Monday, March 31, 2008

News, Notes, Facts & (a few) Opinions from the owner Jim Yanz (if you care).

"Congratulations Bierstube!" Tuesday, March 3rd, the Bierstube took the
"Peoples Choice Award" (voted on by the participating samplers) for Best
Restaurant & Best Food out of about 30 other excellent restaurants. We
received a beautiful plaque & are hanging it proudly for everyone to see.
Great job Rob, Theron & Cindy & all who helped!
Reminder: The Bierstube's 1st golf tourney kicks off with JW's in Oakdale
majorly upgrading their tourney to the outstanding Stone Ridge, May 12th,
12:30 shot gun. Sign up now, spots are filling fast! One week later on
Tuesday, May 20th, 12:30 shot gun at the GREAT Hastings Country Club!!!
OPINIONS: "The Greatest of ALL TIME!!!" (Warning: There may be an obvious
admission or two, I'm just a bar owner & obviously not a writer, so
excuuuuuuuuuuuuse me!)
Heavy Weight Boxing: 1)Muhamid Ali, 2)Joe Louis, 3)Rocky Marciano, 4)George
Foreman, 5)Joe Fraizer.
QBs: 1)Joe Montana, 2)Johnny Unitas, 3)John Elway, 4)Tom Brady, 5)Tie: Sammy
Baugh & Otto Graham, Terry Bradshaw. Honorable Mention: Dan Marino, Brett
Favre (Sianara-so he says!), Troy Aikman, Peyton Manning, FRAN TARKENTON,
Roger Stauback, Steve Young & Bart Starr.
Defensive Players: 1)Lawrence Taylor, 2)Reggie White, 3)ALLEN PAGE(1st &
maybe still the only defensive player to win the NFL's MVP), 4)Ronnie Lott,
5)Dick Butkis, 6)Brian Urlacher, Honorable Mention: PAUL KRAUSE (still &
probably always will hold record for most interceptions), Mike Singletary,
Ray Nischke, Ray Lewis, Julius Peppers, many of the 85 Bears & 70's
Steelers.
Best Sport: FOOTBALL!!! Best All Around Football Player of all time: Joe
Montana
Best Team &/or Season: 85 Bears! How good & arrogant & confident do you have
to be to do the Superbowl Shuffle before the season really begins & then win
in such OVERWHELMING DOMINATING fashion!
Best Baseball Player: Babe Ruth! Period! Best Hockey Player: Wayne Gretzky!
Period!
Best Pitchers: 1)Sandy Kofax, 2)Bob Gibson, 3)Tom Seaver, 4)Cy Young,
5)Nolan Ryan, Honorable Mention: Orel Hershiser, Babe Ruth, Vida Blue,
Catfish Hunter, Johan Santana.
Biggest Jokes: 1)Barry Bonds, 2)Tie: Roger Clemens & Mark McGuire,
Best Pure Hitters: 1)Babe Ruth, 2)Ted Williams, 3)Ty Cobb, 4)Tie: Joe
Dimagio & Mickey Mantle, 5)Hank Aaron, 6)Alex Rodriquez, 7)Tie: Ken Griffey
Jr. & Willie Mays, 8)Tie: Lou Gerhig & George Brett, 9)Honus Wagner, 10)Tie:
Stan Musial, ROD CAREW, Tony Gwyn & Pete Rose. Honorable Mention: Mr. Clutch
Reggie Jackson, KIRBIE PUCKET, Wade Boggs & Don Mattingly.
Best Swimsuit Covergirl: Christie Brinkley.
Best Cover: Christie Brinkley, 1980, British Virgin Islands (of course I'm a
little biased, I was 15 at the time!)
Best Receiver of All Time: Jerry Rice! Period!
Best Basketball Player of all time: (Probably hardest to choose from)
1)Michael Jordan, 2)Bill Russell, 3)Tie: Kareem Abdul Jabbar & Wilt
Chamberlain, 4)Tie: Larry Bird & Magic Johnson - Best All Around Complete
Fundamental Passing & Scoring Tandem, along with absolutely saving the
sinking NBA in the 80's (the way you should & the way you'd want your kids
to play; absolutely unselfish), 5)Oscar Robinson, 6)Tim Duncan, 7)Elgin
Baylor, 8)Tie: Moses Malone & Shaq *Only because the NBA inexplicably
allowed him to take one huge drop step into the stationary defenders with
his left elbow held high elbowing either or both the defenders chest &/or
face only to have the foul called on the defender (Most of those should've
been flagrant personal offensive charging fouls on Shaq!), 9)Steve Nash
(Ditto like Bird & Johnson), 10)GEORGE MIKAN, 11)Isaiah Thomas, 12)Elvin
Hayes, 13)Bill Walton (remember I'm considering eras & in their prime),
14)Dr. J., 15) Lebron James 16)Kobe Bryant, Honorable Mention: Bob Cousey,
John Havlicheck, Bernard King, George Gervin, Pete Maravich, etc...
Best Running Backs: 1)Jim Brown, 2)Barry Sanders, 3)Walter Payton, 4)ADRIAN
PETERSON (I'm a Homer!).
"BEST MURDERER: OJ
SIMPSON!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"
Biggest Sports Injustice: 1)OJ not guilty, 2)Pete Rose (not in hall of
fame), Inside story, ask me! 3)BERT BLYLEVIN not in hall of fame, 4)1972 USA
vs Russia at the Soviet Union during the Gold Medal Game (hint: Russian
refs!)
Best Golfer: 1)Tiger Woods, 2)Jack Nicklaus, 3)Tie: Arnie Palmer & Byron
Nelson (won 11 tourneys in a row in 1945), 4)Sam Snead, 5)Ben Hogan.
Best Male Tennis Player: 1)Rod Laver, 2)Bjorn Borg, 3)Tie: Pete Sampras &
Roger Federererererererererer, 4)John McEnroe, 5) Jimmy Conners, Honorable
Mention: Ivan Lendle, Andre Agassi.
Best Female Tennis Player: 1)Steffi Graph, 2)Martina Navratilova, 3)Yes!
Monica Seles-nobody was dominating at her age & she introduced power to
women's tennis before she got stabbed by jealous German maniac Gunter Parks
who wanted Graph to be #1 in the world instead of the unbeatable, dominating
