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Fantastic

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What is the best book about being a sports fanatic? Frederick Exley’s “A Fan’s Notes” is at the top of the list. I thought of Exley’s cult classic today when I read about a new movie starring the gifted stand-up comedian, Patton Oswalt.

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17 comments

1 Cliff Corcoran   ~  Aug 25, 2009 1:35 pm

I love this quote from Brad Bird on Oswalt:

"He experiences everything on a pretty pure and high level. Even when he’s nerding out, he’s nerding out to the 10th power.”

I've discovered recently that one of the qualities I value most in friends and associates is enthusiasm. Oswalt has that and Bird captured it. Even when he criticizes things in his routines, he does so with a cheerful enthusiasm. The KFC famous bowl isn't just disgusting, it's so awesomely disgusting that it's amazing and fascinating in its own way, and that can be fun and funny. I love people whose enthusiasm for things is pure, genuine, and joyful, and I love Patton Oswalt's standup for that reason.

2 Alex Belth   ~  Aug 25, 2009 1:43 pm

I'll have a failure pile in a sadness bowl...

Cliff, you nailed it! Feel the same way about the George Lucas routine I put in the post. He's very smart but not too clever for his own good. I think the dude is flat out funny.

3 Cliff Corcoran   ~  Aug 25, 2009 1:52 pm

[2] I still use his impression of Nick Nolte as Han Solo ("dawwwww, Chewbacca") as an expression of exasperation. Man, that routine has to be a decade old by now, doesn't it?

. . . I just realized how nerdy that makes me sound. Oh well.

4 Raf   ~  Aug 25, 2009 1:52 pm

I’ve discovered recently that one of the qualities I value most in friends and associates is enthusiasm

Was it always this way, or since you became a Dad? I dig enthusiasm myself, though that's not really my bag. I'm more of an amused cynic. Oswald and Drew Carey are two recent comics that I find/found hilarious. Normal everyday guys without pretense that will make you bust a gut laughing with a mere smirk.

5 Cliff Corcoran   ~  Aug 25, 2009 2:17 pm

Good question, Raf. I can't really say. I've always been something of a cynic myself. It could be that I'm finally outgrowing that somewhat. Really it was just something I noticed about the folks who make me smile most. So was I subconsciously drawn to these people (friends etc.) because of that quality, or have I belatedly come to appreciate it in people I already liked for other reasons? I can't say. Maybe it's been since I became a dog owner again . . .

6 Just Fair   ~  Aug 25, 2009 2:25 pm

My wife and I just watched Patton's new special on Comedy Central this past weekend. He definitely cracks my up. He did a bit about "The Lucky Charms Conspiracy" which was basically a comparison between religion and paganism. Quite clever. : D

7 Raf   ~  Aug 25, 2009 2:36 pm

Heard about this @ WasWatching, checked the MLB.com site to confirm... Billy Wagner's going to the Red Sox.

8 Sliced Bread   ~  Aug 25, 2009 2:45 pm

[7] Kill the wab-bit, kill the WAB-bit....

That's Wagner (Vogner), right?

Serious question though, will the BoSox play Enter Sandman for their new 8th inning guy?

9 Cliff Corcoran   ~  Aug 25, 2009 2:48 pm

Wagner to Sox for 2 low-minors PTBNL. Sox will decline option. Mets will help pay for remainder of this season. Wagner likely to start out in low-leverage and work his way up. Also see my latest tweet.

10 Raf   ~  Aug 25, 2009 2:51 pm

[9] MLB has it that the Red Sox will cover the rest of Wagner's salary.

11 Raf   ~  Aug 25, 2009 2:55 pm

[8] I don't think he'll be the 8th inning guy just yet. I think Okajima will be higher on the depth chart for now.

12 Sliced Bread   ~  Aug 25, 2009 2:58 pm

[11] whatever inning he works I wonder if the BoSox will have the stomach to crank that song for him given the guy who "owns" it wears enemy stripes.

13 Raf   ~  Aug 25, 2009 3:14 pm

They probably will play it, at the very least to appease their new player.

Lousy Mets season just got worse, Santana's having season ending surgery.

I was thinking about heading to the game tonight, but I don't feel like navigating ticketmaster's; "best available option" netted me $900 seats, and it's too time consuming to check tickets section by section. F-that.

14 Sliced Bread   ~  Aug 25, 2009 3:20 pm

[13] check stubhub. you can move your curser over the stadium map and it tells you the price range for each section.

15 Cliff Corcoran   ~  Aug 25, 2009 3:21 pm

[10] My bad. I misread the bit on his salary. Yes, Sox pay it all, plus the $1 million buyout and will likely get 2 picks to replace their low-A players for the expense.

16 Alex Belth   ~  Aug 25, 2009 3:22 pm

..new thread above for Mr Wags...

17 cult of basebaal   ~  Aug 25, 2009 3:46 pm

[0] Awwww, Oswalt is flat fucking awesome.

I literally burned 2 copies of "Werewolves and Lollipops" for some friends today.

"Quit yer bellyaching Buck Rodgers, it's only a diver's watch!!!"

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