As many of you around these parts know, Tribe hoops has been an afterthought for me. The program has been consistently mediocre for the twenty-plus years I've been paying attention to it. While I enjoy the Tribe fandom exuded here, it's never been anything more than amusing. I enjoy my friends' ridiculous (some call it futile) hobby because it's not harmful and it makes them happy.
With that said, I found myself more emotionally invested in last night's game than I would've expected. I couldn't start watching until 10: 15 PM because I had to attend a coaching seminar to be an assistant coach for my six year-old's little league team. So I was able to chug through in a little over an hour. As the second half progressed, I felt despair as we fell behind by twelve, then pride as we retook the lead. I was already envisioning the social equity I would have at the water cooler on Tuesday, talking up the program as the media spotlight fell on us for one shining moment...at least another 10-11 days.
But then the bottom fell out, and we once again became acquainted with the bitter taste of failure. I share comments by our friend Sammy that we lost this game as much as Delaware won it. But dissecting the loss much further doesn't do any of us any good. It's important to remember that maybe the Tribe will always be a loser. And that's okay. Because it defines who we are in a vague way.
I was in the car a lot today, driving an hour each way to Connecticut for meetings. I've been listening to a lot of Titus Andronicus these days, in my typical way of slowly getting into bands 3-5 years after most other people do. There is an earnest, honest vibe to these guys, and their hardcore Jersey heritage make the music that much more anthemic to me. My favorite TA tune came on today, and I listened to it. Loudly. More than once. And it strangely resonated to me as a Tribe fan, as I hope it will with you all.
This song (like many others) is best played LOUDLY while drunk. But perhaps many of you will enjoy it on your PC's speakers today while owning the Tribe's failure and acknowledging that the legacy of failure may be embedded in your DNA. And that you may be a better person for it.
Enjoy this anthem about holding your head up despite having thrown everything away. Lyrics are below, and video is below that. The story behind the video is an interesting one (read it here) that got some hipster media buzz a few years ago. The last two minutes of the tune are the best part. Bonus points for anybody (besides Zman) who connects the dots on the song and one of our labels.
Titus Andronicus: No Future Part III: Escape From No Future
Everything makes me nervous and nothing feels good for no reason
Waking up its really worth it the same dark dread every morning
Senior year, here in Mahwah a new world just around the corner
Leave me behind let me stagnate in a fortress of solitude
Smoking's been okay so far but I need something that works faster
So all I want for Christmas is no feelings no feelings now and never again
There is a face playing all round and red that stretches across my mouth
All for protection nobody gets in and nobody gets out
I used to look myself in the mirror at the end of everyday
But I took the one thing that made me beautiful and threw it away
I was a river I was a tall tree I was a volcano
And now I'm asleep on top of a mountain amidst the burning snow
As I surrendered what made me human and what I thought was true
And now there's a robot that lives in my brain he tells me what to do
I can't do nothing without his permission that wasn't part of the plan
So now at Rock Ridge Pharmacy I will be waiting for my man
But there is another down in the dungeon who never gave up the fight
And he'll be forever screaming sometimes I hear him say on a quiet night
He says
You will always be a loser now
You will always be a loser
You will always be a loser and that's okay
)
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38 comments:
From nasal polyps to embraced failure, TR brings the good times.
Anybody know when the 12th day of Gheorghemas is coming out?
TR, or anybody else, I'll be in beautiful, humid Houston TX for the next three days. I try to avoid this city as much as possible, so it has been several years since I last visited. Any suggestions for restaurants and bars?
This is a work trip so suggestions should be NC-17 at worst.
Marls - I like heading over to the Rice Village area. A couple of good bars there including my fave, the Ginger Man.(200 or so different beers) There's also another bar almost directly across the street from it - can't remember name. Buckles & I found it enjoyable a couple of years ago during the Final 4. If you're staying near the Galleria area, it's 10-15 min or so from there.
tr, phenomenal effort. i shall embrace loserdom.
there's a website that tracks cbi and cit bids. i'm not going to link to it, because it's a sad as it sounds.
