Metal Meets Academia

This weekend marked the release of Metal: A Headbanger's Journey to theatres across the country, and perhaps North America. Needless to say, this was required viewing for an old school metal fan like myself and I must say, I wasn't disappointed in the least.

For those of you who don’t know, Sam Dunn studied anthropology at the University of Victoria before heading to the Big Smoke to do a Masters at York. Somewhere along the line, he got himself into a project that examined Heavy Metal music. But unlike The Decline of Western Civilization II: The Metal Years, this film isn’t a farce with scenes falsified and orchestrated for entertainment value. Sam’s academic sensibilities wouldn’t allow that. Good on him.

He manages to break the genre down into component its parts and presents things much as one would if organizing a lecture on the subject—and does it with enthusiasm. I can honestly say I was never bored, even when he did segments on bands I didn't particularly care for. He got to interview a variety of the founding fathers of the Rock pantheon, which must have unassailably cool (and a dream come true) for a lifelong metalhead, giving the project added credibility. My favorite part of the film is the interview with Dee Snider of Twisted Sister about his testimony in front of the Senate Committee regarding music lyrics in 1984.

It amazes me how limited the American collective memory can be. To think that they almost elected Al Gore for President, forgetting (or merely overlooking) that his wife Tipper was the head of a censorship brigade called the Parents Music Resource Center in the 80s. That must have been a heckuva choice, eh? A good ol' boy from Texas in George W. Bush, who as history has shown has led the last remaining Super Power into an unending and unwinnable war, or a censorship monger? Definitely glad I didn't have a vote in that one.

Back to the topic at hand. I related pretty well to this film because the heavy metal music of the 80s was MY music. I grew my hair long (or tried, at least. My mom always forced me to cut it before it ever got past the awkward stage), wore the black concert t-shirts and taped the weekly episodes of the Power Hour. It's no secret that I've always been an uptight and tense guy, but this music was my release. It was my way of letting go and cutting loose. I guess I was quite the paradox: totally conservative and restrained in the way I acted, yet listened (and found solace) in heavy metal music.

I think it's good that someone finally took the time to examine heavy metal music in a serious context. Whether anyone wants to acknowledge it or not, the genre was (and is) an influence on today's youth. At the end of the film, Sam says something along the lines of, "Either you feel it or you don't. And if you don't, that's okay, because there's 40,000 screaming metalheads around me that do and we're doing just fine without you." Damn right.

Hypocrisy Corner: Dating Advice for Men

Since I opened 2006 with a guide to assist women in avoiding heartache, it's only right that I give equal time to the plight of men. Consider this a companion piece to my entry on Dating Advice for Women. Now I realise that every situation is different and every woman is as unique as a snowflake, but that doesn't mean we can't follow some general guidelines. After all, Chaos Theory suggests that patterns eventually develop, despite the initial appearance of random behaviour. I think the guys in the audience will agree that there are few things that appear to be as random, in life, as a woman. Don't worry, boys. I'll take the hit for this one. I know none of you will publicly agree with that last comment.

The first thing to remember is that you can meet anyone, anywhere at any time. That means places like the Métro station, a café, or even the supermarket. Heck, my roommate met her current man while waiting in line at the Financial Aid office at Concordia. It can happen. You just need to be open to the possibility. So that being the case, try and look respectable. I don't necessarily mean all cleancut--everyone has their own sense of style. But that being said, some things should remain in the closet. Unless you're on the way to or from the gym, leave the workout gear at home. I don't care if it's comfortable. All she'll see is that you don't know how to dress. And make sure that whatever you're wearing is CLEAN!

Next thing: SMILE. Don't be a grinning idiot, but show the world that you're loose and happy. The easiest way to do this is to show off the pearly whites. Communication is more than just what you say. It's about how you carry yourself, as well. You could say all the right things, but it's your nonverbal cues that will get you off on the right foot. Don't shoot yourself in said foot before even saying a word.

Here's the biggest key: BE CONFIDENT. Everything flows from confidence. Have the guts to go up and talk to her! I know we're in the 21st century now, but the girls aren't going to come to you. Grow a pair, take a deep breath and say hello. If you don't believe you're worth talking to, then she won't either. Mind you, there's a fine line between cocky and confident. Being too cocky is likely to get you a reservation at a "Table For One" if you're not careful. It's great that you think you're da shizzit but I guarantee you she's met a tonne of other guys who think the same thing about themselves. And at least one of these guys is better than you are.

Another big one: LISTEN TO HER. Communication goes both ways. If you spend the whole time talking about yourself, then you'll have no idea if she's really worth the effort. By dominating the conversation, all you're showing is that you have no real interest in her. And believe me, women want to be seen as interesting, sexy and desirable. She doesn't want to be seen as a conquest or a trophy. She's a person. Treat her like one.

