AZ Sports & Lifestyle v2.7 2011 Feb-March by AZ Sports & Lifestyle Magazine

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table of contents February/March 2011

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features

One on One with Goran Dragi´c Interview with Phoenix Suns Point Guard

Dream Chaser Former ASU receiver Kerry Taylor hopes to play in the NFL

Publisher

Joe Orr Editor

Curt Blakeney

Sports Guys You Love to Hate Often misunderstood, MLB umpires consider helping people an easy call

Art Direction & Design

Dara Fowler Graphics www.dfgraphics.com

Linkin Park’s Solar Flare Band keeps redefining its sound with new album and a highly anticipated world tour

Out of the Snakepit Rock 'n' Roll axeman Slash slithers on his own with a venomous new solo album

Senior & Lifestyle Editor

Lynette Carrington Executive Assistant

Pamela Daley Copy Editor

Christina Fuoco-Karasinski

Cruisin’ the Fast Lane The 40th anniversary Barrett-Jackson Collector Car Auction supercharges WestWorld

Photo Editor

Gene Lower Advertising Design

Joe Becker, Luis Duran, Steve Jeras Website

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Contributing Photographers

Gear Guide Travel Beach Palace Cancún Resort Moon Palace Golf & Spa Resort Brian Head Resort

Michael Fadyk (jazz cat) Dallas Caldwel Greystreet Photography Phil Hanson Kara Hoyt

Film AZFame

Contributing Writers

Health & Body Five Do’s and Don’ts for Your Skin

Event Review Phoenix Tequila Fest 2010

Club The Big Bang

Music Doc’s Place Restaurant & Music Club

Theater Arizona Theater Company Nutcracker Ballet Hair, the Musical

AZ Sal Was There College Bowl Roundup

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departments

David Carrington

Gary Cruz Charles Hudson I.R. Hunthausen Rodric Hurdle-Bradford Nick Kosmider Amanda Ventura Vermén Verallo-Rowell Ryan Woodcock AZ Sports & Lifestyle Magazine

On the cover: Linkin Park, photo by James Minchin

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Those serious about getting in shape this spring might want to give fitness professional Richard Paine a look. Paine just opened PRO FIT Training in Scottsdale. Paine brings a medical and scientific approach to his fitness programs that focus on not only getting clients in shape and eating right, but also helping them realize their full genetic potential. Paine uses a collective assortment of techniques to incorporate all aspects of health and fitness, including blood work analysis, body fat and weight evaluation, fitness and training, physical rehab and customized nutrition plans to improve the bodies, minds and lives of his clients. “At PRO FIT Training we take a unique comprehensive approach that really hasn’t been seen in the fitness and health industry in the Phoenix area,” Paine said. “We don’t just focus on the weights and cardio, we analyze each client carefully to customize a program that will be the most effective to provide a healthier and better quality of life.” PRO FIT Training offers programs to people of all shapes and sizes, and all ages, from kids to aging adults. PRO FIT Training offers one-on-one personal training, as well as training sessions for couples or for large or small groups. For more information on PRO FIT Training, visit www.profittraining.net or call (602) 284-9803.

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Still Serious About Those New Year’s Resolutions?

LOCK LIPS WITH A VALENTINE’S DAY COCKTAIL

OUT OF LOVE POTION NO. 9? This Valentine’s Day impress the one you love with a cocktail designed to seduce the taste buds and the heart. Inspired by aphrodisiacal scents and ingredients, the following creation is presented by Tequila Avión to bring romance with every sip.

Flying Aphrodite Ingredients: • 2 oz. Tequila Avión Reposado • 1.5 oz. rose water (Can use Monin Rose Syrup mixed with water as alternate) • 1 oz. prickly pear juice • 1/4 oz. fresh lemon juice Directions: 1. Shake all ingredients over ice. 2. Strain into a chilled martini glass. 3. Garnish with a crimson rose petal and fresh strawberry.

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Kenny G Jazzes Up Encanterra’s Good Life Festival

VALLEY RESIDENTS AND VISITORS EXPERIENCED THE “GOOD LIFE” in a whole new way with the kick off of the Good Life Festival on Jan. 29 at Encanterra, located in San Tan Valley. The festival is a series of four concerts at Encanterra from January through April. Highlights include an outdoor concert series featuring national acts and a variety of activities, which include specialty shopping, wine tasting, spa massage demos and gourmet food. The concert series got off to a rousing start with a show headlined by Kenny G in a spectacular outdoor setting at Encanterra Country Club. Grammy winner Kenny G is a smooth jazz saxophonist who was discovered by Clive Davis and signed to Arista Records in 1982. As a solo artist he has sold more than 75 million albums globally and is best known for his hits “Songbird,” “The Moment” and “Forever in Love.” He also has recorded with artists representing nearly every musical genre, including Andrea Bocelli, Whitney Huston, Toni Braxton, Steve Miller, Natalie Cole and Aretha Franklin. “We blended an evening of great live music under the stars with an afternoon of wine tasting and a little noshing, which made for a pretty perfect day,” said Hal Looney, Shea Homes Active Lifestyle Communities Arizona Area president. “And, we were excited to launch our Good Life Festival with the top-selling jazz artist in the country. It doesn’t get much better than that.” On March 5, legendary rockers Three Dog Night and The Guess Who are scheduled for the next Good Life Festival. For more information, visit www.thegoodlifefest.com.

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The DBacks New Digs PHOTOS COURTESY JON WILLEY/ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKS

Ticket prices range from $8-$25 Total man hours for construction will exceed more than 2,000,000 The 24- by 48-foot-high video board featuring LED (Light Emitting Diode) technology is the largest at any Cactus League Spring Training facility Teams will normally wear their batting practice uniforms for the duration of spring training and only first putting on their normal jerseys for Opening Day. Spring training by major league teams in sites other than their regular season game sites began in the 1920s.

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THE NEW SALT RIVER FIELDS AT TALKING STICK will deliver spring training magic and memories to Arizona residents and out-of-town visitors. The Arizona Diamondbacks invited Arizona Sports & Lifestyle Magazine to attend a media preview of their $100 million spring training masterpiece. We were escorted by all of the big names in the organization, including President and CEO Derrick Hall. Located on a 140-acre site on the Salt River PimaMaricopa Indian Community (west of the Loop 101 freeway and north of Indian Bend Road), Salt River Fields will be the first Major League Spring Training facility built on Indian land. This facility pulls out all the stops: 11,000 seats (4,000 of which are lawn seats), the biggest video board in the Cactus League, plenty of great dining options, 12 practice fields, and most important … plenty of shade. The stadium features luxury suites and three party decks with beautiful mountain and field views. This is quite a collective achievement by the Diamondbacks, Colorado Rockies (who share the facility), and the Salt River Indian Community.

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UPCOMING EVENTS

Tillamook Cheese’s Loaf Love Tour Feb. 1- 28, 2011 Throughout Arizona

TASTE Glendale Culinary Festival 2011 Saturday, March 5; 5 p.m. – 9 p.m. Murphy Park in Downtown Glendale

Tillamook Cheese’s “Loaf Love Tour,” the second annual cross-country event dedicated to “bringing tasty cheese to the people,” is kicking off the 2011 cheese-tour in Phoenix during February. New to the Loaf Love Tour in 2011 is the “Loafster,” the new convertible VW bus refurbished to represent a Baby Loaf of Tillamook Cheese. The Loafster will join a pair of 1966 Standard VW Microbuses, also modified to represent Baby Loafs, and will visit locations in Arizona, California, Colorado, Utah and the Pacific Northwest. The Loaf Love Tour will visit grocery stores, farmers’ markets and special events, educating attendees about Tillamook Cheese while allowing patrons to sample its all-natural cheddars made in the Pacific Northwest using only the highest-quality milk from cows not treated with artificial growth hormones. For more information, tune into Tillamook Cheese on Facebook or follow @TillamookCheese on Twitter.

The Glendale Downtown Dining District has been one of the best kept culinary secrets in the Valley. Well, Glendale’s culinary artisans are stepping out of the shadows of their Scottsdale brethren with the inaugural TASTE Glendale Culinary Festival 2011 in Historic Downtown Glendale. More than 30 area eateries and food purveyors will join forces to tantalize and dazzle Glendale residents at the first culinary spectacular. TASTE Glendale will give patrons the unique opportunity to taste, savor and enjoy the delicacies of Glendale’s finest eating establishments. “TASTE will highlight the local chefs and regional cuisine that are representing Glendale as a culinary destination,” said Landon Evans, president of HDE Agency. “We were honored when the City of Glendale chose HDE to represent Glendale’s first culinary event.” Tickets are $25 for adults; this is a 21-and-older event. The price includes beverages. Tickets can be purchased online at www.tasteglendale.com. For the truly indulgent, there will be a VIP area where only select guests, restaurants, sponsors and celebrities are invited. VIPs will be pampered with private cooking presentations from executive chefs at Le Cordon Bleu and Heidi Lee from Into the Soup; succulent delicacies; soothing jazz music; and other entertainment. VIP tickets are $50.

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The Great American Barbeque & Beer Festival presented by Bashas' Saturday, March 26; 2 p.m. – 8 p.m. AJ Chandler Park East in Chandler

The Great Arizona Beer Festival, presented by azcentral.com, is dedicated to the enjoyment of fine craft and microbrewed beers. Featuring more than 200 brews available for sampling, the Great Arizona Beer Festival is the largest beer festival in the southwest, both in terms of number of brewers attending and selection of craft beers on tap. Now in its 23rd year, the festival also holds the distinction of being the longest-running beer festival in Arizona, and includes a nationally sanctioned beer competition. The festival also features a variety of great food, live entertainment and games. This year’s musical entertainment showcases local favorites The Crown Kings. Tickets are $40 in advance and $50 at the gate for general admission, including up to 24 different beer samples, or $80 in advance/$90 at the gate for VIP admission. For more information visit www.azbeer.com.

The inaugural Great American Barbeque & Beer Festival is coming to Arizona, and the streets of historic downtown Chandler will be transformed into a great big playground with food, brew, entertainment and lots of family fun. The festival will be the largest outdoor barbecue event in Arizona, drawing thousands of barbecue aficionados from across the state. The Great American Barbeque & Beer Festival will showcase the best that barbecue has to offer — mouth-watering pork ribs, pulled pork, brisket and chicken — paired with the state’s finest craft beers. This family-friendly event will feature live music by nationally renowned Reel Big Fish (expect a hyperkinetic stage show, humorous antics, ironic covers of new wave pop songs, and a touch of ska-punk), Expendables, One Pin Short, and Take Cover. Other entertainment includes racing pigs, a Kids Zone play area, a custom Harley bike show, a wing-eating contest and a Farmers' Market. This event is being billed as a “festival” and not a barbeque competition — so good food and good times will be in abundant supply. “This festival is not about trophies, it’s about the food,” said Landon Evans of HDE Agency. “No table etiquette applies. So you can eat with your hands, wipe your mouth on your sleeve, and lick your fingers before wiping them on your pants. Just expect to have a good time!” The public is invited to enjoy in the fun. Tickets can be purchased online at www.chandlerbbq.com for $10, which is good for admission. Food and beer will be sold by vendors on a cash basis.

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The 23rd Annual Great Arizona Beer Festival presented by azcentral.com Saturday, March 5; 2 p.m. – 6 p.m. Tempe Beach Park in Tempe

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gear guide

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Black and Decker Power Inverter

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Access instant AC household power in your car, truck, boat, SUV or RV with the Black & Decker 100-Watt Power Inverter. Designed for life on the go, it features an AC and USB outlet to convert your vehicle’s 12-Volt DC power to mobile 115-Volt AC household power, providing 100-watts of power to charge and power personal and mobile office equipment as well as tools, household appliances, lighting and more. $29; www.blackanddecker.com

Kymaro Doorway Trainer Those who don’t want to spend a fortune on a home-gym should consider the well-designed and convenient Kymaro Doorway Trainer. Easy to set up, it easily sits in any doorway and allows you to perform push ups, sit ups and dips using your own body weight as the main source of resistance. Requires no drilling or screws to install, and the sturdy frame can support up to 300 pounds. $40; www.ubuyez.com

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Flip UltraHD Video Camera

Shoot up to two hours of HD video on the easy-to-use and super slim Flip UltraHD by CIsco. Just press the big red button to start capturing vibrant HD video. It keeps your video steady with image stabilization. Connect the built-in USB arm to your PC or Mac to charge the battery and launch pre-loaded FlipShare software. Organize, create and share your videos with FlipShare software. $199; www.cisco.com ▲ ▲ ▲

Soda Stream Genesis

Making your own soda has never been as much fun … or tasty. Just fill the bottle with regular filtered water, place it in the soda maker, pump the button a few times to add the fizz and in seconds you will have fresh, refreshing soda or sparkling water. Uses BPA-free, reusable oneliter bottles — with no cans or plastic bottles to throw away. Pour in flavored syrups or make your own flavor with fruit juice or fruit peels. $119; www.sodastream.com

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Tempur-Pedic All-Purpose Pillow

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Get a snooze on the plane with the All-Purpose Pillow by Tempur-Pedic. With its unique “peanut” shape, it can be used as a neck roll, lumbar cushion or leg spacer. It comes with a removable, washable cover with a convenient carrying strap. Perfect space-saving size for traveling. $49; www.tempurpedic.com

