Tag Archives: blogging

NAMATHON: A JOE NAMATH MARATHON FOR SUPERBOWL SUNDAY

Joe Namath started life as a Pennsylvania boy. Later in life he became the quarterback for the University of Alabama Crimson Tide under iconic football coach Paul “Bear” Bryant. After college he was signed by the New York Jets for what was then the highest-ever contract for a quarterback.

Before long, he earned a place in NFL history by leading the underdog Jets to a victory over the (then) Baltimore Colts in Superbowl III. Though the rest of his football career was – let’s be honest – less than impressive, Joe’s charisma and appeal to the ladies carried him into a minor career as a piece of kitsch-casting in movies and on television. 

NORWOOD (1970) – The stunning sequel to True Grit. Okay, I’m kidding! I couldn’t resist since Norwood came out a year after True Grit, was based on another novel by the author of True Grit and starred Glen Campbell and Kim Darby, also from True Grit. Marguerite Roberts wrote the screenplay for both flicks, too. 

Glen stars as one of the few Vietnam War veterans not depicted by Hollywood as PTSD-riddled. As Norwood Pratt, the returning vet winds up in a job transporting cars from Texas to New York City but soon learns he’s driving stolen merchandise.

Joe William Namath plays Joe William Reese, a friend of Norwood who sees him become a singing sensation. Also in the strange circle of friends are dwarf actor Billy Curtis and runaway bride Rita (Darby).

A scene in which Namath tosses a football back and forth with Billy Curtis deserves to stand alongside the football-tossing scenes in The Room. Plus there’s Dom Deluise, Carol Lynley, David Huddleston and Joann, the intelligent chicken.      Continue reading →

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BALLADEER’S BLOG: COLLEGE BASKETBALL – FEBRUARY EIGHTH EDITION

NJCAA DIVISION TWO

CENTURY CLUB – Teams scoring 100 or more points in Regulation: The DAVIDSON-DAVIE COLLEGE STORM defeated the visiting CLEVELAND COLLEGE YETIS by a score of 104-80   ###   Meanwhile, the TERRA STATE TITANS triumphed 108-80 over the OWENS COLLEGE EXPRESS   ###   And the MARION MILITARY INSTITUTE TIGERS downed the ENTERPRISE STATE BOLL WEEVILS 108-86.

SEVEN HUNDRED WINS – Coach Brian Peabody of the PIMA COLLEGE AZTECS notched his 700th win in style at the SCOTTSDALE COLLEGE FIGHTING ARTICHOKES (yes, really). At Halftime the Aztecs were clinging to a mere 39-37 edge. From there Pima College left the Fighting Artichokes further and further behind in a 95-71 victory led by Cohenj Gonzales’ 17 points. Continue reading →

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MEXICO’S SUPERHEROES

This weekend’s light-hearted, escapist superhero post from Balladeer’s Blog looks at some of Mexico’s homemade superheroes (non-wrestling division). 

RELAMPAGO (Lightning)

Secret Identity: Rod Harrelson 

Debuted: 1964

Origin: When Rod Harrelson was killed he was figuratively brought back to life by Professor Hacket with his mind inhabiting an android version of himself. He adopted the costumed identity Relampago. 

Powers: This hero could fly, shoot electrical blasts from his hands and deliver electric-powered punches.

LLANERA VENGADORA (Plains Avenger)

Secret Identity: Flor Silvestre

Debuted: 1950

Origin: Singer and actress Flor Silvestre adopted the costumed identity of la Llanera Vengadora to fight crime and supernatural menaces without endangering her family and friends.

Powers: This heroine was in peak physical condition, was a skilled fighter and had mastered pistols, whips and lariats. In addition, la Llanera Vengadora could stunt-drive her 1950s motorcycle. Continue reading →

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REMINDER ABOUT KRIS STRAUB’S LOCAL 58: THE NEW EPISODES

Where does the time go? It was 2020 when Balladeer’s Blog first covered the ongoing masterpiece and trailblazer of Analog Horror – Local 58TV. My post yesterday about the very real Lucky 7 pirate channel from 1978 prompted me to check up on any new episodes of Kris Straub’s fictional Local 58TV.

There are FOUR new installments since 2020 – one from three years ago, one from two years ago and two from Halloween of 2024! As always, the months and sometimes years between episodes are the biggest weakness of this Straub storyline. It’s been purely on faith in his talent that so many of us are still interested after all this time. 

If you’re new to the whole Local 58TV Analog Horror series the YT Channel is HERE. You’ll get to enjoy all twelve episodes up to now without the long wait the rest of us had to endure.

My take on the four new installments:  Continue reading →

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Filed under Halloween Season, opinion

WHEN CALIFORNIA WAS AN ISLAND (1510) ANCIENT SCIENCE FICTION(ISH)

LAS SERGAS DE ESPLANDIAN AKA The Adventures of Esplandian (1510) – There were many subsequent editions of this Spanish novel by Garci Rodriguez de Montalvo but 1510 is the year of the oldest known version. Part fantasy, part proto-science fiction and part chivalric romance saga, The Adventures of Esplandian is best remembered today for its supposed role in naming California. 

