Channel Islands Semi Pro:        5′11″ X 18 3/4″ X 2 1/4″

http://live.ripcurl.com/index.php?Bells2011Live

BN

Netflix is a beautiful thing.  Just watched this documentary and has to be my favorite surf film of all time.  Basically, the movie focuses on the early to mid-70’s as Australians and South Africans made their way to the North Shore of Hawaii, bringing with them a new brazen surfing style and attitude.  As a result, the level of surfing began to skyrocket, along with it an episodic clashing of cultures that led to tensions and eruptions of violence.  This was also the time period, location, and environment that gave birth to the World Tour.

What I really appreciated about this film more than anything, was getting to know these surf legends.  I have, or had rather, films of Mark Occhilupo (Occy) and Tom Curren and thus have gotten to know and enjoy them, but have never ventured further back.  Seeing interviews and footage of these tough and entertaining s.o.b.’s like Wayne Barthlolomew (Rabbit), Mark Richards (MR), Shaun Tompson, and Ian Cairns was a real treat.  Even today, though still not old, they carry the same intensity and passion.

By the way, I’ve never cared much for the Brown-lineage of surf films like Bruce’s Endless Summer(s) and Dana’s Step Into Liquid.  Just don’t really care for the borderline corny narration and presentation of it all.  Respect it, but just not for me.  Much prefer the grittier, rawness, and more ‘real’ aspect of films like this and Riding Giants.  Another great choice.

Anyways,  a fascinating and brilliant film.  Queue it up.

BN

Netflix this documentary.  Sooo good.  In watching it, it brought about some lost compassion for Lebron.  The dude makes stupid ‘decisions’ from time to time no doubt, but in watching this you can’t help but acknowledge the environment that warped him, and would warp anyone who endured it.  At 16 this kid’s high school games were televised on ESPN with Jordan, Kobe, Shaq, and others in attendance and were freely giving interviews with a lot of buzz and excitement in their voice.  How in the world would anyone have any sort of level head given something like that?  Anyways, the film is about the team and not focused on Lebron.  I thought it was excellent on many levels.  Definitely check it out.

BN

Six months back he was discovered on the side of a highway on-ramp scrounging for loose change.  And what now?  My guess is that he is near homeless again.  Is it any surprise?  The whole media thing surrounding it was ridiculous.  This wasn’t depression-era homeless shit going on.  This wasn’t an out of work stockbroker pedaling apples to support his family due to hard times.  Being homeless to this degree in these times means that something was seriously wrong upstairs.  And a job, most likely wasn’t going to be the cure-all for that type of dysfunction.

But don’t tell the major networks who exploited…errr…loved this warm and inspiring story.  What a sham it all was as TW (sorry TW) made his frenetic rounds on The Today Show, Good Morning America, MSNBC, ABC, and the lot.  One late night I actually saw him announcing the The Jimmy Kimmel Show in embarrassing fashion, all pimped out in a suit and uncomfortable mannerisms.

And then…shocking…shit immediately started to go wrong.

Reports that he went ballistic fighting violently with his daughter as authorities were contacted.   Ooooops.

Then reports he began drinking again.  Uh-oh.

Then mention of rehab.   Ahhh…hope.

Then days later, a report he hopped the fence.   Nooooooo.

And then of course since fatty never lets us down, Ted Williams shows up in an hour long special on the Dr….Phil…. Show.  Why?  Well because Dr. Phil cares.  He does.  He said so. “Listen, I care about you.  We all care about you”.  Now of course if the unlicensed doctor truly cared then why conduct the ‘therapy’ intervention on camera?  What’s the purpose of subjecting this guy to further public humiliation?  In the best interest of opening the dialogue up to the public so other…what…homeless guys can also learn from Phil’s wisdom?  Naturally.

And ‘caring’.  What an obscenity.  I’m sure Phil would have been so interested in this guy pre-15 minutes.

And imagine what TW was thinking during all this shit.  “I was treated like human feces a month ago, and now everyone cares about my welfare?  Yep, that adds up.”  Philandering Phil, if you want to convince anyone that you actually give a shit, find an un-famous homeless person and do this stupid intervention.  Or better, do it off the fucking camera pro-bono and then your little pouty-syrupy  “listen, I care about you” words may ring a little less false.

Initial intentions with all this I’m sure came from a decent place, but once the subject ends up face to face with Phil, you have to assume that something seriously jumped the tracks.

BN

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0MknGEsULvc

This probably won’t translate as well as hearing it live, but was pretty damn funny.

BN

You know I’ve pretty much had it with the inundation of gay-ness in pop culture.  I for one feel I am ingrained with a sense of equality and parity, but it seems that gay culture has not only made its way into the mainstream (which is good) but now unfortunately (in my opinion) has gone way, way too far in the other direction.  Backwardly, a small part of me sort of finds myself waiting for a bully resurrection to even things out a bit, which basically leads me to my point.

First off though, this is what started this train of thought.  Read an article this morning that Ryan Murphy, the creator of Gleeeee, ripped on David Grohl of Foo Fighters for not being on his…well…gay show.  Apparently this is the typical queen behavior this guy does.  Publicly calls out musicians when they refuse to prance around on his little singing sitcom.  Here’s the link:

http://music.msn.com/music/article.aspx?news=636240&gt1=28102

Have you even seen this show?  I tried once out of curiosity (hey now) but just couldn’t make it past a few minutes.  Was painful.  Anyways, good for Grohl for not only refusing to be on the bewildering juggernaut, but also for calling this little bitch what he is, a ‘bitch’.

I get that gay culture has been wrongly closeted and repressed for so long, so it’s not too hard to see that there would be an imbalanced expression of freedom and all in the arts, but holy shit man.  Isn’t it time to tighten the hatches a bit?  Gay…great.  Gaaaaaay.  Not so much.  Being ‘wonderful’ and uber-gay has no place.  Why?  Because us heteros don’t get that either.  Part of entering a social contract, whether you like it or not, is by learning how not to be an intolerable asshole so you don’t get stuffed in a garbage can.  Right or wrong, that is how it is.  It’s a great thing that gays are now being openly ingrained into our culture, but shit man, no hall pass for ridiculous behavior.  And if there is a backlash to that behavior, don’t look at it as bigotry.  Arguably, look at it as acceptance.

BN

What the fuck?

Apparently this is old news, but I just saw the Haines commercial for the first time with Michael Jordan sporting what appears to be a Hitler mustache.  What in the hell is this?  Did he go all Lebron on us with the total lack of self awareness?

All I can say is that this had to be either a rigid example of a narcissus, or a an underwear company aiming for any publicity being good publicity no matter how controversial.

And sure, one could argue that Chaplin too sported this ’stache, but that was well before Hitler embodied the look.  Had Adolf not killed 6 million Jews then arguably the ridiculous facial hair would have been known as the Chaplin.  Unfortunately, genocide apparently gets a look retired, as well as perhaps a first name.  Tough break.

So what the fuck is this guy doing?  I can’t imagine it’s like black people re-owning the word “nigger” to disempower the venom in the noun.  I believe the Jews, not 23 would have to sport the look and dare an Aryan confrontation.

As for Haines, why in the world would they sign off on it?  Did Jordan threaten to walk if he was forced to shave it?  Or did they want the speculation?  I know Jordan has a history of un-retiring, but I believe the mustache is not his to take down from the rafters.  His subtle soul patch below is a slight alteration, but so was 45.  Stupid man, stupid.

BN

BN