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RAVINGS FROM A MAN WHO NEVER SLEEPS... 11/20

I'm living in the Marriott Residence Inn in Deptford.  It's really clean and nice... I have an apartment with two bedrooms, a living room, two huge bathrooms, kitchen, small dining room, and a fireplace. The staff is amazingly polite.  There's a full breakfast buffet ready for me every morning when I get off the air (And I mean eggs, sausage, bacon, muffins, the works... not some tiny ass Danish and a cup of lousy coffee).   There's dinner every night, and then they put out Brownies! While the TV is small and does not have the kazillion channels mine has at home (and of course no TIVO,  DVD, etc,), it does the trick.  The shower has great water pressure and plenty of hot water.  It's ten minutes from the stadiums and about seventeen minutes from WIP.  Maids clean the room and provide fresh towels and linens every day... The whole thing has been a tragedy for me.

THIS WEEK'S TRIVIA, good for a pair of tickets to my Dover Downs show.   What was the flip side of my first single, "Nuns!"?  First one to e-mail me with the correct answer AND a comment from the main page wins.

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LIVE COMEDY SHOWS!

I'll be performing a bangin' comedy show at the Fire & Ice Club inside the Dover Downs Hotel & Casino on Saturday night, Nov 21st. Write to tpizzi@doverdowns.com to get your tickets!

I'm returning to Coffee.comedy in Sea Isle for another trippin' New years Eve show! Last year was a gas. Show starts at 8:00 PM, so you're out of there to go where ever you wanna go next. Or you can stay right at the club, it's BYOB. Call 609 263 JAVA to get your tix and it did sell out last year.

And mark your calendars for Saturday night, Jan. 30th (the night after Wing bowl). I'm doing a big show at the beautiful Sellersville Theatre with the hilarious Ed McGonigle. Call 215 257 5808 or go to http://ST94.com to get your tix!

TRIVIA APPEARANCES!

I'm back for my 7th straight year at Club Risque on the Delaware for Monday Night Football! There's trivia and free lap dances. Tough job, but someone's gotta do it.

I'll be at PJ Whelihans in Blue Bell PA for every Eagles game this season for my 6th straight year and we're giving away a 42 inch plasma screen!

QUIZZO!

I'll be at TOM & JERRY'S at 1006 McDade Blvd. in Milmont Park PA every Thursday for Quizzo at 8:00 PM! Though this week, I'll be hosting Thursday night's WS Game! And... I'll have copies of THE GREAT BOOK OF PHILADELPHIA SPORTS LIST, the book about my Dad, LAST CALL, and the TWO FUNNY PHILLY GUYS DVD with me.

I am comparing my I-Pod with my producer Adam's I-Pod. Starting at the letter A, every time I see an artist where who has a minimum of 15 songs, I am going to have to pick ONE AND JUST ONE of these awesome songs. I'm noticing not everyone treats their I-Pod the way I do.  I do not just throw on a CD and transfer the entire disc.  The fun is in the deleting of songs that don't make the cut.  (You don't think all of DEVILS AND DUST would make it, do you?)  That way only the creme of the crop makes it. So I'm putting a number next to all the artists... that's how many songs I have by that artist on my I-Pod... Anyway, when we are done (and I do mean WE because I will post many of your selections also) we will have created :

THE ULTIMATE PLAYLIST!

