The Long And Winding Road

 

 

 There's a new documentary about The Beatles on Disney+ called "Get Back."  It is about The Beatles making a record and a concert appearance, and they have to do it in a short period of time because, now get this, Ringo has to make a movie. 

You may be familiar with this period of the Mop Tops history because of a documentary released in 1970 called "Let It Be".  "Get Back" is patched together from the out-takes of "Let It Be" by director Peter Jackson, who made "The Lord Of The Rings" trilogy.  

Jackson put together "Get Back" from sixty hours of film footage, and thankfully, he didn't put all sixty hours in the documentary, although sometimes it feels like it.   "Get Back" clocks in at fifty-nine hours and fifty-nine minutes. [Editor: "Get Back"  is three episodes totaling about eight hours.]

"Let It Be" was a depressing movie about the world's greatest band coming apart because Paul and George couldn't agree on what guitar chord to pay. 

Over the past fifty years, my impression was that all of The Beatles hated each other and that it was all Yoko Ono's fault.  I tend to blame Yoko Ono for everything.  The Beatles break up, the stagflation of the seventies, disco, everything was Yoko Ono's fault.

"Get Back" shows Yoko wasn't the problem, at least at this time.  She mainly sat next to John and read.  There were two times where she went full Yoko with the caterwauling. 

Besides, George brought in a couple of Hare Krishnas. Ringo brought in his wife and Peter Sellers.  Paul brought in his girlfriend, Linda, and she brought in her two goofy kids. Alan Parsons was even there with his project.

The Beatles wanted to perform in front of a live audience again, something they hadn't done in three whole years. So there were a lot of ideas floating around, including a live TV show at a Libya amphitheater.

There was a bunch of new songs to learn. "Don't Let Me Down" is the main one.  They must have practiced this song four hundred times in the first episode.  Another song they practiced a lot was "I Got A Feeling," which had Lennon saying, "Everybody had a wet dream," which was pretty naughty and gross in 1969 (and on Disney+ in 2021)

George Harrison was quietly seething while John and Paul were working out their songs. Finally, George walks out on the band because he has songs that he wants to practice four hundred times too.

This was probably the best thing that happened in the program. After that, the plans for the concert in Africa were canceled, and The Beatles went back to London to work on their songs.

George went back to the group, and Billy Preston showed up to help out the band.

Back when I was a kid, you heard Billy Preston on the radio all the time. "Nothing from nothing leaves nothing. You got to have something if you want to be with me."   I had no idea that Preston was, in reality, the fifth Beatle.  John told him, "You're in the group."

When Preston joined the band, the Lads started to focus and began to work.  Of course, this means fifteen more takes of "Don't Let Me Down," but they sound better with Preston.

Somebody came up with the idea about performing on the roof of Apple records.  I mean, why not?  

The last part of the documentary is the rooftop concert, featuring two renditions of "Get Back" and four more renditions of "Don't Let Me Down."  It was something to see The Beatles in living color instead of grainy black and white. 

My impression of The Beatles in "Get Back"

George comes off as someone who has a million songs he wants to showcase. He's tired of Paul's bossy boots ways.

John comes off as a likable funny guy that is probably taking a truckload of drugs in his downtime.

Ringo comes off as someone who has to watch Paul and George argue about guitar chords.  But he really brings it to the rooftop concert. As the kids would say, he was lit.  Plus, and none of the reviews have mentioned this, the other Beatles call him "Rich" or "Richard"  (his real name).

Paul comes off as the most talented in the group, writing a bunch of new songs to impress his girlfriend.

If you are a Beatles fan, you will love "Get Back."  You get to see how hard-working the guys are and see the songs like "Let It Be"  (and "Don't Let Me Down") gel.

However, it is a long and winding road to get to the rooftop. As a result, some reviewers have called it "aimless."  

George Harrison had the best comment about Elvis. He said, "When Elvis was great, he was really great." Of course, you could say the same about The Beatles.  

When they were great, they were really great.  Most of the time, they are really great in "Get Back."

This Week's Picks 13

 

 Can you believe it is the end of the regular season for College Football?   

It has been a wild season. For example, two very successful head coaches, Ed Orgeron and Dan Mullen, were fired.   Mullen just led Florida to the SEC East Championship last year.  Orgeron just led LSU to a national title the year before that.

Many reasons were given, but it only boils down to one: LSU and Florida were not winning.  It is as simple as that.

Florida is not supposed to lose to South Carolina. Florida is not supposed to lose to Missouri.   They are supposed to be in contention for the SEC East and the FBS Championship.

Everybody in Baton Rouge loved Coach O.  He looked and spoke like they did.   But when you lose, it doesn't matter what you look like or what you sound like.

It didn't matter when Florida was winning that Dan Mullen was snarky.  Drop games to South Carolina and Missouri and suddenly it matters.

