Garnell Wilds 2005

UPDATE: Garnell is now with the Carolina Panthers!
Not only are the BUCS back in camp, all the other NFL teams are too.
We will be following the BUCS closely this year, as we do every year. This blog started pretty much at the end of the 2004 NFL regular season, so we have not commented much about the BUCS, except for the "my life as a BUCS fan" series (only one installment so far). Full disclosure: Both Tommy and I are BUCS season ticket holders. Also, I am a personal friend of Mike Alstott.
Other than the BUCS, we will follow a few other NFL players, including players who affect the fortunes of our fantasy football league.
However, the individual player we will be following most closely is Washington Redskins cornerback GARNELL WILDS.
Garnell is a second year player from Virginia Tech. He's 5' 11" and 196 pounds. He's got AWESOME dreadlocks.
Garnell is from Tampa! He played high school football for our great friend Earl Garcia at Hillsborough High! What more reasons could we possibly have to pull for this awesome guy?
Well, how about this: His dad, George Wilds, owns the Blue Shark in Ybor City.
Garnell had an outstanding college career. He led the Big East in interceptions in his junior year. Last year, his first as a pro, Garnell spent the first part of the year on the practice squad. But when he got to play in the last few games, he performed very well, particularly for an undrafted rookie. Against the Vikings, he covered the NFL's best reciever, Randy Moss, in single coverage, and he graded very highly (5 tackles). He is obviously very coachable and likable, which is important in football, very much a team sport.
Life in the NFL is very tough. The work, both physical and mental, is much harder than most people can realize. So let's get behind this great young man. Visit the Blue Shark soon, and let George know that you're a Garnell Wilds fan.

WEEKEND UPDATE 7-29/30

JGLB at Blue Shark fri & sat July 29 +30.
Want JGLB music? read the replies to this message. then e-mail me.

Welcome to BUCCANEER TRAINING CAMP!

Our beloved Tampa Bay Bucs are opening training camp!

Coach Gruden is singing a Stray Cats song!

I gotta get a Cadillac!
Look at that Cadillac, look at that!
Look at that Cadillac, look at that!
Rolling down the Avenue
I'm gonna get me a Cadillac too
If it's the last thing I do! (Jon, hope it's not the last thing you do. Another Super Bowl would be better).
Bruce Allen likes that tune, I hope.

Here's a great Bucs site. I also like the jolly roger. Here is part one of my story: Johnny's History of the Bucs and JGLB. Here is a preview of upcoming installments of "The BUCS and JGLB" in pictures: pic one. pic two. pic three. All three pics were taken on the field at the old Tampa Stadium. There is a big story behind each picture.

TONY GRIER's stats

copied from this page: http://www.thebullspen.com/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB.pl?board=news;action=display;num=1122569071

Don't miss this opportunity to chat with one of the Bulls' all time greatest players, Tony Grier. Please join us tonight. You may enter your questions for Tony now at BULLheaded's Chat Room. There is a lot to talk about including the glory days of the Sun Dome, Lee Rose, Charlie Bradley and more. Please join us tonight, Thursday, July 28. Tony Grier (1980-82) 1,475 points 6-3, 190, Guard Port Chester, N.Y., Port Chester High School Became the first Bull to earn first-team All-Sun Belt Conference honors with his selection as a junior in 1980-81 … Also earned honorable mention All-America honors that year …Was one of three Bulls named second-team All-Sun Belt in 1979-80 and in 1981-82 … Sun Belt Sophomore of the Year in 1979-80 … In addition to becoming the first USF player to earn first-team All-Sun Belt accolades, was also the first to average 19 points-per-game; averaged 19.5 ppg his rookie season in 1979-80 and then 19.2 ppg in 1980-81 … Paced the Bulls in scoring, assists, and steals in his final season in 1981-82 … Actually led USF in scoring all three of his seasons and was the Sun Belt scoring champion in his first two seasons … Led USF in assists in each of his final two seasons with 4.4 apg in 1980-81 and 2.9 apg in 1981-82 … Was USF’s career scoring leader following his three-year career and his 18.2 ppg career average is now No. 2 on the all-time list behind Charlie Bradley’s 19.6 ppg (1982-85) … Also ended his career on top of the field goals made list with 583 (now No. 5) and on the free throws made list with 309 (now No. 4) … Is currently No. 6 on the career field goals attempted list with 1,214 and No. 9 on the career free throws attempted list with 406 … Is tied at No. 2 on the USF single-game field goal percentage list with two others as he was 11-of-12 against Creighton, Dec. 27, 1980; also tied at No. 7 on the list with a 9-of-10 game at New Orleans, Jan. 31, 1980 … Named to the 1981 Sun Belt All-Tournament Team … Drafted by the San Antonio Spurs in the fourth round in 1982.

