A 2019 NBA Preview - by Ben Galli

They just announced the most hyped rookie in 16 years, Zion Williamson is going to miss the first 6-8 weeks of the season due to injury. (cue the Greg Oden groans) We might as well wait til Christmas too. The NBA debuts its season really in the thickest of things. The World Series reminds people baseball is finally almost over. The NFL is approaching midseason, an intense time for many fans with playoff aspirations and Bills fans regardless. In college football, Wisconsin has once again choked in another promising season. Oh yeah and hockey’s started but do you even skate, bro?

The NBA season really doesn’t start until the Christmas Day games when the narratives for the regular season really gain steam and we have a sense of teams’ true identities. That being said, here, to satisfy my lust for being right are some predictions for this upcoming season.

Eastern Conference

The Cavs aren’t gonna be contending this year. They’re gonna play the small market strategy and develop their youths and hope to hit stardom in the lottery again. The Cavs tv ratings dropped 58% last season but it still ranked 6th in the NBA. A testament to the loyalty of Northeast Ohio and also there’s not that much better stuff to do really. I’m going to avoid making the obviously terrible pun but not be able to resist making you think about it. Where once there were Witnesses, there will now be Winston….Garland fans. Garland’s only played 5 games since high school (part of the Kyrie comparisons) but how he play acts with last year’s first rounder Collin Sexton will determine if the Cavs have the next Lillard-McCollum or Marbury-Francis.

There’s a lot of interesting teams vying for the 2nd tier in the East (see: Hawks, Heat, Nets, Pacers) but the East boils down to the Bucks and the 76ers. The 76ers have a chance to build on chemistry and with the most talented team in the East, make that final leap. But it’s hard to go against a determined Giannis and Mike Budenholzer’s proven system trying to make their own. The Bucks will need to replace Malcolm Brogdon however while Philly might replace Brett Brown mid-season if anything smells rotten.

Playoffs: 1. Bucks 2. 76ers 3. Celtics 4. Nets 5. Pacers 6. Heat 7. Hawks 8. Magic

Bucks over Magic, 76ers over Hawks, Celtics over Heat, Pacers over Nets

Bucks over Pacers, 76ers over Celtics

76ers over Bucks

Western Conference

In the West it’s the Battle of Los Angeles that looms largest but there’s no shortage of big time story lines here. Harden and Westbrook in Hot Shots Part Deux, Harden’s second stint with another ball dominant superstar, the Warriors getting into “They Doubt Us!” mode, and everyone who hates superstar teams wildly rooting for the Jazz, Nuggets, and Blazers. But let me tell you folks. I’ve watched about 2 and a half preseason games and there’s no doubt in my mind, the Lakers have the potential to go 82-0. They might make all their opponents look like the Washington Generals, or frankly, the Wizards.

But all kidding aside, the battle for the playoffs and seeding in the West will be fantastic. And the playoffs should be out of control. And with up and coming teams like the Mavs, Kings, and yes, the Timberwolves still, the race for the playoffs will be a battle between the old guard and the new. But I learned my lesson to never go against the Spurs.

Playoffs: 1. Clippers 2. Lakers 3. Jazz 4. Nuggets 5. Blazers 6. Rockets 7. Warriors 8. Spurs

Clippers over Spurs, Lakers over Warriors, Rockets over Jazz, Nuggets over Blazers

Clippers over Nuggets, Lakers over Rockets

Lakers over Clippers

MVP: Anthony Davis: He should have a career high in assists and LeBron might lead the league in them. We’ll see how sincere James was when he said he would pass the torch or how much his ego will want the personal glory. It’s really his choice who wins MVP this year.

Defensive Player of the Year: Lawrence Taylor: Best I ever seen. But to pick a current NBA player, let’s go Joel Embiid in an upset.

Most Improved: Lonzo Ball: I think Lonzo will flourish with his old teammates, some proper veteran leadership from Jrue Holliday, and the obviously lesser pressure of signing with No Limit versus Death Row. Okay, maybe I dated myself.

6th Man of the Year: Spencer Dinwiddie: I don’t see Lou Williams three-peating and Spencer Dinwiddie is good. Kyle Kuzma should also get votes but I don’t want people to think I’m a Lakers fan or anything. Plus, peep Dinwiddie’s contract proposal where he’s selling shares of it to high end investors.

