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VOL. 6 - ISSUE 7 talent, run with an undesirable crowd, be in places between the hours of 2 and 5 a.m. and chances are you’ll make news for all the wrong reasons.

BLOOD ON THE FIELD BY WILL MARTIN – MRWILL316@BLITZWEEKLY.COM

ore than one month has quickly passed since the tragic events of the weekend leading up to June 17, a weekend where Odin Lloyd was found murdered and (now ex-) New England Patriots receiver Aaron Hernandez was arrested and charged with Mr. Lloyd’s murder. In the days, weeks, months, and years to come there will be details. There will be speculation. There will be that which one might refer to as ‘tell tale signs,’ and perhaps a story or two to back up the information that is gleaned, culled, and leaked. A few weeks ago yours truly mentioned how this had eerie similarities to the case of O.J. Simpson in 1994 in what we as a nation saw and were witness to in the media. The court of public opinion, with the amount of access to information and theories, and the final outcome differed greatly. We also have seen this just completed in Sanford, Fla., different circumstance indeed but a tragic outcome nonetheless. Having been a lifelong sports fan the mindset about to be shared is one where ‘within the white lines of play’ we are treated to wonderful stories of grit, determination, teamwork, sacrifice, risk, reward, a win or a loss, and perhaps a record set with a kudos.

Publisher Kelly G. Reed Editor-in-Chief C. Patterson Creative Director Jette Stephens Cover Story Photos Thomas Garza, Jonah Gilmore Photo Editor Darryl Briggs Cover Design Jette Stephens Staff Photographers Gregg Case, Steven Hendrix, Rick Leal, Kevin Jacobson, Chuck Majors

Staff Writers Arthur Bellfield, Geoff Case, Steven Doyle, Peter Gerstenzang, Ethan Harmon, Keysha Hogan, Amber LaFrance, Will Martin, Mark Miller Contributing Photographers: Scott Ableman, Keith Allison, David Burton, Thomas Garza, Jonah Gilmore, Samara Pearlstein, Buck Contributing Writers: Cote Bailey, Brian Beard, Jay Betsill, Gary Dowell, Andrew J. Hewett, Frank LaCosta

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In other words sports are a welcome escape from the ills that belie our world in the here and now. Sports are that section of the newspaper where you read and see the story of an overachiever, a winner and a loser. You’ll find a statistic that validates a thought or opinion, maybe even a feel-good story about the person who overcame incredible odds to realize a dream and become a success in a given sport, or a given field. As kids we read and heard stories about people who we wanted to believe were all pure and proper. No bad seeds, no peccadilloes, no unsavory issues, full potential reached and of course a source for ‘being a role model.’ When Charles Barkley proudly proclaimed, “I am not your role model!” in a commercial 20 years ago he actually caught flak. Flak is something Barkley has never shied away from. He believed it wasn’t up to anybody to serve as a guinea pig to proper behavior or lifestyle. In essence that’s a personal choice. Understood. I remember Howard Cosell being one of the most vilified people in television-radio communications 40 years ago for espousing about real life matters and causes instead of merely praising Fran Tarkenton for ‘making a simple transition for a 5-yard completion in the flat.’ Cosell caught flak for daring to say what no one else was saying, for ‘telling it like it is,’ and for not being afraid to go against the grain. Google Pete Rozelle vs. Howard Cosell for more information. Sports fans love their teams, their players, and usually their coaches when they are winning and producing and doing good deeds off the field. When a player gets in trouble with the law sometimes we forgive or choose to forget until reminded. No sport likes having a black sheep. Separate from that person immediately and do your best to discredit the offender. Patriots owner Robert Kraft recently spoke with the media in light of what has transpired with Hernandez, saying that “I believed him,” Kraft said. “He knew how to push my buttons.” Kraft added that if the allegation were true ‘the Patriots have been duped’ by Hernandez. “No one in our organization was aware of any of these kind of connections,” Kraft said via the Boston Globe. “If it’s true, I’m just shocked.” That’s certainly not new to the game of taking on players of questionable character. New England has seen the likes of Randy Moss, Albert Haynesworth, and Corey Dillon in the past. If indeed no one in the Patriots organization had concerns about the background of Aaron Hernandez maybe someone can explain a 2010 letter Hernandez sent to Patriots personnel executive Nick Caserio that can be found at Boston.com. With the recent approval of a five-year contract extension (now revoked) no one felt that a leash was required to keep tabs on a player many in the National Football League felt had character issues. Here is where things can get dicey. If you have an ability, possess a talent, hone your skills, success shall be yours over time. Use the same

Any chance at all somebody saw this coming? Consider new revelations about an incident in Florida at a bar called The Swamp in 2007 over an unpaid tab. A bouncer and Hernandez got into it. We learn that Tim Tebow would play peacemaker over the whole incident and Urban Meyer is contacted and made aware. In light of the Patriots signing Tebow weeks before what happened any chance Tebow was brought on as a handler for Hernandez? There was a story about Hernandez having words with fellow Patriots’ receiver Wes Welker over how to use a film recorder. Welker dissed the rookie to which Hernandez supposedly said, ‘F&*% you Welker! I’ll f*@% you up.’ Maybe an anger issue? In July 2012, another incident (allegedly) involving Hernandez and a man in a nightclub who gets shot in the face. Authorities possibly are trying to connect the ex-Patriot to another murder from one year ago though nothing has been proven yet. People will wonder, ‘Why did Odin Lloyd get killed? What did he know?’ Does the fact that Lloyd’s girlfriend and Hernandez’s fiancee are sisters complicate this whole scenario? Did Hernandez truly fear for his life as has been reported? That pistol holding selfie pic that has circulated on the Internet comes to mind. I have no answers to any of the above mentioned. The courts will deem and decide what is, and what is to be for Hernandez and the other two incarcerated men. For some inexplicable reason idle time for some NFL players leads to trouble, sometimes big trouble. The G word has been invoked in some of the discussion. Will we come to find out that there were gang-related tie-ins (namely a Connecticut Bloods connection) to what happened on June 17? Could someone like an Aaron Hernandez (or any other player of the NFL) be able to walk away from such an affiliation? Did he fear for his life because people from his past refused to accept that success had been reached by a person with athletic gifts? The NFL for the longest time has been very good at monitoring any kind of press that commissioner Roger Goodell and the suits deem bad for publicity. A little is okay. Too much and one has to go away. Rest assured that from this day forward you can expect tighter and tougher measures for being able to complete and pass a criminal background check if you have aspirations about making millions in professional sports. As one gets older you come to understand decisions made as a youngster that help get you to where you are now. A word you are going to start hearing often is ‘character.’ It’s almost as important as ‘integrity’ which I view as balance. A solid combination of the two shall give you solid footing where the road leads you today and tomorrow. Live by the sword, die by the sword, seek trouble, ask for trouble. The company you keep, the choices that you make, the opinions you might have will affect not only yourself but the people who are in your immediate circle of friends and family. Two lives have been forever changed, two careers radically derailed, one life irretrievably gone. One day we will learn why. It won’t change the lesson. You cannot change your environment, you can only change yourself. This story remains in the embryonic stages. It will be front-page news when it goes to trial sometime in 2014 or later. Sadly, there will be no happy endings or reunion. For what it’s worth may the process run its course in a courtroom, and not in the newspapers or media.

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AUGUST 2013

IMAGE PROBLEMS

BY JAY BETSILL – @THEFAMOUSJAY

t has been said that’s there is no such thing as bad publicity. If people are talking about you, it is a good thing.

