Paul Ryburn's Journal

While digging around Google News for stories related to John Calipari, I found some interesting stuff about World Wide Wes.  Wes, whose real name is William Wesley, is a behind-the-scenes power broker in basketball who helped bring Derrick Rose to Memphis, and we all know how that worked out.  It seems that Wes is now a certified agent for NCAA and NBA coaches.  In particular, he’s now the agent for Tony Barbee, the new head coach of Auburn.  Barbee was a protege of Coach Sleazeball, then went on to take the head coaching job at UTEP.  Wonder if this means Auburn is in for a run of one-and-done recruits and seasons of vacated wins?

If you’re capable of seeing humor in religion, you should follow @jesus on Twitter.  The J-man is a funny guy.

Bye bye Bruchebag
Bye bye Bruchebag
Bye bye Bruchebag
Bruce Pearl’s a big fat douche.

C-ya next year.  Frank, you have anything to add?  Nuh-Uh Girl?  Carmel?  Master Polo?  Didn’t think so.

The MacBook is going to the Saucer with me today… looking forward to an interesting discussion. In the classic book Think and Grow Rich!: The Original Version, Restored and Revised, Napoleon Hill talks about the importance of forming a Master Mind group to discuss ideas that lead to wealth.  Well, one of my BBQ teammates has gotten into affiliate marketing, and of course I’ve been doing that for the past two years (see the websites cluttering up a good portion of this blog’s right sidebar for examples).  Looking forward to discussing pay-per-click advertising and making money via Twitter, both of which I’ve learned lessons about this weekend.

However, for approximately 2 hours beginning at 1:20 PM, I will be distracted by the TV… hopefully I will be watching the Michigan State Spartans send the Bruchebag and the UT Vols home from the NCAA tournament.  Then again, I guess maybe the NCAA needs Pearl in the Final Four to represent the douchebag segment of society, since Calipari won’t be there.

I can’t get over that Brick quote (see previous post)… Tyler Perry… geez.  Brick told me that my blog makes her look dumb.  Reminds me of the time I posted a pic of a goldfish swimming in a bowl.  The goldfish complained that my blog made him look wet.

Wrestlemania is today… I imagine Hooters will be packed today because they usually order the PPVs.  The biggest match is Undertaker vs. “Heart Break Kid” Shawn Michaels, with Michaels promising to retire if he can’t defeat Taker and end his 17-0 winning streak at Wrestlemania.  Other featured matches include John Cena vs. Batista and Bret “The Hitman” Hart vs. Mr. McMahon.

Concert news: Saving Abel plays the Hard Rock Cafe tonight at 8.

All right, time to pack up the computer and get out of here… perhaps I’ll post later today from the Saucer or some other bar with Wi-Fi.

“I didn’t know Tyler Perry coached the Kentucky basketball team. No he doesn’t.”

I finally got to De Ja’ Vu, the Creole restaurant on Florida, to try their food.  Tiny little place – only 6 tables.  It was busy and I felt guilty about taking up a 4-top table all by myself, so I ordered food to go.  I’m eating the Big Keith’s Bayou Classic as I type this – it’s tilapia (you can choose catfish if you prefer) topped with a creamy reduction of fresh lump crabmeat, crawfish, and shrimp.  It comes with cornbread and two sides – I chose red beans and rice and greens as my sides.  I took a pic but it didn’t come out that well – digital cameras don’t like styrofoam boxes much.

I definitely plan on going back to try more of their fare.  I’m thinking next time I’ll have the Alligator Stew.  Check out their website, and they also have their menu on Mark’s Menus.

Action News 5 is reporting that Charlie Vergos, who opened the Rendezvous in 1948, has died in his sleep at age 84.  The article notes that “everybody who’s anybody” has been to the Rendezvous, and that’s certainly true.  I remember President Bush bringing the Japanese Prime Minister there after a Graceland visit in 2006.

My condolences to Mr. Vergos’ family and friends.

I had a great conversation with one of the people who run Mark’s Menus last night.  If you haven’t heard of it, it’s a site that puts local restaurant menus online.  They currently have 183 Memphis restaurants listed.  If you’re considering trying a new restaurant, it’s a way to check out their menu in advance and figure out what you want before you even step in the door.  Better yet, they offer reviews on a dish-by-dish basis, so you can read what other people think are the best dishes.  You can also search by dish – for example, if you’re hungry for spaghetti, you can find the best places to get it.  Great concept and one that has been needed in Memphis for a long time.  It’s amazing how many restaurants have no online presence at all.

I’ll say this once again – if you’re not a member of “The City Taste” group on Facebook, you should be.  Last night they sent out an e-mail about Trolley Night on South Main, along with a list of suggested restaurants in the area.  Very good resources for discovering new places to dine!

Beer lovers:  Lifehacker had an article yesterday about a do-it-yourself jockey box that will pour your beer cold.  A mini-keg fits nicely inside.

Just got up… going to spend a few minutes setting up AdWords campaigns, then I think I will drive to Deja Vu, the Creole restaurant on Florida that I’ve been meaning to try forever.  Was going to ride the bike but laziness has prevailed.

The Memphis Grizzlies are doing a Downtowners’ Week for their final 2 games, with deep discounts for Downtown residents, business owners, and vendors.  Information is available in this PDF.  Come support the Grizzlies and say thanks for a great season!

The Memphis application for Google Fiber will be submitted today at noon. If you’re on Twitter, please tweet at noon to wish Memphis luck, and include the #memphisgoogle hashtag.

Pat Summitt, coach of the UT Lady Vols and the winningest basketball coach in NCAA history, will be the honorary Duckmaster today at 5 PM at the Peabody. The team is in town for the NCAA Women’s Basketball Championship playoffs, which will take place at the FedExForum March 26-29.

It may surprise people to hear me say this, but… go Lady Vols! I’m not normally a fan of the University of Tennessee. Their fans suck, their football team is a bunch of underachievers, and their men’s basketball coach is the second biggest douchebag in college sports. Pat Summitt, however, is undeniably a legend. It’s impossible to not have respect for someone with so many accomplishments in her field. So women’s basketball is the one sport for which I root for UT.

Wondering what the health bill will mean for you? The Washington Post has a calculator where you can input your income, marital status, age, and number of dependents, and it will tell you what health care reform will mean for you. I put my info in, and it told me there would be no change in my insurance or tax status. Just for kicks, I decided to see what would happen if my company gave me a 100% raise. Still no change in my taxes.

Everyone knows I’m a fan of the hard rockin’ teenage band the Young Guns. They’ll play the Hard Rock this Saturday, March 27, along with Brittany Russell & The Trunk Monkeys, and The Summers.

MIFA is having its 11th annual Day of Reflection and Service this Saturday. Join them in their parking lot at 910 Vance at 9:30 for a complimentary breakfast, and at 10 Mayor Wharton will speak. Sponsored by ServiceMaster. Event is free and open to the public.

Beale Street tweeted that starting next week, you’ll have two options for breakfast on Beale: Miss Polly’s Chicken and Waffles, and Lil’ Anthony’s Cafe Breakfast and Soul Food. Follow the street at @BealeStreetMphs for the latest updates.

Plans for tonight: Going to talk websites and iPhone apps over a beer at the Saucer tonight after work, then will head south for South Main Trolley Night.

More to come this weekend: Info on the Madison rooftop parties for April, and a Grizzlies deal for Downtowners.