The last piece of advice I have to give goes hand in hand with listening to her: KNOW WHEN TO TAKE A HINT. Remember those nonverbal cues I was mentioning? Pay attention to those. Most girls don't want to humiliate a guy in public (unless there's alot of alcohol in her system), so she'll be subtle if she's not interested. Keep an eye out for that. One word answers, lack of eye contact, uncomfortable silences--these tell the tale. So cut your losses and move on. There are, statistically speaking, more women on the planet than men, so we're at an advantage here.

Do what you want with the advice contained here. Most of it should be common sense, but it seems to me that an alarming number of people lack it. I suppose that would make it uncommon sense, wouldn't it? Til next time...

Une soirée avec Les Boys

In the 19th century, there was a commonly held belief amongst the ruling class that participation in sports prepared adolescent boys for the rigours of life. Success on the pitch or on the track indicated the potential for success in the world, at large. The belief that elements of sport, such as teamwork, discipline and a sense of fair play, are transferrable to non-sporting activities has persisted, rightly or wrongly, to this very day.

Considering the status professional sports holds in popular culture, I guess it's only natural that Hollywood would try to exploit this by bringing sport dramas to the silver screen. But let's be honest here, the majority of movies about sports are crap. At one point, the "Powers That Be" at ESPN posted a list of the Top 20 Sports Movies of All Time and, to my surprise, Slapshot cracked the Top 5. Slapshot is widely viewed as the best hockey movie of all time, but considering the main competition consists of movies like Youngblood and the Mighty Ducks trilogy, it's pretty easy to see why.

I'm not a hockey fanatic, by any means, but being Canadian it's part of my cultural upbringing, which is why I decided to take a look at the Québécois contribution to hockey films: Les Boys. This is the story of a garage league hockey team, sponsored by a local pub. The pub owner gets himself in trouble playing poker with a local loan shark and ends up in a wager for ownership of his bar, something he neglects to tell his team until the first intermission between periods--after they've been beaten and bloodied by a goon squad from the local crime syndicate. In true Hollywood-esque form, Les Boys rise to the occasion and save their local watering hole. Yes, it's formulaic. But even so, there's something fun about the film and even its sequels (There are 4 films in the series, to date).

I liked the interaction between the characters. And even though they're mainly archetypes, there's still some heart and reality to them. These are weekend warriors, each with their own problems and "real life" concerns outside of the rink. Hockey is their escape from that. On the ice, they try to emulate their heroes and believe me, it's no coincidence (though perhaps a subtlety lost on english audiences) that the players wear the jersey numbers of iconic Québécois hockey players, like Maurice Richard, Mario Lemieux and Guy Lafleur. Hockey is an obsession in Quebec, moreso than in the rest of Canada, as hard as that may be to believe, and Les Boys provides an interesting glimpse into that aspect of Québécois culture. But more than that, I believe it accurately portrays the camaraderie and male bonds one finds in beer leagues, regardless of city, province, state or language.

Though it will never dethrone Slapshot as the cream of the hockey-film crop, its "everyman" aspect makes it worth seeing.

Digging through the Trashbin

Next, on a very special Blossum... ok, I'm kidding. No references to bad 90s television programs, though I will say that Jenna Von Oy has grown up to be one heckuva hot girl! Damn! She's certainly no "Six" anymore. More like a solid 9! And to think, she still hasn't succumbed to Hollywood pressure to get her boobs done! Nice to see that she can still have a career (albeit on UPN) while still being natural.

But that's not the point of this posting. No, this one is dedicated to my dear friend, Dawn, who is trying her hand at becoming an entrepreneur. As with any new business, early buzz is important, so I wanted to try and give her a little bit of publicity. I know that some of you out there in my regular audience can relate to what she's trying to do, so indulge me here.

For as long as I've known her, she's been interested in creating her own clothing. So a couple of months ago, she decided she would try her hand at making corsets. It turns out, she was pretty good at it. She started to get requests from people to custom make them. That's when the lightbulb went on: she should start her own custom clothing company! If you follow the link provided, you'll see some early samples of Dawn's Trashbin Clothing.

Everything you see on her photosite has been handmade by Dawn. In fact, when I was visiting her, in London, over the holidays she was hard at work on a corset similar to the one you see here. Now I'm no fashion expert--anyone who's seen my (lack of) style will attest to that, but I think she's got talent. I think she can do pretty well with a little bit of luck and the right marketing plan. In the meantime, please visit her photosite and send any inquiries to Dawn through the links provided. Just remember, you've seen it here first! Support Canadian Entrepreneurs! Support girls who want to wear naughty outfits and support the people who make them! Til next time...

