Entries from May 2004 ↓
May 27th, 2004 — Film
Is this the proof that confirms the rumors?
.Check out this picture that was posted on Ain’t It Cool News the other day. We can debate its’ legitmacy all we want, but, according to TheDigitalBits.com, there has been confirmation from several sources that the DVDs being released in September will be different from the original films AND the 1997 “Special Editions.”
While I will of course be buying the DVD set, it will be with greater trepadition than I had intially thought was necessary. Thank God Steven Spielberg didn’t let George destroy Indy.
May 26th, 2004 — Arsenal FC
.Arsenal midfielder Giovanni Van Bronckhorst, who had been on a season-long loan at Barcelona, has been transferred to the Primera Liga side permanently. No word on what Arsenal got in return.
Best of luck Gio!
May 25th, 2004 — Music
Coventry festival in Vermont to be last show as a band
.Received via email today:
Last Friday night, I got together with Mike, Page and Fish to talk openly about the strong feelings I’ve been having that Phish has run its
course and that we should end it now while it’s still on a high note. Once we started talking, it quickly became apparent that the other guys’
feelings, while not all the same as mine, were similar in many ways — most importantly, that we all love and respect Phish and the Phish
audience far too much to stand by and allow it to drag on beyond the point of vibrancy and health. We don’t want to become caricatures of
ourselves, or worse yet, a nostalgia act. By the end of the meeting, we realized that after almost twenty-one years together we were faced with the opportunity to graciously step away in unison, as a group, united in our friendship and our feelings of gratitude.
So Coventry will be the final Phish show. We are proud and thrilled that it will be in our home state of Vermont. We’re also excited for the
June and August shows, our last tour together. For the sake of clarity, I should say that this is not like the hiatus, which was our last
attempt to revitalize ourselves. We’re done. It’s been an amazing and incredible journey. We thank you all for the love and support that
you’ve shown us.
– Trey Anastasio
Well, it was fun while it lasted. I’m glad I was able to see them as often as I did, and am hopeful that I’ll be able to catch them one last time in Camden on Aug 12.
Thanks for everything guys. Thanks for the music, the memories, and the opportunity to share it with so many incredible people. I wish all of you the best in your future endeavours.
UPDATE 5/28: Page sends his regards:
Dear friends,
As we wind down the Phish career, it is done with both great joy and great sadness. The joy comes from remembering the incredibly good times we’ve experienced, the successes we’ve enjoyed, and knowing that even in our closing we are honoring the band. The sadness is obviously driven by the fact that something I love will not be a part of my life anymore. To me, we have been the greatest band in the world and have had the greatest fans ever.
I still love the music we make but the situation feels different to me now. I guess in my heart I’ve known for a while that something had to change, but it wasn’t until this last weekend that my feelings really began to coalesce. I’m old enough now that I am able to look to the future without feeling that I need to balance it with my past.
I find it ironic that half of my life has to go by before I am able to focus solely on the future. As a member of a successful rock band, it seems that every aspect of my profession encourages me to extend my youth as long as possible. Don’t get me wrong, I like feeling young, but more importantly I need to be honest with myself.
The pressures and schedule of this work can take its toll personally as well as creatively. As someone who has recently been through a divorce,
I know how traumatic change can be. But, I also know that if you are able to let go of things and embrace change there is the potential for
incredible personal (and creative) growth.
If I sound unusually candid in this statement, I am able to do so because in my mind I’ve already moved on to the next phase of my life. This is a feeling I believe I share with Trey. I have a four-year-old daughter and there is nothing more important to me than being with her. Come August, I’m not going to have to tell her how many days ’til daddy comes back from tour. Combine that with my perception that the band’s vitality is not what it once was, and it’s easy to see how my mind
quickly begins to move in one direction instead of a hundred directions all at the same time.
I will miss it incredibly, but I have no regrets. The pride that I feel for the band, our fans, the organization, and all of our collective accomplishments is overwhelming. I love you all and know that we wouldn’t be here without you.
Thanks again.
Sincerely,
Page McConnell
May 23rd, 2004 — New York Giants
Former Giant QB heading to Oakland
.I’ll let Scotty comment on this more, but to me this is a shocking development. It’s not that I doubt Kerry Collins’ ability as a quarterback - oh wait a minute, yes I do. It’s more that I thought that Tuiasopo was set to take over from Gannon, and that Gannon was still good enough to start.
Well, that’s enough from me. I’ll let Scott take over from here. Scott, take it away…
Well, ever since Kerry left the Giants, rumors have been swirling around Oakland that they would or should sign him. Now, I’m not gonna believe it until I see, which is sure to be after June 1st. Assuming this is true, there are a few questions remaining about this signing. He is being brought in to compete or takeover for a starting job? Is he coming in to backup for this season and see what happens next? What about heir apparent qb Tui? Here is my attempt to answer these questions. I think that Collins is being brought in to take over for Gannon because he will be cheaper, has a stronger arm, is younger, and is not coming off season ending shoulder surgery. As for Tui, he has had to recover from his own season ending injury and has yet to really break out on top of learning a new system for which he may or may not have the physical tools.
To elaborate, Gannon will be a cap casaulty due to the amount of his salary, which is needed to address other areas, which may include resigning Charles Woodson. Also, there is historical evidence that qbs tend to hit the wall around 38; Gannon is 39. That said, I don’t blame Gannon solely for last year, I think that belongs to the OL and the previous head coach. Also, teammates of Gannon’s really don’t like his hyper-perfectionism and finger-pointing. Its well known in Oakland that he has worn out his welcome with them. When your teammates refer to you as “red-ass” Rich and don’t help you up when you’ve been knocked down in a game is a good indication that they don’t like you. When Kerry was replaced by Eli, Giants players had a fit; when Gannon leaves, his teamates will probably offer to help him pack and then hire a moving company for him with complimentary airfare for him and his family to their destination.
Now, here is how I feel about this. I am in favor of bringing in Collins because of the reasons I listed in the first paragraph. Secondly, he is a decent qb behind adequate protection, which is what the Raiders are building. Having an rb without Tiki-itis, I mean fumble-itis, will really help him as well. I am especially excited about a qb that can throw an accurate deep ball. We are finally returning to old time Raider football. Yay, no more dink and dunk, power running/vertical game, here we come. I think Kerry has the skills to be quite effective in this offense.
As for Gannon, I hate to see him go out like that since he is a Delaware alum. However, it is probably time. That Super Bowl still twists in my gut like a crooked knife and I hate to see that as his last hoorah. However, he will probably rebound in Tampa Bay, which only adds to the weirdness of Sapp in silver and black.
For more information, see ESPN.com
May 19th, 2004 — Music
Suggested title: “Sorry Honey No Zoo Today, Daddy’s Lost His License.”
.News out of New York today reports that the Piano Man will try his hand at writing children’s books. There’s been no word on whether the rumored “Face to Face” tour with JK Rowling is in fact in the works.
May 18th, 2004 — Arsenal FC
.Arsene Wenger was awarded the League Manager Association’s Manager Of The Year award today. This award is presented by the other managers in all of English football.
In other news, the FA have decided to reward Arsenal with a special trophy, commemerating the undefeated season. It will be similar to the Premiership trophy, but the scheme will be reversed; what is gold on the Premiership trophy will be silver, and what is silver will be gold.