Seles who had a chance to be #1 of ALL TIME!!! 4)Chris Everet, 5)Tie: Serena
Williams & Billie Jean King, Honorable Mention: Far too many!!!
Best & Most Dominating of Their Sport by a large margin: Babe Ruth! (Still
holds several pitching records as well)
Best Sport Moment of all time: USA! USA! USA! 1980 Olympic Gold Medal
winning Hockey Team!!
Best High School Baseball Coach & Bull Sh---er Ever By Far: Doc Loudin &
Juice Johnson.
Best High School Soccer & Golf Coach & Worst Pro Hockey Scout By Far: Don
Saatzer
Greatest Comedian of all Time: Don Rickles! Still unbelievable & on top of
his game at 82! I've had the great luck to see him a few times & if you like
him on the talk shows, don't regret it & not see him live if you have a
chance.
Heartfelt Thank You!: To ALL of the original Hastings Bierstubians who've
come & gone. We just had the great fortune of celebrating our 45th
anniversary this past December 15th. My father died 25 years ago this
September 21st & we promise you all a very special celebration of his life
on that anniversary weekend. I'm not going to try to name names because it's
impossible to not leave anybody out. I've known so many of you for so long &
there's so many great people & friends who patronize the Bierstube that I'm
not going to even come close to offending ANYONE by mentioning any names,
there are far too many to mention! I just want you ALL to know; (past &
present workers included) & I know & can speak for my entire family that we
have & ALWAYS will have a special place in our hearts for all of you! Both
present, past & recently past no longer with us having a beverage or a brat
putting up with my Dad's cigar smoke in heaven. The Yanz family thanks &
appreciates you all more than you will ever know!
Opinion: A LOT of violence, special effects & no real endings & you're sure
to win an Oscar!
Fact: As of this month, John Wooden still is not dead. (Greatest college
basketball coach ever.)
Fact: There comes a good to great movie once every so often; Shindler's
List, Titanic, Crash, etc. but movies today AIN'T WHAT THEY USED TO BE!
#1 Thing I Love: Old fashioned common courtesy in men not only opening but
running to open a door for a women (or anyone else for that matter).
#1 Thing That I Hate: Snobiness & people who act like they are more
important or better than another person & don't know the meaning of common
courtesy. People who UNDERSTAND common courtesy understand that a dishwasher
or cleaning person deserve the exact same common courtesy as a Dr. Surgeon
or Professional Athlete. (Probably a lot more than most professional
athletes!)
Fact: I will shave my head in Larry's Lounge if Kobe Bryant & the Lakers win
the NBA Championship. (Even though I think they have a pretty decent
chance!) *Boy I hope Kobe doesn't get caught in yet another affair
distracting himself & possibly his teammates?*
Fact: Researchers in Germany found that napping 6 minutes a day increases
productivity (I prefer 26 minutes).
We're commin!!!: Vikings went for & got both the best wide receiver & safety
available in Bernard Berian & Madieu Williams.
Fact: Nice guys can finish 1st! Sun Ray Lane's Robbie Lawrence bowled
Minnesota's 4th highest league 3 game series total of all time! Bowling 2
consecutive 300 games & then bowling 10 straight strikes in the 3rd game,
leaving only the 8 pin on his on his 11th &/or 2nd ball in the 10th & easily
picking up his spare on the last shot of the night leaving him with an
unbelievable high 3 game series of 889! WAY TO GO ROBBIE!!!
Congratulations Robbie Lawrence! I know Robbie personally & he's been a
great bowler for a long time & not once has he acted like it. He is as
humble, sincere & genuinely attentive to what anyone wants to talk about,
even constant bowling talk & stories, questions & free advice. It couldn't
have happened to a nicer guy! Good luck on your potential quest for that
900!
Fact: As of March 2008, there has only been 15 league with no pro-bowling
900's in the HISTORY of bowling!!!
THANK YOU! All 1st Tuesday of the month from Hastings & Oakdale for raising
a combined $20,000+ for your local food shelves for 2007! My family & I
THANK YOU VERY MUCH!!!
Bold Viking Prediction: If the Vikings do what sports writer Charlie Walters
suggested could be a possibility & trade our #1 draft choice for Carolina's
Peppers & Tarvaris just plays ok, that automatically makes us Superbowl
contenders! This would be 2008's version of the Purple People Eaters,
especially with the Williams wall. You heard it here 1st!!!
Barely Partial Truth & Admission: I hope you find this Blog somewhat
informative & maybe even somewhat entertaining &/or funny. If you strongly
disagree with some of the opinions expressed, remember my wife Jodi types
this & she is opinionated enough that it's very likely that she may have
completely changed my correct opinion. If you're not napping already, thanks
for your time & your welcome for your current or upcoming nap! Take care &
God Bless!