Chat with Tony Grier 7 PM thurs july 28

I am really lookin forward to Thursday night's chat with USF Basketball Legend TONY GRIER!

Tony is not only still the 5th leading scorer in USF history, he has been a leader in the community ever since he graduated in the 80's. Don't forget, he was drafted by the San Antonio Spurs!

visit http://thebullspen.com for the chat. 7 PM, Thursday July 28!

More info here!

Check out Tony's web site here!

Check out previous JGLB blog posts about Tony here and here!

Tommy's award winning blog

Make sure you visit Tommy's excellent, award winning blog, http://sticksoffire.com. I enjoy reading it every day, as do many people around Tampa!

back in town

well, i'm back in town! It's time to rock!

more info coming soon!

elaboration

Perhaps you have read this article.

I would like to clarify: I don't think anybody living in any residential area should have to tolerate loud noise coming from commercial areas. But the way this noise ordinance is currently enforced is ridiculous.

When somebody has a complaint about noise in Ybor City, they should find the source of the noise that's creating the disturbance, instead of subjecting everybody to a specific DB requirement that makes no sense. In other words, a resident on 5th ave and 19th st may be bothered by a thumping bass coming from a particular club. The officers should determine the source of that particular complaint, and compel that specific offender to lower the volume. Instead, they go up and down 7th Ave. in Ybor City, standing in the doorways of individual businesses with a meter that measures DBs. Although our band is generating no complaints from residents, when the enforcement agent stands in our doorway, he can usually get a reading that puts us in violation of the ordinance. Meanwhile, for whatever reason, the disco/techno mega-clubs are pumping out bass like a war zone!

Dear City of Tampa Government: we love you, but get off our backs, and let us ROCK! If you must, go after the REAL offenders, those with the teeth rattling bass that vibrates homes all night. Or perhaps, enforce the noise ordinance at the Ford Ampitheatre (ok, i know that's the county not the city, but still...). We aint botherin nobody!

Significance of THREE

As many of you know, there are three things I believe in: #1, #2, #3.
There are three fine individuals who work with me most Friday and Saturday nights.
But let's never forget These Three Great Individuals, who have touched so many. Three Icons to whom I looked up as a child. Still today, I hope that within my wretched body I hold perhaps a mere fraction of the genius that These Three Gentlemen consistently exhibited for years... I recently saw a drama-documentary about them. It was pretty damn good. At the end, I cried tears of joy for These Three Exemplary Citizens. Incidently, I though this actor was damn good. Anyway, just wanted to pay tribute to These Superstars.

Latest JGLB trading card

Here's our latest JGLB trading card. It is a rookie card, from many years ago. Certain to be a collector's item.

TYRONE GRANDERSON JONES

Tyrone "Ty" Granderson Jones
I'd say it was early 1982. Our band arrived at the club, the name of which escapes me right now, but it was in Studio City or Universal City or North Hollywood. It was a trendy place on Ventura Boulevard, which you've heard of in this song. I think we booked the gig by phone, so we had never been to the club. What should we expect?

Well, here comes the "manager," about 5 foot 6 inches of attitude. Maybe 5'5" or whatever. Without so much as a "How do you do," he says, "Put your shit over there. You don't get no fucking sound check. Play at 9:30. Don't fucking be late. You don't get nothing free. Don't mess with our shit. If you mess anything up, clean it up. Don't give nobody no shit. Most important, don't give me no fucking shit!" He was a pretty grouchy dude, and kinda scary! Well, ok, let's do what he says, and we'll try to make the best of it.

Before the gig, I put on my favorite t-shirt. It is orange, and it has the sleeves removed. It says, "Tampa Bay Buccaneers. 1981 NFC Central Division Champions." I go back, and encounter the grouchy "manager."

He breaks into a huge smile! He says, "Man, are you from Tampa? I'm from fucking Tampa! YOU MY HOME BOY!!!!"

