Out Of The Frye-ing Pan... (Part 1)

 Exhibit A:  A trio of wanna-be poison dart frogs from the Circus Of The Sun...Ok, ok, Cirque du Soleil, frogs and French belong together anyway.  Superior flexibility, excellent technique...honestly, I don't know what I'm talking about and I'm sure the performers would pick 6 different things they failed to execute in this routine.  That's neither here nor there...MOVING ON!





Exhibit B(engal): An abbreviated shot-by-shot slide of Jerome Simpson's TD that has the nation flipping out.


1) In the far left, we see that Simpson has already called attention to his ability to be the next Peter Pan..."Second star to the right and straight on til morning."  He might also win a few Olympic medals in London with the tuck dive form he demonstrates at the apex of this leap.

2) At this point (second from the left), we begin to see shades of Kerri Strug, Paul Hamm, and basically any notable American gymnast name you care to spout off without looking it up (go ahead...impress me/embarass yourself).  The shoulder pad of our victim, Daryl Washington, now functions as the perfect springboard to six points.

3) Frames 3 and 4 demonstrate spectacular command of the body, and an uncanny ability to gauge how much rotation is needed to stick the landing.  Athletic intuition, if you will.  You know this guy does flips and handstands just for kicks.

4) Final frame shows the hand touching down for a bit of balance as Simpson sticks the landing and gave himself a 9!  Talk about high expectations...so believe it...this cat has tried this stunt before in full pads, and was disappointed with the result.  He's lucky he's alive given that he had premeditated the flip.  Any diversion in his course could've resulted in a spine slam that wouldn't have felt too cozy.  In regard to that mentality, this man is absolutely a stuntman, but given that the only prop was a football and another human being (not to mention the comfort of full body protection), I currently see Simpson as a combat extra in the Twilight finale.

I know, I know, a bit harsh, but you'd be surprised by the nuances of these legendary "tough guys".  I'll never forget reading in SI that the man best known for swallowing grown quarterbacks whole, Reggie White, had a paralyzing fear of sharks! The guy could probably choke one out if he so desired, and he spent most of his career in Green Bay, Wisconsin! There's a lot of real estate between Cheeseland and the nearest body of salt water.  So, I suppose the next question would be whether Jerome could handle whipping cars around exploding buildings and other fast-moving vehicles, but the reality of the matter is he's perfect for choreographed stunt work and has a potential career in the circus...beyond that, I wouldn't put too much stock in it...Unless he's into scientology...

The Zanzibar Manifesto

To all Sports Specialists, Audio Addicts, and Entertainment Junkies:

This blog represents a promise unfulfilled for several years up until today.  This blog belongs to my friends, and is driven by them, as I've been fortunate enough to have the enduring belief of those around me in my pursuit of a sports broadcasting career.  Those that know me wouldn't hesitate to say that I'm seldom without an opinion to air or a story to tell.  I'm notoriously long-winded and yet, in this Golden Age of digital media, I haven't quite settled.  That changes today.  I've wrestled with the merits and pitfalls that outlets such as Facebook and Twitter provide us nowadays, and despite my trepidation, it is high time I embraced the entire network and reconnected with the world around me.  I've struggled since the beginning of my career pursuits to understand the balance between strategic and shameless self-promotion.  The insipid narcissism of social networking has caught me cold on the entire concept at times, but it is for that reason that I've returned to embrace it.  The goal of this blog is to reach out to every person I've ever known and those I hope to meet, adding a one-of-a-kind perspective to the realm for which I have greatest passion (sports).  I am also driven by the impact music has on people's lives, and there will be plenty of space on this blog for just such discussion.  In whole, the Zanzibar blog will encompass the worlds of sports, music, and entertainment, dovetailing elements of all three in an inviting package that will warrant repeat visits.  Most importantly, the focus of this blog is YOU, yes, you (the person who's eyes are reading this now), because I want to hear from each and every individual who visits this page, be it via e-mail, a blog post, or another page that someone wishes to contribute.  I will gladly encourage and promote any brother/sister sites that hold relevance to the topics contained within this blog, and hope that may fuel a greater sense of community and a larger discussion.  Bias is expected, allowed, and appreciated, for it opens a window into the psyche of a specific genre, franchise, program, or person.  This mentality will be adopted throughout every part of this blog, as the greatest conversations about sports, music, and entertainment hinge upon the passion, vigor, and fervor of those devoted to their team, artist, or icon.  I will also provide my fan's perspective about my favorite teams and players through analytical articles, reactions, and live blogs.  This is great news for those of you that happen to like Chelsea, the Carolina Panthers, UNC (football and basketball), or the Pittsburgh Penguins.  It also doesn't hurt if you like keeping tabs on the world of tennis.  Above all, I want to adapt to the opinions and feedback that I get from those of you that frequent the blog.  I will provide objective commentary and insight (on a larger scale) about all of the major developments in the sporting universe, and if I'm missing a beat, feel free to notify me.  With the mission statement of this blog more or less defined, let me give you the origin story...

Zanzibar is the name of a song written by Billy Joel, from his 52nd Street album, which was released in October of 1978.  The lyrics of the song describe a sports bar where any shadow darkening the door feels welcome; a microcosm in which one can simultaneously feel as though they are part of a live sporting event, saddling up to the bar for a drink, or being washed in the glow of a live musical performance.  Each person can feel as an individual within Zanzibar, gravitating towards the events, people, sights, and sounds that inspire them most.  Still wondering what Zanzibar is all about? Have a listen...