Back in the summer of 2003, during an interview with Access Hollywood’s Pat O’Brien, Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban commented on the charges filed in Colorado against Kobe Bryant, the Los Angeles Lakers superstar guard who was accused of sexually assaulting a 19-year-old woman. “From a business perspective, it’s great for the NBA. It’s reality television, people love train-wreck television and you hate to admit it, but that is the truth, that’s the reality today,” Cuban told the TV show. USA Today asked Cuban to elaborate on his “It’s great for the NBA” comments. “Notoriety sells in this day and age,” Cuban told the newspaper. ...”I can’t think of anyone who is going through a legal problem who doesn’t get high attention. Is that coldblooded? Yeah. But it is bottom-line reality.” Cuban added: “I don’t want to compare Kobe with O.J. (Simpson) because Kobe’s case hasn’t been decided, but the reality is there is more interest in him (Kobe) now.” NBA commissioner David Stern quickly rebutted Cuban’s comments. “Any suggestion that there will be some economic or promotional benefit to the NBA arising from the charge pending against Kobe Bryant is both misinformed and unseemly,” Stern said in a statement. “That idea does not reflect the views of the NBA, NBA owners generally, or others associated with our sport.” Before the case was scheduled to go to trial, his accuser filed a civil lawsuit against Bryant

over the incident. The two sides ultimately settled that lawsuit, with specific terms of the settlement being undisclosed to the public. Not to minimize the nature of the Bryant case of a decade ago, but the National Football League has taken bad publicity to an entire new level in recent times. While Major League Baseball fights the bad press that comes with the steroid era, the NFL is dealing with bad news on what feels like a daily basis. In April 2007, Roger Goodell announced the implementation of his Personal Conduct Policy, suspending Adam ‘Pac-Man’ Jones for a full season and Chris Henry for eight games. That policy extended beyond requiring a criminal conviction, where any event that embarrassed or affected the league’s reputation could be punished, even if the player was ultimately not punished by the law. Here are Goodell’s thoughts when the policy came to fruition: “Illegal or irresponsible conduct does more than simply tarnish the offender. It puts innocent people at risk, sullies the reputation of others involved in the game, and undermines public respect and support for the NFL. “While criminal activity is clearly outside the scope of permissible conduct, and persons who engage in criminal activity will be subject to discipline, the standard of conduct for persons employed in the NFL is considerably higher. It is not enough simply to avoid being found guilty of a crime. Instead, as an employee of the NFL or a member club, you are held to a higher standard and expected to conduct yourself in a way that is responsible, promotes the values upon which the league is based, and is lawful.

They’ve got some ‘splainin to do “Persons who fail to live up to this standard of conduct are guilty of conduct detrimental and subject to discipline, even where the conduct itself does not result in conviction of a crime.” Six years have passed since Goodell’s policy was instituted and this offseason, the number of arrests have moved past 30 since the Super Bowl. Two players, former Chicago Bears tight end Evan Rodriguez and former Detroit Lions wide receiver Titus Young, were arrested multiple times in that span. Young was arrested three times in two days. This comes after a season where Jovan Belcher of the Chiefs shot and killed the mother of his child last year before killing himself at the Chiefs’ training facility. And let’s not forget the death of Dallas Cowboys player Jerry Brown and the early morning arrest of teammate Josh Brent on charges of intoxication manslaughter last December during the season. Brent, who subsequently returned to jail after failing a marijuana test, smartly decided to retire from football. The illegal activity is not limited to players in the NFL. Oh no, the executives are getting in on the act as the Denver Broncos have not one but two members of their management team get arrested. Matt Russell, who is second in command in the team’s front office behind vice president of football operations John Elway, and Tom Heckert, hired this off-season as the director of pro personnel, were both

suspended by the franchise following their arrests for driving under the influence. “The Broncos will support Matt and Tom during their suspensions and beyond as necessary,” the team said in a statement. “They will be provided with treatment resources as needed in the form of education, counseling and other rehabilitation programs. Specifics of their treatment will be kept confidential due to the personal nature of these matters. Both will be monitored closely to ensure compliance and will be thoroughly evaluated before any potential return to employment with the Denver Broncos.” The NFL’s bad publicity hit the mother lode on June 26. Now-former New England Patriots star tight end Aaron Hernandez sits in a Massachusetts jail accused of first-degree murder in the death of Odin Lloyd and under investigation for a potential role in two other killings. Hernandez was less than a year into his five-year, $40 million extension. If the allegations prove true, the Patriots, a team long considered a model of fiscal prudence and solid character, were the unlikely conduit for one of the most ill-advised contract offers in NFL history. For the NFL, however, as the unsavory news continues to mount, it is starting to feel like just another day at the office.

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MEET THE CRAPPIEST TEAMS IN COLLEGE FOOTBALL BY KEYSHA HOGAN – @THEKEYSHA

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ecently the National Football Foundation announced a record number of college football teams will be playing in the 2013 season including nine new programs suiting up for National Collegiate Athletic Association play and three starting at the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics level.

might stand a chance of building something worthwhile. At this point it’s really too soon to tell, but they must produce better numbers this year to get off this list.

While there is excitement that accompanies any growth there also is the statistical certainty of a lot of big ‘ole failures. As we look forward to whatever this year may bring, let’s take a yawn-filled look at the most uneventful, unexciting, unimpressive, unmemorable, and unremarkable teams in Division I football.

You’d think having two Texas teams on this list would be impossible, but UTEP is on the border so it just made the cut. But who can argue with a chronically-disappointing record of 298-473-18 (.389). The Miners only made it this high on our list because they have managed to appear in 13 bowl games and win five of them. It’s not much, but on this list won.”

10. Northwestern University Wildcats Let’s begin this sad affair with the Wildcats. Their all-time record is 489-622-44 (.442) and that is since they started in 1876. They lose so often, it’s basically a tradition. In this new century they’ve been doing better by winning three Big Ten championships and remaining “bowl eligible” for seven of the past eight seasons. Last year they won the Gator Bowl, but before that their last bowl game win was in the first term of former President Harry S. Truman.

9. Rice University Owls Of all the powerhouse teams in Texas, Rice has just never made the cut. At 428-565-32 (.440) there have been moments of victory, unfortunately most of them were in the 1950s. In 1994, the Owls celebrated a conference win, but for now we’ll have to leave it to the usual Texas teams to make us proud on the national stage.

8. Florida Atlantic University Owls Honestly, the jury is still out on this program. The team started in 2001 and has a record of 58-74 (.439). So far these Owls have won two bowl games, and are moving into Conference USA where they SMARTER, SHARPER MEN

7. University of Texas at El Paso Miners

6. Indiana University Hoosiers Next up are the heavyhearted Hoosiers. This college has had a football team since 1887 and stands at 454-62445 (.424) after 125 years. In all that time, they have two conference titles and won three of their nine trips to bowl games. The biggest news to come from the Hoosiers this offseason is the arrival of new custom Adidas cleats. So yeah.

5. University of Buffalo Bulls Good memories for U of B students are made in the classroom instead of on the school’s field. A record of 360-478-28 (.432) is certainly nothing to celebrate. In 2008 the Bulls lost their only bowl game appearance which is far more sad when you learn they have been playing football since 1894. Surviving 118 years of awfulness is a testament to the grit that comes with folks from upstate New York.

4. New Mexico State University Aggies It feels as if these Aggies have been turning in gruesome performances

forever. Their all-time record stands at 422-587-31 (.421) and shows little sign of improving even with a new head coach and offensive coordinator. They last won a conference title 33 years ago, and are limping through a 51-year bowl drought, the longest in Division 1A/Football Bowl Series history. Maybe in 2014, the switch to the Sun Belt Conference will resuscitate this terminal team.

3. University of Louisiana at Monroe Warhawks The overall record of 286-371-8 (.436) does nothing to inspire the type of terror a Warhawk should inspire. They have won five conference titles and one Football Championship Series National Championship. But this past December in their first bowl game they lost by 31 depressing points at the Independence Bowl. #BummerBowl

2. Florida International University Golden Panthers This may not be fair, since FIU has only been in the business of college football since 2002 but it has a dismal record of 39-79 (.331). There could be a future for the Golden Panthers since they have a conference title and have been victorious in one of two bowl game appearances. This year the Panthers join Conference USA and hope to pull a few upsets so they don’t begin a new era with a legacy of lameness.

1. Kent State University Golden Flashes With an all-time record of 320-499-28 (.394), the Golden Flushes (ahem) Flashes top our list as the worst of the worst. In their 92-year history they have appeared in two bowl games which ended in defeat. In 2012 they managed to rally and placed 25th in the Associated Press weekly poll for the first time since the 70s.