Big Daddy’s Picks

A

• AC/DC... 17... YOU SHOOK ME ALL NIGHT LONG
• ARETHA FRANKLIN... 27... RESPECT    Came close to selecting the live DR. FEELGOOD off ARETHA IN PARIS, but there is no denying the power and majesty of RESPECT.  After a gazillion listens, it STILL rocks.
• AL GREEN... 16... LET’S STAY TOGETHER
• ALANIS MORISSETTE... 15... THE COUCH (What can I say?  I loved her first two CD's which is how she ended up with EXACTLY 15 songs)
• ARTIE SHAW... 21... DANCIN’ IN THE DARK

B

• THE BAND... 18... RAG, MAMA RAG
• B-52S... 15... PLANET CLAIRE
• BARRY WHITE... 16... YOU’RE MY FIRST, MY LAST, MY EVERYTHING
• BEACH BOYS... 116... GIRLS ON THE BEACH  I know what you're thinking, this should be GOD ONLY KNOWS or a million others, but this one just floors me with it's staggering  harmonies and innocence and it's also one of the first Beach Boy tunes I ever heard.
• BEATLES... 198... YOU CAN’T DO THAT No, I'm not kidding. 
• BEASTIE BOYS... 25... SURE SHOT
• BEN FOLDS... 32... SONG FOR THE DUMPED
• BENNY GOODMAN... 22... WHAT’S NEW
• BOB DYLAN... 115... LIKE A ROLLING STONE  I could have easily went with Adam's pick or many others, but ROLLING STONE gives you six minutes worth of Bob.
• BOB MARLEY... 20... COULD YOU BE LOVED
• BONNIE RAITT... 16... LOVE HAS NO PRIDE
• BONZO DOG BAND... 37... JAZZ, DELICIOUS, HOT & COLD
• BOOKER T & THE MGs... 16... HIP HUG HER
• BRIAN ENO... 18... BECALMED
• BRIAN WILSON... 32... LOVE AND MERCY
• BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN... 141... JUNGLELAND It's a masterpiece of dramatic cinema.
• BRYAN FERRY... 16... YOU WON’T SEE ME

C

• CAPTAIN BEEFHEART... 23... NOWADAYS A WOMAN’S GOTTA HIT A MAN
• CARS... 17... MY BEST FRIEND’S GIRL
• CAT STEVENS... 17... MILES FROM NOWHERE
• CHICAGO... 34... INTRODUCTION
• CHUCK BERRY... 21... NO PARTICULAR PLACE TO GO
• CLASH... 32... POLICE ON MY BACK
• COLD PLAY... 16... SWALLOWED BY THE SEA
• COUNT BASIE... 42... THE TROT
• CREAM... 15... CROSSROADS
• CCR... 28... FORTUNATE SON... Written 30 years ago, but still applies to all the asshole Sean Hannity's of the world.

Your Picks

A

• AC/DC... BACK IN BLACK (Adam)
• AALIYA... ARE YOU THAT SOMEBODY (Adam)
• ARETHA FRANKLIN... YOU MAKE ME FEEL LIKE A NATURAL WOMAN (Deb's pick)
• A.F.I.... GOD CALLED IN SICK TODAY  (DJ Tommy's pick from Tom & Jerry's)
• ALICE COOPER... SCHOOL’S OUT (My sister Liz’s pick)

B

• BEATLES... I WANT YOU (SHE’S SO HEAVY) - (DJ Tommy’s pick)
• BEATLES... IN MY LIFE (Adam’s pick)
• BEASTIE BOYS... PAUL REVERE (Adam’s pick)
• BOB DYLAN... POSITIVELY 4TH STREET (Adam’s pick)
• BOB DYLAN... ONE MORE CUP OF COFFEE (DJ Tommy’s pick)
• BETTE MIDLER... DO YOU WANT TO DANCE (webguy Ken’s Pick)
• BILLY JOEL... NEW YORK STATE OF MIND (webguy Ken’s Pick)
• BONNIE RAITT... BLENDER BLUES (webguy Ken’s Pick)
• BRIAN SETZER ORCHESTRA... JUMP JIVE & WAIL (webguy Ken’s Pick)
• BOB MARLEY... ROOTS ROCK REGGAE ( Adam’s pick)
• BLACK SABBATH... WAR PIGS (DJ Tommy’s pick)
• THE BAND... THE WEIGHT (DJ Tommy’s pick)

RAVINGS FROM A MAN WHO NEVER SLEEPS... 11/16

Birds just don't have what it takes.  NO ONE at PJ's thought they were coming back in the second half.  JUST CAN'T TAKE REID!