In Flames at the Medley- Why are my ears bleeding?!?

When I think of hardcore metal bands, I think of longhaired, underweight dudes, often heavily tattooed, hanging out in their parents' basements and ripping away on guitars, hoping someday they'll make it big. Then I picture the typical venue of choice for these bands: some dark, dank, dirty club. Y'know the kind that you don't even want to get within 5 feet of the urinal for fear of catching something. And these guys always seem to come from LA, having slept in some one room apartment on the Sunset Strip.

I definitely don't think of Sweden. Maybe it's because the country's biggest musical export is still ABBA? Or maybe it's my childhood memories of the Muppets' Swedish Chef? So how the hell did a group like In Flames come out of Sweden??? Well, maybe it does make sense. After all, there's nothing like a few rousing choruses of Dancing Queen to make me want to start breaking things and running amok.

I hadn't ever heard of them before last week. Phil had an extra ticket for their show at Le Medley, so he asked if I wanted to go. I listened to a couple of their songs and thought, "Why not?" I hadn't been to a metal concert since I saw Judas Priest back before Dré's wedding, so this would be good for a few laughs. I really had no idea what I had gotten myself into.

In preparing for the soirée of sound, I decided to pick up a pair of earplugs. I knew I had an interview over the phone Monday morning and really didn't need to have any ringing in my ears. Wise choice. I don't think I've heard something that loud... um... ever. One of my ears bled. No joke. Anyway, there were 3 opening acts: ZAO, Devildriver and Trivium and with each set, the decibel level got louder and louder. By the time In Flames hit the stage, I felt like I wasn't wearing the earplugs at all.

The place was packed and I was surprised at how much French I heard being spoken by the other spectators. Apparently the Quebecois love their death metal. I'm not sure what the capacity is for Le Medley, but the place sold out. Since it was general admission, Phil and I made our way to the orchestra section in front of the stage. I pretty much lost him somewhere after the first couple of songs. I've never been in a mosh pit, nor did I have any real inclination to try it, but ol' Phil loves that stuff, so he got himself right in the middle of the crowd. Considering his slight frame, I'm surprised he didn't get snapped like a twig in the middle of all that chaos.

Sure, it was chaotic, but that being said, the crowd didn't seem to be much in the mood for moshing. There were the occasional crowd surfers, of course, but it was more tame than I expected. I spent most of my time jammed up against the railing near the soundboard. By the time the headliners hit the stage, the place was ready to explode. I'll say this about the band: their fans are pretty intense.

All in all, I definitely preferred In Flames over their opening acts. I look at them as a cross between Dream Theatre and Megadeth. Though there's still an element of the thrash sound that people mosh to, they seem to try and incorporate melody to their music--something absent from the hard driving riffs of the opening acts. I think they're still an acquired taste, but I'm tempted to pick up (or at least download) one of the albums to see what I think. I ended up wimping out before the end of the show, though. I stayed for the first hour and a half of their set, but that's when my clausterphobia took over and I just needed to get out of there. I lasted long enough to hear the two songs I recognized and then that was it. I grabbd my coat from coatcheck and headed home. And yes, as mentioned, there was a little touch of blood on one of my earplugs when I took it out. Not cool.

Now the big question: would I go see them again? I think I would... I would just be sure to go closer to their showtime and spend a bit more time near the bar. Overall, a good night, though.

C.R.A.Z.Y. and the Universal Cure for all Evils

I'm not a fan of winter. I don't like the cold and I don't really care if there's snow on the ground. I like ice even less. In fact, if there really is any basis behind this whole Global Warming thing (and it wouldn't surprise me if it was all just a figment of someone's imagination), then I'm all for it if it wipes out winter. I'm much more of an Autumn person anyway. It's not too hot and not too cold... I think Kevin Meaney said it best: "I wanna live in a mall... where the temperature's always the same!!!" But no, I'm hip-deep in a Montreal winter (allegedly milder than usual. HA!), complete with freezing rain and wind that'll rip threw you like a kid through gifts on Christmas morning.

Today was particularly nasty, as weather goes. The rain and (temporarily) warm temperature ensured that every sidewalk was covered in a good inch of water. I really should have learned how to skate at some point. Anyway, between the time I left my apartment and the time it took me to ride the STM to my stop on Côte-de-Liesse, that warmfront had passed and brought some mighty strong winds. In order to get work, I have to cross the highway by using a bridge/overpass and I tell you, I was thankful I had enough manly girth to keep me firmly rooted in place. I actually had to walk between my coworker and the railing to keep her from flying over the side. No joke. And things only got colder as the hours passed.