To begin with, Montalvo wrote this book as his own personal addition to the legends surrounding Amadis of Gaul. Esplandian, the son of Amadis, was also known as the Black Knight because of the color of his armor. After a series of adventures Esplandian and his forces conquered Constantinople, taking it from the Muslim armies. 

As the various Islamic city-states gather to besiege Constantinople many battles are fought, with Esplandian and his Christian forces managing to hold the city. The conflict widens, with Christians and Muslims alike sending word all around the world for allies to help defend or seize Constantinople.

Many chapters go by devoted to tales of the cosmopolitan rulers and warriors who journey to join their faith’s side in the ongoing war. Chapter FIFTY finally deals with a Muslim explorer named Radiaro who reaches California, but it’s a California that’s far from what you would expect. Continue reading →

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HAPPY BIRTHDAY, JAMES JOYCE (2025 EDITION)

jamesjoyceHAPPY BIRTHDAY TO JAMES JOYCE! His works got me hooked in my teens when I really related to his character Stephen Dedalus as he rejected his religion and indulged what I call his “young and pretentious side” in A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man (1916). I wore out my copy of Joyce’s novel Ulysses (1922) and continue to mark Bloom’s Day to this very day.

Over the years Finnegans Wake (1939) replaced Ulysses as my favorite Joyce novel and I’m fonder than many people are of his play Exiles (1918). Continue reading →

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BALLADEER’S BLOG: COLLEGE BASKETBALL – FEB SECOND

NJCAA (National Junior College Athletic Association)

WILD WEST – The EASTERN ARIZONA COLLEGE GILA MONSTERS welcomed the COLLEGE OF SOUTHERN NEVADA COYOTES. At Halftime the Gila Monsters were clinging to a 39-34 advantage but after the break EAC got some separation from the Coyotes for a 96-83 win. Armari Carraway put up THIRTY points to lead the Gila Monsters.   

CENTURY CLUB – Teams scoring 100 or more in Regulation: The MONTGOMERY COLLEGE RAPTORS won a 106-74 beatdown at the COLLEGE OF SOUTHERN MARYLAND HAWKS   ###   Meanwhile, the ST. PETERSBURG COLLEGE TITANS eviscerated the visiting FLORIDA COLLEGE FALCONS 109-57   ###   And the INDEPENDENCE COLLEGE PIRATES won 104-85 at the HUTCHINSON COLLEGE BLUE DRAGONS. Continue reading →

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NEGLECTED MARVEL SUPERHEROES

This weekend’s light-hearted, escapist superhero post from Balladeer’s Blog looks at assorted overlooked Marvel characters.

DOC SAMSON – Leonard Samson, MD and PhD, used tightly focused Gamma Radiation drained from the Hulk himself to gain superpowers.

His hair turned green as a side-effect of the process but he gained strength almost equal to a calm Hulk while retaining his intelligence. 

Doc Samson was a sometime-friend and sometime foe of Bruce Banner’s alter ego and clashed with villains like the Leader, the Rhino, Unus the Untouchable, A.I.M. and Woodgod’s Animal-Men. Click HERE.  Continue reading →

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SUPERBOWLS PLAYED ON JANUARY 31st

With the Superbowl coming up in just over a week here’s a look at January 31st editions of that NFL Championship Game.

JANUARY 31st, 1988

SUPERBOWL XXII – The WASHINGTON REDSKINS clashed with the DENVER BRONCOS in San Diego, CA. The period of NFC dominance over the AFC continued as the Broncos saw their 10-0 1st Quarter lead over Washington turn into a 35-10 Redskins advantage by Halftime. Neither team scored in the 3rd Quarter and the final tally was Washington 42  Denver 10. Continue reading →

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WILDSIDE (1985) FORGOTTEN TELEVISION

WILDSIDE (1985) – After The Wild Wild West, The Barbary Coast and Bearcats but before The Adventures of Brisco County, Jr. came this short-lived series about a secret crime-fighting group in the 1880s American West.   

The group undertakes special missions for the governor and is based in Wildside, CA where they operate under the name “the Wildside Chamber of Commerce.” That’s not just a code name for their elite unit, though. Each member is a former outlaw who went straight before it was too late and all run legitimate businesses in Wildside. When they go on missions their cover story is that they are going off on a hunting party for a few days.

THE CAST:

HOWARD ROLLINS portrayed Bannister Sparks, who had been a demolitions man as an outlaw and retained that expertise as a crime-fighting operative.

Sparks ran a mercantile emporium which, in the kind of cutesy anachronistic humor that Brisco County, Jr. would later thrive on, was like a proto-shopping center of the future.

Bannister was the brains and de facto leader of the team.

WILLIAM SMITH played Brodie Hollister, gunfighter extraordinaire. Hollister breeds and trains horses.

William Smith hadn’t been in a role like this since his days playing a Texas Ranger Special Agent on the old western series Laredo.

On that old series his teammates were Peter Brown, Neville Brand and Philip Carey. Continue reading →

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Filed under Forgotten Television, FRONTIERADO