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FIGHT CLUB main event

UFC 163 Preview BY BRIAN BEARD – COMMENTS@BLITZWEEKLY.COM

Cezar “Mutante” Ferreira (6-2-0) vs. Thiago “Marreta” Santos (8-1-0) Ferreira was originally slated to fight Clint Hester on this card but Hester had to pull out due to injury recently. Who could they get to step in and fill his shoes on such short notice? They found a hometown boy from Rio that gladly accepted the challenge. This will be a grappler vs. striker type of match up. Santos is an explosive striker that is very well versed in Muay Thai. This cat can bang. Ferreira is a great ground fighter that also has some decent striking. I look for Ferreira to try to close the distance early and push Santos up against the cage to look for the take down. My Prediction: Ferriera will grind out a submission in the second round. Lyoto “The Dragon” Machida (19-3-0) vs. Phil “Mr. Wonderful” Davis (11-1-0) Here we have another striker vs. grappler matchup in this one. Davis is an absolute beast and his wrestling is top notch. Not only that, but his only loss is to Rashad Evans who is also a great wrestler. Machida is a very unorthodox striker who tends to do well against wrestlers. He mollywhopped Rashad when they fought. He also handled up on Ryan Bader and Dan Henderson. I really like Phil Davis but I see this as a very tough fight for him. Machida will use his superior footwork to keep Davis at bay and will be able to ding him with all of his fancy/ weird striking. It won’t be enough though. Davis will eventually secure a takedown and make Lyota pay dearly. My Prediction: Davis via TKO in the third round. ‘Merica.

PRESENTED BY SMARTER, SHARPER MEN

Jose “Junior” Aldo (221-0) vs. Chan Sung “The Korean Zombie” Jung (13-3-0) This is going to be a war. The little cats are going to put on a show! Both men are outstanding fighters that always come to bang. Don’t look for this one to go to the ground at all. Aldo has not lost since 2005 and is the most dominant fighter to date in his division. His last seven fights have been title defenses. Jung, aka The Korean Zombie, is a very powerful striker for this weight class and always puts on a show. He also has a good chin on him and can take a power punch and keep rolling. I think this will be one of Aldo’s toughest tests to date. I still think he passes with flying colors. Look for Aldo to simply be the better athlete in this one. My Prediction: Aldo will win a unanimous decision.

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AUGUST 2013

ROAD TRIP! BY FRANK LACOSTA – FLACOSTA@BLITZWEEKLY.COM

very year the dog days of August give way to the start of the college football season. Labor Day weekend is set aside for grilling, consuming a few cold ones and being huddled around the TV. This year will be no different, however here at Blitz we want to present to you a list of some cool college football games that are accessible via reliable transportation, cash money and no more than six hours on the road from Dallas. Oh…and you can’t see the same team twice. Hell you might even see the Blitz banner at these games!

8/31 – LSU vs. TCU at AT&T Stadium LSU fans know how to party. JerryWorld is a state-of-the-art facility. Get your party passes and get there in the afternoon for an awesome tailgate and game. The Mad Hatter might even have a trick up his sleeve. This one sets everything in motion.

9/14 – Alabama vs. Texas A&M at Kyle Field Manziel and company handed Alabama its only loss last season. Manziel had 345 yards in the victory on the road. The Crimson Tide will be looking for payback. Stop by the Dixie Chicken the night before for a look at the local talent.

10/10 – Oklahoma vs. Texas – at the Cotton Bowl

11/16 – Connecticut vs. SMU at Gerald J. Ford Stadium

It used to be the Red River Shootout, recently it’s been the Red River BlowOUt with the Sooners dominating and winning three in a row. It always has been and always will be about bragging rights. Plus its a great reason to go see the new Big Tex!

Now that SMU is in the Big East expect better quality opponents. The Huskies might not strike fear in your heart immediately but like SMU they’ve improved over the years. Not too far of a drive but will certainly be a fun game to take in on the cheap.

11/2 – Oklahoma State vs. Texas Tech at Jones AT&T Stadium

11/23 – Mississippi State vs. Arkansas at War Memorial Stadium

Definitely worth a trip out west for this one. Mayhem always is right around the corner. Oklahoma State has won the last four. Tech has a new coach and a new attitude. Check out the Double T scoreboard while there.

Take the trip to Little Rock. You know you want to. Obviously the Razorbacks are in a rebuilding phase and the Bulldogs probably won’t “wow” you. Still a chance to catch two SEC teams will be fun and drinking will be involved.

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Meet the Best in Baseball in 2013 W

BY MARK MILLER – MMILLER@BLITZWEEKLY.COM

Photo Courtesies: Scott Ableman, Keith Allison, Buck, Samara Pearlstein

atching the All-Star Game on July 16 reminded baseball fans of the beauty of the game and wide variety of talent the sport features in 2013.

From the stellar defense of Baltimore’s Manny Machado to the spine-tingling entrance and tribute to the retiring Mariano Rivera to the final out and save registered by Texas Rangers closer Joe Nathan, it was a magical night at Citi Field in New York. There was a great mix of young and old, veterans and rookies, hitters and pitchers on display. With an abundance of that talent residing in the American League and the expansion of interleague play, those who attend games at The Ballpark in Arlington can personally see this wide array of talent. While some already have come and gone, the months of August and September will feature plenty more. As the dog days of summer approach, the Blitz takes a look at those who already have made this a year to remember and one to continue to watch. Let us know if you agree with our choices for the stars of 2013:

Yadier Molina, C, St. Louis Cardinals Nobody would have thought a catcher would lead the National League in hitting with a .331 average but the .284 career hitter is a major reason the Cardinals have the best record in baseball.

Paul Goldschmidt, 1B, Arizona Diamondbacks

Michael Cuddyer, OF, Colorado Rockies

David Ortiz, DH, Boston Red Sox

Leads all first baseman not named Chris Davis with 23 HRs and 85 RBI to go along with a .303 average. He’s a major reason the Diamondbacks lead the National League West.

Earned a starting spot in the All-Star game with 17 homers, 62 RBI and a .329 average in just 85 games. One reason why was a season-best 27 game hitting streak.

The greatest designated hitter ever hasn’t slowed down at age 37. His 20 homers, 67 RBI and .329 average have been critical to Boston’s surge. .

Dustin Pedroia, 2B, Boston Red Sox

Andrew McCutchen, OF, Pittsburgh Pirates

Another solid year for Pedroia, who is batting well with a .294 average. He’s one reason the American League East-leading Red Sox have surprised everybody after a dismal 2012.

After a career year in 2012 (.327 average, 31 HR, 96 RBI), the Pittsburgh star’s numbers are a bit down (.302, 14, 56) but he’s already stolen 21 bases and is a key cog in the Pirates’ early success (see below for more).

Robinson Cano, 2B, New York Yankees

Allen Craig, OF, St. Louis Cardinals

The one veteran offensive player from the Big Apple to remain healthy, Cano has more homers (21) and RBI (70) than any second baseman in the game plus a .297 average.

Jean Segura, SS, Milwaukee Brewers The main reason Milwaukee traded Zack Greinke has paid off with a .313 average, 11 homers and 31 stolen bases. He also plays stellar in the field.

Though he missed a month on the disabled list, Tulo has hit 19 homers and driven in 59 with a .330 in just 75 games.

Another solid first-half player with 11 homers, 47 RBI and a .319 average. Too bad the defending World Series champs likely will not make the playoffs.

Chris Davis, 1B, Baltimore Orioles All it took was a change of scenery for Davis to accomplish in the big leagues what he had in the minors for the Rangers. His 37 homers and 97 RBI already have surpassed a strong 2012.

SMARTER, SHARPER MEN

After winning the Triple Crown for the first time since 1967, Cabrera might become the first to do it in consecutive seasons. He leads the majors with a .360 average and 99 runs batted in and is No. 2 in home runs with 32.

Adrian Beltre, 3B, Texas Rangers A key reason the Rangers remain in playoff contention with a .309 overall average, 22 HRs and 58 RBI plus his usual vacuum cleaner of a glove.

Mike Trout, OF, Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim Though not as prolific as in his rookie season, Trout’s 17 homers, 65 RBI, 23 stolen bases and .324 average are better than most.

What a way to walk away from the game for the future hall of famer. At age 43, he’s saved 33 of 35 games with a 1.64 ERA. One of baseball’s most classy players fully deserved the accolades he received at the All-Star Game.