Rookie of the Year: Zion Williamson: *If Zion doesn’t miss more than half the season, otherwise after seeing 3 highlights of Tyler Herro (UK player on the Heat) on Twitter, he’s my second choice.

Coach of the Year: Frank Vogel: I think everyone just feels sad for him cause he was their 3rd choice and Ty Lue was ahead of him and Jason Kidd is sneaky.

Oh and the Finals Pick: 40 years to the day, Alex Caruso steps into the center role for an injured Anthony Davis and leads the Lakers to a shocking Game 6 victory over the Philadelphia 76ers.

Enjoy the season! Follow @bengalli33

Pencilstorm Interviews: Nicholas Fortkamp for School Board

There are four candidates running for three seats on Upper Arlington City School Board. Pencilstorm asked each of the candidates five specific questions centered around issues that impacted Upper Arlington residents and questions that were being raised by fellow voters. Pencilstorm will be posting their complete and unedited answers individually leading up to the election and reposting all their answers together the last week of October. Answers will be posted in order they're received. Our final candidate, Nicolas Fortkamp, is featured below.

Fortkamp.jpg

Nicolas Fortkamp
https://fortkampforua.com/

In 2018, the school conducted a safety audit and implemented the recommendations.  Safety continues to be a top priority in our district. What additional measures would you advocate to keep our students and staff safer?
Student and staff safety in our schools is an undisputed priority.  I will advocate ongoing conversations among students, staff, administration, and board members, to continually seek the most innovative, effective safety methods available, including appropriate building features, safety techniques, and policies.     

I will advocate for growing a stronger culture of safety within our schools.  To accomplish this, we must increase dialogue to deepen the trust among students, staff members, and families.  We need to talk about safety awareness and procedures openly, making it a part of student life without overwhelming the students and staff.  By encouraging a safe, trusting culture within our school system, students and educators will be free to focus on positive educational experiences.

What technology projects would you propose as a school board member to better prepare our students for the challenges of the near future?
One of the greatest challenges facing our world today is sustainability.  To better prepare our students, I would propose focusing on technology projects related to environmental and economic sustainability.  Business and industry, including academic institutions, are investing time and resources in the sustainability sector.  Our students need to be equipped with knowledge and experience in sustainable technologies to succeed in whatever paths they choose, as it will ultimately impact their lives, both personally and professionally.

Careers utilizing these technologies, including renewable energy sectors such as wind, hydro, geothermal and solar, and the environmental sciences, will require students with a strong foundation in these areas.  The challenges of the future will need to be analyzed and solved though new technology and perspectives; our students will create a better future by being better prepared.

Between higher property taxes and the cost of students participating in various school activities, the expense of having a student in the school system seems to be ever increasing and can be challenging for some in our community.  What are some ways to lower the cost of our children taking advantage of various activities Upper Arlington schools have to offer?
As a board of education member, I will initiate conversations among school associations, programs, and clubs to enlist their help in finding ways to lower costs for student participation.  By providing discreet financial assistance to students in need, utilizing payment schedules instead of an upfront lump sum, and tapping other organizations for financial assistance, we can help more students take advantage of more activities. 

Finally, from a city and community perspective, a community center could be a catalyst for increased and affordable student activities and programs.  This initiative is still in an exploratory phase, we must utilize spaces currently available in Upper Arlington, perhaps partnering with the city, local businesses and community organizations, to locate affordable, appropriate space for additional student activities. 

What’s the one thing our teachers need to help them be better educators?
I believe teachers would benefit most by having a consistent system relaying an extensive, individual profile for each student, year to year, passed on from one teacher to the next.  I would like to see teachers enter their classroom each year, with a comprehensive understanding and academic history of each child.  If this is done correctly, teachers will be provided the best information to reach and teach each student.  Our teachers are excellent and deserve all the support and financial resources we can afford. 