Honeywell Easy-Care Cool Moisture Humidifier The HCM 750 is easy to fill, easy to use and easy to clean. Top opening allows filling from above using pitcher or water can. This unit features three moisture output settings, refill signal, illuminated window and automatic moisture balance system. It’s ultra quiet operation won’t disturb your sleep. Runs 48 hours per filling with continuous water flow to keep water fresh. $40; www.kaz.com

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Samsonite 26" xSpace

Monster Turbine Pro Gold Why settle for the cheap earbuds that come with your iPod when you can upgrade to the Monster Turbine Pro High-Performance In-Ear Speakers. Pro speaker design with low mass, ultra-wide bandwidth driver delivers clean, dynamic and accurate sound. You'll get the clarity, detail and dynamic range of the finest studio monitors or audiophile loudspeakers. $279; www.monstercable.com

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This attractive expandable suitcase resists stains from oil, dirt and water. With four 360-degree spinner wheels, it takes very little effort to get this suitcase moving. The spacious interior is fully lined and includes a built-in suiter, a day pack/laundry bag and a collection of interior and exterior pockets for organization. It expands for additional packing capacity. $188; www.samsonite.com

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gear guide

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Samsung Vibrant

Taylormade TR3 Speed Stik This swing training aid matches the needs and expectations of Tour professionals, club professionals and average golfers alike. The TR3 Speed Stik will accurately measure your swing speed and includes game enhancement features like strength training, grooving the proper swing plane and improving tempo. Updated and redesigned to be more useful and more manageable. $139; www.taylormadegolf.com

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New Balance MR 740 BY

Great for long distance runners in search of mild stability, the 740 trail runner features a medial post for pronation control and ABZORB cushioning in both the heel and forefoot. Stability Web delivers midfoot support and reduces the weight of the shoe. N-ergy in the heel provides NB's most advanced shock absorption and cushioning. $58; www.newbalance.com

Polk Audio SurroundBar SDA Instant Home Theater For those who want amazing, immersive surround sound without spending a fortune on wiring and installation, check out Polk Audio's SurroundBar Instant Home Theater system (IHT 6000). It provides a complete home theater experience from a single speaker and an unobtrusive wireless subwoofer — it requires only a RCA stereo output from a flat-panel TV, DVD player, receiver or other source. Polk Audio is one of the most respected names in home acoustics. Amazing home theater sound for a reasonable price. $500; www.polkaudio.com

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The Samsung Vibrant, a Galaxy S phone for T-Mobile, is a sleek Android-powered smart phone with a stunning 4-inch Super AMOLED touch screen and blazing 1 GHz Hummingbird processor. The Samsung Vibrant isn't just stylishly sleek, it's one of the slimmest touch screen phones on the market. Includes a 5.0 megapixel camera with 4x zoom. This phone integrates e-mail, social networking and phone contacts into one address book -- and combines Google Calendar and social networking calendars. $399; www.samsung.com

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gear guide

Briggs & Riley Explore 25 Upright

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The Explore Upright features the Outsider handle system, which allows for more interior space. Bars are on the outside for a spacious flat packing surface inside. Easy pack main compartment with wide nylon compression panels keep your gear flat and neat. Inside top lid pocket keeps smaller essentials organized. Quick access front pockets and two exterior, zippered front pockets offer additional space for accessory items. $320; www.briggs-riley.com

Plantronics In-car Speakerphone Talk hands free and hear clearly with the Plantronics K100 in-car speakerphone. Its slim profile is designed to fit on your car's visor. Broadcast calls, GPS navigation and music from your mobile phone via the Bluetooth connection. Dual microphones with noise reduction technology ensure clear conversation. Voice alerts and large, easy-to-locate buttons all work to provide an easy calling experience. $55; www.plantronics.com

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Logitech Revue with Google TV

The Logitech Revue with Google TV is simply an amazing product – one of our favorites. It turns any HDTV into a smart TV. Provides seamless access to the Web, your TV, compatible DVRs and Android apps. Searches and controls with an intuitive keyboard controller with built-in touch pad. The Revue lets you search and enjoy content from multiple sources without switching devices, inputs or rooms. See content from the Web and TV simultaneously with Dual View. $249; www.logitech.com

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TurboTax Deluxe 2010

TurboTax Deluxe by Intuit was designed to make it easy for you to get the biggest tax refund possible and check for accuracy. Asks simple questions about your income, family situation and changes in your tax situation and credits. Then, based on your answers, searches for more than 350 deductions and credits. Audit Risk Meter checks your tax return for common audit triggers. Includes free Federal e-file and TurboTax State for completing your state taxes. $50; www.intuit.com

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Magellan RoadMate 5045

The RoadMate 5045 features a large 5-inch color touch screen that provides instant access to your personalized bookmarks of favorite places and searches anywhere you travel. Hear street names and directions for a clear understanding of when to make the next turn, while you keep your eyes on the road. Features lifetime traffic alerts, highway lane assist, OneTouch favorites, highway exit POIs and built-in AAA TourBook. $109; www.magellangps.com

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ONE ONE with Goran Dragi´c Arizona Sports & Lifestyle talks to the Phoenix Suns Point Guard By Curt Blakeney Assistance from Casey Taggatz, Phoenix Suns Photo by Barry Gossage/NBAE via Getty Images

WHEN THE PHOENIX SUNS TRADED FOR THE DRAFT RIGHTS of Goran Dragić — selected in the second round (45th overall) in the 2008 NBA Draft — their plan was to groom him to eventually take over the starting point guard position after Steve Nash relinquishes it. The front office quickly inked a deal with TAU Ceramica, his European team with whom he was under contract, and signed Dragić in September of 2008. After 3 seasons in the NBA, the Suns are still hoping that he can handle the baton once it’s passed from Nash, though Nash shows no sign of slowing down. Dragić, a native of Ljubljana, SR Slovenia (Yugoslavia), began his professional career in 2003 at the age of 17 with the Slovenian 2D League club Ilirija Ljubljana. He played there for one year before moving to KD Slovan of the Slovenian Premier A League and Adriatic League. After spending two years with Slovan, he transferred to the Spanish ACB club CB Murcia in 2006. In 2007, Dragić signed with Olimpija Ljubljana, a team that competes in the Slovenian League, Adriatic League and Euroleague. During the 2007-08 season, he won the Slovenian League championship with Olimpija Ljubljana. He was then ready to take his game to the NBA. In his rookie campaign for the Suns, he averaged 4.5 points and 2.0 assists. During the 2009-10 season, he increased that average to 7.9 and 3.0, respectively. Now in his third season with the Suns, Dragić continues to improve, averaging 7.8 points and 3.3 assists per game (as of press time). AZSAL had a conversation with Dragić , and here’s what he said.

... WHEN YOU PLAY AGAINST THE BEST POINT GUARD IN THE LEAGUE EVERY DAY AT PRACTICE, YOU’RE CONSTANTLY LEARNING SOMETHING NEW FROM HIM.

AZSAL: Do you enjoy playing point guard or shooting guard more? GD: Point guard. I’ve played that my entire life and I enjoy the role of being able to pass but also score when the team needs it. AZSAL: Toughest defender in the NBA? GD: At my position, I would say Rajon Rondo in Boston. AZSAL: The Suns organization hopes that one day you will take over the starting point guard position after Steve Nash retires. Do you feel like you’re ready for that challenge? GD: Yeah, I think so. I have to work to improve my game and to continue putting certain pieces together. It’s always an adjustment when you start playing with the starting unit as I have at times lately, because I’m used to coming in with the second unit for the most part. Hopefully Steve will be here for a long time where I can continue to learn from him, and when he finally says “I’m ready to go,” I’ll be ready as well. AZSAL: What have you learned from Steve Nash since you entered the NBA? GD: A lot of things, especially how he controls himself, controls his teammates and is able to run the offense. I tell a lot of people that when you play against the best point guard in the league every day at practice, you’re constantly learning something new from him. It’s been great for me, and I will never regret coming here to Phoenix and learning from Steve.

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AZSAL: What areas of your game would you like to improve? GD: Aside from improving every aspect of my game skillwise, I want to continue being a better leader on the court. I’m always looking forward and trying to find ways to improve. AZSAL: Outside of Steve Nash, who’s the greatest point guard in the NBA? GD: That’s a tough question, but right now I feel like Steve, Chris Paul and Deron Williams are at the top of the list of current NBA point guards. AZSAL: Who do you admire in the NBA right now? GD: I admire Steve and Grant (Hill) because of what they’re still able to accomplish at their age. They are always finding ways to be more productive, effective and efficient against the younger players in the league, and I admire that a lot . AZSAL: What’s the one thing you miss the most about Slovenia during the NBA season? GD: I miss my family and my friends. But that’s life, and I just have to be strong and remember that this is my job. I do my thing over here for six or seven months and then I’m able to go back and see everyone back in Slovenia. And I would say the food too … mom’s kitchen (with a laugh). AZSAL: Favorite city on the road? GD: There are a lot of great cities, but I like Los Angeles and Miami the best. AZSAL: Favorite food? GD: I would say steak right now. In Slovenia, I am used to eating dishes with different kinds of meat, but I enjoy steak over here. AZSAL: What’s in your I-pod? GD: I listen to American R&B and rap, but I also have a lot of Serbian music on there. ▲

AZSAL: What is the biggest difference between basketball in Slovenia and the US? GD: There is a huge difference. It’s a more physical type of basketball, and played at a faster pace. In Europe, everybody plays slow and you end up making four or five passes before taking a shot. Here in the U.S., if you’re open you can just shoot it … especially here in Phoenix (says with a laugh).”

DREAM Chaser Kerry Taylor watched his father and uncle play in the NFL. Now the former Arizona State wide receiver is giving it his all in hopes of stepping on hallowed ground. By Nick Kosmider

THE DREAM STARTS WITH A QUICK BREAKFAST and the stretching of muscles bruised and sore from the chase. It's 8 a.m. and Kerry Taylor is beginning his day as a football player in search of a future. With his college career as a wide receiver for the Arizona State football team over, Taylor is trying to find employment on the sport's largest stage: the NFL. “It's very surreal, actually,” Taylor said. “You go from being little and watching ESPN as these guys go through their draft process to sitting at a hotel getting measured and talking to all these scouts, and it's like, 'Dang, this moment is really here.' It's crazy.” Taylor is hoping to parlay the momentum gained from a productive senior season for the Sun Devils — 54 receptions for 699 yards and three touchdowns — into an impressive showing during the NFL's evaluation period, highlighted by the league's combine in Indianapolis next month. This is a time when players, especially ones like Taylor, who don't have the comfort of being guaranteed a high draft position, must reach deep and find self-motivation. There are no daily team practices with coaches commanding players to put up big numbers in the weight room or tirelessly perfect routes on the field. Motivation must be found within. It doesn't mean that players have to chase the dream alone, though. Taylor is preparing for April's draft at Fischer Sports, an

PHOTO COURTESY OF ASU MEDIA RELATIONS

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PHOTO © NICK KOSMIDER

athletic training facility in a nondescript building on 32nd Street in Phoenix that trains high school, college and professional athletes. Taylor strode through the doors of the complex early in January and zoomed right past a reporter waiting to meet him there. “Sorry, man, I didn't even see you there,” he said. The wide receiver has reason for the tunnel vision. This goal, one of a life in professional football, was set in motion long ago. It's in his blood. Taylor's father, Keith Taylor, played in the NFL as a safety for three different teams during a nine-year career. Kerry's uncle, John Taylor, was a wide receiver for the San Francisco 49ers and a counterpart to Jerry Rice during the team's run of three Super Bowl victories. John Taylor is best known for his game-winning catch against the Cincinnati Bengals in Super Bowl XXIII. Kerry Taylor loved everything he saw when he watched his father and uncle play — the crowds, the competition and the elation that accompanied victory. He definitely wasn't going to need to be pushed onto the gridiron. “My dad never forced me to (play football) just because he did it,” Taylor said. “It's just something I saw him do and grew to like when I was younger and then started playing and realized I was pretty good at it. I just liked it and stuck with it.” The dream continues with weightlifting and workouts designed to strengthen muscles Taylor didn't even realize he had. “He hasn't done much of anything yet,” Brett Fischer jested of Taylor during the wide receiver's first week at the facility. Fischer, a physical therapist, certified athletic trainer and strength and conditioning specialist, has worked with athletes in nearly every sport, with previous posts at the University of Florida, the New York Jets, the Senior and PGA golf tours and the Chicago Cubs among the bullet points on his resume. He now works with professional and college athletes eager to maximize what they can out of their physical talents. Fischer closely

“My dad never forced me to (play football)... It is just something I saw him do and grew to like when I was younger and then started playing and realized I was pretty good at it.”

