July Blog

"According to Jim" (Jim's rants & raves)

 

 

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

Part 7: July 2008

 

Saints Fun Bus!: Come join us for our Annual German Heritage night at the Saints game, Monday, August 4^th. $30 includes fun transportation (bathroom on bus), beer & pop on bus, tailgating under a huge outdoor tent with more free beer & brats, reserved seating & a chance to see the one & only "Utube Bierstube Guy star" Mike Yanz throw out the 1^st pitch for the Saints & then attempt to go 9 innings before getting thrown out himself by security…

 

Strong Opinion: I've thought the NBA was fixed ever since the mid 80's when it installed the inexplicable (behind closed doors) ping pong ball lottery. Guess who had the worst chance to get the pick that year with under a 3% chance. One hint; the #1 ranked market "New York" Knicks of course. And who did they take with that pick? The supposed greatest center to come out of college in many, many years, the player who was supposed to bring the Knicks back to their prominence & win multiple championships (never won a single one) Georgetown's 7 foot Patrick Ewing. Now this year the #2 market Chicago with a 1.5% chance wins the #1 pick (still done before & behind closed doors). Why do the supposed powers that be stand by & keep letting this happen? This along with the officiating scandal, the ESPN Era of needing to make the top 10 highlights instead of the Larry Bird, Magic Johnson, John Stockton & Steve Nash unselfish proper way of playing, the rap music before, during & after the games, the punk attitude of 95% of all the players, high fives after every free throw (made or missed) the unbalanced officiating for the star players & the home teams, allowing not just 2 steps but 2 ½, 3 & most of the time (Ginoble, Kobe, etc. 3.5 steps when the rule is clearly a foot & a half. "AND MOST OF ALL" because as you can tell I could go on forever the DISGUSTING, FOUL, DISGRACEFUL, DISPICIBLE, COMPLETELY LOUD PROFANITY that is aloud by every & any players ALL THE TIME! When I was 13 to 23 to 33 & now 43 years old I've always found it to be disgusting, shameful & classless behavior. My Dad instilled that in us as kids. My Dad Larry not only ever swore, but as a bar owner, also did not tolerate ANY excessive bad language within his restaurant. The tradition continues nearly 25 years after his passing (neither do any of the Bierstubes now or never will!). The #1 offender, the disgusting Kevin Garnett! David Stern; this is a great way to teach our kids proper etiquette, self control & sportsmanship. How about concentrating less on the soon to be flopping rule & more on the completely more obvious problem & install a new rule of no more "f"inghimers & childish outbursts in your supposed Pro Basketball league. Right now, the pro in Pro Basketball stands for Profanity Basketball. Clean up this league now & have a no tolerance rule like your equally silly leaving the bench rule that ruined last years entire playoffs! (Hint Amar Stodimiar) Better yet, move on David Stern & see if Roger Goodell would like to moonlight a few hours for the NBA!

 

Shave My Head Update:  Yes, I am a man of my word & will be shaving my head Friday night, July 11^th at approximately 8 p.m. in the Larry's Lounge Smoking Patio in Oakdale. I DON'T look forward to seeing you there!

 

Congratulations: KG on your 1^st & hopefully only NBA Championship. There's no denying there probably has never been anyone who has given more effort or intensity on the basketball court & deserves immense credit for a league that doesn't come near that type of effort until maybe the final minute of the 4^th quarter. Speaking of the 4^th quarter and KG; There is also very little doubt that there's probably never been a so called superstar like Kevin Garnett who has been so afraid & so bad at stepping up during crunch time as him. So congratulations KG, you hustling, choking, spineless, profanity punk! (Jodi, where'd you put my razor?) All other jobs in America have to be held with a certain decorum, self control & common courtesy, so what's so different about sports? Especially basketball P.S. By the way Kevin, act like you've been there before instead of majorly embarrassing yourself.