Ones to Watch Pittsburgh Pirates: Not only will the Pirates likely end their streak of under-.500 seasons dating back to 1992, they very well could make the 2013 playoffs. Manager Clint Hurdle, a former Texas batting coach, brings his team to Texas in September. Yoenis Cespedes, OF, Oakland A’s: Spurred by his win in the All-Star Home Run Derby, look for the Cuban star to rebound from a sophomore jinx first half (.232 average, 16 HRs, 50 RBI) to better match his rookie season (.292, 23, 82).

Troy Tulowitzki, SS, Colorado Rockies

Miguel Cabrera, 3B, Detroit Tigers

Buster Posey, C, San Francisco Giants

Who needs Albert Pujols when Craig is putting up similar numbers. His .322 average is just behnd Molina and 79 RBI ranks him ahead of Goldschmidt in the league plus he’s the best in the game with runners aboard.

Mariano Rivera, RP, New York Yankees

Joe Nathan, RP, Texas Rangers Another reason the Rangers are in the playoff hunt is the veteran right-hander with 32 saves in 34 tries to go along with a stellar 1.73 ERA. His All-Star save helped Rivera earn the game’s most valuable player award.

Matt Harvey, SP, New York Mets The first Met to start an All-Star Game since 1988 earned his spot with a 8-2 record, National Leagueleading 164 strikeouts and a 2.11 earned run average, third best in his league.

Max Scherzer, SP, Detroit Tigers While losing to the Rangers just before the All-Star Break, Scherzer won his first 13 decisions of 2013 to earn the American League starter selection.

Clayton Kershaw, SP, Los Angeles Dodgers While he’s lost six times against eight wins, the big right-hander from Highland Park leads the majors with a 1.96 ERA. Too bad many of his teammates have struggled.

Bryce Harper, OF, Washington Nationals: At just age 20, Harper already is one of the bright future stars of the game. Despite playing in just 58 games at the break, he had 13 homers and 29 RBI with a .264 average. If he stays healthy, look for a great final two months. Yasiel Puig, OF, Los Angeles Dodgers: Yes, he only made his Major League debut June 3 but what a first 48 games for the 22-year-old Cuban. His 10 homers and 23 runs batted in helped lift the Dodgers out of their early-season disappointment and back on the playoff radar screen.

Think we missed your favorite player or just want to try to win a new Rangers Baseball Cap? Visit Facebook.com/blitzweekly and let us know.

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esy: Court Photo Burton David

THER A E H F ORE O AT M E S SE THER Y.COM O D L AN WEEK Z T I L B

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DALLAS 5445 La Sierra Drive, 1 Block North of Walnut Hill & 75 Suite 420 Dallas, TX 75231

PLANO 6101 Windcom Court, 2 Exits South of Legacy & Tollway Suite 300 Plano, TX 75093

214.717.6663 WWW.BLITZWEEKLY.COM

AUGUST 2013

PHOTO COURTESIES:

JONAH GILMORE & THOMAS GARZA

What Texan doesn’t love beer? After drinking the cheapest beer I could find in college, I was thrilled to discover Miller High Life’s much tastier relative, the craft brew. Five years ago, the local craft beer scene consisted of two main breweries, Franconia and Rahr & Sons, but in the last 16 months, we’ve seen at least 13 new breweries pop up in North Texas with more slated to open this fall, like Grapevine Craft Brewery in October. Sounds like a lot of competition for the two granddaddies of local beer, but Franconia’s head brewer, Cam Horn, claims that it’s all “healthy competition.”

SMARTER, SHARPER MEN

Rise of the

VOL. 6 - ISSUE 7

Microbrews BY AMBER LAFRANCE – ALAFRANCE@BLITZWEEKLY.COM

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AUGUST 2013

Peticolas Brewing Co.

Franconia Brewing Co.

The Brew Next Door

“The more breweries that open up, the more it opens people’s eyes to the beer that’s out there,” Horn said. Tait Lifto of Deep Ellum Brewing Co. attributes the recent growth to the fact that “people are demanding higher quality products with great taste. They want to eat and drink things made from scratch without additives and chemicals. The craft beer scene took longer to develop in DFW but it’s in the same vein.” After picking the brains of local brewery founders, yeast biologists, Cicerones and fellow beer geeks, I quickly learned that the recipe for success in this ever-growing market is passion and hard work. “It takes a love for what you’re doing,” Horn said. “There’s not a lot of money in the brewing industry. If you want to make money on alcohol, own a bar not a brewery.” Each and every person I met in the local brew scene oozed passion. They live, breathe and eat (well, drink) beer. It’s all about teaching people that not all beers are created equal. “It takes an enormous amount of cash, a hunger that can’t be extinguished, and a good knowledge of the beer industry and its people,” said Bryan Kaeser, the brains behind The Dallas Beer Kitchen. “Most of the owners were once home brewers that knew they had some skill at making beer and the money to get started. Some just went and hired the right brewer. No way is better than the other, since they both reach a desirable result: great beer and nice people to sell it.” Michael Peticolas of Peticolas Brewing Co. takes a different approach with his locallyfocused business model. “It’s about slow, slow consistent growth for me and making sure I can take care of my current customer before I market to the next customer,” Peticolas said. “It’s very word-of-mouth. I’ve made it a goal to make my consumers my marketers.” Regardless of the method, the North Texas beer scene is growing incredibly fast, especially in the last few years, as we continue to see breweries open their doors every other month. “There’s still room for growth,” Horn said. “I don’t see it stopping anytime in the near future. I definitely see some serious growth for each of the microbrews in the area.”

The Environmentalist

The mantra behind this brewery is so local-centric that founder Michael Peticolas fought for months to have his brewery open in the Design District. Peticolas oversees every aspect of production. It’s so important to him that everyone enjoys the freshest beer that if you live outside of the city limits, he won’t ship his brews to your location, not even if you beg. He even goes so far as to deliver the kegs himself to places like The Bottle Shop. “I make balanced beers; I’m not the extreme brewer,” he said. “I’ve made about eight or nine beers and it’s all about balance. It’s about this local area.”

Try this: The full-bodied Velvet Hammer. This brew is so popular that a local girl recently married it in the brewery (the keg even wore a tux). Stop by: Brewery tours are on the first and third Saturdays of the month from 1-3 p.m. in the Design District.

Martin House Brewing Co. The Outdoorsman

Born and raised in Germany, founder Dennis Wehrmann has been serving craft beer since 2008. Striving to give locals authentic Bavarian beer, he’s also worked to reduce its carbon footprint. Boasting its own on-site energy transformer, the brewery goes even further to recycle used mash from brewing into food for local cattle.

Revolver Brewing The Barley Wranglers

Granbury-based father-son duo Ron and Rhett Keisler teamed up with seasoned brew genius and Cicerone Grant Wood in October. After a 16-year stint with Sam Adams in Boston, Wood joined the team and set out to brew with fresh, local ingredients.

The love story: Peticolas fell in love with beer after tasting his mother’s home-brewed Mexican lager with apricot notes.

Try this: Revolver’s Blood & Honey wheat ale - made with local honey, which Wood said is particularly special. He knows his stuff; one of his hobbies back in Boston was beekeeping after all. Stop by: Brewery tours Saturdays from noon-3 p.m. in Granbury.

903 Brewers The New Kid in Town

The newest player to the game, 903 Brewers, opened just over a month ago with only two beers. Homebrewloving newcomer Jeremy Roberts paired up with good friend Austin Jones (who did a stint at Rahr & Sons) and plans to launch four new beers by the end of summer.

“Franconia is an exception to the rule,” Horn said. “We brew traditional German-style session beers. You can have multiples at once in a drinking session, they’re easy-to-drink with 5% ABV or under.” What you didn’t know: Wehrmann saw an opportunity to open his brewery here after seeing the success of local breweries in Germany. Where he’s from the population is about the same size as DFW, but with around 380 local breweries. Try this: The perfect summer beer, the Franconia Koelsch, is light and refreshing. Stop by: Brewery tours are Saturdays at 11 a.m. in McKinney.