Everyone at Pencilstorm is a musician. To that end, what would you do to support the arts and music education at all Upper Arlington’s schools?
I believe the arts and music are essential at all stages of learning.  I am a fervent supporter of the arts and music education in our schools and I understand the power they have to enhance all aspects of a child’s education.  I will advocate for integrating music and the arts into nonrelated classes, as a tool to expand the educational experience.  I will support more live performances and hands-on experiences for students, as well as performance partnerships among different age groups, to give a broader, deeper understanding of the arts.  Finally, utilizing our community as a resource, and the high school program, UA IDEA Day, we can share with our students the music and arts from the globally diverse cultures represented in Upper Arlington.         

Pencilstorm would like to thank Nicolas Fortkamp for taking the time to answer our questions.  Learn more about Nicolas at his website: https://fortkampforua.com/. Pencilstorm is an independent news source and does not endorse any individual candidate.

Local UA Politics coverage provided by Wal Ozello. You can email him at Pencilstormstory@gmail.com or try to catch him at Colin's Coffee. 

Check out coverage of all the candidates we've received responses from by clicking here.

The bye-week, N'western's chances Friday night, UM in Happy Valley - Baver Answers Colin's Questions - N'Western Week

Colin: What could this Buckeye team have been working on in an off week before facing Northwestern as 28 point favorites? 

Baver: Ohio St was called for 10 penalties against Michigan St, so certain fundamentals may have been a focus. MSU also exposed some flaws in OSU’s ability to defend intermediate passes, as Brian Lewerke hit wide open receivers several times against OSU. And the Buckeyes are 88th in the country in sack % allowed, despite the O-line being pretty solid in pass protection so far this year. That’s on Fields, but you obviously can’t come down too hard on Justin, as he’s still blowing away enormous expectations.

Colin: Is there any chance Northwestern pulls the upset or can I just skip to another question?

Baver: N’Western has lost 39 straight against Top-5 teams, their last win coming in 1959. And their offense is dead last in the country this season in yards per play. On the flip side, Pat Fitzgerald teams almost always start slow, but play their best football after September, and they never quit. NW hung with Wisconsin, losing only 24-15. They held UW to 243 yds total offense and gained 21 first downs to Wisc’s 13. A week later the Wildcats held Nebraska to 13 pts & 12 first downs. N’Western has little chance of winning tomorrow night, but they could get OSU’s offense out of sorts, much like Sparty did early on. Both ESPN’s FPI power ratings and Bill Connelly’s SP+ power ratings list Northwestern as having a better defense than Michigan St’s. Still, NW won’t be able to shut down the Buckeye offense for an entire game, and their own offense is completely outmanned against Ohio St’s D. I have OSU winning, but N’Western covering the spread. I’ve got it: OSU 34 N’Western 10.

Colin: Am I crazy or does Michigan have a chance to beat Penn State this weekend and shake up the Big Ten East? 

Baver: While UM could very well pull the upset at home against Notre Dame a week from Saturday, they are just not the same team when they leave Ann Arbor. Michigan has been blown out in their last three big gms away from home (OSU, Fla & Wisc) by an average score of 48-20. This Nittany Lion team is also far more athletic than any team UM has faced this year. Then, there is the white-out they have to deal with, and Penn St is 8-0 vs the spread in its last 8 night games in Beaver Stadium. Does UM have a chance? Yeah....I just don’t think it’s a very good one. Still, when I disagree with you, you often end up being right.

Colin: Meanwhile, Bucky Badger coming in with a head of steam for the game next weekend in the Shoe. Are they a legit playoff squad? 

Baver: The Badgers are now ranked 6th and that seems about right to me. I don’t think they are quite on par with Ohio St, Oklahoma or LSU, but UW are capable of winning in the ‘Shoe and are certainly a playoff contender. Their D has posted 4 shutouts in 6 gms, and it’s pretty scary that Jonathan Taylor had only 80 yds on 26 carries last week, yet Wisconsin still hammered Michigan St 38-0. Getting WR Quintez Cephus back was huge, and QB Jack Coan is a major upgrade from Alex Hornibrook. 

Colin: Georgia bites it against the Cocks. Too soon thoughts on playoffs?

