Movies and a random thought.

By Holmer

I have been trying to determine why I just can't find it in me to enjoy watching the NFL. I like football, I watch NCAA football. Beside the obvious FOX robot, I found that one of my many reasons lie in the T.V. announcer's booth.

In baseball, you have your hometown voices that give an optimistic, "get to know 'em" type delivery that gives the audience a look at the good, during the bad.

NFL games are broadcast on a variety of networks who have their personalities spread all over the country every Sunday. These announcers might show up a few days early to their assigned cities to watch a practice or two, but they don't know how this team works or who comes in to the game after you lose your top two linebackers. They throw out a few little known stats or facts which they found via IHOP or Google maps, and pretend to know the goings on of the team's inner-workings. Plus you have those games where you have to struggle through Madden's bumbling drubble, or Kornheiser's endless nonsense. So, maybe adding hometown announcers to the NFL will cause my taste to sweeten toward our Professional Football.

And...

Does anyone else think that having "Beverly Hills Chihuahua" spend a week a-top America's movie list as being preposterous? Although it boasts a cast of voices including the likes of Andy Garcia (The Godfather parts II and III, Ocean's Eleven), Drew Barrymore (E.T., The Wedding Singer), and George Lopez (Balls of Fury, Dancing with the Stars) it is simply ludicrous that this is the theater option that our population preferred over such movies as:

Leo (What's Eating Gilbert Grape, Catch Me If You Can) and Russell Crowe's (Cinderella Man, Gladiator) latest gig, "Body of Lies". A government underground thriller full of twists and turns that demands an attentive audience to comprehend the plot and ending.

"Appaloosa" a modern western that stars Ed Harris (Beautiful Mind, Radio) who is also the director, reunites with "A History of Violence"'s Viggo Mortensen (LOTR's Aragorn). Jeremy Irons(Die Hard With a Vengence, ), and squinty face Rene Zellweger (Jerry Maguire, Me, Myself and Irene). This is probably the film I would give my highest recommendation to in the theater today.

"The Express" The story of the first black football player to win the Heisman Trophy. I'm sure it's full of our nation's ignorant racism that was so prevalent in this dark section of history. This relived story should be full of emotion, and resilience of a young man being bogged down by uppity white big-wigs.

I would also make a point to see "What Just Happened?". Starring Robert DeNiro (Taxi Driver, A Bronx Tale, Sleepers) and Bruce Willis (Die Hard, The Fifth Element) this dramatic comedy will be a must-see with the never before seen tandem of these classic actors of our time.

New Release Bonus:

"Forbidden Kingdom" If you have ever enjoyed Kung-Fu movies, this will be one of your favorites. Jet Li (Unleashed, The One) and Jackie Chan (Rush Hours, Shanghai Noon/Knights) unite to show off their elite knowledge and abilities of the Martial Arts.

Northfield Knights. Team to beat?

The club that calls Sechler park home has started out the summer with some new faces and others that can't seem to get away. The biggest new face acquired would be that of our incoming manager, Clark Johnson. Johnson, a long time veteran of the Cannon Valley League (CVL) has been brought on to give our former player/manager (Scott Paulson 3B) the opportunity to become a more focused player. Johnson has been determined to turn this squad into one that mixes solid fundamentals with the focus on the detail that should combine for a desirable outcome. Other acquisitions to this this year's team have been: Eric Dunivent, a much needed catcher who has been great defensively and hit many hard shots that have found almost as many gloves. Trevor Hill, another catcher who has shown off outstanding receiving skills that have given our pitchers an immeasurable advantage. Randall Kruse, a middle infielder that has found some playing time at second base, has had some timely hits, including a game winning RBI in Owatonna. Aaron Troyansky, a pitcher, has made his time count - a Carleton student from California only had as long as his school year kept him around, but provided sound defense at a variety of positions, and soaked up some good innings on the mound. Youngsters Blake Faust and Jake Pumper, who have the freshest contracts, have yet to show what they can do for the Knights, but they will add some needed depth all over the field.