By the time I left work, all that water had pretty much frozen, making walking an adventure. The temperature had dropped sharply, but it was the wind that made all the difference. The Weather Network said it was -12 degrees, but with the wind it felt closer to -30 outside. I decided that once I got home that there was no way I was leaving the house again. It was definitely a Blockbuster night.

Even though I was staying in, I figured I would still get in some Quebecois culture, so I rented C.R.A.Z.Y. I had heard good things about the film, so I figured it was about time that I checked it out. It never ceases to amaze me that the Quebecois have their own, pretty much self-sufficient, entertainment industry. When was the last time an English-language Canadian film got any sort of International buzz? Heck, when was the last time an English-language film even got any Domestic buzz? But just in case it turned out to be total rubbish, I also rented American Pie: Band Camp. "Band Camp?!?!" you say. "How could you rent that crap?!?"

It seems it's time for Al to reveal one of the great truths of the male existance. I was coming out of The Natural Sciences building after a particularly taxing Chemistry lecture back in first year when it hit me: the Universal Cure (for guys--and some enlightened girls, as well). No matter what ails you, no matter how crappy your day is going, this will make you feel a helluva lot better. I'll give you a hint: they vary in size and shape, but bounce gently as she walks. Yes, dear friends, bouncing titties. Boobs. Breasts. We like to look at them. We like to play with them. They just generally make the day a wee bit more delightful. Am I a sexist pig? Perhaps. But I'm also speaking the (rather obvious) truth.

Consider the following situations:

• You've just bombed a major exam and you may very well flunk out of school. What's going to make you feel better, if only for a little while? Boobies.
• Your family pet has just met a rather unfortunate end under the tires of the city's public transit system. Sure, you won't be able to get over little Fluffy's tragic end in one night, but I'm telling you that a nice perky set of tits will certainly help.
• You've just been dumped by your girlfriend. Sure, be bummed. But get back on that horse and find yourself another nice pair to play with.

Okay, so maybe it won't actually solve any problem or cure what ails you, but at the very least your mood will improve. And isn't that really the first step in any recovery? A positive outlook is very important! So there you have it. That's why I rented American Pie: Band Camp. It was bloody cold out, I was bored and had suffered through my second week at my new job. Next question.

Back to C.R.A.Z.Y. It was co-written by François Boulay and Jean-Marc Vallée (it was also directed by Vallée) and follows the life of the 4th son, Zac, of an average Quebecois family through the 60s and the 70s. It was quirky, but good. I can see why it's won awards. It focuses on the relationship between Zac and his father and the son's struggle for acceptance in light of his homosexual tendancies.

There are some pretty standard secondary storylines, including fraternal conflicts, drug abuse and the obligatory death in the family, but they handled it well. Quebecois filmmakers are pretty clever in the way they shoot their films. One of the more interesting scenes shows the father standing in the foreground, listening to a Patsy Cline record on headphones, while his wife answers the telephone in the background. She pretty much collapses, sobbing as she learns of the death of her son, Raymond, while dear ol' dad is standing there with his back to her, smiling like an idiot as he listens to Crazy, blissfully unaware that his son is dead.

Overall, I liked it. I'm going to have to look around for a few more of Vallée's films. I must admit, I was a little annoyed that the dvd didn't provide french subtitles. Anglophones can't possibly be the only people who can go deaf, but then, what do I know? So there you have it. C.R.A.Z.Y. is definitely worth seeing, with or without subtitles. I hope it does well at the Oscars this year.

Self-reflection time

Unlike the rest of the blogging world, I didn't see any reason to post something (good or bad)about Valentine's Day. I didn't gush over the girl I have a crush on, nor did I lament my status as a single guy. Why bother, really? It's a waste of my time and energy and let's face it, time waits for no man unless that man is Chuck Norris. And as Morgan would say, "You, sir, are no Chuck Norris."

To be honest, I didn't think too much about the day, its significance (or lack thereof) at all. It was just a day like any other, which meant visiting some of the blogs I've become addicted to (like Tony's Busblog, Raymi the Minx and Paige), as well as checking out some new ones (like Phil Renaud and Infinitely Pie). I also took some time to read over some of my own blog entries. Yes, self-indulgence is alive and well chez Al B Sure. I did notice, however, that in a number of my posts I was initially skeptical/hesitant to go off somewhere new or check something out. And each time, it turned out I enjoyed myself. Hmmm. Interesting.