Rahr & Sons Brewing Co. The Patriarch

What you don’t know: 903’s Roo’s Red ale, a 7% ABV, is named after the mascot of the local Austin College, the Kangaroo. Try this: The Chosen One with a hint of coconut. They’ve also been experimenting with a Whopper Stout, where they add Whoppers to a dark stout as it boils. Stop by: Trivia on Tap each Thursday from 6-8 p.m. in Sherman. Brewery Engineer Cody Martin, a civil engineer turned brew master, opened Martin House in March. He has more than 10 years perfecting his home-brews which crafted the selection they offer today: River House, The Imperial Texan, There Will Be Stout and Day Break. The location was chosen to easily hop on mountain bikes after work and ride the trails behind the brewery. “Our beers are all stand outs from the crowd, they’re not comparable to others in the market,” said Martin, who has a beer modeled after a bowl of cereal, the Day Break. The love story: Martin fell hard for Unibroue La Fin Du Monde, a triple fermentation blonde ale and it snowballed from there. Try this: There Will Be Stout is brewed with more than six pounds of sourdough pretzels per barrel. It’s salty and sweet. Stop by: Brewery tours are Saturdays from 2-5 p.m. in Fort Worth.

If you live in Texas, drink beer and haven’t heard of Rahr & Sons, there’s something seriously wrong. William “Fritz” Rahr opened in downtown Fort Worth in 2004 after deciding to continue the family legacy here in Texas (the family started brewing up North in 1847). It features the granddaddy of local brews, with numerous awards. Their Winter Warmer, a chocolaty brew with hints of cherries, took home the gold at the Beer Tasting Institute’s World Beer Championship. What you didn’t know: You can book a spot on the “2014 Rahr Brew Cruise,” where beer bellies and beer lovers alike will set sail for a five-day Western Caribbean cruise. Try this: The seasonal wee-heavy Iron Thistle Scotch-Style Ale. Stop by: Brewery tours are Wednesdays from 5-7:30 p.m. and Saturdays from 1-3 p.m. WWW.BLITZWEEKLY.COM

AUGUST 2013

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Community Beer Co. The Do-Gooder

Head brewer Jamie Fulton opened the brewery in December with an impressive resume after wanting to create a place that not only brews beer, but hosts art and magic in the yeast laboratory (he’s studying to become a microbiologist). The love story: After attending Le Cordon Bleu in London and falling in love with fine foods, Fulton took a tour of Europe and set his mind to recreating the classic flavors of the brews he tasted abroad. Try this: Voted the Best of the Rockies/Southwest at the U.S. Beer Tasting Championships, the Mosaic IPA won’t blow your head off with hoppy bitterness. Stop by: You can buy beer by the glass during Tap Room Fridays 5-9 p.m. or attend Beer School Saturdays at noon. There’s regular brewery tours Saturdays from 2-5 p.m. in the Design District.

Deep Ellum Brewing Co. The Experimentalist

Since opening the doors in November 2011, this Deep Ellumbased brewery is chock full of BIG personalities. With four brews available year-round, they’ve gotten to work creating handfuls of small-batch brews, some available for only a limited time. My personal favorite was the limited edition Bourbon Barrel Aged Deep Ellum IPA. Community-centric and proud of their home, they filter everything they do through a Deep Ellum filter (think of it as WWDED). What you didn’t know: New Brew Master Jeremy Hunt started this month after studying at the Bluegrass Brewing Co. in Kentucky. Try this: The Dallas Blonde – a citrusy golden ale that “goes down easy.” Stop by: Brewery tours on Thursdays from 6:30-8 p.m. in Deep Ellum.

Lakewood Brewing Co. The Former Mad Man

After making the move when he was 7, Belgian-born brew master Wim Bens spent years honing his craft at The American Brewer’s Guild and an apprenticeship at Rahr & Sons. Before opening in March 2011, Bens punched his timesheet as a creative in advertising at Tracy Locke. The love story: Growing up in Belgium, lower alcohol beer was marketed towards kids so Bens had a sip or two, but he spent his 20s hanging out at the first Flying Saucer in Addison. “That’s really where the journey began,” he said. Try this: The Temptress’ chocolaty and caramel notes will tempt you to add a scoop of vanilla ice cream. Hell, why not? Stop by: Brewery tours are Saturdays from noon-3 p.m. in Garland.

Can’t visit a brewery tour? Stop in and see these seasoned beer geeks: Stephanie Roethlisberger, Beer Curator and Cicerone-in-training at The Bottle Shop. She likes: Peticolas’ Velvet Hammer and Lakewood’s Temptress. Why she loves the scene: “Beer is supposed to be communal and accessible and I think a lot of the credit goes to the brewers and reps for being present and tangible,” she said. “There is a lot of talent and personality in DFW. From the brewers to the reps to the delivery drivers....they are some of the nicest people I’ve ever met.” Bryan Kaeser, proud new co-owner of The Dallas Beer Kitchen. SMARTER, SHARPER MEN

He likes: Revolver’s Blood & Honey and Peticolas’ Golden Opportunity (a great “starter beer”). Recent changes in legislation and a fiver of new craft beer laws have allowed local breweries to now sell beer by the pint. Since they still can’t sell bottles of beer to take home and stow away in your fridge, it hasn’t changed the game much. “Brew pubs help that process,” Horn said of the growing microbrew industry. “That might be the way the market starts to go. The new legislation hasn’t affected us much at all. We wanted to be able to send people home with six packs or growlers, but we can’t yet.” Here’s to hoping that that will change soon. Happy drinking!

VOL. 6 - ISSUE 7

RIDES

ENGINE 5.0-liter V8

ertain things in life are holy to a man; some things are down right sacred: His team, his family, his bourbon, and his car.

Somewhere inside of the Engineered to Order offices at Jaguar an obviously insane engineer is garnering votes to sit atop every performance automakers shit list. A lot of people might think that this type of company making this type of car is a tad peculiar, but that’s because they haven’t been paying attention. Recently the team in Whitley, Coventry, England, has unleashed the F-Type V8 S and Project 7 on the car world. So this stiff-suspension, carbon fiber GT was the only logical next step.

BY COTE BAILEY – COMMENTS@BLITZWEEKLY.COM

PRICE $174,000

AUGUST 2013

HORSE POWER 550

TORQUE 502 lb.-ft.

TOP SPEED 0-60 3.9 seconds 186 mph

The 2014 Jaguar XKR-S GT is more car than the resurging and once again privately-owned automotive company is used to producing. This coupé is a ruthless brut. There is no orchestral concerto upon ignition. Instead, you are assaulted by the sound of an engine that has been replaced with the growl of a large and hungry predatory animal. Not graceful nor polite the XKR-S GT is not for the prim and properness of Ferrari’s bloodline. Too unpolished and gritty - so unruly that only 25 of these monsters will ever see this side of the cutting room floor. Cash in those Coke cans and buy those lottery tickets because with a mere 25 units rolling out (several of which are already accounted for) the XKR-S GT’s 0-60 speed won’t be the only thing that goes fast.

WWW.BLITZWEEKLY.COM

AUGUST 2013

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DALLAS BY STEVEN DOYLE – CRAVEDFW.COM

N A DIME

Bryan Street and Carroll (just a block east of Bryan Street Tavern) this is pure taco Nirvana. Here you will sample the goods that might otherwise require a trek south of the border. Enjoy cabeza de vaca, lengua and tripas, all the great forgotten parts of the cow that are eaten across the globe each day, but somehow fall short on Americans. You still can nab a a beef fajita or el pastor taco. Those are pretty special too.

King’s Noodles

e enjoy our great restaurants in Dallas, and it is easy to fall in love with gilded trompe l’oeil celestial paintings, tiny pats of foie gras and over-priced champagne. But then there is the rest of the year when we need but to celebrate a decent dinner and a very cold beer. This is almost daily, and for those nights we seek the very best on a budget and look for those out-of-the-way joints that might seem suspicious at first, or merely off the radar. Once discovered, these spots are worth sharing. This month we share with you some of our favorite off-radar eateries. Some are more known than others, but once you try them you will not want to keep them a secret. If you feel generous, offer to pick up the tab, it shouldn’t cost you much at all.