Of course, I gotta get to know this guy! Turns out he's a struggling actor named Tyrone Jones, AKA Tyrone Granderson Jones, AKA Ty Granderson Jones, etc. He went to Plant High, FSU and Florida A&M. He studied under Lee Strasberg (Hyman Roth). He was a fuckin actor! The people you meet in LA! Now, you can get to know him too!

And of course, he loved our band, then known as "The Original Johnny Lyon and the Fabulous Famous Hitmakers," or TOJLATFFH. He became our band's official MC, introducing us at our shows.

Since those days, Tyrone has been in lots of movies and TV shows. I think he's proudest of his work in "Con Air." I really loved his brief but awesome role in "Harlem Nights." One of his most recent projects appears to be "Tapped Out."He may have two movies out soon: "Night Train," where Ving Rhames plays Sonny Liston and Ty Granderson Jones plays Elijah Muhammad! Night Train also stars James Woods! and, Short Fuse, where he plays "Big Paul!" He hangs with a rough crew or a tough bunch sometimes! And, it looks like Ty has got his own production company, and has written his own screenplay! It's called "Sidewinder," and it's set here in the Tampa Bay area!

Despite what you may see in certain places, I'm pretty sure Tyrone is about my age, if not a year or two older.

CHECK THIS OUT: WARNING, SPEAKER ALERT! LOUD BUT AWESOME !

I am trying to contact Tyrone by e-mail. You know, it looks like he's mostly called "Ty" now, although I always called him Tyrone. MUCH LOVE TO YOU, BROTHER TYRONE! (or Ty!)

a link from thebullspen.com (thanks to Tony Grier)

here's a link to thebullspen.com, where you can see a link to this blog. thanks to thebullspen.com for the link! you can also get a link to thebullspen.com from http://www.southfloridabulls.com.

here is a link to a post on bullspen with a link to my in-depth analysis of the upcoming 2005-06 USF mens' basketball on this blog.

Thanks to Tony Grier for letting me know about this great site. Also, thanks to Tony, or whoever, who put the link to our blog on TheBullsPen.com Message Board. See Tony's excellent site here. However, if you google "Tony Grier," this is one of the top results you will get.

this is from an e-mail from Tony Grier:

SouthFloridaBulls.com (SFB) announces the start of the 2005 Summer Chat Series on June 9th, 2005 at 8:00 p.m. eastern time.
Each Thursday throughout June and into July, SFB will present a guest from USF or the local media. All chats will be held at BULLHeaded's BullChat! Chat Room at SouthFloridaBulls.com. Please support this effort and take part in chats with those close to the program.

July 14 John Gerdes, USF Sports Information Director
July 21 Eric Soncrant, USF Bulls Club, Director of Annual Giving
July 28 Tony Grier, author and former Bulls basketball player

the TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS part one

I was recently asked: "johnny, you write about USF basketball all the time. why do you never write about the BUCS? You're a long time season ticket holder. You sang the National Anthem at a BUCS game. You even went to Super Bowl XXXVII in Sandy Eggo. Why no BUC LOVE on this here JGLB blog?"

To understand my feelings about THE TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS, we must put things in perspective by going back to the beginning.

The Bucs began playing in 1976. The quarterback was Steve Spurrier. As a 21 year old struggling musician, I had other priorities. I remember being very happy when the BUCS beat Hank Stram's New Orleans Saints for their first victory, after 26 losses, in 1977. But I really didn't pay much attention, even when the BUCS made the playoffs after the 1979 season, although I remember the euphoria after we beat the Eagles to win the first playoff game we ever played.

In the summer of 1980, I had the blues. I needed something new to get interested in. Somehow, I fell in love with the BUCS. They struggled that year, and so did I. But I was in love (with the BUCS that is), and it would be long time before i cared about anything else more than i cared about the BUCS.

Next year, 1981, I moved to Los Angeles. I kept up with the BUCS as best I could. I bought my first TV that year, to watch the BUCS beat Detroit, in a victory that propelled them to a playoff berth. I had my friend, the late great James Sabo (i must do a post about him someday), send me a "1981 NFC Central Division Champions" t-shirt, which I proudly wore around L.A. (One day, while wearing it, I met another Tampa native living in LA. Check him out! I MUST do a post about him soon! check out his gallery!)

