Tag Archives: Balladeer’s Blog

COLLEGE BASEBALL: MORE NCCAA REGIONAL CHAMPIONS CROWNED

Here are those Regional Champions who have joined Concordia (MI) so far in punching their tickets to the College World Series in the NCCAA (National Christian College Athletic Association):

NORTH CENTRAL REGION

TRINITY CHRISTIAN TROLLCHAMPIONSHIP GAME: The top seeds – the TRINITY CHRISTIAN COLLEGE TROLLS – did battle with the 2nd seeded HANNIBAL-LAGRANGE UNIVERSITY TROJANS. After 2 scoreless Innings the Trolls went on top 2-0 in the 3rd.

The Trojans knotted things up at 2-2 in the 5th Inning, then neither team scored again until Trinity Christian College won it 4-2 in the 9th. Bryan Vanderlee pitched for the win. * THE TROLLS ARE CHAMPIONS OF THE NORTH CENTRAL REGION * Continue reading →

6 Comments

Filed under College Baseball

FOOL KILLER: PART SEVENTEEN – AUGUST OF 1919

Balladeer’s Blog continues its examination of the many facets of Fool Killer lore. FOR PART ONE, INCLUDING THE HISTORICAL CONTEXT, CLICK HERE

Fool Killer 1910-1929PART SEVENTEEN: Resuming my look at James Larkin Pearson’s Fool Killer (Or Fool-Killer as he wrote it). In August of 1919 Pearson brought the Fool Killer (I prefer no hyphen) out of his latest hibernation with the words “After resting for two years the Fool-Killer goes on duty again.”

This time around the figure had nationwide exposure and with the enormous number of railroads criss-crossing the country by now he could get around more quickly than ever. 

In the previous installment I provided the background information on Pearson and his Fool Killer. This time around we can jump right into the “fools” who were the fictional figure’s August 1919 targets:

Fool Killer Gray Beard*** People still pushing Democrat President Woodrow Wilson’s claim that the World War (1914-1918) was fought to “Make the world safe for Democracy.” The Fool Killer would swing away at such people while pointing out the less-than-democratic nature of some of the Allied Powers governments from the recent conflict, especially England, Italy and Japan.

*** Bloated rich pigs – “plutes” as this Fool Killer called them, short for plutocrats – who try to blame the “class consciousness” of American laborers wanting better working conditions on the fairly new Bolshevik government in the emerging Soviet Union. (An especially idiotic claim by the plutocrats, since American workers had been striking, etc, for decades before the Bolsheviks took power.)  

Skull walking stick*** A preacher who publicly said that he “almost wishes sometimes that Jesus would come already.” The Fool Killer added a joke wondering how that preacher would feel if he was on a trip and his wife said that she “almost wishes sometimes” that he would come back from his trip already. (Pearson was, sad to say, very religious and often took shots at clergy members he found insufficiently “devout.”) 

*** White Russians (The fallen Russian aristocrats and their supporters).

*** Mossbacks (Narrow-minded conservatives. Think of the clueless, stuffy white guys in suits at National Review for just one example.) Continue reading →

12 Comments

Filed under Mythology, Neglected History

HOMBRE (1981): SPAIN’S POST-APOCALYPSE HERO

HombreAT THE END OF THE RIVER – More Weirdness at the End of the World, this time with an adventure featuring Spain’s answer to Mad Max: Hombre himself. This character was created by Antonio Segura and Jose Ortiz in 1981 in the Spanish publication Cimoc. Hombre went on to appear in notably “adult” comic books and magazines around the world, including reprints in Heavy Metal here in America.    

In this age of non-stop comic book adaptations for movies and television I’m amazed that the excellent Hombre series hasn’t been tackled in some form. The adult sexuality, graphic violence, Alien-style mutated life-forms, relentlessly grim storylines and gratuitous nudity are tailor-made for a cable series or R-rated films.

Hombre 2The title character Hombre roams our post-apocalypse planet armed to the teeth and ready to kill or be killed on a daily basis. His first-person narration echoes the best aspects of hard-boiled Film Noir detective stories while the action and mis en scene combine the best elements of Spaghetti Westerns, Post-Apocalypse movies and Martial Arts flicks. Think Six-String Samurai but without the rock and roll samurai.

There is no optimism in the world inhabited by Hombre. Antonio Segura’s writing features often tragic endings which must have put 1980s readers in mind of the downbeat stories on Hill Street Blues and Saint Elsewhere.

Hombre 3Segura mostly avoided easy narratives and my least favorite storyline involved Atila, the badass woman warrior. The character was great, but the tale seemed very UN-Segura-like to me. I probably would have liked her in her own spin-off story but having two such nigh-indestructible figures in one tale put things too far into the realm of upbeat fictional tropes to me. I’m virtually alone on that, by the way, since most fans LOVE the Atila story.