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and put it to work.” Sullivan has been most impressed by Taylor's ability to run routes, a staple of the receiver's game that has earned him recognition from coaches throughout his career. Without some of the size or blazing speed possessed by some of his peers, it's Taylor's ability to run precise routes and create separation from defensive backs that helps him stand out. Sullivan's description of Taylor's route-running abilities: “Nasty.” You know--the good kind. “It's a lot of practice. It's a lot of field study and watching other guys and trying to utilize some of what they do in my own game,” Taylor said. “You try different things and if they work then you try to push the limits. You say, 'OK, now what else can I come up with?' You can make similar moves look different to keep the defense off balance. That's something I really focused on over my last couple years and I think I've become pretty good at it.” The dream is walking out of the facility after another six-hour day. It will continue tomorrow and the day after that. This is what stands between Kerry Taylor and the hallowed ground his father and uncle stepped on for the first time a little more than two decades ago – a couple more months of sweat equity and sore muscles. So is Taylor nervous with his impending future hanging in the balance? After all, the game is in the inches. It's enough to make players psyche themselves out, so afraid to lose the dream that they can only watch it slip away. Taylor, though, isn't being weighed down by the angst. “I don't think it makes me nervous,” he said. “I get excited about it. I don't really pay attention to who's watching me or who isn't watching me. I've played football all my life and this is just playing football. Football is football to me. I'm not worried about what team might draft me or how high, I'm just going out there to do my best and whatever happens will happen.” ▲

charts and monitors the progress of all the athletes that come through his facility, individualizing plans to meet their needs. For skill position players like Taylor, the facility offers another vocal presence. William Sullivan has always been obsessed with improvement. He has long been fascinated and consumed by every detail buried deep into the fabric of football, thrilled by the knowledge that every inch of movement on the field can serve a purpose. After graduating from Bowling Green State University, Sullivan spent five seasons in the CFL and the Arena One Football League. It was during this period, Sullivan said, that he noticed a deficiency in how coaches approached player improvement. “You have so many coaches who want players to correct their games the way the coaches want to see it done,” Sullivan said. “I try to get a feel for what a player does well and help them adjust their game based on those strengths.” It's a creative process Sullivan revels in. Working with NFL players such as Vincent Jackson, Jason Avant, Darrelle Revis and Tim Hightower, Sullivan has helped some of the game's brightest stars find new and innovative ways to perfect their craft. Whether it is a subtle lean for a receiver to create space or a new footwork pattern for a defensive back, Sullivan breaks down each player's game with tireless attention to detail, and new approaches for players are often quick to emerge. A conversation with Sullivan can make a casual observer eager to strap on a helmet. His energy is contagious as he is constantly out of his chair and demonstrating some quick football moves to enhance his talking points. It's that passion that makes Taylor know he is putting the chase of the dream in good hands. “I love working over there with Will,” Taylor said. “He's already taught me so much. I just want to keep working with him and soak up all the knowledge he has. I'm excited to take the stuff he's taught me

“I don’t really pay attention to who’s watching me or who isn’t watching me. I’ve played football all my life and this is just playing football. ... I’m just going out there to do my best and whatever happens will happen.”

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PHOTO COURTESY OF ASU MEDIA RELATIONS WWW.AZSAL.COM

AZSPORTS&LIFESTYLE 27

SPORTS GUYS YOU

Umpires (L to R) Tim Welke, Jim Reynolds, Mike DiMuro and Bill Welke pose for a photograph before the Chicago Cubs-St. Louis Cardinals baseball game at Busch Stadium in St. Louis on August 13, 2010. PHOTO ÂŠ UPI/BILL GREENBLATT

love

hate

Often misunderstood and always an easy target for fans’ wrath, Major League Baseball umpires consider helping people an easy call

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By Ryan Woodcock

IT’S PRETTY COMMON KNOWLEDGE THAT MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL UMPIRES GET A BAD RAP. They are often cast as the villains, they take a lot of heckling from fans while on the field, and they are put in a no-win situation when making a call on that bang-bang play at the plate. Fans are always disagreeing with the calls they make on the field, but off the field, there is one call they make that nearly everyone will have to agree with. That’s the call for giving back and helping people, and that is really what the MLB umpires are all about. Believe it or not, umpires are real people. They have families and lives outside of baseball just like everyone else, and they, like most civic-minded people, want to give back to those in need. In 2006, the MLB umpires created UMPS CARE, a charity to assist retired umpires. The nonprofit organization then branched out and added initiatives to offer financial and emotional assistance to children and families in need, something the charity has focused more on the last couple of years. Currently nine of the 68 Major League Baseball umpires live in the Valley, including 24-year MLB vet Gary Darling, who serves as the president of the UMPS CARE Charities Board of Directors. The Phoenix resident has seen it all on the field and has worked two World Series in his career, including last year’s World Series that pitted the San Francisco Giants against the Texas Rangers. While calling a game behind home plate on baseball’s biggest stage was a huge thrill for Darling, that doesn’t come close to the feeling he gets when he and his colleagues are able to put a smile on the face of a child. “Absolutely, helping a kid take his mind off what he’s going through, or just making them smile…I’d take that over a World Series any day,” Darling said. “That’s why we founded UMPS CARE, we wanted to be able to make an impact in people’s lives, especially the lives of children.”

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AZSPORTS&LIFESTYLE 29

“Absolutely, helping a kid take his mind off what he’s going through, or just making them smile…I’d take that over a World Series any day ...”

Blue Crew Tickets is a program that provides a Major League Baseball experience for children awaiting adoption. kids receive tickets to the game, snacks and refreshments, plus a chance to join the umpires on the field for a real behind-the-scenes baseball experience.

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UMPS Care is not just a Phoenix-area charity. It’s a charity that reaches nationwide, and all 68 MLB umpires are involved in some capacity. UMPS CARE Board of Directors Secretary Jim Reynolds, an 11-year MLB vet and Gilbert resident, praises his brethren for the amount of time and effort they put into UMPS CARE. “Many hands make light work, and that’s what I think makes UMPS CARE successful,” Reynolds said. “Each and every one of the 68 guys are involved in one way or another, and they take pride in the joy that we can bring to kids and families in need.” UMPS CARE has a number of programs that they implement throughout the year. One of those is Blue Crew Tickets, a program that provides a Major League Baseball experience throughout all 30 Major League cities for children awaiting adoption. The kids receive tickets to the game, snacks and refreshments to munch on during the game, plus a chance to join the umpires on the field for a real behind-the-scenes baseball experience. “It’s amazing how just going to a baseball game is such a treat for these kids,” Reynolds said. “Going to a baseball game was something I took for granted when I was young, but these kids don’t get to experience things like this. It’s something we do as an organization that I’m very proud of.” Kids actually get on the field before the game, take a picture, and even help the umps get ready for the game by rubbing up the baseballs that will be used that night. “The kids love getting their hands dirty to help us get the game balls ready, they get a huge kick out of that,” Darling said. “It’s great to watch the pure excitement in their faces while they are doing this. They definitely have a story to tell their friends the next day.” That’s really what UMPS CARE is all about, making kids smile, making kids laugh, and to let them know that there are people thinking about them and who care about them. Another one of the charity’s major initiatives is the Blue for Kids children’s hospital program, which brings an umpire crew in each MLB

MLB Umpires Gary Darling (L) and Bill Hohn with young boy awaiting adoption visit in Cardinals dugout as a part of BLUE Crew Tickets at Busch Stadium. PHOTO © BILL GREENBLATT

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city to the bedside of children with life-threatening illnesses. They bring along stuffed bears and let the kids have their own Build-a-Bear Workshop right there at the hospital. “The hospital visits really put things into perspective for me,” Reynolds said. “The first year I did one it was really overwhelming and I was a little apprehensive around the kids. But then it hit me that these children are really sick, yet they are still just kids that want to play and have fun like any normal kid. Being able to help take their minds off of life for a moment and just have fun as a kid is very rewarding.” Many times during the hospital visits the kids will get a special visit from the team mascot from that city, and occasionally a player or two will stop by as well. “We have had tremendous support from Major League Baseball, and they have been extremely helpful in making this program a success,” Darling said. “Many times we play second fiddle at these visits when the big furry mascot is there to entertain them, and that is fine with us. We just want to make these visits as special and rewarding as possible for the kids. It doesn’t need to be about us.” Reynolds recalled a hospital visit in Cleveland where they went to a restricted ward to visit a very sick 14-year-old boy who wasn’t well enough to join the group for the Build-a-Bear Workshop. The boy and his mom were there, and Reynolds was told that the boy probably wouldn’t communicate with them. “We chatted with him about baseball and we gave him a bear dressed up in a Cleveland Indians uniform, which was his favorite team,” Reynolds said. The boy had his eyes open but didn’t say anything until the last few seconds, when Reynolds noticed a tear running down the boy’s cheek. As Reynolds and the crew walked out of the room, the nurse chased them down and through her own tears told them this was the first time the boy has communicated on any level in the two months he was in the hospital. “Talk about a 'Wow' moment right there,” Reynolds said. “In such a short period of time we had such a tremendous impact on that boy, and on his mom as well. No parent wants to see their child in pain, and to even lift the spirit of a parent for a brief moment is rewarding.” Since the time Blue for Kids and Blue Crew Tickets started UMPS CARE has given more than 4,000 bears to children and provided more than 4,000 baseball experiences. There are a few other ways that UMPS CARE lends a hand to those in need. The charity partners with the Dave Thomas Foundation to provide college scholarships for deserving young adults who were

MLB Umpire Gary Darling visits with children at CHOC Children's Hospital in Orange County. PHOTO © DEBORAH ROBINSON

“The hospital visits really put things into perspective for me ... these children are really sick, yet they are still just kids that want to play and have fun like any normal kid.” ▲

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adopted as children, as well as offering financial assistance for families in need. To support and fund these outstanding programs, UMPS CARE holds a handful of fundraising events throughout the year. One of its biggest fundraisers is the Golf Classic, which is held annually in Phoenix and was hosted this year by Raven South Mountain in January. “The Golf Classic is our signature fundraising event each year,” Darling said. “We have always had great support from the Phoenix community for this event, which is important as we try to raise as much money as we can to implement our charity programs. UMPS CARE also raises money through a marathon relay called Baltimore Run for Bears, a 100-hole golf marathon in Phoenix, and an online auction that is held each year during Spring Training. This year the UMPS CARE Charities Online Auction will be held March 9-20 online at www.biddingforgood.com/UmpsCare and will offer people a chance to bid on signed sports memorabilia and one-ofa-kind sports experiences. Some of the items available this year include a 2010 World Series home plate signed by former Presidents George H.W. Bush and George W. Bush; an autographed jersey signed by President Barack Obama; game-worn cleats signed by Albert Pujols; a signed jersey from Tiger Hall of Famer Al Kaline; Roy Halladay’s perfect game baseball signed by Halladay and the umpire crew; and a BP experience which includes tickets to a game and the chance to watch batting practice from the field. “The auction has been a pretty big hit in just two years, and a big reason for that is because of all the generous supporters who donate great items to our cause, and we can’t thank them enough for their help,” Darling said. It doesn’t seem possible but baseball is right around the corner, and it will be here before you know it. Pitchers and catchers report on Feb. 14, Spring Training gets into full swing in March and opening day starts on April 1. It’s always been a part of the game to give umpires a hard time. They know that and understand it. But keep it clean and good natured. You might think an umpire is a “bum” because he made a bad call, but in the eyes and hearts of the thousands of kids that the Major League Baseball umpires have touched over the years, all they see are kind and generous men who showed that there are people out there who care about them. That’s what UMPS CARE Charities is all about.

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Band keeps redefining its sound with surreal concept album, “A Thousand Suns,” and a highly anticipated world tour

PHOTO © JAMES MINCHIN

By Christina Fuoco-Karasinski

ARIZONA NATIVE/LINKIN PARK VOCALIST CHESTER BENNINGTON couldn't ask for a better job than pleasing his band and his fans with his music. "We do what we love," Bennington said during a two-hour teleconference in which Arizona Sports & Lifestyle participated. "I know most of us would be playing music or creating music as a hobby in one way or another, whether we were assigned to a record contract or not. "This isn't like a job you go apply for and, hopefully, you get a position. We're all very grateful that we get to do what we love doing and we get to travel around the world and experience and become citizens of Earth, so to speak, and raise our kids and enjoy. We have an enjoyable life and that's a result of making the music that we make and that's really what most people strive for in life, is to do something they enjoy doing and have a good life from it. So, that's something we're all very grateful for. We try not to take that for granted." And the band is excited to promote its latest album "A Thousand Suns," a vast departure from its previous releases, tapping into industrial dance rock music that harkens back to the mid-1990s. "A Thousand Suns," which

PHOTO © JASON LEMIERE

has sold 630,000 copies since its release in September 2010, according to Nielsen SoundScan, is Linkin Park's first studio set since the double-platinum "Minutes to Midnight" in 2007. "The difference in the band sound from record to record is something that we set out to do in the sense that we want to make something that sounds fresh and exciting to us," co-vocalist/multi-instrumentalist Mike Shinoda said during the same teleconference. "However, at the beginning of a record, we may have a sense of what that sounds like, but we don't have a definite understanding of what that sounds like. So, just to give you a working example, when we were doing demos for 'A Thousand Suns,' we wanted them to sound different. We were making demos and we knew that the sound was a little bit more electronic-based and it was looser and almost more abstract. At that time, we hadn't even hired a producer." Linkin Park considered going it alone because, Shinoda said, "we didn't want somebody else to come in and kind of muck up the thing that we were doing that we liked." However, Linkin Park decided that legendary knob turner Rick Rubin was the man for the job in helping Shinoda produce the record. "When he came in, it was obvious that he loved the stuff we were making and he didn't intend to change that," Shinoda said. "He intended to try and help us get there in the best way possible. So, that's why we ended up working with Rick. But that is to say we had a sense of what it was in the beginning and then along the way we made decisions that helped us stay on track and keep our minds open to experimentation and new things." Bennington, who attended Glendale's Ironwood High School but moved to Los Angeles to join the band, said Linkin Park was going for a specific vibe. The group knew it wanted "A Thousand Suns" to be presented as a piece of art as a whole, rather than a mere collection of songs.