The Bucs had a winning team, and went to the playoffs, in the strike shortened 1982 season as well. Then, in 1983, it all came to a crashing halt. Doug Williams left the team, and the Bucs went 2-14.

By spring of 1984, I had been in LA for two and a half years. I had a lot of nice things happen, I did a lot of interesting things, played some great gigs with some great people. I went to parties in Beverly Hills. I worked on movie soundtracks, jammed with and auditioned for bands that readers of this blog, and people worldwide, are familiar with. I should someday do an in-depth post about my L.A. years.

Of course, a lot of things didn't go as well as i would have liked. And... I really missed Tampa, and I really missed the BUCS. So, in the April 1984, I loaded up the truck and moved back to Tampa, where some really unexpected things happened in the next few years. Of course, I attended my first BUCS game in years. Steve DeBerg came off the bench to lead the BUCS to a big win over Detroit in week 3 of the 1984 season. They won 3 out of 4 games. DeBerg looked good, they had Wilder, Selmon, Hugh Green, Giles, House... it seemed like happy days were back for the BUCS.

I was disappointed that my LA experience did not lead to me being a rock star, but proud of my BUCS (3-3). Little did I know that both the BUCS fortunes... and my own... were about to be reversed... the Bucs suddenly, my own only slightly more gradually.

COMING SOON: PART TWO!

most popular pics and trading cards

on our JGLB "flickr" account, which Tommy set up, we can see how many people, other than ourselves, have viewed a particular picture.

it is my guess that most pictures have been seen because of a link from this blog. Now, this may not count people who access this page to see all photos, or view the slideshow.

It may be that the posts about USF Mens' Basketball are bringing more visitors to this site than any other topics, including ourselves.

it's also true that to some degree, the pics which were first posted have been viewed more than newer pics. Logical, because they've been posted longer. Some of these are not labeled, so I may identify those pictured. Some are too small, all of these are from the oldest page. i'll kinda put them after the ones that are big enough to see well.

most popular pics / trading cards (5 or more views)

1. 56 views (linked from this post)
2. 46 views (also linked from this post)
3. 8 views
4. 8 views
5. 8 views (oldest page, Rob Stoney, Count Jeff Artabasy, Billy Daniel, 2005)
6. 8 views
7. 6 views (oldest page, Torpedo D with Ray Blade, 2005)
8. 6 views (oldest page, Penny, Max, and Billy Daniel, 2005)
9. 6 views (oldest page)
10. 6 views
11. 5 views
12. 5 views
13. 5 views
14. 5 views
15. 5 views (oldest page, 22nd St Band, Nashville, Tn., 1974, "Jerry Berry" Busbin, JD, Johnny)
16. 5 views
17. 5 views
18. 5 views (oldest page, JGLB circa 1986, Penny, Max, Johnny and Ray)
19. 5 views (oldest page, JGLB 2004, Ray, Benny, Tommy, Johnny)

TOO SMALL:
8 views, (CK, Tara, and Johnny G, Raymond James Stadium, 2003)
7 views (Johnny, cover of "Creative Loafing," now known as "Weekly Planet," 1988)
6 views, (Dirty E with Benny, 1999)

JGLB vacation

hey, we are gonna take a weekend off. JGLB will not be performing July 15-16.

our next (public) gig is July 23. Guess where?

hint: 1620 7th ave.

Come to YBOR CITY

JGLB at Blue Shark in Ybor City this weekend, July 8 &9. showtime 9 pm.

DENNIS!

I hear Dennis is coming!

Maybe it's Dennis! in 1974, I met Buck, who took me to meet Jay Friss AKA Ray Blade. We jammed, then Buck said, I'm gonna go get Dennis. Dennis came over and played the hell out of a guitar! That was our first Tampa band: Ray, Buck, Dennis and me. I hope that's who's coming!

Or maybe it's Dennis, AKA Torpedo D on the Hammond Be Free! Our band was great when we had Dennis!

But it may be another Dennis, one that will try to stop us from rockin at the Blue Shark this weekend. But dont worry: WE GONNA ROCK!

Interesting: 2 of the four "name storms" so far have been JGLB "associates" (Arlene, Dennis)

Happy 50th Birthday!

