Okay, for many, this post may as well get filed under “that’s too much information.” The demented geniuses at EDSBS made this the latest BlogPoll Roundtable issue last week. I’m just getting around to it, because I am not sure there is that much interest and if there is, then I’m even more disturbed to know that.
1. Education. List the region of the country you were born in, what universities you attended and at least one other you would have attended if your alma mater didn’t exist.
Raised in Lebanon, PA amidst the Amish and Mennonites. Went to Pitt from 88-92 ending up with a BA in Poli Sci and Business, minors in economics and accounting (I had some trouble making up my mind). Case Law School in Cleveland in the mid-90s. If Pitt hadn’t existed I probably would have ended up at Emory down in Atlanta or Boston U as those were the other schools I had on my list (that accepted me).
2. Sports Affiliations. List your top 10 favorite teams in all of sports in descending order. For instance, your alma mater’s football team may be number 1, but perhaps there is a professional team that squeezes in before you get to your alma mater’s lacrosse team.
A (1): Pitt football
A (2): Pitt basketball
C: NY Yankees (it’s a family thing)
D: Philadelphia Eagles
E: Philadelphia 76ers
F: Pittsburgh Penguins
After that I can’t call them favorites, but they are teams I cheer for out of familiarity or pity.
G: Pittsburgh Steelers (familiarity, and it irritates the natives and my wife)
H: Cleveland Cavaliers (both)
I: Philadelphia Phillies (If not for my Yankee upbringing, this would be my favorite baseball team. Grew up watching them and listening to Harry Kalas call the games. I can still rattle off the 1980 World Series regulars by heart.)
J: Pittsburgh Pirates (Pity)
3. Movies. List the movie you’ve watched the most, your favorite sports related movie, the movie you secretly love but don’t like to admit it (possibly a chick flick or b film), and the movie you were (or still are) most looking forward to from this summer’s season.
Most watched: Monty Python and the Holy Grail, Airplane! or Blazing Saddles. I’m really not sure which I’ve watched more times.
Favorite sports related: Slap Shot
Don’t like to admit: Starship Troopers. Yes, I know it is practically nothing like the classic Heinlein book. In fact, I do my best to pretend they have absolutely no relation. It’s completely mindless, poorly acted, lots of violence and even gratutitous nudity serving no purpose. What’s not to enjoy?
4. Music. List your favorite band from middle school, high school, college and today. Also, as with the movies, include the song you secretly love but don’t like to admit. If Nickleback is involved in any of these responses, please give a detailed explanation as to why, god, why.
Working backwards, I don’t think there is a favorite band any longer. Part of it, is I just haven’t found time to look for good new stuff. Something had to give as you get older, have the family and such. Music seems to be the thing. I haven’t bought a new album in several years. Mostly it’s been stuff like some Dick’s Picks, maybe some Widespread Panic, or just finally going to CD on a bunch of stuff that I still had on tape (Replacements, old U2, etc.).
College was now more than 10 years ago. Grateful Dead and Pearl Jam — I think.
High School was mainly the Kinks.
I’m not going back any further.
Don’t like to admit: Alannah Myles, “BlackVelvet.” It was that sultry, smoky, voice that makes me think of a young Kathleen Turner in Body Heat or even better — Crimes of Passion.
5. Books. Favorite book you’ve finished, worst book you’ve finished and the book you really should read but haven’t gotten around to it.
Favorite Read: The Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy has profoundly influenced my life. I periodically go back to re-read it.
Worst Read: I feel a need to rationalize justify. When I was in college, two things collided, a subscription to Playboy and some chick interested in feminist lit. A subscription, means that eventually you might actually read some of the material besides turn-ons and turn-offs and the college football/basketball previews. In the short hits section of the mag, before getting to the tastefully done airbrushing, there was a lambasting of this book from a radical feminist/law professor, Catherine McKinnon, Only Words. It was so over the top, that I thought for sure that they were exaggerating. I made a mental note to maybe see if it was that insane. A few months later, I was trying to start something with a girl who actually paid some lip service to the stuff.
I actually blew cash on the book. To my enduring shame. The things you do to try and get laid. The shit was incomprehensible, tortured logic beyond belief and complete puritanical, censorous crap. Needless to say, I didn’t get any.
Should Read: The wife has been after me for years to read some Terry Pratchett.
6. Travel. Favorite city you’ve ever been to and the one place you still must visit before you shuffle off this mortal coil.
Favorite City: Chicago, I guess.
Must Visit: Amsterdam. For the, uh, museums.
7. What do you love most about college football in 20 words or less?
A weak Haiku version:
Violence, contact
Emotions, passion displayed
Tailgate, drink, friends.