So it looks to me like I really haven't shaken the cautious part of my personality. Despite the fact that I'm in a new city, with only a handful of acquaintances and friends, I haven't really embraced my new reality: j'habite à Montréal. It's time to start making a life here. I've started taking baby steps, but maybe it's time to start getting further out of my comfort zone. I've heard rumblings that OJ may be coming up this weekend to visit someone, so maybe I'll try taking a few more cues from him (God help me).

At the very least I know I'll be seeing a new band this weekend. I'll be checking out a swedish metal band called In Flames on Sunday with Phil. I've heard a couple of their songs and they sound pretty good. Sure, they're no Europe, but how many bands are, right? I can almost feel Morgan waiting to pounce on that last comment...

Anyway, I think today's entry has about run its course. Have a good one!

The Gazette does it again!

This is more or less a throw-away post, but I just wanted to give a quick shout out to my alma mater's school newspaper, the University of Western Ontario Gazette. For as long as I can remember, the editors of the nation's only and, as far as I know, longest running daily student newspaper, has used Valentine's Day as an excuse to throw together a sex issue. Romance? Love? Who are we kidding? We all know that Western students are all about sex!

So to celebrate this immesnely popular edition of the paper, they've put together a little photospread in the guy's locker room of the UCC. And, as noted on her blog, Paige of C'est What? posed for some of the pictures. There are times when I miss Western. This is one of them. Though I really can't complain. I'm in Montreal, after all. Anyway, here's a picture that I stole from the Kiss in French blog. So if you're interested in seeing some more of Western's finest, click on Boucher's blog or check out the Gazette's website on Valentine's Day. Go ahead. I know you want to.

Although I still believe that this picture from February 8, 2000 is the greatest picture ever published using student fees at UWO...

Gotta love the caption: MOMENTS BEFORE OUR PHOTOGRAPHER LOST CONSCIOUSNESS. Two Western students demonstrated the giving nature of the Charity Ball last weekend - God bless their generous souls.

I know I'm feeling the love. Aren't you?

Else's Pub and an Old Acquaintance

Today I had the pleasure of wandering down to a local pub, called Else's, at the corner of Roy and de Bouillon with my roommate, Kate. Methinks this was her not-so-subtle way of hinting I need to get out more. A couple of days ago I had mentioned to her that one of my old classmates, Lori, worked there and that she had sent me a note back a while ago saying I should drop in and say hello. This little tidbit was all Katie needed to try and motivate me to go visit. In fact, she probably mentioned it 4 times over the past 2 days before actually offering to go down there with me. I'm not sure if she thinks that I harbour a crush for Lori or what (and for the record, Lori is a beautiful girl, but from what I recall she has a long-term boyfriend, so I won't be hitting on her anytime soon), but she seemed bound and determined to get me through those doors. So I went. And I'm happy I did.


The pub felt like a cross between a café and a local watering hole. According to the mini-biography on the back of the menu, the bar had been operating under a restaurant permit until the fines and whatnot became too costly to ignore, so the owner finally gave in and decided to serve food. So now the "restaurant" has a limited menu (and when I say limited, I mean it's one page with maybe 12 item choices) to go with its extensive selection of beer and liquor. I also noticed that they hold some sort of semi-regular poetry and music night, definitely in-keeping with the artsy-hip vibe of the plateau. Overall, it has a really comfortable, casual, almost lived-in quality that I found pretty appealing. I like places that have a bit of a personality to them and this definitely has that.

We found a table near the windowthat ran through a history of the changes to the Montreal Canadiens' famed red, blue and white jerseys on its tabletop, and in moments, along came Lori to greet us. Thankfully she recognized me and remembered my name (hey, part of me was afraid she'd have forgotten!) and before long we had caught up on a lot of the generic stuff. It's not like we were close buddies at Western. We just took an evening French Lit course together, after all, but I was still happy to see a familiar face. Hopefully I'll run across her from time to time. Regardless, I'll keep exploring Montreal and reporting back my findings. Til next time...

Karkwa and Les maisons de la culture

My plans got derailed tonight. I wanted to check out a Quebecois group called Karkwa down at La maison de la culture Maisonneuve, but I couldn't get my hands on tickets. No, they weren't sold out. This is one of the peculiarities of life in Montreal: they have a number of maisons de la culture set up in the different quartiers of the city, established to promote art, music and theatre in the area. Cool idea. Different events are scheduled for the residents of the quartier and, depending on the event, many of these are put on for free! Even cooler, à mon avis. There are some keywords in one of the above sentences that I neglected to take into account when planning my night out. The events are scheduled for residents of the quartier. I'm a resident of Plateau Mont-Royal. So in order for me to go, I would have to take a number. If there were spaces available after a certain cutoff time, then non-residents would be let in.