After a series of booted balls and misplaced line drives, the Northfield Knights amateur baseball team stumbled to a 2-6 start of the 2008 season. Since then, they have won three of four, with some notable highlights. Jeremy Kruse P/OF; fresh off a season pitching at DCTC this past spring, has improved on his velocity, control, and mound presence. He has given some dominating performances on the mound, and complimented them with some spurts of offense as well. His most recent trip to the mound was a stellar complete game, three hit shutout of nemesis, Red Wing. He also had three hits in the game. Kruse uses a mid-eighties fastball that tails and sinks, a change-up, slider, and curve ball that can all be thrown for strikes at will. He will play a key role in the success of the Knights' summer.

Jeremy Kruse

Golden Gopher Luke Rassmussen has also had some dominating moments from the mound. He has lost some close games due to a lack of offense and defense. When Rassmussen is on point he is pert near un-hittable, showing off a high eighties fastball, change-up, and curve ball that keeps batters wishing.

Luke Rassmussen

The pitching has definitely been the strong point for this year's Knights team. The bats have just started to hit, and are going to have to keep putting runs together to help out our aces.

After a month of baseball the Knights have found a little groove and should be exciting to watch for the rest of the summer. So I suggest you make a trip down to old Sechler park, and take in some classic town ball.

Just a Few Thoughts on the Twins...

By Josh Holm

Is Brian Bass the son of Whitt Bass from "Angels in the Outfield"? I hope he is, so we can watch him carry on the tradition of the mound slide...

Knoblauch's 62 stolen bases of '97 better watch out for Carlos Gomez, because "that boy is a runnin' fool."

Where's Oswaldo? Watch out for Oswaldo Sosa, he is fighting for his name to be inked in to Ron's roster come opening day. His young pitching carreer has been a successful one, I hope he can bring his winning ways to the majors. We might not see him for a while, but I have a feeling that he will show up in the near future...

July is National Ice Cream Month

By Josh Holm

Since I was a child, I loved nothing more than ice cream. My father passed down some type of addiction to the frozen treats that come in many assorted shapes, sizes, forms, and flavors. When I was young I longed for the melting of the delicious cream that dissolves so sweetly on every taste bud on my tongue, coating my mouth with a sensation of heaven.

Now, when I enter a gas station, I immediately turn my attention to the novelty chest that usually sits somewhere next to the checkout counter. As I approach the endless options of frozen treats, a sense of panic overcomes me, knowing that in the next few moments I will have to make an impossible decision.

Deciding between the"Big Bopper", the "Nestle Sundae Cone", the "Snickers Ice Cream Bar", the "Choco Taco", "Twix ice cream bar", "Dove Bar", and the ever popular "Klondike Bar" is just too much for me.

My instincts tell me to stick to the sundae cone, but as I look to the combination of waffle, chocolate, and vanilla ice cream in the shape of a taco, with a light sprinkle of peanuts on top, I know that I will not be disappointed. I reach for the "Choco Taco", and I start for the checkout counter. Then I remember how amazing the "Snickers Ice Cream bar" is, and I quickly go back to grab one..... :)

Light My Fire (In Review)

By Josh Holm

In this autobiography/biography, Ray Manzarek takes you on the roller coaster ride of The DOORS throughout the psychedelic sixties. Manzarek, a talented music geek from Chicago, meets up with intellectually radical Jim Morrison at UCLA film school. After Jim's many failed attempts at becoming a director of film, he started writing abstract poetry. Ray's film career wasn't very bright either, so they started mixing Jim's eclectic poetry with Ray's inovative music. They loved what they had created, but how could they make the rest of the world love their music? After picking up a drummer (John Densmore) and a guitar wizard (Robby Krieger) to accompany the unique organ and voice duo they already had, they started getting opening gigs all over California.

They knew they had something special and unique, something nobody had ever heard before. It was an upbeat mixture of jazz, classical, California surf, Flamenco guitar, and Chicago blues that made an irreversible impact on the music world. As we all know, their music wasn't kept inside Californian borders. With their first number one hit "Light My Fire", they hit the big apple and moved their way inward. Their music brought them all the fame and fortune that they could have ever imagined, especially for doing what they loved.

The book is well written, and gives you a great understanding of each band member's feelings as they rode the tidal wave lives of rock stars. Ray's focus always seemed to be on Jim. As the book goes on, Ray speaks of Jim as if he studied and worshiped every move he made. He constantly brings up the girls he would woo, and is amazed by the charisma that Jim effortlessly gave off while on stage. Ray, on the other hand, was always hiding behind his organ, playing with head down and eyes closed, one hand on the organ, and the other on a bass keyboard. Ray would go on and on about how Jim would take control of the crowd with his "Shaman dances" and his spot on vocals.

