A Tale of Two Aggies: Is Tyler Naquin the Anti-Manziel?
March 30, 2016Ohio State releases spring practice highlight videos
March 31, 2016Another Thursday, another While We’re Waiting… from “the girl.” As one member of Team Thursday globe-trots around Europe and makes me jealous with every Snapchat (Looking at you, Jake), you’re seeing me back in this space a little more often than normal. Hope that’s OK.
While I don’t have any Bachelor ramblings to share today, there are plenty of things going on to talk about. In fact, they’re all permanent fixtures on my always-evolving list of things I’m obsessed with. That said, let’s jump right in, you guys.
I’m Excited About: Katie Nolan Talkin’ Cavs
I could most definitely spend the entirety of this post gushing about how much I love Katie Nolan, I’ll try to keep my fan-girling to just a few paragraphs.
If you aren’t familiar with Nolan, first of all… Hi, where you been? Second, she’s the host of FOX Sports 1’s Garbage Time with Katie Nolan, as well as a popular podcast of the same name. Airing at midnight on Wednesdays, Nolan’s show is a mix of sports, pop culture, big personalities and humor—with her charisma, knowledge and sense of humor leading the way at every turn.
The 29-year-old Boston native gained somewhat huge notoriety last September when she posted a heartfelt video blasting the NFL and former Baltimore Ravens running back Ray Rice for the mishandling of Rice’s domestic violence offense and subsequent reinstatement (and then un-reinstatement) from the league. For a few days, Nolan’s name appeared just about everywhere—helping to open up the conversation about the NFL, domestic violence and giving women a seat at the table.
This week, she sat down with ESPN’s Cavs beat reporter Dave McMenamin to talk all things Cavs—and then some. While they focus a fair amount of time on LeBron wanting to play with friends and, you know… unfollowing everyone, they also touch on a variety of topics, including ghostwriting Gilbert Arenas’ blog for NBA.com, covering the Lakers, getting to know Kobe Bryant, and much, much more. (You’ll want to listen to see who Dave thinks will be in the NBA Finals. Hint: It’s not the Golden State Warriors.)
If you’ve got an hour to kill, check it out. If not… find the time and check it out anyway, friends.
https://soundcloud.com/garbagetimepodcast/ep-28-dave-mcmenamin
I’m Really Excited About: Opening Day
In case you weren’t aware, we’re four days away from my own personal Christmas morning: The Cleveland Indians’ Home Opener. While (at the moment), the weather is fixing to be quite dismal (high 30s and rain—yay), I seriously cannot wait, you guys. Opening Day is so much more than a game that kicks-off baseball season.
It’s my favorite day of the year and surely the greatest use of PTO any Clevelander could ever come up with. The Home Opener is the real start of spring—and the acknowledgement that summer is soon to come. It’s drinking beers in the sunshine outdoors, and breaking out Indians T-shirts sweatshirts you haven’t worn in months. It’s barhopping all afternoon when you should be working on TPS reports. It’s the end of our collective winter hibernation, and the start of running into all of those people you haven’t seen in ages and countless “Oh my gosh, I haven’t seen you in forever!” conversations.
I’m probably breaking Girl Code here, but my friends and I actually invented a Home Opener game that capitalizes on that last thought. We call it Ex-Boyfriend Bingo and it’s… it’s exactly what you think it is. In the morning, we fill out tiny Bingo cards with the names of all of our ex-boyfriends we’re sure we’ll run into at some point during Opening Day. And when we do (gross), we cross out their names on our cards. First one to get a Bingo (was totally me last year, ps) gets free beers on the losers.
If you’re attending Monday’s game against the Red Sox, you’re welcome to try it. Hell, even if you’re not, find a time and opportunity to bring Ex-Boyfriend (or Ex-Girlfriend) Bingo to your people. They’ll love it. Promise.
I’m Even More Excited About: The Cleveland International Film Festival
Today marks the first full day of the Cleveland International Film Festival, a C-Town tradition that’s incredibly close to my heart1. 2016 is actually CIFF’s 40th anniversary, making it one of the oldest and most respected film festivals in the nation. And on Thursday night, the Festival is celebrating its anniversary by hosting the world premiere of the “30 for 30” ESPN documentary BELIEVELAND. The film, directed by Ohio native Andy Billman, “attempts to explain the masochistic devotion many Browns, Indians, and Cavs fans have when it comes to cheering for teams that continue to break our hearts.” Certainly something we can all relate to, no?
If you haven’t ever experienced CIFF, it’s hard to explain just how cool it really is. Over the next 12 days, the Festival will showcase more than 190 feature films (including one in 3D and one shot in 35mm), as well as 213 shorts. Close to 300 guest filmmakers from around the world are making their way to Cleveland as we speak, and more than 100,000 people are expected to attend—either at the Festival’s Tower City home, or at one of numerous neighborhood screenings around Cleveland and Akron.
CIFF also strives to help support Cleveland’s blossoming local film industry by highlighting films made about Ohio, in Ohio or by Ohioans. There’s even a “Local Heroes” award and cash prize, voted for by CIFF audience members, for such films. One of which, My Blind Brother, was filmed around Cleveland and Lakewood last summer and stars Nick Kroll, Adam Scott and Jenny Slate.
Much like Katie Nolan, I could gush about CIFF forever. But instead of doing that, I’m just going to encourage you to check it out and maybe, possibly, consider stopping by the see a film. This year’s line-up promises to be nothing short of extraordinary, with films ranging from the deep and inspiring to the light and hilarious. No matter what you’re into, I promise there’s something in it for you.
That’s it for me, you guys. Go punch Thursday in the face.
- Disclosure: I’m a seasonal employee who helps out every year when the Festival rolls in. [↩]
61 Comments
so close to making it out of this without a “baseball is boring” joke. soclose
Local guy, worked his way up to the big network…a “Cleveland kinda story”?
I dunno, I personally don’t think he’s had a great scoop on the Cavs since he bolted for ESPN.
Yep. But for 100 minutes.
Nothing I could do, Ben really let one hang over the plate there.
I’m not the official arbiter or anything, but I’m inclined to agree with maxfnmloans. The point seems to be one beer, one dog an inning. Not six dogs and two beers in three innings, then the rest later. Maybe we can have a varsity and JV squad?
9 beers would be about $63 and 9 hot dogs would be $36 or $45 right? You’re probably over $100 unless it’s dollar dog night.
When I was a tyke, hour of power was 60 oz. in 60 minutes. The shot a minute had another name, which I forget. All that said, you’re exactly correct. The rules are what make it difficult.
I thought they had $4-$5 12oz beers at Progressive? I guess we need to clarify what counts as one beer.
almost foul, but the ump saw some chalk fly.
Well played!
farthest i ever made it without gastrointestinal distress was 58 minutes. In those days, I could put down a fifth of Beam, but I dunno if it was the bubbles or what