AT THE END OF THE RIVER – Back to the main topic of this blog post, one of the Hombre tales that best exemplifies the series’ aesthetic sensibilities. Our protagonist is the best there is at what he does, but in a much grimmer and more adult way than Wolverine ever managed.  Continue reading →

48 Comments

Filed under Future History, Neo-Pulp, Superheroes

USCAA COLLEGE BASEBALL TEAMS IN THEIR WORLD SERIES

Here are the 10 teams competing in the World Series for the USCAA (United States Collegiate Athletic Association). First game is on Monday, May 13th. 

newportnewsapprentice-school-builderTOP SEED

Institution Name – NEWPORT NEWS APPRENTICE SCHOOL 

Team Name – BUILDERS (Shipbuilders)

.

Cincinatti Clermont Cougars logo biggerSECOND SEED

Institution Name – UNIVERSITY OF CINCINNATI AT CLERMONT

Team Name – COUGARS

Penn State Dubois logoTHIRD SEED

Institution Name – PENN STATE AT DUBOIS

Team Name – LIONS

.

Wright State Lake Campus LakersFOURTH SEED

Institution Name – WRIGHT STATE AT THE LAKE

Team Name – LAKERS

Continue reading →

13 Comments

Filed under College Baseball

COLLEGE BASEBALL: NAIA NATIONAL TOURNAMENT BRACKETS

georgia gwinnettLAWRENCEVILLE BRACKET

Top Seed: GEORGIA GWINNETT COLLEGE GRIZZLIES

2. GEORGETOWN (KY) COLLEGE TIGERS    ###    3. INDIANA UNIVERSITY SOUTHEAST GRENADIERS    ###    4. SAINT XAVIER UNIVERSITY COUGARS    ###    5. UNION COLLEGE BULLDOGS

Southeastern University Fire NEWMACON BRACKET

Top Seed: SOUTHEASTERN UNIVERSITY FIRE (Defending Champions) 

2. MIDDLE GEORGIA STATE KNIGHTS    ###   3. UNIVERSITY OF RIO GRANDE (OH) RED STORM    ###   4. HUNTINGTON UNIVERSITY FORESTERS    ###   5. UNIVERSITY OF BRITISH COLUMBIA THUNDERBIRDS

USAO Drover newSANTA BARBARA BRACKET

Top Seed: UNIVERSITY OF SCIENCE & ARTS OF OKLAHOMA DROVERS

2. WESTMONT COLLEGE WARRIORS    ###   3. UNIVERSITY OF ANTELOPE VALLEY PIONEERS   ###   4. ARIZONA CHRISTIAN UNIVERSITY FIRESTORM   ###   5. UNIVERSITY OF JAMESTOWN JIMMIES   Continue reading →

10 Comments

Filed under College Baseball

FOOL KILLER: PART SIXTEEN – JAMES LARKIN PEARSON

Balladeer’s Blog continues its examination of the many facets of Fool Killer lore. FOR PART ONE, INCLUDING THE HISTORICAL CONTEXT, CLICK HERE

Fool Killer 1910-1929PART SIXTEEN: James Larkin Pearson, poet and newspaper man, carried on the Fool Killer tradition from 1910 to 1917, then again from 1919 to 1929. Pearson’s fellow North Carolinian Charles Napoleon Bonaparte Evans had written the Fool Killer Letters of the 19th Century so it’s appropriate that another Tar Heel continue the lore for so many years of the 20th Century.

James Larkin PearsonIn August of 1917 Pearson’s nationwide publication called The Fool-Killer changed its title and format because of America’s entry into World War One four months earlier. That change from the hard-hitting satire of Fool Killing was made to show solidarity while the war raged.

In August of 1919 Pearson changed the name back to The Fool-Killer and resumed the hard-hitting political satire. For us fans of Fool Killer lore we can put tongue in cheek and assume that the figure had gone into hibernation for a few years, like he had during the Civil War.   Continue reading →

16 Comments

Filed under Mythology, Neglected History

COLLEGE BASEBALL: EVEN MORE CONFERENCE TOURNAMENT CHAMPS

Four more tickets punched to the NAIA National Tournament.

SOONER ATHLETIC CONFERENCE

USAO Drover newCHAMPIONSHIP GAME: The top seeds – the storied UNIVERSITY OF SCIENCE & ARTS OF OKLAHOMA DROVERS – took on the 8th seeded SOUTHWESTERN ASSEMBLIES OF GOD UNIVERSITY LIONS. Midnight finally tolled for the Cinderella Lions as the Drovers parlayed a 3-1 1st Inning lead into a mammoth 13-2 advantage in the 3rd.

USAO continued dominating the rest of the way, folding, spindling and mutilating SAGU to the tune of TWENTY-TWO to THREE! Ricardo Velez pitched for the win. * THE DROVERS ARE CHAMPIONS OF THE SAC TOURNAMENT * 

RED RIVER ATHLETIC CONFERENCE

LSU Shreveport Pilots NEWCHAMPIONSHIP GAME: The top seeded LSU-SHREVEPORT PILOTS faced the 6 seeds – the JARVIS CHRISTIAN COLLEGE BULLDOGS. The Bulldogs held a 2-1 edge by the 2nd Inning but the Pilots knotted things up at 2-2 in the 4th.