 

IMPORTANT REMINDER: The Leonard Schaffer Memorial (LW's Bierstube) Golf Tournament is coming fast, Monday, July 21^st 12:45 shotgun start scramble at River Oaks. 100% of ALL of the proceeds will go towards medical bills for Hannah O'Halloran. Hannah is Leonard's Great Granddaughter & LW's manager Cindy's Granddaughter. She is 18 months old & was born premature & has already accumulated unbelievable excessive medical bills. If you are unable to participate in this very worthy & necessary fundraiser for her but would like to help, please contact Cindy (651/428-1361). Your participation &/or help is UNBELIEVABLY APPRECIATED!

 

Overheard: "The Church is not a museum for Saints, but a hospital for Sinners."

 

Who Said It? "No man stands s tall than when he stoops to help a child." Abraham Lincoln

 

Speaking of Children: Wayne Deilke (a very good Bierstube customer) took his daughter Cassie to her 1^st Twins game 19 years ago when she was 5. They got there a little early & Cassie was already getting bored. It seemed like Cassie's only saving grace would be to catch a foul ball from Kirby Puckett, so Cassie hoped & hoped. In the mean time Dad Wayne continually trying to entertain his daughter but warning not to get too disappointed if one doesn't come her way tries to explain the odds to his daughter being very unlikely but let's have a good time & you never know. Almost needless to say, a Kirby Puckett foul ball comes their way; Wayne drops it & Cassies had nightmares ever since! Just kidding! Wayne catches it & immediately hands it to his daughter to a standing ovation from the nearby crowd. Cassie, now 24, still displays that ball proudly (hopefully more because of Dad than Kirby) & also is an accomplished ice skater, skating with Disney on Ice the past several years! Way to go Deilkes!!!

 

Who Said It #2? "We make a living by what we get; we make a life by what we give." Winston Churchill

 

Set Your DVR or Tivo: JW's  Bierstube in Oakdale bartender Jimmy will be on a Wheel of Fortune replay Monday, July 7^th. Asked how he did he said, "I'm still schlepping drinks for you ain't I? You'll just have to tune in & see." (Game Show network at 9:30 a.m.)

 

Misc. Sports: Twins remain contenders hovering about 1 ½  back. 1^st time their starting pitchers have won six in a row since 2006 when it was Santana, Radke, Liriano & Baker. The current Twins streaks ERA in the last 9 games has been a remarkable 1.76, winning 8 of 9. Vikings definitely on the right track. T-Wolves better take a chance on Mayo (could be a blessing in disguise getting rather unlucky with the 3^rd overall pick); Gophers have to show me something positive fairly early before I start caring again; Wild or Gopher Hockey ask my friends John Klimek, Rob "Tally Wacker" Talofous, or Scott Berg (they know a little bit more about hockey than I do). Rob is Dean Talofous's (9 year NHL veteran) younger brother. None the less, Rob is over 10 times the athlete his older brother Dean was. Rob made honorable mention in synchronized swimming his senior year.

 

Rocco Rocco Rocco!!! What can we say about this year's US Open besides WOW! That tourney goes down as one of the top 5 Golf tournaments & top 50 sporting events of "all time!" I used to be against the 18 hole playoff, but for just he US Open what the heck. We all seen (or hopefully a lot of you          ) That was & maybe (unless there's another affable smiley easy going fun 45 year old guy who's never won a major challenging Tiger) the last time I'll ever root for anyone else but him. It's fun watching history unfold before your very eyes. With Tiger's bad knee & Rocco just being Rocco, to me & I'm sure the audience & the sponsors there definately was no loser. What a story for Rocco to tell his Grandchildren! He gave Tiger, in Tiger's own words, "his greatest win, tournament & challenge than any he's ever played."

 

Enjoy: the Masters of Golf, Superbowl of Football & the World Series of Baseball. Enjoy the Wimbeldon Championships (both men & ladies) this Holiday weekend & more importantly have a safe & fun holiday & a blessed & hopefully warm & sunny July!

 

God Bless: Shannon Robinson (my sister-in-law) & her family. Shannon had surgery to remove a brain tumor & everything went great! Tumor was malignant & she's going to be fine. She's getting back to her normal, happy self. Thanks for all your prayers!

 

God Bless: Bonnie Sylvester & her entire family. Bonnie was simply the sweetest, nicest, classiest person I've ever met.