However, Argentina will cry for Coach O or Mullen.  Orgeron's buyout package is $16.8 million.   Mullen just has a $12 million buyout. He will receive $6 million within 30 days of his firing (that takes the sting out of the firing). The rest of the money will be paid every July 15 through 2027.

Not a bad deal if you ask me. 

 

 

This Week's Picks!

 

Jawja vs Bumble   Talk about two teams going in opposite directions.Georgia is ready to play for the National Championship while Tech is trying to break the Four Win Threshold.   I'm not sure what the answer is, but it doesn't look like it is Coach Jeff. Geogg The question isn't, "Will Georgia win?" The question is, "How Much?"  Answer:  A lot.  Georgia wins.

 

 

Ahia State vs Meechigan   Did you see what Ohio State did to Michigan State last week?  Didn't Michigan State beat Michigan this year?  Michigan could beat Ohio State, if, let's say, the whole Ohio State team comes down with a Covid-Ebola variant and has to forfeit.   Ohio State wins.

 

 

 

Flo vs Flo State    Poor State of Florida.  All of their teams stink this year. Oh well. Florida almost beat Alabama and then almost got beat by Samford.  I'm split on this one. I think Florida may try to win one for the interim coach. I don't know. Flip a coin . Florida, I guess, wins

 

Bamy vs War Tigers  The yearly "Iron Bowl" (or as they say in Alabama, the "Ern Bull").  It would be sorta cool if Auburn found a way to win.  The non-Auburn people in Alabama would blow a gasket.  While Alabama isn't the total power it has been in the recent past, they are way better than Auburn. Bama wins.

 

My Beloved Owls vs Davidson:  Kennesaw State won their final Big South Conference last week. They will play the mighty Wildcats of  Davidson College. "The primary purpose of Davidson College is to assist students in developing humane instincts and disciplined and creative minds for lives of leadership and service", Davidson says about itself on its website.  "The secondary purpose is to charge tuition to develop human instincts. Davidson dedicates itself to the quest for truth and encourages teachers and students to explore all sorts of nutty thoughts so they can make the holiday miserable for others who might have voted for Donald Trump."  Kennesaw State wins.

This Week's Picks 12

 

 This is a transcript of Kirby Smart's halftime speech to the Georgia Bulldogs at the Florida-Georgia game.

"I still remember, like yesterday, walking out this at the half. The look and the feeling I had, looking at Tyson, looking at Stokes, looking at those guys…you know what guys? This is our year, this is our  year and we do it by how we play. It’s zero to  zero and you make ‘em never want to play again. All that  they’re talking—I love it Jamaree—you didn’t say . You don’t say to ‘em, you just laugh and point at the scoreboard. Let me get a picture JD, point at the scoreboard. DON’T SAY  to their undisciplined. Because we are, WE ARE DISCIPLINED! And our are gonna kick the out of ‘em, physically! Physically I want to break ‘em, I’m talkin’ bout break these on defense and offense.”

If you are reading this and it doesn't make sense, just remember I took out all of the sentence enhancers Smart used in the speech. 

It's not Knute Rockne "Win one for the (bad word) (bad word) (REALLY BAD WORD) Gipper", but it served its purpose and Georgia won the game. 

 

This Week's Picks

 

Jawja vs School That Wants Money  I know you've had this one marked on you calendars for a long time. Georgia versus the mighty, mighty Buccaneers of Charleston Southern.  They are fifth in The Big South Conference. I expect J.T Daniels to come in as quarterback somewhere in the early first quarter. Dawgs win.

 

 

 

Bumbles vs Our Lady  Okay, I used to make fun of Coach Paul Johnson because, well, it was fun making fun of Coach Paul Johnson.  I'm not sure Coach Geoff is any better. I don't know what's wrong, except they are not winning which makes it hard to recruit football players no matter how of your alumni are astronauts.  Notre Dame Wins.

 

 

Sparty vs Ahia State.  Everybody knows I'm not a big Ohio State fan. But. They always win The Big Ten.  I want Michigan State to win.  They won't.  Ohio State wins.

 

 

 

Bacon Bits vs Bama  Comedian Jermaine Johnson does a bit on YouTube in which he reviews football games in The SEC as an Alabama fan.  It is very funny.  He has several names for Arkansas, one of which is "Bacon Bits".  Arkansas is a better team this year than last year (and the year before that and the year before that).  However, this is Alabama  and I just don't think Arkansas can beat them. Row Tad!  Alabama wins.

 

 

 

Backslidden Deacons  vs  Not So Mighty Tigers.  If you had told me at the beginning of the season that Wake Forest would have a better record than Clemson, I would have said you are nuts. But here we are!  Wake Forest is a better team. It doesn't mean next year Clemson won't get back in shape, but as of today ( I can't believe I'm going to type this)  Wake Forest wins.