I'm sure this is due to a lack of musical sophistication or taste on my part...but I'm pretty sure that's the worst song I've ever heard.
Marls - Houston is huge and sprawling and pretty awful. Makes a big difference to know where you are. I usually stay in the Galleria area and drink in my hotel bar b/c very little is in walking distance. If you want a fun, authentic Tex Mex experience, go eat at El Tiempo. There are a couple in the area. Good food and the waiters dress like the Three Amigos.
Avoid staying downtown if you can. The Morton's Staekhouse there is solid. That's all I got.
Thanks Dan.
I'm staying in the Galleria area and will be spend most of my time with clients up by reliant stadium for the Houston rodeo.
Excited for "mutton busting", which is apparently a sport where parents strap their children to sheep to see how long they can hang on.
Marls,
I think there's a pappas bros steakhouse in the galleria. It's the only good thing I remember about houston...
This town is not great. On the bright side it is not balls hot, nor is it supposed to be this week.
Marls....give Davies a call. He's in Houston.
All the "Pappas" places are good. If the Houston Rodeo is still going on, that's worth a night.
And there's Onion Creek which is a good neighborhoody spot.
Christian's Tailgate has a ton of burgers with battered-n-fried bacon (effing delicious)
I also like this divey Tex Mex joint called "Chacho's"
greg just posted consecutive semi-serious comments. i don't even know what to believe in anymore.
Not to fear Rob, I'll return with inane ramblings and Simpsons quotes.
I 2nd the Pappa's rec. Also, very near Galleria there used to be a Sullivan's steakhouse which was quite good and very scenic. Not sure if still there - it's a block off of Westheimer. Forgot about that one.
Anybody got line for prairie view vs southern tonight? Prairie view is staying in my hotel and it appears that they did not expect to be here today. Their preparation might be a bit lacking.
But first, I'm gonna take a selfie.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kdemFfbS5H0
Greg, your knowledge of second class american cities is second to none. I knew I could count on you.
Southern giving 13 against Prairie View. So based on the gait in the paddock, you're saying that's too many?
I suspect that Bill Barnwell is contractually obligated to use the word "staggering" in every column.
danimal, i think marls is saying that's not enough. give the 13, tip your waitress.
right you are....had it backwards. back pain man.
tribe athletic department just posted a picture taken from high up in the tribedome of marcus working out by himself (with one coach) in the gym. i'm not sure it's possible for me to love that kid any more than i do.
The Monitor is a very solid album. There a bunch of great songs on that record. The latest one, Local Business, has some Clash like moments. TA is worth checking out live. I had the lead singer sign their album when I saw them. I told him to write something for son. He wrote"Owen, keep on fucking rocking!" I neglected to tell him he was 4 at the time.
Can we make a list of states where Darren Sharper HASN'T raped someone? Might be shorter than the list of places where he did rape.
The Sharper situation bothers me much more than the Tribe hoops situation.
well, yeah
And I'm shocked that nobody gets the bonus points for connecting a label with the post.
After all, points are huge.
i just assumed it was the large hadron collider
Roark...Mahwah...
I was barred from bonus points.
Apparently PVAM plays well oversexed and under practiced.
To back up my observations, Sam checked into PVAM's former hotel and had to change change rooms because he found a used prophylactic.
If you need em I got crazy prophylactics.
The intergalactic prophylactic?
That Eagles offense. Jackson, Maclin, Cooper, McCoy & Sproles. Whoa.
yeah. nick foles just became a top 3 fantasy qb. that's gonna be fun to watch.
great post tr. kind of like the song, aside from the fact that once beck wrote "loser," he essentially lyrically monopolized that word-- i don't think anyone else is allowed to use it in a chorus for time immemorial.
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