Although the band seemed to be like a functional family on stage, they struggled to stay together off it. "Jimbo", (as Manzarek refered to Morrison's alter-ego. The Jim Morrison that would abuse alcohol and dabble in hard drugs) skipped many rehearsals and recordings, which drove the band crazy. The other three members had to confront Jim about his heavy alcohol use on a number of occasions, but it never seemed to sink in. As we all know, "Jimbo" lead the rock icon who had so much potential, to spontaneously separate from the DOORS, and eventually take his life at the early age of 27.

I recommend this book to anyone interested in getting to know the ways of the sixties rock scene. Manzarek does a great job of putting you in his shoes on stage with the likes of Van Morrison, the Grateful Dead, Simon and Garfunkel, and many other epic rockers of the time. Jim will intrigue you with his witty/spiritual poetry, and his careless spontaneity that made him the huge radical rebel that shaped the future of rock n' roll and its stars forever.

"That day, which you fear as being the end of all things, is the birthday of your eternity."

Knights Baseball

by Josh Holm

The smell of Honey Nut Toasty O's accompanied by the scent of freshly cut grass wafting through my open windows brings me to only one place in the world, Sechler Park. On this hollowed ground lies the home of the Northfield Knights, where all summer you can take in great baseball played by regular local guys, that can't get enough of our national past time. These men-in-teal charge the field day after day, most of them fresh off a hard days work. Some sacrifice their home lives to get out and show what they can do with their leather and lumber. Although the team members range from 18 year old Luke Rasmussen (Future Gopher) to 40 yr old Jay Lucas (Former College World Series Pitcher), they are held together by a bi-managerial crew of Scott Paulson and Chris Graupmann. These two provide the leadership needed while creating the line-ups to deciding to wave 'em home or hold 'em up. Their two styles of managing compliment each other in a way that allows the guys to have a good time, and still play the game right.

Let's be serious...
The Knights are the most laid back bunch of dudes I've ever seen take the field together. They play baseball hard, and after the game adult beverages and baseball talk can last for hours.

Contrary to their lackadaisical look in the dugout, they show an unusual amount of talent and aggresiveness on the diamond. Some of the gloves found around the Knight's diamond are the finest you'll find in five counties. Their pitching staff is full of both veteran wit and youthful spunk. T.J. Sigstad, with his devistating heater, makes up the top of the rotation. He is flanked by two newcomers that are anything but rookies; Jay Lucas, and Aaron Rushing have shown their journeymen's knowledge of the game, and brought greatly appriciated help to the pitching staff that looked to be running thin after a few guys hung it up at the conclusion of last season.

So...

If you find yourself chattering at your inanimate television while watching a Twins game, you might as well make your way down to the friendly confines of Sechler Park. There you will be welcomed with some die hards grillin' up brats and kickin' back beers. You can join them in their shouting some chatter that is worth their while. You may even want to bring your glove, you never know if a foul is coming your way!

This weekend there will be three games to watch. Two of them will be at lovely Sechler Park (Friday 7pm, and Monday 2pm), and the other will be played on Sunday versus the Rail Cats in Randolph (not too far of a drive). Monday's game is one that you will not want to miss, as they play their cross-town rival, the Dundas Dukes. This match-up is always hyped by both towns, and should draw one of the Knights' largest crowds of the season.

For more information go to: www.northfieldknights.com

write a poem...

By Josh Holm(the Dutchie)
What's written here does not have to be clear.
No one will tell you which way to steer.
Take a quick right, but hold on tight,
try to avoid all the fear and the fright.
No drugs, please no thugs,
this isnt a poem about all those slugs.

Getting out there...

written by The Dutchie

At this point, I would like to do a number of things. One of which is travel. I would like to travel to see the things that I've only read about. Travel to see something that is only in that place at that time. Travel to discover the differences from here to there. I would like to see, mountains, rivers, oceans, valleys, grass, animals, sand, stadiums, buildings, natural art, man made art, and all sorts of people. I would like to travel to be alone. Travel to spend unique time with others. Travel to expand my mind, and its boundaries.

If you have any suggestions of where it is that I might find what I am looking for, you should add a comment.