“The difference in the band sound from record to record is something that we set out to do in the sense that we want to make something that sounds fresh and exciting to us... ” ▲

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"We did tend to gravitate toward that a little more than normal, but we never really thought about, at least from my perspective, about what people would think of a track or how they would feel about the new direction," Bennington said. "I know the die-hard fans of Linkin Park are really open minded to what we do and sometimes it takes people awhile to digest the new music, but when it sits, especially with this album, I think people really are going to appreciate what we've done here and see it for what we intended it to be." Fans will be able to get a taste of the record when Bennington along with his Californiabased bandmates â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Shinoda, drummer Rob Bourdon, guitarist Brad Delson, DJ Joe Hahn and bassist Dave "Phoenix" Farrell â&#x20AC;&#x201D; perform a hometown show at USAirways Center in Phoenix Monday, Feb. 28. Bennington explained that playing in an arena is the best possible scenario for a band. "You get everything in that kind of environment," he said. "There's an intimacy that you can still have with fans. You really get engrossed in the performance of a band and that, to me, is the ideal scenario."

“ A lot of the themes that are going on the new record kind of take a central role in the visuals of the show ... from night to night, the music will be different and the visuals will be different as well. No two shows will be the same.” He said the energy in an arena is so great that it makes the experience "supernatural," whereas with a smaller venue there are plenty of problems dealing with sound and the capability of the room. But that, too, has its bonuses. "There's an intimacy to that, too, but you definitely have to work," Bennington said. "There's definitely a lot more that you have to work around and kind of work in spite of yourself. But there's something to be said (for smaller venues). We all love playing smaller places and having people right up in your face. There's nothing quite like that experience, too. And so I think they're both really, really great, but it depends on, I think that you can have a better show in an arena, even if it's a bad band. It's just kind of a better experience to be able to do that. It's pretty amazing." The production of an arena show is second to none. Shinoda said this jaunt will resemble "A Thousand Suns," a concept album dealing with nuclear warfare and themes of war. "A lot of the themes that are going on the new record kind of take a central role in the visuals of the show," Shinoda said. "Our art team developed technology that's new just specific to this show and it had a lot to do with the fact that in our show we don't play the exact same thing every night. We play different set lists and then within those set lists we improvise. So we wanted a way for the look of the show to kind of ebb and flow with whatever we do with the music. So, from night to night, the music will be different and the visuals will be different as well. No two shows will be the same." As a souvenir for fans, Linkin Park is teaming up with Basecamp Productions to produce "official bootlegs." "We actually have been doing the mp3s of the shows as a souvenir for awhile," Shinoda said. "The idea being that we want the fans to be

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• "A Thousand Suns" has sold 630,000 copies since its release in September 2010, according to SoundScan. • One dollar per ticket from Linkin Park's North American tour is donated to Music for Relief. • The title "A Thousand Suns" comes from the Hindu Sanskrit Scripture, the Bhagavad Gita: "If the radiance of a thousand suns were to burst at once into the sky, that would be like the splendor of the mighty one," a quote made famous by J. Robert Oppenheimer in reference to the atomic bomb, according to online sources. • Arizona native Chester Bennington has a side project Dead by Sunrise, while Mike Shinoda performs as Fort Minor. • Linkin Park's DJ Joe Hahn directs nearly all the band's videos.

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PHOTO © JASON LEMIERE

able to take that special event of the Linkin Park show home with them, just something we give to the fans. "In the past we've charged for it, but on this run we are actually giving it away included in the ticket price. So, when you get your ticket, you basically get your show to listen to for free. What basically happens is it's not what they call a 'line mix' or a 'board mix,' which is the cheapest and easiest way to do it. Most people do it that way. We just think that sounds terrible and it's kind of sloppy, so what happens in our show is the guy that mixes the show live for you records the show as it's going on and then he takes that backstage and we do a special mix for your iPod and your car and something that will sound good on your stereo, because the live mix doesn't sound good on your stereo. So, yeah, it gets remixed and then put up online for all the fans of that show to download." Shinoda said that process can take anywhere from a day to a week. It depends on the length of time the crew travels in between shows. If the crew has to leave the show immediately afterward in order to drive overnight, it may push that recording release back a little bit. But more important than the "bootlegs" are the fans. Bennington said that it's hard to see what kind of impact Linkin Park has had on listeners. "It's difficult to see how deeply people react to our music and every once in awhile we come across a fan who or somebody who relates to a song in a particular way or had an experience at one of the shows that kind of, you can see it in their eyes, that they kind of, that we've touched them in a very special way," he said. "Our music becomes the soundtrack of their life, their life story. And, as a songwriter, that's, the ultimate goal. (It's amazing) to write something that really means and that really matters to somebody. And we're fortunate that we are open enough to write a very diverse style of music and that we kind of think that we expect that from ourselves to really kind of have an open mind in terms of the kinds of songs that we write and the variety of the songs that we write and stylistically we have a chance to reach a lot more people than maybe some other bands do."

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LINKIN PARK with special guests Circa Survive and Paper Tongues

7 p.m. Monday Feb. 28 USAirways Center 201 E. Jefferson St. Phoenix $69.50 general admission floor; $69.50 and $39.50 reserved Ticketmaster.com or 1-800-745-3000

Out of the

SNAKE PIT Rock ‘n’ Roll axeman Slash slithers on his own with a venomous solo album aptly titled ‘Slash’ By Christina FuocoKarasinski Photos by Dallas Caldwell

BY MOST STANDARDS legendary guitarist Slash (real name Saul Hudson) has lived a rock ‘n’ roll fantasy camp over his 25+ year musical career. After showcasing his guitar pyrotechnics for Guns N’ Roses, Slash’s Snakepit and Velvet Revolver, Slash now has the street cred of a Clapton, Van Halen or Beck. During a two-year hiatus of Velvet Revolver as the band searched for a new lead singer to replace Scott Weiland — Slash made plans to record a solo project; and the best in the business lined up to contribute. He admitted he didn't know too much about Alter Bridge singer Myles Kennedy when a friend first referred him. But Slash soon learned that Kennedy was a genuine find and a great collaborator for his first proper solo collection. "Myles is somebody that I just was not real aware of when I was making the record," said Slash, a native of London,

AZ SAL FAST FACTS:

England, who now resides in Los Angeles. "I got to the end of the record -- I had recorded 90 percent of it — and I had two songs left over. I couldn't figure out who would sing them. "I had just become familiar with Myles but I didn't know his voice that well. I just heard a lot about him. I just took a shot in

• Slash has received critical recognition as a guitarist. In August 2009, Time Magazine ranked him No. 2 on its list of the "10 Best Electric Guitar Players of All-Time"

the dark and said, 'Let's see what this guy Myles Kennedy is like. I sent him some music and he came back with the lyrics and the melodies and I was like this is (expletive) great. It was an exciting discovery for me personally."

• He was also ranked No. 21 on Gigwise's list of the "50 Greatest Guitarists Ever".

So exciting that Slash hired Kennedy as the lead singer of his live band, performing a gamut of songs ranging from Guns N' Roses tunes to songs from 2010's "Slash." "It's a really tall order to adapt your voice to this many different types of songs — Guns 'N Roses to any number of

• He is the former lead guitarist of the American hard rock band Guns N' Roses, with whom he performed and recorded from 1985 to 1996.

songs off my records, Velvet Revolver to Slash's Snakepit," said Slash, who opened for Ozzy Osbourne on January 26 at Comerica Theatre. "It's all different styles — and he just manages to do it. It's nothing short of miraculous, without sounding too dramatic. He does it so that the song is totally recognizable but he still has his own sort of style. So it doesn't get sort of like I don't really like the take on that song. He does-

• Slash was born in West Hampstead in West London, and raised in the city of Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire. Folks in Stoke-on-Trent rallied, unsuccessfully, for the city to erect a statue of him and Lemmy Kilmister of Motorhead.

n't try to change it. But he still tries to make it sound his own." Kennedy serves as Slash's vocalist on stage, but "Slash," the album, features an array of singers. That list of guest singers does not include former Guns N' Roses bandmate Axl Rose. The two have a frayed relationship, and Slash has not spoken to Rose in person since his departure from the band in 1996.

• After his departure from Guns N' Roses, Slash focused on his sideproject, Slash's Snakepit, playing a few tour dates before disbanding the group in 1998.

The 14-song CD sees collaborations with vocalists Osbourne, Iggy Pop, Ian Astbury, Lemmy Kilmister, Chris Cornell, Rocco DeLuca, Dave Grohl, Kennedy, Kid Rock, Adam Levine of Maroon 5, Duff McKagan, Fergie, M. Shadows of Avenged Sevenfold and Andrew Stockdale of Wolfmother. "For the Fergie one, I wanted a good rock 'n' roll female vocal," Slash said. "A couple years previous I heard Fergie sing outside of the realm of what the Black Eyed Peas do. I don't think anybody had ever heard her sing like that. It was really exciting. When it came time to make the record, I was like, 'I know who would be good for this.' "The Adam Levine choice, that particular piece of music — if you listen to it without the vocals — is a very unique style for me, based on what everybody else is familiar with anyway. It needed a certain kind of vocal. And Adam's got this really great, smooth bluesy voice that fit perfectly with it." Working with Kid Rock was a joy, he said. "Bobby (real name: Robert Ritchie) was awesome," Slash said "I'd known him here and there over the years. Not real well, but we've jammed together. He's fun to hang out with. I was actually at Fergie's

“I sent him some music and he came back with the lyrics and the melodies and I was like this is (expletive) great.”

wedding when I approached him about this particular song. "Bobby has his own way of doing things. He definitely has his own point of view and his own style. It's very rock 'n' roll. The way he wanted to do it was just to jam it out — either at his house or somewhere else in a band situation — which is what a rock 'n' roll band does. I thought that was real exciting. So I flew out to his house and we just worked on the song. I had the basic parts. We sort of wrote it from the ground up with some local guys in the neighborhood just to get a live feel. Then I went back, re-recorded the song and sent it back to him. He put the vocal on it. It was just really sort of organic that way. And he sang great. I've known of Kid Rock since the '90s and he's gone through a lot of different styles. A lot of people are familiar with his pseudo-hip-hop kind of thing. He's only recently pulled out this blues-rock kind of thing. He did this song and that's how he approached it. It was just a really great performance." Slash explained when he wrote his self-titled album, the songs brought the singers to him. It was as organic as finding Kennedy. "I wrote the music and the music inspired who I thought would be a good singer for it," he said. "I think that's why it worked so well. I definitely identified a vocalist for each song based on the style of it. I let them take the ball and run with it. It was an open canvas for them ▲

to do whatever they want."

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Cruisinâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;the Fast Lane The 40th Anniversary Barrett-Jackson Collector Car Auction Supercharges WestWorld By I.R. Hunthausen Photos courtesy of Barrett-Jackson

IT IS TRULY A SIGHT TO BEHOLD, rising up out of the desert like a carnival of vehicular prowess. Tent after tent of classic, concept, new school, old school and even race cars called WestWorld home during the 40th anniversary Barrett-Jackson Collector Car Auction. While the auction itself is the highlight of the event, and that which receives the most television coverage, there are hundreds of vendors sporting everything from memorabilia, vintage toys and soda machines, outdoor cookware, anything people could imagine to customize and trick out their garage, clothes and jewelry — it’s insane. There are also demonstrations, parties, a fashion show and plenty of chances to win amazing prizes. I have been to car shows and expos before, but this was like every one of them combined and then turbo charged. Just feet from walking through the front gate I ran into an old friend, a 2011 Shelby Cobra GT 500. She brought some friends too, including the reborn 2012 Boss 302, a 444hp, quad exhaust V8. That sent a nice shiver up my spine, but what really got my motor running (sorry, I just can’t help myself with all the car puns in this one) was watching a live dyno demo going on at the podium just behind me. An exuberant young woman was picking lucky folks to come up and try their best at a quarter mile challenge — letting them get behind the wheel of an actual Mustang strapped down to a dynamometer. They had a tiny Christmas tree, a monitor showing the driver’s reaction time, the car’s tac, speedometer and quarter mile results. On green, yellow in the case of the fellow I watched, the pedal went to the floor and I listened to the pony’s roar fill the room. The guy landed an impressive 12.5-second run. There are few things that will revert a man back to boyhood, like sports halls of fame, a rock 'n' roll museum — awesome car shows. While perusing row after row of cars, phrases like, “Oh my god you have to check this one out,” “No way, no way” or “Oh that’s so sick,” were consistently in the air. Rightfully so, I dropped my jaw on plenty of occasions, especially when I saw a motorcycle the size of a tractor, a boat that was capable of going 170 mph, and the 1971 Plymouth Barracuda, with a blower the size a 5-year-old on it, that will be featured in the new Universal movie Fast 5. Among the other famous on-screen rides present were the 1955 Ford F100 from The Expendables, and the twin Firebirds from Smokey and the Bandit.

