June 8th, 2015 is the date I consider to be the first real South Kongress Podcast. Travis Bryant and I did a Season One recap of CW's "The Flash". Since then, we've covered TV shows, movies, relationships, charities, personal health and growth, among other things. Probably the strongest reactions and listenership has come from our music review shows. To super serve the fan base, as well as try to give our a bit more insight to myself, my friends, and our lives, I've decided to do a special live episode, debating the very best songs and albums of 2016. First, I'll share the criteria I gave to the panel, so that you know what to expect:
All songs/albums must have been released between 10/1/15 and 9/24/16.
If it's a single off
an album that was released between those dates, it passes, even if the single
came out before the album.
Please show up with
-THREE songs you think
were the best
-THREE songs you
personally enjoyed
*These CAN overlap, so
if you only have less than 6 songs, it's understood*
ONE of your songs can
be played, in full.*
TWO albums you think
were the best
ONE album you think
was disappointing
The plan is to stream
live on both Facebook and Periscope, so you may want to dress for the occasion.
You're welcome to
bring guests, but make sure they understand they'll need to be toned down for
this to work.
The most important
thing- this is supposed to be fun. There aren't right answers, only
poorly presented ones.
This will take place Saturday, October 1st, at 8PM CST. We'd love for you all to leave feedback on whatever platform you choose to view the show in. This will be released next week in our normal podcast format, and depending on the length, may be split into two shows. We look forward to showing everyone a good time! Here are the links to the live streams:
What happens when two men that can ramble for hours have WAY less time than that to operate? Well magic, naturally! Trav and I were both on a bit of a time crunch, but when you do a show about defying physics, you make it work. The show opens with some housekeeping duties, as far as how to contact us, and the many places you can give us feedback. I also touch on the next few months of the podcast, including some things that'll be happening during SXSW. On this week's 'The Flash', we deal with small time hoods getting their just due, team betrayal, and get to see Barry at his most heroic! Joe goes through all 16 stages of Daddy Hell, Iris does her best Lance "Un" Rivera impression, and we tackle Barry's cause vs. Wally's desire, both in the show and in the comics. We put our science brains on and try to figure out volcanic suffocation, and get a glimpse of Earth-2's dopplegangers (KILLER FROST!) Tom Cavanagh continues to shine, playing the same guy in vastly different ways. Listen, learn, and enjoy!
It's been awhile, but now seems like a fitting time to pick the keys back up and do a little writing. It's just after SXSW, and days before the Texas Relays, so that means... to quote a certain wife of a certain video game music producer... it's WRESTLEMANIA! This year's a bit different, as it's the first time we won't be attending the live event in a few years. But, this gives me a better opportunity to watch this like I watch the rest of the shows. I tend to get a bit lost, being around all those people, taking in all the different sights and sounds, so this year will feel a bit closer to home. So, after all this prefacing, let's cover the card match by match, and try to get a feel for the winners, losers, and happenings of this year's event.
Hardest gang in Cana- I mean Swi- nvm. These guys can go.
Fatal 4 Way for the WWE Tag Team Titles - New Day (Big E/ Kofi Kingston) v. Los Matadores v. The Usos v. Cesaro/Kidd (c)
If nothing else, this is a great way to put some energy and athleticism into a show that, on the surface, seems to lack it. All four of these teams are athletic, with the champs and New Day both having a nice mix of speed and power. As competitors, I'm a fan of all four teams, even though I dislike the Los Matadores gimmick, and LOATHE the New Day gimmick (side note: white folks chant "new day" ironically.... it's that bad) to the point that I can't actually CHEER the guys on. The Usos are, to me, the "it" team right now. The can move, their offense is believable, and they seem to really shine in pay-per-view matches. I'd much prefer a standard tag match between them and the champs. Tyson Kidd should be applauded for accepting a long term demotion to NXT, making guys look great, and making the most of his return to the main roster. I hate seeing Cesaro slotted as anything other than a top tier singles guy, but he's held his own as what I'd call the complimentary piece of that team. I'm picking the champs to retain in a very fast paced, hard hitting match. Winners - Cesaro/Kidd
"Just wait on it!" - Migos
Randy Orton v. Seth Rollins
Seth Rollins is making the most of his opportunity as a major player in WWE. Cliche as it sounds, I think it's the biggest compliment you can bestow on a guy. He went from (by design) the third wheel in the hottest act in wrestling, to the top in ring heel in wresting almost seamlessly. What more impressive is that he did this during the transition to long, drawn out promos that people would groan at in chat rooms and Facebook groups. He was an indy darling, a minor league all star, and is now in position to have a major role in the world's largest wrestling promotion for years to come. He put on size, adapted to WWE's in ring style, but kept enough on his athleticism to still stand out. You believe he's a snake, but that if need be, he can hit you in the mouth hard enough to make it count. Plus, a Jon Stewart co-sign doesn't hurt. In many ways, he's what Randy Orton SHOULD be. That's not to say Orton is bad by any stretch. But I don't look at this match as Orton being the big star Rollins gets to test himself against. This is the Rollins show, and he's almost at that level where, win or lose, he's going to come out looking stronger than before. These two are so good in the ring, you know you'll see magic happen, hopefully it isn't lost in the shuffle of all the higher profile matches. Going into a Mania match with the MITB briefcase, and the uncertainty in the main event (we'll get there) I see Rollins losing clean to a kind of returning conqueror Orton. Winner - Randy Orton
Not a big fan... but them jerseys though...