THE GAMBLING GRAHAM loses again.  I'm now plus $120 for the season and plus an amazingly even-steven $6000 since I started it in '05...

Tonight's CURB was surprisingly... eh...

Is there a mayor of Cargo city out at the airport?

RAVINGS FROM A MAN WHO NEVER SLEEPS... 11/13

Why is it a company always has the right gift for the SPECIAL  PERSON in your life?  How about gifts for the person you can't stand,  but you HAVE to buy them a gift?

Freddie Mitchell.  Wish he would have had a career to back everything he says up, but he's still funny!

Is there a band with a stranger legacy that BLIND FAITH?

Still think the torture of the game show contestant in SLUMDOG were ridiculous...

We need snake like lines for drive thru bank windows...

I'm not ready to pronounce Elton Brand as through, but you can't give him minutes over Speights...

Anyone ever been to the 1st Mariner in Baltimore?  Thinking of seeing Bruce..

I have been put under for 3 separate epidurals in 13 days.  Can't... keep... my... eyes... open.

RAVINGS FROM A MAN WHO NEVER SLEEPS... 11/11

Used to love him, but let's face it, Iverson's a bum now...

Love the Wendy's 99 cent jr. bacon cheeseburger!

CURB was hilarious on Sunday, but I still feel I was misled by the Seinfeld reuinion thing...

Has there ever been a more unique sound that NIN? ... Weezer was fantastic on Letterman...

The latest Stephen King short story in the New Yorker sucked...

Trying to be patient with the Sixers. Not easy...

If the trade deadline wasn't over already in the NFL, the Birds would have dealt Vick...

TV show "V"... eh...

If you ever get stuck in a situation like i did, I highly recommend the Marriot residence in Deptford...

RAVINGS FROM A MAN WHO NEVER SLEEPS... 11/07

Saw a play tonight produced by THEATRE EXILE called HUNTER GATHERERS that was dark, sexy, hilarious, unpredictable, and the most fun you can have for $30 (and there's student and senior prices as well).  It's sort of WHO'S AFRAID OF VIRGINIA WOLFE meets FRIENDS meets TRUE BLOOD.  I GUARANTEE you'll dig it.  How's that?  It's running at the small intimate Adrienne Theatre, at 20th & Samson, right across the street from the Helium Comedy Club.  It's running till November 22nd and I can't recommend this show enough.  Wild!  Go to http://theatreexile.org  to get your tix.

RAVINGS FROM A MAN WHO NEVER SLEEPS... 11/06

Yankee Stadium was a snooze.  What used to be a one of our treasured historical destinations has been destroyed and replaced with an antiseptic shopping mall.  I'm really starting to get concerned over the amount of fans who are being priced out the fun experience of a live event, be it sports or concerts...

Pedro just didn't have it, end of story... Phils blew it in Game Four when no one covered third base...

Do you think the Blue Jays would trade Halladay for Hamels straight up?  Would you?

Last two episodes of CURB is treading old materiel and too many situations are being forced...

ELO is underrated...

Why do doctors warn you that a pill may make you drowsy?  What good is it then?

RAVINGS FROM A MAN WHO NEVER SLEEPS... 11/03

What a win!  Chase!  Anyone see my daughter Keely on TV holding up a sign that said "PHAITH"?  Pretty cool...

So-So CURB.  I want more of SEINFELD!

RAVINGS FROM A MAN WHO NEVER SLEEPS... 11/02

Dag! . . . . .Why did Ruiz throw and why was there no communication over what to do if he did?!!!!!!!!!  Took away Lidge's slider to A-Rod.  Heads up play by Damon... Why wasn't Madson kept in for the ninth?... AND LEE WANTED TO PITCH! Manuel coming up small in the series.  Howard also (although his fielding has been fantastic).   And the fans have been surprisingly not as insane as I thought they would be... Eddie Vedder was at tonight's game.