After a solid hour of car gazing it was time to head into the main event. The auction room was standing room only, a huge floor full of bidders was surrounded with packed stadium seating full of onlookers. The atmosphere was electric. The fast talking auctioneer, Tom "Spanky" Assiter’s voice sped around the room as car after car rolled onto the block. The front of the block was almost chaotic as media hustled around snapping photos and taking note of everything that was going on. AZSAL publisher Joe Orr and I grabbed some seats just as Bret Michaels took the podium. He was in good spirits, as always, despite being two days away from heart

even fit on the auction block, go for a head-turning

surgery. He was there to auction off his 1969 Chevrolet

$700,000. It was a 2010 44-foot Catamaran with twin

Camaro Custom Coupe. The winner also received a sick

1200 hp engines that included its trailer and a matching

custom guitar with a skull and flames painted on the body

2008 Corvette Coup.

as well a lifetime pass to his concerts. It was an intense

I had a chance to speak with 18-year veteran driver

competition, and when the dust settled, the Camaro

for the auction, William “Bill” Goren, who explained the

went for $200,000. Michaels also attended a party at the

process. “A bidder must prove they can spend up to a

auction for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation.

certain level,” Goren said. Once the car is won, the

Shortly after we got to watch a machine, so big it couldn’t

winner heads over to the auction center, where he/she fills out the appropriate paper work, forks over the money, and takes home the spoils that same day. When I asked Goren which car was the most memorable to drive, his eyes lit up. He said the 1971 Plymouth Barracuda, known as the “Frankincuda,” was certainly memorable. However the best experience he recalled was, “Getting to drive Sammy Davis Jr.’s Rolls Royce onto the block with Nelly Jackson in the passenger seat.” With so many amenities it’s no wonder the event is one week long. After an entire day, and most of the night, I still don’t believe I experienced it all. I can’t think of a better way to spend a Saturday — except cruising ▲

in any one of those rides.

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travel

By Curt Blakeney

Just Another Day at the Beach With fresh ocean breezes, a festive atmosphere and exotic vibes, the Beach Palace Cancún Resort provides an invigorating tropical escape ▲ ▲ ▲

Beach Palace provides the quintessential Cancún playground, with an exhilarating setting and perfect climate.

SET IN THE HEART OF CANCÚN,

Mexico’s sun-kissed Yucatan paradise, the Beach Palace provides the perfect getaway for visitors. With stunning aqua-blue ocean views and white-sand beaches, this modern 14-story hotel specializes in relaxation and fun. Every amenity and activity is provided in this one-stop resort. The second you walk onto the property, you know you’re in for a spectacular visit. If you want to be in the heart of

Cancún’s Hotel Zone, close to the shopping centers, trendy restaurants, and popular nightclubs like Señor Frogs, then the all-inclusive Beach Palace is a perfect choice. All meals, snacks, drinks, tips and taxes, domestic and imported beverages, nonmotorized water sports and nightly entertainment are included. The resort is 25 minutes from the Cancún International Airport and 15 minutes from downtown Cancún (El Centro). RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES: Beach Palace provides the quintessential Cancún playground, with an exhilarating setting and perfect climate. A wristband received at check-in is your ticket to paradise — so don’t lose it. The resort features three pools (two of the pools are on the rooftop) with swim-up bars. The main pool is magnificent, a huge water paradise with a dramatic waterfall that cascades over the pool’s edge toward the Caribbean Sea. Dozens of beach and sports

Palace is the perfect launching pad: snorkeling in the reserve, swimming with the dolphins, turtle-spotting off Isla Mujeres, discovering Chichen Itza's iconic Mayan pyramid, and partying to salsa music in tequila-slamming clubs. For people watching and highend shopping, Cancún's glossy malls, like Plaza Las Américas and Plaza Kukulcán, have an American flavor with their brand-name stores, cinemas and food courts. La Isla Shopping Village has canals and an aquarium. LODGING: Beach Palace’s 287 rooms and suites overlook either the sea or the

lagoon. Each room is charming and spacious, and tastefully appointed in cream hues and light woods. Worldclass amenities include hi-speed wireless Internet, recessed lighting, a flat screen satellite TV and a Jacuzzi for two. A refrigerator is well stocked with complimentary beverages, bottle water, beer, wine and spirits. DINING OPTIONS: The Beach Palace is all-inclusive, so you can chow down until your heart’s content. Restaurants and bars at the Beach Palace include Tequila (international/Mexican), Bocelli (Italian/Mediterranean), Wok

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activities are also available: snorkeling, pool volleyball, pool aerobics, beach volleyball, etc. An all-inclusive kids club offers supervised activities for children between the ages of 4 and 12. For a round of golf, tee it up at the nearby Riviera Cancún Golf Club. The Jack Nicklaus-designed course boasts strategic bunkering, immaculate greens, wooden bridges and the peaceful tranquility of the natural reserve that surrounds the course. Golfers will enjoy the ocean views on holes 14 and 15. Cancún offers a wealth of thrilling activities — and the Beach

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(Asian), La Terazza (fast lunch, grilled fine cuts for dinner), Stadium Sports Bar (with 16 TV screens feeding satellite sports), plus a lounge bar, pool and snack bar (main pool area), Sky Bar (14th floor rooftop), sand bar (beachside snack and beverage service) and 24 hour-room service. Guests of the hotel can also receive complimentary meals and drinks at eight other Palace Resorts properties in Mexico throughout Cancún, Cozumel, Riviera Maya and Isla Mujeres.

SPA: As a premium, Beach Palace also features a world-class spa. After a night of partying, rejuvenate your soul at this opulent spa, featuring eight individual treatment rooms, herbal steam room and a couples' suite. Both the men's and women's locker rooms include steam and sauna rooms. This cozy sanctuary brings harmony to your body as well as your spirit. A beauty salon also offers services such as hair braiding and manicures. Treatments at the spa and salon, however, are not included in the price of the hotel. ▲

Beach Palace Blvd. Kukulcan Km 11.5 Hotel Zone Cancún, Quintana Roo CP. 77500, Mexico 1-800-635-1836 www.palaceresorts.com

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By Curt Blakeney

Howlin’ at the Moon Moon Palace Golf & Spa Resort is the ultimate resort destination in Cancún, whether your idea of a good time is golfing, snorkeling, swimming or just laying in the tropical sun

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... everything you seek is offered at Moon Palace, a tropical paradise with expansive meandering pools, swim-up bars and white sand beaches.

JUST SOUTHEAST OF CANCÚN’S FAMED HOTEL STRIP, lies the Moon

Palace Golf & Spa Resort. This sprawling, secluded resort offers everything — lodging, dining, golf, spa and recreational activities — so you can spend days at the resort without leaving or getting bored. The resort is bordered by lush forest acreage

and an expansive oceanfront beach ideal for sunbathing, beachcombing, or romantic sunset strolls. Entertainment at the resort includes theme parties, live performances and scheduled tours to nearby cultural and family attractions. This all-inclusive resort is steps from the beach, and is a perfect choice for a romantic getaway or family vacations. Moon Palace is also very popular with wedding planners, as its posh amenities and exotic surroundings create the perfect setting for that special moment. Whether you come to play or simply get away from it all, everything you seek is offered at Moon Palace, a tropical paradise with expansive meandering pools, swimup bars and white sand beaches. RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES: Moon Palace is like a small city — 123 acres of tropical greenery, nearly 2,000 feet of silky white beach, 2,457 guest rooms and suites, 14 buffet and a la carte restaurants, 12

silver jewelry in downtown El Centro. Many supermarkets sell tequila. A complimentary shuttle bus will also take you to one of the Palace properties in Cancún’s bustling hotel zone, including Cancún Palace, Sun Palace and Beach Palace. This stay-at-one, play-at-all experience is a great feature of the Palace Resorts chain. LODGING: Moon Palace is made up of four sections: Sunrise, Nizuc, Grand and Golf Villas. Each section has its own pools, restaurants and bars. You should be comfortable staying within your own section, but you have the freedom to explore the entire resort. There are 2,457 air-conditioned rooms with a Jacuzzi for two and private balcony (some with hammocks). Guest rooms are super comfy with cushioned pillow top mattresses and deluxe bedding

package that ensures a cozy sleep. Standard amenities include a complimentary mini-bar and liquor dispenser, a flat screen satellite TV, iron/ironing board and in-room safe. DINING OPTIONS: With 14 restaurants at Moon Palace Cancún, you can dine at a different place every night of the week and sample not only tasty Mexican cuisine, but also American, Italian, Caribbean and Asian fare. It’s all-inclusive, so indulge. The Nizuc Section features El Manglar (Italian), Arrecifes (Brazilian), Los Caporales (Mexican), Palapa Delfines (poolside grill) and Palapa Pelicanos (poolside grill). The Sunrise Section has La Gondola (Italian), Mo-Mo-No-Ha-Na (Asian), Bugambilias (Mexican), Palapa Fragata (seafood) and Palapa Barracuda (steak house). In the Grand section, dine at El Caribeño

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bars including swim-up bars, eight outdoor pools (including two oversized freestyle pools and two kiddie pools with slides), one indoor pool, six hot tubs, six tennis courts, two basketball courts, two fitness centers, miniature golf, Meditation garden, a kids club, a discotheque and a daily activities program with theme nights. Moon Palace is also home to a Jack Nicklaus Signature championship golf course (greens fees are not included with overnight stay), which presents a variety of challenges on breathtaking landscapes. This dynamic 27-hole layout will test both amateurs and experts. For a local experience, Cancún’s El Centro district is 15 minutes away. Check out Mercado 23 for crafts, fresh produce and authentic street chow. Pick up unique gifts from handmade sombreros to hammocks or huaraches (sandals) and artisan

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(Caribbean) and Los Tacos (Mexican). La Trattoria (Italian) and Bambu (Asian) highlight the Golf section. All the restaurants serve unlimited wine by the bottle from Spanish, Argentinean, Californian, French, Italian, Chilean and Mexican wineries. SPA: Indulge and relax at Moon Palace’s deluxe spa presenting a variety of relaxing and invigorating

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massages, bath therapies, facials and body scrubs — expertly administered in 30 spacious treatment rooms. Three couples' massage rooms have golf course/lake views. Six master spa suites provide balneotherapy, where healing mineral water cure whatever ails you. The Moon Palace Spa delivers a world-class experience, leaving guests with a sense of renewal and enrichment. ▲

Moon Palace Golf & Spa Resort Carretera CancúnChetumal KM. 340 Cancún, Quintana Roo CP. 77500, Mexico 1-800-635-1836 www.palaceresorts.com

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travel

By Dave Bierstein

Snowy Paradise Brian Head Resort in Southern Utah provides an exceptional vacation value unmatched by any other winter resort in the West

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IF YOU’RE LOOKING FOR A SKI RESORT OFF THE BEATEN PATH —

... dubbed the “Greatest Snow on Earth” because it is the driest, fluffiest snow in North America — Brian Head is a winter paradise.

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one that’s great for families and has amazing snow conditions — then consider Brian Head in southern Utah. Brian Head is perhaps the best kept secret in the West, an excellent alternative to the crowded ski resorts near Park City or the Colorado Rockies. Brian Head is a full-service resort offering a ski/board school, children's programs, state-licensed day care, two ski/board rental shops, two retail shops and a broad

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range of dining and lodging options. Only an eight-hour drive from Phoenix and three hours from Las Vegas, Brian Head is close enough for a road trip — pack the family and friends in an SUV and be prepared for an amazing winter experience. Brian Head’s family-friendly atmosphere includes an uncrowded setting with virtually no lift-lines. At 9,600 to 11,307 feet above sea level, it has the highest ski resort base elevation in Utah. With a yearly average of close to 400 inches of snow — dubbed the “Greatest Snow on Earth” because it is the driest, fluffiest snow in North America — Brian Head is a winter paradise. The southern location of the resort makes for incredible skiing as daytime temperatures typically remain low enough to keep the snow powdery, while being warm enough to be able to enjoy yourself. Brian Head is an amazing value for skiers and snowboarders — home of the $45 adult lift ticket

• Average Sunny Days: 258 • Elevation: 9,600 Ft. Base, Utah’s Highest/11,307 Ft. Summit • Vertical Drop: 1,320 Ft. LiftServed and 1,548 Ft. Hikeable • Terrain Parks: 3 Terrain Parks: Jibberace, Junkyard and Bunny Bash • Acres: 650 Acres for Skiing and Snowboarding • Runs: 65 Runs -- 40 percent Beginner, 40 percent Intermediate and 20 percent Advanced

and plenty of “steep and deep.” The expansive resort feature three terrain parks, eight lifts, 65 ski trails and 650 acres of ski terrain for downhill skiing, snow tubing and snowboarding from midNovember through mid-April. Brian Head has so much to offer intermediate, advanced and even expert skiers. The resort is split into two mountains: Navajo and Giant Steps. Navajo is dedicated to beginners with two lifts and 11 runs without more advanced skiers and boarders whizzing by. Beginners can taste the thrill of winter sports on wide, uncrowded slopes ideally suited for first turns. The runs are long and wide, away from slope traffic. Navajo Lodge is the mountain hub for all of Brian Head's beginner and kids programs, including Kids Camp (day care and children's

ski school). Navajo Lodge also features food service, ski and snowboard rentals, adult and children's ski school, ticket office and shopping at High Mountain Outfitters. Giants Steps features the area's intermediate and advanced terrain accessed from the Blackfoot, Giant Steps and Dunes chairlifts. With meticulously groomed rolling slopes, terrain parks, steep glades, muscle-burning moguls, powder pitches, and more, Giant Steps will keep even expert skiers and snowboarders entertained for hours. The base lodge provides food, shopping, rentals, lessons, and large outdoor decks for hanging out. Giants Steps’ three terrain parks — Jibberace, Junkyard and Bunny Bash — includes natural and manmade features, the latter crafted with an excavator, arc welder, saw and shovel. The terrain parks feature

