We're taking bets that music is fun...

Here is my thoughts on tonight's American Idol. I was perfect in choosing my bottom three and I hope I am right this week too.
Jacob Luck
Man in the Mirror by Michael Jackson
- While I would have loved his version of Marvin Gaye's "Let's Get It On" he did a great job. He was truly feeling the music and he is probably going to be top five at least.

Haley Reinhart
Little Piece of My Heart by Janis Joplin
- She definitely has the voice for it. While I don't think she was as great as Pink's version, she was excellent. I think she has surprised some people and might be jumping ahead of some of the rest.

Casey Abrams
Have You Ever Seen the Rain by CCR
- I wasn't super impressed. I think he was really cool with the stand-up bass, but this week he might not have done as well as he could have.

Lauren Alaina
Natural Woman by Aretha Franklin
- She did a good job, but so many other Idol contestants killed it. She just didn't do it as well as some others have. I think she might be in the bottom three.

James Durbin
While My Guitar Gently Weeps by the Beatles
- He is officially the front runner in my book. He was awesome in a song that showed he is not just a hard rocker. I get more impressed every single week.

Scott McCreery
That's Alright Mama by Elvis Presley
- This was probably Scott's worst performance in my book, but everyone loved him. I know he is going to be in the top three. The girls absolutely love him.

Pia Toscano
River Deep, Mountain High by Tina Turner
- She absolutely incredible. She can sing. I cannot wait until she puts out her first album because it will be amazing. I am not sure she is going to win, because Idol seems to be skewed towards the men. She is definitely in the Top three though.

Stefano Langone
When a Man Loves a Woman by Percy Sledge
- I think that he did alright, but I think he is going to be in the bottom three. There was nothing memorable about it. The girls love him though. So we will see.

Paul McDonald
Folsom Prison Blues by Johnny Cash
- I really liked his performance and think he is going to have a great career, but he is not going to succeed at American Idol past this week. I think if he write great songs like Ray Lamontagne he will be awesome someday.

I think that Stefano, Lauren and Paul are going to be in the bottom three. Paul is probably going home this week. We will see what happens tomorrow.

We're taking bets that I have been lucky with my teams...

Well UConn won the national championship in men's basketball for the third time. It is pretty impressive that Jim Calhoun has been the coach for all three. I think about my grandmother and Great Uncle. They were both sports fans, although their passion was really only baseball and whatever game I was playing. They both died before they got to see the Red Sox win a World Series. Actually my grandmother was 4 months old when the Sox won in 1918. Here is how I have been blessed throughout my lifetime. These are the teams I have rooted for:

Boston Red Sox: 2004, 2007
New England Patriots: 2001, 2003, 2004
UConn Husky Women's Basketball: 1995, 2000, 2002-'04, 2009-'10
UConn Husky Men's Basketball: 1999, 2004, 2011
Los Angeles Lakers: 1980, '82, '85, '87-'88, 2000 -'02 (Then Kobe ran out Shaq and I defected.)
Boston Celtics: 2008
Hartford Whalers: Adams Division Champions 1986-'87

I hope my luck continues. I know that I could have grown up someone where else, but thankfully I grew up in New England.

We're taking bets that Lou Gorman never really got his due...

Today is a sad day and not because someone April Fool's Day pranked me. Old Red Sox GM Lou Gorman passed away at the age of 82. He did a great job of assembling one of the Red Sox best teams in 1986 and helped them to the play-offs two other times. His most genius moves were getting Dave Henderson and Spike Owen for the '86 play-off run, drafted Curt Schilling, John Valentin, Mo Vaughn, Jeff Bagwell and Trot Nixon, and brilliantly hired snow plow driver Joe Morgan to resurrect a falling team. Sadly he did trade away Jeff Bagwell for Larry Anderson in one of the worst trades ever, but we will forgive him for that. In fact if he hadn't gotten Trot Nixon the Sox would have never won the World Series in 2004. Thanks for everything Lou Gorman I tip my cap to you.















photo courtesy of the Boston Globe