50 years ago today, Bill Haley and the Comet's hit, "Rock Around the Clock," hit #1. Some people like to say this is the beginning of rock and roll.
I love Haley, I love this song, and the guitar solos on "Rock Around the Clock" are absolutely knocked out. But in my opinion, Bob Wills and the Texas Playboys invented rock and roll kinda gradually in the mid to late 40's. And sure enough, in this article, Haley makes my case, saying Wills was his idol. Now, the article mentions other songs, "Good Rockin' Tonight (1947)" being the oldest. Now, I personally would also give a nod to the man with the tuxedo and the shiny 335*, who cut his first records in 1949. Also, this article mentions one of the great movies of all time, "Blackboard Jungle" which is also credited with kinda starting the rock n roll generation. "Blackboard Jungle" starred, among others, a very very BAD Vic Morrow**, and Sidney Portier. Man, I love that movie. HAPPY BIRTHDAY ROCK N ROLL! I'm gonna PLAY some damn rock n roll at the BLUE SHARK this weekend... on my bad-ass 61 Fender Stratocaster Hardtail WOODY!
* Eric Clapton's description of BB in "Riding With The King." In the original version of the song, John Hiatt described Elvis, the original subject of the song: "A red cape and a shiny Colt 45."
** Vic Morrow was one of the greats. He starred in "Combat." He was a guest on The Untouchables starring Robert Stack as Elliott Ness. But his greatest role was with Elvis in a truly EXCELLENT movie, "King Creole." By the way, "King Creole's" soundtrack featured the song "Crawfish," of which JGLB does a bastardized version.

USF Men's basketball opponents

USF basketball just released its' Big East Conference matchups. Holy cow, it's murderer's row!

Just think of the powers coming to town: in addition to non-conference Michigan at the Times Forum, we get (presumably at the SunDome) : Connecticut, DePaul, Georgetown*, Rutgers, Seton Hall, St. John’s, Villanova, and West Virginia (JERRY WEST!)

on the road, we play Cincinnati, Georgetown, Louisville, Notre Dame, Providence, Rutgers, Seton Hall and Syracuse (JIM BROWN!) ok, Jim Brown is football, but WTF.

No wonder Dick Vitale says Robert McCullum has the toughest job in college basketball!

we won't play Marquette or Pittsburgh this year...

*full disclosure: I was born at Georgetown University Hospital.

Travis Deiner

two years ago, then JGLB employee Tara went with me to the SunDome to see USF host Marquette in an NCAA basketball game.

a Marquette guard caught fire. He was making shots from all over the building. He couldn't be stopped. He was incredibly cocky. He knew no one could stop him. USF fans expressed their awe, kinda approving and disapproving at the same time, as we sports fans can when some cocky kid is ripping our favorite team apart. He pissed us off, but we had to admire him.

Tara was impressed. They are about the same age.

Recently, this kid was drafted by the Orlando Magic. Stay tuned.

Hank Stram

I remember his words, spoken (on TV) in the midst of another terrible Bucs season during the 80's, during another terrible game, probably coached by Leeman Bennett.

He said, "I don't know anything about football. If I did, I'd be down there on the sideline, coaching. But..."

and then, he pointed out a flaw in the reasoning of the Bucs' coach... one that was critical, a major contributing factor in another Buccaneer loss... and he left me with the feeling that he would really love a shot coaching our Bucs, that he really felt he could do a better job than Bennett or whoever was the coach at that time.

And yet, much earlier, in the 70's, after the Bucs had lost 26 teams, they finally won their first game ever. And wouldn't you know it, the coach of the losing team was none other than... him.

I'm not sure what it all means, except i can tell you what it meant to me: I wanted him to coach our team in the 80's. I thought we could win with him, and he surely would have taken the job...

Now he's gone. I feel like I knew him well, because I probably watched 100 games which featured him as color commentator. I liked him. I wanted him to coach my team.

RIP, Coach Stram.

USF athletics officially goes big time

well, here we go!
Now USF can play for the college football national championship.
But, more important in my opinion, USF Basketball might just go big-time.
more. more. more.

tonight, July 1 at TWO BUKS!

Don't miss JGLB tonight at TWO BUKS in Clearwater!
This will be our only show this July 4 weekend so make sure ya show up!
Two Buks:
1915 N.Hercules Ave(At Sunset Point Rd.)
Clearwater, FL. 33755
(727)- 442 - 0812
HAPPY JULY 4Th
GOD BLESS AMERICA