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AZ SAL FAST FACTS: Brian Head Resort

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a mix of jump lines, rails, boxes and jibs. For the truly adventurous, the 11,307-foot Brian Head Peak offers expert-level skiers and snowboarders many thrilling hike-accessed, backcountry bowls. Brian Head has everything in a ski resort including great terrain, gorgeous powder, virtually no lift lines, and safe, friendly and relaxed

atmosphere. It is an ideal choice for a family winter ski vacation. WHERE TO STAY: The Cedar Breaks Lodge is right next to the mountain making it ideally located for access to the slopes. It features great luxury accommodations with comfortable rooms (many have fireplaces and jetted tubs) and wonderful mountain views. The lodge also features an indoor pool and spa, fitness center, bar and restaurant. The Grand Lodge is a newly luxury hotel with the rustic feel of a log cabin. Whether you want to relax by one of their gorgeous outdoor fire pits or sit in a hot tub under the stars, the Grand Lodge has many options after you get off the slopes. Two eating establishments on premises enhance the experience. The Lift Bar & Patio offers casual dining with amazing views in every direction. Outdoor seating is available with fire pits and heat lamps to keep you warm. The upscale Lenny’s Steak House is located on the first floor and boasts a brand new menu featuring Caramel Apple Pork Chops, Blackberry BBQ Salmon, a variety of fresh steak cuts and much more.

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Brian Head Resort 329 S. Highway 143 Brian Head, UT 84719 1-866-930-1010 www.brianhead.com

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film

By Lynette Carrington

Arizona Film and Media Expo Depleting Shadow Entertainment is Bringing Hollywood to the Valley of the Sun

entertainment and performance. So what exactly is the Arizona Film and Media Expo (AZFame) and why will this event be so important to the industry? An assortment of talented people will be there, including filmmakers, models, comedians, talent agents and actors along with key industry support personnel. Vendors and exhibitors that cater to the people, the productions and technical needs of the industry will also be on hand. (If you or your company is interested in exhibiting during the event, see the contact information at the bottom of the article.) Another component of the AZFame event is the short film festival. For the past several months, organizers have been accepting short film entries for flicks 20 minutes or less. This will mark the first time a film festival has been part of this event. It will ▲

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One of the reasons that the film industry is starting to shape up for Arizona is the concerted efforts of filmmakers who are looking to raise the profile of professional, quality filmmaking.

THERE HAS ALWAYS BEEN A LITTLE BIT OF HOLLYWOOD in the Valley if you know where to look. Movies, commercials, photo shoots, television productions and industrial films are constantly being shot here. In March, Depleting Shadow Entertainment will be bringing the second annual Arizona Film and Media Expo to the Valley in hopes of furthering the industry and bringing together all those in Arizona who are serious about and interested in quality filmmaking and other aspects of

First Assistant Director and Actor, Jeff Goeson PHOTO COURTESY OF PETER SALAMA PHOTOGRAPHY

be conducted by industry professionals and insiders and will provide a great insight in to a very tough but rewarding industry. One of the reasons that the film industry is starting to shape up for Arizona is the concerted efforts of filmmakers who are looking to raise the profile of professional, quality filmmaking. Arizona natives and indie filmmakers Dana Skvarek II and Richard Ryan of Depleting Shadow Entertainment just wrapped principle photography on a film entitled Crusader. Co-written by Skvarek II and Ryan, it is actually one film out of a trilogy that they hope to eventually shoot. They have attracted the attention of a major Hollywood studio and they shot a featurette of Crusader to entice the studio and perhaps get a deal for all three completed scripts. In fact, “We

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Writer, Producer and Director Dana Skvarek II and Camera Operator and Editor Andrew DeCarlo PHOTO COURTESY OF PETER SALAMA PHOTOGRAPHY

have a dozen scripts ready to go,” Skvarek II explained of their repertoire of projects at Depleting Shadow Entertainment. Supervising Producer Melody King made sure all actors were in their proper locations and First Assistant Director Jeff Goeson kept the scenes rolling quickly. “We’ll do 24 hours of shooting this weekend,” Goeson said. He also spoke of his hopes of uniting the filmmaking community through the efforts of the AZFame event. “This community seems to be very fractured between production groups. (It) needs more focus in coming together,” he said.

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include a $1,000 grand prize, specialty awards for Best Actor, Best Actress and a few other categories along with DVD distribution. The film that wins will be screened at AZFame during the event weekend and top films will be sent in a studio mailer and seen by Hollywood acquisitions departments. Jeff Goeson will serve as the executive director of the AZFilm short film fest. (Goeson was the executive producer of the San Tan Film Festival and is also the president of Fiola Films.) Along with the “see and be seen” aspect of the festival, there are several seminars that will run throughout the weekend. For $15, attendees receive an all-day pass to attend as many seminars as they would like. Topics include relevant discussions and tips on modeling, acting, screenwriting and filmmaking. Seating is on a first-come, firstserved basis with the exception of certain celebrity guest speaker seminars, in which case those will have a separate registration. All will

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Writer, Producer, Director and Title Character for Crusader, Richard Ryan PHOTO COURTESY OF PETER SALAMA

The loss of the film tax incentive was also a blow to the Arizona economy and to the film community. “It’s really important to get that back,” Goeson explained. Arizona’s proximity to Los Angeles would make it seem like we are a shoe-in to get a large share of television and movie productions shooting in our state. The entire filmmaking/acting/support services community was very excited to see the dawn of the Motion Picture Tax Incentive about a decade ago. Incentives are not as generous as

they had been and production has lagged in the last few years. But with such great weather and landscape diversity, we continue to draw all sorts of projects. Some of the films shot in Arizona include Jake’s Corner, Jerry Maguire, The Getaway, Waiting to Exhale, The Kingdom and both the original and the remake of Psycho. With the efforts of dedicated industry people such as Skvarek II and Ryan, Arizona will continue to gain ground in filmmaking. The second annual Arizona Film and Media Expo will take place March 12 and 13 at the Phoenix Convention Center. The first event was held at a hotel in Tempe last year. The attendance was good and the event was well received. Taking a leap of faith and building on the great group of artists, filmmakers, support staff and industry people, Depleting Shadow Entertainment is attempting to create an atmosphere of cohesiveness and community within the Valley’s group of filmmakers. The AZFame Event runs from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. March 12 and 13 in the South Building of the Phoenix Convention Center located at 100 N. Third St. To learn more, visit www.AZFame.com. For additional questions about exhibiting contact Dana Skvarek II at dana@azfame.com or call (602) 577-4884. ▲

Arizona’s proximity to Los Angeles would make it seem like we are a shoe-in to get a large share of television and movie productions shooting in our state.

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health&body By Dr. Vermén M. Verallo-Rowell

Five Do’s and Don’ts for Your Skin We know you’re guilty of the bad habits; make sure you try to implement the good habits right away

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Virgin coconut oil has anti-viral, anti-bacterial and anti-fungal properties to help prevent against both internal and external infections.

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GETTING GORGEOUS, GLOWING SKIN isn’t always easy, but there are things we can do to keep skin healthy and radiant. Follow these easy tips for great skin in no time.

FIVE HABITS TO KEEP! 1. Wash makeup brushes and other applicators often. Make up products have preservative ingredients to keep them microbefree. Once opened, these preservatives continue their anti-microbial effects against organisms from the air and especially from fingers and applicators — make up brushes, sponges, etc. Washing these applicators often can help minimize the microbial load on the preservatives of the cosmetics and avoid breakouts. It’s especially important to wash brushes and applicators after a cold or sunburn or when skin becomes dry or itchy as it’s much more delicate.

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2. Keep makeup and tools in a mini bag. Keeping makeup and skincare products in a mini cosmetic bag simplifies transferring products from one handbag to another and also prevents contamination from searching hands and other objects in the bag. 3. Keep skin care products in travelsized bottles in a mini bag. Traveling is no excuse to forgo taking care of skin. Keep travel-size skincare products handy so they are easy to pack for travel, short trips and overnight stays. 4. Always keep hand sanitizer next to your wallet and card case. People don’t always realize it, but paper bills, coins and credit cards are perhaps the objects most handled by other people’s hands. Keep sanitizer near to these objects and apply after using them and before touching your face.

FIVE HABITS TO BREAK! 1. Squeezing pimples. It’s often hard to resist, but don’t touch blemishes. Squeezing increases the release of inflammatory factors from the pus which causes more inflammation. This can leave bumpy red scars or widen the pore of the inflamed follicle leaving pores looking enlarged.

the phone while driving. Think what a mascara wand could do to your eye should you put on the brakes fast. 5. Using saliva to touch up make up. Next to your hands, your mouth has many microbes just waiting to cause infections. ▲

2. Touching your face. Get rid of this habit! These days when MRSA (Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus) and herpes virus infections are spreading, your hands are the No. 1 most readily available source of contamination to vulnerable sites in your face and body. 3. Scratching itchy skin. Don’t! Scratching inflames skin making it even itchier. This can break down the skin’s natural barrier against infection and chemicals which can delay healing. Instead, get something cool like a cold bottle of water and roll gently on the itchy skin, apply your favorite moisturizer.

Vermén M. Verallo-Rowell, M.D. is a boardcertified clinical and research dermatologist, dermatologic surgeon, dermatopathologist, and clinical researcher. Her research has made her a frequent lecturer in the fields of dermatology, dermatopathology, psoriasis, hyperpigmentation, laser therapies, and applied cosmetic dermatology (such as skin care products, hypoallergenicity, sunscreens, and cosmeceuticals) at professional meetings

4. Applying makeup while driving. This is as bad as texting or using

around the world.

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5. Get to know VCO (Virgin Coconut Oil). Coconut oil has a multitude of benefits. Its fatty acids are native to the skin so it’s an incomparable moisturizer. Its anti-inflammatory properties are beneficial for aging skin and skin affected by acne. Virgin coconut oil can even be used as a deep conditioner for hair or a makeup remover. Virgin coconut oil has anti-viral, anti-bacterial and anti-fungal properties to help prevent against both internal and external infections.

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AZSAL’S RECOMMENDED SKINCARE PRODUCTS 5 GOODSKIN LABS EXTEN-10 BOOSTING MOISTURIZER Exten-10 unlocks skin’s natural regenerative potential with three new youth-prompting ingredients. HA Brightening Blend is an advanced combination of skin’s ultimate hydrator, hyaluronic acid, that helps restore youthful vibrancy to skin. Sirtuin Power Complex supports skin’s natural stimulation of proteins, boosting its ability to reduce the look of lines and wrinkles. Triple Sunscreen Technology includes a broad spectrum SPF 15 complex to keep skin protected from UVA/UVB damage all day long. $39.50; www.goodskinlabs.com ▲

3 FLUIDO PROTETTIVO ADVANCED SPA LIFT FOR EYES This lightweight, fast absorbing moisture lotion by Borghese is perfect for the delicate eye area. It has a protective, triple-action anti-oxidation and moisturizing shield system to fight environmental aggressors. Dark circles and puffiness diminish as do fine lines and wrinkles. Dermatologist and ophthalmologist tested. Suitable for contact lens wearers and sensitive skin. $46.50; www.borghese.com ▲

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1 SOMME INSTITUTE MOBILE TRAVEL KIT Transform skin with five products in five minutes. Somme Institute's 5-Step Regimen contains the patented technology MDT5 (Molecular Dispersion Technology), a revolutionary protein/vitamin delivery system (A, B3, B5, C and E) that transforms the skin, thus improving its tone, texture and clarity while reducing the signs of aging. The Mobile Travel Kit contains travel sizes of the 5-step regimen that are encased in a clean travel pod. $85; Available at Spa Nordstrom in Scottsdale. www.sommeinstitute.com

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4 VMV HYPOALLERGENICS KID GLOVES HAND SANITIZER This instant, moisturizing anti-bacterial hand sanitizer won’t dry out skin, but will soften, soothe and moisturize. It contains monolaurin, a coconut-derived, skin-friendly, gentleyet-powerful disinfectant, antibacterial, antifungal, antiviral and anti-protozoal that is clinically proven to be as effective as 70 percent isopropyl alcohol and topical treatments for killing micro-organisms. $30; www.VMVHypoallergenics.com

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2 TNS REGENERATION SYSTEM This complete three-part skin renewal system combines clinically proven ingredients — like vitamin C, vitamin A and growth factors — to visibly reduce the signs of aging. The combination of NS Recovery Complex, Vitamin C Complex, and Retinol Complex rejuvenates sun damaged skin, improves the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, promotes cell renewal, and improves skin tone, texture and firmness. $275; www.skinmedica.com

6 B. KAMINS AHA+BHA DAILY PEEL PADS B. Kamins has created an advanced two-step system with ingredients that work in synergy for dramatically visible results. Step 1 pads cleanse skin and prepare it for better penetration of the active peel ingredients in Step 2 pads. Step 2 pads incorporates a blend of the latest generation of alpha and beta hydroxy acids in combination with anti-oxidant green tea, zinc and a blend of moisturizers and hydrators to maximize rejuvenation without irritating skin. Results are your softest, smoothest and most radiant-looking complexion. $59; www.bkamins.com

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event

By Lynette Carrington Photos by Brad Reed Photography

Phoenix Tequila Fest 2010 Valley’s Best Tequila and Mexican Food Hotspots Come Together

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Cruz Tequila was the premier tequila vendor, hands down ... founder, Pep Katcher was on hand to talk about his company and serve shots ...

