Tuesday, August 12, 2008
Barry Switzer on "Saving Grace"
Barry Switzer is bigger than ou football, so even I, a diehard Oklahoma State Cowboy, was tickled to see him play himself on "Saving Grace" last night.
Here's one of two clips, this one showing Grace genuflecting and hailing the Wishbone. Not over the top. I, my own self, was somewhat atwitter when I met Switzer on a work thing, but then I met Toby Keith at the same time at the same thing -- and yes, I got their dang autographs so sue me.
:-)
Embrace your grace.
--ER
Here's one of two clips, this one showing Grace genuflecting and hailing the Wishbone. Not over the top. I, my own self, was somewhat atwitter when I met Switzer on a work thing, but then I met Toby Keith at the same time at the same thing -- and yes, I got their dang autographs so sue me.
:-)
Embrace your grace.
--ER
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You crack me up.
You want me to tell you about the time I was in Gridiron and had to be on stage -- wearing tights and doing some stupid dance -- right in front of Barry? (That's really all there was to it, other than the look of horror on his face.)
You want me to tell you about the time I was in Gridiron and had to be on stage -- wearing tights and doing some stupid dance -- right in front of Barry? (That's really all there was to it, other than the look of horror on his face.)
LOL. Hey, I know he puts his britches on one leg at a time like anybody else. That's one of the great things about him: He's just a regular guy who happens to be a walkin' Oklahoma icon. :-)
I saw him at the airport awhile back. Just being a guy. I think he was getting off a plane I was fixin' to get on. I had an OSU cap on, and some ou-fan woman sort of gave me a (rare) good-natured hard time because I didn't doff it in his presence, although, as I recall, I did greet him kindly. I told her: "I showed Mr. Switzere respect. But Mr. Switzer is bigger than ou. I'll be keepin' my cap on."
I saw him at the airport awhile back. Just being a guy. I think he was getting off a plane I was fixin' to get on. I had an OSU cap on, and some ou-fan woman sort of gave me a (rare) good-natured hard time because I didn't doff it in his presence, although, as I recall, I did greet him kindly. I told her: "I showed Mr. Switzere respect. But Mr. Switzer is bigger than ou. I'll be keepin' my cap on."
Switzer I can understand. Keith? Not so much. I realize he's big for country music aficionados, but not being one (except for the best of the best), I just don't see how a guy who writes songs about being a barfly ("I love this bar"), infidelity ("What goes on in Mexico stays in Mexico"), and his silly post-9/11 posturing without the moral guts to put his life on the line (he was sill young enough, especially with the recruitment age raised to do so) I just can't take him seriously as anything more than a middling songwriter/singer.
In my neck of the woods growing up, it wasn't Switzer but Joe Paterno at Penn State (still there!) who was bigger than any adherence to his team. My father has a love/hate thing with Paterno. He watches Penn State football because he wants to watch Paterno lose, but he admires his tenacity and his ability to handle pressure without throwing a tantrum.
In my neck of the woods growing up, it wasn't Switzer but Joe Paterno at Penn State (still there!) who was bigger than any adherence to his team. My father has a love/hate thing with Paterno. He watches Penn State football because he wants to watch Paterno lose, but he admires his tenacity and his ability to handle pressure without throwing a tantrum.
Toby touches my inner redneck.
And, I don't think he was "posturing." He has made more USO trips during these wars than anyone and has put himself in actual harm's way a time or two.
I don't blame the Dixie Chicks for what they said, and I don't blame him for what he said. I consider it a Southern Plains family fight, the Chicks bein' West Texans, Toby bein' a Western Oklahoman.
But, I know you don't like him or what he's about, and that's OK, too. Just be ready for me to sing his praises again after Dr. ER and I go see him and fellow Texan-Okie Rodney Carrington in "Beer for My Horses." :-)
And, I don't think he was "posturing." He has made more USO trips during these wars than anyone and has put himself in actual harm's way a time or two.
I don't blame the Dixie Chicks for what they said, and I don't blame him for what he said. I consider it a Southern Plains family fight, the Chicks bein' West Texans, Toby bein' a Western Oklahoman.