Baver: Bama, Clemson, Ohio St, & Oklahoma I think are the best 4 teams in the country, and also the four teams most likely to get in based on remaining schedules. I don’t see LSU winning at Alabama, and I think a potential rematch of Wisc-OSU indoors, in Indy on the fast-track, definitely favors Ohio St. Oregon and Utah both still have a fighting chance. I wouldn’t rule Georgia out yet, and I’m not completely ruling out Notre Dame. Penn St, Michigan, Florida and Auburn probably face too many obstacles to get in, although Penn St is still undefeated, so they may have some room for error.

Colin: What other games / lines will you be watching this weekend?

Baver: We talked about UM in Happy Valley already...I like the Nits laying the 9 pts. And I like the situational spot with Florida playing to avoid a 2nd straight loss, facing a Will Muschamp South Carolina team that should come back to reality after upsetting Georgia. I like the Gators -5 on the road.

Back to the Buckeyes....I’ve correctly had OSU covering the past three games, but with the injury problems at the OT position (Munford-game time decision, Josh Alabi-out), and with N’Western’s defense playing lights out, I wouldn’t lay the 4 TDs in Evanston. Yet that 28-pt spread doesn’t seem to be too far off.

 

Pencilstorm Interviews: Jenny McKenna for School Board

There are four candidates running for three seats on Upper Arlington City School Board. Pencilstorm asked each of the candidates five specific questions centered around issues that impacted Upper Arlington residents and questions that were being raised by fellow voters. Pencilstorm will be posting their complete and unedited answers individually leading up to the election and reposting all their answers together the last week of October. Answers will be posted in order they're received. Our third candidate, Jenny McKenna, is featured below.

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Jenny McKenna
http://www.jennyforua.com/

In 2018, the school conducted a safety audit and implemented the recommendations.  Safety continues to be a top priority in our district. What additional measures would you advocate for to keep our students and staff safer?
In speaking with many parents around the district, I know first hand that safety remains a top priority. As a member of the Upper Arlington School Board, I look forward to ensuring that the safety audit recommendations are implemented in a timely manner. The upgraded visitor log system that has been put in place at our schools this year is a huge step in the right direction, especially given the construction traffic that will be happening at most of our school sites the next several years. I recently had a discussion with Chris Potts, chief operating officer, where we discussed this vey topic. He agrees that as we look to the future, the expert consensus is the most important thing the district can do to keep our kids safe is to invest in their social and emotional well being. This includes ensuring that our faculty and staff are taking care of themselves so they are equipped to take care of our students. It also includes being mindful of the emotional toll of lockdown drills and heightened security have on our kids while also making sure our kids are prepared to be safe in case of emergency. These topics are not simple to solve and as a parent, who is interacting with teachers and other parents in elementary, middle and high school on a weekly basis, I look forward to working with our community to maintain our standards of excellence when it comes to the safety and well-being of our kids. 

What technology projects would you propose as a school board member to better prepare our students for the challenges of the near future?
With the district’s implementation of the “one-to-one” technology initiative, we’ve invested a great deal of resources into technology. I am thankful that we have excellent curriculum designers that are working hard everyday to find new ways to incorporate the use of these learning tools into our students’ everyday learning and lives. After speaking to many principles, I learned our teachers are finding innovative ways to use the iPads to teach our curriculum. I was recently speaking with friends of ours about this exact topic. Not only do the have two children in elementary school but the father, Mike Hofherr, also happens to be Vice President and Chief Information Officer for Ohio State. He was sharing with me that one of the biggest challenges with technology is ensuring that our teachers know how and when to use it appropriately. Teacher training is key to integrate that technology into their curriculum.  Experts estimate 80% of the jobs in 2030 don’t exist today - so we need to teach the kids these skills that will prepare them for a technology driven economy. I want to work with the district to make sure we invest in professional development for our staff so they are up to date on the best way to use technology to engage our students. Finally, as a parent of children in multiple schools around the district, I want to make sure whenever new things are rolled out our communication to parents occurs early and often.  As a member of the Upper Arlington School Board, I’d like to bridge that divide and serve as the voice for parents.