ONCE AGAIN, THE CREW at Arizona Sports & Lifestyle Magazine was invited to take part in the debauchery that is the valley’s culinary scene. Sure, it sounded like a potential hangover hell, but it turns out that the tequila and great local Mexican food were both on equal display, lessening the chance of

becoming a total boozefest. We loved the fact that the Phoenix Tequila Festival was held in the “courtyard” of the USAirways Center. It was the perfect size for the crowd turn out. The cover price of $45 was a bargain considering the perfect weather and the unending availability of tequila shots, mixed tequila drinks and a large variety of Mexican foods. First up was Cruz Tequila. Cruz was the premier tequila vendor, hands down. They had a spectacular booth featuring prominent use of their unique Cruz tequila bottles, enough representation to talk to everybody and founder, Pep Katcher on hand to talk about his company and serve shots of Cruz’s Reposado tequila. As if the smoothas-silk-with-a-slightly-vanilla-finish tequila shots weren’t enough, Cruz served up a very unique watermelon margarita that was probably the most interesting thing we tried that day.

stealth and killing the competition. Two "Yums" up. Other Mexican restaurants that served up food at the event included Garcia’s, Dos Amigos, Parilla Suiza, Macayo’s and a few others. On the second day of the festival, local music favorite Roger Clyne and the Peacemakers rocked the event. This was the perfect venue for them as Clyne has his own brand of tequila, Roger Clyne’s Mexican Moonshine. As the laid back Clyne noted, “This is a novel incarnation of an ancient recipe; an

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AZSAL’s Tech Guru, David Carrington, rushed over to our group proclaiming the south-ofthe-border goodness of an unassuming plate of Mexican food. Upon closer inspection, it was carnitas, salsa, a burrito, refried beans and chips. Standard fare, right? Not so much! America’s Taco Shop knows its food and I would dare say that its carnitas have to be some of the best in the valley. Although I’m not a fan of refried beans, theirs were outstanding. Bravo to America’s Taco Shop for moving in

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elixir forged of Sun, Earth, Water and Fire.” Indeed, the 100 percent pure agave tequila was delish. The festival was everything it should have been. The weather was great, the price was right, the tequila was flowing, the food was plentiful and we had a designated driver. Many thanks to Mo Stevenson with Holmes Executive Transportation! ▲

The festival was everything it should have been. The weather was great, the price was right, the tequila was flowing, the food was plentiful ...

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club

By Lynette Carrington Photos by Phil Hanson

The Big Bang Tempe’s sing-along, clap-along, drink-along, have-onehelluva-good-time-along piano bar

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The songs performed are tried-and-true classics, R&B standards, Top 40, Motown, pop and just about anything else you can possibly imagine.

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JUST DOWNSTAIRS ON FIFTH STREET and Mill Avenue in Tempe … do you hear it? Pianos playing, singing, drumming, the occasional guitar playing. It’s The Big Bang. This is not your grandparent’s singalong piano bar, so be prepared for a wild night of fun, entertainment and surprises. Recently, the crew from Arizona Sports & Lifestyle Magazine had a chance to visit The Big Bang for the celebration of their seven year anniversary. We transcended the stairs under the Hooters Restaurant at Fifth Street and Mill Avenue and were transported into a world of piano debauchery. Before the show even got started, Cruz Tequila reps were pouring smooth-as-silk shots. All those waiting for the head-to-head pianos to fire up stopped by and were treated to one of the finest tequilas being made. Both the Silver and Reposado versions of its tequila are top drawer in quality and put other brands to shame. The elite spirits company is in

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good company at The Big Bang, an engaging establishment that boasts four locations in the United States. One of the partners of the Tempe location, Billy Ward, gave us the background. “There are four different locations of our company,” Ward said. “St. Louis is the flagship club. It’s now in its 10th year.” (Other locations are in Nashville and Columbus, Ohio.) He started with the company in 1992 in Durgin Park in Boston. Fast forward almost 20 years and he is now proud part-owner of the Tempe club. Currently, there are six full-time musicians and one part-timer. Talent is pulled from all over the United States, including Los Angeles, Las Vegas and Denver. “All players at this level know each other,” Ward noted. And that creates a wonderful working camaraderie. The songs performed are triedand-true classics, R&B standards, Top 40, Motown, pop and just about anything else you can possibly imagine. Here is just a small sampling of the

anything. The staff often gets up to participate in dances, too. What would The Big Bang be without its talented musicians? One of them, Julie Martinez, killed it all night long, banging away at the keys and singing with an enthusiasm and precision that could only be described as being a performing freak of nature. She began playing piano at the age of 4, performed in church and continued playing through high school, while also picking up on the drums. “I was a total band dork and loved every minute of

it,” Martinez noted of those days. She started out with a bang at The Big Bang in St. Louis, and moved to the Tempe location in 2003. Additionally, she serves as one of the entertainment directors and trains the incoming talent on the ways and culture of The Big Bang. Not only is she beautiful and remarkably talented, she has an infectious energy and quick wit. (Some people have all the luck …) What is so interesting about the performers is that they will play piano and then switch over and play

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songs that cropped up on the evening we were there: “Tiny Dancer,” “Forever in Blue Jeans,” “Great Balls of Fire,” “My Girl,” “Hanky Panky,” “Runaround Sue,” “Jump Around,” “Greased Lightning,” “Poker Face,” “Kung Fu Fighting,” “Welcome to the Jungle,” “Tik Tok” and, of course, the quintessential sing-along piano tune, “Piano Man.” If you think to yourself — “Oh, they don’t know that song,” or “They won’t play that” — well, they do take requests and most likely they do know it. Be prepared for

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The Big Bang - Tempe 501 S. Mill Avenue, Suite B-101 Tempe, AZ, 85281 (480) 557-5595 www.thebigbangbar.com

drums, guitar and bass. So, although it is a dueling piano bar, you get more “bang for your buck” here. “Over the years it has morphed in to something where we can play these other instruments and kick up the energy level,” Ward said. One of the highlights of the evening came near the very end when a wickedly talented violinist played “The Devil Went Down to Georgia” with the pianists. It was simply one of the most amazing things we’d ever seen and he literally brought the house down with his fingers ablaze and his frenzied playing. The Big Bang serves up just about every cocktail imaginable, but don’t come on an empty stomach as they do not serve food. You can grab something beforehand or feel free

to just bring something in with you and eat during the show. Nearby restaurants include My Big Fat Greek Restaurant, Hooters, Gordon Biersch Brewery and Z’Tejas. Ward wants to ensure that his valued customers have a great time and get good value for their money. “We just started doing backstage movies,” Ward quipped. Posted on its website, video vignettes capture all the fun moments before, during and after the show. “We’re trying to harness the technological advances,” he said, “And we’re doing our darndest to be creative.” Be prepared to sing at any given moment or just hop up and start dancing, either way the crowd at The Big Bang will embrace you. (Must be 21 with a valid ID.) ▲

What is so interesting about the performers is that they will play piano and then switch over and play drums, guitar and bass. ... “Over the years it has morphed in to something where we can play these other instruments and kick up the energy level.”

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music

By Lynette Carrington Photos by the Jazz Cat

Doc’s Place Restaurant & Music Club This cool, hip Phoenix establishment has great events, tasty food and all that jazz!

tleman, he has a lot going on within the club. Performing with his band and daughter, Nayo Jones, Jones has his hands full managing and performing. “I’m here every day,” Jones said. (In addition to the club, he also has a line of energy drinks that he helps to promote called Pit Bull Energy Drink. We tried all the varieties and, dare we say, they were all really awesome.) The unique layout of the place makes it ideal to have a large party or a more intimate evening of relaxing jazz and dinner. The “front room” features the elegant, main dining room, a cozy bar and a center stage. Through a large door off center stage, is the back room which reminded us of a fun speakeasy. Complete with two tiers of dining (perfect “perches” for couples), there is another stage and enough room to throw a private party or enjoy some comedy. The Marco Innocenti Project is ▲

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The establishment is upscale, but the attitude is relaxed. The jazz is smooth and the service is sharp. Everyone will be ensured a great night of entertainment and fantastic food.

IN JUST THE SPAN OF A FEW SHORT YEARS, Doc’s Place Restaurant & Music Club has carved a niche in the Phoenix jazz scene. Strategically located at Central Avenue and Camelback Road, there is a loyal following for the stellar jazz and the variety of events held at the hot spot. Doc Jones is the enterprising business owner and namesake of Doc’s Place. A very Southernly gen-

L-R: Nick Candeleria, Marco Innocenti, Doc Jones, Rod Pollard and John McNellis

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Nick Candeleria of The Marco Innocenti Project

attendant nearly 13 years ago, Anthony worked his way through the culinary jungle doing a 12-year stint with Marriott hotels. His passion for food was ignited and now his love is a sort of “South meets West” mentality. “Hey, let’s face it, this country is one big melting pot, which should be reflected in the way we eat," Anthony said. We were nothing short of “totally jazzed” about the food we had at Doc’s Place. The first thing the crew of

Arizona Sports & Lifestyle Magazine noticed about the menu was the clever way it was constructed. With food offerings divided in to "Opening Acts," "Intermission" and "Headliners," the menu is dotted with photos of jazz and blues greats from Dizzy Gillespie, Etta James and Louis Armstrong to Eric Clapton, Frank Sinatra and Stevie Ray Vaughan. Appetizers include Salmon Croquette, a corn-breaded Southern salmon served with a Louisiana

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one band that we caught at Doc’s Place recently. They have a regular gig every Thursday evening. Headed by its namesake Marco Innocenti, and featuring Rod Pollard on bass, Nick Candeleria on sax and John McNellis on drums, the Marco Innocenti Project brings smooth jazz that fills the room at Doc’s Place. “To call it my band is kind of silly,”Innocenti said. “We all played in several different bands around the Valley before this.” That laid back and unpretentious attitude is just what Doc’s ordered and is also akin to the atmosphere at the restaurant. The establishment is upscale, but the attitude is relaxed. The jazz is smooth and the service is sharp. Everyone will be ensured a great night of entertainment and fantastic food. The menu is exceptional at Doc’s and Chef Bob Anthony has created some traditional Southern dishes and taken others and put a new twist on classic N’Awlins staples. Beginning as a station

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The menu is exceptional at Doc’s and Chef Bob Anthony has created some traditional Southern dishes and taken others and put a new twist on classic N’Awlins staples.

Louis Armstrong Ox Tails with steamed rice and fresh, seasonal vegetables

unique entrees we have tried at any restaurant in recent memory. Next up was the Catfish Sandwich. Lightly breaded in sweet cornmeal, served with a light topping of slaw and nestled in to a soft, warm roll, it was large enough for two people to share and was an outstanding example of classic Southern cuisine. What perhaps was most surprising were the unbelievably low prices for such high-quality food prepared with such flare and panache. Jazz is not the only thing taking place at Doc’s. Neo-soul and rhythm and blues happen on a regular basis and on occasion, the room goes comedy. Faizon Love, Kevin Hart, Mike Epps, Cedric the Entertainer and AJ Jamal are just some of the names that have transformed Doc’s Place in to a comedy club. Regardless if you are a die-hard jazz or rhythm and blues fan, enjoy comedy or just exceptional food, there is something for everyone.

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blanc sauce and corn relish. Fried Green Tomatoes? Yep, you will find them here. Also look for Doc’s Buffalo Wings and Cajun Calamari. The "Intermission" part of the menu also features some delightful surprises including Seafood or Chicken Gumbo or the B.B. Blackened Chicken Salad. But the main entrees ("Headliners"), are well worth the wait. Our group’s favorite was Miles Bayou Chicken, a gorgeously prepared and savory dish. Neighbored with seasoned vegetables, the chicken entrée is rolled in shrimp and vegetables, wrapped with maple bacon and crusted with just a dash of black peppercorn. Topped with a smattering of sweet black butter rum sauce, this is one of the most

Doc’s Place Restaurant & Music Club 40 E. Camelback Road (on the northeast corner of Central Ave and Camelback Rd) Phoenix, AZ 85012 602) 277-5999 www.docsplaceaz.com

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By Lynette Carrington

Arizona Theatre Company’s Season Underway Americana and a World Premiere Showcased at Herberger Theater Center

time in America when things were grim. This was a perfect theatrical offering that somehow gave theatergoers pride in their country and a perspective that lets us see other national hardships in history. Woody Guthrie’s American Song was less of a play and more of a compilation of songs that told a story. From his early days, living through the Great Depression, leaving the dust bowl, working in migrant camps and the effects of national tragedy, it all played out on stage. With a small ensemble group and a trio of actors assuming the “voice” of Guthrie, the audience followed along to see what life was really like during that sad and depressed time. Guthrie was and still is considered a voice in American folk music. Director Randal Myler said, “Woody ‘lived his songs’….So,

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... the audience followed along to see what life was really like during that sad and depressed time.

