Music: These are the people I know

I've played and sung and written music my whole life. You can see more of the early band stuff from Cleveland here. It's mostly about the legendary Backdoor Men.

Most recently (i.e., the last decade), I've played and recorded in Portland. My primary sidekick for years was Tom Chartrand, an excellent drummer. He and I have worked out many original songs over the years, many of which have been recorded, usually not by the two of us. We have one really killer take on a song called "Back From the Dead" with Suzi Z on bass. Tom and me at our very best.


More recently, since June of 2008, I've played and recorded a considerable amount of music with Since June. That's Dave G on drums, Ann T on accordion, Suzi Z on bass and me on everything else. The songs are either by myself or written with Terry Hartman, currently with Dead Beat Poets
You can go to the MySpace link at Since June to hear us and learn more about the band.

What Dan does: Music, mountains and movin' on the train

Ah, the many moods of our Mr. Cook.
Backpacking with Dr. Wayne and Dr. Paul;
Music with Since June;
and captured by Therese in Chicago as he detrains in September.

Farewell to baseball--for now

I tried mightily to maintain my interest in (forget passion for) baseball in the last two years. But between steroids, liars all around, gobs of money and flat-out greed, I just couldn't do it. My own recent awakening put it in perspective. I'll always love Vic Power, Willie Kirkland, The Rock and Daddy Wags. I'll never stop consulting the Baseball Encyclopedia (1993 edition). But my days of following professional athletes are over.

The site will be converted to something more utilitarian (kinda like Hector Lopez): my personal portfolio site. As I enter my 10th month of job-hunting, I realize I need to be able to direct people somewhere that they can see what I have done. And maybe some of those eyes will get a kick out of the old baseball material on the site. Maybe I'll get hired by an Indians' fan. Stranger things have happened. Take, for instance, that bad hop that hit Kubek in the throat in ... wait, I'm not going there.

Bye bye now.
Dan

Recent Rant from my pal Rik on the Sabathia trade

I think they should have traded Shapiro and Wedge as well.......while I wasn't a huge CC fan, I'm tired of these geniuses growing great, even Hall of Fame prospects and letting them go. They can't be that stupid to think that big players don't get big bucks but that also brings big dollars back to the organization and city ) as well as other players wanting to join).

I think all owners should be required to take a psychology/sociology course on community dynamics. Especially in Cleveland, where I am more convinced than ever, that sports is the heart of the city. It colors the attitude of the environment (and those who were exposed to the C Town gene as kids). There is just some depressing component there that can only be over shadowed by successful sports franchises.

It's the Prozac of Northeastern Ohio. I don't see it recovering as an industrial base anytime in the foreseeable future so what's left to give the area a lift? Michael Stanley? There hasn't been a GOOD band to come out of there since the Raspberries, who never got the acclaim they deserved in town (even from me). So it's back to sports for a remedy...."it's not just entertainment".

Hey, think we could package that slogan and sell it to one of the teams (probably the Browns) or a newly formed "city sports council" to oversee all that's wrong with their professional sports teams.....?

And 40 years later, the Tribe dumps its ace again

Sabathia was traded today. I guess it had to happen, what with last place, free agency looming, his weight problems, lack of chemistry.

But... in 1968 the Tribe had a pitching rotation teams only dream of: Tiant, Siebert, McDowell, Hargan, Stan Williams. By mid-1969, Tiant and Siebert were gone.

Tiant would win 154 games post-trade, Siebert 67. The team collapsed as a direct result of those trades. Williams went in the Tiant trade, and had a spectacular 1969 and a decent 1970 before he called it quits.

The Tribe did receive Graig Nettles in the Tiant deal, but didn't keep him long enough to savor the trade. Siebert went for threee over-the-hill vets (Harrelson, Ellsworth and Pizarro) and caught a second wind at age 32.

The Tribe just sucked wind after 1968. Hopefully, Sabathia will be the only pitcher to go this time. The others are a good group, better than most clubs have today. Get some hitters, you guys, and leave the pitchers alone!