First Things First

Welcome.  This month is the first of the second year of my site.  I really can't believe that I've a whole year has gone by.  I want to thank everyone that has visited the site, and who continue to visit it.  The site has grown a lot this year, and it keeps growing.  I've added two more pictures to the color, and four to the black & white, section of Vista Drive.  Also added this month is the first installment of Celluloid Visions to Thoughts.  Celluloid Visions is a page dedicated to some of my favorite movies.  Enjoy the update.

Afterthoughts : Chick Hearn

Franis Dayle Hearn died August 5th.  Millions knew him as Chick.  To all of us here in Los Angeles he was not just the voice of the Lakers, he was the Lakers.  He was the living embodiment of what the Lakers are... for the simple reason that he honestly reported what was happening on the court, in an entertaining style that so many others have tried to imitate, but could never duplicate.

I grew up watching Laker games here on channel 9, and Chick was there all the way... but now he won't be.  I don't know how I'll be able to watch a Laker game and not feel sad by his passing.  I know he wouldn't want that, because he loved the game of basketball... and his love came through in every call he made.  My love of the game began with Chick Hearn's voice.  I mourn him tonight like I would a member of my own family.  I'm in tears right now... I can hardly see the computer screen.

For those who might be reading this and wonder why I, and millions of Laker fans, mourn a basketball announcer I can only say that Chick was not just an announcer.  He was a member of the family.  He was professional.  He was perfection behind the mic.  He taught me the game. He made me see the game through his word's eye view, which was like being there... even when I listened to the game on the radio.  His radio broadcasts were better than the network's TV broadcasts.  So many of us here in Los Angeles would turn on the TV and put the TV on mute, then turn the radio on to listen to Chick when the game was being broadcast nationally.

To those of you who love the game of basketball, but never got to hear him do his job... I feel sorry for you.  You never got to hear the best.  You never got to know the man who invented the lexicon of basketball.  Every time someone says "Slam Dunk" remember that Chick said that first. But that wasn't all that he did.  He brought joy to millions of fans in this town... and he brought joy to me.

You never got to hear him... and now since his passing, you never will.  My heart goes out to Chick's wife.  Chick died a couple of weeks short of their 64th wedding anniversary.  My heart is breaking... and I can only imagine how she must feel right now.

This is one of the saddest moments in my life.  I'll always remember him not just for the plays that he called, but for way he called them.  During the lean years between Showtime and the current Laker championship run there were years where the Lakers weren't very good.  I still loved watching the games, because of Chick. He made any game entertaining... even the blow outs.  He never lost his enthusiasm for the game.

I'll miss you Chick, and so will every Laker fan you touched with your words, and your kindness.  Thank you for all the wonderful years.  Thank you for being there.  Thank you for being you.

"This game is in the refrigerator... the lights out, the eggs are cooling, the butter's getting hard... and the Jell-O's jiggling."

Franis "Chick" Hearn  (1916 - 2002)

Editorial : One Year Later

It's been a year.  Everyone was affected when a gang of cowards crashed airliners into the World Trade center.  One year later I think that many of us have forgotten the wonderful rise in patriotism we experienced right after the attacks.  I know for my part I tried to make this world a little better, in order to counteract those cowardly acts.  I took it upon myself to be kinder to everyone around me.  While driving I always let the other person go first.  Same went for lines at the supermarket.  I noticed that the majority of people were doing the same.  It was nice to see that people really wanted to change things for the better after the attacks.  But, now I see everything going back to normal.  While that's fine in a way.  The thing that isn't fine is the way people are rude again.  We've forgotten.

Whatever happened to the flags?  For weeks after the attacks people had the flag everywhere, on their cars, on buttons, everywhere.  I had a flag on my car, and then I got one for my bumper.  I saw it the other day, it's a little worn out.  I plan on getting a new one soon.  But, where did all the flags go?  Now I hardly see any cars with a flag.  I know some of them got tattered from flapping in the breeze, but that doesn't mean you can't buy a new one.  I'm buying a new one.

OK, maybe these things are superficial, but they go a long way towards changing things for the better.  The flag reminds us of who we are, and what this country stands for... freedom.  It's important to remember that every day.  There are those who would take away our freedom, simply because they believe in some made up God.

So, on the one year anniversary of September 11th let us try to renew that feeling of patriotism that arose from the ashes of the World Trade center.  Let us try to be kinder to our fellow American.  Let us try to remember the freedoms that others would see fit to take away from us.  Remember all those things and try to be a better person.  Not only because it's been a year, but because it will make us stronger.

After the attacks we came together and showed the terrorist that no matter what they do they can never take away our freedom.  Let's remind them of that fact by treating each other with kindness.  Let's remind them of that fact everyday.

Etcetera : The Great Movies

If you love movies you have to get this book.  I strongly recommend this book to all those people who think that movies started with Titanic.  So many people out there today like movies but they watch all the wrong movies.  Then there are those who love movies and can't stand what is out in the multiplex right now.  This book is for both because it showcases 100 great movies.  This book is a love letter to great movies because it isn't written by someone who tries to find fault with everything, but rather someone who truly loves movies.  In over 100 years there have been literally 1000s of movies made.  The true masterpieces stand out because they are not only great, but because they were made with love... a love of story, love of the look and the love of storytelling.  If you take anything from this book it should be that there are great movies out there that didn't cost $100 million to make, don't have a 1000 special effects per shot, and don't drive the narrative past you at the speed of light because they fear that you'll get bored.  These are the great movies of our time, and we might debate which ones should, or shouldn't be on some arbitrary list made by a committee, but we can't debate that there is something special about each and every one of them.  Movies today don't seem to have that love in them anymore.  They're made by committees that are more interested in product tie-ins than storytelling.  Go, get this book, rent the movies in it and get an education in the art of film... if you truly call yourself a film lover.  Get away from the new releases aisle for once and look for movies that are the masterpieces of the art form.  If your only used to watching movies like Armageddon or Titanic, or worse yet Pearl Harbor, then you might not like some of these movies.  Why?  Because all you know is whoosh bang and not substance.  Your film palette is burnt by the Big Mac movies you have consumed over the years.  Yet, there is still hope for you.  Get this book and get some taste.  Get to know the movies that don't leave you as soon as you blink.  Get to know movies that inspire you, entertain you, and linger inside your heart.