Tacos la Banqueta Lifted from our best taco list we cherish each visit to this out-of-the-way spot in East Dallas. Located on the corner of SMARTER, SHARPER MEN

This Richardson Chinese mom and pop is home to the very best bowl of soup in the city. Think hand-stretched noodles, rich beefy broth and giant shards of roast beefy goodness that will have you screaming for another bowl. For a change of pace also look to the very garlicky Zhajiangmian, or the fried pork chop served with cucumber and seaweed. We also enjoy the fried tofu and crispy pig’s ear. Cool off with a bubble tea or platter of fresh fruit and ice cream.

Mesa Veracruz If this was all about the mom-and-pop shops in Dallas, Mesa would take home a first-place ribbon. Think family operated interior Mexican food with a menu that topped with homemade. Look to the lobster enchiladas to impress that first date, but keep coming back for empanadas, guiso and mole saturated tortillas called Enmoladas. There’s also fantastic cocktails conjured by the family’s daughter, and plenty of room on the beautiful patio out back.

El Jordan Café Situated in the heart of the Bishop Arts District, El Jordan is the land of milk and honey if milk and honey were actually cheese enchiladas and gooey queso. For some odd reason you will find a servable chicken fried steak on the menu as well.

And why not. After dinner meander over to one of the finest pie shops in North America which is a merely block to the south on Bishop, Emporium Pies. The chocolate with the pretzel crust is amazingly good.

Ballard Street Café & Grill Located in Wylie this little café has been known to the locals for years. Enjoy a chicken fried steak breakfast for those days you happen to feel like a lumberjack and in need of extra calories to get you through your work day. Soak up the local charm while enjoying fresh biscuits, homemade yeast rolls and an assortment of pie that will make you do some sort of giddy dance you will regret later. Relax, no one knows you here.

Know who’s paying Don’t over order Take advantage of the specials Be aware of the drink prices Factor in the tip

5 Rules To Budget Dining

Nonna Tata In Fort Worth, this is by far the very best family run Italian restaurant in North Texas. In the kitchen you will find mom doing what she does best. Here you will find beautiful bruschettas, antipastas and homemade pastas. What you will not find is the thick and heavy red sauced dishes you might be used to. What a fresh and welcome change. Bring your own wine and glasses and cash.

Chef DAT This is not your average brick-and-mortar restaurant. Chef DAT is a dude who is the Dallas king of pop-up restaurants and you find out where he is serving his next dinner by emailing a reservation. The chef is all about serving up what is local, seasonal and fresh. You will find a heavy leaning on seafood dishes which is a throwback to his time in Hawaii. DAT hails from Louisiana so you will often see dishes that reflect that heritage as well. All of his dinners are BYOB, but he has been known to toss a cocktail or two your way during dinner. For more information check out chefdat.com.

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BY ARTHUR BELLFIELD – ASKARTHUR@BLITZWEEKLY.COM

oelle Bean aka “Bean” isn’t your typical girl next door. At the age of 21 she dreamed of becoming a Walmart cashier, but now that she’s grown up that dream is gone. Now she’s set to become a full-fledged pop star with comparisons to some of the biggest names in music today.

AUGUST 2013

RADIO KILLER

Growing up as a pastor’s kid I was kind of always submerged into the whole music choir scene whether I liked it or not if my parents needed someone extra on stage to fill in a gap musically. They were ‘alright Noelle get up on stage and do your thing.’ And, I kind of hated it at first because I was pretty shy as a kid, but I got used to it. And, now I’m doing it as a career.

Now you’ve been compared to Adele and the late great Amy Winehouse. Do you think those comparisons have helped your career or hindered you in the sense of trying to carve out your own identify? Being compared to two of my most favorite artists anyway I think it’s an amazing compliment to my music. I think with having such a compliment like that is wonderful, but I am my own person. And my art and being able to have music written similar to their style but having my own “Bean-isms” in my music as my fans call it in my music is very cool. To look up to and admire and take from those artists what I can to make my own music is so helpful and brings out even more creativity in my music. What can you tell us about your EP and where can people get it? You can search for it on iTunes! You search for Bean like coffee bean and then the letters E-P. That’s where you can buy the whole thing. It’s my first ever release in a bundle on iTunes to

BY GARY DOWELL – WWW.MOVIEINK.NET

uring the ‘80s, we here at Movie Ink grew up on a steady diet of Saturday afternoon creature features, as well as giant monster movies and giant robot cartoons imported from Japan. Thus, you can fully gauge the pants-wetting excitement we felt when Guillermo del Toro’s Pacific Rim hit theaters. Major nostalgia kicked in, and we compiled this list of our all-time six favorite giant movie monsters to ever smash a major city:

How did you get started musically and what made you decide to pursue this professionally?

I think now the main influence that really got me into this business and just loving what I do was the fact that I picked up an acoustic guitar a couple years back and learned how to play cover songs. And, after getting through the hump of getting calluses built up on my fingers to be able to play actual cords I started writing my own music and just found a love for it. And, after putting up a couple of YouTube videos I built up a small fan base slowly but surely and now I have an amazing publicist, Lydia.

King Kong King Kong (1933)

The Kraken Clash of the Titans (1981)

The very first giant movie monster, Kong battled biplanes, dinosaurs, and Fay Wray’s charms in this instant classic. Willis O’Brien’s special effects for this groundbreaking classic shocked and amazed audiences in 1933, and had a lasting influence that can still be seen eight decades later. His media presence quickly became as large as he is, expanding into TV, comic books, novels, and a host of sequels, remakes, spin-offs, and knock-offs including the classic arcade game Donkey Kong.

Brought to life by the late, great stop-motion animator Ray Harryhausen, this four-armed sea monster gave Harry Hamlin a run for his money in the ‘80s cult classic, and was later reincarnated in CGI versions that swallowed Johnny Depp in Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest (2006) and trashed Sam Worthington’s career in the Clash of the Titans remake (2010). We prefer the classic Coke version here, which represented the final, crowning achievement of Harryhausen before his retirement. He also has the distinction of having a brand of 94-proof rum named after him which -- like its namesake -- is best kept at a distance.

Godzilla Godzilla (1954) the world from me. It’s little bits and pieces of my heart pieced together to create my first principal piece of music. It’s fun. It’s very retro in the sense that whenever I was growing up I listened to a lot of Jackson 5 and 60s and 70s type of vibe. So, that’s kind of the feel you get when you listen to it. Every song on the album has been written by me as well as the other co-writers and it’s a piece of my heart for your ears to hear. There’s this emotional depth to your music when you listen to it. It’s not traditional pop music especially on songs like “Sunshine” and “Let’s Go.” You have a huge tapestry to pull from so what’s your song-writing process? I think that’s what I love about writing music because it’s different every single time. For example when I sat down to write Sunshine it was written over the span of six months. Like a verse here and I finally had a chorus. I rewrote that song like three or four times before I had the final product. I was like OK this is actually how I want it to be and this is what I need to say in this song. It’s never let’s sit down and knock out a song. To the finest detail of what word I use where I want to be able to perfect it. To the people who listen to it I want to not only give them what they want but I want to get out what my heart is trying to say as well. It’s kind of spontaneous how I write a song. It can be written in a 30-minute session or like I said over the span of six months and finally get a good product.

The pinnacle of the giant movie monster, Japan’s mean, green metaphor for nuclear devastation has evolved over the years from a wrathful force of nature to benevolent guardian figure and back again. Tough enough to withstand anything – even a shitty Hollywood adaptation by Dean Devlin and Roland Emmerich – the character has endured 28 feature films, assorted animated series and features (including an encounter with Bambi), video games, novels and numerous comic books. (He even had his own Marvel comic book series in the ‘70s, in which he crossed paths with S.H.I.E.L.D. and the Fantastic Four. Seriously.) The not-so-jolly green giant will return to the screen May 2014, in time for his 60th birthday.

Mothra Mothra (1961) Yes, we know -- it’s a giant space moth, the second-least terrifying insect on the planet. But still, she’s oddly fascinating, has made no less than 17 film appearances, and holds the record for the most victories against the Godzilla himself (though usually with some outside assistance); plus those tiny singing twin fairy chicks who accompanied her were kinda hot.