So why didn't I head down? Well, if past concerts were any indication, there was no way I'd be getting in. I've seen them twice now, once at le Lion d'Or in November of 2004 and this past year at Le Cabaret music hall when they launched their second album. The venues were packed both times. Something about their music seems to really strike a chord with their Quebecois audience. I read some descriptions of the group's style, since I really couldn't categorize it, myself. Apparently they play french-folk-techno-absurdo-jazzy-punk. It may look like a pretty convoluted description, but I'd say it's pretty accurate. I've also heard them described as a Quebecois version of Radiohead-- and not just by francophone fans. As I mentioned earlier, the first time I saw them was at le Lion d'Or in 2004. This was the same weekend that Dré and I came up to see Cagibi during Coup de Coeur Francophone. We had already been out drinking for a few hours before I called up Fred and Raphael (2 de mes animateurs de Trois-Pistoles) to see if anything cool was going on in Montreal on a Thursday night. Raph recommended hitting the show, so we did. We were the only 2 anglophones in the entire bar, no doubt about that. And even though we had no clue what they were singing, both Dré and I were impressed. In fact, one of the first things Dré said about them was, "Dude, they're like a Quebecois version of Radiohead!"

So there you have it. I won't pretend to be familiar with Radiohead, but if they're anything like Karkwa, I'd probably like them. Whether you speak french or not, check out the website. They've got an audio clip on the main page that'll give you a better idea of their sound. There's really no way I can do justice to either their music or their stage show. Both have to be experienced. I'll have to keep my eyes open for future shows, but in the meantime, at least I've got the CDs.

Justice is Served

The coaches have spoken and, for the first time in NBA history 4 players from the same team were chosen to suit up for the All-Star team. Those given this honour are none other than 4 of the starting 5 of my beloved Pistons: Chauncey Billups, Richard Hamilton, Rasheed Wallace and Big Ben Wallace. Flip Saunders will be the Eastern Conference coach on the strength of the Bad Boys' 40-8 record.

I'm shocked that it's happening, but I think it's a sign that the Pistons have finally gotten some respect, at least from their opponents. The fans and the media have been doubting them for the past 3 seasons. So be it. They just keep winning anyway. Congratulations on a great first half, team! Now let's see you bring it home for the Motor City!

Super Bowl XL

It's finally here. The day any sportsfan (and a myriad of non-sportsfans) has waited 25 weeks for: Super Bowl Sunday! For about 4 hours, give or take, the eyes of the world will be focused on Ford Field in Detroit, home of my beloved Lions. Sadly, the Leos got their heads handed to them pretty regularly this season, so they didn't even get a sniff of the playoffs, let alone the chance to play in front of their home crowd. Instead, that honour goes to the Seattle Seahawks and the Pittsburgh Steelers.

I really have no vested interest in this game, one way or the other, but I'll be watching quand même. I've spent the last 4 hours watching pre-game analysis, but still no gut-feeling as to which way this game will go. I did get a sinking feeling, though, when the broadcasters mentioned that Matt Hasselbeck hadn't thrown an interception in the past 5 games. So my early prediction is that he's going to throw at least 2 today. But will that spell the end for the Seahawks? Damned if I know, but I'm looking forward to seeing how Seattle's O-Line takes on the blitz packages of the Steelers.

Considering the way the Steelers dominated the Colts back in the Division playoffs, it looks like Seattle's in for a long day. But by the same token, they've got the NFL's MVP and single season TD record holder in Shaun Alexander. I'm guessing they can block a wee bit. I also think that we'll see a surprisingly good game out of Joe Jurevicius. He's been to the big game before, so I think that they'll find a way to get him involved early to spread things out a bit.

In the end, this is going to be all about the defenses and the O-Lines. Someone once told me that a good offense should always beat a good defense, if only because it's easier to act than to react. But when I watch the defense coming out of Steeltown, I think it's fair to say that they're the ones forcing offenses to react. They're fast, they're athletic and they impose their will on their opponents. Expect Hasselbeck to spend a good chunk of time on his back if he doesn't find his hot read.

Alright, so what's my prediction?

Pittsburgh 24
Seattle 17

Only 2 hours or so til kickoff, so grab your beer and nachos and get ready for a good one!

NBA All-Star fiasco

I've come to the conclusion that the fans of the NBA really have no business determinining the starting lineups of the mid-season All-Star game. I know the game is meant for the fans. I also know that it's supposed to be a showcase of the league's allegedly most talented superstars, but this is getting a bit ridiculous. It's a popularity contest, pure and simple. Whichever players have had the best endorsement deals inevitably get the nod. How else can anyone explain the fact that not a single member of the Detroit Pistons has managed to break the starting lineup? They're far and away the best team in the NBA and have the record to prove it. They've manhandled the defending champions twice this season and are leading the Eastern Conference by a staggering 11 games! But no, none of these players are All-Star calibre, at least in the eyes of the fans.