AJ Lee/ Paige v. The Bellas
I don't watch 'Total Divas'. I watch PLENTY of terrible "unscripted" things, but that isn't one of them. But I can say this - as the Bellas have gotten more famous, they've gotten SO MUCH BETTER in the ring. Whether it's the new found attention, or the pressure of the NXT Women breathing down their necks, they've taken their craft way more seriously than before. AJ and Paige? You don't have to question their skill set at all. With the show being as long as it is, you hope they get enough time to really go out and show what they can do. AJ jumped on twitter and told her bosses the truth about the world, and in my experience, that very rarely produces the desired results, so it's tough to pick her team to win. However, eventually the Bellas have to lose, right? They always seem to come out on top if for no other reason than to be more annoying the next go round. So perhaps, to show there's no hard feelings (yeah right) the better team gets the nod. Winners - AJ Lee/Paige
Andre hovering over MAD create-a-players
Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal
Cesaro won last year, and he's on the pre-show this year. This won't get many words from me. I hope Mark Henry eliminates a bunch of guys, Axel does something hilarious, and the guy I'm picking to win has a good year after he wins. Winner - Damien Sandow (Mizdow)
My finger being the 1, to signal the 1, in 21-1
Bray Wyatt v. The Undertaker
I was in the building when Taker lost his first Wrestlemania match. It was the largest crowd of silent people this side of Mecca. I was pretty sure it was the very last time we'd be seeing the Undertaker in a WWE ring, and I was fine with the send off. Now, he's back. It all just seems so forced. I dig Bryatt Wyatt as a character, as an athlete, as a performer. He moves great for his size, has a great look, and just seems like he could mess you up if need be. It's certainly a natural fit for the psychedelic cult preacher to want to take down the local immortal Specter. It's just about a year too late. There's really no reason to have the Undertaker lose this match, as starting a negative streak for a guy that is a special attraction lessens the special. And Bray can talk that hot shit the very next day and have his mojo back. Have to go with the Dead Man here. Winner - The Undertaker
Come back Friday, 3/27, for my picks in the IC Title Ladder Match, US Title Match, Icon vs. That One Guy Match, and the WWE World Heavyweight Title Match!
"Everybody Hates Chris" is one of my favorite shows ever. Although it dealt heavily in hyperbole, the message of family togetherness, surviving struggle, and the will to be understood were something we could all understand. The titular character's relationship with his Father was my favorite part of the show. Julius, portrayed by an ALWAYS IN LONG SLEEVES SO YOU DIDN'T SEE HOW BIG HE WAS Terry Crews was a hardworking, no nonsense character that stressed the value doing what you were paid to do to the very best of your ability. To Julius, there was no such thing as "on time". You were either early, or you were late. Great words to live by. In 1988, Chris Rock's actual father Julius died from ulcer surgery. I'm no doctor, but I know ulcers are typically brought on by stress, so there's that.
Yeah... those jumpsuits were necessary.
We live in a world where we have unparalleled access to our favorite actors, entertainers and athletes. I can send a tweet to hulk hogan RIGHT NOW (but I'm not gonna, brother) or tell Michael Jordan how great he is on Facebook (is Michael Jordan on Facebook?) if I so desire. But just because I have that ability doesn't change the relationship. I'm still a customer, and they are still trying to sell me something. We aren't friends, aren't pals, aren't all of a sudden part of the same UNIVERSE. The rules are a bit different, but the game is the same - These people are here to give me something, until they aren't. Then they aren't.