WOODY GURTHRIE’S AMERICAN SONG may have seemed like an unusual choice for Arizona Theatre Company to include in its 20102011 season. But maybe what we all really needed was to be taken on a journey that transports us to a

Ryan Nearhoff, Jason Edwards and Jim Newman in Arizona Theatre Company’s Woody Guthrie's American Song. Photo by Tim Fuller/Arizona Theatre Company.

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Ryan Nearhoff, Kenita R. Miller, Sally Mayes and Jason Edwards in Arizona Theatre Company’s Woody Guthrie's American Song. Photo by Tim Fuller/Arizona Theatre Company.

freshman sitting in the LuntFontanne Theater in New York the night they dimmed the lights for Alfred Lunt, who had died earlier that day.” Ten Chimneys runs Feb. 17 through March 6 at Herberger Theater Center. Visit www.arizona theatre.org for tickets. ▲

"This Land is Your Land." Next up is Arizona Theatre Company’s World Premiere of Ten Chimneys. The play follows the private lives of artists who are constantly on the stage. Taking place in the late 1930s, Alfred Lunt and Lynn Fontanne (at the time, revered stars on Broadway) retreat to legendary Wisconsin Estate, "Ten Chimneys" as they rehearse and investigate Chekhov’s masterpiece The Sea Gull. “In life and in the theater, things have a way of circling back,” said Ten Chimneys playwright Jeffrey Hatcher. “I was a college

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like Hank Williams, listeners sense a deep truth and deep honesty in the songs. A timeless honesty.” The show translated well and the talent of cast was top notch, especially Jason Edwards (who starred on Broadway in Ring of Fire, The Music of Johnny Cash) whose smoky and sincere vocals rang true with the crowd. Kenita R. Miller was also outstanding and her clear-as-abell vocals brought a tear to the eye a time or two during her touching solo moments. Some of the songs covered in the show included "Dust Bowl Refugee," "Union Maid," "The Sinking of the Ruben James" and

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theater

By Charles Hudson Photos courtesy of Ballet Arizona, by Rosalie O’Connor

A Magical Holiday Journey Ballet Arizona celebrated its 25th anniversary and showcases its talents with an amazing performance of ‘The Nutcracker’

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... an enchanting experience with magnificent dancing, colorful costumes and a superb set that made for one very enjoyable, outstanding show.

THERE'S NO SURER CURE FOR HOLIDAY HUMBUGS than The Nutcracker, the wondrous story of a girl and a Christmas gift she receives. The girl loves the toy — the Nutcracker Prince — so much that she dreams of exciting adventures with her new, special friend. These adventures bring the story

to life. The Nutcracker takes the audience on a magical holiday journey and brings them into a fantastic world of dance and music. Ballet Arizona and Ib Andersen’s breathtaking production of The Nutcracker, performed at Phoenix Symphony Hall during a two-week run in December, was an enchanting

AZ SAL FAST FACTS: • Ib Andersen, Carey Wong and Fabio Toblini worked together for a year creating the production. • Toblini didn’t want his costumes for the mice to be too cute, so he modeled them after New York City subway rats. • The Mouse King is 9 feet tall without his crown. The costume balances on a backpack worn by the performer.

• During the run of The Nutcracker, Ballet Arizona dancers used more than 300 pairs of pointe shoes. Ballet Arizona’s budget for pointe shoes is $45,000.

experience with magnificent dancing, colorful costumes and a superb set that made for one very enjoyable, outstanding show. This is the seventh year for Andersen’s production, which cost $1.8 million to create. It involved more than 300 people on two continents. The Nutcracker is based on an 1815 story called The Nutcracker and

the Mouse King that charmed readers of all ages, including French writer Alexandre Dumas, who published a retelling of it in 1847. It is from that adaptation that Russian composer Peter Tchaikovsky and choreographer Lev Ivanov created their ballet, The Nutcracker, now a classic. Set to life by Andersen and set designer Carey Wong, Ballet Arizona’s

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• The 260 costumes in The Nutcracker were created in 17 shops across America, out of more than 6,500 yards of fabric, and then shipped to Ballet Arizona for assembly.

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Don Quixote at Symphony Hall with The Phoenix Symphony Feb. 10-13, 2011: 7 p.m., Thursday, Feb. 10 8 p.m., Friday, Feb. 11 2 p.m. & 8 p.m., Saturday, Feb 12 2 p.m., Sunday, Feb. 13

Modern Masters at the Orpheum Theatre March 25-27, 2011: 8 p.m., Friday March 25 2 p.m. & 8 p.m., Saturday, March 26 2 p.m., Sunday, March 27

interpretation is simply fabulous. Andersen’s choreography offered a pleasantly traditional take on Tchaikovsky’s fairy-tale ballet, with an emphasis on pretty. The costumes, designed by Fabio Toblini, were a standout, exhibiting creativity and color. Live music was performed by the Phoenix Symphony and conducted by Timothy Russell. Ballet Arizona augments its attractive ensemble with more than 150 adorable and admirably disciplined young dancers from the greater Phoenix area and the School of Ballet Arizona. In total, Ballet Arizona presented 21 performances of The Nutcracker

Mosaik at the Orpheum Theatre April 29-May 1, 2011: 8 p.m., Friday, April 29 2 p.m. & 8 p.m., Saturday, April 30 2 p.m., Sunday, May 1

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at Symphony Hall. You’ll have to wait until December 2011 to catch the next performance, but it’s worth the wait. Ballet Arizona, in its 25th season, is dedicated to preserving and celebrating classical dance while creating and commissioning new, innovative works. Ballet Arizona is under the artistic direction of internationally acclaimed choreographer Ib Andersen, who was a principal dancer with the New York City Ballet for more than a decade. Ballet Arizona is committed to educational and outreach programs that reach more than 25,000 children and families every year. ▲

UPCOMING EVENTS BY BALLET ARIZONA:

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theater

By Amanda Ventura Photos by Joan Marcus

Good Morning Starshine ‘Hair,’ the hirsute tribal love-rock musical, offered fans at Gammage an energetic tribute to the untamed ’60s

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The play balances between being an abstraction of time and a touching story about humanity.

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GAMMAGE AUDITORIUM GOT A LITTLE GROOVY — and hairy for that matter — this December, when the national tour of “Hair” performed for five glorious days with its lovable flower children under direction of revival veteran Diane Paulus, whose work earned a Tony Award for Best Revival of a Musical in 2009. Wondrous manes abounded at this come-as-you-are free-for-all celebration of hair and hippie-dom — and for being in the Valley of Sun, where there’s never a plea heard to “Let the Sun Shine In,” the second generation Tribe sure had everyone in Gammage Auditorium singing along to its final reprise like they hadn’t seen a ray in months. Most notably in the key of Julie Taymor’s 2007 flick Across the Universe, America’s renewed obsession with the ‘60s was less a revival as much as an extraction of expressiveness that laid dormant in the social stratosphere for a good 50 years. Now, with American society stratified between an enduring list

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of taboos and our nation off at an increasingly unpopular war, the sage messages and energetic music of “Hair” reveals with rivaling fervor the battle of America’s youth to overcome disillusionment and embrace unity. The musical is less of a novelty than a necessity. The first production of Gerome Ragni and James Rado’s “Hair” was off-Broadway in October 1967, where its originality and generation’s worth of energy propelled it to Broadway the following year. From commercial hit songs to a successful West End reception and worldwide acceptance, this play has been a beloved, albeit strangely austere, portrait of American soul during one of the nation’s darkest and most progressively optimistic times. The play balances between being an abstraction of time and a touching story about humanity. The concept seems simple enough: optimistic flower children in the Lower East Side want to change the world by changing the way they perceive

truck bed and set on stage, it was a great new feel to the typical orchestra pit — which was instead transformed into the romping ground for the flower children to get to know their audience a little better. By today’s standards of inappropriateness and taboo, the show is still full of enough overzealously choreographed groping, group gyration and preintermission nudity. Of course, the man in the front row who had Berger’s loincloth-clad bottom-half Capt. Morganed on his arm rest probably felt a little differently, but the line between actor and audience was often crossed and was an ingenious technique. The art direction and technicalities of the show really made the

second act an incredible visual adventure and was the stronger half of the play. Act Two begins with a blackout, and the Tribe comes on stage with flashlights and performs “Electric Blues.” And in its simplicity, this scene was one of the more memorable moments. It’s a cast that you want to be a part of, even as a tone-deaf audience member. The Tribe’s chemistry, lack of boundaries, openness and freedom provided an energy rush that electrified those in the auditorium seats. The set list for the show has grown and shrunk throughout the play’s time on stage, and such was true for this production, which flipflopped a few numbers in the line-up or split larger numbers into smaller

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the world and vice versa. It’s classic mirror syndrome. The plot of “Hair” is a bit chaotic, with a love triangle, complete standout personalities within a tribe of a few dozen people and a lot of unfocused drug use. However, the main plot is about Claude Bukowski, one of the long, curly-haired love-triangled Tribe members, dealing with being drafted for the Vietnam War. In all of its quirkiness traipsing around as comic relief, there’s nothing delicate about “Hair”. That’s not to say the play isn’t moving or sentimental. But at times, the play’s sheer brashness made it feel more like a concert than a play. The “orchestra” or, more appropriately, the band, was in a word: groovy. In their raised

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There were times, such as during Act Two and Claude’s figurative and literal trip, when my inner hippie was screaming “Holy Technicolor Dream Coat” and from the flooding of audience members that went stage-side during the final number to dance with the cast, I wasn’t the only one

Burkhardt as wild child Berger and Paris Remillard as the drafted “invisible man” Claude. Both lead males have been with Hair since the 2008 Off-Broadway revival of the show in Shakespeare In The Park. Burkhardt was the understudy for Berger in the 2009 revival and 2010 West End revival in 2010 and Remillard was the understudy for Claude and Woof in the ’09 revival. At no fault of the cast, there were a few slow moments. I’m sure no one in the theater enjoys the over-indulgent “Easy to Be Hard,” no matter how wicked the pipes on Caren Lyn Tackett (Sheila) are. The play’s ballads threw the fuse a few times, such as Sheila’s “Easy to Be Hard” and Crissy’s “Frank Mills.” But with such a serious character as Sheila and shy, sweetness of Crissy, it seems allowable to have a few snoozers. But I could have done without the energy conservation. There were times, such as during Act Two and Claude’s figurative and literal trip, when my inner hippie was screaming “Holy Technicolor Dream Coat” and from the flooding of audience members that went stage-side during the final number to dance with the cast, I wasn’t the only one channeling that vibe. Quite simply, “Hair” is love — two and a half hours of pure love. ▲

channeling that vibe.

songs on the Playbill. One of the biggest deviations was the swap of “Aquarius” and “Manchester England” reprises at the end of Act Two for a quick “I Ain’t Got No” reprise. Based on the 2009 Broadway revival recordings, this second-generation Tribe really blew the originals out of the water. The vocal performances were all-around as malleable and smooth as butter. Although the Mother Tribe took the stage in the West End, it left behind the noteworthy Darius Nichols (Hud) and Kacie Sheik (Jeanie), and a slew of understudies-turned-lead-rolers like Steel

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AZ SAL was there By Curt Blakeney Photos by Gene Lower

College Bowl Roundup For 3 weeks in late December and early January, the Valley was at the center of the college football world

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Great college football action was in abundant supply at the Insight Bowl, Fiesta Bowl and BCS National Championship.

IF YOU’RE A COLLEGE FOOTBALL JUNKIE, you couldn’t have picked a better place to live (or visit) then the Valley of the Sun during late December and early January. And AZSAL was there to cover three marquee bowl games. Tempe hosted the Insight Bowl on December 28, when the undermanned Iowa Hawkeyes upset the Missouri Tigers, 27-24. Freshman running back Marcus Coker sparked

the Hawkeyes with 219 rushing yards and 2 TDs. Four days later, Glendale hosted the Fiesta Bowl on New Year’s Day. Oklahoma flexed its muscles and easily manhandled the Connecticut Huskies, 48-20; redemption of sorts for a Sooners team that had two recent disastrous trips to the Fiesta Bowl. Sooners quarterback Landry Jones threw for a school bowl-record 429 yards and three touchdowns.

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On January 10, Glendale hosted the Tostitos BCS National Title Game at the University of Phoenix Stadium. The battle between undefeated Oregon and Auburn lived up to all the hype. After a thrilling 60 minutes, Auburn was crowned National Champions with a 22-19 victory. Auburn quarterback Cam Newton threw for 265 yards and two touchdowns and ran for 64 yards.

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