By Steve Rhodes
I’ve got a busy morning and it’s already been a clusterfuck of a week, so just a few things today and you can look for an expanded Weekend Desk Report tomorrow.
1. I’m proud to say that I’m pretty sure we’ve just posted the best review you’ll find anywhere in America of the Kentucky Derby weekend.
Our man on the rail, Thomas Chambers, beautifully fulfills a big part of our mission here – and at Agony & Ivy – by bringing you the unvarnished truth about something we love and hate to see tarnished by ego, greed and power plays. (Which side in these great dramas are really the immature ones?)
Tom got me thinking about how it’s so funny to hear the word “purist” slung around like it’s a bad thing to be; sort of like the derisive term “goo-goo” is flung at “good government” types. Are you for bad government, then?
Yes, I know that “purists” can become unreasonably holier-than-thou, at which point they usually become hypocrites at some level or demand a standard of behavior that is impossible to attain. That’s not what I’m talking about. I’m talking about the fact that Tom, for example, has this funny idea that the health and welfare of the magnificent horses on his beat should be paramount, followed by the way the industry treats its customers.
Alas, it just ain’t so – just like in the rest of Corporate America, which seems to inherently corrupt values. (More on Tom Ricketts and his freakin’ Toyota sign later.)
So go read Tom’s piece, even if you aren’t a horse-racing fan. You won’t need to be to feel outraged, angry and also appreciative of the finer aspects of the sport.
2. If you haven’t yet read Drew Adamek’s two-part interview with fanzine writer extraordinaire Bill German about his life with the Rolling Stones, do so now. I’m not really a Rolling Stones fan; in fact, I kind of hate them while acknowledging their place in musical history and the fact that they’ve obviously written some great songs. But I’m a huge fan of this interview, it’s well worth your time.
3. A couple of our faithful readers have added to Renaming Navy Pier; it’s worth going back to.
4. Beachwood cartoonist Sunil Adams has a couple new compositions. (Sorry for our text clarity issues, we’re working on it.)
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See you Saturday and/or Monday.
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The Beachwood Tip Line: Don’t lose it.
Posted on May 7, 2010