On the surface, the starting lineup for the East is solid across the board. But do they really deserve to be there? For the record, here's the list of starters for this year's tilt in Houston:

Allen Iverson (G)
Dwyane Wade (G)
Jermaine O'Neal (F)
LeBron James (F)
Shaquille O'Neal (C)

At the guard spot, it's pretty tough to dispute Iverson. He's leading the East in scoring and, had it not been for some superhuman performances by Employee number 8, he'd be well on his way to another scoring title. He's also averaging close to a career high for Assists (he's ranked #7 in the league in that category, by the way), so he's also distributing the ball well. Being #6 in Steals is nothing to scoff at, either. It may have taken him close to a decade, but I think Iverson is finally the guard he was meant to be.

Wade has been playing pretty well this season, too. He's in the top 5 in Scoring and Steals, but turns the ball over too many times. That tells me that he's handling the ball too much for a shooting guard. They have more than enough firepower on that team that he doesn't need to always ave the ball in his hands for them to win--even with out the Big Diesel in the lineup. But if you're looking for Flash (pun intended) and highlight reel action, then I guess I'll have to begrudingly admit he makes the cut for the All--Star team, as well.

LeBron is a monster. I could try and pick apart his game, but when you look at the improvements he's made each year, it's pretty easy to see that he's worth the hype. Time will tell if he'll develop into the best player in the league, but for now, he's certainly worth the price of admission.

The last two spots-- the two O'Neals-- that's where the problem is. Neither one has played enough games to qualify for any of the major offensive or defensive categories. The All-Star game should recognize the players who are playing their best this year as opposed to recognizing untapped potential (in the case of Jermaine) or past glory (in the case of Shaq). Heck, the so-called "most dominant force in basketball" has been hitting career lows in almost every relevant category. Move over, big guy. You just don't have it anymore. At least not at an All-Star level.

So given the fact that none of the Pistons are shattering record books statistically, how can I justify placing any of them in the starting lineup? Well, the easiest to make a case for is the 2 time-defensive player of the year. He's an undersized center who busts his tail night in and night out. He's a monster on the boards and seems to come out of nowhere to block or alter shots. He's also one of the few players that can guard Shaq-daddy one-on-one. He's the cornerstone of the franchise. The Bad Boys from Motown feed off his energy on the floor and bring their own games to another level. You would, too. I know I wouldn't want this guy pissed at me! He's pretty much a lock for a reserve spot, but it's a crime that he isn't a starter. He may not put up the offensive numbers that the other guys do, but if you've seen some of the jams he's put down over the season, you know he's a highlight reel waiting to happen, just as much as the starters.

The next one on the depth chart is Rasheed. Sure, his numbers have dropped a bit since he was playing in Portland, but that's more an indication of his maturity moreso than lack of ability. The Pistons are the most unselfish team in the NBA. They know they're not destined for Hall of Fame careers, individually, but as a team they can't be matched-- at least so far this year. 'Sheed put the ego aside, but managed to maintain the passion. When you need a big bucket or a big stop, I'd rather have him on my side than on the other guy's. There is no doubt in my mind that he's a much better player than Jermaine O'Neal. He was vital to the Pistons championship run a couple of years back and he's still a go-to guy. He deserved the nod over Jermaine, no question.

Chauncey Billups is getting robbed this year. He's averaging career highs in both Points Per Game and Assists. He's quietly leading the most dominant team in the NBA to heck of a year. His Assists per game are up a full 3 points and his scoring is up by 2.5. Earthshattering numbers? Hardly. But they're representative of a guy who knows how to play the game. And in crunch time, he's proven himself to be an elite player. Just ask the Lakers about it. Give the man his props. He's earned it!

While I'm at it, I'll say a few words about Richard Hamilton. Rip is having another solid season. He's not doing anything spectacular, but when playoff time rolls around, he'll make people pay. The man is in perpetual motion from the opening tip and there's no one in the league that can keep up with him. He's a smothering defender and master of the midrange jumper coming off a curl. He deserves the All-Star nod, but I think he'd be just as happy showcasing his talent to the world in another trip to the Finals.

The bottomline is that, once again, the Pistons are being overlooked and disrespected. I don't know what else they have to do to change people's minds. Maybe another run to the title will be enough to show the fans worldwide what the folks in Detroit already know: this team is for real.