Between higher property taxes and the cost of students participating in various school activities, the expense of having a student in the school system seems to be ever increasing and can be challenging for some in our community.  What are some ways to lower the cost of our children taking advantage of various activities Upper Arlington schools have to offer?
Unfortunately, this is a problem that is not unique to Upper Arlington and growing up in a family of seven children, I can appreciate how these costs can quickly add up and parents feel like they are being stretched way too thin. I am a firm believer in “all means all.” ALL children should be afforded the opportunity to participate in sports and extracurriculars if they so desire.

 We are fortunate to live in a community with robust and active PTOs and a well supported education foundation. As President of the PTO, I saw first-hand how many community members are willing to donate their time and money to help make sure All means All. We organize fundraising events annually to help supplement important educational and extracurricular activities. My husband and I are also annual contributors to the Upper Arlington Education Foundation and we have worked closely with other parents over the years to educate our community on the value and benefits of giving charitably to our schools.  As a voice for parents, I look forward to continue to work with our PTO leadership and the education foundation to find creative solutions ensuring school activities remain affordable for all of our students.

What’s the one thing our teachers need to help them be better educators?
Our teachers are amazing educators, and that’s one of the many reasons our district is so great. Personally, I think one of the best things we can do is let our teachers teach. Our kids are tested too much. I’d love to see less time devoted to testing and testing prep and more time devoted to allowing our teachers to prepare our students for the future. I’ve spoken with dozens of other parents first-hand who feel the same way. I also believe that we need to maintain the district’s level of investment in professional development. Whether it’s learning how to better leverage technology in the classroom or supporting the social and emotional needs of our students, our teachers are one of our most valuable assets and need to be supported.  Teachers in the elementary, middle and high school classrooms are trying new and innovative ways of teaching the content while taking the emotional stress of constant testing out of the classroom. As a parent with kids who will be in elementary, middle and high school over the next four years, I look forward to collaborating with parents and teachers at all levels to continue to innovate our approach to education in a way that best benefits our kids. 

Everyone at Pencilstorm is a musician. To that end, what would you do to support arts and music education at all of Upper Arlington’s schools?
I am so thankful to live in a school district that strongly supports music & arts programming. We currently have amazing and diverse offerings for students all over the district. There are strings and band programs in every one of our elementary schools. We have after school enrichment programs that include everything from ceramics to ukulele to Taiko drums. Our middle schools and high school have robust performing arts programs. As a member of the Upper Arlington School Board, I look forward to strongly supporting these offerings and maintaining our current levels of investment.

Pencilstorm would like to thank Jenny McKenna for taking the time to answer our questions.  Learn more about Jenny at her website: http://www.jennyforua.com/. Look for responses from future candidates in the coming days. Pencilstorm is an independent news source and does not endorse any individual candidate.

Local UA Politics coverage provided by Wal Ozello. You can email him at Pencilstormstory@gmail.com or try to catch him at Colin's Coffee. 

Check out coverage of all the candidates we've received responses from by clicking here.

Rev. Todd Baker’s Picks for Rock and Roll Hall of Fame 2020/2021 (Uncensored!)


Rev. Todd Baker’s Picks for Rock and Roll Hall of Fame 2020/2021

 

Well, it’s that time again. Every October I wait for Rolling Stone to list the new RRHOF nominee’s and every year I get more pissed off at their choices. First of all, FUCK Jann Wenner! I for one am glad he is “retiring.” He has always been a self-centered, arrogant douchebag who likes to hold grudges against people based on his personal opinions. Although, I’m not too thrilled that the head of I-Heart Radio is replacing him. Could it possibly get any worse? Now, I have had a problem with the whole nominating process for over two decades. Mainly for the fact they stopped inducting artists based on chronology! For the first ten years or so they strictly followed rock and roll’s timeline, but somewhere things went askew. That’s how we got such undeserving members as Madonna, Green Day, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Janet Jackson and Radiohead!

 

I also feel “THEY” need to do a better job of choosing who gets to induct the lucky winners. Is it too much to ask for a presenter with even an inkling of connection to the artist being honored? How many times is Kid Rock or Tom Morelli going to give another speech? Even worse, some up and coming band the Hall felt the need to promote. Fuck that! We need better presenters, preferably current/future members of RRHOF! And what ever happened to the big JAM at the end? That idea seems to have faded away. These people aren’t dead. Well, many aren’t. Get them on stage! Ace Frehley and Joe Walsh jamming with Eddie Van Halen and Slash! Hell, why aren’t these bands touring together for fun? Mix it up! Springsteen opening for Cheap Trick!