 

 

 

My Beloved Owls vs  Monmouth:  You may not know this, but Kennesaw State is ranked #9 in the FCS standings and is playing Monmouth for the Big South Championship. Monmouth University is in that southern state known as New Jersey.  It is only a short ride from New York or Philadelphia, so shut your face. Don't go disrespected the 'Mouth. Dean Anthony Soprano has an open door policy as long as you're not wearing a wire, capache? There are many internships available with many "family" businesses like waste management and adult entertainment. Owls win.

This Week's Picks 11

 

Last week, we moved our clocks back an hour.  I really don't know why. 

We got the hour we lost last spring but now it is pitch black at 6:30.  It is darker outside than at midnight. That doesn't make any sense to me. One of my wife's colleagues lives in Massachusetts and she said it is pitch black at 4:45. 

No wonder people get depressed in the winter, there's no sunlight.

The latest thing in social media is to tell everybody how the time change messed up your pets.  The dog doesn't understand why the food bowl is early, like the dog understood time.  I've been around for a while and I've never heard anybody mention how their dog just can't understand how it can be dark at 6:30. 

I've have this theory that when you get past Halloween (we had only 7 kids show up) and the World Series, time really flies. Before you know, we are singing "Auld Lang Syne" (meaning: "People will sing anything") and we are welcoming in the New Year.  The time change just accelerates it. 

That's nothing to young people out there, but when you reach my demographic ("The Reverse Mortgage Demographic") it is something.

This Week's Picks!

 

 

 

 

Jawja vs Rocky Topped  To be honest, this is the only game I'm worrying about for Georgia until the SEC Championship.  This game is their Super Bowl, World Series, and Christmas for Tennessee, all wrapped into one game.  They have been playing better. But Georgia is still the best team in The SEC.   Georgia wins.

 

 

Bumbles vs A College In Boston   I don't know what to think about the Bumbles. I pick them to win, they lose.  I pick them to lose and they lose.   Boston College has a better record than Tech but they are stinking it up in the Conference too.  I've done all I can do for Tech. I just wonder how long Coach Geoff will be able to get by without winning.   Boston College wins

 

 

Oh You vs Baptist Bears   This ought to be a good game. I'm not buying all of the hype around the Bears.  They always lose when they need to win. They'll lose this one. Sooners win,

 

 

 

Messy State vs Tiger Eagles  A game between two teams that look good one minute and bad the next. Auburn had a chance last week to maybe, possibly be the only obstacle in the way between Coach Satan and Atlanta.  I just don't trust Bo Nix.  Upright Bulldogs win.

 

 

 

Ags vs Ole Mess Talk about what could have been.  Texas A&M  could have won the SEC West. There's still a possibility if they beat Ole Miss and Auburn beats Alabama. Would you like your fate in the hands of Auburn?  Oh well, Ole Miss has a good airhead quarterback, but The Aggies are just a better team.   Aggies win.

 

 

Kennestate Saw vs North Bama    My Beloved Owls face the University of Northern Alabama which is in Florence, Alabama, which is near Muscle Shoals where they used to make a lot of records  Their website says "For over 185 years, the University of North Alabama has been a place where students can find out who they are. UNA has it all -- here you'll find artists, entrepreneurs, scientists, educators and even a few famous faces. Our location provides unique opportunities not found everywhere else."  For the record, they do not provide what unique opportunities are there or what sort of famous face you'll find.  Goober from "The Andy Griffith Show" went there. Really.  Owls win

Most Unlikely

 

There's a word for anyone who says they saw The Atlanta Braves winning The World Series back in April of this year.

Liar.

That word applies who anyone who said it on July 10th when their best offensive player, Ronald Acuna, Jr., went down.  

Nobody could have seen this coming and that includes  Jeanne Dixon and Nostradamus.

2021 started bad enough for The Braves.   Their beloved pitcher of the '60s, '70s, and '80s, Phil Niekro, died the day after Christmas.  He was a pearl in the years The Braves were more than bad; they were awful.

Then came the news that Hank Aaron died. 

Mike Soroka, probably the best of the young pitchers, went out with an injury last year, heard a pop when he was attempting to come back. The pop meant surgery, and he was out for the rest of the year.

The ball The Braves played early in the season was less than inspiring. Acuna was helping Braves tread water. Then he went down.

In years past, this would have meant The Braves would have folded their tents and lollygag their way through the rest of the season like a bunch of lollygaggers.

Alex Anthoupoulos is the general manager of The Braves and, for once in the life of an Atlanta franchise, made a series of trades that made a difference for the Braves. 

Anthopoulos got Joc Pederson, Jorge Soler, Eddie Rosario, and Adam Duvall. All produced in significant and consistent ways. This is unlike Braves trades in the past when some hotshot would come in and proceed to play themselves out of the league.