The Stay-Puft Marshmallow Man Ghostbusters (1984) He’s a sweet, spongy avatar of the dark god Gozer big enough to stomp lower Manhattan. Sure, he’s also a giant anthropomorphic marshmallow, but he’s a giant anthropomorphic marshmallow from hell, which makes him simultaneously hilarious and weirdly terrifying. His wholly unexpected appearance at the climax of this ‘80s classic made for an out-of-left-field sight gag with a suitably colossal pay-off.

“Clover” Cloverfield (2008) J.J. Abrams’ ode to the monster movies of our youth was a game changer for the sub-genre. Just as Godzilla was a metaphor for the nuclear bombing of Japan, “Clover” embodied the devastation visited upon New York City by the 9/11 attacks. Like its predecessor, the relentless beast rose from the ocean and rampaged through a major city; more frighteningly, it was unstoppable, dropped dozens of voracious dogsized parasites from its body, and was utterly alien in appearance and behavior. In the movie’s most memorable scene, it announces itself by launching the head off the Statue of Liberty.

WWW.BLITZWEEKLY.COM

AUGUST 2013

VOL. 6 - ISSUE 7

Why Do My Friends Still Give

Hip Hop A Bad Rap? T

BY PETER GERSTENZANG – PZANG7@OPTONLINE.NET

ometimes, a friend can really surprise you, in a bad way, meaning, they take you aside at a party and tell you, say, they were born with a tail. You still love them, but you can never look at them in quite the same way. Unless the tail is really nice. I’ve been surprised like this before over something nearly as shocking as a friend resembling a rhesus monkey. It’s when he decides to tell you he hates Rap even though it’s been 30-plus years since this music arrived. It’s so dumb partly because it’s too late. Rap’s

been here too long. You wonder what they’re gonna say next, that they hate The Twist? Or President Roosevelt’s New Deal? As The Okinawans say, ‘What’s up with that?’ It began years ago. I was talking with a pal about how I loved Ice Cube’s “It Was A Good Day.” that it was clever, detailed and really dirty which I should’ve mentioned first considering my mind has often been mistaken for a septic tank. I played the tune for this friend, Dave. He listened, frowned and said, “I really prefer more melody. That guy’s just talking.” This cracked me up. Dave’s favorite vocalist is Lou Reed who has all the melodic excitement of a Tuvan Throat Singer. Dave’s second favorite singer is Bob Dylan. I thought, ‘Aren’t these guys rappers?’

You’d think by now, people would be used to Rap. It’s been around longer than The Net, every Rocky sequel and four of Dick Cheney’s heart transplants. But Rock and Rollers won’t budge. And it’s not about racism. I get the same reaction from black friends as white. It’s sort of a stuffy, Thurston Howell III reaction, that rappers are just guys who yell onstage and at their after-parties misbehave like gangsters. Unlike, rockers, of course who sing like Caruso and after the show, go back to the hotel, recite The Lord’s Prayer and hop right into bed.

I’ve done everything possible to remind my friends that since 1980, Rap has been our Rock. I mention “The Breaks,” “Gin And Juice,” “OPP,” “Lose Yourself,” “99 Problems,” “Get Ur Freak On.” I name check Queen Latifah, Eminem, Rakim and even if he acts with all the modesty of Godzilla on ecstasy, Kanye West is worth a hundred Dave Mathews. Remember, I ask, when Rock and Roll was music that made you dance? That’s Rap. Nobody gets a party started by putting on Rush and if they do, they need to add Abilify because their medication isn’t working anymore.

So I quoted a question made famous by the people of Pago Pago:

So do me a favor, dear readers. When it comes to Rap, get religious and think about Mother Theresa who once said, ‘All we can do is try.’ Keep trying to like this music, okay? There’s so much excitement and eloquence there. And, forgive me but you don’t want to let Mother Theresa down now do you?

‘What the fuck?’

“For Trayvon”

SMARTER, SHARPER MEN

A Kidd Among Men

Remembering a Dallas Icon BY C. PATTERSON – CPATTERSON@BLITZWEEKLY.COM

he radio airwaves are missing a familiar voice this morning. It’s a voice that has made us laugh, debate with our passenger, and be a bit kinder to our crazy fellow drivers along the morning commute on Central for the past 21 years here in the metroplex. The voice of David “Kidd Kraddick” Cradick was silenced far too soon. Kidd was a larger than life personality in an industry made entirely of people with big personalities. He was a father of one and friend to millions (both celebrities and common Joes) in over 100 cities. Death left our world in radio silence. On the evening on July, 27 news broke via social media that 106.1 KISS-FM’s Dallas-based, nationally-syndicated morning show host had passed away while in southern Louisiana outside of New Orleans participating in a golf tournament to benefit his charity, The Kraddick Foundation. At the time of publishing Dallas Morning News had relayed the preliminary La. Coroner’s report that Kraddick died from cardiac disease. It did little to quell the outpouring of emotion through Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter from famous fans and regular ones. The thousands and then tens of thousands expressing remorse for the loss of man, who for a time from your home to your job was like family, shared their messages and memories. As soothing as that may seem to the blow, it is hard not to imagine the chosen few that stared at their phone screens in paralyzing disbelief that their father, best friend, mentor, and colleague was gone. The impact of the departure of Kidd from your dial hasn’t truly been realized. More than a morning jock, Kraddick was as much a fixture of the city as Reunion Tower. “The world loses celebrities everyday but yesterday they lost one who really made a difference.” Words left on the Facebook wall of Kraddick’s morning show co-host Big Al Mack. Words that Al and fellow hosts Kellie Rasberry, J-Si Chavez, and Jenna Owens know to be a fact. They worked side-by-side with Kraddick on his philanthropic efforts like Kidd’s Kids, which brought terminally ill children and children severely wounded in accidents to a weeklong vacation at Walt Disney World. Kraddick also felt deeply that Christmas was no time for children of lesser means to feel unappreciated and worked to erase the chances of that with his Christmas Wish project. His compassion for people who rarely get a chance to smile was evident in his work with The Glamour Squad where Kidd provided a day of pampering and cosmetic bliss for terminally/chronically ill teenage girls while they are in the hospital.

“How do you say goodbye to someone you never got a chance to say hello to?” A question that was posed to millions of listeners across the country and attempted to be answered on the Monday following Kidd’s passing by his co-hosts as they took to the airwaves to recall the smiles and happiness that was brought into all of their lives by Kidd just being there. The undersung hero in plain clothes was remembered by Kellie Rasberry, who sat by Kraddick for over two decades, when she described her loss as, “I know what it was like to be divorced. Now I feel as though I know what it’s like to be widowed.” She described their bond at work and in life was like a marriage and true to form quipped, “Like a marriage, we didn’t have sex.” As each team member traded tales of how Kidd changed the courses of their particular lives, there was a painfully honest mix of hurt and humor. Fittingly though, as that’s what life is, isn’t it? Listening to their very personal stories triggered emotions normally reserved for people that you knew on an intimate level. But that’s who he was and what Kidd worked tirelessly to convey – to be a person who through his kindness and candor could connect with his listeners. Intern-turned-show producer “Psycho” Shanon Murphy described one of Kidd’s fingerprints on her life came after the untimely death of her nephew. She fought back tears telling the audience her closely guarded memory. “He knew that we [my family members and I] weren’t financially prepared for the situation and he paid for everything.” Kidd’s care and compassion was all encompassing – available to any and all whom he encountered. Big Al Mack’s final memory of his former mentor was Kidd making plans to help a young man that he bumped into on Bourbon Street who was selling DVDs out of his trunk. The morning show host took interest in the sidewalk businessman and inquired about his newfound friend’s goals. “Kidd asked him what he planned on doing with his life…sell CDs out the trunk of his car for the rest of his life or did he have a plan,” both Al and J-Si remembered. The guy told Kraddick that he was “good with numbers” and wanted to become an accountant. Ever the optimist, Kraddick told his co-worker, George Laughlin, to get the young man’s information. Kidd later told Big Al of the meeting, “I really want to help him. I just felt a spark.” It’s to the deficit of all of us that ever heard his voice that Kidd’s spark was extinguished so soon. We all know who the morning jock in Heaven is…

In Memory of Kidd Kraddick (1959-2013)

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AUGUST 2013

We play better at every stadium not named Cowboys Stadium so consider this a business/ football deal. – Trey Da Can the Cowboys focus on winning football games PLEAAAAAASE??? #ATTstadium #whocares – Andre Cartwright

You Said It, Dallas takes of Cowboys Stadium Renaming

Makes sense. Terrible calls, poor reception, and outrageously overpaid contracts. – Marcus Ramsey

Losing reception is AT&T’s forte...Tony Romo can’t complete a pass for a reception. Match made in heaven. –Patrick Pennington

First it’s the #ATTStadium next it will be the Dallas AT&Ters verse the New England Mastercards. – Derek Lagesse

By Andrew J. Hewett • www.chewednews.com SHE AIN’T NO MOTHER

ABCActionNews.com reported (7-17-13) Ashley Taylor Wright, 23, a mother of three, used her baby’s carriage to hide and shoplift some $260 in clothing from inside a Dillard’s in Mary Esther, Fla. Confronted on the parking lot, she held up her baby’s carriage, proclaiming “You will have to shoot through the baby to get me!” Next, she threw the baby and seat at the deputy, who immediately arrested her.

