EURO 2008

Euro 2008 starts in one week. The World Cup is the biggest tournament in soccer/football, but the Euro Cup is probably the next biggest. I will admit I do not follow it as closely as I do the World Cup, but I will be watching. I hope, really hope, that Portugal does well. Watching the qualifiers leading up to Euro 2008, and even the friendly today where they defeated Georgia 2-0, I can only think one thing, I wish Luis Figo was still playing for the national team and still captain. Portugal has many good players, Ronaldo, Deco, Ricardo, Simao to name a few, but they still seem slightly disorganized. I guess to someone who isn't truly familiar with the nuances of the game, you don't realize how much a good captain truly sets the pace of the game and keeps the the rest of the team focused and in order. Figo did just that.
Well, here's to hoping I'm not writing in 2 weeks about how Portugal is now eliminated from the tournament and they can regroup and concentrate on World Cup qualifying. And maybe Figo will think about coming back for a few games after the Euro Cup.

GO FORCA PORTUGAL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Where It Began

Everyone that loves movies, or music, or shows, or anything really, has that moment that is forever embedded in their mind as the moment they knew it would change their life. It may not be a big change, but one that will stick with them forever. And within that thing you fall in love with,there is yet another thing which you go on to compare all the others to. 3 of my favorite things in life are music, movies and shows, basically the arts. My parents were into music. My Father was a musician who actually played in professional big bands, pit orchestras and also composed music. Music was always being played, was a big part of my life. In 1982, a bunch of my friends were going to see Joan Jett at Convention Hall in Asbury Park, N.J. They asked if I wanted to go. I thought, how ridiculous, going to watch someone stand on stage and sing, who cares, Yes, I was an idiot, still am, but in other ways. Well I figured it would be fun to go and hang out. Well we went, and I was converted. She opened with Bad Reputation and I fell in love with the concert experience. A couple years later, seeing Bruce Springsteen at Giants Stadium would be what I compare all concerts and music to. In 1978 I finally saw Star Wars. I was not, and still am not a big Sci-Fi fan, but that movie totally changed my view of movies. I had seen plenty of Disney films, and other films like Bad News Bears, but Star Wars made me a movie fanatic. Thanks alot. In 1979, I got to see my first Broadway show. My Mother was going to take me to see Annie. I was dying to see a Broadway show, any Broadway show, but not one about a little girl. Well, I can honestly say that show made me fall in love with musicals. I do not think it is the greatest show ever, but sentimentally it holds a special place in my heat. Years later I would see Sunday in the Park with George, which is what I now compare all other shows too. I know it's not fair, but it is my favorite. I will add details about these shows, concerts, films later, but these are the ones where it all started.

Intro

My poor wife. For years now she has listened to me recount stories of past concerts, plays, sporting events, etc., many of which she attended with me. She always listens and is very patient. She is probably like most wives in that sense. But she knows I'm there for her in this way too.
I figured I'd probably try to write about some of these things, to spare my wife a little time, she deserves it. A friend of mine started a blog recently and suggested I try the same thing. I have fun checking his out from time to time. I'm not very computer literate, but I can drag out a story to complete boredom.
What I'll attempt to do is go over some of the events I've been lucky to attend and maybe, no probably, give many meaningless details. If I can, I will include setlists to some of the concerts I attended. Fortunately there are great fan sites like Backstreets.com that give great write ups of Springsteen concerts, so luckily there is never a lack of information there. However I will include what I can from some smaller concerts, or concerts that I have not seen any write ups about.
Hopefully this will work out, or maybe it will be a real disaster.