Jarvis Christian College went back on top 3-2 in the 7th Inning but LSU-Shreveport tied up the score 3-3 in the 8th and then won the game 4-3 in the 9th. Pitcher Brendan Owens notched the W. * THE PILOTS ARE CHAMPIONS OF THE RRAC TOURNAMENT * Continue reading →

6 Comments

Filed under College Baseball

FLASHMAN OF ARABIA: LOST FLASHMAN PAPERS

henry cavill good flashmanFor Flashman Down Under, Flashman in the Opium War & Flashman and the Kings click HERE  

For Flashman on the Gold Coast click HERE  .

Balladeer’s Blog now moves on to another Harry Flashman adventure referred to but never completed before George MacDonald Fraser’s death.

Lee Horsley Flashman

IF HE WAS BRITISH, LEE HORSLEY WOULD HAVE MADE A PERFECT HARRY FLASHMAN.

Projected Title: FLASHMAN OF ARABIA

Time Period: 1852-1854

The Setup: Sometime in the second half of 1852 Harry Flashman at last arrives back in England from his travels which began in 1848. The scandals he fled have fallen into relative obscurity and he’s getting some positive acclaim over his recent experiences during the Australian Gold Rush and earlier participation in a wagon train across America.

In addition he’s finally gotten to see his son “Havvy” (not Harry), the child his wife Elspeth was pregnant with when his travels began.

The Story: The one and only Richard Burton, viewing Harry as a kindred spirit, reaches out via correspondence and personally to encourage Flashman to write some papers and deliver public talks about his journey through America and Australia. Always ready to play to his public, and now discovering the raconteur side of his personality, Harry writes a (very) bowdlerized account of his adventures of the past four years and even delivers a few talks at which he meets Burton in person.  

Burton's bookThe duo enjoy diving into the darker and more forbidden side of life where sex, booze and other diversions are concerned. Flashman happens to be with Burton in Egypt in early 1853 when the famous explorer begins his journey to Medina and Mecca disguised as a Muslim.

We will learn he originally invited Harry to accompany him, since our protagonist was fluent in the necessary languages and was well-versed in Muslim customs from his military service in Afghanistan in the early 1840s. Flashman would have initially turned down the offer and stayed behind in Egypt until, getting into his usual trouble from boozing, whoring and gambling he would wind up fleeing for his life. Continue reading →

32 Comments

Filed under Neglected History, Pulp Heroes

COLLEGE BASEBALL: MORE CONFERENCE TOURNAMENT CHAMPS

Five more tickets punched to the NAIA National Tournament.

RIVER STATES CONFERENCE

Rio Grande Red Storm Big OCHAMPIONSHIP GAME: The last 2 teams standing in this Conference Tournament were the 4 seeds – the UNIVERSITY OF RIO GRANDE (OH) RED STORM – and the 3rd seeded INDIANA UNIVERSITY AT KOKOMO COUGARS. When the Cougars grabbed a 6-1 lead in the 1st Inning few could have guessed this game would last TWELVE INNINGS.

The Red Storm kept IU-Kokomo off the scoreboard for the entire rest of the game while adding Runs in the 3rd, 5th, 7th, 8th and 9th Innings for a 6-6 tie. Neither team scored in the 10th or 11th but Rio Grande emerged with a 7-6 victory in the 12th. Zach Harvey pitched for the win. * THE RED STORM ARE CHAMPIONS OF THE RSC TOURNAMENT *

THE SUN CONFERENCE

thomas-university-night-hawks-bigCHAMPIONSHIP GAME: The Cinderella 6th seeded THOMAS UNIVERSITY NIGHT HAWKS remained THE story of the Sun Conference tourney as they battled the 3 seeds – the WEBBER INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY WARRIORS – for the title.

A 1-0 Night Hawks edge in the 2nd Inning became a 1-1 tie in the 4th. Thomas University drove in 3 more Runs in the 5th Inning to take a 4-1 advantage and rode 3 more in the 7th to a 7-1 triumph. Chance Carter was the winning Pitcher. * THE NIGHT HAWKS ARE CHAMPIONS OF THE SUN CONFERENCE TOURNAMENT *  Continue reading →

6 Comments

Filed under College Baseball

NICK GILDER: HOT CHILD IN THE CITY

Balladeer’s Blog’s feature Give Them A Shoutout Before They’re Dead is back with Nick Gelded Gilder and his Wide World of High-Pitched Voices hit Hot Child in the City. I was tempted to start a new category titled I Always Thought That Was A Woman Singing That but decided against it.

1 Comment

Filed under opinion