Leo July 23 – August 22 Forget your birthday plans. Your wife will bail on your romantic dinner that she arranged in order to be with her friends for an amateur “fight club” in an abandoned Deep Ellum warehouse.

Scorpio October 23 – November 21 After more than six years of working your ass off, you’ll finally summon up the courage to ask your boss for a raise. She’ll reply with “I’m gonna need you to eat a dick” and stare at you until you leave her office.

Virgo August 23 – September 22 Your dentist will drop dead of a heart attack. To make things even worse is the fact that his hands will be in your mouth when it happens.

Sagittarius November 22 – December 21 This month one of your cats will give birth. Your other cat will respond by eating the new litter in a jealous rage, get indigestion and vomit. You’ll be the one cleaning up regurgitated kittens.

Libra September 23 – October 22 For the first time ever, you will break up a fight between two female residents at the retirement home you work at.

Capricorn December 22 – January 19 You’ll end up going to the grocery store with your wife only to discover that her ex-husband works there. Later that night you’ll find out that she never divorced him.

DOG-GONE EXPENSIVE You got a dog? Ever feel guilty not giving him/her enough attention? The British company Paw Seasons has created a holiday for dogs, if you can afford it. It consists of a private suite for two weeks, dog-friendly Hollywood movies, trips to the beach, surfing “lessons,” spa and grooming treatment (including pedicure). Price, according to the Daily Telegram, the equivalent of $73,000. HORMONES STRONGER THAN REASON (7-15-13) – The Walton County (Fla.) Sheriff’s Office received a call from a woman saying a stranger had knocked on their front door, then hit her husband. Turns out, when found, the offender, David Lord, age 42, admitted he made a couple of mistakes. First, wanting to apologize to his girlfriend for losing his temper, after catching her with another man; second, knocking on the wrong door, then punching an innocent man in the face.

Aquarius January 20 – February 18 After having your morning cup of coffee at the office you’ll find out your co-worker has been pissing in the coffee pot.

Taurus April 20 – May 20 While eating a corny dog for lunch your co-workers will ask you to “take it deeper”…

Pisces February 19 – March 20 Your girlfriend will let you know that she almost left you for another man who is more handsome and talented. The reason she didn’t leave: He’s out of her league and you’re not.

Gemini May 21 – June 21 After being turned down for yet another job, your dad will mention that the porn industry is always stable and looking for new talent.

Aries March 21 – April 19 Your mom will get drunk and punch you in the nose. Then she’ll yell at you for bleeding all over the carpet.

Cancer June 22 – July 22 You’ll soon learn that your girlfriend regularly lets her ex stay over. They even share a bed. She doesn’t see a problem with this. Do you?

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AUGUST 2013

Eric Avar is somewhere thinking

Just [keep] Do[ing] It VOL. 6 - ISSUE 7

able to create with the help of his team becomes part of the lives of athletes and enthusiasts everywhere by continually asking ‘how can we go further?’

BY C. PATTERSON – CPATTERSON@BLITZWEEKLY.COM

e’s the guardian of the creative integrity of a globally-respected brand, banisher of all things unimaginatively boring and chances are if he stood behind you in line at 7-Eleven you wouldn’t even know who he is, which can only mean one thing. Eric Avar is Nike’s Clark Kent. Okay, a more logical answer would be that Nike’s creative director cares more about how every product the company creates makes you a better athlete than you were without it than he cares about stepping in front of cameras. But Clark Kent sounds better. Yes, the mild-mannered son of a mechanical engineer and a fine artist who grew up loving sports and at one point had to beg the dean of the Rochester Institute of Technology to allow him to transfer into the design school has become the granter of dreams to millions. Sure, he may not actually be from Krypton but what he is

Avar knows that what makes his products special is there is a good chance that when you put on something of his you are at your very best. You are sweating to succeed and achieve goals. Whether you just want to get through your reps to get back in shape or to pivot and drive down the lane to win a NBA championship, Avar knows that you rely on him. He lives for it. It may seem like an overwhelming responsibility but rest assured he has been waiting his entire life for you to lace up. What is it like to have to juggle the hopes and wants of both players and consumers? I think as a designer you have to be open to everything. You have to be a sponge and realize that there are many facets to the process. I always try to break it down to an art and a science of design, the technical aspect of science to make something perform better or more fluidly. We are privileged here at Nike to have a fantastic sports research lab, which is diving deeper and deeper into the world of the science of performance all the time. We are constantly trying to educate ourselves and learn more about that. Another aspect is sitting down and talking with an athlete directly. We approach it from an intuitive prospective of what that athlete is thinking and feeling as it relates to performance. Then when you flip over to the art side we are always working to make everything as simple, as beautiful, and as provocative as

possible. That taps back into the athlete because there is the performance side of the athlete and there is also the style side. And to your point, then you have the whole market and culture standpoint. You have to be aware of what people like and dislike, but I really believe that if you follow the voice of the athlete both from a performance standpoint and from an imaginative standpoint form it truly does follow function. You can create something that is both relevant to the culture but can also lead the culture. I think that’s the mark of good design. How quickly do people accept new designs? Is it generally open arms or does it take some nudging? [Laughing] Oh yeah, there’s normally a fair amount of nudging. On some projects there’s some nudging – maybe shoving – involved both internally and externally. As a designer you have to be thoughtful. If you try to do too much, too fast you might not be able to execute it the way that you would like whether it’s from a manufacturing standpoint or you might just push the market too far and they’re not quite ready to accept something. It’s a fine balance of pushing the limits of performance, imagination, and style to capture the athlete and the consumer. What feeling do you want people to have when they put on something that you’ve created? A quote that we talk about around here quite a bit is “imagination transcends culture.” I am a big believer in that. If you captivate someone’s imagination you make them pause for a second and say. ‘Wow, I’ve never seen anything like that.’ But at the same time they also wonder, ‘why didn’t I

CultureHype Public Relations and Marketing 469.877.1533 SMARTER, SHARPER MEN

think of that?’ Think of the things in your life that you’ve seen that are simple and profound. The things that as soon as you saw them you thought, ‘That makes sense.’ Coolest part of your job right now? It would be really hard to pin it down to one thing, but there are so many amazing people here at Nike. I know designers can be held as kind of the ones responsible for bringing something to life, but it’s not a cliché I can stress enough what an unbelievable team effort things are with amazing collective collaboration. When we are at our best we are really tapping into that collective imagination, that collective genius and that’s one of the more exciting things for me in my job right now. Then there’s always the ability to be able to work with some of the best and most creative athletes like Kobe Bryant to up and coming athletes and youth athletes. You can see the power of sports, the power of dreaming inside of these athletes and if we can help in a small way to help them achieve their goals and their dreams is a pretty amazing experience also. The greatest love of your life The pursuit of what could be next. That can apply in almost any dimension – loved ones, your wife and kids, you as an individual always wanting to grow and learn more, your profession, etc. I don’t mean being better always from a competitive standpoint of being better than the next person, but a much more intrinsic, internal expansion. That’s a pretty theoretical answer. But it makes sense. That’s what I feel and when I’m doing that, that is the love of my life.

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AUGUST 2013

LEARN TO PLAY LIKE THE PROS!

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AUGUST 2013

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