September Blog

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

 

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

Part 9: September 2008

 

"Olympics Review & Special Events Edition"

 

OKTOBERFEST! The Bierstube's Oktoberfests are starting in grand style at LW's Bierstube in IGH, Friday, September 12 & 13^th, also celebrating this locations 25 year anniversary! There will be tons of specials all weekend featuring our GRAND PRIZE 42 inch Big Screen Plasma TV! (Mostly donated by Plaza TV in W. St. Paul. Thank you Plaza TV!) Drawing will be held September 15^th during Monday Night Football. Must be present to win. You can fill out a slip everyday from now until then. Good luck Bierstubians! Oktoberfest will run every Friday & Saturday starting at LW's, then Hastings, Oakdale, Red Wing & the "Super Grand Finale" at JJ's in White Bear Lake October 10 & 11^th. Check out your local listings & schedules at any Bierstube.

 

Speaking of 25: The original Bierstube in Hastings (est. 1962) will be having a "VERY SPECIAL" 25 year anniversary "Tribute" to the original proprietor & founder, very proud to say my father, Larry Yanz's celebrating of his life on the actual 25 year anniversary of his passing on Sunday, September 21^st. This will coincide with Oktoberfest the same weekend. My Dad lived until he was 51 years old & we will be giving away 51 prizes throughout the weekend, including very special prizes for the top 3 stories about Larry! The story's must be under 125 words, very legible (if not typed) & submitted by Wednesday, September 17^th. Every story needs to be appropriate in language & content. Every single Larry Yanz story will win a prize for just submitting it on time. The top 3 (1 gold, 1 silver, 1 bronze-in the spirit of this years Olympics & my Dad's love of sports) will be framed & hung permanently in the original Bierstube & many, if not all of the other Bierstubes. You definitely can remain anonymous if you choose. Any questions regarding our Oktoberfest featuring the Amazing Dale Grove (accordion extraordinaire) or Tim Erickson (Host/all around talent & entertaining showman) or our SPECIAL CELEBRATIONS please inquire with our wait staff or bartenders or call me (Jim Yanz 612/868-1305).

 

SPECIAL PRIZES! Just a few of the many, many special prizes include: 25 Larry's Steak Special dinners (for the 25 year anniversary), 51 Larry's Steak Special dinners (for every year Larry lived). Winner will receive one dinner per month (that's over 2 or 4 years worth of dinners!), Vikings vs. Packers tickets, jewelry donated by Johnson Jewelers, CASH!, & much, much more!!! Prizes 1-24 will be given out Saturday, September 20^th, & prizes 25-51 will be given out Sunday, September 21^st after the Vikings game.

 

Highly Recommended Movies: "Walk Hard: The Legend of Dewey Cox" (hysterical), Charles Haley's "Roots."

 

Homerun Champion: Did anyone else notice the inexplicable lack of attention & credit the overrated Joe Buck & the rest of the media refused to give our Justin Morneau? Even during the Pre All Star Game introductions they announced Josh Hamilton the "Star of last night's homerun contest" & didn't mention A THING about the Champion Justin Morneau. Josh did steal the show, but Justin plain & simple was "The 2008 Homerun Champion!"

 

OLYMPICS! Even if you're not a big sports fan, if you put a little effort into checking some events out there's usually at least a couple of riveting, emotional, compelling & especially controversial events that happen pretty much daily.

Fireworks: The Chinese invented fireworks.

Opinion: Michael Phelps is neither the greatest athlete nor the greatest Olympian ever. He is one of the best, if not "the Best" swimmers ever AND in his sport had many more opportunities to win than the other sports. What he did was absolutely phenomenal & great, but to me it doesn't even come close to what most gymnasts (men or women) can do.

Fun to Watch: Women's beach volleyball, especially Misty May (& not just for her bikini or lack there of). Surprising…Table Tennis! My & Jodi's favorite, gymnastics!

Speaking of Gymnastics: Nastia Liuken, Shawn Johnson & others got screwed a few times. How many Chinese gals either fell down or took huge steps & cross steps on their dismounts, while our Americans were nailing their routines & sticking their dismounts. They virtually had the exact same degree of difficulty only to be cheated on their final scores. Oh, & I'm SORRY CHINA, but multiple winner He Hexin is not even close to being 16 years old. People might say what does it matter if she's the best she deserves it. To that I say "yes," but how many other rule abiding countries may have left their underage & better athletes at home? A rule's a rule, & hopefully this farce is justified by the IOC & the proper winners move up a medal where they belong.