Sunday, March 23, 2008

March Bierstube Blog

Fact: All Bierstube cities have outstanding athletic programs in many various sports & have made it to state or won state over the years in many various sports. Far too many to mention! Congratulations to you all & keep up the great work!

Fact: Hastings got particularly (coincidently) outstanding the years after I graduated in 1983. HMMM???

Fact: The Bierstube had the great honor of making the “Treasures of MN” book & is on sale at each Bierstube. It comes complete with a Bierstube logo bookmark telling you our pages & locations, great food, history, etc.

Fact & if you care: My 2 best friends from grade school in Hastings & still are Steve Nielsen & John Klimek.

Fact: Speaking of Klimek, the “hubbub” about him is absolutely true. I recently found that out on our 20th annual golf trip (& rather scary I might add. This is somewhat of an inside joke. For those of you who aren’t in on it, use your imagination & read into it a little bit.) Yet another great trip huh guys! John, Joel, Rod, Warmy, Dave, Tom N. & Tom S.

Fact: All of the other Bierstubes are taking Hastings & Oakdale’s leads & are in the process of setting up something similar to help their local food shelves. What Hastings & Oakdale do is on the 1st Tuesday of each month from 6:00 p.m.- close we donate ½ of all of our food sales to our local food shelves.

Fact: JoJo the Balloon Guy (the Elvis of balloon guys) has graciously donated his time from 6:00-? In Oakdale just to add fun for all the kiddies & some young at heart adults. Thank you again so much Joe Leonard!!!

Opinion: The Twins & the Vikings haven’t handled things (front office wise) the best. But then again they haven’t by far been the worst. They’ve generally been better than they’ve been bad.

Prediction: Look for a couple of semi competitive years from each club; maybe even more from the Vikings depending on certain acquisitions. Possibly the same thing could be said for the Twins if EVERYTHING clicks!

Opinion: Enjoy what we have! Be positive, look forward to the great outdoor stadium & don’t forget ‘87 & ‘91!

Fact: Speaking of ’87 & ’91, in 1987, my brother Mike, Mark Merkling & I bought LW’s. In 1991, I opened JW’s Bierstube the same week the Twins were in the World Series. The Twins won the series both years. AHHH…it seems like yesterday when I bought out Rainbow’s Homer Hankies & had just enough for our Friday night customers the night of “GAME 6” The hair on my arms & the lump in my throat witnessing the game & the homer hankied happy customers for me was better than being at the game.
Fact: There are no plans of opening any new Bierstubes soon!!! (From Jim’s wife: THANK GOD!!!)

