I watched as Tiger Woods methodically eliminated his competition from the final PGA (Professional Golfers’ Association) tournament of the year. The guy has so much poise and talent, not to mention discipline, he has become the world’s greatest at the thing he loves the most. Golf. And the rest of the field ain’t too shabby. There’s nothing wrong with Sergio Garcia or Phil Mickelson. Anyone who can play a sport at the level these guys share is an expert in my book. You can say the same for any sport, in spite of the fact that “sport” is big business. It may be the only business left that demands real expertise from its participants.

Let’s take the music business as an example. You’d think that all the singers and players one might hear on the radio or on records would be experts. People who are dripping with talent, singing and playing songs expertly written by the top writers money can buy. But it doesn’t take a lot of listening before one concludes that not all the music we hear is Grammy material. Quite the opposite. The difference between playing sports professionally and playing music professionally is that music is perception versus performance whereas sports is performance versus perception. Music demands a listener while sports demands only the performance of the participant. Music, subjective. Sports, objective.

If music were a sport most of the people we hear on commercial radio would be on the bench. Yeah, they can play some, sing a little, write a tune, and most of all look like someone who might be interesting. It’s the entertainment field. And it’s totally subjective. If you enjoy someone who sings like a rusty gate then there you go, you’ll find plenty of that, and you’re entertained. If you like profanity you’re in luck, because there’s a preponderance of that, too. There are real melodies and harmonies to be found if you look hard enough. One of the things that bugs me most about the music presented to mass audiences today is the clever but empty arrangements couching the anemic writings of sugar-induced ranters and wannabes.

But we can not forget that the music business is just that. A business. The suits that run these companies couldn’t care less about talent, messages, meanings, or even (gasp) MUSIC. What they care about is selling a product. If they could find a market for screaming monkeys giving birth then this is what they’d sell. That wisecrack may be closer than you’d like to think.

I’m not about to let other businesses off the hook. Take the clothing business. Please. If I see another tee shirt with some cutesy message on it pertaining to one’s prowess in the sack and/or the prodigious size of part of their anatomy, I’m going to walk up to the wearer and ask him to prove it. On the spot. And don’t get me started about the phone companies. I am convinced that soon all humans will be implanted at birth with a device which keeps them in touch with whoever, whenever. Gag me with a spoon.

There can be little of that sort of thing in sports. Okay—a big deal is made of every contest. There’s lots of hype. Our culture is based on economics. We are, after all, a capitalist society. These teams have to sell what they’ve got or they won’t be in business very long. But ultimately the players have to perform. They can either hit or not. They can drain a three pointer or not. They can putt or not. There’s no hype in the world that will make us like them once the score is tallied. If they can’t perform, they will soon be forgotten.

In music (entertainment) it is up to us, the listeners, as to whether or not the performers deserve our undivided attention. This is where the saying “there’s no underestimating the taste of the American public” rings so true. And in spite of this glitch in our artistic psyche, a gem or two will still shine through the rubble.

Some singers (such as Bob Dylan) may not have the technique. They may not have the voice (Bob Dylan again). They may not even look sexy (sorry, Bob). But when it comes to prophetic messages growing from true talent the rest is moot. That’s why a guy like Dylan is still around and guys who tried to sound or be like him are not. He actually has something to say. And he says it like only he can. Does anyone out there think that Fifty Cent is just as lyrical, poetic, brilliant? Sure they do. That’s why he sells records. But no amount of torture could make me say that he could even carry Dylan’s pen, much less compete with him as a writer. And history will bear me out. A hundred years from now people will still be referring to Dylan’s music and lyrics. Hardly anyone will be referring to “Fifty who?” Trust me on that.

As far as other types of music are concerned, they are not without their losers. Just because something is “jazz” doesn’t automatically make it good. Same goes for ‘”classical.” I’ve heard jazz and classical that would kill my plants. It’s not the kind of music that’s the problem. It’s the proliferation of people trying their hands at it. Everyone wants to be a star. Everyone thinks they’re the next American Idol. It takes a certain amount of God-given talent and a bunch of hard work to become really good at something. Enjoying music a lot doesn’t make me a candidate for being a star. Liking sports a lot will not make me quarterback of the Minnesota Vikings.

It wasn’t that long ago that professional sports was the last thing on my mind. But as I age and the world of commerce evolves, I have come to respect and admire athletes as ones who must perform at their very best each time in order to stay viable as athletes. The opposite has become true for most commercial music endeavors. It seems that luck and money, rather than ability, have more to do with success on the radio. And while I can always find something good to say about almost anyone trying sincerely to make music, this does not mean they deserve to be heard by millions of listeners, or looked upon as sonic sages leading the way.

Listen to what you will, people. But please, be discerning, respectful, and open. And when you get a chance, throw a ball around. It’s not as easy as you might think.

