Walla Walla Public Art IV

Walla Walla Public Art III

Walla Walla Public Art II

Walla Walla Public Art I

The Walla Walla area has several talented artists. As you walk along main street you can see their work on display.

This is one of my favorite downtown sculptures.

WALLA WALLA

RIP "Playboy" Buddy Rose

Paul Perschmann aka Buddy Rose passed away yesterday at the age of 56.

Some of my fondest early childhood memories involved watching Buddy Rose's shenanigans on both Portland wrestling and Vancouver All Star wrestling.

I can't think about Buddy Rose without smiling.

When the Portland promotion was building towards a Buddy Rose VS Roddy Piper looser leave town match(Rose would eventually win the match) I vividly remember a fan holding up a sign that said bye bye Buddy we'll hate to see you go.

Buddy/Paul I hate to see you go

Thanks for the memories.

Kermit's Duet

To end the weekend with a pleasant memory here is Kermit the frog singing Rainbow Connection with Debbie Harry.

I find this commercial very disturbing

The legendary voices of NFL films

I was sad to here that long time Philies announcer and NFL films narrator Harry Kalas had passed away.

When I herd the news on Mike and Mike in the morning they said he had been THE VOICE of NFL films since 1975. This caused my brain to short circuit because I could of sworn John Facenda narrated the Superbowl highlights in the late 70"s and early 80's.

After an entire day without Internet access I was able to confirm that the voice in my head was John Facenda He did indeed work for Nfl films until he passed away in 1984. They were correct in saying Kalas started in 1975 but he did not become THE VOICE until after Facenda passed away.

I have very much enjoyed listening to both men over the years. Here is an example of their immense talent

John Facenda "autumn wind"


Harry Kalas

63 Days And Counting

Portland Oregon

We visited Portland last weekend.

This time I didn't go to the baptist church and try to summon up the ghost of Lonnie Mayne.

While Dawn was learning about all the newest techniques in the world of K9 dentistry. Buddy Zorro and I embarked on a tour of dog parks in the Portland/Vancouver area.

A great time was had by all !

Around the World With Gene Kiniski

Mike and I were discussing that we both watched Gene Kiniski when we were kids. What I didn't realized back in the day was what a big star Kiniski was in the wrestling business. He held the NWA world championship in the late 60's. Defeating Lou Thez and eventually loosing to Dory Funk Jr. The job of the world champion in those days was to look the part, put fans in the seats and travel around to various NWA territories and make the local star look like a million bucks (right at the level of the world champion) without actually loosing the title.

Here is Gene in Japan in 1967 defending the world title in a two out of three falls match against the legendary Giant Baba


Here is Gene in 1981 on Vancouver All Star wrestling in a tag team match with his son Kelly. At 2:11 Kelley and Gene are interviewed by Ron Maurier. Maurier points out that he had Kelly on his kids show 16 years earlier. This was just before Ron Maurier passed away

The Friday Night Service

I attended services at temple Beth Israel Friday night. I didn't count the number of people but it was a very good turn out.

As we were socializing after the service I was a bit freaked out by the fact that people kept asking me if I was new to the congregation.

Time To Walk That Aisle.....Whooooo!

I am happy to announce that we are planning on getting married Sunday May 31
next to the gazebo in Pioneer park.

Gov Gregoire Sen Cantwell attended service for Bill Grant

Here is the U.B. article on the service held for state rep Bill Grant.

While I did not know Mr. Grant well, I spoke with him several time in our store and he was always very nice.

1992 Rebok Ad Campaign

During the spring of 1992 Reebok started airing a series of ads featuring U.S. decathletes Dan O'Brien(the number 1 ranked decathlete in the world) and Dave Johnson. Reebok was trying to build the "rivalry" between the two leading up to the 1992 Olympics in Barcelona.

The ads aired so frequently they started driving me crazy. One day I was walking up to class in Pullman and I thought I had gone completely looney toons when I saw Dan O'Brien jogging towards me. I was relieved to find out he really did live just down the road in Moscow Idaho.

The ad campaign ended up being a complete disaster because O'Brien choked at the 92' Olympic trials and failed to make the U.S. team.

O'Brien rebounded four years latter in Atlanta winning gold in a world record setting performance.

Jack Johnson

This month marks the 100th aniversary of Jack johnson becoming the first African American heavyweight champion

The Wrestler

Mickey Rourke at the New York film festival discussing the difference between training for boxing and training for pro wrestling.

The New Napa

This is a public T.V. story on the growth of the Walla Walla wine industry.

NOTE: Bill Gates was not able to get leonetti wine on request.
Seven hills vineyard is not related to Seven Hills winery.

Hot Poop Turns 35