Monday, December 8, 2008

Max Kellerman's Monday Musings Vol XXXIV - Giving Thanks, Shtick and Location, Location, Location

Today's Max Kellerman show (the limited amount that I was able to listen to) was a contrast in sports and styles, with a little bit of sociology thrown in for good measure.

The show began with Max saying "thank you" to the Philadelphia Eagles for beating the Giants (a sentiment probably shared by most of the teams in the NFC East). Max opined that the Giants needed the loss to the Eagles much in the same way that the Giants "needed" the loss to the Browns earlier in the year.

Max then began to analyze the Giants loss, stating that they were beaten on both sides of the line. He then retreated a bit, saying that had Plaxico Burress played they would have won the game. This was immediately rebutted by Robin Lundberg who pointed out that Plaxico Burress did not cover Eagles' receivers or make tackles.

Its funny, but sometimes the show gets into a shtick, but quickly abandons it. Last week, they began referring to Lundberg as the "Punslinger" and were using the tag line "you've just been punslung." Today's show did not have any reference to the Lundberg nickname. Has it gone the way of the Spanish phrase of the day, love mail/hate mail and parties for moving up in the ratings book? (I wanted to include the Hockey Rant, but it seems like that one still makes somewhat regular appearances). We'll have to see if the Punslinger returns.

Speaking of Max's sidekicks, there was quite a bit of abuse sent Louie Gold's way on today's show. Louie was understandably unhappy with the Jets performance on Sunday and he vented frequently, although often it was at inappropriate times. At one point Max sent Louie out for a "timeout" (is he getting ready to discipline Esther?) and appointed "Brent the Intern" as temporary call screener.

Job opportunity? Max let everyone know that he was short on interns and he invited listeners to apply if they could get credit from their school for the work. [Please contact the station at their website for information. I have no info on the requirements or how to submit an application].

Max also had (what I hope was) a joking line about Erin. In talking to a female Dallas Cowboy fan, Max said that "my wife is a mom, but I expect my supper hot on the table when I come home." Not that you'll take my advice, but Max, unless you have a lot of help at home (i.e. nanny and housekeeper) I would not be making demands like that of the mother of six week old. But that's just me.

Shockingly, there was some talk about the Nets and it did not involve the arena in Brooklyn. Max talked about how the Nets had the highest scoring back court in the NBA and one of the staff opined that Brook Lopez "is a poor man's Tim Duncan." Max then stated that the problem with the Nets is that they call themselves the New Jersey Nets and that if they called themselves New York (like the Jets and Giants who also play in the Meadowlands Complex) people would pay more attention to them.

Max's observation about the Nets and their location has its roots in Torah thought. No, it has nothing to do with Jewish real estate agents saying "location, location, location." In Pirkei Avos 6:9, there is a story told about R' Yossi Ben Kisma who was approached by a man who asked where he was from. R' Yossi responded that he was from large city of scholars and scribes. The man then said to R' Yossi "if you would be willing to dwell in my city I will give you hundreds of thousands of gold coins, precious stones and pearls." R' Yossi responded that "even if you would give me all the silver, gold, precious stones, and pearls in the world, I would not dwell anywhere other than a place of Torah."

Not to say that Max was making a direct reference to Pirkei Avos, but as always there are a few grains of Torah thought in his show. Sometimes the location where someone situates themselves is more important than what they do in their current location. To R' Yossi, staying in a Torah environment was more important than moving to a city where he would be paid handsomely.

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