RAVINGS FROM A MAN WHO NEVER SLEEPS... 11/01

Hamels, ugh!  Howard, ugh!  Rain in post-season, ugh!  Over-zealous security guards, ugh!

Go see ZOMBIELAND.  Extremely entertaining...

Go figure the Eagles trouncing the Giants.  Glad no one listened to my prediction...

Have decided not to buy the new Beatles box.  Like all the Beatles multiple CD sets, the packaging is lame.  So I picked up the new version of PEPPER and I can't say I hear any difference in the sound quality.  Frankly, I think the sound of the Beatles catalogue has been terrific from the beginning.  Do like the soft cover, however.  As you know I loathe jewel cases...

How does this Sixer team score 141 points against ANYBODY?!  Break 'em up!

THE GAMBLING GRAHAM lost today with the Jets, so for the season I'm plus $340 and since starting it in '05 I'm plus $6220.

RAVINGS FROM A MAN WHO NEVER SLEEPS... 10/31

OK, I wasn't talking about it on the air, nor did I mention it on my web site, but since Dan Gross wrote about it in the Philadelphia Daily News, I will mention it here.  A bizarre accidental water pipe burst on the third floor has destroyed roughly 65% of my house and forced us into a hotel.  With luck, we'll be back in by Christmas, but I'm not counting on it.  To say that we all are pretty devastated is putting it mildly.  If there is a plus side, it's the fact that so many of my friends have offered to help out.  Thank you so much.

RAVINGS FROM A MAN WHO NEVER SLEEPS... 10/30

Happy Halloween!  Always loved that holiday... Used to throw major parties.  Duce Krause came as a Christmas tree that had to be plugged in to the wall to light up... Hughie McGonigle as the Pope... Billy Ford and six other guys came collectively as a banged and charred up Lynyrd Skynyrd ELEVEN DAYS after three members died in a plane crash...  Mouse McCourt as Cousin It... Fred Toti came as former Eagle Blenda Gay (who was murdered by his wife) with a hatchet in his head... Denny C. came as a refrigerator WITH BEERS IN IT... I think I should start a new tradition and start throwing massive Halloween parties again

Sunday morning, I woke up at the same time my 3 and a half month daughter did. Shortly after she fed, Dani and I went downstairs to listen to music.  We danced together as I sang Frank Sinatra songs to her for over an hour.  With a tear in my eye, she and I had an unbelievable father-daughter moment.  It was the morning of an Eagles-Cowboys game and if anyone knows me well enough, they're a little taken back. Normally, Dallas Sunday begins with me jumping out of bed, adrenaline pumping, pacing, grunting, and on edge.  Not anymore.

"The kinder, gentler Darren," I say to my wife as she comes downstairs to see us dancing. She reminds me, "once you get down there, you'll be an animal."  Maybe.  But, at this moment, I'm perfect.

It's amazing what a daughter will do to you.

Do I need to tell you the rest of this story?

The moment I stepped out of my truck in the parking lot I was a raving lunatic.  I despise the Cowboys.  I despise their fraud owner, fraud quarterback, fraud head coach and IMMENSELY fraud fan base.  And to lose to that fraud team at home boils my blood!  So, I’m spewing some venom this week.  Here are your Goddamn Week 9 NFL Notes & Musings, starting out with a personal issue…

I HATE LINES!!  Lines to get in the parking lot, lines to get in the stadium, lines to get a beer, lines to get a friggin’ pretzel, a 2 HOUR LINE TO GET OUT OF THE STADIUM, DOWN 1 BLOCK OF 11TH STREET AND DOWN 1 BLOCK OF DARREN STREET!!!  Yes, the road that leads to the Linc is called Darren street.  (It’s actually spelled Darien, but who’s counting?)  Fed up with the city’s Septa strike!  All because some new guy on the job wants to make a name for himself.  It’s a disgrace!  Those people ought to be lucky they have jobs.

