Comments on: Riding The Metrodome http://joeposnanski.com/JoeBlog/2009/10/06/riding-the-metrodome/ A Rough Draft Blog Fri, 12 Mar 2010 20:17:28 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Richard Aronson http://joeposnanski.com/JoeBlog/2009/10/06/riding-the-metrodome/#comment-81849 Richard Aronson Wed, 14 Oct 2009 09:26:28 +0000 http://joeposnanski.com/JoeBlog/2009/10/06/riding-the-metrodome/#comment-81849 Wow, tough decision on your Pop Music vote. I went with The Beatles; of the choices listed they did the most to expand pop music both technologically in the instruments and technology they used, and musically by expanding and incorporating more styles of music, making it okay to use (say) a baroque trumpet in a pop song. But I'm not sure I'd have picked The Beatles ahead of Irving Berlin ("White Christmas") or George Gershwin, who almost single handedly led classical music onto Broadway and then into modern pop culture. I mean, for a guy who died in his 30s Gershwin accomplished a ton. I think Elvis and Ray Charles and lots of jazz/blues guys did a lot to create the environment that enabled The Beatles to work. Note that the Fab Four also covered some great Broadway songs*, so guys like Meredith Willson and Lerner and Loewe and maybe Richard Rogers also deserve a nod, even though maybe few of you know what they did. Mostly what they did was write great (and some not so great) songs for musicals. Elvis was more a performer than a composer, and The Beatles wrote more great pop music (and arguably as much great rock music) as anybody else. So I agree with the top three, and in that order, of these choices. *<i>On my first visit to England, an attractive young Englishwoman invited me back to her house, and had just poured us some wine when the conversation turned to classical music. I opined that just as classical music of today really was just the popular music of Mozart's time (and Beethoven's and Gershwin's) so too maybe around 2020 The Beatles would be considered classical music. I note that Sir Paul McCartney has done a superb film soundtrack and IIRC an oratorio, and one of the hottest tix in classical music today is the full orchestral version of the Star Wars scores. She contended that classical was classical, The Beatles were not classical, and if I intended to get more from her than one glass of wine I'd better face facts. I sometimes regret sticking to my guns, but on balance I think that 32 years later I'm not sorry I took a long walk back to my hotel that night.</i> Wow, tough decision on your Pop Music vote. I went with The Beatles; of the choices listed they did the most to expand pop music both technologically in the instruments and technology they used, and musically by expanding and incorporating more styles of music, making it okay to use (say) a baroque trumpet in a pop song. But I’m not sure I’d have picked The Beatles ahead of Irving Berlin (“White Christmas”) or George Gershwin, who almost single handedly led classical music onto Broadway and then into modern pop culture. I mean, for a guy who died in his 30s Gershwin accomplished a ton. I think Elvis and Ray Charles and lots of jazz/blues guys did a lot to create the environment that enabled The Beatles to work. Note that the Fab Four also covered some great Broadway songs*, so guys like Meredith Willson and Lerner and Loewe and maybe Richard Rogers also deserve a nod, even though maybe few of you know what they did. Mostly what they did was write great (and some not so great) songs for musicals. Elvis was more a performer than a composer, and The Beatles wrote more great pop music (and arguably as much great rock music) as anybody else. So I agree with the top three, and in that order, of these choices.

*On my first visit to England, an attractive young Englishwoman invited me back to her house, and had just poured us some wine when the conversation turned to classical music. I opined that just as classical music of today really was just the popular music of Mozart’s time (and Beethoven’s and Gershwin’s) so too maybe around 2020 The Beatles would be considered classical music. I note that Sir Paul McCartney has done a superb film soundtrack and IIRC an oratorio, and one of the hottest tix in classical music today is the full orchestral version of the Star Wars scores. She contended that classical was classical, The Beatles were not classical, and if I intended to get more from her than one glass of wine I’d better face facts. I sometimes regret sticking to my guns, but on balance I think that 32 years later I’m not sorry I took a long walk back to my hotel that night.

]]> By: Jeremy http://joeposnanski.com/JoeBlog/2009/10/06/riding-the-metrodome/#comment-81800 Jeremy Wed, 14 Oct 2009 02:34:53 +0000 http://joeposnanski.com/JoeBlog/2009/10/06/riding-the-metrodome/#comment-81800 didn't have time to read through every single comment, but I thought I'd add Candlestick Park in San Francisco to the "grim ballparks" list. yes, the twins may open up in weather reminiscent of the freezer in goodfellas...but a giants game in july could morph into similar conditions. great stuff as always joe. didn’t have time to read through every single comment, but I thought I’d add Candlestick Park in San Francisco to the “grim ballparks” list. yes, the twins may open up in weather reminiscent of the freezer in goodfellas…but a giants game in july could morph into similar conditions.
great stuff as always joe.

]]> By: rk http://joeposnanski.com/JoeBlog/2009/10/06/riding-the-metrodome/#comment-81319 rk Sun, 11 Oct 2009 08:39:00 +0000 http://joeposnanski.com/JoeBlog/2009/10/06/riding-the-metrodome/#comment-81319 Rainy out, freezeing out, 100degrees out Hey I'm not going to the new park in those conditions. Minnesota tax payer you got the shaft! Rainy out, freezeing out, 100degrees out Hey I’m not going to the new park in those conditions. Minnesota tax payer you got the shaft!