But, I know you don't like him or what he's about, and that's OK, too. Just be ready for me to sing his praises again after Dr. ER and I go see him and fellow Texan-Okie Rodney Carrington in "Beer for My Horses." :-)
More reasons for me to like Toby Keith, from Wiki:
[edit] Political beliefs and controversies
Keith considers himself "a Conservative Democrat who is sometimes embarrassed for his party."[citation needed] He endorsed the re-election of President George W. Bush in 2004 and performed at a Dallas, Texas rally on the night before the election. Keith also endorsed Democrat Dan Boren in his successful run in Oklahoma's 2nd Congressional district and is good friends with Democratic New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson.
In a January 2007 interview with Newsday, Keith was asked whether or not he supported the Iraq War. He responded with "Never did." He favors setting a time limit on the campaign. He also said, "I don't apologize for being patriotic... If there is something socially incorrect about being patriotic and supporting your troops, then they can kiss my [ass] on that, because I'm not going to budge on that at all. And that has nothing to do with politics. Politics is what's killing America."[5]
[edit] The Angry American song
On March 24, 2001, Keith’s father, H.K. Covel, was killed in a car accident. That event and the September 11, 2001 attacks prompted Keith to write the song "Courtesy of the Red, White, & Blue (The Angry American)", a song about his father’s patriotism and faith in the USA. At first, Keith refused to record the song and sang it only live at his concerts for military personnel. The reaction was so strong that the Commandant of the Marine Corps James L. Jones told Keith it was his duty as an American citizen to record the song.[6] As the lead single from the album Unleashed (2002), "Courtesy of the Red, White, & Blue" peaked at number 1 over the weekend of July 4.
Toby Keith visits with fans during brief breaks in filming the music video "American Soldier" in hangar 1600 at Edwards Air Force Base, November 17, 2003.ABC invited Keith to sing "Courtesy of the Red, White, & Blue" on a patriotic special it was producing. However, the host of the show, newsman Peter Jennings, requested that Keith soften the lyrics of the song or choose another song to sing.[citation needed] Keith refused both of the requests and did not appear on the special. The rift gave the song a considerable amount of publicity, which led to many national interviews and public performances of the song.
[edit] Feud with the Dixie Chicks
Keith had a public feud with the Dixie Chicks over the song "Courtesy of the Red, White, & Blue", as well as over comments they made about President George W. Bush on stage during a concert in London. The lead singer of the Dixie Chicks, Natalie Maines, publicly stated that Keith's song was "ignorant, and it makes country music sound ignorant."[7] Keith responded by belittling Maines' songwriting skills, and by displaying a backdrop at his concerts showing a doctored photo of Maines with Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein. On May 21, 2003, Maines wore a T-shirt with the letters FUTK on the front at the Academy of Country Music Awards.[8] While a spokesperson for the Dixie Chicks said that the acronym stood for "Friends United in Truth and Kindness," many including host Vince Gill took it to be a shot at Keith ("Fuck You Toby Keith"). In an October 2004 appearance on Real Time with Bill Maher, Maines finally confessed that it was indeed a shot at Toby Keith, and that she "thought that nobody would get it."[9]
In August 2003, Keith publicly declared he was done feuding with Maines 'because he's realized there are far more important things to concentrate on'.[10] However, he continues to refuse to say Maines' name, and claims that the doctored photo was intended to express his feeling that Maines' criticism was tyrannical and a dictator-like attempt to squelch Keith's free speech.[5]
However, it was announced in March 2008 that Keith and the Dixie Chicks would appear together in a series of television commercials on global warming, funded in part by Al Gore and his Alliance for Climate Protection. The commercials pair well-known public figures, who otherwise would not agree on many issues, to convey messages about climate change. Along with Keith and the Dixie Chicks, television spots also feature current Democratic Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, with former Republican Speaker Newt Gingrich, and left-leaning Rev. Al Sharpton paired together with the right-leaning Rev. Pat Robertson.[11]
[edit] Political beliefs and controversies
Keith considers himself "a Conservative Democrat who is sometimes embarrassed for his party."[citation needed] He endorsed the re-election of President George W. Bush in 2004 and performed at a Dallas, Texas rally on the night before the election. Keith also endorsed Democrat Dan Boren in his successful run in Oklahoma's 2nd Congressional district and is good friends with Democratic New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson.