THE BEARS WERE, WHO WE THOUGHT THEY WERE!!!!

The Colts are 14-1 against the Texans.

Peyton Manning threw 40 pass attempts in the first half.  Just 2 in the 3rd quarter.  He set a league record with 25 pass attempts in the first quarter!  And Peyton is the first QB to throw for 40,000 yards in a decade.

Aaron Rodgers has been sacked a league high 37 times.  He was sacked 34 times all of last season.

And Green Bay Packer fans must live every day of their lives like they’ve got 10 to 15 stomach ulcers.  They probably can’t eat, they’re exhausted from malnutrition, with no motivation to do anything.  Let’s face it…the only thing those people have in their lives is the Packers and their hero could be on his way to a Superbowl with their arch rival as their beloved cheese-heads do their best imitation of the St. Louis Rams every week.

Maurice Jones-Drew leads the league with 11 touchdowns.

Raise your hand if, in your fantasy league, you drafted Mike Sims-Walker or Austin Miles?  Put your hand down, liar.

How bad is Jacksonville’s secondary?  Kansas City picked Chris Chambers and his walking cane off the scrap heap last Tuesday and he picked up 70 yards and 2 touchdowns on Sunday.

As immensely hilarious as it was to see Chad 85 try to offer a referee a dollar during a replay of his near catch, it was the worst joke a guy could make in this era of ref and umpire questioning.  I’d be shocked if he wasn’t fined.

Write this down, folks… the Cincinnati Bengals are going to the playoffs.  And they’re going deep in to the playoffs.

The Giants’ 16 play TD drive in the 2nd quarter took 10:35 off the clock.  It was their longest drive in 16 years.

San Diego’s win at the Meadowlands was their first all year against a team with a winning record.

Can you believe this?  Vince Young has won 6 straight starts.  I didn’t think he’d win 6 games his entire career.  He’s a bum!

I have never been more wrong about a draft pick than I was about Titans RB Chris Johnson.  When Tennessee selected him late in the first round a couple years ago, I almost spit out my Murphy’s Irish Stout!  Another helping of crow, please.

The Steelers have set a franchise record by scoring 27 or more points in 5 straight games.  Speaking of the Stillers, all of a sudden they’re one of the more entertaining teams in football to watch.

Prior to Monday night’s game, I told a few people they were going to see Denver fade a little bit here and I’m not just playing Tuesday morning QB.  The majority of that team is unproven or on the downside of their playing careers.  Yes, they started off strong and have gone way beyond any expectations I had for them, but it wouldn’t surprise me if they fade out of the playoff picture by December.

I think I’ve had it with Asante Samuel’s act.  I realize over-celebrating on routine plays is common place around the league, but I don’t want to see it on my team.  Especially from a guy who tackles like Deion Sanders.  PUT A HAT ON SOMEBODY, ASANTE!!!

Following NY’s loss to San Diego, Eli “Don’t Call Me Ira” Manning was quoted as saying, “Golly shucks, gee willickers.  Shoot!”

Not to be outdone, Donovan McNabb was seen kneeling over a toilet following my beloved Iggles’ disgusting loss at home to Dallas.  The Eagles are 0 for their last 11 in games when they’ve trailed in the 4th quarter.  I love 5, but my goodness gracious, he couldn’t even come back against Oakland.  I’m so torn.

How ‘bout some love?  I loved the NFL’s all time best uniforms back in action on Sunday!  Tampa Bay’s orange creamsicle jerseys and swashbuckler helmets are the greatest!  Just ask Dwayne from “What’s Happening.”

Will the real San Francisco 49ers please stand up?  Like a few teams in this league, they’re a QB away.