]]> By: El Beejay http://joeposnanski.com/JoeBlog/2009/10/06/riding-the-metrodome/#comment-80756 El Beejay Wed, 07 Oct 2009 20:54:52 +0000 http://joeposnanski.com/JoeBlog/2009/10/06/riding-the-metrodome/#comment-80756 "In Kansas City, it was for many years Carl Peterson … and I think people around Kansas City can’t help but miss him because it’s just not as much fun to complain about Scott Pioli." Take a look at the comment boards at the STAR, Joe; Pioli is catching up fast. “In Kansas City, it was for many years Carl Peterson … and I think people around Kansas City can’t help but miss him because it’s just not as much fun to complain about Scott Pioli.”

Take a look at the comment boards at the STAR, Joe; Pioli is catching up fast.

]]> By: Leon http://joeposnanski.com/JoeBlog/2009/10/06/riding-the-metrodome/#comment-80729 Leon Wed, 07 Oct 2009 18:45:43 +0000 http://joeposnanski.com/JoeBlog/2009/10/06/riding-the-metrodome/#comment-80729 I was at the game last night, and wouldn't you know it, it may very well have been the 163rd game I'd been to at the Dome since 2002-ya know, give or take. Been to games in all sorts of outside weather, and it's always been a comfy 67-70 degrees inside. After all that time in wonderful, if indoor baseball weather, after all the games I've been to, last night, about the 8th inning, the roof started leaking, and visible drips could be seen in multiple left field spots. Ironically perfect timing, really. I was at the game last night, and wouldn’t you know it, it may very well have been the 163rd game I’d been to at the Dome since 2002-ya know, give or take. Been to games in all sorts of outside weather, and it’s always been a comfy 67-70 degrees inside. After all that time in wonderful, if indoor baseball weather, after all the games I’ve been to, last night, about the 8th inning, the roof started leaking, and visible drips could be seen in multiple left field spots. Ironically perfect timing, really.

]]> By: Jamie http://joeposnanski.com/JoeBlog/2009/10/06/riding-the-metrodome/#comment-80718 Jamie Wed, 07 Oct 2009 17:47:04 +0000 http://joeposnanski.com/JoeBlog/2009/10/06/riding-the-metrodome/#comment-80718 Well, if a few of the upcoming playoff games are as good as this one, we are in store for a heckuva October. Well, if a few of the upcoming playoff games are as good as this one, we are in store for a heckuva October.

]]> By: Jim from KC in MN http://joeposnanski.com/JoeBlog/2009/10/06/riding-the-metrodome/#comment-80715 Jim from KC in MN Wed, 07 Oct 2009 17:03:30 +0000 http://joeposnanski.com/JoeBlog/2009/10/06/riding-the-metrodome/#comment-80715 Mike, I don't know if it's easier to enjoy Gardy from a distance, but speaking as a Royals fan, I'd be pretty ecstatic with a coach whose team has won its division five of the eight years he's been coaching. Fans complaining about coaches who frequently get to the playoffs "but can't win the big one" remind me too much of the complaints about Marty Schottenheimer before he left. Turns out there are worse things than losing in the playoffs each year. Just ask a Chiefs fan. Mike,

I don’t know if it’s easier to enjoy Gardy from a distance, but speaking as a Royals fan, I’d be pretty ecstatic with a coach whose team has won its division five of the eight years he’s been coaching.

Fans complaining about coaches who frequently get to the playoffs “but can’t win the big one” remind me too much of the complaints about Marty Schottenheimer before he left. Turns out there are worse things than losing in the playoffs each year. Just ask a Chiefs fan.

]]> By: Kings win, Twins win « Title Goes Here http://joeposnanski.com/JoeBlog/2009/10/06/riding-the-metrodome/#comment-80713 Kings win, Twins win « Title Goes Here Wed, 07 Oct 2009 16:54:22 +0000 http://joeposnanski.com/JoeBlog/2009/10/06/riding-the-metrodome/#comment-80713 [...] game and the better team won at home.  From everything I’ve read, the Metrodome is just an awful place to see baseball but it’s got to be pretty cool for the home fans to see such a run in its last [...] [...] game and the better team won at home.  From everything I’ve read, the Metrodome is just an awful place to see baseball but it’s got to be pretty cool for the home fans to see such a run in its last [...]

]]> By: RZ http://joeposnanski.com/JoeBlog/2009/10/06/riding-the-metrodome/#comment-80711 RZ Wed, 07 Oct 2009 16:32:57 +0000 http://joeposnanski.com/JoeBlog/2009/10/06/riding-the-metrodome/#comment-80711 Not necessarily relevant to this post, but in his blog at chron.com (Houston Chronicle website), columnist Richard Justice writes, "Come to think of it, if you throw out my two worst columns of every week, I might be mentioned in the same breath with Joe Posnanski." Not necessarily relevant to this post, but in his blog at chron.com (Houston Chronicle website), columnist Richard Justice writes, “Come to think of it, if you throw out my two worst columns of every week, I might be mentioned in the same breath with Joe Posnanski.”

]]> By: mike in MN http://joeposnanski.com/JoeBlog/2009/10/06/riding-the-metrodome/#comment-80710 mike in MN Wed, 07 Oct 2009 16:25:57 +0000 http://joeposnanski.com/JoeBlog/2009/10/06/riding-the-metrodome/#comment-80710 Larry, why only four teams? Why the arbitrary number? Larry, why only four teams? Why the arbitrary number?

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