted Raider coach who failed to change the audibles in the Super Bowl, and rolled the dice in a big way. Never mind this coach lost control of a team that included Jerry Rice and Tim Brown. Never mind this guy publicly called his team and players "the stupidest bunch of players in the world." This had disaster written all over it. There was never a "hey, this is crazy enough it just might work" thing about it. We'd all seen the movie before, and the ending never changes.

But that still leaves us with the big pink elephant in the room. One Bill Callahan, who also foolishly was given a contract extension AFTER THE FIRST GAME! In all likelihood, Harvey Perlman is on bended knee begging Tom Osborne to take the post in a role similar to the way Bob Devaney ran things. The problem with Osborne is he's not really the "firing" type. In fact, I can't remember Osborne firing anyone. His loyalty and generosity are well documented, and he's probably the only one who can unite everyone in terms of turmoil (READ: TO can be AD and Billy C can finish the season out, even if he loses every game, still a possibility). Osborne can always get Perlman or somebody else to do his bidding for him in terms of popping a cap in Callahan. What Osborne can bring come the off-season is that legitimate line of coaches who would really, really want the Nebraska job. And TO isn't an NFL guy. He'll get someone from the college ranks. Hell, he'll probably look to Gill and Pellini. He may even know where the next Bob Stoops is hiding.

If this sounds like it's an important decision, that's because in the state of Nebraska it is. The guess here that at least 80% of the state's population revolve their lives around Husker Football. People plan weddings around Husker games, and book their fall weddings on open dates when possible. A lot of people have learned to live and enjoy life and learn the sky doesn't fall when Nebraska loses over the past 8 years. But there can be no mistake that the economy in Nebraska actually goes down when Nebraska loses. People are more pissed off. Nobody wants to go out as much. It's a shallow mentality, but have you visited Nebraska? Yes, there's a beautiful new building in downtown Omaha called the Qwest Center that has brought in acts like the Eagles, U2, Paul McCartney and The Rolling Stones (the latter concert of which both Callahan and Pederson attended - together). Creighton Basketball has become the hot winter ticket, selling out the Qwest center to the tune of 15,000+/game. Nebraskans have learned there are plenty more things to enjoy (the new Radiohead album perhaps, which is free) on Husker Saturdays. But you cannot get past the fact that there is Nebraska football, and then there's everything else. It's always been that way, and will continue to do so.

Chances are we're stuck with our big pink elephant in the room through the day after Thanksgiving. Don't kid yourself -- there's a behind the curtain coaching search going on right now. The following Monday, new Athletic Director Tom Osborne will introduce the next head coach of the Nebraska Cornhuskers. Everybody will become overly excited, probably even more so when Callahan promised magic with the vaunted West Coast Offense.

But I have to wonder what the fuck happened with Steve Pederson. He turned things around in a hurry at Pittsburgh. EVERYONE wanted him here when Bill Byrne escaped for Texas A&M (and if he survives that mess, whoa, look out). Trev Alberts went on local and national television demanding Pederson get hired as AD. He was a native Nebraskan. He was on Osborne's staff. He's in one of the pictures from one of the 1990's National Championship teams. To me, Pederson always looked like the type of guy who if you shook hands with him, you'd have to check to make sure you still had 5 fingers. I could never find one reason to trust the guy, even though I don't blame him for firing that lush Solich. But now this guy's legacy is the way he botched the Solich firing. How he botched the search for a new head coach. How he hired a damaged goods coach who just as well have showed up to the job interview dressed as Little Bo Peep.

In other words, Pederson's legacy will forever be that he himself destroyed the once dominate and elite Nebraska football program.

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