Goodbye, Hello Hello

Yes, a rare missed blogging weekday for me yesterday... ya know, every so often "real" work does rear its ugly head... and since it does pay the bills, I had to give it my full attention yesterday... it definitely put the labor into the day after Labor Day weekend!

So here's just a few thoughts on my mind that I couldn't let pass for the day...

Well, despite my bold prediction that Andre Agassi would be an "overwhelming favorite" in my last post... of course, if you turned on the television, read a newspaper, or went to a news website... you know that Andre Agassi lost his third round match vs. Germany's Benjamin Becker on Saturday.

It was an emotional on-court goodbye... and though I have not been the biggest Agassi fan in the world, I have to say I have warmed up to him more in the last few years.  And heck, I'm a sucker for a guy crying... so it didn't take much for that good 'ole lump in my throat.  But we did have a little chuckle in our house during Andre's on-court goodbye speech... had he also read one of my recently finished novels (one that Todd is currently reading as well)?  Here is Agassi's U.S. Open goodbye...

"The scoreboard said I lost today, but what the scoreboard doesn't say is what it is I have found. And over the last 21 years, I have found loyalty. You have pulled for me on the court and also in life. I've found inspiration. You have willed me to succeed sometimes even in my lowest moments. And I've found generosity. You have given me your shoulders to stand on to reach for my dreams, dreams I could have never reached without you. Over the last 21 years, I have found you. And I will take you and the memory of you with me for the rest of my life. Thank you."

What made us laugh was that in the fictional Amazing Race-ish reality show, Lost and Found, the icy hostess Barbara Fox asks the eliminated team... "You've lost the race, but what have you found?"  Coincidence?  Hmmm....

And yesterday we had two hellos... as two familiar face returning to television in new jobs... Katie Couric heading the CBS Evening News and Rosie O'Donnell joining The View.

I have no strong thoughts about Katie... don't love, don't hate her.  But wasn't too sure about the direction of this new evening news.  Again, I am probably just thinking of Today Katie... but it seemed a bit soft.  And while I love two of her "guests" last night Thomas Friedman and Morgan Spurlock... there just seemed to be too much opinion for a newcast, basically I want the news. I'll tune into some other program to get editorials (btw, I whole-heartedly agreed with the two men).  And the "Snapshot" feature seemed a little weak... could have done without the tribute to baby Prince Charles in 1949 and just get to that damn Cruise baby photo.  And also had a little fatigue by the 3rd time Couric plugged the CBS News website... the last time encouraging viewers to write-in with sugggestions a signature closing line?!   Can we vote someone back into the Big Brother house while we're at it?  Needless to say, my evening news loyalties will remain with ABC.

Then we had Rosie in a free-for-all first day... and we definitely have the answer to what The View has lost... Meredith Viera.  While Rosie was certainly entertaining, the show is clearly entering a brand new level when it comes to decibel levels... and that's saying something for this already loud show!  At one point, I think the ladies totally forgot that Jessica Simpson was on the couch... everyone just seemed to be talking loudly to someone.  Who... I am not sure?  Bu it definitely wasn't the croaky-voiced divorcee.  And Rosie is bringing her A.D.D. with her... the new "moderator" brought up Steve Irwin... but somehow the next 5 minutes turned into a discussion about the George Reeves/Superman Ben Affleck movie Hollywoodland.  Eventually they got back to Irwin's tragic death, but it took awhile.

So we'll see... I don't think either lady is going anywhere anytime soon... but I am not sure about the long-term prospects for either of them.

Comments

[Ryan]

Great Agassi write up - good stuff! In honor of his departure, vote for the Andre you prefer: Bald or Mulletted at eBayMatchUps.com:

http://www.ebaymatchups.com/matchup/view/Andre-bald-vs-Andre-with-the-Mullet_604