Apple Baby Rant

Family Entertainment

Wife, Connie, and I went to a movie today. It’s the first movie we’ve been to in a long time. Oh, we’ll see movies from time to time, but we’ve gotten into the habit of waiting for the DVD’s. These days going to a movie can cost as much as monthly rent on your cell phone. By the time we get the popcorn and a drink, with the cost of the admission, we’re talking about at least a twenty dollar bill. And if I need to use the bathroom I’ve missed part of the action. With a DVD I’ve got my food, my bathroom, and the greatest invention in cinema, the PAUSE button. But today, Sunday, the day before Labor Day, we decided to splurge. And I was delighted. We saw “Invincible” with Mark Wahlberg and Greg Kinear. This movie is based on the true story of Vince Papale from south Philadelphia. He played one year of high school football. He was a thirty year old bar tender and sometime substitute teacher. In 1975 the Philadelphia Eagles hired a new coach, Dick Vermeil, who was fresh from coaching college ball and was the last hope to save the Eagles after several embarrassing seasons. He decided to have an open tryout inviting whoever thought they could help the team. Hundreds showed up. Only one was called back. Vince Papale. The movie goes on to show how hard it is to be a pro football player and how an underling can rise above the heap in spite of great opposition.

Maybe some of it was formulaic. There were some things in it you could see coming from a mile away. All that didn’t matter to me. They left out lot of the stuff that a lesser producer would have wanted in it and they came up with a pithy version of a win win situation. There was opportunity for some sex. They suggested it but did not show it. There was opportunity for more violence. Suggested, understood, but thankfully not shown. The story and the point were driven home in flying colors and nobody had to use super-foul language, show boobs, or cut anybody up.

Just a few short years ago one would have been shocked to hear someone curse in the movies or on TV. Then it was even more shocking to see naked unmentionable parts of the human body. Now we get to see body parts flying all over the place in an explosion (using the latest high tech special effects) which may have, at one time, been difficult to watch but is now normal fare for cinematic entertainment. The drift towards violence and depravity in our tastes in movies and other forms of expression merely reflects who we are as a society. Movie makers take advantage of this and they’ve been hitting it hard ever since. But this stuff is becoming humdrum. Boring. Seen it. Got the proverbial tee shirt.

I’m no prude. Believe me. I’m not against naked people or even pornography. If folks want to show their wares and submit to behavior which lowers them to the sub-human level that’s their business. I believe that all of us have curiosity which, if left untamed, can lead us down that dark path. But I think most folks really want to think of themselves as above that filth. And, too, most folks don’t need to see super violent images to understand how horrific an accident or an explosion is. So why do we keep patronizing this type of ‘entertainment’? Is it morbid curiosity? Is it the same kind of thing that slows the freeway down to a crawl because everyone has to crane their necks at the possible gore in an accident? Are things like wars and political corruption adding fuel to the fire? Or are we cresting this wave, heading towards a more temperate moral climate? And the biggest question is…why should I even care? It’s a free country. That’s what makes us so great. You don’t like the station? Change it. You don’t like the movie? Don’t watch it. Don’t like the leadership? Vote ‘em out. Man,”it’s great to be an American” (Randy Newman).

Take Control of Booking a Cheap Airline Ticket
by Sam Sellers
Take Control Books

http://www.takecontrolbooks.com/catalog.html

152 pages PDF download
$10 US

Sam Sellers is out to help you. Even if you’re an old hand at booking your own flights, this Take Control ebook will provide even the most seasoned traveler with a helpful hint or two.

The thing I love about ebooks is the ability to link, and Sam does this admirably. Just the glossary of terms alone can open up your travel world and help you speak the language, furthering your understanding of how deep and wide the airline industry is when it comes to booking a cheap seat.

Sam explains some of the twisted scheduling puzzles, in a way that readers can see, in real world terms, how it relates to them. Take Control of Booking a Cheap Airline Ticket is laid out in a straightforward and common sense approach.

The author then proceeds to hold your hand through whatever processes you choose as you become more familiar with new possibilities. He even includes valuable tips about renting cars and booking hotel rooms.

Don’t sell this book short. For the price of a beer at your local fern bar you can have a manual which can ultimately save you many times its price by simply alerting you to the pitfalls to which all of us, at one time or another, have fallen victim. And if you are not a seasoned traveler this book is a must. I especially recommend this title to the college crowd who may be on a budget and have to navigate tight, and sometimes unpredictable schedules in order to get back to mom and dad for a little turkey on Thanksgiving, or meeting the family in Cleveland to attend Cousin Ira’s Bar Mitzvah.

Kudos to young author Sam Sellers, a high school student with a love of geography and fiscal responsiblity. It’s a winner, Sam.

Rating: 5 out of 5

Review by Artie Alinikoff