The Braves became a different team. They became a team with personality, particularly with the filthy-mouthed Pederson, who decided, for some reasons only known on the planet Pederson, to wear pearls.

However, having a personality doesn't mean you'll get invited to the dance. The Braves also started to win.

For the first time in my lifetime, The Braves became the team that got hot at the right time.

Boy, did they ever.  They dispatched the Milwaukee Brewers easily and sent the Dodgers packing. But, of course, neither one was supposed to happen.

The Braves drew the hated Houston Astros for The World Series.

If memory serves, the Astros have been here before, but it was discovered that in the 2017 World Series, the Astros "cheated."  It involved garbage cans.

There was a big stink over it, and a lot of people got fired. Finally, the great Dusty Baker was brought in to air the place out. It turns out the Astros didn't need to cheat. They were good without banging on garbage cans. 

Again, nobody thought the Braves would win The World Series.  By nobody, I mean most Braves fans.

If you have been a fan of any Atlanta team, you are used to them stinking it up. The Falcons have been in two Super Bowls. The first one, a star defensive back, was arrested for soliciting a prostitute.  The second one, um, all I  have to say is "28-3".

The same way with the Braves. They were in five World Series in the '90s and won only one. Yet, they had three starting pitchers elected to the Hall of Fame.

I finally figured out the Atlanta sports problem.  It was me.  Somehow, someway, I transmitted my loser rays through the TV into the Braves players.   My solution: follow the Braves on Twitter and Google.  

I think it worked. The Braves beat the Astors with two and a half starting pitchers. The rest was all bullpen.  Think about that. The Braves won The World Series with the help of their bullpen. People were happy to see Luke Jackson come into a game.

I tried not watch Game Six.  My wife kept yelling out the scores.  I had an early morning the next day.  Then, it must have been in the bottom of the ninth, a friend of mine I've known since I was seven sent me an inbox message:  "Are you enjoying this?"

Against my better judgment, I turned on the TV.  Just in time to see the first batter stroke a single into right field.   I left the room.

"Breathe two outs to go," said the following inbox message.

"One more" was the next.

"Wahoo!"

The Braves defeated the Astros, and they taught this old Braves fan that you can't lose them all.

 

 

 

This Week's Picks 10

 

 Forgive me if I was a little distracted this week

 
You know, The World Series and all.

It isn't easy to focus on College Football when you wonder how an Atlanta team is going to Atlanta-it-up and blow The World Series.

You have to remember The Braves were in The World Series five times in the '90s with three Hall of Fame pitchers in the starting rotation and still only won one World Series and became the Buffalo Bills of baseball.

But thankfully, the Braves won The World Series, overcoming "The Manis Jinx".

It wasn't easy.

 This Week's Picks

Jawja vs Misery  I'm not being all rah-rah Georgia, but I have never seen a Georgia team play the way this Georgia team is playing.   Missouri is the same old  Missouri they are every year. Which means they lose this game.  Georgia wins. 

 

 

Bumbles vs The U  Oh well, another Saturday, another game Tech possibly, could, maybe win. But they probably won't. Miami wins.

 

 

Forest Of Wake vs Heels Of Tar   Every ten or so years, Wake Forest fields a competitive team in the ACC. They are 8-0 this season which is a "season to remember" for the Back Slidden Deacons. UNC should be better than their record. The problem is they are not better than their record.  Wake Forest wins.

 

 

Bamy vs Ellesyou   I'm not quite sure who Nick Saban has pictures of, but Alabama was put in as the second seed in the first College Football Playoff ranking despite the fact Cincinnati hasn't lost a game. Neither has Wake Forest come to think about it. The problem is those schools aren't named Alabama.  LSU is having a downer year.  Coach Ed Orgeron is a lame duck because he was bringing sexy back to Baton Rouge.   Best of luck to Coach O.  I'm going to miss his "Go tigas" at the end of every interview.  

 

 

 

Wartigers vs Ags This is my problem, every time I pick either one of these schools to win, they lose.  However, IF Auburn wins and they continue to win out, it means the annual Iron Bowl becomes a huge game.  If Auburn wins that game, they would win the SEC West and go and face Georgia in  The SEC Championship Game.  That would kick Alabama out of the playoffs. Maybe.  Auburn wins.

 

 

My Beloved Owls vs  Robert Morris  I like to spotlight the smaller, less famous schools that Kennesaw State plays. Here's what I learned about Robert Morris University "Located near Pittsburgh and spread across 230 scenic acres, Robert Morris University combines the best of a big research university and a small college. Ranked among the top universities in the country by U.S. News & World Report, RMU provides the education and experience that has helped strivers, drivers, and doers launch great careers and great lives for nearly a century. If you're as serious about your success as we are, connect with RMU today."  They have many notable alumni including Charlie Batch, a former quarterback for the Pittsburgh Steelers and the only notable alumni I've heard of.   Kennesaw State wins.