Fact: Jim Yanz runs over JJ’s Bierstube partner & friend, Jim McArdle, for game winning touchdown!!! Hastings Raiders 6, Tartan Titans 0 during 1982 Varsity Black & Blue Divisional Clash!
Opinion: If you observe closely, you can still see my cleat marks on his gigantic Cro-Magnon forehead. Jim was so woozy from the tremendously jarring hit that he still has trouble remembering to this day. He tries to refuse such a torrid embarrassing (not to mention dominating & overpowering of himself) memory.
Fact: Jim & I are believed to be brothers by looks by many people & have been asked literally 100s of times if we are. My typical response is it must be OUR huge Cro-Magnon foreheads (& dashing good looks!)

Congratulations: To the Chris & Frank Tschida Family! Thanks to their beautiful young daughter Cara on Friday, February 22, Cara found Homer Simpson in record breaking time (about 15-20 seconds) & won 5 great seats to Disney on Ice “Finding Nemo!” Congrats to the whole family!
Congratulations Part 2: Another wonderful family also won tickets to “Finding Nemo!” (Sorry I don’t have their names!)
Both winners got nearly standing ovations & very rousing & sincere rounds of applause!

Customers of the month at JW’s: All of you young guys & gals I see every Friday night! Too many names, not enough room! Thanks for your enthusiastic, innocent, (surprisingly mature at your age compared to me), fun & bright, infectious smiles, you are not only the future of the Bierstube, but also the present! Also, very long timers: Franz, Mason, Bob, Jerry & Mary, Joe & Bonnie, Sparky & Vi, Sue & that one guy, Liam, Chris & Ava, & a little newer but none the less, my Friday night buddies, Denise & Wes & last but not least, Bill & Char! THANK YOU! THANK YOU! THANK YOU! I hope you all can make it to our 18th annual customer appreciation pig/turkey roast on Saturday July 12th. *Other Bierstubes, please be patient, everybody will get a turn! Thanks for your understanding, I only have so much room!

Prediction: Never thought I’d say this, but I believe the smoking ban helps all the Bierstubes! Especially those with adequate to 1st class smoking patios!

Opinion: A little boring for sports fans right now, but March Madness begins: NCAA Tourneys, the Masters, Twins Season Opener at home against Torii Hunter & the CA Angels March 31st, NFL Draft in April - hang in there sports fans!

Incidentally: Rob from the Bierstube in Hastings still has a little bit of room on his 2nd bus from the opening game against Torii & the Angels. Call Rob (651)334-1972 for details. If you can find a ride to Hastings, we’ll drop you off at the Oakdale Stube on the way home from the game. Great seats, 3rd of the way up the 2nd deck behind home plate!

Fact: I cannot express the absolute appreciation & admiration enough to Dena Shull of Oakdale, Rob Groth of Hastings & Cindy Schafer of IGH for their loyalty, support, perseverance & hard work that they have sacrificed for myself the past few years of the most difficult & trying business transitions I’ve EVER had! I thank you all so much!

Prediction: John McCain vs. Barack Obama for the Presidency (OOH real bold prediction! But some of you have asked for more predictions!)
Prediction: Tiger Woods will take 3 out of 4 majors. But who’s not already predicting something like that?!
Opinion: Maria Sharapova & Serena Williams in a tie.
Fact: I will still have my head shaved at “Larry’s Lounge” if the Celtics win the NBA Championship this season!

Reminder: The Bierstube’s 1st Golf Tourney kicks off with JW’s in Oakdale majorly upgrading their tourney to the outstanding Stone Ridge, May 12th, 12:30 shot gun.

Highly Recommended: The loop in the Pioneer Press. Sundays are particularly hilarious along side Charlie Walters with your kids locked up in a far away sound proof room, ear plugs in, a cup of coffee, juice, etc. & a little breakfast or a snack; you just can’t beat it.

Notice: ALL Bierstubes are going Irish St. Patty’s weekend! Specializing in the mouthwatering slow roasted corned beef & cabbage Saturday, Sunday & Monday. Great beer specials as well! Yes, Green if you want it!

Prediction: The acquisition of Shaq wins the well deserving Steve Nash (best in the NBA) his 1st NBA Title. (Why didn’t or couldn’t the wolves get a Shaq or a Paul Gasol? These acquisitions make it that much more in the bag that I won’t have to shave my head when Mr. Clutch (Kevin Garnett) & the Celtics don’t win the Championship.)

Happy 40th Birthday to the ravishingly beautiful Lara Donovan!

Overrated: Bryant McKinnie fights in night clubs better than on the football field.

Barely Partial Truth & Admission: I hope you find this Blog somewhat informative & maybe even somewhat entertaining. If you strongly disagree with some of the opinions expressed, remember my wife Jodi types this & she is opinionated enough that it’s very likely that she may have completely changed my CORRECT opinion. If you’re not napping already, thanks for your time & you’re welcome for your current or upcoming nap! Take care & God Bless!