The Trews (with guest Will Hoge)

My exploration of Quebecois music and culture took a little detour tonight. I was flipping channels, as per usual, when I turned on Plus Sur Commande. They had brought in The Trews for an interview but, to be honest, I missed most of it. Such is the danger with channel surfing. I did manage to catch enough, though, to hear they were playing at Café Campus tonight. Sounded like a plan to me! I can't really say I knew too much about the group before heading out to the show, except that at least one member went to StFX for university (that X-Ring was a dead giveaway. Maybe it's true what they say about it being the 3rd most recognized ring in the world). I can't even really say I was a fan before I left, truth be told, but I'm definitely glad I went.

The doors opened at 7pm, with the show allegedly scheduled to start at 8pm. Now I'm used to the time-honoured Ontario tradition of a bar claiming the show will start at 8pm, when really the headliner doesn't hit the stage til 10:30pm or so, but I decided to take a chance and head down for around "showtime." Good thing I did or I'd have missed one hell of an opening act: Will Hoge. Will's a good ol' boy from Nashville whose music immediately reminded me of the Black Crowes from back in the 90s. This was his band's last night touring with the Trews so fans in Ottawa will miss out, but you can catch his show in Toronto at the Horseshoe Tavern Saturday night. I highly recommend it, if you happen to be in the area.

As I said earlier, I wasn't really a fan of the Trews when I went to the show, but that's changed after tonight. I was surprised at how many of their songs had seeped into my subconscious over the past couple of years. But it's the live show that makes all the difference. These guys are a throwback band-- back to the days when bands actually new how to play live and interact with the audience. They even worked a 5 minute drum solo into the set! I also loved how the snuck The Stone's You Can't Always Get What You Want and Queen's Fat-bottomed Girls into a couple of their songs. But I think the capper was the encore. A lot of other bands would be content to just soak up the adulation of the 300 or so fans in the audience, but instead the guys invited Will Hoge and his band up to join them on stage for the last couple of songs! That's class, folks. There just aren't enough bands out there like the Trews.

Things to come

Once upon a time, I wanted to be a writer. I wasn't sure exactly what I wanted to write about or who would actually pay me to do it, but that seemed less important than the desire to do it. Sports journalism became a hobby of mine during my time at Western after a debate with the UWO Gazette's then-sports editor, James Pugsley. Good ol' Pugs had decided to run his mouth about Intercollegiate Athletic spending so I decided to shut it for him. As luck would have it, he was working late one night when I was doing overnight security at the University Community Center and the debate continued. This led to an offer to write for the Sports section. And thus, it began.

Over the years, I've gotten a bit sidetracked, but thanks to this move to Montreal, I finally have something to write about again. It's a whole different world up here. I'm seeing and experiencing things that I never could have had I stayed in London, Ontario. But anyone who's been reading my columns for the last little while can see that. So inkeeping with my newfound desire to explore and experience, I decided I would take a stroll down to the Musique Plus building to see if I could arrange an interview with one of the VJs. It was worth a shot, right? I managed to get a contact name and, the following day, sent him this e-mail:

Bonjour!

Mon nom est Al*n R*****te et je suis un anglophone écrivain indépendant. J'ai déménagé à Montréal il y a quelques mois parce que j'avais l'envie d'apprendre plus de la culture québécoise. A mon avis, votre chaîne et vos animateurs (VJs) sont très importante dans les vies quotidiennes des jeunes québécoises et québécois. C'est avec cette idée en tête que je vous démande si c'est possible que je puisse interviewer un de votre équipe de VJs pour mon site (http://albhere.blogspot.com). Je suis en train de faire des commentaires sur la musique, la culture et autres choses qui me frappent.

J'ai une liste de questions sur la culture québécoise et autres choses comme ça et j'aimerais bien savoir leurs opinions. Je prendrais probablement moins d'une demie heure de leur temps. Mon numéro de téléphone est 514-***-**** ou vous pouvez me joindre par courriel. Laissez-moi savoir si c'est possible ou non.

Sincèrement,

Al*n R*****te
***

And wouldn't you know it, but the guy called me back! We had a nice little chat on the phone. He asked me a bit about my blog and what sort of questions I wanted to ask, and then asked me to send him a sample of 5-6 questions that I would like to ask and he would see if he could arrange something. Sounds good to me. At this point I would like to thank my friends, Morgan, John and George, as well as my blog-muse, Paige, for their suggestions. Guess I'll find out soon enough if my questions made the grade.

I think the moral of the story is: Go after what you want. Make your own opportunities. You may get good results if you're willing to ask the questions in the first place. Stay tuned!