And finally, at age 35, I’ve been watching or playing football for probably 29 or 30 years or so.  Never and I mean NEVER, have I seen 3 defensive backs bite on a double move before.  And on a 3rd and 14, no less!  I’m referring to, of course, the Austin Miles-Miles Austin (whatever the hell his name is) TD on Sunday night.

This week’s notes and musings are sponsored by Tony Danza.  Yes, Tony Danza.  Why?  Why not?
 

The death of the JD Salinger of film, John Hughes, inspired this list.  Did you know that he was a farmer in Wisconsin when he died?

 10. Juno
    9. Friday Night Lights
    8. The Outsiders
   7. Risky Business
    6. American Grafitti
    5. Boyz N The Hood
   4. Ferris Bueller's Day Off
   3. Superbad
   2. The Breakfast Club
    1. Fast Times at Ridgemont High
 

RANTS FROM 18 YEAR OLD INFAMOUS INTERN TOM TERRIFIC

Andy and Donovan, IT'S ONE YARD!!!! I thought you were supposed to fix this problem in the off season.....
 
I wonder if there has ever been a time where there were four lefties in a pitching rotation...
 
After all the moves Ruben Amaro made this past year, I'm not going to second guess his decision to not re-sign Myers....
 
I say we keep High Hopes for the Phillies games.  Only change is that the song should be moved to the 8th inning, not after wins...
 
I can't believe Christmas commercials are already starting!...
 
A memorial is being put up for the Flight 93 victims.  Thank you to the passengers who refused to give up with out a fight....

The current production of WEST SIDE STORY that's playing at the Palace is UNFREAKINGBELIEVABLE! Don't miss!

RAVINGS FROM A MAN WHO NEVER SLEEPS... 10/26

Will take the Eagles win... DeSean is a major talent, but what a knuckle head.  Isn't there one veteran who can straighten him out?

The "Wendy wheelchair" CURB was a classic...

Will everyone out there stop it with this "the country hates Philly" mentality?  They don't!

Looking for a vinyl copy of THE WHITE ALBUM (with the poster and lyrics it came with)...

The GAMBLING GRAHAM has hit 2 weeks in a row.  I'm now plus $560 for the year and $6, 440 since it started!

How many calories in a pint of pork fried rice?...

Is there anything better than peeing on your front lawn in the dark?

RAVINGS FROM A MAN WHO NEVER SLEEPS... 10/25

Sorry I haven't been checking in more.  There's been a disaster in my house that's gutted it, so bear with me...

The Monty Python documentary is fantastic!  Here's my brush with Python.  Years ago, Graham Chapman was booked for two shows at the CFO on a Monday night.  I was planning on going down for the second.  I get a call at home from Clay Heery saying Chapman was held up at customs at the airport and was going to miss the first sold out show.  Can I get my ass down there? Then they made an announcement to the crowd that Chapman was not going to make it, that they were going to refund their money, but if they wanted, they could stay and Big Daddy was going to put on a show for everyone there. (Smart move on the CFO's part.  They would profit off all the food and drink served up to the crowd)  To my credit, everyone stayed and the show was awesome... After the show, Chapman arrived and someone took a photo of the two of us pointing to the name "Graham" (Who by the way is who I took my last name off) on a blown up poster of myself that hung in the Outlet.  What a thrill of a night that was! Then recently,  Michael Palin was in town for a book seminar and I got Palin to sign the photo (which I had blown up) to "my two favorite Graham's."

Go Phils!

TEN BEST DC MOVIES EVER
With the Birds taking on the Skins, I thought I would take a very unscientific look at my fav DC flicks.
 (Alphabetical order)

• ALL THE PRESIDENTS MEN
• DAVE
• THE DAY THE EARTH STOOD STILL
• THE EXORCIST
• INDEPENDENCE DAY
• IN THE LINE OF FIRE
• MINORITY REPORT
• MR SMITH GOES TO WASHINGTON
• NO WAY OUT
• WEDDING CRASHERS

 

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Happy 61st Birthday, Tom Bigby!