 

Obviously, this whole selection process is subjective, as are my opinions on the topic. However, I am basing my choices (mostly) on hard, cold facts: Can you name three hits? Did they have a platinum record? Are they still performing or on the radio? Groundbreakers are different. They get a pass on hits and sales. My goal here is to correct several obvious snubs made on the part of RRHOF and Jann Wenner specifically. It is time to stop letting the New York music critics cock block the rock and let the PEOPLE have their say. In that spirit, I would like to submit my list of 25 bands, sidemen, producers, solo artists and singer/songwriters who deserve to be inducted NOW. Unfortunately, these days the dummies running this joint can barely induct five bands each year. They USED to induct a dozen or more…bring that back. I think all 25 could be inducted in two classes! So, here is my list of worthy members. Fuck Kraftwerk, The Smiths, Depeche Mode, Sonic Youth, Soundgarden, Blink 182 and especially Biggie Smalls until THESE bands are in!

     

 
 Class of 2020 and their presenters

 

1)      The Meters: (Inducted by Trombone Shorty)

Considering “Sissy Strut” has been sampled by nearly every wanna-be d.j. in the history of hip hop, 

there should be NO more rappers until THESE guys are inducted!

 

2)      The Swampers/Muscle Shoals Rhythm Section: (Patterson Hood)

They backed up Wilson Pickett, Aretha Franklin, Staple Sisters, Paul Simon and more. 

       Skynyrd sang their praise. The Stones and Bob Seger recorded at their studio.

 

3)      Jim Croce: (A.J. Croce) Accepted by his wife Ingrid

Died too soon. Plane crash. Like Otis, had his biggest hit after his death.

Bad, Bad Leroy Brown, Time in a Bottle, Don’t Mess Around With Jim

 

4)      Ted Nugent: (Kid Rock---Hey, He DESERVES this intro)

Yes, when it comes to politics, he is bat-shit crazy but you can’t deny him. He meets all the criteria and even at his age Ted is still a bad-ass guitar player. The Nuge belongs in! Cat Scratch Fever, Stranglehold, Wango Tango, Great White Buffalo, Free For All

 

5)      Blue Oyster Cult: (Will Farrell—More Cowbell!)

Huge in the 70’s! KISS opened for THEM. STILL on tour and the radio every day!

Godzilla, Burnin’ For You, Don’t Fear the Reaper, Cities on Flame, Joan Crawford

 

6)      Judas Priest: (Axl Rose)

Breaking the Law, Living After Midnight, Screaming For Vengence. Boom!

Created the “Heavy metal look”. First band to be sued for killing their fans.

 

7)      Ozzy Osbourne: Solo Artist (Sharon Osbourne)

If Ringo Starr is in for his solo work, Ozzy deserves to be for his!

“Crazy Train” is now in car commercials and played at every NFL game.

 

8)      Randy Rhoads: Sideman (Ozzy Osbourne)

Played in Quiet Riot before joining Ozzy. Still considered one of the greatest.

 

9)      Bob Ezrin: Producer (Alice Cooper)

Produced ALL of Alice’s greatest hits: I’m 18, School’s Out, Billion Dollar Babies… 

      Lou Reed: Berlin, KISS: Destroyer (and The Elder), Pink Floyd: The Wall and more.

 

10)  Warren Zevon: Singer/Songwriter (Jackson Browne) Accepted by Jordan Zevon

LONG overdue. Musical genius. I miss him nearly every day.

FINAL JAM: Jackson Browne / Bruce Springsteen / Bob Dylan / Bonnie Raitt / Stevie Nicks / Joe Walsh / Don Henley / Waddy Wachtel / Patterson Hood 

                                    NO Werewolves! Poor, Poor, Pitiful Me>Play it All Night Long>Keep Me In Your Heart

                                                                        Not a dry eye in the house.