Some type of way...
People have the feels for LeBron James like no one else. He brings out REAL emotion in them. Best basketball player on earth, perhaps the very best athlete to ever bounce a ball. He's been famous since high school, commands more media attention that anyone else, and his every move is over analyzed and heavily criticized. We know the narrative - kid from northeast Ohio, gets drafted by his local team, gets that ass whooped year in and year out, holds a TV special saying he's out the door, fans burn jerseys. I'm not from Cleveland, and have never been there. I'm spoiled - I grew up supporting a storied football franchise as well as the picture of modern success basketball franchise. But I wasn't pissed when Champ Bailey was traded for Clinton Portis. I didn't lose my cool when Tim Duncan was looking into playing in Orlando. AND I DIDN'T FLIP OUT WHEN MY ALL TIME FAVORITE POINT GUARD WASN'T ACQUIRED! You know why? Because these are jobs. No one that I don't work for owes it to me to work at a certain place, especially if they have a better deal on the table someone. ESPECIALLY if working somewhere else will make them happier. Disappointment is one thing, but we would all leave our jobs if another job was more fulfilling. Or paid more money. It's the American way! Need proof of that? The same people that were out BURNING JERSEYS are writing letters, making videos, and doing everything they can to make the King's homecoming as royal as possible. Fandom is a series of temporary emotions, like a relationship with a jerk that buy lots of presents. Presents are the best "I'm sorry"s ever invented.
Stay woke.
The one thing that makes people more angry than there favorite athlete switching teams is their favorite athlete quitting. And that's a bit more tangible. If you're like me, you can't just up and quit your job. You have to show up, day after day, take shit, and then repeat the process time and time again. Even if you're great with your money, you haven't saved up enough to just walk away, unless you have something else waiting in the wings. I need to get my wings right. Anyway, when your favorite star walks off a show, or the field, or from the wrestling ring, it's difficult to understand how they could do such a thing. At least on the surface.
Yesterday, I wrote about Daniel Bryan, perennial underdog, his rise to the top of the WWE and his current fight to resume his career. In many ways, his ascension mirrored that of CM Punk, RETIRED professional wrestler. CM Punk was anti-superstar, a guy with a natural body, poor disposition, and the self confidence to voice his opinions when things weren't going the way he deemed appropriate. If Daniel Bryan's rise was meteoric, Punk's was that slow burn, a series of starts and stops that ultimately culminated with an Indian style sit down, a Steve Austin T Shirt, and a Pipe Bomb. From that day forth, Punk was a major player, engaging in feuds with the very top talents, and having the longest title reign basically since I've been a real boy. But things change, focus changes, and things you can't account for occur. Other people get popular. Not everyone is your biggest fan. Your body gets worn down. You see people around you struggle. These are all things that happen at our jobs, but typically on a much smaller scale.
Gotta love it.
So you have a guy that doesn't do drugs, doesn't drink, and doesn't buy gaudy gifts. But makes LOTS OF MONEY. When you only bad habit is women, and you find a way to get through that habit with no kids and all your body parts in tact, you've won at the game of life. WWE has maintained a hold on many a wrestler because of the money they needed to make up for the money they lost. Not this guy. He's set financially, and at the point where he knows his best physical days are behind him. Much like LeBron, Punk has legions of fans that just want him on their team. I've been a fan for years and years. I've seen the guy in person at two Wrestlemanias. But when I heard he wasn't going to be there, I didn't hold it against him. If our companies paid us on the scale they pay him, then the politics of that company didn't augur with what we desired, wouldn't we walk away too? I can't sacrifice my well being for anyone I'm not feeding IF I'm not happy doing it anymore. A smile and a thank you just isn't worth my body. Celebrity is a responsibility, but sacrificing oneself isn't a requirement if it isn't in you anymore.
So... y'all mad?
I can't fault a fan for cheering a guy on, and getting emotionally invested in them. But you have to take some things from a personal standpoint, and understand that same desire to be great at their crafts influences their willingness to do what's best for THEMSELVES. All we can really ask is for greatness WHILE WE HAVE THEM. Anything else would just be unrealistic.