In a January 2007 interview with Newsday, Keith was asked whether or not he supported the Iraq War. He responded with "Never did." He favors setting a time limit on the campaign. He also said, "I don't apologize for being patriotic... If there is something socially incorrect about being patriotic and supporting your troops, then they can kiss my [ass] on that, because I'm not going to budge on that at all. And that has nothing to do with politics. Politics is what's killing America."[5]
[edit] The Angry American song
On March 24, 2001, Keith’s father, H.K. Covel, was killed in a car accident. That event and the September 11, 2001 attacks prompted Keith to write the song "Courtesy of the Red, White, & Blue (The Angry American)", a song about his father’s patriotism and faith in the USA. At first, Keith refused to record the song and sang it only live at his concerts for military personnel. The reaction was so strong that the Commandant of the Marine Corps James L. Jones told Keith it was his duty as an American citizen to record the song.[6] As the lead single from the album Unleashed (2002), "Courtesy of the Red, White, & Blue" peaked at number 1 over the weekend of July 4.
Toby Keith visits with fans during brief breaks in filming the music video "American Soldier" in hangar 1600 at Edwards Air Force Base, November 17, 2003.ABC invited Keith to sing "Courtesy of the Red, White, & Blue" on a patriotic special it was producing. However, the host of the show, newsman Peter Jennings, requested that Keith soften the lyrics of the song or choose another song to sing.[citation needed] Keith refused both of the requests and did not appear on the special. The rift gave the song a considerable amount of publicity, which led to many national interviews and public performances of the song.
[edit] Feud with the Dixie Chicks
Keith had a public feud with the Dixie Chicks over the song "Courtesy of the Red, White, & Blue", as well as over comments they made about President George W. Bush on stage during a concert in London. The lead singer of the Dixie Chicks, Natalie Maines, publicly stated that Keith's song was "ignorant, and it makes country music sound ignorant."[7] Keith responded by belittling Maines' songwriting skills, and by displaying a backdrop at his concerts showing a doctored photo of Maines with Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein. On May 21, 2003, Maines wore a T-shirt with the letters FUTK on the front at the Academy of Country Music Awards.[8] While a spokesperson for the Dixie Chicks said that the acronym stood for "Friends United in Truth and Kindness," many including host Vince Gill took it to be a shot at Keith ("Fuck You Toby Keith"). In an October 2004 appearance on Real Time with Bill Maher, Maines finally confessed that it was indeed a shot at Toby Keith, and that she "thought that nobody would get it."[9]
In August 2003, Keith publicly declared he was done feuding with Maines 'because he's realized there are far more important things to concentrate on'.[10] However, he continues to refuse to say Maines' name, and claims that the doctored photo was intended to express his feeling that Maines' criticism was tyrannical and a dictator-like attempt to squelch Keith's free speech.[5]
However, it was announced in March 2008 that Keith and the Dixie Chicks would appear together in a series of television commercials on global warming, funded in part by Al Gore and his Alliance for Climate Protection. The commercials pair well-known public figures, who otherwise would not agree on many issues, to convey messages about climate change. Along with Keith and the Dixie Chicks, television spots also feature current Democratic Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, with former Republican Speaker Newt Gingrich, and left-leaning Rev. Al Sharpton paired together with the right-leaning Rev. Pat Robertson.[11]
If you think all this will somehow make us forget that you liked Mama Mia (and/or that I won't continue to bring that up at opportune times) you're mistaken. :)
Jaded maybe, but my brief encounters with Switzer were all of a burecratic nature and they weren't that much fun. His ass was in a sling at the time, and when your ass is slung and you're hanging out for any potshot anyone cares to take, you don't look so good. Nor did I care for his attitude when it came to the welfare of people other than his precious jocks and their performace on Saturdays. But all that is ancient history now, good to see an icon being worshiped from time to time.
As for TK, he's just slow and behind the curve most times.
Speaking of icons and worship, I went to see Mike the Tiger today.
Now where would you think I might be?
As for TK, he's just slow and behind the curve most times.
Speaking of icons and worship, I went to see Mike the Tiger today.
Now where would you think I might be?
LSU exactly. Just finished off a plate of blackend alligator, boudin, and a bowl of crab corn bisque, washed down by two quarts of ice tea (make that ice with tea). I'm rumaging though my stuff looking for some tums.
I'll do that. You tell Dr. ER I'll buy her lunch next week. Heck you can come along too if you want.
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