                               

  CLASS OF 2021 (Classic Rock and 80’s Metal)

 

11)  The Doobie Brothers: (Cheech and Chong)

They deserve to be in for the name alone. Plus, their episode of “What’s Happening”. 

      China Grove, Black Water, Listen to the Music, Jesus is Just Alright

 

12)  Foreigner: (Rod Stewart)

Headknocker, Hot Blooded, Urgent, Double Vision, Cold As Ice, Juke Box Hero

Classic rock, mega hits, still touring, unlike Rage Against the Machine!

 

13)  Pat Benetar: (Neil Gilardo) Although, he will probably demand to get an award, too. 

      Female Rock Pioneer. Heartbreaker, Hit Me With Your Best Shot, Fire and Ice, You Better Run

 

14)  Joe Walsh: (Jimmy Bufffett)                                                                                          

      James Gang. Coolest member of Eagles. Should have been President in 1980!            

      Turn To Stone, Rocky Mountain Way, Life’s Been Good, The Confessor

 

15)  The Runaways: (Rodney Bingenheimer)

Groundbreakers! First female rock band launching Joan Jett/Lita Ford.

Cherry Bomb (RIP Kim Fowley), You Drive Me Wild

 

16)  Bad Company: (Jimmy Page)

Paul Rogers on vocals. First band Zeppelin signed to Swan Song Records.

Bad Company, Feel Like Making Love, Moving On, Good Loving Gone Bad

 

17)  Meatloaf: (Jim Steinman)

Bat Out of Hell sold 43 Million copies!  Only Back in Black and Thriller sold more.   

      Two out of Three Ain’t bad, Paradise By the Dashboard Light, I Would Do Anything..

 

18)  Boston: (Todd Rundgren)

Two big records with half a dozen hits that are STILL on the radio every day!

More Than A Feeling, Rock and Roll Band, Peace of Mind, Don’t Look Back, Smokin’

 

19)  REO Speedwagon: (Neal Schon)

Kinda lame now, but in their day they ROCKED! Once Gary Richrath left it was over.

Riding the Storm Out, Roll With The Changes, Keep On Loving You, Take It on the Run

 

20)  Styx: (Rick Neilson)

Very similar story to REO, which is why they tour together so often. Can’t deny the hits.

Babe, Lady, Crystal Ball, Come Sail Away, Blue Collar Man, Renegade, Mr. Roboto

 

21)  Twisted Sister: (Alice Cooper)

Paid their dues the hard way, eventually got their hits and made a career out of it.        

     You Can’t Stop Rock and Roll, I Wanna Rock, We’re Not Gonna Take It.

 

22)  Quiet Riot: (Eddie Trunk)

Technically, two big hits, but they were pioneers of early L.A. metal and deserve a spot.

Metal Health, Cum On Feel the Noise, Mama Weer All Crazee Now

 

23)  Motley Crue: (David Lee Roth)

Bad Boys of 80’s metal. Took rock decadence to a new level. Retired before they died.

Shout at the Devil, Looks That Kill, Home Sweet Home, Girls-Girls-Girls, Dr. Feelgood,

 

24) Motorhead/Lemmy: (Scott Ian)
Groundbreaker. Only one big hit, unless you count the cover of Louie Louie, but c’mon. He was a legend. There will never be another

Lemmy. Ace of Spades.


25) Ronnie James Dio: Solo Artist (Ritchie Blackmore--How BAD-ASS would that be?)

ENCORE: Man on the Silver Mountain / The Mob Rules / Rainbow in the Dark



CLASS OF 2022 and Beyond

Iron Maiden, Rainbow, UFO, Scorpions, Ratt, Poison, Ministry/Trent Reznor, Megadeth, Anthrax, Slayer, Soundgarden, Alice in Chains, Tool, Rage Against The Machine, Pantera, The Replacements, Big Star and Devo.


After THAT you can let in Sonny & Cher, The Monkees, The Carpenters, Peter Frampton, George Thorogood, Foghat, Bachman Turner Overdrive and Kansas. (And I fucking HATED Kansas)



After THAT you can let in Chic, Todd Rundgren, Kraftwerk, Puff Daddy and whatever lame-ass douchebags the people who run I-Heart radio deem worthy. My work here is done. Discuss. - Rev Todd.