"Real Greatest Athletes" Jim Thorpe, Wilt Chamberlain, Dave Preiner's wife Jill, Tiger Woods, Michael Jordan, Joel Varburg, Lebron James, Jessie Owens, Bruce Jenner & many decathlon winners including USA winner Brian Mays, top gymnasts (like Mary Lou Retton, Nadia Comanechie, Olga Colbert, Rod Insland), Usain Bolt, Mike Yanz (TV commercials "Bierstube Guy"), many pro football, hockey, baseball & basketball players, Babe Ruth, Mike Montcreif, Muhamid Ali, Tubby Biskupski, Bo Jackson, Don Saatzer, Doc Louden & of course Murph…you get the picture.

Did you know? The historic China Drum Tower, in which Minnesota's Todd Bachman (fatally) & Barbara Bachman (stable condition) were stabbed while on a guided tour, was built in the 13^th century. Back then, when people screwed up on their job or showed up late, the Chinese government would kill them & bury them within the concrete slabs of the building.

Best Story: The emotional roller coaster it must have been for the "Gold Medal Winning" coach of the exciting "Gold Medal Winning" volleyball team. Just 2 weeks after losing his father-in-law & almost his mother-in-law, while his traumatized wife witnessed the crazed knife wielding killer, his underage, underdog team goes out & wins the gold. Most of them admitted winning the gold was for their visibly grieving coach Hugh Mucuteon.

USA in the NBA Stands for: Unparallel Spoiled Adolescent Narcissistic chest pumping look at me Babies All day long (for many but NOT ALL). Have any NBA basketball players EVER committed a foul EVER since the 1980's? Boy do I miss the Larry Byrds, Magic Johnsons, Kevin McHales, John Stocktons, Dr. Js, Moses Malones, John Havilechecks, Bill Russells, Dave Cowens & MANY more of the quieter & respectful, raise their hands when they committed a foul (or not) but didn't whine or cry after every single foul era. What a great example our current NBA punks are leaving for our kids these days. Not to mention most of their selfish & lazy play. Was their very many others out their rooting for Spain in the closely contested gold medal game? Who else pines for the old fashioned days of true sportsmanship? A good start; zero tolerance for demonstrative whiney complaining after fouls called or an automatic technical and ban all controversial hip hop rap during all NBA games. I could go on, but I think my blog readers get the picture.

Kudos: To USA Olympian David Neville for diving at the finish line for the bronze in the 100 meter hurdles & making it a clean sweep for the USA in that event. (That's what I'm talking about NBA primadonnas!)

 

Vikings Comment: If the Vikings win one of their 1^st two very difficult games at Green Bay & home vs. Indianapolis, in my mind it will be considered a great start.

 

A big birdie says: The blog has learned that the great Usian Bolt would have to go through a whole NFL process including entering the Draft & could not just be signed as a free agent.

 

"In Memory of My Dad Larry Yanz"

"Dad, as the 25^th Anniversary of your death approaches Sunday, September 21^st, I find myself thinking about you even more, & that's saying a lot. You've done so much for me & your family, not to mention your other family the community of Hastings. You helped many other individuals, including complete strangers who were simply down on their luck. Dad, in my heart, I could not have asked for a more supportive, loving father! I wish my wonderful wife Jodi would have had a chance to meet you. She hears so much about you that she always tells me what a great guy you must have been. Max, Sam & Maci obviously never had a chance to see or be with you, for physically you were long gone. You are, however, somehow with them much more than I EVER would have believed or thought possible. Just recently 5 year old Max has been asking more questions about Grandpa Larry. A few times when he has seen me in deep thought or a little sad, he would seemingly detect my feelings & help me. With some very timely and meaningful hugs, kisses & even clings at somehow just the right times. They have all helped me very much to move on. If it wasn't for you Dad, there wouldn't be them, which (to me) makes me the luckiest man in the world! Along with being sad & missing you much more these days, I also am SO grateful to God for allowing me such a great Dad, who unconditionally loved me & has filled me with countless happy memories that I'll always have & cherish for the rest of my life. As the song goes, "Only the Good Die Young" and you were (in my eyes) 'THE BEST!' I love you Dad! Your son, Jim."

Notes, Facts & Opinions from the owner Jim Yanz (if you care).   Part 8: September 2008